Joshua G. Schraiber
@jgschraiber.bsky.social
Evolutionary biologist, computational biologist, statistician. I like to develop mathematical models of evolutionary process and see how they fit to data. I also like cities where building apartments is legal.
Reposted by Joshua G. Schraiber
What is the over/under line for the number of times this image will appear in talks at [choose a conference about evolution and/or paleontology] this year?
xkcd.com/3204/
xkcd.com/3204/
Dinosaurs And Non-Dinosaurs
xkcd.com
February 8, 2026 at 4:39 PM
What is the over/under line for the number of times this image will appear in talks at [choose a conference about evolution and/or paleontology] this year?
xkcd.com/3204/
xkcd.com/3204/
Reposted by Joshua G. Schraiber
If you know DOJ lawyers, use this article to help mock and shame them and urge them to quit.
This is important — and very heartening — news:
While about a dozen of the biggest firms bent the knee to Trump, hundreds of the most experienced DOJ lawyers have quit, refusing to participate in the abuse of government power for Trump’s illegal ends.
gift link:
www.nytimes.com/2026/02/07/u...
While about a dozen of the biggest firms bent the knee to Trump, hundreds of the most experienced DOJ lawyers have quit, refusing to participate in the abuse of government power for Trump’s illegal ends.
gift link:
www.nytimes.com/2026/02/07/u...
Demanding Support for Trump, Justice Dept. Struggles to Recruit Prosecutors
www.nytimes.com
February 8, 2026 at 4:23 PM
If you know DOJ lawyers, use this article to help mock and shame them and urge them to quit.
Reposted by Joshua G. Schraiber
To me, the central fact is this: before her nomination to be AG, Bondi played a key role in legal efforts to overturn the result of the 2020 presidential election. That role was well understood at the time of her nomination.
They each put their reputations on the line for her knowing that.
They each put their reputations on the line for her knowing that.
February 8, 2026 at 4:03 PM
To me, the central fact is this: before her nomination to be AG, Bondi played a key role in legal efforts to overturn the result of the 2020 presidential election. That role was well understood at the time of her nomination.
They each put their reputations on the line for her knowing that.
They each put their reputations on the line for her knowing that.
Reposted by Joshua G. Schraiber
I hope some enterprising journalist asks Francisco, Garre, Rosen, Mukasey, and Wall if they think they were correct in assuring the Senate and the American people that Bondi’s leadership would benefit DOJ and the nation.
February 8, 2026 at 3:20 PM
I hope some enterprising journalist asks Francisco, Garre, Rosen, Mukasey, and Wall if they think they were correct in assuring the Senate and the American people that Bondi’s leadership would benefit DOJ and the nation.
Reposted by Joshua G. Schraiber
Those signatures are an indelible stain on the professional reputations of every one of them.
If time proves otherwise, shame on us.
If time proves otherwise, shame on us.
February 8, 2026 at 2:56 PM
Those signatures are an indelible stain on the professional reputations of every one of them.
If time proves otherwise, shame on us.
If time proves otherwise, shame on us.
Reposted by Joshua G. Schraiber
It is important to remember that the evisceration and degradation of the Department of Justice described today in NYT was enabled by prominent lawyers, Ds and Rs, who assured the country of their firsthand knowledge of Pam Bondi’s fitness to lead DOJ.
www.nytimes.com/2026/02/07/u...
www.nytimes.com/2026/02/07/u...
Demanding Support for Trump, Justice Dept. Struggles to Recruit Prosecutors
www.nytimes.com
February 8, 2026 at 2:20 PM
It is important to remember that the evisceration and degradation of the Department of Justice described today in NYT was enabled by prominent lawyers, Ds and Rs, who assured the country of their firsthand knowledge of Pam Bondi’s fitness to lead DOJ.
www.nytimes.com/2026/02/07/u...
www.nytimes.com/2026/02/07/u...
Reposted by Joshua G. Schraiber
man I’m sorry to be all corny here but when I see a “the city is beautiful! There’s more to it than homeless people!” I gotta say you know who’s also beautiful? People who have no place to live & are trying to get by in a system that has turned its back on them & if you don’t see that that’s on you
February 8, 2026 at 4:42 AM
man I’m sorry to be all corny here but when I see a “the city is beautiful! There’s more to it than homeless people!” I gotta say you know who’s also beautiful? People who have no place to live & are trying to get by in a system that has turned its back on them & if you don’t see that that’s on you
Reposted by Joshua G. Schraiber
crickets from the free speech crowd, of course
FAMU can't use the word Black on anything posted around campus related to Black History Month, to stay in compliance with Florida state laws against DEI. Black students can't use the word Black at their Historically Black College during Black History Month.
February 8, 2026 at 3:35 PM
crickets from the free speech crowd, of course
Reposted by Joshua G. Schraiber
Lower speeds, more tickets would actually fix this, we just choose, as a society, to not only keep killing pedestrians, but making it worse
February 8, 2026 at 2:53 PM
Lower speeds, more tickets would actually fix this, we just choose, as a society, to not only keep killing pedestrians, but making it worse
Reposted by Joshua G. Schraiber
The thing about pedestrian safety post 2020 is that its one of the few areas that's massively worse than the norms that existed pre-covid, its bourne out clearly in the numbers, and the only way to solve it is traffic enforcement, sorry
February 8, 2026 at 2:52 PM
The thing about pedestrian safety post 2020 is that its one of the few areas that's massively worse than the norms that existed pre-covid, its bourne out clearly in the numbers, and the only way to solve it is traffic enforcement, sorry
Reposted by Joshua G. Schraiber
This is why the are already dropping the felony charges against the 22 folks arrested last week. They don't have the goods and no one to do the work to prosecute.
The top lawyer for Immigration and Customs Enforcement in Minnesota has left the agency, the same week an ICE attorney was removed after telling a district judge that “this job sucks” and that the Trump administration is “overwhelmed” with immigration cases.
ICE chief counsel in Minnesota retires amid growing number of immigration cases | CNN Politics
The top lawyer for Immigration and Customs Enforcement in Minnesota has left the agency, the same week an ICE attorney was removed after telling a district judge that “this job sucks” and that the Tru...
www.cnn.com
February 8, 2026 at 1:22 PM
This is why the are already dropping the felony charges against the 22 folks arrested last week. They don't have the goods and no one to do the work to prosecute.
Reposted by Joshua G. Schraiber
If you have ever considered running for a seat held by a Republican, now is your time.
Final results in the Louisiana #HD60 (Trump+13) special election:
Chasity Martinez (D)- 62%
Brad Daigle (R)- 38%
Martinez holds this Trump+13 seat for the Democrats and puts in a nearly 40 point overperformance from 2024 in the process
Chasity Martinez (D)- 62%
Brad Daigle (R)- 38%
Martinez holds this Trump+13 seat for the Democrats and puts in a nearly 40 point overperformance from 2024 in the process
February 8, 2026 at 5:50 AM
If you have ever considered running for a seat held by a Republican, now is your time.
Reposted by Joshua G. Schraiber
hi does anybody here have $10M to place Prop 13 reform on the California ballot this fall?
I really think we could win!
I really think we could win!
If you have ever considered running for a seat held by a Republican, now is your time.
Final results in the Louisiana #HD60 (Trump+13) special election:
Chasity Martinez (D)- 62%
Brad Daigle (R)- 38%
Martinez holds this Trump+13 seat for the Democrats and puts in a nearly 40 point overperformance from 2024 in the process
Chasity Martinez (D)- 62%
Brad Daigle (R)- 38%
Martinez holds this Trump+13 seat for the Democrats and puts in a nearly 40 point overperformance from 2024 in the process
February 8, 2026 at 6:01 AM
hi does anybody here have $10M to place Prop 13 reform on the California ballot this fall?
I really think we could win!
I really think we could win!
Reposted by Joshua G. Schraiber
every time I do a thread like this about a good election result I get a whole lot of “don’t get ahead of yourself, we still gotta make sure people are motivated for November” replies/quotes and while I understand the sentiment you know what gets people motivated?
winning! let yourself get excited!
winning! let yourself get excited!
Dems are now overperforming the 2024 lean of red districts by, uh, 30+ points in special elections
I’m not sure “apocalyptic” is sufficient to describe how the environment is starting to look for the GOP in November
I’m not sure “apocalyptic” is sufficient to describe how the environment is starting to look for the GOP in November
RESULT: Democrat Chasity Martinez wins a special election for a legislative seat in Louisiana, 62% to 38%.
This was a district that Trump carried by 13% last year, so a big overperformance by Dems, but the seat was already Dem-held.
This was a district that Trump carried by 13% last year, so a big overperformance by Dems, but the seat was already Dem-held.
February 8, 2026 at 4:05 AM
every time I do a thread like this about a good election result I get a whole lot of “don’t get ahead of yourself, we still gotta make sure people are motivated for November” replies/quotes and while I understand the sentiment you know what gets people motivated?
winning! let yourself get excited!
winning! let yourself get excited!
Reposted by Joshua G. Schraiber
This prompted by visiting a MTL bookstore bar that would have been extremely My Shit and was indeed pretty nice, but half of the shelf space was taken up by this shit. The socially awkward young men of the western world must be forced to put down the controller and pick up the book, as god intended.
February 8, 2026 at 3:26 AM
This prompted by visiting a MTL bookstore bar that would have been extremely My Shit and was indeed pretty nice, but half of the shelf space was taken up by this shit. The socially awkward young men of the western world must be forced to put down the controller and pick up the book, as god intended.
Reposted by Joshua G. Schraiber
I have sort of vaguely reactionary cultural preferences in that I don’t really care for the more twee kind of tumblr-inflected turn that a lot of sci-fi/fantasy lit has taken of late, but this is entirely the market rationally responding to who buys books. Dudes need to be more literate.
February 8, 2026 at 3:17 AM
I have sort of vaguely reactionary cultural preferences in that I don’t really care for the more twee kind of tumblr-inflected turn that a lot of sci-fi/fantasy lit has taken of late, but this is entirely the market rationally responding to who buys books. Dudes need to be more literate.
Reposted by Joshua G. Schraiber
If there's ever been a time to NOT be incrementalist, this is it. The most political capital you're gonna have is right now. And we got Gestapo death squads in MSP and TB spreading through concentration camps in Texas. If you can't find a win there, get out of politics. The Epstein Class, baby
February 8, 2026 at 4:29 AM
If there's ever been a time to NOT be incrementalist, this is it. The most political capital you're gonna have is right now. And we got Gestapo death squads in MSP and TB spreading through concentration camps in Texas. If you can't find a win there, get out of politics. The Epstein Class, baby
Reposted by Joshua G. Schraiber
Reposted by Joshua G. Schraiber
Ossoff: We were told that MAGA was for working-class Americans. But this is a government of, by, and for the ultra-rich. It’s the wealthiest Cabinet ever. This is the Epstein class. They are the elites they pretend to hate.
February 7, 2026 at 7:57 PM
Ossoff: We were told that MAGA was for working-class Americans. But this is a government of, by, and for the ultra-rich. It’s the wealthiest Cabinet ever. This is the Epstein class. They are the elites they pretend to hate.
Reposted by Joshua G. Schraiber
We’re looking at another very big Dem overperformance tonight—in a Trump+13 district. Dem Chasity Martinez is up 61-39 with more than half the vote in. Notably, like in TX last weekend, the e-day vote has been even *better* for her than the early vote. voterportal.sos.la.gov/graphical
February 8, 2026 at 2:50 AM
We’re looking at another very big Dem overperformance tonight—in a Trump+13 district. Dem Chasity Martinez is up 61-39 with more than half the vote in. Notably, like in TX last weekend, the e-day vote has been even *better* for her than the early vote. voterportal.sos.la.gov/graphical
Reposted by Joshua G. Schraiber
Early returns in Louisiana’s special election:
The Dem candidate is leading 58.5% to 41.5%. That’s with a third of the vote in.
Context: this is a Dem-held seat but in a district TRUMP carried by 13%, so has been a big/obvious GOP target. Stay tuned.
The Dem candidate is leading 58.5% to 41.5%. That’s with a third of the vote in.
Context: this is a Dem-held seat but in a district TRUMP carried by 13%, so has been a big/obvious GOP target. Stay tuned.
February 8, 2026 at 2:36 AM
Early returns in Louisiana’s special election:
The Dem candidate is leading 58.5% to 41.5%. That’s with a third of the vote in.
Context: this is a Dem-held seat but in a district TRUMP carried by 13%, so has been a big/obvious GOP target. Stay tuned.
The Dem candidate is leading 58.5% to 41.5%. That’s with a third of the vote in.
Context: this is a Dem-held seat but in a district TRUMP carried by 13%, so has been a big/obvious GOP target. Stay tuned.
Reposted by Joshua G. Schraiber
kind of funny that an olympian said they are here to represent "compassion, respect, and love for others" and some people automatically knew that was a statement against them
February 7, 2026 at 10:25 PM
kind of funny that an olympian said they are here to represent "compassion, respect, and love for others" and some people automatically knew that was a statement against them
Reposted by Joshua G. Schraiber
WaPo editorial board when TX imposes a legislative gerrymander: don't freak out guys! Not a threat to democracy!
When VA responds to TX with *referendum* on their own gerrymander: brass-knuckled hypocrisy, anti-democratic gamesmanship.
There is hypocrisy here, all right, but not from VA.
When VA responds to TX with *referendum* on their own gerrymander: brass-knuckled hypocrisy, anti-democratic gamesmanship.
There is hypocrisy here, all right, but not from VA.
February 8, 2026 at 12:08 AM
WaPo editorial board when TX imposes a legislative gerrymander: don't freak out guys! Not a threat to democracy!
When VA responds to TX with *referendum* on their own gerrymander: brass-knuckled hypocrisy, anti-democratic gamesmanship.
There is hypocrisy here, all right, but not from VA.
When VA responds to TX with *referendum* on their own gerrymander: brass-knuckled hypocrisy, anti-democratic gamesmanship.
There is hypocrisy here, all right, but not from VA.
Reposted by Joshua G. Schraiber
“Across Mr. Trump’s administration, racist images and slogans have become common on government websites and accounts, with the White House, Labor Department and Homeland Security Department all having promoted posts that echo white supremacist messaging.” www.nytimes.com/2026/02/06/u...
‘I Didn’t Make a Mistake’: Trump Declines to Apologize for Racist Video of Obamas
www.nytimes.com
February 7, 2026 at 1:40 PM
“Across Mr. Trump’s administration, racist images and slogans have become common on government websites and accounts, with the White House, Labor Department and Homeland Security Department all having promoted posts that echo white supremacist messaging.” www.nytimes.com/2026/02/06/u...
Reposted by Joshua G. Schraiber
“Renee was not the first person killed, and she was not the last,” Becca Good said. “You know my wife’s name and you know Alex’s name, but there are many others in this city being harmed that you don’t know — their families are hurting just like mine, even if they don’t look like mine.”
Renee Good's partner addresses Minneapolis immigration crackdown one month after killing
Becca Good has seldom spoken out since Renee Good was shot and killed by an ICE agent in Minneapolis on Jan. 7.
nbcnews.to
February 7, 2026 at 9:00 PM
“Renee was not the first person killed, and she was not the last,” Becca Good said. “You know my wife’s name and you know Alex’s name, but there are many others in this city being harmed that you don’t know — their families are hurting just like mine, even if they don’t look like mine.”