iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Reposted by Zoë McLaren, PhD

Nicole Bedera @nbedera.bsky.social · 14h

Whenever I see a current or former university president in the news for sexual misconduct, I think of this chart from 2015. (ABC seems to have pulled down the original Five Thirty Eight article, but here’s a Feministing blog about it.)

feministing.com

Chart of the Day: College presidents think rape is only a problem at other schools

According to Inside Higher Ed’s annual survey, US college and university presidents demonstrate some very wishful thinking when it comes to sexual assault. While about a third believe that it is preva...

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Reposted by Zoë McLaren, PhD

Kathy @kathyisawesome.com · 16h

This reminds me of "where is bed" which is one of the funniest things I've seen youtu.be/8HXFurHCkP8?...

youtu.be

Where Is Bed: Lou Wall's Facebook Marketplace musical | Melbourne International Comedy Festival

YouTube video by ABC Entertainment

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A.R. Moxon @juliusgoat.bsky.social · 03/10/2026

Hey, I’m just asking questions. Ignorant questions, bigoted questions, questions that have been repeatedly answered for many years. Sorry, but I’m not listening to answers right now; I’m far too busy asking questions. It’s called being intellectually curious.

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Abdul El-Sayed @abdulelsayed.bsky.social · 04/10/2026

I believe in Medicare for All like I believe in public schools. There for you no matter what.

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lastpositivist.bsky.social @lastpositivist.bsky.social · 04/10/2026

I think on most accounts of the decreasing marginal utility of money this would come out justified, we stan an effective altruist king 🤴

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derek guy @dieworkwear.bsky.social · 04/10/2026

please do not post photos of barbour jackets in early october if you're not also voting for policies to address global warming

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Dan Froomkin/Press Watch/Heads Up News @froomkin.bsky.social · 03/10/2026

If USA Today is indeed unilaterally putting source interviews in some sort of database, in their entirety, allowing them to be cherry-picked by other reporters—and *AI*(!!)—that is journalistically indefensible and no one should ever talk to them again. Is this true? Is it Gannett wide?

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Marisa Kabas @marisakabas.bsky.social · 03/10/2026

I have never heard of any newsrooms with alarming practices like those described in this thread. If you have, I’d like to hear from you. Contact in bio.

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Mo Ryan @moryan.bsky.social · 03/10/2026

I would advise people not to talk to USA Today for any reason, about anything ever, based on this thread. It's bad enough that the whole profession is circling the drain, but for a remaining publication to feed interviews into a slopifier without telling sources? When it's about SA? I just.. 🌋

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Reo Eveleth @reveleth.com · 03/10/2026

Holy shit I've never in my life heard of a publication treating an interview one reporter did as fair game for *every single journalist who works at that publication* that's BANANAS and I would not ever speak with USA Today as long as that's the case.

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Lee-in-Iowa 💙 @lee-in-iowa.bsky.social · 03/10/2026

Is this the Mike Pompeo who quickly shipped TONS of our PPE and COVID protection TO OTHER COUNTRIES, so that our own medical people had to wear trash bags? Is this the Mike Pompeo who took his family on a world tour at our expense as “Sec of State” AFTER Trump lost the 2020 election?

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Karen Attiah @karenattiah.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

Mike Pompeo has been rewarded with a teaching fellowship at Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs. The same school that canceled my class on media, race and international affairs. @columbiasipa.bsky.social share.google/KEvTy5yER71U...

share.google

Former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to join SIPA faculty

Former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo will join the School of International and Public Affairs as a fellow at SIPA’s Institute of Global Politics in March, the Wall Street Journal reported Monday.

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Mark Copelovitch @mcopelov.bsky.social · 03/10/2026

~Approximately no one in the general public knows because the leaders of the R1 research universities - whose budgets, programs, & personnel are entirely or significantly dependent on federal funding - have been totally absent from the public square in explaining & collectively protesting this.

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Reposted by Zoë McLaren, PhD

David Ho @davidho.bsky.social · 27/02/2026

Here's a chart showing who funds basic research in the US. It's easy to tell that private funding cannot make up for significant cuts to government funding.

A 3D-styled pie chart illustrating the distribution of Research and Development (R&D) resources based on the NSF NCSES National Patterns of R&D Resources: 2022-23 Update.

The chart is divided into six segments, listed here in descending order of their financial contribution:

Federal Govt: The largest segment, shown in dark blue, accounts for 51% of the total, valued at $39.5 B.

Higher Ed. – Institutional: A light coral segment accounting for 23%, valued at $18.2 B.

Non-profit at Research Institutes: A dark red segment accounting for 8%, valued at $6.1 B.

Higher Ed. – Direct Philanthropy: A bright red segment accounting for 7%, valued at $5.8 B.

Business: A grey segment accounting for 7%, valued at $5.2 B.

Non-Federal Govt: The smallest segment, shown in light blue, accounting for 4%, valued at $3.2 B.

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Reposted by Zoë McLaren, PhD

Scott Lemieux @lemieuxlgm.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

Student reporter who met me for an in-person interview today looked over my bookshelf and said they spent the summer reading Caro's LBJ tetralogy so I can confirm the Kids Are Alright

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Charlie Warzel @cwarzel.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

For a long time I've wanted a sense of how trump has or hasn't interacted with chatbots (we know he posts a lot of slop sure). And this TIME anecdote about Grok arguably leading Trump into war is just extremely bracing

Since returning to office, Trump has marveled at AI’s capabilities. He is increasingly in thrall to the tech executives courting him. In December 2025, Elon Musk returned to the Oval Office for a clandestine meeting. Trump spent hours asking Grok, Musk’s AI chatbot, questions about his presidency and legacy, according to an official present. At the time, Trump was ordering missile strikes against Venezuelan boats he alleged were smuggling drugs into the U.S. He asked Grok how Venezuelans would react if the U.S. captured Maduro. According to the official present, the chatbot responded that Maduro was a repressive and deeply unpopular dictator and that many Venezuelans would likely celebrate his downfall. After Trump ordered the mission to seize Maduro, the following month, celebrations broke out in the streets. Trump, according to officials, came away thinking Grok was ingenious.

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Reposted by Zoë McLaren, PhD

Jeremy Berg @jeremymberg.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

From a discussion of updating a department website...

A photo with baby Yoda and adult Yoda with the caption "Could it be time for a new photo?"

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Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 30/09/2026

I for one think it’s bad that the president can just say crazy stuff all day every day and 99% of it doesn’t make the news because we’ve normalized having an insane president

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Reposted by Zoë McLaren, PhD

Rebecca Solnit @rebeccasolnit.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

Time for this classic again.

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Ricky Davila @therickydavila.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

This is what the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool looks like today after a $17M deliberate fuck up and the orange felon won’t stop until he destroys everything. Makes me sick to my stomach every day.

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Reposted by Zoë McLaren, PhD

Ben K. @benjaminkabak.com · 26/09/2026

Voters agree.

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Elana Levin @levin.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

I’m genuinely shocked at the people on here who think long covid isn’t real. Seriously? Your actuaries, departments of health even the freaking department of defense know it’s real. Apparently people used to think MS wasn’t real. There’s a long history of telling sick people they’re crazy.

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Reposted by Zoë McLaren, PhD

Gremliny Nussboo @emilynussbaum.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

No because I do not possess a Fermata to freeze time! I’m listening to this book whenever I do housework or go in a long walk… but I’ve heard the podcast is excellent

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Reposted by Zoë McLaren, PhD

Maria Terrorsa @mtromano.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

Are you listening to the 99% Invisible companion pod that interviews Caro, AOC, and others?

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The Sick Times @thesicktimes.org · 22/09/2026

COVID-19 spread seems to have peaked for the summer in the South, but may still be increasing in the West and is starting to go up more in Northern states. thesicktimes.org/2026/09/22/n...

Graphic from The Sick Times sharing the latest COVID-19 trends for September 22, 2026. The graphic presents trends for three metrics: WastewaterSCAN category for SARS-CoV-2, which is "high" (represented with red) and slightly increasing (represented with a diagonal up arrow); CDC wastewater viral activity level for SARS-Cov-2, which is "low*" (darker yellow) and stable (side to side arrow); and CDC COVID-19 test positivity, which is moderate (darker yellow) and slightly decreasing (diagonal down arrow). Text below these metrics reads: "*CDC wastewater viral activity levels are calculated based on measurements in the last two years only. They do not account for the lower spread that could be possible with more widespread precautions."

While national averages for COVID-19 metrics appear to be at a peak or plateau as of mid-September, the picture actually looks pretty different from region to region. COVID-19 spread seems to have peaked for the summer in the South, but may still be increasing in the West and is starting to go up more in Northern states.

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Reposted by Zoë McLaren, PhD

Scott Horton @robertscotthorton.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

NYT has now independently corroborated all the major allegations against Susan Collins in the ProPublica report, including that investigators were prepared to move against her and then Trump intervened to shut it down. This put Trump in a position of exceptional and extortionate leverage over her.

nytimes.com

F.B.I. Shut Down Inquiry Into Top Ally of Senator Susan Collins

The inquiry was closed last year because senior bureau officials questioned the veracity of a campaign donor’s account, according to current and former officials.

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Moira Donegan @moiradonegan.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

ProPublica got the literal check Collins was bribed with.

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ProPublica @propublica.org · 22/09/2026

6/ Weeks later, Kao tells his team Collins committed to getting the company $32M in naval contracts.

A check for $150,000 to 1820 PAC, a pro-Collins super PAC, from the Society of Young Women Scientist and Engineers.

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Pete Dominick @petedominick.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

Another friend just got the flu and apparently it’s bad. I got my flu and Covid shot shots today. Don’t wait!

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Marisa Kabas @marisakabas.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

one common thread (among the horrifying many) between the numerous ICE shootings/murders is that no first aid was administered to the victim. armed combatants of the government shot to kill, and if they didn’t kill right away, they gave time for it to happen anyway. it is absolutely grotesque.

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Rick CarBOOso’s Private Fire Crew @amandasmith.bsky.social · 20/09/2026

I just think it’s strange that all the gambling companies have ads with athletes and celebrities instead of featuring all their users who have become millionaires betting, very strange indeed

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Bill Corbett @billcorbett.bsky.social · 20/09/2026

As a pragmatic centrist, I read the Niemöller poem differently. After each group mentioned I pencil in what percentage of the population they are, and if it’s a small number I cross off their names as disposable. Poetry is fine but math wins elections!!

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Steve Marmel @marmel.bsky.social · 20/09/2026

Pete Hegseth went to the A&M game and they lost to Kentucky for the first time in over 70 years. THERE IS NO BATTLE HE CANT LOSE.

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Reposted by Zoë McLaren, PhD

Will Bunch @willbunch.bsky.social · 20/09/2026

A billionaire dictator who'll lose everything if the opposition replaces him on Jan. 20, 2029 is stockpiling killer drones and high-powered rifles on towering monuments and ballroom roofs I'm sure it's nothing to worry about

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Prof. Anthea Butler @antheabutler.bsky.social · 20/09/2026

You do understand that everything he's doing to Washington DC is about fortifying the city when he decides he's not leaving office

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Rose Schmits @roseschmits.bsky.social · 19/09/2026

We can destroy Tilly Norwood by having One journalist ask it’s opinion on Palestine and Israel

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Chanda Prescod-Weinstein 🌌 @chanda.blacksky.app · 18/09/2026

it's funny but also a reminder that the fundamental premise here is that a Black man can't be objective when talking about race while a white man can because Black people do identity politics and white people do facts and this my friends is what I have named "white empiricism"

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Ed @notdred.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

We continue to be at the mercy of complete idiots who have absolutely no idea what they’re doing

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The Onion @theonion.com · 18/09/2026

Trans Teen Hatches Nefarious Plot To Undergo Years Of Medical Treatments And Counseling To Win At Swimming theonion.com/trans-teen-hatches-nef…

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Adam Weinstein @adamweinstein.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

Protesters starting to gather at the Kennedy Center. One is holding a sign that says "LESS BUTTHURT MORE BEETHOVEN"

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OG 2Tone @offbydesign.blacksky.app · 18/09/2026

Mayor Scott deserves his flowers just as much as Mamdani. He's doing a lot with less and cares heavily for the city but doesn't get the recognition.

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Mark Jacob @markjacob.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

The NY Times is in “but her emails” mode regarding Abdul El-Sayed and Hasan Piker. Relentless and unfair. Where’s the big story about a Republican megadonor who is a white supremacist? Maybe NYT has heard of him. His name‘s Elon Musk.

NYT headline: A provocative streamer creates headaches for El-Sayed in key Senate race

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Don Moynihan @donmoyn.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

“It’s like watching a car crash before it happens, knowing it’s going to happen.” @adrianna.bsky.social on Medicaid work requirements that will kick in next year. Reports that 1 in 5 of people she has surveyed say they have not received renewal packages. @fordschool.bsky.social in Detroit

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Barred and Boujee aka Madiba Dennie @audrelawdamercy.blacksky.app · 18/09/2026

i'm not over Alito saying we shouldn't count ballots that are mailed on or before Election Day but arrive shortly afterwards bc they can “radically flip” the “apparent outcome” cannot stress enough that, until all ballots are counted, there's no outcome to flip! ballsandstrikes.org/scotus/alito...

ballsandstrikes.org

A Brief History of Sam Alito’s Delusional Obsession With Voter Fraud

His conduct in several recent cases suggests that Alito is deep in the right-wing conspiracy theory weeds.

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Chris Hayes @chrislhayes.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

Really feels like Iran turning the screws and pushing gas to, say, $5-6 a gallon puts us in pretty uncharted waters, politically. So far the global oil infrastructure has proven to be remarkably resilient so maybe that doesn't happen, but doesn't look great!

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Marisa Kabas @marisakabas.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

LinkedIn removed my post about my latest story because the images of Republicans doing Republican things violated their community guidelines. Imagine being such assholes that even LinkedIn is like "nahhh that's too much."

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Ben Collins @bencollins.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

Pretty insightful stuff here from Bret Stephens, who admits he's literally as out of touch as possible with every New Yorker alive right now. Zohran is the most popular politician in the country, Dem leadership is historically unpopular, and he's just... the opposite. And he works for the NY Times.

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