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Items tagged with: politics


Oh, nothing much, just the queer governor of #Massachusetts quietly doing the right thing (on this and many other issues) while much of the country goes insane.
#politics #USPol #MApoli
https://whdh.com/news/healey-pardoning-all-convictions-for-simple-marijuana-possession/


Want to hang out next Thursday night (or Friday depending on where you live)?

I'm joining the one & only @bschillace for a live conversation about #science #politics & culture.

We may discuss why so many people believe things that aren't true. Or explore how we got into this predicament. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ieOEPE92MBE

The Pecular Book Club is "a safe haven of nerdery for all peculiar people w bizarre interests." https://brandyschillace.com/peculiar/

Livestream: https://www.youtube.com/live/a3ev1p20acc?si=H8Q35vWytgmC9m9K

This should be fun!


The world's business and finance sectors can do much more to reverse deforestation—here's the data to prove it #nature #forest #deforestation #business #finance #politics https://phys.org/news/2024-03-world-business-sectors-reverse-deforestation.html


Don't waste your time trying to make sexual morality make sense.

It doesn't. Simple as.

#sex #politics


By the way, if you enjoy my toots and tools consider dropping me a tip. I'm a starve hacker 😏

I have a personal ko-fi in my boi and linked below 👇🏿

I use this for personal emergencies and to do mutual aid work in my community.

In return, I'll keep the fedi-verse full of posts about local news, breaking politics and nerd shit 🖤

https://ko-fi.com/nullagent

#BlackMastodon #CommunityJournalism #Politics


When a government attempts to discredit The Hague, it's a sign something has gone terribly wrong in that country. My latest:

#cartoon #comic #politics #war #humanrights #gaza


Looks like this strip is already making the rounds. Fun with ethno-nationalist dog whistles!

#politics #cartoon #fascism #authoritarianism #democracy #comic


A 2023 survey by the Pew Research Center found that 65% of Americans “always or often feel exhausted when thinking about politics.” 63% have low or no confidence in the future of the U.S. political system. And 86% believe “Republicans & Democrats are more focused on fighting each other than on solving problems.”

But are the people within the U.S. government really that bad?
https://sheril.substack.com/p/the-terrible-10-get-the-most-airtime #politics #blog #news


Reading an otherwise excellent book, “Polarized America,” published in 2006. But this line strikes me as a bit naive through the lens of December 2023:

“there is simply no question to us that the United States is a far more tolerant place [than] it was fifty years ago.”

The authors couldn’t have imagined what - and who - was coming. #politics


“Following the #science” is not quite as simple or straightforward as it sounds.

https://sheril.substack.com/p/follow-the-science?r=1j872&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web #politics


My research focuses on how senior congressional staffers in the U.S. make decisions on #science policy.

For over a year, I’ve been sifting through hours & hours & hours of transcripts from my interviews while analyzing the data & writing.

Now, it's time to begin sharing what I've learned... https://sheril.substack.com/p/lets-begin #politics


A few folks have asked for details on my last post & I realize many may not know I am finishing a Ph.D. related to how Congress makes science-related policy decisions. https://sheril.substack.com/p/a-dissertation-on-democracy

Nearly 20 years ago I worked in the Senate & now my research considers where staffers go for #science information & who they trust. The literature largely focuses on politicians, but staffers are responsible for policies w/o electoral accountability. I'll share more once it's published. #politics


"Most politicians are honest about not knowing enough science & rely on experts." [Source: https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-023-03706-y]

As someone writing a dissertation on where policymakers seek out information related to #science policy, I wholeheartedly disagree.

Scientists & other experts are not a top source for information. They're not even a 2nd or 3rd source. #politics


This week's comic: The things Mike Johnson has said are so over the top that I thought I might place him in the role of my flaming conservative character (hence the flames, in case anyone was wondering about that). It’s almost impossible to exaggerate this man’s theocratic worldview, so I tried to use actual quotes where I could.

#uspol #politics #cartoon #democracy #authoritarianism #republicans #theocracy #lgbtq


Drew this one just before an insurrectionist was elected Speaker of the House

#uspol #cartoon #politics #fascism #democracy #authoritarianism


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

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