Renee DiResta
@noupside.bsky.social
🌐Studies influence, propaganda, platform design@Georgetown
✍🏼Lawfare,The Atlantic
📕Invisible Rulers: The People Who Turn Lies Into Reality (invisiblerulers.com) —how influencers, algorithms, &online crowds shape public opinion
🦹🏻♀️Twitter Files supervillain
✍🏼Lawfare,The Atlantic
📕Invisible Rulers: The People Who Turn Lies Into Reality (invisiblerulers.com) —how influencers, algorithms, &online crowds shape public opinion
🦹🏻♀️Twitter Files supervillain
Pinned
Renee DiResta
@noupside.bsky.social
· Apr 15
New from me: an essay on the House UnAmerican Activities Committee, and its remarkable 30 year history of witch hunts & blacklists.
It chronicles the progression of how industries & academia went from capitulation to defiance,& what we can take from that today
www.lawfaremedia.org/article/proc...
It chronicles the progression of how industries & academia went from capitulation to defiance,& what we can take from that today
www.lawfaremedia.org/article/proc...
Lego 10340 — Wreath
Post dinner family project. I saw it in the store when I was wandering around Munich a couple weeks ago and loved the little oranges.
The pinecones are made out of Minifig caps. The Botanical Collection is so innovative.
Post dinner family project. I saw it in the store when I was wandering around Munich a couple weeks ago and loved the little oranges.
The pinecones are made out of Minifig caps. The Botanical Collection is so innovative.
November 28, 2025 at 2:46 AM
Lego 10340 — Wreath
Post dinner family project. I saw it in the store when I was wandering around Munich a couple weeks ago and loved the little oranges.
The pinecones are made out of Minifig caps. The Botanical Collection is so innovative.
Post dinner family project. I saw it in the store when I was wandering around Munich a couple weeks ago and loved the little oranges.
The pinecones are made out of Minifig caps. The Botanical Collection is so innovative.
No major religion objects to vaccines.
All major religions object to liars.
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/26/u...
All major religions object to liars.
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/26/u...
State Court Rules School Vaccine Law Can’t Bar Religious Exemptions
www.nytimes.com
November 27, 2025 at 12:27 AM
No major religion objects to vaccines.
All major religions object to liars.
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/26/u...
All major religions object to liars.
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/26/u...
Reposted by Renee DiResta
We're hiring ASAP for a new team dedicated to ensuring that communities can continue to speak out & engage politically despite the increasing use of levers of federal power to quash protests, quell dissent, and intimidate political opponents. Priority deadline: 12/7
https://protectdemocracy.org/jobs
https://protectdemocracy.org/jobs
November 26, 2025 at 6:08 PM
We're hiring ASAP for a new team dedicated to ensuring that communities can continue to speak out & engage politically despite the increasing use of levers of federal power to quash protests, quell dissent, and intimidate political opponents. Priority deadline: 12/7
https://protectdemocracy.org/jobs
https://protectdemocracy.org/jobs
Reposted by Renee DiResta
Breaking news: At least three people were shot near the White House, including two National Guardsmen. Their conditions are currently unknown.
Follow live updates:
Follow live updates:
Live updates: 2 National Guard members shot in D.C. near White House
Three gunshot victims were taken to the hospital after the shooting in downtown Washington.
www.washingtonpost.com
November 26, 2025 at 8:12 PM
Breaking news: At least three people were shot near the White House, including two National Guardsmen. Their conditions are currently unknown.
Follow live updates:
Follow live updates:
Reposted by Renee DiResta
In The Situation, @benjaminwittes.lawfaremedia.org and @katherinepomps.bsky.social create a choose-your-own-adventure game for Lindsey Halligan which reflects all the many, many ways she can lose the James Comey case if reinstated.
The Situation: You Get To Play Lindsey Halligan’s Hand
She made her bed. Now you get to lie in it.
lawfaremedia.org
November 26, 2025 at 7:48 PM
In The Situation, @benjaminwittes.lawfaremedia.org and @katherinepomps.bsky.social create a choose-your-own-adventure game for Lindsey Halligan which reflects all the many, many ways she can lose the James Comey case if reinstated.
Bolsonaro to Start Serving 27-Year Sentence Over Coup Plot
www.nytimes.com
November 25, 2025 at 7:20 PM
Reposted by Renee DiResta
New episode of Misguided just launched with @noupside.bsky.social!
We discuss her path into social media research, how online groups shape belief, and why AI is shifting the information battle upstream, plus what institutions must do to rebuild trust.
We discuss her path into social media research, how online groups shape belief, and why AI is shifting the information battle upstream, plus what institutions must do to rebuild trust.
Bespoke Realities, Invisible Rulers, and the Battle for Truth
Renée DiResta joins me to discuss how online influence networks shape belief, who steers the information ecosystem, and why AI’s reference layer is becoming the next battleground for truth.
matthewfacciani.substack.com
November 24, 2025 at 11:43 PM
New episode of Misguided just launched with @noupside.bsky.social!
We discuss her path into social media research, how online groups shape belief, and why AI is shifting the information battle upstream, plus what institutions must do to rebuild trust.
We discuss her path into social media research, how online groups shape belief, and why AI is shifting the information battle upstream, plus what institutions must do to rebuild trust.
By me: a brief history of foreign agitators pretending to be Americans over the last decade, with most out to make a buck monetizing the culture war 💸(politics matter less than you think), and what X’s new feature shows…
open.substack.com/pub/agentsof...
open.substack.com/pub/agentsof...
On the Internet No One Knows You’re a “MAGA patriot” in Lagos
On X's new location feature...
open.substack.com
November 24, 2025 at 6:51 PM
By me: a brief history of foreign agitators pretending to be Americans over the last decade, with most out to make a buck monetizing the culture war 💸(politics matter less than you think), and what X’s new feature shows…
open.substack.com/pub/agentsof...
open.substack.com/pub/agentsof...
Reposted by Renee DiResta
This from @paulsperry.bsky.social is a bald-faced lie and contains no element of truth. I never received a “leak” of “highly sensitive details about an active investigation” from @jamescomey.bsky.social—in a October 2016 or at any other time, on Google or on any other platform. He links to nothing
November 24, 2025 at 12:20 PM
This from @paulsperry.bsky.social is a bald-faced lie and contains no element of truth. I never received a “leak” of “highly sensitive details about an active investigation” from @jamescomey.bsky.social—in a October 2016 or at any other time, on Google or on any other platform. He links to nothing
Reposted by Renee DiResta
Read all of this. This is everything and everybody we were trying to warn about.
NEW: When RFK Jr. first told Trump that Tylenol might cause autism, the president wanted to tweet out a warning. Kennedy told him not to do that. There was nuance, and the drug companies would push back. “I don’t give a shit about that,” Trump responded. www.theatlantic.com/magazine/202...
The Most Powerful Man in Science
Why is Robert F. Kennedy Jr. so convinced he’s right?
www.theatlantic.com
November 24, 2025 at 3:09 AM
Read all of this. This is everything and everybody we were trying to warn about.
The reason this is happening is a combination of 1) incentives and 2) supply meeting demand.
There is no more consistent result in studies of monetized propaganda than that the MAGA right is a particularly receptive niche.
There is no more consistent result in studies of monetized propaganda than that the MAGA right is a particularly receptive niche.
I see a lot of Paidchecks on X didn’t realize that a whole lot of people on social media lie about their location to grift off the naïveté of the rage-addled American right.
Turns out this problem is real and it’s a thing those of us who worked on “disinformation” pointed out.
Turns out this problem is real and it’s a thing those of us who worked on “disinformation” pointed out.
November 23, 2025 at 5:23 PM
The reason this is happening is a combination of 1) incentives and 2) supply meeting demand.
There is no more consistent result in studies of monetized propaganda than that the MAGA right is a particularly receptive niche.
There is no more consistent result in studies of monetized propaganda than that the MAGA right is a particularly receptive niche.
I see a lot of Paidchecks on X didn’t realize that a whole lot of people on social media lie about their location to grift off the naïveté of the rage-addled American right.
Turns out this problem is real and it’s a thing those of us who worked on “disinformation” pointed out.
Turns out this problem is real and it’s a thing those of us who worked on “disinformation” pointed out.
November 23, 2025 at 5:11 AM
I see a lot of Paidchecks on X didn’t realize that a whole lot of people on social media lie about their location to grift off the naïveté of the rage-addled American right.
Turns out this problem is real and it’s a thing those of us who worked on “disinformation” pointed out.
Turns out this problem is real and it’s a thing those of us who worked on “disinformation” pointed out.
Reposted by Renee DiResta
What Rand Paul is doing is what Jim Jordan did to Stanford Internet Observatory. Under the pretext of “oversight“ he can make sweeping requests —w/the intent to harass & chill.
The universities can fight. But most are afraid of broader attacks so they quickly comply.
www.wired.com/story/senato...
The universities can fight. But most are afraid of broader attacks so they quickly comply.
www.wired.com/story/senato...
Senators Want Extremism Researchers to Surrender Documents Linked to Right-Wing Grudges
The Senate homeland security committee's chair has asked researchers to turn over troves of documents related to the January 6 attack, vaccines, and more, according to a letter reviewed by WIRED.
www.wired.com
November 22, 2025 at 5:13 PM
What Rand Paul is doing is what Jim Jordan did to Stanford Internet Observatory. Under the pretext of “oversight“ he can make sweeping requests —w/the intent to harass & chill.
The universities can fight. But most are afraid of broader attacks so they quickly comply.
www.wired.com/story/senato...
The universities can fight. But most are afraid of broader attacks so they quickly comply.
www.wired.com/story/senato...
A must read. Click through.
Just an absolutely gutting essay by Tatiana Schlossberg, a writer, mother of two young children, and cousin of RFK Jr who is dying of leukemia.
www.newyorker.com/culture/the-...
www.newyorker.com/culture/the-...
November 22, 2025 at 6:48 PM
A must read. Click through.
What Rand Paul is doing is what Jim Jordan did to Stanford Internet Observatory. Under the pretext of “oversight“ he can make sweeping requests —w/the intent to harass & chill.
The universities can fight. But most are afraid of broader attacks so they quickly comply.
www.wired.com/story/senato...
The universities can fight. But most are afraid of broader attacks so they quickly comply.
www.wired.com/story/senato...
Senators Want Extremism Researchers to Surrender Documents Linked to Right-Wing Grudges
The Senate homeland security committee's chair has asked researchers to turn over troves of documents related to the January 6 attack, vaccines, and more, according to a letter reviewed by WIRED.
www.wired.com
November 22, 2025 at 5:13 PM
What Rand Paul is doing is what Jim Jordan did to Stanford Internet Observatory. Under the pretext of “oversight“ he can make sweeping requests —w/the intent to harass & chill.
The universities can fight. But most are afraid of broader attacks so they quickly comply.
www.wired.com/story/senato...
The universities can fight. But most are afraid of broader attacks so they quickly comply.
www.wired.com/story/senato...
Someone check on Bill Ackman
Q: would you feel comfortable living in NYC under a Mamdani administration ?
TRUMP: I would. I really would.
TRUMP: I would. I really would.
November 21, 2025 at 10:13 PM
Someone check on Bill Ackman
A crackpot with control over the infrastructure trying to force reality to bend to his fringe beliefs.
November 21, 2025 at 7:09 PM
A crackpot with control over the infrastructure trying to force reality to bend to his fringe beliefs.
Reposted by Renee DiResta
we just FOIA-sued for their comms with platforms about ICE tracking apps www.eff.org/press/releas...
EFF Demands Answers About ICE-Spotting App Takedowns
SAN FRANCISCO – The Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) sued the departments of Justice (DOJ) and Homeland Security (DHS) today to uncover information about the federal government demanding that tech...
www.eff.org
November 20, 2025 at 7:16 PM
we just FOIA-sued for their comms with platforms about ICE tracking apps www.eff.org/press/releas...
The lunatics are running the asylum.
Spent last Friday at a conference on the Digital Dark Ages and have been working on a paper on agnotology in this realm specifically and now the antivax cranks in power literally changed the government website today.
Spent last Friday at a conference on the Digital Dark Ages and have been working on a paper on agnotology in this realm specifically and now the antivax cranks in power literally changed the government website today.
November 20, 2025 at 6:38 AM
The lunatics are running the asylum.
Spent last Friday at a conference on the Digital Dark Ages and have been working on a paper on agnotology in this realm specifically and now the antivax cranks in power literally changed the government website today.
Spent last Friday at a conference on the Digital Dark Ages and have been working on a paper on agnotology in this realm specifically and now the antivax cranks in power literally changed the government website today.
Reposted by Renee DiResta
Just wanna re-up in simple terms that when Biden talked to platforms, Jim Jordan launched years of investigations into everybody involved, said it was tyranny, censorship, etc.
And now they just straight up acknowledge that they talk to platforms too.
www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/crime/3...
And now they just straight up acknowledge that they talk to platforms too.
www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/crime/3...
DHS playing 'whack-a-mole' shooting down made-up ICE stories
The Department of Homeland Security is stepping up efforts to combat fake news, viral AI videos, and misinformation on ICE and Border Patrol.
www.washingtonexaminer.com
November 20, 2025 at 1:54 AM
Just wanna re-up in simple terms that when Biden talked to platforms, Jim Jordan launched years of investigations into everybody involved, said it was tyranny, censorship, etc.
And now they just straight up acknowledge that they talk to platforms too.
www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/crime/3...
And now they just straight up acknowledge that they talk to platforms too.
www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/crime/3...
Just wanna re-up in simple terms that when Biden talked to platforms, Jim Jordan launched years of investigations into everybody involved, said it was tyranny, censorship, etc.
And now they just straight up acknowledge that they talk to platforms too.
www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/crime/3...
And now they just straight up acknowledge that they talk to platforms too.
www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/crime/3...
DHS playing 'whack-a-mole' shooting down made-up ICE stories
The Department of Homeland Security is stepping up efforts to combat fake news, viral AI videos, and misinformation on ICE and Border Patrol.
www.washingtonexaminer.com
November 20, 2025 at 1:54 AM
Just wanna re-up in simple terms that when Biden talked to platforms, Jim Jordan launched years of investigations into everybody involved, said it was tyranny, censorship, etc.
And now they just straight up acknowledge that they talk to platforms too.
www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/crime/3...
And now they just straight up acknowledge that they talk to platforms too.
www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/crime/3...
Ok Matt Taibbi has posted.
November 20, 2025 at 1:37 AM
Ok Matt Taibbi has posted.
Reposted by Renee DiResta
The facts are complicated, but here’s a summary of what appears to have happened based on the filings and today’s hearing:
NEWS: During a hearing in federal court in VA, prosecutors confirmed that the operative indictment in the case against James Comey was never shown to or voted on by the entire grand jury before it was presented in open court.
Defense counsel argued that’s a complete bar to further prosecution
Defense counsel argued that’s a complete bar to further prosecution
November 19, 2025 at 6:30 PM
The facts are complicated, but here’s a summary of what appears to have happened based on the filings and today’s hearing:
Reposted by Renee DiResta
Important piece on how we got here.
Brownstone raised millions to undermine COVID prevention policies.
Now at least 8 people with ties to Brownstone hold senior positions at federal health agencies, where they are restricting vaccines and cutting science funding.
Brownstone raised millions to undermine COVID prevention policies.
Now at least 8 people with ties to Brownstone hold senior positions at federal health agencies, where they are restricting vaccines and cutting science funding.
A Small Texas Think Tank Cultivated Covid Dissidents. Now They’re Running US Health Policy. - KFF Health News
Fueled by covid backlash, a libertarian author created the Brownstone Institute in 2021. In recent months, people with ties to the group have catapulted to the highest levels of U.S. government, exerc...
kffhealthnews.org
November 19, 2025 at 7:12 PM
Important piece on how we got here.
Brownstone raised millions to undermine COVID prevention policies.
Now at least 8 people with ties to Brownstone hold senior positions at federal health agencies, where they are restricting vaccines and cutting science funding.
Brownstone raised millions to undermine COVID prevention policies.
Now at least 8 people with ties to Brownstone hold senior positions at federal health agencies, where they are restricting vaccines and cutting science funding.