@markpalko.bsky.social
The job description says data scientist, but still just a simple country statistician at heart. Blogging at observationalepidemiology.blogspot.com
Andrew Gelman: "There's something wrong with the world that [Palko's] blog doesn't have a million readers."
Andrew Gelman: "There's something wrong with the world that [Palko's] blog doesn't have a million readers."
Pinned
Immigration was a winning issue for Trump in 2024, but no issue is so popular that it can't be turned toxic by sufficient evil, overreach, and incompetence.
talkingpointsmemo.com/edblog/the-b...
talkingpointsmemo.com/edblog/the-b...
A small but representative sample of swing voters probably shouldn't include the spouse of a border patrol agent.
“I hate that he’s throwing my people into concentration camps, but I’m happy that he’s paying my husband to help do that.”
January 1, 2026 at 6:34 AM
A small but representative sample of swing voters probably shouldn't include the spouse of a border patrol agent.
Reposted
Republicans think releasing the Jack Smith deposition on New Year's Eve will make it get lost in the fray. Prove them wrong by spreading the word; here are some key takeaways to get us started. www.rawstory.com/jack-smith-2...
5 eye-popping claims Jack Smith made during his deposition with House GOP
House Republicans finally released on Wednesday the long-awaited transcript of former special counsel Jack Smith's deposition before the House Judiciary Committee. The 255-page document was released o...
www.rawstory.com
December 31, 2025 at 10:04 PM
Republicans think releasing the Jack Smith deposition on New Year's Eve will make it get lost in the fray. Prove them wrong by spreading the word; here are some key takeaways to get us started. www.rawstory.com/jack-smith-2...
Reposted
holy shit, grok saved my life (from a condition with a 234 per 100k incidence rate and a .113 per 100k mortality rate in the USA, both of which have been falling dramatically for years now)
www.reddit.com/r/grok/comme...
www.reddit.com/r/grok/comme...
From the grok community on Reddit: How a late-night conversation with Grok got me to demand the CT scan that saved my life from a ruptured appendix (December 2025)
Explore this post and more from the grok community
www.reddit.com
December 31, 2025 at 6:01 PM
holy shit, grok saved my life (from a condition with a 234 per 100k incidence rate and a .113 per 100k mortality rate in the USA, both of which have been falling dramatically for years now)
www.reddit.com/r/grok/comme...
www.reddit.com/r/grok/comme...
Reposted
elon musk dot today mentioned
December 31, 2025 at 5:03 PM
elon musk dot today mentioned
Reposted
Elon Musk is making up claims about Tesla on X and won’t allow community notes to be attached.
December 31, 2025 at 4:46 PM
Elon Musk is making up claims about Tesla on X and won’t allow community notes to be attached.
Reposted
the thing is, “differing political views” used to be about what percentage to tax high earners and not whether brown people are humans
Everyone has a list of so-called "red flags" when they're dating. And for some, especially younger Americans, different political views is a relationship deal breaker.
Majority of Gen Z swipe left on dating people with opposite political views
Everyone has a list of so-called "red flags" when they're dating. And for some, especially younger Americans, different political views is a relationship deal breaker.
n.pr
December 31, 2025 at 4:33 PM
the thing is, “differing political views” used to be about what percentage to tax high earners and not whether brown people are humans
Reposted
Oh. my. god. This is the Asst. US Atty General calling people -- in print -- "hoes."
December 31, 2025 at 8:17 AM
Oh. my. god. This is the Asst. US Atty General calling people -- in print -- "hoes."
Reposted
January 1, 2026 at 1:25 AM
Reposted
🧪A few more hours to go…
January 1, 2026 at 12:06 AM
🧪A few more hours to go…
Reposted
Until Kari Lake seized control of USAGM and collaborated with Elon Musk's DOGE to dismantle the Voice of America, the VOA Persian Service had a 24/7 satellite TV channel, multimedia website and five social media platforms reaching ~16% of Iranian adults.
January 1, 2026 at 1:05 AM
Until Kari Lake seized control of USAGM and collaborated with Elon Musk's DOGE to dismantle the Voice of America, the VOA Persian Service had a 24/7 satellite TV channel, multimedia website and five social media platforms reaching ~16% of Iranian adults.
Reposted
DHS now says it's aiming for 100 million deportations. In an amazing coincidence, there are 104 million Black and Hispanic people living in the U.S. right now.
![@DHSgov on X: The peace of a nation no longer besieged by the third world.
[Image of a beach] America after 100 million deportations](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:eppsmw5nfmdzhfeymtzd3xbe/bafkreiccvipzc5mayvbrzoo3cxhkp2iayuhphh4grk6lziqajuk7d2leee@jpeg)
December 31, 2025 at 11:04 PM
DHS now says it's aiming for 100 million deportations. In an amazing coincidence, there are 104 million Black and Hispanic people living in the U.S. right now.
Reposted
The incel Nazi trolls who posted this would also do well to google "critical mass" and try to figure out what would happen to America's food supply, healthcare system and transportation network if 100 million people were suddenly removed.
December 31, 2025 at 11:14 PM
The incel Nazi trolls who posted this would also do well to google "critical mass" and try to figure out what would happen to America's food supply, healthcare system and transportation network if 100 million people were suddenly removed.
Not to downplay the racism, but this is also a reminder of how deeply the techno-optimists silliness has embedded itself with these people.
Like, this an actual post from an actual government social media account, posted in the last hour.
January 1, 2026 at 6:28 AM
Not to downplay the racism, but this is also a reminder of how deeply the techno-optimists silliness has embedded itself with these people.
Reposted
Welcome to the public domain, DIZZY DISHES (1930), the first appearance of Betty Boop! ⭐️
Learn more ➡️ blog.archive.org/public-domai...
#PublicDomainDay
Learn more ➡️ blog.archive.org/public-domai...
#PublicDomainDay
January 1, 2026 at 5:05 AM
Welcome to the public domain, DIZZY DISHES (1930), the first appearance of Betty Boop! ⭐️
Learn more ➡️ blog.archive.org/public-domai...
#PublicDomainDay
Learn more ➡️ blog.archive.org/public-domai...
#PublicDomainDay
Reposted
Welcome to the Public Domain, THE LITTLE ENGINE THAT COULD (1930) 🚂
💪 Choo Choo Choo! We all learned about perseverance & trying from this iconic train. She thought she could, and she did 🥹
Learn more ➡️ blog.archive.org/public-domai...
#PublicDomainDay #CopyrightFree
💪 Choo Choo Choo! We all learned about perseverance & trying from this iconic train. She thought she could, and she did 🥹
Learn more ➡️ blog.archive.org/public-domai...
#PublicDomainDay #CopyrightFree
January 1, 2026 at 5:20 AM
Welcome to the Public Domain, THE LITTLE ENGINE THAT COULD (1930) 🚂
💪 Choo Choo Choo! We all learned about perseverance & trying from this iconic train. She thought she could, and she did 🥹
Learn more ➡️ blog.archive.org/public-domai...
#PublicDomainDay #CopyrightFree
💪 Choo Choo Choo! We all learned about perseverance & trying from this iconic train. She thought she could, and she did 🥹
Learn more ➡️ blog.archive.org/public-domai...
#PublicDomainDay #CopyrightFree
“Useful humanoids” remains an oxymoron. The future of robotics will not look like C-3PO. A better framing is that Elon’s promises are doubly absurd: he has bet the future of Tesla on bad technology, and even there he is lagging far behind his competitors both here and internationally.
Elon Musk has made promises about a fantastic future with no hard deadlines concerning Optimus, Tesla's humanoid robots in development. Analysts see Chinese robotics sector making useful humanoids a reality first... by Arjun Kharpal @cnbc.com - www.cnbc.com/2025/12/30/e...
Elon Musk envisions humanoid robots everywhere. China may be the first to make it a reality
China has made the development of humanoid robots a strategic priority in its tech battle with the U.S.
www.cnbc.com
December 31, 2025 at 6:58 AM
“Useful humanoids” remains an oxymoron. The future of robotics will not look like C-3PO. A better framing is that Elon’s promises are doubly absurd: he has bet the future of Tesla on bad technology, and even there he is lagging far behind his competitors both here and internationally.
Reposted
Reposted
“having to mask made me go fash” is so common and it’s just baffling
I mean, yes, it was annoying to wear one all the time? it also wasn’t that big a deal? if, today, someone asks me to put a mask on I go “ok” and put one on
and yet so many people treat it as a life-ruining imposition
I mean, yes, it was annoying to wear one all the time? it also wasn’t that big a deal? if, today, someone asks me to put a mask on I go “ok” and put one on
and yet so many people treat it as a life-ruining imposition
The reason this Harvard history professor decided he was done with one of the best and most privileged jobs in the world was, in his own words, because he was forced to lecture in a mask during peak Covid.
I’m not making this up.
I’m not making this up.
December 31, 2025 at 1:53 AM
“having to mask made me go fash” is so common and it’s just baffling
I mean, yes, it was annoying to wear one all the time? it also wasn’t that big a deal? if, today, someone asks me to put a mask on I go “ok” and put one on
and yet so many people treat it as a life-ruining imposition
I mean, yes, it was annoying to wear one all the time? it also wasn’t that big a deal? if, today, someone asks me to put a mask on I go “ok” and put one on
and yet so many people treat it as a life-ruining imposition
Reposted
Rift Widens Between Elon Musk, Anyone Who Ever Met Him https://theonion.com/rift-widens-between-elon-musk-anyone-who-ever-met-him/
December 29, 2025 at 3:00 PM
Rift Widens Between Elon Musk, Anyone Who Ever Met Him https://theonion.com/rift-widens-between-elon-musk-anyone-who-ever-met-him/
Reposted
Top psychiatrists increasingly agree that using artificial-intelligence chatbots might be linked to cases of psychosis. 🔗 on.wsj.com/4qt0sqb
December 29, 2025 at 4:11 PM
Top psychiatrists increasingly agree that using artificial-intelligence chatbots might be linked to cases of psychosis. 🔗 on.wsj.com/4qt0sqb
Reposted
There has to be a really good lawsuit floating around in here somewhere. I live very near a regional USPS center, but most of Nebraska doesn’t and there are many non-voting processes reliant on postmarks for proof.
In one fell swoop, Trump has successfully achieved his goal of fucking up voting by mail.
As of 12/24/25, USPS changed policy on when they postmark mail. Mail dropped off is no longer guaranteed a same-day postmark. Tax returns & other time-sensitive items are now stamped when they reach a regional processing center, which may be days later. Plan deadlines accordingly to avoid penalties.
December 29, 2025 at 10:21 PM
There has to be a really good lawsuit floating around in here somewhere. I live very near a regional USPS center, but most of Nebraska doesn’t and there are many non-voting processes reliant on postmarks for proof.
Reposted
this seems specifically designed to break mail-in voting (where deadlines are defined by postmark)
As of 12/24/25, USPS changed policy on when they postmark mail. Mail dropped off is no longer guaranteed a same-day postmark. Tax returns & other time-sensitive items are now stamped when they reach a regional processing center, which may be days later. Plan deadlines accordingly to avoid penalties.
USPS Announces Changes to the Postmark Date System
The United States Postal Service (USPS) has adopted a final rule (FR Doc.
share.google
December 29, 2025 at 9:51 PM
this seems specifically designed to break mail-in voting (where deadlines are defined by postmark)
Reposted
NYT just ran a bizarrely credulous piece about New College, the school that DeSantis and Rufo have turned upside down.
There is one good outcome of the article: This @donmoyn.bsky.social post, which is one of the best pieces of media criticism I've read all year.
open.substack.com/pub/donmoyni...
There is one good outcome of the article: This @donmoyn.bsky.social post, which is one of the best pieces of media criticism I've read all year.
open.substack.com/pub/donmoyni...
The NYT Recruiting Brochure for New College
A failing Ron DeSantis higher ed experiment gets a boost
open.substack.com
December 28, 2025 at 8:00 PM
NYT just ran a bizarrely credulous piece about New College, the school that DeSantis and Rufo have turned upside down.
There is one good outcome of the article: This @donmoyn.bsky.social post, which is one of the best pieces of media criticism I've read all year.
open.substack.com/pub/donmoyni...
There is one good outcome of the article: This @donmoyn.bsky.social post, which is one of the best pieces of media criticism I've read all year.
open.substack.com/pub/donmoyni...
Reposted
FOX: If you cut something by 100%, the cost goes down to 0. If you cut it by 600%, the drug companies are actually paying you
LUTNICK: What he's saying is if a drug was $100 and you bring it down to $13, it's down 7 times
F: Not a 600% cut
L: But it's 700% higher price before. It's down 700% now
LUTNICK: What he's saying is if a drug was $100 and you bring it down to $13, it's down 7 times
F: Not a 600% cut
L: But it's 700% higher price before. It's down 700% now
December 18, 2025 at 8:10 PM
FOX: If you cut something by 100%, the cost goes down to 0. If you cut it by 600%, the drug companies are actually paying you
LUTNICK: What he's saying is if a drug was $100 and you bring it down to $13, it's down 7 times
F: Not a 600% cut
L: But it's 700% higher price before. It's down 700% now
LUTNICK: What he's saying is if a drug was $100 and you bring it down to $13, it's down 7 times
F: Not a 600% cut
L: But it's 700% higher price before. It's down 700% now
Reposted
[One farmer who voted for Trump three times acknowledged, "For the most part, farmers — we've been willing to kind of go along. But I don't know about now."]
Most of these people had family members who tried to talk sense into them in 2024. “They’re eating… 🐈 🐶 “
www.rawstory.com/trump-farmer...
Most of these people had family members who tried to talk sense into them in 2024. “They’re eating… 🐈 🐶 “
www.rawstory.com/trump-farmer...
Tariff-ravaged farmers exhausted with Trump using them as 'pawns': report
Donald Trump faces growing fury among farmers who, despite a promised bailout, fear they may face bankruptcy regardless of additional administration assistance.In interviews with the Washington Post, ...
www.rawstory.com
December 28, 2025 at 12:11 PM
[One farmer who voted for Trump three times acknowledged, "For the most part, farmers — we've been willing to kind of go along. But I don't know about now."]
Most of these people had family members who tried to talk sense into them in 2024. “They’re eating… 🐈 🐶 “
www.rawstory.com/trump-farmer...
Most of these people had family members who tried to talk sense into them in 2024. “They’re eating… 🐈 🐶 “
www.rawstory.com/trump-farmer...