Marina Bolotnikova
@mbolotnikova.bsky.social
Senior reporter for Vox thinking about factory farming & animal rights, agriculture, science & its discontents, cities, housing, transit and ✨ideas✨. marina@vox.com. Skeptical of epistemic authority~
Pinned
until quite recently, I had never thought much about fish, but now they're all I think about
Please read my piece about FISH MINDS! the great fish pain debate, and what it tells us about science and ourselves. gift link in reply!
Please read my piece about FISH MINDS! the great fish pain debate, and what it tells us about science and ourselves. gift link in reply!
important story that I hope prompts more rigorous reporting on AV safety and the tradeoffs these vehicles represent (it certainly will from me!). I was really surprised by the detail about Waymo’s fatalities per VMT in particular
Sorry, but triumphant claims about autonomous vehicle safety are wildly exaggerated.
It's an open question whether today’s self-driving cars are any safer than those driven by humans.
And if reducing crashes is the goal, that isn’t even the right question.
My deep dive, in Bloomberg 🧵
It's an open question whether today’s self-driving cars are any safer than those driven by humans.
And if reducing crashes is the goal, that isn’t even the right question.
My deep dive, in Bloomberg 🧵
We Still Don’t Know if Robotaxis Are Safer Than Human Drivers
And even if self-driving technology proves to be less dangerous, there are many better ways to improve traffic safety and prevent fatal crashes.
www.bloomberg.com
January 6, 2026 at 4:16 PM
important story that I hope prompts more rigorous reporting on AV safety and the tradeoffs these vehicles represent (it certainly will from me!). I was really surprised by the detail about Waymo’s fatalities per VMT in particular
Reposted by Marina Bolotnikova
For the last several years, Boston Mayor Michelle Wu was widely seen as the standard bearer for US urbanist reforms.
It’s now pretty clear that person is Mamdani.
It’s now pretty clear that person is Mamdani.
Mayor Mamdani said over the weekend that he wants the Department of Transportation to add daylighting before someone has been killed rather than wait to ban parking at intersections after a completely avoidable tragedy. nyc.streetsblog.org/2026/01/05/m...
Mamdani: Daylighting Before Death! - Streetsblog New York City
The mayor wants the Department of Transportation to add daylighting before someone has been killed rather than wait to ban parking at intersections after a completely avoidable tragedy.
nyc.streetsblog.org
January 5, 2026 at 9:15 PM
For the last several years, Boston Mayor Michelle Wu was widely seen as the standard bearer for US urbanist reforms.
It’s now pretty clear that person is Mamdani.
It’s now pretty clear that person is Mamdani.
if anyone else was eyeing the Free People vegetable jeans they're perfect, 12/10
December 30, 2025 at 4:56 PM
if anyone else was eyeing the Free People vegetable jeans they're perfect, 12/10
This is terrible behavior by FarmKind, many are already saying. I don't actually think most people buy this framing, but never underestimate how good permission structures are at soothing deep defensiveness around eating animals
December 30, 2025 at 4:03 PM
This is terrible behavior by FarmKind, many are already saying. I don't actually think most people buy this framing, but never underestimate how good permission structures are at soothing deep defensiveness around eating animals
Reposted by Marina Bolotnikova
Let’s fix the two massive efficiency sinks in American life. www.vox.com/future-perfe...
We need to grow the economy. We need to stop torching the planet. Here’s how we do both.
Let’s fix the two massive efficiency sinks in American life.
www.vox.com
December 19, 2025 at 12:42 PM
Let’s fix the two massive efficiency sinks in American life. www.vox.com/future-perfe...
Reposted by Marina Bolotnikova
Great piece by @mbolotnikova.bsky.social "We can start with animal agriculture, because however bad for the planet it looks on first impression, it’s actually worse." Two great efficiency sinks- the choice is ours to make, if we are wise enough.
Let’s fix the two massive efficiency sinks in American life. www.vox.com/future-perfe...
We need to grow the economy. We need to stop torching the planet. Here’s how we do both.
Let’s fix the two massive efficiency sinks in American life.
www.vox.com
December 19, 2025 at 6:16 PM
Great piece by @mbolotnikova.bsky.social "We can start with animal agriculture, because however bad for the planet it looks on first impression, it’s actually worse." Two great efficiency sinks- the choice is ours to make, if we are wise enough.
pls read my ecomodernist manifesto—we could make a massive dent in our planetary crises by reducing our dependence on the two great efficiency sinks in American life: meat and cars. And we can do so in a way that's consistent with growth and democratic principles
www.vox.com/future-perfe...
www.vox.com/future-perfe...
December 19, 2025 at 3:34 PM
pls read my ecomodernist manifesto—we could make a massive dent in our planetary crises by reducing our dependence on the two great efficiency sinks in American life: meat and cars. And we can do so in a way that's consistent with growth and democratic principles
www.vox.com/future-perfe...
www.vox.com/future-perfe...
some of you are going to be annoyed at a piece I have up soon and I am perfectly fine with that!
👀
👀
December 19, 2025 at 1:55 AM
some of you are going to be annoyed at a piece I have up soon and I am perfectly fine with that!
👀
👀
What does animal ag use all those antibiotics for? The dairy industry, for ex, uses them to treat mastitis, a terrible condition that arises frequently b/c dairy production is brutal & pushes their bodies to the point of collapse. For that, we're willing to risk the effectiveness of modern medicine?
At the end of each year, FDA releases data on antibiotics sold for use in livestock.
It usually changes a few %. This year, it went up 15.8%.
I was shocked & emailed experts/industry groups. Likeliest explanation per a source: industry is not "being good stewards of antibiotics"
It usually changes a few %. This year, it went up 15.8%.
I was shocked & emailed experts/industry groups. Likeliest explanation per a source: industry is not "being good stewards of antibiotics"
December 12, 2025 at 3:45 PM
What does animal ag use all those antibiotics for? The dairy industry, for ex, uses them to treat mastitis, a terrible condition that arises frequently b/c dairy production is brutal & pushes their bodies to the point of collapse. For that, we're willing to risk the effectiveness of modern medicine?
@kennytorrella.bsky.social is the only one covering this very important story!
I know Americans really like to eat meat but allowing the meat industry to contribute to the ruin of miracle antibiotics really strikes me as an irrational trade.
I know Americans really like to eat meat but allowing the meat industry to contribute to the ruin of miracle antibiotics really strikes me as an irrational trade.
At the end of each year, FDA releases data on antibiotics sold for use in livestock.
It usually changes a few %. This year, it went up 15.8%.
I was shocked & emailed experts/industry groups. Likeliest explanation per a source: industry is not "being good stewards of antibiotics"
It usually changes a few %. This year, it went up 15.8%.
I was shocked & emailed experts/industry groups. Likeliest explanation per a source: industry is not "being good stewards of antibiotics"
December 12, 2025 at 3:35 PM
@kennytorrella.bsky.social is the only one covering this very important story!
I know Americans really like to eat meat but allowing the meat industry to contribute to the ruin of miracle antibiotics really strikes me as an irrational trade.
I know Americans really like to eat meat but allowing the meat industry to contribute to the ruin of miracle antibiotics really strikes me as an irrational trade.
Reposted by Marina Bolotnikova
At the end of each year, FDA releases data on antibiotics sold for use in livestock.
It usually changes a few %. This year, it went up 15.8%.
I was shocked & emailed experts/industry groups. Likeliest explanation per a source: industry is not "being good stewards of antibiotics"
It usually changes a few %. This year, it went up 15.8%.
I was shocked & emailed experts/industry groups. Likeliest explanation per a source: industry is not "being good stewards of antibiotics"
December 12, 2025 at 2:10 PM
At the end of each year, FDA releases data on antibiotics sold for use in livestock.
It usually changes a few %. This year, it went up 15.8%.
I was shocked & emailed experts/industry groups. Likeliest explanation per a source: industry is not "being good stewards of antibiotics"
It usually changes a few %. This year, it went up 15.8%.
I was shocked & emailed experts/industry groups. Likeliest explanation per a source: industry is not "being good stewards of antibiotics"
"Interventions in the sex lives of animals are so intrusive and ubiquitous that..bestiality laws had to be rewritten to include explicit exceptions for farmers." love this piece by @jandutkiewicz.bsky.social & Gabe
newrepublic.com/article/2036...
newrepublic.com/article/2036...
The Internet Loves These “Gay Sheep.” The Real Story Is Much Darker.
A much-hyped fashion show with wool from “gay rams” obscures the brutal reality of an industry that exploits sheep sexuality at every turn.
newrepublic.com
December 11, 2025 at 1:33 AM
"Interventions in the sex lives of animals are so intrusive and ubiquitous that..bestiality laws had to be rewritten to include explicit exceptions for farmers." love this piece by @jandutkiewicz.bsky.social & Gabe
newrepublic.com/article/2036...
newrepublic.com/article/2036...
Reposted by Marina Bolotnikova
Protein is a euphemism for meat and dairy.
That's why it's people's #1 diet concern - it gives us license to eat more of foods we like.
www.numerator.com/resources/bl...
That's why it's people's #1 diet concern - it gives us license to eat more of foods we like.
www.numerator.com/resources/bl...
December 10, 2025 at 2:25 PM
Protein is a euphemism for meat and dairy.
That's why it's people's #1 diet concern - it gives us license to eat more of foods we like.
www.numerator.com/resources/bl...
That's why it's people's #1 diet concern - it gives us license to eat more of foods we like.
www.numerator.com/resources/bl...
Reposted by Marina Bolotnikova
a *lynching*? huh.
Possibly the only thing more freakish than Nuzzi's prose is the contortions her defenders twist themselves into. "She's not just hot, but she definitely is hot, while also being a vulnerable smol child. Also, criticizing her is sexist."
December 8, 2025 at 7:41 PM
a *lynching*? huh.
Reposted by Marina Bolotnikova
Scientists now believe that the human brain--a magic goo for worrying--can also be used to do other things
December 8, 2025 at 3:53 AM
Scientists now believe that the human brain--a magic goo for worrying--can also be used to do other things
Reposted by Marina Bolotnikova
America: where road safety is so motorist-centered that small cars are too dangerous to allow on the market!
Unlike Europe and Asia, NHTSA & Congress have failed to create a regulatory category for minicars. Because they flunk US safety rules for full-sized cars, they’re effectively illegal to sell.
Only “collectable” minicars cars 25+ years old can be legally sold (and they’re quite popular).
Only “collectable” minicars cars 25+ years old can be legally sold (and they’re quite popular).
What Do US Vehicle Regulators Have Against Tiny Cars?
Super-small urban vehicles have found a place in European and Asian cities. But in the US, federal and state rulemakers seem determined to keep minicars at bay.
www.bloomberg.com
December 4, 2025 at 3:34 PM
America: where road safety is so motorist-centered that small cars are too dangerous to allow on the market!
Reposted by Marina Bolotnikova
What a lede on this story: Man who complained about narrowing a road in order to protect pedestrians, so much that the city eventually reversed the change, then kills a woman on that very road with his car www.washingtonpost.com/business/int...
America’s plan to protect pedestrians failed. A young woman’s death reveals why.
U.S. officials adopted Europe's Vision Zero initiative, but many cities have seen an increase in pedestrian fatalities despite efforts to improve road safety.
www.washingtonpost.com
December 4, 2025 at 8:55 PM
What a lede on this story: Man who complained about narrowing a road in order to protect pedestrians, so much that the city eventually reversed the change, then kills a woman on that very road with his car www.washingtonpost.com/business/int...
this life-changing vegan tiramisu is now the only dessert in my repertoire for the foreseeable future
(if you want to make, I have a suggestion for making it significantly easier!!)
thekoreanvegan.com/homemade-veg...
(if you want to make, I have a suggestion for making it significantly easier!!)
thekoreanvegan.com/homemade-veg...
December 3, 2025 at 4:49 PM
this life-changing vegan tiramisu is now the only dessert in my repertoire for the foreseeable future
(if you want to make, I have a suggestion for making it significantly easier!!)
thekoreanvegan.com/homemade-veg...
(if you want to make, I have a suggestion for making it significantly easier!!)
thekoreanvegan.com/homemade-veg...
Reposted by Marina Bolotnikova
"The Thanksgiving turkey, functions as a ritual scapegoat in American culture, a symbolic animal onto whom people displace guilt, ambivalence, and resentment."
~ Karen Davis
A worthwhile read by @mbolotnikova.bsky.social
link.vox.com/view/66b4192...
~ Karen Davis
A worthwhile read by @mbolotnikova.bsky.social
link.vox.com/view/66b4192...
November 29, 2025 at 9:22 PM
"The Thanksgiving turkey, functions as a ritual scapegoat in American culture, a symbolic animal onto whom people displace guilt, ambivalence, and resentment."
~ Karen Davis
A worthwhile read by @mbolotnikova.bsky.social
link.vox.com/view/66b4192...
~ Karen Davis
A worthwhile read by @mbolotnikova.bsky.social
link.vox.com/view/66b4192...
Reposted by Marina Bolotnikova
Two weeks ago, Grindr put on a fashion show of wool from "gay" rams rescued from slaughter. The media and the Internet swooned. But this feel-good story is a window into the dark role of forced reproduction in animal agriculture.
By me & @gnrosenberg.bsky.social.
newrepublic.com/article/2036...
By me & @gnrosenberg.bsky.social.
newrepublic.com/article/2036...
The Internet Loves These “Gay Sheep.” The Real Story Is Much Darker.
A much-hyped fashion show with wool from “gay rams” obscures the brutal reality of an industry that exploits sheep sexuality at every turn.
newrepublic.com
November 27, 2025 at 2:14 PM
Two weeks ago, Grindr put on a fashion show of wool from "gay" rams rescued from slaughter. The media and the Internet swooned. But this feel-good story is a window into the dark role of forced reproduction in animal agriculture.
By me & @gnrosenberg.bsky.social.
newrepublic.com/article/2036...
By me & @gnrosenberg.bsky.social.
newrepublic.com/article/2036...
I am not sure what sort of view of animals I expected from Eliezer but unreconstructed Cartesianism wasn't it
November 27, 2025 at 12:29 AM
I am not sure what sort of view of animals I expected from Eliezer but unreconstructed Cartesianism wasn't it
Reposted by Marina Bolotnikova
well we aren't going to do better than this
you should support liberal currents!
November 26, 2025 at 5:01 PM
well we aren't going to do better than this
Reposted by Marina Bolotnikova
Don't miss this new @vox.com project that uncovers the rapidly changing world of fish farming.
Stories from @mbolotnikova.bsky.social + team challenge everything you think you know about the billions of aquatic animals that shape our planet’s future:
www.vox.com/future-perfe...
Stories from @mbolotnikova.bsky.social + team challenge everything you think you know about the billions of aquatic animals that shape our planet’s future:
www.vox.com/future-perfe...
Eating the Ocean
How underwater factory farms are reshaping our food system.
www.vox.com
November 25, 2025 at 5:33 PM
Don't miss this new @vox.com project that uncovers the rapidly changing world of fish farming.
Stories from @mbolotnikova.bsky.social + team challenge everything you think you know about the billions of aquatic animals that shape our planet’s future:
www.vox.com/future-perfe...
Stories from @mbolotnikova.bsky.social + team challenge everything you think you know about the billions of aquatic animals that shape our planet’s future:
www.vox.com/future-perfe...
Topics I would love readable and insightful book recs on:
-the scientific revolution
-the industrial revolutions
-the creation of European welfare states post-WWII
-the history of modern psychology and psychiatry
-Jews from the Enlightenment to the present
-the scientific revolution
-the industrial revolutions
-the creation of European welfare states post-WWII
-the history of modern psychology and psychiatry
-Jews from the Enlightenment to the present
November 25, 2025 at 1:30 AM
Topics I would love readable and insightful book recs on:
-the scientific revolution
-the industrial revolutions
-the creation of European welfare states post-WWII
-the history of modern psychology and psychiatry
-Jews from the Enlightenment to the present
-the scientific revolution
-the industrial revolutions
-the creation of European welfare states post-WWII
-the history of modern psychology and psychiatry
-Jews from the Enlightenment to the present
Reposted by Marina Bolotnikova
I wrote about andrea arnold's cow for @currentaffairs.bsky.social's animals issue, and it's now online for your reading pleasure 🫡
Everyone Should Watch Andrea Arnold’s “Cow”
By showing the lives of cows on their own terms, Arnold’s 2021 film reveals the depth of the dairy industry’s violence.
www.currentaffairs.org
November 18, 2025 at 5:27 PM
I wrote about andrea arnold's cow for @currentaffairs.bsky.social's animals issue, and it's now online for your reading pleasure 🫡