Kari Debbink
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karidebbink.bsky.social
Kari Debbink
@karidebbink.bsky.social
Virologist, Director of Graduate Studies at JHU MMI, feminist, BLM, supports equality for LGBTQ+ people, New College alum, obsessed with big dogs, cake artist, bubble tea enthusiast (she/her), views my own-not my employer’s
Reposted by Kari Debbink
#BREAKING: Over no public dissents, #SCOTUS denies Kim Davis's petition asking the justices to overturn Obergefell v. Hodges (which recognized federal constitutional protections for same-sex marriage):

www.supremecourt.gov/orders/court...
www.supremecourt.gov
November 10, 2025 at 2:31 PM
Reposted by Kari Debbink
Almost completely, every single problem with higher education that folks think is mainly about something else is <primarily> about the massive decline in state public funding since the 1980s. Yes, including everyone's obsession with getting their kid into the "right" college:
"I'm obsessed with my kid getting into the right college"

Fund. The. Damn. Public. Universities. Like. We. Used. To.
November 9, 2025 at 9:42 PM
Reposted by Kari Debbink
I just want everyone to have the experience of living in dignity with access to sufficient food, safe housing, needed medical care, high quality education, and time to engage with what sparks their curiosity and spirit

this should not be controversial 🫠
November 10, 2025 at 3:16 AM
Reposted by Kari Debbink
Shutting down the government is a big deal. People have been hurt in big ways as a result of the decision. To have that suffering be for nothing—to re-open the government without actually having protected people’s health insurance and economic well-being—is unconscionable.
November 9, 2025 at 11:14 PM
Reposted by Kari Debbink
I’ve voted 7 times to reopen the government in a way that holds Trump accountable for his lawlessness and prevents a health care crisis.

I’m prepared to work toward a compromise, but this “deal” before us does not come close to meeting those terms. Voting NO.

Full statement:
November 10, 2025 at 12:48 AM
Reposted by Kari Debbink
November 7, 2025 at 11:26 PM
Reposted by Kari Debbink
Senate Dems, do not cave. Ensuring healthcare premiums don’t surge is an 80-20 issue. They want to gut the ACA because their disdain for Obama far outweighs their concern for anyone’s health.
November 8, 2025 at 7:36 PM
Reposted by Kari Debbink
Love the idea of the "deletion test" posed by @needhibhalla.bsky.social & coauthors in their commentary about costs of cutting DEI efforts in science.

What if that student were "deleted?" What will the costs be?

Screenshots attached to enhance access. www.nature.com/articles/s41...
November 5, 2025 at 8:49 PM
Reposted by Kari Debbink
When people celebrate the individual genius of folks in science, they should also
mourn the collective loss of genius of folks who were actively discouraged or disadvantaged from a career in science because of the same person(s)
November 7, 2025 at 11:43 PM
Reposted by Kari Debbink
I never met Watson. But he gave a public seminar at my undergrad. Don't remember the talk but do remember the incredibly disturbing and degrading misogynistic comments he made at the female biology majors given the honor to meet him.

A real piece of shit! World class.
November 7, 2025 at 9:31 PM
Reposted by Kari Debbink
UNC student groups are taking the lead as faculty leadership falters. I'll be speaking, representing @unc-ch-aaup.bsky.social at today's rally, and then we'll head over to the Faculty Council meeting to demand that they pass a resolution rejecting Trump's compact, as our peer universities have done
November 7, 2025 at 12:17 PM
Reposted by Kari Debbink
On Oct 1, 2025, GISAID informed us that they had ended updates to the flat file of SARS-CoV-2 genomic sequences and associated metadata that we had used to update Nextstrain analyses since Feb 2020. GISAID's stated rationale was that their "resources are limited". 1/5
November 6, 2025 at 9:46 PM
Reposted by Kari Debbink
Gals, if you're not absolutely ruining the workplace for certain kinds of men, you need to step up your game. 🩷
November 6, 2025 at 2:32 PM
Reposted by Kari Debbink
Looking forward to learning all about how the right should move left to win elections tomorrow. They should maybe dye their hair pink, learn to love pronouns.
November 5, 2025 at 1:48 AM
Reposted by Kari Debbink
BREAKING: Zohran Mamdani wins the New York City mayoral race, NBC News projects. nbcnews.to/4nIzNUC
November 5, 2025 at 2:33 AM
Reposted by Kari Debbink
i want to repeat this: mamdani and spanberger have run similar campaigns tailored to their respective electorates and it is maddening to watch political journalists attempt to create some broad contrast where none exist
the other thing about this is that there is no reason to pit these candidates against each other? each are good fits for their respective electorates and each shows the value of vigorous campaigns focused on the stated material problems of voters.
November 4, 2025 at 1:37 PM
Tragic. Teen Vogue’s recent group of writers was exceptional and fearlessly reported the truth on current issues—something sorely lacking in much of today’s news media.
thank you for all the support; the statement from our union is now live here with some more reporting.

now that this is public I can confirm that the majority of today’s layoffs were women of color. there are no longer any Black women working at Teen Vogue.
November 4, 2025 at 10:58 AM
Reposted by Kari Debbink
“Oh poor people can buy popsicles with food stamps” shut the fuck up the government gives perverts a trillion dollars in government money each year for pervert factories for billionaires the fucking popsicles are none of your fuckin business
November 2, 2025 at 10:40 PM
Reposted by Kari Debbink
Not actually your uncle
October 28, 2025 at 7:32 PM
Reposted by Kari Debbink
Leading up to Halloween we ask, Why do some gummy brands rock, and why do others feel like you're chewing plastic?
🎃🍬👻 Read my little explainer for @cenmag.bsky.social: cen.acs.org/food/food-in...
October 28, 2025 at 2:53 PM
Reposted by Kari Debbink
“What radicalized you?”

Nothing. It is not radical to believe that the American people should have the same basic rights and supports that citizens of nearly every other industrialized nation do. You only believe this is radical because the US has demonized basic social safety nets as “socialism.”
October 28, 2025 at 1:39 PM
Reposted by Kari Debbink
Every mention of SNAP being frozen should include this simple fact:

TRUMP is CHOOSING TO CANCEL FOOD ASSISTANCE. There are literally emergency dollars available to keep SNAP funded.
October 27, 2025 at 11:23 PM
Reposted by Kari Debbink
The UNC Department of Biology is seeking a Director of Biology Teaching Labs, a key leadership role overseeing our undergraduate laboratory program. 1/n
Learn more and apply here: unc.peopleadmin.com/postings/308...
Director of Biology Teaching Labs
The Director of Biology Teaching Labs provides leadership and direction in the management of the Biology Department's undergraduate laboratories and will be responsible for the undergraduate laborator...
unc.peopleadmin.com
October 27, 2025 at 2:12 PM
Reposted by Kari Debbink
I do not exaggerate when I say that many of the most FURIOUS and incredibly EFFECTIVE and DEVOTED activists I know are parents or relatives of trans kids.

These fucking "moderates" are alienating MILLIONS and are bound to lose along with the loser fascists they're emulating.
October 27, 2025 at 8:37 PM
Reposted by Kari Debbink
I know this is obvious. And I know we all know this.
But if the President can raise taxes because an advert annoyed him, without even consulting Congress, then the US constitution is simply not functioning as intended.
October 26, 2025 at 8:00 AM