Mark Histed
@markhisted.org
How brain neural nets do computations; we aim to understand differences in brain wiring, using lasers and neuro-AI.
Lab head, NIH. Prev: media policy for democracypolicy.network.
linktr.ee/markhisted; Pers. views; neuro posts: 🧠 /🧪
Lab head, NIH. Prev: media policy for democracypolicy.network.
linktr.ee/markhisted; Pers. views; neuro posts: 🧠 /🧪
Pinned
Mark Histed
@markhisted.org
· 13d
The mass firings have been lawless: now and all year
The first step in stopping a lawless Supreme Court is being clear about what it’s doing
scienceandfreedomalliance.substack.com
I wrote an explainer about the mass firings—the RIFs.
The RIFs all year have been clearly illegal. Russell Vought is using them to lawlessly clean out federal agencies. Lower court judges have said so. But the Calvinball Supreme Court has allowed them. 1/
The RIFs all year have been clearly illegal. Russell Vought is using them to lawlessly clean out federal agencies. Lower court judges have said so. But the Calvinball Supreme Court has allowed them. 1/
It was a major mistake that the Senate didn’t hold high-profile hearings and investigations into the corrupt Roberts Court when ProPublica was breaking the scandals.
Now that same corrupt Court is blowing up NIH, NSF, and all of US basic science.
Our failure to pick a big fight with the Court 1/
Now that same corrupt Court is blowing up NIH, NSF, and all of US basic science.
Our failure to pick a big fight with the Court 1/
look at what this leadership did with oversight powers of SCOTUS in the middle of multiple devastating scandals for the conservatives. look at the half assed impeachments and half-assed oversight during the teens.
November 11, 2025 at 4:20 AM
It was a major mistake that the Senate didn’t hold high-profile hearings and investigations into the corrupt Roberts Court when ProPublica was breaking the scandals.
Now that same corrupt Court is blowing up NIH, NSF, and all of US basic science.
Our failure to pick a big fight with the Court 1/
Now that same corrupt Court is blowing up NIH, NSF, and all of US basic science.
Our failure to pick a big fight with the Court 1/
Reposted by Mark Histed
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!
The RIF parts are good for federal workers. But they concede a lot.
Thing is, the RIFs all year were lawless. There are complex procedures to follow to use RIFs to fire people. It is clear those procedures were NOT followed. A lower court strongly ruled the RIFs were illegal. And SCOTUS dodged. 1/
Thing is, the RIFs all year were lawless. There are complex procedures to follow to use RIFs to fire people. It is clear those procedures were NOT followed. A lower court strongly ruled the RIFs were illegal. And SCOTUS dodged. 1/
The only exception to that is with respect to reductions in force (RIFs). The bill appears to both roll back RIFs announced during the shutdown and prevent any further RIFs between now and Jan 30.
November 10, 2025 at 1:07 AM
The RIF parts are good for federal workers. But they concede a lot.
Thing is, the RIFs all year were lawless. There are complex procedures to follow to use RIFs to fire people. It is clear those procedures were NOT followed. A lower court strongly ruled the RIFs were illegal. And SCOTUS dodged. 1/
Thing is, the RIFs all year were lawless. There are complex procedures to follow to use RIFs to fire people. It is clear those procedures were NOT followed. A lower court strongly ruled the RIFs were illegal. And SCOTUS dodged. 1/
A critical book, about how Congress has a lot of power to restrain the exec and judicial branches, and shld use it.
In fact, Congress using its political powers (like power of the purse, inherent subpoena power, even docket control) is probably required to get us out of this constitutional crisis.
In fact, Congress using its political powers (like power of the purse, inherent subpoena power, even docket control) is probably required to get us out of this constitutional crisis.
By an odd coincidence, I have been rereading this work of art by @joshchafetz.bsky.social tonight. Highly recommend if you have never read it.
November 10, 2025 at 12:38 AM
A critical book, about how Congress has a lot of power to restrain the exec and judicial branches, and shld use it.
In fact, Congress using its political powers (like power of the purse, inherent subpoena power, even docket control) is probably required to get us out of this constitutional crisis.
In fact, Congress using its political powers (like power of the purse, inherent subpoena power, even docket control) is probably required to get us out of this constitutional crisis.
Reposted by Mark Histed
RIF Update: The proposed appropriations legislation would invalidate RIFs conducted between 10/1/25 and 1/30/26. (Section 120). It does not include any provisions invalidating RIFs pre-10/1/25 or preventing future RIFs conducted after 1/30/26.
www.appropriations.senate.gov/imo/media/do...
www.appropriations.senate.gov/imo/media/do...
www.appropriations.senate.gov
November 10, 2025 at 12:03 AM
RIF Update: The proposed appropriations legislation would invalidate RIFs conducted between 10/1/25 and 1/30/26. (Section 120). It does not include any provisions invalidating RIFs pre-10/1/25 or preventing future RIFs conducted after 1/30/26.
www.appropriations.senate.gov/imo/media/do...
www.appropriations.senate.gov/imo/media/do...
Reposted by Mark Histed
This sounded like something Rs were trying to manifest. But now I am legit worried. Why would you cave now.
Sounds like the squishes in the senate caucus are ready to pull the plug with no ACA changes. This is real. If you want to register your opinion you shld call yr senator in the next hour. They not only want to reopen w/nothing. They want cover from their colleagues who still want to hold out.
November 9, 2025 at 8:56 PM
This sounded like something Rs were trying to manifest. But now I am legit worried. Why would you cave now.
Yet another bad thing for society that the Roberts Supreme Court is responsible for: legalizing sports betting.
November 9, 2025 at 7:19 PM
Yet another bad thing for society that the Roberts Supreme Court is responsible for: legalizing sports betting.
Robber barons, rails, rents, and RADIO of the next 20 years. (Is what we should now focus on.)
100 years ago, we were in the midst of a fight with those forces. Goebbels used radio to infamous ends. In the US, we had Father Coughlin using radio to chg the info env.
Positive: FDR used fireside… /1
100 years ago, we were in the midst of a fight with those forces. Goebbels used radio to infamous ends. In the US, we had Father Coughlin using radio to chg the info env.
Positive: FDR used fireside… /1
This article is a first essay out of my larger research focus on building participatory democracy in the digital age: how to counteract the global authoritarian movement.
Given recent AI news and a sense of urgency, I wanted to share one idea that maybe is worth a discussion today.
2/
Given recent AI news and a sense of urgency, I wanted to share one idea that maybe is worth a discussion today.
2/
November 9, 2025 at 2:55 PM
Robber barons, rails, rents, and RADIO of the next 20 years. (Is what we should now focus on.)
100 years ago, we were in the midst of a fight with those forces. Goebbels used radio to infamous ends. In the US, we had Father Coughlin using radio to chg the info env.
Positive: FDR used fireside… /1
100 years ago, we were in the midst of a fight with those forces. Goebbels used radio to infamous ends. In the US, we had Father Coughlin using radio to chg the info env.
Positive: FDR used fireside… /1
British note, but applies in the US too
I'm obliged for the nod.
The "Penrose Effect" seems to be a real thing - hypothesised in the 1930s and re-tested in the last decade or so:
Where you reduce your inpatient psychiatric provision, you'll see a correlated rise within 10yrs in prisons of seriously mentally ill prisoners.
The "Penrose Effect" seems to be a real thing - hypothesised in the 1930s and re-tested in the last decade or so:
Where you reduce your inpatient psychiatric provision, you'll see a correlated rise within 10yrs in prisons of seriously mentally ill prisoners.
November 9, 2025 at 2:04 PM
British note, but applies in the US too
People familiar with the right and with media will immediately recognize
James Watson’s path into full scientific racism.
He followed a particular contrarian, trolling descent.
According to this obit, he felt his biggest discovery was in his 30s, and later in life he searched for relevance. 1/
James Watson’s path into full scientific racism.
He followed a particular contrarian, trolling descent.
According to this obit, he felt his biggest discovery was in his 30s, and later in life he searched for relevance. 1/
James Watson, dead at 97, was a scientific legend and a pariah among his peers
James Watson, the co-discoverer of the structure of DNA who died Thursday at 97, was a scientific legend and a pariah among his peers.
www.statnews.com
November 8, 2025 at 10:20 PM
People familiar with the right and with media will immediately recognize
James Watson’s path into full scientific racism.
He followed a particular contrarian, trolling descent.
According to this obit, he felt his biggest discovery was in his 30s, and later in life he searched for relevance. 1/
James Watson’s path into full scientific racism.
He followed a particular contrarian, trolling descent.
According to this obit, he felt his biggest discovery was in his 30s, and later in life he searched for relevance. 1/
Please click through and read this post and the compiled quotes. Thanks to @lpachter.bsky.social for compiling them.
This isn’t harmless; making the scientific community welcoming for everyone is part of finding the best ideas and doing the best work.
And Pachter is right about uniqueness.
This isn’t harmless; making the scientific community welcoming for everyone is part of finding the best ideas and doing the best work.
And Pachter is right about uniqueness.
Scientific breakthroughs are rarely unique; someone else would’ve made them soon enough. But when prominent scientists cause harm, that harm isn’t inevitable; the world might simply have been better had the harm not been inflicted.
liorpachter.wordpress.com/2018/05/18/j...
liorpachter.wordpress.com/2018/05/18/j...
James Watson in his own words
“Some anti-Semitism is justified” “Whenever you interview fat people, you feel bad, because you know you’re not going to hire them” “Japan should be bombed for d…
liorpachter.wordpress.com
November 8, 2025 at 2:38 PM
Please click through and read this post and the compiled quotes. Thanks to @lpachter.bsky.social for compiling them.
This isn’t harmless; making the scientific community welcoming for everyone is part of finding the best ideas and doing the best work.
And Pachter is right about uniqueness.
This isn’t harmless; making the scientific community welcoming for everyone is part of finding the best ideas and doing the best work.
And Pachter is right about uniqueness.
Reposted by Mark Histed
After one particularly egregious set of comments by Watson about blacks and Jews, I and the other authors got legal advice on how to add wording to our contract that would make sure Watson would not be able to insert any deranged ideas into our book
November 8, 2025 at 3:00 AM
After one particularly egregious set of comments by Watson about blacks and Jews, I and the other authors got legal advice on how to add wording to our contract that would make sure Watson would not be able to insert any deranged ideas into our book
This prescient piece about attacks on universities was written in December 2024.
November 8, 2025 at 2:23 PM
This prescient piece about attacks on universities was written in December 2024.
Reposted by Mark Histed
If you are a scientist or someone interested in science and are seeing the news stories about the passing of Watson, you need to read Lior's important compilation of Watson's statements that reveal him as the racist misogynist and eugenics supporter that we was 🧪
Scientific breakthroughs are rarely unique; someone else would’ve made them soon enough. But when prominent scientists cause harm, that harm isn’t inevitable; the world might simply have been better had the harm not been inflicted.
liorpachter.wordpress.com/2018/05/18/j...
liorpachter.wordpress.com/2018/05/18/j...
James Watson in his own words
“Some anti-Semitism is justified” “Whenever you interview fat people, you feel bad, because you know you’re not going to hire them” “Japan should be bombed for d…
liorpachter.wordpress.com
November 8, 2025 at 12:25 PM
If you are a scientist or someone interested in science and are seeing the news stories about the passing of Watson, you need to read Lior's important compilation of Watson's statements that reveal him as the racist misogynist and eugenics supporter that we was 🧪
The best part of this piece, and the part I desperately wish science organizations and leaders would internalize, is about who is actually in control of the Republican party.
Watching the History of TPM and Its View Over the Horizon from the Far Seats talkingpointsmemo.com/edblog/watch...
Watching the History of TPM and Its View Over the Horizon from the Far Seats
I want to thank everyone who came out for our TPM 25th...
talkingpointsmemo.com
November 8, 2025 at 12:44 AM
The best part of this piece, and the part I desperately wish science organizations and leaders would internalize, is about who is actually in control of the Republican party.
Reposted by Mark Histed
It's been a crazy week and the next fights are already starting, but take a few minutes and savor the delicious joy of beating this guy and reading one of the best political writers working rn.
Politicians like Cuomo are a relic of the past. (Did I want to title this one “Don’t Let The Door Hit You On The Way Out”? Yes, I did.) www.nytimes.com/2025/11/07/o...
Opinion | It’s Not Just Cuomo Who Lost. It’s Cuomoism.
www.nytimes.com
November 7, 2025 at 10:01 PM
It's been a crazy week and the next fights are already starting, but take a few minutes and savor the delicious joy of beating this guy and reading one of the best political writers working rn.
Sigh. NIH normally sends several hundred scientists to the SFN annual meeting to learn, exchange info, come up with new ideas, and advance science. (The exchange of ideas is the very core of the scientific enterprise.)
This year, no one from NIH will attend due to the gov't implosion.
This year, no one from NIH will attend due to the gov't implosion.
Enjoy a broad range of lectures and network with experts in the field at #SfN25! 🧠
Gain valuable insights and tools to enhance your research and career.
Browse through to lectures and build your itinerary in the 2025 Neuroscience Meeting Planner
🔗 vist.ly/4de72
#neurosky #neuroskyence
Gain valuable insights and tools to enhance your research and career.
Browse through to lectures and build your itinerary in the 2025 Neuroscience Meeting Planner
🔗 vist.ly/4de72
#neurosky #neuroskyence
November 7, 2025 at 10:53 PM
Sigh. NIH normally sends several hundred scientists to the SFN annual meeting to learn, exchange info, come up with new ideas, and advance science. (The exchange of ideas is the very core of the scientific enterprise.)
This year, no one from NIH will attend due to the gov't implosion.
This year, no one from NIH will attend due to the gov't implosion.
There is an amazing book on misinformation, “Killer Underwear Invasion.” It is incredible how much of an impact it’s made on my kids.
Just a few days ago my kid saw something on TV and said proudly, “that’s man is like the puppy pinchers!”
Just a few days ago my kid saw something on TV and said proudly, “that’s man is like the puppy pinchers!”
November 7, 2025 at 3:25 PM
There is an amazing book on misinformation, “Killer Underwear Invasion.” It is incredible how much of an impact it’s made on my kids.
Just a few days ago my kid saw something on TV and said proudly, “that’s man is like the puppy pinchers!”
Just a few days ago my kid saw something on TV and said proudly, “that’s man is like the puppy pinchers!”
“Perhaps we should’ve guessed [the Roberts Court’s] extraordinary deference to this president could be outweighed only by its hatred of taxes.”
Yes. What today at SCOTUS shows is Roberts has never been about backing Donald Trump _the man_.
Roberts is there to protect the Republican Party. 1/
Yes. What today at SCOTUS shows is Roberts has never been about backing Donald Trump _the man_.
Roberts is there to protect the Republican Party. 1/
The Supreme Court’s Tariffs Arguments Were a Bloodbath for Trump
Going into Supreme Court arguments over President Donald Trump’s tariffs on Wednesday, it was genuinely difficult to guess how the justices would rule.
slate.com
November 6, 2025 at 3:56 AM
“Perhaps we should’ve guessed [the Roberts Court’s] extraordinary deference to this president could be outweighed only by its hatred of taxes.”
Yes. What today at SCOTUS shows is Roberts has never been about backing Donald Trump _the man_.
Roberts is there to protect the Republican Party. 1/
Yes. What today at SCOTUS shows is Roberts has never been about backing Donald Trump _the man_.
Roberts is there to protect the Republican Party. 1/
Proud Leslie Knope Stan here. And yes a big part of what’s positive about about her is her optimism. Optimism is vital
Cynicism usually ages better than optimism, but the Knopes of the world are the load-bearing pillars of democracy and civic life; sorry that they aren't cool.
Also "neoliberal shill" lol she literally fights back against the growing power and negative health effects of Sweetums and Paunch Burger.
Also "neoliberal shill" lol she literally fights back against the growing power and negative health effects of Sweetums and Paunch Burger.
The reason 30 Rock succeeds years later while parks and rec has aged like a toilet full of milk, is that 30 Rock doesnt shy away from portraying Liz Lemon as an obvious villian with a victim/hero complex, whereas Leslie Knope was played just a straight hero character, even tho she is a neolib shill
November 5, 2025 at 11:59 PM
Proud Leslie Knope Stan here. And yes a big part of what’s positive about about her is her optimism. Optimism is vital
I had the pleasure of working closely with Katie @wilsonforseattle.bsky.social on a policy project, and I can say she's the furthest thing from a quitter.
She is one of the smartest and most committed people I have ever worked with, on anything.
She is one of the smartest and most committed people I have ever worked with, on anything.
In the press release where Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell lambasted his opponent Katie Wilson for dropping out of college, he also suggests she will "quit and walk away" when "things get tough in our city." You know things are tough when the mayor is attacking his opponent for something she did at 21.
November 5, 2025 at 10:30 PM
I had the pleasure of working closely with Katie @wilsonforseattle.bsky.social on a policy project, and I can say she's the furthest thing from a quitter.
She is one of the smartest and most committed people I have ever worked with, on anything.
She is one of the smartest and most committed people I have ever worked with, on anything.
Last night was a good night for democracy, and science. The two are linked.
November 5, 2025 at 1:23 PM
Last night was a good night for democracy, and science. The two are linked.
Reposted by Mark Histed
"We have bowed at altar of caution and we have paid a mighty price."
Zohran Mamdani
Zohran Mamdani
November 5, 2025 at 4:41 AM
"We have bowed at altar of caution and we have paid a mighty price."
Zohran Mamdani
Zohran Mamdani
'My theory stands as firm as a rock,” Cantor once wrote. His mental health, not so much.'
'Cantor would claim at one point that he had been “logically forced” to discover set theory. “Almost against my will,” he said'
'Cantor would claim at one point that he had been “logically forced” to discover set theory. “Almost against my will,” he said'
November 4, 2025 at 11:40 PM
'My theory stands as firm as a rock,” Cantor once wrote. His mental health, not so much.'
'Cantor would claim at one point that he had been “logically forced” to discover set theory. “Almost against my will,” he said'
'Cantor would claim at one point that he had been “logically forced” to discover set theory. “Almost against my will,” he said'