Nato Powell
@hardwarehuman.bsky.social
Twitter refugee, YIMBY, kinda moderate I guess. Lots of luck and some talent with data has allowed me to live in San Francisco, but I hope lots and lots more people will eventually become my neighbors.
Reposted by Nato Powell
“These are the people who will march in the street against Trump’s nativist’s rhetoric and then turn around and tell you that San Francisco is full.”
young guy gives an impassioned speech on how lefty NIMBYs (in SF and everywhere) betray their values.
The bill passed! www.tiktok.com/t/ZT6E4ov66/
young guy gives an impassioned speech on how lefty NIMBYs (in SF and everywhere) betray their values.
The bill passed! www.tiktok.com/t/ZT6E4ov66/
Planning Commission voted 4-3 to legalize multifamily housing in San Francisco. Our voices made a difference — but it’s not over yet, the plan now goes to the Board of Supervisors for full approval. L...
TikTok video by district9neighbors
www.tiktok.com
September 14, 2025 at 5:04 PM
“These are the people who will march in the street against Trump’s nativist’s rhetoric and then turn around and tell you that San Francisco is full.”
young guy gives an impassioned speech on how lefty NIMBYs (in SF and everywhere) betray their values.
The bill passed! www.tiktok.com/t/ZT6E4ov66/
young guy gives an impassioned speech on how lefty NIMBYs (in SF and everywhere) betray their values.
The bill passed! www.tiktok.com/t/ZT6E4ov66/
Reposted by Nato Powell
he was a champion of free speech and if you disagree youre under arrest
September 12, 2025 at 10:24 AM
he was a champion of free speech and if you disagree youre under arrest
For a basically empathetic person to retain some hope for Internet Era humanity, they must recall that if even 1/1000000 people are so damaged they spend all their time seeking threads in which to crap on trans people (or immigrants, or women, or…), that’s still hundreds of trolls in US basements.
May 31, 2025 at 10:41 PM
For a basically empathetic person to retain some hope for Internet Era humanity, they must recall that if even 1/1000000 people are so damaged they spend all their time seeking threads in which to crap on trans people (or immigrants, or women, or…), that’s still hundreds of trolls in US basements.
Reposted by Nato Powell
Reposted by Nato Powell
22 years ago I pivoted from working on antibiotic resistance to pandemic viruses.
Since then, I've argued that if we care about saving US lives in expectation, advance capacity for producing bird flu vaccine offers by far the greatest expected return on investment.
...
We were so goddamn close.
Since then, I've argued that if we care about saving US lives in expectation, advance capacity for producing bird flu vaccine offers by far the greatest expected return on investment.
...
We were so goddamn close.
Trump administration cancels plans to develop a bird flu vaccine
The Department of Health and Human Services is ending a $766 million contract with the vaccine company Moderna to develop an mRNA vaccine for flu strains with pandemic potential, including bird flu.
www.npr.org
May 29, 2025 at 4:48 AM
22 years ago I pivoted from working on antibiotic resistance to pandemic viruses.
Since then, I've argued that if we care about saving US lives in expectation, advance capacity for producing bird flu vaccine offers by far the greatest expected return on investment.
...
We were so goddamn close.
Since then, I've argued that if we care about saving US lives in expectation, advance capacity for producing bird flu vaccine offers by far the greatest expected return on investment.
...
We were so goddamn close.
Reposted by Nato Powell
Three things made the US a rich and powerful nation: the rule of law, its science & innovation system, and openness to foreign talent. Remarkable how Trump has taken a sledgehammer to all three. No enemy of this country could do more.
May 22, 2025 at 11:09 PM
Three things made the US a rich and powerful nation: the rule of law, its science & innovation system, and openness to foreign talent. Remarkable how Trump has taken a sledgehammer to all three. No enemy of this country could do more.
Reposted by Nato Powell
Not to be too pro technocrat, but it is astounding how much this country depended on the selflessness of like a few hundred thousand highly educated public servants who, for peanuts, made sure our food and medicine and environment etc were safe. And in return these servants were demonized.
“When it comes to .. raw milk, I want to be free to form a relationship with a local farmer, look him in the eyes, pet his cow, and then decide if I feel safe to drink the milk from his farm.”
— Casey Means, Trump’s latest surgeon-general nominee.
www.wsj.com/politics/pol...
— Casey Means, Trump’s latest surgeon-general nominee.
www.wsj.com/politics/pol...
Trump Picks a ‘MAHA’ Movement Leader for Surgeon General
The president said he would nominate Dr. Casey Means, a California doctor and wellness influencer, to be the next surgeon general.
www.wsj.com
May 8, 2025 at 1:42 AM
Not to be too pro technocrat, but it is astounding how much this country depended on the selflessness of like a few hundred thousand highly educated public servants who, for peanuts, made sure our food and medicine and environment etc were safe. And in return these servants were demonized.
Reposted by Nato Powell
crazy that an influx of dense infill housing can lower prices and make homeownership more attainable
"In 2020, [Portland, OR] approved building [middle housing] on lots zoned for single family homes... A new report from the City says, it's working. 1,400 new units built in just a few years and each one is $300,000 less expensive than a typical single family home." @nbcnews.com
May 3, 2025 at 12:04 AM
crazy that an influx of dense infill housing can lower prices and make homeownership more attainable
Reposted by Nato Powell
My thoughts on the Take It Down Act as someone who used to handle copyright takedown (and other) requests at Google. 🧵
As many have said, this law will be used as the ultimate weapon for the Trump Admin to censor speech from their political opponents (and more).
www.theverge.com/policy/62497...
As many have said, this law will be used as the ultimate weapon for the Trump Admin to censor speech from their political opponents (and more).
www.theverge.com/policy/62497...
April 29, 2025 at 2:07 AM
My thoughts on the Take It Down Act as someone who used to handle copyright takedown (and other) requests at Google. 🧵
As many have said, this law will be used as the ultimate weapon for the Trump Admin to censor speech from their political opponents (and more).
www.theverge.com/policy/62497...
As many have said, this law will be used as the ultimate weapon for the Trump Admin to censor speech from their political opponents (and more).
www.theverge.com/policy/62497...
This is fascism. I mean, far from the only example, but it’s one of the plainest signposts along the arc into increasingly pure forms of it.
www.nytimes.com/2025/04/25/u...
www.nytimes.com/2025/04/25/u...
Wisconsin Judge Arrested, Accused of Shielding Immigrant From Federal Agents (Gift Article)
Judge Hannah Dugan was arrested on suspicion that she “intentionally misdirected federal agents away from” an immigrant being pursued by the authorities, the F.B.I. director said in a social media pos...
www.nytimes.com
April 25, 2025 at 3:57 PM
This is fascism. I mean, far from the only example, but it’s one of the plainest signposts along the arc into increasingly pure forms of it.
www.nytimes.com/2025/04/25/u...
www.nytimes.com/2025/04/25/u...
Republicans being nutty is a dog bites man story and Dems being nutty is man bites dog, which is how we ended up with Her Emails and ultimately Trump.
Someone on X pointed out the scant coverage of Ron Johnson saying 9/11 was an inside job. The press assumes Republicans are crazy and malevolent, so when they say crazy stuff it doesn't get covered. But they assume Dems are competent & sane, so any data point to the contrary is treated as big news.
April 22, 2025 at 5:01 PM
Republicans being nutty is a dog bites man story and Dems being nutty is man bites dog, which is how we ended up with Her Emails and ultimately Trump.
Reposted by Nato Powell
The most daming claim in this statement IMO:
Within 15 minutes of DOGE accounts being created…
Attackers in Russia tried logging in using those new creds.
Correct usernames and passwords.
2 options here. The DOGE device was hacked. And I don't think I need to explain the 2nd.
Within 15 minutes of DOGE accounts being created…
Attackers in Russia tried logging in using those new creds.
Correct usernames and passwords.
2 options here. The DOGE device was hacked. And I don't think I need to explain the 2nd.
April 18, 2025 at 12:12 AM
The most daming claim in this statement IMO:
Within 15 minutes of DOGE accounts being created…
Attackers in Russia tried logging in using those new creds.
Correct usernames and passwords.
2 options here. The DOGE device was hacked. And I don't think I need to explain the 2nd.
Within 15 minutes of DOGE accounts being created…
Attackers in Russia tried logging in using those new creds.
Correct usernames and passwords.
2 options here. The DOGE device was hacked. And I don't think I need to explain the 2nd.
Reposted by Nato Powell
I wrote about the massive own goal this would be for the Dems: www.techdirt.com/2025/03/25/h...
April 11, 2025 at 4:37 PM
I wrote about the massive own goal this would be for the Dems: www.techdirt.com/2025/03/25/h...
Reposted by Nato Powell
/3 That’s because depression and anxiety lie to you, rob you of context, shut you away from hope. They make you forget and disbelieve the thing you know — that things can get better, that they WILL get better. That people care. That you can get help.
April 9, 2025 at 8:40 PM
/3 That’s because depression and anxiety lie to you, rob you of context, shut you away from hope. They make you forget and disbelieve the thing you know — that things can get better, that they WILL get better. That people care. That you can get help.
I have to wonder how Trumpists are telling themselves Trump is strengthening the US when they see the relative performances on this chart. Granted that most aren’t seeing it, but I’m sure those that do are telling themselves *some* story and I want to hear what it is.
April 9, 2025 at 1:16 PM
I have to wonder how Trumpists are telling themselves Trump is strengthening the US when they see the relative performances on this chart. Granted that most aren’t seeing it, but I’m sure those that do are telling themselves *some* story and I want to hear what it is.
Reposted by Nato Powell
Txt STOP to opt out of updates on war plans
March 24, 2025 at 8:39 PM
Txt STOP to opt out of updates on war plans
Reposted by Nato Powell
This is fascism at its core. Trump is making lawyers fear who they take on as clients. This is happening before Trump uses the DOJ and FBI to go after his enemies. At that point, wrongfully targeted people won't be able to get the best representation. I am terrified. www.wsj.com/us-news/law/...
Fear of Trump Has Elite Law Firms in Retreat
Many big corporate law firms are declining to help with public criticism and legal opposition to the second Trump administration, in the wake of executive orders punishing law firms with Democratic ti...
www.wsj.com
March 10, 2025 at 7:25 PM
This is fascism at its core. Trump is making lawyers fear who they take on as clients. This is happening before Trump uses the DOJ and FBI to go after his enemies. At that point, wrongfully targeted people won't be able to get the best representation. I am terrified. www.wsj.com/us-news/law/...
Reposted by Nato Powell
A fundamental story of the last decade is that a lot of basically incompetent people got fed up by competent people telling them they were wrong, constructed a more welcoming alternative ecosystem of competency cosplayers, and then somehow turned the whole government over to them.
February 11, 2025 at 4:28 PM
A fundamental story of the last decade is that a lot of basically incompetent people got fed up by competent people telling them they were wrong, constructed a more welcoming alternative ecosystem of competency cosplayers, and then somehow turned the whole government over to them.
The fate of LYMERix proves that senseless destruction that reverberated for decades could occur prior to the Trump era, but everything I’m reading suggests that senseless destruction reverberating for decades will be the mode rather than the outlier in his second term.
www.wired.com/story/life-s...
www.wired.com/story/life-s...
The Damage to Federal Medical Research Is Already Done
Clinical trials may have to be scrapped, research applications will be pushed back, and unpaid researchers will quickly leave the sector—even if the Trump administration’s funding pause is only tempor...
www.wired.com
February 1, 2025 at 11:21 PM
The fate of LYMERix proves that senseless destruction that reverberated for decades could occur prior to the Trump era, but everything I’m reading suggests that senseless destruction reverberating for decades will be the mode rather than the outlier in his second term.
www.wired.com/story/life-s...
www.wired.com/story/life-s...
Reposted by Nato Powell
An efficient facism does not require much direct state violence. It merely requires the assurance that private violence aligned with the desires of the regime will go unpunished.
January 21, 2025 at 12:38 AM
An efficient facism does not require much direct state violence. It merely requires the assurance that private violence aligned with the desires of the regime will go unpunished.
Keeping minimally abreast of the news but still waiting for something concrete we can do about what’s coming, and trying not to exhaust myself or others thinking about all the things we can’t do anything about.
January 21, 2025 at 5:15 AM
Keeping minimally abreast of the news but still waiting for something concrete we can do about what’s coming, and trying not to exhaust myself or others thinking about all the things we can’t do anything about.
This has to be one of the most NextDoorish of NextDoor posts, earnestly complaining that prohibiting parking in front of a fire hydrant is too much of a hardship for drivers. Perhaps the daylighting law is causing some carbrained citizens to think of other ways their liberties are being crushed.
January 13, 2025 at 5:25 PM
This has to be one of the most NextDoorish of NextDoor posts, earnestly complaining that prohibiting parking in front of a fire hydrant is too much of a hardship for drivers. Perhaps the daylighting law is causing some carbrained citizens to think of other ways their liberties are being crushed.
Reposted by Nato Powell
One thing that isn't enough appreciated about Reed O'Connor and other insane district judges is that they're directly and dramatically undermining the trustworthiness of the US as a jurisdiction to do business in and settle disputes in.
Rule of law is a gigantic asset we literally get paid for.
Rule of law is a gigantic asset we literally get paid for.
January 10, 2025 at 7:30 PM
One thing that isn't enough appreciated about Reed O'Connor and other insane district judges is that they're directly and dramatically undermining the trustworthiness of the US as a jurisdiction to do business in and settle disputes in.
Rule of law is a gigantic asset we literally get paid for.
Rule of law is a gigantic asset we literally get paid for.
Reposted by Nato Powell
The article raises important issues, but it’s mind-boggling to me that threats of violence against city employees by people who want to defend parking are characterized in the headling as a “war on cars.” That’s a war _for_ cars, threats of violence to advocate *for* drivers.
This article features violent threats to city employees and advocates who have the temerity to imagine something different for our city than cars everywhere all the time. If you gotta resort to terrorism to protect “free” parking, idk man…maybe examine that
www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/arti...
www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/arti...
December 28, 2024 at 6:16 PM
The article raises important issues, but it’s mind-boggling to me that threats of violence against city employees by people who want to defend parking are characterized in the headling as a “war on cars.” That’s a war _for_ cars, threats of violence to advocate *for* drivers.