Nathan Grayson
@nathangrayson.bsky.social
Co-founder and reporter @aftermath.site. Beats: labor, livestreaming. My book about Twitch, Stream Big, is available now. Formerly: The Washington Post. Send tips to nathan@aftermath.site or nathangrayson.666 on Signal
Pinned
Nathan Grayson
@nathangrayson.bsky.social
· Oct 17
I’m nathan
website: @aftermath.site (please subscribe)
book about twitch: www.simonandschuster.com/books/Stream... (please preorder)
cat: biscuit (please appreciate)
website: @aftermath.site (please subscribe)
book about twitch: www.simonandschuster.com/books/Stream... (please preorder)
cat: biscuit (please appreciate)
Reposted by Nathan Grayson
It bears repeating that Tom Homan is a fucking psycho and Greg Bovino's exile means functionally nothing when it comes to what's happening on the ground in Minnesota.
In one 30-minute stretch, three legal observers were arrested — as Trump’s Border czar Tom Homan calls on locals to “end the resistance.”
“Uptick In Abductions”: ICE Ramps Up Targeting of Minneapolis Legal Observers
In one 30-minute stretch, three Minneapolis legal observers were arrested as ICE ramped up its targeting of community volunteers.
interc.pt
February 9, 2026 at 6:57 PM
It bears repeating that Tom Homan is a fucking psycho and Greg Bovino's exile means functionally nothing when it comes to what's happening on the ground in Minnesota.
Reposted by Nathan Grayson
It's not even midnight and we're already at "Deport Elmo."
February 9, 2026 at 3:15 AM
It's not even midnight and we're already at "Deport Elmo."
404 is the best
404 Media just had an ad during the #SuperBowl! We Googled "smallest TV markets in the United States" and bought an ad for $2,550 that only ran in Ottumwa, Iowa, population 25,000. That still counts
www.404media.co/watch-404-me...
www.404media.co/watch-404-me...
Watch 404 Media’s Super Bowl Ad
WE BOUGHT A SUPER BOWL AD.
www.404media.co
February 9, 2026 at 2:49 AM
404 is the best
sure would be great if aftermath was eligible for more journalism-specific grants, lol
both games writers & games journalists face the same misguided perception: that their experience is too niche & they can "only" do games writing/games journalism... even though they must consider angles & do the kind of work that no other non-games writer or journalist needs to think about
February 8, 2026 at 12:41 AM
sure would be great if aftermath was eligible for more journalism-specific grants, lol
last night somebody told me I looked like “himbo connor o’ malley.” this compliment (?) will live rent free in my head for the rest of my life
February 7, 2026 at 10:15 PM
last night somebody told me I looked like “himbo connor o’ malley.” this compliment (?) will live rent free in my head for the rest of my life
Reposted by Nathan Grayson
“With Amazon’s role in ICE ops under greater scrutiny and Bezos’ dismantling of the organ that once proudly declared itself on being a defender of democracy, it’s worth examining how close Amazon and Trump are—& how closely aligned their projects are”
www.bloodinthemachine.com/p/how-jeff-b...
www.bloodinthemachine.com/p/how-jeff-b...
How Jeff Bezos and Amazon became instruments of authoritarianism
And how to stop them
www.bloodinthemachine.com
February 6, 2026 at 7:28 PM
“With Amazon’s role in ICE ops under greater scrutiny and Bezos’ dismantling of the organ that once proudly declared itself on being a defender of democracy, it’s worth examining how close Amazon and Trump are—& how closely aligned their projects are”
www.bloodinthemachine.com/p/how-jeff-b...
www.bloodinthemachine.com/p/how-jeff-b...
Reposted by Nathan Grayson
i want to make a special note that every new staffer we have added to the site has not been a white man, which i think is very cool
Your subscriber dollars at work: Aftermath has a new regular contributor and monthly columnist. Welcome @adashtra.bsky.social and @jmrivera.bsky.social to our regular rotation of writers!
aftermath.site/podcasts/after...
aftermath.site/podcasts/after...
February 6, 2026 at 9:07 PM
i want to make a special note that every new staffer we have added to the site has not been a white man, which i think is very cool
Reposted by Nathan Grayson
A little closer to the goal, folks!
Let's get some more subs for Aftermath!
Let's get some more subs for Aftermath!
February 6, 2026 at 9:21 PM
A little closer to the goal, folks!
Let's get some more subs for Aftermath!
Let's get some more subs for Aftermath!
this game is so, so good. indie morrowind, but weirder
Keyboards have too many keys; they stare like spider-eyes, & it's just WIERD, man! Now CONSOLES? Consoles I can get behind! Analogue sticks baby!
Uhh yeah,
𝐃𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐃 𝐃𝐄𝐋𝐔𝐒𝐈𝐎𝐍 𝐈𝐒 𝐂𝐎𝐌𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐓𝐎 𝐂𝐎𝐍𝐒𝐎𝐋𝐄𝐒 𝐓𝐇𝐈𝐒 𝐒𝐏𝐑𝐈𝐍𝐆
🍭PS4 & PS5
🍒SWITCH 2
🍏DON'T MAKE ME LOOK UP WHAT THE XBOX CONSOLES ARE CALLED BUT THEM TOO
Uhh yeah,
𝐃𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐃 𝐃𝐄𝐋𝐔𝐒𝐈𝐎𝐍 𝐈𝐒 𝐂𝐎𝐌𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐓𝐎 𝐂𝐎𝐍𝐒𝐎𝐋𝐄𝐒 𝐓𝐇𝐈𝐒 𝐒𝐏𝐑𝐈𝐍𝐆
🍭PS4 & PS5
🍒SWITCH 2
🍏DON'T MAKE ME LOOK UP WHAT THE XBOX CONSOLES ARE CALLED BUT THEM TOO
February 6, 2026 at 10:11 PM
this game is so, so good. indie morrowind, but weirder
Reposted by Nathan Grayson
Aftermath is my favorite and most valued subscription. Give them all your money. It's so worth it.
this is a prime example of both why subscriptions matter and why, given where we're at currently (something for which we're extremely grateful!), we still need a whole lot more
February 6, 2026 at 8:43 PM
Aftermath is my favorite and most valued subscription. Give them all your money. It's so worth it.
Reposted by Nathan Grayson
It’s true! You can catch me writing a monthly column on Aftermath starting…SOON
Your subscriber dollars at work: Aftermath has a new regular contributor and monthly columnist. Welcome @adashtra.bsky.social and @jmrivera.bsky.social to our regular rotation of writers!
aftermath.site/podcasts/after...
aftermath.site/podcasts/after...
February 6, 2026 at 8:43 PM
It’s true! You can catch me writing a monthly column on Aftermath starting…SOON
Reposted by Nathan Grayson
Thank you, we try
Well, Aftermath is certainly making better use of my money than my federal or state governments!
February 6, 2026 at 8:41 PM
Thank you, we try
Reposted by Nathan Grayson
give 'em your subs! they pay me!
Your subscriber dollars at work: Aftermath has a new regular contributor and monthly columnist. Welcome @adashtra.bsky.social and @jmrivera.bsky.social to our regular rotation of writers!
aftermath.site/podcasts/after...
aftermath.site/podcasts/after...
February 6, 2026 at 8:35 PM
give 'em your subs! they pay me!
Reposted by Nathan Grayson
this is true and is how the business works. we make money, we spend it making the website better.
in nov 23 people paid $7 just for us. now for the same money you get us, @nicolecarpenter.bsky.social , @shineyezehuhh.bsky.social , @jmrivera.bsky.social AND @adashtra.bsky.social ?
absolute steal
in nov 23 people paid $7 just for us. now for the same money you get us, @nicolecarpenter.bsky.social , @shineyezehuhh.bsky.social , @jmrivera.bsky.social AND @adashtra.bsky.social ?
absolute steal
February 6, 2026 at 8:36 PM
this is true and is how the business works. we make money, we spend it making the website better.
in nov 23 people paid $7 just for us. now for the same money you get us, @nicolecarpenter.bsky.social , @shineyezehuhh.bsky.social , @jmrivera.bsky.social AND @adashtra.bsky.social ?
absolute steal
in nov 23 people paid $7 just for us. now for the same money you get us, @nicolecarpenter.bsky.social , @shineyezehuhh.bsky.social , @jmrivera.bsky.social AND @adashtra.bsky.social ?
absolute steal
very cool and exciting news
Your subscriber dollars at work: Aftermath has a new regular contributor and monthly columnist. Welcome @adashtra.bsky.social and @jmrivera.bsky.social to our regular rotation of writers!
aftermath.site/podcasts/after...
aftermath.site/podcasts/after...
February 6, 2026 at 8:30 PM
very cool and exciting news
Reposted by Nathan Grayson
"Natalia Bonanno’s family owns 200 apartment units"
In a city packed with mighty real estate titans, they are the small ones.
New York landlords say they are at their breaking point as Mayor Zohran Mamdani begins to implement even more aggressive tenant-friendly policies.
New York landlords say they are at their breaking point as Mayor Zohran Mamdani begins to implement even more aggressive tenant-friendly policies.
NYC’s small landlords say they won’t survive Mamdani plan to freeze rent
New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani has criticized landlords and vowed to freeze what tenants in rent-stabilized apartments pay monthly.
www.washingtonpost.com
February 6, 2026 at 8:22 PM
"Natalia Bonanno’s family owns 200 apartment units"
number one of my list of tattoos to get someday For The Bit
Getting a huge Yakuza-style back tattoo of this guy so I can tear off my shirt at the karaoke bar and become the main character
February 6, 2026 at 8:17 PM
number one of my list of tattoos to get someday For The Bit
Reposted by Nathan Grayson
Getting a huge Yakuza-style back tattoo of this guy so I can tear off my shirt at the karaoke bar and become the main character
February 6, 2026 at 7:08 PM
Getting a huge Yakuza-style back tattoo of this guy so I can tear off my shirt at the karaoke bar and become the main character
Reposted by Nathan Grayson
Project for the near future:
Figure out a way to fit @mothership.blog, @aftermath.site, and @rascal.news subscriptions into my budget, if it's possible.
If you're not reading these sites, you should be. If we don't support independent journalism in our hobbies, we won't have it.
Figure out a way to fit @mothership.blog, @aftermath.site, and @rascal.news subscriptions into my budget, if it's possible.
If you're not reading these sites, you should be. If we don't support independent journalism in our hobbies, we won't have it.
February 6, 2026 at 2:12 PM
Project for the near future:
Figure out a way to fit @mothership.blog, @aftermath.site, and @rascal.news subscriptions into my budget, if it's possible.
If you're not reading these sites, you should be. If we don't support independent journalism in our hobbies, we won't have it.
Figure out a way to fit @mothership.blog, @aftermath.site, and @rascal.news subscriptions into my budget, if it's possible.
If you're not reading these sites, you should be. If we don't support independent journalism in our hobbies, we won't have it.
Reposted by Nathan Grayson
Somewhere along the line I think @papapishu.bsky.social became my favorite blogger
The bizarre, de-aged Jurassic Park ad is another example of doing something because you could and not because you should. aftermath.site/jurassic-park-...
February 6, 2026 at 7:56 AM
Somewhere along the line I think @papapishu.bsky.social became my favorite blogger
love living in a world gone mad
February 6, 2026 at 6:42 PM
love living in a world gone mad
Reposted by Nathan Grayson
I'd like to add that like in all industries, when we stop understanding how our tools work, we become entirely dependent on the corporate entities that own the mold. We are trading the ability to build and repair for the convenience of being permanent tenants in someone else's infrastructure/subs.
Vibe coding is working as expected: it'll kill the open-source, secure, and ideologically maintained alternatives to make sure you have to pay the oligarchs to do anything at all, and they can control what you're allowed to make.
www.404media.co/vibe-coding-...
www.404media.co/vibe-coding-...
Vibe Coding Is Killing Open Source Software, Researchers Argue
‘If the maintainers of small projects give up, who will produce the next Linux?’
www.404media.co
February 5, 2026 at 5:29 PM
I'd like to add that like in all industries, when we stop understanding how our tools work, we become entirely dependent on the corporate entities that own the mold. We are trading the ability to build and repair for the convenience of being permanent tenants in someone else's infrastructure/subs.
Reposted by Nathan Grayson
One reason Minneapolis remains in the world's eye is we have one of the most robust & independent media ecosystems remaining in the country. You all need this...and more! @mprnews.org @startribune.com @sahanjournal.bsky.social @minnesotareformer.com @minnpost.bsky.social @racketmn.com etc.
February 6, 2026 at 12:12 AM
One reason Minneapolis remains in the world's eye is we have one of the most robust & independent media ecosystems remaining in the country. You all need this...and more! @mprnews.org @startribune.com @sahanjournal.bsky.social @minnesotareformer.com @minnpost.bsky.social @racketmn.com etc.
obviously the wrong person for the job, but I also question the wisdom of using a one-size-fits-all linear narrative to continue a story people loved pretty much entirely because its characters inhabited a world of unprecedentedly vast player-driven choice
deadline.com/2026/02/bald...
deadline.com/2026/02/bald...
‘Baldur’s Gate’ TV Series Continuing Game’s Story In Works At HBO From ‘The Last Of Us’ Co-Creator Craig Mazin & Hasbro Entertainment
A ‘Baldur’s Gate’ TV series in development at HBO will Game 3's story. It comes from 'The Last of Us' co-creator Craig Mazin and Hasbro Entertainment
deadline.com
February 6, 2026 at 12:27 AM
obviously the wrong person for the job, but I also question the wisdom of using a one-size-fits-all linear narrative to continue a story people loved pretty much entirely because its characters inhabited a world of unprecedentedly vast player-driven choice
deadline.com/2026/02/bald...
deadline.com/2026/02/bald...
Reposted by Nathan Grayson
Published my first piece at @wired.com today, about a string of AI thrillers that have bombed (most recent being the hopelessly naive Chris Pratt vehicle 'Mercy'), the backlash to Darren Aronofsky's YouTube slop take on the American Revolution, and a grotesque nostalgia-bait Super Bowl ad:
Hollywood Is Losing Audiences to AI Fatigue
Entertainment about or made with artificial intelligence has been missing the mark with viewers over the past year.
www.wired.com
February 5, 2026 at 7:26 PM
Published my first piece at @wired.com today, about a string of AI thrillers that have bombed (most recent being the hopelessly naive Chris Pratt vehicle 'Mercy'), the backlash to Darren Aronofsky's YouTube slop take on the American Revolution, and a grotesque nostalgia-bait Super Bowl ad: