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KENNNN

@kenbensinger.bsky.social
1.2K followers 11 following 38 posts
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Reposted by KENNNN
Tariq Panja @tariqpanja.bsky.social · 18h
Aleksander Ceferin, the UEFA president, said he would “lead by example” and not stand more than three terms to set a good example. Now that third term is coming to an end, guess what? Aleksander Ceferin is standing four a fourth term at the same time he has called for better governance at FIFA. 😵‍💫
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On the Media @onthemedia.bsky.social · 05/09/2026
An NYT investigation shows that hundreds of influencers are getting paid by politicians to endorse candidates or spread messaging. Not all of these payments are disclosed. @kenbensinger.bsky.social explains how politicians are exploiting this unregulated space: lnk.to/onthemedia/b...
lnk.to
On the Media
The Peabody Award-winning On the Media podcast is your guide to examining how the media sausage is made. Hosts Brooke Gladstone and Micah Loewinger examine threats to free speech and government transparency, cast a skeptical eye on media coverage of the week’s big stories and unravel hidden political narratives in everything we read, watch and hear.
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Dave Jorgenson @davejorgenson.bsky.social · 01/09/2026
The whole story from @kenbensinger.bsky.social and Stuart A. Thompson at the NY Times is fascinating. Read it here: www.nytimes.com/2026/08/29/u...
nytimes.com
Influencers Have a Lot to Say About Politics. Many Are Quietly Paid for It. (Gift Article)
Their videos have proliferated on social media, but the payments are frequently hidden from viewers.
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Mary Harris @maryharris.bsky.social · 05/08/2026
This is such a good show and not just because @kenbensinger.bsky.social got a text from Laura Loomer in the middle of it slate.com/podcasts/wha...
slate.com
Will Laura Loomer Save Ukraine?
That and a long-awaited “thank you” could swing this whole war.
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KENNNN @kenbensinger.bsky.social · 16/07/2026
Lots of Argentina didn't win, England lost chatter going on in certain circles
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KENNNN @kenbensinger.bsky.social · 22/06/2026
Is there a more accessible stadium in the World Cup than Lumen field (sorry: "Seattle Stadium:)? You can take light rail and nearby Pioneer Square is full of restaurants, bars, watch parties and public spaces. Was there on Friday and then today went to SoFi and it's day and night.
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KENNNN @kenbensinger.bsky.social · 10/12/2025
Lopez had been seeking cert from SCOTUS. The DOJ had fought hard for years to preserve the convictions and the case, so its change of heart is surprising, but it comes under an administration that has taken a much softer stance on white collar crime.
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KENNNN @kenbensinger.bsky.social · 10/12/2025
In a dramatic turnabout, the Justice Dept asked to dismiss its case against two defendants convicted in the FIFA corruption case (Hernan Lopez & Full Play Group) DOJ gave no explanation other than it was in the "interests of justice." My story with Santul Nerkar www.nytimes.com/2025/12/10/n...
nytimes.com
U.S. Moves to Drop Charges in International Soccer Corruption Case
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KENNNN @kenbensinger.bsky.social · 10/12/2025
soldier, why didn't you write this routine email with AI?
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kate conger @kateconger.com · 05/12/2025
What it's like to be Elon Musk's favorite X influencer, a digital remora feeding on likes and reposts www.nytimes.com/2025/12/05/b...
nytimes.com
Elon Musk Loves What This Guy Has to Say
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Ryan Mac 🙃 @rmac.bsky.social · 09/12/2025
a great profile from the great @kenbensinger.bsky.social www.nytimes.com/2025/12/05/b...
nytimes.com
Elon Musk Loves What This Guy Has to Say
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KENNNN @kenbensinger.bsky.social · 24/10/2025
Modern art & Brutalism = bad Gold Leaf = good
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KENNNN @kenbensinger.bsky.social · 19/10/2025
“I can no longer reconcile my role with the direction the paper has chosen, including its increasing willingness to promote partisan materials, publish demonstrably false information, & manipulate the reporting of its ground staff to shape the worldview of our readers,” he wrote
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KENNNN @kenbensinger.bsky.social · 19/10/2025
In his resignation letter, submitted Friday, Thornebrook described numerous issues with political bias favoring the Trump administration in coverage and with misinformation inserted into articles over objections from reporters.
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KENNNN @kenbensinger.bsky.social · 19/10/2025
Andrew Thornebrooke, who has been at The Epoch Times since 2021, also took issue with the decision to call antifa a terrorist organization, despite there being no legal designation for domestic terrorism.
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KENNNN @kenbensinger.bsky.social · 19/10/2025
NEW: A national security reporter at the Epoch Times has resigned following the outlet's decision to sign on to the Pentagon's new media pledge, calling it a choice to “abdicate our responsibility as journalists in favor of merely repeating state narratives.” www.nytimes.com/2025/10/19/b...
nytimes.com
Epoch Times Reporter Resigns After Publication Signs Pentagon Rules
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KENNNN @kenbensinger.bsky.social · 10/10/2025
Under Counterman, does that line — "won't be me" — shield the speaker from the recklessness standard: that they disregarded the risk of harm to the recipient?
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KENNNN @kenbensinger.bsky.social · 10/10/2025
the author says reprehensible things and nobody should ever receive something like this. He describes violent acts that could very reasonably be interpreted as threats. He also clearly states "don't worry — won't be me. I'm not giving up my freedoms for worm shit like you."
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KENNNN @kenbensinger.bsky.social · 10/10/2025
TWO: SCOTUS in 2023 (Counterman) leaned more heavily on the "subjective standard" — what the speaker actually intended to do — finding the govt had to show "recklessness," defined as having consciously disregarded a substantial risk that the conduct will cause harm to another"
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KENNNN @kenbensinger.bsky.social · 10/10/2025
IANAL but there seem to be 2 legal precedents at play here: ONE: the 6th Circuit in 2012 (Jeffries) used the "objective standard" — what a reasonable person might determine to be a threat — to find the threat did not have to be specific or directly enunciated.
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KENNNN @kenbensinger.bsky.social · 10/10/2025
This is the letter Benny Johnson received that led to the arrest of a San Diego man this week. It is clearly the work of a very angry person & I absolutely condemn it. Still, it will be interesting to see how the courts rule on whether it constitutes a "true threat" under the law
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KENNNN @kenbensinger.bsky.social · 13/09/2025
largely because it wasn't deleted! Yglesias either overlooked that fact or lied about it! x.com/LauraLoomer/...
x.com
Laura Loomer on X: "I don’t ever want to hear @charliekirk11 claim he is pro-Trump ever again. After this weekend, I’d say he has revealed himself as political opportunist and I have had a front row seat to witness the mental gymnastics these last 10 years. Lately, Charlie has decided to behave https://t.co/p5ZijgJLWE" / X
I don’t ever want to hear @charliekirk11 claim he is pro-Trump ever again. After this weekend, I’d say he has revealed himself as political opportunist and I have had a front row seat to witness the mental gymnastics these last 10 years. Lately, Charlie has decided to behave https://t.co/p5ZijgJLWE
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Peter Baker @peterbakernyt.bsky.social · 12/09/2025
Right-wing influencers and at least one Trump official are encouraging people to expose those seen as celebrating Kirk's assassination, leading to suspensions, firings and investigations. @alanfeuer.bsky.social @kenbensinger.bsky.social @poojasalhotra.bsky.social www.nytimes.com/2025/09/12/u...
nytimes.com
Right-Wing Activists Urge Followers to Expose Those Celebrating Kirk Killing
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KENNNN @kenbensinger.bsky.social · 29/04/2025
the blond guy is Link Lauren, a former RFK Jr advisor, and close friend of Jessica Reed Kraus, among other things
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KENNNN @kenbensinger.bsky.social · 29/04/2025
In 2023 I wrote about Dilley and his team of meme makers, whose often racist and sexist and nearly always crude videos have been widely shared on the right, including by Trump. www.nytimes.com/2023/12/13/u...
nytimes.com
Inside the Troll Army Waging Trump’s Online Campaign (Published 2023)
A team of meme-makers has been flooding social media with pro-Trump posts riddled with sexist and racist tropes. Donald Trump is cheering them on.
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KENNNN @kenbensinger.bsky.social · 29/04/2025
That's Brenden Dilley, a life coach turned QAnon podcaster turned MAGA meme creator who once said on the air "It doesn’t have to be true. It just has to go viral."
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KENNNN @kenbensinger.bsky.social · 28/03/2025
His lawyer? AG Pam Bondi's brother.
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KENNNN @kenbensinger.bsky.social · 28/03/2025
Milton was convicted by a jury of 3 fraud counts in 2022 for misleading investors about his company & its electric trucks. He was sentenced to 4 years + restitution. Two weeks ago, prosecutors recommended he pay $676M in restitution. Now he won't have to pay that & is a free man.
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KENNNN @kenbensinger.bsky.social · 28/03/2025
NEW: Nikola founder Trevor Milton, just pardoned by Trump for fraud, donated over $2 million to Republicans between September and December of last year, per FEC records. His largest was $920K to the Trump 47 Committee. He'd never previously made political donations.
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KENNNN @kenbensinger.bsky.social · 26/03/2025
This reminds me of when Jamie Raskin told me that Comer repeatedly called him "Mr. Raskins," even after Raskin said that he didn't have an "S" at the end of his name.
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KENNNN @kenbensinger.bsky.social · 21/03/2025
good story but the Spanish translation is horrible! Are we using AI now to do those because nobody, but nobody, says "afirmaciones fácticas" and the rest of the story is equally gobbledygook
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KENNNN @kenbensinger.bsky.social · 21/03/2025
I'm sure the Elon would NEVER tell the Chinese govt (which "now accounts for more than half of Tesla’s global deliveries") what he learns in a top secret briefing about American plans for a possible war with China, right? RIGHT? www.nytimes.com/2025/03/20/u...
nytimes.com
Musk Set to Get Access to Top-Secret U.S. Plan for Potential War With China
Giving Elon Musk access to some of the nation’s most closely guarded military secrets is a major expansion of his role as an adviser to President Trump and highlights his conflicts of interest.
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KENNNN @kenbensinger.bsky.social · 20/03/2025
This is incredibly grim www.nytimes.com/2025/03/19/u...
nytimes.com
Threats Rise Against Judges Overseeing Trump Policy Cases, Fueling Safety Concerns
Federal judges are worried that online threats against those who oversee high-profile cases challenging Trump administration policies may lead to real-world violence.
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KENNNN @kenbensinger.bsky.social · 09/03/2025
I wrote about how MeidasTouch and other progressive digital outlets are having a moment as anxiety about the Trump administration rises, and how Democratic officials are leaning into new media.
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KENNNN @kenbensinger.bsky.social · 06/03/2025
It's worrisome because without the disclosure it's impossible to know who funded the transition and how much they gave. That information is critical because transitions provide a huge opportunity for people to buy influence with the incoming administration
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KENNNN @kenbensinger.bsky.social · 06/03/2025
It's been 6 weeks since the inauguration and Trump still has not disclosed a single donor to his transition, despite a written promise to do so. His transition co-chairs and the WH press secretary won't even respond to queries about the matter. My story: www.nytimes.com/2025/03/06/u...
nytimes.com
Who Paid for Trump’s Transition to Power? The Donors Are Still Unknown.
President Trump has not made good on a promise to disclose who contributed to his transition effort.
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KENNNN @kenbensinger.bsky.social · 27/02/2025
Per Trump's EO, the agencies froze funding for 90 days, but faced with a restraining order requiring them to restart funding, they have been canceling contracts en masse as an end-run of the TRO USAID claims to have canceled 5,800 contracts State has canceled 4,100 contracts
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KENNNN @kenbensinger.bsky.social · 27/02/2025
NEW: USAID and State have been sending out contract cancelations to foreign aid recipients all day, signing off "God Bless America." USAID emails say Marco Rubio & his top deputy provided no detail other than to say that the contracts were "not in the national interest"
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Ryan Mac 🙃 @rmac.bsky.social · 09/02/2025
The great @kenbensinger.bsky.social found that during the LA fires GoFundMe's CEO also lived in Altadena. Here's his story on evacuating from his home as his company becomes a lifeline for the community: www.nytimes.com/2025/02/09/b...
nytimes.com
How GoFundMe Became a $250 Million Lifeline After the L.A. Fires
Donations on the crowdfunding site to people and fire relief efforts have exceeded those for all natural disasters worldwide last year.
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KENNNN @kenbensinger.bsky.social · 07/02/2025
Trump suspended the US Refugee Admissions Program 12 days ago, a stunning move that stranded 22,000 refugees from Afghanistan and other war-torn countries. But in an executive order today he opened up USRAP to white Afrikaners "who are victims of unjust racial discrimination."
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KENNNN @kenbensinger.bsky.social · 07/02/2025
HAPPENING NOW: Workers are removing the USAID name plate over the door of its building in Pennsylvania Ave and using black duct tape to cover the name on a street sign outside the building.
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Ryan Mac 🙃 @rmac.bsky.social · 16/01/2025
For the last week, @kenbensinger.bsky.social and I have been in Altadena, to report on the devastation. But we kept coming back to an Arco gas station, which a group of locals have turned into a beacon of hope with tacos, clothes and community. This is their story: www.nytimes.com/2025/01/15/u...
nytimes.com
Tacos, Water and ‘Homies’: A Gas Station Becomes a Uniquely L.A. Relief Site
Out of desperation and a need for social bonding, volunteers have banded together to help Altadena residents.
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KENNNN @kenbensinger.bsky.social · 30/12/2024
glad to hear you liked it!
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joannkbc.bsky.social @joannkbc.bsky.social · 29/12/2024
The Michigan Plot, @kenbensinger.bsky.social and @jessicagarrison.bsky.social Another one I could not stop talking about. An amazing collection of recordings.
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KENNNN @kenbensinger.bsky.social · 24/11/2024
By refusing to sign agreements w/ Biden admin, Trump has discovered a way to raise unlimited funds for his transition from any source, including foreigners, w/o ever having to disclose who the donors are or how much they gave. My latest, w/ @fahrenthold.bsky.social www.nytimes.com/2024/11/24/u...
nytimes.com
Trump Is Running His Transition Team on Secret Money
Breaking with past practice, President-elect Donald J. Trump has not agreed to disclose the donors paying for his planning effort or to limit their contributions.
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Eric Lipton NYT @ericlipton.nytimes.com · 24/11/2024
President-elect Trump is keeping secret the names of the donors who are funding his transition effort, a break from tradition that could make it impossible to see what businesses or wealthy people are helping launch his second term. BensingerFahrenthold www.nytimes.com/2024/11/24/u...
nytimes.com
Trump Is Running His Transition Team on Secret Money
Breaking with past practice, President-elect Donald J. Trump has not agreed to disclose the donors paying for his planning effort or to limit their contributions.
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The New York Times @nytimes.com · 24/11/2024
President-elect Trump is keeping the names of the donors who are funding his transition effort secret, in a break from tradition that could make it impossible to see what interest groups, businesses or wealthy people are helping launch his second term.
nytimes.com
Trump Is Running His Transition Team on Secret Money
Breaking with past practice, President-elect Donald J. Trump has not agreed to disclose the donors paying for his planning effort or to limit their contributions.
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KENNNN @kenbensinger.bsky.social · 17/11/2024
Even before Trump takes over, Biden has already done much of the work of closing the border for him: fully 45,000 of the 54,000 migrants who crossed in September had been deported or detained. www.nytimes.com/2024/11/16/u...
nytimes.com
Biden’s Policies Offer a Starting Point for Trump’s Border Crackdown
Mr. Trump has criticized the Biden administration for what he calls its lax handling of the border — but it has left him with tools he can use to shut down the border.
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KENNNN @kenbensinger.bsky.social · 17/11/2024
it's strange and unfamiliar here
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KENNNN @kenbensinger.bsky.social · 17/11/2024
Damn @rmac.bsky.social has 46K followers here. He's hella famous
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