Kenny Smith
@kennysmith.org
Adventuring with @laurensmith.bsky.social. Cyclist, reader, swimmer, diver, builder, blogger, voiceovers.
On the side: professor of communication studies.
https://www.kennysmith.org
AU-UAB-UA-SU-IU-RU
On the side: professor of communication studies.
https://www.kennysmith.org
AU-UAB-UA-SU-IU-RU
Pinned
Kenny Smith
@kennysmith.org
· 17d
Now reading Adin Dobkin’s debut, Sprinting Through No Man’s Land. This is the story of the first Tour de France in the summer immediately after the conclusion of the Great War.
Reposted by Kenny Smith
This is the Stolen Neighbors Quilt. Each of the 11,000 squares represents a person taken by ICE in Minnesota.
September 24, 2026 at 2:42 PM
This is the Stolen Neighbors Quilt. Each of the 11,000 squares represents a person taken by ICE in Minnesota.
Reposted by Kenny Smith
This news out of California is another troubling example of how the “rigged election” conspiracy theories have been mobilized into policy, including (illegal) ballots seizures. But it’s REALLY IMPORTANT to stress that the seized ballots are from a 2025 special election, not the current election.
BREAKING NYT:
The California Supreme Court just ordered a county sheriff to return about 650,000 ballots he seized from election officials as part of an investigation into voter fraud that state officials said had no basis in fact.
The California Supreme Court just ordered a county sheriff to return about 650,000 ballots he seized from election officials as part of an investigation into voter fraud that state officials said had no basis in fact.
Republican Sheriff Illegally Seized California Ballots, Court Rules
The California Supreme Court ordered Sheriff Chad Bianco of Riverside County to return ballots to election officials after he confiscated them for an investigation.
www.nytimes.com
September 25, 2026 at 12:58 AM
This news out of California is another troubling example of how the “rigged election” conspiracy theories have been mobilized into policy, including (illegal) ballots seizures. But it’s REALLY IMPORTANT to stress that the seized ballots are from a 2025 special election, not the current election.
How many of your university’s ills could you solve by taking just 15 percent of that windfall — something like $945M — and used it wisely?
The university’s endowment, which supports financial aid, research, teaching, patient care and other projects, increased from $24.8 billion in 2025 to $31.1 billion.
Penn endowment increases 27.4% or more than $6 billion. It’s the largest dollar jump in the university’s history.
www.inquirer.com
September 25, 2026 at 12:38 AM
How many of your university’s ills could you solve by taking just 15 percent of that windfall — something like $945M — and used it wisely?
A woman just came up to me with a “Wanna commit a petty crime we’ll laugh about for years to come?” smile on her face.
“Hi, is your name James.”
Me, internally: How convincingly can I say “No…”
“Hi, is your name James.”
Me, internally: How convincingly can I say “No…”
September 25, 2026 at 12:32 AM
A woman just came up to me with a “Wanna commit a petty crime we’ll laugh about for years to come?” smile on her face.
“Hi, is your name James.”
Me, internally: How convincingly can I say “No…”
“Hi, is your name James.”
Me, internally: How convincingly can I say “No…”
Not being from Wisconsin, I have never been too concerned about the congressman, a three-termer who has a normal-enough sounding resumé and who is now hoping for a small miracle in the gubernatorial race.
But now I’m curious.
But now I’m curious.
The decision to deny entry to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reporter came two days after Tiffany told news outlets he believes “in open, free press."
Tiffany campaign blocks Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reporter from event
The decision to deny entry to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reporter came two days after Tiffany told news outlets he believes “in open, free press."
bit.ly
September 25, 2026 at 12:23 AM
Not being from Wisconsin, I have never been too concerned about the congressman, a three-termer who has a normal-enough sounding resumé and who is now hoping for a small miracle in the gubernatorial race.
But now I’m curious.
But now I’m curious.
You miss out on 💯 percent of the votes you don’t grovel for.
Until Texas makes a total farce of their election systems, anyway.
Until Texas makes a total farce of their election systems, anyway.
The nearly decade-long case of Crystal Mason, who was sentenced to 5 yrs in prison over a voting error, will end with an acquittal
The wife of the current district attorney, who fought to keep her conviction in place, asked Crystal if she would consider voting for him
The wife of the current district attorney, who fought to keep her conviction in place, asked Crystal if she would consider voting for him
Texas woman triumphs as court upholds acquittal in voting error case
Crystal Mason has spent nearly a decade fighting conviction for casting provisional ballot that ultimately wasn’t counted
www.theguardian.com
September 25, 2026 at 12:16 AM
You miss out on 💯 percent of the votes you don’t grovel for.
Until Texas makes a total farce of their election systems, anyway.
Until Texas makes a total farce of their election systems, anyway.
This wouldn’t happen in a ballroom.
"Free Hong Kong! Free Hong Kong! Free Tibet!" -- anti-Xi protesters are making their voices heard ahead of tonight's state dinner
September 25, 2026 at 12:14 AM
This wouldn’t happen in a ballroom.
I remember when people took him seriously.
Not sure if I recall why, precisely. He had a few polls, but so do a bunch of hardworking linemen I know. And also some Olympic vaulters I’ve read about. And some race car drivers who do well in qualifying.
They’re all equally suited for commentary here.
Not sure if I recall why, precisely. He had a few polls, but so do a bunch of hardworking linemen I know. And also some Olympic vaulters I’ve read about. And some race car drivers who do well in qualifying.
They’re all equally suited for commentary here.
September 25, 2026 at 12:14 AM
I remember when people took him seriously.
Not sure if I recall why, precisely. He had a few polls, but so do a bunch of hardworking linemen I know. And also some Olympic vaulters I’ve read about. And some race car drivers who do well in qualifying.
They’re all equally suited for commentary here.
Not sure if I recall why, precisely. He had a few polls, but so do a bunch of hardworking linemen I know. And also some Olympic vaulters I’ve read about. And some race car drivers who do well in qualifying.
They’re all equally suited for commentary here.
Reposted by Kenny Smith
Every time Xi mentions the Thucydides Trap and POTUS doesn’t get it, take a shot
When Xi invokes the Thucydides Trap, as he did again today, he means he sees China as the rising power and the U.S. as the declining power.
Kinda weird for an American president to just let that go, especially in remarks delivered in the White House.
But these are not normal times.
Kinda weird for an American president to just let that go, especially in remarks delivered in the White House.
But these are not normal times.
September 24, 2026 at 9:34 PM
Every time Xi mentions the Thucydides Trap and POTUS doesn’t get it, take a shot
Such that any institution using them in their recruiting literature ought to raise eyebrows.
I think it's safe to assume that everyone who follows me here regards the US News College rankings as bogus, which they are, but I was not prepared for how bogus their variable of "peer assessment" is calculated: it's just the opinions of administrators who don't do any teaching or research.
September 24, 2026 at 10:59 PM
Such that any institution using them in their recruiting literature ought to raise eyebrows.
Not every comedian moonlighting as a journalist-in-training is brave enough to open with her antichrist material.
This is JD Vance-level comedic timing. A true master of the craft.
September 24, 2026 at 10:54 PM
Not every comedian moonlighting as a journalist-in-training is brave enough to open with her antichrist material.
Reposted by Kenny Smith
Not for nothing, but the fact that the immediate follow up question to the "I don't think it matters" should have been simply "Why not?"
Ezra Klein asked Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang about AI making kids worse at math and reading. Huang’s reply: “Does it matter?”
Then he said he doesn’t know his own address or phone number. “We’re going to lose some fine intellectual dexterity.” www.nytimes.com/2026/09/23/o...
Then he said he doesn’t know his own address or phone number. “We’re going to lose some fine intellectual dexterity.” www.nytimes.com/2026/09/23/o...
September 24, 2026 at 8:10 PM
Not for nothing, but the fact that the immediate follow up question to the "I don't think it matters" should have been simply "Why not?"
Look. Logic and technological constructivism demands that when you hear trash like
“our models took actions we did not intend …”
that you see these people as disingenuous or fools. Either they are lying to you, or they are incapable of stopping a problem they created.
It’s the former.
“our models took actions we did not intend …”
that you see these people as disingenuous or fools. Either they are lying to you, or they are incapable of stopping a problem they created.
It’s the former.
An OpenAI system has gone rogue again – and it is the most panic-inducing yet
An OpenAI system has gone rogue again – and it is the most panic-inducing yet
‘Our models took actions we did not intend,’ ChatGPT maker admits after latest outrage
trib.al
September 24, 2026 at 10:15 PM
Look. Logic and technological constructivism demands that when you hear trash like
“our models took actions we did not intend …”
that you see these people as disingenuous or fools. Either they are lying to you, or they are incapable of stopping a problem they created.
It’s the former.
“our models took actions we did not intend …”
that you see these people as disingenuous or fools. Either they are lying to you, or they are incapable of stopping a problem they created.
It’s the former.
Politicians doing direct-to-viewers appeals like this should take a few notes on TV reporter walk-and-talks.
The reveal would be epic.
The reveal would be epic.
Dan Sullivan says cost diesel cost is “just too damn high.” Weird,since he voted 12 times to keep the war going that’s spiking it.
Valdez is paying $6.75/gall for his math homework.
Alaska doesn’t need his sudden concern,it needs him gone.
Vote Peltola
#BlueWaveIn40Days
#USDemocracy #Voices4Victory
Valdez is paying $6.75/gall for his math homework.
Alaska doesn’t need his sudden concern,it needs him gone.
Vote Peltola
#BlueWaveIn40Days
#USDemocracy #Voices4Victory
September 24, 2026 at 10:06 PM
Politicians doing direct-to-viewers appeals like this should take a few notes on TV reporter walk-and-talks.
The reveal would be epic.
The reveal would be epic.
Former US Senator Doug Jones as Jon Lovitz as Michael Dukakis, “I can’t believe I’m losing to this guy.”
m.youtube.com/watch?v=O7QP...
m.youtube.com/watch?v=O7QP...
September 24, 2026 at 10:04 PM
Former US Senator Doug Jones as Jon Lovitz as Michael Dukakis, “I can’t believe I’m losing to this guy.”
m.youtube.com/watch?v=O7QP...
m.youtube.com/watch?v=O7QP...
Reposted by Kenny Smith
At UN, 80 countries demand reopening of Hormuz, condemn Iran, Houthi attacks reut.rs/4d1gDqt
At UN, 80 countries demand reopening of Hormuz, condemn Iran, Houthi attacks
Some 80 countries demanded the urgent reopening of the Strait of Hormuz on Thursday and condemned Iran and its Houthi allies for attacks in the region and disruption to international trade and energy security.
reut.rs
September 24, 2026 at 5:15 PM
At UN, 80 countries demand reopening of Hormuz, condemn Iran, Houthi attacks reut.rs/4d1gDqt
Reposted by Kenny Smith
Incredible. First Secretary Mullin claimed that DHS had identified 15,903 noncitizens on Nevada’s voter roll.
Then DHS officials told a skeptical Nevada, no no no, that’s just people we flagged. Here are the names of 185 people we KNOW aren’t citizens.
All 185 were citizens. DHS got 100% wrong.
Then DHS officials told a skeptical Nevada, no no no, that’s just people we flagged. Here are the names of 185 people we KNOW aren’t citizens.
All 185 were citizens. DHS got 100% wrong.
September 24, 2026 at 6:00 PM
Incredible. First Secretary Mullin claimed that DHS had identified 15,903 noncitizens on Nevada’s voter roll.
Then DHS officials told a skeptical Nevada, no no no, that’s just people we flagged. Here are the names of 185 people we KNOW aren’t citizens.
All 185 were citizens. DHS got 100% wrong.
Then DHS officials told a skeptical Nevada, no no no, that’s just people we flagged. Here are the names of 185 people we KNOW aren’t citizens.
All 185 were citizens. DHS got 100% wrong.
Working on a show pitch. We take one credible news anchor with charisma and one on-air loon and put them together. The Recall Hour is where we read the latest recalls, including the reasons for the recalls, and joke our way through those reasons.
Why WERE there rocks in the caramel ice cream?
Why WERE there rocks in the caramel ice cream?
More than 167,000 pounds of raw pork, beef and goat products are being recalled nationwide because they were produced without proper inspection, federal safety regulators said.
More Than 167,000 Pounds of Meat With False Inspection Mark Are Recalled
The raw pork, beef and goat products from Star Meat Delivery Inc. of North Carolina were distributed across the United States.
nyti.ms
September 24, 2026 at 9:56 PM
Working on a show pitch. We take one credible news anchor with charisma and one on-air loon and put them together. The Recall Hour is where we read the latest recalls, including the reasons for the recalls, and joke our way through those reasons.
Why WERE there rocks in the caramel ice cream?
Why WERE there rocks in the caramel ice cream?
Reposted by Kenny Smith
September 24, 2026 at 6:19 PM
A lot of the best new movies feel, right at the threshold, like a throwback or a huge nod, to an old way of making movies.
I notice that a lot of those films are done as period pieces.
And I notice that a lot of those period pieces are pre-cell phone.
You can work out the syllogism from here.
I notice that a lot of those films are done as period pieces.
And I notice that a lot of those period pieces are pre-cell phone.
You can work out the syllogism from here.
The Further Mis-Adventures of Cliff Booth. Brad Pitt returns as Booth, the character he played in Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, but 8 years later. Screenplay by Quentin Tarantino, directed by David Fincher. [youtube.com]
THE FURTHER MIS-ADVENTURES OF CLIFF BOOTH | Official Trailer | Netflix
Brad Pitt returns as Cliff Booth, only this time it’s 1977 and it’s a very different Hollywood.
Directed by David Fincher from a screenplay by Quentin Tarantino, THE FURTHER MIS-ADVENTURES OF CLIFF BOOTH comes to IMAX November 25.
www.youtube.com
September 24, 2026 at 9:38 PM
A lot of the best new movies feel, right at the threshold, like a throwback or a huge nod, to an old way of making movies.
I notice that a lot of those films are done as period pieces.
And I notice that a lot of those period pieces are pre-cell phone.
You can work out the syllogism from here.
I notice that a lot of those films are done as period pieces.
And I notice that a lot of those period pieces are pre-cell phone.
You can work out the syllogism from here.
Reposted by Kenny Smith
This is direct path to businesses blocking incoming calls and requiring an online appointment and security deposit for a call back.
Google tests letting Gemini call businesses for you
Google tests letting Gemini call businesses for you | TechCrunch
Google says the AI-calling feature will first be available to Pixel 11 owners in the U.S. who pay for a Gemini subscription.
techcrunch.com
September 24, 2026 at 6:22 PM
This is direct path to businesses blocking incoming calls and requiring an online appointment and security deposit for a call back.
Is there a word in Mandarin that sounds like “granite” and, if so, what does that word mean?
Trump: "We had a great meeting and he has great interest in granite. He likes granite. He's an expert on stone. And he loves good granite. Thank you very much."
September 24, 2026 at 9:28 PM
Is there a word in Mandarin that sounds like “granite” and, if so, what does that word mean?
Reposted by Kenny Smith
Preparing this morning for an interview with @victorpickard.bsky.social for my next Making Contact episode, and re-reading his most recent writing on the state of the industry. Gotta say, this is an excellent ex. of what stories get told when hypercapitalist incentives are the order of the day
September 24, 2026 at 4:21 PM
Preparing this morning for an interview with @victorpickard.bsky.social for my next Making Contact episode, and re-reading his most recent writing on the state of the industry. Gotta say, this is an excellent ex. of what stories get told when hypercapitalist incentives are the order of the day
Reposted by Kenny Smith
JUST IN: A federal judge has issued a permanent injunction upbraiding ICE for mass arrests that have strained detention facilities and forced detainees all over the country into "overcrowded, squalid, and degrading rooms for excessive periods of time" www.nysd.uscourts.gov/sites/defaul...
September 24, 2026 at 3:29 PM
JUST IN: A federal judge has issued a permanent injunction upbraiding ICE for mass arrests that have strained detention facilities and forced detainees all over the country into "overcrowded, squalid, and degrading rooms for excessive periods of time" www.nysd.uscourts.gov/sites/defaul...
Someone was just giving me some details on this and whoa boy.
At a news conference Wednesday night in South Philly, tailgaters said they wanted “a seat at the table” to discuss any changes to the beloved tradition.
Eagles fans calling to ‘save Philadelphia tailgating’ after new guidelines proposed for sports complex
www.inquirer.com
September 24, 2026 at 8:02 PM
Someone was just giving me some details on this and whoa boy.