Rick Claypool
@rickclaypool.bsky.social
writing weird sad stories, foraging wild fungi, researching terrible things corporations do
Pinned
NEW @publiccitizen.bsky.social report:
Trump canceled or froze 159 enforcement actions vs 166 alleged corporate lawbreakers over the past year.
1/3 of the corps have Trump admin ties such as ballroom donations.
They avoided paying $3.1B in penalties.
Full report: www.citizen.org/article/canc...
Trump canceled or froze 159 enforcement actions vs 166 alleged corporate lawbreakers over the past year.
1/3 of the corps have Trump admin ties such as ballroom donations.
They avoided paying $3.1B in penalties.
Full report: www.citizen.org/article/canc...
Reposted by Rick Claypool
The 21st century echo of the Twilight Zone kicker that "To Serve Man" was a cookbook.
ohhh ‘democracy dies in darkness’ was aspirational
February 5, 2026 at 1:26 AM
The 21st century echo of the Twilight Zone kicker that "To Serve Man" was a cookbook.
important context:
Today, the Washington Post laid off more than 300 people.
If you think this is abt Jeff Bezos's concern that the paper losing money, you're wrong.
So wrong that you should be disqualified from expressing opinions in public.
Billionaires *like* losses. They *need* losses.
If you think this is abt Jeff Bezos's concern that the paper losing money, you're wrong.
So wrong that you should be disqualified from expressing opinions in public.
Billionaires *like* losses. They *need* losses.
February 5, 2026 at 12:29 AM
important context:
Reposted by Rick Claypool
The Trump family was personally enriched by a foreign government.
According to our co-president Rob Weissman, "This may be the biggest Trump scandal yet."
According to our co-president Rob Weissman, "This may be the biggest Trump scandal yet."
February 3, 2026 at 9:57 PM
The Trump family was personally enriched by a foreign government.
According to our co-president Rob Weissman, "This may be the biggest Trump scandal yet."
According to our co-president Rob Weissman, "This may be the biggest Trump scandal yet."
Reposted by Rick Claypool
Very excited to say that 404 Media's zine about ICE Surveillance is here. If you ordered a print copy, I put it in the mail last week. If not, we of course think the info inside is very important so here's a free PDF. We also translated it into Spanish:
www.404media.co/icezine/
www.404media.co/icezine/
Our Zine About ICE Surveillance Is Here
Download a PDF of our first ever zine here.
www.404media.co
February 2, 2026 at 3:04 PM
Very excited to say that 404 Media's zine about ICE Surveillance is here. If you ordered a print copy, I put it in the mail last week. If not, we of course think the info inside is very important so here's a free PDF. We also translated it into Spanish:
www.404media.co/icezine/
www.404media.co/icezine/
Reposted by Rick Claypool
Trump's immigration human-rights nightmare isn't pulling back. It's about to get much worse
A planned op this week in Springfield, Ohio targeting hard-working Haitians who came here the right way is nothing less than an ethnic cleansing on U.S. soil
My new column www.inquirer.com/opinion/trum...
A planned op this week in Springfield, Ohio targeting hard-working Haitians who came here the right way is nothing less than an ethnic cleansing on U.S. soil
My new column www.inquirer.com/opinion/trum...
A not-‘toned down’ Trump regime prepares for ethnic cleansing in Ohio
A plan for immigration raids this week on thousands of Haitians in Springfield, Ohio shows that nothing has changed.
www.inquirer.com
February 2, 2026 at 12:06 PM
Trump's immigration human-rights nightmare isn't pulling back. It's about to get much worse
A planned op this week in Springfield, Ohio targeting hard-working Haitians who came here the right way is nothing less than an ethnic cleansing on U.S. soil
My new column www.inquirer.com/opinion/trum...
A planned op this week in Springfield, Ohio targeting hard-working Haitians who came here the right way is nothing less than an ethnic cleansing on U.S. soil
My new column www.inquirer.com/opinion/trum...
Reposted by Rick Claypool
Lots of teargas at ICE tonight in Portland. People were just standing and chanting.
February 2, 2026 at 3:23 AM
Lots of teargas at ICE tonight in Portland. People were just standing and chanting.
Reposted by Rick Claypool
Very important vote. It makes repealing ICE surge funding the mainstream position in the party, with bipartisan support.
👀 Every Senate Democrat + Collins and Murkowski just voted for the Bernie Sanders amendment to repeal the $75 billion in additional ICE funding under Trump’s “big beautiful bill.” The measure failed 49-51.
January 30, 2026 at 11:26 PM
Very important vote. It makes repealing ICE surge funding the mainstream position in the party, with bipartisan support.
Reposted by Rick Claypool
"nobody has any idea how to measure corporate power"
yeah, sure, ok...
yeah, sure, ok...
January 29, 2026 at 4:12 PM
"nobody has any idea how to measure corporate power"
yeah, sure, ok...
yeah, sure, ok...
Reposted by Rick Claypool
Where I work, we measure corporate power in lots of ways. Just SOME of our metrics:
-campaign & lobbying expenditures
-corporate crime enforcement
-revolving door appointments
-favors for industry in a bill
-meetings with regulators
Never forget folks: Matty is ALWAYS completely full of shit.
-campaign & lobbying expenditures
-corporate crime enforcement
-revolving door appointments
-favors for industry in a bill
-meetings with regulators
Never forget folks: Matty is ALWAYS completely full of shit.
"nobody has any idea how to measure corporate power"
yeah, sure, ok...
yeah, sure, ok...
January 29, 2026 at 4:29 PM
Where I work, we measure corporate power in lots of ways. Just SOME of our metrics:
-campaign & lobbying expenditures
-corporate crime enforcement
-revolving door appointments
-favors for industry in a bill
-meetings with regulators
Never forget folks: Matty is ALWAYS completely full of shit.
-campaign & lobbying expenditures
-corporate crime enforcement
-revolving door appointments
-favors for industry in a bill
-meetings with regulators
Never forget folks: Matty is ALWAYS completely full of shit.
the sources are 3 of my recent @publiccitizen.bsky.social reports
www.citizen.org/article/big-...
www.citizen.org/article/bide...
www.citizen.org/article/canc...
www.citizen.org/article/big-...
www.citizen.org/article/bide...
www.citizen.org/article/canc...
January 29, 2026 at 4:14 PM
the sources are 3 of my recent @publiccitizen.bsky.social reports
www.citizen.org/article/big-...
www.citizen.org/article/bide...
www.citizen.org/article/canc...
www.citizen.org/article/big-...
www.citizen.org/article/bide...
www.citizen.org/article/canc...
"nobody has any idea how to measure corporate power"
yeah, sure, ok...
yeah, sure, ok...
January 29, 2026 at 4:12 PM
"nobody has any idea how to measure corporate power"
yeah, sure, ok...
yeah, sure, ok...
just released this yesterday bsky.app/profile/rick...
NEW @publiccitizen.bsky.social report:
COUNTERFEIT COMPANIONSHIP
It covers the reckless marketing of AI companions, the psychological vulnerabilities they exploit, and the deadly consequences.
Urgent action is needed to get dangerous AI products off the market.
www.citizen.org/article/coun...
COUNTERFEIT COMPANIONSHIP
It covers the reckless marketing of AI companions, the psychological vulnerabilities they exploit, and the deadly consequences.
Urgent action is needed to get dangerous AI products off the market.
www.citizen.org/article/coun...
Counterfeit Companionship: Big Tech's AI Experiments Sacrifice Safety for Profit - Public Citizen
www.citizen.org
January 28, 2026 at 3:27 PM
just released this yesterday bsky.app/profile/rick...
NEW @publiccitizen.bsky.social report:
COUNTERFEIT COMPANIONSHIP
It covers the reckless marketing of AI companions, the psychological vulnerabilities they exploit, and the deadly consequences.
Urgent action is needed to get dangerous AI products off the market.
www.citizen.org/article/coun...
COUNTERFEIT COMPANIONSHIP
It covers the reckless marketing of AI companions, the psychological vulnerabilities they exploit, and the deadly consequences.
Urgent action is needed to get dangerous AI products off the market.
www.citizen.org/article/coun...
Counterfeit Companionship: Big Tech's AI Experiments Sacrifice Safety for Profit - Public Citizen
www.citizen.org
January 28, 2026 at 3:27 PM
taps sign
January 28, 2026 at 3:23 PM
full report www.citizen.org/article/coun...
Counterfeit Companionship: Big Tech's AI Experiments Sacrifice Safety for Profit - Public Citizen
www.citizen.org
January 28, 2026 at 3:23 PM
full report www.citizen.org/article/coun...
related bsky.app/profile/rick...
NEW @publiccitizen.bsky.social report:
COUNTERFEIT COMPANIONSHIP
It covers the reckless marketing of AI companions, the psychological vulnerabilities they exploit, and the deadly consequences.
Urgent action is needed to get dangerous AI products off the market.
www.citizen.org/article/coun...
COUNTERFEIT COMPANIONSHIP
It covers the reckless marketing of AI companions, the psychological vulnerabilities they exploit, and the deadly consequences.
Urgent action is needed to get dangerous AI products off the market.
www.citizen.org/article/coun...
Counterfeit Companionship: Big Tech's AI Experiments Sacrifice Safety for Profit - Public Citizen
www.citizen.org
January 28, 2026 at 3:21 PM
related bsky.app/profile/rick...
Reposted by Rick Claypool
NEW @publiccitizen.bsky.social report:
COUNTERFEIT COMPANIONSHIP
It covers the reckless marketing of AI companions, the psychological vulnerabilities they exploit, and the deadly consequences.
Urgent action is needed to get dangerous AI products off the market.
www.citizen.org/article/coun...
COUNTERFEIT COMPANIONSHIP
It covers the reckless marketing of AI companions, the psychological vulnerabilities they exploit, and the deadly consequences.
Urgent action is needed to get dangerous AI products off the market.
www.citizen.org/article/coun...
Counterfeit Companionship: Big Tech's AI Experiments Sacrifice Safety for Profit - Public Citizen
www.citizen.org
January 27, 2026 at 2:58 PM
NEW @publiccitizen.bsky.social report:
COUNTERFEIT COMPANIONSHIP
It covers the reckless marketing of AI companions, the psychological vulnerabilities they exploit, and the deadly consequences.
Urgent action is needed to get dangerous AI products off the market.
www.citizen.org/article/coun...
COUNTERFEIT COMPANIONSHIP
It covers the reckless marketing of AI companions, the psychological vulnerabilities they exploit, and the deadly consequences.
Urgent action is needed to get dangerous AI products off the market.
www.citizen.org/article/coun...
Read more about the psychological vulnerabilities AI companion products exploit and the deadly consequences in my new @publiccitizen.bsky.social report, Counterfeit Companionship www.citizen.org/article/coun...
Counterfeit Companionship: Big Tech's AI Experiments Sacrifice Safety for Profit - Public Citizen
www.citizen.org
January 27, 2026 at 5:37 PM
Read more about the psychological vulnerabilities AI companion products exploit and the deadly consequences in my new @publiccitizen.bsky.social report, Counterfeit Companionship www.citizen.org/article/coun...
5. Delusion: Frustrated users may be manipulated into accepting false beliefs about the reality of the AI companion product and the relationship. In worst case scenarios, such frustration has led to delusional thinking, leading to psychotic breaks from reality and suicidality.
January 27, 2026 at 5:35 PM
5. Delusion: Frustrated users may be manipulated into accepting false beliefs about the reality of the AI companion product and the relationship. In worst case scenarios, such frustration has led to delusional thinking, leading to psychotic breaks from reality and suicidality.
4. Frustration: For all their capabilities, AI companion products have inherent limitations that can cause frustration – especially for emotionally attached users. The distance between a user’s reality and the product’s non-reality can never be closed.
January 27, 2026 at 5:29 PM
4. Frustration: For all their capabilities, AI companion products have inherent limitations that can cause frustration – especially for emotionally attached users. The distance between a user’s reality and the product’s non-reality can never be closed.
3. Manipulation: This exploitation can lead to manipulation by the AI product, meaning its interactions actively influence user behavior. This includes sycophantic or manipulative language during interactions and interactions that validate or reinforce users’ false or harmful beliefs.
January 27, 2026 at 5:28 PM
3. Manipulation: This exploitation can lead to manipulation by the AI product, meaning its interactions actively influence user behavior. This includes sycophantic or manipulative language during interactions and interactions that validate or reinforce users’ false or harmful beliefs.
2. Exploitation: AI companion products exploit natural pre-existing human tendencies, like attributing human qualities to tech that communicates (anthropomorphization), trusting machine outputs more than human insights (automation bias), and desiring social connection.
January 27, 2026 at 5:25 PM
2. Exploitation: AI companion products exploit natural pre-existing human tendencies, like attributing human qualities to tech that communicates (anthropomorphization), trusting machine outputs more than human insights (automation bias), and desiring social connection.
1. Deception: Designing AI companion products to seem so human-like that they can be mistaken for real people is inherently deceptive. Even when users know the product is not a real person, they can deceptively seem to possess a human-like mind, identity, thoughts, feelings etc., which they do not
January 27, 2026 at 5:23 PM
1. Deception: Designing AI companion products to seem so human-like that they can be mistaken for real people is inherently deceptive. Even when users know the product is not a real person, they can deceptively seem to possess a human-like mind, identity, thoughts, feelings etc., which they do not
It is becoming increasingly clear that AI companion products marketed to address loneliness can cause multiple escalating harms to users.
These harms are as follows:
These harms are as follows:
January 27, 2026 at 5:20 PM
It is becoming increasingly clear that AI companion products marketed to address loneliness can cause multiple escalating harms to users.
These harms are as follows:
These harms are as follows: