Mark Bothwell

in the past Americans have viewed countries like ours--now a minority-controlled pseudo-democracy--with pity, condescension, bafflement: how does a tyrant take over so completely? how many citizens have to be complicit before it's too late?

Convicted fraudsters Trump has pardoned this year: Jason Galanis — ~$200M+ Joseph Schwartz — ~$38M Lawrence Duran — ~$205M (Medicare fraud billed; ~$87M paid) Carlos Watson — ~$60M investor fraud Trevor Milton — ~$20M+ investor losses Todd Chrisley — ~$30M bank fraud Julie Chrisley — ~$30M bank fraud Devon Archer — ~$60M tribal bond scheme George Santos — ~$44K–$1M+ (multiple fraud schemes) Michele Fiore — ~$70K charity fraud Brian Kelsey — ~$90K campaign finance fraud Scott Jenkins — ~$75K bribery/fraud scheme Paul Walczak — ~$10M+ tax fraud Adriana Camberos — ~$1M+ counterfeit/fraud

In 14 months, Donald Trump has pardoned fraudsters who stole over 2 billion dollars, also removing their need to pay restitution.

@maxdkozlov Yes, in part. But a big part of the change is that NIH still funds grants based on matching proposals to NIH program priorities, but now they don't advertise what those priorities are, making applicants guess, or hound Program officers hoping to receive clues.

Fewer NOFOs ≠ funding cuts. It means the NIH will have less power to shape what research is needed. Less of: NIH says "There should be more research on [insert topic], send us your ideas" More of: Researchers send ideas to NIH, saying "you didn't ask for this, but pls fund it"

The NIH is stepping back from 'top-down' science. Funding calls have plummeted by 90%, funneling billions into broad, 'investigator-initiated' ideas, rather than targeted, agency-driven ones. A massive shift for the American biomedical enterprise. nature.com/articles/d4158…

@VeryBadLlama You are not entirely wrong, but on the other hand, you frenchified Canadians have produced some of the best modern examples of small-scale farming as an enjoyable and economically feasible lifestyle. youtu.be/oFLpsFcthkw

your great-great grandparents rocked up to cities that looked like this to work 14-hour shifts in dangerous factories and thought “oh thank fuck we don’t have to farm anymore”

don’t make me tap the sign

@DavidSacks WTF does "energy independent" mean? Obviously, you have no clue. The price every US consumer pays for oil-derived products is dictated by the global market, which DJT has completely fucked.

This is a smart strategy. Thanks to President Trump, the U.S. is energy independent. The countries that actually depend on Gulf oil should apply pressure to reopen the strait.

If Trump doesn't like your coverage of the war, his FCC will pull your broadcast license. That is flagrantly unconstitutional.

@Osinttechnical The only thing prohibiting Hegseth from saying anything intelligent is his stupidity. He would be brilliant, except for that.

Hegseth: “The only thing prohibiting transit in [Hormuz] right now is Iran shooting at shipping.” “It is open for transit should Iran not do that”

@PaulRoundy1 @NewYorker So what's your point? Congress appropriated funds for NCI, but NCI is not distributing those funds, exactly as the New Yorker article indicates.

Grok's summary: The **US government** funds cancer research primarily through the **National Institutes of Health (NIH)**, with the **National Cancer Institute (NCI)** serving as the principal agency and largest funder of cancer research worldwide. In FY2026 (which began October 1, 2025), NCI received a total appropriation of **$7.35 billion** via the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2026—an increase of $128 million over FY2025. NCI funds cancer research through a variety of mechanisms, including: - **Extramural grants** (the majority of funding): These support external researchers and institutions via peer-reviewed awards such as: - Research Project Grants (e.g., R01s for investigator-initiated projects). - Cancer Center Support Grants (for NCI-Designated Cancer Centers). - Specialized Programs of Research Excellence (**SPOREs**) focused on specific cancers. - Clinical trials networks (e.g., National Clinical Trials Network, NCI Community Oncology Research Program). - Training awards (e.g., NRSA fellowships like T32, F30/F31). - Career development awards (K series) and other cooperative agreements. - **Intramural research**: Conducted directly by NCI scientists (about 18% of the budget), covering basic, translational, clinical, genomic, and population-based studies. - **Contracts and infrastructure**: Including the Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, Surveillance Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) program, and R&D contracts for shared resources. Key ongoing initiatives and dedicated allocations in 2026 include: - **Childhood Cancer Data Initiative (CCDI)**: $50 million annually (ongoing from prior years). - **Childhood Cancer Survivorship, Treatment, Access, and Research (STAR) Act**: Dedicated funding (e.g., $28 million in prior base appropriations). - **Cancer Moonshot**: Continues as part of NCI's base funding (original 21st Century Cures Act authorization expired after FY2023, but efforts persist toward goals like reducing cancer deaths by 50% over 25 years, supporting projects in prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and data sharing). The **Department of Defense (DoD)** also funds cancer research via the **Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs (CDMRP)**, which received **$1.27 billion** in FY2026 across 34 programs. Specific cancer-focused programs include: - Breast Cancer Research Program ($145 million). - Prostate Cancer Research Program ($75 million). - Ovarian Cancer Research Program ($50 million). - Lung Cancer Research Program ($20 million). - Kidney Cancer Research Program ($15 million). - Rare Cancers Research Program ($17.5 million). - Peer Reviewed Cancer Research Program ($165 million, covering 20 topic areas, including endometrial cancer and others not in dedicated programs). - Pancreatic Cancer Research Program (reinstated with $20 million in some reports). Additionally, the **Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H)** (funded at $1.5 billion in FY2026) supports high-risk, high-reward cancer-related projects (e.g., innovative technologies, biomaterials, tumor models), though it is not exclusively cancer-focused. Other entities like the **Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)** support cancer prevention, screening, and surveillance (e.g., National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program, cancer registries), with small increases in FY2026 chronic disease programs. Overall, funding emphasizes investigator-initiated research, clinical trials, high-impact innovations, training, and specific priorities like childhood cancers, while adapting to policies (e.g., indirect cost limits). The President's FY2026 budget request proposed lower NCI funding ($4.53 billion), but Congress provided higher actual appropriations.

The Trump Administration is waging war on universities by suspending their funds. N.I.H. grants to universities are down by more than 90 per cent in the current fiscal year; so far in 2026, the National Cancer Institute hasn’t made a single grant. newyorkermag.visitlink.me/oxA7Ey

@SecScottBessent @POTUS @USTreasury I considered posting a community note concerning this obvious lie, but everyone knows that every word from Bessent's mouth is a lie, so a community note would be pointless.

.@POTUS is taking decisive steps to promote stability in global energy markets and working to keep prices low as we address the threat and instability posed by the terrorist Iranian regime. To increase the global reach of existing supply, @USTreasury is providing a temporary authorization to permit countries to purchase Russian oil currently stranded at sea. This narrowly tailored, short-term measure applies only to oil already in transit and will not provide significant financial benefit to the Russian government, which derives the majority of its energy revenue from taxes assessed at the point of extraction. President Trump's pro-energy policies have driven U.S. oil and gas production to record levels, contributing to lower fuel prices for hardworking Americans. The temporary increase in oil prices is a short-term and temporary disruption that will result in a massive benefit to our nation and economy in the long-term.

@NormOrnstein No, she said he must be put to death.

OMG, Anna Paulina Luna just said Donald Trump could be put to death!

@neeratanden Pretty sure the answer is no.

Is there literally no decent people in the GOP who can say this horrifying bigotry is wrong.

@RonFilipkowski The very thought makes me retch, and I have a very strong stomach.

Michael Cohen announces to Lara Trump that he is teaming up with Laura Loomer to do a podcast together.

@RonFilipkowski Apparently taking risks mainly involves fucking wealthy men while hoping they don't carry STDs.

@SenTuberville Thanks for clarifying that those suggesting you are not a bigoted fuckhead are wrong.

To be clear, I didn’t “suggest” Islamists are the enemy. I said it plainly.

Remember: Trump bombed an elementary school full of kids AFTER @PeteHegseth gutted the Pentagon's civilian harm prevention office. First they lied and blamed Iran. Now our military admits it was a mistake. FIRE Hegseth. DEMAND an independent investigation. END THIS WAR!

Yes. This is transparently the plan. It is a destructive and unconstitutional plan. And it can be stopped. It can even be turned into an electoral issue that hurts Trump. But only if we face this now.

@Acyn Proud parents with son assigned to high-end reform school.

Trump: At military academy with my parents, Fred and Mary!

@MollyJongFast She didn't write this script. She doesn't even know what it means. She can barely even read it. Pathetic beyond words.

This is an incredible thing to say about one’s self

@atrupar What the creepy hell?

Melania Trump glazes herself: "As a visionary, I know success is not born overnight. Often alone at the top, I follow my passion, listen to my instinct, and always maintain a laser focus."