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So, science friends.

When in the 1930s would you have decided “no, I’m not going to go to that conference in Germany”?

Because the question now needs to be posed looking westwards across the Atlantic.

If your phone can be taken on arrival & searched for messages critical of the government & then you can be denied entry (or perhaps worse in the future), why would you even think of going in the first place?

Absolutely horrifying slide into totalitarianism.

theguardian.com/us-news/2025/m

The Guardian · French scientist denied US entry after phone messages critical of Trump foundBy Robert Mackey
Talia Hussain

@markmccaughrean I made that decision about 5 minutes after waking up on Nov 6 2024.

@Talia Indeed. I felt the same during the first Tangerine Tyrant era – admittedly, I went for work still, but wouldn’t countenance any holiday there. In particular, we had hoped to go & see the 2017 total solar eclipse, but that got struck immediately.

But this time it’s far worse & I’d be hard pressed to agree to travel there now for any reason.

@markmccaughrean Yes, I went to a conference in NYC in 2018 with a little reservation. I wouldn't have gone for pleasure. Now, it's actively dangerous to go for any reason.