Alys Brooks

Alys Brooks

@alysbrooks.bsky.social

Freelance writer, reporter, and developer based in Wisconsin. she/her/hers. @transjournalists.org member. @MarquetteU alumna. Words @rewirenewsgroup.com, @AssignedMedia.org, Door County Knock, CapTimes

389 followers400 following922 posts

Alys Brooks
@alysbrooks.bsky.social

I was disappointed by how Current Affairs handled a previous push to form a worker cooperative, so I’m happy to see this news.

Current Affairs@currentaffairs.bsky.social

Current Affairs has ratified a union contract! 🎉 Our new agreement includes strong anti-AI protections, unlimited sick days, paid parental leave, just-cause protections, a worker representative on the board, and more. Full details below 🧵

Alys Brooks reposted

Leicester Gazette
@leicestergazette.leicester.news

Two University of Leicester students speak out over ‘absurd’ and ‘Orwellian’ decision by the BBC and ITV Studios to edit out pride pins worn on University Challenge

leicester.newsBBC edits out pride pins on University Challenge in ‘Orwellian’ move* * * This story was published by **The Leicester Gazette** : a local, independent newspaper about Leicestershire. 1,000 people have already joined our community. Just use those buttons below to download our app and **sign up for free**. * * * Astrophysics student Samuel Carlier and History student Emmeline Hague-Wright were shocked to find that their LGBTQ+ pride pins had been edited out of their University Challenge appearance earlier this year. The episode, initially scheduled for BBC Two on 24 August, was delayed twice before airing on 7 September 2026. The pins showed the progressive LGBTQ+ pride flag, the bisexual pride flag and a rainbow feather. Speaking to the Leicester Gazette, Sam said: “Living in a liberal democracy and having the state broadcaster tell you ‘we’re editing how you look’, seems very Orwellian.” Sam described the choice to remove the pins before broadcast as “weird” and “absurd”. He said: “[Censoring] that seemed weird. If I had worn a rainbow shirt, would they have censored that? If the idea is to keep things impartial, where is that line in the sand?” A side by-side image of Sam wearing the pin and with it having been digitally removed. Photograph: supplied Sam contacted the BBC to try to understand why his pins had been edited out. He told the Gazette: “The BBC people said they’d ring me, and I chased them, they just said go to the complaints website and file a complaint there, that’s what I did.” Since then, Sam hasn’t had a response from the BBC as to why his pins were removed. After the episode had aired, Sam noted that his shirt ‘melted’ into itself occasionally, as a result of the editing. Photograph: supplied ## Students believe the decision was made following online transphobia Emmeline was also shocked when she found out that the feather pin she wore was due to be removed from the episode she was in. It was understood by Emmeline that there was online transphobia in response to previous episode of University Challenge, and she had been contacted by the BBC, anticipating support from the broadcaster. When the BBC contacted her, instead of an offer of support, she was told her pin was going to be removed. “At first it was mostly confusion,” she said. “I heard that they had received a lot of nastiness online from people and I thought they were going to call me to say ‘we have support services if needed,’ and that wasn't what I got at all.” Instead, Emmeline was notified that the episodes were going to be delayed. “It was out of left field, I was confused for a while,” she said. “This entire delay has been because of a feather and two badges on a teammate that were basically impossible [for viewers] to see.” Emmeline had expressed her frustrations with the repeated delays from the BBC, spanning from mid-July to early-September. She said: “We were announced on the website and then delayed again, and then announced on the website a second time, and delayed even further. Speaking about the removal, she said: “It takes a lot of time” she said. “Making it [the edit] look good would be even more expensive and time-consuming. It seems like drastically a lot of effort.” ## Join the conversation Our app is more than just a way to keep up – it's a gateway to award-winning journalism and the local community. __Want to support our work?__ Click here for membership__.__ ## Wider criticism on LGBTQ+ support The pins Sam wore during the episode. Photograph: supplied According to leading LGBTQ+ charity Stonewall UK, two in five LGBTQ+ students will hide their identities at university for fear of discrimination. Stonewall has reported that more than 36 per cent of trans students have received hostile conduct from university staff due to their gender identity. Reflecting on the digital removal of the pins, Sam spoke about how disheartening the choice was. He said: “There was maybe like a span of eight years where someone could be uncontroversially out in the open queer – now that’s gone again.” he said. The BBC has also been widely criticised for ‘an attack on the LGBTQ+ community’ by pulling its involvement with the popular show, RuPaul's Drag Race. The broadcaster pulled its involvement in September following “significant financial pressures” as the reason for axing their involvement. The criticism follows another recent controversial edit by the BBC. On its hit show, Strictly Come Dancing, a decision was made to edit out ‘Protect the Dolls’ from contestant Bethany Antonia’s T-shirt. It’s a slogan which has become widely used to support the rights of trans women. The BBC defended their decision, saying the changes were made to meet editorial guidelines. It comes as the LGBTQ+ community has faced challenges amid an increasingly less tolerant political climate. ## What the BBC had to say When we asked them about editing out the pins worn by Leicester’s University Challenge team, a BBC spokesperson said: “In line with our editorial guidelines, we advise that no badges, flags, and emblems or symbols are worn or visible during filming, along with clothing with obvious branding or slogans. If such items are not removed for any reason then a decision is made between the programme makers and the BBC regarding any edits to the programme.” The BBC said the delays to the episode were unrelated to the decision to edit out the pins. A spokesperson for ITV Studios said: “University Challenge is an entertainment quiz show and is made in accordance with the BBC Editorial Guidelines requirements for impartiality.” The University of Leicester refused to comment on the matter. * * * **Before you go…** We’ve recently surpassed 1,000 subscribers, which is amazing considering we’re a small team on a shoestring budget. Now, we’re ready for the next stage of the Leicester Gazette. **Download our new app and get all of our journalism anytime, anywhere.** The app connects with **Bluesky** , **Mastodon** and **Threads** , giving you access to a network of around 60 million people. It’s a safer, more meaningful alternative to mainstream social media – owned by the community. * * *

Alys Brooks reposted

Chris Person
@papapishu.bsky.social

I have been meaning to write about this for a month or so now but it breaks my heart. AI has infected every hobby. Everything is noise. It's hurting existing communities and trudging through the slop is exhausting.

Aftermath@aftermath.site

Every single hobby I love has has been infected by slopped up and unserious software. It's exhausting. aftermath.site/ai-slop-hobbie...

Alys Brooks reposted

G Elliott Morris
@gelliottmorris.com

We were investigating Wedgewood for faking their data and emailed them for comment this morning, ahead of publishing the findings tomorrow. They are now trying to cover up their fraud with the "we were doing a social experiment" excuse. Full story here: blog.fiftyplusone.news/p/fiftypluso...

blog.fiftyplusone.newsFiftyPlusOne just caught a pollster faking data — and they copped to itIn response to a request for comment on a FiftyPlusOne investigation, Wedgewood Polls admitted their data was bogus
FiftyPlusOne.news@fiftyplusone.news

50+1 has caught another pollster faking data: fiftyplusone.substack.com/p/fiftypluso...

fiftyplusone.substack.comFiftyPlusOne just caught a pollster faking data — and they copped to itIn response to a request for comment on a FiftyPlusOne investigation, Wedgewood Polls admitted their data was bogus

Alys Brooks reposted

Elizabeth Jacobs, PhD
@elizabethjacobs.bsky.social

Holy cow. The Guinea-Bissau offices of the two Danish researchers who were funded by RFK Jr. to conduct an unethical experiment with the HepB vaccine just had their offices raided and vaccines seized by the police. Great work on reporting this story once again by @melodyschreiber.com.

theguardian.comRFK Jr’s ‘deities of vaccine research’ raided by police in Guinea-BissauPolice seize doses of hepatitis B vaccine from people at center of dispute over research on African newborns
Alys Brooks
@alysbrooks.bsky.social

Thinking about the transphobic “US to USSR“ meme posted to the Assigned Media feed, I can see how it could be read as a ”take that“ to the current administration or the status quo and not really about trans people or the USSR, but that‘s no excuse.

Alys Brooks
@alysbrooks.bsky.social

What strikes me about it is its sloppiness. Sloppy language about transition to the point of transphobia, a sloppy, inapt comparison between two countries, and probably AI generated to top it all off.

Alys Brooks
@alysbrooks.bsky.social

I‘ve always chosen my words with care in my pieces for Assigned, and I have been grateful for the careful editing they‘ve received in return and the strong work they‘ve been published alongside. Publishing that meme was nowhere near that standard, and I‘m glad it was taken down.

Alys Brooks reposted

Evan Urquhart
@evanurquhart.bsky.social

Thanks to everyone who tagged me after the Assigned Media feed became the main character after an AI generated meme was posted by a contributor who generally posts news. I removed it as soon as I saw, but the damage while it was up can't simply be undone.

Alys Brooks reposted

mady castigan✨ 🏳️‍⚧️
@mady.cat

Germany is quickly catching up to the US and UK in their fascist crackdowns of trans people. This Sunday, reports say police officers violently stormed and searched an important German transfem community space under allegations of providing prescriptions to third parties without authorization.

Alys Brooks reposted

jamelle
@jamellebouie.net

when critics of bari weiss say that she is not a journalist, we mean that literally. she does not respect or even appear to understand the values of the profession. everything for her is propaganda. www.semafor.com/article/10/1...

semafor.comExclusive: How CBS News’ Middle East war spread to the Upper MidwestEditor-in-Chief Bari Weiss has personally advocated for CBS News journalists to pursue numerous story angles related to Abdul El-Sayed’s supposed sympathy towards the Muslim Brotherhood.

Alys Brooks reposted

Evan Urquhart
@evanurquhart.bsky.social

We could actually really use some more support - it's been really slow lately and I'm getting a bit nervous. May try to throw together a more organized campaign in the next week or two, but for now I'd love it if you'd join or share.

Assigned Media@assignedmedia.org

To support AI free independent media donate or become a member of Assigned here: assignedmedia.org/support/

assignedmedia.orgSupport Our Journalism - Assigned MediaSupport OurJournalism Our journalism is only possible through the support of our members! As a supporting member, you’ll receive a special edition of our newsletter, featuring bonus essays and insight...

Alys Brooks reposted

Sian Berry MP
@sianberry.bsky.social

I have already heard from trans constituents who are avoiding essential NHS screening and treatment for fear of being treated without respect and dignity. Ministers told me: “the revised guidance will support the privacy, dignity and safety of all patients” How exactly does this do that?

The Guardian@theguardian.com

Trans women no longer to be placed on female-only wards under new NHS England guidance

theguardian.comTrans women no longer to be placed on female-only wards under new NHS England guidanceRules mean single-sex wards, toilets and changing rooms will now be used by people based on their biological sex Trans women will no longer be placed on female-only wards under new NHS England guidance on single-sex spaces. The new rules, published on Thursday, mean that single-sex wards, toilets and changing rooms will now be used by people based on their biological sex, not their gender identity. Continue reading...
Alys Brooks
@alysbrooks.bsky.social

I assume the logic is “if they want to use it on more than (threshold) devices, they need to upgrade“ but the implication that 2FA is a penalty you‘d want to pay to opt out of is a terrible message to send.

southpaw@nycsouthpaw.bsky.social

NYT is explicitly using 2FA as a punishment to try to upsell existing subscribers.

Alys Brooks reposted

Moira Donegan
@moiradonegan.bsky.social

This is also just empirically untrue as a matter of reading consumption: women do, in fact, read books by men. It’s men who do not read books by women. I suspect the reason is not “biological.”

Moira Donegan@moiradonegan.bsky.social

Checking in on Jacobin

Alys Brooks reposted

Carl T. Bergstrom
@carlbergstrom.com

In our course and book _Calling Bullshit_, we posit that If something seems too good, or too bad, to be true, it probably is. Now as a college professor I'm pretty confident that overreliance can AI can harm our thinking ability, but just ten minutes of use? Let's dig into this this study a bit.

news.berkeley.eduUsing AI for just 10 minutes erodes your ability to persist at hard things - Berkeley NewsA UC Berkeley researcher co-authored a study that raises profound questions about how we interact with artificial intelligence in education — and daily life.
Alys Brooks
@alysbrooks.bsky.social

The name is a reference to the German resistance group The White Rose, which distributed leaflets aiming to encourage resistance against Hitler and the holocaust. Its members were executed by the Nazis. It's another instance of anti-abortion activists comparing abortion to the holocaust.

Susan Rinkunas@susanrinkunas.com

The START of this clip made me do a double take: new White House press secretary Katie Zacharia sits on the board of White Rose Resistance, an organization that wants to *prosecute abortion patients for homicide* www.ms.now/opinion/abor...

Alys Brooks reposted

Christopher Julian
@chrisajulian.bsky.social

I reanalyzed the CDC data behind the LGB “free fall” headline. It rests on a change in bisexual identification among one grade, in one wave, of one survey. Gay or lesbian identification did not change significantly. Calling it a "free fall" is sensational and just gives bad actors talking points.

The Washington Post@washingtonpost.com

Young teenagers are less likely to identify as lesbian, gay or bisexual than a few years ago, according to a new analysis. “It really does look like a free fall,” Jean Twenge, a professor of psychology, said. “But what’s causing it is unclear.”

washingtonpost.comNumber of teens who identify themselves as gay or bisexual is in ‘free fall’Conservatives have trumpeted the data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, but researchers say the reasons for the decline are unclear.

Alys Brooks reposted

s. baum
@transvestigations.bsky.social

Her name was Paris Lee.

Erin Reed@erininthemorning.com

A Tennessee appellate court has ruled that the killing of a woman may have been justifiable because she was trans. The court reversed a conviction, stating that the killer could have a new trial because the jury did not know the woman killed was trans. Trans panic in the modern era.

erininthemorning.comKilling of Woman May Have Been Justifiable Because She Was Trans, Tennessee Court RulesThe case is a bitter reminder of the ways LGBTQ people have had their identities weaponized by the courts in the past, most notoriously through a legal defense tactic known as gay or trans “panic.”

Alys Brooks reposted

Erin Reed
@erininthemorning.com

We may cover this tomorrow, but I just wanted to signal boost this. After months of pushing the administration to make good on its promises for trans youth, NYC appears to be taking steps to do so. I do believe the city can be doing much more, but this is a wonderful start from Mayor Mamdani.

gothamist.comNYC moves to spend nearly $9M of gender-affirming care fund for minorsThe funding is part of a $15 million investment announced in June as major hospitals retreated from providing such care.

Alys Brooks reposted

Evan Urquhart
@evanurquhart.bsky.social

Replying to @evanurquhart.bsky.social

The mainstream conventional wisdom in both cases is that people who are anti-AI or pro trans marginalized themselves by being too far outside the mainstream. My alternative hypothesis is that both trans activists (particularly mainstream adjacent orgs) and anti-AI people were too easy to ignore.

Alys Brooks reposted

Gillian Brockell
@gillianbrockell.com

I LOVE how @propublica.org dealt with official comment here, editorially and stylistically.

Ken Schwencke@schwanksta.com

A year ago, @propublica.org told you immigration agents had detained more than 170 U.S. citizens. We’ve updated our count, and we’ve got all the receipts. The tally: At least 506 citizens detained. Sometimes held at gunpoint, handcuffed, or even deported. projects.propublica.org/american-cit...

projects.propublica.orgMore Than 500 U.S. Citizens Have Been Detained, Including Handcuffed or Held at Gunpoint, in Trump’s Immigration Crackdown — ProPublicaThe government doesn’t track how often immigration officers detain U.S. citizens. So ProPublica did. We’ve found more than 500 Americans who were held against their will during this Trump administrati...

Alys Brooks reposted

Geoff Brumfiel
@gbrumfiel.bsky.social

The IceCube neutrino detector has won the 2026 Nobel Prize in physics. The Trump administration has proposed slashing its budget in half in 2027.

Alys Brooks reposted

tuck woodstock
@tuck.bsky.social

The 12th(!) Gender Reveal grant cycle is now open for applications! As always, these funds are for organizing / community projects led by trans people of color. We are particularly interested in funding existing projects that materially support trans folks, queer people of color, immigrants, etc.

Alys Brooks reposted

Taniel
@taniel.bsky.social

Arguably the biggest democracy referendum next month: Virginia is one of only three states where the state constitution says people should lose their right to vote FOR THEIR ENTIRE LIFE if they are convicted of any felony. This measure would allow anyone to vote after prison.

boltsmag.org“It’s Time”: Virginians Will Decide Whether to Repeal Jim Crow-Era Lifetime Ban on Voting - BoltsVoters will decide this year whether to end Virginia’s uniquely harsh felony disenfranchisement rules. They'll also vote on abortion, gay marriage, and redistricting.
Alys Brooks
@alysbrooks.bsky.social

What makes these AI scrapers different from (most) other scrapers is that they don't respect long-standing conventions to opt out of scraping and often operate through home users' internet connections, making it harder to distinguish them from human users. blog.includesecurity.com/2026/06/the-...

blog.includesecurity.comThe Smart TV in Your LivingRoom Is a Node in the AIScraping Economy - Include Security Research BlogIn this post we look under the hood of BrightData's SDK and how it turns ordinary consumer TVs into exit nodes of an enormous commercial, residential proxy network leveraged by the AI industry to scra...
jess m. ☕🍂@jametc.bsky.social

Something AI is responsible for that doesn't get enough talk: How, when it scrapes a website to illegally steal everything on it, it uses up a ton of its bandwidth allotment, crashing it or racking up massive fees for site owners.

Alys Brooks
@alysbrooks.bsky.social

Most of the large AI companies say they do not engage in these practices and provide the usual documentation of their scrapers. Of course we wouldn't necessarily know if they operate additional scraping efforts that don't identify themselves or contract with companies that do.

Alys Brooks reposted

derek guy
@dieworkwear.bsky.social

Replying to @dieworkwear.bsky.social

These victories were achieved through the efforts of Civil Rights activists, along with support from Neiman Marcus president Stanley Marcus, who was an early advocate for desegregation. The Neiman Marcus Dallas store manager purportedly warned Marcus that he would destroy his business this way.

Alys Brooks reposted

derek guy
@dieworkwear.bsky.social

Replying to @dieworkwear.bsky.social

The downtown Neiman Marcus flagship was one of the first major Dallas businesses that broke with these practices. In 1961, the company desegregated its Zodiac Room, a swanky lunch spot frequented by Dallas elites. Later, they welcomed Black shoppers to come and buy clothes without restrictions.

Alys Brooks reposted

Ian Weissman, DO
@drianweissman.bsky.social

In a small kidney cancer trial, nine people received an experimental vaccine tailored to their own tumors. None experienced a recurrence during a median follow-up of roughly three years and four months after surgery. www.sciencealert.com/nine-patient...

sciencealert.comNine Patients Received a Personalized Kidney Cancer Vaccine. None Had a Recurrence.How do you teach the immune system to recognize a cancer cell? Researchers are taking clues from the tumor itself, selecting unusual protein fragments and putting them into a vaccine.

Alys Brooks reposted

CalMatters
@calmatters.org

Gov. Gavin Newsom signed into law a measure to ban anyone from marrying anyone under the age of 18, making California the 18th state to do so in a decade-long nationwide push to outlaw the practice. cal.news/3U3J14X 📸 Rahul Lal

Alys Brooks
@alysbrooks.bsky.social

I don't want to boost the Needle piece any more, but I do want to address it saying Erin Reed has a "near-monopoly" on information important to the trans community. She doesn't! By all means, hold journalists accountable but don't overestimate our influence or underestimate yours.