Joie
@un-sparkle.bsky.social
recovering academic. writer. complex qualitative researcher/nerd. quant research is my hex head screwdriver. maximalist minimalist and introverted extrovert. queer as heck. ya'll means all ya'll.
Reposted by Joie
"Untether your psyche from overthinking. The sound of one hand clapping is simply what happens when the other hand has been amputated due to untreated type 2 diabetes."
The Zen of Dying Quietly, and Other Teachings by Senator Joni Ernst
“Republican Sen. Joni Ernst faced a number of agitated constituents at a town hall on Friday who expressed concerns that the Republicans’ cuts to M...
buff.ly
June 7, 2025 at 1:30 PM
"Untether your psyche from overthinking. The sound of one hand clapping is simply what happens when the other hand has been amputated due to untreated type 2 diabetes."
The RIFS alone=100% (or really damn close) fire rate for permanent and rotating positions. ALL the experts (field-specific, administrative, and protocol) and funding programs gone. This is not a partial gutting like at the NIH & CDC. The NSF is completely dismantled. bsky.app/profile/scie...
Exclusive: National Science Foundation staff were told today that the agency’s 37 divisions—across all eight directorates—are being abolished and the number of programs within those divisions will be drastically reduced.
Exclusive: NSF faces radical shake-up as officials abolish its 37 divisions
Changes seen as a response to presidential directives on what research to fund
scim.ag
May 9, 2025 at 6:45 PM
The RIFS alone=100% (or really damn close) fire rate for permanent and rotating positions. ALL the experts (field-specific, administrative, and protocol) and funding programs gone. This is not a partial gutting like at the NIH & CDC. The NSF is completely dismantled. bsky.app/profile/scie...
Reposted by Joie
Water: “Water is H20. Ice might parade around pretending to be something different, but we all know that it’s also H20 and therefore also water. It’s chemistry.”
If People Talked About Other Things the Way They Talked About Gender Identity
Fiction: “It’s either a short story or a novel. There’s no such thing as a novella.” Subatomic particles: “Now they’re saying they discovered ‘tetr...
buff.ly
April 6, 2025 at 2:00 AM
Water: “Water is H20. Ice might parade around pretending to be something different, but we all know that it’s also H20 and therefore also water. It’s chemistry.”
Reposted by Joie
Texas Republican Keithself storms out of the meeting he's supposed to be running because a Democrat asked him to treat his colleague Sarah McBride with respect. These people would not last one day as a trans person.
March 11, 2025 at 8:39 PM
Texas Republican Keithself storms out of the meeting he's supposed to be running because a Democrat asked him to treat his colleague Sarah McBride with respect. These people would not last one day as a trans person.
Reposted by Joie
THAT DIDN'T TAKE LONG: Plaintiffs in one lawsuit against DOGE have alerted the court to President Trump's remarks tonight calling Elon Musk the "head" of the office.
March 5, 2025 at 4:32 AM
THAT DIDN'T TAKE LONG: Plaintiffs in one lawsuit against DOGE have alerted the court to President Trump's remarks tonight calling Elon Musk the "head" of the office.
Reposted by Joie
Michael Roth, president of Wesleyan University, in an essay about a month ago
slate.com/life/2025/02...
slate.com/life/2025/02...
March 4, 2025 at 2:09 PM
Michael Roth, president of Wesleyan University, in an essay about a month ago
slate.com/life/2025/02...
slate.com/life/2025/02...
Reposted by Joie
Nothing to do w/DEI. They want to erase our accomplishments, our heroes,our inspiration.
THIS is what Justice KBJ meant when she said at oral argument in the university cases that the conservative majority would privilege narratives of white students & disqualify the narratives of Black students.
THIS is what Justice KBJ meant when she said at oral argument in the university cases that the conservative majority would privilege narratives of white students & disqualify the narratives of Black students.
The Army deleted my “Why I served” video where I talked about how I decided I wanted to attend West Point/join the Army after one of the cadets my family used to sponsor died in combat. Probably deleted because she was the first black woman to be CSM at West Point.
March 3, 2025 at 9:11 PM
Nothing to do w/DEI. They want to erase our accomplishments, our heroes,our inspiration.
THIS is what Justice KBJ meant when she said at oral argument in the university cases that the conservative majority would privilege narratives of white students & disqualify the narratives of Black students.
THIS is what Justice KBJ meant when she said at oral argument in the university cases that the conservative majority would privilege narratives of white students & disqualify the narratives of Black students.
Reposted by Joie
SCOOP: Now that Linda McMahon is confirmed/sworn in as secretary, Trump will be imminently issuing an executive order eliminating the Department of Education.
I’ve obtained a draft of an email that McMahon will be sending to staff re: the EO and the department’s “final mission”.
Here is a portion:
I’ve obtained a draft of an email that McMahon will be sending to staff re: the EO and the department’s “final mission”.
Here is a portion:
![After President Trump's inauguration last month, he has steadily signed a slate of executive orders to keep these education promises: combatting critical race theory, DEl, gender ideology extremism, and discrimination in admissions. President Trump has also been focused on eliminating wasteful bureaucracy and harmful programs in the federal government. To that end, today he signed [Executive Order XYZ, entitled "Eliminating the Department of Education,] which has given us a clear and final mission.
We are to identify which of the Department's functions, programs, and offices are not mandated by statute, and eliminate them. This reorganization will impact staff, budgets, reporting, and more —and in coming months, we will determine how it can be accomplished with minimal delay and disruption. The President further tasked us with creating a plan to reallocate and reassign functions of the Department of Education that would be more effectively managed by other agencies. This plan will offer Congress a road map toward fulfilling the expectations of the President and the American people.
The new vision—which I hope each of you will embrace going forward—can be expressed as four main convictions:
Parents are the primary decision makers in their children's education.
Students deserve to be protected from physical violence, racial discrimination, medical tyranny, and gender extremism ideology on campus.
Postsecondary education should be a path to a well-paying career aligned with workforce needs.
Taxpayer-funded education should refocus on meaningful learning: proficiency in math, reading, and core subjects, and patriotism in American history and civics.
As we move to reduce the Department's middleman role in education, these four convictions must guide us toward conscientious and pragmatic action. The elimination of bureaucracy should free us, not limit us, in our pursuit of these goals
Removing red tape and bureaucratic barriers will empower parents to make th](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:ejihld4sywvvqwe67cdkn4jq/bafkreictcxubqhd7foyjwbms62bj3cxmfyepqk2ms3l6ctabsa6fvpm5ju@jpeg)
March 4, 2025 at 12:04 AM
SCOOP: Now that Linda McMahon is confirmed/sworn in as secretary, Trump will be imminently issuing an executive order eliminating the Department of Education.
I’ve obtained a draft of an email that McMahon will be sending to staff re: the EO and the department’s “final mission”.
Here is a portion:
I’ve obtained a draft of an email that McMahon will be sending to staff re: the EO and the department’s “final mission”.
Here is a portion:
Reposted by Joie
They're so mad that they couldn't pass a trans sports ban through congress y'all.
March 4, 2025 at 12:28 AM
They're so mad that they couldn't pass a trans sports ban through congress y'all.
If you've ever been in a relationship with an abuser, you know that is clear from this meeting that the two people in charge of our country are serial abusers using DARVO against someone they want to control and manipulate.
I can't stop laughing at this man I'm sorry. This is the kind of shit the biggest loser in the world would say to their girlfriend about buying her flowers on Valentine's Day once, and he's doing so in an argument that started because he called her a bitch
March 1, 2025 at 4:13 PM
If you've ever been in a relationship with an abuser, you know that is clear from this meeting that the two people in charge of our country are serial abusers using DARVO against someone they want to control and manipulate.
Reposted by Joie
MORE: As Judge Chuang pressed for more information, counsel for the government revealed that DOJ's Federal Programs Branch “has been cut in half.”
"They're cutting people across the government," the judge replied. "If you're saying you don't have enough people, maybe that's part of the problem..."
"They're cutting people across the government," the judge replied. "If you're saying you don't have enough people, maybe that's part of the problem..."
![JUDGE CHUANG: Why do we get a declaration [from Peter Marocco] but there’s really no documentation of anything there? Marocco says every decision was approved by the Secretary [Marco Rubio]. I've got no documentation—a letter, an email—showing that the Secretary approved anything, right?
GARDNER: I think it’s important that everyone understands the context here. Since January 20, we have received approximately 80 lawsuits and our staff at the Justice Department’s Federal Programs Branch has been cut in half. We have about half the number of staff that we had in November, and we are working on these expedited schedules….
JUDGE CHUANG: Marocco could have provided more. It wouldn’t have taken extra work on your part to seek more documentation…. If it really was a decision by USAID, there should be a piece of paper or an electronic message from Secretary Rubio himself, saying, “I'm approving this.” Marocco said he had the authority. Marocco would have had access to anything he signed. Why don’t we have that?
GARDNER: I’m not trying to be “obsequious.” We’re doing the best we can to get as much information as possible…
JUDGE CHUANG: “You're saying that the Justice Department isn't taking this case seriously? That they’re not staffing it sufficiently?”
GARDNER: It’s the opposite. I haven’t had a day off since January 20. We’re working day and night.
JUDGE CHUANG: I understand that. They’re cutting people across the government. If you’re saying you don’t have enough people, maybe that’s part of the problem… I mean, If USAID can’t respond to lawsuits, maybe they need more people.](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:t4x2ruk2qmob2b2cx55h4v7r/bafkreieavbdersfwvfk3dveitlmzlq6dfb2u4r4lzlymop5siwxd4il6wa@jpeg)
March 1, 2025 at 2:20 PM
MORE: As Judge Chuang pressed for more information, counsel for the government revealed that DOJ's Federal Programs Branch “has been cut in half.”
"They're cutting people across the government," the judge replied. "If you're saying you don't have enough people, maybe that's part of the problem..."
"They're cutting people across the government," the judge replied. "If you're saying you don't have enough people, maybe that's part of the problem..."
Reposted by Joie
1. Major news: Remember those "Biological men"/"Biological Women" signs at University of Cincinnati?
They have come down thanks to MASSIVE student protests at the college, which have continued.
The latest from S. Baum.
Subscribe to support our journalism.
www.erininthemorning.com/p/university...
They have come down thanks to MASSIVE student protests at the college, which have continued.
The latest from S. Baum.
Subscribe to support our journalism.
www.erininthemorning.com/p/university...
University of Cincinnati Protests Lead to "Biological" Bathroom Signs Reversal
“Deny, delay, fight back.”
www.erininthemorning.com
February 28, 2025 at 4:55 PM
1. Major news: Remember those "Biological men"/"Biological Women" signs at University of Cincinnati?
They have come down thanks to MASSIVE student protests at the college, which have continued.
The latest from S. Baum.
Subscribe to support our journalism.
www.erininthemorning.com/p/university...
They have come down thanks to MASSIVE student protests at the college, which have continued.
The latest from S. Baum.
Subscribe to support our journalism.
www.erininthemorning.com/p/university...
Translate this into today, 2025: "American fascism will not be really dangerous until there is a purposeful coalition among the cartelists, the deliberate poisoners of public information, and those who stand for the K.K.K. type of demagoguery" brewminate.com/vice-preside...
Vice President Henry A. Wallace on 'The Danger of American Fascism' in 1944
Vice President Wallace as asked to write an article for the New York Times in 1944 addressing the presence of fascism in America and its dangers.
brewminate.com
February 28, 2025 at 5:31 PM
Translate this into today, 2025: "American fascism will not be really dangerous until there is a purposeful coalition among the cartelists, the deliberate poisoners of public information, and those who stand for the K.K.K. type of demagoguery" brewminate.com/vice-preside...
Head's up - ya'll know what to do: www.ed.gov/about/news/p...
U.S. Department of Education Launches “End DEI” Portal
The U.S. Department of Education launched EndDEI.Ed.Gov, a public portal for parents, students, teachers, and the broader community to submit reports of discrimination based on race or sex in publicly...
www.ed.gov
February 28, 2025 at 2:36 PM
Head's up - ya'll know what to do: www.ed.gov/about/news/p...
Reposted by Joie
The Heritage Foundation ghouls want to know what YOU think about the illegal DOGE effort to destroy the American government! Let them know!
secured.heritage.org/the-heritage...
secured.heritage.org/the-heritage...
The Heritage DOGE Survey | The Heritage Foundation
secured.heritage.org
February 27, 2025 at 12:41 AM
The Heritage Foundation ghouls want to know what YOU think about the illegal DOGE effort to destroy the American government! Let them know!
secured.heritage.org/the-heritage...
secured.heritage.org/the-heritage...
Reposted by Joie
On the HHS Leadership call today: 1 employee from CMS (Center for Medicare/Medicaid Service) and 2 employees from SSA (Social Security Administration) have died by suicide after their firing.
February 26, 2025 at 3:35 PM
On the HHS Leadership call today: 1 employee from CMS (Center for Medicare/Medicaid Service) and 2 employees from SSA (Social Security Administration) have died by suicide after their firing.
Read, search, bookmark, share widely - this is an amazing and terrifying tracker: www.project2025.observer
Project 2025 Tracker
Track the progress on Project 2025
www.project2025.observer
February 26, 2025 at 1:17 AM
Read, search, bookmark, share widely - this is an amazing and terrifying tracker: www.project2025.observer
Reposted by Joie
Democracy Forward represents @aftunion.bsky.social, @aftmaryland.bsky.social & @asanews.bsky.social, in lawsuit challenging the Dept of Ed's new policy threatening to withhold federal funding for education institutions that do not comply with its weaponization of civil rights laws. (1/2)
February 25, 2025 at 10:46 PM
Democracy Forward represents @aftunion.bsky.social, @aftmaryland.bsky.social & @asanews.bsky.social, in lawsuit challenging the Dept of Ed's new policy threatening to withhold federal funding for education institutions that do not comply with its weaponization of civil rights laws. (1/2)
Reposted by Joie
🚨 by 2/24, MI AG Dana Nessel has requested information demonstrating harm to Americans in NM, AZ, CA, HI, NV, OR, WA, MD, MN, CT, RI, VT, MA, and MI due to actions by DOGE, Elon Musk, or Trump against federal workers. See below and share w/anyone impacted!
h/t @equalityingov.bsky.social
h/t @equalityingov.bsky.social
February 23, 2025 at 4:56 PM
🚨 by 2/24, MI AG Dana Nessel has requested information demonstrating harm to Americans in NM, AZ, CA, HI, NV, OR, WA, MD, MN, CT, RI, VT, MA, and MI due to actions by DOGE, Elon Musk, or Trump against federal workers. See below and share w/anyone impacted!
h/t @equalityingov.bsky.social
h/t @equalityingov.bsky.social
Reposted by Joie
Federal employee terminations will cause widespread economic damage even beyond the hardships for specific employees
How many federal workers live in your state or county or congressional district?
I made an little interactive site to tell you economic.github.io/federal_work...
How many federal workers live in your state or county or congressional district?
I made an little interactive site to tell you economic.github.io/federal_work...
February 14, 2025 at 9:30 PM
Federal employee terminations will cause widespread economic damage even beyond the hardships for specific employees
How many federal workers live in your state or county or congressional district?
I made an little interactive site to tell you economic.github.io/federal_work...
How many federal workers live in your state or county or congressional district?
I made an little interactive site to tell you economic.github.io/federal_work...
Reposted by Joie
An incredibly important exchange here for more reasons than one.
It’s worth it to note: this DOJ lawyer, Jason Lynch, is tanking his credibility in defense of an insidious, pretextual, and asinine Trump Administration policy.
This kind of stuff will forever haunt you professionally.
It’s worth it to note: this DOJ lawyer, Jason Lynch, is tanking his credibility in defense of an insidious, pretextual, and asinine Trump Administration policy.
This kind of stuff will forever haunt you professionally.
Another extraordinary exchange just now about "animus" in the court hearing on trasngender members of the military:
February 18, 2025 at 8:55 PM
An incredibly important exchange here for more reasons than one.
It’s worth it to note: this DOJ lawyer, Jason Lynch, is tanking his credibility in defense of an insidious, pretextual, and asinine Trump Administration policy.
This kind of stuff will forever haunt you professionally.
It’s worth it to note: this DOJ lawyer, Jason Lynch, is tanking his credibility in defense of an insidious, pretextual, and asinine Trump Administration policy.
This kind of stuff will forever haunt you professionally.
Probationary and permanent NSF workers fired this morning effective 11AM+2 hours until losing access - all being told it is for "poor performance" regardless of record (or no performance reviews yet.) Fed employees: make sure you download all performance reviews. This impacts unemployment filing.
February 18, 2025 at 6:04 PM
Probationary and permanent NSF workers fired this morning effective 11AM+2 hours until losing access - all being told it is for "poor performance" regardless of record (or no performance reviews yet.) Fed employees: make sure you download all performance reviews. This impacts unemployment filing.
On anti-DEI targeting of Federal funding, here's Ted Cruz's latest *investigation.* Note the specific targeting of NSF grants & messaging framed as *woke/weaponized/poisoned/"restore integrity"* Summary in link, spreadsheet download link at end of summary. www.commerce.senate.gov/2025/2/cruz-...
Cruz-Led Investigation Uncovers $2 Billion in Woke DEI Grants at NSF, Releases Full Database
www.commerce.senate.gov
February 12, 2025 at 4:15 PM
On anti-DEI targeting of Federal funding, here's Ted Cruz's latest *investigation.* Note the specific targeting of NSF grants & messaging framed as *woke/weaponized/poisoned/"restore integrity"* Summary in link, spreadsheet download link at end of summary. www.commerce.senate.gov/2025/2/cruz-...
Reposted by Joie
"Fire the first five people who try to sweep up the shards of glass. They are obviously Biden dead-enders who just want to maintain the wasteful and ineffective status quo."
Elon Musk’s Directive on How to Change a Light Bulb in a Federal Building
“Elon Musk’s government-slashing crew, the “department of government efficiency,” has been given access to the federal payment system, exposing the...
buff.ly
February 6, 2025 at 1:30 PM
"Fire the first five people who try to sweep up the shards of glass. They are obviously Biden dead-enders who just want to maintain the wasteful and ineffective status quo."
Reposted by Joie
Former Judge Nancy Gertner gets it!
"The work of these lawsuits, of these cases, is more than just halting behaviors that are unlawful. I recently wrote about the expressive function of the law."
Oftentimes, activists see litigation as a Y/N binary. It's far more! It's pageantry and storytelling!
"The work of these lawsuits, of these cases, is more than just halting behaviors that are unlawful. I recently wrote about the expressive function of the law."
Oftentimes, activists see litigation as a Y/N binary. It's far more! It's pageantry and storytelling!
why winning matters with Judge Nancy Gertner
"When you go roaring into court and you say, “This is illegal!” and a judge responds, “Yes, it is,” you begin to create a narrative so people have a sense of what the metes and bounds of our democracy are."
"When you go roaring into court and you say, “This is illegal!” and a judge responds, “Yes, it is,” you begin to create a narrative so people have a sense of what the metes and bounds of our democracy are."
A Former Federal Judge Just Beat Trump and Musk in Court. She Has Advice for the Resistance.
The work of these lawsuits, of these cases, is more than just halting behaviors that are unlawful.
slate.com
February 10, 2025 at 11:11 PM
Former Judge Nancy Gertner gets it!
"The work of these lawsuits, of these cases, is more than just halting behaviors that are unlawful. I recently wrote about the expressive function of the law."
Oftentimes, activists see litigation as a Y/N binary. It's far more! It's pageantry and storytelling!
"The work of these lawsuits, of these cases, is more than just halting behaviors that are unlawful. I recently wrote about the expressive function of the law."
Oftentimes, activists see litigation as a Y/N binary. It's far more! It's pageantry and storytelling!