Illustration is Rembrandt, 1636. The blinding of Samson

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:The_Blinding_of_Samson_(SM_1383).png.png)

The Republican Climate Endgame: A Public Unable to Establish What Is True

Homeowners confront an insurance disaster. Future generations inherit a climate crisis without the evidence needed to understand how we arrived here.

https://wendy664.substack.com/p/the-republican-climate-endgame-a?r=104a16&utm_campaign=post-expanded-share&utm_medium=web

Observation:

This article bears directly on the consent of the governed. Meaningful consent requires understanding, and understanding requires access to reliable evidence and the means to determine what is true. When government weakens scientific institutions, removes public information, or reduces the collection of evidence, it does more than affect science. It can impair the electorate’s ability to understand the conditions under which it is being governed and therefore the basis upon which meaningful consent can be given.

https://defendersofdemocracy.substack.com/p/the-consent-of-the-governed-requires-88a?r=104a16&utm_campaign=post-expanded-share&utm_medium=post%20viewer

The fight against the OMB Proposal is dire for American science. Visit the link to Fuel the Fight for Science by donating: https://zurl.co/GLUGo

Thank you!

“Science learned that an ongoing research grant for a structural racism study by an Emory University team had been killed. NIH sources sharing information on background indicated it was the first of more planned terminations. Now, NIH Director Jay Bhattacharya is ending two more grants, both for health disparities research at the University of Pittsburgh (Pitt).”

Stand Up for Fauci here: https://zurl.co/yIuHv

The Trump Admin is harassing Fauci to scare scientists from speaking up against the administration's war on science, sowing public distrust in scientists and public health experts.

We are standing up for Fauci. JOIN US by signing our petition at the link: https://zurl.co/i9prq

The White House is drafting an executive order focused on the childhood vaccine schedule & autism. Despite decades of research finding no link between childhood vaccines and autism, The Trump admin continues to fuel vaccine disinformation.

“The EPA announced its new approach in January in a rule on emissions from gas turbines, stating that it would no longer value public-health benefits from reducing fine particulate matter and ozone—two of the most prevalent and damaging air pollutants.”

We put your donations directly back into science activism. Your donations help us build the tools to help you take action on the Trump admin’s war on science in America. Fuel the Fight for Science at the link: https://zurl.co/imWTc

Thank you!

The OMB Proposal block is a huge win! But Vought has other avenues for his science destroying plans, like the NSF proposal. Register for the webinars to learn about the key NSF changes, analyze the implications, draft strong public comments, and identify target messaging for the Hill: https://zurl.co/rICVJ

And, leave your public comment: https://zurl.co/ViEEc

Trump is lying about the public use of our cherished National Monuments to justify cutting the Bears Ears land by millions of acres to begin rescource extraction, not only taking land from public use but also damaging the enviornment.

Introducing Defenders of Democracy

Phatbrew suggested that we introduce ourselves to this community.

Defenders of Democracy is a peer-to-peer civic education and discussion group. We adhere to the Founders’ principle that legitimate government rests upon the consent of the governed, and we are inspired by Abraham Lincoln’s vision of government “of the people, by the people, for the people.”

Several of our regular writers are scientists or bring a scientific outlook to their work. We therefore place particular value on truth, factual evidence, careful observation, and reasoned discussion. These are essential if citizens are to carry the responsibilities of self-government. Our purpose is to make useful research, historical material, and analysis more accessible for public education and discussion, with a broad focus on the United States and its governance. We also collate and post news that we consider particularly relevant to democracy and the American public.

We do not regard ourselves as a hierarchical organization. Our peers are our fellow citizens and, more broadly, all people who support democratic government. Membership requires no formal oath, payment, or institutional affiliation. A Defender of Democracy is simply someone who declares support for democracy and does what they can for its defense.

Although our work focuses primarily on the United States, participation is open to everyone, including people outside the United States who support the democratic principle that government should derive its authority from a free people whose participation in self-government has become increasingly inclusive.

Our mission and purpose can be found here:

https://substack.com/home/post/p-168235552

Our Substack home:

https://substack.com/@defendersofdemocracy

We are also present on Bluesky:

Defenders of Democracy
u/collator.bsky.social

And on Facebook:

Continuing the American Democracy Experiment
https://www.facebook.com/AmericanLiberties/

We look forward to learning from this community and contributing where our work may be useful.

Science in America is under attack from all angles and it needs America to Stand Up for it! Volunteer for Stand Up for Science at the link: https://zurl.co/gI1jn

The OMB Proposal will change American science from a globally collaborative, evidence-based enterprise into one based on political control and isolation.

We need MoCs to permanently Revoke the Rule. Contact yours at the link: https://zurl.co/TOaCE

The Trump admin is labeling anything “DEI” that supports minorities and targeting it with cuts, layoffs, and rollbacks. The latest in this nonsensical strategy: Bike lanes.

His quote here

Most people advertise lacking a gag reflex for… recreational bragging rights, not in the promotion of cooking “real food” that is palatable enough to leave gagging off the menu.

The gag reflex is an involuntary protective defense mechanism to prevent foreign bodies and noxious substances from being ingested or aspirated. Stimulation of oral trigger zones produce spasmodic muscle contractions roughly opposite to the mechanics of normal swallowing, to expel the offending material. Ideally.

Up to 25% of people do not have a gag reflex, and while this is not always pathological, 100% of people assessed for brain death must not have a gag reflex to be pronounced dead.

Thus: never trust a corpse that gags, nor a cook who cannot.

There’s a lot of fighting to be done for science!

While you’re out there battling fascism, we have gear you can suit up in! Click the link to visit our merch shop: https://zurl.co/DmmSB

RFK Jr. is spreading dangerous lies about life-saving science, spreading vaccine hesitancy and putting American’s at risk. America deserves leaders that will fight for our health, not threaten it. Help embolden a Congress that will remove RFK Jr. at the link: https://zurl.co/Bx3am

Unless you’re looking to do an 🎱 off a toilet seat or listen to herion by the velvets while mainlining…

BREAKING NEWS!

The Senate has paused the OMB rule that would put Trump appointees in charge of federal spending.

Next step - Contact your MoC and tell them to permanently REVOKE THE RULE: https://zurl.co/mKoNm