epimom.bsky.social
@epimom.bsky.social
Infectious disease epidemiologist. Queer. She/her. Mom. Midwesterner. Views my own.
Reposted by epimom.bsky.social
There continues to be a lot of conversation on how astronomers and researchers must “deal” with the existing and incoming pollution caused by satellite constellations.
But I want to see this reframed into asking:
“Why do these companies need this many satellites in orbit?”
But I want to see this reframed into asking:
“Why do these companies need this many satellites in orbit?”
By 2040, ~40% of the images from Hubble Space Telescope, and more than 96% from new and future space telescopes like SPHEREx, ARRAKIHS, and Xuntian will be contaminated by internet satellite constellations.
Read our new NASA article in Nature:
nature.com/articles/s4158…
Read our new NASA article in Nature:
nature.com/articles/s4158…
December 3, 2025 at 10:45 PM
There continues to be a lot of conversation on how astronomers and researchers must “deal” with the existing and incoming pollution caused by satellite constellations.
But I want to see this reframed into asking:
“Why do these companies need this many satellites in orbit?”
But I want to see this reframed into asking:
“Why do these companies need this many satellites in orbit?”
Reposted by epimom.bsky.social
This is gambling, and we've essentially decided that it's okay to let it go on entirely unregulated for ??? Reasons.
The co-founder of Kalshi says: " The long-term vision is to financialize everything and create a tradable asset out of any difference in opinion."
December 3, 2025 at 10:00 PM
This is gambling, and we've essentially decided that it's okay to let it go on entirely unregulated for ??? Reasons.
Reposted by epimom.bsky.social
So much of this shit is gambling! Robinhood is fucking gambling! Crypto is gambling! Videogame business models are gambling! It's all fucking gambling! Laws need to really catch up to the fact that the brain can be hacked by this shit.
This is gambling, and we've essentially decided that it's okay to let it go on entirely unregulated for ??? Reasons.
The co-founder of Kalshi says: " The long-term vision is to financialize everything and create a tradable asset out of any difference in opinion."
December 3, 2025 at 10:43 PM
So much of this shit is gambling! Robinhood is fucking gambling! Crypto is gambling! Videogame business models are gambling! It's all fucking gambling! Laws need to really catch up to the fact that the brain can be hacked by this shit.
A fun look back on the year in music hits different when it’s paired with propaganda for Trump’s deportation machine. I won't use Spotify while the platform runs recruitment ads for ICE. app.sosha.ai/s/j9Jcb7YO
Spotify: Wrapped in complicity
app.sosha.ai
December 3, 2025 at 6:50 PM
A fun look back on the year in music hits different when it’s paired with propaganda for Trump’s deportation machine. I won't use Spotify while the platform runs recruitment ads for ICE. app.sosha.ai/s/j9Jcb7YO
Reposted by epimom.bsky.social
Kavanaugh stop
Agents in Key Largo, Florida ripped this woman wearing medical scrubs out of her car as she screamed she is a US citizen. Agents cuffed her and put her in one of their cars.
She was eventually let go, per David Goodhue of the Miami Herald, who also took this footage:
She was eventually let go, per David Goodhue of the Miami Herald, who also took this footage:
December 3, 2025 at 5:48 PM
Kavanaugh stop
Reposted by epimom.bsky.social
I have a similar approach to accommodations. Because it's not only students with disabilities who need them. Sometimes it's a student who has suffered a sudden death in the family, an illness, an assault, or other event that derails their academics.
Hence, accommodations are actually for everyone.
Hence, accommodations are actually for everyone.
In light of today’s conversation on academic accommodations, I’m going to revive a thread lost to time when I deleted my Twitter profile.
It’s about a bunch of academic accommodations that instructors can offer in lieu of an extension on an assignment. 🧵
It’s about a bunch of academic accommodations that instructors can offer in lieu of an extension on an assignment. 🧵
December 3, 2025 at 4:46 PM
I have a similar approach to accommodations. Because it's not only students with disabilities who need them. Sometimes it's a student who has suffered a sudden death in the family, an illness, an assault, or other event that derails their academics.
Hence, accommodations are actually for everyone.
Hence, accommodations are actually for everyone.
Reposted by epimom.bsky.social
Another superb piece by Lisa Jarvis, on the leaked COVID-19 vaccine memo
Prasad "provided no data or research to support the claim — an irresponsible and dangerous approach to regulatory oversight. It is also wildly out of step with the agency’s typically careful process of reviewing safety data."
Prasad "provided no data or research to support the claim — an irresponsible and dangerous approach to regulatory oversight. It is also wildly out of step with the agency’s typically careful process of reviewing safety data."
Prasad's leaked memo makes reckless and dangerous claims without evidence and offers a concerning glimpse into the future of vaccine regulation in the US — one that could have profound implications for both access to and the development of vaccines.
My latest for @opinion.bloomberg.com (🎁):
My latest for @opinion.bloomberg.com (🎁):
The FDA’s Leaked Covid Memo Is Reckless and Dangerous
An internal memo written by the Food and Drug Administration’s top vaccine regulator offers a concerning glimpse into the future of vaccine regulation in the US — and could have profound implications ...
www.bloomberg.com
December 3, 2025 at 4:16 PM
Another superb piece by Lisa Jarvis, on the leaked COVID-19 vaccine memo
Prasad "provided no data or research to support the claim — an irresponsible and dangerous approach to regulatory oversight. It is also wildly out of step with the agency’s typically careful process of reviewing safety data."
Prasad "provided no data or research to support the claim — an irresponsible and dangerous approach to regulatory oversight. It is also wildly out of step with the agency’s typically careful process of reviewing safety data."
Reposted by epimom.bsky.social
It is essential to remember that Sensible centrists got everything they wanted in the UK.
The left smashed, their Competent Sensible politicians won by a landslide last year and have a huge majority and the policies they dreamed of implemented.
And the result is endless horror.
The left smashed, their Competent Sensible politicians won by a landslide last year and have a huge majority and the policies they dreamed of implemented.
And the result is endless horror.
December 3, 2025 at 3:48 PM
It is essential to remember that Sensible centrists got everything they wanted in the UK.
The left smashed, their Competent Sensible politicians won by a landslide last year and have a huge majority and the policies they dreamed of implemented.
And the result is endless horror.
The left smashed, their Competent Sensible politicians won by a landslide last year and have a huge majority and the policies they dreamed of implemented.
And the result is endless horror.
Reposted by epimom.bsky.social
“I walk around Portland, and I go, ‘Fuck you, assholes. Portland is fine.’” - John Darnielle, @themountaingoats.bsky.social. We're proud to claim you as a Portlander, sir.
The Mountain Goats Ascend to Revolution Hall
Mountain Goats frontman John Darnielle discusses musicals, his new album, and why he keeps coming home to Portland.
www.wweek.com
December 3, 2025 at 4:26 PM
“I walk around Portland, and I go, ‘Fuck you, assholes. Portland is fine.’” - John Darnielle, @themountaingoats.bsky.social. We're proud to claim you as a Portlander, sir.
Reposted by epimom.bsky.social
This is one of those things that I think is quietly important – when these people are talking shit about cities, Portland or Minneapolis or New York or Charlotte or wherever, you have to loudly say, “no, fuck you, you’re lying, that town and its people whip ass and you’re the asshole”
“I walk around Portland, and I go, ‘Fuck you, assholes. Portland is fine.’” - John Darnielle, @themountaingoats.bsky.social. We're proud to claim you as a Portlander, sir.
The Mountain Goats Ascend to Revolution Hall
Mountain Goats frontman John Darnielle discusses musicals, his new album, and why he keeps coming home to Portland.
www.wweek.com
December 3, 2025 at 4:46 PM
This is one of those things that I think is quietly important – when these people are talking shit about cities, Portland or Minneapolis or New York or Charlotte or wherever, you have to loudly say, “no, fuck you, you’re lying, that town and its people whip ass and you’re the asshole”
Reposted by epimom.bsky.social
The health of Americans is at risk as those in power abandon evidence and process, and elevate anecdote and rhetoric in their place. Excellent article (if sad to read) www.statnews.com/2025/12/03/a...
CDC’s vaccine advisory panel faces a crisis of its own making
“ACIP has drifted toward inflating speculative risks while downplaying well-established vaccine benefits,” write former CDC officials Demetre Daskalakis, Daniel Jernigan, and Debra Houry.
www.statnews.com
December 3, 2025 at 1:46 PM
The health of Americans is at risk as those in power abandon evidence and process, and elevate anecdote and rhetoric in their place. Excellent article (if sad to read) www.statnews.com/2025/12/03/a...
Reposted by epimom.bsky.social
it's a bubble
‘We now have confirmation, with the OECD saying in a new report that, without AI capex, U.S. economic growth declined in the first half of 2025. People keep wondering why the employment market is weak, but the economy somehow chugs along. This is why.’ paulkedrosky.com/ex-ai-capex-...
December 3, 2025 at 1:49 PM
it's a bubble
Reposted by epimom.bsky.social
What does it say about this country that that the kind of open, rank bigotry Trump administration officials regularly express towards black immigrants apparently has no social cost because of the number of Americans who quietly agree or don't care.
December 3, 2025 at 11:35 AM
What does it say about this country that that the kind of open, rank bigotry Trump administration officials regularly express towards black immigrants apparently has no social cost because of the number of Americans who quietly agree or don't care.
Reposted by epimom.bsky.social
Wow.
"It gives me no pleasure to say what I’m about to say because I worked with Pete Hegseth for seven or eight years at Fox News. This is an act of a war crime .... There’s absolutely no legal basis for it.”
- Newsmax's Judge Napolitano
"It gives me no pleasure to say what I’m about to say because I worked with Pete Hegseth for seven or eight years at Fox News. This is an act of a war crime .... There’s absolutely no legal basis for it.”
- Newsmax's Judge Napolitano
Woah. Newsmax’s legal analyst just said Pete Hegseth and everyone involved in the illegal boat strike should be “prosecuted for a war crime.”
They’ve even lost Newsmax on this one.
They’ve even lost Newsmax on this one.
December 3, 2025 at 2:06 AM
Wow.
"It gives me no pleasure to say what I’m about to say because I worked with Pete Hegseth for seven or eight years at Fox News. This is an act of a war crime .... There’s absolutely no legal basis for it.”
- Newsmax's Judge Napolitano
"It gives me no pleasure to say what I’m about to say because I worked with Pete Hegseth for seven or eight years at Fox News. This is an act of a war crime .... There’s absolutely no legal basis for it.”
- Newsmax's Judge Napolitano
Reposted by epimom.bsky.social
political scientists are calling it "thermostatic as hell"
Ds don't seem to be getting what they need out of Nashville. But if the margin lands at R+3, that's a D+19 shift from 2024 -- we're not talking a wave, we're talking tsunami
again @gelliottmorris.com says behn still has a chance but damn 3 points in this district is 🦇💩
December 3, 2025 at 2:00 AM
political scientists are calling it "thermostatic as hell"
Reposted by epimom.bsky.social
I worked at a university where the five highest paid employees were the men’s basketball coach, the former men’s basketball coach who was fired, the former men’s basketball coach who was fired before that one, the former president who had been fired, and the current president. In that order.
This year, universities are giving $228 million to football coaches who failed at coaching football so that they won't coach football anymore.
December 2, 2025 at 7:45 PM
I worked at a university where the five highest paid employees were the men’s basketball coach, the former men’s basketball coach who was fired, the former men’s basketball coach who was fired before that one, the former president who had been fired, and the current president. In that order.
Reposted by epimom.bsky.social
Trump dozes while Marco Rubio speaks to him directly next to him. Just insane optics.
December 2, 2025 at 6:46 PM
Trump dozes while Marco Rubio speaks to him directly next to him. Just insane optics.
Reposted by epimom.bsky.social
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth faces growing scrutiny over an attack on an alleged drug boat. His response included a parody of the kids' book character Franklin, showing the turtle firing at boats. n.pr/4iI8PLR
'Franklin' publisher slams Hegseth for his post of the turtle firing on drug boats
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth faces growing scrutiny over an attack on an alleged drug boat. His response included a parody of the kids' book character Franklin, showing the turtle firing at boats.
n.pr
December 2, 2025 at 5:17 PM
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth faces growing scrutiny over an attack on an alleged drug boat. His response included a parody of the kids' book character Franklin, showing the turtle firing at boats. n.pr/4iI8PLR
Reposted by epimom.bsky.social
A new study finds that when people feel distant from politics, conspiracy beliefs rise. And when researchers reduced that distance, conspiracy thinking fell.
Making politics more accessible and relatable may help reduce conspiratorial beliefs.
matthewfacciani.substack.com/p/please-red...
Making politics more accessible and relatable may help reduce conspiratorial beliefs.
matthewfacciani.substack.com/p/please-red...
Please Reduce the Gap: How Feeling Distant From Politics Fuels Conspiracy Thinking
What a new study reveals about psychological distance, conspiratorial thinking, and why connection, not just correction, matters.
matthewfacciani.substack.com
December 1, 2025 at 7:52 PM
A new study finds that when people feel distant from politics, conspiracy beliefs rise. And when researchers reduced that distance, conspiracy thinking fell.
Making politics more accessible and relatable may help reduce conspiratorial beliefs.
matthewfacciani.substack.com/p/please-red...
Making politics more accessible and relatable may help reduce conspiratorial beliefs.
matthewfacciani.substack.com/p/please-red...
Reposted by epimom.bsky.social
If you run across a gen A.I. slop 🤖💩 diagram in an academic journal, I’d love to know about it! Please fill out this form:
docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...
Slop in journals is illuminating about journals’ quality control. And journals would like you to forget their mistakes.
#AcademicChatter
docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...
Slop in journals is illuminating about journals’ quality control. And journals would like you to forget their mistakes.
#AcademicChatter
Slop graphics in academic journals
Use this form to share graphics (e.g., figures, covers, graphical abstracts) made using generative A.I. that have appeared in academic journals.
The plan is to compile these slop graphics in an ope...
docs.google.com
December 1, 2025 at 6:36 PM
If you run across a gen A.I. slop 🤖💩 diagram in an academic journal, I’d love to know about it! Please fill out this form:
docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...
Slop in journals is illuminating about journals’ quality control. And journals would like you to forget their mistakes.
#AcademicChatter
docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...
Slop in journals is illuminating about journals’ quality control. And journals would like you to forget their mistakes.
#AcademicChatter
Reposted by epimom.bsky.social
We must keep calling out those that cave to the Trump Admin, and the latest is Northwestern.
As part of their "deal," NU will pay $75 million, stop vital research, renege on agreements with its students over the war in Gaza, and more.
Throwing your students under the bus to please Trump. Shameful.
As part of their "deal," NU will pay $75 million, stop vital research, renege on agreements with its students over the war in Gaza, and more.
Throwing your students under the bus to please Trump. Shameful.
Northwestern Agrees to a Deal With Trump Administration
www.nytimes.com
December 1, 2025 at 1:26 PM
We must keep calling out those that cave to the Trump Admin, and the latest is Northwestern.
As part of their "deal," NU will pay $75 million, stop vital research, renege on agreements with its students over the war in Gaza, and more.
Throwing your students under the bus to please Trump. Shameful.
As part of their "deal," NU will pay $75 million, stop vital research, renege on agreements with its students over the war in Gaza, and more.
Throwing your students under the bus to please Trump. Shameful.
Reposted by epimom.bsky.social
It is incredibly strange that these schools seem to factor in zero reputational, enrollment, or recruitment damage to their “settling with Trump” equation, when clearly there’s a major hit to all three.
We must keep calling out those that cave to the Trump Admin, and the latest is Northwestern.
As part of their "deal," NU will pay $75 million, stop vital research, renege on agreements with its students over the war in Gaza, and more.
Throwing your students under the bus to please Trump. Shameful.
As part of their "deal," NU will pay $75 million, stop vital research, renege on agreements with its students over the war in Gaza, and more.
Throwing your students under the bus to please Trump. Shameful.
Northwestern Agrees to a Deal With Trump Administration
www.nytimes.com
December 1, 2025 at 1:34 PM
It is incredibly strange that these schools seem to factor in zero reputational, enrollment, or recruitment damage to their “settling with Trump” equation, when clearly there’s a major hit to all three.
Reposted by epimom.bsky.social
9/ Grateful to @pulitzercenter.org, the Fund for Investigative Journalism & @theintercept.com for their support of Afeef’s and my work.
If you would like for me to be able to keep doing this kind of reporting, please become a member of The Intercept join.theintercept.com/donate/now?s...
If you would like for me to be able to keep doing this kind of reporting, please become a member of The Intercept join.theintercept.com/donate/now?s...
Become a Member of The Intercept
Protecting freedom of the press has never been more important. Support The Intercept’s independent journalism by becoming a member today.
join.theintercept.com
December 1, 2025 at 3:41 PM
9/ Grateful to @pulitzercenter.org, the Fund for Investigative Journalism & @theintercept.com for their support of Afeef’s and my work.
If you would like for me to be able to keep doing this kind of reporting, please become a member of The Intercept join.theintercept.com/donate/now?s...
If you would like for me to be able to keep doing this kind of reporting, please become a member of The Intercept join.theintercept.com/donate/now?s...
Reposted by epimom.bsky.social
1/ For six months, I've been traveling the world on Pulitzer Ctr & Fund For Investigative Journalism grants investigating Trump's effect on HIV & LGBTQ health. On World AIDS Day, @theintercept.com is publishing an overview essay of Afeef Nessouli & my findings. theintercept.com/2025/12/01/w...
Trump Gutted AIDS Health Care at the Worst Possible Time
By the first World AIDS Day of his second term, Trump gutted LGBTQ+ employment globally and put humanity at greater risk of AIDS.
theintercept.com
December 1, 2025 at 3:03 PM
1/ For six months, I've been traveling the world on Pulitzer Ctr & Fund For Investigative Journalism grants investigating Trump's effect on HIV & LGBTQ health. On World AIDS Day, @theintercept.com is publishing an overview essay of Afeef Nessouli & my findings. theintercept.com/2025/12/01/w...
Reposted by epimom.bsky.social
If you are a solider that gets an order you expect might be illegal this creates even more incentive for them to disobey the order because if it comes out the order WAS illegal it's clear the regime will throw you on the bus rather than back you up.
December 1, 2025 at 4:25 PM
If you are a solider that gets an order you expect might be illegal this creates even more incentive for them to disobey the order because if it comes out the order WAS illegal it's clear the regime will throw you on the bus rather than back you up.