John R. Platt
@johnrplatt.bsky.social
3.3K followers 2.2K following 630 posts
Editor, The Revelator @therevelator.org. Covering the extinction crisis, wildlife, climate change and environmental justice. https://linktr.ee/johnrplatt
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johnrplatt.bsky.social
It was a hit, but hugely over budget, plus personality conflicts.
Reposted by John R. Platt
Reposted by John R. Platt
us.theconversation.com
Modern autocrats don’t always wear uniforms or rule by fear. They use elections, media control and polished images.

Understanding this “spin dictatorship” is key to protecting democracy, especially in the U.S, writes an expert on authoritarian regimes:

buff.ly/b8dOhAp
Autocrats don’t act like Hitler or Stalin anymore − instead of governing with violence, they use manipulation
Autocrats today are polished, appear mainstream and use the media, not overt repression or violence, to gain public support and consolidate power. They govern through a ‘spin dictatorship.’
buff.ly
Reposted by John R. Platt
robertscotthorton.bsky.social
“I … met with the governor, met with the mayor, met with the chief of police, and the superintendent of the highway patrol. They’re all lying, and disingenuous, and dishonest people,” Noem said, because they wouldn’t back up her baseless claims that the streets were overrun with terrorists.
ICE Barbie Says an Entire State’s Worth of Officials Are “Lying”
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem is convinced, against all evidence, that Portland is a war zone.
newrepublic.com
Reposted by John R. Platt
50501movement.bsky.social
This is how you’re supposed to treat fascists and their lies.

Media pay attention.
atrupar.com
STEPHANOPOULOS: I didn't insinuate anything. I asked you whether Tom Homan accepted $50k as was heard on an audio tape recorded by the FBI in September 2024. You did not answer the question. Thank you for your time.

VANCE: No, George, I sai--

STEPHANOPOULOS: We'll be right back
Reposted by John R. Platt
sarasilverstein.bsky.social
Trump govt did not reverse these firings out of goodness or self-owning a "mistake." They would have been happy to get away with it. This reversal is the result of strong opposition. We undercut our own power when we give them the credit. Resistance matters. And remaining cuts are still devastating.
sherylnyt.bsky.social
TRUMP CDC REVERSAL: Trump administration racing to reverse some CDC layoffs. Disease detectives, measles responders, MMWR staff RIF’s are revoked. DC office still shuttered. w/ @apoorvanyt.bsky.social

www.nytimes.com/2025/10/11/h...
Trump Administration Is Bringing Back Scores of C.D.C. Experts Fired in Error
www.nytimes.com
Reposted by John R. Platt
ssteingraber1.bsky.social
Lookin’ at you, 4 of every 10 fields of US corn that are planted to make ethanol to feed traffic.
transportenvironment.org
NEW: Biofuels globally emit more than the fossil fuels they replace, our latest study shows.

The first-of-a-kind study looks at global biofuels production today and the potential impacts of government biofuel targets.
🧵⤵️
Reposted by John R. Platt
timothysnyder.bsky.social
History gives us plenty of examples of disease used as a weapon. There are fewer cases of governments deliberately using disease against their own citizens. We are living (or dying) through one right now.
www.nbcnews.com/health/healt...
Hundreds of U.S. students quarantined amid measles outbreaks
At least 270 unvaccinated kids are staying home from school as measles continues to spread nationwide. "Expect more," one expert said.
www.nbcnews.com
Reposted by John R. Platt
chanda.blacksky.app
antifascist and anti-capitalist organizers need to understand space as one site of struggle because our opposition definitely understand it as one
spectrum.ieee.org
Low Earth orbit is filling up. Not just with #satellites, but also with dangerous, tumbling debris. As they collide, they multiply. If we do nothing, satellites will crash, creating chaos on Earth below. Meet the people trying to prevent this disaster. spectrum.ieee.org/kessler-synd...
Reposted by John R. Platt
therevelator.org
From poisonings to collisions with power lines, vultures face many threats. But as they decline, so does their ability to control the spread of deadly diseases. Here's how one country is working to save them: https://therevelator.org/saving-zimbabwes-vultures/
Saving Zimbabwe’s Vultures • The Revelator
From poisonings to collisions with power lines, these birds face many threats. But as they decline, so does their ability to control the spread of deadly diseases.
therevelator.org
Reposted by John R. Platt
timothysnyder.bsky.social
Please join me in a new campaign to help protect Ukrainians in a very special way. My Ukrainian friends chose to call this campaign Freedom is Action. They are making an important point. One way to find our own courage is to act in support those who are showing it
snyder.substack.com/p/freedom-is...
Freedom is Action: A Campaign for Ukraine
A fundraiser for life-saving drone-jamming cars and trucks
snyder.substack.com
Reposted by John R. Platt
kylegriffin1.bsky.social
Sens. Schumer, Merkley, Murray, and Peters are calling for the resignation of OMB Director Russell Vought.

"By impounding billions of dollars … and aggressively pursuing the illegal use of pocket rescissions, Vought has done everything in his power to gut the federal government piece by piece."
johnrplatt.bsky.social
It all feels like a destructive shell game.
johnrplatt.bsky.social
What a fantastic segment.
Reposted by John R. Platt
Reposted by John R. Platt
kjephd.bsky.social
Unconstitutionally taking money that the law says must be spent on one purpose & using it for something else—when it's to establish personalist control over the FUCKING MILITARY—is about as dangerous a constitutional crisis/failure as you can imagine

Via: www.nbcnews.com/politics/tru...
The Office of Management and Budget sent a notification to Congress about their intent to use research and development funds to pay members of the military, two sources with direct knowledge tell NBC News.

A spokesperson for the OMB confirmed to NBC News that it plans to use the research and development funds and that there are two years' worth of funds available within the Department of Defense.
Reposted by John R. Platt
Reposted by John R. Platt
leahstokes.bsky.social
On the latest episode of A Matter of Degrees, we talk to @drkatemarvel.bsky.social about her amazing new book, "Human Nature." It's a story of climate science told through nine emotions. A beautiful read. Listen to the conversation wherever you get your podcasts!
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/t...