Sean O’Brien
@sobrien.bsky.social
WE Tech PR. Talks too much about laws, courts and tech policy to be popular at a party. If “Oscar the Grouch” was a human being who occasionally runs and posts dog photos.
Pinned
Sean O’Brien
@sobrien.bsky.social
· Nov 18
I didn’t see a starter pack for tech policy journos like @cqzakrz.bsky.social, @viacristiano.bsky.social, and @benbrodydc.bsky.social so decided to make one. Added in some other others covering tech but please shout if I am missing people. With Bluesky blowing up I’m sure I did.
go.bsky.app/FNZY72W
go.bsky.app/FNZY72W
Reposted by Sean O’Brien
Every single “investment expert “ is emphasizing diversification to include investment in other stock markets. And that will extend to private markets and start ups.
It’s possible to export your smartest people, hire overseas , and fund their business at a fraction of costs you face here. Insane
It’s possible to export your smartest people, hire overseas , and fund their business at a fraction of costs you face here. Insane
April 13, 2025 at 4:31 PM
Every single “investment expert “ is emphasizing diversification to include investment in other stock markets. And that will extend to private markets and start ups.
It’s possible to export your smartest people, hire overseas , and fund their business at a fraction of costs you face here. Insane
It’s possible to export your smartest people, hire overseas , and fund their business at a fraction of costs you face here. Insane
👀👀👀
“Until 2023, China produced 99 percent of the world’s supply of heavy rare earth metals, with a trickle of production coming out of a refinery in Vietnam. But that refinery has been closed for the past year because of a tax dispute, leaving China with a monopoly.”
“Until 2023, China produced 99 percent of the world’s supply of heavy rare earth metals, with a trickle of production coming out of a refinery in Vietnam. But that refinery has been closed for the past year because of a tax dispute, leaving China with a monopoly.”
This was the predictable response and follows a long pattern of similar export restrictions/license requirements in response to previous trade actions. Nonetheless, we are not prepared for this.
www.nytimes.com/2025/04/13/b...
www.nytimes.com/2025/04/13/b...
China Halts Critical Rare Earth Exports as Trade War Intensifies
Beijing has suspended exports of certain rare earth minerals and magnets that are crucial for the world’s car, semiconductor and aerospace industries.
www.nytimes.com
April 13, 2025 at 9:09 PM
👀👀👀
“Until 2023, China produced 99 percent of the world’s supply of heavy rare earth metals, with a trickle of production coming out of a refinery in Vietnam. But that refinery has been closed for the past year because of a tax dispute, leaving China with a monopoly.”
“Until 2023, China produced 99 percent of the world’s supply of heavy rare earth metals, with a trickle of production coming out of a refinery in Vietnam. But that refinery has been closed for the past year because of a tax dispute, leaving China with a monopoly.”
It’s not every day you help ring the Nasdaq opening bell… and it is definitely not everyday that you somehow end up on the display in Times Square. Sigh.
February 25, 2025 at 3:53 PM
It’s not every day you help ring the Nasdaq opening bell… and it is definitely not everyday that you somehow end up on the display in Times Square. Sigh.
I’d like to publicly thank/hate @bgluckman.bsky.social for telling me that there is an Old Bay watch, bc it infiltrated my mind so much that I went above and beyond to order it today bc there was no way I couldn’t have it
February 17, 2025 at 6:36 PM
I’d like to publicly thank/hate @bgluckman.bsky.social for telling me that there is an Old Bay watch, bc it infiltrated my mind so much that I went above and beyond to order it today bc there was no way I couldn’t have it
Reposted by Sean O’Brien
Right-wing media is melting down today over the erroneous idea that Politico is secretly funded by USAID. Here's the backstory:
February 5, 2025 at 5:50 PM
Right-wing media is melting down today over the erroneous idea that Politico is secretly funded by USAID. Here's the backstory:
Coming to SFO from SeaTac is always so jarring.
Big wide open airport, not surrounded by construction. Relatively easily to navigate.
Big wide open airport, not surrounded by construction. Relatively easily to navigate.
February 5, 2025 at 5:55 PM
Coming to SFO from SeaTac is always so jarring.
Big wide open airport, not surrounded by construction. Relatively easily to navigate.
Big wide open airport, not surrounded by construction. Relatively easily to navigate.
Didn’t know I could be targeted and shamed by an Amazon Ring, but I just walked by and got an alert that a package had been detected.
Thanks, Ring. I get it. I’m boxy and could lose some holiday pounds.
Thanks, Ring. I get it. I’m boxy and could lose some holiday pounds.
January 24, 2025 at 11:14 PM
Didn’t know I could be targeted and shamed by an Amazon Ring, but I just walked by and got an alert that a package had been detected.
Thanks, Ring. I get it. I’m boxy and could lose some holiday pounds.
Thanks, Ring. I get it. I’m boxy and could lose some holiday pounds.
Considering I just got another piece of Old Bay swag delivered I can’t argue with this meme (cc @bgluckman.bsky.social).
Flavorful and effective.
Flavorful and effective.
January 6, 2025 at 7:49 PM
Considering I just got another piece of Old Bay swag delivered I can’t argue with this meme (cc @bgluckman.bsky.social).
Flavorful and effective.
Flavorful and effective.
How is it I’ve gone decades on this planet and just now discovered the Old Bay Mobile is something I could have?
My ride's here
January 4, 2025 at 12:02 AM
How is it I’ve gone decades on this planet and just now discovered the Old Bay Mobile is something I could have?
Reposted by Sean O’Brien
@sobrien.bsky.social runs to the dealer to make a trade
My ride's here
January 3, 2025 at 11:27 PM
@sobrien.bsky.social runs to the dealer to make a trade
Reposted by Sean O’Brien
📣 I haven't tried Bluesky for a story callout yet - but here goes!
I'm writing about the First Moms of the friend group: The trailblazers, the ones who had their kids before the rest of their crew, who later became critical guides and sources of support for the mom-friends who followed. 1/2
I'm writing about the First Moms of the friend group: The trailblazers, the ones who had their kids before the rest of their crew, who later became critical guides and sources of support for the mom-friends who followed. 1/2
January 3, 2025 at 5:11 PM
📣 I haven't tried Bluesky for a story callout yet - but here goes!
I'm writing about the First Moms of the friend group: The trailblazers, the ones who had their kids before the rest of their crew, who later became critical guides and sources of support for the mom-friends who followed. 1/2
I'm writing about the First Moms of the friend group: The trailblazers, the ones who had their kids before the rest of their crew, who later became critical guides and sources of support for the mom-friends who followed. 1/2
Reposted by Sean O’Brien
JOURNALIST REFRESHER ABOUT INTERVIEWING ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE.
Hi.
When new LLM bots drop, you can't interview them like people who understand the process that went into creating them.
They may give you an answer, but they don't actually know the answer.
You can't ask "who created you?"
Hi.
When new LLM bots drop, you can't interview them like people who understand the process that went into creating them.
They may give you an answer, but they don't actually know the answer.
You can't ask "who created you?"
January 3, 2025 at 4:47 PM
JOURNALIST REFRESHER ABOUT INTERVIEWING ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE.
Hi.
When new LLM bots drop, you can't interview them like people who understand the process that went into creating them.
They may give you an answer, but they don't actually know the answer.
You can't ask "who created you?"
Hi.
When new LLM bots drop, you can't interview them like people who understand the process that went into creating them.
They may give you an answer, but they don't actually know the answer.
You can't ask "who created you?"
As someone who spent years working on privacy and lawful access to data, I’m less interested in “omg did you know XYZ data is collected/accessible by a company,” and more curious to know what the policies and procedures are in place for sharing said data with LE.
www.usatoday.com/story/news/n...
www.usatoday.com/story/news/n...
Authorities use Tesla data to track Cybertruck before bombing, raising privacy concerns
Authorities used Tesla data and records to track the Cybertruck's movements, shedding light on the droves of data automakers collect on drivers.
www.usatoday.com
January 3, 2025 at 5:00 PM
As someone who spent years working on privacy and lawful access to data, I’m less interested in “omg did you know XYZ data is collected/accessible by a company,” and more curious to know what the policies and procedures are in place for sharing said data with LE.
www.usatoday.com/story/news/n...
www.usatoday.com/story/news/n...
Thomas Jefferson once wrote that “when a man assumes a public trust, he should consider himself as public property.”
Jimmy Carter embodied that ideal more than any other President or elected official. May he RIP and be a model for us all.
Jimmy Carter embodied that ideal more than any other President or elected official. May he RIP and be a model for us all.
BREAKING: Jimmy Carter has died at 100, AJC reports. www.ajc.com/news/former-...
Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter, 100, dies
Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter has died at home in Georgia.
www.ajc.com
December 29, 2024 at 9:43 PM
Thomas Jefferson once wrote that “when a man assumes a public trust, he should consider himself as public property.”
Jimmy Carter embodied that ideal more than any other President or elected official. May he RIP and be a model for us all.
Jimmy Carter embodied that ideal more than any other President or elected official. May he RIP and be a model for us all.
Capturing my vibes so perfectly.
December 25, 2024 at 5:30 PM
Capturing my vibes so perfectly.
Merry Christmas. As my gift to you all, I’m going to give you a glimpse into the pecking order and the dynamic in our house.
These are our stockings. Guess which one belongs to the dog? 🐕 🎄
These are our stockings. Guess which one belongs to the dog? 🐕 🎄
December 25, 2024 at 4:32 PM
Merry Christmas. As my gift to you all, I’m going to give you a glimpse into the pecking order and the dynamic in our house.
These are our stockings. Guess which one belongs to the dog? 🐕 🎄
These are our stockings. Guess which one belongs to the dog? 🐕 🎄
Nothing like landing on a cross country flight and hearing that there was a security incident at SeaTac airport and they aren’t letting planes pull out or deplane.
December 20, 2024 at 6:18 AM
Nothing like landing on a cross country flight and hearing that there was a security incident at SeaTac airport and they aren’t letting planes pull out or deplane.
I do miss these running views. DC always trying to lure me back, even though it then lets something crazy out that reminds me why we keep our distance. #runclub
December 20, 2024 at 12:20 AM
I do miss these running views. DC always trying to lure me back, even though it then lets something crazy out that reminds me why we keep our distance. #runclub
Back in some familiar stomping grounds this week…
December 16, 2024 at 11:04 PM
Back in some familiar stomping grounds this week…
When you forget to doublecheck schedules and overlap your NYC trip with #Santacon.
I appreciated the woman near me who exclaimed “crap! I forgot it was SantaCon. We need to be out of the city by 6pm.”
I appreciated the woman near me who exclaimed “crap! I forgot it was SantaCon. We need to be out of the city by 6pm.”
December 14, 2024 at 6:39 PM
When you forget to doublecheck schedules and overlap your NYC trip with #Santacon.
I appreciated the woman near me who exclaimed “crap! I forgot it was SantaCon. We need to be out of the city by 6pm.”
I appreciated the woman near me who exclaimed “crap! I forgot it was SantaCon. We need to be out of the city by 6pm.”
The one upside to being sent on multiple back to back trips? New locations for a morning run.
Up today? Central Park
Up today? Central Park
December 12, 2024 at 4:44 PM
The one upside to being sent on multiple back to back trips? New locations for a morning run.
Up today? Central Park
Up today? Central Park
Reposted by Sean O’Brien
X has just suspended the account @pepmangione, which appeared to belong to Luigi Mangione. Since his name was reported in connection with the UnitedHealthcare CEO shooting earlier today, the account added more than 100k followers.
December 9, 2024 at 11:56 PM
X has just suspended the account @pepmangione, which appeared to belong to Luigi Mangione. Since his name was reported in connection with the UnitedHealthcare CEO shooting earlier today, the account added more than 100k followers.
12 of the 36 products measured above 1 part per million of lead—the threshold that triggers a recall in New York, the only state in the U.S. that regulates heavy metals in spices.
Just after pumpkin pie season. Enjoy checking your cabinets.
Just after pumpkin pie season. Enjoy checking your cabinets.
The worst two are being pulled from the market... don't know if they will just cease, or find a way to clean up their supply/production lines.
www.consumerreports.org/health/food-...
www.consumerreports.org/health/food-...
The 12 Cinnamon Powders You Should Never Use - Consumer Reports
Twelve of the 36 cinnamon powders and spice blends containing cinnamon had high levels of lead, according to Consumer Reports' testing.
www.consumerreports.org
December 9, 2024 at 9:57 PM
12 of the 36 products measured above 1 part per million of lead—the threshold that triggers a recall in New York, the only state in the U.S. that regulates heavy metals in spices.
Just after pumpkin pie season. Enjoy checking your cabinets.
Just after pumpkin pie season. Enjoy checking your cabinets.
Tired: HawkTauh Coin
Wired: $LuigiCoin
Not here for the crypto/celebrity/trending internet name connected future.
Wired: $LuigiCoin
Not here for the crypto/celebrity/trending internet name connected future.
this is why we can't have nice things, crypto edition: there is a coin named after the suspect, and it appears to have a market cap over $25 million last i checked.
December 9, 2024 at 8:43 PM
Tired: HawkTauh Coin
Wired: $LuigiCoin
Not here for the crypto/celebrity/trending internet name connected future.
Wired: $LuigiCoin
Not here for the crypto/celebrity/trending internet name connected future.