iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

US envoy to NATO expresses solidarity with Germany over Leipzig attack

After Germany publicly named Russia over an attempted attack on its soil, the best the U.S. could muster was to send its NATO ambassador to voice support for an ally under attack, not a senior Cabinet official. That's telling, and I am sure protocol-obsessed Moscow noticed. aa.com.tr/en/europe/us...

aa.com.tr

We remain committed to NATO’s collective defense, clear-eyed about deterrence, says Matthew Whitaker | Anadolu

1149

Reposted by Philip Mai

As researchers who study rhetoric and framing, we’ve noticed that many American politicians don’t seem to understand that the U.S. has lost an entire generation of Canadians. Many now say they’ll never set foot in America again or buy American-made products.

45122

Reposted by Philip Mai

Greer says agriculture, non-tariff barrier announcements likely during Xi visit

See, when the Trump administration views an interlocutor as a genuine threat and an equal, it can behave rationally. www.reuters.com/business/aut... It clearly doesn’t view Canada as an equal, but as a wayward vassal, so it’s bringing out the sticks.

reuters.com

The United States and China are set to make some ‌announcements on agriculture and non-tariff barriers during a visit by Chinese President Xi Jinping to Washington ⁠this month, U.S. Trade Represen...

085

Reposted by Philip Mai

Philip Mai @philipmai.com · 03/09/2026

Alienating the people who share your longest undefended border is not just a diplomatic failure; it’s a costly strategic mistake with profound military and human consequences. As the US pushes Canada towards Europe and China, repairing this fracture will take decades, if not longer.

2379

"Dozens Of Federal Judges Go On Record About The Rising Threats They Face. In rare first-person accounts, judges describe a surge in disturbing threats, “swatting” and “pizza doxxing” since Trump took office in 2025." www.huffpost.com/entry/federa...

huffpost.com

Dozens Of Federal Judges Go On Record About The Rising Threats They Face

In rare first-person accounts, judges describe a surge in disturbing threats, “swatting” and “pizza doxxing” since Trump took office in 2025.

043

Philip Mai @philipmai.com · 03/09/2026

"Identity Verification Is Broken. The 153M Driver’s Licenses Now for Sale Are Proof A massive trove of driver’s license scans allegedly stolen from an identity verification company shows the danger of creating honey pots of our most sensitive documents for malicious actors to exploit."

gizmodo.com

Identity Verification Is Broken. The 153 Million Driver’s Licenses Now for Sale Are Proof

A massive trove of driver’s license scans allegedly stolen from an identity verification company shows the danger of creating honey pots of our most sensitive documents for malicious actors to exploit...

02019

Reposted by Philip Mai

Ron Filipkowski @ronfilipkowski.bsky.social · 02/09/2026

Suddenly due process matters.

936130592698

Philip Mai @philipmai.com · 02/09/2026

"Most Americans disapprove of Lake Ontario name change." That's nice. But it assumes Americans still live in a democracy where citizens' approval is valued. www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2026/09/01/most-americans-disapprove-lake-ontario-name-change/

washingtonpost.com

Most Americans disapprove of Lake Ontario name change

President Donald Trump signed an executive order last week renaming it Lake America, as part of his feud with Canada.

1359

Reposted by Philip Mai

Social Media Lab @socialmedialab.ca · 28/08/2026

Talented people are always in demand, which means they have the luxury of choice. "Canada Hires 48 Scholars Away From Top U.S. Universities. A crackdown on American academia by the Trump administration has handed Canadian universities a rare opportunity to lure some top researchers north."

nytimes.com

24715

Philip Mai @philipmai.com · 01/09/2026

"The man who shaped Trump: book sheds fresh light on ruthless Roy Cohn. American Scoundrel tells story of McCarthy attack dog, mob lawyer and Trump mentor " www.theguardian.com/books/2026/s...

theguardian.com

The man who shaped Trump: book sheds fresh light on ruthless Roy Cohn

American Scoundrel tells story of McCarthy attack dog, mob lawyer and Trump mentor – will the president be thumbing its pages?

01010

Philip Mai @philipmai.com · 28/08/2026

"Sweetener used in chewing gum and jam linked to strokes and heart attacks. High blood levels of xylitol associated with higher risk of major cardiovascular events, in largest study of its kind" www.theguardian.com/society/2026...

theguardian.com

Sweetener used in chewing gum and jam linked to strokes and heart attacks

High blood levels of xylitol associated with higher risk of major cardiovascular events, in largest study of its kind

078

Philip Mai @philipmai.com · 28/08/2026

Don't forget tech leaders in Canada tried to do this last year.

093

Philip Mai @philipmai.com · 28/08/2026

"The Unwelcoming States of America. By trying to change its demographic trajectory, Donald Trump will make his country weaker." www.economist.com/leaders/2026...

economist.com

The Unwelcoming States of America

By trying to change its demographic trajectory, Donald Trump will make his country weaker

093

Reposted by Philip Mai

Social Media Lab @socialmedialab.ca · 27/08/2026

As we and others suspected... "CIA Chief’s Surprise Moscow Trip Was to Warn Russia Not to Attack NATO" www.wsj.com/politics/pol... Here are a few of the many breadcrumbs we have gathered that suggest Russia may want to test NATO resolve sooner rather than later.

wsj.com

Exclusive | CIA Chief’s Surprise Moscow Trip Was to Warn Russia Not to Attack NATO

The warning comes after new U.S. intelligence assessments indicated the Russian president could launch a limited assault.

2147

Reposted by Philip Mai

Social Media Lab @socialmedialab.ca · 25/08/2026

She was a light that represented the best of America ... Her music will live on... youtube.com/watch?v=ZCwW...

youtube.com

Jolene

YouTube video by Dolly Parton - Topic

1264

Reposted by Philip Mai

Imani Gandy @angryblacklady.blacksky.app · 25/08/2026

Dolly Parton and Patti LaBelle playing their acrylics. Two icons.

5696493244

Reposted by Philip Mai

Dun Jun @clustertuck.bsky.social · 25/08/2026

RIP Dolly Parton ❤️ Here's a lovely Dolly story: We worked together on "Transamerica." She told me that the bible passage that used to puzzle her the most was, "the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men." She said, "How the heck do you sin against the Holy Ghost, and-

183177701

Reposted by Philip Mai

Tina Vasquez @tinavasquez.bsky.social · 25/08/2026

When the Gatlinburg Wildfires happened in 2016, Dolly gave impacted families $1,000/month to help them get back on their feet. This included my father-in-law, who lost everything in the fire. Dolly gave children in TN free books each month, from birth to the age of five. She was a goddamn saint.

153513766

Reposted by Philip Mai

Stephen McDonell @stephenmcdonell.bsky.social · 23/08/2026

#China’s robot games underway today and race one already had a great stack. Kids cheered! #Beijing now…

4145

Philip Mai @philipmai.com · 23/08/2026

"We cannot accept what they've offered, and we will not give what they've asked," Carney said during a speech outlining Canada's position on the trade dispute with the US. www.euronews.com/2026/08/23/c...

euronews.com

Carney says new US tariffs are 'designed to hurt us and divide us'

"We cannot accept what they've offered, and we will not give what they've asked," Carney said during a speech outlining Canada's position on the trade dispute with the US.

1115

Philip Mai @philipmai.com · 23/08/2026

“A 1-year-old baby appeared in immigration court without legal representation in Arizona and received an instruction: File an asylum application before the next hearing or face deportation.” www.notus.org/immigration/...

notus.org

Judge to Baby: File an Asylum Application

The 1-year-old is one of the migrant children who advocates say appeared in immigration court without legal representation.

21210

Reposted by Philip Mai

Trump’s bullying of Canada is failing.

"Yes, Trump can hurt Canada more than Canada can hurt Trump. That part of Trump’s thinking is true. But wars are not decided only by the question Who can inflict more pain? Wars are also decided by the question Who can endure more pain?" www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2026/0...

theatlantic.com

How to Lose a Trade War

43910

Reposted by Philip Mai

Militæranalytiker efter Bødskovs melding om russisk indblanding i migrantkrisen: 'Jeg ville ikke blive overrasket'

👀 2,000 fake articles and over 6,000 fake posts on social media. "Minister of Immigration and Integration Morten Bødskov (S) to link the migrant crisis in Ceuta to Russia's hybrid warfare." www.dr.dk/nyheder/udla...

dr.dk

På EU-hastemødet om Ceuta blev der ifølge Morten Bødskov fremlagt dokumentation for, at Rusland benytter situationen i Ceuta til at føre hybridkrig.

095

Reposted by Philip Mai

In plain English, by trying to dictate whom Canada can trade with, the US is effectively seeking to formalize Canada’s status as a vassal state, supplying raw materials only to the US and countries the US approves.

411647

Reposted by Philip Mai

One of the hallmarks of sovereignty is the power to govern your own foreign affairs: deciding who you want to trade with and who you want as your allies. Any country that gives that up ceases to be sovereign.

13611

Reposted by Philip Mai

Carney calls Trump's fresh tariffs a 'miscalculation' after trade talks collapse

Attacked by Trump on tariffs, Mark Carney says Canada is now ‘at war’ with US over trade. Carney said the US presented "unacceptable" terms that were too restrictive, including curbing Canada's ability to strike new trade deals with other countries. www.bbc.com/news/article...

bbc.com

Canada's prime minister said he was "reluctantly" announcing retaliatory tariffs as he accused the US of starting a trade war.

24917

Reposted by Philip Mai

Canada is not helpless in this fight. But a $-for-$ match is the wrong way to go. Instead, Canada could leverage America's dependence on Canadian inputs and shut down whole supply chains. Imagine not being able to ship a $50k car because of a $100 part made only in Canada. bsky.app/profile/soci...

78020

Reposted by Philip Mai

U.S. imposes 50% tariffs on $20 billion worth of Canadian products

"The United States imposed 50% tariffs on $20 billion worth of Canadian products early Saturday, and Canada immediately said it would retaliate, after last-ditch negotiations failed to resolve the latest strain in already tense relations between the historic allies." www.npr.org/2026/08/22/n...

npr.org

The United States imposed 50% tariffs on $20 billion worth of Canadian products early Saturday, and Canada immediately said it would retaliate, after last-ditch negotiations failed.

2526380

Reposted by Philip Mai

Anne Applebaum @anneapplebaum.wsocial.eu · 22/08/2026

This is what the fake "free speech" advocates have built: an administration that harasses critics. Produce research showing the expensive National Guard deployments didn't lower crime? Get sued by Trump's lawyers www.nytimes.com/2026/08/21/u...

nytimes.com

Trump Threatens Defamation Suit Over National Guard Report, Aiming to Intimidate a Critic

It was the latest example of President Trump’s bid to use the legal system against those who voice unflattering facts and opinions generally protected by the First Amendment.

431326488

Philip Mai @philipmai.com · 21/08/2026

Is the Canada Online News Act about to go bye-bye to placate Trump? We will know soon enough. The Act requires major social media, search and advertising technology companies to compensate Canadian news outlets for lost advertising revenue. www.thestar.com/opinion/star...

thestar.com

Justin Ling: Mark Carney may be on the verge of making an unwise concession to Trump

Chatter that the Online News Act is on the table in Canada-U.S. trade talks are an ominous warning sign that Mark Carney is giving up too much.

041

Reposted by Philip Mai

Jacquelyn Gill @jacquelyngill.bsky.social · 21/08/2026

Hey folks, this hasn’t gotten much attention, but remember those proposed OMB rule changes we all commented on recently? There’s a new attempt to sneak them just for NSF. We have three days to comment. Please don’t sleep on this!

7756637

Reposted by Philip Mai

Social Media Lab @socialmedialab.ca · 21/08/2026

Due process is often the first victim of authoritarianism, and its death rattle is usually heard long before democracy falls. Always demand due process. If nothing else, it slows down fascism long enough for people to recognize what is happening. www.dallasnews.com/opinion/comm...

dallasnews.com

Editorial cartoon: Deported

Due process? Nope, ICE deported that.

03621

Reposted by Philip Mai

Social Media Lab @socialmedialab.ca · 21/08/2026

Coming to a country near you. Like Russia's "don't say gay law," this new 🇷🇺 law will likely be copied by others: "Vladimir Putin has signed a new “civic death” law targeting the Kremlin’s critics everywhere. The goal is to intimidate Russian citizens from speaking out against Putin’s crimes."

journalofdemocracy.org

How Putin Erases Dissidents and Critics | Journal of Democracy

Vladimir Putin has signed a new “civic death” law that targets Kremlin’s critics everywhere. The goal is to intimidate Russian citizens from speaking up about Putin’s crimes. The world’s democracies…

11911

Philip Mai @philipmai.com · 21/08/2026

Interesting. So any Canadian backbencher can now hold discussions directly with a foreign government, while the government is also conducting official talks on the same matter with said foreign government? www.cbc.ca/news/world/v...

cbc.ca

Vance tells audience at private event that Carney tried to 'out-tough' Trump on trade | CBC News

U.S. Vice-President JD Vance weighed in on the latest trade deal with Canada at a fundraising event Wednesday, saying Prime Minister Mark Carney tried to "out-tough" U.S. President Donald Trump while ...

54318

Reposted by Philip Mai

Philip Mai @philipmai.com · 13/08/2026

"McDonald’s Built a 515-Page Dossier on Me. It Says I’ll Never Stop Eating There. I requested a copy of my data from McDonald’s loyalty program and received an extensive, personalized report that algorithmically predicts my next purchase." www.wired.com/story/mcdona...

wired.com

McDonald’s Built a 515-Page Dossier on Me. It Says I’ll Never Stop Eating There

I requested a copy of my data from McDonald’s loyalty program and received an extensive, personalized report that algorithmically predicts my next purchase.

02514

Reposted by Philip Mai

Social Media Lab @socialmedialab.ca · 20/08/2026

Even Goodwill won’t want this trash. MAGA merch will end up on the trash heap of history. Like old KKK hoods and robes, it will become an embarrassing relic that descendants of its supporters discover years from now, stuffed in an old trunk and forgotten in some dusty attic or basement.

094

Reposted by Philip Mai

Social Media Lab @socialmedialab.ca · 20/08/2026

"Massive Trump merchandise store goes out of business - because nobody is buying anything" www.independent.co.uk/news/world/a...

independent.co.uk

Massive Trump merchandise store goes out of business - because nobody is shopping

‘We’re not busy anymore,’ one employee of the Trump store admitted

1155

Reposted by Philip Mai

Yves Venedey @yvesvenedey.de · 14/08/2026

In Germany, Threads does have more unique users than Bluesky, but on average, users spend only ten minutes per month on Threads. Bluesky, on the other hand, is used for an average of 1:10 hour per user per month.

ALTERNATIVE ANBIETER - ANGEBOTE

Produkt
Unique Users
Net Reach
Duration
Total Duration
Prozent
per U.U.
Stunden/Monat
Stunden/Monat
MICROBLOGGING

Bluesky
2.341.552
3,6 %
1:11:36
931.518
Mastodon
141.002
0,3 %
0:28:08
26.051
Threads (Meta)
3.845.697
6,0 %
0:10:25
222.52:

Source: „Vermessung der digitalen Welt“, Martin Andree, Weinheim 2026

2345

Philip Mai @philipmai.com · 13/08/2026

wired.com

McDonald’s Built a 515-Page Dossier on Me. It Says I’ll Never Stop Eating There

I requested a copy of my data from McDonald’s loyalty program and received an extensive, personalized report that algorithmically predicts my next purchase.

02514

Reposted by Philip Mai

Social Media Surveillance by the U.S. Government

A lot has changed since 2022, but here's a great primer on "Social Media Surveillance by the U.S. Government." from the amazing folks @brennancenter.org www.brennancenter.org/our-work/res...

brennancenter.org

A growing and unregulated trend of online surveillance raises concerns for civil rights and liberties.

12521

Reposted by Philip Mai

💯 this! The U.S. government and other authorities may be able to obtain and/or already have records of posts you’ve made on this app, including some content you’ve since deleted. Only post what you’d be comfortable explaining to a judge in person later.

83230

Reposted by Philip Mai

If we can pass laws requiring toy guns to be brightly colored and clearly distinguishable from real guns, then we 💯 can pass a law preventing the deployment of weapons that looks like everyday items. It's only fair.

066

Reposted by Philip Mai