Brian Wasik
@brianrwasik.bsky.social
Virologist. Evolutionary biologist.
Reposted by Brian Wasik
Bluesky is that special place where someone will take time out from serialposting about how ICE can never defeat one mid sized midwesern city to post about how ICE is going to commandeer every voting booth in the US and all is lost
February 5, 2026 at 10:47 AM
Bluesky is that special place where someone will take time out from serialposting about how ICE can never defeat one mid sized midwesern city to post about how ICE is going to commandeer every voting booth in the US and all is lost
Amazing musician, great actor, astute thinker, of ethereal-like beauty... incredible in one person. Brilliant meta-art choice to present as an alien. Maybe even he believed it a bit too.
February 5, 2026 at 1:21 PM
Amazing musician, great actor, astute thinker, of ethereal-like beauty... incredible in one person. Brilliant meta-art choice to present as an alien. Maybe even he believed it a bit too.
Reposted by Brian Wasik
OMG. He literally went with "they were no angels" which is the mocking phrase people use to point out how authorities try to minimize their law enforcement executions. And he's using it earnestly because he doesn't realize how it's actually used.
Trump on Alex Pretti and Renee Good: "He was not an angel and she was not an angel. You know, you look at some tapes."
February 5, 2026 at 4:40 AM
OMG. He literally went with "they were no angels" which is the mocking phrase people use to point out how authorities try to minimize their law enforcement executions. And he's using it earnestly because he doesn't realize how it's actually used.
Reposted by Brian Wasik
i appreciate that you described the razor-edged pendulum swinging back and forth above us, and noted in detail that it is also slowly descending towards the table we're strapped to. and yet i can't help but ask why you failed to condemn these acts or make clear to your audience that they are bad?
February 5, 2026 at 12:59 PM
i appreciate that you described the razor-edged pendulum swinging back and forth above us, and noted in detail that it is also slowly descending towards the table we're strapped to. and yet i can't help but ask why you failed to condemn these acts or make clear to your audience that they are bad?
Reposted by Brian Wasik
The problem of ICE/CBP reform is we have a monster rampaging through our democracy and are trying to restrict *which* cities it can pillage and *how many* civilians it can eat. The problem isn’t the restrictions on the monster; the problem is the monster. www.doomsdayscenario.co/p/six-ways-t...
Six Ways to Reform ICE and CBP
And why congressional "reform" isn't actually the real problem....
www.doomsdayscenario.co
February 5, 2026 at 12:59 PM
The problem of ICE/CBP reform is we have a monster rampaging through our democracy and are trying to restrict *which* cities it can pillage and *how many* civilians it can eat. The problem isn’t the restrictions on the monster; the problem is the monster. www.doomsdayscenario.co/p/six-ways-t...
Reposted by Brian Wasik
Highlighting the speaker who stood in front of the Surprise mayor and told him to consider what the Mayor of Ohrdruf must’ve thought before he died by suicide: “He might have thought ‘how is this my fault I had no jurisdiction over this’ maybe he said ‘this site was not subject to local zoning.’”
February 4, 2026 at 6:43 AM
Highlighting the speaker who stood in front of the Surprise mayor and told him to consider what the Mayor of Ohrdruf must’ve thought before he died by suicide: “He might have thought ‘how is this my fault I had no jurisdiction over this’ maybe he said ‘this site was not subject to local zoning.’”
Reposted by Brian Wasik
I am not exaggerating: Removing this webpage warning against fake autism "treatments" will kill autistic people.
www.medpagetoday.com/neurology/au...
www.medpagetoday.com/neurology/au...
FDA Removes Warning Page About Dangerous Autism Treatments
Autism researchers question motivations for latest HHS changes, including the new IACC
www.medpagetoday.com
February 5, 2026 at 1:35 AM
I am not exaggerating: Removing this webpage warning against fake autism "treatments" will kill autistic people.
www.medpagetoday.com/neurology/au...
www.medpagetoday.com/neurology/au...
Reposted by Brian Wasik
a congressional foreign policy leader from a bygone era, lee hamilton always seemed driven by a commitment to the public interest, government accountability, and honesty. RIP.
Lee H. Hamilton, a Foreign Policy Power in Congress, Dies at 94
www.nytimes.com
February 5, 2026 at 1:16 AM
a congressional foreign policy leader from a bygone era, lee hamilton always seemed driven by a commitment to the public interest, government accountability, and honesty. RIP.
Reposted by Brian Wasik
the $75 million Jeff Bezos set on fire for that Melania propaganda piece could have funded most independent newsrooms for literally decades
always bears repeating that this is NOT a financial decision. jeff bezos is worth over 250 billion dollars. he can afford to lose many millions and never even notice it. this is, at its core, a political and personal decision by bezos to destroy the post
WASHINGTON (AP) — Washington Post says one-third of its staff across all departments, not just the newsroom, is being laid off.
February 4, 2026 at 3:11 PM
the $75 million Jeff Bezos set on fire for that Melania propaganda piece could have funded most independent newsrooms for literally decades
Reposted by Brian Wasik
Our founders, though deeply flawed, understood that democracy requires an informed citizenry and a government accountable to it people. That’s why the press is the only profession protected by the Constitution. It’s also why autocrats and oligarchs seek to control and destroy it.
February 4, 2026 at 8:58 PM
Our founders, though deeply flawed, understood that democracy requires an informed citizenry and a government accountable to it people. That’s why the press is the only profession protected by the Constitution. It’s also why autocrats and oligarchs seek to control and destroy it.
Reposted by Brian Wasik
A large CAVA bag stuffed with what it says is $50,000 for White House Border Czar Tom Homan.
It’s been reported Homan took bribery money when he was recorded by the FBI accepting a bag full of $50,000 in cash.
“ICE GTFO OF MN”
Minneapolis February 4, 2026
It’s been reported Homan took bribery money when he was recorded by the FBI accepting a bag full of $50,000 in cash.
“ICE GTFO OF MN”
Minneapolis February 4, 2026
February 4, 2026 at 11:07 PM
A large CAVA bag stuffed with what it says is $50,000 for White House Border Czar Tom Homan.
It’s been reported Homan took bribery money when he was recorded by the FBI accepting a bag full of $50,000 in cash.
“ICE GTFO OF MN”
Minneapolis February 4, 2026
It’s been reported Homan took bribery money when he was recorded by the FBI accepting a bag full of $50,000 in cash.
“ICE GTFO OF MN”
Minneapolis February 4, 2026
Reposted by Brian Wasik
I've been working on this one for a while. It's about how we got here, and where we're going. I hope you'll read it to the end. Gift link: www.theatlantic.com/politics/202...
February 4, 2026 at 8:55 PM
I've been working on this one for a while. It's about how we got here, and where we're going. I hope you'll read it to the end. Gift link: www.theatlantic.com/politics/202...
Reposted by Brian Wasik
The big tech founder whose 417-foot, $500 million superyacht needs a 256-foot, $75 million superyacht to "shadow" it -- because the bigger yacht lacks a helipad -- had to cut his paper's newsroom almost in half, for reasons
NEWS: The cuts were so severe that at least one department head asked to leave The Post rather than be included in the planning.
Peter Finn, The Post's international editor, requested that he be laid off once he learned about the scope of the cuts to his section.
www.nytimes.com/2026/02/04/b...
Peter Finn, The Post's international editor, requested that he be laid off once he learned about the scope of the cuts to his section.
www.nytimes.com/2026/02/04/b...
Washington Post Begins Sweeping Layoffs
www.nytimes.com
February 4, 2026 at 4:05 PM
The big tech founder whose 417-foot, $500 million superyacht needs a 256-foot, $75 million superyacht to "shadow" it -- because the bigger yacht lacks a helipad -- had to cut his paper's newsroom almost in half, for reasons
Reposted by Brian Wasik
Too many people on Bluesky think that relentless expressions of despair are a sign of intellectual sophistication.
February 4, 2026 at 8:18 PM
Too many people on Bluesky think that relentless expressions of despair are a sign of intellectual sophistication.
Reposted by Brian Wasik
weird to me that there's a whole class of people on here who will see this and immediately run to their keyboards to announce that it would terrify them, personally, out of voting. have some self respect
🚨BREAKING: Steve Bannon said Tuesday that the federal government is planning to send Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers to patrol polling stations during this year’s midterm elections. www.democracydocket.com/news-alerts/...
Steve Bannon says ICE will ‘surround the polls’ as Trump doubles down on taking over elections
Trump doubled down on his comments to nationalize voting Tuesday during an Oval Office press conference. “If you think about it, a state is an agent for the federal government in elections,” Trump sai...
www.democracydocket.com
February 4, 2026 at 8:14 PM
weird to me that there's a whole class of people on here who will see this and immediately run to their keyboards to announce that it would terrify them, personally, out of voting. have some self respect
Reposted by Brian Wasik
I think it's best for everyone to understand that the unified class project of billionaires right now is to do to white collar workers what globalization and neoliberalism did to blue collar workers.
February 4, 2026 at 7:41 PM
I think it's best for everyone to understand that the unified class project of billionaires right now is to do to white collar workers what globalization and neoliberalism did to blue collar workers.
Reposted by Brian Wasik
NEW: NEW: HHS is working on an AI tool to analyze VAERS—a database of vaccine injury claims to which anyone can make submissions—and "generate hypotheses." This is from @emilymullin.bsky.social:
HHS Is Making an AI Tool to Create Hypotheses About Vaccine Injury Claims
Experts worry Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s Health Department will use an internal AI tool to analyze vaccine injury claims in a way that furthers his anti-vaccine agenda.
www.wired.com
February 4, 2026 at 1:49 PM
NEW: NEW: HHS is working on an AI tool to analyze VAERS—a database of vaccine injury claims to which anyone can make submissions—and "generate hypotheses." This is from @emilymullin.bsky.social:
Almost like he directly lifted it from the cowardly fever dreams of some on this website trying to 'help'.
February 4, 2026 at 7:41 PM
Almost like he directly lifted it from the cowardly fever dreams of some on this website trying to 'help'.
Reposted by Brian Wasik
This one feels like an empty threat that's supposed to get into your head. Don't let your brain do propaganda for Trump's goobers, they don't have the horses to do this.
🚨BREAKING: Steve Bannon said Tuesday that the federal government is planning to send Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers to patrol polling stations during this year’s midterm elections. www.democracydocket.com/news-alerts/...
Steve Bannon says ICE will ‘surround the polls’ as Trump doubles down on taking over elections
Trump doubled down on his comments to nationalize voting Tuesday during an Oval Office press conference. “If you think about it, a state is an agent for the federal government in elections,” Trump sai...
www.democracydocket.com
February 4, 2026 at 7:26 PM
This one feels like an empty threat that's supposed to get into your head. Don't let your brain do propaganda for Trump's goobers, they don't have the horses to do this.
Reposted by Brian Wasik
INBOX: Washington Post Ukraine Correspondent Lizzie Johnson announces that she has been laid off in the middle of a below-freezing war zone without power, heat, or running water.
February 4, 2026 at 5:11 PM
INBOX: Washington Post Ukraine Correspondent Lizzie Johnson announces that she has been laid off in the middle of a below-freezing war zone without power, heat, or running water.
Reposted by Brian Wasik
Striking from new Quinnipiac poll:
*Voters prefer path to legalization over deportations for most undocs by 59-34. Among independents it's 61-33
*Majority says Trump on immigration is making America less safe
Again, there's broad rejection of the whole project, not just ICE tactics (see below)
*Voters prefer path to legalization over deportations for most undocs by 59-34. Among independents it's 61-33
*Majority says Trump on immigration is making America less safe
Again, there's broad rejection of the whole project, not just ICE tactics (see below)
February 4, 2026 at 7:12 PM
Striking from new Quinnipiac poll:
*Voters prefer path to legalization over deportations for most undocs by 59-34. Among independents it's 61-33
*Majority says Trump on immigration is making America less safe
Again, there's broad rejection of the whole project, not just ICE tactics (see below)
*Voters prefer path to legalization over deportations for most undocs by 59-34. Among independents it's 61-33
*Majority says Trump on immigration is making America less safe
Again, there's broad rejection of the whole project, not just ICE tactics (see below)
Reposted by Brian Wasik
NEW: A government attorney who was detailed to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Minnesota is no longer on that detail after telling a judge “this job sucks” and asking to be held in contempt so she could get 24 hours of sleep: www.nbcnews.com/politics/jus...
Attorney for government tells judge in ICE case: 'This job sucks'
Julie Le made the remark while she was representing the U.S. attorney’s office in Minnesota, where federal officers are conducting a massive immigration crackdown.
www.nbcnews.com
February 4, 2026 at 1:30 PM
NEW: A government attorney who was detailed to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Minnesota is no longer on that detail after telling a judge “this job sucks” and asking to be held in contempt so she could get 24 hours of sleep: www.nbcnews.com/politics/jus...
Reposted by Brian Wasik
"In 1974, Harald zur Hausen suggested that human papilloma virus (HPV) could give rise to cervical cancer. His work led to the development of a vaccine against the disease."
via nobelprize.org for #WorldCancerDay.
www.nobelprize.org/prizes/medic...
via nobelprize.org for #WorldCancerDay.
www.nobelprize.org/prizes/medic...
February 4, 2026 at 1:10 PM
"In 1974, Harald zur Hausen suggested that human papilloma virus (HPV) could give rise to cervical cancer. His work led to the development of a vaccine against the disease."
via nobelprize.org for #WorldCancerDay.
www.nobelprize.org/prizes/medic...
via nobelprize.org for #WorldCancerDay.
www.nobelprize.org/prizes/medic...
Reposted by Brian Wasik
We love them so much we send masked men with guns to terrorize them for not thinking exactly like us. That's love you see. bsky.app/profile/atru...
Q: Pope Leo cited Matthew 25:35 to critique Donald Trump's mass deportation agenda. How would you respond to Pope Leo in scripture?
MIKE JOHNSON: Sovereign borders are biblical and right and just. It's not because we hate the people on the outside. It's because we love the people on the inside.
MIKE JOHNSON: Sovereign borders are biblical and right and just. It's not because we hate the people on the outside. It's because we love the people on the inside.
February 4, 2026 at 12:33 PM
We love them so much we send masked men with guns to terrorize them for not thinking exactly like us. That's love you see. bsky.app/profile/atru...
Reposted by Brian Wasik
Remarkable: Trump's planned migrant prison camps are hitting deep resistance in red areas. In Virginia's partly rural Hanover (+26 Trump) opposition is intense. GOP leaders in other states are opposed.
Voters are rejecting mass deportations big time. 1/
(new piece)
newrepublic.com/article/2060...
Voters are rejecting mass deportations big time. 1/
(new piece)
newrepublic.com/article/2060...
Trump’s New “Prison Camp” Threat Unleashes Fury Even in MAGA Country
The next phase of ICE’s big ramp-up: a nationwide network of vast detention facilities. But guess what? Even parts of Red America are saying no.
newrepublic.com
February 4, 2026 at 12:30 PM
Remarkable: Trump's planned migrant prison camps are hitting deep resistance in red areas. In Virginia's partly rural Hanover (+26 Trump) opposition is intense. GOP leaders in other states are opposed.
Voters are rejecting mass deportations big time. 1/
(new piece)
newrepublic.com/article/2060...
Voters are rejecting mass deportations big time. 1/
(new piece)
newrepublic.com/article/2060...