Another approach

docker-compose.yml

@@ -3,5 +3,7 @@ version: "3.0"
 services:
   botyam:
     build: .
+    environment:
+      - PYTHONUNBUFFERED=1
     env_file:
       - /etc/environment

src/BotYamPoster.py

@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ def post_reply(conn, victim_bank, tweet, words, reply_text_bank, postcounter):
     if any(word in tweet.data['text'] for word in words):
         reply_text = reply_text_bank[random.randint(0, (len(reply_text_bank)-1))]
         # Post reply
-        if tweet.data['author_id'] in victim_bank.author_id:
+        if tweet.data['author_id'] in victim_bank['author_id']:
             reply_text = victim_bank['reply'][random.randint(0,2)] + "\n" + reply_text
         res = conn.api.create_tweet(
               text=reply_text,