Yael Grauer
@yaelwrites.com
💻 cybersecurity research
🖊️ investigative tech reporting
📣yaelwrites.com
✉️ yael@yaelwrites.com
💥#alwaysantifascist
🎤opinions are mine, but you can have some
🖊️ investigative tech reporting
📣yaelwrites.com
✉️ yael@yaelwrites.com
💥#alwaysantifascist
🎤opinions are mine, but you can have some
Dr. Further research is needed.
Make a Bond film academic
Diamonds Are Made From Pure Carbon Atoms Crystallized Under Intense Heat And Pressure Deep Within The Earth's Mantle, Then Brought To The Surface By Volcanic Eruptions
Diamonds Are Made From Pure Carbon Atoms Crystallized Under Intense Heat And Pressure Deep Within The Earth's Mantle, Then Brought To The Surface By Volcanic Eruptions
Make a Bond movie academic:
No Time To Diatribe
No Time To Diatribe
December 26, 2025 at 11:37 PM
Dr. Further research is needed.
Happy howlidays, friends!
December 25, 2025 at 1:02 PM
Happy howlidays, friends!
Reposted by Yael Grauer
When you’ve gone to this place, it’s time to just admit your only interest in antisemitism is claiming it doesn’t exist
December 24, 2025 at 3:45 AM
When you’ve gone to this place, it’s time to just admit your only interest in antisemitism is claiming it doesn’t exist
Reposted by Yael Grauer
if you're shooting jews at a jewish social event in the diaspora, you're not targeting the state of israel, nor are you targeting its policies, nor are you targeting anyone with the power to effect change in israel's policies. you are just targeting jews.
When you’ve gone to this place, it’s time to just admit your only interest in antisemitism is claiming it doesn’t exist
December 24, 2025 at 2:26 PM
if you're shooting jews at a jewish social event in the diaspora, you're not targeting the state of israel, nor are you targeting its policies, nor are you targeting anyone with the power to effect change in israel's policies. you are just targeting jews.
Reposted by Yael Grauer
If you’re wondering why your friends in academia are a little on edge right now, it’s because an eighteen-year-old who hasn’t done the reading, doesn’t look at the assignment, and has does no critical thinking skills more complex than “because I think it’s in the Bible” can literally end your career
The University of Oklahoma has removed an instructor who was accused by a student of religious discrimination over a failing grade on a psychology paper in which she cited the Bible and argued that promoting a “belief in multiple genders” was “demonic.” https://cnn.it/4b6g3rd
Oklahoma instructor removed from teaching for failing a Bible-based gender essay | CNN
The University of Oklahoma has removed an instructor who was accused by a student of religious discrimination over a failing grade on a psychology paper in which she cited the Bible and argued that promoting a “belief in multiple genders” was “demonic.”
cnn.it
December 24, 2025 at 6:21 PM
If you’re wondering why your friends in academia are a little on edge right now, it’s because an eighteen-year-old who hasn’t done the reading, doesn’t look at the assignment, and has does no critical thinking skills more complex than “because I think it’s in the Bible” can literally end your career
Reposted by Yael Grauer
says a lot about the current state of journalism for cnn not to know that citation requires actually quoting the source material or at the very least referencing a specific passage (something that wasn't done once in what was supposed to be a post-secondary academic paper)...
The University of Oklahoma has removed an instructor who was accused by a student of religious discrimination over a failing grade on a psychology paper in which she cited the Bible and argued that promoting a “belief in multiple genders” was “demonic.” https://cnn.it/4b6g3rd
Oklahoma instructor removed from teaching for failing a Bible-based gender essay | CNN
The University of Oklahoma has removed an instructor who was accused by a student of religious discrimination over a failing grade on a psychology paper in which she cited the Bible and argued that promoting a “belief in multiple genders” was “demonic.”
cnn.it
December 24, 2025 at 6:57 PM
says a lot about the current state of journalism for cnn not to know that citation requires actually quoting the source material or at the very least referencing a specific passage (something that wasn't done once in what was supposed to be a post-secondary academic paper)...
Reposted by Yael Grauer
I attempt to explain the FBI Epstein dump redaction failure.
cybersect.substack.com/p/unredactio...
cybersect.substack.com/p/unredactio...
Unredaction isn't hacking
It just wasn't redacted to begin with.
cybersect.substack.com
December 24, 2025 at 8:25 AM
I attempt to explain the FBI Epstein dump redaction failure.
cybersect.substack.com/p/unredactio...
cybersect.substack.com/p/unredactio...
I know we're all trying to get through the holidays and the end of the year and nobody's thinking about February yet, but mark this in your calendar? @huertanix.bsky.social @cactuscon.com
December 22, 2025 at 5:08 PM
I know we're all trying to get through the holidays and the end of the year and nobody's thinking about February yet, but mark this in your calendar? @huertanix.bsky.social @cactuscon.com
Reposted by Yael Grauer
The story is insane. The acting head of cyber security, a Noem crony, repeatedly demanded to see highly classified information he didn’t need access to, and when staff set up a lie detector test as a condition to grant him access, he failed it. So DHS suspended the staffers.
Acting CISA director failed a polygraph. Career staff are now under investigation.
Acting CISA director failed a polygraph. Career staff are now under investigation.
At least six career staff were placed on leave after DHS opened an investigation into whether they misled the agency’s acting director, Madhu Gottumukkala, into taking the test.
dlvr.it
December 22, 2025 at 3:20 AM
The story is insane. The acting head of cyber security, a Noem crony, repeatedly demanded to see highly classified information he didn’t need access to, and when staff set up a lie detector test as a condition to grant him access, he failed it. So DHS suspended the staffers.
Happy Hanukkah and happy Solstice, friends! Here’s to letting our light shine in the darkness. 🕎
December 22, 2025 at 2:10 AM
Happy Hanukkah and happy Solstice, friends! Here’s to letting our light shine in the darkness. 🕎
I was trying to submit Bailey to @weratedogs.com but couldn't get the portal to work. In any case, here are the seven cutest (IMO) photos of her!
December 21, 2025 at 9:41 PM
I was trying to submit Bailey to @weratedogs.com but couldn't get the portal to work. In any case, here are the seven cutest (IMO) photos of her!
brb moving to new york so mamdani will come to my hanukkah party
It was such a joy to celebrate Hanukkah with Mandy, Kathryn and their son, Gideon. As Jewish New Yorkers across our city prepare to light candles and mark the seventh night today, I wish you and your families a Hanukkah full of light and love.
youtu.be/KIxAKyioXng
youtu.be/KIxAKyioXng
Happy Hanukkah
YouTube video by Zohran Mamdani for NYC
youtu.be
December 20, 2025 at 10:45 PM
brb moving to new york so mamdani will come to my hanukkah party
When I was in grad school at Cronkite, we would get a zero on an assignment if we misspelled a proper noun or made an error that would have required a correction.
I think about this a lot.
I think about this a lot.
December 20, 2025 at 10:02 PM
When I was in grad school at Cronkite, we would get a zero on an assignment if we misspelled a proper noun or made an error that would have required a correction.
I think about this a lot.
I think about this a lot.
Client gifts I've given over the years: Dragonfjord's Puzzle a Day game, holiday candles, chocolate, touchscreen cleaner rollers, 100% Soft dumpster fire keychains, stickers and pins, @muckrock.com redacted mugs...
December 20, 2025 at 8:17 PM
Client gifts I've given over the years: Dragonfjord's Puzzle a Day game, holiday candles, chocolate, touchscreen cleaner rollers, 100% Soft dumpster fire keychains, stickers and pins, @muckrock.com redacted mugs...
I made a quick update to BADBOOL to clarify the list is mostly U.S.-based because it is... a volunteer project based in the U.S. With that, I'll be taking the month off of updating. Thank you to everyone who's spread the word about this project, especially @privacyguides.org @freedom.press. 💕
GitHub - yaelwrites/Big-Ass-Data-Broker-Opt-Out-List
Contribute to yaelwrites/Big-Ass-Data-Broker-Opt-Out-List development by creating an account on GitHub.
github.com
December 19, 2025 at 6:31 AM
I made a quick update to BADBOOL to clarify the list is mostly U.S.-based because it is... a volunteer project based in the U.S. With that, I'll be taking the month off of updating. Thank you to everyone who's spread the word about this project, especially @privacyguides.org @freedom.press. 💕
I took a look back at the year and posted links to my major projects, articles, white papers, public talks, podcasts, and interviews. blog.yaelwrites.com/2025-in-revi...
2025 In Review
Each year, I like to run through the projects that I'm proud of or think others can benefit from. I hope it helps you learn something new, whether that's an idea you can take with you into 2026, a res...
blog.yaelwrites.com
December 18, 2025 at 11:35 PM
I took a look back at the year and posted links to my major projects, articles, white papers, public talks, podcasts, and interviews. blog.yaelwrites.com/2025-in-revi...
I played pickleball and didn’t hate it.
December 18, 2025 at 2:42 AM
I played pickleball and didn’t hate it.
people keep asking me if I'm ready for the holiday and I'm like, I'm IN my holiday
December 17, 2025 at 11:03 PM
people keep asking me if I'm ready for the holiday and I'm like, I'm IN my holiday
I try to get to inbox zero once a month and this is the time of year where I realize I stopped sometime in September and suddenly have thousands of emails to go through. The time-sensitive ones help because I can just delete them.
December 16, 2025 at 5:49 PM
I try to get to inbox zero once a month and this is the time of year where I realize I stopped sometime in September and suddenly have thousands of emails to go through. The time-sensitive ones help because I can just delete them.
One time as a first-year teacher making $28,000 a year I was told we had to buy gifts for ALL the other teachers. I was so broke that I bought coal mine naughty black nugget bubblegum, each in its own individual naughty coal sack. People thought I was funny rather than cheap, so...
December 16, 2025 at 4:01 PM
One time as a first-year teacher making $28,000 a year I was told we had to buy gifts for ALL the other teachers. I was so broke that I bought coal mine naughty black nugget bubblegum, each in its own individual naughty coal sack. People thought I was funny rather than cheap, so...
It's amazing how productive I am when I give myself permission to be unproductive. Which is not the reason to do it!
December 16, 2025 at 1:43 AM
It's amazing how productive I am when I give myself permission to be unproductive. Which is not the reason to do it!
Reposted by Yael Grauer
The Trump admin, in its quest to eliminate the entire concept of asylum from the law and get rid of all asylum applicants without hearing their cases, wants to deport a Chinese dissident to Uganda, despite the fact that he has a slam-dunk asylum claim.
December 15, 2025 at 8:59 PM
The Trump admin, in its quest to eliminate the entire concept of asylum from the law and get rid of all asylum applicants without hearing their cases, wants to deport a Chinese dissident to Uganda, despite the fact that he has a slam-dunk asylum claim.
Reposted by Yael Grauer
As the year winds down, I put together a tasty sampler platter of some of my favorite interviews from 2025 - complete w/ updated commentary by yours truly! (And if you've never checked out my show, this is a great place to start.) Enjoy! Share!
podcast.firewallsdontstopdragons.com/2025/12/15/b...
podcast.firewallsdontstopdragons.com/2025/12/15/b...
Best of 2025! - Firewalls Don't Stop Dragons Podcast
I’ve had some truly amazing interviews this past year. For your listening enjoyment, I’ve curated a set of clips from some of the best...
podcast.firewallsdontstopdragons.com
December 15, 2025 at 2:38 PM
As the year winds down, I put together a tasty sampler platter of some of my favorite interviews from 2025 - complete w/ updated commentary by yours truly! (And if you've never checked out my show, this is a great place to start.) Enjoy! Share!
podcast.firewallsdontstopdragons.com/2025/12/15/b...
podcast.firewallsdontstopdragons.com/2025/12/15/b...
Reposted by Yael Grauer
Thank you to everyone who has shared this. The hearing is over for today. DHS has filed a motion to pretermit (end Guan's asylum application in the US) and have him sent to Uganda - where he'd be at risk of being sent to China. The hearing to decide that will be held 12 January.
In late 2020 a Chinese man called Guan Heng travelled to Xinjiang with our BuzzFeed map of detention facilities to provide ground truth for our work - he provided the first corroborating evidence for many sites.
He escaped to the US - then ICE detained him.
www.wsj.com/world/china/...
He escaped to the US - then ICE detained him.
www.wsj.com/world/china/...
ICE Holding Chinese Man Who Documented Uyghur Camps
Heng Guan is awaiting an immigration hearing on Monday that could lead to his removal from the U.S. and ultimately land him back in China, according to his lawyer and a New York-based activist group.
www.wsj.com
December 15, 2025 at 3:54 PM
Thank you to everyone who has shared this. The hearing is over for today. DHS has filed a motion to pretermit (end Guan's asylum application in the US) and have him sent to Uganda - where he'd be at risk of being sent to China. The hearing to decide that will be held 12 January.
Reposted by Yael Grauer
A side note on this story:
One of the other things we found is that this is the same sort of tool used to uncover so-called “terrorist financing,” which ensnared Uyghurs for sending money abroad - even for innocent things like sending down payments for a house
bsky.app/profile/dake...
One of the other things we found is that this is the same sort of tool used to uncover so-called “terrorist financing,” which ensnared Uyghurs for sending money abroad - even for innocent things like sending down payments for a house
bsky.app/profile/dake...
2/We've found U.S. police analytics tech sold to China mines texts, payments, flights, calls, and other data to identify the friends and family of officials and their assets. They allow police to essentially hold relatives hostage, using them to coerce targets to return to China.
December 15, 2025 at 5:33 AM
A side note on this story:
One of the other things we found is that this is the same sort of tool used to uncover so-called “terrorist financing,” which ensnared Uyghurs for sending money abroad - even for innocent things like sending down payments for a house
bsky.app/profile/dake...
One of the other things we found is that this is the same sort of tool used to uncover so-called “terrorist financing,” which ensnared Uyghurs for sending money abroad - even for innocent things like sending down payments for a house
bsky.app/profile/dake...