David Folkenflik
@davidfolkenflik.bsky.social
NPR media guy
Author, Murdoch’s World
Author, Murdoch’s World
Pinned
Hey folks. 👋🏼
I cover media, politics and the news business for NPR News.
Intend to post and explore here, mostly about my work, the occasional personal musing.
Let’s do this!
I cover media, politics and the news business for NPR News.
Intend to post and explore here, mostly about my work, the occasional personal musing.
Let’s do this!
Reposted by David Folkenflik
Trump's Pentagon threatens to recall Democratic Senator Mark Kelly, a retired Navy captain, to active duty status in order to prosecute him - days after Trump criticized him and five other Democrats and said they could be executed for a video saying troops could refuse to obey illegal orders.
November 24, 2025 at 6:10 PM
Trump's Pentagon threatens to recall Democratic Senator Mark Kelly, a retired Navy captain, to active duty status in order to prosecute him - days after Trump criticized him and five other Democrats and said they could be executed for a video saying troops could refuse to obey illegal orders.
Reposted by David Folkenflik
"It seems like a marvel of financial engineering: Meta is building a $27 billion data center in Louisiana, financed with debt, and neither the data center nor the debt will be on its own balance sheet."
AI Meets Aggressive Accounting at Meta’s Gigantic New Data Center
Favorable treatment off the balance sheet hinges on some convenient assumptions.
www.wsj.com
November 24, 2025 at 12:05 PM
"It seems like a marvel of financial engineering: Meta is building a $27 billion data center in Louisiana, financed with debt, and neither the data center nor the debt will be on its own balance sheet."
Reposted by David Folkenflik
Emmanuel, a 15-year-old with intellectual disabilities, wandered away from his mom’s fruit stand in October.
She reported him missing to Houston police. But instead of reuniting them, the city turned him over to ICE.
“They’re failing all of us,” his mom said.
thebarbedwire.com/2025/11/24/d...
She reported him missing to Houston police. But instead of reuniting them, the city turned him over to ICE.
“They’re failing all of us,” his mom said.
thebarbedwire.com/2025/11/24/d...
A Disabled Child’s Mom Reported Him Missing. He Was Locked Away by Federal Immigration Authorities for 48 Days.
Emmanuel, a 15-year-old who has an intellectual disability, walked away from his mom’s fruit stand in October. Houston Police called ICE.
thebarbedwire.com
November 24, 2025 at 3:03 PM
Emmanuel, a 15-year-old with intellectual disabilities, wandered away from his mom’s fruit stand in October.
She reported him missing to Houston police. But instead of reuniting them, the city turned him over to ICE.
“They’re failing all of us,” his mom said.
thebarbedwire.com/2025/11/24/d...
She reported him missing to Houston police. But instead of reuniting them, the city turned him over to ICE.
“They’re failing all of us,” his mom said.
thebarbedwire.com/2025/11/24/d...
Reposted by David Folkenflik
It's Books We Love Day, aka the best day of the year, shepherded by @bethnovey.bsky.social and the rest of the stellar books team at @npr.org!
Books We Love
Here are 380+ great reads from 2025 handpicked just for you by NPR staffers and trusted critics.
apps.npr.org
November 24, 2025 at 3:48 PM
It's Books We Love Day, aka the best day of the year, shepherded by @bethnovey.bsky.social and the rest of the stellar books team at @npr.org!
Reposted by David Folkenflik
Meta’s data-center accounting gets the Jon Weil treatment:
It’s “financed with debt, and neither the data center nor the debt will be on its own balance sheet. That outcome looks too good to be true, and it probably is.”
@wsj.com $META
www.wsj.com/tech/meta-ai...
It’s “financed with debt, and neither the data center nor the debt will be on its own balance sheet. That outcome looks too good to be true, and it probably is.”
@wsj.com $META
www.wsj.com/tech/meta-ai...
November 24, 2025 at 10:59 AM
Meta’s data-center accounting gets the Jon Weil treatment:
It’s “financed with debt, and neither the data center nor the debt will be on its own balance sheet. That outcome looks too good to be true, and it probably is.”
@wsj.com $META
www.wsj.com/tech/meta-ai...
It’s “financed with debt, and neither the data center nor the debt will be on its own balance sheet. That outcome looks too good to be true, and it probably is.”
@wsj.com $META
www.wsj.com/tech/meta-ai...
Reposted by David Folkenflik
While major news outlets obsessed over the anticipated release of the Epstein files, MAGA news influencers partied at Mar-a-Lago. Read Amos Barshad.
www.cjr.org/feature/jame...
www.cjr.org/feature/jame...
While major news outlets obsessed over the anticipated release of the Epstein files, MAGA news influencers partied at Mar-a-Lago.
While major news outlets obsessed over the anticipated release of the Epstein files, Trump-friendly news influencers celebrated how far they’ve come.
www.cjr.org
November 24, 2025 at 12:26 PM
While major news outlets obsessed over the anticipated release of the Epstein files, MAGA news influencers partied at Mar-a-Lago. Read Amos Barshad.
www.cjr.org/feature/jame...
www.cjr.org/feature/jame...
Reposted by David Folkenflik
They planned to force him to crash or shoot him for recording their crimes. They then accused him of assaulting them. www.charlotteobserver.com/news/local/c...
ICE video shows officers planned to ‘smash’ into Charlotte man filming Border Patrol
Immigration agents had a 12-pack of Modelos in their car while making arrests, Miguel Angel Garcia Martinez told investigators.
www.charlotteobserver.com
November 22, 2025 at 9:59 PM
They planned to force him to crash or shoot him for recording their crimes. They then accused him of assaulting them. www.charlotteobserver.com/news/local/c...
Reposted by David Folkenflik
Ohio utility regulators handed down a quarter billion-dollar penalty Wednesday against FirstEnergy for its part in the Ohio House Bill 6 political bribery and utility bailout scandal. ohiocapitaljournal.com/2025/11/21/o...
Ohio regulators order $250 million penalty against FirstEnergy for role in bribery scandal • Ohio Capital Journal
Ohio utility regulators handed down a quarter billion-dollar penalty Wednesday against FirstEnergy for its part in the Ohio House Bill 6 scandal. The Public Utility Commission of Ohio decision comes…
ohiocapitaljournal.com
November 22, 2025 at 6:01 PM
Ohio utility regulators handed down a quarter billion-dollar penalty Wednesday against FirstEnergy for its part in the Ohio House Bill 6 political bribery and utility bailout scandal. ohiocapitaljournal.com/2025/11/21/o...
Reposted by David Folkenflik
“When you are dying, at least in my limited experience, you start remembering everything.” Tatiana Schlossberg, the daughter of Caroline Kennedy, writes about receiving a terminal diagnosis. https://newyorkermag.visitlink.me/4SkkDI
A Battle with My Blood
When I was diagnosed with leukemia, my first thought was that this couldn’t be happening to me, to my family.
newyorkermag.visitlink.me
November 22, 2025 at 4:10 PM
“When you are dying, at least in my limited experience, you start remembering everything.” Tatiana Schlossberg, the daughter of Caroline Kennedy, writes about receiving a terminal diagnosis. https://newyorkermag.visitlink.me/4SkkDI
Reposted by David Folkenflik
The Salt Lake Tribune, which went from for-profit to non-profit 6 years ago, is about to drop its paywall. "The Tribune cannot afford to limit who has access to independent and trusted news."
Meanwhile, it just launched a new newspaper in southern Utah.
www.sltrib.com/news/2025/11...
Meanwhile, it just launched a new newspaper in southern Utah.
www.sltrib.com/news/2025/11...
The Salt Lake Tribune will drop its paywall next year, CEO tells donors at NewsMakers gala
After years of requiring people to pay for online news content, The Tribune announced an upcoming change during its 2025 annual NewsMakers Gala.
www.sltrib.com
November 21, 2025 at 7:41 PM
The Salt Lake Tribune, which went from for-profit to non-profit 6 years ago, is about to drop its paywall. "The Tribune cannot afford to limit who has access to independent and trusted news."
Meanwhile, it just launched a new newspaper in southern Utah.
www.sltrib.com/news/2025/11...
Meanwhile, it just launched a new newspaper in southern Utah.
www.sltrib.com/news/2025/11...
Reposted by David Folkenflik
NEW: Trump has offered his personal support to MAGA influencer Nick Sortor and invited him to the White House as a star journalist. While Sortor was at an event with Trump, Bondi, Patel and Noem, a warrant for his arrest was active in Kentucky.
jacquelinesweet.substack.com/p/maga-influ...
jacquelinesweet.substack.com/p/maga-influ...
MAGA influencer invited to White House as a favorite Trump "journalist" has an active warrant for his arrest
A woman said he stole her dog, then assaulted her after she rebuffed his sexual advances. Now Nick Sortor is facing arrest in Kentucky for violating his probation.
jacquelinesweet.substack.com
November 21, 2025 at 3:05 PM
NEW: Trump has offered his personal support to MAGA influencer Nick Sortor and invited him to the White House as a star journalist. While Sortor was at an event with Trump, Bondi, Patel and Noem, a warrant for his arrest was active in Kentucky.
jacquelinesweet.substack.com/p/maga-influ...
jacquelinesweet.substack.com/p/maga-influ...
Trump is insulting and seeking to intimidate reporters. He's also sending a message to media bosses: you better play ball.
My analysis from today's Morning Edition
one.npr.org/i/nx-s1-5613...
My analysis from today's Morning Edition
one.npr.org/i/nx-s1-5613...
🔊 Listen Now: Trump lashes out at reporter, highlighting a pattern of attacking press he dislikes
Morning Edition on NPR One | 3:55
one.npr.org
November 20, 2025 at 1:19 PM
Trump is insulting and seeking to intimidate reporters. He's also sending a message to media bosses: you better play ball.
My analysis from today's Morning Edition
one.npr.org/i/nx-s1-5613...
My analysis from today's Morning Edition
one.npr.org/i/nx-s1-5613...
Reposted by David Folkenflik
Breaking: The House voted unanimously, 426-0, to strip a provision in the funding bill that allowed senators to sue the government for $500K if their phone data was searched without their knowledge.
The provision was designed for GOP senators to sue over the Jack Smith investigation.
The provision was designed for GOP senators to sue over the Jack Smith investigation.
November 20, 2025 at 3:00 AM
Breaking: The House voted unanimously, 426-0, to strip a provision in the funding bill that allowed senators to sue the government for $500K if their phone data was searched without their knowledge.
The provision was designed for GOP senators to sue over the Jack Smith investigation.
The provision was designed for GOP senators to sue over the Jack Smith investigation.
Reposted by David Folkenflik
SCOOP — A former staffer for Rep. Jeff Van Drew (R-NJ), Natalie Green, 26, was charged today for falsely reporting she was attacked by 3 men who wrote "TRUMP WHORE" on her stomach bc of her job. It was staged by her + a friend.
Van Drew isn't named in the complaint but I've confirmed w/ his office.
Van Drew isn't named in the complaint but I've confirmed w/ his office.
Employee of a Federal Official Charged with Conspiracy to Falsely Report Violent Attack and Giving False Statements to Law Enforcement
A New Jersey woman was charged with conspiring and falsely reporting to law enforcement that she had been violently assaulted with a firearm due to her employment with a federal official.
www.justice.gov
November 19, 2025 at 11:22 PM
SCOOP — A former staffer for Rep. Jeff Van Drew (R-NJ), Natalie Green, 26, was charged today for falsely reporting she was attacked by 3 men who wrote "TRUMP WHORE" on her stomach bc of her job. It was staged by her + a friend.
Van Drew isn't named in the complaint but I've confirmed w/ his office.
Van Drew isn't named in the complaint but I've confirmed w/ his office.
Reposted by David Folkenflik
“.. a finding that could end America’s status as a nation that has eliminated measles.”
@nytimes.com
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/17/h...
@nytimes.com
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/17/h...
November 18, 2025 at 12:59 PM
“.. a finding that could end America’s status as a nation that has eliminated measles.”
@nytimes.com
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/17/h...
@nytimes.com
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/17/h...
Good rant here from Columbia's @bgrueskin.bsky.social - a veteran news executive
…and then the rest of the White House press corps pushed back against the president’s gratuitous insult aimed at one of their colleagues?
Oh wait! There’s no sign that anything like that happened!
Because access beats out solidarity, every day of the week.
people.com/donald-trump...
Oh wait! There’s no sign that anything like that happened!
Because access beats out solidarity, every day of the week.
people.com/donald-trump...
Donald Trump Snaps at Female Reporter Who Asks About Epstein Files: 'Quiet Piggy'
Donald Trump Says 'Quiet Piggy' to Female Reporter Asking About Epstein Files
people.com
November 18, 2025 at 1:04 PM
Good rant here from Columbia's @bgrueskin.bsky.social - a veteran news executive
News:
To settle NPR's lawsuit, CPB revives $36 million deal it killed after Trump’s pressure
My story for NPR:
www.npr.org/2025/11/17/n...
To settle NPR's lawsuit, CPB revives $36 million deal it killed after Trump’s pressure
My story for NPR:
www.npr.org/2025/11/17/n...
CPB agrees to revive a $36 million deal with NPR killed after Trump's pressure
The Corporation for Public Broadcasting agreed Monday to fulfill a $35.9 million, multi-year contract with NPR that it had yanked after pressure from the Trump White House.
www.npr.org
November 18, 2025 at 12:15 AM
News:
To settle NPR's lawsuit, CPB revives $36 million deal it killed after Trump’s pressure
My story for NPR:
www.npr.org/2025/11/17/n...
To settle NPR's lawsuit, CPB revives $36 million deal it killed after Trump’s pressure
My story for NPR:
www.npr.org/2025/11/17/n...
Reposted by David Folkenflik
here's the context bsky.app/profile/arid...
“would you like photos of donald and girls in bikinis in my kitchen?” -Jeffrey Epstein
November 12, 2025 at 9:35 PM
here's the context bsky.app/profile/arid...
Reposted by David Folkenflik
This story by @davidfolkenflik.bsky.social about Landon Thomas, former NYT reporter now appearing in the latest email tranche, soliciting a $30k contribution from Jeffrey Epstein?
Yes, you can read it here
www.npr.org/2019/08/22/7...
Yes, you can read it here
www.npr.org/2019/08/22/7...
November 12, 2025 at 8:59 PM
This story by @davidfolkenflik.bsky.social about Landon Thomas, former NYT reporter now appearing in the latest email tranche, soliciting a $30k contribution from Jeffrey Epstein?
Yes, you can read it here
www.npr.org/2019/08/22/7...
Yes, you can read it here
www.npr.org/2019/08/22/7...
Update: In 3 recent editorials, WaPo failed to disclose owner Jeff Bezos's interest in the matter under discussion.
WaPo added one disclosure after @bgrueskin.bsky.social called it out.
Two weeks after my story, the other two editorials still have none. And the paper still won't say why
WaPo added one disclosure after @bgrueskin.bsky.social called it out.
Two weeks after my story, the other two editorials still have none. And the paper still won't say why
'Washington Post' editorials omit a key disclosure: Bezos' financial ties
Three times in the past two weeks, editorials at the 'Washington Post' failed to disclose that they focused on matters in which owner Jeff Bezos had a material interest.
www.npr.org
November 10, 2025 at 10:56 PM
Update: In 3 recent editorials, WaPo failed to disclose owner Jeff Bezos's interest in the matter under discussion.
WaPo added one disclosure after @bgrueskin.bsky.social called it out.
Two weeks after my story, the other two editorials still have none. And the paper still won't say why
WaPo added one disclosure after @bgrueskin.bsky.social called it out.
Two weeks after my story, the other two editorials still have none. And the paper still won't say why
About that BBC crisis - and Trump's threat of a lawsuit
I'll break it all down with NPR's @ailsachang.bsky.social
Tonight at 5.14/7.14p ET on All Things Considered
I'll break it all down with NPR's @ailsachang.bsky.social
Tonight at 5.14/7.14p ET on All Things Considered
November 10, 2025 at 10:10 PM
About that BBC crisis - and Trump's threat of a lawsuit
I'll break it all down with NPR's @ailsachang.bsky.social
Tonight at 5.14/7.14p ET on All Things Considered
I'll break it all down with NPR's @ailsachang.bsky.social
Tonight at 5.14/7.14p ET on All Things Considered
Trial set for Dec 1 over NPR's allegations that CPB unlawfully yielded to White House pressure as new evidence comes to light.
CPB contends it reversed course in 48 hours on a $36M contract with NPR on the merits.
My story:
www.npr.org/2025/10/30/n...
CPB contends it reversed course in 48 hours on a $36M contract with NPR on the merits.
My story:
www.npr.org/2025/10/30/n...
Trial set over NPR allegations that CPB yielded to White House pressure
NPR alleges that CPB unlawfully yanked away a planned three-year contract worth $36 million in the face of intense pressure from the White House to sever ties with the radio network.
www.npr.org
October 30, 2025 at 6:56 PM
Trial set for Dec 1 over NPR's allegations that CPB unlawfully yielded to White House pressure as new evidence comes to light.
CPB contends it reversed course in 48 hours on a $36M contract with NPR on the merits.
My story:
www.npr.org/2025/10/30/n...
CPB contends it reversed course in 48 hours on a $36M contract with NPR on the merits.
My story:
www.npr.org/2025/10/30/n...
Reposted by David Folkenflik
HAPPENING NOW: Portland Police Commander Franz Schoening testifies that federal officers on Oct. 18 barraged protesters with crowd control munitions — not because of any violence but because another federal officer accidentally shot tear gas onto the roof of the ICE facility.
October 29, 2025 at 6:05 PM
HAPPENING NOW: Portland Police Commander Franz Schoening testifies that federal officers on Oct. 18 barraged protesters with crowd control munitions — not because of any violence but because another federal officer accidentally shot tear gas onto the roof of the ICE facility.
Reposted by David Folkenflik
DHS says our new piece is "dishonest, slanted, and fundamentally inaccurate" but won't say why. Here's the story where we show with evidence that DHS spliced together clips spanning years and multiple locations to create its own reality. Gift link wapo.st/4nuDGwf
October 30, 2025 at 3:26 AM
DHS says our new piece is "dishonest, slanted, and fundamentally inaccurate" but won't say why. Here's the story where we show with evidence that DHS spliced together clips spanning years and multiple locations to create its own reality. Gift link wapo.st/4nuDGwf
Reposted by David Folkenflik
ICE and Border Patrol agents, while wearing face masks, randomly stop people on the street and demand they submit to facial-recognition technology for a citizenship check.
Via @josephcox.bsky.social
www.404media.co/ice-and-cbp-...
Via @josephcox.bsky.social
www.404media.co/ice-and-cbp-...
ICE and CBP Agents Are Scanning Peoples’ Faces on the Street To Verify Citizenship
Videos on social media show officers from ICE and CBP using facial recognition technology on people in the field. One expert described the practice as “pure dystopian creep.”
www.404media.co
October 29, 2025 at 3:19 PM
ICE and Border Patrol agents, while wearing face masks, randomly stop people on the street and demand they submit to facial-recognition technology for a citizenship check.
Via @josephcox.bsky.social
www.404media.co/ice-and-cbp-...
Via @josephcox.bsky.social
www.404media.co/ice-and-cbp-...