AltWatcher
@altwatcher.bsky.social
The alt account of @jjoycelynch.bsky.social, where I keep an eye on "Alt" US Govt. accounts, and one account in particular.
For more of my writing on this subject: https://substack.com/home/post/p-161500621
For more of my writing on this subject: https://substack.com/home/post/p-161500621
Again, I'm speculating, and even I'm not pedantic enough to argue that this is actually a problem.
But it is very funny, at least to me, the son of two professional proofreaders and textbook editors. AltNPS is so sloppy that we might be able to ID their handiwork by typos alone.
But it is very funny, at least to me, the son of two professional proofreaders and textbook editors. AltNPS is so sloppy that we might be able to ID their handiwork by typos alone.
January 16, 2026 at 7:18 PM
Again, I'm speculating, and even I'm not pedantic enough to argue that this is actually a problem.
But it is very funny, at least to me, the son of two professional proofreaders and textbook editors. AltNPS is so sloppy that we might be able to ID their handiwork by typos alone.
But it is very funny, at least to me, the son of two professional proofreaders and textbook editors. AltNPS is so sloppy that we might be able to ID their handiwork by typos alone.
Compare this to their recent habit of posting long, LONG pseudo-essays about the topic of the day, which don't usually share these mistakes.
AltNPS certainly seems to use AI to crank out their posts, and ChatGPT, for all its faults, does know how commas work.
AltNPS certainly seems to use AI to crank out their posts, and ChatGPT, for all its faults, does know how commas work.
January 16, 2026 at 7:12 PM
Compare this to their recent habit of posting long, LONG pseudo-essays about the topic of the day, which don't usually share these mistakes.
AltNPS certainly seems to use AI to crank out their posts, and ChatGPT, for all its faults, does know how commas work.
AltNPS certainly seems to use AI to crank out their posts, and ChatGPT, for all its faults, does know how commas work.
It's been a hell of a week, so I'm going to get especially petty for a minute, and dive into some silly speculation.
I think I found a pattern: how can you tell which posts AltNPS actually writes themselves? Look for the grammar mistakes.
I think I found a pattern: how can you tell which posts AltNPS actually writes themselves? Look for the grammar mistakes.
January 16, 2026 at 7:09 PM
It's been a hell of a week, so I'm going to get especially petty for a minute, and dive into some silly speculation.
I think I found a pattern: how can you tell which posts AltNPS actually writes themselves? Look for the grammar mistakes.
I think I found a pattern: how can you tell which posts AltNPS actually writes themselves? Look for the grammar mistakes.
This is when AltNPS's claims of receiving "reports" go from irritating to dangerous.
Helicopters in Minneapolis could be anything. Could be news choppers. Could be ICE. AltNPS doesn't know, but they're pushing out a vague message to their millions of followers, and encouraging their paranoia.
Helicopters in Minneapolis could be anything. Could be news choppers. Could be ICE. AltNPS doesn't know, but they're pushing out a vague message to their millions of followers, and encouraging their paranoia.
January 15, 2026 at 9:30 PM
This is when AltNPS's claims of receiving "reports" go from irritating to dangerous.
Helicopters in Minneapolis could be anything. Could be news choppers. Could be ICE. AltNPS doesn't know, but they're pushing out a vague message to their millions of followers, and encouraging their paranoia.
Helicopters in Minneapolis could be anything. Could be news choppers. Could be ICE. AltNPS doesn't know, but they're pushing out a vague message to their millions of followers, and encouraging their paranoia.
I also need to say, again, that AltNPS is not receiving "reports." Neither is 50501.
What they're doing is seeing news headlines and either trying to imply that they're getting info sent to them directly (AltNPS) or just not bothering to cite the journalists on the ground (50501).
What they're doing is seeing news headlines and either trying to imply that they're getting info sent to them directly (AltNPS) or just not bothering to cite the journalists on the ground (50501).
January 15, 2026 at 9:19 PM
I also need to say, again, that AltNPS is not receiving "reports." Neither is 50501.
What they're doing is seeing news headlines and either trying to imply that they're getting info sent to them directly (AltNPS) or just not bothering to cite the journalists on the ground (50501).
What they're doing is seeing news headlines and either trying to imply that they're getting info sent to them directly (AltNPS) or just not bothering to cite the journalists on the ground (50501).
This is a mess.
AltNPS is talking about Operation Guardian, a joint operation between ICE and the Oklahoma Highway Patrol.
They don't link to Jonathan Greco's article in KOCO News 5 about this. If they had, they might have seen that the operation is focused on Interstate 35, not 40.
AltNPS is talking about Operation Guardian, a joint operation between ICE and the Oklahoma Highway Patrol.
They don't link to Jonathan Greco's article in KOCO News 5 about this. If they had, they might have seen that the operation is focused on Interstate 35, not 40.
January 15, 2026 at 9:10 PM
This is a mess.
AltNPS is talking about Operation Guardian, a joint operation between ICE and the Oklahoma Highway Patrol.
They don't link to Jonathan Greco's article in KOCO News 5 about this. If they had, they might have seen that the operation is focused on Interstate 35, not 40.
AltNPS is talking about Operation Guardian, a joint operation between ICE and the Oklahoma Highway Patrol.
They don't link to Jonathan Greco's article in KOCO News 5 about this. If they had, they might have seen that the operation is focused on Interstate 35, not 40.
And you know how I knew AltNPS didn't write that tweet? Because it's written in the magical passive voice reserved exclusively for newsrooms talking about cops.
January 15, 2026 at 3:05 AM
And you know how I knew AltNPS didn't write that tweet? Because it's written in the magical passive voice reserved exclusively for newsrooms talking about cops.
The specific phrase "happened in the 600 block of 24th Avenue North in Minneapolis" doesn't appear in the Star Tribune coverage linked in AltNPS's comments (by their followers, of course, not by AltNPS), but it does appear verbatim in FOX 9's report on the shooting.
www.fox5ny.com/news/minneap...
www.fox5ny.com/news/minneap...
January 15, 2026 at 3:01 AM
The specific phrase "happened in the 600 block of 24th Avenue North in Minneapolis" doesn't appear in the Star Tribune coverage linked in AltNPS's comments (by their followers, of course, not by AltNPS), but it does appear verbatim in FOX 9's report on the shooting.
www.fox5ny.com/news/minneap...
www.fox5ny.com/news/minneap...
The thing is, we know why AltNPS is so laser-focused on this topic: it gets them big numbers. These posts are getting multiple times the attention as their previous posts about ICE.
January 14, 2026 at 6:55 PM
The thing is, we know why AltNPS is so laser-focused on this topic: it gets them big numbers. These posts are getting multiple times the attention as their previous posts about ICE.
ICE kidnapped an entire Somali family off the street in Minneapolis today, but I'm glad AltNPS is focusing on the real issues: one guy's GoFundMe.
www.instagram.com/reel/DTfZUtK...
www.instagram.com/reel/DTfZUtK...
January 14, 2026 at 6:49 PM
ICE kidnapped an entire Somali family off the street in Minneapolis today, but I'm glad AltNPS is focusing on the real issues: one guy's GoFundMe.
www.instagram.com/reel/DTfZUtK...
www.instagram.com/reel/DTfZUtK...
AltNPS will jump on any breaking story, especially if it's attached to a trending topic or a viral moment that resonates with their fans.
And they'll do this at the literal expense of real activism; that's $5k that isn't going to bail funds, legal aid, or, you know, fired National Park staff.
And they'll do this at the literal expense of real activism; that's $5k that isn't going to bail funds, legal aid, or, you know, fired National Park staff.
January 14, 2026 at 3:13 PM
AltNPS will jump on any breaking story, especially if it's attached to a trending topic or a viral moment that resonates with their fans.
And they'll do this at the literal expense of real activism; that's $5k that isn't going to bail funds, legal aid, or, you know, fired National Park staff.
And they'll do this at the literal expense of real activism; that's $5k that isn't going to bail funds, legal aid, or, you know, fired National Park staff.
It's also worth saying that we don't know if AltNPS actually made this donation. The top donation is for $5,000, from "Anonymous," which could be anybody.
This just highlights the issues with their anonymity. I don't necessarily think they're lying here, but they sure could be! We can't know!
This just highlights the issues with their anonymity. I don't necessarily think they're lying here, but they sure could be! We can't know!
January 14, 2026 at 3:06 PM
It's also worth saying that we don't know if AltNPS actually made this donation. The top donation is for $5,000, from "Anonymous," which could be anybody.
This just highlights the issues with their anonymity. I don't necessarily think they're lying here, but they sure could be! We can't know!
This just highlights the issues with their anonymity. I don't necessarily think they're lying here, but they sure could be! We can't know!
I have a lot of thoughts on AltNPS's apparent donation to TJ Sabula's GoFundMe, few of which are kind.
But I think it shows how AltNPS focuses on aesthetics over action. They didn't donate to, say, a mutual aid fund, they gave five grand to a guy who yelled at Trump in a viral video.
But I think it shows how AltNPS focuses on aesthetics over action. They didn't donate to, say, a mutual aid fund, they gave five grand to a guy who yelled at Trump in a viral video.
January 14, 2026 at 3:01 PM
I have a lot of thoughts on AltNPS's apparent donation to TJ Sabula's GoFundMe, few of which are kind.
But I think it shows how AltNPS focuses on aesthetics over action. They didn't donate to, say, a mutual aid fund, they gave five grand to a guy who yelled at Trump in a viral video.
But I think it shows how AltNPS focuses on aesthetics over action. They didn't donate to, say, a mutual aid fund, they gave five grand to a guy who yelled at Trump in a viral video.
There's some very careful word replacement in AltNPS's post, but it's definitely ripped from Ben Weiser's update in the NYT live thread.
www.nytimes.com/live/2026/01...
Let's quickly look at some details:
www.nytimes.com/live/2026/01...
Let's quickly look at some details:
January 13, 2026 at 5:58 PM
There's some very careful word replacement in AltNPS's post, but it's definitely ripped from Ben Weiser's update in the NYT live thread.
www.nytimes.com/live/2026/01...
Let's quickly look at some details:
www.nytimes.com/live/2026/01...
Let's quickly look at some details:
This was reported by Alan Feuer, @glennthrush.bsky.social and FIVE TIME "getting plagiarized by AltNPS" champion Devlin Barrett at the New York Times, about two hours before AltNPS's post.
archive.is/202601130020...
archive.is/202601130020...
January 13, 2026 at 1:20 AM
This was reported by Alan Feuer, @glennthrush.bsky.social and FIVE TIME "getting plagiarized by AltNPS" champion Devlin Barrett at the New York Times, about two hours before AltNPS's post.
archive.is/202601130020...
archive.is/202601130020...
I can't put my finger on why, but I'm getting the sense that the #Resistance Coalition Leader isn't taking this very seriously.
January 12, 2026 at 10:38 PM
I can't put my finger on why, but I'm getting the sense that the #Resistance Coalition Leader isn't taking this very seriously.
My concern with AltNPS, especially with their "code numbers" last year, is the effect it will have on people who are truly vulnerable. People who thought it was all true. People who saw things that weren't there.
January 12, 2026 at 8:18 PM
My concern with AltNPS, especially with their "code numbers" last year, is the effect it will have on people who are truly vulnerable. People who thought it was all true. People who saw things that weren't there.
It's been ONE month since I posted this, and in that time, AltNPS gained 100,000 new followers on Facebook.
January 12, 2026 at 1:32 PM
It's been ONE month since I posted this, and in that time, AltNPS gained 100,000 new followers on Facebook.
My bad, turns out it's *4.5* million. Hadn't checked in a minute.
January 12, 2026 at 4:09 AM
My bad, turns out it's *4.5* million. Hadn't checked in a minute.
And that's if AltNPS understands that the area marked in purple is the West Side. The area in red, despite being literally West of downtown Saint Paul, is Highland, Midway, and Frogtown.
AltNPS doesn't know this town, and doesn't care about its people. They just want to use it for attention.
AltNPS doesn't know this town, and doesn't care about its people. They just want to use it for attention.
January 12, 2026 at 2:19 AM
And that's if AltNPS understands that the area marked in purple is the West Side. The area in red, despite being literally West of downtown Saint Paul, is Highland, Midway, and Frogtown.
AltNPS doesn't know this town, and doesn't care about its people. They just want to use it for attention.
AltNPS doesn't know this town, and doesn't care about its people. They just want to use it for attention.
To everyone who's used to me being more measured and professional on this account, I really apologize. I try to keep a cool head, but they're using my city, my SPECIFIC NEIGHBORHOOD, as fodder for their click farm. It's hard not to take it personally.
January 12, 2026 at 2:12 AM
To everyone who's used to me being more measured and professional on this account, I really apologize. I try to keep a cool head, but they're using my city, my SPECIFIC NEIGHBORHOOD, as fodder for their click farm. It's hard not to take it personally.
"Receiving reports" my ass. AltNPS is not receiving reports of ICE raids in Saint Paul. They are seeing posts on social media like the rest of us.
I DO have loved ones in Saint Paul. ALL of my loved ones. They're terrified. Fuck you.
I DO have loved ones in Saint Paul. ALL of my loved ones. They're terrified. Fuck you.
January 12, 2026 at 2:09 AM
"Receiving reports" my ass. AltNPS is not receiving reports of ICE raids in Saint Paul. They are seeing posts on social media like the rest of us.
I DO have loved ones in Saint Paul. ALL of my loved ones. They're terrified. Fuck you.
I DO have loved ones in Saint Paul. ALL of my loved ones. They're terrified. Fuck you.
Oh cool, which ones? WHICH ONES?
January 11, 2026 at 11:50 PM
Oh cool, which ones? WHICH ONES?
The Immigrant Law Center of Minnesota is sharing resources for ICE response. I'd encourage anyone interested in helping people in St. Paul to save this contact info:
www.ilcm.org
www.ilcm.org
January 11, 2026 at 11:35 PM
The Immigrant Law Center of Minnesota is sharing resources for ICE response. I'd encourage anyone interested in helping people in St. Paul to save this contact info:
www.ilcm.org
www.ilcm.org