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Shawn Christensen

@pollenmicrobes.bsky.social
852 followers 371 following 116 posts

Microbiologist, chemical ecologist. I study the bugs of bugs and their drugs. (bee bacterial symbionts make antifungal compounds) He/him ✊🏼🏳️‍⚧️🏳️‍🌈

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Shawn Christensen @pollenmicrobes.bsky.social · 16/06/2026
Don't miss new preprint looking at synergy of abx + phage in bee gut!
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Norm Eisen @normeisen.bsky.social · 18/06/2025
Wow! HUNDREDS of business leaders are urging Congress to stand up against Trump’s attack on higher ed Research universities are the bedrock of U.S. innovation—we can’t let the Trump admin shred them over petty grievances Add your name to defend the vital role of our nation’s universities
leadershipnowproject.org
Business Leaders Affirm Universities Are Critical to America’s Competitiveness — Leadership Now Project
200+ CEOs warn that federal attacks on universities threaten U.S. competitiveness. Read the open letter urging Congress to restore funding and visa access.
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19thnews @19thnews.org · 18/06/2025
The Supreme Court ruled on Wednesday to keep Tennessee’s gender-affirming care ban in place which may have watershed consequences for all transgender Americans.
19thnews.org
Supreme Court rules to keep Tennessee’s gender-affirming care ban in place
This 6-3 ruling may embolden more states to ban gender-affirming care as the Trump administration prioritizes restricting it.
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Maggie Astor @maggieastor.bsky.social · 18/06/2025
Breaking: The Trevor Project received a stop-work order last night on its contract with the national 988 suicide prevention hotline. The Trump administration is eliminating the option for LGBTQ callers to the hotline to press 3 and connect with someone who specializes in LGBTQ mental health.
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Lupita Nihongo @otsumamiboy.blacksky.app · 08/05/2025
Impossible to communicate to people that once you decide that a group more vulnerable than you can be sacrificed in the name of your own safety or interests that you have already entered into an tacit agreement that you can also be sacrificed in the interests of a group less vulnerable than you.
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Tokyo Sand @dhstokyo.bsky.social · 02/04/2025
History made
Cory Booker
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Acyn @acyn.bsky.social · 02/04/2025
Senator Cory Booker concludes his record-breaking Senate Floor speech after 25 hours Massive applause for Booker
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Assigned Media @assignedmedia.org · 02/04/2025
WashPo [Apr 2] -- In a key referendum on Trump/Musk influence, liberals won a majority on the WI Supreme Court in a lopsided 55-45 landslide. At $100m it was the costliest court race in history, with Musk giving $1m prizes to voters. The race will decide abortion in WI. @rikiwilchins.bsky.social
washingtonpost.com
Liberal wins Wisconsin Supreme Court race in blow to Trump
Conservatives were unable to topple the 4-3 liberal majority in the most expensive judicial contest in U.S. history.
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Evan Hurst @evanhurst.substack.com · 02/04/2025
Elon Is A Bigger Loser Today Than He Was Yesterday. You Did That, Wisconsin. www.wonkette.com/p/elon-is-a-...
wonkette.com
Elon Is A Bigger Loser Today Than He Was Yesterday. You Did That, Wisconsin.
Let's do it some more, America!
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Acyn @acyn.bsky.social · 14/03/2025
Walz: I think they hate public education because it’s easier to run an authoritarian government if you don’t have a population that knows.
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Dave Levitan @davelevitan.bsky.social · 15/03/2025
More: “Schumer & the rest of those that have enabled this week's fiasco need to be replaced immediately with those who understand the depth & urgency of this constitutional crisis.”
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Alejandra Caraballo @esqueer.net · 14/03/2025
They're moving to classify constitutionally protected speech as terrorism. This is a five alarm fire.
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Adam Bonica @adambonica.bsky.social · 05/03/2025
When Donald Trump threatens student protests, consider why: throughout modern history, student movements have repeatedly been the catalyst that toppled dictatorships. Authoritarian leaders fear campus activism precisely because it works. Below is a list of 36 student-led pro-democracy movements.🧵
A screenshot of a social media post from Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) dated March 4, 2025, at 4:30 AM. The post states:

“All Federal Funding will STOP for any College, School, or University that allows illegal protests. Agitators will be imprisoned/or permanently sent back to the country from which they came. American students will be permanently expelled or, depending on on the crime, arrested. NO MASKS! Thank you for your attention to this matter.”
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Shawn Christensen @pollenmicrobes.bsky.social · 05/03/2025
Yeah they are really fast-tracking the ten stages of genocide.This proposal is essentially step 8. It’s terrifying
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Jonathan @renewableenergy.bsky.social · 04/03/2025
History doesn’t repeat itself, but it sure does rhyme. Mad magazine published this in 1969.
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Annette ☮️ (annettebeebe.bsky.social) 💙 @annettebeebe.bsky.social · 05/03/2025
dearlstephens.substack.com/p/there-will... Rather than bringing Ping-Pong paddles and groovy, little signs to a fascist hate-fest disguised as a State of the Union speech, it would be helpful if our meek, out-of-touch Dems pretended they understood the perilous moment we are standing in right now.
dearlstephens.substack.com
THERE WILL BE BLOOD
Just WHEN IN THE HELL will our Democratic leaders understand the peril we are in?
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Nat Cassidy @natcassidy.bsky.social · 05/03/2025
I think a lot of Democratic politicians tell themselves that when the history of this era is written, they will be remembered as valiantly, nobly adhering to principles and dignity—when, at this rate, they will be remembered for having done nothing at all.
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Shawn Christensen @pollenmicrobes.bsky.social · 05/03/2025
See #4... bsky.app/profile/erin...
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Shawn Christensen @pollenmicrobes.bsky.social · 04/03/2025
🟡🟠🔴 When does the danger of staying in the US outweigh the uncertainty and pain of Getting The F*ck Out Before Its Too Late? (GTFO-BITL, for short). 🔴🟠🟡 Below are stages + warning signs for #trans people in the US. Please add ideas, this is not exhaustive!
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The City Reporter @thecityreporter.nyc · 05/03/2025
On-the-job deaths climbed for the third year in a row, according to an annual report from a worker-safety group, raising alarms as city and federal watchdogs lose teeth.
buff.ly
Thirty NYC Construction Workers Died in 2023 — the Most in a Decade of Tracking
On-the-job deaths climbed for the third year in a row, according to an annual report from a worker-safety group, raising alarms as city and federal watchdogs lose teeth.
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Grist @grist.org · 05/03/2025
Slim margins, climate disasters, and Trump’s funding freeze: Life or death for many US farms. Federal programs are a lifeline for farmers. Now many are questioning whether they can stay in business. grist.org/food-and-agr... #Food #Farms #Farmers #Trump #Agriculture
grist.org
Slim margins, climate disasters, and Trump’s funding freeze: Life or death for many US farms
Federal programs are a lifeline for farmers. Now many are questioning whether they can stay in business.
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Democracy Now! @democracynow.org · 05/03/2025
After Tuesday's address to a joint sessions of Congress, it's clear "the Trump administration has declared war on trans people," says journalist @imarajones.bsky.social of @translash.org. www.democracynow.org/2025/3/5/tru...
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WIRED @wired.com · 05/03/2025
Not mentioned at the #SOTU: how cuts to USAID are affecting American farmers, by potentially undermining the billions of taxpayer dollars they receive to support conservation practices. www.wired.com/story/usda-l...
wired.com
USDA Layoffs Derail Projects Benefiting American Farmers
The blanket firing of Department of Agriculture scientists has thrown a host of climate science and crop projects into chaos.
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Rep. Melanie Stansbury (NM-01) @repstansbury.bsky.social · 05/03/2025
This is not normal.
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Lisa Jarvis @lisamjarvis.bsky.social · 05/03/2025
Will just leave this here. (gift link)
bloomberg.com
Cruelty Is the Point in Attacks on Transgender Teens
The barrage of executive orders and dehumanizing rhetoric are impacting their physical and mental health.
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ACLU @aclu.org · 05/03/2025
Trans people have always been here — and we aren’t going anywhere.
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Prem Thakker ツ @premthakker.bsky.social · 05/03/2025
Trump saying America will no longer be ruled by unelected bureaucrats right after spending half his speech honoring our actual functional president, the richest and most uncharismatic person on Earth
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James Fallows @jfallows.bsky.social · 05/03/2025
"The days of rule by unelected bureaucrats are over!" But the days of rule by unelected plutocrats are just beginning.
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Shawn Christensen @pollenmicrobes.bsky.social · 05/03/2025
“Nazi conceptions of race, gender and eugenics dictated the Nazi regime’s hostile policy on homosexuality. Repression against gay men, lesbians and trans people commenced within days of Hitler becoming Chancellor.” -Holocaust memorial trust
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ACLU @aclu.org · 04/03/2025
President Trump's orders and rhetoric are intended to chill dissent and censor views he dislikes. Let's be clear: the government can't threaten funding to universities for simply doing their job to foster an environment of free speech and free inquiry.
newrepublic.com
Trump Threatens Schools in Dark Attack on First Amendment
Donald Trump is threatening schools that allow “illegal protests”—whatever that is.
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Dr. Damien P. Williams, dread portent down from a mountain cave @wolven.blacksky.app · 04/03/2025
Gonna go get MMR boosters tomorrow. You should really consider doing the same, very soon.
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Truthout @truthout.org · 04/03/2025
Trump’s new tariffs on Canada, Mexico, and China are projected to cost U.S. households an average of $3,000 annually. Critics argue the policy functions as a tax hike on the working class, bypassing congressional approval.
buff.ly
Trump’s Tariffs on Canada, Mexico and China Will Cost the US $3,000 a Household
Trump is hiking taxes on the working class, and he is doing it in a way that doesn’t require congressional approval.
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ACLU @aclu.org · 04/03/2025
BREAKING: We're sending an open letter to universities across the country, offering support and urging them to reject pressure to punish international students and faculty for exercising their First Amendment rights. Schools must hold firm against the Trump administration's censorship attempts.
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Kasey Kagawa @punkey.org · 04/03/2025
If you're an REI member, you can vote to toss out the board that's endorsed Trump's candidate for Dept. of Interior and has worked to stop REI unions. Vote runs until May 2nd. Spread the word. vote.escvote.com/REI/
vote.escvote.com
REI Board of Directors Election
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Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 04/03/2025
Trudeau: "I want to speak first directly to the American people. We don't want this. We want to work with you as a friend and ally. We don't want to see you hurt either. But your government has chosen to do this to you. As of this morning, markets are down and inflation is set to rise dramatically."
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Shawn Christensen @pollenmicrobes.bsky.social · 04/03/2025
PSA: It is safer and easier to leave earlier rather than wait til we need to, but some want to stay and fight, or don't have the ability to leave. I just want to acknowledge this fact. Let's do our best to keep ourselves and each other safe 💗🤍💙
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Shawn Christensen @pollenmicrobes.bsky.social · 04/03/2025
I pulled from Stanton 10 Stages of Genocide, "How Fascism Works", HRC website, general internet news, and fellow trans people to make this list. I'm not an expert just a person trying to organize my thoughts.
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Shawn Christensen @pollenmicrobes.bsky.social · 04/03/2025
🔴TO DO: ✈️ 🚨GTFO-BITL !! Seek asylum or get visa in a more accepting country. 📱Have emergency contacts and legal rep. ready 🥷 Avoid public outings in unsafe areas. Be stealth if possible (I know thats shitty) ✊ Utilize underground support networks for legal, medical + escape help
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Shawn Christensen @pollenmicrobes.bsky.social · 04/03/2025
🔴RED🔴 ⚠️4) Laws against being "trans in public" or transitioning. Mass arrests. ⚠️5) Violence against trans people and allies unpunished or supported by gov. ⚠️6) Legal system withdraws protections entirely for trans people and allies.
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Shawn Christensen @pollenmicrobes.bsky.social · 04/03/2025
🔴RED🔴 - Physical erasure ⚠️1) Forced detransition (HRT bans for adults, ID marker reversal) ❗? ⚠️2) Calls for eradication. Rhetoric of "cleansing", "final solution", "ban them" ❗⚠️👁️3) Mandated labeling/reporting trans people. (⚠️ for kids in schools reported by teachers)
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Shawn Christensen @pollenmicrobes.bsky.social · 04/03/2025
🟠TO DO: (We are certainly in Orange-Red) 🚁 GTFO of red states BITL 🪢 Use community connections for care access 💸Save $ if possible 🚪 Exit plan! look @ visa info, 'go bag', who would help you get out, where could you go 🗨️ Use encrypted messaging (signal)
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Shawn Christensen @pollenmicrobes.bsky.social · 04/03/2025
🟠ORANGE🟠 ❗⚠️3) Travel restrictions/ targeted travel laws. (Passports, state IDs) ⚠️4) Threats and discrimination not prosecuted. (police "blind eye", removal of hate crime laws) ❗⚠️5) Trans allies face legal consequences. (reporting of allied care providers, teachers) ❗⚠️6) Healthcare bans for minors.
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Shawn Christensen @pollenmicrobes.bsky.social · 04/03/2025
🟠ORANGE🟠 - aka Persecution 🚨1) Political leaders openly call for elimination of rights. 🚨2) Scapegoat status. Organized harassment, doxxing, blamed for moral decay. Rhetoric of disgust: "disease" "ideological contagion", "mutilation", "groomer"
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Shawn Christensen @pollenmicrobes.bsky.social · 04/03/2025
🟡TO DO: if possible (We are definitely past yellow!) 🚐 GTFO of red states 📄 track legislation 🛂 get passport (DO NOT update passport if you don't need to!) 💞 build community safety net 💊 stock up HRT
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Shawn Christensen @pollenmicrobes.bsky.social · 04/03/2025
🟡 YELLOW 🟡 🚨4) Increased proposals of "othering" legislation. (sport, bathroom and book bans, censorship) 🚨5) Cultural erasure. (removal trans people/ history from record)
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Shawn Christensen @pollenmicrobes.bsky.social · 04/03/2025
🟡 YELLOW 🟡 - aka Suppression 🚨1) Social stigma. Public harassment/jokes normalized. 🚨2) Dehumanizing rhetoric moves from "concerned" to "protecting US from THEM" ("fairness in sports", "children tricked") 🚨3) Healthcare harder to access. (insurance exclusions, clinic closures, drug scheduling)
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Shawn Christensen @pollenmicrobes.bsky.social · 04/03/2025
KEY: 👁️ - Watch out for this: getting there/proposed ⚠️ - Caution: happening in some states ❗- Attempted federally 🚨- Warning: happening nationally/federally *please comment if I'm wrong about any of these^ I try to stay up to date but its all happening fast*
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Shawn Christensen @pollenmicrobes.bsky.social · 04/03/2025
🟡🟠🔴 When does the danger of staying in the US outweigh the uncertainty and pain of Getting The F*ck Out Before Its Too Late? (GTFO-BITL, for short). 🔴🟠🟡 Below are stages + warning signs for #trans people in the US. Please add ideas, this is not exhaustive!
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