Alex Engler
@alexengler.bsky.social
1.5K followers 250 following 44 posts
Executive Director of Penn Center on Media, Tech & Democracy | "If you can keep it" | Formerly Democracy & Tech at White House NSC & AI at OSTP
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Reposted by Alex Engler
alexengler.bsky.social
Join our first public event on October 21, 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗗𝗲𝗺𝗼𝗰𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗰 𝗥𝗲𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗰𝘂𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗠𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗮 𝗙𝗿𝗮𝗴𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻!

This is the launch of our event series, designed to share essential research on what ails, and how we can improve, the information environment.

Attend via zoom: mediafragmentation-online.eventbrite.com
Reposted by Alex Engler
brendannyhan.bsky.social
My new op-ed with @lkfazio.bsky.social:

Trump sent a 'compact' to our universities. They should reject this devil's bargain.
Any institution that yields to these broad and intrusive demands would forever be subservient to the whims of the government.
www.msnbc.com/opinion/msnb...
alexengler.bsky.social
The media continues to fragment, with an expanding number of outlets, influencers, podcasters, platforms and AI systems–while mass media has become more ideologically aligned.

Is this an opportunity to break political echo chambers, or will fragmentation undermine what shared reality we have left?
alexengler.bsky.social
Join our first public event on October 21, 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗗𝗲𝗺𝗼𝗰𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗰 𝗥𝗲𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗰𝘂𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗠𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗮 𝗙𝗿𝗮𝗴𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻!

This is the launch of our event series, designed to share essential research on what ails, and how we can improve, the information environment.

Attend via zoom: mediafragmentation-online.eventbrite.com
Reposted by Alex Engler
jeffsharlet.bsky.social
It appears that my employer, Dartmouth, one of the Trump 9, has said no to the compact. All the better given that our president is cited within it. But she’s saying no. Count the small victories when they come.
Office of the President
Dear Dartmouth community,
 
As many of you know, Dartmouth was one of nine universities asked by the White House to give feedback by Oct. 20 on a draft of its “Compact for Academic Excellence in Higher Education.” 
 
I am deeply committed to Dartmouth’s academic mission and values and will always defend our fierce independence. 
 
You have often heard me say that higher education is not perfect and that we can do better. At the same time, we will never compromise our academic freedom and our ability to govern ourselves. 
 
Best,
Sian Leah Beilock
President
Reposted by Alex Engler
gelliottmorris.com
A new report from Bright Line Watch finds experts now rate the U.S. as a "mixed" or "illiberal" democracy. The rating is dragged down by Trump's attacks on institutions, a weak legislature, political violence, and partisan gerrymandering www.gelliottmorris.com/p/experts-no...
Experts now rate the U.S. as a "mixed" or "illiberal" democracy
Experts say political violence, Trump's attacks against non-partisan agencies and institutions, and partisan gerrymandering are their top concerns
www.gelliottmorris.com
Reposted by Alex Engler
billkristolbulwark.bsky.social
Hegseth fires general officers and JAGs, cracks down on dissenting views in military, orders killing civilians at sea without legal rationale, calls generals to Quantico to demand loyalty.

Trump deploys troops to U.S. cities.

"What are Trump and Hegseth up to? It's a mystery!"
Reposted by Alex Engler
micahloewinger.bsky.social
My employer New York Public Radio just announced that it is offering @onthemedia.bsky.social, @radiolab.bsky.social, and other programs to at-risk public radio stations for free! More info: current.org/2025/09/wnyc...
Reposted by Alex Engler
404media.co
NEW: 404 Media is suing ICE. We have filed a lawsuit demanding the agency release its $2 million contract with Paragon, a company that makes powerful spyware to break into phones and read messages from encrypted chat apps www.404media.co/were-suing-i...
We’re Suing ICE for Its $2 Million Spyware Contract
404 Media has filed a lawsuit against ICE for access to its contract with Paragon, a company that sells powerful spyware for breaking into phones and accessing encrypted messaging apps.
www.404media.co
Reposted by Alex Engler
Reposted by Alex Engler
whstancil.bsky.social
I'll say it: against all expectations, the media are covering the Trump censorship story right. They're not pretending it's about Kirk, they're covering Trump as a broad threat to free press and speech, and they're speaking broadly about the stakes.

It can be done!
alexengler.bsky.social
An unprecedented assault on freedom of speech and American democracy.

What you choose to do tomorrow is what you will have done when autocracy came to America.

Do something that will make you proud.
Reposted by Alex Engler
reckless.bsky.social
Btw very important to say that the FCC has not at all said what Kimmel said that was so objectionable! This is classic chilling effect - there are no rules so everyone stops talking

www.theverge.com/news/780471/...
Disney and ABC have pulled Jimmy Kimmel Live! off air “indefinitely” after FCC chairman Brendan Carr threatened to pull the broadcast licenses of any station that aired his show over comments Kimmel made about the man charged with killing Charlie Kirk.

The decision, according to Variety, was made after television giant Nexstar announced that its local ABC affiliates would pre-empt airings of Jimmy Kimmel Live!, just hours after Carr issued that threat. Nexstar is one of the biggest owners of television stations across the country. We’ve reached out to the FCC for comment on what specifically is objectionable from Kimmel’s show and which FCC regulations he may have violated.
Reposted by Alex Engler
Reposted by Alex Engler
noupside.bsky.social
This is jawboning. This is what the Freedom Caucus fascists of the Weaponization Committee and their Substack lackeys pretended was happening under some “Biden regime,” but it wasn’t. It was always projection.
The ABC late-night host's remarks constituted "the sickest conduct possible,"
FCC chair Brendan Carr told right-wing podcaster Benny Johnson on Wednesday.
Carr suggested his FCC could move to revoke ABC affiliate licenses as a way to force Disney to punish Kimmel.
"We can do this the easy way or the hard way," Carr said. "These companies can find ways to change conduct and take actions on Kimmel, or there's going to be additional work for the FCC ahead."
Carr added that the broadcasters, including ABC, "have a license granted by us at the FCC, and that comes with it an obligation to operate in the public
Reposted by Alex Engler
Reposted by Alex Engler
davidakaye.bsky.social
at the center of the efforts to destroy civil society in russia, hungary, georgia and elsewhere is the stigmatization, harassment, & criminalization of NGOs. that's what this is about, a full-on assault on democratic debate & freedoms.

this is not hyperbole. it's right here.
thebulwark.com
Vance: "There's no unity with people who fund these articles, who pay the salaries of these terrorist sympathizers...Soros' OSF and the Ford Foundation...benefit from generous tax treatment...How do they reward us? By setting fire to the house built by the American family."
Reposted by Alex Engler
mcopelov.bsky.social
Once again, I ask, sincerely & without trying to be overly alarmist, what anyone has seen since January to make them truly believe that the 2026/28 elections are going to be free, fair, & democratic by any meaningful definition of the words:

bsky.app/profile/mcop...
Reposted by Alex Engler
donmoyn.bsky.social
Washington Post’s commitment to personal liberties does not extend to employing people who criticize gun violence or accurately quote, without comment, Charlie Kirk’s words