iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Reposted by Nira Pollock

Aaron Reichlin-Melnick @reichlinmelnick.bsky.social · 25/01/2026

You have to read this. Firsthand affidavit from one of the women who was there and recording the video. She talks about how Alex Pretti was directing traffic when she arrived. She watched him be killed in front of her. She's afraid to go home, worried she'll be arrested.

1. I am a resident of the Whittier neighborhood of Minneapolis, Minnesota. I am over 18 years of age. I am a children's entertainer who specializes in face painting.
2. On Saturday, January 24, 2026, at about 8:50 am, I was getting ready to go to work when I heard whistles outside. I knew the whistles meant that ICE agents were in the area, so I decided to check it out on my way to work. I've been involved in observing in my community because it is so important to document what ICE is doing to my neighbors. Connecting to your local community and knowing who your neighbors are is something I profoundly value.
3. I drove to Nicollet Ave. and 26th where I could hear the whistles coming from. I turned south onto Nicollet. There were already several ICE agents there and they'd set up a sort of vehicle convoy on Nicollet and 28th. There were also about 15 observers there, recording and observing ICE.
4. I saw ICE agents surrounding cars and punching car windows. I also saw them stopping vehicles further down Nicollet, so I backed up because I didn't feel safe continuing on.
5. I noticed a man sort of acting to help traffic move more smoothly. He helped me find a place to park. I got out with my whistle and my camera. I went over to him and said something like, "I'm going to film and use my whistle."
6. It seemed like most ICE activity was happening a little farther down the street from us, near 27th. Someone was being thrown to the ground.

7. I started recording. There was an agent by a car across the street. Two observers were a few feet away from the agent, blowing their whistles. One was wearing a backpack.
8. I and the man who was observing and helping direct traffic were standing in the street. There was a phone in the man's hand recording a video.
9. An agent approached and asked us to back up, so I moved slowly back onto the sidewalk.
10. The man stayed in the street, filming as the other observers I mentioned earlier were being forced backward by another ICE agent threatening them with pepper spray. The man went closer to support them as they got threatened, just with his camera out. I didn't see him reach for or hold a gun.
11. Then the ICE agent shoved one of the other observers to the ground. Then he started pepper spraying all three of them directly in the face and all over. The man with the phone put his hands above his head and the agent sprayed him again and pushed him.
12. Then the man tried to help up the woman the ICE agent had shoved to the ground. The ICE agents just kept spraying. More agents came over and grabbed the man who was still trying to help the woman get up. All three of the observers looked to have been badly affected by the pepper spray. I could feel the pepper spray in my eyes.

13. The agents pulled the man on the ground. I didn't see him touch any of them-he wasn't even turned toward them. It didn't look like he was trying to resist, just trying to help the woman up. I didn't see him with a gun. They threw him to the ground. Four or five agents had him on the ground and they just started shooting him. They shot him so many times.
14.1 don't know why they shot him. He was only helping. I was five feet from him and they just shot him.
15. The video I recorded of what happened accurately depicts the events leading up to the agents shooting him and several minutes afterwards. The video is attached as Exhibit 1.
16. I have read the statement from DHS about what happened and it is wrong. The man did not approach the agents with a gun. He approached them with a camera. He was just trying to help a woman get up and they took him to the ground.
17. I feel afraid. Only hours have passed since they shot a man right in front me and I don't feel like I can go home because I heard agents were looking for me. I don't know what the agents will do when they find me. I do know that they're not telling the truth about what happened. I've heard that other witnesses might have been arrested and taken to the Whipple Building.
18. I am disgusted and gutted at how they are treating my neighbors and my state. I keep alternating between crying and feeling determined it is important to remember the value of documenting injustice. We show up for the people who need us to bear

witness, because it can't just be one group of people bearing the brunt of their tyranny. This is a struggle to protect our freedom and democracy, those things are on the line. He lost his life for those values.
I declare under penalty of perjury that everything I have stated in this document is true and correct.

Dated and signed on Jan 24, 2026 in Hennepin County, State of Minnesota.

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Dimitri Drekonja, MD, MS @dimitridrekonja.bsky.social · 24/01/2026

Alex Pretti was a colleague at the VA. We hired him to recruit for our trial. He became an ICU nurse- I lover working with him. He was a good kind person who lived to help and these fuckers executed him. White. Hot. Rage.

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Max Kozlov @maxkozlov.bsky.social · 03/07/2025

The full ruling explaining why NIH grant cuts are illegal came out today. It's just as blistering as the judge's oral remarks. And it uncovers fresh details in DOGE's role orchestrating the cuts — and on the cuts at Columbia. Here are my top highlights from the 103-page ruling. 🧵

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ASM @asm.org · 02/05/2025

Together with leading science organizations, ASM filed an amicus brief calling for immediate restoration of NIH grants supporting early-career scientists. Read the press release: asm.org/press-releas...

asm.org

Four Leading Science Organizations File Amicus Brief Supporting Funding Restoration

ASM joined leading life science organizations in an amicus brief filed in support of a suit calling for immediate funding restoration.

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ASM @asm.org · 02/05/2025

ASM strongly opposes the proposed cuts in the President’s fiscal year (FY) 2026 budget request to federal departments and agencies that fund science, research and public health programs. Read our statement: asm.org/articles/pol...

asm.org

ASM Urges Congress to Reject President’s FY 2026 Budget Request | ASM.org

ASM strongly opposes the proposed cuts in the President’s fiscal year (FY) 2026 budget request to federal departments and agencies that fund science, research and public health programs.

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Reposted by Nira Pollock

IDSA @idsainfo.bsky.social · 03/05/2025

IDSA urges Congress to reject President Trump's proposed cuts and instead safeguard the well-being of the American people. Our statement: bit.ly/44PljMH

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Leslie Rissler @ljrissler.bsky.social · 03/05/2025

SaveNSF is a coalition of concerned scientists and allies who are working to save funding for scientific grants through the NSF. The mission is to support and advocate for the continuation of vital research and innovation. Join: www.savensf.com

savensf.com

Home | Savensf

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Dr. Jessica M. DeWitt @jessicamdewitt.bsky.social · 14/04/2025

I just attended a conference in the US. We had one speaker detained and two others turned away at the border.

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Helen Branswell 🇨🇦 @helenbranswell.bsky.social · 13/04/2025

When you get rid of most of the people whose work fuels the day-to-day operations of an agency like #NIH, can the agency still function? Scientists & public health experts working at NIH, #CDC & #FDA fear the answer is no, & that they're about to find out. www.statnews.com/2025/04/11/h...

statnews.com

Inside U.S. health agencies, workers confront chaos and questions as operations come unglued

The Trump administration’s remaking of HHS — in a matter of weeks — is sparking basic questions about how parts of the agency and those it oversees can continue to function.

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Amy Maxmen, PhD @amymaxmen.bsky.social · 10/04/2025

🚨My latest: Trump's deportation tactics are undermining the bird flu response, outreach workers say. Detecting cases is key but farmworkers at highest risk - mainly immigrants - are afraid to leave home for care. @kffhealthnews.org / ABC kffhealthnews.org/news/article...

kffhealthnews.org

Trump’s Immigration Tactics Obstruct Efforts To Avert Bird Flu Pandemic, Researchers Say - KFF Health News

Preventing and detecting bird flu infections among farmworkers is a key defense against a potential pandemic. Immigration raids and threats have undermined these efforts, researchers say.

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Helen Branswell 🇨🇦 @helenbranswell.bsky.social · 11/04/2025

The massive staff cuts at #HHS hit many of the folks who kept HHS running, leaving #NIH labs hoarding dwindling supplies & trying to decide whether further demanded cuts should affect critical people or critical equipment. Destruction, not restructuring. www.statnews.com/2025/04/11/h...

statnews.com

Inside U.S. health agencies, workers confront chaos and questions as operations become unglued

The Trump administration’s remaking of HHS — in a matter of weeks — is sparking basic questions about how parts of the agency and those it oversees can continue to function.

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WIRED @wired.com · 01/04/2025

NEW: Thousands of CDC employees who worked on things like preventing HIV and lead poisoning have been told they were subject to a reduction in force. Experts say people will die.

wired.com

The CDC Has Been Gutted

Thousands of CDC employees who worked on things like preventing HIV and lead poisoning have been told they were subject to a reduction in force. Experts say people will die.

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Dan Diamond @ddiamond.bsky.social · 01/04/2025

Hearing from all corners of HHS this morning about a total bloodletting — firings of scientists, analysts and many more as delayed RIFs take effect. Many folks didn’t see early AM email and showed up, only to be turned away when badges didn’t work. Was sent this photo of long lines at one HHS site.

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Joshua Weitz @joshuasweitz.bsky.social · 01/04/2025

More soon but the impact of cuts across HHS are devastating for the nation's health, well-being & economy. Firing experts will destroy programs, hurt communities, and diminish our ability to innovate. Who benefits? Ask your representative: what are they doing to stop it? 🎁 link: wapo.st/3EaLQZW

wapo.st

Massive layoffs, purge of leadership underway at U.S. health agencies

The move comes after Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s announcement of a sweeping reduction of the Department of Health and Human Services.

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Edward Nirenberg @enirenberg.bsky.social · 29/03/2025

Peter Marks’s resignation letter. Everyone should read this.

Peter Marks, MD, PhD
Director, Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research U.S. Food and Drug Administration
10903 New Hampshire Avenue
Silver Spring, MD 20903
March 28, 2025
Sara Brenner, MD, MPH
Acting Commissioner of Food and Drugs
U.S. Food and Drug Administration
10903 New Hampshire Avenue
Silver Spring, MD 20903
Dear Dr. Brenner:
It is with a heavy heart that I have decided to resign from FDA and retire from federal service as Director of the Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research effective April 5, 2025. I leave behind a staff of professionals who are undoubtedly the most devoted to protecting and promoting the public health of any group of people that I have encountered during my four decades working in the public and private sectors. I have always done my best to advocate for their well-being and I would ask that you do the same during this very difficult time during which their critical importance to the safety and security of our nation may be underappreciated.
Over the past years I have been involved in enhancing the safety of our nation's blood supply, in advancing the field of cell and gene therapy, and in responding to public health emergencies. In the last of these, during the COVID-19 pandemic I had the privilege of watching the vision that I conceived for Operation Warp Speed in March 2020 in collaboration with Dr. Robert Kadlec become a reality under the leadership of HHS Secretary Azar and President Trump due to the unwavering commitment of public servants at FDA and elsewhere across the government. At FDA, the tireless efforts of staff across the agency resulted in remarkably expediting the development of vaccines against the virus, meeting the standards for quality, safety, and effectiveness expected by the American public. The vaccines undoubtedly markedly reduced morbidity and mortality from COVID-19 in the United States and elsewhere. Many of these same individuals applied learnings from the pandemic during a flawless response helping…

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Joshua Weitz @joshuasweitz.bsky.social · 28/03/2025

Working with an interdisciplinary team, we have developed a website to communicate how the White House's proposed cuts to health research would cause losses of $16B and 68,500 jobs. Find out how your community may be impacted. Explore more at SCIMaP: scienceimpacts.org a 🧵

US map via scienceimpacts.org visualization of economic loss due to IDC cuts to 15% as part of Feb 7, 2025 executive order, with shading denoting intensity of cuts.

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Eric Topol @erictopol.bsky.social · 29/03/2025

A huge loss at FDA. Peter Marks originated rhe Operation Warp Speed Covid vaccine idea and has overseen so many essential biotech programs such as genome editing cures www.wsj.com/politics/top...

wsj.com

Exclusive | Top Vaccine Official Out at FDA

In his resignation letter, Dr. Peter Marks cited ‘misinformation and lies’ from Health and Human Services Secretary RFK Jr.

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AAUP @aaup.org · 22/03/2025

Columbia University has failed to defend academic freedom & freedom of speech & allowed a great institution to be bullied & extorted into submission by an administration hellbent on contorting higher education to their will. The AAUP condemns this capitulation. We can & must fight back.

nytimes.com

Columbia Concedes to Trump’s Demands After Federal Funds Are Stripped

The administration has moved to cut $400 million in federal funding to the university without changes to its policies and rules.

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BK. Titanji @boghuma.bsky.social · 22/03/2025

I know there's a lot happening but this week several grenades were thrown to decimate domestic HIV treatment and prevention research. I know more colleagues with canceled grants than not. Our patients will die or get worse care as a direct result. www.theatlantic.com/health/archi...

theatlantic.com

What It Really Means to ‘Give Infectious Disease a Break’

The Trump administration isn’t just dismantling protections against illnesses. It’s inviting them right in.

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Mark Cuban @mcuban.bsky.social · 22/03/2025

From 2010 to 2016 (latest data I have ), NIH research contributed to EVERY drug approved by the FDA

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Nick Kristof @nickkristof.bsky.social · 15/03/2025

Elon Musk says that no one has died because he slashed humanitarian aid. I went to South Sudan to check if that's true. It's not. Meet Peter, Achol and Evan, ages 10, 8 and 5. The reckless actions of the world's richest men are killing the world's poorest kids www.nytimes.com/interactive/...

nytimes.com

Opinion | Musk Said No One Has Died Since Aid Was Cut. That Isn’t True. (Gift Article)

A journey through the front lines of global poverty shows that when the world’s richest men slash aid for the world’s poorest children, the result is sickness, starvation and death.

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Ilan Schwartz @germhuntermd.bsky.social · 08/03/2025

How Foreign Aid Cuts Are Setting the Stage for Disease Outbreaks Organizations funded by the United States helped keep dangerous pathogens in check around the world. Now many safeguards are gone, and Americans may pay the price. Not terrifying at all! 🙈 www.nytimes.com/2025/03/07/h...

nytimes.com

How Foreign Aid Cuts Are Setting the Stage for Disease Outbreaks (Gift Article)

Organizations funded by the United States helped keep dangerous pathogens in check around the world. Now many safeguards are gone, and Americans may pay the price.

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Karen Hao @karenhao.bsky.social · 23/02/2025

Free speech no longer exists in the US government. For @theatlantic.com I spoke with 12+ federal workers in 6 agencies who said the Trump administration’s actions have led to pervasive self-censorship, even on issues some view as critical to national security. 1/ www.theatlantic.com/technology/a...

theatlantic.com

‘Terrified’ Federal Workers Are Clamming Up

Sources within the government reveal the true extent of the Trump administration’s crackdown on speech.

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Carolyn Ibberson @cbibberson.bsky.social · 22/02/2025

We are crowd sourcing reductions in graduate admissions and hiring freezes across biomedical research and higher ed in response to pauses in NIH funding and EO’s. If you have information if you could add to this spreadsheet, it would be greatly appreciated!: docs.google.com/spreadsheets...

docs.google.com

Graduate Reductions Across Biomedical Sciences (2025)

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Karen Hao @karenhao.bsky.social · 21/02/2025

For decades, the US government has painstakingly kept American science #1 globally—and every facet of American life has improved because of it. The internet? Flu shot? Ozempic? All grew out of federally-funded research. Now all that's being dismantled. 1/ www.technologyreview.com/2025/02/21/1...

technologyreview.com

The foundations of America’s prosperity are being dismantled

Federal scientists warn that Americans could feel the effects of the new administration's devastating cuts for decades to come

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Megan Ranney MD MPH @meganranney.bsky.social · 15/02/2025

🛟 That last-ditch chemo trial your family member was hoping to be in 🥙 The investigation of a food-borne illness outbreak in the next town over 🧠The study looking for preventable causes of Alzheimer’s 🧪The assurance that TAXPAYER-PAID-FOR studies & data collection see the light of day

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IDSA @idsainfo.bsky.social · 31/01/2025

The removal of #HIV- and #LGBTQ-related resources from the websites of CDC and other health agencies is deeply concerning. Access to this information is crucial for ID and HIV health care professionals. Our full statement: buff.ly/42AO8LI

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Nira Pollock @nirapollock.bsky.social · 17/01/2025

Flagging this important CDC advisory so we can all plan accordingly. Influenza A subtyping is not routine in all clinical labs and many will need to make a plan. #clinmicro #IDSky www.cdc.gov/han/2025/han...

cdc.gov

Health Alert Network (HAN) - 00520 | Accelerated Subtyping of Influenza A in Hospitalized PatientsMinusSASstats

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Logan Patterson, PhD, D(ABMM) @loganpatterson.bsky.social · 09/12/2024

Almost a month after joining the site, we have over 90 clinical microbiologists in the "Clinical Microbiology" starter pack! While not quite the atmospheric rise of the #IDSky group, we'll keep recruiting! Please share and let your #clinmicro colleagues know how to find us when they arrive!

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Nira Pollock @nirapollock.bsky.social · 09/12/2024

Happy to see more #clinmicro colleagues joining us here-- @loganpatterson.bsky.social can you please add them to your clinmicro starter pack (and perhaps repost the link to it?): @zfreeman.bsky.social @burnhambugdoc.bsky.social @nicolepecora.bsky.social @amcadamclinmicro.bsky.social

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Nira Pollock @nirapollock.bsky.social · 25/11/2024

#IDSky #MicroSky I set up a new feed for those interested specifically in ID diagnostics--development, implementation, evaluation, stewardship. All pathogens and all Dx formats (in-lab, POC) included. Use tag #clinmicro ("IDDx" didn't work!) bsky.app/profile/did:... please try it out

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Krutika Kuppalli, MD FIDSA @krutikakuppalli.bsky.social · 24/11/2024

This was bound to happen and is very concerning. #H5N1 #avianflu virus found in raw milk sold in California. At the states request, Raw Farm, LLC has issued a recall for quart and half-gallon sized milk products set to expire Nov 27 2024.

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Nira Pollock @nirapollock.bsky.social · 24/11/2024

Hi, #IDSky and #micro I set up a new feed for those interested specifically in ID diagnostics--development, implementation, evaluation, stewardship. All pathogens and all Dx formats (in-lab, POC) included. Use tag #clinmicro ("IDDx" was bringing in unrelated content). bsky.app/profile/did:...

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Nira Pollock @nirapollock.bsky.social · 23/11/2024

I’m thinking we need a #clinmicro feed and starter pack for those focused on ID diagnostics and clinical microbiology (like me!). ID Dx /clin micro colleagues, I’m looking for you! #IDsky #microsky #micro #infectiousdiseases

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Gerard Gallagher @gerardgallagher.bsky.social · 22/11/2024

INBOX: CDC confirms first pediatric case of bird flu in US: ◾ Child had mild symptoms, received antivirals, is recovering ◾ Family members tested negative ◾ No evidence of human-to-human spread ◾ CA officials looking into child’s exposure ◾ National surveillance caught case #IDSky #Medsky

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Hensley Lab @scottehensley.bsky.social · 16/11/2024

The preliminary sequence from the H5N1 human case in British Columbia has been posted and it is not good news. The virus potentially has a quasispecies at HA residue 226 (H3 numbering). This is bad news because we know that mutations at residue 226 can increase binding to human receptors. 1/

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