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. Views are my own.
The problem with The Diplomat is that it’s a show that doesn’t trust its audience enough to actually make the show about diplomats and not the White House.
November 11, 2025 at 12:56 AM
The problem with The Diplomat is that it’s a show that doesn’t trust its audience enough to actually make the show about diplomats and not the White House.
I’m watching The Diplomat Season 3 and I gotta say, Keri Russell is the least aware career State Department officer in the history of the organization.
November 10, 2025 at 11:53 PM
I’m watching The Diplomat Season 3 and I gotta say, Keri Russell is the least aware career State Department officer in the history of the organization.
This exactly. The people who are going to save us is us.
Movements run on momentum. Little wins turn into an ethos and shared purpose, then bigger wins and suddenly empires fall or lives improve. If this week showed how quickly a few wins can puncture Trump's "invincibility," this is a reminder of how fast "compromise" can plunge us back into despair.
November 10, 2025 at 4:01 AM
This exactly. The people who are going to save us is us.
Reposted by Cole Donovan
Movements run on momentum. Little wins turn into an ethos and shared purpose, then bigger wins and suddenly empires fall or lives improve. If this week showed how quickly a few wins can puncture Trump's "invincibility," this is a reminder of how fast "compromise" can plunge us back into despair.
November 10, 2025 at 3:54 AM
Movements run on momentum. Little wins turn into an ethos and shared purpose, then bigger wins and suddenly empires fall or lives improve. If this week showed how quickly a few wins can puncture Trump's "invincibility," this is a reminder of how fast "compromise" can plunge us back into despair.
I hate to go conspiracy brain but I really think this is a “follow the money” moment.
ah yes, the classic "I'll gladly pay you Tuesday for a hamburger today" irresistible deal
November 10, 2025 at 2:47 AM
I hate to go conspiracy brain but I really think this is a “follow the money” moment.
Apparently some people get to do the CCP-motivated transnational repression thing and get away with it. 🧐
November 9, 2025 at 3:21 AM
Apparently some people get to do the CCP-motivated transnational repression thing and get away with it. 🧐
You gotta be really special to earn this kind of recognition.
A Sharon Begley byline, almost 5 years after her death.
Upon hearing the news James Watson had died, a STAT reporter said in our Slack, "I wish I could read what Sharon would have written."
Incredible news: Sharon in fact did pre-write a Watson obit. And it is masterful and excoriating.
🧪🧬🧫
Upon hearing the news James Watson had died, a STAT reporter said in our Slack, "I wish I could read what Sharon would have written."
Incredible news: Sharon in fact did pre-write a Watson obit. And it is masterful and excoriating.
🧪🧬🧫
James Watson, dead at 97, was a scientific legend and a pariah among his peers
James Watson, the co-discoverer of the structure of DNA who died Thursday at 97, was a scientific legend and a pariah among his peers.
www.statnews.com
November 9, 2025 at 1:26 AM
You gotta be really special to earn this kind of recognition.
Old man realizes it’s a better idea to just socialize medicine.
November 8, 2025 at 4:01 PM
Old man realizes it’s a better idea to just socialize medicine.
A fair number of people seeking government jobs are going to be surprised in a number of years when they get dinged for eulogizing James Watson.
Maybe look this guy's legacy up up first, guys.
Maybe look this guy's legacy up up first, guys.
November 8, 2025 at 1:36 PM
A fair number of people seeking government jobs are going to be surprised in a number of years when they get dinged for eulogizing James Watson.
Maybe look this guy's legacy up up first, guys.
Maybe look this guy's legacy up up first, guys.
You know, I’m actually not mad about this. A giant Prometheus statue is kind of appropriate for these folks.
Remember the fate of Prometheus.
Remember the fate of Prometheus.
A 450-foot Prometheus. A 500-foot George Washington. Tech investors are racing to build colossal monuments celebrating Western power.
America’s Tech Right Is Obsessed With Building Giant Statues
With proposals for a 450-foot statue of Prometheus on Alcatraz and a 650-foot George Washington, MAGA adherents are racing to build America’s largest statue.
bloom.bg
November 8, 2025 at 3:02 AM
You know, I’m actually not mad about this. A giant Prometheus statue is kind of appropriate for these folks.
Remember the fate of Prometheus.
Remember the fate of Prometheus.
The only way that they can argue that this is the opposition’s fault is thanks to a closed media environment that doesn’t let any of this stuff in.
November 7, 2025 at 3:35 PM
The only way that they can argue that this is the opposition’s fault is thanks to a closed media environment that doesn’t let any of this stuff in.
Spent considerable time listening to the tariff arguments yesterday and just going to offer some broad thoughts. Full disclosure: though they ultimately didn’t join the case, I connected members of an industry with the Liberty Justice Center before they brought the case earlier this year.
November 6, 2025 at 11:19 AM
Spent considerable time listening to the tariff arguments yesterday and just going to offer some broad thoughts. Full disclosure: though they ultimately didn’t join the case, I connected members of an industry with the Liberty Justice Center before they brought the case earlier this year.
Germany is already investing in skills development in some parts of the U.S. in order to get its companies the skilled labor that the U.S. education system isn’t providing them. Giving our soldiers food in their food banks is honestly not that surprising.
taskandpurpose.com/news/army-ge...
taskandpurpose.com/news/army-ge...
The Army listed German food banks for soldiers seeking shutdown help
The Army removed the list after German media reported that U.S. troops were using the local foodbanks, a U.S. official said.
taskandpurpose.com
November 6, 2025 at 4:17 AM
Germany is already investing in skills development in some parts of the U.S. in order to get its companies the skilled labor that the U.S. education system isn’t providing them. Giving our soldiers food in their food banks is honestly not that surprising.
taskandpurpose.com/news/army-ge...
taskandpurpose.com/news/army-ge...
I mean if people want to ask me about my recent oral surgery at the upcoming AAAS meeting I’ll be happy to oblige…
… But not during the main session.
I’ll be in Phoenix at #AAAS2026 to talk about academic freedom).
… But not during the main session.
I’ll be in Phoenix at #AAAS2026 to talk about academic freedom).
November 6, 2025 at 2:40 AM
I mean if people want to ask me about my recent oral surgery at the upcoming AAAS meeting I’ll be happy to oblige…
… But not during the main session.
I’ll be in Phoenix at #AAAS2026 to talk about academic freedom).
… But not during the main session.
I’ll be in Phoenix at #AAAS2026 to talk about academic freedom).
Last night was relieving.
Very long and tough road still ahead.
Very long and tough road still ahead.
November 5, 2025 at 12:04 PM
Last night was relieving.
Very long and tough road still ahead.
Very long and tough road still ahead.
Man you’d be surprised 😬
And you can bet that last 37% aren't rocket scientists.
November 5, 2025 at 3:14 AM
Man you’d be surprised 😬
Oh yeah that’s the stuff
Pennsylvania voters retained all state Supreme Court Justices in a landslide!
November 5, 2025 at 3:04 AM
Oh yeah that’s the stuff
Guys, I just found What Did Jack Do, the David Lynch film, and GOODNESS IS IT SOMETHING
November 4, 2025 at 1:46 AM
Guys, I just found What Did Jack Do, the David Lynch film, and GOODNESS IS IT SOMETHING
Reposted by Cole Donovan
"To be a good citizen of a bad state, one has to do scary things. It may be writing an op-ed calling for your own country’s isolation... It may be using your body to shield someone more vulnerable..."
Opinion | How to Be a Good Citizen of a Bad Country
www.nytimes.com
November 3, 2025 at 11:27 AM
"To be a good citizen of a bad state, one has to do scary things. It may be writing an op-ed calling for your own country’s isolation... It may be using your body to shield someone more vulnerable..."
I did an extended LinkedIn post on this but TLDR: yes, threats are part of negotiations. These are bad threats because who the heck wants to travel to the United States anyway as soon as the threat is made? Total lack of self-awareness and incredibly self-defeating.
European negotiators were personally targeted by their American counterparts during a brutal negotiation over green shipping rules, European Commission officials told POLITICO.
This highly unusual gambit left diplomats shaken after the meeting.
This highly unusual gambit left diplomats shaken after the meeting.
US accused of threatening EU diplomats during bid to kill green shipping rules
Negotiators at shipping talks in London were told both they and their countries could be punished unless they voted with the U.S.
www.politico.eu
November 3, 2025 at 11:34 AM
I did an extended LinkedIn post on this but TLDR: yes, threats are part of negotiations. These are bad threats because who the heck wants to travel to the United States anyway as soon as the threat is made? Total lack of self-awareness and incredibly self-defeating.
We used to call this a “bombing” but ok.
'Intentional' explosion: Device detonates inside Harvard medical campus building
A device exploded inside a building at Harvard University's Longwood medical campus early Saturday morning, according to a report.
wjla.com
November 2, 2025 at 9:24 PM
We used to call this a “bombing” but ok.
This is unconstitutional (you have a constitutional right to petition the government) and your right to do so is actually protected.
www.judiciary.senate.gov/minority-whi...
www.judiciary.senate.gov/minority-whi...
November 2, 2025 at 3:54 PM
This is unconstitutional (you have a constitutional right to petition the government) and your right to do so is actually protected.
www.judiciary.senate.gov/minority-whi...
www.judiciary.senate.gov/minority-whi...
Do the sides of these peel off as easily as they do for consumer versions
“.. thanks to a donation from a U.S. tech billionaire, raising concerns about the blurring of lines between public and private interests.”
@apnews.com $TSLA
apnews.com/article/las-...
@apnews.com $TSLA
apnews.com/article/las-...
November 2, 2025 at 3:30 PM
Do the sides of these peel off as easily as they do for consumer versions