Cole Donovan
@colesci.bsky.social
S&T Ecosystem Development at the Federation of American Scientists. Former White House OSTP, NOAA Office of Space Commerce, National Academies, State Department. Geeky painter. Views my own.
Will also comment that in my experience with the EU, it was extremely difficult to help them understand clauses in U.S. grants that lawyers throw in there as a CYA but program officers almost always avoid in order to keep things moving.
March in rights were one of the hardest to explain.
March in rights were one of the hardest to explain.
February 19, 2026 at 11:18 AM
Will also comment that in my experience with the EU, it was extremely difficult to help them understand clauses in U.S. grants that lawyers throw in there as a CYA but program officers almost always avoid in order to keep things moving.
March in rights were one of the hardest to explain.
March in rights were one of the hardest to explain.
What we are watching is the immolation of American power on the world stage.
We gain nothing from leaving the IEA; on the other hand, other countries can extract a price for our eventual readmission. Further, these types of demands undermine trust in the government’s ability to follow through.
We gain nothing from leaving the IEA; on the other hand, other countries can extract a price for our eventual readmission. Further, these types of demands undermine trust in the government’s ability to follow through.
US pressures global energy body to drop net zero modeling
Donald Trump’s energy chief Chris Wright told other ministers in Paris that a net zero world was fantasy, officials familiar with the discussions told POLITICO.
www.politico.eu
February 18, 2026 at 11:52 PM
What we are watching is the immolation of American power on the world stage.
We gain nothing from leaving the IEA; on the other hand, other countries can extract a price for our eventual readmission. Further, these types of demands undermine trust in the government’s ability to follow through.
We gain nothing from leaving the IEA; on the other hand, other countries can extract a price for our eventual readmission. Further, these types of demands undermine trust in the government’s ability to follow through.
Is it just me or has Google search slowed to a crawl since they started Gemini integration.
Like search engine pages are loading more slowly than they did in the late 90s/early 00s.
Like search engine pages are loading more slowly than they did in the late 90s/early 00s.
February 17, 2026 at 1:03 PM
Is it just me or has Google search slowed to a crawl since they started Gemini integration.
Like search engine pages are loading more slowly than they did in the late 90s/early 00s.
Like search engine pages are loading more slowly than they did in the late 90s/early 00s.
Boy, the outputs of AI models really have me second guessing a lot of the things I said even five years ago
February 17, 2026 at 12:28 AM
Boy, the outputs of AI models really have me second guessing a lot of the things I said even five years ago
Reposted by Cole Donovan
"It is beyond comprehension that the Senate confirmed this man to oversee America’s health. The risks are so immediate and constant that it can be difficult to keep track of them all." We can still try.
@jilldlawrence.bsky.social on RFK Jr.: lnk.thebulwark.com/4tva4my
@jilldlawrence.bsky.social on RFK Jr.: lnk.thebulwark.com/4tva4my
The Disastrous First Year of RFK Jr.
The damage the HHS secretary has done to science and public health is appalling—and it could have been avoided.
lnk.thebulwark.com
February 16, 2026 at 3:00 PM
"It is beyond comprehension that the Senate confirmed this man to oversee America’s health. The risks are so immediate and constant that it can be difficult to keep track of them all." We can still try.
@jilldlawrence.bsky.social on RFK Jr.: lnk.thebulwark.com/4tva4my
@jilldlawrence.bsky.social on RFK Jr.: lnk.thebulwark.com/4tva4my
The best part about working with Gabriel (both as my boss at Commerce and earlier as my lawyer at State) was our mutual tendency to chase down reductio ad absurdums.
They are SUPER HELPFUL when trying to create policy that limits harm.
#NailSat
They are SUPER HELPFUL when trying to create policy that limits harm.
#NailSat
x.com
February 16, 2026 at 7:20 PM
The best part about working with Gabriel (both as my boss at Commerce and earlier as my lawyer at State) was our mutual tendency to chase down reductio ad absurdums.
They are SUPER HELPFUL when trying to create policy that limits harm.
#NailSat
They are SUPER HELPFUL when trying to create policy that limits harm.
#NailSat
Reposted by Cole Donovan
The American Academy of Actuaries warns that dismantling NCAR would degrade the catastrophe models insurers depend on to price climate risk—driving up premiums and threatening coverage availability nationwide.
"Uncertainty carries a positive cost."
www.riskmarketnews.com/trumps-clima...
"Uncertainty carries a positive cost."
www.riskmarketnews.com/trumps-clima...
Trump's Climate Supercomputer Plans Threaten US Insurance Market: Actuaries
A new letter from the American Academy of Actuaries draws a direct line between the planned dismantling of NCAR and higher homeowners insurance costs for US consumers.
www.riskmarketnews.com
February 16, 2026 at 3:49 PM
The American Academy of Actuaries warns that dismantling NCAR would degrade the catastrophe models insurers depend on to price climate risk—driving up premiums and threatening coverage availability nationwide.
"Uncertainty carries a positive cost."
www.riskmarketnews.com/trumps-clima...
"Uncertainty carries a positive cost."
www.riskmarketnews.com/trumps-clima...
Reposted by Cole Donovan
👇👇👇
For the 1,000th time, —IT’S-NOT-ABOUT-THE-TOP-LINES—
It’s about what gets funded, who makes the decisions about funding, whether the systems that support funded work are functioning, and the terms under which the funding is executed.
It’s about what gets funded, who makes the decisions about funding, whether the systems that support funded work are functioning, and the terms under which the funding is executed.
US scientists gear up for next battle over funding cuts
Science leaders warn of uncertainty caused by Trump administration after avoiding sharpest cuts this year
www.ft.com
February 16, 2026 at 4:29 PM
👇👇👇
For the 1,000th time, —IT’S-NOT-ABOUT-THE-TOP-LINES—
It’s about what gets funded, who makes the decisions about funding, whether the systems that support funded work are functioning, and the terms under which the funding is executed.
It’s about what gets funded, who makes the decisions about funding, whether the systems that support funded work are functioning, and the terms under which the funding is executed.
US scientists gear up for next battle over funding cuts
Science leaders warn of uncertainty caused by Trump administration after avoiding sharpest cuts this year
www.ft.com
February 16, 2026 at 4:03 PM
For the 1,000th time, —IT’S-NOT-ABOUT-THE-TOP-LINES—
It’s about what gets funded, who makes the decisions about funding, whether the systems that support funded work are functioning, and the terms under which the funding is executed.
It’s about what gets funded, who makes the decisions about funding, whether the systems that support funded work are functioning, and the terms under which the funding is executed.
How did I miss Peter Thiel talking about replacing politics with technology forcing people to do things
This article was clearly not angry enough: techpolicy.press/what-happens...
This article was clearly not angry enough: techpolicy.press/what-happens...
What Happens When 'Superintelligence' Doesn't Appear in a Few Months?
We must question the motives of the techno-optimists and their political goals, writes Cole Donovan.
techpolicy.press
February 15, 2026 at 2:08 AM
How did I miss Peter Thiel talking about replacing politics with technology forcing people to do things
This article was clearly not angry enough: techpolicy.press/what-happens...
This article was clearly not angry enough: techpolicy.press/what-happens...
For a country as focused on great power competition as we are, the US government routinely hands the PRC as many own goals and propaganda victories as possible.
China's Xinhua news agency has just published this editorial cartoon in response to Trump's rejection of climate policies.
It is pretty clear that China views this as a HUGE geopolitical fumble by the US leaving the field clear for China's to win the global race to clean-tech hegemony
It is pretty clear that China views this as a HUGE geopolitical fumble by the US leaving the field clear for China's to win the global race to clean-tech hegemony
February 14, 2026 at 11:43 PM
For a country as focused on great power competition as we are, the US government routinely hands the PRC as many own goals and propaganda victories as possible.
Reposted by Cole Donovan
In incredible news, the European Parliament has voted overwhelmingly for "The Full Recognition Of Trans Women As Women."
Even the center-right European People's Party voted for the declaration.
It will form a foundation for their position at the UN Commission on the Status of Women.
Our latest.
Even the center-right European People's Party voted for the declaration.
It will form a foundation for their position at the UN Commission on the Status of Women.
Our latest.
European Parliament Votes Overwhelmingly For "The Full Recognition Of Trans Women As Women"
The resolution, though nonbinding, is a significant shot at those who seek to erode transgender rights on the continent.
www.erininthemorning.com
February 13, 2026 at 5:17 PM
In incredible news, the European Parliament has voted overwhelmingly for "The Full Recognition Of Trans Women As Women."
Even the center-right European People's Party voted for the declaration.
It will form a foundation for their position at the UN Commission on the Status of Women.
Our latest.
Even the center-right European People's Party voted for the declaration.
It will form a foundation for their position at the UN Commission on the Status of Women.
Our latest.
👀
NSF Update
Funding curve overall. A little bit of progress in the past week, but only a little bit.
Now by Directorate...
1/11
Funding curve overall. A little bit of progress in the past week, but only a little bit.
Now by Directorate...
1/11
February 13, 2026 at 10:43 PM
👀
The downside of moving in the midst of all this chaos is that my “mental reset” activities, like painting little plastic models, tends to not be a thing that happens as much and has instead been replaced by renovation stress.
February 13, 2026 at 4:48 PM
The downside of moving in the midst of all this chaos is that my “mental reset” activities, like painting little plastic models, tends to not be a thing that happens as much and has instead been replaced by renovation stress.
When the subtitle is actually the headline:
“In an internal memo last year, Meta said the political tumult in the United States would distract critics from the feature’s release.”
www.nytimes.com/2026/02/13/t...
“In an internal memo last year, Meta said the political tumult in the United States would distract critics from the feature’s release.”
www.nytimes.com/2026/02/13/t...
Meta Plans to Add Facial Recognition Technology to Its Smart Glasses
www.nytimes.com
February 13, 2026 at 1:12 PM
When the subtitle is actually the headline:
“In an internal memo last year, Meta said the political tumult in the United States would distract critics from the feature’s release.”
www.nytimes.com/2026/02/13/t...
“In an internal memo last year, Meta said the political tumult in the United States would distract critics from the feature’s release.”
www.nytimes.com/2026/02/13/t...
Reposted by Cole Donovan
Revoking the endangerment finding would shove science aside in favor of special interests – at the expense of American health and wellbeing.
Read our full statement ➡️ fas.org/publication/...
Read our full statement ➡️ fas.org/publication/...
February 12, 2026 at 6:56 PM
Revoking the endangerment finding would shove science aside in favor of special interests – at the expense of American health and wellbeing.
Read our full statement ➡️ fas.org/publication/...
Read our full statement ➡️ fas.org/publication/...
A coworker asked for a PDF earlier and I failed to read the context, so I sent a PDF explaining how to open a PDF
The exchange ended with everyone mystified about what happened to the Jutes.
The exchange ended with everyone mystified about what happened to the Jutes.
February 12, 2026 at 10:46 PM
A coworker asked for a PDF earlier and I failed to read the context, so I sent a PDF explaining how to open a PDF
The exchange ended with everyone mystified about what happened to the Jutes.
The exchange ended with everyone mystified about what happened to the Jutes.
ISAM is hard, but cold welding is also wild.
February 12, 2026 at 10:42 PM
ISAM is hard, but cold welding is also wild.
Revoking the endangerment finding would shove science aside in favor of special interests – at the expense of American health and wellbeing.
Read our full statement ➡️ fas.org/publication/...
Read our full statement ➡️ fas.org/publication/...
February 12, 2026 at 7:33 PM
Reposted by Cole Donovan
"FAS [ @scientistsorg.bsky.social ] is starting the Center for Regulatory Ingenuity, which the group says will create "high-trust environments to brainstorm and refine the big ideas that will breathe new life into government" while building a "network of networks" to help implement those ideas."
Exclusive: New initiative seeks to tackle "big ideas" on climate
The Federation of American Scientists is launching an initiative that aims to promote creative thinking for how government can tackle climate change and other challenges.
www.axios.com
February 12, 2026 at 2:37 PM
"FAS [ @scientistsorg.bsky.social ] is starting the Center for Regulatory Ingenuity, which the group says will create "high-trust environments to brainstorm and refine the big ideas that will breathe new life into government" while building a "network of networks" to help implement those ideas."
Reposted by Cole Donovan
Well
APOLLO: “.. There are no signs of AI boosting profit margins for companies outside the tech sector.”
February 12, 2026 at 1:19 PM
Well
Oh
New all-time high for share of student loans in serious delinquency.
(via NY Fed / Schwab)
(via NY Fed / Schwab)
February 11, 2026 at 3:28 AM
Oh
Evening TV watching at my house be like
February 11, 2026 at 1:38 AM
Evening TV watching at my house be like