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laurarouth.bsky.social
On break from writing about climate change at https://www.thestatesclimateproject.com/ and elsewhere, too. Born 316.91 ppm. Caregiver to a loved one with schizoaffective disorder. Following posts on climate, economics, and mental health.
1,165 posts 1,727 followers 3,475 following
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One example of a cascading effect here: Radar goes down —> models can’t assimilate data —> lower model forecast confidence —> more forecaster uncertainty All at a time when the NEXRAD system we still depend on continues to age. Hopeful for repairs soon, but just no bueno ATM.

Cartoon by David Sipress.

Perfection insideevs.com/news/752184/...

I wish more prominent scientists would speak out about what is happening under Trump. Yes, there is a real threat to one's livelihood of doing so. Being a scientist has been my lifelong dream, but there's honest work I can do outside of science, and I'd rather do that than serve the current regime.

🚨NEW INVESTIGATION: How Trump & congressional Republicans’ plan to kill off EVs could now destroy new factories & jobs in GOP locales. The Lever reports from Kentucky, where a GOP lawmaker is leading the crusade that could crush his own community. www.levernews.com/the-red-stat...

This song played on the radio during my youth. It’s a particularly poignant one at the moment. youtu.be/ZBiH5fsKJB8?...

Corrupt? Sure. But also directly dangerous? And how! FAA has done careful, long testing /study of new tower-communication system. Now a rush to switch to system that *just happens* to be owned by Mr. Efficiency himself, Elon. (Has he even been to an ATC facility? Probably like Vance re Ukraine)

coolwx.com is one of my fav wx websites. Bob is spot on. "It takes thousands (if not more) of hard-working and passionate NOAA employees to collect, error-check, archive, assimilate, and utilize the data ... I can no longer in good conscience keep this website updating from this point forward"

“We’re going to see people die as a result of this totally uncontrolled free fall they’re putting agencies into"

Important thread about the likely impacts of the cuts to Medicaid. TLDR: It won’t just hit the 37 million children on Medicaid but could collapse the whole pediatric care system. Imagine pulling the bottom blocks out in Jenga. @miafarrow.bsky.social: seems of interest to you.

If you’re wondering how on earth Europe navigates the post-transatlantic era of defense spending, self imposed fiscal restraint, energy vulnerability and climate goals… so are @70sbachchan.bsky.social and I www.phenomenalworld.org/analysis/eur...

“‘The reduced share of earnings subject to payroll tax explains most of the increase in cost as percent of payroll, compared to the 1983 projection.’(Goss) In other words, rising inequality is the main reason that Social Security appears to be in financial trouble.” open.substack.com/pub/stephani...

We’re Expanding! Follow the Center and WaterBlog on More Platforms Great news! The Center for Watershed Sciences has expanded its social media presence, giving you more ways to stay connected and engaged with California WaterBlogs and our other new content.  Take a look at all the places you can…

“I don’t think there’s a lot to add here, except that if a 25-year-old can risk her job to—quite politely—speak truth to power, the rest of us can figure out some things to do as well.”

NEW: Elon Musk’s Starlink is being used at scam compounds that have fleeced billions from people around the world, a @WIRED investigation shows Between November 2024 and Feb, hundreds of phones at eight scam compounds in Myanmar logged 40,000 uses of Starlink, mobile data shows

Congress has just released a list of federal DOI offices to be closed under the ongoing massacre of our natural resource agencies -- it's extensive and includes many important NPS, BLM, USGS and USFWS facilities across the country. Truly horrific. democrats-naturalresources.house.gov/imo/media/do...

More of this energy, please

Hi, broken record here. The same degraded information environment that led to Trump being elected is still in place. Most people still aren't being told what's happening, who's at fault, or what the effects will be. And there's zero reason to think traumatic events will "wake people up."

I worry that the focus on NOAA's weather predicting value is ignoring the millions of other ways NOAA researchers enrich communities and local economies. There are no oysters without NOAA. There are no blue crabs without NOAA. NOAA trains teachers. NOAA is the lifeblood of coastal communities.

I keep trying to wrap my head around the fact that entire career trajectories in meteorology (and many other gov/research jobs) have just been completely thrown away. A major, sudden paradigm shift.

NEW: Senator Marshall (R-KS) RUNS AWAY, fleeing his own town hall after being asked about DOGE firing Veterans. MAKE HIM GO VIRAL.

Norwegian firm Haltbakk Bunkers announced it will stop providing fuel to all US forces in Norway: "No Fuel to Americans! We encourage all Norwegians and Europeans to follow our example. SLAVA UKRAINA" #3E #StandWithUkraine

Well, another hit to the wildland fire community today. NWS folks fired include meteorologists who provide spot forecasts from local offices, work at the Emergency Ops Center, help us understand climate trends, and serve as Incident Meteorologists on large fires. 1/

Please enjoy my last ever post at Climate.gov/ENSO Blog. This afternoon I was fired by the Trump Administration 15 days before my 2yr probationary period ended on March 13. I have worked at NOAA since 2010, and I'm so incredibly proud of the work I did. If anyone wants a quote, let me know.

In case you missed it, this session was recorded and is now available at the same link below. #NOAA #NWS

I know there's a lot going on right now. But if you want to hear more about science of #ClimateChange in California & beyond, including intersection w/wildfire & flood, check out this series of virtual talks I've given over the past week (recorded live; links below). 1/6

this. a thousand times. this.

“I am reminded of reading about the lives of exiles in Paris in the 1930s. German Jews and Communists, who had run for their lives, watched as the world reshuffled itself.”

“Today, this means that in order to be free from authoritarian blackmail—whether Putin’s or Trump’s—Europe must go green.”

Wash your hands and wear a mask everybody. Measles can stay around in the air for up to 2 hours and a person can be infectious four days before seeing a rash.

The wall when I left today 🥹

I made this the other night while procrastinating, mainly because I thought all the posts about the blackout were boring. It feels like there is momentum bringing people together!

“The Office of Personnel Management does not have any authority whatsoever, under any statute in the history of the universe, to hire and fire employees at another agency. They can hire and fire their own employees.” www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/202...

“By ceding presidential authority to Musk, Trump is putting his fate in Musk’s hands. He is handing over the viability of his presidency to a figure who is accountable to no one but himself.” The latest from @jamellebouie.net www.nytimes.com/2025/02/27/o...

As expected, tRump wasted no time tapping a timber industry shill, Tom Schultz, as new chief of the Forest Service. Schultz was previously an exec w/the Idaho Forest Group, one of the largest lumber producers in the US. Our national forests are in very serious trouble. 🌏 www.usda.gov/about-usda/n...

Per Dr Atul Gawande, ex USAID: “All malaria supplies protecting 53 million people, mostly children, including bed nets, diagnostics, preventive drugs, and treatments – terminated.” There are no words that sufficiently describe this level of cruelty and sadism.

TOMORROW- Friday, February 28th is BLACKOUT FRIDAY! If you believe we are in danger of losing our Democracy forever, FIGHT BACK! Let's make our voices heard in numbers too big to ignore. JOIN US if you've had it with Comrade Krasnov. 🤬 🇷🇺 #24HourEconomicBlackout

So - I've actually led Ebola outbreak response at USAID. This is bunk from Elon. They have laid off most of the experts, they're bankrupting most of the partner orgs, have withdrawn from WHO, and muzzled CDC. What's left is a fig-leaf effort to cover their asses politically.

My family is joining too. #EconomicBlackout

I believe Hitler had a program like this www.salon.com/2025/02/27/m...

Apropos of nothing, did you know there are a TON of climate, energy, and science journalists on bsky? I've aggregated this list from several starter packs and added as I see people arrive. Have a look at the feed for coverage or contacts.