Jon Passantino
@passantino.bsky.social
Executive editor at @status.news. Email: jon@status dot news. Subscribe to the essential newsletter examining the media and power at status.news/subscribe 📬
Reposted by Jon Passantino
On Thanksgiving eve, I chatted with 10 media professionals across the industry, including Kara Swisher, Mike Allen, and Robert Costa, to find out how they approach the politics conversation at the dinner table—or how they escape it
www.status.news/p/thanksgivi...
www.status.news/p/thanksgivi...
Thanksgiving Table Tactics
For those dreading their annual go-round with that crazy uncle, media pros discuss how they get through the holidays and partisan times with minimal drama.
www.status.news
November 27, 2025 at 1:42 AM
On Thanksgiving eve, I chatted with 10 media professionals across the industry, including Kara Swisher, Mike Allen, and Robert Costa, to find out how they approach the politics conversation at the dinner table—or how they escape it
www.status.news/p/thanksgivi...
www.status.news/p/thanksgivi...
"Olivia had essentially become a private political operative for Bobby Kennedy, while publicly posing as a hard-nosed reporter. In other words, what you have been reading about here is not really a scandal about sex, but a scandal about journalistic ethics." www.telos.news/p/part-3-cat...
Part 3: Catch and Kill
If you are new to this series, read Part 1 here and Part 2 here.
www.telos.news
November 26, 2025 at 9:16 PM
"Olivia had essentially become a private political operative for Bobby Kennedy, while publicly posing as a hard-nosed reporter. In other words, what you have been reading about here is not really a scandal about sex, but a scandal about journalistic ethics." www.telos.news/p/part-3-cat...
Tough times at Business Insider, where @oliverdarcy.bsky.social has learned the outlet has pulled the paywall for the rest of the year in hopes of bolstering ad impressions. The scoop in @status.news www.status.news/p/business-i...
Business Insider’s Paywall Backslide
The Axel Springer-owned outlet is pivoting back to clicks this holiday season, Status has learned, as internal pressures mount and its subscription bet shows new cracks.
www.status.news
November 26, 2025 at 2:46 AM
Tough times at Business Insider, where @oliverdarcy.bsky.social has learned the outlet has pulled the paywall for the rest of the year in hopes of bolstering ad impressions. The scoop in @status.news www.status.news/p/business-i...
Two weeks after The Blaze made the explosive claim that a former Capitol police officer was responsible for planting bombs on Jan. 6—identifying her by name and in photos—CBS News reports the FBI ruled the woman out because she has an alibi www.cbsnews.com/news/jan-6-p...
How an innocent woman's name was tied to the Jan. 6 pipe bombs
The FBI has ruled the woman out as a suspect in the 2021 plot, sources said, but only after her name circulated on social platforms and a conservative news site.
www.cbsnews.com
November 26, 2025 at 12:21 AM
Two weeks after The Blaze made the explosive claim that a former Capitol police officer was responsible for planting bombs on Jan. 6—identifying her by name and in photos—CBS News reports the FBI ruled the woman out because she has an alibi www.cbsnews.com/news/jan-6-p...
"In interviews, 22 independent food creators said that AI-generated “recipe slop” is distorting nearly every way people find cooking advice online, damaging their businesses while causing consumers to waste time and money." 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 10:53 PM
"In interviews, 22 independent food creators said that AI-generated “recipe slop” is distorting nearly every way people find cooking advice online, damaging their businesses while causing consumers to waste time and money." www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
Reposted by Jon Passantino
MAHA promised to clean up our food, water and air and is doing exactly the opposite
Trump EPA to abandon air pollution rule that would prevent thousands of U.S. deaths www.washingtonpost.com/climate-envi...
Trump EPA to abandon air pollution rule that would prevent thousands of U.S. deaths
The Environmental Protection Agency will no longer defend Biden-era limits on fine-particle pollution, which causes heart and lung disease.
www.washingtonpost.com
November 25, 2025 at 7:07 PM
MAHA promised to clean up our food, water and air and is doing exactly the opposite
Reposted by Jon Passantino
I teased this last night in What I’m Hearing but now confirmed: Paramount WILL release Rush Hour 4 after prodding from Trump on behalf of Brett Ratner. Distribution deal. Producer Tarak Ben Ammar is lining up financing. Get ready for the dumbest possible state-controlled media.
November 25, 2025 at 5:02 PM
I teased this last night in What I’m Hearing but now confirmed: Paramount WILL release Rush Hour 4 after prodding from Trump on behalf of Brett Ratner. Distribution deal. Producer Tarak Ben Ammar is lining up financing. Get ready for the dumbest possible state-controlled media.
Reposted by Jon Passantino
1. EXCLUSIVE
Musk’s xAI has secretly built its AI supercomputer, Collusus, using Chinese-made transformers, a security risk that leaves it vulnerable to espionage or sabotage
The use of Chinese components was previously unreported
Collusus performs sensitive work for the U.S. military
Musk’s xAI has secretly built its AI supercomputer, Collusus, using Chinese-made transformers, a security risk that leaves it vulnerable to espionage or sabotage
The use of Chinese components was previously unreported
Collusus performs sensitive work for the U.S. military
Musk’s AI supercomputer, used by U.S. military, secretly relies on Chinese hardware
Records obtained by Oligarch Watch reveal that the facility relies on Chinese transformers, creating a major security vulnerability.
oligarchwatch.substack.com
November 25, 2025 at 2:45 PM
1. EXCLUSIVE
Musk’s xAI has secretly built its AI supercomputer, Collusus, using Chinese-made transformers, a security risk that leaves it vulnerable to espionage or sabotage
The use of Chinese components was previously unreported
Collusus performs sensitive work for the U.S. military
Musk’s xAI has secretly built its AI supercomputer, Collusus, using Chinese-made transformers, a security risk that leaves it vulnerable to espionage or sabotage
The use of Chinese components was previously unreported
Collusus performs sensitive work for the U.S. military
“the scale of the deception…suggests that in his haste to turn X into a political weapon for the far right, Musk may have revealed that the platform he’s long called ‘the number 1 source of news on Earth’ is really just a worthless, poisoned hall of mirrors.” www.theatlantic.com/technology/2...
Elon Musk’s Worthless, Poisoned Hall of Mirrors
How X blew up its own platform with a new location feature
www.theatlantic.com
November 25, 2025 at 2:57 PM
“the scale of the deception…suggests that in his haste to turn X into a political weapon for the far right, Musk may have revealed that the platform he’s long called ‘the number 1 source of news on Earth’ is really just a worthless, poisoned hall of mirrors.” www.theatlantic.com/technology/2...
Reposted by Jon Passantino
Subscribe to @status.news to read more "dangerous" reporting about Fox News: status.news/subscribe
Pulling back the curtain on the Fox News machine in the latest Smartmatic lawsuit dump:
In wake of the 2020 election, Fox PR acknowledged "problematic" and "crazy" interview, with execs "screaming at @brianstelter.bsky.social" and declaring @oliverdarcy.bsky.social "dangerous" and an "absolute ass"
In wake of the 2020 election, Fox PR acknowledged "problematic" and "crazy" interview, with execs "screaming at @brianstelter.bsky.social" and declaring @oliverdarcy.bsky.social "dangerous" and an "absolute ass"
November 24, 2025 at 6:50 PM
Subscribe to @status.news to read more "dangerous" reporting about Fox News: status.news/subscribe
Pulling back the curtain on the Fox News machine in the latest Smartmatic lawsuit dump:
In wake of the 2020 election, Fox PR acknowledged "problematic" and "crazy" interview, with execs "screaming at @brianstelter.bsky.social" and declaring @oliverdarcy.bsky.social "dangerous" and an "absolute ass"
In wake of the 2020 election, Fox PR acknowledged "problematic" and "crazy" interview, with execs "screaming at @brianstelter.bsky.social" and declaring @oliverdarcy.bsky.social "dangerous" and an "absolute ass"
November 24, 2025 at 6:48 PM
Pulling back the curtain on the Fox News machine in the latest Smartmatic lawsuit dump:
In wake of the 2020 election, Fox PR acknowledged "problematic" and "crazy" interview, with execs "screaming at @brianstelter.bsky.social" and declaring @oliverdarcy.bsky.social "dangerous" and an "absolute ass"
In wake of the 2020 election, Fox PR acknowledged "problematic" and "crazy" interview, with execs "screaming at @brianstelter.bsky.social" and declaring @oliverdarcy.bsky.social "dangerous" and an "absolute ass"
Reposted by Jon Passantino
A federal judge has dismissed the charges against former FBI director James Comey, ruling that the former Trump attorney who brought the charges was not legally serving as the U.S. attorney.
November 24, 2025 at 5:41 PM
A federal judge has dismissed the charges against former FBI director James Comey, ruling that the former Trump attorney who brought the charges was not legally serving as the U.S. attorney.
Lots of news on the Olivia Nuzzi saga roiling Vanity Fair tonight from @nataliekorach.bsky.social in @status.news including the very short contract that could offer Condé an exit over the holidays www.status.news/p/olivia-nuz...
Condé’s Nuzzi Conundrum
Inside Condé Nast's media drama: Gabriel Nuzzi's revelations spark controversy, exposing internal tensions and unfolding newsroom dynamics with dramatic flair.
www.status.news
November 24, 2025 at 3:00 AM
Lots of news on the Olivia Nuzzi saga roiling Vanity Fair tonight from @nataliekorach.bsky.social in @status.news including the very short contract that could offer Condé an exit over the holidays www.status.news/p/olivia-nuz...
Reposted by Jon Passantino
Scoop: As questions swirl around Olivia Nuzzi, I’ve learned she’s been relatively absent in the day-to-day at Vanity Fair, as the magazine continues to weather the storm the controversial hire brought through 1 World Trade Center
www.status.news/p/olivia-nuz...
www.status.news/p/olivia-nuz...
Condé’s Nuzzi Conundrum
Inside Condé Nast's media drama: Gabriel Nuzzi's revelations spark controversy, exposing internal tensions and unfolding newsroom dynamics with dramatic flair.
www.status.news
November 24, 2025 at 2:49 AM
Scoop: As questions swirl around Olivia Nuzzi, I’ve learned she’s been relatively absent in the day-to-day at Vanity Fair, as the magazine continues to weather the storm the controversial hire brought through 1 World Trade Center
www.status.news/p/olivia-nuz...
www.status.news/p/olivia-nuz...
Reposted by Jon Passantino
AI financiers are swatting away bubble talk, just as the industry is on track to spend $400B on the hope of fantastical revenue. Companies are investing in each other to prop up demand. Spending is being kept off balance sheets. A look at these bubbly times www.npr.org/2025/11/23/n...
Here's why concerns about an AI bubble are bigger than ever
Tech companies are pouring billions into AI chips and data centers. Increasingly, they are relying on debt and risky tactics. Financial analysts are worried there's a bubble that will soon pop.
www.npr.org
November 23, 2025 at 5:48 PM
AI financiers are swatting away bubble talk, just as the industry is on track to spend $400B on the hope of fantastical revenue. Companies are investing in each other to prop up demand. Spending is being kept off balance sheets. A look at these bubbly times www.npr.org/2025/11/23/n...
Reposted by Jon Passantino
X rolled out a new feature overnight showing where accounts are based. This network of “Trump-supporting independent women” that claimed to be “real Americans” are based in Thailand.
The photos were stolen from European models & posts pushed pro-Trump lines while targeting Islam and LGBTQ people.
The photos were stolen from European models & posts pushed pro-Trump lines while targeting Islam and LGBTQ people.
November 23, 2025 at 12:55 PM
X rolled out a new feature overnight showing where accounts are based. This network of “Trump-supporting independent women” that claimed to be “real Americans” are based in Thailand.
The photos were stolen from European models & posts pushed pro-Trump lines while targeting Islam and LGBTQ people.
The photos were stolen from European models & posts pushed pro-Trump lines while targeting Islam and LGBTQ people.
Reposted by Jon Passantino
the last 24 hours on X, summed up:
November 23, 2025 at 2:26 PM
the last 24 hours on X, summed up:
Reposted by Jon Passantino
DOGE has prematurely disbanded, reports Reuters. www.reuters.com/world/us/doge...
Exclusive: DOGE 'doesn't exist' with eight months left on its charter
The Department of Government Efficiency claimed to have slashed tens of billions of dollars in expenditures, but it was impossible for outside financial experts to verify that because the unit did not provide detailed public accounting of its work.
www.reuters.com
November 23, 2025 at 1:29 PM
DOGE has prematurely disbanded, reports Reuters. www.reuters.com/world/us/doge...
Reposted by Jon Passantino
The irony of these people complaining about the invented dangers of immigrants and then welcoming brain pollution from overseas hustlers.
Twitter pays people based on engagement (views, retweets, comments, etc). It appears that many MAGA accounts are based abroad and they use AI technology to generate low-effort rage bait.
My guess is that this will get worse as AI tech improves. For instance, fake videos of minorities doing crime.
My guess is that this will get worse as AI tech improves. For instance, fake videos of minorities doing crime.
November 23, 2025 at 1:46 PM
The irony of these people complaining about the invented dangers of immigrants and then welcoming brain pollution from overseas hustlers.
Reposted by Jon Passantino
Twitter pays people based on engagement (views, retweets, comments, etc). It appears that many MAGA accounts are based abroad and they use AI technology to generate low-effort rage bait.
My guess is that this will get worse as AI tech improves. For instance, fake videos of minorities doing crime.
My guess is that this will get worse as AI tech improves. For instance, fake videos of minorities doing crime.
November 23, 2025 at 9:23 AM
Twitter pays people based on engagement (views, retweets, comments, etc). It appears that many MAGA accounts are based abroad and they use AI technology to generate low-effort rage bait.
My guess is that this will get worse as AI tech improves. For instance, fake videos of minorities doing crime.
My guess is that this will get worse as AI tech improves. For instance, fake videos of minorities doing crime.
Truly incredible event taking place on X as MAGA discovers many high profile pro-Trump accounts are actually foreigners performing as American conservatives
November 22, 2025 at 4:58 PM
Truly incredible event taking place on X as MAGA discovers many high profile pro-Trump accounts are actually foreigners performing as American conservatives
Trump this week assailed ABC's WH correspondent, demanded the FCC pull the network's license, and called for Kimmel to be canceled. But Disney has remained conspicuously quiet, part of a strategy to not get into a tit-for-tat with the admin. My latest for @status.news www.status.news/p/trump-abc-...
Quiet as a Mouse
As Trump wages an assault on ABC, Disney brass have decided to ignore the attacks in hopes of avoiding a tit-for-tat war with the administration, Status has learned, a strategy that comes with its own...
www.status.news
November 22, 2025 at 4:20 PM
Trump this week assailed ABC's WH correspondent, demanded the FCC pull the network's license, and called for Kimmel to be canceled. But Disney has remained conspicuously quiet, part of a strategy to not get into a tit-for-tat with the admin. My latest for @status.news www.status.news/p/trump-abc-...
Reposted by Jon Passantino
After a 10-month review, California officials have affirmed what @ianjames.bsky.social reported in January: Having water in the Santa Ynez Reservoir probably wouldn't have made much difference for fighting the Palisades fire. www.latimes.com/environment/...
Even a full reservoir wouldn't have ensured water in Palisades fire, California officials say
During the Palisades fire, a nearby reservoir was empty for repairs. State officials say even if it had been full, the water system would have been quickly overwhelmed.
www.latimes.com
November 22, 2025 at 2:37 AM
After a 10-month review, California officials have affirmed what @ianjames.bsky.social reported in January: Having water in the Santa Ynez Reservoir probably wouldn't have made much difference for fighting the Palisades fire. www.latimes.com/environment/...
Has anyone actually explained what is going on with MTG?
November 22, 2025 at 1:44 AM
Has anyone actually explained what is going on with MTG?