@rbpappas.bsky.social
Humanities scholar in a higher ed IT world. Interested in centering voices of the marginalized (I’m not yet as competent as I aspire to be), public health, epidemiology (bc still masking), disability rights advocacy, books, nature, preserving democracies.
Reposted
⚠️RFK Jr appoints anti-vaxxer to head FDA drug research center—"Putting Tracy Beth in charge [of FDA’s CDER] is like dropping an atom bomb," says an agency source, & multiple top-level officials preparing FDA resignations. "It's an extinction level event."
www.cbsnews.com/news/fda-tra...
www.cbsnews.com/news/fda-tra...
Appointment of controversial FDA official rocking agency like "an atom bomb," scientists there say
The Trump administration's elevation of Dr. Tracy Beth Høeg to lead a high-profile office within the Food and Drug Administration is raising alarm among multiple senior FDA officials.
www.cbsnews.com
December 8, 2025 at 3:34 AM
⚠️RFK Jr appoints anti-vaxxer to head FDA drug research center—"Putting Tracy Beth in charge [of FDA’s CDER] is like dropping an atom bomb," says an agency source, & multiple top-level officials preparing FDA resignations. "It's an extinction level event."
www.cbsnews.com/news/fda-tra...
www.cbsnews.com/news/fda-tra...
Reposted
Thank you, Sean Duffy! You continue to deliver for the people!
December 8, 2025 at 3:33 AM
Thank you, Sean Duffy! You continue to deliver for the people!
Reposted
In her new role, Høeg will oversee an office charged with ensuring all over-the-counter and prescription drugs in America are safe and effective, and approving new drugs that pharmaceutical companies are seeking to bring to market and providing guidance to health care professionals and consumers.
⚠️RFK Jr appoints anti-vaxxer to head FDA drug research center—"Putting Tracy Beth in charge [of FDA’s CDER] is like dropping an atom bomb," says an agency source, & multiple top-level officials preparing FDA resignations. "It's an extinction level event."
www.cbsnews.com/news/fda-tra...
www.cbsnews.com/news/fda-tra...
Appointment of controversial FDA official rocking agency like "an atom bomb," scientists there say
The Trump administration's elevation of Dr. Tracy Beth Høeg to lead a high-profile office within the Food and Drug Administration is raising alarm among multiple senior FDA officials.
www.cbsnews.com
December 8, 2025 at 3:41 AM
In her new role, Høeg will oversee an office charged with ensuring all over-the-counter and prescription drugs in America are safe and effective, and approving new drugs that pharmaceutical companies are seeking to bring to market and providing guidance to health care professionals and consumers.
Reposted
Reposted
One officer was accused of spreading a nude photo of a woman he knew.
Another was found responsible for acts of domestic violence and sexual assault.
In spite of their disciplinary records, the Chicago Police Department promoted both of them.
With @invisible.institute
Another was found responsible for acts of domestic violence and sexual assault.
In spite of their disciplinary records, the Chicago Police Department promoted both of them.
With @invisible.institute
Chicago Promoted Two Police Officers After Investigators Found They Engaged in Sexual Misconduct
The Chicago Police Department’s promotions system allows officers’ disciplinary records to be ignored. Despite years of reform efforts, nothing has changed.
www.propublica.org
December 8, 2025 at 4:00 AM
One officer was accused of spreading a nude photo of a woman he knew.
Another was found responsible for acts of domestic violence and sexual assault.
In spite of their disciplinary records, the Chicago Police Department promoted both of them.
With @invisible.institute
Another was found responsible for acts of domestic violence and sexual assault.
In spite of their disciplinary records, the Chicago Police Department promoted both of them.
With @invisible.institute
Reposted
Search and Recovery dogs have been around for a while. But now we have... SAR otters!
#MarineLife
www.outsideonline.com/outdoor-adve...
#MarineLife
www.outsideonline.com/outdoor-adve...
The Newest Member of Search and Rescue Is an Otter Named Splash
After training to detect odors under water, the aquatic animal has become a useful tool in the effort to locate missing people. He’s also super cute.
www.outsideonline.com
December 7, 2025 at 7:33 PM
Search and Recovery dogs have been around for a while. But now we have... SAR otters!
#MarineLife
www.outsideonline.com/outdoor-adve...
#MarineLife
www.outsideonline.com/outdoor-adve...
Reposted
Putting Dr Høeg in charge "is like dropping an atom bomb," an agency source said.
"Multiple top-level officials are preparing resignations."
"It's an extinction level event. She's has never supervised a drug review, never has conducted a clinical trial. She doesn't understand laws ®ulations."
"Multiple top-level officials are preparing resignations."
"It's an extinction level event. She's has never supervised a drug review, never has conducted a clinical trial. She doesn't understand laws ®ulations."
Even ignoring Dr. Høeg's antivaccine views and obvious bias, she has no qualifications for the job. She does not know regulations, she does not know drug approvals, and she has no expertise in any relevant scientific area.
No wonder people are resigning.
www.cbsnews.com/news/fda-tra...
No wonder people are resigning.
www.cbsnews.com/news/fda-tra...
Appointment of controversial FDA official rocking agency like "an atom bomb," scientists there say
The Trump administration's elevation of Dr. Tracy Beth Høeg to lead a high-profile office within the Food and Drug Administration is raising alarm among multiple senior FDA officials.
www.cbsnews.com
December 8, 2025 at 4:00 AM
Putting Dr Høeg in charge "is like dropping an atom bomb," an agency source said.
"Multiple top-level officials are preparing resignations."
"It's an extinction level event. She's has never supervised a drug review, never has conducted a clinical trial. She doesn't understand laws ®ulations."
"Multiple top-level officials are preparing resignations."
"It's an extinction level event. She's has never supervised a drug review, never has conducted a clinical trial. She doesn't understand laws ®ulations."
Reposted
"I am *unsettled* that ChatGPT, fed on the plethora of articles I and others have written on the subject as well as my own chat history has reproduced a rough sketch of our arguments back to me, this is *chilling*!"
This guy has massive influence on tech policy. Wonderful.
This guy has massive influence on tech policy. Wonderful.
December 2, 2025 at 3:13 AM
"I am *unsettled* that ChatGPT, fed on the plethora of articles I and others have written on the subject as well as my own chat history has reproduced a rough sketch of our arguments back to me, this is *chilling*!"
This guy has massive influence on tech policy. Wonderful.
This guy has massive influence on tech policy. Wonderful.
Reposted
Is the Democratic Party finally winning elections again? Poll numbers actually looking up? A faint glimmer of hope poking through after years in the wilderness? Relax. Democratic leadership is already on the scene to smother whatever enthusiasm managed to crawl out of the crater.
For some reason Democratic leaders seem to prefer telling voters what they won’t be able to do, rather than what they’d like to do.
If Hegseth ordered a war crime and lied about it, shouldn’t Ds try for impeachment? Put Rs on the spot. They might get a few defections.
www.axios.com/2025/12/01/j...
If Hegseth ordered a war crime and lied about it, shouldn’t Ds try for impeachment? Put Rs on the spot. They might get a few defections.
www.axios.com/2025/12/01/j...
Jeffries says not to expect Democrats to pursue Hegseth impeachment over boat strikes
"Republicans will never allow articles of impeachment to be brought to the floor," he said.
www.axios.com
December 2, 2025 at 3:41 AM
Is the Democratic Party finally winning elections again? Poll numbers actually looking up? A faint glimmer of hope poking through after years in the wilderness? Relax. Democratic leadership is already on the scene to smother whatever enthusiasm managed to crawl out of the crater.
Reposted
Imagine any American political journalist asking this question to Donald Trump, Mike Johnson, Stephen Miller, Greg Bovino, or Kristi Noem
AFP question to Chief Executive John Lee:
"Over the past few years, you have spoken about leading Hong Kong from chaos to order and from order to prosperity. And yet this prosperous society allowed 151 people to burn to death. Can you tell us why you deserve to keep your job?"
"Over the past few years, you have spoken about leading Hong Kong from chaos to order and from order to prosperity. And yet this prosperous society allowed 151 people to burn to death. Can you tell us why you deserve to keep your job?"
December 2, 2025 at 3:41 AM
Imagine any American political journalist asking this question to Donald Trump, Mike Johnson, Stephen Miller, Greg Bovino, or Kristi Noem
Reposted
Increasingly concerning that the Trump Admin is obliterating data so we can’t document what they’re destroying. In this case, gold standard tracking of health care access, insurance coverage and costs. It’s a study that will help us understand the impacts of the Big Beautiful Bill.
MEPS seems to be gone as of now. This is very bad. These are critical pieces of data about health care and they belong to the American public.
December 2, 2025 at 3:27 AM
Increasingly concerning that the Trump Admin is obliterating data so we can’t document what they’re destroying. In this case, gold standard tracking of health care access, insurance coverage and costs. It’s a study that will help us understand the impacts of the Big Beautiful Bill.
Reposted
BA.3.2* still appears to be a bit of an enigma, with recent German sequences at only 1 out of 30. This suggests that there is still a lot of uncertainty in its fitness advantage.
It's clearly nowhere near dominant today if the samples are any bit random.
It's clearly nowhere near dominant today if the samples are any bit random.
December 2, 2025 at 3:51 AM
BA.3.2* still appears to be a bit of an enigma, with recent German sequences at only 1 out of 30. This suggests that there is still a lot of uncertainty in its fitness advantage.
It's clearly nowhere near dominant today if the samples are any bit random.
It's clearly nowhere near dominant today if the samples are any bit random.
Reposted
November 19, 2025 at 3:28 AM
Reposted
Giving away a record amount of money from my checking account to my savings account
Elon Musk’s foundation gave away a record $474 million in 2024, with the vast majority again going to entities he controls
Elon Musk Gave Away $474 Million in 2024, Mostly to Entities He Controls
Elon Musk’s foundation gave away a record $474 million in 2024, with the vast majority again going to entities he controls.
bloom.bg
November 19, 2025 at 2:38 AM
Giving away a record amount of money from my checking account to my savings account
Reposted
“More than a decade after the first HPV vaccination programmes rolled out, data from multiple countries reveals a dramatic fall in cervical cancers and precancers, confirming that HPV vaccines are highly effective and extremely safe”
www.gavi.org/vaccineswork...
www.gavi.org/vaccineswork...
The HPV vaccine is erasing cancer – here's the proof
More than a decade after the first HPV vaccination programmes rolled out, data from multiple countries reveals a dramatic fall in cervical cancers and precancers, confirming that HPV vaccines are high...
www.gavi.org
November 19, 2025 at 1:38 AM
“More than a decade after the first HPV vaccination programmes rolled out, data from multiple countries reveals a dramatic fall in cervical cancers and precancers, confirming that HPV vaccines are highly effective and extremely safe”
www.gavi.org/vaccineswork...
www.gavi.org/vaccineswork...
Reposted
new paper by Sean Westwood:
With current technology, it is impossible to tell whether survey respondents are real or bots. Among other things, makes it easy for bad actors to manipulate outcomes. No good news here for the future of online-based survey research
With current technology, it is impossible to tell whether survey respondents are real or bots. Among other things, makes it easy for bad actors to manipulate outcomes. No good news here for the future of online-based survey research
November 18, 2025 at 7:16 PM
new paper by Sean Westwood:
With current technology, it is impossible to tell whether survey respondents are real or bots. Among other things, makes it easy for bad actors to manipulate outcomes. No good news here for the future of online-based survey research
With current technology, it is impossible to tell whether survey respondents are real or bots. Among other things, makes it easy for bad actors to manipulate outcomes. No good news here for the future of online-based survey research
Reposted
Important paper. So far most of the potential solutions I've seen mentioned (in-person surveys, high-quality/validated panels, address-based sampling) cost lots of money and will thus deepen divides based on resources. Something that we'll also need to grapple with.
www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/55uok...
www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/55uok...
November 18, 2025 at 8:49 PM
Important paper. So far most of the potential solutions I've seen mentioned (in-person surveys, high-quality/validated panels, address-based sampling) cost lots of money and will thus deepen divides based on resources. Something that we'll also need to grapple with.
www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/55uok...
www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/55uok...
Reposted
Hey authors! Check to see if Anthropic stole your book to train their slop generator on. You’re entitled to $1500 per stolen Work.
Look up your work, and if you’re in the database, file a claim
secure.anthropiccopyrightsettlement.com/lookup/
Look up your work, and if you’re in the database, file a claim
secure.anthropiccopyrightsettlement.com/lookup/
Submit a Claim
secure.anthropiccopyrightsettlement.com
November 18, 2025 at 7:39 AM
Hey authors! Check to see if Anthropic stole your book to train their slop generator on. You’re entitled to $1500 per stolen Work.
Look up your work, and if you’re in the database, file a claim
secure.anthropiccopyrightsettlement.com/lookup/
Look up your work, and if you’re in the database, file a claim
secure.anthropiccopyrightsettlement.com/lookup/
Reposted
The CSIRO is to cut 350 research jobs. Important @grogsgamut.bsky.social piece. Read his report. Then I encourage you to contact your local Albo Govt MP. This is insane. #auspol #CSIRO #science #research thepoint.com.au/off-the-char...
November 19, 2025 at 3:43 AM
The CSIRO is to cut 350 research jobs. Important @grogsgamut.bsky.social piece. Read his report. Then I encourage you to contact your local Albo Govt MP. This is insane. #auspol #CSIRO #science #research thepoint.com.au/off-the-char...
Reposted
Has anyone asked Megyn Kelly what it would mean if she wanted to fuck 15 year old boys
November 14, 2025 at 1:01 AM
Has anyone asked Megyn Kelly what it would mean if she wanted to fuck 15 year old boys
Reposted
This is a hell of an essay and I am intrigued by this Vince Gilligan show. 🧪🩺 #MedSky #LongCovid #DisabilitySky #Spoonies
Living with Long COVID often feels like living in a horror movie. Along with your disease comes a creepy Hive Mind refusal to acknowledge the dangers of COVID infection. In Vince Gilligan's new Apple TV show Pluribus, the Hive Mind comes to life:
www.thegauntlet.news/p/pluribus-c...
www.thegauntlet.news/p/pluribus-c...
"Pluribus" captures the isolation of COVID-awareness in a COVID denialist world
For years I've described having Long COVID as living in a horror movie. Now that horror movie (well, prestige Apple TV show) is here.
www.thegauntlet.news
November 11, 2025 at 12:13 AM
This is a hell of an essay and I am intrigued by this Vince Gilligan show. 🧪🩺 #MedSky #LongCovid #DisabilitySky #Spoonies
Reposted
Reposted
Thank you American patriots who care about FREEDOM AND DEMOCRACY!
I love this because it has every state: #NoKings2.0
We need to save videos of these things because the #Regime is going to suggest it didn't happen..Same thing with #ICE arrests, illegal searches etc..Save so we can can document when needed
#AllStates
October 18 2025
We need to save videos of these things because the #Regime is going to suggest it didn't happen..Same thing with #ICE arrests, illegal searches etc..Save so we can can document when needed
#AllStates
October 18 2025
October 20, 2025 at 4:31 AM
Thank you American patriots who care about FREEDOM AND DEMOCRACY!
Reposted
Space exploration for profit and not science is not worth doing.
Do you have any extremely niche, but serious, ethical stances?
October 20, 2025 at 4:34 AM
Space exploration for profit and not science is not worth doing.
Reposted
