Isabel
@isabelott.bsky.social
Evolutionary & population biology of vector-borne viral disease systems. 🦟 genetics PhD student in NC.
Arbovirologist, orthobunyavirus wonk, feral reference librarian, & public health advocate. 80s mosquito. Coaster-sized earrings. (she/her) 🏳️🌈
Arbovirologist, orthobunyavirus wonk, feral reference librarian, & public health advocate. 80s mosquito. Coaster-sized earrings. (she/her) 🏳️🌈
Pinned
Isabel
@isabelott.bsky.social
· Jun 11
The Athens (GA) Immigrants Rights Coalition, which I volunteered with for several years, is currently fundraising for their Support for Immigrant Families in Crisis fund. 98.5% of donations go straight to families in need. Please boost & contribute if you can!
www.athensimmigrantrights.org/donate
www.athensimmigrantrights.org/donate
Reposted by Isabel
My takeaway from every new Epstein revelation is that some powerful people victimized many powerless young women, many more knew, some actively enabled it--and we're still being told that MeToo and accountability for sexual violence have gone too far
November 12, 2025 at 5:05 PM
My takeaway from every new Epstein revelation is that some powerful people victimized many powerless young women, many more knew, some actively enabled it--and we're still being told that MeToo and accountability for sexual violence have gone too far
Reposted by Isabel
the damage to the US health system as a whole has barely begun to kick in. if this flu season is on a larger end (like experts suspect it could be), then those cracks are going to start becoming much more visible
The MAHA & MAGA crew now running the federal public health & health research systems—RFK Jr, his Great Barrington Declaration implementers, & their anti-vaxx & conspiracy theory & influencer & woo-promoting compatriots—have been a real wrecking crew, & I fear they’re only just getting started 😢
These people want to destroy healthcare and sell us supplements and woo just like they want to destroy education and all public services. They want to destroy everything, and they have no morals, no red lines, no boundaries. Just filthiness and vileness through and through.
November 12, 2025 at 5:29 PM
the damage to the US health system as a whole has barely begun to kick in. if this flu season is on a larger end (like experts suspect it could be), then those cracks are going to start becoming much more visible
Reposted by Isabel
the aim is to create their own "scientific" journals, conferences, "peer review", and "evidence" bases for their deadly, dumb, and thoroughly corrupt policies
JD Vance: "Science as practiced in its best form is that if you disagree with it, then you ought to criticize it and you ought to argue against it."
November 12, 2025 at 5:38 PM
the aim is to create their own "scientific" journals, conferences, "peer review", and "evidence" bases for their deadly, dumb, and thoroughly corrupt policies
Reposted by Isabel
Right, these are the two options: Either they tolerated Epstein's eugenics to get to the sex crimes or they tolerated his sex crimes to get to the eugenics
It seems like all of the rich and powerful people around him patronizingly tolerated the race science stuff (“he has such an inquisitive and childlike mind”) in order to get access to his harem of underage sex slaves
The Epstein stuff is always so amazing to me because it's like "yes he was a sex criminal but if you can get past that, he was also an avowed eugenicist"
November 12, 2025 at 5:41 PM
Right, these are the two options: Either they tolerated Epstein's eugenics to get to the sex crimes or they tolerated his sex crimes to get to the eugenics
Reposted by Isabel
This is exactly why:
“Allowing private contractors to perform enforcement activities ... essentially bounty hunting, outsources one of the govt’s most coercive powers to actors who operate with little oversight and limited public accountability.” –
@congressmanraja.bsky.social to Kristi Noem
“Allowing private contractors to perform enforcement activities ... essentially bounty hunting, outsources one of the govt’s most coercive powers to actors who operate with little oversight and limited public accountability.” –
@congressmanraja.bsky.social to Kristi Noem
SCOOP: ICE is allocating as much as $180 million to pay bounty hunters and private investigators who verify the address and location of undocumented people ICE wishes to detain, including with physical surveillance, according to procurement records reviewed by 404 Media.
ICE Plans to Spend $180 Million on Bounty Hunters to Stalk Immigrants
Newly released documents provide more details about ICE's plan to use bounty hunters and private investigators to find the location of undocumented immigrants.
www.404media.co
November 12, 2025 at 5:41 PM
This is exactly why:
“Allowing private contractors to perform enforcement activities ... essentially bounty hunting, outsources one of the govt’s most coercive powers to actors who operate with little oversight and limited public accountability.” –
@congressmanraja.bsky.social to Kristi Noem
“Allowing private contractors to perform enforcement activities ... essentially bounty hunting, outsources one of the govt’s most coercive powers to actors who operate with little oversight and limited public accountability.” –
@congressmanraja.bsky.social to Kristi Noem
Reposted by Isabel
good time to respectfully tap the "please support worker-led, billionaire-free, independent news" sign
For any unfamiliar with the quality of journalism at Teen Vogue, it's well known for hard-hitting stories on "politically sensitive" topics including climate.
Then there's CBS: the only major network to increase climate coverage in the last few years. They just axed nearly their whole climate team.
Then there's CBS: the only major network to increase climate coverage in the last few years. They just axed nearly their whole climate team.
I was laid off from Teen Vogue today along with multiple other staffers, and today is my last day.
certainly more to come from me when the dust has settled more, but to my knowledge, after today, there will be no politics staffers at Teen Vogue.
certainly more to come from me when the dust has settled more, but to my knowledge, after today, there will be no politics staffers at Teen Vogue.
November 3, 2025 at 9:16 PM
good time to respectfully tap the "please support worker-led, billionaire-free, independent news" sign
Reposted by Isabel
not great!
The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law passed 4 years ago. In new research @urbaninstitute.bsky.social we study its effects.
US transport spending increased by 30%, but:
—Funding for non-highway projects flatlined
—Construction cost increases resulted in no actual increase in infrastructure
US transport spending increased by 30%, but:
—Funding for non-highway projects flatlined
—Construction cost increases resulted in no actual increase in infrastructure
Federal Infrastructure Spending on Transportation, Four Years after the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act
The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law is up for reauthorization in 2026. New analysis shows that the act increased spending on transportation infrastructure, but…
www.urban.org
November 12, 2025 at 5:42 PM
not great!
Reposted by Isabel
please don't put "speared to death on a scuba dive by russell brand" on my gravestone
November 12, 2025 at 5:43 PM
please don't put "speared to death on a scuba dive by russell brand" on my gravestone
Reposted by Isabel
Beatings. Sexual assault. Psychological abuse.
These are some of the horrors endured by the more than 250 men the United States sent to El Salvador on flimsy evidence of gang membership by the United States.
These are some of the horrors endured by the more than 250 men the United States sent to El Salvador on flimsy evidence of gang membership by the United States.
Trump sent men to torture in El Salvador, report confirms
Human Rights Watch found that Venezuelans shipped to El Salvador by the United States were beaten almost every day.
www.motherjones.com
November 12, 2025 at 5:11 PM
Beatings. Sexual assault. Psychological abuse.
These are some of the horrors endured by the more than 250 men the United States sent to El Salvador on flimsy evidence of gang membership by the United States.
These are some of the horrors endured by the more than 250 men the United States sent to El Salvador on flimsy evidence of gang membership by the United States.
Reposted by Isabel
If you’ve never heard of the “arctic origins of East Asian psychology” theory it’s because it was made up whole cloth by “David Sun”, some failed grad school applicant who somehow got one paper about it published and otherwise just posts lewd AI anime art about his theory on Twitter
The influence of race science is spreading in the evolutionary behavioural sciences. This new paper means members of a race science network have now been published in Evolutionary Psychological Science, Evolutionary Behavioral Science, Evolutionary Psychology & Adaptive Human Behavior & Physiology
November 12, 2025 at 5:40 PM
If you’ve never heard of the “arctic origins of East Asian psychology” theory it’s because it was made up whole cloth by “David Sun”, some failed grad school applicant who somehow got one paper about it published and otherwise just posts lewd AI anime art about his theory on Twitter
Reposted by Isabel
Earnest post: there is increasingly direct evidence that Trump participated in child sex trafficking or at least knew about it.
He should resign, be impeached and removed from office, and prosecuted.
Even if you don’t think that WILL happen it’s important to say publicly that it SHOULD happen.
He should resign, be impeached and removed from office, and prosecuted.
Even if you don’t think that WILL happen it’s important to say publicly that it SHOULD happen.
November 12, 2025 at 3:04 PM
Earnest post: there is increasingly direct evidence that Trump participated in child sex trafficking or at least knew about it.
He should resign, be impeached and removed from office, and prosecuted.
Even if you don’t think that WILL happen it’s important to say publicly that it SHOULD happen.
He should resign, be impeached and removed from office, and prosecuted.
Even if you don’t think that WILL happen it’s important to say publicly that it SHOULD happen.
Reposted by Isabel
I realize that these timelines are absurd and wanting to take on one of these important positions under the present circumstances is problematic, but NIH needs qualified applicants to apply.
Please consider applying, even if you are not sure you would accept the position if offered.
3/3
Please consider applying, even if you are not sure you would accept the position if offered.
3/3
a man wearing a red shirt with the letter w on it says " who are we if we don 't even try "
ALT: a man wearing a red shirt with the letter w on it says " who are we if we don 't even try "
media.tenor.com
November 12, 2025 at 4:18 PM
I realize that these timelines are absurd and wanting to take on one of these important positions under the present circumstances is problematic, but NIH needs qualified applicants to apply.
Please consider applying, even if you are not sure you would accept the position if offered.
3/3
Please consider applying, even if you are not sure you would accept the position if offered.
3/3
Reposted by Isabel
More new NIH institute and center director positions posted
with a closing date of 11/26/25.
hr.nih.gov/careers/open...
These include the Center for Scientific Review (CSR), National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR), National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), ...
1/3
with a closing date of 11/26/25.
hr.nih.gov/careers/open...
These include the Center for Scientific Review (CSR), National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR), National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), ...
1/3
hr.nih.gov
November 12, 2025 at 4:18 PM
More new NIH institute and center director positions posted
with a closing date of 11/26/25.
hr.nih.gov/careers/open...
These include the Center for Scientific Review (CSR), National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR), National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), ...
1/3
with a closing date of 11/26/25.
hr.nih.gov/careers/open...
These include the Center for Scientific Review (CSR), National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR), National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), ...
1/3
Reposted by Isabel
Q: Who is this loan for?
A: Everyone. But especially immortal wizards and vampires; people who think “100” sounds like a nice round number; and us, your lender, who will be collecting interest on this loan until you turn to dust. www.mcsweeneys.net/articles/faq...
A: Everyone. But especially immortal wizards and vampires; people who think “100” sounds like a nice round number; and us, your lender, who will be collecting interest on this loan until you turn to dust. www.mcsweeneys.net/articles/faq...
FAQ About Our New 100-Year Mortgage Loan
“Trump introduced a new idea to tackle home affordability: a 50-year mortgage loan. Federal Housing Finance Agency Director Bill Pulte called the p...
www.mcsweeneys.net
November 12, 2025 at 4:21 PM
Q: Who is this loan for?
A: Everyone. But especially immortal wizards and vampires; people who think “100” sounds like a nice round number; and us, your lender, who will be collecting interest on this loan until you turn to dust. www.mcsweeneys.net/articles/faq...
A: Everyone. But especially immortal wizards and vampires; people who think “100” sounds like a nice round number; and us, your lender, who will be collecting interest on this loan until you turn to dust. www.mcsweeneys.net/articles/faq...
Reposted by Isabel
yeah that’s fine but imagine instead of he was a charming little badger in a tuxedo. not an animated badger; live badger, on set, trained to hold a martini glass
November 12, 2025 at 4:04 PM
yeah that’s fine but imagine instead of he was a charming little badger in a tuxedo. not an animated badger; live badger, on set, trained to hold a martini glass
Reposted by Isabel
crusader tattoo guys vs nordic pagan beardos is a type of right wing internecine conflict I hadn't expected, but which seems so obvious in retrospect
Hegseth: "We don't need to be a military of beardos anymore. Do you know how many troops claim to be Nordic Pagan? No, suddenly it's become this real fake religious affiliation inside the Pentagon where troops came to be Nordic Pagan so they can grow a beard and nobody challenges them on it."
November 12, 2025 at 4:00 PM
crusader tattoo guys vs nordic pagan beardos is a type of right wing internecine conflict I hadn't expected, but which seems so obvious in retrospect
Reposted by Isabel
Love this Insight by @steeltownworms.bsky.social on a series of @elife.bsky.social papers on what it takes to reproduce a phenomenon of transgenerationally transmitted learned pathogen avoidance in C. elegans. Thank you, Lesley!
elifesciences.org/articles/109...
elifesciences.org/articles/109...
November 11, 2025 at 7:41 PM
Love this Insight by @steeltownworms.bsky.social on a series of @elife.bsky.social papers on what it takes to reproduce a phenomenon of transgenerationally transmitted learned pathogen avoidance in C. elegans. Thank you, Lesley!
elifesciences.org/articles/109...
elifesciences.org/articles/109...
Reposted by Isabel
Reposted by Isabel
RESEARCH PAPER: A kinetic ruler controls mRNA poly(A) tail length
By Gabs et al. and Matti Turtola
➡️ https://genesdev.cshlp.org/content/39/21-22/1377.full
#RNAprocessing #mRNA #polyadenylation #ribonucleoprotein #CPAC
By Gabs et al. and Matti Turtola
➡️ https://genesdev.cshlp.org/content/39/21-22/1377.full
#RNAprocessing #mRNA #polyadenylation #ribonucleoprotein #CPAC
November 12, 2025 at 4:01 PM
RESEARCH PAPER: A kinetic ruler controls mRNA poly(A) tail length
By Gabs et al. and Matti Turtola
➡️ https://genesdev.cshlp.org/content/39/21-22/1377.full
#RNAprocessing #mRNA #polyadenylation #ribonucleoprotein #CPAC
By Gabs et al. and Matti Turtola
➡️ https://genesdev.cshlp.org/content/39/21-22/1377.full
#RNAprocessing #mRNA #polyadenylation #ribonucleoprotein #CPAC
Reposted by Isabel
I want to uplift the women who were girls who were raped by Epstein & Maxwell & Trump & ex-Prince Andrew & abandoned by everyone who's been scrambling lately to say that they didn't know of course they didn't know but they did know & some of them knew because they'd done it too.
November 12, 2025 at 4:00 PM
I want to uplift the women who were girls who were raped by Epstein & Maxwell & Trump & ex-Prince Andrew & abandoned by everyone who's been scrambling lately to say that they didn't know of course they didn't know but they did know & some of them knew because they'd done it too.
Reposted by Isabel
I'm particularly proud of the section on psychological life-history research tradition, where we trace its history not to evolutionary biology and ecology and their decades of theory and modeling, but to the baseless abberation initiated by JP Rushton. This distinction is not widely known enough. 8/
November 12, 2025 at 3:31 PM
I'm particularly proud of the section on psychological life-history research tradition, where we trace its history not to evolutionary biology and ecology and their decades of theory and modeling, but to the baseless abberation initiated by JP Rushton. This distinction is not widely known enough. 8/
Reposted by Isabel
Today is the day! Our reply to the two concurrent critiques (from the same set of authors) is now published in the journal Intelligence 🧵 1/
November 12, 2025 at 3:31 PM
Today is the day! Our reply to the two concurrent critiques (from the same set of authors) is now published in the journal Intelligence 🧵 1/
Reposted by Isabel
This from @zeblarson.bsky.social is gooood. It answers the question: Now that our government has muted our national public health officials, what can we, as citizens, do _now_?!?
(cc FYI @cdelawalla.bsky.social)
www.liberalcurrents.com/propaganda-r...
(cc FYI @cdelawalla.bsky.social)
www.liberalcurrents.com/propaganda-r...
Propaganda, Rather than Pandemic Policies, Caused the War on Public Health
The backlash narrative ignores basic facts of the case.
www.liberalcurrents.com
November 12, 2025 at 2:50 PM
This from @zeblarson.bsky.social is gooood. It answers the question: Now that our government has muted our national public health officials, what can we, as citizens, do _now_?!?
(cc FYI @cdelawalla.bsky.social)
www.liberalcurrents.com/propaganda-r...
(cc FYI @cdelawalla.bsky.social)
www.liberalcurrents.com/propaganda-r...
Reposted by Isabel
It makes me incredibly sad that the young people who work for me are consistently shocked when I say "Go take care of your family." and back it up with actions. The only way any of this works is if we all take care of each other. I have so many questions for other managers that are very profane.
November 12, 2025 at 3:11 PM
It makes me incredibly sad that the young people who work for me are consistently shocked when I say "Go take care of your family." and back it up with actions. The only way any of this works is if we all take care of each other. I have so many questions for other managers that are very profane.
Reposted by Isabel
Russ Vought's argument that, since the Fed lost money last year, CFPB can't get funded from the Fed's "combined earnings" has long been endorsed by anti-government cranks. Now the cranks are in the White House.
But there's a problem: the shutdown prevents Vought from firing CFPB workers.
But there's a problem: the shutdown prevents Vought from firing CFPB workers.
Russ Vought Tries to Bankrupt the CFPB - The American Prospect
A legal office in the White House, at the behest of Office of Management and Budget director and Project 2025 architect Russ Vought, has decided to redefine the word “earnings” in order to bankrupt th...
prospect.org
November 12, 2025 at 2:45 PM
Russ Vought's argument that, since the Fed lost money last year, CFPB can't get funded from the Fed's "combined earnings" has long been endorsed by anti-government cranks. Now the cranks are in the White House.
But there's a problem: the shutdown prevents Vought from firing CFPB workers.
But there's a problem: the shutdown prevents Vought from firing CFPB workers.