Julie H. Hotard Ph.D., Disinfo expert
@upine.bsky.social
Analysis of effects of disinfo on social systems, writer http://Medium.com/@upine "All that is necessary for evil to prevail is for good people to do bothsidesism."
Pinned
How People Try to Solve Problems in a Libertarian Culture
There once was a land without environmental regulations. So various companies routinely poisoned the air, the water and the land. Everyone…
upine.medium.com
Right Wing Domination of Media & Politics Keeps Us Stuck in Disinformation and Right Wing Government
(I found a better named for this article later, after I first wrote it, and so I retitled it, which is why the title now comes out wrong when I type in the url.)
upine.medium.com/how-people-t...
(I found a better named for this article later, after I first wrote it, and so I retitled it, which is why the title now comes out wrong when I type in the url.)
upine.medium.com/how-people-t...
Reposted by Julie H. Hotard Ph.D., Disinfo expert
Okay so a thing I LOVED about that is how, whereas so many halftime shows kind of elevate the star above the other dancers/extras—often literally—that was like the exact opposite, he was *with and among* the people around him
February 9, 2026 at 1:35 AM
Okay so a thing I LOVED about that is how, whereas so many halftime shows kind of elevate the star above the other dancers/extras—often literally—that was like the exact opposite, he was *with and among* the people around him
Reposted by Julie H. Hotard Ph.D., Disinfo expert
Miami Herald reporter Julie K. Brown, whose work led to the arrests of Epstein & Maxwell, dropped a bombshell claim, saying the DOJ has been lying and that "there really is an FBI list of other people suspected of possible wrongdoing in connection with Epstein." Trump is on that list, she said,‼️
February 7, 2026 at 11:18 PM
Miami Herald reporter Julie K. Brown, whose work led to the arrests of Epstein & Maxwell, dropped a bombshell claim, saying the DOJ has been lying and that "there really is an FBI list of other people suspected of possible wrongdoing in connection with Epstein." Trump is on that list, she said,‼️
Reposted by Julie H. Hotard Ph.D., Disinfo expert
Trumpworld is attacking Bad Bunny as an "elitist" who disdains "law enforcement." But it turns out that ICE's paramilitary war on Americans has broken all the old culture war signifiers. The old tropes are failing. Trump is losing the culture on this. 6/
newrepublic.com/article/2062...
newrepublic.com/article/2062...
February 8, 2026 at 2:05 PM
Trumpworld is attacking Bad Bunny as an "elitist" who disdains "law enforcement." But it turns out that ICE's paramilitary war on Americans has broken all the old culture war signifiers. The old tropes are failing. Trump is losing the culture on this. 6/
newrepublic.com/article/2062...
newrepublic.com/article/2062...
Reposted by Julie H. Hotard Ph.D., Disinfo expert
So let me get this straight. The U.S. Attorney’s Office had a draft statement announcing Jeffrey Epstein’s “suicide” dated August 9, 2019. He didn’t die until August 10. Totally normal. Nothing to see here.
www.thedailybeast.com//epstein-fil...
www.thedailybeast.com//epstein-fil...
February 8, 2026 at 5:35 PM
So let me get this straight. The U.S. Attorney’s Office had a draft statement announcing Jeffrey Epstein’s “suicide” dated August 9, 2019. He didn’t die until August 10. Totally normal. Nothing to see here.
www.thedailybeast.com//epstein-fil...
www.thedailybeast.com//epstein-fil...
Reposted by Julie H. Hotard Ph.D., Disinfo expert
I just priced my prescriptions on @mcuban.bsky.social costplusdrugs.com
They’ll cost me LESS THAN half of what I’m currently paying WITH insurance at Walmart without insurance for a 90 day supply for 3 medications I take if I buy them on his site.
They’ll cost me LESS THAN half of what I’m currently paying WITH insurance at Walmart without insurance for a 90 day supply for 3 medications I take if I buy them on his site.
Homepage of Mark Cuban Cost Plus Drugs
Mark Cuban Cost Plus Drug homepage. Provides safe, affordable medicine or medication with transparent low prices.
costplusdrugs.com
February 8, 2026 at 11:01 PM
I just priced my prescriptions on @mcuban.bsky.social costplusdrugs.com
They’ll cost me LESS THAN half of what I’m currently paying WITH insurance at Walmart without insurance for a 90 day supply for 3 medications I take if I buy them on his site.
They’ll cost me LESS THAN half of what I’m currently paying WITH insurance at Walmart without insurance for a 90 day supply for 3 medications I take if I buy them on his site.
Reposted by Julie H. Hotard Ph.D., Disinfo expert
A sea change is underway in America due to the countless actions that everyday people are taking on the ground. Public opinion is shifting, forcing even Republicans to respond to their constituents.
A sea change is underway in America due to the countless actions everyday people are taking on the ground. Public opinion is shifting, forcing even Republicans to respond to their constituents.
TikTok video by degenerateartnews
www.tiktok.com
February 7, 2026 at 12:12 AM
A sea change is underway in America due to the countless actions that everyday people are taking on the ground. Public opinion is shifting, forcing even Republicans to respond to their constituents.
Sarcasm
Donald Trump has turned America into a violent fascist kleptocracy. But the NFL just forced some culturally unfamiliar music upon me. I have never felt more politically homeless.
February 9, 2026 at 3:20 AM
Sarcasm
Sarcasm
Regulating cryptocurrencies could have a chilling effect on future criminals' ability to extort exorbitant ransoms from the families of elderly kidnapping victims.
February 9, 2026 at 3:20 AM
Sarcasm
Reposted by Julie H. Hotard Ph.D., Disinfo expert
BREAKING: Louisiana Democrat Chasity Verret Martinez defeated her Republican opponent by double digits in the special election Saturday night for a state House seat in a district Trump won by 13 points in 2024.
Martinez won 62% of the vote compared to 38% for her Republican opponent.
Martinez won 62% of the vote compared to 38% for her Republican opponent.
February 9, 2026 at 3:10 AM
BREAKING: Louisiana Democrat Chasity Verret Martinez defeated her Republican opponent by double digits in the special election Saturday night for a state House seat in a district Trump won by 13 points in 2024.
Martinez won 62% of the vote compared to 38% for her Republican opponent.
Martinez won 62% of the vote compared to 38% for her Republican opponent.
Reposted by Julie H. Hotard Ph.D., Disinfo expert
I wrote last week about how Megyn Kelly is trying to be the new Rush Limbaugh, specializing in theatrical nastiness.
Megyn Kelly is Rush Limbaugh in drag
Right-wing influencer sells theatrical nastiness to boost her sick career
www.stopthepresses.news
February 9, 2026 at 3:13 AM
I wrote last week about how Megyn Kelly is trying to be the new Rush Limbaugh, specializing in theatrical nastiness.
Reposted by Julie H. Hotard Ph.D., Disinfo expert
jfc
Former Washington Post journalists have launched a GoFundMe to help repatriate fired staff members who are effectively stranded in foreign countries.
One of the richest men in the world fired them from the paper and didn’t even pay to ensure they got home.
Abolish the billionaire class:
One of the richest men in the world fired them from the paper and didn’t even pay to ensure they got home.
Abolish the billionaire class:
Donate to Support for Washington Post international employees, organized by Michelle Lee
Among the hundreds of journalists laid off by The Washington Post on … Michelle Lee needs your support for Support for Washington Post international employees
www.gofundme.com
February 8, 2026 at 5:26 AM
jfc
This is phenomenal. No bullshit and no punches pulled. If you're wondering why our elite political media are failing us so catastrophically (while patting themselves on the back for the great job they think they're doing) this is a good place to start.
Today on Volts: I'm joined by the great @michaelhobbes.bsky.social to discuss "reactionary centrism," an intellectual tendency that's come to dominate US public life. You know the type: would never view themselves as conservative, yet finds voluntary pronoun use vastly more aggravating than fascism.
February 9, 2026 at 12:16 AM
Reposted by Julie H. Hotard Ph.D., Disinfo expert
Really interesting thread on French nuclear power.
France has ended up in a strange position after using some €250bn of tax-payer money to build a fleet of nuclear power stations. Wind and solar power is merrily entering the French power market at prices nuclear production can't match, resulting in huge surpluses of power.
1/
1/
Électricité : un rapport confidentiel d’EDF anticipe une explosion des coûts et des risques
« Le Point » s’est procuré le rapport interne d’EDF sur les conséquences de la modulation de son parc nucléaire pour faire place aux renouvelables. Un document explosif, alors que le gouvernement s’ap...
www.lepoint.fr
February 8, 2026 at 7:20 PM
Really interesting thread on French nuclear power.
Reposted by Julie H. Hotard Ph.D., Disinfo expert
On Tuesday, I'm talking with Bruce Friedrich, head of the Good Food Institute, about MEAT. Specifically, we'll discuss a) the climate problem posed by current meat production & b) the prospects for "alternative proteins." All based on Bruce's new book.
Got questions?
Got questions?
Meat: How the Next Agricultural Revolution Will Transform Humanity's Favorite Food―and Our Future
Amazon.com: Meat: How the Next Agricultural Revolution Will Transform Humanity's Favorite Food―and Our Future: 9781637747933: Friedrich, Bruce, Welsh, Caitlin: Books
www.amazon.com
February 8, 2026 at 7:41 PM
On Tuesday, I'm talking with Bruce Friedrich, head of the Good Food Institute, about MEAT. Specifically, we'll discuss a) the climate problem posed by current meat production & b) the prospects for "alternative proteins." All based on Bruce's new book.
Got questions?
Got questions?
Reposted by Julie H. Hotard Ph.D., Disinfo expert
The tech guys all desperately need new electricity, Trump is thwarting the fastest source of new electricity, and the tech guys ... just keep kissing his ass anyway.
A Trump ‘Blockade’ Is Stalling Hundreds of Wind and Solar Projects Nationwide
www.nytimes.com
February 8, 2026 at 8:47 PM
The tech guys all desperately need new electricity, Trump is thwarting the fastest source of new electricity, and the tech guys ... just keep kissing his ass anyway.
Reposted by Julie H. Hotard Ph.D., Disinfo expert
Whoa! Longtime conservative columnist, professional Dem hater, and spittle-flecked Obama/Biden critic Andrew McCarthy has a new piece in National Review ... absolutely taking Trump to task for corruption. Openly acknowledging it's far worse than anything Biden was even accused of.
The Sordid Story of Trump, the Trump–Witkoff Family Business, and the UAE | National Review
Even if crypto makes your head hurt, you’re going to be hearing a lot about this in the months to come.
www.nationalreview.com
February 8, 2026 at 11:34 PM
Whoa! Longtime conservative columnist, professional Dem hater, and spittle-flecked Obama/Biden critic Andrew McCarthy has a new piece in National Review ... absolutely taking Trump to task for corruption. Openly acknowledging it's far worse than anything Biden was even accused of.
Sarcasm about anti-woke mainstream media columnists
Have we really become so woke that we are no longer comfortable sending raunchy emails to convicted sex traffickers?
February 9, 2026 at 12:01 AM
Sarcasm about anti-woke mainstream media columnists
Sarcasm about media articles laundering the reputations of rich or powerful people
The Jeffrey Epstein I Knew
How did the gentle Peter, Paul and Mary fan from my high-school chess club become a notorious sex trafficker?
How did the gentle Peter, Paul and Mary fan from my high-school chess club become a notorious sex trafficker?
February 9, 2026 at 12:01 AM
Sarcasm about media articles laundering the reputations of rich or powerful people
Sarcasm
Donald Trump appears in Jeffrey Epstein's emails 38,000 times. But Hillary Clinton's campaign chair once shared risotto tips on a private email server. I have never felt more politically homeless.
February 9, 2026 at 12:00 AM
Sarcasm
Sarcasm about mainstream media laundering the reputations of rich or powerful people
Lawrence Summers wants you to forget all about Larry.
February 9, 2026 at 12:00 AM
Sarcasm about mainstream media laundering the reputations of rich or powerful people
Sarcasm
I have never been a supporter of Donald Trump, but if the woke Olympic athletes don’t stop criticizing ICE, I will have no choice but to hold my nose and vote for him for the fourth time in 2028.
February 8, 2026 at 11:59 PM
Sarcasm
Sarcasm
Jesus was too woke and the new pope is a corrupt liberal. Here’s why I’m converting to Catholicism.
February 8, 2026 at 11:59 PM
Sarcasm
Sarcasm
Whether it’s Billie Eilish saying we live on stolen land, or Donald Trump planning to steal land in Venezuela and Greenland, both sides have a stolen land problem.
February 8, 2026 at 11:59 PM
Sarcasm
Sarcasm about Jonathan Turley's pronouncements
There is no specific Constitutional prohibition of shooting a man after pinning him down, pepper spraying him, and taking his gun. So while the radical left may choose to bring charges against the men who shot Alex Pretti, those charges would not be rooted in the Constitution.
by Jonathan Turley
by Jonathan Turley
February 8, 2026 at 11:59 PM
Sarcasm about Jonathan Turley's pronouncements