Alex Wenzel
@alexwenzel.bsky.social
Postdoc studying cancer. Academic unionist and transit enthusiast. Trying to make buses less invisible. TF2 Medic main.
This account does not represent the positions or opinions of my employer or of my union.
he/him
This account does not represent the positions or opinions of my employer or of my union.
he/him
Pinned
Alex Wenzel
@alexwenzel.bsky.social
· Sep 11
seeing a lot of takes alleging that kirk's death is what is specifically going to trigger a civil war.
and, no, i have to say as my official opinion as not only a politics journalist but someone whose been in leftist activist spaces for nearly a decade. it is not what will trigger it specifically 🧵
and, no, i have to say as my official opinion as not only a politics journalist but someone whose been in leftist activist spaces for nearly a decade. it is not what will trigger it specifically 🧵
Critically important thread. In fact, I’m going to pin this quote post. Cut through all the noise and commentary and various overlapping mirror worlds that it’s easy to fall into, this is the core of what has always been happening, and what our options are.
Plan for "taking care of myself" regarding my primary medical expense:
1. Study millions of other patients to find all genetic + environmental mechanisms.
2. Run 1000s of experiments to confirm observations.
3. Build time machine to undo exposures.
4. Find way to CRISPR edit my own brain.
Easy.
1. Study millions of other patients to find all genetic + environmental mechanisms.
2. Run 1000s of experiments to confirm observations.
3. Build time machine to undo exposures.
4. Find way to CRISPR edit my own brain.
Easy.
Markwayne Mullin on healthcare: "What the president would like to do is say, hey, if you take care of yourself -- you don't smoke, you don't dip, you're not drinking, you're not overweight, you're working out -- then you should pay less than the guy that obviously is not taking care of himself."
November 26, 2025 at 1:02 AM
Plan for "taking care of myself" regarding my primary medical expense:
1. Study millions of other patients to find all genetic + environmental mechanisms.
2. Run 1000s of experiments to confirm observations.
3. Build time machine to undo exposures.
4. Find way to CRISPR edit my own brain.
Easy.
1. Study millions of other patients to find all genetic + environmental mechanisms.
2. Run 1000s of experiments to confirm observations.
3. Build time machine to undo exposures.
4. Find way to CRISPR edit my own brain.
Easy.
One of the aircraft carriers based here in San Diego left yesterday, more quietly than usual. No one seems to know where it's going.
San Diego-based aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln quietly leaves on deployment
The Navy has yet to say whether the flattop will be going to the Indo-Pacific or Middle East, or both.
www.sandiegouniontribune.com
November 26, 2025 at 12:40 AM
One of the aircraft carriers based here in San Diego left yesterday, more quietly than usual. No one seems to know where it's going.
To afford ZEBs, transit agencies are limiting service, which makes it harder to rely on them, which means more people drive. @airresources.bsky.social is accomplishing the exact opposite of their goal.
North County Transit District Struggles to Afford the Price of Being Carbon Free
The district, trying to meet a state regulation, can’t operate all its hydrogen buses due to the expensive cost of fuel.
voiceofsandiego.org
November 25, 2025 at 6:58 PM
To afford ZEBs, transit agencies are limiting service, which makes it harder to rely on them, which means more people drive. @airresources.bsky.social is accomplishing the exact opposite of their goal.
Reposted by Alex Wenzel
The AMA is starting to fracture under political pressure. Our analysis explains what changed this week, and why it matters.
November 23, 2025 at 4:02 AM
The AMA is starting to fracture under political pressure. Our analysis explains what changed this week, and why it matters.
This headline was written to earn approval from the El Cajon Police Department as it fights the California AG over its practice of helping red states enforce laws against traveling to receive reproductive healthcare.
If that’s why you’re coming to CA, do not drive through El Cajon.
If that’s why you’re coming to CA, do not drive through El Cajon.
November 25, 2025 at 5:14 PM
This headline was written to earn approval from the El Cajon Police Department as it fights the California AG over its practice of helping red states enforce laws against traveling to receive reproductive healthcare.
If that’s why you’re coming to CA, do not drive through El Cajon.
If that’s why you’re coming to CA, do not drive through El Cajon.
As is now predictable, the university has done nothing besides tell his colleagues to shut up.
November 25, 2025 at 7:09 AM
As is now predictable, the university has done nothing besides tell his colleagues to shut up.
Has been memory-holed that my institution sent an emergency text at 6am telling tens of thousands of people not to go to school/work and then launched an armed assault with 100s of cops, helicopters, rooftop snipers; against a few dozen people sleeping in tents, because it was scared of Joe Biden.
Would this be the same boomers who spent the last two years calling Gen Z college students "Hamas" for protesting a genocide and telling them they deserved to get their heads cracked by cops?
Opinion | The Boomers Are Protesting Trump. Where Is Gen Z?
www.nytimes.com
November 25, 2025 at 4:11 AM
Has been memory-holed that my institution sent an emergency text at 6am telling tens of thousands of people not to go to school/work and then launched an armed assault with 100s of cops, helicopters, rooftop snipers; against a few dozen people sleeping in tents, because it was scared of Joe Biden.
Reposted by Alex Wenzel
For the past decade, conversations around autism shifted from focusing around curing #ActuallyAutistic people to accommodating and accepting autistic people. We now live in the RFK Jr. backlash, which shifts discussions around autism toward prevention
www.ms.now/opinion/rfk-...
www.ms.now/opinion/rfk-...
Opinion | RFK Jr.'s latest anti-vaccine move will cause untold harm to autistic Americans
The Trump administration is working toward treating autism as something to be prevented, rather than building a health care system that helps people.
www.ms.now
November 25, 2025 at 3:04 AM
For the past decade, conversations around autism shifted from focusing around curing #ActuallyAutistic people to accommodating and accepting autistic people. We now live in the RFK Jr. backlash, which shifts discussions around autism toward prevention
www.ms.now/opinion/rfk-...
www.ms.now/opinion/rfk-...
Assuming this is accurate, that the Republicans actually **didn’t** want Congress to become a symbolic body is a pleasant surprise. Though I’m genuinely confused as to how they didn’t see this coming. It was so explicitly telegraphed that I thought they were in favor of it.
The crazy thing is Republican members of Congress gave away their power and now they’re mad that they gave away their power. Like Trump didn’t do this to you, you did it to yourselves
November 25, 2025 at 3:22 AM
Assuming this is accurate, that the Republicans actually **didn’t** want Congress to become a symbolic body is a pleasant surprise. Though I’m genuinely confused as to how they didn’t see this coming. It was so explicitly telegraphed that I thought they were in favor of it.
Reposted by Alex Wenzel
This is a story about how America’s world-leading cancer and dementia research system was destroyed by frauds and naifs who broke the law.
There must be consequences.
There must be consequences.
Some incredible details in this piece
*one DOGE faction was planning the future of the US government at a venture capital firm
*illegally communicating on Signal to avoid transparency laws was deeply embedded into organizational culture to be taken for granted
*one DOGE faction was planning the future of the US government at a venture capital firm
*illegally communicating on Signal to avoid transparency laws was deeply embedded into organizational culture to be taken for granted
November 22, 2025 at 10:12 PM
This is a story about how America’s world-leading cancer and dementia research system was destroyed by frauds and naifs who broke the law.
There must be consequences.
There must be consequences.
CTRL+F “Brownstone”, 0 results.
This article does not attempt to honestly answer the question of how he “became the most powerful man in science.” @michaelscherer.bsky.social is just a mouthpiece for oligarchy here.
This article does not attempt to honestly answer the question of how he “became the most powerful man in science.” @michaelscherer.bsky.social is just a mouthpiece for oligarchy here.
Over many interviews, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. told Michael Scherer about how he plans to remake America’s public-health system. Can he lead the scientific establishment he’s spent much of his life crusading against?
Read more in our new cover story: theatln.tc/q9hXxlbM
Read more in our new cover story: theatln.tc/q9hXxlbM
November 24, 2025 at 5:39 PM
CTRL+F “Brownstone”, 0 results.
This article does not attempt to honestly answer the question of how he “became the most powerful man in science.” @michaelscherer.bsky.social is just a mouthpiece for oligarchy here.
This article does not attempt to honestly answer the question of how he “became the most powerful man in science.” @michaelscherer.bsky.social is just a mouthpiece for oligarchy here.
Reposted by Alex Wenzel
cw: abuse of a disabled person resulting in death.
Every few months, SDUT writes a long-form update article on the state of the San Diego County jails and usually includes a reiteration of some of the deaths. It never gets shorter, or easier to read.
Every few months, SDUT writes a long-form update article on the state of the San Diego County jails and usually includes a reiteration of some of the deaths. It never gets shorter, or easier to read.
November 24, 2025 at 2:22 AM
cw: abuse of a disabled person resulting in death.
Every few months, SDUT writes a long-form update article on the state of the San Diego County jails and usually includes a reiteration of some of the deaths. It never gets shorter, or easier to read.
Every few months, SDUT writes a long-form update article on the state of the San Diego County jails and usually includes a reiteration of some of the deaths. It never gets shorter, or easier to read.
cw: abuse of a disabled person resulting in death.
Every few months, SDUT writes a long-form update article on the state of the San Diego County jails and usually includes a reiteration of some of the deaths. It never gets shorter, or easier to read.
Every few months, SDUT writes a long-form update article on the state of the San Diego County jails and usually includes a reiteration of some of the deaths. It never gets shorter, or easier to read.
November 24, 2025 at 2:22 AM
cw: abuse of a disabled person resulting in death.
Every few months, SDUT writes a long-form update article on the state of the San Diego County jails and usually includes a reiteration of some of the deaths. It never gets shorter, or easier to read.
Every few months, SDUT writes a long-form update article on the state of the San Diego County jails and usually includes a reiteration of some of the deaths. It never gets shorter, or easier to read.
I continue to hope San Diego DA Stephan is proud of herself. theintercept.com/2025/11/23/p...
The Feds Want to Make It Illegal to Even Possess an Anarchist Zine
Daniel Sanchez is facing federal charges for what free speech advocates say is a clear attack on the First Amendment.
theintercept.com
November 24, 2025 at 12:48 AM
I continue to hope San Diego DA Stephan is proud of herself. theintercept.com/2025/11/23/p...
Reposted by Alex Wenzel
When NIH would decide not to fund a high-scoring grant, it used to have to explain why. The regime has now ordered it to stop providing reasoning for rejecting high-scoring proposals.
This is concerning.
NIH is changing their policy so that staff have to prepare justification for every application that is funded BUT NO DOCUMENTATION FOR APPLICATIONS THAT ARE SKIPPED (BASED ON PERCENTILES).
1/2
NIH is changing their policy so that staff have to prepare justification for every application that is funded BUT NO DOCUMENTATION FOR APPLICATIONS THAT ARE SKIPPED (BASED ON PERCENTILES).
1/2
November 24, 2025 at 12:46 AM
When NIH would decide not to fund a high-scoring grant, it used to have to explain why. The regime has now ordered it to stop providing reasoning for rejecting high-scoring proposals.
Reposted by Alex Wenzel
A longtime staple on Mission Boulevard is missing what many call the “heart and soul of La Playa" after the owner was detained.
November 23, 2025 at 11:38 PM
A longtime staple on Mission Boulevard is missing what many call the “heart and soul of La Playa" after the owner was detained.
Reposted by Alex Wenzel
It’s blowing my mind that schools, universities, public services would run headlong into this. We spent 15 years documenting black boxes. This is a black box in a black hole!
I don't understand how anyone can watch how blatantly Grok is manipulated to answer the way ownership desires it to and then act like the other LLM chatbots couldn't possibly be similarly but less obviously compromised to produce responses in whatever way corporate interests and priorities dictate.
November 23, 2025 at 11:16 PM
It’s blowing my mind that schools, universities, public services would run headlong into this. We spent 15 years documenting black boxes. This is a black box in a black hole!
Reading this is like if a driver blew through a crosswalk, got out, and started giving a speech about traffic violence while I was still bleeding out under his car.
TAPPER: You were the deciding vote that allowed RFK Jr to ascend to the role of Health Secretary. Did you give him too much credit?
CASSIDY: The fact is the scientific community agrees that vaccines are safe. That's all I can say.
CASSIDY: The fact is the scientific community agrees that vaccines are safe. That's all I can say.
November 23, 2025 at 6:53 PM
Reading this is like if a driver blew through a crosswalk, got out, and started giving a speech about traffic violence while I was still bleeding out under his car.
Reposted by Alex Wenzel
This is the Turning Point USA spokesperson responding to a recent Islamophobic assault against students at the University of South Florida’s Muslim Student Association where several men associated with Warriors for Christ spit on students praying and waved bacon in their face.
November 23, 2025 at 1:59 AM
This is the Turning Point USA spokesperson responding to a recent Islamophobic assault against students at the University of South Florida’s Muslim Student Association where several men associated with Warriors for Christ spit on students praying and waved bacon in their face.
HHS has been trying to downplay the number of disrupted clinical trials. Recent reporting is that they account for 74,000 participants. Multiply the pain in this story by 74,000.
Just an absolutely gutting essay by Tatiana Schlossberg, a writer, mother of two young children, and cousin of RFK Jr who is dying of leukemia.
www.newyorker.com/culture/the-...
www.newyorker.com/culture/the-...
November 23, 2025 at 2:19 AM
HHS has been trying to downplay the number of disrupted clinical trials. Recent reporting is that they account for 74,000 participants. Multiply the pain in this story by 74,000.
Reposted by Alex Wenzel
It really is just simple geometry.
You cannot build a functional city if everyone brings a 2-ton living room on wheels with them.
You cannot build a functional city if everyone brings a 2-ton living room on wheels with them.
The entrance to the 3-storey bike parking garage at Utrecht Central holding 12,500 bicycles. It’s free for the first 24 hours, linked to the station, and used by tens of thousands every day. This is what happens when a country treats bikes as real transport infrastructure, not an afterthought.
November 22, 2025 at 11:28 PM
It really is just simple geometry.
You cannot build a functional city if everyone brings a 2-ton living room on wheels with them.
You cannot build a functional city if everyone brings a 2-ton living room on wheels with them.
Stuff like this has been happening in San Diego recently. Just hasn’t made the news.
A video from inside a Border Patrol vehicle shows agents chasing a US citizen for filming them. The citizen refused to get out when they illegally ordered him to stop. The agents say: "This is great." "This is fun." "He's going to get shot."
November 22, 2025 at 10:22 PM
Stuff like this has been happening in San Diego recently. Just hasn’t made the news.
Close it to cars between Bachmann Pl and the I-8 exit. It’s too narrow, 5 bus routes use it, and the highways and Friars are fine for anywhere a car is trying to go.
Ten minutes from SR-163 to FVTC on route 41 is absurd. Can’t expect people to leave their cars for that.
Ten minutes from SR-163 to FVTC on route 41 is absurd. Can’t expect people to leave their cars for that.
What’s with the Hotel Circle N traffic every weekend now?
November 22, 2025 at 9:05 PM
Close it to cars between Bachmann Pl and the I-8 exit. It’s too narrow, 5 bus routes use it, and the highways and Friars are fine for anywhere a car is trying to go.
Ten minutes from SR-163 to FVTC on route 41 is absurd. Can’t expect people to leave their cars for that.
Ten minutes from SR-163 to FVTC on route 41 is absurd. Can’t expect people to leave their cars for that.
What’s with the Hotel Circle N traffic every weekend now?
November 22, 2025 at 8:58 PM
What’s with the Hotel Circle N traffic every weekend now?