Mark Shore
@markshore.bsky.social
interests are politics, how states collapse, the media, and science, especially climate change, astronomy and geosciences
"A Republic, if you can keep it." Ben Franklin
photo: red sunset over the Pacific from the coast of Hawai'i
"A Republic, if you can keep it." Ben Franklin
photo: red sunset over the Pacific from the coast of Hawai'i
Reposted by Mark Shore
🧫🪴 INSIGHT 🧫🪴
⚠️🧫🪴 Invisible contaminants, irreversible consequences? LDPE residues twist the Arabidopsis holobiome. Chakraborty & Guo comment on research recently published in JXB by Lee et al.
Insight 🔗 doi.org/10.1093/jxb/...
Research 🔗 doi.org/10.1093/jxb/...
#PlantScience 🧪
⚠️🧫🪴 Invisible contaminants, irreversible consequences? LDPE residues twist the Arabidopsis holobiome. Chakraborty & Guo comment on research recently published in JXB by Lee et al.
Insight 🔗 doi.org/10.1093/jxb/...
Research 🔗 doi.org/10.1093/jxb/...
#PlantScience 🧪
![Fig. 1 (shortened, full legend in paper): Invisible stress: molecular disruptions beneath the surface. Microplastic contamination from LDPE residues in soil presents a deceptive paradox (A): plants may appear healthy (B), yet their molecular machinery tells another story (C). The study by Lee et al. (2025) reveals a striking transcriptome–phenotype disconnect in Arabidopsis thaliana. Despite maintaining biomass and morphology, exposed plants exhibited widespread suppression of photosynthesis-related genes [e.g. chlorophyll a/b-binding protein (CAB), small subunit of Rubisco (rbcS)] and nutrient transporter genes (NRT2.5), alongside shifts in the rhizosphere microbial community toward plastic-degrading taxa (C). These findings suggest that traditional indicators such as yield or chlorophyll content may be insufficient to detect early-stage plastic-induced stress (D).](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:ggz22gcwkakll7efac23g33s/bafkreibj4e5j7xbm6ibvlnt3ss2x2jcnwm2hqtbma7oxzer646iigchg24@jpeg)
December 8, 2025 at 4:22 PM
🧫🪴 INSIGHT 🧫🪴
⚠️🧫🪴 Invisible contaminants, irreversible consequences? LDPE residues twist the Arabidopsis holobiome. Chakraborty & Guo comment on research recently published in JXB by Lee et al.
Insight 🔗 doi.org/10.1093/jxb/...
Research 🔗 doi.org/10.1093/jxb/...
#PlantScience 🧪
⚠️🧫🪴 Invisible contaminants, irreversible consequences? LDPE residues twist the Arabidopsis holobiome. Chakraborty & Guo comment on research recently published in JXB by Lee et al.
Insight 🔗 doi.org/10.1093/jxb/...
Research 🔗 doi.org/10.1093/jxb/...
#PlantScience 🧪
Reposted by Mark Shore
The “efficiency” in this case is entirely to benefit the company, providing a ruling with no chance to appeal. Your human eyes don’t see a scrape? Who are you to challenge the machine?
Hertz' AI System That Scans for "Damage" on Rental Cars Is Turning Into an Epic Disaster
Hertz' new AI damage scanners are dead on arrival — and unfortunately, it's not the only company deploying the shoddy tech.
futurism.com
July 29, 2025 at 1:41 AM
The “efficiency” in this case is entirely to benefit the company, providing a ruling with no chance to appeal. Your human eyes don’t see a scrape? Who are you to challenge the machine?
Reposted by Mark Shore
The comparison I always like to make is that G'Kar from BABYLON 5 is who Gul Dukat would be if he was really as complex and nuanced as he likes to *think* he is.
December 7, 2025 at 6:12 PM
The comparison I always like to make is that G'Kar from BABYLON 5 is who Gul Dukat would be if he was really as complex and nuanced as he likes to *think* he is.
Reposted by Mark Shore
Ever since the government shutdown, it’s finally begun to sink in on people that Trump and his entire administration are a bunch of raging ideologues or incompetents or both, peddling a fantasy version of their strength that people no longer buy. trib.al/aMtlppC
There’s No Doubt About It: The Great MAGA Crack-Up Has Begun
Every single prominent member of the Trump administration has had a very, very bad week.
trib.al
December 7, 2025 at 10:27 PM
Ever since the government shutdown, it’s finally begun to sink in on people that Trump and his entire administration are a bunch of raging ideologues or incompetents or both, peddling a fantasy version of their strength that people no longer buy. trib.al/aMtlppC
Reposted by Mark Shore
For comparison, every robotic mission NASA has ever sent in its history, from the dawn of the Space Age 65 years ago to today, from Mercury to Pluto and beyond, has cost less than $40B.
I know which one has done more for humankind and which one should be dismantled.
I know which one has done more for humankind and which one should be dismantled.
Mark Zuckerberg’s gamble on the ‘Metaverse’ has cost Meta more than $77B
The company now plans to cut spending on it and shift focus to AI wearables instead
(via WSJ)
The company now plans to cut spending on it and shift focus to AI wearables instead
(via WSJ)
December 7, 2025 at 2:03 AM
For comparison, every robotic mission NASA has ever sent in its history, from the dawn of the Space Age 65 years ago to today, from Mercury to Pluto and beyond, has cost less than $40B.
I know which one has done more for humankind and which one should be dismantled.
I know which one has done more for humankind and which one should be dismantled.
Reposted by Mark Shore
walter white is unique in that he has a material negative impact on the life of every other character that we see in the show, his malignancy is truly astonishing
December 7, 2025 at 4:33 AM
walter white is unique in that he has a material negative impact on the life of every other character that we see in the show, his malignancy is truly astonishing
Reposted by Mark Shore
I don't understand what some unelected dipshits in black robes say, birthright citizenship is the black and white text of the Constitution.
The fact that it has even been up for debate shows just how far some of them have strayed from *both* of the oaths they've sworn.
The fact that it has even been up for debate shows just how far some of them have strayed from *both* of the oaths they've sworn.
December 7, 2025 at 7:38 AM
I don't understand what some unelected dipshits in black robes say, birthright citizenship is the black and white text of the Constitution.
The fact that it has even been up for debate shows just how far some of them have strayed from *both* of the oaths they've sworn.
The fact that it has even been up for debate shows just how far some of them have strayed from *both* of the oaths they've sworn.
Reposted by Mark Shore
🇺🇸 trifectas get shot at doing something
Obama chose policy (ACA). It didn’t fix the authoritarian problem
Biden chose policy (ARP/IRA). It didn’t fix the authoritarian problem
The platform must be institutional reform next time. Right from the start, as @dhnexon.bsky.social said
Obama chose policy (ACA). It didn’t fix the authoritarian problem
Biden chose policy (ARP/IRA). It didn’t fix the authoritarian problem
The platform must be
If we want to actually be a representative democracy, then the platform needs to be institutional reform. All the Popularism and all the policies follow from that, not the other way around.
- DC/PR/USVI statehood
- Enlarging the House
- MMDs
- New VRA
- Totally revamping SCOTUS: bsky.app/profile/mcop...
- Automatic universal voter registration
- Rewriting the "national emergency" laws: bsky.app/profile/mcop...
- Subordinating the Senate: bsky.app/profile/mcop...
Etc.
- Enlarging the House
- MMDs
- New VRA
- Totally revamping SCOTUS: bsky.app/profile/mcop...
- Automatic universal voter registration
- Rewriting
- Subordinating the Senate: bsky.app/profile/mcop...
Etc.
December 7, 2025 at 4:16 PM
🇺🇸 trifectas get shot at doing something
Obama chose policy (ACA). It didn’t fix the authoritarian problem
Biden chose policy (ARP/IRA). It didn’t fix the authoritarian problem
The platform must be institutional reform next time. Right from the start, as @dhnexon.bsky.social said
Obama chose policy (ACA). It didn’t fix the authoritarian problem
Biden chose policy (ARP/IRA). It didn’t fix the authoritarian problem
The platform must be
Reposted by Mark Shore
The way the conservative justices‘ hostility to the 13th, 14th, and 15th amendments’ *legitimacy* comes through (not just on doctrine or narrow interpretation) is in that they resist originalist arguments as applied to those amendments—they don’t care what John Bingham and Thaddeus Stevens said
December 7, 2025 at 2:44 PM
The way the conservative justices‘ hostility to the 13th, 14th, and 15th amendments’ *legitimacy* comes through (not just on doctrine or narrow interpretation) is in that they resist originalist arguments as applied to those amendments—they don’t care what John Bingham and Thaddeus Stevens said
Reposted by Mark Shore
Finland has emerged as a global leader in countering “fake news”. Here's how they've done it
Teaching when to trust
As fake news accelerates, we need to teach our children how to think critically. Finnish schools are leading the charge
newhumanist.org.uk
December 7, 2025 at 9:45 AM
Finland has emerged as a global leader in countering “fake news”. Here's how they've done it
Reposted by Mark Shore
These are definitionally people who managed to clear all the incredible legal hurdles to citizenship
Routine naturalization ceremonies scheduled for this month in Putnam, Dutchess and Ulster counties to welcome new U.S. citizens were abruptly canceled last week by the federal government, surprising local officials. buff.ly/8emFeDU
Citizen Ceremonies Canceled
Dutchess, Putnam clerks say they have new dates for next year
buff.ly
December 6, 2025 at 8:41 PM
These are definitionally people who managed to clear all the incredible legal hurdles to citizenship
Reposted by Mark Shore
from a state party director
December 6, 2025 at 6:52 AM
from a state party director
Reposted by Mark Shore
Reposted by Mark Shore
“officers were asking everyone what country they were from, and if they said a certain country, they were told to step out of line and that their oath ceremonies were canceled.”
Immigrants kept from Faneuil Hall citizenship ceremony as feds crackdown nationwide
Trump administration is pausing naturalizations for immigrants from 19 countries.
www.wgbh.org
December 6, 2025 at 7:41 PM
“officers were asking everyone what country they were from, and if they said a certain country, they were told to step out of line and that their oath ceremonies were canceled.”
Reposted by Mark Shore
So so so many, but one that comes up more frequently than you might think is
Yes
YES
The tiger is out
Yes
YES
The tiger is out
Which lines of poetry live rent-free in your head?
December 6, 2025 at 6:22 PM
So so so many, but one that comes up more frequently than you might think is
Yes
YES
The tiger is out
Yes
YES
The tiger is out
Reposted by Mark Shore
Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara issued a stern warning to his officers on Thursday: Intervene when you see Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents using unlawful force or lose your job.
Minneapolis police chief warns officers: Stop unlawful force by ICE or lose your job
Chief Brian O’Hara says he’ll fire city police officers if they don’t intervene when immigration agents use unlawful force.
www.ms.now
December 6, 2025 at 7:05 AM
Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara issued a stern warning to his officers on Thursday: Intervene when you see Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents using unlawful force or lose your job.
Reposted by Mark Shore
December 6, 2025 at 1:46 PM
Reposted by Mark Shore
ICE’s gross abuse of power is out of control.
What happened to Rep. Grijalva while exercising lawful oversight is outrageous and unacceptable.
When are House Republicans going to finally exercise their oversight duty and rein in this lawlessness?
What happened to Rep. Grijalva while exercising lawful oversight is outrageous and unacceptable.
When are House Republicans going to finally exercise their oversight duty and rein in this lawlessness?
December 6, 2025 at 5:04 PM
ICE’s gross abuse of power is out of control.
What happened to Rep. Grijalva while exercising lawful oversight is outrageous and unacceptable.
When are House Republicans going to finally exercise their oversight duty and rein in this lawlessness?
What happened to Rep. Grijalva while exercising lawful oversight is outrageous and unacceptable.
When are House Republicans going to finally exercise their oversight duty and rein in this lawlessness?
Reposted by Mark Shore
I am happy to pay $30 a year for USPS Prime, which delivers mail daily to my home
The USPS posting a NINE BILLION DOLLAR LOSS!!! sounds terrible. Certainly worse than if you said "USPS costs thirty dollars per person per year" even though that means the same thing and more accurately describes a government service
December 5, 2025 at 7:23 PM
I am happy to pay $30 a year for USPS Prime, which delivers mail daily to my home
Reposted by Mark Shore
I spoke to the New York Times in this great explainer piece by Charlie Savage
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/04/u...
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/04/u...
December 4, 2025 at 1:50 PM
I spoke to the New York Times in this great explainer piece by Charlie Savage
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/04/u...
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/04/u...
Reposted by Mark Shore
It’s the time of year when I do my Christmas auction. This mouse icon is up for auction and it’s to raise money for Shelter Cymru & Doctors without borders. 100% of the money raised will go to these charities on a 50-50 basis.
December 4, 2025 at 11:29 AM
It’s the time of year when I do my Christmas auction. This mouse icon is up for auction and it’s to raise money for Shelter Cymru & Doctors without borders. 100% of the money raised will go to these charities on a 50-50 basis.
Reposted by Mark Shore
I’m kind of new to the Democrats, but I thought we were FOR respecting the legal process, and also that we were AGAINST political corruption. And that it was especially important to hold to these principles at this time.
But I guess there’s some insider memo I didn’t get that would set me straight?
But I guess there’s some insider memo I didn’t get that would set me straight?
Jeffries claims the charges against Cueller were "very thin" and says Trump's pardon was "exactly the right outcome"
December 3, 2025 at 6:30 PM
I’m kind of new to the Democrats, but I thought we were FOR respecting the legal process, and also that we were AGAINST political corruption. And that it was especially important to hold to these principles at this time.
But I guess there’s some insider memo I didn’t get that would set me straight?
But I guess there’s some insider memo I didn’t get that would set me straight?
Reposted by Mark Shore
They are beating people who maybe once had a broken taillight and sending them to foreign slave prisons while freeing the worst fraudsters and every corrupt pol. The juxtaposition is so stark and appalling.
NEW: The commutation Trump issued to David Gentile wipes away all further fines & restitution.
Gentile had been sentenced to 7 years for his role in a $1.6B scheme that defrauded thousands of investors.
Prosecutors had been seeking $15.5M in forfeiture.
www.justice.gov/pardon/media...
Gentile had been sentenced to 7 years for his role in a $1.6B scheme that defrauded thousands of investors.
Prosecutors had been seeking $15.5M in forfeiture.
www.justice.gov/pardon/media...
December 3, 2025 at 5:39 PM
They are beating people who maybe once had a broken taillight and sending them to foreign slave prisons while freeing the worst fraudsters and every corrupt pol. The juxtaposition is so stark and appalling.
Reposted by Mark Shore
Cuellar was charged, by the Biden DOJ, with taking cash to push Azerbaijani and payday-loan interests and then laundering that cash through shell companies. If Jeffries can’t at least furrow his brow in concern over this he shouldn’t be anywhere near the levers of leadership.
Jeffries claims the charges against Cueller were "very thin" and says Trump's pardon was "exactly the right outcome"
December 3, 2025 at 5:51 PM
Cuellar was charged, by the Biden DOJ, with taking cash to push Azerbaijani and payday-loan interests and then laundering that cash through shell companies. If Jeffries can’t at least furrow his brow in concern over this he shouldn’t be anywhere near the levers of leadership.