Julie H. Hotard Ph.D., Disinfo expert
@upine.bsky.social
Analysis of effects of disinfo on social systems, writer http://Medium.com/@upine "All that is necessary for evil to prevail is for good people to do bothsidesism."
Pinned
How People Try to Solve Problems in a Libertarian Culture
There once was a land without environmental regulations. So various companies routinely poisoned the air, the water and the land. Everyone…
upine.medium.com
Right Wing Domination of Media & Politics Keeps Us Stuck in Disinformation and Right Wing Government
(I found a better named for this article later, after I first wrote it, and so I retitled it, which is why the title now comes out wrong when I type in the url.)
upine.medium.com/how-people-t...
(I found a better named for this article later, after I first wrote it, and so I retitled it, which is why the title now comes out wrong when I type in the url.)
upine.medium.com/how-people-t...
Reposted by Julie H. Hotard Ph.D., Disinfo expert
Today on Volts: I've had more requests to cover this than almost any other topic in the pod's history, so now, at long last, balcony solar! We dig into how "plug-in solar" took off in Europe & how it's making its way to the US, starting in Utah. Backyard DIY types rejoice!
What's the deal with balcony solar?
Cora Stryker joins me to explain how "plug-in" solar took Europe by storm and is finally, via Utah (?), making its way to America.
www.volts.wtf
November 26, 2025 at 6:24 PM
Today on Volts: I've had more requests to cover this than almost any other topic in the pod's history, so now, at long last, balcony solar! We dig into how "plug-in solar" took off in Europe & how it's making its way to the US, starting in Utah. Backyard DIY types rejoice!
Reposted by Julie H. Hotard Ph.D., Disinfo expert
"Should the US government release all of its files from the investigation of Jeffrey Epstein?"
Yes: 81%
No: 5%
YouGov / Nov 24, 2025
Yes: 81%
No: 5%
YouGov / Nov 24, 2025
November 26, 2025 at 6:30 PM
"Should the US government release all of its files from the investigation of Jeffrey Epstein?"
Yes: 81%
No: 5%
YouGov / Nov 24, 2025
Yes: 81%
No: 5%
YouGov / Nov 24, 2025
Reposted by Julie H. Hotard Ph.D., Disinfo expert
All three of the household cats have asked me to remind you of today's most important tradition. No, not travel. No, not consuming non-Thanksgiving food before choking on turkey. No, not getting your family venting out of the way.
It's FEEDING CATS TUNA FISH.
It's FEEDING CATS TUNA FISH.
November 26, 2025 at 2:59 PM
All three of the household cats have asked me to remind you of today's most important tradition. No, not travel. No, not consuming non-Thanksgiving food before choking on turkey. No, not getting your family venting out of the way.
It's FEEDING CATS TUNA FISH.
It's FEEDING CATS TUNA FISH.
Reposted by Julie H. Hotard Ph.D., Disinfo expert
Good morning! Today’s cat is Spaghetti The Cat. He’s 9 years old, gigantic, and his brain is a mini meatball. He loves eating strings and drooling when you pet him. He’s jealous of his cat siblings and wants all the attentions. And I love him dearly.
November 26, 2025 at 1:24 PM
Good morning! Today’s cat is Spaghetti The Cat. He’s 9 years old, gigantic, and his brain is a mini meatball. He loves eating strings and drooling when you pet him. He’s jealous of his cat siblings and wants all the attentions. And I love him dearly.
Reposted by Julie H. Hotard Ph.D., Disinfo expert
Hume's Leaf Warbler was showing and calling well at Sandwich Bay Bird Observatory.
November 25, 2025 at 9:42 PM
Hume's Leaf Warbler was showing and calling well at Sandwich Bay Bird Observatory.
Reposted by Julie H. Hotard Ph.D., Disinfo expert
I calmed down. A tad.
the sun shines through the waves on a beach with the words happiness written on the bottom
ALT: the sun shines through the waves on a beach with the words happiness written on the bottom
media.tenor.com
November 25, 2025 at 5:25 PM
I calmed down. A tad.
Reposted by Julie H. Hotard Ph.D., Disinfo expert
re: the video about illegal orders
It's great that Trump is making a big deal about it. Normally any Dem recorded video goes ignored by all sides.
Let Trump and Hegseth touch the boiling pot! Bring it on!
It's great that Trump is making a big deal about it. Normally any Dem recorded video goes ignored by all sides.
Let Trump and Hegseth touch the boiling pot! Bring it on!
November 26, 2025 at 4:53 AM
re: the video about illegal orders
It's great that Trump is making a big deal about it. Normally any Dem recorded video goes ignored by all sides.
Let Trump and Hegseth touch the boiling pot! Bring it on!
It's great that Trump is making a big deal about it. Normally any Dem recorded video goes ignored by all sides.
Let Trump and Hegseth touch the boiling pot! Bring it on!
Reposted by Julie H. Hotard Ph.D., Disinfo expert
Witkoff is not buying the Russian narrative. He is selling it.
November 26, 2025 at 5:24 PM
Witkoff is not buying the Russian narrative. He is selling it.
Reposted by Julie H. Hotard Ph.D., Disinfo expert
Trump’s idea looks pretty much like what we proposed—extend and reform Affordable Care credits; Johnson instead wants to rummage around in Republican box of stupid health care notions.
Trump to push new Republican plan on Obamacare subsidies
The plan calls for a short-term extension of the subsidies in exchange for new eligibility limits.
www.axios.com
November 26, 2025 at 2:58 PM
Trump’s idea looks pretty much like what we proposed—extend and reform Affordable Care credits; Johnson instead wants to rummage around in Republican box of stupid health care notions.
High profile propagandists command high salaries. They are very valuable to Right Wing authoritarians.
Newly released Fox correspondence from 2020 shows Steve Bannon urged Fox propagandist Maria Bartiromo to run for U.S. Senate. But apparently Bartiromo found Fox more lucrative: We learned she has made more than $70M at Fox.
What happened at Fox News after the 2020 election? Documents reveal new details
Tens of thousands of documents were released as part of Smartmatic’s defamation lawsuit against the network
www.theguardian.com
November 26, 2025 at 7:58 PM
High profile propagandists command high salaries. They are very valuable to Right Wing authoritarians.
Reposted by Julie H. Hotard Ph.D., Disinfo expert
Reposted by Julie H. Hotard Ph.D., Disinfo expert
Shout out to @bobcesca.bsky.social Check him out over on Substack! His cohosts are the best! His wednesday guests rock! Especially my faves @bluegal.bsky.social @driftglass.bsky.social & @buzzburbank.bsky.social 💕 substack.com/@bobcescasho...
Bob Cesca | Substack
Host of the Bob Cesca Show podcast. Weekly regular: The Stephanie Miller Show and TME with John Fugelsang. Podcaster, writer, cyclist, collector of nerdy things.
substack.com
November 26, 2025 at 12:20 PM
Shout out to @bobcesca.bsky.social Check him out over on Substack! His cohosts are the best! His wednesday guests rock! Especially my faves @bluegal.bsky.social @driftglass.bsky.social & @buzzburbank.bsky.social 💕 substack.com/@bobcescasho...
Reposted by Julie H. Hotard Ph.D., Disinfo expert
Reposted by Julie H. Hotard Ph.D., Disinfo expert
@nytpitchbot.bsky.social is a social media institution of satire and parody
November 26, 2025 at 4:24 PM
@nytpitchbot.bsky.social is a social media institution of satire and parody
Reposted by Julie H. Hotard Ph.D., Disinfo expert
I was just thinking about contributing to the "charity" Feeding America. Until I discovered that the salary for its CEO, Claire Babineaux-Fontenot, was approximately $949,866 in 2024, with her total compensation being $1,113,502. Apparently, feeding America isn't her top priority.
November 26, 2025 at 1:52 AM
I was just thinking about contributing to the "charity" Feeding America. Until I discovered that the salary for its CEO, Claire Babineaux-Fontenot, was approximately $949,866 in 2024, with her total compensation being $1,113,502. Apparently, feeding America isn't her top priority.
Reposted by Julie H. Hotard Ph.D., Disinfo expert
God I love the goofy way a ferret hops around instead of running when they’re really happy or excited
November 25, 2025 at 6:46 PM
God I love the goofy way a ferret hops around instead of running when they’re really happy or excited
Reposted by Julie H. Hotard Ph.D., Disinfo expert
When you are smiling because you know you found just the right stick for the nest and your partner will be SO happy!
#LakeCasitas #BaldEagles #Birds #Nature #Photography
#LakeCasitas #BaldEagles #Birds #Nature #Photography
November 25, 2025 at 7:21 PM
When you are smiling because you know you found just the right stick for the nest and your partner will be SO happy!
#LakeCasitas #BaldEagles #Birds #Nature #Photography
#LakeCasitas #BaldEagles #Birds #Nature #Photography
Reposted by Julie H. Hotard Ph.D., Disinfo expert
Along Flying Mountain #flyingmountain #acadia #acadianationalpark #somessound #mountdesertisland #maine #mainecoast #newengland #landscapephotography
November 26, 2025 at 3:02 AM
Along Flying Mountain #flyingmountain #acadia #acadianationalpark #somessound #mountdesertisland #maine #mainecoast #newengland #landscapephotography
Reposted by Julie H. Hotard Ph.D., Disinfo expert
"A YouTuber dropped his camera to the bottom of the ocean and recorded a deep-sea animal that no one has been able to identify."
petapixel.com/2025/11/25/y....
petapixel.com/2025/11/25/y....
YouTuber Drops Camera in Ocean and Films an Unknown Deep-Sea Species
'So what species is this one? The answer is we have no idea.'
petapixel.com
November 26, 2025 at 3:57 AM
"A YouTuber dropped his camera to the bottom of the ocean and recorded a deep-sea animal that no one has been able to identify."
petapixel.com/2025/11/25/y....
petapixel.com/2025/11/25/y....
Reposted by Julie H. Hotard Ph.D., Disinfo expert
Sarcasm
My BARC (Bots Above Replacement Country) model estimates that 85% of large MAGA accounts are based outside the United States. And I tell you the best place to get rogan josh in Islamabad. All that and more in the next Silver Bulletin.
November 26, 2025 at 4:41 AM
Sarcasm
Sarcasm
Times have been tough in this Afghani town ever since the woke mob shut down the old poppy seed factory. So when Vladimir Putin promised to pay everyone to create MAGA Twitter accounts, they finally had something to cheer about again. Then Twitter turned on its new public location feature.
November 26, 2025 at 4:41 AM
Sarcasm
Sarcasm
My three-year-old was reading MAGA Twitter when she turned to me gravely and asked "Daddy, why do the people in Pakistan love the nice orange man so much?" And when I told her "Because he's the only American president who never started any new wars," she started crying.
November 26, 2025 at 4:40 AM
Sarcasm
Sarcasm
The Pakistanis producing pro-Trump content on social media may hail from a different part of the world than American Trump supporters, but they are motivated by the same underlying emotion: economic anxiety.
November 26, 2025 at 4:40 AM
Sarcasm
Sarcasm about Federalist Society judges
Should pro-Trump Pakistanis be allowed to vote in American elections? This Federalist Society judge thinks so.
November 26, 2025 at 4:40 AM
Sarcasm about Federalist Society judges