Sophia Freuden
@sophiafreuden.bsky.social
Counter-info ops girlie, Russianist, OSINT, democracy resilience. Aggressive Oregonian. Views my own 🌲 she/her
Pinned
Sophia Freuden
@sophiafreuden.bsky.social
· Jul 18
Disinformation warriors are ‘grooming’ chatbots - on.ft.com/46hV6qW via @FT
Disinformation warriors are ‘grooming’ chatbots
Russian hackers are exploring ways to inject propaganda into the training data of generative AI models
on.ft.com
My latest research on LLM grooming, co-authored with @ninajankowicz.com and @garymarcus.bsky.social, found that OpenAI's so-called "reasoning" o3 model cited Pravda network content 26.8% of the time in response to specific prompts.
This research got cited today in a column by the Financial Times:
This research got cited today in a column by the Financial Times:
Reposted by Sophia Freuden
not to bring the vibe down, but my guess is that after tonight Trump will probably double down on gerrymandering, voter suppression, and intimidation as tactics to disincentivize Dem turnout ahead of next year‘s midterms. (with margins like these, it won’t matter, but it’s a time to be vigilant)
November 5, 2025 at 3:34 AM
not to bring the vibe down, but my guess is that after tonight Trump will probably double down on gerrymandering, voter suppression, and intimidation as tactics to disincentivize Dem turnout ahead of next year‘s midterms. (with margins like these, it won’t matter, but it’s a time to be vigilant)
Reposted by Sophia Freuden
Looking forward to learning all about how the right should move left to win elections tomorrow. They should maybe dye their hair pink, learn to love pronouns.
November 5, 2025 at 1:48 AM
Looking forward to learning all about how the right should move left to win elections tomorrow. They should maybe dye their hair pink, learn to love pronouns.
Reposted by Sophia Freuden
It is just nice for something good to have happened
November 5, 2025 at 2:23 AM
It is just nice for something good to have happened
Reposted by Sophia Freuden
We did it for you Dick Cheney
November 5, 2025 at 2:32 AM
We did it for you Dick Cheney
Reposted by Sophia Freuden
Diplomatic Talks Break Down Between Trump, Motion-Activated Ghost Decoration
Diplomatic Talks Break Down Between Trump, Motion-Activated Ghost Decoration
WASHINGTON—In what they described as a disappointing turn in the ongoing negotiations, White House officials confirmed Wednesday that diplomatic talks had broken down between President Donald Trump an...
theonion.com
October 25, 2025 at 6:00 PM
Diplomatic Talks Break Down Between Trump, Motion-Activated Ghost Decoration
Reposted by Sophia Freuden
Unreal. The casual reader of this @nytimes.com hed and subhed will have no inkling whatsoever that Trump's "characterization" is wildly false and that it's a bad faith *pretext.* Time to get better at conveying the fundamentally pretextual nature of these authoritarian decrees already.
September 27, 2025 at 6:34 PM
Unreal. The casual reader of this @nytimes.com hed and subhed will have no inkling whatsoever that Trump's "characterization" is wildly false and that it's a bad faith *pretext.* Time to get better at conveying the fundamentally pretextual nature of these authoritarian decrees already.
Reposted by Sophia Freuden
Reposted by Sophia Freuden
Trump is launching an authoritarian takeover of Portland hoping to provoke conflict in my hometown. I urge Oregonians to reject Trump’s attempt to incite violence in what we know is a vibrant and peaceful city. I will do everything in my power to protect the people in our state.
BREAKING: Trump says he'll send troops to Portland, Oregon, as he expands military deployments in U.S. cities.
Trump says he'll send troops to Portland, Oregon, to handle 'domestic terrorists'
President Donald Trump says he'll send troops to Portland, Oregon, to handle “domestic terrorists” as he expands his controversial deployments to more American cities.
bit.ly
September 27, 2025 at 4:16 PM
Trump is launching an authoritarian takeover of Portland hoping to provoke conflict in my hometown. I urge Oregonians to reject Trump’s attempt to incite violence in what we know is a vibrant and peaceful city. I will do everything in my power to protect the people in our state.
Reposted by Sophia Freuden
So top Portland cops wrote & *testified* that fed agents have been "instigating and causing" conflict.
They said agents were firing pepper balls unprovoked and "without any apparent warning"
When a Portland chief called a federal agent w/ Qs, the agent hung up.
www.oregonlive.com/crime/2025/0...
They said agents were firing pepper balls unprovoked and "without any apparent warning"
When a Portland chief called a federal agent w/ Qs, the agent hung up.
www.oregonlive.com/crime/2025/0...
September 27, 2025 at 4:21 PM
So top Portland cops wrote & *testified* that fed agents have been "instigating and causing" conflict.
They said agents were firing pepper balls unprovoked and "without any apparent warning"
When a Portland chief called a federal agent w/ Qs, the agent hung up.
www.oregonlive.com/crime/2025/0...
They said agents were firing pepper balls unprovoked and "without any apparent warning"
When a Portland chief called a federal agent w/ Qs, the agent hung up.
www.oregonlive.com/crime/2025/0...
Reposted by Sophia Freuden
# of paragraphs for news orgs to mention there's no discernable need to deploy troops to Portland, Oregon
The Guardian: 1st paragraph
BBC: 4th paragraph
AP: 5th paragraph
Time: 6th paragraph
Politico: 8th paragraph
NPR: 9th paragraph
CNN: 10th paragraph
NBC: 12th paragraph
Fox News: never mentions
The Guardian: 1st paragraph
BBC: 4th paragraph
AP: 5th paragraph
Time: 6th paragraph
Politico: 8th paragraph
NPR: 9th paragraph
CNN: 10th paragraph
NBC: 12th paragraph
Fox News: never mentions
September 27, 2025 at 7:24 PM
# of paragraphs for news orgs to mention there's no discernable need to deploy troops to Portland, Oregon
The Guardian: 1st paragraph
BBC: 4th paragraph
AP: 5th paragraph
Time: 6th paragraph
Politico: 8th paragraph
NPR: 9th paragraph
CNN: 10th paragraph
NBC: 12th paragraph
Fox News: never mentions
The Guardian: 1st paragraph
BBC: 4th paragraph
AP: 5th paragraph
Time: 6th paragraph
Politico: 8th paragraph
NPR: 9th paragraph
CNN: 10th paragraph
NBC: 12th paragraph
Fox News: never mentions
Reposted by Sophia Freuden
Every single one of these clips was taken today in downtown Portland. Portland doesn’t want or need a federal takeover. If Trump insists on sending federal “resources” he can start with funding health care, bridges, affordable housing, and wildfire protection to name a few.
September 27, 2025 at 9:35 PM
Every single one of these clips was taken today in downtown Portland. Portland doesn’t want or need a federal takeover. If Trump insists on sending federal “resources” he can start with funding health care, bridges, affordable housing, and wildfire protection to name a few.
Reposted by Sophia Freuden
Taken just a few minutes ago outside the ICE facility in Portland that Trump claims is under siege. My message to Donald Trump is this: we don’t need you here. Stay the hell out of our city.
September 27, 2025 at 7:09 PM
Taken just a few minutes ago outside the ICE facility in Portland that Trump claims is under siege. My message to Donald Trump is this: we don’t need you here. Stay the hell out of our city.
As a Portlander, let me just roll out the welcome wagon by saying fuck off. PDX has been victim of right-wing disinformation painting it as a hell hole, with a lot of buy-in from the liberal media on that front. It's not a wasteland, but none of you bother to check if that's actually true.
September 27, 2025 at 9:39 PM
As a Portlander, let me just roll out the welcome wagon by saying fuck off. PDX has been victim of right-wing disinformation painting it as a hell hole, with a lot of buy-in from the liberal media on that front. It's not a wasteland, but none of you bother to check if that's actually true.
In 2019-21, I wrote my master's thesis on why the Russian government pursued info ops--disinformation and propaganda campaigns--against individuals, with George Soros being the primary case study. I hate how relevant it is now.
This is, without any exaggeration, exactly how Putin and Orbán proceeded — using antisemitism to discredit the idea of civil society and political opposition, and as an excuse to undo the rule of law.
www.nytimes.com/2025/09/25/u...
www.nytimes.com/2025/09/25/u...
Justice Dept. Official Pushes Prosecutors to Investigate George Soros’s Foundation
www.nytimes.com
September 25, 2025 at 4:54 PM
In 2019-21, I wrote my master's thesis on why the Russian government pursued info ops--disinformation and propaganda campaigns--against individuals, with George Soros being the primary case study. I hate how relevant it is now.
The same goes for tech. Instead of "AI", I wish people invested in alternatives to the handful of social media platforms--especially YouTube--so that independent creators can actually be independent.
If you’re rich and not a coward, this is what you’d refer to as a “market opportunity” to dominate a media ecosystem that’s about to be covered in grotesque government slop. To be a pop of color in a sea of beige will be easier than ever. People will flock to it. You gotta be a little brave, though.
September 18, 2025 at 1:23 AM
The same goes for tech. Instead of "AI", I wish people invested in alternatives to the handful of social media platforms--especially YouTube--so that independent creators can actually be independent.
Reposted by Sophia Freuden
General pattern in regime change: the comedy gets better and then it gets banned.
September 18, 2025 at 12:05 AM
General pattern in regime change: the comedy gets better and then it gets banned.
Reposted by Sophia Freuden
in this environment, we don't need another think tank or another podcaster. we need honesty from the remaining independent media - really proper framing & fearless investigation - and constant high-level narrative from whatever opposition remains at the top of the democratic party.
September 17, 2025 at 3:00 PM
in this environment, we don't need another think tank or another podcaster. we need honesty from the remaining independent media - really proper framing & fearless investigation - and constant high-level narrative from whatever opposition remains at the top of the democratic party.
"To lie so brazenly to [Klein's own] readers and to obscure Kirk’s positions signals that his foremost interest is not to inform but to perform... Klein can cosplay as a serious thinker all he likes, but it’s past time we stopped taking him seriously."
I told myself I wouldn't do a snap reaction to Ezra Klein's noxious editorial. I said, "If you're still mad about it on Monday, then you can write about it."
I'm still mad about it!
I'm still mad about it!
Ezra Klein Is Doing Politics the Wrong Way
The NYT columnist is more interested in flattering his ego than telling the truth.
open.substack.com
September 15, 2025 at 5:45 PM
"To lie so brazenly to [Klein's own] readers and to obscure Kirk’s positions signals that his foremost interest is not to inform but to perform... Klein can cosplay as a serious thinker all he likes, but it’s past time we stopped taking him seriously."
Reposted by Sophia Freuden
Trump's policies are hurting everyone except for the richest 1%.
"New Golden Age" for whom?
"New Golden Age" for whom?
September 15, 2025 at 5:20 PM
Trump's policies are hurting everyone except for the richest 1%.
"New Golden Age" for whom?
"New Golden Age" for whom?
Reposted by Sophia Freuden
well well well! prospect.org/education/20...
Judge Rules Ohio’s Voucher System Unconstitutional
The ruling could end the siphoning of funds to private and parochial schools.
prospect.org
August 22, 2025 at 6:40 PM
well well well! prospect.org/education/20...
Reposted by Sophia Freuden
i want to see democrats on cnbc absolutely ripping into our titans of industry for backing the worst economic president of our lifetimes and refusing to break ranks
BREAKING: U.S. layoffs have surged to their highest level since the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic.
August 13, 2025 at 12:35 PM
i want to see democrats on cnbc absolutely ripping into our titans of industry for backing the worst economic president of our lifetimes and refusing to break ranks
Reposted by Sophia Freuden
The explicit plan is to ethnically cleanse Gaza with US help while the whole world watches.
(AXIOS) - The director of Israel's Mossad spy agency visited Washington this week seeking U.S. help in convincing countries to take hundreds of thousands of Palestinians from Gaza, two sources with knowledge of issue tell Axios.
@axios.com
www.axios.com/2025/07/18/i...
@axios.com
www.axios.com/2025/07/18/i...
July 18, 2025 at 5:07 PM
The explicit plan is to ethnically cleanse Gaza with US help while the whole world watches.
Reposted by Sophia Freuden
What if everyone eager to throw money at a "liberal joe rogan" that doesn't exist instead bought one failing local newspaper and hired a handful of real reporters and simply told them to go do journalism and print it.
i wish i had the power or the money to like hire thousands of out of work journalists and put them (us?) to work doing what we do best ie chipping and scraping at the lies people in power tell. horse race commenters not welcome
July 18, 2025 at 4:56 PM
What if everyone eager to throw money at a "liberal joe rogan" that doesn't exist instead bought one failing local newspaper and hired a handful of real reporters and simply told them to go do journalism and print it.
Reposted by Sophia Freuden
With Colton's conviction, that makes FOUR pardoned January 6th insurrectionists who have faced charges for solicitation of a minor or child sex abuse of some kind.
July 18, 2025 at 5:37 PM
With Colton's conviction, that makes FOUR pardoned January 6th insurrectionists who have faced charges for solicitation of a minor or child sex abuse of some kind.
Reposted by Sophia Freuden
Proud to see our research with @garymarcus.bsky.social cited in the @financialtimes.com ☀️
Disinformation warriors are ‘grooming’ chatbots - on.ft.com/46hV6qW via @FT
Disinformation warriors are ‘grooming’ chatbots
Russian hackers are exploring ways to inject propaganda into the training data of generative AI models
on.ft.com
July 18, 2025 at 4:11 PM
Proud to see our research with @garymarcus.bsky.social cited in the @financialtimes.com ☀️