Todd Yokley
@tryokley.bsky.social
Biological anthropologist at Metropolitan State University of Denver. I study human nasal variation, Neandertals, and primates and other mammals from the early Eocene (weird combo, I know). Knife nerd. Vol fan.
Reposted by Todd Yokley
hoping that when they say the LLM talks like a Ph.D.-level expert, they mean "holds indecipherable decades-long academic grudges expressed largely in the form of questions that are actually more of a comment"
August 7, 2025 at 8:43 PM
hoping that when they say the LLM talks like a Ph.D.-level expert, they mean "holds indecipherable decades-long academic grudges expressed largely in the form of questions that are actually more of a comment"
This is a great thread. Help (even government help) is helpful. We need to drop the dependency myth that so many folks in red states advocate.
The problem is not that red states are carried by blue states…
The problem is the people in red states have no idea what that means
The problem is the people in red states have no idea what that means
June 28, 2025 at 6:53 PM
This is a great thread. Help (even government help) is helpful. We need to drop the dependency myth that so many folks in red states advocate.
This.
Or here's a thought--maybe we could hire more actual human teachers, pay them better, make class sizes smaller, build in more paid prep time, and generally just invest in education instead of investing in AI.
Bro, what.
June 25, 2025 at 1:40 PM
This.
I do not want it, Sam-I-Am!
I do not want AI in Slack. I do not want AI in Google. I do not want AI on Facebook. I do not want AI in documents or spreadsheets. I do not want AI in Adobe Acrobat. I do not want AI in Zoom. I do not want AI on news sites. I do not want AI in the patient portal for my doctor's office. I do not wan
June 17, 2025 at 9:40 PM
I do not want it, Sam-I-Am!
This.
The conservative movement has turned against reality on every scientific issue of our time, from gun violence to climate change to epidemiology.
If campuses are ideologically homogenous, it's not because academia has ostracized conservatives. It's because conservatives have ostracized academia.
If campuses are ideologically homogenous, it's not because academia has ostracized conservatives. It's because conservatives have ostracized academia.
April 21, 2025 at 1:03 PM
This.
Today marks 5 years since I quit drinking alcohol.
February 27, 2025 at 2:46 PM
Today marks 5 years since I quit drinking alcohol.
Excellent summary of the history of Yarvin to DOGE and the absurd rationale behind what is being done to the US government at the moment.
The Plot Against America
How a Dangerous Ideology Born From the Libertarian Movement Stands Ready to Seize America
www.notesfromthecircus.com
February 9, 2025 at 5:28 PM
Excellent summary of the history of Yarvin to DOGE and the absurd rationale behind what is being done to the US government at the moment.
Reposted by Todd Yokley
Cuts to NIH spending framed as saving $4 billion.
But NIH funding generates returns -not just in terms of improved health- but economic returns.
On average each dollar spent generates over $2 in economic activity.
In MO, $800m in NIH funding supports $1.89 billion in economic activity, 8,500 jobs.
But NIH funding generates returns -not just in terms of improved health- but economic returns.
On average each dollar spent generates over $2 in economic activity.
In MO, $800m in NIH funding supports $1.89 billion in economic activity, 8,500 jobs.
February 8, 2025 at 2:41 PM
Cuts to NIH spending framed as saving $4 billion.
But NIH funding generates returns -not just in terms of improved health- but economic returns.
On average each dollar spent generates over $2 in economic activity.
In MO, $800m in NIH funding supports $1.89 billion in economic activity, 8,500 jobs.
But NIH funding generates returns -not just in terms of improved health- but economic returns.
On average each dollar spent generates over $2 in economic activity.
In MO, $800m in NIH funding supports $1.89 billion in economic activity, 8,500 jobs.
Katie hits the nail on the head here. Great thread on actions we can take to fight the attack on federal grant funding.
Earth & Life Sciences Academics communicating the new EO about indirect rates, imma need you to improve yer messaging- maybe don't say "If I get a million dollar grant, my uni gets another $700k to keep the lights on & water running" bc isn't going to get the traction you think it is-
a woman in a floral dress is sitting in front of a sign that says chuckles in rich .
ALT: a woman in a floral dress is sitting in front of a sign that says chuckles in rich .
media.tenor.com
February 8, 2025 at 5:53 PM
Katie hits the nail on the head here. Great thread on actions we can take to fight the attack on federal grant funding.
Dua Meepa
just over here photoshopping muppets onto the cover of elle magazine: thread
February 8, 2025 at 1:10 AM
Dua Meepa
I address this all the time with student writing. “Fewer things, less stuff” is a good way to remember it.
Generally, 'fewer' is used when a number of things can be counted ("fewer problems") and 'less' is used when an amount is measured ("less trouble").
February 4, 2025 at 3:04 PM
I address this all the time with student writing. “Fewer things, less stuff” is a good way to remember it.
Keep pushing back!
The freeze of federal funding IS CANCELLED.
Why?
BECAUSE PEOPLE PUSHED BACK.
Organizations that rely on funding.
Average Americans.
Apparently, some GOP behind the scenes.
There was a firehose of phone calls.
PUSH. BACK.
AND ANNOUNCE THIS ALL OVER THE DAMN PLACE.
thehill.com/homenews/511...
Why?
BECAUSE PEOPLE PUSHED BACK.
Organizations that rely on funding.
Average Americans.
Apparently, some GOP behind the scenes.
There was a firehose of phone calls.
PUSH. BACK.
AND ANNOUNCE THIS ALL OVER THE DAMN PLACE.
thehill.com/homenews/511...
January 29, 2025 at 6:44 PM
Keep pushing back!
Exactly
"What happened last night is the most direct assault on the authority of Congress, I believe, in the history of the United States. It is blatantly unconstitutional," Sen. Angus King (I-Maine) says of Trump's OMB halting all federal grants.
"If this stands, then Congress may as well adjourn."
"If this stands, then Congress may as well adjourn."
January 28, 2025 at 5:50 PM
Exactly
This is the key part and why this is such a big deal. This is the end game. They want to shut down all federal money that doesn't align with Trump administration priorities.
Yet the OMB memo makes clear that the whole point of the pause is to make sure the spending appropriated by Congress is consistent with "the President's priorities." That's an impermissible reason to delay spending.
January 28, 2025 at 5:03 PM
This is the key part and why this is such a big deal. This is the end game. They want to shut down all federal money that doesn't align with Trump administration priorities.
Reposted by Todd Yokley
We need Dems to use every procedural maneuver to grind things to stop and every media tool to raise alarm and allow public pressure to build.
Shut it the fuck down.
A democracy if we can keep it. This is where we try to keep it.
Capitol switchboard: (202) 224-3121.
Shut it the fuck down.
A democracy if we can keep it. This is where we try to keep it.
Capitol switchboard: (202) 224-3121.
January 28, 2025 at 3:29 PM
We need Dems to use every procedural maneuver to grind things to stop and every media tool to raise alarm and allow public pressure to build.
Shut it the fuck down.
A democracy if we can keep it. This is where we try to keep it.
Capitol switchboard: (202) 224-3121.
Shut it the fuck down.
A democracy if we can keep it. This is where we try to keep it.
Capitol switchboard: (202) 224-3121.
Reposted by Todd Yokley
Not to be alarmist, but this is the most radical presidential action I've ever seen. He's straight up seizing Congress' budget power. What do laws matter if the mad king's whims dictate what gets enforced and where money goes?
It's not a policy memo - it's a revolution. Don't let it be a quiet one.
It's not a policy memo - it's a revolution. Don't let it be a quiet one.
Trump is blowing up the Constitution and dismantling democracy before our eyes.
Freezing all federal grants is a radical transformation of the relationship between the President & Congress.
It’s illegal & dictatorial & Americans will die as a result.
www.politico.com/news/2025/01...
Freezing all federal grants is a radical transformation of the relationship between the President & Congress.
It’s illegal & dictatorial & Americans will die as a result.
www.politico.com/news/2025/01...
Trump administration orders sweeping freeze of federal aid
In a two-page memo, the Office of Management and Budget ordered all federal agencies to temporarily suspend payments.
www.politico.com
January 28, 2025 at 3:29 PM
Not to be alarmist, but this is the most radical presidential action I've ever seen. He's straight up seizing Congress' budget power. What do laws matter if the mad king's whims dictate what gets enforced and where money goes?
It's not a policy memo - it's a revolution. Don't let it be a quiet one.
It's not a policy memo - it's a revolution. Don't let it be a quiet one.
Reposted by Todd Yokley
I'm a former OMB official and this is absolutely true.
And let's also not forget that these illegal actions have direct, harmful consequences for actual people. New moms won't get help feeding their infants. Small businesses won't make payroll. People could lose their jobs, their homes.
And let's also not forget that these illegal actions have direct, harmful consequences for actual people. New moms won't get help feeding their infants. Small businesses won't make payroll. People could lose their jobs, their homes.
There is simply no plausible argument that the president has the constitutional authority to refuse to spend appropriated funds because he doesn’t like how the money is being spent.
The legality of policy impoundments is just not a close question.
The legality of policy impoundments is just not a close question.
January 28, 2025 at 2:55 PM
I'm a former OMB official and this is absolutely true.
And let's also not forget that these illegal actions have direct, harmful consequences for actual people. New moms won't get help feeding their infants. Small businesses won't make payroll. People could lose their jobs, their homes.
And let's also not forget that these illegal actions have direct, harmful consequences for actual people. New moms won't get help feeding their infants. Small businesses won't make payroll. People could lose their jobs, their homes.
Reposted by Todd Yokley
There is simply no plausible argument that the president has the constitutional authority to refuse to spend appropriated funds because he doesn’t like how the money is being spent.
The legality of policy impoundments is just not a close question.
The legality of policy impoundments is just not a close question.
January 28, 2025 at 12:47 PM
There is simply no plausible argument that the president has the constitutional authority to refuse to spend appropriated funds because he doesn’t like how the money is being spent.
The legality of policy impoundments is just not a close question.
The legality of policy impoundments is just not a close question.
I hope so. In addition to being illegal under the Impoundment Control Act of 1974, these actions will remove autonomy from scientific research and decimate the scientific community in the US.
To play this out, there will be literally dozens of lawsuits challenging what OMB is doing on the ground that it violates the Impoundment Control Act of 1974. Trump’s DOJ will argue that the Act is unconstitutional. And this will quickly get to #SCOTUS, where it will be the biggest case of the term.
January 28, 2025 at 4:52 PM
I hope so. In addition to being illegal under the Impoundment Control Act of 1974, these actions will remove autonomy from scientific research and decimate the scientific community in the US.
Some really good info here on the Trump administration's "pause" on federal grants and loans.
Here's a longer post explaining all of this in a bit more detail:
www.stevevladeck.com/p/120-the-im...
www.stevevladeck.com/p/120-the-im...
120. The Impoundment Crisis of 2025
The Trump administration's Monday spending freeze is likely to provoke a crisis over the constitutionality of "impoundment"—one that the justices could well have to resolve *very* soon.
www.stevevladeck.com
January 28, 2025 at 4:48 PM
Some really good info here on the Trump administration's "pause" on federal grants and loans.
Reposted by Todd Yokley
Per an NIH source:
“Discussions with colleagues have suggested that if the universities all come together and raise hell about the delays to funding caused by not holding meetings, that might move the needle. From every state. There are well-funded universities in red states that will be impacted.”
“Discussions with colleagues have suggested that if the universities all come together and raise hell about the delays to funding caused by not holding meetings, that might move the needle. From every state. There are well-funded universities in red states that will be impacted.”
January 28, 2025 at 12:45 AM
Per an NIH source:
“Discussions with colleagues have suggested that if the universities all come together and raise hell about the delays to funding caused by not holding meetings, that might move the needle. From every state. There are well-funded universities in red states that will be impacted.”
“Discussions with colleagues have suggested that if the universities all come together and raise hell about the delays to funding caused by not holding meetings, that might move the needle. From every state. There are well-funded universities in red states that will be impacted.”
Does anyone have a better copy of this memo? If I’m reading this right, all federal grants (including those that are already funded) will need to conform to “Administration priorities” like “ending wokeness.” Are you kidding me?
NEW — OMB temporarily pauses all agency grants and loans programs.
Per copy of memo: "The use of Federal resources to advance Marxist equity, transgenderism, and green new deal social engineering policies is a waste of taxpayer dollars that does not improve the day-to-day lives of those we serve."
Per copy of memo: "The use of Federal resources to advance Marxist equity, transgenderism, and green new deal social engineering policies is a waste of taxpayer dollars that does not improve the day-to-day lives of those we serve."
January 28, 2025 at 12:49 AM
Does anyone have a better copy of this memo? If I’m reading this right, all federal grants (including those that are already funded) will need to conform to “Administration priorities” like “ending wokeness.” Are you kidding me?
It has begun.
All NSF panels have been cancelled until further notice.
January 27, 2025 at 5:03 PM
It has begun.