Michelle Baker

Page 2 of letter by Daniel Swain. It begins: constructive suggestions regarding how the already remarkable institutional efficiency and societal impact of NCAR could be further enhanced through increased (not decreased) federal support in the years to come. Please note: To ensure the highest level of technical rigor, this response focuses exclusively on the core atmospheric and natural hazard science topics within the author’s primary domain of expertise; for this reason, I have omitted a response to Topic 4 (Space Weather)." NCAR weather modeling and atmospheric observing capabilities a) Management and operations of weather-related observational platforms, modeling and science as a stand-alone activity. The proposed management of weather-related research as a stand-alone activity is a scientifically regressive path that ignores the fundamental physical reality of the Earth system. Modern atmospheric science has demonstrated (largely, it is worth noting, due to groundbreaking researc

Page 3 of letter by Daniel Swain. It begins: b) Management and operations of weather-related observational platforms, modeling and science as combined with other NSF investments/facilities. The highly specialized nature of the NCAR-Wyoming Supercomputing Center (NWSC) infrastructure represents an extraordinary value proposition that cannot be replicated by combining it with more generalized NSF programs. The NWSC is not a generic high-performance computing (HPC) facility; it is a laboratory uniquely optimized for atmospheric science workflows, with a hardware and storage architecture specifically designed to handle the massive, high-bandwidth data demands of Earth system modeling. Furthermore, its model of providing an excellent, free-at-point-of-use technical support team ensures that the focus remains on the science rather than the overhead of systems administration. This centralized expertise allows individual researchers, smaller labs, and even entire universities—who would otherwi

Page 4 of letter by Daniel Swain. It begins: NCAR Mesa Lab (located in Boulder, Colorado) a/b) Ownership of the NSF NCAR Mesa Lab building for public and private use. Far more than just an office building, NSF NCAR Mesa Lab is an iconic and purpose-built facility designed specifically for the study of atmospheric science. Its position at the physical interface of the Rocky Mountain foothills and the Great Plains is a deliberate reflection of its mission, serving as a visible symbol—in an iconically American setting—of the federal government's enduring commitment to science in service of society. For many in the field, including myself, the Mesa Lab holds singular importance as a focal gathering point for the global atmospheric science community. My own early career exposure to weather and Earth system modeling, in fact, occurred within these walls, and I have long felt that the facility’s architecture and location inspire a necessary sense of awe regarding the atmosphere’s complexity a

Page 1 of letter by Daniel Swain. It begins: Dear Acting Director Stone and the NSF NCAR restructuring team: I am writing to provide a formal response to the Request for Information (RFI) regarding the proposed restructuring of the NSF National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) and its critical weather science infrastructure contained within the January 23, 2026 Dear Colleague Letter (DCL) entitled “NSF Intent to Restructure Critical Weather Infrastructure.” I submit these comments in my professional capacity as an atmospheric research scientist within the University of California, where my research focuses on the physics and dynamics of atmospheric processes related to extreme weather events and their role in shifting natural hazard and disaster risk. My perspective is informed by a public-sector career dedicated to bridging the gap between fundamental atmospheric research and real-world application in an academic context, with a particular focus on understanding and mitigating

I just submitted my letter to NSF responding to its proposal to dismantle the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR). I argue that doing so would be an astonishing and avoidable misstep, and that federal support for the institution should in fact be *increased.* [1/4]

The state of our union is unaffordable.

Why BAD BUNNY Terrifies MAGA and Inspires the World

Bad Bunny is one of the most popular musicians in the world, producing art celebrating decolonization, resistance, love & joy, which is why he is one of the biggest threats to MAGA's racist agenda.

open.substack.com/pub/thelefth...

That entire Halftime special was a celebration of community, love, music, diversity and Puerto Rico and very deliberate middle finger to colonization and white supremacy.

Tenure Will Be Eliminated at Most of Oklahoma’s Public Colleges, Governor Says Gov. J. Kevin Stitt, a Republican, directed the state’s two-dozen regional universities and community colleges to phase out the practice. Existing faculty members will be grandfathered in.

No Tenure for Oklahoma.

Instead, faculty will be on "renewable contracts “tied to teaching effectiveness, student completion, job placement, and economic alignment.”

#academicsky

🔥

If you are a resident of California, the state now has a portal where you can demand deletion of your personal data from 500+ registered data brokers with a single request form, for free.

consumer.drop.privacy.ca.gov

The U.S. Is Funding Fewer Grants in Every Area of Science and Medicine (Gift Article) A quiet policy change means the government is making fewer bets on long-term science.

www.nytimes.com/interactive/...

Trump administering an oath of allegiance to the Constitution is ironic in general but in DC in particular I’m not sure what other response you’d expect.

And if that doesn’t work, try 202-224-3121

I'd like to think that all Senate Dems know that failure to rein in OMB/Vought's assertions re: impoundment/rescission is capitulation. Now, maybe there's a plan to gets some points on the bd & hold out on FSGG approps, but we will see.

Flood the phones:
(202) 224-3121

Tell Chuck Schumer to grow a spine and hold the line…

There should be no deal that leaves working families behind.

The CDC Diaspora Fights Back How America’s scientific army is trying to stand up for public health—and stand up for itself.

a million years ago I remember trying to explain to undergrads in the first class I ever taught, at Northwestern, how civil service rules and civil society create resilience against authoritarianism. Well, here's a teaching case

Statement on the Proposed Ballroom Addition at the White House - Society of Architectural Historians The Society of Architectural Historians (SAH) expresses great concern over the proposed ballroom addition to the White House. On July 31, 2025, the White House issued a statement that a 90,000 sq. ft....

Published 16 October

sah.org/2025/10/16/s...

DC J6: 1.500 arrests
DC No Kings: zero

Tell me again which side is violent?

‘I love Hitler’: Leaked messages expose Young Republicans’ racist chat Thousands of private messages reveal young GOP leaders joking about gas chambers, slavery and rape.

EXCLUSIVE: Thousands of leaked messages show leaders of Young Republican groups joking about gas chambers, slavery and rape in a private Telegram chat.

Inside rising GOP leaders’ racist chats — obtained by POLITICO and spanning more than 7 months👇

Poster with QR code linking to the position

I'm very excited to announce that UNC Biology has 6 faculty positions open this year! The first is for an Asst Professor who studies organismal resilience using an integrative approach 1/n
unc.peopleadmin.com/postings/307...

A variation on Benjamin Franklin’s 1754 engraving in the Pennsylvania Gazette, published in Philadelphia, in an effort to foster cooperation among the various colonies against the tyrant king of Britain, with the American colonies replaced by the nine universities selected for special collaboration opportunities

Courtesy of colleagues at Penn

This Is Fascism

Frogs are an invasive species that can wreak havoc on ICE’s frail ecosystem…

Things are happening at Portland's ICE facility tonight.

Read more of our protest coverage here: www.oregonlive.com/crime/2025/1...

Many American Jews sharply critical of Israel on Gaza, Post poll finds Most Jews say Israel is committing war crimes — and 39 percent say genocide — while often distinguishing between the country and its leadership.

Poll.
61% of American Jews say Israel has committed war crimes, 40% say Israel is guilty of genocide against the Palestinians.

That's not antisemitism. That's moral and ethical responsibility.

www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202...

Justice Anthony Kennedy tells @npr.org's @ninatotenberg.bsky.social "very worried" about our country, and that "Democracy is not guaranteed to survive."

Kennedy wrote Citizens United and was the fifth vote in the rest of the Roberts Court's anti-democratic decisions.

www.npr.org/2025/09/27/n...

Disney/ABC have a responsibility to refuse to participate in corruption.

Kimmel must be reinstated. If Disney/ABC agree to this extortion then perhaps creatives + workers should consider collective action to push back. Same w/buying park + cruise tickets if they bow.

People have power. Ask Target

Birmingham; Boise; Charleston, SC; Columbia, SC; Columbus, OH; Des Moines, IA; Fort Lauderdale/Sunrise, FL; Fort Myers/Naples, FL; Grand Rapids, MI; Jacksonville, FL; Louisville, KY; Milwaukee, WI; Oklahoma City, OK; Pittsburgh, PA; Raleigh, NC; Richmond, VA; Spokane, WA; St. Louis, MO; Tampa, FL.

Trump administration rushes to rent space for immigration officers conducting raids Employees at the General Services Administration are scrambling to lease offices to accommodate a rapid increase of immigration enforcement officers carrying out widespread raids across the country.

This is an area you can push back in your own community, if you live in one of cities listed in the solicitation in this story. Talk to city council and state reps, as well as local landlords and organizers. Create pressure preemptively to keep them from using private spaces. Cities include... [1/2]

BREAKING NEWS: Tyler Robinson charged with aggravated murder, discharge of a firearm, obstruction of justice, witness tampering, and violence in the presence of a child in the murder of Charlie Kirk. #utpol #Utah

The White Civility Council As the nation reckons with the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, there has been a notable trend from mainstream pundits and press outlets. They have tended to downplay or outright i...

All right, I wrote about it: