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bstaggmartin.bsky.social
Phylogenetics/comparative methods geek working as postdoctoral researcher at University of Georgia in Leebens-Mack lab. Currently an NSF PRFB fellow (plant genomes program) trying to figure out what the deal is with eucalypt trees. Opinions = my own
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This ruling prioritizes the discomfort and fear of some non-trans people over the health and wellbeing of trans youth. It disregards science and every major medical authority. It endorses the state controlling parents and doctors. Every resulting suicide is on the hands of these anti-trans justices.

Last February, I led a proposal submission that encompassed six months, hundreds of hours, four institutions, a massive team, and and 256 pages. NSF just informed us that the entire Biology Integration Institute program was archived and our proposal would not even be reviewed. With a form email.

That moment when millions of Americans protest the authoritarianism of the current presidential administration and the administration's response basically amounts to, "time to squash the peasants even harder!" Really proving the point here...

Already had a Trump voter approach me at a gas station to ask about this and she said she is worried about him. Fist bump those folks and invite them to Saturday protests. DO NOT BE QUIET. SPEAK UP IF YOU HAVE THE PRIVELEGE. 🔥

Senator Padilla was driven violently to his knees–as if made to kneel before the authority of the executive–because the administration called his questions “disrespectful”. This should offend not just the other 99 Senators. It should offend the conscience of this country.

NEWSOM: "It's a vulgar display. It's the kind of thing you see with Kim Jong Un, Putin, dictators that are weak… How weak do you have to be to commandeer the military for your birthday?“

Where we are as a country: ✅ Personality cult authoritarianism ✅ No functioning policy process or, you know, laws ✅ Just weirdos doing stuff to fulfill the whims of the mad king

Never in a million years did I think I’d be having regular conversations with my peers (most of them are other PRFB postdocs) about what we plan to do with our lives if we can’t be scientists anymore, i.e., if all the jobs continue disappearing. It’s all very bleak as an ECR right now.

leftists: that thing you teach us in school to be terrified of is happening historians: that thing is definitely happening star wars: here is a beat-for-beat breakdown of how the thing happens, but with pew pew lasers. we know you watched it news outlets: these protesters are out of control

Based on some quick math, this alone could fund the NSF Plant Genome Research Program for ~4 years; the NSF Postdoctoral Research Fellowship in Biology, which was totally axed in the NSF budget request, for ~9 years; and ~ half the total NSF GRFP budget

The President of the United States is advocating for arresting the duly-elected Governor of California for his SPEECH He thereafter admitted that the Governor of California had committed NO CRIME—but he still wants him arrested Spend as much time as you need processing what that means for America

Got a new op-ed in LNC/LancasterOnline this morning, on the importance of the curiosity-driven science the National Science Foundation is supposed to support lancasteronline.com/opinion/colu...

"We are speaking on behalf of hundreds of NIH staff who are standing up together to say: WE DISSENT. I am so scared about doing this but I am trying to be brave for my kids because it's only gonna get harder to speak up." Thank you to Dr. Jenna Norton and NIH scientists for your courage!

a thing about plane travel these days is that the TSA policies are subtly different from airport to airport yet the TSA agents act uniformly incredulous that you do not know their specific, undisclosed-until-you-ask policies

Trump moves to slash NSF If the NSF budget were to be enacted as is, it “would spell the end of any pretence that the US leads the world in science and technology” www.nature.com/articles/d41...

The president exists in a dystopian fantasy world with no connection to reality

These people are the best of us.

F*ck Elon 🌲

1 in 12 Americans live in California. 1 in 35 Americans live in LA County. LA is America

NEW at grant-watch.us: Emma Mairson and Marian Jarlenski report on funding freezes at Brown, Columbia, Cornell, and Northwestern, that have received zero payments for #NIH grants since the start of April: grant-watch.us/posts/trends...

In case you need to know a little more about the impact of federal funding cuts at Harvard. - Harvard Research Cuts Halt More Than 570 Subawards to Other Institutions, Including MGB Hospitals www.thecrimson.com/article/2025...

#MAGA Mike Collins wants to take away #SocialSecurity and give money to billionaires. Does he represent you? or Georgia? #VoteHimOut www.facebook.com/reel/3159354...

WTF

I'm proud of Yale for doing this

Jfc

First they docked TA stipends in retaliation for striking, then there was the first wave of crackdowns on pro-Palestine activities (including just putting up fucking signs), and now this! UMich harbors such a wonderful community of activists and scholars. They deserve so much better than this.

must be incredibly frustrating and disheartening to have federal funding that was promised to you for important work suddenly and arbitrarily ripped away

In full sincerity, now is the moment to emphasize that undoing the changes implemented by DOGE is good for America, and increasing investment into NASA, NSF, NIH and other agencies will keep Elon from profiting off taxpayers.

The child in this trustee’s scenario? Faculty. Who submitted their tenure files for consideration in accordance with the terms of their employment. Both sides have a responsibility in that contract, one to submit and one to review. I hope everyone really hears this.

Heroes

Every one of us should be demanding our institutions answer: when does it stop? What if we are told to stop providing financial aid to LGBTQIA+ students? To revoke tenure from Black faculty? To fire trans faculty? We know from history that compliance doesn't save what authoritarians want to destroy.

Possibly the best thing I've read about ChatGPT yet. h/t @melaniemitchell.bsky.social amandaguinzburg.substack.com/p/diabolus-e...

Though our recent #NSF grant was terminated, the @datanuggets.bsky.social program still continues through support from the @kbslter.bsky.social and other sources! We're searching for future funding opportunities and will continue to help share authentic datasets and science stories with students!

This erasure is so despicable and a clear message intended to hurt many during pride month.

The Silicon Valley fascists genuinely think that technology (i.e., cool robots and spaceships) has nothing to do with science (i.e., girls filling out spreadsheets wokely). I am not being sarcastic. I know that sounds insane. But that's really what they think.

Despite court orders, none of the 278 men sent to CECOT prison in El Salvador have returned to US soil. Gift article:

For the third time in as many days, Palestinians in Gaza have been shot while trying to get food. Israel has acknowledged that its soldiers opened fire on people who were approaching them.

"Senior officials at the US Department of Veterans Affairs have ordered that VA physicians and scientists not publish in medical journals or speak with the public without first seeking clearance from political appointees of Donald Trump, the Guardian has learned."