Deborah Blum
@deborahb.bsky.social
Book author, toxicology journalist, fascinated by poison and murder (current book project), and, oh yeah, I'm the former director of the Knight Science Journalism program at MIT.
Reposted by Deborah Blum
Tyson is closing a Nebraska plant that employs 3,200 workers in order to “right-size” its business.
The meatpacking giant paid its CEO $22.7M last year, 525x its median employee's pay.
It also spent $196M in stock buybacks to reward shareholders.
Textbook corporate greed.
The meatpacking giant paid its CEO $22.7M last year, 525x its median employee's pay.
It also spent $196M in stock buybacks to reward shareholders.
Textbook corporate greed.
November 24, 2025 at 8:30 PM
Tyson is closing a Nebraska plant that employs 3,200 workers in order to “right-size” its business.
The meatpacking giant paid its CEO $22.7M last year, 525x its median employee's pay.
It also spent $196M in stock buybacks to reward shareholders.
Textbook corporate greed.
The meatpacking giant paid its CEO $22.7M last year, 525x its median employee's pay.
It also spent $196M in stock buybacks to reward shareholders.
Textbook corporate greed.
Reposted by Deborah Blum
I truly believe the future of journalism is non-profit — just like @sltrib.com
Remember last year when we said we would drop The Tribune's paywall if we raised enough money to support the transition to free? About that… 😁
The Salt Lake Tribune will drop its paywall next year, CEO tells donors at NewsMakers gala
After years of requiring people to pay for online news content, The Tribune announced an upcoming change during its 2025 annual NewsMakers Gala.
www.sltrib.com
November 25, 2025 at 2:07 AM
I truly believe the future of journalism is non-profit — just like @sltrib.com
This.
I want to talk about why journalism is important. It's an evergreen topic, but seems particularly important right now.
So, buckle up. This thread won't be short, but it will be (I think) good.
/🧵
So, buckle up. This thread won't be short, but it will be (I think) good.
/🧵
November 25, 2025 at 4:57 PM
This.
This beautiful, heart-breaking story about loss and grief and grace by the amazing journalist @emfoxhall.bsky.social: They couldn't save their daughters' lives in the July 4 floods. Now they're dealing with the grief and the guilt. www.texastribune.org/2025/11/25/t...
Texas couple grieves children, parents lost in July 4 flood
RJ and Annie Harber have leaned on faith, their community and each other to move through each day after losing their daughters and RJ’s parents. But memories of that night still haunt them.
www.texastribune.org
November 25, 2025 at 4:13 PM
This beautiful, heart-breaking story about loss and grief and grace by the amazing journalist @emfoxhall.bsky.social: They couldn't save their daughters' lives in the July 4 floods. Now they're dealing with the grief and the guilt. www.texastribune.org/2025/11/25/t...
ICYMI this very smart piece by @tomzellerjr.com, the very smart author of the book, The Headache.
Opinion | Your Headache Is Serious. Science Should Take It Seriously.
www.nytimes.com
November 25, 2025 at 3:18 PM
ICYMI this very smart piece by @tomzellerjr.com, the very smart author of the book, The Headache.
"The website now states: “‘vaccines do not cause autism’ is not an evidence-based claim.” This is false. Nearly 3 decades of scientific research, consisting of dozens of high-quality studies, surveying millions of people, has repeatedly confirmed no causal link between vaccines and autism."
Leading Autism and Disability Organizations Statement on CDC's Vaccines and Autism Page
As national organizations dedicated to advancing the well-being of autistic individuals and partners across the disability and public health sectors, we are deeply disappointed by the latest update to...
autisticadvocacy.org
November 25, 2025 at 2:47 PM
"The website now states: “‘vaccines do not cause autism’ is not an evidence-based claim.” This is false. Nearly 3 decades of scientific research, consisting of dozens of high-quality studies, surveying millions of people, has repeatedly confirmed no causal link between vaccines and autism."
This alert says August but it's actually an update. The FDA has added 9 brands of cookware to its list of products that can leach dangerous amounts of lead. It warns: "Young children, women of child-bearing age, and those who are breastfeeding may be at higher risk".
FDA Issues Warning About Imported Cookware That May Leach Lead: August
Retailers should not sell and consumers should not use certain cookware because of their potential to leach lead into food when cooking.
www.fda.gov
November 24, 2025 at 9:44 PM
This alert says August but it's actually an update. The FDA has added 9 brands of cookware to its list of products that can leach dangerous amounts of lead. It warns: "Young children, women of child-bearing age, and those who are breastfeeding may be at higher risk".
Reposted by Deborah Blum
Funding alert: @grist.org is offering grants of up to $5,000 for reporting on rural climate issues and environmental justice in the United States. Newsrooms and freelancers are welcome to apply. Please share! grist.org/updates/gris...
Grist opens applications for new rural reporting grants on climate and environmental justice
Applicants can request up to $5,000 per project.
grist.org
November 11, 2025 at 9:47 PM
Funding alert: @grist.org is offering grants of up to $5,000 for reporting on rural climate issues and environmental justice in the United States. Newsrooms and freelancers are welcome to apply. Please share! grist.org/updates/gris...
Plant adaptation stories are so fascinating. And hopeful.
My latest for @livescience.com
Death Valley shrub rearranges its insides to thrive in one of the hottest places on Earth
www.livescience.com/planet-earth...
Death Valley shrub rearranges its insides to thrive in one of the hottest places on Earth
www.livescience.com/planet-earth...
Death Valley shrub rearranges its insides to thrive in one of the hottest places on Earth
Heat-loving plants that thrive in California's Death Valley could hold the key to growing crops in a changing climate.
www.livescience.com
November 24, 2025 at 11:36 AM
Plant adaptation stories are so fascinating. And hopeful.
Reposted by Deborah Blum
In every dystopian novel: the government bans books.
In reality: we gave up reading voluntarily.
In reality: we gave up reading voluntarily.
November 24, 2025 at 11:14 AM
In every dystopian novel: the government bans books.
In reality: we gave up reading voluntarily.
In reality: we gave up reading voluntarily.
Can’t be said too much.
Vaccines DO NOT cause autism - there is extensive research showing this. Resurrecting old, discredited, fraudulent work is shameful.
Vaccine-preventable illnesses are serious - this is going to cause real harms.
This is dangerous & disappointing.
Vaccine-preventable illnesses are serious - this is going to cause real harms.
This is dangerous & disappointing.
November 22, 2025 at 8:52 PM
Can’t be said too much.
Reposted by Deborah Blum
RFK Jr. revealed that he personally ordered the CDC to change its website to push the widely debunked claim that vaccines and autism are linked
CDC’s Autism Website ‘Update’ Came Directly From Kennedy, He Says
Ex-CDC vaccines chief Dr. Demetre Daskalakis called the update a “national embarrassment.”
www.huffpost.com
November 21, 2025 at 7:21 PM
RFK Jr. revealed that he personally ordered the CDC to change its website to push the widely debunked claim that vaccines and autism are linked
Reposted by Deborah Blum
Nothing to see here. Just the White House needing to reassure the public that Piggy doesn't want to murder members of Congress. 😩
November 21, 2025 at 7:38 PM
Nothing to see here. Just the White House needing to reassure the public that Piggy doesn't want to murder members of Congress. 😩
Reposted by Deborah Blum
Imagine, if you will, that NASA updated its website to suggest gravity might not exist, prompting CalTech and CERN to release statements saying, "With great sadness, we can no longer recommend listening to NASA."
This is what's happening in epidemiology.
This is what's happening in epidemiology.
November 21, 2025 at 8:58 PM
Imagine, if you will, that NASA updated its website to suggest gravity might not exist, prompting CalTech and CERN to release statements saying, "With great sadness, we can no longer recommend listening to NASA."
This is what's happening in epidemiology.
This is what's happening in epidemiology.
Reposted by Deborah Blum
I’m really surprised this isn’t bigger news. Just under 10 million people live in Tehran. Where can they go? Where else in Iran will have enough water? This will undoubtedly strain the country’s and the region’s politics, finances and governance capacity.
'Iran’s capital must be moved because the country “no longer has a choice,” President Masoud Pezeshkian said on Thursday in remarks carried by state media, warning that severe ecological strain has made Tehran impossible to sustain'
#Iran 🇮🇷
#Iran 🇮🇷
Iran president says capital move now a necessity as water crisis deepens
Iran’s capital must be moved because the country “no longer has a choice,” President Masoud Pezeshkian said on Thursday in remarks carried by state media, warning that severe ecological strain has mad...
www.iranintl.com
November 21, 2025 at 8:13 PM
I’m really surprised this isn’t bigger news. Just under 10 million people live in Tehran. Where can they go? Where else in Iran will have enough water? This will undoubtedly strain the country’s and the region’s politics, finances and governance capacity.
Reposted by Deborah Blum
Reposted by Deborah Blum
Also crucial from Rep Chrissy Houlahan:
One reason she and other Dems did the video about Trump's illegal orders is that they're hearing from inside the military and intel services of actual live fears that they're being given unlawful commands:
newrepublic.com/article/2034...
One reason she and other Dems did the video about Trump's illegal orders is that they're hearing from inside the military and intel services of actual live fears that they're being given unlawful commands:
newrepublic.com/article/2034...
November 21, 2025 at 12:57 PM
Also crucial from Rep Chrissy Houlahan:
One reason she and other Dems did the video about Trump's illegal orders is that they're hearing from inside the military and intel services of actual live fears that they're being given unlawful commands:
newrepublic.com/article/2034...
One reason she and other Dems did the video about Trump's illegal orders is that they're hearing from inside the military and intel services of actual live fears that they're being given unlawful commands:
newrepublic.com/article/2034...
Reposted by Deborah Blum
EXCLUSIVE: CDC to end all monkey studies. Decision handed down by recent college grad and former DOGE employee who is now deputy chief of staff at the agency. Animals were being used in studies of HIV prevention. Some may be euthanized. My latest for @science.org
Exclusive: CDC to end all monkey research
Studies related to HIV and other infectious diseases will be phased out, sources say; fate of the agency's animals remains unclear
www.science.org
November 21, 2025 at 2:16 PM
EXCLUSIVE: CDC to end all monkey studies. Decision handed down by recent college grad and former DOGE employee who is now deputy chief of staff at the agency. Animals were being used in studies of HIV prevention. Some may be euthanized. My latest for @science.org
Reposted by Deborah Blum
A killer disease that should no longer exist. The existence of an effective HPV vaccine should have meant cervical cancer was stamped out. Instead, it’s the fastest growing cancer in Canada. www.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/edit... via @theglobeandmail.com
Globe editorial: A killer disease that should no longer exist
The existence of an effective HPV vaccine should have meant cervical cancer was stamped out. Instead, it’s the fastest growing cancer in Canada
www.theglobeandmail.com
November 21, 2025 at 2:17 PM
A killer disease that should no longer exist. The existence of an effective HPV vaccine should have meant cervical cancer was stamped out. Instead, it’s the fastest growing cancer in Canada. www.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/edit... via @theglobeandmail.com
This is fascinating.
Monet, Munch, and Pissarro all used emerald green paint made from copper acetoarsenite pigment. Chemists have discovered that this pigment breaks down via two distinct chemical pathways. My latest for @cenmag.bsky.social
cen.acs.org/analytical-c...
cen.acs.org/analytical-c...
How to prevent emerald-green oil paint from breaking down
Chemists decipher dual degradation pathways for a once popular pigment
cen.acs.org
November 21, 2025 at 2:37 PM
This is fascinating.
This is dangerous. "FDA has received reports that recalled formula is still being found on store shelves in multiple states, including at multiple Walmart, Target, and Kroger locations, and at one or more Sprouts Organic Market, Safeway, Jewel-Osco, Shaw’s, and Star Market locations."
Outbreak Investigation of Infant Botulism: Infant Formula
Do not use recalled ByHeart Whole Nutrition Infant Formula. FDA’s Investigation is ongoing.
www.fda.gov
November 21, 2025 at 2:31 PM
This is dangerous. "FDA has received reports that recalled formula is still being found on store shelves in multiple states, including at multiple Walmart, Target, and Kroger locations, and at one or more Sprouts Organic Market, Safeway, Jewel-Osco, Shaw’s, and Star Market locations."
Reposted by Deborah Blum
The New York Times' story about Trump calling for the execution of members of Congress ran on Page 16 today, with an itty-bitty promo on the front about halfway down the page.
No wonder Trump thinks he can get away with anything.
No wonder Trump thinks he can get away with anything.
November 21, 2025 at 2:01 PM
The New York Times' story about Trump calling for the execution of members of Congress ran on Page 16 today, with an itty-bitty promo on the front about halfway down the page.
No wonder Trump thinks he can get away with anything.
No wonder Trump thinks he can get away with anything.
Reposted by Deborah Blum
EPSTEIN BOMBSHELL: my staff is releasing a new report showing JPMorgan Chase executives – all the way to the top – enabled Epstein's sex trafficking operation. You're going to want to read this.
Wyden Presses for Investigation Into JPMorgan Chase and Epstein
www.nytimes.com
November 20, 2025 at 3:26 PM
EPSTEIN BOMBSHELL: my staff is releasing a new report showing JPMorgan Chase executives – all the way to the top – enabled Epstein's sex trafficking operation. You're going to want to read this.
Reposted by Deborah Blum
Small government conservativism
NEW AP INVESTIGATION: With license plate readers and local law enforcement partnerships, Border Patrol is monitoring American drivers and detaining those exhibiting ‘suspicious’ travel patterns in the U.S. interior. w/
@garanceburke.bsky.social. apnews.com/article/immi...
@garanceburke.bsky.social. apnews.com/article/immi...
Border Patrol is monitoring US drivers and detaining those with 'suspicious' travel patterns
The U.S. Border Patrol is monitoring millions of American drivers nationwide in a secretive program to identify and detain people whose travel patterns it deems suspicious.
apnews.com
November 20, 2025 at 8:34 PM
Small government conservativism