Kari Debbink
@karidebbink.bsky.social
Virologist, Director of Graduate Studies at JHU MMI, feminist, BLM, supports equality for LGBTQ+ people, New College alum, obsessed with big dogs, cake artist, bubble tea enthusiast (she/her), views my own-not my employer’s
Reposted by Kari Debbink
Can confirm. I am okay and more motivated than ever to speak up.
Nothing scares this administration more. Their power lies in our silence.
Nothing scares this administration more. Their power lies in our silence.
NIH program officer @jenna-m-norton.bsky.social has been placed on admin leave, sources say.
Norton has been outspoken about the Trump administration's dismantling of science, and she signed the Bethesda Declaration.
Bhattacharya has said that "science is dead without free speech".
Norton has been outspoken about the Trump administration's dismantling of science, and she signed the Bethesda Declaration.
Bhattacharya has said that "science is dead without free speech".
November 14, 2025 at 2:37 AM
Can confirm. I am okay and more motivated than ever to speak up.
Nothing scares this administration more. Their power lies in our silence.
Nothing scares this administration more. Their power lies in our silence.
Reposted by Kari Debbink
This is designed to tank public health & primary care by excluding public health professions, advanced nursing practice, physical & occupational therapy from loans that can cover the cost of education. This is going to make an existing workforce crisis worse.
aspph.org/department-o...
aspph.org/department-o...
Department of Education Proposal Excludes Public Health Degrees from “Professional Degree” Definition
Discover the new results and implications of Dept of Ed consensus regarding professional degree programs and public health education.
aspph.org
November 14, 2025 at 11:23 AM
This is designed to tank public health & primary care by excluding public health professions, advanced nursing practice, physical & occupational therapy from loans that can cover the cost of education. This is going to make an existing workforce crisis worse.
aspph.org/department-o...
aspph.org/department-o...
No words strong enough to express how insane this is.
“The prohibited activities would include joint research, co-authorship on papers, and advising a foreign graduate student or postdoctoral fellow. The language is retroactive, meaning any interactions during the previous 5 years could make a scientist ineligible for future federal funding.”
U.S. Congress considers sweeping ban on Chinese collaborations
Researchers speak out against proposal that would bar funding for U.S. scientists working with Chinese partners or training Chinese students
www.science.org
November 14, 2025 at 11:41 AM
No words strong enough to express how insane this is.
Reposted by Kari Debbink
It's beginning to look a lot like...
A good time to restart something I used to do during the run up to Christmas in The Other Place.
Designs to follow next week #VirusSnowflakes
A good time to restart something I used to do during the run up to Christmas in The Other Place.
Designs to follow next week #VirusSnowflakes
November 14, 2025 at 10:35 AM
It's beginning to look a lot like...
A good time to restart something I used to do during the run up to Christmas in The Other Place.
Designs to follow next week #VirusSnowflakes
A good time to restart something I used to do during the run up to Christmas in The Other Place.
Designs to follow next week #VirusSnowflakes
Reposted by Kari Debbink
The best tradition returns!
It's beginning to look a lot like...
A good time to restart something I used to do during the run up to Christmas in The Other Place.
Designs to follow next week #VirusSnowflakes
A good time to restart something I used to do during the run up to Christmas in The Other Place.
Designs to follow next week #VirusSnowflakes
November 14, 2025 at 11:31 AM
The best tradition returns!
Reposted by Kari Debbink
#BREAKING: Over no public dissents, #SCOTUS denies Kim Davis's petition asking the justices to overturn Obergefell v. Hodges (which recognized federal constitutional protections for same-sex marriage):
www.supremecourt.gov/orders/court...
www.supremecourt.gov/orders/court...
www.supremecourt.gov
November 10, 2025 at 2:31 PM
#BREAKING: Over no public dissents, #SCOTUS denies Kim Davis's petition asking the justices to overturn Obergefell v. Hodges (which recognized federal constitutional protections for same-sex marriage):
www.supremecourt.gov/orders/court...
www.supremecourt.gov/orders/court...
Reposted by Kari Debbink
Almost completely, every single problem with higher education that folks think is mainly about something else is <primarily> about the massive decline in state public funding since the 1980s. Yes, including everyone's obsession with getting their kid into the "right" college:
"I'm obsessed with my kid getting into the right college"
Fund. The. Damn. Public. Universities. Like. We. Used. To.
Fund. The. Damn. Public. Universities. Like. We. Used. To.
November 9, 2025 at 9:42 PM
Almost completely, every single problem with higher education that folks think is mainly about something else is <primarily> about the massive decline in state public funding since the 1980s. Yes, including everyone's obsession with getting their kid into the "right" college:
Reposted by Kari Debbink
I just want everyone to have the experience of living in dignity with access to sufficient food, safe housing, needed medical care, high quality education, and time to engage with what sparks their curiosity and spirit
this should not be controversial 🫠
this should not be controversial 🫠
November 10, 2025 at 3:16 AM
I just want everyone to have the experience of living in dignity with access to sufficient food, safe housing, needed medical care, high quality education, and time to engage with what sparks their curiosity and spirit
this should not be controversial 🫠
this should not be controversial 🫠
Reposted by Kari Debbink
Shutting down the government is a big deal. People have been hurt in big ways as a result of the decision. To have that suffering be for nothing—to re-open the government without actually having protected people’s health insurance and economic well-being—is unconscionable.
November 9, 2025 at 11:14 PM
Shutting down the government is a big deal. People have been hurt in big ways as a result of the decision. To have that suffering be for nothing—to re-open the government without actually having protected people’s health insurance and economic well-being—is unconscionable.
Reposted by Kari Debbink
I’ve voted 7 times to reopen the government in a way that holds Trump accountable for his lawlessness and prevents a health care crisis.
I’m prepared to work toward a compromise, but this “deal” before us does not come close to meeting those terms. Voting NO.
Full statement:
I’m prepared to work toward a compromise, but this “deal” before us does not come close to meeting those terms. Voting NO.
Full statement:
November 10, 2025 at 12:48 AM
I’ve voted 7 times to reopen the government in a way that holds Trump accountable for his lawlessness and prevents a health care crisis.
I’m prepared to work toward a compromise, but this “deal” before us does not come close to meeting those terms. Voting NO.
Full statement:
I’m prepared to work toward a compromise, but this “deal” before us does not come close to meeting those terms. Voting NO.
Full statement:
Reposted by Kari Debbink
November 7, 2025 at 11:26 PM
Reposted by Kari Debbink
Senate Dems, do not cave. Ensuring healthcare premiums don’t surge is an 80-20 issue. They want to gut the ACA because their disdain for Obama far outweighs their concern for anyone’s health.
November 8, 2025 at 7:36 PM
Senate Dems, do not cave. Ensuring healthcare premiums don’t surge is an 80-20 issue. They want to gut the ACA because their disdain for Obama far outweighs their concern for anyone’s health.
Reposted by Kari Debbink
Love the idea of the "deletion test" posed by @needhibhalla.bsky.social & coauthors in their commentary about costs of cutting DEI efforts in science.
What if that student were "deleted?" What will the costs be?
Screenshots attached to enhance access. www.nature.com/articles/s41...
What if that student were "deleted?" What will the costs be?
Screenshots attached to enhance access. www.nature.com/articles/s41...
November 5, 2025 at 8:49 PM
Love the idea of the "deletion test" posed by @needhibhalla.bsky.social & coauthors in their commentary about costs of cutting DEI efforts in science.
What if that student were "deleted?" What will the costs be?
Screenshots attached to enhance access. www.nature.com/articles/s41...
What if that student were "deleted?" What will the costs be?
Screenshots attached to enhance access. www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Reposted by Kari Debbink
When people celebrate the individual genius of folks in science, they should also
mourn the collective loss of genius of folks who were actively discouraged or disadvantaged from a career in science because of the same person(s)
mourn the collective loss of genius of folks who were actively discouraged or disadvantaged from a career in science because of the same person(s)
November 7, 2025 at 11:43 PM
When people celebrate the individual genius of folks in science, they should also
mourn the collective loss of genius of folks who were actively discouraged or disadvantaged from a career in science because of the same person(s)
mourn the collective loss of genius of folks who were actively discouraged or disadvantaged from a career in science because of the same person(s)
Reposted by Kari Debbink
I never met Watson. But he gave a public seminar at my undergrad. Don't remember the talk but do remember the incredibly disturbing and degrading misogynistic comments he made at the female biology majors given the honor to meet him.
A real piece of shit! World class.
A real piece of shit! World class.
Hey folks, as news of Watson's demise spreads, please don't set aside his weighty legacy of misogyny and racism. He was truly among the worst of us. www.vox.com/2019/1/15/18...
DNA scientist James Watson has a remarkably long history of sexist, racist public comments
“People say it would be terrible if we made all girls pretty,” he said in 2003. “I think it would be great.”
www.vox.com
November 7, 2025 at 9:31 PM
I never met Watson. But he gave a public seminar at my undergrad. Don't remember the talk but do remember the incredibly disturbing and degrading misogynistic comments he made at the female biology majors given the honor to meet him.
A real piece of shit! World class.
A real piece of shit! World class.
Reposted by Kari Debbink
UNC student groups are taking the lead as faculty leadership falters. I'll be speaking, representing @unc-ch-aaup.bsky.social at today's rally, and then we'll head over to the Faculty Council meeting to demand that they pass a resolution rejecting Trump's compact, as our peer universities have done
November 7, 2025 at 12:17 PM
UNC student groups are taking the lead as faculty leadership falters. I'll be speaking, representing @unc-ch-aaup.bsky.social at today's rally, and then we'll head over to the Faculty Council meeting to demand that they pass a resolution rejecting Trump's compact, as our peer universities have done
Reposted by Kari Debbink
On Oct 1, 2025, GISAID informed us that they had ended updates to the flat file of SARS-CoV-2 genomic sequences and associated metadata that we had used to update Nextstrain analyses since Feb 2020. GISAID's stated rationale was that their "resources are limited". 1/5
November 6, 2025 at 9:46 PM
On Oct 1, 2025, GISAID informed us that they had ended updates to the flat file of SARS-CoV-2 genomic sequences and associated metadata that we had used to update Nextstrain analyses since Feb 2020. GISAID's stated rationale was that their "resources are limited". 1/5
Reposted by Kari Debbink
Gals, if you're not absolutely ruining the workplace for certain kinds of men, you need to step up your game. 🩷
November 6, 2025 at 2:32 PM
Gals, if you're not absolutely ruining the workplace for certain kinds of men, you need to step up your game. 🩷
Reposted by Kari Debbink
Looking forward to learning all about how the right should move left to win elections tomorrow. They should maybe dye their hair pink, learn to love pronouns.
November 5, 2025 at 1:48 AM
Looking forward to learning all about how the right should move left to win elections tomorrow. They should maybe dye their hair pink, learn to love pronouns.
Reposted by Kari Debbink
BREAKING: Zohran Mamdani wins the New York City mayoral race, NBC News projects. nbcnews.to/4nIzNUC
November 5, 2025 at 2:33 AM
BREAKING: Zohran Mamdani wins the New York City mayoral race, NBC News projects. nbcnews.to/4nIzNUC
Reposted by Kari Debbink
i want to repeat this: mamdani and spanberger have run similar campaigns tailored to their respective electorates and it is maddening to watch political journalists attempt to create some broad contrast where none exist
the other thing about this is that there is no reason to pit these candidates against each other? each are good fits for their respective electorates and each shows the value of vigorous campaigns focused on the stated material problems of voters.
November 4, 2025 at 1:37 PM
i want to repeat this: mamdani and spanberger have run similar campaigns tailored to their respective electorates and it is maddening to watch political journalists attempt to create some broad contrast where none exist
Tragic. Teen Vogue’s recent group of writers was exceptional and fearlessly reported the truth on current issues—something sorely lacking in much of today’s news media.
thank you for all the support; the statement from our union is now live here with some more reporting.
now that this is public I can confirm that the majority of today’s layoffs were women of color. there are no longer any Black women working at Teen Vogue.
now that this is public I can confirm that the majority of today’s layoffs were women of color. there are no longer any Black women working at Teen Vogue.
November 4, 2025 at 10:58 AM
Tragic. Teen Vogue’s recent group of writers was exceptional and fearlessly reported the truth on current issues—something sorely lacking in much of today’s news media.
Reposted by Kari Debbink
“Oh poor people can buy popsicles with food stamps” shut the fuck up the government gives perverts a trillion dollars in government money each year for pervert factories for billionaires the fucking popsicles are none of your fuckin business
November 2, 2025 at 10:40 PM
“Oh poor people can buy popsicles with food stamps” shut the fuck up the government gives perverts a trillion dollars in government money each year for pervert factories for billionaires the fucking popsicles are none of your fuckin business
Reposted by Kari Debbink
Not actually your uncle
October 28, 2025 at 7:32 PM
Not actually your uncle
Reposted by Kari Debbink
Leading up to Halloween we ask, Why do some gummy brands rock, and why do others feel like you're chewing plastic?
🎃🍬👻 Read my little explainer for @cenmag.bsky.social: cen.acs.org/food/food-in...
🎃🍬👻 Read my little explainer for @cenmag.bsky.social: cen.acs.org/food/food-in...
October 28, 2025 at 2:53 PM
Leading up to Halloween we ask, Why do some gummy brands rock, and why do others feel like you're chewing plastic?
🎃🍬👻 Read my little explainer for @cenmag.bsky.social: cen.acs.org/food/food-in...
🎃🍬👻 Read my little explainer for @cenmag.bsky.social: cen.acs.org/food/food-in...