Becca Lewis
@beccalew.bsky.social
Assistant prof of comparative media studies @MIT, researching the history of Silicon Valley and tech. Email me at [email protected]
Reposted by Becca Lewis
While some elements of AI are genuinely new, the harms it enables are evolutions of those we have seen before, writes Sarah Barrington. It is time to recognize the myth of the “unprecedented” and hold tech accountable, she says.
Generative AI is Neither Too Unprecedented Nor Too New to Regulate | TechPolicy.Press
It is time to recognize the myth of the “unprecedented” and hold tech accountable, writes Sarah Barrington.
buff.ly
November 15, 2025 at 4:00 PM
While some elements of AI are genuinely new, the harms it enables are evolutions of those we have seen before, writes Sarah Barrington. It is time to recognize the myth of the “unprecedented” and hold tech accountable, she says.
Reposted by Becca Lewis
davekarpf.substack.com/p/every-gene... This by @davekarpf.bsky.social is very, _very_ good. Much traditional media is badly geared to understand movement politics, and often, it helps to actually know stuff!
Every generation gets to recreate the environmental movement to suit its own purposes
Some big-picture reactions to a recent NYT piece
davekarpf.substack.com
November 12, 2025 at 1:18 PM
davekarpf.substack.com/p/every-gene... This by @davekarpf.bsky.social is very, _very_ good. Much traditional media is badly geared to understand movement politics, and often, it helps to actually know stuff!
Reposted by Becca Lewis
I spoke to CNN about how demoralizing it was to watch Stanford leadership stay silent while contrarians on campus launched unscientific attacks to stifle Stanford researchers. Now, those attacks have gone nationwide and much of MAHA leadership have ties to Stanford.
www.cnn.com/2025/11/08/p...
www.cnn.com/2025/11/08/p...
The Trump-MAHA-Stanford nexus of US health policy | CNN Politics
In early 2022, Stanford medical student Santiago Sanchez set out to organize a campus debate with Jay Bhattacharya — a professor at the university whose outspoken denunciations of pandemic lockdowns m...
www.cnn.com
November 10, 2025 at 5:52 PM
I spoke to CNN about how demoralizing it was to watch Stanford leadership stay silent while contrarians on campus launched unscientific attacks to stifle Stanford researchers. Now, those attacks have gone nationwide and much of MAHA leadership have ties to Stanford.
www.cnn.com/2025/11/08/p...
www.cnn.com/2025/11/08/p...
Reposted by Becca Lewis
thank you for the outpouring of support!
those of us laid off from Teen Vogue yesterday are now sharing our GoFundMe to help us cover our emergency expenses now that we've lost our incomes, as we get back on our feet.
those of us laid off from Teen Vogue yesterday are now sharing our GoFundMe to help us cover our emergency expenses now that we've lost our incomes, as we get back on our feet.
Donate to Help Laid-Off Teen Vogue Staffers Recover, organized by Lexi McMenamin
More than half the team at Teen Vogue was laid off this week by our parent co… Lexi McMenamin needs your support for Help Laid-Off Teen Vogue Staffers Recover
www.gofundme.com
November 4, 2025 at 9:17 PM
thank you for the outpouring of support!
those of us laid off from Teen Vogue yesterday are now sharing our GoFundMe to help us cover our emergency expenses now that we've lost our incomes, as we get back on our feet.
those of us laid off from Teen Vogue yesterday are now sharing our GoFundMe to help us cover our emergency expenses now that we've lost our incomes, as we get back on our feet.
Reposted by Becca Lewis
"Many of the deals OpenAI has struck — with chipmakers, cloud computing companies and others — are strangely circular. OpenAI receives billions from tech companies before sending those billions back to the same companies to pay for computing power and other services." www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
How OpenAI Uses Complex and Circular Deals to Fuel Its Multibillion-Dollar Rise
Here are seven unusual financial agreements helping to drive the ambitions of the poster child of the A.I. revolution.
www.nytimes.com
October 31, 2025 at 10:58 AM
"Many of the deals OpenAI has struck — with chipmakers, cloud computing companies and others — are strangely circular. OpenAI receives billions from tech companies before sending those billions back to the same companies to pay for computing power and other services." www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
Reposted by Becca Lewis
Lewis brilliantly takes us through the building of this conservative network -- biiig woof to this particular slide from me :
October 30, 2025 at 9:02 PM
Lewis brilliantly takes us through the building of this conservative network -- biiig woof to this particular slide from me :
Reposted by Becca Lewis
@beccalew.bsky.social talks for a bit about the promise of the Microchip — I think the subtext here (the one I'm thinking about anyhow) is the parallel between the "promise of the Microchip" and the "promise of AI"
October 30, 2025 at 9:21 PM
@beccalew.bsky.social talks for a bit about the promise of the Microchip — I think the subtext here (the one I'm thinking about anyhow) is the parallel between the "promise of the Microchip" and the "promise of AI"
So excited about the upcoming release of Equator! "We began to imagine a new cultural venture, one that rejects the nihilistic idea that the powerful do what they please, and success is the only measure of moral virtue."
"Equator is founded on our conviction that the storied titles of the Anglophone West cannot be internally reformed, nor redeemed by their periodic U-turns and belated mea culpas. The time has come to create something new."
Today we publish Equator's editorial declaration.
Join us: www.equator.org
Today we publish Equator's editorial declaration.
Join us: www.equator.org
October 9, 2025 at 2:05 PM
So excited about the upcoming release of Equator! "We began to imagine a new cultural venture, one that rejects the nihilistic idea that the powerful do what they please, and success is the only measure of moral virtue."
Reposted by Becca Lewis
““They dragged little Greta [Thunberg] by her hair before our eyes, beat her, and forced her to kiss the Israeli flag. They did everything imaginable to her, as a warning to others,” the Turkish activist ErsinÇelik, a participant in the Sumud flotilla, told Anadolu news agency.”+
Israel accused of detaining Greta Thunberg in infested cell and making her hold flags
Activist tells Swedish officials she has been subjected to harsh treatment, including insufficient food and water
www.theguardian.com
October 4, 2025 at 6:21 PM
““They dragged little Greta [Thunberg] by her hair before our eyes, beat her, and forced her to kiss the Israeli flag. They did everything imaginable to her, as a warning to others,” the Turkish activist ErsinÇelik, a participant in the Sumud flotilla, told Anadolu news agency.”+
Reposted by Becca Lewis
New from 404 Media: ICE to buy tool that tracks locations of hundreds of millions of phones every day. Billions of pieces of location data. ICE previously stopped using data remotely harvested from smartphones. Now it's buying it again. Usually used w/o warrant
www.404media.co/ice-to-buy-t...
www.404media.co/ice-to-buy-t...
ICE to Buy Tool that Tracks Locations of Hundreds of Millions of Phones Every Day
Documents show that ICE has gone back on its decision to not use location data remotely harvested from peoples' phones. The database is updated every day with billions of pieces of location data.
www.404media.co
September 30, 2025 at 9:47 PM
New from 404 Media: ICE to buy tool that tracks locations of hundreds of millions of phones every day. Billions of pieces of location data. ICE previously stopped using data remotely harvested from smartphones. Now it's buying it again. Usually used w/o warrant
www.404media.co/ice-to-buy-t...
www.404media.co/ice-to-buy-t...
Reposted by Becca Lewis
1/ A longtime Wired editor just wrote a mush-brained essay about how he totally missed the political rot of Silicon Valley (& still doesn't get it).
But in the late 1990s, a Wired journalist warned of a toxic ideology bubbling up from tech. Paulina Borsook has largely been erased. Let's change that
But in the late 1990s, a Wired journalist warned of a toxic ideology bubbling up from tech. Paulina Borsook has largely been erased. Let's change that
September 24, 2025 at 6:36 PM
1/ A longtime Wired editor just wrote a mush-brained essay about how he totally missed the political rot of Silicon Valley (& still doesn't get it).
But in the late 1990s, a Wired journalist warned of a toxic ideology bubbling up from tech. Paulina Borsook has largely been erased. Let's change that
But in the late 1990s, a Wired journalist warned of a toxic ideology bubbling up from tech. Paulina Borsook has largely been erased. Let's change that
Does anyone have any good recs on literature about the rise of celebrity CEOs as a cultural and/or economic phenomenon?
September 24, 2025 at 12:04 PM
Does anyone have any good recs on literature about the rise of celebrity CEOs as a cultural and/or economic phenomenon?
A cool CFP for academics studying podcasting!
criesandwhispers2026.wordpress.com
criesandwhispers2026.wordpress.com
(no title)
Visit the post for more.
criesandwhispers2026.wordpress.com
September 9, 2025 at 2:03 PM
A cool CFP for academics studying podcasting!
criesandwhispers2026.wordpress.com
criesandwhispers2026.wordpress.com
Reposted by Becca Lewis
Powerful analysis by @beccalew.bsky.social in @theguardian.com what looks like a recent backlash against diversity on digital platforms is in fact rooted in the 1990s, when masculinity, entrepreneurship & deregulation fused into a high-tech civilizational project www.theguardian.com/technology/n...
‘Headed for technofascism’: the rightwing roots of Silicon Valley
The industry’s liberal reputation is misleading. Its reactionary tendencies – celebrating wealth, power and traditional masculinity – have been clear since the dotcom mania of the 1990s
www.theguardian.com
August 23, 2025 at 12:56 PM
Powerful analysis by @beccalew.bsky.social in @theguardian.com what looks like a recent backlash against diversity on digital platforms is in fact rooted in the 1990s, when masculinity, entrepreneurship & deregulation fused into a high-tech civilizational project www.theguardian.com/technology/n...
Reposted by Becca Lewis
On this week's @onthemedia.bsky.social: @micahloewinger.bsky.social asking @beccalew.bsky.social about some of silicon valley's technocratic right-wing roots; Buckley and George Gilder to Marc Andreesen, Futurism to Fascism.
You might already know it, but i guarantee you know somebody who doesn't.
You might already know it, but i guarantee you know somebody who doesn't.
Silicon Valley's Rightwing Roots. Plus, the CEO of Bluesky Reimagines Social Media | On the Media | WNYC Studios
When Donald Trump returned to office, tech companies donated millions of dollars to his inaugural committee. On this week’s On the Media, the rightwing roots of Silicon Valley. Plus, ...
www.wnycstudios.org
August 16, 2025 at 5:08 PM
On this week's @onthemedia.bsky.social: @micahloewinger.bsky.social asking @beccalew.bsky.social about some of silicon valley's technocratic right-wing roots; Buckley and George Gilder to Marc Andreesen, Futurism to Fascism.
You might already know it, but i guarantee you know somebody who doesn't.
You might already know it, but i guarantee you know somebody who doesn't.
Reposted by Becca Lewis
Hi hello @onthemedia.bsky.social is rerunning some interviews I did. One with @beccalew.bsky.social and another with Bluesky CEO @jay.bsky.team. The episode also features @mmasnick.bsky.social, and @mollyfication.bsky.social’s excellent interview with @amandahess.bsky.social. Great show! Listen:
Silicon Valley's Rightwing Roots. Plus, the CEO of Bluesky Reimagines Social Media | On the Media | WNYC Studios
When Donald Trump returned to office, tech companies donated millions of dollars to his inaugural committee. On this week’s On the Media, the rightwing roots of Silicon Valley. Plus, ...
www.wnycstudios.org
August 16, 2025 at 1:57 PM
Hi hello @onthemedia.bsky.social is rerunning some interviews I did. One with @beccalew.bsky.social and another with Bluesky CEO @jay.bsky.team. The episode also features @mmasnick.bsky.social, and @mollyfication.bsky.social’s excellent interview with @amandahess.bsky.social. Great show! Listen:
Reposted by Becca Lewis
@beccalew.bsky.social sempre no ponto
August 14, 2025 at 1:29 AM
@beccalew.bsky.social sempre no ponto
Reposted by Becca Lewis
“Without immediate intervention, the last remaining reporters in Gaza are going to die.”
⚫️ La Direction de l’AFP partage l’angoisse exprimée par la SDJ quant à la situation effroyable de ses collaborateurs dans la bande de Gaza ⬇️
July 21, 2025 at 9:57 PM
“Without immediate intervention, the last remaining reporters in Gaza are going to die.”
Reposted by Becca Lewis
Palantir co-founder Joe Lonsdale announced today that, “The Abundance Institute, in partnership with Stand Together, is raising $4M to place a strike team of 15-20 AI-native software engineers, data scientists, & product leaders inside the FDA…” 7/7/25 1/ blog.joelonsdale.com/p/engineerin...
July 7, 2025 at 9:02 PM
Palantir co-founder Joe Lonsdale announced today that, “The Abundance Institute, in partnership with Stand Together, is raising $4M to place a strike team of 15-20 AI-native software engineers, data scientists, & product leaders inside the FDA…” 7/7/25 1/ blog.joelonsdale.com/p/engineerin...
Reposted by Becca Lewis
“Families across California told the Guardian they were exploring options to stockpile hormones, researching how to get care outside the US, growing increasingly fearful that parents could face government investigations or prosecutions, and discussing options to permanently flee the country.”
Trans youth fight for care as California clinics cave to Trump: ‘How can this happen here?’
These teens say gender-affirming care saved their lives – now they’re protesting as two leading US hospitals halt their treatments
www.theguardian.com
July 11, 2025 at 4:03 PM
“Families across California told the Guardian they were exploring options to stockpile hormones, researching how to get care outside the US, growing increasingly fearful that parents could face government investigations or prosecutions, and discussing options to permanently flee the country.”
Reposted by Becca Lewis
The chapter of RFK’s most recent book - that he wrote to defend his belief that COVID was actually a weapon designed to target white people and spare certain groups like Jewish people - in which he talks about how he does not believe germs actually cause disease is called “The White Man’s Burden.”
We don't call RFK Jr. a Nazi nearly enough.
June 21, 2025 at 2:42 AM
The chapter of RFK’s most recent book - that he wrote to defend his belief that COVID was actually a weapon designed to target white people and spare certain groups like Jewish people - in which he talks about how he does not believe germs actually cause disease is called “The White Man’s Burden.”
Reposted by Becca Lewis
Buried in a Senate budget bill is a massive giveaway to corporate developers and fossil fuel companies.
It forces the sale of at least 2 million acres of Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management land in 11 Western states *every 60 days* until millions of acres are gone.
It forces the sale of at least 2 million acres of Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management land in 11 Western states *every 60 days* until millions of acres are gone.
June 16, 2025 at 9:13 PM
Buried in a Senate budget bill is a massive giveaway to corporate developers and fossil fuel companies.
It forces the sale of at least 2 million acres of Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management land in 11 Western states *every 60 days* until millions of acres are gone.
It forces the sale of at least 2 million acres of Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management land in 11 Western states *every 60 days* until millions of acres are gone.
Reposted by Becca Lewis
Another flight of an aircraft with no call sign circling above anti-ICE protests. It took off from March Air Reserve Base, circled above Paramount, and is now circling above downtown LA (the National Guard is moving protesters away from the Metropolitan Detention Center downtown)
June 8, 2025 at 10:35 PM
Another flight of an aircraft with no call sign circling above anti-ICE protests. It took off from March Air Reserve Base, circled above Paramount, and is now circling above downtown LA (the National Guard is moving protesters away from the Metropolitan Detention Center downtown)