Alex Shultz
@alexshultz.bsky.social
Journalist, Hard Reset co-author, pickup basketball enthusiast
Email: alexjshultz@gmail.com
Signal: ajshultz.13
Website: alex-shultz.com
Email: alexjshultz@gmail.com
Signal: ajshultz.13
Website: alex-shultz.com
great news from the Department of Education's invaluable student loans calculator: if I increase my monthly payments, I can pay off my balance by December 1969, instead of November 2035. Very helpful info!
December 24, 2025 at 9:01 PM
great news from the Department of Education's invaluable student loans calculator: if I increase my monthly payments, I can pay off my balance by December 1969, instead of November 2035. Very helpful info!
Reposted by Alex Shultz
In early November, I wrote a newsletter titled "Sequoia Still Has a Shaun Maguire Problem."
Last week, Maguire falsely accused a Brown University student of being a mass murderer. I would say Sequoia now has a much bigger Shaun Maguire problem—and Maguire himself is vulnerable to a massive lawsuit.
Last week, Maguire falsely accused a Brown University student of being a mass murderer. I would say Sequoia now has a much bigger Shaun Maguire problem—and Maguire himself is vulnerable to a massive lawsuit.
X’s Echo Chamber Gets a Reality Check
A collection of right-wing influencers, chief among them Shaun Maguire, smeared an innocent Brown University student. What happens now?
www.hardresetmedia.com
December 22, 2025 at 8:49 PM
In early November, I wrote a newsletter titled "Sequoia Still Has a Shaun Maguire Problem."
Last week, Maguire falsely accused a Brown University student of being a mass murderer. I would say Sequoia now has a much bigger Shaun Maguire problem—and Maguire himself is vulnerable to a massive lawsuit.
Last week, Maguire falsely accused a Brown University student of being a mass murderer. I would say Sequoia now has a much bigger Shaun Maguire problem—and Maguire himself is vulnerable to a massive lawsuit.
My favorite holiday read. lot of strong contenders this year
Presenting The 2025 Shams Charania Award For Excellence In Divulging Of Information Through Syntax Comprehended By Many | Defector
Can you ask someone to “close your eyes and watch” something? Just how private does a conversation need to be in order to upgrade from speaking “privately” to “very privately”? What does it mean for a...
defector.com
December 22, 2025 at 11:24 PM
My favorite holiday read. lot of strong contenders this year
In early November, I wrote a newsletter titled "Sequoia Still Has a Shaun Maguire Problem."
Last week, Maguire falsely accused a Brown University student of being a mass murderer. I would say Sequoia now has a much bigger Shaun Maguire problem—and Maguire himself is vulnerable to a massive lawsuit.
Last week, Maguire falsely accused a Brown University student of being a mass murderer. I would say Sequoia now has a much bigger Shaun Maguire problem—and Maguire himself is vulnerable to a massive lawsuit.
X’s Echo Chamber Gets a Reality Check
A collection of right-wing influencers, chief among them Shaun Maguire, smeared an innocent Brown University student. What happens now?
www.hardresetmedia.com
December 22, 2025 at 8:49 PM
In early November, I wrote a newsletter titled "Sequoia Still Has a Shaun Maguire Problem."
Last week, Maguire falsely accused a Brown University student of being a mass murderer. I would say Sequoia now has a much bigger Shaun Maguire problem—and Maguire himself is vulnerable to a massive lawsuit.
Last week, Maguire falsely accused a Brown University student of being a mass murderer. I would say Sequoia now has a much bigger Shaun Maguire problem—and Maguire himself is vulnerable to a massive lawsuit.
Reposted by Alex Shultz
This is 404 Media's @jasonkoebler.bsky.social waving at himself through a Flock camera; one of 60 we learned was left exposed to the open internet. Not only could anyone with a link livestream it, but some admin portals were open with no login credentials required.
www.404media.co/flock-expose...
www.404media.co/flock-expose...
December 22, 2025 at 4:37 PM
This is 404 Media's @jasonkoebler.bsky.social waving at himself through a Flock camera; one of 60 we learned was left exposed to the open internet. Not only could anyone with a link livestream it, but some admin portals were open with no login credentials required.
www.404media.co/flock-expose...
www.404media.co/flock-expose...
from this (bad) Free Press story from October, which is premised on anonymous NYPD complaints and speculation: "the Mamdani campaign did not respond to requests for comment." Funny how it was deemed publishable by EIC Bari Weiss
December 22, 2025 at 2:40 PM
from this (bad) Free Press story from October, which is premised on anonymous NYPD complaints and speculation: "the Mamdani campaign did not respond to requests for comment." Funny how it was deemed publishable by EIC Bari Weiss
Reposted by Alex Shultz
just saw this -- yesterday, Eleanor Holmes Norton apparently once again told a reporter she's going to run for re-election in 2026. Previously, her office has walked those claims back afterwards. But they've been radio silent this week, perhaps because of my requests for comment for this story
December 19, 2025 at 8:40 PM
just saw this -- yesterday, Eleanor Holmes Norton apparently once again told a reporter she's going to run for re-election in 2026. Previously, her office has walked those claims back afterwards. But they've been radio silent this week, perhaps because of my requests for comment for this story
just saw this -- yesterday, Eleanor Holmes Norton apparently once again told a reporter she's going to run for re-election in 2026. Previously, her office has walked those claims back afterwards. But they've been radio silent this week, perhaps because of my requests for comment for this story
December 19, 2025 at 8:40 PM
just saw this -- yesterday, Eleanor Holmes Norton apparently once again told a reporter she's going to run for re-election in 2026. Previously, her office has walked those claims back afterwards. But they've been radio silent this week, perhaps because of my requests for comment for this story
Reposted by Alex Shultz
For @nymag.com I reported on 88-year-old Eleanor Holmes Norton, who was recently a victim of credit card fraud.
Among my findings:
The Norton campaign listed a deceased person as campaign treasurer for 2.5 years
Between '23-25, amid q's about her mental acuity, Norton loaned $110k to her campaign
Among my findings:
The Norton campaign listed a deceased person as campaign treasurer for 2.5 years
Between '23-25, amid q's about her mental acuity, Norton loaned $110k to her campaign
The Crime That Exposed a Congresswoman’s Decline
Is Eleanor Holmes Norton, 88, still fit for office? Is she even in charge?
nymag.com
December 19, 2025 at 2:25 PM
For @nymag.com I reported on 88-year-old Eleanor Holmes Norton, who was recently a victim of credit card fraud.
Among my findings:
The Norton campaign listed a deceased person as campaign treasurer for 2.5 years
Between '23-25, amid q's about her mental acuity, Norton loaned $110k to her campaign
Among my findings:
The Norton campaign listed a deceased person as campaign treasurer for 2.5 years
Between '23-25, amid q's about her mental acuity, Norton loaned $110k to her campaign
Reposted by Alex Shultz
@nymag.com @alexshultz.bsky.social reporting that while Eleanor Holmes Norton has been showing steep signs of mental decline, she is suddenly loaning a large amount of money to her campaign — which only pays her campaign manager / treasurer / confidant and one adviser. nymag.com/intelligence...
December 19, 2025 at 3:08 PM
@nymag.com @alexshultz.bsky.social reporting that while Eleanor Holmes Norton has been showing steep signs of mental decline, she is suddenly loaning a large amount of money to her campaign — which only pays her campaign manager / treasurer / confidant and one adviser. nymag.com/intelligence...
For @nymag.com I reported on 88-year-old Eleanor Holmes Norton, who was recently a victim of credit card fraud.
Among my findings:
The Norton campaign listed a deceased person as campaign treasurer for 2.5 years
Between '23-25, amid q's about her mental acuity, Norton loaned $110k to her campaign
Among my findings:
The Norton campaign listed a deceased person as campaign treasurer for 2.5 years
Between '23-25, amid q's about her mental acuity, Norton loaned $110k to her campaign
The Crime That Exposed a Congresswoman’s Decline
Is Eleanor Holmes Norton, 88, still fit for office? Is she even in charge?
nymag.com
December 19, 2025 at 2:25 PM
For @nymag.com I reported on 88-year-old Eleanor Holmes Norton, who was recently a victim of credit card fraud.
Among my findings:
The Norton campaign listed a deceased person as campaign treasurer for 2.5 years
Between '23-25, amid q's about her mental acuity, Norton loaned $110k to her campaign
Among my findings:
The Norton campaign listed a deceased person as campaign treasurer for 2.5 years
Between '23-25, amid q's about her mental acuity, Norton loaned $110k to her campaign
playbook for Trump/his orbiters:
1. gossip about how an appointee/staffer is doing a bad job or is desperate to leave
2. Story comes out that appointee/staffer is leaving soon
3. Appointee/staffer can't give an inch, cries fake news, is stuck for 3-6 months
4. News cycle passes, they slink away
1. gossip about how an appointee/staffer is doing a bad job or is desperate to leave
2. Story comes out that appointee/staffer is leaving soon
3. Appointee/staffer can't give an inch, cries fake news, is stuck for 3-6 months
4. News cycle passes, they slink away
December 17, 2025 at 10:48 PM
playbook for Trump/his orbiters:
1. gossip about how an appointee/staffer is doing a bad job or is desperate to leave
2. Story comes out that appointee/staffer is leaving soon
3. Appointee/staffer can't give an inch, cries fake news, is stuck for 3-6 months
4. News cycle passes, they slink away
1. gossip about how an appointee/staffer is doing a bad job or is desperate to leave
2. Story comes out that appointee/staffer is leaving soon
3. Appointee/staffer can't give an inch, cries fake news, is stuck for 3-6 months
4. News cycle passes, they slink away
The reporter who interviewed Susie Wiles 11 times on the record should call her later and ask her how her day went. Seems like a pretty decent chance she will immediately dive into on the record interview number 12
December 16, 2025 at 5:10 PM
The reporter who interviewed Susie Wiles 11 times on the record should call her later and ask her how her day went. Seems like a pretty decent chance she will immediately dive into on the record interview number 12
Sam Altman's assertion that he needs ChatGPT to raise his child was widely ridiculed, but the timing of Altman’s Jimmy Fallon interview coupled with a lack of viewership for the full segment (which has 2x more thumbs-down reactions than thumbs-up reactions on YouTube) also don't bode well for OpenAI
Sam Altman's Disastrous Interview With Jimmy Fallon, an AI Chatbot in the Flesh
Altman apparently needs ChatGPT to navigate parenthood, but his viral remarks weren’t the most concerning aspect of his late night debut.
www.hardresetmedia.com
December 15, 2025 at 7:19 PM
Sam Altman's assertion that he needs ChatGPT to raise his child was widely ridiculed, but the timing of Altman’s Jimmy Fallon interview coupled with a lack of viewership for the full segment (which has 2x more thumbs-down reactions than thumbs-up reactions on YouTube) also don't bode well for OpenAI
"Unfettered" sold ~4450 hardcover copies over its first month, and sales are dropping precipitously; Fetterman's memoir recorded 398 hardcover sales last week, according to bookscan.
Not a great ROI for a project that, as I reported, netted Senator Fetterman roughly $700-800k in total
Not a great ROI for a project that, as I reported, netted Senator Fetterman roughly $700-800k in total
I present my review of "Unfettered," John Fetterman's memoir. In between petty grievances about doing his job, Fetterman asserts that he's feeling good.
Two days after "Unfettered" came out, Fetterman fell directly on his face from ventricular fibrillation, a life-threatening heart rhythm disorder.
Two days after "Unfettered" came out, Fetterman fell directly on his face from ventricular fibrillation, a life-threatening heart rhythm disorder.
John Fetterman's Memoir Is As Low-Effort As His Senate Tenure | Defector
John Fetterman’s just-released memoir, Unfettered, argues that he’s turned a corner and has everything under control. Fetterman was a “stubborn asshole” (his words), he was clinically depressed, he wa...
defector.com
December 11, 2025 at 11:03 PM
"Unfettered" sold ~4450 hardcover copies over its first month, and sales are dropping precipitously; Fetterman's memoir recorded 398 hardcover sales last week, according to bookscan.
Not a great ROI for a project that, as I reported, netted Senator Fetterman roughly $700-800k in total
Not a great ROI for a project that, as I reported, netted Senator Fetterman roughly $700-800k in total
Reposted by Alex Shultz
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loath to be too precious about this stuff but I want one lesson of defector to be "you can choose to not do stuff that sucks" even if "doing stuff that sucks" is the default
December 11, 2025 at 9:48 PM
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less than half of the first-week sales of John Fetterman's memoir, which also flopped big-time
“American Canto,” one of the most hyped political books of the year, flopped in bookstores.
Olivia Nuzzi’s ‘Canto’ Sells Just 1,200 Print Copies In First Week
“American Canto,” one of the most hyped political books of the year, flopped in bookstores.
www.forbes.com
December 11, 2025 at 4:00 PM
less than half of the first-week sales of John Fetterman's memoir, which also flopped big-time
I suspect the Netflix angle here will be subsumed by news of Paramount's hostile bid, which gives cover to California politicians to say absolutely nothing (or at least nothing of substance) about the ramifications of a potential Netflix-Warner Bros. merger
Netflix’s Proposed Warner Bros. Merger Is Ridiculous. Why Aren’t California Politicians Saying So?
News of the potential acquisition has been met with silence and word salads from Gavin Newsom, Karen Bass, Adam Schiff, and the state’s 2026 gubernatorial candidates.
www.hardresetmedia.com
December 8, 2025 at 8:00 PM
I suspect the Netflix angle here will be subsumed by news of Paramount's hostile bid, which gives cover to California politicians to say absolutely nothing (or at least nothing of substance) about the ramifications of a potential Netflix-Warner Bros. merger
Reposted by Alex Shultz
NEW:
Trump’s Own Mortgages Match His Description of Mortgage Fraud, Records Reveal
www.propublica.org/article/trum...
w/ @robert-faturechi.bsky.social @amierjeski.bsky.social
Trump’s Own Mortgages Match His Description of Mortgage Fraud, Records Reveal
www.propublica.org/article/trum...
w/ @robert-faturechi.bsky.social @amierjeski.bsky.social
Trump’s Own Mortgages Match His Description of Mortgage Fraud, Records Reveal
The Trump administration has argued that Fed board member Lisa Cook may have committed mortgage fraud by declaring more than one primary residence on her loans. We found Trump once did the very thing ...
www.propublica.org
December 8, 2025 at 12:32 PM
NEW:
Trump’s Own Mortgages Match His Description of Mortgage Fraud, Records Reveal
www.propublica.org/article/trum...
w/ @robert-faturechi.bsky.social @amierjeski.bsky.social
Trump’s Own Mortgages Match His Description of Mortgage Fraud, Records Reveal
www.propublica.org/article/trum...
w/ @robert-faturechi.bsky.social @amierjeski.bsky.social
Reposted by Alex Shultz
The dude fired Breznican, the studio tentpole exclusive king, and Lawson, one of the greatest critical talents of this generation, as his first moves. And IDK if you flipped through his first issue as EIC, but the ad sales… woof. Barely any new buys apart from cat food. He was hired to kill VF.
IMO not enough scrutiny directed at VF's Mark Guiducci, who hired Nuzzi. The RFK affair was disqualifying on its own ofc, but the fact that it happened (it's RFK Jr!) was an obvious sign more ethical lapses + embarrassing stuff was floating around. Reflects poorly on an EIC to not anticipate as much
Vanity Fair to part ways with journalist Olivia Nuzzi
December 5, 2025 at 11:28 PM
The dude fired Breznican, the studio tentpole exclusive king, and Lawson, one of the greatest critical talents of this generation, as his first moves. And IDK if you flipped through his first issue as EIC, but the ad sales… woof. Barely any new buys apart from cat food. He was hired to kill VF.
IMO not enough scrutiny directed at VF's Mark Guiducci, who hired Nuzzi. The RFK affair was disqualifying on its own ofc, but the fact that it happened (it's RFK Jr!) was an obvious sign more ethical lapses + embarrassing stuff was floating around. Reflects poorly on an EIC to not anticipate as much
December 5, 2025 at 9:24 PM
IMO not enough scrutiny directed at VF's Mark Guiducci, who hired Nuzzi. The RFK affair was disqualifying on its own ofc, but the fact that it happened (it's RFK Jr!) was an obvious sign more ethical lapses + embarrassing stuff was floating around. Reflects poorly on an EIC to not anticipate as much
Reposted by Alex Shultz
@aristeinhorn.bsky.social is such a great writer: open.substack.com/pub/ariellas...
The A-list actor Thanksgiving set-up: Part 1
A series of nights to remember (or forget)
open.substack.com
December 5, 2025 at 4:01 AM
@aristeinhorn.bsky.social is such a great writer: open.substack.com/pub/ariellas...
Reposted by Alex Shultz
"Sacks has long claimed that his position with the White House is above-board because he and Craft sold most of their crypto investments and divested from AI-oriented companies. The sourcing for this claim is David Sacks on his self-reported financial disclosures ..."
-- @alexshultz.bsky.social
-- @alexshultz.bsky.social
Wrote about AI Czar David Sacks, who's currently throwing a fit on X (and garnering the support of his oligarch friends) because of a NYT investigation that, lucky for Sacks, actually somewhat buries its most damning bit of reporting/analysis
The David Sacks AI Scandal Hiding in Plain Sight
The AI czar and his firm still have hundreds of investments in AI-related software and hardware companies, according to an analysis of his public disclosures.
www.hardresetmedia.com
December 1, 2025 at 7:17 PM
"Sacks has long claimed that his position with the White House is above-board because he and Craft sold most of their crypto investments and divested from AI-oriented companies. The sourcing for this claim is David Sacks on his self-reported financial disclosures ..."
-- @alexshultz.bsky.social
-- @alexshultz.bsky.social
Wrote about AI Czar David Sacks, who's currently throwing a fit on X (and garnering the support of his oligarch friends) because of a NYT investigation that, lucky for Sacks, actually somewhat buries its most damning bit of reporting/analysis
The David Sacks AI Scandal Hiding in Plain Sight
The AI czar and his firm still have hundreds of investments in AI-related software and hardware companies, according to an analysis of his public disclosures.
www.hardresetmedia.com
December 1, 2025 at 7:04 PM
Wrote about AI Czar David Sacks, who's currently throwing a fit on X (and garnering the support of his oligarch friends) because of a NYT investigation that, lucky for Sacks, actually somewhat buries its most damning bit of reporting/analysis
Reposted by Alex Shultz
@alexshultz.bsky.social and I have a long discussion of how all those packages show up on your door so quickly--and who is paying the price of "free Prime delivery." Hint: There is no such things as a free lunch...
With Black Friday 2 days away, we pulled the most shocking stats on exactly how Amazon gets deals to your doorstep - and at what cost.
Check out @alexshultz.bsky.social's conversation with @profsheenalives.bsky.social on Amazon’s gig-like approach:
www.hardresetmedia.com/p/how-amazon...
Check out @alexshultz.bsky.social's conversation with @profsheenalives.bsky.social on Amazon’s gig-like approach:
www.hardresetmedia.com/p/how-amazon...
November 26, 2025 at 9:04 PM
@alexshultz.bsky.social and I have a long discussion of how all those packages show up on your door so quickly--and who is paying the price of "free Prime delivery." Hint: There is no such things as a free lunch...