Nora Benavidez
@attorneynora.bsky.social
law, tech, freedom, democracy | now: @freepress, past: free expression @PENamerica, litigation @ACLU.
LA | ATL | NYC
www.norabenavidez.com
LA | ATL | NYC
www.norabenavidez.com
Pinned
Nora Benavidez
@attorneynora.bsky.social
· Nov 16
“On the last day of the world I would want to plant a tree” — Merwin
Reposted by Nora Benavidez
"Trump peddles disinfo on & offline to boost his own image, attack his adversaries & control public discourse. For someone like him, unregulated generative AI is the perfect tool to capture people's attention & distort reality." - Free Press' @attorneynora.bsky.social via
@afp.com
@afp.com
'AI President': Trump Deepfakes Glorify Himself, Trash Rivals
In a parallel reality, Donald Trump reigns as king, fighter pilot, and Superman, and his political opponents are cast as criminals and laughingstocks -- an unprecedented weaponization of AI imagery by a sitting American president.
www.barrons.com
November 7, 2025 at 10:37 PM
"Trump peddles disinfo on & offline to boost his own image, attack his adversaries & control public discourse. For someone like him, unregulated generative AI is the perfect tool to capture people's attention & distort reality." - Free Press' @attorneynora.bsky.social via
@afp.com
@afp.com
Reposted by Nora Benavidez
"It's worth noting that many on Twitter are trying to explain the rules to Musk, but that of course gets lost in the chaos." - Free Press' @attorneynora.bsky.social via NY Times
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/11/04/us/election-interference-claims-disinformation.html
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/11/04/us/election-interference-claims-disinformation.html
Republicans Reprise Unfounded Claims of Widespread Election Interference
Prominent conservatives, including the president, sounded familiar alarms about voter suppression and other efforts to manipulate the vote on Election Day, without presenting evidence.
www.nytimes.com
November 7, 2025 at 5:10 PM
"It's worth noting that many on Twitter are trying to explain the rules to Musk, but that of course gets lost in the chaos." - Free Press' @attorneynora.bsky.social via NY Times
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/11/04/us/election-interference-claims-disinformation.html
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/11/04/us/election-interference-claims-disinformation.html
Reposted by Nora Benavidez
⬇️ ICYMI: Watch yesterday's @knightcolumbia.org panel on #pressfreedom under Trump featuring @randersenjones.bsky.social, @attorneynora.bsky.social, @azmatzahra.bsky.social, @joelsimonsays.bsky.social, @sulliview.bsky.social, and @sonjawest.bsky.social at the link.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=HNpK...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=HNpK...
The Future of Press Freedom in an Era of Democratic Backsliding
YouTube video by Knight First Amendment Institute
www.youtube.com
November 6, 2025 at 9:11 PM
⬇️ ICYMI: Watch yesterday's @knightcolumbia.org panel on #pressfreedom under Trump featuring @randersenjones.bsky.social, @attorneynora.bsky.social, @azmatzahra.bsky.social, @joelsimonsays.bsky.social, @sulliview.bsky.social, and @sonjawest.bsky.social at the link.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=HNpK...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=HNpK...
"Trump peddles disinfo on & offline to boost his own image, attack his adversaries & control public discourse. For someone like him, unregulated generative AI is the perfect tool to capture people's attention & distort reality." Thnx @anujchopra.bsky.social @afp.com www.barrons.com/news/ai-pres...
'AI President': Trump Deepfakes Glorify Himself, Trash Rivals
In a parallel reality, Donald Trump reigns as king, fighter pilot, and Superman, and his political opponents are cast as criminals and laughingstocks -- an unprecedented weaponization of AI imagery by...
www.barrons.com
November 6, 2025 at 4:11 PM
"Trump peddles disinfo on & offline to boost his own image, attack his adversaries & control public discourse. For someone like him, unregulated generative AI is the perfect tool to capture people's attention & distort reality." Thnx @anujchopra.bsky.social @afp.com www.barrons.com/news/ai-pres...
Looking forward to this today. Join us!
Today at Columbia Journalism School--with @azmatzahra.bsky.social @sulliview.bsky.social @joelsimonsays.bsky.social @attorneynora.bsky.social @randersenjones.bsky.social & @sonjawest.bsky.social . Register at @knightcolumbia.org below. knightcolumbia.org/events/the-f...
The Future of Press Freedom in an Era of Democratic Backsliding
knightcolumbia.org
November 5, 2025 at 2:13 PM
Looking forward to this today. Join us!
People don’t seem to like billionaires controlling their lives and democracy. Good. We have to sustain collective and coordinated resistance to the authoritarian-billionaire doom loop.
November 5, 2025 at 3:23 AM
People don’t seem to like billionaires controlling their lives and democracy. Good. We have to sustain collective and coordinated resistance to the authoritarian-billionaire doom loop.
Zohran won!!!
Trump's Big Lie infected the entire right flank, MAGA, Musk, platforms. Today's election saw leaders & platform execs coming out again -- 5 years on -- to repeat unfounded lies about election fraud. Thnx @stevenleemyers.bsky.social @nytimes.com for ft yours truly: www.nytimes.com/2025/11/04/u...
Republicans Reprise Unfounded Claims of Widespread Election Interference
www.nytimes.com
November 5, 2025 at 2:58 AM
Zohran won!!!
Trump's Big Lie infected the entire right flank, MAGA, Musk, platforms. Today's election saw leaders & platform execs coming out again -- 5 years on -- to repeat unfounded lies about election fraud. Thnx @stevenleemyers.bsky.social @nytimes.com for ft yours truly: www.nytimes.com/2025/11/04/u...
Republicans Reprise Unfounded Claims of Widespread Election Interference
www.nytimes.com
November 5, 2025 at 2:08 AM
Trump's Big Lie infected the entire right flank, MAGA, Musk, platforms. Today's election saw leaders & platform execs coming out again -- 5 years on -- to repeat unfounded lies about election fraud. Thnx @stevenleemyers.bsky.social @nytimes.com for ft yours truly: www.nytimes.com/2025/11/04/u...
Reposted by Nora Benavidez
📍TOMORROW: A panel of legal experts and journalists discuss how to protect #pressfreedom and support journalists under Trump. Feat. @randersenjones.bsky.social, @attorneynora.bsky.social, @azmatzahra.bsky.social, @joelsimonsays.bsky.social, @sulliview.bsky.social, and @sonjawest.bsky.social. RSVP.
November 4, 2025 at 5:23 PM
📍TOMORROW: A panel of legal experts and journalists discuss how to protect #pressfreedom and support journalists under Trump. Feat. @randersenjones.bsky.social, @attorneynora.bsky.social, @azmatzahra.bsky.social, @joelsimonsays.bsky.social, @sulliview.bsky.social, and @sonjawest.bsky.social. RSVP.
Reposted by Nora Benavidez
Can we get a damn data privacy/digital civil rights bill passed? Congress has held over 50 hearings about big tech, social media harms, data extraction, surveillance, and NO bills have passed.
October 31, 2025 at 8:10 PM
Can we get a damn data privacy/digital civil rights bill passed? Congress has held over 50 hearings about big tech, social media harms, data extraction, surveillance, and NO bills have passed.
Can we get a damn data privacy/digital civil rights bill passed? Congress has held over 50 hearings about big tech, social media harms, data extraction, surveillance, and NO bills have passed.
October 31, 2025 at 8:10 PM
Can we get a damn data privacy/digital civil rights bill passed? Congress has held over 50 hearings about big tech, social media harms, data extraction, surveillance, and NO bills have passed.
Reposted by Nora Benavidez
I have been charged in a federal indictment sought by the Department of Justice.
This political prosecution is an attack on all of our First Amendment rights. I’m not backing down, and we’re going to win.
This political prosecution is an attack on all of our First Amendment rights. I’m not backing down, and we’re going to win.
October 29, 2025 at 4:55 PM
I have been charged in a federal indictment sought by the Department of Justice.
This political prosecution is an attack on all of our First Amendment rights. I’m not backing down, and we’re going to win.
This political prosecution is an attack on all of our First Amendment rights. I’m not backing down, and we’re going to win.
Reposted by Nora Benavidez
What happened with the Epstein files? Do GOP know more?
October 29, 2025 at 3:25 AM
What happened with the Epstein files? Do GOP know more?
What happened with the Epstein files? Do GOP know more?
October 29, 2025 at 3:25 AM
What happened with the Epstein files? Do GOP know more?
Reposted by Nora Benavidez
"The Trump administration hides its atrocities behind its atrocities, its obscenities behind its obscenities, its corruptions behind its corruptions. The ones this week distract us from the ones last week." @rebeccasolnit.bsky.social – on @thenation.com podcast bit.ly/48CM3SF
October 27, 2025 at 9:25 PM
"The Trump administration hides its atrocities behind its atrocities, its obscenities behind its obscenities, its corruptions behind its corruptions. The ones this week distract us from the ones last week." @rebeccasolnit.bsky.social – on @thenation.com podcast bit.ly/48CM3SF
Reposted by Nora Benavidez
Washington Post capitulated.
LA Times capitulated.
ABC capitulated.
CBS capitulated.
CNN capitulated.
Support independent, pro democracy media like @status.news, @thebulwark.com, @crooked.com, @boltsmag.org, @the-downballot.com, @contrariannews.org and, of course, @democracydocket.com.
LA Times capitulated.
ABC capitulated.
CBS capitulated.
CNN capitulated.
Support independent, pro democracy media like @status.news, @thebulwark.com, @crooked.com, @boltsmag.org, @the-downballot.com, @contrariannews.org and, of course, @democracydocket.com.
Scoop: During a trip to DC last week, CNN CEO Mark Thompson made a visit to the White House, where he promoted the network’s new streamer
Staffers were taken aback the next morning when Thompson urged them to ease up on East Wing renovation coverage
www.status.news/p/mark-thomp...
Staffers were taken aback the next morning when Thompson urged them to ease up on East Wing renovation coverage
www.status.news/p/mark-thomp...
Mark Thompson’s D.C. Drop-In
CNN’s chief has Washington talking about his private meeting at the White House—following which he urged the network to ease up on coverage of Trump’s East Room demolition, Status has learned.
www.status.news
October 27, 2025 at 2:31 PM
Washington Post capitulated.
LA Times capitulated.
ABC capitulated.
CBS capitulated.
CNN capitulated.
Support independent, pro democracy media like @status.news, @thebulwark.com, @crooked.com, @boltsmag.org, @the-downballot.com, @contrariannews.org and, of course, @democracydocket.com.
LA Times capitulated.
ABC capitulated.
CBS capitulated.
CNN capitulated.
Support independent, pro democracy media like @status.news, @thebulwark.com, @crooked.com, @boltsmag.org, @the-downballot.com, @contrariannews.org and, of course, @democracydocket.com.
Reposted by Nora Benavidez
This was a really great discussion. Things are quite bad for reporters, protesters and the First Amendment. But newsrooms and civil society can develop defensive tools and plans to fight attacks on expression. Watch for more ⬇️
What are journalists dealing with on the front lines covering DHS and ICE?
@attorneynora.bsky.social @writeralejandra.bsky.social @plasticjesusart.bsky.social @mvtopic.bsky.social and I had a lot of ground to cover in this 1-hour panel hosted by
@exposedbycmd.bsky.social and @acslaw.bsky.social!
@attorneynora.bsky.social @writeralejandra.bsky.social @plasticjesusart.bsky.social @mvtopic.bsky.social and I had a lot of ground to cover in this 1-hour panel hosted by
@exposedbycmd.bsky.social and @acslaw.bsky.social!
Rights Under Attack: DHS Violence Against Journalists, Observers, and Protestors
YouTube video by American Constitution Society
www.youtube.com
October 26, 2025 at 12:49 AM
This was a really great discussion. Things are quite bad for reporters, protesters and the First Amendment. But newsrooms and civil society can develop defensive tools and plans to fight attacks on expression. Watch for more ⬇️
This was a really great discussion. Things are quite bad for reporters, protesters and the First Amendment. But newsrooms and civil society can develop defensive tools and plans to fight attacks on expression. Watch for more ⬇️
What are journalists dealing with on the front lines covering DHS and ICE?
@attorneynora.bsky.social @writeralejandra.bsky.social @plasticjesusart.bsky.social @mvtopic.bsky.social and I had a lot of ground to cover in this 1-hour panel hosted by
@exposedbycmd.bsky.social and @acslaw.bsky.social!
@attorneynora.bsky.social @writeralejandra.bsky.social @plasticjesusart.bsky.social @mvtopic.bsky.social and I had a lot of ground to cover in this 1-hour panel hosted by
@exposedbycmd.bsky.social and @acslaw.bsky.social!
Rights Under Attack: DHS Violence Against Journalists, Observers, and Protestors
YouTube video by American Constitution Society
www.youtube.com
October 26, 2025 at 12:49 AM
This was a really great discussion. Things are quite bad for reporters, protesters and the First Amendment. But newsrooms and civil society can develop defensive tools and plans to fight attacks on expression. Watch for more ⬇️
Reposted by Nora Benavidez
The govt — and even some of the public — want to make this an issue of immigration status. We can have that discussion about the legal routes to citizenship& being in the U.S. I find it far more troubling rational and empathetic people I know are not standing up for people battered by cops & ICE.
October 23, 2025 at 10:28 PM
The govt — and even some of the public — want to make this an issue of immigration status. We can have that discussion about the legal routes to citizenship& being in the U.S. I find it far more troubling rational and empathetic people I know are not standing up for people battered by cops & ICE.
Reposted by Nora Benavidez
Good clip from the BBC debunking DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin’s lies. She claimed the video of ICE body slamming a 15 year old girl was stale video featuring Chicago PD, falsely suggesting that the innocent teen was a criminal.
October 17, 2025 at 4:42 PM
Good clip from the BBC debunking DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin’s lies. She claimed the video of ICE body slamming a 15 year old girl was stale video featuring Chicago PD, falsely suggesting that the innocent teen was a criminal.
It’s never ok for law enforcement to treat ppl as they’ve been treating immigrants & citizens. Nothing to do w/ their status or the law. The law is just the floor ICE has sunk below. It is an ethics Q why outsized groups of masked men intimidate ppl & violate property/privacy/bodies/constitution.
October 23, 2025 at 10:26 PM
It’s never ok for law enforcement to treat ppl as they’ve been treating immigrants & citizens. Nothing to do w/ their status or the law. The law is just the floor ICE has sunk below. It is an ethics Q why outsized groups of masked men intimidate ppl & violate property/privacy/bodies/constitution.
Reposted by Nora Benavidez
Trump's ballroom donors include:
-Google, whose CEO thanked Trump for "resolution" of an antitrust case
-Palantir, which has lucrative contracts with ICE
-Blackstone's Stephen Schwarzman, who would profit from Trump's regulatory rollbacks for private equity
Pay-to-play.
-Google, whose CEO thanked Trump for "resolution" of an antitrust case
-Palantir, which has lucrative contracts with ICE
-Blackstone's Stephen Schwarzman, who would profit from Trump's regulatory rollbacks for private equity
Pay-to-play.
October 21, 2025 at 9:15 PM
Trump's ballroom donors include:
-Google, whose CEO thanked Trump for "resolution" of an antitrust case
-Palantir, which has lucrative contracts with ICE
-Blackstone's Stephen Schwarzman, who would profit from Trump's regulatory rollbacks for private equity
Pay-to-play.
-Google, whose CEO thanked Trump for "resolution" of an antitrust case
-Palantir, which has lucrative contracts with ICE
-Blackstone's Stephen Schwarzman, who would profit from Trump's regulatory rollbacks for private equity
Pay-to-play.
Reposted by Nora Benavidez
I interviewed Indivisible's @ezralevin.bsky.social & @antonioarellano.com about the media's spotty coverage of Saturday's massive #NoKings rallies.
“No Kings did not end on Saturday," Antonio says. "It is the continuation of a movement that has been building all summer, & we are not stopping now.”
“No Kings did not end on Saturday," Antonio says. "It is the continuation of a movement that has been building all summer, & we are not stopping now.”
To the Nation’s Dominant Media, No Kings Means No Coverage
Why many legacy media outfits are allergic to protest reporting
pressingissues.org
October 22, 2025 at 1:10 PM
I interviewed Indivisible's @ezralevin.bsky.social & @antonioarellano.com about the media's spotty coverage of Saturday's massive #NoKings rallies.
“No Kings did not end on Saturday," Antonio says. "It is the continuation of a movement that has been building all summer, & we are not stopping now.”
“No Kings did not end on Saturday," Antonio says. "It is the continuation of a movement that has been building all summer, & we are not stopping now.”
Reposted by Nora Benavidez
Americans have been dragged, tackled, beaten, tased and shot by immigration agents.
They’ve had their necks kneeled on.
They’ve been held outside in the rain while in their underwear.
At least three citizens were pregnant when agents detained them.
By @nicolefoy.bsky.social
They’ve had their necks kneeled on.
They’ve been held outside in the rain while in their underwear.
At least three citizens were pregnant when agents detained them.
By @nicolefoy.bsky.social
More Than 170 U.S. Citizens Have Been Held by Immigration Agents. They’ve Been Kicked, Dragged and Detained for Days.
The government does not track how often immigration agents grab citizens. So ProPublica did. Our tally — almost certainly incomplete — includes people who were held for days without a lawyer. And near...
www.propublica.org
October 20, 2025 at 3:15 AM
Americans have been dragged, tackled, beaten, tased and shot by immigration agents.
They’ve had their necks kneeled on.
They’ve been held outside in the rain while in their underwear.
At least three citizens were pregnant when agents detained them.
By @nicolefoy.bsky.social
They’ve had their necks kneeled on.
They’ve been held outside in the rain while in their underwear.
At least three citizens were pregnant when agents detained them.
By @nicolefoy.bsky.social
Reposted by Nora Benavidez
“We found over 35 cases in which the judges have specifically said what the government is providing…false information. It might be intentionally false information, including false sworn declarations time and again," says Ryan Goodman, law professor at New York University.
October 19, 2025 at 11:43 PM
“We found over 35 cases in which the judges have specifically said what the government is providing…false information. It might be intentionally false information, including false sworn declarations time and again," says Ryan Goodman, law professor at New York University.