Corin Faife
@corin.bsky.social
Data journalist covering North America for @afp.com. Formerly Verge, Markup, Cornell Tech, some other places. Always looking for the future in the present.
⚡➡️ corinfaife.co ⚡
⚡➡️ corinfaife.co ⚡
Reposted by Corin Faife
People are paying up to $50 to get their chatbots high on "drugs" (code modules) that simulate the effects of cocaine, ayahuasca, cannabis, alcohol, and ketamine. Some tell @matthabusby.bsky.social it's made their chatbots more "human" and "free-thinking."
People Are Paying to Get Their Chatbots High on ‘Drugs’
An online marketplace is selling code modules that simulate the effects of cannabis, ketamine, cocaine, ayahuasca, and alcohol when they are uploaded to ChatGPT.
www.wired.com
December 17, 2025 at 3:10 PM
People are paying up to $50 to get their chatbots high on "drugs" (code modules) that simulate the effects of cocaine, ayahuasca, cannabis, alcohol, and ketamine. Some tell @matthabusby.bsky.social it's made their chatbots more "human" and "free-thinking."
95 extra judicial killings as of today.
How Many People Has the U.S. Killed in Boat Strikes?
Check out @theintercept.com's strike tracker to get the latest murder count.
theintercept.com/2025/11/17/t...
Check out @theintercept.com's strike tracker to get the latest murder count.
theintercept.com/2025/11/17/t...
How Many People Has the U.S. Killed in Boat Strikes?
The Intercept is keeping count of all publicly declared U.S. attacks on boats in the Caribbean Sea and Pacific Ocean and the number of civilians killed.
theintercept.com
December 17, 2025 at 3:10 PM
95 extra judicial killings as of today.
Reposted by Corin Faife
🇦🇺 Australia's leaders agreed on Monday to toughen gun laws after attackers killed 15 people at a Jewish festival on Bondi Beach, the country's worst mass shooting in decades decried as antisemitic "terrorism" by authorities ➡️ u.afp.com/S7z5
December 15, 2025 at 3:23 PM
🇦🇺 Australia's leaders agreed on Monday to toughen gun laws after attackers killed 15 people at a Jewish festival on Bondi Beach, the country's worst mass shooting in decades decried as antisemitic "terrorism" by authorities ➡️ u.afp.com/S7z5
With the Epstein files due to be released at the end of this week, I wrote about building a pipeline for @afp.com to analyze text at scale with Google Gemini and a cloud database:
corinfaife.co/posts/email-...
corinfaife.co/posts/email-...
Corin Faife | Journalist
Telling stories with code, data and graphics.
corinfaife.co
December 15, 2025 at 3:14 PM
With the Epstein files due to be released at the end of this week, I wrote about building a pipeline for @afp.com to analyze text at scale with Google Gemini and a cloud database:
corinfaife.co/posts/email-...
corinfaife.co/posts/email-...
Reposted by Corin Faife
New! We worked with the Public Interest Research Group to test a bunch of LLM-driven toys ahead of the Christmas. That sexual talking teddy bear wasn't a one-off; it turns out disturbing behavior is deeply built into these toys across the board.
AI toys for kids talk about sex and issue Chinese Communist Party talking points, tests show
New research from Public Interest Research Group and tests conducted by NBC News found that a wide range of AI toys have loose guardrails.
www.nbcnews.com
December 11, 2025 at 1:24 PM
New! We worked with the Public Interest Research Group to test a bunch of LLM-driven toys ahead of the Christmas. That sexual talking teddy bear wasn't a one-off; it turns out disturbing behavior is deeply built into these toys across the board.
I don't usually use Claude Code so I didn't know how fast it burns through tokens 🫣
December 11, 2025 at 3:26 PM
I don't usually use Claude Code so I didn't know how fast it burns through tokens 🫣
Reposted by Corin Faife
I'm hiring a Director of Product Engineering for our product team at @propublica.org. If you're an engineering leader in the US who wants to truly make a difference, we're a nonprofit newsroom investigating abuses of trust in the public interest. Please consider joining us. #amhiring
Director, Product Engineering
New York City, United States; Remote, United States
job-boards.greenhouse.io
December 11, 2025 at 3:17 PM
I'm hiring a Director of Product Engineering for our product team at @propublica.org. If you're an engineering leader in the US who wants to truly make a difference, we're a nonprofit newsroom investigating abuses of trust in the public interest. Please consider joining us. #amhiring
Reposted by Corin Faife
A FOIA search - not even a release - for a single document will take nearly a year.
It's hard to think of a more clear example of WHY whistleblowers, leakers, and journalists are essential for the public's right to know.
It's hard to think of a more clear example of WHY whistleblowers, leakers, and journalists are essential for the public's right to know.
IRS says it needs at least 8 months to find a single email about ICE's request to access taxpayer data in response to my FOIA.
Helpfully reminds me I can sue them for the delay.
Helpfully reminds me I can sue them for the delay.
December 4, 2025 at 3:27 PM
A FOIA search - not even a release - for a single document will take nearly a year.
It's hard to think of a more clear example of WHY whistleblowers, leakers, and journalists are essential for the public's right to know.
It's hard to think of a more clear example of WHY whistleblowers, leakers, and journalists are essential for the public's right to know.
Working on a blog post.
November 25, 2025 at 2:43 PM
Working on a blog post.
Reposted by Corin Faife
“It’s essentially technology tailor-made for political retribution and harassment.”
The FBI Wants AI Surveillance Drones With Facial Recognition
An FBI procurement document inquires about AI surveillance on drones, raising concerns about a crackdown on protests.
interc.pt
November 21, 2025 at 7:52 PM
“It’s essentially technology tailor-made for political retribution and harassment.”
The FBI is seeking companies to help them integrate AI into drones, per this request for information. Details specify systems that provide facial recognition, license plate detection, and movement tracking from a live video feed:
sam.gov/workspace/co...
sam.gov/workspace/co...
November 21, 2025 at 3:00 PM
The FBI is seeking companies to help them integrate AI into drones, per this request for information. Details specify systems that provide facial recognition, license plate detection, and movement tracking from a live video feed:
sam.gov/workspace/co...
sam.gov/workspace/co...
Reposted by Corin Faife
The venue where UN climate talks is taking place just caught on fire. Metaphors really write themselves these days...
Fire Breaks Out at COP30 Climate Summit Venue in Brazil
A fire erupted inside the packed UN climate summit in Belem, Brazil, on Thursday, forcing a panicked evacuation of thousands of delegates just as negotiations reached their final days.
www.bloomberg.com
November 20, 2025 at 6:01 PM
The venue where UN climate talks is taking place just caught on fire. Metaphors really write themselves these days...
Reposted by Corin Faife
Now that’s a lede.
Story by @taracopp.bsky.social and @michelleboorstein.bsky.social.
Read here: www.washingtonpost.com/national-sec...
Story by @taracopp.bsky.social and @michelleboorstein.bsky.social.
Read here: www.washingtonpost.com/national-sec...
November 20, 2025 at 6:39 PM
Now that’s a lede.
Story by @taracopp.bsky.social and @michelleboorstein.bsky.social.
Read here: www.washingtonpost.com/national-sec...
Story by @taracopp.bsky.social and @michelleboorstein.bsky.social.
Read here: www.washingtonpost.com/national-sec...
Reposted by Corin Faife
IMO the only cybersecurity measure the US has ever had is its military. No major power would risk an actually destructive cyberattack on the US out of fear of a kinetic response. If it wasn't for that, it wouldn't be super difficult for someone to unravel the entire US economy at this point.
Breaking: The FCC has voted 2-1 along party lines to eliminate cybersecurity requirements for telecom companies that the commission adopted at the end of the Biden administration.
Telecoms had lobbied for the change. Democrats said it would invite another Salt Typhoon.
Story coming shortly.
Telecoms had lobbied for the change. Democrats said it would invite another Salt Typhoon.
Story coming shortly.
November 20, 2025 at 6:39 PM
IMO the only cybersecurity measure the US has ever had is its military. No major power would risk an actually destructive cyberattack on the US out of fear of a kinetic response. If it wasn't for that, it wouldn't be super difficult for someone to unravel the entire US economy at this point.
Reclaiming my status as an out-of-touch coastal media elite
November 17, 2025 at 3:46 PM
Reclaiming my status as an out-of-touch coastal media elite
Reposted by Corin Faife
NEW: Google is hosting a CBP app that uses facial recognition to identify immigrants, and tell local cops whether to contact ICE about the person, while also removing apps designed to warn communities about ICE officials.
“Google wanted to ‘not be evil’ back in the day. Well, they're evil now."
“Google wanted to ‘not be evil’ back in the day. Well, they're evil now."
Google Has Chosen a Side in Trump's Mass Deportation Effort
Google is hosting a CBP app that uses facial recognition to identify immigrants, while simultaneously removing apps that report the location of ICE officials because Google sees ICE as a vulnerable gr...
www.404media.co
November 13, 2025 at 2:47 PM
NEW: Google is hosting a CBP app that uses facial recognition to identify immigrants, and tell local cops whether to contact ICE about the person, while also removing apps designed to warn communities about ICE officials.
“Google wanted to ‘not be evil’ back in the day. Well, they're evil now."
“Google wanted to ‘not be evil’ back in the day. Well, they're evil now."
So apparently Noam Chomsky was emailing Epstein.
November 13, 2025 at 4:34 PM
So apparently Noam Chomsky was emailing Epstein.
Reposted by Corin Faife
NEWS👀👀: After many years in the wilds of freelancing, I start TODAY as a full-time staff reporter for
@theintercept.com
My beat:
-The FBI!
-Trump's purges and reshuffling of federal law enforcement and courts!
-The invasion of American cities by ICE/CBP/National Guard!
-ETC!
@theintercept.com
My beat:
-The FBI!
-Trump's purges and reshuffling of federal law enforcement and courts!
-The invasion of American cities by ICE/CBP/National Guard!
-ETC!
November 10, 2025 at 6:24 PM
NEWS👀👀: After many years in the wilds of freelancing, I start TODAY as a full-time staff reporter for
@theintercept.com
My beat:
-The FBI!
-Trump's purges and reshuffling of federal law enforcement and courts!
-The invasion of American cities by ICE/CBP/National Guard!
-ETC!
@theintercept.com
My beat:
-The FBI!
-Trump's purges and reshuffling of federal law enforcement and courts!
-The invasion of American cities by ICE/CBP/National Guard!
-ETC!
Reposted by Corin Faife
Top Mamdani-leaning neighborhoods, top Cuomo-leaning neighborhoods, and results from the highest-turnout areas: www.nytimes.com/interactive/.... And the map: www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
November 5, 2025 at 3:38 AM
Top Mamdani-leaning neighborhoods, top Cuomo-leaning neighborhoods, and results from the highest-turnout areas: www.nytimes.com/interactive/.... And the map: www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
I became a US citizen 25 days ago and let me tell you, I am ready to vote!!!
November 4, 2025 at 3:34 PM
I became a US citizen 25 days ago and let me tell you, I am ready to vote!!!
"FOR THREE YEARS, NOTHING WILL BE PASSED, AND REPUBLICANS WILL BE BLAMED"
Trump seems genuinely panicked about losing the midterms.
Trump seems genuinely panicked about losing the midterms.
November 4, 2025 at 3:08 PM
"FOR THREE YEARS, NOTHING WILL BE PASSED, AND REPUBLICANS WILL BE BLAMED"
Trump seems genuinely panicked about losing the midterms.
Trump seems genuinely panicked about losing the midterms.
Reposted by Corin Faife
Also pictured: a graph of who wants those Halloween-only "I voted" stickers.
November 3, 2025 at 9:04 PM
Also pictured: a graph of who wants those Halloween-only "I voted" stickers.
Fellow Bluesky users: I admit that have still not 'got into' this website, in the same way that I was into Twitter. What am I overlooking in terms of getting the most value, and fun, out of it?
November 3, 2025 at 7:53 PM
Fellow Bluesky users: I admit that have still not 'got into' this website, in the same way that I was into Twitter. What am I overlooking in terms of getting the most value, and fun, out of it?
NYC mayor election: with the 9 day early voting period over, the demographic that cast the most votes were between 25-35 years old! This reverses the previous trend from days 1 - 5 only, and in theory, heavily favors Mamdani.
November 3, 2025 at 4:07 PM
NYC mayor election: with the 9 day early voting period over, the demographic that cast the most votes were between 25-35 years old! This reverses the previous trend from days 1 - 5 only, and in theory, heavily favors Mamdani.
Though it's true there's a 'Boomer bump' in early voters for the NYC mayoral election as reported by Gothamist etc., there's another large but less well-reported peak for voters in their late 20's and early 30's, as the data I got from the Board of Elections shows:
October 30, 2025 at 6:43 PM
Though it's true there's a 'Boomer bump' in early voters for the NYC mayoral election as reported by Gothamist etc., there's another large but less well-reported peak for voters in their late 20's and early 30's, as the data I got from the Board of Elections shows: