Matt Novak
@paleofuture.bsky.social
Reporter at @Gizmodo.com.
I’ve been writing about the history of futurism at @Paleofuture.com since 2007.
Email: mnovak@gizmodo.com
Signal: mattnovak.11
I’ve been writing about the history of futurism at @Paleofuture.com since 2007.
Email: mnovak@gizmodo.com
Signal: mattnovak.11
Pinned
Why Are Federal Agents Using GoPros, Smart Glasses, and Phones to Record Us?
gizmodo.com
I wrote this before the new video was released today. But I think it's an important question.
Why was an ICE agent recording Renee Good in the first place?
Why was an ICE agent recording Renee Good in the first place?
“Based upon a very productive meeting that I have had with the Secretary General of NATO, Mark Rutte, we have formed the framework of a future deal with respect to Greenland and, in fact, the entire Arctic Region.”
January 21, 2026 at 7:32 PM
“Based upon a very productive meeting that I have had with the Secretary General of NATO, Mark Rutte, we have formed the framework of a future deal with respect to Greenland and, in fact, the entire Arctic Region.”
Reposted by Matt Novak
Video shows ICE agent enter St. Paul restaurant with gun drawn during street search bringmethenews.com/minnesota-ne...
Video shows ICE agent enter St. Paul restaurant with gun drawn during street search
The business owner says everyone in the restaurant "is ok, just a little traumatized."
bringmethenews.com
January 21, 2026 at 6:12 PM
Video shows ICE agent enter St. Paul restaurant with gun drawn during street search bringmethenews.com/minnesota-ne...
Reposted by Matt Novak
Still can't believe that the industry's just speedrunning Quibi all over again
Cover your eyes: Netflix vertical video is coming this year
Cover your eyes: Netflix vertical video is coming this year
Even traditional video-on-demand services are no longer safe, it seems: Netflix vertical video is coming later this year.
The company started testing the idea more than six months ago, and one of its co-CEOs has now confirmed that the move is going ahead …
more…
9to5mac.com
January 21, 2026 at 6:33 PM
Still can't believe that the industry's just speedrunning Quibi all over again
Reposted by Matt Novak
“The Party told you to reject the evidence of your eyes and ears. It was their final, most essential command.”
January 21, 2026 at 5:46 PM
“The Party told you to reject the evidence of your eyes and ears. It was their final, most essential command.”
Reposted by Matt Novak
NEWS: Pentagon ordered active-duty soldiers with a military police unit in NC to prepare for possible deployment to Minneapolis, three people familiar told @ms.now
Prepare to deploy order was issued yesterday for at least a few hundred members of an Army military police brigade based at Fort Bragg
Prepare to deploy order was issued yesterday for at least a few hundred members of an Army military police brigade based at Fort Bragg
January 21, 2026 at 4:17 PM
NEWS: Pentagon ordered active-duty soldiers with a military police unit in NC to prepare for possible deployment to Minneapolis, three people familiar told @ms.now
Prepare to deploy order was issued yesterday for at least a few hundred members of an Army military police brigade based at Fort Bragg
Prepare to deploy order was issued yesterday for at least a few hundred members of an Army military police brigade based at Fort Bragg
Reposted by Matt Novak
Here's a list of stores that will be closed in solidarity of the general strike in the Twin Cities planned for Friday.
January 21, 2026 at 3:25 PM
Here's a list of stores that will be closed in solidarity of the general strike in the Twin Cities planned for Friday.
Reposted by Matt Novak
Mafia goon: Nice house you got here...it'd be a shame if something happened to it
Media outlets: Mafia goon rules out use of force. Expresses regret at the mere thought of it
Media outlets: Mafia goon rules out use of force. Expresses regret at the mere thought of it
January 21, 2026 at 2:36 PM
Mafia goon: Nice house you got here...it'd be a shame if something happened to it
Media outlets: Mafia goon rules out use of force. Expresses regret at the mere thought of it
Media outlets: Mafia goon rules out use of force. Expresses regret at the mere thought of it
Reposted by Matt Novak
Woodrow Wilson couldn’t have said it better. bsky.app/profile/atru...
Trump: "Somalia -- they turned out to be higher IQ than we thought. I always say, 'These are low IQ people.' How did they go into Minnesota and steal all that money?"
January 21, 2026 at 3:53 PM
Woodrow Wilson couldn’t have said it better. bsky.app/profile/atru...
Reposted by Matt Novak
How do you think you’ll feel when the paramilitary drives by your kid’s elementary school in a show of force? I hope you never have to find out.
January 21, 2026 at 3:37 PM
How do you think you’ll feel when the paramilitary drives by your kid’s elementary school in a show of force? I hope you never have to find out.
Reposted by Matt Novak
ICE agents will come to the school patrol asking who the organizers are believing they’re like Soros shadow figures, and it’s like a bespectacled software engineer who didn’t know the names of more than 5 parents two weeks ago.
January 21, 2026 at 4:02 PM
ICE agents will come to the school patrol asking who the organizers are believing they’re like Soros shadow figures, and it’s like a bespectacled software engineer who didn’t know the names of more than 5 parents two weeks ago.
"The trip, which will include remarks in Minneapolis and a roundtable discussion with local leaders and members of the community..."
I can't wait to see what absolutely pathetic losers they roll out for this one.
I can't wait to see what absolutely pathetic losers they roll out for this one.
VP JD Vance is set to visit Minnesota, a person familiar with the plans tells NBC News, underscoring the White House's increased focus on the state.
Vance to visit Minneapolis as tensions over immigration operations escalate
The vice president will meet with local leaders and members of the community Thursday, a person familiar with the plans said.
nbcnews.to
January 21, 2026 at 4:02 PM
"The trip, which will include remarks in Minneapolis and a roundtable discussion with local leaders and members of the community..."
I can't wait to see what absolutely pathetic losers they roll out for this one.
I can't wait to see what absolutely pathetic losers they roll out for this one.
Reposted by Matt Novak
President Trump says he decided to levy a 39% tariff on Swiss exports because Helene Budliger Artieda, director of the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs, “just rubbed me the wrong way.”
January 21, 2026 at 2:45 PM
President Trump says he decided to levy a 39% tariff on Swiss exports because Helene Budliger Artieda, director of the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs, “just rubbed me the wrong way.”
Reposted by Matt Novak
Every day some story breaks me some. Today it’s the guy who approached parents at a school patrol, told them he was with Indivisible, and asked about how the patrol system works. The parents gave vague answers, followed him back to his car — and of course it was ICE.
January 21, 2026 at 2:12 PM
Every day some story breaks me some. Today it’s the guy who approached parents at a school patrol, told them he was with Indivisible, and asked about how the patrol system works. The parents gave vague answers, followed him back to his car — and of course it was ICE.
Reposted by Matt Novak
doggie diner sign, mcarthur boulevard & san pablo, oakland, california, 1977
January 21, 2026 at 2:36 PM
doggie diner sign, mcarthur boulevard & san pablo, oakland, california, 1977
His brain is mostly tapioca pudding at this point.
Good thing he doesn’t have the sole authority to launch a bunch of nuclear weapons.
*puts finger to earpiece* Sorry, I’m getting word from the control room that I am incorrect on that last part….
Good thing he doesn’t have the sole authority to launch a bunch of nuclear weapons.
*puts finger to earpiece* Sorry, I’m getting word from the control room that I am incorrect on that last part….
Trump is now confusing Greenland and Iceland: "They're not there for us on Iceland, that I can tell you. Our stock market took the first dip yesterday because of Iceland. So Iceland has already cost us a lot of money."
January 21, 2026 at 2:31 PM
His brain is mostly tapioca pudding at this point.
Good thing he doesn’t have the sole authority to launch a bunch of nuclear weapons.
*puts finger to earpiece* Sorry, I’m getting word from the control room that I am incorrect on that last part….
Good thing he doesn’t have the sole authority to launch a bunch of nuclear weapons.
*puts finger to earpiece* Sorry, I’m getting word from the control room that I am incorrect on that last part….
Reposted by Matt Novak
I'm listening to Trump at Davos and he said the US stock market took a large dip because of Iceland. "Iceland has already cost us a lot of money". What is he talking about??
January 21, 2026 at 2:23 PM
I'm listening to Trump at Davos and he said the US stock market took a large dip because of Iceland. "Iceland has already cost us a lot of money". What is he talking about??
Reposted by Matt Novak
What a fucking piece of shit we have for a president.
For instance: "Canada lives by the benefit of the United States. Remember that, Mark, when you make your statements."
January 21, 2026 at 2:23 PM
What a fucking piece of shit we have for a president.
Reposted by Matt Novak
If I walk up to you with hammer and say “I could break your knees if you don’t give me $20 but I won’t,” would you feel relieved that I’d ruled out breaking your knees?
January 21, 2026 at 2:17 PM
If I walk up to you with hammer and say “I could break your knees if you don’t give me $20 but I won’t,” would you feel relieved that I’d ruled out breaking your knees?
Reposted by Matt Novak
Attn news commentators: Trump saying he could use force to obtain Greenland but won’t is not Trump saying he won’t use force to obtain Greenland. It is Trump using force as a threat to obtain Greenland. That is why he mentions it.
January 21, 2026 at 2:16 PM
Attn news commentators: Trump saying he could use force to obtain Greenland but won’t is not Trump saying he won’t use force to obtain Greenland. It is Trump using force as a threat to obtain Greenland. That is why he mentions it.
This obviously isn’t the most important part here, but I’ve really noticed that he’s both heavier and has worse posture the past week or so.
Does anyone have any guesses on what that means medically? Just to give us all a little hope for the day…
Does anyone have any guesses on what that means medically? Just to give us all a little hope for the day…
Trump to Davos: "Without us, right now you'd all be speaking German and a little Japanese perhaps. After the war, we gave Greenland back to Denmark. How stupid were we to do that? But we did it. But how ungrateful are they now?"
January 21, 2026 at 2:19 PM
This obviously isn’t the most important part here, but I’ve really noticed that he’s both heavier and has worse posture the past week or so.
Does anyone have any guesses on what that means medically? Just to give us all a little hope for the day…
Does anyone have any guesses on what that means medically? Just to give us all a little hope for the day…
This shit is beyond parody.
Imagine walking up to people with a fascist “you ain’t from around here, are you boy?” swagger and complaining about someone’s accent when you… ain’t from around here and have an accent.
Imagine walking up to people with a fascist “you ain’t from around here, are you boy?” swagger and complaining about someone’s accent when you… ain’t from around here and have an accent.
Ramon Menera, a Columbia Heights resident and U.S. citizen, said he was detained by Border Patrol agents Jan. 14 after an agent told him his accent led officers to question where he was born.
The agent asking for Menera’s identification appeared to have an accent himself.
The agent asking for Menera’s identification appeared to have an accent himself.
January 21, 2026 at 2:12 PM
This shit is beyond parody.
Imagine walking up to people with a fascist “you ain’t from around here, are you boy?” swagger and complaining about someone’s accent when you… ain’t from around here and have an accent.
Imagine walking up to people with a fascist “you ain’t from around here, are you boy?” swagger and complaining about someone’s accent when you… ain’t from around here and have an accent.
Reposted by Matt Novak
Ramon Menera, a Columbia Heights resident and U.S. citizen, said he was detained by Border Patrol agents Jan. 14 after an agent told him his accent led officers to question where he was born.
The agent asking for Menera’s identification appeared to have an accent himself.
The agent asking for Menera’s identification appeared to have an accent himself.
January 21, 2026 at 12:13 AM
Ramon Menera, a Columbia Heights resident and U.S. citizen, said he was detained by Border Patrol agents Jan. 14 after an agent told him his accent led officers to question where he was born.
The agent asking for Menera’s identification appeared to have an accent himself.
The agent asking for Menera’s identification appeared to have an accent himself.
Reposted by Matt Novak
If there are any international lawyers left working in the U.S. government, they might want to explain to this fellow why territorial conquest is illegal.
BARTIROMO: I mean, we talk about evil action from Putin going into Ukraine. People are looking at Greenland and saying, 'How is it possible the US can acquire another country even though they're pushing back?'
LUTNICK: I don't remember Greenland being another country. We're not taking over Denmark.
LUTNICK: I don't remember Greenland being another country. We're not taking over Denmark.
January 21, 2026 at 1:09 PM
If there are any international lawyers left working in the U.S. government, they might want to explain to this fellow why territorial conquest is illegal.
Reposted by Matt Novak
your honor this is boring
January 2, 2025 at 5:08 PM
your honor this is boring
Reposted by Matt Novak
If you are an out of state federal agent, I suggest you wear lots of cotton. Keep it damp.
You need really advanced layering technique to be out in -20 with -40 windchill.
Your eyelashes freeze together.
Minnesotans are deeply skilled in this arena.
Your eyelashes freeze together.
Minnesotans are deeply skilled in this arena.
January 21, 2026 at 6:40 AM
If you are an out of state federal agent, I suggest you wear lots of cotton. Keep it damp.