KSJ Names 2026-27 HBCU Science Journalism Fellowship Class - Knight Science Journalism @MIT Representing five different Historically Black Colleges and Universities, the students are interested in everything from AI to astronomy.

We're proud to announce the 10 outstanding undergraduate journalism students to our 2026-27 HBCU Science Journalism Fellowship class. 

Superb—and *very* unsettling—roundup from @weatherwest.bsky.social. The imminent SW heat wave (likely the most intense for March on record) will involve similar dynamics to the June 2021 scorcher in the PacNW. This landscape-parching heat may set the stage for serious fire/drought trouble by summer.

ICE Agents Menaced Minnesota Protesters at Their Homes, Filings Say

ICE Agents Menaced Minnesota Protesters at Their Homes, Filings Say www.nytimes.com/2026/02/13/u...

“It serves to set a moral baseline at a time when some researchers say there are more armed conflicts than ever before and Earth is at its closest to destruction.”

Support Independent Journalism | GF

Georgia Fort's is chilling, and it's being overshadowed by the equally chilling arrest of Don Lemon.

A GoFundMe is being set up for Fort. In the meantime, you can support her work directly – without paying massive fundraising platform fees – through her website:

www.georgiafort.com/support

Thousands of people filled the streets of downtown Minneapolis in protest of federal immigration enforcement for the second consecutive Friday.

📷️: Aaron Lavinsky

NY Seeks to Limit Police Cooperation With ICE After Trump Raids New York Governor Kathy Hochul is pushing new legislation that would limit cooperation between local law enforcement and US immigration officials, casting the measure as a message to the Trump administration in the wake of violent incidents involving federal agents in other parts of the country.

New York Governor Kathy Hochul is pushing new legislation that would limit cooperation between local law enforcement and US immigration officials

3 things you need to know about the arrests of Don Lemon and Georgia Fort YouTube video by Freedom of the Press Foundation

🔴 Three things you should know about the arrests of Don Lemon and Georgia Fort (hint: this never ends well for the government).

1. They were just doing their job.
2. The government keeps losing these cases.
3. We must call out attacks on journalists of color.

Watch @adamrose.bsky.social explain:

This post is blowing up, so for all the big name journos sharing it, some context:

This was a rally in Chicago explicitly calling for ICE to be abolished, and for a mass general strike to counter the Trump admin's continous attacks on our communities and civil liberties.

"Minnesota is like a mini-America. We have a massively diverse group of people. We love the differences that we all bring. And we will not stop fighting.”

Interview: bit.ly/4tb4Ege

NEW: It's not just Minnesota, judges across the country are calling out ICE for violating court orders with regularity.

www.politico.com/news/2026/01...

“As an international organization, we know that the treatment of journalists is a leading indicator of the condition of a country’s democracy,” said CPJ CEO @jodieginsberg.bsky.social.

Read more on the arrests of journalists Don Lemon and Georgia Fort: cpj.org/2026/01/cpj-...

🚨 CPJ strongly condemns the arrests of journalists Don Lemon and Georgia Fort for their reporting on a protest in Minnesota, arrests which mark a serious escalation of attacks on the press in the United States.

Read more: cpj.org/2026/01/cpj-...

Screenshot of a TikTok video with error message at top saying “your video is under review and can’t be shared right now.”

This morning, I recorded a video on TikTok about why DHS’s arguments for the power to enter homes without judicial warrants in immigration cases are bunk.

Nine hours later, TikTok still says my video is “under review,” and can’t be shared.

Well, here’s a link:

georgetown.box.com/v/Vladeck-IC...

E.P.A. to Stop Considering Lives Saved When Setting Rules on Air Pollution

"For decades, the Environmental Protection Agency has calculated the health benefits of reducing air pollution, using the cost estimates of avoided asthma attacks and premature deaths to justify clean-air rules.

"Not anymore."

By @maxinejoselow.bsky.social in @nytimes.com

Hard to overstate what a remarkable statement this is from a Republican senator — even a retiring one — accusing thte Trump White House of weaponizing DOJ to control the Fed:

"It is now the independence and credibility of the Department of Justice that are in question."

Yvette Cabrera, On Covering the ‘Broccoli’ of Environmental Beats Environmental justice reporting can be emotionally heavy and hard to swallow, but “there are some really uplifting stories,” the KSJ Fellow explains.

Environmental justice reporting can be emotionally heavy and hard to swallow, but “there are some really uplifting stories,” KSJ Fellow @ycabreraoc.bsky.social explains.

CPJ calls for immediate release of 3 imprisoned Venezuelan journalists - Committee to Protect Journalists The Committee to Protect Journalists calls on Venezuelan authorities to immediately and unconditionally release journalists Rory Branker, Nakary Mena Ramos, and Gianni González, drop all charges again...

“Pervasive attempts to silence critical voices under Venezuela’s Chavez and Maduro regimes must end as interim President Delcy Rodríguez takes control of the country,” said CPJ Américas Regional Director Jose Zamora. cpj.org/2026/01/cpj-...

CPJ calls for immediate release of 3 imprisoned Venezuelan journalists - Committee to Protect Journalists The Committee to Protect Journalists calls on Venezuelan authorities to immediately and unconditionally release journalists Rory Branker, Nakary Mena Ramos, and Gianni González, drop all charges again...

CPJ calls on Venezuelan authorities to immediately and unconditionally release journalists Rory Branker, Nakary Mena Ramos, and Gianni González, drop all charges against them, and ensure that journalists in Venezuela can work freely and without fear of retaliation. cpj.org/2026/01/cpj-...

'Every Man We Killed Is a Gangster': On the Front Lines with Haiti's Vigilantes Jean Ernest Muscadin's official duties are to prosecute crimes — but he's been accused of summarily killing dozens of purported gang members himself

MUST READ Incredible conflict reporting from Jason Motlagh -- ‘Every Man We Killed Is a Gangster’: On the Front Lines with Haiti’s Vigilantes www.rollingstone.com/culture/cult... via @rollingstone.com

Air Pollution From Industrial Facilities Is Far Worse Than Estimated The Trump administration has put a stop to EPA rules that would have required more than 130 industrial facilities to install air monitors to measure pollution. Millions of people living near these pla...

For years, some big polluters were allowed to estimate their own emissions.

Now, the intrepid @lisalsong.bsky.social has found emissions at facilities were far higher than their estimates.

Terrifying reporting w/ incredible pics from @annie-flanagan.bsky.social that make me feel like I'm choking:

We found that the BLM skipped environmental review on 75% of its grazing land. Our new @propublica.org story explains the ”loophole” that allows BLM to bypass enviro reviews. www.propublica.org/article/graz...

Behind the Headlines: Challenges Reporting on Science YouTube video by SciComm Excellence

Science touches every part of our lives — yet journalists around the world struggle for the space, trust, and resources needed to tell science stories.

Andrea Obaid, Fredrick Migura, and @ycabreraoc.bsky.social discuss the barriers science journalists are facing: youtu.be/2Pogy1qkc8M #scicomm

The bookshelf in our beautiful seminar room @ksjatmit.bsky.social is filled with books by former fellows. Want to be next? Applications to our fellowship are open and on our website. @annaleen.bsky.social @ferrisjabr.bsky.social @tomzellerjr.com @s-r-m.bsky.social and Melanie Kaplan. Please share.

Local independent newsrooms do incredible work. Support our nonpartisan newsroom with a contribution today. No matter the size, your gift goes a long way to grow Mississippi’s most inclusive newsroom. Thanks to Newsmatch your donation is MATCHED: givebutter.com/mfpdonate

How should journalists cover U.S. science in a time of crisis? Top reporters on that beat came together in Cambridge for an insightful, thought-provoking panel discussion, moderated by KSJ's @usha.bsky.social .

Religious protesters say ICE threatens religious freedom in Chicago (RNS) — Despite potential danger, religious leaders and faith activists have been a visible presence at Chicago-area ICE protests, some waving signs with slogans such as ‘Love thy neighbor’ and ‘Who w...

NEW: I spoke to clergy and faith leaders who've joined protests at the Chicago-area ICE facility.

Three say they've been shot with pepper balls, sometimes while praying.

All say ICE is also violating their religious freedom, and one is arguing it in court. religionnews.com/2025/10/07/i...

Immigration Enforcement Takes Key Role in Trump’s D.C. Crime Crackdown

“My friend told me to be careful because they are squarely picking up everyone, simply for having a Hispanic face.” Immigrant workers in DC say they find themselves at the center of two crackdowns: one on crime, another on illegal immigration. www.nytimes.com/2025/08/18/u...

Local Journalism: Where Change Begins in Our Communities YouTube video by SciComm Excellence

From clean water to air pollution, local journalism connects people to the issues that shape their lives.

@ycabreraoc.bsky.social and Fredrick Mugira reflect on the importance of local journalism and covering local issues like pollution and public health.

Watch here: youtu.be/Pgol5CuWIeg #scicomm

My friend and fellow journalist @alecluhn.bsky.social is missing. If you have any info/sway that could help this situation please send me a message 💛