TracingVRL by A.J. Fish
@tracingvrl.bsky.social
The software-journalism project tracing the COVID infodemic going ViRaL. Local and international. Reposts are not endorsements.
By programmer-journalist A.J. Fish. Bylines @EastBayExpress @muckrack.
TracingVRL.substack.com
By programmer-journalist A.J. Fish. Bylines @EastBayExpress @muckrack.
TracingVRL.substack.com
Queueing up the next Minneapolis? HHS Department's Mehmet Oz, makes *via video* vague accusations of Armenians in Los Angeles area, alleges "Russian" "mafia" links: www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dst3... #HHS
Gov. Newsom reviewing Dr. Oz video that appears to target Armenian bakery
YouTube video by ABC7
www.youtube.com
February 2, 2026 at 5:14 PM
Queueing up the next Minneapolis? HHS Department's Mehmet Oz, makes *via video* vague accusations of Armenians in Los Angeles area, alleges "Russian" "mafia" links: www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dst3... #HHS
Reposted by TracingVRL by A.J. Fish
ICE now confirming that there is a measles outbreak at the Texas concentration camp where young Liam was held.
February 2, 2026 at 12:08 AM
ICE now confirming that there is a measles outbreak at the Texas concentration camp where young Liam was held.
@c-span.bsky.social Why is it still so hard to get this channel? It's not in the Roku Channel store. It's apparently available with the highest-tier Hulu package, but they don't list that on the Hulu.com website . C-Span is hiding in witness protection.
Stream TV and Movies Live and Online | Hulu
Watch TV shows and movies online. Stream TV episodes of Shōgun, Grey's Anatomy, This Is Us, Bob's Burgers, Empire, SNL, and popular movies on your favorite devices. Bundle with Disney+ for $12.99.
Hulu.com
January 30, 2026 at 5:45 PM
@c-span.bsky.social Why is it still so hard to get this channel? It's not in the Roku Channel store. It's apparently available with the highest-tier Hulu package, but they don't list that on the Hulu.com website . C-Span is hiding in witness protection.
Wow! Pope Leo in new address, says AI slop is "'Turning people into passive consumers of unthought thoughts'" www.pcgamer.com/software/ai/... #AI #disinformation
Pope Leo XIV brings not peace but a sword to AI oligarchs and a slop-mad world in new address, says it's 'Turning people into passive consumers of unthought thoughts'
Never thought I'd die fighting side-by-side with the Pope.
www.pcgamer.com
January 29, 2026 at 6:48 PM
Wow! Pope Leo in new address, says AI slop is "'Turning people into passive consumers of unthought thoughts'" www.pcgamer.com/software/ai/... #AI #disinformation
Reposted by TracingVRL by A.J. Fish
It’s the anniversary of Citizens United today so I’m back in my bullshit about the role of oil companies in the corporate free speech movement and how they are trying to expand it even further at the moment. We did a whole podcast season on it: drilled.media/podcasts/dri...
S9, Ep3 | The Next Citizens United Will Be a Climate Case
Investigating the obstacles to action on climate change.
drilled.media
January 29, 2026 at 4:47 AM
It’s the anniversary of Citizens United today so I’m back in my bullshit about the role of oil companies in the corporate free speech movement and how they are trying to expand it even further at the moment. We did a whole podcast season on it: drilled.media/podcasts/dri...
Reposted by TracingVRL by A.J. Fish
Jonathan doesn't miss. Here I'll add a sneak peak of what you can look forward to with Hyman.
Bari Weiss adds Mark Hyman to CBS line-up:
Hyman is the face of functional medicine, a pipeline that seduces disenchanted MDs away from evidence-based medicine and into the arms of the alternative medicine industry. You overtest and you sell supplements.
www.mcgill.ca/oss/article/...
Hyman is the face of functional medicine, a pipeline that seduces disenchanted MDs away from evidence-based medicine and into the arms of the alternative medicine industry. You overtest and you sell supplements.
www.mcgill.ca/oss/article/...
Functional Medicine Is a Pipeline to Alt Med
A 56-year-old university professor with psoriatic arthritis goes to see a doctor because his condition is worsening. Psoriatic arthritis is a disease where your immune system rebels against you, creat...
www.mcgill.ca
January 27, 2026 at 7:43 PM
Jonathan doesn't miss. Here I'll add a sneak peak of what you can look forward to with Hyman.
Reposted by TracingVRL by A.J. Fish
Coverage after coverage leaves Keith Porter, Jr out of the discussion. More proof that only white lives matter in the systems of this country.
At least two U.S. citizens have been shot and killed by federal agents since a major operation began in Minnesota.
Target CEO Joins Minnesota Businesses Urging ‘Deescalation’ After Latest Shooting In Minneapolis
At least two U.S. citizens have been shot and killed by federal agents since a major operation began in Minnesota.
www.forbes.com
January 27, 2026 at 2:53 AM
Coverage after coverage leaves Keith Porter, Jr out of the discussion. More proof that only white lives matter in the systems of this country.
Reposted by TracingVRL by A.J. Fish
I'm seeing a lot of calls to block/report any and all "Alt" accounts in the replies, but I think it's worth saying that AltNPS is BY FAR the worst, most harmful, and most dangerous "Alt" account.
The others are generally pretty harmless, and I don't want to unnecessarily lump them in with AltNPS.
The others are generally pretty harmless, and I don't want to unnecessarily lump them in with AltNPS.
Completely insane. AltNPS claimed to know the name of Alex Pretti's killer, refused to say it because "the truth always comes out," and then just deleted the post.
A man was executed on the street in my hometown, and AltNPS is using that as an excuse to vaguepost for attention.
A man was executed on the street in my hometown, and AltNPS is using that as an excuse to vaguepost for attention.
January 24, 2026 at 11:55 PM
I'm seeing a lot of calls to block/report any and all "Alt" accounts in the replies, but I think it's worth saying that AltNPS is BY FAR the worst, most harmful, and most dangerous "Alt" account.
The others are generally pretty harmless, and I don't want to unnecessarily lump them in with AltNPS.
The others are generally pretty harmless, and I don't want to unnecessarily lump them in with AltNPS.
We can't have weird things in San Francisco. They're tearing down the fountain for a corporate, *streamlined ennui* aesthetic. www.wsj.com/lifestyle/sa... #SanFrancisco #art #publicart
San Francisco Battles Skateboarders Over the City’s Ugliest Fountain
Critics call it a “jumble of nothing” and the concrete deposit of a giant dog with square intestines. To skaters, Vaillancourt Fountain is hallowed ground.
www.wsj.com
January 23, 2026 at 7:04 AM
We can't have weird things in San Francisco. They're tearing down the fountain for a corporate, *streamlined ennui* aesthetic. www.wsj.com/lifestyle/sa... #SanFrancisco #art #publicart
Minnesota physicians on ICE presence in hospitals
YouTube video by ABC 6 News - KAAL TV
www.youtube.com
January 21, 2026 at 7:06 AM
Reposted by TracingVRL by A.J. Fish
this this this this this this this!!!!
January 20, 2026 at 9:53 PM
this this this this this this this!!!!
Reposted by TracingVRL by A.J. Fish
We are now at this phase of social unrest, where content creators flock to an area to “cover” the protests, but are really making enraging political propaganda while profiting off any image of brutality.
I wrote this article about riot porn back in 2020, still it makes sense.
I wrote this article about riot porn back in 2020, still it makes sense.
How an overload of riot porn is driving conflict in the streets
Weak organization forced right-wing agitators to rely on video and social media. Now they have a machine to spread a narrative of lawless rioting.
www.technologyreview.com
January 13, 2026 at 12:26 AM
We are now at this phase of social unrest, where content creators flock to an area to “cover” the protests, but are really making enraging political propaganda while profiting off any image of brutality.
I wrote this article about riot porn back in 2020, still it makes sense.
I wrote this article about riot porn back in 2020, still it makes sense.
Reposted by TracingVRL by A.J. Fish
Andrew Jackson is reported as saying about SCOTUS Cherokee Ruling, "Let them enforce it."
"The Supreme Court did not ask federal marshals to carry out the decision." (Wikipedia)
Legal Q:
Does the Court have the power to compel federal marshalls to carry out decisions or does the Executive branch?
"The Supreme Court did not ask federal marshals to carry out the decision." (Wikipedia)
Legal Q:
Does the Court have the power to compel federal marshalls to carry out decisions or does the Executive branch?
ICYMI: In a late night filing, DOJ argues the federal courts cannot force them to comply with the law requiring release of all the Epstein files.
January 18, 2026 at 6:33 PM
Andrew Jackson is reported as saying about SCOTUS Cherokee Ruling, "Let them enforce it."
"The Supreme Court did not ask federal marshals to carry out the decision." (Wikipedia)
Legal Q:
Does the Court have the power to compel federal marshalls to carry out decisions or does the Executive branch?
"The Supreme Court did not ask federal marshals to carry out the decision." (Wikipedia)
Legal Q:
Does the Court have the power to compel federal marshalls to carry out decisions or does the Executive branch?
"I am all about the movie theater experience. I feel like these days, there are only a couple of things that we all experience together. There - you know, there are catastrophes, the bad things, and, I guess, the Super Bowl." www.npr.org/2025/11/02/n... #movies #theaters #bigscreen
Are movie theaters worth it anymore?
NPR's Bob Mondello and Marc Rivers discuss why movie theaters still matter in the streaming age and what continues to draw audiences to the big screen
www.npr.org
January 16, 2026 at 9:21 PM
"I am all about the movie theater experience. I feel like these days, there are only a couple of things that we all experience together. There - you know, there are catastrophes, the bad things, and, I guess, the Super Bowl." www.npr.org/2025/11/02/n... #movies #theaters #bigscreen
Reposted by TracingVRL by A.J. Fish
At a church in Minneapolis that is hosting an anti-ICE singing vigil, which will later process through the neighborhood.
They sing: “This is for our neighbors who are locked inside, together we will abolish ICE.”
They sing: “This is for our neighbors who are locked inside, together we will abolish ICE.”
January 11, 2026 at 7:56 PM
At a church in Minneapolis that is hosting an anti-ICE singing vigil, which will later process through the neighborhood.
They sing: “This is for our neighbors who are locked inside, together we will abolish ICE.”
They sing: “This is for our neighbors who are locked inside, together we will abolish ICE.”
Reposted by TracingVRL by A.J. Fish
Asking the ICE agent beating a guy up on the pavement to hold still so I can scan his QR code that he was required to wear instead of a badge that can simply be read
I am introducing the Quick Recognition (QR) Act, which requires ICE and CBP officers to wear uniforms featuring QR codes. When scanned, the code would generate a digital ID displaying the officer’s name, badge number, and law enforcement agency.
ICE should be unmasked both physically and digitally.
ICE should be unmasked both physically and digitally.
January 14, 2026 at 5:11 PM
Asking the ICE agent beating a guy up on the pavement to hold still so I can scan his QR code that he was required to wear instead of a badge that can simply be read
Reposted by TracingVRL by A.J. Fish
A St. Paul resident says federal officers knocked on her door and asked her to identify Hmong and Asian households in her North End neighborhood last week.
ICE in St. Paul: Man roughly detained at gas station, Border Patrol chief jeered in Midway Target
Videos and photos show a prevalence of federal agents in St. Paul recently.
trib.al
January 13, 2026 at 6:07 PM
A St. Paul resident says federal officers knocked on her door and asked her to identify Hmong and Asian households in her North End neighborhood last week.
Reposted by TracingVRL by A.J. Fish
why did so many millennials read so many newspaper comics? easily 60 percent of my reading diet in elementary/middle school was collected editions of calvin and hobbes, farside, dilbert, peanuts, doonesbury (!), foxtrot (?!?) and i know im not alone. historically unique phenomenon
rather than talk about Scott Adams I want to talk about something weirder (me). Who else was really into Dilbert when you were 12. Who else was like, boy, I can't wait to work a cubicle job
January 13, 2026 at 4:53 PM
why did so many millennials read so many newspaper comics? easily 60 percent of my reading diet in elementary/middle school was collected editions of calvin and hobbes, farside, dilbert, peanuts, doonesbury (!), foxtrot (?!?) and i know im not alone. historically unique phenomenon
Reposted by TracingVRL by A.J. Fish
China applies to put 200,000 satellites in space after calling Starlink a crash risk | South China Morning Post share.google/NPD3HevxTsLV...
China applies to put up 200,000 satellites after calling Starlink a crash risk
US Federal Communications Commission says it approved SpaceX to launch 7,500 second-generation Starlink satellites.
share.google
January 12, 2026 at 3:18 AM
China applies to put 200,000 satellites in space after calling Starlink a crash risk | South China Morning Post share.google/NPD3HevxTsLV...
Reposted by TracingVRL by A.J. Fish
www.vulture.com/article/chri... "Now, the comedians are working the algorithms to stay in front of people who don’t buy tickets to their shows. It’s a closed loop: Feed the algorithm, stay in the algorithm. Gethard ... is comparing working the algorithm to a coal mining town:" #algorithms #platforms
‘Are We Participating in a Thing That Is Not Even Working?’
Chris Gethard on the end of the middle-class comedy job.
www.vulture.com
January 9, 2026 at 10:26 PM
www.vulture.com/article/chri... "Now, the comedians are working the algorithms to stay in front of people who don’t buy tickets to their shows. It’s a closed loop: Feed the algorithm, stay in the algorithm. Gethard ... is comparing working the algorithm to a coal mining town:" #algorithms #platforms
Reposted by TracingVRL by A.J. Fish
My newsletter TracingVRL is about infected information artifacts -- news articles and social media posts -- on infectious disease.
Did U.S. propaganda make its way into Mexicans' social media feeds & into chatbots? They, like us, lost newspapers very recently. #media
www.latimes.com/world-nation...
Did U.S. propaganda make its way into Mexicans' social media feeds & into chatbots? They, like us, lost newspapers very recently. #media
www.latimes.com/world-nation...
Trump wants to attack cartels. Many Mexicans welcome it
Many Mexicans, desperate for security, now back limited U.S. military help against cartels despite President Claudia Sheinbaum’s vow to bar foreign intervention. President Trump has offered to send U....
www.latimes.com
January 3, 2026 at 9:49 PM
My newsletter TracingVRL is about infected information artifacts -- news articles and social media posts -- on infectious disease.
Did U.S. propaganda make its way into Mexicans' social media feeds & into chatbots? They, like us, lost newspapers very recently. #media
www.latimes.com/world-nation...
Did U.S. propaganda make its way into Mexicans' social media feeds & into chatbots? They, like us, lost newspapers very recently. #media
www.latimes.com/world-nation...
"Meanwhile, societal changes that arrived with the pandemic (people staying home more often, and relying on streaming services for entertainment) mean it’s tough to do business the way they used to. "
This place is a little miracle of a business. Long live Bottom of the Hill. #music #live
This place is a little miracle of a business. Long live Bottom of the Hill. #music #live
Heartbreaking exclusive landed by the brilliant @emmaruthless.bsky.social. Bottom of the Hill is closing later this year. The reason? It's complicated, sort of. Read it here:
Beloved SF Club Bottom of the Hill to Close at the End of 2026
One of the city’s last independent music venues, Bottom of the Hill has survived waves of gentrification, COVID closures, and more throughout its 35 years. Now, owners say it’s last call — on their ow...
www.coyotemedia.org
January 3, 2026 at 3:51 AM