John Bates

Museum Curator, Birds, Evolution, Tropics; Past President, Natural Science Collections Alliance (NSCA)

[Barack Obama @BarackObama]

Today’s Supreme Court decision effectively guts a key pillar of the Voting Rights Act, freeing state legislatures to gerrymander legislative districts to systematically dilute and weaken the voting power of racial minorities - so long as they do it under the guise of “partisanship” rather than explicit “racial bias.” And it serves as just one more example of how a majority of the current Court seems intent on abandoning its vital role in ensuring equal participation in our democracy and protecting the rights of minority groups against majority overreach.

The good news is that such setbacks can be overcome. But that will only happen if citizens across the country who cherish our democratic ideals continue to mobilize and vote in record numbers - not just in the upcoming midterms or in high profile races, but in every election and every level.

[Occupy Democrats @OccupyDemocrats]

BREAKING: Trump punishes Pope Leo for criticizing his Iran War by stripping $11 million from Catholic Charities in Florida that was supposed to help shelter and care for children who enter the country alone.

Trump is terrorizing kids in America while killing them overseas...

“The U.S. government has abruptly decided to end more than 60 years of relationship with Catholic Charities in the Archdiocese of Miami,” said Archbishop Thomas Wenski. “The Archdiocese of Miami’s services for unaccompanied minors have been recognized for their excellence and have served as a model for other agencies throughout the country.”

"Our track record in serving this vulnerable population is unmatched. Yet, the Archdiocese of Miami’s Catholic Charities’ services for unaccompanied minors has been stripped of funding and will be forced to shut down within three months," he added.

The Department of Homeland Security, through its Office of Refugee Resettlement, has paid Catholic Charities in Miami for years to help house children who enter the country without accompanying adults. The Miami Herald describes the program as essentially a "federally funded foster care system."

Bishop Wenski said that despite there being a recent decrease in unaccompanied minors “it is baffling that the U.S. government would shut down a program that it would be hard-pressed to replicate at the level of competence."

Robert Latham, associate director of the University of Miami Law School’s Children and Youth Law Clinic, said that the gutting of funding and possible need to move the children elsewhere could inflict serious damage on their developing psyches.

"It’s incredibly psychologically harmful to be moved,” he said. “For little kids, moving repeatedly creates bonding issues and destroys the sense of both self and community. They don’t know who they are and where they will be."

“This should only be done with a lot of emotional support that you normally would find within a family. Unfortunately, that is not there in a group home setting,” Latham added.

Of course, Donald Trump couldn't care less about the suffering of children. This man was friends with Jeffrey Epstein for years and been accused of sexual abuse himself. He started his Iran War by blowing up a school full of little girls and his administration has worked around the clock to strip funding from programs that feed, educate, and house children.

While the administration has not admitted that these funding cuts are payback against Pope Leo, the point A to point B is apparent. Trump is the most vindictive man to ever hold the presidency. He has been relentlessly attacking Leo for criticizing his Iran War. This is him using financial leverage in an effort to beat the Pope into submission. It will not work.

Please ❤️ and share to demand that the funding be doubled when Democrats take back control!

[John Bates @JMBFMNH]

Today in Birds at the museum, we host the Chicago Bird Collision Monitors (CBCM) for an annual event. Per tradition, Dave Willard has pulled a catalogued specimen for every CBCM attending.

[Sesame Street @sesamestreet]

A simple message with big meaning: "I am somebody." We are grateful to Rev. Jesse Jackson for helping teach generations of children to believe in themselves and in one another. Thank you for being part of our neighborhood. 💛💚

[John Bates @JMBFMNH]

If you want to learn more on this story here is another link: https://t.co/m0y7nAlOjO

[John Bates @JMBFMNH]

The Trump administration is doing everything in their power to cripple U.S. Science. Here is yet another example. https://t.co/35XHb4sM12

[EBONY @EBONY]

A picture is worth a thousand words. The Obamas have always defined class, dignity, and leadership.

[Governor JB Pritzker @GovPritzker]

Just six years out from a pandemic that transcended borders, Trump is abandoning global cooperation by withdrawing from the World Health Organization — and it makes all of us less safe.

Illinois will continue to work with trusted partners to protect lives and follow the science.

[Blackhawks on CHSN @CHSN_Blackhawks]

BIG shoutout to Evan for predicting Bertuzzi's hatty 🎩🎩🎩

@TonyGranato | #Blackhawks

[Mike Hudema @MikeHudema]

Ecuador bans oil drilling to protect 700,000-hectares of rainforest: https://t.co/M4PDNtnCbF These are the type of announcements we need.

No time to waste. #ActOnClimate

#climate #energy #IndigenousPeoples #ClimateWeekNYC

[Rod (Izzy) 🇺🇸🦅 @1zzyzyx1]

The Trump regime is continuing to destroy our protected lands and endangered wildlife habitats. The damage they are causing will be irreversible and scar the land forever; you can't bring back extinct species. #DemsUnited

[Mike Hudema @MikeHudema]

If we switched to #renewableenergy, the number of ships crossing the ocean would fall by 40% because they're just carrying coal & oil & gas!! https://t.co/wPsBnoWEwP

We have the solutions. Implement them. #ActOnClimate

#ClimateAction #climate #energy #GreenNewDeal

[Mike Quigley @RepMikeQuigley]

Trump’s deployment of the National Guard to Illinois has cost taxpayers $12.8 MILLION, according to an independent study from @IPS_DC.

Our federal government should be funding education and health care for Americans, not abusing our military for political stunts.

[Michael McFaul @McFaul]

So sad. And so bad for America's reputation in the world, and thus U.S. national interests.

[John Bates @JMBFMNH]

@evornithology I have a tree like that, the red birds in it are Cardinals.

[Governor Gavin Newsom @CAgovernor]

This 15-story data tower in the heart of the Amazon collects vital climate data that is shared with Americans in California and across the country.

The Trump Administration can ignore reality and worsen the climate crisis, but California will never stop fighting for our future.

[NSCAlliance @NSCAlliance]

A Viewpoint in #BioScience by NSCA Board members: Duke's herbarium merits continued enhancement, not dissolution https://t.co/MphWBGi5W7

#CollectionsAreEssential @Bthiers @trinaeroberts @dirra_ngetmakl @gunter_fischer @ScottVEdwards1 @JMBFMNH @ebsessa @ZaspelLab

[Captain Mark Kelly @CaptMarkKelly]

Minnesota Rep. Melissa Hortman was a friend who worked with Gabby to stop gun violence. We’re thinking of her children, who've now lost both their parents, and we’re praying for Sen. Hoffman and his wife, who are still fighting for their lives.

Stay strong.

[American Institute of Biological Sciences @AIBSbiology]

Ask your Representative to sign the bipartisan Neguse-Fitzpatrick Dear Colleague Letter in support of $10.2 billion in funding for the @NSF in 2026. #scipol #actionalert #aibs #policynews https://t.co/MlkfnGyOxK