“Democrats aren't losing because of outspoken support for trans rights: They're losing because they're not talking about transgender people's lives and rights.”

You can read more about the project here: www.rge.com/w/station-43

“I’ve spoken about my frustration with how the language of efficiency and waste and fraud has become coded in some way as if they are of the right, when they should be at the core of any progressive politics.” As someone who cares a lot about wasteful spending - this resonates!

Big media conglomerations not only impact speech, but negatively impact local news and the people who deliver it. rachbarnhart.substack.com/p/its-not-ju...

“Investigators warn the system could have blacked out cellular service in a city that relies on it not only for daily life but for emergency response and counterterrorism.”

A good roundup of Trump's term so far. The lede: "Not since America's founding 250 years ago has a U.S. president expanded power — and punished critics — in more unprecedented ways than Donald J. Trump."

Unfortunately, once funding for the $30/mo Affordable Connectivity Program subsidy ran out, the value proposition for this program sharply decreased. It was supposed to be frictionless signups and payments.

This means 13WHAM in Rochester won’t air the show. Sinclair needs FCC approval to acquire more stations.

“It’s worth underlining: Acetaminophen is the only widely recommended pain reliever considered safe in pregnancy. Scaring women away from it on shaky evidence isn’t responsible, it’s cruel.”

Are Sinclair and Nexstar going to air the show on their stations? Not clear yet.

Well this is scary. It's looking like SCOTUS could strike down same-sex marriage.

I've noticed these signs. Great campaign, NYIC!

Manufactured housing at center of plan. They look really nice.

I don't write flowery emails and usually cut to the chase. I can see using Chatgpt to make emails sound friendlier and more business-like.

“It’s a mystery to Black people how evangelicals can hear all the quotes, no matter how they try to contextualize them, and they’re okay with that."

On Bondi: “But for her, the thought process must be very different. Trump is hoping to offload culpability for his misconduct onto her. She’s the one most directly at risk if she gives orders later shown to be unethical or illegal.”

This is fantastic. @ZohranKMamdani took arrows for this policy, but here is a whole state doing it.

Congratulations to The Avenue Pub! 🏳️‍🌈

I love the RCSD's "Strive for Five" attendance campaign. But all I can think of is the Wegmans "Strive for Five" veggie campaign of the 1990s. 🥦

"It is extremely rare for police officers to wear masks in democratic nations." New York, you're up.

Valorizing Kirk handed Trump a gift. rachbarnhart.substack.com/p/morelles-v...

My Facebook page is basically people saying "Biden did it" to justify Trump becoming a dictator. 🫠

Running out of words to say we are losing democracy. The implications of this are that you cross the president, you could be thrown in jail. The flip side is if you do what he wants, you can be corrupt.

“The Trump administration is systematically locking up immigrants while they contest the government’s attempts to deport them, even if they’ve lived in the United States for decades and have no criminal record.”

“Trump comes back in January, I’ll be on his heels coming back, and I will run the biggest deportation operation this country’s ever seen.” Who else has paid him?

Great time at North Winton Village Festival! Love our neighborhood.

“Trump’s multi-pronged attack on renewables has jeopardized the kinds of energy projects that, in states like New York, are the closest to being built. That’s stifling new supply to the grid, even as demand surges, and increasing reliance on gas.”

“Why must it be all or nothing? Why can't we say that Kirk was a complicated man who held reprehensible views while condemning his brutal public execution? Why can't we say that his Christianity was clearly important to him — but that it was also profoundly flawed?”

Good morning from North Winton Village

Consolidation of local TV stations have caused other harms, such as wages dropping like a rock and rampant union busting. Local TV news is still among the most trust news sources. Allowing mergers has had major consequences, some we are only beginning to see.

I’m glad to see Democrats take on AI policy and how to protect and strengthen the workforce.

Great post on jawboning and how Congress can act through the NOPE Act

"Silencing critics through government power is the playbook of authoritarian regimes. We're fighting this."

Morelle was a yes. He could've least voted present. 75+% of Black Dems voted no. I don’t believe the description of Kirk is accurate, and many of Morelle’s constituents, particularly those from marginalized groups, don’t either. Condemning violence does not require *also* causing people pain.

This is upsetting and dangerous. Also, haven't authorities said the trans person close to Tyler Robinson HELPING police? We are headed down a dark, dark path.

“Federal prosecutors in Virginia had uncovered no clear evidence to prove that James had knowingly committed mortgage fraud when she purchased a home in the state in 2023…but Trump officials pushed U.S. Attorney Erik Siebert to nevertheless bring criminal charges against her”

“Since 1990, far-right extremists have committed far more ideologically motivated homicides than far-left or radical Islamist extremists, including 227 events that took more than 520 lives,” the study states”…far-left extremists committed 42 ideologically motivated attacks that took 78 lives.”

"Despite Trump's promise to lower prices, the overall cost of groceries is higher now than when he was sworn in. The president's crackdown on illegal immigration...could add to upward pressure on prices. Trump's tariffs are also contributing..."

"all new, government-approved Daily Show"

I have tremendous respect for Schumer. I covered him for many years and think he's been a good senator. I love his grasp of local issues. But it's time to pass the torch. Let's go @aoc.bsky.social www.axios.com/2025/09/19/a...

“The court declared that in order for government influence to violate the First Amendment, there needs to be a "concrete link" between officials' actions and the suppression of speech. In the Kimmel case… "It's as direct a line as you could dream up."

Democrats should introduce an alternate resolution that's not a trap, that could get unanimous bipartisan support.

In looking at old newspaper articles about Republican Lucien Morin, it is ironic he was so dedicated to the city, and then Democrats worked to defeat him. He served one term. 1/

The Morin-Ryan sales tax sharing agreement exists to this day. Extremely progressive then and now -- acknowledged suburban flight and the need for a strong city within the county. RIP Lucien Morin.

No shot. Republicans misunderstand polls showing Democrats losing support. People aren’t flipping; they’re just disappointed in their party.

I worked for Sinclair from 2006-2013. They are a right-leaning media group, making local stations, which are among the most trusted sources of news, extremely uncomfortable. This isn’t surprising. I’ll remind people that many Black viewers will be deeply hurt by this.

I'll say this again: In my opinion, when companies and institutions cave to Trump despite the law being on their side, they are not misunderstanding the law; they are making an educated guess that the United States is heading in a direction where, in practice, the law won't matter.

I would share optimism if I thought public opinion was driving this train.

Nexstar owns WROC, which is refusing to recognize the employee union, forcing lengthy court proceedings. The company, which I worked for 2000-2006 and 2013-2016, and sued over a noncompete in between, is refusing to pay fair wages. This is so disturbing.

Great to see my neighbors working the Rochester Fringe Festival. @acctprogressive.bsky.social