Philip Eil
@phileil.bsky.social
Journalist.
Cat dad.
Rhode Islander.
Author of "Prescription for Pain: How a Once-Promising Doctor Became the 'Pill Mill Killer.'"
https://philipeil.com/
Cat dad.
Rhode Islander.
Author of "Prescription for Pain: How a Once-Promising Doctor Became the 'Pill Mill Killer.'"
https://philipeil.com/
2026 is already significantly more embarrassing and dread-inducing than 2025.
January 6, 2026 at 9:12 PM
2026 is already significantly more embarrassing and dread-inducing than 2025.
Reposted by Philip Eil
is it the AI bot that "won't stop" making creepy images? or is it the human man who has the ability to stop the AI bot from doing literally anything at all??? who can say, what a mystery
The mother of one of Elon Musk's children says his AI bot won't stop creating sexualized images of her
Ashley St. Clair, known for her fiery commentary online, says X has been slow to respond to the issue. The chatbot has recently been scrutinized for creating sexualized images of minors.
www.nbcnews.com
January 6, 2026 at 9:11 PM
is it the AI bot that "won't stop" making creepy images? or is it the human man who has the ability to stop the AI bot from doing literally anything at all??? who can say, what a mystery
Here's something I wrote in late 2020, as the first Trump administration came to an end:
Get ready for the Trump revisionism
One final challenge for the media
theweek.com
January 6, 2026 at 6:29 PM
Here's something I wrote in late 2020, as the first Trump administration came to an end:
Reposted by Philip Eil
An important victory for freedom of information.
NEW: A judge ruled Dec. 30 in my lawsuit that Northwestern DA David Sullivan’s office cannot block the public from seeing the names and case numbers of police officers who have been charged with crimes like possession of child pornography, assault and battery, and driving under the influence.
VICTORY: Northwestern DA must release names of cops charged with crimes, judge rules
DA’s office ordered to release accused officers’ names and case numbers—and pay The Mass Dump’s legal fees
andrewqmr.substack.com
January 6, 2026 at 6:18 PM
An important victory for freedom of information.
Reposted by Philip Eil
photos from Trump's speech to House Republicans
(Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty)
(Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty)
January 6, 2026 at 5:08 PM
photos from Trump's speech to House Republicans
(Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty)
(Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty)
Reposted by Philip Eil
Not crazy to say there was a much clearer criminal case against MBS, who ordered the murder of an American newspaper columnist, than there is against Maduro.
BARTIROMO: With all due respect, I think the goal here is to stop the drug and human trafficking into America, and I don't think Saudi Arabia is sending fentanyl into America
RAND PAUL: Well, neither does Venezuela
RAND PAUL: Well, neither does Venezuela
January 6, 2026 at 3:39 PM
Not crazy to say there was a much clearer criminal case against MBS, who ordered the murder of an American newspaper columnist, than there is against Maduro.
If you're wondering how January 6th might be remembered decades from now, I present this inscription on a Civil War statue/memorial on the Texas Capitol grounds. Pic from me when I visited in 2022.
January 6, 2026 at 3:37 PM
If you're wondering how January 6th might be remembered decades from now, I present this inscription on a Civil War statue/memorial on the Texas Capitol grounds. Pic from me when I visited in 2022.
Reposted by Philip Eil
There’s so much Miller on the timeline, cleansing with Dolly Parton and a cat ✨
January 6, 2026 at 1:44 AM
There’s so much Miller on the timeline, cleansing with Dolly Parton and a cat ✨
I was reading a bit about Tony Dokoupil and...what?
![Text that reads:
Dokoupil was born in Connecticut on December 24, 1980. He is of Czech descent.[2][3] His mother, Ann, worked as a teacher, while his father, Anthony, was a marijuana dealer. Growing up, Dokoupil was told of his father's involvement in real estate, which was a front.[4][5] His family relocated to Miami shortly after he was born.[6] Dokoupil and his mother relocated to Maryland when he was six,[4] where he attended Severna Park High School.[7] He later studied business at George Washington University, graduating first in his class, and pursued media studies at Columbia University.[3][8]](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:qihxhxlsmo7gak74npeoy3ct/bafkreigy7o2576mrpy3ieyb6iz3dt4gxq6mtirtadcfcyljewypylfkwai@jpeg)
January 6, 2026 at 3:22 PM
I was reading a bit about Tony Dokoupil and...what?
Reposted by Philip Eil
The judge in Maduro's prosecution is 92, which means he may be too busy with his Senate campaign to give the trial his full attention.
January 6, 2026 at 3:10 PM
The judge in Maduro's prosecution is 92, which means he may be too busy with his Senate campaign to give the trial his full attention.
I expect this year's State of the Union address to be super-normal. Extremely normal, even.
January 6, 2026 at 3:10 PM
I expect this year's State of the Union address to be super-normal. Extremely normal, even.
I'm continuing to give "News Media in the Misinformation Age" talks/discussions at libraries (and anywhere else within reasonable driving distance that's interested) in 2026. This includes all of RI and parts of Mass. and Connecticut.
Get in touch if interested!
A description from a recent one:
Get in touch if interested!
A description from a recent one:
News Media in the Misinformation Age: A Talk by Phillip Eil
In today’s world of 24-hour news, social media algorithms, and rampant misinformation, staying informed can feel overwhelming. Join acclaimed journalist Philip Eil for a...
pawtucketlibrary.libcal.com
January 6, 2026 at 2:57 PM
I'm continuing to give "News Media in the Misinformation Age" talks/discussions at libraries (and anywhere else within reasonable driving distance that's interested) in 2026. This includes all of RI and parts of Mass. and Connecticut.
Get in touch if interested!
A description from a recent one:
Get in touch if interested!
A description from a recent one:
Reposted by Philip Eil
Nicolás Maduro Charged With Felony Oil Possession
January 5, 2026 at 7:00 PM
Nicolás Maduro Charged With Felony Oil Possession
Do any Rhode Island folks know how much, exactly, our local public radio and TV stations previously received in funding from the CPB each year? Both in the raw amount and the percentage of the stations' annual budget?
I've wondered about this since Trump & co.'s funding cuts.
I've wondered about this since Trump & co.'s funding cuts.
January 6, 2026 at 2:31 PM
The brilliant @sulliview.bsky.social gets at *exactly* what bothered me so much about CBS Evening News declaring "We love America” as a guiding principle.
"Journalists and their news orgs can show their patriotism by doing their jobs of seeking the truth, no matter who it offends. They can serve the public by reporting honestly & deeply on what their government is up to and why even if that means they lose access or get sued."
@sulliview.bsky.social
@sulliview.bsky.social
Should the news media 'love America'? Here's how.
Not the way CBS News seems to have in mind
open.substack.com
January 6, 2026 at 2:15 PM
The brilliant @sulliview.bsky.social gets at *exactly* what bothered me so much about CBS Evening News declaring "We love America” as a guiding principle.
Do any Rhode Island folks know how much, exactly, our local public radio and TV stations previously received in funding from the CPB each year? Both in the raw amount and the percentage of the stations' annual budget?
I've wondered about this since Trump & co.'s funding cuts.
I've wondered about this since Trump & co.'s funding cuts.
January 6, 2026 at 2:02 PM
Do any Rhode Island folks know how much, exactly, our local public radio and TV stations previously received in funding from the CPB each year? Both in the raw amount and the percentage of the stations' annual budget?
I've wondered about this since Trump & co.'s funding cuts.
I've wondered about this since Trump & co.'s funding cuts.
Reposted by Philip Eil
We now live in the country the Jan. 6 attackers and coup plotters hoped to create.
January 6, 2026 at 1:05 PM
We now live in the country the Jan. 6 attackers and coup plotters hoped to create.
Reposted by Philip Eil
This @npr.org video is powerful. www.youtube.com/watch?v=CvL4...
Trump calls Jan 6 a “day of love.” This bodycam footage shows otherwise.
YouTube video by NPR
www.youtube.com
January 6, 2026 at 1:36 PM
This @npr.org video is powerful. www.youtube.com/watch?v=CvL4...
An important thing to remember about January 6, from 2022: "The Republican Party on Friday officially declared the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol and events that led to it 'legitimate political discourse,'..."
G.O.P. Declares Jan. 6 Attack ‘Legitimate Political Discourse’ (Published 2022)
www.nytimes.com
January 6, 2026 at 1:31 PM
An important thing to remember about January 6, from 2022: "The Republican Party on Friday officially declared the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol and events that led to it 'legitimate political discourse,'..."
Reposted by Philip Eil
Watching snow for the first time
January 6, 2026 at 1:23 PM
Watching snow for the first time
Reposted by Philip Eil
If any other American president let a staffer act this wildly above his pay grade while sounding like this it would be the scandal it deserved.
In that batshit insane interview?
Stephen Miller repeatedly (after 4:15) calls Venezuela an island.
I don't rule out that Miller doesn't know the difference between Venezuela and Greenland.
edition.cnn.com/2026/01/05/p...
Stephen Miller repeatedly (after 4:15) calls Venezuela an island.
I don't rule out that Miller doesn't know the difference between Venezuela and Greenland.
edition.cnn.com/2026/01/05/p...
Stephen Miller says US is using military threat to maintain control of Venezuela | CNN Politics
Senior White House aide Stephen Miller said in an interview with CNN’s Jake Tapper that the US is “in charge” of Venezuela because of the threat posed by the military forces that remain stationed just...
edition.cnn.com
January 6, 2026 at 1:01 PM
If any other American president let a staffer act this wildly above his pay grade while sounding like this it would be the scandal it deserved.
Reposted by Philip Eil
A reminder - before Trump, MAGA, Musk and Fox rewrote history - that this is what the entire country agreed had happened five years ago today:
January 6, 2026 at 12:40 PM
A reminder - before Trump, MAGA, Musk and Fox rewrote history - that this is what the entire country agreed had happened five years ago today:
We are in such a dark place.
Trump’s Post About Slain Minnesota Lawmaker Dismays Her Children
The son and daughter of Melissa and Mark Hortman have asked the president to remove a social media post promoting a conspiracy theory about the assassination
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/05/u...
The son and daughter of Melissa and Mark Hortman have asked the president to remove a social media post promoting a conspiracy theory about the assassination
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/05/u...
Trump’s Post About Slain Minnesota Lawmaker Dismays Her Children
www.nytimes.com
January 6, 2026 at 2:58 AM
We are in such a dark place.
Reposted by Philip Eil
“Any woman.”
Watched the America250 projection on the Washington Monument tonight. Mentioned: Columbus, Ford, Edison, Lewis & Clark, both World Wars, AI. Not mentioned: The Civil War, Lincoln, Native Americans, immigration, slavery, race, civil rights, MLK, Vietnam, or any woman.
January 6, 2026 at 2:22 AM
“Any woman.”
Went for a walk today in Providence. Took this pic.
January 5, 2026 at 9:53 PM
Went for a walk today in Providence. Took this pic.