Stephen C. Rea
@stevierea.bsky.social
Senior Researcher, Critical Internet Studies Institute (@criticalinternet.bsky.social, criticalinternet.org). He/him/his. Views my own; shares, likes, etc. =\= endorsements.
Pinned
Stephen C. Rea
@stevierea.bsky.social
· Nov 8
Hey new followers! However you found me, glad you’re here. I post a lot about my work researching networked incitement (check out our project linked in the reply), but also about rap, sports, Star Trek, 19th century Russian literature that I’m reading, and general shitposting.
Reposted by Stephen C. Rea
“Every empire, however, tells itself and the world that it is unlike all other empires, that its mission is not to plunder and control but to educate and liberate."
― Edward W. Said
― Edward W. Said
January 4, 2026 at 6:13 AM
“Every empire, however, tells itself and the world that it is unlike all other empires, that its mission is not to plunder and control but to educate and liberate."
― Edward W. Said
― Edward W. Said
England was at 57-3, looking like this would be another dud first innings, but damn, Root and Brook have put together a helluva partnership so far! Now over 200 runs with 7 wickets remaining #TheAshes
January 4, 2026 at 3:50 AM
England was at 57-3, looking like this would be another dud first innings, but damn, Root and Brook have put together a helluva partnership so far! Now over 200 runs with 7 wickets remaining #TheAshes
Reposted by Stephen C. Rea
The casualties already coming in. Grandmothers in their apartments….
January 3, 2026 at 7:21 PM
The casualties already coming in. Grandmothers in their apartments….
Elsewhere in imperialism
UK says it and France bomb Islamic State facility in Syria reut.rs/4q5so3L
UK says it and France bomb Islamic State facility in Syria
Britain and France's air forces conducted a joint operation late on Saturday to bomb a suspected underground arms dump previously used by Islamic State in Syria, Britain's defence ministry said on Saturday.
reut.rs
January 3, 2026 at 10:42 PM
Elsewhere in imperialism
Reposted by Stephen C. Rea
The kidnapping of Maduro inaugurates a highly dangerous era of U.S. empire that for perhaps the first time in an era of mass media is not pretending to be anything other than a violent, extractive enterprise of domination.
A Criminal Empire
The United States launches a conquest and occupation of Venezuela to extract its oil wealth. The neocon dream is the America First dream
www.forever-wars.com
January 3, 2026 at 7:50 PM
The kidnapping of Maduro inaugurates a highly dangerous era of U.S. empire that for perhaps the first time in an era of mass media is not pretending to be anything other than a violent, extractive enterprise of domination.
This is a good (albeit depressing, for some) read
Great (terrible) news (predictions), everyone, I've updated my awful blog with a post designed to make you, personally, feel very bad.
This is a relatively breezy overview of things to worry about in 2026 mostly related to the election, so check it out!
nocellara.beehiiv.com/p/2026-threa...
This is a relatively breezy overview of things to worry about in 2026 mostly related to the election, so check it out!
nocellara.beehiiv.com/p/2026-threa...
2026 Threat Roadmap
Elections, autocracy, memes, and AI loom over a long row to hoe.
nocellara.beehiiv.com
January 3, 2026 at 7:14 PM
This is a good (albeit depressing, for some) read
Reposted by Stephen C. Rea
US attacks Venezuelan capital, captures Maduro
An unknown number of civilian casualties as explosions rock Caracas
LATEST by me for PWS
An unknown number of civilian casualties as explosions rock Caracas
LATEST by me for PWS
US attacks Venezuelan capital, captures Maduro
An unknown number of civilian casualties as explosions rock Caracas
www.piratewireservices.com
January 3, 2026 at 11:29 AM
US attacks Venezuelan capital, captures Maduro
An unknown number of civilian casualties as explosions rock Caracas
LATEST by me for PWS
An unknown number of civilian casualties as explosions rock Caracas
LATEST by me for PWS
OTD 36 yeas ago: the U.S. kidnapped Manuel Noriega. History rhymes
January 3, 2026 at 4:04 PM
OTD 36 yeas ago: the U.S. kidnapped Manuel Noriega. History rhymes
Reposted by Stephen C. Rea
Getting tons of videos from actual real human friends in Caracas reporting multiple explosions. Cant confirm exactly whats happening. Will make sure anything I do post is firsthand and not from an indirect source
January 3, 2026 at 6:31 AM
Getting tons of videos from actual real human friends in Caracas reporting multiple explosions. Cant confirm exactly whats happening. Will make sure anything I do post is firsthand and not from an indirect source
Reposted by Stephen C. Rea
I've been tracking the spread of nonconsensual deepfakes on X for more than two years. Here's a timeline of how Musk's leadership allowed the practice to flourish from a once-underground market to a viral trend, with little recourse for victims or legal enforcement.
spitfirenews.com/p/grok-csam-...
spitfirenews.com/p/grok-csam-...
How Grok's sexual abuse hit a tipping point
Nonconsensual deepfakes on X are nothing new, but now it's built into the platform.
spitfirenews.com
January 2, 2026 at 7:47 PM
I've been tracking the spread of nonconsensual deepfakes on X for more than two years. Here's a timeline of how Musk's leadership allowed the practice to flourish from a once-underground market to a viral trend, with little recourse for victims or legal enforcement.
spitfirenews.com/p/grok-csam-...
spitfirenews.com/p/grok-csam-...
Reposted by Stephen C. Rea
MAYO MANIACS ON TV
January 3, 2026 at 4:04 AM
MAYO MANIACS ON TV
Reposted by Stephen C. Rea
You have no idea how excited I was about this movie. It was perfect for a 12 year old geek
In 1995, Sandra Bullock was the first person ever to buy movie theater tickets online, in promotion for her new film THE NET.
January 3, 2026 at 1:40 AM
You have no idea how excited I was about this movie. It was perfect for a 12 year old geek
I am all in for 5-7 Mississippi State 🐄🔔
January 3, 2026 at 1:05 AM
I am all in for 5-7 Mississippi State 🐄🔔
The "tax revolt" threats from MAGA social media as we enter the New Year are hilarious, and almost certainly will amount to as much as the America Party did (i.e., jack shit).
January 2, 2026 at 9:58 PM
The "tax revolt" threats from MAGA social media as we enter the New Year are hilarious, and almost certainly will amount to as much as the America Party did (i.e., jack shit).
Reposted by Stephen C. Rea
It is in fact the underfunded environment and community-level activist organisations that have been the ones fighting across that entire spectrum of issues, not the weird effective altruist corporate appeasers constantly sharing substack whataboutism in defence of worsening the already-bad problems
January 2, 2026 at 8:37 PM
It is in fact the underfunded environment and community-level activist organisations that have been the ones fighting across that entire spectrum of issues, not the weird effective altruist corporate appeasers constantly sharing substack whataboutism in defence of worsening the already-bad problems
One of the GOAT live recordings
Nirvana Pat O'Brien Pavilion 12 28 91 Remastered
YouTube video by PBR Streetgang
www.youtube.com
January 2, 2026 at 9:03 PM
One of the GOAT live recordings
Is anyone else being served weird genAI ads for tai-chi on YouTube recently, or is it just me?
January 2, 2026 at 8:30 PM
Is anyone else being served weird genAI ads for tai-chi on YouTube recently, or is it just me?
Reposted by Stephen C. Rea
An October 2023 paper "Artificial Intelligence and Costly Signals" pointed out this race dynamic.
cset.georgetown.edu/wp-content/u...
One of the co-authors was Helen Toner, a prior OpenAI non-profit board member. In the November 2023 power struggle, Sam Altman ousted her from the board.
cset.georgetown.edu/wp-content/u...
One of the co-authors was Helen Toner, a prior OpenAI non-profit board member. In the November 2023 power struggle, Sam Altman ousted her from the board.
![Intended as a relatively inconspicuous “research preview,” the original ChatGPT was built using a less advanced LLM called GPT-3.5, which was already in widespread use by other OpenAl customers. GPT-3.5’s prior circulation is presumably why OpenAl did not feel the need to perform or publish such detailed safety testing in this instance. Nonetheless, one major effect of ChatGPT’s release was to spark a sense of urgency inside major tech companies.[149] To avoid falling behind OpenAl amid the wave of customer enthusiasm about chatbots, competitors sought to accelerate or circumvent internal safety and ethics review processes, with Google creating a fast-track “green lane” to allow products to be released more quickly.[150] This result seems strikingly similar to the race-to-the-bottom dynamics that OpenAl and others have stated that they wish to avoid.](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:5fzxrbee5mpoomb4msfosabg/bafkreibxjbpn53j46ihdvv7yecc3bmoug5d7rwgj4blflvkduqdqauatii@jpeg)
January 2, 2026 at 7:10 PM
An October 2023 paper "Artificial Intelligence and Costly Signals" pointed out this race dynamic.
cset.georgetown.edu/wp-content/u...
One of the co-authors was Helen Toner, a prior OpenAI non-profit board member. In the November 2023 power struggle, Sam Altman ousted her from the board.
cset.georgetown.edu/wp-content/u...
One of the co-authors was Helen Toner, a prior OpenAI non-profit board member. In the November 2023 power struggle, Sam Altman ousted her from the board.
Reposted by Stephen C. Rea
Tariffs on furniture and kitchen cabinets that President Trump had slated to begin yesterday were delayed for a year.
The US also sharply lowered planned tariffs on Italian pasta.
The US also sharply lowered planned tariffs on Italian pasta.
January 2, 2026 at 5:54 PM
Tariffs on furniture and kitchen cabinets that President Trump had slated to begin yesterday were delayed for a year.
The US also sharply lowered planned tariffs on Italian pasta.
The US also sharply lowered planned tariffs on Italian pasta.
Reposted by Stephen C. Rea
This is awful. Now people are showing up to the MN daycare center and it puts the kids, families, and workers in danger.
It’s comet pingpong all over again
www.tiktok.com/t/ZThJshDBa/
It’s comet pingpong all over again
www.tiktok.com/t/ZThJshDBa/
Where the kids ? #viral #fyp #learingcenter
TikTok video by BigDuskii
www.tiktok.com
January 2, 2026 at 6:28 PM
This is awful. Now people are showing up to the MN daycare center and it puts the kids, families, and workers in danger.
It’s comet pingpong all over again
www.tiktok.com/t/ZThJshDBa/
It’s comet pingpong all over again
www.tiktok.com/t/ZThJshDBa/
Reposted by Stephen C. Rea
-Grilled cheese (honestly, white American is my fave, sorry not sorry)
-Torta (filling doesn’t really matter, I’m most concerned about mayo/bean ratios)
-Classic Italian w/ mortadella, capicolla, and salami
-Chicken salad
-Banh mi w/ pâté and bbq pork
-Torta (filling doesn’t really matter, I’m most concerned about mayo/bean ratios)
-Classic Italian w/ mortadella, capicolla, and salami
-Chicken salad
-Banh mi w/ pâté and bbq pork
January 2, 2026 at 5:32 AM
-Grilled cheese (honestly, white American is my fave, sorry not sorry)
-Torta (filling doesn’t really matter, I’m most concerned about mayo/bean ratios)
-Classic Italian w/ mortadella, capicolla, and salami
-Chicken salad
-Banh mi w/ pâté and bbq pork
-Torta (filling doesn’t really matter, I’m most concerned about mayo/bean ratios)
-Classic Italian w/ mortadella, capicolla, and salami
-Chicken salad
-Banh mi w/ pâté and bbq pork
Reposted by Stephen C. Rea
New month means new bills. Goal is $400. Need 100 of it more immediately, and will be happy having the rest gradually. Thanks in advance.
Pay Firma Francisque using PayPal.Me
Go to paypal.me/FirmaFrancisque and type in the amount. Since it’s PayPal, it's easy and secure. Don’t have a PayPal account? No worries.
Paypal.me
January 1, 2026 at 3:18 PM
New month means new bills. Goal is $400. Need 100 of it more immediately, and will be happy having the rest gradually. Thanks in advance.