Nitish Pahwa
@nitishpahwa.com
staff writer for business/tech @slate.com and online media council member @wgaeast.bsky.social
he/him
he/him
Pinned
Nitish Pahwa
@nitishpahwa.com
· Oct 14
He Used to Dominate Daytime TV. Now He’s Sucking Up to Trump—and His Media Empire Is Collapsing.
When Dr. Phil signed off his talk show in 2023, he pivoted to MAGA politics. It’s not working so well for him.
slate.com
wrote about how Dr. Phil pivoted to wholesale MAGA punditry after leaving daytime TV to start his own company—and why his Trump friendship and ICE ride-alongs couldn't save his new venture from the bankruptcy proceedings that now have him tied up in court slate.com/business/202...
Reposted by Nitish Pahwa
Non-industry compromised scientists keep saying these models don't become safe, no matter what, but people keep thinking just because the concept of guardrails is mentioned it must work. By definition, it doesn't. This is not something open to discussion, unless you're a paid shill.
"Powered by OpenAI’s GPT-4o model by default...tests repeatedly showed that the AI toy dropped its guardrails the longer a conversation went on, until hitting rock bottom on incredibly disturbing topics."
AI-Powered Stuffed Animal Pulled From Market After Disturbing Interactions With Children
FoloToy says it's suspended sales of its AI-powered teddy bear after researchers found it gave wildly inappropriate and dangerous answers.
futurism.com
November 17, 2025 at 5:18 AM
Non-industry compromised scientists keep saying these models don't become safe, no matter what, but people keep thinking just because the concept of guardrails is mentioned it must work. By definition, it doesn't. This is not something open to discussion, unless you're a paid shill.
Reposted by Nitish Pahwa
i'm watching the 2008 HBO movie RECOUNT about the 2000 presidential election like i'm mark wahlberg talking about 9/11. "yeah if i had been there, gore woulda been president"
November 16, 2025 at 11:02 PM
i'm watching the 2008 HBO movie RECOUNT about the 2000 presidential election like i'm mark wahlberg talking about 9/11. "yeah if i had been there, gore woulda been president"
Reposted by Nitish Pahwa
This is like after 9/11 when George Bush made sure all his KSA buds got to leave the nation while all americans were grounded, except for pedophiles lol
November 17, 2025 at 1:19 AM
This is like after 9/11 when George Bush made sure all his KSA buds got to leave the nation while all americans were grounded, except for pedophiles lol
what are your top 5 movie genres?
- post-hyperpop
- chill lo-fi beats to relax and study to
- autotune the news
- blackgaze
- 1.5-speed TikTok snippet
- post-hyperpop
- chill lo-fi beats to relax and study to
- autotune the news
- blackgaze
- 1.5-speed TikTok snippet
What are your top 5 movie genres?
- submarine
- procedural
- heist
- revenge
- screwball comedy
- submarine
- procedural
- heist
- revenge
- screwball comedy
What are your top 5 movie genres?
- political thriller
- music documentary
- depressing
- with subtitles, long and difficult
- action (HK, French, otherwise)
- political thriller
- music documentary
- depressing
- with subtitles, long and difficult
- action (HK, French, otherwise)
November 16, 2025 at 11:05 PM
what are your top 5 movie genres?
- post-hyperpop
- chill lo-fi beats to relax and study to
- autotune the news
- blackgaze
- 1.5-speed TikTok snippet
- post-hyperpop
- chill lo-fi beats to relax and study to
- autotune the news
- blackgaze
- 1.5-speed TikTok snippet
Reposted by Nitish Pahwa
this may sound a bit extreme but watching this with the sound on caused me to die
November 16, 2025 at 2:42 PM
this may sound a bit extreme but watching this with the sound on caused me to die
the great @gardenerjams.bsky.social pens a retrospective on one of my all-time favorite rap LPs 🫡 pitchfork.com/reviews/albu...
Aesop Rock: Float
Read Dash Lewis’ review of the album.
pitchfork.com
November 16, 2025 at 5:11 PM
the great @gardenerjams.bsky.social pens a retrospective on one of my all-time favorite rap LPs 🫡 pitchfork.com/reviews/albu...
Reposted by Nitish Pahwa
people don’t blog anymore, there is only posting
when you write on bluesky/anisota/mastodon it’s posting
when you write on leaflet, substack, medium it’s posting
posting is posting, some channels have limitations, but it’s all just posting
when you write on bluesky/anisota/mastodon it’s posting
when you write on leaflet, substack, medium it’s posting
posting is posting, some channels have limitations, but it’s all just posting
November 16, 2025 at 5:09 PM
people don’t blog anymore, there is only posting
when you write on bluesky/anisota/mastodon it’s posting
when you write on leaflet, substack, medium it’s posting
posting is posting, some channels have limitations, but it’s all just posting
when you write on bluesky/anisota/mastodon it’s posting
when you write on leaflet, substack, medium it’s posting
posting is posting, some channels have limitations, but it’s all just posting
Reposted by Nitish Pahwa
Prediction:
I think Sinner wins this one pretty easily. Carlos’s level has dropped a little since the US Open, the surface doesn’t benefit him, and Sinner has looked incredible
I think Sinner wins this one pretty easily. Carlos’s level has dropped a little since the US Open, the surface doesn’t benefit him, and Sinner has looked incredible
November 16, 2025 at 5:09 PM
Prediction:
I think Sinner wins this one pretty easily. Carlos’s level has dropped a little since the US Open, the surface doesn’t benefit him, and Sinner has looked incredible
I think Sinner wins this one pretty easily. Carlos’s level has dropped a little since the US Open, the surface doesn’t benefit him, and Sinner has looked incredible
Reposted by Nitish Pahwa
BOTD, 1931: Hubert Sumlin (d. 2011). Not the most famous of guitarists, but a big reason why your Howlin' Wolf records sound so cool.
youtu.be/fXYCwK_HxIQ?...
youtu.be/fXYCwK_HxIQ?...
Do The Do
YouTube video by Howlin' Wolf - Topic
youtu.be
November 16, 2025 at 5:08 PM
BOTD, 1931: Hubert Sumlin (d. 2011). Not the most famous of guitarists, but a big reason why your Howlin' Wolf records sound so cool.
youtu.be/fXYCwK_HxIQ?...
youtu.be/fXYCwK_HxIQ?...
Reposted by Nitish Pahwa
From @ericidle.bsky.social & Neil Innes' brilliant & criminally overlooked/unavailable RUTLAND WEEKEND TELEVISION, here's a truncated glimpse of George Harrison's Christmas 1975 guest appearance runner, where he didn't want to perform a song - He really just wanted to play a pirate...
November 14, 2025 at 8:42 AM
From @ericidle.bsky.social & Neil Innes' brilliant & criminally overlooked/unavailable RUTLAND WEEKEND TELEVISION, here's a truncated glimpse of George Harrison's Christmas 1975 guest appearance runner, where he didn't want to perform a song - He really just wanted to play a pirate...
Reposted by Nitish Pahwa
Remember that her husband is already gearing up to do it again.
November 16, 2025 at 4:45 AM
Remember that her husband is already gearing up to do it again.
Reposted by Nitish Pahwa
put the pope in nba 2k27
Spike Lee just blessed Pope Leo with a custom Knicks jersey during his visit to the Vatican, just one week after the Pope was gifted a custom Chicago Bulls one.
Spike Lee Blesses Pope Leo with Knicks Jersey
Spike Lee just blessed Pope Leo with a custom Knicks jersey during his visit to the Vatican, just one week after the Pope was gifted a custom Chicago Bulls one.
www.vulture.com
November 16, 2025 at 5:43 AM
put the pope in nba 2k27
Reposted by Nitish Pahwa
Y’all wanna hear a wild story? Charlie is right — this medley Prince made 30 years ago, blending many of his greatest hits & fan favorites into an extended mashup, is one of the most fun “only Prince could do this” things he made in the 90s. BUT: he told us he was gonna do it. In an AOL chat room…
Unpopular opinion: the Purple Medley is one of the best things Prince ever did.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=5nJE...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=5nJE...
Prince - The Purple Medley (Fan Music Video)
YouTube video by VDJ Vivacity
www.youtube.com
November 16, 2025 at 12:58 AM
Y’all wanna hear a wild story? Charlie is right — this medley Prince made 30 years ago, blending many of his greatest hits & fan favorites into an extended mashup, is one of the most fun “only Prince could do this” things he made in the 90s. BUT: he told us he was gonna do it. In an AOL chat room…
Reposted by Nitish Pahwa
Beginning to understand why Mamdani's first move is to reform property taxes lmao what is going on
November 16, 2025 at 5:13 AM
Beginning to understand why Mamdani's first move is to reform property taxes lmao what is going on
Reposted by Nitish Pahwa
Here is why I don't trust Reid Hoffman's completely bullshit explanations regarding this story.
Have people read at all about what this private island was like? It was horrible! And remember he did this AFTER Epstein was a convicted sex offender!
Have people read at all about what this private island was like? It was horrible! And remember he did this AFTER Epstein was a convicted sex offender!
LinkedIn billionaire Reid Hoffman visited Jeffrey Epstein’s private island, planned to visit NYC mansion
The documents detailed Hoffman’s plans to stay the night in Epstein’s townhouse following a late-night flight to Manhattan on Dec. 4, 2014. In the morning, he planned to attend a “…
nypost.com
November 16, 2025 at 5:02 AM
Here is why I don't trust Reid Hoffman's completely bullshit explanations regarding this story.
Have people read at all about what this private island was like? It was horrible! And remember he did this AFTER Epstein was a convicted sex offender!
Have people read at all about what this private island was like? It was horrible! And remember he did this AFTER Epstein was a convicted sex offender!
SNL's about to earn a lot of goodwill for that A.I.-imagery sketch
November 16, 2025 at 4:59 AM
SNL's about to earn a lot of goodwill for that A.I.-imagery sketch
Reposted by Nitish Pahwa
Apparently the lesson Brendan Carr learned from the Kimmel debacle is that he didn't actually have any consequences for abusing his power to violate the 1st Amendment, so he's just going to keep at it.
November 16, 2025 at 3:34 AM
Apparently the lesson Brendan Carr learned from the Kimmel debacle is that he didn't actually have any consequences for abusing his power to violate the 1st Amendment, so he's just going to keep at it.
Reposted by Nitish Pahwa
Just re-watched Kubrick’s “Lolita” and it remains a brilliantly funny, incredibly disturbing film, and — like the novel — a foolproof litmus test.
November 16, 2025 at 4:00 AM
Just re-watched Kubrick’s “Lolita” and it remains a brilliantly funny, incredibly disturbing film, and — like the novel — a foolproof litmus test.
Reposted by Nitish Pahwa
PBS NEWS WEEKEND has been cancelled and 34 jobs will be cut at WETA in Washington D.C.
The NEWS HOUR West Coast bureau will also close and the updated daily West Coast broadcast will end.
“We cannot fully compensate for the scope of the federal funding loss.”
current.org/2025/11/weta... #PBS
The NEWS HOUR West Coast bureau will also close and the updated daily West Coast broadcast will end.
“We cannot fully compensate for the scope of the federal funding loss.”
current.org/2025/11/weta... #PBS
WETA to cut staff, cancel ‘PBS News Weekend’ and close News Hour West bureau
The restructuring includes the elimination of 34 positions, following another round of cuts made in September.
current.org
November 16, 2025 at 12:36 AM
PBS NEWS WEEKEND has been cancelled and 34 jobs will be cut at WETA in Washington D.C.
The NEWS HOUR West Coast bureau will also close and the updated daily West Coast broadcast will end.
“We cannot fully compensate for the scope of the federal funding loss.”
current.org/2025/11/weta... #PBS
The NEWS HOUR West Coast bureau will also close and the updated daily West Coast broadcast will end.
“We cannot fully compensate for the scope of the federal funding loss.”
current.org/2025/11/weta... #PBS
Reposted by Nitish Pahwa
Not that I believe really anything Nuzzi writes, given her record, but the far bigger scandal here is her claim that RFK Jr. was still actively using psychedelics last year, then became HHS secretary in an admin that is killing people for smuggling recreational drugs.
November 15, 2025 at 7:05 PM
Not that I believe really anything Nuzzi writes, given her record, but the far bigger scandal here is her claim that RFK Jr. was still actively using psychedelics last year, then became HHS secretary in an admin that is killing people for smuggling recreational drugs.
damn ... another stellar alum of KOTH (and so, so much else) has passed
Bill Oakley shared this sad news on Twitter, hadn’t seen it here yet: Dan McGrath has passed away.
A fantastic writer for SNL, Simpsons, Mission Hill (he wrote many fan’s favorite episode), King of the Hill, The PJs, and Gravity Falls. Any comedy nerd of the last 40 years knows so much of his work
A fantastic writer for SNL, Simpsons, Mission Hill (he wrote many fan’s favorite episode), King of the Hill, The PJs, and Gravity Falls. Any comedy nerd of the last 40 years knows so much of his work
November 16, 2025 at 1:51 AM
damn ... another stellar alum of KOTH (and so, so much else) has passed
Reposted by Nitish Pahwa
in the actual real world secret police are disappearing americans on behalf of an openly white nationalist government but george packer’s latest is a novel about a world beset by woke totalitarianism
What Happens When an Empire Falls? This Novel Has Some Ideas.
www.nytimes.com
November 15, 2025 at 4:10 PM
in the actual real world secret police are disappearing americans on behalf of an openly white nationalist government but george packer’s latest is a novel about a world beset by woke totalitarianism
Reposted by Nitish Pahwa
I just noticed that there’s a new Alice Diop (Saint Omer) short on Mubi this week. mubi.com/en/us/films/...
Watch Fragments for Venus (2025) on MUBI
A Black woman wanders alone through the galleries of a museum, carefully examining each painting, searching for something. Across Brooklyn, another Black woman wanders the streets, her gaze full of wo...
mubi.com
November 15, 2025 at 9:06 PM
I just noticed that there’s a new Alice Diop (Saint Omer) short on Mubi this week. mubi.com/en/us/films/...
Reposted by Nitish Pahwa
Reposted by Nitish Pahwa
Good piece from @nslayton.bsky.social on the buildup of military forces and equipment at old US bases in Latin America & the Caribbean, which could continue if Ecuadorian voters agree tomorrow to allow foreign bases in the country again taskandpurpose.com/news/us-base...
The US military’s plan to revive old bases in Latin America
Bases in Panama, Puerto Rico, and potentially Ecuador are coming back to life as the U.S. military builds up forces in the region.
taskandpurpose.com
November 15, 2025 at 9:07 PM
Good piece from @nslayton.bsky.social on the buildup of military forces and equipment at old US bases in Latin America & the Caribbean, which could continue if Ecuadorian voters agree tomorrow to allow foreign bases in the country again taskandpurpose.com/news/us-base...