Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Matt Kertman @mattkertman.bsky.social · Aug 21

📝 Here's my takeaway: With #foreignaid dwindling & upheaval in #globaldev, millions of lives are at stake, abroad & at home (Remember Covid?)

Research like this helps leaders do ⬆️ with ⬇️, devise better ways to construct policy or apply practice, & make smart 💰 decisions. We need more evidence.

🎤

Matt Kertman @mattkertman.bsky.social · Aug 21

The team found the impacts were driven by:
⬆️ hospital births
⬆️ rest for pregnant women
⬆️ nutrition

They were also greatest in areas close to health clinics - so 💸 is not a replacement for health infrastructure, but works hand-in-glove with it.

🤔 But what can we make of these findings?

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Matt Kertman @mattkertman.bsky.social · Aug 21

The findings are stunning: 48% fewer infant deaths before 1 and 45% fewer child deaths before 5. This rivals public health tools like vaccinations and antimalarial drugs.

The NYT took note: nytimes.com/2025/08/18/h...

So did NPR's All Things Considered: npr.org/2025/08/18/n...

A New Way to Reduce Children’s Deaths: Cash

nytimes.com

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Matt Kertman @mattkertman.bsky.social · Aug 21

Partnering with @give-directly.bsky.social, they studied:
✅ one-time, unconditional cash payments of $1,000
✅ to 10,500 households in rural Kenya
✅ delivered 2014-2017
✅ using census info about changes in family composition, employment, health and more.

🗓️ This took years to analyze!

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Matt Kertman @mattkertman.bsky.social · Aug 21

🚨 Evidence alert: RCT from a @ucberkeleyofficial.bsky.social / @ox.ac.uk team found that unconditional cash xfers led to 48% ⬇️ infant deaths in Kenya. 🧢 off to team behind this study: Michael Walker, @tedmiguel.bsky.social, Dennis Egger, Nick Shankar, and Grady Killeen.

go.cega.org/cashimpacts

A 🧵

Cash Transfers Dramatically Cut Infant Mortality in Kenya, New Research Finds

Berkeley, CA (18 Aug. 2025) — With the global development community facing financial upheaval, global development goals increasingly out of reach, and the need for aid greater than ever, new...

go.cega.org

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Matt Kertman @mattkertman.bsky.social · Jul 30

The Em Dash Responds to the AI Allegations www.mcsweeneys.net/articles/the...
Brilliant. No notes!

The Em Dash Responds to the AI Allegations

“In recent months, a curious fixation has emerged in corners of academia: the em dash. More specifically, the apparent moral panic around how it is...

www.mcsweeneys.net

Reposted by Matt Kertman

Maya Ranganath @mayaranganath.bsky.social · Jun 23

The 13th Africa Evidence Summit kicks off with @deankarlan.bsky.social, Catherine Kyobutungi ( @aphrc.bsky.social) and Emilie Oftedal (@norad.no) discussing how the #globaldev sector can respond to the recent cuts to foreign aid. #AES2025 @cega-uc.bsky.social

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Matt Kertman @mattkertman.bsky.social · Jun 10

Excited for this stellar line-up of #globaldev leaders looking at the future of foreign aid using #evidence, innovation, and collaboration. CEGA, @busaracenter.bsky.social, and the Network of Impact Evaluation Researchers in Africa showing how partnership can chart a path forward and improve lives.

Center for Effective Global Action @cega-uc.bsky.social · Jun 5

📅 Don’t miss #NairobiEvidenceWeek, June 23-27, a week-long event spotlighting cost-effective, policy-relevant, and inclusive research across disciplines.

Here’s a quick look at what to expect:

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Matt Kertman @mattkertman.bsky.social · May 21

“This cowardice stands in marked contrast to the bravery of the workers of #USAID, who put themselves in harm’s way and risked their lives to answer this country’s call.”

Sam Power quoted in this fab story from Devex's @elissamio.bsky.social that pulls you right in.

www.devex.com/news/samanth...

Samantha Power attacks 'cowardice' of Rubio and 'ignorance' of DOGE

Two former USAID administrators delivered a powerful bipartisan defense of the agency’s workforce, condemning the Trump administration’s dismantling of what was once the largest aid agency in the worl...

www.devex.com

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Reposted by Matt Kertman

Center for Effective Global Action @cega-uc.bsky.social · Mar 11

With global aid budget cuts, evidence is even more crucial.

Executive Director @carsonchristiano.bsky.social calls for investing in research to maximize impact with limited resources, especially in cost-effectiveness initiatives like CEGA's PILCEE program. #econsky
cega.berkeley.edu/article/evid...

Evidence as an Antidote to Chaos

Carson Christiano is the executive director of the Center for Effective Global Action. Reflecting on the recent changes in federal support for research and the global development community, below...

cega.berkeley.edu

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Matt Kertman @mattkertman.bsky.social · Mar 10

Sad, sad news. We've lost a great.

Clara Jeffery @clarajeffery.bsky.social · Mar 10

1/ Really heartbroken to learn that Kevin Drum, a long time blogger and essayist for @motherjones.com has died after a long battle with multiple myeloma. Here's a note from his wife Marian, who's also set up a memorial page on Facebook. jabberwocking.com/health-updat...

Health Update - Kevin Drum

With a heavy heart, I have to tell you that after a long battle with cancer my husband Kevin Drum passed away on Friday, March 7, 2025. No public memorial services are planned. In lieu of flowers, ple...

jabberwocking.com

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Reposted by Matt Kertman

Maya Ranganath @mayaranganath.bsky.social · Mar 8

So proud to have co-organized this rally, w/ inspiring + brave speeches from @tedmiguel.bsky.social, @fdoperez.bsky.social, @jenniferdoudna.bsky.social+20 more and 1000+ attendees! We need to keep fighting against the depraved stream of chaos flooding this country and damaging the rest of the world.

Fernando Pérez @fernandoperez.org · Mar 7

That felt good! Great speeches from the Berkeley community, ranging from Nobel Laureate Jennifer Doudna to undergraduate student leaders.

Amazing energy in defense of science, and it felt good to do something positive, even if it's just a small step.

Below is the text I read. #StandUpForScience !

Stand Up for Science @ Berkeley
Fernando Pérez. Mar 07, 2025.
Hello, I am Fernando! I was trained as a physicist, and today I am a professor in Statistics; I also direct the Berkeley Institute for Data Science and co-direct the Data Science and Environment Center, that I both co-founded. It’s an honor to be here today, but I am very sad.

I am sad, because science is under attack. And science is deeply tied to our humanity, so our very humanity is under attack. Science is driven by curiosity, by our need to make sense of the world around us, and it gives both power and meaning to our existence. Historically, the US has been the most fertile ground for this enterprise that also brings immense social and economic value. Now we must fight to save it.

I am an immigrant: I was born and raised in Colombia, a country ravaged in the 80s and 90s by drug and guerilla violence. I wanted to study physics, and I had the option to go to Europe or the US. Having lived in both, I chose to come here. Why? Because it was:
A more open and welcoming society, where immigrants from all nations and cultures had the opportunity to build new futures.
A country whose dedication to first-rate science had never wavered, regardless of changes in politics or administrations.

Thanks to US scientific institutions, I was able to build a weird career: I published papers, but I also built stuff. In 2001 I started writing open source software for science–something called IPython that later, with work from many others, became Project Jupyter. Many of you at Berkeley have used Jupyter and scientific tools I helped build. Many companies also have products based on these tools.

But this career, driven by curiosity and producing basic science and tools that benefit millions for free, would be impossible now. I am grateful to the US for what it helped me do, but I am sad that much of the country now wants to destroy this jewel.

Why do they attack science? Fascists can’t tolerate science because it is independent. Because while imperfect, scientists seek answers where the evidence will lead them regardless of what politicians want. Fascists demand obedience and control, and science strives to follow nature where it leads.

To defend our humanity, to defend this incredible endeavor that belongs to all, we must stand up and defend its core values of curiosity, exploration and independence.

This also means defending the humanity of all. Science needs all to succeed, regardless of gender, ethnicity or other identity. In particular, we as scientists must show more courage and integrity than our politicians, and stand up for the rights of trans persons to exist, to live in peace and to simply be themselves. Fascists have chosen to target trans persons precisely because they are a small, vulnerable minority. They are betting the rest of society will abandon them. We can’t–if we abandon the rights of trans people to live with dignity, we abandon the very humanity at the heart of science, and we will forfeit any moral standing to defend the rights of other groups.

That’s what the fascists want: to crack the moral foundation we stand on, so that we can’t fight back with the power of science, the power that lets us edit genomes or take images of black holes.

So let’s fight back! With science, but with humanity too, by protecting science as open for all.

Thank you!

Large group of people sitting and standing in an open plaza, with building with columns in the background. A sign that says "Science" and has some smaller text is visible in the front.

Group marching on the UC Berkeley campus, below Sather Gate.

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Matt Kertman @mattkertman.bsky.social · Mar 8

You're right! I missed that in my rush, apologies. Clockwise from top right: Jennifer Doudna addresses the crowd. Wide shot of attendees with Sproul Hall in background. Wide shot of crowd with MLK Jr. student union in background. Wide shot of crowd as Edward Miguel is interviewed in foreground.

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Matt Kertman @mattkertman.bsky.social · Mar 8

Scenes from the incredible turnout today at Berkeley's @standupforscience.bsky.social rally. @tedmiguel.bsky.social, @jenniferdoudna.bsky.social, and dozens of researchers, elected officials, and citizens defended science and the jobs, health benefits, and progress it creates for all Americans.

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Reposted by Matt Kertman

Innovative Genomics Institute @innovativegenomics.bsky.social · Mar 8

Thanks to out @ucberkeleyofficial.bsky.social community for joining us at Stand Up For Science! @jenniferdoudna.bsky.social spoke about how NIH funding supported her PhD & NSF funding supported her development of #CRISPR genome editing. Federal funding is needed for life-saving science!

Jennifer Doudna speaking at Stand Up for Science in Berkeley

crowd at Stand Up for Science in Berkeley

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Reposted by Matt Kertman

kinesinmotors.bsky.social @kinesinmotors.bsky.social · Mar 7

🏛️ ✊ TODAY: Stand Up For Science at UC Berkeley, CA
🧪
@standupforscience.bsky.social
#standupforscience2025

Dr. Rebecca (Becca) Tarvin @rdtarvin.bsky.social · Mar 7

Huge crowd at stand up for science rally at UC Berkeley today #SUFS 🧪🌎🌿

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Reposted by Matt Kertman

Michael E. Mann @michaelemann.bsky.social · Mar 7

“Out of the lab and into the streets, researchers and doctors rally for science against Trump cuts” by @borenbears.bsky.social for @apnews.com. Read more here:

apnews.com/article/scie...

Out of the lab and into the streets, researchers and doctors rally for science against Trump cuts

Researchers, doctors, their patients and supporters are venturing out of labs, hospitals and offices across the country to stand up to what they call an attack on life-saving science by the Trump admi...

apnews.com

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Matt Kertman @mattkertman.bsky.social · Mar 6

If your grocery budget was halved, what would you do?

#rohingya

www.reuters.com/world/asia-p...

Exclusive: UN to slash rations to Rohingya refugees by half to $6 per month, official says

The United Nations will cut food rations to Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh from $12.50 to $6 per month next month after failing to find funds, an official said, raising fears among aid workers of rising hunger in the world’s largest refugee settlement.

www.reuters.com

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Matt Kertman @mattkertman.bsky.social · Mar 6

Science is an engine of economic, social, and political progress. On Friday, a nationwide movement of scientists + concerned citizens will rally against recent federal actions and orders that have created a risk to our economy, well-being, and society. Berkeley event: standup4scienceberkeley.com.

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Reposted by Matt Kertman

Deidre Lynch @drbibliomane.bsky.social · Mar 5

This is the first page of this morning’s edition of the Globe and Mail (arguably the English Canadian paper of record)
I don’t remember seeing anything like this before

A mostly blank page with the words Strong and Free, from the English version of the Canadian national anthem )
Below the fold of this newspaper sheet , in smaller type, news and editorial references to the trade war

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Reposted by Matt Kertman

Brooke Jarvis @brookejarvis.bsky.social · Mar 3

ProPublica looked into science grants that Ted Cruz's team flagged as "radical" and "neo-Marxist" and, uh.

This would be good comedy if it didn't matter so much www.propublica.org/article/ted-...

"Developing a device that could treat severe bleeding. It seems to have caught the committee’s attention for using the words “victims” — as in gunshot victims — and “trauma.”
Creating biosensors to detect infectious diseases. The grant appears to have been tagged for the repeated use of “POC,” an acronym often used for “people of color” but in this context meaning “point of care” — that is, the place where people receive medical treatment — and “barrier,” referring to a part of the biosensor itself.
Designing eye-tracking technology for diagnosing and treating concussions. It appears to have gotten flagged for referencing “traumatic” brain injuries and the “status,” meaning the condition, of patients."

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Reposted by Matt Kertman

Kate Knibbs @knibbs.bsky.social · Mar 3

There's an unidentified illness outbreak in the Congo right now. I talked to experts, including a doctor on the ground, about how US aid cuts have hampered the response: www.wired.com/story/race-t...

A Lethal Mystery Illness Is Spreading in Congo. USAID Cuts Have Slowed the Response

Gutting USAID is already having a devastating impact around the world. In the Democratic Republic of Congo, teams that would normally be racing to identify a fatal sickness are gone.

www.wired.com

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Reposted by Matt Kertman

Jessica Lussenhop @jlussenhop.bsky.social · Feb 27

Pleased that the ProPublica brand is strong enough that if I casually ask a friend about her workplace, her immediate response is, "Wait, are you investigating us?!"

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Matt Kertman @mattkertman.bsky.social · Feb 28

This. A million times this.

E. Rosalie @erosalie.infoepi.com · Feb 28

Tesla lost enough value today that it could have fully funded USAID for a year.

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