mara-and-politics

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Holy shit! A Nazi just decided to send me a review on a Star Wars fic.

FYI, if you call the rebels against the Empire, traitors? Yeah, you're a whole ass Nazi. Harboring traitors from an authoritarian dictator and fascist regime is a good thing.

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FLIP

The newest graphic novel from Ngozi Ukazu | Pre-order now! ✨🔄

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me when we start eating billionaires and i have to kill gomez addams

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Story by Rachel Tillapaugh on 2/21/25 for WJAC (Updated 2/22/25) A slightly older story for the current climate, but some good news coming out of the Dem legislature in Virginia. I do not expect this to get signed into law. If Youngkin vetoes it, it likely does not have the votes to overcome the veto. However, he has until March 24th to make a decision on the bill. HB1921 would require employers to give every employee paid time off that they could then use if:

They’re suffering from a physical or mental illness

They need to go to the doctor for preventive reasons

They need to care for a sick child

They need services due to domestic abuse, sexual assault or stalking.

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Story by Akiya Dillon on 2/27/25 for the Las Vegas Review-Journal.

This is possibly the funniest thing I've read in a hot second. A gem from the article:

Sheriff Kevin McMahill announced during the department’s annual State of Department address that Metro ordered 10 Cybertrucks to be used as patrol and swat vehicles. Thanks to “generous donors,” McMahill said, the purchase would not impact Metro’s general budget. “By the way, we ordered these before the Trump Tower (explosion),” McMahill said. “But I will tell you, we want these things because the cops inside will be safe no matter what. These stop bullets. They are also a tremendous recruitment tool for us.”

The pictures the police released with the announcement are also just ... wow.

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Story by Bobby Allyn and updated on 2/25/25 for NPR. This excerpt explains where some of these DOGE employees came from initially and it sounds like this wasn't a voluntary move on their part. But, they swore an oath to the Constitution and are standing by it by resigning.

A group of 21 civil servants whose team was folded into Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency resigned on Tuesday, writing in a joint letter posted publicly that they refuse to use their skills to put Americans' data at risk and "dismantle critical public services." The federal workers, mostly software engineers and product managers, were once part of the U.S. Digital Service, which was renamed DOGE when Musk launched his initiative from within the White House. The Musk-led unit has laid off thousands of workers and moved to dismantle entire agencies in a slash-and-burn campaign to reduce the size of government. In the letter addressed to White House Chief of Staff Susan Wiles, the government employees wrote that they swore an oath to the Constitution to serve the American people but that "it has become clear that we can no longer honor those commitments at the United States DOGE Service." White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt responded to the 21 DOGE workers resigning en masse, in a statement: "Don't let the door kick you on the way out," she said.

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Story by Devi Shastri on 2/26/25 for AP News. This is beyond tragic and SO preventable. Please, please, the MMR vaccine is the gold standard of vaccines in its safety and reliability. This outbreak was entirely unnecessary and now we are seeing the inevitable result of refusing to vaccinate.

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Story by Manny Moreno on 2/25/25 in The Wild Hunt Stillwater Christian Fellowship is getting aggressive towards anyone they deem "Unchristian". However, it seems as if the majority of the community is mostly supporting the pagans. Stillwater Fellowship lost their rights to their worship spaces after their landlord found out about their social media posts. Naturally, the pastor claimed it was anti-Christian persecution. The host of the The Market on The Mill has also affirmed that The Market will remain open to diverse groups and that harassing vendors could lead to the police being called and them issuing a trespass notice.

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Story by Matthew Chapman on 2/25/25 in Raw Story What the absolute hell is going on in Oklahoma?! How is this a "long-controversial issue"? The good news, SB364 passed 31-16. They had a Bible-off in the state legistlature to discuss whether it was biblical or not to allow corporal punishment for disabled kids. Why are we using the Bible on any government floor to determine anything?

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Story by DeJanay Booth-Singleton and updated on 2/25/25 for CBS News Detroit No. This is not immediate. This CAN be fought. Do not just roll over and throw your hands up saying "guess I lost my rights". They are not lost yet. Now is the time to call your representatives. Now is the time to call your STATE representatives and encourage them to formally recognize same-sex marriage in your state. And remember, Pride was a riot.

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Story by Eva Herscowitz on 2/23/25 for the Star Tribune. Okay, I kinda adore this diva. What an icon! Please enjoy the following excerpt.

Sen. Tina Smith, D-Minn., had some choice words for billionaire Elon Musk about his instruction to federal employees Saturday that demanded they summarize their accomplishments in the last week or risk losing their jobs. “This is the ultimate dick boss move from Musk. Except he isn’t even the boss, he’s just a dick,” the Minnesota senator wrote Saturday evening on X, the social media platform Musk owns.

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USA people! Buy NOTHING Feb 28 2025. Not anything. 24 hours. No spending. Buy the day before or after but nothing. NOTHING. February 28 2025. Not gas. Not milk. Not something on a gaming app. Not a penny spent. (Only option in a crisis is local small mom and pop. Nothing. Else.) Promise me. Commit. 1 day. 1 day to scare the shit out of them that they don't get to follow the bullshit executive orders. They don't get to be cowards. If they do, it costs. It costs.

Then, if you can join me for Phase 2. March 7 2025 thtough March 14 2025? No Amazon. None. 1 week. No orders. Not a single item. Not one ebook. Nothing. 1 week. Just 1.

If you live outside the USA boycott US products on February 28 2025 and stand in solidarity with us and also join us for the week of no Amazon.

Are you with me?

Spread the word.

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Story by Kyle Cheney and Josh Gerstein on 2/24/25 in Politco

The judge in this case is a Biden appointee who has handed down a 33 page ruling stating that DOGE is violating federal law, specifically the Privacy Act. It is still only a 2 week restraining order. And it still gives the government the ability to show that they have a "need to know" in relation to the data they are attempting to harvest.

“DOGE affiliates have been granted access to systems of record that contain some of the plaintiffs’ most sensitive data — Social Security numbers, dates of birth, home addresses, income and assets, citizenship status, and disability status — and their access to this trove of personal information is ongoing,” the judge wrote, describing this access as a potentially risky breach. Boardman’s ruling centers on the requirement that government officials who access sensitive employee and beneficiary information have a “need-to-know” basis for doing so. She said the government had fallen short of showing why DOGE officials needed access to that information, but will have additional opportunities to prove it as the lawsuit plays out.

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Story by Rachel McCrea on 2/21/25 in the Maryland Reporter Reference legislation SB0434 introduced by Gov. Wes Moore and Senators Brooks, Ellis, and Watson and crossfiled in the House of Delegates HB0505 by Delegates Allen, Carden, Ebersole, Fennel, Patterson, Turner, and Wu.

The bill does a little more than just focus on nuclear power, but the main focus of the article and critcism is the expense of nuclear power plants. There is a provision in the bill addressing the approval process for an offshore wind project, as well.

Excerpt:

“Alongside the state legislature and other stakeholders, the Moore-Miller Administration is continuing to explore all available options, including nuclear energy, to help meet Maryland’s environmental and clean energy goals,” the governor’s office said in an emailed statement. “The governor understands the need for sustainable and cost-effective infrastructure to ensure the reliability of our grid and build the economy of the future in our state, which is why this session he has introduced the ENERGIZE Act, to help create more in-state clean energy generation, invest in Maryland’s workforce, and help Maryland ratepayers.” The ENERGIZE Act would also classify nuclear as clean energy. It may not be a renewable source of energy, Pinsky said, but nuclear doesn’t emit greenhouse gases and the bill would count it towards the state’s clean energy goals. “If you’re looking for affordable and reliable and clean energy, nuclear does check those three boxes,” said House Minority Whip Del. Jesse Pippy, a Republican from Frederick County. Del. Chao Wu, a Democrat from Howard and Montgomery counties, is a co-sponsor of the ENERGIZE Act and supports nuclear as a source of clean, affordable energy. “By managing nuclear power safely, we can offer a better future for our residents,’” Wu said.Not everyone is supportive of new nuclear energy in the state.

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There is another follow up from yesterday (2/21/25). It seems that the Department of Education is threatening to investigate Maine over Title IX violations, which is just code for allowing trans students to play sports with the gender they identify as. Governor of Maine Statement “I have spent my career – as a District Attorney, as Attorney General, and now as Governor – standing up for the rule of law in Maine and America. To me, that is fundamentally what is at stake here: the rule of law in our country. “No President – Republican or Democrat – can withhold Federal funding authorized and appropriated by Congress and paid for by Maine taxpayers in an attempt to coerce someone into compliance with his will. It is a violation of our Constitution and of our laws, which I took an oath to uphold. “Maine may be one of the first states to undergo an investigation by his Administration, but we won’t be the last. Today, the President of the United States has targeted one particular group on one particular issue which Maine law has addressed. But you must ask yourself: who and what will he target next, and what will he do? Will it be you? Will it be because of your race or your religion? Will it be because you look different or think differently? Where does it end? In America, the President is neither a King nor a dictator, as much as this one tries to act like it – and it is the rule of law that prevents him from being so. “I imagine that the outcome of this politically directed investigation is all but predetermined. My Administration will begin work with the Attorney General to defend the interests of Maine people in the court of law. But do not be misled: this is not just about who can compete on the athletic field, this is about whether a President can force compliance with his will, without regard for the rule of law that governs our nation. I believe he cannot.”

There was a face-off in the Governors' meeting with Trump over trans students being allowed to play sports. The governor of Maine, Gov. Janet Mills refused to bow to Trump and told him she'd "see him in court." Her office has released a small statement following up: "If the President attempts to unilaterally deprive Maine school children of the benefit of Federal funding, my Administration and the Attorney General will take all appropriate and necessary legal action to restore that funding and the academic opportunity it provides. The State of Maine will not be intimidated by the President's threats."

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There was a face-off in the Governors' meeting with Trump over trans students being allowed to play sports. The governor of Maine, Gov. Janet Mills refused to bow to Trump and told him she'd "see him in court." Her office has released a small statement following up: "If the President attempts to unilaterally deprive Maine school children of the benefit of Federal funding, my Administration and the Attorney General will take all appropriate and necessary legal action to restore that funding and the academic opportunity it provides. The State of Maine will not be intimidated by the President's threats."

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Time to call literally EVERYONE. Anyone in Congressional leadership should be called. Even if they don't represent you directly. Just make sure that you state that you are calling them because of their leadership position. For example: "Senator John Thune, I am calling because you are the Senate Majority leader and I am sure that you value and love the Constitution as much as I do. The president's posts on Truth Social and on the official White House social media pages declaring himself King are a direct threat to the Constitution. Please use the power placed in your hands as a co-equal branch of government and remove him from office. If necessary, please reach out to Vice President Vance and ask for the 25th Amendment to be implemented. Thank you so much for your time. I know you will stand up for the Founding Principles of America." I am not his constituent, but I was able to reach his DC office and they took my comment and said they would pass it on. I profusely thanked her and apologized for bothering her for matters outside of South Dakota, but reiterated that I was calling because he's the Senate Majority Leader and has more legislative obligations to the country than just to his state. Senator John Thune Senate Majority Leader DC Office: 202-224-2321 Aberdeen: 605-225-8823 Sioux Falls: 605-334-9596 Rapid City: 605-348-7551 Speaker Mike Johnson Speaker of the House DC Office: 202-225-2777 Bossier City: 318-840-0309 DeRidder: 337-226-6385 Northwestern State University: 337-423-423

Rep Hakeem Jeffries House Minority Leader DC Office: 202-225-5936 Central Brooklyn: 718-237-2211 South Brooklyn: 718-373-0033

Senator Chuck Schumer Senate Minority Leader DC Office: 202-224-6542

You can also use FaxZero.com to send free faxes to the Representatives and Senators who have fax numbers. I saved the image above as a PDF and included it as an attachment with the cover letter asking for Congress to remove Trump as a direct threat to the Constitution.