iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Reposted by Tim Marchman

Aaron Reichlin-Melnick @reichlinmelnick.bsky.social · 3h

Suuuuper interesting, I was not tracking this. The judge found the law criminalizing noncitizen voting is a voter qualification statute, and therefore outside of Congress’s power. Surprisingly, this is an issue of first impression! Decision is here: storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...

The best reading of the actual statute that underpins this criminal case yields an inescapable
conclusion: 18 U.S.C. S 611 is a voter qualification statute, and the Constitution does not authorize
Congress to legislate voter qualifications for federal elections. Except for very specific constitutional
provisions (that cannot support this statute; we will go through them, Congress has no power to say
who can vote or who cannot vote in federal elections-that foundational power is reserved for the States,
and limits Congress.
Some legal principles are so fundamental that they form American constitutional bedrock, and
this case reveals a big one: When you're prosecuted based on a law that Congress did not have the
authority to pass, the prosecution cannot stand. That principle in federal law harkens back to cases
like Marbury v. Madison, 5 U.S. 137, 180 (1803), and United States v. Hudson, 11 U.S. 32, 34 (1812), and
has had explicit and unbroken support in criminal cases since Ex Parte Siebold, 100 U.S. 371, 376-77
(1879) ("An unconstitutional law is void, and is as no law. An offence created by it is not a crime. A
conviction under it is not merely erroneous, but is illegal and void, and cannot be a legal cause of
imprisonment."). The principle is so fundamental that it even predates our constitutional republic; it
lies at the very heart of our constitutional heritage. See, e.g., Bayard v. Singleton, 1 N.C. 5, 9-10 (1787) (striking down a legislative act as unconstitutional and holding that a court cannot enforce an
unconstitutional law in any type of proceeding). This principle acts as a shield for every person facing
criminal prosecution in the United States, citizen and non-citizen alike. That shield protects the
Defendant here, and none of the Government's arguments break through it.

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Reposted by Tim Marchman

maddy varner @regret.bsky.social · 4h

NEW: A recently unsealed court filing that heavily cites government-produced documents + DHS agent depositions alleges that yes, there *is* a DHS database that's filled with protesters, called ICM. It's built by Palantir. www.wired.com/story/ice-ha...

wired.com

ICE Has Been Dumping Protester Photos Into a Palantir Database

DHS agents not only tracked and intimidated people observing ICE activity in Maine, but stored information about them in a Palantir-built database, newly unsealed court filings say.

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Reposted by Tim Marchman

Tess Owen @tessowen.bsky.social · 7h

Is this thing still on? Excited to share some personal news: I’m joining @wired.com as their new politics reporter!

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Rory Blank @roryblank.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

Americas Top Academics Discuss

A drawing of a youtube video of two guys, one wearing a big suit and the other wearing a sweater.
One says excitedly "think about how cool it would be- giant robots show up and they're all like 'you are obsolete' and then they start shooting lasers. And I unload my gun like 'nooooooo'"
the other says "no way, it's gotta be some sort of weird disease and everyone's body gets really freaky like hands coming out of heads and shit"
the video is titled "americas top academics discuss their ideas for the coolest way for the world to end"
in the comments a user named HermanMerman85 says "two words: nuclear snakes"
in reply to him, MrPiss33227 says "grow up, it's gotta be a giant asteroid made of teeth."

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Tim Marchman @timmarchman.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

Lots of interesting stuff here, but conflating the percentage of counties he won with the percentage of the popular vote he won is really primo material.

time.com

Read TIME’s ‘What Trump Has Built’ Interview Transcript

The U.S. President discussed the war in Iran, press freedom, AI, and more ahead of the midterm elections.

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Reposted by Tim Marchman

Kim Zetter @kimzetter.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

Exclusive: Israeli spyware maker Paragon positions itself as more responsible than competitor NSO Group. But company's new US CEO says in candid interview that while they will cut off customers who misuse their spyware they have no ability to detect or investigate customer misuse, nor want ability

wired.com

The Secrets of a US Spyware King

In an exclusive interview with WIRED, Paragon Solutions CEO Andrew Boyd reveals the limits of the company’s promise to keep bad actors from abusing its powerful espionage tool.

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Tim Marchman @timmarchman.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

Wow the Sox are beating the Astros’ asses so badly (and the Astros are beating their own asses so badly) I won’t have to miss so much as a minute of Survivor. This is glorious.

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Reposted by Tim Marchman

Leah Feiger @leahfeiger.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

NEW: Trump's aides are starting to panic about the midterms; the president thinks Republicans still have a shot. really excellent reporting on the inside of the White House from @hugolowell.bsky.social for @wired.com:

wired.com

The White House Is Starting to Panic Over the Midterms

President Donald Trump still thinks Republicans have a shot. His aides are less convinced.

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Reposted by Tim Marchman

maddy varner @regret.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

More updates from the AI regulations trenches: a bunch of AI companies signed some voluntary agreements that are maybe similar to some other voluntary agreements they all previously signed.

wired.com

Trump’s AI Safety ‘Accord’ Is a Fancy Pinky-Swear

Six major AI companies signed a voluntary agreement with the White House this week vowing to implement safeguards. It’s unclear how much that matters.

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Reposted by Tim Marchman

Garrett M. Graff @vermontgmg.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

We don’t spend enough time talking about just how WEIRD all these people are. This is just an incredibly weird and insecure thing to say. Imagine any other SecDef ever being this weird and insecure?!

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Reposted by Tim Marchman

Emily Mullin @emilymullin.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

The Pennsylvania Department of Health just confirmed a 5th measles-related death. This really suggests that the outbreak is a lot bigger than the official numbers. The average case fatality rate for measles is about 1 to 3 deaths per 1,000 reported cases in developed countries.

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Tim Marchman @timmarchman.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

Not into fanbase shaming but it’s a little weird that there appear to be about 14 fans left in the park as the Astros attempt to overcome a modest three-run deficit in the bottom of the 9th in a playoff game.

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Tim Marchman @timmarchman.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

Google served me the same result on the same search.

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Tim Marchman @timmarchman.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

Really enjoying watching the light leave the eyes of Astros batters as they realize they’re facing off against the wrath of the Lord.

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Tim Marchman @timmarchman.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

“And the Golden Globe for Best Performance by a Male Actor in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy goes to ... Dario Amodei!” “Thank you, thank you. I want to start by saying that while my performance may have been funny, there’s nothing funny about AI safety.”

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Tim Marchman @timmarchman.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

People say our best days are behind us, but I say America is at the beginning of a new golden age.

Liquid Death/Mr Beast peanut butter cup-flavored seltzer collab

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Reposted by Tim Marchman

Anna Merlan @annamerlan.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

Journalism gets the goods: Tim Tebow "pauses" his partnership with this wealth seminar company after @kieraevebutler.bsky.social's investigation. www.motherjones.com/politics/202...

motherjones.com

Tim Tebow “pausing” Christian seminar promotion after our investigation

“I think the allegations are extremely serious."

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Tim Marchman @timmarchman.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

Probably not for everyone, but I thought Primetime was an instant classic and Robert Pattison was everything I possibly could have hoped—a combination of Christian Bale in American Psycho and Steve Coogan in I’m Alan Partridge.

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Tim Marchman @timmarchman.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

My only strong opinion about that Times list is that The Thick of It and Veep should have been the top two, but I do think it’s weird Breaking Bad is apparently viewed as a better show than Better Call Saul rather than the antecedent you have to watch to get Better Call Saul.

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Reposted by Tim Marchman

public health guy @publichealthguy1.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

THE POPE: CHICAGO WHITE SOX CANNOT REIGN FOR 1,000 YEARS IF AI DESTROYS HUMANITY

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Tim Marchman @timmarchman.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

The metaphors are not getting less heavy handed with time!

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Tim Marchman @timmarchman.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

I genuinely don’t get this iced coffee discourse at all but I sit in a lot of job interviews and can’t imagine caring about what someone is drinking unless it’s clearly alcohol, which I would raise an eyebrow at.

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Reposted by Tim Marchman

whet moser @whetmoser.com · 25/09/2026

i want nathan fielder to do undecided voter focus groups

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Tim Marchman @timmarchman.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

I am trying to manage my expectations, but they are currently at “This will instantiate a new form in and a new grammar for cinema.”

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Tim Marchman @timmarchman.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

The lesbian bar story just makes me wish the great Mina’s World feature had ever been written.

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Reposted by Tim Marchman

Sandra Upson @supson.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

Today at noon ET / 9 am PT I'll be talking about WIRED's special report on tech and gender with two extraordinary women, @laurengoode.bsky.social and @ejdickson.bsky.social. Join us, ask questions - there's so much to dig into. www.wired.com/story/livest...

wired.com

Submit Your Questions: Why Is Silicon Valley Still a Boys’ Club?

How are women really faring in Silicon Valley? Submit your questions to our panel and we'll give you the scoop on September 24.

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Tim Marchman @timmarchman.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

In the least plausible claim since the Belichick-era Patriots said no one believed in them, the box for Super Stuffed Pop Tarts, which feature 50% more filling, assert that “They said more filling would be impossible.”

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Reposted by Tim Marchman

Brandon Thurston @brandonthurston.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

NEW: Exclusive interview with Janel Grant “It’s like watching your life turn into a movie and happen around you.” Extensive interview covering her life and reaction to become the center of the scandal surrounding Vince McMahon. 4000+ words: www.postwrestling.com/2026/09/22/i...

postwrestling.com

In Her Own Words: An Exclusive interview with Janel Grant - POST Wrestling | Podcasts, News, Reviews | WWE AEW NXT NJPW

How the former WWE employee who filed a sex trafficking suit against Vince McMahon reacted to the scandal that unfolded in 2022

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Tim Marchman @timmarchman.bsky.social · 19/09/2026

This kind of cynicism is really corrosive, and I for one stand ready to applaud the president for forging a military alliance across the North Atlantic

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Tim Marchman @timmarchman.bsky.social · 19/09/2026

Hope any attendant orders come with really firm lifetime commitments, because you don’t have to be on T that long before you stop producing it yourself and your balls shriveling is not even necessarily the worst side effect.

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Tim Marchman @timmarchman.bsky.social · 19/09/2026

“Narrative” is rapidly pulling ahead of “aesthetic” as the leading word for people to use in ways that are bafflingly disconnected from what it actually means

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Tim Marchman @timmarchman.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

I don’t think I’ve ever not been delighted to see the Carbon & Carbide Building; the number of US buildings that are designed to look like a champagne bottle is just much lower than it should be

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Tim Marchman @timmarchman.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

The government is using AI for the things it’s least suited for but don’t worry, the people at the top insisting it be used everywhere have no idea what it is, how it works, or what it’s useful and not useful for

cnn.com

Exclusive: US military had close call after using AI for false intelligence report, sources say | CNN Politics

The episode shows the risks of using this new, relatively poorly understood technology in the middle of the Iran war

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Reposted by Tim Marchman

Andrew Couts @couts.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

We’re launching a new @wired.com Security newsletter! First edition sends tomorrow morning. Get it while it’s hot (it will always be hot tho tbh)!

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Reposted by Tim Marchman

maddy varner @regret.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

Do AI companies need an antitrust exemption to take time to work on safety and address potentially catastrophic risks? As an FTC antitrust attorney put it, “no humanity would result in no competition.” www.wired.com/story/the-ai...

wired.com

The AI ‘Slowdown’ Is an Antitrust Mess

By framing their efforts as a “slowdown” rather than an industry-wide push for better security standards, AI labs may have set themselves up for years of regulatory headaches.

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Reposted by Tim Marchman

Natalie Alms @almsnatalie.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

Scoop: Former DOGE operatives are building an AI chatbot meant to help Americans do things like get a passport or file taxes. If that last one sounds familiar: yes, this comes after the Trump admin killed a govt tax filing service, Direct File, last year. www.washingtonsun.com/trump-white-...

washingtonsun.com

Trump Aides Are Prepping an AI Takeover of Government Services

Former DOGE operatives are working on a website that could offer services like direct tax filing — similar to a Biden-era program the Trump administration killed.

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