Magdalena Donea | 🇷🇴 🇬🇷 🏳️🌈 ♿️
@maggy.kia.net
Former refugee. Abolitionist. Old-school net.person. UW MA Cultural Studies. UCSD PhD (in progress) Comm/STS. Surveillance, unbelonging & mediation of displacement. Unprecedentedness and crisis. Critical Data, AI, DH, maps, archives. She/They/Any
Pinned
Pinned 🧵 -- a Critical AI reading list I'm building in conjuction with a course I'm teaching this summer. I'll be adding to this during the summer, both scholarly works and non-academic public writings, beginning with the Brian Merchant article in the post below:
I'm building a list of sources, in the meantime. @bcmerchant.bsky.social's "Blood in the Machine" is in my Top 5. I'm happy to take other suggestions, and I'll be publishing the reading list. 4/4
Final reading list for my AI course follows, week by week. UC summer sessions are 5 weeks, compressed from the 10 week regular quarter (already short). So, teaching Comm/Media undergrads an upper division class on this, during the summer of the constantly moving AI needle was… a challenge. Still:
It's worth noting this is Weird Al, and Jorma from Lonely Island (dressed like Peewee Herman) on stage at a Portugal. The Man. show. According to Spin on their original clock app video.
We got Weird Al out here singing Killing In The Name, the time for moderation is over
December 7, 2025 at 2:54 AM
It's worth noting this is Weird Al, and Jorma from Lonely Island (dressed like Peewee Herman) on stage at a Portugal. The Man. show. According to Spin on their original clock app video.
Reposted by Magdalena Donea | 🇷🇴 🇬🇷 🏳️🌈 ♿️
Look, I'm just gonna tell cishet white people right now--Newsom ain't the one. You got Walz and Pritzker out here. You do not need a Bill Clinton clone wearing Mitt Romney's skin.
California Governor Gavin Newsom said on Thursday that the Democratic Party needed to be “more culturally normal” and “less judgmental.”
December 7, 2025 at 2:08 AM
Look, I'm just gonna tell cishet white people right now--Newsom ain't the one. You got Walz and Pritzker out here. You do not need a Bill Clinton clone wearing Mitt Romney's skin.
Love it when cloudflare takes everything including downdetector with it. What a time, etc, etc.
December 5, 2025 at 9:01 AM
Love it when cloudflare takes everything including downdetector with it. What a time, etc, etc.
This is good criticism of David Sacks and - to my eye, anyway, having no special knowledge about him - it seems pretty thorough. [Gift link]
But you gotta love a "takedown" of any Trump official where the only named critical voice is Steve Bannon. 🙄
But you gotta love a "takedown" of any Trump official where the only named critical voice is Steve Bannon. 🙄
Silicon Valley’s Man in the White House Is Benefiting Himself and His Friends
www.nytimes.com
December 5, 2025 at 1:20 AM
This is good criticism of David Sacks and - to my eye, anyway, having no special knowledge about him - it seems pretty thorough. [Gift link]
But you gotta love a "takedown" of any Trump official where the only named critical voice is Steve Bannon. 🙄
But you gotta love a "takedown" of any Trump official where the only named critical voice is Steve Bannon. 🙄
Reposted by Magdalena Donea | 🇷🇴 🇬🇷 🏳️🌈 ♿️
You know what to do baby ❤️
December 4, 2025 at 12:15 AM
You know what to do baby ❤️
Reposted by Magdalena Donea | 🇷🇴 🇬🇷 🏳️🌈 ♿️
Audio-visual librarians are quietly amassing large physical media collections amid the IP disputes threatening select availability.
The Last Video Rental Store Is Your Public Library
Audio-visual librarians are quietly amassing large physical media collections amid the IP disputes threatening select availability.
www.404media.co
December 3, 2025 at 2:48 PM
Audio-visual librarians are quietly amassing large physical media collections amid the IP disputes threatening select availability.
Reposted by Magdalena Donea | 🇷🇴 🇬🇷 🏳️🌈 ♿️
1. Jared Kushner's trip to Moscow yesterday was not just unethical; it was illegal.
You cannot accept tens of millions of dollars from foreign governments and simultaneously conduct high-level diplomacy for the federal government.
It says it right in the Constitution.
You cannot accept tens of millions of dollars from foreign governments and simultaneously conduct high-level diplomacy for the federal government.
It says it right in the Constitution.
Kushner’s Moscow mission wasn’t just corrupt. It was unconstitutional.
Jared Kushner, President Trump’s son-in-law, has been traveling the world to participate in high-stakes foreign policy negotiations on behalf of the president.
popular.info
December 3, 2025 at 1:45 PM
1. Jared Kushner's trip to Moscow yesterday was not just unethical; it was illegal.
You cannot accept tens of millions of dollars from foreign governments and simultaneously conduct high-level diplomacy for the federal government.
It says it right in the Constitution.
You cannot accept tens of millions of dollars from foreign governments and simultaneously conduct high-level diplomacy for the federal government.
It says it right in the Constitution.
Here are the accounts I interacted with the most on Bluesky in 2025 in terms of overall engagements:
1. @fraying.bsky.social
2. @clancyny.bsky.social
3. @kst.bsky.social
4. @mberk.bsky.social
5. @prisonculture.bsky.social
See yours here: anisota.net/harvest
1. @fraying.bsky.social
2. @clancyny.bsky.social
3. @kst.bsky.social
4. @mberk.bsky.social
5. @prisonculture.bsky.social
See yours here: anisota.net/harvest
Anisota's Annual Bluesky Harvest 2025
A recap of your year on Bluesky. Discover patterns, connections, and insights from your journey in the ATmosphere.
anisota.net
December 3, 2025 at 4:15 AM
Here are the accounts I interacted with the most on Bluesky in 2025 in terms of overall engagements:
1. @fraying.bsky.social
2. @clancyny.bsky.social
3. @kst.bsky.social
4. @mberk.bsky.social
5. @prisonculture.bsky.social
See yours here: anisota.net/harvest
1. @fraying.bsky.social
2. @clancyny.bsky.social
3. @kst.bsky.social
4. @mberk.bsky.social
5. @prisonculture.bsky.social
See yours here: anisota.net/harvest
Reposted by Magdalena Donea | 🇷🇴 🇬🇷 🏳️🌈 ♿️
it is hard to think of another political figure in my lifetime I have turned on harder than Hillary Clinton. I am exactly the right flavor of Middle Aged White Lady to have been DEEPLY emotionally invested in her way back when, but every time she opens her mouth now I’m like “holy shit lady 🤯”
Hillary Clinton blames TikTok and “totally made up” videos for young people’s views on Israel and Palestine.
She says social media influenced “not just the usual suspects” but also “young Jewish Americans who don’t know the history and don’t understand.”
She says social media influenced “not just the usual suspects” but also “young Jewish Americans who don’t know the history and don’t understand.”
December 2, 2025 at 10:49 PM
it is hard to think of another political figure in my lifetime I have turned on harder than Hillary Clinton. I am exactly the right flavor of Middle Aged White Lady to have been DEEPLY emotionally invested in her way back when, but every time she opens her mouth now I’m like “holy shit lady 🤯”
I try not to surround myself with doom arguments about AI, even though I do believe we're doomed.
Still, this is the most enjoyable thing I've read in recent memory that's bullish on what vibe coding can do, and I'm not mad about it at all. Thank you for the food for thought, Prof. Ramsay.
Still, this is the most enjoyable thing I've read in recent memory that's bullish on what vibe coding can do, and I'm not mad about it at all. Thank you for the food for thought, Prof. Ramsay.
New blog post: "If You’re Going to Vibe Code, Why Not Do It in C?" stephenramsay.net/posts/vibe-c...
December 2, 2025 at 10:50 PM
I try not to surround myself with doom arguments about AI, even though I do believe we're doomed.
Still, this is the most enjoyable thing I've read in recent memory that's bullish on what vibe coding can do, and I'm not mad about it at all. Thank you for the food for thought, Prof. Ramsay.
Still, this is the most enjoyable thing I've read in recent memory that's bullish on what vibe coding can do, and I'm not mad about it at all. Thank you for the food for thought, Prof. Ramsay.
Reposted by Magdalena Donea | 🇷🇴 🇬🇷 🏳️🌈 ♿️
In the last year, DDoSecrets' publicaitons has exposed everyone from governments, to surveillance operators, and even Jeffrey Epstein.
If you want to support our one-of-a-kind work, consider donating to help us keep publishing this #GivingTuesday:
donorbox.org/ddosecrets
If you want to support our one-of-a-kind work, consider donating to help us keep publishing this #GivingTuesday:
donorbox.org/ddosecrets
DDoSecrets is Bringing Secrets to Light | Distributed Denial of Secrets (Powered by Donorbox)
Distributed Denial of Secrets is the most important active leaking organization in the world. DDoSecrets has published over 250 datasets from more than 50 countries, adding up to nearly 100…
donorbox.org
December 2, 2025 at 10:12 PM
In the last year, DDoSecrets' publicaitons has exposed everyone from governments, to surveillance operators, and even Jeffrey Epstein.
If you want to support our one-of-a-kind work, consider donating to help us keep publishing this #GivingTuesday:
donorbox.org/ddosecrets
If you want to support our one-of-a-kind work, consider donating to help us keep publishing this #GivingTuesday:
donorbox.org/ddosecrets
I don't know, y'all. I've been teaching first year students for the past five years, and my take is: give them what they ask for. Fuck OSD or DSPS or medicalization or schools/ families of origin that either DGAF or took advantage, just give them the time now. Just... care.
Even by the standards of The Atlantic, this is an extraordinarily weak evidence base for an article.
Data from a tiny handful of schools that isn't measuring the variable at issue and a few thin, secondhand anecdotes.
www.theatlantic.com/magazine/202...
Data from a tiny handful of schools that isn't measuring the variable at issue and a few thin, secondhand anecdotes.
www.theatlantic.com/magazine/202...
December 2, 2025 at 7:16 PM
I don't know, y'all. I've been teaching first year students for the past five years, and my take is: give them what they ask for. Fuck OSD or DSPS or medicalization or schools/ families of origin that either DGAF or took advantage, just give them the time now. Just... care.
Reposted by Magdalena Donea | 🇷🇴 🇬🇷 🏳️🌈 ♿️
December 2, 2025 at 8:48 AM
Reposted by Magdalena Donea | 🇷🇴 🇬🇷 🏳️🌈 ♿️
day 1 is "penzeys revolution blend" and i cant stop laughing at "we have to GET RID of this lying, cheating, CORRUPT SCUMBAG PRESIDENT!! RESIST! REVOLT! REVOLUTION NOW!! good on roast poultry and carrots"
December 2, 2025 at 12:59 AM
day 1 is "penzeys revolution blend" and i cant stop laughing at "we have to GET RID of this lying, cheating, CORRUPT SCUMBAG PRESIDENT!! RESIST! REVOLT! REVOLUTION NOW!! good on roast poultry and carrots"
Paulina Borsook is someone whose name you should know. It really should have been in the headline.
“I just don’t see why this toxic ideology had to accompany it. These are tools. I mean, modern dentistry is great. But your dentist doesn’t insist you worship him.”
I missed this during the weekend, but it's a good profile of a great, honest human being whose insight is still crucial. [Gift link]
I missed this during the weekend, but it's a good profile of a great, honest human being whose insight is still crucial. [Gift link]
The Writer Who Dared Criticize Silicon Valley
www.nytimes.com
December 2, 2025 at 12:38 AM
Paulina Borsook is someone whose name you should know. It really should have been in the headline.
“I just don’t see why this toxic ideology had to accompany it. These are tools. I mean, modern dentistry is great. But your dentist doesn’t insist you worship him.”
I missed this during the weekend, but it's a good profile of a great, honest human being whose insight is still crucial. [Gift link]
I missed this during the weekend, but it's a good profile of a great, honest human being whose insight is still crucial. [Gift link]
The Writer Who Dared Criticize Silicon Valley
www.nytimes.com
December 2, 2025 at 12:35 AM
“I just don’t see why this toxic ideology had to accompany it. These are tools. I mean, modern dentistry is great. But your dentist doesn’t insist you worship him.”
I missed this during the weekend, but it's a good profile of a great, honest human being whose insight is still crucial. [Gift link]
I missed this during the weekend, but it's a good profile of a great, honest human being whose insight is still crucial. [Gift link]
With Democrats like these...
Dem. Senator Gallego's Leaked Texts Echo Far-Right Gender Panic And Misogyny
www.erininthemorning.com/p/dem-senato...
www.erininthemorning.com/p/dem-senato...
Dem. Senator Gallego's Leaked Texts Echo Far-Right Gender Panic And Misogyny
Last week, Democratic Senator Ruben Gallego's texts leaked, where he lamented that Democratic "women look like men and men look like women."
www.erininthemorning.com
December 1, 2025 at 8:28 PM
With Democrats like these...
Reposted by Magdalena Donea | 🇷🇴 🇬🇷 🏳️🌈 ♿️
500,000 violations.
BREAKING: According to a recent investigation by NYC's Department of Consumer and Worker Protection, Starbucks illegally violated workers' protection laws in NYC 500,000 times since 2021. Over $35.5 million will be paid in restitution to Starbucks workers!
gothamist.com/news/starbuc...
gothamist.com/news/starbuc...
Starbucks to pay $35M to NYC workers after city alleges years of abuses
The city says about 15,000 employees will get paid $50 for each week worked over a three-year period. For some workers, that's thousands of dollars.
gothamist.com
December 1, 2025 at 6:36 PM
500,000 violations.
Reposted by Magdalena Donea | 🇷🇴 🇬🇷 🏳️🌈 ♿️
This is what it looks like when billionaires own the media.
December 1, 2025 at 6:52 PM
This is what it looks like when billionaires own the media.
Reposted by Magdalena Donea | 🇷🇴 🇬🇷 🏳️🌈 ♿️
Mythbusters at work
December 1, 2025 at 12:35 AM
Mythbusters at work
Reposted by Magdalena Donea | 🇷🇴 🇬🇷 🏳️🌈 ♿️
"Republicans won't vote for it." "But the Supreme Court..." etc. etc.
These things aren't savvy realism. They're nihilistic defeatism, indistinguishable in substance and effect from outright support for Trumpism. Human institutions are not immutable facts of nature. We make and we can remake them.
These things aren't savvy realism. They're nihilistic defeatism, indistinguishable in substance and effect from outright support for Trumpism. Human institutions are not immutable facts of nature. We make and we can remake them.
November 30, 2025 at 9:45 PM
"Republicans won't vote for it." "But the Supreme Court..." etc. etc.
These things aren't savvy realism. They're nihilistic defeatism, indistinguishable in substance and effect from outright support for Trumpism. Human institutions are not immutable facts of nature. We make and we can remake them.
These things aren't savvy realism. They're nihilistic defeatism, indistinguishable in substance and effect from outright support for Trumpism. Human institutions are not immutable facts of nature. We make and we can remake them.
Reposted by Magdalena Donea | 🇷🇴 🇬🇷 🏳️🌈 ♿️
Unfortunately, in US journalism it is considered neutral to spread a lie, but it is considered "biased" to call out a lie. So, there is a structural asymmetry that rewards colorful lies with virality.
November 30, 2025 at 1:16 AM
Unfortunately, in US journalism it is considered neutral to spread a lie, but it is considered "biased" to call out a lie. So, there is a structural asymmetry that rewards colorful lies with virality.
Reposted by Magdalena Donea | 🇷🇴 🇬🇷 🏳️🌈 ♿️
And notice: 11 stars—the number of states in the Confederacy. “Americanism” is the new fascism, as predicted.
November 30, 2025 at 4:52 PM
And notice: 11 stars—the number of states in the Confederacy. “Americanism” is the new fascism, as predicted.
Why did no one tell me the esteemed and lovely Dr Julian Bashir is in s3 of Foundation? :)
November 30, 2025 at 6:38 AM
Why did no one tell me the esteemed and lovely Dr Julian Bashir is in s3 of Foundation? :)
Reposted by Magdalena Donea | 🇷🇴 🇬🇷 🏳️🌈 ♿️
