Have you ever watched a stand-up comedy special from 10, 15, 20 years ago and realize that the jokes still work, the political and social commentary is evergreen? You realize, oh right we’ve been here before. A war of choice waged by a US president to distract from domestic troubles. The reasons, timeline, and outcomes of Operation Epic Fury are like quicksand, changing by the minute as if the US administration is testing material for a TV show. But the lives lost are already too real and numerous.

Trying to process this feels impossible. I have students who are hoping their parents and siblings are able to evacuate from the Middle East, as the situation rapidly escalates. Understandably, these students are finding it challenging to focus on school work.

The Trump administration has bombed 8 countries since taking office in January 2024, a record for a US president. Is the latest attack on Iran meant to distract us from the Epstein files and ICE? Is this more chaos seeding? What consequences will the US face? Will Trump and his enablers be held accountable for the heinous acts they are enabling in the US and across the world? The list of enablers is long, including most Republican elected officials in Congress, most high ranking members of the Trump administration and literally countless corporations and rich people who are willing to watch the world burn rather than pay an extra dollar in taxes.

As Timothy Snyder wrote this week, “lying is an art and Trump is an artist.” We are being lied to, constantly, without account or accountability. It is our job to find and know the truth, a job made harder by the consolidation of media and increasing government influence and control.

So here are some true things happening this week in the US and around the world. We will keep bringing you nuggets of news and where possible, connect them to science. But we encourage you to support independent media wherever possible because democracy truly does die in darkness and its getting pretty dark out here.

take action

The US Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is proposing a six-month moratorium on Medicare enrollment for suppliers of durable healthcare equipment (think CPAP, orthotics, and even prosthetics). They’re calling it the Comprehensive Regulations to Uncover Suspicious Healthcare (CRUSH) initiative 🤮
- The proposed rule will be public and available for comment starting on February 27.
Join the Stand Up for Science National Day of Action, March 7th - find a rally near you

bookmark this

ReadyNow! App is a secure one-click system for people who are at risk of detention.
The Lise Meitner Excellence Programme is accepting applications.

weekly wonder

Ants manage carbon dioxide levels in their nests and convert that CO2 into armor!

check it out

US Customs and Border Protection has killed another person, with peak cruelty and negligence. They dropped Nurul Amin Shah Alam five miles from his house in freezing cold Buffalo, NY. Alam did not speak English and was visually impaired, leaving him unable to seek help or return home safely. He was found dead on Feb. 24.
The Trump administration is withholding $259 million in Medicaid from Minnesota, citing the desire to avoid fraud. More likely the goal is to punish Minnesotans for standing up for their communities.
Harassment, discrimination, and violence experienced by geoscientists during field work are underreported, with only 18% of the most harmful field experiences reported.

around the world

The US and Israel together attacked Iran and then Lebanon without regard for the Constitution or US Congress, sparking another round of violence in the Middle East. One of the strikes on Iran hit a girls school and killed 165 students and staff.
Russia struck Ukraine with 39 missiles on Feb. 26, injuring at least 25 people.
As the US continues its energy blockade on Cuba, Mexico sent a second aid package.
Cuba also intercepted a speedboat traveling from Florida, alleging people on board were involved in a plot of “infiltration with terrorist aims.” Four people were killed and six were injured.
Ongoing drought and conflicts in Somalia have left 6.5 million people at risk of severe hunger.

more of thi please

Salmon vs Trump: Federal Judge refused to overturn plans to change hydropower operations in the Pacific Northwest in an effort to protect salmon populations.
It was a great week for eagles around the world. The Big Bear eagles, who went viral last year, welcomed another egg to their 2026 nest. In Serbia, a rebounding Eastern Imperial Eagle population is no longer on the brink of local extinction.
Teachers unions (NEA and the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) have filed emergency motions to stop ICE enforcement near schools.
The TED Audacious project awarded a multi-million dollar prize to support access to safe abortions.

Longer reads

Timothy Snyder’s latest post “Losing the war on truth”

Book nook

Giving up is unforgivable by Joyce Vance
Absolute Wonder Woman Vol 1: The Last Amazon by Kelly Thompson, Illustrated by Hayden Sherman

all ears

The Longest Shortest Time is a great podcast about parenting. Check out the latest episode about a somewhat unique IVF journey.

watch this!

Recent episodes of The Pitt prove it deserves all the awards it is winning.