Victor Pickard
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victorpickard.bsky.social
Victor Pickard
@victorpickard.bsky.social
15K followers 1.3K following 590 posts

Professor who writes about the history and political economy of media, politics of media policy, and democratic theories of journalism. Author of "Democracy Without Journalism? Confronting the Misinformation Society." Co-director of the MIC Center at Penn. .. more

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Victor Pickard is an American media studies scholar. He is a professor at the Annenberg School for Communication at the University of Pennsylvania. He works on the intersections of U.S. and global media activism and politics; the history and political economy of media institutions; and the normative foundations of media policy. .. more

Communication & Media Studies 46%
Political science 18%
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victorpickard.bsky.social
Victor Pickard @victorpickard.bsky.social · Apr 15
New piece in The Nation arguing that we need public media more now than ever. We must defend what we have with an eye toward expanding and restructuring public media in the future.
We Must Save Public Media to Change It
We need public media more than ever—it’s too precious to let Trump defund it. But to live up to its democratic promise, we must support public media to serve our needs.
www.thenation.com

Reposted by Victor Pickard

truthout.org
Truthout @truthout.org · 10h
Rep. Ro Khanna is urging Congress to invoke its war powers “every day this month” to block Trump from invading six more countries he has threatened, as many lawmakers stay silent on the widely condemned Venezuela attack.
Khanna: Congress Must Stop Trump From Invading 6 Other Countries He’s Threatened
Many U.S. lawmakers have remained mum about the attack on Venezuela, despite international condemnation.
buff.ly

Reposted by Will Straw, Victor Pickard

miccenter.bsky.social
The Media, Inequality & Change Center @miccenter.bsky.social · 13h
In his recent essay for @ccc-journal.bsky.social, @victorpickard.bsky.social analyzes the capitalist logics at the root of many media-related issues and provides a framework for shifting to a less capitalist, more democratic media system.

Read here: buff.ly/AYvibor
Eroding the market’s hidden hand: toward a Post-Capitalist media system
Abstract. Media-related problems facing democratic societies around the world today often stem from various kinds of market failures and structural limitat
academic.oup.com

Reposted by Victor Pickard

markjacob.bsky.social
Mark Jacob @markjacob.bsky.social · 19h
The media need to stop beating their chests about how powerful our military is.
It's a point of pride when your country has a strong military that keeps the peace.
It's a source of shame when politicians turn your strong military into an international armed robbery gang.

Reposted by Alan Richardson, Robert Wolfe, Victor Pickard

nickyschwenzer.bsky.social
Nicky Schwenzer @nickyschwenzer.bsky.social · 1d
DIFFERENT WARS, SAME PROPAGANDA

...a montage showing the direct parallels between the rhetoric around the Iraq war & the current rhetoric around Venezuela.

Jon Stewart 🎥 #IraqNeverAgain

Reposted by Tom Clark, David H. Kaye, Rosemary A. Joyce , and 7 more

atrupar.com
Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 1d
Chris Murphy: "Clearly this is wildly illegal. This is a president who has been operating illegally since he was sworn in -- stealing from the American people, seizing spending power, now dragging America into a war overseas ... Donald Trump's entire foreign policy is corrupt."

Reposted by Daxton R. Stewart

victorpickard.bsky.social
Victor Pickard @victorpickard.bsky.social · 1d
To be sure, individual journalists at these firms sometimes act courageously. And it isn't inevitable that media behave so meekly. But historically (e.g. Iraq War), it's most often the case (see also: recent WaPo/NYT editorials). Under capitalism, our media too often serve as stenographers to power.
victorpickard.bsky.social Victor Pickard @victorpickard.bsky.social · 2d
Our major media orgs--even during the best of times when they're merely profit-driven outlets and not ideological mouthpieces and playthings of right-wing oligarchs--primarily serve the role of status quo managers. They rationalize & normalize elite actions & interests. They rarely defend democracy.
whstancil.bsky.social Will Stancil @whstancil.bsky.social · 2d
absolutely bizarre to see a violent, rogue american regime, which is threatening military attacks on a bunch of major trading partners and close allies, and openly fantasizing about hitler-style wars of territorial conquest, covered in the tone of horse-race political commentary

Reposted by Victor Pickard, David Darmofal

bgrueskin.bsky.social
Bill Grueskin @bgrueskin.bsky.social · 2d
This bit of news — at least 40 dead— appears around the 27th graf of the NYT story. Which is a really bizarre choice.

(And we find out a few grafs down that several US soldiers were injured)
At least 40 people were killed in Saturday's attack on Venezuela, including military personnel and civilians, according to a senior Venezuelan official who spoke on condition of anonymity to describe preliminary reports.

Reposted by Rosemary A. Joyce, Ben Tonra, Jacob T. Levy , and 4 more

onestpress.onestnetwork.com
Olga Nesterova @onestpress.onestnetwork.com · 2d
Colombian President Petro commenting on the US;

“A clan of pedophiles wants to destroy our democracy. To keep Epstein's list from coming out, they send warships to kill fishermen & threaten our neighbor with invasion for their oil."

Reposted by Axel Bruns

victorpickard.bsky.social
Victor Pickard @victorpickard.bsky.social · 2d
Our major media orgs--even during the best of times when they're merely profit-driven outlets and not ideological mouthpieces and playthings of right-wing oligarchs--primarily serve the role of status quo managers. They rationalize & normalize elite actions & interests. They rarely defend democracy.
whstancil.bsky.social Will Stancil @whstancil.bsky.social · 2d
absolutely bizarre to see a violent, rogue american regime, which is threatening military attacks on a bunch of major trading partners and close allies, and openly fantasizing about hitler-style wars of territorial conquest, covered in the tone of horse-race political commentary

Reposted by Steve Peers, Victor Pickard

whstancil.bsky.social
Will Stancil @whstancil.bsky.social · 2d
absolutely bizarre to see a violent, rogue american regime, which is threatening military attacks on a bunch of major trading partners and close allies, and openly fantasizing about hitler-style wars of territorial conquest, covered in the tone of horse-race political commentary

Reposted by Axel Bruns, Brendan Nyhan, Rosemary A. Joyce , and 3 more

wsj.com
The Wall Street Journal @wsj.com · 2d
With Nicolás Maduro out of power, the Trump administration is racing to assemble an interim governing structure for Venezuela.
After Maduro Ouster, Trump Takes On the Risks of Governing Venezuela
The administration is racing to get an interim government in place, even as pushback from Maduro’s allies raise fears of instability.
on.wsj.com

Reposted by Timnit Gebru, Andrew Marshall, Charles W. Smith , and 1 more

mehdirhasan.bsky.social
Mehdi Hasan @mehdirhasan.bsky.social · 2d
The great isolationist ‘America First’ GOP President Donald Trump has in less than a year in office declared himself the ‘owner’ of Gaza and the ‘ruler’ of Venezuela.

Reposted by Victor Pickard

nicholsuprising.bsky.social
John Nichols @nicholsuprising.bsky.social · 2d
“Secretaries Rubio and Hegseth looked every senator in the eye a few weeks ago and said this wasn’t about regime change. I didn’t trust them then and we see now that they blatantly lied to Congress.”
— NJ Sen. Andy Kim, a former national security adviser, on the illegally of Trump’s unauthorized war
Members of Congress Decry Trump’s Act of War on Venezuela as “Illegal”
Senators and House members accuse Trump and his aides of disregarding the Constitution and lying to Congress.
www.thenation.com

Reposted by Axel Bruns, Victor Pickard, Ann Bartow

spectrumnewsny1.bsky.social
Spectrum News NY1 @spectrumnewsny1.bsky.social · 2d
Mayor Zohran Mamdani said he called President Donald Trump and directly voiced his opposition to the U.S. capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.

Reposted by Håvard Kauserud, Peter Holmes, Johan P. Olsen , and 8 more

naomiaklein.bsky.social
Naomi Klein @naomiaklein.bsky.social · 2d
Blows my mind that some of the same journalists who see Trump as a want-to-be dictator at home are earnestly discussing the "challenges" for this same man to "bring democracy" to a country it just illegal invaded. Please grow up.

victorpickard.bsky.social
Victor Pickard @victorpickard.bsky.social · 2d
Once again, @hamiltonnolan.bsky.social nails it.

Reposted by Victor Pickard

hamiltonnolan.bsky.social
Hamilton Nolan @hamiltonnolan.bsky.social · 2d
We are the world's bad guys.
www.hamiltonnolan.com/p/we-are-the...
We Are the Bad Guys
The swaggering threat to global stability is us.
www.hamiltonnolan.com

Reposted by Jonathan Hopkin, Rebecca Tushnet, Beatriz Gallardo Paúls , and 9 more

maxtani.bsky.social
max tani @maxtani.bsky.social · 2d
The Washington Post editorial board comes out in favor of the Venezuela attack/operation to capture Maduro

Reposted by Lisa W. Fazio, Cathy N. Davidson, Beatriz Gallardo Paúls , and 3 more

cnbc.com
CNBC @cnbc.com · 3d
Musk's Grok AI bot is fixing safeguard 'lapses' after posting of sexualized images of children
Musk's Grok AI bot is fixing safeguard 'lapses' after posting of sexualized images of children
Users on X raised concerns over explicit content of minors being generated using Musk's Grok tool.
cnb.cx

victorpickard.bsky.social
Victor Pickard @victorpickard.bsky.social · 4d
2026 is off to a good start!

Reposted by Victor Pickard

nicholsuprising.bsky.social
John Nichols @nicholsuprising.bsky.social · 4d
“I was elected as a democratic socialist and I will govern as a democratic socialist.”
— New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani in his inaugural address
Zohran Mamdani on Welcoming Bernie Sanders for a “Bread and Roses” Inaugural Celebration
In an exclusive interview with The Nation, the incoming democratic socialist mayor discusses making New York a “showcase of light” through the political darkness.
www.thenation.com

Reposted by Victor Pickard, Manisha Sinha

larryglickman.bsky.social
Larry Glickman @larryglickman.bsky.social · 4d
“We will replace the frigidity of rugged individualism with the warmth of collectivism.”
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/01/n...
The Full Transcript of Zohran Mamdani’s Inauguration Speech
www.nytimes.com

Reposted by Amanda Lotz, Aaron Sojourner, Victor Pickard

mediaanddemocracy.bsky.social
The Media and Democracy Project @mediaanddemocracy.bsky.social · 4d
Rupert Murdoch ran the NY Post for 40+ years at a financial loss. Because it’s critical (and priceless) messaging and influence infrastructure.

pressgazette.co.uk/news/new-yor...
Murdoch's New York Post achieves first profit 'in modern times'
New York Post in profit: CEO Robert Thomson praises title for press freedom victory over Twitter as it posts first profit in modern times.
pressgazette.co.uk

Reposted by Cathy N. Davidson, Cheryl Peters, W. Andy Knight , and 3 more

acyn.bsky.social
Acyn @acyn.bsky.social · 4d
Mamdani: I have been told that this is the occasion to reset expectations, that I should use this opportunity to encourage the people of New York to ask for little and expect even less. I will do no such thing. The only expectation I seek to reset is that of small expectations.

Reposted by Steve Peers, David R. Miller, Victor Pickard

stevevladeck.bsky.social
Steve Vladeck @stevevladeck.bsky.social · 5d
This is a strange way of saying “we’re complying with court orders now that we failed to get #SCOTUS to stay them.”
atrupar.com Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 5d
Trump announces he’s pulling the National Guard from Portland, LA, and Chicago but threatens that “We will come back, perhaps in a much different and stronger form, when crime begins to soar again - Only a question of time!”
We are removing the National Guard from Chicago, Los Angeles, and Portland, despite the fact that CRIME has been greatly reduced by having these great Patriots in those cities, and ONLY by that fact. Portland, Los Angeles, and Chicago were GONE if it weren’t for the Federal Government stepping in. We will come back, perhaps in a much different and stronger form, when crime begins to soar again - Only a question of time! It is hard to believe that these Democrat Mayors and Governors, all of whom are greatly incompetent, would want us to leave, especially considering the great progress that has been made??? President DJT

victorpickard.bsky.social
Victor Pickard @victorpickard.bsky.social · 5d
Important and ever so timely NYT piece that brings into focus the terrible extent of Trump‘s attacks on the press and First Amendment freedoms. @freepress.bsky.social
attorneynora.bsky.social Nora Benavidez @attorneynora.bsky.social · 5d
The Trump admin’s censorship agenda is chilling & relentless. I counted 200+ attempts in 2025 to muzzle press, protesters, public servants, judges, law firms, universities, corporations. But resistance has blunted this campaign & we must fiercely defend free speech: www.nytimes.com/2025/12/31/o...
Opinion | I Counted Trump’s Censorship Attempts. Here’s What I Found.
www.nytimes.com

victorpickard.bsky.social
Victor Pickard @victorpickard.bsky.social · 5d
One of the interventions I'm trying to make here and throughout my work is that problems facing our media today exceed that of ownership concentration--as truly dire of a problem that is. We must confront the capitalist logics that permeate every aspect of our information and communication systems.

Reposted by Victor Pickard

attorneynora.bsky.social
Nora Benavidez @attorneynora.bsky.social · 5d
The Trump admin’s censorship agenda is chilling & relentless. I counted 200+ attempts in 2025 to muzzle press, protesters, public servants, judges, law firms, universities, corporations. But resistance has blunted this campaign & we must fiercely defend free speech: www.nytimes.com/2025/12/31/o...
Opinion | I Counted Trump’s Censorship Attempts. Here’s What I Found.
www.nytimes.com

Reposted by Victor Pickard

nicholsuprising.bsky.social
John Nichols @nicholsuprising.bsky.social · 5d
Zohran Mamdani, in an exclusive interview with The Nation, explains why he was excited to invite Bernie Sanders to inaugurate his mayoralty in January 1, 2026: “It took (Sanders's) 2016 run for me to understand how to describe my own politics. And that was as a democratic socialist."
Zohran Mamdani on Welcoming Bernie Sanders for a “Bread and Roses” Inaugural Celebration
In an exclusive interview with The Nation, the incoming democratic socialist mayor discusses making New York a “showcase of light” through the political darkness.
www.thenation.com

Reposted by Kate Starbird, Victor Pickard, Alfie Kohn , and 1 more

markjacob.bsky.social
Mark Jacob @markjacob.bsky.social · 7d
One of the most successful propaganda campaigns of our time is the right-wing claim that liberals dominate the media. The right has pushed this myth for decades on Fox and other outlets. You know about it because RIGHT-WING MEDIA HAVE A HUGE MEGAPHONE. My thread. 1/10 🧵