ICYMI, @booker.senate.gov is taking a stand: www.npr.org/2025/04/01/n...

An excellent, not to be overlooked point here (i.e., just because you have a security clearance, doesn't mean you have unfettered access; 'need to know' means exactly that.)

This is wild...

On 'Men in Crisis': In 2023, I had the chance to moderate a conversation w/ Richard Reeves, the founding president of the @aibm.bsky.social during the Jefferson Educational Society's Global Summit: youtu.be/ID1ZbrLTBzs?... 1/4

Great read (and featuring a source I know): www.washingtonpost.com/climate-solu...

Donald Trump, Elon Musk and DOGE have touted billions of savings in canceled government contracts. But government spending isn't a secret and goes through bid processes to avoid fraud and waste. Here's how you can explore these contracts yourself: www.instagram.com/reel/DGn9XQQ...

“You have no mandate to cut Medicaid!” Representative Al Green was escorted out of Congress during President Trump's speech to the joint session on Tuesday. Green, a Texas Democrat, introduced the first articles of impeachment against Trump in 2017. nyti.ms/4h7iiKi

Everything you need to know about Trump's tax cuts.

Yup.

Correction: Green ‘was removed’

Although not officially a therapy dog, Gus kicked into therapy mode tonight… woof.

In case you were wondering about those Social Security numbers…

More education is a good thing, period. (And data suggest a super majority of Americans want their children to go to college) Here, @jcaustin.bsky.social makes an excellent case, citing two excellent state-level initiatives -- one from Tennessee, the other from Michigan:

I'm speechless. I'm glad President Zelensky wasn't.

'The truth is ugly, but it’s necessary to face it.' On today's sad-for-America and stark-wake-up-call-for-democracies-and-US-allies Oval Office meeting:

Highly recommend subscribing:

NEW: In November, I wrote a Guardian column headlined 'How to Survive the Broligarchy'. Pretty much everything predicted has now come true. What I'm launching today is part handbook, how to protect ourselves? And part manifesto, how to fight back? Please join me. 1/ open.substack.com/pub/broligar...

Another governor — Janet Mills of Maine — taking a stand rather than bending a knee: www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202...

TRUMP: The NCAA has complied immediately. That's good. But I understand Maine -- is the governor of Maine here? JANET MILLS: Yeah I'm here TRUMP: Are you not gonna comply? JM: I'm going to comply with state and federal law T: You better do it bc you're not gonna get any federal funding at all

What is social and community infrastructure, and why is it important? What are the unique community challenges in “left-behind places” that are often overlooked and can derail economic recovery? New report answering those questions and why they matter: www.jeserie.org/uploads/BUIL...

A must-watch video of @govpritzker.illinois.gov to inspire and remind us how we tamp down the flames of hatred, attempts at oppression, and the threatening rise of tyranny and continue to give democracy the oxygen it needs to survive, and thrive. Extended clip here: www.nbcnews.com/video/illino...

ALERT FROM ME: My work email address (JESErie) was hacked overnight, and apparently thousands of emails were sent with a link to a SharePoint that wasn't mine. I'm 'back at the controls', but working through to regain access to my inbox, which I still don't have full access to. 1/

A reminder/context: It is Feb. 1, and Inauguration Day was Jan. 20.

This is crucial reporting from @katherinejwu.com. Among the data being scrubbed is “the agency’s AtlasPlus tool, which contains nearly 20 years of CDC surveillance data on HIV, hepatitis, sexually transmitted infections, and tuberculosis…” www.theatlantic.com/health/archi...

I shared this elsewhere earlier this week. Sharing here now as it is still a good, important read given the timing:

Worthwhile, rallying read, and call-to-action, from @sanders.senate.gov:

Voters in US Heartland delivered for Trump a narrow, but decisive win in the 2024 election. @jcaustin.bsky.social, for @thehill.com, offers 10 ways he can deliver for them (spoiler alert: it includes leaving things in place begun before his admin, building on others): thehill.com/opinion/camp...

Good advice on Inauguration Day 2025: ‘Don’t be shocked. Don’t be awed.’ There will be seemingly *a lot* happening quickly. Some serious; some banal and (intentionally) distracting. Now is not the time to look away, or ignore all of it because of some of it. open.substack.com/pub/thebulwa...

And here's how U.S. industrial policy is helping counter threats from China over capacity threats (from Glencora Haskins and myself @BrookingsMetro) brookings.edu/articles/pla... @brookings.edu @tracyalloway.bsky.social @benspeggen.bsky.social @bencasselman.bsky.social @robatkinson.bsky.social

Excellent, insightful new work out by @markmuro1.bsky.social @robmaxim.bsky.social and others at @brookings.edu on regional growth efforts -- what's been accomplished, what's at stake with impending fed-level changes, and recommendations for pathways forward:

"The ability of the polity to withstand autocratic initiatives does not only require a solid legal framework and institutional design," @mariaskora.bsky.social warns, adding ... 1/2

Two very different reactions to the snow…

A highlight of our Thanksgiving: learning how much Gus loves watching the Dog Show…

'We cannot be mesmerized by the worst things that we see happening. We will be inclined to react with shock by some things that are done precisely with the intent of shocking us, we need to move very quickly through the shock.'

As America looks inward to contend with Trumpism, it must also look outward to see how other countries are dealing with the rise of authoritarianism. In addition to Brazil offering lessons, so has Poland with 10/2023 election: www.jeserie.org/uploads/Repo...

Kudos, @davidfrum.bsky.social, on admitting what he 'got wrong'. More journalists, commentators, pundits, etc. need to follow this example. The more we all admit where we were wrong, the more we can learn, and reconcile the present -- what it means, why it matters, and plot how to move forward:

'How to survive the broligarchy,' from @carolecadwalla.bsky.social, who pulls no punches via @theguardian.com: www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

[email protected]'s opening line, "Donald Trump is not a monarch," is an important one to note today, 11/21, as Gaetz withdrew his nomination for AG...

Like many, I struggled with 'where to go' with further, umm, decline of Twitter/X... Just a few days after joining BlueSky, I am encouraged by this space. I am also grateful for @radiofreetom.bsky.social, who has been churning out recommended follows. Follow him; check out the lists. Onward.