Holley Atkinson
@holleya.bsky.social
On here: Facts, truth, and shared reality #StopTheCoup #ImpeachTrump #DefendDemocracy 🇺🇸🗳️🆘🇺🇦 Activate, engage @mediaanddemocracy.bsky.social 📺🇺🇸 Demand media reform @fixmedianow.bsky.social 📰 🛠️ Join the fight ➡️ http://mediaanddemocracyproject.org
9. The White House isn’t alone. The Washington press corps is also guilty. We are often treated as if we have no authority to arbitrate reality. If the news media does not tell us something happened, it apparently did not happen. To illustrate my point, I ask you to consider this:
The deeper reason Trump, Vance, and Ramaswamy are backing the vile rape ad is they think MAGA politics—the cruelty, the depravity, the viciousness—is still ascendant. They think doing this esesentially puts Trump on the ballot. Me and @jimswift.bsky.social on this: newrepublic.com/article/2169...
Trump now completely out of the closet as Putin’s puppet. Things must be getting desperate if he can’t hide it any more.
Trump waives several Russia sanctions as row with Zelensky intensifies
The US president temporarily ends many restrictions on Moscow recently passed by Congress over "national security" concerns.
bbc.co.uk
Trump may or may not be a Russian asset. It doesn’t really matter: he acts like a Russian asset.
Anne Applebaum@anneapplebaum.wsocial.eu · 2w agoTrump tells Congress he doesn't care about what they think and lifts Russian energy sanctions www.nytimes.com/2026/10/16/u...
A massive Fourth Estate failure that “I can do anything I want” was not national news. Sanewashing by omission. Do corporate media leaders have no sense of civic duty to defend the Constitution? Cartoon h/t @anntelnaes.bsky.social
Aaron Rupar@atrupar.com · 3w agoTrump: "I could've done very bad things to Hillary Clinton. I could've done very very bad things to Joe Biden. I could've done very bad things to Barack Hussein Obama ... I can do whatever I want, if I want."
Wow — listen to these new comments from Trump. Thanking Putin, trashing Zelenskyy, characterizing Russia as eager for peace and Ukraine as intransigent. The mask is totally off.
The aim of the Republican Party is to delegitimize and dismantle the United States government in order to resegregate, restore patriarchy, privatize and plunder the states they control.
Jesse Eisinger@jeisinger.bsky.social · 3w agoIf we have some kind of financial crisis, we’re going to be in deep shit www.wsj.com/politics/pol...
It's inconceivable to me how someone who lost in a free & fair election can incite an angry mob to attack his own government, (the very definition of treason) & be allowed to run for any office ever again.
Americans need to understand the stakes of the upcoming elections. Too many news orgs rely on “horse race coverage”, “sanewashing”, “false equivalence”, “euphemism” and other inadequacies. Endorse our pro-democracy election coverage guidelines. www.mediaanddemocracyproject.org/2026-electio...
It’s illegal to bribe people for votes.
Michael Froomkin@mfroomkin.bsky.social · 3w agoRelative got a $500 check from US Treasury and a shocking letter full of lies signed by Trump and ending with "May God bless you". Basically a pre-electoral bribe. News reports say they're sending almost a million of these. Full text in alt below. (I told him to cash it quick before it bounces.)
![Dear [name],
For years, the Biden Administration overcharged you to fund the operation of HealthCare.gov. That money belongs to hard-working Americans, not the Government, and now, I am returning it to you!
With this Historic Action, my Administration is taking the surplus funds that accumulated from the Obamacare ''Premium Tax" and issuing a one-time $500 REFUND to Americans who use the HealthCare.gov platform to purchase their health insurance, but who do not receive Taxpayer Subsidies to help pay for their Coverage. You have paid into this flawed System, and now you are finally getting something back.
Healthcare Dollars should benefit Patients, not Insurance Companies or Government Bureaucrats. Since returning to office, I have fought to lower Healthcare Costs, increase Accountability, and Put Patients First. Through TrumpRx, we are delivering massive discounts on Household Prescription Drugs, and my Most-Favored-Nation Pricing Agreements have already saved Americans more than 1 Billion Dollars on much-needed Medications. We also secured an unprecedented 50 Billion Dollar investment to transform Rural Healthcare, expanded access to Health Saving Accounts for millions of people on Obamacare, and restored Pnce Transparency, all while roofing out the Waste, Fraud, and abuse across our Healthcare System.
I am proud to return your money to you, and I will never stop fighting to put the American People FIRST, restore Affordability, protect your hard-earned money, and lower the Cost of Healthcare.
May God bless you, and may He continue to bless the United States of America!
Sincerely,
[signed]
DONALD J. TRUMP
PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:nnffk6m46cmabw3e6cxo2fhj/bafkreidnkmkq4exjng37i7mvp4oqyjftbfleykhwke4k22lsnpntgmxpla)
if this is all it took to get the deal over the line than the AGs allowed themselves to be massively fleeced by Paramount
The New York Times@nytimes.com · last mo.Breaking News: Paramount agreed to resolve an antitrust lawsuit, clearing the way for its $111 billion acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery.
Never stop talking about the Epstein Files. Never stop talking about the Epstein Files. Never stop talking about the Epstein Files. No matter what.
After Trump used taxpayer money to air one of his literal campaign ads, FCC Chair Brendan Carr shrugged off the scandal, saying the propaganda was just a “normal PSA.” It’s ridiculous to the point of being insulting. It’s as if these guys think Americans are idiots. www.ms.now/rachel-maddo...
FCC’s Carr brushes off concerns about Trump’s taxpayer-paid election ads
To see literal campaign propaganda as “normal PSAs” is obviously preposterous — except to Trump’s FCC chair.
ms.now
Gil Durán says his book "The Nerd Reich" is about "a cult of apocalyptic billionaires who believe it is their destiny to end democracy." He joined Data & Society research director Alice Marwick and me to discuss the book last week at Betaworks. Listen: www.techpolicy.press/gil-durn-map...
Gil Durán Maps the Rise of the 'Nerd Reich'
Justin Hendrix and Alice Marwick in conversation with Gil Durán, author of the new book The Nerd Reich: Silicon Valley Fascism and the War on Democracy.
techpolicy.press
David Ellison wrote an NYT op-ed telling us we could trust him to run CNN. Well now his buddy Donald says he's banning CNN from the White House. Time to put his mouth where his money is. Surely he'll stand up for the journalists he wants to employ, even if his friend is president. We'll wait...
Freedom of the Press Foundation@freedom.press · last mo.It’s difficult to imagine a more blatant violation of the First Amendment than Trump banning news outlets from the People’s House for criticizing the government. These outrageous attacks only show how scared he is of an informed public. Our statement:
We’re grateful for the work of FAIR @fairmediawatch.bsky.social on the occasion of their 40th anniversary, to hear from @jeffycohen.bsky.social and meet the one & only Janine Jackson, host of Counterspin! “News for people, not for profit” is the essential work of Fairness and Accuracy in Reporting.
🎉Join us for a special event: “WARNING SIGNS: Massive Debt & Foreign Cash Are Keys to The Ellisons' Takeover Attempt of Warner Bros” With an extraordinary panel: @bedoyausa.bsky.social and Profs Pete Johnson and Deborah Jaramillo. Sign up link: tiny.cc/parabros 🗓️ Thurs Sept 10, 1pm ET via Zoom
WARNING SIGNS: Massive Debt & Foreign Cash Are Keys to The Ellisons' Takeover Attempt of Warner Bros · The Media and Democracy Project
Democracy is under siege. Oligarchs Larry and David Ellison are consolidating their personal control of information, and media. TikTokUS, CBS News are under their control and they are attempting to use massive debt and foreign cash to take over Warner Bros Discovery (HBO, CNN and many cable channels and media properties). This is not an ordinary merger. This is a debt time-bomb and would mean harmful hyper-consolidation of the media and entertainment industry under the control of one family - while saddling a merged company with $80+ billion dollars in debt. Join us and learn from a distinguished panel of experts about the largest attempted leveraged buyout in history - and why that matters to the American media landscape, national security, press freedom, workers, consumers and democracy. Why does the massive debt used to finance the takeover matter? What would the 39%+ foreign ownership by 3 petro-state (Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar) sovereign wealth funds mean for Americans? Past mega-mergers have failed consumers, employees, shareholders - could this be different? How do Data Centers, AI and Larry Ellison's personal finances impact the deal and stability of a possible merged entity? Panelists: - [**Alvaro Bedoya**](https://www.economicliberties.us/alvaro-bedoya/) Senior advisor at the American Economic Liberties Project and served as a Federal Trade Commissioner from 2022 to 2025. - [**Pete Johnson**](https://gallatin.nyu.edu/academics/faculty/pete-johnson.html) Visiting Assistant Professor at NYU’s Gallatin School of Individualized Study. He specializes in US film and television industry history, media finance and economics, and the role of narrative in shaping business outcomes. - [**Deborah Jaramillo**](https://www.bu.edu/com/profile/deborah-l-jaramillo/) Professor of Film and Television Studies, and Director of Graduate Studies for the American Studies Program at Boston, University Twelve state Attorneys General have filed a lawsuit to #BlockTheMerger on the grounds it violates anti-consolidation laws, but have not emphasized the hazards of debt and financing - and national security and press freedom. Jaramillo and Johnson are co-authors of the insightful and powerful analysis that demonstrates the harms of the attempted-takeover: [**"The Costs of Consolidation: Arguments and Evidence for Blocking the Paramount-Warner Bros. Merger"**](https://macrolab.ucsd.edu/paramount-warner-merger/)
tiny.cc
Cameras, Communities & the Future of Local News Media consolidation is homogenizing the news and citizen journalists are the first line of defense. Join Jessica Mayberry (Video Volunteers) for a conversation on who gets to tell the story. Tue Aug 25, 8–9pm EDT | Virtual RSVP: tiny.cc/CommunityNews
Cameras, Communities, and the Future of Local News · The Media and Democracy Project
The crises of American democracy and information require multiple solutions. One is empowering and engaging citizens in telling lived experience stories and documenting the crisis. This will be a lively discussion on the future of media - and especially how to empower citizens locally. In an era of giant media conglomerates and media consolidation local stories are part of the fight for American democracy. - [**Jessica Mayberry**](https://fellows.ted.com/fellows/301676), Co-founder of [**Video Volunteers**](https://www.videovolunteers.org) To rebuild trust in democracy, the media must evolve from a system that only speaks to citizens to one that listens to them—valuing lived experience as a form of knowledge and embedding listening into public infrastructure. Recent citizen journalism of people across the country filming ICE actions — shows the democratic power of ordinary people documenting and amplifying what their communities actually experience. Efforts to strengthen local news, protect press freedom, promote pro-democracy reporting, and ensure better regulation will advance more effectively if we also strengthen the connective tissue between citizens and institutions—if we make listening a deliberate, organized civic function. When people have meaningful ways to share their stories and see those stories reflected back in news and policy, they begin to trust again. Listening is not a substitute for journalism or regulation; it is what makes both more legitimate, responsive, and enduring. Join us!
tiny.cc
I’m a media critic. In my newsletter I take mainstream news outlets to task for normalizing the dictatorship that’s unfolding around us. But it’s the duty of all of us – not just the media – to sound the alarm. Your family and friends may not understand how bad it’s gotten. Tell them.
The media are missing the story of our lives: a looming dictatorship
News outlets’ downplaying of the danger is shameful journalism neglect
stopthepresses.news
Gil Duran is what they call in The Biz, "a real one." Everyone get The Nerd Reich for your book clubs, holiday gifts, etc. It's an urgent wake-up call and plan of action. bookshop.org/p/books/the-...
The Nerd Reich: Silicon Valley Fascism and the War on Democracy
“This transfixing debut from journalist Durán investigates the antidemocratic ideologies espoused by tech billionaires linked to the second Trump administration...It’s an ominous look at an insular el...
bookshop.org
Holley Atkinson@holleya.bsky.social · 2mo agoHear @gilduran.com warn us about the racist billionaire fascists tearing down our democracy, and our rematch with the Confederacy, Nazis, and Putin’s hot info war @andreachalupa.bsky.social @gaslitnation.bsky.social youtu.be/lV-GXVlfO14?... & @democracynow.org youtu.be/sg7YNUbaV-8?... #EpsteinFiles
Hear @gilduran.com warn us about the racist billionaire fascists tearing down our democracy, and our rematch with the Confederacy, Nazis, and Putin’s hot info war @andreachalupa.bsky.social @gaslitnation.bsky.social youtu.be/lV-GXVlfO14?... & @democracynow.org youtu.be/sg7YNUbaV-8?... #EpsteinFiles
A must-listen for all those who rightfully fear the current crop of techbros and their fascistic views: @nprfreshair.bsky.social's @tonyamosley.bsky.social interviews @gilduran.com, author of "The Nerd Reich: Silicon Valley Fascism and the War on Democracy". www.npr.org/2026/08/10/n...
Silicon Valley billionaires’ war on democracy : Fresh Air
Journalist Gil Durán argues that a small circle of Silicon Valley billionaires and venture capitalists have concluded that democracy is in their way — and that they should be governing in its place. D...
npr.org
Here’s Gil Durán, the author of “The Nerd Reich” on Democracy Today with Amy Goodman. He’s chatting about how #techbros turned #fascist and gave up on #democracy. He highlights the book that started it all and the role of key players like Peter Thiel in the process […]
Original post on connectop.us
connectop.us
Silicon Valley’s overlords have lost their minds. @gilduran.com, Kamala Harris’ former communications director and now a journalist, says Elon Musk, Peter Thiel and the rest of the tech oligarchs have a severe case of “billionaire psychosis”. He joins @emmakennedy.bsky.social ➡️ linktr.ee/bunker_pod
Just heard a couple podcast convos w/ @gilduran.com on his new ESSENTIAL book, out today “The Nerd Reich: Silicon Valley Fascism and the War on Democracy” Was all set to run to buy it when it showed up in my mail! Forgot I’d preordered via @ruthbenghiat.bsky.social’s Lucid Zoom… back in Dec 2025! 🤣
This man is unfit for office and a danger to every living creature on earth. Any news org, editor and journalist not communicating that clearly is sanewashing him and enabling his harms.
The Wall Street Journal@wsj.com · 3mo agoPresident Trump has directed the Navy to tear out a complex system for launching jet fighters from its aircraft carriers and instead go back to using steam catapults. 🔗: on.wsj.com/4i2qDD6
