T. Kenny Fountain
@tkennyfountain.bsky.social
Associate Professor of English, UVA. Scholar of rhetoric (old & current), studying conspiracy theory belief, disinformation, extremism, and visual media. Writing a book, Imagining Conspiracy Theories.
Pinned
Project MUSE - Presencing, Immersion, and Community: How Conspiracy Theory Belief Is Kindled Online
muse.jhu.edu
To all new followers, I'm a scholar of rhetoric who studies conspiracy theories and extremism. Writing a book, Imaging Conspiracy Theories. Most recent work is this co-authored article. "Presencing, Immersion, and Community: How Conspiracy Theory Belief Is Kindled Online" muse.jhu.edu/article/949121
Reposted by T. Kenny Fountain
AOC to @pabloreports.bsky.social : A swastika is one of the clearest symbols of hatred in all of humanity… to remove that designation… indicates a possible collaboration with those very elements, which I think is genuinely frightening to any American.
November 21, 2025 at 12:00 AM
AOC to @pabloreports.bsky.social : A swastika is one of the clearest symbols of hatred in all of humanity… to remove that designation… indicates a possible collaboration with those very elements, which I think is genuinely frightening to any American.
Excellent thread by @eliothiggins.bsky.social that pinpoints the failure of Yarvin's hollow ideology.
I watched Yarvin’s Sheldonian lecture. What struck me is that he’s describing real institutional failures, but he completely misdiagnoses the cause. He treats “democracy” as the problem, when the actual collapse is upstream.
See also Curtis Yarvin's remarks in a recent Oxford lecture:
"Say what you want about MBS, he's quite an effective king I think in a lot of different ways. Um love the Ritz thing, the whole Saudi embassy thing, I don't know, but I mean he was a journalist". [Giggles]
www.youtube.com/watch?v=zXYl...
"Say what you want about MBS, he's quite an effective king I think in a lot of different ways. Um love the Ritz thing, the whole Saudi embassy thing, I don't know, but I mean he was a journalist". [Giggles]
www.youtube.com/watch?v=zXYl...
November 20, 2025 at 11:38 AM
Excellent thread by @eliothiggins.bsky.social that pinpoints the failure of Yarvin's hollow ideology.
Reposted by T. Kenny Fountain
Huge @tinanguyen.bsky.social scoop: Trump is preparing to try and ban all state AI laws, going so far as having Brendan Carr’s FCC pull rural broadband funds from states that try to regulate AI www.theverge.com/ai-artificia...
Here’s the Trump executive order that would ban state AI laws
Trump is launching an all-out broadside against states with strict AI regulations.
www.theverge.com
November 19, 2025 at 11:05 PM
Huge @tinanguyen.bsky.social scoop: Trump is preparing to try and ban all state AI laws, going so far as having Brendan Carr’s FCC pull rural broadband funds from states that try to regulate AI www.theverge.com/ai-artificia...
Reposted by T. Kenny Fountain
This is indeed what happens when billionaires like Jeff Bezos dictate the contents of the opinion pages of @washingtonpost.com
What a fall for a once good newspaper! I have never regretted canceling my subscription after he nixed the Kamala Harris endorsement.
What a fall for a once good newspaper! I have never regretted canceling my subscription after he nixed the Kamala Harris endorsement.
November 18, 2025 at 1:37 PM
This is indeed what happens when billionaires like Jeff Bezos dictate the contents of the opinion pages of @washingtonpost.com
What a fall for a once good newspaper! I have never regretted canceling my subscription after he nixed the Kamala Harris endorsement.
What a fall for a once good newspaper! I have never regretted canceling my subscription after he nixed the Kamala Harris endorsement.
Reposted by T. Kenny Fountain
They started dismembering him while he was still alive
Trump suggests Khashoggi had it coming: "You're mentioning someone that was extremely controversial. A lot of people didn't like that gentleman that you're talking about. Whether you like him or didn't like him, things happen. But he knew nothing about it. You don't have to embarrass our guest."
November 18, 2025 at 11:48 PM
They started dismembering him while he was still alive
This op-ed is advocating for a military invasion and a war. This is war propaganda.
In @nytopinion.nytimes.com
“I’ve been outspoken in calling on the administration to act against Nicolás Maduro’s dictatorship” in Venezuela, Bret Stephens writes. “With war looming, possibly within days, it’s worth making the case again — and thinking through the ways it could go wrong.”
“I’ve been outspoken in calling on the administration to act against Nicolás Maduro’s dictatorship” in Venezuela, Bret Stephens writes. “With war looming, possibly within days, it’s worth making the case again — and thinking through the ways it could go wrong.”
Opinion | The Case for Overthrowing Maduro
Thinking through the case for intervention in Venezuela.
nyti.ms
November 18, 2025 at 2:10 PM
This op-ed is advocating for a military invasion and a war. This is war propaganda.
Reposted by T. Kenny Fountain
Spare me the "Marjorie Taylor Greene has changed" bullshit.
Marjorie Taylor Greene to Dana Bash: "You should have Nick Fuentes on your show"
November 18, 2025 at 10:38 AM
Spare me the "Marjorie Taylor Greene has changed" bullshit.
Reposted by T. Kenny Fountain
So if AI succeeds loads of people lose their jobs as they're replaced by AI, and if AI fails, loads of people lose their jobs as the economy crashes?
It’s amazing how this story has gone from 0 to 60 in UK press. There’s been no mainstream coverage to date but this morning the story is leading BBC News site & bulletins.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Google boss Sundar Pichai warns 'no company immune' if AI bubble bursts
Speaking exclusively to BBC News, CEO Sundar Pichai said the artificial intelligence boom had been an
www.bbc.co.uk
November 18, 2025 at 10:14 AM
So if AI succeeds loads of people lose their jobs as they're replaced by AI, and if AI fails, loads of people lose their jobs as the economy crashes?
Reposted by T. Kenny Fountain
Reposted by T. Kenny Fountain
"When an off-camera female reporter... began to ask if there was anything 'incriminating' in the Epstein emails, Trump pointed a finger in her face. 'Quiet. Quiet, Piggy,' he said menacingly."
Tell me again how it's women who are ruining the workplace?
people.com/donald-trump...
Tell me again how it's women who are ruining the workplace?
people.com/donald-trump...
Donald Trump Snaps at Female Reporter Who Asks About Epstein Files: 'Quiet Piggy'
Donald Trump Says 'Quiet Piggy' to Female Reporter Asking About Epstein Files
people.com
November 18, 2025 at 10:37 AM
"When an off-camera female reporter... began to ask if there was anything 'incriminating' in the Epstein emails, Trump pointed a finger in her face. 'Quiet. Quiet, Piggy,' he said menacingly."
Tell me again how it's women who are ruining the workplace?
people.com/donald-trump...
Tell me again how it's women who are ruining the workplace?
people.com/donald-trump...
Reposted by T. Kenny Fountain
Mark Epstein (Jeffrey’s brother):
“The reason they’re gonna be releasing these things, the reason for the flip is that they’re sanitizing these files. There’s a facility in Winchester, Virginia where they’re scrubbing the files to take Republican names out”
“The reason they’re gonna be releasing these things, the reason for the flip is that they’re sanitizing these files. There’s a facility in Winchester, Virginia where they’re scrubbing the files to take Republican names out”
November 18, 2025 at 11:36 AM
Mark Epstein (Jeffrey’s brother):
“The reason they’re gonna be releasing these things, the reason for the flip is that they’re sanitizing these files. There’s a facility in Winchester, Virginia where they’re scrubbing the files to take Republican names out”
“The reason they’re gonna be releasing these things, the reason for the flip is that they’re sanitizing these files. There’s a facility in Winchester, Virginia where they’re scrubbing the files to take Republican names out”
Sadly, we should all know who Nick Fuentes is (as Carlson interviewed him and MTG continues to defend him). This interview with John Ganz @lioneltrolling.bsky.social is great!
November 17, 2025 at 11:39 PM
Sadly, we should all know who Nick Fuentes is (as Carlson interviewed him and MTG continues to defend him). This interview with John Ganz @lioneltrolling.bsky.social is great!
Can't wait to read this preprint article critiquing the standard "polarization narrative" by @aurelmondon.bsky.social and his colleagues. Great thread on the article here.
The ‘polarisation narrative’ simplifies complex issues by constructing a spectrum where good should be found in the middle of diametrically opposed political positions
New preprint article by @juanroch.bsky.social, @daniel-balinhas.bsky.social and I
1/
www.researchgate.net/publication/...
New preprint article by @juanroch.bsky.social, @daniel-balinhas.bsky.social and I
1/
www.researchgate.net/publication/...
(PDF) A critique of the polarisation narrative: Expanding the limits of democracy, parties and political participation
PDF | To cite: Roch J, Balinhas, D and Mondon A (2025) 'A critique of the polarisation narrative: Expanding the limits of democracy, parties and... | Find, read and cite all the research you need on R...
www.researchgate.net
November 17, 2025 at 1:25 PM
Can't wait to read this preprint article critiquing the standard "polarization narrative" by @aurelmondon.bsky.social and his colleagues. Great thread on the article here.
Reposted by T. Kenny Fountain
It's remarkable that the number of news analyses/pundit takes that the Democrats are too extreme--out of touch, too focused on divisive cultural issues, too beholden to progressive orthodoxy--far exceeds the articles on the Trump/GOP's connections to the far right. www.nytimes.com/2025/11/16/u...
Trump Defends Tucker Carlson After Nick Fuentes Interview
www.nytimes.com
November 17, 2025 at 11:45 AM
It's remarkable that the number of news analyses/pundit takes that the Democrats are too extreme--out of touch, too focused on divisive cultural issues, too beholden to progressive orthodoxy--far exceeds the articles on the Trump/GOP's connections to the far right. www.nytimes.com/2025/11/16/u...
Reposted by T. Kenny Fountain
A very depressing read
Viktor Orbán’s Hail Mary.
I was editor in chief of Hungary’s most-read independent daily until a pro-government media network bought the newspaper. It’s the fifth time in thirty years that politics has cost me my job—and it’s ...
www.cjr.org
November 17, 2025 at 12:58 PM
A very depressing read
Reposted by T. Kenny Fountain
I've been saying for a while that when a real conspiracy emerges the Conspiracy Theory Complex will be some of the least interested people in it, because the point of the Conspiracy Theory Complex is not to discover conspiracy but to create rationales to justify untenable beliefs.
Alex Jones on encountering actual gay frogs: “NOTHINGBURGER it’s a Nothingburger on Top of Bottom Nothingburger!”
November 15, 2025 at 8:31 PM
I've been saying for a while that when a real conspiracy emerges the Conspiracy Theory Complex will be some of the least interested people in it, because the point of the Conspiracy Theory Complex is not to discover conspiracy but to create rationales to justify untenable beliefs.
Reposted by T. Kenny Fountain
“A since-deleted video from 2019 shows MTG harassing @AOC's office through a locked door. Calling her ‘crazy eyes’ and telling her through the office's mailbox slot to ‘get rid of your diaper’ while telling the office to open the door and come out.” h/t @kfile.bsky.social … 1/
x.com/kfile/status...
x.com/kfile/status...
November 15, 2025 at 8:30 PM
“A since-deleted video from 2019 shows MTG harassing @AOC's office through a locked door. Calling her ‘crazy eyes’ and telling her through the office's mailbox slot to ‘get rid of your diaper’ while telling the office to open the door and come out.” h/t @kfile.bsky.social … 1/
x.com/kfile/status...
x.com/kfile/status...
Reposted by T. Kenny Fountain
Before anyone gets too carried away here.
Anthony Fauci says Marjorie Taylor Greene drove death threats against him
Ex-leader of US Covid response said congresswoman and Fox News sparked ‘credible death threats’ against him and his family
www.theguardian.com
November 15, 2025 at 6:27 PM
Before anyone gets too carried away here.
Reposted by T. Kenny Fountain
Indeed... that was the main takeaway of teaching "Far-Right Politics" in Fall 2025.
Not that the students are more supportive of the far right than previously - they are not! - but for them the far right is "normal". It is the "conservative" party that their dad supports.
Not that the students are more supportive of the far right than previously - they are not! - but for them the far right is "normal". It is the "conservative" party that their dad supports.
yes, and: there is an entire generation of voters out there that don't know what politics is like without Donald Trump
November 15, 2025 at 9:03 PM
Indeed... that was the main takeaway of teaching "Far-Right Politics" in Fall 2025.
Not that the students are more supportive of the far right than previously - they are not! - but for them the far right is "normal". It is the "conservative" party that their dad supports.
Not that the students are more supportive of the far right than previously - they are not! - but for them the far right is "normal". It is the "conservative" party that their dad supports.
Reposted by T. Kenny Fountain
No one should have to face such threats.
It would’ve been nice if Greene had realized this before she amplified and endorsed calls for executing Nancy Pelosi and Barack Obama.
It would’ve been nice if Greene had realized this before she amplified and endorsed calls for executing Nancy Pelosi and Barack Obama.
November 15, 2025 at 7:21 PM
No one should have to face such threats.
It would’ve been nice if Greene had realized this before she amplified and endorsed calls for executing Nancy Pelosi and Barack Obama.
It would’ve been nice if Greene had realized this before she amplified and endorsed calls for executing Nancy Pelosi and Barack Obama.
This is another example of AI being used to replace reading and reflection. But it speaks to how much we crave interaction & immersive experience. We want a kind of involvement we can lose ourselves in, which ironically religion has been offering for millenia.
www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/tech/re...
www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/tech/re...
People can text with Jesus on a controversial new app. How does it work?
Artificial intelligence app Text With Jesus lets users chat with biblical figures and it is raising debate over faith and technology.
www.nbcphiladelphia.com
November 15, 2025 at 2:06 PM
This is another example of AI being used to replace reading and reflection. But it speaks to how much we crave interaction & immersive experience. We want a kind of involvement we can lose ourselves in, which ironically religion has been offering for millenia.
www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/tech/re...
www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/tech/re...
Reposted by T. Kenny Fountain
I just don’t see how we can pretend even for a moment that anything involving our federal government is remotely normal when the president is covering up his involvement in a child sex trafficking ring. Like, what are we doing here
November 15, 2025 at 1:14 AM
I just don’t see how we can pretend even for a moment that anything involving our federal government is remotely normal when the president is covering up his involvement in a child sex trafficking ring. Like, what are we doing here
It's an intense time to be a faculty member at UVA!
November 15, 2025 at 1:50 AM
It's an intense time to be a faculty member at UVA!
The MAHA movement ("make America healthy again") is the most Orwellian double-speak feature of this entire administration.
"Excluding MPH and DrPH from the 'professional degree' category could restrict students’ access to higher federal loan limits, making public health education less financially attainable and potentially weakening the future workforce pipeline." Get ready to submit comments! aspph.org/department-o...
Department of Education Proposal Excludes Public Health Degrees from “Professional Degree” Definition
Discover the new results and implications of Dept of Ed consensus regarding professional degree programs and public health education.
aspph.org
November 14, 2025 at 1:30 PM
The MAHA movement ("make America healthy again") is the most Orwellian double-speak feature of this entire administration.
Reposted by T. Kenny Fountain
PANIC SETS IN
Pam Bondi, Kash Patel, Todd Blanche, and others, plan on holding an EMERGENCY MEETING today on the Epstein Files as the discharge vote nears.
Rep. Boebert will reportedly be there.
It appears there is an all hands on deck effort to try to prevent a vote on the Epstein Files. (CNN)
Pam Bondi, Kash Patel, Todd Blanche, and others, plan on holding an EMERGENCY MEETING today on the Epstein Files as the discharge vote nears.
Rep. Boebert will reportedly be there.
It appears there is an all hands on deck effort to try to prevent a vote on the Epstein Files. (CNN)
November 12, 2025 at 6:11 PM
PANIC SETS IN
Pam Bondi, Kash Patel, Todd Blanche, and others, plan on holding an EMERGENCY MEETING today on the Epstein Files as the discharge vote nears.
Rep. Boebert will reportedly be there.
It appears there is an all hands on deck effort to try to prevent a vote on the Epstein Files. (CNN)
Pam Bondi, Kash Patel, Todd Blanche, and others, plan on holding an EMERGENCY MEETING today on the Epstein Files as the discharge vote nears.
Rep. Boebert will reportedly be there.
It appears there is an all hands on deck effort to try to prevent a vote on the Epstein Files. (CNN)