Justin Baragona
@justinbaragona.bsky.social
Senior reporter at The Independent
Past: Zeteo media columnist, senior media reporter at The Daily Beast.
Tips/hate mail: [email protected]
You can also hit me up on Signal at 314.941.6421
Past: Zeteo media columnist, senior media reporter at The Daily Beast.
Tips/hate mail: [email protected]
You can also hit me up on Signal at 314.941.6421
I love how half the TV interviews involving the Trump administration are basically just Fox folks chatting with their old colleagues.
Duffy: "Trump talks about the golden age of transportation. But the golden age in transportation truly begins with you ... People dress up like they're going to bed when they fly ... so we want to push people as we come into a really busy travel season: Help people out, be in a good mood, dress up"
November 23, 2025 at 10:34 PM
I love how half the TV interviews involving the Trump administration are basically just Fox folks chatting with their old colleagues.
Now we know for a fact that our favorite MAGA grifter and Elon reply guy no longer lives in Malaysia and is instead taking up residence in Dubai.
November 23, 2025 at 2:33 PM
Now we know for a fact that our favorite MAGA grifter and Elon reply guy no longer lives in Malaysia and is instead taking up residence in Dubai.
Reposted by Justin Baragona
Pretty obvious what happened
Team Trump, high on their own supply and sympathetic to Russia, thought they could make Ukraine surrender and declare Trump a glorious peacemaker.
Then they got out of their bubble into reality, embarrassingly flopped, and are now scrambling to lie trying to save face.
Team Trump, high on their own supply and sympathetic to Russia, thought they could make Ukraine surrender and declare Trump a glorious peacemaker.
Then they got out of their bubble into reality, embarrassingly flopped, and are now scrambling to lie trying to save face.
November 23, 2025 at 3:10 AM
Pretty obvious what happened
Team Trump, high on their own supply and sympathetic to Russia, thought they could make Ukraine surrender and declare Trump a glorious peacemaker.
Then they got out of their bubble into reality, embarrassingly flopped, and are now scrambling to lie trying to save face.
Team Trump, high on their own supply and sympathetic to Russia, thought they could make Ukraine surrender and declare Trump a glorious peacemaker.
Then they got out of their bubble into reality, embarrassingly flopped, and are now scrambling to lie trying to save face.
Reposted by Justin Baragona
Remember: the only way to save New York City from Donald Trump’s wrath is electing Andrew Cuomo.
November 21, 2025 at 9:20 PM
Remember: the only way to save New York City from Donald Trump’s wrath is electing Andrew Cuomo.
Reposted by Justin Baragona
NEW: ICE has finally released post-shutdown detention data. The latest data reveals that a full 40%(!) of people arrested in the interior and held in ICE detention have no criminal record; no criminal charges or prior convictions. That is up from just 4% when Trump took office.
November 21, 2025 at 4:01 PM
NEW: ICE has finally released post-shutdown detention data. The latest data reveals that a full 40%(!) of people arrested in the interior and held in ICE detention have no criminal record; no criminal charges or prior convictions. That is up from just 4% when Trump took office.
Reposted by Justin Baragona
NEW: Trump has offered his personal support to MAGA influencer Nick Sortor and invited him to the White House as a star journalist. While Sortor was at an event with Trump, Bondi, Patel and Noem, a warrant for his arrest was active in Kentucky.
jacquelinesweet.substack.com/p/maga-influ...
jacquelinesweet.substack.com/p/maga-influ...
MAGA influencer invited to White House as a favorite Trump "journalist" has an active warrant for his arrest
A woman said he stole her dog, then assaulted her after she rebuffed his sexual advances. Now Nick Sortor is facing arrest in Kentucky for violating his probation.
jacquelinesweet.substack.com
November 21, 2025 at 3:05 PM
NEW: Trump has offered his personal support to MAGA influencer Nick Sortor and invited him to the White House as a star journalist. While Sortor was at an event with Trump, Bondi, Patel and Noem, a warrant for his arrest was active in Kentucky.
jacquelinesweet.substack.com/p/maga-influ...
jacquelinesweet.substack.com/p/maga-influ...
Pretty good story ... considering pretty much everything in it has already been reported by me and Oliver Darcy over the past few weeks.
www.wsj.com/business/med...
www.wsj.com/business/med...
‘I Wanna Blow This Up’: How Bari Weiss Is Trying to Overhaul CBS News
The new editor in chief is personally recruiting potential anchors, booking guests herself and asking staff what they do.
www.wsj.com
November 21, 2025 at 2:12 AM
Pretty good story ... considering pretty much everything in it has already been reported by me and Oliver Darcy over the past few weeks.
www.wsj.com/business/med...
www.wsj.com/business/med...
Reposted by Justin Baragona
An X user asks Elon Musk why they’re seeing tweets from left-wing lawmakers.
Musk: “Because we are failing very badly with the recommendations algorithm. Doing my best to address this.”
Musk: “Because we are failing very badly with the recommendations algorithm. Doing my best to address this.”
November 21, 2025 at 12:34 AM
An X user asks Elon Musk why they’re seeing tweets from left-wing lawmakers.
Musk: “Because we are failing very badly with the recommendations algorithm. Doing my best to address this.”
Musk: “Because we are failing very badly with the recommendations algorithm. Doing my best to address this.”
Just heard from multiple sources that Elliot Jacobson is out as Newsmax’s chief of content and EVP of programming.
He's being replaced by Gary Karnofsky, the network's SVP of news.
"Gary is a major plotmaster. He’s been looking to find a way to be in charge there for years," one source said.
He's being replaced by Gary Karnofsky, the network's SVP of news.
"Gary is a major plotmaster. He’s been looking to find a way to be in charge there for years," one source said.
November 21, 2025 at 12:46 AM
Just heard from multiple sources that Elliot Jacobson is out as Newsmax’s chief of content and EVP of programming.
He's being replaced by Gary Karnofsky, the network's SVP of news.
"Gary is a major plotmaster. He’s been looking to find a way to be in charge there for years," one source said.
He's being replaced by Gary Karnofsky, the network's SVP of news.
"Gary is a major plotmaster. He’s been looking to find a way to be in charge there for years," one source said.
Reposted by Justin Baragona
Mike Johnson responds to my question about saying Democrats committed treasonable by death
November 20, 2025 at 5:14 PM
Mike Johnson responds to my question about saying Democrats committed treasonable by death
Reposted by Justin Baragona
Murkowski on Trump saying some Democrats committed treason punishable by death “So I was just explaining somebody out on the steps that I've just come back from Vice President Cheney's services, and I have not looked at my phone since 1030 this morning.” I offered to show my phone
November 20, 2025 at 6:56 PM
Murkowski on Trump saying some Democrats committed treason punishable by death “So I was just explaining somebody out on the steps that I've just come back from Vice President Cheney's services, and I have not looked at my phone since 1030 this morning.” I offered to show my phone
Reposted by Justin Baragona
Judge Ellis derides Greg Bovino as a serial fabulist who brazenly lied on the stand and seemingly considered it funny to perjure himself. cst.brightspotcdn.com/49/34/daecfb...
November 20, 2025 at 8:16 PM
Judge Ellis derides Greg Bovino as a serial fabulist who brazenly lied on the stand and seemingly considered it funny to perjure himself. cst.brightspotcdn.com/49/34/daecfb...
Reposted by Justin Baragona
NEW IL-09 poll with the Justice Coalition Action: Daniel Biss and Kat Abughazaleh are tied for first in the Democratic primary with 18% of the vote.
Laura Fine trails in third with 10%, and all other candidates receive 6% or less of the vote.
Laura Fine trails in third with 10%, and all other candidates receive 6% or less of the vote.
November 20, 2025 at 9:03 PM
NEW IL-09 poll with the Justice Coalition Action: Daniel Biss and Kat Abughazaleh are tied for first in the Democratic primary with 18% of the vote.
Laura Fine trails in third with 10%, and all other candidates receive 6% or less of the vote.
Laura Fine trails in third with 10%, and all other candidates receive 6% or less of the vote.
Reposted by Justin Baragona
"The U.S. Coast Guard will no longer classify the swastika … as a hate symbol, according to a new policy that takes effect next month. Instead, the Coast Guard will classify the Nazi-era insignia as 'potentially divisive' under its new guidelines." www.washingtonpost.com/national-sec...
U.S. Coast Guard will no longer classify swastikas, nooses as hate symbols
The military service, which falls under the Department of Homeland Security, has drafted a new policy that classifies such items “potentially divisive.”
www.washingtonpost.com
November 20, 2025 at 7:44 PM
"The U.S. Coast Guard will no longer classify the swastika … as a hate symbol, according to a new policy that takes effect next month. Instead, the Coast Guard will classify the Nazi-era insignia as 'potentially divisive' under its new guidelines." www.washingtonpost.com/national-sec...
Reposted by Justin Baragona
"The Barnes and Noble in York—where Fetterman was born and raised—had sold zero copies. The Barnes and Noble in Philadelphia had sold two copies. An independent store in Pittsburgh and an independent store in Philadelphia each told me they weren’t stocking Unfettered" defector.com/john-fetterm...
John Fetterman's Memoir Is As Low-Effort As His Senate Tenure | Defector
John Fetterman’s just-released memoir, Unfettered, argues that he’s turned a corner and has everything under control. Fetterman was a “stubborn asshole” (his words), he was clinically depressed, he wa...
defector.com
November 19, 2025 at 7:39 PM
"The Barnes and Noble in York—where Fetterman was born and raised—had sold zero copies. The Barnes and Noble in Philadelphia had sold two copies. An independent store in Pittsburgh and an independent store in Philadelphia each told me they weren’t stocking Unfettered" defector.com/john-fetterm...
Reposted by Justin Baragona
Remember when the Trump administration ignored a judge's order to return planes deporting 200+ "alien enemies" to El Salvador in March?
In DC court just now, that judge said he'll force DOJ officials to testify. And maybe top Trump admin officials.
@notus.com:
www.notus.org/courts/feder...
In DC court just now, that judge said he'll force DOJ officials to testify. And maybe top Trump admin officials.
@notus.com:
www.notus.org/courts/feder...
Federal Judge Puts DOJ Back in the Crosshairs Over ‘Alien Enemy’ Deportation Flights
D.C. Chief Judge James Boasberg started a Wednesday hearing by saying he would explore whether to make a “contempt referral” against top Trump administration officials.
www.notus.org
November 19, 2025 at 7:28 PM
Remember when the Trump administration ignored a judge's order to return planes deporting 200+ "alien enemies" to El Salvador in March?
In DC court just now, that judge said he'll force DOJ officials to testify. And maybe top Trump admin officials.
@notus.com:
www.notus.org/courts/feder...
In DC court just now, that judge said he'll force DOJ officials to testify. And maybe top Trump admin officials.
@notus.com:
www.notus.org/courts/feder...
Reposted by Justin Baragona
Someone found an mp3 of the creepy "Jailbait" song Olivia Nuzzi released when she was 16 🫣
November 19, 2025 at 7:24 PM
Someone found an mp3 of the creepy "Jailbait" song Olivia Nuzzi released when she was 16 🫣
As predictable as the sun coming up
Bondi on the Epstein investigations that Trump demanded: "We're not gonna say anything else on that because now it is a pending investigation in SDNY"
November 19, 2025 at 4:55 PM
As predictable as the sun coming up
Reposted by Justin Baragona
New: Reuters has tallied job losses, suspensions and investigations stemming from the reaction to Charlie Kirk's Sept. 10 assassination. Its findings: More than 600 Americans have been punished, and the figure is likely to be an under-count.
www.reuters.com/investigatio...
www.reuters.com/investigatio...
November 19, 2025 at 11:35 AM
New: Reuters has tallied job losses, suspensions and investigations stemming from the reaction to Charlie Kirk's Sept. 10 assassination. Its findings: More than 600 Americans have been punished, and the figure is likely to be an under-count.
www.reuters.com/investigatio...
www.reuters.com/investigatio...
Reposted by Justin Baragona
November 19, 2025 at 12:03 PM
Reposted by Justin Baragona
New — I wrote about the myriad ways journalism’s moral rot manifests, and how our crumbling institutions have created the conditions for it to fester:
Moral rot in elite journalism is killing the whole field
The Nuzzi/RFK Jr. mess and the revelation of Esptein's journo pals lay bare a profound moral absence at the heart of our free press.
www.thehandbasket.co
November 18, 2025 at 10:03 PM
New — I wrote about the myriad ways journalism’s moral rot manifests, and how our crumbling institutions have created the conditions for it to fester:
"I was able to get Congress to leave him alone."
November 18, 2025 at 7:51 PM
"I was able to get Congress to leave him alone."
Reposted by Justin Baragona
A reminder that seven years ago almost to the day, the CIA determined that Mohammed Bin Salman ordered the killing of @washingtonpost.com journalist Jamal Khashoggi.
I hired and worked with Jamal for a year.
www.washingtonpost.com/world/nation...
I hired and worked with Jamal for a year.
www.washingtonpost.com/world/nation...
CIA concludes Saudi crown prince ordered Jamal Khashoggi’s assassination
Audio recordings, intercepted phone calls and other intelligence link Mohammed bin Salman to killing that Saudis say was conducted by rogue elements.
www.washingtonpost.com
November 18, 2025 at 6:05 PM
A reminder that seven years ago almost to the day, the CIA determined that Mohammed Bin Salman ordered the killing of @washingtonpost.com journalist Jamal Khashoggi.
I hired and worked with Jamal for a year.
www.washingtonpost.com/world/nation...
I hired and worked with Jamal for a year.
www.washingtonpost.com/world/nation...
Reposted by Justin Baragona
You can oversee the bloody dismemberment of a Washington Post journalist with a bone saw, and the president of the United States will smile, shake your hand and threaten to pull the license of a news outlet whose reporter asks you a question about it.
www.washingtonpost.com/world/2025/1...
www.washingtonpost.com/world/2025/1...
Trump defends Saudi crown prince over Khashoggi killing
The de facto Saudi ruler was branded a pariah in 2018 after the killing of Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi. Now, U.S.-Saudi relations are approaching a high point.
www.washingtonpost.com
November 18, 2025 at 7:11 PM
You can oversee the bloody dismemberment of a Washington Post journalist with a bone saw, and the president of the United States will smile, shake your hand and threaten to pull the license of a news outlet whose reporter asks you a question about it.
www.washingtonpost.com/world/2025/1...
www.washingtonpost.com/world/2025/1...