Michael Morisy
@morisy.bsky.social
civic transparency for a better tomorrow. founder, MuckRock. also caretaker of DocumentCloud, FOIA Machine, and many other internet friends.
Reposted by Michael Morisy
Last week a CDC webpage about vaccine safety was edited.
Using the "Changes" feature of the Wayback Machine we can see a "before and after" comparison:
web.archive.org/web/diff/202...
The Internet Archive's Wayback Machine is the change control system the web never had.
Using the "Changes" feature of the Wayback Machine we can see a "before and after" comparison:
web.archive.org/web/diff/202...
The Internet Archive's Wayback Machine is the change control system the web never had.
November 28, 2025 at 7:59 PM
Last week a CDC webpage about vaccine safety was edited.
Using the "Changes" feature of the Wayback Machine we can see a "before and after" comparison:
web.archive.org/web/diff/202...
The Internet Archive's Wayback Machine is the change control system the web never had.
Using the "Changes" feature of the Wayback Machine we can see a "before and after" comparison:
web.archive.org/web/diff/202...
The Internet Archive's Wayback Machine is the change control system the web never had.
Reposted by Michael Morisy
Is your head coach's girlfriend filing FOIA requests on your school's top comms official a good look? Asking for a friend
December 3, 2025 at 4:58 PM
Is your head coach's girlfriend filing FOIA requests on your school's top comms official a good look? Asking for a friend
What are your favorite tips for digging up interesting primary source documents? Examples you’re proud of? Doing a presentation this evening for a group of non-journalists about how reporters dig up information.
December 3, 2025 at 2:48 PM
What are your favorite tips for digging up interesting primary source documents? Examples you’re proud of? Doing a presentation this evening for a group of non-journalists about how reporters dig up information.
Related: It’s time to name and shame: Let us know 2025’s worst transparency offenders with a Foilies nomination!
www.muckrock.com/news/archive...
www.muckrock.com/news/archive...
It’s time to name and shame: Let us know 2025’s worst transparency offenders with a Foilies nomination!
Brought to you by the Electronic Frontier Foundation and MuckRock, the Foilies “honor” the institutions and individuals most determined to keep the public in the dark.
www.muckrock.com
December 3, 2025 at 2:29 PM
Related: It’s time to name and shame: Let us know 2025’s worst transparency offenders with a Foilies nomination!
www.muckrock.com/news/archive...
www.muckrock.com/news/archive...
Why are Texas Gov. Greg Abbott and Elon Musk’s “intimate and embarrassing” emails still secret? www.muckrock.com/news/archive...
Why are Texas Gov. Greg Abbott and Elon Musk’s "intimate and embarrassing” emails still secret?
Last month, the Office of the Texas Attorney General ordered Texas Gov. Greg Abbott's office to release nearly 1,400 pages to The Texas Newsroom. All but about 200 were completely redacted.
www.muckrock.com
December 3, 2025 at 2:28 PM
Why are Texas Gov. Greg Abbott and Elon Musk’s “intimate and embarrassing” emails still secret? www.muckrock.com/news/archive...
Reposted by Michael Morisy
What are your favorite tips for digging up interesting primary source documents? Examples you’re proud of? Doing a presentation tomorrow for a group of non-journalists about how reporters dig up information.
December 3, 2025 at 12:02 AM
What are your favorite tips for digging up interesting primary source documents? Examples you’re proud of? Doing a presentation tomorrow for a group of non-journalists about how reporters dig up information.
Reposted by Michael Morisy
A personal favorite, tho niche to government reporters, is to see what state agencies are asking for in the state budget. I like to ORR agency budget requests every year.
thecurrentga.org/2025/10/23/g...
Or to highlight corporate surveillance, tell them about the $$$ version of lexis-nexis
thecurrentga.org/2025/10/23/g...
Or to highlight corporate surveillance, tell them about the $$$ version of lexis-nexis
December 3, 2025 at 12:09 AM
A personal favorite, tho niche to government reporters, is to see what state agencies are asking for in the state budget. I like to ORR agency budget requests every year.
thecurrentga.org/2025/10/23/g...
Or to highlight corporate surveillance, tell them about the $$$ version of lexis-nexis
thecurrentga.org/2025/10/23/g...
Or to highlight corporate surveillance, tell them about the $$$ version of lexis-nexis
What are your favorite tips for digging up interesting primary source documents? Examples you’re proud of? Doing a presentation tomorrow for a group of non-journalists about how reporters dig up information.
December 3, 2025 at 12:02 AM
What are your favorite tips for digging up interesting primary source documents? Examples you’re proud of? Doing a presentation tomorrow for a group of non-journalists about how reporters dig up information.
Reposted by Michael Morisy
Where are all those "but academic freedom!" folks? Harper's Letter signatories? What's up?
This is insane. Any material a prof thinks is necessary but isn’t for formal licensing has to get the signoff of the chair, then dean, then provost?
This is an absolutely mockery of academic freedom.
I feel like Texas Tech HAS to lose its accreditation for this, no? It’s preposterous.
This is an absolutely mockery of academic freedom.
I feel like Texas Tech HAS to lose its accreditation for this, no? It’s preposterous.
TX Tech has a flow chat for guidance on what can be taught in the university system. Two things:
1. Very little content seems to be permitted. This is partisan control of the curriculum.
2. I would not enjoy teaching under these conditions, but I really would not want to be a Chair or Dean.
1. Very little content seems to be permitted. This is partisan control of the curriculum.
2. I would not enjoy teaching under these conditions, but I really would not want to be a Chair or Dean.
December 2, 2025 at 4:15 AM
Where are all those "but academic freedom!" folks? Harper's Letter signatories? What's up?
Reposted by Michael Morisy
it’s utterly ridiculous that instagram is so stuffed with features for generating AI slop while simultaneously lacking any actually useful applications of the technology
why can’t i use semantic search? (e.g. ‘show me accounts i follow that are tattoo shops or fashion influencers’)
why can’t i use semantic search? (e.g. ‘show me accounts i follow that are tattoo shops or fashion influencers’)
December 2, 2025 at 3:55 PM
it’s utterly ridiculous that instagram is so stuffed with features for generating AI slop while simultaneously lacking any actually useful applications of the technology
why can’t i use semantic search? (e.g. ‘show me accounts i follow that are tattoo shops or fashion influencers’)
why can’t i use semantic search? (e.g. ‘show me accounts i follow that are tattoo shops or fashion influencers’)
Reposted by Michael Morisy
This is a massive step forward for us and a big expansion of our goals and mission. We’ve been studying these issues for years and now it’s time to execute. We’ve hired a team and built partnerships.
It’s go time.
It’s go time.
We are launching a Justice Initiatives Division within Free Law Project focused on turning open law into real-world impact.
Our goal is to fill the voids in the legal system that lead to gaps in fair justice.
This is a big one. 🧵 free.law/2025/12/01/j...
Our goal is to fill the voids in the legal system that lead to gaps in fair justice.
This is a big one. 🧵 free.law/2025/12/01/j...
Announcing Free Law Project's Justice Initiatives Division
Free Law Project is launching a new division—Justice Initiatives—to bring together our advocacy, partnerships, and technology development under one mission: transforming how people experience the lega...
free.law
December 2, 2025 at 3:20 PM
This is a massive step forward for us and a big expansion of our goals and mission. We’ve been studying these issues for years and now it’s time to execute. We’ve hired a team and built partnerships.
It’s go time.
It’s go time.
So many people have made the community that is MuckRock possible, growing from a few requests in Massachusetts to a transparency platform helping open up government and inform the public in ways I never could have imagined. Thank you for helping us keep that work going!
MuckRock doesn’t answer to advertisers or political interests. We don’t even have a paywall.
Today is Giving Tuesday, the start of our most important fundraising season. If you believe in a more open, accountable democracy, we’re asking you to stand with us. www.muckrock.com/donate/
Today is Giving Tuesday, the start of our most important fundraising season. If you believe in a more open, accountable democracy, we’re asking you to stand with us. www.muckrock.com/donate/
MuckRock
MuckRock is a collaborative news site that gives you the tools to hold the government accountable.
www.muckrock.com
December 2, 2025 at 3:39 PM
So many people have made the community that is MuckRock possible, growing from a few requests in Massachusetts to a transparency platform helping open up government and inform the public in ways I never could have imagined. Thank you for helping us keep that work going!
Reposted by Michael Morisy
NEW: DOGE isn’t dead, despite recent reports.
Operatives are still rolling out coding tests, leading software pilots, and more.
w/ @telliotter.bsky.social
www.wired.com/story/what-i...
Operatives are still rolling out coding tests, leading software pilots, and more.
w/ @telliotter.bsky.social
www.wired.com/story/what-i...
DOGE Isn’t Dead. Here’s What Its Operatives Are Doing Now
Contrary to popular reports, DOGE has “burrowed into the agencies like ticks,” government sources tell WIRED.
www.wired.com
December 2, 2025 at 2:01 PM
NEW: DOGE isn’t dead, despite recent reports.
Operatives are still rolling out coding tests, leading software pilots, and more.
w/ @telliotter.bsky.social
www.wired.com/story/what-i...
Operatives are still rolling out coding tests, leading software pilots, and more.
w/ @telliotter.bsky.social
www.wired.com/story/what-i...
Reposted by Michael Morisy
Can #Massachusetts prosecutors hide the names of cops who are charged with crimes?
My attorney and I will be at Suffolk County Superior Court on Wednesday to argue that the answer is no.
You can read about my pending lawsuit here:
My attorney and I will be at Suffolk County Superior Court on Wednesday to argue that the answer is no.
You can read about my pending lawsuit here:
NEW: On Monday, I asked a judge to order Northwestern District Attorney David Sullivan's office to disclose the names of police officers who have been charged with crimes like possession of child pornography, assault and battery, and driving under the influence.
#Massachusetts #mapoli
#Massachusetts #mapoli
Mass Dump seeks ruling that Northwestern DA can’t hide names of cops charged with crimes
Northwestern DA David Sullivan spent tax dollars on private law firm to fight against police transparency in Massachusetts
andrewqmr.substack.com
December 1, 2025 at 8:40 PM
Can #Massachusetts prosecutors hide the names of cops who are charged with crimes?
My attorney and I will be at Suffolk County Superior Court on Wednesday to argue that the answer is no.
You can read about my pending lawsuit here:
My attorney and I will be at Suffolk County Superior Court on Wednesday to argue that the answer is no.
You can read about my pending lawsuit here:
Reposted by Michael Morisy
We're running a 💻 CYBER MONDAY 💻 sale. Get 25% off an annual subscription: access to all of our articles, podcasts, bonus content, FOIA Forum trainings, full text RSS feed, no ads, and support independent journalism. Get yours here: www.404media.co/cyber-monday...
December 1, 2025 at 2:42 PM
We're running a 💻 CYBER MONDAY 💻 sale. Get 25% off an annual subscription: access to all of our articles, podcasts, bonus content, FOIA Forum trainings, full text RSS feed, no ads, and support independent journalism. Get yours here: www.404media.co/cyber-monday...
Reposted by Michael Morisy
NEW from @katierogersnyt.bsky.social and me on Trump's aging (gift link):
Shorter Days, Signs of Fatigue: Trump Faces Realities of Aging in Office
www.nytimes.com
November 25, 2025 at 11:31 PM
NEW from @katierogersnyt.bsky.social and me on Trump's aging (gift link):
Reposted by Michael Morisy
We should have listened when the modems screamed at us.
July 22, 2025 at 2:30 PM
We should have listened when the modems screamed at us.
Reposted by Michael Morisy
So if the DOJ’s ‘Become a Deportation Judge’ page won’t load on your phone, here’s why: they Base64-encoded multi-megabyte images directly into the HTML. Nothing says ‘tech savvy’ like shipping a 7-million-character <img> tag.
November 24, 2025 at 3:06 PM
So if the DOJ’s ‘Become a Deportation Judge’ page won’t load on your phone, here’s why: they Base64-encoded multi-megabyte images directly into the HTML. Nothing says ‘tech savvy’ like shipping a 7-million-character <img> tag.
Jeb! Testing something: morisy.github.io/open-inbox/?...
Open Inbox - Email search and analysis tool
morisy.github.io
November 22, 2025 at 6:38 PM
Jeb! Testing something: morisy.github.io/open-inbox/?...
Reposted by Michael Morisy
A Mauritanian man will testify Monday about torture he says he endured at Guantánamo Bay—at the hands of former Chicago detective Richard Zuley.
His story is one thread in a web connecting Zuley to the post-9/11 legacy through this city.
🔗 news.wttw.com/2025/11/20/m...
His story is one thread in a web connecting Zuley to the post-9/11 legacy through this city.
🔗 news.wttw.com/2025/11/20/m...
Man Who Said He Was Tortured by Ex-CPD Detective at Guantanamo Bay Set to Testify
Circuit Court Judge Adrienne Davis is weighing whether to overturn the conviction of Anthony Garrett in connection with the murder of 7-year-old Dantrell Davis, who was shot and killed by a sniper at ...
news.wttw.com
November 21, 2025 at 6:47 PM
A Mauritanian man will testify Monday about torture he says he endured at Guantánamo Bay—at the hands of former Chicago detective Richard Zuley.
His story is one thread in a web connecting Zuley to the post-9/11 legacy through this city.
🔗 news.wttw.com/2025/11/20/m...
His story is one thread in a web connecting Zuley to the post-9/11 legacy through this city.
🔗 news.wttw.com/2025/11/20/m...
Reposted by Michael Morisy
WHOA. The FBI was/is spying on a Signal chat for a New York immigration court watch group, claiming they were “anarchist violent extremist actors.”
Your reminder that the government is watching and don’t say anything in a big group chat you wouldn’t say on TV.
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
Your reminder that the government is watching and don’t say anything in a big group chat you wouldn’t say on TV.
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
The FBI spied on a Signal group chat of immigration activists, records reveal
Exclusive: Agency accessed private conversations of New York ‘courtwatch’ group that was observing public hearings
www.theguardian.com
November 21, 2025 at 12:55 PM
WHOA. The FBI was/is spying on a Signal chat for a New York immigration court watch group, claiming they were “anarchist violent extremist actors.”
Your reminder that the government is watching and don’t say anything in a big group chat you wouldn’t say on TV.
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
Your reminder that the government is watching and don’t say anything in a big group chat you wouldn’t say on TV.
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
Been hearing a lot of "if we spend trillions on AI, we might be able to cure cancer quicker", seems like there's a way to cut out the middleman here. For comparison, between 2016 and 2023, estimated $51.4 billion spent on non-private sector research. www.euronews.com/health/2025/...
Which countries spend the most money on cancer research?
The United States spent by far the most over the eight-year study period, but European countries also provided billions of euros.
www.euronews.com
November 20, 2025 at 3:57 PM
Been hearing a lot of "if we spend trillions on AI, we might be able to cure cancer quicker", seems like there's a way to cut out the middleman here. For comparison, between 2016 and 2023, estimated $51.4 billion spent on non-private sector research. www.euronews.com/health/2025/...
One project been hanging out in the back of my mind that might be interesting and more doable these days is tracking how often these kinds of sources are cited in materials distributed at public meetings. bsky.app/profile/rani...
This tracks: Cornell researchers: xAI's Grokipedia cites neo-Nazi website Stormfront 42 times, Infowars 34 times, and white nationalist website VDare 107 times www.nbcnews.com/tech/elon-mu...
Elon Musk’s Grokipedia cites Stormfront — a neo-Nazi forum — dozens of times, study finds
An analysis by researchers at Cornell University is the first comprehensive look at Grokipedia since Musk launched his project last month.
www.nbcnews.com
November 20, 2025 at 2:38 PM
One project been hanging out in the back of my mind that might be interesting and more doable these days is tracking how often these kinds of sources are cited in materials distributed at public meetings. bsky.app/profile/rani...
Reposted by Michael Morisy
come join @foiaball.com and I this Friday for November's #FOIAFriday with @muckrock.com! we'll talk the ins and outs & highs and lows of requesting records on college athletics programs and then some. 🏈🏆🗃
From coaches avoiding accountability to trips to Saudi Arabia, public records can reveal the interworking of major college football programs.
This Friday, we’ll be joined by @foiaball.com where we’ll will discuss how he used FOIA and public records in his reporting. us02web.zoom.us/webinar/regi...
This Friday, we’ll be joined by @foiaball.com where we’ll will discuss how he used FOIA and public records in his reporting. us02web.zoom.us/webinar/regi...
Welcome! You are invited to join a webinar: FOIAFriday. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email about joining the webinar.
Welcome! You are invited to join a webinar: FOIAFriday. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email about joining the webinar.
us02web.zoom.us
November 17, 2025 at 11:29 PM
come join @foiaball.com and I this Friday for November's #FOIAFriday with @muckrock.com! we'll talk the ins and outs & highs and lows of requesting records on college athletics programs and then some. 🏈🏆🗃