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Sam Spengler

@samspengler.bsky.social
13K followers 243 following 13 posts

research @Wired.com 📍Philadelphia

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Reposted by Sam Spengler
Reyhan Harmanci @harmancipants.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
Today we are publishing the first of a series of data-driven stories about how Israeli checkpoints strangle life in the West Bank www.wired.com/story/how-is...
wired.com
How Israeli Checkpoints Choke Palestinian Life in the Occupied West Bank
Lost time. Lost jobs. Lost friends. Lost family. Lost lives. Our joint investigation reveals the system that has divided the West Bank and measures what it cost people to move through it.
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WIRED @wired.com · 01/10/2026
Traverse barriers and checkpoints in the occupied West Bank—your choices reflect the reality of nearly 3.5 million Palestinians who live there. www.wired.com/story/experi...
wired.com
Experience What It’s Like to Travel in the Occupied West Bank
Traverse barriers and checkpoints in the occupied West Bank—your choices reflect the reality of nearly 3.5 million Palestinians who live there.
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WIRED @wired.com · 21/09/2026
For our WIRED Women cover, Patti Harrison plays five (well, actually six) of the current masters of the universe—Elon Musk, Sam Altman, Dario Amodei, Mark Zuckerberg, and Jeff Bezos (with Lauren Sánchez Bezos by his side). 🔗 www.wired.com/tag/wired-wo...
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Philadelphia Magazine @phillymag.com · 25/08/2026
Walkouts. Resignations. Arrests. Lawsuits. Inside the spectacular unraveling of a beloved Philly institution.
phillymag.com
What the Hell Happened to World Cafe Live?
Walkouts. Resignations. Arrests. Lawsuits. Inside the spectacular unraveling of a beloved Philly institution.
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Bradford Pearson @bradfordpearson.bsky.social · 24/08/2026
Extremely proud to run this story, which is by far the most comprehensive account of all that went down at World Cafe Live. @samspengler.bsky.social spent months on this one, pulling every thread, and it shows.
phillymag.com
What the Hell Happened to World Cafe Live?
Walkouts. Resignations. Arrests. Lawsuits. Inside the spectacular unraveling of a beloved Philly institution.
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Sam Spengler @samspengler.bsky.social · 23/08/2026
Over the last year, Philly has watched the stunning collapse of one of our most cherished music venues. For @phillymag.com, I decided to figure out exactly what went wrong. Welcome to World Cafe Live, metaverse edition: www.phillymag.com/news/2026/08...
phillymag.com
What the Hell Happened to World Cafe Live?
Walkouts. Resignations. Arrests. Lawsuits. Inside the spectacular unraveling of a beloved Philly institution.
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Adam Bonin @adambonin.bsky.social · 23/08/2026
Fantastic article in @phillymag.com explaining, as the title puts it, "What the Hell Happened to World Cafe Live?" and the answer seems to be that a lot of wealthy, well-meaning board members got taken in by a dude doing the techbro version of fake GrungeSpeak: www.phillymag.com/news/2026/08...
“World Cafe Live 3.0,” as he called it, would be a digital force: Callahan would leverage his companies — Sansar and Ciright — to stream both live and simulated versions of the venue’s concerts in the metaverse, a network of immersive digital worlds where people interact with each other using avatars. In a sense, he would bring the “world” to World Cafe Live. Sales of Sansar’s metaverse tickets would generate revenue and propel the local institution into virality.

For even more of a boost, Callahan planned to lean on what he said was an existing relationship with Nigerian Afro-fusion musician Burna Boy, who had recently sold out a concert at Citi Field­ (the New York Mets’ stadium). Callahan said he had already paid $1 million to secure a commitment from the performer. (In a Bean Foundation presentation to Penn a few months later, Callahan was even more ambitious: He planned to secure between nine and 18 additional “mega stars,” whose $2,500 tickets would generate at least $21 million over a year. Livestreaming and metaverse tickets sold on the blockchain would bring in an additional $150 million to $300 million.) Callahan also told the board that he and Snider would launch a $10 million capital campaign.
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WIRED @wired.com · 21/04/2026
There’s a lot of love all over the world for GrapheneOS, the gold standard of mobile security. There’s very little love between the two guys at the center of its history. www.wired.com/story/they-b...
wired.com
They Built a Legendary Privacy Tool. Now They’re Sworn Enemies
There’s a lot of love all over the world for GrapheneOS, the gold standard of mobile security. There’s very little love between the two guys at the center of its history.
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makena kelly @makenakelly.bsky.social · 21/04/2026
WIRED won the Hillman prize for our DOGE coverage :-) www.hillmanfoundation.org/hillman-priz...
hillmanfoundation.org
Inside the DOGE Takeover of the Federal Government
In early 2025, Americans first learned about the takeover of the federal government by the so-called Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). DOGE had been operating under a veil of secrecy, with l...
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Noah Shachtman @noahshachtman.bsky.social · 17/04/2026
Jim Dolan is a full-blown media and tech oligarch these days -- from his private deep state to his MAGA ties. But Dolan's connections to Trump go back further than most; he got married in Mar-a-Lago in 2002. It's his security forces that are now spying on so many New Yorkers.
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jason @jasooooon.bsky.social · 17/04/2026
“Behind the scenes, the atmosphere is so rooted in paranoia that former Knicks players warn one another about rooms being bugged, and staffers worry about being watched when they go out to local bars.” an instant @wired.com classic www.wired.com/story/madiso...
wired.com
The Shocking Secrets of Madison Square Garden’s Surveillance Machine
Famously vengeful Knicks owner Jim Dolan has long spied on people at his iconic arenas. WIRED goes deep inside the operation that allegedly tracked a trans woman, lawyers, protesters, and more.
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Ali Winston @awinston.bsky.social · 02/04/2026
The genesis of this investigation (w/@regret.bsky.social, @timmarchman.bsky.social , @couts.bsky.social, @hudsongiles.bsky.social & @samspengler.bsky.social) was the winged insignia worn by Greg Bovino & several camouflaged Border Patrol agents thruout At Large, Midway Blitz & Metro Surge - BORTAC
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Brian Barrett @brbarrett.bsky.social · 02/04/2026
A WIRED investigation has identified multiple members of the paramilitary units behind some of the most egregious immigration enforcement actions of the last year. from @awinston.bsky.social and @regret.bsky.social
wired.com
Unmasking the Paramilitary Agents Behind Trump’s Violent Immigration Crackdown
A WIRED analysis of DHS records identified dozens of specialized federal agents who used force against US civilians during the largest known deployment of its kind in US history.
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Sam Spengler @samspengler.bsky.social · 02/04/2026
In use-of-force instances during Operation Midway Blitz last fall, federal agents punched protesters, threw tear gas, fired pepperballs, and used tasers. The officers were often members of a paramilitary force trained not for crowd control, but high-risk desert operations. Latest from @wired.com:
wired.com
Unmasking the Paramilitary Agents Behind Trump’s Violent Immigration Crackdown
A WIRED analysis of DHS records identified dozens of specialized federal agents who used force against US civilians during the largest known deployment of its kind in US history.
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WIRED @wired.com · 02/04/2026
A WIRED analysis of DHS records identified dozens of specialized federal agents who used force against US civilians during the largest known deployment of its kind in US history. www.wired.com/story/border...
wired.com
Unmasking the Paramilitary Agents Behind Trump’s Violent Immigration Crackdown
A WIRED analysis of DHS records identified dozens of specialized federal agents who used force against US civilians during the largest known deployment of its kind in US history.
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WIRED @wired.com · 26/03/2026
From drones to missiles to submarines, Anduril wants to transform how the tools of war are made. It’s not all going as planned. www.wired.com/story/anduri...
wired.com
Anduril’s Real War Is With Itself
From drones to missiles to submarines, the $30.5 billion defense startup wants to transform how the tools of war are made. It’s not all going as planned.
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Katie Drummond @katie-drummond.bsky.social · 17/03/2026
The New York Times is right. I don’t care! (And huge credit to the @wired.com team, whose intrepid, fearless, always fair reporting gives the tech bros plenty to be mad about.)
nytimes.com
Wired’s New Editor Doesn’t Care if the Tech Bros Are Mad
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the beggars out of here getter @milesklee.bsky.social · 24/02/2026
The Epstein documents released weeks ago are full of university administrators, professors, and trustees. With students demanding transparency and accountability from their schools, academia faces a nationwide reckoning over how it courts and indulges deep-pocketed benefactors.
wired.com
College Campuses Are in Upheaval Over Faculty Ties to Epstein
From small art schools to large public universities, the new DOJ release of emails reveals just how deep the financier’s influence in academia went. Students are demanding accountability.
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More Perfect Union @moreperfectunion.bsky.social · 23/02/2026
This guy gets it.
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Sam Spengler @samspengler.bsky.social · 03/02/2026
Many of the agents terrorizing Minneapolis—including officers who shot Good and Pretti—are from highly-specialized tactical units designated for war-like situations. And they are known for rampant civil rights abuses and violence. New from @awinston.bsky.social: www.wired.com/story/ice-cb...
wired.com
The Paramilitary ICE and CBP Units at the Center of Minnesota's Killings
Two agents involved in the shooting deaths of US citizens in Minneapolis are reportedly part of highly militarized DHS units whose extreme tactics are generally reserved for war zones.
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David Gilbert @davidgilbert.bsky.social · 30/01/2026
"As we watch the least effective and most morally objectionable of our tactics come home and be used amongst and against us, we are left with a profound feeling of betrayal." www.wired.com/story/ice-pr...
wired.com
ICE Pretends It’s a Military Force. Its Tactics Would Get Real Soldiers Killed
WIRED asked an active military officer to break down immigration enforcement actions in Minneapolis and elsewhere.
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dell cameron @dell.bsky.social · 12/11/2025
NEW: DHS secretly obtained Chicago police data on 900 residents accused of gang ties. It was quietly deleted after intelligence officers violated rules against domestic spying. The handoff came well after city inspectors formally announced CPD's gang data was deeply flawed and infected w/ bias.
wired.com
DHS Kept Chicago Police Records for Months in Violation of Domestic Espionage Rules
The Department of Homeland Security collected data on Chicago residents accused of gang ties to test if police files could feed an FBI watchlist. Months passed before anyone noticed it wasn’t deleted.
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Condé Union @condeunion.bsky.social · 12/11/2025
Reinstatement now!
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Condé Union @condeunion.bsky.social · 09/11/2025
Stand with Condé Nast Union 🚨 We’re calling on you to sign our petition telling management to reinstate the Fired Four, reverse the suspensions, and end the union busting. Sign here: actionnetwork.org/petitions/te...
Stand with Condé Nast Union. Sign our petition.Stand with Condé Nast Union 

We’re calling on you to sign our petition telling management to reinstate the Fired Four, reverse the suspensions, and end the union busting. Use the link in bio to add your name.
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Condé Union @condeunion.bsky.social · 06/11/2025
Breaking News: Late last night Conde Nast illegally fired 4 union organizers who asked company execs to explain the downsizing of Teen Vogue and continued layoffs. We’ve filed a grievance.
Statement from The NewsGuild of New York and Condé United  
on illegal firing of four union leaders who demanded answers about this week’s layoffs at Teen Vogue, other brands
Late Wednesday night, Condé Nast’s VP of Labor Relations notified the Guild that the Company was immediately terminating four Condé United leaders for engaging in the protected concerted activity of gathering in their 1 World Trade Center office to demand answers on this week’s abrupt layoffs at multiple brands including WIRED and the consolidation at Teen Vogue.
These egregious terminations are a flagrant breach of the Just Cause terms of our contract and an unprecedented violation of their federally protected rights as union members to participate in a collective action.  
Through these illegal terminations, Condé Nast management is attempting to intimidate and silence our members' advocacy for the courageous cultural and political journalism of Teen Vogue, as well as diverting attention away from the obvious lack of corporate leadership at the company.
Condé United members illegally fired are:
Alma Avalle: Writer, digital producer at Bon Appetit; NewsGuild of New York first vice president, trans activist, and union leader
Jake Lahut: Wired senior reporter covering the Trump White House
Jasper Lo: Senior fact checker at The New Yorker and US Army veteran: outgoing first vice chair of The New Yorker Union
Ben Dewey: Videographer at Condé Nast Entertainment, former vice chair of the CNE unit
“Management’s attempt at union-busting, using intimidation and grossly illegal tactics to try to suppress protected union activity, will not stand,” said Susan DeCarava, president of The NewsGuild of New York. “The NewsGuild of New York has zero tolerance for bad bosses who harass, target and disrespect our fellow Guild members. We represent nearly 6,000 media workers across the tri-state area and we stand firmly in solidarity, ready to fight for the rights of our members illegally fired from their jobs at …
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Zeyi Yang 杨泽毅 @zeyiyang.bsky.social · 06/11/2025
Jake is a resourceful political reporter with deep access to the White House; he goes out of his way to befriend everyone in the newsroom; and he is tireless at promoting our work on TV. WIRED will carry on politics reporting with his legacy, but he deserves a better employer and platform.
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dell cameron @dell.bsky.social · 06/11/2025
WIRED is focused on reporting the forces shaping the most terrifying administration in a generation already plagued by terror wars, financial ruin, and a global pandemic. The best way to help us keep doing that today is to stay reading. We'll see what happens tomorrow.
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Leah Feiger @leahfeiger.bsky.social · 06/11/2025
This is a really hard day and I want to just add as WIRED's politics editor -- WIRED's politics reporting isn't going anywhere. We are very much here and won't stop. Please continue to read and support us - canceling your subscription to WIRED is not standing in solidarity with our journalists.
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Jake Lahut @jakelahut.bsky.social · 06/11/2025
I was one of the four people who got canned. In the interim, you can subscribe to my newsletter, Straight From The Hut. No paywall, but feel free to choose the pay to support model. I'm not going anywhere — the show goes on, and I'll be back on MSNBC Saturday night. straightfromthehut.substack.com
straightfromthehut.substack.com
StraightFromThe Hut | Jake Lahut | Substack
A campaign and communications strategy newsletter, plus a home for Jake Lahut's freelance feature reporting and other notebook items (no paywalls, but pay to support). Click to read StraightFromThe Hu...
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Reyhan Harmanci @harmancipants.bsky.social · 27/10/2025
🎇New package alert @wired.com! This one has been in the works for months. If WIRED was going to tackle AI -- something we cover daily -- we had to go big. So here are 17 different stories about the way AI is changing us, even as the technology itself keeps moving www.wired.com/ai-issue/
wired.com
AI of a Thousand Faces
What happens now that AI is everywhere and in everything? WIRED can’t tell the future, but we can try to make sense of it. Behold: 17 readings from the furthest reaches of the AI age.
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Reyhan Harmanci @harmancipants.bsky.social · 27/10/2025
This might be the most slacked-about story so far: a profile of @edzitron.com, who has become the pre-eminent AI skeptic. @tcraggs22.bsky.social takes on what this specific role entails www.wired.com/story/ai-pr-...
wired.com
Ed Zitron Gets Paid to Love AI. He Also Gets Paid to Hate AI
He’s one of the loudest voices of the AI haters—even as he does PR for AI companies. Either way, Ed Zitron has your attention.
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Katie Drummond @katie-drummond.bsky.social · 27/10/2025
A @wired.com AI package needs to clear an impossibly high bar. And by god, I think we've done it. Hours of sensational, thought-provoking, fun reading, and the design is simply dazzling. WIRED can't predict the future, but we can try to make sense of it. And that's exactly what we're doing here:
wired.com
AI of a Thousand Faces
What happens now that AI is everywhere and in everything? WIRED can’t tell the future, but we can try to make sense of it. Behold: 17 readings from the furthest reaches of the AI age.
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Manisha Krishnan @manishakrishnan.bsky.social · 03/10/2025
New deep dive into the world of feuding Luigi Mangione supporters. Some are using alleged crime to push health care reform; others find that offensive, as they believe he's completely innocent. And most of them hate the media's fixation on the "thirsters": www.wired.com/story/inside...
wired.com
Inside the Contentious World of Luigi Mangione Supporters
As Luigi Mangione is being tried legally and in the court of public opinion, tensions are growing between his supporters pushing health care reform and those who believe he is innocent.
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Laura Bullard @laurabullard.com · 30/09/2025
Taking a brief break from sporadically posting photos of my pitbull to shout this into the void: I’ve spent the last seven months thinking about the Antichrist, and now those thoughts are published over at @wired.com. www.wired.com/story/the-re...
wired.com
The Real Stakes, and Real Story, of Peter Thiel’s Antichrist Obsession
Thirty years ago, a peace-loving Austrian theologian spoke to Peter Thiel about the apocalyptic theories of Nazi jurist Carl Schmitt. They’ve been a road map for the billionaire ever since.
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James Hell Brooks @kleinman.bsky.social · 22/09/2025
Incredible work here, subscribe to Wired www.wired.com/story/silico...
wired.com
I Thought I Knew Silicon Valley. I Was Wrong
Tech got what it wanted by electing Trump. A year later, it looks more like a suicide pact.
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evy kwong @evystadium.bsky.social · 23/09/2025
ayo @wired.com
Politics cover wired
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WIRED @wired.com · 23/09/2025
Why are we taking our latest politics cover to the streets? We wanted you to see what we saw, over many months of covering DOGE, ICE, and the rest of it. Tech leaders got what they wanted—a seat at the table with a would-be king, and a chance to haggle over the rules that govern their businesses.
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Caroline Haskins @carolinehaskins.bsky.social · 22/09/2025
You may know the software company Palantir as a contractor for ICE + the military. But in recent months, it's relaunched its merch store & said it wants to be a "lifestyle brand." What does it mean for Palantir to be a lifestyle brand...? I unpacked it here: www.wired.com/story/palant...
wired.com
Palantir Wants to Be a Lifestyle Brand
Defense tech giant Palantir is selling T-shirts and tote bags as part of a bid to encourage fans to publicly endorse it.
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Noah Shachtman @noahshachtman.bsky.social · 22/09/2025
Is Elon's Mars talk overblown? Total B.S.? Maybe even a deliberate distraction? That's what one Musk admirer — and well-regarded space analyst — told me for my new feature for @wired.com. Let me explain. (1/x) www.wired.com/story/elon-m...
wired.com
Elon Musk Is Out to Rule Space. Can Anyone Stop Him?
With SpaceX and Starlink, Elon Musk controls more than half the world’s rocket launches and thousands of internet satellites. That amounts to immense geopolitical power.
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WIRED @wired.com · 22/09/2025
The tech industry’s embrace of President Trump has left many of us asking the same question: What the hell happened to Silicon Valley? On Sept. 23 at 11 AM, our WIRED experts get into it. wrd.cm/4mslR0k Have questions? Drop them below 👇🏼
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WIRED @wired.com · 22/09/2025
Big Tech's embrace of President Trump has left many of us wondering: What the hell happened to Silicon Valley? In our new politics issue, we're getting into it. Also, we're taking this cover across the US in billboards, posters and a mural. Clues to find us in the 🧵: www.wired.com/politics-iss...
WIRED's The Politics Issue
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Sam Spengler @samspengler.bsky.social · 23/07/2025
In 2025, WIRED reporters have navigated destructive chaos at DOGE, AI run amok, and explosive levels of conspiracy theories. Threaded below are stories from this year that I've had the privilege to assist on. They're just a taste of what you get with a premium subscription to WIRED
wired.com
WIRED - The Latest in Technology, Science, Culture and Business | WIRED
Unlock a world of benefits, only for WIRED subscribers. | Best-in-class reporting that's too important to ignore - plus gear reviews, podcasts, and more
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Bikemamadelphia @denadriscoll.bsky.social · 19/11/2024
tinyurl.com/savesepta
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Sam Spengler @samspengler.bsky.social · 19/11/2024
Officially spent one week on this platform and I’ve decided my friend’s assessment is unfortunately accurate
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