Clive Thompson
@clivethompson.bsky.social
Writer, musician, hobbyist coder. Wired / NYT Magazine / Mother Jones, author of "Coders". Blog at clivethompson.medium.com. Free "Linkfest" newsletter ("the opposite of doomscrolling"): https://shorturl.at/XcutG. Built https://www.weirdoldbookfinder.net/
Reposted by Clive Thompson
I’ve been thinking about it all day and I’ve decided that the golden snake with golden eyes that can snap at cars and spit fire should be the symbol of New York under Mamdani
February 7, 2026 at 3:37 AM
I’ve been thinking about it all day and I’ve decided that the golden snake with golden eyes that can snap at cars and spit fire should be the symbol of New York under Mamdani
Reposted by Clive Thompson
It really pays to remind ourselves frequently that this whole immigration "crisis" is made up out of whole cloth. There was no emergency,danger or problem, only a demagogue stirring up racist grievances for political advantage.
February 7, 2026 at 3:38 AM
It really pays to remind ourselves frequently that this whole immigration "crisis" is made up out of whole cloth. There was no emergency,danger or problem, only a demagogue stirring up racist grievances for political advantage.
Reposted by Clive Thompson
While reporting this, I had something happen that's never happened. A comms rep for one of the co's disputed my reporting and said what I was telling them was untrue because it was not in Grok, xAI's chatbot.
I was looking directly at the files. And this person was using AI to challenge the truth.
I was looking directly at the files. And this person was using AI to challenge the truth.
Epstein had many known connections to Silicon Valley CEOs, but less known was how he made money from those relationships.
We did a deep dive into how he got dealflow in Silicon Valley, giving him shots to invest in Coinbase, Palantir, SpaceX and other companies.
www.nytimes.com/2026/02/05/b...
We did a deep dive into how he got dealflow in Silicon Valley, giving him shots to invest in Coinbase, Palantir, SpaceX and other companies.
www.nytimes.com/2026/02/05/b...
Jeffrey Epstein’s Money Mingled With Silicon Valley Start-Ups
www.nytimes.com
February 5, 2026 at 5:38 PM
While reporting this, I had something happen that's never happened. A comms rep for one of the co's disputed my reporting and said what I was telling them was untrue because it was not in Grok, xAI's chatbot.
I was looking directly at the files. And this person was using AI to challenge the truth.
I was looking directly at the files. And this person was using AI to challenge the truth.
Reposted by Clive Thompson
Elizabeth is a Columbia Heights fourth-grader who loves volleyball, learning English and giggling in the halls with her friends. She's been held in the Dilley Immigration Processing Center for nearly a month, and she and her mom have both fallen ill. sahanjournal.com/education/co...
Sick fourth-grader among 4 Columbia Heights students held by ICE
Columbia Heights Public Schools says four students remain detained by ICE after Liam’s return, including 10-year-old Elizabeth, who has fallen ill.
sahanjournal.com
February 3, 2026 at 11:54 PM
Elizabeth is a Columbia Heights fourth-grader who loves volleyball, learning English and giggling in the halls with her friends. She's been held in the Dilley Immigration Processing Center for nearly a month, and she and her mom have both fallen ill. sahanjournal.com/education/co...
Reposted by Clive Thompson
A retiree wrote this email to a DHS attorney. Within five hours, DHS demanded Google turn over records for his account.
A Kafkaesque form of domestic surveillance, intimidating Americans for lawful speech.
New from us at the Post: www.washingtonpost.com/investigatio... @johnwoodrowcox.bsky.social
A Kafkaesque form of domestic surveillance, intimidating Americans for lawful speech.
New from us at the Post: www.washingtonpost.com/investigatio... @johnwoodrowcox.bsky.social
February 3, 2026 at 3:15 PM
A retiree wrote this email to a DHS attorney. Within five hours, DHS demanded Google turn over records for his account.
A Kafkaesque form of domestic surveillance, intimidating Americans for lawful speech.
New from us at the Post: www.washingtonpost.com/investigatio... @johnwoodrowcox.bsky.social
A Kafkaesque form of domestic surveillance, intimidating Americans for lawful speech.
New from us at the Post: www.washingtonpost.com/investigatio... @johnwoodrowcox.bsky.social
Reposted by Clive Thompson
David French: This is not a drill www.nytimes.com/2026/02/01/o...
February 2, 2026 at 3:47 AM
David French: This is not a drill www.nytimes.com/2026/02/01/o...
Reposted by Clive Thompson
Thanks to the roughly 60 people who took part in Toronto's solidarity ride for Alex Pretti, as well as to the over 100 other cities around the world who also hosted rides. Here's a video I recorded as the ride passed by Queen's Park. #BikeTO #BikeSky #TOpoli #VikingBiking #StopICE
January 31, 2026 at 9:08 PM
Thanks to the roughly 60 people who took part in Toronto's solidarity ride for Alex Pretti, as well as to the over 100 other cities around the world who also hosted rides. Here's a video I recorded as the ride passed by Queen's Park. #BikeTO #BikeSky #TOpoli #VikingBiking #StopICE
Reposted by Clive Thompson
I ❤️ Minneapolis
This ride was incredible, especially our interactions with folks at the memorials and with neighbors cheering on from their windows/porches.
ICE out, now.
This ride was incredible, especially our interactions with folks at the memorials and with neighbors cheering on from their windows/porches.
ICE out, now.
January 31, 2026 at 10:26 PM
I ❤️ Minneapolis
This ride was incredible, especially our interactions with folks at the memorials and with neighbors cheering on from their windows/porches.
ICE out, now.
This ride was incredible, especially our interactions with folks at the memorials and with neighbors cheering on from their windows/porches.
ICE out, now.
Reposted by Clive Thompson
The post-Me Too era has really taught me that the underlying issue with the persistence of sexual violence isn’t exactly women’s credibility, as the “believe women” slogan suggested, but rather with rape’s moral status. It’s not that people think it doesn’t happen. They think it doesn’t matter.
It's disturbing to see many of the the major figures in moral cognition all over the Epstein files
He was friendly with a huge number of the leading figures in the field, including giving millions to their labs, long after he pled guilty to sexually abusing young girls
www.justice.gov/epstein
He was friendly with a huge number of the leading figures in the field, including giving millions to their labs, long after he pled guilty to sexually abusing young girls
www.justice.gov/epstein
www.justice.gov
January 31, 2026 at 10:48 PM
The post-Me Too era has really taught me that the underlying issue with the persistence of sexual violence isn’t exactly women’s credibility, as the “believe women” slogan suggested, but rather with rape’s moral status. It’s not that people think it doesn’t happen. They think it doesn’t matter.
Reposted by Clive Thompson
Proud of you, Milwaukee 🫡
February 1, 2026 at 1:42 AM
Proud of you, Milwaukee 🫡
Reposted by Clive Thompson
Dear ICE/DHS/CBP you have no idea what level of compassion and love for our neighbors you have opened up in Minnesota!
3,000+ cyclists in 20° weather biked seven miles for a man we loved, a city we love, and ALL of our neighbors that we love.
Whose Streets?
Our Streets!
3,000+ cyclists in 20° weather biked seven miles for a man we loved, a city we love, and ALL of our neighbors that we love.
Whose Streets?
Our Streets!
February 1, 2026 at 2:41 AM
Dear ICE/DHS/CBP you have no idea what level of compassion and love for our neighbors you have opened up in Minnesota!
3,000+ cyclists in 20° weather biked seven miles for a man we loved, a city we love, and ALL of our neighbors that we love.
Whose Streets?
Our Streets!
3,000+ cyclists in 20° weather biked seven miles for a man we loved, a city we love, and ALL of our neighbors that we love.
Whose Streets?
Our Streets!
Reposted by Clive Thompson
Tarrant County is the largest red county in the nation. I cannot emphasize enough how big this is. Rehmet winning this race against Wambsganss would be an earthquake of Biblical proportions.
February 1, 2026 at 3:19 AM
Tarrant County is the largest red county in the nation. I cannot emphasize enough how big this is. Rehmet winning this race against Wambsganss would be an earthquake of Biblical proportions.
lol I know
Good luck!
Good luck!
January 31, 2026 at 1:26 AM
lol I know
Good luck!
Good luck!
... they trust the people from these elite realms to produce it.
You should go read the entire job posting, it's quite something!
4/4
job-boards.greenhouse.io/xai/jobs/501...
You should go read the entire job posting, it's quite something!
4/4
job-boards.greenhouse.io/xai/jobs/501...
Writing Specialist
Remote
job-boards.greenhouse.io
January 30, 2026 at 11:22 PM
... they trust the people from these elite realms to produce it.
You should go read the entire job posting, it's quite something!
4/4
job-boards.greenhouse.io/xai/jobs/501...
You should go read the entire job posting, it's quite something!
4/4
job-boards.greenhouse.io/xai/jobs/501...
Are they amassing all this exceptionally traditional, elite mainstream-media-inflected writing so they can -- I dunno -- train Grok what *not* to produce?
Maybe? I don't think so, though
I think they want quality writing, and despite their owner's utter loathing for mainstream sources ...
3/4
Maybe? I don't think so, though
I think they want quality writing, and despite their owner's utter loathing for mainstream sources ...
3/4
January 30, 2026 at 11:22 PM
Are they amassing all this exceptionally traditional, elite mainstream-media-inflected writing so they can -- I dunno -- train Grok what *not* to produce?
Maybe? I don't think so, though
I think they want quality writing, and despite their owner's utter loathing for mainstream sources ...
3/4
Maybe? I don't think so, though
I think they want quality writing, and despite their owner's utter loathing for mainstream sources ...
3/4
... their list of qualifications is *pimento-studded* with the most hilariously elite cultural sources and influences:
The New Yorker, the NYT Book Review, Publishers Weekly, Academy Awards, Emmy Awards, bachelor's degrees in English and History and Journalism, Poetry Magazine, etc
2/4
The New Yorker, the NYT Book Review, Publishers Weekly, Academy Awards, Emmy Awards, bachelor's degrees in English and History and Journalism, Poetry Magazine, etc
2/4
January 30, 2026 at 11:22 PM
... their list of qualifications is *pimento-studded* with the most hilariously elite cultural sources and influences:
The New Yorker, the NYT Book Review, Publishers Weekly, Academy Awards, Emmy Awards, bachelor's degrees in English and History and Journalism, Poetry Magazine, etc
2/4
The New Yorker, the NYT Book Review, Publishers Weekly, Academy Awards, Emmy Awards, bachelor's degrees in English and History and Journalism, Poetry Magazine, etc
2/4
This job posting by xAI -- to hire remote writing specialists -- is morbidly fascinating: job-boards.greenhouse.io/xai/jobs/501...
I would have understood xAI, like their owner -- and X itself -- to be staunchly arrayed against traditional culture elites, yes?
yet, my goodness ... 1/4
I would have understood xAI, like their owner -- and X itself -- to be staunchly arrayed against traditional culture elites, yes?
yet, my goodness ... 1/4
January 30, 2026 at 11:22 PM
This job posting by xAI -- to hire remote writing specialists -- is morbidly fascinating: job-boards.greenhouse.io/xai/jobs/501...
I would have understood xAI, like their owner -- and X itself -- to be staunchly arrayed against traditional culture elites, yes?
yet, my goodness ... 1/4
I would have understood xAI, like their owner -- and X itself -- to be staunchly arrayed against traditional culture elites, yes?
yet, my goodness ... 1/4
A terrific essay by my friend @christopherallbritton.com that adds a useful new element for thinking about enshittification
"The fragmentation flywheel"
hypertext.niskanencenter.org/p/the-fragme...
"The fragmentation flywheel"
hypertext.niskanencenter.org/p/the-fragme...
The fragmentation flywheel
Why the Fourth Industrial Revolution resists political response
hypertext.niskanencenter.org
January 30, 2026 at 11:00 PM
A terrific essay by my friend @christopherallbritton.com that adds a useful new element for thinking about enshittification
"The fragmentation flywheel"
hypertext.niskanencenter.org/p/the-fragme...
"The fragmentation flywheel"
hypertext.niskanencenter.org/p/the-fragme...
this is a really excellent essay
a good tracking of where the burn-it-all-down-including-me impulse has come from, and where it's going
a good tracking of where the burn-it-all-down-including-me impulse has come from, and where it's going
on the right's new pantheon of heroes: "sky king," killdozer, and that penguin maxread.substack.com/p/suicide-ri...
January 30, 2026 at 8:11 PM
this is a really excellent essay
a good tracking of where the burn-it-all-down-including-me impulse has come from, and where it's going
a good tracking of where the burn-it-all-down-including-me impulse has come from, and where it's going
Reposted by Clive Thompson
"We'll take our stand for this land & the stranger in our midst..."
Powerful. Brutal. Inspirational. A loving tribute to Renée Good, Alex Pretti & the good people of Minneapolis.
Plus, it name-checks all the villains: the Puppy Killer🐶, Pee-Wee German🇩🇪, the Orange Atrocity🍊💩 & above all: ICE🧊🚫
1/
Powerful. Brutal. Inspirational. A loving tribute to Renée Good, Alex Pretti & the good people of Minneapolis.
Plus, it name-checks all the villains: the Puppy Killer🐶, Pee-Wee German🇩🇪, the Orange Atrocity🍊💩 & above all: ICE🧊🚫
1/
I wrote this song on Saturday, recorded it yesterday and released it to you today in response to the state terror being visited on the city of Minneapolis. It’s dedicated to the people of Minneapolis, our innocent immigrant neighbors and in memory of Alex Pretti and Renee Good.
Stay free
Stay free
Bruce Springsteen - Streets Of Minneapolis (Official Audio)
YouTube video by Bruce Springsteen
youtu.be
January 29, 2026 at 9:26 PM
"We'll take our stand for this land & the stranger in our midst..."
Powerful. Brutal. Inspirational. A loving tribute to Renée Good, Alex Pretti & the good people of Minneapolis.
Plus, it name-checks all the villains: the Puppy Killer🐶, Pee-Wee German🇩🇪, the Orange Atrocity🍊💩 & above all: ICE🧊🚫
1/
Powerful. Brutal. Inspirational. A loving tribute to Renée Good, Alex Pretti & the good people of Minneapolis.
Plus, it name-checks all the villains: the Puppy Killer🐶, Pee-Wee German🇩🇪, the Orange Atrocity🍊💩 & above all: ICE🧊🚫
1/
Reposted by Clive Thompson
We already have a warrant requirement. It's called the US Constitution. If that's not fucking binding them, what the hell does your little agreement mean?
Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said the party agreed on three main goals:
° Require warrants in some cases and ICE coordination with state and local law enforcement
° Create a code of conduct and enforce it
° Require agents to wear body cams and not masks
° Require warrants in some cases and ICE coordination with state and local law enforcement
° Create a code of conduct and enforce it
° Require agents to wear body cams and not masks
Democrats demand new ICE restrictions as government shutdown looms
After federal agents shot and killed Alex Pretti in Minneapolis, Senate Democrats say they’ll block a massive government funding package without policy changes.
www.washingtonpost.com
January 30, 2026 at 3:26 AM
We already have a warrant requirement. It's called the US Constitution. If that's not fucking binding them, what the hell does your little agreement mean?
Reposted by Clive Thompson
was that not already banned
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) on Thursday said House Democrats will demand a ban on the deportation of American citizens as a condition of winning their support for legislation funding the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
Jeffries demands ban on deportation of US citizens as part of DHS reforms
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) on Thursday said House Democrats will demand a ban on the deportation of American citizens as a condition of winning their support for legislation fun…
www.kget.com
January 30, 2026 at 1:17 AM
was that not already banned
Reposted by Clive Thompson
people prob gonna get worked up about other stuff here but please understand: this is what hotel rooms were supposed to look like. we have lost our way
January 30, 2026 at 2:40 AM
people prob gonna get worked up about other stuff here but please understand: this is what hotel rooms were supposed to look like. we have lost our way
oh my goodness, I must know ...
what gorgeous book is this, and what edition?
what gorgeous book is this, and what edition?
January 30, 2026 at 4:33 AM
oh my goodness, I must know ...
what gorgeous book is this, and what edition?
what gorgeous book is this, and what edition?