Kathleen Bachynski
@bachynski.bsky.social
Associate Professor of public health at Muhlenberg College. History, ethics, epidemiology, sports, injury prevention.
Pinned
I love this photo that @melissabender.bsky.social captured of me at the #standupforscience rally yesterday in NYC. I wonder if I could make this my official faculty photo lol @jackiantonovich.bsky.social @kimberlywheiman.bsky.social @archaeoscape.bsky.social @sarahruncie.bsky.social
Reposted by Kathleen Bachynski
Every time someone’s like “put that in the louvre,” my head now goes “and then steal it from the louvre, the security password is louvre”
November 11, 2025 at 3:33 AM
Every time someone’s like “put that in the louvre,” my head now goes “and then steal it from the louvre, the security password is louvre”
“Do I think it’s a pure victory and we have nothing to worry about?” Jim Obergefell, the named plaintiff in the original case, said… “No, but I am taking the win today. Everyone across the country who believes that we deserve the right to marry the person we love… we’re all breathing a bit easier.”
Marriage Ruling Relieves Gay Americans and Leaves Conservatives Pledging New Challenges
www.nytimes.com
November 11, 2025 at 2:03 AM
“Do I think it’s a pure victory and we have nothing to worry about?” Jim Obergefell, the named plaintiff in the original case, said… “No, but I am taking the win today. Everyone across the country who believes that we deserve the right to marry the person we love… we’re all breathing a bit easier.”
Reposted by Kathleen Bachynski
Listened to the entire podcast and was so deeply upset. So much harm done to so many families. So many kids traumatized by the state!
November 11, 2025 at 1:10 AM
Listened to the entire podcast and was so deeply upset. So much harm done to so many families. So many kids traumatized by the state!
Worth listening: “When the reporter Dyan Neary attended a county commissioners’ meeting in the Lehigh Valley in Pennsylvania, she watched dozens of people step up to the mic to tell harrowing stories… They all claimed that the local hospital had misdiagnosed their children as victims of abuse.”
From Serial Productions: The Preventionist
www.nytimes.com
November 11, 2025 at 1:09 AM
Worth listening: “When the reporter Dyan Neary attended a county commissioners’ meeting in the Lehigh Valley in Pennsylvania, she watched dozens of people step up to the mic to tell harrowing stories… They all claimed that the local hospital had misdiagnosed their children as victims of abuse.”
Reposted by Kathleen Bachynski
Super excited that we're hiring a senior writer to join @wired.com's culture team! If you're obsessed with internet culture and like our vibe, apply! condenast.wd5.myworkdayjobs.com/en-US/CondeC...
Senior Writer, Culture
WIRED is where a better future is imagined. For three decades, we have been the indispensable guide to a world in constant transformation. We cover humanity’s biggest challenges, from climate change t...
condenast.wd5.myworkdayjobs.com
November 7, 2025 at 10:48 PM
Super excited that we're hiring a senior writer to join @wired.com's culture team! If you're obsessed with internet culture and like our vibe, apply! condenast.wd5.myworkdayjobs.com/en-US/CondeC...
I just re-watched this 10-year-old @randyrainbow.bsky.social video in honor of the news that the Supreme Court denied Kim Davis’ request.
November 10, 2025 at 11:07 PM
I just re-watched this 10-year-old @randyrainbow.bsky.social video in honor of the news that the Supreme Court denied Kim Davis’ request.
“Public health experts in Canada are concerned that measles is a harbinger for the return of other diseases, like polio…
“Measles is the canary in the coal mine because of its phenomenal transmissibility,” said Dr. Brian Ward, a professor who studies infectious diseases at McGill University”
“Measles is the canary in the coal mine because of its phenomenal transmissibility,” said Dr. Brian Ward, a professor who studies infectious diseases at McGill University”
How Canada Lost Decades of Progress in Fighting Measles
www.nytimes.com
November 10, 2025 at 9:23 PM
“Public health experts in Canada are concerned that measles is a harbinger for the return of other diseases, like polio…
“Measles is the canary in the coal mine because of its phenomenal transmissibility,” said Dr. Brian Ward, a professor who studies infectious diseases at McGill University”
“Measles is the canary in the coal mine because of its phenomenal transmissibility,” said Dr. Brian Ward, a professor who studies infectious diseases at McGill University”
Ugh. And the US may be next. “Health Canada has just released a statement announcing that the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) has notified the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) that Canada no longer holds measles elimination status.” h/t @jackiantonovich.bsky.social
Canada loses measles elimination status | CBC
www.cbc.ca
November 10, 2025 at 2:37 PM
Ugh. And the US may be next. “Health Canada has just released a statement announcing that the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) has notified the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) that Canada no longer holds measles elimination status.” h/t @jackiantonovich.bsky.social
“God is an anti-vaxxer and he needs us,” declared Del Bigtree, a close ally of Mr. Kennedy who served as his communications director…
”I’ve come to this anti-vax conference with a message that we need to be more boldly anti-vax,” said Mark Gorton, the president of the MAHA Institute”
”I’ve come to this anti-vax conference with a message that we need to be more boldly anti-vax,” said Mark Gorton, the president of the MAHA Institute”
Emboldened, Kennedy Allies Embrace a Label They Once Rejected: ‘Anti-Vax’
www.nytimes.com
November 10, 2025 at 1:07 PM
“God is an anti-vaxxer and he needs us,” declared Del Bigtree, a close ally of Mr. Kennedy who served as his communications director…
”I’ve come to this anti-vax conference with a message that we need to be more boldly anti-vax,” said Mark Gorton, the president of the MAHA Institute”
”I’ve come to this anti-vax conference with a message that we need to be more boldly anti-vax,” said Mark Gorton, the president of the MAHA Institute”
“Placenta accreta used to be very rare, affecting 1 in 4,000 pregnancies in the 1970s. But as cesarean surgeries have become more common in recent decades, so has accreta. While its prevalence has been hard to pin down, one report found a rate as high as 1 in 272 deliveries.”
A Grave Condition Caused by C-Sections Is on the Rise
www.nytimes.com
November 10, 2025 at 3:13 AM
“Placenta accreta used to be very rare, affecting 1 in 4,000 pregnancies in the 1970s. But as cesarean surgeries have become more common in recent decades, so has accreta. While its prevalence has been hard to pin down, one report found a rate as high as 1 in 272 deliveries.”
“A federal judge warned of an “existential threat to democracy” in a searing first-person essay published on Sunday, saying he had stepped down from the bench to speak out against President Trump. He accused Mr. Trump of “using the law for partisan purposes, targeting his adversaries”
Federal Judge, Warning of ‘Existential Threat’ to Democracy, Resigns
www.nytimes.com
November 10, 2025 at 2:24 AM
“A federal judge warned of an “existential threat to democracy” in a searing first-person essay published on Sunday, saying he had stepped down from the bench to speak out against President Trump. He accused Mr. Trump of “using the law for partisan purposes, targeting his adversaries”
“A bipartisan Senate deal has been reached to fund the government through January 30 and to set a vote on an Affordable Care Act bill in December, in a major sign the government shutdown is poised to end, according to a source…
The deal includes a reversal of Trump’s firings of federal employees”
The deal includes a reversal of Trump’s firings of federal employees”
Senate reaches deal to extend government funding in major sign shutdown is poised to end | CNN Politics
A bipartisan Senate deal has been reached to fund the government through January 30 and to set a vote on an Affordable Care Act bill in December, in a major sign the government shutdown is poised to e...
www.cnn.com
November 10, 2025 at 12:09 AM
“A bipartisan Senate deal has been reached to fund the government through January 30 and to set a vote on an Affordable Care Act bill in December, in a major sign the government shutdown is poised to end, according to a source…
The deal includes a reversal of Trump’s firings of federal employees”
The deal includes a reversal of Trump’s firings of federal employees”
“The goal had been to vaccinate about 90% of around 13 million eligible girls. Khurram Akram, technical director at Pakistan Federal Directorate of Immunization's, estimates that the actual percentage of girls vaccinated was around 70%.
"Our biggest challenge was to counter misinformation”
"Our biggest challenge was to counter misinformation”
A first-time HPV vaccination campaign sees some success -- and strong resistance
The goal: inoculate 90% of girls in parts of Pakistan to immunize them against the infection that causes cervical cancer. "Our biggest challenge was to counter misinformation," says a spokesman.
www.npr.org
November 9, 2025 at 11:08 PM
“The goal had been to vaccinate about 90% of around 13 million eligible girls. Khurram Akram, technical director at Pakistan Federal Directorate of Immunization's, estimates that the actual percentage of girls vaccinated was around 70%.
"Our biggest challenge was to counter misinformation”
"Our biggest challenge was to counter misinformation”
“We put our kids in these programs to learn to care for others and think about people other than themselves,” Granholm said. ICE agents “are not welcome in our neighborhood. We have not asked for this. It’s frankly putting us and our kids in danger.”
Masked ICE agents put damper on Oak Park Girl Scout food drive: ‘It’s heartbreaking as a mom’
Federal immigration agents were confronted in Oak Park on Saturday morning by residents blowing whistles as local Girl Scouts collect food for local pantries, rattling some girls and their parents.
chicago.suntimes.com
November 9, 2025 at 10:26 PM
“We put our kids in these programs to learn to care for others and think about people other than themselves,” Granholm said. ICE agents “are not welcome in our neighborhood. We have not asked for this. It’s frankly putting us and our kids in danger.”
This short documentary is absolutely gut-wrenching to watch. Children are starving to death due to USAID cuts that were made in our name. I can’t imagine any of my fellow Americans supporting this devastation. Meanwhile, Elon Musk gets a $1 trillion pay package approved by Tesla.
No other agency of the U.S. government has saved more lives per dollar than U.S.A.I.D.—it supplied medicine, food, and staffing for some of the most desperate and vulnerable. A new short documentary shows the impact of its dismantling. https://newyorkermag.visitlink.me/2a5Jm5
The Shutdown of U.S.A.I.D. Has Already Killed Hundreds of Thousands
The short documentary “Rovina’s Choice” tells the story of what goes when aid goes.
newyorkermag.visitlink.me
November 9, 2025 at 10:18 PM
This short documentary is absolutely gut-wrenching to watch. Children are starving to death due to USAID cuts that were made in our name. I can’t imagine any of my fellow Americans supporting this devastation. Meanwhile, Elon Musk gets a $1 trillion pay package approved by Tesla.
Reposted by Kathleen Bachynski
Bahahahahaha The New York Times just printed an opinion piece declaring "AI is intelligent, so long as we redefine what intelligence means to include it. And soon AI will be conscious, because we'll just redefine consciousness too!"
Nothing means anything! Yay!
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/08/o...
Nothing means anything! Yay!
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/08/o...
Opinion | A.I. Is on Its Way to Something Even More Remarkable Than Intelligence
www.nytimes.com
November 9, 2025 at 3:02 PM
Bahahahahaha The New York Times just printed an opinion piece declaring "AI is intelligent, so long as we redefine what intelligence means to include it. And soon AI will be conscious, because we'll just redefine consciousness too!"
Nothing means anything! Yay!
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/08/o...
Nothing means anything! Yay!
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/08/o...
“There is a facade to fine dining that belies its eternal struggles. No matter how costly the wine, how crisp the tablecloth… Margins are razor-thin.
Which is why many in the restaurant industry may not condone robbing a bank, but can understand the depth of desperation that would lead one to do so”
Which is why many in the restaurant industry may not condone robbing a bank, but can understand the depth of desperation that would lead one to do so”
The Celebrated Chef Who Robbed Banks
www.nytimes.com
November 9, 2025 at 3:56 PM
“There is a facade to fine dining that belies its eternal struggles. No matter how costly the wine, how crisp the tablecloth… Margins are razor-thin.
Which is why many in the restaurant industry may not condone robbing a bank, but can understand the depth of desperation that would lead one to do so”
Which is why many in the restaurant industry may not condone robbing a bank, but can understand the depth of desperation that would lead one to do so”
Reposted by Kathleen Bachynski
How do you replace magical thinking with critical thinking? Question for our #SciWri25 plenary speaker but it really is the true challenge of our times. 🧪#ScienceSky
November 9, 2025 at 3:03 PM
How do you replace magical thinking with critical thinking? Question for our #SciWri25 plenary speaker but it really is the true challenge of our times. 🧪#ScienceSky
Reposted by Kathleen Bachynski
The kindest thing I can say about this story is that it was written too early in an unfolding disaster (maybe for the strategic reason of getting it in the Sunday report).
It absolutely does not reflect multiple in-system experiences traveling yesterday (including mine), nor real-time flight maps.
It absolutely does not reflect multiple in-system experiences traveling yesterday (including mine), nor real-time flight maps.
“The disruptions from federal restrictions on flying at the nation’s busiest airports were challenging, but relatively contained this weekend. But the cuts are expected to grow in the coming days, threatening to wreak havoc for airlines and travelers as Thanksgiving approaches.”
Airport Disruptions May Get Worse This Week
www.nytimes.com
November 9, 2025 at 2:48 PM
The kindest thing I can say about this story is that it was written too early in an unfolding disaster (maybe for the strategic reason of getting it in the Sunday report).
It absolutely does not reflect multiple in-system experiences traveling yesterday (including mine), nor real-time flight maps.
It absolutely does not reflect multiple in-system experiences traveling yesterday (including mine), nor real-time flight maps.
Reposted by Kathleen Bachynski
This is an absolutely insane administrative process. Within the space of a week, states were told by judges/White House
*no SNAP benefits
*half benefits
*full benefits
*pause provision of benefits.
Result is chaos, uncertainty, and uneven access to benefits depending on where people live.
*no SNAP benefits
*half benefits
*full benefits
*pause provision of benefits.
Result is chaos, uncertainty, and uneven access to benefits depending on where people live.
NEW: The Trump admin told states it must immediately "undo" the work to provide full food stamp benefits, or face penalties. The feds sent this in a late-night memo, only adding to the chaos and confusion around SNAP. www.nytimes.com/2025/11/09/b...
Trump Administration Demands States ‘Undo’ Work to Send Full Food Stamps
www.nytimes.com
November 9, 2025 at 2:34 PM
This is an absolutely insane administrative process. Within the space of a week, states were told by judges/White House
*no SNAP benefits
*half benefits
*full benefits
*pause provision of benefits.
Result is chaos, uncertainty, and uneven access to benefits depending on where people live.
*no SNAP benefits
*half benefits
*full benefits
*pause provision of benefits.
Result is chaos, uncertainty, and uneven access to benefits depending on where people live.
Reposted by Kathleen Bachynski
HE WAITED TO COME FORWARD ON PURPOSE:
“I didn’t want to say immediately it was me,” he said. “With this photo there is a mystery, so you have to make it last.”
“I didn’t want to say immediately it was me,” he said. “With this photo there is a mystery, so you have to make it last.”
Loving today's news that the mysterious "fedora man" outside the Louvre heist was actually a 15-year-old museum visitor who dresses like a 1940s French detective all the time, just because. apnews.com/article/louv...
Fedora man unmasked: Meet the teen behind the Louvre mystery photo
Fifteen-year-old Pedro Elias Garzon Delvaux has become an internet sensation after an Associated Press photo captured him outside the Louvre on the day of a crown jewels heist.
apnews.com
November 9, 2025 at 2:08 PM
HE WAITED TO COME FORWARD ON PURPOSE:
“I didn’t want to say immediately it was me,” he said. “With this photo there is a mystery, so you have to make it last.”
“I didn’t want to say immediately it was me,” he said. “With this photo there is a mystery, so you have to make it last.”
Reposted by Kathleen Bachynski
i am having trouble squaring this report with the conditions at the nation’s (and world’s) busiest airport, ATL, which was apparently only able to handle 25% of its traffic yesterday? maybe i am missing something here, but
November 9, 2025 at 1:55 PM
i am having trouble squaring this report with the conditions at the nation’s (and world’s) busiest airport, ATL, which was apparently only able to handle 25% of its traffic yesterday? maybe i am missing something here, but
“Allentown residents Jose Martinez and Madeline Torres-Borges said after voting that they chose to vote for Democrats up and down the ballot because they, too, disapprove of Trump’s leadership, specifically criticizing the interruption in SNAP benefits due to the government shutdown”
Can Democrats in Pennsylvania and Lehigh Valley carry strong election performance into 2026 midterms?
Democrats won up and down ballot in Pennsylvania and the Lehigh Valley on Tuesday. What does it mean for 2026 midterms?
www.mcall.com
November 9, 2025 at 1:24 PM
“Allentown residents Jose Martinez and Madeline Torres-Borges said after voting that they chose to vote for Democrats up and down the ballot because they, too, disapprove of Trump’s leadership, specifically criticizing the interruption in SNAP benefits due to the government shutdown”
“The disruptions from federal restrictions on flying at the nation’s busiest airports were challenging, but relatively contained this weekend. But the cuts are expected to grow in the coming days, threatening to wreak havoc for airlines and travelers as Thanksgiving approaches.”
Airport Disruptions May Get Worse This Week
www.nytimes.com
November 9, 2025 at 12:41 PM
“The disruptions from federal restrictions on flying at the nation’s busiest airports were challenging, but relatively contained this weekend. But the cuts are expected to grow in the coming days, threatening to wreak havoc for airlines and travelers as Thanksgiving approaches.”
Reposted by Kathleen Bachynski
Climate change is increasing the risk of bird flu for marine mammals
“Before 2023, it was impossible to think that a healthy population like the one in Peninsula Valdés could become endangered from one year to another," says biologist Valeria Falabella…”This is a warning," she adds, noting that climate change brings additional risks and uncertainties for the species”
'It was a horrible scene to witness': How bird flu has decimated elephant seal populations
The sudden decimation by bird flu of the world's largest seal species has sent shockwaves through the scientific community, and the ecosystems shaped by these majestic animals.
www.bbc.com
November 9, 2025 at 3:03 AM
Climate change is increasing the risk of bird flu for marine mammals