I'm off today. But my colleague @gracepanetta.bsky.social is all over today's massive news for trans youth:

The year is wrapping up but MuckRock and @transjournalists.org continue to document the impact of anti-trans federal activities. We’re requesting ICE documents on transgender detainees and more. www.muckrock.com/news/archive...

A Dem senator pressed Trump's FCC Chair, Brendan Carr, on the agency's independence at a hearing today, noting it says "independent" right on the FCC website. Minutes later, with the hearing still going on, the website updated. The word "independent" was gone. www.washingtonpost.com/business/202...

For five years, The 19th staff has taken time to pause and reflect on the things that brought us joy over the past year — completely unrelated to our work. That felt especially important in 2025, which brought an unrelenting, heavy news cycle.

This isn't hyperbole. In 2023, I watched Cigna revoke approval for my friend Carole's life-saving lung transplant *minutes* before surgery was set to begin—a decision that very nearly killed her. Public outrage in response to a viral post about her situation is the only reason she's alive today.

The House is planning to vote on two bills to ban gender-affirming health care for children. I followed a doctor and a nurse as they visited lawmakers yesterday to urge them to vote no: www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...

2/ Our readers deserve clear labeling on AI content, and we deserve job security. Sign our petition for a fair contract and we’ll keep you updated on our campaign: actionnetwork.org/petitions/te...

It's almost the holidays! Except in Congress. Today, a bill that would jail doctors for up to 10 years if they provide gender-affirming care to minors is scheduled for a House vote. It's not expected to become law, but it's still a big deal. Catch up here:

we like to have fun here, okay

NEW: U.S. Military Willing to Attack “Designated Terrorist Organizations” Within America, General Says “That is one of the concerns with the administration asserting that the President essentially has a license to kill outside the law,” says expert. theintercept.com/2025/12/16/t...

As the year ends, my colleagues and I examined how the Heritage Foundation wishlist for Trump’s second term impacted women and LGBTQ+ Americans. Read here:

This is a harrowing account of city under siege www.motherjones.com/politics/202...

My first story back at NBC takes a behind-the-scenes look at how an Oklahoma student’s essay about gender became a national controversy in less than two weeks. With @tktk.bsky.social for @nbcnews.com: www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news...

In Springfield, Ohio — a city transformed by Haitian immigrants — Casey Rollins says she feels like the “town crier” warning of a looming family separations crisis. 19thnews.org/2025/12/spri...

CNN has suddenly discovered Tennessee's Patriot Front compound that was a subject of an extensive NewsChannel 5 investigation back in March. Here is my report: 1/ www.newschannel5.com/news/newscha...

Impossible to read this Amnesty report on the Everglades and not immediately picture an antebellum southern plantation. “Described as a cage you would find at the zoo, where people are shackled at their feet and wrists and chained to the ground, under the hot sun.” www.amnesty.org/en/wp-conten...

Hello, I know it's a long shot, but I'm only 103 paid subs away from hitting my 2025 Patreon goal. Would you mind sharing?

You'll probably recognize your faves in my top ten, including @joyurcaba.bsky.social, @oriion.bsky.social, @transvestigations.bsky.social (from @erininthemorning.com), and @hencarnell.bsky.social. And in the bottom five you'll find @theatlantic.com, @nytimes.com, and @wsj.com of course.

“It seems like these officials know quite well how important it is for people to have easy access to medications that improve their health and improve their lives,” said Zan Lussier, a 56-year-old transgender man living in Washington state. “It absolutely is gender-affirming care for cis men.”

“He doesn’t regret what he did. He said he’d do it again. But the pain has started to take a toll on him."

The problem, the experts said, is that nobody has been listening to men.

Must read piece from @gregsargent.bsky.social at @newrepublic.com

A lot to unpack here about class, gender, and caring work 19thnews.org/2025/12/ice-...

Just love this story by @jkutzie.bsky.social for @19thnews.org 19thnews.org/2025/12/firs...

After my big accident/TBI I started (and have been on) TRT and while, yes, it's absolutely made me feel better, the process for me to start on it? Embarrassingly easy. Like, barely a blink of an eye and I was approved - and at no cost to me. It's absurd how easy it was for me, in comparison.

Gender affirming care, but only for cis people I guess. 19thnews.org/2025/12/test...

For too long, hormone therapy has been inaccessible for cisgender men — or so said clinicians, professors and a pharmaceutical CEO gathered this week by the FDA. So, HRT for everybody, right? ... Right guys?

Teddy ruxpin never would’ve done this shit: “Miiloo, a plush toy with a high-pitched child’s voice advertised for children 3 and older, gave detailed instructions on how to light a match and how to sharpen a knife when asked”

Court watchers have built what they call a "habeas machine" with @repdangoldman.bsky.social. For months, the congressman'office has been a rapid response center. Families go there after a loved one is detained and lawyers immediately get on the case. talkingpointsmemo.com/feature/new-...

DeSantis admin diverted child welfare and medical funds for consultants, ads

Another one from me: The Trump administration has omitted data about trans people from prison sexual violence reports. prismreports.org/2025/12/11/d...

Want to fund independent media for women and LGBTQ+ people? There's still time — our newsroom's year-end impact drive is almost over, and your help matters more than ever. Just $10 goes a long way!

Gen-ZINE!

NEW: Here's my story on Arlington, Texas, becoming the first known city in the nation to kill a city-wide LGBTQ+ anti-discrimination policy in response to the Trump administration. With no statewide protections, it was one of the few things protecting LGBTQ+ Texans: www.chron.com/culture/arti...

NEW, from me: One startling stat captures just how badly the year went for the GOP. Democrats flipped 21% of all GOP-held legislative seats at play. That's thanks to gains they made in six states this year, and I break it all down in my latest:

The FDA's expert panel on testosterone replacement therapy for men — specifically cis men — takes place today. I'm sure it will be very different from their other panels about gender-affirming care 😅

Read about some queer joy! Photos by the excellent Salgu Wissmath & written by @kitoconnell.com and our colleagues over at @thebarbedwire.com

It's truly wild to me that this just keeps happening. Coca-Cola runs an AI ad and people overwhelmingly react with disgust. They do it again, and people are disgusted again. Now McDonald's makes an AI ad that's so bad that so many people are furious about it they pull it down. People hate AI slop!

New must-read from @candicenorwood.bsky.social — how periods in prison become a trap. Incarcerated women and trans people are forced to choose between maintaining their dignity and health — or facing the penalties.

Sharing an identity w/ study participants, health equity awards, widely read papers — all positives in the past But this year, they're being weaponized against trans researchers @theresagaff.bsky.social w/ the next part of American Science, Shattered www.statnews.com/2025/12/09/h...

The FDA plans to begin requiring one clinical study, instead of the standard two, for medical products before consideration for approval. www.statnews.com/2025/12/04/f...

🧵Nearly half of all people w/ #HIV in the U.S. rely on #Medicaid for life-saving care. With the slashing of Medicaid & changes to requirements, the lives, health, & well-being of so many people is at risk. bit.ly/ProtectionsForPeopleWithHIV

Tucked inside the Republican bill for health care subsidies, a clause that would restrict the money from being used for abortion (with exception for rape, incest or life of the mother) or for "any sex trait modification procedure or service." www.finance.senate.gov/imo/media/do...

Your support for @19thnews.org isn’t just a donation. It’s an investment in a more informed, more inclusive future. 👉🏽 the19th.donorsupport.co/-/NMEZTLVU?m...

404 Media is making a print zine! About the surveillance technologies used by ICE. 16 pages, riso printed. Shipping early January. Features reworked versions of our best reporting and a few new things. We're very excited! And hope to do more if people like it: www.404media.co/404-media-is...

Levine told NPR that it was an honor to serve the American people as the assistant secretary for health "and I'm not going to comment on this type of petty action." As usual, Levine is ignoring the haters. Her professionalism and poise always stood out to me in our interviews.

“TikTok and other social media platforms are hosting AI-generated deepfake videos of doctors whose words have been manipulated to help sell supplements and spread health misinformation.” www.theguardian.com/society/2025...

New from me: The DOJ plans to dismantle protections for trans and intersex people in federal, state, and local prisons, jails, and youth detention facilities, according to a government memo obtained by Prism.

Trump administration plans to end prison rape protections for trans and intersex people, memo says my friend @byadamrhodes.bsky.social reports for @prismreports.org

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