John West
@johnwest.bsky.social
I report the news with code at the Wall Street Journal. I wrote a book, LESSONS AND CAROLS, and won a Pulitzer prize for investigative reporting and national reporting. New book, THE INTERNET WILL DIE, AND SO WILL YOU, out next year.
I even made this kinda silly data visualization because I couldn't help myself.
December 27, 2025 at 3:02 PM
I even made this kinda silly data visualization because I couldn't help myself.
🎄 It's that time of year again—end-of-year list time! 🎄
This year, I've read 100 books (though it was only 99 when I wrote the newsletter). I was aiming for two a week, so I missed my goal by four. At least I got to a round number! I "starred" eight of them. johnwest.substack.com/p/the-year-i....
This year, I've read 100 books (though it was only 99 when I wrote the newsletter). I was aiming for two a week, so I missed my goal by four. At least I got to a round number! I "starred" eight of them. johnwest.substack.com/p/the-year-i....
December 27, 2025 at 3:00 PM
🎄 It's that time of year again—end-of-year list time! 🎄
This year, I've read 100 books (though it was only 99 when I wrote the newsletter). I was aiming for two a week, so I missed my goal by four. At least I got to a round number! I "starred" eight of them. johnwest.substack.com/p/the-year-i....
This year, I've read 100 books (though it was only 99 when I wrote the newsletter). I was aiming for two a week, so I missed my goal by four. At least I got to a round number! I "starred" eight of them. johnwest.substack.com/p/the-year-i....
My daughter is currently obsessed with THE GRINCH, and I'm realizing that Abbott and Costello's "Who's on First?" would have had Cindy Lou et al. in stitches if the Grinch and Max had put it on after dinner.
December 16, 2025 at 2:26 PM
My daughter is currently obsessed with THE GRINCH, and I'm realizing that Abbott and Costello's "Who's on First?" would have had Cindy Lou et al. in stitches if the Grinch and Max had put it on after dinner.
Book thought of the day: I just finished ORBITAL, and I'm pretty sure it's the literary equivalent of a "cozy" upmarket book. No real drama--and lots of descriptions of food. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
December 16, 2025 at 1:26 AM
Book thought of the day: I just finished ORBITAL, and I'm pretty sure it's the literary equivalent of a "cozy" upmarket book. No real drama--and lots of descriptions of food. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🎵 It's the most wonderful time of the year 🎵
End of year list time! I'm working on my 2025 "Year in Books," and feeling pretty good about how it's going to turn out.
End of year list time! I'm working on my 2025 "Year in Books," and feeling pretty good about how it's going to turn out.
December 7, 2025 at 12:32 PM
🎵 It's the most wonderful time of the year 🎵
End of year list time! I'm working on my 2025 "Year in Books," and feeling pretty good about how it's going to turn out.
End of year list time! I'm working on my 2025 "Year in Books," and feeling pretty good about how it's going to turn out.
Reposted by John West
Here's one of them...
November 21, 2025 at 3:29 AM
Here's one of them...
Watching The Grinch (2018), a cutting piece of commentary on neoliberal governance, in which the daughter of a struggling single parent in Whoville appeals to Santa for help for her family, all while the mayor drains the city coffers in order to make the Christmas “three times bigger.”
November 30, 2025 at 9:15 PM
Watching The Grinch (2018), a cutting piece of commentary on neoliberal governance, in which the daughter of a struggling single parent in Whoville appeals to Santa for help for her family, all while the mayor drains the city coffers in order to make the Christmas “three times bigger.”
Trump came back to power after knitting together a multiracial, working-class coalition. Now, it's fraying.
For @wsj.com, @jackgillum.bsky.social, Peter Champelli, and I took a look at exactly where—merging precinct-level election results and tract-level demographics.
🎁 www.wsj.com/politics/ele...
For @wsj.com, @jackgillum.bsky.social, Peter Champelli, and I took a look at exactly where—merging precinct-level election results and tract-level demographics.
🎁 www.wsj.com/politics/ele...
Here’s Where Trump’s Multiracial, Working-Class Coalition Is Fraying
A visual look at how Republicans lost support in two closely watched races for governor.
www.wsj.com
November 7, 2025 at 3:49 PM
Trump came back to power after knitting together a multiracial, working-class coalition. Now, it's fraying.
For @wsj.com, @jackgillum.bsky.social, Peter Champelli, and I took a look at exactly where—merging precinct-level election results and tract-level demographics.
🎁 www.wsj.com/politics/ele...
For @wsj.com, @jackgillum.bsky.social, Peter Champelli, and I took a look at exactly where—merging precinct-level election results and tract-level demographics.
🎁 www.wsj.com/politics/ele...
I couldn't stop thinking about this perfect Borges idea from @marcusjmerritt.com. So I made it: internaut.club.
(N.B., if you want write access, you'll have to DM me.)
(N.B., if you want write access, you'll have to DM me.)
October 25, 2025 at 7:54 PM
I couldn't stop thinking about this perfect Borges idea from @marcusjmerritt.com. So I made it: internaut.club.
(N.B., if you want write access, you'll have to DM me.)
(N.B., if you want write access, you'll have to DM me.)
Reposted by John West
I made an "AI-powered social media app" that's really ~digital performance art~. It's called HOMER.
Every hour, everything that's been posted gets summarized by AI, including all the summaries that came before it. Eventually, everything you write there turns to meaningless nothing.
internaut.club
Every hour, everything that's been posted gets summarized by AI, including all the summaries that came before it. Eventually, everything you write there turns to meaningless nothing.
internaut.club
October 25, 2025 at 2:28 AM
I made an "AI-powered social media app" that's really ~digital performance art~. It's called HOMER.
Every hour, everything that's been posted gets summarized by AI, including all the summaries that came before it. Eventually, everything you write there turns to meaningless nothing.
internaut.club
Every hour, everything that's been posted gets summarized by AI, including all the summaries that came before it. Eventually, everything you write there turns to meaningless nothing.
internaut.club
I made an "AI-powered social media app" that's really ~digital performance art~. It's called HOMER.
Every hour, everything that's been posted gets summarized by AI, including all the summaries that came before it. Eventually, everything you write there turns to meaningless nothing.
internaut.club
Every hour, everything that's been posted gets summarized by AI, including all the summaries that came before it. Eventually, everything you write there turns to meaningless nothing.
internaut.club
October 25, 2025 at 2:28 AM
I made an "AI-powered social media app" that's really ~digital performance art~. It's called HOMER.
Every hour, everything that's been posted gets summarized by AI, including all the summaries that came before it. Eventually, everything you write there turns to meaningless nothing.
internaut.club
Every hour, everything that's been posted gets summarized by AI, including all the summaries that came before it. Eventually, everything you write there turns to meaningless nothing.
internaut.club
1.
Here's a link from today's edition: dirt.fyi/article/2024.... "Attention is what makes us human" by Daisy Alioto at DIRT.
(I stumbled on this after reading @caitlindewey.bsky.social's incredible Substack, "Links I Would Gchat You If We Were Friends.")
Here's a thread with some ~feelings~.
Here's a link from today's edition: dirt.fyi/article/2024.... "Attention is what makes us human" by Daisy Alioto at DIRT.
(I stumbled on this after reading @caitlindewey.bsky.social's incredible Substack, "Links I Would Gchat You If We Were Friends.")
Here's a thread with some ~feelings~.
October 12, 2025 at 12:13 PM
1.
Here's a link from today's edition: dirt.fyi/article/2024.... "Attention is what makes us human" by Daisy Alioto at DIRT.
(I stumbled on this after reading @caitlindewey.bsky.social's incredible Substack, "Links I Would Gchat You If We Were Friends.")
Here's a thread with some ~feelings~.
Here's a link from today's edition: dirt.fyi/article/2024.... "Attention is what makes us human" by Daisy Alioto at DIRT.
(I stumbled on this after reading @caitlindewey.bsky.social's incredible Substack, "Links I Would Gchat You If We Were Friends.")
Here's a thread with some ~feelings~.
1.
I've got a friend who, for personal reasons, can't read the news on their websites, but still wants to read from time to time. So I coded a little CMS that produces "editions" of a daily magazine just for him. I copy–paste articles, pick an open-source image, and text him a mobile-friendly PDF.
I've got a friend who, for personal reasons, can't read the news on their websites, but still wants to read from time to time. So I coded a little CMS that produces "editions" of a daily magazine just for him. I copy–paste articles, pick an open-source image, and text him a mobile-friendly PDF.
October 12, 2025 at 12:05 PM
1.
I've got a friend who, for personal reasons, can't read the news on their websites, but still wants to read from time to time. So I coded a little CMS that produces "editions" of a daily magazine just for him. I copy–paste articles, pick an open-source image, and text him a mobile-friendly PDF.
I've got a friend who, for personal reasons, can't read the news on their websites, but still wants to read from time to time. So I coded a little CMS that produces "editions" of a daily magazine just for him. I copy–paste articles, pick an open-source image, and text him a mobile-friendly PDF.
I wrote this essay, which is, in part, about the time I tried to turn a language model into Bartleby the Scrivener.
Experimenting with the math and data behind large language models helped me understand how AI “thinks.” I wish everyone had the chance to do the same, writes WSJ software engineer John West.
Essay | I’ve Seen How AI ‘Thinks.’ I Wish Everyone Could.
Experimenting with the math and data behind large language models can be exhilarating—and revealing.
on.wsj.com
October 9, 2025 at 9:24 PM
I wrote this essay, which is, in part, about the time I tried to turn a language model into Bartleby the Scrivener.
I know AI is a polarizing topic, but I created a very-little-language model using Melville's "Bartleby the Scrivener." I asked it to finish my sentence: "I would..." and it responded "...prefer to, yes."
My AI never quite got it right—the most human thing about it.
www.wsj.com/tech/ai/ive-...?
My AI never quite got it right—the most human thing about it.
www.wsj.com/tech/ai/ive-...?
Essay | I’ve Seen How AI ‘Thinks.’ I Wish Everyone Could.
Experimenting with the math and data behind large language models can be exhilarating—and revealing.
www.wsj.com
October 9, 2025 at 7:39 PM
I know AI is a polarizing topic, but I created a very-little-language model using Melville's "Bartleby the Scrivener." I asked it to finish my sentence: "I would..." and it responded "...prefer to, yes."
My AI never quite got it right—the most human thing about it.
www.wsj.com/tech/ai/ive-...?
My AI never quite got it right—the most human thing about it.
www.wsj.com/tech/ai/ive-...?
Miles Davis, upon being asked to tailor his own pants, “You want me to sew what?!”
September 20, 2025 at 12:00 PM
Miles Davis, upon being asked to tailor his own pants, “You want me to sew what?!”
Toxic fumes are leaking Into airplanes, sickening crews and passengers. The problem is getting worse and not much is being done about it.
From Ben Katz, me, and @andrewtangel.bsky.social for @wsj.com.
🔓 www.wsj.com/business/air...
From Ben Katz, me, and @andrewtangel.bsky.social for @wsj.com.
🔓 www.wsj.com/business/air...
September 14, 2025 at 1:15 AM
Toxic fumes are leaking Into airplanes, sickening crews and passengers. The problem is getting worse and not much is being done about it.
From Ben Katz, me, and @andrewtangel.bsky.social for @wsj.com.
🔓 www.wsj.com/business/air...
From Ben Katz, me, and @andrewtangel.bsky.social for @wsj.com.
🔓 www.wsj.com/business/air...
Reposted by John West
Kantians must be stopped.
August 31, 2025 at 6:00 PM
Kantians must be stopped.
Every year!
September 1, 2025 at 9:59 PM
Every year!
I really loved this new Elvia Wilk essay: clereviewofbooks.com/elvia-incorp...
(If you haven't read her book, DEATH BY LANDSCAPE, you should.)
(If you haven't read her book, DEATH BY LANDSCAPE, you should.)
Elvia, Incorporated - Cleveland Review of Books
I left the bank fully and completely realized as ELVIA INC, annual projected revenue: one million dollars.
clereviewofbooks.com
September 1, 2025 at 3:56 PM
I really loved this new Elvia Wilk essay: clereviewofbooks.com/elvia-incorp...
(If you haven't read her book, DEATH BY LANDSCAPE, you should.)
(If you haven't read her book, DEATH BY LANDSCAPE, you should.)
Over @wsj.com, my colleagues Sara Randazzo, @ceostroff.bsky.social, and Shane Shifflett have a deep, fascinating look at how researchers are amending grant language to keep federal funding and avoid getting flagged in the Trump administration’s push against "DEI." www.wsj.com/health/scien...
August 23, 2025 at 6:45 PM
Over @wsj.com, my colleagues Sara Randazzo, @ceostroff.bsky.social, and Shane Shifflett have a deep, fascinating look at how researchers are amending grant language to keep federal funding and avoid getting flagged in the Trump administration’s push against "DEI." www.wsj.com/health/scien...
I studied Baroque music, and Beethoven is definitely *not* Baroque, but I did have some fun with this Sonatina of his. And, yes, I know my interpretation is pretty far off, but I was, as they say, ~vibing~.
August 23, 2025 at 5:20 PM
I studied Baroque music, and Beethoven is definitely *not* Baroque, but I did have some fun with this Sonatina of his. And, yes, I know my interpretation is pretty far off, but I was, as they say, ~vibing~.
I absolutely loved this essay by Patrick Nathan. patricknathan.substack.com/p/soul-searc...
August 14, 2025 at 5:39 PM
I absolutely loved this essay by Patrick Nathan. patricknathan.substack.com/p/soul-searc...