Brooke Nichols, an associate professor of global health at Boston University, has estimated that these cuts have already resulted in about 300,000 deaths, most of them of children, and will most likely lead to significantly more by the end of the year. That is what Musk’s foray into politics…

Let's dig into the idea that tariffs involve short term pain for long-term gain.

Just trying to get my head around the absolute gutting of cdc and nih today. A bleak day for the US and …. well staying alive longer than people did in the 19th century.

If you were a halfway decent human being and you knew an innocent man was rotting in foreign prison—likely suffering nightmarish conditions—because your administration screwed up and send him there, you’d do something about it immediately instead of shitposting lies all day.

""but America needs resources and military access!"" these people think we're stupid. they are relying on you not knowing about lebensraum

Tuberculosis, the deadliest infectious disease on the planet, kills more than 1.25M people a year. New infections are expected to surge by 30% as a result of closing USAID, a memo says. The increase will inevitably lead to cases in the U.S.

This analysis by @juliettekayyem.bsky.social makes a great point: Why tf were these rando political people privy to the tactical details of a military action before it happened? Like, Stephen Miller is giving input on a strike?? What is even happening

how I wish this was the sort of thing that stuns 4 conservative Supreme Court justices

BREAKING: Hundreds of State Dept. Officials Sign Dissent Cable Urging Rubio to Stop Killing USAID

BREAKING: Supreme Court DENIES President Trump‘s emergency bid to cancel nearly $2 billion in USAID spending. The vote is 5-4.

Three things worth knowing about the current fiscal debate:
1. When they're talking about savings, the numbers are usually billions (though sometimes millions).
2. When they're talking about tax cuts, the numbers are usually trillions.
3. A trillion is a thousand times larger than a billion.

Rubio terminated 5800 USAID contracts – more than 90% of its foreign aid programs – in defiance of the courts.

Here’s a list of just some of the lifesaving awards that were terminated. Nearly all were Congressionally mandated. They’ve saved millions of lives. 🧵

If you can stomach it, please read the attached iview to understand the dire complexity of the USAID takeover.

Make no mistake — these essential, lifesaving activities are being halted right now. Clinics are shuttering. Workers sent home. Partners including US small businesses face being unable to meet payroll. All despite clear requirements from Congress to do this work.

ABC, NBC & CBS dedicated about 16 minutes of airtime last night to the California wildfires without once mentioning climate change.

Since the news failed do it's job, here's a short summary of the role of climate change and wildfire risk:

www.noaa.gov/noaa-wildfir...

My small part in trying to get people to understand why it seems like running government like a business is a good idea, when in fact it's a terrible one (1/4):
www.nytimes.com/2024/12/07/o...

I wrote much of what I think about this election before it happened, so I am going to put it all together here. My book, Autocracy Inc, described the network of autocrats who seek to undermine democracy, inside their countries and ours
www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/725302...