Derek Fox
@partialobserver.bsky.social
Penn State Astronomer (he/him), personal account. “We went and made everything a computer without ever bothering to fix computers.”
Pinned
Derek Fox
@partialobserver.bsky.social
· Jan 28
Thinking about how we are living the devolution of John Adams’ pronouncement: Where we had thought ourselves at liberty to study mathematics and philosophy, we find ourselves instead obliged to study politics and war.
Every billionaire is a zero-empathy psychopath convinced they should be able to rule over the rest of us like kings. Why would anyone want them around to begin with?
the flight of the billionaires www.nytimes.com/2025/12/26/t...
A Wealth Tax Floated in California Has Billionaires Thinking of Leaving
www.nytimes.com
December 27, 2025 at 4:00 AM
Every billionaire is a zero-empathy psychopath convinced they should be able to rule over the rest of us like kings. Why would anyone want them around to begin with?
Reposted by Derek Fox
This is very bad.
Trump’s DOJ offers states confidential deal to remove voters flagged by feds • Stateline
The U.S. Department of Justice has sent confidential draft agreements on voter data sharing to more than a dozen states, part of the Trump administration’s effort to obtain unredacted voter rolls, wit...
stateline.org
December 26, 2025 at 11:56 PM
This is very bad.
Reposted by Derek Fox
Gonna keep pointing this out
they said this about Massachusetts when we enacted a similar tax and not only did the billionaires not leave, IIRC we have slightly more billionaires per capita now than we did before the tax
they said this about Massachusetts when we enacted a similar tax and not only did the billionaires not leave, IIRC we have slightly more billionaires per capita now than we did before the tax
the flight of the billionaires www.nytimes.com/2025/12/26/t...
A Wealth Tax Floated in California Has Billionaires Thinking of Leaving
www.nytimes.com
December 27, 2025 at 1:15 AM
Gonna keep pointing this out
they said this about Massachusetts when we enacted a similar tax and not only did the billionaires not leave, IIRC we have slightly more billionaires per capita now than we did before the tax
they said this about Massachusetts when we enacted a similar tax and not only did the billionaires not leave, IIRC we have slightly more billionaires per capita now than we did before the tax
We need reporting from the inside of DOGE because I literally think they targeted agencies and staff for firing by percentage minority & percentage women
December 26, 2025 at 8:03 PM
We need reporting from the inside of DOGE because I literally think they targeted agencies and staff for firing by percentage minority & percentage women
Reposted by Derek Fox
Just merrily murdering their way through Christmas
Trump on Christmas: “Tonight, at my direction as Commander in Chief, the United States launched a powerful and deadly strike against ISIS Terrorist Scum in Northwest Nigeria.”
December 26, 2025 at 5:15 AM
Just merrily murdering their way through Christmas
Reposted by Derek Fox
My mom has phone records that can demonstrate his time of initial detention to hopefully straighten this out. But from what it looks like, they tried to arrest an LPR, went after his buddy instead, and then got into an accident and are now implicating the guy they already got into a shooting…
December 25, 2025 at 6:41 PM
My mom has phone records that can demonstrate his time of initial detention to hopefully straighten this out. But from what it looks like, they tried to arrest an LPR, went after his buddy instead, and then got into an accident and are now implicating the guy they already got into a shooting…
Reposted by Derek Fox
Like, this is the infinite money glitch for ruining these assholes, I really don't see what's objectionable here...
December 25, 2025 at 5:02 PM
Like, this is the infinite money glitch for ruining these assholes, I really don't see what's objectionable here...
Reposted by Derek Fox
the least shocking thing in the epstein files that wont get enough attention. police regularly arrest and charge victims to coerce them into participating, often jailing them in conditions that are worse.
jesus the Palm Beach Police really sought arrest warrants against underage Epstein victims for coming forward and cooperating, and (purported) admitting to crimes, and it caused the victims to become uncooperative with the federal investigation
![. . . very cooperative, but the police at that point had to let [redacted] know that what she had done that she could be facing charges.
Q And that was after they had told her earlier that she didn't need an attorney present, correct?
A Exactly.
Q Okay. So this happens to her with the Palm Beach Police Department and did the Palm Beach Police actually present or propose charging [redacted]?
A They did get a probable cause affidavit against [redacted].
Q And is that why Ms. [redacted] and her attorney were concerned about her testimony here?
A Yes.
Q Now was a subpoena issued for Ms. [redacted] on behalf of this grand jury?
A Yes, it was.
Q And before Ms. [redacted] would comply with that, did she -- did her attorney request some sort of order?
A Yes.
Q And what did he ask for?
A He asked for immunity for [redacted].](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:eoss3vmzem55cm5kuddhdmwn/bafkreiariijffjjrgfh26o22jjr76pwprinvnbpkcho5lyi2sucfbqlooy@jpeg)
December 23, 2025 at 8:10 PM
the least shocking thing in the epstein files that wont get enough attention. police regularly arrest and charge victims to coerce them into participating, often jailing them in conditions that are worse.
Reposted by Derek Fox
even setting aside the crazy politics of trying to override a wildly popular local ballot measure raising taxes on top earners to fund preschool for all, like, an entire-ass highway is currently closed "indefinitely" and there's no money to repair it? not the time to be blocking highway tolling
this post has everyone at christmas eve dinner crashing out. everyone is yelling / has bluesky open / is finding opponents to donate to. literally has ruined christmas lmao
Cutting property taxes for Oregonians affected by wildfires. Canceling planned freeway tolls. Pausing local new taxes in the Portland area. We have to keep going to make life more affordable for Oregonians.
December 25, 2025 at 6:14 AM
even setting aside the crazy politics of trying to override a wildly popular local ballot measure raising taxes on top earners to fund preschool for all, like, an entire-ass highway is currently closed "indefinitely" and there's no money to repair it? not the time to be blocking highway tolling
Reposted by Derek Fox
Viewpoint: The myth of an over-vaccinated America: The US DOES follow global consensus www.cidrap.umn.edu/vaccine-inte...
Viewpoint: The myth of an over-vaccinated America: The US DOES follow global consensus
www.cidrap.umn.edu
December 25, 2025 at 3:37 AM
Viewpoint: The myth of an over-vaccinated America: The US DOES follow global consensus www.cidrap.umn.edu/vaccine-inte...
Reposted by Derek Fox
Mr. Cuban, I'm a professor at Yale School of Public Health. Here's a paper published by one of my colleagues in the top medical journal evaluating the Medicare for All Act, which would not only get us there, but would save $450B per year. Happy to discuss! www.thelancet.com/journals/lan...
Improving the prognosis of health care in the USA
Although health care expenditure per capita is higher in the USA than in any other
country, more than 37 million Americans do not have health insurance, and 41 million
more have inadequate access to c...
www.thelancet.com
December 25, 2025 at 1:02 AM
Mr. Cuban, I'm a professor at Yale School of Public Health. Here's a paper published by one of my colleagues in the top medical journal evaluating the Medicare for All Act, which would not only get us there, but would save $450B per year. Happy to discuss! www.thelancet.com/journals/lan...
Reposted by Derek Fox
NEW: @annamaria.bsky.social spent time at a maternity ward in Kakuma, Kenya, after the Trump administration cut funding for food rations there.
New mothers told her stories about their pregnancies as they were left to starve.
New mothers told her stories about their pregnancies as they were left to starve.
What I Saw at a Maternity Ward in Kenya After the U.S. Cut Off Food and Foreign Aid
Photographs tell a story of two mothers determined to help their babies gain enough weight to leave the hospital — only to face little to no food again.
www.propublica.org
December 23, 2025 at 1:02 PM
NEW: @annamaria.bsky.social spent time at a maternity ward in Kakuma, Kenya, after the Trump administration cut funding for food rations there.
New mothers told her stories about their pregnancies as they were left to starve.
New mothers told her stories about their pregnancies as they were left to starve.
Reposted by Derek Fox
I have the “In Covid’s Wake” PDF and this section floored me. Here is some of the surrounding content — and citations. The professors cited laundered Twitter Files claims in their discussion of the Murthy v Missouri case — they stuck the *outcome of the case* in a footnote while centering the lies.
December 24, 2025 at 11:04 PM
I have the “In Covid’s Wake” PDF and this section floored me. Here is some of the surrounding content — and citations. The professors cited laundered Twitter Files claims in their discussion of the Murthy v Missouri case — they stuck the *outcome of the case* in a footnote while centering the lies.
Reposted by Derek Fox
Officially, seven people have died in ICE detention this month. Thinking about the way the Trump admin vanishes both people and data, I suspect the real number is higher.
December Was Deadliest Month in Deadliest Year in ICE Custody Deaths
There has been an alarming spike in immigrants dying while in ICE detention during the Trump administration.
newrepublic.com
December 24, 2025 at 9:25 PM
Officially, seven people have died in ICE detention this month. Thinking about the way the Trump admin vanishes both people and data, I suspect the real number is higher.
Reposted by Derek Fox
A small (personal) example of this book’s intellectual dishonesty:
My father-in-law is reading In Covid’s Wake, and excitedly told me he found a passage where I’m quoted. The quote in question is me saying the FBI worked to censor speech on social media.
Huh? When did I say that?!
My father-in-law is reading In Covid’s Wake, and excitedly told me he found a passage where I’m quoted. The quote in question is me saying the FBI worked to censor speech on social media.
Huh? When did I say that?!
December 24, 2025 at 7:00 PM
A small (personal) example of this book’s intellectual dishonesty:
My father-in-law is reading In Covid’s Wake, and excitedly told me he found a passage where I’m quoted. The quote in question is me saying the FBI worked to censor speech on social media.
Huh? When did I say that?!
My father-in-law is reading In Covid’s Wake, and excitedly told me he found a passage where I’m quoted. The quote in question is me saying the FBI worked to censor speech on social media.
Huh? When did I say that?!
NOT LIKE US
Trump: I am fine. You sound beautiful and cute. How old are you?
Caller: I am eight
Caller: I am eight
December 25, 2025 at 1:22 AM
NOT LIKE US
Reposted by Derek Fox
On Christmas Eve 1968, in Lunar orbit, the Apollo 8 crew took this photo: “Earthrise."
I'll never forget how inspiring the Apollo missions were to my brother and me as kids. They showed us what our country and humanity can accomplish when we work together toward a common goal.
I'll never forget how inspiring the Apollo missions were to my brother and me as kids. They showed us what our country and humanity can accomplish when we work together toward a common goal.
December 24, 2025 at 10:22 PM
On Christmas Eve 1968, in Lunar orbit, the Apollo 8 crew took this photo: “Earthrise."
I'll never forget how inspiring the Apollo missions were to my brother and me as kids. They showed us what our country and humanity can accomplish when we work together toward a common goal.
I'll never forget how inspiring the Apollo missions were to my brother and me as kids. They showed us what our country and humanity can accomplish when we work together toward a common goal.
Reposted by Derek Fox
“Like Prime, but with human beings.”
December 24, 2025 at 9:28 PM
“Like Prime, but with human beings.”
Reposted by Derek Fox
“After all, we were
supposed to bring the material to the concentration camp ready to start work, not
sickly and exhausted.”
- Adolf Eichmann, as quoted by Life Magazine
supposed to bring the material to the concentration camp ready to start work, not
sickly and exhausted.”
- Adolf Eichmann, as quoted by Life Magazine
December 24, 2025 at 9:28 PM
“After all, we were
supposed to bring the material to the concentration camp ready to start work, not
sickly and exhausted.”
- Adolf Eichmann, as quoted by Life Magazine
supposed to bring the material to the concentration camp ready to start work, not
sickly and exhausted.”
- Adolf Eichmann, as quoted by Life Magazine
Can’t help feeling that if only we had a millennia-long classical tradition rich in tales of hubris and the horrible fate that awaits flawed individuals improperly raised to positions of great power, we might have avoided this.
But then again, perhaps not!
But then again, perhaps not!
Bari Weiss just sent this Christmas Eve email to the CBS News staff about "building trust," which includes her tripling down on spiking the CECOT piece "to make sure it's comprehensive and fair."
One CBS staffer tells me: "She really has no idea how insulting she comes across."
One CBS staffer tells me: "She really has no idea how insulting she comes across."
December 24, 2025 at 8:12 PM
Can’t help feeling that if only we had a millennia-long classical tradition rich in tales of hubris and the horrible fate that awaits flawed individuals improperly raised to positions of great power, we might have avoided this.
But then again, perhaps not!
But then again, perhaps not!
Reposted by Derek Fox
For Alzheimer's disease, it's no longer a debate of amyloid (Aβ) versus tau. They are interactive drivers and this new, optimistic review maps out a path towards disease-halting therapies
@cellcellpress.bsky.social
cell.com/cell/fulltex...
@cellcellpress.bsky.social
cell.com/cell/fulltex...
The evolving landscape of Alzheimer’s disease therapy: From Aβ to tau
Emerging tau-targeting approaches show promise in slowing Alzheimer’s disease progression,
complementing recent advances in FDA-approved anti-Aβ therapies. This perspective
outlines the progress in Al...
cell.com
December 24, 2025 at 5:24 PM
For Alzheimer's disease, it's no longer a debate of amyloid (Aβ) versus tau. They are interactive drivers and this new, optimistic review maps out a path towards disease-halting therapies
@cellcellpress.bsky.social
cell.com/cell/fulltex...
@cellcellpress.bsky.social
cell.com/cell/fulltex...
Reposted by Derek Fox
A coalition of 19 states and DC have filed a lawsuit challenging the Kennedy declaration seeking to ban gender affirming care for trans youth by fiat by creating a federal "standard of care" based on pure pseudoscience.
ag.ny.gov/press-releas...
ag.ny.gov/press-releas...
Attorney General James Leads Lawsuit Challenging Federal Attack on Gender-Affirming Care
NEW YORK – New York Attorney General Letitia James today led a coalition of 18 other states and the District of Columbia in filing a lawsuit to stop the U.S
ag.ny.gov
December 24, 2025 at 4:01 AM
A coalition of 19 states and DC have filed a lawsuit challenging the Kennedy declaration seeking to ban gender affirming care for trans youth by fiat by creating a federal "standard of care" based on pure pseudoscience.
ag.ny.gov/press-releas...
ag.ny.gov/press-releas...
Reposted by Derek Fox
“It’s like you’re sitting inside the four walls of your home, and someone is victimizing your child in the next room."
A rising number of children are using AI companions regularly. Here's the story of one 11-year-old girl's experience with a generative AI chatbot. Gift link:
wapo.st/4scolDU
A rising number of children are using AI companions regularly. Here's the story of one 11-year-old girl's experience with a generative AI chatbot. Gift link:
wapo.st/4scolDU
Her daughter was unraveling, and she didn’t know why. Then she found the AI chat logs.
A majority of teens are interacting with AI companions, and many of their parents have no idea.
wapo.st
December 23, 2025 at 3:45 PM
“It’s like you’re sitting inside the four walls of your home, and someone is victimizing your child in the next room."
A rising number of children are using AI companions regularly. Here's the story of one 11-year-old girl's experience with a generative AI chatbot. Gift link:
wapo.st/4scolDU
A rising number of children are using AI companions regularly. Here's the story of one 11-year-old girl's experience with a generative AI chatbot. Gift link:
wapo.st/4scolDU
Reposted by Derek Fox
Just a reminder that Trump has, on camera, bragged about walking in on Miss Teen USA contestants changing and explained his 17-year-old daughter asked him not to “date” girls younger than her.
I’m not sure what’s true in the Epstein Files, but when you recall those facts it all seems plausible
I’m not sure what’s true in the Epstein Files, but when you recall those facts it all seems plausible
December 24, 2025 at 1:32 AM
Just a reminder that Trump has, on camera, bragged about walking in on Miss Teen USA contestants changing and explained his 17-year-old daughter asked him not to “date” girls younger than her.
I’m not sure what’s true in the Epstein Files, but when you recall those facts it all seems plausible
I’m not sure what’s true in the Epstein Files, but when you recall those facts it all seems plausible