TracingVRL by A.J. Fish
@tracingvrl.bsky.social
The software-journalism project tracing the COVID infodemic going ViRaL. Local and international. Reposts are not endorsements.
By programmer-journalist A.J. Fish. Bylines @EastBayExpress @muckrack.
TracingVRL.substack.com
By programmer-journalist A.J. Fish. Bylines @EastBayExpress @muckrack.
TracingVRL.substack.com
I expect a lot more of this "action for action's sake". When you can't surrender or submit for true connection, provocation & fighting are sufficient substitutes
www.nybooks.com/articles/199...
www.nybooks.com/articles/199...
October 21, 2025 at 11:15 PM
I expect a lot more of this "action for action's sake". When you can't surrender or submit for true connection, provocation & fighting are sufficient substitutes
www.nybooks.com/articles/199...
www.nybooks.com/articles/199...
It's also because antivaxxers are now running government departments.
October 17, 2025 at 4:18 PM
It's also because antivaxxers are now running government departments.
This writer nailed it. Klein's style "is conflict averse, self-consciously 'smart,' and enthused about 'complexity,' ... where smart conveys a certainty of opinion and the speed of its expression, and complexity means a grasp of the arcane self-referential rules www.nybooks.com/articles/202...
September 11, 2025 at 6:24 PM
This writer nailed it. Klein's style "is conflict averse, self-consciously 'smart,' and enthused about 'complexity,' ... where smart conveys a certainty of opinion and the speed of its expression, and complexity means a grasp of the arcane self-referential rules www.nybooks.com/articles/202...
"We teach AGI to think, reason and code—so you don't have to."
(Hat tip www.instagram.com/adsofsf/ for the billboard photo.)
(Hat tip www.instagram.com/adsofsf/ for the billboard photo.)
September 5, 2025 at 5:05 PM
"We teach AGI to think, reason and code—so you don't have to."
(Hat tip www.instagram.com/adsofsf/ for the billboard photo.)
(Hat tip www.instagram.com/adsofsf/ for the billboard photo.)
Newsletter August 9: Officer Killed at CDC, Following Antivaxx Videos from U.S. Government Officials
tracingvrl.substack.com/p/officer-ki...
This killing followed video announcements by RFK Jr. exaggerating the harms of COVID and measles vaccines.
#Antivaxx #CDC #publichealth #RFKJr #infodemic
tracingvrl.substack.com/p/officer-ki...
This killing followed video announcements by RFK Jr. exaggerating the harms of COVID and measles vaccines.
#Antivaxx #CDC #publichealth #RFKJr #infodemic
August 10, 2025 at 6:06 PM
Newsletter August 9: Officer Killed at CDC, Following Antivaxx Videos from U.S. Government Officials
tracingvrl.substack.com/p/officer-ki...
This killing followed video announcements by RFK Jr. exaggerating the harms of COVID and measles vaccines.
#Antivaxx #CDC #publichealth #RFKJr #infodemic
tracingvrl.substack.com/p/officer-ki...
This killing followed video announcements by RFK Jr. exaggerating the harms of COVID and measles vaccines.
#Antivaxx #CDC #publichealth #RFKJr #infodemic
The VIPs didn't get their wish. Everybody moved on. The documentary broadcast on HBO to middling reviews. Rory Kennedy collected award nominations ...
... and RFK Jr. embarked on a notorious antivaxx evangelism career. (Whatever happened with that?)
tracingvrl.substack.com/i/167625115/...
#RFKJr
... and RFK Jr. embarked on a notorious antivaxx evangelism career. (Whatever happened with that?)
tracingvrl.substack.com/i/167625115/...
#RFKJr
July 7, 2025 at 10:51 PM
The VIPs didn't get their wish. Everybody moved on. The documentary broadcast on HBO to middling reviews. Rory Kennedy collected award nominations ...
... and RFK Jr. embarked on a notorious antivaxx evangelism career. (Whatever happened with that?)
tracingvrl.substack.com/i/167625115/...
#RFKJr
... and RFK Jr. embarked on a notorious antivaxx evangelism career. (Whatever happened with that?)
tracingvrl.substack.com/i/167625115/...
#RFKJr
The lights then dimmed, and the VIPs previewed the screening of the HBO documentary "Indian Point: Imagining the Unimaginable".
After the credits rolled, the VIPs approached Rory Kennedy with a suggestion.
Oh, no.
tracingvrl.substack.com/i/167625115/...
#RFKJr #infodemic #nuclearpower
After the credits rolled, the VIPs approached Rory Kennedy with a suggestion.
Oh, no.
tracingvrl.substack.com/i/167625115/...
#RFKJr #infodemic #nuclearpower
July 7, 2025 at 10:49 PM
The lights then dimmed, and the VIPs previewed the screening of the HBO documentary "Indian Point: Imagining the Unimaginable".
After the credits rolled, the VIPs approached Rory Kennedy with a suggestion.
Oh, no.
tracingvrl.substack.com/i/167625115/...
#RFKJr #infodemic #nuclearpower
After the credits rolled, the VIPs approached Rory Kennedy with a suggestion.
Oh, no.
tracingvrl.substack.com/i/167625115/...
#RFKJr #infodemic #nuclearpower
As RFK Jr. often does, he cited a real study. But the real study didn’t have those facts. Or those figures.
He put words into the authors’ mouths.
At least RFK Jr’s erroroneous claims weren’t captured on film or any permanent record. Peopled could've sued.
tracingvrl.substack.com/i/167625115/...
He put words into the authors’ mouths.
At least RFK Jr’s erroroneous claims weren’t captured on film or any permanent record. Peopled could've sued.
tracingvrl.substack.com/i/167625115/...
July 7, 2025 at 10:48 PM
As RFK Jr. often does, he cited a real study. But the real study didn’t have those facts. Or those figures.
He put words into the authors’ mouths.
At least RFK Jr’s erroroneous claims weren’t captured on film or any permanent record. Peopled could've sued.
tracingvrl.substack.com/i/167625115/...
He put words into the authors’ mouths.
At least RFK Jr’s erroroneous claims weren’t captured on film or any permanent record. Peopled could've sued.
tracingvrl.substack.com/i/167625115/...
Rory Kennedy & HBO screened the film first to some very important people (VIPs.) RFKJr. succumbed to calls to speak on the topic, and valiantly took the floor to expound on the science of nuclear power.
Oh, no.
tracingvrl.substack.com/i/167625115/...
#RFKJr #publichealth #nuclearpower
Oh, no.
tracingvrl.substack.com/i/167625115/...
#RFKJr #publichealth #nuclearpower
July 7, 2025 at 10:46 PM
Rory Kennedy & HBO screened the film first to some very important people (VIPs.) RFKJr. succumbed to calls to speak on the topic, and valiantly took the floor to expound on the science of nuclear power.
Oh, no.
tracingvrl.substack.com/i/167625115/...
#RFKJr #publichealth #nuclearpower
Oh, no.
tracingvrl.substack.com/i/167625115/...
#RFKJr #publichealth #nuclearpower
It must have looked weird, if RFK Jr.'s lips were moving but no sound was coming out. Maybe they played violins to snuff out his voice.
Nonetheless, the documentary's "Final Cut" was transformed into a broadcast-ready "Final Final Cut".
tracingvrl.substack.com/i/167625115/... #RFKJr #nuclearpower
Nonetheless, the documentary's "Final Cut" was transformed into a broadcast-ready "Final Final Cut".
tracingvrl.substack.com/i/167625115/... #RFKJr #nuclearpower
July 7, 2025 at 10:42 PM
It must have looked weird, if RFK Jr.'s lips were moving but no sound was coming out. Maybe they played violins to snuff out his voice.
Nonetheless, the documentary's "Final Cut" was transformed into a broadcast-ready "Final Final Cut".
tracingvrl.substack.com/i/167625115/... #RFKJr #nuclearpower
Nonetheless, the documentary's "Final Cut" was transformed into a broadcast-ready "Final Final Cut".
tracingvrl.substack.com/i/167625115/... #RFKJr #nuclearpower
It was reportedly too late to re-cut the visuals. So Rory Kennedy and the film crew recorded over the sound where RFK Jr. was lying.
They could have been sued by Entergy corporation had they left his lies in the film.
tracingvrl.substack.com/i/167625115/...
#RFKJr #publichealth #nuclearpower
They could have been sued by Entergy corporation had they left his lies in the film.
tracingvrl.substack.com/i/167625115/...
#RFKJr #publichealth #nuclearpower
July 7, 2025 at 10:39 PM
It was reportedly too late to re-cut the visuals. So Rory Kennedy and the film crew recorded over the sound where RFK Jr. was lying.
They could have been sued by Entergy corporation had they left his lies in the film.
tracingvrl.substack.com/i/167625115/...
#RFKJr #publichealth #nuclearpower
They could have been sued by Entergy corporation had they left his lies in the film.
tracingvrl.substack.com/i/167625115/...
#RFKJr #publichealth #nuclearpower
Filming of the documentary rapped, it was "in the can" as they say. Rory and crew previewed the "Final Cut" a last time to see how it played in full.
Oh, no.
tracingvrl.substack.com/i/167625115/... #publichealth #RFKJr #nuclearpower
Oh, no.
tracingvrl.substack.com/i/167625115/... #publichealth #RFKJr #nuclearpower
July 7, 2025 at 10:37 PM
Filming of the documentary rapped, it was "in the can" as they say. Rory and crew previewed the "Final Cut" a last time to see how it played in full.
Oh, no.
tracingvrl.substack.com/i/167625115/... #publichealth #RFKJr #nuclearpower
Oh, no.
tracingvrl.substack.com/i/167625115/... #publichealth #RFKJr #nuclearpower
HBO greenlit Rory Kennedy's pitch on a condition: she had to feature her more famous brother, Robert F Kennedy Jr (RFK Jr.) in the documentary.
Rory alerted HBO and the film crew to RFK Jr's habit of fabricating. tracingvrl.substack.com/i/167625115/...
#RFKJr #publichealth #nuclearpower
Rory alerted HBO and the film crew to RFK Jr's habit of fabricating. tracingvrl.substack.com/i/167625115/...
#RFKJr #publichealth #nuclearpower
July 7, 2025 at 10:35 PM
HBO greenlit Rory Kennedy's pitch on a condition: she had to feature her more famous brother, Robert F Kennedy Jr (RFK Jr.) in the documentary.
Rory alerted HBO and the film crew to RFK Jr's habit of fabricating. tracingvrl.substack.com/i/167625115/...
#RFKJr #publichealth #nuclearpower
Rory alerted HBO and the film crew to RFK Jr's habit of fabricating. tracingvrl.substack.com/i/167625115/...
#RFKJr #publichealth #nuclearpower
Once upon a time, Rory Kennedy, niece of admired President John F. Kennedy, pitched to HBO a documentary. It was to be on the risks of a terrorist strike on the upstate New York nuclear power plant owned by Entergy corporation. tracingvrl.substack.com/i/167625115/... #RFKJr
July 7, 2025 at 10:31 PM
Once upon a time, Rory Kennedy, niece of admired President John F. Kennedy, pitched to HBO a documentary. It was to be on the risks of a terrorist strike on the upstate New York nuclear power plant owned by Entergy corporation. tracingvrl.substack.com/i/167625115/... #RFKJr
Foreign aid, *soft power* that kept young people out of wars, was 1% of the federal budget. Then DOGE took a chainsaw to it. Trump wants a "big public fight" over cutting U.S.A.I.D. and Public Broadcasting, as he says that will play well with voters www.kff.org/global-healt... #USAID
June 28, 2025 at 7:17 PM
Foreign aid, *soft power* that kept young people out of wars, was 1% of the federal budget. Then DOGE took a chainsaw to it. Trump wants a "big public fight" over cutting U.S.A.I.D. and Public Broadcasting, as he says that will play well with voters www.kff.org/global-healt... #USAID
This second "pivot to video" campaign resumes the ongoing war against thinking www.newyorker.com/news/persons...
June 17, 2025 at 6:59 PM
This second "pivot to video" campaign resumes the ongoing war against thinking www.newyorker.com/news/persons...
"bridge" with the unnamed destination of gas
June 16, 2025 at 6:47 PM
"bridge" with the unnamed destination of gas
This OpEd says because of the deficit, and our country's falling credit ratings, the only place to cut spending is ... foreign aid. It mentions nothing about tax cuts to the wealthiest earnings in the proposed U.S. Budget _under review right now_ www.usatoday.com/story/news/p... #USAID #budget #DOGE
May 20, 2025 at 7:26 PM
This OpEd says because of the deficit, and our country's falling credit ratings, the only place to cut spending is ... foreign aid. It mentions nothing about tax cuts to the wealthiest earnings in the proposed U.S. Budget _under review right now_ www.usatoday.com/story/news/p... #USAID #budget #DOGE
Now that #measles are touring the U.S., local newscasts are the best most practical sources of information. To reduce the #FCC ownership caps, just so NBC (or FOX) can buy out the local CBS affiliate is to reduce chances to inform local viewers if/when a government official misspeaks about health.
May 7, 2025 at 7:34 PM
Today the FCC is forcing the public to expose their address and doxxing data points to the open web in exchange for the ability to comment against their deregulation plans. Comment is due tonight April 28 11:59.
#FCC #privacy
@suewilson.bsky.social
See more: www.latimes.com/entertainmen...
#FCC #privacy
@suewilson.bsky.social
See more: www.latimes.com/entertainmen...
April 28, 2025 at 8:05 PM
Today the FCC is forcing the public to expose their address and doxxing data points to the open web in exchange for the ability to comment against their deregulation plans. Comment is due tonight April 28 11:59.
#FCC #privacy
@suewilson.bsky.social
See more: www.latimes.com/entertainmen...
#FCC #privacy
@suewilson.bsky.social
See more: www.latimes.com/entertainmen...
My latest newsletter: Authority Without Accountability: DOGE vs. U.S.A.I.D. tracingvrl.substack.com/p/authority-...
The presidency's 100-days honeymoon's affect on U.S.A.I.D.
What is DOGE? An acronym? Is it a department? A committee within a department? A cryptocoin mascot? #USAID #DOGE
The presidency's 100-days honeymoon's affect on U.S.A.I.D.
What is DOGE? An acronym? Is it a department? A committee within a department? A cryptocoin mascot? #USAID #DOGE
April 28, 2025 at 2:59 PM
My latest newsletter: Authority Without Accountability: DOGE vs. U.S.A.I.D. tracingvrl.substack.com/p/authority-...
The presidency's 100-days honeymoon's affect on U.S.A.I.D.
What is DOGE? An acronym? Is it a department? A committee within a department? A cryptocoin mascot? #USAID #DOGE
The presidency's 100-days honeymoon's affect on U.S.A.I.D.
What is DOGE? An acronym? Is it a department? A committee within a department? A cryptocoin mascot? #USAID #DOGE
Newsletter Apr 25 2025
Authority Without Accountability: DOGE vs. USAID tracingvrl.substack.com/p/authority-...
#USAID #DOGE
Wherein I examine the *efficiency fallacy* that got us into this mess.
Authority Without Accountability: DOGE vs. USAID tracingvrl.substack.com/p/authority-...
#USAID #DOGE
Wherein I examine the *efficiency fallacy* that got us into this mess.
April 26, 2025 at 3:31 PM
Newsletter Apr 25 2025
Authority Without Accountability: DOGE vs. USAID tracingvrl.substack.com/p/authority-...
#USAID #DOGE
Wherein I examine the *efficiency fallacy* that got us into this mess.
Authority Without Accountability: DOGE vs. USAID tracingvrl.substack.com/p/authority-...
#USAID #DOGE
Wherein I examine the *efficiency fallacy* that got us into this mess.