Kate

Starved in Jail Why are incarcerated people dying from lack of food or water, even as private companies are paid millions for their care?

Why are incarcerated people dying from lack of food or water, even as private companies are paid millions for their care? Story via @newyorker.com

GOOD NEWS! Researchers have discovered a powerful antibody, known as 04_A06, that is able to neutralize 98.5% of MORE THAN 300 different HIV strains AND permanently reduce HIV viral load to undetectable levels, making it one of the broadest-acting antibodies against HIV identified to date.

I think about this photo from right after Hurricane Katrina quite often.

See, Black America has been here before..

Today seems like a great day to re-up my slides from 2017 about the Nazi takeover of German physics, in part because in my estimation, a lot of American physicists in 2025 are confused about whether "agreeing to work with them" is resistance (it's not) and whether it works (it doesn't) 🧪⚛️

Today is a day when arts degrees are worthless, but the product of those degrees is so valuable it would kill an entire industry if they were made to pay for it.

I don't know that this is the *most* unethical thing David Frum has ever done, but in terms of professional *journalistic* ethics? Whooo boy

fucked up that this is all just landlords swatting their own buildings to get rid of all the working class residents so they can raise the rent or sell to a developer who'll flip them into high end condos or w/e

like it's a real estate scam! it's a fucking land grab! a fire for the insurance money!

The arraignment of James Comey takes place today.

The Trump administration is hoping to produce its first show trial.

they don’t want you to know how they treat prisoners because it will grieve you to know it, which is natural and human, and because of your normal human reaction you will want the system changed. It’s important to them that your natural aversion to how the system works not be engaged.

The vast majority of the country has no idea how out of control ICE is right now. Yes, there's reporting on ICE raids and protests, but most people are not seeing photos and videos of horrific incidents like this, or the apartment building raid.

If most people did know they'd be horrified.

Rachel Reeves clears planning blockage amid ‘good relationship’ with developer Exclusive: Chancellor says 20,000 homes were being held up due to ‘some snails that are a protected species or something’

I don't want to get all Chesterton's Fence here, but if you don't understand that a "microscopic snail" is an indicator species that's protected for the health of the entire ecosystem, you probably shouldn't be forming "good relationships" with developers
www.theguardian.com/environment/...

Supreme Court: of course states can regulate, and restrict access to, medical procedures if there’s a compelling public interest

Colorado: (bans conversion therapy for minors)

Supreme Court: no not like that, we only meant abortion

Joseph Barranco posted on social media: Go Bears! Nobel Prize in Physics goes to 3 physicists studying mesoscopic quantum phenomena... Work was done in the 1980s in UC Berkeley Professor John Clarke's lab with his graduate student John Martinis and postdoctoral fellow Michel Devoret... all 3 share the Nobel Prize. Must also point out that both Clarke and Devoret are immigrants from the UK and France, respectively. All 3 are pioneers in the race to build the most powerful quantum supercomputers. California *public* education made this happen. Immigration made this happen.

Valuable info about the Physics Nobel Prize today from Prof. Joseph Barranco at SFSU on Martinis and Devoret being a grad student and postdoc in Clarke's lab at UC Berkeley & Clark and Devoret being immigrants. "California *public* education made this happen. Immigration made this happen." ⚛️

Trump is threatening to withhold back pay for federal workers furloughed during the shutdown — which goes against a law he signed in 2019, by the way.

This should come as no surprise: Trump and his businesses have been accused of stiffing hundreds of their own workers out of pay over the years.

Two years ago today, Hamas carried out a horrific war crime, killing more than 1,100 Israelis and kidnapping 250 more. I mourn these lives and pray for the safe return of every hostage still held and for every family whose lives were torn apart by these atrocities. In the aftermath of that day, Prime Minister Netanyahu and the Israeli government launched a genocidal war: a death toll that now far exceeds 67,000; with the Israeli military bombing homes, hospitals, and schools into rubble. Every day in Gaza has become a place where grief itself has run out of language. I mourn these lives and pray for the families that have been shattered. Our government has been complicit through it all. This must end. The occupation and apartheid must end. Peace must be pursued through diplomacy, not war crimes and our government must act to end these atrocities and hold those responsible to account. These last two years have demonstrated the very worst of humanity. We must answer it by modeling the very best: a relentless pursuit of our higher ideals and an unwavering commitment to universal human rights.

Zohran Mamdani’s statement on the second anniversary of October 7th.

Outcry as Trump plots the plunder of US forests: "You can almost hear the chainsaws" Public comments suggest repealing the Clinton-era "roadless rule" is wildly unpopular.

Outcry as Trump plots the plunder of US forests: "You can almost hear the chainsaws" [via
@theguardian.com]

In the last few weeks we’ve watched ICE:

Pepper spray the Portland frog
Tear gas members of Chicago PD
Zip tie children
Grab Chicagoans from their beds in dead of the night
Open fire on a civilian in her car

Yet they say immigrants are the threat.

Protesters are the threat.

We know better.

Carbon offsets fail to cut global heating due to ‘intractable’ systemic problems, study says Analysis of 25 years of evidence shows most schemes are poor quality and fail to lower emissions

Carbon offsets fail to cut global heating due to ‘intractable’ and systemic problems, study says

- Analysis of 25 years of evidence shows most schemes are poor quality and fail to lower emissions

#climatecrisis
www.theguardian.com/environment/...

New on MSNBC: Trump's new acting U.S. Attorney Lindsey Halligan has recruited prosecutors from outside her office to take James Comey to trial, after being unable to find any federal prosecutors in her own office willing to pursue the charges, according to two people familiar with the selections.

🧵

🍁🍂🍁 are you headed for a weekend to check out fall colors in northern Michigan? Look at the map below to plan to attend a protest on Oct 18!!! Bring your signs, your flags, your outrage and come to a No Kings event! #NoKings2.0
#NoKingsMichigan
#Michigan

Claim: 10 cars rammed ICE
Truth: No cars rammed ICE

Claim: She boxed ICE in
Truth: ICE boxed her in

Claim: She shot a rifle at ICE
Truth: She did not have a rifle

Claim: ICE returned fire
Truth: Only ICE fired

Claim: She drove herself to the hospital
Truth: Paramedics found her

Not a single lie detected in anything that Zelda Williams said.

(And no, it doesn't matter how much you loved her dad and his work. Leave her the fuck alone, and keep your parasocial bullshit to yourself.)

Early voting is OPEN in Virginia til Nov 1. Election Day Nov 4th

More details in link: www.elections.virginia.gov/casting-a-ba...

Thanks Patti for the heads up! 🫡

Spread the word! Get out and VOTE!

It's a pretty big deal that the NYC Bar Association--one of the most prominent and respected bar associations in the country--is accusing the President of ordering the "unlawful summary execution," i.e. murder--of civilians in violation of US and international law. www.nycbar.org/press-releas...

Excellent local piece here from @ashleyhiruko.bsky.social + @kuow.org + @propublica.org.

As coal fades, Australia looks to realize dream of 100% renewable… The country’s grid operator says shifting from coal to clean power is not only possible but inevitable. The work there could provide a road map for other…

Australia's grid operator has a clear line of sight to 100% renewables. There's nothing unknown or exotic required.

It'll be fun when the first large/major economies start hitting the goal. Too bad the US is likely to be at the rear of the pack.

Even with Republicans shutting down the government, I’m still working hard to get you the help you need. My office is holding mobile office hours this month; join us to ask any questions about federal agencies.

BREAKING

A top prosecutor in Virginia has informed colleagues she plans to decline to seek charges against New York Attorney General Letitia James, resisting intense pressure from President Donald Trump.

Full Story: bit.ly/4mKtzmt