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Ben Collins

Ben Collins covers disinformation, extremism and the internet for NBC News.

Ben Collins covers disinformation, extremism and the internet for NBC News.

Latest from Ben Collins

Fake picture of explosion at Pentagon spooks Twitter

A fake image purporting to show an explosion near the Pentagon briefly went viral on Twitter on Monday, leaving fact-checkers to scramble to counter the false claim as it was pushed by a variety of verified accounts.
15d ago

Bat-wielding attacker injures Virginia congressman's district office staff

A person with a baseball bat entered the district office of Rep. Gerry Connolly, D-Va., and attacked two members of his staff, the congressman said.
18d ago

Former NBCUniversal ad chief Linda Yaccarino named CEO of Twitter

Elon Musk said Friday that Linda Yaccarino, the former head of ad sales for NBCUniversal, will be Twitter's next CEO.
18d ago

Cat and dog torture videos litter Twitter, adding to concerns about moderation

Graphic videos of animal abuse have circulated widely on Twitter in recent weeks, generating outrage and renewed concern over the platform’s moderation practices.
34d ago

Far right laments Tucker Carlson’s ouster and loss of its shot at the mainstream

Fox News’ dismissal of top-rated host Tucker Carlson sent shock waves through mainstream and conservative media this week.

Fox likely to see limited business fallout from a settlement that could remake Dominion

Fox Corporation’s $787.5 million settlement with Dominion Voting Systems is a landmark payout likely to have vastly different impacts for either business.

FBI arrests 21-year-old Air National Guardsman suspected of leaking classified documents

Jack Teixeira, 21, a member of the Massachusetts Air National Guard was arrested Thursday in connection to the investigation of leaked classified documents.

DeSantis and RFK Jr. misconstrue Fed’s digital plans in warning of government overreach

Two potential 2024 presidential candidates falsely described a pair of Federal Reserve proposals as efforts to monitor and restrict Americans' purchases.

Trump loyalists such as Marjorie Taylor Greene and George Santos quickly flee chaotic protests

When Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., arrived at the courthouse to show her support for the ex-president, she was met with angry anti-Trump demonstrators and forced to make a hasty retreat back to the safety of her SUV.
60d ago

Online threats of violence but few signs of far-right organizing around Trump indictment

Minutes after news broke of former President Donald Trump’s indictment, a comment on the pro-Trump internet forum Patriots.win, also known as TheDonald, skyrocketed to the top of the message board.

Heather McDonald’s on-stage collapse became anti-vaccine fodder, but she’s alive and joking

Heather McDonald, like a half-dozen other people featured in the trailer for the anti-vaccine film "Died Suddenly," did not die as a result of the Covid-19 vaccine.