Jared Holt
@jaredlholt.bsky.social
Senior researcher at @openmeasures.bsky.social
Co-host of "Posting Through It," a weekly podcast: https://www.patreon.com/PostingThroughIt
Co-host of "Posting Through It," a weekly podcast: https://www.patreon.com/PostingThroughIt
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079: A Super Bowl to Call Our Own | Posting Through It
Get more from Posting Through It on Patreon
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On this week's PTI premium episode, we reviewed how TPUSA's "All-American Halftime Show" came into existence and the fractures it illuminated across MAGA media.
Sign up for our Patreon to access this one (and 23 other premium episodes). Support independent media!
www.patreon.com/posts/079-su...
Sign up for our Patreon to access this one (and 23 other premium episodes). Support independent media!
www.patreon.com/posts/079-su...
I believe in elite business circles this move is known as “taking the money and running”
Wait, Casey Wasserman is putting his *entire* agency up for sale so he can... focus on LA28?
"I have begun the process of selling the company, an effort that is already underway" to "devote my full attention to delivering Los Angeles an Olympic Games in 2028 that is worthy of this outstanding city"
"I have begun the process of selling the company, an effort that is already underway" to "devote my full attention to delivering Los Angeles an Olympic Games in 2028 that is worthy of this outstanding city"
Wasserman For Sale! LA28 Boss Selling Agency To Focus On Olympics Amidst Epstein Fallout; “I Believe That I Have Become A Distraction”
Casey Wasserman is putting his entire agency on the auction block as the fallout from revelations of his relationships with Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell continues
deadline.com
February 14, 2026 at 5:06 AM
I believe in elite business circles this move is known as “taking the money and running”
Reposted by Jared Holt
Senior researcher @jaredlholt.bsky.social spoke to @kattenbarge.bsky.social about Jeffrey Epstein's apparent fascination with 4chan and racist pseudoscience, sharing thoughts on what the latest batch of "Epstein Files" do and don't tell us about Epstein's relationship to the online far-right
Jeffrey Epstein might not have created /pol/, but he helped carry out its mission
Jeffrey Epstein might not have created /pol/, but he helped carry out its mission
4chan combined things the sex trafficker loved, like white supremacy and misogyny, and he was close to alt-right figures who drew from it to influence the world stage.
buff.ly
February 13, 2026 at 5:46 PM
Senior researcher @jaredlholt.bsky.social spoke to @kattenbarge.bsky.social about Jeffrey Epstein's apparent fascination with 4chan and racist pseudoscience, sharing thoughts on what the latest batch of "Epstein Files" do and don't tell us about Epstein's relationship to the online far-right
Reposted by Jared Holt
New "Standing Room Only"! Nicki Minaj is turning into Kid Rock. People are understandably confused, because she actually has talent.
But I have some theories why. And lots of mockery for Kid Rock in the process.
youtu.be/esu__KoG_bw?...
But I have some theories why. And lots of mockery for Kid Rock in the process.
youtu.be/esu__KoG_bw?...
Why washed-up celebs go MAGA
YouTube video by Salon
youtu.be
February 13, 2026 at 11:49 AM
New "Standing Room Only"! Nicki Minaj is turning into Kid Rock. People are understandably confused, because she actually has talent.
But I have some theories why. And lots of mockery for Kid Rock in the process.
youtu.be/esu__KoG_bw?...
But I have some theories why. And lots of mockery for Kid Rock in the process.
youtu.be/esu__KoG_bw?...
Reposted by Jared Holt
On this week's PTI premium episode, we reviewed how TPUSA's "All-American Halftime Show" came into existence and the fractures it illuminated across MAGA media.
Sign up for our Patreon to access this one (and 23 other premium episodes). Support independent media!
www.patreon.com/posts/079-su...
Sign up for our Patreon to access this one (and 23 other premium episodes). Support independent media!
www.patreon.com/posts/079-su...
079: A Super Bowl to Call Our Own | Posting Through It
Get more from Posting Through It on Patreon
www.patreon.com
February 12, 2026 at 6:08 PM
On this week's PTI premium episode, we reviewed how TPUSA's "All-American Halftime Show" came into existence and the fractures it illuminated across MAGA media.
Sign up for our Patreon to access this one (and 23 other premium episodes). Support independent media!
www.patreon.com/posts/079-su...
Sign up for our Patreon to access this one (and 23 other premium episodes). Support independent media!
www.patreon.com/posts/079-su...
Generative AI can do that stuff and more, looking at the image, computing along the lines of “what sort of looks like that?”, and then painting in new details. That can be great when I’m taking blemishes out of a portrait, but it has no place being used to “investigate” anything. It’s not magic.
February 12, 2026 at 10:10 PM
Generative AI can do that stuff and more, looking at the image, computing along the lines of “what sort of looks like that?”, and then painting in new details. That can be great when I’m taking blemishes out of a portrait, but it has no place being used to “investigate” anything. It’s not magic.
If you’ve got an ultra blurry or a low-res image there is a real limit to what you can salvage from it. You might have better luck with a high-res file, since you’ve got more information to try to emphasis details with. The software is basically just doing math problems on the pixel level
February 12, 2026 at 10:04 PM
If you’ve got an ultra blurry or a low-res image there is a real limit to what you can salvage from it. You might have better luck with a high-res file, since you’ve got more information to try to emphasis details with. The software is basically just doing math problems on the pixel level
Enlarging generates new pixels. A standard enlargement does this with a formula so it basically prints copies of what already exists. Sharpening increases contrast between pixels to create the illusion of a “clearer” image. It can be useful but the material still has to exist in the first place.
February 12, 2026 at 10:04 PM
Enlarging generates new pixels. A standard enlargement does this with a formula so it basically prints copies of what already exists. Sharpening increases contrast between pixels to create the illusion of a “clearer” image. It can be useful but the material still has to exist in the first place.
There is no tool that "enhances" images the way they do on TV crime dramas. Period. An image file either has that information in it or it does not.
The way these tools work is taking the photo you feed it and hallucinating a new one. Fine if you want a pretty picture, but NOT an investigative tool
The way these tools work is taking the photo you feed it and hallucinating a new one. Fine if you want a pretty picture, but NOT an investigative tool
February 12, 2026 at 8:42 PM
There is no tool that "enhances" images the way they do on TV crime dramas. Period. An image file either has that information in it or it does not.
The way these tools work is taking the photo you feed it and hallucinating a new one. Fine if you want a pretty picture, but NOT an investigative tool
The way these tools work is taking the photo you feed it and hallucinating a new one. Fine if you want a pretty picture, but NOT an investigative tool
Really smart take here. A good amount of harm that generative AI is producing in modern society is coming from the fact that a ton of people (sometimes including police) have bought into fantasies about what the technology can actually do.
Today's newsletter: New piece: after the Guthrie kidnapping, the Kirk assassination, and both Minneapolis shootings, the same thing happened every time. People asked AI to "enhance" blurry footage. AI invented faces.
www.readtpa.com/p/computer-e...
www.readtpa.com/p/computer-e...
Computer, Enhance
People keep running crime footage through AI thinking they’re helping. They’re not.
www.readtpa.com
February 12, 2026 at 8:34 PM
Really smart take here. A good amount of harm that generative AI is producing in modern society is coming from the fact that a ton of people (sometimes including police) have bought into fantasies about what the technology can actually do.
Side note: Now that we've done a few butt-rock gags, I'm learning that @michaelehayden.bsky.social can do album-ready vocals in that genre without even trying
February 12, 2026 at 6:11 PM
Side note: Now that we've done a few butt-rock gags, I'm learning that @michaelehayden.bsky.social can do album-ready vocals in that genre without even trying
On this week's PTI premium episode, we reviewed how TPUSA's "All-American Halftime Show" came into existence and the fractures it illuminated across MAGA media.
Sign up for our Patreon to access this one (and 23 other premium episodes). Support independent media!
www.patreon.com/posts/079-su...
Sign up for our Patreon to access this one (and 23 other premium episodes). Support independent media!
www.patreon.com/posts/079-su...
079: A Super Bowl to Call Our Own | Posting Through It
Get more from Posting Through It on Patreon
www.patreon.com
February 12, 2026 at 6:08 PM
On this week's PTI premium episode, we reviewed how TPUSA's "All-American Halftime Show" came into existence and the fractures it illuminated across MAGA media.
Sign up for our Patreon to access this one (and 23 other premium episodes). Support independent media!
www.patreon.com/posts/079-su...
Sign up for our Patreon to access this one (and 23 other premium episodes). Support independent media!
www.patreon.com/posts/079-su...
lmao yes. she said it and immediately was like "well shoot, this show is over now, isn't it?"
February 12, 2026 at 5:53 PM
lmao yes. she said it and immediately was like "well shoot, this show is over now, isn't it?"
gotta be one of the weirdest ways I have ever seen that word used in my life
February 12, 2026 at 5:09 PM
gotta be one of the weirdest ways I have ever seen that word used in my life
Reposted by Jared Holt
Made an annotated version of "Something Big Is Coming" for all of you to enjoy. I hate this guy's writing so much
www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/qw6k5...
www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/qw6k5...
February 12, 2026 at 3:26 PM
Made an annotated version of "Something Big Is Coming" for all of you to enjoy. I hate this guy's writing so much
www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/qw6k5...
www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/qw6k5...
Reposted by Jared Holt
February 11, 2026 at 7:30 PM
Reposted by Jared Holt
More than 400 people, including hundreds of citizens, were “sorted” at gun point into racial and ethnic groups by 200 ICE agents who fired flash-bang grenades into cars with people inside, pointed guns at children & demanded their zip tied parents not comfort them. apple.news/Ausdx6kWtT0e...
Idaho families sue over immigration raid that swept up hundreds, including U.S. citizens — NBC News
About 400 people, including children and U.S. citizens, were detained for four hours while they were denied food and water in the raid, according to the lawsuit.
apple.news
February 12, 2026 at 1:35 AM
More than 400 people, including hundreds of citizens, were “sorted” at gun point into racial and ethnic groups by 200 ICE agents who fired flash-bang grenades into cars with people inside, pointed guns at children & demanded their zip tied parents not comfort them. apple.news/Ausdx6kWtT0e...
Reposted by Jared Holt
JUST IN: U.S. Customs and Border Protection says Border Patrol agent Charles Exum, who shot Chicago's Marimar Martinez, "was placed on administrative leave":
February 11, 2026 at 10:27 PM
JUST IN: U.S. Customs and Border Protection says Border Patrol agent Charles Exum, who shot Chicago's Marimar Martinez, "was placed on administrative leave":
oh man -- did not know that!
February 11, 2026 at 7:45 PM
oh man -- did not know that!
You're seeing this in a lot of nonprofits right now too. "Strategic realignment" or "refocusing our priories"... often times that reflects valid realities they can't talk about, like funding cuts or new donor priorities. But dodging follow-up questions about it comes off to most people as sketchy!
February 11, 2026 at 7:45 PM
You're seeing this in a lot of nonprofits right now too. "Strategic realignment" or "refocusing our priories"... often times that reflects valid realities they can't talk about, like funding cuts or new donor priorities. But dodging follow-up questions about it comes off to most people as sketchy!
Pure and meaningless corporate mumbo-jumbo. Read into it what you will, but what stands out to me is that Gallup wouldn't answer a very simple yes-or-no question on whether the Trump Administration complained to them about their findings
February 11, 2026 at 7:39 PM
Pure and meaningless corporate mumbo-jumbo. Read into it what you will, but what stands out to me is that Gallup wouldn't answer a very simple yes-or-no question on whether the Trump Administration complained to them about their findings
Also, from what I can tell in our data, Libs of TikTok has been getting more popular on Truth Social since late last year. Not sure what changed, but people on that platform have really been getting into her posts lately. This is the number of her posts shared 500+ times each, totaled per week
February 11, 2026 at 6:30 PM
Also, from what I can tell in our data, Libs of TikTok has been getting more popular on Truth Social since late last year. Not sure what changed, but people on that platform have really been getting into her posts lately. This is the number of her posts shared 500+ times each, totaled per week
Also... who's racking up the engagement there? Sure, there are some influencers and media companies doing numbers. But the lion's share of what we saw last week came from GOP officials.
bsky.app/profile/open...
bsky.app/profile/open...
Of the posts that were re-shared 500+ times on Truth Social last week, more than half came from Republican government officials. The second-biggest share came from self-styled MAGA influencers, followed by conservative media outlets and random users whose posts were shared by larger accounts.
February 11, 2026 at 6:19 PM
Also... who's racking up the engagement there? Sure, there are some influencers and media companies doing numbers. But the lion's share of what we saw last week came from GOP officials.
bsky.app/profile/open...
bsky.app/profile/open...
Sort of wild to see that Libs of TikTok content had more hits on Truth Social than the official White House account did last week.
It's no surprise that President Trump's posts consistently perform well on Truth Social. He owns the platform. But who else sees heavy engagement on the site?
Our researchers found 619 posts that were re-shared 500+ times in the last week. Second behind Trump? Anti-LGBTQ+ account Libs of TikTok.
Our researchers found 619 posts that were re-shared 500+ times in the last week. Second behind Trump? Anti-LGBTQ+ account Libs of TikTok.
February 11, 2026 at 6:17 PM
Sort of wild to see that Libs of TikTok content had more hits on Truth Social than the official White House account did last week.
Reposted by Jared Holt
My favorite current podcast.
ICYMI - We released another edition of our "Who the Hell?" biographical series on Steven Crowder. It chronicles his start in acting and stand-up comedy, explores his pivot into politics, and traces how his rise into conservative podcasting stardom (and the poor decisions now catching up to him)
Who the Hell is Steven Crowder? The latest installment in our longform biography series features Byron from @thancrowder.bsky.social to explore how a Canadian kid with Hollywood dreams wound up becoming one of the biggest right-wing podcasters to ever do it
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/p...
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/p...
February 11, 2026 at 4:37 PM
My favorite current podcast.
ICYMI - We released another edition of our "Who the Hell?" biographical series on Steven Crowder. It chronicles his start in acting and stand-up comedy, explores his pivot into politics, and traces how his rise into conservative podcasting stardom (and the poor decisions now catching up to him)
Who the Hell is Steven Crowder? The latest installment in our longform biography series features Byron from @thancrowder.bsky.social to explore how a Canadian kid with Hollywood dreams wound up becoming one of the biggest right-wing podcasters to ever do it
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/p...
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/p...
078: Who the Hell is Steven Crowder? feat. Byron McKoy
Podcast Episode · Posting Through It · 02/09/2026 · 2h 28m
podcasts.apple.com
February 11, 2026 at 3:45 PM
ICYMI - We released another edition of our "Who the Hell?" biographical series on Steven Crowder. It chronicles his start in acting and stand-up comedy, explores his pivot into politics, and traces how his rise into conservative podcasting stardom (and the poor decisions now catching up to him)