gwydion | 5/7/26 - 5/11/26 (Reply)

* Some Items may be older. I'm gnawing at the backlog. I didn't check the Sunday evening news, so some items may already be out of date.

* I am putting Trump Administration claims the war is over at the top as a contrast with the war that is obviously continuing in the intervening week.

* "Trump tells Congress the Iran war has ‘terminated’ as legal deadline hits:" https://www.politico.com/news/2026/05/01/trump-congress-war-terminated-00902681

* "Hegseth says battle for Hormuz is ‘separate and distinct' from the Iran war:" https://www.politico.com/news/2026/05/05/hegseth-hormuz-iran-oil-blockade-00906313

Don't piss on me and tell me it's raining.

* May 7 "Pakistan says it's hopeful a U.S.-Iran deal can happen soon:" https://www.npr.org/2026/05/06/nx-s1-5813497/iran-war-strait-hormuz-updates

* "Trump’s Iran posts are a mess. Hayes has the receipts.:" https://www.ms.now/all-in/watch/trump-s-iran-posts-are-a-mess-hayes-has-the-receipts-2499274819850

* And then this happened: "US fires on and disables 2 more Iranian tankers as tensions rise in the Strait of Hormuz:" https://apnews.com/article/iran-us-israel-war-may-8-2026-6490db55a65880a61a6233eff7acc68b

* May 9: "Iran ceasefire appears to hold and Bahrain detains dozens over suspected Revolutionary Guard links:" https://www.ms.now/all-in/watch/trump-s-iran-posts-are-a-mess-hayes-has-the-receipts-2499274819850

* "Iran Damaged or Destroyed Hundreds of Targets in US Bases, Reporting Reveals:" https://truthout.org/articles/iran-damaged-or-destroyed-hundreds-of-targets-in-us-bases-reporting-reveals/

* "CIA Says Iran Can Outlast U.S. Blockade On Strait Of Hormuz For Months: Report:" https://www.huffpost.com/entry/cia-iran-outlast-us-blockade-strait-hormuz_n_69fcc21ae4b0cb033e5034bc

* "Leaker(s) expose Trump’s bluffing on Iran:" https://www.ms.now/the-briefing-with-jen-psaki/watch/leaker-s-expose-trump-s-bluffing-on-iran-2499311171938

* "Trump team struggles to spin soaring gas prices as panic sets in:" https://www.ms.now/the-briefing-with-jen-psaki/watch/trump-team-struggles-to-spin-soaring-gas-prices-as-panic-sets-in-2499305539512

* "Trump Accuses Pope of “Endangering” Catholics as He Reignites Feud:" https://newrepublic.com/post/209939/trump-pope-endangering-catholics-feud

******

* "Trump says US will reduce number of troops in Germany ‘a lot further’ than withdrawal of 5,000:" https://apnews.com/article/germany-trump-troops-nato-drawdown-pistorius-merz-a93151327dcb7279a56a36dd4bbeca1c

The troops in Germany are intended to protect Europe from Russian invasion and we are using Germany as a staging area, etc. for Trump's illegal war against Iran.

* "Trump’s rash decision on U.S. troops in Germany follows Putin phone call (again):" https://www.ms.now/rachel-maddow/watch/trump-s-rash-decision-on-u-s-troops-in-germany-follows-putin-phone-call-again-2498870851663

******

* "Ukrainian drone hits upmarket Moscow high-rise ahead of Victory Day celebrations:" https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cwy234llx3vo

* "Russia declares a truce in Ukraine to mark Victory Day. Kyiv says it’ll cease fire two days earlier:" https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-war-unilateral-truce-parade-9a686273da1f284230180a7819613719

* "North Korean troops join Putin’s scaled-back military parade as Ukraine agrees to temporary ceasefire:" https://www.nbcnews.com/world/russia/putin-hosts-scaled-back-military-parade-no-tanks-no-internet-ukrainian-rcna342637

* "Putin denounces Nato at scaled back Victory Day parade:" https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c626xjq0q0vo

* "Millions in India stripped of vote before critical state election, as government seeks to ‘purify’ electoral roll:" https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/apr/22/india-west-bengal-state-elections-millions-stripped-of-vote?

* With predictable results. "Modi's party takes control of India's West Bengal in key state election:" https://www.npr.org/2026/05/04/g-s1-120053/modis-party-takes-control-of-indias-west-bengal-in-key-state-election

* "Alberta government keeping eye on investigations into voter info breach:" https://www.cbc.ca/lite/story/9.7187728

* "Federal court rules against new global tariffs Trump imposed after loss at the Supreme Court:" https://apnews.com/article/trump-global-tariffs-trade-court-df01218b89ca925015fe41c700d6beb9

* "Trump sets two-month deadline for EU to enact trade deal:" https://www.politico.com/news/2026/05/07/trump-deadline-european-union-trade-deal-tariffs-00910521

* "Businesses begin claiming refunds for Trump tariffs struck down by US Supreme Court:" https://apnews.com/article/tariff-refund-trump-customs-08861f153801156d213c30c4e2f6a683?

* "Trump says he will 'remember' companies that don't seek tariff refunds:" https://archive.ph/GITNu

*** Immigration/I.C.E/Autocracy/*** Most items are a little older below this point because I've been swamped.

* "Trump ‘Gold Card’ Visa Granted to Only One Person So Far, Lutnick Says:" https://archive.ph/BbKSt

* "While ICE cracked down on L.A. protests, Marines were told to use force as ‘last resort’:" https://archive.ph/ATXFQ

* "Hate Meta glasses? Wait until you hear about ICE glasses:" https://freedom.press/the-classifieds/hate-meta-glasses-wait-until-you-hear-about-ice-glasses/

* "How Trump’s bungling turned his top issue into his greatest liability:" https://www.ms.now/rachel-maddow/watch/how-trump-s-bungling-turned-his-top-issue-into-his-greatest-liability-2498677315722

* "Judge mulls contempt over DHS’ ‘patently false’ allegation in deportation case:" https://www.politico.com/news/2026/05/04/ice-detention-case-contempt-hearing-00905610

* "‘It Wasn’t Real, but It Was Real’:" https://archive.ph/Y8kQy

* "Separation:" https://archive.ph/EBwiA

* "Teen says judge’s order for her release from immigration detention had her family screaming with joy:" https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/olivia-andre-release-dilley-immigration-ice-detention-maine-rcna344006

* "After five months in ICE detention, Allan Marrero is free — and reunited with husband:" https://www.advocate.com/politics/immigration/allan-marrero-ice-custody-freed

* "Caught in the Crackdown: As Arrests at Anti-ICE Protests Piled Up, Prosecutions Crumbled:" https://www.propublica.org/article/caught-in-crackdown-ice-cbp-doj-trump-arrests-convictions?

* "Feds say they’ll drop conspiracy charge against remaining ‘Broadview Six’ protesters:" https://capitolnewsillinois.com/news/feds-say-theyll-drop-conspiracy-charge-against-remaining-broadview-six-protesters/

* "Citizens Bank customers pull money over lender’s ICE ties:" https://www.bankingdive.com/news/citizens-bank-customers-pull-money-over-lenders-ice-ties/819223/

* "Arizona AG sues Trump over Surprise immigration detention warehouse:" https://azmirror.com/2026/04/24/arizona-ag-sues-trump-over-surprise-immigration-detention-warehouse/

* "‘Shut it down’: May Day protesters rally outside Alligator Alcatraz :" https://archive.ph/pjkZt

* "Texas lawmakers and protesters urge release of children held at ICE center in Dilley:" https://news4sanantonio.com/news/local/texas-lawmakers-renew-calls-to-release-families-held-at-ice-detention-center-in-dilley

* "Sex toys thrown at detention facility in L.A. anti-ICE protest; police declare unlawful assembly:" https://archive.ph/VWTwr

* "Mesa can’t enforce its own fire codes at an ICE facility where detainees can’t even sit down:" https://azmirror.com/2026/04/27/mesa-cant-enforce-its-own-fire-codes-at-an-ice-facility-where-detainees-cant-even-sit-down/

* "Protesters march against ICE plans to build Romulus detention center:" https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/local/wayne-county/2026/04/25/romulus-ice-detention-center-march-protest-gilchrist-immigration/89795933007/?gnt-cfr=1&gca-cat=p&gca-uir=true&gca-epti=z115449p116450l004250c116450e1127xxv115449d--47--b--47--&gca-ft=183&gca-ds=sophi

* "Reported hunger strike renewed at Michigan ICE detention center:" https://www.axios.com/local/detroit/2026/04/27/reported-hunger-strike-renewed-at-michigan-ice-detention-center

* "Seeking answers, Salt Lake City hears crickets from feds on planned ICE warehouse :" https://utahnewsdispatch.com/2026/04/24/salt-lake-city-seeking-answers-on-planned-ice-warehouse/

* "Protesters push back against proposed ICE detention center in Marana :" https://www.kold.com/2026/04/26/protesters-push-back-against-proposed-ice-detention-center-marana/

* "Large crowd protests in front of the proposed ICE processing facility in southeast San Antonio:" https://www.tpr.org/news/2026-04-25/large-crowd-protests-in-front-of-the-proposed-ice-processing-facility-in-southeast-san-antonio

* "Americans thwart Trump’s immigrant prisons plan by making it too hard:" https://www.ms.now/rachel-maddow/watch/americans-thwart-trump-s-immigrant-prisons-plan-by-making-it-too-hard-2498014787639

* "Federal judge limits construction at proposed Md. ICE facility:" https://www.nbcwashington.com/investigations/federal-judge-limits-construction-at-proposed-md-ice-facility/4091483/

* "Scope of Trump’s immigrant prison plans suggests ulterior motive:" https://www.ms.now/rachel-maddow/watch/scope-of-trump-s-immigrant-prison-plans-suggests-ulterior-motive-2498012227925

* "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/

* "Trump’s Erratic Behavior and Extreme Comments Revive Mental Health Debate:" https://archive.ph/dkJyl

* "Trump performs ‘the weave’ & attacks trans people at Florida retirement community:" https://www.advocate.com/politics/national/trump-transgender-the-villages

* "The writing is on the wall: Trump lashes out in desperation as support drains away:" https://www.ms.now/the-briefing-with-jen-psaki/watch/the-writing-is-on-the-wall-trump-lashes-out-in-desperation-as-support-drains-away-2496749123788

* "Trump calls for Jeffries to be charged with ‘inciting violence’ in social media post:" https://www.politico.com/news/2026/05/07/trump-jeffries-charge-inciting-violence-00909976?nid=0000015a-dd3e-d536-a37b-dd7fd8af0000&nname=playbook-pm&nrid=6ae015b4-dc73-4575-ace5-938b6cc0f84d

* "Trump asked an American worker about trans athletes at the White House. It backfired spectacularly:" https://www.advocate.com/politics/national/doordash-trump-transgender-athletes

* "Fox News Hosts Fawn Over Trump Getting McDonald’s Doordashed to the Oval Office:" https://www.mediaite.com/media/tv/watch-fox-news-hosts-fawn-over-trump-getting-mcdonalds-doordashed-to-the-oval-office/

* "‘Really?’: Bernie Sanders rips Trump’s DoorDash stunt as families ‘go bankrupt’:" https://www.ms.now/all-in/watch/really-bernie-sanders-rips-trump-s-doordash-stunt-as-families-go-bankrupt-2496409667856

* "Trump Is in His Ozymandias Era:" https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2026/05/trump-white-house-ballroom-construction-funding-taxpayer-dollars.html

* "Trump ballroom project security funding included in $72B GOP enforcement bill:" https://www.politico.com/news/2026/05/05/trump-ballroom-funding-senate-00906322

* "‘You are the donors!’: Hayes slams Trump’s $1 billion ballroom bait-and-switch:" https://www.ms.now/all-in/watch/you-are-the-donors-hayes-slams-trump-s-1b-ballroom-bait-and-switch-2498981443547

* "Group says it won't drop its White House ballroom lawsuit, despite DOJ pressure:" https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/white-house/national-trust-historic-preservation-white-house-ballroom-lawsuit-doj-rcna342338

* "Firm Building Trump’s Ballroom Got a Secret No-Bid Contract for a Nearby Job:" https://archive.ph/VGlvZ

* "Report exposes sketchy no-bid deals as costs spiral on Trump’s vanity ballroom project:" https://www.ms.now/the-briefing-with-jen-psaki/watch/report-exposes-sketchy-no-bid-deals-as-costs-spiral-on-trump-s-vanity-ballroom-project-2499010627688

* "Rubble from Trump ballroom dumped at DC golf course has toxic metals, data shows:" https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/may/05/trump-ballroom-rubble-toxic-metals-dc-golf-course

* "Judge in dispute over Washington golf course tells Trump officials not to cut trees without notice:" https://apnews.com/article/trump-east-potomac-golf-course-442c7772c96d9574b95bd2dc068694cb

* "Trump Is in His Ozymandias Era:" https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2026/05/trump-white-house-ballroom-construction-funding-taxpayer-dollars.html

* "Pastor Defends Golden Trump Statue From Biblical Backlash:" https://www.newsweek.com/pastor-defends-golden-trump-statue-from-biblical-backlash-11933490

* "Arts commission green-lights Trump’s giant arch:" https://www.politico.com/news/2026/04/16/trump-arch-gets-greenlight-commission-00876315

* "Trump Library Saga Takes Dark Turn: Where Did Millions in Funding Go?:" https://newrepublic.com/article/209254/trump-library-funding-millions-media-companies

* "State Department to release limited edition ‘America250’ passports with Trump’s face:" https://www.politico.com/news/2026/04/28/trump-passports-state-department-00896221

* "Crypto, The Trump Con and The Golden Age of Scams with Ben McKenzie & Chris Hayes:"

Watch on YouTube

* "Trump family cash-in on presidency paints awkward contrast with struggling Americans:" https://www.ms.now/the-briefing-with-jen-psaki/watch/trump-family-cash-in-on-presidency-paints-awkward-contrast-with-struggling-americans-2498603075845

* "Trump corruption backlash emerges as key election issue; Democrats plan for accountability:" https://www.ms.now/the-briefing-with-jen-psaki/watch/trump-corruption-backlash-emerges-as-key-election-issue-democrats-plan-for-accountability-2498604611893

* "Trump’s lawyers are in talks with the IRS to resolve president’s $10B lawsuit:" https://apnews.com/article/trump-treasury-irs-lawsuit-tax-whistleblower-c710244db618b066f3070a65e75820a5

* "The United States is destroying itself:" https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2026/apr/12/united-states-trump-destruction

* "Maddow: Trump is terrible at everything except this one thing:" https://www.ms.now/rachel-maddow/watch/maddow-trump-is-terrible-at-everything-except-this-one-thing-2498863683829

* "Justice Department says law requiring president to turn over records at end of administration is unconstitutional:" https://www.cbsnews.com/news/justice-department-presidential-records-act-unconstitutional/

* "The Trump Administration Is Dismantling FOIA:" https://www.notus.org/trump-white-house/trump-administration-dismantling-foia

* "Federal judge baffled by Supreme Court order targeting trans Americans’ passports:" https://www.advocate.com/politics/national/supreme-court-transgender-passports-confusion

* "Kristi Noem Isn’t Moving Out After Being Fired:" https://newrepublic.com/post/209482/kristi-noem-not-leaving-house-military-base

* "The FBI Director Is MIA:" https://archive.ph/kKAEo

* "Democrats demand FBI director Kash Patel take alcohol abuse test:" https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/apr/22/kash-patel-alcohol-abuse-democrats-fbi

* "Paranoid freak-out, excessive drinking: Report describes erratic Kash Patel leading FBI:" https://www.ms.now/the-briefing-with-jen-psaki/watch/paranoid-freak-out-excessive-drinking-report-describes-erratic-kash-patel-leading-fbi-2496885315803

* "Kash Patel files defamation lawsuit against The Atlantic:" https://www.politico.com/news/2026/04/20/kash-patel-defamation-lawsuit-the-atlantic-00880802

* "A Dangerous New Attack on Press Freedom:" https://archive.ph/oS8Dn

* "Binge Drinking FBI Director Sues Journalists for Reporting Binge Drinking:"

Watch on YouTube

* "The Atlantic calls Kash Patel’s $250 million defamation lawsuit ‘meritless’:" https://www.advocate.com/politics/national/kash-patel-the-atlantic-lawsuit

* "The FBI Is Reportedly Investigating a Leak to an Atlantic Writer:" https://archive.ph/dWmM1

* "Kash Patel’s Personalized Bourbon Stash:" https://archive.ph/CSvc4

* "Kash Patel sued a reporter over drinking allegations. So she dropped another FBI alcohol bombshell:" https://www.advocate.com/politics/national/kash-patel-alcohol-controversies

* "Kash Patel reportedly gripped by panic and leak paranoia at FBI:" https://www.advocate.com/politics/national/kash-patel-leak-investigation

* "Dear Kash Patel: Quit your job. Get help:" https://www.advocate.com/opinion/kash-patel-alcoholism

* "Judge tosses Kash Patel's defamation suit against former MSNBC contributor Frank Figliuzzi:" https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/justice-department/judge-tosses-kash-patels-defamation-suit-former-msnbc-contributor-rcna341458

This is a different one than the more famous persecution of the Atlantic.

* "Another woman ousted from Trump’s Cabinet as Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer exits:" https://www.advocate.com/politics/national/lori-chavez-deremer-resigns

* CW: Sexual Harassment. "Labor Dept. Investigates Texts Among Secretary’s Family and Staff:" https://archive.ph/S1v8j

* "The Venture-Capital Populist:" https://archive.ph/j7YN9

* "Pentagon Watchdog Declines to Probe Kid Rock Flights:" https://archive.ph/zEcRX

* "Sean Duffy Filmed Reality Show Over Past Seven Months:" https://nymag.com/intelligencer/article/sean-duffy-filmed-7-month-road-trip-worked-occasionally.html

* "Chasten Buttigieg slams Sean Duffy's family road trip and return to reality TV:" https://www.advocate.com/politics/national/chasten-buttigieg-slams-sean-duffy

* "Hold my beer: Trump’s ridiculous Cabinet members outdo each other with shameless self-promotion:" https://www.ms.now/the-briefing-with-jen-psaki/watch/hold-my-beer-trump-s-ridiculous-cabinet-members-outdo-each-other-with-shameless-self-promotion-2499447875984

* "‘It’s just failure’: Americans outraged as Trump’s broken government stops working:" https://www.ms.now/rachel-maddow/watch/it-s-just-failure-americans-outraged-as-trump-s-broken-government-stops-working-2498869827526

* "Ibogaine, LSD and Psilocybin: Trump’s New Order a Medical ‘Turning Point’:" https://www.military.com/daily-news/2026/04/18/ibogaine-lsd-and-psilocybin-trumps-new-order-medical-turning-point.html

* "The Trump Administration Aims to Penalize Disabled Adults Who Live With Their Families:" https://www.propublica.org/article/trump-social-security-ssi-disability-benefits-cuts-parents-children

* "John Roberts decries heated criticism of the Supreme Court:" https://www.politico.com/news/2026/05/06/supreme-court-john-roberts-voting-criticism-00909592

Does he believe what he says? Because I am having a hard time believing he's that unaware of the horrible things he is doing to this country.

* "Sherrilyn Ifill - What Happened to the Voting Rights Act? | The Daily Show:"

Watch on YouTube

* "SCOTUS: No More Black Politicians:"

Watch on YouTube

* "The Supreme Court is taking up a case that could shut LGBTQ+ families out of preschool:" https://www.advocate.com/politics/national/supreme-court-lgbtq-colorado-preschool

* "Justice Department seeks the names of 2020 election workers in Georgia’s Fulton County:" https://apnews.com/article/2020-georgia-election-worker-names-trump-2c4bc764855341a0c9eedb135d25591e

* "DOJ can keep 2020 Fulton County election records it seized, judge rules:" https://www.politico.com/news/2026/05/06/fulton-county-records-judge-ruling-00909583

* "Apple CEO Tim Cook steps down:" https://www.advocate.com/news/tim-cook-steps-down-apple

* "Paramount-Warner Bros. Discovery Will Be 38.5% Owned by Middle Eastern Funds Following Close: Filing:" https://variety.com/2026/film/news/paramount-warner-bros-foreign-ownership-middle-eastern-funds-1236731732/

* "Musk scorned “shady” loopholes, yet offshore tax tricks likely saved Tesla hundreds of millions :" https://archive.ph/FWez6

* "The ‘Complete Collapse’ of the Job Ladder for Gen Z:" https://archive.fo/lhDl9#selection-4749.0-4757.117

* "Some Connecticut Towing Companies Are Ignoring New Law Aimed at Helping Low-Income Residents:" https://www.propublica.org/article/connecticut-towing-companies-ignore-new-law

* "Rural Hospitals and Communities Feeling Impact of H.R. 1 Medicaid Cuts, Rural Health Fund Falls Short:" https://ccf.georgetown.edu/2026/05/01/rural-hospitals-and-communities-feeling-impact-of-h-r-1-medicaid-cuts-rural-health-fund-falls-short/

Republicans did this in purpose with their Big Ugly Bill so they could have tax cuts for the rich.

* 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/

* "‘This is not democracy’: voting rights activists shocked by speed of US states moving to stifle Black voters:" https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/may/08/voting-rights-activists-louisiana-callais-black-voters

* "Republicans get massive win in fight for House with Virginia court ruling:" https://www.politico.com/news/2026/05/08/virginia-redistricting-2026-election-overturned-00911357

* "Hayes warns Trump’s GOP is trying to Jim Crow-ify the House:" https://www.ms.now/all-in/watch/hayes-warns-trump-s-gop-is-trying-to-jim-crow-ify-the-house-2499426883525

* "Flooding, alarms, evacuation bring abrupt end to tense day at Alabama State House:" https://www.al.com/politics/2026/05/flooding-alarms-evacuation-bring-abrupt-end-to-tense-day-at-alabama-state-house.html

* "Alabama voting rights protest erupts inside State House: ‘We’re here to save democracy’:" https://www.al.com/politics/2026/05/alabama-voting-rights-protest-erupts-inside-state-house-were-here-to-save-democracy.html

* "Tennessee Democrats lock arms in protest as GOP lawmakers approve new congressional map:" https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/watch-tennessee-democrats-lock-arms-in-protest-as-gop-lawmakers-approve-new-congressional-map

* "Tennessee Passes Redistricting Map, Arrests Protesters in Final Day of Special Session Marked by Burning Flag, Walkouts:" https://nashvillebanner.com/2026/05/07/tennessee-congressional-redistricting-confederate-flag/

* "Mississippi house to hold redistricting session at Jim Crow era capitol :" https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/may/06/mississippi-redistricting-old-capitol

* "Louisiana map fight erupts at Capitol after Supreme Court ruling:" https://www.wafb.com/2026/05/08/louisiana-map-fight-erupts-capitol-after-supreme-court-ruling/

* "Challenge accepted: Democrats strategize to counter GOP runaway gerrymandering:" https://www.ms.now/the-briefing-with-jen-psaki/watch/challenge-accepted-democrats-strategize-to-counter-gop-runaway-gerrymandering-2499306563798

* 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.

* Nebraska, North Carolina, and West Virginia! Don't forget to vote May 12!

* Louisiana! Don't forget to vote May 16!

* Please no. "Kamala Harris confirms she might run for president again: ‘I’m thinking about it’:" https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2028-election/kamala-harris-confirms-might-run-president-2028-rcna273682

* "Constituents showed up to testify against an anti-drag bill. Ohio Republicans mocked them:" https://www.advocate.com/politics/states/republicans-mock-constituents-ohio

* "Ron DeSantis signs law that could strip Florida of Pride celebrations:" https://www.advocate.com/politics/states/florida-anti-dei-law-pride

* "Ohio Republicans are trying to strip transgender adults of health insurance coverage:" https://www.advocate.com/politics/states/ohio-transgender-medicaid-restrictions

* "Colorado quickly rewrites & passes new conversion therapy ban to get around Supreme Court ruling:" https://www.advocate.com/politics/states/colorado-passes-conversion-therapy-ban

* Extended Interview with Barack Obama:"

Watch on YouTube

* "Care without Coercion:" https://epochemagazine.org/87/care-without-coercion/

* "Grindr's surprising ties to the Republican Party, explained:" https://www.advocate.com/news/grindr-republican-ceo

* "‘She’s opening the bees!’ US beekeeper jailed for trying to save friend from eviction:" https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/apr/28/massachusetts-beekeeper-jailed-eviction

* "Exonerees struggle to rebuild their lives and gain lasting employment, even if elected to office:" https://apnews.com/article/exonerees-stigma-employment-dd603de9dafca7078517aea4ae8cfc9e

* "In Chicago, Prosecutors Fight to Keep Exonerated People from Clearing Their Names:" https://boltsmag.org/chicago-cook-county-certificates-of-innocence/

* CW: Rape. "Oregon to pay $295K to trans woman imprisoned until 2049:" https://www.advocate.com/news/crime/oregon-transgender-inmate-abuse-settlement

* "New NC report: Wells Fargo denied minority mortgage applicants twice as often as whites:" https://ncnewsline.com/2026/04/23/new-nc-report-wells-fargo-denied-minority-mortgage-applicants-twice-as-often-as-whites/

* "The Library Is a Commons:" https://inthesetimes.com/article/public-libraries-are-commons-in-america

* "Texas Tech University bans teaching, researching LGBTQ+ topics:" https://www.advocate.com/news/texas-tech-lgbtq-topics-ban

* "Teacher fired for reading LGBTQ+ children’s book takes fight to Georgia Supreme Court:" https://www.advocate.com/politics/states/georgia-teacher-book-fired-appeal

* CW: Child Abuse. "Adopted and Locked Away: Kids promised ‘forever homes’ instead confined in for-profit institutions:" https://apnews.com/article/adopted-children-boarding-schools-treatment-investigation-e5d8dab2e4db1f2f4c5abbfaf0d97c52

* CW: Rape. "Exposing a global 'online rape academy' that is teaching men how to :" https://www.cnn.com/interactive/2026/03/world/expose-rape-assault-online-vis-intl/index.html

* "Hospitals dodge questions on restoring trans youth care despite judge ruling they can keep providing it:" https://www.advocate.com/health/transgender-health/trans-youth-care-hospitals-dodge

* "Virginia researchers debunk the claim that most trans kids ‘grow out of it’:" https://www.advocate.com/health/transgender-health/vcu-debunks-trans-youth-regret

* "Vatican report admits conversion therapy caused LGBTQ+ Catholics’ ‘profound suffering’:" https://www.advocate.com/news/religion/catholic-church-conversion-therapy

* "Black LGBTQ+ survivors speak out about conversion therapy in religious spaces:" https://www.advocate.com/news/religion/black-lgbtq-conversion-therapy

* "Botswana is moving forward on LGBTQ+ rights. The U.S. is regressing:" https://www.advocate.com/opinion/botswana-lgbtq-rights

* "Cold case detectives one step closer to solving murder of Florida trans woman:" https://www.advocate.com/news/crime/cold-case-murder-of-transgender-florida-woman

* "Transgender Idahoans sue to block criminal bathroom law:" https://www.advocate.com/politics/states/idaho-bathroom-criminalization-lawsuit-transgender

* "Trans man forced to leave Idaho to use public bathrooms joins lawsuit against state:" https://www.advocate.com/politics/states/idaho-bathroom-crime-law-lawsuit

* "A mom asked the NYT publisher about harm from trans coverage. He defended the process instead:" https://www.advocate.com/news/transgender-parent-nyt-earnings-call

* "A Florida city fined a lesbian couple over a rainbow fence. Now they’re suing:" https://www.advocate.com/politics/states/key-west-pride-fence-lawsuit

* "Madison Square Garden security allegedly tracked a trans woman’s movements, including bathroom breaks, down to the second:" https://www.advocate.com/news/madison-square-garden-security-allegedly-tracked-a-trans-womans-movements-including-bathroom-breaks-down-to-the-second

* "Texas city declares Trans+ History Week in historic first:" https://www.advocate.com/politics/states/san-antonio-trans-recognition-week

* "Inside a hidden summer camp where trans youth in the South thrive:" https://www.advocate.com/news/culture/trans-kids-summer-camp

* "Anal fissures are painful and common. Here's how to heal and get back to bottoming:" https://www.advocate.com/health/anal-fissures-treatment

* "Cruise ship hantavirus patients arrive in Europe for treatment:" https://apnews.com/live/hantavirus-cruise-ship-updates-05-06-2026

* "Experts wonder ‘Where is the CDC?’ as a hantavirus outbreak unfolds on a cruise ship:" https://apnews.com/article/cdc-hantavirus-cruise-ship-trump-who-2eaf686534d31e8ad67482f05e1ec870

* "Psaki: ‘Slow, sloppy response’ to hantavirus raises concerns about damage from Trump cuts:" https://www.ms.now/the-briefing-with-jen-psaki/watch/psaki-slow-sloppy-response-to-hantavirus-raises-concerns-about-damage-from-trump-cuts-2499356739642

* "Babies Are Bleeding to Death as Parents Reject a Vitamin Shot Given at Birth:" https://www.propublica.org/article/more-parents-decline-vitamin-k-shot-newborns

* "The Looming Silence at Mauna Loa:" https://climateshift.substack.com/p/the-looming-silence-at-mauna-loa

* "The Other Side of the Bitcoin: Crypto & Corruption w/Ben McKenzie | The Weekly Show with Jon Stewart:"

Watch on YouTube

* "AI & the Future of Work | The Weekly Show with Jon Stewart:"

Watch on YouTube

* "Google Chrome may have silently installed 4GB AI model on your computer. Here's how to check:" https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/google-chrome-ai-installed-computer/

* "Instagram censorship crackdown sparks alarm among LGBTQ+ creators:" https://www.advocate.com/news/instagram-censoring-queer-creators

* "We translated the Palantir manifesto for actual human beings:" https://www.theverge.com/policy/915237/palantir-manifesto

* "The MANY Lies About H.H. Holmes and the "Murder Castle":"

Watch on YouTube

* "Big Game:" https://magazine.atavist.com/2026/san-luis-valley-wildlife-poaching?

* "The United States at 250: How the Country Has Changed in the Past 50 Years:" https://www.pewresearch.org/social-trends/2026/03/25/the-united-states-at-250-how-the-country-has-changed-in-the-past-50-years/

* Thursday: every time I tried to make toast, alarms, which has been an issue all Winter. I did everything right the second time: cleaned toaster, turned the hood fan and the big fans on. There is nothing for it, but for me to only make toast outdoors. We also have had a persistent problem with opening the oven setting off alarms at the higher temperatures the whole time we've lived here, but the toast thing is likely to do with the fire system upgrades last year. Sigh.

I have a power strip I run through the air conditioner cardboard insulation gap, which I use for Halloween lights and such. I turned the power back onto it and made toast for the last of yesterday's soup on the blue garden chair I had out there, plus extra toast to eat with preserves by way of dessert. It's a bit of a problem as I have to leave the door ajar and hope I can here the pop over the TV, as we are having another arctic blast, so toast will get cold very quickly if I don't dart out and rescue it immediately, and I do not like how this will go in Winter, but for now, it's just extra steps between me and emergency food. (I can't leave the toaster out there, so I need to carry it out and plug it in, then bring it inside once it cools off). Why must everything be this hard?

New Millennial came over for the evening to do skills practice as part of the get New Millennial to be allowed to work again campaign. Squirrel is showing them tricks and I am the practice dummy. They will be back Wednesday, and which point we need to get the wheelchair out of my car and figure out where to practice. My bed is too high and Squirrel's too low. I am thinking we clear Livia's stuff and related gear off the window bench and use that for a bed. It will be a Production, but I think it will be all right.

They know how to Do the Things, but they need to do them quickly and smoothly according to their very picky rules, not all of which make real world sense, and both of these skills are ones requiring extra equipment and a partner. Practice went really well tonight. Squirrel gave them professional advise and I gave them test taking advise to avoid test anxiety and test paralysis, because really, that's a hurdle for a lot of people.

If anyone knows how to fly through high stakes testing with excellent marks, it is me.

Fingers crossed, everyone.

* CW: Sexual Harassment. "Trump Dumps Toxic Ballroom Debris on Golf Course & DJ Marco Rubio Loves 90s Rap | The Daily Show:"

Watch on YouTube

* "Josh Johnson Dives Into the Internet Frenzy Over the JPMorgan “Sex Slave” Lawsuit | The Daily Show:"

Watch on YouTube

* "Presidential Fitness | Hegseth's Bubble | Trump's War Is Bad For Business | Met Gala's Wild Looks:"

Watch on YouTube

* "Iran Mocks America's "Wishlist" | Reflecting Lincoln | Vape Candy For Adults | A MAHA Compromise:"

Watch on YouTube

* "The True Cost Of Trump's War | The Pope Likes To Have Fun | Kids Beat Online Age Checks:"

Watch on YouTube

* "The Shadow Docket: Last Week Tonight with John Oliver (HBO):"

Watch on YouTube

* "Is America's 250th Year Worth Preserving in a Time Capsule? Troy Iwata Investigates | The Daily Show:"

Watch on YouTube

* "The Rise and Fall of Misery Memoirs:"

Watch on YouTube

* "The Pitt Is The Best LEGAL DRAMA We’ve Ever Reviewed:"

Watch on YouTube

* "11 Reads Starring Queer Asian Americans for AAPI Heritage Month!:" https://duckprintspress.dreamwidth.org/262761.html

* "Stephen Colbert Addresses The Nation From President Obama's Oval Office:"

Watch on YouTube

* "Kids Pitch: Late Night Edition:"

Watch on YouTube