Jenna McLaughlin @jennamclaughlin.bsky.social · 01/10/2026static.klipy.comMichael Scott Says 'I Know Nothing'ALT: Michael Scott Says 'I Know Nothing' 020
Jenna McLaughlin @jennamclaughlin.bsky.social · 01/10/2026If your pitch email references Cybersecurity Awareness Month as a news hook, I will almost certainly ignore it, I don't make the rulesstatic.klipy.comGumichan the Laughing Bird Says NoALT: Gumichan the Laughing Bird Says No 180
Reposted by Jenna McLaughlinGarrett M. Graff @vermontgmg.bsky.social · 29/09/2026FBI 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.coThe Disgrace and Danger of Kash Patel, Part IIA quick check-in on the FBI director's latest raft of scandals (including, of course, the bestiality). 331457531
Jenna McLaughlin @jennamclaughlin.bsky.social · 30/09/2026More 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. 051
Jenna McLaughlin @jennamclaughlin.bsky.social · 30/09/2026While 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.orgWith 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? 163
Jenna McLaughlin @jennamclaughlin.bsky.social · 30/09/2026As always, find me on Signal at JennaMcLaughlin.54 if you have thoughts, feelings, news, exclusive details, or memes to share. Anonymity granted. 073
Jenna McLaughlin @jennamclaughlin.bsky.social · 30/09/2026This 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. 0213
Jenna McLaughlin @jennamclaughlin.bsky.social · 30/09/2026Tune 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.orgFBI investigating massive data breach of the bureau's job portalThe FBI says it's addressing a massive data breach, vowing to go after the hackers they believe are responsible. 0112
Jenna McLaughlin @jennamclaughlin.bsky.social · 25/09/2026It'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 2252
Jenna McLaughlin @jennamclaughlin.bsky.social · 20/09/2026Is the camera filming this Washington Spirit game on big ESPN underwater or what 160
Reposted by Jenna McLaughlinSheera Frenkel @sheeraf.bsky.social · 18/09/2026NEW- 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.comIran and China Create First-of-Their-Kind Autonomous A.I. Influence CampaignsThe countries, along with Israeli firms, combined Chinese open-source A.I. models and A.I. agents for the campaigns, foreshadowing future online manipulation. 68961
Jenna McLaughlin @jennamclaughlin.bsky.social · 18/09/2026This 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. 1132
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. 074
Jenna McLaughlin @jennamclaughlin.bsky.social · 03/09/2026Sen. 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. 053
Jenna McLaughlin @jennamclaughlin.bsky.social · 03/09/2026NEW: 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.orgDemocrats demand Homeland Security officials fund election security ahead of midtermsThe 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." 096
Jenna McLaughlin @jennamclaughlin.bsky.social · 02/09/2026My 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.orgAre 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. 23010
Jenna McLaughlin @jennamclaughlin.bsky.social · 12/08/2026I 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. 0131
Jenna McLaughlin @jennamclaughlin.bsky.social · 12/08/2026I 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.... 0102
Jenna McLaughlin @jennamclaughlin.bsky.social · 12/08/2026Your #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.orgAre 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. 12515
Jenna McLaughlin @jennamclaughlin.bsky.social · 07/08/2026I should’ve specifically shouted out @heyspirits.bsky.social , MY favorite weekly pod! 191
Jenna McLaughlin @jennamclaughlin.bsky.social · 31/07/2026Come for the cyber, stay for the water sounds and learning scary lingo like "water hammers." 090
Jenna McLaughlin @jennamclaughlin.bsky.social · 31/07/2026In 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.orgFlushable wipes and Iran: Water treatment facility adds cyberattacks to worry listWater treatment workers are grappling with how to protect against a new threat: hackers burrowing into the system and wreaking havoc. 1128
Jenna McLaughlin @jennamclaughlin.bsky.social · 13/07/2026Back 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! 0120
Reposted by Jenna McLaughlinGeoff Brumfiel @gbrumfiel.bsky.social · 27/05/2026I’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. 2513
Jenna McLaughlin @jennamclaughlin.bsky.social · 27/01/2026Apologies 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. 3200
Jenna McLaughlin @jennamclaughlin.bsky.social · 03/01/2026What 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. 2340
Reposted by Jenna McLaughlinDavid Folkenflik @davidfolkenflik.bsky.social · 05/12/2025NPR 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.orgNPR battles Trump executive order in courtNPR was in court for a pivotal hearing arguing that the Trump administration had broken the law with its treatment of public media. 7415158
Reposted by Jenna McLaughlinAmerican Library Association @amlibraryassoc.bsky.social · 03/12/2025NEWS: 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... 2767572291
Reposted by Jenna McLaughlinTyler McBrien @tylermcbrien.com · 24/11/2025Wow. 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. 151054160
Reposted by Jenna McLaughlinEric Geller @ericjgeller.com · 20/11/2025Big 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.govSEC.gov | SolarWinds Corp. and Timothy G. Brown 22923
Reposted by Jenna McLaughlinRyan Mac 🙃 @rmac.bsky.social · 18/11/2025you don't have to embarrass our guest by asking if he had someone killed and hacked to pieces 441465290
Reposted by Jenna McLaughlinBrandon Friedman @brandonfriedman.bsky.social · 18/11/2025In normaler times, this is front page, above the fold, all caps behavior by an American president 1102206523
Reposted by Jenna McLaughlinDerek B. Johnson @derekbjohnson.bsky.social · 18/11/2025For 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.comWith each cloud outage, calls for government action grow louderPublic interest groups want the feds to investigate the systemic risk from market consolidation, while tech and security experts worry about single points of failure. 13220
Reposted by Jenna McLaughlinEmily Feng @emilyzfeng.bsky.social · 18/11/2025CPB revives $36 million NPR deal killed after Trump’s pressure www.npr.org/2025/11/17/n...npr.orgCPB agrees to revive a $36 million deal with NPR killed after Trump's pressureThe 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. 05313
Reposted by Jenna McLaughlinShannon Bond @byshannonbond.com · 18/11/2025what a time to be alive and in multiple media group chats 1233
Reposted by Jenna McLaughlin404 Media @404media.co · 12/11/2025A Washington judge said images taken by Flock cameras are "not exempt from disclosure" in public record requests.404media.coJudge Rules Flock Surveillance Images Are Public Records That Can Be Requested By AnyoneA Washington judge said images taken by Flock cameras are "not exempt from disclosure" in public record requests. 315347
Reposted by Jenna McLaughlinMary Branscombe @marypcbuk.bsky.social · 11/11/2025people 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 1228
Reposted by Jenna McLaughlinMartin Matishak @martinmatishak.bsky.social · 10/11/2025Short-term renewal of cyber information sharing law appears in bill to end shutdown On @therecordmedia.bsky.social therecord.media/cisa-2015-in...therecord.mediaShort-term renewal of cyber information sharing law appears in bill to end shutdownAn 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... 044
Reposted by Jenna McLaughlinNPR @npr.org · 06/11/2025JUST IN: Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi says she will not run for re-election, ending her historic tenure in Congressn.prFormer Speaker Nancy Pelosi will not seek reelectionA 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. 7254458
Reposted by Jenna McLaughlinDanielle Kurtzleben @titonka.bsky.social · 06/11/2025I like to think that I personally ruined the workplace. 40103584
Reposted by Jenna McLaughlinRyan 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. 1536140852
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. 040
Jenna McLaughlin @jennamclaughlin.bsky.social · 23/10/2025Interesting 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 0134
Reposted by Jenna McLaughlinEric Geller @ericjgeller.com · 22/10/2025New: 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... 511483
Reposted by Jenna McLaughlinChris Geidner @chrisgeidner.bsky.social · 21/10/2025NEW: 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. 21665632814
Reposted by Jenna McLaughlinAnnie Waldman @anniewaldman.bsky.social · 16/10/2025Justice 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.orgMore 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... 9735071641
Reposted by Jenna McLaughlincasey morell @caseym.org · 16/10/2025it 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. 1151