@shadowmonk.bsky.social
Ethical humanist. Critical thinker. Embarassed American.
This is one of the most disturbing actions by this nascent autocracy... a move to punish lawyers who challenge his illegal actions in court.
New Trump memo seen as threat to lawyers, attempt to scare off lawsuits
Experts fear the move will allow the administration to make claims against litigators for defending immigrants or challenging the constitutionality of actions.
www.washingtonpost.com
March 23, 2025 at 11:13 AM
This is one of the most disturbing actions by this nascent autocracy... a move to punish lawyers who challenge his illegal actions in court.
FOIA template for DOGE
DOGE Privacy Act Requests
U.S. Representative Jamie Raskin is encouraging all U.S. citizens to join him this week in filing formal demands for access to their personal data obtained by the Department of Government Efficiency (...
jamieraskin.com
March 18, 2025 at 9:40 PM
FOIA template for DOGE
This is what we really need to fear. #Musk is working to take over the court system along side his assault on the government, leaving him or his proxy free rein.
Opinion | This Election Will Be a Crucial Test of Musk’s Power
www.nytimes.com
March 18, 2025 at 11:13 AM
This is what we really need to fear. #Musk is working to take over the court system along side his assault on the government, leaving him or his proxy free rein.
Reposted
If Musk and his Technoboyz can't stop a cyber attack at X, maybe they shouldn't have access to our Social Security? Just brainstorming.
March 10, 2025 at 6:27 PM
If Musk and his Technoboyz can't stop a cyber attack at X, maybe they shouldn't have access to our Social Security? Just brainstorming.
"We don’t know what the risk profile is for these products." Unbelievable unscientific ignorance from the leader of HHS. These vaccines have one of the best characterized safety profiles in existence.
Without Offering Proof, Kennedy Links Measles Outbreak to Poor Diet and Health
In a recent interview, the health secretary also suggested that the measles vaccine had harmed children in West Texas, center of an outbreak.
www.nytimes.com
March 10, 2025 at 9:59 PM
"We don’t know what the risk profile is for these products." Unbelievable unscientific ignorance from the leader of HHS. These vaccines have one of the best characterized safety profiles in existence.
Reposted
This is deeply illegal, violating appropriations law, authorizations law, and the Impoundment Control Act.
It is also deeply immoral, condemning people to die.
It is also deeply immoral, condemning people to die.
March 10, 2025 at 1:37 PM
This is deeply illegal, violating appropriations law, authorizations law, and the Impoundment Control Act.
It is also deeply immoral, condemning people to die.
It is also deeply immoral, condemning people to die.
Reposted
Louder for those in the back saying "but they can't do that." They CAN and WILL do whatever they want if being in contempt of court is no longer treated as a crime, which is apparently where we are.
It's still not clear to me why we aren't going back to the courts now to hold the NIH in contempt. What are we waiting for? How much more evidence of harm do we need? Starting study sections obviously had the intended effect of getting us all to back off.
No advisory councils = funding freeze.
No advisory councils = funding freeze.
Excellent story in the Guardian about funds for Alzheimer's disease research centers being held up by the Federal Register-Advisory Council issue.
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
March 10, 2025 at 2:18 PM
Louder for those in the back saying "but they can't do that." They CAN and WILL do whatever they want if being in contempt of court is no longer treated as a crime, which is apparently where we are.
Reposted
Some Democratic member of Congress should propose a bill saying that a POTUS may golf at government expense no more than, say, once every 14 days, and must reimburse the Treasury for anything beyond that.
A couple of golf outings could pay for over 300 federal jobs for an entire year.
So…..fraud and waste? Eh?!?!
March 9, 2025 at 8:08 PM
Some Democratic member of Congress should propose a bill saying that a POTUS may golf at government expense no more than, say, once every 14 days, and must reimburse the Treasury for anything beyond that.
Hmm, I though DOGE wasn't firing anyone...
NIH faces renewed DOGE directive to cut staff, putting thousands in line for RIFs
The Elon Musk-backed group is calling the shots even after President Trump’s edict that they let individual agencies take the lead.
www.govexec.com
March 8, 2025 at 12:08 AM
Hmm, I though DOGE wasn't firing anyone...
@raskin.house.gov @vanhollen.senate.gov @alsobrooks.senate.gov Why is DOGE dictating layoffs at NIH without the input of the agency heads?
NIH faces renewed DOGE directive to cut staff, putting thousands in line for RIFs
The Elon Musk-backed group is calling the shots even after President Trump’s edict that they let individual agencies take the lead.
www.govexec.com
March 8, 2025 at 12:03 AM
@raskin.house.gov @vanhollen.senate.gov @alsobrooks.senate.gov Why is DOGE dictating layoffs at NIH without the input of the agency heads?
@altnih4science.bsky.social What did I do this week? Well, spent a bunch of time trying to rescue a grant because the PIs decided to use the word "gender" instead of "sex" because it sounded more polite. 😒
March 7, 2025 at 12:32 PM
@altnih4science.bsky.social What did I do this week? Well, spent a bunch of time trying to rescue a grant because the PIs decided to use the word "gender" instead of "sex" because it sounded more polite. 😒
Paying back the crypto bros with taxpayer money... a "strategic reserve" of something with no inherent value is worthless. Utterly stupid... it's just payback to the people who bought the election for him.
Bitcoin reserve: Why has Trump set up a US crypto stockpile?
The reserve will hold cryptocurrency forfeited to the government in criminal or civil proceedings, said the White House.
www.bbc.com
March 7, 2025 at 12:21 PM
Paying back the crypto bros with taxpayer money... a "strategic reserve" of something with no inherent value is worthless. Utterly stupid... it's just payback to the people who bought the election for him.
Reposted
Kind of seems like a straight up First Amendment violation here?
Exclusive: The Nature Conservancy was told by @noaa.gov it had to use “Gulf of America” or lose its federal funding, according to a leaked email and memo sent to all staff this morning
cc @heatmap.news
heatmap.news/climate/natu...
cc @heatmap.news
heatmap.news/climate/natu...
Nature Conservancy Told to Say ‘Gulf of America’ or Lose Federal Funding
A leaked internal memo reveals why the environmental group adopted President Trump’s new name.
heatmap.news
February 27, 2025 at 7:44 PM
Kind of seems like a straight up First Amendment violation here?
Reposted
This is corruption in plain sight.
Musk is getting sweetheart deals for his companies, DOGE is helping him do it, and the President is cheering him on.
This isn’t about government efficiency, but making him richer.
Musk is getting sweetheart deals for his companies, DOGE is helping him do it, and the President is cheering him on.
This isn’t about government efficiency, but making him richer.
The FAA may cancel a $2.4 billion contract with Verizon and instead give it to Starlink, owned by Elon Musk, WaPo reports.
This would be his latest opportunity to get richer off of taxpayers.
Musk and his businesses have received $38 billion in federal contracts and subsidies.
This would be his latest opportunity to get richer off of taxpayers.
Musk and his businesses have received $38 billion in federal contracts and subsidies.
February 27, 2025 at 2:09 PM
This is corruption in plain sight.
Musk is getting sweetheart deals for his companies, DOGE is helping him do it, and the President is cheering him on.
This isn’t about government efficiency, but making him richer.
Musk is getting sweetheart deals for his companies, DOGE is helping him do it, and the President is cheering him on.
This isn’t about government efficiency, but making him richer.
Reposted
Pathetic. Spineless. Self-serving. Cowards. What are they even doing there?
But they voted for it anyway because the dictator had a gun to their heads.
Thoughts and prayers.
wapo.st/4kaAnK6
Thoughts and prayers.
wapo.st/4kaAnK6
Some Republicans fear Medicaid cuts could cost them their jobs
The possibility of Medicaid cuts has become a headache for the most vulnerable Republicans in Congress — and has handed Democrats a potent issue ahead of 2026 elections.
wapo.st
February 27, 2025 at 3:23 PM
Pathetic. Spineless. Self-serving. Cowards. What are they even doing there?
Reposted
He said he was “deporting criminals” but he’s actually importing them…
BREAKING
Andrew and Tristan Tate have been released by Romanian authorities after significant pressure by the Trump administration.
They are en route to Florida via private jet.
Andrew and Tristan Tate have been released by Romanian authorities after significant pressure by the Trump administration.
They are en route to Florida via private jet.
February 27, 2025 at 12:35 PM
He said he was “deporting criminals” but he’s actually importing them…
Reposted
NEW: The email went out about 30 minutes ago.
February 22, 2025 at 10:07 PM
NEW: The email went out about 30 minutes ago.
Reposted
I'm not sure it's actually set in that the Trump administration has done an end run to effectively grind to a halt new scientific research.
They're not pausing the money. They're pausing the meetings needed to sign off on the $
www.thetransmitter.org/funding/fede...
They're not pausing the money. They're pausing the meetings needed to sign off on the $
www.thetransmitter.org/funding/fede...
Federal Register hold makes ‘end run’ around court pause on NIH funding freeze
NIH-related updates to the Federal Register, which are required for the scheduling of study sections and advisory councils, are on hold indefinitely, according to an email reviewed by <i>The Transmitt...
www.thetransmitter.org
February 22, 2025 at 1:41 PM
I'm not sure it's actually set in that the Trump administration has done an end run to effectively grind to a halt new scientific research.
They're not pausing the money. They're pausing the meetings needed to sign off on the $
www.thetransmitter.org/funding/fede...
They're not pausing the money. They're pausing the meetings needed to sign off on the $
www.thetransmitter.org/funding/fede...
Reposted
Elon Musk is a robber baron.
February 22, 2025 at 1:56 PM
Elon Musk is a robber baron.
Reposted
This is a five-alarm fire 🔥 for US science 🧪.
(We keep saying that, but it keeps being true 😭.)
Trump and Musk are blocking *ALL* NIH grants ‼️ by "exploiting a loophole in the process"—stopping study sections & council meetings.
Every biomedical researcher in the country should be screaming. 1/
(We keep saying that, but it keeps being true 😭.)
Trump and Musk are blocking *ALL* NIH grants ‼️ by "exploiting a loophole in the process"—stopping study sections & council meetings.
Every biomedical researcher in the country should be screaming. 1/
NEW: The Trump administration is exploiting a loophole to keep funding frozen at the NIH - a move that some legal scholars say is illegal.
Federal Register notices are blocked, so no grant-review sessions can be scheduled.
All the gritty details here, and a short 🧵:
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Federal Register notices are blocked, so no grant-review sessions can be scheduled.
All the gritty details here, and a short 🧵:
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Revealed: NIH research grants still frozen despite lawsuits challenging Trump order
The Trump administration is exploiting a loophole to keep a funding freeze in place, leaving researchers in limbo.
www.nature.com
February 21, 2025 at 4:37 AM
This is a five-alarm fire 🔥 for US science 🧪.
(We keep saying that, but it keeps being true 😭.)
Trump and Musk are blocking *ALL* NIH grants ‼️ by "exploiting a loophole in the process"—stopping study sections & council meetings.
Every biomedical researcher in the country should be screaming. 1/
(We keep saying that, but it keeps being true 😭.)
Trump and Musk are blocking *ALL* NIH grants ‼️ by "exploiting a loophole in the process"—stopping study sections & council meetings.
Every biomedical researcher in the country should be screaming. 1/
Reposted
Dear scientists at US universities: Trump/Musk continue to freeze your grants. NIH is not reviewing grants nor funding them in council. This is a backhanded, legal method to effectively stop NIH grants.
See thread and linked article.
Are we going to “keep our heads down” about this?
See thread and linked article.
Are we going to “keep our heads down” about this?
This is a five-alarm fire 🔥 for US science 🧪.
(We keep saying that, but it keeps being true 😭.)
Trump and Musk are blocking *ALL* NIH grants ‼️ by "exploiting a loophole in the process"—stopping study sections & council meetings.
Every biomedical researcher in the country should be screaming. 1/
(We keep saying that, but it keeps being true 😭.)
Trump and Musk are blocking *ALL* NIH grants ‼️ by "exploiting a loophole in the process"—stopping study sections & council meetings.
Every biomedical researcher in the country should be screaming. 1/
NEW: The Trump administration is exploiting a loophole to keep funding frozen at the NIH - a move that some legal scholars say is illegal.
Federal Register notices are blocked, so no grant-review sessions can be scheduled.
All the gritty details here, and a short 🧵:
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Federal Register notices are blocked, so no grant-review sessions can be scheduled.
All the gritty details here, and a short 🧵:
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
February 21, 2025 at 2:52 PM
Dear scientists at US universities: Trump/Musk continue to freeze your grants. NIH is not reviewing grants nor funding them in council. This is a backhanded, legal method to effectively stop NIH grants.
See thread and linked article.
Are we going to “keep our heads down” about this?
See thread and linked article.
Are we going to “keep our heads down” about this?
@raskin.house.gov @vanhollen.senate.gov @altnih4science.bsky.social NIH funding is effectively suspended, using the FRN as a tool. Review meetings must be posted 30 days prior, and no notices are being posted. No meetings, no review, no funding.
February 20, 2025 at 3:05 PM
@raskin.house.gov @vanhollen.senate.gov @altnih4science.bsky.social NIH funding is effectively suspended, using the FRN as a tool. Review meetings must be posted 30 days prior, and no notices are being posted. No meetings, no review, no funding.
Why the hell is the US advocating on behalf of Andrew Tate? Our envoy says he's a supporter...??? Of misogyny, sex trafficking, and slavery?
Andrew Tate: US must not interfere in case, say alleged victims
Reports say US officials asked Romania to relax travel restrictions against Andrew Tate and his brother.
www.bbc.com
February 19, 2025 at 12:08 PM
Why the hell is the US advocating on behalf of Andrew Tate? Our envoy says he's a supporter...??? Of misogyny, sex trafficking, and slavery?
Before running opinion polls on whether the US spends too much on things like aid, science, education, participants should also have to answer how much we *actually* spend. It's meaningless to tell me you think we spend too much on foreign aid when you think we spend 10X what we actually do.
February 15, 2025 at 7:10 PM
Before running opinion polls on whether the US spends too much on things like aid, science, education, participants should also have to answer how much we *actually* spend. It's meaningless to tell me you think we spend too much on foreign aid when you think we spend 10X what we actually do.