Maddie
@chequers.dev
Engineer & educator, she/her
#STEM #Boston #pluralism #NoAI
🇨🇦🇲🇽🇺🇦🇰🇷🇵🇸🏳️🌈
#STEM #Boston #pluralism #NoAI
🇨🇦🇲🇽🇺🇦🇰🇷🇵🇸🏳️🌈
Pinned
Maddie
@chequers.dev
· Jun 3
The 900+ pages of #Project2025 are daunting, and that's on purpose. So imagine collecting all those sentences and exploring them as different colored islands.
Reposted by Maddie
There was already a *lot* going on with Bluesky, and now it's under even more pressure. I wrote about how I think about moderation, affordances, expectations, human needs, and powerful trolls for @techpolicypress.bsky.social
www.techpolicy.press/trump-admini...
www.techpolicy.press/trump-admini...
Trump Administration's Arrival on Bluesky Highlights Growing Pains for Open Networks | TechPolicy.Press
The administration’s antagonistic entry to the platform is best understood as a game of chicken, writes Erin Kissane.
www.techpolicy.press
October 22, 2025 at 6:08 PM
There was already a *lot* going on with Bluesky, and now it's under even more pressure. I wrote about how I think about moderation, affordances, expectations, human needs, and powerful trolls for @techpolicypress.bsky.social
www.techpolicy.press/trump-admini...
www.techpolicy.press/trump-admini...
Reposted by Maddie
Let them know what you think.
Gov. Healey: 617-725-4005
AG Campbell: 617-727-2200
Fenway: 617-267-0900
cis Bostonians specifically, we need you to step up. I'm already seeing my local trans circles raise hell about this, but we need you, too. I wrote a phone script. Use it and spread it:
Gov. Healey: 617-725-4005
AG Campbell: 617-727-2200
Fenway: 617-267-0900
cis Bostonians specifically, we need you to step up. I'm already seeing my local trans circles raise hell about this, but we need you, too. I wrote a phone script. Use it and spread it:
![Hello, my name is [name] and I'm a [transgender] constituent living in [City], Massachusetts. I'm calling to bring to Gov. Healey's attention the deeply alarming development coming from Fenway Health, in which they've recently announced they will no longer provide gender affirming healthcare to patients under the age of 19 in order to retain their federally recognized status. This is in utter direct violation of our state constitution, specifically Chapter 127, in which quote, "Access to reproductive health care services and gender-affirming health care services is a right secured by the constitution and laws of the commonwealth. Interference with this right, whether or not under the color of law, is against the public policy of the commonwealth." This is also in contradiction of Boston declaring itself a sanctuary city for transgender people, the resolution which states Boston has, quote, "a specific commitment to protecting transgender and gender-diverse individuals. Taxpayer-funded agencies shall not comply with federal efforts to strip resources that safeguard their rights. Boston will not cooperate with federal or state policies that harm transgender and gender-diverse people and remains committed to ensuring their access to healthcare...without fear or discrimination."](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:wivnmex62igtbj3mkacn6ay5/bafkreia5j3h4annqs76l2uk3kcasqjd4m7hf3l2dydykr7rjbi727cz6s4@jpeg)
October 14, 2025 at 3:21 PM
Let them know what you think.
Gov. Healey: 617-725-4005
AG Campbell: 617-727-2200
Fenway: 617-267-0900
cis Bostonians specifically, we need you to step up. I'm already seeing my local trans circles raise hell about this, but we need you, too. I wrote a phone script. Use it and spread it:
Gov. Healey: 617-725-4005
AG Campbell: 617-727-2200
Fenway: 617-267-0900
cis Bostonians specifically, we need you to step up. I'm already seeing my local trans circles raise hell about this, but we need you, too. I wrote a phone script. Use it and spread it:
Reposted by Maddie
note that this happened after immense pressure from students and workers at MIT, including a press conference planned for later today
October 10, 2025 at 2:54 PM
note that this happened after immense pressure from students and workers at MIT, including a press conference planned for later today
Sometimes it feels like there's negativity in all directions
Fortunately the world is complex, full of people of all kinds, I just have to search different places to meet cool folks
Fortunately the world is complex, full of people of all kinds, I just have to search different places to meet cool folks
October 6, 2025 at 4:27 PM
Sometimes it feels like there's negativity in all directions
Fortunately the world is complex, full of people of all kinds, I just have to search different places to meet cool folks
Fortunately the world is complex, full of people of all kinds, I just have to search different places to meet cool folks
Seems like every other week in the #Fediverse, a mini exodus of users comes over from Bluesky and I have to come back and check why
When systems dismiss kind communities and continue to platform hate-inciting ones in the name of fairness -- the kind people leave
When systems dismiss kind communities and continue to platform hate-inciting ones in the name of fairness -- the kind people leave
October 6, 2025 at 1:51 PM
Seems like every other week in the #Fediverse, a mini exodus of users comes over from Bluesky and I have to come back and check why
When systems dismiss kind communities and continue to platform hate-inciting ones in the name of fairness -- the kind people leave
When systems dismiss kind communities and continue to platform hate-inciting ones in the name of fairness -- the kind people leave
Reposted by Maddie
I am not sharing the picture because it is an act of racism, but:
The White House’s official X account has a long thread in which they’ve posted pictures of people arrested during the feds’ occupation of the city. Every single person in the thread is a person of color.
The White House’s official X account has a long thread in which they’ve posted pictures of people arrested during the feds’ occupation of the city. Every single person in the thread is a person of color.
August 15, 2025 at 1:47 AM
I am not sharing the picture because it is an act of racism, but:
The White House’s official X account has a long thread in which they’ve posted pictures of people arrested during the feds’ occupation of the city. Every single person in the thread is a person of color.
The White House’s official X account has a long thread in which they’ve posted pictures of people arrested during the feds’ occupation of the city. Every single person in the thread is a person of color.
Reposted by Maddie
This is not a massive decision or any kind of change. Costco has never carried mifepristone in its pharmacies. An anti-abortion group is taking credit for something that didn't happen, possibly to generate disingenuous left-wing ire against one of the few corporations that hasn't gone MAGA.
August 14, 2025 at 5:53 PM
This is not a massive decision or any kind of change. Costco has never carried mifepristone in its pharmacies. An anti-abortion group is taking credit for something that didn't happen, possibly to generate disingenuous left-wing ire against one of the few corporations that hasn't gone MAGA.
Reposted by Maddie
Predicting the most probable YouTube link and its consequences have been a disaster for the agentic web.
August 6, 2025 at 11:32 PM
Predicting the most probable YouTube link and its consequences have been a disaster for the agentic web.
Reposted by Maddie
Stop calling Republicans “conservatives.”
There’s nothing conservative about any of this.
Nothing conservative about it overturning decades of legal precedent.
These bigots are political extremists, enacting extremist, proudly harmful policies.
There’s nothing conservative about any of this.
Nothing conservative about it overturning decades of legal precedent.
These bigots are political extremists, enacting extremist, proudly harmful policies.
August 13, 2025 at 2:22 AM
Stop calling Republicans “conservatives.”
There’s nothing conservative about any of this.
Nothing conservative about it overturning decades of legal precedent.
These bigots are political extremists, enacting extremist, proudly harmful policies.
There’s nothing conservative about any of this.
Nothing conservative about it overturning decades of legal precedent.
These bigots are political extremists, enacting extremist, proudly harmful policies.
Reposted by Maddie
“Why should we stand up for trans kids in sports? It’s such a minor issue that only affects a tiny number of people & we have more important things to do, like fight fascism. This is why Dems keep losing.”
I am seeing these sentiments everywhere & such a short sighted mistake to buy into:
1/🧵
I am seeing these sentiments everywhere & such a short sighted mistake to buy into:
1/🧵
July 29, 2025 at 4:11 PM
“Why should we stand up for trans kids in sports? It’s such a minor issue that only affects a tiny number of people & we have more important things to do, like fight fascism. This is why Dems keep losing.”
I am seeing these sentiments everywhere & such a short sighted mistake to buy into:
1/🧵
I am seeing these sentiments everywhere & such a short sighted mistake to buy into:
1/🧵
Reposted by Maddie
There are so many times this nightmare should’ve been over, but I’ll never get how inciting a violent coup on J6 didn’t lead to a prison term post haste. That fucker should’ve been yanked by the lapels out of the White House, handcuffed, and hauled away that day. Everyone knew he was responsible.
July 28, 2025 at 10:23 PM
There are so many times this nightmare should’ve been over, but I’ll never get how inciting a violent coup on J6 didn’t lead to a prison term post haste. That fucker should’ve been yanked by the lapels out of the White House, handcuffed, and hauled away that day. Everyone knew he was responsible.
Reposted by Maddie
Soft money is great. Until there’s no money left. Academics are about to learn the hard way that we are nothing but independent contractors who can be terminated pretty darn easily. “Tenure” be damned. (Many of us knew this already, of course…)
👀
What a time to propose this policy:
"Duke University School of Medicine (SOM) plans to implement new faculty productivity guidelines that would tie tenured professors’ salaries to external research funding, according to documents reviewed by The Chronicle"
www.dukechronicle.com/article/2025...
What a time to propose this policy:
"Duke University School of Medicine (SOM) plans to implement new faculty productivity guidelines that would tie tenured professors’ salaries to external research funding, according to documents reviewed by The Chronicle"
www.dukechronicle.com/article/2025...
Duke School of Medicine plans salary cuts for tenured faculty who do not meet grant expectations
Set to go in effect in 2026, the proposed policy would apply to the School’s basic sciences units. These units rely heavily on grants from the National Institutes of Health, which have been increasing...
www.dukechronicle.com
July 19, 2025 at 3:36 PM
Soft money is great. Until there’s no money left. Academics are about to learn the hard way that we are nothing but independent contractors who can be terminated pretty darn easily. “Tenure” be damned. (Many of us knew this already, of course…)
Reposted by Maddie
And yes, as @axels15.bsky.social notes, obviously many of those survivors are skeeting about this now.
But if you're not a survivor, please be thoughtful about the, uh, haha funny jokes (haha) you make, and also about putting photos of horrible people on the internet if you don't have to
But if you're not a survivor, please be thoughtful about the, uh, haha funny jokes (haha) you make, and also about putting photos of horrible people on the internet if you don't have to
July 18, 2025 at 2:38 AM
And yes, as @axels15.bsky.social notes, obviously many of those survivors are skeeting about this now.
But if you're not a survivor, please be thoughtful about the, uh, haha funny jokes (haha) you make, and also about putting photos of horrible people on the internet if you don't have to
But if you're not a survivor, please be thoughtful about the, uh, haha funny jokes (haha) you make, and also about putting photos of horrible people on the internet if you don't have to
Reposted by Maddie
This is AI. My family is Liberian. President Boakai is a very soft-spoken person who wouldn't make a video like this to begin with. Next, how is this supposed to be addressing Trump's disrespect about him speaking English when the voice over COMPLETELY removes his Liberian accent? WHO DID THIS?!?
July 14, 2025 at 2:59 AM
This is AI. My family is Liberian. President Boakai is a very soft-spoken person who wouldn't make a video like this to begin with. Next, how is this supposed to be addressing Trump's disrespect about him speaking English when the voice over COMPLETELY removes his Liberian accent? WHO DID THIS?!?
Reposted by Maddie
I really wish it was killing thousands of children across the globe, destroying our scientific institutions or all the, like, actual fascism that turned people against him, but if it's the Epstein thing that does it...fine, whatever. Live by the conspiracy theory, die by it.
July 12, 2025 at 11:48 PM
I really wish it was killing thousands of children across the globe, destroying our scientific institutions or all the, like, actual fascism that turned people against him, but if it's the Epstein thing that does it...fine, whatever. Live by the conspiracy theory, die by it.
Reposted by Maddie
Not saying everyone still posting on X is anti-semitic. I'm saying anti-semitism isn't a deal-breaker for everyone still posting on X.
July 8, 2025 at 10:41 PM
Not saying everyone still posting on X is anti-semitic. I'm saying anti-semitism isn't a deal-breaker for everyone still posting on X.
Reposted by Maddie
X CEO Linda Yaccarino has resigned after Musk ordered his minions to make Grok "less woke" and it began praising Hitler, committing libel, and inciting violence against people with Jewish surnames. It then proceeded to sexually harass women including, Yaccarino.
July 9, 2025 at 8:57 PM
X CEO Linda Yaccarino has resigned after Musk ordered his minions to make Grok "less woke" and it began praising Hitler, committing libel, and inciting violence against people with Jewish surnames. It then proceeded to sexually harass women including, Yaccarino.
Reposted by Maddie
Good time to remember the 3 Dem vacancies tonight
July 3, 2025 at 4:32 AM
Good time to remember the 3 Dem vacancies tonight
Reposted by Maddie
The Big Beautiful Bill can't even get 75% of Republicans to support it, never mind being popular with the American people
I dove into the polling on the disaster bill here: usapolling.substack.com/p/trumps-big...
I dove into the polling on the disaster bill here: usapolling.substack.com/p/trumps-big...
June 29, 2025 at 12:12 AM
The Big Beautiful Bill can't even get 75% of Republicans to support it, never mind being popular with the American people
I dove into the polling on the disaster bill here: usapolling.substack.com/p/trumps-big...
I dove into the polling on the disaster bill here: usapolling.substack.com/p/trumps-big...
128 democrats who voted to table impeachment, sorted roughly by size of state
June 24, 2025 at 9:39 PM
128 democrats who voted to table impeachment, sorted roughly by size of state
Reposted by Maddie
1000 reasons to impeach the MAGAfucker. Market manipulation, insider trading, corruption, pay to play, Trump Org business with enemies of the USA....and every single time he opens his mouth - lies.
June 24, 2025 at 6:24 PM
1000 reasons to impeach the MAGAfucker. Market manipulation, insider trading, corruption, pay to play, Trump Org business with enemies of the USA....and every single time he opens his mouth - lies.
Reposted by Maddie
the Dems could have safely all voted yes to try to impeach Trump for an obviously illegal act of war. it would have been their preferred outcome: performative opposition without any meaningful, lasting consequences. and they can't even get virtue signalling right.
June 24, 2025 at 6:25 PM
the Dems could have safely all voted yes to try to impeach Trump for an obviously illegal act of war. it would have been their preferred outcome: performative opposition without any meaningful, lasting consequences. and they can't even get virtue signalling right.
Reposted by Maddie
A majority of Democrats in the House (and all Republicans) voted NOT to impeach Trump.
Congress has officially abdicated its role as a co-equal branch of government. This is why the Executive Branch has no fear of breaking the law.
There is no one in power to hold them accountable.
Congress has officially abdicated its role as a co-equal branch of government. This is why the Executive Branch has no fear of breaking the law.
There is no one in power to hold them accountable.
It took less than two hours for the House to shoot down H.R. 537, Rep. Al Green’s impeachment resolution condemning the Donald John Trump, President of the United States, for high crimes and misdemeanors.
June 24, 2025 at 6:32 PM
A majority of Democrats in the House (and all Republicans) voted NOT to impeach Trump.
Congress has officially abdicated its role as a co-equal branch of government. This is why the Executive Branch has no fear of breaking the law.
There is no one in power to hold them accountable.
Congress has officially abdicated its role as a co-equal branch of government. This is why the Executive Branch has no fear of breaking the law.
There is no one in power to hold them accountable.
Reposted by Maddie
The community of Bell is out in force protecting their own. More of this please!! #powertothepeople
STORY TIME:
ICE rolled up.
The city of Bell, California said,
“Not today!”
ICE rolled up.
The city of Bell, California said,
“Not today!”
June 21, 2025 at 4:22 PM
The community of Bell is out in force protecting their own. More of this please!! #powertothepeople