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jtimmer.bsky.social
John Timmer
@jtimmer.bsky.social
4.7K followers 330 following 1.2K posts
Ars Technica's science editor. Various other things that are far less interesting. Check my author profile on Ars for my email. jtimmer.95 on Signal.
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jtimmer.bsky.social
John Timmer @jtimmer.bsky.social · 12h
A nice reminder that good photographers can be fantastic journalists.
denisedwheeler.bsky.social
Denise Wheeler @denisedwheeler.bsky.social · 12h
Reuters photographer Jonathan Ernst noticed that Bondi flipped open a file during the Senate hearing and he zoomed in.

Inside were her crib notes for attacking the senators.

The GOP now practicing Cliff's Notes Fascism

In other words, under oath Bondi was purely a performance.
Bondi senate hearing had a folder full of notes for attacking the senators Bondi senate hearing had a folder full of notes for attacking the senators Bondi senate hearing had a folder full of notes for attacking the senators Bondi senate hearing had a folder full of notes for attacking the senators
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jtimmer.bsky.social
John Timmer @jtimmer.bsky.social · 18h
I suspect I'd be net emdash zero if it weren't for one particular writer (and @kionasmith07.bsky.social knows who that is).
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jtimmer.bsky.social
John Timmer @jtimmer.bsky.social · 18h
If an emdash needs to be deleted, force an actual human editor to do the deleting.
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jtimmer.bsky.social
John Timmer @jtimmer.bsky.social · 20h
The things they do choose to publish reflect their values.

Based on the published evidence, it's clear that those values often include provocation, subjective thoughts about the importance of the opinion holder, a highly selective need for balance, etc.
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jtimmer.bsky.social
John Timmer @jtimmer.bsky.social · 20h
I can't bring myself to read the column and find out what the supposed nuances of Hesgeth's "our military exists to kill people" are.

I'll just highlight once again that opinion page editors have broad discretion to decide what opinions are worth publishing—they reject things all the time.
maxkennerly.bsky.social
Max Kennerly @maxkennerly.bsky.social · 1d
Despite appearances, this is not a @nytpitchbot.bsky.social joke, it's an actual @nytimes.com column by some Claremont hack who praises Hegseth for his "nuanced vision of the military’s purpose and its relationship to civilian society."
Opinion Guest Essay That Hegseth Speech Was Actually Pretty Good Oct. 7, 2025, 5:01 a.m. ET
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jtimmer.bsky.social
John Timmer @jtimmer.bsky.social · 23h
Kind of odd that today's Nobel in physics is for work that was fundamental to the development of the transmon, and two of the people receiving it have headed Google's quantum computing efforts, but a lot of the coverage seems to be "it's about quantum tunneling".
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jtimmer.bsky.social
John Timmer @jtimmer.bsky.social · 1d
Some of the provisions of the Compact work at cross purposes and/or are contrary to some of the Administration's other policies. So, even if you assume they are genuine about some of the provisions, you'd be left guessing as to which ones are serious.
fishkin.bsky.social
Joey Fishkin @fishkin.bsky.social · 1d
I understand the impulse to highlight the acceptable things that can be found in the "compact" and imagine how those could be built on.

But those elements are a disguise. The gov't doesn't care about them. The *purpose* of the compact is unconstitutional federal control over higher education.
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jtimmer.bsky.social
John Timmer @jtimmer.bsky.social · 1d
Monterrey Bay's deep ocean tank. I find the circling bluefins hypnotic.
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jtimmer.bsky.social
John Timmer @jtimmer.bsky.social · 1d
So, a nepobaby has decided that "executive leadership" requires that he gaslight the news staff.
maxtani.bsky.social
max tani @maxtani.bsky.social · 1d
David Ellison’s note to staff on Paramount’s acquisition of the Free Press
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Reposted by John Timmer
akshatrathi.bsky.social
Akshat Rathi @akshatrathi.bsky.social · 2d
The US is pursuing "energy dominance" and forcing allies to buy US oil and gas. And, yet, China is beating the US on energy exports.

Surprised? Gift link: www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
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Reposted by John Timmer
normative.bsky.social
Julian Sanchez @normative.bsky.social · 4d
One thing that comes through awfully clearly in these ICE videos is how many of these goons gravitated toward the job because being able to assault people with impunity is a big thrill for them.
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jtimmer.bsky.social
John Timmer @jtimmer.bsky.social · 4d
Searching for "protein structure" at Getty Images, only to be bewildered because someone hosted a fashion show at a site called "protein studios".
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jtimmer.bsky.social
John Timmer @jtimmer.bsky.social · 4d
My sense is that the press has so deeply absorbed the idea of "just present the facts, lest you be accused of bias" that it's getting in the way of the whole purpose of journalism, which is to help your readership understand the world.

(See also @jayrosen.bsky.social's view from nowhere argument)
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jtimmer.bsky.social
John Timmer @jtimmer.bsky.social · 4d
None of this is joining the resistance or showing off some sort of left-wing affinity. It's all good reporting that leaves your readers with a clearer picture of the news and its import.

Yet none of the coverage I checked included it.
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jtimmer.bsky.social
John Timmer @jtimmer.bsky.social · 4d
I think that any reasonably objective analysis would conclude that either the apparent favoring of science here is insincere given the administration's other actions, or the compact is poorly thought through and works at cross purposes with other administration policies.
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jtimmer.bsky.social
John Timmer @jtimmer.bsky.social · 4d
I'd argue that merely reporting the initial fact that this provision exists without providing this other information as context is leaving your readership under-informed.

Simply describing these facts without analysis is also likely to leave your readers confused, as they make little sense.
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jtimmer.bsky.social
John Timmer @jtimmer.bsky.social · 4d
It's also objective to note that the same compact wants schools to disclose the employment status of graduates in different majors, suggesting the administration is annoyed about schools producing lots of unemployed/underemployed graduates.
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jtimmer.bsky.social
John Timmer @jtimmer.bsky.social · 4d
And it's just as objective to highlight that the Administration has also proposed massive cuts to the grants that would normally pay for these majors to attend graduate programs and advance in their careers; combined, these will leave us with a surplus of unemployed low-level scientists.
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jtimmer.bsky.social
John Timmer @jtimmer.bsky.social · 4d
Reporting the provision's existence is obviously objective. But doing so without providing context would leave the impression that the administration favors the sciences. Which, well, it's pretty freakin' obvious that they do not.
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jtimmer.bsky.social
John Timmer @jtimmer.bsky.social · 4d
Lots of yesterday's announcement of a proposed university compact noted that it contained a provision that schools with large endowments would provide free tuition to those majoring in the hard sciences.
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jtimmer.bsky.social
John Timmer @jtimmer.bsky.social · 4d
Some thoughts on objectivity and journalism in the present environment, which I'll preface by saying that I've never studied journalism, and am a relative latecomer to the field, it being my second career. So take this with caution.
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jtimmer.bsky.social
John Timmer @jtimmer.bsky.social · 5d
Ars article comments have a reputation as being some of the better ones on the web, and I often come away from them having learned something. But even given those high standards, this one's really exceptional - I'm smarter for having read it:
Trump offers universities a choice: Comply for preferential funding
Who needs peer review? Plan offers easier grants to schools that agree to limits.
arstechnica.com
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Reposted by John Timmer
danvergano.bsky.social
Dan Vergano @danvergano.bsky.social · 5d
Stand Up for Science: Statement on Compact Corrupting Higher Education

"(W)hen the White House takes over what is defined as 'truth' regardless of scientific evidence, we are no longer in a free nation" - @standupforscience.bsky.social
Stand Up For Science Statement on Compact Corrupting Higher Education Washington, D.C. — Today, the administration has unveiled their proposed "compact" for higher education. This document is antithetical to the free academic inquiry that forms the foundation of American excellence in higher education. Further, while the compact is framed as a way to promote fairness in higher education, this compact runs counter to the scientific method by prioritizing federal grant funding to go to universities who have signed, rather than proposals that have been selected by experts. We call on university leaders to unite and reject this overreach of executive power by the White House. The compact lies in the context of an ongoing and multi-pronged attack on the integrity of the American scientific ecosystem, but this also tangibly represents the President seizing control of public spaces and higher education. Each university represents a beacon of free thought, vibrant educational empowerment, and public enrichment, and we must demand President Trump stay out of dictating universities. "Trump's compact is yet another form of attack on the American institutions that provide evidence that counter's the core belief of MAGA — racism, misogyny, and regression of the human race to name a few. If universities agree to these terms, academic freedom in America will be over," says Colette Delawalla Founder and Director of Stand Up For Science. She continues "when the White House takes over what is defined as 'truth' regardless of scientific evidence, we are no longer in a free nation. Universities must understanding the seriousness of this moment and respond accordingly." Stand Up For Science will reliably sound the alarm when science and scientists are under attack, and our platform empowers scientists to speak out and organize against corruption of American science. The proposing of this document represents an extreme authoritarian escalation for American higher education. It is …
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jtimmer.bsky.social
John Timmer @jtimmer.bsky.social · 5d
And said coverage is now live.
arstechnica.com
Ars Technica @arstechnica.com · 5d
Trump offers universities a choice: Comply for preferential funding
Who needs peer review? Plan offers easier grants to schools that agree to limits.
arstechnica.com
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jtimmer.bsky.social
John Timmer @jtimmer.bsky.social · 5d
Detailed reasoning to follow when my article publishes shortly.
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