Usha Lee McFarling
@usha.bsky.social
I direct the Knight Science Journalism Program at MIT. Working hard to advance science journalism and support its practitioners at a time they are needed more than ever.
Reposted by Usha Lee McFarling
Coach John Beam’s legacy is everywhere: defector.com/coach-john-b...
Coach John Beam's Legacy Is Everywhere | Defector
Coach John Beam’s murder has been a national story, which seems like something that John Beam would find simultaneously hilarious and troublesome. His adult life was dedicated to teaching, and to…
defector.com
November 19, 2025 at 7:21 PM
Coach John Beam’s legacy is everywhere: defector.com/coach-john-b...
Reposted by Usha Lee McFarling
i was unprepared for the degree to which (some) techbros are computer illiterate
like. they don't know how computers actually work, and they tricked themselves. this is MIND-BOGGLING
like. they don't know how computers actually work, and they tricked themselves. this is MIND-BOGGLING
I think I was unprepared for the degree to which (some) techbros are scientifically illiterate
November 19, 2025 at 4:14 PM
i was unprepared for the degree to which (some) techbros are computer illiterate
like. they don't know how computers actually work, and they tricked themselves. this is MIND-BOGGLING
like. they don't know how computers actually work, and they tricked themselves. this is MIND-BOGGLING
Reposted by Usha Lee McFarling
I was interviewed for this piece on the mental health journey throughout unemployment, particularly at a time when many Black women are out of work.
gmattison1.substack.com/p/the-thin-l...
gmattison1.substack.com/p/the-thin-l...
The Thin Line Between Progression and Depression
Exploring the impending decision between unemployment and suicide, and why people may choose the latter.
gmattison1.substack.com
November 19, 2025 at 1:46 PM
I was interviewed for this piece on the mental health journey throughout unemployment, particularly at a time when many Black women are out of work.
gmattison1.substack.com/p/the-thin-l...
gmattison1.substack.com/p/the-thin-l...
Crazy happenings in the courts today. Just wow.
The facts are complicated, but here’s a summary of what appears to have happened based on the filings and today’s hearing:
NEWS: During a hearing in federal court in VA, prosecutors confirmed that the operative indictment in the case against James Comey was never shown to or voted on by the entire grand jury before it was presented in open court.
Defense counsel argued that’s a complete bar to further prosecution
Defense counsel argued that’s a complete bar to further prosecution
November 19, 2025 at 6:41 PM
Crazy happenings in the courts today. Just wow.
Reposted by Usha Lee McFarling
Happening now!
"Its not that we didn't want to work with them, it was that what they were asking of us was inappropriate." - Daniel Jernigan, M.D., MPH, former Director, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, CDC
"Its not that we didn't want to work with them, it was that what they were asking of us was inappropriate." - Daniel Jernigan, M.D., MPH, former Director, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, CDC
Data gaps + agency shake‑ups = big challenges for health journalists. Hear insider views from former CDC leaders in our upcoming webinar “Trust, public health reporting and the CDC: Insider perspectives.” TODAY, 1pm EST— don’t miss it. healthjournalism.org/event/trust-...
Trust, public health reporting and the CDC: Insider perspectives
In this webinar, we'll talk with former CDC officials on where to go for reliable reporting resources after the dismantling of the agency.
healthjournalism.org
November 19, 2025 at 6:21 PM
Happening now!
"Its not that we didn't want to work with them, it was that what they were asking of us was inappropriate." - Daniel Jernigan, M.D., MPH, former Director, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, CDC
"Its not that we didn't want to work with them, it was that what they were asking of us was inappropriate." - Daniel Jernigan, M.D., MPH, former Director, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, CDC
The bookshelf in our beautiful seminar room @ksjatmit.bsky.social is filled with books by former fellows. Want to be next? Applications to our fellowship are open and on our website. @annaleen.bsky.social @ferrisjabr.bsky.social @tomzellerjr.com @s-r-m.bsky.social and Melanie Kaplan. Please share.
November 19, 2025 at 6:25 PM
The bookshelf in our beautiful seminar room @ksjatmit.bsky.social is filled with books by former fellows. Want to be next? Applications to our fellowship are open and on our website. @annaleen.bsky.social @ferrisjabr.bsky.social @tomzellerjr.com @s-r-m.bsky.social and Melanie Kaplan. Please share.
Reposted by Usha Lee McFarling
New from me: The same tactics marketers use to get you to find their toothbrushes or photography business on Google were also used by Jeffrey Epstein & co. to try to launder his reputation online. SEO to try to cover up the most infamous pedophile ring.
www.theverge.com/report/82231...
www.theverge.com/report/82231...
How Jeffrey Epstein used SEO to bury news about his crimes
“the google page is not good,” Epstein wrote
www.theverge.com
November 17, 2025 at 7:38 PM
New from me: The same tactics marketers use to get you to find their toothbrushes or photography business on Google were also used by Jeffrey Epstein & co. to try to launder his reputation online. SEO to try to cover up the most infamous pedophile ring.
www.theverge.com/report/82231...
www.theverge.com/report/82231...
Reposted by Usha Lee McFarling
Everything that actually made America great is being destroyed
Flagstaff’s Lowell Observatory plans to cut nearly all its research funding and reduce the number of paid science staff to just two positions next year.
Lowell Observatory slashes research funding in the midst of financial struggle
Flagstaff’s Lowell Observatory plans to cut nearly all its research funding and reduce the number of paid science staff to just two positions next year.
buff.ly
November 11, 2025 at 12:19 PM
Everything that actually made America great is being destroyed
Reposted by Usha Lee McFarling
New from me: Are the deals to save research funding good for research?
More and more scientists at Cornell, Columbia, and elsewhere are going back to work after their universities struck unprecedented—some say mistaken—arrangements with the Trump administration.
www.chronicle.com/article/are-...
More and more scientists at Cornell, Columbia, and elsewhere are going back to work after their universities struck unprecedented—some say mistaken—arrangements with the Trump administration.
www.chronicle.com/article/are-...
Are the Deals to Save Research Funding Good For Research?
More and more scientists are going back to work after their universities struck unprecedented — some say mistaken — arrangements with the Trump administration.
www.chronicle.com
November 17, 2025 at 9:49 PM
New from me: Are the deals to save research funding good for research?
More and more scientists at Cornell, Columbia, and elsewhere are going back to work after their universities struck unprecedented—some say mistaken—arrangements with the Trump administration.
www.chronicle.com/article/are-...
More and more scientists at Cornell, Columbia, and elsewhere are going back to work after their universities struck unprecedented—some say mistaken—arrangements with the Trump administration.
www.chronicle.com/article/are-...
Reposted by Usha Lee McFarling
Reposted by Usha Lee McFarling
I was asked by @ksjatmit.bsky.social to share my advice for journalists dealing with misinformation. It’s a really important topic so I was happy to oblige.
It’s also a topic where we are all trying to navigate a constantly changing landscape, so do let me know what you’ve found works or doesn’t…
It’s also a topic where we are all trying to navigate a constantly changing landscape, so do let me know what you’ve found works or doesn’t…
The Lies Have It: Advice for Journalists Approaching Misinformation
Kai Kupferschmidt, KSJ '24, shares actionable tips for journalists seeking to reduce the harm of misinformation.
ksj.mit.edu
October 31, 2025 at 8:49 AM
I was asked by @ksjatmit.bsky.social to share my advice for journalists dealing with misinformation. It’s a really important topic so I was happy to oblige.
It’s also a topic where we are all trying to navigate a constantly changing landscape, so do let me know what you’ve found works or doesn’t…
It’s also a topic where we are all trying to navigate a constantly changing landscape, so do let me know what you’ve found works or doesn’t…
Reposted by Usha Lee McFarling
Stunning. Archives are everything.
‘We don’t even know all of what we have.’ Howard University fights to preserve Black newspapers. www.csmonitor.com/USA/Society/... Last year, during a move, workers found two whole boxes of Frederick Douglass’s’ The North Star’s first year of publication.
‘We don’t even know all of what we have.’ Howard fights to preserve Black newspapers.
Across the United States, scholars are working to preserve the history of the Black press before the brittle pages are lost forever. In a basement at Howard University, uncovered treasures have includ...
www.csmonitor.com
November 15, 2025 at 2:50 PM
Stunning. Archives are everything.
Reposted by Usha Lee McFarling
NIH is ramping up efforts to fill a huge slate of vacant leadership positions.
Onlookers worry the process is being rushed and will depart, as it already has in one case, from the long-standing practice of drawing on advice from academic scientists to find candidates. https://scim.ag/47HraVv
Onlookers worry the process is being rushed and will depart, as it already has in one case, from the long-standing practice of drawing on advice from academic scientists to find candidates. https://scim.ag/47HraVv
Is NIH cutting corners as it rushes to fill leadership positions?
Unlike in the past, agency searches appear to exclude help from outside academic researchers
scim.ag
November 14, 2025 at 10:44 PM
NIH is ramping up efforts to fill a huge slate of vacant leadership positions.
Onlookers worry the process is being rushed and will depart, as it already has in one case, from the long-standing practice of drawing on advice from academic scientists to find candidates. https://scim.ag/47HraVv
Onlookers worry the process is being rushed and will depart, as it already has in one case, from the long-standing practice of drawing on advice from academic scientists to find candidates. https://scim.ag/47HraVv
Reposted by Usha Lee McFarling
Reposted by Usha Lee McFarling
OK 99.9999 percent of journalists are disgusted and outraged by this whole thing, OK? Actually, 99.99999999999999 percent.
She had an affair with an awful, married man — who SHE WAS REPORTING ON — while she was also engaged and somehow she’s an inspiration to other journalists???
These people are such narcissistic freaks, we need to completely burn down journalism in America and remake it holy shit.
These people are such narcissistic freaks, we need to completely burn down journalism in America and remake it holy shit.
November 15, 2025 at 4:06 PM
OK 99.9999 percent of journalists are disgusted and outraged by this whole thing, OK? Actually, 99.99999999999999 percent.
RIP Alice Wong, A warrior and inspiration.
Our beloved Alice Wong has joined the ancestors. It was one of the great honors of my life to call Alice my friend, co-author & co-conspirator. She was a true genius, a force of nature the likes of which the world has never seen before. I love you, Alice, and am equal parts grateful and devastated
November 15, 2025 at 3:51 PM
RIP Alice Wong, A warrior and inspiration.
Science/health/environmental journalists: Join us for an amazing year at MIT. 🔭🧪2026 applications are open! Deadline is Jan. 9. Please share widely. ksj.mit.edu/news/2025/11...
KSJ Opens Application Cycle for 2026-27 Fellowships
Applications for KSJ's Academic-Year Fellowship and the Africa and Middle East Fellowship will open November 15 and close January 9.
ksj.mit.edu
November 15, 2025 at 3:50 PM
Science/health/environmental journalists: Join us for an amazing year at MIT. 🔭🧪2026 applications are open! Deadline is Jan. 9. Please share widely. ksj.mit.edu/news/2025/11...
Reposted by Usha Lee McFarling
the CDC museum inspired so many people (including myself) to serve this nation and world in public health. this is hard to see
🚨🚨
🧵1/6 #FedFam, reporters - urgent help needed
🚨CDC Museum (a Smithsonian affiliate) is being shuttered🚨
Staff are being “un-RIFed” just to close the museum permanently — then RIFed again in Jan
This is bureaucratic cruelty & cultural vandalism
CDC Library is a national treasure
#SaveCDCLibrary
🧵1/6 #FedFam, reporters - urgent help needed
🚨CDC Museum (a Smithsonian affiliate) is being shuttered🚨
Staff are being “un-RIFed” just to close the museum permanently — then RIFed again in Jan
This is bureaucratic cruelty & cultural vandalism
CDC Library is a national treasure
#SaveCDCLibrary
The David J. Sencer CDC Museum: In Association with the Smithsonian
Free museum exhibiting public health topics and the history of CDC.
www.cdc.gov
November 14, 2025 at 3:53 AM
the CDC museum inspired so many people (including myself) to serve this nation and world in public health. this is hard to see
Reposted by Usha Lee McFarling
Many have heard of the “Trimates:” Jane Goodall, Dian Fossey, and Birute Galdikas.
But before any of them was Rosalie Osborn. But sadly, she, and her colleague Jill Donisthorpe, have been written out of the narrative. (1/16)
🧪#Primates
But before any of them was Rosalie Osborn. But sadly, she, and her colleague Jill Donisthorpe, have been written out of the narrative. (1/16)
🧪#Primates
November 14, 2025 at 2:10 AM
Many have heard of the “Trimates:” Jane Goodall, Dian Fossey, and Birute Galdikas.
But before any of them was Rosalie Osborn. But sadly, she, and her colleague Jill Donisthorpe, have been written out of the narrative. (1/16)
🧪#Primates
But before any of them was Rosalie Osborn. But sadly, she, and her colleague Jill Donisthorpe, have been written out of the narrative. (1/16)
🧪#Primates
Reposted by Usha Lee McFarling
In a video, Norton confirms the news and says: "I strongly suspect it is because I have been speaking up in my personal capacity about the harms I have been witnessing inside the NIH.
Putting me on admin leave was designed to scare and silence me. I will not stop speaking out," she says.
Putting me on admin leave was designed to scare and silence me. I will not stop speaking out," she says.
I guess I am hitting a nerve, because they just put me on admin leave.
TikTok video by Jenna
www.tiktok.com
November 13, 2025 at 11:27 PM
In a video, Norton confirms the news and says: "I strongly suspect it is because I have been speaking up in my personal capacity about the harms I have been witnessing inside the NIH.
Putting me on admin leave was designed to scare and silence me. I will not stop speaking out," she says.
Putting me on admin leave was designed to scare and silence me. I will not stop speaking out," she says.
The health impacts of #climate change are coming and we are not ready, say panelists at #ACHJSummit. "Many physicians do not have training in dealing with extreme heat," says Grace Wickerson of @scientistsorg.bsky.social. "Do we have a health system that's ready for this? No we do not."
November 13, 2025 at 9:35 PM
The health impacts of #climate change are coming and we are not ready, say panelists at #ACHJSummit. "Many physicians do not have training in dealing with extreme heat," says Grace Wickerson of @scientistsorg.bsky.social. "Do we have a health system that's ready for this? No we do not."
Reposted by Usha Lee McFarling
There was no network news correspondent more powerful — and productive — than NBC’s Jim Avila.
And yet, when I got my first big assignment for Nightly News, it was HE who sent me a simple topline: “Go get ‘em.” 🙏🏼
#RIP @nbcnews.com
And yet, when I got my first big assignment for Nightly News, it was HE who sent me a simple topline: “Go get ‘em.” 🙏🏼
#RIP @nbcnews.com
November 13, 2025 at 8:29 PM
There was no network news correspondent more powerful — and productive — than NBC’s Jim Avila.
And yet, when I got my first big assignment for Nightly News, it was HE who sent me a simple topline: “Go get ‘em.” 🙏🏼
#RIP @nbcnews.com
And yet, when I got my first big assignment for Nightly News, it was HE who sent me a simple topline: “Go get ‘em.” 🙏🏼
#RIP @nbcnews.com
Amazing 2019 story from @davidfolkenflik.bsky.social Worth rereading today. (And man these media outlets let us all down.) www.npr.org/2019/08/22/7...
A Dead Cat, A Lawyer's Call And A 5-Figure Donation: How Media Fell Short On Epstein
Why did it take some of the nation's biggest news organizations so long to take seriously the accusations against the late Jeffrey Epstein? Allegations about his behavior go back more than a decade.
www.npr.org
November 13, 2025 at 7:29 PM
Amazing 2019 story from @davidfolkenflik.bsky.social Worth rereading today. (And man these media outlets let us all down.) www.npr.org/2019/08/22/7...
Many causes for Black maternal mortality crisis, but depression is one factor and not being able to afford diapers can contribute to depression. 💔 Dr. Wendy Wilcox of @nychealthsystem.bsky.social says NYC is handing out "baby boxes" to help. Solutions can be so simple. And so cheap. #ACHJSummit
November 13, 2025 at 7:03 PM
Many causes for Black maternal mortality crisis, but depression is one factor and not being able to afford diapers can contribute to depression. 💔 Dr. Wendy Wilcox of @nychealthsystem.bsky.social says NYC is handing out "baby boxes" to help. Solutions can be so simple. And so cheap. #ACHJSummit
Reposted by Usha Lee McFarling
NSF is open again!
A few comments:
*Please be patient.
During a shutdown NSF employees cannot open computers or respond to emails.
*Merit review will continue. However panels won’t resume until after Dec 8th.
*POs remain excited and committed to advancing science and the scientific workforce.
A few comments:
*Please be patient.
During a shutdown NSF employees cannot open computers or respond to emails.
*Merit review will continue. However panels won’t resume until after Dec 8th.
*POs remain excited and committed to advancing science and the scientific workforce.
November 13, 2025 at 5:58 PM
NSF is open again!
A few comments:
*Please be patient.
During a shutdown NSF employees cannot open computers or respond to emails.
*Merit review will continue. However panels won’t resume until after Dec 8th.
*POs remain excited and committed to advancing science and the scientific workforce.
A few comments:
*Please be patient.
During a shutdown NSF employees cannot open computers or respond to emails.
*Merit review will continue. However panels won’t resume until after Dec 8th.
*POs remain excited and committed to advancing science and the scientific workforce.