Odin's Observatory

Last week, the Trump administration quietly released a sweeping new federal rule that would use funding threats to force institutions across the country to reject transgender people. The 400-page proposed regulation would codify the administration's anti-trans executive orders into binding federal policy, imposing a blanket prohibition on federal funds going toward "gender ideology"

The proposed rule, formally titled "Regulation for Federal Financial Assistance," rewrites the government-wide framework governing all federal grants across every agency. Among its most consequential provisions, it requires that before a federal grant recipient can receive money, the award must pass a "pre-issuance review" conducted by a political appointee—not a career expert or peer reviewer—to ensure it is "consistent with applicable law, Federal agency priorities, and the national interest." The regulation explicitly instructs these appointees to screen for "denial by the recipient of the sex binary in humans or the notion that sex is a chosen or mutable characteristic." [...] An institution that acknowledges transgender people exist—through its policies, its training, its healthcare, its bathroom access, its HR procedures, its name-change processes—could be deemed to "deny the sex binary" or to “support the notion that sex is mutable” and have its federal funding blocked.

This torches everything. And I do mean everything.

A very abbreviated list of its ramifications include (but are not limited to):

ending funding for ALL DEI related initiatives

allowing the government to terminate grants at any point for any reason

preventing researchers from publishing, going to conferences, and being part of academic societies

requiring that topics must support the president’s agenda.

What this means, and if anything I’m under selling it, is the death of science and research in America. It allows the government to restrict any topic they please at a whims notice, putting officials who have no background in the topic in charge of deciding funding continuity. It controls what gets researched and if/how researchers are allowed to share their discoveries. There are no books to burn if the government never allows them to be written. This is fascism plain and simple.

Public comments are not a vote, it is a chance for you to say "here is an issue with this law I think you need to address" and provide justification for legal challenges if it goes forward:

"Comments raise the bar that agencies have to meet when making a rule; “if an agency fails to adequately respond to significant, relevant comments in a final rule, members of the public may seek to challenge the rule in court on that basis and claim it could be struck down.ˮ"

This year’s is different. They are now federal REQUIREMENTS, which means there’s no flexibility. As was said previously, the 400 pages are not singularly devoted to being absolute shitheads to trans people. Theres a lot of stuff in there, some of which is the standard dry boring grants stuff, some of which is the horrible ideological warfare outlined above.

This document is issued by the OMB, the Office of Management and Budget, which is currently lead by fucking Russell Vought, the principal architect of Project 2025. This is how they’re going to implement all the horrible shit in there that wasn’t covered by Executive Order. Russell Vought is actively coming for my job, my marriage, and my kid, and most of my friends lost their jobs last year because of him. He is the fucking arch villain behind the heinous shit the current regime is doing.

So their argument is they need a big name star to play a motion capture gorilla because otherwise the audience won't show up... what.

Firstly, it's a comedy mockumentary starring Jimmy Olsen: no one's gonna be watching that who doesn't already have an idea who the characters are.

Secondly, like it or not, James Gunn is going with whoever gives the strongest audition, not just hiring famous people because they're famous. Otherwise you end up with the celebrity "voice actor" thing Disney etc does that just screws actual voice actors out of the gig.

Paramount will not close its pending $110 billion merger with Warner Bros. Discovery prior to July 22 as European regulators continue to review the transaction. The updated timeline comes as Oregon AG Dan Rayfield is seeking a court order that would delay the deal from closing for 60 days while the state reviews the David Ellison-led media giant’s records. In a statement, Rayfield’s office claimed that Paramount had previously agreed that it would not close the deal before July 16, but didn’t commit to hold off any longer after that. “We’re not going to let Paramount Skydance play hide the ball so they can rush through their massive merger,” Rayfield said. “Oregonians have a real stake in this deal – in our film industry, in our economy, in the choices they’ll have as consumers. Paramount had every opportunity to hand over records and answer a few basic questions. Instead, it is trying to run out the clock and evade scrutiny. We’re asking the court to make sure Oregonians get the answers they’re owed before this deal closes, not after.”

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yall complain abt how 'wlw are the only ones who get explicit rep in cartoons' bc yall dont even know abt shore leave

Welcome back to Feel Good News! I’ve pulled together a few inspiring highlights to lift your spirits this week.

1. Australia generates so much solar that electricity companies must offer three hours of free electricity during the day

Starting on July 1, households in Queensland, New South Wales, and South Australia can choose an electricity plan under the Solar Sharer program, which offers three hours of free power daily from 11 AM to 2 PM (or noon to 3 PM in South Australia). A similar scheme, the Midday Power Saver, will be available in Victoria from October 1. The initiative aims to allow households to benefit from Australia’s abundant solar energy, even if they don’t have solar panels. The free power has a cap of 24 kWh per day, suitable for the average usage of a five-person household. To participate, customers need a smart meter, which can typically be requested from their energy retailer at no cost. However, the offer is not available to customers of smaller retailers, those in other states, or those on private electricity systems. Experts suggest that the plan is mainly beneficial for households with batteries or electric vehicles and those who can shift energy use to the free period. While the Solar Sharer plan might not always be the cheapest option available, it offers a structured approach to energy use during cheaper solar hours. Consumers are advised to evaluate their energy habits carefully to avoid higher costs at other times. The government and retailers must provide clear information about the potential trade-offs, emphasizing the need for customers to assess whether they can maximize savings by aligning their energy consumption with the free period. Additionally, various retailers currently offer similar plans, encouraging customers to shop around for the best deals, especially with new offerings expected from July.

2. Millions of People in Pakistan Got Tired of Blackouts and Built the World’s Fastest Rooftop Solar Boom, Making Solar the Country’s Largest Source of Electricity

In 2025, Pakistan emerged as the world’s largest importer of Chinese solar panels, achieving this milestone without government subsidies or formal programs encouraging the adoption of solar energy. This rapid transition reflects a significant grassroots movement as individuals sought solutions to persistent power outages and rising electricity costs, making Pakistan’s solar boom possibly the fastest deployment of distributed solar energy globally. As of 2025, solar energy became the predominant source of electricity in Pakistan, contributing around 25% of total electricity generation during peak periods. An estimated 33 GW of distributed solar capacity was installed, predominantly on residential rooftops, driven by a mistrust of the unreliable grid and escalating electricity prices—average tariffs tripling from 2015 to 2025. Despite the boom, Pakistan’s transition serves as a cautionary tale. With an oversupply of electricity generation capacity, the country faces a circular debt issue exceeding 2 trillion rupees, where public utilities struggle to recover costs and manage electricity distribution. Higher fixed costs, compounded by a shrinking customer base as wealthier households turn to solar, risk creating a utility death spiral, wherein those remaining on the grid face higher bills and further drive others to solar solutions. This scenario raises equity concerns, as solar adoption tends to be higher among wealthier households, leaving low-income consumers burdened by the costs of an increasingly strained grid. The government has attempted to mitigate these issues through regulatory changes, but these measures may hinder solar adoption and protect the failing centralized model. Looking forward, Pakistan’s experience may foreshadow similar patterns in other developing nations grappling with energy demands, suggesting that widespread adoption of distributed solar can occur without traditional development pathways. However, the challenge lies in developing a supportive infrastructure, regulatory framework, and equitable distribution of grid costs to sustain this growth without deepening systemic crises. Jan Rosenow, an expert in energy policy, emphasizes that while deploying solar is straightforward, creating a viable market system around it is considerably more complex.

3. Weird Al Yankovic Pulled Out of AI Ad Despite Offer to Make a ‘Nice Pile of Money’: ‘I Can’t Be the Poster Boy for AI’

“Weird Al” Yankovic recently discussed his reservations about artificial intelligence (AI) in an interview ahead of his “Bigger & Weirder” tour stop in Syracuse, New York. He revealed that he declined a lucrative offer to star in a commercial for business software after discovering it involved AI. Yankovic stated, “I can’t be the poster boy for AI,” emphasizing his disapproval of the technology. His sentiments align with other Hollywood figures who have expressed concerns about AI. For instance, director Kane Parsons labeled AI as “genuinely harmful,” while actress Emma Thompson described it as inducing “intense irritation” in her creative process. Madonna also commented on the adverse effects of AI and algorithms on artistic expression, asserting they contradict the risk-taking essential to art, despite her own project utilizing AI artists.

4. Scientists Regrew Knee Cartilage in Human Tissue That Had Deteriorated to the Point of Requiring Replacement Surgery

A Stanford Medicine-led study has shown that a treatment targeting the protein 15-PGDH, linked to aging, can restore knee cartilage and prevent arthritis in older mice. This approach has also yielded promising results in human cartilage samples collected during knee surgeries, suggesting potential for reversing damage caused by aging or osteoarthritis with injections or oral medications. Current osteoarthritis treatments mainly alleviate pain without addressing the underlying issues. The study highlights how inhibiting 15-PGDH can enhance tissue regeneration, as previous research showed its correlation with other age-related degenerative conditions. Unlike other tissues, cartilage regeneration occurs through existing chondrocytes shifting to a more youthful state rather than relying on stem cells. The team observed significant cartilage thickening in treated mice and reduced risks of developing arthritis after ACL-like injuries. The study indicates a pivotal shift in understanding cartilage repair mechanisms, with future clinical trials anticipated to explore the efficacy of this treatment in humans. The research received funding from various institutes, and the authors have filed patents related to the findings.

5. Scientists built a solar reactor that eats plastic bottles and burps out clean hydrogen at scale 7-2-2026

A team from Cambridge University has developed a new device that addresses two pressing environmental issues: plastic pollution and the production of hydrogen, a clean-burning fuel that is currently largely derived from fossil fuels. The device is capable of using sunlight to break down plastic waste into hydrogen and was constructed using simple materials and a paint sprayer, making it feasible for large-scale production. This new reactor measures about one square meter, significantly larger than a previous version tested only in laboratory conditions. It uses room temperature processes to create light-absorbing panels and employs a special catalyst made of cobalt and zirconium. Tested outdoors, the reactor successfully extracted hydrogen from sources like plastic bottles, glucose, and cellulose, with glucose yielding the highest amount of hydrogen. The innovative spray-coating method significantly reduces production costs, but the hydrogen generated remains expensive. Ongoing work is needed to enhance the reactor’s efficiency and durability. The findings have been documented in the journal Nature Chemical Engineering.

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That’s it for last week :)

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That’s right Dick, kill him. Eliminate Roy Harper for his crimes.