Category Archives: Government

SNAP benefits stop Nov. 1. This Portland coffee shop is serving free SNAP breakfast ‘until everyone’s benefits are reinstated, or we go broke doing it’

from GoodGoodGood – thanks to Pam P. As the government shutdown enters its 26th day, America’s most vulnerable households are bearing the cost.  According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, 42 million Americans will lose their Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program … Continue reading

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ICE, the East Wing, Mental Health and More ….

Commentary by Heather Cox Richardson Julia Ainsley and Didi Martinez of NBC News reported today that Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s rush to get new recruits onto the street has meant they have pushed into their training program more than 200 … Continue reading

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When My Family Lived in the White House I Resented It. Now I Mourn It.

By Patti Davis in the NYT Ms. Davis is the author of “Dear Mom and Dad: A Letter About Family, Memory and the America We Once Knew.” I first went into the White House when my father, Ronald Reagan, was inaugurated … Continue reading

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Medicare virtual visits on hold with shutdown

Medicare’s temporary telehealth flexibilities ended on October 1, 2025, due to a lack of Congressional action, meaning most virtual visits are no longer covered unless Congress extends them again. As a result, many healthcare providers have canceled or are rescheduling Medicare … Continue reading

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Fighting Authoritarianism

Thanks to Mary Jane F. Indivisible co-founder and co-executive director Ezra Levin joins the podcast to talk about how his group is changing under the second Trump administration, why organizing and protesting is so important, and how we can successfully … Continue reading

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Undaunted

MIT, with several courageous universities to follow, shows it is made of sterner stuffby Jennifer Rubin (thanks to Diana C.) Elite institutions ranging from Columbia University to CBS News to the Paul, Weiss law firm have capitulated to Donald Trump’s … Continue reading

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I don’t think Washington understands how ticked off we truly are

By Dan Shanoff and Rafe Bartholomew in the NYT Stephen A. Smith brought a taste of “First Take” to Washington, D.C., on Wednesday night. The ESPN host, who has branched out into political commentary in recent months and even teased the possibility of running … Continue reading

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Chaos at the CDC

from The Epidemiologist On Friday, about 1,300 CDC employees received a surprising email: they were fired. No warning. No time to plan. Their badges were immediately deactivated. The justification was a “reduction in force”—a bureaucratic term now being used as … Continue reading

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Something SERIOUS is About to Happen

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Columbus Day – commentary by Heather Cox Richardson

On October 9, President Donald J. Trump’s office issued an official proclamation declaring Monday, October 13, “Columbus Day.” The proclamation says that the day is one on which “our Nation honors the legendary Christopher Columbus—the original American hero, a giant … Continue reading

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Nobel Peace Prize committee explain why Donald Trump didn’t win despite him saying ‘he deserved it’

The 2025 Nobel Peace Prize went to María Corina Machado of Venezuela instead Joshua Nair in LADbible (thanks to Bob P.) The Nobel Peace Prize committee has revealed why Donald Trump missed out on this year’s award. Trump has made it … Continue reading

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Among Portland Protests, It’s Frogs and Sharks and Bears, Oh My!

By Anna Griffin and Aaron West in the NYT (thanks to Linda T.) Animal costumes are the new black. Exceedingly aware that the black garb worn by demonstrators in 2020 informed President Trump’s apocalyptic view of Portland, Ore., protesters this year have gone … Continue reading

Posted in Advocacy, Animals, Dance, Government, Humor, Law, Military, Politics, protests, Satire | 1 Comment

Federal Judges, Warning of ‘Judicial Crisis,’ Fault Supreme Court’s Emergency Orders

Dozens of sitting judges shared with The Times their concerns about risks to the courts’ legitimacy as the Supreme Court releases opaque orders about Trump administration policies. By Mattathias Schwartz and Zach Montague in the NYT More than three dozen federal judges have … Continue reading

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M.I.T. Rejects a White House Offer for Special Funding Treatment

By Vimal Patel in the NYT M.I.T. became the first university to reject an agreement that would trade support for the Trump administration’s higher education agenda in exchange for favorable treatment. The proposal, called the “Compact for Academic Excellence in Higher … Continue reading

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Commentary on the progression toward authoritarianism by Heather Cox Richardson

Today, with the popularity of President Donald J. Trump and his administration dropping, Trump’s disastrous performance at the United Nations, the return of comedian Jimmy Kimmel to the airwaves, and the Tuesday’s election in Arizona of Democratic representative Adelita Grijalva, … Continue reading

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Aging sperm: a factor in autism

Thanks to Dan S. Ed note: We don’t have a quick answer about the multifactorial causes of autism. Tylenol appears to be unproven. Older men appear to be a factor. No doubt there are a number of other reasons as … Continue reading

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‘Politics of the End’ is a Seattle U class. It could be a study of last week’s news

Police officers detain demonstrators during a protest against Immigration and Customs Enforcement outside the Jacob K. Javits federal building in New York City on Thursday. (Yuki Iwamura / The Associated Press) Police officers detain demonstrators during a protest against Immigration … Continue reading

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Civil Rights and Liberties

Thanks to Mary M. The inscription is part of the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial in Washington, D.C. It reflects his commitment to civil rights and liberties during his presidency, emphasizing that oppression, injustice, and hatred undermine the very foundations of … Continue reading

Posted in Government | 1 Comment

The Era of Dark Passions

By David Brooks in the NYT (thanks to Marilyn W.) Sometimes when I have nothing better to do, I think back on the elections we had in the before times — when, say, Mitt Romney ran against Barack Obama or John … Continue reading

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We need more Jon Greens

Thanks to Pearl McE. who notes, “I was disappointed to see that the flag over Harborview was flown at half mast for someone who denigrated so many.”

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Give an Hour for Democracy

Thanks to Cindi W. Dear Friends, Our democracy is in jeopardy.  The Constitution is being attacked.  No branch of government is standing up for our fundamental rights.  We invite you to join us in taking a stand. A group of … Continue reading

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A New Federal Report Links Alcohol With These Alarming Health Conditions — And It’s Being Quietly Buried

by Jillian Wilson in the Huffington Post (thanks to MaryLou P.) How many alcoholic drinks do you have in an entire week? Five, seven, 10? More? If you have one drink a day, your health could be impacted ― but … Continue reading

Posted in Government, Health, Science and Technology | 1 Comment

Remembering September 15, 1963

Commentary by Heather Cox Richardson At 10:22 on the morning of Sunday, September 15, 1963, a bomb ripped through the 16th Street Baptist Church in Birmingham, Alabama. It was Youth Day in the historic brick church, and five young girls … Continue reading

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Photos capture Chicagoans’ protest against ICE and Trump’s intervention plans

By  CAROLYN KASTER (thanks to Pam P.) CHICAGO (AP) — Thousands of protesters marched in Chicago on Saturday against U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and President Donald Trump’s plan to send National Guard troops and immigration agents to the city. ___ This is … Continue reading

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How the Elite rigged Society (and why it’s falling apart) | David Brooks

Posted in Ethics, Government, History, Justice, Kindness, Politics, Poverty, Religion | Comments Off on How the Elite rigged Society (and why it’s falling apart) | David Brooks