Jessica Castillo Vardaro
@jessicacv.bsky.social
Wildlife Biologist, Pika Enthusiast, Biology prof @ SJSU, Latina in STEM, she/her
Reposted by Jessica Castillo Vardaro
One analytical model shows that, as of November 5th, the dismantling of U.S.A.I.D. has already caused the deaths of 600,000 people, two-thirds of them children. https://newyorkermag.visitlink.me/jUzNSc
The Shutdown of U.S.A.I.D. Has Already Killed Hundreds of Thousands
The short documentary “Rovina’s Choice” tells the story of what goes when aid goes.
newyorkermag.visitlink.me
November 6, 2025 at 9:00 PM
One analytical model shows that, as of November 5th, the dismantling of U.S.A.I.D. has already caused the deaths of 600,000 people, two-thirds of them children. https://newyorkermag.visitlink.me/jUzNSc
Reposted by Jessica Castillo Vardaro
Our reporting has shown that recent policy changes at the VA are having an impact on working conditions and on patient care, but we need your help to understand the full picture.
If you recently left the VA, here’s how you can reach us:
If you recently left the VA, here’s how you can reach us:
Why Did You Leave the Department of Veterans Affairs?
ProPublica wants to hear from doctors, nurses and other front-line medical providers who recently left positions at a VA hospital or clinic.
www.propublica.org
November 11, 2025 at 4:08 PM
Our reporting has shown that recent policy changes at the VA are having an impact on working conditions and on patient care, but we need your help to understand the full picture.
If you recently left the VA, here’s how you can reach us:
If you recently left the VA, here’s how you can reach us:
Reposted by Jessica Castillo Vardaro
When ICE stormed through Santa Ana, CA, panicked calls flooded into the city’s emergency response system.
Recordings obtained by @propublica.org captured the terror residents felt as they watched masked men ambush people and force them into unmarked cars. / Story by @davidmcswane.bsky.social
Recordings obtained by @propublica.org captured the terror residents felt as they watched masked men ambush people and force them into unmarked cars. / Story by @davidmcswane.bsky.social
How Trump is Building a Violent, Shadowy Federal Police Force
Trump’s DHS appointees have dismantled civil rights guardrails, protected agents’ anonymity and encouraged them to wear masks, threatened groups that stood in their way, and overwhelmed legal challeng...
www.propublica.org
October 19, 2025 at 9:09 PM
When ICE stormed through Santa Ana, CA, panicked calls flooded into the city’s emergency response system.
Recordings obtained by @propublica.org captured the terror residents felt as they watched masked men ambush people and force them into unmarked cars. / Story by @davidmcswane.bsky.social
Recordings obtained by @propublica.org captured the terror residents felt as they watched masked men ambush people and force them into unmarked cars. / Story by @davidmcswane.bsky.social
Reposted by Jessica Castillo Vardaro
A cute springtail hangs with its white-footed slime mold friends
📷 Canon R5
Canon RF 100mm f/2.8L IS USM
M, f/4, 1/2, ISO 640
Stack of 9 images
8/29/25
Northern Oregon Coast
#mushroom #fungifriends #mushrooms
🍄📷 📸🎞 🌿🌱 🟢 🍄 🍄🟫
📷 Canon R5
Canon RF 100mm f/2.8L IS USM
M, f/4, 1/2, ISO 640
Stack of 9 images
8/29/25
Northern Oregon Coast
#mushroom #fungifriends #mushrooms
🍄📷 📸🎞 🌿🌱 🟢 🍄 🍄🟫
October 16, 2025 at 2:09 PM
A cute springtail hangs with its white-footed slime mold friends
📷 Canon R5
Canon RF 100mm f/2.8L IS USM
M, f/4, 1/2, ISO 640
Stack of 9 images
8/29/25
Northern Oregon Coast
#mushroom #fungifriends #mushrooms
🍄📷 📸🎞 🌿🌱 🟢 🍄 🍄🟫
📷 Canon R5
Canon RF 100mm f/2.8L IS USM
M, f/4, 1/2, ISO 640
Stack of 9 images
8/29/25
Northern Oregon Coast
#mushroom #fungifriends #mushrooms
🍄📷 📸🎞 🌿🌱 🟢 🍄 🍄🟫
Oakland today
October 18, 2025 at 8:49 PM
Oakland today
Reposted by Jessica Castillo Vardaro
Anyone know what this might be? Egg case? Seed? Some sort of weird Sternorrhyncha? I keep seeing them in my sifted litter, sometimes with a hole in it. Leaf litter collected in Southern VA in September.
October 18, 2025 at 7:42 PM
Anyone know what this might be? Egg case? Seed? Some sort of weird Sternorrhyncha? I keep seeing them in my sifted litter, sometimes with a hole in it. Leaf litter collected in Southern VA in September.
Reposted by Jessica Castillo Vardaro
I saw a tragically AI-generated version of this poster, so I have recreated a 100% human-made version for all your protest sign needs.
October 18, 2025 at 4:00 PM
I saw a tragically AI-generated version of this poster, so I have recreated a 100% human-made version for all your protest sign needs.
Reposted by Jessica Castillo Vardaro
An 84-year-old said she sustained a concussion and was hit with a projectile after she and her husband, a Vietnam vet, were knocked down by federal officers.
Federal agents knock down elderly couple during Portland protest
An 84-year-old said she sustained a concussion and was hit with a projectile after she and her husband, a Vietnam vet, were knocked down by federal officers.
www.oregonlive.com
October 5, 2025 at 2:15 AM
An 84-year-old said she sustained a concussion and was hit with a projectile after she and her husband, a Vietnam vet, were knocked down by federal officers.
Reposted by Jessica Castillo Vardaro
And look at this graphic abstract….. 😱🤯
October 5, 2025 at 2:00 AM
And look at this graphic abstract….. 😱🤯
Been feeling low lately so I did a creative/delicious activity that took most of the day. Juiced ~50 fruits from my plant, made vegan passionfruit jelly, dark chocolate ganache, and super fancy looking truffles. My 2nd time making ganache and 1st time doing the rest. I’m extremely happy with the day
October 5, 2025 at 4:08 AM
Been feeling low lately so I did a creative/delicious activity that took most of the day. Juiced ~50 fruits from my plant, made vegan passionfruit jelly, dark chocolate ganache, and super fancy looking truffles. My 2nd time making ganache and 1st time doing the rest. I’m extremely happy with the day
Reposted by Jessica Castillo Vardaro
The MLM Presidency.
October 4, 2025 at 2:20 PM
The MLM Presidency.
Reposted by Jessica Castillo Vardaro
Even though it's crisis #192308 in our current time, I don't think it's sufficiently sunk in with ppl in the academic community that getting federal funding for your research will primarily depend on whether Trump political appointees find you and your work useful
kffhealthnews.org/news/article...
kffhealthnews.org/news/article...
Changes at NIH Give Political Appointees Greater Power To Fund or Block Research - KFF Health News
The National Institutes of Health’s long-held standard of peer review for grantmaking has been subverted by President Donald Trump and NIH Director Jay Bhattacharya, who gave unprecedented power to po...
kffhealthnews.org
October 5, 2025 at 1:47 AM
Even though it's crisis #192308 in our current time, I don't think it's sufficiently sunk in with ppl in the academic community that getting federal funding for your research will primarily depend on whether Trump political appointees find you and your work useful
kffhealthnews.org/news/article...
kffhealthnews.org/news/article...
Reposted by Jessica Castillo Vardaro
We are thrilled to announce that our NEW Large Language Model will be released on 11.18.25.
October 1, 2025 at 2:38 PM
We are thrilled to announce that our NEW Large Language Model will be released on 11.18.25.
Reposted by Jessica Castillo Vardaro
I was sent this by a Georgian this morning. 2025 premiums vs 2026 premiums for someone making $65k a year.
Republicans in Washington did this.
This is what I'm fighting to stop. This is what’s at stake in this shutdown fight.
Republicans in Washington did this.
This is what I'm fighting to stop. This is what’s at stake in this shutdown fight.
October 1, 2025 at 6:33 PM
I was sent this by a Georgian this morning. 2025 premiums vs 2026 premiums for someone making $65k a year.
Republicans in Washington did this.
This is what I'm fighting to stop. This is what’s at stake in this shutdown fight.
Republicans in Washington did this.
This is what I'm fighting to stop. This is what’s at stake in this shutdown fight.
Reposted by Jessica Castillo Vardaro
CALIFORNIANS— call this number for Senator Padilla, I was actually able to give my comments to a human being. That number is 310-231-4494
September 29, 2025 at 5:26 PM
CALIFORNIANS— call this number for Senator Padilla, I was actually able to give my comments to a human being. That number is 310-231-4494
Reposted by Jessica Castillo Vardaro
This.
If we as profs are supposed to be preparing our students for this uncertain world, then it is ever more our job to teach them our subjects and how to think, read, and write WITHOUT the planet guzzling thieving machines owned by some of the worst people on the planet.
THAT is what students need
If we as profs are supposed to be preparing our students for this uncertain world, then it is ever more our job to teach them our subjects and how to think, read, and write WITHOUT the planet guzzling thieving machines owned by some of the worst people on the planet.
THAT is what students need
If you don’t teach your students your subject, you’re not doing your job.
If you teach your students to ask AI first, you’re ensuring they’ll never be *needed* for any job.
You’re also guaranteeing that knowledge of your subject slowly dies.
Asking ChatGPT is gaining neither knowledge nor skills.
If you teach your students to ask AI first, you’re ensuring they’ll never be *needed* for any job.
You’re also guaranteeing that knowledge of your subject slowly dies.
Asking ChatGPT is gaining neither knowledge nor skills.
If you don’t teach your students how to use AI, you’re doing them a huge disservice because they won’t have jobs in the future.
September 28, 2025 at 4:33 PM
This.
If we as profs are supposed to be preparing our students for this uncertain world, then it is ever more our job to teach them our subjects and how to think, read, and write WITHOUT the planet guzzling thieving machines owned by some of the worst people on the planet.
THAT is what students need
If we as profs are supposed to be preparing our students for this uncertain world, then it is ever more our job to teach them our subjects and how to think, read, and write WITHOUT the planet guzzling thieving machines owned by some of the worst people on the planet.
THAT is what students need
Reposted by Jessica Castillo Vardaro
A huge win for trans people in California: the state legislature passed five bills protecting our rights!
Now it's time to call on Governor Gavin Newsom to sign them. Contact him before October 12th: transfamilysos.org/action-neede...
#TransRights #TransYouth #TransCalifornia
Now it's time to call on Governor Gavin Newsom to sign them. Contact him before October 12th: transfamilysos.org/action-neede...
#TransRights #TransYouth #TransCalifornia
Action Needed: Urge Governor Newsom to Sign Five Critical Trans Rights Bills
TransFamily Support Services is proud to co-sponsor five critical trans rights bills that have officially passed the California Legislature. This is a major victory—one made possible through a powerfu...
transfamilysos.org
September 26, 2025 at 6:47 PM
A huge win for trans people in California: the state legislature passed five bills protecting our rights!
Now it's time to call on Governor Gavin Newsom to sign them. Contact him before October 12th: transfamilysos.org/action-neede...
#TransRights #TransYouth #TransCalifornia
Now it's time to call on Governor Gavin Newsom to sign them. Contact him before October 12th: transfamilysos.org/action-neede...
#TransRights #TransYouth #TransCalifornia
Reposted by Jessica Castillo Vardaro
This is my shocked face /s
Death rates rose in hospital ERs after private equity firms took over, study finds
After hospitals were acquired by private equity firms, patient death rates in the emergency departments rose by 13% compared to similar hospitals, a study says.
www.yahoo.com
September 28, 2025 at 12:08 AM
This is my shocked face /s
Reposted by Jessica Castillo Vardaro
The GRFP announcement from NSF cuts out an entire cohort of 2nd year students from consideration, without warning. This is so deeply unfair that it warrants a formal protest from the scientific community. If someone wants to work with me to craft an open letter and solicit signatures, LMK.
New: After a long wait, the GRFP solicitation is live! Deadlines have been extended to early November, so applicants have a bit over a month to submit. www.nsf.gov/funding/oppo...
NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP)
www.nsf.gov
September 26, 2025 at 5:10 PM
The GRFP announcement from NSF cuts out an entire cohort of 2nd year students from consideration, without warning. This is so deeply unfair that it warrants a formal protest from the scientific community. If someone wants to work with me to craft an open letter and solicit signatures, LMK.
Reposted by Jessica Castillo Vardaro
South Texas game cam catches a raccoon riding a javelina (Dicotyles tajacu).
The deer feeder corn attracts a lot of other species, but maybe we should worry about them all teaming up against us?
(📷: Jeff Davis, TAMU-Kingsville alumni forum)
The deer feeder corn attracts a lot of other species, but maybe we should worry about them all teaming up against us?
(📷: Jeff Davis, TAMU-Kingsville alumni forum)
September 25, 2025 at 2:50 PM
South Texas game cam catches a raccoon riding a javelina (Dicotyles tajacu).
The deer feeder corn attracts a lot of other species, but maybe we should worry about them all teaming up against us?
(📷: Jeff Davis, TAMU-Kingsville alumni forum)
The deer feeder corn attracts a lot of other species, but maybe we should worry about them all teaming up against us?
(📷: Jeff Davis, TAMU-Kingsville alumni forum)
Reposted by Jessica Castillo Vardaro
I get that the news cycle is packed right now, but I just heard from a colleague at the Smithsonian that this is fully a GIANT SQUID BEING EATEN BY A SPERM WHALE and it’s possibly the first ever confirmed video according to a friend at NOAA
10 YEAR OLD ME IS LOSING HER MIND (a thread 🧵)
10 YEAR OLD ME IS LOSING HER MIND (a thread 🧵)
September 24, 2025 at 8:30 PM
I get that the news cycle is packed right now, but I just heard from a colleague at the Smithsonian that this is fully a GIANT SQUID BEING EATEN BY A SPERM WHALE and it’s possibly the first ever confirmed video according to a friend at NOAA
10 YEAR OLD ME IS LOSING HER MIND (a thread 🧵)
10 YEAR OLD ME IS LOSING HER MIND (a thread 🧵)
Reposted by Jessica Castillo Vardaro
A free and democratic society cannot silence comedians because the President doesn’t like what they say.
This is an attack on free speech and cannot be allowed to stand.
All elected officials need to speak up and push back on this undemocratic act.
This is an attack on free speech and cannot be allowed to stand.
All elected officials need to speak up and push back on this undemocratic act.
September 17, 2025 at 11:22 PM
A free and democratic society cannot silence comedians because the President doesn’t like what they say.
This is an attack on free speech and cannot be allowed to stand.
All elected officials need to speak up and push back on this undemocratic act.
This is an attack on free speech and cannot be allowed to stand.
All elected officials need to speak up and push back on this undemocratic act.
Reposted by Jessica Castillo Vardaro
The result of an Epstein coconspirator hijacking the government:
“The sweeping retreat threatens to negate decades of progress in the drive to prevent sexual slavery, forced labor and child sexual exploitation, according to legal experts, former government officials and anti-trafficking advocates.”
“The sweeping retreat threatens to negate decades of progress in the drive to prevent sexual slavery, forced labor and child sexual exploitation, according to legal experts, former government officials and anti-trafficking advocates.”
Revealed: Trump administration retreats on combating human trafficking and child exploitation
Experts say decades of progress are under threat; Trump officials say administration remains committed to fighting trafficking and sex abuse
www.theguardian.com
September 17, 2025 at 3:32 PM
The result of an Epstein coconspirator hijacking the government:
“The sweeping retreat threatens to negate decades of progress in the drive to prevent sexual slavery, forced labor and child sexual exploitation, according to legal experts, former government officials and anti-trafficking advocates.”
“The sweeping retreat threatens to negate decades of progress in the drive to prevent sexual slavery, forced labor and child sexual exploitation, according to legal experts, former government officials and anti-trafficking advocates.”