Tech workers at the heart of Microsoft are waging one of the most significant and under-covered labor battles in the US right now. Listen to the latest Working People Podcast with @maximillianalvarez.bsky.social!

For no reason, I'm lifting up my column on how a government shutdown works. Every shutdown looks different because of different funding streams, contingency funds, different bodies administering them, etc. I did my best to explain here to be thorough without being too dense.

We're only 9 days out from a potential government shutdown, and OMB *still* doesn't have its agency contingency plans up (this is the central hub for how every agency plans to operate under a shutdown).

You heard it here. Former U.S. Attorney and Trump Cabinet Secretary Alex Acosta—yes, THE Alex Acosta who gave Epstein a sweetheart deal—says that the White House has the authority to release the files. Folks, this is a cover-up, plain as day, and we won’t stop until every survivor gets justice.

Today the Oversight Committee sat down with Alex Acosta. What we heard only confirmed what we already knew: he cut a sweetheart deal for Epstein, silenced victims, and let a predator walk free.

Up on Monday. Down on Tuesday. Back up to end the week at the Department of Labor

The US Labor Department has new temporary leadership at its Wage and Hour Division.

Interviews with 40+ current or recent employees throughout NIOSH, and dozens of others, detail how Trump’s cuts have upended safety research on everything from fracking to opioids, along with chemical risks in nail salons, electric-vehicle fires and terror attacks www.bloomberg.com/news/feature...

Lemme spell it out. Trump's only leverage over Jimmy Kimmel and ABC came from FCC regulation. His direct power over H1-B visas gives him similar leverage over tech, higher ed, and others.

This country does not belong to Donald Trump, it belongs to the people. On October 18th, we're making moves. Not to protect a broken system, but to protect each other. Sign up: wfpus.org/nokings

🚨🚨🚨🚨Without explanation, BLS has indefinitely delayed a key data release used to calculate inflation. Annual Consumer Expenditures data is used to determine the weighting of specific goods and services in the Consumer Price Index for the year ahead. www.axios.com/2025/09/19/b...

“.. the data is .. used to determine the weighting of specific goods and services in the Consumer Price Index for the year ahead.” @axios.com www.axios.com/2025/09/19/b...

DOL announced a new H1B enforcement initiative this afternoon with DOJ, the EEOC & USCIS. Why? The White House said "do something" and they said, "uh, there's nothing new we can do legally but we'll make sure the secretary personally certifies investigations of employers cuz that's badass." 🥱

In the spirit of our Greatest Generation, the OG Antifa, take Kilroy out into the world as the symbol of freedom, liberty, and resistance. May his watchful eye see the DoD, Bedminster, Quantico, & beyond. We are the Resistance. We outnumber them. We are everywhere.

New @businessweek.bsky.social feature: On a budget of $1 per American, NIOSH conducts or funds most US research on how to keep workers alive & well. The Trump Administration decided to blow it up. www.bloomberg.com/news/feature... Based on interviews with 40+ current/recent staff throughout NIOSH

I know it's frustrating when lawyers point out when something the administration is doing is not legal. But responding with "the law doesn't matter anymore" is really unhelpful and defeatist. Clarifying the law is important because it reminds us not to comply in advance and to resist and take action

Women in the trades? Not in AmeriKKKa, no way.

FEDERAL EMPLOYEES—are you willing to sign to show commitment to upholding your oath? This letter is centered on our First Amendment rights to speak out truthfully on matters of public interest without retaliation. Inclusion of whistleblower complaints provides added whistleblower protections.

Asbestos. Silica. Black lung. Lead. NIOSH is the research agency you've never heard of (and the whole world relies on) to keep workers safe on the job and help businesses create healthier workplaces. And Trump/DOGE cuts have decimated it.

BLOOMBERG: Labor Dept. officials “who took the Department of Government Efficiency’s ‘Fork in the Road’ offer earlier this year have returned as full-time workers, after collecting their full pay and benefits for months without performing their job duties.” news.bloomberglaw.com/daily-labor-...

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A month from today, we will gather for the largest peaceful protest in American history. The only way to protect our freedom of speech is to exercise our freedom of speech. Join your local event to make it clear there are still NO KINGS in the USA: www.nokings.org?SQF_SOURCE=i...

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During the European campaign of WW2, American troops would leave this character to let the NAZIs know that they were everywhere. Kilroy is beginning to pop up in public spaces. He is the call for & promise of liberation. He is hope. He is everywhere. Kilroy was here.

Good news ICYMI: Earlier this summer, the Trump Administration issued new guidance from DOL and other agencies demanding immigration verification for a broad range of federally funded, state-administered services like Head Start, domestic violence shelters, adult education programs & soup kitchens.

"Under Trump, key initiatives for fighting human trafficking have been cut back at the US Department of State, Department of Justice, Department of Labor, Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS)." www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...

Watch now: Levy's conversation with Erika McEntarfer, former BLS Commissioner and Bard alum. In her first public address since the events of August 1, Dr. McEntarfer speaks candidly about her removal from office and the future of statistical independence. www.youtube.com/watch?v=9PD_...

Thousands in taxpayer dollars to illegally plaster Trump's face all over DOL and other federal buildings. That's probably not even including the cost of labor to install them.

“Messing with economic data is like messing with the traffic lights and turning the sensors off. Cars don’t know where to go, traffic backs up at intersections." - @erikamcentarfer.bsky.social

Fascinating to watch the class solidarity of “people who get yelled at on twitter”

Your vote is your voice. This #NationalVoterRegistrationDay, we join in solidarity with all who work to ensure that everyone has the right to vote and to be heard. Check your registration status today! nationalvoterregistrationday.org

Today's good news: More DOL employees forced out through the Deferred Resignation Program have been brought back. And at least several dozen OFCCP staff at risk of a RIF are being absorbed into the Wage & Hour Division, which needs them. Today's bad news: Working at DOL has never been harder.

We’re offering a training on how to identify, defuse, and prevent the spread of political violence. By standing up in defense of democracy and in opposition to violence, we spread the courage for more to do so.

I know everyone sees feds write that they love the mission and serving. And sometimes you wonder if they mean it or not. Let me tell you, RebelFema is extremely dedicated to the FEMA mission. The passion and pride in providing factual information here is only a small percentage of all they do

As all this happens, its worth remembering that if you are not in a union, there is a decent chance you are an at will employee, who can be fired for practically any reason—or no reason at all.

“Workers are not the problem. Exploitative corporations are,” @uaw.org said in a statement. “The UAW will always stand with all workers—immigrant and native-born alike—against unsafe corporations and militarized attacks on our workplaces.” labornotes.org/2025/09/geor...

Remember that delivery driver who was violently assaulted outside Bluestone Lane, which @marisakabas.bsky.social was among the first to report? His case was dismissed WITH prejudice, and now his attorney is asking his record to be expunged. www.youtube.com/watch?v=CBJW...

Amazon is facing bipartisan scrutiny over how the company schedules shifts for hourly warehouse and delivery workers. Data showed 41 percent of Amazon workers surveyed receive their work schedule less than two weeks in advance.

Breaking — FEMA Acting Chief Counsel Colt Hagmaier just resigned in an email to staff. He's worked at the agency for more than a decade. Hagmaier's resignation comes immediately after two FEMA employees were placed on leave for comments about Charlie Kirk. Text of his email shared with me:

The political crisis: “The Trumpian version of fascism can be seen as a side effect of the rising inequality and oligarchy enabled by the crushing of working class power.”

A small measure of justice for the probationary employees who were fired en masse:

Trump administration to CDC employees targeted by an active shooter: "No, actually, WE'RE the ones traumatized right now. You're all fine, get back in the office. We'll fix the windows with bullet holes one day."

Kirk’s Posthumous and Paradoxically Fitting Employment Reign of Terror talkingpointsmemo.com/edblog/kirks...

We've seen advice circulating on X, YouTube and other platforms encouraging people to report "extremists celebrating death" to OSHA, as if a coworker who doesn't express sufficient grief over Charlie Kirk's death is somehow a workplace safety or health threat. Here's a tip: Don't waste your time.

Deputy Labor Secretary Keith Sonderling is leading the attempted gutting IMLS, which the court said must stay open. This ruling also applied to the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service & Minority Business Development Agency. ✊

Weird how this is always go to Jupiter or live in the center of the earth but not “everyone has a good union job and healthcare”, like that’s the thing that is believing in unicorns

Every union starts with a single conversation. www.opeiu.org/needaunion.a...

Elon Musk has gone completely out of his mind. He's ranting and raving violently by the hour now. I believe this is what is called stochastic terrorism. It is a direct attempt to incite mass violence. He even reposted a *hit list*. As dangerous a man as America has ever seen.

Regarding “tough on crime” here is a reminder that wage theft is the largest form of property crime in the U.S. AND with recent cuts the DOL Wage and Hour Division is at its lowest headcount in 50 years.

If you’ve been confused by revisions to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics numbers, I encourage you to listen to this excellent conversation between Jonathan Schwabish and former BLS commissioner Erica Groshen. podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/t...? i=1000725506552