James West @jamespwest.bsky.social · 22/09/2026The quotes in this are totally bonkers. We sued OpenAI. Now, court documents are revealing what AI execs apparently knew and when—about the meaning and scale of their “astonishing theft" (their words), and what it would do to publishers. 👀motherjones.comAI exec: We may have pulled off “the largest theft of labor in human history.”Documents from our lawsuit reveal how tech leaders talk when they think no one is listening. 019577
James West @jamespwest.bsky.social · 02/09/2026Great panel, including: @patrickhealynyt.bsky.social @kerryeleveld.bsky.social Former MoJo'er @kalish.bsky.social (!! 👋👋👋) @lexmcmenamin.com @cwnewser.bsky.socialbsky.app 020
James West @jamespwest.bsky.social · 02/09/2026Thrilled to join Patrick Healy (NYT), Kerry Eleveld, Levi Kalish (HuffPost), Lex McMenamin (Guardian US), Scott Shafer (KQED) & Christopher Wiggins (The Advocate) at #NLGJA2026 for "Beyond the Horserace: Covering the Real Stakes of the Midterms." Sat 9/12 in SF: Hope people say hi! PTsched.co/2PBeBsched.coNLGJA 2026 National Convention: Beyond the Horserace: Covering The Real...View more about this event at NLGJA 2026 National Convention 285
James West @jamespwest.bsky.social · 28/08/2026Meta just settled a landmark addiction case. It barely matters to a company already racing toward something else entirely, writes @annamerlan.bsky.social. The company describes its glasses' AI as "a helpful voice in your ear." NOT CREEPY AT ALL.motherjones.comMeta doesn't want to be a social media company anymoreDespite an $18 billion settlement to end a nationwide child endangerment lawsuit, the firm clearly no longer sees social media as its main product—or its future. 88619
James West @jamespwest.bsky.social · 27/08/2026"I started squealing," @resistanceschool.bsky.social told @sonelcutler.bsky.social about when she learned she'd won her fight against the Washington Post.motherjones.comKaren Attiah fought the Washington Post and wonEmployers who fired their staff for posts about Charlie Kirk have lost a string of high-profile disputes. 1586
James West @jamespwest.bsky.social · 27/08/2026👀 Congressman Max Miller suggests he has dirt on his ex-father-in-law Senator Bernie Moreno in a rare interview with @abbyvesoulis.bsky.social after a custody hearing in Cleveland on Wednesday. WATCH:youtube.comMax Miller Just Suggested He Has Dirt on Bernie Moreno“There are certain things that he would like me to remain quiet about.” A heated scene unfolded at the Cuyahoga County family court in Cleveland on Wednesday, as the key players in a bitter dispute… 269931
James West @jamespwest.bsky.social · 27/08/2026Fellow elder millennials assemble! Star of The O.C. Ben McKenzie has become an badass investigative journalist taking on crypto scams and he spoke to our @alletson.bsky.social about blowing the lid on the industry. (Did you know he has an economics degree?) LISTEN: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/t...podcasts.apple.comThe Cult and Corruption of CryptocurrencyPodcast Episode · Reveal · August 26 · 31m 000
Reposted by James WestShirty 🍁 @whogivesashirt.bsky.social · 26/08/2026Someone on Reddit posted yesterday, “She always kept her politics quiet.” Uh, maybe quiet if you weren’t paying attention? 151
James West @jamespwest.bsky.social · 26/08/2026I wrote about how, in fact, Dolly was very, VERY Mother Jones:motherjones.comHere's to Dolly: union member, vaccine hero, literacy giant, staunch gay ally.Community-based philanthropy and fighting for the underdog defined the superstar’s legacy. 325836
James West @jamespwest.bsky.social · 19/08/2026Corruption watch: A $500 million UAE stake. A $635 million meme coin windfall. @usschoma.bsky.social goes inside the financial conflicts swirling around this week's White House meeting.motherjones.comTrump's White House business shindig will be a cesspool of financial conflictsHe's welcoming leaders of crypto firms and prediction markets—industries he's deeply invested in—to discuss regulation. 000
James West @jamespwest.bsky.social · 19/08/2026ICE SHOCK GLOVE BACKLASH: "I personally am sickened to learn our schools have been used as a test bed for a new law enforcement technology." @hurwitz.bsky.social on the globe beat found them being used in schools.motherjones.comCops love ICE's new shock gloves. Parents want them out of schools.Omaha requested 40 pairs of the gloves for just under $66,000 in 2025. 1617172
James West @jamespwest.bsky.social · 19/08/2026@msjpauly.bsky.social exposes who's behind "Wolves in White Coats." [Narrator: Well-funded right-wing activists]motherjones.comThe Trump admin launches a new angle of attack against trans healthcareFederal officials referred over 150 healthcare organizations for investigation into allegations of fraud. 22815
James West @jamespwest.bsky.social · 18/08/2026Okay Florida primary voters, only a few more hours to share this with your friends in line. 15319
James West @jamespwest.bsky.social · 18/08/2026This month we're launching a new series about MAHA in the Midterms with @thefern.org. First up: This Iowa Republican rails against agribusiness monopolies. He spent years working for Koch-funded projects. Who is Zach Lahn, really?motherjones.comZach Lahn is MAHA’s great farm country hope. Is he the populist hero he claims to be?He’s running for Iowa governor on promises to bust up Big Ag. But some farmers are questioning his authenticity. 2234
James West @jamespwest.bsky.social · 18/08/2026Words like these get tossed off every day now: "If Oman gets in the way, we’ll bomb the shit out of them." But russchoma.bsky.social reports on another terrible dynamic with this one. Trump has a golf and villa project there, blessed by the Omani crown: www.motherjones.com/politics/202...motherjones.comTrump's bombing threats have a golf course problemHis Oman resort sits just miles from the strait where he's promising to send in the US military. 711857
James West @jamespwest.bsky.social · 18/08/2026TOMORROW: Can Rep. Cory Mills survive FL's GOP primary despite stolen valor claims, a restraining order, and ethics + DOJ probes—all with Trump's endorsement intact? @garrisonhayes.bsky.social chats with the journo who broke open a lot of that @nlanard.bsky.social: www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y4pJ...youtube.comHis Scandals Keep Piling Up. Can Cory Mills Still Win?YouTube video by Mother Jones 95217
James West @jamespwest.bsky.social · 17/08/2026A small group of Silicon Valley men keep failing upward into ever-greater wealth and power. Our new video breaks down the alternate reality they live in—welcome to Billionaire Math, reported by timothypmurphy.bsky.social and produced by Peter Berger: www.youtube.com/watch?v=SVRc...youtube.comBillionaire Math Doesn't Add Up the Way Yours Does► For more, visit Mother Jones: https://www.motherjones.com/ Forget "girl math" and "boy math." America's running on billionaire math. They own yachts that have yachts. They leave Earth just to… 58329
James West @jamespwest.bsky.social · 17/08/2026Florida Rep. Cory Mills has Trump’s “complete and total” endorsement. He also has: 🚩 Accusations of stolen valor 🚩 A restraining order from an ex 🚩 A massive House Ethics investigation 🚩 More Now @nlanard.bsky.social reports that the scandal-plagued Republican might actually lose his primary.motherjones.comOne of Congress’ most scandal-plagued Republicans may be about to lose his primaryFlorida's Cory Mills has been accused of stolen valor, was subject to a restraining order, and is reportedly under investigation by the Justice Department. He also has Donald Trump's "Complete and… 1116662
James West @jamespwest.bsky.social · 17/08/2026A Missouri police chief said his officers have "grown really attached" to electric shock gloves. Now they're ICE's newest tool. Don't miss this behind-the-headlines look at the tech's development by @hurwitz.bsky.socialmotherjones.comThe Orwellian Company Behind ICE’s New Electric Shock Gloves“With a glove, there are no burn marks or scars.” That makes it hard for victims to sue. 034
James West @jamespwest.bsky.social · 17/08/2026Um this doesn't sound good. ICYMI by @hurwitz.bsky.social A regulator run by Trump's own appointee gave a bank charter green light to a crypto firm the Trump family itself controls—one that already paid Trump nearly $600 million from stablecoin and digital asset sales in 2025.motherjones.comThe Trumps’ crypto project just got one step closer to becoming a bankA regulatory charter for World Liberty Financial could be "the most brazen act of self-dealing our system has ever seen." 57632
Reposted by James WestTim Murphy @timothypmurphy.bsky.social · 17/08/2026Let me tell you about the very rich www.youtube.com/watch?v=SVRc...youtube.comBillionaire Math Doesn't Add Up the Way Yours DoesYouTube video by Mother Jones 222
James West @jamespwest.bsky.social · 17/08/2026Florida's rural Republicans are so angry about data center construction near their homes that the governor's race might be legit in play. Totally fascinating by @lauracmorel.bsky.socialmotherjones.comCould the GOP lose Florida over data centers?"Party labels are less important when it comes to our homes and way of life." 48219
James West @jamespwest.bsky.social · 17/08/2026His opener to voters: "I'm John Strand, patriot for Congress, the J6 hostage who went to prison on principle so that you don't have to." @smencimer.bsky.social has been tracking this underwear model for years. Now he wants Floridians' vote.motherjones.comThe international underwear model who stormed the Capitol is now running for CongressFlorida's most crowded GOP primary has two Trump-pardoned felons. John Strand is one of them. 63912
Reposted by James WestClara Jeffery @clarajeffery.bsky.social · 14/08/2026It's truly scary how much the Trump administration is surveilling unions, NGOs, and any groups it thinks it can accuse of being part of some kind of antifa conspiracy. By @hurwitz.bsky.social www.motherjones.com/politics/202...motherjones.comDocuments reveal the federal government’s vast Minnesota surveillance dragnetAfter Alex Pretti was murdered, Trump's DHS didn't investigate his killer—but spent months spying on Minnesota unions, churches, and bike shops instead. 29244
Reposted by James WestMother Jones @motherjones.com · 14/08/2026“He’s just on a grab!” Watch the penny drop in real time: Joe Rogan expresses outrage at President Donald Trump’s latest scheme, offering early access to his Truth Social posts at a STEEP cost, which some allege amounts to insider trading. 3416149
James West @jamespwest.bsky.social · 14/08/2026haha, yes, I envy the abilities of 11th grader at THIS in particular 010
James West @jamespwest.bsky.social · 14/08/2026Yikes: A voter suppression law disabled voters fought is back, just as Texas heads into a marquee Senate race. @juliametraux.bsky.social always on the look out:motherjones.comA Trump judge called mail-in ballots a threat to democracyThe new ruling revived cruel aspects of Texas' voter suppression law. 1106
James West @jamespwest.bsky.social · 14/08/2026A reporter with "the technical chops of an 11th grader" asked AI to help build a killer drone. It said yes. Watch what happens next. www.motherjones.com/politics/202...motherjones.comAI helped me build a killer droneI asked AI chatbots to help me build an autonomous attack drone. They said yes. 100
James West @jamespwest.bsky.social · 14/08/2026New from @abbyvesoulis.bsky.social Sooo: Max Miller swore he had video and a witness. Weeks later his lawyers wrote that his girlfriend "was in fact not likely present." www.motherjones.com/politics/202...motherjones.comLegal filings allege Rep. Max Miller made “false statements” to an Ohio courtThe Republican is accused of misrepresenting evidence to get a civil protection order against his ex-wife Emily Moreno. 313251
James West @jamespwest.bsky.social · 14/08/2026Well this is dark. Lawyer Joseph McBride is flooding the world with AI-slop memes to fight the pretrial detention of accused rapists Andrew and Tristan Tate. @annamerlan.bsky.social pulled up his legal resumé and it's 👀motherjones.comThe Tate brothers’ lawyer is on an aggressive, AI-riddled quest to win their releaseJoseph McBride's strident defense of the accused rapists includes a flood of faked propaganda images. 04317
James West @jamespwest.bsky.social · 14/08/2026We've been FLOCK-TRACKING: A watchdog says Flock's new fixes still ask "thousands of police departments to police themselves,." alexjn.bsky.social asks what could go wrong?motherjones.comFlock's answer to its surveillance scandals: trust usThe company is limiting access to its 120,000 license plate readers, but critics say the changes are largely optional and self-enforced. 24314
James West @jamespwest.bsky.social · 13/08/2026@abbyvesoulis.bsky.social broke this open and continues to: 030
Reposted by James WestAbby Vesoulis @abbyvesoulis.bsky.social · 13/08/2026NEW: Legal filings say Rep. Max Miller made “false statements” to a court in order to get a Civil Protection Order against his ex-wife in Feb. Miller told the court he had an eyewitness refuting that he assaulted Moreno. Then his lawyers recanted the evidence. www.motherjones.com/politics/202...motherjones.comLegal filings allege Rep. Max Miller made “false statements” to an Ohio courtThe Republican is accused of misrepresenting evidence to get a civil protection order against his ex-wife Emily Moreno. 25761243
James West @jamespwest.bsky.social · 13/08/2026EXCELLENCE IN DIVERSITY, EQUITY & INCLUSION — "Will the National Parks Survive Trump?" America's national parks are getting gutted twice over—a quarter of the staff & a third of the budget stripped from the science that keeps them wild, and an EO erasing history. revealnews.org/podcast/nati...revealnews.orgWill the national parks survive Trump?From budget cuts to “ideological” changes, the Trump administration is shaping the future of the National Park Service. 133
James West @jamespwest.bsky.social · 13/08/2026WIN 2: NEWS DOCUMENTARY "The Landlord Gutting America's Hospitals" A landlord bought America's hospitals, charged rent no one could pay, and got rich watching them die. revealnews.org/podcast/medi...revealnews.orgThe real estate company gutting America’s hospitals—and making bankA real estate company buys up hospitals and then leases them back to health care systems. Dozens of its hospitals have gone bankrupt. 123
James West @jamespwest.bsky.social · 13/08/2026WIN 1: INVESTIGATIVE REPORTING "Abuse of Power: Beyond the Goon Squad" A Mississippi jail's celebrated inmate-rehab program doubled as the guards' enforcement arm, ignored for over a decade while the sheriff runs for a fifth term. revealnews.org/podcast/rank...revealnews.orgHow a Mississippi jail turned its inmates into weaponsAfter a violent scandal involving his deputies, a popular sheriff survived calls to resign. But another scandal was already brewing in his county jail. 123
James West @jamespwest.bsky.social · 13/08/2026HUGE: @revealnews.org just won THREE national Edward R. Murrow Awards. Three. For a nonprofit newsroom doing hard-won investigative audio like no one else, that is an absurd/joyful haul. Here's what won (THREADED BELOW). www.rtdna.org/2026-nationa...rtdna.org2026 National Edward R. Murrow Award Winners - Radio Television Digital News AssociationHOME 29524
Reposted by James WestKiera Butler @kieraevebutler.bsky.social · 12/08/2026This is genuinely a very funny tweet from Doug Wilson. www.motherjones.com/politics/202... 48912
James West @jamespwest.bsky.social · 13/08/2026NEW: No engineering degree. No lab. Just a garage, 11 months, and a chatbot that kept saying yes. We asked AI to help build an autonomous killer drone. It agreed. A new investigative collaboration with @thebulletin.org's reporter Matt Smith. Watch: www.youtube.com/watch?v=W8o2...youtube.comI asked AI to make a killer drone, it said yes.YouTube video by Mother Jones 03817
Reposted by James WestMichael Mechanic @michaelmechanic.bsky.social · 12/08/2026My friend @kieraevebutler.bsky.social went to Moscow, Idaho, to meet the pastor behind this Calvinist Christian nationalist "kirker" movement (no relation to Charlie Kirk) that's become very influential in our government, especially our military, and explains a lot of the misogyny we're seeing.motherjones.comPete Hegseth dreams of holy war. Meet his spiritual adviser.Doug Wilson preaches iron discipline and male dominance. One of his disciples runs the Pentagon. 054
James West @jamespwest.bsky.social · 13/08/2026DOGE promised savings. Instead: a hobbled IRS, a dismantled USAID, and a shuttered consumer watchdog that at one time returned $26b to Americans. One estimate: IRS layoffs will cost $600b in lost revenues over 10 years. @michaelmechanic.bsky.social does the math: www.motherjones.com/politics/202...motherjones.comElon Musk’s DOGE promised savings, but it's cost us a fortuneA new report from the Government Accountability Office misses the point entirely. 23429212
James West @jamespwest.bsky.social · 13/08/2026Front-runners quit, a campaign manager was fired, the eventual winner re-entered late and eked out a razor-thin win. What can a race like this actually tell us? @alexjn.bsky.social dove in: www.motherjones.com/politics/202...motherjones.comA DSA candidate lost a messy race for Wisconsin governorThere may be fewer clear takeaways in Francesca Hong's Democratic primary defeat than other key progressive matchups. 000
Reposted by James WestClara Jeffery @clarajeffery.bsky.social · 12/08/20261/ Our amazing lawyers on why we have must force AI companies to transparent about how they train their models and why we've filed an amicus brief in xAI v. Bonta. Gift link 🎁 www.sfchronicle.com/opinion/open...sfchronicle.comElon Musk is suing California over an AI law. Here’s why transparency mattersOPINION: We cannot allow “compelled speech” arguments to dilute the value of truthful facts about tech we rely on for critical aspects of our lives. The health of our democracy depends on it. 216162
James West @jamespwest.bsky.social · 12/08/2026"I think we are in a long-haul journey of repairing the fractures that have happened in public trust in science and public trust in public health," epidemiologist Jessica Malaty Rivera tells Al Letson. 010
James West @jamespwest.bsky.social · 12/08/2026Contaminated lettuce, hantavirus on a cruise ship, Legionnaires' back in big cities, and Fauci held in contempt. It's been a helluva 2026 for American public health. New on this week's @revealnews.org "More To The Story": www.motherjones.com/politics/202...motherjones.comFauci, RFK Jr., and the latest in American healthEpidemiologist Jessica Malaty Rivera breaks down the public health breakdowns 2125
James West @jamespwest.bsky.social · 18/04/2026Yes, I thought this was super-interesting too. Speaks to something deeper I think about the role he's playing in the psyche right now. 030