Kelly Smith
@kellylsmith.bsky.social
Librarian at UC San Diego. Government Information/Urban Studies/Environmental Studies. 🏳️🌈 (she/her)
Reposted by Kelly Smith
Grim out there, but on this Thanksgiving Day, grateful to all who care, who try to make things better, who persist in being decent in the face of ugliness.
November 27, 2025 at 10:50 AM
Grim out there, but on this Thanksgiving Day, grateful to all who care, who try to make things better, who persist in being decent in the face of ugliness.
Reposted by Kelly Smith
LIBRARIES MAKE BOOKS ACCESSIBLE TO EVERYONE, she shouts, apparently inaudibly
WHY DO THESE "YOU'RE A CLASS TRAITOR" PEOPLE KEEP PRETENDING LIBRARIES DON'T EXIST?
ARE THEY CLASS TRAITORS WHO DON'T BELIEVE IN LIBRARIES?
WHY DO THESE "YOU'RE A CLASS TRAITOR" PEOPLE KEEP PRETENDING LIBRARIES DON'T EXIST?
ARE THEY CLASS TRAITORS WHO DON'T BELIEVE IN LIBRARIES?
Just saw someone claim that authors who want to be paid for their work are "class traitors" because we "only let the wealthy" read our books, and I think I need to go into the woods to scream into the night for a bit.
It's $5, not your first-born child! I need that $5 for health insurance!
It's $5, not your first-born child! I need that $5 for health insurance!
November 26, 2025 at 3:51 PM
LIBRARIES MAKE BOOKS ACCESSIBLE TO EVERYONE, she shouts, apparently inaudibly
WHY DO THESE "YOU'RE A CLASS TRAITOR" PEOPLE KEEP PRETENDING LIBRARIES DON'T EXIST?
ARE THEY CLASS TRAITORS WHO DON'T BELIEVE IN LIBRARIES?
WHY DO THESE "YOU'RE A CLASS TRAITOR" PEOPLE KEEP PRETENDING LIBRARIES DON'T EXIST?
ARE THEY CLASS TRAITORS WHO DON'T BELIEVE IN LIBRARIES?
Reposted by Kelly Smith
1. In Tennessee, public libraries have closed for up to a week to facilitate a Trump-inspired book purge.
Tennessee Secretary of State Tre Hargett (R) has ordered most of the state's public librarians to remove children's books with LGBTQ characters or themes.
Tennessee Secretary of State Tre Hargett (R) has ordered most of the state's public librarians to remove children's books with LGBTQ characters or themes.
Tennessee public libraries close for Trump-inspired book purge
One hundred and eighty-one public libraries in Tennessee are reviewing their children’s collections after Tennessee Secretary of State Tre Hargett (R) ordered them to remove books with LGBTQ themes…
popular.info
November 25, 2025 at 3:09 PM
1. In Tennessee, public libraries have closed for up to a week to facilitate a Trump-inspired book purge.
Tennessee Secretary of State Tre Hargett (R) has ordered most of the state's public librarians to remove children's books with LGBTQ characters or themes.
Tennessee Secretary of State Tre Hargett (R) has ordered most of the state's public librarians to remove children's books with LGBTQ characters or themes.
Reposted by Kelly Smith
Federal data and tools are all around us, influencing our lives in ways we often overlook. Our new data story, Protect the Data that Nourishes Us, highlights the data and tools that inform every stage of an apple's life cycle from seed to supermarket.
screening-tools.com/blog/protect...
screening-tools.com/blog/protect...
November 25, 2025 at 4:22 PM
Federal data and tools are all around us, influencing our lives in ways we often overlook. Our new data story, Protect the Data that Nourishes Us, highlights the data and tools that inform every stage of an apple's life cycle from seed to supermarket.
screening-tools.com/blog/protect...
screening-tools.com/blog/protect...
Reposted by Kelly Smith
"Gratitude is powerful. It’s both something we offer up and, when we mean it, it’s a gift we give ourselves that can help us to hold grief, move anger, and bring us into right relation with what is." UCS's Erika Spanger shares a few reasons to feel grateful, even in this challenging climate moment.
Giving Thanks in This Climate Moment
It's a time to be defiant, but also compassionate.
blog.ucs.org
November 25, 2025 at 4:28 PM
"Gratitude is powerful. It’s both something we offer up and, when we mean it, it’s a gift we give ourselves that can help us to hold grief, move anger, and bring us into right relation with what is." UCS's Erika Spanger shares a few reasons to feel grateful, even in this challenging climate moment.
Reposted by Kelly Smith
Something we love to revisit during Native American Heritage Month: 23rd Poet Laureate Joy Harjo’s signature project that celebrates the poetry of contemporary Native American poets.
www.loc.gov/programs/poe...
www.loc.gov/programs/poe...
November 24, 2025 at 9:22 PM
Something we love to revisit during Native American Heritage Month: 23rd Poet Laureate Joy Harjo’s signature project that celebrates the poetry of contemporary Native American poets.
www.loc.gov/programs/poe...
www.loc.gov/programs/poe...
Reposted by Kelly Smith
DOGE was created for data theft and infrastructure dismantling and it wildly succeeded on both counts within the first few weeks of its existence. It will take a generation to rebuild what it destroyed and the breach of data is unprecedented.
Bye bye, “DOGE”.
It no longer exists as a “centralized entity”, according to the Office of Personnel Management.
@reuters.com
www.reuters.com/world/us/dog...
It no longer exists as a “centralized entity”, according to the Office of Personnel Management.
@reuters.com
www.reuters.com/world/us/dog...
November 23, 2025 at 3:01 PM
DOGE was created for data theft and infrastructure dismantling and it wildly succeeded on both counts within the first few weeks of its existence. It will take a generation to rebuild what it destroyed and the breach of data is unprecedented.
Reposted by Kelly Smith
Court permanently blocks Trump's executive order to dismantle federal agency for America's libraries IMLS
librarytechnology.org/pr/31973
librarytechnology.org/pr/31973
Court permanently blocks Trump's executive order to dismantle federal agency for America's libraries
Press Release: Court permanently blocks Trump's executive order to dismantle federal agency for America's libraries. The U.S. District Court for the District of Rhode Island struck down the Trump Adm...
librarytechnology.org
November 22, 2025 at 3:00 PM
Court permanently blocks Trump's executive order to dismantle federal agency for America's libraries IMLS
librarytechnology.org/pr/31973
librarytechnology.org/pr/31973
The Wrapsnet page, with reports on admissions & arrivals through the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program, has been updated for the first time since the Jan. posting of Dec 2024 reports. These reports were previously issued monthly. The arrivals reports begin with FY26, so there's no data for Jan-Sept.
U.S. Refugee Admissions Program
The U.S. Refugee Admissions Program is the creator of START, a customized computer software system to assist the processing of refugees bound for resettlement in the United States.
www.rpc.state.gov
November 22, 2025 at 11:58 PM
The Wrapsnet page, with reports on admissions & arrivals through the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program, has been updated for the first time since the Jan. posting of Dec 2024 reports. These reports were previously issued monthly. The arrivals reports begin with FY26, so there's no data for Jan-Sept.
Reposted by Kelly Smith
Thinking a lot lately about the simple fact that college allows people to spend about 15 weeks immersed in a disciplinary conversation with an expert in that field. And what a special thing that is.
November 21, 2025 at 1:33 PM
Thinking a lot lately about the simple fact that college allows people to spend about 15 weeks immersed in a disciplinary conversation with an expert in that field. And what a special thing that is.
Reposted by Kelly Smith
THREAD: Judge Ellis is the first federal judge to review extensive body cam video of DHS's actions in Chicago. She finds that DHS *repeatedly* misled the public and made claims that were disproven by agents' own videos.
I'll go through some of the most egregious ones here.
I'll go through some of the most egregious ones here.
![II. Credibility
The Court next addresses the credibility of the parties’ evidence and witnesses. After reviewing all the evidence submitted to the Court and listening to the testimony elicited at the preliminary injunction hearing, during depositions, and in other court proceedings, the Court finds Defendants’ evidence simply not credible. [FN 6]
Plaintiffs submitted a mountain of evidence, providing the Court with over eighty declarations, numerous videos and articles, and other evidence. Defendants did not rebut anything that Plaintiffs set forth in their declarations or testimony, even with BWC footage.
[FN 6] In another case considering some of the same evidence presented to this Court, another court in this district also found that the perceptions of certain of Defendants’ declarants, such as Hott and Parra, were not reliable. See Illinois v. Trump, No. 25-cv-12174, 2025 WL 2886645, at *5 (N.D. Ill. Oct. 10, 2025) (noting a “troubling trend of Defendants’ declarants equating protests with riots and a lack of appreciation for the wide spectrum that exists between citizens who are observing, questioning, and criticizing their government, and those who are obstructing, assaulting, or doing violence”), motion to stay denied in part, 155 F.4th 929 (7th Cir. 2025).](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:2vtbmhmrwzbqcfv4we4uxzzt/bafkreifpyry2il5toxbr3iejgrsxs6kmnwve75qwnhebfp44ieyjrfpsdu@jpeg)
November 20, 2025 at 11:04 PM
THREAD: Judge Ellis is the first federal judge to review extensive body cam video of DHS's actions in Chicago. She finds that DHS *repeatedly* misled the public and made claims that were disproven by agents' own videos.
I'll go through some of the most egregious ones here.
I'll go through some of the most egregious ones here.
Reposted by Kelly Smith
#SanFrancisco folks, I'm giving a #LecturesOnTap talk on 12/9 about U.S. gov #censorship & the assault on knowledge. The latest misinformation about vaccines & autism from the CDC/RFK, Jr. shows how critical this topic is. Please spread the word! #DefendResearch
www.eventbrite.com/e/lectures-o...
www.eventbrite.com/e/lectures-o...
Lectures on Tap- U.S. Government Censorship and the Assault on Knowledge
Professors, experts, and storytellers giving thought-provoking lectures in SF bars.
www.eventbrite.com
November 20, 2025 at 4:24 PM
#SanFrancisco folks, I'm giving a #LecturesOnTap talk on 12/9 about U.S. gov #censorship & the assault on knowledge. The latest misinformation about vaccines & autism from the CDC/RFK, Jr. shows how critical this topic is. Please spread the word! #DefendResearch
www.eventbrite.com/e/lectures-o...
www.eventbrite.com/e/lectures-o...
Reposted by Kelly Smith
On scientific topics, especially in public health, federal government webpages have been a trusted way for the public to find reliable information.
A CDC webpage with disinformation is dangerous in the short term and erodes public trust in science in the long term.
www.cdc.gov/vaccine-safe...
A CDC webpage with disinformation is dangerous in the short term and erodes public trust in science in the long term.
www.cdc.gov/vaccine-safe...
November 20, 2025 at 12:43 PM
On scientific topics, especially in public health, federal government webpages have been a trusted way for the public to find reliable information.
A CDC webpage with disinformation is dangerous in the short term and erodes public trust in science in the long term.
www.cdc.gov/vaccine-safe...
A CDC webpage with disinformation is dangerous in the short term and erodes public trust in science in the long term.
www.cdc.gov/vaccine-safe...
Reposted by Kelly Smith
CDC has overhauled its website to assert that “the claim ‘vaccines do not cause autism’ is not an evidence-based claim”
November 20, 2025 at 2:26 AM
CDC has overhauled its website to assert that “the claim ‘vaccines do not cause autism’ is not an evidence-based claim”
Reposted by Kelly Smith
San Diego transit agency removes diversity language following Trump administration order. From North County Reporter @katiefutterman.bsky.social and @sandiegodocumenters.org. inewsource.org/2025/11/19/n...
North County Transit District scales back DEI language in policy
The San Diego transportation agency struck some references to race and other attributes following federal orders compelling it to do so.
inewsource.org
November 19, 2025 at 11:11 PM
San Diego transit agency removes diversity language following Trump administration order. From North County Reporter @katiefutterman.bsky.social and @sandiegodocumenters.org. inewsource.org/2025/11/19/n...
Reposted by Kelly Smith
NEW: House Republicans on a judiciary subcommittee are laying the groundwork for a law-defying mid-decade census, claiming counting noncitizens and statistical errors in the 2020 Census justifies a recount to give the GOP more congressional seats.
To Weaken Minority Voting Power, Republicans Push For Unprecedented Mid-Decade Census
Read more here.
www.democracydocket.com
November 19, 2025 at 5:32 PM
NEW: House Republicans on a judiciary subcommittee are laying the groundwork for a law-defying mid-decade census, claiming counting noncitizens and statistical errors in the 2020 Census justifies a recount to give the GOP more congressional seats.
Good news for historical LGBTQ+ research. The Internet Archive received a grant to digitize local history collections from 6 organizations in the US and Canada. The collections feature LGBTQ+ materials from Colorado, Mississippi & Alabama, San Francisco, Rochester NY, and Canada.
Grant Award Will Support Digitization of Diverse Local History Collections | Internet Archive Blogs
blog.archive.org
November 19, 2025 at 5:27 PM
Good news for historical LGBTQ+ research. The Internet Archive received a grant to digitize local history collections from 6 organizations in the US and Canada. The collections feature LGBTQ+ materials from Colorado, Mississippi & Alabama, San Francisco, Rochester NY, and Canada.
Very happy to see oversight.gov and several related Inspector General websites back online today!
Welcome to Oversight.gov | Oversight.gov
oversight.gov
November 18, 2025 at 9:49 PM
Very happy to see oversight.gov and several related Inspector General websites back online today!
Reposted by Kelly Smith
The Trump administration demanded UCLA pay $1.2 billion to restore frozen research funding and ensure eligibility for future funding after accusing the school of allowing antisemitism on campus. n.pr/4hYa0pY
Judge indefinitely bars Trump from fining UC over alleged discrimination
The Trump administration demanded UCLA pay $1.2 billion to restore frozen research funding and ensure eligibility for future funding after accusing the school of allowing antisemitism on campus.
n.pr
November 15, 2025 at 4:16 PM
The Trump administration demanded UCLA pay $1.2 billion to restore frozen research funding and ensure eligibility for future funding after accusing the school of allowing antisemitism on campus. n.pr/4hYa0pY
Reposted by Kelly Smith
"The health of our community depends on the health of these landscapes. Now, their future seems increasingly uncertain." @alex-wigglesworth.bsky.social www.latimes.com/environment/... @latimes.com
The government shutdown is over. The nightmare facing public lands under Trump may have just begun
During the recent government shutdown, it appeared that public lands were operating as if business was as usual. In reality, the Trump administration may have been preparing for a new, more extractive...
www.latimes.com
November 14, 2025 at 5:34 AM
"The health of our community depends on the health of these landscapes. Now, their future seems increasingly uncertain." @alex-wigglesworth.bsky.social www.latimes.com/environment/... @latimes.com
Reposted by Kelly Smith
Today is World Kindness Day, "highlights the power of kindness — to others, to yourself, and to the world."
"Three things in human life are important: the first is to be kind; the second is to be kind; and the third is to be kind.” Henry James
"Three things in human life are important: the first is to be kind; the second is to be kind; and the third is to be kind.” Henry James
November 13, 2025 at 1:01 PM
Today is World Kindness Day, "highlights the power of kindness — to others, to yourself, and to the world."
"Three things in human life are important: the first is to be kind; the second is to be kind; and the third is to be kind.” Henry James
"Three things in human life are important: the first is to be kind; the second is to be kind; and the third is to be kind.” Henry James
Reposted by Kelly Smith
1/6 A new standard for public accountability is here. GLOW—Government Lawyers Oversight Watchdog—is officially launching today to hold government lawyers accountable. We're unveiling The Government Lawyers Database at glowlaw.org. #RuleOfLaw #Accountability
The Government Lawyers Database
glowlaw.org
November 10, 2025 at 3:38 PM
1/6 A new standard for public accountability is here. GLOW—Government Lawyers Oversight Watchdog—is officially launching today to hold government lawyers accountable. We're unveiling The Government Lawyers Database at glowlaw.org. #RuleOfLaw #Accountability
Reposted by Kelly Smith
If you haven't seen this incredible historical data project yet, make it a priority! Mapping Deportations: Unmasking the History of Racism in U.S. Immigration Enforcement.
mappingdeportations.com
mappingdeportations.com
Mapping Deportations – U.S. Immigration Control since 1790
Mapping deportations invites you to see the history of U.S. immigration enforcement not as a series of disconnected events, but as a pattern. For more than two centuries, U.S. immigration enforcement…
mappingdeportations.com
November 7, 2025 at 8:57 AM
If you haven't seen this incredible historical data project yet, make it a priority! Mapping Deportations: Unmasking the History of Racism in U.S. Immigration Enforcement.
mappingdeportations.com
mappingdeportations.com
Reposted by Kelly Smith
Hi all, please spread the word and we hope everyone can make good use of this new data drop: cmfdata.org
The full surviving establishment-level Census of Manufactures manuscripts and digitized data from 1850, 1860, 1870, and 1880!
The full surviving establishment-level Census of Manufactures manuscripts and digitized data from 1850, 1860, 1870, and 1880!
Historical Census of Manufactures Microdata - Historical Census of Manufactures Microdata
CMFdata.org
November 6, 2025 at 5:18 PM
Hi all, please spread the word and we hope everyone can make good use of this new data drop: cmfdata.org
The full surviving establishment-level Census of Manufactures manuscripts and digitized data from 1850, 1860, 1870, and 1880!
The full surviving establishment-level Census of Manufactures manuscripts and digitized data from 1850, 1860, 1870, and 1880!
Reposted by Kelly Smith
Every month for the last 77 years, the Bureau of Labor Statistics has estimated Americans' unemployment rate
This streak dies tomorrow
Govt staff could not survey Americans about whether they're working or looking for work in Oct, the 1st time in 934 months
This blind spot will remain forever
This streak dies tomorrow
Govt staff could not survey Americans about whether they're working or looking for work in Oct, the 1st time in 934 months
This blind spot will remain forever
Here's the planned BLS data release schedule for Nov 2025.
On Tues, it couldn't release Sept job openings, hires, layoffs and firings data.
This morning, it couldn't release 2025Q3 business Productivity and Costs data.
Tomorrow, it can't release Oct 2025 #JobsReport
www.bls.gov/schedule/202...
On Tues, it couldn't release Sept job openings, hires, layoffs and firings data.
This morning, it couldn't release 2025Q3 business Productivity and Costs data.
Tomorrow, it can't release Oct 2025 #JobsReport
www.bls.gov/schedule/202...
November 6, 2025 at 2:34 PM
Every month for the last 77 years, the Bureau of Labor Statistics has estimated Americans' unemployment rate
This streak dies tomorrow
Govt staff could not survey Americans about whether they're working or looking for work in Oct, the 1st time in 934 months
This blind spot will remain forever
This streak dies tomorrow
Govt staff could not survey Americans about whether they're working or looking for work in Oct, the 1st time in 934 months
This blind spot will remain forever