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Josh Busby

@busbyj2.bsky.social

27K followers 840 following 6.2K posts

Professor at the University of Texas-Austin. Former Senior Climate Advisor DOD. Climate security, climate governance, clean energy, global health, US foreign policy. Author of States and Nature: The Effects of Climate Change on Security (Cambridge, 2022).

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Josh Busby @busbyj2.bsky.social · Jun 13

At a time when some are questioning why we should care about this problem, I recently gave a talk for TEDx for why climate change is a national security concern. www.youtube.com/watch?v=S8ne...

Climate Change and National Security | Josh Busby | TEDxSouth Congress

YouTube video by TEDx Talks

www.youtube.com

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Reposted by Josh Busby

Jeremy Youde @jeremyyoude.bsky.social · 39m

I love my city.

Jason❌ @gizmosspace.bsky.social · 1d

This is awesome.

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Josh Busby @busbyj2.bsky.social · 39m

No way to run a government. Fired. Not fired. Fired again. Not fired. Pants on fire.

Lena Sun @lenasun.bsky.social · 43m

BREAKING: Some of the layoffs at CDC are being REVERSED.
Here is my updated story.
www.washingtonpost.com/health/2025/...

More than 1,000 CDC staff receive layoff notices during government shutdown

Another round of mass layoffs has struck CDC. The agency had already been cut during a reorganization this year, and more employees are now being shed amid the government shutdown.

www.washingtonpost.com

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Reposted by Josh Busby

Dr. Lucky Tran @luckytran.com · 5h

They have fired the staff of the CDC’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report and 70 Epidemic Intelligence Service officers, who are disease detectives that respond to outbreaks around the world.

I cannot emphasize enough how dangerous it is to dismantle our disease surveillance infrastructure.

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The Washington Post @washingtonpost.com · 1h

More than 1,000 staff members at the CDC were laid off Friday, affecting units that respond to infectious-disease outbreaks, analyze science and health data to develop policy, and monitor the safety of employees.

Mass CDC cuts hit staff dealing with measles, Ebola and disease forecasting

Another round of mass layoffs has struck CDC. The agency had already been cut during a reorganization this year, and more employees are now being shed amid the government shutdown.

wapo.st

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Josh Busby @busbyj2.bsky.social · 3h

The de facto president and dictator who has assumed illegal powers. www.npr.org/2025/10/10/n...

Trump administration says about 4,200 federal employees face layoffs

The Trump administration says it has started the process of issuing "substantial" reduction-in-force notices to federal employees. Court filings suggest around 4,200 affected so far.

www.npr.org

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Josh Busby @busbyj2.bsky.social · 3h

Russell Vought is a vandal of U.S. government capacity. It's like we elected the Taliban and they are destroying the foundations of government the way the Taliban dynamited the Buddhas of Bamiyan in Afghanistan.

Catherine Rampell @crampell.bsky.social · 3h

Per CDC source: At internal leadership meeting this afternoon, it was shared that 1,257 people were RIF'd at CDC. Number may not be final. Apparently, chief of staff was unaware that RIFs were going to occur so not clear who is making decisions. (Short 🧵)

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Steven T. Dennis @steventdennis.bsky.social · 3h

This is the big fight other than health care. Will Congress acquiesce to Trump seizing the power to de-purse?

Rep. Dan Goldman @repdangoldman.bsky.social · 3h

No “clean CR” exists when Trump defies Congress and unilaterally guts programs—from law enforcement to pediatric cancer research to clean energy projects.

Republicans want Democratic cover to keep breaking the law. Democrats won’t play along.

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Darin Self @darinself.com · 5h

This is one program Trump thinks is a "Democrat" program because it demonstrates care for others.

But the benefits cross-cut partisan lines.

Leah McElrath @leahmcelrath.bsky.social · 5h

⚠️ USAToday reporter confirms the office in charge of special education funding has been “decimated”:

Zach Schermele
Follow
@ZachSchermele
NEW: The Education Dept. layoffs continued overnight, w/ the main office in charge of special ed funding being
"decimated," as one person described.
"They cut just about everyone that works with IDEA funding," said another.
"I'm not sure how these programs exist moving forward."
10:21 AM • 10/11/25 • 2.1K Views

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Josh Busby @busbyj2.bsky.social · 5h

Another incident. www.youtube.com/watch?v=fm7K...

ICE Agents Ram Into SUV Blocking Their Van After Arresting WGN-TV Chicago Employee

YouTube video by New York Post

www.youtube.com

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Josh Busby @busbyj2.bsky.social · 5h

What is the point of all this?

The Tennessee Holler @thetnholler.bsky.social · 8h

“YOU hit HER.”

CHICAGO - Trump’s ICE goons ram into a passing car after snatching someone, then brutally drag the female driver of the car they hit out of her car with guns drawn and arrest her too. (Her brother says she’s a citizen)

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Josh Busby @busbyj2.bsky.social · 6h

Listening to this now.

open.spotify.com/episode/4M1s...

Deep Sea Mining

Spotify video

open.spotify.com

Reposted by Josh Busby

Lena Sun @lenasun.bsky.social · 10h

NEW: @CDCgov hit hard by massive firings that several staff describe to me as a “bloodbath.”
Among those RIFd:
—leadership of the center for immunization and respiratory diseases;
—leadership of global health center
—leadership of the measles outbreak response; 1/4

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Josh Busby @busbyj2.bsky.social · 8h

This was a great discussion yesterday.

Penn Project on the Future of U.S.-China Relations @penn-us-china.bsky.social · 8h

Here's the video of yesterday's great discussion ft @busbyj2.bsky.social, Elizabeth Donkervoort, @neilthomas123.bsky.social & Ali Wyne about the direction of U.S. policy towards China, informed by their fellowship cohort's intensive week of meetings in Washington DC: www.youtube.com/watch?v=1It3...

U.S.-China Field Notes: Perspectives from Visit to Washington

YouTube video by Penn Project on the Future of U.S.-China Relations

www.youtube.com

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Josh Busby @busbyj2.bsky.social · 8h

Huh. Just read that story. Wild. As if sports pros don't have enough to worry about... www.nytimes.com/athletic/655...

The catfishing scam putting fans and female golfers in danger

Inside the social media scheme turning fans against athletes: 'There's really two victims'

www.nytimes.com

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Josh Busby @busbyj2.bsky.social · 9h

I mean jokes on you really, if you fall for that...

Josh Busby @busbyj2.bsky.social · 21h

He seems to be moving okay.

Josh Busby @busbyj2.bsky.social · 21h

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Josh Busby @busbyj2.bsky.social · 21h

Pulisic warming up at half.

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Josh Busby @busbyj2.bsky.social · 21h

I don’t think he’s warming up either.

Josh Handelman @jhandelman.bsky.social · 22h

USMNT playing pretty well but you can tell you lose a lot of umph without CP

Josh Busby @busbyj2.bsky.social · 22h

We here.

Josh Busby @busbyj2.bsky.social · 1d

I see. The attorney general candidate in Virginia. Some people may be following this closely but your average voter maybe not... www.nytimes.com/2025/10/08/u...

Texts from Democratic A.G. Candidate Roil Virginia Governor’s Race

www.nytimes.com

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Josh Busby @busbyj2.bsky.social · 1d

Who is Jay Jones? As someone who follows politics closely, I do not know who that is.

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Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 1d

Trump announces he's putting a bajillion percent tariff on China

It has just been learned that China has taken an extraordinarily aggressive position on Trade in sending an extremely hostile letter to the World, stating that they were going to, effective November 1st, 2025, impose large scale Export Controls on virtually every product they make, and some not even made by them. This affects ALL Countries, without exception, and was obviously a plan devised by them years ago. It is absolutely unheard of in International Trade, and a moral disgrace in dealing with other Nations.

Based on the fact that China has taken this unprecedented position, and speaking only for the U.S.A., and not other Nations who were similarly threatened, starting November 1st, 2025 (or sooner, depending on any further actions or changes taken by China), the United States of America will impose a Tariff of 100% on China, over and above any Tariff that they are currently paying. Also on November 1st, we will impose Export Controls on any and all critical software.

It is impossible to believe that China would have taken such an action, but they have, and the rest is History. Thank you for your attention to this matter!

DONALD J. TRUMP
PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

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Reposted by Josh Busby

The Washington Post @washingtonpost.com · 1d

Breaking news: The Trump administration began laying off federal workers while the government is shuttered, fulfilling threats from President Trump to take advantage of the closure to shave off more parts of the federal workforce he dislikes.

Trump administration begins laying off federal workers amid shutdown

White House budget director Russell Vought said reductions-in-force were underway.

www.washingtonpost.com

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Popehat Agitates And Irritates @kenwhite.bsky.social · 1d

Wen should direct more attention to incidents like these because Americans are more likely to respond to brutality to pets than to brutality to human beings.

The Tennessee Holler @thetnholler.bsky.social · 1d

EL PASO — a family says ICE showed up at their house looking for migrants and shot and KILLED THEIR DOG, then didn’t help them as the agent ran away and was not identified.

kfoxtv.com/news/local/e...

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