Switzerland is joining Horizon Europe!

We are uniting two research powerhouses.

For cutting-edge innovation that will boost our energy security, digital transformation, health and so much more.

Today is a good day for science, and for our EU-Switzerland partnership.

The EC has fined X with €120 million for breaching the Digital Services Act.

Today, we also accepted TikTok’s commitments.

Our objective is not a fine.

When platforms offer solid commitments, we accept them.

If they do not, we take action.

More info
X: lnkd.in/euP-8t6t
TikTok: lnkd.in/ezzKHVzF

Meet the MC of my #spaceopera WE SANG DOWN THE EMPIRE: Nesamma Abbas a pop star who sang the Human Empire to its knees and pushed galactic history to the brink. Outrageous, kind, and wildly entertaining, her journey to heal herself and the galaxy is one of my favorites. #DVparty
#booksky #writersky

Hey #DVparty! Here’s the moodboard for my #SpaceOpera WE SANG DOWN THE EMPIRE.

Washed-up alien musician Nesamma Abbas joins a rebel rock band to take down the Human Empire with a martial art of sound. She must confront her pain, master her powers and choose between revolution or redemption.

The fierce women at Beyond the Bars! #beyondthebars #nyc

Anyhow, thus concludes today's brief trip down memory lane.

But it's still interesting to look back and see what happened and compare it to what's happening today. It's also wild to think that Congress is almost haphazardly swinging a machete at D.C.'s budget, and acting surprised that they're even holding the machete.

And yes, protests and complaints alone won't do much. History shows us that much. (D.C. still doesn't have full autonomy, voting representation, etc.) And Bowser has certainly made important inroads among Republicans that can be of use at critical moments.

But it's hard not to see some similiarities between then and now. “We needed to make a statement that what happened... is just unacceptable,” said Gray. “It’s time for the people of the District of Columbia to stand up and say we want to be treated like anybody else.”

Now, the political circumstances were very different back then. Democrats controlled the White House and Senate. And politics was, well, slightly more normal than it is today. D.C. faces very real threats from a GOP much more willing to aggressively flex its muscles.

This week, D.C. officials have been engaged in lobbying, but the volume and tenor of their complaints is markedly different than what happened in 2011. That's especially true for the mayor. Bowser has been largely silent in recent days, opting to work behind the scenes.

They were angry that President Obama and Senate Democrats agreed with a Republican demand that a provision be put back into the federal budget banning D.C. from using any public money on abortions. D.C. was literally used as a bargaining chip.

Then-mayor Vincent Gray and a majority of the D.C. Council went up to Capitol Hill, sat down on Constitution Avenue, blocked traffic, and were arrested. It was symbolic, certainly, but a statement no less. dcist.com/story/11/04/...

As we await the Senate vote on the congressional spending bill that could slash $1.1 billion from D.C.'s budget, a quick historical 🧵: Back in 2011, Congress used D.C. to avert a government shutdown. Local officials were furious. So they did something about it.

🚨 TONIGHT 🚨

Disrupt The Chaos

A livestream convo on Black liberation, disability justice, and combatting state violence

Presented by Cooperation Jackson

Hosted by @rosaclemente.bsky.social

Featuring @njdc07.bsky.social and @realcatbrooks.bsky.social

⏰ 7 PM ET

🔗 streamyard.com/ycuwz6puh4

How can researchers stay authentic while engaging with a new administration? Join @heathbrown.bsky.social, who studies presidential transitions, & @njdc07.bsky.social, a disability justice advocate, for insights on federal policy work.

Register: scholars.my.salesforce-sites.com/event/home/s...