Austin Ahlman
@austinahlman.bsky.social
reporter/researcher • views mine but yours for the taking • nebraska boi 🌽🏳️🌈 • signal: 612-424-1697
Reposted by Austin Ahlman
Mamdani stole the show last week. But across Hudson, the media missed what may have been an even more aggressive campaign to rein in corporate power.
Mikie Sherrill alum Ben Winsor breaks down how the two campaigns are a potential model for unifying Democrats — and winning.
Mikie Sherrill alum Ben Winsor breaks down how the two campaigns are a potential model for unifying Democrats — and winning.
Sherrill and Mamdani Just Showed How to Unify the Democratic Party – And Win
Mamdani stole the show last week, but ‘Moderate Mikie’ across the Hudson ran on an even bolder platform to rein in corporate power. From the governor’s mansion, she’ll have the authority to deliver.
libertyandpower.substack.com
November 10, 2025 at 5:23 PM
Mamdani stole the show last week. But across Hudson, the media missed what may have been an even more aggressive campaign to rein in corporate power.
Mikie Sherrill alum Ben Winsor breaks down how the two campaigns are a potential model for unifying Democrats — and winning.
Mikie Sherrill alum Ben Winsor breaks down how the two campaigns are a potential model for unifying Democrats — and winning.
Reposted by Austin Ahlman
HAPPENING NOW: The House Judiciary is holding a hearing on supposed "censorship" of Americans who use Big Tech platforms by the EU.
Read our statement from Executive Director Barry Lynn on the American values at the heart of the EU's laws:
Read our statement from Executive Director Barry Lynn on the American values at the heart of the EU's laws:
September 3, 2025 at 3:24 PM
HAPPENING NOW: The House Judiciary is holding a hearing on supposed "censorship" of Americans who use Big Tech platforms by the EU.
Read our statement from Executive Director Barry Lynn on the American values at the heart of the EU's laws:
Read our statement from Executive Director Barry Lynn on the American values at the heart of the EU's laws:
New from me: an interesting tale from Iowa, where anti-establishment populist and serial electoral overperformer JD Scholten is dropping his bid for Senate to back the DSCC pick, relative newcomer Josh Turek. theintercept.com/2025/08/18/j...
Amid DSCC Pressure, Democratic Populist J.D. Scholten Exits Iowa Senate Race
Scholten, who is among a small coterie of progressive to outperform Kamala Harris in deep red states, will endorse Josh Turek on Monday.
theintercept.com
August 18, 2025 at 8:43 PM
New from me: an interesting tale from Iowa, where anti-establishment populist and serial electoral overperformer JD Scholten is dropping his bid for Senate to back the DSCC pick, relative newcomer Josh Turek. theintercept.com/2025/08/18/j...
it’s kind of funny just how cooked the party is. using diversity loopholes to throw out the election of someone who said we should do something about the olds, while any semblance of a popular economic agenda gets muscled aside by a warmed over neoliberal astroturf project
BREAKING: Democratic National Committee members have voted to vacate the elections of DNC vice chairs David Hogg and Malcolm Kenyatta.
DNC votes to oust David Hogg and Malcolm Kenyatta
Hogg and Malcolm Kenyatta will face off for a single role later this week.
www.axios.com
June 11, 2025 at 11:06 PM
it’s kind of funny just how cooked the party is. using diversity loopholes to throw out the election of someone who said we should do something about the olds, while any semblance of a popular economic agenda gets muscled aside by a warmed over neoliberal astroturf project
Reposted by Austin Ahlman
🎶What can I say except you're welcome, you're welcome🎶 www.rollingstone.com/politics/pol...
The Centrist WelcomeFest Was Everything That's Wrong With the Democratic Party
At WelcomeFest 2025, centrist Democrats railed against progressives and activists for making too many demands of their elected representatives.
www.rollingstone.com
June 5, 2025 at 5:32 PM
🎶What can I say except you're welcome, you're welcome🎶 www.rollingstone.com/politics/pol...
Reposted by Austin Ahlman
"Corporate support was a cynical marketing ploy to tap into the perceived disposable income of LGBTQ+ Americans," writes @austinahlman.bsky.social.
June 6, 2025 at 6:05 PM
"Corporate support was a cynical marketing ploy to tap into the perceived disposable income of LGBTQ+ Americans," writes @austinahlman.bsky.social.
this is… not at all the thesis of the article? like it’s cool if disagree about whether the massive increase in corporate funding for Pride events post-Obergefell was negative, but you can do that honestly
the implicit thesis of the article is “idc about queer rights, we should instead focus on breaking big companies into smaller companies.” yes the author works at the open markets institute
June 6, 2025 at 3:19 AM
this is… not at all the thesis of the article? like it’s cool if disagree about whether the massive increase in corporate funding for Pride events post-Obergefell was negative, but you can do that honestly
Reposted by Austin Ahlman
The sudden withdrawal of big corporate sponsors from Pride events is an opportunity, not a crisis.
Corporate Pride Is Dying. Good.
The sudden withdrawal of big corporate sponsors from Pride events is an opportunity, not a crisis.
interc.pt
June 5, 2025 at 4:08 PM
The sudden withdrawal of big corporate sponsors from Pride events is an opportunity, not a crisis.
Reposted by Austin Ahlman
Despite years of organizers wearing down the rough edges, to the point where pride has become a soulless and apolitical husk of its former self, big corporations are still running for the hills at the faintest whiff of political risk. Good, I say.
My latest: theintercept.com/2025/06/05/c...
My latest: theintercept.com/2025/06/05/c...
Corporate Pride Is Dying. Good.
The sudden withdrawal of big corporate sponsors from Pride events is an opportunity, not a crisis.
theintercept.com
June 5, 2025 at 3:33 PM
Despite years of organizers wearing down the rough edges, to the point where pride has become a soulless and apolitical husk of its former self, big corporations are still running for the hills at the faintest whiff of political risk. Good, I say.
My latest: theintercept.com/2025/06/05/c...
My latest: theintercept.com/2025/06/05/c...
one of the biggest red flags of this project is the politicians who are being tapped to champion it
June 2, 2025 at 11:07 PM
one of the biggest red flags of this project is the politicians who are being tapped to champion it
Reposted by Austin Ahlman
NEW: 🚢⚓️ Our transportation policy analyst Arnav Rao has a big, new report out today on why U.S. maritime power declined - and how to effectively revive it.
Read the report & his corresponding piece in @theatlantic.com: www.theatlantic.com/economy/arch...
Read the report & his corresponding piece in @theatlantic.com: www.theatlantic.com/economy/arch...
How America Lost Control of the Seas
Thanks to decades of misguided policy choices, the U.S. has an astonishing lack of maritime capacity.
www.theatlantic.com
May 28, 2025 at 3:45 PM
NEW: 🚢⚓️ Our transportation policy analyst Arnav Rao has a big, new report out today on why U.S. maritime power declined - and how to effectively revive it.
Read the report & his corresponding piece in @theatlantic.com: www.theatlantic.com/economy/arch...
Read the report & his corresponding piece in @theatlantic.com: www.theatlantic.com/economy/arch...
Reposted by Austin Ahlman
I have an article in the @financialtimes.com today highlighting cloud computing's systemic role in our economies and societies, and the grave dangers of concentrating this critical infrastructure in the hands of a few monopolistic U.S. tech giants.
www.ft.com/content/5c93...
www.ft.com/content/5c93...
Cloud computing is too important to be left to the Big Three
Unlike traditional utilities, Amazon, Microsoft and Google operate with minimal transparency
www.ft.com
May 26, 2025 at 3:43 PM
I have an article in the @financialtimes.com today highlighting cloud computing's systemic role in our economies and societies, and the grave dangers of concentrating this critical infrastructure in the hands of a few monopolistic U.S. tech giants.
www.ft.com/content/5c93...
www.ft.com/content/5c93...
Reposted by Austin Ahlman
It's week 2 of #googlesearch remedies trial. I'll miss the DOJ resting its case this morning but will be back for Google's first witness: Heather Adkins, Google VP of Cybersecurity (part of the session might be closed).
🗞️In the meantime, my recap of week 1: www.techpolicy.press/analyzing-we...
🗞️In the meantime, my recap of week 1: www.techpolicy.press/analyzing-we...
Analyzing Week One of Google Search's Antitrust Remedies Trial | TechPolicy.Press
Karina Monotoya analyzes the first week of the Google Search antitrust remedies trial.
www.techpolicy.press
April 29, 2025 at 2:21 PM
It's week 2 of #googlesearch remedies trial. I'll miss the DOJ resting its case this morning but will be back for Google's first witness: Heather Adkins, Google VP of Cybersecurity (part of the session might be closed).
🗞️In the meantime, my recap of week 1: www.techpolicy.press/analyzing-we...
🗞️In the meantime, my recap of week 1: www.techpolicy.press/analyzing-we...
Reposted by Austin Ahlman
CJL reporter @austinahlman.bsky.social explains why yesterday's ruling against Google's monopoly over digital advertising is a major win for journalism. READ: washingtonmonthly.com/2025/04/18/c...
Court Ruling Against Google Ad-Tech Monopoly Is a Victory for Journalism | Washington Monthly
Antitrust advocates rejoice at the second decision against the $1.8 trillion behemoth in less than a year.
washingtonmonthly.com
April 18, 2025 at 1:59 PM
CJL reporter @austinahlman.bsky.social explains why yesterday's ruling against Google's monopoly over digital advertising is a major win for journalism. READ: washingtonmonthly.com/2025/04/18/c...
I think it is reasonable for the leader of the United Auto Workers to support a tax on foreign car imports
April 11, 2025 at 5:35 PM
I think it is reasonable for the leader of the United Auto Workers to support a tax on foreign car imports
these guys are doing everything they can to make sure Harris’s abysmal performance with Arab voters is the democratic party’s ceiling instead of its floor
These residents of Dearborn thinks the Palestinians will be happier when they are deported to Greenland and Gaza becomes a tourist mecca for wealthy American tourists.
February 7, 2025 at 2:33 PM
these guys are doing everything they can to make sure Harris’s abysmal performance with Arab voters is the democratic party’s ceiling instead of its floor
this is a democrat just in case you were wondering how screwed we are
February 7, 2025 at 3:09 AM
this is a democrat just in case you were wondering how screwed we are
Reposted by Austin Ahlman
This story shows how INDEFENSIBLE it is to allow large social media platforms to block news as it it were business as usual. Mark Zuckerberg acted as if his business was 'cornered' by regulation but has no problem with profiting from harmful news media impostors.
www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
Meta Blocked News in Canada. Ads for Scams Are Taking Its Place
Social media platforms in Canada are hosting hundreds of ads from scam artists pretending to be news publishers, while suppressing authentic news content.
www.bloomberg.com
January 31, 2025 at 7:07 PM
This story shows how INDEFENSIBLE it is to allow large social media platforms to block news as it it were business as usual. Mark Zuckerberg acted as if his business was 'cornered' by regulation but has no problem with profiting from harmful news media impostors.
www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
sounds like they’ll have their counter-messaging negotiated and poll-tested by around this time next week 👍
January 28, 2025 at 7:13 PM
sounds like they’ll have their counter-messaging negotiated and poll-tested by around this time next week 👍
Reposted by Austin Ahlman
While it was gratifying to hear Zuckerberg refer to Meta’s content moderation and manipulation as censorship (after I got years of pushback for using this term), his efforts to shift blame to fact checkers & journalists is not.
about.fb.com/news/2025/01...
about.fb.com/news/2025/01...
More Speech and Fewer Mistakes | Meta
We're ending our third party fact checking program and moving to a Community Notes model.
about.fb.com
January 8, 2025 at 5:42 PM
While it was gratifying to hear Zuckerberg refer to Meta’s content moderation and manipulation as censorship (after I got years of pushback for using this term), his efforts to shift blame to fact checkers & journalists is not.
about.fb.com/news/2025/01...
about.fb.com/news/2025/01...
just another day in our AI dystopia: Grindr now wants to utilize user data to train chatbots
November 19, 2024 at 6:52 PM
just another day in our AI dystopia: Grindr now wants to utilize user data to train chatbots
I think blocking people liberally is just fine and probably creates a healthy experience, but the idea of “blocklists” is so insane to me. like what do you mean you are outsourcing the decision about what voices you should and shouldn’t hear from to other people?
November 19, 2024 at 5:21 PM
I think blocking people liberally is just fine and probably creates a healthy experience, but the idea of “blocklists” is so insane to me. like what do you mean you are outsourcing the decision about what voices you should and shouldn’t hear from to other people?
Reposted by Austin Ahlman
whenever i see someone call him "elmo" i remember how real tea party patriots spelled it 0bama so the government wouldn't find their mean posts
November 19, 2024 at 4:56 PM
whenever i see someone call him "elmo" i remember how real tea party patriots spelled it 0bama so the government wouldn't find their mean posts
for all the accusations of magical thinking being thrown around in the democratic coalition right now the worst case by far is those who think you can discipline the activist left or bully it out of existence
November 19, 2024 at 4:43 PM
for all the accusations of magical thinking being thrown around in the democratic coalition right now the worst case by far is those who think you can discipline the activist left or bully it out of existence