Science, Policy, and Other News that Caught My Eye
Or blew my mind the week of March 30th - April 5th, 2025
Greetings, SciLight readers. Another week with a barrage of troubling news – not limited to the economic chaos of Trump’s so-called Liberation Day tariffs. Read on for non-tariff tidbits of craziness. And this is just a smattering of news items that caught my attention and disrupted my equanimity this past week. What caught your eye? Tell us in the comments.
And be sure to scroll down for some fun news. Because we can all use some levity in these challenging times.
Hands Off ! Yesterday, April 5, over half a million people in over 1000 locations across the country united to say Hands Off! and fight back against Trump’s unprecedented power grab. Hands Off Our Public Lands! Hands Off Clean Air and Water! Hands Off Clean Energy! Hands Off Our Environment! (here, here, here, here, here, here)
RFK Jr.'s HHS layoffs begin; thousands of FDA, CDC workers axed
RFK, Jr. decimates NIOSH, the nation’s only worker health and safety research agency. Read about it here, here, here, here And a letter to RFK, Jr from Senators here
Corporate America is discovering that political cowardice and chaos has a financial cost. Opinion | In Trump’s second term, boycotts are flourishing
Now going all in on MAGA -- How Lee Zeldin Went From Environmental Moderate to Dismantling the E.P.A. - The New York Times
But we still have heroes…. Cory Booker Condemns Trump’s Policies in Longest Senate Speech on Record - The New York Times and more here
We Are Sleepwalking Into Autocracy | The New Yorker –How free and fair elections might end in America as soon as 2026.
Trump wants a third term and they have a plan. Trump suggests ‘methods’ exist for bid for unconstitutional third term - The Washington Post more here,
Trump seeks takeover of elections in a bid for more presidential power - The Washington Post
Fighting Back….Opinion | A Playbook for Law Firms and Colleges to Stand Up to President Trump - The New York Times
And more on taking over Greenland. White House studying cost of Greenland takeover, long in Trump’s sights - The Washington Post
Buying votes….Musk gives $1 million checks after Wisconsin top court won’t hear suit - The Washington Post Didn’t work….Susan Crawford defeats Brad Schimel in Wisconsin Supreme Court race - The Washington Post
Trump administration moves to withhold Title X funding from Planned Parenthood - The Washington Post – curtailing access to services like cancer screenings and affordable birth control
Entire Staff Is Fired at LIHEAP - The New York Times -- The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, which helps low-income households pay their heating and cooling bills.
Not good news. Why the health risks from air pollution are worse than we thought - The Washington Post
Oops, again. NOAA research websites slated to go dark get a reprieve. Another shoot first, think and aim later.
Shift to clean energy in doubt. A stunning number of electric vehicle, battery factories are being canceled
1,900 U.S. scientists warn that the Trump administration’s moves against researchers imperil the nation’s health, economy and national security. Top U.S. Researchers Warn against ‘Climate of Fear’ Threatening Science | Scientific American and here National Academies members urge Trump to end 'assault' on science | STAT and here
Senate confirms Oz to run Medicare and Medicaid | STAT Will he protect Medicaid? What’s your guess?
So much for diversity, equity, and inclusion…. Supreme Court Lets Trump Suspend Grants to Teachers - The New York Times
Good News
And Just for Fun or Entertainment
This study explored the environmental impact of lengthening email signatures. Email signatures harming the planet — it’s time to stop them
Poppy the baby hippo debuts in outdoor space at Metro Richmond Zoo - The Washington Post
And at the other end of the age spectrum -- Galapagos tortoise becomes oldest first-time mom of her species - The Washington Post
Bonobo Calls Are More like Human Language Than We Thought | Scientific American
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