"'this reluctance to speak may be a form of anticipatory obedience, when it is coming from people who are in a relatively safe position to speak,' @greymoran.bsky.social says..." My latest looks at politics and freedom of the press. TLDR: sources are scared; it's hurting journalism

After Steven Barrows left his job at a hog slaughtering facility in Sioux City, Iowa, he sent a tip to the Environmental Protection Agency. In the tip, Barrows described the parking lot of Seaboard Triumph Foods LLC as a “dump site for rotten meats.” @ninaelkadi.com reports:
buff.ly/Ta66gSR

I wrote about how an outpouring of community support has helped free 3 detained farmworkers in VT

“The speed and efficacy of the response is due to the groundwork that we’ve been laying now for over a decade,” -Rachel Elliott of @migrantjustice.bsky.social

sentientmedia.org/vermont-resi...

@yessfun.com reported on similar trends in fossil fuels. It's almost like they're all using the same playbook to perpetuate climate killing business practices and keep us distracted while they do it.

"These ads reflect a rhetorical trend in rightwing political campaigns: the use of language invoking meat to dehumanize transgender people — and then justify extreme anti-trans laws...This grotesque language is trafficking in a common form of disinformation." reporting by @greymoran.bsky.social

As detention numbers creep upward, some advocates worry that detainees could be compelled to work to fill gaps in the workforce of some of the most dangerous jobs in the country, including on factory farms and in slaughterhouses. @gracehussain.bsky.social reports:

I legitimately loved reading Erica's paper critiquing "food deserts," as I was reporting on the same. So glad it's now live on the internet!

When so many institutions are cowering to the demands of the Trump Administration, it was refreshing to read @gracehussain.bsky.social's profile of lawyer Dãnia Davy leading workshops for farmers with titles like "What to Expect When You're Expecting Fascism"
sentientmedia.org/helping-farm...

(2/3) Animal products, esp. ruminant #meat and luxury commodities like #coffee & cocoa, have 100x higher #extinction opportunity costs than #grains & roots. Together with #dairy, #pig & #poultry products they form the majority of per-capita consumption impacts: doi.org/10.33774/coe... #beef #pork

I'm looking to talk with someone doing research on mitigating the impacts of livestock systems who has had their funding paused by the ongoing federal funding pause. If you'd be willing to talk with me please reach out! [email protected]. 🙏🏽

Also concerning: the administration's history with COVID communications and that the current pause includes review of science produced by the health agencies.

The health agencies public comms pause will last until at least Feb 1, after RFK's confirmation hearing. RFK is an avid supporter of raw milk and has indicated his intent to expand national access. Bird flu, which continues to be a growing concern, can spread via raw milk.

Friendly reminder that the scientific method we follow is socially constructed and that indigenous ways of knowing that have been upheld across generations are (at least as) credible. 😊

Animal advocates will need to pivot hard in many ways to keep up their legal advocacy efforts in the face of the incoming Trump Administration. I spoke with animal law expert @delcianna.bsky.social.

Big Meat sidestepped accountability to keep consumers coming back in 2024. @jesslsr.bsky.social explains:
sentientmedia.org/big-meat-reb...

At COP29, the U.S. Farmers and Ranchers in Action made a big climate pledge — but is their plan feasible?

@gracehussain.bsky.social fact-checks the pledge with the help of experts including @waiterich.bsky.social of @worldresources.bsky.social.

Read in our newsletter:
mailchi.mp/sentientmedi...

BREAKING: Autonomous anti-genocide activists bring the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade to a grinding halt after blockading the McDonald’s float for a second year in a row.

“Those grinches who thinks they can disrupt the parade: it’s not going to happen,” Mayor Eric Adams said yesterday.

"'Food apartheid is important for us as a way to recognize the structural racism and the intentionality that’s associated with a lot of policy decisions that have led to inequities in food access [and] food distribution,' adds Laurie Beyranevand."

Hi Dani! I'm a journalist covering a variety of food systems issues including science. Would you please add me to the list? You can check out my work here sentientmedia.org/author/grace...

Hello Bluesky! I report (mostly) on solutions to food systems issues @sentientmedia.bsky.social and research agricultural industrialization @miamirosenstiel.bsky.social; check out my work here: sentientmedia.org/author/grace...