Chris Becker
@chrisbecker.bsky.social
Associate Professor in Film, Television, and Theatre and the Sport, Media, & Culture Minor at University of Notre Dame. Working on a local TV history project: https://sites.nd.edu/boc-project/
A must-read: “ Don’t let them fool you. AI isn’t here to set you free. It’s here to eliminate your options and, as a bonus, convince all of those fragile, uncreative man-children that being an artist can be easily duplicated. And if that’s the case, then they won’t feel like soulless failures.”
November 11, 2025 at 1:47 PM
A must-read: “ Don’t let them fool you. AI isn’t here to set you free. It’s here to eliminate your options and, as a bonus, convince all of those fragile, uncreative man-children that being an artist can be easily duplicated. And if that’s the case, then they won’t feel like soulless failures.”
Reposted by Chris Becker
every single week they're throwing this guy a special oval office love-in that appears to be the presidential equivalent of letting your dog scarf an entire big mac and fries before that last trip to the vet
Pirro: "Mr President, there is in this room a group of people who love you, who believe in you, and who are so proud to be in this Oval Office and to be part of this amazing day because you have changed the course of America."
November 10, 2025 at 9:10 PM
every single week they're throwing this guy a special oval office love-in that appears to be the presidential equivalent of letting your dog scarf an entire big mac and fries before that last trip to the vet
Reposted by Chris Becker
And now we know why the shutdown is ending.
The Federal Aviation Administration will limit business jets and other private flights to some of the country’s largest airports to ease strains on air-traffic personnel.
FAA Limits Private Aircraft Flights at Major Airports
The restrictions will affect private jet flights at a dozen airports, including Atlanta, Dallas-Fort Worth, Denver, and Chicago’s O’Hare, according to the National Business Aviation Association trade group.
on.wsj.com
November 10, 2025 at 1:11 PM
And now we know why the shutdown is ending.
Reposted by Chris Becker
Senators on the brink of retirement who lived full, wealthy lives and never feared the loss of their own healthcare voting for their constituents to die from their inability to afford the same is treasonous
November 10, 2025 at 2:20 AM
Senators on the brink of retirement who lived full, wealthy lives and never feared the loss of their own healthcare voting for their constituents to die from their inability to afford the same is treasonous
Reposted by Chris Becker
imagining people who endured any past age of human history looking at the unfathomable wealth and comfort of our leaders and the unwillingness in putting even an iota of that on the line
November 10, 2025 at 12:25 AM
imagining people who endured any past age of human history looking at the unfathomable wealth and comfort of our leaders and the unwillingness in putting even an iota of that on the line
Reposted by Chris Becker
Yes! The thing abt public libraries that is so beautiful & crucial is the idea that *anybody* could do this — you need no credential, there’s no gatekeeping, literally any person can be an intellectual. You can come from absolutely nothing & yet, by means of curiosity + work, create real knowledge
I wrote a significant chunk of my first book at a Chicago Public Library, an amazing public space where people could read books and newspapers, access the internet, or just keep warm for a while on a cold day. This is appalling.
CPL is an absolute palace to the people and these proposed cuts are abominable. Artificial austerity. Chicago folks, read this, check the links to bug the mayor and your alders—this can be fought and won.
November 8, 2025 at 11:40 PM
Yes! The thing abt public libraries that is so beautiful & crucial is the idea that *anybody* could do this — you need no credential, there’s no gatekeeping, literally any person can be an intellectual. You can come from absolutely nothing & yet, by means of curiosity + work, create real knowledge
Reposted by Chris Becker
People need to understand that Chicago is a preview, not a culmination.
I have been actively watching contracts and surge funding over the last few days and what I would say to my friends in Baltimore is “be absolutely ready, right now.”
ICE poised to ramp up raids in Baltimore by Thanksgiving
The Trump administration has rush-ordered infrastructure to conduct raids, abduct residents, and detain people for months.
open.substack.com
November 9, 2025 at 1:51 PM
People need to understand that Chicago is a preview, not a culmination.
Reposted by Chris Becker
Man, I repeat:
If art is a machine that generates empathy, AI generated art is a machine that generates apathy. It erodes trust and human connection. The entire point of it is to make solidarity impossible, because it becomes unimaginable.
If art is a machine that generates empathy, AI generated art is a machine that generates apathy. It erodes trust and human connection. The entire point of it is to make solidarity impossible, because it becomes unimaginable.
I spotted this on Mastodon and I find it horrible, not least for the speed with which this has happened.
November 4, 2025 at 6:11 PM
Man, I repeat:
If art is a machine that generates empathy, AI generated art is a machine that generates apathy. It erodes trust and human connection. The entire point of it is to make solidarity impossible, because it becomes unimaginable.
If art is a machine that generates empathy, AI generated art is a machine that generates apathy. It erodes trust and human connection. The entire point of it is to make solidarity impossible, because it becomes unimaginable.
Reposted by Chris Becker
"We're killing all the right people" is something that I think should be remembered in the annals of history as one of the worst things ever said. That's...that's bleak. That's pretty heinous even for fascism. To just say it like that.
Lindsey Graham Has Bonkers Defense for GOP Not Denouncing Nick Fuentes
Senator Lindsey Graham told Jewish Republicans not to worry because the party was “killing all the right people.”
newrepublic.com
November 9, 2025 at 12:39 AM
"We're killing all the right people" is something that I think should be remembered in the annals of history as one of the worst things ever said. That's...that's bleak. That's pretty heinous even for fascism. To just say it like that.
Reposted by Chris Becker
Jeremiyah Love continues to innovate in the field of “how did he make that a touchdown?”
November 9, 2025 at 2:25 AM
Jeremiyah Love continues to innovate in the field of “how did he make that a touchdown?”
Reposted by Chris Becker
sometimes an Oxford comma can make all the difference
November 8, 2025 at 12:36 PM
sometimes an Oxford comma can make all the difference
Reposted by Chris Becker
congrats to everyone for thinking this through before signing very big contracts to put it on every student’s device at the school or university you run
OVER A MILLION USERS
DISCUSS SUICIDE WITH CHATGPT
EVERY *WEEK*
what the fuck are we DOING here
DISCUSS SUICIDE WITH CHATGPT
EVERY *WEEK*
what the fuck are we DOING here
Panera’s moderately caffeinated lemonade was loosely associated with 2 deaths before it was taken off market.
This article alone has 4 examples of ChatGPT encouraging young people to commit suicide, and OpenAI’s own public stats estimate over a million users discuss suicide with ChatGPT each week.
This article alone has 4 examples of ChatGPT encouraging young people to commit suicide, and OpenAI’s own public stats estimate over a million users discuss suicide with ChatGPT each week.
November 7, 2025 at 11:24 PM
congrats to everyone for thinking this through before signing very big contracts to put it on every student’s device at the school or university you run
Failed to properly lock my bike up today on campus and found it up in a tree. I salute those keeping honored ND traditions alive. 🫡
November 8, 2025 at 5:31 AM
Failed to properly lock my bike up today on campus and found it up in a tree. I salute those keeping honored ND traditions alive. 🫡
Reposted by Chris Becker
If you somehow missed the one in the Oval Office.
Trump's gift has been how he can work the media, how he knows how to play to the camera. These are both huge failures of one of his most core political skills.
Which point seriously to the likely level of cognitive decline.
Trump's gift has been how he can work the media, how he knows how to play to the camera. These are both huge failures of one of his most core political skills.
Which point seriously to the likely level of cognitive decline.
this should be one of defining images of his second term, because its impossible to tell from looking at it whether he is too indifferent to care or too senile to notice
Your cat when you're choking to death in your apartment
November 7, 2025 at 5:15 PM
If you somehow missed the one in the Oval Office.
Trump's gift has been how he can work the media, how he knows how to play to the camera. These are both huge failures of one of his most core political skills.
Which point seriously to the likely level of cognitive decline.
Trump's gift has been how he can work the media, how he knows how to play to the camera. These are both huge failures of one of his most core political skills.
Which point seriously to the likely level of cognitive decline.
The sandwich jokes are much needed fun in stressful times, but I’m also happy that this public statement was an end result.
Sean Dunn, aka DC Sandwich Guy, speaks outside court after his not guilty verdict:
“I am so happy that justice prevails in spite of everything….
“That night I believe I was protecting the rights of immigrants…
Every life matters, no matter where you came from, no matter how you got here…”
“I am so happy that justice prevails in spite of everything….
“That night I believe I was protecting the rights of immigrants…
Every life matters, no matter where you came from, no matter how you got here…”
November 6, 2025 at 10:03 PM
The sandwich jokes are much needed fun in stressful times, but I’m also happy that this public statement was an end result.
How many iconic photos can one man have?
November 6, 2025 at 6:41 PM
How many iconic photos can one man have?
Reposted by Chris Becker
At last we are recreating the Mad Men office environment from the hit TV show “don’t recreate the Mad Men office environment”
the question nobody with a soul is asking, answered by people nobody wants to hear from
November 6, 2025 at 1:48 PM
At last we are recreating the Mad Men office environment from the hit TV show “don’t recreate the Mad Men office environment”
I saw “FIFA Peace Prize” in a post and naturally assumed it was a joke. But no, it is a real thing. So yes, a joke, but real.
November 6, 2025 at 1:36 AM
I saw “FIFA Peace Prize” in a post and naturally assumed it was a joke. But no, it is a real thing. So yes, a joke, but real.
Reposted by Chris Becker
LINA KHAN is on Mamdani’s transition team????????
LET’S GOOOOOO
LET’S GOOOOOO
November 5, 2025 at 4:33 PM
LINA KHAN is on Mamdani’s transition team????????
LET’S GOOOOOO
LET’S GOOOOOO
Reposted by Chris Becker
Happy Birthday to the one and only Angelo Moore. He is one person that the mold was broken after he appeared. Mr Moore, a born entertainer, a born messenger and a born bringer of joy to all. an outspoken person for fairness and justice to all those who suffer from the perils of life.
November 5, 2025 at 4:30 PM
Happy Birthday to the one and only Angelo Moore. He is one person that the mold was broken after he appeared. Mr Moore, a born entertainer, a born messenger and a born bringer of joy to all. an outspoken person for fairness and justice to all those who suffer from the perils of life.
Reposted by Chris Becker
57% of all ad spending by Republicans in the Virginia governors race was on anti trans ads. Just an incredibly mismanaged campaign. Anti-trans politics are a losing issue.
November 5, 2025 at 2:27 AM
57% of all ad spending by Republicans in the Virginia governors race was on anti trans ads. Just an incredibly mismanaged campaign. Anti-trans politics are a losing issue.
Good work by the article’s author to make half of the article a detailed rundown of all the outlandishly expensive homes Portnoy owns in multiple states
now that's what I call a Mamdani endorsement. Don't threaten New Yorkers with a good time, Dave. www.yahoo.com/news/article...
Dave Portnoy Threatens To Move Barstool Sports Out of New York City If Zohran Mamdani Becomes Mayor: ‘I Hate This Guy So Much’
Portnoy, 48, admitted that he has already asked his "finance guy" to begin looking at potential office spaces outside of the city.
www.yahoo.com
November 4, 2025 at 11:52 PM
Good work by the article’s author to make half of the article a detailed rundown of all the outlandishly expensive homes Portnoy owns in multiple states
Reposted by Chris Becker
This trial is a farce -- but is a particularly dark farce, given that ICE and CBP thugs are currently beating victims senseless, and shooting them, on the streets of Chicago.
Defense tells judge they want to question Lairmore about 'gag gifts' he received from fellow officers after the alleged assault, including a Subway sandwich plush toy and a patch that (unless I misheard) said 'Felony Footlong.'
Prosecutors object. Defense argues they reflect CBP 'state of mind.'
Prosecutors object. Defense argues they reflect CBP 'state of mind.'
November 4, 2025 at 4:12 PM
This trial is a farce -- but is a particularly dark farce, given that ICE and CBP thugs are currently beating victims senseless, and shooting them, on the streets of Chicago.
#NotTheOnion (but onion-related)
Border Patrol agent Lairmore testifies that he was not injured by the sandwich, but he felt the impact through his ballistic vest.
The sandwich came apart and "kind of exploded" on his chest upon impact, he says.
"I could smell the onions and mustard."
The sandwich came apart and "kind of exploded" on his chest upon impact, he says.
"I could smell the onions and mustard."
November 4, 2025 at 4:10 PM
#NotTheOnion (but onion-related)