Ellin Stein
@ellinst.bsky.social
Arts journo (now mostly Slate and Byline Times),
MA Screenwriting lecturer @Goldsmiths UoL, authorina https://wwnorton.com/books/9780393074093, tech fumbler
MA Screenwriting lecturer @Goldsmiths UoL, authorina https://wwnorton.com/books/9780393074093, tech fumbler
Always, always about the grift.
A high-ranking official in the Interior Department is drawing scrutiny from ethics experts because she failed to disclose her family’s financial interest in the nation’s largest lithium mine that had been approved by her agency, according to state and federal records.
The Trump Administration Approved a Big Lithium Mine. A Top Official’s Husband Profited.
Karen Budd-Falen, the No. 3 at the Interior Department, didn’t disclose a $3.5 million water-rights contract between her husband and the developers of a Nevada mine, records show.
nyti.ms
January 3, 2026 at 9:30 PM
Always, always about the grift.
Reposted by Ellin Stein
Last year, Trump promised American oil executives “a great deal” if they donated $1 billion to his campaign.
Today, he gave them Venezuela — home to the largest oil reserves in the world.
This new war is not only illegal and reckless; it is deeply corrupt.
Today, he gave them Venezuela — home to the largest oil reserves in the world.
This new war is not only illegal and reckless; it is deeply corrupt.
January 3, 2026 at 7:47 PM
Last year, Trump promised American oil executives “a great deal” if they donated $1 billion to his campaign.
Today, he gave them Venezuela — home to the largest oil reserves in the world.
This new war is not only illegal and reckless; it is deeply corrupt.
Today, he gave them Venezuela — home to the largest oil reserves in the world.
This new war is not only illegal and reckless; it is deeply corrupt.
Reposted by Ellin Stein
Reposted by Ellin Stein
Again, the VP is currently in Moscow. How about them apples.
January 3, 2026 at 3:05 PM
Again, the VP is currently in Moscow. How about them apples.
Reposted by Ellin Stein
Know what changed? Court rulings in early December. That's why the Skipper tanker was seized. Guess who is about to be installed as Venezuela's caretaker government? A committee of creditors. I wrote this on December 15:
January 3, 2026 at 6:55 PM
Know what changed? Court rulings in early December. That's why the Skipper tanker was seized. Guess who is about to be installed as Venezuela's caretaker government? A committee of creditors. I wrote this on December 15:
Reposted by Ellin Stein
Moulton: "When we had briefings on Venezuela, we asked, 'Are you going to invade the country?' We were told no. 'Do you plan to put troops on the ground?' We were told no. 'Do you intend regime change in VZ?' We were told no. So in a sense, we have been briefed, we've just been completely lied to"
January 3, 2026 at 6:01 PM
Moulton: "When we had briefings on Venezuela, we asked, 'Are you going to invade the country?' We were told no. 'Do you plan to put troops on the ground?' We were told no. 'Do you intend regime change in VZ?' We were told no. So in a sense, we have been briefed, we've just been completely lied to"
Reposted by Ellin Stein
The House Armed Services Committee also was not briefed, I've confirmed.
News: Gang of Eight in Congress were only notified about Trump's Venezuela operation after it began, source familiar tells me. That means the heads of the Intelligence Committees in Senate and House were *not* consulted. Just crazy.
January 3, 2026 at 3:58 PM
The House Armed Services Committee also was not briefed, I've confirmed.
Dear Sen. Schumer and Rep. Jefferies -- this is how you do it. Short, sweet, and to the point.
The Mayor of New York City @zohrankmamdani.bsky.social has released a statement:
January 3, 2026 at 8:31 PM
Dear Sen. Schumer and Rep. Jefferies -- this is how you do it. Short, sweet, and to the point.
Reposted by Ellin Stein
Ilya Lichtenstein, who pled guilty to money laundering charges tied to his role in the massive hack of crypto exchange Bitfinex, has apparently been released early from prison.
Bitfinex hacker Ilya Lichtenstein credits Trump for early release from prison | TechCrunch
Ilya Lichtenstein, who pled guilty to money laundering charges tied to his role in the massive hack of crypto exchange Bitfinex, has apparently been released early from prison.
techcrunch.com
January 3, 2026 at 7:51 PM
Ilya Lichtenstein, who pled guilty to money laundering charges tied to his role in the massive hack of crypto exchange Bitfinex, has apparently been released early from prison.
Reposted by Ellin Stein
According to the flight-tracking site FlightAware, more than 700 flights traveling through U.S. airports had been canceled by noon Saturday.
Puerto Rico’s main airport canceled nearly half its flights Saturday. https://wapo.st/4jIe9Q5
Puerto Rico’s main airport canceled nearly half its flights Saturday. https://wapo.st/4jIe9Q5
Travelers stranded in Caribbean as FAA closes airspace for Maduro capture
Puerto Rico’s main airport canceled nearly half its flights Saturday, and U.S. airlines waived change fees for passengers around the Caribbean.
wapo.st
January 3, 2026 at 8:15 PM
According to the flight-tracking site FlightAware, more than 700 flights traveling through U.S. airports had been canceled by noon Saturday.
Puerto Rico’s main airport canceled nearly half its flights Saturday. https://wapo.st/4jIe9Q5
Puerto Rico’s main airport canceled nearly half its flights Saturday. https://wapo.st/4jIe9Q5
Reposted by Ellin Stein
Drumpf wants you to believe it’s about oil, but I believe it’s to help out Don Loser Junior who needs the rare earth mineral
Coltan for his new “magnets” deal with the Pentagon. Remember Trump babbling about magnets???
techcrunch.com/2025/12/03/c...
www.theguardian.com/global-devel...
Coltan for his new “magnets” deal with the Pentagon. Remember Trump babbling about magnets???
techcrunch.com/2025/12/03/c...
www.theguardian.com/global-devel...
‘Drug trafficking, extortion, kidnapping’: the lawless rush for rare earth minerals in Venezuela
Guerrilla groups have seized control of mining areas, exploiting Indigenous people and fuelling environmental ruin on the border with Colombia
www.theguardian.com
January 3, 2026 at 7:28 PM
Reposted by Ellin Stein
And there ya have it…
Officials from top Wall Street firms will be traveling to Venezuela to investigate “investment prospects” of the country. “The trip will feature about 20 officials from the finance, energy and defense sectors.”
Officials from top Wall Street firms will be traveling to Venezuela to investigate “investment prospects” of the country. “The trip will feature about 20 officials from the finance, energy and defense sectors.”
Finance Industry Eyes Investment Opportunities in Venezuela
Some on Wall Street are already considering possible investment opportunities in Venezuela following the capture of Nicolás Maduro, according to Charles Myers, chairman of consulting firm Signum Globa...
www.wsj.com
January 3, 2026 at 7:13 PM
And there ya have it…
Officials from top Wall Street firms will be traveling to Venezuela to investigate “investment prospects” of the country. “The trip will feature about 20 officials from the finance, energy and defense sectors.”
Officials from top Wall Street firms will be traveling to Venezuela to investigate “investment prospects” of the country. “The trip will feature about 20 officials from the finance, energy and defense sectors.”
Reposted by Ellin Stein
Nick Shirley’s viral video about alleged fraud at Minnesota daycares was not investigative journalism. It was a performance designed to provoke outrage rather than establish facts.
Who is YouTuber Nick Shirley, who shined a light on alleged fraud at Minnesota daycares?
He is from Utah and served a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Chile. In November, he was awarded a citizen journalist award.
thenationaldesk.com
January 3, 2026 at 12:17 AM
Nick Shirley’s viral video about alleged fraud at Minnesota daycares was not investigative journalism. It was a performance designed to provoke outrage rather than establish facts.
So, for those who sit atop the pyramid of capital ownership, Mission Accomplished!
The fun part here is that people who don’t like migrants largely believe this because they’re constantly screamed at about menacing immigrants from every TV, radio and news stand, and the whole reason that’s done is to discourage people from noticing who it is that gets most of the money, and how.
January 3, 2026 at 5:22 PM
So, for those who sit atop the pyramid of capital ownership, Mission Accomplished!
Reposted by Ellin Stein
Reposted by Ellin Stein
It’s not about drugs. If it was, Trump wouldn’t have pardoned one of the largest narco traffickers in the world last month.
It’s about oil and regime change.
And they need a trial now to pretend that it isn’t. Especially to distract from his sinking under Epstein and skyrocketing healthcare costs.
It’s about oil and regime change.
And they need a trial now to pretend that it isn’t. Especially to distract from his sinking under Epstein and skyrocketing healthcare costs.
January 3, 2026 at 3:34 PM
It’s not about drugs. If it was, Trump wouldn’t have pardoned one of the largest narco traffickers in the world last month.
It’s about oil and regime change.
And they need a trial now to pretend that it isn’t. Especially to distract from his sinking under Epstein and skyrocketing healthcare costs.
It’s about oil and regime change.
And they need a trial now to pretend that it isn’t. Especially to distract from his sinking under Epstein and skyrocketing healthcare costs.
Reposted by Ellin Stein
Media is starting to report the Grok child porn story but way too many are centering the bot's "apologies" and "admissions" without explaining that these are being generated in response to user requests and are not in anyway authentic or meaningful.
January 2, 2026 at 6:48 PM
Media is starting to report the Grok child porn story but way too many are centering the bot's "apologies" and "admissions" without explaining that these are being generated in response to user requests and are not in anyway authentic or meaningful.
Reposted by Ellin Stein
Trump 's regime paused permits on all new wind & solar projects on public land, canceling 300+ renewable energy projects funded by the Dept. of Energy so that fossil fuel companies can rake in obscene levels of profit.
Support clean energy.
Support clean energy.
Support our campaign to oppose MAGA extremism
bit.ly
January 1, 2026 at 10:17 PM
Trump 's regime paused permits on all new wind & solar projects on public land, canceling 300+ renewable energy projects funded by the Dept. of Energy so that fossil fuel companies can rake in obscene levels of profit.
Support clean energy.
Support clean energy.
Reposted by Ellin Stein
reminder that the "Baltimore Sun" sounds like a venerable institution, a paper of record, but was hollowed out by a succession of corporate raiders and then sold to a right wing crank from the Sinclair media empire:
January 2, 2026 at 7:49 PM
reminder that the "Baltimore Sun" sounds like a venerable institution, a paper of record, but was hollowed out by a succession of corporate raiders and then sold to a right wing crank from the Sinclair media empire:
Reposted by Ellin Stein
This "man" took a $50,000.00 bribe from an undercover FBI agent, and no one is talking about it. They haven't explained it; they just buried it.
January 2, 2026 at 7:47 PM
This "man" took a $50,000.00 bribe from an undercover FBI agent, and no one is talking about it. They haven't explained it; they just buried it.
Reposted by Ellin Stein
January 2, 2026 at 7:44 PM
Reposted by Ellin Stein
Billion-dollar Bitcoin hacker Ilya Lichtenstein thanks Trump for early prison release
Billion-dollar Bitcoin hacker Ilya Lichtenstein thanks Trump for early prison release
Bitcoin Bonnie and Clyde are free
buff.ly
January 2, 2026 at 8:00 PM
Billion-dollar Bitcoin hacker Ilya Lichtenstein thanks Trump for early prison release
Reposted by Ellin Stein
This is a thread of major media outlets falsely anthropomorphising the "Grok" chatbot program and in doing so, actively and directly removing responsibility and accountability from individual people working at X who created a child pornography generator (Elon Musk, Nikita Bier etc)
#1: Reuters
#1: Reuters
January 2, 2026 at 8:02 PM
This is a thread of major media outlets falsely anthropomorphising the "Grok" chatbot program and in doing so, actively and directly removing responsibility and accountability from individual people working at X who created a child pornography generator (Elon Musk, Nikita Bier etc)
#1: Reuters
#1: Reuters
@bencollins.bsky.social Surely this is The Onion? You've struggled manfully but I'm afraid Trump has finally made you redundant. Though there must be quite a lot of mileage in coming up with what those medals were awarded for.
Donald J. Trump is, undoubtedly, the stupidest, most needy person to ever become president, but the case can be made that he is the stupidest, most needy person to ever become famous.
January 2, 2026 at 8:40 PM
@bencollins.bsky.social Surely this is The Onion? You've struggled manfully but I'm afraid Trump has finally made you redundant. Though there must be quite a lot of mileage in coming up with what those medals were awarded for.