Vittoria Elliott
@telliotter.bsky.social
Senior Reporter @Wired covering platforms + power
https://www.wired.com/author/vittoria-elliott/
Signal: velliott88.18/vittoria89.82
elliott.vittoria@proton.me OR vittoria_elliott@wired.com
https://www.wired.com/author/vittoria-elliott/
Signal: velliott88.18/vittoria89.82
elliott.vittoria@proton.me OR vittoria_elliott@wired.com
Pinned
Vittoria Elliott
@telliotter.bsky.social
· Feb 20
If you’re a government employee or tech worker and you want to talk about what you’re seeing or you have a tip, you can find me on Signal
Reposted by Vittoria Elliott
they're gonna need to dunk me in this scitechdaily.com/anti-aging-i...
Anti-Aging Injection Regrows Knee Cartilage and Prevents Arthritis
A treatment that blocks an age-related protein restored cartilage in aging and injured joints by reprogramming existing cells rather than using stem cells. Researchers at Stanford Medicine report that...
scitechdaily.com
January 6, 2026 at 4:42 PM
they're gonna need to dunk me in this scitechdaily.com/anti-aging-i...
Thinking again today of the several middle aged Trump voting women I met during the election last year who told me they were voting for Trump so their sons wouldn’t have to go to war…
January 4, 2026 at 7:13 PM
Thinking again today of the several middle aged Trump voting women I met during the election last year who told me they were voting for Trump so their sons wouldn’t have to go to war…
Reposted by Vittoria Elliott
NEW: The anonymous "researcher" in Nick Shirley's viral "fraud" video--treated as a concerned citizen on Fox News and elsewhere--is actually a Minnesota state lobbyist and political activist who worked with a GOP House staffer to provide Shirley info/
theintercept.com/2026/01/03/m...
theintercept.com/2026/01/03/m...
Unnamed Source in Viral Minnesota Somali Fraud Video Is Right-Wing Lobbyist Who Called Muslims “Demons”
David Hoch, who goes by his first name in Nick Shirley’s video allegedly exposing Somali fraud, referred to “demon Muslims” on social media.
theintercept.com
January 3, 2026 at 12:19 PM
NEW: The anonymous "researcher" in Nick Shirley's viral "fraud" video--treated as a concerned citizen on Fox News and elsewhere--is actually a Minnesota state lobbyist and political activist who worked with a GOP House staffer to provide Shirley info/
theintercept.com/2026/01/03/m...
theintercept.com/2026/01/03/m...
Reposted by Vittoria Elliott
Tenet Media founder Lauren Chen, who secretly took money from two people with ties to Russian state media to involve conservative influencers in an unwitting propaganda scheme, is back in the US after being deported to Canada under President Biden. www.motherjones.com/politics/202...
December 25, 2025 at 9:09 PM
Tenet Media founder Lauren Chen, who secretly took money from two people with ties to Russian state media to involve conservative influencers in an unwitting propaganda scheme, is back in the US after being deported to Canada under President Biden. www.motherjones.com/politics/202...
Reposted by Vittoria Elliott
A year after Tenet Media was busted for funneling Russian money to MAGA pundits like Benny Johnson, a Trump administration effort involving State and the FBI has welcomed Tenet's founders back into the US.
@willsommer.bsky.social
www.thebulwark.com/p/lauren-che...
@willsommer.bsky.social
www.thebulwark.com/p/lauren-che...
Trump Admin Scores Visa for Founder of Russian Propaganda Outlet
Tenet Media’s Lauren Chen is back—even though the illegal-influence and money-laundering investigation remains open.
www.thebulwark.com
December 30, 2025 at 2:30 AM
A year after Tenet Media was busted for funneling Russian money to MAGA pundits like Benny Johnson, a Trump administration effort involving State and the FBI has welcomed Tenet's founders back into the US.
@willsommer.bsky.social
www.thebulwark.com/p/lauren-che...
@willsommer.bsky.social
www.thebulwark.com/p/lauren-che...
Reposted by Vittoria Elliott
My beautiful friend, a nurse, died at 31 last night. Her cancer treatment was delayed because a visitor did not wear a mask and she became terribly ill for weeks with the flu or COVID and following infections. If you're wearing a mask, thank you.
Wrote about how disappointing it is that Jon Stewart punched down on people masking at @motherjones.com, when people should mind their own business and leave mask wearers be. www.motherjones.com/politics/202...
Hey Jon Stewart, jokes about wearing masks aren't funny
Critics of the Daily Show host say he's a hypocrite.
www.motherjones.com
December 29, 2025 at 10:27 PM
My beautiful friend, a nurse, died at 31 last night. Her cancer treatment was delayed because a visitor did not wear a mask and she became terribly ill for weeks with the flu or COVID and following infections. If you're wearing a mask, thank you.
Reposted by Vittoria Elliott
Private prison company GEO Group allegedly made immigration detainees work for no pay. Now it's at the Supreme Court trying to prevent the detainees from suing. bit.ly/4pfafj2
Supreme Court Considers Private Prison Case
A private prison company seeks a ruling that could help all government contractors evade liability.
www.brennancenter.org
December 27, 2025 at 8:02 PM
Private prison company GEO Group allegedly made immigration detainees work for no pay. Now it's at the Supreme Court trying to prevent the detainees from suing. bit.ly/4pfafj2
Reposted by Vittoria Elliott
So I have the cover story in next month's TNR.
I interviewed the heads of police groups; immigration defense attorneys, ex-judges and ex-prosecutors; former DOJ and DHS officials, and the former head of Border Patrol.
They're all horrified at what we've seen, and they all fear what's coming.
I interviewed the heads of police groups; immigration defense attorneys, ex-judges and ex-prosecutors; former DOJ and DHS officials, and the former head of Border Patrol.
They're all horrified at what we've seen, and they all fear what's coming.
Trump’s Immigration Nightmare: It Is Happening Here
With astonishing speed, the administration has toppled the most cherished pillars of a free society. And the experts agree: It’s all going to get much, much worse.
newrepublic.com
December 24, 2025 at 3:08 PM
So I have the cover story in next month's TNR.
I interviewed the heads of police groups; immigration defense attorneys, ex-judges and ex-prosecutors; former DOJ and DHS officials, and the former head of Border Patrol.
They're all horrified at what we've seen, and they all fear what's coming.
I interviewed the heads of police groups; immigration defense attorneys, ex-judges and ex-prosecutors; former DOJ and DHS officials, and the former head of Border Patrol.
They're all horrified at what we've seen, and they all fear what's coming.
Reposted by Vittoria Elliott
Alice Guo was the popular, Pomeranian-loving mayor of a sleepy Philippine town — until a casino raid revealed her business associates' involvement in Singapore’s biggest-ever money-laundering scandal and sparked allegations of Chinese espionage.
How Online Gambling Unleashed Transnational Crime on the Philippines
A casino raid in a sleepy town revealed the mayor’s business connections to Singapore’s $2 billion money-laundering scandal, and sparked allegations of Chinese espionage.
bloom.bg
December 24, 2025 at 5:00 AM
Alice Guo was the popular, Pomeranian-loving mayor of a sleepy Philippine town — until a casino raid revealed her business associates' involvement in Singapore’s biggest-ever money-laundering scandal and sparked allegations of Chinese espionage.
Reposted by Vittoria Elliott
Reposted by Vittoria Elliott
"... a former product manager at the U.S. Digital Service said the Trump administration laid off, fired, or offered deferred resignations to 'amazingly talented' engineers and data scientists earlier this year and is now searching for replacements with less experience. 'It’s comical.'"
Trump’s Tech Force treads familiar ground for former government tech leaders
One former U.S. Digital Service worker called the new project a ‘slap in the face’ to those laid off at the beginning of the Trump administration.
fedscoop.com
December 24, 2025 at 12:07 AM
"... a former product manager at the U.S. Digital Service said the Trump administration laid off, fired, or offered deferred resignations to 'amazingly talented' engineers and data scientists earlier this year and is now searching for replacements with less experience. 'It’s comical.'"
I have been trying figure out how to summarize what this year has been, for me personally, and also for the country. This is my last piece of 2025 for @wired.com (!!!) summarizing what DOGE was and what comes next.
www.wired.com/story/expire...
www.wired.com/story/expire...
Big Balls Was Just the Beginning
DOGE dominated the news this year as Elon Musk’s operatives shook up several US government agencies. It’s far from over.
www.wired.com
December 23, 2025 at 10:33 PM
I have been trying figure out how to summarize what this year has been, for me personally, and also for the country. This is my last piece of 2025 for @wired.com (!!!) summarizing what DOGE was and what comes next.
www.wired.com/story/expire...
www.wired.com/story/expire...
Reposted by Vittoria Elliott
New from me: The storied fiddler Ashley MacIsaac wanted to play a show at a Nova Scotia First Nation. It got cancelled because Google's AI search summary incorrectly called him a sex offender. Now he's worried for his safety www.theglobeandmail.com/culture/arti...
Fiddler Ashley MacIsaac has show cancelled over Google AI-generated misinformation
Cape Breton musician was set to perform in Nova Scotia before a search summary incorrectly described him as a sex offender
www.theglobeandmail.com
December 23, 2025 at 4:27 PM
New from me: The storied fiddler Ashley MacIsaac wanted to play a show at a Nova Scotia First Nation. It got cancelled because Google's AI search summary incorrectly called him a sex offender. Now he's worried for his safety www.theglobeandmail.com/culture/arti...
Reposted by Vittoria Elliott
The meat of Judge Boasberg's ruling was a reversal of his own prior decision over the summer. In light of the new facts that have emerged, Boasberg reversed course and concluded that the AEA detainees *were* in the constructive custody of the US while at CECOT.
talkingpointsmemo.com/morning-memo...
talkingpointsmemo.com/morning-memo...
Major Ruling Offers Due Process to Alien Enemies Act Detainees
Morning Memo Live! Join me Jan. 29 in Washington, D.C., for our...
talkingpointsmemo.com
December 23, 2025 at 4:27 PM
The meat of Judge Boasberg's ruling was a reversal of his own prior decision over the summer. In light of the new facts that have emerged, Boasberg reversed course and concluded that the AEA detainees *were* in the constructive custody of the US while at CECOT.
talkingpointsmemo.com/morning-memo...
talkingpointsmemo.com/morning-memo...
Reposted by Vittoria Elliott
Good @telliotter.bsky.social story on the DOGEification of the government.
www.wired.com/story/expire...
www.wired.com/story/expire...
Big Balls Was Just the Beginning
DOGE dominated the news this year as Elon Musk’s operatives shook up several US government agencies. It’s far from over.
www.wired.com
December 23, 2025 at 1:34 PM
Good @telliotter.bsky.social story on the DOGEification of the government.
www.wired.com/story/expire...
www.wired.com/story/expire...
Thank you!!
Giving a shout-out to @telliotter.bsky.social for being one of the first and best journalists to the Network State and all-around great reporting on tech fascism: DOGE, government takeover by VCs, the major data plundering/thievery project,
follow her!!!!!
www.wired.com/story/tech-b...
follow her!!!!!
www.wired.com/story/tech-b...
Tech Billionaires Already Captured the White House. They Still Want to Be Kings
From Montenegro to Northern California, the tech elite dream of building cities where they make the rules. Is this, finally, their moment?
www.wired.com
December 14, 2025 at 9:06 PM
Thank you!!
So when these things come up they’re often listed on the federal register so that the public can offer comment:
www.federalregister.gov/documents/20...
www.federalregister.gov/documents/20...
December 12, 2025 at 5:50 AM
So when these things come up they’re often listed on the federal register so that the public can offer comment:
www.federalregister.gov/documents/20...
www.federalregister.gov/documents/20...
Guys, why are we letting AI make art when it needs to be doing my expenses?
December 11, 2025 at 9:10 PM
Guys, why are we letting AI make art when it needs to be doing my expenses?
Reposted by Vittoria Elliott
Handing back student work that’s been written by ChatGPT with a 0 followed by the comment “This essay will never stand in authentic wonder before the Beauty of God’s creation.”
Pope Leo XIV told students not to use artificial intelligence for homework, saying that AI ‘won’t stand in authentic wonder before the beauty of God’s creation.’
Even God Is Worried About ChatGPT
Pope Leo XIV told students not to use artificial intelligence for homework, saying that AI ‘won’t stand in authentic wonder before the beauty of God’s creation.’
www.vulture.com
November 26, 2025 at 3:35 PM
Handing back student work that’s been written by ChatGPT with a 0 followed by the comment “This essay will never stand in authentic wonder before the Beauty of God’s creation.”
Reposted by Vittoria Elliott
SCOOP
I spoke to the leader of a doxing-for-hire group who showed me how it took just minutes for them to get sensitive personal data from Big Tech companies—with virtually no pushback
www.wired.com/story/doxers...
I spoke to the leader of a doxing-for-hire group who showed me how it took just minutes for them to get sensitive personal data from Big Tech companies—with virtually no pushback
www.wired.com/story/doxers...
Doxers Posing as Cops Are Tricking Big Tech Firms Into Sharing People's Private Data
A spoofed email address and an easily faked document is all it takes for major tech companies to hand over your most personal information.
www.wired.com
December 11, 2025 at 7:06 PM
SCOOP
I spoke to the leader of a doxing-for-hire group who showed me how it took just minutes for them to get sensitive personal data from Big Tech companies—with virtually no pushback
www.wired.com/story/doxers...
I spoke to the leader of a doxing-for-hire group who showed me how it took just minutes for them to get sensitive personal data from Big Tech companies—with virtually no pushback
www.wired.com/story/doxers...
Reposted by Vittoria Elliott
MAGAZINER: How many veterans have you deported?
NOEM: We haven't deported veterans
MAGAZINER: We are now joined on Zoom by a combat veteran you deported to Korea
NOEM: We haven't deported veterans
MAGAZINER: We are now joined on Zoom by a combat veteran you deported to Korea
December 11, 2025 at 4:22 PM
MAGAZINER: How many veterans have you deported?
NOEM: We haven't deported veterans
MAGAZINER: We are now joined on Zoom by a combat veteran you deported to Korea
NOEM: We haven't deported veterans
MAGAZINER: We are now joined on Zoom by a combat veteran you deported to Korea
Reposted by Vittoria Elliott
*uses index finger to push glasses back up the bridge of nose* if it's trained off of the stolen creative output of humankind then technically, we are *all* the architects of AI...
December 11, 2025 at 5:27 PM
*uses index finger to push glasses back up the bridge of nose* if it's trained off of the stolen creative output of humankind then technically, we are *all* the architects of AI...
If you want a primer on the Network State, I spent some time with a group hoping to make one this summer:
www.wired.com/story/tech-b...
www.wired.com/story/tech-b...
December 10, 2025 at 8:46 PM
If you want a primer on the Network State, I spent some time with a group hoping to make one this summer:
www.wired.com/story/tech-b...
www.wired.com/story/tech-b...
Reposted by Vittoria Elliott
Great piece connecting some of the dots on how the administration is using (and misusing) a massive network of data to increase immigration enforcement.
The constant expansion of the surveillance state puts all of our privacy and safety is at risk.
The constant expansion of the surveillance state puts all of our privacy and safety is at risk.
![Screenshot from the piece:
“I think that if you fit the demographic profile that they're targeting and you are a citizen, [authorities] view the 30 minutes or three hours or three days that you spend in custody as just a necessary cost of the current enforcement system and the quotas and the bonuses and everything that goes along with that,” says Jared McClain, senior attorney at the Institute for Justice, which is representing Garcia Venegas.](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:cf5vvi43qzrty5aymb7qqbd7/bafkreiaueriwybjytrbolgsuo4qramh3ff6wzypbijik7jjk2mwmwa2kpy@jpeg)
December 10, 2025 at 7:35 PM
Great piece connecting some of the dots on how the administration is using (and misusing) a massive network of data to increase immigration enforcement.
The constant expansion of the surveillance state puts all of our privacy and safety is at risk.
The constant expansion of the surveillance state puts all of our privacy and safety is at risk.
As always, if you're someone working in government, tech, immigration, etc and you want to talk, you can find me on Signal at Vittoria89.82
New from me for the @wired.com Politics Newsletter. I broke down how the push to combine data across the government in the name of immigration enforcement has lots of possible unintended consequences, not just for undocumented immigrants, but for everyone.
www.wired.com/story/dhs-da...
www.wired.com/story/dhs-da...
The DHS Data Grab Is Putting US Citizens at Risk
As the US government rapidly merges data from across agencies in service of draconian immigration policies, citizens increasingly risk being caught up as well.
www.wired.com
December 10, 2025 at 5:00 PM
As always, if you're someone working in government, tech, immigration, etc and you want to talk, you can find me on Signal at Vittoria89.82