Stephen Young

The Ultimate Trump Card I take no pleasure in writing this, and you should take none in reading it

Think it’s bad now? It could get much worse. open.substack.com/pub/thinking...

A social media graphic shows four people standing on a hill overlooking a densely built city partially covered in smoke or haze. Below the photo, on a black background, a large quote reads: “This illegal war will not bring safety or security to the American people or its allies. Congress must exercise its responsibilities to rein in President Trump and his administration.” Beneath the quote is a small headshot of Tara Drozdenko, identified as Director of the Global Security Program, along with the Union of Concerned Scientists logo and a 2026 copyright notice.

President Trump’s illegal war of aggression against Iran, in cooperation with Israel, actively undermines global security, raises the long-term danger of nuclear proliferation, and risks dragging the US into another dangerous and protracted conflict.

Read UCS’s statement: act.ucsusa.org/3N9e4ZE

Healthcare Professionals, Scientists and Children Sue the EPA for Backtracking on Greenhouse Gas Regulation - Inside Climate News Widely anticipated legal challenges question the agency’s reversal of the 2009 endangerment finding. The decision is “reckless, illogical and ignores the vast majority of public comments,” plaintiffs ...

Dr. Carlos Javier Martinez of @ucs.org states: “Scientifically, this decision by the Environmental Protection Agency is reckless, illogical and ignores the vast majority of public comments.”

🚨 Attache ta tuque!

@scientistsorg.bsky.social is hosting our 2nd Open Source Nuclear Analysis Bootcamp in partnership with @stanleycenter.org in Montréal on June 21-26!

Come hang out and learn:
• Geolocation
• Missiles
• FOIA
• Imagery analysis
• Poutine 🍟
• Bagels 🥯

C'est le fun! 👇

More of this, please. The folks in this grassroots group are heroes.

Haven Watch lives by the promise, “No One Walks Alone.” Day or night, they show up. When people are released from ICE detention, volunteers meet them in the cold, disoriented, and exhausted.

Beautiful and devastating all at once.

Every Day, Nukes Are Riding Right Past People Like You | Inkstick The United States government ships its nuclear materials, mostly on US interstates, in unmarked semi trucks.

"Nukes do not merely exist in a post-apocalyptic world — they are driving past kids biking on interstate services roads to get out of doing school work. Barring change, they will soon be driving past many more."

Every Day, Nukes Are Riding Right Past People Like You Every day, nuclear weapons are transported in trucks riding along interstates that connect communities across the United States.

My wonderful @scovillepf.bsky.social @seantmanning.bsky.social has a great story in @inkstickmedia.com about biking alongside interstates during COVID. Those interstates could soon be carrying new plutonium "pits" - the radioactive core used in a new nuclear weapon: inkstickmedia.com/every-day-nu...

What Americans Lose If Their National Center for Atmospheric Research Is Dismantled - Eos Five ways dismantling NCAR will cost the American people, and two ways to save it.

eos.org/opinions/wha...

Court Rules Trump Administration’s Secret “Climate Working Group” Violated Federal Law Court declared today that the Trump administration violated federal law when it secretly formed the “Climate Working Group” and tasked it with writing a dangerously slanted report used as the basis fo...

A big win today: a federal court found that the Trump administration’s sham report attacking climate science was created in secret by a hand-picked set of climate policy opponents, violating the Federal Advisory Committee Act. Read our statement here:

Recent college & grad school alumni:
Work for 6 to 9 months with 1 of over 2 dozen NGOs in DC on international peace & security issues, including nuclear arms control, peacebuilding, & diplomacy. Apply by Feb. 27 to @scovillepf.bsky.social for the fall '26 semester. scoville.org

Congress Should Rein in Foolhardy Pursuit of Golden Dome Program A year ago today, President Donald Trump issued a sweeping Executive Order calling for an “Iron Dome for America.” Statement by Dr. Laura Grego at the Union of Concerned Scientists.

My colleague @lauraegrego.bsky.social with a well-worth-your-time read on the fiasco that is Golden Dome, which Trump launched one year ago today: www.ucs.org/about/news/c...

Thomas Jefferson: "Were it left to me to decide whether we should have a government without newspapers or newspapers without a government, I should not hesitate a moment to prefer the latter." (And he was talking about the very problematic and partisan newspapers of the time...)

UPDATE: After seeing this video, I informed ICE of my intent to visit the Baltimore facility today. I was told I would be denied entry.

It’s clear Trump's ICE would rather engage in a cover up. I will not stop pressing until we get answers. We need transparency & accountability.

I shared this video the other day.

Tonight @maddow had this lawyer on her show.

People are being tortured at Trump's detention camps Including children deprived of medical care.

PUTRID WATER
BUGS IN FOOD

Call your Senators & DEMAND they stop funding DHS!
202-224-3121

Do Not Fund ICE terrorism.

"First, they came for the journalists. We don't know what happened next." - Maria Ressa, founder of Rappler, at the @thebulletin.org #DoomsdayClock announcement.

One could argue that it could have moved even closer to midnight, but it is hard to dispute that the world is closer to massive disaster than it was last year.

🚨 It is now 85 SECONDS TO MIDNIGHT on the #DoomsdayClock, the closest it has ever been to midnight.

Learn why here:

thebulletin.org/doomsday-clo...

Statement from Michael and Susan Pretti Parents of Alex Jeffrey Pretti “We are heartbroken but also very angry. Alex was a kindhearted soul who cared deeply for his family and friends and also the American veterans whom he cared for as an ICU nurse at the Minneapolis VA hospital. Alex wanted to make a difference in this world. Unfortunately, he will not be with us to see his impact. I do not throw around the ‘hero’ term lightly. However, his last thought and act was to protect a woman. The sickening lies told about our son by the administration are reprehensible and disgusting. Alex is clearly not holding a gun when attacked by Trump’s murdering and cowardly ICE thugs. He had his phone in his right hand and his empty left hand is raised above his head while trying to protect the woman ICE just pushed down, all while being pepper sprayed. Please get the truth out about our son. He was a good man. Thank you.

Kare 11 local news just read, in full, this statement from Michael and Susan Pretti, the parents of Alex Pretti.

"Please get the truth out about our son."

Singing and praying in -22 degrees.

The White House Military Office Army aide was on “Football” duty earlier today as Emperor Trump left the World Economic Fourm in Davos. The ~45-pound satchel accompanies Trump 24/7, enabling him alone to authorize the use of any of our ~1,770 deployed nuclear weapons—up to 900 on alert—at any time.

Newly Disclosed Records Show Trump Administration’s Unlawful Actions Related to Secretly Formed “Climate Working Group” Newly disclosed records obtained by UCS and EDF about the Trump administration’s “Climate Working Group” reveal brazenly unlawful actions behind the creation of a report that underlies the administrat...

The Trump admin "has been forced to acknowledge its unlawful actions and release gov. documents related to this case, which will allow the public to see for itself how the DOE and EPA worked in concert to solicit a report with predetermined conclusions aimed at overturning the Endangerment Finding."

Trump Administration Orders USDA Employees to Investigate Foreign Researchers They Work With The new directive asks workers to check the backgrounds of foreign nationals collaborating with the department’s scientists for evidence of “subversive or criminal activity.” Their names are being sen...

“Asking scientists to spy on and report on their fellow co-authors” is a “classic hallmark of authoritarianism," said Dr Jennifer Jones, Director of the Center for Science & Democracy at UCS.

Trump’s Golden Dome excuse for Greenland grab is ‘detached from reality,’ experts say Longstanding diplomatic agreements and an existing U.S. base already enable military expansion.

*gestures wildly* See? SEE??

Trump’s Golden Dome excuse for Greenland grab is ‘detached from reality,’ experts say www.defenseone.com/threats/2026...

AND the CNN story also cites another compelling report by my colleague Jennifer Knox, who did a deep dive on the pending expiration of New START. Take a look: www.ucs.org/sites/defaul...

My colleague @dkspaulding.bsky.social inspired this excellent @cnn.com piece on #nuclear testing with this compelling story: blog.ucs.org/dylan-spauld...

Good news: World records longest ever lull in nuclear tests. Bad news: It’s on shaky ground | CNN The world passed a nuclear milestone this week. And, perhaps surprisingly given the recent run of saber-rattling from the likes of Russia and the United States, it’s a positive one.

The world passed a nuclear milestone this week. And, perhaps surprisingly given the recent run of saber-rattling from the likes of Russia and the United States, it’s a positive one.

least of the differences between me & people I like like and folk like Trump & it matters

I got to hold ICAN’s Nobel Prize (nuclear disarmament work) & talk w/ @rayacheson.bsky.social

I am glad they were recognized & am proud to be part of broader work.

It’s not about me or you
It’s about us.

This may be my favorite sign off all time. It has a truth that cannot be denied.

This is a community that cares deeply, spreads kindness, and seeks to build a better world.

Today we remembered the lives lost at the hands of ICE. Tomorrow we continue our work to peacefully build safer communities for all.

Thanks - that wasn't appearing in my thread for some reason.