Zacharia faces criticism over debut

Reposted by Michael D. McDonald, David S. Tanenhaus

Scholar power: 12.9%

Story's scientific field profile

Communication & Media Studies 53%, Political science 37%, Law 10%

Name	Field match	H-index	Scholar power
🎓 Michael D. McDonald	19%	22	8.9%
🎓 David S. Tanenhaus	14%	8	4.0%
Total			12.9%

Formula for scholar power: sum of each reposter's field match × √reposter's h-index

Ranking score inputs

Relevance

Recency

Reposts

Scholar power

51.0%

7.4 h

3778

12.9%

Ranking score

0.199

Formula for ranking score (post): scholar_power × max((total_reposts)^(1/3), 1) × (1 / max(hours_since_posted, 1)) × (raw_relevance)^3

Judd Legum

@juddlegum.bsky.social

BREAKING: A complaint has been filed with the California Bar against White House Press Secretary Katie Zacharia, citing Popular Information’s reporting, for “the Unauthorized Practice of Law and for Holding Herself Out as Entitled to Practice Law.”

October 14, 2026 at 3:10 PM

Reposted by Steve Peers, Prokla Redaktion, David Darmofal , and 1 more Steve Peers, Prokla Redaktion, David Darmofal, Jesse R. Lasky

20%

Scholar power: 20.9%

Story's scientific field profile

Communication & Media Studies 53%, Political science 37%, Law 10%

Name	Field match	H-index	Scholar power
🎓 Steve Peers	24%	27	12.5%
🎓 Prokla Redaktion	18%	6	4.4%
🎓 David Darmofal	12%	11	4.0%
🎓 Jesse R. Lasky	-	40	-
Total			20.9%

Formula for scholar power: sum of each reposter's field match × √reposter's h-index

Ranking score inputs

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Recency

Reposts

Scholar power

50.0%

21.7 h

2629

20.9%

Ranking score

0.127

Formula for ranking score (post): scholar_power × max((total_reposts)^(1/3), 1) × (1 / max(hours_since_posted, 1)) × (raw_relevance)^3

Jessica Valenti

@jessicavalenti.bsky.social

Katie Zacharia sat on the advisory board of an organization that calls for women who have abortions to be executed “in the public square,” and for pro-choice Americans to lose their right to hold public office.

Trump’s New Press Secretary Supports the Death Penalty for Abortion Patients

10.13.26

jessica.substack.com

October 14, 2026 at 12:49 AM

by Roman M. Sheremeta

7%

Scholar power: 7.6%

Story's scientific field profile

Communication & Media Studies 53%, Political science 37%, Law 10%

Name	Field match	H-index	Scholar power
🎓 Roman M. Sheremeta	4%	40	7.6%

Formula for scholar power: 3 × author's field match × √author's h-index

Ranking score inputs

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Recency

Reposts

Scholar power

71.0%

10.4 h

18

7.6%

Ranking score

0.045

Formula for ranking score (post): scholar_power × max((total_reposts)^(1/3), 1) × (1 / max(hours_since_posted, 1)) × (raw_relevance)^3

Roman Sheremeta

@rshereme.bsky.social

I know why Donald Trump chose Katie Zacharia as the new White House Press Secretary.

She will actually create a genuine competition of who will stay more stupid things - she, or her boss.

October 14, 2026 at 12:08 PM

Reposted by Trudy Harpham

1%

Scholar power: 1.3%

Story's scientific field profile

Communication & Media Studies 53%, Political science 37%, Law 10%

Name	Field match	H-index	Scholar power
🎓 Trudy Harpham	2%	40	1.3%

Formula for scholar power: sum of each reposter's field match × √reposter's h-index

Ranking score inputs

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Recency

Reposts

Scholar power

50.0%

9.4 h

951

1.3%

Ranking score

0.039

Formula for ranking score (post): scholar_power × max((total_reposts)^(1/3), 1) × (1 / max(hours_since_posted, 1)) × (raw_relevance)^3

by Stephen I. Vladeck

16%

Scholar power: 16.7%

Story's scientific field profile

Communication & Media Studies 53%, Political science 37%, Law 10%

Name	Field match	H-index	Scholar power
🎓 Stephen I. Vladeck	21%	7	16.7%

Formula for scholar power: 3 × author's field match × √author's h-index

Ranking score inputs

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Recency

Reposts

Scholar power

53.0%

6.7 h

0

16.7%

Ranking score

0.035

Formula for ranking score (post): scholar_power × max((total_reposts)^(1/3), 1) × (1 / max(hours_since_posted, 1)) × (raw_relevance)^3

Steve Vladeck

@stevevladeck.bsky.social

This is not going to end well…

Kathryn Tewson @kathryntewson.bsky.social · 17h

So as y’all probably already know, Trump has a new blonde, Katie Zacharia. She claims to be an attorney, and apparently has been doing so for some time. But while she has a JD from Pepperdine for sure, nobody can seem to find any jurisdiction in which she has been admitted to the practice of law.

October 14, 2026 at 3:53 PM

by Roman M. Sheremeta

7%

Scholar power: 7.6%

Story's scientific field profile

Communication & Media Studies 53%, Political science 37%, Law 10%

Name	Field match	H-index	Scholar power
🎓 Roman M. Sheremeta	4%	40	7.6%

Formula for scholar power: 3 × author's field match × √author's h-index

Ranking score inputs

Relevance

Recency

Reposts

Scholar power

71.0%

10.1 h

12

7.6%

Ranking score

0.031

Formula for ranking score (post): scholar_power × max((total_reposts)^(1/3), 1) × (1 / max(hours_since_posted, 1)) × (raw_relevance)^3

Roman Sheremeta

@rshereme.bsky.social

I know why Donald Trump chose Katie Zacharia as the new White House Press Secretary.

She will actually create a genuine competition of who will stay more stupid things - she, or her boss.

October 14, 2026 at 12:26 PM

Reposted by Brendan Nyhan

15%

Scholar power: 15.0%

Story's scientific field profile

Communication & Media Studies 53%, Political science 37%, Law 10%

Name	Field match	H-index	Scholar power
🎓 Brendan Nyhan	21%	51	15.0%

Formula for scholar power: sum of each reposter's field match × √reposter's h-index

Ranking score inputs

Relevance

Recency

Reposts

Scholar power

58.0%

23.9 h

107

15.0%

Ranking score

0.029

Formula for ranking score (post): scholar_power × max((total_reposts)^(1/3), 1) × (1 / max(hours_since_posted, 1)) × (raw_relevance)^3

Nick Kodama 🌳👻

@nickkodama.bsky.social

i don't think she'll last a full scaramucci

Scott Nover @scottnover.bsky.social · 1d

New: White House Press Secretary Katie Zacharia calls herself a lawyer. There’s no evidence she was admitted to practice law in the United States, and legal experts say foreign citizens cannot take the bar in China.

My deep dive:

www.washingtonpost.com/business/202...

Katie Zacharia calls herself a lawyer. Legal experts aren’t sure.

There’s no evidence the new White House press secretary was admitted to practice law in the United States.

www.washingtonpost.com

October 13, 2026 at 10:37 PM

by David S. Tanenhaus

11%

Scholar power: 11.9%

Story's scientific field profile

Communication & Media Studies 53%, Political science 37%, Law 10%

Name	Field match	H-index	Scholar power
🎓 David S. Tanenhaus	14%	8	11.9%

Formula for scholar power: 3 × author's field match × √author's h-index

Ranking score inputs

Relevance

Recency

Reposts

Scholar power

46.0%

3.7 h

0

11.9%

Ranking score

0.029

Formula for ranking score (post): scholar_power × max((total_reposts)^(1/3), 1) × (1 / max(hours_since_posted, 1)) × (raw_relevance)^3

David Tanenhaus

@david-tanenhaus.bsky.social

Life comes at you fast.

Judd Legum @juddlegum.bsky.social · 7h

BREAKING: A complaint has been filed with the California Bar against White House Press Secretary Katie Zacharia, citing Popular Information’s reporting, for “the Unauthorized Practice of Law and for Holding Herself Out as Entitled to Practice Law.”

October 14, 2026 at 6:52 PM

Reposted by Simon Lester, Nicole Guenther Discenza, Pamela K. Gilbert

11%

Scholar power: 11.9%

Story's scientific field profile

Communication & Media Studies 53%, Political science 37%, Law 10%

Name	Field match	H-index	Scholar power
🎓 Simon Lester	14%	16	5.6%
🎓 Nicole Guenther Discenza	13%	9	3.9%
🎓 Pamela K. Gilbert	6%	16	2.4%
Total			11.9%

Formula for scholar power: sum of each reposter's field match × √reposter's h-index

Ranking score inputs

Relevance

Recency

Reposts

Scholar power

47.0%

22.3 h

969

11.9%

Ranking score

0.029

Formula for ranking score (post): scholar_power × max((total_reposts)^(1/3), 1) × (1 / max(hours_since_posted, 1)) × (raw_relevance)^3

Alexandra Petri

@petridishes.bsky.social

hi I’m your new press secretary and this is my first time reading words out loud www.theatlantic.com/newsletters/...

Hi, I’m Your New Press Secretary, and It’s My First Time Reading Words Out Loud

A very uncomfortable 14 minutes

www.theatlantic.com

October 14, 2026 at 12:13 AM

by Evelyne de Leeuw

0%

Scholar power: 0.0%

Story's scientific field profile

Communication & Media Studies 53%, Political science 37%, Law 10%

Name	Field match	H-index	Scholar power
🎓 Evelyne de Leeuw	0%	31	0.0%

Formula for scholar power: 3 × author's field match × √author's h-index

Ranking score inputs

Relevance

Recency

Reposts

Scholar power

72.0%

11.3 h

1

0.0%

Ranking score

0.026

Formula for ranking score (post): scholar_power × max((total_reposts)^(1/3), 1) × (1 / max(hours_since_posted, 1)) × (raw_relevance)^3

Evelyne de Leeuw

@evdle.bsky.social

Haha I like this:
The Zachbot malfunctioned.

www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026...

Enter the Zachbot: Trump’s new press secretary malfunctions on podium debut

Katie Zacharia’s maiden briefing was excruciating – at least her predecessor had delivered her propaganda hot

www.theguardian.com

October 14, 2026 at 11:14 AM

Reposted by Dean Baker

0%

Scholar power: 0.9%

Story's scientific field profile

Communication & Media Studies 53%, Political science 37%, Law 10%

Name	Field match	H-index	Scholar power
🎓 Dean Baker	2%	21	0.9%

Formula for scholar power: sum of each reposter's field match × √reposter's h-index

Ranking score inputs

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Recency

Reposts

Scholar power

48.0%

7.9 h

526

0.9%

Ranking score

0.026

Formula for ranking score (post): scholar_power × max((total_reposts)^(1/3), 1) × (1 / max(hours_since_posted, 1)) × (raw_relevance)^3

by Richard W. Painter

7%

Scholar power: 7.6%

Story's scientific field profile

Communication & Media Studies 53%, Political science 37%, Law 10%

Name	Field match	H-index	Scholar power
🎓 Richard W. Painter	8%	10	7.6%

Formula for scholar power: 3 × author's field match × √author's h-index

Ranking score inputs

Relevance

Recency

Reposts

Scholar power

50.0%

19.8 h

14

7.6%

Ranking score

0.019

Formula for ranking score (post): scholar_power × max((total_reposts)^(1/3), 1) × (1 / max(hours_since_posted, 1)) × (raw_relevance)^3

by Bob Hudson

5%

Scholar power: 5.6%

Story's scientific field profile

Communication & Media Studies 53%, Political science 37%, Law 10%

Name	Field match	H-index	Scholar power
🎓 Bob Hudson	4%	22	5.6%

Formula for scholar power: 3 × author's field match × √author's h-index

Ranking score inputs

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Recency

Reposts

Scholar power

74.0%

16.1 h

0

5.6%

Ranking score

0.017

Formula for ranking score (post): scholar_power × max((total_reposts)^(1/3), 1) × (1 / max(hours_since_posted, 1)) × (raw_relevance)^3

@bobhudson.bsky.social

Try watching this without cringing!

Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 1d

😬 Katie Zacharia's first press briefing was brutally bad 😬

Trump managed to find a press secretary who can barely read, but she does have the number one qualification -- looking like Ivanka

Here's a supercut from Zacharia's first briefing, which made Karoline Leavitt seem like Ronald Reagan

October 14, 2026 at 6:29 AM

Reposted by Trudy Harpham

1%

Scholar power: 1.3%

Story's scientific field profile

Communication & Media Studies 53%, Political science 37%, Law 10%

Name	Field match	H-index	Scholar power
🎓 Trudy Harpham	2%	40	1.3%

Formula for scholar power: sum of each reposter's field match × √reposter's h-index

Ranking score inputs

Relevance

Recency

Reposts

Scholar power

50.0%

18.1 h

247

1.3%

Ranking score

0.013

Formula for ranking score (post): scholar_power × max((total_reposts)^(1/3), 1) × (1 / max(hours_since_posted, 1)) × (raw_relevance)^3

Reposted by Jamie Morgan

3%

Scholar power: 3.6%

Story's scientific field profile

Communication & Media Studies 53%, Political science 37%, Law 10%

Name	Field match	H-index	Scholar power
🎓 Jamie Morgan	7%	26	3.6%

Formula for scholar power: sum of each reposter's field match × √reposter's h-index

Ranking score inputs

Relevance

Recency

Reposts

Scholar power

52.0%

19.7 h

451

3.6%

Ranking score

0.013

Formula for ranking score (post): scholar_power × max((total_reposts)^(1/3), 1) × (1 / max(hours_since_posted, 1)) × (raw_relevance)^3

Susan Rinkunas

@susanrinkunas.com

ICYMI: Until six months ago, White House press secretary Katie Zacharia worked with an organization that wants to prosecute people who have abortions for homicide—yes, throw women in prison. And last year, she claimed that abortion pills have ties to Nazi Germany.

New White House Press Secretary Served on Board of Abortion ‘Abolitionist’ Group: October 12 News Roundup

Katie Zacharia worked with an organization that wants to jail people for having abortions and claimed that abortion pills have ties to Nazi Germany.

www.autonomynews.co

October 14, 2026 at 2:49 AM

by Nicole Guenther Discenza

11%

Scholar power: 11.7%

Story's scientific field profile

Communication & Media Studies 53%, Political science 37%, Law 10%

Name	Field match	H-index	Scholar power
🎓 Nicole Guenther Discenza	13%	9	11.7%

Formula for scholar power: 3 × author's field match × √author's h-index

Ranking score inputs

Relevance

Recency

Reposts

Scholar power

46.0%

22.2 h

10

11.7%

Ranking score

0.007

Formula for ranking score (post): scholar_power × max((total_reposts)^(1/3), 1) × (1 / max(hours_since_posted, 1)) × (raw_relevance)^3

Nicole Guenther Discenza

@ndiscenza1.bsky.social

I recommend watching some video from the start of this presser first. You don't have to watch the whole thing; I'm not that cruel! A minute or so.
"Just call me Vote by Mail, because my delivery is raising a lot of questions in the White House."
Alexandra Petri has outdone herself.

Alexandra Petri @petridishes.bsky.social · 22h

hi I’m your new press secretary and this is my first time reading words out loud www.theatlantic.com/newsletters/...

Hi, I’m Your New Press Secretary, and It’s My First Time Reading Words Out Loud

A very uncomfortable 14 minutes

www.theatlantic.com

October 14, 2026 at 12:18 AM

by Timothy D. McBride

0%

Scholar power: 0.0%

Story's scientific field profile

Communication & Media Studies 53%, Political science 37%, Law 10%

Name	Field match	H-index	Scholar power
🎓 Timothy D. McBride	0%	23	0.0%

Formula for scholar power: 3 × author's field match × √author's h-index

Ranking score inputs

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Recency

Reposts

Scholar power

53.0%

16.6 h

8

0.0%

Ranking score

0.006

Formula for ranking score (post): scholar_power × max((total_reposts)^(1/3), 1) × (1 / max(hours_since_posted, 1)) × (raw_relevance)^3

Timothy McBride

@mcbridetd.bsky.social

👇👇

Kathryn Tewson @kathryntewson.bsky.social · 17h

So as y’all probably already know, Trump has a new blonde, Katie Zacharia. She claims to be an attorney, and apparently has been doing so for some time. But while she has a JD from Pepperdine for sure, nobody can seem to find any jurisdiction in which she has been admitted to the practice of law.

October 14, 2026 at 5:58 AM

Reposted by Stephen I. Vladeck, Timothy D. McBride

5%

Scholar power: 5.6%

Story's scientific field profile

Communication & Media Studies 53%, Political science 37%, Law 10%

Name	Field match	H-index	Scholar power
🎓 Stephen I. Vladeck	21%	7	5.6%
🎓 Timothy D. McBride	0%	23	0.0%
Total			5.6%

Formula for scholar power: sum of each reposter's field match × √reposter's h-index

Ranking score inputs

Relevance

Recency

Reposts

Scholar power

51.0%

17.5 h

358

5.6%

Ranking score

0.006

Formula for ranking score (post): scholar_power × max((total_reposts)^(1/3), 1) × (1 / max(hours_since_posted, 1)) × (raw_relevance)^3

Kathryn Tewson

@kathryntewson.bsky.social

So as y’all probably already know, Trump has a new blonde, Katie Zacharia. She claims to be an attorney, and apparently has been doing so for some time. But while she has a JD from Pepperdine for sure, nobody can seem to find any jurisdiction in which she has been admitted to the practice of law.

October 14, 2026 at 5:03 AM

by Amir Attaran

3%

Scholar power: 3.3%

Story's scientific field profile

Communication & Media Studies 53%, Political science 37%, Law 10%

Name	Field match	H-index	Scholar power
🎓 Amir Attaran	2%	31	3.3%

Formula for scholar power: 3 × author's field match × √author's h-index

Ranking score inputs

Relevance

Recency

Reposts

Scholar power

55.0%

23.5 h

1

3.3%

Ranking score

0.006

Formula for ranking score (post): scholar_power × max((total_reposts)^(1/3), 1) × (1 / max(hours_since_posted, 1)) × (raw_relevance)^3

Amir Attaran

@amirattaran.bsky.social

Look how far faking your credentials takes you in America.

Katie Zacharia calls herself a lawyer. Legal experts aren’t sure.

There’s no evidence the new White House press secretary was admitted to practice law in the United States.

www.washingtonpost.com

October 13, 2026 at 11:05 PM

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News, ranked by scholars

Zacharia faces criticism over debut

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News, ranked by scholars

Zacharia faces criticism over debut

Scholar power: 12.9%

Scholar power: 20.9%

Scholar power: 7.6%

Scholar power: 1.3%

Scholar power: 16.7%

Scholar power: 7.6%

Scholar power: 15.0%

Scholar power: 11.9%

Scholar power: 11.9%

Scholar power: 0.0%

Scholar power: 0.9%

Scholar power: 7.6%

Scholar power: 5.6%

Scholar power: 1.3%

Scholar power: 3.6%

Scholar power: 11.7%

Scholar power: 0.0%

Scholar power: 5.6%

Scholar power: 3.3%

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