Basav
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basavsen.bsky.social
Basav
@basavsen.bsky.social
200 followers 150 following 530 posts
Climate and environmental justice. Anticolonial, anti-capitalist, antifascist. Opinions my own.
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basavsen.bsky.social
But our ruling elites want to shove this technology down our throats, regardless.
us.theconversation.com The Conversation U.S. @us.theconversation.com · 1d
Relying on ChatGPT to teach you about a topic leaves you with shallower knowledge than Googling and reading about it, according to new research that compared what more than 10,000 people knew after using one method or the other.

Shared by @gizmodo.com: buff.ly/yAAHtHq
November 21, 2025 at 9:52 PM
basavsen.bsky.social
No fossil fuel phaseout, no meaningful commitment to non-extractive climate finance for the Global South. If this is the limit of what #COP30 can achieve, it's a disaster.
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Cop30 draft text omits mention of fossil fuel phase-out roadmap
Exclusive: Summit leadership releases new text despite 29 nations threatening to block progress without commitment
www.theguardian.com
November 21, 2025 at 9:50 PM
basavsen.bsky.social
Federal law enforcement is up to its old dirty tricks of infiltrating and spying on First Amendment protected activities. Disgraceful.
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
The FBI spied on a Signal group chat of immigration activists, records reveal
Exclusive: Agency accessed private conversations of New York ‘courtwatch’ group that was observing public hearings
www.theguardian.com
November 21, 2025 at 8:21 PM
basavsen.bsky.social
This is called perjury. Whoever authorized this at the highest level needs to face severe legal consequences. And at this point, sworn testimony from federal law enforcement officers should have zero credibility.
reichlinmelnick.bsky.social Aaron Reichlin-Melnick @reichlinmelnick.bsky.social · 2d
THREAD: Judge Ellis is the first federal judge to review extensive body cam video of DHS's actions in Chicago. She finds that DHS *repeatedly* misled the public and made claims that were disproven by agents' own videos.

I'll go through some of the most egregious ones here.
November 21, 2025 at 4:36 PM
Reposted by Basav
repsummerlee.bsky.social
After a record-breaking government shutdown that they caused, Trump & Republicans want to spend time micromanaging DC instead of representing their constituents.

If Trump wanted to run DC, he should resign & run for mayor.

I testified in the House Rules Committee to make it clear: hands off DC.
November 19, 2025 at 7:12 PM
basavsen.bsky.social
Sadly, there are many "moderate" state governors and legislatures who will want to comply with this directive, even though there's no reason for them to do so. Our movements need to get them to understand that they'll face serious political consequences for complying.
wolvendamien.bsky.social Dr. Damien P. Williams! Look over here! … It's All For You! @wolvendamien.bsky.social · 2d
1) There is no legal basis on which such an executive order against state-level "AI" regulation could possibly be enforced. No state or institution should comply w/ this in advance. Many will, obviously, because every EO this man puts out is a set of marching orders for his cronies; but none should.
makenakelly.bsky.social makena kelly @makenakelly.bsky.social · 2d
NEW: Trump Takes Aim at State AI Laws in Draft Executive Order

All the deets + more w/ @mzeff.bsky.social (it's his first WIRED byline yay!!!!)
www.wired.com/story/trump-...
November 20, 2025 at 4:00 PM
Reposted by Basav
riogranderift.bsky.social
Pundits, politicians, & centrist think tanks who disparage NEPA fail to understand that NEPA review *surfaces* stakeholder conflict. Disable NEPA and that conflict does not go away. It'll just shift elsewhere, into the shadows, advantaging those with political power, access, and influence.
November 20, 2025 at 3:38 PM
basavsen.bsky.social
Policy choices to continue expanding fossil fuel production have terrible material consequences.
fisherdanar.bsky.social Dana R. Fisher (aka the Apocalyptic Optimist) @fisherdanar.bsky.social · 3d
Important new paper shows that mass casualties from extreme heat are likely at the current level of global warming and will only get worse the more the world warms: “mass mortality events remain plausible at near-future temperatures despite current adaptations to heat”
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
November 19, 2025 at 9:24 PM
basavsen.bsky.social
Yet another horrifying attack on freedom of religion in the US. Disturbingly, powerful and influential countries worldwide are not condemning the US for rights violations such as this.
thisweekinworcester.com/exclusive-tr...
Exclusive: Trump DHS Plans Immigration Raids on Churches Over Holidays
The Trump Dept. of Homeland Security is briefing federal agencies on plans for immigration enforcement operations inside churches over holidays.
thisweekinworcester.com
November 18, 2025 at 3:16 PM
basavsen.bsky.social
Perversely, some people who don't care about equity otherwise are suddenly very concerned about the equity impact of taking away driving privileges from unsafe drivers. But they are silent about the equity impacts of forcing people to pay for a car + fuel + maintenance in the first place.
brenttoderian.bsky.social Brent Toderian @brenttoderian.bsky.social · 8d
One of the most subtly insane aspects of the unrelenting car dependency we’ve deliberately built across North America is the incredible reluctance we have to remove the driving privilege, even from those who clearly are a danger to themselves & others, because “people have to drive.” #CarDependency
sciam article “Roads safer when drunk drivers immediately lose licence to kill” CBC article “For seniors, losing drivers licence like having ‘arm cut off’”
November 18, 2025 at 3:09 PM
Reposted by Basav
jeffsharlet.bsky.social
Bovino, Stephen Miller, now knife-wielding pervert Teddy bears… what’s even the point of making horror movies now?
November 18, 2025 at 10:57 AM
basavsen.bsky.social
Since Larry Summers is back in the news, I want to reiterate that the moral logic of dumping Larry Summers in a toxic waste pile is impeccable.
November 18, 2025 at 12:47 PM
Reposted by Basav
dominicervolina.com
I personally know 4 restaurant managers (2 are kitchen, 2 are general) here in Ashevile, and all of them have confirmed they will not be serving ICE at their restaurants and will trespass them if they refuse to elave

We aren't a very big city, but we are quite protective of our neighbors
November 16, 2025 at 5:31 PM
basavsen.bsky.social
Low-level operatives carrying out the orders of the US regime to commit murders at sea and serious human rights violations at home need to understand that "I was just obeying orders" is not a valid defense.
sanho.bsky.social Sanho Tree @sanho.bsky.social · 8d
“Conflict experts tell The Independent that the “just following orders” defense may not stick under other administrations or federal judges who could find the strikes illegal, exposing Pentagon officials & others to criminal liability.”
Nuremberg, Madame Defarge, and Pepperidge Farms all remember.
Experts doubt legal memo shields troops from prosecution over Trump’s boat strikes
DOJ claims military personnel aren’t liable for what critics are calling extrajudicial murder
www.independent.co.uk
November 17, 2025 at 2:08 AM
Reposted by Basav
tullamore-jew.bsky.social
Antisemitism is a lot like Qanon child abuse conspiracies in that there’s this real and bad phenomenon and, parallel to that, what can only be described as a large scale mass psychosis about a mostly fictional version of the same phenomenon
November 16, 2025 at 8:48 PM
Reposted by Basav
hebagowayed.bsky.social
No more with these people. They’re just not news anymore. They haven’t been for years.
November 16, 2025 at 1:52 PM
basavsen.bsky.social
Pretending that the Trump DHS is an aberration that can be fixed by returning the agency to its original mission serves the broader purpose of restoring the broken status quo that got us here in the first place, instead of building the new just institutions we need.
hannahcrileyy.bsky.social Hannah Riley Fernandez @hannahcrileyy.bsky.social · 6d
if you’re accepting the premise that Homeland Security was created to “keep Americans safe” and the way Trump is using it is somehow an aberration from the original purpose you need to read some more history 😕
November 16, 2025 at 3:20 PM
basavsen.bsky.social
State-sponsored terrorism is spreading to every corner of the country.
www.charlotteobserver.com/article31293...
‘Why just me?’ Charlotte man says Border Patrol broke pickup window, stole keys
“Are you an illegal immigrant?” the man said an officer asked. He replied that he didn’t have to answer and asked why he was singled out.
www.charlotteobserver.com
November 16, 2025 at 3:13 PM
basavsen.bsky.social
And this is why COP should never, ever be held in authoritarian petrostates. The only reason to do so is to intentionally shrink the space for participation by global civil society.
ajeansu.bsky.social Jean Su @ajeansu.bsky.social · 6d
#COP30 in Brazil is the first climate change conference in four years that hasn’t been held in an authoritarian petrostate. Ppl have been able to march peacefully on the public streets to demand an equitable end to fossil fuels. It’s incredibly moving, led by Amazonian indigenous ppls.
November 16, 2025 at 3:06 PM
Reposted by Basav
riogranderift.bsky.social
Moderates:

(1) Seek to turn the U.S. into an AI-centered petrostate; by

(2) Exploiting the "affordability" zeitgeist; as

(3) A pretext to embrace the fossil fuel industry's "all of the above" energy rhetoric & "technology neutral permitting reform."
ryanlcooper.com ryan cooper @ryanlcooper.com · 8d
I'm kind of baffled how the "moderates" have apparently all decided to turn against climate policy at once, just as China reaches green electrostate liftoff mode. I thought these people were all about National Greatness and making Hard Choices
November 16, 2025 at 1:55 PM
basavsen.bsky.social
Yet another disastrously backwards step. The US is the world leader in self-inflicted injuries.
yonahfreemark.com Yonah Freemark @yonahfreemark.com · 7d
Trump admin Is attempting to massive cut federal transit funds, seeking to:
1–Eliminate transit account, which funds billions of $ in capital expenses for transit agencies
2–Prevent state DOTs from “flexing” funds for transit

These changes, if they occurred, would be devastating for US transit.
POLITICO Pro: Trump administration proposals seek to eliminate transit funding
DOT recently sent two proposals to the White House budget office seeking to pare back transit money.
subscriber.politicopro.com
November 15, 2025 at 1:57 PM
Reposted by Basav
brenttoderian.bsky.social
Never forget, car dependency is the opposite of freedom.

What’s more “free” than cars, you ask?

Choices.
Massive car interchange from the air
November 14, 2025 at 3:36 AM
basavsen.bsky.social
Commonsense regulation of size/height of SUVs and pickup trucks for safety reasons will be much harder to do in the US, because of the uniquely toxic public discourse here. Auto manufacturers will create astroturfed mass hysteria about "freedom" to protect their profits.
brenttoderian.bsky.social Brent Toderian @brenttoderian.bsky.social · 7d
“The rise in high-fronted SUVs poses a clear and growing threat to public safety, especially for children,” states the report. “With no benefit to society, it’s time for lawmakers at all levels to act.” Via @carltonreid.com in @forbes.com.

Cap SUV/truck hood heights. And ban unsafe designs.
EU Must Cap SUV Hood Heights Urges Report. Crash Test Body Says Not As Simple As That
Higher fronts on cars significantly increase the death rate when pedestrians and cyclists are struck, says new report. EuroNCAP says more complex than that.
www.forbes.com
November 15, 2025 at 1:51 PM
Reposted by Basav
olivia.science
Love to see community action against this AI nonsense! neighborhoodview.org/2025/11/13/d...
As one Massachusetts school administrator recently said; this moment with AI is remarkably like the moment when we were introduced to asbestos. Yes, it had some remarkably promising characteristics – fireproofing! – and had some real utility in science, research, and industrial applications. But a profit-driven industry bullied us into inserting it everywhere; into our homes and schools and public spaces, before we really understood the risks. This resulted in decades, if not centuries, of illness, injuries, deaths, and the astronomical financial burden of trying to remove the stuff. As you, the leaders and policymakers in our schools, craft an AI policy for our district, we the undersigned call on you to: 1. Ban AI tools into the classroom, protect our students and teachers from de-skilling and allow them the space and time to engage in assignments themselves. 2. Resist any direct financial relationship or contracts with AI providers, as well as the “training” they might offer. 3. Provide a digital literacy curriculum to help students navigate the current digital landscape, and promote critical engagement with technology. 4. Guarantee that anywhere generative AI has already entered our classrooms or curriculum, an opt-out will allow students and teachers to refuse the use of these products at no risk to their grades, progress or employment.
November 14, 2025 at 11:42 AM
Reposted by Basav
olivia.science
Finally! 🤩 Our position piece: Against the Uncritical Adoption of 'AI' Technologies in Academia:
doi.org/10.5281/zeno...

We unpick the tech industry’s marketing, hype, & harm; and we argue for safeguarding higher education, critical
thinking, expertise, academic freedom, & scientific integrity.
1/n
Abstract: Under the banner of progress, products have been uncritically adopted or even imposed on users — in past centuries with tobacco and combustion engines, and in the 21st with social media. For these collective blunders, we now regret our involvement or apathy as scientists, and society struggles to put the genie back in the bottle. Currently, we are similarly entangled with artificial intelligence (AI) technology. For example, software updates are rolled out seamlessly and non-consensually, Microsoft Office is bundled with chatbots, and we, our students, and our employers have had no say, as it is not considered a valid position to reject AI technologies in our teaching and research. This is why in June 2025, we co-authored an Open Letter calling on our employers to reverse and rethink their stance on uncritically adopting AI technologies. In this position piece, we expound on why universities must take their role seriously toa) counter the technology industry’s marketing, hype, and harm; and to b) safeguard higher education, critical thinking, expertise, academic freedom, and scientific integrity. We include pointers to relevant work to further inform our colleagues. Figure 1. A cartoon set theoretic view on various terms (see Table 1) used when discussing the superset AI (black outline, hatched background): LLMs are in orange; ANNs are in magenta; generative models are in blue; and finally, chatbots are in green. Where these intersect, the colours reflect that, e.g. generative adversarial network (GAN) and Boltzmann machine (BM) models are in the purple subset because they are both generative and ANNs. In the case of proprietary closed source models, e.g. OpenAI’s ChatGPT and Apple’s Siri, we cannot verify their implementation and so academics can only make educated guesses (cf. Dingemanse 2025). Undefined terms used above: BERT (Devlin et al. 2019); AlexNet (Krizhevsky et al. 2017); A.L.I.C.E. (Wallace 2009); ELIZA (Weizenbaum 1966); Jabberwacky (Twist 2003); linear discriminant analysis (LDA); quadratic discriminant analysis (QDA). Table 1. Below some of the typical terminological disarray is untangled. Importantly, none of these terms are orthogonal nor do they exclusively pick out the types of products we may wish to critique or proscribe. Protecting the Ecosystem of Human Knowledge: Five Principles
September 6, 2025 at 8:13 AM