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Glenn Branch

@glennbranch.bsky.social

Deputy Director, NCSE. Views expressed on BlueSky are my own and not necessarily NCSE's.

1,706 Followers  |  112 Following  |  593 Posts  |  Joined: 28.08.2023  |  1.8572

Latest posts by glennbranch.bsky.social on Bluesky

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The Republican campaign to stop the U.S. EPA from protecting the climate Β» Yale Climate Connections An audacious effort to destroy climate regulations is likely headed for a showdown at the Supreme Court.

I read EPA’s 302-page proposal to nuke the endangered endangerment finding so that you don’t have to, and wrote about what the insanity all means for @climateconnections.bsky.social. Thanks to @gregdotson.bsky.social, @hausfath.bsky.social, @michaelemann.bsky.social for the input. Article & 🧡(1/14):

01.08.2025 15:30 β€” πŸ‘ 58    πŸ” 32    πŸ’¬ 3    πŸ“Œ 4
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A Century of Conflict Over Evolution Education A new book examines the legacy of Tennessee v. Scopes, offering a warning about future litigation over the teaching of evolution in America.

In his review of a new book examining the 100-year legacy of the Scopes β€œmonkey” trial on teaching evolution in public schools, @glennbranch.bsky.social writes that the authors provide an β€œinsightful and detailed legal history,” but finds their argument overly pessimistic:

31.07.2025 21:13 β€” πŸ‘ 2    πŸ” 2    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0
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Climate Scientists Look to Fight Back Against DOE’s β€˜Antiscientific,’ β€˜Deceptive’ Climate Report - Inside Climate News Climate scientist Michael Mann called the report β€œa deeply misleading antiscientific narrative, built on deceptive arguments, misrepresented datasets, and distortion of actual scientific understanding...

"Climate Scientists Look to Fight Back Against DOE’s β€˜Antiscientific,’ β€˜Deceptive’ Climate Report" by Dennis Pillion for @insideclimatenews.org: insideclimatenews.org/news/3007202...

31.07.2025 15:35 β€” πŸ‘ 151    πŸ” 58    πŸ’¬ 8    πŸ“Œ 6
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EPA moves to repeal finding that allows climate regulation The EPA is moving to repeal a scientific finding that has long been the central basis for U.S. action to fight climate change. Michael Mann, Presidential Distinguished Professor in the Department of E...

Michael E. Mann discusses the EPA's attempt to repeal the endangerment finding on greenhouse gases. Spoiler: he's not a fan.

30.07.2025 21:30 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
A disheveled, bearded, and bespectacled scientist wearing a white coat, with laboratory glassware in front of him. Screenshot from the public domain film Maniac (1934) showing Horace B. Carpenter as the character Dr. Meirschultz.

A disheveled, bearded, and bespectacled scientist wearing a white coat, with laboratory glassware in front of him. Screenshot from the public domain film Maniac (1934) showing Horace B. Carpenter as the character Dr. Meirschultz.

If there are mad scientists, then surely there is a field of mad science communication, with scholarly articles with titles like "Bwahaha or Mwuhaha: Toward a Typology of Mad Scientific Exultation."

29.07.2025 21:30 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0

A minor error: Scopes was born in Paducah, Kentucky, although he graduated from high school in Salem, Illinois.

28.07.2025 22:51 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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How the Scopes β€˜monkey’ trial echoes today One hundred years ago, teacher John Scopes was arrested for teaching evolution in a Tennessee public school. His trial became a national sensation. Today, we’re still fighting over what should be taug...

ICYMI: Edward J. Larson talks to WBUR's On Point about the Scopes trial.

28.07.2025 21:30 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0
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Trump effort to ditch greenhouse gas finding ignores β€˜clearcut’ science, expert says Architect of landmark EPA β€˜endangerment finding’ says repealing it will lead to more extreme weather in US

"Trump effort to ditch greenhouse gas finding ignores 'clearcut' science, expert says"

25.07.2025 21:30 β€” πŸ‘ 2    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0
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An evolving struggle: How a 100-year-old courtroom clash in Tennessee still reverberates in America’s psyche β€” and school classrooms - Americans United One hundred years ago, Dayton, Tenn., was a sleepy little town of about 2,000 souls with an image problem.

I was pleased to discuss the Scopes trial with Rob Boston (@robboston.bsky.social) for his article in Church & State.

24.07.2025 21:32 β€” πŸ‘ 4    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

Newell focuses on climate, but the advice applies generally.

24.07.2025 12:22 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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How you can use a β€˜truth sandwich’ to fight climate misinformation Β» Yale Climate Connections Yale Climate Connections is a nonpartisan, multimedia service providing daily broadcast radio programming and original web-based reporting, commentary, and analysis on the issue of climate change.

"Serve up facts first and last, with misinformation handled carefully in the middle," recommends Philip Newell.

23.07.2025 21:30 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0
Scopes "Monkey" Trial Centennial Symposium - Opening Remarks
YouTube video by Evolutionary Studies - Vanderbilt Scopes "Monkey" Trial Centennial Symposium - Opening Remarks

The opening remarks from the Scopes "Monkey" Trial Centennial Symposium given by @glennbranch.bsky.social and @rokaslab.bsky.social are up on our YouTube channel! Find the video here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lhu9... #Evolution

23.07.2025 16:58 β€” πŸ‘ 4    πŸ” 3    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

I might be persuaded to send prospective readers a PDF...

22.07.2025 22:11 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0
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The God of Monkey Science: People of Faith in a Modern Scientific World, Janet Kellogg Ray, Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 2023 (ISBN 9780802883193), 248Β pp., Pb $19.99 Click on the article title to read more.

My brief review of Janet Kellogg Ray's The God of Monkey Science was just published in Reviews in Religion & Theology.

22.07.2025 21:56 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0
Post image

I had mostly moved on from debunking creationist claims, but this latest nonsense from Casey Luskin at the DI is even stupider than usual, so they pulled me back in. Predictably, he also left out contradictory data.
#evolution #creationism #intelligentdesign

secularhumanism.org/2025/07/how-...

21.07.2025 17:07 β€” πŸ‘ 14    πŸ” 2    πŸ’¬ 2    πŸ“Œ 0
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Trial of the century: Why 100 years later, the Scopes case still matters As the famous Scopes trial, a landmark case out of Dayton, Tennessee, celebrates its centennial anniversary, themes of the case continue to be felt today.

I was delighted to be interviewed for The Tennesseean's article about the centennial of the Scopes trial.

17.07.2025 21:08 β€” πŸ‘ 3    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
Graphical flyer. The text reads: 
The Scopes "Monkey" Trial: Past, Present, and Future. NCSE's Scopes Centennial Webinar Series. Presenters: Eugenie C. Scott, August 13; Ted Davis, August 20; Adam Laats, August 27. Images: Headshots of each presenter. Background is an old photo from the Scopes Trial and is intended to be decorative.

Graphical flyer. The text reads: The Scopes "Monkey" Trial: Past, Present, and Future. NCSE's Scopes Centennial Webinar Series. Presenters: Eugenie C. Scott, August 13; Ted Davis, August 20; Adam Laats, August 27. Images: Headshots of each presenter. Background is an old photo from the Scopes Trial and is intended to be decorative.

Text reads: "The Trial of the Century": Scopes at 100. Presented by Eugenie C. Scott, August 13, 7 PM ET/4 PM PT. Image: Headshot of Eugenie C. Scott. Background is an old photo from the Scopes Trial and is intended to be decorative.

Text reads: "The Trial of the Century": Scopes at 100. Presented by Eugenie C. Scott, August 13, 7 PM ET/4 PM PT. Image: Headshot of Eugenie C. Scott. Background is an old photo from the Scopes Trial and is intended to be decorative.

Text reads: Bryan's Religious Opponents: Protestant Modernists and Science. Presented by Ted Davis, August 20, 7 PM ET/4 PM PT. Image: Headshot of Ted Davis. Background is an old photo from the Scopes Trial and is intended to be decorative.

Text reads: Bryan's Religious Opponents: Protestant Modernists and Science. Presented by Ted Davis, August 20, 7 PM ET/4 PM PT. Image: Headshot of Ted Davis. Background is an old photo from the Scopes Trial and is intended to be decorative.

Text reads: The Scopes Trial: The Start of America's Hundred-Year Culture War. Presented by Adam Laats, August 27, 7 PM ET/4 PM PT. Image: Headshot of Adam Laats. Text reads: Bryan's Religious Opponents: Protestant Modernists and Science. Presented by Ted Davis, August 20, 7 PM ET/4 PM PT. Background is an old photo from the Scopes Trial and is intended to be decorative.

Text reads: The Scopes Trial: The Start of America's Hundred-Year Culture War. Presented by Adam Laats, August 27, 7 PM ET/4 PM PT. Image: Headshot of Adam Laats. Text reads: Bryan's Religious Opponents: Protestant Modernists and Science. Presented by Ted Davis, August 20, 7 PM ET/4 PM PT. Background is an old photo from the Scopes Trial and is intended to be decorative.

2025 marks the centennial of the Scopes Trial. Join NCSE in commemorating the event with a free webinar series open to the public, "The Scopes 'Monkey' Trial: Past, Present, and Future."

Register for each on our website to receive a Zoom link: ncse.ngo/scopes-cente...
#ScopesTrial

10.07.2025 22:31 β€” πŸ‘ 4    πŸ” 2    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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A majority of people around the world support a carbon tax β€” even if they're paying it Even in the U.S., where the policy was least popular, half of those surveyed said they'd support a climate tax that redistributes wealth.

"People in affluent countries around the world are willing to tax themselves to address climate change and ease poverty."

10.07.2025 21:30 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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100 years after evolution went on trial, the Scopes case still reverberates One hundred years ago, the small town of Dayton, Tenn., became the unlikely stage for one of the most sensational trials in American history, over the teaching of Darwin's theory of evolution.

I was pleased to be interviewed by NPR's All Things Considered for its recent article on the centennial of the Scopes trial.

09.07.2025 21:30 β€” πŸ‘ 4    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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What’s Changedβ€”and What Hasn’tβ€”Since the EPA’s Endangerment Finding - Eos A scientist-authored brief played a role in the 2009 determination that greenhouse gases endanger public health. With the finding now up for reconsideration, the same scientists revisit their opinion.

"A scientist-authored brief played a role in the 2009 determination that greenhouse gases endanger public health. With the finding now up for reconsideration, the same scientists revisit their opinion."

08.07.2025 21:31 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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The Hundred Years' Trial Law, Evolution, and the Long Shadow of Scopes v. Tennessee

Behold!

07.07.2025 21:37 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
How the latest SCOTUS ruling on religous rights echoes the Scopes trial
YouTube video by KUOW How the latest SCOTUS ruling on religous rights echoes the Scopes trial

ICYMI: "How the latest SCOTUS ruling on religous rights echoes the Scopes trial," with Alexander Gouzoules, coauthor of a very good new book, The Hundred Years' Trial: Law, Evolution, and the Long Shadow of Scopes v. Tennessee.

07.07.2025 21:30 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0
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Trump’s climate research cuts are unpopular, even with Republican voters Β» Yale Climate Connections Recent polling shows that nearly 80% of registered U.S. voters want government agencies to keep researching and sharing global warming data. The administration is dismantling both.

"Recent polling shows that nearly 80% of registered U.S. voters want government agencies to keep researching and sharing global warming data."

03.07.2025 21:30 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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The public holds nuanced views on the role of religion in public schools - AP-NORC Fifty-eight percent of the public think it is okay for religious chaplains to provide support services in public schools. Around 4 in 10 feel teachers should be allowed to lead a class in prayer. Thir...

Considering that the federal government has basically no influence on what children are taught in public schools, it's a little disconcerting to learn that 57% of Americans think that it has too much influence.

02.07.2025 21:30 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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The Student, and Intellectual Observer

A possible use from a year earlier: books.google.com/books?id=BFE...

02.07.2025 16:53 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0
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1 in 4 Americans Reject Evolution, A Century After the Scopes Monkey Trial Spotlighted the Clash between Science andΒ Religion by William Trollinger and Susan Trollinger Editor’s Note: This article originally appeared at The Conversation. We are grateful to the editors to republish it here. TheΒ 1925 Scopes trial, in …

"1 in 4 Americans Reject Evolution, A Century After the Scopes Monkey Trial Spotlighted the Clash between Science and Religion," a wonderful essay by William Trollinger and Sue Trollinger.

01.07.2025 21:30 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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How Trump’s assault on science is blinding America to climate change Through budget cuts and layoffs, the administration has begun to cripple the government's ability to research global warming.

"President Donald Trump long ago decided climate change was a 'hoax.' Now his administration is trying to silence government research that proves him wrong."

30.06.2025 21:30 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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American Education Demands a Fact-Based Curriculum, Not Religious Ideology One hundred years after the Scopes trial, religious ideologues are still trying to supplant evidence-based curricula with myths, to the detriment of a well-informed society

"American Education Demands a Fact-Based Curriculum, Not Religious Ideology," declare the editors of Scientific American.

27.06.2025 21:30 β€” πŸ‘ 2    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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The Heat is On: Climate Science in a Rapidly Changing World | Ars Live YouTube video by Ars Technica

ICYMI: Zeke Hausfather discusses "The Heat is On: Climate Science in a Rapidly Changing World" with Ars Technica.

26.06.2025 21:30 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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Today! Ars Live: What’s up with the sudden surge in temperatures? Zeke Hausfather of the Berkeley Earth project joins us to talk climate science.

About an hour from now, I'll be doing a live chat with Zeke Hausfather about what's up with the record global temperatures, along with climate science more generally. Please join us.

Details below.

26.06.2025 15:59 β€” πŸ‘ 3    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

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