D. Hicks
danhicks.bsky.social
D. Hicks
@danhicks.bsky.social
philosopher turned data scientist turned philosopher. enviro policy, data science, phil sci/STS, lefty stuff. UC Merced. they/them. Signal: danhicks.50
Pinned
This is a thread to illustrate the nuclear block. I'm going to reply with a throwaway account, then block it, and screenshot the results from my alt account.
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Why is the "we must be united!" hectoring directed at people who are mad at the Cavers and not to the Cavers? Everyone who's mad was united, then the Cave Caucus walked across the aisle and betrayed what the public had been told was the Dem position.
The sooner we get past internal recriminations and back to fighting united, the better off we all are — the likelier our victory next November.
November 10, 2025 at 10:11 PM
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Must keep tha nozz warm
November 11, 2025 at 1:19 AM
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For everyone who replies to stuff like this with "obviously"

- it's NOT LEGIBLE TO MANY INSTITUTIONS UNTIL IT'S MEASURED
- WE NEED TO HAVE EVIDENCE FOR THE THINGS "we all know"
- ACTUALLY SEEING THE MAGNITUDE AND NUANCES OF THESE KIND OF EFFECTS MATTERS AND IT MATTERS OVER TIME TOO
*Women receive substantially lower "potential" ratings despite receiving higher performance ratings
*Differences in potential ratings account for half of the gender promotion gap
*Women’s lower potential ratings do not reflect future performance: women subsequently outperform male colleagues
Forthcoming in the AER: "“Potential” and the Gender Promotion Gap" by Alan Benson, Danielle Li, and Kelly Shue. www.aeaweb.org/articles?id=...
November 10, 2025 at 10:10 PM
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I told y'all, the compact failed. They've pivoted back to one-off deals with institutions.
November 10, 2025 at 9:32 PM
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In my old town the GOP had run basically without serious challenge for decades. A bunch of us "millennials" joined the local Dem party and basically asked to help.

We were running it in a year. Within 4 years we had a majority of town seats flipped Dem. A FAR more progressive Dem than old party
“Rather than taking over the Democratic Party the same way the right took over the Republican Party, we should take the easier route and just start up a new party ourselves!”

I’m about to fill my pockets with stones and walk into the sea.
November 10, 2025 at 8:44 PM
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you know we used to have to do at least a little work to prove the connection between racism and transphobia
Nothing illustrates the arseholery of the IOC and the British Press more than the use of the image of a not-Trans woman to illustrate a story about trans women being banned (because there are no current trans women competing at this level)
November 10, 2025 at 7:14 PM
Arguing with the cat about whether I'm allowed to get a glass of water vs. only do nice pets and attentions
November 10, 2025 at 7:09 PM
What's the UK equivalent to the American Philosophical Association? There's the British Philosophical Association, but it looks like it's only been around since 2002. #philsky
November 10, 2025 at 6:34 PM
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iNaturalist guesses this is a nasturtium which, uh, no. Missoula, MT, 11 June 2025. #photography #plants
November 10, 2025 at 3:20 PM
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I'm reminded once again that a weak, incompetent opposition party is a hallmark of competitive authoritarianism.
November 10, 2025 at 4:27 AM
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Policy esp. #scipol folks: I’m trying to better understand how specialized public health/climate-policy roles are filled. In your experience, how much relies on formal job postings vs. internal referrals or informal networking?
November 10, 2025 at 5:55 AM
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More specifically: a failure to fund the government is called a lack or failure of "supply" in most parliamentary systems and is always treated as a matter of confidence in the government.

If supply fails—as it did here Sept 30—the govt would have to resign, & there'd be new elections
In a normal democracy, a total collapse of party leadership would result in an no-confidence vote and immediate snap elections to find leaders who can lead
November 10, 2025 at 3:33 AM
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Feds, let me know what you’re thinking today, Signal is davelevitan.26 and you can remain anonymous.

Everyone else, sign up for this newsletter, I don’t bother you much.

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November 10, 2025 at 12:24 AM
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Just want to gently throw it out there that if you are feeling overwhelmed right now it’s ok to log off. Everyone is emoting deeply onto the timeline and you’re not obligated to witness it in an endless scroll. Take a break if you need to. Protect your heart. ❤️
November 10, 2025 at 12:44 AM
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November 9, 2025 at 10:20 PM
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The same view as below, 9 days later. I love the warm tones!

🌿
November 9, 2025 at 10:17 PM
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Tired of all the Monday morning quarterbacking of senate democrats. Real negotiators know that the key to success is finding the exact moment when you have maximum leverage and the other party is starting to sweat--and then you give up on your primary demand as quickly as possible.
November 9, 2025 at 9:49 PM
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Relating to Spider-Man at 19: I too am underemployed, unsure how to pursue girls, and trying to find my place in the adult world.

Relating to Galactus at 42: I am from an unrecognizable previous millennium, hungry all the time, everything hurts and I live with a tiny person who won’t do what I ask.
November 9, 2025 at 2:06 PM
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Regular reminder that Axios stories saying Dems are about to cave are likely sourced from GOP staffers trying to make it happen.
Doesn't mean it definitely won't happen. But it's like those NYT stories that Harvard is considering caving (they haven't). The anonymous source was trying to manifest it.
November 9, 2025 at 6:53 PM
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They’re gonna send Stephen Miller out to do a full-on Grinch on SNAP recipients, snatching up cans of Hoo hash and whatnot.
November 9, 2025 at 5:54 PM
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To me it feels unfair to a lot of people who are genuinely dealing with various cognitive ailments that this is the kind of treachery we expect from them
November 9, 2025 at 5:49 PM
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November 9, 2025 at 4:10 PM
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WOW top 5 sunrise of 2025 and I don't even know what the other 4 are!

I saw this small pond yesterday and there were 500 or so white faced ibis' foraging, I knew I had to get back this morning.

Most of the ibis were gone but there was a glorious haze across the nearby fields. I N C R E D I B L E 🪶
November 9, 2025 at 4:16 PM
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My theory about Joyce Carol Oates is that all her bad posts are her charging up like Godzilla's spines until she lets loose with a radioactive blast that leaves the world's richest Nazi a pile of ash
November 9, 2025 at 2:31 PM