BirgitB
@birgitbe.bsky.social
Reposted by BirgitB
Christmas attack on civilians in Kyiv. Sure, the Russians want peace
‼️ Movement of missiles and drones during the massive Russian attack on Ukraine
December 27, 2025 at 9:43 AM
Christmas attack on civilians in Kyiv. Sure, the Russians want peace
Reposted by BirgitB
ICE sprayed a one-year-old in the face with pepper spray.
The child and parents are US citizens, but that doesn't even matter.
These monsters pepper-sprayed a baby.
We cannot allow ICE to continue this behavior, and they aren't going to reform themselves.
www.washingtonpost.com/immigration/...
The child and parents are US citizens, but that doesn't even matter.
These monsters pepper-sprayed a baby.
We cannot allow ICE to continue this behavior, and they aren't going to reform themselves.
www.washingtonpost.com/immigration/...
December 15, 2025 at 3:24 AM
ICE sprayed a one-year-old in the face with pepper spray.
The child and parents are US citizens, but that doesn't even matter.
These monsters pepper-sprayed a baby.
We cannot allow ICE to continue this behavior, and they aren't going to reform themselves.
www.washingtonpost.com/immigration/...
The child and parents are US citizens, but that doesn't even matter.
These monsters pepper-sprayed a baby.
We cannot allow ICE to continue this behavior, and they aren't going to reform themselves.
www.washingtonpost.com/immigration/...
Reposted by BirgitB
Yet one more reason we cannot allow LLMs to serve as epistemic grounding is that we cannot triangulate among them the way you can among reasonable independent sources. They bullshit in the same way and end up agreeing with one other about things that are completely false.
December 15, 2025 at 11:36 PM
Yet one more reason we cannot allow LLMs to serve as epistemic grounding is that we cannot triangulate among them the way you can among reasonable independent sources. They bullshit in the same way and end up agreeing with one other about things that are completely false.
Reposted by BirgitB
unpackbar dystopisch www.derstandard.at/story/300000...
"Digitale Auslöschung": Wie US-Sanktionen einen europäischen Richter lahmlegen
Nicolas Guillou ist von beinahe allen digitalen Diensten dieser Welt gesperrt – von Amazon bis Paypal. Europa wirkt dagegen völlig machtlos
www.derstandard.at
November 26, 2025 at 4:05 PM
unpackbar dystopisch www.derstandard.at/story/300000...
Reposted by BirgitB
„Papst Leo zitierte in diesem Kontext die Philosophin Hannah Arendt(…): „Der ideale Untertan totalitärer Herrschaft ist nicht der überzeugte Nazi oder engagierte Kommunist, sondern Menschen, für die der Unterschied zwischen Fakten und Fiktion, zwischen wahr und falsch, nicht länger existiert.“
Papst und Pressefreiheit: Vatikan warnt vor KI und Faschismus
Leo XIV. sorgt sich um die Information. Er warnt mit Hannah Arendt vor einer totalitären Gesellschaft, die Fakt und Fiktion nicht unterscheiden kann.
taz.de
October 10, 2025 at 4:33 PM
„Papst Leo zitierte in diesem Kontext die Philosophin Hannah Arendt(…): „Der ideale Untertan totalitärer Herrschaft ist nicht der überzeugte Nazi oder engagierte Kommunist, sondern Menschen, für die der Unterschied zwischen Fakten und Fiktion, zwischen wahr und falsch, nicht länger existiert.“
Reposted by BirgitB
"at least 39 of the facilities operate militarisation programmes where [Ukrainian] children as young as eight are put through weapons training, grenade-throwing competitions and tactical medicine courses."
What Ukraine is fighting against.
www.theguardian.com/global-devel...
What Ukraine is fighting against.
www.theguardian.com/global-devel...
Russia has network of 200 camps for ‘brainwashing’ Ukrainian children – report
Investigation uncovers documents and satellite imagery that confirm children being taken to sites for patriotic indoctrination, weapons training and combat drills
www.theguardian.com
September 17, 2025 at 10:23 AM
"at least 39 of the facilities operate militarisation programmes where [Ukrainian] children as young as eight are put through weapons training, grenade-throwing competitions and tactical medicine courses."
What Ukraine is fighting against.
www.theguardian.com/global-devel...
What Ukraine is fighting against.
www.theguardian.com/global-devel...
Reposted by BirgitB
This is literally what we reported would happen. www.status.news/p/skydance-c...
July 17, 2025 at 11:48 PM
This is literally what we reported would happen. www.status.news/p/skydance-c...
Reposted by BirgitB
I will admit it is vaguely darkly funny to make your whole thing "comedy is legal again" and then use the weight of the federal government to shut down comedians in unprecedented ways. like if they somehow outlawed saying "merry christmas" this year
I think like many, many people I find the idea that CBS has just cancelled Colbert out of the blue like this for financial reasons *highly* implausible. He’s the most viewed late night host on TV, and his ratings have been going up.
NEW YORK (AP) — Stephen Colbert tells studio audience CBS is canceling 'The Late Show,' to end in May 2026.
July 18, 2025 at 1:04 AM
I will admit it is vaguely darkly funny to make your whole thing "comedy is legal again" and then use the weight of the federal government to shut down comedians in unprecedented ways. like if they somehow outlawed saying "merry christmas" this year
Reposted by BirgitB
"a diverse range of Russian actors ... are not only discussing the use of AI tools to automate and amplify content, but also exploring the role of AI as a narrative device, boasting of its effectiveness ... and framing it as both a strategic asset and a potential threat."
Horrifying read. Read it.
Horrifying read. Read it.
static.rusi.org
July 17, 2025 at 6:59 PM
"a diverse range of Russian actors ... are not only discussing the use of AI tools to automate and amplify content, but also exploring the role of AI as a narrative device, boasting of its effectiveness ... and framing it as both a strategic asset and a potential threat."
Horrifying read. Read it.
Horrifying read. Read it.
Reposted by BirgitB
America's descent into suppression of dissent 🧵
I've been tracking Trump's actions since Jan and have included 93 actions that I consider to suppress dissent.
They fall into 4 domains and their use is quite different over time. 1/16
I've been tracking Trump's actions since Jan and have included 93 actions that I consider to suppress dissent.
They fall into 4 domains and their use is quite different over time. 1/16
June 16, 2025 at 7:47 PM
America's descent into suppression of dissent 🧵
I've been tracking Trump's actions since Jan and have included 93 actions that I consider to suppress dissent.
They fall into 4 domains and their use is quite different over time. 1/16
I've been tracking Trump's actions since Jan and have included 93 actions that I consider to suppress dissent.
They fall into 4 domains and their use is quite different over time. 1/16
Reposted by BirgitB
Really important story - army officials asked soldiers to identify themselves if they don't agree with Trump's politics that way he'd get only supportive soldiers in uniform during his political rally on base. Heavier soldiers were also barred from participating.
Bragg Soldiers Who Cheered Trump's Political Attacks While in Uniform Were Checked for Allegiance, Appearance
As Trump viciously attacked his perceived political foes, he whipped up boos from the gathered troops directed at California leaders, including Gov. Gavin Newsom.
www.military.com
June 11, 2025 at 5:49 PM
Really important story - army officials asked soldiers to identify themselves if they don't agree with Trump's politics that way he'd get only supportive soldiers in uniform during his political rally on base. Heavier soldiers were also barred from participating.
Reposted by BirgitB
Das ist der Gipfel: Nun, da klar ist, dass der Täter keinen Migrationshintergrund hat, ändert der FPÖ-Klubobann Thomas Dim einfach seinen Text von "Ich wiederhole mich: Ein Land ohne Abschiebungen ist ein Land ohne Schutz" zu
"Furchtbar!". Das, nachdem zuvor in den Kommentaren übelst gehetzt wurde.
"Furchtbar!". Das, nachdem zuvor in den Kommentaren übelst gehetzt wurde.
June 10, 2025 at 11:36 AM
Das ist der Gipfel: Nun, da klar ist, dass der Täter keinen Migrationshintergrund hat, ändert der FPÖ-Klubobann Thomas Dim einfach seinen Text von "Ich wiederhole mich: Ein Land ohne Abschiebungen ist ein Land ohne Schutz" zu
"Furchtbar!". Das, nachdem zuvor in den Kommentaren übelst gehetzt wurde.
"Furchtbar!". Das, nachdem zuvor in den Kommentaren übelst gehetzt wurde.
Reposted by BirgitB
In der FAZ kommt ein Gespräch zum Abdruck zweier ukrainischer Jugendlicher, deren Eltern im russischen besetzten Gebiet sind und die über ihren Alltag Auskunft geben.
June 10, 2025 at 7:06 AM
In der FAZ kommt ein Gespräch zum Abdruck zweier ukrainischer Jugendlicher, deren Eltern im russischen besetzten Gebiet sind und die über ihren Alltag Auskunft geben.
Reposted by BirgitB
ICE can enter anyone’s home, and abduct and deport them to a foreign prison indefinitely because the DOJ says they can ignore the 4th, 5th and 15th amendments.
If there’s no due process or protections against illegal search and seizures, none of us are safe.
If there’s no due process or protections against illegal search and seizures, none of us are safe.
April 25, 2025 at 7:53 PM
ICE can enter anyone’s home, and abduct and deport them to a foreign prison indefinitely because the DOJ says they can ignore the 4th, 5th and 15th amendments.
If there’s no due process or protections against illegal search and seizures, none of us are safe.
If there’s no due process or protections against illegal search and seizures, none of us are safe.
Reposted by BirgitB
“American government, American foreign policy, and American trade policy are slowly being transformed, not to benefit Americans but to benefit the president, his family, and his friends.”
www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archiv...
www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archiv...
Kleptocracy, Inc.
Under Trump, conflicts of interest are just part of the system.
www.theatlantic.com
April 14, 2025 at 8:18 PM
“American government, American foreign policy, and American trade policy are slowly being transformed, not to benefit Americans but to benefit the president, his family, and his friends.”
www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archiv...
www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archiv...
Reposted by BirgitB
🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨
Trump to Bukele: "Home-growns are next. The home-growns. You gotta build about five more places. It's not big enough."
April 14, 2025 at 6:38 PM
🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨
Reposted by BirgitB
Every college and university should do this to remind Americans that attacks on these institutions are actually attacks on all of us.
Harvard redid its whole homepage to push back against the administration’s demands. I mean, this is just a website but I think it’s kind of a great PR move: www.harvard.edu
Harvard University
Harvard University is devoted to excellence in teaching, learning, and research, and to developing leaders who make a difference globally.
www.harvard.edu
April 14, 2025 at 7:36 PM
Every college and university should do this to remind Americans that attacks on these institutions are actually attacks on all of us.
Reposted by BirgitB
This is what its like to work in the Trump administration now. When a career official objected to declaring that living immigrants were dead on legal and ethical grounds, security guards went to his office and told him to leave.
www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202...
www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202...
Trump administration overrode Social Security staff to list immigrants as dead
A senior executive who objected was marched out of his office and put on leave, while earlier warnings about the agency’s deaths database were ignored.
www.washingtonpost.com
April 12, 2025 at 12:06 PM
This is what its like to work in the Trump administration now. When a career official objected to declaring that living immigrants were dead on legal and ethical grounds, security guards went to his office and told him to leave.
www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202...
www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202...
Reposted by BirgitB
When I first became reviews editor at Vaccine, my predecessor Kathy Neuzil very kindly gave me advice that I’ve carried into my role as co-EIC. Last year she received the Jenner Award for her contributions to vaccinology.
Kathy’s vaccine research & advocacy saved many lives. This is disgraceful.
Kathy’s vaccine research & advocacy saved many lives. This is disgraceful.
Exclusive: Kathleen Neuzil, an infectious disease and vaccine specialist who was head of the Fogarty International Center, received an e-mail notice today from the Department of Health and Human Services that immediately put her on administrative leave.
Chief of NIH’s international center is latest director to lose job under Trump
Kathleen Neuzil had led the Fogarty International Center for less than 1 year
scim.ag
April 11, 2025 at 10:27 PM
When I first became reviews editor at Vaccine, my predecessor Kathy Neuzil very kindly gave me advice that I’ve carried into my role as co-EIC. Last year she received the Jenner Award for her contributions to vaccinology.
Kathy’s vaccine research & advocacy saved many lives. This is disgraceful.
Kathy’s vaccine research & advocacy saved many lives. This is disgraceful.
Reposted by BirgitB
I’m not kidding; this is DOGE at work; multiple US citizens getting notices that they just leave the country because USCIS is revoking their humanitarian parole.
www.politico.com/news/2025/04...
www.politico.com/news/2025/04...
April 11, 2025 at 11:40 PM
I’m not kidding; this is DOGE at work; multiple US citizens getting notices that they just leave the country because USCIS is revoking their humanitarian parole.
www.politico.com/news/2025/04...
www.politico.com/news/2025/04...
Reposted by BirgitB
Nicole is an immigration lawyer. I'm sure this isn't targeted at all.
Some personal news: the Department of Homeland Security has given me, an immigration lawyer born in Newton, Massachusetts, seven days to leave the U.S. Does anyone know if you can get Italian citizenship through great-grandparents?
April 12, 2025 at 1:03 AM
Nicole is an immigration lawyer. I'm sure this isn't targeted at all.
Reposted by BirgitB
Scoop: DOGE now controls how grant opportunities get posted across government.
DOGE engineer removed users’ permissions to post to Grants-dot-gov without telling them. Now requests flow thru DOGE-controlled mailbox.
with @carolynyjohnson.bsky.social + @hannahnatanson.bsky.social
DOGE engineer removed users’ permissions to post to Grants-dot-gov without telling them. Now requests flow thru DOGE-controlled mailbox.
with @carolynyjohnson.bsky.social + @hannahnatanson.bsky.social
DOGE takes over federal grants website, wresting control of billions
A DOGE engineer removed users’ access to grants.gov, threatening to further slow the process of awarding thousands of federal grants per year.
www.washingtonpost.com
April 12, 2025 at 12:50 AM
Scoop: DOGE now controls how grant opportunities get posted across government.
DOGE engineer removed users’ permissions to post to Grants-dot-gov without telling them. Now requests flow thru DOGE-controlled mailbox.
with @carolynyjohnson.bsky.social + @hannahnatanson.bsky.social
DOGE engineer removed users’ permissions to post to Grants-dot-gov without telling them. Now requests flow thru DOGE-controlled mailbox.
with @carolynyjohnson.bsky.social + @hannahnatanson.bsky.social