Alex Boyd
@alexboyd.bsky.social
National misinformation + politics reporter.
Toronto Star, but in Alberta.
Signal: alexboyd.56
Toronto Star, but in Alberta.
Signal: alexboyd.56
Pinned
Alex Boyd
@alexboyd.bsky.social
· Nov 11
Hello new followers! I'm a Canadian reporter focused on politics and misinformation. I define this as "why our info ecosystem is so messy," and have written about an Olympic star radicalized online, a beach-pooping rumour exploited by the far right and an online scam job I once had for several days.
Reposted by Alex Boyd
I spoke with @alexboyd.bsky.social at the Toronto Star about the Franklin the Turtle memes and the right wing populists posting these memes.
www.thestar.com/politics/fed...
www.thestar.com/politics/fed...
How did a Canadian cartoon character become an icon for America’s right wing?
Franklin the Turtle has been reborn as a right-wing symbol in certain corners of the internet where he now functions as a winking shorthand.
www.thestar.com
December 30, 2025 at 5:23 PM
I spoke with @alexboyd.bsky.social at the Toronto Star about the Franklin the Turtle memes and the right wing populists posting these memes.
www.thestar.com/politics/fed...
www.thestar.com/politics/fed...
Reposted by Alex Boyd
The Atlantic suggesting, without evidence, that Canada's Global TV broadcasting the '60 Minutes' segment on CECOT that CBS distributed to it may have been an act of "treachery."
🔗: www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2025/1...
🔗: www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2025/1...
December 23, 2025 at 7:53 PM
The Atlantic suggesting, without evidence, that Canada's Global TV broadcasting the '60 Minutes' segment on CECOT that CBS distributed to it may have been an act of "treachery."
🔗: www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2025/1...
🔗: www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2025/1...
A fun end to a wild news year! Thanks to fellow panelists @faliceemo.bsky.social and Janet Brown, plus @markusoff.bsky.social for putting together a great quiz, even if I remain unconvinced by the accuracy of your use of "invoke." www.cbc.ca/listen/cbc-p...
The Quiz Show | West of Centre | CBC Podcasts | CBC Listen
From a Trump trade war and a historic teachers' strike, to the UCP government’s use of the notwithstanding clause, 2025 has been a high-stakes whirlwind for Alberta.
This week on West of Centre, the...
www.cbc.ca
December 20, 2025 at 7:03 PM
A fun end to a wild news year! Thanks to fellow panelists @faliceemo.bsky.social and Janet Brown, plus @markusoff.bsky.social for putting together a great quiz, even if I remain unconvinced by the accuracy of your use of "invoke." www.cbc.ca/listen/cbc-p...
Reposted by Alex Boyd
Looking through old debates on floor-crossing.
Stephen Harper had an underrated sense of humour.
Stephen Harper had an underrated sense of humour.
December 17, 2025 at 10:27 PM
Looking through old debates on floor-crossing.
Stephen Harper had an underrated sense of humour.
Stephen Harper had an underrated sense of humour.
Reposted by Alex Boyd
BREAKING: Skate Canada is boycotting Alberta over the province's ban on Trans women competing in women's sports.
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
Skate Canada to stop holding national, international events in Alberta | CBC News
Skate Canada says it will no longer host major events in Alberta following a review of the province's legislation on the participation of transgender athletes in women's sport.
www.cbc.ca
December 16, 2025 at 6:54 PM
BREAKING: Skate Canada is boycotting Alberta over the province's ban on Trans women competing in women's sports.
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
This is fascinating. Does being human actually give you any special insight into humanity? www.theatlantic.com/magazine/202...
What if Our Ancestors Didn’t Feel Anything Like We Do?
The historians who want to know how our ancestors experienced love, anger, fear, and sorrow
www.theatlantic.com
December 15, 2025 at 8:18 PM
This is fascinating. Does being human actually give you any special insight into humanity? www.theatlantic.com/magazine/202...
Reposted by Alex Boyd
Chris Rufo literally was a core figure in boosting a lie that Haitian immigrants in an Ohio town ate pets. He offered a bounty for “information” after the lie was repeatedly debunked.
Spare us the navel-gazing nonsense.
Spare us the navel-gazing nonsense.
December 11, 2025 at 1:42 AM
Chris Rufo literally was a core figure in boosting a lie that Haitian immigrants in an Ohio town ate pets. He offered a bounty for “information” after the lie was repeatedly debunked.
Spare us the navel-gazing nonsense.
Spare us the navel-gazing nonsense.
One of my most dug in beliefs is that people criticize rodeo and not racing only because of their (mis)perceptions of culture and class, not animal welfare.
"Horse racing was once the only form of legal gambling. The story of the sport’s decline is, among other things, the story of an industry losing its monopoly power..." I'm late to this tough but very good @nickhunebrown.bsky.social about the state of horse racing in Ontario. (CW horse deaths.)
Breakdown at the Racetrack | The Local
Once a lucrative gambling business, Ontario's horse racing industry is now heavily subsidized by the government. As gamblers turn to online gaming, and ideas about animal welfare shift, a cluster of f...
thelocal.to
December 10, 2025 at 9:20 PM
One of my most dug in beliefs is that people criticize rodeo and not racing only because of their (mis)perceptions of culture and class, not animal welfare.
Reposted by Alex Boyd
Another direct similarity between Smith and Trump: openness to using governmental power to help charlatans with their grifts.
As someone who has experienced both Peterson Academy (one week) and an accredited Alberta university (5 years, oops) it is striking to me that Albertan officials were discussing "transferability." The most rigorous testing PA did is an AI-generated multiple choice quiz. thetyee.ca/News/2025/12...
Jordan Peterson’s School Isn’t Accredited. Smith Offered Alberta’s Help | The Tyee
The premier met with the controversial psychologist and tried to help his business, finds a Tyee investigation.
thetyee.ca
December 10, 2025 at 6:47 PM
Another direct similarity between Smith and Trump: openness to using governmental power to help charlatans with their grifts.
As someone who has experienced both Peterson Academy (one week) and an accredited Alberta university (5 years, oops) it is striking to me that Albertan officials were discussing "transferability." The most rigorous testing PA did is an AI-generated multiple choice quiz. thetyee.ca/News/2025/12...
Jordan Peterson’s School Isn’t Accredited. Smith Offered Alberta’s Help | The Tyee
The premier met with the controversial psychologist and tried to help his business, finds a Tyee investigation.
thetyee.ca
December 10, 2025 at 6:42 PM
As someone who has experienced both Peterson Academy (one week) and an accredited Alberta university (5 years, oops) it is striking to me that Albertan officials were discussing "transferability." The most rigorous testing PA did is an AI-generated multiple choice quiz. thetyee.ca/News/2025/12...
Reposted by Alex Boyd
Here's my latest column, on the natural history of misinformation. Gift link: nyti.ms/3MkcbJ1
nyti.ms
December 10, 2025 at 12:37 AM
Here's my latest column, on the natural history of misinformation. Gift link: nyti.ms/3MkcbJ1
All I want is a computer that lets me keep 927374 tabs open at all times, never shut it down but spill coffee on the keyboard regularly is that too much to ask.
December 10, 2025 at 1:04 AM
All I want is a computer that lets me keep 927374 tabs open at all times, never shut it down but spill coffee on the keyboard regularly is that too much to ask.
Reposted by Alex Boyd
People struggle to separate argument quality from their own political opinions www.psypost.org/people-strug...
"....prior beliefs about that topic are more important than the actual quality of those arguments."
Study: "...people do not evaluate arguments independently of the background beliefs..."
"....prior beliefs about that topic are more important than the actual quality of those arguments."
Study: "...people do not evaluate arguments independently of the background beliefs..."
People struggle to separate argument quality from their own political opinions
A new study in Cognition reveals that when evaluating political arguments, your prior beliefs matter far more than the actual logic. Researchers found that confirmation bias outweighs evidence quality...
www.psypost.org
December 5, 2025 at 3:07 PM
People struggle to separate argument quality from their own political opinions www.psypost.org/people-strug...
"....prior beliefs about that topic are more important than the actual quality of those arguments."
Study: "...people do not evaluate arguments independently of the background beliefs..."
"....prior beliefs about that topic are more important than the actual quality of those arguments."
Study: "...people do not evaluate arguments independently of the background beliefs..."
Reposted by Alex Boyd
OK this might be a fool's errand but last night I started a #yyccc budget tracker. Tracking amendments, what they're about, who voted how—so this info can be in one place in an easy-to-digest format. Feedback welcome. Started with transit amendments. Will add housing & others.
How Calgary’s new city council is overhauling the 2026 budget | The Sprawl
Follow along with our budget tracker.
www.sprawlcalgary.com
December 3, 2025 at 5:39 PM
OK this might be a fool's errand but last night I started a #yyccc budget tracker. Tracking amendments, what they're about, who voted how—so this info can be in one place in an easy-to-digest format. Feedback welcome. Started with transit amendments. Will add housing & others.
Reposted by Alex Boyd
Thinking of the student Mary Young who 106 years ago today 'said "shan't" under [her] breath when told to repeat poor work'.
December 4, 2025 at 2:03 PM
Thinking of the student Mary Young who 106 years ago today 'said "shan't" under [her] breath when told to repeat poor work'.
Reposted by Alex Boyd
Confederation was worth it because it essentially guaranteed that every few months at least one province's political leaders would do something wild that everyone in the other provinces could enjoy purely as entertainment.
December 3, 2025 at 10:29 PM
Confederation was worth it because it essentially guaranteed that every few months at least one province's political leaders would do something wild that everyone in the other provinces could enjoy purely as entertainment.
One of the most annoying things about this is the Bow Valley has one of the biggest actual papers left in Alberta because (I assume?) they can actually sell ads because of the tourism base. (Shout out the Rocky Mountain Outlook!) So what business problem is this solving?
A newsletter in Alberta’s Bow Valley is hiring a contract “reporter” to feed and babysit chat GPT. jeffgaulin.com/jobs/JobDeta...
JeffGaulin.com: Jobs
jeffgaulin.com
December 3, 2025 at 5:59 PM
One of the most annoying things about this is the Bow Valley has one of the biggest actual papers left in Alberta because (I assume?) they can actually sell ads because of the tourism base. (Shout out the Rocky Mountain Outlook!) So what business problem is this solving?
Where it started vs. where it ended up:
November 30, 2025 at 4:38 PM
Where it started vs. where it ended up:
Reposted by Alex Boyd
Very interesting discussion in this piece, but any mechanism to 'regulate' the truth will inevitably be turned against the truth - the loonies will take advantage of recalls, the wrong person in charge of government will call facts 'fake news'. Indeed, this is precisely what we see in the US.
I wrote about a novel approach to tackling misinformation currently being discussed in Wales--and which some say Canada should try, too. What if we made a rule so politicians couldn't lie? www.thestar.com/politics/fed...
Is it time to make it illegal for politicians to lie to us?
That’s the question currently on the table in Wales, which has just released a draft of the “globally pioneering” sanctions for politicians.
www.thestar.com
November 29, 2025 at 3:24 PM
Very interesting discussion in this piece, but any mechanism to 'regulate' the truth will inevitably be turned against the truth - the loonies will take advantage of recalls, the wrong person in charge of government will call facts 'fake news'. Indeed, this is precisely what we see in the US.
Reposted by Alex Boyd
I wrote about a novel approach to tackling misinformation currently being discussed in Wales--and which some say Canada should try, too. What if we made a rule so politicians couldn't lie? www.thestar.com/politics/fed...
Is it time to make it illegal for politicians to lie to us?
That’s the question currently on the table in Wales, which has just released a draft of the “globally pioneering” sanctions for politicians.
www.thestar.com
November 27, 2025 at 3:28 PM
I wrote about a novel approach to tackling misinformation currently being discussed in Wales--and which some say Canada should try, too. What if we made a rule so politicians couldn't lie? www.thestar.com/politics/fed...
Danielle Smith has been saying for months that an agreement on oil would "take the wind out of the sails" of a resurgent independence movement. What if that was not correct? www.thestar.com/politics/fed...
Danielle Smith’s oil deal with Mark Carney was supposed to quiet Alberta’s separatists. Too bad they didn’t get the message
Separatists swiftly criticized the lack of immediate action on a pipeline and the agreement from Alberta to increase its industrial price on carbon.
www.thestar.com
November 29, 2025 at 12:00 AM
Danielle Smith has been saying for months that an agreement on oil would "take the wind out of the sails" of a resurgent independence movement. What if that was not correct? www.thestar.com/politics/fed...
I wrote about a novel approach to tackling misinformation currently being discussed in Wales--and which some say Canada should try, too. What if we made a rule so politicians couldn't lie? www.thestar.com/politics/fed...
Is it time to make it illegal for politicians to lie to us?
That’s the question currently on the table in Wales, which has just released a draft of the “globally pioneering” sanctions for politicians.
www.thestar.com
November 27, 2025 at 3:28 PM
I wrote about a novel approach to tackling misinformation currently being discussed in Wales--and which some say Canada should try, too. What if we made a rule so politicians couldn't lie? www.thestar.com/politics/fed...
Reposted by Alex Boyd
Reposted by Alex Boyd
WTF, @theatlanticpr.bsky.social ?
Why give this anti-science, lying, grifter this kinda positive framing?
He is a disaster. Period.
False balance disaster👇
Why give this anti-science, lying, grifter this kinda positive framing?
He is a disaster. Period.
False balance disaster👇
Over many interviews, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. told Michael Scherer about how he plans to remake America’s public-health system. Can he lead the scientific establishment he’s spent much of his life crusading against?
Read more in our new cover story: theatln.tc/q9hXxlbM
Read more in our new cover story: theatln.tc/q9hXxlbM
November 24, 2025 at 6:55 PM
WTF, @theatlanticpr.bsky.social ?
Why give this anti-science, lying, grifter this kinda positive framing?
He is a disaster. Period.
False balance disaster👇
Why give this anti-science, lying, grifter this kinda positive framing?
He is a disaster. Period.
False balance disaster👇
Reposted by Alex Boyd
Although the scale of this is still to be assessed, this is the inevitable outcome of the monetization of the algorithm. Rage-bait becomes a personal revenue model. Nothing about this should be a surprise.
NEWS: I spent the past 24 hours going through major MAGA accounts on Twitter, and a bombshell development has become clear: most of the right-wing ecosphere is being fed propaganda from foreign actors.
This impacts elections. This impacts discourse. This is major. Subscribe to support my work:
This impacts elections. This impacts discourse. This is major. Subscribe to support my work:
NEWS: Major MAGA Accounts on Twitter Exposed as Foreign Actors
A stunning development over the past 24 hours.
open.substack.com
November 23, 2025 at 8:02 PM
Although the scale of this is still to be assessed, this is the inevitable outcome of the monetization of the algorithm. Rage-bait becomes a personal revenue model. Nothing about this should be a surprise.