Joshua Benton
@joshuabenton.com
21st-century media and the 19th-c American South. Founded and ran @niemanlab.org at @harvard.edu for 12 yrs; now the senior writer there. Cajun, dad of two, husband of one. Journalist with a history problem. Also: @theatlantic.com, @washingtonpost.com, etc
Reposted by Joshua Benton
A typically excellent @joshuabenton.com piece today, on the demise of Pittsburgh’s only daily newspaper. (I also learned that the Toledo Blade had a London bureau til 1983!)
Via @niemanlab.org
www.niemanlab.org/2026/01/will...
Via @niemanlab.org
www.niemanlab.org/2026/01/will...
Will Pittsburgh become America’s most important city without a newspaper?
One of the country's oldest newspapers, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, says it's shutting down in May. Not going digital-only — just disappearing. But the delayed closure could also spur some long-delay...
www.niemanlab.org
January 8, 2026 at 7:11 PM
A typically excellent @joshuabenton.com piece today, on the demise of Pittsburgh’s only daily newspaper. (I also learned that the Toledo Blade had a London bureau til 1983!)
Via @niemanlab.org
www.niemanlab.org/2026/01/will...
Via @niemanlab.org
www.niemanlab.org/2026/01/will...
Reposted by Joshua Benton
The Post-Gazette was the last newspaper in the most populous swing state with a full-time presence in the nation's capital, including a desk in the Senate Press Gallery and a reporter, @samjanesch.bsky.social, and a columnist (me) focusing on Western Pennsylvania and the rest of the state.
New by me —>
Will Pittsburgh become America’s most important city without a newspaper? Or will the @post-gazette.com shutting down in May spur some long-delayed action?
www.niemanlab.org/2026/01/will...
Will Pittsburgh become America’s most important city without a newspaper? Or will the @post-gazette.com shutting down in May spur some long-delayed action?
www.niemanlab.org/2026/01/will...
Will Pittsburgh become America’s most important city without a newspaper?
One of the country's oldest newspapers, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, says it's shutting down in May. Not going digital-only — just closing. But the delayed closure could also spur some long-delayed ac...
www.niemanlab.org
January 7, 2026 at 11:00 PM
The Post-Gazette was the last newspaper in the most populous swing state with a full-time presence in the nation's capital, including a desk in the Senate Press Gallery and a reporter, @samjanesch.bsky.social, and a columnist (me) focusing on Western Pennsylvania and the rest of the state.
Reposted by Joshua Benton
An off-duty ICE agent was just confronted in Minneapolis after people noticed a Nazi SS lightning bolt tattoo on his neck.
If you’re proud enough to ink it on your neck, why are you running when people notice?
If you’re proud enough to ink it on your neck, why are you running when people notice?
January 6, 2026 at 5:15 PM
An off-duty ICE agent was just confronted in Minneapolis after people noticed a Nazi SS lightning bolt tattoo on his neck.
If you’re proud enough to ink it on your neck, why are you running when people notice?
If you’re proud enough to ink it on your neck, why are you running when people notice?
Reposted by Joshua Benton
The convenience of Grok is definitely not an incidental issue. Despite the modern mobile web, entire tech companies live and die on having iOS/Android apps b/c users fall off at the slightest bit of friction
Smoothing the UI/UX of their nonconsensual porn generator is a choice made by xAI & Elon
Smoothing the UI/UX of their nonconsensual porn generator is a choice made by xAI & Elon
X basically industrialized the creation of fake porn of women who don't consent. Others did it first, but Grok made it normalized and centralized: publicly visible, instantly creatable by anyone, regardless of who's being targeted and dehumanized. Only question now is will X suffer any consequences
January 7, 2026 at 1:32 PM
The convenience of Grok is definitely not an incidental issue. Despite the modern mobile web, entire tech companies live and die on having iOS/Android apps b/c users fall off at the slightest bit of friction
Smoothing the UI/UX of their nonconsensual porn generator is a choice made by xAI & Elon
Smoothing the UI/UX of their nonconsensual porn generator is a choice made by xAI & Elon
Reposted by Joshua Benton
Great piece with history and context —
New by me —>
Will Pittsburgh become America’s most important city without a newspaper? Or will the @post-gazette.com shutting down in May spur some long-delayed action?
www.niemanlab.org/2026/01/will...
Will Pittsburgh become America’s most important city without a newspaper? Or will the @post-gazette.com shutting down in May spur some long-delayed action?
www.niemanlab.org/2026/01/will...
Will Pittsburgh become America’s most important city without a newspaper?
One of the country's oldest newspapers, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, says it's shutting down in May. Not going digital-only — just closing. But the delayed closure could also spur some long-delayed ac...
www.niemanlab.org
January 7, 2026 at 10:19 PM
Great piece with history and context —
New by me —>
Will Pittsburgh become America’s most important city without a newspaper? Or will the @post-gazette.com shutting down in May spur some long-delayed action?
www.niemanlab.org/2026/01/will...
Will Pittsburgh become America’s most important city without a newspaper? Or will the @post-gazette.com shutting down in May spur some long-delayed action?
www.niemanlab.org/2026/01/will...
Will Pittsburgh become America’s most important city without a newspaper?
One of the country's oldest newspapers, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, says it's shutting down in May. Not going digital-only — just closing. But the delayed closure could also spur some long-delayed ac...
www.niemanlab.org
January 7, 2026 at 10:00 PM
New by me —>
Will Pittsburgh become America’s most important city without a newspaper? Or will the @post-gazette.com shutting down in May spur some long-delayed action?
www.niemanlab.org/2026/01/will...
Will Pittsburgh become America’s most important city without a newspaper? Or will the @post-gazette.com shutting down in May spur some long-delayed action?
www.niemanlab.org/2026/01/will...
Reposted by Joshua Benton
We @niemanlab.org published 210 predictions for journalism this year. It was our biggest (and @joshuabenton.com says best) batch yet.
If you're not a future of news sicko who's already read every one, we've highlighted some of the most notable for you here. www.niemanlab.org/2026/01/what...
If you're not a future of news sicko who's already read every one, we've highlighted some of the most notable for you here. www.niemanlab.org/2026/01/what...
What’s coming for news in 2026? These predictions offer a clue
The inspiration you need for the new year? It's all in here.
www.niemanlab.org
January 6, 2026 at 9:49 PM
We @niemanlab.org published 210 predictions for journalism this year. It was our biggest (and @joshuabenton.com says best) batch yet.
If you're not a future of news sicko who's already read every one, we've highlighted some of the most notable for you here. www.niemanlab.org/2026/01/what...
If you're not a future of news sicko who's already read every one, we've highlighted some of the most notable for you here. www.niemanlab.org/2026/01/what...
Reposted by Joshua Benton
We haven't seen an Indiana squad turn back an Alabama offense this decisively since Antietam
January 1, 2026 at 10:23 PM
We haven't seen an Indiana squad turn back an Alabama offense this decisively since Antietam
Reposted by Joshua Benton
"A few weeks ago, I heard of a
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🙄
Opinion | You can’t be diverse if you exclude white men
Those year-end book lists that claim to be all about diversity often seem to miss this one major demographic, Annie Holmquist writes.
www.startribune.com
December 26, 2025 at 5:27 PM
"A few weeks ago, I heard of a
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🙄
Reposted by Joshua Benton
A great example of how the @nytimes.com centers white Americans and Trump supporters in its anecdotal political coverage. You never see stories like this about Black Democrats whose cities are cracked in Republican gerrymandering to give them Republican elected officials.
They Wanted a Conservative State. They Might Get a Democratic Representative Instead.
The passage of Proposition 50, which redrew California’s congressional map, means that all of the state’s conservative north is likely to be represented by Democrats.
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/26/u...
The passage of Proposition 50, which redrew California’s congressional map, means that all of the state’s conservative north is likely to be represented by Democrats.
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/26/u...
They Wanted a Conservative State. They Might Get a Democratic Representative Instead.
www.nytimes.com
December 26, 2025 at 1:13 PM
A great example of how the @nytimes.com centers white Americans and Trump supporters in its anecdotal political coverage. You never see stories like this about Black Democrats whose cities are cracked in Republican gerrymandering to give them Republican elected officials.
Reposted by Joshua Benton
People have no idea what a premium we have enjoyed and what losing it will cost us
This piece is a great illustration of how the long-term effect of Trump’s destruction of US institutions won’t be felt in a dramatic market collapse, but rather in permanently worse economic conditions, and lower prosperity.
giftarticle.ft.com/giftarticle/... So long, American exceptionalism
giftarticle.ft.com/giftarticle/... So long, American exceptionalism
So long, American exceptionalism
For the first time, investors are talking about ‘US risk’
giftarticle.ft.com
December 26, 2025 at 11:15 PM
People have no idea what a premium we have enjoyed and what losing it will cost us
Reposted by Joshua Benton
This administration lied about the people it sent to an overseas torture prison. It lies about the people it’s deporting. It lies every day to gain political advantage. Not a chance in hell they won’t lie about huge swaths of people they suspect might vote for the other party.
December 27, 2025 at 12:31 AM
This administration lied about the people it sent to an overseas torture prison. It lies about the people it’s deporting. It lies every day to gain political advantage. Not a chance in hell they won’t lie about huge swaths of people they suspect might vote for the other party.
Reposted by Joshua Benton
“Neff said four states with Republican secretaries of state — Arkansas, Indiana, Kansas and Wyoming — have “complied voluntarily” with the Justice Department’s demand without memoranda of understanding”🎁
December 27, 2025 at 12:20 AM
“Neff said four states with Republican secretaries of state — Arkansas, Indiana, Kansas and Wyoming — have “complied voluntarily” with the Justice Department’s demand without memoranda of understanding”🎁
Reposted by Joshua Benton
This is extremely dumb for a variety of reasons but perhaps the most obvious is that the Romans didn't apply their adoption law to grants of citizenship.
I cannot communicate how basic an error he is making here. Staggeringly elementary, a thing you learn in Roman Civ 101.
I cannot communicate how basic an error he is making here. Staggeringly elementary, a thing you learn in Roman Civ 101.
I had missed this latest delirium by Adrian Vermeule on birthright citizenship
'Common law?! NAH, it's the Roman law of adoption that should govern the interpretation of the 14th Amendment of the US Constitution!'
thenewdigest.substack.com/p/immigratio...
'Common law?! NAH, it's the Roman law of adoption that should govern the interpretation of the 14th Amendment of the US Constitution!'
thenewdigest.substack.com/p/immigratio...
December 27, 2025 at 12:47 AM
This is extremely dumb for a variety of reasons but perhaps the most obvious is that the Romans didn't apply their adoption law to grants of citizenship.
I cannot communicate how basic an error he is making here. Staggeringly elementary, a thing you learn in Roman Civ 101.
I cannot communicate how basic an error he is making here. Staggeringly elementary, a thing you learn in Roman Civ 101.
Reposted by Joshua Benton
some good climate/energy news:
* 96% of new US power capacity was carbon-free in 2024 (56 gigawatts!)
* 2025 included the first month ever when 51% of power on the U.S. grid was carbon-free
* The golbal trend is overwhelming: The world is now investing more $ in clean energy than fossil fuels
* 96% of new US power capacity was carbon-free in 2024 (56 gigawatts!)
* 2025 included the first month ever when 51% of power on the U.S. grid was carbon-free
* The golbal trend is overwhelming: The world is now investing more $ in clean energy than fossil fuels
Clean energy is going to win. It's just a question of when.
Clean energy is still winning. These 10 charts prove it.
Solar and wind are beating new power demand, steelmaking is slowly getting off coal, and more clean energy victories are clear in these charts.
www.canarymedia.com
December 26, 2025 at 2:09 PM
some good climate/energy news:
* 96% of new US power capacity was carbon-free in 2024 (56 gigawatts!)
* 2025 included the first month ever when 51% of power on the U.S. grid was carbon-free
* The golbal trend is overwhelming: The world is now investing more $ in clean energy than fossil fuels
* 96% of new US power capacity was carbon-free in 2024 (56 gigawatts!)
* 2025 included the first month ever when 51% of power on the U.S. grid was carbon-free
* The golbal trend is overwhelming: The world is now investing more $ in clean energy than fossil fuels
Reposted by Joshua Benton
"Every accusation is a confession" remains undefeated
I somehow missed this www.texasmonthly.com/being-texan/...
December 27, 2025 at 2:01 AM
"Every accusation is a confession" remains undefeated
Reposted by Joshua Benton
More seriously, as most readers here know I helped draft the CA billionaire tax initiative text and you just can't get out of it by setting up a couple of LLCs in Florida. We have thought about how to block these fake paper moves for 4 years.
Billionaires are considering cutting or reducing their ties to California by the end of the year because of a proposed ballot measure that could tax the state’s wealthiest residents.
A Wealth Tax Floated in California Has Billionaires Thinking of Leaving
It’s uncertain whether the proposal will reach the statewide ballot in November, but some billionaires like Peter Thiel and Larry Page may be unwilling to take the risk.
nyti.ms
December 27, 2025 at 2:03 AM
More seriously, as most readers here know I helped draft the CA billionaire tax initiative text and you just can't get out of it by setting up a couple of LLCs in Florida. We have thought about how to block these fake paper moves for 4 years.
Reposted by Joshua Benton
Trying to imagine how we’d get by without Peter Thiel.
Billionaires are considering cutting or reducing their ties to California by the end of the year because of a proposed ballot measure that could tax the state’s wealthiest residents.
A Wealth Tax Floated in California Has Billionaires Thinking of Leaving
It’s uncertain whether the proposal will reach the statewide ballot in November, but some billionaires like Peter Thiel and Larry Page may be unwilling to take the risk.
nyti.ms
December 27, 2025 at 4:13 AM
Trying to imagine how we’d get by without Peter Thiel.
Reposted by Joshua Benton
“Dr. McCoul is disappointed by the University’s unexplained decision to uphold her termination, but looks forward to pursuing her First Amendment, Due Process, and breach of contract claims in court very soon,” Reichek wrote in a statement.
www.texastribune.org/2025/12/24/t...
www.texastribune.org/2025/12/24/t...
Texas A&M won’t reinstate fired lecturer despite findings
A vice chancellor upheld the firing of Melissa McCoul, seen in a viral video being confronted by a student on her gender identity teachings, saying the termination was done with “good cause.”
www.texastribune.org
December 27, 2025 at 3:58 AM
“Dr. McCoul is disappointed by the University’s unexplained decision to uphold her termination, but looks forward to pursuing her First Amendment, Due Process, and breach of contract claims in court very soon,” Reichek wrote in a statement.
www.texastribune.org/2025/12/24/t...
www.texastribune.org/2025/12/24/t...
Reposted by Joshua Benton
"Ambitious white men in their thirties have not seen much, if any, decline over this period. Their overall employment is up...Educational attainment is up. There may be 1-2% of white men who dipped out of top 10% of personal earnings, though white men continue to be vastly over-represented there."
Incredible what you find when you start looking for data on the "white men can't get jobs anymore" phenomenon
www.peoplespolicyproject.org/2025/12/17/w...
www.peoplespolicyproject.org/2025/12/17/w...
What Does the Census Data Say About “The Lost Generation”
Savage appears wrong, but the reality is potentially bleaker.
www.peoplespolicyproject.org
December 26, 2025 at 12:32 AM
"Ambitious white men in their thirties have not seen much, if any, decline over this period. Their overall employment is up...Educational attainment is up. There may be 1-2% of white men who dipped out of top 10% of personal earnings, though white men continue to be vastly over-represented there."
Reposted by Joshua Benton
Incredible what you find when you start looking for data on the "white men can't get jobs anymore" phenomenon
www.peoplespolicyproject.org/2025/12/17/w...
www.peoplespolicyproject.org/2025/12/17/w...
What Does the Census Data Say About “The Lost Generation”
Savage appears wrong, but the reality is potentially bleaker.
www.peoplespolicyproject.org
December 25, 2025 at 11:15 PM
Incredible what you find when you start looking for data on the "white men can't get jobs anymore" phenomenon
www.peoplespolicyproject.org/2025/12/17/w...
www.peoplespolicyproject.org/2025/12/17/w...
Reposted by Joshua Benton
This is the answer to Trump’s litigation threats. Not capitulation. Discovery.
President Trump’s spiteful defamation suit against the Pulitzer Prize Board may backfire, as the latter is now demanding Trump’s psychological records, prescription medication records, and tax returns in the discovery process. trib.al/LUCScTR
December 26, 2025 at 2:54 AM
This is the answer to Trump’s litigation threats. Not capitulation. Discovery.
Reposted by Joshua Benton
GOP operatives Jacob Wohl and Jack Burkman, convicted election fraudsters, were paid $960,000 in the second quarter to secure a pardon for a former nursing-home operator who defrauded the government of $38 million. Trump pardoned the man, Joseph Schwartz, last month.
Inside the New Fast Track to a Presidential Pardon
Even some of the president’s closest advisers have been surprised by a number of the recent series of pardons.
www.wsj.com
December 25, 2025 at 10:35 PM
GOP operatives Jacob Wohl and Jack Burkman, convicted election fraudsters, were paid $960,000 in the second quarter to secure a pardon for a former nursing-home operator who defrauded the government of $38 million. Trump pardoned the man, Joseph Schwartz, last month.
Reposted by Joshua Benton
Even if you were unaware with how central Hans Von Spakovsky has been to right wing conspiracies about nonexistent “voter fraud,” you would still be right to think it’s a bad sign that someone named Hans Von Spakovsky thinks Heritage has gone too far to the right
This is a pretty shocking mass exodus. Heritage's legal department is basically a ghost ship at this point. And I have to imagine they'll really have to dredge the absolute bottom of the barrel to restaff it at this point. reason.com/volokh/2025/...
Breaking: Cully Stimson and Hans von Spakovsky Resign From Heritage
The Meese Center is basically empty now.
reason.com
December 22, 2025 at 11:01 PM
Even if you were unaware with how central Hans Von Spakovsky has been to right wing conspiracies about nonexistent “voter fraud,” you would still be right to think it’s a bad sign that someone named Hans Von Spakovsky thinks Heritage has gone too far to the right