Tim Verstynen
@tdverstynen.bsky.social
Professor
Department Gadfly
Data Alchemist
Synthetic Psychologist
Zombie Apologist
“The enemy” - JD Vance
This is an anti-ICE account
Opinions are my own. Not gonna let my employer take credit for them.
Department Gadfly
Data Alchemist
Synthetic Psychologist
Zombie Apologist
“The enemy” - JD Vance
This is an anti-ICE account
Opinions are my own. Not gonna let my employer take credit for them.
Pinned
Tim Verstynen
@tdverstynen.bsky.social
· Jan 28
I grew up a white kid in a bilingual, majority Hispanic state, in a pueblo region continuously occupied by indigenous peoples for over a thousand years, and in a city whose name is derived from an old Arabic phrase.
This is what America looks like.
This is what America looks like.
Reposted by Tim Verstynen
5 days ago, Aishwarya Khanduja and Stuart Buck posted an article entitled
"Venture Capital Has Lessons for Government and Philanthropy: tackling structural and bureaucratic rot"
Needless to say, this got my attentions.
goodscience.substack.com/p/venture-ca...
1/5
"Venture Capital Has Lessons for Government and Philanthropy: tackling structural and bureaucratic rot"
Needless to say, this got my attentions.
goodscience.substack.com/p/venture-ca...
1/5
Venture Capital Has Lessons for Government and Philanthropy
tackling structural and bureaucratic rot
goodscience.substack.com
February 18, 2026 at 9:39 PM
5 days ago, Aishwarya Khanduja and Stuart Buck posted an article entitled
"Venture Capital Has Lessons for Government and Philanthropy: tackling structural and bureaucratic rot"
Needless to say, this got my attentions.
goodscience.substack.com/p/venture-ca...
1/5
"Venture Capital Has Lessons for Government and Philanthropy: tackling structural and bureaucratic rot"
Needless to say, this got my attentions.
goodscience.substack.com/p/venture-ca...
1/5
Reposted by Tim Verstynen
🚨Thrilled to share our new @nber.org WP.
Research and policy often assume teacher effectiveness is essentially fixed.
We revisit this question by studying what happens when high-performing teachers are incentivized to transfer to struggling schools.
🧵
nber.org/papers/w34845
Research and policy often assume teacher effectiveness is essentially fixed.
We revisit this question by studying what happens when high-performing teachers are incentivized to transfer to struggling schools.
🧵
nber.org/papers/w34845
February 18, 2026 at 7:31 PM
🚨Thrilled to share our new @nber.org WP.
Research and policy often assume teacher effectiveness is essentially fixed.
We revisit this question by studying what happens when high-performing teachers are incentivized to transfer to struggling schools.
🧵
nber.org/papers/w34845
Research and policy often assume teacher effectiveness is essentially fixed.
We revisit this question by studying what happens when high-performing teachers are incentivized to transfer to struggling schools.
🧵
nber.org/papers/w34845
Reposted by Tim Verstynen
BREAKING: The Department of Education has ended its directive that attempted to restrict diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts in schools nationwide.
This is a victory for academic freedom and education equity.
This is a victory for academic freedom and education equity.
February 18, 2026 at 5:39 PM
BREAKING: The Department of Education has ended its directive that attempted to restrict diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts in schools nationwide.
This is a victory for academic freedom and education equity.
This is a victory for academic freedom and education equity.
Reposted by Tim Verstynen
NEW: NIH director Jay Bhattacharya will now run the CDC
NIH director will now run the CDC. Here's what we know
The CDC has lacked a permanent political leader since August.
www.axios.com
February 18, 2026 at 6:34 PM
NEW: NIH director Jay Bhattacharya will now run the CDC
Reposted by Tim Verstynen
2026 basically
February 18, 2026 at 4:23 PM
2026 basically
My wife and I are rewatching The Americans and it viscerally reminds me of what it was like when we actually had privacy. Of a time without ubiquitous cameras, devices tracking everywhere you go or everything you say, or “microtargeted" advertising.
The pre-internet world was nicer in that way.
The pre-internet world was nicer in that way.
February 18, 2026 at 4:00 PM
My wife and I are rewatching The Americans and it viscerally reminds me of what it was like when we actually had privacy. Of a time without ubiquitous cameras, devices tracking everywhere you go or everything you say, or “microtargeted" advertising.
The pre-internet world was nicer in that way.
The pre-internet world was nicer in that way.
Reposted by Tim Verstynen
New greatest bird photo of all time just dropped
Royal Penguin
📷 JJ Harrison, eBird ebird.org/checklist/S2...
Royal Penguin
📷 JJ Harrison, eBird ebird.org/checklist/S2...
February 18, 2026 at 2:01 PM
New greatest bird photo of all time just dropped
Royal Penguin
📷 JJ Harrison, eBird ebird.org/checklist/S2...
Royal Penguin
📷 JJ Harrison, eBird ebird.org/checklist/S2...
Reposted by Tim Verstynen
I compiled a sort of follow up here olivia.science/before/ on the situation with ppl thinking we're in some special moment:
"We have certainly been here before. Many many times in the past, companies — just like artificial intelligence (AI) companies now — have lied to us to sell us products."
1/
"We have certainly been here before. Many many times in the past, companies — just like artificial intelligence (AI) companies now — have lied to us to sell us products."
1/
February 18, 2026 at 2:44 PM
I compiled a sort of follow up here olivia.science/before/ on the situation with ppl thinking we're in some special moment:
"We have certainly been here before. Many many times in the past, companies — just like artificial intelligence (AI) companies now — have lied to us to sell us products."
1/
"We have certainly been here before. Many many times in the past, companies — just like artificial intelligence (AI) companies now — have lied to us to sell us products."
1/
Reposted by Tim Verstynen
Climate Science Serving America Fellowship
This Fellowship will help Ph.D.-level scientists and engineers do rigorous research, public outreach, stakeholder engagement, and have a real-world impact.
drawdown.org/careers/clim...
This Fellowship will help Ph.D.-level scientists and engineers do rigorous research, public outreach, stakeholder engagement, and have a real-world impact.
drawdown.org/careers/clim...
Climate Science Serving America Fellowship
Our mission is to help the world reach “Drawdown" as quickly, safely, and equitably as possible.
drawdown.org
February 18, 2026 at 1:52 PM
Climate Science Serving America Fellowship
This Fellowship will help Ph.D.-level scientists and engineers do rigorous research, public outreach, stakeholder engagement, and have a real-world impact.
drawdown.org/careers/clim...
This Fellowship will help Ph.D.-level scientists and engineers do rigorous research, public outreach, stakeholder engagement, and have a real-world impact.
drawdown.org/careers/clim...
Reposted by Tim Verstynen
Historian of medicine here. Yes. Yes, they did.
before antibiotics did people just die all the time from everything?
February 17, 2026 at 5:47 PM
Historian of medicine here. Yes. Yes, they did.
Reposted by Tim Verstynen
she should have been allowed to kill one guy per season
February 17, 2026 at 10:13 PM
she should have been allowed to kill one guy per season
Reposted by Tim Verstynen
Imagine doing this with your one precious life. Other people are out there teaching children and curing cancer and you decide to spend your time telling outrageous, laughably unbelievable lies about a dementia-addled rapist and fraud whose legacy will be nearly ending US democracy
Leavitt: "I think it's frankly ridiculous that anyone in this room would even suggest that President Trump is doing anything for his own benefit. He left a life of luxury and a life of running a very successful real estate empire for public service."
February 18, 2026 at 2:48 AM
Imagine doing this with your one precious life. Other people are out there teaching children and curing cancer and you decide to spend your time telling outrageous, laughably unbelievable lies about a dementia-addled rapist and fraud whose legacy will be nearly ending US democracy
How do you scream “I’m an insecure loser” without saying “I’m an insecure loser”?
The US Department of Health and Human Services just released this video.
February 18, 2026 at 3:09 AM
How do you scream “I’m an insecure loser” without saying “I’m an insecure loser”?
Reposted by Tim Verstynen
me casually talking about the replication crisis with my undergrads
a man with long hair is making a funny face and saying `` i was there gandalf i was there 3000 years ago ... ''
Alt: Elrond from lord of the ring saying "i was there gandalf i was there 3000 years ago ..."
media.tenor.com
February 17, 2026 at 9:28 PM
me casually talking about the replication crisis with my undergrads
Reposted by Tim Verstynen
A study reported by The Register showed that 98% of CIOs had pressure from the board "to demonstrate measurable, increasing ROI" from AI, with 71% believing that their AI budget would face cuts or freeze if targets aren't met by mid-2026
www.theregister.com/2026/02/17/n...
www.theregister.com/2026/02/17/n...
February 17, 2026 at 9:50 PM
A study reported by The Register showed that 98% of CIOs had pressure from the board "to demonstrate measurable, increasing ROI" from AI, with 71% believing that their AI budget would face cuts or freeze if targets aren't met by mid-2026
www.theregister.com/2026/02/17/n...
www.theregister.com/2026/02/17/n...
Pierce/Carnap and it’s not even close
Most cursed (philosophy) ticket go
Wittgenstein/Heidegger
Wittgenstein/Heidegger
Most Cursed Ticket go
Buttigieg/Bennett
Buttigieg/Bennett
February 17, 2026 at 9:34 PM
Pierce/Carnap and it’s not even close
Reposted by Tim Verstynen
“I don’t want to be in this place I want to go to my school.”
- 7 year old imprisoned by ICE for 70 days in a concentration camp in Texas.
Today, after @propublica.org published this story, the camp was raided to confiscate letters from the children.
www.propublica.org/article/ice-...
- 7 year old imprisoned by ICE for 70 days in a concentration camp in Texas.
Today, after @propublica.org published this story, the camp was raided to confiscate letters from the children.
www.propublica.org/article/ice-...
February 17, 2026 at 7:31 PM
“I don’t want to be in this place I want to go to my school.”
- 7 year old imprisoned by ICE for 70 days in a concentration camp in Texas.
Today, after @propublica.org published this story, the camp was raided to confiscate letters from the children.
www.propublica.org/article/ice-...
- 7 year old imprisoned by ICE for 70 days in a concentration camp in Texas.
Today, after @propublica.org published this story, the camp was raided to confiscate letters from the children.
www.propublica.org/article/ice-...
Reposted by Tim Verstynen
Stephen Colbert said that the FCC and CBS - which is in no way a compromised or complicit organization - wouldn’t allow him to broadcast an interview with Democratic State Rep James Talarico. www.nytimes.com/2026/02/17/a...
Colbert Doesn’t Give an FCC About Calling Out CBS
www.nytimes.com
February 17, 2026 at 12:04 PM
Stephen Colbert said that the FCC and CBS - which is in no way a compromised or complicit organization - wouldn’t allow him to broadcast an interview with Democratic State Rep James Talarico. www.nytimes.com/2026/02/17/a...
We bought a new alarm clock based on a NYT Wirecutter recommendation. Apparently it can only be set via an app, automatically subscribes you to a service for playing white noise, and the company has their own credit card they keep pushing on you.
For an ALARM CLOCK.
I’m slowly becoming a Luddite.
For an ALARM CLOCK.
I’m slowly becoming a Luddite.
February 17, 2026 at 11:56 AM
We bought a new alarm clock based on a NYT Wirecutter recommendation. Apparently it can only be set via an app, automatically subscribes you to a service for playing white noise, and the company has their own credit card they keep pushing on you.
For an ALARM CLOCK.
I’m slowly becoming a Luddite.
For an ALARM CLOCK.
I’m slowly becoming a Luddite.
Reposted by Tim Verstynen
Breaking News: The Rev. Jesse Jackson, whose fiery speeches and populist vision made him a charismatic champion of civil rights, died at 84.
Jesse Jackson, Civil Rights Leader Who Sought the Presidency, Dies at 84
www.nytimes.com
February 17, 2026 at 9:55 AM
Breaking News: The Rev. Jesse Jackson, whose fiery speeches and populist vision made him a charismatic champion of civil rights, died at 84.
Advertise your account with a gif
February 17, 2026 at 10:12 AM
Advertise your account with a gif
Reposted by Tim Verstynen
Let’s all be anti-ice accounts. Abolish ICE: Put it in on your own account!
Homeland Security Wants Social Media Sites to Expose Anti-ICE Accounts
www.nytimes.com
February 16, 2026 at 11:39 PM
Let’s all be anti-ice accounts. Abolish ICE: Put it in on your own account!
Reposted by Tim Verstynen
Right-wing Heritage Foundation’s own data shows fewer than 100 noncitizens voted since 1982 (!!!)
This is not a real problem. “The SAVE ACT is a Trojan horse to nationalize elections”: open.substack.com/pub/thiswill...
This is not a real problem. “The SAVE ACT is a Trojan horse to nationalize elections”: open.substack.com/pub/thiswill...
February 16, 2026 at 3:24 PM
Right-wing Heritage Foundation’s own data shows fewer than 100 noncitizens voted since 1982 (!!!)
This is not a real problem. “The SAVE ACT is a Trojan horse to nationalize elections”: open.substack.com/pub/thiswill...
This is not a real problem. “The SAVE ACT is a Trojan horse to nationalize elections”: open.substack.com/pub/thiswill...