Category: Politics
Bernie sums it up well. From here on out, my vote goes to the person who advocates for pumping the brakes and establishing effective guardrails for AI. This is a generational issue and we must get it right.
In case you need another reason to believe Palantir and CEO Alex Karp are simply an arm for this authoritarian regime:
Karp’s message is loud and clear: My technology will take political capital away from one of your greatest enemies—liberal women with degrees—and give one of your favorite demographics to patronize—working-class men—more political power to transfer to you. He’s aligning his technology with both GOP political strategy and the larger male-centered culture war that the right has been waging for the better part of a decade now.
I’ve said this before, but 404 Media is the type of journalism we need right now:
Over the next few weeks, we will be filing hundreds of public records requests with state, local, and federal governments and school districts with the hope of unearthing more information about the groups, politicians, and monied interests that have been pushing book bans and educational censorship on American public schools and libraries.
The 404 team is soliciting support from citizen journalists, librarians, teachers, educators and parents for tips & leads on where to begin.
The Luddite Renaissance is in full swing:
Students, activists, tech whistleblowers, and self-proclaimed Luddites have been undertaking a series of actions, readings, and protests that will culminate next weekend, on September 27, at what they’re calling the S.H.I.T.P.H.O.N.E. (Scathing Hatred of Information Technology and the Passionate Hemorrhaging of Our Neo-liberal Experience) rally at the High Line in New York City.
Ryan Broderick in Garbage Day:
The New York Times has a good piece on the administration cracking down on entertainers that refuse to tow the party line. A spokesperson for the administration told The Times that, contrary to what the media has reported, they actually have a good sense humor about themselves, but they no longer have “the time nor the patience to apply that method to the ‘miserable literati.’” Oh, sorry, that article was actually published in 1939 and written about a totally different government. Disregard.
I am of the opinion that violence, political or otherwise, is never the answer. But I also believe that hateful and confrontational rhetoric does nothing but fan the flames of hateful actions. We must all do better. We must all be better. I fear there is no going back from this. Darker times ahead.
On this Labor Day, let’s remember that most generative AI is built upon the exploits of uncompensated work and it will continue to be until there is regulation prohibiting it.
I asked Chuck Todd a question & he answered it on this week’s podcast:
Chuck! Jeff from Pittsburgh here. I just dropped my oldest son off for his first year at university. He has a great interest in journalism (particularly sports & politics), but my fear as a parent is naturally the dying of legacy outlets. I’ve heard you mention in passing on the podcast about how local sports coverage may have potential to transform other local coverage, or remake the media landscape. Could you elaborate on this?
Very cool to hear such a prominent voice in media give Elliott career advice!
Taylor Lorenz & Matt Bernstein on the beige-ification of Pride:
From the aisles of Target to the Instagram feeds of big brands, the rainbow logos are gone & the merch shelves are empty.
This is quite obvious when you stop & notice how retailers position inclusion with respect to their brand. It’s business & political strategy taking priority over moral fortitude. I’m thankful to work for a retailer that stays true to its values by elevating the voices of Co-Op members & staff who are part of (and allies to) the LGBTQ+ community not only in June, but year round.
This dude ate his way through the No Kings protest in Los Angeles, vlogging about the street food he encountered on the ground, and by doing so showed exactly how chill, measured and important the movement is. This is one of the best social commentaries I’ve seen I quite a while.
This Doomtree record was released way back in 2011, but this seems as good a time as any to revisit and play loud. Be safe out there. #NoKings
The Leadership We Need Right Now
Retail Brew analyzing how REI is doubling down on diversity, equity and inclusion:
While REI is affirming its values now, the company, by its own admission, betrayed them earlier in the current Trump administration.
Full disclosure: I work for REI and what follows is my personal view from the inside.
Earlier this year the Co-Op signed on to an outdoor industry letter sent to The Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources supporting the nomination of Doug Bergum for Secretary of the Interior. Many REI employees were left confused, upset and feeling somewhat betrayed by a company whose primary purpose was to protect our public lands and work tirelessly to ensure the outdoors is accessible for all. We felt the letter was in direct conflict with the values that drew us to work at REI.
Since that letter was published, REI has a new CEO. In one of her first public statements as CEO, Mary Beth (MB) Laughton announced clearly and transparently that it was a mistake signing the letter:
Signing that letter was a mistake. The actions that the administration has taken on public lands are completely at odds with the long-standing values of REI…I’m here to apologize to our members on behalf of REI, to retract our endorsement of Doug Burgum, and to take full accountability for how we move forward.
At REI’s annual member meeting held on May 8th, MB made another public statement affirming REI’s commitment to DEI, even in the face of mounting pressure from the current administration:
In a time when our public lands and values like diversity, equity and inclusion are under threat, I want you to hear from me that REI believes these are essential to our business.
I feel like this is the kind of leadership REI needs right now. Admitting mistakes, owning the accountability for those mistakes, and charting a path forward honoring the core values that make the Co-Op a special place work. Most of us who work at REI don’t work there because we love selling tents. We work there because we love the outdoors. We want to protect it. We want to ensure people of all backgrounds and abilities can experience it. We want to make a positive impact in the world. With leadership like this at the helm, I still believe all of that is possible.
The retail industry is tough business. It’s even harder when the political current is working against company values. As I survey the room of other retailers and notice their actions related to the politics of the day, it’s very easy to see which companies are willing to sell out for political favor. I’m glad REI is not one of those.
404 Media found this passage buried deep in the Budget Reconciliation Bill, introduced late last evening by House Republicans under cover of night:
“…no State or political subdivision thereof may enforce any law or regulation regulating artificial intelligence models, artificial intelligence systems, or automated decision systems during the 10 year period beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act
Looks like some techbros are getting paid back. This is dangerous and emblematic of the slight of hand this administration will perform to grease the wheels of the political machine.
Ben Werdmuller touching on a sentiment I shared in my post yesterday about helplessness:
One voice doesn’t change a great deal, and over time the risks to dissent grow larger. But if there are many voices, and those voices translate into peaceful protest on the streets, and they translate into other actions that democratically resist, then there is hope.
Many voices. Many helpful actions. That’s the key.
Bring the Whisper
Our world is complex. It’s messy and laced with nuance. In this context, I believe subtlety matters. Thoughtfulness matters. Depth matters. Now more than ever.
Show me a problem that can be solved over a couple hundred hastily typed characters and an angry button tap. Or a cynical, irony-infused dunk. What progress have you seen come out of that? Increasingly, we are bringing megaphones to tasks that require honest, substantive, personal interactions. Inside voices, please.
Bring the whisper.
Soundbite culture doesn’t allow for the holistic understanding we need right now. Nor the empathy required to take ground on the change we’re working toward. With most things, answers don’t lie on the fringes. They can be found somewhere along a spectrum and the key to winning in this endeavor is to slide people along that spectrum toward you. That’s not possible through anger and shouting into a megaphone, which only digs people further into their trenches.
Bring the whisper.
Speaking with nuance and empathy does not mean deferring to or submitting to or normalizing conflicting perspectives. In fact, the opposite. By offering an empathetic ear we can understand why people believe the things they do and offer the alternatives in which we believe. I think this is best done face-to-face. In real life. Where nuance can be addressed.
Bring the whisper.
It’s not easy. These are uncomfortable, difficult conversations. They can be painful and depressing at times, but occasionally you’ll see someone inch toward you. A pondering look. A slow nod in the affirmative. An honest question about your thought process. These are windows into progress.
Bring the whisper.
Some might think I’m naïve in this approach, and that’s OK. I might be. To those who might write this off as a futile tactic I’ll ask, how’s that megaphone working out?
Millions of whispers in unison can be extremely loud. Bring the whisper.
How long until login.gov is deprecated in favor of authentication via X?
Destroying or creating access barriers to data that was once freely and publicly accessible is the modern equivalent of book burning. History will hold these people to account.
You can’t post your way out of fascism, writes Janus Rose over at 404 Media:
We don’t need any more irony-poisoned hot takes or cathartic, irreverent snark. We need to collectively decide what kind of world we actually do want, and what we’re willing to do to achieve it.
This is easier said than done. But it’s the blunt truth, and it needs to be shouted, shared and lived.
I’ve been offline today for obvious reasons – and I’m about to board a 5 hr flight – so just sliding in here to say keep your heads up, kids. It’s going to be tough sledding, but if we stick together and keep each others’ backs, we’ll be OK.
Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro is getting into sporting events on the lobbyist and donor dime. PublicSource reporting:
There are “many ways money can flow” from special interests to elected officials, Michael Pollack, executive director of the good-government group March on Harrisburg, told Spotlight PA. Whether a campaign contribution, gift, or something else, the end result is the same, Pollack argued: an expectation that the recipient will prioritize donors’ interests over everyday people’s.
I like a lot of what Shapiro has done for PA, but this is a bad look.
An insightful post-mortem from Taylor Lorenz on the media ecosystem built and funded by the GOP to propel the ‘Bro Vote,’ which ultimately won them the presidency. This piece shines an important light on why the left always seems to be trailing in messaging and media strategy.