Derek B. Johnson
@derekbjohnson.bsky.social
Reporter and knowledge broker at CyberScoop, covering privacy, AI and elections. Priors at Federal Computer Week and SC Media. Send tips, leaks and well-wishes to derek.johnson@cyberscoop.com or DM for Signal.
Beware the amateur security researcher overly reliant on LLMs who reaches out to you with claims of massive, undiscovered security vulnerabilities that turn out to be AI hallucinations.
November 13, 2025 at 1:14 PM
Beware the amateur security researcher overly reliant on LLMs who reaches out to you with claims of massive, undiscovered security vulnerabilities that turn out to be AI hallucinations.
Reposted by Derek B. Johnson
Just blundering directly into the most explosive and shocking presidential coverup in history almost completely by accident
November 12, 2025 at 8:36 PM
Just blundering directly into the most explosive and shocking presidential coverup in history almost completely by accident
Reposted by Derek B. Johnson
I took a look at how Trump officials' comments on cyber deterrence contrast with the man himself, and what it means or reflects for the global scene. cyberscoop.com/trump-cyber-...
While White House demands deterrence, Trump shrugs
U.S. cyber officials have pushed for strong action against foreign hacking, while President Trump has downplayed threats, creating mixed signals on cyber defense policy.
cyberscoop.com
November 12, 2025 at 7:51 PM
I took a look at how Trump officials' comments on cyber deterrence contrast with the man himself, and what it means or reflects for the global scene. cyberscoop.com/trump-cyber-...
Reposted by Derek B. Johnson
NEW: @timstarks.bsky.social looks at President Trump’s dismissive remarks on cyber threats, and how they contrast sharply with his administration’s official calls for action, specifically China cyberscoop.com/trump-cyber-...
While White House demands deterrence, Trump shrugs
U.S. cyber officials have pushed for strong action against foreign hacking, while President Trump has downplayed threats, creating mixed signals on cyber defense policy.
cyberscoop.com
November 12, 2025 at 7:53 PM
NEW: @timstarks.bsky.social looks at President Trump’s dismissive remarks on cyber threats, and how they contrast sharply with his administration’s official calls for action, specifically China cyberscoop.com/trump-cyber-...
Reposted by Derek B. Johnson
the decision to really just abandon moderation and let it rip suggests that this is what meta wants for its platform. this is the final, idealized form of the product
The most horrifying AI slop of ICE raids you can possibly imagine is wildly viral on Facebook, collectively totaling tens of millions of views from a single account. First spotted by @chadloder.bsky.social
www.404media.co/ai-generated...
www.404media.co/ai-generated...
AI-Generated Videos of ICE Raids Are Wildly Viral on Facebook
An account is spamming horrific, dehumanizing videos of immigration enforcement because the Facebook algorithm is rewarding them for it.
www.404media.co
November 12, 2025 at 5:57 PM
the decision to really just abandon moderation and let it rip suggests that this is what meta wants for its platform. this is the final, idealized form of the product
Reposted by Derek B. Johnson
"It is implausible. It's impossible. It's not true. And it's made up. And this utter detachment from reality... has become an increasing part of their economic policy. If you can't see the reality... you can't design the right policy to correct the real problems that exist."
November 12, 2025 at 5:50 PM
"It is implausible. It's impossible. It's not true. And it's made up. And this utter detachment from reality... has become an increasing part of their economic policy. If you can't see the reality... you can't design the right policy to correct the real problems that exist."
Reposted by Derek B. Johnson
Neutrality and objectivity are not the same thing and are, in fact, often contradictory goals. The objective truth is often not neutral in its political implications, and it would be a useless exercise if it was.
Got turned down on a piece about ICE in Chicago for an international news org because they believed I couldn’t be objective about my neighbors getting kidnapped. And well, guilty as charged I guess.
November 12, 2025 at 5:33 PM
Neutrality and objectivity are not the same thing and are, in fact, often contradictory goals. The objective truth is often not neutral in its political implications, and it would be a useless exercise if it was.
Reposted by Derek B. Johnson
The millennial jokerfication index looks great - graduate into a crisis, grind through a decade of slow recovery w/episodic peaks, have a small handful of good years, get kneecapped again when you’re supposed to be making catch up contributions out of higher pay bands, never retire
Goldman expects the boom in stocks to slow dramatically in the next decade
Goldman expects the boom in stocks to slow dramatically in the next decade
The bonanza in the U.S. stock market in the past 10 years won't be repeated in the coming decade, according to Goldman Sachs.
cnb.cx
November 12, 2025 at 2:45 PM
The millennial jokerfication index looks great - graduate into a crisis, grind through a decade of slow recovery w/episodic peaks, have a small handful of good years, get kneecapped again when you’re supposed to be making catch up contributions out of higher pay bands, never retire
Reposted by Derek B. Johnson
This headline is journalistic malpractice. This isn't Epstein "alleging" that Trump knew. This is Epstein and Maxwell discussing - in 2011, long before Trump had political salience - how the FACT that Trump knew might play out
Both of them took as a given that this was a fact in a private email
Both of them took as a given that this was a fact in a private email
November 12, 2025 at 2:08 PM
This headline is journalistic malpractice. This isn't Epstein "alleging" that Trump knew. This is Epstein and Maxwell discussing - in 2011, long before Trump had political salience - how the FACT that Trump knew might play out
Both of them took as a given that this was a fact in a private email
Both of them took as a given that this was a fact in a private email
FWIW I am thus far unable to reproduce this output from Grok on the X page or the Grok tab. In both instances, Grok pretty affirmatively states that Biden won the 2020 election and casts doubt on claims of mass voter fraud.
November 12, 2025 at 1:15 PM
FWIW I am thus far unable to reproduce this output from Grok on the X page or the Grok tab. In both instances, Grok pretty affirmatively states that Biden won the 2020 election and casts doubt on claims of mass voter fraud.
Reposted by Derek B. Johnson
people who have been claiming for years that journalists just make everything up are always amazed at how much there is in place to stop journalists making anything up
“Standards will be eliminated or severely cut back. Bari has told people that she wants to get rid of standards and is shocked that they have so much power. She asks ‘What’s the point of standards?’
November 11, 2025 at 4:37 PM
people who have been claiming for years that journalists just make everything up are always amazed at how much there is in place to stop journalists making anything up
Reposted by Derek B. Johnson
Its uncanny how much this feels like the 2010-2014 GOP
The Dem Establishment's problem is that they can't stop having these moments. This comes right after refusing to side with Mamdani against Cuomo until the last moment (or never, even after the Trump endorsement, if you're Schumer!), which comes after voting en masse for all sorts of horrid noms...
one of the weirdest things that people believe on a website where the collective mood changes every thirty-six hours is that events completely unknown to 60% of the population, where 90% have the facts wrong, will have persistent effects eighteen months later
November 11, 2025 at 1:08 PM
Its uncanny how much this feels like the 2010-2014 GOP
Reposted by Derek B. Johnson
NEW: President Trump's pardon of his alleged 2020 co-conspirators was less about shielding them from past crimes, his adversaries say, than about signaling to others that he has their back if he needs them again in 2026 or 2028.
w/ @joshgerstein.bsky.social
www.politico.com/news/2025/11...
w/ @joshgerstein.bsky.social
www.politico.com/news/2025/11...
November 11, 2025 at 12:27 AM
NEW: President Trump's pardon of his alleged 2020 co-conspirators was less about shielding them from past crimes, his adversaries say, than about signaling to others that he has their back if he needs them again in 2026 or 2028.
w/ @joshgerstein.bsky.social
www.politico.com/news/2025/11...
w/ @joshgerstein.bsky.social
www.politico.com/news/2025/11...
Reposted by Derek B. Johnson
Huh well it turns out I heard from a few federal workers about this and well
"We civil servants organized to help our colleagues face the hardship of the shutdown, we put up with the pain and our only request was to not be betrayed like this. Trade our pain, make it count."
"We civil servants organized to help our colleagues face the hardship of the shutdown, we put up with the pain and our only request was to not be betrayed like this. Trade our pain, make it count."
November 10, 2025 at 9:30 PM
Huh well it turns out I heard from a few federal workers about this and well
"We civil servants organized to help our colleagues face the hardship of the shutdown, we put up with the pain and our only request was to not be betrayed like this. Trade our pain, make it count."
"We civil servants organized to help our colleagues face the hardship of the shutdown, we put up with the pain and our only request was to not be betrayed like this. Trade our pain, make it count."
Reposted by Derek B. Johnson
3 years ago Elon enabled the funniest day in Twitter history.
November 10, 2025 at 8:05 PM
3 years ago Elon enabled the funniest day in Twitter history.
Yep. Live in this area, talk to feds all day, and while they're not a monolith and people are genuinely hurting (ask me how I know!) most of the ones I've talked with felt like it was for a worthy cause and weren't calling on Dems to give in for nothing.
I heard from a bunch of federal employees last night and this morning. They aren't happy.
"I would rather be an actual pawn. At least pawn sacrifices are calculated and achieve something. All this for a fucking meaningless vote."
"I would rather be an actual pawn. At least pawn sacrifices are calculated and achieve something. All this for a fucking meaningless vote."
'A Slap in the Face': Federal Employees Feel Betrayed by Democrats' Shutdown Cave
"I would rather be an actual pawn. At least pawn sacrifices are calculated and achieve something."
www.gravityisgone.com
November 10, 2025 at 4:11 PM
Yep. Live in this area, talk to feds all day, and while they're not a monolith and people are genuinely hurting (ask me how I know!) most of the ones I've talked with felt like it was for a worthy cause and weren't calling on Dems to give in for nothing.
Reposted by Derek B. Johnson
I know everyone is rightfully worked up over this govt funding bill but @timstarks.bsky.social and I found the cyber angle: if passed, CISA 2015 would go back into law until Jan 30 2026 cyberscoop.com/cisa-2015-sh...
Cyber information sharing law would get extension under shutdown deal bill
The Cybersecurity and Information Sharing Act of 2015 would go from expired to extended through Jan. 30.
cyberscoop.com
November 10, 2025 at 2:11 PM
I know everyone is rightfully worked up over this govt funding bill but @timstarks.bsky.social and I found the cyber angle: if passed, CISA 2015 would go back into law until Jan 30 2026 cyberscoop.com/cisa-2015-sh...
Reposted by Derek B. Johnson
Some thoughts on the CR/minibus.
1 The Dems negotiating with Rs were not freelancing. They coordinated with Sen Schumer. A few were ready to give in on day one, others worked to maximize appropriations wins.
Those voting for the 'deal' are the ones furthest away from electoral consequences.
1 The Dems negotiating with Rs were not freelancing. They coordinated with Sen Schumer. A few were ready to give in on day one, others worked to maximize appropriations wins.
Those voting for the 'deal' are the ones furthest away from electoral consequences.
November 10, 2025 at 1:45 PM
Some thoughts on the CR/minibus.
1 The Dems negotiating with Rs were not freelancing. They coordinated with Sen Schumer. A few were ready to give in on day one, others worked to maximize appropriations wins.
Those voting for the 'deal' are the ones furthest away from electoral consequences.
1 The Dems negotiating with Rs were not freelancing. They coordinated with Sen Schumer. A few were ready to give in on day one, others worked to maximize appropriations wins.
Those voting for the 'deal' are the ones furthest away from electoral consequences.
Reposted by Derek B. Johnson
"The pardons are primarily symbolic"
Symbolic, but with a kicker: Trump is letting people know that if you do something for him over the next 3+ years that might get you in trouble, he'll pardon you... so don't worry about going too far.
Symbolic, but with a kicker: Trump is letting people know that if you do something for him over the next 3+ years that might get you in trouble, he'll pardon you... so don't worry about going too far.
November 10, 2025 at 6:16 AM
"The pardons are primarily symbolic"
Symbolic, but with a kicker: Trump is letting people know that if you do something for him over the next 3+ years that might get you in trouble, he'll pardon you... so don't worry about going too far.
Symbolic, but with a kicker: Trump is letting people know that if you do something for him over the next 3+ years that might get you in trouble, he'll pardon you... so don't worry about going too far.
Reposted by Derek B. Johnson
BREAKING
President Trump has granted a pardon to a slew of Trump world figures, including Rudy Giuliani, Mark Meadows, and Sidney Powell, for their efforts to overturn the 2020 election.
President Trump has granted a pardon to a slew of Trump world figures, including Rudy Giuliani, Mark Meadows, and Sidney Powell, for their efforts to overturn the 2020 election.
November 10, 2025 at 4:59 AM
BREAKING
President Trump has granted a pardon to a slew of Trump world figures, including Rudy Giuliani, Mark Meadows, and Sidney Powell, for their efforts to overturn the 2020 election.
President Trump has granted a pardon to a slew of Trump world figures, including Rudy Giuliani, Mark Meadows, and Sidney Powell, for their efforts to overturn the 2020 election.
Reposted by Derek B. Johnson
FOX: So you would ask Speaker Johnson to recall the House?
GOP REP. KEVIN KILEY: Not only would I, I've asked him to do it repeatedly. There's no justification. And honestly, it's Republican voters who should be most upset about this when they delivered a GOP majority and now that's being wasted
GOP REP. KEVIN KILEY: Not only would I, I've asked him to do it repeatedly. There's no justification. And honestly, it's Republican voters who should be most upset about this when they delivered a GOP majority and now that's being wasted
November 8, 2025 at 5:22 PM
FOX: So you would ask Speaker Johnson to recall the House?
GOP REP. KEVIN KILEY: Not only would I, I've asked him to do it repeatedly. There's no justification. And honestly, it's Republican voters who should be most upset about this when they delivered a GOP majority and now that's being wasted
GOP REP. KEVIN KILEY: Not only would I, I've asked him to do it repeatedly. There's no justification. And honestly, it's Republican voters who should be most upset about this when they delivered a GOP majority and now that's being wasted
Reposted by Derek B. Johnson
A digital privacy group says agencies are collecting too much data on Americans and using AI tools to make connections that may not be valid. via @derekbjohnson.bsky.social www.youtube.com/watch?v=HziT... | cyberscoop.com/government-d...
Report: Government data mining has gone too far – and AI will make it worse
YouTube video by FedScoop
www.youtube.com
November 8, 2025 at 4:41 PM
A digital privacy group says agencies are collecting too much data on Americans and using AI tools to make connections that may not be valid. via @derekbjohnson.bsky.social www.youtube.com/watch?v=HziT... | cyberscoop.com/government-d...
Reposted by Derek B. Johnson
A big difference between now and like 20 years ago is that conservative elites used to not stew in conservative propaganda for the rubes like Limbaugh and would mostly read relatively legit news sources like WSJ.
Today it's all getting high on your own supply, all the time
Today it's all getting high on your own supply, all the time
Ben Shapiro tells Megyn Kelly that to avoid vile extremists like Nick Fuentes “the first thing people need to do is turn off X, which is poisoning brains and making people think not true things.” Yet, Shapiro continues to post there, often multiple times a day. youtu.be/tprng5mObQg?...
Ben Shapiro Responds to Tucker Carlson, Plus Sydney Sweeney and Newsom, with Knowles and Klavan
YouTube video by Megyn Kelly
youtu.be
November 8, 2025 at 12:22 AM
A big difference between now and like 20 years ago is that conservative elites used to not stew in conservative propaganda for the rubes like Limbaugh and would mostly read relatively legit news sources like WSJ.
Today it's all getting high on your own supply, all the time
Today it's all getting high on your own supply, all the time
Reposted by Derek B. Johnson
A digital privacy group says agencies are collecting too much data on Americans and using AI tools to make connections that may not be valid. via @derekbjohnson.bsky.social cyberscoop.com/government-d...
Report: Government data mining has gone too far – and AI will make it worse
A digital privacy group says agencies are collecting too much data on Americans and using AI tools to make connections that may not be valid.
cyberscoop.com
November 7, 2025 at 9:53 PM
A digital privacy group says agencies are collecting too much data on Americans and using AI tools to make connections that may not be valid. via @derekbjohnson.bsky.social cyberscoop.com/government-d...
This is after the board's career elections director was replaced with the NC House Republican Speaker's general counsel.
"Leah Byers, named to the board’s staff as a legislative liaison, previously worked for state Sen. Ralph Hise (R), who drew the state’s new gerrymandered congressional map."
"Leah Byers, named to the board’s staff as a legislative liaison, previously worked for state Sen. Ralph Hise (R), who drew the state’s new gerrymandered congressional map."
North Carolina Adds More Partisan GOP Staffers to Election Board
Read more here.
www.democracydocket.com
November 7, 2025 at 8:29 PM
This is after the board's career elections director was replaced with the NC House Republican Speaker's general counsel.
"Leah Byers, named to the board’s staff as a legislative liaison, previously worked for state Sen. Ralph Hise (R), who drew the state’s new gerrymandered congressional map."
"Leah Byers, named to the board’s staff as a legislative liaison, previously worked for state Sen. Ralph Hise (R), who drew the state’s new gerrymandered congressional map."