mephron

---

* "Israel to expand its control in West Bank, make settlers' land seizures easier, media say:" https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/israel-take-more-west-bank-powers-relax-settler-land-buys-media-say-2026-02-08/

******

* "Trump says U.S. used secret 'discombobulator' on Venezuelan equipment during Maduro raid:" https://www.pbs.org/newshour/nation/trump-says-u-s-used-secret-discombobulator-on-venezuelan-equipment-during-maduro-raid

******

* "To Build a Fire: How Russian military intelligence is recruiting young people online to carry out espionage, arson, and other attacks across Europe.:" https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2026/02/09/to-build-a-fire

******

* "Iran’s shadow fleet is fueling the Myanmar junta’s air war:" https://www.reuters.com/graphics/IRAN-MYANMAR/JET-FUEL/jnpwkonqrpw/

* "Ethiopia Builds Secret Camp to Train Sudan RSF Fighters :" https://english.aawsat.com/features/5239544-ethiopia-builds-secret-camp-train-sudan-rsf-fighters%C2%A0

******

* "The Fall of the House of Assad:" https://archive.ph/ng3Do

* "Canadian school shooting sparks anti-trans uproar after shooter identified:" https://www.advocate.com/news/tumbler-ridge-school-shooting-transgender

---

* CW: CSA "How the Epstein scandal has shaken the British government to its core:" https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2026/feb/05/how-epstein-scandal-shaken-british-government-peter-mandelson

I'd bet real money this is just the tip of the iceberg.

---

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

* "CBP shot down party balloons with anti-drone tech before FAA closed El Paso airspace, sources say:" https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/national-security/cbp-shot-party-balloons-anti-drone-tech-faa-closed-el-paso-airspace-so-rcna258731

* "Trump admin’s ‘cartel drone’ story bursts like a balloon. Or four.:" https://www.ms.now/all-in/watch/trump-admin-s-cartel-drone-story-bursts-like-a-balloon-or-four-2487019587829

* "Kristi Noem’s Audience of One:" https://archive.ph/EqgZz

* "Immigrants Delivered $14.5 Trillion Surplus to US Economy Over Last 30 Years: Report:" https://www.commondreams.org/news/do-immigrants-drain-the-us-economy

* "Immigration detention passed 70,000 in January:" https://www.tucsonsentinel.com/nationworld/report/020626_immigration_detention/immigration-detention-passed-70000-january/

* "ICE has violated America:" https://westvirginiawatch.com/2026/02/05/ice-has-violated-america/

* "Trump's immigration crackdown is straining federal courts. A Georgia judge is raising the alarm:" https://www.wabe.org/trumps-immigration-crackdown-is-straining-federal-courts-a-georgia-judge-is-raising-the-alarm/

* "Trump administration must facilitate return of men sent to El Salvador’s CECOT back to the U.S., judge rules:" https://www.advocate.com/news/judge-orders-return-venezuelans-cecot

* "Immigrants Who Say Their Detention Is Illegal Have Filed More Than 18,000 Cases. It’s a Historic High.:" https://www.propublica.org/article/habeas-petitions-immigrant-detentions-trump

* "Federal Courts Undercut Trump’s Mass Deportation Campaign:" https://archive.ph/74Rqr

* Meanwhile in Texas. "A federal appeals court just greenlit Trump’s mass detention policy. Here’s what it means for Minnesota.:" https://sahanjournal.com/immigration/texas-fifth-circuit-ruling-immigrants-indefinite-detention/

* "Most WA federal rulings found immigrant detentions flouted due process:" https://www.investigatewest.org/rulings-found-immigrant-detentions-flouted-due-process/

* "How ICE defies judges’ orders to release detainees, step by step:" https://www.politico.com/news/2026/02/10/ice-immigration-detention-court-orders-00771727

* "Military Lawyers Forced to Work After Mass Resignations in Minnesota:" https://newrepublic.com/post/206247/department-justice-military-lawyers-mass-minnesota-resignations

* "ICE Lawyer Ruins Her Life:"

( Embed: )

* "ICE Is Buying Up Mega Warehouses Across America:" https://newrepublic.com/post/205982/ice-buying-mega-warehouses

It is essential we resist this!

* "Two cases of tuberculosis detected at El Paso ICE facility:" https://www.texastribune.org/2026/02/07/ice-facility-el-paso-tuberculosis/

* "The black hole of Camp East Montana: Three deaths in 44 days at the largest migrant detention center in the US:" https://english.elpais.com/usa/2026-01-21/the-black-hole-of-camp-east-montana-three-deaths-in-44-days-at-the-largest-migrant-detention-center-in-the-us.html

* "After El Paso’s ME ruled migrant’s death a homicide, ICE sent the next body to an Army hospital:" https://www.texastribune.org/2026/02/03/texas-ice-detention-deaths-autopsy-el-paso/

They keep trying to cover up murder.

* "Toddler hospitalized with respiratory failure was returned to ICE detention and denied prescribed medication, lawsuit says:" https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/toddler-hospitalized-dilley-ice-detention-rcna257912

This is child abuse and attempted murder.

* "Commissioner forced to resign after Merrimack ICE facility controversy:" https://www.nhpr.org/nh-news/2026-02-09/merrimack-ice-detainee-plans-nh-dncr-stewart-resigns

* "Border Czar Tom Homan announces end to Minneapolis immigration operation, claiming success:" https://www.advocate.com/politics/immigration/operation-metro-surge-ends

* "‘This did not go well for them’: Mayor Frey reacts as Minneapolis ICE surge ends:" https://www.ms.now/all-in/watch/this-did-not-go-well-for-them-frey-reacts-as-minneapolis-ice-surges-ends-2487013956000

* "Minneapolis now has daily deportation flights. One man has been documenting them:" https://www.npr.org/2026/02/06/nx-s1-5701432/minneapolis-ice-air-deportation-flights

* "Masked ICE arrests drive 12,000% uptick in Mass. lawsuits challenging detainments:" https://www.masslive.com/news/2026/02/masked-ice-arrests-drive-12000-uptick-in-mass-lawsuits-challenging-detainments.html

* "Court rebukes Trump administration for denying immigration detainees access to lawyers:" https://www.politico.com/news/2026/02/12/court-trump-administration-denying-immigration-lawyers-00779762

* "Judge tells ICE to free man arrested in Chinatown sweep, warns of unconstitutional arrests:" https://gothamist.com/news/judge-tells-ice-to-free-man-arrested-in-chinatown-sweep-warns-of-unconstitutional-arrests

* "Hundreds protested against this Venezuelan’s detention by ICE. Now he’s free after seven months:" https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/feb/09/venezuelan-freed-after-seven-months-ice-detention-washington-state

* "Court rules government can't deport Rümeysa Öztürk, Tufts student who criticized Israel, her lawyers say in filing:" https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/court-rules-government-cant-deport-rumeysa-ozturk-tufts-student-rcna258277

* "Federal judge orders release of four ICE detainees in Louisiana :" https://www.wafb.com/2026/02/12/federal-judge-orders-release-four-ice-detainees-louisiana/

* "Mexican father of 3 U.S. Marines in California gets deportation reprieve:" https://archive.ph/c86rb

* "Trump admin fast-tracks Liam Ramos and his dad for deportation:" https://www.ms.now/all-in/watch/trump-admin-fast-tracks-liam-ramos-and-his-dad-for-deportation-2485912131614

Reminder: They are here legally, have an open asylum claim, and have done nothing wrong.

* "ICE Kidnapped a Child:"

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* "Prosecutors move to dismiss charges against men accused of hitting ICE officer with broom and shovel:" https://wtop.com/national/2026/02/prosecutors-move-to-dismiss-charges-against-men-accused-of-hitting-ice-officer-with-broom-and-shovel/

The men were not visible, so ICE shot wildly through the door of an apartment in hopes of injury and/or killing as many innocent people as possible, endangering a baby in the process for the sheer pleasure of it, then lied about it.

* "Hayes: Trump bet Americans were as bigoted as Stephen Miller—he was wrong:" https://www.ms.now/all-in/watch/hayes-trump-bet-americans-were-as-bigoted-as-stephen-miller-he-was-wrong-2487012419938

* "This trans street medic was among 67 protesters arrested at Minneapolis hotel hosting ICE agents:" https://www.advocate.com/news/minneapolis-hotel-ice-arrests-67

* "Irish man with valid US work permit held in ICE detention for five months:" https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/feb/09/irish-man-seamus-culleton-ice-detention

* "American dream denied: A Frenchman's ICE nightmare:" https://www.npr.org/2026/02/04/nx-s1-5696428/american-dream-denied-a-frenchmans-ice-nightmare

* "Becca Good attends memorial for wife Renee, offers statement: 'Renee always showed up':" https://www.advocate.com/news/becca-good-attends-memorial-renee

* "Minnesota AG: Feds still not cooperating on Pretti and Good investigations:" https://www.politico.com/news/2026/02/12/minnesota-keith-ellison-good-pretti-investigation-00778112

* "Don Lemon hires ex-federal prosecutor who quit after Trump admin tried to investigate Renee Good's wife:" https://www.advocate.com/news/don-lemon-joseph-thompson-minnesota

* "Don Lemon faces judge who rejected DOJ’s previous attempt to charge him with a crime:" https://www.advocate.com/news/crime/don-lemon-arraignment-minnesota

* "Defiant Don Lemon says ‘the process is the punishment’ after lawyers reveal feds took his phone:" https://www.advocate.com/news/crime/don-lemon-process-is-punishment

* "Border Patrol boss kicked out of a Las Vegas bar to protect patrons:" https://www.advocate.com/news/border-patrol-greg-bovino-kicked-out-of-bar

* 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 says he won't apologize for racist post depicting the Obamas as apes:" https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/white-house/trump-shares-racist-video-depicting-obamas-monkeys-rcna257756

* "Steele: Trump thought Americans would accept his racist post:" https://www.ms.now/the-briefing-with-jen-psaki/watch/steele-trump-thought-americans-would-accept-his-racist-post-2485936707580

* "Questions about the role of racism in Trump’s MAGA support follow offensive social media post:" https://www.ms.now/the-briefing-with-jen-psaki/watch/questions-about-the-role-of-racism-in-trump-s-maga-support-follow-offensive-social-media-post-2485943363564

* "‘To his bones a racist’: Hayes says Trump ‘taking the mask off’ with Obama video:" https://www.ms.now/all-in/watch/to-his-bones-a-racist-hayes-says-trump-taking-the-mask-off-with-obama-video-2485910083546

* "Trump excludes the only gay man and Black governors from White House dinner:" https://www.advocate.com/politics/polis-moore-trump-governors-dinner

* "Trump Sues Himself; Wants $10 Billion Payout:"

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* "Democrats Pushback Against Trump’s Reported Bid To Rename Penn Station And Dulles Airport After Himself:" https://www.forbes.com/sites/siladityaray/2026/02/06/democrats-pushback-against-trumps-reported-bid-to-rename-penn-station-and-dulles-airport-after-himself/

* "Judge orders Trump administration to restore funding for rail tunnel between New York and New Jersey:" https://apnews.com/article/trump-gateway-new-york-new-jersey-tunnel-d0ebf5a8b54a0729d4621cd1bcb5be95

* "FBI invites state election officials to an 'unusual' briefing on the midterms:" https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/elections/fbi-state-election-officials-unusual-briefing-midterms-rcna257721

* "The Conservative Researcher Being Linked to the FBI’s Seizure of Election Records in Georgia:" https://www.propublica.org/article/kevin-moncla-election-researcher-fulton-county-georgia

* "Justification unsealed for FBI’s seizure of 2020 Fulton County ballots:" https://www.politico.com/news/2026/02/10/fulton-county-search-warrant-affidavit-00774751

* "Intelligence Dispute Centers on Kushner Reference in Intercepted Communication:" https://archive.ph/8ICEb

* "Tulsi Gabbard calls claim she mishandled whistleblower complaint a 'blatant lie':" https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/trump-administration/tulsi-gabbard-responds-senators-criticism-handling-whistleblower-compl-rcna257952

* "Gabbard’s office warns attorney against sharing classified complaint with Congress:" https://apnews.com/article/gabbard-classified-complaint-inspector-general-67ef429356fe1c517c0d8d4ee1f54b38

* "DHS Reportedly Fired a Pilot for Forgetting Kristi Noem’s Blanket on a Plane:" https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-news/kristi-noem-pilot-fired-blanket-dhs-1235516775/

* "‘Private cabin’: New scrutiny on Noem, Lewandowski’s ‘close relationship’ amid DHS chaos:" https://www.ms.now/all-in/watch/private-cabin-new-scrutiny-on-noem-lewandowski-s-close-relationship-amid-dhs-chaos-2487243843848

* "Trump EPA to take its biggest swing yet against climate change rules:" https://www.politico.com/news/2026/02/10/trump-revoke-climate-change-rules-00773418

* "Project 2026 Is Here:"

( Embed: )

* "California sues Trump admin over its demand to forcibly out trans students, obtains restraining order:" https://www.advocate.com/news/education/california-sues-trump-forced-outing

* "Protest set at NYC’s Stonewall after Trump administration removes Pride flag from national LGBTQ+ monument:" https://www.advocate.com/politics/stonewall-monument-pride-flag

* "Mamdani, Schumer & NYC Council demand National Park Service return Pride flag to Stonewall National Monument:" https://www.advocate.com/politics/new-york-mamdani-stonewall-pride-flag

* "New Yorkers rally in solidarity with LGBTQ+ community after Trump ordered Stonewall Pride flag removed:" https://www.advocate.com/politics/advocacy/stonewall-flag-removal-protest

* "New York City Council advances resolution opposing Stonewall Pride flag removal:" https://www.advocate.com/politics/nyc-council-stonewall-pride-flag

* "They can take down the flag, but they can’t take down the history of Stonewall:" https://www.advocate.com/opinion/adminstration-cannot-erase-stonewall-history

**** Corruption of the Justice System, Pushback, and Related ****

* "Judge blocks Pentagon from punishing Sen. Mark Kelly for call to resist unlawful orders:" https://apnews.com/article/pentagon-kelly-hegseth-illegal-orders-lawsuit-f028eade00c78123263bc3e28b3caa0e

* "Trump administration fails to indict Democrats involved in 'illegal orders' video:" https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/trump-administration/doj-fails-secure-indictment-democrats-involved-illegal-orders-video-rcna258385

The Trump Administration contends that the Military code of justice is inherently seditious and anyone quoting it is guilty of sedition conspiracy and also that anyone who has ever been in the military has all their first Amendment rights terminated.

A Grand Jury and a judge do not agree under the belief that the US Constitution and Rule of Law in General are still in effect.

* "Rep. Jason Crow asks Pirro to preserve evidence related to failed indictment:" https://www.politico.com/live-updates/2026/02/11/congress/rep-jason-crow-asks-pirro-to-preserve-evidence-related-to-failed-indictment-00776376

* "Trump DOJ fails to indict Dem lawmakers on sedition charges :" https://www.ms.now/all-in/watch/trump-doj-fails-to-indict-dem-lawmakers-on-sedition-charges-2486530628001

* "Trump elevation of obnoxious cable TV host to DOJ backfires with embarrassing string of failures:" https://www.ms.now/the-briefing-with-jen-psaki/watch/trump-elevation-of-obnoxious-cable-tv-host-to-doj-backfires-with-embarrassing-string-of-failures-2486809667710

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

* CW: CSA. "Pam Bondi clashes with House Democrats over Epstein files at DOJ oversight hearing:" https://www.npr.org/2026/02/11/nx-s1-5707280/pam-bondi-oversight-hearing-department-of-justice

* CW: CSA. "Massie becomes first Republican to spar with Bondi during House Judiciary hearing:" https://www.politico.com/live-updates/2026/02/11/congress/massie-vs-bondi-00775966

* CW: CSA. "Pam Bondi suggests Jewish lesbian lawmaker is anti-Semitic in explosive hearing:" https://www.advocate.com/politics/pam-bondi-disrespect-becca-balint

Her grandmother literally died in the Holocaust.

* CW: CSA. "‘Astounding’: Chris Hayes stunned Bondi still has DOJ job:" https://www.ms.now/all-in/watch/astounding-chris-hayes-stunned-bondi-still-has-doj-job-2486770755990

* CW: CSA. "Pam Bondi makes an absolute fool of herself frantically ducking Epstein questions:" https://www.ms.now/the-briefing-with-jen-psaki/watch/pam-bondi-makes-an-absolute-fool-of-herself-frantically-ducking-epstein-questions-2486803523983

* "House members seek inquiry into DoJ’s tracking of their Epstein files research:" https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/feb/12/congress-doj-pam-bondi-epstein-files-searches

* "Members of Congress start viewing unredacted Epstein files at Justice Department:" https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/feb/09/jamie-raskin-doj-cover-up-epstein-files

* "Jamie Raskin accuses DoJ of cover-up after viewing unredacted Epstein files:" https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/feb/09/jamie-raskin-doj-cover-up-epstein-files

* "Ghislaine Maxwell appeals for clemency from Trump as she declines to answer questions from lawmakers:" https://apnews.com/article/jeffrey-epstein-ghislaine-maxwell-congress-f1e947bb9128aaa626390f0987f322e9

* "House Dem identifies ‘wealthy, powerful men’ DOJ redacted in Epstein files:" https://www.politico.com/live-updates/2026/02/10/congress/ro-khanna-names-names-00774551

* "‘Likely incriminated’: Congressman names six men unredacted from Epstein files:" https://www.ms.now/the-briefing-with-jen-psaki/watch/likely-incriminated-congressman-names-six-men-unredacted-from-epstein-files-2486557763671

* "Ex-Florida police chief claims Trump told him ‘everyone’ knew what Epstein was doing in 2006:" https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/feb/10/trump-epstein-phone-call-florida-police

* "Trump Stands by His Epstein Files Companion After Calls to Resign:" https://www.thedailybeast.com/trump-stands-by-his-epstein-files-companion-after-calls-to-resign/

* "Epstein Files Put Two More Top Trump Officials in the Spotlight:" https://www.thedailybeast.com/epstein-files-put-two-more-top-trump-officials-in-the-spotlight/

* "Dr. Oz Appears In Epstein Files: What We Know:" https://www.newsweek.com/dr-mehmet-oz-epstein-files-disclosure-11511374

* "Chairman of major US law firm steps down after Epstein files release:" https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c7v02m633mjo

* "Epstein’s Secret Pic of ‘Wild’ Dinner With Tech Titans Exposed:" https://www.thedailybeast.com/epsteins-secret-pic-of-wild-dinner-with-tech-titans-exposed/

* "Epstein engineered intimate relationship for Tesla’s Kimbal Musk, emails show:" https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/feb/10/jeffrey-epstein-tesla-kimbal-musk

---

* "Corporate crime persists in the shadows:" https://knowablemagazine.org/content/article/society/2026/corporate-crime-poorly-tracked-usa

* "ICE chief defends his officers to Congress as lawmakers mull DHS funding:" https://www.politico.com/news/2026/02/10/ice-todd-lyons-dhs-funding-hearing-00774309

* "DHS shutdown all but certain after failed Senate vote:" https://www.politico.com/live-updates/2026/02/12/congress/dhs-shutdown-all-but-certain-00778721

Please call your Senators and encourage them to stay firm.

* "House votes to disapprove of Trump’s Canada tariffs:" https://www.politico.com/news/2026/02/11/house-rebukes-trumps-canada-tariffs-00776898

It goes to the Senate now! Please contact your senators!

* "House passes elections overhaul bill that could make it harder for married women to vote:" https://19thnews.org/2026/02/house-passes-save-america-act-married-women-vote/

The goal of this legislation is to make it illegal on a federal level for married women and trans people to vote.

Please tell Quisling Texas Democrat Henry Cuellar exactly what you think of his decision to vote to permanently disenfranchise so many American citizens if he is your Congress Critter.

Please contact your US Senators to tell them to vote AGAINST the SAVE ACT

* "Former State Dept officials warn that racist Trump nominee could dismantle human rights protections at the UN:" https://www.advocate.com/politics/diplomats-worry-jeremy-carl-nomination

* "Mike Johnson lecturing the pope Is a blasphemy that LGBTQ+ people know all too well:" https://www.advocate.com/opinion/mike-johnson-lectures-pope

---

* 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/

---

* I would like to congratulate New Jersey! "Malinowski concedes to Mejia in Democratic House special primary in New Jersey:" https://www.npr.org/2026/02/10/nx-s1-5703636/nj-primary-election-mejia-malinowski

* "‘It’s pissing people off’: Centrist Democrats are livid with AIPAC after primary fiasco:" https://www.politico.com/news/2026/02/06/centrist-democrats-are-livid-with-aipac-after-primary-meddling-00769461

* I would like to congratulate New Jersey!

THIS is why it's important to vote in every primary and every special election.

She's a strong progressive with views aligned with people like Sanders and Mamdani. She beat out a shitty centrist in a very close primary.

People turned out, so New Jersey got a WAY better candidate.

Now let us hope people also show up for the Special election because we need her in the House.

We are entering primary season just generally. 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.

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.

* "Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger sends marriage equality & abortion rights amendments to voters:" https://www.advocate.com/politics/states/spanberger-signs-marriage-referendum

* "Utah Republicans, ignoring their own study, pass ban on gender-affirming care for youth:" https://www.advocate.com/politics/utah-gender-affirming-care-ban

* "Police release man detained in connection to Nancy Guthrie disappearance:" https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cr5l4yy3ezmo

* "Kash Patel under fire as Nancy Guthrie investigation enters Day 11:" https://www.ms.now/all-in/watch/kash-patel-under-fire-as-nancy-guthrie-investigation-enters-day-11-2486774339914

* "Andrew Jarecki - Exposing the Alabama Prison System in “The Alabama Solution” | The Daily Show:"

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* "What to know about LGBTQ+ rights — or lack thereof — in Italy as Olympics begin:" https://www.advocate.com/news/italy-olympics-lgbtq-rights

* "Trans Youth Suicides Skyrocketed In UK After Care Drawdown; Government Covers It Up:" https://www.erininthemorning.com/p/trans-youth-suicides-skyrocketed

* "Under new name, supportive schools group will help young LGBTQ+ people Glisten:" https://www.advocate.com/news/education/glisten-will-help-youth-shine

* "Black Americans are disproportionately criminalized for living with HIV. Here's how :" https://www.advocate.com/health/black-american-hiv-rates-criminalization

* "Florida restores funding for 16,000 people's HIV medication — for now:" https://www.advocate.com/politics/florida-reverses-hiv-funding-cuts

* "National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day: a time for action on many fronts:" https://www.advocate.com/health/hiv/black-hiv-aids-awareness-day

* "U.S. life expectancy hits a new high as deaths from overdoses and COVID fall:" https://www.npr.org/2026/01/29/nx-s1-5689902/us-life-expectancy-rises?

* "Amazon workers at Coventry warehouse tested for tuberculosis after outbreak:" https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2026/jan/16/amazon-workers-at-coventry-warehouse-being-tested-for-tuberculosis-after-possible-outbreak

* "Memorizing London’s 25,000 streets changes cabbies’ brains — and may prevent Alzheimer’s:" https://bigthink.com/strange-maps/the-knowledge-of-london/

---

* "There May Be No Turning Back This Climate Crisis:" https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2026/02/accelerating-climate-emergency-science-tipping-points-solutions/

* "Extreme cold in New York City leaves 18 dead:" https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cd9g8nxdexko

---

* "Decades of memories swept away: Thousands lose homes as 'Venice of Nigeria' is demolished:" https://www.reuters.com/pictures/decades-memories-swept-away-thousands-lose-homes-venice-nigeria-is-demolished-2026-01-28/

* "The Cities That Battle Winter With Beets:" https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-12-15/to-beat-winter-cities-fight-back-with-beets

* "Why do HOAs even exist?:"

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* "Earth still had seasons during its longest deep freeze:" https://www.earth.com/news/earth-still-had-seasons-during-its-longest-deep-freeze/

* "These 773,000-year-old fossils may reveal our shared human ancestor:" https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/02/260206012221.htm

* "From bones to steel: Why ice skates were a terrible idea that worked:" https://www.popsci.com/technology/ice-skates-history/

* "Answering White People's Questions About Slavery: The London History Show:"

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* "The History of Alaskan and Hawaiian Statehood: Ep 18 of Crash Course Native American History:"

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* "The lush life of Billy Strayhorn, the gay Black man who was Duke Ellington's 'right arm':" https://www.advocate.com/history/billy-strayhorn-black-gay-musician

* "The Era of Native Urban Relocation: Ep 17 of Crash Course Native American History:"

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* "A History of Indigenous Women with Lily Gladstone: Ep 19 of Crash Course Native American History:"

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* "Modern Tribal Governments Explained: Ep 20 of Crash Course Native American History:"

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* "Native Languages & The Indian Education Act: Ep 21 of Crash Course Native American History:"

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* "Introduction to Federal Indian Law: Ep 16 of Crash Course Native American History:"

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* "The Land Back Movement Explained: Ep 22 of Crash Course Native American History:"

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* "Hollywood, Pretendians, and Cultural Appropriation: Ep 23 of Crash Course Native American History:"

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* "What Can a Prophecy Tell Us About Climate Change?: Ep 24 of Crash Course Native American History:"

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* I woke up with basically no spoons Friday. We are talking it took me seven hours of effort to make it into the living room to eat bread slices and dried fruit and hydrate because I couldn't handle even boiling water for soup cups. It took another most of two hours to make it to the desk from the sofa for more hydration before going back bed. Hence very little that wasn't pre-programmed getting done.

I feel like a slacker taking two days off from physio, but it was pretty clear I could do things like make food or do physio Saturday and not both.

* Low sleep quality again Saturday. Livia and I did a lot of reading in bed (with pets). When I reached for the remote above my head to turn the TV on for physio time it fell between the pillows and the headboard, which is a problem because periodic pushing of the mattress back against the headboard requires me moving all the pillows and things off the bed because the extra weight makes it impossible. Anything to do with the mattress is a spoon devouring nightmare. I have no help for changing bedding and it's really a two person job because of the weight of the mattress. The result is, there is currently more space than I like between headboard and mattress.

When I tried to rescue it, it slid further down behind the pillows. Moving is always a risk in this situation, but there was nothing forward. I heard the tell take sound of it hitting the floor the moment I moved to try to get a better grip.

There was nothing for it. Everything had to come off the bed and I was going to have to try to shift the mattress myself. Worse, I had no one with longer arms, so I was going to have to get a dustpan between the slats, awkwardly try to sweep things into it without losing my grip, pick everything out of the dustpan, then pull the dustpan out. More things inevitably fell into the crack of doom during the process, compounding the problem. Sigh.

I had been doing a good job holding the crack closed, as there were only three things in there besides the escaped remote that had fallen from the shelf before I started knocking more things into the hole, plus a small collection of medical packaging. Go me!

I still had to change the fitted sheet as I'd gone this far, which is really right at the edge of possible for my shoulder joints. Then pull more things that had fallen into the crack of doom. Then try to force the mattress back into place alone. Then put everything back. I never really get everything back, small things get misplaced and must be found later.

Even with several hours of rest including two naps and lots of pettins, it took another couple hours for half assed physio, and I keep getting the shakes.

There were all these other things I needed to to today, but likely I'd already eaten a bunch of tomorrow's spoons. Sigh. At least there are clean sheets.

* Monday, I noticed the early stages of an eye infection. My car can't make the distance to the next town where there were appointments open, but they found me one Tuesday. I dropped off library books after and tried to hit the discount grocery in search of five things it turned out they were out of. I did get my second choice for one of them, which wasn't a hardship as both are things I buy on the regular; I was just more in the mood for the other. There were no mushrooms or bags of frozen broccoli. The other two things? Sigh. One they only had a tiny over priced side dish version from another brand instead of two full meals worth from the good brand, so I passed. The other, I got the smallest I could find of a different brand and flavour to test instead of what I actually wanted.

I had started lunch and was putting my meager purchases away, when squirrel appeared, trying to work out how we were going to take the trash out. I proposed once again that we just put the whole thing can and all on the dolly and take it out to the dumpster together that way. We have two working arms between us and it would be a lot easier to each take a handle a dump the tied off bag that way, letting gravity do most of the work, then take the can and dolly back where they go. Squirrel gave in and while it was still annoying, it was far better than any of the alternatives.

I then needed to lie down because I was already pretty much at the end on hobbling about without a really long rest. I did lungs, had lunch, rested a whole bunch more. I did eventually manage a few small household tasks between rests, but I just feel like too little butter on too much bread.

Really, I need to finish putting things away from all the displacement. Really, I need to try the reorganization in the garden, as it will help when planting time comes. These are big exhausting things and one of them, I am not convinced I can do even sitting down and using my feet, but I can't know for sure until I move the rack and give it a try. If it does work, it will take better advantage of the extra sun we have since they pulled the massive bush out and will also give me better access to the far tomato planters.

* Thursday was exhausting and full of too many things and I made two key errors that fucked some things up. All this, plus my ankle kept disjointing, jointing, disjointing, joining so many times I lost count as I slogged painfully about trying and mostly failing to achieve essential tasks. Bonus: Physio tomorrow at entirely The Wrong Time.

* I did make it to physio Friday. My ankle was still bad, but properly in it's socket, which is important as we added a bunch of standing stuff. (Ugh.) We also upgrading a lying down and the sitting exercise. At check in, I saw one of the arm guys and said high. Later on the leg physio mentioned she'd spoken to him about me before we started and he said I was a really hard worker, which is nice to hear.

I made it home and had to lie down for a good long while before making food. Then I did lungs and had another long lie down before sorting forage. When I got up to put forage away, I discovered my legs were just DONE. It would have been a brilliant day to own one of those little lightweight indoor electric chairs. Instead I had a really scary trip to my room for pettins alternating with cuddle naps with Livia for most of the afternoon.

I did eventually make it back out to put away the perishable forage, feed and water Livia and the fish, etc., but it's just really bad tonight. At some point I will have to make more food. *shudder*

I had hoped to do a Friday morning aggregate, but I was just too tired to manage it, which sucks as there are multiple congressional action items it would have been better to start on before the recess.

* "‘It’s emptiness’: banned Ukrainian athlete accuses IOC of fueling Russia’s propaganda:" https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2026/feb/12/ukraine-vladyslav-heraskevych-disqualified-winter-olympics-skeleton-helmet-protest-war-deaths

* "Penisgate erupts at Olympics; scandal exposes risks of bulking your bulge:" https://arstechnica.com/health/2026/02/penisgate-erupts-at-olympics-scandal-exposes-risks-of-bulking-your-budge/

* They were quite audible in the Canadian coverage and the commentators deliberately pointed it out. Rightly so. "NBC appears to cut crowd’s booing of JD Vance from Winter Olympics broadcast:" https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/feb/06/nbc-appears-to-cut-crowds-booing-of-jd-vance-from-winter-olympics-broadcast

* "Winter Olympics 2026: All the queer athletes who won medals:" https://www.advocate.com/news/winter-olympics-lgbtq-medals

* "LGBTQ+ Olympians receive death threats after speaking out against the Trump admin.:" https://www.advocate.com/news/lgbtq-olympians-death-threats-trump

* "US Olympians speaking up about politics at home face online backlash — including from Trump:" https://apnews.com/article/trump-us-athletes-speaking-out-backlash-6ad0274b0aa2f44795fdf1c44e2eb252

* "NBC apologizes for misgendering trailblazing trans Olympian Elis Lundholm:" https://www.advocate.com/news/people/olympian-elis-lundholm-misgendered

* "Gay ice dancer Guillaume Cizeron's gold medal is questioned as judging scandal heats up:" https://www.advocate.com/news/guillaume-cizeron-and-laurence-fournier-beaudry-judging-scandal

* "Ben & Jerry's co-founder needs your help to 'prevent the destruction' of beloved ice cream brand:" https://www.advocate.com/news/people/ben-and-jerrys-dei-interview

* "Donald Trump Is Nothing To Smile About | Mike Johnson vs. Pope Leo XIV | Bezos "Murders" Journalism:"

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* CW: CSA "Trump: ICE Killings Create Bad Publicity | America's Secret Weapon | Epstein's Muffin Recipe:"

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* "Gavin Newsom: Leading Man, For Your Consideration | The Daily Showography:"

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* "Super Bowl: Bad Bunny puts on a queer-inclusive show with Lady Gaga & Ricky Martin:" https://www.advocate.com/news/bad-bunny-super-bowl-halftime-show-recap-watch

* "Who is American? Bad Bunny at the Superbowl:" https://www.youtube.com/shorts/dtnNqaOACNI

* "Bad Bunny spread love, making Trump look selfish, stupid, and stale:" https://www.advocate.com/opinion/bad-bunny-spread-love-halftime

* "Right-Wingers Who Boycotted Halftime Show Still Saw Enough of It to Be Furious:" https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-news/maga-furious-bad-bunny-super-bowl-halftime-show-1235513261/

* "TN Republican demands official probe after calling Bad Bunny's Super Bowl halftime show 'gay pornography':" https://www.advocate.com/politics/bad-bunny-gay-porn-andy-ogles

O.o What does he think gay men do in bed. Does he think sugar cane is somehow involved?

Follow up question: Has he ever had sex with anyone?

I am remembering Ivonova in B5 tricking that ambassador into thinking they were having sex. Does his wife dance around fully clothed and tell him it is sex?

* "Ian McKellen recites Shakespeare to slam 'mountainous inhumanity' in U.S.:" https://www.advocate.com/television/sir-ian-mckellen-shakespeare-stephen-colbert

* ""There's Nothing I Enjoy More Than Acting In The Theater" - Ian McKellen EXTENDED INTERVIEW:"

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"Grant them removed, and grant that this your noise
Hath chid down all the majesty of England;
Imagine that you see the wretched strangers,
Their babies at their backs with their poor luggage,
Plodding to the ports and coasts for transportation,
And that you sit as kings in your desires,
Authority quite silenced by your brawl,
And you in rough of your opinions clothed;

What had you got? I'll tell you: you had taught
How insolence and strong hand should prevail,
How order should be quelled; and by this pattern
Not one of you should live an aged man,
For other ruffians, as their fancies wrought,
With self same hand, self reasons, and self right,
Would shark on you, and men like ravenous fishes
Would feed on one another.

O, desperate as you are,
Wash your foul minds with tears, and those same hands,
That you like rebels lift against the peace,
Lift up for peace, and your unreverent knees,
Make them your feet to kneel to be forgiven!

You'll put down strangers,
Kill them, cut their throats, possess their houses,
And lead the majesty of law in liom,
To slip him like a hound. Say now the king
(As he is clement, if th' offender mourn)
Should so much come to short of your great trespass
As but to banish you, whether would you go?

What country, by the nature of your error,
Should give you harbor? go you to France or Flanders,
To any German province, to Spain or Portugal,
Nay, any where that not adheres to England,—

Why, you must needs be strangers: Would you be pleased
To find a nation of such barbarous temper,
That, breaking out in hideous violence,
Would not afford you an abode on earth,
Whet their detested knives against your throats,
Spurn you like dogs, and like as if that God

Owed not nor made not you, nor that the claimants
Were not all appropriate to your comforts,
But chartered unto them, what would you think
To be thus used? this is the strangers case;
And this your mountainish inhumanity."

* "Disney's Living Characters: A Broken Promise:"

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* "5 Iconic Archers that Fantasy Forgets:"

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* "True Facts: Electric Nematodes and Flying Spiders:"

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* "True Facts: Is The Goffin's Cockatoo The Smartest Bird?:"

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* "Blatantly Bumbling Baffling Battles:" https://www.youtube.com/shorts/G4c_KbJpFhc

* "Verily Vernacular:" https://www.youtube.com/shorts/qWzCDJi5Lx8

* "Vain Versailles 2:" https://www.youtube.com/shorts/SSSCS-k_KjI

* "1700s Fboys:" https://www.youtube.com/shorts/SkETKY1T2q8

* "Egregious East India Company:" https://www.youtube.com/shorts/LxmCARCh2uA

* "Manic Musical Mozart:" https://www.youtube.com/shorts/MOnrUAleY28

* "Sorrowful Salieri:" https://www.youtube.com/shorts/KaXWdLRA_7I

* "Let's Give Women Something To Smile About:"

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* "Introducing "Coalie":"

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* This is and was and likely always will be my favorite of his songs. ""You Can Close Your Eyes" - James Taylor (LIVE on The Late Show):"

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* "This Groundbreaking New Showcase of Nearly 60 Works Is the Biggest-Ever Exhibition of LGBTQ+ African Art:" https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-institution/this-groundbreaking-new-showcase-of-nearly-60-works-is-the-biggest-ever-exhibition-of-lgbtq-african-art-180988095/

* "10 If-You-Know-You-Know Classics of Queer Black Literature:" https://www.them.us/story/black-queer-literature-roundup

* "Winter storm across the US in photos:" https://apnews.com/photo-gallery/winter-storm-weather-photo-gallery-660aec5749dc23108311a31a8627345c?

* "Bakers Are Topping Each Other By Creating Cakes That Look Like Paradise Islands (30 Pics):" https://www.boredpanda.com/paradise-island-cake-art/

* "You're In A Lesbian Pulp Novel From 1958! What's Distracting You From Work And Causing Your Heterosexual Coworker Nora To Glance Curiously Over At Your Desk?:" https://www.thechatner.com/p/youre-in-a-lesbian-pulp-novel-from-6b1?publication_id=5&post_id=187703313&isFreemail=true&r=ykw2&triedRedirect=true

*****
* 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.

* "Project Salt Box:" https://projectsaltbox.substack.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

* "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

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

* Contains link to trans girl sales pages. "Trans Girl Scouts On Cookie List Sell 71,000 Boxes Of Cookies And Growing:" https://www.erininthemorning.com/p/trans-girl-scouts-on-cookie-list

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