Allison Torres Burtka
@allisonburtka.bsky.social
Freelance writer and editor in metro Detroit. Words in Outside, National Geographic, the Guardian, Audubon, Harvard Public Health, Well+Good, WebMD & more.
writing portfolio: https://atburtka.journoportfolio.com/
writing portfolio: https://atburtka.journoportfolio.com/
I'm happy to see that this @jama.com report includes both direct measures, like stronger licensing laws, and indirect ones, like cleaning and greening urban blight.
Research has shown that "greening" vacant lots can reduce gun violence: www.nationalgeographic.com/environment/...
Research has shown that "greening" vacant lots can reduce gun violence: www.nationalgeographic.com/environment/...
November 7, 2025 at 5:36 PM
I'm happy to see that this @jama.com report includes both direct measures, like stronger licensing laws, and indirect ones, like cleaning and greening urban blight.
Research has shown that "greening" vacant lots can reduce gun violence: www.nationalgeographic.com/environment/...
Research has shown that "greening" vacant lots can reduce gun violence: www.nationalgeographic.com/environment/...
Another example of an abortion ban making doctors stay away is Tennessee.
There, the number of applicants for OB-GYN residency spots in 2024 decreased 20.9 percent from the previous year. For other medical specialties, it decreased 12.7 percent.
rewirenewsgroup.com/2025/10/31/a...
There, the number of applicants for OB-GYN residency spots in 2024 decreased 20.9 percent from the previous year. For other medical specialties, it decreased 12.7 percent.
rewirenewsgroup.com/2025/10/31/a...
November 7, 2025 at 2:49 PM
Another example of an abortion ban making doctors stay away is Tennessee.
There, the number of applicants for OB-GYN residency spots in 2024 decreased 20.9 percent from the previous year. For other medical specialties, it decreased 12.7 percent.
rewirenewsgroup.com/2025/10/31/a...
There, the number of applicants for OB-GYN residency spots in 2024 decreased 20.9 percent from the previous year. For other medical specialties, it decreased 12.7 percent.
rewirenewsgroup.com/2025/10/31/a...
Jurors Serve Up Justice
A sandwich, Shroff said, cannot be a weapon hurled with force anywhere near enough to justify federal charges, and a bulletproof vest, she said, “is definitely going to keep you safe from a sandwich thrown at you.”
www.nbcnews.com/politics/jus...
www.nbcnews.com/politics/jus...
Jury chews over fate of 'sandwich guy,' who became a D.C. hero after chucking a sub at a federal officer
Defense attorney Sabrina Shroff told the jury that "a footlong from Subway could not and certainly did not inflict bodily harm."
www.nbcnews.com
November 6, 2025 at 10:43 PM
Jurors Serve Up Justice
Reposted by Allison Torres Burtka
November 5, 2025 at 11:09 PM
I wrote this because abortion bans are harming health care in widespread ways, and this research shows how these bans are getting in the way of pulmonary and critical care medicine.
Patients are dying because of these bans.
Patients are dying because of these bans.
Excellent reporting from @rewirenewsgroup.com on the impacts of abortion bans across medicine, including covering our research examining the effects in pulmonary and critical care medicine.
rewirenewsgroup.com/2025/10/31/a...
rewirenewsgroup.com/2025/10/31/a...
Abortion Bans Can Hinder Life-Saving Care for Pregnant Patients with Lung Disease or Medical Crises—Study
Pulmonologists, critical care doctors, even rheumatologists are struggling to adequately treat pregnant patients in states that restrict reproductive rights, new research reveals.
rewirenewsgroup.com
November 1, 2025 at 7:36 PM
I wrote this because abortion bans are harming health care in widespread ways, and this research shows how these bans are getting in the way of pulmonary and critical care medicine.
Patients are dying because of these bans.
Patients are dying because of these bans.
Abortion bans are worsening health care across the board, not just pregnancy and abortion care. They're preventing doctors from providing the standard of care and making them avoid states with bans--which will exacerbate existing problems with access to care.
rewirenewsgroup.com/2025/10/31/a...
rewirenewsgroup.com/2025/10/31/a...
Abortion Bans Can Hinder Life-Saving Care for Pregnant Patients with Lung Disease or Medical Crises—Study
Pulmonologists, critical care doctors, even rheumatologists are struggling to adequately treat pregnant patients in states that restrict reproductive rights, new research reveals.
rewirenewsgroup.com
October 31, 2025 at 4:05 PM
Abortion bans are worsening health care across the board, not just pregnancy and abortion care. They're preventing doctors from providing the standard of care and making them avoid states with bans--which will exacerbate existing problems with access to care.
rewirenewsgroup.com/2025/10/31/a...
rewirenewsgroup.com/2025/10/31/a...
They are trying to deport a CHILD who's been abused, neglected, or abandoned. Endangering a vulnerable child on purpose.
BREAKING: ICE unlawfully arrested E.J.C.C., a 16-year-old Bronx high schooler with protective SIJ status. ICE agents illegally detained him when he appeared for a mandatory, routine check in. Now, ICE is attempting to deport him to dangerous conditions in Ecuador.
We are filing for his release.
We are filing for his release.
October 24, 2025 at 9:52 PM
They are trying to deport a CHILD who's been abused, neglected, or abandoned. Endangering a vulnerable child on purpose.
As a freelance writer, I interview experts a lot. Today's the first day someone declined because they're an immigrant and they're afraid of having their name in an article that's critical of a government initiative. This is a professor. He loves living here and wants to be able to stay, he said.
October 24, 2025 at 9:47 PM
As a freelance writer, I interview experts a lot. Today's the first day someone declined because they're an immigrant and they're afraid of having their name in an article that's critical of a government initiative. This is a professor. He loves living here and wants to be able to stay, he said.
How are these kids--and their parents--ever going to get over this trauma?
Educators and advocates say a growing number of schools are stepping in to support students who have had one or both parents detained by ICE.
How NYC schools become lifelines for children after ICE arrests their parents
Educators and advocates say a growing number of schools are stepping in to support students who have had one or both parents detained by ICE.
bit.ly
October 23, 2025 at 9:49 PM
How are these kids--and their parents--ever going to get over this trauma?
Reposted by Allison Torres Burtka
This list is full of major companies like Apple and Microsoft. Other than retreating to the wilderness and going off the grid, I don't even know how to boycott the scores of corporations that have collaborated with this regime.
www.cnn.com/2025/10/23/p...
www.cnn.com/2025/10/23/p...
White House releases list of donors for Trump’s multi-million-dollar ballroom | CNN Politics
Apple, Amazon, Lockheed Martin, Microsoft, Google, Coinbase, Comcast and Meta are just some of the major companies who have made donations to build President Donald Trump’s proposed 90,000-square-foot...
www.cnn.com
October 23, 2025 at 10:55 AM
This list is full of major companies like Apple and Microsoft. Other than retreating to the wilderness and going off the grid, I don't even know how to boycott the scores of corporations that have collaborated with this regime.
www.cnn.com/2025/10/23/p...
www.cnn.com/2025/10/23/p...
Even the formerly enthusiastic UT Austin hasn't agreed to it yet.
@uarizona.bsky.social Rejects Compact, Others Leave Options Open
Monday’s deadline to provide feedback on the Trump administration’s proposed deal passed with no signatories and silence from some university leaders invited to join. https://bit.ly/3Wk8cOe
#EDUSky #AcademicSky #HigherEd
Monday’s deadline to provide feedback on the Trump administration’s proposed deal passed with no signatories and silence from some university leaders invited to join. https://bit.ly/3Wk8cOe
#EDUSky #AcademicSky #HigherEd
October 21, 2025 at 3:43 PM
Even the formerly enthusiastic UT Austin hasn't agreed to it yet.
This includes 20 children.
Americans have been dragged, tackled, beaten, tased and shot by immigration agents.
They’ve had their necks kneeled on.
They’ve been held outside in the rain while in their underwear.
At least three citizens were pregnant when agents detained them.
By @nicolefoy.bsky.social
They’ve had their necks kneeled on.
They’ve been held outside in the rain while in their underwear.
At least three citizens were pregnant when agents detained them.
By @nicolefoy.bsky.social
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 20, 2025 at 12:35 PM
This includes 20 children.
Reposted by Allison Torres Burtka
the Muppets have been real quiet since the Louvre heist
October 19, 2025 at 10:19 PM
the Muppets have been real quiet since the Louvre heist
That's 6 out of 6 so far! Now that the compact is open to other universities, I'm sure some will sign on, but it matters that 6 (of the 9 initially asked) have taken a stand.
Opening it to others is a little like inviting the whole class to a party after the first few kids you invited said no.
Opening it to others is a little like inviting the whole class to a party after the first few kids you invited said no.
DARTMOUTH OUT!
We are at 6 rejections. Vanderbilt is the only private left standing "considering" the compact along with UT Austin and the University of Arizona.
We are at 6 rejections. Vanderbilt is the only private left standing "considering" the compact along with UT Austin and the University of Arizona.
Dartmouth is OUT! Thank goodness... a friend at U of A and I have been playing "Who will be the last of the 9 standing?" and it's not gonna be us!
October 19, 2025 at 9:20 PM
That's 6 out of 6 so far! Now that the compact is open to other universities, I'm sure some will sign on, but it matters that 6 (of the 9 initially asked) have taken a stand.
Opening it to others is a little like inviting the whole class to a party after the first few kids you invited said no.
Opening it to others is a little like inviting the whole class to a party after the first few kids you invited said no.
This gives me hope for the future of journalism.
The Purdue student paper, which owns its own presses, printed the planned print version of Indiana U's paper that that had been censored by the university. Full text of the image in alt text.
#censorship #solidarity #resist #freedomofthepress #printmedia
#censorship #solidarity #resist #freedomofthepress #printmedia
October 19, 2025 at 7:08 PM
This gives me hope for the future of journalism.
That's 5 out of 5! I'd like to see a more forceful rejection from one of these schools, but any rejection will do.
So far, Brown's is the most forceful, and USC's is the most polite and diplomatic.
So far, Brown's is the most forceful, and USC's is the most polite and diplomatic.
M.I.T.
Brown.
Penn.
USC.
Now UVA — “the fifth school to rebuff a White House proposal to give universities preferential treatment if they uphold a set of White House demands.”
@nytimes.com
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/17/u...
Brown.
Penn.
USC.
Now UVA — “the fifth school to rebuff a White House proposal to give universities preferential treatment if they uphold a set of White House demands.”
@nytimes.com
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/17/u...
October 18, 2025 at 2:10 PM
That's 5 out of 5! I'd like to see a more forceful rejection from one of these schools, but any rejection will do.
So far, Brown's is the most forceful, and USC's is the most polite and diplomatic.
So far, Brown's is the most forceful, and USC's is the most polite and diplomatic.
Here, USC is the most diplomatic friend in your friend group. The one everybody nominates to tell your train wreck friend that she's been treating everybody like shit and things need to change--but without hurting her feelings.
October 16, 2025 at 11:08 PM
Here, USC is the most diplomatic friend in your friend group. The one everybody nominates to tell your train wreck friend that she's been treating everybody like shit and things need to change--but without hurting her feelings.
Reposted by Allison Torres Burtka
This is awful. It's as if @stephenking.bsky.social wrote the Shawshank Redemption in his typical horror genre.
This guy basically is a real-life Andy Dufresne.
This guy basically is a real-life Andy Dufresne.
October 13, 2025 at 8:52 PM
This is awful. It's as if @stephenking.bsky.social wrote the Shawshank Redemption in his typical horror genre.
This guy basically is a real-life Andy Dufresne.
This guy basically is a real-life Andy Dufresne.
So none of these straight white men wanted to be named publicly as the straight white men who got rejected by the Michigan Law Review and blamed diversity. www.freep.com/story/news/e...
Group withdraws suit saying University of Michigan discriminates against straight white men
One of the law firms that filed the lawsuit, America First Legal, was cofounded by Stephen Miller, a top adviser to President Donald Trump.
www.freep.com
October 14, 2025 at 12:12 PM
So none of these straight white men wanted to be named publicly as the straight white men who got rejected by the Michigan Law Review and blamed diversity. www.freep.com/story/news/e...
Reposted by Allison Torres Burtka
As basic question from an ex-police reporter: Can some of our journalists detail the training regimen all these new federal agents receive? The lethal incompetence involving use of force and perameters of the 4A suggests they are just handed guns, masks and badges and told to go fuck people up.
ICE is made up of men who have failed the human test and have nothing of value to offer this nation.
Adults with decency and options and possibilities don’t do this shit.
Adults with decency and options and possibilities don’t do this shit.
October 7, 2025 at 12:04 PM
As basic question from an ex-police reporter: Can some of our journalists detail the training regimen all these new federal agents receive? The lethal incompetence involving use of force and perameters of the 4A suggests they are just handed guns, masks and badges and told to go fuck people up.
irresponsible journalism
This is how propaganda works. They slapped an image on this from Los Angeles in 1992 during Rodney King riots.
October 7, 2025 at 1:37 PM
irresponsible journalism
These absolute pieces of shit.
This is what the Health & Human Services and HUD websites are displaying right now.
This is what the Health & Human Services and HUD websites are displaying right now.
October 2, 2025 at 3:59 PM
These absolute pieces of shit.
This is what the Health & Human Services and HUD websites are displaying right now.
This is what the Health & Human Services and HUD websites are displaying right now.
I agree. But also, pro-life is a lie.
Abortion bans have been killing women in states across the country since Dobbs.
Abortion bans have been killing women in states across the country since Dobbs.
Pope Leo: "Someone who says 'I'm against abortion', but is in favor of the death penalty, is not really pro-life. Someone who says 'I'm against abortion, but I'm in agreement with the inhuman treatment of immigrants who are in the United States', I don't know if that's pro-life."
October 1, 2025 at 6:13 PM
I agree. But also, pro-life is a lie.
Abortion bans have been killing women in states across the country since Dobbs.
Abortion bans have been killing women in states across the country since Dobbs.
At this rate, there aren't going to be any U.S. towns or cities that haven't experienced a mass shooting.
Multiple people were shot at a Michigan church, which was also set on fire, authorities say abcnews.go.com/US/multiple-...
September 28, 2025 at 7:45 PM
At this rate, there aren't going to be any U.S. towns or cities that haven't experienced a mass shooting.
So greed beat fascism. Yay, I guess?
every corporate decision comes down to money and clearly the economics for abc/disney outweighed the threats from the fascist government
September 22, 2025 at 10:28 PM
So greed beat fascism. Yay, I guess?