Tom Donaldson
@tomdonaldson.bsky.social
Software engineer. Opinions are my own.
Reposted by Tom Donaldson
We added some nice features to our JWST Search interface. HST rolling out in next couple months, along with more goodies.
Feature update: we've added album previews to our JWST Search interface! Also included with our update is a Light/Dark mode toggle. archive.stsci.edu/contents/new...
October 2, 2025 at 8:30 PM
We added some nice features to our JWST Search interface. HST rolling out in next couple months, along with more goodies.
Reposted by Tom Donaldson
"NASA Has Been Implementing the President’s Proposed FY26 Budget Cuts Since Early Summer—In Clear Violation of the Constitution"
Appointees & politicians telling you the US will do more and be leaders in human spaceflight with this budget are lying to you.
www.commerce.senate.gov/services/fil...
Appointees & politicians telling you the US will do more and be leaders in human spaceflight with this budget are lying to you.
www.commerce.senate.gov/services/fil...
September 29, 2025 at 11:43 PM
"NASA Has Been Implementing the President’s Proposed FY26 Budget Cuts Since Early Summer—In Clear Violation of the Constitution"
Appointees & politicians telling you the US will do more and be leaders in human spaceflight with this budget are lying to you.
www.commerce.senate.gov/services/fil...
Appointees & politicians telling you the US will do more and be leaders in human spaceflight with this budget are lying to you.
www.commerce.senate.gov/services/fil...
Reposted by Tom Donaldson
We need to call it what it is: a president using government coercion to silence voices he doesn't agree with is authoritarianism, plain and simple.
It's the Orbán playbook, the Putin playbook, and now the Trump playbook. And it should alarm every American.
It's the Orbán playbook, the Putin playbook, and now the Trump playbook. And it should alarm every American.
September 18, 2025 at 5:55 PM
We need to call it what it is: a president using government coercion to silence voices he doesn't agree with is authoritarianism, plain and simple.
It's the Orbán playbook, the Putin playbook, and now the Trump playbook. And it should alarm every American.
It's the Orbán playbook, the Putin playbook, and now the Trump playbook. And it should alarm every American.
Reposted by Tom Donaldson
his father was unavailable for comment
RFK Jr: We had lots of guns when we were kids. Kids brought guns to school and were encouraged to do so. And nobody was walking into schools and shooting people. There are many things that could explain this. One is the dependence on psychiatric drugs.
September 9, 2025 at 9:28 PM
his father was unavailable for comment
Reposted by Tom Donaldson
The President of the United States is threatening to go to war with an American city.
This is not a joke. This is not normal.
Donald Trump isn't a strongman, he's a scared man. Illinois won’t be intimidated by a wannabe dictator.
This is not a joke. This is not normal.
Donald Trump isn't a strongman, he's a scared man. Illinois won’t be intimidated by a wannabe dictator.
September 6, 2025 at 4:37 PM
The President of the United States is threatening to go to war with an American city.
This is not a joke. This is not normal.
Donald Trump isn't a strongman, he's a scared man. Illinois won’t be intimidated by a wannabe dictator.
This is not a joke. This is not normal.
Donald Trump isn't a strongman, he's a scared man. Illinois won’t be intimidated by a wannabe dictator.
Reposted by Tom Donaldson
🧵 Authoritarianism, Democratization, and Coalition Politics.
The consensus around here is, more or less, that the United States is currently a consolidating authoritarian regime controlled by a mix of reactionary populists and fascists.
The consensus around here is, more or less, that the United States is currently a consolidating authoritarian regime controlled by a mix of reactionary populists and fascists.
August 30, 2025 at 8:10 PM
🧵 Authoritarianism, Democratization, and Coalition Politics.
The consensus around here is, more or less, that the United States is currently a consolidating authoritarian regime controlled by a mix of reactionary populists and fascists.
The consensus around here is, more or less, that the United States is currently a consolidating authoritarian regime controlled by a mix of reactionary populists and fascists.
Reposted by Tom Donaldson
Heads up space folks - part of the National Weather Service job application - coming soon to NASA as they hire people to fill the big gaping expertise holes they made in the workforce. Loyalists need only apply.
August 27, 2025 at 1:53 PM
Heads up space folks - part of the National Weather Service job application - coming soon to NASA as they hire people to fill the big gaping expertise holes they made in the workforce. Loyalists need only apply.
Reposted by Tom Donaldson
Duffy Approves Moving a Space Shuttle to Houston spacepolicyonline.com/news/duffy-a...
August 6, 2025 at 6:19 PM
Duffy Approves Moving a Space Shuttle to Houston spacepolicyonline.com/news/duffy-a...
Reposted by Tom Donaldson
NY Times showing how to both sides the secret police abduction squads story
July 21, 2025 at 10:49 AM
NY Times showing how to both sides the secret police abduction squads story
Reposted by Tom Donaldson
Never before in U.S. history has one man exercised such unbridled discretion affecting the lives of so many, while simultaneously preventing others — Congress, the courts, the American people — from having a say or even knowing what he’s going to do next.
This is dictatorship.
This is dictatorship.
July 15, 2025 at 8:31 PM
Never before in U.S. history has one man exercised such unbridled discretion affecting the lives of so many, while simultaneously preventing others — Congress, the courts, the American people — from having a say or even knowing what he’s going to do next.
This is dictatorship.
This is dictatorship.
Not sure if it’s too late, but the decent people in power who are still silent need to wake the f up
We do have a secret police in the United States now. Unidentified agents, without accountability, serving an autocrat and targeting law-abiding people who present no threat.
🚨NEW: When ICE raided a Californian farm yesterday, they snatched & disappeared a disabled US veteran who was in his car.
They smashed his window, peppered sprayed him & dragged him to the floor.
Listen to his wife & sister here, distraught. No-one will tell them where he is.
(🎥 ABC 7 News)
They smashed his window, peppered sprayed him & dragged him to the floor.
Listen to his wife & sister here, distraught. No-one will tell them where he is.
(🎥 ABC 7 News)
July 12, 2025 at 2:34 AM
Not sure if it’s too late, but the decent people in power who are still silent need to wake the f up
Reposted by Tom Donaldson
The floods ripped through Texas on July 4.
On July 5, FEMA received 3000 calls from survivors. 1% were unanswered.
That night, Trump/Noem fired the people who answer the calls.
On July 6, FEMA received 2,363 calls. 65% unanswered.
July 7: 85%.
Sick.
On July 5, FEMA received 3000 calls from survivors. 1% were unanswered.
That night, Trump/Noem fired the people who answer the calls.
On July 6, FEMA received 2,363 calls. 65% unanswered.
July 7: 85%.
Sick.
FEMA Didn’t Answer Thousands of Calls From Flood Survivors, Documents Show
www.nytimes.com
July 12, 2025 at 1:33 AM
The floods ripped through Texas on July 4.
On July 5, FEMA received 3000 calls from survivors. 1% were unanswered.
That night, Trump/Noem fired the people who answer the calls.
On July 6, FEMA received 2,363 calls. 65% unanswered.
July 7: 85%.
Sick.
On July 5, FEMA received 3000 calls from survivors. 1% were unanswered.
That night, Trump/Noem fired the people who answer the calls.
On July 6, FEMA received 2,363 calls. 65% unanswered.
July 7: 85%.
Sick.
Reposted by Tom Donaldson
We are going back to the almshouses of the 1800s 😱
An astonishing figure in this piece:
Last year, the U.S. budgeted $12.8B for new affordable housing.
This country is now poised to spend $45B on immigrant detention centers.
That's nearly *four times* as much on cages as on homes—in the middle of a devastating housing and homelessness crisis.
Last year, the U.S. budgeted $12.8B for new affordable housing.
This country is now poised to spend $45B on immigrant detention centers.
That's nearly *four times* as much on cages as on homes—in the middle of a devastating housing and homelessness crisis.
Are We About to Have Labor Camps in the United States of America?
If you think that’s far-fetched, then you really haven’t been paying attention to what the Trump administration and Republicans in Congress have been up to lately.
newrepublic.com
July 7, 2025 at 2:33 PM
We are going back to the almshouses of the 1800s 😱
Reposted by Tom Donaldson
As someone who studies political violence, here’s what scares me about the new Trump’s bill:
It’s not just the resources it gives to ICE which is already a human rights disaster.
It’s the signal it sends to ICE supervisors and agents.
It’s not just the resources it gives to ICE which is already a human rights disaster.
It’s the signal it sends to ICE supervisors and agents.
July 3, 2025 at 9:49 PM
As someone who studies political violence, here’s what scares me about the new Trump’s bill:
It’s not just the resources it gives to ICE which is already a human rights disaster.
It’s the signal it sends to ICE supervisors and agents.
It’s not just the resources it gives to ICE which is already a human rights disaster.
It’s the signal it sends to ICE supervisors and agents.
Reposted by Tom Donaldson
Why didn’t George W. Bush say anything when there was a fight to be had over this? Ditto for Obama. Solidarity is better than condolences.
I just don't understand this. George W Bush, Barack Obama, and Bono just recorded videos commending the staff of USAID for their work and lamenting the agency's destruction...
And those videos were not released to the public.
And those videos were not released to the public.
Bush, Obama and Bono Commend USAID Staff Members on Their Last Day
www.nytimes.com
July 1, 2025 at 1:49 AM
Why didn’t George W. Bush say anything when there was a fight to be had over this? Ditto for Obama. Solidarity is better than condolences.
Reposted by Tom Donaldson
This has always been the GOP's strategy:
1) Cut taxes for the wealthy & corporations by claiming they'll pay for themselves.
2) Explode deficits
3) Use the debt as an excuse to demand cuts to vital programs that help millions.
4) Repeat.
1) Cut taxes for the wealthy & corporations by claiming they'll pay for themselves.
2) Explode deficits
3) Use the debt as an excuse to demand cuts to vital programs that help millions.
4) Repeat.
June 30, 2025 at 11:16 PM
This has always been the GOP's strategy:
1) Cut taxes for the wealthy & corporations by claiming they'll pay for themselves.
2) Explode deficits
3) Use the debt as an excuse to demand cuts to vital programs that help millions.
4) Repeat.
1) Cut taxes for the wealthy & corporations by claiming they'll pay for themselves.
2) Explode deficits
3) Use the debt as an excuse to demand cuts to vital programs that help millions.
4) Repeat.
Reposted by Tom Donaldson
Trump’s tactics of disappearing people in America should terrify everyone who still cherishes democracy and freedom. We reject this growing authoritarian assault.
June 30, 2025 at 8:33 PM
Trump’s tactics of disappearing people in America should terrify everyone who still cherishes democracy and freedom. We reject this growing authoritarian assault.
Reposted by Tom Donaldson
A federal judge is keeping this man in jail to protect him from the federal government.
BREAKING: A federal judge in Tennessee ruled that Kilmar Abrego Garcia will stay in jail for now over concerns that he could be deported if he’s released.
Judge again delays Abrego Garcia’s release from Tennessee jail over deportation concerns
A federal judge in Tennessee has ruled that Kilmar Abrego Garcia will stay in jail for now over concerns that he could be deported if he’s released.
bit.ly
June 30, 2025 at 8:17 PM
A federal judge is keeping this man in jail to protect him from the federal government.
Reposted by Tom Donaldson
Audio from today's #NASA Town Hall: soundcloud.com/keith-cowing...
Speakers
- Janet Petro, Acting NASA Administrator
- Brian Hughes, NASA Chief of Staff
- Vanessa Wyche, Acting NASA Associate Administrator
- Casey Swails, Deputy Associate Administrator
Speakers
- Janet Petro, Acting NASA Administrator
- Brian Hughes, NASA Chief of Staff
- Vanessa Wyche, Acting NASA Associate Administrator
- Casey Swails, Deputy Associate Administrator
June 25, 2025 at 6:54 PM
Audio from today's #NASA Town Hall: soundcloud.com/keith-cowing...
Speakers
- Janet Petro, Acting NASA Administrator
- Brian Hughes, NASA Chief of Staff
- Vanessa Wyche, Acting NASA Associate Administrator
- Casey Swails, Deputy Associate Administrator
Speakers
- Janet Petro, Acting NASA Administrator
- Brian Hughes, NASA Chief of Staff
- Vanessa Wyche, Acting NASA Associate Administrator
- Casey Swails, Deputy Associate Administrator
Reposted by Tom Donaldson
Reposted by Tom Donaldson
Here's a longer video of Brad Lander's detention just now inside 26 Federal Plaza as he tried to walk a man out of immigration court, by masked federal agents.
June 17, 2025 at 4:17 PM
Here's a longer video of Brad Lander's detention just now inside 26 Federal Plaza as he tried to walk a man out of immigration court, by masked federal agents.
Reposted by Tom Donaldson
Boston's "No Kings" event coincided with Pride so the organizations joined forces for a . . .
"No Kings but Yaaas Queen" event and tbh, I want a copy if this poster.
www.boston.com/news/local-n...
"No Kings but Yaaas Queen" event and tbh, I want a copy if this poster.
www.boston.com/news/local-n...
June 13, 2025 at 11:19 PM
Boston's "No Kings" event coincided with Pride so the organizations joined forces for a . . .
"No Kings but Yaaas Queen" event and tbh, I want a copy if this poster.
www.boston.com/news/local-n...
"No Kings but Yaaas Queen" event and tbh, I want a copy if this poster.
www.boston.com/news/local-n...
Reposted by Tom Donaldson
"In an administration in which the sole goals are valorizing Trump & making him as rich as possible, any official who demonstrates an ability to effectively carry out the business of the govt is viewed w/ profound suspicion. But those willing to learn incompetence & moral obtuseness are promoted."
A cabinet of dunces
In the Trump regime, incompetence is a job requirement.
www.publicnotice.co
May 23, 2025 at 2:53 PM
"In an administration in which the sole goals are valorizing Trump & making him as rich as possible, any official who demonstrates an ability to effectively carry out the business of the govt is viewed w/ profound suspicion. But those willing to learn incompetence & moral obtuseness are promoted."
Reposted by Tom Donaldson
My take on the cruel and all too usual Republican budget: Ignores reality, endangers everyone, and makes safety-net remedies as complicated as possible—knowing and perhaps even intending that the result will be stunted and wrecked lives. @thebulwark.com www.thebulwark.com/p/republican...
The Party of ‘Denihilism’
Republicans are rejecting reality while embracing destruction—just look at the House budget megabill.
www.thebulwark.com
May 23, 2025 at 1:01 PM
My take on the cruel and all too usual Republican budget: Ignores reality, endangers everyone, and makes safety-net remedies as complicated as possible—knowing and perhaps even intending that the result will be stunted and wrecked lives. @thebulwark.com www.thebulwark.com/p/republican...
Reposted by Tom Donaldson
Thanks for playing, tho.
HASSAN: What is habeas corpus?
NOEM: Habeas corpus is a constitutional right that the president has to be able to remove people from this country
HASSAN: That's incorrect
NOEM: Habeas corpus is a constitutional right that the president has to be able to remove people from this country
HASSAN: That's incorrect
May 20, 2025 at 2:23 PM
Thanks for playing, tho.