Robert Frederick
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Robert Frederick
@robertfrederick.co
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Science 🧪 Journalism Reporter / Editor / Producer / Podcaster / Videographer / Manager. Teach journalism+podcasting online for Harvard. Nieman Fellow & AAAS Mass Media Fellow. https://sustainlab.substack.com/
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robertfrederick.co
As the news today includes reports about rolling back U.S. federal Corporate Average Fuel Economy rules, or "CAFE standards," a reminder that the justification for the policy change appears to have been "made up" by A.I..

sustainlab.substack.com/p/policy-inf...
Highlighted text from the White House that states: “a one-mpg increase in CAFE standards costs consumers of all income levels approximately 0.5% of their income in the first year of the increase. By the 10th year following the increase, however, this cost becomes regressive, as the increase drives up the price of used cars. A one-mpg increase in CAFE standards costs consumers earning less than $25,000 per year 1.12% of their income, but only costs consumers earning more than $75,000 per year 0.41% of their income.” With a caption below that states: Problems: 1) Mark R. Jacobson did not write that. 2) The linked research (under “estimates”) does not contain those words, either. 3) That National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER) paper is on the same topic, but is co-authored by four people and a “working paper,” meaning it has “not been peer-reviewed or been subject to the review by the NBER Board of Directors that accompanies official NBER publications."
December 3, 2025 at 10:06 PM
robertfrederick.co
If I were in a Signal chat with Secretary Pete Hegseth, I’d point out “circumstances to decline acceptance”

comptroller.war.gov/Portals/45/d...

Even the “appearance of integrity” being compromised is reason to decline.

Also see 5.2.5.3. regarding present or prospective business with DoD.
A screenshot from the posted link with “appearance of integrity” highlighted.
October 25, 2025 at 8:51 PM
robertfrederick.co
From “circumstances to decline acceptance”

comptroller.war.gov/Portals/45/d...

Even the “appearance of integrity” being compromised is reason to decline.

Also, 5.2.5.3., there’s mention of present or prospective business with DoD.

So the donor is anonymous = DoD’s integrity appears compromised
A screenshot from the posted link showing “appearance of integrity” highlighted.
October 25, 2025 at 8:36 PM
robertfrederick.co
From “circumstances to decline acceptance”

comptroller.war.gov/Portals/45/d...

Even the “appearance of integrity” being compromised is reason to decline.

Also, 5.2.5.3., there’s mention of present or prospective business with DoD.

So the donor is anonymous = DoD’s integrity appears compromised
A screenshot from the referenced document showing the words “appearance of integrity” highlighted.
October 25, 2025 at 8:26 PM
robertfrederick.co
Please read Appendix D again before making any summary about causation (“lead to,” as you wrote)?

Does inferring causation from associations mentioned in clearly labeled (i.e., non-peer-reviewed) “working papers” remind you of how misinformation about the coronavirus spread, too? Perhaps “sturgis”?
Text from the report’s appendix D in the “working paper” that lists the start of a number of caveats about the data analysis, including that “association” is the right word to describe what the researchers think they have found.
October 20, 2025 at 5:12 PM
robertfrederick.co
Indeed, nothing says "I support the 1st Amendment of the U.S. Constitution" (specifically "the right of the people peaceably to assemble") like posting an A.I.-generated video of yourself as king dropping 💩 on protesters.

truthsocial.com/@realDonaldT...
vs.
constitution.congress.gov/constitution...
A screenshot from Trump’s Truth Social posting — the one in which he posted an A.I.-generated video of himself as king dropping what appears to be fecal matter on protesters. Trump’s social media post was Saturday, October 18, 2025 — the same day as millions of Americans were peaceably protesting in the many thousands of “No Kings” events.
October 20, 2025 at 4:45 PM
robertfrederick.co
When your Substack is ahead of coverage from The New York Times, something must be going... right?

(It's because I don't have to get a fact-checker, editor, or publisher involved... I do it all myself at this point.)
A screenshot of The New York Times article published today, October 17, 2025, with the title "U.S. Threatens Countries That Back a Fee to Clean Up Ship Pollution" Available here: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/10/17/climate/shipping-pollution-fee-international-maritime-organization.html
October 17, 2025 at 3:21 PM
robertfrederick.co
I just voted in my local, non-partisan, primary.

But voting is not enough.

"If you ‘think globally,’ it is overwhelming and you do not have enough energy left to ‘act locally.’ Just act locally and see what a difference you can make!"
— Dr. Jane Goodall, may she rest in peace
Robert Frederick on October 7, 2025, having just voted in his local non-partisan primary election, wearing a hat that says “Vote Local.”
October 7, 2025 at 6:50 PM
robertfrederick.co
Right there with you.
October 4, 2025 at 7:03 PM
robertfrederick.co
More explanation, please, of the highlighted / circled bit from your September 11 op-ed:

“But I envied what he built.”

Regarding what Kirk built, please consider this perspective, first, perhaps?
www.techdirt.com/2025/09/17/t...
A screenshot from Erza Klein’s September 11, 2025 op-ed with the following sentence highlighted/circled: “But I envied what he built,” which refers to what Kirk built.
September 17, 2025 at 10:05 PM
robertfrederick.co
Fellow journalists -- having trouble getting scientist/scholar interviews?

Seen these "Thematic analysis of scholars’ experiences with journalists in the clickbait era, organized by theme"?

🧪 Source:
dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/...

h/t @niemanlab.org
www.niemanlab.org/2025/09/the-...
A screenshot from Table 2 in the linked research that lists "Structural Issues" as a theme. The table includes example statements from researchers related to scholar concerns of "Oversimplification of Research," "Loss of Narrative Control," "Selective Quoting," and "Fear of Political Weaponization." A screenshot from Table 2 in the linked research that lists "Strategies" as a theme. The table includes example statements from researchers related to scholar strategies of "Defensive Media Strategies," "Damage Control," "Complete Disengagement," and "Too Late to Correct the Record." A screenshot from Table 2 in the linked research that lists "Consequences" as a theme. The table includes example statements from researchers related to scholar experiences of "Online Harassment" and "Professional Consequences."
September 10, 2025 at 4:25 PM
robertfrederick.co
Today I got an email from the U.S. National Academies titled “Resources for Educators” that starts with “School Active Shooter Drills.”

The rest of the resources are related to STEM education and curriculum.

mailchi.mp/nationalacad...
A screenshot from the linked web-based version of the email that shows the National Academies at the top, an image of school supplies, and then the following words: Back to School Resources for Educators As a new school year begins, these publications offer timely, research-based guidance for educators, school leaders, and policymakers. From improving school safety and strengthening STEM education at all levels to advancing quality curricula in both rural and early childhood settings, they provide actionable insights to support excellence in learning. School Active Shooter Drills While active shooter drills in schools are intended to enhance emergency…
September 2, 2025 at 10:12 PM
robertfrederick.co
42% of U.S. conservatives say climate change is not a threat, compared with 9% of moderates and just 2% of liberals.

But to respondents from 7 countries in the Global South "Climate change is the most important longer term problem the world is facing."

sustainlab.substack.com/p/setting-pr...
From the Pew Research Center’s 19 August 2026 article titled “Americans’ views of global threats differ by party, age.” It shows even among wealthy Global North countries, the U.S. percentage is out of the ordinary.
August 29, 2025 at 2:11 AM
robertfrederick.co
How do you tell if someone isn't paying attention on Zoom?

1) head position,
2) reflections in glasses suggesting multiple monitors,
3) changing light (likely from changing content on monitors)...

EPA's Charmley does not appear to be listening to -- much less hearing -- the public "hearing."
August 19, 2025 at 5:39 PM
robertfrederick.co
After the lunch break, Director Charmley returns 27 minutes late to the public hearing (1:27 PM Eastern) -- missing public testimony from the Attorneys General from
California,
Massachusetts,
Minnesota,
Arizona, and
Michigan.
A screenshot from the public hearing from the EPA Zoom meeting underway. The "Current Panel" shows the speakers starting right after the lunch break includes the Attorneys General mentioned in the post.
August 19, 2025 at 5:32 PM
robertfrederick.co
So proud of my fellow Americans for their thoughtful, emotive, and informed testimony to the EPA today regarding the proposed recision of the 2009 Endangerment Finding.

Ameen (speaking, pictured) represents #BLKHLTH.
A screenshot from Zoom showing 1 minute remaining in Khadija Ameen's testimony to the EPA Panel and EPA's Bill Charmley. Ameen represents BLKHLTH. Charmley is the director of the EPA's Assessment and Standards Division that "identifies and develops future emission control strategies (such as new vehicle, engine, and fuel quality standards) and national policy on mobile source emission control." He has a Bachelor of Science degree in Physics from Alma College, a Bachelor’s in Engineering Physics and a Master of Science in Atmospheric Science from the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. Bill has been a member of the Society of Automotive Engineers for more than 30 years.
August 19, 2025 at 3:14 PM
robertfrederick.co
No.

And so now the NYT has changed the headline… with a slight nod to a recent episode of South Park.

www.nytimes.com/2025/08/05/o...
New headline text reads “Universities Have Woken Up to Find They’re in Bed With an Ogre” which had been “Is there a smart way to cede power to Trump?”
August 6, 2025 at 2:11 AM
robertfrederick.co
Yes, we're at the heretofore unseen AI-cartoon-President-throwing-french-fries-to-the-floor stage of the administration.

If only there were a national-level business reporter highlighting the #business case against #TOBBBA. 🤔

I cover #sustainability.
sustainlab.substack.com/p/sustainabi...
A screenshot from “One Big Beautiful Lo-Fi MAGA Video to Relax / Study to” that started streaming on the White House website on June 29, 2025. It shows a cartoon version of Trump scooping and throwing a box of french fries to the floor.
July 1, 2025 at 3:22 PM
robertfrederick.co
Getting energy-related businesses on board could help convince Senators. Here's all the utility-scale energy projects planned to go online in the coming year -- yellow stands for solar, green for wind....

More: sustainlab.substack.com/p/sustainabi...
A map of the U.S. showing planned energy projects coming online by April, 2026. Available from the U.S. Energy Information Administration -- https://www.eia.gov/electricity/monthly/
June 30, 2025 at 11:41 PM
robertfrederick.co
#NoKings
A sign from the #NoKings rally in High Point, NC that says “Go Harvard” in crimson and “Beat Trump” in black.
June 14, 2025 at 8:21 PM
robertfrederick.co
Do we really need nuclear-powered #search?

Beyond considering #energy and the #environment, perhaps curb #AI for consumer choice -- allowing people to turn it off?

Parents turning it off for their children?
Schools turning it off for students in classes?

sustainlab.substack.com/p/nuclear-po...
A convenience store employee is looking at a hot-dog display and asking Gemini "So it's like a treadmill for hot dogs?" The screenshot is taken from a commercial advertising Google’s Gemini Live.
June 11, 2025 at 12:19 AM
robertfrederick.co
Currently watching Marcia McNutt, President, National Academy of Sciences deliver the 2nd annual National State of the Science Address.

"We're embarking on a radical new experiment," she says, given Trump's policy changes, and that the U.S. is not on a path for sustainable leadership in science.
A slide from McNutt's speech titled "No corner of American life untouched" and the NSF budget summary showing a significant decrease in funding for science.
June 3, 2025 at 7:14 PM
robertfrederick.co
Guess it’s time to order more postcards and tell folks in my zip code to get re-registered to vote in #NC.

🤦‍♂️

#JeffersonGriffin #AllOverAgain
A postcard I sent to all my neighbors who were on Jefferson Griffin’s list. It encourages them to ensure their votes are counted. A box of postcards I sent to all my neighbors who were on Jefferson Griffin’s list. It encourages them to ensure their votes are counted.
May 29, 2025 at 12:07 AM
robertfrederick.co
Harvard is not my alma mater, but I donate, too.

I was a Nieman Fellow there (2020-2021) and have been teaching journalism in the Harvard journalism program (in the Extension School) ever since.

Glad Harvard is standing up.

(Cartoon by Adam Zyglis -- staff cartoonist for The Buffalo News)
Cartoon by Adam Zyglis -- staff cartoonist for The Buffalo News -- showing Harvard's president standing up to Trump (represented as a king wearing a crown) whereas the Washington Post, Columbia University, Law Firms, and others are kneeling.
May 22, 2025 at 9:02 PM
robertfrederick.co
Great picture!

Ever see three million tulips at once?
A few acres of RoozenGaarde’s tulips in Skagit Valley, Washington. From: https://sustainlab.substack.com/p/keep-farming-flowers
May 18, 2025 at 9:41 PM