Craig "Craig Nickels" Nickels
@craignickels.bsky.social
Strategy and analytics for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel and various other Gannett newsrooms. Ex-Boston Globe. Former blue-check. A good man in a storm.
Reposted by Craig "Craig Nickels" Nickels
Must-read from @jimowczarski.bsky.social at the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: www.jsonline.com/story/sports...
What does Giannis Antetokounmpo want? He wants to retire with the Milwaukee Bucks
In an exclusive interview, Giannis Antetokounmpo revealed what he truly wants in an emotional ode to the city of Milwaukee and Bucks fans.
www.jsonline.com
February 4, 2026 at 3:29 AM
Must-read from @jimowczarski.bsky.social at the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: www.jsonline.com/story/sports...
I gotta admit: I’m pretty proud of sneaking this into a work baby photo contest.
February 4, 2026 at 3:30 AM
I gotta admit: I’m pretty proud of sneaking this into a work baby photo contest.
Reposted by Craig "Craig Nickels" Nickels
Mr. Show - Commercials of the Future
YouTube video by Laser Time
www.youtube.com
February 4, 2026 at 12:20 AM
Concur.
Apropos of nothing I feel like not enough people know about Tinted Windows, the one-album supergroup composed of songwriter/bassist Adam Schlesinger (Fountains of Wayne, RIP) guitarist James Iha (Smashing Pumpkins) drummer Bun E. Carlos (Cheap Trick) and lead singer Taylor Hanson (Hanson)
Tinted Windows - Messing With My Head | Official Music Video (HD)
YouTube video by Hansonized
www.youtube.com
February 4, 2026 at 12:38 AM
Concur.
I was in college during the height of the ice beer craze. I gotta say: 19-year-old dorm dwellers loved a beer that's cheap, light and slightly stronger than Busch Light.
Coors Artic Ice (1994-circa 1998): An "ice" version of Coors' flagship lager and light lager, released the same year as the more popular Bud Ice. The misspelling "Artic" was intentional, as Coors wanted a name that was unique and could be trademarked, citing "Absolut Vodka"
January 28, 2026 at 5:08 PM
I was in college during the height of the ice beer craze. I gotta say: 19-year-old dorm dwellers loved a beer that's cheap, light and slightly stronger than Busch Light.
This place is underrated. IYKYK
January 25, 2026 at 9:03 PM
This place is underrated. IYKYK
Reposted by Craig "Craig Nickels" Nickels
A small part of Alex Pretti's story Milwaukee folks should know. His friend has posted a photo on Facebook of Alex at the Riverwest 24, holding up his bike and proudly posing for the camera, his team spoke card (#94) visible in the wheel. This is a guy who had joined your community too.
Kare 11 local news just read, in full, this statement from Michael and Susan Pretti, the parents of Alex Pretti.
"Please get the truth out about our son."
"Please get the truth out about our son."
January 25, 2026 at 2:04 AM
A small part of Alex Pretti's story Milwaukee folks should know. His friend has posted a photo on Facebook of Alex at the Riverwest 24, holding up his bike and proudly posing for the camera, his team spoke card (#94) visible in the wheel. This is a guy who had joined your community too.
Reposted by Craig "Craig Nickels" Nickels
Tomorrow's front page of the Minnesota Star Tribune: Jan. 24, 2026
January 23, 2026 at 11:45 PM
Tomorrow's front page of the Minnesota Star Tribune: Jan. 24, 2026
Reposted by Craig "Craig Nickels" Nickels
Tomorrow’s front page of the Minnesota Star Tribune: Jan. 23, 2026
January 22, 2026 at 11:19 PM
Tomorrow’s front page of the Minnesota Star Tribune: Jan. 23, 2026
Reposted by Craig "Craig Nickels" Nickels
This video filmed by Ben Luhmann shows the moment a federal agent sprayed chemical irritants directly into a man's face in south Minneapolis.
Three agents already had the man pinned to the ground when a fourth agent walked up and sprayed the irritants.
Three agents already had the man pinned to the ground when a fourth agent walked up and sprayed the irritants.
January 22, 2026 at 1:41 AM
This video filmed by Ben Luhmann shows the moment a federal agent sprayed chemical irritants directly into a man's face in south Minneapolis.
Three agents already had the man pinned to the ground when a fourth agent walked up and sprayed the irritants.
Three agents already had the man pinned to the ground when a fourth agent walked up and sprayed the irritants.
Candlelight hiking in the Southern Kettles.
January 18, 2026 at 2:49 AM
Candlelight hiking in the Southern Kettles.
Reposted by Craig "Craig Nickels" Nickels
This is 10th-grader Arnoldo Bazan.
A citizen.
Immigration agents grabbed him and put him in a chokehold.
"We're from the United States bro!' he screamed.
Agents took and sold his phone
And when he finally got home hours later, his shirt was ripped, he neck had angry, red welts, and he sobbed.
A citizen.
Immigration agents grabbed him and put him in a chokehold.
"We're from the United States bro!' he screamed.
Agents took and sold his phone
And when he finally got home hours later, his shirt was ripped, he neck had angry, red welts, and he sobbed.
January 13, 2026 at 10:20 PM
This is 10th-grader Arnoldo Bazan.
A citizen.
Immigration agents grabbed him and put him in a chokehold.
"We're from the United States bro!' he screamed.
Agents took and sold his phone
And when he finally got home hours later, his shirt was ripped, he neck had angry, red welts, and he sobbed.
A citizen.
Immigration agents grabbed him and put him in a chokehold.
"We're from the United States bro!' he screamed.
Agents took and sold his phone
And when he finally got home hours later, his shirt was ripped, he neck had angry, red welts, and he sobbed.
Reposted by Craig "Craig Nickels" Nickels
The Minn Star Trib has an excellent frame-by-frame analysis of the Good homicide.
A couple things (also noted elsewhere) stand out. 🧵:
1) ICE agent Ross's first shot, when he *might* have felt in danger, hit 'the bottom corner of the driver’s side windshield.'
www.startribune.com/breaking-dow...
A couple things (also noted elsewhere) stand out. 🧵:
1) ICE agent Ross's first shot, when he *might* have felt in danger, hit 'the bottom corner of the driver’s side windshield.'
www.startribune.com/breaking-dow...
January 10, 2026 at 9:56 PM
The Minn Star Trib has an excellent frame-by-frame analysis of the Good homicide.
A couple things (also noted elsewhere) stand out. 🧵:
1) ICE agent Ross's first shot, when he *might* have felt in danger, hit 'the bottom corner of the driver’s side windshield.'
www.startribune.com/breaking-dow...
A couple things (also noted elsewhere) stand out. 🧵:
1) ICE agent Ross's first shot, when he *might* have felt in danger, hit 'the bottom corner of the driver’s side windshield.'
www.startribune.com/breaking-dow...
Reposted by Craig "Craig Nickels" Nickels
The New York Times states it plainly in display type:
Videos Contradict Trump Administration Account of ICE Shooting in Minneapolis
Videos Contradict Trump Administration Account of ICE Shooting in Minneapolis
Video: Videos Contradict Trump Administration Account of ICE Shooting in Minneapolis
An analysis of footage from three camera angles shows that the motorist was driving away from — not toward — a federal officer when he opened fire.
www.nytimes.com
January 8, 2026 at 12:40 PM
The New York Times states it plainly in display type:
Videos Contradict Trump Administration Account of ICE Shooting in Minneapolis
Videos Contradict Trump Administration Account of ICE Shooting in Minneapolis
Reposted by Craig "Craig Nickels" Nickels
Forensic analysis of objective video evidence. This is how you serve readers searching for clarity.
January 8, 2026 at 1:00 PM
Forensic analysis of objective video evidence. This is how you serve readers searching for clarity.
Reposted by Craig "Craig Nickels" Nickels
Tab (1963-circa 2020): A sugar-free cola from Coca-Cola, and the company's first ever "diet" drink, clocking in at 1 calorie. Famous for its trademark pink can, and long-running debates about the safety of its artificial sweeteners
June 23, 2025 at 5:59 PM
Tab (1963-circa 2020): A sugar-free cola from Coca-Cola, and the company's first ever "diet" drink, clocking in at 1 calorie. Famous for its trademark pink can, and long-running debates about the safety of its artificial sweeteners
Reposted by Craig "Craig Nickels" Nickels
I wrote section 230 to protect user speech, not a company's own speech. I've long said AI chatbot outputs are not protected by 230 and that it is not a close call. Given that the Trump administration is going to the mat to protect pedophiles, states should step in to hold Musk and X accountable.
I am not a Section 230 expert but being that Twitter is creating and publishing these photos I wonder if they actually have any civil legal protection? @kenwhite.bsky.social ? @akivamcohen.bsky.social ?
What X is allowing Grok to do is unlawful or regulatory-illegal in multiple jurisdictions, creates clear DSA violations, and continues despite regulator scrutiny. The images do not need to be pornographic, non-consensual sexualised or intimate depictions are enough.
January 5, 2026 at 11:10 PM
I wrote section 230 to protect user speech, not a company's own speech. I've long said AI chatbot outputs are not protected by 230 and that it is not a close call. Given that the Trump administration is going to the mat to protect pedophiles, states should step in to hold Musk and X accountable.
Reposted by Craig "Craig Nickels" Nickels
You remember Raji, Shields, Jay Cutler and maybe Aaron Rodgers' tackle of Brian Urlacher. What about the special-teams aces? Rodgers' injury scare? B.J. Raji on OFFENSE? American Idol? www.jsonline.com/story/sports...
11 things you may have forgotten from last Packers-Bears playoff game
You remember B.J. Raji’s pick-6, but there’s plenty you may have forgotten from the NFC championship game between the Packers and Bears in 2011.
www.jsonline.com
January 6, 2026 at 12:51 PM
You remember Raji, Shields, Jay Cutler and maybe Aaron Rodgers' tackle of Brian Urlacher. What about the special-teams aces? Rodgers' injury scare? B.J. Raji on OFFENSE? American Idol? www.jsonline.com/story/sports...
Reposted by Craig "Craig Nickels" Nickels
THREAD: I'll fact-check all the viral misinformation about the US military operation in Venezuela in this thread
This image, purporting to show the US military arresting Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, is AI-generated.
According to Google's SynthID detector, it was created using Google AI.
This image, purporting to show the US military arresting Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, is AI-generated.
According to Google's SynthID detector, it was created using Google AI.
January 3, 2026 at 5:55 PM
THREAD: I'll fact-check all the viral misinformation about the US military operation in Venezuela in this thread
This image, purporting to show the US military arresting Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, is AI-generated.
According to Google's SynthID detector, it was created using Google AI.
This image, purporting to show the US military arresting Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, is AI-generated.
According to Google's SynthID detector, it was created using Google AI.
Reposted by Craig "Craig Nickels" Nickels
It’s old-fashioned to defend mainstream journalism these days but some of the most reliable reporting from people actually on the ground will be the AP and Reuters the next 24 hours. Your Substack journalist writing takes will be using frontline reporting from them.
January 3, 2026 at 8:09 AM
It’s old-fashioned to defend mainstream journalism these days but some of the most reliable reporting from people actually on the ground will be the AP and Reuters the next 24 hours. Your Substack journalist writing takes will be using frontline reporting from them.
Reposted by Craig "Craig Nickels" Nickels
Reposted by Craig "Craig Nickels" Nickels
I hate this phrasing and how it buys into what is essentially a falsehood about the autonomy of chatbots that is RIGHT NOW deforming our entire law and society. Grok doesn't say anything. That's like saying 'Microsoft Word apologized for losing everyone's files'
www.reuters.com/legal/litiga...
www.reuters.com/legal/litiga...
Grok says safeguard lapses led to images of 'minors in minimal clothing' on X
Elon Musk's xAI artificial intelligence chatbot Grok said on Friday lapses in safeguards had resulted in "images depicting minors in minimal clothing" on social media platform X and that improvements ...
www.reuters.com
January 2, 2026 at 3:53 PM
I hate this phrasing and how it buys into what is essentially a falsehood about the autonomy of chatbots that is RIGHT NOW deforming our entire law and society. Grok doesn't say anything. That's like saying 'Microsoft Word apologized for losing everyone's files'
www.reuters.com/legal/litiga...
www.reuters.com/legal/litiga...
Reposted by Craig "Craig Nickels" Nickels
Ex-Meta chief AI scientist Yann LeCun has Lunch with the FT and in one of those instances so rare that you know he didn't sign an NDA, says exactly why as.ft.com/r/e503690d-8...
January 2, 2026 at 1:32 PM
Ex-Meta chief AI scientist Yann LeCun has Lunch with the FT and in one of those instances so rare that you know he didn't sign an NDA, says exactly why as.ft.com/r/e503690d-8...