Reposted by Simon Houpt
I reached out to more than three dozen X advertisers, xAI investors, politicians, and government agencies about the growing library of sexualized deepfakes generated with Grok—now including Renee Good. I only heard back from four, with three declining to comment.
spitfirenews.com/p/grok-deepf...
spitfirenews.com/p/grok-deepf...
Why isn't there a bigger Grok boycott?
Advertisers, politicians, and investors are still all-in on X, despite a sexual abuse crisis.
spitfirenews.com
January 8, 2026 at 9:04 PM
I reached out to more than three dozen X advertisers, xAI investors, politicians, and government agencies about the growing library of sexualized deepfakes generated with Grok—now including Renee Good. I only heard back from four, with three declining to comment.
spitfirenews.com/p/grok-deepf...
spitfirenews.com/p/grok-deepf...
Reposted by Simon Houpt
In 2024, I rose in Senate QP to ask why the Govt of Canada was still using X for official communications. Today, they are still there. What exactly will it take to break the spell?
A proliferation of sexual deepfakes on X has prompted other countries to investigate Grok, the platform’s AI software, but, so far, Ottawa remains silent.
www.hilltimes.com/story/2026/0...
www.hilltimes.com/story/2026/0...
‘Get the f**k off there’: MPs, Senators call on government to abandon X/Twitter following wave of ‘Grok porn’
A proliferation of sexual deepfakes on X (formerly Twitter) has prompted other countries to investigate Grok, the platform’s AI software, but, so far, Ottawa remains silent.
www.hilltimes.com
January 8, 2026 at 2:58 PM
In 2024, I rose in Senate QP to ask why the Govt of Canada was still using X for official communications. Today, they are still there. What exactly will it take to break the spell?
Reposted by Simon Houpt
Does Congress have any red line where they constrain Trump? He just unilaterally went to war against Venezuela. (Spare me any technicalities; we literally attacked them and kidnapped their president. That is effectively a declaration of war and he doesn’t have to put it on a scroll of parchment)
January 3, 2026 at 3:14 PM
Does Congress have any red line where they constrain Trump? He just unilaterally went to war against Venezuela. (Spare me any technicalities; we literally attacked them and kidnapped their president. That is effectively a declaration of war and he doesn’t have to put it on a scroll of parchment)
Reposted by Simon Houpt
NYT: "By proceeding without any semblance of international legitimacy, valid legal authority or domestic endorsement, Mr. Trump risks providing justification for authoritarians in China, Russia and elsewhere who want to dominate their own neighbors."
Opinion | Trump’s Attack on Venezuela Is Illegal and Unwise
www.nytimes.com
January 3, 2026 at 1:39 PM
NYT: "By proceeding without any semblance of international legitimacy, valid legal authority or domestic endorsement, Mr. Trump risks providing justification for authoritarians in China, Russia and elsewhere who want to dominate their own neighbors."
Reposted by Simon Houpt
An absolute bedrock institution for understanding how the planet works, just civilization-scaled vandalism by the most incurious morons on Earth
December 17, 2025 at 2:52 AM
An absolute bedrock institution for understanding how the planet works, just civilization-scaled vandalism by the most incurious morons on Earth
Move fast, break things: A little more than 24 hours after announcing its intention to purchase Warner Bros., Netflix sends out email to subscribers in Canada about the move - and seems entirely unaware that WB’s HBO Max is not, in fact, available in this country.
December 6, 2025 at 8:48 PM
Move fast, break things: A little more than 24 hours after announcing its intention to purchase Warner Bros., Netflix sends out email to subscribers in Canada about the move - and seems entirely unaware that WB’s HBO Max is not, in fact, available in this country.
Reposted by Simon Houpt
These are good moments to remember that the CEOs of all the biggest companies in America are happy to go to White House dinners and slap this guy’s back. They do not care about this. Remember this, years from now, when they want you to forget.
Trump: "It’s a hellhole right now. And those Somalians should be out of here. They've destroyed our country. And all they do is complain, complain, complain. You have her. She’s always talking about the Constitution provides me with – go back to your own country and figure out your constitution."
December 4, 2025 at 12:13 AM
These are good moments to remember that the CEOs of all the biggest companies in America are happy to go to White House dinners and slap this guy’s back. They do not care about this. Remember this, years from now, when they want you to forget.
Reposted by Simon Houpt
I hope someone draws this wonderful story about Tom Stoppard's Arcadia and the power of the arts to help us see things differently, to the attention of our Education Secretary. Do read it, it will lift your spirits.
December 2, 2025 at 10:59 AM
I hope someone draws this wonderful story about Tom Stoppard's Arcadia and the power of the arts to help us see things differently, to the attention of our Education Secretary. Do read it, it will lift your spirits.
Reposted by Simon Houpt
www.theglobeandmail.com/culture/arti...
If you're a subscriber to @theglobeandmail.com you can watch this virtually tonight! Or maybe you're coming tonight—come by and say hi!
If you're a subscriber to @theglobeandmail.com you can watch this virtually tonight! Or maybe you're coming tonight—come by and say hi!
Globe 100: The Art of the Story with Margaret Atwood, Michael Crummey and Eric Andrew-Gee
Watch the Dec. 1 livestream of the conversation about writing, reading and publishing
www.theglobeandmail.com
December 1, 2025 at 7:47 PM
www.theglobeandmail.com/culture/arti...
If you're a subscriber to @theglobeandmail.com you can watch this virtually tonight! Or maybe you're coming tonight—come by and say hi!
If you're a subscriber to @theglobeandmail.com you can watch this virtually tonight! Or maybe you're coming tonight—come by and say hi!
Reposted by Simon Houpt
You owe it to yourself to read this stunning book not because it won the National Book Award (it did!) but because it will make you excruciatingly wrestle with and restore your humanity. www.nationalbook.org/books/one-da...
One Day, Everyone Will Have Always Been Against This - National Book Foundation
On October 25, 2023, after just three weeks of the bombardment of Gaza, Omar El Akkad put out a tweet: “One day, when it’s safe, when there’s no personal downside to calling a thing what it is, when i...
www.nationalbook.org
November 20, 2025 at 5:46 PM
You owe it to yourself to read this stunning book not because it won the National Book Award (it did!) but because it will make you excruciatingly wrestle with and restore your humanity. www.nationalbook.org/books/one-da...
So happy One Day Everyone Will Have Always Been Against This by the extraordinary Omar El Akkad won last night’s National Book Award for non-fiction (even though, as he said, in his speech, it’s “very difficult to think in celebratory terms about a book that was written in response to a genocide”).
November 20, 2025 at 5:14 PM
So happy One Day Everyone Will Have Always Been Against This by the extraordinary Omar El Akkad won last night’s National Book Award for non-fiction (even though, as he said, in his speech, it’s “very difficult to think in celebratory terms about a book that was written in response to a genocide”).
Sure, I’ve been enjoying her string of recent books, but it’s great to see Liz back in the pages of a newspaper (and its website).
Trump’s deployed the word ‘Piggy’ against a woman reporter. Here’s why that shows he’s getting scared
#Opinion from Star contributor @lizrenzetti.bsky.social
#Opinion from Star contributor @lizrenzetti.bsky.social
Elizabeth Renzetti: Trump’s deployed the word ‘Piggy’ against a woman reporter. Here’s why that shows he’s getting scared
Finally, the hounds of justice are nipping at Trump’s heels
www.thestar.com
November 20, 2025 at 1:22 AM
Sure, I’ve been enjoying her string of recent books, but it’s great to see Liz back in the pages of a newspaper (and its website).
“This is just chaos. It’s like we’re playing at recess.” A behind-the-scenes oral history of this year’s fraught, thrilling, snowbound Canadian Premier League final.
(Gift link.)
www.theglobeandmail.com/gift/68b477b...
(Gift link.)
www.theglobeandmail.com/gift/68b477b...
An oral history of this year’s snowy Canadian Premier League final
A stunning bicycle kick from Atlético Ottawa’s David Rodríguez amid snowy conditions in the game against Cavalry FC instantly gave the CPL an iconic calling card
www.theglobeandmail.com
November 15, 2025 at 5:10 PM
“This is just chaos. It’s like we’re playing at recess.” A behind-the-scenes oral history of this year’s fraught, thrilling, snowbound Canadian Premier League final.
(Gift link.)
www.theglobeandmail.com/gift/68b477b...
(Gift link.)
www.theglobeandmail.com/gift/68b477b...
Reposted by Simon Houpt
Between the news media in the UK and the US the biggest difference is the strength of the BBC at the center. Which makes it a target. As @brianstelter.bsky.social writes: "the BBC is positioned as an apolitical brand, yet operates in a politically poisonous atmosphere. www.cnn.com/2025/11/09/m...
November 10, 2025 at 3:06 PM
Between the news media in the UK and the US the biggest difference is the strength of the BBC at the center. Which makes it a target. As @brianstelter.bsky.social writes: "the BBC is positioned as an apolitical brand, yet operates in a politically poisonous atmosphere. www.cnn.com/2025/11/09/m...
Reposted by Simon Houpt
Panera’s moderately caffeinated lemonade was loosely associated with 2 deaths before it was taken off market.
This article alone has 4 examples of ChatGPT encouraging young people to commit suicide, and OpenAI’s own public stats estimate over a million users discuss suicide with ChatGPT each week.
This article alone has 4 examples of ChatGPT encouraging young people to commit suicide, and OpenAI’s own public stats estimate over a million users discuss suicide with ChatGPT each week.
I fully believe in the corporate death penalty and believe we would be a better world if OpenAI lost its corporate charter and was forcibly dissolved.
www.cnn.com/2025/11/06/u...
www.cnn.com/2025/11/06/u...
ChatGPT encouraged college graduate to commit suicide, family claims in lawsuit against OpenAI | CNN
A 23-year-old man killed himself in Texas after ChatGPT ‘goaded’ him to commit suicide, his family says in a lawsuit.
www.cnn.com
November 7, 2025 at 10:56 PM
Panera’s moderately caffeinated lemonade was loosely associated with 2 deaths before it was taken off market.
This article alone has 4 examples of ChatGPT encouraging young people to commit suicide, and OpenAI’s own public stats estimate over a million users discuss suicide with ChatGPT each week.
This article alone has 4 examples of ChatGPT encouraging young people to commit suicide, and OpenAI’s own public stats estimate over a million users discuss suicide with ChatGPT each week.
Reposted by Simon Houpt
Reposted by Simon Houpt
NEW: I spoke w/ Heritage Minister Steven Guilbeault about why the CBC isn't being targeted for 15% cuts after all, how the long-rumoured Telefilm/CMF/NFB merger is inching toward reality, why permanent Telefilm funding ain't in cards, and, yes, Eurovision. www.theglobeandmail.com/culture/arti...
Canadian Identity Minister Steven Guilbeault on what the budget means for cultural sovereignty
Government investing $503-million in cultural sector over four years starting 2026-27
www.theglobeandmail.com
November 7, 2025 at 8:02 PM
NEW: I spoke w/ Heritage Minister Steven Guilbeault about why the CBC isn't being targeted for 15% cuts after all, how the long-rumoured Telefilm/CMF/NFB merger is inching toward reality, why permanent Telefilm funding ain't in cards, and, yes, Eurovision. www.theglobeandmail.com/culture/arti...
Reposted by Simon Houpt
The CBC should explore participation in...wait for it...#eurovision. Wha??!!! @joshokane.bsky.social explains a little item tucked away in #canada #liberals #carney #budget #canpoli www.theglobeandmail.com/culture/arti...
Why is Eurovision in Canada’s federal budget? There may be bigger reasons than music
Country’s interest in joining contest could be signal of realignment toward Europe in era of U.S. protectionism
www.theglobeandmail.com
November 6, 2025 at 10:19 PM
The CBC should explore participation in...wait for it...#eurovision. Wha??!!! @joshokane.bsky.social explains a little item tucked away in #canada #liberals #carney #budget #canpoli www.theglobeandmail.com/culture/arti...
Reposted by Simon Houpt
...and less than 24 hours later Condé Nast has fired Lex and the rest of the Teen Vogue political desk, even as stories like this were bringing huge numbers of readers to the site
dissatisfied by the New York Times coverage of Zohran Mamdani?
great news! I talked to the guy Thursday about his campaign’s success at bringing community together beyond this election, and contextualized how it’s potentially shifted youth engagement with politics by simply listening @teenvogue.com
great news! I talked to the guy Thursday about his campaign’s success at bringing community together beyond this election, and contextualized how it’s potentially shifted youth engagement with politics by simply listening @teenvogue.com
Zohran Mamdani's Establishment-Fighting Campaign Built Community for Young People
“What Mamdani has done is not only inspire and mobilize young people, but he has exposed the establishment and some of their calcified views of participation and inclusion.”
www.teenvogue.com
November 3, 2025 at 8:16 PM
...and less than 24 hours later Condé Nast has fired Lex and the rest of the Teen Vogue political desk, even as stories like this were bringing huge numbers of readers to the site
Are the WWE writers scripting this??
November 2, 2025 at 3:31 AM
Are the WWE writers scripting this??
“Only connect.”
- E.M. Forster, Blue Jays fan.
- E.M. Forster, Blue Jays fan.
November 2, 2025 at 3:22 AM
“Only connect.”
- E.M. Forster, Blue Jays fan.
- E.M. Forster, Blue Jays fan.
Whatever happens tonight, I’m just glad Keanu will finally get some rest.
November 2, 2025 at 2:00 AM
Whatever happens tonight, I’m just glad Keanu will finally get some rest.
Reposted by Simon Houpt
Everyone who talks about bail reform but also everyone who funds the carceral system (so, all of us) should read this.
Everyone who talks about bail reform should also have to read Brendan Kennedy’s investigation of the abuse “akin to torture” of people awaiting trial, and the cover-up at Maplehurst jail.
www.thestar.com/news/investi...
www.thestar.com/news/investi...
Inside the many lies told by Maplehurst jail officials trying to cover up the ‘torture’ of inmates
The deceit ranged from serious attempts to conceal what happened, to absurd, easily disprovable lies that left an Ontario judge stunned.
www.thestar.com
November 1, 2025 at 3:27 PM
Everyone who talks about bail reform but also everyone who funds the carceral system (so, all of us) should read this.
The Toronto Blue Jays have never lost a World Series.
The Toronto Blue Jays are undefeated in World Series Game 7s.
The Toronto Blue Jays have never lost a game in November.
November 1, 2025 at 3:27 AM
The Toronto Blue Jays have never lost a World Series.