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alekta

@alekta.bsky.social
84 followers 147 following 20 posts

technology and governance

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Reposted by alekta
Senator Ron Wyden @wyden.senate.gov · 23/04/2026
The NSA and FBI have been spying on you without a warrant using section 702 of FISA for decades. Trump wants Congress to renew the law. Here are concrete examples of how this law has been abused – across administrations – and why Congress shouldn't rubber-stamp it.
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Senator Ron Wyden @wyden.senate.gov · 17/04/2026
I sent a classified letter to House and Senate colleagues about a secret interpretation of surveillance law that every American should be concerned about. Representative Massie is right. The Constitution requires EVERY member to vote against a clean reauthorization.
A tweet from Representative Thomas Massie that reads:

I just viewed 2 Top Secret FISA docs.
1) FISA Court opinion that raises serious concerns about FBI implementation of FISA 702.
2) letter by Senator Wyden describing a secret government interpretation of FISA law.
The Constitution requires I vote No on FISA 702 reauthorization.
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Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani @mayor.nyc.gov · 15/04/2026
As wealth concentrates, so does power — the power to influence elections, shape policy, tilt markets and define the terms of public debate. Taxing billionaires is not radical. What is radical is allowing a system where extreme wealth exists alongside widespread hardship.
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Anna Bower @annabower.bsky.social · 15/03/2026
How many ways can you say “We used ChatGPT” without actually saying “We used ChatGPT”?
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Minnesota Star Tribune @startribune.com · 22/01/2026
Tomorrow’s front page of the Minnesota Star Tribune: Jan. 23, 2026
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Reposted by alekta
Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 22/01/2026
Jack Smith: "My fear is that we have seen the rule of law function in our country for so long that many of us have come to take it for granted. The rule of law is not self-executing. It depends on our collective commitment to apply it."
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Reposted by alekta
David Ho @davidho.bsky.social · 20/01/2026
This is the most astonishing graph of what the Trump regime has done to US science. They have destroyed the federal science workforce across the board. The negative impacts on Americans will be felt for generations, and the US might never be the same again. www.nature.com/immersive/d4...
This line graph illustrates the percentage change in agency staff levels from the previous year for nine major U.S. federal scientific and health organizations between the fiscal years 2016 and 2025. The agencies tracked include the CDC, Department of Energy, EPA, FDA, NASA, NIH, NIST, NOAA, and NSF. For the majority of the timeline between 2016 and 2023, the agencies show relatively stable fluctuations, generally staying within a range of +5% to -5% change per year. However, there is a dramatic and uniform plummet starting in the 2024–25 period. Every agency depicted shows a sharp downward trajectory, with staffing losses ranging from approximately -15% to over -25%. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) shows the most significant decline, dropping to roughly -26%, while the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) shows the least severe but still substantial drop at approximately -15%.
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alekta @alekta.bsky.social · 03/01/2026
Associated Press: “Venezuela’s vice president demands US free Maduro and calls him the country’s rightful leader during speech”
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alekta @alekta.bsky.social · 03/01/2026
Trump is asked if there is a possibility the US ends up administrating Venezuela for years. Notably he does not say no. Trump: “Well, you know it won’t cost us anything because the money coming out of the ground is very substantial”
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Reposted by alekta
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez @aoc.bsky.social · 03/01/2026
It’s not about drugs. If it was, Trump wouldn’t have pardoned one of the largest narco traffickers in the world last month. It’s about oil and regime change. And they need a trial now to pretend that it isn’t. Especially to distract from his sinking under Epstein and skyrocketing healthcare costs.
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Senator Bernie Sanders @sanders.senate.gov · 10/11/2025
Tonight was a very bad night.
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Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 07/11/2025
Chris Murphy: "There will be pretty substantial damage to a Dem brand that has been rehabilitated if on the heels of an election in which the people told us to keep fighting, we immediately stop... if we surrender without having gotten anything, I worry it'll be hard to get them back up off the mat"
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TechCrunch @techcrunch.com · 05/11/2025
Khan's appointment sends a message to the tech industry, whose most powerful players have already been critical of Mamdani, a Democratic socialist.
techcrunch.com
Lina Khan to co-chair NYC mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani's transition team | TechCrunch
Khan's appointment sends a message to the tech industry, whose most powerful players have already been critical of Mamdani, a Democratic socialist.
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Reposted by alekta
Joshua J. Friedman @joshuajfriedman.com · 20/10/2025
Oh nooooo, Lindsey Halligan, this is not how any of this works (15 screens into a Signal exchange) www.lawfaremedia.org/article/anna...
Screenshot of a text exchange via Signal between Anna Bower and Lindsay Halligan.

Halligan: By the way - everything I ever sent you is off record. You're not a journalist so it's weird saying that but just letting you know.

Bower: I'm sorry, but that's not how this works.
You don't get to say that in retrospect.

Halligan: Yes I do. Off record.

Bower: I am really sorry. I would have been happy to speak with you on an off the record basis had you asked. But you didn't ask, and I still haven't agreed to speak on that basis. Do you have any further comment for the story?

Halligan: It's obvious the whole convo is off record.
There's disappearing messages and it's on signal. What is your story? You never even told me about a story.
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alekta @alekta.bsky.social · 18/10/2025
Trump has commuted the sentence of George Santos Trump: “Good luck George, have a great life” Santos was less than 3 of 87 months into his sentence for fraud and ID theft. Last year he was expelled from congress in a 311–114 vote (including 105 Rs!) Doubt they will have much to say on this now
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Reposted by alekta
Lily Mason @lilymasonphd.bsky.social · 15/10/2025
Unfortunately, reality is only apparent *after* elections.
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Micah Lee @micahflee.com · 19/08/2025
My DEFCON talk "We are currently clean on OPSEC" now has over 30k views on YouTube, so now more people watched my talk than attended DEFCON itself. If you haven't seen it, please do! The Trump admin's incompetence is mindbogglingly BONKERS www.youtube.com/watch?v=KFYy...
youtube.com
"We are currently clean on OPSEC": The Signalgate Saga (DEFCON 33)
YouTube video by Micah Lee
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Reposted by alekta
Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 18/08/2025
Trump to Zelenskyy: "During the war you can't have elections? So let me just see -- three and a half years from me, if we happen to be in a way with somebody, no more elections. That's good."
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ACLU @aclu.org · 16/06/2025
BREAKING: A federal judge reversed National Institutes of Health's terminations of hundreds of critical research grants that were canceled because of their alleged connection to disfavored topics, including diversity, equity, inclusion, and gender identity. This is a major win for public health.
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Kat Abughazaleh @katmabu.bsky.social · 24/03/2025
I'm Kat Abughazaleh and I'm running for Congress.
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alekta @alekta.bsky.social · 11/03/2025
Donald Trump and Elon Musk are trying to reframe their oligarchy as Elon’s sacrifice by claiming that the left is “illegally” boycotting Musk. This is a ploy to distract from Elon’s disastrous and self serving DOGE cuts and will undoubtedly be used as an excuse to reroute contracts to Musk.
rollingstone.com
Trump Cries for Elon, Blames 'Illegal' Liberal Boycott for Tanking Tesla
Donald Trump claimed that an 'illegal liberal boycott is hurting Tesla, and vowed to buy a car from Elon Musk's electric-vehicle company.
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alekta @alekta.bsky.social · 05/03/2025
Bernie Sanders’ response to Trump’s congressional address: “We are no longer moving towards oligarchy, we are living in an oligarchic society” www.youtube.com/live/QlrQKv1...
youtube.com
Sen. Sanders Responds to Trump's Congressional Address
YouTube video by Senator Bernie Sanders
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Josh Gerstein @joshgerstein.bsky.social · 10/02/2025
BREAKING: 22 states sue NIH over Trump administration's new 15% cap on overhead for federal research grants. Suit filed federal court in Boston contends lifesaving research 'will grind to a halt' under the policy. Doc: storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
storage.courtlistener.com
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alekta @alekta.bsky.social · 07/02/2025
DOGE has the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau in its sights. CFPB has saved Americans over $21 billion since its inception in 2011 by curtailing abusive practices by financial institutions. www.politico.com/news/2025/02...
politico.com
Musk's team lands at consumer bureau
Three Musk allies, some of whom are tied to his Department of Government Efficiency, have embedded with the consumer bureau, according to the CFPB’s employees union.
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The Weekly Show with Jon Stewart @weeklyshowpodcast.bsky.social · 24/01/2025
Jon Stewart and @aoc.bsky.social on the thirst for leadership in the Democratic Party and the need for an actual agenda.
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Ken Klippenstein @kenklippenstein.bsky.social · 26/01/2025
TRUMP: [Pardons over 1,500 Jan. 6 defendants, issues volley of executive orders terminating DEI, orders end of birthright citizenship, puts military in charge of border security, withdraws from Paris Climate Accords and World Health Org...] DEMOCRATS:
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alekta @alekta.bsky.social · 22/01/2025
While members of the Democratic establishment like Chuck Schumer peddle bullshit about the importance of bipartisanship, Bernie Sanders remains focused on the real issues facing Americans. Bernie’s thoughts on Trump’s inaugural speech and how we fight and move forward: youtu.be/vHH-KI2yk8s?...
youtu.be
I attended Trump’s inauguration yesterday. Here are my thoughts.
YouTube video by Senator Bernie Sanders
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Reposted by alekta
Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 21/01/2025
REPORTER: You would agree it's never acceptable to assault police officers? TRUMP: Sure REPORTER: Among those you pardoned is a guy who used a stun gun on a police officer. Why does he deserve a pardon? TRUMP: Well, I don't know
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Harry Dunn @libradunn1.bsky.social · 21/01/2025
Sergeant Gonell @sergeantaqgo.bsky.social sent me this picture. This is his call log. Each call is an automated Dept of "Justice" notification saying "The defendant you testified against is being released from the dept of corrections." Each defendant assaulted him.
Call log showing multiple calls from the dept of justice
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alekta @alekta.bsky.social · 21/01/2025
Trump has rescinded over 40% (67/162) of Biden’s Executive Orders. Based on a search of the Federal Register, this appears to be the second biggest single revocation of Executive Orders since their data begins 1937, only beaten by EO 12553 “Revocation of Various Executive Orders” by Reagan in 1986.
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alekta @alekta.bsky.social · 21/01/2025
One of the many Biden era Executive Orders that Trump has rolled back today is “14087 - Lowering Prescription Drug Costs for Americans” This will end the development of multiple Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services programs that were designed to lower drug prices. #USPOL
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