Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Robert Frederick @robertfrederick.co · 1d

General public doesn’t know what a “working paper” is.

But they do know you’re smart + appearing to confirm a “free market” argument (w/ research!) against raising the minimum wage.

Made this video 12 years ago. See comments to it. Federal minimum wage still the same. And the wealth gap grows.

The role of the federal government?

YouTube video by REFrederickMusings

youtu.be

Robert Frederick @robertfrederick.co · 1d

Please read Appendix D again before making any summary about causation (“lead to,” as you wrote)?

Does inferring causation from associations mentioned in clearly labeled (i.e., non-peer-reviewed) “working papers” remind you of how misinformation about the coronavirus spread, too? Perhaps “sturgis”?

Text from the report’s appendix D in the “working paper” that lists the start of a number of caveats about the data analysis, including that “association” is the right word to describe what the researchers think they have found.

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Robert Frederick @robertfrederick.co · 1d

Indeed, nothing says "I support the 1st Amendment of the U.S. Constitution" (specifically "the right of the people peaceably to assemble") like posting an A.I.-generated video of yourself as king dropping 💩 on protesters.

truthsocial.com/@realDonaldT...
vs.
constitution.congress.gov/constitution...

A screenshot from Trump’s Truth Social posting — the one in which he posted an A.I.-generated video of himself as king dropping what appears to be fecal matter on protesters.

Trump’s social media post was Saturday, October 18, 2025 — the same day as millions of Americans were peaceably protesting in the many thousands of “No Kings” events.

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Robert Frederick @robertfrederick.co · 4d

When your Substack is ahead of coverage from The New York Times, something must be going... right?

(It's because I don't have to get a fact-checker, editor, or publisher involved... I do it all myself at this point.)

A screenshot of The New York Times article published today, October 17, 2025, with the title "U.S. Threatens Countries That Back a Fee to Clean Up Ship Pollution" Available here: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/10/17/climate/shipping-pollution-fee-international-maritime-organization.html

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Robert Frederick @robertfrederick.co · 5d

Tomorrow, the International Maritime Organization, a specialized agency of the #UN, will vote whether to implement the world’s first global tax on fossil-fuel emissions -- those emitted by large ships.

Markets may respond immediately.

But it will be years before any actual taxes are levied.

Taxing Carbon Emissions Globally

The world's first global emissions tax is coming.

sustainlab.substack.com

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Reposted by Robert Frederick

Virginia Gewin @virginiagewin.bsky.social · 11d

Journalist here

I’m interested in talking to a federal agency scientist who was fired, then rehired. I can keep you anonymous. I’m on Signal ginnyg.04

Reposts are appreciated!

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Robert Frederick @robertfrederick.co · 13d

We journalists and science communicators need to think differently about informing people regarding slow-moving existential threats such as #ClimateChange.

I think our work needs to be #local and #actionable.

My latest for SustainLab. (Image is from Netflix's satire "Don't Look Up")

Covering Sustainability

Meeting the needs of an emerging science-focused beat and making its coverage more sustainable

sustainlab.substack.com

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Robert Frederick @robertfrederick.co · 14d

I just voted in my local, non-partisan, primary.

But voting is not enough.

"If you ‘think globally,’ it is overwhelming and you do not have enough energy left to ‘act locally.’ Just act locally and see what a difference you can make!"
— Dr. Jane Goodall, may she rest in peace

Robert Frederick on October 7, 2025, having just voted in his local non-partisan primary election, wearing a hat that says “Vote Local.”

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Robert Frederick @robertfrederick.co · 17d

Aak, no!

I’m “strained”… doing too much… because exercise is such a good stress-reliever…!

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Robert Frederick @robertfrederick.co · 17d

Right there with you.

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Robert Frederick @robertfrederick.co · 21d

Have you considered hosting your own ClimateWeek, or some version of it suitable to your community?

My latest for SustainLab:
sustainlab.substack.com/p/your-commu...

Your Community's ClimateWeek

When is yours? Can your community keep it going all year?

sustainlab.substack.com

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Robert Frederick @robertfrederick.co · 28d

When it comes to #ClimateChange actions, do you know, simply, "where to begin"?

My latest for SustainLab -- simple poll included.

A Turning Point for Sustainability

Knowing where to begin is not as important as beginning.

sustainlab.substack.com

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Robert Frederick @robertfrederick.co · Sep 17

More explanation, please, of the highlighted / circled bit from your September 11 op-ed:

“But I envied what he built.”

Regarding what Kirk built, please consider this perspective, first, perhaps?
www.techdirt.com/2025/09/17/t...

A screenshot from Erza Klein’s September 11, 2025 op-ed with the following sentence highlighted/circled: “But I envied what he built,” which refers to what Kirk built.

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Reposted by Robert Frederick

Andrew Dessler @andrewdessler.com · Sep 17

National Academies is releasing their fast-tracked review of the science of the endangerment finding in about 1 hour, with a webcast in about 2 hours.

www.nationalacademies.org/event/45701_...

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Robert Frederick @robertfrederick.co · Sep 17

Mr. Jentleson, founder, "specifically attacked the [A.C.L.U.]" and "criticized the [C.A.P]... as '100 percent pure uncut resistance drivel.'"

Tearing others down to lift oneself up may be a winnable strategy in national politics, but the act of doing so transforms the actor in ugly, mean ways.

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Robert Frederick @robertfrederick.co · Sep 17

In an uncertain world of dangers and perils, we are compelled to seek certainty and safety.

So how do we move beyond the easy binary choices -- e.g., fight or flight -- and take a pragmatic approach to DO SOMETHING?

Thinking in terms of a spectrum of "more or less."

My latest for SustainLab. 🧪

Can "More or Less" Thinking Save Our Future?

Move beyond binary choices of "sustainable or not" to take a pragmatic approach to Do Something.

sustainlab.substack.com

Robert Frederick @robertfrederick.co · Sep 10

Here's some additional context -- an article from 2024 -- by
@astrolisa.bsky.social -- who writes:

"We covered this cool rock in 2024, paper in Nature is out today: 🧪🔭"

NASA's Perseverance finds its first possible hint of ancient Mars life

The NASA Mars rover examined a rock containing organic compounds and “leopard spots” that, on Earth, are associated with microbial life.

www.sciencenews.org

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Robert Frederick @robertfrederick.co · Sep 10

Here's some needed context -- an article from 2024 -- by @astrolisa.bsky.social -- who writes:

"We covered this cool rock in 2024, paper in Nature is out today: 🧪🔭"

www.sciencenews.org/article/nasa...

NASA's Perseverance finds its first possible hint of ancient Mars life

The NASA Mars rover examined a rock containing organic compounds and “leopard spots” that, on Earth, are associated with microbial life.

www.sciencenews.org

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Robert Frederick @robertfrederick.co · Sep 10

Fellow journalists -- having trouble getting scientist/scholar interviews?

Seen these "Thematic analysis of scholars’ experiences with journalists in the clickbait era, organized by theme"?

🧪 Source:
dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/...

h/t @niemanlab.org
www.niemanlab.org/2025/09/the-...

A screenshot from Table 2 in the linked research that lists "Structural Issues" as a theme.

The table includes example statements from researchers related to scholar concerns of "Oversimplification of Research," "Loss of Narrative Control," "Selective Quoting," and "Fear of Political Weaponization."

A screenshot from Table 2 in the linked research that lists "Strategies" as a theme.

The table includes example statements from researchers related to scholar strategies of "Defensive Media Strategies," "Damage Control," "Complete Disengagement," and "Too Late to Correct the Record."

A screenshot from Table 2 in the linked research that lists "Consequences" as a theme.

The table includes example statements from researchers related to scholar experiences of "Online Harassment" and "Professional Consequences."

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Robert Frederick @robertfrederick.co · Sep 9

"They were very critical of the CDC. When I asked if they were referring to the current or former CDC, they looked at me with blank stares. 'What is the difference?' they said. They were completely unaware of what is going on with health secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr...."

STAT @statnews.com · Sep 8

"Here's how to talk to strangers in a bar about Covid." www.statnews.com/2025/09/06/c...

I inserted myself into a conversation at a bar about Covid and vaccines. Here’s what happened

What happened when a public health scientist overheard four men sharing misinformation about Covid — and decided to talk to them about it.

www.statnews.com

Robert Frederick @robertfrederick.co · Sep 8

There's a new podcast out there -- called "Shocked" -- about sustainable solutions to climate problems. Its first episode published today.

As a long-time podcaster, here's my short review of the first episode titled "Bad Energy."

Pay to Play with Carbon-Dioxide Offsets

Wired, Tired, or Expired: "Instead of shaming energy use, pay for it with carbon offsets."

sustainlab.substack.com

Robert Frederick @robertfrederick.co · Sep 2

Today I got an email from the U.S. National Academies titled “Resources for Educators” that starts with “School Active Shooter Drills.”

The rest of the resources are related to STEM education and curriculum.

mailchi.mp/nationalacad...

A screenshot from the linked web-based version of the email that shows the National Academies at the top, an image of school supplies, and then the following words:

Back to School

Resources for Educators

As a new school year begins, these publications offer timely, research-based guidance for educators, school leaders, and policymakers. From improving school safety and strengthening STEM education at all levels to advancing quality curricula in both rural and early childhood settings, they provide actionable insights to support excellence in learning.

School Active Shooter Drills

While active shooter drills in schools are intended to enhance emergency…

Robert Frederick @robertfrederick.co · Sep 2

On the 20th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina... I learned the flood protection system for New Orleans -- that Congress authorized in 1965 -- was still not finished when Hurricane Katrina hit 40 years later.
😱

Testing, Measuring, Informing, But Not Making Policy

"Follow the science" is like following the news, not the leader. But leaders who reject science can start a viscous cycle of lower innovation, economic decline, and further public resentment.

sustainlab.substack.com

Robert Frederick @robertfrederick.co · Aug 29

42% of U.S. conservatives say climate change is not a threat, compared with 9% of moderates and just 2% of liberals.

But to respondents from 7 countries in the Global South "Climate change is the most important longer term problem the world is facing."

sustainlab.substack.com/p/setting-pr...

From the Pew Research Center’s 19 August 2026 article titled “Americans’ views of global threats differ by party, age.” It shows even among wealthy Global North countries, the U.S. percentage is out of the ordinary.

Robert Frederick @robertfrederick.co · Aug 26

"Climate change is the most important longer term problem the world is facing."

-- ranked the most common viewpoint (of 10 options) re: climate change in a rare survey of 7 countries in the Global South.

In this post, I reviewed the recent research published last Friday in Nature Climate Change.

Setting Priorities in the Global South

A new survey ranks climate change 1st among longer term problems, improving healthcare 1st among government priorities, and respiratory diseases from pollution and smoking 1st among health concerns.

sustainlab.substack.com