Leah McElrath
@leahmcelrath.bsky.social
Politics, intl relations, psychology, etc.
Making sense of a world that doesn’t
Smith College BA, MSW | LSE
#AuDHD #LGBTQ #MECFS
Patreon: patreon.com/leahmcelrath
Making sense of a world that doesn’t
Smith College BA, MSW | LSE
#AuDHD #LGBTQ #MECFS
Patreon: patreon.com/leahmcelrath
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Marjorie Taylor Greene observes the five-year anniversary of the attempted insurrection of January 6, 2021, by waxing poetic about the suffering of those arrested for their crimes on that day and mischaracterizing the violent attack on the Capitol as a mere protest:
January 6, 2026 at 1:55 PM
Marjorie Taylor Greene observes the five-year anniversary of the attempted insurrection of January 6, 2021, by waxing poetic about the suffering of those arrested for their crimes on that day and mischaracterizing the violent attack on the Capitol as a mere protest:
Joint statement from major NATO members:
“Greenland belongs to its people. It is for Denmark and Greenland, and them only, to decide on matters concerning Denmark and Greenland.”
“Greenland belongs to its people. It is for Denmark and Greenland, and them only, to decide on matters concerning Denmark and Greenland.”
January 6, 2026 at 1:34 PM
Joint statement from major NATO members:
“Greenland belongs to its people. It is for Denmark and Greenland, and them only, to decide on matters concerning Denmark and Greenland.”
“Greenland belongs to its people. It is for Denmark and Greenland, and them only, to decide on matters concerning Denmark and Greenland.”
Five years ago today.
January 6, 2026 at 1:19 PM
Five years ago today.
I don’t think people should be asked to choose a favorite between cats and dogs or between the mountains and the beach. They’re all good.
This place needs some Innocuous Discourse pronto. Quote this with a take that’s not political or aggressive
January 6, 2026 at 6:30 AM
I don’t think people should be asked to choose a favorite between cats and dogs or between the mountains and the beach. They’re all good.
⚠️ Numerous videos emerging from Caracas, Venezuela, tonight. They show heavy gunfire in the vicinity of the presidential palace, and others show what is possibly anti-aircraft, drone defense, and/or tracer rounds (speculation being posted with the videos varies).
Heavy gunfire heard around Miraflores (presidential palace) in Caracas
January 6, 2026 at 12:46 AM
⚠️ Numerous videos emerging from Caracas, Venezuela, tonight. They show heavy gunfire in the vicinity of the presidential palace, and others show what is possibly anti-aircraft, drone defense, and/or tracer rounds (speculation being posted with the videos varies).
Oil companies are counting on it, which is one reason oil stock prices have surged.
TRUMP: MAY SUBSIDIZE OIL COMPANIES REBUILDING IN VENEZUELA: NBC
January 5, 2026 at 11:12 PM
Oil companies are counting on it, which is one reason oil stock prices have surged.
Reposted by Leah McElrath
People who are more ignorant are easier to control.
The Corporation for Public Broadcasting has been dissolved, ending its 58 years as the primary funder for PBS, NPR and local TV and radio stations
Corporation For Public Broadcasting Is Dissolved After 58 Years Of Service
www.huffpost.com
January 5, 2026 at 8:30 PM
People who are more ignorant are easier to control.
Reposted by Leah McElrath
“Make Iran Great Again”
It’s clear where this is headed.
It’s clear where this is headed.
January 5, 2026 at 9:35 PM
“Make Iran Great Again”
It’s clear where this is headed.
It’s clear where this is headed.
Reposted by Leah McElrath
Protests continue in Iran.
The protests are sometimes anti-regime in nature driven by resistance to factors like oppressive religious dictates, but they began and often continue driven by economic concerns.
Women wearing chadors participated in the protest below and were fired upon with tear gas:
The protests are sometimes anti-regime in nature driven by resistance to factors like oppressive religious dictates, but they began and often continue driven by economic concerns.
Women wearing chadors participated in the protest below and were fired upon with tear gas:
![Vahid Online
@Vahid
X.com
• Translated from Persian Show original
A Distressing Sounds
Received video with description: 'Kushk city #Isfahan, Sunday, Dey 14' Continuous firing of tear gas on protesters, many of whom are women wearing chadors.
#Iran
Rate this translation:
[video of women in long black hooded cloaks protesting at night being fired at with tear gas]](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:gvda6fem6r7selm4gzjjww4a/bafkreicnrta3lqo6r646d2a3krys4bjxthowzygqkv6agkwqmark7sue4e@jpeg)
January 5, 2026 at 8:23 PM
Protests continue in Iran.
The protests are sometimes anti-regime in nature driven by resistance to factors like oppressive religious dictates, but they began and often continue driven by economic concerns.
Women wearing chadors participated in the protest below and were fired upon with tear gas:
The protests are sometimes anti-regime in nature driven by resistance to factors like oppressive religious dictates, but they began and often continue driven by economic concerns.
Women wearing chadors participated in the protest below and were fired upon with tear gas:
Look, this is hard, and we all agree that it needs to happen and hope it happens sooner rather than later.
But, until then, we need to survive and be as supportive of one another as possible.
There’s been a lot of misdirected rage on here lately, so, you know, let’s maybe focus on self-regulation.
But, until then, we need to survive and be as supportive of one another as possible.
There’s been a lot of misdirected rage on here lately, so, you know, let’s maybe focus on self-regulation.
January 5, 2026 at 10:07 PM
Look, this is hard, and we all agree that it needs to happen and hope it happens sooner rather than later.
But, until then, we need to survive and be as supportive of one another as possible.
There’s been a lot of misdirected rage on here lately, so, you know, let’s maybe focus on self-regulation.
But, until then, we need to survive and be as supportive of one another as possible.
There’s been a lot of misdirected rage on here lately, so, you know, let’s maybe focus on self-regulation.
“Make Iran Great Again”
It’s clear where this is headed.
It’s clear where this is headed.
January 5, 2026 at 9:35 PM
“Make Iran Great Again”
It’s clear where this is headed.
It’s clear where this is headed.
Reposted by Leah McElrath
The US Embassy in Caracas could re-open.
Some career diplomats are reportedly volunteering for the placement, but others see the posting as “representing an occupying force.”
Some career diplomats are reportedly volunteering for the placement, but others see the posting as “representing an occupying force.”
January 5, 2026 at 8:11 PM
The US Embassy in Caracas could re-open.
Some career diplomats are reportedly volunteering for the placement, but others see the posting as “representing an occupying force.”
Some career diplomats are reportedly volunteering for the placement, but others see the posting as “representing an occupying force.”
People who are more ignorant are easier to control.
The Corporation for Public Broadcasting has been dissolved, ending its 58 years as the primary funder for PBS, NPR and local TV and radio stations
Corporation For Public Broadcasting Is Dissolved After 58 Years Of Service
www.huffpost.com
January 5, 2026 at 8:30 PM
People who are more ignorant are easier to control.
Protests continue in Iran.
The protests are sometimes anti-regime in nature driven by resistance to factors like oppressive religious dictates, but they began and often continue driven by economic concerns.
Women wearing chadors participated in the protest below and were fired upon with tear gas:
The protests are sometimes anti-regime in nature driven by resistance to factors like oppressive religious dictates, but they began and often continue driven by economic concerns.
Women wearing chadors participated in the protest below and were fired upon with tear gas:
January 5, 2026 at 8:23 PM
Protests continue in Iran.
The protests are sometimes anti-regime in nature driven by resistance to factors like oppressive religious dictates, but they began and often continue driven by economic concerns.
Women wearing chadors participated in the protest below and were fired upon with tear gas:
The protests are sometimes anti-regime in nature driven by resistance to factors like oppressive religious dictates, but they began and often continue driven by economic concerns.
Women wearing chadors participated in the protest below and were fired upon with tear gas:
Reposted by Leah McElrath
re the toxicity of the day, I actually don't think "social media" inherently has to be like this. I think we've *built* every app to be like this because no one made a serious investment building out tools at the UX and network protocol layer to make this shit more like normal human association.
January 5, 2026 at 8:14 PM
re the toxicity of the day, I actually don't think "social media" inherently has to be like this. I think we've *built* every app to be like this because no one made a serious investment building out tools at the UX and network protocol layer to make this shit more like normal human association.
Reposted by Leah McElrath
last month, @wired.com broke the news about ai image generators being used to undress photos of women. my reporting resulted in a 200K+ subreddit getting banned for nonconsensual deepfakes.
doing more software accountability reporting this year. reach out to me on Signal with tips! reece_rogers.01
doing more software accountability reporting this year. reach out to me on Signal with tips! reece_rogers.01
Google’s and OpenAI’s Chatbots Can Strip Women in Photos Down to Bikinis
Users of AI image generators are offering each other instructions on how to use the tech to alter pictures of women into realistic, revealing deepfakes.
www.wired.com
January 5, 2026 at 8:12 PM
last month, @wired.com broke the news about ai image generators being used to undress photos of women. my reporting resulted in a 200K+ subreddit getting banned for nonconsensual deepfakes.
doing more software accountability reporting this year. reach out to me on Signal with tips! reece_rogers.01
doing more software accountability reporting this year. reach out to me on Signal with tips! reece_rogers.01
The US Embassy in Caracas could re-open.
Some career diplomats are reportedly volunteering for the placement, but others see the posting as “representing an occupying force.”
Some career diplomats are reportedly volunteering for the placement, but others see the posting as “representing an occupying force.”
January 5, 2026 at 8:11 PM
The US Embassy in Caracas could re-open.
Some career diplomats are reportedly volunteering for the placement, but others see the posting as “representing an occupying force.”
Some career diplomats are reportedly volunteering for the placement, but others see the posting as “representing an occupying force.”
Reposted by Leah McElrath
A hacker known as Martha Root broke in and deleted three white supremacists websites at the end of a talk during the annual hacker conference Chaos Communication Congress in Germany.
Hacktivist deletes white supremacist websites live on stage during hacker conference | TechCrunch
A hacker known as Martha Root broke in and deleted three white supremacists websites at the end of a talk during the annual hacker conference Chaos Communication Congress in Germany.
techcrunch.com
January 5, 2026 at 6:58 PM
A hacker known as Martha Root broke in and deleted three white supremacists websites at the end of a talk during the annual hacker conference Chaos Communication Congress in Germany.
Reposted by Leah McElrath
If you see anyone claiming that the Maduro operation was somehow related to the 2020 election, just know that the Venezuela-voting machines thing was primarily driven by Sidney Powell, whose deranged claims at one point even went too far for Trump.
From 2020 (gift link): wapo.st/3Ytqei6
From 2020 (gift link): wapo.st/3Ytqei6
Analysis | Here’s how seriously you should take the Trump legal team’s conspiracy theories
After more than an hour of nonsense, attorney Sidney Powell squeezed in one last morsel for good measure.
wapo.st
January 5, 2026 at 7:15 PM
If you see anyone claiming that the Maduro operation was somehow related to the 2020 election, just know that the Venezuela-voting machines thing was primarily driven by Sidney Powell, whose deranged claims at one point even went too far for Trump.
From 2020 (gift link): wapo.st/3Ytqei6
From 2020 (gift link): wapo.st/3Ytqei6
Reposted by Leah McElrath
Bloomberg:
Denmark Says US Attack on Greenland Would Mean End of NATO
Denmark Says US Attack on Greenland Would Mean End of NATO
January 5, 2026 at 4:22 PM
Bloomberg:
Denmark Says US Attack on Greenland Would Mean End of NATO
Denmark Says US Attack on Greenland Would Mean End of NATO
Reposted by Leah McElrath
Michael Fanone narrates his body camera footage from the January 6 insurrection:
" I remember trying to, like, appeal to them. I said we have injured officers here. It just seemed to set these guys off."
" I remember trying to, like, appeal to them. I said we have injured officers here. It just seemed to set these guys off."
January 5, 2026 at 4:05 PM
Michael Fanone narrates his body camera footage from the January 6 insurrection:
" I remember trying to, like, appeal to them. I said we have injured officers here. It just seemed to set these guys off."
" I remember trying to, like, appeal to them. I said we have injured officers here. It just seemed to set these guys off."
Reposted by Leah McElrath
“Venezuela is under pressure to move its crude. Since the U.S. naval blockade, storage facilities have been nearing capacity, and shutting down production risks damaging oil reservoirs and infrastructure.”
Fascinating thread about efforts to break the US blockade and move oil out of Venezuela:
Fascinating thread about efforts to break the US blockade and move oil out of Venezuela:
BREAKING: Multiple oil tankers hit by U.S. sanctions appear to be making a coordinated attempt to break the U.S. naval blockade on Venezuela’s energy exports by departing all at once. w/ Anatoly Kurmanaev www.nytimes.com/2026/01/05/w...
Sanctioned Oil Tankers Flee Venezuela in Defiance of U.S. Blockade
www.nytimes.com
January 5, 2026 at 1:42 PM
“Venezuela is under pressure to move its crude. Since the U.S. naval blockade, storage facilities have been nearing capacity, and shutting down production risks damaging oil reservoirs and infrastructure.”
Fascinating thread about efforts to break the US blockade and move oil out of Venezuela:
Fascinating thread about efforts to break the US blockade and move oil out of Venezuela:
Reposted by Leah McElrath
Four generations of my family have served our country. Service is in my blood. The President wouldn’t know anything about that.
January 5, 2026 at 6:24 PM
Four generations of my family have served our country. Service is in my blood. The President wouldn’t know anything about that.
Reposted by Leah McElrath
“I am innocent. I am not guilty. I am a decent man. Constitutional president of my country.”
Wow, just got put of the Nicolas Maduro arraignment at the Southern District of New York in downtown Manhattan.
The most dramatic part was when the judge asked him how he pleaded.
He stood up and said: “Soy inocente. No soy culpable. Soy un hombre decente. President constitucional de mi país.”
The most dramatic part was when the judge asked him how he pleaded.
He stood up and said: “Soy inocente. No soy culpable. Soy un hombre decente. President constitucional de mi país.”
January 5, 2026 at 5:46 PM
“I am innocent. I am not guilty. I am a decent man. Constitutional president of my country.”