balsamroot.bsky.social
@balsamroot.bsky.social
Looks like we’re here now
Reposted
Musk staffers briefly published a list of 440 properties it planned to sell, deeming them “not core to government operations.” However, the list was removed after officials were alerted that it included a complex housing a CIA facility—often referred to as the “worst-kept secret in Springfield.”
March 12, 2025 at 2:50 AM
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“This moment is about standing up for workers. The courts have upheld the rights of this independent agency, and we’re pleased to welcome Gwynne Wilcox back.”

ny1.com/nyc/all-boro...
Labor board member returns to work six weeks after Trump fired her
Gwynne Wilcox was the first Black woman to chair the National Labor Relations Board
ny1.com
March 11, 2025 at 6:38 PM
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NEW: The closure effectively hobbles the VA’s efforts to investigate and eliminate long-standing racial inequities that the department itself has acknowledged.

“The consequences will be dire, wide-reaching and deadly,” an advocate for Black veterans said.

By @vernalcoleman.bsky.social
The Office That Investigates Disparities in Veterans’ Care Is Being “Liquidated”
The closure effectively hobbles the VA’s efforts to investigate and eliminate long-standing racial inequities that the department itself has acknowledged. “The consequences will be dire, wide-reaching...
propub.li
March 11, 2025 at 8:41 PM
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The Dept of Ed helps:
- 26 million children from poor families
- 7.5M children w/disabilities
- 5M English language learners
- 9M students go to college or trade school
www.msnbc.com/opinion/msnb...
Opinion | Trump's cowardly betrayal of America's children
Diverting billions from our children to pay for tax cuts that primarily benefit the wealthy short-changes everyone.
www.msnbc.com
March 12, 2025 at 1:15 AM
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A gutted department means fewer teachers, more crowded classes and increased mental health and behavioral challenges for students. We’d most likely see increased absenteeism and decreased grad rates. Fewer students would be able to obtain the degrees or credentials
www.msnbc.com/opinion/msnb...
Opinion | Trump's cowardly betrayal of America's children
Diverting billions from our children to pay for tax cuts that primarily benefit the wealthy short-changes everyone.
www.msnbc.com
March 12, 2025 at 1:16 AM
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This will hurt kids. This will hurt farmers. How do you explain to a hungry child or a family farmer that their president would rather give tax breaks to the billionaires than to support all Americans?
www.politico.com/news/2025/03...
USDA cancels $1B in local food purchasing for schools, food banks
States have been notified that they will not receive 2025 funding for schools to buy food from nearby farms.
www.politico.com
March 12, 2025 at 2:08 AM
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March 11, 2025 at 9:38 PM
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There’s a swell of activism in this country and we are feeding off of it. Thank you to these Montana Indivisibles for showing what our movement stands for.
March 11, 2025 at 11:07 PM
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US Education Department will fire 50% of its workforce.
March 12, 2025 at 12:18 AM
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New — Absolute bloodbath at US Dept. of Education in light of today’s Reduction in Force (RIF) announcement.

Hearing from department sources that offices in Dallas, Boston, New York, SF, Philly and Cleveland have all been shut down. Some staff in remaining offices fired, too.
March 12, 2025 at 12:10 AM
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As prices continue to rise, the stock market keeps crashing, and Trump and Musk carry on with their coup, 216 of 217 House Republicans just voted to codify the harmful DOGE cuts that are a direct attack on working families, the economy, and the services everyday Americans rely on.
House passes bill to fund federal agencies through September, though prospects unclear in Senate
The House has passed legislation to avert a partial government shutdown and fund federal agencies through September.
apnews.com
March 12, 2025 at 12:39 AM
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This week either ends with a shutdown or a bipartisan act of congress. This is my attempt to summarize what the GOP is doing, what leverage the Dems have, and all the ways this could play out. As always, we end the newsletter with lots of practical action items!
open.substack.com/pub/ezralevi...
How this shutdown showdown will play out
Indivisible's weekly newsletter with analysis and action
open.substack.com
March 11, 2025 at 1:10 AM
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The world’s richest man doesn’t want you to criticize him. He’s using his puppet (the President of the United States) to threaten the tools of the state against peaceful Americans expressing their opinions. Trump & Musk are trying to outlaw dissent & silence regular people who threaten their power.
Trump Says That Attacks on Tesla Stores Are Domestic Terrorism
President Donald Trump said that protesters who are vandalizing Tesla’s showrooms and charging stations should be considered domestic terrorists.
www.bloomberg.com
March 12, 2025 at 1:40 AM
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Measles cases in Texas and New Mexico now number over 250, with two deaths being linked to the outbreak. (For comparison, the US had 285 cases of measles in all of 2024).

Measles isn't just a rash. For @wired.com, I wrote about why the disease can be so deadly: www.wired.com/story/this-i...
This Is How Measles Kills
Measles is known for its characteristic rash, but it can have serious respiratory and neurologic complications.
www.wired.com
March 11, 2025 at 7:34 PM
First They Came For…
open.substack.com/pub/joycevan...
March 12, 2025 at 2:46 AM
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🚨🚨ALERT🚨🚨: If you want Democrats to hold the line on Musk's illegal funding/firing spree, **RIGHT NOW** is time to make your voice heard. This update below is about just that. Not clear how hard a line they're taking. GOPS are abt to shutdown the govt. Their leadership wants Dem help outmaneuver...
This looks like the battle is joined. Republicans are on course to shut down the govt because of their extremist wing. They're asking Dems for help. Dems are saying bill has to have agreement that Prez can't unconstitutionally "impound" appropriated money - i.e., allow Elon's crime spree.
“Look, there's no way a Republican Senate and Republican House are going to limit what a Republican president can do.” www.politico.com/live-updates...
February 25, 2025 at 2:55 AM
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The fact that a vote on a budget resolution is coming up means it's absolutely critical to call your congressional rep first thing in the morning, and remind them of the importance of not giving the Musk/Trump administration a pass.
February 25, 2025 at 4:41 AM
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NEW: Some senior CISA officials were informed late last week that DOGE had been granted access to agency staffers' emails and Microsoft Teams chats. The agency at large has not been informed.
DOGE has gained access to CISA's emails and Teams chats: Source
Musk's Department of Government Efficiency has gained access to the internal emails and Microsoft Teams chats of employees at the country’s top cybersecurity
www.nbcnews.com
February 24, 2025 at 9:58 PM
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"As an organization, Trails & Pathways has worked side by side with the Teton Basin Ranger District staff for more than twenty years. We are deeply concerned for the fate of the Forest Service and fallout from these decisions. Please call your representatives immediately."
Support & defend our partners at the Forest Service
Last week was very difficult for our partners at the Forest Service as they, like many other public agencies were subject to challenging cuts to staff. Undoubtedly, it will affect the level of service they can provide to support your experience in nature. Here are some facts regarding the cuts:
mailchi.mp
February 24, 2025 at 6:59 PM
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I heard my friend Dan here give a remarkable brief talk about this last month. Thankfully, he’s written it up at length to share.
In light of everything happening, I wrote about how the KKK in the 1920s felt unstoppable, about the people that fought against them anyway, and about how fascism always fails. dansinker.com/posts/202…
February 24, 2025 at 2:06 PM
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an unelected billionaire with no official job in the government thinks he can fire half the workforce for not replying to an email
February 25, 2025 at 1:53 AM
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I wish this was accurate for science funding but it's not: bsky.app/profile/josh...
February 21, 2025 at 4:07 AM
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Here's the executive order: www.whitehouse.gov/presidential...

Among other entities Trump says he's ending are the United States African Development Foundation, Credit Union Advisory Council, Community Bank Advisory Council, and the HHS Secretary's Advisory Committee on Long COVID.
February 20, 2025 at 4:11 AM