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Ben Sargent's latest Loon Star State cartoon, from the July/August 2023 issue of Texas Observer magazine: https://www.texasobserver.org/issues/july-august-2023-abbotts-border-boondoggle/

#TexasNeedsAnObserver! Become a member and get our magazine, six times per year: https://texasobserver.org/join

#politics #news #USpol #Texas #GregAbbott #HB2127 #democracy #journalism #comics


Today is my dissertation proposal defense. That means I'll give a public lecture about my research in front of my committee.

As some folks may know, I'm doing another round of grad school, mid-career, focused on scientific decision making in the U.S. Congress https://sheril.substack.com/p/a-dissertation-on-democracy #science #politics

In terms of PhD-ing, this is kind of like the pregame. I passed my comprehensive exams last year & will officially defend my dissertation & finish this Fall. So here goes...


Happy #Newstodon Friday, a day to celebrate the journalists and publications on the #Fediverse.

This week, we're highlighting @justinmiller's deep investigation into the #pollution, corruption, and waste surrounding Greg Abbott's ever-growing #border-wall,. This is the cover story to the July/August 2023 magazine issue: https://www.texasobserver.org/abbotts-billion-dollar-barrier/

If you enjoy reading #news on Mastodon, remember to support outlets you love with donations & memberships.

#politics #HumanRights #immigration


Science Debate is now "Science on the Ballot" with @SciPolNetwork

This nonpartisan initiative, which I cofounded in 2007, asks candidates, elected officials, the public & the media to focus on science policy issues prior to Election Day. https://www.scipolnetwork.org/science-on-the-ballot?mibextid=Zxz2cZ #elections #science #politics

U.S. state coalitions are launching on Tuesday, July 18 at 7pm ET & you can join the kickoff event to get involved, learn about the program & work with campaigns. Register at https://ow.ly/Bgz950P20Jp


By today’s standards he seems mild. Even Obama praised him. Along with Lincoln, Republicans trot Ronald Reagan out every time Democrats praise the communication wizardry of Obama, Clinton, or Kennedy, or the stalwart composition of FDR or integrity of Truman. In reality, Reagan was an impenetrable facade of congeniality who was quite hostile to civil rights.

1/

@blackmastodon@a.gup.pe @BlackMastodon@chirp.social #BlackMastodon #Histodons #History #BlackHistory #Politics #StillWeRise


Boris Johnson Partygate report: Key findings at a glance

A report by MPs into whether the former prime minister misled Parliament has finally been published.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-65913184

(c) #BBC #News #Politics


“Data shows for the first time that the peak demand for electricity this summer will exceed the amount we can generate from on-demand, dispatchable power, so we will be relying on #renewables to keep the lights on.”

But rather than fix the grid, #Republicans spent their time in the #Texas legislature trying to block renewable #energy:
https://www.texasobserver.org/88th-session-texas-legislature-lgbtq-energy-schools/

#environment #infrastructure #ClimateChange #TXlege #politics #news #USpol #OilAndGas


.@w3c WCAG should not be developed/designed for the benefit of #accessibility testing vendors. It is there to improve the user experience of disabled people.

#web #a11y #politics #WCAG #WebStandards


Democratic Underground shared this quote from my 2009 book, Unscientific America, as a quote for the day.

It’s interesting to return to in 2023, especially given my research on scientific decision making in Congress. I’m not quite sure how I would change it at first glance, but my perspective is more nuanced 14 years later. #science #democracy #politics


Gender-affirming care—for ADULTS—is now predictably under attack in #Texas. This is part of a Republican plan of genocide underway against #trans people. We need cis allies to be loud and angry on our behalf. Pay attention, this doesn't end here or with us:

https://www.texastribune.org/2023/04/25/transgender-health-care-legislature/ via @texastribune

#LGBTQIA+ #transgender #transphobia #HumanRights #Healthcare #news #Politics #TXlege #USpol #gender


While I was overseas, I completed 2 manuscripts, with another coming. And that’s only the beginning. https://sheril.substack.com/p/there-and-back-again

Some stories didn't fit neatly into articles but seem quite timely in 2023. For example, congressional staffers tend to know about the hidden health status of aging members of Congress. Grandstanding doesn’t necessarily reflect what happens once the cameras go off. And social media restricts policy opportunities in ways we don’t see. #politics


”Employees are expected to comply with this dress code in a manner consistent with their biological #gender.”—#Texas Department of #Agriculture memorandum

Ag Dept employees received an unwelcome surprise in a new dress code issued last week that seems aimed at oppressing #transgender and #nonbinary workers, reports Digital Editor Kit @oconnell based on a document leaked to us:
https://www.texasobserver.org/sid-miller-department-agriculture-dress-code-transgender/

#transphobia #LGBTQIA+ #news #politics #USpol #trans #HumanRights #GregAbbott #Republicans


In 1990, Springfield parents wanted to “kancel” Michelangelo’s David for its “evil parts.”

My 10yo has been making his way through The Simpsons & just called me in to watch this prescient scene from Season 2, Episode 9 😮 #politics #news


We’re told flattering anecdotes about how elected leaders came to write a bill or introduce a plan.

Usually it's fiction.

New post: https://sheril.substack.com/p/theres-more-to-every-story #politics #news


With so much speculation around what silly nickname Donald Trump will call Ron DeSantis, I wrote about associative learning & the psychology of name-calling along the campaign trail - and why it can be a surprisingly effective strategy. https://sheril.substack.com/p/ron-desanctimonious-and-the-psychology #science #politics #news


Imagine you’re a 25 year old staffer in Congress responsible for drafting legislation, meeting with constituents, writing speeches & responding to lobbyists. You also make recommendations for how your boss should vote.

Here's how you might start the day: https://sheril.substack.com/p/morning-on-the-hill #science #politics


Many congressional staffers I interview in my research say they wish that the same science groups visiting the other party's offices would also reach out to them.

When some staff feel ignored by scientists, they may not seek out their guidance on legislation.

The result is two different policy conversations happening on single issues by each party across Capitol Hill. That’s bad for democracy & chips away at the ability to compromise.

New post: https://sheril.substack.com/p/we-need-to-talk #politics


In 2007, a small group of concerned citizens co-founded the nonpartisan ngo Science Debate. The goal was simple: Science Debate asked presidential candidates to answer science policy questions related to issues like competitiveness, space exploration, & pandemic response.

Why? If candidates addressed #science issues, they should be more likely to arrive in office with a plan for how to deal with challenges related to health, tech & the environment. https://open.substack.com/pub/sheril/p/science-and-the-candidates?utm_source=direct&r=1j872&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web #politics


5 towering men filed into our conference room in the Hart Senate office building.

“Hello little lady,” one lightheartedly greeted me, glancing back at the door as if still waiting for someone.

“It’s nice to meet you,” I began. “What brings you here today?”

The group shifted in their seats, perhaps mildly irritated. I guessed they expected to speak directly with a U.S. senator rather than the 25yo woman sitting across from them.

Today, a story from my past: https://sheril.substack.com/p/the-oil-men #politics


Sweden only has a problem with burning the quran if and when it upsets Erdogan and hampers our inclusion to the nuclear weapons club known as Nato.

#Birdsite #Sweden #Politics #Nato #Racism #SwedishPM


President Biden has had our backs.

He really has.

We need to have his back now.

We know he isn’t a criminal.

We know he would never, under any circumstance, place national security at risk.

When we see the media try to trash his reputation, we need to call them out.

Don’t click on the clickbait, and turn the channel if a reporter tries to start a feeding frenzy.

Republicans are the danger.

#politics #biden


In #politics, consensus doesn’t require that information is correct or understood. Policymakers may even find that turning to experts for guidance doesn’t serve their needs or interests.

And even when they look for accurate data, they’re likely to disagree about what comprises expertise & evidence. After all, every DC think tank claims to deliver “the facts” in white papers & briefing materials, yet their conclusions rarely align. https://sheril.substack.com/p/do-facts-matter

TL/DR: Facts aren't enough.


I arrived as a Senate staffer in 2006 with a Masters in policy, but academic training did not prepare me for the job.

I spent my 1st morning marveling at how interested my colleagues seemed to be in “R&D,” assuming it reflected a shared appreciation of research & development (a term that broadly encompasses science policy issues). Science touches everything after all.

An hour later, I sheepishly discovered they were simply referring to Republicans & Democrats. https://sheril.substack.com/p/the-fiction-of-american-democracy #politics


When we elect U.S. Senators & House members to office, we expect them - and by extension, their office staff - to reflect the preferences & attitudes in our district or state. But do they actually know what constituents want?

It’s complicated, but the limited evidence we have so far suggests no.

New post: https://sheril.substack.com/p/representation #politics #Congress


Populism coupled with increasing assaults on scientific integrity have dramatically shifted the political landscape & contributed to geopolitical instability.

The policy ramifications are yet to be understood, but anti-intellectualism has threatened public health, stymied environmental progress, influenced funding priorities & sculpted the rhetoric of local, state & national politics.

New post: The Rise of Anti-intellectualism https://sheril.substack.com/p/the-rise-of-anti-intellectualism #science #politics


Monster Crash

#Humor #Politics #acappella #dragqueens #monster #EndtheGOP #NoMoreTrumpies #NoRepublicanVictorories

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