NSF director to resign amid grant terminations, job cuts, and controversy

Post by eli_gottlieb » Thu, Apr 24, 2025, 9:19 PM UTC

mike_hearn wrote: post #44

jajko wrote: post #33

Earlier quoted context omitted.

With Brexit Brits got exactly what was promised, they just didn't realize what that promise actually meant and very few are happy about it these days. This is next level of "I'll deliver anyway, I know what you wanted" while fucking it up spectacularly. If only all of our pensions wouldn't be now siphoned to those few with advanced government access I would be laughing a bit more.

They did not get what was promised. They were promised large reductions in immigration, instead the Johnson government raised immigration levels to never before seen heights. Brexit enabled them to have lowered it to whatever level they wanted, but the Conservatives preferred to self destruct than compromise with the voters on mass immigration.

Post by dylan604 » Thu, Apr 24, 2025, 9:20 PM UTC

hammock wrote: post #69

fnordpiglet wrote: post #66

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Well, I’ve come to learn the best leaders hire people who do fight them. The key is that they’re transparently open to being fought, take all sides under consideration, give deference when they don’t have to, but expect compliance when they make a decision. I think we are in a situation where none of the above is happening, so you end up with a globally pessimal decisioning system where you push out the thought leade…

>I think we are in a situation where none of the above is happening What leads you to believe the guy hasn't fought? He literally said "I have done all I can." Do you want him to create so much conflict that he is forced to leave in disgrace, burning every bridge he comes across? Or is it OK that a good guy fights behind the scenes, and resigns with grace when he has lost that fight?

Post by soared » Thu, Apr 24, 2025, 9:27 PM UTC

square_usual wrote: post #102

jimbokun wrote: post #87

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Two failed impeachment attempts, countless lawsuits, and now the Supreme Court has more or less inoculated Trump from any further prosecution attempts. The checks and balances have all been exhausted. There are no bullets left in the gun.

And the one remaining possible check - a literal Supreme Court order - has also been ignored.

Post by IcyWindows » Thu, Apr 24, 2025, 9:31 PM UTC

FuriouslyAdrift wrote: post #99

etskinner wrote: post #82

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Secret other option: Disagree and convince your boss to change their mind That, of course, probably doesn't apply in this situation since Trump rarely changes his mind. But it does apply in other situations.

There's also malicious compliance... doing EXACTLY what is asked no matter how damaging or stupid. It's the 'let it all burn down' option but I have found it drives change very quickly... CYA, though.

Post by codezero » Thu, Apr 24, 2025, 9:37 PM UTC

warkdarrior wrote: post #67

strangeloops85 wrote: post #52

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I have to wonder what DOGE (including the alleged wunderkind Farritor that all the SV VCs were hailing) is planning for NSF. It’s amazing the arrogance of these people, to walk in and just do “hulk smash” on decades of hard work, infrastructure and institutional capacity.

It's fairly straightforward really. Academics will work on whatever grant topics are available, most will do anything for money, so expect lots of grants on topics directly benefiting X.ai, Tesla, Neuralink, or SpaceX.