Beth
@brumej5.bsky.social
Reposted by Beth
Everyone involved in the publication and promotion of this book should be embarrassed. It's not a "harsh truth" that COVID mitigation was a mistake, it's ghoulish and false.
"In Covid's Wake" Part 1: Lyin… - If Books Could Kill - Apple Podcasts
Podcast Episode · If Books Could Kill · 06/17/2025 · 58m
podcasts.apple.com
December 24, 2025 at 5:08 AM
Everyone involved in the publication and promotion of this book should be embarrassed. It's not a "harsh truth" that COVID mitigation was a mistake, it's ghoulish and false.
Reposted by Beth
The point was never to save money. That was only ever a convenient justification for an effort to decimate the public sector and dismantle the US social safety net.
On DOGE’s watch, federal spending did not go down at all. It went up. But is still led to cuts that closed offices, canceled programs and deprived people of food, medicine and other aid.
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/23/u...
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/23/u...
How Did DOGE Disrupt So Much While Saving So Little?
www.nytimes.com
December 23, 2025 at 5:14 PM
The point was never to save money. That was only ever a convenient justification for an effort to decimate the public sector and dismantle the US social safety net.
Reposted by Beth
I look forward to the legally required, transparent peer review process required by the US Global Change Research Act and the Information Quality Act. I always thought they would try to do a NCA with Judith Curry, five old men and a LLM.
It’s the gold standard of US climate research. Contrarians could write the next one.
Researchers who have downplayed the threat of global warming have been asked to author the next National Climate Assessment.
www.eenews.net
December 22, 2025 at 12:37 PM
I look forward to the legally required, transparent peer review process required by the US Global Change Research Act and the Information Quality Act. I always thought they would try to do a NCA with Judith Curry, five old men and a LLM.
Reposted by Beth
The 1956 Lumbee Act was amended this week, concluding a decades-long effort to have Congress strike discriminatory language that subjected Lumbees to nearly 70 years of partial federal recognition. But no longer. The Lumbee Tribe of NC is now *fully* recognized by the US—the 575th Native Nation.
The reconciled NDAA includes a provision to amend the 1956 Lumbee Act by removing a discriminatory, Termination-Era clause & inserting new language to affirm the Tribe's federal status. Here are a few resources to help make sense of what's happening & why. I may post more later.
December 19, 2025 at 3:25 PM
The 1956 Lumbee Act was amended this week, concluding a decades-long effort to have Congress strike discriminatory language that subjected Lumbees to nearly 70 years of partial federal recognition. But no longer. The Lumbee Tribe of NC is now *fully* recognized by the US—the 575th Native Nation.
Reposted by Beth
i’m not crying you’re crying
xkcd: Fifteen Years
xkcd: Fifteen Years
Fifteen Years
xkcd.com
November 25, 2025 at 1:58 AM
i’m not crying you’re crying
xkcd: Fifteen Years
xkcd: Fifteen Years
Reposted by Beth
Breaking news: Man whose life was saved by federal health insurance casts vote ensuring millions lose health insurance.
November 10, 2025 at 7:27 AM
Breaking news: Man whose life was saved by federal health insurance casts vote ensuring millions lose health insurance.
Reposted by Beth
A reminder.
As I say often, universal health care is disaster mitigation and preparedness. This is why.
Remembering this 2022 study that found that universal health care in the US could have saved 330,000 lives in the early days of covid.
It could also have saved us $105 billion -- ON TOP of the annual $438 billion we could save in non-pandemic years.
www.scientificamerican.com/article/univ...
It could also have saved us $105 billion -- ON TOP of the annual $438 billion we could save in non-pandemic years.
www.scientificamerican.com/article/univ...
November 10, 2025 at 12:51 PM
A reminder.
Reposted by Beth
Let me get this right… a sufficient number Senate Democrats appear to be willing to reopen government to alleviate air travel for upper & upper-middle income people at the expense of access to healthcare for lower income people. Yes?
November 9, 2025 at 8:05 PM
Let me get this right… a sufficient number Senate Democrats appear to be willing to reopen government to alleviate air travel for upper & upper-middle income people at the expense of access to healthcare for lower income people. Yes?
Reposted by Beth
This entire piece is very, very good and well worth your time to read — but this bit had me rolling
lithub.com/maybe-dont-t...
lithub.com/maybe-dont-t...
November 8, 2025 at 4:40 PM
This entire piece is very, very good and well worth your time to read — but this bit had me rolling
lithub.com/maybe-dont-t...
lithub.com/maybe-dont-t...
Reposted by Beth
I still remember my anthropology professor’s favorite joke from college:
“What did Watson and Crick discover?”
“Rosalind Franklin’s notes.”
“What did Watson and Crick discover?”
“Rosalind Franklin’s notes.”
Hey folks, as news of Watson's demise spreads, please don't set aside his weighty legacy of misogyny and racism. He was truly among the worst of us. www.vox.com/2019/1/15/18...
DNA scientist James Watson has a remarkably long history of sexist, racist public comments
“People say it would be terrible if we made all girls pretty,” he said in 2003. “I think it would be great.”
www.vox.com
November 7, 2025 at 8:28 PM
I still remember my anthropology professor’s favorite joke from college:
“What did Watson and Crick discover?”
“Rosalind Franklin’s notes.”
“What did Watson and Crick discover?”
“Rosalind Franklin’s notes.”
Reposted by Beth
I was only 30 something when I helmed The Enterprise.
November 6, 2025 at 8:00 PM
I was only 30 something when I helmed The Enterprise.
Reposted by Beth
A lot of comments on Mars rovers or Moon landings, but it's important to remember that the planet NASA studies most is Earth. This is less about cutting flashy things like moonwalks and more about keeping communities in the dark on climate, weather, agriculture, pollution, natural hazards, and more.
NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory to lay off about 550 workers reut.rs/4302N2L
NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory to lay off about 550 workers
NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory said on Monday it will cut nearly 550 jobs as part of a restructuring, not related to the current U.S. government shutdown.
reut.rs
October 13, 2025 at 10:43 PM
A lot of comments on Mars rovers or Moon landings, but it's important to remember that the planet NASA studies most is Earth. This is less about cutting flashy things like moonwalks and more about keeping communities in the dark on climate, weather, agriculture, pollution, natural hazards, and more.
Reposted by Beth
I've always said this, but since last November, I've been pointing this out frequently in whatever venues to whatever audiences I can: "The planet NASA studies most is Earth."
A lot of comments on Mars rovers or Moon landings, but it's important to remember that the planet NASA studies most is Earth. This is less about cutting flashy things like moonwalks and more about keeping communities in the dark on climate, weather, agriculture, pollution, natural hazards, and more.
NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory to lay off about 550 workers reut.rs/4302N2L
October 14, 2025 at 6:39 AM
I've always said this, but since last November, I've been pointing this out frequently in whatever venues to whatever audiences I can: "The planet NASA studies most is Earth."
Reposted by Beth
I don’t know who needs to hear this but the CDC is being eviscerated right now. America is not going to have any kind of outbreak response capacity after tonight. Americans’ health data is no longer secure. Say goodbye to federal public health in any capacity. It’s a disaster. We won’t recover.
October 11, 2025 at 3:05 AM
I don’t know who needs to hear this but the CDC is being eviscerated right now. America is not going to have any kind of outbreak response capacity after tonight. Americans’ health data is no longer secure. Say goodbye to federal public health in any capacity. It’s a disaster. We won’t recover.
Reposted by Beth
Feel free to attribute the following to a former OMB General Counsel: The supposed "new legal analysis" is, to use a technical legal term, horseshit. What the law actually says is that when Congress enacts a law ending a lapse, furloughed employees get paid at the earliest date possible. Period.
Johnson: "It's true that in previous shutdowns, many or most furloughed employees have been paid for the time they were furloughed, but there is new legal analysis - I don't know the details, I just saw a headline - but there are some legal analysts saying that might not be appropriate or necessary"
October 7, 2025 at 2:25 PM
Feel free to attribute the following to a former OMB General Counsel: The supposed "new legal analysis" is, to use a technical legal term, horseshit. What the law actually says is that when Congress enacts a law ending a lapse, furloughed employees get paid at the earliest date possible. Period.
Reposted by Beth
Someone should write an obituary for the Hatch Act.
October 2, 2025 at 2:11 PM
Someone should write an obituary for the Hatch Act.
Reposted by Beth
Stop calling it "witholding". The money was appropriate by Congress, and by law was to be disbursed to the intended programs. The money was supposed to go to the programs, Trump and McMahon prevented it from doing so, sending the $$ back to the Treasury. Call it theft, because it is.
Trump Administration Withholds Millions for TRIO Programs
Nonprofits that advocate for first-gen students say that without the federally funded programs, college could become unattainable for hundreds of thousands of students.
www.insidehighered.com
September 15, 2025 at 10:10 AM
Stop calling it "witholding". The money was appropriate by Congress, and by law was to be disbursed to the intended programs. The money was supposed to go to the programs, Trump and McMahon prevented it from doing so, sending the $$ back to the Treasury. Call it theft, because it is.
Reposted by Beth
The Virginia Department of Health has issued a standing order so that people can get the COVID vaccine without a prescription.
You can print out the order here: www.vdh.virginia.gov/content/uplo...
You can print out the order here: www.vdh.virginia.gov/content/uplo...
September 11, 2025 at 5:39 AM
The Virginia Department of Health has issued a standing order so that people can get the COVID vaccine without a prescription.
You can print out the order here: www.vdh.virginia.gov/content/uplo...
You can print out the order here: www.vdh.virginia.gov/content/uplo...
Reposted by Beth
Florida Decided There Were Too Many Children. “Florida is the first state to take the courageous step toward decluttering itself of excess children, but under the inexpert guidance of Robert F. Kennedy Jr., other states may follow.” [theatlantic.com]
Florida Decided There Were Too Many Children
The state’s elimination of vaccine mandates is a courageous first step toward decluttering itself of any excess kids.
www.theatlantic.com
September 5, 2025 at 1:04 PM
Florida Decided There Were Too Many Children. “Florida is the first state to take the courageous step toward decluttering itself of excess children, but under the inexpert guidance of Robert F. Kennedy Jr., other states may follow.” [theatlantic.com]
Reposted by Beth
It should never be easier to access a gun than a vaccine.
August 29, 2025 at 7:52 PM
It should never be easier to access a gun than a vaccine.
Reposted by Beth
As NASA's budget shrinks, Europe doubles down on Earth science
As NASA's budget shrinks, Europe doubles down on Earth science: 'Climate change is the defining challenge of our generation'
If NASA must pull back, Europe is ready to step up — and do so with open arms.
www.space.com
July 13, 2025 at 6:43 AM
As NASA's budget shrinks, Europe doubles down on Earth science
Reposted by Beth
Today, *every* living prior leader of NASA's science directorate have released a joint letter condemning the proposed cuts to NASA science. These individuals every administration from Reagan to Biden, and all believe these cuts are insanely destructive: www.planetary.org/press-releas...
Every living NASA science chief unites in opposition to unprecedented…
The entire past leadership of NASA’s science activities have released a joint statement condemning the proposed 47% cuts proposed to the agency’s science…
www.planetary.org
July 7, 2025 at 9:11 PM
Today, *every* living prior leader of NASA's science directorate have released a joint letter condemning the proposed cuts to NASA science. These individuals every administration from Reagan to Biden, and all believe these cuts are insanely destructive: www.planetary.org/press-releas...
Reposted by Beth
The details are not yet finalized, but the budget bill would devastate NASA science and the future of US exploration in space and astronomy. Among many other things. 🔭🧪
www.planetary.org/articles/nas...
www.planetary.org/articles/nas...
June 30, 2025 at 12:35 PM
The details are not yet finalized, but the budget bill would devastate NASA science and the future of US exploration in space and astronomy. Among many other things. 🔭🧪
www.planetary.org/articles/nas...
www.planetary.org/articles/nas...
Reposted by Beth
NASA is being told to cancel 19 *active* missions to save $6B, which looks to be less than the ICE *hiring/retention* budget going forward.
I need people to let that sentence sink into their bones for a minute.
I need people to let that sentence sink into their bones for a minute.
If the GOP reconciliation bill passes, ICE gets through FY2029:
- $45 billion for detention, on top of the current annual budget of $3.4 billion
- $14.4 billion for transportation and removal, on top of the current annual budget of $750 million
- $8 billion for hiring/retention
- Billions more.
- $45 billion for detention, on top of the current annual budget of $3.4 billion
- $14.4 billion for transportation and removal, on top of the current annual budget of $750 million
- $8 billion for hiring/retention
- Billions more.
‼️‼️
June 29, 2025 at 4:17 PM
NASA is being told to cancel 19 *active* missions to save $6B, which looks to be less than the ICE *hiring/retention* budget going forward.
I need people to let that sentence sink into their bones for a minute.
I need people to let that sentence sink into their bones for a minute.
Reposted by Beth
NIH director Jay Bhattacharya posted on X: "No clinical trial has been delayed, nor has any participant been dropped from clinical trial. These are the facts."
Malaria, tuberculosis, cancer trials abroad have all been on the chopping block, leaving participants stranded, I reported in this story.
Malaria, tuberculosis, cancer trials abroad have all been on the chopping block, leaving participants stranded, I reported in this story.
NIH grant cuts will axe clinical trials abroad — and could leave thousands without care
US agency’s new policy could abruptly end studies of infectious diseases and cancer, leaving researchers scrambling for funds.
www.nature.com
June 25, 2025 at 2:41 PM
NIH director Jay Bhattacharya posted on X: "No clinical trial has been delayed, nor has any participant been dropped from clinical trial. These are the facts."
Malaria, tuberculosis, cancer trials abroad have all been on the chopping block, leaving participants stranded, I reported in this story.
Malaria, tuberculosis, cancer trials abroad have all been on the chopping block, leaving participants stranded, I reported in this story.