Lauren Kirchner
@lkirchner.bsky.social
Investigative reporter at Consumer Reports covering product safety & env. health; previously covered tech & criminal justice at The Markup and ProPublica. Signal: @Lkirchner.44
Pinned
Lauren Kirchner
@lkirchner.bsky.social
· Nov 10
This smiley face trash-and-recycling can at the bank, which drops everything into one singular plastic bag inside, is a metaphor for *something* but I'm not sure what
Are you guys even up on the latest candy technology
December 22, 2025 at 11:11 PM
Are you guys even up on the latest candy technology
Reposted by Lauren Kirchner
WHAT’s up guys its Plato welcome back to the cave. Guys we’ve got some CRAZY shadows for you today you are not gonna want to miss this! But first I have to thank our sponsor OnX Backcountry
December 19, 2025 at 4:05 PM
WHAT’s up guys its Plato welcome back to the cave. Guys we’ve got some CRAZY shadows for you today you are not gonna want to miss this! But first I have to thank our sponsor OnX Backcountry
Need a last-minute gift idea? The best book I've read in YEARS came out in 2025, and it's "The Death and Life of August Sweeney" by @samuelashworth.bsky.social. It's both spectacularly weird and universally appealing, if that makes sense. Everyone you know will like it: bookshop.org/p/books/the-...
The Death and Life of August Sweeney
Check out The Death and Life of August Sweeney - Legendary chef August Sweeney has served his final meal, dying in the middle of service in the very restaurant he built to secure his legacy. When Dr. ...
bookshop.org
December 19, 2025 at 3:04 PM
Need a last-minute gift idea? The best book I've read in YEARS came out in 2025, and it's "The Death and Life of August Sweeney" by @samuelashworth.bsky.social. It's both spectacularly weird and universally appealing, if that makes sense. Everyone you know will like it: bookshop.org/p/books/the-...
In light of the news that HHS is cutting funding to the American Academy of Pediatrics, including a grant to help reduce sudden infant deaths, I'm just going to share this around again... www.consumerreports.org/babies-kids/...
‘These Aren’t Statistics. These Are Babies.’ Why Online Misinformation About Infant Sleep Is More Dangerous Than Ever. - Consumer Reports
Whether scrolling, searching, or shopping, parents are bombarded with misleading information and imagery about unsafe infant sleep practices and products.
www.consumerreports.org
December 18, 2025 at 7:37 PM
In light of the news that HHS is cutting funding to the American Academy of Pediatrics, including a grant to help reduce sudden infant deaths, I'm just going to share this around again... www.consumerreports.org/babies-kids/...
Reposted by Lauren Kirchner
When I was on CNN's northeast desk, the first job at 6a every morning was to read the local papers. That guided some of what the massive CNN machine followed every day.
When those papers die, CNN doesn't hire new regional reporters. What you get instead is more panel shows, more punditry.
When those papers die, CNN doesn't hire new regional reporters. What you get instead is more panel shows, more punditry.
"The newspaper industry served as a feeder for our entire news media ecosystem. So when we lose those newspapers, we've lost that journalism. In the early 2000s, we had 40 journalists per 100,000 people. We're now down to 8 journalists per 100,000 people," says @victorpickard.bsky.social.
December 16, 2025 at 7:25 PM
When I was on CNN's northeast desk, the first job at 6a every morning was to read the local papers. That guided some of what the massive CNN machine followed every day.
When those papers die, CNN doesn't hire new regional reporters. What you get instead is more panel shows, more punditry.
When those papers die, CNN doesn't hire new regional reporters. What you get instead is more panel shows, more punditry.
Reposted by Lauren Kirchner
In collaboration w/ @groundwork.bsky.social & @moreperfectunion.bsky.social, we convened hundreds of volunteers from across the country to investigate Instacart’s AI-assisted pricing experiments at popular grocery stores like Target & Kroger. Read our full investigation below:
Instacart’s AI-Enabled Pricing Experiments May Be Inflating Your Grocery Bill, CR and Groundwork Collaborative Investigation Finds - Consumer Reports
Exclusive: Instacart’s AI pricing may be inflating your grocery bill.
www.consumerreports.org
December 9, 2025 at 3:43 PM
In collaboration w/ @groundwork.bsky.social & @moreperfectunion.bsky.social, we convened hundreds of volunteers from across the country to investigate Instacart’s AI-assisted pricing experiments at popular grocery stores like Target & Kroger. Read our full investigation below:
Reposted by Lauren Kirchner
"Hundreds of thousands of work orders for NYC buses flagged for inspection or repairs show no recorded labor hours by MTA maintenance crews — a finding that raises the possibility buses are being put into service...without critical repairs or required inspections."
Gift link below:
Gift link below:
Missing data on bus repairs spark troubling questions about MTA fleet: investigation
Hundreds of thousands of work orders for NYC buses show no recorded labor hours by MTA maintenance crews — a finding that raises the possibility that buses are being put into service on New York Ci…
www.nydailynews.com
December 6, 2025 at 8:23 PM
"Hundreds of thousands of work orders for NYC buses flagged for inspection or repairs show no recorded labor hours by MTA maintenance crews — a finding that raises the possibility buses are being put into service...without critical repairs or required inspections."
Gift link below:
Gift link below:
Really enjoying this new @darrencullen.bsky.social merch - a working Magic 8 Ball that answers your questions like ChatGPT. "That's a great question!" "You're 1000% right!"
After much research and development I have made an offline version of ChatGPT.
Now you can save water and electricity while navel-gazing, and carry one of the world's most powerfully annoying AI chatbots in your pocket.
Now you can save water and electricity while navel-gazing, and carry one of the world's most powerfully annoying AI chatbots in your pocket.
December 8, 2025 at 5:05 PM
Really enjoying this new @darrencullen.bsky.social merch - a working Magic 8 Ball that answers your questions like ChatGPT. "That's a great question!" "You're 1000% right!"
Reposted by Lauren Kirchner
The Handbasket's independent journalism holiday gift guide is LIVE!
If you want to support indie media *and* give someone a unique gift, consider a paid subscription from this [by no means exhaustive] list of awesome outlets doing the work and doing it right:
If you want to support indie media *and* give someone a unique gift, consider a paid subscription from this [by no means exhaustive] list of awesome outlets doing the work and doing it right:
Giving the gift of independent journalism: a guide
The Handbasket has subscription suggestions for almost everyone on your list.
www.thehandbasket.co
December 8, 2025 at 4:29 PM
The Handbasket's independent journalism holiday gift guide is LIVE!
If you want to support indie media *and* give someone a unique gift, consider a paid subscription from this [by no means exhaustive] list of awesome outlets doing the work and doing it right:
If you want to support indie media *and* give someone a unique gift, consider a paid subscription from this [by no means exhaustive] list of awesome outlets doing the work and doing it right:
🚍👀 This new @simko-bednarski.bsky.social investigation is an important one
A bus on Staten Island lost control just before picking up Manhattan-bound passengers.
9 mo prior, mechanics found a steering flaw, but the bus was put in service.
My new investigation for the Daily News finds that hundreds of thousands of bus records are missing proof of repairs and inspections.
9 mo prior, mechanics found a steering flaw, but the bus was put in service.
My new investigation for the Daily News finds that hundreds of thousands of bus records are missing proof of repairs and inspections.
Missing data on bus repairs spark troubling questions about MTA fleet: investigation
Hundreds of thousands of work orders for NYC buses show no recorded labor hours by MTA maintenance crews — a finding that raises the possibility that buses are being put into service on New York Ci…
www.nydailynews.com
December 6, 2025 at 7:57 PM
🚍👀 This new @simko-bednarski.bsky.social investigation is an important one
Reposted by Lauren Kirchner
A bus on Staten Island lost control just before picking up Manhattan-bound passengers.
9 mo prior, mechanics found a steering flaw, but the bus was put in service.
My new investigation for the Daily News finds that hundreds of thousands of bus records are missing proof of repairs and inspections.
9 mo prior, mechanics found a steering flaw, but the bus was put in service.
My new investigation for the Daily News finds that hundreds of thousands of bus records are missing proof of repairs and inspections.
Missing data on bus repairs spark troubling questions about MTA fleet: investigation
Hundreds of thousands of work orders for NYC buses show no recorded labor hours by MTA maintenance crews — a finding that raises the possibility that buses are being put into service on New York Ci…
www.nydailynews.com
December 6, 2025 at 7:55 PM
A bus on Staten Island lost control just before picking up Manhattan-bound passengers.
9 mo prior, mechanics found a steering flaw, but the bus was put in service.
My new investigation for the Daily News finds that hundreds of thousands of bus records are missing proof of repairs and inspections.
9 mo prior, mechanics found a steering flaw, but the bus was put in service.
My new investigation for the Daily News finds that hundreds of thousands of bus records are missing proof of repairs and inspections.
Let's take a peek at the ol' email inbox "Lab-Grown Human Skin" nope nope let's go ahead and close it again www.personalcareinsights.com/video/lab-gr...
CTIBiotech: Lab-grown human skin for cosmetics testing
Nico Forraz, CEO of CTIBiotech, discusses the company’s computer-connected, lab-grown, human bioprinted skin technology. He says it is the “first of its kind” and features a function...
www.personalcareinsights.com
December 5, 2025 at 4:20 PM
Let's take a peek at the ol' email inbox "Lab-Grown Human Skin" nope nope let's go ahead and close it again www.personalcareinsights.com/video/lab-gr...
Reposted by Lauren Kirchner
A new NY state law requires retailers to disclose when a "price was set by an algorithm using your personal data." What personal data?? Why a particular price?? There's a lot of unanswered questions, but the disclosure is attached to eggs and toilet paper: www.wired.com/story/algori...
Your Data Might Determine How Much You Pay for Eggs
A newly enacted New York law requires retailers to say whether your data influences the price of basic goods like a dozen eggs or toilet paper, but not how.
www.wired.com
December 2, 2025 at 7:38 PM
A new NY state law requires retailers to disclose when a "price was set by an algorithm using your personal data." What personal data?? Why a particular price?? There's a lot of unanswered questions, but the disclosure is attached to eggs and toilet paper: www.wired.com/story/algori...
Giving Tuesday is sort of fun(?) because it makes me think, wow *AM* I absolutely flush with cash rn? Surely these 9,999 nonprofits screaming at me from my email inbox can't all be wrong
December 2, 2025 at 7:35 PM
Giving Tuesday is sort of fun(?) because it makes me think, wow *AM* I absolutely flush with cash rn? Surely these 9,999 nonprofits screaming at me from my email inbox can't all be wrong
Reposted by Lauren Kirchner
The way I needed this to be the first thing I saw this morning
December 2, 2025 at 12:45 PM
The way I needed this to be the first thing I saw this morning
Can we as a nation come together today and agree on one thing at least? Debbie Gibson looks amazing??
November 27, 2025 at 5:44 PM
Can we as a nation come together today and agree on one thing at least? Debbie Gibson looks amazing??
Subway Soiled by Foul Fowl (but it’s so cute tho)
NEW IN SUBWAY-CHICKEN NEWS
SEE IT: Fowl that fouled morning commute abandoned by straphanger the previous night
SEE IT: Fowl that fouled morning commute abandoned by straphanger the previous night
SEE IT: Chicken that delayed morning commute in Queens had been abandoned on subway
Video footage showed the man set the bird down on the seat beside him and disembarked, leaving his feathered friend behind. The chicken remained seated, one source narrated, opining the bird was &#…
www.nydailynews.com
November 25, 2025 at 8:55 PM
Subway Soiled by Foul Fowl (but it’s so cute tho)
Reposted by Lauren Kirchner
My microwave sings a little song when my Hot Pocket is done. Should it have the right to vote?
November 25, 2025 at 8:44 PM
My microwave sings a little song when my Hot Pocket is done. Should it have the right to vote?
Reposted by Lauren Kirchner
NEW: AI “recipe slop” is overrunning search and social. Food creators say Google’s AI Overviews and glossy fake food pics are drowning out real, tested recipes — collapsing traffic and setting home cooks up for disaster, especially this Thanksgiving.
Gift link: www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
Gift link: www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
AI Slop Recipes Are Taking Over the Internet -- And Thanksgiving Dinner
Food bloggers see traffic dip as home cooks turn to AI, inspired by impossible pictures
www.bloomberg.com
November 25, 2025 at 3:16 PM
NEW: AI “recipe slop” is overrunning search and social. Food creators say Google’s AI Overviews and glossy fake food pics are drowning out real, tested recipes — collapsing traffic and setting home cooks up for disaster, especially this Thanksgiving.
Gift link: www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
Gift link: www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
God dammit it’s really just everywhere, isn’t it
November 23, 2025 at 9:17 PM
God dammit it’s really just everywhere, isn’t it
Reposted by Lauren Kirchner
The Queens Daily Eagle remains undefeated.
Queens men meet — Queens Daily Eagle
The first man from Queens to be elected president and the first Queens resident to be elected mayor of New York City met for the first time in the Oval Office on Friday.
queenseagle.com
November 22, 2025 at 12:33 AM
The Queens Daily Eagle remains undefeated.
Reposted by Lauren Kirchner
The next Hot Coffee lawsuit is coming from inside the car
CPSC Warns Consumers to Immediately Stop Using Portable Electric Car Kettles Due to Risk of Serious Burn Injury; Distributed by BLONGKY www.cpsc.gov/Warnings/202...
November 20, 2025 at 4:58 PM
The next Hot Coffee lawsuit is coming from inside the car
Reposted by Lauren Kirchner
DAILY NEWS GETS ACTION:
MTA board just approved a $7.4 million contract for new subway wheels after NYCT says it knows what caused the Daily News' mystery wheel-wear scoop from January: Trains were going too fast around curves.
The $7.4M will get New Yorkers 3,000 new wheels from Standard Steel.
MTA board just approved a $7.4 million contract for new subway wheels after NYCT says it knows what caused the Daily News' mystery wheel-wear scoop from January: Trains were going too fast around curves.
The $7.4M will get New Yorkers 3,000 new wheels from Standard Steel.
Mystery track defect wearing out NYC subway car wheels has MTA shuffling trains
A mysterious track defect somewhere along a major New York City subway line is wearing out the wheels on subway cars, causing a shortage of trains on the lettered lines, the Daily News has learned.
www.nydailynews.com
November 19, 2025 at 4:15 PM
DAILY NEWS GETS ACTION:
MTA board just approved a $7.4 million contract for new subway wheels after NYCT says it knows what caused the Daily News' mystery wheel-wear scoop from January: Trains were going too fast around curves.
The $7.4M will get New Yorkers 3,000 new wheels from Standard Steel.
MTA board just approved a $7.4 million contract for new subway wheels after NYCT says it knows what caused the Daily News' mystery wheel-wear scoop from January: Trains were going too fast around curves.
The $7.4M will get New Yorkers 3,000 new wheels from Standard Steel.
Really interesting insights in this thread, by the founder of @bellingcat.com
We’re watching a shift where AI simulates the cohesion and reinforcement that used to require an entire online community. A single person can now build a complete parallel reality with nothing more than a prompt window. Which seems bad.
November 19, 2025 at 4:06 PM
Really interesting insights in this thread, by the founder of @bellingcat.com