Mike Masnick
LightNews LightNews
banner
mmasnick.bsky.social
Mike Masnick
@mmasnick.bsky.social
200K followers 1.4K following 24K posts
Techdirt guy. Writes about social media, copyright, free speech, content moderation, civil liberties and stuff like that. Once wrote a paper that may have helped inspire this service & now I'm on its board: https://bit.ly/protocolnotplatform
Posts Replies Media Videos
mmasnick.bsky.social
Reminder: puppies are up for adoption, which you can see in the thread I'm quoting here, but in the meantime some more photos. They play a lot and they sleep a lot.

That last photo I'll explain below in this thread...
Three puppies sleeping next to each other with the middle one's belly exposed. Three puppies cuddled up next to each other as they sleep. Three puppies playing with each other. Three puppies heads all next to each other looking at a cardboard tube.
November 10, 2025 at 10:13 PM
mmasnick.bsky.social
Andy Kessler at the WSJ, who I used to be quite friendly with, has lost his mind. He's claiming that Mamdani and others are pushing for anarchy. WTF is he talking about? Literally this entire column is "things I dislike are anarchy and bad, things I like are not and good."
WSJ Opinion piece by Andy Kessler: "The Politics of Anarchy: Socialists regard disorder as a means to an end: government control." Anarchy is in the air. Alex Soros celebrated the New York mayoral result by tweeting, “The American dream continues!” His father’s Open Society Foundations have a history of funding anarchy-producing criminal-justice reforms and antipolice movements. Some American dream. Why anarchy and destruction of social order? Always ask: Who benefits? The breaking down of society is a means to an end—the long game of political control. Citizens scream, “Save me!” This isn’t new. The Reichstag fire. Food shortages driving a Bolshevik uprising. Pandemic riots. Anarchy works. I have no love for czars, but control often passes to political systems that are much worse. Socialism. Communism. Authoritarian control. Only the new rulers are better off. Now New York, Chicago, Portland and gerrymandered California are headed in that direction. Statists and soft-on-crime weak-knees enable anarchy. Like Orwellian newspeak, they instill nonsense like pregnant men and an existential climate apocalypse until even Bill Gates calls bull hockey. Open borders and sanctuary cities create more anarchy. Anarchists are antieducation. Antigrowth. Antiprogress. Anticapitalist. Bring on a new social order, it takes a village, we’ll make the decisions, not you. Trump tariff chaos has a whiff of this. Maybe it’s why the left hates him so much—he’s executing their game plan better than they are.
November 10, 2025 at 3:51 AM
mmasnick.bsky.social
And finally, we've got Gravy. She's the most playful of the three, with the softest fur. Not as adventurous as Cranberry Sauce, not as chill as Sweet Potato Pie, Gravy just wants to play with either dogs or humans whenever she can.

www.dpsrescue.org/adopt/pet-de...
Chocolate lab puppy with big soulful eyes looking at the camera and with her tongue popping out of her mouth Meet Gravy, The Sweetest Side Dish of the Season! Just like her name, little Gravy a 10 week old Lab mix makes everything better. She’s the kind of puppy who brings warmth and joy to every moment, a perfect blend of sweetness, spirit, and sensitivity. Gravy is one of those pups who listens with her heart. She’s mastered her “sit,” “come,” and “leave it” faster than her siblings, always eager to please and tuned in to her person’s voice. If she senses a stern tone, she’ll melt your heart by crawling up gently, wanting only to make things right again, that’s just who she is. Tender and kind, with a soul that wants to connect. But don’t let her gentle side fool you, this girl can bounce! When playtime begins, Gravy’s energy is contagious. She leaps and runs like she’s got tiny springs in her paws, full of Thanksgiving cheer and joy. She’s always the first one up in the morning and the last one to tire out, keeping the fun going until the very end of the day. Her coat is simply stunning, a velvety blend of silver and reddish undertones that shimmer like autumn leaves in the afternoon sun. This Thanksgiving, Gravy is thankful for belly rubs, cozy naps, and the chance to find her forever family, one that will love her for her big heart, bright spirit, and irresistible charm.
November 9, 2025 at 5:16 PM
mmasnick.bsky.social
Next, we've got Sweet Potato Pie. She's the most chill of the three. The first to nap and the least likely to get into hijinks, but still ready to play with her sisters, and knows how to use her weight advantage (1 lb more than the others) to her advantage.

www.dpsrescue.org/adopt/pet-de...
A yellow lab puppy looking at the camera with a head tilt. Meet Sweet Potato Pie, The Cozy Comfort of the Litter! Just like her name, Sweet Potato Pie is the perfect blend of warmth, sweetness, and comfort, the kind of pup that makes every day feel like Thanksgiving. At just 10 weeks old, this adorable Lab mix has already perfected the art of calm contentment. While her siblings, Gravy and Cranberry Sauce, are busy cooking up chaos, Sweet Potato Pie prefers to sit a few feet away, quietly observing the fun with her soulful eyes and gentle curiosity. Don’t be fooled by her mellow nature, though! When the moment feels right, she’ll suddenly leap into the action like a little sumo wrestler, tackling her siblings with surprising power and grace before trotting off to retire early, always on her own terms. She’s the first to tuck herself in for a nap and the last one to rise, embodying the true spirit of relaxation and gratitude. Sweet Potato Pie isn’t much of an explorer; her favorite place to be is right on your lap, melting into a cozy snooze. She’s the calm after the feast, the warm, sweet comfort that completes the day.
November 9, 2025 at 5:16 PM
mmasnick.bsky.social
First up, Cranberry Sauce. She's the most curious & smartest of the three. Always quick to explore and check stuff out. But also first in line to make sure everyone around her is okay (when her sister got scared on stairs, she was quick to go make sure all was ok)

www.dpsrescue.org/adopt/pet-de...
A Brindle puppy looking quizzical Meet Cranberry Sauce! This little doll is as sweet and vibrant as her name! Cranberry Sauce is a 10 week old Lab mix and is the curious one of her litter. The first to bravely conquer the big, scary stairs (up and down!) while her siblings watched in awe. Always aware of her surroundings, she’s the kind of pup who notices everything… from the crunch of leaves under her paws to the scent of pumpkin pie wafting through the air. Cranberry Sauce isn’t just smart, she’s incredibly caring too. With her soulful, expressive eyes, she always seems to be asking, “What are we doing next?” or “Can I help?” Whether she’s gently nudging a sibling, snuggling up for a nap, or wagging her tail in excitement for a Thanksgiving feast of love and belly rubs, Cranberry brings a warm, cozy glow to every moment.
November 9, 2025 at 5:16 PM
mmasnick.bsky.social
Every time the media presents Kevin O'Leary as a good business person I like to remind people of how he got rich, by selling a sketchy software company to Mattel (who did no due diligence) for billions they had to write down a few months later.

archive.is/HL67I#select...
By 1983, O’Leary saw the potential in the emerging software and personal computer industries. He formed SoftKey Software Products Inc. in the basement of his Toronto home, convincing computer companies to bundle his software into their products. SoftKey moved to Boston and focused on the booming field of educational software. By 1993, it was trading on Nasdaq and had revenues of $110-million—and a loss of $57-million. The company grew by making a string of acquisitions. SoftKey’s most prominent takeover was of San Francisco-based The Learning Company (TLC). Prior to the sale, TLC hired the Center for Financial Research and Analysis (CFRA), a forensic accounting firm, to examine its suitor’s financials. CFRA alleged that SoftKey may have overstated its earnings by bundling various general and administrative costs into write-offs. CFRA was also unhappy with SoftKey’s decision to fire its auditor, Arthur Andersen, after the accounting firm found deficiencies in the company’s internal controls. CFRA noted that SoftKey’s audit committee “holds several questionable members, including the CEO… as well as an outside member associated with two public companies charged with financial improprieties and another member who is a paid consultant to the company.” Yet SoftKey’s acquisition of TLC went through, and SoftKey adopted the TLC name. By 1996, TLC had 3,000 employees and was the biggest educational software company in the world. It continued to grow via acquisitions, driving revenues up over $800-million. But SEC filing shows that TLC suffered net losses of $376-million in 1996, $495-million in 1997 and $105-million in 1998. Moreover, TLC’s accumulated deficit topped $1.1-billion by the end of 1998. That same year, toy giant Mattel Inc. made a takeover bid for TLC, without doing proper due diligence. Desperate to reverse a steep slide in the company’s stock price, Mattel CEO Jill Barad seized on educational software as a driver of future growth. The takeover shocked many, largely because TLC was seen, according to software-industry analyst Sean McGowan, as a well-known “house of cards” that was burdened with tired brands—not helped by the fact that O’Leary had slashed R&D from 24 down to 11 percent of expenditures. “There was a lot of [TLC] inventory out there that was not moving very well,” McGowan says. “They pumped up the sales by repackaging and distributing to convenience stores and drugstores.” Indeed, TLC was later accused in a shareholders’ lawsuit and by a Mattel executive of “stuffing the channels”—shipping product at the end of a quarter and recording it as revenue, even though much of the merchandise would be returned. “Stuffing the channels was part of the business back then,” says a former TLC sales rep based in California. In the end, Mattel purchased TLC for about $4-billion in the spring of 1999. O’Leary took over as president of Mattel’s new TLC digital division. Weeks after the sale, CFRA produced a critical report on Mattel, claiming TLC was already experiencing collapsing revenue, a surge in receivables and a deterioration of operating cash flow. In the third quarter of 1999, Mattel expected profits of $50-million from the TLC division. Instead, it was a loss of $105-million (the next quarter losses rose to $206 -million), which wiped out more than $2-billion in shareholder value in one day, as the company’s share price slid from nearly $17 to $11.69. In short, O’Leary had sold Mattel a turkey. One investors' lawsuit says O’Leary cashed in his Mattel shares just before the losses were announced when the stock was at its peak, pocketing almost $6-million.
November 7, 2025 at 11:02 PM
mmasnick.bsky.social
Haven't posted puppies in a few days, so to make up for it:
Three puppies sitting on a lap. Looking at the camera. Three puppies in a cardboard box looking cute. Three exhausted puppies flopped down on the ground asleep. Two puppies sticking their heads out of crates facing each other.
November 7, 2025 at 9:54 PM
mmasnick.bsky.social
Feels like the opening to a very bad sci-fi film.
Musk has threatened to leave if he doesn’t get a larger share of Tesla. He told investors last month, “It’s not like I’m going to go spend the money. It’s just, if we build this robot army, do I have at least a strong influence over that robot army? Not control, but a strong influence. That’s what it comes down to in a nutshell. I don’t feel comfortable building that robot army if I don’t have at least a strong influence.”
November 6, 2025 at 11:27 PM
mmasnick.bsky.social
Decided to write something about the Mamdani win, and figured it would be a quickish piece, tying together a few thoughts I had. I'm now up to over 3,600 words and the piece clearly won't get published until tomorrow at least.
3,657 words
November 5, 2025 at 11:34 PM
mmasnick.bsky.social
Not sure how I got on this PR distribution list, but...
Hi Mike, Today, the National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum unveiled the first bobblehead of Zohran Mamdani, who was elected the 111th mayor of New York City yesterday. With his victory over former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, Mamdani will become New York City’s first Muslim and first Asian American mayor. Mamdani’s bobblehead joins a wide range of political bobbleheads produced by the Museum including bobbleheads of all U.S. presidents and many first ladies, world leaders, senators, governors, and other elected officials. The bobbleheads are being produced by the National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum. The press release is below, and you can find a picture and graphics of the bobbleheads that you can use at this Dropbox link. The bobbleheads are now available for pre-order exclusively in our online store at the following link. Let me know if you have any questions. Thank you, Phil Phil Sklar Co-Founder and CEO National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum A bobblehead doll of Zohran Mamdani with a faded "national bobblehead hall of fame" banner in the background.
November 5, 2025 at 9:01 PM
mmasnick.bsky.social
Me watching Mamdani talk: "Hey, wait, is that... Lina Khan standing behind him?"

Scrolls down one single Bluesky post: oh, huh, I guess so...
Two bluesky posts. Top one from Aaron Rupar showing a Mamdani press conference with three women standing behind him. The one to the right of the frame is Lina Khan. The second Bluesky post is from April Glick Pulito saying (in all caps): "TRANSITION CO-CHAIR LINA KHAN!!??!!?!??!" with a screenshot of Mamdani's transition page showing, in fact, that Lina Khan is his transition co-chair.
November 5, 2025 at 5:56 PM
mmasnick.bsky.social
Excuse me, what?

www.wsj.com/tech/musk-te...
When Elon Musk left DOGE in May, Tesla TSLA -5.15%decrease; red down pointing triangle investors hoped its longtime leader would hurry back to headquarters to focus on reversing a sales slump and recharging the company. For much of the summer, though, he was engrossed in something else. Musk was holed up at his newest startup, xAI, trying to catch up in the artificial-intelligence arms race. Meetings with employees often stretched into the wee hours of the morning as they brainstormed ways to make Grok, its artificial intelligence, go viral, according to former executives and people who worked with him. He personally oversaw the design of a racy chatbot called Ani, an animated character with blonde pigtails and revealing outfits. Employees were compelled to turn over their biometric data to train avatars like Ani. Musk unwound by playing one of his favorite videogames, Diablo, for long stretches in his office. He tended to his children, who cycled in and out of the building.
November 5, 2025 at 7:02 AM
mmasnick.bsky.social
More gracious than I expected, but come on.
Bill Ackman tweets: Zohran Mamdani, congrats on the win. Now you have a big responsibility. If I can help NYC, just let me know what I can do.
November 5, 2025 at 3:40 AM
mmasnick.bsky.social
More pupdates:
Two cute puppies, lab mixes, one yellow, one brindle, sitting there looking at the camera. Super cute yellow lab puppy giving doe eyes to the camera Black lab puppy discovering stairs. All three puppies playing.
November 2, 2025 at 9:13 PM
mmasnick.bsky.social
There are a large number of Democratic politicians who insist that Jonathan Haidt is a reliable narrator and one who they should take their legislative cues from. They should be asked why they're supporting someone the Heritage Foundation is cheering on in their efforts to censor the internet.
Tweet from Heritage Foundation's boss Kevin Roberts: Thank you, Jonathan Haidt, for reminding everyone Heritage yesterday that tech tycoons like Leonid Radvinsky and Solomon Friedman are profiting to the tune of millions by preying on America's young men and women. We are proud to be in this fight with you. It is time to arrest, prosecute, and convict the sick perverts behind OnlyFans and PornHub.
November 2, 2025 at 8:28 PM
mmasnick.bsky.social
You seem to live in a fantasy land. They absolutely stopped on advice of a Democratic political consultant who told them it didn't poll well. And people noticed.

www.reddit.com/r/neoliberal...
Over the line came a lot of praise, but also some suggested tweaks. First, said veteran Democratic numbers man Geoff Garin, summarizing their analysis, stop saying, “We’re not going back.” It wasn’t focused enough on the future, he argued. Second, lay off all the “weird” talk — too negative.
November 2, 2025 at 4:15 PM
mmasnick.bsky.social
Ok. Now that the game is over, we've got a pupdate video...
November 2, 2025 at 4:42 AM
mmasnick.bsky.social
But the real treat of the night... while I was out with kids, wife picked up three (three!) new rescue puppies to foster. Cute as can be.
Three cute puppies from above around a food bowl. They're sisters, but one is tan, one is black, and one is brindle. Cutest freaking yellow lab looking at my while her sister chows down on the food bowl behind her. Black and yellow puppy playing with each other and the (barely seen) brindle puppy in its crate. Tired out puppies. Yellow and brindle puppy cuddle together in a dog crate with their heads sticking out. Black puppy lying just outside the crate and resting.
November 1, 2025 at 5:16 AM
mmasnick.bsky.social
Fairly successful night of trick-or-treating. Photo from the staircase system of sorting. And some images from the journey...
Five stairs with an assortment of candy across the stairs. A giant animatronic werewolf with glowing eyes and mouth, bathed in red light. Damn thing was like 15 feet tall. Creepy frightening animatronic girl on a swing with glowing eyes. Swing was working and the head would shift back and forth. Guy in the house said "Did you see my daughter Lucy?" A tombstone with a glowing angry head and hands climbing out of the ground.
November 1, 2025 at 5:16 AM
mmasnick.bsky.social
Not having 100 people say the same thing in the replies would be huge...
Reply context We’re testing a small change to how the “Reply” button works on top-level posts: instead of jumping straight into the composer, it now takes you to the full thread first. We think this will encourage people to read before replying — a simple way to reduce context collapse and redundant replies.
October 31, 2025 at 10:51 PM
mmasnick.bsky.social
This is not the point of the piece, but it points to D'Souza posting Charlie Kirk scolding him for debating Fuentes, saying it legitimizes him.

Which is kinda interesting given how many Kirk defenders keep insisting that he did things "the right way" since he'd "debate anyone."
Text message between Charlie Kirk and Dinesh D'Souza, after a post showing D'Souza debating Nick Fuentes on Alex Jones: This was a massive mistake that you did this. He's vermin and you just gave him one of the biggest boosts of his career.
October 31, 2025 at 3:46 AM
mmasnick.bsky.social
With alt text (seriously @raskin.house.gov you should make sure to include alt text with your images).
A letter from Rep. Jamie Raskin to President Trump with the address part being the key: President Donald J. Trump What Remains of 1600 Pennsylvania Ave NW Washington, DC 20500
October 30, 2025 at 10:15 PM
mmasnick.bsky.social
Yup.
JFC. He’s dead. It’s all over the news. Can’t you access the news? shit, you're right. i completely missed that—my bad. the piece makes total sense now.
October 30, 2025 at 4:38 PM
mmasnick.bsky.social
So @pbump.com has (understandably, when posts go viral) turned off comments on his post about Claude telling him that the demolition of East Wing is "fiction." But just noting I had a similar experience in writing about Charlie Kirk. Here's Claude scolding me for "killing your credibility."
charlie kirk confusion. unless i missed something huge, charlie kirk isn't dead? this seems like a major error that undermines the piece. if this is about a different person or a hypothetical, it needs clarification immediately. this is killing your credibility.
October 30, 2025 at 4:24 PM
mmasnick.bsky.social
Excuse me? So the company the President currently owns is teaming up with a cryptocurrency company to create a prediction market, which will take bets... on things the President himself has quite a lot of control over?

Gosh, I'm sure nothing bad will happen.

www.ft.com/content/4855...
Please use the sharing tools found via the share button at the top or side of articles. Copying articles to share with others is a breach of FT.com T&Cs and Copyright Policy. Email licensing@ft.com to buy additional rights. Subscribers may share up to 10 or 20 articles per month using the gift article service. More information can be found at https://www.ft.com/tour. https://www.ft.com/content/485594b3-5a72-4ae1-aa93-8ee987be1569 Donald Trump’s Truth Social platform is to offer users the chance to trade on the outcome of elections and sports games, extending the US president and his family’s involvement in the booming prediction markets sector. The Trump Media & Technology Group, which controls the social media platform, on Tuesday announced it would partner with Crypto.com to introduce “Truth Predict”, which would allow users “to react instantly to developments in major current events”.  Crypto.com previously donated $11mn to Trump causes. Earlier this year the Securities and Exchange Commission closed an investigation into the company, and on Friday, it announced that it applied for a US bank charter. In August, TMTG also signed a multibillion-dollar deal to buy Cronos, the tokens issued by Crypto.com, which sent their price soaring. “For too long, global elites have closely controlled these markets — with Truth Predict, we’re democratising information and empowering everyday Americans to harness the wisdom of the crowd, turning free speech into actionable foresight,” said Devin Nunes, TMTG’s head.
October 29, 2025 at 4:02 AM