Kenny Smith
@kennysmith.bsky.social
Adventuring with @laurensmith.bsky.social. Cyclist, reader, builder.
On the side: professor of sports communication and media, professor of communication studies.
Formerly: reporter, news anchor, producer, adviser.
https://www.kennysmith.org
On the side: professor of sports communication and media, professor of communication studies.
Formerly: reporter, news anchor, producer, adviser.
https://www.kennysmith.org
In October 2001 I was scheduled to interview Gen. Wesley Clark. That morning the U.S. began operations in Afghanistan. When I called on the Clark home Mrs. Clark (who is delightful) apologized. He’d flown to Atlanta the night before, to be on CNN’s desk for the morning’s news.
This isn’t uncommon.
This isn’t uncommon.
Sources: NYT and WaPo learned of the Venezuela raid soon before it was scheduled to begin but held off publishing what they knew to avoid endangering US troops (Semafor)
Main Link | Mediagazer Permalink
Main Link | Mediagazer Permalink
January 4, 2026 at 2:43 AM
In October 2001 I was scheduled to interview Gen. Wesley Clark. That morning the U.S. began operations in Afghanistan. When I called on the Clark home Mrs. Clark (who is delightful) apologized. He’d flown to Atlanta the night before, to be on CNN’s desk for the morning’s news.
This isn’t uncommon.
This isn’t uncommon.
All of sport is political.
160 Days till the World Cup opens in three countries barely on speaking terms. Assuming we don’t invade one or more by then.
January 4, 2026 at 2:35 AM
All of sport is political.
Schwartz is paving the way for the rest of us, and we should all remember that.
my best jokes require footnotes
January 3, 2026 at 11:28 PM
Schwartz is paving the way for the rest of us, and we should all remember that.
A quote like that should absolutely intrigue lawyers everywhere.
"That’s when we learned the importance of correcting these AI-generated reports.”
The AI-powered software for drafting police reports comes from Axon, the tech company that sells law enforcement products such as TASER devices.
futurism.com/artificial-i...
The AI-powered software for drafting police reports comes from Axon, the tech company that sells law enforcement products such as TASER devices.
futurism.com/artificial-i...
Cops Forced to Explain Why AI Generated Police Report Claimed Officer Transformed Into Frog
AI-powered software Draft One automatically generates police reports from body camera footage. It thought an officer turned into a frog.
futurism.com
January 3, 2026 at 10:00 PM
A quote like that should absolutely intrigue lawyers everywhere.
The Baileys aren’t interested.
Asked about the possibility of impeachment, Schumer says "we hope that we can have support from our Republican colleagues to put a brake on this long before it gets that far"
January 3, 2026 at 9:45 PM
The Baileys aren’t interested.
That “(This is a lie.)” isn’t a newsroom macro is a complete abdication of the role of the fourth estate.
January 3, 2026 at 6:33 PM
That “(This is a lie.)” isn’t a newsroom macro is a complete abdication of the role of the fourth estate.
Reposted by Kenny Smith
As we watch the Trump admin fly into a capital and abduct/arrest a head of state, it’s worth remembering that he’s frequently called for American governors and mayors to be arrested for their supposed coddling of gangs of narco-terrorists.
January 3, 2026 at 4:07 PM
As we watch the Trump admin fly into a capital and abduct/arrest a head of state, it’s worth remembering that he’s frequently called for American governors and mayors to be arrested for their supposed coddling of gangs of narco-terrorists.
Reposted by Kenny Smith
Best thing I’ve read this morning, from a human rights lawyer in Mexico. Translation is in the ALT-text.
January 3, 2026 at 2:16 PM
Best thing I’ve read this morning, from a human rights lawyer in Mexico. Translation is in the ALT-text.
Evergreen post.
This also has the historical benefit of very loosely following the original CNN success story model from Baghdad.
A lot, however, is different from that time.
This also has the historical benefit of very loosely following the original CNN success story model from Baghdad.
A lot, however, is different from that time.
CNN seems more focused on how well the operation went, rather than the legality or wisdom of it, including little to no mention that Congress was not involved. Not to mention that the consequences of this action aren't seamless and easy.
Cable "news" is mostly just filling time.
Cable "news" is mostly just filling time.
January 3, 2026 at 6:15 PM
Evergreen post.
This also has the historical benefit of very loosely following the original CNN success story model from Baghdad.
A lot, however, is different from that time.
This also has the historical benefit of very loosely following the original CNN success story model from Baghdad.
A lot, however, is different from that time.
That Canvas page for my new class game together easily.
A little … too easily …
A little … too easily …
January 3, 2026 at 6:08 PM
That Canvas page for my new class game together easily.
A little … too easily …
A little … too easily …
I wonder what Mike Johnson will pretend to not know about in the morning.
January 3, 2026 at 7:04 AM
I wonder what Mike Johnson will pretend to not know about in the morning.
State starts their true freshman QB to play a bowl game. He goes into the medical tent, lands on his head twice, receives multiple IVs, was (just a moment ago) hobbled so badly he had to hop off the field, and you send him BACK out to play in a two-score game so you can …cart him off the field.
January 3, 2026 at 5:00 AM
State starts their true freshman QB to play a bowl game. He goes into the medical tent, lands on his head twice, receives multiple IVs, was (just a moment ago) hobbled so badly he had to hop off the field, and you send him BACK out to play in a two-score game so you can …cart him off the field.
You can’t spell chaos without Miss State, and mayo, and blocked kicks.
January 3, 2026 at 4:35 AM
You can’t spell chaos without Miss State, and mayo, and blocked kicks.
Reposted by Kenny Smith
A13. In case you're wondering how newsy it is to have the President dead to rights.
January 3, 2026 at 3:26 AM
A13. In case you're wondering how newsy it is to have the President dead to rights.
If you don’t drink your Duke’s Mayo you cramp up a lot, simple college football physiology. #WakeForest #HailState #cfb
January 3, 2026 at 3:31 AM
If you don’t drink your Duke’s Mayo you cramp up a lot, simple college football physiology. #WakeForest #HailState #cfb
Each time I was in a new newsroom in a new market someone would give a briefing. “Don’t waste time on this guy at the city council. Don’t call that guy in the governor’s office. There’s a fella that calls and writes all the time, pay him no mind.”
No one is telling people to ignore the crazy LLMs.
No one is telling people to ignore the crazy LLMs.
The way the press is treating chatbots, like they have agency and they “know” things all of a sudden, crossed the line recently from dumb and obsequious to something else entirely. Treating them as alive and making conscious decisions is an almost religious belief. It won’t age well.
January 3, 2026 at 3:25 AM
Each time I was in a new newsroom in a new market someone would give a briefing. “Don’t waste time on this guy at the city council. Don’t call that guy in the governor’s office. There’s a fella that calls and writes all the time, pay him no mind.”
No one is telling people to ignore the crazy LLMs.
No one is telling people to ignore the crazy LLMs.
Reposted by Kenny Smith
Not to mention us vehicles driving on the right side of the road.
London in the good old days - before everyone's feet pointed forwards.
January 3, 2026 at 2:57 AM
Not to mention us vehicles driving on the right side of the road.
So here the Times recognizes there’s a need for a story. They’re not clear, however, on what that story should be.
Maybe they’ll try again.
And maybe Congress will try.
Wonder which happens first.
Maybe they’ll try again.
And maybe Congress will try.
Wonder which happens first.
This lede makes no sense: "Congress learned some hard lessons about the limits of its power during the first year of the second Trump administration..." They did not in fact learn any lessons about how powers they entirely declined to exercise might have worked.
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/02/u...
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/02/u...
A Diminished Congress Weighs Whether to Reassert Its Power
www.nytimes.com
January 3, 2026 at 2:42 AM
So here the Times recognizes there’s a need for a story. They’re not clear, however, on what that story should be.
Maybe they’ll try again.
And maybe Congress will try.
Wonder which happens first.
Maybe they’ll try again.
And maybe Congress will try.
Wonder which happens first.
ChatGPT, is this bad?
Prof Eliot Jacobson: And it's a wrap. The year 2025 came in at 1.47°C above the 1850-1900 pre-industrial baseline, making it the 3rd warmest year on record behind 2023 (1.48°C) and 2024 (1.60°C), and likely the 3rd warmest in the last 120,000 years.
January 3, 2026 at 2:39 AM
ChatGPT, is this bad?
Odd series of words to string together for a headline, but matches the story.
Perhaps the most impressive thing is that, eventually, multiple firefighters are out there trying to help this guy and none of them said “It’s cold. It’s New Year’s. He’s got a screwdriver. First round’s on me.”
Perhaps the most impressive thing is that, eventually, multiple firefighters are out there trying to help this guy and none of them said “It’s cold. It’s New Year’s. He’s got a screwdriver. First round’s on me.”
The incident occurred during the afternoon on New Year's Eve, authorities said.
Man accused of attacking officers with screwdriver during ocean rescue at Jersey Shore
The incident occurred during the afternoon on New Year's Eve, authorities said.
www.nj.com
January 3, 2026 at 2:37 AM
Odd series of words to string together for a headline, but matches the story.
Perhaps the most impressive thing is that, eventually, multiple firefighters are out there trying to help this guy and none of them said “It’s cold. It’s New Year’s. He’s got a screwdriver. First round’s on me.”
Perhaps the most impressive thing is that, eventually, multiple firefighters are out there trying to help this guy and none of them said “It’s cold. It’s New Year’s. He’s got a screwdriver. First round’s on me.”
People that would cloak themselves in the history of American patriotism are light on details. Eighteenth century mythology, classism and compromise aside, our patriotism was aspirational.
What Weiss and Adam O'Neal at the Post are really signaling is that nothing like the 1619 Project will be produced under their leadership. 1619 was not unpatriotic, but called for America to live up to its ideals, not its history and practices.
I also love America and believe in its stated values.
And I understand that this pronouncement lands very differently when it comes from an organization that has intentionally been overhauled in order to curry favor with a jingoistic proto-fascist who says his opponents hate the country.
And I understand that this pronouncement lands very differently when it comes from an organization that has intentionally been overhauled in order to curry favor with a jingoistic proto-fascist who says his opponents hate the country.
January 3, 2026 at 2:28 AM
People that would cloak themselves in the history of American patriotism are light on details. Eighteenth century mythology, classism and compromise aside, our patriotism was aspirational.
Also, just stop thinking of them as quotes.
They are pattern predictions filled with program and source material bias, full of misinformation/disinformation risks, lacking any structure of morals, ethics, or responsibility and are part of another unnecessary ecological disaster.
They are pattern predictions filled with program and source material bias, full of misinformation/disinformation risks, lacking any structure of morals, ethics, or responsibility and are part of another unnecessary ecological disaster.
An AI chatbot does not have PERSONHOOD. It has no agency. It cannot meaningfully apologise. It cannot speak on behalf of another. It cannot speak for itself; it has no self. Stop asking it for quotes for articles. Stop printing its quotes.
January 3, 2026 at 1:18 AM
Also, just stop thinking of them as quotes.
They are pattern predictions filled with program and source material bias, full of misinformation/disinformation risks, lacking any structure of morals, ethics, or responsibility and are part of another unnecessary ecological disaster.
They are pattern predictions filled with program and source material bias, full of misinformation/disinformation risks, lacking any structure of morals, ethics, or responsibility and are part of another unnecessary ecological disaster.
Scene: A Google conference room
Manager: We need something new. Ideas?
Dev 1: Glasses that …
Manager: No.
Dev 2: Phones that are cars.
Manager: What can we do right now?
Dev 3: You know how we’re great at searching things?
Manager: Yeah?
Dev 3: Let’s ruin it, and add “AI.”
Manager: Up top!
Manager: We need something new. Ideas?
Dev 1: Glasses that …
Manager: No.
Dev 2: Phones that are cars.
Manager: What can we do right now?
Dev 3: You know how we’re great at searching things?
Manager: Yeah?
Dev 3: Let’s ruin it, and add “AI.”
Manager: Up top!
as one does, I’ve been googling a lot of stuff recently and it’s crazy that more than a year in they still insist on putting wrong information via AI overview at the top of almost every search. crazy how quickly ive become accustomed to reflexively scroll past/ignore
January 3, 2026 at 1:12 AM
Scene: A Google conference room
Manager: We need something new. Ideas?
Dev 1: Glasses that …
Manager: No.
Dev 2: Phones that are cars.
Manager: What can we do right now?
Dev 3: You know how we’re great at searching things?
Manager: Yeah?
Dev 3: Let’s ruin it, and add “AI.”
Manager: Up top!
Manager: We need something new. Ideas?
Dev 1: Glasses that …
Manager: No.
Dev 2: Phones that are cars.
Manager: What can we do right now?
Dev 3: You know how we’re great at searching things?
Manager: Yeah?
Dev 3: Let’s ruin it, and add “AI.”
Manager: Up top!
Reposted by Kenny Smith
The new CBS: Remember Murrow, Cronkite, Stahl? Buncha losers and partisan hacks.
January 2, 2026 at 9:54 PM
The new CBS: Remember Murrow, Cronkite, Stahl? Buncha losers and partisan hacks.
Being busy and lazy in November and December means there is a lot of rust in January.
Almost like starting all over again.
Almost like starting all over again.
January 3, 2026 at 1:07 AM
Being busy and lazy in November and December means there is a lot of rust in January.
Almost like starting all over again.
Almost like starting all over again.