Photo credit: NSF–DOE Vera C. Rubin Observatory
As our US government institutions increasingly fail to keep us safe, many individuals and civil society groups are organizing and stepping up to protect each other. That’s heartening and much needed at a time when the slide into authoritarianism is more rapid in the US than most experts anticipated. Life may seem “normal” in your corner of the world, with the daily grind of work and life, brunch, kiddo playdates, concerts, etc. That normalcy is deceiving and dangerous, as dissidents from other authoritarian regimes warn us.
While its deeply human to seek normalcy, even in deeply un-normal times, its critical for us to remember and track that none of this is normal, that the cruelty and harm are real and will continue to increase. Autocrats are never satisfied until there is complete submission, oppression, and they hold unlimited power.
Everything we can save is worth saving. What can we do? Keep a daily/weekly journal, record what is being taken away, who is being harmed, and how you feel. Write it down, talk to your friends, neighbors, and even strangers about what is happening. Give the feelings space and a voice. It may not change things but it will help build psychological safety and maybe even strengthen your community to resist!
None is this is normal. None of this is normal. None of this is normal.
take action
Take The Pledge for Progress, This pledge was drafted by Drs. Jennifer and Jonathan Riehl. Learn more on their Union of Concerned Scientists guest blog, "Science Is Stronger When We Live Our Values: Take the Pledge."
weekly win
Zohran Mamdani won the NY state primary for governor
A slew of legislative losses for the administration:
Judge block’s administration’s suspension of Harvard’s ability to bring in international students
Public land sales blocked from inclusion in Trump’s tax bill
Federal judge orders Kilmar Abrego Garcia’s release before trial
You can track the recent and current legal actions here
weekly wonder
Vera C. Rubin Observatory (funded by NSF and DOE) released first images of the universe
James Webb telescope captured unprecedented direct images of TWA 7b, the first exoplanet discovery!
Astronomy, like most science, is threatened by the Trump administration
check it out
Kimberly Terrell resigned in protest from Tulane after being placed “under a complete gag order” on talking about her advocacy and research.
It is punishingly hot across the midwest and eastern US, climate change is here and its brutal.
The US inserting itself into a war based on vibes and how things would “play” on TV
HUD (Housing and Urban Development) is planning on taking over NSF building in Arlington VA, with list of demands that includes an executive dining room and parking for all 5 of the HUD secretary’s cars.
Groups are organizing to maintain access to vaccines and recommended vaccination schedules in the US, as RFK Jr works to dismantle access and undermine vaccine science.
Tracking the administration’s harms and cruelties (just some of the trackers):
McSweeney’s comprehensive list of cruelties, collusions, corruptions, and crimes.
perennial reads
Check out the anti-autocracy handbook for scholars and take actions along the risk continuum that reflects our new reality.
book nook
It Rhymes with Takei by George Takei, with Justin Eisinger, Steven Scott and Harmony Becker - Takei shares his story of navigating life as a closeted gay man to speaking his truth at the age of 68 in this memoir graphic novel.
all ears
The Upstream podcast episode “How to fall in love with the future with Rob Hopkins”
watch this!
Check out “Flow,” an animated film that won an Oscar this year.
🙃 Childcare costs in the US rival or surpass mortgages.