Derek B. Johnson
@derekbjohnson.bsky.social
Reporter and knowledge broker at CyberScoop, covering privacy, AI and elections. Priors at Federal Computer Week and SC Media. Send tips, leaks and well-wishes to [email protected] or DM for Signal.
He has never wanted - or even pretended to care about - the actual nuts and bolts of governing. This was just where the next con and thrill seeking led him. It's a remarkable indictment of modern American politics that someone like him could ascend to the highest office in the land twice.
December 1, 2025 at 6:08 PM
He has never wanted - or even pretended to care about - the actual nuts and bolts of governing. This was just where the next con and thrill seeking led him. It's a remarkable indictment of modern American politics that someone like him could ascend to the highest office in the land twice.
trump is the president in the sense that he holds the office but he very clearly isn't the president in the sense that he has basically relieved himself of its duties
Trump’s echo chamber:
Very little U.S travel
No rallies or contact with supporters
Right-wing media
Dinners with rich donors and billionaires
Truth Social
Lack of staff to tell him no www.theatlantic.com/politics/202...
Very little U.S travel
No rallies or contact with supporters
Right-wing media
Dinners with rich donors and billionaires
Truth Social
Lack of staff to tell him no www.theatlantic.com/politics/202...
December 1, 2025 at 6:02 PM
Surprisingly, Ed.
December 1, 2025 at 2:57 PM
Surprisingly, Ed.
Reposted by Derek B. Johnson
Unfortunately, in US journalism it is considered neutral to spread a lie, but it is considered "biased" to call out a lie. So, there is a structural asymmetry that rewards colorful lies with virality.
November 30, 2025 at 1:16 AM
Unfortunately, in US journalism it is considered neutral to spread a lie, but it is considered "biased" to call out a lie. So, there is a structural asymmetry that rewards colorful lies with virality.
Reposted by Derek B. Johnson
This is not a "students today" post--it's more "this is a new form of dysfunction" that doesn't look exactly like it's been in previous decades. It's more than just "first-year chaos." It's an across-the-board inability to process instructions, engage with longer texts, and *connect* with others.
November 28, 2025 at 10:22 PM
This is not a "students today" post--it's more "this is a new form of dysfunction" that doesn't look exactly like it's been in previous decades. It's more than just "first-year chaos." It's an across-the-board inability to process instructions, engage with longer texts, and *connect* with others.
Reposted by Derek B. Johnson
The baseline structure of the US constitution can survive many things. What it cannot survive is the speaker of the house being an omega male who is completely submissive to the president and willing to surrender all of his power. Mike Johnson is genuinely groundbreaking in this regard.
November 28, 2025 at 11:56 PM
The baseline structure of the US constitution can survive many things. What it cannot survive is the speaker of the house being an omega male who is completely submissive to the president and willing to surrender all of his power. Mike Johnson is genuinely groundbreaking in this regard.
Reposted by Derek B. Johnson
Competitive depravity--transgression without accountability, pursued by elites as a means of personal satisfaction and status competition with each other--is the red thread linking use of the offshore system with the rampant sexual exploitation of women observed among many wealthy, powerful men.
November 27, 2025 at 10:53 AM
Competitive depravity--transgression without accountability, pursued by elites as a means of personal satisfaction and status competition with each other--is the red thread linking use of the offshore system with the rampant sexual exploitation of women observed among many wealthy, powerful men.
Reposted by Derek B. Johnson
You can see how an elite male culture of transgression--whether of laws or social norms--spirals quickly into what I call "competitive depravity."
Competitive depravity is what we see in the Epstein files.
Competitive depravity is also on flamboyant display in the Panama Papers.
Competitive depravity is what we see in the Epstein files.
Competitive depravity is also on flamboyant display in the Panama Papers.
November 27, 2025 at 10:53 AM
You can see how an elite male culture of transgression--whether of laws or social norms--spirals quickly into what I call "competitive depravity."
Competitive depravity is what we see in the Epstein files.
Competitive depravity is also on flamboyant display in the Panama Papers.
Competitive depravity is what we see in the Epstein files.
Competitive depravity is also on flamboyant display in the Panama Papers.