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altwatcher.bsky.social
AltWatcher
@altwatcher.bsky.social
3.7K followers 630 following 1.3K posts
The alt account of @jjoycelynch.bsky.social, where I keep an eye on "Alt" US Govt. accounts, and one account in particular.

For more of my writing on this subject: https://substack.com/home/post/p-161500621
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altwatcher.bsky.social
AltWatcher @altwatcher.bsky.social · Aug 1
The Alt National Park Service has spent months stealing from journalists, directly plagiarizing the work of others more than a hundred times.

With more than 4.3 million followers on Facebook and nearly 900k here on Bluesky, they've built a massive following on theft.
The "Alt National Park Service:" On Plagiarism, Part 1
The first in a three-part series.
jjoycelynch.substack.com
altwatcher.bsky.social
AltNPS, please, I'm begging you, just link to a source. ANY source. It's easy!

See, here's Wired! It's @regret.bsky.social and
@brbarrett.bsky.social! They reported on this almost three hours before you did!

www.wired.com/story/the-ep...
Alt National Park Service: The DOJ released a video said to show Epstein’s suicide, then pulled it after it was identified as fake.
December 23, 2025 at 3:56 AM
altwatcher.bsky.social
I have no way to know where AltNPS saw this statement, but they almost certainly didn't see it directly from Mr. Ureña.

Just for fun, let's go with Politico, who they've stolen from 12 times. Jacob Wendler reported on this at 1:21 PM CDT, two hours before AltNPS.

www.politico.com/news/2025/12...
Alt National Park Service: A spokesperson for former President Bill Clinton accused federal officials of “using selective releases to imply wrongdoing” and called on the Department of Justice to immediately release any remaining Epstein-related materials that refer to, mention, or depict Clinton.
December 22, 2025 at 10:07 PM
altwatcher.bsky.social
The Alt National Park Service has a new hobby, and it's more upsetting than I could have imagined.

AltNPS thought the real terror and suffering of people being targeted by ICE just wasn't juicy enough, so they decided to punch things up a little.

You can read more here:
The Alt National Park Service Can't Stop Posting ICE Raid Fanfiction
To AltNPS, real-world brutality is just fuel for the Content Machine.
open.substack.com
December 22, 2025 at 5:24 AM
altwatcher.bsky.social
People sometimes ask me what harm AltNPS is doing, and it's this. This right here.

AltNPS didn't do ANYTHING for this cause, and never even mentioned it before today. @protectparks.bsky.social is who made the difference (among others), but lots of people will now believe it was AltNPS.
A commenter replies to AltNPS's post about Sen. Mike Lee backing down on gutting the national parks: (shouting sans caps) This is the best news I've heard all year! Big kudos you guys and everyone who campaigned and stood up to protect our public lands. Huge win for wildlife, rare plant species and the public morale. Alt National Park Service, you have done a wonderful thing! 🙏
December 22, 2025 at 12:25 AM
altwatcher.bsky.social
It's interesting that AltNPS is talking about "the National Parks proposal" as though their audience should know what it is, because thanks to @chrismacandcheese.bsky.social, we know that AltNPS hasn't talked about this proposal at all.

bsky.app/profile/chri...
Alt National Park Service: A win! Thanks to everyone who spoke out. Following public backlash, Mike Lee backtracked on the National Parks proposal, which would have rescinded legislation protecting national parks and maintaining their boundaries as federal lands.
December 21, 2025 at 6:00 PM
altwatcher.bsky.social
The attached file is a VERY graphic description of Trump's sexual, uh, proclivities from one of Epstein's victims.

I don't know what annoys me more, that AltNPS was too lazy to describe the contents of this file to their audience, or that they made me read this. I've seen things I can't un-see.
Alt National Park Service: Before this is taken down, screenshot it and download the file. Here’s the link to the unredacted version. Read page 16. [They link to a justice.gov link to a portion of released Epstein documents.]
December 21, 2025 at 4:34 PM
altwatcher.bsky.social
You gotta be kidding me
Alt National Park Service: The truth always comes home to roost. Do not mistake silence for inaction. Q
December 21, 2025 at 1:16 AM
altwatcher.bsky.social
AltNPS encouraging their followers to "turn into investigators" reminds me of Q pushing anons on 8chan to "follow the white rabbit" in ways that I really, really don't like.
Alt National Park Service: Yesterday we were all waiting in the Epstein line. Today, the entire country has turned into investigators, tracking which files are disappearing. Sixteen gone so far. There’s been a remarkable amount of teamwork, with people working together to identify the missing documents.
December 21, 2025 at 12:24 AM
altwatcher.bsky.social
"ICE agents have been documented swapping license plates." Documented WHERE? The Chicago Sun-Times, maybe? In an article by Mawa Iqbal, written two weeks ago?

chicago.suntimes.com/immigration/...

Never mind that ICE has been caught doing this for months:

www.ilsos.gov/news/2025/oc...
Alt National Park Service: In Illinois, ICE agents have been documented swapping license plates to hide their identity. Under Illinois law, this constitutes a Class A misdemeanor. The state has made clear that this law will be enforced. Federal agents are not exempt from Illinois vehicle and registration statutes.
December 19, 2025 at 7:37 PM
altwatcher.bsky.social
Good catch! No, they haven't.

They mentioned Mike Lee's previous attempt at gutting the parks in June with the BBB, but nothing about this new push.
chrismacandcheese.bsky.social Edward James Almost @chrismacandcheese.bsky.social · 6d
@altwatcher.bsky.social you keep way better tabs on AltNPS than I do. Have they posted anything at all about Mike Lee's proposed changes to the Senate appropriations bill that would remove language protecting federal lands, including national parks?

www.sfgate.com/national-par...
'Nobody wants this': Senator axes language protecting national parks
A Utah Senator cut an amendment protecting parks in the appropriations bill.
www.sfgate.com
December 19, 2025 at 3:27 PM
altwatcher.bsky.social
New question: how similar does a design need to be to qualify as copyright infringement?

Maybe this similar?
The "resist bear" pin from AltNPS's ourparks.org The official likeness of Smokey the Bear.
December 19, 2025 at 1:13 PM
Reposted by AltWatcher
chrismacandcheese.bsky.social
You'd think AltNPS would use its platform to boost stories like Walt Dabney's, a retired park ranger speaking out because current NPS rangers may feel they can't speak up out of fear of losing their jobs.

northdakotamonitor.com/2025/10/13/f...
Federal lands need the public’s help, retired National Park ranger says • North Dakota Monitor
Public lands advocate Walt Dabney joined a group of North Dakota conservationists in the Badlands on Sunday to see how federal funding cuts are affecting public lands in the state — and how members of...
northdakotamonitor.com
December 18, 2025 at 3:47 PM
altwatcher.bsky.social
Another Facebook-only merch update from AltNPS. I think they know that Facebook is where the money is, to the point that they don't even bother hocking their merch here on Bluesky.
Alt National Park Service on Facebook: A lot of you have asked about these. Resist Bear enamel pins are finally here. $5.25 and free shipping included. [They include a pic of the pin]
December 18, 2025 at 10:35 PM
altwatcher.bsky.social
15 hours ago: AltCDC posts a thread about RFK Jr's Health Dept. retaliating against the American Academy of Pediatrics, and includes a link.

One hour ago: AltNPS posts a thread about RFK Jr's Health Dept. retaliating against the American Academy of Pediatrics, and does not include a link.

🤔🤔🤔
Alt National Park Service: RFK Jr. has cancelled federal grants to the American Academy of Pediatrics, claiming the work they fund “no longer aligns with departmental priorities.” Those grants weren’t about ideology. They supported efforts to reduce sudden infant death, expand rural access to pediatric health care, and address children’s mental health.
December 18, 2025 at 3:21 PM
altwatcher.bsky.social
Congratulations to AltNPS! Yesterday was the one-year anniversary of their announcement of the "Alt Junior Ranger Program," a thing that is for sure real and definitely worth mailing a dollar bill to a P.O. box somewhere.
Alt National Park Service: "We will soon be launching our Alt Junior Ranger program, which will cost $1 to join. While we initially wanted to make it free, our past experience with free seed packs and cleanup kits showed that groups opposed to our movement signed up simply to waste resources. 1/3 Alt National Park Service: We hope the $1 fee will help prevent such efforts. The program includes receiving a letter from us about the program. After completing an activity, participants can submit proof to receive a free badge. The $1 sign-up fee applies per household, and any number of kids can participate. 2/3
December 17, 2025 at 8:56 PM
altwatcher.bsky.social
I'm not disagreeing that the traffic stop on Rep. Omar's son was targeted, because of course it was. I just want to talk about AltNPS's framing of the response as "MAGA voices" rushing to respond to them, because I think it brushes up against something important.
Alt National Park Service: After our last post, MAGA voices rushed to claim that Trump had nothing to do with the traffic stop involving Democratic Rep. Ilhan Omar’s son, where federal agents demanded proof of his citizenship. Let’s be clear about why this is not a coincidence.
December 16, 2025 at 1:15 AM
altwatcher.bsky.social
I'm not saying that AltNPS saw Trump's post anywhere specifically or stole from any particular journalist.

But the difference between them and someone like Lindsay is that Lindsay provides links and sources, instead of screenshots devoid of context or analysis.
Alt National Park Service posts a screenshot of Trump's Truth Social rant about Rob Reiner's murder and says "Well, this is just messed up."
December 15, 2025 at 5:36 PM
altwatcher.bsky.social
Yes, this has nothing to do with the National Park Service.

Yes, AltNPS are still bottom-of-the-barrel engagement farmers.

Yes, this could have been written by anyone.

But I'll give them this one, because when they're right, they're right.
Alt National Park Service: ICE = Gestapo 2.0
December 15, 2025 at 2:32 AM
altwatcher.bsky.social
This is crazy. AltNPS is claiming that a "new phase is unfolding" called Operation Public Order, aimed at suppressing protest and dissent.

But this "new phase" exists in exactly one place: the Facebook page of the Alt National Park Service.
Alt National Park Service on Facebook: This is a new phase unfolding under the Trump administration, which is called Operation Public Order. Its purpose is to build infrastructure designed to manage dissent and resistance. At the center of Operation Public Order is a rapidly expanding data and surveillance backbone. Palantir now earns over a billion dollars a year from government contracts alone, with multiple new and expanded federal agreements extending into 2026. These systems are not primarily about investigating crime after the fact. They are built to connect people, events, and locations; identify and flag organizers; map networks; and predict collective action before it fully materializes. Why this approach? Because resistance movements (especially those standing up to ICE and successfully pushing enforcement out of their neighborhoods) cannot be neutralized through force alone. Instead of overt crackdowns, Operation Public Order relies on preemptive control. In New Orleans, this looks like coordinated monitoring and information-sharing across local law enforcement, federal agencies, and regional intelligence hubs. The focus isn’t isolated incidents, it’s patterns of civic activity. What’s being monitored locally includes: - Protest planning and announcements, including public events, marches, vigils, and rallies shared on social media and community platforms
December 14, 2025 at 5:28 PM
altwatcher.bsky.social
It's been almost two months since AltNPS's last QAnon-style vaguepost, but they delivered, just in time for the holidays.

I feel like AltNPS is stuck between two worlds. Their audience doesn't seem to demand this kind of fake code-speak anymore, but they just can't seem to let it go.
Alt National Park Service: When the last leaf hits the ground, you’re likely late to autumn. Alt National Park Service: Standing by at waypoint. Not lost. Just holding the line.
December 13, 2025 at 7:12 PM
altwatcher.bsky.social
Multiple outlets reported on this, and every one of them cites @ddiamond.bsky.social and @jonathanreports.bsky.social at the Washington Post as the ones who broke the story, because giving credit to sources is what journalists do.

www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202...
Alt National Park Service: The National Trust for Historic Preservation has filed a federal lawsuit to halt President Trump’s plan to build a massive new ballroom on White House grounds. The administration sidestepped multiple federal laws by advancing the project without required reviews.
December 12, 2025 at 9:31 PM
altwatcher.bsky.social
Thanks in large part to @bjkeefe.bsky.social, AltNPS legitimately did delete their post and RT Aaron Rupar directly instead. Credit where it's due, I'm glad they listened.

But the Facebook version of this post wasn't changed and still doesn't credit @atrupar.com. So how much did they really listen?
Steven Kappler replies to AltNPS, saying "look if you're going to reskeet Aaron Rupar's joke, just give him the credit." AltNPS replies to Kappler: We saw it posted in our group chat, but after checking, it looks like it originated from him. It's just been reposted a bunch of times. So definitely credit to: Aaron Rupar! bjkeefe replies to AltNPS, suggesting they delete their original post that didn't credit Rupar. A post by AltNPS on Facebook, which is identical to their original post on Bluesky. They don't provide credit to Aaron Rupar.
December 12, 2025 at 3:24 AM
altwatcher.bsky.social
And once again, AltNPS has declined to provide a source for this information.

I'll go with this one from Sam Levine at the Guardian, thirty minutes before AltNPS posted.

www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
Alt National Park Service: Once again, a grand jury has declined to re-indict Letitia James. 👋
December 11, 2025 at 9:21 PM
altwatcher.bsky.social
Huh, looks like the EXACT TEXT of @atrupar.com's post showed up in AltNPS's post. Weird!
Alt National Park Service: Magaziner: How many U.S. military veterans have you deported? Noem: We have not deported military veterans. Magaziner: We are joined on Zoom by a gentleman who is an Army combat veteran who was shot twice while serving our country. You deported him to Korea. Aaron Rupar on Bluesky: MAGAZINER: How many veterans have you deported? NOEM: We haven't deported veterans MAGAZINER: We are now joined on Zoom by a combat veteran you deported to Korea
December 11, 2025 at 6:36 PM
altwatcher.bsky.social
Again, not plagiarism, but I wish AltNPS had bothered to give their audience a link to any source at all.

Here's one from @spencerkimball.bsky.social and @kevinbreuninger.bsky.social from CNBC, three hours before AltNPS's post.

www.cnbc.com/amp/2025/12/...
Alt National Park Service: The so-called “war” with Venezuela was supposedly about stopping drugs… yet they’re out there seizing an oil tanker.
December 11, 2025 at 1:14 PM