I just want to say I so love president Biden. What a deeply good and decent guy he is. I hope more Americans see it and that democrats will rally around him. And thanks for another great newsletter Robert!
"He will encourage conspiracy theorists to refuse life-saving treatment."
And more dead conspiratorial fantasists is a bad thing how?
The Republican electoral failure last month may have been in part due to the fact they killed so many of their voters with their antivax BS. Another good way to Make America Great Again.
As a doctor told me at the outset of the pandemic, "A pandemic is Evolution's IQ test: are you intelligent enough to take this information and use it to change things so you can maximize the likelihood of your survival? The test is pass/fail." So far, the wingers are flunking. That's a good thing.
DeSantis has been "trumped up" by the press. He'll prove to be a rotting straw dog in the heat of a presidential campaign, and not a very interesting one at that. What appeals to a politically deviant segment of right-wing Florida voter driving golf carts will turn the stomachs of sensible moderates nationally. That said, his politics are demeaning and damaging, and need to be confronted in conversation and in the courts.
Best sentence today: “Trump was able to overcome similar deficits with feral charisma that DeSantis lacks.” “Feral charisma” ranks right up there w my personal fave—rat-like cunning.
Throughout my career I would usually spend some time on Sunday evening asking what will I do this coming week that will make the most difference. Rarely did a week go the way one expected but by having those three or so goals for the week in mind helped keep the focus on them and get them accomplished. Now that the midterms are over I'm again asking myself what can I do now that would make the most difference. Part of the answer is what would we focus on to make positive changes in our culture. One answer is to teach a new 3 R's: Respect, Responsibility and Resilience. Respect for every individual just because they exist. That with Rights come Responsibility to others to protect their rights. And, resilience so we can respond well and successfully to the hard things in life mentally and emotionally. One of the other things that came to mind for me personally was the importance of science in our culture in a time when science is being attacked. Lindbergh's solo flight over the Atlantic inspired so many to technical careers including my dad to become an aeronautical engineer. In my youth, it was the race to the moon in the 1960s that inspired many young people to enter scientific fields.
Andrea Mitchell interviewed Dr. Fauci yesterday where he talked about the importance of inspiring this next generation to have careers in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math):
Dec 14, 2022·edited Dec 14, 2022Liked by Robert B. Hubbell
“At the moment, DeSantis does not claim any actual wrongful conduct. Instead, he wants subpoena power to muck around in CDC and pharma company emails and research databases. It is a cynical, ignorant, and possibly deadly move. He will encourage conspiracy theorists to refuse life-saving treatment. But he is willing to risk the lives of millions of Americans to promote his political ambitions. He is a dangerous man.”
He also proves that a Harvard, Yale, or frankly any Ivy League university education is not proof of intellectual prowess nor of academic achievement.
Thank you Robert for once again highlighting the underbelly of DeSantis. Millhiser summed it up beautifully. DeSantis is all that and more. He is a shadow lurking in the shadows. The more that is revealed about him the better for our country. May the United States not go the way of Florida.
I actually do care about the omnibus spending bill getting finished 🙏. The people we serve at our nonprofit feel the impact if funding doesn't go through. Thank for the link to The Hill.
Robert, thank you for pointing out how Newt Gingrich and his Republican Party previously sought to defund scientific spending and, effectively, human progress. They continue that effort today by propagating lies, disinformation and theocratic doctrine. They will never stop progressive thought because such thought is an innate human condition. If it doesn't happen here, it will happen there. Instead, they, like those who also sought to prevent progress will eventually fall into the trash bin of history.
Thank you, Robert, for another fine newsletter that distills multiple complex newslines in a cohesive and encouraging manner.
First, about the scientific breakthrough. Several times yesterday, I heard it reported as a "discovery." Unless I'm sorely mistaken, it was no such thing. It was the result of decades of research, testing, theorization, and determination. Your analysis is very understandable, and really puts a fine point on the achievement, despite the short-sighted, selfish actions of many Republicans who eschew science because it is inconvenient or doesn't fit their narrative.
Second, about President Biden. While I don't agree with him on many things, and I cringe sometimes when he says something that is demonstrably false or misleading, he's a good man and a great leader, especially at this time in our history. He'll face many tests of his leadership over the next two years, and I expect him to be even better than we've seen thus far.
Finally, on DeSantis. I really appreciate the perspective on his shortcomings. Perhaps we should start building our messaging around it. Trump's shortcomings are closing in on Trump, and DeSantis's need to start closing in on DeSantis. I don't want to see the Republicans put up someone in 2024 who can defeat a Democrat and set us back another half century, but I also think we need to try to turn the tide on the anti-democracy thrust of the Republican party.
As exciting as the fusion breakthrough is, it will not solve the climate crisis. Remember, a crisis is something that is immediate. If and when fusion is a viable energy source, it will be long after we have crossed significant tipping points unless we undertake immediate mitigation measures. If we exceed 2 degrees celsius over average preindustrial temperatures, we are likely to destabilize the climate, perhaps irretrievably. Fusion may be part of a long term strategy but in the meanwhile, it's critical that we take every possible measure to prevent runaway climate change.
American democracy will not only survive, it will thrive. This newsletter has often urged its readers to keep the issues of the day in perspective. The United States is a large country with deep roots in freedom and industriousness. While events in recent years have exposed some weaknesses, we will emerge stronger because of them.
Consider two stories in the news today. First, young parents in a quiet New Hampshire suburb have been arrested, accused of smuggling advanced technology to Russia. This story reminded me of the 2014 exposure of a ring of 10 Russian spies, including a couple who were raising a seemingly typical family in Cambridge, MA. Which, in turn, reminded me of the countless examples of countries, most notably the Soviet Union/Russia, that have tried to subvert our way of life over the past 100 years. They stole the secrets underlying the production of our atomic bomb. They stole the keys to deciphering military codes. They stole information about weapons and tactics. They have worked to undermine our elections and may have even been decisive in the selection of a president. And yet, here we are, still thriving while the Soviet Union is no more and Russia is rapidly declining and finds itself isolated from all but the most regressive of countries.
The second story is the one about nuclear fusion. Last week's experiment allows us to think about a world of clean energy. Imagine that! It won't happen tomorrow, but it certainly could happen within the lifetimes of our grandchildren. What a legacy that would be. American ingenuity and resources made it happen. No country in the world can match us for creativity and accomplishment. Why? Because we are free to think outside the box and promising new ideas can attract the capital that can eventually turn those ideas into reality. Since 1901, 74 Americans have won the Nobel Prize for chemistry, more than twice the number of any other country, representing 38% of all prize recipients.
We are a country of 332 million people. Our diversity is our strength. We will get past the issues that seem so monumental today.
Nuclear fusion has been 50 years in the future for 50 years, and my guess is it will continue on that path. And if we do succeed in getting nuclear fusion, and it's the limitless bounty being promised, it will be a bad thing.
For a few decades post-war, we had a seemingly limitless source of fuel. It was called oil, and because it was so limitless, houses were built without insulation, and without architectural features that could keep them warm in winter and cool in summer. Cars were gas-swilling behemoths. The winners: the big corporations that gave us oil. (Substitute "fusion" for "oil".)
It's not even clear that fusion will be clean. It may produce radioactive materials--not from the reactants interacting with each other, but in the structure of the reactors.
People don't realize that the cost of solar electricity has plummeted to less than the cost of any fossil fuel powered electricity. We don't need some magical, seemingly infinite source of electricity. We've got sources of power--solar and wind--that are growing in the US by multiple nuclear fission reactors' worth every year.
A fascinating article on fusion is Star in a Bottle (2014) from the NYer, about the ITER, a massive fusion reactor in France that’s being built by a consortium of 35 nations. What makes it so good is that the author's enthusiasm for it shines through; yet, Yet, it’s obvious from the machine’s complexity which he describes so well that this thing is incredibly vulnerable to Murphy’s Law.
Dec 14, 2022·edited Dec 14, 2022Liked by Robert B. Hubbell
Several months ago I sent you (Robert) an e-mail discussing my concerns about the increasing enthusiasm amongst Republicans over DeSantis. Your response was, "DeSantis is dangerous, but we need to defeat one monster at a time!" Being a "liberal" in Florida that was extremely alarming to me, as I sadly get to witness his demagoguery up close. It is, putting it mildly, frightening, sad, and disheartening. I appreciate you sharing Ian Milhiser's tweet, as it is an accurate insight to the man. Initially, I truly feared his ascendance on the Republican ladder, but over recent months I have come to believe, as Milhiser points out, Americans who may have initially been willing to jump on the DeSantis bandwagon, will see his true nature as his authoritarian desires are put on full (and blatant) display. As the spotlight shines more clearly on him, his abominations will become more apparent on a national level.
I intensely disagree with "traditional" Republican policies, when the GOP was "sane." But, since they have devolved into the world of conspiracy, misinformation, and disinformation, my feelings toward them have gone from disagreement to abhorrence. All that said, I believe that while the crazies will remain crazy, a "sane" movement will regain a grip on their party and they will begin to return to just being wrong, as opposed to outrageously dangerous.
Despite that, I also believe that the majority of American voters will see that it is progressives that have the ability to actually move our country forward. After what promises to be a (being kind) tumultuous next two years in the House, Democrats will retake control and allow us to move forward, as we have in Biden's first two years. I also believe Biden, if he chooses to run again, will win. Or, in lieu of that, another on the long list of qualified Democrats will win the Presidency to keep us from falling into the abyss created by Trump and his MAGA acolytes.
I just want to say I so love president Biden. What a deeply good and decent guy he is. I hope more Americans see it and that democrats will rally around him. And thanks for another great newsletter Robert!
"He will encourage conspiracy theorists to refuse life-saving treatment."
And more dead conspiratorial fantasists is a bad thing how?
The Republican electoral failure last month may have been in part due to the fact they killed so many of their voters with their antivax BS. Another good way to Make America Great Again.
As a doctor told me at the outset of the pandemic, "A pandemic is Evolution's IQ test: are you intelligent enough to take this information and use it to change things so you can maximize the likelihood of your survival? The test is pass/fail." So far, the wingers are flunking. That's a good thing.
DeSantis has been "trumped up" by the press. He'll prove to be a rotting straw dog in the heat of a presidential campaign, and not a very interesting one at that. What appeals to a politically deviant segment of right-wing Florida voter driving golf carts will turn the stomachs of sensible moderates nationally. That said, his politics are demeaning and damaging, and need to be confronted in conversation and in the courts.
Best sentence today: “Trump was able to overcome similar deficits with feral charisma that DeSantis lacks.” “Feral charisma” ranks right up there w my personal fave—rat-like cunning.
Throughout my career I would usually spend some time on Sunday evening asking what will I do this coming week that will make the most difference. Rarely did a week go the way one expected but by having those three or so goals for the week in mind helped keep the focus on them and get them accomplished. Now that the midterms are over I'm again asking myself what can I do now that would make the most difference. Part of the answer is what would we focus on to make positive changes in our culture. One answer is to teach a new 3 R's: Respect, Responsibility and Resilience. Respect for every individual just because they exist. That with Rights come Responsibility to others to protect their rights. And, resilience so we can respond well and successfully to the hard things in life mentally and emotionally. One of the other things that came to mind for me personally was the importance of science in our culture in a time when science is being attacked. Lindbergh's solo flight over the Atlantic inspired so many to technical careers including my dad to become an aeronautical engineer. In my youth, it was the race to the moon in the 1960s that inspired many young people to enter scientific fields.
Andrea Mitchell interviewed Dr. Fauci yesterday where he talked about the importance of inspiring this next generation to have careers in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math):
https://www.msnbc.com/andrea-mitchell-reports/watch/dr-fauci-hopes-to-inspire-younger-people-to-go-into-science-in-next-chapter-of-his-career-157437509592 So, one answer for me is to promote STEM in education. What will you do now that will make the most difference in our world? How will you inspire the next generation to make this a better world? We, the People, all of us this time working for a better world.
“At the moment, DeSantis does not claim any actual wrongful conduct. Instead, he wants subpoena power to muck around in CDC and pharma company emails and research databases. It is a cynical, ignorant, and possibly deadly move. He will encourage conspiracy theorists to refuse life-saving treatment. But he is willing to risk the lives of millions of Americans to promote his political ambitions. He is a dangerous man.”
He also proves that a Harvard, Yale, or frankly any Ivy League university education is not proof of intellectual prowess nor of academic achievement.
Thank you Robert for once again highlighting the underbelly of DeSantis. Millhiser summed it up beautifully. DeSantis is all that and more. He is a shadow lurking in the shadows. The more that is revealed about him the better for our country. May the United States not go the way of Florida.
Thank you for chasing the DeSantis gloom away!
I actually do care about the omnibus spending bill getting finished 🙏. The people we serve at our nonprofit feel the impact if funding doesn't go through. Thank for the link to The Hill.
Robert, thank you for pointing out how Newt Gingrich and his Republican Party previously sought to defund scientific spending and, effectively, human progress. They continue that effort today by propagating lies, disinformation and theocratic doctrine. They will never stop progressive thought because such thought is an innate human condition. If it doesn't happen here, it will happen there. Instead, they, like those who also sought to prevent progress will eventually fall into the trash bin of history.
Thank you, Robert, for another fine newsletter that distills multiple complex newslines in a cohesive and encouraging manner.
First, about the scientific breakthrough. Several times yesterday, I heard it reported as a "discovery." Unless I'm sorely mistaken, it was no such thing. It was the result of decades of research, testing, theorization, and determination. Your analysis is very understandable, and really puts a fine point on the achievement, despite the short-sighted, selfish actions of many Republicans who eschew science because it is inconvenient or doesn't fit their narrative.
Second, about President Biden. While I don't agree with him on many things, and I cringe sometimes when he says something that is demonstrably false or misleading, he's a good man and a great leader, especially at this time in our history. He'll face many tests of his leadership over the next two years, and I expect him to be even better than we've seen thus far.
Finally, on DeSantis. I really appreciate the perspective on his shortcomings. Perhaps we should start building our messaging around it. Trump's shortcomings are closing in on Trump, and DeSantis's need to start closing in on DeSantis. I don't want to see the Republicans put up someone in 2024 who can defeat a Democrat and set us back another half century, but I also think we need to try to turn the tide on the anti-democracy thrust of the Republican party.
As exciting as the fusion breakthrough is, it will not solve the climate crisis. Remember, a crisis is something that is immediate. If and when fusion is a viable energy source, it will be long after we have crossed significant tipping points unless we undertake immediate mitigation measures. If we exceed 2 degrees celsius over average preindustrial temperatures, we are likely to destabilize the climate, perhaps irretrievably. Fusion may be part of a long term strategy but in the meanwhile, it's critical that we take every possible measure to prevent runaway climate change.
Train us, Robert. Keep listing, as in bullet points, the accomplishments of the Biden presidency. We have to get verbal on this!
American democracy will not only survive, it will thrive. This newsletter has often urged its readers to keep the issues of the day in perspective. The United States is a large country with deep roots in freedom and industriousness. While events in recent years have exposed some weaknesses, we will emerge stronger because of them.
Consider two stories in the news today. First, young parents in a quiet New Hampshire suburb have been arrested, accused of smuggling advanced technology to Russia. This story reminded me of the 2014 exposure of a ring of 10 Russian spies, including a couple who were raising a seemingly typical family in Cambridge, MA. Which, in turn, reminded me of the countless examples of countries, most notably the Soviet Union/Russia, that have tried to subvert our way of life over the past 100 years. They stole the secrets underlying the production of our atomic bomb. They stole the keys to deciphering military codes. They stole information about weapons and tactics. They have worked to undermine our elections and may have even been decisive in the selection of a president. And yet, here we are, still thriving while the Soviet Union is no more and Russia is rapidly declining and finds itself isolated from all but the most regressive of countries.
The second story is the one about nuclear fusion. Last week's experiment allows us to think about a world of clean energy. Imagine that! It won't happen tomorrow, but it certainly could happen within the lifetimes of our grandchildren. What a legacy that would be. American ingenuity and resources made it happen. No country in the world can match us for creativity and accomplishment. Why? Because we are free to think outside the box and promising new ideas can attract the capital that can eventually turn those ideas into reality. Since 1901, 74 Americans have won the Nobel Prize for chemistry, more than twice the number of any other country, representing 38% of all prize recipients.
We are a country of 332 million people. Our diversity is our strength. We will get past the issues that seem so monumental today.
Nuclear fusion has been 50 years in the future for 50 years, and my guess is it will continue on that path. And if we do succeed in getting nuclear fusion, and it's the limitless bounty being promised, it will be a bad thing.
For a few decades post-war, we had a seemingly limitless source of fuel. It was called oil, and because it was so limitless, houses were built without insulation, and without architectural features that could keep them warm in winter and cool in summer. Cars were gas-swilling behemoths. The winners: the big corporations that gave us oil. (Substitute "fusion" for "oil".)
It's not even clear that fusion will be clean. It may produce radioactive materials--not from the reactants interacting with each other, but in the structure of the reactors.
People don't realize that the cost of solar electricity has plummeted to less than the cost of any fossil fuel powered electricity. We don't need some magical, seemingly infinite source of electricity. We've got sources of power--solar and wind--that are growing in the US by multiple nuclear fission reactors' worth every year.
A fascinating article on fusion is Star in a Bottle (2014) from the NYer, about the ITER, a massive fusion reactor in France that’s being built by a consortium of 35 nations. What makes it so good is that the author's enthusiasm for it shines through; yet, Yet, it’s obvious from the machine’s complexity which he describes so well that this thing is incredibly vulnerable to Murphy’s Law.
https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2014/03/03/a-star-in-a-bottle
Several months ago I sent you (Robert) an e-mail discussing my concerns about the increasing enthusiasm amongst Republicans over DeSantis. Your response was, "DeSantis is dangerous, but we need to defeat one monster at a time!" Being a "liberal" in Florida that was extremely alarming to me, as I sadly get to witness his demagoguery up close. It is, putting it mildly, frightening, sad, and disheartening. I appreciate you sharing Ian Milhiser's tweet, as it is an accurate insight to the man. Initially, I truly feared his ascendance on the Republican ladder, but over recent months I have come to believe, as Milhiser points out, Americans who may have initially been willing to jump on the DeSantis bandwagon, will see his true nature as his authoritarian desires are put on full (and blatant) display. As the spotlight shines more clearly on him, his abominations will become more apparent on a national level.
I intensely disagree with "traditional" Republican policies, when the GOP was "sane." But, since they have devolved into the world of conspiracy, misinformation, and disinformation, my feelings toward them have gone from disagreement to abhorrence. All that said, I believe that while the crazies will remain crazy, a "sane" movement will regain a grip on their party and they will begin to return to just being wrong, as opposed to outrageously dangerous.
Despite that, I also believe that the majority of American voters will see that it is progressives that have the ability to actually move our country forward. After what promises to be a (being kind) tumultuous next two years in the House, Democrats will retake control and allow us to move forward, as we have in Biden's first two years. I also believe Biden, if he chooses to run again, will win. Or, in lieu of that, another on the long list of qualified Democrats will win the Presidency to keep us from falling into the abyss created by Trump and his MAGA acolytes.