Brian Wasik
@brianrwasik.bsky.social
Virologist. Evolutionary biologist.
Reposted by Brian Wasik
Millions of peoples' health insurance skyrockets in a few hours. Let's check in on the president.
Trump, celebrating New Year's at Mar-a-Lago, bids $100,000 for a painting
January 1, 2026 at 2:26 AM
Millions of peoples' health insurance skyrockets in a few hours. Let's check in on the president.
Feels ominously preemptive.
Chief Justice John Roberts says the Constitution remains "firm and unshaken" with major Supreme Court rulings ahead.
Chief Justice says Constitution remains 'firm and unshaken' with major Supreme Court rulings ahead
Chief Justice John Roberts says that the Constitution remains a sturdy pillar for the country, a message that comes after a tumultuous year in the nation’s judicial system with pivotal Supreme Court decisions on the horizon.
bit.ly
December 31, 2025 at 11:57 PM
Feels ominously preemptive.
Reposted by Brian Wasik
3/
And here is illustration number three million of why the GOP refused to allow Jack Smith's deposition to be carried live, on TV.
And here is illustration number three million of why the GOP refused to allow Jack Smith's deposition to be carried live, on TV.
December 31, 2025 at 11:22 PM
3/
And here is illustration number three million of why the GOP refused to allow Jack Smith's deposition to be carried live, on TV.
And here is illustration number three million of why the GOP refused to allow Jack Smith's deposition to be carried live, on TV.
Reposted by Brian Wasik
Have you ever noticed, whenever Republicans “discover“ fraud, it always coincidentally happens to align with one of their long-standing political priorities like ending Medicaid or federally funded childcare programs. I’m sure that’s just a crazy coincidence
December 31, 2025 at 10:18 PM
Have you ever noticed, whenever Republicans “discover“ fraud, it always coincidentally happens to align with one of their long-standing political priorities like ending Medicaid or federally funded childcare programs. I’m sure that’s just a crazy coincidence
Reposted by Brian Wasik
This should not be shrugged aside. They have stopped with the fake 22 million illegal immigrants things and are flat out saying we want to deport 10's of millions of citizens and legal residents from "third world countries" Basically they are advocating removing 1/3 of the population on a gov site.
December 31, 2025 at 9:59 PM
This should not be shrugged aside. They have stopped with the fake 22 million illegal immigrants things and are flat out saying we want to deport 10's of millions of citizens and legal residents from "third world countries" Basically they are advocating removing 1/3 of the population on a gov site.
Reposted by Brian Wasik
once again: the onion called it
December 31, 2025 at 8:07 PM
once again: the onion called it
Reposted by Brian Wasik
Jack Smith: “Our case was built on, frankly, Republicans who put their allegiance to the country before the party.”
Trump also had a “pattern” of rejecting information that didn’t fit his false narrative.
Trump also had a “pattern” of rejecting information that didn’t fit his false narrative.
December 31, 2025 at 10:17 PM
Jack Smith: “Our case was built on, frankly, Republicans who put their allegiance to the country before the party.”
Trump also had a “pattern” of rejecting information that didn’t fit his false narrative.
Trump also had a “pattern” of rejecting information that didn’t fit his false narrative.
Reposted by Brian Wasik
At Law Dork today, I highlighted "four key lessons that we can and must take out of 2025." www.lawdork.com/p/four-lesso...
As I did that, Trump announced that he was giving up on his National Guard efforts in states where the action is opposed by the state — illustrating all four of my points.
As I did that, Trump announced that he was giving up on his National Guard efforts in states where the action is opposed by the state — illustrating all four of my points.
December 31, 2025 at 10:17 PM
At Law Dork today, I highlighted "four key lessons that we can and must take out of 2025." www.lawdork.com/p/four-lesso...
As I did that, Trump announced that he was giving up on his National Guard efforts in states where the action is opposed by the state — illustrating all four of my points.
As I did that, Trump announced that he was giving up on his National Guard efforts in states where the action is opposed by the state — illustrating all four of my points.
Reposted by Brian Wasik
EXCLUSIVE: @laurenweberhp.bsky.social & I have spent the last year collecting school+county-level vaccination data from across the US and found that only about 28% of counties now have herd immunity for kindergartners from measles—that leaves about 5.2mn kids unprotected.
Gift link: wapo.st/49zDc43
Gift link: wapo.st/49zDc43
U.S. vaccination rates are plunging. Look up where your school stands.
Take a look to see what the kindergarten measles vaccination rates are in your area.
wapo.st
December 31, 2025 at 2:29 PM
EXCLUSIVE: @laurenweberhp.bsky.social & I have spent the last year collecting school+county-level vaccination data from across the US and found that only about 28% of counties now have herd immunity for kindergartners from measles—that leaves about 5.2mn kids unprotected.
Gift link: wapo.st/49zDc43
Gift link: wapo.st/49zDc43
Reposted by Brian Wasik
I'm not immune to the occasional bout of Poster's Madness but I try to live my online life in ways that present fewer potential portals to that outcome, because getting mad at strangers is one of the worst things you can do for your mental health and quality of life
December 31, 2025 at 1:28 AM
I'm not immune to the occasional bout of Poster's Madness but I try to live my online life in ways that present fewer potential portals to that outcome, because getting mad at strangers is one of the worst things you can do for your mental health and quality of life
Reposted by Brian Wasik
This is the second pediatric #flu death I've seen in 2 days. I'm so sorry for the pain their families must feel. Unclear if either was vaccinated but odds are they were not, as most such deaths are in unvaccinated children.
‘He was loved by all’: 14-year-old dies after suffering complications from the flu
An Alabama community is mourning the loss of a teenager who died due to reported complications from the flu.
www.fox19.com
December 31, 2025 at 2:34 AM
This is the second pediatric #flu death I've seen in 2 days. I'm so sorry for the pain their families must feel. Unclear if either was vaccinated but odds are they were not, as most such deaths are in unvaccinated children.
Reposted by Brian Wasik
Breaking:
Emails just released by a federal judge show that Justice Department leaders pushed to charge Kilmar Abrego Garcia — raising serious questions about whether Department officials had misled a judge in telling him that local prosecutors had acted alone in charging Abrego.
Emails just released by a federal judge show that Justice Department leaders pushed to charge Kilmar Abrego Garcia — raising serious questions about whether Department officials had misled a judge in telling him that local prosecutors had acted alone in charging Abrego.
Justice Dept. Leaders Pushed to Charge Abrego Garcia, Emails Show
www.nytimes.com
December 31, 2025 at 12:55 AM
Breaking:
Emails just released by a federal judge show that Justice Department leaders pushed to charge Kilmar Abrego Garcia — raising serious questions about whether Department officials had misled a judge in telling him that local prosecutors had acted alone in charging Abrego.
Emails just released by a federal judge show that Justice Department leaders pushed to charge Kilmar Abrego Garcia — raising serious questions about whether Department officials had misled a judge in telling him that local prosecutors had acted alone in charging Abrego.
Reposted by Brian Wasik
An absolutely wonderful, versatile, powerful and powerfully funny actor who enlivened everything he was in, and a huge loss. I'm not going to say the word, but we're all thinking it in his honor. RIP Isiah Whitlock. deadline.com/2025/12/isia...
Isiah Whitlock Jr. Dies: ‘The Wire’ Actor & Frequent Spike Lee Collaborator Was 71
Actor Isiah Whitlock Jr., known for his roles in The Wire, Veep, Your Honor and The Residence and a number of Spike Lee movies, passed away Dec. 30.
deadline.com
December 30, 2025 at 11:10 PM
An absolutely wonderful, versatile, powerful and powerfully funny actor who enlivened everything he was in, and a huge loss. I'm not going to say the word, but we're all thinking it in his honor. RIP Isiah Whitlock. deadline.com/2025/12/isia...
Reposted by Brian Wasik
This conspiracy theory is specifically designed to incite violence against Somalis and immigrants more generally. The way that you can tell is the appeal to vulnerability and purity (children, pets, etc).
BREAKING
The Trump administration says it has frozen all childcare payments to Minnesota in the aftermath of allegations of fraud by some in the Somali community.
Important: allegations along these lines have existed for years, which has resulted in prosecutions starting with the Biden DOJ.
The Trump administration says it has frozen all childcare payments to Minnesota in the aftermath of allegations of fraud by some in the Somali community.
Important: allegations along these lines have existed for years, which has resulted in prosecutions starting with the Biden DOJ.
December 30, 2025 at 11:52 PM
This conspiracy theory is specifically designed to incite violence against Somalis and immigrants more generally. The way that you can tell is the appeal to vulnerability and purity (children, pets, etc).
Reposted by Brian Wasik
We don't have a government. We have a bunch of guys who heard things on social media.
We don't have due process. We have entire groups being punished for the alleged actions of a few.
We don't have due process. We have entire groups being punished for the alleged actions of a few.
BREAKING
The Trump administration says it has frozen all childcare payments to Minnesota in the aftermath of allegations of fraud by some in the Somali community.
Important: allegations along these lines have existed for years, which has resulted in prosecutions starting with the Biden DOJ.
The Trump administration says it has frozen all childcare payments to Minnesota in the aftermath of allegations of fraud by some in the Somali community.
Important: allegations along these lines have existed for years, which has resulted in prosecutions starting with the Biden DOJ.
December 30, 2025 at 11:43 PM
We don't have a government. We have a bunch of guys who heard things on social media.
We don't have due process. We have entire groups being punished for the alleged actions of a few.
We don't have due process. We have entire groups being punished for the alleged actions of a few.
Reposted by Brian Wasik
The constitutional remedy for a president who uses collective punishment against people for the crimes of a few is impeachment, removal, and disqualification, followed by a criminal trial.
BREAKING
The Trump administration says it has frozen all childcare payments to Minnesota in the aftermath of allegations of fraud by some in the Somali community.
Important: allegations along these lines have existed for years, which has resulted in prosecutions starting with the Biden DOJ.
The Trump administration says it has frozen all childcare payments to Minnesota in the aftermath of allegations of fraud by some in the Somali community.
Important: allegations along these lines have existed for years, which has resulted in prosecutions starting with the Biden DOJ.
December 30, 2025 at 11:54 PM
The constitutional remedy for a president who uses collective punishment against people for the crimes of a few is impeachment, removal, and disqualification, followed by a criminal trial.
Reposted by Brian Wasik
Just gonna note that the US has a HUGE child care shortage: 4.2 million kids don't have access to child care slots, and it's even more extreme in rural areas and for disabled and medically complex children.
childcaregap.org
childcaregap.org
December 31, 2025 at 12:08 AM
Just gonna note that the US has a HUGE child care shortage: 4.2 million kids don't have access to child care slots, and it's even more extreme in rural areas and for disabled and medically complex children.
childcaregap.org
childcaregap.org
Reposted by Brian Wasik
Trump guys are about to Comet Pizza every third daycare center because they think they are all fronts for Somali money laundering. They're only doing this near cities with progressive mayors. This is straight up Government by LibsOfTikTok.
December 30, 2025 at 8:29 PM
Trump guys are about to Comet Pizza every third daycare center because they think they are all fronts for Somali money laundering. They're only doing this near cities with progressive mayors. This is straight up Government by LibsOfTikTok.
Reposted by Brian Wasik
just out and out blood libel style scapegoating against somalis at this point
WASHINGTON (AP) — Trump administration says it's freezing child care funds to Minnesota after a series of fraud schemes in recent years.
December 30, 2025 at 11:25 PM
just out and out blood libel style scapegoating against somalis at this point
Reposted by Brian Wasik
"I wish I knew what Norman Rockwell might have said about Trump’s theft of his life’s work in service of state-sponsored terror. But even more than that, I wonder what he would have painted." ICYMI @crampell.bsky.social: lnk.thebulwark.com/4pU1xY5
The MAGAfication of Norman Rockwell
Trump uses the artist’s work—like other cultural icons—to promote Gestapo tactics and nativist ideas.
lnk.thebulwark.com
December 30, 2025 at 4:00 PM
"I wish I knew what Norman Rockwell might have said about Trump’s theft of his life’s work in service of state-sponsored terror. But even more than that, I wonder what he would have painted." ICYMI @crampell.bsky.social: lnk.thebulwark.com/4pU1xY5
Reposted by Brian Wasik
probably not a great sign that Trump's assistant AG for civil rights uses a slur for people with disabilities
December 30, 2025 at 7:24 PM
probably not a great sign that Trump's assistant AG for civil rights uses a slur for people with disabilities
Reposted by Brian Wasik
“DHS has used or adapted Rockwell’s art multiple times this year to promote its messages, horrifying the artist’s granddaughter Daisy Rockwell, reported The Bulwark’s Catherine Rampell, who interviewed her at the Norman Rockwell Museum in Massachusetts.”
www.mediaite.com/media/news/n...
www.mediaite.com/media/news/n...
‘Norman Rockwell Was Antifa’: Artist’s Granddaughter Bashes Trump Admin for Hijacking His Art
Norman Rockwell's granddaughter lambasted the Trump administration for its use of his iconic paintings, pointing out that the famous artist was well known for being "angry at unjust prejudices" and ex...
www.mediaite.com
December 30, 2025 at 7:26 PM
“DHS has used or adapted Rockwell’s art multiple times this year to promote its messages, horrifying the artist’s granddaughter Daisy Rockwell, reported The Bulwark’s Catherine Rampell, who interviewed her at the Norman Rockwell Museum in Massachusetts.”
www.mediaite.com/media/news/n...
www.mediaite.com/media/news/n...
Reposted by Brian Wasik
A wonderful writer and person who used her dying days to speak out against her cousin RFK Jr.’s plan to kill everyone with vaccine misinformation and cuts to cancer research.
May her memory be a blessing.
May her memory be a blessing.
BOSTON (AP) — Environmental journalist Tatiana Schlossberg, granddaughter of late President John F. Kennedy, has died, family says.
December 30, 2025 at 7:24 PM
A wonderful writer and person who used her dying days to speak out against her cousin RFK Jr.’s plan to kill everyone with vaccine misinformation and cuts to cancer research.
May her memory be a blessing.
May her memory be a blessing.
Reposted by Brian Wasik
Our beautiful Tatiana passed away this morning. She will always be in our hearts.
George, Edwin and Josephine Moran
Ed, Caroline, Jack, Rose and Rory
George, Edwin and Josephine Moran
Ed, Caroline, Jack, Rose and Rory
December 30, 2025 at 6:27 PM
Our beautiful Tatiana passed away this morning. She will always be in our hearts.
George, Edwin and Josephine Moran
Ed, Caroline, Jack, Rose and Rory
George, Edwin and Josephine Moran
Ed, Caroline, Jack, Rose and Rory
Reposted by Brian Wasik
I wrote this last winter. I so wish I was wrong about where all this would lead. So much suffering, so much sickness and death because of this man. www.nytimes.com/2025/02/13/o...
Opinion | When ‘Just Asking Questions’ About Science Turns Into 300,000 Dead
www.nytimes.com
December 30, 2025 at 5:31 PM
I wrote this last winter. I so wish I was wrong about where all this would lead. So much suffering, so much sickness and death because of this man. www.nytimes.com/2025/02/13/o...