Matthew Champion

At a Conspiracy Conference in Rural Ireland, Charlie Kirk Was the Star The increasingly tight links between far-right groups in the US and Europe were on full display at the Rebels Across the Pond conference in Ireland. The star of the show? Charlie Kirk.

"it seems the correct thing to do, for us to stand in a moment’s silence to honor a great warrior"

not something said at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona for Charlie Kirk's memorial, but in a derelict shed in the town of Boyle in the northwest corner of Ireland

www.wired.com/story/conspi...

trump epstein 'friendship' statue repaired on national mall

trump epstein 'friendship' statue repaired on national mall

plaque on trump epstein 'friendship' statue repaired on national mall

trump epstein 'friendship' statue repaired on national mall

NEW: the Trump-Epstein 'friendship' statue that was removed from the national mall and broken up has been repaired and is back on the national mall for "a limited time"

Government Workers Say Their Out-of-Office Replies Were Forcibly Changed to Blame Democrats for Shutdown Some employees at the Department of Education changed their responses back to the more neutral language, only to have it changed yet again to the partisan response, multiple sources tell WIRED.

Department of Education employees set out-of-office email responses to inform recipients they'd be unable to respond until after the shutdown

hours later, many people realised their response message had been changed to blame Senate Democrats for the entire shutdown

www.wired.com/story/govern...

OpenAI’s New Sora App Lets You Deepfake Yourself for Entertainment OpenAI’s latest app encourages users to generate a personal digital avatar and scroll AI-generated videos of themselves and their friends.

What if deepfakes were entertainment? Not of celebrities and public figures. Deepfakes of you.

That’s the chilling, central question at the heart of OpenAI’s new Sora app.

www.wired.com/story/openai...

Hello! Just a reminder that if you work for or contract with the federal government and have information you'd like to share securely with a @wired.com reporter, you can use a non-work device to contact me on Signal at timmarchman.01 and I can connect you to someone who covers your area.

The Onion Made an Absolutely Unhinged Jeffrey Epstein Mockumentary "Jeffrey Epstein: Bad Pedophile" is a very silly deep dive on a very serious issue. In the current media landscape, it’s a wonder it even got made.

VERY FUNNY SCOOP: The Onion made a 20-minute Epstein/Trump mockumentary called “Jeffrey Epstein: Bad Pedophile.” I got a sneak peek and it is gloriously dumb. Read about it/watch the trailer here: www.wired.com/story/the-on...

The Story of DOGE, as Told by Federal Workers WIRED spoke with more than 200 federal workers in dozens of agencies to learn what happened as the Department of Government Efficiency tore through their offices.

“I kept comparing it to a natural disaster. But it wasn’t natural. Just a stampede of wide-eyed, confused government employees moving files around and looking over their shoulders because they think maybe Elon was creeping behind them with a chain saw.”

www.wired.com/story/oral-h...

She Fought the Far Right Online for Years. Now She Wants to Do It in Congress Kat Abughazaleh, 26, made her name swatting down right-wing talking points on social media. Now she’s hoping internet fame can propel her to Congress.

Throughout the summer, @wired.com reporter Kate Knibbs has been following our campaign.

From right-wing attacks to our mutual aid work to the 20 bottles of hot sauce in the campaign office, here’s what she saw: www.wired.com/story/kat-ab...

I Thought I Knew Silicon Valley. I Was Wrong Tech got what it wanted by electing Trump. A year later, it looks more like a suicide pact.

I Thought I Knew Silicon Valley. I Was Wrong

Tech got what it wanted by electing Trump. A year later, it looks more like a suicide pact.

featuring art by the one and only @coldwarsteve.bsky.social

www.wired.com/story/silico...

Anti-Trump Protesters Take Aim at ‘Naive’ US-UK AI Deal Thousands marched in London to protest President Donald Trump’s second state visit. Among them were many environmental activists unhappy with Britain’s new AI deal with the US.

I covered the protests in London against Trump for @wired.com. Protesters aren't convinced by the AI deal from US tech giants: They want to know what the UK is giving them in exchange for up to $45bn in investment and where the power for data centers will come from www.wired.com/story/climat...

King Charles III and U.S President Donald Trump during the carriage procession through the Windsor Estate at Windsor Castle during the State visit by the President of the United States of America on September 17, 2025 in Windsor, England.

WINDSOR, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 17: William, Prince of Wales and Catherine, Princess of Wales during the carriage procession through the Windsor Estate at Windsor Castle during the State visit by the President of the United States of America on September 17, 2025 in Windsor, England. (Paul Grover - WPA Pool/Getty Images)

WINDSOR, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 17: Queen Camilla and U.S First Lady Melania Trump during the carriage procession through the Windsor Estate at Windsor Castle during the State visit by the President of the United States of America on September 17, 2025 in Windsor, England. (Paul Grover - WPA Pool/Getty Images)

Trump UK state visit update (Paul Grover -WPA Pool/Getty Images)

Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang Is Bananas for Google Gemini’s AI Image Generator The Nvidia CEO reveals his consuming love for Google’s image generator, the artsy side of Grok, and what exactly he uses Perplexity, Gemini, and ChatGPT for right now.

Spent some time with Jensen Huang this morning and let's just say some stuff came up a lot
www.wired.com/story/jensen...

The Washington Post Fired Me — But My Voice Will Not Be Silenced. I spoke out against hatred and violence in America — and it cost me my job.

Some personal news:

I've been fired from the Washington Post in the aftermath of the Charlie Kirk shooting.

Thread incoming.

substack.com/@karenattiah...

Here Come the Robotaxis: Zoox and Lyft Both Launch Driverless Ride Sharing Two new self-driving car services—one in Atlanta from Lyft and May Mobility, another in Las Vegas from Amazon subsidiary Zoox—prove that the robotaxi race is still on. Now comes the hard part.

If you live in Vegas, you can get a free ride in a Zoox self-driving toaster starting today
www.wired.com/story/here-c...

Melania Trump’s AI Era Is Upon Us The ever elusive first lady has emerged with a brief to exert thought leadership over AI, for the children. Some insiders are excited; others won't touch the subject with a 10-foot pole.

There’s still a lot we don’t know about her Melania Trump’s new AI initiative, but I did learn about an important figure guiding her through the technology: her longtime agent (who also happens to be a big NFT guy, among other things). Oh, and his wife is her designer..
www.wired.com/story/melani...

All the President’s Tech CEOs At a White House dinner Thursday night, America’s tech executives put on an uncanny display of fealty to Donald Trump.

Every time the Apple event cut back to Tim Cook, I couldn’t help but think about his recent visit to the White House and the utter sycophancy of his demeanor, as well as all the other tech CEOs.

www.wired.com/story/tech-c...

Anti-Vaxxers Rejoice at Florida’s Scheme to End Vaccine Mandates for Kids and Everyone Else As experts warn about possible outbreaks of diseases like polio and measles in Florida, anti-vaxxers declare “freedom.”

“Amen, stop the application of poison given to our precious children.”

“F yah! About time. Let the revolution begin.”

“Hopefully more will follow Florida’s lead.”

Anti-vaxxers are THRILLED about Florida's plan to end vaccine mandates. Important context from @davidgilbert.bsky.social here:

Phone Searches at the US Border Hit a Record High Customs and Border Protection agents searched nearly 15,000 devices from April through June of this year, a nearly 17 percent spike over the previous three-month high in 2022. "The real issue is the c...

figures show that over the past three months, CBP officials have been searching more phones and other devices than ever before

scoop by @mattburgess1.bsky.social

www.wired.com/story/phone-...

How the mafia infiltrated Germany

"Across Europe’s biggest democracies, organised crime groups are slowly gathering power."

How the mafia infiltrated Germany - by the one and only @maxdaly.bsky.social

unherd.com/2025/08/how-...

'War of the Worlds' Isn’t Just Bad. It’s Also Shameless Tech Propaganda By making Big Tech the hero in a movie about government surveillance, the dismally rated remake feels more like an ad for Amazon than anything else.

"The decision to demonize government surveillance while making Big Tech the passive victims ultimately waters down the film’s message—making it more of a near-90-minute commercial for brands like Amazon and Microsoft than food for thought."

✍️ @alanayzola.com

www.wired.com/story/war-of...

since the start of the Israel-Gaza war on October 7, 2023, 186 journalists have been killed—the Committee to Protect Journalists

Israel kills Al Jazeera journalists in targeted Gaza City airstrike - Committee to Protect Journalists New York, August 10, 2025—The Committee to Protect Journalists is appalled to learn of the killing today of Al Jazeera journalist Anas Al-Sharif, Mohammed Qreiqeh, camera operators Ibrahim Zaher and M...

“Journalists are civilians and must never be targeted. Those responsible for these killings must be held accountable.”

cpj.org/2025/08/isra...

Charter Planes and Bidding Wars: How Bitcoin Miners Raced to Beat Trump’s Tariffs When US president Donald Trump announced sweeping tariff hikes in April, he set in motion a seven-day rush to bring goods into the country. Bitcoin miners elbowed their way to the front of the queue.

The story of the high-stakes race to escape Trump's tariffs, complete with airport logjams, bidding wars for private planes, and one snapped knee ligament:

www.wired.com/story/charte...

Trumpworld Knows Epstein Is a Problem. But They Can’t Solve It Unmet expectations have pushed some of the president’s allies to the brink. “Honestly, like, fuck Trump,” a Trumpworld source who works in conservative media tells me.

New from me in this week's Inner Loop, Epstein 'Great Expectations' edition:

“Honestly, like, fuck Trump,” a Trumpworld source who works in conservative media tells me. “I’m not a conspiracy theorist, but there’s obviously something nefarious that went on.”
www.wired.com/story/trumpw...

Savnede Alec Luhn (38) funnet i live Det bekrefter politiet i Hardanger til VG. –⁠ Veldig, veldig glad, sier kona til VG.

sharing this with immense relief and happiness, missing journalist Alec Luhn has been found alive in Norway. confirmed with his friends and family www.vg.no/nyheter/i/B0...

Police Report: Edward ‘Big Balls’ Coristine Assaulted in Alleged Carjacking President Donald Trump shared a photo of the DOGE staffer after the alleged attack and threatened to “federalize” Washington, DC. WIRED obtained the police report.

ICYMI: Trump posted a threat to “federalize” DC, sharing a photo of a bloodied man sitting in the street. police reports obtained by WIRED confirm the alleged victim was Edward Coristine, the 19yo who's gone by “Big Balls” online and was one of DOGE’s first operatives

www.wired.com/story/edward...

Veronika Silchenko MISSING: Alec Luhn, last seen July 31st in the afternoon. Was headed from Odda, Norway on a solo backpacking trip to explore the glacier @folgefonnanasjonalpark. Planned to stay at DNT Holmaskjer and....

MISSING: Alec Luhn, last seen afternoon of July 31. Was headed from Odda, Norway on solo backpacking trip. Planned to stay at DNT Holmaskjer and DNT Breidablikk, finish Monday morning at Årsnes Kai bus station. Red Cross search underway in the area. Please reshare

www.facebook.com/veronika.sil...

Facebook post with a photo of Alec and contact information: MISSING: Alec Luhn, last seen July 31st in the afternoon. Was headed from Odda, Norway on a solo backpacking trip to explore the glacier @folgefonnanasjonalpark. Planned to stay at DNT Holmaskjer and DNT Breidablikk and finish Monday morning at Årsnes Kai bus station. Red Cross search with volunteers and dogs and helicopters is underway in the area. PLEASE SHARE AND TAG AND REPOST THIS AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE. If anyone has seen him or has information please contact Drew Avanell Gaddis or Veronika Silchenko

Our friend @alecluhn.bsky.social is missing in Norway's Folgefonna National Park after a backpacking trip to the glacier there. Please share if you're in the area or know people who might be. Come home safe, buddy

www.facebook.com/share/p/18xA...

Inside Jeffrey Epstein’s Forgotten AI Summit Long before ChatGPT, a group of AI luminaries gathered on an island to discuss the future of artificial intelligence. Their funder ultimately cast a shadow on all who attended.

"To the shame of the technology and science communities, a voracious sexual predator managed to buy his way into relationships with some of the most prominent and influential figures in the field."

www.wired.com/story/epstei...

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