iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Robert Frederick @refrederick.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

🎶 One of these is not like the other…. #DC #Labor

The U.S. Department of Labor building with large banners of Trump and Teddy Roosevelt (who, as President, created the Department).

Robert Frederick @refrederick.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

Imagine all the places “New Mexico” would have to be changed…. #LincolnMemorial “New Mexico’s Name Is Older Than the U.S. Trump Still Wants to Change It.” www.nytimes.com/2026/09/09/u...

Detail from the top of the Lincoln Memorial showing engraving of state names, including New Mexico.
Photo by Robert Frederick on September 24, 2026

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Robert Frederick @refrederick.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

Sure doesn’t look like bronze to me…. Is that “gold” coming off? Should I collect the dust? #DC #LincolnMemorial

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Robert Frederick @refrederick.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

OSHA compliant — yes or no? www.osha.gov/sites/defaul... #ReflectingPool #DC

Workers and federal employees generating clouds of dust on September 24, 2026.
Photo by Robert Frederick.

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Robert Frederick @refrederick.bsky.social · 29/07/2026

As seen in #Nashville: “The office of President, as well as postmaster, was created for the people.” — President Polk 🧐🤔🧐

A picture of President Polk with the quote “The office of President, as well as postmaster, was created for the people.”

The word “for” is underlined.

The image is outside the city’s performance arts building, a block from the State Capitol.

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Robert Frederick @refrederick.bsky.social · 09/04/2026

“Uh oh.” As a journalist, I never want to see my picture on the front page of any newspaper But that’s what greeted me when I got my weekly Jamestown News today. So please allow me -- this first #LocalNewsDay -- to tell you the story behind the headline. www.facebook.com/share/p/1HSw...

A picture of the front of the weekly edition of the Jamestown News (in North Carolina). The headline shows "Delayed Request: Triad resident fights for public records" with pictures of Matthew Johnson (Town Manager of Jamestown) and Robert Frederick (that's me -- the person making the public records request).

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Robert Frederick @refrederick.bsky.social · 07/04/2026

Remember that video of politicians vaguely telling members of the military that they must refuse illegal orders? youtube.com/shorts/Fk9Gh... Or that article clarifying it for the troops? www.military.com/feature/2025... Might be time to watch and read that again?

Highlighted text from Military.com article that states: “They involve clear violations of U.S. or international law, such as intentionally targeting civilians or committing acts explicitly prohibited by statute.”

Full pictured text gives context:

“The core legal concept the lawmakers invoked is correct: military personnel must not carry out blatantly unlawful actions, and their oath is to the Constitution; but the legal standard is narrow, not broad. Unlawful orders are not simply orders someone dislikes or finds questionable. They involve clear violations of U.S. or international law, such as intentionally targeting civilians or committing acts explicitly prohibited by statute. A lawful order that may be controversial, politically fraught or later judged unwise is not “unlawful” under the UCMJ. The video’s broad phrasing risks muddying that vital distinction.

The lawmakers likely intended to reassure service members that constitutional norms still matter, especially during a volatile political period. Yet public messages to troops must avoid ambiguity. Without concrete examples, legal context or acknowledgment of process, such as the role of commanders and JAGs, the video oversimplifies a complex legal area that service members navigate at real personal risk. It also inadvertently feeds civil-military anxieties at a time when stability is essential.

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Robert Frederick @refrederick.bsky.social · 11/03/2026

Tomorrow we find out about billion-dollar company D.R. Horton’s “Development in the Dark” in Jamestown, NC. I don’t like reporting by (unpaid) Letter to the Editor, but in a time with increasing threats of lawsuits, local reporting still needs to be done. www.yesweekly.com/news/jamesto...

A picture from mid-February, 2026 of two houses under construction at D.R. Horton's property.

After the original Development Agreement was passed in 2023, they have cleared land and put in below-ground infrastructure. But building only began after the agreement was amended in 2025… behind closed doors… along with approval of the Plat Map… which attested to the development plan having met watershed restrictions for curbing density… without any public records showing Jamestown Council or Planning Board knew anything about either the amended agreement or plat map happening at the time.

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Robert Frederick @refrederick.bsky.social · 04/03/2026

Never let anyone tell you your individual vote couldn’t change an election outcome. 2 votes separate Sheriff Sam Page from NC Senate leader Phil Berger, who gerrymandered for and was endorsed by Trump. All precincts have reported. Certification will take weeks with a mandatory recount. Wow.

Results from the NC Senate Republican primary show Sam Page with 13,077 votes and incumbent Phil Berger with 2 fewer at 13,075.

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Robert Frederick @refrederick.bsky.social · 01/03/2026

I’m all for standing up for science, but I wonder if your organization might use its permit for a D.C. Mall rally to invite people *also* to: * stand up for democracy, * stand up to authoritarianism, * stand up against Executive overreach, … etc.

Robert Frederick wearing a shirt that says “Science is the new rock ‘n’ roll” in front of a sign at a American Association for the Advancement of Science meeting in 2018 that says “I am a force for science.”

(Frederick was an employee of AAAS from 2007-2011 working at Science magazine.)

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Robert Frederick @refrederick.bsky.social · 28/02/2026

Many definitions of “sustainability” among this list. Some are like those from Sustainability Magazine’s top-250 list, which includes executives from fossil fuel companies alongside Philip Morris and Patagonia (pictured). More reflections on SustainLab: sustainlab.substack.com/p/covering-s...

A spread of two pages from Sustainability Magazine’s Top 250 Sustainability Leaders for 2026 (published February 3, 2026) showing the #50 spot awarded to the chief sustainability officer for Phillip Morris International, a tobacco company that uses non-biodegradable plastic for its cigarette filters, which not only offer no beneficial filtering, but may also pose health risks from ingesting and inhaling filter fragments.

Patagonia’s commitment to sustainability is a stark contrast to that of Phillip Morris International, as this business case study examines : https://hbsp.harvard.edu/product/B5853-PDF-ENG

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Robert Frederick @refrederick.bsky.social · 11/02/2026

Please note, too, that the White House’s policy position (e.g. on CAFE standards) appears to have been justified by A.I.,… … which made things up + doesn’t match what the (misattributed) researchers actually wrote. See ALT text to image + more on SustainLab sustainlab.substack.com/p/policy-inf...

Text from
THE WHITE HOUSE
The Trump Administration eliminated the overbearing Biden-era electric vehicle mandate by resetting Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards. NBER economist Mark R. Jacobsen estimates that "a one-mpg increase in CAFE standards costs consumers of all income levels approximately 0.5% of their income in the first year of the increase. By the 10th year following the increase, however, this cost becomes regressive, as the increase drives up the price of used cars. A one-mpg increase in CAFE standards costs consumers earning less than $25,000 per year 1.12% of their income, but only costs consumers earning more than $75,000 per year 0.41% of their income."

But, as described in the SustainLab linked post, there are…

Problems:
1) Mark R. Jacobson did not write that.

2) The linked research (under “estimates”) does not contain those words, either.

3) That National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER) paper is on the same topic, but is co-authored by four people and a “working paper,” meaning it has “not been peer-reviewed or been subject to the review by the NBER Board of Directors that accompanies official NBER publications."

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Robert Frederick @refrederick.bsky.social · 23/01/2026

The White House is altering images now. Tell everyone to diversify news sources. Noem’s original: x.com/KristiNoem/s... White House’s manipulated: x.com/whitehouse/s...

Two annotated screenshots of Noem’s and the White House’s social media posts — links provided in this BlueSky post — showing the original and manipulated photo.

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Robert Frederick @refrederick.bsky.social · 16/01/2026

Most times the President uses or threatens to use tariffs, he’s saying there’s an emergency. The Supreme Court is deliberating the legality of these emergency tariffs. IMHO, reminding the public of that should be part of every journalism story. On tariff powers: taxfoundation.org/blog/preside...

Screenshot of 16 January 2025 story from AP with picture of Trump and headline:
“Trump says he may punish countries with tariffs if they don’t back the US controlling Greenland”

Link to story:
https://apnews.com/article/denmark-greenland-us-trump-tariffs-c8c17c89cbc4ca9819eb728102d0a2b3

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Robert Frederick @refrederick.bsky.social · 07/01/2026

This was way back on November 2, 2025. Where will it end? What is the “Index of American Democracy” now, @nytimes.com Editorial Board?

The New York Times Sunday Opinion section from November 2, 2025, which has on the front “Donald Trump has persecuted opponents, bypassed Congress, sent troops into cities, defied the courts, changed election rules, vilified minorities, enriched himself. Where will it end?”

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Robert Frederick @refrederick.bsky.social · 03/12/2025

As the news today includes reports about rolling back U.S. federal Corporate Average Fuel Economy rules, or "CAFE standards," a reminder that the justification for the policy change appears to have been "made up" by A.I.. sustainlab.substack.com/p/policy-inf...

Highlighted text from the White House that states:

“a one-mpg increase in CAFE standards costs consumers of all income levels approximately 0.5% of their income in the first year of the increase. By the 10th year following the increase, however, this cost becomes regressive, as the increase drives up the price of used cars. A one-mpg increase in CAFE standards costs consumers earning less than $25,000 per year 1.12% of their income, but only costs consumers earning more than $75,000 per year 0.41% of their income.”

With a caption below that states:
Problems: 1) Mark R. Jacobson did not write that. 2) The linked research (under “estimates”) does not contain those words, either. 3) That National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER) paper is on the same topic, but is co-authored by four people and a “working paper,” meaning it has “not been peer-reviewed or been subject to the review by the NBER Board of Directors that accompanies official NBER publications."

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Robert Frederick @refrederick.bsky.social · 25/10/2025

If I were in a Signal chat with Secretary Pete Hegseth, I’d point out “circumstances to decline acceptance” comptroller.war.gov/Portals/45/d... Even the “appearance of integrity” being compromised is reason to decline. Also see 5.2.5.3. regarding present or prospective business with DoD.

A screenshot from the posted link with “appearance of integrity” highlighted.

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Robert Frederick @refrederick.bsky.social · 25/10/2025

From “circumstances to decline acceptance” comptroller.war.gov/Portals/45/d... Even the “appearance of integrity” being compromised is reason to decline. Also, 5.2.5.3., there’s mention of present or prospective business with DoD. So the donor is anonymous = DoD’s integrity appears compromised

A screenshot from the posted link showing “appearance of integrity” highlighted.

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Robert Frederick @refrederick.bsky.social · 25/10/2025

A screenshot from the referenced document showing the words “appearance of integrity” highlighted.

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Robert Frederick @refrederick.bsky.social · 20/10/2025

Please read Appendix D again before making any summary about causation (“lead to,” as you wrote)? Does inferring causation from associations mentioned in clearly labeled (i.e., non-peer-reviewed) “working papers” remind you of how misinformation about the coronavirus spread, too? Perhaps “sturgis”?

Text from the report’s appendix D in the “working paper” that lists the start of a number of caveats about the data analysis, including that “association” is the right word to describe what the researchers think they have found.

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Robert Frederick @refrederick.bsky.social · 20/10/2025

Indeed, nothing says "I support the 1st Amendment of the U.S. Constitution" (specifically "the right of the people peaceably to assemble") like posting an A.I.-generated video of yourself as king dropping 💩 on protesters. truthsocial.com/@realDonaldT... vs. constitution.congress.gov/constitution...

A screenshot from Trump’s Truth Social posting — the one in which he posted an A.I.-generated video of himself as king dropping what appears to be fecal matter on protesters.

Trump’s social media post was Saturday, October 18, 2025 — the same day as millions of Americans were peaceably protesting in the many thousands of “No Kings” events.

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Robert Frederick @refrederick.bsky.social · 17/10/2025

When your Substack is ahead of coverage from The New York Times, something must be going... right? (It's because I don't have to get a fact-checker, editor, or publisher involved... I do it all myself at this point.)

A screenshot of The New York Times article published today, October 17, 2025, with the title "U.S. Threatens Countries That Back a Fee to Clean Up Ship Pollution" Available here: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/10/17/climate/shipping-pollution-fee-international-maritime-organization.html

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Robert Frederick @refrederick.bsky.social · 07/10/2025

I just voted in my local, non-partisan, primary. But voting is not enough. "If you ‘think globally,’ it is overwhelming and you do not have enough energy left to ‘act locally.’ Just act locally and see what a difference you can make!" — Dr. Jane Goodall, may she rest in peace

Robert Frederick on October 7, 2025, having just voted in his local non-partisan primary election, wearing a hat that says “Vote Local.”

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Robert Frederick @refrederick.bsky.social · 17/09/2025

More explanation, please, of the highlighted / circled bit from your September 11 op-ed: “But I envied what he built.” Regarding what Kirk built, please consider this perspective, first, perhaps? www.techdirt.com/2025/09/17/t...

A screenshot from Erza Klein’s September 11, 2025 op-ed with the following sentence highlighted/circled: “But I envied what he built,” which refers to what Kirk built.

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Robert Frederick @refrederick.bsky.social · 10/09/2025

Fellow journalists -- having trouble getting scientist/scholar interviews? Seen these "Thematic analysis of scholars’ experiences with journalists in the clickbait era, organized by theme"? 🧪 Source: dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/... h/t @niemanlab.org www.niemanlab.org/2025/09/the-...

A screenshot from Table 2 in the linked research that lists "Structural Issues" as a theme.

The table includes example statements from researchers related to scholar concerns of "Oversimplification of Research," "Loss of Narrative Control," "Selective Quoting," and "Fear of Political Weaponization."

A screenshot from Table 2 in the linked research that lists "Strategies" as a theme.

The table includes example statements from researchers related to scholar strategies of "Defensive Media Strategies," "Damage Control," "Complete Disengagement," and "Too Late to Correct the Record."

A screenshot from Table 2 in the linked research that lists "Consequences" as a theme.

The table includes example statements from researchers related to scholar experiences of "Online Harassment" and "Professional Consequences."

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Robert Frederick @refrederick.bsky.social · 02/09/2025

Today I got an email from the U.S. National Academies titled “Resources for Educators” that starts with “School Active Shooter Drills.” The rest of the resources are related to STEM education and curriculum. mailchi.mp/nationalacad...

A screenshot from the linked web-based version of the email that shows the National Academies at the top, an image of school supplies, and then the following words:

Back to School

Resources for Educators

As a new school year begins, these publications offer timely, research-based guidance for educators, school leaders, and policymakers. From improving school safety and strengthening STEM education at all levels to advancing quality curricula in both rural and early childhood settings, they provide actionable insights to support excellence in learning.

School Active Shooter Drills

While active shooter drills in schools are intended to enhance emergency…

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Robert Frederick @refrederick.bsky.social · 29/08/2025

42% of U.S. conservatives say climate change is not a threat, compared with 9% of moderates and just 2% of liberals. But to respondents from 7 countries in the Global South "Climate change is the most important longer term problem the world is facing." sustainlab.substack.com/p/setting-pr...

From the Pew Research Center’s 19 August 2026 article titled “Americans’ views of global threats differ by party, age.” It shows even among wealthy Global North countries, the U.S. percentage is out of the ordinary.

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Robert Frederick @refrederick.bsky.social · 19/08/2025

How do you tell if someone isn't paying attention on Zoom? 1) head position, 2) reflections in glasses suggesting multiple monitors, 3) changing light (likely from changing content on monitors)... EPA's Charmley does not appear to be listening to -- much less hearing -- the public "hearing."

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Robert Frederick @refrederick.bsky.social · 19/08/2025

After the lunch break, Director Charmley returns 27 minutes late to the public hearing (1:27 PM Eastern) -- missing public testimony from the Attorneys General from California, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Arizona, and Michigan.

A screenshot from the public hearing from the EPA Zoom meeting underway. The "Current Panel" shows the speakers starting right after the lunch break includes the Attorneys General mentioned in the post.

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Robert Frederick @refrederick.bsky.social · 19/08/2025

So proud of my fellow Americans for their thoughtful, emotive, and informed testimony to the EPA today regarding the proposed recision of the 2009 Endangerment Finding. Ameen (speaking, pictured) represents #BLKHLTH.

A screenshot from Zoom showing 1 minute remaining in Khadija Ameen's testimony to the EPA Panel and EPA's Bill Charmley.

Ameen represents BLKHLTH.

Charmley is the director of the EPA's Assessment and Standards Division that "identifies and develops future emission control strategies (such as new vehicle, engine, and fuel quality standards) and national policy on mobile source emission control."

He has a Bachelor of Science degree in Physics from Alma College, a Bachelor’s in Engineering Physics and a Master of Science in Atmospheric Science from the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. Bill has been a member of the Society of Automotive Engineers for more than 30 years.

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Robert Frederick @refrederick.bsky.social · 06/08/2025

No. And so now the NYT has changed the headline… with a slight nod to a recent episode of South Park. www.nytimes.com/2025/08/05/o...

New headline text reads “Universities Have Woken Up to Find They’re in Bed With an Ogre” which had been “Is there a smart way to cede power to Trump?”

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Robert Frederick @refrederick.bsky.social · 01/07/2025

Yes, we're at the heretofore unseen AI-cartoon-President-throwing-french-fries-to-the-floor stage of the administration. If only there were a national-level business reporter highlighting the #business case against #TOBBBA. 🤔 I cover #sustainability. sustainlab.substack.com/p/sustainabi...

A screenshot from “One Big Beautiful Lo-Fi MAGA Video to Relax / Study to” that started streaming on the White House website on June 29, 2025. It shows a cartoon version of Trump scooping and throwing a box of french fries to the floor.

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Robert Frederick @refrederick.bsky.social · 01/07/2025

Getting energy-related businesses on board could help convince Senators. Here's all the utility-scale energy projects planned to go online in the coming year -- yellow stands for solar, green for wind.... More: sustainlab.substack.com/p/sustainabi...

A map of the U.S. showing planned energy projects coming online by April, 2026. Available from the U.S. Energy Information Administration -- https://www.eia.gov/electricity/monthly/

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Robert Frederick @refrederick.bsky.social · 11/06/2025

Do we really need nuclear-powered #search? Beyond considering #energy and the #environment, perhaps curb #AI for consumer choice -- allowing people to turn it off? Parents turning it off for their children? Schools turning it off for students in classes? sustainlab.substack.com/p/nuclear-po...

A convenience store employee is looking at a hot-dog display and asking Gemini "So it's like a treadmill for hot dogs?"

The screenshot is taken from a commercial advertising Google’s Gemini Live.

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Robert Frederick @refrederick.bsky.social · 03/06/2025

Currently watching Marcia McNutt, President, National Academy of Sciences deliver the 2nd annual National State of the Science Address. "We're embarking on a radical new experiment," she says, given Trump's policy changes, and that the U.S. is not on a path for sustainable leadership in science.

A slide from McNutt's speech titled "No corner of American life untouched" and the NSF budget summary showing a significant decrease in funding for science.

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Robert Frederick @refrederick.bsky.social · 29/05/2025

Guess it’s time to order more postcards and tell folks in my zip code to get re-registered to vote in #NC. 🤦‍♂️ #JeffersonGriffin #AllOverAgain

A postcard I sent to all my neighbors who were on Jefferson Griffin’s list. It encourages them to ensure their votes are counted.

A box of postcards I sent to all my neighbors who were on Jefferson Griffin’s list. It encourages them to ensure their votes are counted.

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Robert Frederick @refrederick.bsky.social · 22/05/2025

Harvard is not my alma mater, but I donate, too. I was a Nieman Fellow there (2020-2021) and have been teaching journalism in the Harvard journalism program (in the Extension School) ever since. Glad Harvard is standing up. (Cartoon by Adam Zyglis -- staff cartoonist for The Buffalo News)

Cartoon by Adam Zyglis -- staff cartoonist for The Buffalo News -- showing Harvard's president standing up to Trump (represented as a king wearing a crown) whereas the Washington Post, Columbia University, Law Firms, and others are kneeling.

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Robert Frederick @refrederick.bsky.social · 18/05/2025

Great picture! Ever see three million tulips at once?

A few acres of RoozenGaarde’s tulips in Skagit Valley, Washington.

From: https://sustainlab.substack.com/p/keep-farming-flowers

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Robert Frederick @refrederick.bsky.social · 17/04/2025

My (gerrymandered) congressman -- Rep. Hudson -- responded to my letter regarding my many concerns about 47. It says nothing, and -- given Rep. Hudson's record -- I grok it must have been composed by A.I..

Letter reply from "Richard Hudson -- Proudly Serving North Carolina's 9th District"

Dear Mr. Frederick,

Thank you for contacting me regarding your concerns about President Donald Trump. I appreciate hearing from you on this important topic and agree all elected officials should act with absolute integrity.

I want you to know I have taken your concerns about President Trump with great seriousness. While we may not always agree, I hope you understand I have always tried to serve with good faith and integrity and always act in the best interests of all people.

I have always sought to solve problems that matter to you by working across the aisle. To make this possible, I have focused on building relationships with my Democrat colleagues and have always tried to be a person of my word. I have been able to build trust and get Democrats to work with me to get things done for our community.

Please know I will continue to do everything in my power to support you and our community as long as I am privileged enough to serve as your representative. Again, thank you for taking the time to share your views. Your opinions are important, so please continue to write, call or email me with any concerns you may have in the future.

Sincerely,
Rep. Hudson
Member of Congress

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Robert Frederick @refrederick.bsky.social · 14/04/2025

No need to be down about it: This is a new challenge, but one we've seen before. Wish we didn't have to consider lawsuits just to get our government to follow the law regarding #PFAS. See the whole video here: sustainlab.substack.com/p/unsustaina...

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Robert Frederick @refrederick.bsky.social · 14/04/2025

Yes, we're fighting back in our community, too. Wish we didn't have to consider a lawsuit just to get our local, state, and federal governments to follow the law. See the whole video here: sustainlab.substack.com/p/unsustaina...

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Robert Frederick @refrederick.bsky.social · 14/04/2025

When it comes to #PFAS, we need accountability at the local, state, and federal level. My latest for SustainLab -- a short video -- watch the full version (with transcript) here: sustainlab.substack.com/p/unsustaina...

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Robert Frederick @refrederick.bsky.social · 27/03/2025

Good grief. And this is our new Deputy Director of OMB. An understanding of "due process" is lacking in him, too, b/c this picture he's so proud of -- with the t-shirt -- had to have been taken before Hunter Biden pled guilty. www.justice.gov/archives/sco... Keep calling them out!

A screenshot of Rep. Dan Bishop's Twitter page, which showcases him holding a t-shirt that says "Hunter Biden Is a Crook, Change my Mind." The self-created bio -- which has not yet been updated -- says "President Trump's nominee for Deputy Director of OMB. Former Congressman from North Carolina."

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Robert Frederick @refrederick.bsky.social · 20/03/2025

So glad to hear you like it! I made it a weekly podcast to match the content of the magazine shortly after being hired in 2007. We got as high as #3 on Apple’s charts and were a Staff Pick! Here’s a representative show from 2009: podcasts.aaas.org/science_podc... So proud to have worked there!

A screenshot from Apple’s iTunes showing RadioLab, Science Friday, and the Science podcast ranked 1, 2, and 3 for Top Science & Medicine podcasts.

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Robert Frederick @refrederick.bsky.social · 20/03/2025

Great graphic — how far we’ve come… both in science and in graphics! As complex as this graphic is, I bet it still took less time to render than the first cover I did for the magazine in 2008…. Mine took all night! youtu.be/BGtNZwd3brg

A screenshot of the cover of a 2008 Science magazine at the completion of the assembly of the cover… in the opening sequence of this linked video: https://youtu.be/BGtNZwd3brg

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Robert Frederick @refrederick.bsky.social · 18/03/2025

No surprise. NC's Senate Judiciary Committee, like all of NC's legislature, is gerrymandered to vastly favor Republicans and thus, their agenda. The proposed law says OK to conceal handguns but not "bowie knife, dirk, dagger, slung shot, loaded cane, metallic knuckles, razor, shuriken, stun gun"

A screenshot of North Carolina's Judiciary Senate Standing committee -- the 3 chairs are all Republicans, and so are the overwhelming majority of the members. Available here: https://www.ncleg.gov/Committees/CommitteeInfo/SenateStanding/147/Membership

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