Tim
@tslarock.bsky.social
I do science but I don't really post about it
Reposted by Tim
Trump is bombing boats in the Caribbean almost daily — no evidence, no charges, just killings. How did the U.S. get here?
Greg Grandin reports.
Greg Grandin reports.
Trump’s Kill Zone in the Caribbean Is an Escalation of the Never-ending U.S. Drug War
The strikes on boats near Venezuela mark a new phase in a murderous war on Latin America that has been waged by 10 U.S. presidents.
inthesetimes.com
November 15, 2025 at 2:43 PM
Trump is bombing boats in the Caribbean almost daily — no evidence, no charges, just killings. How did the U.S. get here?
Greg Grandin reports.
Greg Grandin reports.
Reposted by Tim
MAGA’s ongoing war on academic freedom, reflected in headlines from the last 24 hours.
November 14, 2025 at 1:17 PM
MAGA’s ongoing war on academic freedom, reflected in headlines from the last 24 hours.
Reposted by Tim
Bovino went into popular Carniceria Aguascalientes in heart of Little Village.
“They said they were just here to buy something,” said Elizabeth Gutierrez. “I told them we wouldn’t serve them and escorted them out. Bovino seemed upset, but I don’t care.” www.chicagotribune.com/2025/11/08/c...
“They said they were just here to buy something,” said Elizabeth Gutierrez. “I told them we wouldn’t serve them and escorted them out. Bovino seemed upset, but I don’t care.” www.chicagotribune.com/2025/11/08/c...
Shots fired at immigration agents in Little Village as residents confront Bovino, Border Patrol, authorities say
Community members once again confronted a convoy of Border Patrol agents led by Cmdr. Gregory Bovino as it moved through Chicago’s South Side neighborhoods.
www.chicagotribune.com
November 8, 2025 at 11:03 PM
Bovino went into popular Carniceria Aguascalientes in heart of Little Village.
“They said they were just here to buy something,” said Elizabeth Gutierrez. “I told them we wouldn’t serve them and escorted them out. Bovino seemed upset, but I don’t care.” www.chicagotribune.com/2025/11/08/c...
“They said they were just here to buy something,” said Elizabeth Gutierrez. “I told them we wouldn’t serve them and escorted them out. Bovino seemed upset, but I don’t care.” www.chicagotribune.com/2025/11/08/c...
Reposted by Tim
There has been a rise in unexpected deaths in MA prisons, underscoring long-standing concerns about safe conditions, adequate healthcare, & mental health treatment. These deaths were preventable. We need accountability and immediate reform to protect lives.
www.masslive.com/news/2025/11...
www.masslive.com/news/2025/11...
Answers demanded after rash of ‘unexpected’ deaths in Mass. prisons; DOC initiates review
Advocates for prisoners say the recent deaths "raise fundamental questions about whether the DOC can fulfill its most basic obligations." The DOC says it has a plan.
www.masslive.com
November 5, 2025 at 9:42 PM
There has been a rise in unexpected deaths in MA prisons, underscoring long-standing concerns about safe conditions, adequate healthcare, & mental health treatment. These deaths were preventable. We need accountability and immediate reform to protect lives.
www.masslive.com/news/2025/11...
www.masslive.com/news/2025/11...
Reposted by Tim
With all the excitement about the election I don’t want this story to get lost. This morning 8 car wash workers in Boston were kidnapped by federal agents in the largest workplace raid in the area in recent memory.
The details are horrifying.
🧵
www.bostonglobe.com/2025/11/04/m...
The details are horrifying.
🧵
www.bostonglobe.com/2025/11/04/m...
Immigration agents raid Allston car wash and detain several workers - The Boston Globe
Many of them held legal status but were unable to immediately produce their documentation to the agents, according to their manager.
www.bostonglobe.com
November 5, 2025 at 2:16 AM
With all the excitement about the election I don’t want this story to get lost. This morning 8 car wash workers in Boston were kidnapped by federal agents in the largest workplace raid in the area in recent memory.
The details are horrifying.
🧵
www.bostonglobe.com/2025/11/04/m...
The details are horrifying.
🧵
www.bostonglobe.com/2025/11/04/m...
Reposted by Tim
Disturbing news out of Auburn University, where the admin is pressuring professors to sign a statement saying they're complying with an "anti-DEI" law and TPUSA is holding a rally and trying to record classes.
I hear faculty are terrified to sign, worried this is a pretense for mass firings.
I hear faculty are terrified to sign, worried this is a pretense for mass firings.
Auburn University requires faculty to review courses to comply with anti-DEI law
Auburn's provost office posted a web site on how to comply with state and federal DEI mandates on Oct. 31.
www.al.com
November 5, 2025 at 12:16 AM
Disturbing news out of Auburn University, where the admin is pressuring professors to sign a statement saying they're complying with an "anti-DEI" law and TPUSA is holding a rally and trying to record classes.
I hear faculty are terrified to sign, worried this is a pretense for mass firings.
I hear faculty are terrified to sign, worried this is a pretense for mass firings.
Reposted by Tim
New incredible detail here: ICE says a match in its facial recognition app Mobile Fortify is a "definitive" determination of a person's status, and that this overrides birth certificates. This is an app ICE is using in the field to scan people
www.404media.co/ice-and-cbp-...
www.404media.co/ice-and-cbp-...
October 29, 2025 at 3:03 PM
New incredible detail here: ICE says a match in its facial recognition app Mobile Fortify is a "definitive" determination of a person's status, and that this overrides birth certificates. This is an app ICE is using in the field to scan people
www.404media.co/ice-and-cbp-...
www.404media.co/ice-and-cbp-...
Reposted by Tim
I have been charged in a federal indictment sought by the Department of Justice.
This political prosecution is an attack on all of our First Amendment rights. I’m not backing down, and we’re going to win.
This political prosecution is an attack on all of our First Amendment rights. I’m not backing down, and we’re going to win.
October 29, 2025 at 4:55 PM
I have been charged in a federal indictment sought by the Department of Justice.
This political prosecution is an attack on all of our First Amendment rights. I’m not backing down, and we’re going to win.
This political prosecution is an attack on all of our First Amendment rights. I’m not backing down, and we’re going to win.
Reposted by Tim
This administration has now carried out more than 50 extrajudicial executions
abcnews.go.com/Politics/us-...
abcnews.go.com/Politics/us-...
14 dead in more strikes against alleged drug boats, Hegseth says
The defense secretary said three strikes targeted four alleged drug boats.
abcnews.go.com
October 28, 2025 at 2:36 PM
This administration has now carried out more than 50 extrajudicial executions
abcnews.go.com/Politics/us-...
abcnews.go.com/Politics/us-...
Reposted by Tim
"ICE has also purchased spyware in recent weeks that enables it to remotely hack into smartphones and extract data, even if the phones are locked or communication is over encrypted apps."
ICE amps up its surveillance powers, targeting immigrants and antifa
Iris scanners, facial recognition apps, phone-hacking software and cellphone location data are among the agency’s recent technological purchases.
www.washingtonpost.com
October 20, 2025 at 8:04 PM
"ICE has also purchased spyware in recent weeks that enables it to remotely hack into smartphones and extract data, even if the phones are locked or communication is over encrypted apps."
Reposted by Tim
BREAKING: The White House has confirmed it's called the 5 institutions who haven't signed its compact to a meeting this afternoon. Insiders tell us it's "an effort to regain momentum by threatening institutions to sign" @knottkatherine.bsky.social has the scoop www.insidehighered.com/news/governm...
White House to Meet with Universities Regarding Compact
The scheduled meeting follows increasingly forceful pushback to the wide-ranging proposal.
www.insidehighered.com
October 17, 2025 at 5:03 PM
BREAKING: The White House has confirmed it's called the 5 institutions who haven't signed its compact to a meeting this afternoon. Insiders tell us it's "an effort to regain momentum by threatening institutions to sign" @knottkatherine.bsky.social has the scoop www.insidehighered.com/news/governm...
Reposted by Tim
Trump seized the money Congress earmarked for research to pay troops – it’s “by far the most illegal budgetary action he’s taken as POTUS.” If Trump can spend money however he wants, “the Constitution is null and void.” From @ddayen.bsky.social and Ryan Cooper: trib.al/LNAXlYI
Mad King Trump Seizes Your Money
The president is doing almost exactly what Charles I did to touch off the English Civil War.
trib.al
October 17, 2025 at 7:15 PM
Trump seized the money Congress earmarked for research to pay troops – it’s “by far the most illegal budgetary action he’s taken as POTUS.” If Trump can spend money however he wants, “the Constitution is null and void.” From @ddayen.bsky.social and Ryan Cooper: trib.al/LNAXlYI
Reposted by Tim
NEW: The government does not track how often immigration agents grab citizens. So ProPublica did.
We found more than 170 such incidents since the start of the second Trump administration. Our tally — almost certainly incomplete — includes nearly 20 children, two of whom have cancer.
We found more than 170 such incidents since the start of the second Trump administration. Our tally — almost certainly incomplete — includes nearly 20 children, two of whom have cancer.
More Than 170 U.S. Citizens Have Been Held by Immigration Agents. They’ve Been Kicked, Dragged and Detained for Days.
The government does not track how often immigration agents grab citizens. So ProPublica did. Our tally — almost certainly incomplete — includes people who were held for days without a lawyer. And near...
www.propublica.org
October 16, 2025 at 4:01 PM
NEW: The government does not track how often immigration agents grab citizens. So ProPublica did.
We found more than 170 such incidents since the start of the second Trump administration. Our tally — almost certainly incomplete — includes nearly 20 children, two of whom have cancer.
We found more than 170 such incidents since the start of the second Trump administration. Our tally — almost certainly incomplete — includes nearly 20 children, two of whom have cancer.
Reposted by Tim
I love this man.
Scientist Who Was Offline 'Living His Best Life' Stunned by Nobel Prize Win
Fred Ramsdell was on vacation in the Montana wilderness when he and two colleagues received the honor for their breakthroughs in immunology.
www.wired.com
October 8, 2025 at 8:57 PM
I love this man.
Reposted by Tim
What people cannot seem to get through their heads is that the justifications the Trump administration uses to attack higher education is a *pretext* not the actual reason. There is no reasonable permanent compromise available, because their actual goal is control.
Danielle Allen fails the Lando test / lives out the Arrested Development meme: "A deal on the core principles in a compact could then become a framework for negotiating on legislation." Come ON. With this administration and this Congress?
therenovator.substack.com/p/why-im-exc...
therenovator.substack.com/p/why-im-exc...
October 6, 2025 at 10:06 PM
What people cannot seem to get through their heads is that the justifications the Trump administration uses to attack higher education is a *pretext* not the actual reason. There is no reasonable permanent compromise available, because their actual goal is control.
Reposted by Tim
There are some people whom the media has decided are "leading intellectuals", regardless of the views of their academic colleagues. Invariably they are people who justify - or at the very least do not challenge - economic power. Steven Pinker is a stand-out example.
www.monbiot.com/2018/03/09/c...
www.monbiot.com/2018/03/09/c...
Contrary to Reason
Steven Pinker claims to champion Enlightenment values. But his latest book is an affront to them
www.monbiot.com
October 7, 2025 at 12:06 PM
There are some people whom the media has decided are "leading intellectuals", regardless of the views of their academic colleagues. Invariably they are people who justify - or at the very least do not challenge - economic power. Steven Pinker is a stand-out example.
www.monbiot.com/2018/03/09/c...
www.monbiot.com/2018/03/09/c...
Reposted by Tim
icymi - “Deloitte Australia will issue a partial refund to the federal government after admitting that artificial intelligence had been used in the creation of a $440,000 report littered with errors including… a made-up quote from a Federal Court judgement.” www.afr.com/companies/pr...
Deloitte to refund government, admits using AI in $440k report
Deloitte will issue a partial refund to the government after admitting that artificial intelligence had been used in the creation of a report littered with errors.
www.afr.com
October 7, 2025 at 1:13 AM
icymi - “Deloitte Australia will issue a partial refund to the federal government after admitting that artificial intelligence had been used in the creation of a $440,000 report littered with errors including… a made-up quote from a Federal Court judgement.” www.afr.com/companies/pr...
Reposted by Tim
In July, we documented nearly 50 incidents of immigration officers shattering car windows to make arrests — a tactic experts say was rarely used before Trump took office.
ICE claims its officers use a “minimum amount of force.”
You can judge for yourself.
ICE claims its officers use a “minimum amount of force.”
You can judge for yourself.
“We’ll Smash the Fucking Window Out and Drag Him Out”
We’ve documented nearly 50 incidents of immigration officers shattering car windows to make arrests — a tactic experts say was rarely used before Trump took office. ICE claims its officers use a “mini...
projects.propublica.org
October 4, 2025 at 1:40 AM
In July, we documented nearly 50 incidents of immigration officers shattering car windows to make arrests — a tactic experts say was rarely used before Trump took office.
ICE claims its officers use a “minimum amount of force.”
You can judge for yourself.
ICE claims its officers use a “minimum amount of force.”
You can judge for yourself.
Reposted by Tim
In today’s completely unsurprising news, the ICE officer very briefly, taken off duty for shoving a woman to the ground in New York is back on the job not even a week later.
www.cbsnews.com/news/ice-off...
www.cbsnews.com/news/ice-off...
ICE officer seen on video pushing woman to ground has returned to duty
An ICE officer who was initially relieved of his duties after being captured on video pushing a woman to the ground has been returned to duty, two U.S. officials familiar with the matter told CBS News...
www.cbsnews.com
September 29, 2025 at 9:23 PM
In today’s completely unsurprising news, the ICE officer very briefly, taken off duty for shoving a woman to the ground in New York is back on the job not even a week later.
www.cbsnews.com/news/ice-off...
www.cbsnews.com/news/ice-off...
Reposted by Tim
Video below: “I am American. I am American.” A man pleads, “Ayúdame, ayúdame. Help me!”
Meanwhile, an ICE officer pulls a gun on innocent bystanders — in Hyattsville, MD. This is happening in America. Right now.
What are we doing about this? It MUST stop. @SenateDems @HouseDemocrats
Meanwhile, an ICE officer pulls a gun on innocent bystanders — in Hyattsville, MD. This is happening in America. Right now.
What are we doing about this? It MUST stop. @SenateDems @HouseDemocrats
September 25, 2025 at 10:23 PM
Video below: “I am American. I am American.” A man pleads, “Ayúdame, ayúdame. Help me!”
Meanwhile, an ICE officer pulls a gun on innocent bystanders — in Hyattsville, MD. This is happening in America. Right now.
What are we doing about this? It MUST stop. @SenateDems @HouseDemocrats
Meanwhile, an ICE officer pulls a gun on innocent bystanders — in Hyattsville, MD. This is happening in America. Right now.
What are we doing about this? It MUST stop. @SenateDems @HouseDemocrats
Reposted by Tim
In the news from Texas: Angelo State University has just informed faculty that "if they make any statement implying that there are more than two sexes or genders (male and female) they will be fired." conchoobserver.com/2025/09/19/a...
ASU to Put New Transgender Policies in Place
Transgender discussions, language to be hounded off college campuses in Texas, following orders from Trump, Abbott.
conchoobserver.com
September 22, 2025 at 7:22 PM
In the news from Texas: Angelo State University has just informed faculty that "if they make any statement implying that there are more than two sexes or genders (male and female) they will be fired." conchoobserver.com/2025/09/19/a...
Reposted by Tim
📽️ WATCH: Epidemiologist Erin McCanlies spent much of the past 20 years studying how parents’ exposure to toxic chemicals affects the chances that they will have an autistic child.
RFK Jr. cut her entire division — yet promises to identify the causes of autism by September: https://propub.li/4nhXQua
RFK Jr. cut her entire division — yet promises to identify the causes of autism by September: https://propub.li/4nhXQua
September 21, 2025 at 9:01 PM
📽️ WATCH: Epidemiologist Erin McCanlies spent much of the past 20 years studying how parents’ exposure to toxic chemicals affects the chances that they will have an autistic child.
RFK Jr. cut her entire division — yet promises to identify the causes of autism by September: https://propub.li/4nhXQua
RFK Jr. cut her entire division — yet promises to identify the causes of autism by September: https://propub.li/4nhXQua
Reposted by Tim
At $100,000 per H1B visa, Amazon alone will end up paying $1 Billion. Or, more likely, laying off most of their international staff.
www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-h...
www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-h...
Trump administration to add $100,000 fee for H-1B visas
The Trump administration is targeting a visa widely used by tech companies and other employers to hire foreign workers.
www.cbsnews.com
September 19, 2025 at 11:04 PM
At $100,000 per H1B visa, Amazon alone will end up paying $1 Billion. Or, more likely, laying off most of their international staff.
www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-h...
www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-h...
Reposted by Tim
I wrote about the experience of government of, by, and for people who have been driven insane by screens. (This is a gift link, please Consider Defector if you are interested in subscribing to a website) defector.com/the-united-s...
The United States Of Snitches | Defector
On Saturday, the chairman of the Republican Party in Michigan’s Oakland County spent his afternoon directing his online followers’ attention to local businesses that had not lowered their flags to hal...
defector.com
September 18, 2025 at 1:55 AM
I wrote about the experience of government of, by, and for people who have been driven insane by screens. (This is a gift link, please Consider Defector if you are interested in subscribing to a website) defector.com/the-united-s...
Reposted by Tim
The union representing the musicians from Jimmy Kimmel’s band releases a statement calling the FCC’s pressure on Disney “state censorship.”
September 18, 2025 at 1:59 AM
The union representing the musicians from Jimmy Kimmel’s band releases a statement calling the FCC’s pressure on Disney “state censorship.”