Brandon Downey
@bdowney.bsky.social
Infosec professional, photographer, math enthusiast, occasional augmented reality warlord. Peculiar but refined tastes in triangles, cinema, and cocktails. Some skill with Azad.
Signal: bdowney.23
Opinions are my own and not those of my employer
Signal: bdowney.23
Opinions are my own and not those of my employer
Reposted by Brandon Downey
The country deserves a better, more principled publication that has the place in our media industry that 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘈𝘵𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘤 does. 𝘓𝘪𝘣𝘦𝘳𝘢𝘭 𝘊𝘶𝘳𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘴 could one day occupy that role, if our growth continues as it has. Help us take our first real steps down that long road: www.gofundme.com/f/the-libera...
November 24, 2025 at 11:55 PM
The country deserves a better, more principled publication that has the place in our media industry that 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘈𝘵𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘤 does. 𝘓𝘪𝘣𝘦𝘳𝘢𝘭 𝘊𝘶𝘳𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘴 could one day occupy that role, if our growth continues as it has. Help us take our first real steps down that long road: www.gofundme.com/f/the-libera...
As a supporter of the open society, pluralism, liberty, and building a better world, I'm a Liberal Currents reader.
Mainstream media has failed; broken by late capitalism and the follies of radical centrism.
The Republic needs a sharp sword; so let me recommend backing Liberal Currents.
Mainstream media has failed; broken by late capitalism and the follies of radical centrism.
The Republic needs a sharp sword; so let me recommend backing Liberal Currents.
"If we are to build a new America fit for the 21st century, we must reforge our institutions."
Samantha Hancox-Li wrote those words in 𝘓𝘪𝘣𝘦𝘳𝘢𝘭 𝘊𝘶𝘳𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘴 six months ago. This week, we are working a bit on reforging the American media. Help us fight the implementation of reactionary authoritarianism.
Samantha Hancox-Li wrote those words in 𝘓𝘪𝘣𝘦𝘳𝘢𝘭 𝘊𝘶𝘳𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘴 six months ago. This week, we are working a bit on reforging the American media. Help us fight the implementation of reactionary authoritarianism.
Donate to The Liberal Currents Startup Fund, organized by Adam Gurri
To fight fascism we need opposition media with a backbone. Liberal Currents is that. Help… Adam Gurri needs your support for The Liberal Currents Startup Fund
www.gofundme.com
November 24, 2025 at 8:48 PM
As a supporter of the open society, pluralism, liberty, and building a better world, I'm a Liberal Currents reader.
Mainstream media has failed; broken by late capitalism and the follies of radical centrism.
The Republic needs a sharp sword; so let me recommend backing Liberal Currents.
Mainstream media has failed; broken by late capitalism and the follies of radical centrism.
The Republic needs a sharp sword; so let me recommend backing Liberal Currents.
Reposted by Brandon Downey
Still reeling from the Stanford report on Brexit. Reduced GDP by up to 8% and investment by as much as 18%. The UK Treasury would have £40 billion more each year if Britain had remained in the EU. Devastating self-immolation.
The Economic Impact of Brexit
Other
siepr.stanford.edu
November 24, 2025 at 11:02 AM
Still reeling from the Stanford report on Brexit. Reduced GDP by up to 8% and investment by as much as 18%. The UK Treasury would have £40 billion more each year if Britain had remained in the EU. Devastating self-immolation.
Reposted by Brandon Downey
Comedy is legal again
Holy shit. So Elon decides it would be nice to know what region of the world people are posting from. So they add that little feature.
2 hours later they figure out that many Trump supporters with millions of followers are posting from other countries. Surprise!
That "feature" is now gone.
2 hours later they figure out that many Trump supporters with millions of followers are posting from other countries. Surprise!
That "feature" is now gone.
November 23, 2025 at 10:34 PM
Comedy is legal again
Reposted by Brandon Downey
If you still have a Twitter account, today is a great day to delete it.
If I’m understanding this correctly, X is owned by a white nationalist who pays poor people of color in developing countries to pretend to be working class white Americans to scare other white Americans into being afraid poor people of color from developing countries are going to ruin America?
November 23, 2025 at 7:40 PM
If you still have a Twitter account, today is a great day to delete it.
Reposted by Brandon Downey
"The operation has prompted reflection from residents across the political spectrum, who wonder whether the aggressive tactics were worth it...."
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/22/u...
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/22/u...
November 23, 2025 at 9:43 PM
"The operation has prompted reflection from residents across the political spectrum, who wonder whether the aggressive tactics were worth it...."
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/22/u...
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/22/u...
One of those "lived too long" moments: Facebook just recommended Orkut as a friend.
November 23, 2025 at 8:13 PM
One of those "lived too long" moments: Facebook just recommended Orkut as a friend.
In ancient times people would pay people to cheer them in parades, or mourn for them (or relatives) at their funeral.
Just the dumb, modern version of that -- and because some product manager at Twitter flipped the switch we got to see who they were before Elon realized how bad it looks.
Just the dumb, modern version of that -- and because some product manager at Twitter flipped the switch we got to see who they were before Elon realized how bad it looks.
Twitter pays people based on engagement (views, retweets, comments, etc). It appears that many MAGA accounts are based abroad and they use AI technology to generate low-effort rage bait.
My guess is that this will get worse as AI tech improves. For instance, fake videos of minorities doing crime.
My guess is that this will get worse as AI tech improves. For instance, fake videos of minorities doing crime.
November 23, 2025 at 7:57 PM
In ancient times people would pay people to cheer them in parades, or mourn for them (or relatives) at their funeral.
Just the dumb, modern version of that -- and because some product manager at Twitter flipped the switch we got to see who they were before Elon realized how bad it looks.
Just the dumb, modern version of that -- and because some product manager at Twitter flipped the switch we got to see who they were before Elon realized how bad it looks.
Reposted by Brandon Downey
One of Twitter’s (relatively new) Head of Product’s ideas, which for the record I like, was to show where everyone is posting from which they have now turned on and it looks like a big section of MAGA is just uh… troll farms, as are a lot of accounts generally.
Interesting business decision.
Interesting business decision.
November 23, 2025 at 4:56 AM
One of Twitter’s (relatively new) Head of Product’s ideas, which for the record I like, was to show where everyone is posting from which they have now turned on and it looks like a big section of MAGA is just uh… troll farms, as are a lot of accounts generally.
Interesting business decision.
Interesting business decision.
Reposted by Brandon Downey
Ryan Lizza is doing Substack the right way.
by Ezra Klein
by Ezra Klein
November 23, 2025 at 4:19 AM
Ryan Lizza is doing Substack the right way.
by Ezra Klein
by Ezra Klein
[Draw a scene from Baldur's Gate 3 as if RFK Jr. were a character in it.]
Yeah Nano Banana 3 can ... kinda cook?
Big debate about whether RFK Jr. is a druid or a ranger though. That it rendered him with a falcon though? Kinda wow.
Yeah Nano Banana 3 can ... kinda cook?
Big debate about whether RFK Jr. is a druid or a ranger though. That it rendered him with a falcon though? Kinda wow.
![Prompt: [Draw a scene from Baldur's Gate 3 as if RFK Jr. were a character in it.]
RFK Appears with text above him saying "RFK Jr. (Druid)", with him asking about ranger armor.](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:6vdgoinf4xl7teq4quvhtf5y/bafkreibxapjemyeldqqrr4u2bsekwssru4zj3bdjpqsumumacznaalceze@jpeg)
November 23, 2025 at 4:05 AM
[Draw a scene from Baldur's Gate 3 as if RFK Jr. were a character in it.]
Yeah Nano Banana 3 can ... kinda cook?
Big debate about whether RFK Jr. is a druid or a ranger though. That it rendered him with a falcon though? Kinda wow.
Yeah Nano Banana 3 can ... kinda cook?
Big debate about whether RFK Jr. is a druid or a ranger though. That it rendered him with a falcon though? Kinda wow.
It's unfortunate, but Nano Banana 3 is ... shockingly good now.
[I would like a Jack Chick style tract warning of the evils of Liberal Currents, a digital political magazine focused on the values of the open society and liberalism, whose chief editor is Adam Gurri.] was the prompt.
[I would like a Jack Chick style tract warning of the evils of Liberal Currents, a digital political magazine focused on the values of the open society and liberalism, whose chief editor is Adam Gurri.] was the prompt.
So @bdowney.bsky.social used Gemini 3 to make an anti-Liberal Currents Chick Tract, and I’m sorry to say I’m pro-AI now
November 23, 2025 at 3:45 AM
It's unfortunate, but Nano Banana 3 is ... shockingly good now.
[I would like a Jack Chick style tract warning of the evils of Liberal Currents, a digital political magazine focused on the values of the open society and liberalism, whose chief editor is Adam Gurri.] was the prompt.
[I would like a Jack Chick style tract warning of the evils of Liberal Currents, a digital political magazine focused on the values of the open society and liberalism, whose chief editor is Adam Gurri.] was the prompt.
Reposted by Brandon Downey
So @bdowney.bsky.social used Gemini 3 to make an anti-Liberal Currents Chick Tract, and I’m sorry to say I’m pro-AI now
November 23, 2025 at 3:32 AM
So @bdowney.bsky.social used Gemini 3 to make an anti-Liberal Currents Chick Tract, and I’m sorry to say I’m pro-AI now
Reposted by Brandon Downey
A video from inside a Border Patrol vehicle shows agents chasing a US citizen for filming them. The citizen refused to get out when they illegally ordered him to stop. The agents say: "This is great." "This is fun." "He's going to get shot."
November 22, 2025 at 9:58 PM
A video from inside a Border Patrol vehicle shows agents chasing a US citizen for filming them. The citizen refused to get out when they illegally ordered him to stop. The agents say: "This is great." "This is fun." "He's going to get shot."
Reposted by Brandon Downey
Kavanaugh stop. Smashed the kid’s car windows and arrested him. He told them he was a U.S. citizen. The officer replied “I don’t care.”
www.oregonlive.com/portland/202...
www.oregonlive.com/portland/202...
High school senior, a U.S. citizen, detained by ICE in Oregon
The 17-year-old was held more than five hours Friday in an ICE facility, his brother said.
www.oregonlive.com
November 23, 2025 at 12:34 AM
Kavanaugh stop. Smashed the kid’s car windows and arrested him. He told them he was a U.S. citizen. The officer replied “I don’t care.”
www.oregonlive.com/portland/202...
www.oregonlive.com/portland/202...
Reposted by Brandon Downey
that authoritarian internationale motherfuckers can't even admit they're the internationale authoritarians
He turned that location feature off but folk saw so much.
Massively large pro Trump accounts are from all over globe. These are the accounts folk be arguing with over there.
Also “Strand Junker” “Andrea Strand” has an account here that a lot of folk follow. It’s in Germany, & a pos
Massively large pro Trump accounts are from all over globe. These are the accounts folk be arguing with over there.
Also “Strand Junker” “Andrea Strand” has an account here that a lot of folk follow. It’s in Germany, & a pos
November 22, 2025 at 10:25 PM
that authoritarian internationale motherfuckers can't even admit they're the internationale authoritarians
Reposted by Brandon Downey
Reposted by Brandon Downey
In October, AG Pam Bondi demanded that companies like Apple remove apps that allow users to document immigration activity in their community. We're suing to get the underlying communications. www.eff.org/press/relea...
EFF Demands Answers About ICE-Spotting App Takedowns
SAN FRANCISCO – The Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) sued the departments of Justice (DOJ) and Homeland Security (DHS) today to uncover information about the federal government demanding that
www.eff.org
November 22, 2025 at 9:59 PM
In October, AG Pam Bondi demanded that companies like Apple remove apps that allow users to document immigration activity in their community. We're suing to get the underlying communications. www.eff.org/press/relea...
Reposted by Brandon Downey
since the "google is now training gemini on your email contents" thing keeps bumping around here: it's _not happening_. I say this not to defend google but because I know a lot of people that have broken their filtering and made their lives much more annoying from sheer misinformation.
The malwarebytes Google opting-your-emails-into-ai-training thing is not true. The post is based on one bad tweet.
I know anti-tech lamenting is a Bluesky core principle, but please use the same judgement you would for any other clickbait.
www.theverge.com/news/826902/...
I know anti-tech lamenting is a Bluesky core principle, but please use the same judgement you would for any other clickbait.
www.theverge.com/news/826902/...
Google denies ‘misleading’ reports of Gmail using your emails to train AI
Google says “we do not use your Gmail content for training our Gemini AI model.”
www.theverge.com
November 22, 2025 at 9:30 PM
since the "google is now training gemini on your email contents" thing keeps bumping around here: it's _not happening_. I say this not to defend google but because I know a lot of people that have broken their filtering and made their lives much more annoying from sheer misinformation.
Reposted by Brandon Downey
kshama sawant:
November 22, 2025 at 8:37 PM
kshama sawant:
Reposted by Brandon Downey
It's my favorite day! It's the 38th anniversary of the Max Headroom signal broadcast intrusion!
1st incident lasted 25s during the 9PM news on WGN-TV in Chicago; The 2nd, 2hrs later, lasted ~90s on PBS affiliate WTTW during Dr. Who.
You can watch it here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=oqge...
1st incident lasted 25s during the 9PM news on WGN-TV in Chicago; The 2nd, 2hrs later, lasted ~90s on PBS affiliate WTTW during Dr. Who.
You can watch it here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=oqge...
Max Headroom 1987 Broadcast Signal Intrusion Incident
YouTube video by andrew867
www.youtube.com
November 22, 2025 at 6:37 PM
It's my favorite day! It's the 38th anniversary of the Max Headroom signal broadcast intrusion!
1st incident lasted 25s during the 9PM news on WGN-TV in Chicago; The 2nd, 2hrs later, lasted ~90s on PBS affiliate WTTW during Dr. Who.
You can watch it here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=oqge...
1st incident lasted 25s during the 9PM news on WGN-TV in Chicago; The 2nd, 2hrs later, lasted ~90s on PBS affiliate WTTW during Dr. Who.
You can watch it here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=oqge...
I'm going to need one of those kids from Omelas to read this article for me; thnx.
why did i log back in. WHY DID I LOG BACK IN. www.telos.news/p/part-2-she...
November 22, 2025 at 8:43 AM
I'm going to need one of those kids from Omelas to read this article for me; thnx.
Reposted by Brandon Downey
Re-upping my prediction that she ends up at the Free Press. Or as the “flattering interviews with tech billionaires and the MAGA adjacent” correspondent for 60 Minutes.
November 22, 2025 at 2:19 AM
Re-upping my prediction that she ends up at the Free Press. Or as the “flattering interviews with tech billionaires and the MAGA adjacent” correspondent for 60 Minutes.
Reposted by Brandon Downey
This story is nuts.
"ICE agents then surrounded the judge’s car and demanded everyone to exit the vehicle, threatening to smash in the windows if they did not comply."
"ICE agents then surrounded the judge’s car and demanded everyone to exit the vehicle, threatening to smash in the windows if they did not comply."
#BREAKING: A student intern at Rhode Island Superior Court was briefly taken into custody by ICE this afternoon before a judge intervened, 12 News has learned. Story by @jusolyn.bsky.social and @timwhiteri.bsky.social: ⤵️
RI judge intervenes after ICE mistakenly detains Superior Court intern
A teenager was nearly taken into federal immigration custody in Providence Thursday afternoon before a Superior Court judge intervened, according to the Rhode Island Judiciary.
www.wpri.com
November 21, 2025 at 11:51 AM
This story is nuts.
"ICE agents then surrounded the judge’s car and demanded everyone to exit the vehicle, threatening to smash in the windows if they did not comply."
"ICE agents then surrounded the judge’s car and demanded everyone to exit the vehicle, threatening to smash in the windows if they did not comply."
Reposted by Brandon Downey
The long sought-after solution to the fourth passage of “Kryptos,” artist Jim Sanborn’s secret-code-bearing sculpture at CIA headquarters, sold at an auction for a final price of $962,500, blowing past its $300,000 to $500,0000 estimate.
Long-sought solution to ‘Kryptos’ sculpture sells for almost $1 million
The sale is an unexpected success for artist Jim Sanborn, who feared it might not happen after researchers discovered the plain-text solution at an archive.
www.washingtonpost.com
November 21, 2025 at 1:30 PM
The long sought-after solution to the fourth passage of “Kryptos,” artist Jim Sanborn’s secret-code-bearing sculpture at CIA headquarters, sold at an auction for a final price of $962,500, blowing past its $300,000 to $500,0000 estimate.