Ben Watson
@benwatson.bsky.social
senior multimedia editor at Defense One // watson.ben@protonmail.com + Signal: watson.90
Reposted by Ben Watson
It's easy to look at this and say: These people just need to choose reliable sources.
But: How should they determine what's reliable? Teachers and professors are scared to touch anything that seems political, including helping students distinguish reliable from unreliable sources of news. 1/
But: How should they determine what's reliable? Teachers and professors are scared to touch anything that seems political, including helping students distinguish reliable from unreliable sources of news. 1/
A large majority of U.S. adults now get news digitally, but nondigital news consumers are less likely to say they extremely often or often encounter inaccurate news.
Read more on Americans’ views of information accuracy and distinguishing truth from fiction:
Read more on Americans’ views of information accuracy and distinguishing truth from fiction:
Many Americans say they often come across inaccurate news – and have a hard time knowing what’s true
Those who report often encountering inaccurate news are more likely than those who rarely or never do to say it’s hard to know what is true (59% vs. 31%).
www.pewresearch.org
November 3, 2025 at 2:38 PM
It's easy to look at this and say: These people just need to choose reliable sources.
But: How should they determine what's reliable? Teachers and professors are scared to touch anything that seems political, including helping students distinguish reliable from unreliable sources of news. 1/
But: How should they determine what's reliable? Teachers and professors are scared to touch anything that seems political, including helping students distinguish reliable from unreliable sources of news. 1/
Reposted by Ben Watson
Hi, I'm the ProPublica reporter who's been tracking an unusual stat: U.S. citizens grabbed by immigration agents.
I did it because the government isn’t.
This is what I found.
I did it because the government isn’t.
This is what I found.
October 18, 2025 at 2:11 PM
Hi, I'm the ProPublica reporter who's been tracking an unusual stat: U.S. citizens grabbed by immigration agents.
I did it because the government isn’t.
This is what I found.
I did it because the government isn’t.
This is what I found.
Reposted by Ben Watson
A terrific AFP fact check uses reverse image searches to expose how a White House video took scenes from Florida, Texas, South Carolina and Nebraska and lied that they showed "Chicago is in chaos."
factcheck.afp.com/doc.afp.com....
factcheck.afp.com/doc.afp.com....
October 16, 2025 at 2:07 PM
A terrific AFP fact check uses reverse image searches to expose how a White House video took scenes from Florida, Texas, South Carolina and Nebraska and lied that they showed "Chicago is in chaos."
factcheck.afp.com/doc.afp.com....
factcheck.afp.com/doc.afp.com....
Reposted by Ben Watson
A CNN review has found two dozen incidents of people posing as ICE officers in 2025 – more incidents than during the prior four presidential terms combined.
ICE impersonator incidents rise during Trump’s second term | CNN
A CNN review has found two dozen incidents of people posing as ICE officers in 2025 – more incidents than during the prior four presidential terms combined.
www.cnn.com
October 2, 2025 at 11:41 AM
A CNN review has found two dozen incidents of people posing as ICE officers in 2025 – more incidents than during the prior four presidential terms combined.
Reposted by Ben Watson
I mean yes this is funny, but the fact that these unconstitutional stormtroopers are so directionless that they literally stand around waiting for random nonwhite delivery guys to bike past them is just pathetic. No mandate, no mission, no clue. Just racism.
ICE attempted
and failed to disappear a food delivery guy.
It needed to be scored.
and failed to disappear a food delivery guy.
It needed to be scored.
September 29, 2025 at 3:16 AM
I mean yes this is funny, but the fact that these unconstitutional stormtroopers are so directionless that they literally stand around waiting for random nonwhite delivery guys to bike past them is just pathetic. No mandate, no mission, no clue. Just racism.
Reposted by Ben Watson
the story correctly notes that crime is down in chicago, violent crime is down in chicago, and u.s. citizens, not immigrants, commit most of those crimes
yet these guys are kitted out like they're raiding osama bin laden's compound
yet these guys are kitted out like they're raiding osama bin laden's compound
September 29, 2025 at 11:09 AM
the story correctly notes that crime is down in chicago, violent crime is down in chicago, and u.s. citizens, not immigrants, commit most of those crimes
yet these guys are kitted out like they're raiding osama bin laden's compound
yet these guys are kitted out like they're raiding osama bin laden's compound
Overheard at the Pentagon: “I’ve got my five points ready. I’ve been a productive member of society.”
March 6, 2025 at 6:52 PM
Overheard at the Pentagon: “I’ve got my five points ready. I’ve been a productive member of society.”
Reposted by Ben Watson
The struggle over democracy is not just one among many issues. It’s an overarching concern that transcends and permeates all areas of public policy. It sets the conditions for how we determine who belongs, whose sensibilities and rights count, how we deal with all the collective action challenges.
January 31, 2025 at 2:41 PM
The struggle over democracy is not just one among many issues. It’s an overarching concern that transcends and permeates all areas of public policy. It sets the conditions for how we determine who belongs, whose sensibilities and rights count, how we deal with all the collective action challenges.
Regarding Trump's desire to end birthright citizenship by reinterpreting the U.S. Constitution's 14th Amendment, here's an interesting note of contrast by @lilymasonphd.bsky.social, political scientist at Johns Hopkins University:
January 29, 2025 at 4:24 PM
Regarding Trump's desire to end birthright citizenship by reinterpreting the U.S. Constitution's 14th Amendment, here's an interesting note of contrast by @lilymasonphd.bsky.social, political scientist at Johns Hopkins University:
Reposted by Ben Watson
A fascinating crash course in national security in 2024, from @defenseone.bsky.social and @benwatson.bsky.social. www.defenseone.com/ideas/2024/1...
Defense One Radio, Ep. 170: Year in review
We listen back on more than a dozen guests from conversations across 2024.
www.defenseone.com
December 30, 2024 at 2:50 PM
A fascinating crash course in national security in 2024, from @defenseone.bsky.social and @benwatson.bsky.social. www.defenseone.com/ideas/2024/1...
Here's a deceptive and inaccurate claim we may see + hear again in the coming months.
Democrats: “Trump can’t use the military to help deport illegals!"
Also Democrats: Called in the National Guard to deport 50 illegals out of Martha’s Vineyard to a military base within 48 hours of their arrival.
Democrats: “Trump can’t use the military to help deport illegals!"
Also Democrats: Called in the National Guard to deport 50 illegals out of Martha’s Vineyard to a military base within 48 hours of their arrival.
December 4, 2024 at 5:38 PM
Here's a deceptive and inaccurate claim we may see + hear again in the coming months.
Democrats: “Trump can’t use the military to help deport illegals!"
Also Democrats: Called in the National Guard to deport 50 illegals out of Martha’s Vineyard to a military base within 48 hours of their arrival.
Democrats: “Trump can’t use the military to help deport illegals!"
Also Democrats: Called in the National Guard to deport 50 illegals out of Martha’s Vineyard to a military base within 48 hours of their arrival.
🎙️Our first author interview of 2024 just posted Friday: www.defenseone.com/threats/2024...
It's a revealing conversation about the recent history of anti-government, far-right militancy in America, with @cfr.org's Bruce Hoffman and Jacob Ware.
Check out their new book→ www.cfr.org/book/god-gun...
It's a revealing conversation about the recent history of anti-government, far-right militancy in America, with @cfr.org's Bruce Hoffman and Jacob Ware.
Check out their new book→ www.cfr.org/book/god-gun...
February 6, 2024 at 7:39 PM
🎙️Our first author interview of 2024 just posted Friday: www.defenseone.com/threats/2024...
It's a revealing conversation about the recent history of anti-government, far-right militancy in America, with @cfr.org's Bruce Hoffman and Jacob Ware.
Check out their new book→ www.cfr.org/book/god-gun...
It's a revealing conversation about the recent history of anti-government, far-right militancy in America, with @cfr.org's Bruce Hoffman and Jacob Ware.
Check out their new book→ www.cfr.org/book/god-gun...