BlueSky

The White House has moved to bar Politico, according to a headline circulating on Bluesky, drawing attention amid ongoing disputes between the administration and major US news organisations over press access. The claim is limited to the headline itself, with no further details available about the reasons for the exclusion or its scope. If confirmed, it would add to a pattern of friction between the White House and parts of the press corps.

The submission deadline for a European Commission grant funding a pilot project on youth and decentralised social media falls tomorrow. Applicants can choose to build on the ActivityPub fediverse, on AT Protocol's Bluesky ecosystem, or target both. The funding competition is drawing attention among advocates of decentralised social networks competing for support.

A7 Productions, a French media outfit running A7 Radio and travel-themed podcasts, has posted a short teaser announcing that something new is 'coming soon'. The message was shared across its blog and social channels with hashtags covering travel, photography and voyages, but gives no details about what the launch actually is or when it will arrive.

Washington Post reporter Gillian Brockell says Chicago residents went to great lengths to protect thousands of immigrants from deportation flights run by a private equity firm profiting from ICE contracts, calling the outcome a better epilogue to her January story on the company than she could have hoped for. The remark has drawn attention to how contractors profit from removals and how local communities have resisted them.

Users on Bluesky report a wave of bot accounts named "Julie" following them across the platform. The accounts appear automated, prompting concerns about spam and moderation on the social network. Users are warning each other and discussing whether the platform is doing enough to block suspicious accounts.

Political commentators are urging U.S. citizens to verify their voter registration immediately ahead of the 2026 midterm elections. A widely shared appeal lists states including Alaska, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Arizona, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Indiana and Kansas, apparently where registration details may need updating. The message reflects growing concern about purged rolls or changed requirements affecting voters.

New research summarised by commentator DigitalNaiv argues that social media platforms shape how people communicate: on X, users are rewarded for insults; on Bluesky, for emotional restraint; and on Mastodon, for nuance. The study suggests each platform fosters a distinct online personality, with all three still carrying a degree of toxicity.