gwydion | 4/17/26

* "1 killed in Israeli strike in southern Lebanon on 1st full day of ceasefire deal:" https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/lebanon-israel-ceasefire-hezbollah-9.7167688

* "Is this what war looks like now?:" https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/ng-interactive/2026/apr/24/gaza-israel-lebanon-war

* "Israel entrenches hold on south Lebanon, warns residents to stay out:" https://archive.ph/sgd0Q

* "Satellite images reveal scale of Israeli demolitions as Lebanese villages destroyed:" https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cdxkk1vnp57o

* "Israeli killing of Lebanese journalist draws international condemnation:" https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/apr/23/lebanon-journalist-amal-khalil-israel-death-threat

****** Sort is Rough and speed of news means som e items may be already out of date ******

* "Annalena Baerbock - The United Nations is “Life Insurance for Everyone” | The Daily Show:"

Watch on YouTube

I'm including this here because it has some things to do with the war, though it is more generally to do with the U.N. itself.

* "John Kerry's Advice To Trump's Iran Negotiators: Take Time To Be Reasonable:"

Watch on YouTube

* "The Fog Of War Is Emanating From The White House - Anderson Cooper On Trump's War Against Iran:"

Watch on YouTube

* "Congress Could Tell Trump: Put A Stop To This War - Sen. Elizabeth Warren:"

Watch on YouTube

* "Democrats Raise Concerns Over Civilian Casualties From Iran War:" https://www.wsj.com/livecoverage/iran-war-israel-us-strait-hormuz-2026/card/dZGJlN62opWnTvCTohsj

* "U.S. considers $20 billion cash-for-uranium deal with Iran:" https://www.axios.com/2026/04/17/iran-us-deal-20-billion-frozen-funds-uranium

* "Iran doubles down on closing Strait of Hormuz as ceasefire nears expiration:" https://www.politico.com/news/2026/04/19/iran-doubles-down-on-closing-strait-of-hormuz-as-ceasefire-nears-expiration-00879967

* "U.S. military will target Iran-linked ships worldwide, broadening scope beyond blockade:" https://archive.ph/zujxT

* "US ready to hit Iran with ‘financial equivalent’ to bombings, treasury secretary says:" https://apnews.com/live/iran-war-israel-trump-04-15-2026

* "Bombshell Report Reveals Trump Was Begging for Iran to Join Ceasefire:" https://newrepublic.com/post/208815/trump-asked-iran-ceasefire

* "Trump is stuck looking for military solution to an economic problem in Iran:" https://www.ms.now/the-briefing-with-jen-psaki/watch/trump-is-stuck-looking-for-military-solution-to-an-economic-problem-in-iran-2496754755521

* "The one Trump gaffe that sums up his entire Iran failure:" https://www.ms.now/all-in/watch/the-one-trump-gaffe-that-sums-up-his-entire-iran-failure-2496874563518

* "Iran takes Donald Trump down a peg with costly lesson in compromise:" https://www.ms.now/the-briefing-with-jen-psaki/watch/iran-takes-donald-trump-down-a-peg-with-costly-lesson-in-compromise-2496586819906

* "Trump’s Illegalist War Gets Illegaler:"

Watch on YouTube

* "‘This is not serious leadership’: Donald Trump and Marco Rubio watch UFC in Miami as Iran talks fail:" https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2026/apr/12/donald-trump-marco-rubio-ufc-iran-war

* "Vought: White House doesn’t have ‘ballpark’ total for Iran war funding:" https://www.politico.com/live-updates/2026/04/15/congress/no-iran-funding-ballpark-00872934

* "Trump pretends he’s in no rush on Iran as Americans lose patience with war’s fallout:" https://www.ms.now/the-briefing-with-jen-psaki/watch/trump-pretends-he-s-in-no-rush-on-iran-as-americans-lose-patience-with-war-s-fallout-2497614915693

* "Iran says it seized ships in Strait of Hormuz as U.S. blockade continues amid ceasefire:" https://www.npr.org/2026/04/22/nx-s1-5795405/iran-middle-east-updates

* "US intercepts three Iranian oil tankers in Asian waters, sources say :" https://archive.ph/hE4WP

* "Only five ships pass through Strait of Hormuz in 24 hours:" https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/only-five-ships-pass-through-strait-hormuz-24-hours-2026-04-24/

* "Trump orders U.S. military to 'shoot and kill' Iranian small boats choking Strait of Hormuz:" https://www.pbs.org/newshour/world/trump-orders-u-s-military-to-shoot-and-kill-iranian-small-boats-choking-strait-of-hormuz

* "US military says it seizes another oil tanker associated with Iran:" https://apnews.com/article/us-iran-war-hormuz-israel-pakistan-ceasefire-april-22-2026-267230f7f32b436822484479313840f7

* "U.S. Intelligence Shows China Taking a More Active Role in Iran War:" https://archive.ph/Nm2eO

* "In the Gulf, GPS jamming leaves delivery drivers navigating blind:" https://restofworld.org/2026/gps-disruption-gulf-gig-workers/

* "Why Would Pentagon Allegedly Threaten Pope's Ambassador With 'Avignon Papacy'?:" https://religiondispatches.org/2026/04/10/why-would-pentagon-allegedly-threaten-popes-ambassador-avignon-papacy

* "Pope Leo: “I Have No Fear” of Trump:" https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2026/04/pope-leo-trump-i-have-no-fear-war-iran/

* "Johnson backs Trump, Vance in criticism of pope:" https://www.politico.com/news/2026/04/15/mike-johnson-trump-vance-pope-criticism-00873232

* "Pope condemns killing of protesters in Iran, reaffirms stance against war:" https://www.reuters.com/world/pope-condemns-killing-protesters-iran-reaffirms-stance-against-war-2026-04-23/

* "Hegseth Quotes Made-Up Bible Verse From Pulp Fiction:" https://newrepublic.com/post/209145/hegseth-fake-bible-verse-pulp-fiction

* "As Vance rallies with Turning Point, some supporters bristle at Trump’s war, memes and feuds:" https://apnews.com/article/vance-pope-leo-donald-trump-jesus-meme-2488d70793a21909b1026ccad0ac42a7

* "‘Veep-like week’: Hayes reacts to JD Vance’s recent ‘string of failures’ :" https://www.ms.now/all-in/watch/veep-like-week-hayes-reacts-to-jd-vance-s-recent-string-of-failures-2496419907890

* "Navy secretary is out amid Pentagon infighting:" https://www.politico.com/news/2026/04/22/navy-secretary-out-00887887

* "Navy secretary fired amid naval blockade in Strait of Hormuz:" https://www.ms.now/all-in/watch/navy-secretary-fired-amid-naval-blockade-in-strait-of-hormuz-2497438787825

* "Trump's new Navy secretary seems very afraid of witches and drag queens:" https://www.advocate.com/politics/national/hung-cao-witches-drag-queens

* "Jared Kushner’s Mysterious Role in the Trump Administration:" https://archive.ph/md4Rx

* "Eric Trump-Backed Startup Lands $24 Million Contract from His Father's Administration:" https://people.com/eric-trump-backed-startup-lands-usd24-million-contract-from-his-father-administration-11957625

* "Trump’s sons are fooling no one cashing in on Trump’s war:" https://www.ms.now/the-briefing-with-jen-psaki/watch/trump-s-sons-are-fooling-no-one-cashing-in-on-trump-s-war-2497609283553

* "‘Incredible grift’: Rep. Garcia criticizes Eric Trump’s $24 million Pentagon contract:" https://www.ms.now/all-in/watch/incredible-grift-eric-trump-brags-about-scoring-24-million-pentagon-deal-2497583171767

* "Trump’s corruption becomes a campaign issue as GOP Congress flunks on accountability:" https://www.ms.now/the-briefing-with-jen-psaki/watch/trump-s-corruption-becomes-a-campaign-issue-as-gop-congress-flunks-on-accountability-2497458755554

* "Detention of journalist in Kuwait raises questions about crackdown on freedom of speech:" https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/apr/14/detention-journalist-ahmed-shihab-eldin-kuwait-crackdown-freedom-speech-iran-war

* "‘Outrageous’: American journalist detained in Kuwait after posting Iran war video:" https://www.ms.now/all-in/watch/outrageous-american-journalist-detained-in-kuwait-after-posting-iran-war-video-2496571459985

* "Journalist detained in Kuwait acquitted of ‘spreading false information’, says press monitor:" https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/apr/23/journalist-detained-in-kuwait-acquitted-of-spreading-false-information-says-press-monitor

******

* "Cuba runs on oil, and the oil is running out:" https://archive.ph/GY83K

* "Trump going ‘Access Hollywood’ on Cuba and threatening THIS:"

Watch on YouTube

******

* "After years of war with Russia, Ukraine's farmers are hit by Iran conflict:" https://archive.ph/XsL8L

******

* "Children make up half of Haiti’s gangs. They’re about to face a new foreign force.:" https://www.cnn.com/2026/04/06/americas/haiti-gang-children-face-new-foreign-force-latam-intl

* "5 things to know about Péter Magyar, Hungary's new prime minister:" https://www.npr.org/2026/04/13/nx-s1-5783657/peter-magyar-hungary-prime-minister-orban-election

* "He exposed corruption and walked across Hungary. Now Péter Magyar has defeated a powerful state machine:" https://theconversation.com/he-exposed-corruption-and-walked-across-hungary-now-peter-magyar-has-defeated-a-powerful-state-machine-280455

* "Viktor Orbán won't be the last anti-LGBTQ+ strongman to topple:" https://www.advocate.com/opinion/viktor-orban-strongman-topple

* "How to Defeat a Very Trumpy Authoritarian Leader:" https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2026/04/authoritarian-prime-minister-viktor-orban-hungary-defeated-by-peter-magyar-tisza-fidesz-party/

* "Maddow: Trump’s fear is palpable as authoritarian peer Orbán is resoundingly rejected in Hungary:" https://www.ms.now/rachel-maddow/watch/maddow-trump-s-fear-is-palpable-as-authoritarian-peer-orban-is-resoundingly-rejected-in-hungary-2496282179662

* "Whistleblower says Trump officials thought USAID did 'just abortions,' asked for 'Barney-style' slides before gutting agency, per new book:" https://www.thehandbasket.co/p/trump-usaid-abortions-barney-nicholas-enrich-into-the-wood-chipper-book-exclusive

*** Immigration/I.C.E/Autocracy/Slow Motion Civil War/Violent Illegal Occupation of Blue Cities News (Sort likely a little rough)***

* "Appeals court again blocks Boasberg contempt probe into Alien Enemies Act deportations:" https://www.politico.com/news/2026/04/14/james-boasberg-contempt-deportations-ruling-00871317

* "Trump Removes 2 Judges Who Dismissed Student Deportation Cases:" https://www.insidehighered.com/news/quick-takes/2026/04/13/judges-who-dismissed-student-deportation-cases-removed

* "ICE Makes SHOCK ADMISSION in Court on use of SPYWARE?!?!:"

Watch on YouTube

* "Mexican surveillance giant you’ve never heard of is now watching the U.S. border:" https://restofworld.org/2026/mexico-seguritech-government-surveillance-profile/

* "He came here for safety. America made him fight for it.:" https://www.advocate.com/opinion/examining-lgbtq-asylum-seekers

* Cruelty is the Point. "Afghan high school senior is detained by ICE as he prepared to graduate:" https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/afghan-high-school-senior-detained-ice-rihan-afghanistan-zia-rcna331785

* "Minnesota county investigates federal agents’ removal of US citizen from home as possible kidnapping:" https://www.wvtm13.com/article/criminal-investigation-ice-arrest-chongly-thao/71006228

* "Minnesota has charged an ICE officer with assault for alleged actions during immigration surge:" https://www.npr.org/2026/04/16/nx-s1-5787958/minnesota-charged-ice-officer-assault-immigration-surge

* "He was detained by ICE. When he got out, he couldn’t find his car:" https://themainemonitor.org/cars-towed-ice-detainment/

* "The American Gulag:" https://pghrev.com/the-american-gulag/

* "Surprise inspection finds ICE stuffing migrants ‘like sardines’ into a facility with no bed, showers:" https://azmirror.com/2026/04/10/ice-overcrowding-like-sardines-congressional-oversight-arizona/

* "Congressman calls for end to ICE detention at Indiana prison after oversight visit:" https://www.wfyi.org/statewide/2026-04-09/congressman-calls-for-end-to-ice-detention-at-indiana-prison-after-oversight-visit

* "Alligator Alcatraz phones were cut off. Then the beatings began, court docs say:" https://archive.ph/BcUFJ

* CW: Rape. "Democrats pay visit to ICE detention facility where abuse claims are rife:" https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/apr/02/democrats-ice-detention-center

* "DHS appeals Pennsylvania's order blocking ICE detention centers:" https://www.wgal.com/article/dhs-appeals-pennsylvania-order-blocking-ice-detention-centers/70989121

* "Protesters rally against planned Maryland immigration detention facility that's now paused:" https://www.nbcwashington.com/news/local/protesters-rally-against-planned-maryland-immigration-detention-facility-thats-now-paused/4088194/

* "Trump administration waves the white flag in some ICE cases:" https://www.politico.com/news/2026/03/20/ice-detention-cases-doj-judges-00837850

* "PETITION TO WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL - Support the Civil Detention and Enforcement Facility Prohibition Ordinance :" https://actionnetwork.org/petitions/petition-to-the-whatcom-county-council-support-the-civil-detention-and-enforcement-facility-prohibition-ordinance?source=direct_link&

If you live in Whatcom County Washington State, please sign.

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

"Project Salt Box:" https://projectsaltbox.substack.com/
"MASTER LIST OF WAYS TO HELP IN MINNEAPOLIS:" https://www.tumblr.com/gwydionmisha/807223113540599808?source=share
"Here are Minnesota groups that need your help organizing against ICE and DHS operations:" https://www.advocate.com/news/minnesota-mutual-aid-groups-ice
Links to Help organize in advance of ICE Occupation: https://www.tumblr.com/gwydionmisha/807226885129060352?source=share
"How To Help if You are Outside Minnesota:" https://naomikritzer.com/2026/01/21/how-to-help-if-you-are-outside-minnesota/
"Support minnesotans defending their communities from ICE:" https://www.standwithminnesota.com/
"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/

* Some items below this point may be older.

* There is a "Stop Ice" National day of Protest April 25 2026. I want to thank all of you protesting this weekend!

* "Nationwide General Strike Planned for May 1: No Kings Organizer:" https://www.commondreams.org/news/no-kings-general-strike

* "Trump’s FCC targets LGBTQ+ television content. GLAAD sounds alarm:" https://www.advocate.com/politics/national/fcc-lgbtq-ratings-glaad-warning

A character just being queer is enough. Trans characters will automatically be considered "adult content" just for existing.

This is another way to try to make it impossible for queer people to exist in public. If queer characters are automatically considered obscene even while fully dressed and not doing anything remotely sexual, it's an easy leap to me being dressed and minding my business in a grocery store becoming an arrestable offense.

* "Trans characters are not adult-oriented entertainment:" https://thisfinecrew.dreamwidth.org/325499.html

* The public comment period is open now through May 22, 2026: https://www.fcc.gov/ecfs/search/docket-detail/19-41

* "People Who Love Corporate BS Are Bad at Their Jobs, New Cornell Research Confirms

The psychologist behind a new study confirming the link between dumb jargon and dumb decisions explains how to fight corporate BS. :" https://www.inc.com/jessica-stillman/people-who-love-corporate-bs-are-bad-at-their-jobs-new-cornell-research-confirms/91314405

* "The Looming College-Enrollment Death Spiral:" https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2026/04/college-enrollment-demographic-cliff/686750/

* "New York City Council Member Chi Ossé arrested at Brooklyn anti-eviction protest:" https://www.advocate.com/politics/advocacy/chi-osse-nyc-council-arrested

* "The Paperwork Problem Behind the Housing Shortage:" https://www.strongtowns.org/journal/2026-2-18-the-paperwork-problem-behind-the-housing-shortage

* "Rent jumps 113% at College Station manufactured home community in 14 months:" https://www.kbtx.com/2026/02/11/rent-jumps-113-college-station-manufactured-home-community-14-months/

The housing bill is a good and important piece of legislation that will free up so much housing being hoarded by corporations and the like to make it possible for people to have affordable homes.

The House Republicans do not like it, but they have only a two vote majority if you count the independent caucusing with them.

It is essential to contact your Congress Critter in the house and ask them to vote for this bill.

* "Senate extends controversial surveillance program used by U.S. spy agencies:" https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/senate-extends-controversial-surveillance-program-used-by-u-s-spy-agencies

They started debate after midnight to avoid scrutiny and to try to push it over democratic demands for things like warrants.

* "The Emerging Push to Extend Some US Benefits to IDF Soldiers :" https://www.military.com/feature/2026/04/19/emerging-push-extend-some-us-benefits-idf-soldiers.html?ESRC=eb_260423.nl

* "Senate votes to kickstart partisan funding process for ICE. Here's how that works:" https://www.npr.org/2026/04/23/g-s1-118330/congress-dhs-spending-reconciliation

The issues are simple: Democrats want ICE to have to follow the law and Republicans want them to have unlimited power to do whatever they want to whomever they want with impunity.

Please contact your House member and encourage them to vote against the DHS Funding Bill. Say what you need to say if it's a Republican. The important thing is to get them to make changes to the bill as that would create more delay. We want delay. We want them to keep having to debate it while people protest and flood their offices with calls.

* "House Ethics panel issues rare statement committing to helping secure a sexual harassment-free workplace:" https://www.politico.com/live-updates/2026/04/20/congress/house-ethics-doubles-down-00880963

* "Democrat Cherfilus-McCormick of Florida resigns before the House can sanction her in ethics case:" https://apnews.com/article/cherfilusmccormick-ethics-hearing-house-376eaaa9ff51a7bf66a9a5528822d2ef

* "Kevin Warsh hearing takeaways: Trump Fed chair nominee defends finances, says president never demanded rate cuts:" https://www.cnbc.com/2026/04/21/kevin-warsh-fed-confirmation-hearing-trump-live-updates.html

Putting a Trump puppet in will be disastrous in likely a permanent sort of way.

Delay is our friend.

* "Warsh Pledges Independence But Dodges Questions on Rates:" https://archive.ph/JNtwE

* "Trump’s Fed scheme is busted as hearing shows he picked a puppet:" https://www.ms.now/the-briefing-with-jen-psaki/watch/trump-s-fed-scheme-is-busted-as-hearing-shows-he-picked-a-puppet-2497301571538

* ""If The Sock Fits..." - Sen. Warren Believes Trump Seeks To Appoint A Sock Puppet To Lead The Fed:"

Watch on YouTube

* "Trump to Pick Ousted FEMA Head to Lead Agency Again:" https://archive.ph/hYbc8

* "Trump pick for State Department drops out after drawing heat for comments about ‘white culture’:" https://www.politico.com/news/2026/03/10/trump-state-department-white-culture-00822112

* 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/

Protests: "50501 Events:" https://www.fiftyfifty.one/events

"ICE Raids Toolkit: Defend Against ICE Raids and Community Arrests:" https://www.immigrantdefenseproject.org/raids-toolkit/

Contains a raid tip hotline amoung other things. "Know Your Rights
LEARN HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF AND YOUR FAMILY:" https://wearecasa.org/know-your-rights/

* We are in primary season now. 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.

* Indiana! Ohio! Don't forget to vote in the Primaries May 5!

* Congratulations Virginia!!! "Virginia voters approve redistricting plan that could boost Democrats’ seats in Congress:" https://apnews.com/article/virginia-redistricting-election-congress-trump-78e0e68100119011b1b439634f6b6fa1

* "Democrats notch Virginia redistricting victory in battle over House maps:" https://www.advocate.com/politics/national/virginia-democrats-win-redistricting-vote

* "Court pauses redistricting in Virginia, day after voters approve new maps:" https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c5ywnjw7qj2o

This is just a stay, which is expected, and the court deciding on it is the same one that let them go forward with the vote in the first place. There is reason to think it will be all right. It is too early to panic.

* "‘All eyes are on Ron DeSantis’: Florida could make or break the GOP’s redistricting edge:" https://www.politico.com/news/2026/04/23/florida-redistricting-desantis-republicans-maps-trump-00887120

Now is a great time for Floridians to contact their state reps to say they don't want redistricting.

* "Florida redistricting push divides Republicans:" https://www.semafor.com/article/04/23/2026/florida-redistricting-push-divides-republicans

Remember, delay is our friend. The closer to the election the harder to change the map. It is to our benefit for Republicans to stay divided.

* "A Republican Dark Money Group Blankets Virginia With Deceptive Mailers Ahead of Redistricting Vote:" https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2026/04/dark-money-group-per-aspera-blankets-virginia-with-deceptive-mailers-ahead-of-redistricting-vote/

* "Jon Ossoff calls out ‘Mar-a-Lago mafia’ amid presidential bid rumors:" https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/apr/18/jon-ossoff-fiery-speech-presidential-rumors

* "The Attack On Trans People Is Ramping Up:"

Watch on YouTube

* "Tennessee Republicans advance flurry of bills to make life unlivable for transgender people:" https://www.advocate.com/politics/states/tennessee-republicans-transgender-attacks

Now would be a great time to protest.

* "Colorado governor signs law recognizing that trans kids have privacy rights:" https://www.advocate.com/politics/states/colorado-polis-name-change-law

* "California attorney who tried to help overturn 2020 election loses law license:" https://apnews.com/article/john-eastman-trump-2020-election-loss-disbarred-abf3b3ab8f83a692992615c59db73c92

* "Alex Jones Has Shirtless Meltdown as ‘The Onion’ Prepares to Relaunch Infowars:" https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/culture-news/the-onion-deal-relaunch-alex-jones-infowars-1235550918/

* "Alex Jones’ Infowars to become a joke on purpose as accountability finally catches up:" https://www.ms.now/rachel-maddow/watch/alex-jones-infowars-to-become-a-joke-on-purpose-as-accountability-finally-catches-up-2497148483591

* "Polygraphs Aren’t Very Accurate. Are There Better Options?:" https://undark.org/2026/03/25/lie-detection-polygraph-accuracy/

* "Blindsided staff at Hampshire College launch relief fund as liberal school prepares to close:" https://www.advocate.com/news/education/hampshire-college-relief-fund

* "Support Hampshire College Staff and Faculty:" https://www.helphampshireworkers.com/

* CW: CSA. "Anti-LGBTQ+ Christian author indicted on child sex abuse charges in Ohio:" https://tiffinohio.net/posts/anti-lgbtq-christian-author-indicted-on-child-sex-abuse-charges-in-ohio/

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* "My existence is not an ideology:" https://www.libdemvoice.org/my-existence-is-not-an-ideology-79434.html

* "Pope Leo XIV signals no new ground for LGBTQ+ Catholics:" https://www.advocate.com/news/religion/pope-leo-disappoints-lgbtq-catholics

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* "Women have the same rates of autism as men – but get diagnosed less:" https://www.independent.co.uk/news/health/autism-diagnosis-males-females-asd-sweden-b2914367.html

* "The California town with less than 30 residents begging for young people to move in:" https://www.sfgate.com/california/article/darwin-ghost-town-21281656.php?src=longreads

* "The ultra-rich are fortifying themselves inside one of America’s last intact ecosystems:" https://inthesetimes.com/article/yellowstone-billionaires-conservation-montana-deforest-amazon?

* "Scientists invented a fake disease. AI told people it was real:" https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-026-01100-y

* "The Bra-and-Girdle Maker That Fashioned the Impossible for NASA:" https://nautil.us/the-bra-and-girdle-maker-that-fashioned-the-impossible-for-nasa-1279841

* "It Was the Most Violent Prison in America. Then the Guards Went on Strike:" https://www.gq.com/story/walpole-prison-uprising

* "Journalist plans to create new archive of residential school survivor stories — before it's too late:" https://www.cbc.ca/news/indigenous/connie-walker-tmu-residential-schools-9.7162497

* The big, time sensitive bureaucracy packet came Friday, but I just didn't have it in my to deal with right away. Friday was forage delivery as always, plus… I think it was 7 phone calls, two of them real and important, the rest insurance scammers, plus lots of small things needing doing that nickle and dimed time and energy away.

I did manage to do the packet Saturday evening and it is ready to go, but it inevitably took hours. I still have the other packet and some phone bureaucracy to do, plus driving the paperwork in on Monday. I also submitted an app for sibling kittens. (A friend has raised a kitten fund.

In related news, I finally got a call back from a supplemental care giver. (This is a two hour a week gig to do the things that require an able bodied person like taking out trash and bed changes. This was one of the real calls Friday. Now I need to get her set up to work, so it is also a bureaucracy).

I am at that point where I have spent the last two days playing allergy or low grade virus. Sigh.

* Sunday the pain woke me about an hour before I wanted to be awake. Sigh. I only get two days a week I'm not constantly beset by insurance scammers, and my body does this. I tried the hot bath when no position could even mitigate it. I didn't even try to do physio, it was that bad. It's been a rough night.

In other news, I finished the 2nd pandemic in Western Asia and north Africa and have moved on to the Genoa debate. I really am appreciating how much attention the author pays to source bias, which really matters with history in general and Medieval history in particular.

In other news, Livia spent a good chunk of the afternoon and early evening when she wasn't getting pettins in her living room window box for the first time since Tavy died.

* I ended up getting up a couple hours earlier than intended, which was likely lucky given the massive to do list.

Paperwork got turned in. I picked up a frozen pizza as I knew today was going to be too much, especially with the inland heat made worse by all the black top and concrete and not enough green spaces. It's all also in the part of town with the outdoor farmer's market thing that has limited hours and is on the way to the library. I stopped by and picked up two early girl tomato starts.

Then to the library, where all the close parking was gone. Sigh. Bonus for hot and humid and a visibly high pollen count, as in my shirt and car were collecting it. Then to get new wind shield wipers as mine shredded during the march rains. Then to spend the gas money on litter. Sigh.

Too many things, really.

After the plants were in the ground and the oven set to preheat I spent over an our and half on hold hiring the supplemental disability aid, which is urgent as they stopped paying New Millennial and might not for another month or more. Sigh. If we are lucky, she starts Thursday. If not? Next week.

Miles to go before I sleep. Sigh. And more bureaucracy waiting like a ticking time bomb.

* The New Home Aid is very sweet, young and strong and healthy enough to do the harder bits of the job. We have 8 hours a month for her and she's planning to do all eight before month's end, which will be incredibly helpful. I have clean sheets, clean floors, the trash and recycling are cleared out, and she's organized the tea cupboard, put away dishes, and cleaned a bunch of surfaces including the micro-wave. She's coming for four hours tomorrow. I have a list of stuff she can work on.

After she left, I went out to get cleaning supplies that had been depleted, and stopped by the market garden for more tomato starts and yet another attempt at lavender. The last one did all right but didn't survive the move indoors last autumn. I will want a couple more varietals, plus next month's basil and a couple other things, but my lettuce and spearmint are doing very well. The strawberries have not entirely recovered from last year's HOA attacks, so fingers crossed there. There is already a little asparagus coming up. I really do feel good about the garden.

I don't want to ask her to mess around with compost, so that's still on my plate, but she seemed excited at the prospect of weeding out there, which is constant this time of year.

* New Aid came Friday, and OMG did so Much. Dishes done, Garden fully weeded and swept, lots of small things fixed including a bunch of pinwheels, the bathroom under-sink reorganized and heater put away, two drawers reorganized and tools put away in the tool box, bathroom cleaned (tub will need a second pass, but it is hard and I told her she could stop when she got tired of it. It has to be washed with dish detergent and can't have harsh anything), all litter boxes changed, some heavy things moved, She made a start on tall desk. I will need to mess with it more later, but it means the Last Bedroom Box just has books I need to rearrange some book shelf books for, so that has to be me. She was here long enough to put dishes away before she left. Composting and assorted bureaucracy is still on my personal to do list.

She'll be back Monday. If this seems like a lot to you, she is allotted a certain number of hours for the month and was only released to work here Wednesday. I'm like, you want to do all eight hours in the week we have left and she was like yes please, so we are catching up a lot of things set aside for various emergencies in the last year.

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