Jonathan Cummings

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Choice_...

The options we are presented with (choice architecture) impact our decisions. An example we're faced ever more frequently is the default tipping rates of checkouts.

#TodaysTedx

This

Montpelier Vermont No Kings Procession!!

#NoKings

@50501supporters.bsky.social

Completely agree on this

Despite fear of retaliation, hundreds of federal workers urge Congress to protect medicine and science Federal workers send Congress a letter pleading for help, but their trouble attracting signatures reflects fear of retaliation.

Protest letter signature drive reveals fear among federal employees | STAT share.google/sf5V4kGU7Stu...

Donate to Help Bring Flashes for Bluesky to Android!, organised by Sebastian Vogelsang Hi everyone! I’m Sebastian, the developer behind Flashes for Bluesky - … Sebastian Vogelsang needs your support for Help Bring Flashes for Bluesky to Android!

🤖 Android here we come!

Spread the word! Share this far and wide—yell it from rooftops, tell your rich uncle about it, slip it into casual conversation at the grocery store.

Succinctly states where we are and what's happening. These three things, in addition to doing much else, are the sheet anchors of American wealth and power.

The chart shows the intended funding amount for new grants awarded by the N.S.F. during the 2025 calendar year through May 21, compared with the average funding for the same period from 2015 to 2024. In 2025 dollars.

US NSF funding cut in half

Details of cuts to US National Science Foundation (NSF)
www.nytimes.com/interactive/...

Moderna withdraws application for COVID-flu combination vaccine Moderna said on Wednesday it has withdrawn an application seeking approval for its flu and COVID combination vaccine candidate after discussions with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

This is absolutely terrible news.

With the shifting regulatory climate (i.e., antivax ratfuckery), Moderna has withdrawn their application for their eagerly anticipated COVID-flu combo vaccine. This vaccine offered better protection than getting each shot separately.

h/t @merz.bsky.social

Trump’s NIH And NSF Cuts Estimated To Cost The U.S. Economy $10 Billion Annually Economists find public R&D drives U.S. productivity growth — and pays for itself

New Forbes story about the economic consequences of science cuts.

www.forbes.com/sites/johndr...

Thoughtful and thorough analysis.

1/n

A shocking statistic presented by Margaret Leinen of @scrippsocean.bsky.social, was that 8 of the major oceanographic institutions are cutting grad admissions by 50% in 2025.

That's a HUGE long-term loss for the students planning on grad school, & the industries that plan to hire in coming years.

Reminder: You can just…do stuff.

You don’t have to wait for your boss to tell you to. You don’t have to wait to be told you’re good enough.

As long as you’re not hurting anybody, and especially if doing it would help somebody… you can just do it.

Senate Democrats Expected To Help Pass House Republican CR Following Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer’s (D-NY) announcement that he would help...

Democrats, including Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) and even Democratic House leadership, are criticizing the Senate’s caving.
talkingpointsmemo.com/live-blog/se...

too woke, must destroy

Putin still intends Ukraine domination, U.S. intelligence reports say U.S. assessments of Vladimir Putin say that Moscow is determined to hold sway over Kyiv, despite ongoing ceasefire talks.

While Trump has been claiming that Putin is eager for a deal, US spy agencie have been telling Trump that is not the case.

@ellenwapo.bsky.social

www.washingtonpost.com/national-sec...

Hello New Hampshire. I miss you, tell your senators.

Against Nihilism Politics in the age of stupidity. Against the senile vibe shift.

this essay goes a long way towards capturing something that I've been thinking about over the past year or so: how closely the new nihilism in America resembles what you find in the former soviet union www.nefariousrussians.com/p/against-ni...

it doesn't matter if the CR was bad or anywhere near good; as long as lawlessnes reigns supreme in Washington you don't vote for a single GOP bill or a single GOP nominee, why is this so fuckin' hard to understand

theoatmeal.com/comics/150_c...

Screenshots of posts from two NPS parks stating that they will have to partially close for 1-2 days a week until further notice.

Already seeing multiple NPS parks needing to close for 1-2 days a week due to being short-staffed after the federal workforce firings. Are we great yet?

Here's the first @bluestein.bsky.social video that X blocked (with the last few seconds trimmed off).

Audience member: "[Congress] controls the budget, not the president. And you are doing us a disservice to set that down and not stand up for us!"

KNOW YOUR RIGHTS IN CASE OF ICE: CONOCE TUS DERECHOS EN CASO DE ENCUENTRO CON ICE:

DO NOT OPEN YOUR DOOR. ICE cannot enter your home without a warrant signed by a judge. Tell the agents to show you the warrant by sliding it under the door. NO ABRAS TU PUERTA. ICE no puede entrar a tu casa sin una orden firmada por un juez. Diles a los agentes que te muestren la orden deslizándola debajo de la puerta.

ASK THEM TO LEAVE. If ICE doesn't have a warrant, tell them you do not consent for them to enter your home and ask them to leave. At work, ICE cannot enter employee-only areas without permission. 2 PÍDALES QUE SE VAYAN. Si ICE no tiene una orden judicial, diles que no das tu consentimiento para que entren a tu casa y pídeles que se vayan. En el trabajo, ICE no puede ingresar a áreas exclusivas para empleados sin permiso.

REMAIN SILENT. You have the right to remain silent. If the agents ask you questions, tell them, "I wish to remain silent." PERMANECE EN SILENCIO. Tienes derecho a permanecer en silencio. Si los agentes te hacen preguntas, diles: "Deseo permanecer en silencio".

It is perfectly legal to know your rights and to educate others about them, too.

EVERYONE in the United States, citizen or not, has rights. I will not allow this administration to intimidate us from helping you know about them.

Here’s our shareable guide ⬇️: (pt. 1/2)

Happy International Day of Women and Girls in Science!
We are so proud to have many incredible women working across disciplines as part of Exeter Marine. 🩵

🦑🦤🌎🌐🧪🤿🌊
#WomeninSTEM #PhDSky #AcademicSky

Stromatolites xkcd.com/3046

Graph showing an exceptional spike in 2024-2025 Antarctic melt extent compared to previous years.

Map of Antarctica showing the 2024-2025 ice sheet melt extent.

Around this time of the year, the peak of the melt season in #Antarctica is usually reached, but this year's spike in the total melt extent is exceptionally impressive! 🥵

(Source: nsidc.org/ice-sheets-t...)

as LA is burning, a swath of the country is recovering from an ice storm, Alabama is preparing for up to 6” of snow and I’m praying for the TX power grid, a reminder:

we don’t need climate action just for future generations, we need it now.

the climate crisis is here, all around us

In this day and age, living in a place that
- you like,
- you can afford,
- you can find a job,
- you have family/friends,
- you feel safe, and
- you *are* safe from natural disasters/bad laws/worse

is luxury and privilege. Almost no one gets to check all the boxes.

So maybe don’t be an asshole.

Really happy to have been able to help with this paper, as it provides solid, empirical evidence relevant to decisions being made today.