Derek Fox
@partialobserver.bsky.social
Penn State Astronomer (he/him), personal account. “We went and made everything a computer without ever bothering to fix computers.”
Pinned
Derek Fox
@partialobserver.bsky.social
· Jan 28
Thinking about how we are living the devolution of John Adams’ pronouncement: Where we had thought ourselves at liberty to study mathematics and philosophy, we find ourselves instead obliged to study politics and war.
Reposted by Derek Fox
Trump envoy Steve Witkoff has been outed as a Russian asset. This is traitorous stuff.
Steve Witkoff helped Russia derail Ukraine’s access to Tomahawk missiles. He tipped off the Kremlin about Zelensky’s U.S. visit, giving Moscow time to arrange a call that convinced Trump to block the deal. Witkoff actively works against Ukraine’s defense, in coordination with Putin’s regime.
November 26, 2025 at 9:18 AM
Trump envoy Steve Witkoff has been outed as a Russian asset. This is traitorous stuff.
Reposted by Derek Fox
The first official confirmation that Noem herself made the decision not to turn the planes around. A couple hundred men were tortured as a result — and soon after, the Supreme Court confirmed that the Trump admin’s Alien Enemies Act process was a total violation of due process.
BREAKING:
“After receiving that legal advice, Secretary Noem directed that the AEA detainees who had been removed from the United States before the Court’s order could be transferred to the custody of El Salvador. “
“After receiving that legal advice, Secretary Noem directed that the AEA detainees who had been removed from the United States before the Court’s order could be transferred to the custody of El Salvador. “
November 26, 2025 at 1:45 AM
The first official confirmation that Noem herself made the decision not to turn the planes around. A couple hundred men were tortured as a result — and soon after, the Supreme Court confirmed that the Trump admin’s Alien Enemies Act process was a total violation of due process.
Reposted by Derek Fox
Witkoff is a Russian agent and he’s telling the Russians (and now the world) how easily manipulated Trump is
Witkoff advised the Russians on how to pitch their Ukraine plan to Trump www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
November 25, 2025 at 9:57 PM
Witkoff is a Russian agent and he’s telling the Russians (and now the world) how easily manipulated Trump is
Reposted by Derek Fox
The CDC has not addressed this and is largely pretending it isn’t happening. Meanwhile they’re taking steps to actively reduce vaccination rates.
Pertussis cases in Texas are 10x higher than all of 2023, and 2x as high as last year — 4x for the same period. The official count is higher by a 1k than it has been in more than a decade. Last time it was over 2k was 2014 with 2,576. It’s past 3,500 for 2025.
www.dshs.texas.gov/news-alerts/...
www.dshs.texas.gov/news-alerts/...
November 25, 2025 at 9:51 PM
The CDC has not addressed this and is largely pretending it isn’t happening. Meanwhile they’re taking steps to actively reduce vaccination rates.
Reposted by Derek Fox
To recap:
•Universal healthcare would save 68,000 lives & $450B annually
•Every $1 spent on SNAP results in $1.80 boost to local economies & small businesses
•The child tax credit decreased child poverty to a historic low of 5.2%, abolishing it increased it by 45%
1/2
•Universal healthcare would save 68,000 lives & $450B annually
•Every $1 spent on SNAP results in $1.80 boost to local economies & small businesses
•The child tax credit decreased child poverty to a historic low of 5.2%, abolishing it increased it by 45%
1/2
November 25, 2025 at 3:16 AM
To recap:
•Universal healthcare would save 68,000 lives & $450B annually
•Every $1 spent on SNAP results in $1.80 boost to local economies & small businesses
•The child tax credit decreased child poverty to a historic low of 5.2%, abolishing it increased it by 45%
1/2
•Universal healthcare would save 68,000 lives & $450B annually
•Every $1 spent on SNAP results in $1.80 boost to local economies & small businesses
•The child tax credit decreased child poverty to a historic low of 5.2%, abolishing it increased it by 45%
1/2
Reposted by Derek Fox
Any viable left-populist economic coalition in a diverse polity has to include people whose economic exploitation is experienced through racialized and gendered forms.
You can’t ask them to bracket out those concerns as a precondition for solidarity that… just doesn’t make any goddamn sense.
2/
You can’t ask them to bracket out those concerns as a precondition for solidarity that… just doesn’t make any goddamn sense.
2/
November 24, 2025 at 9:16 PM
Any viable left-populist economic coalition in a diverse polity has to include people whose economic exploitation is experienced through racialized and gendered forms.
You can’t ask them to bracket out those concerns as a precondition for solidarity that… just doesn’t make any goddamn sense.
2/
You can’t ask them to bracket out those concerns as a precondition for solidarity that… just doesn’t make any goddamn sense.
2/
Reposted by Derek Fox
Americans Blame Trump As Prices Surge
November 24, 2025 at 9:39 PM
Americans Blame Trump As Prices Surge
Reposted by Derek Fox
Calling them the “Seditious Six” & branding their statements “despicable” before review is textbook definition of prejudgment. No panel, judge, or reviewing authority can claim neutrality once the SECDEF declares the accused guilty. This looks like the procedures used in dictatorships, not the US.
November 24, 2025 at 8:16 PM
Calling them the “Seditious Six” & branding their statements “despicable” before review is textbook definition of prejudgment. No panel, judge, or reviewing authority can claim neutrality once the SECDEF declares the accused guilty. This looks like the procedures used in dictatorships, not the US.
Reposted by Derek Fox
"The high-income admissions advantage at Ivy-Plus colleges is driven by three factors: (1) preferences for children of alumni, (2) weight placed on non-academic credentials, and (3) athletic recruitment...The three factors...are uncorrelated or negatively correlated with post-college outcomes..."
Recently accepted by #QJE, “Diversifying Society’s Leaders? The Determinants and Causal Effects of Admission to Highly Selective Private Colleges,” by Chetty (@Oppinsights), Deming, and Friedman: doi.org/10.1093/qje/...
Diversifying Society’s Leaders? The Determinants and Causal Effects of Admission to Highly Selective Private Colleges*
Abstract. We use anonymized admissions data from several colleges linked to income tax records and SAT and ACT test scores to study the determinants and ca
doi.org
November 23, 2025 at 10:51 PM
"The high-income admissions advantage at Ivy-Plus colleges is driven by three factors: (1) preferences for children of alumni, (2) weight placed on non-academic credentials, and (3) athletic recruitment...The three factors...are uncorrelated or negatively correlated with post-college outcomes..."
Bunch of war criminals and wannabe war criminals
Rep. Salazar on Venezuela: "We're about to go in ... we need to go in ... Venezuela for the American oil companies will be a field day"
November 24, 2025 at 9:47 PM
Bunch of war criminals and wannabe war criminals
Reposted by Derek Fox
Breaking: Viola Ford Fletcher, the oldest living survivor of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre, has died. She was 111 years old
Viola Ford Fletcher, the oldest living survivor of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre, has died
Viola Ford Fletcher, the oldest living survivor of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre, has died. She was 111 years old.
www.whatimreading.net
November 24, 2025 at 8:45 PM
Breaking: Viola Ford Fletcher, the oldest living survivor of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre, has died. She was 111 years old
Reposted by Derek Fox
These 20 House Democrats just joined Republicans in voting to fully repeal DC's police reform laws.
Wiping off the books critical laws on use of force, transparency, and preventing violent cops from getting rehired.
They think that they should have more say over DC police than the people of DC.
Wiping off the books critical laws on use of force, transparency, and preventing violent cops from getting rehired.
They think that they should have more say over DC police than the people of DC.
November 20, 2025 at 3:05 AM
These 20 House Democrats just joined Republicans in voting to fully repeal DC's police reform laws.
Wiping off the books critical laws on use of force, transparency, and preventing violent cops from getting rehired.
They think that they should have more say over DC police than the people of DC.
Wiping off the books critical laws on use of force, transparency, and preventing violent cops from getting rehired.
They think that they should have more say over DC police than the people of DC.
Reposted by Derek Fox
you fire right back at them and you FIRE RIGHT AWAY.
November 24, 2025 at 6:52 PM
you fire right back at them and you FIRE RIGHT AWAY.
Reposted by Derek Fox
Still reeling from the Stanford report on Brexit. Reduced GDP by up to 8% and investment by as much as 18%. The UK Treasury would have £40 billion more each year if Britain had remained in the EU. Devastating self-immolation.
The Economic Impact of Brexit
Other
siepr.stanford.edu
November 24, 2025 at 11:02 AM
Still reeling from the Stanford report on Brexit. Reduced GDP by up to 8% and investment by as much as 18%. The UK Treasury would have £40 billion more each year if Britain had remained in the EU. Devastating self-immolation.
Reposted by Derek Fox
During the government shutdown, CDC's National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases Prion and Public Health Office staff were illegally RIFed, and the group is at risk of being eliminated permanently
www.cidrap.umn.edu/chronic-wast...
www.cidrap.umn.edu/chronic-wast...
While no one was watching: Tenuous status of CDC prion unit, risk of CWD to people worry scientists
www.cidrap.umn.edu
November 24, 2025 at 12:38 AM
During the government shutdown, CDC's National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases Prion and Public Health Office staff were illegally RIFed, and the group is at risk of being eliminated permanently
www.cidrap.umn.edu/chronic-wast...
www.cidrap.umn.edu/chronic-wast...
Reposted by Derek Fox
Absolutely horrific. ICE detained and abducted a minor—a high school student—who the family identified as a US citizen.
ICE is terrorizing our communities—I’m fighting for answers and accountability. This is just wrong.
ICE is terrorizing our communities—I’m fighting for answers and accountability. This is just wrong.
ICE arrests McMinnville High School student during Friday lunch period
Family told local news the 17-year-old is a U.S. citizen.
www.opb.org
November 24, 2025 at 12:36 AM
Absolutely horrific. ICE detained and abducted a minor—a high school student—who the family identified as a US citizen.
ICE is terrorizing our communities—I’m fighting for answers and accountability. This is just wrong.
ICE is terrorizing our communities—I’m fighting for answers and accountability. This is just wrong.
Reposted by Derek Fox
seen on WT Harris in E Charlotte
November 23, 2025 at 3:35 AM
seen on WT Harris in E Charlotte
Reposted by Derek Fox
Your misogyny, xenophobia, transphobia, homophobia, racism, ableism etc? All parts of the same fucking system. If you hate your neighbor enough you ignore the horrors happening to them until they happen to you. And then you can't fight back because you have no allies. See the police state
November 24, 2025 at 12:11 AM
Your misogyny, xenophobia, transphobia, homophobia, racism, ableism etc? All parts of the same fucking system. If you hate your neighbor enough you ignore the horrors happening to them until they happen to you. And then you can't fight back because you have no allies. See the police state
Reposted by Derek Fox
Except, of course, it’s *not* all he can say.
Cassidy could concede publicly that confirming Kennedy was a tragic mistake. He could call for RFK Jr's resignation. He could schedule hearings, haul the secretary to Capitol Hill, and demand the CDC’s public resources reflect the scientific cannon.
Cassidy could concede publicly that confirming Kennedy was a tragic mistake. He could call for RFK Jr's resignation. He could schedule hearings, haul the secretary to Capitol Hill, and demand the CDC’s public resources reflect the scientific cannon.
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 6:09 PM
Except, of course, it’s *not* all he can say.
Cassidy could concede publicly that confirming Kennedy was a tragic mistake. He could call for RFK Jr's resignation. He could schedule hearings, haul the secretary to Capitol Hill, and demand the CDC’s public resources reflect the scientific cannon.
Cassidy could concede publicly that confirming Kennedy was a tragic mistake. He could call for RFK Jr's resignation. He could schedule hearings, haul the secretary to Capitol Hill, and demand the CDC’s public resources reflect the scientific cannon.
Reposted by Derek Fox
“Meta shut down internal research into the mental health effects of Facebook after finding causal evidence that its products harmed users’ mental health, according to unredacted filings in a lawsuit by U.S. school districts against Meta and other social media platforms.”
Meta buried 'causal' evidence of social media harm, US court filings allege - The Economic Times
Meta reportedly halted internal research into the mental health impacts of Facebook and Instagram after finding causal evidence of harm. Internal documents revealed users reported lower depression and...
m.economictimes.com
November 23, 2025 at 4:46 PM
“Meta shut down internal research into the mental health effects of Facebook after finding causal evidence that its products harmed users’ mental health, according to unredacted filings in a lawsuit by U.S. school districts against Meta and other social media platforms.”
Here we are in the pouring home
I watch a light man fold a comb
I watch a line move across the screen
I watch the light come over me
Here we are now, going to the west side
Weapons in hand as we go for a ride
Some may come, love, and some may stay
Watching out for a sunny day
I watch a light man fold a comb
I watch a line move across the screen
I watch the light come over me
Here we are now, going to the west side
Weapons in hand as we go for a ride
Some may come, love, and some may stay
Watching out for a sunny day
November 23, 2025 at 8:28 PM
Here we are in the pouring home
I watch a light man fold a comb
I watch a line move across the screen
I watch the light come over me
Here we are now, going to the west side
Weapons in hand as we go for a ride
Some may come, love, and some may stay
Watching out for a sunny day
I watch a light man fold a comb
I watch a line move across the screen
I watch the light come over me
Here we are now, going to the west side
Weapons in hand as we go for a ride
Some may come, love, and some may stay
Watching out for a sunny day
Reposted by Derek Fox
For over 300 years now, it is a bedrock principle in Anglo-American constitutionalism that obedience is owed according only to law. Refusal to follow an illegal command is not only a moral choice but an absolute duty.
November 23, 2025 at 4:00 PM
For over 300 years now, it is a bedrock principle in Anglo-American constitutionalism that obedience is owed according only to law. Refusal to follow an illegal command is not only a moral choice but an absolute duty.
Reposted by Derek Fox
For the last few months, we've been talking to current and former employees of OpenAI to understand what went wrong with ChatGPT this year and how the company is fixing it. Here's the story: www.nytimes.com/2025/11/23/t...
What OpenAI Did When ChatGPT Users Lost Touch With Reality
www.nytimes.com
November 23, 2025 at 5:54 PM
For the last few months, we've been talking to current and former employees of OpenAI to understand what went wrong with ChatGPT this year and how the company is fixing it. Here's the story: www.nytimes.com/2025/11/23/t...
Reposted by Derek Fox
This is the study she’s referencing. Hofmann, V., Kalluri, P.R., Jurafsky, D. et al. (2024) AI generates covertly racist decisions about people based on their dialect. Nature. doi.org/10.1038/s415...
AI generates covertly racist decisions about people based on their dialect - Nature
Despite efforts to remove overt racial prejudice, language models using artificial intelligence still show covert racism against speakers of African American English that is triggered by features...
doi.org
November 23, 2025 at 12:13 PM
This is the study she’s referencing. Hofmann, V., Kalluri, P.R., Jurafsky, D. et al. (2024) AI generates covertly racist decisions about people based on their dialect. Nature. doi.org/10.1038/s415...