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Jenna McLaughlin

@jennamclaughlin.bsky.social
28K followers 1.1K following 268 posts

NPR Correspondent covering technology and national security. Send me a tip: Text JennaMcLaughlin.54 on Signal from personal (nonwork) devices.

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Jenna McLaughlin @jennamclaughlin.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
static.klipy.com
Michael Scott Says 'I Know Nothing'
ALT: Michael Scott Says 'I Know Nothing'
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Jenna McLaughlin @jennamclaughlin.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
If your pitch email references Cybersecurity Awareness Month as a news hook, I will almost certainly ignore it, I don't make the rules
static.klipy.com
Gumichan the Laughing Bird Says No
ALT: Gumichan the Laughing Bird Says No
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Garrett M. Graff @vermontgmg.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
FBI Director Kash Patel this week has faced the worst data breach in FBI history, a deputy who quit because Patel was doing too many unconstitutional things, and partied with a suspected double agent. And it's only Tuesday. www.doomsdayscenario.co/p/the-disgra...
doomsdayscenario.co
The Disgrace and Danger of Kash Patel, Part II
A quick check-in on the FBI director's latest raft of scandals (including, of course, the bestiality).
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Jenna McLaughlin @jennamclaughlin.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
More to come, but my current sense is that things are far more nuanced than: the robots are coming to kill us all in the next ten years. Different players in this game have different motivations to tell you different things about what AI is capable of. Take the time to dig in on this.
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Jenna McLaughlin @jennamclaughlin.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
While you're here, I've also been dipping my toe into the conversation around AI and cybersecurity, first on Sources and Methods: www.npr.org/2026/09/17/n..., and with another piece about two separate efforts to use AI for security, physical and digital: www.npr.org/2026/09/27/n...
npr.org
With AI, what's more important for the U.S. — winning or safety?
Everyone is talking about the spectre of AI catastrophe. Can the U.S. and China agree on guardrails to blunt the biggest risks when their leaders meet next week?
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Jenna McLaughlin @jennamclaughlin.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
As always, find me on Signal at JennaMcLaughlin.54 if you have thoughts, feelings, news, exclusive details, or memes to share. Anonymity granted.
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Jenna McLaughlin @jennamclaughlin.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
This is deeply concerning to current and especially retired FBI employees who are "bracing for impact," if the information leaks, I'm told. They're also trading dark humor and memes. Also I did sneak a Pokémon reference into Morning Edition.
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Jenna McLaughlin @jennamclaughlin.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
Tune into Morning Edition, yesterday's All Things Considered, or catch my digital piece on the latest on the ShinyHunters breach of the FBI's jobs portal. www.npr.org/2026/09/30/n... www.npr.org/2026/09/30/n... www.npr.org/2026/09/29/n...
npr.org
FBI investigating massive data breach of the bureau's job portal
The FBI says it's addressing a massive data breach, vowing to go after the hackers they believe are responsible.
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Jenna McLaughlin @jennamclaughlin.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
It's wild how much having a kid shifts your daily rhythms...people hosting networking happy hours, could you instead do breakfasts or lunches? I can't come out at night anymore! Signed, tired first time mom
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Jenna McLaughlin @jennamclaughlin.bsky.social · 20/09/2026
Is the camera filming this Washington Spirit game on big ESPN underwater or what
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Sheera Frenkel @sheeraf.bsky.social · 18/09/2026
NEW- For the first time, groups in Iran, China, and Israel have used open source AI models to run start-to-finish influence campaigns. They told the models to create fake accounts on social media, find an agenda, and push it. Some are already targeting the US. www.nytimes.com/2026/09/18/t...
nytimes.com
Iran and China Create First-of-Their-Kind Autonomous A.I. Influence Campaigns
The countries, along with Israeli firms, combined Chinese open-source A.I. models and A.I. agents for the campaigns, foreshadowing future online manipulation.
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Jenna McLaughlin @jennamclaughlin.bsky.social · 18/09/2026
This is kind of like the presumption of omniscience/malice when often the far more likely explanation is negligence/stupidity/basic human error. Encountered this plenty covering technology/natsec/intelligence.
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Hey Spirits! @heyspirits.bsky.social · 13/09/2026
FT | 0-3 Bad.
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Jenna McLaughlin @jennamclaughlin.bsky.social · 03/09/2026
"DHS is actively sabotaging elections by not funding these programs," Arizona secretary of state Adrian Fontes tells @npr.org.
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Jenna McLaughlin @jennamclaughlin.bsky.social · 03/09/2026
Sen. Padilla and Rep. Morelle point to a gap of over $39.6 million in funds appropriated by Congress. "With the midterm elections occurring in two months, we write with grave concern that time is running out..." to defend against "cyber and mis-and disinformation threats," the lawmakers wrote.
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Jenna McLaughlin @jennamclaughlin.bsky.social · 03/09/2026
NEW: Democrats tasked with overseeing federal elections are asking why DHS and CISA haven't dispersed funds to state and local election security programs like the Election Infrastructure Information Sharing and Analysis Center ahead of the midterms. www.npr.org/2026/09/03/n...
npr.org
Democrats demand Homeland Security officials fund election security ahead of midterms
The lawmakers wrote that they share "grave concern that time is running out … to assist state and local election officials in protecting our elections from cyber and mis-and disinformation threats."
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Jenna McLaughlin @jennamclaughlin.bsky.social · 02/09/2026
My piece from a few weeks ago indicated that likely Iranian hackers targeted more than just the water sector. Hearing the number of victims is also far higher than first known; Some later realized what they thought were glitches were compromises. My Signal is open! www.npr.org/2026/08/12/n...
npr.org
Are hacks of U.S. water facilities a new front in the Iran war?
A recent series of cyberattacks on U.S. water systems has exposed vulnerabilities across critical infrastructure during the Iran war.
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Jenna McLaughlin @jennamclaughlin.bsky.social · 12/08/2026
I can't even tell you how many State IT people I tried to reach to ask about this. There's clearly concern, but so many unanswered questions. If you want to share more about how your State is handling threats to critical infrastructure, reach out securely over Signal: I'm at JennaMcLaughlin.54.
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Jenna McLaughlin @jennamclaughlin.bsky.social · 12/08/2026
I discussed some of this reporting with Mary Louise Kelly for NPR's Sources and Methods pod last week: www.npr.org/2026/08/06/n....
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Jenna McLaughlin @jennamclaughlin.bsky.social · 12/08/2026
Your #longread for the day: A recent wave of cyberattacks against U.S. water facilities goes beyond water, and comes at a time when federal cyber jobs have been slashed by the White House. www.npr.org/2026/08/12/n...
npr.org
Are hacks of U.S. water facilities a new front in the Iran war?
A recent series of cyberattacks on U.S. water systems has exposed vulnerabilities across critical infrastructure during the Iran war.
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Jenna McLaughlin @jennamclaughlin.bsky.social · 07/08/2026
I should’ve specifically shouted out @heyspirits.bsky.social , MY favorite weekly pod!
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Jenna McLaughlin @jennamclaughlin.bsky.social · 31/07/2026
Come for the cyber, stay for the water sounds and learning scary lingo like "water hammers."
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Jenna McLaughlin @jennamclaughlin.bsky.social · 31/07/2026
In light of the news out of Minnesota, resurfacing my reporting from Cavendish, Vermont where I toured a small water/wastewater treatment facility and talked about the threat posed by nation state cyber actors to critical infrastructure. www.npr.org/2025/09/20/n...
npr.org
Flushable wipes and Iran: Water treatment facility adds cyberattacks to worry list
Water treatment workers are grappling with how to protect against a new threat: hackers burrowing into the system and wreaking havoc.
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Jenna McLaughlin @jennamclaughlin.bsky.social · 13/07/2026
Back today from the all-consuming world of bringing up a tiny human. I'm sure I didn't miss much. Reach out to catch me up!
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Geoff Brumfiel @gbrumfiel.bsky.social · 27/05/2026
I’ve been with NPR for 13 years, and I’ve seen a lot of change in the news biz. The causes of these changes are interconnected and complex. Technology, pandemics, politics and economics have all played a role. I’m not going to try and untangle all that. But what I will say is this: NPR is special.
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Jenna McLaughlin @jennamclaughlin.bsky.social · 27/01/2026
Apologies to anyone who has emailed my NPR account and gotten a blank automatic reply. Turns out, I am not an Outlook expert... I'm on maternity leave and back in the summer. Replies should be fixed now.
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Jenna McLaughlin @jennamclaughlin.bsky.social · 03/01/2026
What a time to be alive and starting maternity leave…will be doing my best to Get Offline til this summer. Hang in there, fellow newsfolk.
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David Folkenflik @davidfolkenflik.bsky.social · 05/12/2025
NPR fights Trump's executive order against public media The case isn't getting much attention. But it pits the press's right not to face government retaliation over coverage against the president's assertion of vast executive powers My story: www.npr.org/2025/12/05/g...
npr.org
NPR battles Trump executive order in court
NPR was in court for a pivotal hearing arguing that the Trump administration had broken the law with its treatment of public media.
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American Library Association @amlibraryassoc.bsky.social · 03/12/2025
NEWS: The Institute of Museum & Library Services has restored ALL previously canceled federal grants to libraries, following a ruling by a federal judge in Rhode Island last month. This is a massive win for libraries & communities in every state & territory! Learn more: www.ala.org/news/2025/12...
ALL IMLS grants restored in every state & territory.In response to a ruling from a federal judge in Rhode Island, the Institute of Museum and Library Services reinstated all previously canceled grants in every state and territory. It's a huge win for libraries and our communities."The reinstatement of all IMLS grants means that libraries across the country will be able to resume vital services for learning, imagination, and economic opportunity. We are breathing a sigh of relief, but the fight is not over." ALA President Sam Helmick. Show up for our libraries, American Library Association.
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Tyler McBrien @tylermcbrien.com · 24/11/2025
Wow. U.S. District Judge Cameron McGowan Currie ruled Lindsey Halligan's appointment unlawful and the prosecutions against New York Attorney General Letitia James and former FBI Director James Comey therefore invalid. Both indictments are dismissed without prejudice.
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Eric Geller @ericjgeller.com · 20/11/2025
Big news on the corporate accountability (or lack thereof) front: The SEC just dropped its case against SolarWinds and its former CISO for allegedly defrauding investors about the company's cybersecurity posture prior to its major hack. www.sec.gov/enforcement-...
sec.gov
SEC.gov | SolarWinds Corp. and Timothy G. Brown
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Ryan Mac 🙃 @rmac.bsky.social · 18/11/2025
you don't have to embarrass our guest by asking if he had someone killed and hacked to pieces
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Brandon Friedman @brandonfriedman.bsky.social · 18/11/2025
In normaler times, this is front page, above the fold, all caps behavior by an American president
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Derek B. Johnson @derekbjohnson.bsky.social · 18/11/2025
For no reason at all this morning I feel the need to re-share my piece with Miranda Nazzaro from last week about how we are all overly dependent on a small handful of internet providers: cyberscoop.com/with-each-cl...
cyberscoop.com
With each cloud outage, calls for government action grow louder
Public interest groups want the feds to investigate the systemic risk from market consolidation, while tech and security experts worry about single points of failure.
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Emily Feng @emilyzfeng.bsky.social · 18/11/2025
CPB revives $36 million NPR deal killed after Trump’s pressure www.npr.org/2025/11/17/n...
npr.org
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 $36 million, multi-year contract with NPR that it had yanked after pressure from the Trump White House.
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Shannon Bond @byshannonbond.com · 18/11/2025
what a time to be alive and in multiple media group chats
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404 Media @404media.co · 12/11/2025
A Washington judge said images taken by Flock cameras are "not exempt from disclosure" in public record requests.
404media.co
Judge Rules Flock Surveillance Images Are Public Records That Can Be Requested By Anyone
A Washington judge said images taken by Flock cameras are "not exempt from disclosure" in public record requests.
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Mary Branscombe @marypcbuk.bsky.social · 11/11/2025
people who have been claiming for years that journalists just make everything up are always amazed at how much there is in place to stop journalists making anything up
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Martin Matishak @martinmatishak.bsky.social · 10/11/2025
Short-term renewal of cyber information sharing law appears in bill to end shutdown On @therecordmedia.bsky.social therecord.media/cisa-2015-in...
therecord.media
Short-term renewal of cyber information sharing law appears in bill to end shutdown
An expired 2015 law that gives companies liability protection when they share cyberthreat information with the federal government would be renewed through January 30 under Senate legislation to end th...
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NPR @npr.org · 06/11/2025
JUST IN: Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi says she will not run for re-election, ending her historic tenure in Congress
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Former Speaker Nancy Pelosi will not seek reelection
A shrewd political strategist, California Rep. Nancy Pelosi has had an unprecedented career in Congress. First elected in a special election in 1987, Pelosi went on to become one of the most effective leaders of the Democratic party.
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Danielle Kurtzleben @titonka.bsky.social · 06/11/2025
I like to think that I personally ruined the workplace.
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Ryan J. Reilly “paints a vivid and urgent portrait of… disarray” @ryanjreilly.com · 05/11/2025
“This case, ladies and gentleman of the jury, is about a sandwich.” Closing arguments from the defense in the DC sandwich guy case are now underway.
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Jenna McLaughlin @jennamclaughlin.bsky.social · 23/10/2025
All worthwhile perspectives 🫠
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Jenna McLaughlin @jennamclaughlin.bsky.social · 23/10/2025
"Ultimately, America has capability, it just needs to remove the chaos that surrounds it. The challenge before policymakers is not to invent new talent or technology, but to create the legal, institutional, and market infrastructure that enables growth," authors conclude.
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Jenna McLaughlin @jennamclaughlin.bsky.social · 23/10/2025
Interesting paper out of Dartmouth about private sector's role in U.S. offensive cyber landscape. Recommends a national offensive cyber strategy and a pilot program for private sector access to "low-risk" targets like crypto scammers and ransomware operators: sergeybratus.gitlab.io/papers/Dartm...
sergeybratus.gitlab.io
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Eric Geller @ericjgeller.com · 22/10/2025
New: The recent layoffs in CISA's Stakeholder Engagement Division have virtually shuttered SED, eliminating teams focused on critical infrastructure support, nationwide partnerships, and international coordination. My story with details cuts and impacts: www.cybersecuritydive.com/news/cisa-st...
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Chris Geidner @chrisgeidner.bsky.social · 21/10/2025
NEW: After The Washington Post reported Monday on the demolition of the "East Wing facade," a new picture obtained by Law Dork that was taken on Tuesday shows that a substantial portion of the entirety of the East Wing has been demolished.
Photograph of ongoing demolition of the East Wing of the White House.Monday's photo from the Washington Post
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Annie Waldman @anniewaldman.bsky.social · 16/10/2025
Justice Brett Kavanaugh: “If the officers learn that the individual they stopped is a U.S. citizen...they promptly let the individual go." The reality: Americans have been dragged, tackled, beaten, tased and shot by immigration agents. A must read from the very talented @nicolefoy.bsky.social:
propublica.org
More Than 170 U.S. Citizens Have Been Held by Immigration Agents. They’ve Been Kicked, Dragged and Detained for Days.
The government does not track how often immigration agents grab citizens. So ProPublica did. Our tally — almost certainly incomplete — includes people who were held for days without a lawyer. And near...
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casey morell @caseym.org · 16/10/2025
it is impossible to understate the influence susan had on this network & the work that we do every day. truly one of the nicest people around; always encouraged people to be themselves; one of a kind.
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