In countries that have successfully reversed democratic backsliding in recent years—from Poland in 2023 to Hungary in 2026—opposition movements made prosecuting those who have broken laws a central campaign issue.

This was fast, meaningful, and kind of cathartic. Please leave a comment in defense of science.

Now and then. Happy 7th adoptaversary to Shiloh - our little family’s heart and soul.

Even with federal grants largely restored, scientists say the Trump administration is still preventing those funds from reaching them. The consequences, they say, are already becoming clear. n.pr/4dwU7Fi

We should fully fund science.

One must imagine Lukas happy

GIP receptor agonism suppresses inflammation-induced aversion and food intake via distinct circuits

Localization of the inflammation associated anti-aversive actions of GIPR agonism via sites distinct from those that suppress appetite in the DVC www.cell.com/cell-reports...

A much needed argument against fatalism that is also clear eyed about our grim situation (and how much grimmer it could get!)

There are many problems with this statement from Director Bhattacharya. (1) As @michaeldgreen.phd notes, applicants have no option to requests multi-year funding. An applicant may request a front-loaded budget with more funding in early years with justification (may or may not be approved). 1/6

The world is a vampire...get yourself good colleagues. Thanks to @jonesparker.bsky.social for the invite to Northwestern and to Jones and @lbeutler.bsky.social for having me and @jamiedroitman.bsky.social over for post-visit dinner!

The data also reinforce a message that should be clear: American leadership in science and medical research requires far more than getting across the line on top-line budget negotiations and will require continued vigilance to track how HHS treats applications and existing awards.

New work from the lab on how sickness reduces appetite. Turns out, it’s complicated :) We focused on a single inflammatory cytokine, IL-1b, and even that reduces appetite via multiple mechanism. Thanks to Nik Hayes for leading and sticking with this project and to everyone else who contributed!

YES!!!!

To summarize: Most important Max Perutz was NOT an example of someone with a great idea who went against the establishment wisdom to solve an important problem that he had uniquely identified. He was part of an organized team working on this problem. He got lots of help. 11/14

Previously shared: GLP-1 physiology and pharmacology along the gut-brain axis This Review by @lbeutler.bsky.social summarizes proposed gut-brain and central mechanisms through which GLP-1 and its synthetic analogs regulate food intake and bodyweight: doi.org/10.1172/JCI194744

I learned and synthesized a lot writing this review for @jci.org and hope it helps others do the same.

GLP-1 physiology and pharmacology along the gut-brain axis This Review by @lbeutler.bsky.social summarizes proposed gut-brain and central mechanisms through which GLP-1 and its synthetic analogs regulate food intake and bodyweight: doi.org/10.1172/JCI1...

Few patients appeal a health insurance denial, but a little-known process that requires insurers and plans to seek an independent opinion can force insurers to pay for what can be lifesaving treatment. Here’s what experts say you need to know.

Thrilled to be accepted to @acnporg.bsky.social @npp-journal.bsky.social and look forward to future meetings! Congrats to all new members! Also, an annual reminder to keep applying if you didn't make the cut at #ACNP2026.

When Hannah’s pharmacy began filling her tacrolimus prescription with a generic version, the lung transplant patient didn't know something very important: Months earlier, an FDA-commissioned study concluded that this generic was not equivalent to the brand drug -- and that her life was at risk.

The one tidbit of unambiguously good news I heard about study section today is that it is moving back to zoom from teams.

So proud of my dear friend Sam for writing this. So furious he has to go through it. www.nytimes.com/2025/11/11/o...

Schumer and the Dems are about to teach Trump the lesson that they’ll cave whenever he abuses power to sufficiently hurt people.

This morning, ICE unlawfully kidnapped a day care worker in front of parents and children. We’re demanding accountability for every way that DHS is violating our rights, breaking the law, and acting with impunity. We must resist. WATCH.

ICE isn’t going after the worst of the worst. This morning, they took a preschool teacher without a warrant IN FRONT OF CHILDREN in my district. #ice #chicago

Along with everything else, Trump admitting the shutdown led to a bloodbath for Republicans should at an absolute minimum lead Dem Senators to shelve their apparent plan to prematurely cave. He's admitting he and the GOP are in a weak position, Dems. Exploit that!

21 more at the link… www.offmessage.net/p/25-thought...

Go blue.

We just tried to get a blue line at Chicago. There was a train-full worth of people waiting on the platform and a completely full train pulled up. We are taking a bus now, which is also full of people headed to #NoKings

So many people heading to the #NoKings protest in Chicago that it’s standing room only on the train. In fact, it’s so packed we can’t get on this one.

A university that signs the “compact” is one that acknowledges its own inability to compete and succeed based talent and merit. It would signal insecurity and mediocrity to current and future students and faculty. Say no. Recruit the best people, protect their freedom and support their hard work.

A WGN-TV video editor and producer was roughly detained by two Border Patrol agents on Friday morning during a highly visible rush hour enforcement action in Lincoln Square.

I texted @brianbeutler.bsky.social after reading this that it is great (it is!) but that induced a feeling of great foreboding and a wee bit of a panic attack. Brian told me that was the point. Rude.

Watching so many people in high places go through the motions of polling and median-voter whispering can make you feel like you're in Bodysnatchers. It's worth a reminder that the typical experience of tyranny is...basically normal life. Which means we have to will ourselves to fight harder.

I am proud of MIT, where our branch of AAUP has voted unanimously to endorse this statement urging MIT leadership and the MIT Corporation to reject the Compact wholesale docs.google.com/document/d/1...

We’re hiring! My new Gut–Brain Axis Lab at Northwestern is looking for a Research Technologist 2 to help build the lab and explore how the nervous system shapes gut health and disease. 🔬 Apply here: myhr.northwestern.edu/psp/hrnu/EMP...

People of Illinois, we need your help. Get your cell phones out – record what you see. Put it on social media. Peacefully ask for badge numbers and identification. Speak up for your neighbors. We need to let the world know this is happening – and that we won’t stand for it.

Truly Kafka-esque and imagine this situation multiplied by hundreds of thousands or millions placed in this uncertainty?

This is a fundamental point that 99% of higher-ed coverage, and 100% of immig coverage, have missed.

If you care about children’s public health, download this image and pin it to your profile. This is a snapshot of our best knowledge of vaccine safety. It may be years before it’s accurate again.

Powerful new article in NYT Magazine on cancer research [Gift Link] www.nytimes.com/2025/09/14/m...

This point has gotten lost despite my efforts, so lets home in on it directly. A shutdown fight where Dems ignore Trump's abuses of power to take a stand on safe but extraneous issues is like every other shutdown fight we've seen. Taking a stand to rein in Trump makes it something entirely new.

Pritzker out here giving a master class in countering the right wing propaganda machine’s efforts to justify further federal invasions and occupations of American cities: he’s effectively reframing the discussion (beyond debates re: crime rates) to one of rising authoritarianism & federal overreach.

Excited to share work led by my PhD student Hayley McMorrow now published in @jclinical-invest.bsky.social. Hayley showed that GIP and GLP-1 receptor agonists rapidly inhibit AgRP neurons and that endogenous GIP is important for nutrient-mediated AgRP neuron inhibition. doi.org/10.1172/JCI1...

NEW — I wrote about the resignation of SSA's chief data officer just says after he blew the whistle on a major data vulnerability, including the full text of his blistering email and how his allegations confirm those made by a previous whistleblower and a former employee back in March:

Agree with this. Make them fight for every inch. Worth reading this thread.

Happy Dog Day to those who celebrate!

If you didn't manage to see this calmly furious and defiant statement by @govpritzker.illinois.gov yesterday, please find 12 minutes to see or hear it today. Best, strongest statement by sr official of where we stand and what is needed now. Civil duty to see it. www.msnbc.com/deadline-whi...

Pritzker: To the members of the press who are assembled here today and listening across the country, I am asking for your courage to tell it like it is. This is not a time to pretend here that there are two sides to this story.