Brian Wasik
@brianrwasik.bsky.social
Virologist. Evolutionary biologist.
Reposted by Brian Wasik
Imagine killing 600,000 black and brown people with a few keystrokes and not having a care in the world but one little old white lady drags you on Twitter and you spiral for a week.
November 11, 2025 at 4:04 AM
Imagine killing 600,000 black and brown people with a few keystrokes and not having a care in the world but one little old white lady drags you on Twitter and you spiral for a week.
Reposted by Brian Wasik
A tech billionaire mocked Pope Leo XIV’s call for ethical AI.
The post was deleted — but not before exposing Silicon Valley’s deeper discomfort: a pope they can’t buy or bully.
It also revealed something older: the Valley’s original sin — the desire to be God.
The post was deleted — but not before exposing Silicon Valley’s deeper discomfort: a pope they can’t buy or bully.
It also revealed something older: the Valley’s original sin — the desire to be God.
Tech Billionaire Mocks Pope Leo’s AI Warning — and Reveals Silicon Valley’s Original Sin
A billionaire tech guru openly mocked Leo's call for moral AI — and quickly backtracked after backlash. It’s a telling collision of Silicon Valley hubris with a pope they cannot buy, bully, or ignore.
www.thelettersfromleo.com
November 10, 2025 at 11:56 PM
A tech billionaire mocked Pope Leo XIV’s call for ethical AI.
The post was deleted — but not before exposing Silicon Valley’s deeper discomfort: a pope they can’t buy or bully.
It also revealed something older: the Valley’s original sin — the desire to be God.
The post was deleted — but not before exposing Silicon Valley’s deeper discomfort: a pope they can’t buy or bully.
It also revealed something older: the Valley’s original sin — the desire to be God.
Reposted by Brian Wasik
ICYMI: Robert Kennedy Jr. claimed that he had nothing to do with Children’s Health Defense during his confirmation hearings.
His wife just headlined the group’s annual conference.
www.importantcontext.news/p/kennedy-sa...
His wife just headlined the group’s annual conference.
www.importantcontext.news/p/kennedy-sa...
Kennedy Said He Was Done With Children’s Health Defense; His Wife Headlined Its Annual Conference
Actress Cheryl Hines spoke at the anti-vax star-studded affair this weekend.
www.importantcontext.news
November 10, 2025 at 10:40 PM
ICYMI: Robert Kennedy Jr. claimed that he had nothing to do with Children’s Health Defense during his confirmation hearings.
His wife just headlined the group’s annual conference.
www.importantcontext.news/p/kennedy-sa...
His wife just headlined the group’s annual conference.
www.importantcontext.news/p/kennedy-sa...
Reposted by Brian Wasik
Scientific breakthroughs are rarely unique; someone else would’ve made them soon enough. But when prominent scientists cause harm, that harm isn’t inevitable; the world might simply have been better had the harm not been inflicted.
liorpachter.wordpress.com/2018/05/18/j...
liorpachter.wordpress.com/2018/05/18/j...
James Watson in his own words
“Some anti-Semitism is justified” “Whenever you interview fat people, you feel bad, because you know you’re not going to hire them” “Japan should be bombed for d…
liorpachter.wordpress.com
November 8, 2025 at 4:29 AM
Scientific breakthroughs are rarely unique; someone else would’ve made them soon enough. But when prominent scientists cause harm, that harm isn’t inevitable; the world might simply have been better had the harm not been inflicted.
liorpachter.wordpress.com/2018/05/18/j...
liorpachter.wordpress.com/2018/05/18/j...
Reposted by Brian Wasik
If you're bleeding internally you just uhh call around and compare health care plans. Make a budget spreadsheet and see what you can afford. Do I have to spell it out for you. I have a ballroom to build
November 11, 2025 at 1:36 AM
If you're bleeding internally you just uhh call around and compare health care plans. Make a budget spreadsheet and see what you can afford. Do I have to spell it out for you. I have a ballroom to build
Reposted by Brian Wasik
This echoes the conservative counterargument to union rights a century ago, the so-called "liberty of contract."
As FDR's Interior Secretary Harold Ickes noted, that kind of "liberty" merely gave helpless individuals the freedom to "drive a bargain with a great corporation."
As FDR's Interior Secretary Harold Ickes noted, that kind of "liberty" merely gave helpless individuals the freedom to "drive a bargain with a great corporation."
Trump: "I want the money to go into an account for people where they buy their own health insurance. It's so good. The insurance will be better. It'll cost less. Everybody is gonna be happy. They're gonna feel like entrepreneurs. They're actually able to go out & negotiate their own insurance"
November 11, 2025 at 12:21 AM
This echoes the conservative counterargument to union rights a century ago, the so-called "liberty of contract."
As FDR's Interior Secretary Harold Ickes noted, that kind of "liberty" merely gave helpless individuals the freedom to "drive a bargain with a great corporation."
As FDR's Interior Secretary Harold Ickes noted, that kind of "liberty" merely gave helpless individuals the freedom to "drive a bargain with a great corporation."
Reposted by Brian Wasik
Here is my latest for @msnbc.com, on Trump's ill-advised concept of a plan for health care, which entails repealing the ACA, and redistributing private insurers' tax breaks to the people for what would essentially amount to an HSA, which is unhelpful if not wealthy. www.msnbc.com/opinion/msnb...
Opinion | Trump’s new plan for Obamacare leaves Americans to fend for themselves
We finally know what “concepts of a plan” looks like – and it’s not good.
www.msnbc.com
November 10, 2025 at 10:13 PM
Here is my latest for @msnbc.com, on Trump's ill-advised concept of a plan for health care, which entails repealing the ACA, and redistributing private insurers' tax breaks to the people for what would essentially amount to an HSA, which is unhelpful if not wealthy. www.msnbc.com/opinion/msnb...
Reposted by Brian Wasik
The Long-Term Evolution Experiment has returned home. Led by Professors Richard Lenski (@relenski.bsky.social) and Jeffrey Barrick, this groundbreaking work continues to reveal how bacteria evolve in real time. 12 flasks. 1 legacy.
🔗https://tinyurl.com/f6vjyjvr
🔗https://tinyurl.com/f6vjyjvr
November 10, 2025 at 3:25 PM
The Long-Term Evolution Experiment has returned home. Led by Professors Richard Lenski (@relenski.bsky.social) and Jeffrey Barrick, this groundbreaking work continues to reveal how bacteria evolve in real time. 12 flasks. 1 legacy.
🔗https://tinyurl.com/f6vjyjvr
🔗https://tinyurl.com/f6vjyjvr
<you, smart> the virus must be perfectly adapted to cause a pandemic
<evolution, dumb> eh, good enough
<evolution, dumb> eh, good enough
"SARS-CoV-2 is too well-adapted to humans [hence, insert your favorite conspiracy theory]".
That was never right because, for one, SARS-CoV-2 is a pandemic virus so it necessarily had to be "well-adapted".
Now, a new study shows the same is true for BANAL-236 - a related virus isolated from bats.
That was never right because, for one, SARS-CoV-2 is a pandemic virus so it necessarily had to be "well-adapted".
Now, a new study shows the same is true for BANAL-236 - a related virus isolated from bats.
November 10, 2025 at 10:37 PM
<you, smart> the virus must be perfectly adapted to cause a pandemic
<evolution, dumb> eh, good enough
<evolution, dumb> eh, good enough
Whoop whoop
November 10, 2025 at 9:27 PM
Whoop whoop
Reposted by Brian Wasik
so, today I got the surgery center where I got my deviated septum fixed to send me an itemized bill so I could submit to my FSA for reimbursement
my out of pocket cost: $473
what my insurance paid: $4258
what they tried to charge my insurance (not a misprint): $173692
my out of pocket cost: $473
what my insurance paid: $4258
what they tried to charge my insurance (not a misprint): $173692
I was at an event yesterday where Rand Paul spoke via video and talked about how great it was to send ACA money "directly to the people" so that they could work collectively to get better deals on health care.
November 10, 2025 at 8:55 PM
so, today I got the surgery center where I got my deviated septum fixed to send me an itemized bill so I could submit to my FSA for reimbursement
my out of pocket cost: $473
what my insurance paid: $4258
what they tried to charge my insurance (not a misprint): $173692
my out of pocket cost: $473
what my insurance paid: $4258
what they tried to charge my insurance (not a misprint): $173692
This feels very remedial, but... how is evidence 'piling up' for an undefined variable?
The evidence that ultra-processed foods are bad for us is piling up. But efforts to reduce their role in our diets face a big hurdle: experts can't agree on what they are and which to target. n.pr/4qMrN7P
People want to avoid ultra-processed foods. But experts struggle to define them
The evidence that ultra-processed foods are bad for us is piling up. But efforts to reduce their role in our diets face a big hurdle: experts can't agree on what they are and which to target.
n.pr
November 10, 2025 at 8:53 PM
This feels very remedial, but... how is evidence 'piling up' for an undefined variable?
Reposted by Brian Wasik
“This thing is definitely bad for us but no one can say what it is”
The evidence that ultra-processed foods are bad for us is piling up. But efforts to reduce their role in our diets face a big hurdle: experts can't agree on what they are and which to target. n.pr/4qMrN7P
People want to avoid ultra-processed foods. But experts struggle to define them
The evidence that ultra-processed foods are bad for us is piling up. But efforts to reduce their role in our diets face a big hurdle: experts can't agree on what they are and which to target.
n.pr
November 10, 2025 at 7:52 PM
“This thing is definitely bad for us but no one can say what it is”
Reposted by Brian Wasik
How Elon Musk’s Changes to X Made Our Discourse Far Stupider by Dave Weigel talkingpointsmemo.com/tpm-25/how-e... talkingpointsmemo.com/tpm-25/how-e...
How Elon Musk’s Changes to X Made Our Discourse Far Stupider
We don’t know the minute when X started throttling links to news,...
talkingpointsmemo.com
November 10, 2025 at 8:01 PM
How Elon Musk’s Changes to X Made Our Discourse Far Stupider by Dave Weigel talkingpointsmemo.com/tpm-25/how-e... talkingpointsmemo.com/tpm-25/how-e...
Reposted by Brian Wasik
Making fun of our neighborhoods and communities is disgusting.
Greg Bovino and his masked agents are not here to make Chicago safer. As children are tear gassed and U.S. citizens detained, they are posing for photo ops and producing reality TV moments. blockclubchicago.org/2025/11/10/b...
Greg Bovino and his masked agents are not here to make Chicago safer. As children are tear gassed and U.S. citizens detained, they are posing for photo ops and producing reality TV moments. blockclubchicago.org/2025/11/10/b...
Border Patrol Agents Pose At The Bean For Apparent Photo Op
The photo op came after agents tear-gassed a Little Village street and were spotted in the area numerous times. At the Bean, one agent shouted, "Everyone say, 'Little Village!'"
blockclubchicago.org
November 10, 2025 at 5:11 PM
Making fun of our neighborhoods and communities is disgusting.
Greg Bovino and his masked agents are not here to make Chicago safer. As children are tear gassed and U.S. citizens detained, they are posing for photo ops and producing reality TV moments. blockclubchicago.org/2025/11/10/b...
Greg Bovino and his masked agents are not here to make Chicago safer. As children are tear gassed and U.S. citizens detained, they are posing for photo ops and producing reality TV moments. blockclubchicago.org/2025/11/10/b...
Reposted by Brian Wasik
Reposted by Brian Wasik
“Understanding the Covid-19 pandemic as a catalyst for right-wing backlash is misleading because it’s too passive” www.liberalcurrents.com/propaganda-r...
Propaganda, Rather than Pandemic Policies, Caused the War on Public Health
The backlash narrative ignores basic facts of the case.
www.liberalcurrents.com
November 10, 2025 at 11:04 AM
“Understanding the Covid-19 pandemic as a catalyst for right-wing backlash is misleading because it’s too passive” www.liberalcurrents.com/propaganda-r...
Reposted by Brian Wasik
Tell me you don’t understand risk pools without telling me you don’t understand risk pools
November 10, 2025 at 3:02 PM
Tell me you don’t understand risk pools without telling me you don’t understand risk pools
Reposted by Brian Wasik
seems to me that those democrats inclined not to fight perceive themselves as living through a somewhat ordinary cycle of presidential overreach and backlash and not something much more significant and dangerous
November 10, 2025 at 12:50 PM
seems to me that those democrats inclined not to fight perceive themselves as living through a somewhat ordinary cycle of presidential overreach and backlash and not something much more significant and dangerous
Reposted by Brian Wasik
Some thoughts on the CR/minibus.
1 The Dems negotiating with Rs were not freelancing. They coordinated with Sen Schumer. A few were ready to give in on day one, others worked to maximize appropriations wins.
Those voting for the 'deal' are the ones furthest away from electoral consequences.
1 The Dems negotiating with Rs were not freelancing. They coordinated with Sen Schumer. A few were ready to give in on day one, others worked to maximize appropriations wins.
Those voting for the 'deal' are the ones furthest away from electoral consequences.
November 10, 2025 at 1:45 PM
Some thoughts on the CR/minibus.
1 The Dems negotiating with Rs were not freelancing. They coordinated with Sen Schumer. A few were ready to give in on day one, others worked to maximize appropriations wins.
Those voting for the 'deal' are the ones furthest away from electoral consequences.
1 The Dems negotiating with Rs were not freelancing. They coordinated with Sen Schumer. A few were ready to give in on day one, others worked to maximize appropriations wins.
Those voting for the 'deal' are the ones furthest away from electoral consequences.
Reposted by Brian Wasik
Joyce Carol Oates owned Elon so hard he's spent the last day posting about movies he hasn't seen in 15 years
November 10, 2025 at 4:31 PM
Joyce Carol Oates owned Elon so hard he's spent the last day posting about movies he hasn't seen in 15 years
Reposted by Brian Wasik
Great job, @schumer.senate.gov. You've changed the story from "GOP hurting millions of Americans to please unpopular, failing, delusional despot who's destroying his party" to "Dems are too weak and divided in the face of Trump's strength to take a stand and protect Americans"
November 10, 2025 at 11:49 AM
Great job, @schumer.senate.gov. You've changed the story from "GOP hurting millions of Americans to please unpopular, failing, delusional despot who's destroying his party" to "Dems are too weak and divided in the face of Trump's strength to take a stand and protect Americans"
Reposted by Brian Wasik
Not OK: Before and during the pandemic, lower-income households experienced higher wage growth than other income groups. But that has changed over the past year
Torsten at Apollo
Torsten at Apollo
November 10, 2025 at 12:26 PM
Not OK: Before and during the pandemic, lower-income households experienced higher wage growth than other income groups. But that has changed over the past year
Torsten at Apollo
Torsten at Apollo
Reposted by Brian Wasik
Page One in Austin:
November 10, 2025 at 10:55 AM
Page One in Austin:
Reposted by Brian Wasik
Chuck Schumer Helps Pull Democrats Back From Brink Of Courage
November 10, 2025 at 5:02 AM
Chuck Schumer Helps Pull Democrats Back From Brink Of Courage