Kate Petersen
@k8petersen.bsky.social
Writer. Science and climate communicator. Former Stegner fellow at Stanford. Daughter of Gallahop. Opinions are my own.
Reposted by Kate Petersen
NEW: Councillors and sources inside the City of Vancouver say the city's mayor, Ken Sim, will put forth a budget Wednesday that will eliminate the city's celebrated climate and sustainability department.
Vancouver mayor plans to eliminate city's climate and sustainability department
Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim is planning to eliminate the city's sustainability and climate department under the guise of a push to prevent increases to property taxes. Canada's National Observer learned a...
www.nationalobserver.com
November 11, 2025 at 1:47 AM
NEW: Councillors and sources inside the City of Vancouver say the city's mayor, Ken Sim, will put forth a budget Wednesday that will eliminate the city's celebrated climate and sustainability department.
Could we pass a designated senator rule and just replace this caucus with top of the Dodgers-Jays batting order for the foreseeable?
November 10, 2025 at 2:43 AM
Could we pass a designated senator rule and just replace this caucus with top of the Dodgers-Jays batting order for the foreseeable?
Another harmful, gutting Friday eve. No legal scholar, so salt, but my yeoman’s take: this moment is nth exhibit of the maxim that there is no such thing as appeasing autocracy. It is an appetite fed only by boundaries dissolved and people debased, which is why near-total immunity did not sate it.
November 8, 2025 at 3:10 AM
Another harmful, gutting Friday eve. No legal scholar, so salt, but my yeoman’s take: this moment is nth exhibit of the maxim that there is no such thing as appeasing autocracy. It is an appetite fed only by boundaries dissolved and people debased, which is why near-total immunity did not sate it.
In this moment of hope and breathing in, also thinking of Melissa Hortman tonight, and how she and John Hoffman should still be here to witness these democratic lights.
November 5, 2025 at 6:18 AM
In this moment of hope and breathing in, also thinking of Melissa Hortman tonight, and how she and John Hoffman should still be here to witness these democratic lights.
Reposted by Kate Petersen
Molly will be visiting the lands of the Lenape, Klamath, Shoshone Bannock, Diné, and Native Hawaiian in the coming days! Pumped for the respective communities Molly visits, and everyone who gets to learn more about them.
Watch them on the PBS KIDS app now or see when they air nationally near you.
Watch them on the PBS KIDS app now or see when they air nationally near you.
November 4, 2025 at 2:16 AM
Molly will be visiting the lands of the Lenape, Klamath, Shoshone Bannock, Diné, and Native Hawaiian in the coming days! Pumped for the respective communities Molly visits, and everyone who gets to learn more about them.
Watch them on the PBS KIDS app now or see when they air nationally near you.
Watch them on the PBS KIDS app now or see when they air nationally near you.
Reposted by Kate Petersen
Reposted by Kate Petersen
I feel like boomers think about how good they had it and take credit for it. And they made a point of hoarding that good. But as a millennial, it’s been pretty horrific to have a glimpse of how much better a lot things used to be as well as an acute awareness of the decline.
October 31, 2025 at 1:14 AM
I feel like boomers think about how good they had it and take credit for it. And they made a point of hoarding that good. But as a millennial, it’s been pretty horrific to have a glimpse of how much better a lot things used to be as well as an acute awareness of the decline.
Reposted by Kate Petersen
For 61 years the #BBCWorldService has been broadcasting the latest in science via its weekly Science in Action programme. That dies in the next half hour, with this final edition, reflecting on the fall in trust in expertise driven by malign interests over recent years.
October 30, 2025 at 8:20 PM
For 61 years the #BBCWorldService has been broadcasting the latest in science via its weekly Science in Action programme. That dies in the next half hour, with this final edition, reflecting on the fall in trust in expertise driven by malign interests over recent years.
Jamaica, thinking of you.
BREAKING: Hurricane Melissa makes landfall in Jamaica as a Category 5 storm, the strongest direct hit to the island in 174 years.
Live updates: Hurricane Melissa hits Jamaica as its strongest storm since records began
Hurricane Melissa made landfall in Jamaica Tuesday afternoon as a Category 5 storm. Forecasters expect it to unleash catastrophic flooding, landslides and widespread damage.
bit.ly
October 28, 2025 at 5:19 PM
Jamaica, thinking of you.
Reposted by Kate Petersen
Sigh...my quick update
www.forbes.com/sites/marsha...
www.forbes.com/sites/marsha...
Hurricane Melissa Is Category 5 With 175 MPH Winds — What’s Next?
Hurricane Melissa is a dangerous Category 5 hurricane with winds of 175 mph. What to expect as the storm approaches Jamaica.
www.forbes.com
October 27, 2025 at 8:14 PM
Sigh...my quick update
www.forbes.com/sites/marsha...
www.forbes.com/sites/marsha...
relatedly, just updated my profile image to a hand-painted plein-air done by an artist on Vancouver Island in the summer of 2016. I was a background character to my dad's portrait and my hair isn't really this color, but I like the whimiscal puff of steam coming from my head. seems prescient!
October 21, 2025 at 2:57 AM
relatedly, just updated my profile image to a hand-painted plein-air done by an artist on Vancouver Island in the summer of 2016. I was a background character to my dad's portrait and my hair isn't really this color, but I like the whimiscal puff of steam coming from my head. seems prescient!
out-onioning @theonion.com, I see.
from a discourse perspective, would be cool if there were suddenly a proliferation of jaded armchair architects on here saying 'we told you months ago this would happen' and sharing annotated mockups of WH floorplans like receipts.
from a discourse perspective, would be cool if there were suddenly a proliferation of jaded armchair architects on here saying 'we told you months ago this would happen' and sharing annotated mockups of WH floorplans like receipts.
October 20, 2025 at 10:11 PM
out-onioning @theonion.com, I see.
from a discourse perspective, would be cool if there were suddenly a proliferation of jaded armchair architects on here saying 'we told you months ago this would happen' and sharing annotated mockups of WH floorplans like receipts.
from a discourse perspective, would be cool if there were suddenly a proliferation of jaded armchair architects on here saying 'we told you months ago this would happen' and sharing annotated mockups of WH floorplans like receipts.
Reposted by Kate Petersen
And if there aren’t any community meetings, it would be a GREAT opportunity to meet like-minded individuals you can organize a meeting with. Doesn’t have to be big.
Many movements of yore started in someone’s living room
Many movements of yore started in someone’s living room
October 18, 2025 at 9:20 PM
And if there aren’t any community meetings, it would be a GREAT opportunity to meet like-minded individuals you can organize a meeting with. Doesn’t have to be big.
Many movements of yore started in someone’s living room
Many movements of yore started in someone’s living room
Reposted by Kate Petersen
Reposted by Kate Petersen
my main takeaways from listening to the Supreme Court oral argument today are
-the writing is on the wall for the Voting Rights Act
-the Republican justices are now throwing racist spaghetti at that wall; they'll pass of whatever sticks as the opinion's rationale
ballsandstrikes.org/scotus/calla...
-the writing is on the wall for the Voting Rights Act
-the Republican justices are now throwing racist spaghetti at that wall; they'll pass of whatever sticks as the opinion's rationale
ballsandstrikes.org/scotus/calla...
The Conservative Justices Have So Many Ideas For How to Kill the Voting Rights Act
The Republican justices already know where they’re going. They just have to figure out which route they’re going to take to get there.
ballsandstrikes.org
October 15, 2025 at 10:31 PM
my main takeaways from listening to the Supreme Court oral argument today are
-the writing is on the wall for the Voting Rights Act
-the Republican justices are now throwing racist spaghetti at that wall; they'll pass of whatever sticks as the opinion's rationale
ballsandstrikes.org/scotus/calla...
-the writing is on the wall for the Voting Rights Act
-the Republican justices are now throwing racist spaghetti at that wall; they'll pass of whatever sticks as the opinion's rationale
ballsandstrikes.org/scotus/calla...
Just donated. Heart with everyone in the Y-K Delta and all those affected by the storm.
If you're able, please consider a donation to the Alaska Community Fund to help people in western Alaska impacted by ex-typhoon Halong even as winter is bearing down. All the money donated goes to the region. Quyana. #Alaska #AlaskaSky
alaskacf.fcsuite.com/erp/donate/c...
alaskacf.fcsuite.com/erp/donate/c...
October 14, 2025 at 3:30 AM
Just donated. Heart with everyone in the Y-K Delta and all those affected by the storm.
Thinking of all the CDC experts who received these notices, and all the retired ones who helped shape the centers and modern epidemiology as we know it.
Thank you.
these RIFs are illegal. and/but the attrition and loss is real—especially when lawmaking and lawkeeping (by top court) is absent.
Thank you.
these RIFs are illegal. and/but the attrition and loss is real—especially when lawmaking and lawkeeping (by top court) is absent.
Lots of Epidemic Intelligence Service officers ("disease detectives") gone.
In-country staff in Africa (including those helping to manage the current Ebola outbreak) are fired.
In-country staff in Africa (including those helping to manage the current Ebola outbreak) are fired.
October 11, 2025 at 10:16 PM
Thinking of all the CDC experts who received these notices, and all the retired ones who helped shape the centers and modern epidemiology as we know it.
Thank you.
these RIFs are illegal. and/but the attrition and loss is real—especially when lawmaking and lawkeeping (by top court) is absent.
Thank you.
these RIFs are illegal. and/but the attrition and loss is real—especially when lawmaking and lawkeeping (by top court) is absent.
Reposted by Kate Petersen
Thinking of everyone in Kotzebue braving this storm — stay safe! 💙🌊
View local water level data (not all data is up to the minute):
🔗 water-level-watch.portal.aoos.org#metadata/100...
More info: awlw.aoos.org
@alaskaskies.bsky.social @alaskawx.bsky.social
View local water level data (not all data is up to the minute):
🔗 water-level-watch.portal.aoos.org#metadata/100...
More info: awlw.aoos.org
@alaskaskies.bsky.social @alaskawx.bsky.social
October 8, 2025 at 10:52 PM
Thinking of everyone in Kotzebue braving this storm — stay safe! 💙🌊
View local water level data (not all data is up to the minute):
🔗 water-level-watch.portal.aoos.org#metadata/100...
More info: awlw.aoos.org
@alaskaskies.bsky.social @alaskawx.bsky.social
View local water level data (not all data is up to the minute):
🔗 water-level-watch.portal.aoos.org#metadata/100...
More info: awlw.aoos.org
@alaskaskies.bsky.social @alaskawx.bsky.social
“We need so many people to care, so many people to say that, ‘I am willing to make financial and social sacrifices, professional sacrifices, in order to build a better world.’Whoever is questioning whether or not they should do that, I want them to know that they can, and it’ll be okay”
I miss Link
I miss Link
“As a neurodiversity advocate and as an autistic person, I’m really grateful for so much of the work that’s been done that allows me to be myself and to be successful being myself.” Link, who has been *banned*!?!? from this platform?
thinkingautismguide.com/2025/06/spac... #AutisticWhileBlack
thinkingautismguide.com/2025/06/spac... #AutisticWhileBlack
Space Law, Race, and Neurodiversity: Autistic Advocate AJ Link
We live in a country & society that is built on racism. The neurodivergent community isn't free of that racism—per Autistic advocate AJ Link.
thinkingautismguide.com
October 8, 2025 at 4:40 AM
“We need so many people to care, so many people to say that, ‘I am willing to make financial and social sacrifices, professional sacrifices, in order to build a better world.’Whoever is questioning whether or not they should do that, I want them to know that they can, and it’ll be okay”
I miss Link
I miss Link
Reposted by Kate Petersen
I've written my analysis of today's grim Supreme Court oral argument in the conversion therapy case:
As far as the Court's concerned, imaginary medical uncertainty gives states the authority to hurt queer kids, and takes away states' authority to protect them
ballsandstrikes.org/scotus/chile...
As far as the Court's concerned, imaginary medical uncertainty gives states the authority to hurt queer kids, and takes away states' authority to protect them
ballsandstrikes.org/scotus/chile...
The Conservative Justices Don't Trust Any Science That Supports LGBTQ Kids
States that want to facilitate discrimination against LGBTQ people have the Court's blessing. States that want to protect LGBTQ people from discrimination do not.
ballsandstrikes.org
October 7, 2025 at 9:29 PM
I've written my analysis of today's grim Supreme Court oral argument in the conversion therapy case:
As far as the Court's concerned, imaginary medical uncertainty gives states the authority to hurt queer kids, and takes away states' authority to protect them
ballsandstrikes.org/scotus/chile...
As far as the Court's concerned, imaginary medical uncertainty gives states the authority to hurt queer kids, and takes away states' authority to protect them
ballsandstrikes.org/scotus/chile...
Reposted by Kate Petersen
Thursday 10/9 at 1 PM Central, @sciencewriting.bsky.social is hosting a webinar on covering scientific funding chaoes with @stephaniemlee.bsky.social @katherinejwu.com and @scott-delaney.bsky.social.
Sign up: connector.casw.org/event/casw-c...
Sign up: connector.casw.org/event/casw-c...
CASW Connector Chat: How To Cover Ongoing Chaos in Science Funding - CASW Connector
CASW Connector's next Chat comprises top reporters discussing funding cuts and reinstatements, related lawsuits plus database Grant Witness.
connector.casw.org
October 4, 2025 at 1:35 PM
Thursday 10/9 at 1 PM Central, @sciencewriting.bsky.social is hosting a webinar on covering scientific funding chaoes with @stephaniemlee.bsky.social @katherinejwu.com and @scott-delaney.bsky.social.
Sign up: connector.casw.org/event/casw-c...
Sign up: connector.casw.org/event/casw-c...
Reposted by Kate Petersen
Unacceptable to put the costs of the AI boom on the backs of families struggling to pay their bills. It’s a crisis.
“By 2028, an average family in the region will be paying around $70 a month extra on their electricity bills because of forecasted data center growth”
I'm once again asking why ratepayers are subsidizing AI titans?
www.eenews.net/articles/dat...
I'm once again asking why ratepayers are subsidizing AI titans?
www.eenews.net/articles/dat...
Data center boom sparks sticker shock for PJM ratepayers
New analyses show that costs passed on to utility customers to guarantee future electricity demand are rising rapidly.
www.eenews.net
October 6, 2025 at 11:55 PM
Unacceptable to put the costs of the AI boom on the backs of families struggling to pay their bills. It’s a crisis.
Wow.
‘The hundreds of billions of dollars companies are investing in AI now account for an astonishing 40 per cent share of US GDP growth this year… Outside of the AI plays, even European stock markets have been outperforming the US this decade’
on.ft.com/4pTQ3US
on.ft.com/4pTQ3US
America is now one big bet on AI
It’s seen as the magic fix for every threat to the US economy
on.ft.com
October 6, 2025 at 6:12 AM
Wow.
Reposted by Kate Petersen
Even better is the live performance she did for the 2010 Olympics.
Like, these are •live• vocals.
Like, these are •live• vocals.
October 4, 2025 at 2:49 AM
Even better is the live performance she did for the 2010 Olympics.
Like, these are •live• vocals.
Like, these are •live• vocals.