David Bates
@davidbwriter.bsky.social
Arts/culture journalism at paywall-free Oregon ArtsWatch and Substack. News junkie and Weird Studies podcast fan. Other interests: UFOs, theater. I read everything. No DMs unless I know you or we've talked some here. https://artlandia.substack.com
Reposted by David Bates
Here’s a hot take: I don’t want to see lawmakers posting holiday pictures from their mansions — I don’t care which party.
Keep that shit to yourself.
Keep that shit to yourself.
November 29, 2025 at 5:47 PM
Here’s a hot take: I don’t want to see lawmakers posting holiday pictures from their mansions — I don’t care which party.
Keep that shit to yourself.
Keep that shit to yourself.
Reposted by David Bates
It’s Wednesday and that means it’s time for Defend Public Health’s Whopper of the Week!
This week @brucemirken.mas.to.ap.brid.gy @benecal.bsky.social and @aetiology.bsky.social take on RFK Jr.’s AIDS Denialism. It’s a great read.
This week @brucemirken.mas.to.ap.brid.gy @benecal.bsky.social and @aetiology.bsky.social take on RFK Jr.’s AIDS Denialism. It’s a great read.
Whopper of the Week: RFK Jr. Has Plainly Stated His Belief in the Falsehoods of AIDS Denialism | Defend Public Health
In June 2023, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. told New York Magazine, "There are much better candidates than HIV for what causes AIDS." This is blatantly false, contradicted by mountains of data and real-world ...
www.defendpublichealth.org
November 26, 2025 at 7:06 PM
It’s Wednesday and that means it’s time for Defend Public Health’s Whopper of the Week!
This week @brucemirken.mas.to.ap.brid.gy @benecal.bsky.social and @aetiology.bsky.social take on RFK Jr.’s AIDS Denialism. It’s a great read.
This week @brucemirken.mas.to.ap.brid.gy @benecal.bsky.social and @aetiology.bsky.social take on RFK Jr.’s AIDS Denialism. It’s a great read.
I wonder if Trump thinks Bondi's failure to take down Comey and Letitia James falls into the category of "punishable by death." 🤔
November 25, 2025 at 5:58 PM
I wonder if Trump thinks Bondi's failure to take down Comey and Letitia James falls into the category of "punishable by death." 🤔
Reposted by David Bates
Started/Going with Dr. Rachael Bedard.
There is no common ground between science and RFK Jr.
There is no common ground between science and RFK Jr.
November 25, 2025 at 3:36 PM
Started/Going with Dr. Rachael Bedard.
There is no common ground between science and RFK Jr.
There is no common ground between science and RFK Jr.
Reposted by David Bates
Humans are about 10 million times larger than viruses, yet they kill us regularly.
We can’t see them. We can’t outrun them. We can’t destroy them with our guns.
And yet we continue to disrespect them.
Vaccinate.
We can’t see them. We can’t outrun them. We can’t destroy them with our guns.
And yet we continue to disrespect them.
Vaccinate.
November 24, 2025 at 3:38 PM
Humans are about 10 million times larger than viruses, yet they kill us regularly.
We can’t see them. We can’t outrun them. We can’t destroy them with our guns.
And yet we continue to disrespect them.
Vaccinate.
We can’t see them. We can’t outrun them. We can’t destroy them with our guns.
And yet we continue to disrespect them.
Vaccinate.
Coffee shop culture has a long and rich history, but recently I've discovered the pleasures of an even older tradition that offers fellowship and discourse ...
On the Art of Conversation and Discourse
In which I reflect on the worst and best ways to enjoy an intelligent conversation.
open.substack.com
November 24, 2025 at 2:21 AM
Coffee shop culture has a long and rich history, but recently I've discovered the pleasures of an even older tradition that offers fellowship and discourse ...
Reposted by David Bates
Is Piggy referring to his attempted coup on January 6th?
November 20, 2025 at 7:34 PM
Is Piggy referring to his attempted coup on January 6th?
Reposted by David Bates
Why did not a single male reporter who were standing next to the president and the female reporter he called "piggy" say a word to the president about this and call him out then and there? Those who keep quiet in these moments are part of the problem.
November 19, 2025 at 1:19 PM
Why did not a single male reporter who were standing next to the president and the female reporter he called "piggy" say a word to the president about this and call him out then and there? Those who keep quiet in these moments are part of the problem.
Reposted by David Bates
Today RFK Jr. both suggested that aluminum adjuvants in vaccines cause peanut allergies *and* admitted there are no data to support this hypothesis, so he wants to find some.
Like if you took the scientific method, turned it backward and inside out and made it puke, you’d get RFK Jr.’s thoughts.
Like if you took the scientific method, turned it backward and inside out and made it puke, you’d get RFK Jr.’s thoughts.
November 17, 2025 at 8:22 PM
Today RFK Jr. both suggested that aluminum adjuvants in vaccines cause peanut allergies *and* admitted there are no data to support this hypothesis, so he wants to find some.
Like if you took the scientific method, turned it backward and inside out and made it puke, you’d get RFK Jr.’s thoughts.
Like if you took the scientific method, turned it backward and inside out and made it puke, you’d get RFK Jr.’s thoughts.
Reposted by David Bates
I think at this point you have to think invading Greenland is back on the table.
November 15, 2025 at 2:20 AM
I think at this point you have to think invading Greenland is back on the table.
I mean, if I bought every Criterion Collection disc ever made that's still available, I could build my own goddamned Criterion Closet. #CriterionCollectionLife
November 13, 2025 at 10:42 PM
I mean, if I bought every Criterion Collection disc ever made that's still available, I could build my own goddamned Criterion Closet. #CriterionCollectionLife
Reposted by David Bates
Can we just take a minute and acknowledge that our POTUS is right OUT IN THE OPEN lobbying Congressional members to vote against releasing the Epstein files?! Like... what the fuck else does anyone even need to know?
November 13, 2025 at 1:32 AM
Can we just take a minute and acknowledge that our POTUS is right OUT IN THE OPEN lobbying Congressional members to vote against releasing the Epstein files?! Like... what the fuck else does anyone even need to know?
I'm surprised, frankly, that no one has (apparently, that we know of, anyway) leaked the Epstein files to Anonymous, so they're the ones who share it with the world.
November 11, 2025 at 6:28 AM
I'm surprised, frankly, that no one has (apparently, that we know of, anyway) leaked the Epstein files to Anonymous, so they're the ones who share it with the world.
Reposted by David Bates
I waited a day to say this bc I respected everyone's right to vent some anger, but *remember to focus on what you can do*. Whether it's defending your community, taking action around what you've been venting about, whatever — but don't let all of your energy get captured in the social media space.
November 10, 2025 at 11:31 PM
I waited a day to say this bc I respected everyone's right to vent some anger, but *remember to focus on what you can do*. Whether it's defending your community, taking action around what you've been venting about, whatever — but don't let all of your energy get captured in the social media space.
Reposted by David Bates
I’ve long thought Trump is good at picking fights that benefit him politically but the fact he’s fighting right now to starve Americans is making me reassess
November 8, 2025 at 12:27 AM
I’ve long thought Trump is good at picking fights that benefit him politically but the fact he’s fighting right now to starve Americans is making me reassess
Pulitzer-worthy. Harnik will surely be banned from the White House.
incredible photo that's definitely worth at least 1,000 words from Andrew Harnik of Getty
November 7, 2025 at 1:58 AM
Pulitzer-worthy. Harnik will surely be banned from the White House.
Everything Trump/MAGA says about vote-by-mail is a LIE. Pure bullshit. I live in a state that's voted by mail for decades, and if you tried to take it away, you'd have Democrats AND Republicans in the streets with torches and pitchforks. Fraud is virtually NON-EXISTENT. They lie like they breathe.
November 6, 2025 at 4:53 PM
Everything Trump/MAGA says about vote-by-mail is a LIE. Pure bullshit. I live in a state that's voted by mail for decades, and if you tried to take it away, you'd have Democrats AND Republicans in the streets with torches and pitchforks. Fraud is virtually NON-EXISTENT. They lie like they breathe.
Reposted by David Bates
This piece by my friend and fellow co-founder of Defend Public Health @gregggonsalves.bsky.social is a must-read. In it he shares the reasons why public health practitioners and allies must rise up to meet this moment.
Public health has had to fight deniers for centuries, and we must do it now.
Public health has had to fight deniers for centuries, and we must do it now.
Public Health Was a Place for Warriors Once. It Needs to Be Again.
www.thenation.com
November 6, 2025 at 4:51 PM
This piece by my friend and fellow co-founder of Defend Public Health @gregggonsalves.bsky.social is a must-read. In it he shares the reasons why public health practitioners and allies must rise up to meet this moment.
Public health has had to fight deniers for centuries, and we must do it now.
Public health has had to fight deniers for centuries, and we must do it now.
"MAGA"
🚨 CNBC: "Announced corporate job cuts surging past 1 million so far this year, with 153,000 new layoffs just in October according to Challenger. That is the worst October since 2003."
November 6, 2025 at 4:07 PM
"MAGA"
Winning, yet, MAGA? 🤔
BREAKING: The FAA will cut air traffic by 10% at 40 airports across the country starting Friday if shutdown continues. https://cnn.it/3Xfbhzs
November 5, 2025 at 9:48 PM
Winning, yet, MAGA? 🤔
Reposted by David Bates
The most extraordinary political speech I have heard in years. What a breath of fresh air.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=kOQT...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=kOQT...
www.youtube.com
November 5, 2025 at 7:14 AM
The most extraordinary political speech I have heard in years. What a breath of fresh air.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=kOQT...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=kOQT...
Reposted by David Bates
Zohran was polling at six percent in January. Nothing is impossible
November 5, 2025 at 2:34 AM
Zohran was polling at six percent in January. Nothing is impossible
Reposted by David Bates
There are still a lot of hard times ahead, but remember this moment and what it means: We can win.
November 5, 2025 at 2:51 AM
There are still a lot of hard times ahead, but remember this moment and what it means: We can win.
Reposted by David Bates
In contrast to having the entire FDA at his disposal, the all-volunteer organization Defend Public Health had a draft report done within 72 hours showing how we know that children *have not* died from the COVID19 vaccine.
It helps when the data support your thesis. You don’t have lie or anything.
It helps when the data support your thesis. You don’t have lie or anything.
Scientific evidence shows no link between COVID19 vaccines and child deaths | Defend Public Health
In response to claims by the Trump administration that COVID19 vaccines caused 25 pediatric deaths, Defend Public Health reviewed the scientific evidence from rigorous vaccine safety surveillance syst...
www.defendpublichealth.org
November 4, 2025 at 10:09 PM
In contrast to having the entire FDA at his disposal, the all-volunteer organization Defend Public Health had a draft report done within 72 hours showing how we know that children *have not* died from the COVID19 vaccine.
It helps when the data support your thesis. You don’t have lie or anything.
It helps when the data support your thesis. You don’t have lie or anything.
I am now paying attention to the NYC mayoral race.
November 5, 2025 at 1:58 AM
I am now paying attention to the NYC mayoral race.