Mike Baker
@mikebaker.bsky.social
• National reporter at The New York Times
• Author of zero books
• NYT stuff: https://www.nytimes.com/by/mike-baker
📍 Seattle | Portland | PNW | News
• Author of zero books
• NYT stuff: https://www.nytimes.com/by/mike-baker
📍 Seattle | Portland | PNW | News
Reposted by Mike Baker
NEW: As Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick drives billions of dollars in foreign payments to help build AI data centers in the US, his sons help run a company earning tens of millions in fees helping finance AI data centers. A NYT investigation. (Free link)
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/20/u...
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/20/u...
Family Affair: Commerce Secretary’s Sons Cash In on A.I. Frenzy
www.nytimes.com
November 20, 2025 at 12:02 PM
NEW: As Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick drives billions of dollars in foreign payments to help build AI data centers in the US, his sons help run a company earning tens of millions in fees helping finance AI data centers. A NYT investigation. (Free link)
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/20/u...
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/20/u...
AI-generated musician Solomon Ray is topping Christian music charts.
www.christianitytoday.com/2025/11/solo...
www.christianitytoday.com/2025/11/solo...
The Current No. 1 Christian Artist Has No Soul - Christianity Today
AI-generated musician Solomon Ray has stirred a debate among listeners, drawing pushback from popular human singer Forrest Frank.
www.christianitytoday.com
November 22, 2025 at 12:37 AM
AI-generated musician Solomon Ray is topping Christian music charts.
www.christianitytoday.com/2025/11/solo...
www.christianitytoday.com/2025/11/solo...
Brawl of the Wild
• #2 Montana v #3 Montana State
• Both with 7-0 conference records
• A storied rivalry dating to the 1800s
• One of the best venues in all of football
• One of the greatest trophies in all of sports
Such a shame that GameDay is not in Missoula this week
• #2 Montana v #3 Montana State
• Both with 7-0 conference records
• A storied rivalry dating to the 1800s
• One of the best venues in all of football
• One of the greatest trophies in all of sports
Such a shame that GameDay is not in Missoula this week
November 21, 2025 at 5:04 PM
Brawl of the Wild
• #2 Montana v #3 Montana State
• Both with 7-0 conference records
• A storied rivalry dating to the 1800s
• One of the best venues in all of football
• One of the greatest trophies in all of sports
Such a shame that GameDay is not in Missoula this week
• #2 Montana v #3 Montana State
• Both with 7-0 conference records
• A storied rivalry dating to the 1800s
• One of the best venues in all of football
• One of the greatest trophies in all of sports
Such a shame that GameDay is not in Missoula this week
Trump calls a reporter “insubordinate” and “a terrible person” after she asks a question about Epstein. I’m not going to say what the question was because I think it’s worth turning up the volume to hear for yourself.
November 18, 2025 at 6:42 PM
Trump calls a reporter “insubordinate” and “a terrible person” after she asks a question about Epstein. I’m not going to say what the question was because I think it’s worth turning up the volume to hear for yourself.
🚨Job alert🚨
Come be my editor and lead NYT’s national investigative coverage.
Come be my editor and lead NYT’s national investigative coverage.
November 17, 2025 at 6:30 PM
🚨Job alert🚨
Come be my editor and lead NYT’s national investigative coverage.
Come be my editor and lead NYT’s national investigative coverage.
November 12, 2025 at 2:52 PM
Here is the main reason I’d be a bit wary of calling the Seattle mayor’s race just yet.
In the 2017 race (Durkan v Moon), Durkan’s numbers got steadily worse, except for a sudden and brief reversal when there were about 7,000 votes left to count.
In the 2017 race (Durkan v Moon), Durkan’s numbers got steadily worse, except for a sudden and brief reversal when there were about 7,000 votes left to count.
November 11, 2025 at 2:44 AM
Here is the main reason I’d be a bit wary of calling the Seattle mayor’s race just yet.
In the 2017 race (Durkan v Moon), Durkan’s numbers got steadily worse, except for a sudden and brief reversal when there were about 7,000 votes left to count.
In the 2017 race (Durkan v Moon), Durkan’s numbers got steadily worse, except for a sudden and brief reversal when there were about 7,000 votes left to count.
Incredible. Progressive challenger Katie Wilson now has a 91-vote lead in Seattle’s race for mayor. She had been steadily gaining on incumbent Bruce Harrell.
There are about 8,000 ballots left to count.
There are about 8,000 ballots left to count.
November 10, 2025 at 11:57 PM
Incredible. Progressive challenger Katie Wilson now has a 91-vote lead in Seattle’s race for mayor. She had been steadily gaining on incumbent Bruce Harrell.
There are about 8,000 ballots left to count.
There are about 8,000 ballots left to count.
Late update on Seattle mayor's race: The county says they have 277,881 on-time ballots for the city.
That means 44,985 left to count. But:
• Some will have signature issues
• ~1.5% of voters are not making a choice in the race
So I would expect 270-275k total votes for mayor
That means 44,985 left to count. But:
• Some will have signature issues
• ~1.5% of voters are not making a choice in the race
So I would expect 270-275k total votes for mayor
November 8, 2025 at 2:09 AM
Late update on Seattle mayor's race: The county says they have 277,881 on-time ballots for the city.
That means 44,985 left to count. But:
• Some will have signature issues
• ~1.5% of voters are not making a choice in the race
So I would expect 270-275k total votes for mayor
That means 44,985 left to count. But:
• Some will have signature issues
• ~1.5% of voters are not making a choice in the race
So I would expect 270-275k total votes for mayor
‼️👀‼️
With today’s ballots, Seattle’s race for mayor has narrowed even further (50.7% to 48.9%).
Progressive challenger Katie Wilson got 55% of today’s votes. There are roughly 55,000 ballots left to count. She needs ~54% of the remainder to surpass incumbent Bruce Harrell.
With today’s ballots, Seattle’s race for mayor has narrowed even further (50.7% to 48.9%).
Progressive challenger Katie Wilson got 55% of today’s votes. There are roughly 55,000 ballots left to count. She needs ~54% of the remainder to surpass incumbent Bruce Harrell.
November 7, 2025 at 11:48 PM
‼️👀‼️
With today’s ballots, Seattle’s race for mayor has narrowed even further (50.7% to 48.9%).
Progressive challenger Katie Wilson got 55% of today’s votes. There are roughly 55,000 ballots left to count. She needs ~54% of the remainder to surpass incumbent Bruce Harrell.
With today’s ballots, Seattle’s race for mayor has narrowed even further (50.7% to 48.9%).
Progressive challenger Katie Wilson got 55% of today’s votes. There are roughly 55,000 ballots left to count. She needs ~54% of the remainder to surpass incumbent Bruce Harrell.
Last year, Meta's internal documents projected that it would get $16 billion in annual revenue from running ads for scams and banned goods.
via Reuters
www.reuters.com/investigatio...
via Reuters
www.reuters.com/investigatio...
November 7, 2025 at 3:57 PM
Last year, Meta's internal documents projected that it would get $16 billion in annual revenue from running ads for scams and banned goods.
via Reuters
www.reuters.com/investigatio...
via Reuters
www.reuters.com/investigatio...
‼️ Seattle’s race for mayor is going to be *very* close ‼️
Bruce Harrell has a 5.7-point advantage. But with roughly 100,000 votes left to count, the numbers are shifting toward progressive challenger Katie Wilson. She took 51.6% of the votes tallied today.
The trendlines:
Bruce Harrell has a 5.7-point advantage. But with roughly 100,000 votes left to count, the numbers are shifting toward progressive challenger Katie Wilson. She took 51.6% of the votes tallied today.
The trendlines:
November 6, 2025 at 11:53 PM
‼️ Seattle’s race for mayor is going to be *very* close ‼️
Bruce Harrell has a 5.7-point advantage. But with roughly 100,000 votes left to count, the numbers are shifting toward progressive challenger Katie Wilson. She took 51.6% of the votes tallied today.
The trendlines:
Bruce Harrell has a 5.7-point advantage. But with roughly 100,000 votes left to count, the numbers are shifting toward progressive challenger Katie Wilson. She took 51.6% of the votes tallied today.
The trendlines:
Oh wow, a bit of a surprise in the new ballots that just posted from the Seattle mayor's race.
Bruce Harrell has actually expanded his lead. He got nearly 57% of the ballots counted today, expanding his lead to 8 points.
But lots of votes remaining to count.
Bruce Harrell has actually expanded his lead. He got nearly 57% of the ballots counted today, expanding his lead to 8 points.
But lots of votes remaining to count.
November 6, 2025 at 12:04 AM
Oh wow, a bit of a surprise in the new ballots that just posted from the Seattle mayor's race.
Bruce Harrell has actually expanded his lead. He got nearly 57% of the ballots counted today, expanding his lead to 8 points.
But lots of votes remaining to count.
Bruce Harrell has actually expanded his lead. He got nearly 57% of the ballots counted today, expanding his lead to 8 points.
But lots of votes remaining to count.
Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell has a 7-percentage-point lead (53.3% to 46.2%) over progressive challenger Katie Wilson.
But there is a very good chance he will end up losing.
🧵 1/7
But there is a very good chance he will end up losing.
🧵 1/7
November 5, 2025 at 5:47 PM
Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell has a 7-percentage-point lead (53.3% to 46.2%) over progressive challenger Katie Wilson.
But there is a very good chance he will end up losing.
🧵 1/7
But there is a very good chance he will end up losing.
🧵 1/7
Canada’s major sports teams have now lost in 5 straight championships:
• 2025 Toronto Blue Jays (MLB)
• 2025 Edmonton Oilers (NHL)
• 2024 Edmonton Oilers (NHL)
• 2021 Montreal Canadiens (NHL)
• 2019 Toronto FC (MLS)
(The Toronto Raptors were the last winner, in 2019)
• 2025 Toronto Blue Jays (MLB)
• 2025 Edmonton Oilers (NHL)
• 2024 Edmonton Oilers (NHL)
• 2021 Montreal Canadiens (NHL)
• 2019 Toronto FC (MLS)
(The Toronto Raptors were the last winner, in 2019)
November 2, 2025 at 5:51 AM
Canada’s major sports teams have now lost in 5 straight championships:
• 2025 Toronto Blue Jays (MLB)
• 2025 Edmonton Oilers (NHL)
• 2024 Edmonton Oilers (NHL)
• 2021 Montreal Canadiens (NHL)
• 2019 Toronto FC (MLS)
(The Toronto Raptors were the last winner, in 2019)
• 2025 Toronto Blue Jays (MLB)
• 2025 Edmonton Oilers (NHL)
• 2024 Edmonton Oilers (NHL)
• 2021 Montreal Canadiens (NHL)
• 2019 Toronto FC (MLS)
(The Toronto Raptors were the last winner, in 2019)
it's cool to see that this game's starting pitcher is still hanging in there
October 28, 2025 at 6:32 AM
it's cool to see that this game's starting pitcher is still hanging in there
Steve Bannon insists that Trump *will* serve a third term, despite the clear wording of the 22nd Amendment.
"At the appropriate time, we'll lay out what the plan is. There is a plan," Bannon says.
via The Economist
"At the appropriate time, we'll lay out what the plan is. There is a plan," Bannon says.
via The Economist
October 23, 2025 at 8:57 PM
Steve Bannon insists that Trump *will* serve a third term, despite the clear wording of the 22nd Amendment.
"At the appropriate time, we'll lay out what the plan is. There is a plan," Bannon says.
via The Economist
"At the appropriate time, we'll lay out what the plan is. There is a plan," Bannon says.
via The Economist
The poker schemes described by the feds were alleged to include:
• Hand signals
• On-site tipsters
• Off-site analysts
• Rigged card-shuffling machines
• Hidden cameras in poker chip trays
• Contact lenses and sunglasses that could reveal secret markings on the cards
www.nytimes.com/live/2025/10...
• Hand signals
• On-site tipsters
• Off-site analysts
• Rigged card-shuffling machines
• Hidden cameras in poker chip trays
• Contact lenses and sunglasses that could reveal secret markings on the cards
www.nytimes.com/live/2025/10...
October 23, 2025 at 7:00 PM
The poker schemes described by the feds were alleged to include:
• Hand signals
• On-site tipsters
• Off-site analysts
• Rigged card-shuffling machines
• Hidden cameras in poker chip trays
• Contact lenses and sunglasses that could reveal secret markings on the cards
www.nytimes.com/live/2025/10...
• Hand signals
• On-site tipsters
• Off-site analysts
• Rigged card-shuffling machines
• Hidden cameras in poker chip trays
• Contact lenses and sunglasses that could reveal secret markings on the cards
www.nytimes.com/live/2025/10...
NEW: After the floods that killed 135+ people in Texas, we heard concerns about the performance of a radio system used by first responders. It was brand new and had cost Kerr County some $7 million.
So what went wrong?
1/8
So what went wrong?
1/8
October 23, 2025 at 5:45 PM
NEW: After the floods that killed 135+ people in Texas, we heard concerns about the performance of a radio system used by first responders. It was brand new and had cost Kerr County some $7 million.
So what went wrong?
1/8
So what went wrong?
1/8
Trump's message that the Epstein files are a "hoax" appears to be convincing his base. A new poll finds that more than two-thirds of Fox News viewers support his handling of the files.
Most other Americans are skeptical.
Most other Americans are skeptical.
October 22, 2025 at 3:28 PM
Trump's message that the Epstein files are a "hoax" appears to be convincing his base. A new poll finds that more than two-thirds of Fox News viewers support his handling of the files.
Most other Americans are skeptical.
Most other Americans are skeptical.
Seattle sports this year:
• Seahawks miss playoffs despite having double-digit wins.
• Mariners fall one win short of making it to World Series for the first time ever.
• Oklahoma City wins the NBA title.
• Seahawks miss playoffs despite having double-digit wins.
• Mariners fall one win short of making it to World Series for the first time ever.
• Oklahoma City wins the NBA title.
October 21, 2025 at 9:48 PM
Seattle sports this year:
• Seahawks miss playoffs despite having double-digit wins.
• Mariners fall one win short of making it to World Series for the first time ever.
• Oklahoma City wins the NBA title.
• Seahawks miss playoffs despite having double-digit wins.
• Mariners fall one win short of making it to World Series for the first time ever.
• Oklahoma City wins the NBA title.
Amazon's vast and rapid automation goals would result in robots filling hundreds of thousands of jobs within a decade.
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/21/t...
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/21/t...
October 21, 2025 at 6:30 PM
Amazon's vast and rapid automation goals would result in robots filling hundreds of thousands of jobs within a decade.
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/21/t...
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/21/t...
Two years ago, the Seattle Mariners declared a goal of winning 54% of their games.
Since then, their win rate is 53.87%
If they had won tonight? 54.17%
Since then, their win rate is 53.87%
If they had won tonight? 54.17%
October 21, 2025 at 5:54 AM
Two years ago, the Seattle Mariners declared a goal of winning 54% of their games.
Since then, their win rate is 53.87%
If they had won tonight? 54.17%
Since then, their win rate is 53.87%
If they had won tonight? 54.17%
Mariners fans! Don’t fret! Our AI companions know what the future holds.
October 21, 2025 at 2:55 AM
Mariners fans! Don’t fret! Our AI companions know what the future holds.
The U.S. military mobilization in the Caribbean:
• 8 Navy warships
• 10 stealth fighters
• About 10,000 troops
• New ammunition storage sites in Puerto Rico
The goal, officials say privately, is to oust Maduro from power.
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/17/u...
• 8 Navy warships
• 10 stealth fighters
• About 10,000 troops
• New ammunition storage sites in Puerto Rico
The goal, officials say privately, is to oust Maduro from power.
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/17/u...
Where the U.S. Is Building Up Military Force in the Caribbean
www.nytimes.com
October 17, 2025 at 9:11 PM
The U.S. military mobilization in the Caribbean:
• 8 Navy warships
• 10 stealth fighters
• About 10,000 troops
• New ammunition storage sites in Puerto Rico
The goal, officials say privately, is to oust Maduro from power.
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/17/u...
• 8 Navy warships
• 10 stealth fighters
• About 10,000 troops
• New ammunition storage sites in Puerto Rico
The goal, officials say privately, is to oust Maduro from power.
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/17/u...