Kelly Sheppard (he/him/his)
@kstrna62.bsky.social
Spouse, parent, home cook, educator, cynical optimist, tRNA biochemist at a small liberal arts college, collaborative research w/ undergrads, flipped classroom, CUREs, assessment, pre-health advising, Californian living in upstate NY via CT
I visited Death Valley as a 5th grader following a bloom - it was great! Superbloom must be amazing!
www.accuweather.com/en/leisure-r...
www.accuweather.com/en/leisure-r...
Death Valley could have rare superbloom in 2026 that is likely already underway
The hottest place in North America may soon be covered in wildflowers due to the weather, marking the first superbloom in 10 years. Superblooms will also be possible in other parks across California.
www.accuweather.com
February 16, 2026 at 11:54 PM
I visited Death Valley as a 5th grader following a bloom - it was great! Superbloom must be amazing!
www.accuweather.com/en/leisure-r...
www.accuweather.com/en/leisure-r...
Reposted by Kelly Sheppard (he/him/his)
1/ ProPublica collected handwritten letters in mid-January from children held at the Dilley Immigration Processing Center, the same facility where 5-year-old Liam Conejo Ramos was taken.
Hundreds of kids are still detained.
We’ll let the children’s words speak for themselves. 🧵
Hundreds of kids are still detained.
We’ll let the children’s words speak for themselves. 🧵
February 9, 2026 at 12:25 PM
1/ ProPublica collected handwritten letters in mid-January from children held at the Dilley Immigration Processing Center, the same facility where 5-year-old Liam Conejo Ramos was taken.
Hundreds of kids are still detained.
We’ll let the children’s words speak for themselves. 🧵
Hundreds of kids are still detained.
We’ll let the children’s words speak for themselves. 🧵
Reposted by Kelly Sheppard (he/him/his)
this is a subject that's near and dear to my heart
1. no you didn't, you retconning fucks
2. your decades of anti-governance "free market" "government never functions" propaganda paved the way for the complete authoritarian decimation of labor, consumer, environmental protections
1. no you didn't, you retconning fucks
2. your decades of anti-governance "free market" "government never functions" propaganda paved the way for the complete authoritarian decimation of labor, consumer, environmental protections
February 9, 2026 at 6:06 PM
this is a subject that's near and dear to my heart
1. no you didn't, you retconning fucks
2. your decades of anti-governance "free market" "government never functions" propaganda paved the way for the complete authoritarian decimation of labor, consumer, environmental protections
1. no you didn't, you retconning fucks
2. your decades of anti-governance "free market" "government never functions" propaganda paved the way for the complete authoritarian decimation of labor, consumer, environmental protections
Reposted by Kelly Sheppard (he/him/his)
We ALL know that's Ricky Martin singing in front of the bananas
He's singing "Lo Que Le Pasó a Hawaii," an anti-statehood song that holds up Hawaii as a cautionary tale (as already established, Benito is pro independence)
He's singing "Lo Que Le Pasó a Hawaii," an anti-statehood song that holds up Hawaii as a cautionary tale (as already established, Benito is pro independence)
February 9, 2026 at 4:08 AM
We ALL know that's Ricky Martin singing in front of the bananas
He's singing "Lo Que Le Pasó a Hawaii," an anti-statehood song that holds up Hawaii as a cautionary tale (as already established, Benito is pro independence)
He's singing "Lo Que Le Pasó a Hawaii," an anti-statehood song that holds up Hawaii as a cautionary tale (as already established, Benito is pro independence)
Reposted by Kelly Sheppard (he/him/his)
That halftime show is what people mean when they say "joy is an act of resistance."
February 9, 2026 at 1:54 AM
That halftime show is what people mean when they say "joy is an act of resistance."
Reposted by Kelly Sheppard (he/him/his)
Just a few weeks ago, the administration cancelled all remaining department of energy grid resilience projects in Puerto Rico. All of them. www.latitudemedia.com/news/the-end...
The end of DOE’s grid work in Puerto Rico
The Trump administration has canceled all eight of the remaining awards devoted to distributed energy on the island.
www.latitudemedia.com
February 9, 2026 at 2:00 AM
Just a few weeks ago, the administration cancelled all remaining department of energy grid resilience projects in Puerto Rico. All of them. www.latitudemedia.com/news/the-end...
Reposted by Kelly Sheppard (he/him/his)
If you didn’t catch the significance of the exploding transformers in Bad Bunny’s halftime show, I gotcha. Here’s one of a bunch of pieces I wrote from/on Puerto Rico about the crisis—and Trump’s role in it. slate.com/news-and-pol...
Washington’s Corruption Has Created Another Humanitarian Crisis in Puerto Rico
The island’s earthquakes are its latest man-made disaster.
slate.com
February 9, 2026 at 1:59 AM
If you didn’t catch the significance of the exploding transformers in Bad Bunny’s halftime show, I gotcha. Here’s one of a bunch of pieces I wrote from/on Puerto Rico about the crisis—and Trump’s role in it. slate.com/news-and-pol...
Two Super Bowl ads with songs from Mr. Rogers Neighborhood?
February 9, 2026 at 2:24 AM
Two Super Bowl ads with songs from Mr. Rogers Neighborhood?
Umm... they sang Holiday and American Idiot.
Green Day avoids making political statement during Super Bowl 2026 opening performance
Green Day avoids making political statement during Super Bowl 2026 opening performance
A rocking start to the Super Bowl.
pagesix.com
February 8, 2026 at 11:41 PM
Umm... they sang Holiday and American Idiot.
Reposted by Kelly Sheppard (he/him/his)
Y'all need to pay attention to what's happening in Europe. They're not messing around. The Epstein scandal is causing heads to roll.
In America, eh, not so much. I wonder why.
www.nytimes.com/2026/02/08/w...
In America, eh, not so much. I wonder why.
www.nytimes.com/2026/02/08/w...
Starmer’s Chief of Staff Resigns, Citing Role in Hiring Friend of Epstein
www.nytimes.com
February 8, 2026 at 11:23 PM
Y'all need to pay attention to what's happening in Europe. They're not messing around. The Epstein scandal is causing heads to roll.
In America, eh, not so much. I wonder why.
www.nytimes.com/2026/02/08/w...
In America, eh, not so much. I wonder why.
www.nytimes.com/2026/02/08/w...
"America the Beautiful" should be the national anthem of the US.
February 8, 2026 at 11:36 PM
"America the Beautiful" should be the national anthem of the US.
NBC's ad ahead of the Super Bowl - remember when we were great?
February 8, 2026 at 11:16 PM
NBC's ad ahead of the Super Bowl - remember when we were great?
Reposted by Kelly Sheppard (he/him/his)
Former Washington Post journalists have launched a GoFundMe to help repatriate fired staff members who are effectively stranded in foreign countries.
One of the richest men in the world fired them from the paper and didn’t even pay to ensure they got home.
Abolish the billionaire class:
One of the richest men in the world fired them from the paper and didn’t even pay to ensure they got home.
Abolish the billionaire class:
Donate to Support for Washington Post international employees, organized by Michelle Lee
Among the hundreds of journalists laid off by The Washington Post on … Michelle Lee needs your support for Support for Washington Post international employees
www.gofundme.com
February 8, 2026 at 4:37 AM
Former Washington Post journalists have launched a GoFundMe to help repatriate fired staff members who are effectively stranded in foreign countries.
One of the richest men in the world fired them from the paper and didn’t even pay to ensure they got home.
Abolish the billionaire class:
One of the richest men in the world fired them from the paper and didn’t even pay to ensure they got home.
Abolish the billionaire class:
Reposted by Kelly Sheppard (he/him/his)
There should be Congressional hearings over this
Former Washington Post journalists have launched a GoFundMe to help repatriate fired staff members who are effectively stranded in foreign countries.
One of the richest men in the world fired them from the paper and didn’t even pay to ensure they got home.
Abolish the billionaire class:
One of the richest men in the world fired them from the paper and didn’t even pay to ensure they got home.
Abolish the billionaire class:
Donate to Support for Washington Post international employees, organized by Michelle Lee
Among the hundreds of journalists laid off by The Washington Post on … Michelle Lee needs your support for Support for Washington Post international employees
www.gofundme.com
February 8, 2026 at 1:10 PM
There should be Congressional hearings over this
Reposted by Kelly Sheppard (he/him/his)
i will never stop thinking about the intersection of epstein and the shitty media men list
February 5, 2026 at 6:07 PM
i will never stop thinking about the intersection of epstein and the shitty media men list
Reposted by Kelly Sheppard (he/him/his)
BREAKING: Over 680 members of the National Academy of Sciences, Medicine, and Engineering have endorsed articles of impeachment against RFK Jr.
(1/2 🧵)
(1/2 🧵)
February 5, 2026 at 9:08 PM
BREAKING: Over 680 members of the National Academy of Sciences, Medicine, and Engineering have endorsed articles of impeachment against RFK Jr.
(1/2 🧵)
(1/2 🧵)
Reposted by Kelly Sheppard (he/him/his)
the Epstein files are really devastating because they remind me of how many girls and women miss out on professional opportunities, mentorship and careers because of how many powerful, rich and influential men only view girls and women — and interactions with them — through the lens of sex
February 5, 2026 at 5:05 PM
the Epstein files are really devastating because they remind me of how many girls and women miss out on professional opportunities, mentorship and careers because of how many powerful, rich and influential men only view girls and women — and interactions with them — through the lens of sex
Reposted by Kelly Sheppard (he/him/his)
In this ep of What Next, NYT's David Enrich talked about how Dems and GOP want to use the Epstein files to pin this on the other party but neither have clean hands. It reminded me of how football fans suddenly care about sexual violence when it's their rival under scrutiny. slate.com/podcasts/wha...
He Reads the Epstein Files So You Don’t Have To
This might be the last drop but this isn’t over.
slate.com
February 5, 2026 at 6:45 PM
In this ep of What Next, NYT's David Enrich talked about how Dems and GOP want to use the Epstein files to pin this on the other party but neither have clean hands. It reminded me of how football fans suddenly care about sexual violence when it's their rival under scrutiny. slate.com/podcasts/wha...
Reposted by Kelly Sheppard (he/him/his)
This is the Yale professor's explanation for why he described the physical attractiveness of a student in an email to Epstein. He explicitly says he regrets nothing about their association.
Again, I'm so happy Yale hired David Brooks to restore trust.
yaledailynews.com/articles/gel...
Again, I'm so happy Yale hired David Brooks to restore trust.
yaledailynews.com/articles/gel...
February 5, 2026 at 4:14 PM
This is the Yale professor's explanation for why he described the physical attractiveness of a student in an email to Epstein. He explicitly says he regrets nothing about their association.
Again, I'm so happy Yale hired David Brooks to restore trust.
yaledailynews.com/articles/gel...
Again, I'm so happy Yale hired David Brooks to restore trust.
yaledailynews.com/articles/gel...
Website updated, so re-posting. #ChemJobs #ChemChat We are searching for a 2-year Visiting Assistant Professor to help teach our 100-level & organic chemistry courses (sabbatical replacement over the next two years). We have a search page with more info. www.skidmore.edu/chemistry-an...
February 4, 2026 at 10:13 PM
Website updated, so re-posting. #ChemJobs #ChemChat We are searching for a 2-year Visiting Assistant Professor to help teach our 100-level & organic chemistry courses (sabbatical replacement over the next two years). We have a search page with more info. www.skidmore.edu/chemistry-an...
This is who runs this account.
February 1, 2026 at 10:44 PM
This is who runs this account.
Nevermind the jobs you had, tell me five classes you took in college:
Going outside my major -
Global Perspectives and Culture & Technology
Latin American Politics
Radical Tradition of Antebellum America
Intro to European Art History
Economics Issues of the Post-Cold War
Going outside my major -
Global Perspectives and Culture & Technology
Latin American Politics
Radical Tradition of Antebellum America
Intro to European Art History
Economics Issues of the Post-Cold War
Nevermind the jobs you had, tell me five classes you took in college:
-Intro to Acting
-Molecular Genetics
-Intermediate Swimming
-Quantitative Analysis
-Special Topics in Cold War Intelligence
-Intro to Acting
-Molecular Genetics
-Intermediate Swimming
-Quantitative Analysis
-Special Topics in Cold War Intelligence
Nevermind the jobs you had, tell me five classes you took in college:
-Methodologies of Gender & Women’s Studies
-Methodologies of Sociological Research
-Qualitative Reseach Methods
-Gender, Race, and Media
-Unruly Bodies
I really like research, okay???
-Methodologies of Gender & Women’s Studies
-Methodologies of Sociological Research
-Qualitative Reseach Methods
-Gender, Race, and Media
-Unruly Bodies
I really like research, okay???
January 31, 2026 at 2:24 AM
Nevermind the jobs you had, tell me five classes you took in college:
Going outside my major -
Global Perspectives and Culture & Technology
Latin American Politics
Radical Tradition of Antebellum America
Intro to European Art History
Economics Issues of the Post-Cold War
Going outside my major -
Global Perspectives and Culture & Technology
Latin American Politics
Radical Tradition of Antebellum America
Intro to European Art History
Economics Issues of the Post-Cold War
Reposted by Kelly Sheppard (he/him/his)
Trump's arrest of Don Lemon shows that his "pivot" is an utter farce. As legal experts tell me, this looks appallingly corrupt. Indeed, it's likely this is all about sending a message that Trump isn't deescalating in the slightest.
New piece with fresh details here:
newrepublic.com/article/2059...
New piece with fresh details here:
newrepublic.com/article/2059...
Trump’s ICE Agents Arrested Don Lemon. Then the Story Got Even Darker.
Trump has been raging about the former CNN journalist. Attorney General Pam Bondi just had him arrested, a move one legal expert slammed as “highly irregular.”
newrepublic.com
January 30, 2026 at 5:40 PM
Trump's arrest of Don Lemon shows that his "pivot" is an utter farce. As legal experts tell me, this looks appallingly corrupt. Indeed, it's likely this is all about sending a message that Trump isn't deescalating in the slightest.
New piece with fresh details here:
newrepublic.com/article/2059...
New piece with fresh details here:
newrepublic.com/article/2059...
Reposted by Kelly Sheppard (he/him/his)
So this was another of the pretend "dangerous criminals" ICE had to arrest?
This isn't protecting anyone. It's just plain cruelty.
This isn't protecting anyone. It's just plain cruelty.
Maher Tarabishi, who has been detained by ICE since October, was the primary caretaker of his disabled adult child, Wael.
On Jan. 23, Wael died from complications related to Pompe disease, a rare genetic condition.
ICE has now denied Maher’s request to attend his funeral, his attorney says.
On Jan. 23, Wael died from complications related to Pompe disease, a rare genetic condition.
ICE has now denied Maher’s request to attend his funeral, his attorney says.
ICE Denies Detainee's Request to Attend His Son's Funeral, Attorney Says
Maher Tarabishi was the primary caretaker of his son, Wael Tarabishi, 30, who died on Friday, Jan. 23, from complications related to Pompe disease.
people.com
January 30, 2026 at 5:48 PM
So this was another of the pretend "dangerous criminals" ICE had to arrest?
This isn't protecting anyone. It's just plain cruelty.
This isn't protecting anyone. It's just plain cruelty.
Reposted by Kelly Sheppard (he/him/his)
The Minnesota Star Tribune, @mprnews.org @minnesotareformer.com , @spokesmanrecorder.bsky.social, @sahanjournal.bsky.social, Center for Broadcast Journalism and Minnesota Newspaper Association today released the following statement:
January 30, 2026 at 4:55 PM
The Minnesota Star Tribune, @mprnews.org @minnesotareformer.com , @spokesmanrecorder.bsky.social, @sahanjournal.bsky.social, Center for Broadcast Journalism and Minnesota Newspaper Association today released the following statement: