Mark Histed
@markhisted.org
How brain neural nets do computations; we aim to understand differences in brain wiring, using lasers and neuro-AI.
NIH lab head, pers. views only, not speaking for agency. Prev: media policy for democracypolicy.network.
linktr.ee/markhisted
neuro: 🧠 /🧪
NIH lab head, pers. views only, not speaking for agency. Prev: media policy for democracypolicy.network.
linktr.ee/markhisted
neuro: 🧠 /🧪
Pinned
Mark Histed
@markhisted.org
· 13d
New at Can We Still Govern: NIH scientist @markhisted.org reviews the damage done to American biomedical science in the last year and looks ahead:
"Scientists should not be political partisans, but they should be partisans for liberal democratic principles."🧵
donmoynihan.substack.com/p/american-b...
"Scientists should not be political partisans, but they should be partisans for liberal democratic principles."🧵
donmoynihan.substack.com/p/american-b...
American biomedical science in 2026
Where we are, how we got here, and what to do next
donmoynihan.substack.com
“The ban on postings to the Fed Register also reflects a new and more ominous trend. For 80 years NIH has been largely independent of presidential control.”
“Congress, not the President, should set scientific priorities”
Key takeaway for 🧪.
1/
“Congress, not the President, should set scientific priorities”
Key takeaway for 🧪.
1/
Reposted by Mark Histed
Remember to tell people that things have NOT DEESCALATED. Pulling 700 agents means there's 2,300 agents on our streets, terrorizing us and kidnapping our neighbors.
February 9, 2026 at 5:55 PM
Remember to tell people that things have NOT DEESCALATED. Pulling 700 agents means there's 2,300 agents on our streets, terrorizing us and kidnapping our neighbors.
There is a world where Congress has a constitutional law office that issues a counter-memo, and the Capitol Police go enforce the law and force their way into these detention camps for Congressional oversight
BREAKING: On February 2, Sec. Noem issued a memo asserting the lapse in appropriations for DHS meant there is no Sec. 527 — the provision protecting congressional oversight visits to immigration detention facilities — and she was issuing a new (third) policy requiring seven-day notice for visits.
February 10, 2026 at 2:19 AM
There is a world where Congress has a constitutional law office that issues a counter-memo, and the Capitol Police go enforce the law and force their way into these detention camps for Congressional oversight
Trump’s falling poll numbers have everyone scared and dropping off.
Be ready for crazy things over the next few months as last year’s wall of support springs leaks and the White House tries to compensate.
Be ready for crazy things over the next few months as last year’s wall of support springs leaks and the White House tries to compensate.
GOP Sen Lummis says she’s changed her mind after the new Epstein revelations today: “Initially my reaction to all this was, I don’t care. I don’t see what the big deal is. But now I see what the big deal is. The members of Congress who were pushing this were not wrong!”
February 10, 2026 at 1:56 AM
Trump’s falling poll numbers have everyone scared and dropping off.
Be ready for crazy things over the next few months as last year’s wall of support springs leaks and the White House tries to compensate.
Be ready for crazy things over the next few months as last year’s wall of support springs leaks and the White House tries to compensate.
Congress should set agency priorities, not the president.
This is a presidential power grab.
And we are in a separation of powers crisis.
It’s part of the Project 2025 plan, enabled by the Supreme Court which has been packed with corrupt politicians in robes.
This is a presidential power grab.
And we are in a separation of powers crisis.
It’s part of the Project 2025 plan, enabled by the Supreme Court which has been packed with corrupt politicians in robes.
The Trump administration plans to rescind $600 million in public health funds from four states led by Democrats because it finds the grants “inconsistent with agency priorities,” according to documents reviewed by the NYT
Gift link: www.nytimes.com/2026/02/09/h...
Gift link: www.nytimes.com/2026/02/09/h...
Trump Administration to Cut $600 Million in Health Funding From Four States
www.nytimes.com
February 10, 2026 at 12:44 AM
Congress should set agency priorities, not the president.
This is a presidential power grab.
And we are in a separation of powers crisis.
It’s part of the Project 2025 plan, enabled by the Supreme Court which has been packed with corrupt politicians in robes.
This is a presidential power grab.
And we are in a separation of powers crisis.
It’s part of the Project 2025 plan, enabled by the Supreme Court which has been packed with corrupt politicians in robes.
This is about LLMs and comparing activations to large-scale recording in brains
neuroAI comparisons of ANNs to brains do have a range of problems. Even more than I had realized. And I was worried before: www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
www.biorxiv.org
February 9, 2026 at 2:58 PM
This is about LLMs and comparing activations to large-scale recording in brains
And meaningful that Bad Bunny showed himself as a little kid, dreaming of
a Grammy and watching himself succeed on TV, as allegory for every Liam
a Grammy and watching himself succeed on TV, as allegory for every Liam
I still think it's meaningful that we saw Liam in him. Every Liam deserves to have a chance to pursue his dreams.
A Reddit user identifies the boy who took a Grammy from Bad Bunny in the halftime show as five-year-old model Lincoln Fox and says that he was meant to represent Bad Bunny as a child www.instagram.com/the_lincfox/... www.reddit.com/user/BabySea...
February 9, 2026 at 3:36 AM
And meaningful that Bad Bunny showed himself as a little kid, dreaming of
a Grammy and watching himself succeed on TV, as allegory for every Liam
a Grammy and watching himself succeed on TV, as allegory for every Liam
Reposted by Mark Histed
I still think it's meaningful that we saw Liam in him. Every Liam deserves to have a chance to pursue his dreams.
A Reddit user identifies the boy who took a Grammy from Bad Bunny in the halftime show as five-year-old model Lincoln Fox and says that he was meant to represent Bad Bunny as a child www.instagram.com/the_lincfox/... www.reddit.com/user/BabySea...
February 9, 2026 at 3:13 AM
I still think it's meaningful that we saw Liam in him. Every Liam deserves to have a chance to pursue his dreams.
hugely intense finish drawing on values that will win- parade of flags and then this, and “the only thing more powerful than hate is love” on the screen behind
February 9, 2026 at 1:45 AM
hugely intense finish drawing on values that will win- parade of flags and then this, and “the only thing more powerful than hate is love” on the screen behind
Reposted by Mark Histed
Bad Bunny “together we are America”
February 9, 2026 at 1:35 AM
Bad Bunny “together we are America”
Reposted by Mark Histed
Very similar experience in our household
My first grader (a US citizen) came home from school crying because a friend from class (also a US citizen) hasn’t been coming to school because his parents (one of whom is not a citizen) are afraid of ICE.
Little kids don’t have concepts of racism and xenophobia. That has to be taught. Or imposed.
Little kids don’t have concepts of racism and xenophobia. That has to be taught. Or imposed.
Gonzales on Liam Ramos and his family: "They're not gonna qualify for asylum. So what do you do with all the people that go through the process and do not qualify for asylum? You deport them. I understand that 5-year-old and it breaks my heart. I also think, what about that 5-year-old US citizen?"
February 8, 2026 at 10:04 PM
Very similar experience in our household
Lots of Bad Bunny song and slang talk going on in our household.
“Dad, yeah, dale! Don’t you know that?”
We are ready for the game and the Benito Bowl.
www.instagram.com/reel/DUbGKYq...?
“Dad, yeah, dale! Don’t you know that?”
We are ready for the game and the Benito Bowl.
www.instagram.com/reel/DUbGKYq...?
February 8, 2026 at 7:42 PM
Lots of Bad Bunny song and slang talk going on in our household.
“Dad, yeah, dale! Don’t you know that?”
We are ready for the game and the Benito Bowl.
www.instagram.com/reel/DUbGKYq...?
“Dad, yeah, dale! Don’t you know that?”
We are ready for the game and the Benito Bowl.
www.instagram.com/reel/DUbGKYq...?
I have bad news.
Science has already been labeled as left. It’s done.
This is clear if we talk to people in red areas. Or if we watch Fox.
Science has already been labeled as left. It’s done.
This is clear if we talk to people in red areas. Or if we watch Fox.
The answer IS both. The inside game AND the outside game.
It will not help science if it truly becomes labeled as partisan left. The trick is do what is possible to avoid that while also not compromising on facts and reality.
It will not help science if it truly becomes labeled as partisan left. The trick is do what is possible to avoid that while also not compromising on facts and reality.
February 8, 2026 at 2:04 PM
I have bad news.
Science has already been labeled as left. It’s done.
This is clear if we talk to people in red areas. Or if we watch Fox.
Science has already been labeled as left. It’s done.
This is clear if we talk to people in red areas. Or if we watch Fox.
Gerrymandering plans have striking similarities to the ongoing science debate—Thorp/AAAS vs @standupforscience.bsky.social .
One path is to keep generally to prior norms and hope to get through.
The other is to maximize fight, and partisanship, to get to a new place where real change can be made.
One path is to keep generally to prior norms and hope to get through.
The other is to maximize fight, and partisanship, to get to a new place where real change can be made.
on the balance i think partisan gerrymandering is bad but the only way it ends is if democrats weaponize it against republicans everywhere they can. wiping out republican lawmakers in blue states might bring the GOP to the table to end the practice.
February 8, 2026 at 4:38 AM
Gerrymandering plans have striking similarities to the ongoing science debate—Thorp/AAAS vs @standupforscience.bsky.social .
One path is to keep generally to prior norms and hope to get through.
The other is to maximize fight, and partisanship, to get to a new place where real change can be made.
One path is to keep generally to prior norms and hope to get through.
The other is to maximize fight, and partisanship, to get to a new place where real change can be made.
Well, there’s a big problem.
“The data” does in fact NOT generally say what is valuable and where to focus.
The data tells us which of 37 shades of blue produces the highest Google clickthrough rate…before “the data” destroys Google Search because it’s folly to use it for strategy or focus
“The data” does in fact NOT generally say what is valuable and where to focus.
The data tells us which of 37 shades of blue produces the highest Google clickthrough rate…before “the data” destroys Google Search because it’s folly to use it for strategy or focus
Jeff Bezos' statement, his first since last week's layoffs: "The Post has an essential journalistic mission and an extraordinary opportunity. Each and every day our readers give us a roadmap to success. The data tells us what is valuable and where to focus."
February 8, 2026 at 12:48 AM
Well, there’s a big problem.
“The data” does in fact NOT generally say what is valuable and where to focus.
The data tells us which of 37 shades of blue produces the highest Google clickthrough rate…before “the data” destroys Google Search because it’s folly to use it for strategy or focus
“The data” does in fact NOT generally say what is valuable and where to focus.
The data tells us which of 37 shades of blue produces the highest Google clickthrough rate…before “the data” destroys Google Search because it’s folly to use it for strategy or focus
Reposted by Mark Histed
Bezos has rejected multiple offers to buy the paper, and his CEO ignored an offer to spin off the sports and local news sections.
The Epstein files provided more support for something we’ve known for quite a while:
Rightwing billionaires understand that control of media outlets gives them power.
The Epstein files provided more support for something we’ve known for quite a while:
Rightwing billionaires understand that control of media outlets gives them power.
Before The Washington Post layoffs came down, a group of wealthy D.C. locals approached CEO Will Lewis with a proposal.
@passantino.bsky.social has the details in his Saturday @status.news column: www.status.news/p/washington...
@passantino.bsky.social has the details in his Saturday @status.news column: www.status.news/p/washington...
February 7, 2026 at 6:15 PM
Bezos has rejected multiple offers to buy the paper, and his CEO ignored an offer to spin off the sports and local news sections.
The Epstein files provided more support for something we’ve known for quite a while:
Rightwing billionaires understand that control of media outlets gives them power.
The Epstein files provided more support for something we’ve known for quite a while:
Rightwing billionaires understand that control of media outlets gives them power.
Reposted by Mark Histed
People are mad at @samuelmoyn.bsky.social but this is a good piece from him and @ryandoerfler.bsky.social on need to accept that SCOTUS has become functionally illegitimate. Key point is legitimacy does require the public to think the court operates in good faith:
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
It’s time to accept that the US supreme court is illegitimate and must be replaced | Ryan Doerfler and Samuel Moyn
We need to remake the US high court so Americans don’t suffer future decades of oligarchy-facilitating rule
www.theguardian.com
February 7, 2026 at 4:47 PM
People are mad at @samuelmoyn.bsky.social but this is a good piece from him and @ryandoerfler.bsky.social on need to accept that SCOTUS has become functionally illegitimate. Key point is legitimacy does require the public to think the court operates in good faith:
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
It’s always great to hear these stories. ❤️
And yes. My mom died of ovarian cancer. I want more progress there so others can be saved. And it is being blown up. I am horrified at how biomedical research and cures are being destroyed.
And yes. My mom died of ovarian cancer. I want more progress there so others can be saved. And it is being blown up. I am horrified at how biomedical research and cures are being destroyed.
You won’t even know they killed you. You’ll just get a cancer medicine doesn’t have an answer for. I’m cancer free thanks to research that began in the 80s in rats & led to a chemo drug approved in 1998 under Clinton. Pre 1998, my cancer had poor survival. Now, if caught early, survival is ~98%. /1
February 7, 2026 at 3:54 AM
It’s always great to hear these stories. ❤️
And yes. My mom died of ovarian cancer. I want more progress there so others can be saved. And it is being blown up. I am horrified at how biomedical research and cures are being destroyed.
And yes. My mom died of ovarian cancer. I want more progress there so others can be saved. And it is being blown up. I am horrified at how biomedical research and cures are being destroyed.
Reposted by Mark Histed
New, from me: Trump finalized his Schedule F policy, allowing him to remove job protections from career civil servants.
The new rule is dishonest and unmoored from reality in its effort to formalize the politicization of the federal government 🧵
donmoynihan.substack.com/p/trumps-sch...
The new rule is dishonest and unmoored from reality in its effort to formalize the politicization of the federal government 🧵
donmoynihan.substack.com/p/trumps-sch...
Trump's Schedule F Rule Finalized
A bizarro rule formally justifies politicizing public services
donmoynihan.substack.com
February 6, 2026 at 4:16 AM
New, from me: Trump finalized his Schedule F policy, allowing him to remove job protections from career civil servants.
The new rule is dishonest and unmoored from reality in its effort to formalize the politicization of the federal government 🧵
donmoynihan.substack.com/p/trumps-sch...
The new rule is dishonest and unmoored from reality in its effort to formalize the politicization of the federal government 🧵
donmoynihan.substack.com/p/trumps-sch...
Reposted by Mark Histed
MAHA disinformation doctors use pandemic revisionism as a pretext for their scientific vandalism.
The NYTimes helps them.
My YouTube channel shows the truth they hide from their readers.
My latest on their interview with Podcast Jay.
sciencebasedmedicine.org/podcastjaybh...
The NYTimes helps them.
My YouTube channel shows the truth they hide from their readers.
My latest on their interview with Podcast Jay.
sciencebasedmedicine.org/podcastjaybh...
Pandemic Revisionism Is a Pretext for MAHA Vandalism
My YouTube channel is a reliable history of the pandemic. The NY Times is not.
sciencebasedmedicine.org
February 6, 2026 at 12:23 PM
MAHA disinformation doctors use pandemic revisionism as a pretext for their scientific vandalism.
The NYTimes helps them.
My YouTube channel shows the truth they hide from their readers.
My latest on their interview with Podcast Jay.
sciencebasedmedicine.org/podcastjaybh...
The NYTimes helps them.
My YouTube channel shows the truth they hide from their readers.
My latest on their interview with Podcast Jay.
sciencebasedmedicine.org/podcastjaybh...
Reposted by Mark Histed
I love the things they hate
February 6, 2026 at 10:30 PM
I love the things they hate
Re: Science Mag editorial celebrating mainly the inside/quiet advocacy done this year, I offer this in lighthearted response. 🧪
This is a Myanmar woman doing her usual, longstanding dance routine while black cars speed by to carry out a coup. 1/4
This is a Myanmar woman doing her usual, longstanding dance routine while black cars speed by to carry out a coup. 1/4
February 7, 2026 at 1:01 AM
Re: Science Mag editorial celebrating mainly the inside/quiet advocacy done this year, I offer this in lighthearted response. 🧪
This is a Myanmar woman doing her usual, longstanding dance routine while black cars speed by to carry out a coup. 1/4
This is a Myanmar woman doing her usual, longstanding dance routine while black cars speed by to carry out a coup. 1/4
Reposted by Mark Histed
I needed this today.
"To succeed often requires–and always demands–of you to embrace the utterly insane notion that you cannot fail... You will need to prepare and make ready everyone around you. To fail as a leader is when you do not prepare people for when that inevitable failure happens."
"To succeed often requires–and always demands–of you to embrace the utterly insane notion that you cannot fail... You will need to prepare and make ready everyone around you. To fail as a leader is when you do not prepare people for when that inevitable failure happens."
February 6, 2026 at 5:09 PM
I needed this today.
"To succeed often requires–and always demands–of you to embrace the utterly insane notion that you cannot fail... You will need to prepare and make ready everyone around you. To fail as a leader is when you do not prepare people for when that inevitable failure happens."
"To succeed often requires–and always demands–of you to embrace the utterly insane notion that you cannot fail... You will need to prepare and make ready everyone around you. To fail as a leader is when you do not prepare people for when that inevitable failure happens."
Filing of lawsuits as a strategy is fine, but it was in an **NIH case** that Justice Jackson said the Court was playing “Calvinball” where the only rule is “this administration always wins!”
It is time to take a strategic look at what is happening today, in 2026
It is time to take a strategic look at what is happening today, in 2026
February 6, 2026 at 2:10 PM
Filing of lawsuits as a strategy is fine, but it was in an **NIH case** that Justice Jackson said the Court was playing “Calvinball” where the only rule is “this administration always wins!”
It is time to take a strategic look at what is happening today, in 2026
It is time to take a strategic look at what is happening today, in 2026