Florida’s Social Studies standards are getting another update next month. No, those terrible African American History standards will stay, but there’s a huge update to our Anti-Communism education. This is just one page.

NEW—US Department of Education sent out standard Out of Office language to employees on Wednesday in light of shutdown. Later yesterday, workers tell me they found someone had updated their auto-responses without consent to a new one blaming Democrats. Version of original on left, updated on right:

I’m biracial (US dad, Ethiopian mom US born) and moved to Kenya at 4, had lots of Kenyan Indian friends, families there generations. When I moved to the states I didn’t know I was Black or have any idea of the American binary concept of race until someone called me the n word.

Can confirm this email is authentic — and about nothing in it is true. Social Security income is still taxed. This bill does nothing to change that. It’s willful disinformation on the part of SSA. It’s a lie.

From the transcript of Wednesday’s hearing on HB 1069 case, the state argues that it doesn’t matter if it is local librarians, principals, or the state making decisions about your school library books. It’s all speech belonging to the government (which excuses the state overreach in Hillsborough).

It’s important to note that in an unsuccessful Motion to Dismiss filed last November on behalf of the Florida State Board of Education, the state basically argued that it was up to the districts to determine the outcome of their objections, not the state. www.courtlistener.com/docket/69110...

Sadaf Knight and the incredible team at @floridapolicy.bsky.social work every day for policies that promote economic mobility and improve well-being for all Floridians. Interested in Florida fiscal policy and how to build a state that works for everyone? Check out: www.floridapolicy.org/

In Gene Sharp’s seminal 1973 “The Politics of Nonviolent Action,” he outlines reasons why subjects under tyranny choose to obey leaders, even when it’s very harmful for themselves. #2 looked familiar:

UPDATE: Trump just signed an executive order calling for the dismantling of the U.S. Department of Education. This will harm our most vulnerable students and exacerbate existing disparities in educational outcomes. www.nbcnews.com/politics/whi...

So now Elon Musk is defending Adolf Hitler Absolving him for the Holocaust In a post which concomitantly smears government workers Meanwhile he wonders why Tesla sales are plummeting And why people refer to his vehicles as "swasticars"

UPDATE: “Several members of DOGE arrived at USIP unannounced & accompanied by 2 FBI agents. They were met at the door by outside counsel who informed them of USIP’s private & independent status as a non-executive branch agency. Following that discussion, DOGE departed.” www.usip.org/press/2025/0...

🗣Join us for a community town hall on how proposed federal cuts to Medicaid and SNAP could impact Floridians 📅 Wed., March 19 ⏰ 5:30 - 6:45 PM 📍Community of Faith United Methodist Church, Davenport, FL 🔗 Registration required - reserve your seat now! bit.ly/Medicaid-SNA...

I’ll be there! Come join this important conversation!

“Hundreds of Dead”: Inside the Fallout from Trump’s #Ukraine #Intel Pause. time.com/7265679/sate...

“History permits us to be responsible: not for everything, but for something. The Polish poet Czestaw Milosz thought that such a notion of responsibility worked against loneliness and indifference. History gives us the company of those who have done and suffered more than we have.” -Timothy Snyder

Now Jackson, a married homeowner, is unexpectedly worried about his finances and wondering why his work history...has been suddenly devalued. “This is a slap on the face when I’ve spent my life serving in government or working for the public interest,” he said. shorturl.at/1Zwnu

While FPI does not support any rollback of long-held child labor protections, the Legislature seeks to chip away at the protections put in place for working teens last legislative session. SB 918/HB 1225 (2025) go beyond what HB 49 originally proposed.

SCOOP: Now that Linda McMahon is confirmed/sworn in as secretary, Trump will be imminently issuing an executive order eliminating the Department of Education. I’ve obtained a draft of an email that McMahon will be sending to staff re: the EO and the department’s “final mission”. Here is a portion:

Generations of American patriots, from our revolution onward, have fought for the principles Zelenskyy is risking his life to defend. But today, Donald Trump and JD Vance attacked Zelenskyy and pressured him to surrender the freedom of his people to the KGB war criminal who invaded Ukraine.

“State Defendants fail to grapple with the fact that discretion is what this statute (1006.28) removes. What the Court is faced with today is a regime built around not a librarian’s sound judgment but rather any parent’s objection, however capricious.” (Though it’s any CITIZEN’s objection)

“This latest proposal — to drop property taxes and replace that revenue with additional sales tax, a move that could double the sales-tax levy to 12% — might be his biggest boondoggle yet.” www.orlandosentinel.com/2025/02/27/e...

Florida would have to increase the state’s general sales tax rate to 12% if property taxes — which account for roughly $43 billion in revenue — were eliminated and replaced with higher consumption taxes. Read more: www.floridapolicy.org/posts/a-risk...

One pernicious step after another, Bezos encroached on the Post editorial policy. Today he seized it fully. The old Washington Post is gone. I'll never write for it again as long as he's the owner.

“DeSantis was reacting to a report by the Florida Policy Institute (FPI) that suggested the Sunshine State would have to double sales taxes to at least 12% to make up the loss of $43 billion in revenue.” www.wftv.com/news/local/d...

What could House Republicans’ $880B in potential Medicaid cuts mean for your congressional district? On average, we estimate a $2B funding loss per district and substantial reductions in coverage in states that expanded Medicaid. ⬇️ www.americanprogress.org/article/the-...

There you have it. Gov DeSantis wants to end property taxes and replace them with sales taxes— which would have to be the HIGHEST IN THE NATION to make up the difference. Bye bye tourism industry.

If Russia ceases combat operations, the war is over. If Ukraine ceases combat operations, Ukraine is over

Meritocracy!

Dan Bongino sued the Daily Beast for $15 million for reporting the NRA fired him for being "unfit for his duties" and not only did he lose but he was found liable for the Beast legal fees and had to pay THEM $40,000

Did you know that 72 MILLION Americans rely on Medicaid for healthcare? The Trump Administration and MAGA Republicans in Congress want to take it away to give tax breaks to billionaires. Don't let them take away our healthcare. Let them know you didn’t vote for this shit.

Florida’s own Office of Economic and Demographic research acknowledges acute labor shortages in the state. So what does the state legislature do to address it while attacking our immigrant workforce? Continue to weaken child labor laws. Unbelievable.

The child labor bill from last session that we defeated has been filed again. This legislation essentially strips current protections Florida has for child labor.

NEW: Proposals advancing in Congress to cut over $1 trillion in funding for critical health, nutrition, education, and environmental programs could have significant consequences for Floridians. Read more in the latest blog post by FPI. www.floridapolicy.org/posts/5-ways...

Today at Publix 6 eggs! Normal regular not organic eggs!

Blue Democracy Defenders #2 @rwalters69.bsky.social @toodamncold.bsky.social @keepitbluedems.bsky.social @eaglzfan2.bsky.social @wjhall3.bsky.social @hollybullardfl.bsky.social @wrhaselrick.bsky.social @erintruth.bsky.social @susanprobbins.bsky.social go.bsky.app/Qu5AyKh

Some inspiration for your Sunday. The story of women-led rebellions on enslaver ships and the Dr. Rebecca Hall @wakerevolt.bsky.social , the remarkable researcher who uncovered this hidden past. Read the rest here: www.WideAwakeAmerica.org

I’m not sure about the “no algorithms” for Bluesky. Most people are not great posters. This means that Bluesky ends up being pretty boring and just endless emojis and anti Trump memes, vs really funny, informative, and newsy. Bring in some sort of self-chosen algorithm pls (other than following)

the locals are getting spicy

House Republican budget could impact millions: 36M+ may lose Medicaid, 40M+ could see reduced food aid through SNAP, and student loan costs may rise for millions of borrowers—offsetting the cost of extending expiring 2017 tax cuts for high-income people. www.cbpp.org/press/statem...

Chair Arrington’s budget resolution directs the Agriculture Committee to cut at least $230 billion. Translation: House Republicans are seeking deep cuts to #SNAP, the program that helps 42 million low-income people afford groceries, in order to give the wealthy a big tax cut.

Great video on Otpor, the nonviolent Serbian uprising that helped topple the dictatorship of Milosevic youtu.be/r7dNLt5mC1A?...

Every child deserves a safe, supportive education, no matter their background. We stand united to make Florida a welcoming place for ALL students. Read our full statement regarding the recent detainment of a teacher: bit.ly/3CI9EDM

Well look at that. Sen Fine’s primary talking point for stripping away in-state tuition for Dreamers is “mostly false” www.politifact.com/factchecks/2...

What happened to “we’re going after criminals “??? This Miami public school science teacher had DACA. SCIENCE TEACHER. DACA. His students now don’t have a science teacher. This is terrifying. We need a profound response @repwilson.bsky.social @cnn.com www.nbcmiami.com/news/local/m...

BREAKING: we just blocked Musk & Trump out of the Treasury systems! Court order just secured — big win by us at @sddaction.bsky.social & our partners including @publiccitizen.bsky.social!

i don’t even know if crime is the right word for the illegal destruction of USAID. it is an autocratic power grab and a direct attack on the sovereignty of the american people

The United States Military Academy has just eliminated all Cadet clubs and activities for POC. Most of these have existed for decades like the Society of Black Engineers. They were there when I was a Cadet in 1987. All of the religious ones remain. This isn’t DEI. It’s white Christian Nationalism.

I just subscribed to Wired today. They have a killer deal going right now: a full year for $5 www.wired.com/v2/offers/wi...