Matt Taibbi @mtaibbi

THREAD: Twitter Files Supplemental

9:38 PM · Dec 6, 2022

34m

On Friday, the first installment of the Twitter files was published here. We expected to publish more over the weekend. Many wondered why there was a delay.

34m

We can now tell you part of the reason why. On Tuesday, Twitter Deputy General Counsel (and former FBI General Counsel) Jim Baker was fired. Among the reasons? Vetting the first batch of “Twitter Files” – without knowledge of new management.

32m

The process for producing the “Twitter Files” involved delivery to two journalists (Bari Weiss and me) via a lawyer close to new management. However, after the initial batch, things became complicated.

30m

Over the weekend, while we both dealt with obstacles to new searches, it was @BariWeiss

who discovered that the person in charge of releasing the files was someone named Jim. When she called to ask “Jim’s” last name, the answer came back: “Jim Baker.”

29m

“My jaw hit the floor,” says Weiss.

28m

The first batch of files both reporters received was marked, “Spectra Baker Emails.”

Image

26m

Baker is a controversial figure. He has been something of a Zelig of FBI controversies dating back to 2016, from the Steele Dossier to the Alfa-Server mess. He resigned in 2018 after an investigation into leaks to the press.

24m

The news that Baker was reviewing the “Twitter files” surprised everyone involved, to say the least. New Twitter chief Elon Musk acted quickly to “exit” Baker Tuesday.

20m

Reporters resumed searches through Twitter Files material – a lot of it – today. The next installment of “The Twitter Files” will appear @bariweiss

. Stay tuned.

https://twitter.com/mtaibbi/status/1600243405841666048

Twitter is Fun Again!

Now, let's have the rest: Everything in the files about how national security agencies manipulate what we get to see and hear

Matt Bivens, M.D.

Dec 5

An important story developed this weekend, unspooling in real time on Twitter over a Friday evening. Basically, billionaire Elon Musk gave a good friend of mine — the journalist Matt Taibbi — extensive access to Twitter’s internal e-mails and communications, and told Taibbi he could start sharing.

What ensued was an epic takedown of Twitter, delivered on Twitter, in what was ultimately a 41-Tweet thread. It was parceled out as fast as Taibbi could post, side by side with readers commenting in real time — offering responses ranging from “wow!” to “this is garbage”, claims that history was being made before our eyes countered by sarcastic gifs of a sesame seed bun with no hamburger inside, and quite a few variations of the line: “This is fun! Twitter is fun again!”

Read Further

Last paragraphs

Twitter executives — under the watchful eyes of their FBI colleagues — were left all alone to try to sort through this moment. I almost feel sorry for them when I think of it. Did the professional journalists of America step up to help? Please. Sadly, the more “respectable” a news media is, the fewer ethics it still has. What about our politicians? Again, when it comes to upstanding or moral leaders, they too are an endangered species in our country. Taibbi could find only a single Congressional Democrat, the reliable Ro Khanna, who would reach out to Twitter to ask about the First Amendment implications of censoring a major newspaper story of critical public interest.

And when Twitter turned to their legal department, their top lawyer on the case was former FBI top lawyer Jim Baker, offering them soothing advice to stay the course.

https://mattbivens.substack.com/p/twitter-is-fun-again

Twitter Files Round 2 Live Coverage - The Roundtable

https://twitter.com/i/spaces/1MnxnpWrOnjGO

>>17895501

Start your own live stream or shut the fuck up.

Matt Taibbi

@mtaibbi

·

Dec 4

Six Degrees from James Baker: A Familiar Figure Reemerges With the Release of the Twitter Files – JONATHAN TURLEY https://jonathanturley.org/2022/12/04/six-degrees-from-james-baker-a-familiar-figure-reemerges-with-the-release-of-the-twitter-files/

Wall Street Silver

@WallStreetSilv

If this, that, that news in and of itself, Jim Baker being at Twitter and doing this, that should be headline news on every major news source right now. And the fact that it isn't tells you a lot about the media these days. That and another thing, there is so much infiltration by the government into these social media platforms, I don't think anyone's really surprised that Jim Baker was in that position they intentionally placed.

People on these social media platforms, in those positions for that purpose, just my opinion.

https://twitter.com/i/spaces/1MnxnpWrOnjGO

>>17895541

Confirm Handoff

>>17895560

>Baker fired again pleases Kek.

==TOP KEK!=

Multiple meanings

>>17895577

I wont be.

filtered

>>17895598

yoh

>>17895601

o7

https://twitter.com/mtaibbi/status/1600243405841666048

Can Anon explain how to look at the instant text rolling at the bottom of this page…?

Its too small.

Ian Miles Cheong

@stillgray

And Elon Musk just tweeted that, he said. I only discovered this on Sunday. He was responding to Eric Weinstein. Who who asked. I can't quite believe what I'm reading, so let's go slow. The FBI's former attorney, whom Sebastian explained to us who he was and why he is important. But he's a big deal. Was hired by any previous Twitter administration and was the one vetting the files to be given to Barry Weiss and met Taibbi that might reveal FBI collusion and a new owner. Elon Musk was not told an

Right, that was the question, andElon responded, said only discovered this on Sunday.

Mario Nawfal

@MarioNawfal

Ma'am, first I want to applaud you, Ian, that you spotted this within less than a minute, man. So you've got. I don't know what system you have, but nicely done. Matt,