Where did March Go? Spring may have sprung here in NC, it may be the last of the false springs, although the pollening seems to be gearing up. We are to the Sweet 16 part of the Madness of March for those that follow Sports Ball. My life is still lifing along, still dealing with a lot, and hoping to dedicate more time to finding my GNR voice and getting back to doing more things and taking more things on, but still pretty overwhelmed.
Which seems to match the mood of the country and the 24 hour news cycle. The sense that we need to be doing something and no idea what is the best way to make moves or even where to look. So onto the disclaimer portion of the intro. We are not ignoring anything, we are connected to just how bad the reality is, we are not pretending this is “the best of all possible worlds” ala Candide in some sort of Leibnizian optimism haze. Sorry that Satire Class I took as an undergrad is showing.
There is always good going on no matter how bad everything is. In the worst natural disasters, in the middle of wars, in times of personal crisis, there are people stepping up, doing what they can in the moment to show kindness, bring hope and be a candle in the darkness.
I have had to pop out of so many of the political podcasts I used to listen to because they all either cannot see anything good going on, or even if they admit someone stepped up or any protests at all occurred, none of it is big enough. I don’t know what they need to see, but their protests of this is bad seems like weak tea given what they seem to think should have happened/should be happening now.
Even in the midst of our own issues with Imposter Syndrome (or is it just me), all the thoughts that maybe I am not the one, maybe I can’t make a difference, maybe I should give up all hope, maybe this bandwagon attached to the train going way too fast towards the bridge that is out isn’t all that bad., it is time to look for the good, and the light and rekindle the indomitable spirit towards justice and liberty that seems to run through every era of human history.
That which all my mistakes past, present and future will be judged against.
I did see a clip from his interview, at first he figured it was some disinformation campaign and he was added because they wanted to catch him leaking it and of course none of what was being texted back and forth was real, then the bombing started.
PROGRAMING NOTE: I will be in Wyoming doing more stuff for my brother’s estate during my April GNR time, so asking if someone can take that slot for me.
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Politics in Action
Bernie Sanders, AOC rally crowd of 30,000 in Denver’s Civic Center
“We will not allow America to become an oligarchy,” Vermont senator says
Sanders and Ocasio-Cortez have visited several cities including Las Vegas and Omaha and will next go to Tucson.
Other speakers in Denver included union leaders and the former commissioner for the Federal Trade Commission, Alvaro Bedoya. President Donald Trump recently fired Bedoya from that position.
People watched from the rooftops of nearby buildings, the stairs of the Denver City and County building and outside of the gated perimeter of the official event. The rally remained peaceful, with crowd members occasionally chanting and shouting in agreement with the speakers. At various times, the crowd chanted Sanders’ and Ocasio-Cortez’s names and phrases such as “tax the rich.”
Supreme Court Shockingly Stands up to Trump on Press Freedom
Ultimately, the “actual malice” standard for public figures and officials is intended to deter lawsuits from people who don’t need to rely on the legal system in order to correct or address negative coverage. Instead, people in power can call for news conferences or (in the case of elected officials) draft new laws that counteract the narrative of their unwanted media coverage. Times v. Sullivan also protects press organizations from people with enormous wealth who could potentially leverage their financial resources in order to silence criticism of their behavior.
Science and Medicine
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A Review in Nature Reviews Biodiversity summarizes how differing forest restoration approaches affect impacts on biodiversity, and key knowledge gaps and research priorities for achieving biodiversity-centred restoration. https://go.nature.com/4c0XIuh 🧪
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— Nature Portfolio (@natureportfolio.nature.com) March 25, 2025 at 3:04 PM
GSK is partnering with the U.K. Dementia Research Institute and Health Data Research U.K. to explore possible links between the company's shingles vaccine and a reduced risk of dementia.
Data from several retrospective observational studies show potential association between shingles vaccination, including with RZV, and a reduced risk of dementia. However, the retrospective and observational nature of these studies means they are susceptible to unmeasured confounding factors and determining causal association has not been possible.
The new research collaboration aims to overcome this by using high quality, deidentified, population-level electronic health data from the UK’s National Health Service (NHS) to assess the impact of RZV vaccination on dementia risk reduction. There are around 1.4 million 65 and 66 years olds in the UK and their eligible electronic health records are expected to give a robust and comprehensive dataset which will account for factors such as RZV vaccination, age, sex and co-existing medical conditions. The research will take 4 years to complete.
Changing Story of the Dementia Epidemic
If the birth cohort effect persists, then the future burden of dementia will be substantially lower than current projections
The JAMA Viewpoint piece notes a few factors that may reduce dementia and some that may increase it on a population level. Findings are similar in US and European studies.
Could reduce dementia
- Fewer people smoking
- Increasing educational levels
- Use of statins to reduce cholesterol levels
- Wider use of antidepressants
- Better hypertension control
- Adult vaccines (pneumonia and shingles)
Could increase dementia
- Nutritional deficiencies and early life trauma, WWI, WWII, and the Great Depression
- Obesity
- Diabetes
- Ovary Removal
Cultural News
Animal Welfare
I met a woman from Dominica, always had an explainer about where she was from at the start of her talks
Dominica takes a bold step to protect sperm whales and the environment
In a monumental move for marine conservation, the Caribbean gem, Dominica, is set to establish the world’s inaugural marine protected area dedicated to safeguarding the endangered sperm whale. This reserve, which covers approximately 300 square miles of the island’s western waterways, is a huge step in protecting these majestic creatures and their important ecosystems.
The Environment
Minnesota AG sues Trump administration for holding up green project funds
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, in a “highly irregular and illegal campaign” against state “green banks,” has held up funds appropriated by Congress, Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison claimed in a lawsuit Wednesday.
Ellison filed the lawsuit in U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia on Wednesday along with attorneys general from California, Illinois and Maine. The lawsuit also names as a defendant Citibank, which it says was pressured by the EPA to freeze funds that should be available to state green banks that provide financing for pollution-reducing projects.
The lawsuit seeks a preliminary injunction ordering the EPA and Citibank to stop holding up the funds.
A spokesperson for the EPA said the agency does not comment on pending litigation. Citibank was not immediately available for comment.
In a news release announcing the lawsuit, Ellison said he was leading the group of attorneys general in “opposing yet one more illegal power grab by the Trump administration.”
Selfcare
Sometimes I use humor, dark humor, as a form of selfcare
Yes I know, I’m going to hell for that one.
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Very fun to explain the signal scandal to my 13 year old who truly understands the catastrophe of adding the wrong person to the group chat and absolutely fell out when I showed her the Mike Waltz emojis.
— Chris Hayes (@chrislhayes.bsky.social) March 25, 2025 at 1:26 PM
Maybe I should update my wardrobe instead?
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