Dr. Katharine Dickson
@metaomicsnerd.bsky.social
Microbiome & biomethane scientist by training; climate, ag, science, & biotech policy and politics wonk by calling. I 分かる some 日本語.
Bluesky’s first Anaerobic Fungi Guru.
Opinions my own. She/her/私 (わたし). 🇺🇸. ☸️ (Jōdo Shinshū).
Bluesky’s first Anaerobic Fungi Guru.
Opinions my own. She/her/私 (わたし). 🇺🇸. ☸️ (Jōdo Shinshū).
Reposted by Dr. Katharine Dickson
This opens up wider questions about how far the UK and Canada in the 5 eyes intel sharing framework as well as other former allies of the United States can still provide the Americans with any sensitive intelligence information at all
January 18, 2026 at 12:44 PM
This opens up wider questions about how far the UK and Canada in the 5 eyes intel sharing framework as well as other former allies of the United States can still provide the Americans with any sensitive intelligence information at all
Reposted by Dr. Katharine Dickson
Ok I'm going to bed Bill Kristol is quoting Karl Marx
Marx remarks somewhere that historical events appear, as it were, twice: the first time as tragedy, the second time as farce.
He forgot to add that beneath the farce also can lurk tragedy.
He forgot to add that beneath the farce also can lurk tragedy.
January 18, 2026 at 6:17 AM
Ok I'm going to bed Bill Kristol is quoting Karl Marx
Reposted by Dr. Katharine Dickson
Do we need to say it louder? Here. Louder.
" Federal courts in Alabama are using a law last applied during the U.S. internment [incarceration] of people of Japanese descent during World War II to charge immigrants who don’t register themselves..."
www.al.com/news/2026/01...
" Federal courts in Alabama are using a law last applied during the U.S. internment [incarceration] of people of Japanese descent during World War II to charge immigrants who don’t register themselves..."
www.al.com/news/2026/01...
Alabama uses Japanese American Internment era law to charge immigrants who don’t self-register
Alabama is finding new ways to criminally charge undocumented immigrants
www.al.com
January 18, 2026 at 12:28 AM
Do we need to say it louder? Here. Louder.
" Federal courts in Alabama are using a law last applied during the U.S. internment [incarceration] of people of Japanese descent during World War II to charge immigrants who don’t register themselves..."
www.al.com/news/2026/01...
" Federal courts in Alabama are using a law last applied during the U.S. internment [incarceration] of people of Japanese descent during World War II to charge immigrants who don’t register themselves..."
www.al.com/news/2026/01...
Reposted by Dr. Katharine Dickson
Those of you who have followed my work for a few tears might recall how I say: Borders also keep you in.
It’s also worth noting that in Nazi Germany, closing down scientists and other intellectuals’ ability to travel for work was an early move to keep people from escaping.
Scientific conferences are where the exchange of important ideas happen. It’s where new collaborations come forth and innovation dreamed up. It’s really disheartening that NIH scientists and representatives are being banned from attending. www.reuters.com/business/hea...
January 18, 2026 at 2:00 AM
Those of you who have followed my work for a few tears might recall how I say: Borders also keep you in.
Reposted by Dr. Katharine Dickson
what a coincidence, this is happening at my university too
January 18, 2026 at 4:27 AM
what a coincidence, this is happening at my university too
I rarely buy dairy but when I do I usually have a reason.
Yesterday's was buying McConnell's PSL ice cream - a little taste of Santa Barbara's own.
Yesterday's was buying McConnell's PSL ice cream - a little taste of Santa Barbara's own.
January 17, 2026 at 10:05 PM
I rarely buy dairy but when I do I usually have a reason.
Yesterday's was buying McConnell's PSL ice cream - a little taste of Santa Barbara's own.
Yesterday's was buying McConnell's PSL ice cream - a little taste of Santa Barbara's own.
Besides the political disaster, mineral development timelines are like 10-30 years in the future. It's not just politically and morally incompetent, it's logistically and economically unsound.
Trump escalating on NATO allies till they "give" him Greenland!? I know we're all numb to Trump's megalomaniacal bluster... but THIS IS F-ING CRAZY.
Putin puppet, Putin patsy or just #MadKing... who knows? But WTF are Dems doing to get this scandal non-stop coverage before it's too late? 🎁🔗
Putin puppet, Putin patsy or just #MadKing... who knows? But WTF are Dems doing to get this scandal non-stop coverage before it's too late? 🎁🔗
Trump Announces 10 Percent Tariff on European Countries in Standoff Over Greenland
www.nytimes.com
January 17, 2026 at 8:06 PM
Besides the political disaster, mineral development timelines are like 10-30 years in the future. It's not just politically and morally incompetent, it's logistically and economically unsound.
Reposted by Dr. Katharine Dickson
Wow, sure would be pretty crazy if a ton of experts in the artificial intelligence field relentlessly warned everyone about this state of affairs being inevitable over and over for years.
January 17, 2026 at 11:38 AM
Wow, sure would be pretty crazy if a ton of experts in the artificial intelligence field relentlessly warned everyone about this state of affairs being inevitable over and over for years.
don’t work for a company with a Tolkien name, work for a company like oh I don’t know Tar Valon or something
🤔 In 2021, Kip Mock of Moscow ID accidentally set his pal, Elijah Froh, on fire by pouring diesel on a fire. Mock & Froh were later were hired by Valar Atomics—founded by their pal, Isaiah Taylor, a high school dropout from Moscow, ID who somehow landed a DOE contract to build a nuclear reactor. 1/
January 17, 2026 at 3:10 AM
don’t work for a company with a Tolkien name, work for a company like oh I don’t know Tar Valon or something
Reposted by Dr. Katharine Dickson
For @msnownews.bsky.social, I wrote an article about how ICE Watch is grounded in sociological theories of violence prevention.
The reality is that most men will only commit public violence in extremely specific scenarios and ICE Watch disrupts the conditions necessary for escalation.
The reality is that most men will only commit public violence in extremely specific scenarios and ICE Watch disrupts the conditions necessary for escalation.
Opinion | I'm a Minneapolis sociologist who studies violence. Here's how ICE observers are helping.
Research into how violence occurs shows that disapproval from the people around you can help reduce it.
www.ms.now
January 16, 2026 at 6:55 PM
For @msnownews.bsky.social, I wrote an article about how ICE Watch is grounded in sociological theories of violence prevention.
The reality is that most men will only commit public violence in extremely specific scenarios and ICE Watch disrupts the conditions necessary for escalation.
The reality is that most men will only commit public violence in extremely specific scenarios and ICE Watch disrupts the conditions necessary for escalation.
can vouch for these lemons personally
January 16, 2026 at 11:55 PM
can vouch for these lemons personally
nonprofit is having me go along as a technical advisor to a meeting with the CARB chair
I am excited, but also ‼️ the STAKES! ‼️
I am excited, but also ‼️ the STAKES! ‼️
January 16, 2026 at 11:32 PM
nonprofit is having me go along as a technical advisor to a meeting with the CARB chair
I am excited, but also ‼️ the STAKES! ‼️
I am excited, but also ‼️ the STAKES! ‼️
Reposted by Dr. Katharine Dickson
Godzilla has been progressively displaced eastwards with the movement of the Japan-Philippines-Pacific triple junction.
As little as 17 million years ago, Godzilla was found only in southern Shikoku and northeastern most Kyushu. By 12 million years ago, Godzilla arrived at the Izu Peninsula.
As little as 17 million years ago, Godzilla was found only in southern Shikoku and northeastern most Kyushu. By 12 million years ago, Godzilla arrived at the Izu Peninsula.
my theory: Godzilla lives in the Nankai Trough and seismic activity makes him tetchy
January 16, 2026 at 10:04 PM
Godzilla has been progressively displaced eastwards with the movement of the Japan-Philippines-Pacific triple junction.
As little as 17 million years ago, Godzilla was found only in southern Shikoku and northeastern most Kyushu. By 12 million years ago, Godzilla arrived at the Izu Peninsula.
As little as 17 million years ago, Godzilla was found only in southern Shikoku and northeastern most Kyushu. By 12 million years ago, Godzilla arrived at the Izu Peninsula.
Reposted by Dr. Katharine Dickson
He had a long layover in Narita Airport and JAL lost his luggage
January 16, 2026 at 9:58 PM
He had a long layover in Narita Airport and JAL lost his luggage
Reposted by Dr. Katharine Dickson
Got humiliated as a young lizard on Takeshi’s Castle
I want to know the in-universe reason Godzilla hates Tokyo in particular.
January 16, 2026 at 9:52 PM
Got humiliated as a young lizard on Takeshi’s Castle
I want to know the in-universe reason Godzilla hates Tokyo in particular.
January 16, 2026 at 9:44 PM
I want to know the in-universe reason Godzilla hates Tokyo in particular.
Reposted by Dr. Katharine Dickson
Reposted by Dr. Katharine Dickson
The total NSF budget was 9 billion. I doubt they spend 89% of it on quail.
January 15, 2026 at 9:21 PM
The total NSF budget was 9 billion. I doubt they spend 89% of it on quail.
Reposted by Dr. Katharine Dickson
Pritzker: The Insurrection Act is designed for circumstances where your rights can’t be protected by local authorities
This is exactly the opposite.
Your civil rights are being infringed upon by CBP and ICE, and then they want to call in troops claiming that they’re protecting CBP and ICE.
This is exactly the opposite.
Your civil rights are being infringed upon by CBP and ICE, and then they want to call in troops claiming that they’re protecting CBP and ICE.
January 15, 2026 at 10:31 PM
Pritzker: The Insurrection Act is designed for circumstances where your rights can’t be protected by local authorities
This is exactly the opposite.
Your civil rights are being infringed upon by CBP and ICE, and then they want to call in troops claiming that they’re protecting CBP and ICE.
This is exactly the opposite.
Your civil rights are being infringed upon by CBP and ICE, and then they want to call in troops claiming that they’re protecting CBP and ICE.
Reposted by Dr. Katharine Dickson
"Talking straight here, the big problem in this case is that the cabinet secretaries and, ostensibly, the president of the United States are not honoring the First Amendment,” Judge William G. Young said.
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/15/u...
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/15/u...
Judge Proposes Restricting Deportation of Scores of Noncitizen Academics
www.nytimes.com
January 15, 2026 at 11:58 PM
"Talking straight here, the big problem in this case is that the cabinet secretaries and, ostensibly, the president of the United States are not honoring the First Amendment,” Judge William G. Young said.
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/15/u...
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/15/u...
speaking as a Californian: how, exactly, does he think he's just going to scale up from Minneapolis to metropolises counting among the largest and most economically critical ones on the planet?
NEW: Brace for impact. @makenakelly.bsky.social and @leahfeiger.bsky.social report: www.wired.com/story/califo...
Minnesota Is Just the Beginning. California and New York Are ‘Next’
The Trump administration appears to be planning to leverage the same playbook used in Minnesota to go after other blue states.
www.wired.com
January 15, 2026 at 6:55 PM
speaking as a Californian: how, exactly, does he think he's just going to scale up from Minneapolis to metropolises counting among the largest and most economically critical ones on the planet?
Reposted by Dr. Katharine Dickson
A few months ago, ICE hired me
I didn't sign and submit any paperwork. I almost certainly failed the drug test. I'm real outspoken about my opposition to the Trump administration, and I am extremely googlable
And yet, there it was, in plain English. "Welcome to ICE!"
My latest for Slate
I didn't sign and submit any paperwork. I almost certainly failed the drug test. I'm real outspoken about my opposition to the Trump administration, and I am extremely googlable
And yet, there it was, in plain English. "Welcome to ICE!"
My latest for Slate
You’ve Heard About Who ICE Is Recruiting. The Truth Is Far Worse. I’m the Proof.
What happens when you do minimal screening before hiring agents, arming them, and sending them into the streets? We're all finding out.
slate.com
January 13, 2026 at 2:11 PM
A few months ago, ICE hired me
I didn't sign and submit any paperwork. I almost certainly failed the drug test. I'm real outspoken about my opposition to the Trump administration, and I am extremely googlable
And yet, there it was, in plain English. "Welcome to ICE!"
My latest for Slate
I didn't sign and submit any paperwork. I almost certainly failed the drug test. I'm real outspoken about my opposition to the Trump administration, and I am extremely googlable
And yet, there it was, in plain English. "Welcome to ICE!"
My latest for Slate
Reposted by Dr. Katharine Dickson
Koh: Trump has now spent $30 billion from the last bill for 10,000 more I.C.E. Agents that are going to be on the streets. That $30 billion would cover all the ACA subsidies for a year. It would eliminate all co-pays for prescription drugs for people from a year, and eliminate all medical debt.
January 15, 2026 at 3:08 AM
Koh: Trump has now spent $30 billion from the last bill for 10,000 more I.C.E. Agents that are going to be on the streets. That $30 billion would cover all the ACA subsidies for a year. It would eliminate all co-pays for prescription drugs for people from a year, and eliminate all medical debt.