2026/01/27

1. TikTok users can't upload anti-ICE videos. The company blames tech issues from cnn.com
   1341 by kotaKat 17h ago | | |

   Article: 12 min

   Comedian Megan Stalter and other TikTok users experienced difficulties uploading videos about ICE raids, leading to concerns over censorship by the platform. The issue was attributed to technical glitches due to a US data center power outage, unrelated to recent changes in ownership.

   Censorship concerns may lead to user distrust and platform abandonment, affecting the general public's perception of social media platforms' neutrality.

   • Megan Stalter's video about ICE was not uploaded to TikTok.
   • Other users reported similar issues, linking them to content about ICE.
   • Sen. Chris Murphy raised concerns over the censorship on TikTok.

   Quality:
   The article presents factual information without a clear bias.

   Discussion (870): 3 hr 16 min

   The comment thread discusses concerns regarding the forced sale of TikTok to an American company, with claims that it is aimed at hiding information from the US public while most people in other countries have easy access. The discussion also touches on issues related to media censorship, algorithmic manipulation, and propaganda tactics used by social media platforms.

   Social Media TikTok
2. FBI is investigating Minnesota Signal chats tracking ICE from nbcnews.com
   691 by duxup 13h ago | | |

   Article: 10 min

   FBI Director Kash Patel has initiated an investigation into Signal group chats used by Minnesota residents to share information about ICE agents' movements, potentially impacting free speech rights.

   • Patel wanted to know if any residents put federal agents in harm’s way, such as sharing their license plate numbers and locations.
   • The investigation has drawn skepticism from free speech advocates who argue that the First Amendment protects members of the public sharing legally obtained information.
   • Aaron Terr, director of public advocacy at the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression, said any investigation like this deserves close scrutiny given the administration's track record.

   Quality:
   The article presents factual information without a clear bias.

   Discussion (847): 2 hr 24 min

   The comment thread discusses concerns regarding ICE's actions towards protesters, including allegations of illegal tactics and potential violations of civil liberties. It also addresses privacy issues related to encrypted messaging apps like Signal, with a focus on the use of phone numbers for identification purposes. The conversation touches on legal implications of civil disobedience and government surveillance methods.

   • ICE agents' actions towards protesters could potentially violate the law.
   • Signal is a secure messaging app, but its use of phone numbers raises privacy concerns.

   Counterarguments:

   • Signal is designed to protect user privacy, making it difficult for the government to access sensitive information.
   • Protesters are aware of potential risks and take steps to maintain their anonymity.
   Legal Privacy & Surveillance, Civil Rights
3. Prism from openai.com
   583 by meetpateltech 13h ago | | |

   Article: 7 min

   Prism is an AI-native workspace introduced by OpenAI designed specifically for scientists to write and collaborate on research projects, powered by GPT-5.2. It offers unlimited projects and collaborators, aiming to integrate various aspects of scientific work into a single cloud-based LaTeX environment.

   AI is expected to significantly accelerate scientific discovery and make high-quality research tools more accessible, potentially democratizing the field of science.

   • Prism integrates GPT-5.2 for advanced reasoning and scientific collaboration.
   • Offers a unified platform for drafting, revising, managing equations, citations, and coordinating with collaborators.
   • Free to use for anyone with a ChatGPT personal account.

   Discussion (321): 1 hr 12 min

   Users discuss Prism, an evolution from Crixet, with concerns about AI-generated content's impact on academic publishing. There is debate over democratization of science versus maintaining high standards and skepticism regarding the utility of Prism's features compared to existing tools.

   • Prism is an evolution from Crixet, built on a strong foundation for scientific workflows with AI integration.
   • There's concern about the potential influx of AI-generated content in academic publications leading to quality degradation and increased workload for reviewers.

   Counterarguments:

   • There's a debate on whether to limit the democratization of science to prevent low-quality submissions from less experienced researchers.
   • Some argue for open access and inclusivity in academic publishing, while others advocate for maintaining high standards through peer review and gatekeeping mechanisms.
   Science ,Software Development,Research
4. U.S. government has lost more than 10k STEM PhDs since Trump took office from science.org
   508 by j_maffe 12h ago | | |

   Article: 7 min

   The U.S. government has experienced a significant loss of 10,109 STEM PhDs since President Trump took office in 2017, representing 14% of the total number of Ph.D.s employed in science, technology, engineering, and math or health fields at federal agencies by the end of 2024. This exodus was particularly pronounced at research agencies, with departures outnumbering new hires by a ratio of 11 to one, resulting in a net loss of 4,224 STEM Ph.D.s across 14 agencies analyzed.

   Loss of expertise could affect government programs and policies

   • 10,109 doctorally-trained experts left their jobs last year

   Quality:
   The article provides detailed data and analysis, maintaining a neutral tone.

   Discussion (357): 1 hr 25 min

   Commenters express concern over a significant loss of STEM PhDs from government roles, questioning the impact on research quality and capacity. There is debate about whether those leaving are high or low performers, with some suggesting that better performers stayed while lower performers left. The private sector's perceived productivity for STEM PhDs is discussed, alongside criticism of the current administration's policies on science and education.

   • The loss of 10,000+ STEM PhDs in a short period negatively impacts the government's capacity and ability to perform critical functions.

   Counterarguments:

   • It may be assumed that those leaving are lower performers, while better performers stayed.
   • The private sector offers more productive work for STEM PhDs.
   • Academia is a broken system in need of reform.
   Government & Politics Federal Workforce & Employment
5. Cloudflare claimed they implemented Matrix on Cloudflare workers. They didn't from tech.lgbt
   500 by JadedBlueEyes 15h ago | | |

   Article:

   The article discusses Cloudflare's claim of implementing Matrix on their workers platform, which was later found to be incorrect.

   • The article provides advice on how to verify such claims in the future.

   Quality:
   The article provides factual information and advice without expressing personal opinions.

   Discussion (185): 31 min

   The comment thread discusses the quality of an AI-generated blog post and repository related to Cloudflare's Matrix implementation on Workers. The main concerns are about the code quality, security vulnerabilities, rushed publication without proper review, and lack of trust in Cloudflare's recent posts. There is a debate around the use of AI for coding and its impact on software engineering practices.

   • The blog post and repository contain AI-generated code that is not production-ready.

   Counterarguments:

   • AI-generated content can be useful for prototyping and brainstorming.
   • The author might have had good intentions but made mistakes.
   Cloud Computing Security and Privacy
6. Kimi Released Kimi K2.5, Open-Source Visual SOTA-Agentic Model from kimi.com
   473 by nekofneko 1d ago | | |

   Article: 18 min

   Kimi K2.5 is an advanced open-source AI model that excels in coding, vision tasks, and office productivity. It features a self-directed agent swarm for complex task execution and is available through various platforms including Kimi.com, the Kimi App, API, and Kimi Code.

   Kimi K2.5's advanced capabilities in coding, vision tasks, and office productivity could lead to increased automation and efficiency in various industries, potentially affecting employment dynamics.

   • Kimi K2.5 is the most powerful open-source AI model to date.
   • It offers state-of-the-art coding and vision capabilities, along with a self-directed agent swarm for complex task execution.
   • Agent swarm reduces execution time by up to 4.5x compared to single-agent setups.

   Discussion (221): 28 min

   The comment thread discusses the capabilities and practicality of Kimi K2.5, an advanced language model with impressive benchmark results. Users debate its local usability due to hardware requirements, compare it with other models in coding tasks, and discuss the business strategy behind making such large models available for free.

   • Kimi K2.5 has impressive benchmark results
   • Large models are impractical to run locally due to hardware and performance issues

   Counterarguments:

   • Some users express skepticism about the practicality of running large models locally
   • There is a debate on the business strategy behind giving away large language models for free
   Artificial Intelligence Machine Learning, Computer Vision, Natural Language Processing
7. 430k-year-old well-preserved wooden tools are the oldest ever found from nytimes.com
   393 by bookofjoe 15h ago | | |

   Article: 2 min

   Researchers have discovered the oldest wooden tools ever found, dating back approximately 430,000 years, at the Marathousa 1 site in Greece. These artifacts were excavated from a Middle Pleistocene layer and include a worked alder shard for digging and a carved poplar or willow twig used as a tool.

   • These are the oldest known wooden artifacts, predating previous records by about 56,000 years.
   • Archaeologists also found a partial skeleton of a straight-tusked elephant and other animal remains along with stone tools.

   Discussion (211): 51 min

   This comment thread explores various aspects of human and non-human tool use, including the oldest known wooden tools, the evolution of tool-making abilities across species, and debates surrounding historical conflicts and genocidal tendencies. It highlights ongoing discussions in archaeology and evolutionary biology, emphasizing interdisciplinary approaches to understanding human behavior and cognition.

   • Ancient humans used tools before the emergence of Homo sapiens
   • Non-human primates also exhibit tool use

   Counterarguments:

   • Criticism regarding the interpretation of 'genocidal tendencies' in human history
   • Discussion on the role of cost-benefit analysis in historical conflicts
   • Reflections on the impact of technology and its preservation over time
   Archaeology Ancient Tools & Artifacts, Paleolithic History
8. I made my own Git from tonystr.net
   351 by TonyStr 20h ago | | |

   Article:

   The article discusses potential solutions to prevent malware infection when using personal or shared networks.

   Prevent malware spread, enhance personal and network security

   • Run an anti-virus scan on personal devices
   • Ask network administrators to check for misconfigured or infected devices

   Discussion (158): 36 min

   The comment thread discusses various aspects of version control systems, focusing on Fossil and Git. It includes opinions on the efficiency and performance of different storage methods, ethical considerations in AI-assisted content creation, and comparisons between VCSs. The community shows a moderate level of agreement with some debate intensity around contentious topics such as LLM usage in writing blog posts and the preference for one VCS over another.

   • The project was well-designed and efficient.
   • The author should consider using alternative storage methods for better performance with large files.
   Security Cybersecurity, Networking
9. Doing the thing is doing the thing from softwaredesign.ing
   338 by prakhar897 1d ago | | |

   Article: 2 min

   The article emphasizes that merely thinking, dreaming, visualizing, planning, or preparing for an action does not constitute taking action itself. It argues that true progress comes from actually executing the task at hand.

   • Doing the thing is not just thinking about it.
   • Feeling guilty or being busy does not equate to progress.
   • Small steps are better than no steps at all.

   Quality:
   The article is opinion-based and lacks specific data or sources, but it presents a clear viewpoint.

   Discussion (113): 18 min

   The comment thread discusses various opinions on the concept of 'doing the thing' versus planning, procrastination, and the role of AI in creative processes. The main message revolves around the idea that sometimes taking action, even if it's imperfect, is more valuable than overplanning or avoiding tasks altogether.

   • Doing the thing badly is doing the thing.
   • Planning has diminishing returns.
   • Failing while doing the thing is doing the thing.

   Counterarguments:

   • Sometimes that's because they're making it worthwhile, by connecting the thing with those who will benefit from it and explaining how to use it, which is as valuable as doing the thing.
   • Is planning, like deciding how to position your troops in battle, doing the thing?
   • Planning to do the thing is a new thing, thing2
   Motivation Personal Development
10. Celebrities say they are being censored by TikTok after speaking out against ICE from pride.com
    337 by saubeidl 21h ago | | |

    Article: 53 min

    Celebrities, including Megan Stalter and Billie Eilish's brother Finneas, have accused TikTok of censoring their videos critical of ICE after the shooting of Alex Pretti by Border Patrol agents. The social media platform has been criticized for potentially collecting sensitive information about users' sexual orientation and immigration status.

    Potential for increased scrutiny on social media platforms' privacy policies and content moderation practices, especially in relation to political and sensitive topics.

    • Megan Stalter claims her account was being censored and deleted due to critical videos about ICE.
    • Billie Eilish's brother Finneas had a video calling out ICE suppressed on TikTok.
    • TikTok's privacy policy update potentially allows collection of sensitive information like sexual orientation.

    Quality:
    The article provides a balanced view of the controversy without taking sides.

    Discussion (220): 8 min

    The comment thread discusses concerns about censorship, government influence on social media platforms like TikTok, and the role of capitalism in these issues. Opinions vary on whether TikTok's actions are due to US laws or foreign governments, and there is debate over freedom of speech and the impact of censorship.

    • Censorship of content by TikTok due to US laws

    Counterarguments:

    • TikTok following US laws, not foreign governments
    • Concerns about censorship also apply to other platforms under Biden's administration
    • Criticism of the use of 'virtue signaling' by celebrities
    News Celebrities, Social Media, Immigration