Chad Small
@smallthoughts.bsky.social
Atmospheric Sciences Grad student | Freelance Reporter | Presently: Climate Fellow @bulletinatomic.bsky.social | Fmr: Data Fellow @gristnews.bsky.social
Reposted by Chad Small
my editor told us to try to keep our "best of" lists to five or less, but i found a workaround...
the climate story of the year, imo, was attacks on science
the climate story of the year, imo, was attacks on science
Reflecting on a year of attacks on climate science (and three other stories)
One of the defining themes of the past 11 months, and certainly one most pertinent to the climate beat, was “attacks on science and expertise,” which seem likely to continue into 2026.
thebulletin.org
December 26, 2025 at 3:44 PM
my editor told us to try to keep our "best of" lists to five or less, but i found a workaround...
the climate story of the year, imo, was attacks on science
the climate story of the year, imo, was attacks on science
Reposted by Chad Small
Behind these top 2025 news photos picked by our staff lie deeper stories and a myriad of emotions — the quiet joy of a child about to eat a snack, the despair of South Texas residents fighting a losing battle against Big Oil, and the resilience of women adapting and switching livelihoods to survive:
Reflecting on Our Most Powerful Photos of 2025
This year, our journalists and photojournalists worked across 12 countries, four U.S. states, and two disputed regions, bringing readers a visual documentation of the issues we covered.
www.thexylom.com
December 24, 2025 at 12:50 AM
Behind these top 2025 news photos picked by our staff lie deeper stories and a myriad of emotions — the quiet joy of a child about to eat a snack, the despair of South Texas residents fighting a losing battle against Big Oil, and the resilience of women adapting and switching livelihoods to survive:
Reposted by Chad Small
rfk will not rest until your kid is dead wapo.st/4s2l2zn
U.S. plans to stop recommending most childhood vaccines, defer to doctors
The plan, which is not finalized, suggests children get fewer shots and shifts to a model telling parents to consult doctors to make their own vaccine choices.
wapo.st
December 20, 2025 at 12:25 AM
rfk will not rest until your kid is dead wapo.st/4s2l2zn
Reposted by Chad Small
Much like NCAR itself, the motions of the atmosphere that give rise to weather and climate phenomena are indifferent to political boundaries. The loss of this hub of scientific innovation and its computational resources will have immediate and dangerous consequences for all Americans.
#SaveNCAR
#SaveNCAR
December 19, 2025 at 8:09 PM
Much like NCAR itself, the motions of the atmosphere that give rise to weather and climate phenomena are indifferent to political boundaries. The loss of this hub of scientific innovation and its computational resources will have immediate and dangerous consequences for all Americans.
#SaveNCAR
#SaveNCAR
Reposted by Chad Small
Reposted by Chad Small
I've mostly been talking about the Trump regime's plan to dismantle NCAR, but you might be asking yourself, wtf is NCAR and why should I care? @drshepherd2013.bsky.social has got you covered here.
www.forbes.com/sites/marsha...
www.forbes.com/sites/marsha...
December 19, 2025 at 2:02 AM
I've mostly been talking about the Trump regime's plan to dismantle NCAR, but you might be asking yourself, wtf is NCAR and why should I care? @drshepherd2013.bsky.social has got you covered here.
www.forbes.com/sites/marsha...
www.forbes.com/sites/marsha...
Reposted by Chad Small
When I moved across the country to my PhD program, I visited the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) and met some wonderful researchers that gave me a tour and talked with me about their work. I’m devastated to hear about the proposed dismantling. #SaveNCAR
December 19, 2025 at 7:07 AM
When I moved across the country to my PhD program, I visited the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) and met some wonderful researchers that gave me a tour and talked with me about their work. I’m devastated to hear about the proposed dismantling. #SaveNCAR
Reposted by Chad Small
The dismantling of NCAR should be the trending story on Bluesky, not the fucking Oscars leaving ABC for YouTube.
Trump moves to shut down Boulder climate research lab NCAR, drawing rebukes from Colorado officials
Federal lawmakers called the planned NCAR closure “deeply dangerous” and “blatantly retaliatory.” Gov. Jared Polis said: “If true, public safety is at risk and science…
www.denverpost.com
December 17, 2025 at 7:59 PM
The dismantling of NCAR should be the trending story on Bluesky, not the fucking Oscars leaving ABC for YouTube.
Reposted by Chad Small
Key misunderstanding I want to get ahead of: NCAR isn't really a government agency like NIH or NSF. It's one of the largest NSF grants in history, and is given to a non-profit org called UCAR, whose job is to make NCAR exist (www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/...). That means the buck stops with NSF right now
Award Details - NSF Award Search
Find award details and explore award abstracts and publications.
www.nsf.gov
December 17, 2025 at 3:08 AM
Key misunderstanding I want to get ahead of: NCAR isn't really a government agency like NIH or NSF. It's one of the largest NSF grants in history, and is given to a non-profit org called UCAR, whose job is to make NCAR exist (www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/...). That means the buck stops with NSF right now
Reposted by Chad Small
Given tonight’s news the admin wants to disband NCAR, resharing my post from earlier today about the successful reduction of flooding on the Skagit R in WA state. NCAR does foundational R&D that enables my community to do the kinds of important work I talk about here. tinyurl.com/bdebat4m
A look at a successful real-time effort to reduce flooding in western Washington last week
Looking at how federal science and water agencies work together in flood events. Also - flood risk continue in the Pacific Northwest while the rest of the country warms up.
tinyurl.com
December 17, 2025 at 4:11 AM
Given tonight’s news the admin wants to disband NCAR, resharing my post from earlier today about the successful reduction of flooding on the Skagit R in WA state. NCAR does foundational R&D that enables my community to do the kinds of important work I talk about here. tinyurl.com/bdebat4m
Reposted by Chad Small
This is the place that made me want to become a meteorologist 💔
Exclusive: The Trump administration is moving to dismantle the National Center for Atmospheric Research in Colorado, according to a senior White House official, taking aim at one of the world's leading climate research labs.
Trump moves to dismantle major US climate research center in Colorado
The Trump administration is breaking up the National Center for Atmospheric Research, taking aim at one of the world's leading climate research labs.
bit.ly
December 17, 2025 at 2:11 AM
This is the place that made me want to become a meteorologist 💔
Reposted by Chad Small
From day one, @smallthoughts.bsky.social has been shaping stories with @insideclimatenews.org, supported by the Heising-Simons Foundation. His summer of storytelling is one you can't miss: www.aaas.org/programs/mas...
#MassMediaFellowship #SciComm
#MassMediaFellowship #SciComm
December 12, 2025 at 5:33 PM
From day one, @smallthoughts.bsky.social has been shaping stories with @insideclimatenews.org, supported by the Heising-Simons Foundation. His summer of storytelling is one you can't miss: www.aaas.org/programs/mas...
#MassMediaFellowship #SciComm
#MassMediaFellowship #SciComm
Truly life changing experience that I highly recommend to those who are interested in science communication!
Are you ready to try something new and work in #SciComm?
Apply now to be a part of the next cohort of @AAAS #MassMediaFellows! Spend the summer using your STEMM background as a journalist writing the news and join an alumni group of almost 900.
🔗 bit.ly/3KugH6D
Apply now to be a part of the next cohort of @AAAS #MassMediaFellows! Spend the summer using your STEMM background as a journalist writing the news and join an alumni group of almost 900.
🔗 bit.ly/3KugH6D
December 11, 2025 at 10:58 PM
Truly life changing experience that I highly recommend to those who are interested in science communication!
Reposted by Chad Small
#Seattle area rivers are now nearing/ reaching historic levels, with over a foot of rain falling on higher elevations, cascading down the mountains and running off into rivers like #Snoqualmie which is forecast to crest Friday near a record high… 1/
December 11, 2025 at 5:13 AM
#Seattle area rivers are now nearing/ reaching historic levels, with over a foot of rain falling on higher elevations, cascading down the mountains and running off into rivers like #Snoqualmie which is forecast to crest Friday near a record high… 1/
Reposted by Chad Small
China is one of the biggest development funders and operators in the world. It’s also silencing environmental reporters who dare to tell the truth about the harms some of those projects have caused across the global south
Thank you to @thexylom.com for publishing this story.
Thank you to @thexylom.com for publishing this story.
The Chinese government’s repression of journalists at home is well-known. Less visible is how that machinery now reaches far beyond its borders.
Read the accounts from Journalists who faced intimidation for reporting on human rights abuses tied to China’s ventures in African countries.
Read the accounts from Journalists who faced intimidation for reporting on human rights abuses tied to China’s ventures in African countries.
China Silences Environmental Reporters in Africa to Protect Its Investments
“We’re talking about a nation that is not only highly repressive but also the second-largest economy globally,” said Sarah Cook, who worked for years for Freedom House, which defends civil liberties…
www.thexylom.com
December 6, 2025 at 5:05 PM
China is one of the biggest development funders and operators in the world. It’s also silencing environmental reporters who dare to tell the truth about the harms some of those projects have caused across the global south
Thank you to @thexylom.com for publishing this story.
Thank you to @thexylom.com for publishing this story.
Reposted by Chad Small
The thing about being an US born person of immigrant extraction who has also lived in a couple of other countries and traveled to a bunch more is... I can be both very clear eyed in the way the US sucks while also being aware of how other countries use the USA's failings to distract from their own.
December 7, 2025 at 2:55 AM
The thing about being an US born person of immigrant extraction who has also lived in a couple of other countries and traveled to a bunch more is... I can be both very clear eyed in the way the US sucks while also being aware of how other countries use the USA's failings to distract from their own.
Reposted by Chad Small
My teen, who had dreamt of being an astrophysicist, just told me he wants to go to law school because, “Science isn’t going to be a priority in the US in the future…I don’t want a job where I’ll be constantly worried my funding will be taken away.”
Gutting. How many future scientists have we lost?
Gutting. How many future scientists have we lost?
December 7, 2025 at 1:23 AM
My teen, who had dreamt of being an astrophysicist, just told me he wants to go to law school because, “Science isn’t going to be a priority in the US in the future…I don’t want a job where I’ll be constantly worried my funding will be taken away.”
Gutting. How many future scientists have we lost?
Gutting. How many future scientists have we lost?
Reposted by Chad Small
yes … yes!!!!! www.nytimes.com/2025/12/02/o...
Opinion | We Have a Way to Pay for Free Buses. It Means Free Street Parking Is Over.
www.nytimes.com
December 5, 2025 at 3:46 AM
yes … yes!!!!! www.nytimes.com/2025/12/02/o...
Reposted by Chad Small
The co-founder and executive director of the Transit Riders Union is now on the board of Sound Transit.
Elections matter, folks.
Elections matter, folks.
NEWS: King County Councilmembers Teresa Mosqueda and Steffanie Fain, Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson, and Tukwila Mayor Thomas McLeod will be the newest members of the Sound Transit board of directors, Executive Zahilay's office has just announced.
December 4, 2025 at 5:40 PM
The co-founder and executive director of the Transit Riders Union is now on the board of Sound Transit.
Elections matter, folks.
Elections matter, folks.
Reposted by Chad Small
TN07 is a story about gerrymandering: the GOP cracked Nashville into 3 districts when it redrew the 2022 map, destroying the Dem seat there.
Fast-forward: a section of Nashville, which just 5 years ago had a Dem representative, is now voting Dem by huge margins but it's been designed to not matter.
Fast-forward: a section of Nashville, which just 5 years ago had a Dem representative, is now voting Dem by huge margins but it's been designed to not matter.
December 3, 2025 at 2:14 AM
TN07 is a story about gerrymandering: the GOP cracked Nashville into 3 districts when it redrew the 2022 map, destroying the Dem seat there.
Fast-forward: a section of Nashville, which just 5 years ago had a Dem representative, is now voting Dem by huge margins but it's been designed to not matter.
Fast-forward: a section of Nashville, which just 5 years ago had a Dem representative, is now voting Dem by huge margins but it's been designed to not matter.
Reposted by Chad Small
🍃 Risa spent the summer reporting on local news @cascadiadaily.com sponsored by the Ralph W.F. Hardy Endowment. You'll want to read it: www.aaas.org/programs/mas...
#MassMediaFellowship #SciComm
#MassMediaFellowship #SciComm
December 1, 2025 at 5:33 PM
🍃 Risa spent the summer reporting on local news @cascadiadaily.com sponsored by the Ralph W.F. Hardy Endowment. You'll want to read it: www.aaas.org/programs/mas...
#MassMediaFellowship #SciComm
#MassMediaFellowship #SciComm
Reposted by Chad Small
Seattle is not small or narrow. It’s huge and we can easily double our population if we are being realistic. It would fund transit, schools and services and bring an economic vitality and vibrancy to every part of our city
December 1, 2025 at 6:12 AM
Seattle is not small or narrow. It’s huge and we can easily double our population if we are being realistic. It would fund transit, schools and services and bring an economic vitality and vibrancy to every part of our city
Reposted by Chad Small
this headline, and much of the reporting, is the result of believing that the key to good journalism is never taking a position
NEW: The F.D.A. announced in an internal memo that 10 children died "because of" the Covid shot. Other experts want to see proof.
“This is a profound revelation,” Dr. Prasad's memo said. “For the first time, the U.S. F.D.A. will acknowledge that Covid-19 vaccines have killed American children.”
“This is a profound revelation,” Dr. Prasad's memo said. “For the first time, the U.S. F.D.A. will acknowledge that Covid-19 vaccines have killed American children.”
F.D.A. Attributes 10 Children’s Deaths to Covid Vaccines
www.nytimes.com
November 30, 2025 at 4:53 PM
this headline, and much of the reporting, is the result of believing that the key to good journalism is never taking a position
Reposted by Chad Small
This is where we need to do a better job at differentiating between things like AI/ML weather modeling or AI/ML medical, and generative AI and other LLM that every company is trying to shove down our throats.
I’m very supportive of the former but very skeptical of the latter.
I’m very supportive of the former but very skeptical of the latter.
I know this is going to set off all the anti-AI people, but this is a good, on-target story by NPR.
Meteorologists are surprised that the weather model that did the best job forecasting hurricanes this year was a new one, introduced by Google. AI may be the beginning of a new era of forecasting. n.pr/49MFa1M
November 30, 2025 at 4:27 AM
This is where we need to do a better job at differentiating between things like AI/ML weather modeling or AI/ML medical, and generative AI and other LLM that every company is trying to shove down our throats.
I’m very supportive of the former but very skeptical of the latter.
I’m very supportive of the former but very skeptical of the latter.