Noelle Bakken (she/her)
@noellebakken.bsky.social
Nerd for sustainability, urbanism, knitting, birds, etc. Be a nerd with me!
Reposted by Noelle Bakken (she/her)
I see there’s a post about microplastics going around with a photo of drinking straws, so here is my semi-regular reminder that the 3 biggest sources of microplastics are tires (45%), synthetic clothing particles (35%) and paint (~10%).
Lay article attached:
Lay article attached:
One of the biggest microplastic pollution sources isn’t straws or grocery bags – it’s your tires
Every few years, the tires on your car wear thin and need to be replaced. But where does that lost tire material go? The answer, unfortunately, is often waterways, where the tiny microplastic particle...
www.pbs.org
December 24, 2025 at 4:49 AM
I see there’s a post about microplastics going around with a photo of drinking straws, so here is my semi-regular reminder that the 3 biggest sources of microplastics are tires (45%), synthetic clothing particles (35%) and paint (~10%).
Lay article attached:
Lay article attached:
Reposted by Noelle Bakken (she/her)
President Trump tried to stop the clean energy transition in its tracks this year. It didn’t work.
Chart: Clean energy remains dominant in the US — despite Trump
Trump spent much of 2025 boosting fossil fuels and blocking renewables, but 92% of new power additions through November were solar, wind, or batteries.
www.canarymedia.com
December 21, 2025 at 12:55 PM
President Trump tried to stop the clean energy transition in its tracks this year. It didn’t work.
Amazing tribute Melissa Hortman that’s well worth reading. Still an unbelievable loss - I’ll never forget where I was when I heard the news. www.rollingstone.com/politics/pol...
Melissa Hortman Died in a Shocking Act of Political Violence. This Is the Story of Her Life
Melissa Hortman died in a shocking act of political violence. This is her story
www.rollingstone.com
December 20, 2025 at 12:15 AM
Amazing tribute Melissa Hortman that’s well worth reading. Still an unbelievable loss - I’ll never forget where I was when I heard the news. www.rollingstone.com/politics/pol...
Reposted by Noelle Bakken (she/her)
Behold: the first-ever list of news outlets that have banned generative AI in their reporting. As of today, this is literally information that you cannot find on Google.
My goal is to fill the starter pack, so please send over suggestions with supporting evidence!
go.bsky.app/8cn1XfT
My goal is to fill the starter pack, so please send over suggestions with supporting evidence!
go.bsky.app/8cn1XfT
December 17, 2025 at 7:18 PM
Behold: the first-ever list of news outlets that have banned generative AI in their reporting. As of today, this is literally information that you cannot find on Google.
My goal is to fill the starter pack, so please send over suggestions with supporting evidence!
go.bsky.app/8cn1XfT
My goal is to fill the starter pack, so please send over suggestions with supporting evidence!
go.bsky.app/8cn1XfT
Reposted by Noelle Bakken (she/her)
Another win for offshore wind: A judge has overturned Trump’s freeze on wind project permitting.
Judge strikes down Trump’s order blocking wind farm approvals
A coalition of 18 attorneys general prevail in their lawsuit, saying Trump's freeze will raise their states' energy costs and jeopardize climate goals.
www.canarymedia.com
December 10, 2025 at 4:25 PM
Another win for offshore wind: A judge has overturned Trump’s freeze on wind project permitting.
Reposted by Noelle Bakken (she/her)
The staff of Move Minneapolis are incredible and capable folks. If you know of opportunities in the transportation space, please send them their way.
@moveminneapolis.bsky.social
@moveminneapolis.bsky.social
Move Minneapolis is shutting down at the end of this month.
December 10, 2025 at 4:39 PM
The staff of Move Minneapolis are incredible and capable folks. If you know of opportunities in the transportation space, please send them their way.
@moveminneapolis.bsky.social
@moveminneapolis.bsky.social
Reposted by Noelle Bakken (she/her)
We ask everyone outside of the car to be safe so that drivers can be dangerous
November 26, 2025 at 2:48 PM
We ask everyone outside of the car to be safe so that drivers can be dangerous
Reposted by Noelle Bakken (she/her)
An underappreciated aspect of Democratic leaders' 'age problem' is the shame of aging in a society that equates worth with productivity. That shame is shaping who stays, who steps aside, and who steps up, and it’s already altering the political landscape ahead of 2026.
Democrats Have an Age Problem Because America Has a Shame Problem
The psychology behind aging politicians' reluctance to step aside
thinkbigpicture.substack.com
November 25, 2025 at 12:08 AM
An underappreciated aspect of Democratic leaders' 'age problem' is the shame of aging in a society that equates worth with productivity. That shame is shaping who stays, who steps aside, and who steps up, and it’s already altering the political landscape ahead of 2026.
Reposted by Noelle Bakken (she/her)
"Quiet, piggy" should be in the canon of famous presidential quotes alongside "You win", "four score..." and "Fool me once..." www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
‘Unforgivable’: Trump’s ‘piggy’ insult is stoking more outrage than usual
The clip of the US president on Air Force One last Friday has taken off without much help from the media itself
www.theguardian.com
November 19, 2025 at 10:59 PM
"Quiet, piggy" should be in the canon of famous presidential quotes alongside "You win", "four score..." and "Fool me once..." www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
Reposted by Noelle Bakken (she/her)
The conversation between Klein and Coates showed me that a lot of people who screech about “infighting” on the left aren’t aware of the fact that marginalized people have been forced to learn how to regulate their emotions during conflict, and so, are better able to hear what’s actually being said.
October 2, 2025 at 2:39 PM
The conversation between Klein and Coates showed me that a lot of people who screech about “infighting” on the left aren’t aware of the fact that marginalized people have been forced to learn how to regulate their emotions during conflict, and so, are better able to hear what’s actually being said.
Reposted by Noelle Bakken (she/her)
However complicated you think these immigration processes are, I promise they are even more arcane, confusing, and harder to navigate.
I Came to Minnesota From Venezuela 2 Years Ago. Now I Have to Go Back. - Racket
This is what it looks like when the U.S. terminates your immigration program.
racketmn.com
March 31, 2025 at 4:35 PM
However complicated you think these immigration processes are, I promise they are even more arcane, confusing, and harder to navigate.
Reposted by Noelle Bakken (she/her)
Who wants some good news?
The overwintering monarch population, which had plummeted last winter, has doubled this winter! www.worldwildlife.org/stories/east...
The overwintering monarch population, which had plummeted last winter, has doubled this winter! www.worldwildlife.org/stories/east...
Eastern Monarch Butterfly Population Nearly Doubles
The population wintering in central Mexico's forests occupied 4.42 acres, up from 2.22 acres during the previous winter.
www.worldwildlife.org
March 18, 2025 at 5:32 AM
Who wants some good news?
The overwintering monarch population, which had plummeted last winter, has doubled this winter! www.worldwildlife.org/stories/east...
The overwintering monarch population, which had plummeted last winter, has doubled this winter! www.worldwildlife.org/stories/east...
Reposted by Noelle Bakken (she/her)
The Inter-American Court of Human Rights has ruled that the Ecuadorian government violated the rights of uncontacted Indigenous peoples living in the Amazon rainforest.
Landmark Ruling on Uncontacted Indigenous Peoples’ Rights Strikes at Oil Industry - Inside Climate News
The Inter-American Court of Human Rights ordered the Ecuadorian government to protect Indigenous groups from oil operations and to leave oil in the ground underneath their lands.
insideclimatenews.org
March 14, 2025 at 3:32 PM
The Inter-American Court of Human Rights has ruled that the Ecuadorian government violated the rights of uncontacted Indigenous peoples living in the Amazon rainforest.
Reposted by Noelle Bakken (she/her)
An obscure law allows Congress to nullify regulations with a simple majority vote. Lawmakers are set to target two climate rules this week.
Congress Set to Vote on Repeal of Biden Administration Climate Regulations - Inside Climate News
Two bills scheduled this week would roll back rules to limit methane emissions from oil and gas operations and efficiency standards for water heaters. They would also bar similar rules in the future.
insideclimatenews.org
February 26, 2025 at 5:37 PM
An obscure law allows Congress to nullify regulations with a simple majority vote. Lawmakers are set to target two climate rules this week.
Now’s a good time to cancel your WaPo subscription. (I did a few weeks ago, not trusting them to be unbiased - lo and behold…)
Super-wealthy enslavers wrote everyday in support and defense of their “personal liberty” to enslave my ancestors.
February 26, 2025 at 7:25 PM
Now’s a good time to cancel your WaPo subscription. (I did a few weeks ago, not trusting them to be unbiased - lo and behold…)
Reposted by Noelle Bakken (she/her)
Her final response: "See you in court"
TRUMP: The NCAA has complied immediately. That's good. But I understand Maine -- is the governor of Maine here?
JANET MILLS: Yeah I'm here
TRUMP: Are you not gonna comply?
JM: I'm going to comply with state and federal law
T: You better do it bc you're not gonna get any federal funding at all
JANET MILLS: Yeah I'm here
TRUMP: Are you not gonna comply?
JM: I'm going to comply with state and federal law
T: You better do it bc you're not gonna get any federal funding at all
February 21, 2025 at 7:36 PM
Her final response: "See you in court"
Reposted by Noelle Bakken (she/her)
NIYBYs in Maple Grove (= Not in Your Back Yard) www.startribune.com/north-metro-...
Brooklyn Park mayor lashes back at neighboring suburbs in density dispute
Maple Grove and Champlin mayors say Brooklyn Park should keep apartments away from their borders. Brooklyn Park’s mayor says that’s “regional redlining.”
www.startribune.com
February 19, 2025 at 5:35 PM
NIYBYs in Maple Grove (= Not in Your Back Yard) www.startribune.com/north-metro-...
What a time to present on this topic, but I’ve been thinking about it a lot lately (for some reason). Come join the conversation next week!
Great talk Feb.23 in Roseville! @noellebakken.bsky.social
February 14, 2025 at 2:23 AM
What a time to present on this topic, but I’ve been thinking about it a lot lately (for some reason). Come join the conversation next week!
Reposted by Noelle Bakken (she/her)
"All of the low-vision cyclists I spoke to for this story, only some of whom I’ve had the space to quote here, agreed that limiting the speed at which the e-assist stops assisting seemed like the best path forward for regulation." - @nondriver.bsky.social
E-Bikes Mean Freedom for Low-Vision Bicyclists
Recently enacted and proposed regulations requiring licenses or insurance for e-bike riders threaten a vital transportation lifeline for Americans who can’t drive.
streets.mn
February 7, 2025 at 6:47 PM
"All of the low-vision cyclists I spoke to for this story, only some of whom I’ve had the space to quote here, agreed that limiting the speed at which the e-assist stops assisting seemed like the best path forward for regulation." - @nondriver.bsky.social
Started my day with a memo from DOE ordering us to cease all DEI and/or Justice40 work.
As it happens, we are still awaiting our allocated formula funding from DOE after over a year, so ironically we haven’t even started the work they want us to stop.
As it happens, we are still awaiting our allocated formula funding from DOE after over a year, so ironically we haven’t even started the work they want us to stop.
February 6, 2025 at 11:21 PM
Started my day with a memo from DOE ordering us to cease all DEI and/or Justice40 work.
As it happens, we are still awaiting our allocated formula funding from DOE after over a year, so ironically we haven’t even started the work they want us to stop.
As it happens, we are still awaiting our allocated formula funding from DOE after over a year, so ironically we haven’t even started the work they want us to stop.
Reposted by Noelle Bakken (she/her)
You say: they shutdown USAID.
You mean: they illegally broke in to a secure facility over a weekend, hijacked sensitive data on vulnerable people and US businesses, destroyed property Americans paid for, cut off resources for sick and hungry families, and fired Americans across the country.
You mean: they illegally broke in to a secure facility over a weekend, hijacked sensitive data on vulnerable people and US businesses, destroyed property Americans paid for, cut off resources for sick and hungry families, and fired Americans across the country.
February 3, 2025 at 12:46 PM
You say: they shutdown USAID.
You mean: they illegally broke in to a secure facility over a weekend, hijacked sensitive data on vulnerable people and US businesses, destroyed property Americans paid for, cut off resources for sick and hungry families, and fired Americans across the country.
You mean: they illegally broke in to a secure facility over a weekend, hijacked sensitive data on vulnerable people and US businesses, destroyed property Americans paid for, cut off resources for sick and hungry families, and fired Americans across the country.
Reposted by Noelle Bakken (she/her)
Meanwhile, in the atmosphere... www.mprnews.org/story/2025/0...
Report: Minnesota’s greenhouse gas emissions bounced back after pandemic, still below 2019 level
Transportation remains the state’s largest source of greenhouse gases, contributing nearly 30 percent of emissions. It’s not clear whether Minnesota is on track to meet its goals of reducing greenhous...
www.mprnews.org
January 31, 2025 at 10:32 PM
Meanwhile, in the atmosphere... www.mprnews.org/story/2025/0...