Charlie Warzel
@cwarzel.bsky.social
Writer. Never bet against the dumbest outcome. @cwarzel.92 on signal if you have a tip. I have a podcast so please like and subscribe.
Given the grok horrors of the past few weeks and the crisis of impunity we’ve got on our hands, today’s pod is with the excellent @sophiegilbert.bsky.social on the ways that misogyny has been coded into these platforms and shaped our culture
The Problem Is So Much Bigger Than Grok
The internet was built to objectify women.
www.theatlantic.com
January 16, 2026 at 7:58 PM
Given the grok horrors of the past few weeks and the crisis of impunity we’ve got on our hands, today’s pod is with the excellent @sophiegilbert.bsky.social on the ways that misogyny has been coded into these platforms and shaped our culture
have a strong feeling that, almost immediately after trump is no longer alive (whenever that is) there’s gonna be a break in the dam & even his supporters will say how embarrassing he was (an analog here is how the right mostly gave up on lionizing kirk after a few days & he just became a meme)
Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado gave her Nobel Peace Prize medal to President Donald Trump during a White House meeting. A White House official confirmed that Trump intends to keep the medal reut.rs/4bCPVV3
Trump accepts Nobel medal from Venezuelan opposition leader Machado
Machado, who described their meeting as "excellent," said the gift was in recognition of what she called Trump's commitment to the freedom of the Venezuelan people.
reut.rs
January 16, 2026 at 5:16 AM
have a strong feeling that, almost immediately after trump is no longer alive (whenever that is) there’s gonna be a break in the dam & even his supporters will say how embarrassing he was (an analog here is how the right mostly gave up on lionizing kirk after a few days & he just became a meme)
apologies if this is dumb but as somebody who has been reporting pretty extensively on the grok csam hellscape and also consuming news about the darkness of american politics...i am looking for a brief respite (stupid, funny, weird, joyful stuff that maybe i can report on/think about/or just read)
January 14, 2026 at 9:35 PM
apologies if this is dumb but as somebody who has been reporting pretty extensively on the grok csam hellscape and also consuming news about the darkness of american politics...i am looking for a brief respite (stupid, funny, weird, joyful stuff that maybe i can report on/think about/or just read)
Reposted by Charlie Warzel
2/ When I worked at Twitter, CSAM was *universally,* unequivocally regarded as the MOST toxic, nuclear, all-hands-on deck, third-rail issue that was taken DEEPLY seriously (legally and morally) and would garner an *immediate* prioritized response.
There is a crisis of impunity. The Musk/Grok stuff is just one f many examples of people who are counting on there never being any consequences. And it all makes me just incandescently mad.
Elon Musk Cannot Get Away With This
If there is no red line around AI-generated sex abuse, then no line exists.
www.theatlantic.com
January 14, 2026 at 5:52 PM
2/ When I worked at Twitter, CSAM was *universally,* unequivocally regarded as the MOST toxic, nuclear, all-hands-on deck, third-rail issue that was taken DEEPLY seriously (legally and morally) and would garner an *immediate* prioritized response.
Reposted by Charlie Warzel
This is the Ted Cruz-iest Ted Cruzing paragraph I think I’ve ever read
(Via www.theatlantic.com/technology/2...)
(Via www.theatlantic.com/technology/2...)
January 14, 2026 at 5:36 PM
This is the Ted Cruz-iest Ted Cruzing paragraph I think I’ve ever read
(Via www.theatlantic.com/technology/2...)
(Via www.theatlantic.com/technology/2...)
this was, in a series of no comments/ignoring from investors about grok, a weird turn of events
Not the main point, but I was struck by how there isn’t even minimal professionalism at our major cos. and orgs. Shouldn’t a spokesperson check *before* claiming no evidence of a financial connection??? If America was ever a meritocracy (answer: it was not), it definitely isn’t one now.
January 14, 2026 at 1:27 AM
this was, in a series of no comments/ignoring from investors about grok, a weird turn of events
There is a crisis of impunity. The Musk/Grok stuff is just one f many examples of people who are counting on there never being any consequences. And it all makes me just incandescently mad.
Elon Musk Cannot Get Away With This
If there is no red line around AI-generated sex abuse, then no line exists.
www.theatlantic.com
January 14, 2026 at 12:27 AM
There is a crisis of impunity. The Musk/Grok stuff is just one f many examples of people who are counting on there never being any consequences. And it all makes me just incandescently mad.
welcome to the cbs evening new
January 13, 2026 at 11:31 PM
welcome to the cbs evening new
i'm gonna count this as 'calling it' bsky.app/profile/cwar...
Update — Here is what the new apparent CBS News segment "Whiskey Fridays with Tony Dokoupil" may look like:
January 13, 2026 at 11:26 PM
i'm gonna count this as 'calling it' bsky.app/profile/cwar...
dude just let theo von host it already
Update — Here is what the new apparent CBS News segment "Whiskey Fridays with Tony Dokoupil" may look like:
January 13, 2026 at 11:25 PM
dude just let theo von host it already
thinking of these today
Dilberitos (1999-2003): A line of licensed vegan microwave burritos tied-in with the comic strip "Dilbert". Available in Mexican, Indian, Barbecue, and Garlic & Herb. Noted for it's poor taste and food engineering that packed all 23 essential vitamins and minerals into each one
January 13, 2026 at 6:19 PM
thinking of these today
The DOD/Grok stuff isn't new (they announced it in December) but it's getting lots of new traction bc of the grok csam awfulness. But they did release some new "AI Strategy" information recently and let me tell you it is straight up chatbot lorem ipsum meant to sound fancy but it's gobbledygook
January 13, 2026 at 5:36 PM
The DOD/Grok stuff isn't new (they announced it in December) but it's getting lots of new traction bc of the grok csam awfulness. But they did release some new "AI Strategy" information recently and let me tell you it is straight up chatbot lorem ipsum meant to sound fancy but it's gobbledygook
gotta question who is throwing money into an nyc memecoin from the corrupt former mayor. that said, this is all part of the crisis of impunity we've got going on. far from the most important example but it's a death by 1000 cuts thing when everything is just grift & it feels like ppl get away w/ it
January 13, 2026 at 5:11 PM
gotta question who is throwing money into an nyc memecoin from the corrupt former mayor. that said, this is all part of the crisis of impunity we've got going on. far from the most important example but it's a death by 1000 cuts thing when everything is just grift & it feels like ppl get away w/ it
blogging at ft alphaville seems like a dream job
Keep Alphaville free* by investing in our Free** Jay Powell merch.
* without cost
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as.ft.com/r/82db28aa-3...
* without cost
** not under the control of another
as.ft.com/r/82db28aa-3...
Get your ‘Free Jay Powell’ T-shirts here
[FREE TO READ] Street Fed
as.ft.com
January 12, 2026 at 6:23 PM
blogging at ft alphaville seems like a dream job
you are not!
like if you’re only on this website, I don’t think you’re emotionally prepared for the tsunami of “Charlie Kirk as an e-girl/furry/piss-fetishist/esoteric Nazi alien” Content that is on the social media platforms young people actually use
January 12, 2026 at 5:40 PM
you are not!
Reposted by Charlie Warzel
Today's pod is a worst/best of internet situation. A bit from me about Grok's AI revenge porn nightmare and the crisis of impunity. But! Then: @mmasnick.bsky.social @komorama.bsky.social and @zoew.bsky.social join me for a really fun, refreshing conversation about the Resonant Computing Manifesto!
Can We Save the Internet?
Grok’s “digital undressing” crisis and a manifesto to build a better internet
www.theatlantic.com
January 9, 2026 at 7:04 PM
Today's pod is a worst/best of internet situation. A bit from me about Grok's AI revenge porn nightmare and the crisis of impunity. But! Then: @mmasnick.bsky.social @komorama.bsky.social and @zoew.bsky.social join me for a really fun, refreshing conversation about the Resonant Computing Manifesto!
seems pretty damn clear who they're looking to recruit
“We’ll Have Our Home” again is a song that’s extremely popular with white nationalists. It’s all over Telegram. I think the first time I heard it was from a video of a secretive group called the Mannerbünd.
January 10, 2026 at 5:43 PM
seems pretty damn clear who they're looking to recruit
Reposted by Charlie Warzel
This was a really fun and (dare I say?) slightly optimistic discussion....
Today's pod is a worst/best of internet situation. A bit from me about Grok's AI revenge porn nightmare and the crisis of impunity. But! Then: @mmasnick.bsky.social @komorama.bsky.social and @zoew.bsky.social join me for a really fun, refreshing conversation about the Resonant Computing Manifesto!
Can We Save the Internet?
Grok’s “digital undressing” crisis and a manifesto to build a better internet
www.theatlantic.com
January 9, 2026 at 8:21 PM
This was a really fun and (dare I say?) slightly optimistic discussion....
this idea that the limit is trump's morality is one of the few true things he's said. the era of grift we're in/the culture of impunity/the weaponizing of shamelessness as some kind of superpower/the crossing of all kinds of red lines. trump's immorality extends far beyond his actual decision making
January 9, 2026 at 8:31 PM
this idea that the limit is trump's morality is one of the few true things he's said. the era of grift we're in/the culture of impunity/the weaponizing of shamelessness as some kind of superpower/the crossing of all kinds of red lines. trump's immorality extends far beyond his actual decision making
Today's pod is a worst/best of internet situation. A bit from me about Grok's AI revenge porn nightmare and the crisis of impunity. But! Then: @mmasnick.bsky.social @komorama.bsky.social and @zoew.bsky.social join me for a really fun, refreshing conversation about the Resonant Computing Manifesto!
Can We Save the Internet?
Grok’s “digital undressing” crisis and a manifesto to build a better internet
www.theatlantic.com
January 9, 2026 at 7:04 PM
Today's pod is a worst/best of internet situation. A bit from me about Grok's AI revenge porn nightmare and the crisis of impunity. But! Then: @mmasnick.bsky.social @komorama.bsky.social and @zoew.bsky.social join me for a really fun, refreshing conversation about the Resonant Computing Manifesto!
just sorta feels like every investor and company and even many ppl rn have a big strategy whiteboard and the only thing on it is the word “thunderdome?” circled 40x
MoviePass Is Betting Big on Entertainment Gambling
The company’s Mogul app will introduce pop-culture heads to the wonderful world of sports betting.
www.vulture.com
January 8, 2026 at 9:17 PM
just sorta feels like every investor and company and even many ppl rn have a big strategy whiteboard and the only thing on it is the word “thunderdome?” circled 40x
it's a good maxim in general, imo...but especially for navigating social networks: you are under no obligation to take criticism from someone you wouldn't ask for advice (or someone whose advice you would never heed).
January 7, 2026 at 11:28 PM
it's a good maxim in general, imo...but especially for navigating social networks: you are under no obligation to take criticism from someone you wouldn't ask for advice (or someone whose advice you would never heed).
not saying it can't get worse but this week really feels like a straightforward depiction of what worst-case 'post truth' information apocalypse ppl were warning of in the late 2010s
January 7, 2026 at 10:43 PM
not saying it can't get worse but this week really feels like a straightforward depiction of what worst-case 'post truth' information apocalypse ppl were warning of in the late 2010s