Nec Hoc Nec Ilud

* It's mostly election and action Items. Sorry.

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* "'Eat the rich': Indonesians protest against graft, wildfires:" https://www.afp.com/en/eat-rich-indonesians-protest-against-graft-wildfires

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* NOW IS A GREAT TIME to TELL LAWMAKERS WHAT IS IMPORTANT to YOU!!

* "Hegseth to Face Impeachment Vote as Early as Next Week:" https://archive.ph/wXB27#selection-1280.0-1280.1

There was already bipartisan interest in impeaching him gathering before the election. It's likely the midterms will add to that, but I'm not holding my breath. Now is a great time to contact your Congress Critters about it.

* "Comer says ‘there’s a lot of questions about Hegseth’ amid impeachment push:" https://thehill.com/homenews/house/6204559-comer-questions-hegseth-pentagon/

* "Massie Says He Has Enough Signatures to Force Vote on Epstein Files:" https://newrepublic.com/post/217663/massie-enough-signatures-force-vote-epstein-files-act-house

* This is from before the election, but it's important: "Election Day and the Battle to Come:" https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2026/11/midterms-election-day-democrats-narrative-republicans-trump/

* "Winning an Election Isn't Enough:"

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* "Democrats won big. Now trans Americans are demanding more than promises:" https://www.advocate.com/opinion/democrats-midterms-trans-rights-accountability

Now is a great time to contact your sitting Congress People and your new electeds if any and tell them you support trans rights:

* Another thing you ought to call in about: "‘Be bold’: Bernie Sanders calls for Democrats to pass Medicare for All:" https://www.ms.now/all-in/watch/be-bold-bernie-sanders-calls-for-democrats-to-pass-medicare-for-all-2519842371869

* "Senate Democrats will not let Trump put a ‘right-winger’ on the Supreme Court, Schumer vows:" https://apnews.com/article/schumer-trump-democrat-majority-election-d8d5262fe3d820a3dc73193002f0f27e

* "Mike Johnson will step aside as top House Republican next Congress:" https://www.npr.org/2026/11/04/g-s1-151854/2026-midterms-mike-johnson-speaker

Do we think he needs to spend more time monitoring his son's erections, a thing he bragged he does?

* "Jim Jordan launches bid to lead House GOP, promises ‘straight-shooting’:" https://www.politico.com/live-updates/2026/11/04/congress/jim-jordan-minority-leader-01148902

* "Do Your Phone Calls and Emails Matter? :" https://cmarmitage.substack.com/p/do-your-phone-calls-and-emails-matter

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* Until Midterms our job is to survive, to build grassroots resistance, to do all in our power to slow the republican Christo-fascist agenda, and to vote in the 2026 in case there is still Democracy.

"Take action with Indivisible:" https://www.mobilize.us/indivisible/

Trump 2.0 Indivisible Guide.  https://indivisible.org/resource/guide

If you can't safely contact them in person, here are some other options for contacting your Congress Critters:

Five Calls to your critters: https://5calls.org/

Here is one that will send your reps a fax: https://resist.bot/

And another: https://faxzero.com/fax_senate.php

Snail Mail Campaigns: https://conuly.dreamwidth.org/3622760.html

"Congress. gov:" https://www.congress.gov/

White house (Possibly Dangerous): https://www.whitehouse.gov/

ACLU advice for writing to your Critters: https://www.aclu.org/writing-your-elected-representatives

This tracks legislation: https://www.govtrack.us/

"The Public Comment Process (+ how to write effective public comments):" https://www.tumblr.com/gwydionmisha/781844516804149248?source=share

"Swing Left:" https://swingleft.org/

Run for Something: https://runforsomething.net/

"Vote Smart:" https://justfacts.votesmart.org/

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* "6 takeaways from Democrats' big wave on election night:" https://www.npr.org/2026/11/04/nx-s1-6022216/midterms-democrats-trump-republicans-analysis

* "Not just Congress: Democrats’ blue wave washes over state legislatures across US:" https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/nov/05/democrats-state-legislatures-midterm-elections

* "‘Swaggering assholery’ rejected: Voters threw ‘toxic chuds’ out on their butts, says Hayes:" https://www.ms.now/all-in/watch/swaggering-assholery-rejected-voters-threw-toxic-chuds-out-on-their-butts-says-hayes-2519952963743

* "‘SO FREAKING DELICIOUS’: Ironies abound in midterm Republican wipeout:" https://www.ms.now/the-briefing-with-jen-psaki/watch/so-freaking-delicious-ironies-abound-in-midterm-republican-wipeout-2519849539576

* "Trump says Democrats 'did a good job,' blames Republican candidates for midterm losses:" https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/trump-says-democrats-did-a-good-job-blames-republican-candidates-for-midterm-losses

* "Trump hammers Fox News, blaming network for GOP losses as ratings slide:" https://www.cnbc.com/2026/11/04/trump-fox-news-gop-midterm-losses.html

* "Trump acknowledges role of Iran war in Democratic sweep in midterm elections:" https://archive.ph/lE0zG#selection-1118.0-1118.1

* "Trump brags about his White House ballroom and seeks to deflect blame for GOP midterm drubbing:" https://apnews.com/article/trump-midterms-blame-responsibility-republicans-losses-9593324649b5e8432fb34a95d4e4b2e1

* "Vance blames Iran war for GOP’s midterm losses:" https://www.politico.com/news/2026/11/04/jd-vance-iran-war-midterms-01148838

* "Op-ed: All that anti-trans money, and Republicans still got shellacked in Texas & everywhere else:" https://www.advocate.com/opinion/republican-transphobia-losing-campaign

* "Teddy Schleifer on Elon Musk’s $500M Election Flop | The Daily Show:"

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* I'm including this last one because I do think the protests mattered a lot and will continue to matter. "Erica Chenoweth on the 3.5% Rule & Nonviolent Resistance | The Daily Show:"

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* "Alabama voters elect out gay Democrat as sheriff, unseating 2-term Republican:" https://www.advocate.com/politics/election/brett-jones-gay-alabama-sheriff

* "6 takeaways from Alaska’s election:" https://alaskapublic.org/news/politics/elections/2026-11-04/6-takeaways-from-alaskas-election

* "Scott Wiener elected San Francisco’s first out gay member of Congress as Pelosi-backed rival concedes:" https://www.advocate.com/politics/election/scott-weiner-california-congress

* "Xavier Becerra Wins California Governor’s Race:" https://www.kqed.org/news/12107022/xavier-becerra-wins-california-governors-race

* "Democrat Jessica Killin wins election to U.S. House in Colorado's 5th Congressional District:" https://kdhnews.com/news/politics/democrat-jessica-killin-wins-election-to-u-s-house-in-colorados-5th-congressional-district/article_94f6f8ae-b1c4-5808-a947-8b5953ac0881.html

* "Lauren Boebert Cries Election Fraud as She Trails Behind Democrat:" https://newrepublic.com/post/217684/lauren-boebert-election-fraud-trails-democrat

* "GOP Sen. Ashley Moody wins special Senate election for Marco Rubio’s old seat in Florida:" https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2026-election/ashley-moody-florida-senate-election-win-midterm-angie-nixon-rcna603333

* "Meet the weed-growing transgender daughter of immigrants who just made Florida electoral history:" https://www.advocate.com/politics/states/quinnie-perez-florida-transgender-history

* "NRCC chair loss scrambles Republican telecom leadership:" https://www.politico.com/news/2026/11/04/nrcc-chair-loss-scrambles-republican-telecom-leadership-01149506

* "Newly elected nonbinary politician Bentley Hudgins announces ‘Woke 3.0 has commenced’:" https://www.advocate.com/politics/bentley-hudgins-nonbinary-trolls

* O.o "Democrat Who Dropped Out Still Beat Republican in Deep Trump Country:" https://newrepublic.com/post/217655/democrat-dropped-out-beat-republican

* "Hannah Pingree defeats Bobby Charles and Rick Bennett in three-way gubernatorial race:" https://www.mainepublic.org/politics/2026-11-03/hannah-pingree-defeats-bobby-charles-and-rick-bennett-in-three-way-gubernatorial-race

* "Jocelyn Benson defeats John James in Michigan governor's race:" https://www.michiganpublic.org/politics-government/2026-11-04/who-won-michigan-governors-race

* "Amy Klobuchar wins Minnesota governor's race:" https://www.axios.com/local/twin-cities/2026/11/04/minnesota-governor-race-results-amy-klobuchar-lisa-demuth

* "Cindy Hyde-Smith blocked Scott Colom from becoming a judge for being pro-trans. Now, he might take her Senate seat:" https://www.advocate.com/politics/cindy-hyde-smith-blocked-scott-colom

* "Colom confident as Mississippi appears poised to ‘pick another senator’:" https://www.ms.now/the-briefing-with-jen-psaki/watch/colom-confident-as-mississippi-appears-poised-to-pick-another-senator-2519967811537

* "Stacey Abrams has been quietly building political power in Mississippi. Scott Colom could be the payoff:" https://thegrio.com/2026/10/31/stacey-abrams-has-been-quietly-building-political-power-in-mississippi-scott-colom-could-be-the-payoff/

* "Smokejumper flips Montana house seat held by GOP for three decades:" https://www.npr.org/2026/11/04/nx-s1-6020573/smokejumper-flips-montana-house-seat-held-by-gop-for-three-decades

* "First out gay U.S. Senator-elect Chris Pappas puts Donald Trump’s judicial nominees on notice:" https://www.advocate.com/politics/national/chris-pappas-senator-historic-interview

* "Lesbian combat veteran Cait Conley unseats Republican Mike Lawler in New York U.S. House race:" https://www.advocate.com/politics/election/cait-conley-mike-lawler-results

* "Trump-loving rapper wins House race in NY, calls for Diddy to be freed in expletive-laden speech:" https://www.nj.com/politics/2026/11/trump-loving-rapper-wins-house-race-in-ny-calls-for-diddy-to-be-freed-in-expletive-laden-speech.html

* "Gay Army pilot who refused to quit over leather photos concedes House race: ‘Still your neighbor’:" https://www.advocate.com/politics/election/chris-gallant-new-york-congress

* "Democrat Aaron Ford unseats GOP Gov. Joe Lombardo in Nevada:" https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2026-election/aaron-ford-nevada-governor-election-win-lombardo-democrat-republican-rcna603362

* "How North Carolina Democrats flipped several House seats in historically GOP districts:" https://www.npr.org/2026/11/05/nx-s1-6031719/north-carolina-democrats-flip-house-seats-republican-districts

* "Seismic ripples in NC mountain politics. Foxx trails by 99 votes.:" https://carolinapublicpress.org/82969/seismic-ripples-in-nc-mountain-politics-foxx-trails-by-99-votes/

* "‘A major shakeup’: Knickerbocker unseats Turner in Congress:" https://www.daytondailynews.com/local/a-major-shakeup-knickerbocker-unseats-turner-in-congress/article_23da9adc-08b1-5340-b66d-879c7864f7b5.html

* "Commentary: An open letter to Governor-Elect Dr. Amy Acton on addressing LGBTQ+ health disparities:" https://www.advocate.com/opinion/open-letter-to-amy-acton

* "Democrat Bob Brooks wins election to U.S. House in Pennsylvania's 7th Congressional District:" https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/democrat-bob-brooks-wins-election-to-u-s-house-in-pennsylvanias-7th-congressional-district

* "Blue wave sends a doctor to the Senate with an eye on holding RFK Jr. to account:" https://www.ms.now/ms-now/watch/blue-wave-sends-a-doctor-to-the-senate-with-an-eye-on-holding-rfk-jr-to-account-2519713859983

* "Victoria Broderick claims victory over U.S. Rep. Scott DesJarlais in 4th Congressional District:" https://tennesseelookout.com/2026/11/04/victoria-broderick-claims-victory-over-u-s-rep-scott-desjarlais-in-4th-congressional-district/

* "Marsha Blackburn wins in Tennessee, will be state's first woman governor:" https://www.axios.com/local/nashville/2026/11/04/tennessee-governor-results-marsha-blackburn

* Watching the returns last Tuesday, I also kept thinking of Anne Richards. "‘We’ve got a mandate’: Hinojosa on historic Texas win, ending 32 years of GOP rule:" https://www.ms.now/all-in/watch/we-ve-got-a-mandate-hinojosa-on-historic-texas-win-ending-32-years-of-gop-rule-2519845955649

* "Attorney General-elect Nathan Johnson says he won’t sue out-of-state doctors who mail abortion pills to Texas:" https://www.texastribune.org/2026/11/04/texas-abortion-ban-democrats-nathan-johnson-gina-hinojosa/

* "Chief Justice-elect Maggie Ellis becomes first LGBTQ+ person in Texas to win statewide race:" https://www.advocate.com/politics/election/maggie-ellis-texas-chief-justice

* "Federal judge blocks Trump DOJ from interfering with Washington state’s elections, ballot counting:" https://www.democracydocket.com/news-alerts/federal-judge-blocks-trump-doj-from-interfering-with-washington-states-elections-ballot-counting/

* "Results for historic WA Supreme Court 2026 election:" https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/politics/results-for-historic-wa-supreme-court-2026-election/#Position-1

* "5 takeaways from Tuesday night’s election returns:" https://www.cascadiadaily.com/2026/nov/04/5-takeaways-from-tuesday-nights-election-returns/

* "Democrat Rebecca Cooke defeats GOP Rep. Derrick Van Orden in key congressional race:" https://www.wpr.org/news/democrat-rebecca-cooke-defeats-gop-derrick-van-orden-congress-midterms

* "Democrat David Crowley makes history, defeats Tom Tiffany in Wisconsin governor’s race:" https://www.wpr.org/news/democrat-david-crowley-defeats-republican-tom-tiffany-wisconsin-governor-2026

* "Data Center Backers Suffer Near-Total Midterm Defeats Across the Country:" https://www.cnet.com/news/politics/data-center-ai-losses-midterms/

* "Massachusetts ballot question results: Here's what passed and what didn't in the 2026 election:" https://www.cbsnews.com/boston/news/massachusetts-ballot-question-results-2026-election/

* "Nevada voters approve restrictive ID measure:" https://www.democracydocket.com/news-alerts/nevada-voters-approve-restrictive-id-measure/

* "Washington voters embracing income tax on high earners:" https://www.seattleweekly.com/2026/11/04/washington-voters-embracing-income-tax-on-high-earners/

* "Reproductive rights protected in several states by midterm election ballot measures:" https://www.theguardian.com/society/2026/nov/05/abortion-ballot-measures-pass

* "LGBTQ+ groups 'heartbroken' by passage of anti-trans measures amid blue wave:" https://www.advocate.com/politics/election/midterm-election-2026-transgender-measures

I beg of you to contact your State and Federal officials, current and newly elected and ask them to protect trans people

* "Colorado voters ban trans youth surgeries that hospitals already don’t perform:" https://www.advocate.com/politics/election/colorado-transgender-ballot

* "Colorado votes to restrict sports participation for transgender students:" https://www.advocate.com/politics/states/colorado-trans-sports-2026-election

* "Deep-blue Washington State passes ballot initiative banning trans girls from sports:" https://www.advocate.com/politics/election/washington-trans

This one is particularly egregious as it allows random people to demand the sexual assault of K-through college athletes by forcing them to disrobe for invasive medical tests if they want to participate in sports.

So it's a pro-rape/CSA law that is also designed to make parents to frightened to let their girls play by making it no longer safe.

Republicans get to undermine Title IX, assault girls and women for pleasure, and harm trans people all at the same time, all major goals of the Republican party.

And the fucking democrats fell for it.

So here's my theory as to what happened:

Washington has had Democrat single party rule this whole century at the state level. We got used to the government being mostly benign as debates tend to be about how to solve problems rather than create them.

It's easy for people to get complacent, especially because we've been a trans sanctuary state. People flee here from all over the country because it's been so safe and because we have some of the best trans healthcare services in the country.

Trans people were deeply alarmed when the ballot measure cleared to go on the ballot, but we couldn't get anyone else to take it seriously.

So there was no money to fight it and not much in the way of help from people who were focused on other things.

I started noticing a deluge of scare mongering commercials their side pouring in starting about a month before the election, really vile lies, with nothing at all to counter it. No help at all from the democrats.

Eventually, I guess someone listened to all the people really fucking frightened about this, but it resulted in barely enough money for about two weeks of commercials pointing out that forced genital inspections on demand is a bad idea. These adds barely ran while we were saturated with disinformation. The big money was elsewhere, because we are no one else's priority but our own and people will happily throw us under the bus not caring that if you take away one group's bodily autonomy, it undermines every one, not caring how many women or children will be harmed, not caring about what it will do to girls sports if you allow CSA on anyone not fitting the perfect ideal of white femininity.

So here is my theory. I can't substantiate it, but it makes sense:
Billionaires were pouring money in to stop the millionaire tax legislature voted in. They wewre getting no traction no matter how much they saturated voters with attack ads and scare mongering about what would happen if we dared to tax millionaires. I think they decided anti-trans ads would turn out their base for the tax referendum as well, so surprise sudden anti-trans ads everywhere all October. Again, I don't know that's what happened, but I'm always wary of massive ad spending by right wing groups because they do it so much the last decade or so, and it's usually for business interests.

Trans people here were alarmed when the referendum went on the ballot, but I don't think national queer organizations noticed and we don't have the kind of money, so the response was too late too small.

* "Why Liberals Keep Losing the Trans Sports Debate:"

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* "Vermont voters deliver LGBTQ+ rights victory with constitutional protections:" https://www.advocate.com/politics/election/vermont-lgbtq-rights-constitution

* "Virginia Topples Its Jim Crow-Era Lifetime Ban on Voting:" https://boltsmag.org/virginia-passes-amendment-3-ending-harsh-felony-disenfranchisement/

* CW: Domestic Abuse. "Acknowledging a persistent truth: domestic violence in pregnancy:" https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC2442136/

* CW: Domestic Abuse. "Why Does 30% of All Domestic Abuse Begin in Pregnancy?:" https://www.oasisdaservice.org/knowledge-hub/why-does-30-of-all-domestic-abuse-begin-in-pregnancy

* CW: Domestic Abuse. "Homicide leading cause of death for pregnant women in U.S.:" https://hsph.harvard.edu/news/homicide-leading-cause-of-death-for-pregnant-women-in-u-s/

* CW: Domestic Abuse. "The Most Common Causes of Maternal Death May Surprise You :" https://www.cuimc.columbia.edu/news/most-common-causes-maternal-death-may-surprise-you

* "GTA 6 Hacker Moved to Prison for Retrial Two Years After Indefinite Sentence to Secure Hospital:" https://www.ign.com/articles/gta-6-hacker-moved-to-prison-for-retrial-two-years-after-indefinite-sentence-to-secure-hospital

* "Warhound raises $200M to engineer war dogs and arm them with Anduril gear:" https://techcrunch.com/2026/10/22/ben-lamm-raises-200m-for-warhound-to-engineer-war-dogs-and-arm-them-with-anduril-gear/

* "Eleanor Janega's Favourite Black-Death-Sex-Book:"

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* "The Gunpowder Plot: The Night They Tried to Blow Up the King:"

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* I knew I would be a mess after the initial election post. (I've been compiling things since the Wednesday morning posts went up, but I am exhausted and having massive issues with joints.) It was worse than expected, what with the weather and my body doing what my body does. Plus the early in the month things need doing whatever else happens, so I keep having to go out on assorted errands.

I was saving the big trip up to ethical grocery for when the new guy was here so he could come with and help, but he called in sick at the last minute. I am not angry about this. I'm a cf carrier patient. I want people to stay home if they even suspect they might be coming down with something. In this case, he had hoped he'd have felt better by work time, but he did not.

Normally, I'd wait until next week, but the cat's could not wait that long, and we really needed paper towels and TP. Technically the TP could have waited until Monday, but the cats couldn't. By this point I really needed to go so I could hit the local indie pet store. I also needed cat shampoo, as Saffy has developed a problem to big to handle without a shampoo and clipping. Attempts to clip her by just me against her will, while partially successful, are not enough as that problem is spreading faster than I can pin her down. I can't just creep up behind when she's standing, because if she's standing she's in motion and if she senses me coming she's sitting. I have to catch her sleeping in the correct side in a position where I can approach her easily with tools and enough light and she's the kitten equivalent of a mastermind. She also approximately 15 pounds of muscle with a will to resist. at best I get one shot at it and I often fail.

So there is both a developing hygiene problem and a serious mat. So I have a plan for this which unfortunately requires coordination with Squirrel. Also a night where standing up doesn't give me the shakes. My idea is, we wash her butt, then wrap her in a towel to take to my room where the bed is covered in a waterproof cat cover. squirrel restrains her on the bed in the towel and I attack the mat and any other problems the washing did not solve.

Only the cat shampoo is missing. 100 percent not where I keep it, nor anywhere logical I can think of for a cleaner to have moved it, so I needed to slide into the indie pet store before close for cat supplies, then head across town to visit a friend and hit ethical grocery. (The friend lives near the grocery store, it made sense to visit as they didn't visit me the last couple weeks because Too Many Things).

The drive was decent both directions. There was traffic, but not heavy. It was a nice clear night.

Was is the operative word. The second I turn into my apartment complex the skies open and drop a deluge of icy cold rain down on me. I am soaked the second I step from the car, but there is nothing for it. I take some light things inside and grab the dolly from the kitchen. Perishables have to come inside as does the cat food. Furry people are literally waiting for dinner to arrive. It is not quite cold enough for hail, but it's close. I drag the stuff in, struggle out of my clothes which are plastered to my body and into a robe, get the perishables away and the cats fed. The kettle is on the oven preheating. I go to put everything else away and I realize that the juice is not in the fridge or on the dolly. Fuck!

I start over with new clothes as it took five minutes or so to get the other shirt off because it kept sticking to me. For a wonder it's not raining. I see pretty quickly how I missed the juice. It was where I thought it was, in the passenger side leg well where I'd put the heavy things. (Wheelchair and walker take up most of the rest of the car except the front seats.) It had fallen over in a direction where the cap was in the deepest shadow and the rest of it was barely visible in the gloom. I could barely see it, even knowing it was there because of the angle of the streetlight, the colour of the floor rug, etc.. And then the skies opened up again and it rained harder. O.o

I did eventually get fed and a rest and everything away, but I had the shakes for a couple of hours.

I had so much to do to day and I still haven't posted the election follow up stuff. Sigh.

* My injured hand was a lot worse today. I don't even know what I did to it two days ago, but it was painful enough I struggled to sleep today. It's that thing where it's worse when it has time to stiffen up. I think it's like a pulled muscle only lots of small muscles in the lower center of the hand. If it's not improved by Monday, I'll try to see a Doctor, but my bet is strained muscles rather than something serious.

I had to put off Saffy's bath because I can't hold scissors in my dominant hand and it's not safe for her until I'm healed.

* My Monster/Horror Movie polls: https://www.tumblr.com/gwydpolls/tagged/Monster%20Movies

* "Midterm Anal-a-Zone: So Long, 2026 Midterms & Hello, 2028 Presidential Race! | The Daily Show:"

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* "Midterm Blowout: Dems Batter GOP & Elon Musk Is Out $500 Million | The Daily Show:"

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* "Trump Reacts to Midterm Defeat by Focusing on the Ballroom | The Daily Show:"

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* "GOP Turns on Trump & Rep. Constantino Blasts "A**holes" | The Daily Show:"

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* "Pete Hegseth: Last Week Tonight with John Oliver (HBO):"

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* "Voters Stay Misinformed with AI, Elon Floats Flying Car & Robot Bodyguards Kick Ass | The Daily Show:"

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* "Patrick Stewart Goes All-In on Gay Indie Film:"

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*****
* Full list of Resistance and charity links has been migrated to my profile as it was getting out of hand.

The help links are at the bottom under the cut.

* "Swing Left:" https://swingleft.org/

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* A last minute Edition ahead of the election.

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* "The Supreme Court rejects a DOJ push to separate California ballots:" https://www.npr.org/2026/11/02/nx-s1-6023802/supreme-court-california-voting-ballots-trump

Approximately half aren't even registered to vote in California and the ones they've had time to check that are registered are citizens. The list is nonsense Republicans cooked up in hopes of fixing the election or undermining it. The list they sent in Nevada had no people registered illegally on it. The one they sent Washington also looks like nonsense.

The Federal government gas no role in elections. It's the job of the states under the constitution.

* "Maddow cracks DOGE mystery as Trump fails again on the eve of the election:" https://www.ms.now/rachel-maddow/watch/maddow-cracks-doge-mystery-as-trump-fails-again-on-the-eve-of-the-election-2519455811722

* "Judge throws out Trump admin suit seeking to stave off GOP defeat in Alaska Senate race:" https://www.politico.com/news/2026/11/01/alaska-lawsuit-trump-administration-ruling

The Republicans were suing to end secret ballots promised under the constitution so they could harass people who voted in a way they didn't want.

* "Texas Supreme Court halts questioning over who’s behind fake trans advocacy mailers to families:" https://www.advocate.com/politics/states/texas-false-transgender-deposition-halted

* "Based on anti-trans spending, right-wingers could afford to pay every trans student athlete a six-figure salary:" https://www.advocate.com/politics/national/anti-trans-sports-spending

* "Trump is giving his closing midterm pitch at problem-plagued Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool:" https://apnews.com/article/trump-closing-midterm-speech-reflecting-pool-f35133c6e33e87d1a036e3425af21ad6

* "Trump Says He May Be ‘Mr. Veto’ If Democrats Win Midterms:" https://archive.ph/OxUaq#selection-1280.0-1280.1

We are voting for brakes on unchecked power. We'd need a super majority in both houses or enough Republicans with some spine and patriotism to pass reforms, but right now, we need to stop the complete fascist takeover of the government.

* "Trump vows to protect Musk, floats pre-emptive staff pardons:" https://www.axios.com/2026/11/02/trump-musk-democrats

This won't protect them from state criminal prosecutions, however.

Also, if we take the senate, it'll stop his continued packing of the court with partisan stooges.

Again, we need to stop the bleeding.

* "Asked about affordability, JD Vance pivots to Jon Husted’s ‘ass’ during Texas town hall:" https://www.advocate.com/politics/national/jd-vance-jon-husted-body

* "Haley Stevens’ bombshell sends Michigan Senate race into chaos:" https://www.politico.com/storyline/live/2026/11/01/2026-midterm-elections-preview-sunday

* Stolen valor. "David Flippo Misrepresented His Gulf War Military Record:" https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2026/10/david-flippo-nevada-misrepresented-military-record-desert-storm-gulf-war/

* "An incomplete list of reasons to vote tomorrow:" https://www.tumblr.com/qqueenofhades/832210965477097472?source=share

* "Election eve thoughts: Chris Hayes on the victory hiding in plain sight:" https://www.ms.now/all-in/watch/election-eve-thoughts-chris-hayes-on-the-victory-hiding-in-plain-sight-2519434820001

* "Maddow’s ‘black box worry’ among Trump’s dirty tricks to subvert the election:" https://www.ms.now/rachel-maddow/watch/maddow-s-black-box-worry-among-trump-s-dirty-tricks-to-subvert-the-election-2519466563595

* "Can Trump Rig The Election:"

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* This includes what to do if something goes wrong for you at the polls: https://www.tumblr.com/gwydionmisha/832276271564308480?source=share

* I am ridiculously behind, but am starting to recover.

---

* "Musk says SpaceX restricted Ukraine's Starlink connection as service restored:" https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cvx28ljp8n4xo

---

* "Voters in Israel are deciding whether to oust Netanyahu after 3 years of war:" https://apnews.com/article/israel-election-netanyahu-eisenkot-3b5a0fd078208155337ee9a0b9fbfde2

* "Who are the leading candidates in Israel's election?:" https://archive.ph/8Adm7#selection-1040.0-1040.1

* "Israelis await final election results as Netanyahu remains far from defeated:" https://apnews.com/article/israel-elections-netanyahu-eisenkot-arab-coalition-results-d4680e90210c9a8611853fda9d0deb61

* "Erika Hilton, one of Brazil's first trans legislators, celebrates Lula's presidential victory:" https://www.advocate.com/politics/erika-hilton-lula

* "US to Take In Bolsonaro After He Loses Election and Flees Brazil:" https://archive.ph/VSov6#selection-1280.0-1280.1

* "Op-ed: Brazil's LGBTQ+ election victories offer lessons for American democracy:" https://www.advocate.com/opinion/brazil-lgbtq-election-victories-lessons

Elections matter. Organize. Vote. Stay Noisy.

* "Christian nationalism in Britain driven by people who seldom go to church, says report:" https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/oct/11/christian-nationalism-uk-far-right-people-rarely-go-to-church-report

---

* "Norway Pushes Back After Trump Disparages It Over Nobel Prize Decision:" https://archive.ph/8yLH3#selection-8220.0-8220.1

*** Immigration/I.C.E/Autocracy/Police State***

* "US Supreme Court denies immigration judges the power to shelve deportation cases:" https://archive.ph/59oYn#selection-1040.0-1040.1

* "Inside the Texas courtroom where toddlers face immigration judges:" https://edition.cnn.com/2026/09/28/politics/texas-immigration-court-minors

* "‘Shameful’: Alex Pretti’s parents accuse Trump officials of shielding son’s killers:" https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/oct/27/alex-pretti-parents-son-killing

* "‘We are begging’: Pretti family accuses feds of ‘shielding Alex’s killers’:" https://www.ms.now/all-in/watch/we-are-begging-pretti-family-accuses-feds-of-shielding-alex-s-killers-2518784579706

* Here are some ways to help Immigrants and the anti-ICE Protesters:

"Project Salt Box:" https://projectsaltbox.substack.com/
Links to Help organize in advance of ICE Occupation: https://www.tumblr.com/gwydionmisha/807226885129060352?source=share
"When the Feds Come to Your City: Standing Up to ICE :" https://crimethinc.com/2025/12/03/when-the-feds-come-to-your-city-standing-up-to-ice-a-guide-from-chicago-organizers
Immigrant Defenders: https://give.immdef.org/give/545119/#!/donation/checkout
The Bail Project: https://bailproject.org/
National Bail Fund Network: https://www.communityjusticeexchange.org/en/nbfn-directory
Amnesty International: protect asylum-seekers: https://donate.amnestyusa.org/page/113080/donate/1
The Young Center for Immigrant Children's Rights: https://www.theyoungcenter.org/
CHIRLA: https://www.chirla.org/
AL Otro Lado: https://alotrolado.networkforgood.com/projects/63833-al-otro-lado-fund
"Know Your Rights:" https://www.aclu.org/know-your-rights/protesters-rights
"Disappeared In America:" https://www.disappearedinamerica.us/

---

* This summarizes a lot of data points with some links. "It looks more and more like "Russia, Russia, Russia" was NEVER actually a "hoax.":" https://www.tumblr.com/gwydionmisha/831592446921211904?source=share

---

**** Trump/Epstein/Maxwell, etc. CW: CSA, Rape ****

* CW: CSA, Rape "House Judiciary Democrats want a special counsel to investigate Trump’s ties to Epstein:" https://www.politico.com/live-updates/2026/10/26/congress/new-epstein-report-01135138

* CW: CSA, Rape "New Details of Rape Allegation Against Trump Revealed in House Democrats’ Epstein Report:" https://time.com/article/2026/10/26/house-democrats-unveil-new-details-from-trump-accuser/

* "Woman Says Trump Raped Her and Then Said “The Show Must Go On”:" https://newrepublic.com/post/217159/democrats-epstein-files-report-rape-allegation-trump-woman

---

* "Airbnb says guests shouldn’t have to do the dishes anymore:" https://www.inquirer.com/news/nation-world/airbnb-hosts-chore-requests-guests-20261023.html

* "Paid Phones:" https://archive.ph/pXuWB#selection-644.0-644.1

---

* Until Midterms our job is to survive, to build grassroots resistance, to do all in our power to slow the republican Christo-fascist agenda, and to vote in the 2026 in case there is still Democracy.

"Take action with Indivisible:" https://www.mobilize.us/indivisible/

Trump 2.0 Indivisible Guide.  https://indivisible.org/resource/guide

If you can't safely contact them in person, here are some other options for contacting your Congress Critters:

Five Calls to your critters: https://5calls.org/

Here is one that will send your reps a fax: https://resist.bot/

And another: https://faxzero.com/fax_senate.php

Snail Mail Campaigns: https://conuly.dreamwidth.org/3622760.html

"Congress. gov:" https://www.congress.gov/

White house (Possibly Dangerous): https://www.whitehouse.gov/

ACLU advice for writing to your Critters: https://www.aclu.org/writing-your-elected-representatives

This tracks legislation: https://www.govtrack.us/

"The Public Comment Process (+ how to write effective public comments):" https://www.tumblr.com/gwydionmisha/781844516804149248?source=share

"Swing Left:" https://swingleft.org/

Run for Something: https://runforsomething.net/

"Vote Smart:" https://justfacts.votesmart.org/

---

* "Court blocks bid by Trump DoJ to stop California from counting mail-in ballots:" https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/oct/26/court-california-ballots

* "DOJ asks Washington state to set aside 400 ballots from voters it says may be noncitizens:" https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2026-election/doj-asks-washington-state-set-400-ballots-voters-says-may-noncitizens-rcna605836

* In these cases they refuse to provide 1. Any legal justification for interfering in state elections. 2. Any evidence at all that these are non-citizens.

A similar attempt by DoJ in Nevada yielded zero (0) cases of non-citizens on their list. They are using bullshit lists they made up to try to discredit in advance election results they suspect they aren't going to like.

* "How to tell Trump stunts from what’s actually worth worrying about:" https://www.ms.now/the-briefing-with-jen-psaki/watch/how-to-tell-trump-stunts-from-what-s-actually-worth-worrying-about-2518678595904

* "Trump dangles $1m reward for reporting voter fraud in past or upcoming elections:" https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/oct/26/trump-reward-reporting-voter-fraud

The last time a republican did this the only ones anyone found were Republicans. He refused to pay but was sued and had to pay. Just saying.

* "Has voting by dead people ever swayed US elections?:" https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/dead-people-voting-elections/

* "Gays for Trump founder defends letting GOP operatives vote using his Pennsylvania home address:" https://www.advocate.com/politics/states/scott-pressler-house-voting-pennsylvania

* REMEMBER: Don't just vote for the big things like US Congress. Vote in every State and local race down to the smallest and on all the referendums.

State and local elections have a massive impact on your quality of life.

Check when voting starts where you live. Plan your vote. Get your friends and family to vote. Car pool if you need to.

If there is an early voting option where you live? VOTE EARLY!

This gives you time to fix things if the Republicans try to disenfranchise you. Odds are the lines will be shorter.

Vote! I beg of you!

* "Tracking the Early Vote in the 2026 Midterm Elections:" https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2026/us/elections/midterm-elections-early-voting-tracker-battleground-states.html

* CW: Includes mention of the pro-CSA Republicans attacking Amy Acton, so swim at your own risk: "Obama describes Trump as an agent of ‘chaos and cruelty’ in midterm elections pitch:" https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2026-election/obama-trump-chaos-cruelty-midterm-election-pitch-acton-ramaswamy-rcna605223

* "After Obama humiliates Trump, an odd choice to push back:" https://www.ms.now/the-briefing-with-jen-psaki/watch/after-obama-humiliates-trump-an-odd-choice-to-push-back-2518675011831

* "Hayes breaks down Trump’s ‘extremely telling’ rally riff about gas prices:" https://www.ms.now/all-in/watch/hayes-breaks-down-trumps-extremely-telling-rally-riff-about-gas-prices

* "‘They mobilized a whole government response to that joke’: Obama laughs off Trump attacks in rally for Ossoff:" https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/oct/28/obama-atlanta-democrats-jon-ossoff

I continue to think it's interesting that Trump and Republicans think comparing the Cheesecake Factory to the White House interior decorating is attacking the Cheesecake Factory,

Clearly, even Trump thinks his decorating is terrible. Feels like a self own. Just saying.

* "‘A whole of government response’: Obama mocks Trump’s Cheesecake Factory reaction:" https://www.ms.now/all-in/watch/a-whole-of-government-response-obama-mocks-trump-s-cheesecake-factory-reaction-2518924867935

* "ROASTED!: Trump mocked for missing the point of Obama’s Cheesecake Factory crack:" https://www.ms.now/the-briefing-with-jen-psaki/watch/roasted-trump-mocked-for-missing-the-point-of-obama-s-cheesecake-factory-crack-2518929987733

* "Trump jokes $5,000 would buy ‘a hamburger and maybe a small dessert’ at Mar-a-Lago as affordability looms over midterm:" https://www.cnbc.com/2026/10/28/trump-jokes-5000-cash-would-buy-hamburger-and-dessert-at-mar-a-lago.html

* "Poll: Trump is mobilizing more Democrats against him than Republicans for him:" https://www.politico.com/news/2026/10/23/poll-trump-midterms-gop-loyalty-01133479

* "We built Trump’s perfect man based on his own description:" https://www.advocate.com/politics/national/trump-compliments-men-campaign-rallies

* "Neil Young sues Trump committee for $10M for playing ‘Rockin’ in the Free World’ at rally:" https://www.cnbc.com/2026/10/27/neil-young-trump-lawsuit-song-copyright-free-world.html

* "Gay Army Black Hawk pilot Chris Gallant won’t let old fetish photos define his run for Congress:" https://www.advocate.com/politics/national/chris-gallant-new-york-congress

* "Elon Musk’s political machine begins spending to help Susan Collins:" https://www.bangordailynews.com/2026/09/03/politics/elections/elon-musk-spending-to-help-susan-collins/

* "Musk gives $5 million to Abbott in Texas governor's race:" https://www.politico.com/news/2026/10/27/abbott-taps-tech-cash-for-closing-push-in-texas-governors-race-01136878

* "Who sent fake trans advocacy mailers to inflame Texas Republicans? A trail leads to an Illinois printer:" https://www.advocate.com/politics/national/texas-transgender-mailers-illinois-company

* "Trans rights group heads to court over fake election mailers addressed to Texas children:" https://www.advocate.com/politics/states/fake-transgender-mailers-texas-hearing

* "Judge clears path for trans rights group to uncover who’s behind fake mailers to Texas families:" https://www.advocate.com/politics/states/texas-fake-transgender-mailings-deposition

* "Republicans have made Americans believe transgender athletes are everywhere. They’re barely anywhere:" https://www.advocate.com/politics/national/trans-sports-panic-poll-reality

* "Democrats haven’t yet won control of Congress, but their retreat on trans rights is already underway:" https://www.advocate.com/politics/national/democrats-midterms-transgender-rights

* Every time the commercial comes on where James Talarico begs for money I get angry all over again. How dare he ask us for money when he already threw us under the bus at the first hint of pressure when he knew full well that wouldn't change Republican attacks. He gained nothing except harming the most vulnerable of us.

How dare he ask us for money when he's proved he won't fight for what he claims to believe, when he won't stand up for what's right?

How are the Democrats doing that not ashamed?

And if any of you think that it will stop with is, trust me they will come for the queer community at large next.

* " Why transgender voters who feel betrayed, disappointed, and hurt are backing Democrats anyway:" https://www.advocate.com/politics/trans-voters-democrats-midterm-elections

I'm furious too. If I lived somewhere this is happening would I still vote democrat? Yes, because it's literal fascists who want us dead versus spineless quislings we can pressure into caving in the other direction after the election.

Do I like it? Fuck no. I'm someone who literally hasn't forgiven Barney Frank for transphobic shit he did in the '90's and he's still stabbing us in the back on his death bed.

Still, If I could vote for Hillary even though I threw up in my mouth a little because the Supreme Court was too important and still wish more people did the same, you can do it to help halt us all continuing to careen into the abyss.

The time to pick a further left candidate was the primaries. Let's get these shits election and then dog their every waking moment to remind them who they are meant to represent.

Remember, someone we can pressure is better than someone who is actively trying to steal or civic and human rights because they want us dead.

This is likely the last off ramp on the freeway to hell, please take it because there is no guarantee of another in four years.

* "Iowa Democrat Josh Turek’s sharp anti-trans pivot isn’t winning over his Republican opponent:" https://www.advocate.com/politics/national/iowa-josh-turek-transgender-ad

* "Kansas megachurch pastor running for U.S. Senate has a message for Republicans: Stop bullying trans people:" https://www.advocate.com/politics/national/adam-hamilton-kansas-pro-trans

* "Nonbinary Democrat Bentley Hudgins may make history: 'Hope is a discipline':" https://www.advocate.com/politics/states/nonbinary-democrat-bentley-hudgins-georgia

* "Former NFL player running for office says Democrats need to fight for trans people:" https://www.advocate.com/politics/states/chris-kluwe-democrats-trans-rights

* "Zohran Mamdani vs. The Transphobes:"

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* "Central Park’s horse-drawn carriage drivers fear for their future as New York City passes a ban:" https://apnews.com/article/nyc-mamdani-horse-carriage-ban-central-park-f7eab7520c041c4763f1913cf56e606b

I am worried what happens to the horses when the humans can't afford to feed and stable them.

* "Christian Nationalism’s Grip on American Faith Is Finally Breaking:" https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2026/10/christian-nationalisms-grip-on-american-faith-is-finally-breaking/

* "TV’s So White Again: Diversity Now Seen as “Optional”:" https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-features/tvs-so-white-again-diversity-optional-1236725287/

* "Sydney Sweeney and the Return of the “Perfect Woman”:"

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* "Women feel less comfortable admitting mistakes at work when most of their teammates are men:" https://www.earth.com/lifestyle/women-feel-less-comfortable-admitting-mistakes-at-work-when-most-of-their-teammates-are-men/

* "The Harsh Truth About Safewords in BDSM:"

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* "Many Americans are putting life on hold as stress starts to feel permanent:" https://www.earth.com/lifestyle/many-americans-are-putting-life-on-hold-as-stress-starts-to-feel-permanent/

---

* "High-speed train collision kills at least 68 in Spain’s 2nd deadly rail crash this year:" https://apnews.com/article/train-accident-spain-4f65471a0e36f448d7ee9efe0768cd77

* "Protests erupt in Spain after train crash kills dozens:" https://www.nbcnews.com/world/spain/spain-train-crash-far-right-protesters-prime-minister-pedro-sanchez-rcna606291

---

* "Finland orders Google to stop work on two AI data centers over alleged deforestation — company admits it has 'fallen short of our own high standards in this instance':" https://www.tomshardware.com/tech-industry/data-centers/finland-orders-google-to-stop-work-on-two-ai-data-centers-over-alleged-deforestation-company-admits-it-has-fallen-short-of-our-own-high-standards-in-this-instance

* "‘Pure arrogance’: anger in Finland as Google illegally fells 250,000 trees for datacentre:" https://www.theguardian.com/environment/ng-interactive/2026/oct/22/finland-google-felling-trees-datacentre

* "Yes, Medieval Peasants Wore Colour:" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PLd8qNDY2Nc

* "What Your History Books Didn't Tell You About Lice:"

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* "What Really Happened at Ireland's Last Great Harp Festival?:"

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* "The Lost Sound of Argentina's Irish Immigrants:"

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* "Dublin’s Most Famous Woman Was Probably Made Up:"

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* "The Death and Afterlife of an American Con Man:" https://www.theringer.com/2026/10/09/national-affairs/jim-bakker-death-tammy-faye-ptl-industries-media-impact?

* "Walter Koenig, Star Trek's Original Chekov, Has Died At 90:" https://www.slashfilm.com/2297069/walter-koenig-star-trek-chekov-actor-dead-obituary/

* "Dolores Huerta, labor icon and longtime LGBTQ+ ally, dies at 96:" https://www.advocate.com/obituaries/dolores-huerta-dies-labor-leader

* I saw books falling of their own accord Tuesday night and... https://www.tumblr.com/gwydionmisha/831694026655858688/i-sa-books-falling-of-their-own-accord-and?source=share

* Sometimes I dream something I really wish existed. (Previous examples: Head full of bees beehives, Jones style Goth Soda brand.)

I dreamed a small Silent Film Museum that I desperately want to visit.

It was right up at the foot of the spur of the Mountain range on a little flat area between two steep foothills. The parking lot was up front, because flanking and behind the hills were a Sculpture Garden and outdoor eating areas. It was all native plants and so verdant. There was an area out under awning for eating when it rained, but on the day of the dream, the weather was perfect. There were lots of benches and ways in and out of the museum proper, because they expected people to go outside for breaks in good weather. The paths were smooth and safe for people with disabilities. There was an area near the eatery with silent movie themed playground stuff.

The Museum itself was a gorgeous black and gold deco replica. The front was designed to look like a 1920's particularly lux theater. There was a ticket booth where you'd expect in the old days where you paid your museum admission. Inside the lobby there was a gift shop to the left and a snack bar with the usual old school treats, but also a toppings bar for popcorn and higher end candy, but also things like hot and cold sandwiches because this is still a museum.

It was set up to look like a twin theater, but one side was the entry to the exhibit area. Everything was accessible with room for wheelchairs and lots of places to sit. The elevator was really big so you could maneuver multiple chairs in there,but it looks deco fancy like everything else instead of being some shitty freight elevator. All the signs had braille and they had exhibits that people could touch and interact with, including a mini set upstairs with costumes and props to make little silent movie type shorts in.

The other side was the Auditorium. They'd do a presentation explaining who made what you were going to see, it's historical context, it's film history context, anything offensive, etc. Sometimes they'd run a collection of shorts, sometimes a whole movie. They'd do a break after each offering so people could get up, use the bathroom, eat, look at some exhibits, wander the garden, etc.. It was intended to be friendly to a wide selection of bodies. It was meant to be affordable and accessible. You could bring your own lunch and snacks. They didn't mind. They'd have the schedule online so people would know what was showing and they had reasonably priced monthly passes, season tickets, etc..

I want this museum to exist. I want to b e able to go there and spend all day.

* Late Birthday present decoration pic: https://www.tumblr.com/gwydionmisha/831586269600595968/a-late-birthday-present?source=share

* My Monster/Horror Movie polls: https://www.tumblr.com/gwydpolls/tagged/Monster%20Movies

* "Jordan Klepper Fingers the Pulse: Red Flags | The Daily Show:"

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* "Trump Gets Roasted by Obama & Transfixed by Nicki Minaj's Ass | The Daily Show:"

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* "Conservative Media Rallies Behind The Cheesecake Factory After Obama Serves Up Diss | The Daily Show:"

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* "Are Paid Influencers Influencing Your Midterm Vote? Desi Lydic Says Beware | The Daily Show:"

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* "Black Horrors, Haunts, & X-Files:"

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* "I Watched EVERY Carrie Movie & TV Show & I Have Thoughts:"

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* "The Most Haunting Song in Irish History:"

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* "The Vampire Lestat Takes Back His Story:"

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* "Ghosts, The Banshee, Fairies: The Ancient Tradition Hidden in Popular Irish Songs:"

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* "Apoplectic Assassin Bugs:" https://www.youtube.com/shorts/zjCBtA-qBzQ

* "Ridiculous Ringwraiths:" https://www.youtube.com/shorts/aPiUEYmY7B8

* "Diabolical Dwarven Lords:" https://www.youtube.com/shorts/lA_yZutoMsA

* "Diabolical Dwarven Lords 2:" https://www.youtube.com/shorts/5mP9UrkDrG4?sttick=0

* "Ridiculous Ringbearers:" https://www.youtube.com/shorts/z4LLo-dh-lA

* "Soapy Saruman:" https://www.youtube.com/shorts/-WCecxYIcME

* "Galadriel Gifts of Gladness:" https://www.youtube.com/shorts/qWD65CZcAaY

* "Galant Gimli:" https://www.youtube.com/shorts/V24gdWOJS30

* "Board Game Bonanza:" https://www.youtube.com/shorts/he1vwHouwfA

* Note: Satire. "Trump Threatens One Thousand Years of Darkness if Republicans Lose Midterms:"

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* "Anatomically correct skeleton :" https://dippycatcrochet.blogspot.com/2020/03/anatomically-correct-skeleton.html

* "Dirtbag Catullus:" https://www.thechatner.com/p/dirtbag-catullus

* "More Dirtbag Catullus:" https://www.thechatner.com/p/more-dirtbag-catullus

* "Cursed blade rehabilitation center.:" https://www.tumblr.com/gwydionmisha/831771624587067392?source=share

*****
* Full list of Resistance and charity links has been migrated to my profile as it was getting out of hand.

The help links are at the bottom under the cut.

* "Swing Left:" https://swingleft.org/

( More )

* Some Items are older. Sort's a bit rough. Sorry.

---

* "Trump suggests letting Iran ‘take out’ Los Angeles and San Diego at campaign rally:" https://archive.ph/K671Z#selection-2448.0-2448.1

* "California officials condemn Trump for saying Iran could ‘take out’ Los Angeles or San Diego:" https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/donald-trump/california-newsom-condemn-trump-iran-los-angeles-san-diego-rcna601821

* "White House defends Trump comment to let Iran 'take out' LA and San Diego:" https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c6r7yn8pknyxo

* "Vulnerable Republicans forced to answer for Trump’s ‘take out’ San Diego, LA jab:" https://www.ms.now/all-in/watch/vulnerable-republicans-forced-to-answer-for-trump-s-take-out-san-diego-la-jab-2516499011957

******

* "Russia Is Planning Its Most Powerful Blow Yet to Try to Freeze Ukraine:" https://archive.ph/1zDaf#selection-4016.0-4016.1

* "Drones buzz overhead, troops hunker underground in Ukraine's hellish kill zone:" https://www.npr.org/2026/10/05/nx-s1-5925803/drones-buzz-overhead-troops-hunker-underground-in-ukraines-hellish-kill-zone

* "Zelenskyy says Russia strikes energy facilities despite Trump claim of an energy ceasefire:" https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-energy-strikes-trump-ceasefire-6fdef6ff4d033b379c74e1d62183d078

* "US threatens to halt Ukraine arms:" https://www.semafor.com/article/10/11/2026/us-threatens-to-halt-ukraine-arms

* "Trump says Zelenskyy ‘better damn well stop' attacks on Russian oil refineries, calls for new Ukrainian leader:" https://www.politico.com/news/2026/10/10/trump-zelenskyy-russia-ukraine-01115841

* "Germany’s Merz announces new aid for Ukraine in Kyiv as Russia steps up attacks:" https://apnews.com/article/kyiv-russia-ukraine-war-merz-drones-89bb8d2a97cc09d01a316723d08d2fb3

* "Fuel from South Korea being shipped to Russia as Ukraine war grinds on:" https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/oct/06/oil-tankers-south-korea-russia-ukraine-war

* "Trump faces Russia diesel deal blowback:" https://www.semafor.com/article/10/12/2026/trump-faces-russia-diesel-deal-blowback

* "Zelenskyy says Ukraine got no early warning from partners as Russia hits the power grid again:" https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-war-kyiv-attack-b041f78e5d037a0f3377b7108eac1dc7

* "Ukraine strikes Yandex data centre in third attack on Russian tech giant:" https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cw0k0g57mk3zo

* "Russia's Yandex bot traffic nearly eliminated overnight after Ukraine drone strikes cripple multiple of 'Russia's Google' data centers — Ukraine intensifies bombing of Yandex data centers in response to Moscow’s strikes on Kyiv data centers:" https://www.tomshardware.com/tech-industry/data-centers/russian-disinformation-bot-traffic-nearly-eliminated-overnight-after-ukraine-drone-strikes-cripple-multiple-of-russias-google-data-centers-ukraine-intensifies-bombing-of-yandex-data-centers-in-response-to-moscows-strikes-on-kyiv-data-centers

* "Inside Ukrainian offensive pushing Russia back - with Starlink playing a key role:" https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cvx284w16z1po

* "Trump, Musk play blame game as U.S. helps Putin again:" https://www.ms.now/the-briefing-with-jen-psaki/watch/trump-musk-play-blame-game-as-u-s-helps-putin-again-2517643331912

* "Order to limit Starshield for Ukraine came from inside White House, sources say:" https://archive.ph/jU646#selection-1048.0-1048.1

* "Russian domestic propagandists crow about Trump's betrayals of Ukraine, Europe:"

* "Russian domestic propagandists crow about Trump's betrayals of Ukraine, Europe:" https://solarbird.dreamwidth.org/2063690.html

* "She died covering war for Fox News. Her parents blame the network — and a star reporter:" https://www.npr.org/2026/10/04/nx-s1-5737621/fox-news-ukraine-deaths

---

* "Pro-Russian groups are seeding AI chatbots with propaganda, European officials warn:" https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/tech-news/europe-warns-russian-groups-seed-ai-chatbots-propaganda-rcna351233

* "The Cellmate Who Taught Me the Codes of Russian Prison:" https://www.newyorker.com/culture/essay/the-cellmate-who-taught-me-the-codes-of-russian-prison?

* "What does Alberta's referendum on separation from Canada mean?:" https://archive.ph/mbOUe#selection-1040.0-1040.1

* "Teenager's hand blown off during confrontation between France school protesters and police:" https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c9zrdmxp4vy6o

* "Fires, fury and hundreds of arrests as France gripped by student protests:" https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/oct/02/student-protests-shut-schools-across-france

* "Moroccan navy vessels entered Spanish waters during Ceuta crisis, Sanchez says:" https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/moroccan-navy-vessels-entered-spanish-waters-during-ceuta-crisis-sanchez-says-2026-10-12/

* "Spain’s PM Pedro Sánchez calls snap election after housing law fails to pass:" https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/oct/05/spain-prime-minister-pedro-sanchez-snap-election-housing-crisis

* "‘This can’t go on’: tens of thousands protest against housing crisis in Spain:" https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/oct/03/spain-housing-protest

* "Protesters blame 'vulture funds' for Spain's housing crisis:" https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c3j4790elkx7o

* "Spain’s Protesters See ‘Madness’ of Rising Rent and a ‘Martyr’ in Maricarmen:" https://archive.ph/cMmRG#selection-3988.0-3988.1

* "French, Spanish far-right leaders unite ahead of key elections:" https://www.politico.eu/article/frances-and-spains-far-rights-unite-ahead-of-key-elections/

---

* "US hits International Criminal Court with sweeping sanctions as part of drive to dismantle tribunal:" https://apnews.com/article/us-icc-trump-rubio-4ea3555403e3c695d8f81dc473515d9b

This is exactly what someone would do if they had committed a lot of crimes they were scared they'd be charged for.

* "Trump says Norway has 'indelible stain' for not awarding him Nobel Peace Prize:" https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/trump-says-norway-has-indelible-stain-not-awarding-him-nobel-peace-prize-2026-10-10/

*** Immigration/I.C.E/Autocracy/Police State***

* 506 U.S. Citizens Detained "“I’m literally a U.S. citizen. I’m literally a U.S. citizen.":" https://projects.propublica.org/american-citizens-detained-dhs-civil-rights/

---

* "Trump says anyone who does not refer to AI as ‘super intelligence’ is ‘THE ENEMY':" https://www.politico.com/news/2026/10/08/trump-ai-super-intelligence-renaming-01112404

* "Kalshi investigating suspicious bets tied to White house press secretary pick: Report:" https://thehill.com/policy/technology/6140504-kalshi-investigates-press-secretary-bets/

* "Trump’s new press secretary gushes over him, calling her husband ‘my president’ in shaky first briefing:" https://www.advocate.com/politics/national/katie-zacharia-press-secretary

* "‘Oh, Katie’: Psaki lets loose on Trump’s new press secretary:" https://www.ms.now/the-briefing-with-jen-psaki/watch/oh-katie-psaki-lets-loose-on-trump-s-new-press-secretary-2517257795798

* "White House Press Secretary Katie Zacharia Was an Affiliate Marketer for a Fitness MLM:" https://www.wired.com/story/white-house-press-secretary-katie-zacharia-was-an-affiliate-marketer-for-a-fitness-mlm/

* "White House Press Secretary Katie Zacharia failed the California Bar exam:" https://www.advocate.com/politics/national/katie-zacharia-not-a-lawyer

* "Trump’s new press secretary needed a Fox News cleanup interview for her Sean Hannity cleanup interview:" https://www.advocate.com/politics/national/katie-zacharia-cleanup-blame-disaster

* "Trump fires new White House Press Secretary Katie Zacharia in first week on the job:" https://www.advocate.com/breaking-news/katie-zacharia-fired-press-secretary

* "Trump’s ‘central casting’ approach to government is backfiring spectacularly:" https://www.ms.now/all-in/watch/trump-s-central-casting-approach-to-government-is-backfiring-spectacularly-2517241923572

* "White House Blocked Politico From Air Force One for Trump’s Trip to Nebraska:" https://archive.ph/trn2z

* "Trump made ‘clear’ that media ban was due to critical coverage, court told:" https://www.theguardian.com/media/2026/oct/08/trump-media-ban-hearing

* "Judge Extends Pause on Trump’s Ban Against CNN, MS NOW and Politico:" https://archive.ph/avlUv#selection-3998.0-3998.1

* "US justice department investigates TV networks over Trump pool coverage:" https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c9vgregzk6gro

* "Judge extends White House access to banned media outlets CNN, MS Now and Politico:" https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/oct/14/white-house-media-ban-lifted-cnn-msnow-politico

* "DOJ says it’s investigating whether White House TV pool’s coverage halt violated antitrust law:" https://apnews.com/article/trump-press-pool-antitrust-687c09a2377e7033c0b452c893c46e12

* "MAGA’s defense of Zacharia quickly backfires after Trump firing:" https://www.ms.now/all-in/watch/maga-s-defense-of-zacharia-quickly-backfires-after-trump-firing-2517626947995

---

* We need Court Reform desperately.

* "The Supreme Court Is About to Change EVERYTHING!:"

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* "Judge throws out Trump lawsuit over wayward 2024 poll in Iowa:" https://www.politico.com/news/2026/09/23/judge-throws-out-trump-lawsuit-over-wayward-2024-poll-in-iowa-01091122

---

* "Many Americans Are Struggling to Afford Basic Necessities:" https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2026/10/14/many-americans-are-struggling-to-afford-basic-necessities/

* "Scammers Are Stealing Millions From Food Stamp Recipients. Congress Could Fix It — but Won’t.:" https://www.propublica.org/article/food-stamp-snap-benefits-theft-skimmers-fraud

* "MS NOW report reveals warning behind Schmitt’s botched Jack Smith ‘gotcha’:" https://www.ms.now/all-in/watch/ms-now-report-reveals-warning-behind-schmitt-s-botched-jack-smith-gotcha-2515915843755

* "Eagerness to bolster Trump conspiracy theory led humiliated MAGA senator to ignore warnings:" https://www.ms.now/the-briefing-with-jen-psaki/watch/eagerness-to-bolster-trump-conspiracy-theory-led-humiliated-maga-senator-to-ignore-warnings-2515927619557

* "Furry Airline Pilots Are Just Minding Their Own Business:" https://www.wired.com/story/furry-airline-pilots-are-just-minding-their-own-business/

* "Do Your Phone Calls and Emails Matter? :" https://cmarmitage.substack.com/p/do-your-phone-calls-and-emails-matter

---

* Until Midterms our job is to survive, to build grassroots resistance, to do all in our power to slow the republican Christo-fascist agenda, and to vote in the 2026 in case there is still Democracy.

"Take action with Indivisible:" https://www.mobilize.us/indivisible/

Trump 2.0 Indivisible Guide.  https://indivisible.org/resource/guide

If you can't safely contact them in person, here are some other options for contacting your Congress Critters:

Five Calls to your critters: https://5calls.org/

Here is one that will send your reps a fax: https://resist.bot/

And another: https://faxzero.com/fax_senate.php

Snail Mail Campaigns: https://conuly.dreamwidth.org/3622760.html

"Congress. gov:" https://www.congress.gov/

White house (Possibly Dangerous): https://www.whitehouse.gov/

ACLU advice for writing to your Critters: https://www.aclu.org/writing-your-elected-representatives

This tracks legislation: https://www.govtrack.us/

"The Public Comment Process (+ how to write effective public comments):" https://www.tumblr.com/gwydionmisha/781844516804149248?source=share

"Swing Left:" https://swingleft.org/

Run for Something: https://runforsomething.net/

"Vote Smart:" https://justfacts.votesmart.org/

---

* "Is There Anything Kash Patel Won’t Do for Trump Before the Midterms?:" https://archive.ph/XGtLm#selection-610.0-610.1

* "Agents alarmed as Patel points FBI toward elections: report:" https://www.ms.now/the-briefing-with-jen-psaki/watch/agents-alarmed-as-patel-points-fbi-toward-elections-report-2516188739781

* "Whites Only: The disaster the justices have unleashed has its roots in one of the darkest periods of our history.:" https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2026/09/supreme-court-jim-crow-voting-rights-act-history-cleo-fields-louisiana-callais/

* "Supreme Court again snubs GOP gerrymander in Missouri:" https://www.politico.com/news/2026/09/25/supreme-court-again-snubs-gop-gerrymander-in-missouri-01093913

* "Trump doesn’t rule out declaring state of emergency before midterm elections:" https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/oct/01/trump-iran-war-poll-ratings-time-interview

* "How Trump’s obsession with ‘rigged’ voting machines spread across US government:" https://www.reuters.com/investigations/how-trumps-obsession-with-rigged-voting-machines-spread-across-us-government-2026-10-02/

* "Trump administration refuses international election monitors for first time in over 2 decades:" https://www.ms.now/news/trump-midterms-osce-election-observers

The only reason I can think of for this is if one is planning to cheat in the election.

* "US Justice Dept sues California to block votes from alleged noncitizens:" https://archive.ph/oZ3Yd#selection-1114.0-1114.1

* "A DOJ thumb drive is at the center of California’s election fight:" https://www.ms.now/all-in/watch/a-doj-thumb-drive-is-at-the-center-of-california-s-election-fight-2517507651690

* "Trump’s taxpayer-funded ad ‘solution’ comes with a major catch:" https://www.ms.now/all-in/watch/trump-s-taxpayer-funded-ad-solution-comes-with-a-major-catch-2516495939890

* "Utah’s GOP lieutenant governor says Trump’s push to ‘muck around with’ the midterms keeps her up at night:" https://www.ms.now/news/news-analysis/utah-deidre-henderson-midterm-elections-voter-information-save-act

* "Texas DPS failed to send voter registration applications to county election officials:" https://www.texastribune.org/2026/09/22/texas-dps-voter-registration-applications-unsent/

* "California Supreme Court orders GOP sheriff to return seized ballots, affirms state’s power over local law enforcement:" https://www.democracydocket.com/news-alerts/california-supreme-court-orders-gop-sheriff-to-return-seized-ballots-affirms-states-power-over-local-law-enforcement/

* "State Election Board seeks DOJ, DHS intervention in election equipment update:" https://www.gpb.org/news/2026/10/02/state-election-board-seeks-doj-dhs-intervention-in-election-equipment-update

* "Georgia holds emergency meeting on AI exposing voters’ secret ballots:" https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/oct/02/midterms-ai-ballot-privacy

* "Why vote count spikes are a normal part of elections:" https://www.snopes.com/articles/474180/vote-count-spikes-elections/

* REMEMBER: Don't just vote for the big things like US Congress. Vote in every State and local race down to the smallest and on all the referendums.

State and local elections have a massive impact on your quality of life.

Early Voting Has Already Started in Some Places!

Check when voting starts where you live. Plan your vote. Get your friends and family to vote. Car pool if you need to.

If there is an early voting option where you live? VOTE EARLY!

This gives you time to fix things if the Republicans try to disenfranchise you. Odds are the lines will be shorter.

Vote! I beg of you!

* I Voted!

I know I say this for every election, primary, special, and General, But
It is essential you vote! Vote the whole ticket all the way down to the smallest local offices. Vote in every referendum.

Obviously Congress is important. Remember that things like state and local elections have a huge effect on your quality o life. Remember that the State offices make a huge difference on how safe you are and whether you have healthcare and basic rights.

Remember that an imperfect candidate who will listen to pressure from constituents is better than someone who wants us all dead. The time to vote your passions is the primary. In November, we vote for our lives.

Right now in my state there are three terrible state wide referendums. We are talking things like tax cuts for the rich and writing anti-trans discrimination into the state constitution. It really fucking matters. There's also a local one against Algorithmic pricing and landlord collusion to drive up prices. Referendums matter.

Things like judges and police chief and school board matter.

Vote! Make sure you check the back of the ballot for more races.

I you are not sure how to vote, there are things like your local vote's pamphlet, the progressive voter's guide online, local reportating, and candidate websites.

One of my favorite things is to see who is endorsing whom. It's often faster than reading all their long winded statements looking for policy positions.

EX: Me: a bunch of trade unions, the Sierra club, and both local tribal councils are endorsing this candidate! Promising! And the other one.... some random Republican politicians and the police union. I'll take candidate A!

Remember to vote early if you can. That way if the Republican are trying to disenfranchise you, you have time to fix it!

I voted! Have you? I you haven't, plan your vote. Remind friends and family. Use it or risk losing it, as Republicans like to purge people who miss November elections.

* "Elon Musk has donated over $276 million to Republican midterm efforts:" https://www.theverge.com/tech/1009604/elon-musk-2026-midterm-republican-donations

* "Lambda Legal’s new LGBTQ+ Bill of Rights goes on offense by using tactics perfected by the right:" https://www.advocate.com/politics/national/lgbtq-bill-of-rights

* "Anti-trans ballot measures are a political test run for the 2028 presidential election:" https://www.advocate.com/opinion/anti-trans-ballot-measures-2028-election

* "Musk launches $276M ‘midterm rescue mission’ for Republicans:" https://www.ms.now/all-in/watch/musk-launches-276m-midterm-rescue-mission-for-republicans-2517121603757

* " Ohio Democratic Party is censoring criticism of anti-trans ads: insiders :" https://www.advocate.com/politics/states/ohio-dems-criticism-transphobic

* "Gretchen Whitmer, ‘a Midwest lesbian’s mom,’ has a message for Democrats waffling on LGBTQ+ rights:" https://www.advocate.com/politics/national/gretchen-whitmer-hrc-dinner

* "Andy Beshear has a message for Democrats backing away from trans rights: ‘That is not the party that we are’:" https://www.advocate.com/politics/states/andy-beshear-trans-rights

* "Republicans redrew his district. Now Democrat Don Davis is making anti-trans campaign ads:" https://www.advocate.com/politics/states/don-davis-transphobic-campaign-ad

* "Alabama Democrats hit back at GOP on affordability: ‘Did transgender people do that?’:" https://www.advocate.com/politics/states/alabama-democrats-transgender-republicans-affordability

* "LGBTQ+ congressional candidates could deliver a historic rebuke to MAGA Republicans at the ballot box:" https://www.advocate.com/politics/national/lgbtq-candidates-positioned-congressional-history

* "He could be Michigan’s first out LGBTQ+ member of Congress. He wants Democrats to fight harder:" https://www.advocate.com/politics/election/jeremy-moss-michigan-congress

* "Ken Paxton Admits Team Trump Controls His Campaign in Leaked Audio:" https://newrepublic.com/post/216196/ken-paxton-donald-trump-controls-campaign-leaked-audio

* "Texas Republican calls out GOP’s costly obsession with anti-trans campaigns: ‘It’s just not resonating’:" https://www.advocate.com/politics/national/republican-anti-trans-messaging-failing

* "Republicans attacked James Talarico over ‘God is nonbinary.’ He says Charlie Kirk made the same point:" https://www.advocate.com/politics/election/james-talarico-cnn-jubilee

* "Newly Catholic JD Vance promotes his own faith, attacks James Talarico’s as a ‘cover’:" https://www.advocate.com/politics/national/jd-vance-james-talarico-attack

* " JD Vance, who once thought he was gay before changing his name twice, suggests James Talarico is gay :" https://www.advocate.com/politics/national/jd-vance-james-talarico-gay

* "Leaked tape: Ken Paxton admits Trump’s convention hurt Republicans:" https://www.ms.now/all-in/watch/leaked-tape-ken-paxton-admits-trump-s-convention-hurt-republicans-2515904579884

* "Despite nominee's 'detestable language,' Johnson backs Texas House candidate:" https://www.politico.com/news/2026/09/13/mike-johnson-texas-herrera-01073834

* "Texas Republican Bo French receives backlash over racist post:" https://www.ms.now/all-in/watch/texas-republican-bo-french-receives-backlash-over-racist-post-2514266179998

* "Drag queen Alyssa Edwards responds to Ken Paxton's obsession with her: 'Texas is big enough for all of us':" https://www.advocate.com/politics/alyssa-edwards-ken-paxton-letter

* "Who is ‘obsessed with men playing in women’s sports’? JD Vance says Democrats, but Ohio Republicans can’t get enough.:" https://www.advocate.com/politics/ohio-republicans-transgender-issues-jd-vance

* CW: Domestic Abuse. "How Rep. Max Miller and His Lawyer Try to Silence Foes:" https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2026/10/how-rep-max-miller-and-his-lawyer-try-to-silence-foes/

* "‘I never did that with a man before’: Trump fawns over Ohio Republican’s body at Kentucky rally :" https://www.advocate.com/politics/national/donald-trump-jon-husted-bizarre

* "‘I don’t like the Klan’: Ossoff torches ‘bigoted’ GOP opponent:" https://www.ms.now/all-in/watch/i-don-t-like-the-klan-ossoff-torches-bigoted-gop-opponent-2517381699513

* "Obama makes surprise intervention in Michigan race as racist attacks ramp up:" https://www.ms.now/all-in/watch/obama-makes-surprise-intervention-in-michigan-race-as-racist-attacks-ramp-up-2517118531582

* "Deep in Trump country, a revolt against corporate money could reshape political spending:" https://www.reuters.com/legal/government/deep-trump-country-revolt-against-corporate-money-could-reshape-political-2026-09-16/

* "Trump campaigns in safe spaces to avoid embarrassment and minimize damage:" https://www.ms.now/the-briefing-with-jen-psaki/watch/trump-campaigns-in-safe-spaces-to-avoid-embarrassment-and-minimize-damage-2515436099588

* "Too little, too late for Republicans seeking distance from Trump:" https://www.ms.now/the-briefing-with-jen-psaki/watch/too-little-too-late-for-republicans-seeking-distance-from-trump-2515302467898

* "Republican candidates ‘retcon’ their support for an increasingly unpopular Donald Trump:" https://www.ms.now/all-in/watch/republican-candidates-retcon-their-support-for-an-increasingly-unpopular-donald-trump-2515156035953

* "Corruption catches up with Trump as voters make it a top election issue:" https://www.ms.now/the-briefing-with-jen-psaki/watch/corruption-catches-up-with-trump-as-voters-make-it-a-top-election-issue-2517643331584

* "Maddow: Desperation creeps in as Trump’s polls turn catastrophic:" https://www.ms.now/rachel-maddow/watch/maddow-desperation-creeps-in-as-trump-s-polls-turn-catastrophic-2517136451790

* "Psaki: MAGA candidates should answer for Trump’s unhinged nonsense:" https://www.ms.now/the-briefing-with-jen-psaki/watch/psaki-maga-candidates-should-answer-for-trump-s-unhinged-nonsense-2517391939998

* "‘Republicans are spooked’: Hayes on Democrats gaining in red districts amid surging prices:" https://www.ms.now/all-in/watch/republicans-are-spooked-hayes-on-democrats-gaining-in-red-districts-amid-surging-prices-2514265155936

* "Democrats will target Trump’s ‘naked corruption’ if they take majority:" https://www.ms.now/the-briefing-with-jen-psaki/watch/democrats-will-target-trump-s-naked-corruption-if-they-take-majority-2515797059845

* "Republican US senator facing re-election settles six-year bakery debt:" https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/oct/12/roger-marshall-republican-senator-pays-off-bakery-bill-six-years

* "PAYBACK: Deadbeat senator gets public shaming as Republican panic deepens:" https://www.ms.now/rachel-maddow/watch/payback-deadbeat-senator-gets-public-shaming-as-republican-panic-deepens-2517133891697

* "GOP Group Spends Thousands to Help Susan Collins—in Wrong Portland:" https://newrepublic.com/post/216529/republican-group-spends-thousands-susan-collins-portland-oregon

* "Susan Collins Took Bribes?:"

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* "‘Unfit to serve’: Pennsylvania GOP lawmaker faces resignation calls over antigay tirade about colleague:" https://www.advocate.com/politics/states/aaron-bernstine-malcolm-kenyatta-smear

* "Exposed by Strava? Iowa candidate’s Kansas bike rides fuel carpetbagging claims:" https://www.ms.now/all-in/watch/exposed-by-strava-iowa-candidate-s-kansas-bike-rides-fuel-carpetbagging-claims-2515664963506

* "‘Nothing else is working’: MTG calls out GOP scare tactics amid midterm scramble:" https://www.ms.now/all-in/watch/nothing-else-is-working-mtg-calls-out-gop-scare-tactics-amid-midterm-scramble-2515655747967

* "Trump campaigns in ruby-red states as Republicans scramble to ‘stop the bleeding’:" https://www.ms.now/all-in/watch/trump-campaigns-in-ruby-red-states-as-republicans-scramble-to-stop-the-bleeding-2516165187908

* "‘The valley has been left behind’: how one of California’s poorest areas became its toughest political battleground:" https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/oct/15/california-central-valley-race

* "We must tax the wealth of billionaires, not just income. California can lead the way:" https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2026/oct/19/tax-wealth-billionaires-income-california

* Short version: The Trump Administration is claiming that their suspicion her late father might have made a mistake in his paperwork is such an emergency they had to violate the policy against doing this sort of thing right before the election and somehow justifies a raid on her home even though they aren't even claiming she did anything wrong.

It's very clearly politically motivated bullshit intended to smear her and possibly to lay the groundwork for illegally revoking her citizenship and deporting her because Trump personally hates her and is also racist.

* "Agents search Rep. Omar's D.C. home; DOJ says it's part of criminal investigation:" https://www.npr.org/2026/10/12/nx-s1-5998856/federal-agents-search-congressperson-home-dc-doj

* "Agents search Rep. Omar’s Washington home in criminal probe as she vows she won’t ‘be silenced’:" https://apnews.com/article/ilhan-omar-home-searched-8e18c2aea948bd90f4d7a4eb32b9ec3a

* "Florida Democratic stronghold rejects Stonewall Museum’s funding request:" https://www.advocate.com/politics/states/stonewall-museum-florida-funding-fight

* "This Virginia Republican lawmaker sees LGBTQ+ history recognition and calls it ‘disgusting’:" https://www.advocate.com/politics/states/tim-griffing-loudoun-lgbtq-history

* CW: Child Death "What we know about the Bend, Oregon, elementary school shooting:" https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/oregon-school-shooting-elementary-bend-victims-shooter-death-what-know-rcna603793

* CW: Child Death "Three children and 1 teacher killed in Oregon elementary school shooting:" https://www.ms.now/the-briefing-with-jen-psaki/watch/three-children-and-1-teacher-killed-in-oregon-elementary-school-shooting-2517514819633

* "‘I don’t want your kind touching me’: NJ crash victim repeatedly rejects Orthodox Jewish medics:" https://www.ynetnews.com/jewish-world/article/hydwl1fogg

* CW: Rape. "Cornell 7 Got Worse:"

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* CW: Rape. "Jacob Geller, Cornell & The Price of Men's Future:"

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* "Scholars from Virginia university that ended trans youth care publish research on transphobia’s harms:" https://www.advocate.com/politics/states/vcu-research-transphobia-effects

* "Transgender Arizonans don’t need surgery to update birth certificates, federal appeals court confirms:" https://www.advocate.com/politics/states/arizona-transgender-birth-certificate-changes

* "‘It seems intentional’: Massachusetts town officials face questions over rainbow crosswalk removals:" https://www.advocate.com/news/massachusetts-rainbow-crosswalks-swampscott-controversy

* "Judge dismisses lawsuit by spa worker who refused to give a trans woman a tour on ‘Christian’ grounds:" https://www.advocate.com/politics/states/pennsylvania-spa-transgender-lawsuit-dismissed

* "Why scientific breakthroughs won't end HIV if communities are left behind:" https://www.advocate.com/opinion/hiv-breakthroughs-barriers

* CW: Child Death. "They were promised protection. Instead, these kids with disabilities died in foster care:" https://www.npr.org/2026/09/30/nx-s1-5534203/foster-care-disabilities-children-bad-outcomes

* "Ebola death toll in DRC passes 4,000, as health workers are fighting to get paid:" https://www.lemonde.fr/en/le-monde-africa/article/2026/10/03/ebola-death-toll-in-drc-passes-4-000-as-health-workers-are-fighting-to-get-paid_6758201_124.html

* "Uganda ends Ebola outbreak following completion of 42-day countdown:" https://www.afro.who.int/countries/uganda/news/uganda-ends-ebola-outbreak-following-completion-42-day-countdown

* "Questions remain over Ebola patient who travelled across three nations undetected:" https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cqp8gknl1njjo

* "What to know about the fears of pneumonic plague in Russia:" https://apnews.com/article/russia-plague-trump-who-irkutsk-5aa82b8bc3d8300c551cd0e1bf91e32c

* "WHO seeks clarity on second pneumonia case in Russia amid plague fears:" https://www.politico.eu/article/world-health-organization-who-information-pneumonia-russia-plague/

* With Pennsylvania leading the way, US measles cases top 4,000:" https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/measles/pennsylvania-leading-way-us-measles-cases-top-4000

* "New York and Pennsylvania's split screen approach to measles:" https://www.politico.com/news/2026/10/11/new-york-pennsylvanias-split-screen-measles-01114519

* "Measles Is Forcing Hospitals to Adapt to a New Normal:" https://www.wired.com/story/measles-is-forcing-hospitals-to-adapt-to-a-new-normal/

* "Pennsylvania’s Measles Outbreak Is Enormous:" https://archive.ph/TtTC6#selection-612.0-612.1

* "How Trump’s Health pick worked to erase America’s victory over measles:" https://www.ms.now/the-briefing-with-jen-psaki/watch/how-trump-s-health-pick-worked-to-erase-america-s-victory-over-measles-2514412099586

* "Sylvester Stallone’s past eating disorder highlights an overlooked issue for men:" https://archive.ph/vPjNa#selection-308.0-308.1

* "When Anesthesia Goes Wrong:" https://archive.ph/bABNg#selection-676.0-676.1

---

* "Homes and bridges swept away as fresh floods hit Nepal:" https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/ck86zppejjw3o

* CW: Child Death. "School roof collapse in Pakistan kills at least 35 and injures more than 50:" https://apnews.com/article/pakistan-school-roof-collapse-peshawar-c0be44527f22b43ea16a1f10d4b43e54

---

* "Jacob Coxon On Witnessing the Existential Threat of AI from the Inside | The Daily Show:"

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* "A tool is available to uninstall MacAI from your Apple Macs! Free up to 12 GB of space!:" https://thewayne.dreamwidth.org/1529278.html

* "A Core Demographic of People Who Love AI: Pedophiles:" https://futurism.com/artificial-intelligence/core-demographic-people-love-ai-pedophiles

* "AI Company Lets Cops Pinpoint Specific Houses Based on a Single Interior Photo:" https://www.404media.co/ai-company-lets-cops-pinpoint-specific-houses-based-on-a-single-interior-photo/

* "'Unprecedented' Cyberattack cripples supermarket fridges across Europe as hackers activate automatic defrosting — delivery and store prices also impacted by incident:" https://www.tomshardware.com/tech-industry/cyber-security/unprecedented-cyberattack-cripples-supermarket-fridges-across-europe-as-hackers-activate-automatic-defrosting-delivery-and-store-prices-also-impacted-by-incident

* "Why Wasn't Lesbian Sex Illegal?:"

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* CW: Suicide. "RJ Mitte, actor best known for playing Walter White Jr. on ‘Breaking Bad,’ dies at 34:" https://www.nbcnews.com/news/obituaries/rj-mitte-walter-white-jr-breaking-bad-dies-34-rcna603081

* "Photos of Cuba’s ballet dancers persevering through blackouts and shortages:" https://apnews.com/photo-gallery/photos-cuba-s-ballet-dancers-persevering-through-blackouts-shortages-95d849d00009483b88345597d6411e5e

* Saturday night, Clawdia made her first attempt to call an ambulance. What she wanted was a cuddle from Squirrel, but squirrel's door was closed and she already had a cuddle from me.

The off brand life alert people once told me they get more emergency calls from cats than people. Which tracks, honestly.

Half an hour later Squirrel kicked them out of their room as after the calling for help, Claw went in there and started pulling things off the walls and destroying things which meant they both had to go. Saffy, while innocent, would not like to be trapped on the other side of the door from her sister.

So Saffy was distressed when I got up Sunday, and I assumed it was because Squirrel was at game, because that is often a Sunday problem with her.

It was not. It was far, far worse.

So she's running around looking distressed when I'm in the bathroom. She jumps up on the washer edge (it was open). Saf hasn't don't that since beginning of Summer that I've seen. Now they are big, they don't jump as much onto doubtful landing locations. Comes back, gets up on the thingie that divides the toilet area from the sink, which is characteristic, and I'm petting her and it takes most of a minute to realize that pathetic meeping is definitely not her voice.

Me: shit!!!

So I clean up, my heart sinking, because I already know, even though I hope it isn't so. I check inside the washer and dryer without much hope, because this close I can here it's not from there.

I start pulling out the things I store between the washer and dryer: The spare window screen, assorted bits of wood. I still can't see her. I get the ladder, and yup, she's trapped back there. she started having trouble making the jump up onto the washer and dryer in May, but she must ave been bored while I was asleep. I vaguely remember Tavy doing this once at their age, but he was tiny and skinny and once I removed the lumber, he could get out.

Jumping back up is impossible, the gap is too narrow and full of tubes and wires. Even if my arm was long enough, its no go because the blockages and he's have to be standing on his hind legs in exactly the right position and even then dicey. I had to try to move the washing machine by myself and there is very little extra space to move it into. I couldn't even move it forward much without removing the door. I did manage to buy Claw most of an inch which was just enough to squeeze out, but it was a very close thing terrifying. There's no guarantee she won't do it again while I'm doing laundry, a thing I am doing now because kitten stress diarrhea.

I still had to take back library books after cuddles and feeding. Claw escaped into the hall and made me chase her.

Bonus: broke a bottle of rice vinegar on my foot because it caught in my sleeve while trying to make food so mess and glass all with a couple of really painful toes.

Saffy did do her best to alert me to the problem, the good, sweet thing. It reminded me of the time Hector howled for hours because Mache had slipped out when squirrel opened the door for pizza and she was trapped outside in the night and the rain.

* The most damaged toe is black plum purple and definitely hurts, but not enough to be broken, which is good. This is absolutely manageable as long as I don't look at it.

Unfortunately, I complete fucked up some toes on the other foot just walking to the kitchen. They are not snapped in half, which is good, but they are middle toes and I can barely bend them which is worrying. Also incredibly painful, but nothing can be done. Even if they were snapped in half the hospital no longer sets bones as they consider it a waste of time and yell at you to go home and set them yourself according to modern medical protocol.

Let us hope they aren't broken, but merely fucked up like the other foot.

I ought to have walked the cats today as it was hot again, but I really needed to eat and lung before attempting anything else, and Saffy was having a nap in a hide until it was too late to take them. Claw spent most of the afternoon in the front window between pets and I spotted a little girl on the way home from school snapping a picture of her. I hope this means trick or treaters again after the other families moved out.

* HoA Strikes Again:

So not only didn't I find the missing piece of paper, but the HoA sent a whole new threat with yet another form letter expecting me to guess what they want me to do. The illustrating photo of the patio violation is mostly a picture of the bush the landscapers planted in front of my patio.

A call got me a woman with an accent so thick we were barely communicated who had no actual information on what they want me to do by when. Her: Just move everything on the patio into you apartment and take a picture of that and you should be fine. *head desk* I figured out eventually that she was trying to get me to email compliance, which I had already done knowing full well that compliance doesn't answer email. Which they still haven't.

So my best guess is that they actually want me to migrate everything including the big ass large planter shelving towards the door and maybe hire a contractor, but I can't even get clarity on that part.

The whole thing is pretty much impossible, especially given my level of disability, that it is the most expensive half of the year, and I just had to do fund raising to replace my dead car. In this economy.

I came up with a plan. A really shitty plan, but the best I can do. If they'd waited to attack until after Halloween this would be so much easier as the patio would not be full of decorations and the tomatoes would finished producing.

I started doing a bunch of prep and kept injuring myself. The strawberries are legitimately too heavy for me to lift, but I was pretty much out of options, and that completely fucked me up to the extreme pain, legs don't want to work can barely function level. It was bad enough that today I went to lift a half full light box to move it out of the livingroom as part of the prep because we are having to move extra plants inside and I collapsed and had to rest and start over.

I keep having extremely heavy things fall on my feet. Twice today, not counting yesterday and all the toe damage that hasn't healed from the weekend.

I did manage to get enough prep work done before the new guy arrived. Very late, as in well after dark because his transmission went. So we are doing this by the light of the shitty porch light that doesn't reach past the air conditioner and the Halloween lights that were inevitably in the way.

I am pissed at how many tomato plants that were in the late stages of producing got fucked up. I saved a heart shaped heirloom that came off the vine in hopes it might finish ripening, but I'm not sanguine. It was not a great time for the marigolds and spearmint either, but it was the late tomatoes that got decimated. We also broke a gargoyle. D:

Fucking HoA.

It was incredibly painful between the injuries and the chronic pain and me having to do things with my arms up at the physical limit of my artificial shoulder joint. It was dangerous for the new guy and at one point shelving nearly fell on him. we righted it, but it was terrifying.

And I've no way to tell if we are in compliance or not. We may have to move an entire rack of shelving full of plants inside for some indeterminate period. I may for real have to find a contractor and keep living like this until I can get them to come out.

I tried asking how to comply through the maintenance request form tonight as someone generally reads those.

And tomorrow no matter how exhausted I wake up and no matter how much pain I'm in, I will have to drag myself out there to clean up the massive mess we made and try to go what I can with the decorations.

Did I mention Claw got out what with all the toing and froing. Saf did not, but watched the proceeding best she could, as her sister did once she got put back in.

At least this wore the kittens out. Livia just came out for a long pet as I was writing this and was having a nice snack at Adult cat feeding station right now.

Claw keeps threatening to go behind the washing machine again when I have the doors open for laundry.

* Friday morning we dropped off my car before bed. This is for the free, small, non-emergency fix. They had a replacement thermometer already so they just switched it out. We picked it up before close and I dropped yet more stuff off at the library and picked up this week's perishables.

Technically, this would have been adequate sleep for a healthy person, but not an injured one who keeps being required to burn all the spoons. I likely should have spent spent hours in bed, but here we are.

My legs keep trying to collapse on me so I kept having to rest and do thing in small increments. The pain is stunning and I wish I dared take a tramadol, but I'm scared next surgery I won;t even have half a week of ability to take pain meds, so I endure as best I can. I did not walk the kittens or clean up in the small amount of light left after errands. It took too long to put things away and make food because of all the rest and cat pettin breaks. By the time I could theoretically have hobbled out there it was mostly dark.

Still no word from the fucking HoA so I don;t know if I really have to hire a contractor (With what money?!?) or not and how much clearance they want. Assholes.

I am making real progress on my goal of getting Claw to come for proper bed pets like the others, and I have hopes she will start sleeping on me in bed soonish. She will do a quick pet and a cuddle nap on the sofa during lung time. I just trying to generalize a behavior already present, but it takes time. There were seven of them, plus their mom and several adult host cats at the foster and I think the kittens are so used to sharing with a huge clowder they are not always clear that they can often just do things because their are fewer cats also trying to do those things.

Poor Saff is having digestive issues. There has been a lot of schedule disruption, too much excitement, scary things like fire alarms and Claw getting trapped behind the washing machine, a complicated social restructuring amongst the clowder, and she is also a long haired cat in Autumn. I am going to have to medicate her, but I need to catch her in a good position in the open when I too am up and about and she's been hiding a lot as cats do when feeling not the thing. For similar reasons (except the long hair part) Claw is having the opposite digestive issues, so I am doing a stupid amount of laundry.

Several times since the Incident, Saf has helped me by heading off her sister and placing herself bodily between her sister and peril when my hands were full and I couldn't move fast enough. Saff is such a good girl.

The social restructuring began a couple weeks ago, when the Dowager Empress, who is the soul of patience, finally ran out of it when it came to certain matters involving kitten nonsense. She has been enforcing personal boundaries all a long, but has put up with A Lot particularly when in comes to issues around naps and nap spots. It took about half a year for her to lose patience which is a stunning feat, especially when you look at it as a proportion of a nine year old cats lifespan. So she is being way more insistent about being left alone when she's sleeping and where she wants to sleep, and also her favorite window spots. She doesn't particularly mind people using a spot she isn't in, but Livia's currently a lot more apt to stand her ground than decide it isn't worth an argument.

Which has knock on effects. Claw is boundary testing in general and more clingy and escape prone and doing stuff like trying to trap herself behind the washer dryer. Saffy is unsure of her ground and thus more nervous. She got used to the other two deferring I think, and she's not an obvious leader, she's not been challenged much at all for months. I have been making sure she gets her one on one time with me and alerted Squirrel that she needs extra TLC.

* We did a quiet pizza and cake dinner on Saturday in advance for my birthday. I spent my actual birthday resting in bed with the cats as I still hadn't recovered from Thursday.

* My Monster/Horror Movie polls: https://www.tumblr.com/gwydpolls/tagged/Monster%20Movies

* "Generic Drugs: Last Week Tonight with John Oliver (HBO):"

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* "Everything You Forgot About Elizabeth Holmes:"

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* "What Unabomber Hitting #1 Says About Us :"

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* "AI Leaders Sign Trump's "Self-Policing" Pact & Eric Schmitt's Ambush Backfires | The Daily Show:"

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* "Pete Hegseth Purges Weirdos and Wimps & Trump Drops a New Hispanic Stereotype | The Daily Show:"

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* "Nick Offerman Salutes Gen Z for Easing Off Tech & Embracing Their Hobbies | The Daily Show:"

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* "Dan Levy demands men speak up after Shane Gillis demeans women on SNL:" https://www.advocate.com/news/culture/shane-gillis-dan-levy-misogyny

* "I Read Zendaya's Favourite Books... I have thoughts:"

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* "Cadfael and Medieval Diversity:" https://www.tumblr.com/oldshrewsburyian/830824900604329984?source=share

* "The Lizzie Borden Netflix Show is So Bad:"

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I read a bunch about the case back in the day. I suspected this show, like previous monster Series shows would just make me angry. This review suggests my decision was the correct one.

* "Lamorne Morris on New Girl, Winning an Emmy, & Working with Nicolas Cage | Grave Conversations:"

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* "Mythological Matriarchs:" https://www.youtube.com/shorts/Dz6UR4AElhQ

* "Carrhae Catastrophies:" https://www.youtube.com/shorts/y_BSA5FbrWk

* "Numpty Norman Lords:" https://www.youtube.com/shorts/9ZuIE1lI27o

* "Pilgrims Patronage:" https://www.youtube.com/shorts/S7IPeJpK4dE

* "Lucrative Lazarites:" https://www.youtube.com/shorts/FU30ubJ758w

* "Lucrative Lazarites (An Order explained):" https://www.youtube.com/shorts/C3qkNcUh3CQ

* "Trampling Teutonic Knights:" https://www.youtube.com/shorts/lADPRRx-Kg0

* "Independence Idioms:" https://www.youtube.com/shorts/Q7K8LN3oWjM

* "Conspiracy Comedias:" https://www.youtube.com/shorts/7fMVUGmOMNY

* "Condotierri Comedia:" https://www.youtube.com/shorts/eJnmZRbIolk

*****
* Full list of Resistance and charity links has been migrated to my profile as it was getting out of hand.

The help links are at the bottom under the cut.

* It is important we flip the US Senate in November!

Here are some key Campaigns to Donate to:

If you wish to help defeat an election denier for Arizona Secretary of state, here is Adrian Fontes's fundraising page: https://secure.actblue.com/donate/friendraising-fontes

James Talrico, Texas: https://secure.actblue.com/donate/jt-tx-web
Roy Cooper, North Carolina: https://secure.actblue.com/donate/em-cgp-2025-cooper
Mary Peltola, Alaska: https://secure.actblue.com/donate/dw_aksen
Josh Turek, Iowa: https://secure.actblue.com/donate/dw_iasen

I am still furious at Sherrod Brown for throwing trans people under the bus last election. At the same time, we need the Senate, so I will post the donation link and leave it to the individual conscience.
Sherrod Brown, Ohio: https://secure.actblue.com/donate/subodh

* Want to help Jennifer Jenkins and Southern Progress PAC piss of Queerphobic and Misogynistic Repubblicans? https://secure.actblue.com/donate/s-partner_loc_jj_em_southernprogress

* "Transcontinental Pipeline:" https://tcpipeline.org/steps/

* "Swing Left:" https://swingleft.org/

* "2026 Statewide Primary Calendar:" https://www.270towin.com/2026-state-primary-calendar/

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* This week's physical challenges were too much. I'm doing my best, but I just basically lost four days to heat and too many things and vaccine fatigue.

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* "The U.S. military withdraws from Iraq over 2 decades after its invasion:" https://www.npr.org/2026/09/30/nx-s1-5983426/u-s-withdraws-final-troops-from-iraq

Yet another Biden agreement that Trump is taking credit for.

* "As US troops leave Iraq, withdrawal carries risks :" https://www.semafor.com/article/09/30/2026/as-us-troops-leave-iraq-withdrawal-carries-risks

******

* "5 men suspected of plotting a terrorist act arrested near U.K. air base:" https://www.npr.org/2026/09/28/nx-s1-5982722/5-men-suspected-of-plotting-a-terrorist-act-arrested-near-u-k-air-base

* "Five men arrested in RAF Fairford incident released on police bail:" https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c6e9elmpvglno

* "British police find no explosives in vehicles of men detained near base used by U.S.:" https://www.nbcnews.com/world/united-kingdom/trump-surprised-uk-releases-men-base-used-us-iran-rcna600423

* "Britain believes Iran was involved in incident near air base used by U.S., Prime Minister Andy Burnham says:" https://www.nbcnews.com/world/united-kingdom/uk-andy-burnham-raf-fairford-air-base-terror-explosives-iran-involved-rcna600713

* "Meet Smit Machchhar, Flydubai captain stabbed in cockpit who fought to save jet:" https://www.ynetnews.com/article/hyeibn9qgx

---

* "First female prime minister named in Morocco after winning elections:" https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c674kkjllw17o

* "‘Viscerally dedicated to social issues’: behind Lula’s drive to win final term in Brazil’s crunch election:" https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/sep/27/viscerally-dedicated-to-social-issues-behind-lulas-drive-to-win-final-term-in-brazils-crunch-election

* "In run for Brazil's presidency, Flavio Bolsonaro tests staying power of his father's legacy:" https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/run-brazils-presidency-flavio-bolsonaro-tests-staying-power-his-fathers-legacy-2026-09-28/

* "Rio residents find their own way to tackle gangs as crime dominates Brazil's election:" https://abcnews.com/International/wireStory/rio-residents-find-tackle-gangs-crime-dominates-brazils-136794112

* "Israelis divided as vote that could oust Netanyahu only weeks away:" https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/oct/01/israel-election-benjamin-netanyahu-gadi-eisenkot

* "Using old election playbook, Netanyahu projects image as Israel's protector despite Hamas attack:" https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/using-old-election-playbook-netanyahu-projects-image-israels-protector-despite-2026-09-29/

* "The German town where the right has banned new ‘stumbling stones’ for Nazi victims:" https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/oct/01/the-german-town-where-the-right-has-banned-new-stumbling-stones-for-nazi-victims

---

* "We Are Still Living in the Broken World Sept. 11 Created:" https://archive.is/20260910111104/https://www.bloomberg.com/opinion/articles/2026-09-10/sept-11-still-shapes-us-constitutional-rights-and-presidential-power#selection-1218.0-1218.1

* "U.S., Russia stripped human oversight from global AI weapons pact:" https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2026/sep/26/us-russia-stripped-human-oversight-from-global-ai-/

* "‘Why are we doing this?’: Trump, Russia weaken guardrails around AI and military weapons system:" https://www.ms.now/rachel-maddow/watch/maddow-why-are-we-doing-this-trump-makes-dangerous-deal-with-russia-2515680835582

* "Evan Gershkovich - Why Imprisoning a Journalist Is a Bad Idea | The Daily Show:"

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*** Immigration/I.C.E/Autocracy/Police State***

* "Supreme Court lets Trump resume third-country deportations:" https://www.politico.com/news/2026/09/29/third-country-deportations-supreme-court-ruling

* "Federal judge blocks Trump’s latest order limiting birthright citizenship:" https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/white-house/federal-judge-blocks-trumps-latest-order-limiting-birthright-citizensh-rcna595794

* "US set for largest mass visa revocation in history targeting up to 200,000 foreigners, officials say:" https://apnews.com/article/trump-rubio-visas-revoke-e9c14fdfd0ada439d2b9d8694e678a46?

* "States now must report undocumented immigrants to DHS or risk federal funding, DOJ says:" https://www.cnbc.com/2026/09/02/doj-states-undocumented-immigrants-dhs-funds.html

* "Gone in 90 seconds: an ‘invisibilized’ ICE is arresting more people than ever:" https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/ng-interactive/2026/sep/28/ice-us-immigration-new-tactics

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* "New York City leads lawsuit against Trump’s ‘public charge’ immigration rule:" https://www.politico.com/news/2026/09/14/new-york-city-leads-lawsuit-against-trumps-public-charge-immigration-rule-01074188

* "Here's the Manual for ICE's Electric Shock Gloves:" https://www.404media.co/heres-the-manual-for-ices-electric-shock-gloves/

* "US Accepts Only White Refugees For Sixth Consecutive Month:" https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2026/06/south-africa-white-genocide-afrikaner-refugees-asylum/

The genocide in question is imaginary, unlike the real genocides we are sending refugees back to after revoking their visas/protected status.

* "White South African refugees fall foul of Republican driving rules in US midwest:" https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/jun/08/white-south-african-refugees-driving-rules

* "What the Deportation of Milo Yiannopoulos Tells Us About the State of MAGA:" https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2026/08/milo-yiannopoulos-deportation-trump-maga-laura-loomer-benny-johnson-raheem-kassmm/

* "Trump administration deports relative of Afghans who helped US military to Central African Republic:" https://apnews.com/article/central-african-republic-afghan-deportation-united-states-687d053499ccdbf6a26f091219ae10fe

* "Maddow: Trump shamed by DISHONOR in betraying U.S. promises to Afghans, Iranians:"

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* "More Than 100,000 American Kids Have Had a Parent Detained in Immigration Sweeps, Report Estimates:" https://www.propublica.org/article/trump-immigration-child-parent-separation-estimates-brookings

* "Federal government allows return of U.S. citizen deported after traffic stop in Central Texas:" https://www.texastribune.org/2026/08/30/texas-us-citizen-deported-central-texas-returns-america/

* "Marco Rubio Is Punishing a Teenage Boy for His Grandmother’s Sins:" https://www.thebulwark.com/p/marco-rubio-punishing-a-teenage-boy-for-grandmother-sins-maryam-tahmasebi

* "‘Traumatize the kids’: ICE accused of arresting parents at school bus stops in Connecticut:"

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* "Parents are Giving Up Green Card Fights to Get Their Kids Out of Immigrant Jail:" https://www.themarshallproject.org/2026/08/18/parents-immigrant-camps-children-deportation-flores

* "‘Alligator Alcatraz’ Used Small Cages as ‘Calming Areas,’ Report Says:" https://archive.ph/oxPgh#selection-3970.0-3970.1

* CW: suicide. "ICE denies responsibility in apparent suicide of Springfield Haitian student:" https://www.springfieldnewssun.com/local/ice-denies-responsibility-in-apparent-suicide-of-springfield-haitian-student/article_7f586c21-cebe-53a6-82d3-afb8ca8d2e78.html

* "Minnesota churches roiled by legal battle over ICE surveillance and right to protest:" https://www.pbs.org/newshour/nation/minnesota-churches-roiled-by-legal-battle-over-ice-surveillance-and-right-to-protest

* "Overland march calls for protections for immigrant families:" https://www.ksdk.com/article/news/politics/immigration-news/man-faces-deportation-after-traffic-stop-as-community-marches-for-immigrant-rights/63-2cb6f1f9-978e-4c84-b73a-0673734d1f39

* "Community members protest ICE after Bismarck-area detainments increase :" https://northdakotamonitor.com/2026/09/25/community-members-protest-ice-after-bismarck-area-detainments-increase/

* "‘It’s un-American’: crowd protests ICE flights at Richmond airport:" https://www.wric.com/news/local-news/henrico-county/crowd-airport-protests-ice-flights/

* "Protesters, fresh off Citizens Bank, shift to Boston Dynamics ICE contract:" https://www.bizjournals.com/boston/news/2026/09/18/de-ice-plans-protest-boston-dynamics-spot-deal.html

* "Major protest held in Danbury to denounce ICE arrests:" https://ctmirror.org/2026/09/03/ice-protest-danbury/

* "In Danbury, Sen. Blumenthal hears ‘emotional’ accounts of ICE operation:" https://ctmirror.org/2026/09/03/danbury-accounts-immigration-enforcement/

* "Did ICE agents violate CT law during Meriden courthouse arrest?:" https://www.ctpublic.org/news/investigative/2026-10-01/did-ice-agents-violate-ct-law-during-meriden-courthouse-arrest

* "Protests happen in Austin one week after ICE agent shoots Venezuelan man:" https://www.kvue.com/article/news/politics/immigration-news/austin-ice-shooting-wilber-garces-perez-protests-texas-capitol-anderson-research/269-2cb2580a-59b7-48d2-9160-e8a8fb5f8e53

* "Texas city council candidate who protested ICE shooting faces ‘riot participation’ charge:" https://apnews.com/article/ice-shooting-austin-protest-city-council-ramos-dsa-0243eafc25ffb779ad652ee9e476a0bd

* "“The ICE Agent Behind Me Grabbed the Back of My Shirt and Just Threw Me Like a Sack of Trash”:" https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2026/08/ice-aclu-nurse-alex-pretti-cemetery-norma-bowe-lawsuit/

* "Prosecutor accused of misconduct in ‘Broadview Six’ case resigns, says US attorney ‘scapegoated’ her:" https://apnews.com/article/chicago-broadview-six-protesters-illinois-prosecutor-immigration-a1ca67f4b0f947330120c29db89dc30d

* "The Northern Passage: ICE is targeting Haitians with new intensity. Now some are fleeing the United States for Canada.:" https://archive.ph/sFYBC#selection-621.0-627.96

* "The Crisis of Care Work: The end of Temporary Protected Status and Trump’s budget cuts make a bad situation worse.:" https://prospect.org/2026/07/21/crisis-of-care-work-trump-tps-haitians/

* "Florida’s Nursing Homes Are Bracing for Life Without Haitian TPS Workers:" https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2026/07/floridas-nursing-homes-are-bracing-for-life-without-haitian-tps-workers/

* "ICE Raids in Beef Country Raise Fears of Higher Prices:" https://archive.ph/j50gY#selection-3986.0-3986.1

* Here are some ways to help Immigrants and the anti-ICE Protesters:

"Project Salt Box:" https://projectsaltbox.substack.com/
Links to Help organize in advance of ICE Occupation: https://www.tumblr.com/gwydionmisha/807226885129060352?source=share
"When the Feds Come to Your City: Standing Up to ICE :" https://crimethinc.com/2025/12/03/when-the-feds-come-to-your-city-standing-up-to-ice-a-guide-from-chicago-organizers
Immigrant Defenders: https://give.immdef.org/give/545119/#!/donation/checkout
The Bail Project: https://bailproject.org/
National Bail Fund Network: https://www.communityjusticeexchange.org/en/nbfn-directory
Amnesty International: protect asylum-seekers: https://donate.amnestyusa.org/page/113080/donate/1
The Young Center for Immigrant Children's Rights: https://www.theyoungcenter.org/
CHIRLA: https://www.chirla.org/
AL Otro Lado: https://alotrolado.networkforgood.com/projects/63833-al-otro-lado-fund
"Know Your Rights:" https://www.aclu.org/know-your-rights/protesters-rights
"Disappeared In America:" https://www.disappearedinamerica.us/

---

* "Trump Spurns AI Rules, Opts for Voluntary Audits After CEO Lunch:" https://archive.ph/jpmn8#selection-1278.0-1278.1

Given zero self policing thus far, the tendency of tech companies to fire ethics departments, and industry never regulating itself with disastrous results in the last 200 years or so, I feel justified in thinking this isn't worth the paper it's written on and is meant to head off much needed legislation.

* "‘President of the Unites States’: White House’s AI accord includes spelling error:" https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/sep/30/trump-ai-accord-spelling-error

* Do not want. "Trump signs executive order to launch AI-powered ‘America.gov’:" https://www.politico.com/news/2026/09/29/trump-signs-executive-order-to-launch-ai-powered-america-gov-01096992

* "Trump touts America.gov, but its government-sourced AI answers undercut many of his statements:" https://apnews.com/article/trump-americagov-website-ai-questions-answers-ff86fcb161c1fe89538d6ecb294ea353

* "Rocket launches may no longer have to answer for their exhaust, noise, or falling debris:" https://www.earth.com/space/rocket-launches-may-no-longer-have-to-answer-for-their-exhaust-noise-or-falling-debris/

This is intended to allow people like Elon Musk kill and maim people with rocket debris without any repercussions as well as poisoning communities near their launches.

* "FBI Ousts Officials Probing Threats to Stephen Miller’s Wife:" https://news.bloomberglaw.com/us-law-week/fbi-ousts-officials-probing-threats-to-stephen-millers-family

The counterterrorism people didn't think a few mean phone calls constituted terrorism.

* "National newsrooms banished by Trump ask judge for a lasting court order restoring White House access:" https://www.advocate.com/politics/national/msnow-cnn-politico-injunction

* "Trump v. The Press:"

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* "Senate rejects resolution to halt the Iran war as gas prices upend midterms:" https://apnews.com/article/war-powers-iran-senate-trump-a3f88638b0b3a77ec7ac318f85e55887

* "Trump cancels $1B in federal spending in latest challenge to Congress:" https://www.politico.com/news/2026/09/25/trump-declares-1b-canceled-in-pocket-rescission-in-another-affront-to-congress-funding-power-01093960

* "The Senate passes the Protect College Sports Act, but the bill's future is unclear:" https://www.npr.org/2026/09/28/nx-s1-5977851/protect-college-sports-act-senate-bill-vote

* Short version: Eric Schmitt accused Jack Smith of perjury, because Jack Smith said he wasn't in Atlanta on a certain date. The proof of the perjury was that Jack Smith was tweeting about watching Caitlin Clark who was playing in Maryland, while with marshal service agents in Maryland with him at the game in Maryland, and Jack Smith also visible watching the game in Maryland on the televise version of the game.

In Maryland, where Atlanta Georgia is not.

Then right wing media and influencers lied that this was somehow a gotcha against Smith and not Eric Schmitt apparently being unaware that women's sports exist and publicly exposing himself as a fool on National TV.

* "Eric Schmitt pins down Jack Smith — as a Caitlin Clark fan:" https://www.politico.com/live-updates/2026/09/29/congress/jack-smith-senate-judiciary-testimony-caitlin-clark-01096763

* "Ex-Trump prosecutor Smith forcefully defends investigations as Republicans assail his team’s tactics:" https://apnews.com/article/jack-smith-trump-congress-5739c9cd8bee9652bdeedbd10336492b

* "Smug GOP senator faceplants with humiliating ‘gotcha’ failure:" https://www.ms.now/the-briefing-with-jen-psaki/watch/smug-gop-senator-faceplants-with-humiliating-gotcha-failure-2515793987559

* "GOP’s Jack Smith ‘smoking gun’ crumbles over Caitlin Clark game:" https://www.ms.now/all-in/watch/gop-s-jack-smith-smoking-gun-crumbles-over-caitlin-clark-game-2515781699622

* "Do Your Phone Calls and Emails Matter? :" https://cmarmitage.substack.com/p/do-your-phone-calls-and-emails-matter

---

* Until Midterms our job is to survive, to build grassroots resistance, to do all in our power to slow the republican Christo-fascist agenda, and to vote in the 2026 in case there is still Democracy.

"Take action with Indivisible:" https://www.mobilize.us/indivisible/

Trump 2.0 Indivisible Guide.  https://indivisible.org/resource/guide

If you can't safely contact them in person, here are some other options for contacting your Congress Critters:

Five Calls to your critters: https://5calls.org/

Here is one that will send your reps a fax: https://resist.bot/

And another: https://faxzero.com/fax_senate.php

Snail Mail Campaigns: https://conuly.dreamwidth.org/3622760.html

"Congress. gov:" https://www.congress.gov/

White house (Possibly Dangerous): https://www.whitehouse.gov/

ACLU advice for writing to your Critters: https://www.aclu.org/writing-your-elected-representatives

This tracks legislation: https://www.govtrack.us/

"The Public Comment Process (+ how to write effective public comments):" https://www.tumblr.com/gwydionmisha/781844516804149248?source=share

"Swing Left:" https://swingleft.org/

Run for Something: https://runforsomething.net/

"Vote Smart:" https://justfacts.votesmart.org/

---

* "How Russia Is Attacking the Midterms with a Mother Jones Deepfake:" https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2026/09/how-a-russian-attack-on-the-midterms-deepfaked-mother-jones-matryoshka-putin-trump/

* "How I Got Dragged Into a Putin Disinformation Op:" https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2026/09/russian-disinformation-election-matryoshka-david-corn-mother-jones/

* "Maddow: Patel picks a bad time to get petty with counterterrorism:" https://www.ms.now/rachel-maddow/watch/maddow-patel-picks-a-bad-time-to-get-petty-with-counterterrorism-2515682371531

* "Hegseth says national security, military cyber forces will guard US election systems during midterms:" https://apnews.com/article/nsa-hegseth-trump-midterms-election-security-2bfc1417d397db5fda4ad672c0b35ee2

Of course Trump and DOGE completely gutted our cyber defenses and most of the protections against election meddling, presumably in hopes that Putin will have his hackers fix our election, because why else would you do that.

* REMEMBER: Don't just vote for the big things like US Congress. Vote in every State and local race down to the smallest and on all the referendums.

State and local elections have a massive impact on your quality of life.

Early Voting Has Already Started in Some Places!

Check when voting starts where you live. Plan your vote. Get your friends and family to vote. Car pool if you need to.

If there is an early voting option where you live? VOTE EARLY!

This gives you time to fix things if the Republicans try to disenfranchise you. Odds are the lines will be shorter.

Vote! I beg of you!

* "Voting 101: 7 ways to make your midterm ballot count:" https://www.advocate.com/politics/election/7-ways-to-protect-your-vote

* "US government foots bill for television advertisement featuring Trump’s midterm messaging:" https://apnews.com/article/paid-by-us-government-ad-midterms-04b3fe552fc3de2ada0b14394706e0e0

* "‘What the hell?’: Your tax dollars just paid for a ‘PSA’ praising Trump:" https://www.ms.now/all-in/watch/what-the-hell-your-tax-dollars-just-paid-for-a-psa-praising-trump-2515418691597

* How to talk to MAGA Boomers: https://www.tumblr.com/gwydionmisha/829055723782684672?source=share

* "Mayor Mamdani Wins Record $131.5 Million From DoorDash for Delivery Workers:" https://www.nyc.gov/mayors-office/news/2026/09/mayor-mamdani-wins-record--131-5-million-from-doordash-for-deliv

* "Seattle passes anti-discrimination protections for polyamorous partners in unanimous vote:" https://www.lgbtqnation.com/2026/09/seattle-passes-anti-discrimination-protections-for-polyamorous-partners-in-unanimous-vote/

* "Oregon promises safe homes for LGBTQ+ foster kids, but just dropped a requirement to support their identities:" https://www.advocate.com/politics/states/oregon-lgbtq-foster-kids

* "Gavin Newsom moves to shield California transgender patient records from federal scrutiny:" https://www.advocate.com/politics/states/california-gavin-newsom-injectable-prep

Do not trust him. He just vetoed a key trans protection the week before.

* "Tucson gay bar killer had a list of LGBTQ+ venues — and a note blaming the community:" https://www.advocate.com/news/crime/tucson-gay-bar-shooter-notes

* "“I really preferred a trial”: Alabama family upset with guilty plea in murder of 17-year-old trans teen:" https://www.advocate.com/news/crime/tayy-thomas-murderer-guilty-plea

* "Pittsburgh LGBTQ+ bar under fire for allowing blackface drag performance:" https://www.advocate.com/news/culture/pittsburgh-bar-blackface-blue-moon

Being queer doesn't make us immune to racism. We need to do so much better than this as a community.

So often queer people of colour are made to feel unwelcome in community spaces and things like this are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to this.

We need to do so much better than this as a community.

* CW: Rape. "Texts about alleged Cornell gang-rape released after investigation reopened:" https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/sep/29/cornell-texts-rape-investigation

* CW: Rape. "The Cornell 7 allegations are horrifying. The questions about accountability are infuriating:" https://www.advocate.com/opinion/cornell-7-outrage-cover-up

* "Kansas voided 1,700 licenses. Now its anti-trans law is being tested in court:" https://www.advocate.com/politics/states/kansas-transgender-license-law-challenge

* "Federal judge dismisses grifter Riley Gaines’ lawsuit against NCAA’s trans-inclusive policies:" https://www.advocate.com/politics/riley-gaines-lawsuit-thrown-out

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* "Fatal floods hit India, Nepal and Thailand:" https://www.reuters.com/sustainability/fatal-floods-hit-india-nepal-thailand-2026-09-29/

* "Dams or death traps? How Nepal's deadly floods expose fragility of Himalayan energy:" https://www.npr.org/2026/09/26/nx-s1-5964666/dams-or-death-traps-how-nepals-deadly-floods-expose-fragility-of-himalayan-energy

* "Nepal Cannot Stop the Floods. It Can Stop Them From Becoming Disasters.:" https://time.com/article/2026/09/15/nepal-himalayas-glacier-floods-tourism-disasters-/

* "Climate crisis probably weakened glacier that caused devastating Nepal-Tibet floods, first study finds:" https://www.theguardian.com/science/2026/sep/17/climate-crisis-likely-behind-deadly-nepal-tibet-floods

* "After a Desperate Search for Survivors, Rescuers Find Bodies at Nepal Power Plant:" https://archive.ph/usDOX#selection-3954.0-3954.1

* "Hurricane Polo makes landfall on Mexico's Pacific coast:" https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cw8d3z5y7958o

* "Hurricane Polo makes landfall in Baja California, toppling trees and flooding coastal communities:" https://www.pbs.org/newshour/science/hurricane-polo-makes-landfall-in-baja-california-toppling-trees-and-flooding-coastal-communities

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* "Why “Shifting Baseline Syndrome” Makes It Harder to Save the Planet:" https://lithub.com/why-shifting-baseline-syndrome-makes-it-harder-to-save-the-planet/

* "Snapchat shooting “joke” shows just how long big tech has been tracking us:" https://cybernews.com/tech/teacher-arrested-snapchat-joke/

* "Anthropic ‘warns of existential AI risks to humanity’ in IPO document:" https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2026/sep/29/anthropic-warns-existential-ai-risks-humanity-ipo-document-claude

* "OpenAI’s agents breached Australian government data. Its human response may do more damage.:" https://www.politico.com/news/2026/09/24/openai-australia-government-data-breach-01091253

* "OpenAI delays latest model over security concerns, as industry faces pressure:" https://www.npr.org/2026/09/29/nx-s1-5984342/openai-delays-latest-model

* "FTC is investigating OpenAI and Anthropic over possible risks to consumers:" https://apnews.com/article/ftc-ai-investigation-anthropic-openai-89ac416717adbfb1d72f2d85e6ce83d1

* "Found On Newcastle Ranch, 'Rex Jr.' Could Be Most Important T. Rex Ever Discovered:" https://cowboystatedaily.com/2026/09/19/rex-junior-found-on-newcastle-ranch-could-be-most-important-t-rex-ever-unearthed/

* Mostly, I've been working on trying to move money for the car purchase, likely week after next, and getting us ready for Autumn. The New Guy came Friday during the day, as we need to jam in all the hours we can before the end of the month and there is now a big cleaning back log. We'd intended to make use of all that daylight to work outside, but it was not to be. We had the first real rain of Autumn, hard and cold and lasting until nearly dark, long after he'd left. I ended up going out in it for yet more banking and to pick up burger rolls for veggie burgers and litter, but I was cold, exhausted, and wet, and drove right home after the grocery, so I had to go Saturday. I was so tired, I went to bed very early after a good bath and slept 20+ hours.

I am still a complete mess from having to push too hard physically for over a month. Still, I am trying to do little things for the seasonal change over that will be too hard to explain to the New Guy. I do plan on handing him how to clean the living room air conditioner for storage directions Monday, because that is A LOT for me at the best of times and have been clearing hall closet space in anticipation.

It was coolish Saturday, but not too cool, so despite being barely upright to the point I abandoned the litter in Squirrel's car, I took the kittens out, under the belief that their may not be many suitable walk days left. I ended up having to let Claw's belly band out again. The walk was not particularly long, but they had a nice poke around before Claw was done. Saf didn't argue when I called time to go in.

Claw nearly did me in by knocking me over after we were inside, but I managed to fall onto the nice sturdy sewing table in the living room. I didn't even spill my tea or drop my book. (The kittens are huge and solidly built and have a habit of running at my legs from behind when I'm trying to step over something. Usually one of them. This is why my apartment is the way it is. I need furniture to hang on to if I have to step over something or if I start to fall. I need things I can fall onto if my legs give out or if an over enthusiastic kaiju kitten barrels into me.

* Monday was a nightmare of people endlessly waking me up. Bonus points for the off brand lifeline people forcing me to sit on my floor with not enough light unplugging untangling and re-plugging every damned thing until the alarm stopped screaming at me because of all the outages the last couple of weeks, all while exhausted and initially half asleep. The phoned me to force me to do this. I had thought last weeks emergency mid-sleep cycle rewiring had solved it, but No.

It should be all right now.

The New Guy got the livingroom air-conditioner drained and cleaned for Autumn storage. In the morning the drying cycle should be ready.

The Windy season has started in earnest, so once the air conditioner is clear, I need to bring certain plants in.

In other news, I do think the med adjustments are really helping with nausea and inflammation. I had a bunch of disruption last week because of the Everything, but I worked out a good pattern for the extra medtime to incorporate it with the already super elaborate meds schedule, and it seems to really be working out.

* So I had the Doctor again Tuesday morning, this time to go over blood results. There were some minor meds adjustments as I expected. The real rains came last night around dusk and it was pouring all night and all morning. I got soaked between Doctor and library, and bagels with the last of the EBT.

Luckily the rain stopped while I was asleep and the New Guy could do the most urgent of outside things.

I had the window open last night for airing, and the kittens lost their minds. They've never experienced Autumn, so the smells are new. They've never experienced windy season before and even the milder precursor wind earlier in the month filled them with alarm. So they want to be in the window smelling all the things, but also the wind is terrifying and makes the curtain move in eerie ways. It is like a haunting for them, I think.

* The New Guy was here again Tuesday, trying to do make up hours, and there is plenty of work to do, especially with season change and him having been pulled over Bullshit for most of the month. Livia likes him but this was four visitations in less than a week and that is A Lot for her. She found a little hide on the top of pillow mountain and I kept seeing her peering out to see if there were signs of it being over.

Between his various visits this week we got a lot of basic stuff done, plus things like the car and about a third of the getting ready for Autumn stuff. We're also making progress on the 50 gallon, which I had to dose last week. The fish look fine, but the plants are dead and we're cycling out the medicated water. On the list of things needing doing we didn't get to, but were going to sort out Thursday, was bringing in the delicate plants and reorganizing for Autumn in the container garden.

A bit after midnight the first real cold snap started to roll in, so I had to emergency pull in all the basil varietals. I had planned for this, so the containers of three of them already have spots. The hanging baskets have hooks and the front one has an extended chain to get it past the sight line blockages. The smaller lighter hanging one goes over the patio door, as tall people are going to hit their head on it. The Goth basil was co-planted with lettuce and tomato in the standing planter hardest to tip over because squirrel is A++ at tipping standing planters and accidentally killing plants. Unfortunately I need to use a ladder for the patio door one. I need to set it up with a leak guard… Really I need a new hook strong enough to hold a hanging planter, but nothing non-essential happens until I have a new used car, so….

Also there is a little pot of volunteer basil. My experience has been that the Emperor could eat an entire pot of basil in the course of a night, hence no basil being left where cats can get it, but the Emperor is gone and I've no idea what the ladies will do with it. If it survives in the corner of the windowsill until tomorrow I will likely try re-potting it in the hard to tip planter, but I had a lot to deal with Tuesday what with Covid and flu vaccines, only getting four hours sleep and the physical stuff involved in activities like bucket prep and air conditioner manhandling, etc.. I also had two full loads of laundry to contend with. And cats. Always cats. I figure this is free basil from last years seeds and odds are all the basil will quietly die over the course of Autumn, but hope springs eternal that one year I will get it right. At minimum, having a chance to harvest more of the assorted basil varieties a little longer is always worth it.

I am saving the even harder bits, where I decide what else I have room for on the windowsill and reorganization for hopefully Thursday when I will have the new guy. I know at minimum I need to reshuffle the big rectangular planters to benefit some perennials long term, and likely move some smaller pots that are done or mostly done producing for the season. Sigh. Anyway, Thursday problems.

Not only don't the kittens understand high winds, but the only indoor plants they are familiar with are the little cat grass containers by the patio door. They went berserk when they saw a collection of Outdoor plants, three of them normally too high to access suddenly on the floor of their living room. And basil smells amazing, and there were a bunch of different types they'd never smelled up close. Plants! From outside! Inside!

So I get the plants settled despite kittenpalooza happening under foot and sit down to eat what amounts to my lunch. Normally watching cats problem solve is one of my favorite things, but they kept trying to problem solve 'can't reach planters' by doing things like trying to climb curtains and tip over hard to tip planter. Everything held except the duct tape on the crack in hard to tip planter. I think they were so excited by Thai basil they didn't even notice the volunteer basil in the least popular corner of the window. Let's hope it stays that way.

* Techie Millennial loves Halloween too, and is helping decorate this year, like they used to, and we've agreed on a Gothmas Lite strategy. Wednesday we got the other plants that are coming inside in and abut half of outside decorations up. I need to dig out the right lighting box, etc. Everything got scrambled because of the flooding incident.

As there is no Halloweentown this year because of Kittens, there are now plants surrounding the black Halloween tree, which is permanently installed this point as we anchored it with a ton of yarn a few years back because dogs kept scaring Livia. I am bringing out the purple tree soon, but not any little trees. We are doing sturdy cheap ornaments only, so the sexy goth merman stays in his box. Claw's so focused on trying to steal basil out of the hard to tip planter, she's been ignoring the black Halloween Tree, which is progress. I still need to replant the little basil, but I have almost nothing left energy wise tonight. Influenza vax always gives me fever and covid vax always makes me feel shitty for a couple days and it's been a week of sleep disruption and physical challenges. (Being low key extra crap for a couple of days and sporadically feverish for 3-5 days is so worth it for me to not risk worse disability, hospitalization, and/or death, especially as I can be sick for months if I even catch cold.)

Livia's interest in trees was mild at most at the age the kittens are. Tavy's interest was sporadic and mostly focused on the mini trees. Hector and Mache were distracted by the train set when they were young enough to mess with trees, and only mildly interested in low hanging ornaments, but there isn't room here for one. (Hector experimented with climbing, but the results taught him rather quickly to stop,

I really do know how to manage things like this, and those expressing concern are correct that the usual decorations inside need modification. When I was growing up we used a train distraction a lot. We had full sized to the ceiling trees, because that was a fantasy of my dad's when he was growing up. He'd pick one that was a couple feet too high and chop off the top. We'd hang the fragiles really high up, but non-fragiles we cared about in the middle, and the we don't care ones at the bottom or cats to steal and beat up. I'm going to do something similar, but with the fragiles staying in their boxes in the hopes of Kittens maturing in a year or two. They would scatter or destroy Halloweentown, so that's likely no a for a few years.

For new followers: The Gothmas season runs from some point in September through January 1. I leave the trees up throughout and take away and add things as I go. It's a whole thing designed to be easier for a disabled person and let be have as much fun with my Gothy decorations and pretty lights as I can get away with without being fined. I celebrate Samhein and solstice.

* Saffy Pics: https://www.tumblr.com/gwydionmisha/829319461148540928/i-got-sent-a-bunch-of-pictures-of-saffy-from?source=share

* My Monster/Horror Movie polls: https://www.tumblr.com/gwydpolls/tagged/Monster%20Movies

* "Brazil Elections 2026: Last Week Tonight with John Oliver (HBO):"

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* "Trump Talks S**t at the U.N., Rebrands AI as "Superintelligence" & Praises Mamdani | The Daily Show:"

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* "Hitman Candidate: Josh Johnson Talks to NJ Councilman & Ex-Mob Enforcer John Alite | The Daily Show:"

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* "Trump Can’t Find Rubio, Pirro Tackles Meteorite Corruption & Melania Gets a Sequel | The Daily Show:"

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* "Trump Spooked by Plane at Xi Meeting & Sen. Tuberville Rails Against Flying Furries | The Daily Show:"

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* I'm not fond of some things in here but most of this is good. "Will Republicans Divorce Trump Over Xi Embrace? Probably Not | The Daily Show:"

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* "Camilla Araujo on MrBeast’s Squid Game, Leaving OnlyFans, & What’s Next | Grave Conversations:"

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* "GOP Pushes for DEI in Welfare-to-Work Ad & Trump Launches America.gov AI | The Daily Show:"

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* Sunday Doonesbury seems particularly Apt: https://www.gocomics.com/doonesbury/2026/09/27

* "How New York City Canceled the Met Gala:"

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* "How Star Trek: DS9 Saw 2024 Coming 30 Years Ago:"

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* My best guess on how turning works in Bram Stoker based on the textual evidence: https://www.tumblr.com/gwydionmisha/828775751027392512/van-helsing-explains-at-some-point-soon-i-dont?source=share

* "Archery in Film/TV that I actually like!:"

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*****
* Full list of Resistance and charity links has been migrated to my profile as it was getting out of hand.

The help links are at the bottom under the cut.

* It is important we flip the US Senate in November!

Here are some key Campaigns to Donate to:

If you wish to help defeat an election denier for Arizona Secretary of state, here is Adrian Fontes's fundraising page: https://secure.actblue.com/donate/friendraising-fontes

James Talrico, Texas: https://secure.actblue.com/donate/jt-tx-web
Roy Cooper, North Carolina: https://secure.actblue.com/donate/em-cgp-2025-cooper
Mary Peltola, Alaska: https://secure.actblue.com/donate/dw_aksen
Josh Turek, Iowa: https://secure.actblue.com/donate/dw_iasen

I am still furious at Sherrod Brown for throwing trans people under the bus last election. At the same time, we need the Senate, so I will post the donation link and leave it to the individual conscience.
Sherrod Brown, Ohio: https://secure.actblue.com/donate/subodh

* Want to help Jennifer Jenkins and Southern Progress PAC piss of Queerphobic and Misogynistic Repubblicans? https://secure.actblue.com/donate/s-partner_loc_jj_em_southernprogress

* "Transcontinental Pipeline:" https://tcpipeline.org/steps/

* "Swing Left:" https://swingleft.org/

* "2026 Statewide Primary Calendar:" https://www.270towin.com/2026-state-primary-calendar/

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* Mostly Last week. Sorry. I'm really struggling physically. Some items may have been overtaken by events. I haven't energy to go back through and weed.

---

* "Arab warnings to Netanyahu ahead of Oct. 7 massacre shatter his core political defense:" https://www.timesofisrael.com/arab-warnings-to-netanyahu-ahead-of-oct-7-massacre-shatter-his-core-political-defense/

* "Australia considers new Israel sanctions but won’t join UK in banning trade with ‘settler terrorists’:" https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2026/sep/09/australia-considers-new-israel-sanctions-but-wont-join-uk-in-banning-trade-with-settler-terrorists-ntwnfb

* "Houthis claim major advance in Yemen as group reportedly seizes island in key shipping route:" https://www.bbc.com/news/live/cmd683p01eljt

* "Houthis Report Deadly Saudi Airstrikes as Kingdom Issues Mass Alerts:" https://archive.ph/kLS6S#selection-3992.0-3992.1

* "Palestinian parents fear for children's lives at school as settler attacks grow:" https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c3wj45g73g1o

* "Galilee Arab municipality says West Bank settlers erected an outpost on its land:" https://www.timesofisrael.com/galilee-arab-municipality-says-west-bank-settlers-erected-an-outpost-on-its-land/

* "Killing of Palestinian children and teens by Israel surges in West Bank:" https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20260830-killing-of-palestinian-children-and-teens-by-israel-surges-in-west-bank

* "Israeli settlers stage new attack on home in West Bank's Qusra, witnesses say:" https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/israeli-settlers-stage-new-attack-home-west-banks-qusra-witnesses-say-2026-08-29/

* "Trump to declare Palestine Action a global terror group:" https://www.politico.com/news/2026/08/26/trump-to-declare-palestine-action-a-global-terror-group-01050496

* "“They Want People Scared”: Former Palestine Action Member Blasts Trump’s Terror Sanctions:" https://theintercept.com/2026/08/27/palestine-action-terrorism-sanctions-trump-ban-israel/

******

* "Women gathered in a small Iranian town for a wedding. Then deadly strikes hit:" https://apnews.com/article/iran-war-wedding-us-strikes-b0a9d9a28ef221e52f4643a062dbfca1

* "US military says it destroyed 5 more Iranian oil tankers after missile attacks on Navy warship:" https://apnews.com/article/iran-tanker-navy-warship-dfc9a1d9c9a5b8bc7b47fcc004025e65

* "Houthis claim major advance in Yemen as group reportedly seizes island in key shipping route:" https://www.bbc.com/news/live/cmd683p01eljt

* "Trump calls Iran conflict ‘small potatoes’ and defends Vance’s position that it’s not a ‘war’:" https://apnews.com/article/trump-iran-vance-war-23a45a2c45c048a9e894baeab89c7a2f

* "‘I Wouldn’t Call It a War’: Vance Plays Down Recent Iran Strikes:" https://archive.ph/s6TeT#selection-3920.0-3920.1

* "Vance flounders in public spotlight trying to push Trump’s Iran gaslighting:" https://www.ms.now/the-briefing-with-jen-psaki/watch/vance-flounders-in-public-spotlight-trying-to-push-trump-s-iran-gaslighting-2513106499940

* "Trump says Iran war will end ‘immediately’ after midterms:" https://www.politico.com/news/2026/09/09/trump-iran-war-end-midterms-01069191

* "The Logistics Nightmare Facing U.S. Warships:" https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2026/09/02/us/iran-war-us-navy-carriers-supply.html

* "Widow of Alabama airman killed in ‘war we can’t call a war’ gets good news about ‘missing’ benefits:" https://www.al.com/news/2026/08/family-of-alabama-airman-killed-in-war-we-cant-call-a-war-are-missing-benefits-widow-says.html

******

* "US sinks an Ecuadorian boat in the Pacific it alleges is tied to drug trafficking:" https://apnews.com/article/ecuador-us-boat-drug-trafficking-sinking-pacific-fishermen-551b40890fe249597d0236087fed019a

There is no proof that the people we are attacking did any crimes, Nor have we the right to attack fishermen in International waters for the pleasure of the president.

******

* "Russian warship fires flares at Danish helicopter as Nato jets shoot down drone over Lithuania:" https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/sep/15/nato-jets-shoot-down-drone-violating-lithuania-airspace-kaunas

* "Russia says it will give a ‘harsh and painful’ response after Hungary expels 10 diplomats - Europe live :" https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2026/sep/08/ukraine-russia-war-zelesnkyy-putin-ruslan-kravchenko-prosecutor-general-germany-france-europe-latest-news-updates?page=with%3Ablock-6a9fe6da8f08b38c4393fdad

* "Germany blames Russia for last month's attempted drone attack at Leipzig airport:" https://www.npr.org/2026/09/02/g-s1-141502/germany-russia-attempted-drone-attack

* "Trump brushes off accusations of Russian sabotage against NATO allies:" https://www.politico.com/news/2026/09/04/trump-russia-nato-espionage-allegations-01066120

* "What’s really behind Trump’s deference to Putin?:" https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/sep/02/whats-really-behind-trumps-deference-to-putin

* "Russia hits Ukrainian train shortly after Boris Johnson and top European officials leave station:" https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cy5zg41dkqwo

* "With U.S. Envoys Gone, Russian Bombs Fall Once More on Kyiv:" https://archive.ph/77T8E#selection-3934.0-3934.1

* "Trump Blames Ukraine for Global Diesel Shortage:" https://www.nytimes.com/2026/09/13/business/trump-ukraine-diesel.html

* "Zelenskyy says Ukraine will pause strikes on Russia if Kremlin spares critical infrastructure:" https://www.pbs.org/newshour/world/zelenskyy-says-ukraine-will-pause-strikes-on-russia-if-kremlin-spares-critical-infrastructure

* "Russia strikes Ukraine intelligence HQ in ‘major escalation’:" https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/sep/04/russia-strikes-ukraine-intelligence-hq-kyiv-major-escalation

* "Attacks in Black Sea Threaten to Strangle Global Grain Supply:" https://archive.ph/dezBt#selection-3960.0-3960.1

* "Ukraine’s Most Potent Weapon: The Software Orchestrating Its Drone Army:" https://archive.ph/vfHBd#selection-502.0-502.1

* "Russia may force more men to fight in Ukraine as military faces heavy losses:" https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/russia-may-force-more-men-to-fight-in-ukraine-as-military-faces-heavy-losses

* "Putin would rather keep killing than admit he’s lost. As a winter of misery looms in Ukraine, Nato must step in:" https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2026/sep/13/putin-ukraine-nato-russia-forever-war-crime-against-humanity-western-democracies

---

* "Trump welcomes Russia back to the G20. Europe isn’t having it.:" https://www.politico.com/news/2026/08/31/bessent-welcomes-russia-back-to-g20-as-europe-pushes-back-01058296

* "EU seeks to reassure a Trump-rattled Greenland with promise of a new partnership and investment:" https://apnews.com/article/greenland-eu-europe-trump-denmark-532e9587dde667b6e878e799fcb43bde

* "Ratko Mladić, the ‘Butcher of Bosnia’, given hero’s funeral in Serbia :" https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/sep/07/ratko-mladic-butcher-of-bosnia-funeral-belgrade-serbia

* "Canada Said No to America. It Will Reverberate Far Beyond Its Borders.:" https://archive.ph/o3fpp#selection-3958.1-3958.2

* "The world leader saying no to President Trump:" https://www.npr.org/2026/08/24/nx-s1-5941107/the-world-leader-saying-no-to-president-trump

* "Canada’s retaliatory tariffs against the US to take effect:" https://www.semafor.com/article/09/07/2026/canadas-retaliatory-tariffs-against-the-us-to-take-effect

* "Trump’s Expanded US Map Includes Territories Locked in Dispute With Canada:" https://www.newsweek.com/trumps-expanded-us-map-includes-territories-locked-in-dispute-with-canada-12415865

* "At 80, Trump is scribbling on maps. The fool holding the Sharpie is dangerous:" https://www.advocate.com/opinion/donald-trump-lake-ontario-sharpie

* "Republicans are already tired of Trump’s “petty” renaming of Lake Ontario:" https://www.lgbtqnation.com/2026/08/quick-hit-republicans-are-already-tired-of-trumps-petty-renaming-of-lake-ontario/

* "From street names to supply chains, Canadians pull away from US as rift grows:" https://www.reuters.com/business/street-names-supply-chains-canadians-pull-away-us-rift-grows-2026-09-02/

* "Proposed tariff on brass instruments raises concerns for music retailers, students:" https://www.kcci.com/article/tariff-brass-instruments-concerns-music-retailers-students-iowa/73408784

---

* "Trump doubled down on backing a united Ireland, reigniting a divisive political issue. Here's what to know:" https://www.pbs.org/newshour/world/trump-doubled-down-on-backing-a-united-ireland-reigniting-a-divisive-political-issue-heres-what-to-know

* "In an Irish Village, Trump’s Visit for Golf Tournament Prompts Protests and Praise:" https://archive.ph/FFHOX#selection-3976.0-3976.1

* "Giant ‘NO KINGS’ sand artwork appears on Dublin Bay ahead of Trump visit:" https://www.reutersconnect.com/item/giant-no-kings-sand-artwork-appears-on-dublin-bay-ahead-of-trump-visit/dGFnOnJldXRlcnMuY29tLDIwMjY6bmV3c21sX01UMUNWTUQ1NjAwNzQzNQ

*** Immigration/I.C.E/Autocracy/Police State***

* "Appeals court rejects swift deportation of immigrants to third countries:" https://abcnews.com/Politics/appeals-court-rejects-swift-deportation-immigrants-countries/story?id=136579574

* "Illinois authorities investigate possible ICE wounding of US citizen:" https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/sep/21/illinois-ice-us-citizen-injured

They decided to brutally beat the victim for their own pleasure then left without calling an ambulance.

* "Federal immigration agent shoots and injures man in Austin, Texas:" https://www.npr.org/2026/09/20/nx-s1-5975517/ice-shooting-austin-texas

They decided to hunt an innocent DoorDash driver in an unmarked van for their own pleasure, ramming the car repeatedly without identifying themselves, then shooting him in the back for no reason. They cuffed him and refused him medical care, taking him to detention with the bullet still in his back and no pain relief until he started losing feeling in his back.

* "Demonstrators take to Austin streets after ICE shooting in Texas:" https://www.elpasotimes.com/picture-gallery/news/2026/09/21/ice-shooting-in-texas-sparks-protests/91874157007/

* "Protests take place in Austin after ICE shoots DoorDash driver in his back:" https://www.ms.now/rachel-maddow/watch/ice-shoots-door-dasher-imprisons-him-with-bullet-in-his-back-2514936387665

* "Immigrants held in small outdoor cages at 'Alligator Alcatraz' in Florida, investigators find:" https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cqrk37rrpk23o

* "Extreme overcrowding and abuse plague Florida ICE facilities, whistleblowers say:" https://archive.ph/MYAJF#selection-1514.0-1514.1

* "Democrat says ICE restricted her oversight visit to country’s largest detention camp:" https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/sep/22/texas-democrat-visit-ice-detention-camp-east-montana

* "Protest At America's Largest ICE Detention Facility:" https://www.reutersconnect.com/item/protest-at-americas-largest-ice-detention-facility/dGFnOnJldXRlcnMuY29tLDIwMjY6bmV3c21sX01UMVpVTUEwMDBTSTZIVzU

* "Protesters pursuing legal action after mace incident outside Broadview ICE facility:" https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/protesters-pursuing-legal-action-after-mace-incident-outside-broadview-ice-facility/3991415/

* "7 Vermont clergy arrested while protesting ICE targeting center :" https://www.ncronline.org/news/7-vermont-clergy-arrested-while-protesting-ice-targeting-center

* "Rally held in support of Concord mother, nurse detained by ICE in Louisiana:" https://abc7news.com/post/rally-held-support-concord-mother-nurse-maureen-wanjiru-ngure-detained-ice-louisiana/19852923/

* Here are some ways to help Immigrants and the anti-ICE Protesters:

"Project Salt Box:" https://projectsaltbox.substack.com/
Links to Help organize in advance of ICE Occupation: https://www.tumblr.com/gwydionmisha/807226885129060352?source=share
"When the Feds Come to Your City: Standing Up to ICE :" https://crimethinc.com/2025/12/03/when-the-feds-come-to-your-city-standing-up-to-ice-a-guide-from-chicago-organizers
Immigrant Defenders: https://give.immdef.org/give/545119/#!/donation/checkout
The Bail Project: https://bailproject.org/
National Bail Fund Network: https://www.communityjusticeexchange.org/en/nbfn-directory
Amnesty International: protect asylum-seekers: https://donate.amnestyusa.org/page/113080/donate/1
The Young Center for Immigrant Children's Rights: https://www.theyoungcenter.org/
CHIRLA: https://www.chirla.org/
AL Otro Lado: https://alotrolado.networkforgood.com/projects/63833-al-otro-lado-fund
"Know Your Rights:" https://www.aclu.org/know-your-rights/protesters-rights
"Disappeared In America:" https://www.disappearedinamerica.us/

---

* "‘America Belongs to the People’: No Kings Coalition Plans Oct. 17 Early Voting Action:" https://www.commondreams.org/news/no-kings-protest

* "President Donald Trump bans CNN, MS Now, and Politico from White House:" https://www.advocate.com/politics/trumpbans-cnn-msnow-politico

* "Networks stop TV pool coverage of Donald Trump as banned outlets sue over censorship:" https://www.advocate.com/politics/national/white-house-media-outlets-ban

* NYT, Washington Post join photo hold in solidarity with banned White House outlets:" https://cbs6albany.com/news/nation-world/nyt-new-york-times-the-washington-post-join-photo-hold-in-solidarity-with-banned-white-house-outlets-cnn-ms-now-politico-lawsuit-trump-administration-free-press-first-amendment-pool-coverage-cameras-trump-tv

* "Even Fox News is boycotting, but an LGBTQ+ outlet is still covering the White House pool:" https://www.advocate.com/politics/national/white-house-press-pool-blade

Even FOX News gets it. Let that sink in for a minute.

* "Maddow: Why the Constitution and the American spirit are against Trump’s war on the free press:" https://www.ms.now/rachel-maddow/watch/maddow-why-the-constitution-and-the-american-spirit-are-against-trump-s-war-on-the-free-press-2514927171841

* "News orgs turn their backs on Trump as institutions find their spine:" https://www.ms.now/rachel-maddow/watch/news-orgs-turn-their-backs-on-trump-as-institutions-find-their-spine-2514934339592

* "Inside the White House media ban:" https://www.politico.com/news/2026/09/19/inside-the-white-house-media-ban-01085126

---

* "Leading LGBTQ+ newsroom confronts parent company over board member’s MAGA support:" https://www.advocate.com/news/lgbtq-newsroom-demands-equalpride-answers

* "I Have lost everything:" https://projects.propublica.org/impact-of-homeless-sweeps-lost-belongings/

* "Cities Say They Store Property Taken From Homeless Encampments. People Rarely Get Their Things Back.:" https://www.propublica.org/article/homeless-encampment-removals-property-storage

* "Congress has had ‘zero time’ to discuss Trump’s $5k dividend, Johnson says:" https://www.politico.com/news/2026/09/13/trump-dividend-mike-johnson-01073774

* "Trump tries to kill regulations on ‘HOAX’ AI dangers:" https://www.politico.com/news/2026/09/14/donald-trump-ai-regulation-pushback-01074230

* "Tech companies must be primarily responsible for AI safety, Mike Johnson says:" https://www.politico.com/news/2026/09/13/tech-ai-safety-johnson-01073735

* "China bristles at Anthropic CEO’s ‘fearmongering’ about its AI development:" https://apnews.com/article/china-anthropic-ai-us-amodei-3da458d2c078da3e60900728d59f1ae8

* "Hayes: Trump’s answer to AI danger? ‘Let ’er rip’:" https://www.ms.now/all-in/watch/hayes-trump-s-answer-to-ai-danger-let-er-rip-2514136131950

* "McConnell returns to Capitol after 3-month absence:" https://www.axios.com/2026/09/14/mitch-mcconnell-senate-republicans-capitol-vote-fall-hospital

* The footage was really concerning to me. I've seen a bunch of different bits, not all of them represented here and them wheeling him into congress feels like it might be elder abuse, or at least bordering on it.

* "McConnell’s Senate Return Sparks More Questions About 84-Year-Old’s Health (Video):" https://www.forbes.com/sites/alisondurkee/2026/09/17/mcconnells-senate-return-sparks-more-questions-about-84-year-olds-health-video/

* "Why Mitch McConnell Mystery Is Getting Even Darker:" https://www.yahoo.com/news/politics/articles/why-mitch-mcconnell-mystery-getting-001335552.html

* "Lauren Boebert denies alleged relationships with staffers: ‘I’m not a lesbian or bisexual’:" https://www.advocate.com/politics/national/lauren-boebert-relationships-staffers

* "​Lauren Boebert rages against same-sex relationship allegations, sparking hilarious memes:" https://www.advocate.com/politics/lauren-boebert-bisexual-memes

* "Lauren Boebert calls reporting on alleged same-sex relationships ‘filthy garbage’:" https://www.advocate.com/politics/national/lauren-boebert-relationships-response

* "Do Your Phone Calls and Emails Matter? :" https://cmarmitage.substack.com/p/do-your-phone-calls-and-emails-matter

---

* Until Midterms our job is to survive, to build grassroots resistance, to do all in our power to slow the republican Christo-fascist agenda, and to vote in the 2026 in case there is still Democracy.

"Take action with Indivisible:" https://www.mobilize.us/indivisible/

Trump 2.0 Indivisible Guide.  https://indivisible.org/resource/guide

If you can't safely contact them in person, here are some other options for contacting your Congress Critters:

Five Calls to your critters: https://5calls.org/

Here is one that will send your reps a fax: https://resist.bot/

And another: https://faxzero.com/fax_senate.php

Snail Mail Campaigns: https://conuly.dreamwidth.org/3622760.html

"Congress. gov:" https://www.congress.gov/

White house (Possibly Dangerous): https://www.whitehouse.gov/

ACLU advice for writing to your Critters: https://www.aclu.org/writing-your-elected-representatives

This tracks legislation: https://www.govtrack.us/

"The Public Comment Process (+ how to write effective public comments):" https://www.tumblr.com/gwydionmisha/781844516804149248?source=share

"Swing Left:" https://swingleft.org/

Run for Something: https://runforsomething.net/

"Vote Smart:" https://justfacts.votesmart.org/

---

* "A second judge blocks Trump's mail voting restrictions amid a Supreme Court review:" https://www.npr.org/2026/09/03/nx-s1-5955614/trump-mail-in-voting-ruling-court-usps

* "The Supreme Court rejects Trump's mail voting restrictions for this year's midterms:" https://www.npr.org/2026/09/14/nx-s1-5962190/supreme-court-mail-in-voting-trump

* "Time running out for Trump as another election subversion scheme is crushed by the Supreme Court:" https://www.ms.now/rachel-maddow/watch/time-running-out-for-trump-as-another-election-subversion-scheme-is-crushed-by-the-supreme-court-2514160195782

* "Supreme Court rejects Trump’s mail voting restrictions:" https://www.ms.now/all-in/watch/supreme-court-rejects-trump-s-mail-voting-restrictions-2514137155523

* "How Democrats and activist groups are planning to push back if Trump tries to interfere in midterm elections:" https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/how-democrats-and-activist-groups-are-planning-to-push-back-if-trump-tries-to-interfere-in-midterm-elections

* REMEMBER: Don't just vote for the big things like US Congress. Vote in every State and local race down to the smallest and on all the referendums.

State and local elections have a massive impact on your quality of life.

Early Voting Has Already Started in Some Places!

Check when voting starts where you live. Plan your vote. Get your friends and family to vote. Car pool if you need to.

If there is an early voting option where you live? VOTE EARLY!

This gives you time to fix things if the Republicans try to disenfranchise you. Odds are the lines will be shorter.

Vote! I beg of you!

* "Early voting begins in U.S. midterm elections that could flip control of Congress:" https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/early-voting-begins-in-u-s-midterm-elections-that-could-flip-control-of-congress

* "Coons to face off against Katz in solid blue Delaware Senate race:" https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/6091263-chris-coons-delaware-senate-win/

* "Gay congressional candidate goes viral for X-rated BDSM ads:" https://www.advocate.com/news/people/chris-gallant-bdsm-ads

* "White Nationalists Are Planning A Full Media Takeover:" https://www.qasimrashid.com/p/white-nationalists-are-planning-a

* "Sophie Lee, a Black trans woman, killed in Baltimore: ‘She was loved. She mattered’:" https://www.advocate.com/obituaries/sophie-lee-baltimore-trans-woman

* "Natural Rabies Infection in a Domestic Fowl (Gallus domesticus): A Report from India:" https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4511517/

---

* "She won a religious exemption from using AI at work. The Pope's remarks could fuel similar appeals.:" https://www.businessinsider.com/worker-got-religious-exemption-using-ai-at-work-2026-6

* "Execs Confused and Horrified by the Huge AI Bills After Thinking They Could Replace Workers for Free:" https://finance.yahoo.com/technology/ai/articles/execs-confused-horrified-huge-ai-135718505.html

* "Apple Watch’s new AI features are normalizing the idea that technology is always listening:" https://techcrunch.com/2026/09/09/apple-watchs-new-ai-features-are-normalizing-the-idea-that-technology-is-always-listening/

* "New Cat Species Identified for the First Time in Over 100 Years–Meet the Tilcayo:" https://www.goodnewsnetwork.org/new-cat-species-identified-for-the-first-time-in-over-100-years-meet-the-tilcayo/

* "Meet Natalie Clifford Barney, the lesbian trailblazer who was out and proud in the 1900s:" https://www.advocate.com/news/people/natalie-clifford-barney-lesbian-trailblazer

* "Colin Kaepernick Continues "The Perilous Fight" 10 Years After Taking a Knee | The Daily Show:"

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* "Bob Mackie, famous gay fashion and costume designer, dies at 87:" https://www.advocate.com/obituaries/bob-mackie-death

* Tuesday was a nightmare physically. I stayed up for yet another bank appointment then did some stuff with the Millennials. It was incredibly hot out. After I dropped them off I went to ethical grocery and managed to forget two essential things. sigh.

When I got home, all I wanted was bath and bed, but the bank turned me down for plan D (The last of the good plans) and needed me to come back in two hours to do paperwork for plan E, for which I have not much hope, but I must try in any case. I did lungs and rested for a while, then did one and a half litter boxes, which was all the bending I had left in me, plus assorted things best done before bed on the grounds that given I was borrowing next weekend's spoons at this point, best I have as few things as possible when I got back as could be managed.

I forced myself back into the sweat soaked clothes and dragged myself back out. We should know sometime Wednesday how bad things are. I will need to see if I can get Squirrel's keys in case of plan F, but I haven't seen them since I was half awake earlier this evening.

So with washing the pollen out of my hair, etc., I didn't get to sleep until 4ish. I think that means I was up something between 24-25 hours straight. I suspect it will take a couple weeks to recover just from Tuesday. Sigh. Certainly my body is furious tonight.

On the upside, I picked up prescriptions while I was down town. The weekend med tray things weren't filled and the vaccines aren't in yet, but I crucially now get two loratadines and pepcids at prescription strength free a day, which is really helping. My sinuses were a mess while I was out in the melting allergen filled air, but they recovered so much quicker under filtration than normal. A trip like this should have packed my sinuses solid for three days. I was fine by about 8PM. O.o

There are fancier meds for MCAS and my Doctor is cautious because it's all so new research wise and my body reacts weirdly to new meds often, so we are going slow, which is what I prefer anyway. Some of you may remember the time we tried Pregabalin and it ended up causing temporary psychosis and extreme heart palpitations about a month or so in. We tinker with my meds schedule very, very carefully for good reason.

* I got turned down on the final option to pay for a new used car to replace by defunct ancient behemouth.

This means I need to raise enough money to pay for it and associated taxes and fees all at once as borrowing is right out as an option.

I have three thousand if I pay no bills this month. Estimated cost is 4-5000, though I've hopes of closer to four.

I've started moving the other donations towards car purchase. The plan is to move it piecemeal onto a credit card as I can't have more than 2000 at a time and keep my social security and other benefits I need to survive.

I am disabled and can't walk far even with a crutch or walker and am not eligible for free disability transport because I live to close to a bus stop. (Because I only have to walk a block to get on, they do not care how many miles I would have to walk from where the buss lets off to medical appointments etc. or how hard it is to carry groceries one armed for miles with a crutch, etc.. I physically can't. My body just can't do it).

The car is picked out and if I do not have money when it's ready they will sell it out from under me and I won't get anything that good at that price elsewhere. It comes with free repairs guaranteed for year and is being sold by people I trust and have delt with literally for most of this century.

If you want to chip in, click Here: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/Gwydion

* Wednesday I had a nice visit with Techie Millennial in which we worked on a fun project together. Likely next visit, we'll start the long project of Gothmas Season decorating. (Inside only at this stage. Outside isn't allowed until Oct.1, though sometimes I'll start a day or two early.) Later I made problematic cookies for an exchange thingie. Really I needed to do a test batch, but I didn't have time and materials and I'd have had to wash everything and start over which was not happening. One batch was really stretching it spoonswise.

(Basically I was asked to do a nigh impossible thing and didn't have time to back out. The person asking for it likely had no idea how hard what they were asking was because it would be a perfectly reasonable thing I could have done easily with cupcakes or a wide variety of different types of cookie. I likely could have made something closer to reasonable with a couple test batches to get the balance right, though nothing at all could salvage the texture. What I could throw together on low spoons on first try was edible for me, but not a thing I'd make on purpose with a very much a love it or hate it taste. I hate, hate, hate doing something I normally do well poorly even though this would challenge a professional baker which I very am not.)

Thursday I got the no from the bank in the afternoon, which I expected, so it was back out into melting heat and pollen again to start working on plan F, deliver cookies, and sundry. I not only got fresh cat grass at the cheapie grocery, but they miraculously had apple cider vinegar and parchment paper and a small white pumpkin of the type I like to turn into a ghost. they also had the good cheap mushrooms and a couple other things. I am blowing through EBT too fast, but September is like that. Sigh.

I should have walked the kittens but I was exhausted and way too hot and needed to rest with a cold drink. This was a mistake. They were rambunctious all evening as a result and created a water disaster that required much mopping with towels and taking a lot of things out of my bedroom closet because the bottom boxes got wet and I needed to take everything out to be reboxed. A bunch of things needed to be thrown out and some others I am attempting to dry.

It is no one's fault, but it was Way too many things in about a month of too many things and not enough rest. None of this is anyone's fault. The damage wasn't as bad as it might have been. Livia's pad was there to soak up a bunch of the water. I am worried some seeped under the bed, but moving the heavy ass mattress is a two person job.

I am worried the dishwasher needs fixing again. I am worried Livia needs a vet appointment. Nothing specific. Her kidneys are working and there is no blood, but something doesn't feel right. There is no money for any of these things.

On the upside, we can likely get the New Guy back next week. They called him end of business today to say he was clear to return. It's just a matter of paperwork getting processed. I need to call the Asshole agency and make sure all is clear my end.

Squirrel and I agreed the thing was bullshit and very much not our guy's fault for reasons I can't write here. We had little doubt he'd be working again within a month, but he has bills and a family and not getting paid threatens those things. It also was one more thing for me piled on top of the too many things eating all the spoons all the time. I was supposed to be doing litter boxes and fish maintenance tonight, which was already doubtful. I am now completely wiped from the water disaster in my bedroom closet.

We need him.

So I must stay up for phone bureaucracy and hope I don't get the run around.

* I foolishly took a bath, then forgot to call until mid-afternoon which turned out to be just as well. When I went to phone oneish, the line was down, which happens. The connection is loose and I need fresh duct tape on there. Pushed the wire back in, went back to bed to phone. Line still dead. I spent about half an hour trouble shooting every connection on the floor of my office before deciding it was likely the power strip and moving them all over to a different strip.

A key bit of information here is that there are three circuits running in my bedroom and living room to spread out electrical load. I had a fan running to dry off things from the minor cat flooding the night before which runs off the dedicated cooling circuit. The fish tanks tanks run off living room main. Some of the desk stuff runs on living room main, but some runs off the small appliance circuit in the kitchen. The sound of the fan is loud enough, I didn't notice the tanks weren't running and it's not like I needed a light or TV because it was afternoon.

Some of my bedroom runs off the same circuit as living room main, but cooling runs on dedicated cooling circuit, and the TV, stereo, etc are coming from a different kitchen circuit that mostly runs lights. I don't turn on the bed light for the phone call. I can't sleep after most of an hour on hold only to fail to get New Guy sorted out. (I need to try Monday or Tuesday. Sigh). Like an hour and a half of endless frustration ids not conducive to rest. Livia got a good love while I was on hold and I read some Seanan Mcguire. Cue a couple of hours of reading and assorted pets for assorted cats by the bedroom overhead until I did finally nap. Watched TV when I got up for a really long time because Thursday used Friday's spoons and I didn't get proper rest.

There are good reasons I didn't notice, if you follow me, and it was something like nine hours after the phone thing with bad sleep in between before I turned on the overhead and thought, those light bulbs should not be burnt out, we changed them last spring…. and then I noticed the TV and got Squirrel to turn Living room main back on. 4-5 hours later I smell electrical smoke, which is alarming, but I tracked the smell to a fish filter and unplugged it, thinking the motor had gone. About an hour later living room main went out. We used to have outages all the time in summer. Sure these were the first ones since the elctrical upgrade, but we had fifteen years of them, often multiple times a day before last summer, right?

Squirrel goes to flip the switch because part of their room is also on living room main. I see flashes and there are alarming pops and I start yelling "Stop! Don't!" as I hobble fast as I can towards squirrel's door.

It was not a fire in the walls and the kittens are fine.

The evidence suggests one of them made a mistake with the 20 gallon fish tank and got water on a fish power strip while I was asleep. I am picturing a scenario where someone fell partway in or just slipped and splashed and some of the splash traveled. O.o Things are rewired and moved. Someone has clearly been gnawing tubing again, likely in the moments leading up to the disaster. I now really need new tubing, but nothing can be done just now.

They are lucky they are cute and nothing was harmed besides a power strip.

* I keep having to spend most of the time I am awake on days when I'm not hobbling about in the heat trying to sort out the car thing lying down. It is frustrating and infuriating and I hate how incredibly hard even small things like heating up soup is. I keep needing a nsap after activities like getting dressed or waving a toy for the cats. And I keep ending up with yet more labour intensive things and bureaucracy piled on, which gnaws away at what little functional time I have.

I did lots of aggregate prep, but there keeps being no time to scaffold and post news items before the exhaustion hits me again and I have to lie down.

Borrowing spoons comes with a really high interest rate, and I keep not being given any sort of choice.

* "UnitedHealthcare & UnitedHealth Group: Last Week Tonight with John Oliver (HBO):"

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* "Mitch McConnell Returns & Trump Dismisses AI Doomsday Warnings | The Daily Show:"

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* "Kash Patel Gets Tangled in Bestiality Questions & Don Jr. Gets a Blushing Bribe | The Daily Show:"

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* "Iran War Closes Another Strait & Mamdani Debuts 10-Minute Toilets in NYC | The Daily Show:"

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* "Luke Iseman's "Planet-Cooling" Balloons Have Michael Kosta Breaking Bad | The Daily Show:"

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* "White House Bans Media Outlets & MAGA Embraces AI While Demonizing Immigrants | The Daily Show:"

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* "Trump Offers $5,000 To Buy Your Vote?:"

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* "Five SFF Books Where Capitalism Is the Real Villain:" https://reactormag.com/five-books-where-capitalism-is-the-real-villain/

* I'm rewatching Slow Horses ahead of the new season.

I have decided that River cartwright's luck is so bad for the same reason he belongs in Slough House. Let me elaborate below the cut.

( Spoilers for season one only: )

* "David Dastmalchian and Gwar's Blöthar talk Death, Ai, And The Grim Reaper | Grave Conversations:"

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* "A Frankly Silly Beginner's Guide To Shakespeare:"

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* "Why is Fort Wayne on fire?!:" https://www.youtube.com/shorts/TAg0NXV64BU

* "Canadians Can’t Believe They’re Calling It “Lake America”:"

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* "Red Right Hand (Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds Jazz Cover) feat. Katerina Lomis:"

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* "Hannah Waddingham and Octavia Spencer’s ‘Ride or Die’ Canceled at Prime Video After One Season:" https://www.thewrap.com/creative-content/tv-shows/ride-or-die-canceled-amazon-prime-video/

Noooooo!

Let us hope someone else picks it up!

*****
* Full list of Resistance and charity links has been migrated to my profile as it was getting out of hand.

The help links are at the bottom under the cut.

* It is important we flip the US Senate in November!

Here are some key Campaigns to Donate to:

If you wish to help defeat an election denier for Arizona Secretary of state, here is Adrian Fontes's fundraising page: https://secure.actblue.com/donate/friendraising-fontes

James Talrico, Texas: https://secure.actblue.com/donate/jt-tx-web
Roy Cooper, North Carolina: https://secure.actblue.com/donate/em-cgp-2025-cooper
Mary Peltola, Alaska: https://secure.actblue.com/donate/dw_aksen
Josh Turek, Iowa: https://secure.actblue.com/donate/dw_iasen

I am still furious at Sherrod Brown for throwing trans people under the bus last election. At the same time, we need the Senate, so I will post the donation link and leave it to the individual conscience.
Sherrod Brown, Ohio: https://secure.actblue.com/donate/subodh

* Want to help Jennifer Jenkins and Southern Progress PAC piss of Queerphobic and Misogynistic Repubblicans? https://secure.actblue.com/donate/s-partner_loc_jj_em_southernprogress

* "Transcontinental Pipeline:" https://tcpipeline.org/steps/

* "Swing Left:" https://swingleft.org/

* "2026 Statewide Primary Calendar:" https://www.270towin.com/2026-state-primary-calendar/

( More )

* I barely scratched the surface on the news. I keep having to use nearly everything I have to deal with the crisis and as a result I need to spend a stupid amout of time lying down on the days I'm not being pushed beyond my body's limits. I have two weeks at least of stuff prepped. I am sorry.

I am also doing some minor tweaking to the order of posting.

---

* "UN votes to adopt new world map to reflect Africa's true size:" https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/ce30vp55dnlo

---

* "Environmentalists Sue to Halt First Sale of Seabed-Mining Rights:" https://archive.ph/bYqaT#selection-3900.0-3900.1

* "Why the Roadless Rule Matters:" https://www.qasimrashid.com/p/why-the-roadless-rule-matters

---

* "House passes short-term funding bill to prevent a shutdown before the election:" https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/house-votes-pass-short-term-funding-bill-prevent-shutdown-election-rcna595350

* "House Democrats block constitutional amendment to lock Supreme Court at 9 justices:" https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/house-democrats-block-constitutional-amendment-supreme-court-justices-rcna595736

* "New coalition fights Trump’s efforts to weaken protections for historic sites:" https://archive.ph/DXnIr#selection-296.0-296.1

* "US House passes bill penalizing universities that participate in boycott of Israel:" https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/sep/03/israel-boycott-university-ban-bill

I don't understand how this is legal under the 1st Amendment, but regardless, time to call your senators to tell them to vote against it.

* "Mike Johnson swore Everton Blair in as the South’s first Black gay congressman:" https://www.advocate.com/politics/national/everton-blair-sworn-mike-johnson

* "Laura Loomer’s racist tirade draws rebuke from Marjorie Taylor Greene:"

( Embed: )* "Do Your Phone Calls and Emails Matter? :" https://cmarmitage.substack.com/p/do-your-phone-calls-and-emails-matter

---

* Our until Midterms is to survive, to build grassroots resistance, to do all in our power to slow the republican Christo-fascist agenda, and to prepare for 2026 in case there is still Democracy.

"Take action with Indivisible:" https://www.mobilize.us/indivisible/

Trump 2.0 Indivisible Guide.  https://indivisible.org/resource/guide

If you can't safely contact them in person, here are some other options for contacting your Congress Critters:

Five Calls to your critters: https://5calls.org/

Here is one that will send your reps a fax: https://resist.bot/

And another: https://faxzero.com/fax_senate.php

Snail Mail Campaigns: https://conuly.dreamwidth.org/3622760.html

"Congress. gov:" https://www.congress.gov/

White house (Possibly Dangerous): https://www.whitehouse.gov/

ACLU advice for writing to your Critters: https://www.aclu.org/writing-your-elected-representatives

This tracks legislation: https://www.govtrack.us/

"The Public Comment Process (+ how to write effective public comments):" https://www.tumblr.com/gwydionmisha/781844516804149248?source=share

"Swing Left:" https://swingleft.org/

Run for Something: https://runforsomething.net/

"Vote Smart:" https://justfacts.votesmart.org/

---

* "New Mail Voting Rules Moved Forward Despite USPS Officials’ Concerns About Mass Disenfranchisement:" https://www.propublica.org/article/mail-voting-usps-officials-concerns-disenfranchisement

* "New system for screening mail-in ballots risks denying entire batches, says whistleblower:" https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/sep/01/usps-whistleblower-mail-in-ballots-trump

They are defying a court order. The plan is to allow the Federal Government to throw out thousands of votes every time they find a small discrepancy, like a woman changing her name when she marries. This is all illegal. Neither the federal Government nor the Post Office have any write to illegally destroy legally cast ballots just because the president doesn't like who's voting, but here we are.

* "Trump's attack on voting access sparks OUTRAGE from American voters:"

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* "Trump admin again asks Supreme Court to allow mail-in voting plan:" https://www.politico.com/news/2026/09/03/mail-in-voting-supreme-court-case

* "Wyoming’s Primaries Were a Preview of Trump’s Midterm Interference:" https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2026/08/wyoming-doj-election-monitor-trump-midterm-interference/

* "Texas Has Suspended More Than 1 Million Voters Ahead of Senate Race:" https://newrepublic.com/post/214832/texas-suspended-1-million-voters-ahead-senate-race

* "Key Texas county votes to cut polling sites ahead of the midterms:" https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2026-election/tarrant-county-texas-votes-slash-polling-sites-midterms-rcna595338

* "Tarrant County meeting arrests raise First Amendment concerns:" https://www.star-telegram.com/news/politics-government/article316967240.html

* "Missouri Supreme Court puts Respect Missouri Voters plan on November ballot:" https://www.stlpr.org/government-politics-issues/2026-09-03/respect-missouri-voters-initiative-petitions

* We are in primary season. States vote at different times, so I beg ALL of you to check when your state is voting. If you are in an in-person vote state, research ahead of time so you can vote for the candidate with views closest to your own. If you vote by mail, take the time to look them up when your ballot comes.

THIS is how you move the party further LEFT.

PLAN YOUR VOTE!!!

Primary schedule here:

* "2026 Statewide Primary Calendar:" https://www.270towin.com/2026-state-primary-calendar/

I don't know where you live, so I can't link this for you, but I find the Progressive Voter Guide online very helpful in narrowing down candidates in the often packed primaries where I live.

I also suggest looking at things like volunteer work and endorsements, because it really, really helps with things like sheriff and judicial elections, but can be useful in all sorts of primaries when you have multiple good options.

REMEMBER: Don't just vote for the big things like US Congress. Vote in every State and local race down to the smallest and on all the referendums.

State and local elections have a massive impact on your quality of life.

* New Hampshire Primaries! Don't forget to vote by September 8!

* Rhode Island Primaries! Don't forget to vote by September 9!

* Delaware Primaries! Don't forget to vote by September 15!

* "Seth Moulton’s anti-trans shape-shifting ends in a humiliating blowout in Massachusetts:" https://www.advocate.com/politics/national/seth-moulton-loses-ed-markey

* "Ed Markey showed Democrats how to defend trans people and win elections:" https://www.advocate.com/opinion/ed-markey-transgender-democrats-strategy

* "Trump invites battleground Republicans to Rose Garden dinner:" https://www.politico.com/news/2026/09/02/trump-invites-battleground-republicans-to-rose-garden-dinner-01061406

* "Republicans aren’t exactly flocking to Trump’s midterm convention:" https://www.politico.com/news/2026/09/02/gop-midterm-convention-attendance-01061286

* "Trump Plans to Buy Midterm Ads About His Own Record:" https://archive.ph/Yx6sl#selection-612.0-612.1

* "Millions of Dollars in Secret Spending Could Upend the 2026 Midterms:" https://archive.ph/R2wEg#selection-3952.0-3952.1

* "Fences Mended, Musk Begins Spending to Boost Republicans:" https://archive.ph/g8n37#selection-8056.0-8056.1

* "Built-in backlash: Musk’s toxicity complicates his return to politics:" https://www.ms.now/the-briefing-with-jen-psaki/watch/built-in-backlash-musk-s-toxicity-complicates-his-return-to-politics-2513107011814

* "Vivian Wilson encourages queer people to 'disobey' as midterms approach:" https://www.advocate.com/politics/vivian-jenna-wilson-desigual

* "Gunman kills 2 at Arizona gay bar with other LGBTQ+ venues on apparent hit list:" https://www.advocate.com/news/crime/tuscon-hate-crime-bar-killing

* "LGBTQ+ Arizonans gather in mourning and defiance after deadly gay bar shooting:" https://www.advocate.com/news/crime/arizona-tucson-gay-bar-shooting

* "Mistrial is declared in Lindsay Clancy child killings case after jury deadlocks:" https://apnews.com/article/lindsay-clancy-postpartum-massachusetts-trial-a939db73e864393eb9c727daa788e7a2

* CW: Child Death. "Lindsay Clancy Hung Jury:"

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* CW: Child Death. "The Juror Who Broke the Lindsay Clancy Trial:"

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* "The trial over Tupac Shakur’s murder ended with a guilty verdict. But did it bring closure?:" https://apnews.com/article/tupac-shakur-duane-keffe-d-davis-90c08ae150f366c83938c425c73adb9c

* "Utah detectives say accused stalker told victim he ‘couldn’t wait to kill a gay person’:" https://www.advocate.com/news/crime/utah-antigay-stalking-threats

* "Four suspects beat California man while shouting anti-LGBTQ+ slurs, police say:" https://www.advocate.com/news/crime/sacramento-gay-beating-hate-crime

* CW: Rape, Rape Culture. "Navy Officer’s Lawsuit Accusing Ship Captain of Rape Gets Dismissed as Workers’ Comp Claim:" https://people.com/navy-officer-lawsuit-alleging-rape-gets-dismissed-as-workers-comp-claim-12072092

* CW: Rape. "Two men charged after sexual assault of trans woman at UW-Madison:" https://www.advocate.com/news/crime/assault-uw-trans-woman

* CW: Rape, Domestic Abuse. "When a pastor preaches cruelty, why does the congregation listen?:" https://www.advocate.com/opinion/jp-miller-netflix-documentary

* "The Summer the Ticks Took Over:" https://archive.ph/LRzpI#selection-4143.334-4143.352

---

* "First-of-its-kind study definitively shows that conservation actions are effective at halting and reversing biodiversity loss :" https://www.thegef.org/newsroom/press-releases/first-its-kind-study-definitively-shows-conservation-actions-are-effective

* Do. Not. Want. "Gene Wilder’s Voice Resurrected by AI for Netflix’s Willy Wonka Competition Series; Late Actor’s Wife Gives Blessing:" https://variety.com/2026/tv/news/gene-wilder-voice-ai-willy-wonka-netflix-series-1236799327/

* "Scams in the US are at a record high. Yet most victims get no help and some end up losing even more:" https://apnews.com/article/scams-online-scams-ai-internet-safety-phishing-fraud-34517de3546d604e20c9d78d3dc5af4f

* "Federal judge rules that AI-generated child sex abuse material is protected under the First Amendment:" https://www.live5news.com/2026/09/01/federal-judge-rules-that-ai-generated-child-sex-abuse-material-is-protected-under-first-amendment/

* "Elon Musk's data centers are pushing out a family that's owned land since "before people of color were allowed to":" https://www.cbsnews.com/news/elon-musk-data-centers-mississippi-family/?

* "How Americans stayed cool before air conditioning: From sitting on smelly ice to sleeping on the roof:" https://www.popsci.com/technology/before-air-conditioning-history/

* "The 40-hour Week was Meant to be Temporary:"

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* "Dolly Parton Was 'The Book Lady':"

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* "Body of world's youngest traditional king returns home to Uganda amid succession row:" https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/clylwgn8jk3o

* "Map Shows Planned Buc-ee’s Locations as CEO Vows Focus on Conservative States:" https://www.newsweek.com/map-shows-planned-bucees-ceo-vows-focus-on-conservative-states-12385999

* "Intense Six Flags Coaster Closed After Two Riders Suffer Brain Hemorrhages: “It’s Got to Stop”:" https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/six-flags-x2-coaster-closed-brain-injuries-1236683165/

* "Unruly passenger arrested after being restrained with duct tape during flight:" https://www.yahoo.com/news/us/articles/unruly-passenger-arrested-being-restrained-012102677.html

* "Don’t Press Those Keys! How to Spot the New “Captcha Scam”:" https://www.idtheftcenter.org/post/new-captcha-scam/

* "Glass Found In Pillsbury Bread Triggers Recall For Over 700,000 Rolls:" https://www.delish.com/food-news/a73221091/pillsbury-bread-dough-recall-walmart/?link_source=ta_first_comment&taid=6a65fde7b8fbe6000160ddf5

* Despite the best efforts of the death benefit insurance scammers, I actually got real sleep Monday. In other news, we are being inspected first thing Friday morning, which is progress and we are going to have more time than hoped for to clean.

If the inspection goes well, odds are high that we will be all right. If not? Best not to think of it.

* Or Not. Fuck!

I had three death scammers, two bank call and a pharmacy call in the same two hours, at which point sleep was impossible, so I got to do all this on 3-4 hours of heavily disrupted sleep, while fasting for blood work, and with little hope of things turning out well.

Bonus: The kittens completely destroyed what I'm pretty sure is an expensive to replace comic compendium from the library last night and they trashed the place in genera right after all the Monday night cleaning. *head desk*

We are carrying on as if financing is still going to happen, which means cleaning and gathering paperwork, but the out of state next level up bank person didn't like the no interest loan from the city thing. I had to bring them extra papers in case it's not completely dead, but it looks bad to me. Local bank loan supervisor guy is going to try explaining to her because likely she doesn't know what the program is, etc.. He has hopes of talking her through it. If this fails so will plan C.

Bank supervisor has suggested a new Plan D he thinks we may be able to swing if things go south. Old plan D is now E and I am working on a plan F, but I do not like our chances there. I'm not sanguine about d and I don't like the looks of E either. I will definitely lose my chance at this car if I try to make F work and I'm like a couple of thousand short if it goes that way. Aso I doubt I can get one as good at that price.

Still, I will keep at it. I have no choice.

I've dealt with the local supervisor guy a bunch of times before and he really is good at his stuff and helpful. I'm just not convinced he is a magician, and it would take some real magic to persuade Out of state lady.

* Tuesday had way too many things in it and not enough sleep. It was not all that surprising I needed to spend 20 hourish in bed with cats Wednesday as a result.

And then Thursday was full of horrors:

Thursday I got three hours sleep because the assessor called to cancel for Friday, and I couldn't get back to sleep especially with all the death scammers calling. This suggests they are turning me down but the person in charge didn't contact either me or the local bank to confirm I am turned down. Which is weird. Local bank got my message about next steps and they want to talk to the lady in charge of the application to find out wtf, before moving on to plan D. They hope to know tomorrow.

I read the back half of Ann Leckie's delightful and very satisfying Radiant Star with my cats while waiting for the bank to call back.

We tried jumping my car so I could get the library CD that is overdue out, but no dice. I did go out in squirrel's car to market garden for safe produce. My garden is still producing but not in the necessary quantities. I had one of my tomatoes and the market garden's own delicious lettuce, perfect texture and properly flavoured on my bagel sandwich.

The cats wanted a walk and it was beautiful out, but I'd broken a plate last night. (Slipped from my hand while I was trying to stop a kitten escape. It scattered into tiny pieces over a large area.) I got pieces in my feet trying to catch a cat today. I had hoped to get the New Guy to clean, it, but I was thinking, We had the first Autumn Winds Wednesday, and who knows how many good days we'll get before the rainy season starts, so I did what I could.

It was a monumental task. I had to gather everything before I went out because kittens. This meant things like getting Squirrel to give me the broom and dust pan because they had them for cleaning up for the assessors. I needed all the walk stuff ready too in case they mobbed me. I needed to take up the mats, move heavy planters, etc.. Sweeping is ruff on my shoulder and my hips and the worst of the two badly damaged areas of my spine, and it was hot again. I did the best I could, but I know from experience, I need an able bodied person to go over it again and I'll likely be finding micro shards until that happened.

I was exhausted, but the cats did get their walk. Saffy ended up coming for a nice outdoors pet, which I thought was sweet. Claw was end of tether the whole time. Eventually she clearly saw something we couldn't see because hedges and decided she was done, which seemed about right for Saffy and I, so we came back in and I had a lie down.

I legitimately feel terrible. The last three weeks have been far to much for me physically, but there has been no choice. On the upside, it seems pepcide is helping with the inflammation and that's much improved. So I can breath properly when I'm not outside which does help with sleep quality, or would if people would not keep waking me up with spam and distressing calls, but here we are. The chunks of sleep I do get in between harassment are good and don't involve waking up struggling for breath.

So then I'm waiting for the New Guy to come. He calls instead. The Asshole Agency Suspended him with no notice. they also lied to him they'd called me to tell me. No call. No email. Nothing. I have sent an email to my team, and I get to add yet more phone bureaucracy to the list of things I need to do when I should be sleeping. Ugh.

It's added to the things I need to do when I should be sleeping. Ugh.

And I am yet again fucked for a home health aid because they keep finding new ways to jerk the other one around.

(Given the circumstances, the suspension is scary and unpleasant for the New Guy, but is unlikely to stick. I can't tell you details, but when I gave Squirrel the circumstances, he agreed with me that it's the kind of thing that requires a short suspension while they look into it, but will be easily shown to be bullshit. Which doesn't make it any less traumatic while it's occurring, of course).

One of the things I was going to get the New Guy to do was pull the shards I can't get out of my feet.

I am so, so tired.

* They officially turned me down Friday, and so we are trying to do Plan D, which is the last of the descent plans. We go tomorrow to find out if we are turned down flat, if we are, I will need to pivot to plan F, because if Plan D fails, likely so will E. This will mean I'll need another 1-2000 if I'm to get the used car. Let us hope plan D succeeds.

We were out on the patio with leashes Saturday. Saf spraaaaawled across the easy way off the patio. Claw wanted to go sit on the path and made a face like: Hey! a cat is in my way! Me: Welcome to my world.

We've been getting a higher rate of kittens wanting a walk and then decided after about ten minutes they are done. Mondays walk was like that. Nobody walking by. Blue sky with fluffy clouds. Perfect temperature. My theory is the wind. It's more a nice breeze right now, but they were born in January. They've never seen a Windy season yet. This one has barely started. We had one (1) real wind so far.

I think what happens is it looks fine from inside, but when they get out there, Everything is in motion: All the leaves. The long decorative grass. It unnerves them. They are descended from a desert species that is both predator and prey after all. If it cuts down of Saffy escapes, all to the good, but I am a little sad they are missing about half of what are likely the last good weather days before the windy season rains start.

* "Rich people more likely to steal children’s sweets, finds Ig Nobel prize-winning study:" https://www.theguardian.com/science/2026/sep/03/ig-nobel-prize-awards-2026-winners?

* "Harry Potter Is Manufacturing Your Complicity:"

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* A really interesting take on Charlotte Lucas and Mr. Collins in historical context: https://www.tumblr.com/gwydionmisha/826980425151971328?source=share

* "This Living Garden Has Been Sealed for Decades:" https://mossandfog.com/this-living-garden-has-been-sealed-for-decades/

* I had some thoughts about Chuck Tingle's Fabulous Bodies, and to explain them I need to talk in thematic terms about some of his other work:

( Here there be Spoilers: )

* "See Ten Spectacular Images From This Year’s Astronomy Photographer of the Year Contest That Capture the Wonders of the Universe:" https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/see-ten-spectacular-images-from-this-years-astronomy-photographer-of-the-year-contest-that-capture-the-wonders-of-the-universe-180989065/

* I finally got a chance to see For All Mankind. There are choices I don't agree with narratively here and there, but I am all in on complex, fully fleshed out flawed women. I've noticed this is kind of a theme on Apple+. Good on them, I say. Also props for doing enough seasons to tell a story properly.

I just watched the season 4 finale, and afterwards, I kept thinking of how bananacakes the plot summary would sound out of context and how much sense it made in context down to the literal Chekhov's gun lying in wait since Season 3 and all the way so many things seeded in earlier seasons just keep adding depth.s

*****
* Full list of Resistance and charity links has been migrated to my profile as it was getting out of hand.

The help links are at the bottom under the cut.

* It is important we flip the US Senate in November!

Here are some key Campaigns to Donate to:

If you wish to help defeat an election denier for Arizona Secretary of state, here is Adrian Fontes's fundraising page: https://secure.actblue.com/donate/friendraising-fontes

James Talrico, Texas: https://secure.actblue.com/donate/jt-tx-web
Roy Cooper, North Carolina: https://secure.actblue.com/donate/em-cgp-2025-cooper
Mary Peltola, Alaska: https://secure.actblue.com/donate/dw_aksen
Josh Turek, Iowa: https://secure.actblue.com/donate/dw_iasen

I am still furious at Sherrod Brown for throwing trans people under the bus last election. At the same time, we need the Senate, so I will post the donation link and leave it to the individual conscience.
Sherrod Brown, Ohio: https://secure.actblue.com/donate/subodh

* Want to help Jennifer Jenkins and Southern Progress PAC piss of Queerphobic and Misogynistic Repubblicans? https://secure.actblue.com/donate/s-partner_loc_jj_em_southernprogress

* "Transcontinental Pipeline:" https://tcpipeline.org/steps/

* "Swing Left:" https://swingleft.org/

* "2026 Statewide Primary Calendar:" https://www.270towin.com/2026-state-primary-calendar/

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