Cynthia Weber, PhD
@cynthiaweber.bsky.social
Writer, editor, rhetorician, humanist interested in science, technology, philosophy, and democracy. Mountain dweller, city traveler.
Reposted by Cynthia Weber, PhD
Most of the ideas mentioned in this article—higher minimum wage, free tuition at public colleges, higher taxes on the rich—are not only popular now but were realities in the past, including in NYC, during the booming postwar years, when America was “great.”/1
www.nytimes.com/2025/06/25/u...
www.nytimes.com/2025/06/25/u...
Zohran Mamdani Says He’s a Democratic Socialist. What Does That Mean?
www.nytimes.com
June 26, 2025 at 9:54 AM
Most of the ideas mentioned in this article—higher minimum wage, free tuition at public colleges, higher taxes on the rich—are not only popular now but were realities in the past, including in NYC, during the booming postwar years, when America was “great.”/1
www.nytimes.com/2025/06/25/u...
www.nytimes.com/2025/06/25/u...
Reposted by Cynthia Weber, PhD
NEW: NSF will be kicked out of their building. Announcement will be made tomorrow by HUD Sec. and Governor of VA. HUD will take over the NSF building over the next two years.
NSF staffer: "There is no planning for NSF, no identified future location, appropriation for a new building or a move."
NSF staffer: "There is no planning for NSF, no identified future location, appropriation for a new building or a move."
June 24, 2025 at 10:20 PM
NEW: NSF will be kicked out of their building. Announcement will be made tomorrow by HUD Sec. and Governor of VA. HUD will take over the NSF building over the next two years.
NSF staffer: "There is no planning for NSF, no identified future location, appropriation for a new building or a move."
NSF staffer: "There is no planning for NSF, no identified future location, appropriation for a new building or a move."
Reposted by Cynthia Weber, PhD
When biomedical science and global health face existential threat, by @daltmann.bsky.social @angierasmussen.bsky.social @natrevimmunol.bsky.social
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
"The attack on some of us is an attack on all of us, and we must stand together."
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
"The attack on some of us is an attack on all of us, and we must stand together."
April 9, 2025 at 9:46 PM
When biomedical science and global health face existential threat, by @daltmann.bsky.social @angierasmussen.bsky.social @natrevimmunol.bsky.social
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
"The attack on some of us is an attack on all of us, and we must stand together."
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
"The attack on some of us is an attack on all of us, and we must stand together."
Reposted by Cynthia Weber, PhD
The message is: crowd large.
Many politicians, administrators, and business leaders, in bowing to Trump, have drawn confidence and comfort from the perceived vibe shift.
Events like this puncture that delusion.
Many politicians, administrators, and business leaders, in bowing to Trump, have drawn confidence and comfort from the perceived vibe shift.
Events like this puncture that delusion.
You can stop asking where the mass opposition is. It's everywhere.
People poured out to protest not only what Trump has done—and what they fear he will do next.
www.motherjones.com
April 5, 2025 at 11:37 PM
The message is: crowd large.
Many politicians, administrators, and business leaders, in bowing to Trump, have drawn confidence and comfort from the perceived vibe shift.
Events like this puncture that delusion.
Many politicians, administrators, and business leaders, in bowing to Trump, have drawn confidence and comfort from the perceived vibe shift.
Events like this puncture that delusion.
Reposted by Cynthia Weber, PhD
NEW: The doctor behind breakthrough Parkinson’s research was among the scientists purged from the National Institutes of Health, the US’s leading medical research agency. www.wired.com/story/doctor...
Doctor Behind Award-Winning Parkinson’s Research Among Scientists Purged From NIH
Leading scientists at the National Institutes of Health, the US’s leading medical research agency, were swept up Tuesday in the Trump administration's latest firing blitz.
www.wired.com
April 2, 2025 at 12:13 AM
NEW: The doctor behind breakthrough Parkinson’s research was among the scientists purged from the National Institutes of Health, the US’s leading medical research agency. www.wired.com/story/doctor...
Reposted by Cynthia Weber, PhD
It's getting a lot of attn today. But even before today most of the country had very little idea of what has happened at NIH or through it the entire ecosystem of biomedical research in the US. Simply put, Musk, Kennedy & Trump exploded a bomb right in the middle of cancer cure research in the US.
April 2, 2025 at 1:26 AM
It's getting a lot of attn today. But even before today most of the country had very little idea of what has happened at NIH or through it the entire ecosystem of biomedical research in the US. Simply put, Musk, Kennedy & Trump exploded a bomb right in the middle of cancer cure research in the US.
Reposted by Cynthia Weber, PhD
NEW: The CDC has been gutted. Thousands of CDC employees working on HIV prevention and lead poisoning received RIF notices early this morning.
w/ @leahfeiger.bsky.social + @knibbs.bsky.social
www.wired.com/story/cdc-gu...
w/ @leahfeiger.bsky.social + @knibbs.bsky.social
www.wired.com/story/cdc-gu...
The CDC Has Been Gutted
Thousands of CDC employees who worked on things like preventing HIV and lead poisoning have been told they were subject to a reduction in force. Experts say people will die.
www.wired.com
April 1, 2025 at 3:18 PM
NEW: The CDC has been gutted. Thousands of CDC employees working on HIV prevention and lead poisoning received RIF notices early this morning.
w/ @leahfeiger.bsky.social + @knibbs.bsky.social
www.wired.com/story/cdc-gu...
w/ @leahfeiger.bsky.social + @knibbs.bsky.social
www.wired.com/story/cdc-gu...
Reposted by Cynthia Weber, PhD
Ruining studies and potentially harming research subjects...
Abruptly terminating clinical trials...
Ignorant and evil
www.theatlantic.com/health/archi...
Abruptly terminating clinical trials...
Ignorant and evil
www.theatlantic.com/health/archi...
The NIH’s Most Reckless Cuts Yet
Ending clinical trials with no warning can put patients at risk.
www.theatlantic.com
March 27, 2025 at 11:41 PM
Ruining studies and potentially harming research subjects...
Abruptly terminating clinical trials...
Ignorant and evil
www.theatlantic.com/health/archi...
Abruptly terminating clinical trials...
Ignorant and evil
www.theatlantic.com/health/archi...
Reposted by Cynthia Weber, PhD
Working with an interdisciplinary team, we have developed a website to communicate how the White House's proposed cuts to health research would cause losses of $16B and 68,500 jobs.
Find out how your community may be impacted.
Explore more at SCIMaP: scienceimpacts.org
a 🧵
Find out how your community may be impacted.
Explore more at SCIMaP: scienceimpacts.org
a 🧵
March 28, 2025 at 2:15 AM
Working with an interdisciplinary team, we have developed a website to communicate how the White House's proposed cuts to health research would cause losses of $16B and 68,500 jobs.
Find out how your community may be impacted.
Explore more at SCIMaP: scienceimpacts.org
a 🧵
Find out how your community may be impacted.
Explore more at SCIMaP: scienceimpacts.org
a 🧵
Reposted by Cynthia Weber, PhD
Breaking: Read the Signal messages. theatln.tc/XISUWloF
Here Are the Attack Plans That Trump’s Advisers Shared on Signal
The administration has downplayed the importance of the text messages inadvertently sent to The Atlantic’s editor in chief.
theatln.tc
March 26, 2025 at 12:39 PM
Breaking: Read the Signal messages. theatln.tc/XISUWloF
Reposted by Cynthia Weber, PhD
Authoritarians rise when people give up their power without a fight. I won’t do that.
My full statement with @lujan.senate.gov below.
My full statement with @lujan.senate.gov below.
March 13, 2025 at 6:22 PM
Authoritarians rise when people give up their power without a fight. I won’t do that.
My full statement with @lujan.senate.gov below.
My full statement with @lujan.senate.gov below.
Reposted by Cynthia Weber, PhD
EXCLUSIVE: Sources tell WIRED that Elon Musk has wanted a government shutdown in part because it would potentially make it easier to eliminate the jobs of hundreds of thousands of federal workers.
Elon Musk Has Wanted the Government Shutdown
Sources tell WIRED that Elon Musk has wanted a government shutdown in part because it would potentially make it easier to eliminate the jobs of hundreds of thousands of federal workers.
www.wired.com
March 11, 2025 at 5:22 PM
EXCLUSIVE: Sources tell WIRED that Elon Musk has wanted a government shutdown in part because it would potentially make it easier to eliminate the jobs of hundreds of thousands of federal workers.
Reposted by Cynthia Weber, PhD
JUST IN: A federal judge in Massachusetts has extended her nationwide block on Trump administration effort to slash funds for NIH research.
March 5, 2025 at 7:50 PM
JUST IN: A federal judge in Massachusetts has extended her nationwide block on Trump administration effort to slash funds for NIH research.
Reposted by Cynthia Weber, PhD
Wrote up something about Techdirt's recent coverage, and why (whether we like it or not) we need to be a "democracy blog" now, rather than just a "tech" blog (not that we've ever been just a tech blog).
This story is *the* story and it impacts everything else.
www.techdirt.com/2025/03/04/w...
This story is *the* story and it impacts everything else.
www.techdirt.com/2025/03/04/w...
Why Techdirt Is Now A Democracy Blog (Whether We Like It Or Not)
While political reporters are still doing their view-from-nowhere “Democrats say this, Republicans say that” dance, tech and legal journalists have been watching an unfortunately recogn…
www.techdirt.com
March 4, 2025 at 8:05 PM
Wrote up something about Techdirt's recent coverage, and why (whether we like it or not) we need to be a "democracy blog" now, rather than just a "tech" blog (not that we've ever been just a tech blog).
This story is *the* story and it impacts everything else.
www.techdirt.com/2025/03/04/w...
This story is *the* story and it impacts everything else.
www.techdirt.com/2025/03/04/w...
“Patriotism in American history” = white-washed, revisionist rewritings. Welcome to 1984.
SCOOP: Now that Linda McMahon is confirmed/sworn in as secretary, Trump will be imminently issuing an executive order eliminating the Department of Education.
I’ve obtained a draft of an email that McMahon will be sending to staff re: the EO and the department’s “final mission”.
Here is a portion:
I’ve obtained a draft of an email that McMahon will be sending to staff re: the EO and the department’s “final mission”.
Here is a portion:
![After President Trump's inauguration last month, he has steadily signed a slate of executive orders to keep these education promises: combatting critical race theory, DEl, gender ideology extremism, and discrimination in admissions. President Trump has also been focused on eliminating wasteful bureaucracy and harmful programs in the federal government. To that end, today he signed [Executive Order XYZ, entitled "Eliminating the Department of Education,] which has given us a clear and final mission.
We are to identify which of the Department's functions, programs, and offices are not mandated by statute, and eliminate them. This reorganization will impact staff, budgets, reporting, and more —and in coming months, we will determine how it can be accomplished with minimal delay and disruption. The President further tasked us with creating a plan to reallocate and reassign functions of the Department of Education that would be more effectively managed by other agencies. This plan will offer Congress a road map toward fulfilling the expectations of the President and the American people.
The new vision—which I hope each of you will embrace going forward—can be expressed as four main convictions:
Parents are the primary decision makers in their children's education.
Students deserve to be protected from physical violence, racial discrimination, medical tyranny, and gender extremism ideology on campus.
Postsecondary education should be a path to a well-paying career aligned with workforce needs.
Taxpayer-funded education should refocus on meaningful learning: proficiency in math, reading, and core subjects, and patriotism in American history and civics.
As we move to reduce the Department's middleman role in education, these four convictions must guide us toward conscientious and pragmatic action. The elimination of bureaucracy should free us, not limit us, in our pursuit of these goals
Removing red tape and bureaucratic barriers will empower parents to make th](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:ejihld4sywvvqwe67cdkn4jq/bafkreictcxubqhd7foyjwbms62bj3cxmfyepqk2ms3l6ctabsa6fvpm5ju@jpeg)
March 4, 2025 at 2:21 AM
“Patriotism in American history” = white-washed, revisionist rewritings. Welcome to 1984.
Reposted by Cynthia Weber, PhD
Today, a broad coalition of scientific professional societies who represent over 92,000 scientists are speaking out against the politicization and demonization of Federally funded science and government scientist jobs.
It was an honor to help the Union of Concerned Scientists with this! 🧪🌎
It was an honor to help the Union of Concerned Scientists with this! 🧪🌎
48 Scientific Societies Representing Almost 100,000 Scientists Ask Congress to Protect the Future of Science
48 scientific societies representing almost 100,000 scientists signed on to a letter asking Congress to protect the future of science
www.ucsusa.org
March 3, 2025 at 3:52 PM
Today, a broad coalition of scientific professional societies who represent over 92,000 scientists are speaking out against the politicization and demonization of Federally funded science and government scientist jobs.
It was an honor to help the Union of Concerned Scientists with this! 🧪🌎
It was an honor to help the Union of Concerned Scientists with this! 🧪🌎
Reposted by Cynthia Weber, PhD
Francis Collins, the NIH Director for 12 years, led the Human Genome Project and other NIH efforts for 32 years, resigned today. Key words from his resignation letter
www.nytimes.com/2025/03/01/u...
www.nytimes.com/2025/03/01/u...
March 1, 2025 at 6:07 PM
Francis Collins, the NIH Director for 12 years, led the Human Genome Project and other NIH efforts for 32 years, resigned today. Key words from his resignation letter
www.nytimes.com/2025/03/01/u...
www.nytimes.com/2025/03/01/u...
Reposted by Cynthia Weber, PhD
“Friday, February 28, 2025, will go into the history books as one of the grimmest days in American diplomacy,” writes @radiofreetom.bsky.social.
Now “Putin, along with other dictators around the world, can finally look at Trump with confidence and think: one of us”: theatln.tc/FHJeRVAj
Now “Putin, along with other dictators around the world, can finally look at Trump with confidence and think: one of us”: theatln.tc/FHJeRVAj
One of the Grimmest Days in American Diplomacy
At an Oval Office meeting, the president of the United States ambushed a loyal ally.
theatln.tc
February 28, 2025 at 10:06 PM
“Friday, February 28, 2025, will go into the history books as one of the grimmest days in American diplomacy,” writes @radiofreetom.bsky.social.
Now “Putin, along with other dictators around the world, can finally look at Trump with confidence and think: one of us”: theatln.tc/FHJeRVAj
Now “Putin, along with other dictators around the world, can finally look at Trump with confidence and think: one of us”: theatln.tc/FHJeRVAj
@senatorheinrich.bsky.social Was Rubio worthy of your confirmation vote?
Rubio terminated 5800 USAID contracts – more than 90% of its foreign aid programs – in defiance of the courts.
Here’s a list of just some of the lifesaving awards that were terminated. Nearly all were Congressionally mandated. They’ve saved millions of lives. 🧵
Here’s a list of just some of the lifesaving awards that were terminated. Nearly all were Congressionally mandated. They’ve saved millions of lives. 🧵
February 28, 2025 at 7:25 PM
@senatorheinrich.bsky.social Was Rubio worthy of your confirmation vote?
Reposted by Cynthia Weber, PhD
Rubio terminated 5800 USAID contracts – more than 90% of its foreign aid programs – in defiance of the courts.
Here’s a list of just some of the lifesaving awards that were terminated. Nearly all were Congressionally mandated. They’ve saved millions of lives. 🧵
Here’s a list of just some of the lifesaving awards that were terminated. Nearly all were Congressionally mandated. They’ve saved millions of lives. 🧵
February 27, 2025 at 8:59 PM
Rubio terminated 5800 USAID contracts – more than 90% of its foreign aid programs – in defiance of the courts.
Here’s a list of just some of the lifesaving awards that were terminated. Nearly all were Congressionally mandated. They’ve saved millions of lives. 🧵
Here’s a list of just some of the lifesaving awards that were terminated. Nearly all were Congressionally mandated. They’ve saved millions of lives. 🧵
Reposted by Cynthia Weber, PhD
They can't eliminate the diversity of this country. It was always here and it always will be here in these places, whether or not the USA itself endures. They can create hierarchy and repression, and we can oppose it by embracing equality and diversity. Si se puede and sic semper tyrannis.
February 28, 2025 at 4:11 PM
They can't eliminate the diversity of this country. It was always here and it always will be here in these places, whether or not the USA itself endures. They can create hierarchy and repression, and we can oppose it by embracing equality and diversity. Si se puede and sic semper tyrannis.
Reposted by Cynthia Weber, PhD
Reposted by Cynthia Weber, PhD
"officials at the Dept. of HHS... have pressed staff at the agency to ignore court orders, according to nearly a dozen former and current NIH officials I spoke with. Even advice from NIH lawyers to resume business as usual was dismissed by the agency’s acting director, those officials said."
Inside the Collapse at the NIH
Administration officials pressured the NIH to avoid clear advice from the agency’s own lawyers to restart grant funding now.
www.theatlantic.com
February 27, 2025 at 7:44 PM
"officials at the Dept. of HHS... have pressed staff at the agency to ignore court orders, according to nearly a dozen former and current NIH officials I spoke with. Even advice from NIH lawyers to resume business as usual was dismissed by the agency’s acting director, those officials said."
Reposted by Cynthia Weber, PhD
It’s worse than you think in the same way that your brain breaks a little when you try to picture how deep the ocean is. It’s worse than you think because the people running the government seem to have no higher mission than to watch it burn.
www.wired.com/story/doge-w...
www.wired.com/story/doge-w...
The DOGE Takeover Is Worse Than You Think
What’s happening to the US government right now is bad. What comes next is worse.
www.wired.com
February 27, 2025 at 3:20 PM
It’s worse than you think in the same way that your brain breaks a little when you try to picture how deep the ocean is. It’s worse than you think because the people running the government seem to have no higher mission than to watch it burn.
www.wired.com/story/doge-w...
www.wired.com/story/doge-w...
Reposted by Cynthia Weber, PhD
We're in a full-blown constitutional crisis, with Article I completely inoperative & Article III not clearly operative. Whatever one wants to call our current political regime, it's neither a democracy nor a republic at this point.
If the president can ignore court orders and illegally circumvent, Congress, there is no Constitution. It’s gone. There’s no enumerated right that the president can’t take from you, no law Congress can pass that is binding, and no court that can protect you from any of it. It’s the whole ballgame.
February 26, 2025 at 4:37 AM
We're in a full-blown constitutional crisis, with Article I completely inoperative & Article III not clearly operative. Whatever one wants to call our current political regime, it's neither a democracy nor a republic at this point.