Bryn Nelson
@seattlebryn.bsky.social
Freelance science, medical + environmental writer and author of “Flush: The Remarkable Science of an Unlikely Treasure.” PhD in microbiology; also post about misinfo, journalism, oddities, good dogs, bad puns, and Seattle. He/him
✍🏻 💩🧪🧫🦠🔬🌲🏳️🌈
✍🏻 💩🧪🧫🦠🔬🌲🏳️🌈
Reposted by Bryn Nelson
Unfortunately, in US journalism it is considered neutral to spread a lie, but it is considered "biased" to call out a lie. So, there is a structural asymmetry that rewards colorful lies with virality.
November 30, 2025 at 1:16 AM
Unfortunately, in US journalism it is considered neutral to spread a lie, but it is considered "biased" to call out a lie. So, there is a structural asymmetry that rewards colorful lies with virality.
Reposted by Bryn Nelson
George Lakoff and I pushed this simple and reasonable idea years ago. When I returned to journalism, I realized the problem. Editors care more about SEO and controversy (=clicks) than about whether the headline is destroying truth. Incentive is to bait engagement at all cost.
November 30, 2025 at 1:11 AM
George Lakoff and I pushed this simple and reasonable idea years ago. When I returned to journalism, I realized the problem. Editors care more about SEO and controversy (=clicks) than about whether the headline is destroying truth. Incentive is to bait engagement at all cost.
Why is this so hard for the supposed papers of record? It’s a horrible disservice to their readers.
"Never spread the lie in the headline" should be a hard rule of 21st century journalism.
Research shows that repeating lies helps to spread them, and people read headlines more than they read stories.
Research shows that repeating lies helps to spread them, and people read headlines more than they read stories.
News media has to do better with headlines that present false and unverified public health claims.
November 30, 2025 at 4:44 AM
Why is this so hard for the supposed papers of record? It’s a horrible disservice to their readers.
Reposted by Bryn Nelson
Don't know whether this is new or has been up for awhile. Either way, when the White House creates a hit list of journalists it doesn't like, the free press is in danger. www.whitehouse.gov/mediabias/
Media Offenders
Explore the Media Bias Tracker that fact checks and holds Fake News accountable. False claims debunked, Hall of Shame for serial offenders, Leaderboard of networks ranked by Repeated Lies. Stay inform...
www.whitehouse.gov
November 29, 2025 at 7:13 PM
Don't know whether this is new or has been up for awhile. Either way, when the White House creates a hit list of journalists it doesn't like, the free press is in danger. www.whitehouse.gov/mediabias/
Reposted by Bryn Nelson
Former US military lawyers speak out:
"The Former JAGs Working Group unanimously considers both the giving and the execution of these orders, if true, to constitute war crimes, murder, or both."
Statement on Media Reports of Pentagon “No Quarter” Orders in Caribbean Boat Strikes
1/2
"The Former JAGs Working Group unanimously considers both the giving and the execution of these orders, if true, to constitute war crimes, murder, or both."
Statement on Media Reports of Pentagon “No Quarter” Orders in Caribbean Boat Strikes
1/2
November 29, 2025 at 8:10 PM
Former US military lawyers speak out:
"The Former JAGs Working Group unanimously considers both the giving and the execution of these orders, if true, to constitute war crimes, murder, or both."
Statement on Media Reports of Pentagon “No Quarter” Orders in Caribbean Boat Strikes
1/2
"The Former JAGs Working Group unanimously considers both the giving and the execution of these orders, if true, to constitute war crimes, murder, or both."
Statement on Media Reports of Pentagon “No Quarter” Orders in Caribbean Boat Strikes
1/2
Reposted by Bryn Nelson
The body cams don’t lie.
Judge Ellis exposed unprovoked force by ICE agents and reports rewritten to cover it.
There is no defending this.
Judge Ellis exposed unprovoked force by ICE agents and reports rewritten to cover it.
There is no defending this.
November 29, 2025 at 4:07 PM
The body cams don’t lie.
Judge Ellis exposed unprovoked force by ICE agents and reports rewritten to cover it.
There is no defending this.
Judge Ellis exposed unprovoked force by ICE agents and reports rewritten to cover it.
There is no defending this.
Reposted by Bryn Nelson
A🧵
This is profoundly irresponsible by AGSulzberger’s NYT, @by-cjewett.bsky.social +eds.
The normalization, “view-from-nowhere”, “born-yesterday”, stenography, “both-sides”, irresponsible headline are disgraceful.
THE story is the CDC&FDA are being destroyed by antiscience & Americans will die.
1/n
This is profoundly irresponsible by AGSulzberger’s NYT, @by-cjewett.bsky.social +eds.
The normalization, “view-from-nowhere”, “born-yesterday”, stenography, “both-sides”, irresponsible headline are disgraceful.
THE story is the CDC&FDA are being destroyed by antiscience & Americans will die.
1/n
November 29, 2025 at 5:40 PM
A🧵
This is profoundly irresponsible by AGSulzberger’s NYT, @by-cjewett.bsky.social +eds.
The normalization, “view-from-nowhere”, “born-yesterday”, stenography, “both-sides”, irresponsible headline are disgraceful.
THE story is the CDC&FDA are being destroyed by antiscience & Americans will die.
1/n
This is profoundly irresponsible by AGSulzberger’s NYT, @by-cjewett.bsky.social +eds.
The normalization, “view-from-nowhere”, “born-yesterday”, stenography, “both-sides”, irresponsible headline are disgraceful.
THE story is the CDC&FDA are being destroyed by antiscience & Americans will die.
1/n
Reposted by Bryn Nelson
“F.D.A. Attributes 10 Children’s Deaths to Covid Vaccines, Without Evidence” see it’s easy, you just add it there at the end and you have an accurate, responsible headline.
November 29, 2025 at 5:43 AM
“F.D.A. Attributes 10 Children’s Deaths to Covid Vaccines, Without Evidence” see it’s easy, you just add it there at the end and you have an accurate, responsible headline.
Reposted by Bryn Nelson
Harvard Law School’s Jack Goldsmith:
“In short, if the Post’s facts are correct, it appears that Special Operations Forces committed murder when the ‘two men were blown apart in the water, as the Post put it.’”
open.substack.com/pub/executiv...
“In short, if the Post’s facts are correct, it appears that Special Operations Forces committed murder when the ‘two men were blown apart in the water, as the Post put it.’”
open.substack.com/pub/executiv...
November 29, 2025 at 4:25 AM
Harvard Law School’s Jack Goldsmith:
“In short, if the Post’s facts are correct, it appears that Special Operations Forces committed murder when the ‘two men were blown apart in the water, as the Post put it.’”
open.substack.com/pub/executiv...
“In short, if the Post’s facts are correct, it appears that Special Operations Forces committed murder when the ‘two men were blown apart in the water, as the Post put it.’”
open.substack.com/pub/executiv...
Reposted by Bryn Nelson
Under a zero tolerance policy, the first Trump administration separated immigrant children from their families at the U.S.-Mexico border.
New data suggests separations now happen all over the country, often after little more than a traffic stop.
New data suggests separations now happen all over the country, often after little more than a traffic stop.
ICE Sent 600 Immigrant Kids to Detention in Federal Shelters This Year. It’s a New Record.
Under a zero tolerance policy, the first Trump administration separated immigrant children from their families at the U.S.-Mexico border. New data suggests separations are happening all over the count...
www.propublica.org
November 29, 2025 at 4:00 AM
Under a zero tolerance policy, the first Trump administration separated immigrant children from their families at the U.S.-Mexico border.
New data suggests separations now happen all over the country, often after little more than a traffic stop.
New data suggests separations now happen all over the country, often after little more than a traffic stop.
Reposted by Bryn Nelson
How did the @nytimes.com editors let this sentence appear?
"Critics have likened Mr. Trump’s approach to extortion, while others have chalked it up as a cost of doing business with this administration."
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/26/u...
"Critics have likened Mr. Trump’s approach to extortion, while others have chalked it up as a cost of doing business with this administration."
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/26/u...
Northwestern University Nears Deal to Resolve Its Conflict With the White House
www.nytimes.com
November 29, 2025 at 1:07 AM
How did the @nytimes.com editors let this sentence appear?
"Critics have likened Mr. Trump’s approach to extortion, while others have chalked it up as a cost of doing business with this administration."
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/26/u...
"Critics have likened Mr. Trump’s approach to extortion, while others have chalked it up as a cost of doing business with this administration."
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/26/u...
👀
He’s going to fight drug trafficking by pardoning them?
Trump announced “a Full and Complete Pardon” for former Honduran president Juan Orlando Hernández, who was found guilty by an American jury last year of conspiring to import cocaine into the US.
Trump announced “a Full and Complete Pardon” for former Honduran president Juan Orlando Hernández, who was found guilty by an American jury last year of conspiring to import cocaine into the US.
November 29, 2025 at 12:43 AM
👀
Reposted by Bryn Nelson
Since Stephen Miller is in the midst of another of his Aryans-only trantrums, we should note that his family are 20th century immigrants from the shtetl of Antopol (Антопаль) then in the Hrodna gubernia of Russia. Applying his immigration rules, they would all have perished in the Holocaust.
Stephen Miller Is an Immigration Hypocrite. I Know Because I’m His Uncle.
If my nephew’s ideas on immigration had been in force a century ago, our family would have been wiped out.
www.politico.com
November 28, 2025 at 6:05 PM
Since Stephen Miller is in the midst of another of his Aryans-only trantrums, we should note that his family are 20th century immigrants from the shtetl of Antopol (Антопаль) then in the Hrodna gubernia of Russia. Applying his immigration rules, they would all have perished in the Holocaust.
Reposted by Bryn Nelson
Australia just recorded zero cervical cancer cases in women under 25 for the first time since records began in 1982. The amazing result of HPV vaccination.
November 28, 2025 at 8:44 PM
Australia just recorded zero cervical cancer cases in women under 25 for the first time since records began in 1982. The amazing result of HPV vaccination.
Reposted by Bryn Nelson
Exclusive: Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth gave an order to “kill everybody” in the first strike on suspected drug boats in the Caribbean. After two men survived, the mission commander ordered a second strike to comply with Hegseth’s instructions, according to two sources.
Hegseth order on first Caribbean boat strike, officials say: Kill them all
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth issued a verbal order to kill all crew members in the Sept. 2 strike on a suspected drug boat. Navy SEALs fired a second missile.
www.washingtonpost.com
November 28, 2025 at 6:05 PM
Exclusive: Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth gave an order to “kill everybody” in the first strike on suspected drug boats in the Caribbean. After two men survived, the mission commander ordered a second strike to comply with Hegseth’s instructions, according to two sources.
Reposted by Bryn Nelson
Imagine paying a large monthly fee to shop at a supermarket, then paying again for the actual groceries, then getting an extra charge months later because one ingredient in an item you bought came from a farmer associated with a different store.
This post is about healthcare.
This post is about healthcare.
November 27, 2025 at 7:58 PM
Imagine paying a large monthly fee to shop at a supermarket, then paying again for the actual groceries, then getting an extra charge months later because one ingredient in an item you bought came from a farmer associated with a different store.
This post is about healthcare.
This post is about healthcare.
Reposted by Bryn Nelson
A *huge* vaccine victory. I've been writing on this for years; Australia has seen remarkable progress in cervical cancer prevention with the HPV vaccine. I love seeing science triumph like this.
Australia recorded ZERO cases of cervical cancer in women under 25 for the first time since they started tracking the cancer in the 80s.
This is the power of vaccines.
The HPV vaccine is extremely effective at preventing cancer.
Viruses can be oncogenic. Get your vaccines and protect yourself!
This is the power of vaccines.
The HPV vaccine is extremely effective at preventing cancer.
Viruses can be oncogenic. Get your vaccines and protect yourself!
newsGP - Australia set for world-first cervical cancer elimination
Vaccination programs have played a key role, and GPs remain ‘instrumental’ in boosting screening rates to reach the 2035 target.
www1.racgp.org.au
November 27, 2025 at 6:12 PM
A *huge* vaccine victory. I've been writing on this for years; Australia has seen remarkable progress in cervical cancer prevention with the HPV vaccine. I love seeing science triumph like this.
Reposted by Bryn Nelson
🔥 BREAKING: A spokesperson for the European Commission messaged me today about the EU's commitment to "equality" in response to the Trump administration issuing new rules saying countries with DEI policies are infringing on human rights. A Commission spokesperson messaged:
November 21, 2025 at 6:30 PM
🔥 BREAKING: A spokesperson for the European Commission messaged me today about the EU's commitment to "equality" in response to the Trump administration issuing new rules saying countries with DEI policies are infringing on human rights. A Commission spokesperson messaged:
Reposted by Bryn Nelson
Trump’s Project 2025 administration cancels World AIDS Day.
The State Department has warned employees not to use government funds to mark Dec. 1 as World AIDS Day and to “refrain from publicly promoting World AIDS Day through any communication channels.” nyti.ms/3KhPDrA
Trump Administration Will No Longer Commemorate World AIDS Day
The State Department warned employees not to use government funds for the occasion and to “refrain from publicly promoting World AIDS Day through any communication channels.”
nyti.ms
November 26, 2025 at 11:50 PM
Trump’s Project 2025 administration cancels World AIDS Day.
Reposted by Bryn Nelson
Good Fast Times article on New York Times headlines. I was interviewed. One thing I should have noted: the rage-bait comes increasingly from the opinions section.
www.fastcompany.com/91450316/nyt...
www.fastcompany.com/91450316/nyt...
Annoyed by a 'New York Times' headline? It seems like that's increasingly the Gray Lady's goal
Several ‘New York Times’ headlines in 2025 have earned severe social media backlash. Is it happening on purpose?
www.fastcompany.com
November 26, 2025 at 8:19 PM
Good Fast Times article on New York Times headlines. I was interviewed. One thing I should have noted: the rage-bait comes increasingly from the opinions section.
www.fastcompany.com/91450316/nyt...
www.fastcompany.com/91450316/nyt...
World AIDS Day.
World AIDS Day!
The administration doesn’t want to acknowledge the fact that millions of people are still impacted by this disease because of the involvement of WHO.
World AIDS Day! Seriously? This is very, very not normal.
World AIDS Day!
The administration doesn’t want to acknowledge the fact that millions of people are still impacted by this disease because of the involvement of WHO.
World AIDS Day! Seriously? This is very, very not normal.
SCOOP: The Trump administration has instructed employees and grantees not to use U.S. funds to commemorate World AIDS Day — because the observance was started by the World Health Organization.
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/26/h...
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/26/h...
Trump Administration Cancels U.S. Observance of World AIDS Day
www.nytimes.com
November 26, 2025 at 9:41 PM
World AIDS Day.
World AIDS Day!
The administration doesn’t want to acknowledge the fact that millions of people are still impacted by this disease because of the involvement of WHO.
World AIDS Day! Seriously? This is very, very not normal.
World AIDS Day!
The administration doesn’t want to acknowledge the fact that millions of people are still impacted by this disease because of the involvement of WHO.
World AIDS Day! Seriously? This is very, very not normal.
Reposted by Bryn Nelson
Frikkin amazing stuff.
November 26, 2025 at 8:29 AM
Frikkin amazing stuff.
Reposted by Bryn Nelson
ICE deported a woman who owned a home in the US for 30 years. A judge banned ICE from deporting her to Sierra Leone where she had been tortured, so it deported her to Ghana, which kidnapped her and sent her back Sierra Leone anyway. ICE is part of this illegal conspiracy.
November 25, 2025 at 4:40 PM
ICE deported a woman who owned a home in the US for 30 years. A judge banned ICE from deporting her to Sierra Leone where she had been tortured, so it deported her to Ghana, which kidnapped her and sent her back Sierra Leone anyway. ICE is part of this illegal conspiracy.
Reposted by Bryn Nelson
Quick reminder: www.nbcnews.com/politics/jus...
November 25, 2025 at 9:40 PM
Quick reminder: www.nbcnews.com/politics/jus...
Reposted by Bryn Nelson
"Justice Department guidelines require investigative steps against sitting members of Congress to go through an approval process within the Justice Department to ensure that federal law enforcement power isn’t being used for political purposes..." www.nbcnews.com/politics/jus...
FBI seeks interviews with six Democrats Trump accused of 'seditious behavior'
The lawmakers, who had released a video urging members of the military and intelligence community not to follow illegal orders, accused Trump of trying to intimidate them.
www.nbcnews.com
November 25, 2025 at 9:39 PM
"Justice Department guidelines require investigative steps against sitting members of Congress to go through an approval process within the Justice Department to ensure that federal law enforcement power isn’t being used for political purposes..." www.nbcnews.com/politics/jus...