Alexander Howard
@digiphile.bsky.social
Dad, writer, cyclist, citizen, cereal dilettante. Advocate for freedom of information, open governance, & democracy. Lover of the Oxford Comma, hater of hubris. Recovering journalist. Trying to move carefully, & fix things. https://civic-texts.ghost.io
Pinned
Alexander Howard
@digiphile.bsky.social
· Jun 23
Good morning from DC 🥵
If we need to connect:
🤳 Signal: digiphile.97
💡📲 civic-texts.ghost.io
📧 [email protected]
🐦 X.com/digiphile
🧵 threads.net/@digiphile
🐘 mastodon.social/@digiphile
📇 linkedin.com/in/alexanderbhoward
👍 facebook.com/alexhoward
📸 instagr.am/digiphile
🖥️ youtube.com/digiphile
If we need to connect:
🤳 Signal: digiphile.97
💡📲 civic-texts.ghost.io
📧 [email protected]
🐦 X.com/digiphile
🧵 threads.net/@digiphile
🐘 mastodon.social/@digiphile
📇 linkedin.com/in/alexanderbhoward
👍 facebook.com/alexhoward
📸 instagr.am/digiphile
🖥️ youtube.com/digiphile
DC will have a new Mayor in 2027, likely the candidate chosen in the Democratic primary next summer on July 16, 2026: Muriel Bowser won’t seek re-election as @mayorbowser.dc.gov
www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/202...
Might be @janeese4dc.bsky.social, Kenyan McDuffie, or a candidate yet TBD.
www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/202...
Might be @janeese4dc.bsky.social, Kenyan McDuffie, or a candidate yet TBD.
November 25, 2025 at 7:54 PM
DC will have a new Mayor in 2027, likely the candidate chosen in the Democratic primary next summer on July 16, 2026: Muriel Bowser won’t seek re-election as @mayorbowser.dc.gov
www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/202...
Might be @janeese4dc.bsky.social, Kenyan McDuffie, or a candidate yet TBD.
www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/202...
Might be @janeese4dc.bsky.social, Kenyan McDuffie, or a candidate yet TBD.
“the United States has given up on its efforts to open up corporate registries, despite convincing arguments that shell companies from lax states like Nevada are a clear threat to national security.”
us12.forward-to-friend.com/forward/prev... A new Congress & POTUS will have to enforce transparency.
us12.forward-to-friend.com/forward/prev... A new Congress & POTUS will have to enforce transparency.
Tether, Trump and the Twisty Road to Transparency
us12.forward-to-friend.com
November 25, 2025 at 1:08 PM
“the United States has given up on its efforts to open up corporate registries, despite convincing arguments that shell companies from lax states like Nevada are a clear threat to national security.”
us12.forward-to-friend.com/forward/prev... A new Congress & POTUS will have to enforce transparency.
us12.forward-to-friend.com/forward/prev... A new Congress & POTUS will have to enforce transparency.
Reposted by Alexander Howard
Cannot overstate how, from my perch as a national-security reporter, this would have been an earth-shattering scandal in a prior era.
Billionaire Binance founder Changpeng Zhao, pardoned by Donald Trump, has been accused of facilitating millions of dollars’ worth of payments to Hamas in the wake of its attack on Israel on October 7 2023. Zhao also financed the Trump family's entrance into the cryptocurrency market.
Binance founder Changpeng Zhao accused of facilitating payments to Hamas
Crypto tycoon pardoned by Donald Trump faces US court complaint from families of victims of October 7 attack
www.ft.com
November 25, 2025 at 4:33 AM
Cannot overstate how, from my perch as a national-security reporter, this would have been an earth-shattering scandal in a prior era.
🦃 acquired
Area birds 🕊️🐓🦜🪿🦆🦃
…unamused.
Area birds 🕊️🐓🦜🪿🦆🦃
…unamused.
November 24, 2025 at 9:26 PM
🦃 acquired
Area birds 🕊️🐓🦜🪿🦆🦃
…unamused.
Area birds 🕊️🐓🦜🪿🦆🦃
…unamused.
Reposted by Alexander Howard
NEW: When RFK Jr. first told Trump that Tylenol might cause autism, the president wanted to tweet out a warning. Kennedy told him not to do that. There was nuance, and the drug companies would push back. “I don’t give a shit about that,” Trump responded. www.theatlantic.com/magazine/202...
The Most Powerful Man in Science
Why is Robert F. Kennedy Jr. so convinced he’s right?
www.theatlantic.com
November 24, 2025 at 2:18 AM
NEW: When RFK Jr. first told Trump that Tylenol might cause autism, the president wanted to tweet out a warning. Kennedy told him not to do that. There was nuance, and the drug companies would push back. “I don’t give a shit about that,” Trump responded. www.theatlantic.com/magazine/202...
Grilled sirloin, shaved thin, with caramelized onions, fresh arugula, melted Muenster cheese, & horseradish cream sauce over - a sliced & toasted baguette, with a dip on the side. (Dear reader, I ate the whole thing.) #WhatsCooking?
November 24, 2025 at 1:11 AM
Grilled sirloin, shaved thin, with caramelized onions, fresh arugula, melted Muenster cheese, & horseradish cream sauce over - a sliced & toasted baguette, with a dip on the side. (Dear reader, I ate the whole thing.) #WhatsCooking?
Reposted by Alexander Howard
Meta halted internal research that purportedly showed (young) people who stopped using Facebook became less depressed and anxious, according to an unredacted legal filing released on Friday. www.cnbc.com/2025/11/23/m...
Meta halted internal research suggesting social media harm, court filing alleges
Meta is alleged to have halted internal research suggesting social media harm, according to court documents.
www.cnbc.com
November 24, 2025 at 12:31 AM
Meta halted internal research that purportedly showed (young) people who stopped using Facebook became less depressed and anxious, according to an unredacted legal filing released on Friday. www.cnbc.com/2025/11/23/m...
“if platforms don’t change the incentives, ordinary users will stay exactly what the system has optimized us to be: the marks in an unyielding battle for attention in which grifters & companies profit from pitting Americans against each other”—@noupside
agentsofinfluence.substack.com/p/on-the-int...
agentsofinfluence.substack.com/p/on-the-int...
November 24, 2025 at 1:00 AM
“if platforms don’t change the incentives, ordinary users will stay exactly what the system has optimized us to be: the marks in an unyielding battle for attention in which grifters & companies profit from pitting Americans against each other”—@noupside
agentsofinfluence.substack.com/p/on-the-int...
agentsofinfluence.substack.com/p/on-the-int...
Draw attention to news that matters.
Pay for journalism that you value.
Donate to nonprofits that do good work.
Cite scholarship that enlightens.
Vote for politicians who earn your trust.
Link to the original source.
Stay curious & humble.
Be kind, when you can.
Love your people while they’re alive.
Pay for journalism that you value.
Donate to nonprofits that do good work.
Cite scholarship that enlightens.
Vote for politicians who earn your trust.
Link to the original source.
Stay curious & humble.
Be kind, when you can.
Love your people while they’re alive.
November 22, 2025 at 5:54 PM
Draw attention to news that matters.
Pay for journalism that you value.
Donate to nonprofits that do good work.
Cite scholarship that enlightens.
Vote for politicians who earn your trust.
Link to the original source.
Stay curious & humble.
Be kind, when you can.
Love your people while they’re alive.
Pay for journalism that you value.
Donate to nonprofits that do good work.
Cite scholarship that enlightens.
Vote for politicians who earn your trust.
Link to the original source.
Stay curious & humble.
Be kind, when you can.
Love your people while they’re alive.
Reposted by Alexander Howard
NEW: In my OUR LAND newsletter, I examine how Donald Trump's brazen corruption extends beyond the White House and can poison the nation.
link.motherjones.com/public/42674...
Appreciate kick-ass reporting and analysis? You can sign up for a FREE trial subscription to OUR LAND at davidcorn.com.
link.motherjones.com/public/42674...
Appreciate kick-ass reporting and analysis? You can sign up for a FREE trial subscription to OUR LAND at davidcorn.com.
November 22, 2025 at 3:19 PM
NEW: In my OUR LAND newsletter, I examine how Donald Trump's brazen corruption extends beyond the White House and can poison the nation.
link.motherjones.com/public/42674...
Appreciate kick-ass reporting and analysis? You can sign up for a FREE trial subscription to OUR LAND at davidcorn.com.
link.motherjones.com/public/42674...
Appreciate kick-ass reporting and analysis? You can sign up for a FREE trial subscription to OUR LAND at davidcorn.com.
“there are about 42,000 journalists in the U.S., the vast majority performing ethically & honorably for newspapers large & small, television newscasts, community news startups, public radio stations &, in a few cases, independent newsletters & blogs”- @dankennedy.net dankennedy.net/2025/11/22/m...
November 22, 2025 at 2:54 PM
“there are about 42,000 journalists in the U.S., the vast majority performing ethically & honorably for newspapers large & small, television newscasts, community news startups, public radio stations &, in a few cases, independent newsletters & blogs”- @dankennedy.net dankennedy.net/2025/11/22/m...
Reposted by Alexander Howard
Gift link: wapo.st/43FXQfO
detailed WashPost account of how Trump and Stephen Miller sidelined serious lawyers so they could fabricate a justification for committing murder
www.washingtonpost.com/national-sec...
www.washingtonpost.com/national-sec...
White House blew past legal concerns in deadly strikes on drug boats
The Trump administration sidestepped skeptical lawyers across national security agencies as it pursued a military campaign against alleged narcotraffickers, officials say.
www.washingtonpost.com
November 22, 2025 at 2:30 PM
Gift link: wapo.st/43FXQfO
This past week showed once again that:
- everyone needs an editor
- no one knows what will happen in US politics in 2025
- journalism remains the immune system of democracy
- Russian influence on American foreign policy in Ukraine merits far more public debate
- vaccines don’t cause autism
- ?
- everyone needs an editor
- no one knows what will happen in US politics in 2025
- journalism remains the immune system of democracy
- Russian influence on American foreign policy in Ukraine merits far more public debate
- vaccines don’t cause autism
- ?
November 22, 2025 at 2:29 PM
This past week showed once again that:
- everyone needs an editor
- no one knows what will happen in US politics in 2025
- journalism remains the immune system of democracy
- Russian influence on American foreign policy in Ukraine merits far more public debate
- vaccines don’t cause autism
- ?
- everyone needs an editor
- no one knows what will happen in US politics in 2025
- journalism remains the immune system of democracy
- Russian influence on American foreign policy in Ukraine merits far more public debate
- vaccines don’t cause autism
- ?
Reposted by Alexander Howard
We spent a year investigating billionaires for @washingtonpost.com.
We found: the wealthiest 100 Americans gave $1.1 billion to influence the 2024 elections — 140x more than they did in 2000. And almost all of that giving boosted Republicans.
washingtonpost.com/politics/int...
We found: the wealthiest 100 Americans gave $1.1 billion to influence the 2024 elections — 140x more than they did in 2000. And almost all of that giving boosted Republicans.
washingtonpost.com/politics/int...
November 21, 2025 at 2:56 PM
We spent a year investigating billionaires for @washingtonpost.com.
We found: the wealthiest 100 Americans gave $1.1 billion to influence the 2024 elections — 140x more than they did in 2000. And almost all of that giving boosted Republicans.
washingtonpost.com/politics/int...
We found: the wealthiest 100 Americans gave $1.1 billion to influence the 2024 elections — 140x more than they did in 2000. And almost all of that giving boosted Republicans.
washingtonpost.com/politics/int...
Reposted by Alexander Howard
The Court today ruled what we have known all along: the federal occupation of the District is unlawful, unwelcome, and unjust.
This is a victory for democracy, and a victory for DC and our 700K residents who have stood united for our right to self-govern.
Thank you, AG Schwalb.
This is a victory for democracy, and a victory for DC and our 700K residents who have stood united for our right to self-govern.
Thank you, AG Schwalb.
NEW: The Court has ruled that the National Guard deployment to DC is illegal and granted a preliminary injunction.
As we made clear from the beginning: the US military should not be policing American citizens on American soil.
This is a victory for DC, Home Rule, and American democracy.
As we made clear from the beginning: the US military should not be policing American citizens on American soil.
This is a victory for DC, Home Rule, and American democracy.
November 20, 2025 at 9:38 PM
The Court today ruled what we have known all along: the federal occupation of the District is unlawful, unwelcome, and unjust.
This is a victory for democracy, and a victory for DC and our 700K residents who have stood united for our right to self-govern.
Thank you, AG Schwalb.
This is a victory for democracy, and a victory for DC and our 700K residents who have stood united for our right to self-govern.
Thank you, AG Schwalb.
Reposted by Alexander Howard
For what it’s worth, as a commander and officer it was my duty, moral obligation, and legal requirement to first question and then to not obey any illegal order I was given.
The same is true for everyone who swear their oath.
Hope that clears things up.
The same is true for everyone who swear their oath.
Hope that clears things up.
November 20, 2025 at 10:16 PM
For what it’s worth, as a commander and officer it was my duty, moral obligation, and legal requirement to first question and then to not obey any illegal order I was given.
The same is true for everyone who swear their oath.
Hope that clears things up.
The same is true for everyone who swear their oath.
Hope that clears things up.
Reposted by Alexander Howard
NEW AP INVESTIGATION: With license plate readers and local law enforcement partnerships, Border Patrol is monitoring American drivers and detaining those exhibiting ‘suspicious’ travel patterns in the U.S. interior. w/
@garanceburke.bsky.social. apnews.com/article/immi...
@garanceburke.bsky.social. apnews.com/article/immi...
Border Patrol is monitoring US drivers and detaining those with 'suspicious' travel patterns
The U.S. Border Patrol is monitoring millions of American drivers nationwide in a secretive program to identify and detain people whose travel patterns it deems suspicious.
apnews.com
November 20, 2025 at 5:48 PM
NEW AP INVESTIGATION: With license plate readers and local law enforcement partnerships, Border Patrol is monitoring American drivers and detaining those exhibiting ‘suspicious’ travel patterns in the U.S. interior. w/
@garanceburke.bsky.social. apnews.com/article/immi...
@garanceburke.bsky.social. apnews.com/article/immi...
In Texas, “the all-time worst gerrymander in the modern era of voting rights” is toast.
An “improper instruction from the Trump Department of Justice to use race led a Trump-appointed judge to strike down a plan demanded by Trump himself”
open.substack.com/pub/samwang/...
86 racial gerrymandering.
An “improper instruction from the Trump Department of Justice to use race led a Trump-appointed judge to strike down a plan demanded by Trump himself”
open.substack.com/pub/samwang/...
86 racial gerrymandering.
Texas Toast
Are the mid-decade redistricting wars winding down?
open.substack.com
November 19, 2025 at 2:15 PM
In Texas, “the all-time worst gerrymander in the modern era of voting rights” is toast.
An “improper instruction from the Trump Department of Justice to use race led a Trump-appointed judge to strike down a plan demanded by Trump himself”
open.substack.com/pub/samwang/...
86 racial gerrymandering.
An “improper instruction from the Trump Department of Justice to use race led a Trump-appointed judge to strike down a plan demanded by Trump himself”
open.substack.com/pub/samwang/...
86 racial gerrymandering.
Reposted by Alexander Howard
wrote about the president’s flagrant and destructive corruption in a column that references street fighter, the simpsons, machiavelli, and a host of revolutionary-era americans (gift link)
Opinion | The White House Gold Rush Is On
www.nytimes.com
November 19, 2025 at 11:51 AM
wrote about the president’s flagrant and destructive corruption in a column that references street fighter, the simpsons, machiavelli, and a host of revolutionary-era americans (gift link)
Reposted by Alexander Howard
JUST IN: A federal appeals court panel (with 2/3 Trump appointees) calls his lawsuit against CNN — over use of the term Big Lie — "meritless" and affirms the decision by a lower court to throw it out. s3.documentcloud.org/documents/26...
November 18, 2025 at 3:26 PM
JUST IN: A federal appeals court panel (with 2/3 Trump appointees) calls his lawsuit against CNN — over use of the term Big Lie — "meritless" and affirms the decision by a lower court to throw it out. s3.documentcloud.org/documents/26...
Reposted by Alexander Howard
Tracking the spread of bird flu using genetic markers, satellite imagery, property records, and more reminds me of John Snow’s Cholera investigation/map. Howe’s Hens is the modern day Broad Street Pump. Amazing work from @natlash.bsky.social & @chrisalcantara.com. www.propublica.org/article/meth...
November 18, 2025 at 1:32 PM
Tracking the spread of bird flu using genetic markers, satellite imagery, property records, and more reminds me of John Snow’s Cholera investigation/map. Howe’s Hens is the modern day Broad Street Pump. Amazing work from @natlash.bsky.social & @chrisalcantara.com. www.propublica.org/article/meth...
The Trump Administration “denied causing… harm, even as it has made the scale of the damage harder to measure—halting data monitoring & dismissing inspectors general who might have documented it.”— @agawande.bsky.social
“This is common in cases of public man-made death.”
Authoritarian blindness.
“This is common in cases of public man-made death.”
Authoritarian blindness.
The Shutdown of U.S.A.I.D. Has Already Killed Hundreds of Thousands
The short documentary “Rovina’s Choice” tells the story of what goes when aid goes.
www.newyorker.com
November 16, 2025 at 1:42 PM
The Trump Administration “denied causing… harm, even as it has made the scale of the damage harder to measure—halting data monitoring & dismissing inspectors general who might have documented it.”— @agawande.bsky.social
“This is common in cases of public man-made death.”
Authoritarian blindness.
“This is common in cases of public man-made death.”
Authoritarian blindness.
Reposted by Alexander Howard
"That about-face, as much as any action Ms. Bondi has taken this year, demonstrated the near-complete breakdown of the Justice Department’s traditional independence to prosecute cases based on facts and the law, as opposed to presidential fiat."
The rule of law is breaking down in front of us.
The rule of law is breaking down in front of us.
Four months ago, Bondi's DOJ declared that Epstein files warranted no further investigation. But it took Bondi four hours to open an investigation anyway once Trump demanded--and only into Democrats @ericalgj.bsky.social @glennthrush.bsky.social @alanfeuer.bsky.social www.nytimes.com/2025/11/14/u...
Justice Department to Investigate Epstein Ties, but Not to Trump
www.nytimes.com
November 16, 2025 at 2:26 AM
"That about-face, as much as any action Ms. Bondi has taken this year, demonstrated the near-complete breakdown of the Justice Department’s traditional independence to prosecute cases based on facts and the law, as opposed to presidential fiat."
The rule of law is breaking down in front of us.
The rule of law is breaking down in front of us.
Reposted by Alexander Howard
No crypto! Just old-fashioned corruption
www.propublica.org/article/kris...
www.propublica.org/article/kris...
Firm Tied to Kristi Noem Secretly Got Money From $220 Million DHS Ad Contracts
The company is run by the husband of Noem’s chief DHS spokesperson and has personal and business ties to Noem and her aides. DHS invoked the “emergency” at the border to skirt competitive bidding rule...
www.propublica.org
November 15, 2025 at 10:03 PM
No crypto! Just old-fashioned corruption
www.propublica.org/article/kris...
www.propublica.org/article/kris...