Denise Lee
@dadavies.bsky.social
Writer, creative & technical. Lifelong learner, sometime teacher. Passionate about rule of law, democracy, women’s autonomy. And go Dawgs.
Reposted by Denise Lee
Here’s what The Counteroffensive is reading today:
The EU is set to freeze Russian assets in Europe indefinitely. This would push forward the EU initiative to use the assets to back an Ukraine loan.
This comes as Ukraine’s budget deficit threatens IMF support.
The EU is set to freeze Russian assets in Europe indefinitely. This would push forward the EU initiative to use the assets to back an Ukraine loan.
This comes as Ukraine’s budget deficit threatens IMF support.
EU set to indefinitely freeze Russian assets, removing obstacle to Ukraine loan
The European Union looked set on Friday to indefinitely freeze Russian central bank assets held in Europe, removing a big obstacle to using the cash to help Ukraine defend itself against Moscow's inva...
www.reuters.com
December 12, 2025 at 2:22 PM
Here’s what The Counteroffensive is reading today:
The EU is set to freeze Russian assets in Europe indefinitely. This would push forward the EU initiative to use the assets to back an Ukraine loan.
This comes as Ukraine’s budget deficit threatens IMF support.
The EU is set to freeze Russian assets in Europe indefinitely. This would push forward the EU initiative to use the assets to back an Ukraine loan.
This comes as Ukraine’s budget deficit threatens IMF support.
Reposted by Denise Lee
Ron DeSantis redirected $35 million in state funding for children in foster care and instead spent the money on television ads to defeat last year's pro-abortion ballot initiative
DeSantis admin diverted child welfare and medical funds for consultants, ads
A Miami Herald and Tampa Bay Times investigation found the DeSantis’ administration’s use of public money to fund a campaign against marijuana and abortion access was more sprawling than previously kn...
www.miamiherald.com
December 12, 2025 at 2:30 PM
Ron DeSantis redirected $35 million in state funding for children in foster care and instead spent the money on television ads to defeat last year's pro-abortion ballot initiative
Reposted by Denise Lee
We're completely screwed if our response to measles is going to be asking antivaxxers - the most selfish and stupid people in our society - to voluntarily self-report and quarantine for 21 days each every time they get exposed
More than 250 people who were exposed to measles, including dozens of unvaccinated school-aged children, are quarantining in South Carolina as the state wrestles to contain an outbreak that has sickened more than 110 people.
Hundreds Quarantined in South Carolina as Measles Outbreak Shows No Sign of Slowing
The outbreak shows no signs of slowing, likely because of the affected area’s “lower-than-hoped-for vaccination coverage,” a state health official said.
nyti.ms
December 12, 2025 at 2:29 PM
We're completely screwed if our response to measles is going to be asking antivaxxers - the most selfish and stupid people in our society - to voluntarily self-report and quarantine for 21 days each every time they get exposed
Reposted by Denise Lee
The law could not be plainer. The common law rule was articulated in writing by statute, by English and American judges, and by legal scholars in the same terms for nearly 700 years. It was never about loyalty, but about jurisdiction.
Any other argument is revisionism to serve a political purpose.
Any other argument is revisionism to serve a political purpose.
December 12, 2025 at 2:28 PM
The law could not be plainer. The common law rule was articulated in writing by statute, by English and American judges, and by legal scholars in the same terms for nearly 700 years. It was never about loyalty, but about jurisdiction.
Any other argument is revisionism to serve a political purpose.
Any other argument is revisionism to serve a political purpose.
Reposted by Denise Lee
imagine trying to convince me that I should "get used" to AI bc it's "here to stay." honey mitch mcconnell has been my senator since before i was born, do you think i don't know how to lock in and hate for the long haul
December 12, 2025 at 2:11 PM
imagine trying to convince me that I should "get used" to AI bc it's "here to stay." honey mitch mcconnell has been my senator since before i was born, do you think i don't know how to lock in and hate for the long haul
Reposted by Denise Lee
My letter to the editor in The Llano News today.
December 12, 2025 at 4:14 AM
My letter to the editor in The Llano News today.
Reposted by Denise Lee
Prison rape is wrong.
Jokes about prison rape are wrong.
Eliminating protections against prison rape is wrong.
If another country sentenced a criminal to be raped, we'd consider it a crime against humanity.
BUT
A large segment of Americans regard prison rape as a de facto part of the sentence.
Jokes about prison rape are wrong.
Eliminating protections against prison rape is wrong.
If another country sentenced a criminal to be raped, we'd consider it a crime against humanity.
BUT
A large segment of Americans regard prison rape as a de facto part of the sentence.
BREAKING: Trump administration plans to end prison rape protections for trans & intersex people, memo says. A DOJ memo says certain standards under the Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA) do not align with Trump’s Jan. 20 anti-trans executive order, @byadamrhodes.bsky.social reports.
Trump administration plans to end prison rape protections for trans and intersex people
A Department of Justice memo says certain standards under the Prison Rape Elimination Act do not align with Trump’s executive order
prismreports.org
December 5, 2025 at 1:28 AM
Prison rape is wrong.
Jokes about prison rape are wrong.
Eliminating protections against prison rape is wrong.
If another country sentenced a criminal to be raped, we'd consider it a crime against humanity.
BUT
A large segment of Americans regard prison rape as a de facto part of the sentence.
Jokes about prison rape are wrong.
Eliminating protections against prison rape is wrong.
If another country sentenced a criminal to be raped, we'd consider it a crime against humanity.
BUT
A large segment of Americans regard prison rape as a de facto part of the sentence.
Reposted by Denise Lee
If we accede to the demand that political appointees can decide what is worthwhile to study and what isn't, we've lost universities as institutions of knowledge, innovation, and progress. This is why academic freedom and tenure are so important.
This -- a model bill to effectively decimate non-STEM research by requiring 3-3 teaching loads outside of "STEM or Americanism and western civilization" -- seems...extremely bad but also quite plausible.
Proposed Model Bill Would Change College Tenure, Teaching, & Research
Three conservative groups have proposed model legislation that would dramatically change faculty tenure paths, teaching loads, research activities and hiring authority
www.forbes.com
December 12, 2025 at 2:32 PM
If we accede to the demand that political appointees can decide what is worthwhile to study and what isn't, we've lost universities as institutions of knowledge, innovation, and progress. This is why academic freedom and tenure are so important.
Reposted by Denise Lee
There’s no need to treat these people as anything but the sordid rabble of crooks and grifters and subnormal bigots that they are.
December 11, 2025 at 5:53 PM
There’s no need to treat these people as anything but the sordid rabble of crooks and grifters and subnormal bigots that they are.
Reposted by Denise Lee
Leaked files ‘show US wants to persuade four nations to leave EU’
The countries seen as targets to follow Brexit are Austria, Hungary, Italy and Poland, according to leaked details of the US national security strategy www.thetimes.com/us/american-...
The countries seen as targets to follow Brexit are Austria, Hungary, Italy and Poland, according to leaked details of the US national security strategy www.thetimes.com/us/american-...
Leaked files ‘show US wants to persuade four nations to leave EU’
The countries seen as targets to follow Brexit are Austria, Hungary, Italy and Poland, according to leaked details of the US national security strategy
www.thetimes.com
December 12, 2025 at 1:45 PM
Leaked files ‘show US wants to persuade four nations to leave EU’
The countries seen as targets to follow Brexit are Austria, Hungary, Italy and Poland, according to leaked details of the US national security strategy www.thetimes.com/us/american-...
The countries seen as targets to follow Brexit are Austria, Hungary, Italy and Poland, according to leaked details of the US national security strategy www.thetimes.com/us/american-...
Reposted by Denise Lee
This is a really appalling editorial error on BBC Question Time
"Apparently one in three children don't speak English as a first language, why does this matter?"
Chair says "have English as a second language"
Caption changes the meaning entirely
"Don't speak fluent English"
"Apparently one in three children don't speak English as a first language, why does this matter?"
Chair says "have English as a second language"
Caption changes the meaning entirely
"Don't speak fluent English"
December 11, 2025 at 11:11 PM
This is a really appalling editorial error on BBC Question Time
"Apparently one in three children don't speak English as a first language, why does this matter?"
Chair says "have English as a second language"
Caption changes the meaning entirely
"Don't speak fluent English"
"Apparently one in three children don't speak English as a first language, why does this matter?"
Chair says "have English as a second language"
Caption changes the meaning entirely
"Don't speak fluent English"
Reposted by Denise Lee
it is also just hilarious to insist that eight months of rush job “scholarship” outweighs decades of settled history and 140 years of settled law
Giving the game away. he has more “scholarly ammunition” than he did in January because a bunch of professional bootlicks and liars who have never had real jobs started lying about birthright citizenship in January.
December 12, 2025 at 1:35 PM
it is also just hilarious to insist that eight months of rush job “scholarship” outweighs decades of settled history and 140 years of settled law
Reposted by Denise Lee
This is your annual reminder that if you are in the US and have FSA funds that you won't use, Menstrual products are covered by FSA funds and can be donated to food pantries and shelters.
December 11, 2025 at 11:40 PM
This is your annual reminder that if you are in the US and have FSA funds that you won't use, Menstrual products are covered by FSA funds and can be donated to food pantries and shelters.
Reposted by Denise Lee
25 years ago today, SCOTUS elected George W Bush president of the United States by blocking completion of a voting canvass in Florida. A subsequent canvass by the Associated Press showed that Bush's rival, Al Gore, had won the race in Florida—and thus the contest for the presidency—by 700 votes.
December 12, 2025 at 5:36 AM
25 years ago today, SCOTUS elected George W Bush president of the United States by blocking completion of a voting canvass in Florida. A subsequent canvass by the Associated Press showed that Bush's rival, Al Gore, had won the race in Florida—and thus the contest for the presidency—by 700 votes.
Reposted by Denise Lee
"Trump doesn’t distinguish between foreign adversaries, domestic opponents, and local officials who get in his way. If you don’t 'wise up,' he’ll apply coercion or force...A strongman won’t just go after people you don’t like. Sooner or later, he’ll come for you.'
open.substack.com/pub/thebulwa...
open.substack.com/pub/thebulwa...
Trump’s Hand-Picked RNC Chair Predicts Doom
This is not your usual party committee script.
open.substack.com
December 12, 2025 at 2:36 PM
"Trump doesn’t distinguish between foreign adversaries, domestic opponents, and local officials who get in his way. If you don’t 'wise up,' he’ll apply coercion or force...A strongman won’t just go after people you don’t like. Sooner or later, he’ll come for you.'
open.substack.com/pub/thebulwa...
open.substack.com/pub/thebulwa...
Reposted by Denise Lee
"Even Jewish faculty members who endured antisemitism said they are aghast at the way the government has weaponized their complaints to justify cutting critical scientific research."
www.propublica.org/article/ucla...
www.propublica.org/article/ucla...
Trump’s DOJ Pressured Lawyers to “Find” Evidence that UCLA Had Illegally Tolerated Antisemitism
An investigation by ProPublica and The Chronicle of Higher Education reveals how the U.S. government ignored due process to gin up its attack on the University of California.
www.propublica.org
December 12, 2025 at 2:36 PM
"Even Jewish faculty members who endured antisemitism said they are aghast at the way the government has weaponized their complaints to justify cutting critical scientific research."
www.propublica.org/article/ucla...
www.propublica.org/article/ucla...
Reposted by Denise Lee
It's fitting that the cover on AI mindlessly apes an earlier creation and also displaces workers while elevating Silicon Valley plutocrats.
December 12, 2025 at 3:40 AM
It's fitting that the cover on AI mindlessly apes an earlier creation and also displaces workers while elevating Silicon Valley plutocrats.
Reposted by Denise Lee
As of today, the only person in this Daily Penn visual that hasn't been fined millions of dollars or convicted of a felony is Luigi Mangione, believe it or not
I mean, the Penn student newspaper isn't wrong, but www.instagram.com/p/DSH1X4EDwP...
December 12, 2025 at 2:35 AM
As of today, the only person in this Daily Penn visual that hasn't been fined millions of dollars or convicted of a felony is Luigi Mangione, believe it or not
Reposted by Denise Lee
Reuters: The deployment of troops to cities around the US has cost more than $340 million, Sen. Tammy Duckworth said, highlighting the expense of Trump's use of the military in the Democratic-led cities.
#ProudBlue #Pinks #TrumpIsUnfitForOffice
#ProudBlue #Pinks #TrumpIsUnfitForOffice
December 11, 2025 at 8:56 PM
Reuters: The deployment of troops to cities around the US has cost more than $340 million, Sen. Tammy Duckworth said, highlighting the expense of Trump's use of the military in the Democratic-led cities.
#ProudBlue #Pinks #TrumpIsUnfitForOffice
#ProudBlue #Pinks #TrumpIsUnfitForOffice
Reposted by Denise Lee
Stephen Miller said that the children of immigrants fail society.
Fun Fact:
Of the 6 American winners of science Nobels this year, 3 were born outside the US. The émigré fraction of U.S. Nobels in physics, chemistry & medicine now stands at 40 percent.
#Pinks
🧪 🎁🖇️ www.nytimes.com/2025/12/10/s...
Fun Fact:
Of the 6 American winners of science Nobels this year, 3 were born outside the US. The émigré fraction of U.S. Nobels in physics, chemistry & medicine now stands at 40 percent.
#Pinks
🧪 🎁🖇️ www.nytimes.com/2025/12/10/s...
A Scientific Pipeline to the Nobel Prize Fueled by Immigrants
www.nytimes.com
December 11, 2025 at 8:49 PM
Stephen Miller said that the children of immigrants fail society.
Fun Fact:
Of the 6 American winners of science Nobels this year, 3 were born outside the US. The émigré fraction of U.S. Nobels in physics, chemistry & medicine now stands at 40 percent.
#Pinks
🧪 🎁🖇️ www.nytimes.com/2025/12/10/s...
Fun Fact:
Of the 6 American winners of science Nobels this year, 3 were born outside the US. The émigré fraction of U.S. Nobels in physics, chemistry & medicine now stands at 40 percent.
#Pinks
🧪 🎁🖇️ www.nytimes.com/2025/12/10/s...
Reposted by Denise Lee
Reposted by Denise Lee
Covid vaccines released last fall sharply decreased the risk of ER and urgent care visits in children, according to new data released by the CDC — providing a striking counterpoint to Trump administration rhetoric about the shots
Gift link: www.nytimes.com/2025/12/11/h...
Gift link: www.nytimes.com/2025/12/11/h...
Covid Vaccines Reduced Children’s Likelihood of E.R. and Urgent Care Visits, the C.D.C. Reported
www.nytimes.com
December 11, 2025 at 6:55 PM
Covid vaccines released last fall sharply decreased the risk of ER and urgent care visits in children, according to new data released by the CDC — providing a striking counterpoint to Trump administration rhetoric about the shots
Gift link: www.nytimes.com/2025/12/11/h...
Gift link: www.nytimes.com/2025/12/11/h...
Reposted by Denise Lee
The University of Nebraska is closing their statistics department. Especially if you're all in on AI this is so short-sighted. It's like launching the first spacecraft into outer space and being like "welp time to close astrophysics and rocketry and only teach classes on buckling up your seat belts"
December 11, 2025 at 7:46 PM
The University of Nebraska is closing their statistics department. Especially if you're all in on AI this is so short-sighted. It's like launching the first spacecraft into outer space and being like "welp time to close astrophysics and rocketry and only teach classes on buckling up your seat belts"
Reposted by Denise Lee
"Seven German journalism students tracked Russian-crewed freighters lurking off the Dutch and German coast—and connected them to drone swarms over military bases."
Schau an. Von offizieller Stelle würde so was derzeit wohl kaum veröffentlicht. Dabei haben diese jungen Journalisten nur öffentlich zugängliche Informationen ausgewertet. #Drohnen
They Droned Back
Young journalists expose Russian-linked vessels circling off the Dutch and German coast
www.digitaldigging.org
December 11, 2025 at 10:30 PM
"Seven German journalism students tracked Russian-crewed freighters lurking off the Dutch and German coast—and connected them to drone swarms over military bases."
Reposted by Denise Lee
