Stephen Baines
@stephenbaines.bsky.social
Ecologist, biogeochemist, drummer and gardener interested in effective pro-people politics, and equitable climate policy. (Also a Wisconsin Badgers volleyball fanatic.) Stony Brook E&E. He/him
Opinions are my own. Also, our brains are too small.
Opinions are my own. Also, our brains are too small.
Pinned
Stephen Baines
@stephenbaines.bsky.social
· Nov 10
Nice to see so many arriving!
I have mostly studied how elemental cycles are affected by phytoplankton and the things what eats ‘em. Although I often get sidetracked!
Recently my lab has moved inland to work on nitrogen transformations and organic matter decomposition in wetlands.
I have mostly studied how elemental cycles are affected by phytoplankton and the things what eats ‘em. Although I often get sidetracked!
Recently my lab has moved inland to work on nitrogen transformations and organic matter decomposition in wetlands.
Reposted by Stephen Baines
The fact that this, and every other Trump pardonee who has subsequently broken the law, has not ended Trump's political career, that it barely even registers on the national discourse, underlines just how far we are from a functioning democracy that values accountability.
A man pardoned by Donald Trump for his role in January 6th - he assaulted Capitol Police officers with bear spray & a metal whip - has avoided prison for child sex crimes because of the president’s sweeping pardon, despite pleading guilty to soliciting what he believed was a 15-year-old girl for sex
Trump Pardon Lets Convicted Child Sex Predator Walk Free
Andrew Taake walked free because of Trump’s pardons, despite being convicted of a child sex crime.
www.thedailybeast.com
November 12, 2025 at 1:29 AM
The fact that this, and every other Trump pardonee who has subsequently broken the law, has not ended Trump's political career, that it barely even registers on the national discourse, underlines just how far we are from a functioning democracy that values accountability.
Reposted by Stephen Baines
Remember how Elon said that Trump was in the Epstein files and that’s why he won’t let them be released and he apparently knew all about that but then decided to be friends with Trump again a week later so he just deleted that tweet and doesn’t mention it and no one regards that as a bit of an issue
November 12, 2025 at 3:13 PM
Remember how Elon said that Trump was in the Epstein files and that’s why he won’t let them be released and he apparently knew all about that but then decided to be friends with Trump again a week later so he just deleted that tweet and doesn’t mention it and no one regards that as a bit of an issue
Reposted by Stephen Baines
Other folks have said it, but let me just note that:
(1) lots of talented, must-read journalists have been let go from their jobs over the last year
(2) millions of Americans are abandoning current media outlets and looking for new alternatives
Seems like a sure-fire business opportunity here?
(1) lots of talented, must-read journalists have been let go from their jobs over the last year
(2) millions of Americans are abandoning current media outlets and looking for new alternatives
Seems like a sure-fire business opportunity here?
November 12, 2025 at 1:48 PM
Other folks have said it, but let me just note that:
(1) lots of talented, must-read journalists have been let go from their jobs over the last year
(2) millions of Americans are abandoning current media outlets and looking for new alternatives
Seems like a sure-fire business opportunity here?
(1) lots of talented, must-read journalists have been let go from their jobs over the last year
(2) millions of Americans are abandoning current media outlets and looking for new alternatives
Seems like a sure-fire business opportunity here?
Reposted by Stephen Baines
📣 OK, as promised, here's my *deeper* dive into how 14 states have instituted #ACA pricing policy which will *dramatically* mitigate the expiring tax credits for a significant portion of enrollees...IF enrollees take advantage of it:
acasignups.net/25/11/11/the...
acasignups.net/25/11/11/the...
There Will Be Graphs: A deeper dive into how 14 states are dramatically mitigating the expiring tax credits
Last week I posted a deep dive into how a bunch of states are taking action to at least partially cancel out the impact of the impending end of the enhanced federal Advance Premium Tax Credits (APTC) ...
acasignups.net
November 12, 2025 at 12:30 PM
📣 OK, as promised, here's my *deeper* dive into how 14 states have instituted #ACA pricing policy which will *dramatically* mitigate the expiring tax credits for a significant portion of enrollees...IF enrollees take advantage of it:
acasignups.net/25/11/11/the...
acasignups.net/25/11/11/the...
Reposted by Stephen Baines
🧵 (1/11) #Greensky 🔌💡 Some news for those who followed along in September, as we got the Poughkeepsie Town board to overturn its moratorium on grid scale batteries, in the face of fierce opposition.
1/x 🧵 🔌💡 #Greensky. Hey climate peeps! Here’s a local victory to celebrate, and some lessons from it. Last night, the Town of Poughkeepsie, NY, voted to overturn its 18-month moratorium (6 months, renewed twice) on grid-scale battery energy storage systems (BESS).
November 12, 2025 at 3:06 AM
🧵 (1/11) #Greensky 🔌💡 Some news for those who followed along in September, as we got the Poughkeepsie Town board to overturn its moratorium on grid scale batteries, in the face of fierce opposition.
Reposted by Stephen Baines
JUST IN: Katie Wilson significantly extends her lead in the Seattle mayoral race.
She now leads Mayor Bruce Harrell by 1,346 votes, or 0.5%.
That's up from the squeaker-lead of 91 votes in yesterday's update). She won today's batch of nearly 6K ballots by 20% (!).
Not much left at this point.
She now leads Mayor Bruce Harrell by 1,346 votes, or 0.5%.
That's up from the squeaker-lead of 91 votes in yesterday's update). She won today's batch of nearly 6K ballots by 20% (!).
Not much left at this point.
November 12, 2025 at 12:04 AM
JUST IN: Katie Wilson significantly extends her lead in the Seattle mayoral race.
She now leads Mayor Bruce Harrell by 1,346 votes, or 0.5%.
That's up from the squeaker-lead of 91 votes in yesterday's update). She won today's batch of nearly 6K ballots by 20% (!).
Not much left at this point.
She now leads Mayor Bruce Harrell by 1,346 votes, or 0.5%.
That's up from the squeaker-lead of 91 votes in yesterday's update). She won today's batch of nearly 6K ballots by 20% (!).
Not much left at this point.
Reposted by Stephen Baines
NEW: The US has deported a longtime Oregon firefighter who was arrested by Border Patrol while deployed at a major wildfire in Washington state.
José Bertin Cruz-Estrada, separated from his family, is speaking out from Mexico for the first time:
“I feel betrayed ... What am I going to do now?"
José Bertin Cruz-Estrada, separated from his family, is speaking out from Mexico for the first time:
“I feel betrayed ... What am I going to do now?"
US firefighter detained on the job speaks out after deportation: ‘I feel betrayed’
Exclusive: Border patrol arrested José Bertin Cruz-Estrada while he was battling a wildfire in Washington. He is now in Mexico, separated from his family in Oregon
www.theguardian.com
November 11, 2025 at 11:04 PM
NEW: The US has deported a longtime Oregon firefighter who was arrested by Border Patrol while deployed at a major wildfire in Washington state.
José Bertin Cruz-Estrada, separated from his family, is speaking out from Mexico for the first time:
“I feel betrayed ... What am I going to do now?"
José Bertin Cruz-Estrada, separated from his family, is speaking out from Mexico for the first time:
“I feel betrayed ... What am I going to do now?"
Reposted by Stephen Baines
Breaking: Marion County agrees to pay out $3M for newspaper raid, express regret kansasreflector.com/2025/11/11/m...
Marion County agrees to pay out $3M for newspaper raid, express regret • Kansas Reflector
A handful of county-level officials who were involved in a small-town Kansas newspaper raid in 2023 will pay a cumulative $3 million to three journalists and a city councilor.
kansasreflector.com
November 11, 2025 at 5:25 PM
Breaking: Marion County agrees to pay out $3M for newspaper raid, express regret kansasreflector.com/2025/11/11/m...
Reposted by Stephen Baines
Wow, a Long Island jury awarded $112 Million to 674 immigrants who were unlawfully held by county police so they could be handed over to ICE
Federal jury awards $112M to immigrants detained by Suffolk for ICE
A federal jury found the county and the Sheriff's Office violated the Constitutional rights of 674 people.
longisland.news12.com
November 11, 2025 at 8:58 PM
Wow, a Long Island jury awarded $112 Million to 674 immigrants who were unlawfully held by county police so they could be handed over to ICE
Reposted by Stephen Baines
In the century leading up to 1975, nearly 6000 freighters went down in the Great Lakes.
The Edmund Fitzgerald was the last.
The last. In 50 years, not a single commercial freighter has been lost in the Great Lakes.
Why?
It's NOAA. Of course it's NOAA.
The Edmund Fitzgerald was the last.
The last. In 50 years, not a single commercial freighter has been lost in the Great Lakes.
Why?
It's NOAA. Of course it's NOAA.
November 11, 2025 at 1:50 AM
In the century leading up to 1975, nearly 6000 freighters went down in the Great Lakes.
The Edmund Fitzgerald was the last.
The last. In 50 years, not a single commercial freighter has been lost in the Great Lakes.
Why?
It's NOAA. Of course it's NOAA.
The Edmund Fitzgerald was the last.
The last. In 50 years, not a single commercial freighter has been lost in the Great Lakes.
Why?
It's NOAA. Of course it's NOAA.
Reposted by Stephen Baines
Right, the answer isn't to abandon the party to these weasels.
The answer is to flood the party with people who will take it over and transform it.
The answer is to flood the party with people who will take it over and transform it.
Hey, a lot of people are talking about changing affiliation from Democratic to Independent.
Let me tell you why you shouldn’t do that in Colorado.
One of the main ways to get a primary challenge candidate on a ballot is to caucus for your party. You need to be registered as a Dem to caucus.
Let me tell you why you shouldn’t do that in Colorado.
One of the main ways to get a primary challenge candidate on a ballot is to caucus for your party. You need to be registered as a Dem to caucus.
November 10, 2025 at 4:49 PM
Right, the answer isn't to abandon the party to these weasels.
The answer is to flood the party with people who will take it over and transform it.
The answer is to flood the party with people who will take it over and transform it.
Reposted by Stephen Baines
Worth noting: a district judge ruled that the ban on trans service members was illegal and unconstitutional, as it was without rational basis and based on pure animus. She then refused to stay the order pending appeal.
SCOTUS lifted the stay, and the purge began.
www.npr.org/2025/03/18/n...
SCOTUS lifted the stay, and the purge began.
www.npr.org/2025/03/18/n...
November 11, 2025 at 4:54 PM
Worth noting: a district judge ruled that the ban on trans service members was illegal and unconstitutional, as it was without rational basis and based on pure animus. She then refused to stay the order pending appeal.
SCOTUS lifted the stay, and the purge began.
www.npr.org/2025/03/18/n...
SCOTUS lifted the stay, and the purge began.
www.npr.org/2025/03/18/n...
Reposted by Stephen Baines
For nine months, Sky News' Data and Forensics team has been investigating whether X's algorithm amplifies right-wing and extreme content.
It does.
news.sky.com/story/the-x-...
It does.
news.sky.com/story/the-x-...
How the world's richest man is boosting the British right
How the world's richest man is boosting the British right
news.sky.com
November 11, 2025 at 11:52 AM
For nine months, Sky News' Data and Forensics team has been investigating whether X's algorithm amplifies right-wing and extreme content.
It does.
news.sky.com/story/the-x-...
It does.
news.sky.com/story/the-x-...
Reposted by Stephen Baines
The thing about Mamdani is that he’s a talented politician but not otherworldly or one in a billion, he’s just a competent guy with popular ideas who ran against an entitled piece of shit and to me it’s a lot more optimistic to imagine 1000 campaigns like his than to view him as a unique phenomenon
November 11, 2025 at 1:42 AM
The thing about Mamdani is that he’s a talented politician but not otherworldly or one in a billion, he’s just a competent guy with popular ideas who ran against an entitled piece of shit and to me it’s a lot more optimistic to imagine 1000 campaigns like his than to view him as a unique phenomenon
Reposted by Stephen Baines
This a big deal: "China’s carbon dioxide emissions have been flat or falling for 18 months"
China's economy has grown by ~5% in the last year, so this comprehensively debunks the idea (again) that emissions are tied to growth. So yes, faster progress needed, but this is how you turn the corner.
China's economy has grown by ~5% in the last year, so this comprehensively debunks the idea (again) that emissions are tied to growth. So yes, faster progress needed, but this is how you turn the corner.
China’s CO2 emissions have been flat or falling for past 18 months, analysis finds
World’s biggest polluter on track to hit peak emissions target early but miss goal for cutting carbon intensity
www.theguardian.com
November 11, 2025 at 9:20 AM
This a big deal: "China’s carbon dioxide emissions have been flat or falling for 18 months"
China's economy has grown by ~5% in the last year, so this comprehensively debunks the idea (again) that emissions are tied to growth. So yes, faster progress needed, but this is how you turn the corner.
China's economy has grown by ~5% in the last year, so this comprehensively debunks the idea (again) that emissions are tied to growth. So yes, faster progress needed, but this is how you turn the corner.
Reposted by Stephen Baines
Bluesky suspended Sarah Kendzior today for no reason whatsoever. She just shared excerpts of her articles, which were as always incisive and not offensive at all. Hey @pfrazee.com this is super not OK. I know her- we've interacted a fair bit via chats and her work is essential.
November 11, 2025 at 5:02 AM
Bluesky suspended Sarah Kendzior today for no reason whatsoever. She just shared excerpts of her articles, which were as always incisive and not offensive at all. Hey @pfrazee.com this is super not OK. I know her- we've interacted a fair bit via chats and her work is essential.
Reposted by Stephen Baines
Outraged by the Jan. 6 Capitol riot, a wilderness survival trainer spent years undercover climbing the ranks of right-wing militias.
He didn’t tell police or the FBI. He didn’t tell family or friends. The one person he told was ProPublica reporter @josh-kaplan.bsky.social.
(Published January)
He didn’t tell police or the FBI. He didn’t tell family or friends. The one person he told was ProPublica reporter @josh-kaplan.bsky.social.
(Published January)
A Mole Infiltrated the Highest Ranks of American Militias. This Is What He Found.
Outraged by the Jan. 6 Capitol riot, a wilderness survival trainer spent years undercover climbing the ranks of right-wing militias. He didn’t tell police or the FBI. He didn’t tell family or friends....
www.propublica.org
November 11, 2025 at 4:00 AM
Outraged by the Jan. 6 Capitol riot, a wilderness survival trainer spent years undercover climbing the ranks of right-wing militias.
He didn’t tell police or the FBI. He didn’t tell family or friends. The one person he told was ProPublica reporter @josh-kaplan.bsky.social.
(Published January)
He didn’t tell police or the FBI. He didn’t tell family or friends. The one person he told was ProPublica reporter @josh-kaplan.bsky.social.
(Published January)
Reposted by Stephen Baines
A loan shark and convicted drug trafficker who was freed from prison by Trump in 2021 was sentenced to 27 months in prison for repeatedly violating the terms of his federal release.
Loan Shark Freed by Trump Gets Another 27 Months in Prison
A loan shark and convicted drug trafficker who was freed from prison by President Donald Trump in 2021 was sentenced to 27 months in prison for repeatedly violating the terms of his federal release.
bloom.bg
November 10, 2025 at 10:00 PM
A loan shark and convicted drug trafficker who was freed from prison by Trump in 2021 was sentenced to 27 months in prison for repeatedly violating the terms of his federal release.
Reposted by Stephen Baines
Tell me you don’t understand risk pools without telling me you don’t understand risk pools
November 10, 2025 at 3:02 PM
Tell me you don’t understand risk pools without telling me you don’t understand risk pools
Reposted by Stephen Baines
There are two things to understand in this moment and have to be first and foremost when addressing politics:
- There is no Republican Party; there is only a Trump-run neo-Confederate death cult
- There is no Democratic Party while any member acts like there’s a Republican Party
- There is no Republican Party; there is only a Trump-run neo-Confederate death cult
- There is no Democratic Party while any member acts like there’s a Republican Party
February 4, 2025 at 6:10 PM
There are two things to understand in this moment and have to be first and foremost when addressing politics:
- There is no Republican Party; there is only a Trump-run neo-Confederate death cult
- There is no Democratic Party while any member acts like there’s a Republican Party
- There is no Republican Party; there is only a Trump-run neo-Confederate death cult
- There is no Democratic Party while any member acts like there’s a Republican Party
Reposted by Stephen Baines
As one of the Realpolitikerin, this is where I'm at.
Getting a lot of folks in my mentions basically asserting the realpolitik, gritty legislative realities, etc. As I've mentioned, I'm sympathetic to your position, I even understand it and would normally lean towards it.
I think it's just wrong right now, and you can't convince me otherwise. vOv
I think it's just wrong right now, and you can't convince me otherwise. vOv
November 10, 2025 at 12:56 AM
As one of the Realpolitikerin, this is where I'm at.
Reposted by Stephen Baines
thinking back to when eric cantor got knocked out in a primary in 2014
November 10, 2025 at 2:47 AM
thinking back to when eric cantor got knocked out in a primary in 2014
Reposted by Stephen Baines
The ACA made my whole self-employed life possible. For almost ten years, I was able to build a career that actually worked for me AND keep receiving necessary care to address the consequences of childhood medical neglect. And I still deserved better. We all do.
November 10, 2025 at 4:24 AM
The ACA made my whole self-employed life possible. For almost ten years, I was able to build a career that actually worked for me AND keep receiving necessary care to address the consequences of childhood medical neglect. And I still deserved better. We all do.
This is either so clueless or so cynical it's unexcusable.
Hassan: With the government reopening shortly, Republicans now finally have to come to the table. Or make no mistake, Americans will remember who stood in the way.
November 10, 2025 at 4:41 AM
This is either so clueless or so cynical it's unexcusable.
Reposted by Stephen Baines
I am not going to let Schumer and 8 center-right Democrats bring me down. We won on Tuesday. We're gonna keep winning. Just keep telling the stories of what the Trump administration is doing and how it's making lives so much harder, about the corruption, the incompetence, the violence.
November 10, 2025 at 4:16 AM
I am not going to let Schumer and 8 center-right Democrats bring me down. We won on Tuesday. We're gonna keep winning. Just keep telling the stories of what the Trump administration is doing and how it's making lives so much harder, about the corruption, the incompetence, the violence.