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
Accountability!
Brad Karp, head of Paul Weiss, steps down after Epstein revelations.
More please!
Brad Karp, head of Paul Weiss, steps down after Epstein revelations.
More please!
February 5, 2026 at 2:02 AM
Accountability!
Brad Karp, head of Paul Weiss, steps down after Epstein revelations.
More please!
Brad Karp, head of Paul Weiss, steps down after Epstein revelations.
More please!
Reposted by Julie H. Hotard Ph.D., Disinfo expert
✨️Check out this amazing piece of ice art at the MN Capitol. It was commissioned by @commondefense.bsky.social, the nation's largest grassroots org of veterans, to call for justice for the victims of ICE and for the abolition of ICE here and everywhere. ✨️✨️🕯
#iceout
#JusticeForRenee
#justiceforalex
#iceout
#JusticeForRenee
#justiceforalex
February 5, 2026 at 5:37 PM
✨️Check out this amazing piece of ice art at the MN Capitol. It was commissioned by @commondefense.bsky.social, the nation's largest grassroots org of veterans, to call for justice for the victims of ICE and for the abolition of ICE here and everywhere. ✨️✨️🕯
#iceout
#JusticeForRenee
#justiceforalex
#iceout
#JusticeForRenee
#justiceforalex
Reposted by Julie H. Hotard Ph.D., Disinfo expert
Trump wants to take over voting in at least 15 places
FBI raid in Fulton County GA now fueling MAGA calls for election takeover there
That would allow them to purge voters, cut polling places, limit early voting & challenge election results. Very scary for 2026
www.motherjones.com/politics/202...
FBI raid in Fulton County GA now fueling MAGA calls for election takeover there
That would allow them to purge voters, cut polling places, limit early voting & challenge election results. Very scary for 2026
www.motherjones.com/politics/202...
Trump’s FBI raid could lead to a takeover of elections in Georgia’s largest county
Trump wants control "over the voting in at least 15 places.” He could start in Fulton County, Georgia.
www.motherjones.com
February 5, 2026 at 4:34 PM
Trump wants to take over voting in at least 15 places
FBI raid in Fulton County GA now fueling MAGA calls for election takeover there
That would allow them to purge voters, cut polling places, limit early voting & challenge election results. Very scary for 2026
www.motherjones.com/politics/202...
FBI raid in Fulton County GA now fueling MAGA calls for election takeover there
That would allow them to purge voters, cut polling places, limit early voting & challenge election results. Very scary for 2026
www.motherjones.com/politics/202...
Reposted by Julie H. Hotard Ph.D., Disinfo expert
PM Tusk on Epstein: it is very likely that this was a planned operation by the Russian KGB.
More and more leads are pointing to suspicions that this unprecedented pedophilia scandal was co-organized by Russian intelligence services.
More and more leads are pointing to suspicions that this unprecedented pedophilia scandal was co-organized by Russian intelligence services.
February 4, 2026 at 2:28 PM
PM Tusk on Epstein: it is very likely that this was a planned operation by the Russian KGB.
More and more leads are pointing to suspicions that this unprecedented pedophilia scandal was co-organized by Russian intelligence services.
More and more leads are pointing to suspicions that this unprecedented pedophilia scandal was co-organized by Russian intelligence services.
Reposted by Julie H. Hotard Ph.D., Disinfo expert
"What’s most alarming here is that Director Gabbard’s own team acknowledges there was no evidence of foreign interference, yet they seized voting machines and election data anyway," U.S. Senator Mark Warner, the top Democrat on the Senate Intelligence panel, said. www.reuters.com/world/americ...
Exclusive: US spy chief's office investigated voting machines in Puerto Rico
A team working for President Donald Trump's spy chief, Tulsi Gabbard, last spring led an investigation into Puerto Rico's voting machines, said Gabbard's office and three sources familiar with the pre...
www.reuters.com
February 5, 2026 at 5:42 PM
"What’s most alarming here is that Director Gabbard’s own team acknowledges there was no evidence of foreign interference, yet they seized voting machines and election data anyway," U.S. Senator Mark Warner, the top Democrat on the Senate Intelligence panel, said. www.reuters.com/world/americ...
Reposted by Julie H. Hotard Ph.D., Disinfo expert
This is something Democratic governors & AGs need to notice:
I am pleased to share my latest draft, "State Constitutions as Engines of Criminal Procedure Innovation." papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers....
February 5, 2026 at 6:00 PM
This is something Democratic governors & AGs need to notice:
Reposted by Julie H. Hotard Ph.D., Disinfo expert
@joshtpm.bsky.social on the demise of the Washington Post and the "formulaic billionaire white knight press baron doom cycle"
talkingpointsmemo.com/edblog/do-yo...
talkingpointsmemo.com/edblog/do-yo...
‘Do You Speak Billionaire?’ and Other Stories From the Fall of the Washington Post
I think I can say with little fear of contradiction that I...
talkingpointsmemo.com
February 5, 2026 at 6:02 PM
@joshtpm.bsky.social on the demise of the Washington Post and the "formulaic billionaire white knight press baron doom cycle"
talkingpointsmemo.com/edblog/do-yo...
talkingpointsmemo.com/edblog/do-yo...
We can and should reinvent commercial journalism from the ground up. It doesn’t have to be done only by large organizations, as we’ve come to expect for the last 150 years.
NEW: Dear Washington Post journalists, I’ve written this for you.
Last year @theguardian.com gave away our news title & binned 100+ journalists. It sucked!
But we fought back & you can too. First a strike, then a new masthead @thenerve.news Fuck Bezos. There is another way 👊👊👊
1/
Last year @theguardian.com gave away our news title & binned 100+ journalists. It sucked!
But we fought back & you can too. First a strike, then a new masthead @thenerve.news Fuck Bezos. There is another way 👊👊👊
1/
February 5, 2026 at 6:09 PM
Thread
Yes
do not honestly know if this title is literal or metaphorical
February 5, 2026 at 6:08 PM
Thread
Reposted by Julie H. Hotard Ph.D., Disinfo expert
Adam Nichols: A newly released email from the Justice Department’s Epstein Files reveals that convicted child sex offender Jeffrey Epstein claimed to be in Palm Beach with “all the trump boys” on Christmas Day 2016 — a month after Donald Trump’s election victory.
www.rawstory.com/epstein-trum...
www.rawstory.com/epstein-trum...
Epstein's 2016 Christmas Day email batters president's denials: 'With all the Trump boys'
A newly released email from the Justice Department's Epstein Files reveals that convicted child sex offender Jeffrey Epstein claimed to be in Palm Beach with "all the trump boys" on Christmas Day 2016...
www.rawstory.com
February 5, 2026 at 6:03 PM
Adam Nichols: A newly released email from the Justice Department’s Epstein Files reveals that convicted child sex offender Jeffrey Epstein claimed to be in Palm Beach with “all the trump boys” on Christmas Day 2016 — a month after Donald Trump’s election victory.
www.rawstory.com/epstein-trum...
www.rawstory.com/epstein-trum...
Reposted by Julie H. Hotard Ph.D., Disinfo expert
EXCLUSIVE: Previously unreported remarks from the Civil Rights Division AAG, @HarmeetKDhillon run directly counter to what the President said recently, Congressional Republicans’ SAVE Act, and the conduct of her own office.
mimsnewspod.substack.com/p/exclusive-...
mimsnewspod.substack.com/p/exclusive-...
EXCLUSIVE: DOJ's Civil Rights Chief Called Federal Election Interference Unconstitutional
In a little-watched video in 2022, showing AAG Harmeet Dillion's statements about election security undercut the current administration and the work she's been doing.
mimsnewspod.substack.com
February 5, 2026 at 5:51 PM
EXCLUSIVE: Previously unreported remarks from the Civil Rights Division AAG, @HarmeetKDhillon run directly counter to what the President said recently, Congressional Republicans’ SAVE Act, and the conduct of her own office.
mimsnewspod.substack.com/p/exclusive-...
mimsnewspod.substack.com/p/exclusive-...
Reposted by Julie H. Hotard Ph.D., Disinfo expert
“Why do they want Fulton County? Well, that’s obvious. It’s the biggest county in Georgia, and it houses Atlanta. If you control Fulton County that basically guarantees for Republicans they win every statewide race.”
Trump wants to take over voting in at least 15 places
FBI raid in Fulton County GA now fueling MAGA calls for election takeover there
That would allow them to purge voters, cut polling places, limit early voting & challenge election results. Very scary for 2026
www.motherjones.com/politics/202...
FBI raid in Fulton County GA now fueling MAGA calls for election takeover there
That would allow them to purge voters, cut polling places, limit early voting & challenge election results. Very scary for 2026
www.motherjones.com/politics/202...
Trump’s FBI raid could lead to a takeover of elections in Georgia’s largest county
Trump wants control "over the voting in at least 15 places.” He could start in Fulton County, Georgia.
www.motherjones.com
February 5, 2026 at 6:03 PM
“Why do they want Fulton County? Well, that’s obvious. It’s the biggest county in Georgia, and it houses Atlanta. If you control Fulton County that basically guarantees for Republicans they win every statewide race.”
Reposted by Julie H. Hotard Ph.D., Disinfo expert
Jeffrey Epstein’s brother Mark sent a tip to the FBI accusing Trump of authorizing his murder:
“I have reason to believe he was killed because he was about to name names. I believe Present Trump authorized is murder.“
“I have reason to believe he was killed because he was about to name names. I believe Present Trump authorized is murder.“
February 5, 2026 at 3:36 PM
Jeffrey Epstein’s brother Mark sent a tip to the FBI accusing Trump of authorizing his murder:
“I have reason to believe he was killed because he was about to name names. I believe Present Trump authorized is murder.“
“I have reason to believe he was killed because he was about to name names. I believe Present Trump authorized is murder.“
Reposted by Julie H. Hotard Ph.D., Disinfo expert
If you were a journalist or creative that was laid off by the Washington Post and you want to work for an independent, pro democracy news outlet, Democracy Docket is hiring. bit.ly/45Qaw4K
Talent Community – Future Opportunities at Democracy Docket | Work With Us
Join Our Talent Community Future Opportunities at Democracy Docket Democracy Docket is growing — and while we may not have the exact role f...
bit.ly
February 5, 2026 at 6:03 PM
If you were a journalist or creative that was laid off by the Washington Post and you want to work for an independent, pro democracy news outlet, Democracy Docket is hiring. bit.ly/45Qaw4K
Reposted by Julie H. Hotard Ph.D., Disinfo expert
While reporting this, I had something happen that's never happened. A comms rep for one of the co's disputed my reporting and said what I was telling them was untrue because it was not in Grok, xAI's chatbot.
I was looking directly at the files. And this person was using AI to challenge the truth.
I was looking directly at the files. And this person was using AI to challenge the truth.
Epstein had many known connections to Silicon Valley CEOs, but less known was how he made money from those relationships.
We did a deep dive into how he got dealflow in Silicon Valley, giving him shots to invest in Coinbase, Palantir, SpaceX and other companies.
www.nytimes.com/2026/02/05/b...
We did a deep dive into how he got dealflow in Silicon Valley, giving him shots to invest in Coinbase, Palantir, SpaceX and other companies.
www.nytimes.com/2026/02/05/b...
Jeffrey Epstein’s Money Mingled With Silicon Valley Start-Ups
www.nytimes.com
February 5, 2026 at 5:38 PM
While reporting this, I had something happen that's never happened. A comms rep for one of the co's disputed my reporting and said what I was telling them was untrue because it was not in Grok, xAI's chatbot.
I was looking directly at the files. And this person was using AI to challenge the truth.
I was looking directly at the files. And this person was using AI to challenge the truth.
Reposted by Julie H. Hotard Ph.D., Disinfo expert
A lawyer leading one of the country's largest law firms is leaving his job over his ties to the late disgraced financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, according to a new report.
Head of white shoe law firm that caved to Trump out after Epstein revelation
A lawyer leading one of the country's largest law firms is leaving his job over his ties to the late disgraced financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, according to a new report. The Wall Street Journal reported on Wednesday that Brad Karp, the leader of Paul Weiss, resigned after the r...
bit.ly
February 5, 2026 at 11:20 AM
A lawyer leading one of the country's largest law firms is leaving his job over his ties to the late disgraced financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, according to a new report.
Reposted by Julie H. Hotard Ph.D., Disinfo expert
NBC News's Tom Llamas did an hour-long interview with Trump filled with softballs & filled with Trump lies that he didn't challenge.
Worst of all, he did not ask 1 single question to Trump about the Epstein files & the 38,000 references to Trump.
Our mainstream media is broken. Subscribe to Zeteo.
Worst of all, he did not ask 1 single question to Trump about the Epstein files & the 38,000 references to Trump.
Our mainstream media is broken. Subscribe to Zeteo.
Read the extended transcript: President Donald Trump interviewed by 'NBC Nightly News' anchor Tom Llamas
Trump spoke about immigration, the Fed, artificial intelligence, the economy and more in the February 2026 interview.
www.nbcnews.com
February 5, 2026 at 7:17 AM
NBC News's Tom Llamas did an hour-long interview with Trump filled with softballs & filled with Trump lies that he didn't challenge.
Worst of all, he did not ask 1 single question to Trump about the Epstein files & the 38,000 references to Trump.
Our mainstream media is broken. Subscribe to Zeteo.
Worst of all, he did not ask 1 single question to Trump about the Epstein files & the 38,000 references to Trump.
Our mainstream media is broken. Subscribe to Zeteo.
Reposted by Julie H. Hotard Ph.D., Disinfo expert
In this year’s appropriations process, Trump and Republicans will be seeking another massive increase in military spending - $450B.
DOD budget was $870B in 2024. They want it to be $1.5T next year, nearly double in 2 years, with the national debt already accelerating at $38.5T.
DOD budget was $870B in 2024. They want it to be $1.5T next year, nearly double in 2 years, with the national debt already accelerating at $38.5T.
February 5, 2026 at 11:25 AM
In this year’s appropriations process, Trump and Republicans will be seeking another massive increase in military spending - $450B.
DOD budget was $870B in 2024. They want it to be $1.5T next year, nearly double in 2 years, with the national debt already accelerating at $38.5T.
DOD budget was $870B in 2024. They want it to be $1.5T next year, nearly double in 2 years, with the national debt already accelerating at $38.5T.
Reposted by Julie H. Hotard Ph.D., Disinfo expert
I can’t even.
My God.
Soccer moms in Minnesota are risking their lives for their neighbours & WH Pool won’t even peep up for one of their own.
Disgusted.
My God.
Soccer moms in Minnesota are risking their lives for their neighbours & WH Pool won’t even peep up for one of their own.
Disgusted.
You’ll notice that not one single reporter stood up for/defended CNN’s Kaitlan Collins as she was being verbally attacked by the orange felon in the bulldozed White House. They can’t even stand up for one of their own so there’s no hope of them ever standing up for democracy.
February 5, 2026 at 11:28 AM
I can’t even.
My God.
Soccer moms in Minnesota are risking their lives for their neighbours & WH Pool won’t even peep up for one of their own.
Disgusted.
My God.
Soccer moms in Minnesota are risking their lives for their neighbours & WH Pool won’t even peep up for one of their own.
Disgusted.
Reposted by Julie H. Hotard Ph.D., Disinfo expert
Maybe there needs to be a campaign to let married American citizen women who changed names know that the GOP wants to trick you and bar you from voting.
February 5, 2026 at 8:35 AM
Maybe there needs to be a campaign to let married American citizen women who changed names know that the GOP wants to trick you and bar you from voting.
Reposted by Julie H. Hotard Ph.D., Disinfo expert
From world-class athletes to the stars of “Heated Rivalry,” torchbearers are selected for their inspiring stories. Here’s what to know about the people carrying the flame for the 2026 Winter Olympics. www.wired.com/story/winter...
How the Olympic Torchbearers Are Chosen
From world-class athletes to the stars of “Heated Rivalry,” torchbearers are selected for their inspiring stories. Here’s what to know about the people carrying the flame for the 2026 Winter Olympics.
www.wired.com
February 5, 2026 at 11:34 AM
From world-class athletes to the stars of “Heated Rivalry,” torchbearers are selected for their inspiring stories. Here’s what to know about the people carrying the flame for the 2026 Winter Olympics. www.wired.com/story/winter...
Reposted by Julie H. Hotard Ph.D., Disinfo expert
☀️ Morning, friends
Inspiration from one of our greats—Dr. Bill Foege, whose leadership helped eradicate smallpox.
Near the end of his life, he reminded us: public health can be great again. And he believed in all of us to carry it forward.
Inspiration from one of our greats—Dr. Bill Foege, whose leadership helped eradicate smallpox.
Near the end of his life, he reminded us: public health can be great again. And he believed in all of us to carry it forward.
February 5, 2026 at 11:32 AM
☀️ Morning, friends
Inspiration from one of our greats—Dr. Bill Foege, whose leadership helped eradicate smallpox.
Near the end of his life, he reminded us: public health can be great again. And he believed in all of us to carry it forward.
Inspiration from one of our greats—Dr. Bill Foege, whose leadership helped eradicate smallpox.
Near the end of his life, he reminded us: public health can be great again. And he believed in all of us to carry it forward.
Reposted by Julie H. Hotard Ph.D., Disinfo expert
Ellison: "The real problem with the case is not that the judge didn't understand the gravity or facts. The problem is there is no legal precedent for this. We've never seen a moment in American history where through force of arms, an administration was trying to bully a state into submission."
February 5, 2026 at 11:32 AM
Ellison: "The real problem with the case is not that the judge didn't understand the gravity or facts. The problem is there is no legal precedent for this. We've never seen a moment in American history where through force of arms, an administration was trying to bully a state into submission."
Reposted by Julie H. Hotard Ph.D., Disinfo expert
Totally sickening.
Trump's constant degradation of female reporters is unsurprising but the press corps' collective decision to treat it as background noise is actually kind of sickening
February 5, 2026 at 1:01 AM
Totally sickening.
Reposted by Julie H. Hotard Ph.D., Disinfo expert
In which I get to say the word "orgies" several times on French television, while discussing the intersection between economic sociology of elites--my field of research--and the Epstein files.
“They won't trust you unless you‘re willing to put yourself in a compromised position”
@ebharrington.bsky.social shares a colleague’s findings on trust and leverage among #Epstein -adjacent elites.
More in #F24Debate ➡️ f24.my/BibJ
@ebharrington.bsky.social shares a colleague’s findings on trust and leverage among #Epstein -adjacent elites.
More in #F24Debate ➡️ f24.my/BibJ
February 4, 2026 at 8:33 PM
In which I get to say the word "orgies" several times on French television, while discussing the intersection between economic sociology of elites--my field of research--and the Epstein files.