Not the Governor of North Carolina; got the handle first
@joshstein.bsky.social
Philosopher by training; cranky by nature. Professional in science and technology policy. Also photography, combatting antisemitism, politics, and ethics.
Pinned
HANNITY: I don’t know. I’m a Grok guy.
VANCE: Okay, me too. I’m a Grok guy.
HANNITY: You’re a Grok guy. Okay. Elon, I think it’s the best.
VANCE: I think it’s the best. It’s also the least woke!
VANCE: Okay, me too. I’m a Grok guy.
HANNITY: You’re a Grok guy. Okay. Elon, I think it’s the best.
VANCE: I think it’s the best. It’s also the least woke!
so x dot com’s ai generated CSAM and they admitted it may violate US law and … i haven’t seen in anyone in power say much at all or call to stop using the platform
January 2, 2026 at 1:39 PM
HANNITY: I don’t know. I’m a Grok guy.
VANCE: Okay, me too. I’m a Grok guy.
HANNITY: You’re a Grok guy. Okay. Elon, I think it’s the best.
VANCE: I think it’s the best. It’s also the least woke!
VANCE: Okay, me too. I’m a Grok guy.
HANNITY: You’re a Grok guy. Okay. Elon, I think it’s the best.
VANCE: I think it’s the best. It’s also the least woke!
One thing that I will point out is extremely predictable and depressing: Many members of the House GOP directly targeted nudify apps to argue for stronger age gating (KOSA, federal and state ASAA bills, even Cammack in her ASFA bill, which wouldn't have helped), but they're not going after xAI.
Grok becoming a mass mainstream nudify app with baked-in viral distribution was entirely predictable; the only surprise is how long it took.
So much of the risk scenario for this assumed mainstream AI model creators would limit its output and this would be a targeted harassment/niche model issue.
So much of the risk scenario for this assumed mainstream AI model creators would limit its output and this would be a targeted harassment/niche model issue.
January 2, 2026 at 1:19 PM
One thing that I will point out is extremely predictable and depressing: Many members of the House GOP directly targeted nudify apps to argue for stronger age gating (KOSA, federal and state ASAA bills, even Cammack in her ASFA bill, which wouldn't have helped), but they're not going after xAI.
"We don't hate all Black people, just Somalis" is a pivot a lot like the decade-long Trump line of "we don't hate all immigrants, just *illegal* immigrants" figleaf. With a chaser of "the story I posted was made up."
I was wondering why their is so much random racist discourse on Somalis on the TL rn but oh it’s election season for governor rn lol
January 2, 2026 at 1:00 PM
"We don't hate all Black people, just Somalis" is a pivot a lot like the decade-long Trump line of "we don't hate all immigrants, just *illegal* immigrants" figleaf. With a chaser of "the story I posted was made up."
Reposted by Not the Governor of North Carolina; got the handle first
Reposted by Not the Governor of North Carolina; got the handle first
I missed this from the Manhattan Institute survey on December 1 of the "current GOP." 37% are Holocaust deniers, which, to my surprise, is greater than the percentage (33%) that believes vaccines cause autism.
January 1, 2026 at 11:18 PM
I missed this from the Manhattan Institute survey on December 1 of the "current GOP." 37% are Holocaust deniers, which, to my surprise, is greater than the percentage (33%) that believes vaccines cause autism.
"Suddenly it's bigotry to say 'the Jews are stealing your money' and after centuries of art talking about how Jews steal your money." (I'm using antisemitism as one case study, though obviously we're talking about Somalis and immigrants... the same structure applies.)
January 1, 2026 at 10:44 PM
"Suddenly it's bigotry to say 'the Jews are stealing your money' and after centuries of art talking about how Jews steal your money." (I'm using antisemitism as one case study, though obviously we're talking about Somalis and immigrants... the same structure applies.)
"If this administration wants to make its legacy blocking projects that deliver water to rural Americans; that’s on them." - Lauren "Beetlejuice handjob" Boebert
It's really frustrating that Dems aren't as good at this as the dumber MAGA GOP figures.
www.9news.com/article/news...
It's really frustrating that Dems aren't as good at this as the dumber MAGA GOP figures.
www.9news.com/article/news...
Trump vetoes bill to fund Arkansas Valley Conduit in Colorado
President Trump vetoed a bill to fund a pipeline project to bring clean drinking water to communities on the Eastern Plains between Pueblo and Lamar.
www.9news.com
January 1, 2026 at 9:57 PM
"If this administration wants to make its legacy blocking projects that deliver water to rural Americans; that’s on them." - Lauren "Beetlejuice handjob" Boebert
It's really frustrating that Dems aren't as good at this as the dumber MAGA GOP figures.
www.9news.com/article/news...
It's really frustrating that Dems aren't as good at this as the dumber MAGA GOP figures.
www.9news.com/article/news...
Reposted by Not the Governor of North Carolina; got the handle first
What things, Curtis? What things was Hitler speaking the truth about?
(I’m guessing he doesn’t mean public transportation or animal welfare.)
(I’m guessing he doesn’t mean public transportation or animal welfare.)
Curtis Yarvin, JD Vance’s friend & ideological influence, ended 2025 by claiming “only Hitler spoke the truth” about “too many subjects” & “Hitler was a genius.”
Extremism isn’t fringe on the right. Once marginal online extremists like Yarvin are influential at the highest levels of government.
Extremism isn’t fringe on the right. Once marginal online extremists like Yarvin are influential at the highest levels of government.
January 1, 2026 at 6:57 PM
What things, Curtis? What things was Hitler speaking the truth about?
(I’m guessing he doesn’t mean public transportation or animal welfare.)
(I’m guessing he doesn’t mean public transportation or animal welfare.)
Reposted by Not the Governor of North Carolina; got the handle first
Start the new year off with this fantastic article by the inimitable Joshua Shanes, revealing how the failures of the ADL reflect a deeper failure of how we talk about antisemitism in the US. slate.com/news-and-pol...
The ADL Could Focus on America’s Biggest Driver of Antisemitism. Instead, It’s Obsessed with Mamdani.
Calling for Palestinian equality is not antisemitism, no matter what the ADL says.
slate.com
January 1, 2026 at 2:39 PM
Start the new year off with this fantastic article by the inimitable Joshua Shanes, revealing how the failures of the ADL reflect a deeper failure of how we talk about antisemitism in the US. slate.com/news-and-pol...
Reposted by Not the Governor of North Carolina; got the handle first
Missouri Senator Eric Schmitt's Nazi Staffer, by @chancephillips.bsky.social. The first ever story broken by @liberalcurrents.com, we remained the only one covering it for weeks after, until the Guardian picked it up. www.liberalcurrents.com/missouri-sen...
Missouri Senator Eric Schmitt's Nazi Staffer
Nathan Hochman was fired from the DeSantis campaign for making a transparently neoNazi video featuring the Governor, and has only doubled down on his white nationalism since.
www.liberalcurrents.com
January 1, 2026 at 1:53 PM
Missouri Senator Eric Schmitt's Nazi Staffer, by @chancephillips.bsky.social. The first ever story broken by @liberalcurrents.com, we remained the only one covering it for weeks after, until the Guardian picked it up. www.liberalcurrents.com/missouri-sen...
Given Trumo's position, there's a very real possibility that both of these bills could override a veto. The AVC bill seems like the kind of thing that could really get a lot of Republicans pissed off, because it has backing from members of both far-right (Boebert) and moderate wings (Hurd).
December 31, 2025 at 7:26 PM
Given Trumo's position, there's a very real possibility that both of these bills could override a veto. The AVC bill seems like the kind of thing that could really get a lot of Republicans pissed off, because it has backing from members of both far-right (Boebert) and moderate wings (Hurd).
Every time I see an article like this, I wonder if the authors have actually bothered to look at the substance of dating apps. A lot of straight, cis women I know are on the apps and the right-wing men on there are garbage pail kids.
Everyone has a list of so-called "red flags" when they're dating. And for some, especially younger Americans, different political views is a relationship deal breaker.
Majority of Gen Z swipe left on dating people with opposite political views
Everyone has a list of so-called "red flags" when they're dating. And for some, especially younger Americans, different political views is a relationship deal breaker.
n.pr
December 31, 2025 at 6:47 PM
Every time I see an article like this, I wonder if the authors have actually bothered to look at the substance of dating apps. A lot of straight, cis women I know are on the apps and the right-wing men on there are garbage pail kids.
The most significant GOP candidate in the VA Senate race drops out. I think this race is a dunker, since (a) it's going to be a big Democratic year, (b) Warner is good and effective, and (c) the VA GOP sucks.
youtu.be/-6yqTq6PZjA?...
youtu.be/-6yqTq6PZjA?...
Republicans have 'giant hill to climb' after Reeves drops out of U.S. Senate race
YouTube video by WRIC ABC 8News
youtu.be
December 31, 2025 at 6:45 PM
The most significant GOP candidate in the VA Senate race drops out. I think this race is a dunker, since (a) it's going to be a big Democratic year, (b) Warner is good and effective, and (c) the VA GOP sucks.
youtu.be/-6yqTq6PZjA?...
youtu.be/-6yqTq6PZjA?...
Reposted by Not the Governor of North Carolina; got the handle first
You’ll be unsurprised to learn that right-wing “citizen journalists” are now showing up at Somali-American-run daycare centers in other states, cameras rolling, demanding to see the children
December 31, 2025 at 5:09 PM
You’ll be unsurprised to learn that right-wing “citizen journalists” are now showing up at Somali-American-run daycare centers in other states, cameras rolling, demanding to see the children
Reposted by Not the Governor of North Carolina; got the handle first
i read this and i just see a lazy person with a skill issue
Real "oh my god, she admit it" moment here. Trump is treated as an uninteresting figure without agency so we can dump endless criticism on liberals for how they react to his "natural disaster." He "doesn't participate in moral frameworks" lmfao
December 31, 2025 at 10:53 AM
i read this and i just see a lazy person with a skill issue
Reposted by Not the Governor of North Carolina; got the handle first
I gotta say I really don't mind the universe where right wing influencers encourage their most avid fans to commit tax fraud while simultaneously torpedoing any "no mens rea" defense
December 31, 2025 at 1:05 PM
I gotta say I really don't mind the universe where right wing influencers encourage their most avid fans to commit tax fraud while simultaneously torpedoing any "no mens rea" defense
This is a perfect distillation of right-wing nonsense on antisemitism: Combat antisemitism by moving to a region dominated (demographically and politically) by the most antisemitic group, white Evangelicals.
Somehow I am skeptical that this plan is going to work: nationalpost.com/opinion/new-...
New program urges Canadian Jews worried by rising hate to relocate to Oklahoma
As more Canadian Jews consider fleeing the country due to rising antisemitism, a U.S. non-profit is urging them to make an exodus to Tulsa.
nationalpost.com
December 30, 2025 at 2:15 PM
This is a perfect distillation of right-wing nonsense on antisemitism: Combat antisemitism by moving to a region dominated (demographically and politically) by the most antisemitic group, white Evangelicals.
The far right internationally has complained a lot about debanking and claiming these things are politicized, while simultaneously doing those exact tactics in the most craven and political ways available.
"‘It’s surreal’: US sanctions lock Intl Criminal Court judge out of daily life. Canadian judge Kimberly Prost is unable to use credit cards or access everyday services (Uber, Alexa, Ticketmaster...) in what she calls an attack on the independence of the judiciary." www.irishtimes.com/world/us/202...
‘It’s surreal’: US sanctions lock International Criminal Court judge out of daily life
Canadian judge Kimberly Prost is unable to use credit cards, transfer money or book everyday services in what she calls an attack on the independence of the judiciary
www.irishtimes.com
December 29, 2025 at 4:50 PM
The far right internationally has complained a lot about debanking and claiming these things are politicized, while simultaneously doing those exact tactics in the most craven and political ways available.
Reposted by Not the Governor of North Carolina; got the handle first
Pam Bondi's golden rule: names that shouldn't be redacted, like Donald Trump, always are. Names that should be redacted, like victims and their confidential info, never are.
NEW: Epstein survivor Danielle Bensky confirms to me that the DOJ has failed to properly redact her name in the Epstein files.
This is her name, and she has confirmed this is an old phone number of hers. Both should have been redacted. Neither were.
This is her name, and she has confirmed this is an old phone number of hers. Both should have been redacted. Neither were.
December 29, 2025 at 4:47 PM
Pam Bondi's golden rule: names that shouldn't be redacted, like Donald Trump, always are. Names that should be redacted, like victims and their confidential info, never are.
Reposted by Not the Governor of North Carolina; got the handle first
I knew this was gonna happen, and absolutely the fuck not. she‘s an antisemitic fascist trying to rebrand herself. Bye.
Sorry but you do not, under absolutely any circumstances, gotta hand it to Marjorie Taylor Greene www.nytimes.com/2025/12/29/m...
‘I Was Just So Naïve’: Inside Marjorie Taylor Greene’s Break With Trump
www.nytimes.com
December 29, 2025 at 2:03 PM
I knew this was gonna happen, and absolutely the fuck not. she‘s an antisemitic fascist trying to rebrand herself. Bye.
Reposted by Not the Governor of North Carolina; got the handle first
More news (not good) from NIH
The renewal request from National Institute of Neurological Diseases and Stroke Director Walter Koroshetz has been denied.
I guess the NIH_leadership™ needed another position to fill with their time-tested recruitment process.
The renewal request from National Institute of Neurological Diseases and Stroke Director Walter Koroshetz has been denied.
I guess the NIH_leadership™ needed another position to fill with their time-tested recruitment process.
December 27, 2025 at 4:17 PM
More news (not good) from NIH
The renewal request from National Institute of Neurological Diseases and Stroke Director Walter Koroshetz has been denied.
I guess the NIH_leadership™ needed another position to fill with their time-tested recruitment process.
The renewal request from National Institute of Neurological Diseases and Stroke Director Walter Koroshetz has been denied.
I guess the NIH_leadership™ needed another position to fill with their time-tested recruitment process.
Reposted by Not the Governor of North Carolina; got the handle first
Barely a blip in the news. 🦗from the New York Times editorial and opinion pages. Compare with days of Hunter Biden Hysteria about unprecedented abuse of the pardon power.
December 27, 2025 at 8:28 PM
Barely a blip in the news. 🦗from the New York Times editorial and opinion pages. Compare with days of Hunter Biden Hysteria about unprecedented abuse of the pardon power.
A few photos from my Christmas in Oaxaca, which is one of the most beautiful cities I've been able to spend time in.
December 27, 2025 at 3:31 AM
A few photos from my Christmas in Oaxaca, which is one of the most beautiful cities I've been able to spend time in.
It's hard to explain to people who don't follow these issues how utterly batsh*t the current GOP views of foreign affairs are, but fortunately they give lots of examples of saying these things.
JD VANCE THINKS BRITAIN & FRANCE ARE AMERICAS LIKELY ENEMIES.
The world is getting bizarrely screwed with this kind of bull being spewed out.
The world is getting bizarrely screwed with this kind of bull being spewed out.
December 26, 2025 at 11:04 PM
It's hard to explain to people who don't follow these issues how utterly batsh*t the current GOP views of foreign affairs are, but fortunately they give lots of examples of saying these things.
I presented a paper maybe 15 years ago now discussing the contrast between antisemitic academics (with Finkelstein as a central example) and those critical of Israel (Dan Boyarin, Judith Butler). During the Q&A, someone went off insisting Finkelstein wasn't antisemitic, he's been at this forever.
Norman Finkelstein says that "Jews occupy influential places in Hollywood" and his proof is that there have been "200 films" about the Holocaust since 1980, and that they make movies about Italian gangsters, but not Jewish gangsters. (1/2)
December 26, 2025 at 11:02 PM
I presented a paper maybe 15 years ago now discussing the contrast between antisemitic academics (with Finkelstein as a central example) and those critical of Israel (Dan Boyarin, Judith Butler). During the Q&A, someone went off insisting Finkelstein wasn't antisemitic, he's been at this forever.