Dr. Rachel Maxwell (she/her)
@thesadplanet.bsky.social
Postdoc at UMBC/NASA GSFC 🌙
UC Santa Cruz & Purdue University alum
I like space magnets, cats, and brains
#SaveNASAScience
UC Santa Cruz & Purdue University alum
I like space magnets, cats, and brains
#SaveNASAScience
Reposted by Dr. Rachel Maxwell (she/her)
It's not normal for a professor to start a class discussing how they "regret" being best buddies with a child sex trafficker and asking them for advice on how to abuse their position to coerce sex from former students.
He shouldn't be there at all. This is an institutional failure.
He shouldn't be there at all. This is an institutional failure.
Larry Summers discusses his “statement of regret” for his disturbing messages to Jeffrey Epstein with Harvard students
November 19, 2025 at 1:25 PM
It's not normal for a professor to start a class discussing how they "regret" being best buddies with a child sex trafficker and asking them for advice on how to abuse their position to coerce sex from former students.
He shouldn't be there at all. This is an institutional failure.
He shouldn't be there at all. This is an institutional failure.
Reposted by Dr. Rachel Maxwell (she/her)
I thought the earlier news from A&M was bad, but this is incredibly bleak. It’s close to the point of not having a functional university.
Message to all faculty: your expertise is no longer trusted or valued at this so-called “university.”
November 14, 2025 at 1:29 PM
I thought the earlier news from A&M was bad, but this is incredibly bleak. It’s close to the point of not having a functional university.
Reposted by Dr. Rachel Maxwell (she/her)
Both Texas A&M and Indiana University should lose accreditation.
Indiana University, which has now been subordinated to the direct control of the Indiana GOP, announces that criticism of the MAGA movement and doctrines of the GOP is forbidden. An instructor is dismissed for speaking critical words about the MAGA movement.
Indiana Professor Removed From Class Over White Supremacy Lesson
www.nytimes.com
November 13, 2025 at 11:44 PM
Both Texas A&M and Indiana University should lose accreditation.
Reposted by Dr. Rachel Maxwell (she/her)
This is odd, it looks like the DOJ skipped suing Texas entirely. The Justice Department is now suing California over the new congressional district boundaries that voters approved just last week, Attorney General Pam Bondi announced Thursday in a post on X. Who are they going to sue, the voters?
November 14, 2025 at 1:41 AM
This is odd, it looks like the DOJ skipped suing Texas entirely. The Justice Department is now suing California over the new congressional district boundaries that voters approved just last week, Attorney General Pam Bondi announced Thursday in a post on X. Who are they going to sue, the voters?
Reposted by Dr. Rachel Maxwell (she/her)
Breaking News: Blue Origin, the space company founded by Jeff Bezos, landed a booster from its New Glenn orbital rocket, matching a feat so far only achieved by SpaceX.
Blue Origin Lands Booster After Rocket Launch and Matches SpaceX’s Feat
The lower half of the New Glenn rocket set down on a platform in the Atlantic Ocean after lifting a small NASA Mars mission to space.
nyti.ms
November 13, 2025 at 9:24 PM
Breaking News: Blue Origin, the space company founded by Jeff Bezos, landed a booster from its New Glenn orbital rocket, matching a feat so far only achieved by SpaceX.
Reposted by Dr. Rachel Maxwell (she/her)
We have upgraded our geomagnetic forecast today (12 November 2025) to the highest intensity level amid an ongoing solar storm.
Current predictions suggest that the activity will result in potentially the largest solar storm to hit our planet in over two decades.
Current predictions suggest that the activity will result in potentially the largest solar storm to hit our planet in over two decades.
November 12, 2025 at 2:55 PM
We have upgraded our geomagnetic forecast today (12 November 2025) to the highest intensity level amid an ongoing solar storm.
Current predictions suggest that the activity will result in potentially the largest solar storm to hit our planet in over two decades.
Current predictions suggest that the activity will result in potentially the largest solar storm to hit our planet in over two decades.
Reposted by Dr. Rachel Maxwell (she/her)
Reposted by Dr. Rachel Maxwell (she/her)
My wife and I pay for life insurance even though we have never died. I pay for fire insurance even though my house has never burned down. That's not because we want to throw money at insurance companies. It's because THAT'S HOW INSURANCE WORKS.
November 10, 2025 at 3:44 PM
My wife and I pay for life insurance even though we have never died. I pay for fire insurance even though my house has never burned down. That's not because we want to throw money at insurance companies. It's because THAT'S HOW INSURANCE WORKS.
Reposted by Dr. Rachel Maxwell (she/her)
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 Dr. Rachel Maxwell (she/her)
Gutted by the Dems caving after the blue-wave wins of last week? Sick & tired of us snatching defeat from the jaws of victory? I hear you! Might I suggest you calm yourself, relax, take a deep, cleansing breath... then see if this photo of 2 pandas cuddling is of any help.
November 10, 2025 at 7:45 PM
Gutted by the Dems caving after the blue-wave wins of last week? Sick & tired of us snatching defeat from the jaws of victory? I hear you! Might I suggest you calm yourself, relax, take a deep, cleansing breath... then see if this photo of 2 pandas cuddling is of any help.
Reposted by Dr. Rachel Maxwell (she/her)
I received this email about Democrats caving to end the shutdown from one of the SNAP recipients I spoke to:
November 10, 2025 at 2:17 PM
I received this email about Democrats caving to end the shutdown from one of the SNAP recipients I spoke to:
Reposted by Dr. Rachel Maxwell (she/her)
A reminder that this anti-trans panic is 100% bullshit and exactly none of our country’s problems are related to someone expressing their gender identity and everyone who isn’t a hate-filled weirdo knows it.
November 10, 2025 at 1:16 PM
A reminder that this anti-trans panic is 100% bullshit and exactly none of our country’s problems are related to someone expressing their gender identity and everyone who isn’t a hate-filled weirdo knows it.
Reposted by Dr. Rachel Maxwell (she/her)
Tonight was a very bad night.
November 10, 2025 at 3:09 AM
Tonight was a very bad night.
Reposted by Dr. Rachel Maxwell (she/her)
Great time to make sure your senators (and congresspeople) know your opinion and reasons. Make sure they know your stories and how the government, it's past and future actions impact your life.
Regular reminder that Axios stories saying Dems are about to cave are likely sourced from GOP staffers trying to make it happen.
Doesn't mean it definitely won't happen. But it's like those NYT stories that Harvard is considering caving (they haven't). The anonymous source was trying to manifest it.
Doesn't mean it definitely won't happen. But it's like those NYT stories that Harvard is considering caving (they haven't). The anonymous source was trying to manifest it.
November 9, 2025 at 9:02 PM
Great time to make sure your senators (and congresspeople) know your opinion and reasons. Make sure they know your stories and how the government, it's past and future actions impact your life.
Reposted by Dr. Rachel Maxwell (she/her)
Remember: If we allow ourselves to fall into fatalism, or wallow in disappointment, or become resigned to what is rather than what should be, we will lose the long game.
The greatest enemy of positive social change is cynicism about what can be changed.
The greatest enemy of positive social change is cynicism about what can be changed.
November 8, 2025 at 1:01 AM
Remember: If we allow ourselves to fall into fatalism, or wallow in disappointment, or become resigned to what is rather than what should be, we will lose the long game.
The greatest enemy of positive social change is cynicism about what can be changed.
The greatest enemy of positive social change is cynicism about what can be changed.
Reposted by Dr. Rachel Maxwell (she/her)
Socialism is what they called public power.
Socialism is what they called social security.
Socialism is what they called the growth of free and independent labor organizations.
Socialism is their name for almost anything that helps all the people.
—Harry Truman, 1952
Socialism is what they called social security.
Socialism is what they called the growth of free and independent labor organizations.
Socialism is their name for almost anything that helps all the people.
—Harry Truman, 1952
November 7, 2025 at 9:30 PM
Socialism is what they called public power.
Socialism is what they called social security.
Socialism is what they called the growth of free and independent labor organizations.
Socialism is their name for almost anything that helps all the people.
—Harry Truman, 1952
Socialism is what they called social security.
Socialism is what they called the growth of free and independent labor organizations.
Socialism is their name for almost anything that helps all the people.
—Harry Truman, 1952
Reposted by Dr. Rachel Maxwell (she/her)
I think a lot about the story Carl Reiner told: he’d have been a sewing machine repairman if not for a free WPA drama class. That led to other theater work, to Sid Caesar, to Mel Brooks, and all the rest. All because of one free class paid for by a government that felt the arts were worth teaching.
you ever think about the works progress administration? I sure do. I wish that was a thing now. I would be so glad to contribute my labor to like. A random ass local bridge
November 7, 2025 at 1:28 AM
I think a lot about the story Carl Reiner told: he’d have been a sewing machine repairman if not for a free WPA drama class. That led to other theater work, to Sid Caesar, to Mel Brooks, and all the rest. All because of one free class paid for by a government that felt the arts were worth teaching.
Reposted by Dr. Rachel Maxwell (she/her)
🚨 NASA scientists warn: critical equipment at Goddard Space Flight Center could be discarded during the shutdown, jeopardizing decades of Earth & space science missions.
📢 Act now: agu.quorum.us/campaign/146...
#sciencepolicy #saveNASA
📢 Act now: agu.quorum.us/campaign/146...
#sciencepolicy #saveNASA
November 7, 2025 at 12:45 AM
🚨 NASA scientists warn: critical equipment at Goddard Space Flight Center could be discarded during the shutdown, jeopardizing decades of Earth & space science missions.
📢 Act now: agu.quorum.us/campaign/146...
#sciencepolicy #saveNASA
📢 Act now: agu.quorum.us/campaign/146...
#sciencepolicy #saveNASA
Reposted by Dr. Rachel Maxwell (she/her)
TLDR; The PSF has made the decision to put our community and our shared diversity, equity, and inclusion values ahead of seeking $1.5M in new revenue. Please read and share. pyfound.blogspot.com/2025/10/NSF-...
🧵
🧵
The official home of the Python Programming Language
www.python.org
October 27, 2025 at 2:47 PM
TLDR; The PSF has made the decision to put our community and our shared diversity, equity, and inclusion values ahead of seeking $1.5M in new revenue. Please read and share. pyfound.blogspot.com/2025/10/NSF-...
🧵
🧵
Reposted by Dr. Rachel Maxwell (she/her)
The agency has already been irreparably damaged, capacity and culture destroyed, decades worth of experience shown the door. "NASA" is the strongest name brand in the world, a metonymy for our highest ideals as humans. It is being bulldozed by people who don't understand (or care) what we're losing.
After 13 years as the top federal workplace, NASA is facing an employee exodus and months of turmoil after deep budget cuts proposed by the Trump administration.
If fully implemented, the changes could reshape U.S. science for years.
If fully implemented, the changes could reshape U.S. science for years.
NASA has lost thousands of workers. Here’s what that means for science.
Staffers told The Post about months of turmoil and sweeping changes that, if fully implemented, could transform NASA and American science beyond the Trump years.
www.washingtonpost.com
November 6, 2025 at 4:04 PM
The agency has already been irreparably damaged, capacity and culture destroyed, decades worth of experience shown the door. "NASA" is the strongest name brand in the world, a metonymy for our highest ideals as humans. It is being bulldozed by people who don't understand (or care) what we're losing.
Reposted by Dr. Rachel Maxwell (she/her)
Reposting to correct an error: trump admin is quietly gutting 13 buildings and about 100 laboratories at Goddard campus that has been instrumental to Hubble and James Webb telescope missions. Staff say they’ve be locked and told to move equipment. Anything left behind will be thrown away.
NASA may be quietly gutting an iconic campus with what it calls strategic closures, workers fear
(CNN) — Alarm is growing among federal workers at NASA’s iconic Goddard Space Flight Center’s main campus in Greenbelt, Maryland — the nerve center for groundbreaking missions like the Hubble
www.wkow.com
November 5, 2025 at 3:54 PM
Reposting to correct an error: trump admin is quietly gutting 13 buildings and about 100 laboratories at Goddard campus that has been instrumental to Hubble and James Webb telescope missions. Staff say they’ve be locked and told to move equipment. Anything left behind will be thrown away.
Reposted by Dr. Rachel Maxwell (she/her)
It’s not news to anyone that this Administration doesn’t seem to understand our laws. But let me be clear: this IS the law – Trump himself signed it in 2019, after Sen. Cardin and I fought to pass it. ALL federal employees are required to be paid after the shutdown.
Administration hints furloughed workers may not be paid after shutdown
Agencies are sending messages indicating that workers who are on the job will be paid when the government reopens — with no mention of those on furlough, despite a 2019 law protecting their wages.
www.washingtonpost.com
November 4, 2025 at 8:49 PM
It’s not news to anyone that this Administration doesn’t seem to understand our laws. But let me be clear: this IS the law – Trump himself signed it in 2019, after Sen. Cardin and I fought to pass it. ALL federal employees are required to be paid after the shutdown.
Reposted by Dr. Rachel Maxwell (she/her)
Trump and Republicans just passed a tax cut that will gift $100B annually to the richest 1%.
$100B could fund SNAP for a year.
It's not a matter of what this country can or can't afford. It's about priorities.
People are starting to understand this.
$100B could fund SNAP for a year.
It's not a matter of what this country can or can't afford. It's about priorities.
People are starting to understand this.
Brooke Rollins: "I guess the silver lining in all of this is that we're having a national conversation on our SNAP program. This has shined a light on a program that especially under the last administration has just become so bloated."
October 31, 2025 at 3:49 PM
Trump and Republicans just passed a tax cut that will gift $100B annually to the richest 1%.
$100B could fund SNAP for a year.
It's not a matter of what this country can or can't afford. It's about priorities.
People are starting to understand this.
$100B could fund SNAP for a year.
It's not a matter of what this country can or can't afford. It's about priorities.
People are starting to understand this.
A very thorough and detailed read of what’s happening to Goddard right now. I’m so proud of everyone who spoke to the journalists both with and without anonymity.
#nasa is shuttering the Goddard #space #flight center in a move that may not be entirely legal, according to critics. For months, our #staff #writer @joshdinner.bsky.social interviewed NASA #employees, read #senate reports and more to give you the deepest dive yet.
www.space.com/space-explor...
www.space.com/space-explor...
October 31, 2025 at 3:45 PM
A very thorough and detailed read of what’s happening to Goddard right now. I’m so proud of everyone who spoke to the journalists both with and without anonymity.
Reposted by Dr. Rachel Maxwell (she/her)
Amazon is helping fund a $300 million build of a ballroom for the White House.
Independent bookstores are donating to food banks and organizations that help with food insecurity.
They are not the same.
Independent bookstores are donating to food banks and organizations that help with food insecurity.
They are not the same.
October 30, 2025 at 4:01 PM
Amazon is helping fund a $300 million build of a ballroom for the White House.
Independent bookstores are donating to food banks and organizations that help with food insecurity.
They are not the same.
Independent bookstores are donating to food banks and organizations that help with food insecurity.
They are not the same.