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Edward Ongweso Jr, a writer and editor who covers tech, labor, and finance, joined for an in-depth discussion about the artificial intelligence tech industry and Silicon Valley's efforts to expand its political power. Industry leaders have promised that their AI products will catapult humanity in a new era, but how might these tools be used to surveil, oppress, and harm the rest of us?Edward's links:* His newsletter: “The Tech Bubble”* His podcast: “This Machine Kills”* His socials: X (Twitter) and Bluesky* Articles referenced:* Evgeny Morozov: “The True Threat of Artificial Intelligence”* Meredith Whittaker: “Origin Stories: Plantations, Computers, and Industrial Control”* Edward Ongweso: “AI, slavery, surveillance, and capitalism”Transition Music: “NEVER ENOUGH” by TurnstileThrow a few bucks in our digital tip jar: https://tiptopjar.com/postingthroughitpod This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit postthroughit.substack.com

Kim Kelly, a labor journalist and author, joined to discuss how unions and other organized worker groups are faring in today's hostile political landscape. Kim also discussed modern metal music and current-day anarchist organizing. Before that, Mike and Jared talked about MAGA supporters souring on FBI leaders Dan Bongino and Kash Patel as they try to pivot away from “deep state” conspiracy theories, like those related to Jeffrey Epstein's death in 2019. Links for Kim Kelly:* Her book: “Fight Like Hell: The Untold History of American Labor” * Young reader's edition: “Fight to Win! Heroes of American Labor”* Her articles: inthesetimes.com/authors/kim-kelly* Her heavy metal newsletter: salvo.ghost.io/* Her Patreon page: patreon.com/kimkellyOutro song: “Enshrined in Concrete” by Glacial TombThrow a few bucks in our digital tip jar: https://tiptopjar.com/postingthroughitpod This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit postthroughit.substack.com

Mike and Jared return from a week off to discuss Kanye West's pro-Hitler song, a Minnesota woman's big payday after calling a child the n-word, Trump Administration officials supporting racist conspiracy theories about “white genocide” in South Africa, and conservative personalities debating each other's “woke-ness.” (Note: This episode contains explicit language, more so than usual.)And, listeners… “it's just after 10 p.m. This is the adult tour, which means you can drink if you want and we can say whatever the HELL we want.”Throw a few bucks in our digital tip jar: https://tiptopjar.com/postingthroughitpod This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit postthroughit.substack.com

Candace Owens soared to right-wing media superstardom within weeks of posting her first YouTube videos in 2017. This episode reviews Owens' life and career arc, exploring how someone who was victimized by racial hatred in high school became one of the MAGA movement's most prominent — and most divisive — political commentators. This episode features exclusive comments from Candace Owens, provided through a spokesperson, and includes previously unreported details about her life story.Madeline Peltz, a longtime researcher of right-wing media, joined Mike and Jared on this episode. Peltz's first book “PICK ME: The Right-Wing Siege of Gender and Gen-Z,” will be published by Sourcebooks next year.Links for Madeline Peltz:* Bluesky: @peltzmadeline.bsky.social* X/Twitter: @peltzmadelineTransition Music: “Pharmacist” by AlvvaysThis episode took weeks to produce and involved many hours of reporting and fact-checking, which we do on our personal time. If you found value in the show, please consider tossing a few bucks into this online tip jar:https://tiptopjar.com/postingthroughitpodProgramming Note: We're taking next week off. We'll be back on May 19. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit postthroughit.substack.com

Hannah Gais and Steven Monacelli join for a wide-ranging discussion about the state of Twitter (now called “X”) three years after Elon Musk first moved to purchase it. Since then, Musk has transformed the platform into a self-serving MAGA machine that is crowning a new generation of right-wing media royalty. Monacelli walks us through his reporting on one of the platform's newer standouts — “Captive Dreamer” — as an example of who's benefiting from the new status quo.Links for Steven Monacelli:* Daily Dot: “A Hitler-quoting ‘Aryan' has the attention of JD Vance and Elon Musk—who is @captivedreamer7?”* Bluesky: @stevanzetti.bsky.social * Contact/Work: linktr.ee/StevanzettiLinks for Hannah Gais: * Bluesky: @hannahgais.bsky.social * Newsletter: postsfromunderground.ghost.io/Transition Music: “California Magic” by GooseSubscribe for emails about new podcasts and occasional newsletters. It's free: This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit postthroughit.substack.com

Teddy Wilson, a journalist and researcher, joins to discuss developments within the Radical Right since Trump issued pardons and commutations for every one of his supporters involved in the 2021 riot at the US Capitol Building — including extremist movement members and supporters — at the start of his second term. Mike and Jared take a trip down memory lane to reflect on the ways Republicans have come to embrace what happened that day.Links:* Teddy's newsletter: radicalreports.org* Teddy's tracking of Capitol riot defendants: capitolriotmap.com* Teddy's account on Bluesky: @reportbywilson.bsky.socialTransition Music: “head empty blues” by Ekko AstralSubscribe for emails about new episodes and infrequent newsletters. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit postthroughit.substack.com

Nikki McCann Ramírez, a political reporter at Rolling Stone and co-host of the podcast “American Friction,” joined to discuss the inhumane prison system in El Salvador where the Trump administration has sent hundreds of migrants — effectively disappearing them from their families and denying them any methods of recourse. Before she joined, Mike and Jared reflected on the rising power of Stephen Miller: the architect behind the Trump administration's most vicious immigration policies.Links:* Read Nikki's piece in Rolling Stone: The ‘Judicial Black Hole' of El Salvador's Prisons Is a Warning for Americans* Follow Nikki on BlueSky: @nikkimcr.bsky.social Subscribe for emails about new episodes and infrequent newsletters. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit postthroughit.substack.com

Tim Pool draws millions of viewers — and dollars — making political podcasts and commentary videos on YouTube. This episodes explores Pool's evolution, from a self-proclaimed “activist” live-streaming Occupy Wall Street protests to one of today's most-popular MAGA pundits. Along the way, we review Pool's early media career, eventual drift into far-right politics, and rapid construction of the media empire he oversees today.Mike and Jared were joined by Robert Silverman, a feature writer who has published what might be the world's definitive investigative reporting on Tim Pool.Links to some of Robert's reporting:* The Daily Beast: How ‘Coward and Phony' Tim Pool Became One of the Biggest Political YouTubers on the Planet* The Daily Beast: Tim Pool's News Site Plagiarized the Mainstream Media He Claims to Hate* Follow Robert Silverman on Bluesky This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit postthroughit.substack.com

Renée DiResta is one of the nation's leading researchers of social media and the author of “Invisible Rulers : The People Who Turn Lies Into Reality”: a book about the ways social media platforms are used — and abused — to reshape the way we think and behave. Renée also shared her thoughts on the government's hostility toward researchers who study social media and some of her experiences interacting with Matt Taibbi.You can read Renée's emails with Matt Taibbi here: reneediresta.substack.com/Transition Music: “Get Dumber - feat. Jeff Rosenstock” by PUP This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit postthroughit.substack.com

Eoin Higgins is a historian and author who joined the show to discuss his book: “Owned: How Tech Billionaires on the Right Bought the Loudest Voices on the Left.” The gang talks in-depth about Glenn Greenwald and some of the other characters featured in Eoin's book, right-wing billionaires' attempts to undermine the news industry, and 90s techno. Check out Eoin's other work:* Twitter / Bluesky* Substack This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit postthroughit.substack.com

The Anti-Defamation League has invited controversy for its leaders' coziness with the Trump administration, and for its characterizations of student-led protests against Israel's mass-killing of Palestinian civilians. Mike and Jared recap the events that got us here, the arrest of Mahmoud Khalil, and why they see the ADL's political maneuvering as cause for concern.Later on, Emmy-nominated reporter Vegas Tenold joins the show to discuss his experience working at the ADL from 2018-2020, and he offers his perspective on what the organization is doing today. Read Vegas' post about the ADL's coziness with the Trump administration here: https://whathappensinvegas.substack.com/p/the-fascist-and-his-little-helpers This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit postthroughit.substack.com

Jack Posobiec is one of the MAGA movement's biggest social media stars, recently seen accompanying Pentagon officials on an overseas trip and posing for photos with Donald Trump and JD Vance in the Oval Office. This podcast explores Posobiec's early political career and its overlaps with white supremacist movements, “Pizzagate” conspiracy theories, and hostile state influence operations — among many other things. Mike and Jared were joined by Hannah Gais, who researches and writes about the far-right.Links:* Read Hannah in The Baffler: Unhuman Resources: The many grievances of Jack Posobiec* Subscribe to Hannah's newsletter* And follow Hannah on BlueSky and Twitter. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit postthroughit.substack.com

J.M. Berger wrote the book on extremism — literally. The internationally renowned expert discussed methods of defining “extremism” and whether a mainstream political movement, like MAGA, could be accurately labeled that way.Read J.M. Berger's work:* Extremism (The MIT Press Essential Knowledge series)* The Social Construction of Extremism (Dissertation)* Lawful Extremism (Series)~~~A huge thank you to Katharine Antoun for the show's new cover art. (Website / Instagram) This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit postthroughit.substack.com

Max Read joins to talk about the online “Soy Right” and how the MAGA movement became everything it thought it hated about “soy boy” liberals. This episode pairs well with tofu.Programming note: We'll be back on March 3. Check out Max Read's newsletter, “Read Max.” This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit postthroughit.substack.com

Julia Carrie Wong joined the show to discuss her recent exploring comparisons between today's Democratic Party and Vichy France: a short-lived rump state that capitulated to the German Nazi party in WWII. You can read Julia's article here: Capitulating to Trump: why people are warning about ‘Vichy' America.In the wake of recent political events, the trio would also like to encourage those who are able to consider making a donation to The Trevor Project, which fights for the safety and dignity of LGBTQ+ youth. (Click here to donate) This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit postthroughit.substack.com

Matt Binder joins the show to talk about meme coins and AI chatbot romance. The trio discuss about how politicians of all stripes have cozied up to a scam economy built on false hopes about technology.Check out Matt's newsletter This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit postthroughit.substack.com

Jared and Mike discuss a recent school shooting in Nashville, assess the vibe of Trump's inauguration in DC, and debate investing their life savings in Trump's cryptocurrency coin. They also review a column about a far-right DC inauguration party: “MAGA meme warriors take a victory lap with the Coronation Ball, celebrating the Trump-inspired cultural ascendancy.”Read Mike's article about Inauguration Day in DC This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit postthroughit.substack.com

Parker Malloy joins Jared and Mike to talk about the state of legacy media in the United States as the second Trump administration takes office. The trio also identifies a few “Winners and Losers” of modern right-wing media.Check out Parker Malloy's SubstackTransition music is “Space Song” by Beach House. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit postthroughit.substack.com

Mike and Jared are joined by Kevin M. Kruse, a professor of history at Princeton University, to discuss historical parallels to the modern MAGA movement and whether today's political perils really are as “unprecedented” as some people claim. They also revisit some of the first Trump era's often-forgotten history.Check out Kevin Kruse's SubstackTransition music is “Get Back” by Margaret Glaspy. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit postthroughit.substack.com

After more than a year away, Jared Holt returns to “Posting Through It” with a new co-host: Michael E. Hayden. The duo takes a brief look at the post-election political scene, explain why they brought the show back, and share their thoughts on the years ahead. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit postthroughit.substack.com

Six years and millions of downloads later, it's now time for me to figure out what's next. I don't know what “next” means for me yet, but things will be quieter around here in the near future while I work through the details. Long live SH!TPOST. Long live Posting Through It.I'll talk to you again soon.Sign up for the free newsletter at postingthroughit.com  if you want to hear about new projects or read occasional writing.Support the showSubscribe to the Posting Through It newsletter

Jordan Uhl joins the show for a chat about the criminal indictment against Trump in New York. Then, Jared and Jordan talk about the Right's craven anti-LGBTQ+ response to a mass shooting at a Nashville school.Jordan's Twitter: @JordanUhlListen to The InsurgentsSupport the showSubscribe to the Posting Through It newsletter

This episode was made in collaboration with Did Nothing Wrong, a podcast hosted by Jay McKenzie and Griff Sombke, and features a chat with mis/disinfo researcher and author Mike Rothschild. We talk about Jim Stewartson, a self-proclaimed 'anti-disinformation activist' who has some conspiracy theories about, well, conspiracy theories. Then, we talk to Mike about the prevalence of conspiracy theories on the political left, the differences between those and right-wing conspiracy theories, and how we can spot them.Mike Rothschild on Twitter: @rothschildmdJay McKenzie on Twitter: @jamesfourmGriff Sombke on Twitter: @GrzabjjSupport the showSubscribe to the Posting Through It newsletter

Christopher Mathias joins the show to talk about his experience at the 2023 Conservative Political Action Conference, a.k.a. CPAC. Jared and Chris talk about the event's lacking attendance, surrounding scandals, and attacks on trans people. Then, Chris tells us about the latest "Terrorgram" propagandist to have had their identity revealed.Chris' Twitter: @letsgomathiasChris' favorite thing online: Videos of Border Collies herding sheep on InstagramSupport the showSubscribe to the Posting Through It newsletter

Ed Zitron joined the show to talk about Microsoft and Google's planned rollouts of AI chatbots into their search engines and the risks of applying the technology across people's lives recklessly.Ed's Twitter: @EdZitronEd's Newsletter:https://ez.substack.com/p/degenerative-aiEd's favorite thing online: https://twitter.com/male_wife_/status/1626825132894199811Support the showSubscribe to the Posting Through It newsletter

Michael E. Hayden joins the show to talk about text messages the Southern Poverty Law Center obtained from conspiracy theorist Alex Jones. The messages reveal a conflict between the on-air persona that Jones embodies and the real Jones that lives in "hell."Mike's favorite thing online: @goth_videosIt's Gonna Be a Long Night newsletterLinks:NYT: DeSantis/Trump pollVanity Fair: ‘RON DESANTIS SUCCESSFULLY BULLIES THE COLLEGE BOARD INTO TAILORING AP AFRICAN AMERICAN STUDIES TO THE NEEDS OF FRAGILE WHITE PEOPLE'Reason: National Conservatives Can't Find a Good Excuse for Viktor Orbán's Inflation DisasterSPLC: Infowars' Alex Jones Says He Lives ‘in Hell,' Texts ShowSPLC: Alex Jones' Texts Highlight Infowars Overlap with Proud BoysSupport the showSubscribe to the Posting Through It newsletter

Amanda Moore joins the show to talk about Steven Crowder's contract drama, her latest article for Talking Points Memo about Nick Fuentes and Ye, the conservative gas stove freak-out, and more. Amanda has spent extended time undercover in far-right MAGA communities and uses her first-hand observations from that time to inform her reporting and commentary.Follow Amanda on Twitter: @noturtlesoup17Read her latest in Talking Points Memo: Why The Ongoing Nick Fuentes-Ye Alliance Is So DangerousSupport the showSubscribe to the Posting Through It newsletter

Jared opened up the Posting Through It voicemail and text message inbox for listener questions and comments. In this episode, he reacts to those messages.Support the showSubscribe to the Posting Through It newsletter

Meghan Conroy and Alex Newhouse worked for the Select Committee to Investigate the January 6th Attack on the United States Capitol as investigator and investigative analyst, respectively. They join Posting Through It on the second anniversary of the Capitol riot to talk about the work they did in the Congressional investigation, particularly related to the roles social media platforms had in the attack.Read their essay in Just Security: Insiders' View of the January 6th Committee's Social Media InvestigationFollow Meghan Conroy: @meghaneconroyFollow Alex Newhouse: @AlexBNewhouseThe Where's Waldo-style Insurrectionist illustration: https://www.brianmichaelweaver.com/updates/insurrection-mazeSupport the showSubscribe to the Posting Through It newsletter

Dr. Anthea Butler is a historian of African American and American religion who serves as the Chair of Religious Studies at the University of Pennsylvania. She joins the show to discuss the influence of Christian nationalism in American politics and how it expresses itself online. Host Jared Holt and Dr. Butler discuss the uprising of the movement, its impacts on modern politics, and the white supremacy in its subtext.Follow Dr. Anthea Butler on Twitter: @AntheaButlerSupport the show

Kyle Spencer is an award-winning journalist and the author of "Raising Them Right: The Untold Story of America's Ultraconservative Youth Movement." Kyle explains how political activists like Charlie Kirk have risen to power in a new era of internet-forward youth outreach by the conservative movement, bringing with them increasingly radical messages.Follow Kyle Spencer on Twitter: @KyleYSpencerGrab a copy of "Raising Them Right" by Kyle Spencer: CLICK HERESpencer's favorite thing: 'Echo 3' on Apple TVJared's favorite thing: 'Kleo' on NetflixSupport the show

Max Rizzuto and Alyssa Kann are researchers at the Digital Forensic Research Lab (DFRLab) who Jared used to work with. They join the show to talk about the anti-climactic passing of midterm elections. Is election denialism still as potent as it was in 2020? Were fears overblown? Have threats to democracy receded? They argue no to all of the above, even if things went better than expected. If everyone on this episode sounds tired, it's because they are exhausted from working around the elections.Follow Max Rizzuto on Twitter: @maxbrizzutoFollow Alyssa Kann on Twitter: @AlyssaKann Max's favorite thing: The first Fast and Furious movie posted as a Twitter thread (since struck down for copyright violations)Alyssa's favorite thing: "The day I fell into a crevasse"Support the show

Adam Kovacevich is the founder and CEO of the tech-funded trade group Chamber of Progress, which encourages lawmakers to take pro-tech positions in their policymaking. He joins the show to offer a hopeful view for the future of Twitter under Elon Musk at a time where many others have forecasted the platform's demise.Follow Adam Kovacevich on Twitter: @adamkovacChamber of Progress website: progresschamber.org/Adam's favorite thing online: Stephen Patula on YouTubeCheck out the newsletter and episode archive at postingthroughit.comSupport the show

Will Sommer is a reporter at The Daily Beast and the author of an upcoming book on the Qanon conspiracy theory. He also co-hosts the Fever Dreams podcast. Sommer joins the show to run down a few notable stories from right-wing internet land, including Kanye West's announced plan to buy Parler, an alt-right movie evaporating a million bucks, and more.Follow Will Sommer on Twitter: @willsommerPre-order: 'Trust the Plan: The Rise of Qanon and the Conspiracy That Unhinged America'Check out the newsletter and episode archive at postingthroughit.comSupport the show

Mike Rothschild is the author of a great book on the QAnon conspiracy theory and its cultural significance. He joins the show to discuss former President Donald Trump's promotion of content from the conspiracy theory's followers on Truth Social, what the movement has been up to in the last year or two, and what its believers have planned for midterm elections.Follow Mike Rothschild on Twitter: @rothschildmdRead: The Storm Is Upon Us: How QAnon Became a Movement, Cult, and Conspiracy Theory of EverythingCheck out the newsletter and episode archive at postingthroughit.comSupport the show

Molly White is the software engineer, Wikipedia editor, and independent researcher behind Web3 Is Going Just Great, a project that chronicles the not-so-fabulous drumbeat of disasters related to cryptocurrency and other web3 products. She joins the show to explain "web3" technologies and squash the hype around them. Molly and Jared talk about the political implications of web3 tech, and they also hear a few words from Molly's dog, who barks a few times in the middle of the episode.Follow Molly White on Twitter: @molly0xFFFFollow Web3 Is Going Just Great on Twitter: @web3isgreatCheck out the newsletter and episode archive at postingthroughit.comSupport the show

Robert Silverman is a reporter who has published some of the most definitive reporting on pro-Trump social media personality Tim Pool to date. As much as Tim Pool may sell his offerings as better alternatives to mainstream media, Robert Silverman explains how writers at his news blog have relied almost entirely on work done by mainstream news services. Some writers, he found, have even engaged in acts of plagiarism, copying lines from mainstream outlets nearly verbatim.Follow Robert Silverman: @BobSaiettaThe Daily Beast: Tim Pool's News Site Plagiarized the Mainstream Media He Claims to HateCheck out the newsletter and episode archive at postingthroughit.comSupport the show

Trapezoid of Discovery is the pseudonym used by an information security engineer who has cataloged and refuted claims from election deniers as they’ve toured around the country, drawing crowds and inspiring conspiracy-minded activism. We discuss what these traveling events have been like, why people should pay attention to what’s happening around them, and how they relate to the broader Republican activist base.Follow Trapezoid of Discovery: @get_innocuousThe NPR article mentioned in this episode: Election deniers have taken their fraud theories on tour — to nearly every state This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit shtpost.substack.com/subscribe

Emmi Conley is an extremism researcher who joins the show to talk about the far-right’s reaction to the FBI search at Mar-a-Lago, the revelation that the cringe @BasedMikeLee Twitter account does in fact belong to Sen. Mike Lee, Democrats’ encounters with “Dark Brandon” memes and more.Follow Emmi: @GamerGirlRights This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit shtpost.substack.com/subscribe

Kristen Doerer is the managing editor of Right Wing Watch, a nonprofit newsroom dedicated to cataloguing the goings-on of the American far-right. (Jared used to work there, and Kristen was his boss!) Kristen joins the show this week to discuss recent January 6th Committee hearings that broached far-right extremists’ and the online communities’ roles in the Capitol riot. In the first half, Jared and Kristen talk about takeaways from the hearings so far. In the second part, they field the questions listeners sent on Substack and Twitter.Follow Kristen on Twitter: @k2doeYou’ll get one more newsletter. After that, the show goes offline for a few weeks while Jared treks around the world on his honeymoon. Paid subscribers should read the post about the related billing pause. The show will be back mid-August! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit shtpost.substack.com

Nick Backovic and Ernie Piper are writers at Logically who produce investigative journalism related to online disinformation and conspiracy theories. They join the podcast this week to discuss an investigation they published about a QAnon cryptocurrency scheme that scammed believers out of gobs of cash, including one who died by suicide after losing more than $100,000 in the racket. Jared and the Logically guys discuss the findings of that investigation and lessons the rest of us might glean from what transpired.Follow Nick on Twitter: @nickbackovicFollow Ernie on Twitter: @whoisernieRead their investigation: QAnon Crypto Trading Scheme Lost Investors Millions(https://www.logically.ai/articles/qanon-crypto-lose-followers-2-million)SH!TPOST is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.Theme music via DJ Danarchy: https://hearthis.at/danarchy/ This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit shtpost.substack.com/subscribe

Ali Breland is a reporter at Mother Jones who covers online disinformation. He joins the podcast this week to talk about two of his recent essays that confront the flaws and shortcomings of conversations around disinformation, extremism, violence and other harms. Ali discusses why terms like “echo chamber” don’t adequately capture the dynamic social media platforms play in shaping political ideology. Then we talk about the infinite cycle of doom that Americans face in public life. This episode isn’t a feel-good one but we hope you’ll agree that conversations like these are important to have—and especially so when they are unpleasant.Follow Ali on Twitter: @alibrelandRead Ali’s recent writing at Mother Jones:Who Exactly Is Trapped in an “Echo Chamber”?Mass Shootings and Our Never-ending DoomcycleAli’s favorite things online: hyper-niche meme accounts and Musical artist Bo Daddy HarrisSH!TPOST is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.Theme music via DJ Danarchy: https://hearthis.at/danarchy/ This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit shtpost.substack.com/subscribe

India McKinney is the Electronic Frontier Foundation’s director of federal affairs. She joins the podcast this week to talk about privacy and data protection at a time when many anticipate the Supreme Court will roll back reproductive healthcare rights. In this episode, India and Jared talk about concerns that online data could be used by those wanting to punish people seeking abortions. Then, they share their takes on the letter Democrats in Congress sent to Google, concerned that Google’s location tracking practices could enable that threat. Later on, India and Jared go over what average people can do to limit the data collected on them. Also, what can lawmakers and regulators do to be better advocates for internet privacy in the US?Follow India on Twitter: @imck82This episode’s sponsor is Ghostery. Take charge of your privacy online: block ads, speed up page loads and stop trackers in their tracks. I have used this browser extension for years, so I can vouch for it personally. I consider this a no-brainer, especially because you can get it for free!Download it with this link: mygho.st/shitpostDisclaimer: This link does not track your activity. It only counts the number of installs. It’s 100% anonymous.Theme music via DJ Danarchy: https://hearthis.at/danarchy/SH!TPOST is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit shtpost.substack.com/subscribe

Michael E. Hayden is a senior investigative reporter at the Southern Poverty Law Center and good friend of the podcast. Mike joins SH!TPOST this week to chat about all the stories the show missed while it was on break. In this episode, Mike and Jared discuss Elon Musk bidding for Twitter, the far-right laundering fascist aesthetics via “Ultra MAGA”, a right-wing YouTube star who was caught on tape spewing racist and antisemitic language, cryptocurrency markets taking a tumble, white nationalist movement figures clashing over cum stains, and Rep. Madison Cawthorn getting the brunt of a nasty political smear campaign.Follow Mike on Twitter: @MichaelEHaydenRead some of Mike’s recent reporting:Leaked Audio Underscores Dark Side of Far-Right YouTube SubcultureAnonymous Donor Drops $2 Million in Bitcoin on Alex JonesNew theme music courtesy of DJ Danarchy: https://hearthis.at/danarchy/Subscribe to the SH!TPOST newsletter at shtpost.substack.comSH!TPOST is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit shtpost.substack.com/subscribe

Kelly Weill is a reporter at The Daily Beast. She recently published a book on Flat Earth conspiracy theory followers and what their beliefs can tell us about the ways people can arrive at absurdly false beliefs. She joins SH!TPOST to talk about her new book and its lessons for the rest of us.Follow Kelly on Twitter: @KELLYWEILLGet the book: “Off the Edge: Flat Earthers, Conspiracy Culture, and Why People Will Believe Anything” at Workman PublishingSubscribe to the SH!TPOST newsletter at shtpost.substack.comSH!TPOST is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. Get access to private episodes at shtpost.substack.com/subscribe

Sebastian Murdock is a senior reporter at HuffPost who has been covering lawsuits filed against notorious conspiracy theorist Alex Jones and his media outlet Infowars. Jared and Sebastian recount some of the latest updates in those lawsuits and what we can gather from how things are progressing. (Spoiler: Not well for Alex!)Follow Sebastian on Twitter: @SebastianMurdocRead some of Sebastian’s reporting on lawsuits against Alex Jones and Infowars:Infowars Editor Cries During Deposition About Man He Misidentified As Parkland ShooterAlex Jones' Infowars Store Made $165 Million Over 3 Years, Records ShowAlex Jones Loses 3rd Sandy Hook LawsuitSubscribe to the SH!TPOST newsletter at shtpost.substack.com This is a public episode. Get access to private episodes at shtpost.substack.com/subscribe

Justin Ling is a freelance investigative reporter covering misinformation, conspiracy theories, extremism, and national security. He joins SH!TPOST to talk about the recent rise of Russian “bio lab” disinformation among MAGA movement figures. Ling walks listeners through the origins of these claims, why they gained overnight popularity with pro-Trump opinion makers in the US, and how governments have pushed back on the theory. Follow Justin on Twitter: @Justin_LingRead Justin’s reporting on this topic in Foreign Policy:False Claims of U.S. Biowarfare Labs in Ukraine Grip QAnonHow U.S. Bioweapons in Ukraine Became Russia’s New Big LieSubscribe to the SH!TPOST newsletter at shtpost.substack.com This is a public episode. Get access to private episodes at shtpost.substack.com/subscribe

Sara Aniano is a graduate student at Monmouth University studying communication with a focus on the rhetoric of the far-right on social media. She joins SH!TPOST to talk about US activists’ attempts to replicate Canadian trucker-themed protests stateside. In this episode, Jared and Sara examine the “People’s Convoy”: the most put-together of such efforts. They discuss who is behind People’s Convoy, what journalists and pundits are getting wrong about the effort, and how we can glean lessons from what’s happened so far.Follow Sara on Twitter: @coolfacejaneSubscribe to the SH!TPOST newsletter at shtpost.substack.com This is a public episode. Get access to private episodes at shtpost.substack.com/subscribe

Jacob Silverman is a writer at The New Republic and a critic of the cryptocurrency industry. He joins SH!TPOST to talk about the ongoing wave of celebrities throwing their reputations and star powers behind the cryptocurrency industry and the potential devastation it wreak have on consumers who don’t understand the high risks involved. Jared and Jacob discuss NFTs, all those cryptocurrency Super Bowl ads, and Web3’s reliance on a sketchy promise of a future technology.Jacob Silverman’s Twitter account: @SilvermanJacobJacob’s author page at The New Republic: https://newrepublic.com/authors/jacob-silvermanRead Jacob and Ben McKenzie in Slate with their column ‘Not Gonna Make It’: https://slate.com/tag/not-gonna-make-it This is a public episode. Get access to private episodes at shtpost.substack.com/subscribe

Ryan Broderick is a journalist covering technology and internet culture. He’s also the author of the Garbage Day newsletter. Ryan joins Jared this episode to discuss the latest standoff in ongoing debates over COVID-19 misinformation on major tech platforms. In one corner stands Joe Rogan and Spotify. On the other side of the ring is a cohort of musical artists, researchers, and dissatisfied Spotify customers. Ryan and Jared break down what’s going on, where they feel many conversations are lacking detail, and how the results of this clash could effect other platforms’ responses to pandemic misinformation.Ryan Broderick’s Twitter account: @BroderickSubscribe to Garbage Day: https://www.garbageday.email/ This is a public episode. Get access to private episodes at shtpost.substack.com/subscribe

Ksenia Coffman has been contributing edits and research regarding the history of World War II to Wikipedia since 2015, taking deliberate efforts to weasel junk history out of the internet’s go-to collection of information. Ksenia recently stepped out from behind the screen to share her identity and work with Wired magazine. This week, she joins SH!TPOST to talk about her motivations for taking on this monumental task, the reactions her contributions have received in the broader Wikipedia community, and her outlook on the importance of accurate history existing online.Ksenia’s Twitter account: @KseniaCoffmanWired magazine’s profile of Ksenia: https://www.wired.com/story/one-womans-mission-to-rewrite-nazi-history-wikipedia/Ksenia’s Wiki profile: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User:K.e.coffmanKsenia’s email: wiki.coffman@gmail.com This is a public episode. Get access to private episodes at shtpost.substack.com/subscribe