Salomé Viljoen
@salome.bsky.social
Assistant Prof at Michigan Law || I think about how the law thinks about data || pro science and technology, anti scams
Pinned
Salomé Viljoen
@salome.bsky.social
· Mar 31
The Impact Map or Federal Cuts Tracker Map is finally live‼️
Check the 🗺️ out theimpactproject.org/the-impact-m...
Explore how federal cuts are affecting your state or community and share this WIDELY 🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼
Check the 🗺️ out theimpactproject.org/the-impact-m...
Explore how federal cuts are affecting your state or community and share this WIDELY 🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼
incredible resource here, please share!!
Reposted by Salomé Viljoen
I don't think the president should be able to steal $10 BILLION from the taxpayers just because he's decided he can
GALLEGO: Let's say Trump wins that lawsuit. Where would that $10 billion come from?
BESSENT: It would come from Treasury
GALLEGO: So, taxpayers?
BESSENT: Yes. Part of the 44,000 whose returns were leaked
GALLEGO: They're not suing
BESSENT: It would come from Treasury
GALLEGO: So, taxpayers?
BESSENT: Yes. Part of the 44,000 whose returns were leaked
GALLEGO: They're not suing
February 5, 2026 at 5:08 PM
I don't think the president should be able to steal $10 BILLION from the taxpayers just because he's decided he can
Reposted by Salomé Viljoen
This is the Yale professor's explanation for why he described the physical attractiveness of a student in an email to Epstein. He explicitly says he regrets nothing about their association.
Again, I'm so happy Yale hired David Brooks to restore trust.
yaledailynews.com/articles/gel...
Again, I'm so happy Yale hired David Brooks to restore trust.
yaledailynews.com/articles/gel...
February 5, 2026 at 4:14 PM
This is the Yale professor's explanation for why he described the physical attractiveness of a student in an email to Epstein. He explicitly says he regrets nothing about their association.
Again, I'm so happy Yale hired David Brooks to restore trust.
yaledailynews.com/articles/gel...
Again, I'm so happy Yale hired David Brooks to restore trust.
yaledailynews.com/articles/gel...
Reposted by Salomé Viljoen
the lesson any normal ppl would take from the epstein files is that some people will excuse anything in order to be proximal to money and power and these guys are like "well I know we're not in the emails but we want to remind people that we'll also do that"
This level of apologia (from Megan McArdle in a podcast with Josh Barro and Ross Douthat) is fucking appalling. Idk what else there is to say.
February 5, 2026 at 4:50 PM
the lesson any normal ppl would take from the epstein files is that some people will excuse anything in order to be proximal to money and power and these guys are like "well I know we're not in the emails but we want to remind people that we'll also do that"
the quality of the climate reporting is what has kept me subscribing to the Post through it all, this is just so infuriating...
I don't say this often but: I'm so proud to be a climate and environment reporter. We cover an issue that is vitally important to humanity and the natural world. 14 of my climate colleagues at the Post were laid off today and I'm devastated.
www.climatecoloredgoggles.com/p/washington...
www.climatecoloredgoggles.com/p/washington...
Breaking: Washington Post gutting its climate team
Clean energy dies in darkness. Courtesy of Jeff Bezos.
www.climatecoloredgoggles.com
February 5, 2026 at 5:01 PM
the quality of the climate reporting is what has kept me subscribing to the Post through it all, this is just so infuriating...
Reposted by Salomé Viljoen
Update: In the past week we've learned ICE has secured property to build human warehouses in Merrimack, NH and Williamsport, MD *as well as* Surprise, AZ; Upper Bern, PA; and Tremont, PA.
Facts that bear repeating.
Facts that bear repeating.
In the past week we've learned ICE has secured property to build human warehouses in Merrimack, NH and Williamsport, MD. Just some facts I think bear repeating.
February 4, 2026 at 5:35 PM
Update: In the past week we've learned ICE has secured property to build human warehouses in Merrimack, NH and Williamsport, MD *as well as* Surprise, AZ; Upper Bern, PA; and Tremont, PA.
Facts that bear repeating.
Facts that bear repeating.
Reposted by Salomé Viljoen
I think it's best for everyone to understand that the unified class project of billionaires right now is to do to white collar workers what globalization and neoliberalism did to blue collar workers.
February 4, 2026 at 7:41 PM
I think it's best for everyone to understand that the unified class project of billionaires right now is to do to white collar workers what globalization and neoliberalism did to blue collar workers.
Reposted by Salomé Viljoen
It's a story of magical thinking in assuming we could ever rely on benevolent billionaires to save journalism. It's also a story of oligarchs turning their backs on democracy and exploiting their media assets to advance class interests. Above all, it's a tragedy for news workers and for all of us.
February 4, 2026 at 8:26 PM
It's a story of magical thinking in assuming we could ever rely on benevolent billionaires to save journalism. It's also a story of oligarchs turning their backs on democracy and exploiting their media assets to advance class interests. Above all, it's a tragedy for news workers and for all of us.
Reposted by Salomé Viljoen
Really struck by Bezos, Lewis and Murray's single-minded commitment to purging all of the genuine talent from their publication.
My story on Elon Musk cutting safeguards at xAI is on the front page of today's @washingtonpost.com. I’m also among 100’s of reporters laid off. I absolutely loved my job my brilliant coworkers & the thrill of reporting @ the center of forces upending the world: AI & Silicon Valley’s political power
February 4, 2026 at 8:16 PM
Really struck by Bezos, Lewis and Murray's single-minded commitment to purging all of the genuine talent from their publication.
Reposted by Salomé Viljoen
My story on Elon Musk cutting safeguards at xAI is on the front page of today's @washingtonpost.com. I’m also among 100’s of reporters laid off. I absolutely loved my job my brilliant coworkers & the thrill of reporting @ the center of forces upending the world: AI & Silicon Valley’s political power
February 4, 2026 at 7:40 PM
My story on Elon Musk cutting safeguards at xAI is on the front page of today's @washingtonpost.com. I’m also among 100’s of reporters laid off. I absolutely loved my job my brilliant coworkers & the thrill of reporting @ the center of forces upending the world: AI & Silicon Valley’s political power
Reposted by Salomé Viljoen
Q: What did you mean when you said you should 'nationalize elections' & which 15 states are you talking about?
TRUMP: If a state can't run an election, I think the people behind me should do something about it. Look at Detroit, Pennsylvania, Atlanta -- horrible corruption on elections
TRUMP: If a state can't run an election, I think the people behind me should do something about it. Look at Detroit, Pennsylvania, Atlanta -- horrible corruption on elections
February 3, 2026 at 9:51 PM
Q: What did you mean when you said you should 'nationalize elections' & which 15 states are you talking about?
TRUMP: If a state can't run an election, I think the people behind me should do something about it. Look at Detroit, Pennsylvania, Atlanta -- horrible corruption on elections
TRUMP: If a state can't run an election, I think the people behind me should do something about it. Look at Detroit, Pennsylvania, Atlanta -- horrible corruption on elections
Reposted by Salomé Viljoen
I talked to a woman who quit an AUSA job recently. She was asked by main DOJ to dismiss a Medicare fraud prosecution because the defendant was the daughter of a girlfriend of a MAGA figure.
February 3, 2026 at 2:59 PM
I talked to a woman who quit an AUSA job recently. She was asked by main DOJ to dismiss a Medicare fraud prosecution because the defendant was the daughter of a girlfriend of a MAGA figure.
Reposted by Salomé Viljoen
Neither Trump nor the GOP in congress have this power, & the only way they do this is if we decline to stand up for our rights. He's had a string of electoral defeats & rightfully fears the midterms. His outbursts are real threats, but they come from weakness. Tough shit, he's going down. No Kings.
Trump: "These people were brought to our country to vote, & they vote illegally. The Republicans should say, we should take over the voting in at least 15 places. The Republicans ought to nationalize the voting. We have states that I won that show I didn't win. You're gonna see something in Georgia"
February 2, 2026 at 6:19 PM
Neither Trump nor the GOP in congress have this power, & the only way they do this is if we decline to stand up for our rights. He's had a string of electoral defeats & rightfully fears the midterms. His outbursts are real threats, but they come from weakness. Tough shit, he's going down. No Kings.
Reposted by Salomé Viljoen
Trump openly admitting FBI raid in Fulton County was a prelude to interfering with the midterms and attempting to seize control of state and local voting process
Trump: "These people were brought to our country to vote, & they vote illegally. The Republicans should say, we should take over the voting in at least 15 places. The Republicans ought to nationalize the voting. We have states that I won that show I didn't win. You're gonna see something in Georgia"
February 2, 2026 at 6:38 PM
Trump openly admitting FBI raid in Fulton County was a prelude to interfering with the midterms and attempting to seize control of state and local voting process
Reposted by Salomé Viljoen
All the stars are here: Brantley Gilbert, Brice Bradley, Gabby Babby, Bibb Glibsy, Slab Gabbert, Brice Bryce,
Turning Point USA has announced the performers for their alternative Super Bowl halftime show:
Kid Rock, Brantley Gilbert, Lee Brice, and Gabby Barrett
Kid Rock, Brantley Gilbert, Lee Brice, and Gabby Barrett
February 2, 2026 at 6:54 PM
All the stars are here: Brantley Gilbert, Brice Bradley, Gabby Babby, Bibb Glibsy, Slab Gabbert, Brice Bryce,
Reposted by Salomé Viljoen
Republicans love adding seats to state Supreme Courts! They've done it three times in recent years. This latest court-packing plan will shift Utah's high court far to the right and possibly flip rulings on abortion and gerrymandering.
Democrats should take note that Rs have deemed this acceptable!
Democrats should take note that Rs have deemed this acceptable!
This hasn’t received nearly enough attention:
Republicans just passed a law to pack Utah’s Supreme Court after it ruled against their congressional gerrymander.
Cox could appoint two more justices before the court hears the GOP’s latest appeal to preserve their gerrymander
Republicans just passed a law to pack Utah’s Supreme Court after it ruled against their congressional gerrymander.
Cox could appoint two more justices before the court hears the GOP’s latest appeal to preserve their gerrymander
Utah governor signs bill adding justices to state Supreme Court as redistricting appeal looms
Once the new seats are filled, Gov. Spencer Cox will have appointed five of the seven justices.
www.nbcnews.com
February 2, 2026 at 7:34 PM
Republicans love adding seats to state Supreme Courts! They've done it three times in recent years. This latest court-packing plan will shift Utah's high court far to the right and possibly flip rulings on abortion and gerrymandering.
Democrats should take note that Rs have deemed this acceptable!
Democrats should take note that Rs have deemed this acceptable!
Reposted by Salomé Viljoen
You can test new tech ideas using the Seinfeld Test
Would the product eliminate the plot of an episode? (Google maps, cell phones, paypal, battery packs)
Good tech.
Would the product inspire new Seinfeld plots? (NFTs, AI chatbots, crypto currency, blindboxes, metaverse land sales)
Bad tech.
Would the product eliminate the plot of an episode? (Google maps, cell phones, paypal, battery packs)
Good tech.
Would the product inspire new Seinfeld plots? (NFTs, AI chatbots, crypto currency, blindboxes, metaverse land sales)
Bad tech.
January 31, 2026 at 6:57 AM
You can test new tech ideas using the Seinfeld Test
Would the product eliminate the plot of an episode? (Google maps, cell phones, paypal, battery packs)
Good tech.
Would the product inspire new Seinfeld plots? (NFTs, AI chatbots, crypto currency, blindboxes, metaverse land sales)
Bad tech.
Would the product eliminate the plot of an episode? (Google maps, cell phones, paypal, battery packs)
Good tech.
Would the product inspire new Seinfeld plots? (NFTs, AI chatbots, crypto currency, blindboxes, metaverse land sales)
Bad tech.
Reposted by Salomé Viljoen
Look at the photos. The thing I heard often working on the USAID Gaza response from our partners in Gaza was the field of dead bodies - men, women, children - that fanned out around IDF checkpoints in the Netzarim corridor. Shot by IDF soldiers for no reason (unless "for fun" counts as a reason).
U.S. Envoys Refused to Report "Apocalyptic" Conditions in Gaza. Exclusive Photos Show the Reality They Suppressed
The U.S. embassy in Jerusalem suppressed a February 2024 report on northern Gaza because it “lacked balance.” These photos from the UN fact finding trip are visual evidence of the conditions.
www.dropsitenews.com
February 2, 2026 at 7:15 PM
Look at the photos. The thing I heard often working on the USAID Gaza response from our partners in Gaza was the field of dead bodies - men, women, children - that fanned out around IDF checkpoints in the Netzarim corridor. Shot by IDF soldiers for no reason (unless "for fun" counts as a reason).
Reposted by Salomé Viljoen
“we are sold the myth that the language of legality is preferable to the language of morality because it is impartial and fixed. But as this whole dispute makes plain, that is least apt to be true precisely when it matters most” www.bostonreview.net/articles/the...
The Moral Stupefaction of the American Public
Trump’s boat strikes will seek cover in the same specious legality debate the Bush administration sowed with the torture memos.
www.bostonreview.net
February 2, 2026 at 7:39 PM
“we are sold the myth that the language of legality is preferable to the language of morality because it is impartial and fixed. But as this whole dispute makes plain, that is least apt to be true precisely when it matters most” www.bostonreview.net/articles/the...
Reposted by Salomé Viljoen
I fully believe Trump will smash the authoritarianism button harder and harder as he feels the midterms wipe out approaching, I'm less sure that doing so will prevent or mitigate said wipe out
February 2, 2026 at 7:49 PM
I fully believe Trump will smash the authoritarianism button harder and harder as he feels the midterms wipe out approaching, I'm less sure that doing so will prevent or mitigate said wipe out
Reposted by Salomé Viljoen
This new report shows the havoc AI is already wreaking in the creative sector.
Evidence from 10,000 British creatives shows:
- 58% of photographers have lost work to AI
- 32% of illustrators have lost commissions to AI
- 86% of authors say AI has reduced their earnings
🧵 1/2
Evidence from 10,000 British creatives shows:
- 58% of photographers have lost work to AI
- 32% of illustrators have lost commissions to AI
- 86% of authors say AI has reduced their earnings
🧵 1/2
February 2, 2026 at 12:09 PM
This new report shows the havoc AI is already wreaking in the creative sector.
Evidence from 10,000 British creatives shows:
- 58% of photographers have lost work to AI
- 32% of illustrators have lost commissions to AI
- 86% of authors say AI has reduced their earnings
🧵 1/2
Evidence from 10,000 British creatives shows:
- 58% of photographers have lost work to AI
- 32% of illustrators have lost commissions to AI
- 86% of authors say AI has reduced their earnings
🧵 1/2
Reposted by Salomé Viljoen
Constitutional crisis doesn’t do enough to convey how absurd our current situation is.
Trump on his multiple suits against the federal government: "I'm supposed to work out a settlement with myself ... We could make it a substantial amount, nobody would care, because it's gonna go to numerous, very good charities."
February 1, 2026 at 2:32 AM
Constitutional crisis doesn’t do enough to convey how absurd our current situation is.
Reposted by Salomé Viljoen
A federal judge is weighing Attorney General Pam Bondi’s blackmail letter to Minnesota Governor Tim Walz as evidence that the administration is using the presence of armed federal agents as coercion to achieve policy goals. trib.al/tcKLaft
January 31, 2026 at 3:27 PM
A federal judge is weighing Attorney General Pam Bondi’s blackmail letter to Minnesota Governor Tim Walz as evidence that the administration is using the presence of armed federal agents as coercion to achieve policy goals. trib.al/tcKLaft
Reposted by Salomé Viljoen
new CBS contributor Peter Attia
Here is Peter Attia MD emailing Epstein’s assistant claiming he goes into “JE withdrawal” when he doesn’t see him.
January 31, 2026 at 10:20 AM
new CBS contributor Peter Attia
Reposted by Salomé Viljoen
The DOJ just took down pages with detailed descriptions of Trump engaged in child rape and other pedophilia. We don't know if they have been corroborated, but we already know this DOJ will deny everything on behalf of their client.
January 30, 2026 at 7:35 PM
The DOJ just took down pages with detailed descriptions of Trump engaged in child rape and other pedophilia. We don't know if they have been corroborated, but we already know this DOJ will deny everything on behalf of their client.
Reposted by Salomé Viljoen
Speculation that the FBI special agent in charge in Atlanta was fired when he raised questions about the planned raid on the Fulton County elections center are confirmed.
January 30, 2026 at 7:34 PM
Speculation that the FBI special agent in charge in Atlanta was fired when he raised questions about the planned raid on the Fulton County elections center are confirmed.