Mara Forest
@maraforest.bsky.social
Writer of kidlit and cozy fantasy.
Reposted by Mara Forest
While no one was watching: Tenuous status of CDC prion unit, risk of #CWD to people worry scientists
If the Prion and Public Health Office is shuttered, human CWD cases could go unnoticed.
www.cidrap.umn.edu/c...
Photo: Lorie Shaull / Flickr cc
If the Prion and Public Health Office is shuttered, human CWD cases could go unnoticed.
www.cidrap.umn.edu/c...
Photo: Lorie Shaull / Flickr cc
November 21, 2025 at 3:43 PM
While no one was watching: Tenuous status of CDC prion unit, risk of #CWD to people worry scientists
If the Prion and Public Health Office is shuttered, human CWD cases could go unnoticed.
www.cidrap.umn.edu/c...
Photo: Lorie Shaull / Flickr cc
If the Prion and Public Health Office is shuttered, human CWD cases could go unnoticed.
www.cidrap.umn.edu/c...
Photo: Lorie Shaull / Flickr cc
Reposted by Mara Forest
Archaeologist here. For 99.5% of human history (ca 300-400,000 years), we were peaceful (no war). There was conflict and smaller scale violence, but countless studies on the 119 known modern hunter gatherer groups show cooperation, negotiation, and peace instead of conflict. Please read books.
Revenge/physical combat was how people settled things for literally millions of years, it's normal human behavior, we're wolves not sheep, the government project trying to social engineer us and domesticate us into sheep has been unsuccessful
November 17, 2025 at 10:46 PM
Archaeologist here. For 99.5% of human history (ca 300-400,000 years), we were peaceful (no war). There was conflict and smaller scale violence, but countless studies on the 119 known modern hunter gatherer groups show cooperation, negotiation, and peace instead of conflict. Please read books.
Reposted by Mara Forest
"The attorney in the New York office spoke in depth about the plan being recently updated to include mosques and liberal synagogues in the wake of Zohran Mamdani’s recent win in the New York City mayor’s race."
"Agencies within the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, including ICE, ERO, and CBP intend to implement a comprehensive plan to target Spanish-speaking churches across the country during the upcoming holiday season between Thanksgiving, Nov. 27, and Christmas, Dec. 25."
Exclusive: Trump DHS Plans Immigration Raids on Churches Over Holidays
The Trump Dept. of Homeland Security is briefing federal agencies on plans for immigration enforcement operations inside churches over holidays.
thisweekinworcester.com
November 18, 2025 at 4:16 AM
"The attorney in the New York office spoke in depth about the plan being recently updated to include mosques and liberal synagogues in the wake of Zohran Mamdani’s recent win in the New York City mayor’s race."
Reposted by Mara Forest
Reposted by Mara Forest
SEATTLE!!!
We’ve now taken the lead by 91 votes! 🤯 This thing is certainly not over! Over 1,000 ballots have been challenged, so if you haven’t tracked your ballot yet get on it! Our trusty volunteers have been working hard to "cure" ballots so they count! We're so close!
We’ve now taken the lead by 91 votes! 🤯 This thing is certainly not over! Over 1,000 ballots have been challenged, so if you haven’t tracked your ballot yet get on it! Our trusty volunteers have been working hard to "cure" ballots so they count! We're so close!
November 11, 2025 at 12:16 AM
SEATTLE!!!
We’ve now taken the lead by 91 votes! 🤯 This thing is certainly not over! Over 1,000 ballots have been challenged, so if you haven’t tracked your ballot yet get on it! Our trusty volunteers have been working hard to "cure" ballots so they count! We're so close!
We’ve now taken the lead by 91 votes! 🤯 This thing is certainly not over! Over 1,000 ballots have been challenged, so if you haven’t tracked your ballot yet get on it! Our trusty volunteers have been working hard to "cure" ballots so they count! We're so close!
Reposted by Mara Forest
Reposted by Mara Forest
The current GOP lie is that they’re going to replace Obamacare with something better.
Bullshit. In all of the majorities they’ve had since Obamacare passed, they’ve never once tried to replace it.
They’ve tried to repeal it a whole bunch, but never actually make it better.
Bullshit. In all of the majorities they’ve had since Obamacare passed, they’ve never once tried to replace it.
They’ve tried to repeal it a whole bunch, but never actually make it better.
November 9, 2025 at 1:04 AM
The current GOP lie is that they’re going to replace Obamacare with something better.
Bullshit. In all of the majorities they’ve had since Obamacare passed, they’ve never once tried to replace it.
They’ve tried to repeal it a whole bunch, but never actually make it better.
Bullshit. In all of the majorities they’ve had since Obamacare passed, they’ve never once tried to replace it.
They’ve tried to repeal it a whole bunch, but never actually make it better.
Reposted by Mara Forest
BREAKING: Cornell caved.
Here is the settlement agreement, signed today by the university's president, Michael Kotlikoff: statements.cornell.edu/2025/documen...
Here is the settlement agreement, signed today by the university's president, Michael Kotlikoff: statements.cornell.edu/2025/documen...
November 7, 2025 at 5:11 PM
BREAKING: Cornell caved.
Here is the settlement agreement, signed today by the university's president, Michael Kotlikoff: statements.cornell.edu/2025/documen...
Here is the settlement agreement, signed today by the university's president, Michael Kotlikoff: statements.cornell.edu/2025/documen...
Reposted by Mara Forest
Sacramento remains on track to launch a first ever city-led guaranteed income program for foster youth.
The program is expected to provide monthly cash payments of at least $750 starting next July.
The program is expected to provide monthly cash payments of at least $750 starting next July.
Sacramento income program may guarantee $1K monthly to foster youth
Requirement will include for youth to be 18 to 24 and income to not exceed 200% of the federal poverty level — about $31,000 per year.
www.sacbee.com
November 7, 2025 at 4:45 PM
Sacramento remains on track to launch a first ever city-led guaranteed income program for foster youth.
The program is expected to provide monthly cash payments of at least $750 starting next July.
The program is expected to provide monthly cash payments of at least $750 starting next July.
Reposted by Mara Forest
Maine rejected a ballot measure that’d have restricted mail voting and imposed voter ID.
By a large margin, 64/36.
The no got 90% in the city of Portland. (!) boltsmag.org/five-ways-20...
By a large margin, 64/36.
The no got 90% in the city of Portland. (!) boltsmag.org/five-ways-20...
Five Ways Tuesday’s Results Will Affect Voting Rules and Democracy - Bolts
From felony disenfranchisement and mail-voting to mid-decade gerrymanders, Tuesday delivered verdicts on election law across these five states.
boltsmag.org
November 7, 2025 at 2:00 AM
Maine rejected a ballot measure that’d have restricted mail voting and imposed voter ID.
By a large margin, 64/36.
The no got 90% in the city of Portland. (!) boltsmag.org/five-ways-20...
By a large margin, 64/36.
The no got 90% in the city of Portland. (!) boltsmag.org/five-ways-20...
Reposted by Mara Forest
I asked SPD's comms department to confirm this 2 days ago and they ignored me as usual. (All my questions have to go through their PR person—literally, I cant't get yes/no answers without a whole special delaying process. It's wild!) Anyway, here's the press release they did instead of answering me.
Chief Shon Barnes Announces New East Precinct Captain and New LGBTQ+ Liaison - SPD Blotter
The East Precinct is home to one of Seattle’s most diverse and vibrant communities, including many LGBTQ+ residents and small businesses. I am committed to ensuring the precinct’s leadership reflects ...
spdblotter.seattle.gov
November 7, 2025 at 3:19 AM
I asked SPD's comms department to confirm this 2 days ago and they ignored me as usual. (All my questions have to go through their PR person—literally, I cant't get yes/no answers without a whole special delaying process. It's wild!) Anyway, here's the press release they did instead of answering me.
Reposted by Mara Forest
1.This is not the only known example we know of ChatGPT cheering on a vulnerable young person to die by suicide, this time it is a recent Texas A&M grad
2. Every single university that has invited OpenAI into our midst should be asked to account for their choices.
www.cnn.com/2025/11/06/u...
2. Every single university that has invited OpenAI into our midst should be asked to account for their choices.
www.cnn.com/2025/11/06/u...
November 7, 2025 at 1:50 AM
1.This is not the only known example we know of ChatGPT cheering on a vulnerable young person to die by suicide, this time it is a recent Texas A&M grad
2. Every single university that has invited OpenAI into our midst should be asked to account for their choices.
www.cnn.com/2025/11/06/u...
2. Every single university that has invited OpenAI into our midst should be asked to account for their choices.
www.cnn.com/2025/11/06/u...
Reposted by Mara Forest
Breaking News: Late last night Conde Nast illegally fired 4 union organizers who asked company execs to explain the downsizing of Teen Vogue and continued layoffs. We’ve filed a grievance.
November 6, 2025 at 6:23 PM
Breaking News: Late last night Conde Nast illegally fired 4 union organizers who asked company execs to explain the downsizing of Teen Vogue and continued layoffs. We’ve filed a grievance.
Reposted by Mara Forest
The Rutherford County Library System in Tennessee is temporarily closing two branches in order to remove books from them.
Why? Because the Secretary of State told them to do it, citing laws and Executive Orders that undermine the Constititon.
bookriot.com/rutherford-c...
Why? Because the Secretary of State told them to do it, citing laws and Executive Orders that undermine the Constititon.
bookriot.com/rutherford-c...
Rutherford County Library System (TN) Temporarily Shuts Down to Ban Books
Rutherford County Library System announced on social media a surprise shutdown of two libraries. Why? "Reviewing inventory."
bookriot.com
November 6, 2025 at 5:58 PM
The Rutherford County Library System in Tennessee is temporarily closing two branches in order to remove books from them.
Why? Because the Secretary of State told them to do it, citing laws and Executive Orders that undermine the Constititon.
bookriot.com/rutherford-c...
Why? Because the Secretary of State told them to do it, citing laws and Executive Orders that undermine the Constititon.
bookriot.com/rutherford-c...
Reposted by Mara Forest
Our friends @weneeddiversebooks.bsky.social are gathering information about "soft censorship" happening in the US According to School Library Journal, soft censorship is a "quiet banishing that often comes without explanation." If you've seen it in your community, please respond to their survey
Soft Censorship of Diverse Books
WNDB is collecting information on the soft censorship of diverse books across the US. Have you witnessed soft censorship in your community? Please share your experiences below. Your response can be…
docs.google.com
October 27, 2025 at 3:36 PM
Our friends @weneeddiversebooks.bsky.social are gathering information about "soft censorship" happening in the US According to School Library Journal, soft censorship is a "quiet banishing that often comes without explanation." If you've seen it in your community, please respond to their survey
Reposted by Mara Forest
A glimpse from the Andrew Cuomo official watch party at Ziegfeld Ballroom, via NYPost's Matthew Fischetti
November 5, 2025 at 1:47 AM
A glimpse from the Andrew Cuomo official watch party at Ziegfeld Ballroom, via NYPost's Matthew Fischetti
Reposted by Mara Forest
This has been a really rough few days. I recently learned of a controversy around our book THE PRINCESS IN BLACK AND THE PRINCE IN PINK. Some were outraged that Deseret Book carried it (a chain of bookstores in the west). Deseret Book appears to have complied to their demands and removed it. 1/
November 3, 2025 at 2:45 PM
This has been a really rough few days. I recently learned of a controversy around our book THE PRINCESS IN BLACK AND THE PRINCE IN PINK. Some were outraged that Deseret Book carried it (a chain of bookstores in the west). Deseret Book appears to have complied to their demands and removed it. 1/
Reposted by Mara Forest
NEW: Paul Newby, a born-again Christian, has turned his perch atop North Carolina’s Supreme Court into an instrument of political power.
Over two decades, he’s driven changes that have reverberated well beyond the borders of his state.
By @dougbockclark.bsky.social
Over two decades, he’s driven changes that have reverberated well beyond the borders of his state.
By @dougbockclark.bsky.social
“Biblical Justice, Equal Justice, for All”: How North Carolina’s Chief Justice Transformed His State and America
Paul Newby, a born-again Christian, has turned his perch atop North Carolina’s Supreme Court into an instrument of political power. Over two decades, he’s driven changes that have reverberated well be...
www.propublica.org
October 30, 2025 at 11:32 AM
NEW: Paul Newby, a born-again Christian, has turned his perch atop North Carolina’s Supreme Court into an instrument of political power.
Over two decades, he’s driven changes that have reverberated well beyond the borders of his state.
By @dougbockclark.bsky.social
Over two decades, he’s driven changes that have reverberated well beyond the borders of his state.
By @dougbockclark.bsky.social
Reposted by Mara Forest
📣THREAD: It’s surprising to me that so many people were surprised to learn that Signal runs partly on AWS (something we can do because we use encryption to make sure no one but you–not AWS, not Signal, not anyone–can access your comms).
It’s also concerning. 1/
It’s also concerning. 1/
PSA: we're aware that Signal is down for some people. This appears to be related to a major AWS outage. Stand by.
October 27, 2025 at 10:38 AM
📣THREAD: It’s surprising to me that so many people were surprised to learn that Signal runs partly on AWS (something we can do because we use encryption to make sure no one but you–not AWS, not Signal, not anyone–can access your comms).
It’s also concerning. 1/
It’s also concerning. 1/
Reposted by Mara Forest
The AWS outage bricked people's $2,700 smartbeds, leaving them in a reclining position or with the heat up. People were unable to use them, basically. A GitHub repo exists that lets people operate their beds without reliance on the normal infrastructure
www.404media.co/the-aws-outa...
www.404media.co/the-aws-outa...
The AWS Outage Bricked People’s $2,700 Smartbeds
When Amazon Web Services went offline, people lost control of their cloud-connected smart beds, getting stuck in reclined positions or roasting with the heat turned all the way up.
www.404media.co
October 22, 2025 at 1:43 PM
The AWS outage bricked people's $2,700 smartbeds, leaving them in a reclining position or with the heat up. People were unable to use them, basically. A GitHub repo exists that lets people operate their beds without reliance on the normal infrastructure
www.404media.co/the-aws-outa...
www.404media.co/the-aws-outa...
Reposted by Mara Forest
A US tech bro corp in the US has decided the night sky should go away. They've made that decision for everyone on Earth.
Naturally they've named the first searing orbital array (many times brighter than the moon) after Eärendil, the light bearer, from Tolkien's work
www.space.com/space-explor...
Naturally they've named the first searing orbital array (many times brighter than the moon) after Eärendil, the light bearer, from Tolkien's work
www.space.com/space-explor...
Company's plan to launch 4,000 space mirrors alarms scientists
Reflect Orbital says their light-on-demand idea has generated significant interest from commercial and government customers.
www.space.com
October 22, 2025 at 11:10 AM
A US tech bro corp in the US has decided the night sky should go away. They've made that decision for everyone on Earth.
Naturally they've named the first searing orbital array (many times brighter than the moon) after Eärendil, the light bearer, from Tolkien's work
www.space.com/space-explor...
Naturally they've named the first searing orbital array (many times brighter than the moon) after Eärendil, the light bearer, from Tolkien's work
www.space.com/space-explor...
Reposted by Mara Forest
Correct.
Listen for yourself, directly from the mouth of this protobacco child labor advocate.
youtu.be/HGaYDUS19Lo?...
Listen for yourself, directly from the mouth of this protobacco child labor advocate.
youtu.be/HGaYDUS19Lo?...
October 21, 2025 at 2:23 PM
Correct.
Listen for yourself, directly from the mouth of this protobacco child labor advocate.
youtu.be/HGaYDUS19Lo?...
Listen for yourself, directly from the mouth of this protobacco child labor advocate.
youtu.be/HGaYDUS19Lo?...
Reposted by Mara Forest
"COVID-19 continued to cause about the same number of monthly work absences year-round as occurred during peak influenza months, a team that includes Yale School of Public Health (YSPH) researchers has found."
Source: archive.li/z10Zl
Source: archive.li/z10Zl
October 21, 2025 at 1:30 AM
"COVID-19 continued to cause about the same number of monthly work absences year-round as occurred during peak influenza months, a team that includes Yale School of Public Health (YSPH) researchers has found."
Source: archive.li/z10Zl
Source: archive.li/z10Zl
Reposted by Mara Forest
WELL IN FACT if you are a member of @sfwa.bsky.social, they have some health insurance options available, based on the same concept of pooling groups together (in this case other lit-focused orgs). This itself is a compelling reason for qualified writers to join SFWA.
www.sfwa.org/2020/06/10/h...
www.sfwa.org/2020/06/10/h...
October 20, 2025 at 6:26 PM
WELL IN FACT if you are a member of @sfwa.bsky.social, they have some health insurance options available, based on the same concept of pooling groups together (in this case other lit-focused orgs). This itself is a compelling reason for qualified writers to join SFWA.
www.sfwa.org/2020/06/10/h...
www.sfwa.org/2020/06/10/h...