10/10. No notes.

To this incredible crew of astronauts: thank you for showing us what we are capable of in terms of awe-inspiring scientific achievement, & for your beautiful illustration of what it means to be human & have humanity.

We all have a right to medical privacy. If federal health insurance companies send medical records & details of diagnoses, tests, prescriptions & so forth to the federal gov’t - our employer! - it could be used to discriminate in retention & promotion. Or worse.

☎️ would be awesome if you could call Congress on your lunch break about the Forest Service reorg. Some are calling it a dismantling. Big business (timber, mining, oil, realty, etc.) might call it “dinner.” 📞 Capitol switchboard: 202-224-3121 Details in 🧵

Interior employees just got offered another round of deferred resignation. The email references desire to create greater efficiency and accountability with all evidence of the past year showing they’re doing the opposite.

Today is Trans Day of Visibility. As of this year, federal employee health insurance policies outright discriminate against trans folks by no longer covering gender affirming care. Those who need surgery & hormone therapy are going without or paying out of pocket. Trans Feds: you matter. 💙🏳️‍⚧️

Pop quiz! Revoking the Endangered Species Act for “reasons of national security” to drill for oil in the Gulf of Mexico is: A) a misuse of the provision B) deadly for dozens of protected species C) his inadvertent admission of having jeopardized nat’l security D) All If you said D, you’re correct!

How it started: Doug stealing and abusing power to use federal infrastructure, staff, and money to feed his cookie cravings. How it’s going: stealing oil and minerals from Venezuela. (Cookie story from April ‘25 in case you missed it)

Thanks to the Partnership for Public Service for collecting & analyzing data on 2025 federal employee workplace satisfaction, filling the gap left when the federally-administered annual survey was cancelled. The results are upsetting, yet unsurprising. Link to related blog post in comments.

Yes, Senator Murkowski is a Republican, but her explanation of how the SAVE Act will hurt her constituents is applicable to everyone. Its a clear and concise way to show just how many people the SAVE Act would disenfranchise from their constitutional right to vote. Hoping she remains a no vote

“Consolidated” Bureau staff across Department of the Interior are getting reassignment letters. New position descriptions are still forthcoming…10+ months into this “efficient” process. Consolidated? DM me if you want to share your experience anonymously. @altdoi.altgov.info @altfws.altgov.info

Staff “consolidation” from Dept of the Interior bureaus to the Dept level has been confusing & highly inefficient. Folks are juggling multiple jobs, waiting for their new position descriptions, & unsure of supervisory structure almost a full year after the May 2025 announcement.

Glen Canyon water levels are catastrophically low. One proposal to help meet demand is to build 8 desalinization plants along the coast & pump water 100 miles inland. @westernpriorities.org is right: the plan is crazy. Got a better idea??

#AltCitizen call to action! Before March 23: please speak up against QUADRUPLING the annual timber harvest rate in Oregon. At the end of this excellent synopsis of the situation, there are a few talking points & a link to the ePlanning Project Page. Click “participate now” to send a comment. 🌲🪾🦉

It’s difficult to care about random work & life tasks. It’s tempting to become immersed in your favorite comfort things (nature, music, food, books, etc) & hide for a while. Give yourself some grace & indulge yourself. You do your best to be there for everyone & everything. Be there for you too. 💙

March 28: NoKings 3.0! Find local events linked in the post below. Please also remember to follow safety recommendations. Here’s a link to a list to help you prepare. 🚫👑 www.acludc.org/how-defend-a... #AltCitizen ✊

Happy International Women’s Day. As we experience a backslide in the protection & rights of women and girls, it’s more important than ever to support woman-owned businesses & organizations advocating for women’s rights. This site has resources for various ways to get involved. #IWD2026

#AltCitizen alert: National Monuments have management plans established by cultural & scientific leaders to protect & preserve them. A resolution introduced in the House targets Grand Staircase Escalante’s management plan with intent to exploit resources. Conservation Lands Foundation petition here

The EPA’s move to repeal a longstanding scientific finding that climate change endangers human health will cost lives. Without adequate protections, heatwaves, floods, and other unnatural disasters will get worse, hitting communities of color and low-income families hardest.

In 1941, FDR’s SOTU outlined ‘Four Freedoms’ consisting of basic human rights as a rallying force to persuade Americans to aid our European Allies against Nazi Germany. Tonight’s SOTU will surely be isolationist & divisive. We the People will continue to defend and fight for our basic freedoms.

Try again, Sec. Cookie Monster. Carbon emissions = Air pollution. Ocean acidification. All the consequences of heat trapped in the earth’s atmosphere including sea level rise from glacial melt, & extreme weather events that jeopardize agricultural production & food security.

The extended deadline for the Colorado River Compact was missed due to disagreement between Upper & Lower Colorado River Basin stakeholders. The current agreement expires at the end of this year. Reclamation & DOI are stepping in to finalize the agreement. More press pasted in comments.

Best wishes for a happy, healthy, peaceful, prosperous, and lucky New Year! We shed our old skin in the Year of the Snake and now charge ahead in the Year of the Horse! For fun, here are some predictions of what the Year of the Fire Horse has in store for your sign. 🔥🐴

This week was horrific. With nothing novel to add, I’ll simply say thank you to this community for showing up and speaking up in all the ways you do. As we head into the weekend, here’s some good conservation news out of California this week. @altfws.altgov.info @canaturalresources.bsky.social

Happy Superb Owl Sunday! 🦉 are vital to keeping ecosystems in balance by preventing overpopulation of prey. During my sunset walk last night, an owl flew right over me. I think I heard it ask, “whooo do you want to win the 🏈 game?”* Enjoy the game, & be safe: get a ride if you’re buzzed.

Please take a moment to make your voice heard to protect the Boundary Waters. The vote is being held sometime this week (February 9 - 13). #AltCitizen

Outraged at the racist post the Pedophile Orange Treasonous UnAmerican Shithead made this morning. Using the POTUS acronym because next weekend is Presidents’ Day. Since we don’t have a real president & it’s Black History Month, how about we reclaim it with antiracist activism?

Across Interior, staff are burnt out from constant change of roles & resources, & concerned about directives that run counter to our Bureau’s missions. Well folks, one thing keeping us up at night has been resolved: Office of Surface Mining has a new mascot! Thanks, Burgum! *chokes gasping for air*

#AltCitizen call to action. There is now a second public comment period about oil and gas leasing off the coast of Central and Southern California. Deadline: February 26. For more info and how to provide comments as an individual, business or org, check out:

Struggling to function at work while a morally depraved regime somehow continues to be in power? I needed to pause for a quick guided meditation this morning, & this came to mind. Take 2.5 minutes to yourself & join me in breathing in strength & breathing out BS. Hang in there. Warning: NSFW.

A UAE investor secretly gave Trump $187 million and his top Middle East envoy $31 million. And then Trump gave that investor access to sensitive defense technology that broke decades of national security precedent. Brazen, open corruption. And we shouldn't pretend it's normal.

Well, it’s Monday. Again. It’s also Groundhog Day. The bad news (for those who’ve had enough of winter): Punxatawny Phil says 6 more weeks of winter. The good news: there is also no end in sight to the peaceful blizzard of activism, despite ICE’s violent abuse of power. Take note, ICE:

Many Feds who left over the past year are struggling to find jobs that align with their commitment to public service but orgs like Civic Match are helping. If you’re hiring, just know that former Feds often don’t have experience with conventional resumes, so please look beyond formatting!

Here’s something positive for your Thursday morning as we close out the 12th week of January. 332 cold-stunned sea turtles were rescued this week, thanks to tireless work of multiple organizations and agencies. Feel free to share some positive news that isn’t behind a pay wall. #TimelineCleanse

Colorado River Compact update: California Natural Resources Agency is hosting a webinar tomorrow (Wednesday) 12-1pm Pacific to share info about the challenges of 40m people relying on this water source amidst climate change, & prospects for a shared solution by the Feb 14 deadline. Register here:

Twin Cities folks- you can report ICE sightings to COPAL’s helpline at 612-255-3112 & the Monarca Rapid Response Line at 612-441-2881 If you’re looking to donate support, here is one verified option helping families who are struggling & afraid to leave home to get things they need, like groceries.

Opinion: the media shouldn’t interchangeably refer to ICE as ‘federal’ agents / law enforcement. True federal employees take an oath to defend the constitution, and we follow it. While on the federal payroll (infuriatingly), ICE aggressively violates that oath. Curious to know what others think.

This post was so poorly timed I considered deleting it altogether. I decided to delete the original & post with a disclaimer: at the rate of violence, I fear we don’t have the luxury of waiting for an appropriate time to demand accountability. My heart is with victims, their loved ones & witnesses

I haven’t read up on this topic, so this is just FYI so you know to read up on it. Relatedly, if you’re concerned about privacy, consider using VPN on your devices such as Proton (paid) or Windscribe (free). For more protection, use VPN in combo with a secure browser like DuckDuckGo.

A prestigious peer-reviewed academic journal called Nature released this data analysis & status summary about science in the US over the past year. The format uses a lot of graphics which helps if you’re a visual learner but accessibility could be an issue for others. There isn’t a pay wall.

Colorado River Compact update (thread) The basin states have until February 14 to agree on water sharing amid a severe drought affecting 40 million people. Major disagreements persist between Upper Basin and Lower Basin states on how to manage water cuts.

"I cannot sit idly by in Atlanta & not be concerned about what happens in Birmingham. Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly.” - Dr MLK Jr

On Monday, we honor MLK Jr - recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize for brave activism & his role in advancing equality initiatives, including the Civil Rights Act of 1964 & Voting Rights Act of 1965. Let his legacy be a reminder that peace, equality & kindness take participation from all of us. ☮️💙✊

While good news on the balance, the priorities are AI, & space related science, including an outpost on the moon. That’s clearly about domination, not science research & innovation. Meanwhile, funding allocated for science that protects the earth & its inhabitants is begrudging & seen as “waste”.

It is not in the interest of the people to reverse a regulation implemented to protect public health simply to expand oil production. If energy independence is so important, why did they try to block construction of permitted wind energy projects?

Some good news from yesterday in case you missed it— A federal judge ruled that it was illegal for Cheeto to cancel $7.6 billion of clean energy project grants in 16 states that went to Kamala Harris in the 2024 election. This should be a given, obviously, but we’ll take the win with gratitude.

Pause for a moment & take a few breaths, then read on. The trauma, shock, fear, confusion, emotional outbursts, anxiety, deep sadness, & the struggles keeping up with basics of daily life - it’s all justified. You’re not alone. You’re doing the best you can. Be kind to yourself. You matter. 💙🫂

Let’s be clear this is bad news for ALL girls. Not only the trans girls who won’t be able to play competitive sports, but girls assigned female at birth who are more masculine presenting. It basically means anyone can challenge a girl to “prove” she’s a girl. Think about what that would entail.

Update on the Colorado River compact: Reclamation has now released a draft Environmental Impact Statement & it doesn’t list a preferred option. A public comment period will last January 16 to March 2. (I haven’t read it yet but if there are specific questions I can try to track down answers.)