Cole Donovan
@colesci.bsky.social
S&T Ecosystem Development at the Federation of American Scientists. Former White House OSTP, NOAA Office of Space Commerce, National Academies, State Department. Views are my own.
Traffic and metro delays=two hour commute. Government must be open again or something.
November 18, 2025 at 1:46 PM
Traffic and metro delays=two hour commute. Government must be open again or something.
I promise you that the DoJ is not going to approach FARA this way with the Latin and Asian American communities.
This whole NYT account about the weaponization of DOJ is beyond disturbing. Kinda feels like the US government fell in January.
Gift link: www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
Gift link: www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
November 17, 2025 at 3:20 PM
I promise you that the DoJ is not going to approach FARA this way with the Latin and Asian American communities.
Gross
It’s sort of clarifying to see him describe this dynamic so directly www.thecrimson.com/article/2025...
November 17, 2025 at 11:31 AM
Gross
So yes. I am ace.
And yes, I’m into dragons what about it
And yes, I’m into dragons what about it
November 17, 2025 at 12:30 AM
So yes. I am ace.
And yes, I’m into dragons what about it
And yes, I’m into dragons what about it
MTG giving a mea culpa on live tv is a surprise to be sure but a welcome one
People taking ownership and saving face is the most important part of getting out of this.
People taking ownership and saving face is the most important part of getting out of this.
November 17, 2025 at 12:24 AM
MTG giving a mea culpa on live tv is a surprise to be sure but a welcome one
People taking ownership and saving face is the most important part of getting out of this.
People taking ownership and saving face is the most important part of getting out of this.
Reposted by Cole Donovan
Get in loser … we’re reinventing the rule of law from first principles
November 15, 2025 at 10:35 PM
Get in loser … we’re reinventing the rule of law from first principles
Because this worked so well for them the first time.
Look, if you’re going to allege espionage, there needs to be a national security information nexus. The whole false pretense of the False Claims Act isn’t having the results that these folks want at trial. Definition of insanity.
Look, if you’re going to allege espionage, there needs to be a national security information nexus. The whole false pretense of the False Claims Act isn’t having the results that these folks want at trial. Definition of insanity.
DOJ Revives China Initiative Tactics: Investigating Academic Researchers by Targeting Universities Under the False Claims Act | JD Supra
The Department of Justice (DOJ) is taking a renewed and aggressive enforcement approach to educational institutions and researchers with affiliations...
www.jdsupra.com
November 15, 2025 at 4:53 PM
Because this worked so well for them the first time.
Look, if you’re going to allege espionage, there needs to be a national security information nexus. The whole false pretense of the False Claims Act isn’t having the results that these folks want at trial. Definition of insanity.
Look, if you’re going to allege espionage, there needs to be a national security information nexus. The whole false pretense of the False Claims Act isn’t having the results that these folks want at trial. Definition of insanity.
Again, the amazing thing about this is that it doesn’t deter the behavior they’re trying to deter. If you’re in the five year window, why not keep working with the folks you were working with and seek other funding sources?
It treats the federal money as the thing to be protected.
It treats the federal money as the thing to be protected.
Yikes. Banning people for activities such as co-authorship and advising a graduate student is completely unreasonable in a modern research environment. And a retroactive 5 year ban is wildly unfair.
November 15, 2025 at 1:06 PM
Again, the amazing thing about this is that it doesn’t deter the behavior they’re trying to deter. If you’re in the five year window, why not keep working with the folks you were working with and seek other funding sources?
It treats the federal money as the thing to be protected.
It treats the federal money as the thing to be protected.
We have always been at war with Venezuela, apparently
The memo purportedly justifying these murders also contains a lengthy section that lays out arguments defending the actions of those carrying out the strikes. In short, it *preemptively* defends them from potential prosecution later.
Experts say this is unusual. 2/
newrepublic.com/article/2032...
Experts say this is unusual. 2/
newrepublic.com/article/2032...
November 15, 2025 at 12:59 PM
We have always been at war with Venezuela, apparently
Folks from the Republiek der Zeven Verenigde Nederlanden be like “what”
Burns: The Old Testament says there’s nothing new under the sun. On July 4th, 1776, there was. Everybody up to that point had been under authoritarian rule. It was in the interests of their rulers that they be uneducated, that they be superstitious, that they be distracted by conspiracies…
November 14, 2025 at 9:54 PM
Folks from the Republiek der Zeven Verenigde Nederlanden be like “what”
“We bend international law all the time to serve our interests and desires” isn’t exactly a defense of the rules-based order or an answer to the question “who are we killing, here, and based on what evidence?”
When the law bends: What the narcotics boat debate misses
https://breakingdefense.com/2025/11/venezeula-strikes-legal-southcom-when-the-law-bends-what-the-narcotics-boat-debate-misses/
When the law bends: What the narcotics boat debate misses
Maj. Trent Kubasiak, an Army judge advocate, explains the historical pathway that led to the current justifications for attacks on boats in South America.
breakingdefense.com
November 14, 2025 at 9:30 PM
“We bend international law all the time to serve our interests and desires” isn’t exactly a defense of the rules-based order or an answer to the question “who are we killing, here, and based on what evidence?”
As the former OSTP Assistant Director for Research Security: This will backfire spectacularly.
People who have had interactions in the previous five years will be given no reason to stop.
People cut out from funding opportunities will be motivated to seek funding from other governments.
People who have had interactions in the previous five years will be given no reason to stop.
People cut out from funding opportunities will be motivated to seek funding from other governments.
“The prohibited activities would include joint research, co-authorship on papers, and advising a foreign graduate student or postdoctoral fellow. The language is retroactive, meaning any interactions during the previous 5 years could make a scientist ineligible for future federal funding.”
U.S. Congress considers sweeping ban on Chinese collaborations
Researchers speak out against proposal that would bar funding for U.S. scientists working with Chinese partners or training Chinese students
www.science.org
November 14, 2025 at 3:43 AM
As the former OSTP Assistant Director for Research Security: This will backfire spectacularly.
People who have had interactions in the previous five years will be given no reason to stop.
People cut out from funding opportunities will be motivated to seek funding from other governments.
People who have had interactions in the previous five years will be given no reason to stop.
People cut out from funding opportunities will be motivated to seek funding from other governments.
Never before have I felt more validated in my previous work trying to make sure this didn’t happen.
(Collider tech is extremely dangerous stuff when used for the wrong purposes—like “every component needs to be export controlled” level dangerous.)
You want responsible actors building these. (CERN)
(Collider tech is extremely dangerous stuff when used for the wrong purposes—like “every component needs to be export controlled” level dangerous.)
You want responsible actors building these. (CERN)
In which Epstein proposes a new US-China particle collider.
"the cinese are willing to build a new collider. they will put up the money and build it , but need american tech. if he were to call it the obama xi collider. his legazy would be great in scinece and the project takes 15 -30 years."
"the cinese are willing to build a new collider. they will put up the money and build it , but need american tech. if he were to call it the obama xi collider. his legazy would be great in scinece and the project takes 15 -30 years."
November 13, 2025 at 8:40 AM
Never before have I felt more validated in my previous work trying to make sure this didn’t happen.
(Collider tech is extremely dangerous stuff when used for the wrong purposes—like “every component needs to be export controlled” level dangerous.)
You want responsible actors building these. (CERN)
(Collider tech is extremely dangerous stuff when used for the wrong purposes—like “every component needs to be export controlled” level dangerous.)
You want responsible actors building these. (CERN)
Reposted by Cole Donovan
send to a social media manager with free photoshop through work
November 12, 2025 at 2:05 PM
send to a social media manager with free photoshop through work
Guys, I am doing some work on AI and scientific collections and even regular old Google search is really bad at image curation!
It's really bad if the first image when you google "blue whale" isn't actually a blue whale!
It's really bad if the first image when you google "blue whale" isn't actually a blue whale!
November 12, 2025 at 6:31 PM
Guys, I am doing some work on AI and scientific collections and even regular old Google search is really bad at image curation!
It's really bad if the first image when you google "blue whale" isn't actually a blue whale!
It's really bad if the first image when you google "blue whale" isn't actually a blue whale!
Metro driver this morning: We are going to return to New Carrollton after reaching Landover
Whoops just kidding we are going to Vienna
Oops we overshot Federal Triangle
Hoping we stop when we reach my station
Whoops just kidding we are going to Vienna
Oops we overshot Federal Triangle
Hoping we stop when we reach my station
November 12, 2025 at 1:19 PM
Metro driver this morning: We are going to return to New Carrollton after reaching Landover
Whoops just kidding we are going to Vienna
Oops we overshot Federal Triangle
Hoping we stop when we reach my station
Whoops just kidding we are going to Vienna
Oops we overshot Federal Triangle
Hoping we stop when we reach my station
Normal Veteran’s Day News, apparently:
- US torpedos quad leaders meeting (Politico)
- UK stops sharing intelligence information with the United States (CNN)
- UK and China pledge to cooperate more in science (via the British Government)
- US torpedos quad leaders meeting (Politico)
- UK stops sharing intelligence information with the United States (CNN)
- UK and China pledge to cooperate more in science (via the British Government)
November 11, 2025 at 9:33 PM
Normal Veteran’s Day News, apparently:
- US torpedos quad leaders meeting (Politico)
- UK stops sharing intelligence information with the United States (CNN)
- UK and China pledge to cooperate more in science (via the British Government)
- US torpedos quad leaders meeting (Politico)
- UK stops sharing intelligence information with the United States (CNN)
- UK and China pledge to cooperate more in science (via the British Government)
This Armistice Day, taking a moment to remember the lessons passed down from my great grandfather, a World War I veteran.
“War is really bad” and “Never do that again”
“War is really bad” and “Never do that again”
November 11, 2025 at 8:06 PM
This Armistice Day, taking a moment to remember the lessons passed down from my great grandfather, a World War I veteran.
“War is really bad” and “Never do that again”
“War is really bad” and “Never do that again”
The problem with The Diplomat is that it’s a show that doesn’t trust its audience enough to actually make the show about diplomats and not the White House.
November 11, 2025 at 12:56 AM
The problem with The Diplomat is that it’s a show that doesn’t trust its audience enough to actually make the show about diplomats and not the White House.
I’m watching The Diplomat Season 3 and I gotta say, Keri Russell is the least aware career State Department officer in the history of the organization.
November 10, 2025 at 11:53 PM
I’m watching The Diplomat Season 3 and I gotta say, Keri Russell is the least aware career State Department officer in the history of the organization.
This exactly. The people who are going to save us is us.
Movements run on momentum. Little wins turn into an ethos and shared purpose, then bigger wins and suddenly empires fall or lives improve. If this week showed how quickly a few wins can puncture Trump's "invincibility," this is a reminder of how fast "compromise" can plunge us back into despair.
November 10, 2025 at 4:01 AM
This exactly. The people who are going to save us is us.
Reposted by Cole Donovan
Movements run on momentum. Little wins turn into an ethos and shared purpose, then bigger wins and suddenly empires fall or lives improve. If this week showed how quickly a few wins can puncture Trump's "invincibility," this is a reminder of how fast "compromise" can plunge us back into despair.
November 10, 2025 at 3:54 AM
Movements run on momentum. Little wins turn into an ethos and shared purpose, then bigger wins and suddenly empires fall or lives improve. If this week showed how quickly a few wins can puncture Trump's "invincibility," this is a reminder of how fast "compromise" can plunge us back into despair.
I hate to go conspiracy brain but I really think this is a “follow the money” moment.
ah yes, the classic "I'll gladly pay you Tuesday for a hamburger today" irresistible deal
November 10, 2025 at 2:47 AM
I hate to go conspiracy brain but I really think this is a “follow the money” moment.
Apparently some people get to do the CCP-motivated transnational repression thing and get away with it. 🧐
November 9, 2025 at 3:21 AM
Apparently some people get to do the CCP-motivated transnational repression thing and get away with it. 🧐