epimom.bsky.social
@epimom.bsky.social
Infectious disease epidemiologist. Queer. She/her. Mom. Midwesterner. Views my own.
Reposted by epimom.bsky.social
A new study finds that when people feel distant from politics, conspiracy beliefs rise. And when researchers reduced that distance, conspiracy thinking fell.
Making politics more accessible and relatable may help reduce conspiratorial beliefs.
matthewfacciani.substack.com/p/please-red...
Making politics more accessible and relatable may help reduce conspiratorial beliefs.
matthewfacciani.substack.com/p/please-red...
Please Reduce the Gap: How Feeling Distant From Politics Fuels Conspiracy Thinking
What a new study reveals about psychological distance, conspiratorial thinking, and why connection, not just correction, matters.
matthewfacciani.substack.com
December 1, 2025 at 7:52 PM
A new study finds that when people feel distant from politics, conspiracy beliefs rise. And when researchers reduced that distance, conspiracy thinking fell.
Making politics more accessible and relatable may help reduce conspiratorial beliefs.
matthewfacciani.substack.com/p/please-red...
Making politics more accessible and relatable may help reduce conspiratorial beliefs.
matthewfacciani.substack.com/p/please-red...
Reposted by epimom.bsky.social
If you run across a gen A.I. slop 🤖💩 diagram in an academic journal, I’d love to know about it! Please fill out this form:
docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...
Slop in journals is illuminating about journals’ quality control. And journals would like you to forget their mistakes.
#AcademicChatter
docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...
Slop in journals is illuminating about journals’ quality control. And journals would like you to forget their mistakes.
#AcademicChatter
Slop graphics in academic journals
Use this form to share graphics (e.g., figures, covers, graphical abstracts) made using generative A.I. that have appeared in academic journals.
The plan is to compile these slop graphics in an ope...
docs.google.com
December 1, 2025 at 6:36 PM
If you run across a gen A.I. slop 🤖💩 diagram in an academic journal, I’d love to know about it! Please fill out this form:
docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...
Slop in journals is illuminating about journals’ quality control. And journals would like you to forget their mistakes.
#AcademicChatter
docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...
Slop in journals is illuminating about journals’ quality control. And journals would like you to forget their mistakes.
#AcademicChatter
Reposted by epimom.bsky.social
We must keep calling out those that cave to the Trump Admin, and the latest is Northwestern.
As part of their "deal," NU will pay $75 million, stop vital research, renege on agreements with its students over the war in Gaza, and more.
Throwing your students under the bus to please Trump. Shameful.
As part of their "deal," NU will pay $75 million, stop vital research, renege on agreements with its students over the war in Gaza, and more.
Throwing your students under the bus to please Trump. Shameful.
Northwestern Agrees to a Deal With Trump Administration
www.nytimes.com
December 1, 2025 at 1:26 PM
We must keep calling out those that cave to the Trump Admin, and the latest is Northwestern.
As part of their "deal," NU will pay $75 million, stop vital research, renege on agreements with its students over the war in Gaza, and more.
Throwing your students under the bus to please Trump. Shameful.
As part of their "deal," NU will pay $75 million, stop vital research, renege on agreements with its students over the war in Gaza, and more.
Throwing your students under the bus to please Trump. Shameful.
Reposted by epimom.bsky.social
It is incredibly strange that these schools seem to factor in zero reputational, enrollment, or recruitment damage to their “settling with Trump” equation, when clearly there’s a major hit to all three.
We must keep calling out those that cave to the Trump Admin, and the latest is Northwestern.
As part of their "deal," NU will pay $75 million, stop vital research, renege on agreements with its students over the war in Gaza, and more.
Throwing your students under the bus to please Trump. Shameful.
As part of their "deal," NU will pay $75 million, stop vital research, renege on agreements with its students over the war in Gaza, and more.
Throwing your students under the bus to please Trump. Shameful.
Northwestern Agrees to a Deal With Trump Administration
www.nytimes.com
December 1, 2025 at 1:34 PM
It is incredibly strange that these schools seem to factor in zero reputational, enrollment, or recruitment damage to their “settling with Trump” equation, when clearly there’s a major hit to all three.
Reposted by epimom.bsky.social
9/ Grateful to @pulitzercenter.org, the Fund for Investigative Journalism & @theintercept.com for their support of Afeef’s and my work.
If you would like for me to be able to keep doing this kind of reporting, please become a member of The Intercept join.theintercept.com/donate/now?s...
If you would like for me to be able to keep doing this kind of reporting, please become a member of The Intercept join.theintercept.com/donate/now?s...
Become a Member of The Intercept
Protecting freedom of the press has never been more important. Support The Intercept’s independent journalism by becoming a member today.
join.theintercept.com
December 1, 2025 at 3:41 PM
9/ Grateful to @pulitzercenter.org, the Fund for Investigative Journalism & @theintercept.com for their support of Afeef’s and my work.
If you would like for me to be able to keep doing this kind of reporting, please become a member of The Intercept join.theintercept.com/donate/now?s...
If you would like for me to be able to keep doing this kind of reporting, please become a member of The Intercept join.theintercept.com/donate/now?s...
Reposted by epimom.bsky.social
1/ For six months, I've been traveling the world on Pulitzer Ctr & Fund For Investigative Journalism grants investigating Trump's effect on HIV & LGBTQ health. On World AIDS Day, @theintercept.com is publishing an overview essay of Afeef Nessouli & my findings. theintercept.com/2025/12/01/w...
Trump Gutted AIDS Health Care at the Worst Possible Time
By the first World AIDS Day of his second term, Trump gutted LGBTQ+ employment globally and put humanity at greater risk of AIDS.
theintercept.com
December 1, 2025 at 3:03 PM
1/ For six months, I've been traveling the world on Pulitzer Ctr & Fund For Investigative Journalism grants investigating Trump's effect on HIV & LGBTQ health. On World AIDS Day, @theintercept.com is publishing an overview essay of Afeef Nessouli & my findings. theintercept.com/2025/12/01/w...
Reposted by epimom.bsky.social
If you are a solider that gets an order you expect might be illegal this creates even more incentive for them to disobey the order because if it comes out the order WAS illegal it's clear the regime will throw you on the bus rather than back you up.
December 1, 2025 at 4:25 PM
If you are a solider that gets an order you expect might be illegal this creates even more incentive for them to disobey the order because if it comes out the order WAS illegal it's clear the regime will throw you on the bus rather than back you up.
Reposted by epimom.bsky.social
“One person is an autocratic president of the university for decades” certainly wasn’t a flawless system but it’s clear that “admins hop from job to job scaling the career ladder by filling their CV with ‘accomplishments’ that are expensive burdens to the schools they leave behind” is even worse.
The worst thing to happen to academia was the emergence of a nomadic administrative class like the one in corporations who just move from institution to institution setting fires and walking away.
Say what you will about the flaws of faculty governance, but at least they believe in the mission.
Say what you will about the flaws of faculty governance, but at least they believe in the mission.
December 1, 2025 at 4:28 PM
“One person is an autocratic president of the university for decades” certainly wasn’t a flawless system but it’s clear that “admins hop from job to job scaling the career ladder by filling their CV with ‘accomplishments’ that are expensive burdens to the schools they leave behind” is even worse.
Reposted by epimom.bsky.social
Whoa now THIS is toadying
When newspapers are owned by billionaires you get headlines like this 🤡
The Jeff Bezos- owned @washingtonpost.com , folks 🙃 🤦🏻♂️
The Jeff Bezos- owned @washingtonpost.com , folks 🙃 🤦🏻♂️
December 1, 2025 at 4:54 PM
Whoa now THIS is toadying
Reposted by epimom.bsky.social
COMING SOON: AI + Guy™
December 1, 2025 at 1:11 AM
COMING SOON: AI + Guy™
Reposted by epimom.bsky.social
"All of this falls apart if humans don't adopt the tech. This is why you've seen Meta cram its lame chatbots into WhatsApp and Instagram. This is why Notepad and Paint now have useless Copilot buttons on Windows. This is why Google Gemini wants to "help you" read and reply to your emails."
Analysis: OpenAI is a loss-making machine, how can it survive?
Don't call it a bubble! Loss-making monster OpenAI is on the hook for $1.4 trillion (with a T) in compute commitments. How can this go on?
www.windowscentral.com
November 29, 2025 at 11:30 PM
"All of this falls apart if humans don't adopt the tech. This is why you've seen Meta cram its lame chatbots into WhatsApp and Instagram. This is why Notepad and Paint now have useless Copilot buttons on Windows. This is why Google Gemini wants to "help you" read and reply to your emails."
Reposted by epimom.bsky.social
Senator Kelly is correct.
Plus a Public Service Announcement:
KEY section of Department of Defense's Law of War Manual is 18.3.2.1.
The VERY rule on the "requirement" to refuse illegal orders gives as its paradigmatic example of what is "clearly illegal:
"orders to fire upon the shipwrecked."
Plus a Public Service Announcement:
KEY section of Department of Defense's Law of War Manual is 18.3.2.1.
The VERY rule on the "requirement" to refuse illegal orders gives as its paradigmatic example of what is "clearly illegal:
"orders to fire upon the shipwrecked."
November 30, 2025 at 4:35 PM
Senator Kelly is correct.
Plus a Public Service Announcement:
KEY section of Department of Defense's Law of War Manual is 18.3.2.1.
The VERY rule on the "requirement" to refuse illegal orders gives as its paradigmatic example of what is "clearly illegal:
"orders to fire upon the shipwrecked."
Plus a Public Service Announcement:
KEY section of Department of Defense's Law of War Manual is 18.3.2.1.
The VERY rule on the "requirement" to refuse illegal orders gives as its paradigmatic example of what is "clearly illegal:
"orders to fire upon the shipwrecked."
Reposted by epimom.bsky.social
Perfect natural experiment. If Biden and Congress had treated the Jan 6th insurrection like the treason it was and jailed the people behind it, Trump’s power would have shriveled on the vine.
"Mussolini once said that he didn’t create fascism – he extracted it from the Italians’ unconscious. And I think it’s the same thing with Bolsonarismo. Bolsonaro dies, but these radical ideas and ideology are here to stay." www.theguardian.com/world/2025/n...
‘Foam that’s washed away’: support dissolves as Bolsonaro starts 27-year jail term
Brazil shows little sign of feared rightwing rebellion, with only a few die-hards protesting outside prison
www.theguardian.com
November 30, 2025 at 7:11 PM
Perfect natural experiment. If Biden and Congress had treated the Jan 6th insurrection like the treason it was and jailed the people behind it, Trump’s power would have shriveled on the vine.
Reposted by epimom.bsky.social
I think this is part of the dynamic but part of it also is that Hegseth is Not Vance’s Guy and his likely successor is. so some of this is rats and a sinking ship, some of this is oops all viziers.
When a president tries to change a democracy into an authoritarian regime, it's an inherently precarious position.
Trump has been acting as if he had consolidated a hybrid regime, but the truth of the matter is that he hasn't. Now that Republicans smell weakness, they're openly opposing him.
Trump has been acting as if he had consolidated a hybrid regime, but the truth of the matter is that he hasn't. Now that Republicans smell weakness, they're openly opposing him.
Rep. Mike Turner on the double strike to comply with Hegseth's orders: "If that occurred, that would be very serious and I agree that would be an illegal act…This is completely outside of anything that has been discussed with Congress and there is an ongoing investigation."
November 30, 2025 at 9:00 PM
I think this is part of the dynamic but part of it also is that Hegseth is Not Vance’s Guy and his likely successor is. so some of this is rats and a sinking ship, some of this is oops all viziers.
Reposted by epimom.bsky.social
LSU is paying its previous football coach over $50 million NOT to coach there while likely guaranteeing Kiffin something approaching double that, all while having an academic hiring freeze and budget cuts across the board. What is the purpose of a university (rhetorical)?
SOURCES: Lane Kiffin is expected to accept LSU's offer to become the Tigers next head coach. Kiffin is set to meet with his Ole Miss team this morning at 9 AM CT. As we reported yesterday morning, LSU has been very confident it was going to land Kiffin. www.nytimes.com/athletic/684...
Lane Kiffin expected to take LSU job as Ole Miss sets team meeting: Source
www.nytimes.com
November 30, 2025 at 2:06 PM
LSU is paying its previous football coach over $50 million NOT to coach there while likely guaranteeing Kiffin something approaching double that, all while having an academic hiring freeze and budget cuts across the board. What is the purpose of a university (rhetorical)?
Reposted by epimom.bsky.social
Hegseth’s only qualification for the job of Secretary of Defense was his TV punditry in support of war crimes. Of course he would do that. That’s why Trump hired him.
GOP Rep. Don Bacon: "I don't think Secretary Hegseth would be foolish enough to make this decision to say, 'Kill everybody. Kill the survivors,' because that's a clear violation of the law of war."
November 30, 2025 at 6:11 PM
Hegseth’s only qualification for the job of Secretary of Defense was his TV punditry in support of war crimes. Of course he would do that. That’s why Trump hired him.
Reposted by epimom.bsky.social
Goldsmith says Vice-Admiral Bradley should have refused the order
November 29, 2025 at 1:50 PM
Goldsmith says Vice-Admiral Bradley should have refused the order
Reposted by epimom.bsky.social
Bash: "Do you believe if there was a second strike to eliminate any survivors that it constitutes a war crime?"
Mark Kelly: "It seems to."
Bash: "If you received that order, would you have carried it out?"
Mark Kelly: "No…Going after survivors in the water is unlawful."
Mark Kelly: "It seems to."
Bash: "If you received that order, would you have carried it out?"
Mark Kelly: "No…Going after survivors in the water is unlawful."
November 30, 2025 at 2:15 PM
Bash: "Do you believe if there was a second strike to eliminate any survivors that it constitutes a war crime?"
Mark Kelly: "It seems to."
Bash: "If you received that order, would you have carried it out?"
Mark Kelly: "No…Going after survivors in the water is unlawful."
Mark Kelly: "It seems to."
Bash: "If you received that order, would you have carried it out?"
Mark Kelly: "No…Going after survivors in the water is unlawful."
Reposted by epimom.bsky.social
We could have UBI, so human artists could make art without fear of starvation, and people could investigate anything they wanted to, leading to better journalism.
But the wealthy few don't actually want good things, they would rather pay whatever it costs to eliminate human creativity.
But the wealthy few don't actually want good things, they would rather pay whatever it costs to eliminate human creativity.
Imagine if they just subsidized newspapers and magazines the way they’re subsidizing this slop
"All of this falls apart if humans don't adopt the tech. This is why you've seen Meta cram its lame chatbots into WhatsApp and Instagram. This is why Notepad and Paint now have useless Copilot buttons on Windows. This is why Google Gemini wants to "help you" read and reply to your emails."
November 30, 2025 at 1:46 PM
We could have UBI, so human artists could make art without fear of starvation, and people could investigate anything they wanted to, leading to better journalism.
But the wealthy few don't actually want good things, they would rather pay whatever it costs to eliminate human creativity.
But the wealthy few don't actually want good things, they would rather pay whatever it costs to eliminate human creativity.
Reposted by epimom.bsky.social
Decades ago, Kris Hansen showed 3M that its PFAS chemicals were in people's bodies. Her bosses halted her work.
Now she wrestles with the secrets that 3M kept from her and the world.
(Published May 2024)
Now she wrestles with the secrets that 3M kept from her and the world.
(Published May 2024)
Toxic Gaslighting: How 3M Executives Convinced a Scientist the Forever Chemicals She Found in Human Blood Were Safe
Decades ago, Kris Hansen showed 3M that its PFAS chemicals were in people’s bodies. Her bosses halted her work. As the EPA now forces the removal of the chemicals from drinking water, she wrestles wit...
www.propublica.org
November 29, 2025 at 11:00 PM
Decades ago, Kris Hansen showed 3M that its PFAS chemicals were in people's bodies. Her bosses halted her work.
Now she wrestles with the secrets that 3M kept from her and the world.
(Published May 2024)
Now she wrestles with the secrets that 3M kept from her and the world.
(Published May 2024)
Reposted by epimom.bsky.social
There is a direct correlation between how fake your job is and how much value you see in AI
A study by Dayforce shows 87% of executives use AI for work, compared to 57% of managers and just 27% of employees.
I think this explains the massive disconnect we see in how CEOs talk about AI versus everyone else. It also raises the question of how useful it truly is for frontline work?
I think this explains the massive disconnect we see in how CEOs talk about AI versus everyone else. It also raises the question of how useful it truly is for frontline work?
Execs are embracing AI more than their employees are, new research suggests
Research from HR software company Dayforce suggests that executives are leaning into AI far more than their employees.
www.businessinsider.com
November 29, 2025 at 4:28 PM
There is a direct correlation between how fake your job is and how much value you see in AI
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A touchstone, as I try to convince those I care for (including myself) that we are precious & loved separate from labor or even effort.
Re-reading Becky Chambers’ *A Psalm for the Wild-Built* for class & moved again by:
“You keep asking why your work is not enough, & I don’t know how to answer that, because it is enough to exist in the world & marvel at it. You don’t need to justify that, or earn it. You are allowed to just live”
“You keep asking why your work is not enough, & I don’t know how to answer that, because it is enough to exist in the world & marvel at it. You don’t need to justify that, or earn it. You are allowed to just live”
November 29, 2025 at 5:53 PM
A touchstone, as I try to convince those I care for (including myself) that we are precious & loved separate from labor or even effort.
Reposted by epimom.bsky.social
THIS THIS THIS. COVID-19 killed kids. The current group of people in charge of vaccine policy are wielding their medical credentials to undermine our ability to protect children from harm.
🔔 Reminder: Covid-19 was a leading case of death among US children and young people during the pandemic with 821 deaths in the year from August 1, 2021, to July 31, 2022 @jamanetworkopen.com jamanetwork.com/journals/jam...
COVID-19 as the Underlying Cause of Death Among Individuals Aged 0 to 19 Years in the US
This cross-sectional study evaluates whether COVID-19 is among the top 10 causes of death in children and young people aged 0 to 19 years in the US.
jamanetwork.com
November 29, 2025 at 3:16 PM
THIS THIS THIS. COVID-19 killed kids. The current group of people in charge of vaccine policy are wielding their medical credentials to undermine our ability to protect children from harm.
Reposted by epimom.bsky.social
I certainly will not be speaking at or donating to any Trump Universities. bsky.app/profile/chri...
The legal, media, and academic institutions capitulating to an authoritarian ordering payments for favorable treatment are damning themselves to irrelevance. They are destroying their institutions. They will be — and should be — shunned for failing in their most basic purposes for existing.
BREAKING: Northwestern University has agreed to pay the U.S. Treasury $75 million, over the course of three years as part of an agreement with the federal government to restore funding and end investigations into the university
Full statement from NU below:
Full statement from NU below:
November 29, 2025 at 1:37 PM
I certainly will not be speaking at or donating to any Trump Universities. bsky.app/profile/chri...
Reposted by epimom.bsky.social
Hegseth & his henchmen seem to regard this as a videogame where they get points for each target they hit. These aren't human beings to them.
(Not to mention we aren't even in an armed conflict. We're just killing people in international waters. Just so many layers of horrifying wrongness.)
(Not to mention we aren't even in an armed conflict. We're just killing people in international waters. Just so many layers of horrifying wrongness.)
November 29, 2025 at 8:30 AM
Hegseth & his henchmen seem to regard this as a videogame where they get points for each target they hit. These aren't human beings to them.
(Not to mention we aren't even in an armed conflict. We're just killing people in international waters. Just so many layers of horrifying wrongness.)
(Not to mention we aren't even in an armed conflict. We're just killing people in international waters. Just so many layers of horrifying wrongness.)