Barbless
@barbless.bsky.social
Reposted by Barbless
It remains insane to me that DOGE was treated at the time as an impressive shock and awe accomplishment - “you can’t deny he’s getting stuff done!” - and then instantly memory holed by the press once if became clear it was a total failure by every possible standard including Musk’s own
Difficult to overstate how profound a failure DOGE was. Spending in FY2025 was not only than in FY2024 – but higher than it was projected to be when Trump first took office.*
The little bit of spending DOGE cut has already killed hundreds of thousands and will eventually lead to millions of deaths.
The little bit of spending DOGE cut has already killed hundreds of thousands and will eventually lead to millions of deaths.
Bye bye, “DOGE”.
It no longer exists as a “centralized entity”, according to the Office of Personnel Management.
@reuters.com
www.reuters.com/world/us/dog...
It no longer exists as a “centralized entity”, according to the Office of Personnel Management.
@reuters.com
www.reuters.com/world/us/dog...
November 23, 2025 at 3:52 PM
It remains insane to me that DOGE was treated at the time as an impressive shock and awe accomplishment - “you can’t deny he’s getting stuff done!” - and then instantly memory holed by the press once if became clear it was a total failure by every possible standard including Musk’s own
Reposted by Barbless
Elon Musk donated $277 million to Trump so he could steal the federal government’s data, dismantle the nation’s infrastructure, and stop foreign aid from going to nonwhite people. It’s a quid pro quo breathtaking in scope, corruption, and damage, & completely unprecedented in American history.
Bye bye, “DOGE”.
It no longer exists as a “centralized entity”, according to the Office of Personnel Management.
@reuters.com
www.reuters.com/world/us/dog...
It no longer exists as a “centralized entity”, according to the Office of Personnel Management.
@reuters.com
www.reuters.com/world/us/dog...
November 23, 2025 at 3:29 PM
Elon Musk donated $277 million to Trump so he could steal the federal government’s data, dismantle the nation’s infrastructure, and stop foreign aid from going to nonwhite people. It’s a quid pro quo breathtaking in scope, corruption, and damage, & completely unprecedented in American history.
Reposted by Barbless
After illegally firing 100s of thousands of federal workers, OPM head Vought proposes a new performance ratings system to make it easier to fire more. The new system deprioritizes job type, length of service, and veterans preference (because they hate veterans). 1/2
www.govexec.com/management/2...
www.govexec.com/management/2...
Agency layoff rules to get an overhaul under nearly finalized Trump administration proposal
OPM’s reduction in force revamp plan will put performance ratings over tenure and strip some employees of protections.
www.govexec.com
November 22, 2025 at 6:20 PM
After illegally firing 100s of thousands of federal workers, OPM head Vought proposes a new performance ratings system to make it easier to fire more. The new system deprioritizes job type, length of service, and veterans preference (because they hate veterans). 1/2
www.govexec.com/management/2...
www.govexec.com/management/2...
Dave is very good
I wrote about RFK Jr breaking yet another promise to Bill Cassidy in further spreading his vaccine bullshit.
"It's a schoolyard friend saying 'I promise not to tell anyone your secret' and then shouting it from on top of the jungle gym, claiming he didn't tell 'anyone,' he told 'the sky.'"
"It's a schoolyard friend saying 'I promise not to tell anyone your secret' and then shouting it from on top of the jungle gym, claiming he didn't tell 'anyone,' he told 'the sky.'"
In Mangling CDC Vaccine Pages, RFK Jr. Is Laughing In All of Our Faces
It's a schoolyard friend saying "I promise not to tell anyone your secret" and then shouting it from on top of the jungle gym, claiming he didn't tell "anyone," he told "the sky."
www.gravityisgone.com
November 20, 2025 at 8:20 PM
Dave is very good
Reposted by Barbless
A real president does this.
Thank you to every veteran who’s worn the uniform and carried the weight for the rest of us — just respect 🇺🇸
Thank you to every veteran who’s worn the uniform and carried the weight for the rest of us — just respect 🇺🇸
November 11, 2025 at 7:26 PM
A real president does this.
Thank you to every veteran who’s worn the uniform and carried the weight for the rest of us — just respect 🇺🇸
Thank you to every veteran who’s worn the uniform and carried the weight for the rest of us — just respect 🇺🇸
Reposted by Barbless
basic research on wacky things like Gila monster venom are what gave us GLP-1 drugs that are treating diabetes, obesity, & addiction in new ways
this piece from @whyy.org is great
an analogy: navigation apps are great but don't tell you how to climb Mt. Everest & survive
whyy.org/segments/oze...
this piece from @whyy.org is great
an analogy: navigation apps are great but don't tell you how to climb Mt. Everest & survive
whyy.org/segments/oze...
October 15, 2025 at 3:56 AM
basic research on wacky things like Gila monster venom are what gave us GLP-1 drugs that are treating diabetes, obesity, & addiction in new ways
this piece from @whyy.org is great
an analogy: navigation apps are great but don't tell you how to climb Mt. Everest & survive
whyy.org/segments/oze...
this piece from @whyy.org is great
an analogy: navigation apps are great but don't tell you how to climb Mt. Everest & survive
whyy.org/segments/oze...
Reposted by Barbless
This moment from our latest episode with science writer @edyong209.bsky.social is 🔥
We asked Ed — how do we talk up the benefits of science in the face of government cuts? He told us that's the wrong approach. 🧪
Listen wherever, or watch on Spotify 👇
open.spotify.com/episode/7Evh...
We asked Ed — how do we talk up the benefits of science in the face of government cuts? He told us that's the wrong approach. 🧪
Listen wherever, or watch on Spotify 👇
open.spotify.com/episode/7Evh...
October 1, 2025 at 2:56 PM
This moment from our latest episode with science writer @edyong209.bsky.social is 🔥
We asked Ed — how do we talk up the benefits of science in the face of government cuts? He told us that's the wrong approach. 🧪
Listen wherever, or watch on Spotify 👇
open.spotify.com/episode/7Evh...
We asked Ed — how do we talk up the benefits of science in the face of government cuts? He told us that's the wrong approach. 🧪
Listen wherever, or watch on Spotify 👇
open.spotify.com/episode/7Evh...
Reposted by Barbless
Trump: don’t take acepitoemponoene
RFK Jr: *moth crawls out of mouth*
A nude man is in the background, only referred to as “the colonel”
Person watching on tv: well if they say so
RFK Jr: *moth crawls out of mouth*
A nude man is in the background, only referred to as “the colonel”
Person watching on tv: well if they say so
September 23, 2025 at 12:44 AM
Trump: don’t take acepitoemponoene
RFK Jr: *moth crawls out of mouth*
A nude man is in the background, only referred to as “the colonel”
Person watching on tv: well if they say so
RFK Jr: *moth crawls out of mouth*
A nude man is in the background, only referred to as “the colonel”
Person watching on tv: well if they say so
Reposted by Barbless
A must read.
It takes years to see a spark transformed to a groundbreaking treatment. It all begins with basic research. Due to sustained #NIH funding, we have better therapeutics, cancer detection, vaccines. We are like 1930s Germany.
🧪 www.infotimes.us/basic-scienc...
via @markhisted.org
It takes years to see a spark transformed to a groundbreaking treatment. It all begins with basic research. Due to sustained #NIH funding, we have better therapeutics, cancer detection, vaccines. We are like 1930s Germany.
🧪 www.infotimes.us/basic-scienc...
via @markhisted.org
Basic Science Is The Foundation Of Future Cures
Injecting partisan politics into American basic science would be terrible for the US: for the economy, and for development of future treatments for diseases like schizophrenia and Alzheimer's.
www.infotimes.us
September 21, 2025 at 4:04 PM
A must read.
It takes years to see a spark transformed to a groundbreaking treatment. It all begins with basic research. Due to sustained #NIH funding, we have better therapeutics, cancer detection, vaccines. We are like 1930s Germany.
🧪 www.infotimes.us/basic-scienc...
via @markhisted.org
It takes years to see a spark transformed to a groundbreaking treatment. It all begins with basic research. Due to sustained #NIH funding, we have better therapeutics, cancer detection, vaccines. We are like 1930s Germany.
🧪 www.infotimes.us/basic-scienc...
via @markhisted.org
Reposted by Barbless
Just tried watching Ezra Klein’s latest NYT podcast episode on how the U.S. got to this point where vaccines are so politicized.
It’s pretty clear that Klein and his guests—David Wallace Wells and Rachael Bedard—really do not understand why/how the political right turned on vaccines.
It’s pretty clear that Klein and his guests—David Wallace Wells and Rachael Bedard—really do not understand why/how the political right turned on vaccines.
August 28, 2025 at 3:39 PM
Just tried watching Ezra Klein’s latest NYT podcast episode on how the U.S. got to this point where vaccines are so politicized.
It’s pretty clear that Klein and his guests—David Wallace Wells and Rachael Bedard—really do not understand why/how the political right turned on vaccines.
It’s pretty clear that Klein and his guests—David Wallace Wells and Rachael Bedard—really do not understand why/how the political right turned on vaccines.
Reposted by Barbless
Pushing out top officials. Firing hundreds of lifelong public health experts. Trying to slash the CDC’s budget by billions. How is this “Making America Healthy Again”?
August 28, 2025 at 4:31 PM
Pushing out top officials. Firing hundreds of lifelong public health experts. Trying to slash the CDC’s budget by billions. How is this “Making America Healthy Again”?
Reposted by Barbless
#NIH is hanging by a thread. The #CDC has been decimated. #RFK Jr. and Russell #Vought are psychopaths--I don't say this frivolously--they are cold, calculating, inflicting violence on millions through public policy. It is where we are right now. These men are not normal. 1/
August 28, 2025 at 9:55 AM
Reposted by Barbless
The Supreme Court just greenlit Donald Trump gutting nearly $800 MILLION for medical treatments and cures.
Congress approved this funding for a reason: it saves lives.
This is disgraceful, and families will suffer.
Congress approved this funding for a reason: it saves lives.
This is disgraceful, and families will suffer.
August 22, 2025 at 1:21 AM
The Supreme Court just greenlit Donald Trump gutting nearly $800 MILLION for medical treatments and cures.
Congress approved this funding for a reason: it saves lives.
This is disgraceful, and families will suffer.
Congress approved this funding for a reason: it saves lives.
This is disgraceful, and families will suffer.
Reposted by Barbless
Does Stephen Miller ever say anything normal. Like, can he say "warm day today, huh" or "I am going to the dentist at 11" or does every sentence have to contain a lie about immigration or a series of ethnic slurs.
June 25, 2025 at 4:21 PM
Does Stephen Miller ever say anything normal. Like, can he say "warm day today, huh" or "I am going to the dentist at 11" or does every sentence have to contain a lie about immigration or a series of ethnic slurs.
Reposted by Barbless
One of the biggest problems with any newer technology is that people don't understand how it works. Luckily, xkcd is here to help!
mRNA Vaccine
xkcd.com
August 18, 2025 at 12:31 PM
One of the biggest problems with any newer technology is that people don't understand how it works. Luckily, xkcd is here to help!
Reposted by Barbless
In case you missed it, DOGE was neither a cost saving mission nor efficient.
August 2, 2025 at 3:35 PM
In case you missed it, DOGE was neither a cost saving mission nor efficient.
Reposted by Barbless
it's my daughter's birthday and I ordered her a monster cake from Carvel and this is the picture on the website and this is the picture of it in real life. please note: this is not a complaint. if this had been the picture on the website i would have paid more
October 2, 2024 at 9:56 PM
it's my daughter's birthday and I ordered her a monster cake from Carvel and this is the picture on the website and this is the picture of it in real life. please note: this is not a complaint. if this had been the picture on the website i would have paid more
Reposted by Barbless
The completion of these RIFs is a tragedy, for the individuals directly affected, for the #NIH, and for the American people, who are robbed of the hard work and talent of these professionals.
www.instagram.com/p/DMHO8qHsFB...
www.instagram.com/p/DMHO8qHsFB...
July 15, 2025 at 10:39 AM
The completion of these RIFs is a tragedy, for the individuals directly affected, for the #NIH, and for the American people, who are robbed of the hard work and talent of these professionals.
www.instagram.com/p/DMHO8qHsFB...
www.instagram.com/p/DMHO8qHsFB...
Reposted by Barbless
Good morning.
Today we send love to our dedicated HHS colleagues who received separation notices yesterday after months of uncertainty.
You deserve so much better than a generic email saying, “Thank you for your service to the American people.”
This fight is far from over.
Today we send love to our dedicated HHS colleagues who received separation notices yesterday after months of uncertainty.
You deserve so much better than a generic email saying, “Thank you for your service to the American people.”
This fight is far from over.
July 15, 2025 at 11:53 AM
Good morning.
Today we send love to our dedicated HHS colleagues who received separation notices yesterday after months of uncertainty.
You deserve so much better than a generic email saying, “Thank you for your service to the American people.”
This fight is far from over.
Today we send love to our dedicated HHS colleagues who received separation notices yesterday after months of uncertainty.
You deserve so much better than a generic email saying, “Thank you for your service to the American people.”
This fight is far from over.
Reposted by Barbless
These scientists and public health workers are not comparable to lawmakers with power to actually make change at the policy level but instead writing letters.
It’s unprecedented to see this kind of rebellion inside agencies like NIH and EPA.
It’s unprecedented to see this kind of rebellion inside agencies like NIH and EPA.
I want to remind people that these are not merely “strongly worded letters.”
These EPA and NIH workers are risking their careers—and possibly even their safety—to tell us what is happening inside their respective agencies.
These EPA and NIH workers are risking their careers—and possibly even their safety—to tell us what is happening inside their respective agencies.
June 30, 2025 at 6:31 PM
These scientists and public health workers are not comparable to lawmakers with power to actually make change at the policy level but instead writing letters.
It’s unprecedented to see this kind of rebellion inside agencies like NIH and EPA.
It’s unprecedented to see this kind of rebellion inside agencies like NIH and EPA.
Reposted by Barbless
Powerful story about NIH and cancer to start Sunday Morning on CBS
Here is one of the two cases they examined: pancreatic cancer.
Part 1 of 4
Here is one of the two cases they examined: pancreatic cancer.
Part 1 of 4
June 29, 2025 at 5:00 PM
Powerful story about NIH and cancer to start Sunday Morning on CBS
Here is one of the two cases they examined: pancreatic cancer.
Part 1 of 4
Here is one of the two cases they examined: pancreatic cancer.
Part 1 of 4
Reposted by Barbless
Reading this piece on Former NHGRI Director Eric Green, after spending a lot of time this week trying to undo all the damage of Trump administration policies in the wake of the APHA/UAW ruling, has me reflecting on how unnecessary all of this has been.
www.statnews.com/2025/06/26/n...
www.statnews.com/2025/06/26/n...
Eric Green was the first institute director forced out of NIH. He still hasn’t been told why
Eric Green said the process leading to his ouster as a NIH institute director by the Trump administration remains "shrouded in mystery"
www.statnews.com
June 28, 2025 at 1:16 AM
Reading this piece on Former NHGRI Director Eric Green, after spending a lot of time this week trying to undo all the damage of Trump administration policies in the wake of the APHA/UAW ruling, has me reflecting on how unnecessary all of this has been.
www.statnews.com/2025/06/26/n...
www.statnews.com/2025/06/26/n...
Reposted by Barbless
Flagging this from #NIH Director #JayLies Bhattacharya. He conveniently fails to link the article he references. Probably because it looks pretty awful when your policies risk cancer patients’ lives. www.washingtonpost.com/science/2025...
June 25, 2025 at 3:13 AM
Flagging this from #NIH Director #JayLies Bhattacharya. He conveniently fails to link the article he references. Probably because it looks pretty awful when your policies risk cancer patients’ lives. www.washingtonpost.com/science/2025...