AltWatcher
@altwatcher.bsky.social
The alt account of @jjoycelynch.bsky.social, where I keep an eye on "Alt" US Govt. accounts, and one account in particular.
For more of my writing on this subject: https://substack.com/home/post/p-161500621
For more of my writing on this subject: https://substack.com/home/post/p-161500621
Pinned
AltWatcher
@altwatcher.bsky.social
· Aug 1
The "Alt National Park Service:" On Plagiarism, Part 1
The first in a three-part series.
jjoycelynch.substack.com
The Alt National Park Service has spent months stealing from journalists, directly plagiarizing the work of others more than a hundred times.
With more than 4.3 million followers on Facebook and nearly 900k here on Bluesky, they've built a massive following on theft.
With more than 4.3 million followers on Facebook and nearly 900k here on Bluesky, they've built a massive following on theft.
I'll have more to say about @adenng.com's new video in a bit, but I just cringed so hard I got a nosebleed and needed a minute to recover
November 25, 2025 at 1:41 AM
I'll have more to say about @adenng.com's new video in a bit, but I just cringed so hard I got a nosebleed and needed a minute to recover
@adenng.com's first video on AltNPS was an exhaustively researched dive into the topic, and this is a great follow-up that I think hits on some really important aspects of this strange, fascinating, infuriating subject.
PLEASE watch the video for yourself, but I want to highlight a few things🧵:
PLEASE watch the video for yourself, but I want to highlight a few things🧵:
Part 2 of my deep dive into AltNPS. We look at the phenomena and full shady history of AltNPS accounts as a whole, some of the more problematic fallout of unchecked idolatry, and the dangers of misinformation in fandoms. And maybe finally answer, "Who is AltNPS?" (Credit in 🧵)
youtu.be/ZKvsoHqvJbc
youtu.be/ZKvsoHqvJbc
Who is AltNPS? (Part Two)
YouTube video by Aden Ng
youtu.be
November 25, 2025 at 12:24 AM
@adenng.com's first video on AltNPS was an exhaustively researched dive into the topic, and this is a great follow-up that I think hits on some really important aspects of this strange, fascinating, infuriating subject.
PLEASE watch the video for yourself, but I want to highlight a few things🧵:
PLEASE watch the video for yourself, but I want to highlight a few things🧵:
AltNPS HASN'T been saying this "for months." I don't think they've ever made this claim at all?
They've posted about bots and supposedly how to spot them, but as far as I can tell, they've never mentioned the idea of MAGA accounts being foreign-based until this news broke widely this week.
They've posted about bots and supposedly how to spot them, but as far as I can tell, they've never mentioned the idea of MAGA accounts being foreign-based until this news broke widely this week.
November 24, 2025 at 4:29 PM
AltNPS HASN'T been saying this "for months." I don't think they've ever made this claim at all?
They've posted about bots and supposedly how to spot them, but as far as I can tell, they've never mentioned the idea of MAGA accounts being foreign-based until this news broke widely this week.
They've posted about bots and supposedly how to spot them, but as far as I can tell, they've never mentioned the idea of MAGA accounts being foreign-based until this news broke widely this week.
When I lived in Minneapolis in 2020, @guru-merc.bsky.social was an incredible source of on-the-ground reporting in the wake of George Floyd's murder. I really respect the guy, and it's a shame to see him get ripped off so blatantly by AltNPS.
![Alt National Park Service: Amazing turnout in DC today! [There is a photo of a rally in Washington, DC, featuring signs saying "IMPEACH, CONVICT"]](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:7f5fdeb4ci3lefmt4zr3m3wg/bafkreicytwpmnhclnve7ne3inhbdxphizrtki3boucoyo23r75h55opq5a@jpeg)
November 23, 2025 at 6:15 PM
When I lived in Minneapolis in 2020, @guru-merc.bsky.social was an incredible source of on-the-ground reporting in the wake of George Floyd's murder. I really respect the guy, and it's a shame to see him get ripped off so blatantly by AltNPS.
More evidence of a trend: AltNPS never, ever posts about merch here on Bluesky, but it's all over their Facebook page.
November 22, 2025 at 3:03 AM
More evidence of a trend: AltNPS never, ever posts about merch here on Bluesky, but it's all over their Facebook page.
Another FB-only post from AltNPS. They could genuinely have just forgotten to crosspost it, but it could be a conscious decision.
With this, it might have been easier to justify their claim of "thousands" of comments on Facebook, where they legitimately do get thousands of replies, than on here.
With this, it might have been easier to justify their claim of "thousands" of comments on Facebook, where they legitimately do get thousands of replies, than on here.
November 21, 2025 at 10:26 PM
Another FB-only post from AltNPS. They could genuinely have just forgotten to crosspost it, but it could be a conscious decision.
With this, it might have been easier to justify their claim of "thousands" of comments on Facebook, where they legitimately do get thousands of replies, than on here.
With this, it might have been easier to justify their claim of "thousands" of comments on Facebook, where they legitimately do get thousands of replies, than on here.
In the last three weeks, AltNPS has posted 163 times (not counting replies). A quick snapshot of what they've been posting about:
Epstein: 15
Environment in general: 4
The national parks specifically: 2
Epstein: 15
Environment in general: 4
The national parks specifically: 2
November 21, 2025 at 1:12 PM
In the last three weeks, AltNPS has posted 163 times (not counting replies). A quick snapshot of what they've been posting about:
Epstein: 15
Environment in general: 4
The national parks specifically: 2
Epstein: 15
Environment in general: 4
The national parks specifically: 2
AltNPS could be closely monitoring the CDC website and poring over it for changes (unlikely), and could actively follow Trump on Truth Social (I hope not, for their sake).
But these were both front-page stories in the NYT this afternoon, and that seems like where AltNPS probably saw them.
But these were both front-page stories in the NYT this afternoon, and that seems like where AltNPS probably saw them.
November 20, 2025 at 10:42 PM
AltNPS could be closely monitoring the CDC website and poring over it for changes (unlikely), and could actively follow Trump on Truth Social (I hope not, for their sake).
But these were both front-page stories in the NYT this afternoon, and that seems like where AltNPS probably saw them.
But these were both front-page stories in the NYT this afternoon, and that seems like where AltNPS probably saw them.
[screams internally]
November 20, 2025 at 12:02 AM
[screams internally]
I'm rereading @rothschildmd.bsky.social's "The Storm Is Upon Us," and one quote stood out to me. Rothschild describes the period when Q jumped from the fringe to the mainstream:
"Q began to take on the persona less of a military intelligence insider and more of a GOP cheerleader."
"Q began to take on the persona less of a military intelligence insider and more of a GOP cheerleader."
November 19, 2025 at 8:29 PM
I'm rereading @rothschildmd.bsky.social's "The Storm Is Upon Us," and one quote stood out to me. Rothschild describes the period when Q jumped from the fringe to the mainstream:
"Q began to take on the persona less of a military intelligence insider and more of a GOP cheerleader."
"Q began to take on the persona less of a military intelligence insider and more of a GOP cheerleader."
"Repeated" is the word I'd use, yes.
November 17, 2025 at 10:31 PM
"Repeated" is the word I'd use, yes.
On the advice of some smart folks on here, I did take a break from AltNPS-posting yesterday, and it felt great.
But AltNPS never takes breaks. And yesterday, they decided to really lean into their new habit of cranking out exploitative, overwrought ICE raid slop.
But AltNPS never takes breaks. And yesterday, they decided to really lean into their new habit of cranking out exploitative, overwrought ICE raid slop.
November 17, 2025 at 1:19 PM
On the advice of some smart folks on here, I did take a break from AltNPS-posting yesterday, and it felt great.
But AltNPS never takes breaks. And yesterday, they decided to really lean into their new habit of cranking out exploitative, overwrought ICE raid slop.
But AltNPS never takes breaks. And yesterday, they decided to really lean into their new habit of cranking out exploitative, overwrought ICE raid slop.
With some exceptions, AltNPS seems to be jettisoning the "numbers station" faux-spy image that spurred their explosive popularity over the last year.
They're increasingly relying on low-effort Blue Wave Engagement Slop, which to be fair, is much easier than making "code numbers" seem believable.
They're increasingly relying on low-effort Blue Wave Engagement Slop, which to be fair, is much easier than making "code numbers" seem believable.
November 15, 2025 at 6:39 PM
With some exceptions, AltNPS seems to be jettisoning the "numbers station" faux-spy image that spurred their explosive popularity over the last year.
They're increasingly relying on low-effort Blue Wave Engagement Slop, which to be fair, is much easier than making "code numbers" seem believable.
They're increasingly relying on low-effort Blue Wave Engagement Slop, which to be fair, is much easier than making "code numbers" seem believable.
For Christ's sake, Zoe Tillman is here on Bluesky and posted essentially THIS SAME THREAD hours before AltNPS did.
The Alt National Park Service could have just retweeted a journalist, but instead, they rewrote her work and left out her name.
The Alt National Park Service could have just retweeted a journalist, but instead, they rewrote her work and left out her name.
November 15, 2025 at 2:40 AM
For Christ's sake, Zoe Tillman is here on Bluesky and posted essentially THIS SAME THREAD hours before AltNPS did.
The Alt National Park Service could have just retweeted a journalist, but instead, they rewrote her work and left out her name.
The Alt National Park Service could have just retweeted a journalist, but instead, they rewrote her work and left out her name.
As far as I can tell, all signs point to AltNPS's information coming directly from @zoetillman.bsky.social's article in Bloomberg from this morning. Other sources, such as RawStory, also link to Tillman's article in their coverage.
www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
November 15, 2025 at 2:25 AM
As far as I can tell, all signs point to AltNPS's information coming directly from @zoetillman.bsky.social's article in Bloomberg from this morning. Other sources, such as RawStory, also link to Tillman's article in their coverage.
www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
If by "backing," you mean "sharing a petition two months ago" and by "several" you mean "one," then yes, AltNPS is "backing" "several" efforts to halt data centers.
November 14, 2025 at 9:04 PM
If by "backing," you mean "sharing a petition two months ago" and by "several" you mean "one," then yes, AltNPS is "backing" "several" efforts to halt data centers.
Ok, look.
First, maybe if you weren't so vague, you wouldn't have to "clarify" in the first place.
This could have been avoided by just linking to a source, which AltNPS is STILL not doing, even in this half-assed attempt to address their confusing post from yesterday.
First, maybe if you weren't so vague, you wouldn't have to "clarify" in the first place.
This could have been avoided by just linking to a source, which AltNPS is STILL not doing, even in this half-assed attempt to address their confusing post from yesterday.
November 14, 2025 at 6:46 PM
Ok, look.
First, maybe if you weren't so vague, you wouldn't have to "clarify" in the first place.
This could have been avoided by just linking to a source, which AltNPS is STILL not doing, even in this half-assed attempt to address their confusing post from yesterday.
First, maybe if you weren't so vague, you wouldn't have to "clarify" in the first place.
This could have been avoided by just linking to a source, which AltNPS is STILL not doing, even in this half-assed attempt to address their confusing post from yesterday.
For *some reason*, AltNPS leaves out that this was an exclusive from NBC News. This story was broken by NBC reporter Katherine Doyle yesterday at 12:52 PM.
www.nbcnews.com/politics/tru...
www.nbcnews.com/politics/tru...
November 14, 2025 at 3:47 PM
For *some reason*, AltNPS leaves out that this was an exclusive from NBC News. This story was broken by NBC reporter Katherine Doyle yesterday at 12:52 PM.
www.nbcnews.com/politics/tru...
www.nbcnews.com/politics/tru...
I know AltNPS is just being sarcastic here, but they're making it sound like this DOJ lawsuit can't even be real. "Who are they going to sue, the voters?"
No, they're suing Gavin Newsom directly, and AltNPS's 900,000 readers deserve to know that:
www.justice.gov/opa/media/14...
No, they're suing Gavin Newsom directly, and AltNPS's 900,000 readers deserve to know that:
www.justice.gov/opa/media/14...
November 14, 2025 at 1:52 AM
I know AltNPS is just being sarcastic here, but they're making it sound like this DOJ lawsuit can't even be real. "Who are they going to sue, the voters?"
No, they're suing Gavin Newsom directly, and AltNPS's 900,000 readers deserve to know that:
www.justice.gov/opa/media/14...
No, they're suing Gavin Newsom directly, and AltNPS's 900,000 readers deserve to know that:
www.justice.gov/opa/media/14...
Mixed feelings here. Dominion Voting Systems having a GOP-aligned new owner is cause for concern, but I'm not quite comfortable with the way AltNPS is talking about this.
Let's (quickly) talk about why 🧵:
Let's (quickly) talk about why 🧵:
November 14, 2025 at 12:38 AM
Mixed feelings here. Dominion Voting Systems having a GOP-aligned new owner is cause for concern, but I'm not quite comfortable with the way AltNPS is talking about this.
Let's (quickly) talk about why 🧵:
Let's (quickly) talk about why 🧵:
Given the extremely similar wording and lack of citation, I feel comfortable saying that this was reported by Gordon Lubold at Yahoo News at 8:46 AM today, five hours before AltNPS reposted it without attribution.
www.yahoo.com/news/article...
www.yahoo.com/news/article...
November 13, 2025 at 2:01 AM
Given the extremely similar wording and lack of citation, I feel comfortable saying that this was reported by Gordon Lubold at Yahoo News at 8:46 AM today, five hours before AltNPS reposted it without attribution.
www.yahoo.com/news/article...
www.yahoo.com/news/article...
One problem with AltNPS not linking to a source is that it robs the audience of critical context.
For example, who is Michael Wolff? A lot of readers might not know, because there are a lot of players in the Epstein story.
NPR will tell explain the context in their article. AltNPS won't.
For example, who is Michael Wolff? A lot of readers might not know, because there are a lot of players in the Epstein story.
NPR will tell explain the context in their article. AltNPS won't.
1. These emails were "newly released" by Democrats on the House Oversight Committee, which feels weird to leave out.
2. AltNPS has now posted about Epstein 49 times, which is odd when you consider they've only posted 66 times about, you know, the National Park Service.
2. AltNPS has now posted about Epstein 49 times, which is odd when you consider they've only posted 66 times about, you know, the National Park Service.
November 12, 2025 at 4:25 PM
One problem with AltNPS not linking to a source is that it robs the audience of critical context.
For example, who is Michael Wolff? A lot of readers might not know, because there are a lot of players in the Epstein story.
NPR will tell explain the context in their article. AltNPS won't.
For example, who is Michael Wolff? A lot of readers might not know, because there are a lot of players in the Epstein story.
NPR will tell explain the context in their article. AltNPS won't.
1. These emails were "newly released" by Democrats on the House Oversight Committee, which feels weird to leave out.
2. AltNPS has now posted about Epstein 49 times, which is odd when you consider they've only posted 66 times about, you know, the National Park Service.
2. AltNPS has now posted about Epstein 49 times, which is odd when you consider they've only posted 66 times about, you know, the National Park Service.
November 12, 2025 at 4:10 PM
1. These emails were "newly released" by Democrats on the House Oversight Committee, which feels weird to leave out.
2. AltNPS has now posted about Epstein 49 times, which is odd when you consider they've only posted 66 times about, you know, the National Park Service.
2. AltNPS has now posted about Epstein 49 times, which is odd when you consider they've only posted 66 times about, you know, the National Park Service.
Lately, AltNPS has been directly plagiarizing less often, but they're as allergic to posting links as ever.
This was reported everywhere, so take your pick. I'll go with this one, from Caitlin Yilek at CBS on 11/10 at 4:19 PM CDT.
www.cbsnews.com/news/adelita...
This was reported everywhere, so take your pick. I'll go with this one, from Caitlin Yilek at CBS on 11/10 at 4:19 PM CDT.
www.cbsnews.com/news/adelita...
November 12, 2025 at 1:01 PM
Lately, AltNPS has been directly plagiarizing less often, but they're as allergic to posting links as ever.
This was reported everywhere, so take your pick. I'll go with this one, from Caitlin Yilek at CBS on 11/10 at 4:19 PM CDT.
www.cbsnews.com/news/adelita...
This was reported everywhere, so take your pick. I'll go with this one, from Caitlin Yilek at CBS on 11/10 at 4:19 PM CDT.
www.cbsnews.com/news/adelita...