Kai Kupferschmidt
@kakape.bsky.social
science journalist. author. molecular biologist. curious.
interested in #microbes, #misinformation and all things #blue
contributing correspondent at @science.org
co-host of @pandemia.bsky.social
2024 KSJ fellow at MIT
Signal: kakape.93
interested in #microbes, #misinformation and all things #blue
contributing correspondent at @science.org
co-host of @pandemia.bsky.social
2024 KSJ fellow at MIT
Signal: kakape.93
Pinned
Kai Kupferschmidt
@kakape.bsky.social
· Nov 1
The five biggest challenges facing misinformation researchers
The burgeoning field is still grappling with fundamental problems, from getting access to data to defining 'misinformation' in the first place
www.science.org
So what have I learnt about #misinformation research? I tried to condense it into a list of the 5 biggest challenges the field faces.
Second story in my package of stories about misinformation research is up here (and thread to come):
www.science.org/content/arti...
Second story in my package of stories about misinformation research is up here (and thread to come):
www.science.org/content/arti...
What could possibly go wrong...?
The @usdot.bsky.social, which oversees the safety of airplanes, cars and pipelines, plans to use Google Gemini to draft new regulations. “We don’t need the perfect rule,” said DOT’s top lawyer. “We want good enough.”
Government by AI? Trump Administration Plans to Write Regulations Using Artificial Intelligence
The Transportation Department, which oversees the safety of airplanes, cars and pipelines, plans to use Google Gemini to draft new regulations. “We don’t need the perfect rule,” said DOT’s top lawyer....
www.propublica.org
January 26, 2026 at 8:21 PM
What could possibly go wrong...?
Just in: EU Commission is opening a new investigation into Grok’s nudification tool on X under the DSA.
“This includes risks related to the dissemination of illegal content in the EU, such as manipulated sexually explicit images, including content that may amount to child sexual abuse material.”
“This includes risks related to the dissemination of illegal content in the EU, such as manipulated sexually explicit images, including content that may amount to child sexual abuse material.”
Commission investigates Grok and X\'s recommender systems under the Digital Services Act
The European Commission has launched a new formal investigation against X under the Digital Services Act (DSA).
ec.europa.eu
January 26, 2026 at 11:21 AM
Just in: EU Commission is opening a new investigation into Grok’s nudification tool on X under the DSA.
“This includes risks related to the dissemination of illegal content in the EU, such as manipulated sexually explicit images, including content that may amount to child sexual abuse material.”
“This includes risks related to the dissemination of illegal content in the EU, such as manipulated sexually explicit images, including content that may amount to child sexual abuse material.”
Reposted by Kai Kupferschmidt
🧪 💉 Bill Foege is an absolute #PublicHealth legend
And furious to the end about the destruction of US public health
“Kennedy’s words can be as lethal as the smallpox virus,” he wrote… “I had no idea I would be this angry at the age of 89.”
Ht @boghuma.bsky.social
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/24/u...
And furious to the end about the destruction of US public health
“Kennedy’s words can be as lethal as the smallpox virus,” he wrote… “I had no idea I would be this angry at the age of 89.”
Ht @boghuma.bsky.social
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/24/u...
William H. Foege, Key Figure in the Eradication of Smallpox, Dies at 89
www.nytimes.com
January 25, 2026 at 8:12 AM
🧪 💉 Bill Foege is an absolute #PublicHealth legend
And furious to the end about the destruction of US public health
“Kennedy’s words can be as lethal as the smallpox virus,” he wrote… “I had no idea I would be this angry at the age of 89.”
Ht @boghuma.bsky.social
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/24/u...
And furious to the end about the destruction of US public health
“Kennedy’s words can be as lethal as the smallpox virus,” he wrote… “I had no idea I would be this angry at the age of 89.”
Ht @boghuma.bsky.social
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/24/u...
Reposted by Kai Kupferschmidt
I keep thinking about one of the last things Bill Foege said to me: “Bet on the optimists. You need the optimist to say, ‘We’re going to try to do it.’”
www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/202...
www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/202...
Opinion | Bill Foege’s optimism helped save the world from smallpox
His design of “surveillance-containment” changed the course of public health strategy.
www.washingtonpost.com
January 25, 2026 at 7:16 PM
I keep thinking about one of the last things Bill Foege said to me: “Bet on the optimists. You need the optimist to say, ‘We’re going to try to do it.’”
www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/202...
www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/202...
Reposted by Kai Kupferschmidt
bill foege (who led the eradication of smallpox) dying the day this happens is just... no words
It's painful to see the US flag removed from @WHO Geneva HQ. On June 14, 1948 Truman signed a law requiring payment of dues before exiting. Since then,
every president understood WHO's value. Until Now.
Trump has unilaterally violated US & int'l law.
healthpolicy-watch.news/stars-and-st...
every president understood WHO's value. Until Now.
Trump has unilaterally violated US & int'l law.
healthpolicy-watch.news/stars-and-st...
January 25, 2026 at 4:27 PM
bill foege (who led the eradication of smallpox) dying the day this happens is just... no words
Reposted by Kai Kupferschmidt
On the weakness of state terror: once ppl internalize the regime's lawless brutality, that they are no safer in their homes than in the streets (& vice versa), and that their unwavering defiance is what confounds & disempowers the regime, they also realize they have nothing to lose but their fear.
This administration is cooked. Literally no one is scared of them.
January 25, 2026 at 7:51 PM
On the weakness of state terror: once ppl internalize the regime's lawless brutality, that they are no safer in their homes than in the streets (& vice versa), and that their unwavering defiance is what confounds & disempowers the regime, they also realize they have nothing to lose but their fear.
Reposted by Kai Kupferschmidt
Vance and Trump learned from Renee Good’s murder and have pushed their messaging toward fraud in Minnesota and Tim Walz being the “real reason” for the protests, avoiding saying much about Alex Pretti.
Stephen Miller and Kristi Noem have continued lying straight to our face.
Stephen Miller and Kristi Noem have continued lying straight to our face.
January 25, 2026 at 4:23 PM
Vance and Trump learned from Renee Good’s murder and have pushed their messaging toward fraud in Minnesota and Tim Walz being the “real reason” for the protests, avoiding saying much about Alex Pretti.
Stephen Miller and Kristi Noem have continued lying straight to our face.
Stephen Miller and Kristi Noem have continued lying straight to our face.
“Wearing helmets, gas masks and camouflage fatigues, the federal agents took aim and prepared to open fire. “It’s like Call of Duty,” one could be heard saying via a TV mic, referring to a first-person shooter military video game. “So cool, huh?””
‘This is what fascism looks like’: terror in Minneapolis reminiscent of civil war
‘This is what fascism looks like’: terror in Minneapolis reminiscent of civil war
Alex Pretti’s death could be a moment of reckoning for Democrats to call time on Trump waging war on his people
www.theguardian.com
January 25, 2026 at 11:53 AM
“Wearing helmets, gas masks and camouflage fatigues, the federal agents took aim and prepared to open fire. “It’s like Call of Duty,” one could be heard saying via a TV mic, referring to a first-person shooter military video game. “So cool, huh?””
The story is not that there are two conflicting versions of what happened.
The story is that the federal government is lying about what happened.
There is plenty of evidence.
Your job, our job, is to sift that evidence and describe what actually happened ffs.
The story is that the federal government is lying about what happened.
There is plenty of evidence.
Your job, our job, is to sift that evidence and describe what actually happened ffs.
January 25, 2026 at 11:33 AM
The story is not that there are two conflicting versions of what happened.
The story is that the federal government is lying about what happened.
There is plenty of evidence.
Your job, our job, is to sift that evidence and describe what actually happened ffs.
The story is that the federal government is lying about what happened.
There is plenty of evidence.
Your job, our job, is to sift that evidence and describe what actually happened ffs.
This is such an important point and here in Europe we should be building the skills and connections now to make sure that the truth continues to matter and powerful people can be held to account.
The alternative is going down and down the spiral of democratic disenchantment and erosion…
The alternative is going down and down the spiral of democratic disenchantment and erosion…
The events of the last 24 hours show why it's important to build functional verification structures in public and counterpublic spaces to resist the authoritarian erosion of our democratic systems, as described in this thread.
🧵 @jburnmurdoch.ft.com is spot on about the conditions in his FT piece. Liberal democracy held it together thanks to growth, good demographics, and the promise of a better future. Those days are gone, and that’s the "why" behind the erosion. However...
January 25, 2026 at 9:36 AM
This is such an important point and here in Europe we should be building the skills and connections now to make sure that the truth continues to matter and powerful people can be held to account.
The alternative is going down and down the spiral of democratic disenchantment and erosion…
The alternative is going down and down the spiral of democratic disenchantment and erosion…
Reposted by Kai Kupferschmidt
The events of the last 24 hours show why it's important to build functional verification structures in public and counterpublic spaces to resist the authoritarian erosion of our democratic systems, as described in this thread.
🧵 @jburnmurdoch.ft.com is spot on about the conditions in his FT piece. Liberal democracy held it together thanks to growth, good demographics, and the promise of a better future. Those days are gone, and that’s the "why" behind the erosion. However...
Democratic politicians have, though, pursued growth in GDP at the expense of other values. One response to @jburnmurdoch.ft.com pessimistic scenario is refocus on those values, combined with egalitarianism, sufficiency and quality of life. Not "it's the economy, stupid" but "it's the the society"
January 25, 2026 at 9:24 AM
The events of the last 24 hours show why it's important to build functional verification structures in public and counterpublic spaces to resist the authoritarian erosion of our democratic systems, as described in this thread.
One of the most disturbing consequences of all the hyperbole and conspiracy theorizing by Covid “truthers” and others is how it has drained some words of meaning. Words like “state terror” or “lawless”, words desperately needed now that innocent people are actually being killed by government agents.
January 25, 2026 at 9:18 AM
One of the most disturbing consequences of all the hyperbole and conspiracy theorizing by Covid “truthers” and others is how it has drained some words of meaning. Words like “state terror” or “lawless”, words desperately needed now that innocent people are actually being killed by government agents.
“Please get the truth out about our son. He was a good man.”
January 25, 2026 at 1:00 AM
“Please get the truth out about our son. He was a good man.”
Reposted by Kai Kupferschmidt
Treat the US government and ICE claims like you'd treat a Russian government claim after they've shot down an airliner or bombed a hospital. America 2026.
January 24, 2026 at 5:08 PM
Treat the US government and ICE claims like you'd treat a Russian government claim after they've shot down an airliner or bombed a hospital. America 2026.
Reposted by Kai Kupferschmidt
Just an absolutely deranged thing for a member of the cabinet to say.
“ICE > MN” is impeachable by itself.
This is an actual post from Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth: Praising ICE after Alex Pretti was killed, blaming the Democratic leadership of Minnesota, and writing that ICE is greater/better than Minnesota.
He is actively demeaning the people of Minnesota just hours after Pretti was murdered.
He is actively demeaning the people of Minnesota just hours after Pretti was murdered.
January 24, 2026 at 11:08 PM
Just an absolutely deranged thing for a member of the cabinet to say.
Reposted by Kai Kupferschmidt
Same thing every time:
1. Reframe the victim as the villain
2. Make the state the injured party
3. Turn critique into complicity (“oh so you side with terrorists”)
4. Expand blame to an entire out-group
5. Fuse to a larger us-against-them story to keep any alarmed within the base from defecting
1. Reframe the victim as the villain
2. Make the state the injured party
3. Turn critique into complicity (“oh so you side with terrorists”)
4. Expand blame to an entire out-group
5. Fuse to a larger us-against-them story to keep any alarmed within the base from defecting
Noem lies shamelessly: "An individual approached order Patrol officers with a 9mm semi-automatic gun. The officers attempted to disarm this individual, but the armed suspect reacted violently. This looks like a situation where an individual arrived to inflict maximum damage and kill law enforcement"
January 25, 2026 at 12:25 AM
Same thing every time:
1. Reframe the victim as the villain
2. Make the state the injured party
3. Turn critique into complicity (“oh so you side with terrorists”)
4. Expand blame to an entire out-group
5. Fuse to a larger us-against-them story to keep any alarmed within the base from defecting
1. Reframe the victim as the villain
2. Make the state the injured party
3. Turn critique into complicity (“oh so you side with terrorists”)
4. Expand blame to an entire out-group
5. Fuse to a larger us-against-them story to keep any alarmed within the base from defecting
The available videos clearly show that ICE agents killed an innocent man that they had already disarmed. Now the government is lying about it and trying to smear him as a “terrorist”.
News organizations not willing
to say this clearly are not doing journalism. Period.
News organizations not willing
to say this clearly are not doing journalism. Period.
January 25, 2026 at 12:26 AM
The available videos clearly show that ICE agents killed an innocent man that they had already disarmed. Now the government is lying about it and trying to smear him as a “terrorist”.
News organizations not willing
to say this clearly are not doing journalism. Period.
News organizations not willing
to say this clearly are not doing journalism. Period.
Reposted by Kai Kupferschmidt
This was murder. Pretti did not initiate the confrontation. He didn’t strike them. He didn’t brandish his gun. They tackled him, beat him, disarmed him, and shot him.
Holy crap.
This is the most damning video yet.
It shows Border Patrol agents clearly taking Alex's firearm, running it away, and THEN executed him in cold blood by emptying a clip into his face.
Murder.
This is the most damning video yet.
It shows Border Patrol agents clearly taking Alex's firearm, running it away, and THEN executed him in cold blood by emptying a clip into his face.
Murder.
January 24, 2026 at 9:46 PM
This was murder. Pretti did not initiate the confrontation. He didn’t strike them. He didn’t brandish his gun. They tackled him, beat him, disarmed him, and shot him.
Reposted by Kai Kupferschmidt
The Secretary of Defense praising the murder of a protestor and posting "ICE > MN."
Minnesota is an American state with almost six million residents.
Minnesota is an American state with almost six million residents.
This is an actual post from Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth: Praising ICE after Alex Pretti was killed, blaming the Democratic leadership of Minnesota, and writing that ICE is greater/better than Minnesota.
He is actively demeaning the people of Minnesota just hours after Pretti was murdered.
He is actively demeaning the people of Minnesota just hours after Pretti was murdered.
January 24, 2026 at 10:57 PM
The Secretary of Defense praising the murder of a protestor and posting "ICE > MN."
Minnesota is an American state with almost six million residents.
Minnesota is an American state with almost six million residents.
Reposted by Kai Kupferschmidt
Federal law enforcement agents shot and killed a man in Minneapolis on Jan. 24 according to local police officials. DHS told Fox News that the man was “armed with a gun”. A video of the shooting appears to show that a gun was taken from the man before the first shot was fired. x.com/BillMelugin_...
January 24, 2026 at 7:01 PM
Federal law enforcement agents shot and killed a man in Minneapolis on Jan. 24 according to local police officials. DHS told Fox News that the man was “armed with a gun”. A video of the shooting appears to show that a gun was taken from the man before the first shot was fired. x.com/BillMelugin_...
Another important visual analysis by the excellent @bellingcat.com.
This seems to show pretty clearly that the gun was already taken away from Alex Pretti before the first shot was fired.
This seems to show pretty clearly that the gun was already taken away from Alex Pretti before the first shot was fired.
We just posted a quick analysis of the shooting of Alex Pretti in Mineapolis. Watch it here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=LkFc...
Analysis of Alex Pretti Shooting in Minneapolis
YouTube video by Bellingcat
www.youtube.com
January 24, 2026 at 11:47 PM
Another important visual analysis by the excellent @bellingcat.com.
This seems to show pretty clearly that the gun was already taken away from Alex Pretti before the first shot was fired.
This seems to show pretty clearly that the gun was already taken away from Alex Pretti before the first shot was fired.
Reposted by Kai Kupferschmidt
an administration staffed to the top with degenerate liars
Noem lies shamelessly: "An individual approached order Patrol officers with a 9mm semi-automatic gun. The officers attempted to disarm this individual, but the armed suspect reacted violently. This looks like a situation where an individual arrived to inflict maximum damage and kill law enforcement"
January 24, 2026 at 11:13 PM
an administration staffed to the top with degenerate liars
“WHO therefore regrets the United States’ notification of withdrawal from WHO – a decision that makes both the United States and the world less safe.”
🧪
www.who.int/news/item/24...
🧪
www.who.int/news/item/24...
WHO statement on notification of withdrawal of the United States
WHO regrets the United States’ notification of withdrawal from WHO – a decision that makes both the United States and the world less safe. The notification of withdrawal raises issues that will be con...
www.who.int
January 24, 2026 at 8:59 PM
“WHO therefore regrets the United States’ notification of withdrawal from WHO – a decision that makes both the United States and the world less safe.”
🧪
www.who.int/news/item/24...
🧪
www.who.int/news/item/24...
Reposted by Kai Kupferschmidt
(Hopefully that helps clarify to Americans that authoritarian regimes, including military dictatorships, also have elections and organized opposition is allowed to compete. And sometimes they even win! So “we have elections and the opposition is free to run” doesn’t rule out authoritarianism.)
January 24, 2026 at 2:20 PM
(Hopefully that helps clarify to Americans that authoritarian regimes, including military dictatorships, also have elections and organized opposition is allowed to compete. And sometimes they even win! So “we have elections and the opposition is free to run” doesn’t rule out authoritarianism.)
Reposted by Kai Kupferschmidt
Hard to deny this.
We have been told for nearly 30 years that America needed to tolerate mass shootings because the broad availability of guns would help us defend ourselves from an overreaching federal government. That day has come. The people who said this are supporting the federal agents. Many have joined them.
January 24, 2026 at 6:37 PM
Hard to deny this.