22 Comments
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Donna Schwartz Mills's avatar

Brava!

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Kat Gordon's avatar

One of your finest, Liz. I will join in your crusade.

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Liz Gumbinner's avatar

💪💪

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Cindy Maddera's avatar

I use that 5 calls app every day even when I know the person I'm talking to gives zero shits in what I have to say. It is all terrifying and as a research scientist, even though I'm lucky enough to be at a private non-for profit, what is happening at the NIH is devastating to our scientific community. We have graduate students who received their PhDs last year and can't get jobs because their grant proposals are not even being looked at, let alone considered. This freeze will trickle down to the private sector. Jobs will be lost and we will for sure no longer be leaders in the field.

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Liz Gumbinner's avatar

I am very upset about all the NIH devastation, for friends who are losing jobs, friends who are losing essential grant money, and the terrible impact it will have on public health here and abroad. I'm so sorry it is impacting you as well; I mean, did we as a country really just trade RESEARCH SCIENCE, health, and our own global competitiveness to...be able to punish drag queens? It is incomprehensible. Thank you for calling it out. Sending you love and luck and all the fight I have in me.

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Jason Egenberg's avatar

They’re gutting your future. The House just pushed a budget slashing Medicaid, SNAP, and housing—so billionaires get richer. Now, they’re ramming it through the Senate. The only way to stop them? A national strike. Read now—before it’s too late.

I would love to hear it our thoughts on the piece.

https://jasonegenberg.substack.com/p/a-time-for-heroesa-call-for-a-national

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Liz Gumbinner's avatar

Thanks for putting the devastating impact of yesterday's budget vote in clear terms. I want to learn more (generally) about a general strike -- what industries would participate, what the impact will be, how there can be the most impact, and where there could be any unintended consequences that would hurt people more. I am reading up on it.

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Jason Egenberg's avatar

Great question! A general strike works by targeting key industries that disrupt the economy—transportation, logistics, retail, healthcare, and public services. The goal is to apply massive pressure without harming the most vulnerable. Unions, strike funds, and legal protections help workers stay protected. Let’s keep learning and organizing!

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Karen Jackson's avatar

I’m with you all the way!

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Liz Gumbinner's avatar

Thank you Karen!

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Betsy Shaw's avatar

Every item on this list has been registered in my inner rage-worthy complaints box. And, yes, there is so much more to be pissed off about, my box is overflowing. Rage and sorrow go hand in hand.

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Liz Gumbinner's avatar

It is true.

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Mary Winkler's avatar

Liz, you are one of the voices I count on to raise my spirits during these dark days. Thank you so much. We will survive this.

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Liz Gumbinner's avatar

Thank you, Mary. I need to hear that too. xo

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Lorette Lavine's avatar

Same here! I count on you Liz! ❤️

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Deirdre McMennamin's avatar

Today for me it's the gutting of the EPA and that they put a woman in charge of approving chemicals who had been a lobbyist for the chemical industry fighting to keep Formaldehyde (a known carcinogen) in products and worked at DuPont (a known polluter). They are idiots who don't even care to understand that are are literally going to kill people from this and any one of the other things you mentioned. I CANNOT TAKE IT!!! I will focus today on all of my channels to get people to participate in the boycott tomorrow. But otherwise I feel pretty helpless. We should be rioting in the streets every day but will it do ANYTHING? I read Robert Reich had said something like revolutions aren't made by political parties (even though the Dems should be doing SOMETHING) so that does mean it's up to us. I'm still tired from doing it last time, but I'm ready.

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Liz Gumbinner's avatar

Sigh. So par for the course. I look at all his appointees going back to his first (disastrous) term -- head of DOE who doesn't believe in public education, Rick Perry for Sec Energy who DIDN'T EVEN KNOW WHAT THE JOB WAS. So this is par for the course, along with an anti-science HHS head and a (alleged) Russian spy for Homeland Security. I'm ready for revolutionaries in any form they may come.

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Dawn C's avatar

This morning, when I didn’t think I could be any more disgusted, I read that the meeting to determine flu strains for the next flu vaccine was canceled. It feels like they’re literally trying to kill everyone at this point. I bounce between furious, flattened, and depressed all day every day.

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Liz Gumbinner's avatar

I just heard that as well. I immediately went into "Mom Plan B Mode" -- can we go to Canada? Where can we get flu shots? Will our pediatrician have them? I cannot believe this is 21st century America.

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Dawn C's avatar

Good news…my college student tells me that the vaccine decision was made (and is in line with the WHO recommendation).

Every day, we’re greeted by some fresh new hell, but at least we will be able to get flu shots this year.

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Liz Gumbinner's avatar

Thank you Dawn!

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Debby Griffiths's avatar

So you hear the people sing?

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