Tim Karr
@timkarr.bsky.social
A crash-scene investigation at the crossroads of new media & public policy. Against media concentration; for robust local journalism & digital democracy. Still attempting to master the cold take.
www.freepress.net - This Free Press is not for sale.
www.freepress.net - This Free Press is not for sale.
Pinned
Tim Karr
@timkarr.bsky.social
· Aug 4
Learn more about our plans to continually update the Media Capitulation Index and 'award' more chickens to the cowering conglomerates and stars to those with more courage.
www.freepress.net/who-owns-media
www.freepress.net/who-owns-media
FIFA joins the Trump capitulation charade.
It's not as though these supposed stewards of the beautiful game fell from a moral perch to begin with.
It's not as though these supposed stewards of the beautiful game fell from a moral perch to begin with.
FIFA has announced the creation of a peace prize, which it plans to award for the first time at the World Cup draw on Dec. 5 in Washington. n.pr/4968Bvg
FIFA head says 'you will see' at World Cup draw if Trump receives new peace prize
FIFA has announced the creation of a peace prize, which it plans to award for the first time at the World Cup draw on Dec. 5 in Washington.
n.pr
November 7, 2025 at 12:56 PM
FIFA joins the Trump capitulation charade.
It's not as though these supposed stewards of the beautiful game fell from a moral perch to begin with.
It's not as though these supposed stewards of the beautiful game fell from a moral perch to begin with.
Purges that come after every media merger have an even more sinister cast in the hands of Barry Weiss, who plays lip service to notions of diverse thought (which to her applies only to conservative voices) while, in practice, eliminating people of color from CBS' payroll.
c/o @treymous.bsky.social
c/o @treymous.bsky.social
Six days ago, my TikTok about being laid off from CBS News went viral. Here’s an update. Subscribe on YouTube + Substack #cbsnews #layoffs
TikTok video by Trey Sherman
www.tiktok.com
November 7, 2025 at 12:25 PM
Purges that come after every media merger have an even more sinister cast in the hands of Barry Weiss, who plays lip service to notions of diverse thought (which to her applies only to conservative voices) while, in practice, eliminating people of color from CBS' payroll.
c/o @treymous.bsky.social
c/o @treymous.bsky.social
Reposted by Tim Karr
New: Conde Nast fired four employees who were among a group that confronted the company's head of human resources on Wednesday over the decision to fold Teen Vogue into Vogue/recent cuts. Employees who were fired included journalists from the New Yorker, Wired, and Bon Appétit.
November 6, 2025 at 5:49 PM
New: Conde Nast fired four employees who were among a group that confronted the company's head of human resources on Wednesday over the decision to fold Teen Vogue into Vogue/recent cuts. Employees who were fired included journalists from the New Yorker, Wired, and Bon Appétit.
... @gregsargent.bsky.social blasts to bits the notion—championed by some in legacy media—of an *either/or* approach to campaign against the GOP:
Their misguided thinking is that you can't focus on both Trump's authoritarianism & kitchen-table issues, preferring the latter.
It's a both/and ...
Their misguided thinking is that you can't focus on both Trump's authoritarianism & kitchen-table issues, preferring the latter.
It's a both/and ...
November 6, 2025 at 3:37 PM
... @gregsargent.bsky.social blasts to bits the notion—championed by some in legacy media—of an *either/or* approach to campaign against the GOP:
Their misguided thinking is that you can't focus on both Trump's authoritarianism & kitchen-table issues, preferring the latter.
It's a both/and ...
Their misguided thinking is that you can't focus on both Trump's authoritarianism & kitchen-table issues, preferring the latter.
It's a both/and ...
Meta annually earns $16 billion (with a "b") on ads built to defraud people.
It's so bad that Meta itself admits that its advertising tools and platforms have made it a pillar of the global scam economy.
Reporting by Reuters.
www.reuters.com/investigatio...
It's so bad that Meta itself admits that its advertising tools and platforms have made it a pillar of the global scam economy.
Reporting by Reuters.
www.reuters.com/investigatio...
November 6, 2025 at 12:34 PM
Meta annually earns $16 billion (with a "b") on ads built to defraud people.
It's so bad that Meta itself admits that its advertising tools and platforms have made it a pillar of the global scam economy.
Reporting by Reuters.
www.reuters.com/investigatio...
It's so bad that Meta itself admits that its advertising tools and platforms have made it a pillar of the global scam economy.
Reporting by Reuters.
www.reuters.com/investigatio...
Read the entire thread...
Imagine a drop of ancient resin. Inside is an insect, trapped for 53 million years, so well preserved it looks like it might twitch back into life. These amber fossils offer us a breath-taking glimpse into long vanished ecosystems.
But there’s a catch
But there’s a catch
November 6, 2025 at 12:18 PM
Read the entire thread...
At CJR, @hamiltonnolan.bsky.social speaks to legacy media's (in this case NYT & WSJ) disdain for any politician who upsets the cozy status quo enjoyed by their top editors & owners.
Essentially, how can you "afflict the comfortable" — to quote F.P. Dunne — when you're swaddled in media power?
Essentially, how can you "afflict the comfortable" — to quote F.P. Dunne — when you're swaddled in media power?
November 5, 2025 at 1:43 PM
At CJR, @hamiltonnolan.bsky.social speaks to legacy media's (in this case NYT & WSJ) disdain for any politician who upsets the cozy status quo enjoyed by their top editors & owners.
Essentially, how can you "afflict the comfortable" — to quote F.P. Dunne — when you're swaddled in media power?
Essentially, how can you "afflict the comfortable" — to quote F.P. Dunne — when you're swaddled in media power?
Reposted by Tim Karr
This NYT story about how Mamdani dealt with the opposition by the city's elites fails to mention one particular elite institution: The NYT editorial page, which last June railed against him as "uniquely unsuited to the city’s challenges... lacks political savvy"
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/04/n...
1/
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/04/n...
1/
How Zohran Mamdani Beat Back New York’s Elite and Was Elected Mayor
www.nytimes.com
November 5, 2025 at 12:16 PM
This NYT story about how Mamdani dealt with the opposition by the city's elites fails to mention one particular elite institution: The NYT editorial page, which last June railed against him as "uniquely unsuited to the city’s challenges... lacks political savvy"
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/04/n...
1/
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/04/n...
1/
Reposted by Tim Karr
No better way to capture last night's zeitgeist than "Morning Joe" bringing on ADL's Jonathan Greenblatt to attack Mamdani
November 5, 2025 at 12:40 PM
No better way to capture last night's zeitgeist than "Morning Joe" bringing on ADL's Jonathan Greenblatt to attack Mamdani
The breathless Post goes full McCarthy.
November 5, 2025 at 12:33 PM
The breathless Post goes full McCarthy.
This seems to be one next-day narrative that many legacy news outlets are coalescing around (These examples from lead stories in today's NYT and at CNN).
It comes off as horserace-y, but the media pundocracy's gotta stick to the playbook, even after election day.
It comes off as horserace-y, but the media pundocracy's gotta stick to the playbook, even after election day.
November 5, 2025 at 12:08 PM
This seems to be one next-day narrative that many legacy news outlets are coalescing around (These examples from lead stories in today's NYT and at CNN).
It comes off as horserace-y, but the media pundocracy's gotta stick to the playbook, even after election day.
It comes off as horserace-y, but the media pundocracy's gotta stick to the playbook, even after election day.
Reposted by Tim Karr
among the many wins tonight: in at least four races where AI/data centers were front and center - two Public Service Commission seats in GA and two VA House races - the incumbents are out
November 5, 2025 at 3:58 AM
among the many wins tonight: in at least four races where AI/data centers were front and center - two Public Service Commission seats in GA and two VA House races - the incumbents are out
To be clear, Trump never had a public mandate. He won the General with less than 50% of the popular vote.
Tonight just makes it far more difficult for legacy media to continue to claim that he has.
Tonight just makes it far more difficult for legacy media to continue to claim that he has.
November 5, 2025 at 4:04 AM
To be clear, Trump never had a public mandate. He won the General with less than 50% of the popular vote.
Tonight just makes it far more difficult for legacy media to continue to claim that he has.
Tonight just makes it far more difficult for legacy media to continue to claim that he has.
Chants of "Shame on Sliwa" from the crowd assembled at the Cuomo non-victory party.
So pathetic.
For those claiming third-way centrism is the future look no further than Cuomo 's losing campaign.
So pathetic.
For those claiming third-way centrism is the future look no further than Cuomo 's losing campaign.
November 5, 2025 at 3:34 AM
Chants of "Shame on Sliwa" from the crowd assembled at the Cuomo non-victory party.
So pathetic.
For those claiming third-way centrism is the future look no further than Cuomo 's losing campaign.
So pathetic.
For those claiming third-way centrism is the future look no further than Cuomo 's losing campaign.
I can't decide if this is funny or disturbing.
I'm going with hilarious ... (volume on)
I'm going with hilarious ... (volume on)
November 4, 2025 at 11:24 PM
I can't decide if this is funny or disturbing.
I'm going with hilarious ... (volume on)
I'm going with hilarious ... (volume on)
Reposted by Tim Karr
New: The FBI is quietly urging ICE agents to properly ID themselves in the field.
In a bulletin to law enforcement last month, it warned of criminals posing as ICE to rob, rape, kidnap—a problem it says now demands national coordination to confront.
By me & @carolinehaskins.bsky.social:
In a bulletin to law enforcement last month, it warned of criminals posing as ICE to rob, rape, kidnap—a problem it says now demands national coordination to confront.
By me & @carolinehaskins.bsky.social:
FBI Warns of Criminals Posing as ICE, Urges Agents to ID Themselves
In a bulletin to law enforcement agencies, the FBI said criminal impersonators are exploiting ICE’s image and urged nationwide coordination to distinguish real operations from fakes.
www.wired.com
November 4, 2025 at 7:34 PM
New: The FBI is quietly urging ICE agents to properly ID themselves in the field.
In a bulletin to law enforcement last month, it warned of criminals posing as ICE to rob, rape, kidnap—a problem it says now demands national coordination to confront.
By me & @carolinehaskins.bsky.social:
In a bulletin to law enforcement last month, it warned of criminals posing as ICE to rob, rape, kidnap—a problem it says now demands national coordination to confront.
By me & @carolinehaskins.bsky.social:
The numbers 6 and 7 have just endorsed Andrew Cuomo to be NYC's next mayor.
November 4, 2025 at 7:45 PM
The numbers 6 and 7 have just endorsed Andrew Cuomo to be NYC's next mayor.
NYT's choses revealing pic to lead its Cheney obit—seated next to former Sec. of State Colin Powell, who lied to the world about the supposed existence of Iraqi WMDs, paving the path for a war that unnecessarily cost hundreds of thousands of lives & set a region on its ongoing & deadly trajectory.
November 4, 2025 at 1:15 PM
NYT's choses revealing pic to lead its Cheney obit—seated next to former Sec. of State Colin Powell, who lied to the world about the supposed existence of Iraqi WMDs, paving the path for a war that unnecessarily cost hundreds of thousands of lives & set a region on its ongoing & deadly trajectory.
Every now and then I dip back into the Xitter to see what's trending in hell (I maintain a tombstoned account there for such rare moments), and was surprised to find a new follower from the Trump 45 era:
November 4, 2025 at 11:37 AM
Every now and then I dip back into the Xitter to see what's trending in hell (I maintain a tombstoned account there for such rare moments), and was surprised to find a new follower from the Trump 45 era:
Reposted by Tim Karr
Another example of vibe shift between Trump’s first presidency and now: In 2017, Teen Vogue stood out for outspoken, social-justice politics. In 2025, it laid off its entire politics team, including the last two Black women journalists on staff.
NBC and CBS have made similar moves.
NBC and CBS have made similar moves.
Teen Vogue Ridiculed for Dissolving Politics Team Just One Day Before ‘Major Election’: ‘A Knife in the Back’
The NewsGuild of New York says the consolidation with Vogue.com was “clearly designed to blunt” the outlet when “it is needed the most”
www.thewrap.com
November 4, 2025 at 10:32 AM
Another example of vibe shift between Trump’s first presidency and now: In 2017, Teen Vogue stood out for outspoken, social-justice politics. In 2025, it laid off its entire politics team, including the last two Black women journalists on staff.
NBC and CBS have made similar moves.
NBC and CBS have made similar moves.
Another major media conglomerate (Advance Publications) signals its willingness to abide by the Trump Administration's segregationist agenda.
thank you for all the support; the statement from our union is now live here with some more reporting.
now that this is public I can confirm that the majority of today’s layoffs were women of color. there are no longer any Black women working at Teen Vogue.
now that this is public I can confirm that the majority of today’s layoffs were women of color. there are no longer any Black women working at Teen Vogue.
November 4, 2025 at 12:41 AM
Another major media conglomerate (Advance Publications) signals its willingness to abide by the Trump Administration's segregationist agenda.
Merge and purge claims its latest crop of victims, and at the hands of nepo-baby Chloe Malle who's never had to worry about her next paycheck.
I was laid off from Teen Vogue today along with multiple other staffers, and today is my last day.
certainly more to come from me when the dust has settled more, but to my knowledge, after today, there will be no politics staffers at Teen Vogue.
certainly more to come from me when the dust has settled more, but to my knowledge, after today, there will be no politics staffers at Teen Vogue.
November 3, 2025 at 9:24 PM
Merge and purge claims its latest crop of victims, and at the hands of nepo-baby Chloe Malle who's never had to worry about her next paycheck.
That would cover the costs of nearly 50 working reporters (assuming $75K starting salaries)
pagesix.com/2025/11/03/e...
pagesix.com/2025/11/03/e...
Exclusive | Bari Weiss’ security detail costs CBS $10,000 a day as network undergoes layoffs
Page Six hears that as staffers watch their colleagues pack up their desks, they’re also learning that the security detail for new CBSNews boss Bari Weiss costs the company five figures every day.…
pagesix.com
November 3, 2025 at 4:09 PM
That would cover the costs of nearly 50 working reporters (assuming $75K starting salaries)
pagesix.com/2025/11/03/e...
pagesix.com/2025/11/03/e...
Question for @cbsnews.com:
How much of a role did Bari Weiss play in selecting the edits to last night's "60 Minutes" Trump interview?
Thanks in advance for your prompt response (which you can provide via DMs if you prefer).
How much of a role did Bari Weiss play in selecting the edits to last night's "60 Minutes" Trump interview?
Thanks in advance for your prompt response (which you can provide via DMs if you prefer).
November 3, 2025 at 1:08 PM
Question for @cbsnews.com:
How much of a role did Bari Weiss play in selecting the edits to last night's "60 Minutes" Trump interview?
Thanks in advance for your prompt response (which you can provide via DMs if you prefer).
How much of a role did Bari Weiss play in selecting the edits to last night's "60 Minutes" Trump interview?
Thanks in advance for your prompt response (which you can provide via DMs if you prefer).