Debbie Hiott
@dhiott.bsky.social
GM of KUT News, Austin’s NPR affiliate, and KUTX, The Austin Music Experience. Former editor-in-chief, Austin American-Statesman. Dogs > cats.
Always enjoy seeing what my colleagues @austinpbs have in store for the year in their annual Made in Austin event. This year, I appreciated hearing from @PBS CEO Paula Kerger.
April 25, 2025 at 12:41 AM
Always enjoy seeing what my colleagues @austinpbs have in store for the year in their annual Made in Austin event. This year, I appreciated hearing from @PBS CEO Paula Kerger.
Reposted by Debbie Hiott
Two American Airlines jets, including one carrying at least six members of Congress from New York and New Jersey, clipped wings on a taxiway at Ronald Reagan National Airport in Washington on Thursday, officials said.
Plane Carrying 6 Members of Congress Is Clipped at Reagan Airport
Two American Airlines jets clipped wings on a taxiway, officials said. Representative Grace Meng said that, in 10 years of flying to and from Washington, “This has never happened to me.”
www.nytimes.com
April 10, 2025 at 8:05 PM
Two American Airlines jets, including one carrying at least six members of Congress from New York and New Jersey, clipped wings on a taxiway at Ronald Reagan National Airport in Washington on Thursday, officials said.
Reposted by Debbie Hiott
UT-Austin's loss is SMU's gain. So proud of Rachel and all she has accomplished. She's going to do great things in Dallas!
Southern Methodist University names new executive vice president, provost
Rachel Davis Mersey will oversee the university's research and overall academic quality.
www.wfaa.com
April 7, 2025 at 6:04 PM
UT-Austin's loss is SMU's gain. So proud of Rachel and all she has accomplished. She's going to do great things in Dallas!
Reposted by Debbie Hiott
The new book from @liseolsen.bsky.social traces a forensic anthropologist’s decades-long attempt to restore the identities of the victims of one of Texas’ most prolific serial killers—and explores the shocking reasons why so many remained anonymous for so long.
The Scientist and the Serial Killer: Cracking the Case of Houston’s ‘Lost Boys’
More than 50 years later, some Houston families still wait for confirmation that their sons and brothers were among the victims of serial killer Dean Corll.
www.texasobserver.org
April 1, 2025 at 2:14 PM
The new book from @liseolsen.bsky.social traces a forensic anthropologist’s decades-long attempt to restore the identities of the victims of one of Texas’ most prolific serial killers—and explores the shocking reasons why so many remained anonymous for so long.
Reposted by Debbie Hiott
Right-wing YouTuber Tim Pool has made it to the White House pool — someone from his “Timcast” channel will be part of today’s pool duty covering the president.
Last year, DOJ revealed Pool was receiving millions of dollars from the Russian gov. Pool says he didn’t know where it was coming from.
Last year, DOJ revealed Pool was receiving millions of dollars from the Russian gov. Pool says he didn’t know where it was coming from.
March 28, 2025 at 12:47 PM
Right-wing YouTuber Tim Pool has made it to the White House pool — someone from his “Timcast” channel will be part of today’s pool duty covering the president.
Last year, DOJ revealed Pool was receiving millions of dollars from the Russian gov. Pool says he didn’t know where it was coming from.
Last year, DOJ revealed Pool was receiving millions of dollars from the Russian gov. Pool says he didn’t know where it was coming from.
Reposted by Debbie Hiott
BREAKING: A federal judge has issued a restraining order against Kari Lake and the Trump administration barring the cancelation of funding for Radio Free Europe.
The decision to terminate, the judge says, appears to violate the law/congressional intent.
s3.documentcloud.org/documents/25...
The decision to terminate, the judge says, appears to violate the law/congressional intent.
s3.documentcloud.org/documents/25...
March 25, 2025 at 7:20 PM
BREAKING: A federal judge has issued a restraining order against Kari Lake and the Trump administration barring the cancelation of funding for Radio Free Europe.
The decision to terminate, the judge says, appears to violate the law/congressional intent.
s3.documentcloud.org/documents/25...
The decision to terminate, the judge says, appears to violate the law/congressional intent.
s3.documentcloud.org/documents/25...
Reposted by Debbie Hiott
ICYMI: DOGE identifies 38 federal offices/buildings to close across Texas.
www.keranews.org/government/2...
www.keranews.org/government/2...
General Services Administration lists several federal buildings to sell — surprising some occupants
More than 440 properties nationwide were listed as 'disposable.' Many—from the VA to the federal judiciary—have hundreds of workers. Two dozen in Texas include properties officed in by congressmembers...
www.keranews.org
March 12, 2025 at 9:50 PM
ICYMI: DOGE identifies 38 federal offices/buildings to close across Texas.
www.keranews.org/government/2...
www.keranews.org/government/2...
Thanks to nearby construction, the power is out @kutnews.bsky.social and @kutx.bsky.social . You can stream us at kut.org and kutx.org until we get back on the airwaves.
kut.org
March 11, 2025 at 8:16 PM
Thanks to nearby construction, the power is out @kutnews.bsky.social and @kutx.bsky.social . You can stream us at kut.org and kutx.org until we get back on the airwaves.
Reposted by Debbie Hiott
Breaking News: Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth ordered the Pentagon to halt offensive cyberoperations against Russia, officials said.
Hegseth Orders Pentagon to Stop Offensive Cyberoperations Against Russia
The defense secretary’s instructions, which were given before President Trump’s blowup with the Ukrainian president, are apparently part of an effort to draw Russia into talks on the war.
nyti.ms
March 2, 2025 at 8:07 PM
Breaking News: Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth ordered the Pentagon to halt offensive cyberoperations against Russia, officials said.
Happy 10th to my favorite radio show, @texasstandard.bsky.social. Nothing on the airwaves informs you more about what’s going on in the state of Texas than this daily news hour put on by an incredibly dedicated, talented group of journalists. Wherever I am, I am on Texas Standard time.
March 2, 2025 at 7:01 PM
Happy 10th to my favorite radio show, @texasstandard.bsky.social. Nothing on the airwaves informs you more about what’s going on in the state of Texas than this daily news hour put on by an incredibly dedicated, talented group of journalists. Wherever I am, I am on Texas Standard time.
Reposted by Debbie Hiott
If DOGE is a federal agency, it can’t shield its records from the public.
If it’s not an agency, then its tens of millions of dollars in funding weren’t legally allocated and should be returned, some contend.
If it’s not an agency, then its tens of millions of dollars in funding weren’t legally allocated and should be returned, some contend.
DOGE’s Millions: As Musk and Trump Gut Government, Their Ax-Cutting Agency Gets Cash Infusion
The Department of Government Efficiency is funded — and acts — like a federal agency. But the White House has shielded DOGE from the rules that govern such agencies, ProPublica found as it examines…
propub.li
March 2, 2025 at 2:00 AM
If DOGE is a federal agency, it can’t shield its records from the public.
If it’s not an agency, then its tens of millions of dollars in funding weren’t legally allocated and should be returned, some contend.
If it’s not an agency, then its tens of millions of dollars in funding weren’t legally allocated and should be returned, some contend.
Reposted by Debbie Hiott
Solidarity with @w7voa.journa.host.ap.brid.gy after @voiceofamerica.bsky.social's parent org put him on leave for doing his job writing about the Trump admin eviscerating USAID. Trump envoy Richard Grenell called him "treasonous."
Attacks on the press cannot be tolerated.
#JournalismIsNotACrime
Attacks on the press cannot be tolerated.
#JournalismIsNotACrime
Voice of America Journalists Face Investigations for Comments About Trump
The broadcaster placed a longtime journalist on leave amid growing concerns about its editorial independence.
www.nytimes.com
March 1, 2025 at 12:36 PM
Solidarity with @w7voa.journa.host.ap.brid.gy after @voiceofamerica.bsky.social's parent org put him on leave for doing his job writing about the Trump admin eviscerating USAID. Trump envoy Richard Grenell called him "treasonous."
Attacks on the press cannot be tolerated.
#JournalismIsNotACrime
Attacks on the press cannot be tolerated.
#JournalismIsNotACrime
Without journalists to tell you about things like this, you wouldn't know where taxpayer-funded work has gone awry.
@kutnews.bsky.social is proud to be able to serve the community with this reporting and more. You can help make it happen at donate.kut.org
@kutnews.bsky.social is proud to be able to serve the community with this reporting and more. You can help make it happen at donate.kut.org
February 27, 2025 at 9:01 PM
Without journalists to tell you about things like this, you wouldn't know where taxpayer-funded work has gone awry.
@kutnews.bsky.social is proud to be able to serve the community with this reporting and more. You can help make it happen at donate.kut.org
@kutnews.bsky.social is proud to be able to serve the community with this reporting and more. You can help make it happen at donate.kut.org
Reposted by Debbie Hiott
President Trump is setting a new precedent for tight, punitive government control over a free press.
Behind the Curtain: Trump's media-control strategy
Trump and his administration are doing this systematically, gleefully and unmistakably. But as we've written before, this unprecedented shift could set the precedent for future Democratic presidents,...
www.axios.com
February 26, 2025 at 2:53 PM
President Trump is setting a new precedent for tight, punitive government control over a free press.
Much love to our pals @paramountaustin.bsky.social, who understand the value that public media brings to Austin. Thanks for the shout out to @kutnews.bsky.social, @kutx.bsky.social and @texasstandard.bsky.social!
February 13, 2025 at 10:33 PM
Much love to our pals @paramountaustin.bsky.social, who understand the value that public media brings to Austin. Thanks for the shout out to @kutnews.bsky.social, @kutx.bsky.social and @texasstandard.bsky.social!
Reposted by Debbie Hiott
The big takeaway here is that Reuters won this case against the AI company on grounds they violated fair use—the judge found the AI company was guilty because, in using copyrighted works to generate its output, it “meant to compete... by developing a market substitute.”
Huge.
Huge.
Thomson Reuters has won the first major AI copyright case in the US. The decision has big implications for the battle between generative AI companies and rightsholders.
Thomson Reuters Wins First Major AI Copyright Case in the US
The Thomson Reuters decision has big implications for the battle between generative AI companies and rightsholders.
wrd.cm
February 11, 2025 at 9:28 PM
The big takeaway here is that Reuters won this case against the AI company on grounds they violated fair use—the judge found the AI company was guilty because, in using copyrighted works to generate its output, it “meant to compete... by developing a market substitute.”
Huge.
Huge.
Reposted by Debbie Hiott
"Today we were informed by the White House that if AP did not align its editorial standards with President Donald Trump’s executive order renaming the Gulf of Mexico as the Gulf of America, AP would be barred from accessing an event in the Oval Office." www.ap.org/the-definiti...
February 11, 2025 at 9:32 PM
"Today we were informed by the White House that if AP did not align its editorial standards with President Donald Trump’s executive order renaming the Gulf of Mexico as the Gulf of America, AP would be barred from accessing an event in the Oval Office." www.ap.org/the-definiti...
Reposted by Debbie Hiott
US weather forecasters were banned from collaborating with international scientists before and it did not end well:
www.houstonchronicle.com/politics/hou...
www.houstonchronicle.com/politics/hou...
How the 1900 Galveston Hurricane warns us about restricting NOAA
Officials reportedly told NOAA to pause international communications. Galveston’s past offers a lesson in what can happen by restricting scientific transmission
www.houstonchronicle.com
February 9, 2025 at 3:59 PM
US weather forecasters were banned from collaborating with international scientists before and it did not end well:
www.houstonchronicle.com/politics/hou...
www.houstonchronicle.com/politics/hou...
Reposted by Debbie Hiott
A teen DOGE staffer recently given access to government systems worked at a startup known for hiring convicted hackers. Someone using a Telegram handle associated with him also solicited a cyberattack-for-hire service in 2022. All raising questions about his vetting. www.wired.com/story/edward...
DOGE Teen Owns ‘Tesla.Sexy LLC’ and Worked at Startup That Has Hired Convicted Hackers
Experts question whether Edward Coristine, a DOGE staffer who has gone by “Big Balls” online, would pass the background check typically required for access to sensitive US government systems.
www.wired.com
February 6, 2025 at 7:43 AM
A teen DOGE staffer recently given access to government systems worked at a startup known for hiring convicted hackers. Someone using a Telegram handle associated with him also solicited a cyberattack-for-hire service in 2022. All raising questions about his vetting. www.wired.com/story/edward...
Reposted by Debbie Hiott
"But emails reviewed by [The NY Times] show that the Treasury’s chief of staff originally pushed for Tom Krause, a software executive affiliated with [DOGE], to receive access to the closely held payment system so that the Treasury could freeze [US-AID] payments."
www.nytimes.com/2025/02/06/u...
www.nytimes.com/2025/02/06/u...
Treasury Sought to Freeze Foreign Aid Payments, Emails Show
Trump administration appointees and allies of Elon Musk wanted to use the Treasury’s sensitive payment system to block payments.
www.nytimes.com
February 6, 2025 at 3:13 PM
"But emails reviewed by [The NY Times] show that the Treasury’s chief of staff originally pushed for Tom Krause, a software executive affiliated with [DOGE], to receive access to the closely held payment system so that the Treasury could freeze [US-AID] payments."
www.nytimes.com/2025/02/06/u...
www.nytimes.com/2025/02/06/u...
Reposted by Debbie Hiott
A new immigration bill passed in Florida eliminates in-state tuition for undocumented immigrants. Governor Ron DeSantis is expected to veto the measure based on other parts of the bill, but students are wary about future tuition hikes.
'We want to contribute to the community': The fight over tuition waivers for immigrants
As the GOP-controlled legislature considers contentious new immigration laws, in-state tuition for undocumented immigrants appears to be on the line. One previous recipient, now a primary care doctor ...
www.wlrn.org
February 6, 2025 at 2:19 PM
A new immigration bill passed in Florida eliminates in-state tuition for undocumented immigrants. Governor Ron DeSantis is expected to veto the measure based on other parts of the bill, but students are wary about future tuition hikes.
LOL at the president expressing sticker shock over the price of corporate media subscriptions.
Federal agencies buying subscriptions to a platform that provides wonky insights and analysis on federal policy is — objectively — not the biggest scandal in history
February 6, 2025 at 2:34 PM
LOL at the president expressing sticker shock over the price of corporate media subscriptions.
Reposted by Debbie Hiott
Tariffs are now in effect on goods from China, and imports from Canada and Mexico could be next (again). Americans are likely to see higher prices on a wide variety of products as a result.
Here's how Trump's tariffs could impact you and your wallet
Tariffs are now in effect on goods from China, and imports from Canada and Mexico could be next (again). Americans are likely to see higher prices on a wide variety of products as a result.
www.npr.org
February 5, 2025 at 1:48 PM
Tariffs are now in effect on goods from China, and imports from Canada and Mexico could be next (again). Americans are likely to see higher prices on a wide variety of products as a result.
Reposted by Debbie Hiott
Staff at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau were instructed by email to cease much of their work. Bessent, a wealthy Wall Street investor, replaces Rohit Chopra, who was fired on Saturday.
Treasury Secretary Bessent, tapped to run CFPB, orders staff to halt work
Staff at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau were instructed by email to cease much of their work. Bessent, a wealthy Wall Street investor, replaces Rohit Chopra, who was fired on Saturday.
www.npr.org
February 3, 2025 at 8:46 PM
Staff at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau were instructed by email to cease much of their work. Bessent, a wealthy Wall Street investor, replaces Rohit Chopra, who was fired on Saturday.
Reposted by Debbie Hiott
Giving access to SSNs, other data on government employees to non-employees like Musk is a violation of 5 USC 552a, and carries with it a penalty of $1000 per person whose data was accessed. We are building a case. Govt employees who want to participate should contact me directly
February 3, 2025 at 1:18 PM
Giving access to SSNs, other data on government employees to non-employees like Musk is a violation of 5 USC 552a, and carries with it a penalty of $1000 per person whose data was accessed. We are building a case. Govt employees who want to participate should contact me directly