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Walter @walterkatz.bsky.social · Sep 18

The brilliance of Orwell was to never reveal whether The Brotherhood in ‘1984’ was real or a fabrication. That ambiguity served its purpose for the state to do whatever it wanted to define it as it pleased and to do what was “necessary” to wipe out the “threat.”

Walter @walterkatz.bsky.social · Sep 18

I will say it again, the lack of a private setting in the
@bsky.app means it is not suitable for this environment:

www.wired.com/story/inside...

This isn’t ‘cancel culture,’” the post reads. “It’s self defense. A nation that empowers the deranged and the depraved is a nation marching toward ruin.”

The longer-term focus from the White House, the lawmaker close to Trump tells me, won’t be limited to just one social media site, such as Bluesky, where scores of posts were compiled and cataloged by the since-offline site “Expose Charlie’s Murderers,” as WIRED reported. Trumpworld wants to come for them all.

“You’re going to continue to see this: Whether it’s Meta, Reddit, Bluesky, Roblox—all of ’em that are actually taking down any content that’s literally calling for more violence and/or recirculating that horrifying video,” the lawmaker told me.

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Walter @walterkatz.bsky.social · Sep 15

It was taken down by Reddit mod, so here is the YouTube version of the explainer by @cybelecanterel.bsky.social about always online Gr*yper meme extremism which has been outside the view of the vast majority of people until now. Best explainer I have seen on this:

youtu.be/Wcw02sEslog?...

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Walter @walterkatz.bsky.social · Sep 15

That’s wild considering it had something like 8000+ upvotes.

Walter @walterkatz.bsky.social · Sep 15

Also… what is a Gr**per? Why is Pepe lonely? What does it have to do with volatility, political tension, and lots of guns? Another excellent explainer from TikTok via Reddit: www.reddit.com/r/TikTokCrin...

From the TikTokCringe community on Reddit: Forensic memeologist deciphers shitposts

Explore this post and more from the TikTokCringe community

www.reddit.com

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Walter @walterkatz.bsky.social · Sep 15

This thought-provoking explainer of the conflict between Christian nationalists, who want to take control of institutions, and blackpilled memetic nihilists, is what a lot of mainstream writers should watch before doing a Steve Buscemi.
www.reddit.com/r/TikTokCrin...

From the TikTokCringe community on Reddit: A breakdown of the differences between the Christian Nationalist and Black Pill Accelerationist Communities

Explore this post and more from the TikTokCringe community

www.reddit.com

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Walter @walterkatz.bsky.social · Sep 14

This post from @faineg.bsky.social from 7 months ago is more true than ever before. And, I’d add, get your @proton.me email account and toss in their excellent VPN.

bsky.app/profile/fain...

Faine Greenwood @faineg.bsky.social · Feb 2

Get everyone you care about on Signal. Do not hesitate. This is deadly serious.

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Walter @walterkatz.bsky.social · Sep 14

After 2020, especially, the right moved to private messaging, such as Telegram and Discord. Since last week, people’s public social media posts are being used to attack them and their livelihoods. In this environment, that a private setting is *impossible* renders @bsky.app fundamentally flawed.

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Walter @walterkatz.bsky.social · Sep 13

With all else going on, this incident will likely receive little traction but it does call into question the “run/hide/fight” approach to active shooters. A sheltering midshipman apparently mistook a law enforcement officer as a threat and ended up being shot. www.nbcwashington.com/news/local/u...

Midshipman shot during police response to Naval Academy threat

A midshipman was shot at the U.S. Naval Academy in Maryland Thursday as law enforcement responded to reports of threats made to the military school, a source told NBC News.

www.nbcwashington.com

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Walter @walterkatz.bsky.social · Sep 13

I am trying to reconcile this: “From its inception, Utah has aspired to be a sanctuary from the strife and sin and violence that scarred the rest of the country.” You didn’t gloss over, but ignored, the Utah Wars and the Mountain Meadows Massacre in particular, that took place not far from St George

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Walter @walterkatz.bsky.social · Sep 8

Hello to the future from Korematsu II Day

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Walter @walterkatz.bsky.social · Sep 8

Vintage Armani 2-button cashmere jacket worn today at Moynihan Train Hall. RIP Giorgio.

Wearing vintage Armani cashmere two-button jacket. September 8, 2025

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Walter @walterkatz.bsky.social · Sep 7

I still have my sbcglobal account :)

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Walter @walterkatz.bsky.social · Sep 7

This chart in the 2024 WICHE annual report on college enrollment projections on state by state high school graduation projections, should put to bed any delusions about saving House seats in Blue states. NY, CA and IL won’t save Democrats. This also explains the purpose of stifling immigration

Map of US depicting high school graduate population from 2023-2041. Across the U.S., 38 states are expected to experience declines — while 12 states and Washington, D.C., will actually see increases.

High school graduate populations will rise by double digits in some states, including South Carolina, Tennessee, Idaho and North Dakota, according to WICHE estimates. In Washington, D.C., they’re projected to jump a whopping 31%.

Among regions, the only increase is expected in the South, already home to the largest number of high school graduates. By 2037, the ranks of high school graduates in the region will rise by 3% to about 1.5 million over 2024. High school graduate headcount is expected to decline 17% in the Northeast, 16% in the Midwest and 20% in the West.

Reposted by Walter

Justin Wolfers @justinwolfers.bsky.social · Sep 6

The relentless dishonesty is revealing. This was a meeting of the *academic advisory council* of the Chicago Fed.

Think: Nerds around a conference table.

No, academics don't set rates.
No, the Chicago Fed doesn't set rates.
No, the Chicago Fed President didn't even vote on rates that year.

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Walter @walterkatz.bsky.social · Sep 7

Follow @unraveledpress.com for the clearest real-time reporting on what is happening in the streets of Chicago.

unraveled @unraveledpress.com · Sep 6

Just watched ICE hand off three women in shackles to sheriff's officers bound for Clinton County, Indiana.

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Walter @walterkatz.bsky.social · Sep 6

“What one man’s 45-year-old case tells us about the ‘Jim Crow juries’ haunting Louisiana” - 19-year-old Lloyd Gray, a Black man, was sentenced to prison for life even though the only two Black jurors had voted not guilty. @propublica.org www.propublica.org/article/lloy...

What One Man’s 45-Year-Old Case Tells Us About the “Jim Crow Juries” Haunting Louisiana

Today, a split verdict would mean a mistrial. But in 1980s Louisiana, when nonunanimous juries were still legal, 19-year-old Lloyd Gray, a Black man, was sentenced to prison for life — even though the...

www.propublica.org

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Walter @walterkatz.bsky.social · Sep 4

Consumers are even more skeptical about AI than a year ago, yet enterprise and public sector adoption is accelerating without that valuable public/worker input or visibility into potential impact. www.cnet.com/tech/mobile/...

Smartphone Buyers Care Even Less About AI Than They Did Last Year, CNET Survey Finds

Shoppers aren't sold on thinner phones, even as rumors suggest Apple will soon debut the iPhone 17 Air.

www.cnet.com

Walter @walterkatz.bsky.social · Sep 4

A truly remarkable achievement. Chicago has seen the fewest homicides for June, July and August in 60 years. Overall violent crime remains near its lowest point in more than four decades. www.wbez.org/news/2025/09...

Chicago sees its fewest summer murders since 1965

The Chicago Police Department’s criminal homicide tally for June, July and August is the lowest in 60 years. And overall violent crime remains near its lowest point in more than four decades.

www.wbez.org

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Walter @walterkatz.bsky.social · Sep 3

What works to reduce homelessness? Housing first policies and harm reduction programs. What does the July executive order specifically prohibit? Federal funding to cities that have housing first and harm reduction programs. gothamist.com/news/a-new-t...

A new Trump order could upend the way NYC treats homeless people. Here’s what to know.

Trump’s executive order “ending crime and disorder” proposes a shift away from solutions the city says have worked for decades to address homelessness.

gothamist.com

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Reposted by Walter

Heather Cherone @heathercherone.bsky.social · Sep 2

From a a source in the Texas governor's office:
"I'm not sure where the Governor got his information but it is not accurate." @wttw.bsky.social

Heather Cherone @heathercherone.bsky.social · Sep 2

BREAKING: Gov. JB Pritzker says the Trump administration has sent the Texas National Guard to Great Lakes Naval Base outside Chicago, awaiting orders to deploy to Chicago.
Trump administration officials will target Mexican Independence Day (Sept. 16) celebrations. @wttw.bsky.social

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Reposted by Walter

Heather Cherone @heathercherone.bsky.social · Sep 2

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Walter @walterkatz.bsky.social · Sep 2

No worries. There was a bit of ambiguity in my OP. I’m glad that I could clarify it.

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Walter @walterkatz.bsky.social · Sep 2

In the early to mid 90s, Chicago had over 900 murders a year. There was a longterm decline that reversed in 2015. By 2016, up to 766 murders. Then 650 in 2017, ~550 in 2018. COVID spike interrupted declines and now we will lowest in decades. A truly remarkable effort.

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Walter @walterkatz.bsky.social · Sep 2

Exactly. I was on a Biden transition committee focused on community gun violence. What we saw across the country was cities looking to restart their intervention work and struggling with the COVID police recruitment crisis. The Bipartisan Community Safety Act got $$ where it was needed.

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