House Democrats release never-before-seen photos of the predator’s private island, Bari Weiss plans a CBS town hall with Erika Kirk, and the MyPillow guy is running for governor?
If you haven’t already cancel your premium subscription, you can keep their free version so you don’t lose your playlists. Just don’t use the app until they stop airing ICE ads. Indivisible has instructions on what to do.
Thanks again Peter. I don’t use Spotify, but my top artists on Apple this year were Bad Bunny, SZA, & Miss Teena Marie. I appreciate the breakdown of those photos—I have had to take a break from some of the Epstein details because of how sick they make me feel, but I appreciate your quick breakdown of the new photos. Have a great Thursday everyone!
re: Spotify Wrapped ~ I was waiting for the ironic twist at the end about ICE ads, investment in AI weapons, paltry payouts to musicians, the promotion of AI music, "perfect fit" soundalike slop etc ... but I guess this is a good moment to spread awareness about this issue! Seems like I'm not the only one chiming in here.
I'd add that the subject goes deeper than simply boycotting Spotify. Independent musicians around the country are organizing and fighting for a better music industry and ecosystem. For instance, the Union of Musician's and Allied Workers (UMAW) have been working with Rep. Rashida Tlaib on the Living Wage for Musicians Act, which was reintroduced to Congress in September: https://www.metrotimes.com/music-2/tlaib-re-introduces-the-living-wage-for-musicians-act/
In Chicago, where I live and make music, more than 100 bands & artists have signed onto an open letter committing to divest (all or at least a significant portion) of their music from the platform. The action was covered by local press including CBS News Chicago, The Chicago Sun Times and the Chicago Reader.
Please share the word about ICE and get more people to cancel! Here's more info:
Spotify is running ads for ICE, the agency responsible for tearing families apart, detaining and deporting our neighbors, and sowing fear in communities across the country. They call it “within policy.” That’s why thousands of artists, listeners, and organizations are taking action with Spotify Unwrapped — a nationwide push to hold Spotify accountable during their biggest cultural moment of the year.
Here’s how you can join in:
Cancel your Spotify subscription until ICE ads are gone.
Download ready-made Unwrapped graphics at SpotifyUnwrapped.net. These are designed to replace your usual Wrapped posts and celebrate music while calling on Spotify to drop ICE ads.
Share them on Instagram, TikTok, X, or anywhere you post with the hashtag #SpotifyUnwrapped — and tag @Spotify — to spread the message and amplify the outrage.
I am glad he is back too, his absence explains perhaps the editorial lapse that this article is. Tabloid level gossip. In fact I saw similar in several places of that ilk. I think Mehdi should look closely at the editorial policy regarding this 'newsletter', were it me, I would replace the journo.
Dianne Feinstein was my first (but far from my last) experience being let down by the Democrats. Back before I could even vote I signed an open letter asking her to stop supporting mass surveillance and data collection of American citizens in the name of the War on Terror. I naively thought she's a Democrat, she's one of the good ones, surely she'll listen. She sent back everyone who signed this mealy-mouthed letter full of double-talk about protecting our way of life that was indistinguishable from what Cheney and Rumsfeld were saying. Then later I had to watch her rot into a shuffling husk of a humanoid while clinging to power and refusing to leave office. I left the senator section blank on one of my ballots because even though I knew she was going to win anyway, I didn't want to be a party to it. Ah, nostalgic memories... (if only Democrats turning out unexpectedly right wing was also a nostalgic memory)
What exactly was 'harrowing' about any of these pictures? One starts to wonder what the Dems have got here really in fact other than exposing hypocrisy from MAGA; worth doing politically maybe?
We know what Trump is and what his character is: the irony that this gossip, guilt by association and so on, to the extent that it might disturb some of his cult members is probably worth commenting on somewhere and might even have real world effects electorally. Buying into it all won't though.
The World and media is full of really harrowing pictures, these aren't among them.
At a push the dentist's office pics might be a bit weird but one of his girlfriends was a working dentist and some billionaires now have, I suppose, 'in house' doctors and so on? You are making a nothing burger idle speculation that it was something else, I know not what? Again, as previous coverage of this was, it is speculation and guesswork on Zeteo's part and frankly just 'gossip'. Zeteo needs to keep higher standards than this tabloid level innuendo.
You really are buying into the hype about this, 'the Epstein List' seems to me a long shot by Democrats on the same lines as Russiagate. They would be better off refraining from GOP lite meaningless votes against 'sosherlism' and other corporate Democrat stunts just because Mamdani won NYC.
The more I see about 'the lists', the less seems to be actually there frankly at present.
At least unlike most online fora, this one won't have half a dozen BlueAnon grand conspiracy theorists arguing with me regarding the endless sinister speculations about the masks and dentists chair!
Peter - why are you celebrating Spotify when they are supported the lawless and cruel actions of ICE? You need to drop them.
I had missed that! Thank you for alerting me!
If you haven’t already cancel your premium subscription, you can keep their free version so you don’t lose your playlists. Just don’t use the app until they stop airing ICE ads. Indivisible has instructions on what to do.
Thank you! This is great advice!
You can keep your playlists if you switch to Qobuz.
Got it! Thank you!
Top song on Spotify this year was called BOYCOTT! It's got a great beat. Put it in your playlist, Peter! (Much better than "ICE ICE Baby")
Thanks again Peter. I don’t use Spotify, but my top artists on Apple this year were Bad Bunny, SZA, & Miss Teena Marie. I appreciate the breakdown of those photos—I have had to take a break from some of the Epstein details because of how sick they make me feel, but I appreciate your quick breakdown of the new photos. Have a great Thursday everyone!
Thank you!
I don't want to sounds too pompous, but I don't use Spotify 🧐
I did not enjoy my Spotify Wrapped because I switched to Qobuz.
The problems with Spotify are endless:
-Spotify is using AI artists to funnel money back into itself, stealing streams and money from actual artists
-CEO Daniel Ek investing in weapons manufacturing
-ICE Recruitment ads
-And have we forgotten the $250M to disinformation extraordinaire Joe Rogan?
re: Spotify Wrapped ~ I was waiting for the ironic twist at the end about ICE ads, investment in AI weapons, paltry payouts to musicians, the promotion of AI music, "perfect fit" soundalike slop etc ... but I guess this is a good moment to spread awareness about this issue! Seems like I'm not the only one chiming in here.
I'd add that the subject goes deeper than simply boycotting Spotify. Independent musicians around the country are organizing and fighting for a better music industry and ecosystem. For instance, the Union of Musician's and Allied Workers (UMAW) have been working with Rep. Rashida Tlaib on the Living Wage for Musicians Act, which was reintroduced to Congress in September: https://www.metrotimes.com/music-2/tlaib-re-introduces-the-living-wage-for-musicians-act/
In Chicago, where I live and make music, more than 100 bands & artists have signed onto an open letter committing to divest (all or at least a significant portion) of their music from the platform. The action was covered by local press including CBS News Chicago, The Chicago Sun Times and the Chicago Reader.
If you love music and you know big tech loves to ruin things regular people love, I would highly recommend Liz Pelly's recent book Mood Machine. To start though, check out her article published today in the Guardian specifically about Wrapped: https://www.theguardian.com/music/2025/dec/03/spotify-wrapped-ai-create-your-own-playlists
Please share the word about ICE and get more people to cancel! Here's more info:
Spotify is running ads for ICE, the agency responsible for tearing families apart, detaining and deporting our neighbors, and sowing fear in communities across the country. They call it “within policy.” That’s why thousands of artists, listeners, and organizations are taking action with Spotify Unwrapped — a nationwide push to hold Spotify accountable during their biggest cultural moment of the year.
Here’s how you can join in:
Cancel your Spotify subscription until ICE ads are gone.
Download ready-made Unwrapped graphics at SpotifyUnwrapped.net. These are designed to replace your usual Wrapped posts and celebrate music while calling on Spotify to drop ICE ads.
Share them on Instagram, TikTok, X, or anywhere you post with the hashtag #SpotifyUnwrapped — and tag @Spotify — to spread the message and amplify the outrage.
What happened to Mehdi???
Mehdi had to take some family time but he is now back. Thanks for your concern.
Thank you so much for replying, I was actually getting worried. Happy to hear he’s back and hope things are okay with his family.
I am glad he is back too, his absence explains perhaps the editorial lapse that this article is. Tabloid level gossip. In fact I saw similar in several places of that ilk. I think Mehdi should look closely at the editorial policy regarding this 'newsletter', were it me, I would replace the journo.
worth checking out this column by Brian Merchant (author of the essential history of the Luddites, Blood in the Machine) on Spotify: https://www.bloodinthemachine.com/p/a-complete-guide-to-quitting-spotify?r=18l7m
Dianne Feinstein was my first (but far from my last) experience being let down by the Democrats. Back before I could even vote I signed an open letter asking her to stop supporting mass surveillance and data collection of American citizens in the name of the War on Terror. I naively thought she's a Democrat, she's one of the good ones, surely she'll listen. She sent back everyone who signed this mealy-mouthed letter full of double-talk about protecting our way of life that was indistinguishable from what Cheney and Rumsfeld were saying. Then later I had to watch her rot into a shuffling husk of a humanoid while clinging to power and refusing to leave office. I left the senator section blank on one of my ballots because even though I knew she was going to win anyway, I didn't want to be a party to it. Ah, nostalgic memories... (if only Democrats turning out unexpectedly right wing was also a nostalgic memory)
What exactly was 'harrowing' about any of these pictures? One starts to wonder what the Dems have got here really in fact other than exposing hypocrisy from MAGA; worth doing politically maybe?
We know what Trump is and what his character is: the irony that this gossip, guilt by association and so on, to the extent that it might disturb some of his cult members is probably worth commenting on somewhere and might even have real world effects electorally. Buying into it all won't though.
The World and media is full of really harrowing pictures, these aren't among them.
At a push the dentist's office pics might be a bit weird but one of his girlfriends was a working dentist and some billionaires now have, I suppose, 'in house' doctors and so on? You are making a nothing burger idle speculation that it was something else, I know not what? Again, as previous coverage of this was, it is speculation and guesswork on Zeteo's part and frankly just 'gossip'. Zeteo needs to keep higher standards than this tabloid level innuendo.
You really are buying into the hype about this, 'the Epstein List' seems to me a long shot by Democrats on the same lines as Russiagate. They would be better off refraining from GOP lite meaningless votes against 'sosherlism' and other corporate Democrat stunts just because Mamdani won NYC.
The more I see about 'the lists', the less seems to be actually there frankly at present.
At least unlike most online fora, this one won't have half a dozen BlueAnon grand conspiracy theorists arguing with me regarding the endless sinister speculations about the masks and dentists chair!