Ben Waterhouse
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beninoregon.bsky.social
Ben Waterhouse
@beninoregon.bsky.social
260 followers 130 following 30 posts
Editor of Oregon Humanities magazine, occasional theater critic, plant enthusiast.
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Reposted by Ben Waterhouse
dadadrummer.bsky.social
Glad to see the news that more artists are cancelling on Richard Grenell dadadrummer.substack.com/p/what-is-th...
What is the Artist to Fascism?
Richard Grenell explains
dadadrummer.substack.com
December 30, 2025 at 1:51 PM
Reposted by Ben Waterhouse
rincewind.run
something very important for Dems to realize is that the tech overlords are not people you can win back by promising a lighter touch and saying a few nice things

they’ve gotten a taste of mask-off fascism and they are not going back, they don’t want to play nice with the peons anymore
jakecole.bsky.social Jake Cole @jakecole.bsky.social · 3d
There’s a funny Politico story showing that the latest polling on AI shows 80-20 in favor of heavy regulations, an absolute slam dunk platform, but Dems are worried about not winning back mask-off tech CEO donors
www.politico.com/news/magazin...
December 29, 2025 at 4:32 PM
Reposted by Ben Waterhouse
charlesornstein.bsky.social
“You are not entitled to a response from us, or anyone, ever,” is what a US Education Department spokesperson wrote to one of our reporters, @megomatz.bsky.social, after she repeatedly tried to get comment from the department and its officials. My column on the condemnation of good journalism.
Our Reporters Reached Out for Comment. They Were Accused of Stalking and Intimidation.
Our journalists reach out to people they’re writing about to ensure fairness. But in this environment, they’ve found their efforts to do so are more likely to be vilified than appreciated.
www.propublica.org
December 29, 2025 at 2:58 PM
Reposted by Ben Waterhouse
taylorgriggs.bsky.social
The point of a podcast is to listen to it. The hosts need not gussy themselves up to record it. If I have to put on makeup to be on your “podcast” I’m DECLINING
December 27, 2025 at 6:32 PM
Reposted by Ben Waterhouse
jamellebouie.net
“it is illegal for you not to like me”
goldwagnathan.bsky.social Nathan Goldwag @goldwagnathan.bsky.social · 4d
This is the logical and inevitable conclusion of the last decade of elite media "free speech" discourse.
December 28, 2025 at 1:54 AM
Reposted by Ben Waterhouse
scalzi.com
AI in a nutshell
jjvincent.bsky.social James Vincent @jjvincent.bsky.social · 4d
another robot highlight for 2025: man wearing humanoid mocap suit kicks himself in the balls
December 28, 2025 at 3:20 PM
Reposted by Ben Waterhouse
evanbernick.bsky.social
What happened here for more than two months is unlike anything in recent American history: the federal government sending agents dressed for war into neighborhoods of the country's third- largest city to arrest mostly people who look Latino and to ask questions later. To target people largely on the basis of their skin color, on the presumption that they may be in the country without documentation, or that they may have a criminal record, or an association with a gang.
December 28, 2025 at 4:38 PM
Reposted by Ben Waterhouse
sbagen.bsky.social
This is a really nice analysis of the AI bubble, how we got here, and where we might be going. www.lrb.co.uk/the-paper/v4...
John Lanchester · King of Cannibal Island: Will the AI bubble burst?
Nvidia shares are the purest bet you can make on the impact of AI. The leading firms are lending money to one another in...
www.lrb.co.uk
December 27, 2025 at 12:16 PM
Reposted by Ben Waterhouse
nikkimwalls.bsky.social
how about we write poems celebrating what working people do for society instead of navel gazing and fretting about the apocalypse
December 28, 2025 at 10:28 PM
Reposted by Ben Waterhouse
normative.bsky.social
I always thought Plato was pretty pollyannaish on this point, but this is decent evidence for the view that a man of bad character will therefore be unhappy even with every external trapping of success and good fortune.
thedailybeast.bsky.social The Daily Beast @thedailybeast.bsky.social · 6d
President Donald Trump gifted the world with nearly 200 Truth Social posts (and counting) on Christmas Day, where he amplified conspiracy theories about the 2020 election and called for a member of Congress to be deported.
Trump Posts Nearly 200 Times in Unhinged Christmas Day Spree
The president amplified conspiracy theories about the 2020 election and called for a member of Congress to be deported.
trib.al
December 26, 2025 at 1:34 PM
Reposted by Ben Waterhouse
jonbois.bsky.social
you know, these days, many people time of year. but this season, try when to everything a special time — it just might become which with you
December 25, 2025 at 8:07 PM
Reposted by Ben Waterhouse
richardkadrey.bsky.social
Merry Christmas from Peter Lorre and Sidney Greenstreet
Sidney Greenstreet dressed as Santa while Peter Lorre sneaks up behind him with a baseball bat
December 24, 2025 at 2:21 PM
Reposted by Ben Waterhouse
hlkfotos.com
December 19, 2025 at 4:24 PM
Reposted by Ben Waterhouse
mattdpearce.com
What I learned from 2025:

mattdpearce.substack.com/p/four-big-t...
1. The new superspender economy rules everything around us. If there's a single stat to capture what's happening to the economy, it's this: The top 10% of U.S. earners now make up half of all spending, and it's changing everything. Delta Air Lines expects to make more money soon from luxury and business fliers at the front of the plane than from everybody else. In my own world of journalism, a lot of unscaled creators this year have been running into the soft limits of competing for small dollars, while the rest of the news field is increasingly dependent on the giving of foundations and high net-worth individuals (rich people). In gross dollars, economic support for news is propelled by what feels like a smaller segment of American society, which raises uncomfy questions for journalists about who the real customers are.
December 19, 2025 at 3:46 PM
Reposted by Ben Waterhouse
sarabandebooks.bsky.social
When the NEA asked us to promise not to publish trans, nonbinary, or gender fluid authors, we told them to kick rocks. (Actually, formally, with a unanimous vote by the Board of Directors, we told them to kick rocks.) So the NEA rescinded our funding.
"Your project to promote 'gender ideology' unfortunately does not align with our priorities." —NEA Notice of Termination Sarabande is exceedingly proud to be misaligned with this administration's vision for the arts. We refuse to become demoralized, soft-pedal our values, or sell out our authors for federal funding. We know you share our values and determination. Help us bridge the gap left by the NEA with a recurring monthly donation or gift of any size.
November 26, 2025 at 8:04 PM
Reposted by Ben Waterhouse
richardiiisocca.bsky.social
It's time! Behold the Christmas hedgehog! From Verdun, Bibl. mun., ms. 0107, f. 008. Our thanks as always to @etreharne.bsky.social who found her.
A small hedgehog has green and red circles on her spikes and a gold one. On the branch in front of and behind her are 2 more gold balls. The branch has a few green leaves. It all looks very festive although the balls on her spikes are probably grapes.
December 18, 2025 at 3:29 PM
Reposted by Ben Waterhouse
joestreckert.bsky.social
A normal, non-famous working journalist would be shown the door for doing this. He needs to resign yesterday.
parkermolloy.com Parker Molloy @parkermolloy.com · 13d
David Brooks, who wrote in the NYT last month, "The Epstein Story? Count Me Out" is... in the latest Epstein photo dump published by @oversightdemocrats.house.gov.

He should absolutely be fired by NYT for this. Major conflict of interest that he didn't disclose.
December 18, 2025 at 6:16 PM
Reposted by Ben Waterhouse
nicklutsko.bsky.social
Looking to spread some yuletide cheer with my new song “Big Nick Christmas”
December 10, 2025 at 4:58 PM
Reposted by Ben Waterhouse
kelciemmorris.bsky.social
Just for the record: none of our 39 state outlets at
@statesnewsroom.com use it.

We don't have a published AI policy yet, but I was part of crafting it, and it would go against our policy to use it in any of our writing without full disclosure.
alexip718.com Alex Ip 葉清霖 @alexip718.com · 14d
I'm making a starter pack of Generative AI slop-free newsrooms that you can donate and support. Obvious good eggs include @404media.co and @thexylom.com (which I founded).

Drop your suggestions below and provide evidence; this has gone too far and I'm losing my mind
propublicaguild.org ProPublica Guild @propublicaguild.org · 14d
1/ At bargaining yesterday, @propublica.org management said that they should have 100% discretion to replace workers with AI and would not commit to labeling future AI-generated content.
December 17, 2025 at 7:11 PM
Reposted by Ben Waterhouse
leahsottile.bsky.social
“That afternoon, the preschool sends out an email, subject line: “Regarding Wednesday’s Lockdown Experience in the Ladybugs Class.” I stare at the string of words and try to make them cohere.”

An absolutely stunning essay by @grayhchapman.bsky.social

open.substack.com/pub/graychap...
Loaded
Daughterhood and motherhood in a gun-addled country.
open.substack.com
December 18, 2025 at 2:09 AM
Reposted by Ben Waterhouse
craigcalcaterra.bsky.social
The Vanity Fair photographer from the Susie Wiles story.

Holy. Shit.

www.washingtonpost.com/style/power/...
Were there moments that you missed? Anything that happened that’s on the cutting room floor? I don’t think there’s anything I missed that I wish I’d gotten. I’ll give you a little anecdote: Stephen Miller was perhaps the most concerned about the portrait session. He asked me, “Should I smile or not smile?” and I said, “How would you want to be portrayed?” We agreed that we would do a bit of both. And then when we were finished, he comes up to me to shake my hand and say goodbye. And he says to me, “You know, you have a lot of power in the discretion you use to be kind to people.” And I looked at him and I said, “You know, you do, too.”
December 17, 2025 at 8:34 PM
Reposted by Ben Waterhouse
oregonhumanities.org
Throughout 2026, Oregon Humanities will get Oregonians together to talk about democracy, freedom, and what it means to be an American—now and into the future.

We’re offering sixteen facilitated conversations, open to communities around the state.

Learn more: oregonhumanities.org/programs/con...
Beyond 250: Conversations About Democracy and Community
Throughout 2026, Oregon Humanities will get Oregonians together to talk about democracy, freedom, and what it means to be an American—today and into the future.
oregonhumanities.org
December 17, 2025 at 8:33 PM
Reposted by Ben Waterhouse
caseyparks.bsky.social
In discussing her "Protect Children's Innocence Act" / nationwide trans ban today, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene keeps referencing surgeries. Genital surgeries almost never happen on minors (I know of only one from the last decade) and top surgery is also rare. 1/
December 17, 2025 at 8:30 PM
Reposted by Ben Waterhouse
ojrcenter.bsky.social
Immigrant workers are the backbone of Oregon's most important sectors. Immigrants come here to pursue our American dream, and to build a better life for our families. We support #DayWithoutAnImmigrant. Sign the pledge www.mobilize.us/pcun/event/8...?
Image of hands and fists raised. Text reads. Day without an immigrant. Oregon can't work without us. Speak up. Act Now.
December 17, 2025 at 5:03 PM