Apple removes RFE/RL's Svoboda app from the Russian App Store at the demand of Roskomnadzor; Apple also removed recent podcasts by Ekho Moskvy and others (Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty)

Mediagazer: Apple removes RFE/RL's Svoboda app from the Russian App Store at the demand of Roskomnadzor; Apple also removed recent podcasts by Ekho Moskvy and others (Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty)

Top News:

The Guardian:

A judge orders an evidentiary hearing for next week to determine whether the Infowars auction was conducted fairly— Judge to audit if conspiracy theorist's bankruptcy auction was fair, which could delay buying process for satire site — A judge has intervened and ordered a hearing …
Discussion:

Todd Spangler /
Variety: Judge Halts the Onion's Infowars Takeover to Review Bankruptcy Auction Process

Allie Griffin /
New York Post: InfoWars' sale to The Onion could be held up in court as Alex Jones rants his site's ‘been hijacked’

Tim Onion /
@bencollins.bsky.social: One specific guy you know isn't taking the news well, so I just wanted to clarify this for everybody. [image] WHEC.com: Fighting conspiracy theories with comedy? That's what the Onion hopes after its purchase of Infowars

RELATED:

New York Times:
The Onion, backed by some Sandy Hook families and Everytown for Gun Safety, buys Infowars in a bankruptcy auction, and plans a January 2025 relaunch as a parody

Discussion:
@realalexjones, The Onion, The Desk, Associated Press, Washington Post, Know Your Meme, The Independent, Poynter, @maxwelltani, NPR, Mock Paper Scissors, The Boston Globe, @oneunderscore__, @jaythurbershow@union.place, @sidereal@kolektiva.social, @TheBreadmonkey@beige.party, @oneunderscore__, FOX 35 Orlando, Raw Story, San Francisco Chronicle, Haojun S. on LinkedIn, @colbyhall, Cele|bitchy, @jamesrbuk, @sherman4949, @zimbalist, @brianstelter, @claireatki, @brianstelter, @willguyatt, @sherman4949, @pbump, @oneunderscore__, @theonion, @daithaigilbert, @semaforben, @pkafka, @benmullin, @hadas_gold, Inside Radio, PCMag, Capital Brief, The Barbed Wire, Vanity Fair, Perez Hilton, TMZ.com, NBC News, New York Magazine, AV Club, Hollywood Life, Paula Maki on LinkedIn, @nazhamid@mastodon.social, @WeirdWriter@caneandable …, @MicheleV_AK@sfba.social, Inc.com, Alternet.org, Nieman Lab, @bencollins.bsky.social, @lisagetspolitik@union.place, Above the Law, ME, Esquire, Al Jazeera, David Wyatt on LinkedIn, Lawyers, Guns & Money, New Republic, Le Monde, @bencollins.bsky.social, @everytown@threads.net, Fox Business, Benzinga, To the Contrary, Block Club Chicago, The Present Age, Mediaite, Engadget, @cyberlyra@hachyderm.io, CNN, I guess this is a …, New York Post, Mashable, The Ankler, @bruno_j_navarro …, OMG.BLOG, @carkner@historians.social, @chris@mstdn.chrisalemany.ca, @Av8rdan@squawk …, @rufflejax@dice.camp, @johnlogic@sfba.social, @FuckElon@mastodon.social, @RPBook@historians.social, @beecycling@romancelandia.club, @BalooUriza@social.tulsa.ok.us, Newser, Fast Company, Houston Public Media, Fortune, The Information, Laurel Pinson on LinkedIn, Just Jared, The Daily Caller, UPI, Digby's Hullabaloo, Plain Dealer, Laura Seaton on LinkedIn, One America News Network, Breitbart, @yonetteajoseph@threads.net, Politico, CBS News, @mick@cosocial.ca, @xtaldave@xtaldave.net, Bloomberg, Mother Jones, Financial Times, The Verge, Washington Examiner, RedState, USA Today, The Hill, The Guardian, Twin Cities, 6abc, Business Insider, TVNewsCheck, ZeroHedge News, Semafor, @laurenthomanwrites …, The Hollywood Reporter, Axios, The Gateway Pundit, Associated Press, @bencollins.bsky.social, The Wrap, @web_martin@mastodon.social, @vwampage@xoxo.zone, Variety, @bencollins.bsky.social, Law & Crime, Status, Boing Boing, Rolling Stone, HuffPost, Barrett Media, RTÉ, Deadline, Not the Bee, Daring Fireball, New York Daily News, Consequence, WHEC.com, The National Pulse, Forbes, Press Herald, Daily Kos and Crooks and Liars

Discussion:

Alex Jones /
@realalexjones: Infowars is being shut down now! [video]

Matthew Keys /
The Desk: Court intervenes in Infowars acquisition by The Onion

Dave Collins /
Associated Press: Satire publication The Onion buys Alex Jones' Infowars at auction with Sandy Hook families' backing

Adam Downer /
Know Your Meme: The Onion Buys Alex Jones' Infowars, Plans To Make It A Channel Satirizing Conspiracy Grifters

Alex Woodward /
The Independent: Bankruptcy judge could pump the brakes on The Onion's purchase of InfoWars

Tovia Smith /
NPR: The Onion wins auction for Alex Jones' media company

Aidan Ryan /
The Boston Globe: The Onion's purchase of Infowars is a grand comedic gesture, with a wise guy from Massachusetts at the helm

Jay Thurber Show /
@jaythurbershow@union.place: https://theonion.com/... InfoWars has distinguished itself as an invaluable tool for brainwashing and controlling the masses ... They are a true unicorn, capable of simultaneously inspiring public support for billionaires and stoking outrage at an inept federal state that can assassinate JFK but can't even put a man on the Moon. @sidereal@kolektiva.social: The Onion buying Infowars is the greatest possible outcome for everyone involved — https://theonion.com/... “Founded in 1999 on the heels of the Satanic “panic” and growing steadily ever since, InfoWars has distinguished itself as an invaluable tool for brainwashing and controlling the masses. … @oneunderscore__: Hello! The Onion, with the help of the Sandy Hook families, has purchased InfoWars. We're planning on making a very stupid website. We've retained some Onion and Clickhole Hall of Famers to pull it off. I can't wait to show you what we cooked up. https://www.nytimes.com/...

Fox Tv /
FOX 35 Orlando: The Onion acquires Alex Jones' Infowars with support from Sandy Hook families

Matthew Chapman /
Raw Story: ‘Karmic Justice’: The Onion's owner takes victory lap after acquiring Infowars

St. John Barned-Smith /
San Francisco Chronicle: Who is S.F. tech exec Jeff Lawson, owner of the Onion and now Infowars?

Haojun S. /
Haojun S. on LinkedIn: Owner of The Onion now owns InfoWars. Brilliant! — Here's his menacingly hilarious statement on why they did it. …

Colby Hall /
@colbyhall: Public Service Announcement: Bryce P. Tetraender, CEO of The Onion's so-called parent company, Global Tetrahendra, is not real. People are missing the intended satire of a story rooted in the massacre of 21 innocent lives, many of whom were 6 years old. Enormous fail by

James Ball /
@jamesrbuk: The absolute best bit The Onion could do with this would be to continue the output entirely unchanged, but with a tiny satire tag somewhere.

James Ball /
@jamesrbuk: I'm deeply worried that buying the Infowars brand will damage The Onion's commitment to in-depth, fact-checked reported journalism.

Alex Sherman /
@sherman4949: For those asking, yes, I had this on my 2024 Bingo Card.

Michael Zimbalist /
@zimbalist: This is a great outcome!

Brian Stelter /
@brianstelter: CNN's @Hadas_Gold was the first to report that The Onion was in the mix as a potential bidder for Infowars. Here's her full story about this 🤯 outcome https://www.cnn.com/...

Claire Atkinson /
@claireatki: The best revenge! Congrats Ben. [image]

Brian Stelter /
@brianstelter: Quoting the press release: “The Onion's goal with the acquisition is to end Infowars' relentless barrage of disinformation for the sake of selling supplements and replace it with The Onion's relentless barrage of humor for good.”

Will Guyatt /
@willguyatt: What a satisfying end to a terrible website.

Alex Sherman /
@sherman4949: Not The Onion. Wait, Yes The Onion.

Philip Bump /
@pbump: Absolutely legendary. https://x.com/... @theonion: Via our parent company @GlobTetrahedron CEO @BryceTetraeder: https://theonion.com/... [image]

David Gilbert /
@daithaigilbert: Congrats to @oneunderscore__ on buying Alex Jones' InfoWars. Looking forward to seeing what supplements they are going to be selling.... [image]

Peter Kafka /
@pkafka: Oliver Darcy: “The Onion has successfully acquired Infowars. The satirical news outlet purchased Alex Jones' right-wing conspiracy empire at a court-ordered auction.” https://www.status.news/...

Ben Mullin /
@benmullin: scoop: in an insane twist, The Onion has acquired Infowars in a bankruptcy auction. They're planning to relaunch the site next year with a new sponsor: Everytown for Gun Safety https://www.nytimes.com/...

Hadas Gold /
@hadas_gold: BREAKING: THE ONION backed by some of the Sandy Hook families and in a special deal with Everytown for Gun Safety has acquired INFOWARS story coming

Daniel Anstandig /
Inside Radio: No Joke: ‘The Onion’ Purchases Infowars Assets.

Emily Dreibelbis Forlini /
PCMag: The Onion Wins Infowars Auction, Will Turn Misinformation Hub Into Parody Site

Jeff Rotkoff /
The Barbed Wire: We're Fucking Delighted The Onion Bought Infowars

Elisabeth McGowan /
Hollywood Life: Alex Jones' Net Worth: How Much Money the ‘Infowars’ Creator Has Now

Paula Maki /
Paula Maki on LinkedIn: Welcome to the neo-misinformation era. Information so fake it's true. Check mate 🧅

Naz /
@nazhamid@mastodon.social: I can get behind this kind of acquisition. — https://theonion.com/...

Robert Kingett /
@WeirdWriter@caneandable.social: if I were the onion, I would immediately turn this loose on the community, minorities, and say, make your own satire website, and we will help you promote it under our brand! This is just amazing! Satire slinger The Onion buys Alex Jones' Infowars at auction with help from Sandy Hook families | … @MicheleV_AK@sfba.social: For some utterly pleasant news, The Onion was the top bidder and bought Infowars. I LOVE IT!! #GoodNews — https://www.washingtonpost.com/ ...

Bruce Crumley /
Inc.com: Not a Joke: The Onion Buys Up Alex Jones's Infowars Site

Carl Gibson /
Alternet.org: How Sandy Hook families got the last laugh in legal battle with Alex Jones

Joshua Benton /
Nieman Lab: The Onion adds a new layer, buying Alex Jones' Infowars and turning it into a parody of itself

Tim Onion /
@bencollins.bsky.social: Also, part of the reason we did bought InfoWars is because people on Bluesky told us it would be funny to buy InfoWars. And those people were right. This is the funniest thing that has ever happened. @lisagetspolitik@union.place: This brings me joy. — More of this, please. — #Satire — #TheOnion — #USPol — https://apnews.com/...

Liz Dye /
Above the Law: The Onion Peels Infowars

Evanier /
ME: Just Had To Say... I think it's hilarious that the folks who run The Onion may have bought …

Charles P. Pierce /
Esquire: Congrats To ‘The Onion’, Which Bought Vile Misinformation Site ‘Infowars’ Out Of Bankruptcy

David Wyatt /
David Wyatt on LinkedIn: A master stroke. — Via the The New York Times: “The Onion, a satirical publication that skewers newsmakers and current events …

Scott Lemieux /
Lawyers, Guns & Money: Actually the Onion — We will return to the decline and fall of the American republic shortly …

Ellie Quinlan Houghtaling /
New Republic: Alex Jones Is Having a Total Meltdown Over The Onion Buying Infowars Le Monde: Satirical US site The Onion buys Infowars with the backing of Sandy Hook victims' families

Tim Onion /
@bencollins.bsky.social: I would like to reiterate: We own everything. The broadcasting equipment, the supplements, the intellectual property for Brain Force Plus. We are still trying to figure out what to do with it.

Anthony Noto /
Benzinga: Joke's On Jones: Onion, Backed By Families Of Sandy Hook Victims, Buys Info Wars

Charlie Sykes /
To the Contrary: They Broke it. They Bought It. — “Are you shitting me? No.” Rep. Mike Simpson (R-ID) …

Clint Worthington /
Block Club Chicago: The Onion Buys Alex Jones' InfoWars As ‘A Hilarious Joke’

Parker Molloy /
The Present Age: The Onion Now Owns Infowars, Because Reality's Ridiculousness Finally Outpaced Satire

Zachary Leeman /
Mediaite: Colby Hall Says Alex Jones's ‘Days In the Sun Are Probably Ending,’ But Don't Expect Him To Go Away: ‘Hucksters Hustle’

Will Shanklin /
Engadget: In an outcome beyond parody, The Onion has bought Infowars

Janet Vertesi /
@cyberlyra@hachyderm.io: As in many other totalitarian states through history and today, The Onion is stepping in to be a bastion of relaying underlying truths in an oligarch-controlled media sphere, wielding elliptical commentary, satire and absurdities that shine light on the outrageous and distortionary tactics of the mirror world. …

Hadas Gold /
CNN: The Onion wins bidding for InfoWars assets I guess this is a political blog now: The Onion has won the bid for Infowars' assets | CNN Business — Finally, some good fucking news! …

Tim Marcin /
Mashable: Yes, The Onion really bought Alex Jones' InfoWars

Sean McNulty /
The Ankler: ☀️DISNEY Price Hikes, Movies Save Linear TV Melt

Bruno J. Navarro /
@bruno_j_navarro@mastodon.social: The satirical news publication The Onion won the bidding for Alex Jones's Infowars at a bankruptcy auction, backed by families of Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting victims whom Jones owes more than $1 billion in defamation judgments for calling the massacre a hoax. — https://apnews.com/...

Igor /
OMG.BLOG: OMG, The Onion buys InfoWars

Daniel Carkner /
@carkner@historians.social: They knew we needed a smile this week😏 — https://apnews.com/... #infowars #TheOnion

Chris Alemany /
@chris@mstdn.chrisalemany.ca: A glimmer of hope and justice in the darkness. I hope the parents of the murdered children of Sandy Hook feel some well deserved satisfaction after being forced to fight with this ghoul and his acolytes for so long. — #alexjones #infowars #sandyhook #altright #hate — https://apnews.com/... @Av8rdan@squawk.mytransponder.com: I mean really, who could even make this stuff up? — This apparently is not satire: — Via AP: — “Satire publication The Onion buys Alex Jones' Infowars at auction with help from Sandy Hook families” — I cannot wrap my head around this so early in my day without sufficient coffee. … @rufflejax@dice.camp: screaming crying throwing up — THERE IS SOME JUSTICE IN THE WORLD AND IT NECESSARILY COMES WITH A SENSE OF EMPATHY AND HUMOR — https://apnews.com/...

John Carlsen /
@johnlogic@sfba.social: “Satire publication The Onion buys Alex Jones' Infowars at auction with help from Sandy Hook families” — By DAVE COLLINS — Updated 6:34 AM PST, November 14, 2024 — https://apnews.com/... #AlexJones owned by #TheOnion and #SandyHook families @FuckElon@mastodon.social: It is official. We are in a fucking simulation, ran by The Onion. — https://apnews.com/... #politics #news #AlexJones #InfoWars #WTF #GunControl

Russell Phillips /
@RPBook@historians.social: I'm really not sure that we deserve #TheOnion, but by the gods, I love them. — https://apnews.com/... #AlexJones #Infowars @beecycling@romancelandia.club: In hilarious news, The Onion has bought Infowars and all its assets in the bankruptcy sale of Alex Jones' assets to pay off his $1 billion fines. This includes the website, the social media accounts, a studio, all its trademarks, and its video archive. … @BalooUriza@social.tulsa.ok.us: This honestly couldn't have had a better buyer. — https://apnews.com/... #NotTheOnion #TheOnion #AlexJones #InfoWars #FuckAroundFindOut

Polly Davis Doig /
Newser: The Onion Just Bought Alex Jones' Infowars

Joe Berkowitz /
Fast Company: ‘The Onion’ buys Alex Jones's ‘Infowars’—and it's already having fun with the purchase

Andrew Weber /
Houston Public Media: The Onion buys Infowars at Alex Jones' bankruptcy auction. No, seriously.

Laurel Pinson /
Laurel Pinson on LinkedIn: Wow, this is absolutely brilliant. — {slow clap} — Talk about shifting the narrative! Genius-tier acquisition from the Onion team 👏 … Just Jared: The Onion Picks Up Alex Jones' Bankrupt Infowars, Reveals Plans to Relaunch Site With New Vision

Nicole Silverio /
The Daily Caller: ‘The Onion’ Buys Alex Jones' Infowars Network

Doug Cunningham /
UPI: Satire publication The Onion wins Alex Jones' Infowars in bankruptcy auction

Tom Sullivan /
Digby's Hullabaloo: Onionized — Alex Jones found out — NBC News: — The Onion, the satirical news company …

Laura Seaton /
Laura Seaton on LinkedIn: 🚨This is NOT a joke. The Onion buys Infowars out of bankruptcy. — Really looking forward to seeing what the champion of satire does with the platform. …

James Meyers /
One America News Network: The Onion Purchases Infowars At Auction With Support From Sandy Hook Families

Simon Kent /
Breitbart: The Onion Buys Alex Jones' Infowars at Auction with Backing from Sandy Hook Families

Yonette Joseph /
@yonetteajoseph@threads.net: The Onion said that the bid was sanctioned by the families of the victims of the mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School, who in 2022 won a $1.4 billion defamation lawsuit against Alex Jones and his company, Free Speech Systems. …

Irie Sentner /
Politico: Bad day for Alex Jones as The Onion buys Infowars

Mick /
@mick@cosocial.ca: “Through it all, InfoWars has shown an unswerving commitment to manufacturing anger and radicalizing the most vulnerable members of society—values that resonate deeply with all of us at Global Tetrahedron.” — #TheOnion #NotTheOnion — https://theonion.com/... @xtaldave@xtaldave.net: Amazing. — Satire slinger The Onion buys Alex Jones' Infowars at auction with help from Sandy Hook families. — Apparently it is going to become a pro gun safety spoof of it's former self. — #TheOnion #Infowars — https://apnews.com/...

Daniel Thomas /
Financial Times: The Onion to acquire InfoWars from bankruptcy

Emma Roth /
The Verge: The Onion just bought Infowars

Teri Christoph /
RedState: WHOA: The Onion, Aided by Sandy Hook Parents, Has Bought Infowars; Alex Jones Reacts

Jeanine Santucci /
USA Today: Satire publication The Onion acquires Alex Jones' Infowars at auction

Lauren Irwin /
The Hill: The Onion buys Alex Jones's Infowars at auction

Anna Betts /
The Guardian: The Onion buys conspiracy theory site Infowars with plans to make it ‘very funny, very stupid’ Twin Cities:

Satire publication The Onion buys Alex Jones' Infowars at auction with Sandy Hook families' backing

Aaron Katersky /
6abc: Satire news site The Onion buys Alex Jones' Infowars at auction with help from Sandy Hook families

Grace Eliza Goodwin /
Business Insider: The Onion buys Alex Jones' Infowars — and that's not a joke

Tom Chivers /
Semafor: The Onion buys Infowars at bankruptcy auction

Lauren Thoman /
@laurenthomanwrites@threads.net: Okay so I know @theonion said they're going to shutter Infowars and turn it into a humor site but WHAT IF they just kept the branding exactly the same but just started putting out actual real news instead of misinformation and conspiracy theories so that Infowars fans who didn't realize the change had happened would accidentally start hearing some actual facts?

Caitlin Huston /
The Hollywood Reporter: The Onion Buys Alex Jones' Infowars With Plans to Make It a “Cosmic Joke”

Tim Baysinger /
Axios: The Onion acquires Alex Jones' Infowars

Cassandra MacDonald /
The Gateway Pundit: BREAKING: The Onion Purchases InfoWars at Auction, Plans to Turn it Into Satirical Version of Iconic Brand

Tim Onion /
@bencollins.bsky.social: I am hearing word that Alex Jones, in true Alex Jones fashion, is reading the press release from our fictitious CEO as fact.

Martin Weber /
@web_martin@mastodon.social: Congrats. What a stunt. (Free to read) #theonion https://www.nytimes.com/...

Todd Spangler /
Variety: The Onion Buys Infowars in Bankruptcy Auction

Tim Onion /
@bencollins.bsky.social: You better fucking subscribe to The Onion. This is the kind of thing we will do with your money. — It allowed us to buy InfoWars. Now help us staff it. — membership.theonion.com

Tim Onion /
@bencollins.bsky.social: Hi everyone. — The Onion, with the help of the Sandy Hook families, has purchased InfoWars. — We are planning on making it a very funny, very stupid website. — We have retained the services of some Onion and Clickhole Hall of Famers to pull this off. — I can't wait to show you what we have cooked up.

Jerry Lambe /
Law & Crime: Alex Jones promises ‘injunctions’ after The Onion wins auction to buy Infowars with help of Sandy Hook families

Oliver Darcy /
Status: Not Satire: The Onion acquires Infowars

Rob Beschizza /
Boing Boing: The Onion nabs Infowars in bankruptcy auction, plans to make it ‘very funny, very stupid’

Nikki McCann Ramirez /
Rolling Stone: The Onion Just Bought Infowars — and Alex Jones Is Pissed

Muri Assunção /
New York Daily News: The Onion wins Alex Jones' Infowars auction, backed by Sandy Hook victims

WHEC.com:
Bankruptcy judge orders hearing on Infowars sale to satirical site The Onion after Alex Jones challenges auction

Jack Montgomery /
The National Pulse: Satire Site The Onion Purchases Alex Jones's Infowars.

Dave Collins /
Press Herald: The Onion, Sandy Hook families team up to win Alex Jones' Infowars at auction

Press Gazette:

An interview with Telegraph Director of Technology Dylan Jacques on the goal of launching 12 significant uses of AI in the newsroom over 12 months— The Telegraph set out in March to launch 12 significant uses of AI in its newsroom over 12 months. — The tools include newsroom workflow aides …

Discussion:
TVNewsCheck, Acast Podcasts and Editor and Publisher

Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty:

Apple removes RFE/RL's Svoboda app from the Russian App Store at the demand of Roskomnadzor; Apple also removed recent podcasts by Ekho Moskvy and others— U.S. technology giant Apple has notified RFE/RL that it has removed another of its apps following a request from Russia's media regulator, Roskomnadzor.

Voice of America:

Reporters Without Borders sues X in France for “complicity in disseminating false information”, after X failed to block a fake video with RSF's logo— The press freedom group Reporters Without Borders on Thursday announced that it is suing the social media company X, accusing it of spreading disinformation.

Discussion:
TVNewsCheck, Politico, Reporters Without Borders, @shayne.bsky.social, @digiphile.bsky.social and Al Jazeera

Discussion:

Liam Scott /
TVNewsCheck: Reporters Without Borders Sues X

Mathieu Pollet /
Politico: Europe's press goes after Musk's X Reporters Without Borders: The Guardian and La Vanguardia's departure from X is a wake-up call for legislators

Alexander Howard /
@digiphile.bsky.social: After discovering it was targeted by a disinformation campaign, REPORTERS SANS FRONTIÈRES flagged accounts responsible. X did not remove posts. Now, RSF is suing X in France “for its complicity in disseminating false information, misrepresentation and identity theft.” rsf.org/en/rsf-press...

Reuters:

Prince Harry's lawsuit against News Group Newspapers moves towards trial; all but one other litigant in the roughly 40 lawsuits against NGN have settled— Prince Harry is continuing his lawsuit against Rupert Murdoch's News Group Newspapers (NGN) over alleged unlawful activities by journalists …

Discussion:
The Guardian, Byline Times, Press Gazette, Cele|bitchy, Financial Times and GB News

Discussion:

Caroline Davies /
The Guardian: Prince Harry to continue lawsuit against Sun publisher, high court hears

Brian Cathcart /
Byline Times: Prince Harry's Case Against Rupert Murdoch's UK News Group Looks Likely to Go to Trial Financial Times: Rupert Murdoch's UK news group settles with almost 40 claimants over alleged phone hacking

Bloomberg:

X sues to block California's AB 2655, aimed at curbing AI-generated deceptive election content on social media, claiming it impinges on free speech— Elon Musk's social media platform X sued to block a California law aimed at curbing AI-generated deceptive election content on social media …

Discussion:
TechCrunch, The Wrap, Forbes, @YellowPup@mstdn.party and @branchdonovan.bsky.social

Discussion:

Kyle Wiggers /
TechCrunch: X sues to block California anti-deepfakes bill

Sean Burch /
The Wrap: X Sues to Block California Election Deepfake Law ‘In Conflict’ With First Amendment

Siladitya Ray /
Forbes: X Sues To Block California Law That Seeks To Curb Election-Related Deepfakes On Social Media

Branch Donovan /
@branchdonovan.bsky.social: Does free speech apply to humans, machines, or both? California's AB 2655 challenges the role of AI in elections, but should AI-generated content be treated as free speech? Are we prepared for its potential influence on democracy? Share your thoughts! #AIandDemocracy

New York Times:

The NYT's lawsuit against the European Commission, meant to establish whether text messages qualify as documents subject to transparency laws, opens— The news outlet is pushing the Commission to release text messages between the E.U.'s top official and Pfizer as they negotiated a Covid-19 vaccine contract.

Discussion:
Politico

Columbia Journalism Review:

Just before the election, a Trump lawyer demanded $10B in damages from the NYT and Penguin Random House, part of a flurry of Trump's legal threats to media— Legal letter follows complaints aimed at CBS News, the Washington Post, and the Daily Beast. — The letter, addressed to lawyers …

Discussion:

Mark Steffen /
Trending Politics Conservative Breaking: JUST IN: Trump Sues Corporate Media Outlets For Billions

Yessenia Funes /
Yessenia Funes on LinkedIn: This is an urgent reminder that independent and freelance journalists need to be careful about the legal agreements we sign with our newsroom clients. …

Soraya Nadia McDonald /
@sorayamcdonald.bsky.social: I see a lot of folks saying they don't feel bad about NYT and I remember when Hulk Hogan sued Gawker into oblivion with Peter Thiel's money and people said the same thing. — Dislike NYT all you want! There are a lot of ways it sucks! That is not a good reason to root for de facto dismantling of 1A. …

Jeff Jarvis /
@jeffjarvis@mastodon.social: Any critics are at risk. — Trump threatens NYTs, Penguin Random House over critical coverage https://www.cjr.org/... via @cjr @catileptic@chaos.social: “The drumbeat of legal threats signals a potentially ominous trend for journalists during Trump's second term in office. Litigation is costly and time-consuming. Most news organizations will look to settle rather than face months—more likely years—of discovery and depositions, plus significant legal fees.” …

Lachlan Cartwright /
@lachcartwright: Days before the presidential election, a lawyer for Donald Trump sent a letter to the New York Times and Penguin Random House demanding $10b in damages over critical articles. “It really has a mental chilling effect to be under a microscope like that.” https://www.cjr.org/...

UnHerd:

Scientific American EIC Laura Helmuth is stepping down, following criticism for her social media posts suggesting Trump voters were racist, sexist, and fascist— The embattled Editor-in-Chief of Scientific American is leaving her role after her anti-Trump social media posts gained national attention.

Discussion:
Fox News, Washington Post, Breitbart, CNN, Newsbusters, Boing Boing, HotAir, New York Post, @alexwild.bsky.social, American Greatness, @asherelbein.bsky.social, @andreapitzer.bsky.social, @sanjanacurtis.bsky.social, @ee1ss1.bsky.social, @salvagni.org, @sethfletcher.bsky.social, @erinbiba.bsky.social, @janehu.bsky.social, @erinbiba.bsky.social, @irishwriterme.bsky.social, @drmariannet.bsky.social, @rockdocgeoarch.bsky.social, The Post Millennial, KFOX-TV, @robinjp.bsky.social, The National Pulse, @deborahb.bsky.social, @leebillings.bsky.social, @leahshaffer.bsky.social, @profphoebe.bsky.social, @starrevartan.bsky.social, @jimdaleywrites.bsky.social, @sciraven.bsky.social, Daily Mail, @self.agency, @philplait.bsky.social, @danfagin.bsky.social, @evanurquhart.bsky.social, @marynmck.bsky.social, @shannonstirone.bsky.social, @jetjocko.bsky.social, @laurahelmuth.bsky.social, @sarahmyhre.bsky.social, @pardoguerra.bsky.social and @laurahelmuth.bsky.social

Discussion:

Herb Scribner /
Washington Post: Scientific American editor steps down after election comments draw backlash

Jordan Valinsky /
CNN: Editor-in-chief of America's oldest magazine resigns after calling Trump voters fascists

Alex Christy /
Newsbusters: Scientific American Editor-in-Chief Resigns After Calling Trump Voters ‘F****** Fascists’

David Strom /
HotAir: The World Is Healing, One Step at a Time

Richard Pollina /
New York Post: Editor-in-chief of Scientific American resigns following expletive-filled rant against Trump voters

Alex Wild /
@alexwild.bsky.social: Context: Elon Musk dislikes Scientific American's editorial perspectives on social and climate justice, and has been fanning a targetted harassment campaign this week in an effort to silence the magazine. — It appears to have worked. [embedded post]

Eric Lendrum /
American Greatness: Editor-in-Chief of ‘Scientific American’ Resigns After Anti-Trump Rant

Asher Elbein /
@asherelbein.bsky.social: This is a real loss for Scientific American, and I hope it will be a tremendous gain for whenever Laura ends up next. [embedded post]

Andrea Pitzer /
@andreapitzer.bsky.social: Hi Laura! Your standards for what science reporting should be have long been an inspiration to me. And when writing for you—whether at SciAm, WaPo, or Slate—I've always been grateful for your edits. Looking forward to seeing what you'll do next. @sanjanacurtis.bsky.social: a huge thank you to @laurahelmuth.bsky.social, an icon and an inspiration to so many people who care about science and society. I hope you see lots of lifers during the birdwatching break [embedded post] @ee1ss1.bsky.social: Thank you for the excellent articles re COVID-19!! I can't tell you how many times I cited SciAm as I advocate for cleaner air or linked SciAm articles on Facebook. — Best wishes for your next steps.

Jason D. Salvagni /
@salvagni.org: Trump voters ARE racist, sexist, and fascist. — There is no honest, factual “criticism” to be levied. [embedded post]

Seth Fletcher /
@sethfletcher.bsky.social: Laura was an extraordinary leader through some incredibly challenging years. I don't know how she did it. She's also been a deeply caring manager to me personally. We will miss her immensely. [embedded post]

Erin Biba /
@erinbiba.bsky.social: Musk and the Twitter Nazis have been targeting her all week after she made some posts about being upset by the election on Election Day.

Jane C. Hu /
@janehu.bsky.social: @laurahelmuth.bsky.social's work at SciAm elevated an already great magazine to an even higher level, and her leadership in science journalism has pushed our field to be better, smarter, and more generous. looking forward to seeing her make magic elsewhere after a much-deserved rest. [embedded post]

Erin Biba /
@erinbiba.bsky.social: This is absolutely devastating I don't even know where to begin. [embedded post]

G. Byrne /
@irishwriterme.bsky.social: The campaign against science has another victim @laurahelmuth.bsky.social has done a brilliant job @sciam.bsky.social . I wish her well and hope that society will take steps to keep our scientific community intact. [embedded post] @drmariannet.bsky.social: Fantastic thread on a fantastic editor in chief. Well done! [embedded post]

Dr. Laura Murphy /
@rockdocgeoarch.bsky.social: It is impossible to not learn something new and sciencey and awesome in this thread! What's your favorite story? Guinness & the t-test for me! Sláinte! [embedded post]

Katie Daviscourt /
The Post Millennial: BREAKING: Scientific American editor-in-chief resigns under pressure after calling voters ‘fascists,’ ‘bigots’

Ray Lewis /
KFOX-TV: Scientific American editor-in-chief leaves magazine after ‘offensive’ election night posts

Deborah Blum /
@deborahb.bsky.social: Thread. And a reminder that Laura has always been a smart, positive force in science journalism, at SciAm, at the Washington Post, at Slate, in countless ways. [embedded post]

Lee Billings /
@leebillings.bsky.social: Laura started as SciAm's EiC at a very dark time, April 2020, just as U.S. COVID deaths peaked. Nationwide, morale was low and fears were high. — She led SciAm thru that storm—and beyond—with extraordinary brilliance, vigor, and compassion. — I'm sad to see her go, but eager to see what she does next. …

Leah Shaffer /
@leahshaffer.bsky.social: Laura is a treasure of a science journalism and this thread is packed with wonderful stories that will make you very curious. (there is strength and hope in curiosity). 🧪 [embedded post]

Phoebe Lostroh /
@profphoebe.bsky.social: This resignation is a tremendous loss to science and I write to say THANK YOU to @laurahelmuth.bsky.social for your courageous leadership in anti-science times. [embedded post]

Starre Vartan /
@starrevartan.bsky.social: VERY sorry to hear this! Such an incredible (and responsive, compassionate, brilliant) editor you are Laura. Thank you, thank you, it's been awesome working with you and hopefully will get to do so again. [embedded post]

Jim Daley /
@jimdaleywrites.bsky.social: Solidarity to @laurahelmuth.bsky.social and sadness for Scientific American, which is losing a great EIC. — The only people who will celebrate this are everyone's meanest, dumbest, most bigoted former high-school classmates, and truly: fuck them to the moon and back [embedded post] @sciraven.bsky.social: Impossible not to view this in the context of the shitstorm elon & conservative pundits kicked up over her comments. What do we do about this? How do we safeguard institutions from alt-right assholes making it untenable to work there for people of basic moral decency? [embedded post]

Brittany Chain /
Daily Mail: Instant justice for foul-mouthed anti-Trump editor of America's oldest magazine - as it releases shock update

Daniel Sieradski /
@self.agency: this comes on the heels of being targeted on x, including by musk, for her political posts here on bluesky [embedded post]

Phil Plait /
@philplait.bsky.social: Laura's impact on the magazine has been huge, including (and this is huge to me) bringing me on as a writer without hesitation. I owe her a lot — a LOT — and I'm very sad she's leaving. — I also know that whatever she does next will rock. She's kinda like that. [embedded post]

Dan Fagin /
@danfagin.bsky.social: This is a huge loss for science journalism, and therefore the planet, but I have every expectation SciAm will continue to provide superb coverage of our world (and worlds beyond!) even without Laura. Now more than ever, we need great journalism about all aspects of the scientific enterprise. …

Evan Urquhart /
@evanurquhart.bsky.social: Laura Helmuth edited the first piece of science journalism I ever wrote, way back when she was still at Slate. She's an incredible editor, a class act, a brilliant force in science journalism. Wherever she goes next, the next people who get to work with her are going to be some lucky bastards. …

Maryn McKenna /
@marynmck.bsky.social: Every story linked in this thread demonstrates the ways in which Laura has been a creative, inspiring, genius EIC. The news that she is leaving is crushing. [embedded post]

Shannon Stirone /
@shannonstirone.bsky.social: For anyone who doesn't somehow know—Laura is a science writing champion. She's a master of the job. She's also incredibly kind and thoughtful and brilliant. This thread is worth exploring as are the words in the attached stories. [embedded post]

Adam Rogers /
@jetjocko.bsky.social: This is a real blow to great science journalism. I'm sure the next EIC will be terrific, but Laura's work at SciAm has been phenomenal. [embedded post]

Laura Helmuth /
@laurahelmuth.bsky.social: Things get better through long-term thinking, investments in research, wide and welcoming collaborations, honest education, mentorship and sponsorship, not catastrophizing failure, justice, hope, and solidarity. xoxoxo www.scientificamerican.com/article/ appl... (13/13)

Sarah E Myhre PhD /
@sarahmyhre.bsky.social: Absolute stand up job Laura. Thank you. Your work has changed the world. [embedded post]

Juan Pablo Pardo-Guerra /
@pardoguerra.bsky.social: Thank you for your impeccable, professional work! [embedded post]

Laura Helmuth /
@laurahelmuth.bsky.social: I've decided to leave Scientific American after an exciting 4.5 years as editor in chief. I'm going to take some time to think about what comes next (and go birdwatching), but for now I'd like to share a very small sample of the work I've been so proud to support (thread)

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