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Tara C. Smith

@aetiology.bsky.social

32K followers 2.8K following 5K posts

Collector of social media sites. Infectious disease epidemiologist. Writes about vaccine hesitancy, science misinfo, zombies. Probably somewhere on a trail. Views own etc.

Videos

The Smith special counsel investigation was a special counsel investigation that was opened by U.S. attorney general Merrick Garland on November 18, 2022, three days after Donald Trump announced his campaign for the 2024 United States presidential election. The investigation was created to continue two investigations initiated by the Justice Department (DOJ) regarding former U.S. president Donald Trump. Garland appointed Jack Smith, a longtime federal prosecutor, to lead the independent investigations. Smith was tasked with investigating Trump's role in the January 6 United States Capitol attack and Trump's mishandling of government records, including classified documents. .. more

Political science 39%

Economics 19%

Posts Media Videos Starter Packs

Reposted by David Rothschild, Bonnie Honig, Smith , and 4 more David Rothschild, Bonnie Honig, Smith, Andrew Jacobs, Mark Rice, Lisa Diedrich, Ann Bartow

Annette Gordon-Reed @agordonreed.bsky.social · 7h

1)You may remember the articles criticizing liberal students for their hesitancy to make friends with conservative students—alleging that they were less open-minded than their conservative counterparts.

Sherrilyn Ifill @sifill.bsky.social · 14h

Here are the little darlings they’ve created. Horrifying.

www.politico.com/news/2025/10...

‘I love Hitler’: Leaked messages expose Young Republicans’ racist chat

Thousands of private messages reveal young GOP leaders joking about gas chambers, slavery and rape.

www.politico.com

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Reposted by Anna O. Law, Smith

Santiago Mayer @santiagomayer.com · 13h

JD Vance can dismiss the Young Republicans as a college group chat.

But let's be clear: the group chat includes a State Senator, a Trump Admin official, and multiple Republican staffers — and some of the worst comments came from folks associated with Mike Johnson, Elise Stefanik, and Mike Lawler.

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Reposted by Jesse M. Shapiro, Smith

Tami Lieberman @contaminatedsci.bsky.social · 19h

We are recruiting new faculty in IMES at MIT!

IMES (Institute for Medical Engineering and Science) is the MIT home of the famous HST program. As faculty are also appointed in a department at MIT, we have diverse research programs, all focused on human health.

faculty-searches.mit.edu/imes-search/

MIT Faculty Searches MIT INSTITUTE FOR MEDICAL ENGINEERING AND SCIENCE FACULTY SEARCH

faculty-searches.mit.edu

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Reposted by Sanford F. Schram, Smith, Michael D. McDonald , and 2 more Sanford F. Schram, Smith, Michael D. McDonald, Daxton R. Stewart, Southern Africa

Jeff Yang @originalsp.in · 20h

Thousands of posts from a private Young Republican Telegram chat reveal a culture of casual racism/antisemitism, rape jokes and celebration of Hitler/Nazism.

Some of the ringleaders are below: We live in a world where 4chan types now occupy positions of real power.
www.politico.com/news/2025/10...

Peter Giunta, chair of the New York State Young Republicans

Bobby Walker, vice chair of the New York State Young Republicans

William Hendrix, communications assistant for Kansas’ Republican Attorney General Kris Kobach

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Reposted by Smith

Dr. Richard Pan @drpanmd.bsky.social · 23h

I took on RFK Jr. and the anti-vaccine movement, and we won.

Now extremists in Washington are attacking science and shutting down the government again.

I’ve fought this battle before. I’ll fight it again for truth, science, and families.

Donate ⬇️

Donate to Richard Pan

Show your support with a contribution.

secure.actblue.com

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Reposted by Smith

Dr. Richard Pan @drpanmd.bsky.social · 23h

I’m Dr. Richard Pan, a pediatrician, father, and former state senator.

I’ve spent my career protecting kids and expanding health care. Now I’m running for Congress because Washington could use a little good medicine. #CA03 #DrPanForCongress

Watch our launch video, then share it.

Launch - Dr. Pan for Congress

YouTube video by Dr. Richard Pan for Congress

youtu.be

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Reposted by Lisa W. Fazio, Stephan Lewandowsky, Daniel W. Drezner , and 11 more Lisa W. Fazio, Stephan Lewandowsky, Daniel W. Drezner, Smith, Alan Richardson, David R. Miller, Adrian Daub, Scott A. Imberman, Michael D. McDonald, Ann Bartow, Simon Lester, Nathan P. Kalmoe, Francesco Nicoli, David Darmofal

Renee DiResta @noupside.bsky.social · 1d

I'm sorry, is the Trump Administration talking to a tech platform?

Is it...requesting content moderation?

Today following outreach from @thejusticedept, Facebook removed a large group page that was being used to dox and target @ICEgov agents in Chicago.
The wave of violence against ICE has been driven by online apps and social media campaigns designed to put ICE officers at risk just for doing their jobs. The Department of Justice will continue engaging tech companies to eliminate platforms where radicals can incite imminent violence against federal law enforcement.

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Reposted by Juan Cole, Smith, Alan Richardson , and 2 more Juan Cole, Smith, Alan Richardson, Zen Faulkes, David L. Anderson

Kate Clancy @kateclancy.bsky.social · 1d

I am being asked to tell my department which pieces of lab equipment should be supported with backup power because they expect rolling blackouts and brownouts in 2026 due to increased energy demands from AI. In case you're wondering how my day is going.

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Reposted by Smith, Dana Howard

Laura Lopez @ohdearz.bsky.social · 1d

Here is the email from the provost reversing the decision & saying we can attend if presenting research. However, we still cannot recruit or attend without research benefit. Also many students did have registration cancelled (or missed registration deadlines) when OSU was prohibiting attendance.

SACNAS NDiSTEM conference update
Hi All,

Please see the email below from the provost with new guidance related to the SACNAS conference.

Best regards,
Todd

From: Provost Ravi V. Bellamkonda <ADMIN-Provost@osu.edu>
Date: Thursday, October 2, 2025 at 5:00 PM
To: Provost Ravi V. Bellamkonda <ADMIN-Provost@osu.edu>
Cc: Garcia, Anne <garcia.680@osu.edu>
Subject: SACNAS NDiSTEM conference update

Hi everyone,

Our office has been working with the Office of Legal Affairs regarding participation in the upcoming SACNAS NDiSTEM conference in light of the outreach the university received last week from the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights. Based on our conversations, the Office of Academic Affairs is recommending the following as it relates to participation in this year’s SACNAS conference:

If an Ohio State faculty member or student is scheduled to present research or participate in sessions that advance their research at the SACNAS conference, then the faculty member or student can attend and use university funds to do so.

If an Ohio State faculty member or student is NOT scheduled to present research or participate in sessions that advance their research (e.g., the purpose of attending is solely for recruitment) at the SACNAS conference but wishes to participate in the conference, they may still attend but must use personal resources to do so.

For participation as a research presenter or in sessions that advance their research, we are requesting that a designee within each college or unit (e.g., the Associate Dean of Research) affirms that the participation is in fact to present or advance research as part of the approval process for university funding.

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Reposted by Smith, Karen Benjamin Guzzo, Dana Howard , and 1 more Smith, Karen Benjamin Guzzo, Dana Howard, David Darmofal

Benjamin McKean @blmckean.bsky.social · 1d

Very bad: OSU unilaterally cancelled the registration of grad students attending the joint conference of the National Society of Black Physicists and the National Society of Hispanic Physicists. And OSU won't fund recruiting at the Society for Advancement of Chicanos and Native Americans in Science.

Ohio State changes policy on group conferences after Trump administration threats

A federal investigation into potentially discriminatory practices at Ohio State prompted the university to change its policies regarding conferences.

www.dispatch.com

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Reposted by Smith

Dr. Kat Napaaqtuk❄️ @napaaqtuk.bsky.social · 1d

There needs to be more coverage of this in the news. I have read so many stories bout this on Facebook, first hand stories of the terror of that storm, and very little coverage n media.
www.facebook.com/100000960660...

Screenshot of a Facebook post. Photo is an elderly woman holding a child on her ap on a couch with flood water around them. Both are wearing jackets inside. Text says: This was after our 1st drift.. staying put for awhile. Our 3rd and final drift was terrifying. House moving fast then we started spinning in circles. While we were spinning in circles my oldest daughter was just staring at me while I held onto my younger two. Kipnuk doesn't look like kipnuk anymore, like more than 3/4 of the homes displaced, power poles fallen. It smells like stove oil outside. Contaminated

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Reposted by Mark Bray, Smith, Southern Africa

unraveled @unraveledpress.com · 1d

Thinking about how much of their violence has been normalized already, how scenes that caused shockwaves 6 weeks ago are now part of the rhythm of daily life. Watched a TikTok from a daughter who has to do her parents' laundry & get their groceries because they're in hiding. This is just it now

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Reposted by Rosemary A. Joyce, Joseph Schafer, Smith , and 1 more Rosemary A. Joyce, Joseph Schafer, Smith, Kent Johnson

Governor JB Pritzker @govpritzker.illinois.gov · 1d

Vaccines are safe and effective.

Autism isn't caused by vaccines, and autistic people and their families deserve our support.

When you want information, ask your doctor.

It's more important than ever for all of us to speak plainly, truthfully, and directly about public health.

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Reposted by Smith

Lena Sun @lenasun.bsky.social · 1d

NEW: More than half of the roughly 1,300 layoffs notices at @CDCgov have been rescinded. But analysts with top-secret clearance working on biodefense preparedness at another health agency have lost their jobs, per sources. Our story 1/4
@washingtonpost.com
www.washingtonpost.com/health/2025/...

Hundreds of CDC layoffs reversed, but biodefense preparedness staff hit

More than half of the roughly 1,300 CDC layoff notices have been rescinded, but workers at health agencies who work on biodefense and mental health still lost their jobs.

www.washingtonpost.com

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Reposted by Smith

Tim Onion @bencollins.bsky.social · 1d

If you're wondering whether or not to get a flu shot, I didn't get one in time, and I just had a fever dream where I was in the Drew Carey Show because several days ago I was on the Wikipedia page for the Drew Carey Show. You don't have to do this to yourself.

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Reposted by Anna O. Law, John Horgan, Smith , and 4 more Anna O. Law, John Horgan, Smith, Rebecca Tushnet, David R. Miller, Scott A. Imberman, Mark Rice

Don Moynihan @donmoyn.bsky.social · 1d

If you make "controversial statements" outside of classroom, that the President of the university dislikes, you can be summarily fired even if you are tenured.

Julie Greene @greeneland.bsky.social · 1d

I just learned, Thomas Alter, tenured professor, has been terminated effective immediately. Shame on Texas State! We mst build support for Tom. spectrumlocalnews.com/tx/south-tex...

Texas State upholds the firing of associate history professor Thomas Alter

Alter’s termination occurred on Sept. 10, stemming from his remarks at the Revolutionary Socialism Conference on Sept. 7.

spectrumlocalnews.com

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Reposted by Smith

Faine Greenwood @faineg.bsky.social · 1d

another day, another techbro who views old-timey farmers as people with real, stressful, physical-world jobs while not even contemplating the modern underpaid female child care worker

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Reposted by Smith, Richard M. Carpiano

Frank D’Elia @frankd7.bsky.social · 1d

Rural Trump voters:”President Donald Trump’s Big Beautiful Bill slashes nearly $1 trillion in Medicaid funding over the next decade.The administration says this cuts wasteful spending and will create a $50 billion fund…many health experts say that’s not nearly enough”
abcnews.go.com/US/loss-life...

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Reposted by Nandita Sharma, Joe R. Feagin, Sanford F. Schram , and 7 more Nandita Sharma, Joe R. Feagin, Sanford F. Schram, Smith, Nazita Lajevardi, James Goodwin, Christina Ho, Manisha Sinha, Aviel Roshwald, Jesse D. Berman

News Eye @newseye.bsky.social · 2d

NEW: There’s a disaster unfolding in Alaska right now. And no major network is covering it.

The remnants of Typhoon Halong battered western Alaska overnight. Homes, with people in them, have literally been swept into the Bering Strait.

At least 20 are missing. No comment from any federal agency.

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Reposted by Smith, David R. Miller

Olivia Messer @oliviamesser.bsky.social · 2d

In which John Oliver methodically unpacks how thin it is to claim you’re all about “the truth” when you’re only running essays don’t get properly fact-checked — and don’t hold up to even basic reporting scrutiny www.youtube.com/watch?v=gieT...

Bari Weiss: Last Week Tonight with John Oliver (HBO)

YouTube video by LastWeekTonight

www.youtube.com

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Reposted by Anna O. Law, Smith

Kathleen Bachynski @bachynski.bsky.social · 2d

“Dr. Paige’s husband, a chef, can support the family. But the sudden loss of her work, especially as Ebola rages on, has plunged her into a deep depression, she said.
To keep busy, she volunteers at an animal shelter and takes long walks…But she feels, she said, as if she were “walking through mud.”

They Fought Outbreaks Worldwide. Now They’re Fighting for New Lives.

www.nytimes.com

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Tara C. Smith @aetiology.bsky.social · 2d

They block anyone who questions the narrative.

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Reposted by Smith

Matt Friedman @friedmanlab.bsky.social · 2d

Spookiest decoration at the "Zoo Goes Boo" event at the John Ball Zoo in Grand Rapids? Giant model of parasitoid wasps hatching from cocoons affixed to their caterpillar host.