Natalia Cote-Muñoz
@ncotemunoz.bsky.social
Mexilombian-American | AI | Foreign Policy | China | Asia | LatAm
Views are my own. Reposts, likes and follows are not endorsements
Views are my own. Reposts, likes and follows are not endorsements
incredible content
Big day at U.S. District Court in D.C. where Sean Dunn, the D.C. Sandwich Guy, is on trial for misdemeanor assault of a federal officer.
Border Patrol agent Gregory Lairmore is on the stand narrating surveillance video of the sammie toss.
'Now he’s struck me with the sandwich,' Lairmore says.
Border Patrol agent Gregory Lairmore is on the stand narrating surveillance video of the sammie toss.
'Now he’s struck me with the sandwich,' Lairmore says.
November 5, 2025 at 1:09 AM
incredible content
Reposted by Natalia Cote-Muñoz
Rights defenders at the US-Mexico border tried for years to warn about Border Patrol's abusive culture. We built a database of abuses (borderoversight.org/event) and several reports. Maybe 2 dozen national Democrats were responsive; the politics were tricky. We couldn't keep that work funded.
Now:
Now:
October 4, 2025 at 9:26 PM
Rights defenders at the US-Mexico border tried for years to warn about Border Patrol's abusive culture. We built a database of abuses (borderoversight.org/event) and several reports. Maybe 2 dozen national Democrats were responsive; the politics were tricky. We couldn't keep that work funded.
Now:
Now:
Reposted by Natalia Cote-Muñoz
Are Labubus the new face of “Made in China”?
@ncotemunoz.bsky.social (CEO, Vantage Point Strategies) joins us to share how Labubus are resonating across different cultures and changing the way people perceive China.
▶️ Watch: https://www.ncuscr.org/video/labubu-soft-power/
@ncotemunoz.bsky.social (CEO, Vantage Point Strategies) joins us to share how Labubus are resonating across different cultures and changing the way people perceive China.
▶️ Watch: https://www.ncuscr.org/video/labubu-soft-power/
Why Labubus Are Changing China's Soft Power Strategy
Natalia Cote-Muñoz shares how Labubus are resonating across different cultures and changing the way people perceive China.
www.ncuscr.org
October 3, 2025 at 4:07 PM
Are Labubus the new face of “Made in China”?
@ncotemunoz.bsky.social (CEO, Vantage Point Strategies) joins us to share how Labubus are resonating across different cultures and changing the way people perceive China.
▶️ Watch: https://www.ncuscr.org/video/labubu-soft-power/
@ncotemunoz.bsky.social (CEO, Vantage Point Strategies) joins us to share how Labubus are resonating across different cultures and changing the way people perceive China.
▶️ Watch: https://www.ncuscr.org/video/labubu-soft-power/
In a few 1000 years there will be an especially toxic type of bro obsessed with the “American Empire” and its fall.
One of their integrated AI microchips will be full of just facts from the past 6+ months
Imagine going on a date with this guy and him mansplaining “the Jimmy Kimmel moment” to you
One of their integrated AI microchips will be full of just facts from the past 6+ months
Imagine going on a date with this guy and him mansplaining “the Jimmy Kimmel moment” to you
September 21, 2025 at 8:47 PM
In a few 1000 years there will be an especially toxic type of bro obsessed with the “American Empire” and its fall.
One of their integrated AI microchips will be full of just facts from the past 6+ months
Imagine going on a date with this guy and him mansplaining “the Jimmy Kimmel moment” to you
One of their integrated AI microchips will be full of just facts from the past 6+ months
Imagine going on a date with this guy and him mansplaining “the Jimmy Kimmel moment” to you
Reposted by Natalia Cote-Muñoz
🧵 Authoritarianism, Democratization, and Coalition Politics.
The consensus around here is, more or less, that the United States is currently a consolidating authoritarian regime controlled by a mix of reactionary populists and fascists.
The consensus around here is, more or less, that the United States is currently a consolidating authoritarian regime controlled by a mix of reactionary populists and fascists.
August 30, 2025 at 8:10 PM
🧵 Authoritarianism, Democratization, and Coalition Politics.
The consensus around here is, more or less, that the United States is currently a consolidating authoritarian regime controlled by a mix of reactionary populists and fascists.
The consensus around here is, more or less, that the United States is currently a consolidating authoritarian regime controlled by a mix of reactionary populists and fascists.
Effective AI writing assistance doesn't involve AI writing for you.
When I was concussed, I experimented with AI to support my writing while keeping my voice.
My latest piece breaks down the workflows that worked.
open.substack.com/pub/artifici...
When I was concussed, I experimented with AI to support my writing while keeping my voice.
My latest piece breaks down the workflows that worked.
open.substack.com/pub/artifici...
What Effective AI Writing Assistance Can Look Like (Hint: It Doesn't Write for You)
Use cases where AI enhances your writing process rather than replacing it
open.substack.com
August 27, 2025 at 3:25 PM
Effective AI writing assistance doesn't involve AI writing for you.
When I was concussed, I experimented with AI to support my writing while keeping my voice.
My latest piece breaks down the workflows that worked.
open.substack.com/pub/artifici...
When I was concussed, I experimented with AI to support my writing while keeping my voice.
My latest piece breaks down the workflows that worked.
open.substack.com/pub/artifici...
Labubu is a spectrum
August 25, 2025 at 10:26 PM
Labubu is a spectrum
A friend in Beijing had a Labubu on his briefcase before a client meeting. When advised to put it away: “Trust me.”
Client: “Nice Labubu! Hard to get and expensive. Business must be going well.”
Here I explore “cuteness” as a strategic asset in my latest: open.substack.com/pub/ncotemun...
Client: “Nice Labubu! Hard to get and expensive. Business must be going well.”
Here I explore “cuteness” as a strategic asset in my latest: open.substack.com/pub/ncotemun...
The Labubu Phenomenon: What Cute Culture Reveals About Modern Soft Power
Why we should pay more attention to China's accidental cultural export
open.substack.com
August 22, 2025 at 4:21 PM
A friend in Beijing had a Labubu on his briefcase before a client meeting. When advised to put it away: “Trust me.”
Client: “Nice Labubu! Hard to get and expensive. Business must be going well.”
Here I explore “cuteness” as a strategic asset in my latest: open.substack.com/pub/ncotemun...
Client: “Nice Labubu! Hard to get and expensive. Business must be going well.”
Here I explore “cuteness” as a strategic asset in my latest: open.substack.com/pub/ncotemun...
Reposted by Natalia Cote-Muñoz
Washington DC right now like: I’m at the ICE raid. I’m at the FBI stop. I’m at the combination National Guard-Metropolitan Police Department-ATF-DEA-U.S. Marshall-Park Police-FBI-ICE raid stop checkpoint.
August 15, 2025 at 8:36 PM
Washington DC right now like: I’m at the ICE raid. I’m at the FBI stop. I’m at the combination National Guard-Metropolitan Police Department-ATF-DEA-U.S. Marshall-Park Police-FBI-ICE raid stop checkpoint.
Reposted by Natalia Cote-Muñoz
I don't get the blanket resistance to AI art. As if obsession and choice haven't been acknowledged as valid facets of art practice for at least a century.
August 19, 2025 at 5:05 AM
I don't get the blanket resistance to AI art. As if obsession and choice haven't been acknowledged as valid facets of art practice for at least a century.
Washington DC right now like: I’m at the ICE raid. I’m at the FBI stop. I’m at the combination National Guard-Metropolitan Police Department-ATF-DEA-U.S. Marshall-Park Police-FBI-ICE raid stop checkpoint.
August 15, 2025 at 8:36 PM
Washington DC right now like: I’m at the ICE raid. I’m at the FBI stop. I’m at the combination National Guard-Metropolitan Police Department-ATF-DEA-U.S. Marshall-Park Police-FBI-ICE raid stop checkpoint.
Reposted by Natalia Cote-Muñoz
Yes. Yes yes yes yes yes. @ncotemunoz.bsky.social on the money again.
This is what most of those who can’t understand why I — a critical thinker and lover of language, artists’ rights, and creative expression — use AI.
And why and how it’s genuinely changed my life.
This is what most of those who can’t understand why I — a critical thinker and lover of language, artists’ rights, and creative expression — use AI.
And why and how it’s genuinely changed my life.
July 19, 2025 at 1:31 AM
Yes. Yes yes yes yes yes. @ncotemunoz.bsky.social on the money again.
This is what most of those who can’t understand why I — a critical thinker and lover of language, artists’ rights, and creative expression — use AI.
And why and how it’s genuinely changed my life.
This is what most of those who can’t understand why I — a critical thinker and lover of language, artists’ rights, and creative expression — use AI.
And why and how it’s genuinely changed my life.
TL;DR: the CEO of Gumroad moonlit at DOGE, created AI slop code that slashed veterans’ benefits, talked about it openly and posted code on GitHub, got fired. The biggest story nobody is talking about here👇
open.substack.com/pub/artifici...
open.substack.com/pub/artifici...
“Munching” Veterans Affairs
How Weaponized AI Slop Facilitated Institutional Demolition
open.substack.com
June 21, 2025 at 4:50 PM
TL;DR: the CEO of Gumroad moonlit at DOGE, created AI slop code that slashed veterans’ benefits, talked about it openly and posted code on GitHub, got fired. The biggest story nobody is talking about here👇
open.substack.com/pub/artifici...
open.substack.com/pub/artifici...
Reposted by Natalia Cote-Muñoz
Check out the AI and data newsletters of these folks recently added to the directory:
@sarah-j-smith.bsky.social
@annaloverus.com
@itselisadavis.bsky.social
@hollyjones1.bsky.social
@ncotemunoz.bsky.social
@hlntnr.bsky.social
@sarah-j-smith.bsky.social
@annaloverus.com
@itselisadavis.bsky.social
@hollyjones1.bsky.social
@ncotemunoz.bsky.social
@hlntnr.bsky.social
May 21, 2025 at 4:33 AM
Check out the AI and data newsletters of these folks recently added to the directory:
@sarah-j-smith.bsky.social
@annaloverus.com
@itselisadavis.bsky.social
@hollyjones1.bsky.social
@ncotemunoz.bsky.social
@hlntnr.bsky.social
@sarah-j-smith.bsky.social
@annaloverus.com
@itselisadavis.bsky.social
@hollyjones1.bsky.social
@ncotemunoz.bsky.social
@hlntnr.bsky.social
My latest for @artificialinquiry.bsky.social
MY LATEST: HE PHILOSOPHER WHO NEVER WAS:
#Hypnocracy by Jianwei Xun stunned intellectuals—until revealed: Xun doesn't exist. And the book was written by #ArtificialIntelligence
I dissect this case, its implications for #philosophy, #ethics, and #publishing here: bit.ly/43weDkC
#Hypnocracy by Jianwei Xun stunned intellectuals—until revealed: Xun doesn't exist. And the book was written by #ArtificialIntelligence
I dissect this case, its implications for #philosophy, #ethics, and #publishing here: bit.ly/43weDkC
The Philosopher Who Never Was: How AI-Human Collaboration Created Hypnocracy
Inside the controversial experiment that blurred the lines between human and machine authorship
bit.ly
May 20, 2025 at 6:39 PM
My latest for @artificialinquiry.bsky.social
My latest for @inkstickmedia.com :
Pope Francis revolutionized diplomacy without armies or sanctions - just moral clarity. He proved influence can be relational, not transactional.
His death leaves a void when values-driven diplomacy is needed most.
Read here:
bit.ly/3YI7dsV
Pope Francis revolutionized diplomacy without armies or sanctions - just moral clarity. He proved influence can be relational, not transactional.
His death leaves a void when values-driven diplomacy is needed most.
Read here:
bit.ly/3YI7dsV
Pope Francis Left Behind a Diplomatic Toolkit for a Fractured World
The late Pope Francis wasn't without shortcomings, but he left behind a diplomatic toolkit that offers hope to a fractured world.
bit.ly
May 13, 2025 at 3:38 PM
My latest for @inkstickmedia.com :
Pope Francis revolutionized diplomacy without armies or sanctions - just moral clarity. He proved influence can be relational, not transactional.
His death leaves a void when values-driven diplomacy is needed most.
Read here:
bit.ly/3YI7dsV
Pope Francis revolutionized diplomacy without armies or sanctions - just moral clarity. He proved influence can be relational, not transactional.
His death leaves a void when values-driven diplomacy is needed most.
Read here:
bit.ly/3YI7dsV
Reposted by Natalia Cote-Muñoz
Pope Francis made moral credibility a diplomatic asset in an age of hard power.
By: @ncotemunoz.bsky.social
inkstickmedia.com/pope-francis...
By: @ncotemunoz.bsky.social
inkstickmedia.com/pope-francis...
Pope Francis Left Behind a Diplomatic Toolkit for a Fractured World
The late Pope Francis wasn't without shortcomings, but he left behind a diplomatic toolkit that offers hope to a fractured world.
inkstickmedia.com
May 13, 2025 at 2:03 PM
Pope Francis made moral credibility a diplomatic asset in an age of hard power.
By: @ncotemunoz.bsky.social
inkstickmedia.com/pope-francis...
By: @ncotemunoz.bsky.social
inkstickmedia.com/pope-francis...
Reposted by Natalia Cote-Muñoz
#2 this week on AI and art:
New post: "Cut, Paste, Prompt" ✂️
What if AI art isn't replacing creativity—but evolving collage?
From Cubists with glue sticks to Midjourney prompts, this piece explores how prompting = conceptual assemblage—and why authorship still matters.
Read: bit.ly/4dqSI2R
#AIart #collage #prompting
What if AI art isn't replacing creativity—but evolving collage?
From Cubists with glue sticks to Midjourney prompts, this piece explores how prompting = conceptual assemblage—and why authorship still matters.
Read: bit.ly/4dqSI2R
#AIart #collage #prompting
Cut, Paste, Prompt: AI Art as Digital Collage
How the Latest Creative Technology Continues (and Diverges From) a Century-Old Artistic Tradition
artificialinquiry.substack.com
May 7, 2025 at 11:52 PM
#2 this week on AI and art:
“I used AI to vibe code an app that made me a millionaire”
Well I used AI to help me re-learn HTML I haven’t used since the 90s and make a single use website about an ant rebellion
ant-rebellion.glitch.me
Well I used AI to help me re-learn HTML I haven’t used since the 90s and make a single use website about an ant rebellion
ant-rebellion.glitch.me
May 9, 2025 at 1:17 PM
“I used AI to vibe code an app that made me a millionaire”
Well I used AI to help me re-learn HTML I haven’t used since the 90s and make a single use website about an ant rebellion
ant-rebellion.glitch.me
Well I used AI to help me re-learn HTML I haven’t used since the 90s and make a single use website about an ant rebellion
ant-rebellion.glitch.me
#2 this week on AI and art:
New post: "Cut, Paste, Prompt" ✂️
What if AI art isn't replacing creativity—but evolving collage?
From Cubists with glue sticks to Midjourney prompts, this piece explores how prompting = conceptual assemblage—and why authorship still matters.
Read: bit.ly/4dqSI2R
#AIart #collage #prompting
What if AI art isn't replacing creativity—but evolving collage?
From Cubists with glue sticks to Midjourney prompts, this piece explores how prompting = conceptual assemblage—and why authorship still matters.
Read: bit.ly/4dqSI2R
#AIart #collage #prompting
Cut, Paste, Prompt: AI Art as Digital Collage
How the Latest Creative Technology Continues (and Diverges From) a Century-Old Artistic Tradition
artificialinquiry.substack.com
May 7, 2025 at 11:52 PM
#2 this week on AI and art:
My latest for @artificialinquiry.bsky.social
From coded geometry to DALL-E dreams: I had an AI historian trace how machines learned to make art. The results? A philosophical journey through creativity itself. New on Artificial Inquiry 👇 bit.ly/4m37D77
The Algorithmic Muse: How AI Art Fits Into Art History
A new deep dive into the phases of AI creativity—and why the human questions behind it are as old as art itself.
bit.ly
May 6, 2025 at 3:49 PM
My latest for @artificialinquiry.bsky.social
Reposted by Natalia Cote-Muñoz
A última vez que eu pisei na China foi em 2019 e eu peguei muito o período citado pela Natalia. Tenho pensado muito sobre esse tempo, sobre como escrevo uma newsletter sobre China e tenho estado fisicamente distante sabendo as mudanças bruscas que acontecem em 6 meses na China, que dirá em 6 anos.
“In China, a 5-year absence can leave you 30 years behind."
After 8 years away, I returned to find my Beijing replaced by something new—digitally seamless yet strangely distant.
Read here:
bit.ly/4jggZuu
After 8 years away, I returned to find my Beijing replaced by something new—digitally seamless yet strangely distant.
Read here:
bit.ly/4jggZuu
The China That Replaced Mine
A Return After Nearly a Decade to a Country That Never Stays Still - A personal journey returning to China after 8 years reveals dramatic transformations in technology, urban spaces, and social dynami...
bit.ly
May 4, 2025 at 12:38 PM
A última vez que eu pisei na China foi em 2019 e eu peguei muito o período citado pela Natalia. Tenho pensado muito sobre esse tempo, sobre como escrevo uma newsletter sobre China e tenho estado fisicamente distante sabendo as mudanças bruscas que acontecem em 6 meses na China, que dirá em 6 anos.
Reposted by Natalia Cote-Muñoz
What happens when AI refuses to vote—then quietly picks the same candidates anyway?
I asked 6 top models how they’d vote.
Their answers? Reasonable. Predictable. Almost… ideological.
The catch:
Their values aren’t how they’re used.
Read here:
bit.ly/4jgEJhV
I asked 6 top models how they’d vote.
Their answers? Reasonable. Predictable. Almost… ideological.
The catch:
Their values aren’t how they’re used.
Read here:
bit.ly/4jgEJhV
Empiricocracy: The Ideology Beneath the Interface
What Six LLMs Told Me About Voting, Values, and the Strange Politics of Machine Conscience -- What happens when artificial intelligence simulates political values, but is deployed in ways that contrad...
bit.ly
April 22, 2025 at 3:17 PM
What happens when AI refuses to vote—then quietly picks the same candidates anyway?
I asked 6 top models how they’d vote.
Their answers? Reasonable. Predictable. Almost… ideological.
The catch:
Their values aren’t how they’re used.
Read here:
bit.ly/4jgEJhV
I asked 6 top models how they’d vote.
Their answers? Reasonable. Predictable. Almost… ideological.
The catch:
Their values aren’t how they’re used.
Read here:
bit.ly/4jgEJhV
I asked 6 LLMs how they would make decisions in elections and applied it to the 2024 US & Mexico Presidential elections and 2022 Colombia presidential election.
They all voted for Kamala and Petro and were split for Mexico.
What does that mean? Read below for more.
bit.ly/4jgEJhV
They all voted for Kamala and Petro and were split for Mexico.
What does that mean? Read below for more.
bit.ly/4jgEJhV
Empiricocracy: The Ideology Beneath the Interface
What Six LLMs Told Me About Voting, Values, and the Strange Politics of Machine Conscience -- What happens when artificial intelligence simulates political values, but is deployed in ways that contrad...
bit.ly
April 22, 2025 at 3:17 PM
I asked 6 LLMs how they would make decisions in elections and applied it to the 2024 US & Mexico Presidential elections and 2022 Colombia presidential election.
They all voted for Kamala and Petro and were split for Mexico.
What does that mean? Read below for more.
bit.ly/4jgEJhV
They all voted for Kamala and Petro and were split for Mexico.
What does that mean? Read below for more.
bit.ly/4jgEJhV