Michele Manos
@michelemanos.bsky.social
Virologist, epidemiologist, public health researcher and professor (retired). Former NIAID Scientific Advisory Council member. Big fan of science, reality, adventure and goodness. Recovering from some years in political party leadership.
Michigan Democrats chose Abdul El-Sayed because he’s a fighter willing to stand up to the tyrant in the Oval Office. Corporate Democrats like Chuck Schumer aren't up to the task because they won’t bite the corporate hands that feed them.
The Real Meaning of El-Sayed's Victory
It's not what you're hearing
robertreich.substack.com
One more interesting point: this spring I sat down with Sharyn Alfonsi of 60 Minutes for an extensive interview about my Epstein investigation. Subsequently, CBS pulled the segment and fired the reporter. The MAGA buyout of media has unquestionably aided the Trump administration’s cover up here.
Senator Ron Wyden@wyden.senate.gov · yesterdayBombshell new report out from my investigators this morning spanning our four year investigation into Jeffrey Epstein’s financial records. This report shows exactly how Wall Street protected Epstein and enabled his sex trafficking for decades. Mega thread following with some key points:
Abdul El-Sayed was outspent 9-to-1 by AIPAC and corporate Super PACs in the most expensive Senate Democratic primary of all time. Last night, he proved that organized people can beat organized money.
This is inexcusable and terribly sad. RFK Jr's misinformed, self-serving decisions continue to sicken and kill people in a myriad of ways.
US cyclosporiasis outbreak kills two people in Michigan, officials say
US sees first fatalities due to intestinal illness, though both had significant underlying health conditions
theguardian.com
Nearly 500,000 public comments have flooded in since the Trump administration proposed a rule that gives political appointees control over research funding. “The United States will not just fall behind. It will step aside,” one physicist wrote.
How Trump’s “America First” Administration Could Shut U.S. Scientists Out of the Next Nobel-Worthy Discovery
A proposed White House rule would give political appointees unprecedented control over scientific funding. One physicist, who helped discover the Higgs boson, explains how the rule would’ve stifled th...
propublica.org
Wow. 11 polar icebreakers cost more than our entire global Ebola response in 2014. $7 billion could be saving millions of lives today.
The New York Times@nytimes.com · 4d agoPresident Trump decided to buy 11 polar icebreakers, worth almost $7 billion, after a game of golf with Finland’s president. The question, experts say, is how many the U.S. really needs. nyti.ms/4hK355K
The US is in the (greedy) hands of stridently ignorant, unqualified people. The term "Amateur Hour" isn't sufficient for the dangerous level of incompetence that threatens all of us. Not funny. Not amusing. Simply terrifying.
PBS News@pbsnews.org · 5d agoThe State Department says it takes "full responsibility" for hastily altering and then presenting a map of Africa at a global AIDS conference this week that mislabeled every single country it highlighted. A Reuters analysis found a watermark in the map image that suggests it was made with OpenAI.
Odyssey this. Odyssey that. We Odyssey ICE abolished.
Oh look, the Commerce Department quietly announced 7 new equity stakes in private companies. Brought to you by the people fighting "communism." https://thehill.com/policy/technology/6000186-commerce-ai-chips-stakes/
Commerce Department quietly announces 7 new equity stakes in private companies
The Department of Commerce quietly announced this week it will designate more than $870 million in federal incentives for semiconductor manufacturing in exchange for a minority equity stake in seve…
thehill.com
GM CEO Mary Barra is introducing Trump at his rally. Something to keep in mind if you're in the market for a vehicle anytime soon.
As usual, ProPublica delves into an emerging, crucial situation and explains to us that it's even worse than we imagined. @defendpublichealth.bsky.social @standupforscience.net www.propublica.org/article/fede...
How Trump’s “America First” Administration Could Shut U.S. Scientists Out of the Next Nobel-Worthy Discovery
A proposed White House rule would give political appointees unprecedented control over scientific funding. One physicist, who helped discover the Higgs boson, explains how the rule would’ve stifled th...
propublica.org
This in-depth, exhaustive (also, long - so perhaps exhausting) piece is a MUST READ. It's a horror story we must understand. A mastermind of Project 2025 and champion of federalism by extortion, his tactics resemble those of Stalin and Mao. Seems that's the actual "communist" threat we face.
Russell Vought, Trump’s Shadow President
From the wholesale gutting of federal agencies to the ongoing government shutdown, Russell Vought has drawn the road map for Trump’s second term. Vought has consolidated power to an extent that inside...
propublica.org
No surprises here. Strident "federalism by extortion." www.nytimes.com/2026/07/24/b...
Trump Administration Admits Canceling Grants to States That Did Not Vote for Him (Gift Article)
Federal officials said in court documents that they halted billions of dollars in funding for energy projects to states “based solely” on whether they backed President Trump in the 2024 election.
nytimes.com
Once you understand that this is a model of science written by non-scientists who hate universities but love venture capital and redirecting money to political allies, everything makes a lot more sense. www.nytimes.com/2026/07/22/u...
Trump’s Plan for Science: More Money for A.I., Less for Universities
Michael Kratsios, President Trump’s science adviser, proposed overhauling how the government funds research. Democrats said Mr. Trump’s actions had weakened science.
nytimes.com
You might get sick of hearing this but if he keeps doing it I'm gonna keep saying it: this is an unconstitutional impoundment, violating both Congress' Article I spending authority and the 1974 Impoundment Control act, and immediately impeachable.
Catherine Rampell@crampell.bsky.social · 2w agoTrump administration pauses $1 bln in Medicaid payments to California, Minnesota www.reuters.com/world/us-hea...
"Every gun that is made, every warship launched, every rocket fired signifies, in the final sense, a theft from those who hunger and are not fed, those who are cold and are not clothed." -Dwight D. Eisenhower, 1953
President Trump just gave a speech about voter fraud. Someone has been committing voter fraud — and his name is Ken Paxton. He was just caught voting from the wrong address 6 elections in a row. If the President wants to investigate voter fraud, he should start with Ken Paxton.
Russell Vought should be impeached The two-time director of the Office of Management and Budget has been two-timing Congress, making spending cuts that lawmakers rejected.
Opinion | Russell Vought should be impeached
The two-time director of the Office of Management and Budget has been two-timing Congress, making spending cuts that lawmakers rejected.
ms.now
Very important piece by Cerin Lindgrensavage and @davidasuper.bsky.social. This behavior by the administration is not only illegal, it is anti-constitutional. thehill.com/opinion/cong...
Congress rejected some of Trump’s proposed budget cuts. OMB is making them anyway.
President Trump and the Office of Management and Budget are accused of violating the separation of powers by attempting to unilaterally withhold funds that Congress specifically appropriated.
thehill.com
This has some excellent framing of the public health disaster that is the Trump administration. For example, "Trump is a disease vector." @defendpublichealth.bsky.social
Trump’s latest public health initiative: explosive diarrhea
This administration is the best thing that ever happened to cyclosporiasis.
open.substack.com
i thought things were getting carried away and then saw this
For the past three years, drug deaths in the U.S. have been falling, while in Arizona, drug deaths are higher than they’ve ever been — nearly twice the national average. It’s the only state where drug deaths are above their post-Covid peak. nyti.ms/4fAECyi
The Epicenter of Drug Deaths in America Is Shifting West
Nationally, overdose deaths are falling. But not in Arizona.
nyti.ms
Today is the last day to comment on OMB's proposed totalitarian power grab. Please do so at: www.regulations.gov/commenton/OM...
Russell Vought is Using the Plumbing of Fiscal Federalism to Create a New Patronage System
EDITORS NOTE: I (Nathan) have struggled whether to rush to comment on this proposed OMB rule. Being a recent Fiscal Year 2026 OMB memo, and knowing that the OMB will continue to create new forms of bu...
crisesnotes.com
Given the sometimes horrific things that we share here each day, I thought I'd share something good. REALLY GOOD. You can use semisweet choc chips, if that's easier. Do pay close attention as you toast the sesame seeds. You're welcome. 😇
Tahini and Chocolate Chunk Cake Recipe • 5★ • 1 hr 30 min
Tahini, a smooth paste made from ground sesame seeds, is nothing short of a pantry superstar — both sweet and savory dishes benefit from a healthy swig of the rich, creamy sauce. Here, tahini flavors ...
cooking.nytimes.com
Yes, that is why we continue to fight. @defendpublichealth.bsky.social
Robert Reich@rbreich.bsky.social · 4w agoWhen we oppose budget cuts to federal agencies, this is why. When we oppose layoffs of federal workers tasked with protecting the public, this is why. When we oppose regulatory cuts that jeopardize our health, this is why.
I'd call this something other than simply "unusual."
The Washington Post@washingtonpost.com · 4w agoSens. John Fetterman (D) and Dave McCormick (R) of Pennsylvania have set up a joint fundraising committee, according to a Federal Election Commission filing, a rare move for lawmakers from opposing political parties.
