Lorena O’Neil
@lorenaoneil.com
NOLA freelancer reporting on repro health, politics, culture, tech Contributing writer at Rolling Stone & nonprofit newsroom @lailluminator.bsky.social Bylines: The Guardian, Elle, The LA Times, Marie Claire, Jezebel https://www.lorenaoneil.com
For the past few weeks I've been in and out of Ocean Springs, MS reporting on the community's search for Nolan Wells: www.rollingstone.com/culture/cult... @rollingstone.com
Inside the Desperate Search for Nolan Wells
Before the teenager’s July 4 disappearance became national news, friends, family, and volunteers from the United Cajun Navy tried to find the teen
rollingstone.com
I spoke with a close friend of Nolan Wells, Tracestin Shepherd, who is clearing up what that viral video of a fight is about: “In that video, you hear somebody yelling — that is me." www.rollingstone.com/culture/cult...
What Really Happened in the Last Known Video of Nolan Wells: 'It's Me Yelling'
One of Nolan Xavier Wells’ close friends says he’s the person on the boat who can be heard shouting in the viral video circulating online
rollingstone.com
I spoke with a close friend of Nolan Wells, Tracestin Shepherd, who is clearing up what that viral video of a fight is about: “In that video, you hear somebody yelling — that is me." www.rollingstone.com/culture/cult...
What Really Happened in the Last Known Video of Nolan Wells: 'It's Me Yelling'
One of Nolan Xavier Wells’ close friends says he’s the person on the boat who can be heard shouting in the viral video circulating online
rollingstone.com
MS people: I'm reporting on Nolan Wells for @rollingstone.com if you have any information you'd like to share my signal is lorenaoneil.64 and DMS are open
My dispatch from today at court for Luigi Mangione’s evidence suppression hearing decision. Includes legal expert commentary. www.rollingstone.com/culture/cult...
Luigi Mangione's Alleged Gun and Notebook Allowed Into Evidence at Murder Trial
The judge also threw out evidence in what he said was an unlawful search of Mangione’s backpack as experts weigh in on what the decision means.
rollingstone.com
I spoke with criminologists about the theory that Luigi Mangione has inspired “copycat crimes” www.rollingstone.com/culture/cult...
Luigi Mangione, Copycat Crimes, and the Rise of Political Violence
Experts weigh in on the complex nature of copycat crimes and why political violence is on the rise
rollingstone.com
“Measles is basically a canary in the coal mine for our entire system,” says Dr. Scott Harris, the state health officer in Alabama’s Department of Public Health. “When it surges like this, it signals that our vaccination programs are starting to fail, and that other diseases won’t be far behind.”
Opinion | Measles Is Back. It’s a Sign Worse Is Coming.
nytimes.com
The broader tech backlash in the light of the attack on Sam Altman's house and why we need more guardrails for AI, by @lorenaoneil.com. With quotes from @alondra.bsky.social, @safiyanoble.bsky.social and me, among others. www.rollingstone.com/culture/cult...
The 'Techlash' Against AI Is Here. Have We Hit a Tipping Point?
As backlash against AI increases, it has also turned violent, unveiling a deep mistrust of a system that would benefit from guardrails, say experts.
rollingstone.com
Data centers are a physical manifestation of AI infrastructure and they've become a flashpoint precisely because they're tractable. They exist in specific places, consume specific resources, can be seen and pointed to. I spoke with @lorenaoneil.com @rollingstone.com about our urgent AI reckoning.
Lorena O’Neil@lorenaoneil.com · 4mo ago“The negative sentiment around AI has been growing steadily, and what’s changed is that the public has developed both the vocabulary and the lived experience to name what’s bothering them,” says Alondra Nelson, who led Biden's Office of Science and Tech Policy
"what’s changed is that the public has developed both the vocabulary and the lived experience to name what’s bothering them,”
Lorena O’Neil@lorenaoneil.com · 4mo agoI wrote about the celebratory reaction to the rash of violent acts against Sam Altman and AI, and how it reflects the public’s growing anger and resentment against AI companies, data centers, and tech billionaires: www.rollingstone.com/culture/cult...
I wrote about the celebratory reaction to the rash of violent acts against Sam Altman and AI, and how it reflects the public’s growing anger and resentment against AI companies, data centers, and tech billionaires: www.rollingstone.com/culture/cult...
The 'Techlash' Against AI Is Here. Have We Hit a Tipping Point?
As backlash against AI increases, it has also turned violent, unveiling a deep mistrust of a system that would benefit from guardrails, say experts.
rollingstone.com
I wrote about the celebratory reaction to the rash of violent acts against Sam Altman and AI, and how it reflects the public’s growing anger and resentment against AI companies, data centers, and tech billionaires: www.rollingstone.com/culture/cult...
The 'Techlash' Against AI Is Here. Have We Hit a Tipping Point?
As backlash against AI increases, it has also turned violent, unveiling a deep mistrust of a system that would benefit from guardrails, say experts.
rollingstone.com
“the way [these companies]have designed it, the bones of social media, is inherently unhealthy to kids…they’ll scroll &scroll until the wee hrs of the AM. Dev’ing brains need a lot of sleep, &so if a kid’s only getting 3 or 4 hrs of sleep/pm, it has ramifications that are completely debilitating.”🛟🧪
Lorena O’Neil@lorenaoneil.com · 4mo agoI spoke with one of the plaintiff's attorneys in the social media addiction trial about what comes next and how this $6 million verdict could impact tech companies www.rollingstone.com/culture/cult...
I spoke with one of the plaintiff's attorneys in the social media addiction trial about what comes next and how this $6 million verdict could impact tech companies www.rollingstone.com/culture/cult...
Social Media Addiction Lawyer on Landmark Trial: 'Social Media Is Inherently Unhealthy for Kids'
Emily Jeffcott, one of the lawyers for the plaintiff, on why this trial was so significant — and what happens next.
rollingstone.com
UPDATED with @aoc.bsky.social comments: "We must sound the alarm now — because this surveillance of the American people is not going to stop. We must stop it. All of this harm has occurred, not in spite of, but because of the absence of federal legislation to regulate AI.”
Lorena O’Neil@lorenaoneil.com · 4mo agoToday @sanders.senate.gov is introducing an AI data center moratorium bill in the senate, and @aoc.bsky.social will be following suit in the house as they call for more AI regulation to protect Americans and the environment www.rollingstone.com/politics/pol... @rollingstone.com
UPDATED w/@aoc.bsky.social's comments: "We must sound the alarm now — because this surveillance of the American people is not going to stop. We must stop it. All of this harm has occurred, not in spite of, but because of the absence of federal legislation to regulate AI.”
Lorena O’Neil@lorenaoneil.com · 4mo agoToday @sanders.senate.gov is introducing an AI data center moratorium bill in the senate, and @aoc.bsky.social will be following suit in the house as they call for more AI regulation to protect Americans and the environment www.rollingstone.com/politics/pol... @rollingstone.com
“We cannot sit back and allow a handful of billionaire Big Tech oligarchs to make decisions that will reshape our economy, our democracy and the future of humanity." Story: www.rollingstone.com/politics/pol...
Today @sanders.senate.gov is introducing an AI data center moratorium bill in the senate, and @aoc.bsky.social will be following suit in the house as they call for more AI regulation to protect Americans and the environment www.rollingstone.com/politics/pol... @rollingstone.com
Bernie Sanders and AOC Want to Pump the Brakes on AI Development
Sen. Bernie Sanders and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez are introducing legislation aimed at slowing down the development of AI data centers.
rollingstone.com
It's dangerous for civilians AND for troops to dismiss guardrails on AI as bureaucracy and speed toward modernization without safety, experts tell me. “You have a Pentagon, under Hegseth’s leadership, that is increasingly dismantling accountability structures." www.rollingstone.com/culture/cult...
The Military Is Ramping Up AI. Experts Say It's Putting Civilians -- and Troops -- At Risk
A report raises concerns with how few guardrails there are for advanced weaponry, as the Department of Defense demands billions for new systems.
rollingstone.com
“We have reached a level of realism in video, audio, and image deepfakes that for most people, it is not discernible from fact” Thanks to @gmpinglish.bsky.social for posting. #AI #Photography
Lorena O’Neil@lorenaoneil.com · 5mo agoAI experts explain the harmful impact of manipulated images in the fog of war: “It’s become very sophisticated and a critical part of geopolitics” www.rollingstone.com/culture/cult...
I spoke with experts about the future of AI in warfare and how the Anthropic lawsuit plays in to all of this: www.rollingstone.com/culture/cult... @rollingstone.com
What the Anthropic Lawsuit Means for the Future of AI in Warfare
The company told the Department of Defense that their LLM wasn't ready to be used in fully autonomous weapons — and the government wasn't pleased.
rollingstone.com
AI experts explain the harmful impact of manipulated images in the fog of war: “It’s become very sophisticated and a critical part of geopolitics” www.rollingstone.com/culture/cult...
The Latest Weapon in the Iran War Is AI-Generated Misinformation
Rolling Stone talked to AI experts about the harmful impact of manipulated images in the fog of war.
rollingstone.com
Trump: "Maybe we do one more term. Should we? Do one more term! We're entitled to it."
Radiohead is demanding that the Trump administration take down a pro-ICE promotional video featuring a version of its song “Let Down” without permission. Full statement from the band:
"Private money cannot replace public funding of science" Thank you @naomioreskes.bsky.social www.science.org/doi/10.1126/... 🧪 🌊 ⚒️ #scipol
Private money cannot replace public funding of science
Who should pay for American science? In the current political climate, many are looking to the private sector to compensate for cuts in public funding. At the Harvard School of Public Health—particula...
science.org
I spoke with experts about Eric Dane’s and James Van Der Beek’s campaigns, the rising trend of celebrity crowdfunding, and the history of who gets funding for medical debt and who gets left out. www.rollingstone.com/culture/cult... @rollingstone.com
Why Are Celebrities on GoFundMe? And Why Are We Giving Them So Much Cash?
After the deaths of James Van Der Beek and Eric Dane, fans took to GoFundMe to help out the stars' families — a trend that experts believe will grow.
rollingstone.com
I made a timeline of the connections between Jeffrey Epstein and Victoria's Secret billionaire Les Wexner — rollingstone.com/culture/cult... @rollingstone.com
Can Epstein's Rise to Power Be Traced to the Mogul Behind Victoria's Secret?
The two were close for decades before falling out in 2007. Now, billionaire Les Wexner is defending himself in front of a Congressional committee.
rollingstone.com
The potential for upheaval is precisely why economic elites wield AI as a weapon to threaten workers, even as we've seen time and again that AI cannot actually replace what humans do. You can take these dynamics seriously without buying into the framing of the people doing the threatening.
Chris Hayes@chrislhayes.bsky.social · 6mo agoI'm not even saying that's the most *likely* possibility, but it's just very clear that the likelihood of that outcome as increased and even if there's, like, a 1 in 10 change that "AI replaces most to all white collar jobs in 10 years" that's an *enormous* risk to the social order!
I spoke with AI experts about all of those optimistic AI Super Bowl ads and why many (like the Ring commercial) underestimated how skeptical the public is becoming of tech www.rollingstone.com/culture/cult... @rollingstone.com
The Super Bowl Was Overrun by AI Ads -- And There's a Reason Viewers Weren't Buying It
The ads tried to sell AI as a helpful tool to integrate into all our lives, but experts say public sentiment has already shifted.
rollingstone.com
