Social Media Lab

npr.orgHow Aldi is pushing down grocery pricesThe German-owned chain's low prices are winning over shoppers — and pushing competitors to respond.

In a world of rising food prices, here's a great story about how Aldi is driving down grocery prices by "unbundling" the grocery store. www.npr.org/sections/pla... Sadly, here's why Aldi and Lidl are unlikely to enter Canada. retail-insider.com/retail-insid...

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youtube.comTrump Gets Roasted by Obama & Transfixed by Nicki Minaj's Ass | The Daily ShowYouTube video by The Daily Show

Replying to @socialmedialab.ca

#ICYMI Here's Jon Stewart gleeful take on the Obana Cheesecake joke. Good for a morning pick-me-up. youtube.com/watch?v=2nIS...

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wsj.comOpinion | Obama Goes Socialist, Scorns CheesecakeHe throws in with Florida’s Angie Nixon and condescends to Middle America.

The WSJ Editorial Board is unserious. As the US barrels toward one of the most consequential midterms in its history, it has chosen to fixate on a former politician's talk of cheesecake. This isn’t commentary; it’s editorial malpractice. www.wsj.com/opinion/bara...

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Replying to @socialmedialab.ca

It would be a powerful rebuke of Trump’s misguided and dangerous policy of appeasement toward Moscow and a clear demonstration that American workers will not help bankroll the Kremlin’s war machine.

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Replying to @socialmedialab.ca

If American dockworkers refuse to unload the fuel, it would send an unmistakable message that no political deal should take precedence over standing up to Russian aggression.

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Replying to @socialmedialab.ca

Lawmakers must also engage the International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA), Teamsters Local 877, and other petroleum-terminal unions, making clear that their patriotic duty is to ensure American port labor does not facilitate Russia’s war machine. That will have a much more immediate impact. 🫸 🤜👊

rferl.orgAmid Legal Uncertainty, US Lawmakers Warn Banks, Ports Over Russian Diesel ImportsA bipartisan group of US lawmakers have warned American banks, port authorities and fuel-industry groups against facilitating imports of Russian diesel, raising the prospect of congressional investiga...

"A bipartisan group of US lawmakers have warned American banks, port authorities, & fuel-industry groups against facilitating imports of Russian diesel, raising the prospect of congressional investigations & legal action over President Donald Trump’s decision to ease restrictions on Russian fuel."

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ms.nowRachel Maddow ShowMore about the MS Now Rachel Maddow Show airing weeknights at 9 PM. Watch Rachel Maddow tonight or online with updated video & episodes at MS Now.

If American dockworkers refuse to unload the fuel, it would send an unmistakable message that no political deal should take precedence over standing up to Russian aggression.

@maddow.bsky.social observes that Donald Trump has become more overt in his support for Russian President Vladimir Putin. But ‘Why now?’: Trump goes all for Putin as election security concerns peak. www.ms.now/rachel-maddo...

In some ways, this shouldn't surprise anyone. Trump 2.0 is increasingly surrounded by advisers who are unapologetic Putin apologists and enthusiastic boosters of Russia, often echoing the Kremlin’s narratives while downplaying or excusing Moscow’s aggression.

But what's more troubling is the extent to which their pro-Russia worldview risks undermining the US’ traditional alliances, weakening support for Ukraine, and blurring the line between advancing American interests and accommodating Putin’s ambitions. The US will pay for this reversal for decades.

energynewsbeat.coRussia Says Three Diesel Tankers Are Headed for the U.S. The Two We Can Name Carry About 410,000 to 430,000 Barrels, Less Than 3 Hours of American Demand - Energy News BeatWhy Russia has so little to sellRussia has about 6.5 million barrels a day of installed refining capacity across 32 major refineries, but June throughput was 3.8 million barrels a day, about 30% below...

"Russia Says Three Diesel Tankers Are Headed for the U.S. The Two We Can Name Carry About 410,000 to 430,000 Barrels, Less Than 3 Hours of American Demand" energynewsbeat.co/diesel/russi...

wsj.comOpinion | Obama Goes Socialist, Scorns CheesecakeHe throws in with Florida’s Angie Nixon and condescends to Middle America.

youtube.comTrump Gets Roasted by Obama & Transfixed by Nicki Minaj's Ass | The Daily ShowYouTube video by The Daily Show

#ICYMI Here's Jon Stewart gleeful take on the Obana Cheesecake joke. Good for a morning pick-me-up. youtube.com/watch?v=2nIS...

npr.orgHow Aldi is pushing down grocery pricesThe German-owned chain's low prices are winning over shoppers — and pushing competitors to respond.

theguardian.comFinnish and Norwegian leaders hold rare ‘frank and substantive’ call with Putin on Ukraine – Europe liveAlexander Stubb and Jonas Gahr Støre say they have briefed Volodymyr Zelenskyy after discussion with Russia’s president about next month’s Abu Dhabi peace talks

Finnish and Norwegian leaders hold rare ‘frank and substantive’ call with Putin on Ukraine – Europe live www.theguardian.com/world/live/2...

Danish PM 'very sceptical' about Finnish-Norwegian engagement with Putin on Ukraine. www.theguardian.com/world/live/2...

"Denmark’s Mette Frederiksen told the country’s broadcaster DR that she was “very sceptical” about this “independent initiative by Norway and Finland,” stressing “it has not been coordinated with the rest of us.”

apnews.comAP investigation: Documents support claim ICE has detained a mentally ill US citizen since JanuaryAn Associated Press review has found that for nearly a year immigration authorities have detained and sought to deport a mentally ill man whose mother, lawyers and public records say was born in the U...

"For nearly a year, immigration authorities have detained and sought to deport a mentally ill man whose mother, lawyers and public records say was born in the United States and not Jamaica as he claims, a review by The Associated Press found." apnews.com/article/ice-...

abc.net.auNew Queensland laws iron out legal loophole on pornographic deepfakesThe proposed laws introduce a maximum penalty of three years in jail for adult offenders, and 18 months behind bars for children.

"Queensland government introduces new laws criminalising creation of sexually explicit deepfake images" www.abc.net.au/news/2026-10...

deepfakestracker.orgDeepfakesTracker.org FAQsA primer on deepfakes. What they are, how they are made, and why they are a threat to democracies.

For more on deepfakes, here's an introduction to deepfakes — what they are, how they are generated, an overview of the different kinds of harm they can contribute to, and what is being done about them. deepfakestracker.org/deepfaqs/

theatlantic.comRed States Are Dumbing Down College AdmissionsCan this classics test replace the SAT?

10h

"Red States Are Dumbing Down College Admissions ... using a test originally taken mainly by kids who were homeschooled or had attended private religious academies." www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2026/1...

ctvnews.caU.K. says no to Canadian-led defence bank, backs partnershipThe British government has turned down Ottawa’s attempts to have it join the international Defence, Security and Resilience Bank, though London says it will work in lockstep with Canada to meet NATO s...

10h

Partners in theory. U.K. says no to a Canadian-led defence bank. The parties could not agree on the headquarters, rules for admitting new members, lending arrangements, or the extent of joint weapons procurement. www.ctvnews.ca/canada/artic...

politico.comMamdani is using NYPD gym to host pickup basketball games with friendsThe choice of location has scrambled NYPD training operations, angering a police union and a Republican lawmaker.

10h

Lol… this was supposed to be some kind of gotcha piece? If anything, this just makes Mamdani even cooler. #MamdaniBasketballGate ⛹️ 🙄

Chris Sommerfeldt@c-sommerfeldt.bsky.social

New: Mayor Zohran Mamdani and a group of his friends have been secretly using the NYPD Police Academy’s gymnasium in Queens to play pickup basketball — scrambling some operations at the facility. w/ @grahamrayman.bsky.social & Joe Anuta www.politico.com/news/2026/10...

en.wikipedia.orgOmar M. Yaghi - Wikipedia

Here's one... Omar Yaghi, a Nobel laureate and a Wolf Prize winner. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Omar_M.... This is RFK's shameless bid to anoint himself Trump’s political successor. It's not going to happen.

The Bulwark@thebulwark.com

RFK: "There's five hundred million Arabs in the world. And yet they don't produce science. They don't win the Nobel Prize. They don't win the Fields Prize. They don't win the Wolf Prize. They don't produce literature."

Here are a few other Science Nobel Laureates of Arab ancestry: Ahmed Zewail (Chemistry, 1999); Elias James Corey (Chemistry, 1990; Lebanese heritage); and Peter Medawar (Medicine, 1960; Lebanese heritage).

techdirt.comSpaceX Whines About Space Collisions After Gutting Regulators That Oversee That Sort Of ThingMichael Nicolls, SpaceX’s vice president for Starlink and president of xAI, appeared recently at the International Astronautical Congress in Turkey to lament the rise of space collisions as Musk and Bezos flood the night sky with low-Earth orbit (LEO) satellites. According to Nicolls, there’s been a decided lack of coordination among space companies as they’ve...

Life is ironic, don't you think ... "SpaceX Whines About Space Collisions After Gutting Regulators That Oversee That Sort Of Thing" www.techdirt.com/2026/10/26/s... Maybe they should have used some of this data....

Social Media Lab@socialmedialab.ca

"The US military has given Musk’s SpaceX access to restricted space tracking data, raising a new round of questions re: whether the Trump administration is attempting to hand over traffic control in Earth’s orbit to a controversial donor." The access also raises many new national security concerns.

theguardian.comUS military gives Elon Musk’s SpaceX access to sensitive tracking dataThis gives the company an advantage in tracking objects in orbit, raising national security concerns and fears of greater control over the space industry

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theguardian.com‘We don’t have inflation’? Five charts show the US economic reality of Trump’s second term so farAs the US midterm elections approach, we take a look at data to see a true picture of the US economy under Trump

Replying to @socialmedialab.ca

These ads employ a strategy of fear-mongering, repeatedly associating Democrats with negative economic outcomes like "tax hikes," "inflation," and "higher crime," while promoting early voting as a preventative measure. (Bold: consider these 5 charts: www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026...)

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Want to know which states Republicans think they’re weakest in heading into the midterms? Follow the💰. See where Musk-backed super PACs like MAGA Inc. (app.polidashboard.org/meta_ads?cou...) and America PAC (app.polidashboard.org/meta_ads?cou...) are spending their ad dollars. See the similarity?

wsj.comAmerica Needs Canada’s Aluminum. Trump’s Tariff Exposed Just How Badly.Smelters in Quebec run on cheap hydroelectric power. The Trump administration’s 50% tariff has pushed up prices for American industry.

12h

"America Needs Canada’s Aluminum. Trump’s Tariff Exposed Just How Badly. Smelters in Quebec run on cheap hydropower; 50% tariff pushes up prices for American industry." www.wsj.com/business/alu...

As we have noted before, Canada also has many cards to play. But again, nobody wins in a trade war. bsky.app/profile/soci...

Social Media Lab@socialmedialab.ca

Canada is not helpless in this fight. But a $-for-$ match is the wrong way to go. Instead, Canada could leverage America's dependence on Canadian inputs and shut down whole supply chains. Imagine not being able to ship a $50k car because of a $100 part made only in Canada. bsky.app/profile/soci...

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global-canada.orgForeign Policy by Canadians 2026 — Global CanadaGlobal Canada is a non-governmental organization committed to enhancing Canada's positive global impact.

Canada has some of the most informed and civic-minded global citizens in the world. “When citizens receive balanced information and structured opportunities to consider competing arguments, their views do not simply shift in one ideological direction.” www.global-canada.org/foreign-poli...

theguardian.comTrump administration asks Washington to set aside hundreds of ballots from suspected noncitizen votersThis is the latest sign of the administration’s attempts to challenge states with competitive midterm races that could determine control of Congress

12h

"Trump administration asks Washington to set aside hundreds of ballots from suspected noncitizen voters. This is the latest sign of the administration’s attempts to challenge states with competitive midterm races that could determine control of Congress." www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026...

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Sven-Erik Volberg

@volberg.bsky.social

17h

Victory party in Belgrade tonight following the dethroning of Vucic in yesterday election.

rferl.orgRussia And Iran Expand Nuclear Cooperation As International Oversight WeakensRussia and Iran are expanding their nuclear cooperation as both countries face Western sanctions and international isolation. Their partnership includes the construction of nuclear power plants, fuel ...

RIP nuclear nonproliferation: "Russia and Iran are expanding their nuclear cooperation as both countries face Western sanctions and international isolation. Their partnership includes the construction of nuclear power plants, fuel supplies, and broader technological cooperation."

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dell cameron

@dell.bsky.social

lol, ok

Aaron Rupar@atrupar.com

Trump says protesters at his rallies are paid $250 by Soros

paydayreport.comBrazilian Federal Police Confiscate Flavio Bolsonaro’s PassportHe faces investigation for his ties to paramilitary gangs & bribery schemes!

"To run for President, Bolsonaro decided not to run for his Senate seat. Now, after losing the Presidential election, he no longer has legislative immunity when his Senate term expires in January 2027." There's a good chance he will abscond to the US to avoid prosecution.

There was a time when the US was the go-to sanctuary for human rights champions. Now, it's the go-to refuge for former dictators and despots, assuming a role long associated with Russia. It gives a whole new meaning to "They're Coming to America."

france24.comTrump offers $1 million for tipoffs leading to vote fraud conviction as midterms approachUS President Donald Trump on Monday pledged a $1 million reward for information on voter fraud leading to conviction ahead of the upcoming 2026 US midterms on November 3. The president gave no details...

14h

"US President Donald Trump on Monday announced a $1 million reward for information about voter fraud, in a fresh bid to sow doubt ahead of the US midterms and push his false claims about winning the 2020 election." www.france24.com/en/americas/...

politico.comTrump says Brazil election looked ‘rigged’ after Bolsonaro losesThe president did not cite any evidence of fraud, but added that he did like leftist President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.

14h

Birds of a feather... Trump says, without citing evidence, that the Brazilian election was rigged. www.politico.com/news/2026/10...

Social Media Lab@socialmedialab.ca

Typical far-right sore loser: in their worldview, they can never lose fair and square; someone must have cheated. "Far-right senator Flávio Bolsonaro said it was “impossible to concede the election result” and that his legal team would seek to have the election annulled."

theguardian.comBrazil runoff live updates: Bolsonaro says it is ‘impossible to concede’ election result after historic Lula winLeftist president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva defeated the far-right senator and was elected president of Brazil for a fourth non-consecutive term

theguardian.comNetanyahu reportedly pressured military to attack Iran in run-up to electionIsraeli prime minister increases alarmist rhetoric as his far-right coalition narrowly trails in polls

16h

"Netanyahu reportedly pressured military to attack Iran in run-up to election" www.theguardian.com/world/2026/o...

Social Media Lab@socialmedialab.ca

You know you’ve lost when the only thing you have left to offer your citizens, your allies, and your enemies is fear. And when fear fails, there is only oblivion. And in the US, that condition is called lameduckitist. #midterms

theguardian.comHow the streets and social media drove Lula to a historic comeback in BrazilA viral WhatsApp channel and student-led protests played a key role in the veteran Brazilian leftist’s election victory

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"How the streets and social media drove Lula to a historic comeback in Brazil. A viral WhatsApp channel and student-led protests played a key role in the veteran Brazilian leftist’s election victory." www.theguardian.com/world/2026/o...

404media.coChatGPT Keeps Telling People 404 Media Can Solve Their Tech Support ProblemsBecause big tech doesn't do customer service, we are being inundated with AI-generated emails begging us for help.

19h

"Because big tech doesn't do customer service..." www.404media.co/chatgpt-keep...

cnbc.comMicrosoft offers voluntary buyouts to 60,000 employees as AI leads to efficiency pushMicrosoft is trying to balance a rapid AI infrastructure build-out with capital efficiency.

20h

Let see how many they hire back in 6 months... "Microsoft offers voluntary buyouts to 60,000 employees as AI leads to efficiency push." www.cnbc.com/2026/10/26/m...

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cbc.caU.S. officials accuse Canada of midterm meddling — but Trump has endorsed foreign candidates | CBC NewsDespite U.S. officials repeatedly warning Canada not to get involved in the upcoming U.S. midterms, U.S. President Donald Trump has his own track record of weighing in on foreign elections.

Do as I say, not as I do: "U.S. officials accuse Canada of midterm meddling — but Trump has endorsed foreign candidates. U.S. Embassy declines to comment when asked about Trump's endorsements." www.cbc.ca/news/politic...

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