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Reposted by Sarah Brand-Wiita

J. C. Cantwell 🌻 @segfaultvicta.aludel.xyz · 5d

Embrace Mamdani-and-also-Spanberger Thought

like, unironically, this is the real and true big tent of liberalism. we have room for both of these strategies, where they are appropriate. they are, in very important ways, not in conflict.

David Darmofal @daviddarmofal.bsky.social · 5d

It's telling how leftists in the national media who are saying that Democrats *must* follow the Mamdani model bc he won a primary in an overwhelmingly Democratic city aren't saying Democrats should follow the Spanberger model when she's leading an R by 12 in a statewide race in a purple state.

Sam Shirazi @samshirazi.bsky.social · 5d

New Virginia poll from Washington Post/Schar

Gov

Spanberger (D) 55%
Earle-Sears (R) 43%

LG

Hashmi (D) 49%
Reid (R) 45%

AG

Jones (D) 51%
Miyares (R) 45%

Trump Approval

55% Disapprove
45% Approve

Youngkin Approval

50% Approve
46% Disapprove

Done right before shutdown

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Sarah Brand-Wiita @sarahbw.bsky.social · 6d

Thank you @oagmaryland.bsky.social for signing on to this letter and standing up for trans Marylanders.

Assigned Media @assignedmedia.org · 7d

On Friday 18 blue state attorneys general BLASTED the Federal Trade Commission, telling it to back off trans youth healthcare and warning of an insidious attempt to reshape the regulation of medicine in the US.

And nobody covered it.

www.assignedmedia.org/breaking-new...

State AGs Defend Trans Americans in Stunning Rebuke to Trump’s FTC — Assigned

Eighteen state Attorneys General unite to stand up in defense of trans Americans, in opposition to a Federal Trade Commission investigation into trans healthcare.

www.assignedmedia.org

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Democrats @democrats.org · 7d

Gov. @iamwesmoore.bsky.social's message to Donald Trump: Stop this shutdown. You're the one causing it. We're the ones dealing with it.

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Sarah Brand-Wiita @sarahbw.bsky.social · 8d

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Elizabeth Warren @warren.senate.gov · 17d

This administration’s staggering corruption is dangerous beyond belief. And it’s a complete slap in the face to every single family working hard to put food on the table.

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Sarah Brand @sarahbrand.bsky.social · 18d

Warning for folks who are pregnant (or trying) and going to protests: we can't say for sure that tear gas causes miscarriages, but what we do know is alarming. Grateful to @gwensnyder.bsky.social for sharing her story and @blackavar-inle.bsky.social for linking this study: doi.org/10.3389/fepi...

Excerpt from Hassan et al., "More than tears: associations between exposure to chemical agents used by law enforcement and adverse reproductive health outcomes," published in 2023 in the peer-reviewed medical journal Frontiers in Epidemiology: This study establishes an association between tear gas exposure and adverse reproductive health outcomes and strongly supports adding adverse reproductive health outcomes to the growing list of safety concerns about the use of tear gas on the public. The implications of these findings for reproductive, perinatal, maternal, and infant safety are particularly concerning, as this study identifies potential populations who may be more vulnerable to health impacts of tear gas, including pregnant people. Of note, our sample included 19 participants who reported being pregnant at the time of exposure to tear gas, 10 of whom reported a subsequent pregnancy loss (52%), a much higher rate than the expected miscarriage rate of 26% for all pregnancies (30). Given the small sample size, we cannot draw significant conclusions about tear gas exposure and pregnancy outcomes, however this finding raises numerous questions about the risks that tear gas may pose to pregnant people, and to short and long-term fertility.

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Sarah Brand-Wiita @sarahbw.bsky.social · 20d

When folks sign up for events or to volunteer with us, their personal information is stored in a database that is not shared with other campaigns or the state party. We don't sell or share this information. We also do not sell or share our list of newsletter subscribers.

Sarah Brand-Wiita @sarahbw.bsky.social · 20d

Lukewarm take on the "should you RSVP to protests" discourse: it depends! Some people are under more threat than others, and some are temperamentally more risk-averse. Organizations' data sharing practices also vary.

For transparency, here is how @mcdems.bsky.social handles volunteer data: 🧵

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On the Media @onthemedia.bsky.social · 28d

On the Media @onthemedia.bsky.social · Jun 14

With alt text:

Breaking News Consumer's Handbook

1. In the immediate aftermath, news outlets will get it wrong.
2. Don't trust anonymous sources.
3. Don't trust stories that cite another news outlet as the source of the information.
4. There's almost never a second shooter.
5. Pay attention to the language the media uses.
- "We are getting reports"... could mean anything.
- "We are seeking confirmation"... means they don't haveit.
- "[News outlet] has learned"... means it has a scoop or is going out on a limb.
6. Look for news outlets close to the incident.
7. Compare multiple sources.
8. Big news brings out the fakers. And photoshoppers.
9. Beware reflexive retweeting. Some of this is on you.

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Sam Bellamy @sambdesk.bsky.social · Sep 6

A 2020 Guardian piece that Congress should revisit:

"One of the girls on the boat was Shawna Lee, then a 14-year-old from a small town outside Toronto. She recalls how the contestants were encouraged to parade downstairs, one by one, and dance for Trump, Casablancas and others."

Teen models, powerful men and private dinners: when Trump hosted Look of the Year

In the early 90s, Donald Trump judged contestants at the world’s biggest modelling competition - since hit by allegations of abuse. This is how the people who were there remember it

www.theguardian.com

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Katie Mack @astrokatie.com · Aug 29

The maddening thing is that we know EXACTLY how to prevent this. Yes, kids should get vaccinated, test, stay home when sick, mask as much as possible.

But even without any of that: Better ventilation and filtration in schools can MASSIVELY reduce viral spread, for all sorts of respiratory diseases.

Data Report @datareport.bsky.social · Aug 29

Kansas City: COVID-19 outbreak forces metro school to close until next week fox4kc.com/news/covid-1...

fox4kc.com

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Victor Ray @victorerikray.bsky.social · 28d

The troubling rise of concentration camp euphemisms

Anne Lutz Fernandez @lutzfernandez.bsky.social · 28d

WaPo's editorial board is "troubled."

Editorial Board
The troubling rise of inhumane detention centers

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Josh Linden @joshlinden.bsky.social · Sep 5

Agree with his platform, or not, this is a guy who understands how to win

Acyn @acyn.bsky.social · Sep 5

Mamdani: Why should I debate Trump's puppet when I could debate Trump himself? If Trump is serious about this, he should come to New York City. We can have as many debates as he wants about why he is cutting snap benefits for hungry New Yorkers just to fund tax cuts for his billionaire donors

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Sarah Brand-Wiita @sarahbw.bsky.social · Sep 4

A few questions out of curiosity: where is the 2.4% value coming from? What % of households would need to respond and to support in order to proceed? Did the decision account for the different needs (and thus opinions) of families with children or folks with mobility issues?

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Sarah Brand-Wiita @sarahbw.bsky.social · Sep 4

It helps to be actually willing to work in coalition with the Democratic Party! If you default to treating people as future coalition partners until you find out otherwise, it’s a lot easier to build support and get things done.

J. C. Cantwell 🌻 @segfaultvicta.aludel.xyz · Sep 4

i even *actually really like this guy* and his vibe but y'all there are WAYS to run as a Democrat, position yourself oppositionally to the mainstream of the party even in a way that might be purple-state electorally useful, without compromising principle, /and still not shit on Democrats/

Eric Lee @ericleeacts.bsky.social · Sep 4

If you’re running as a Democrat and fundraising by shitting on Democrats, I will unsubscribe at lightning speed. Oyster farmer.

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DC Attorney General Brian Schwalb @dcattorneygeneral.bsky.social · Sep 4

NEW: We are suing to block the unlawful deployment of National Guard troops to DC.

Armed soldiers should not be policing American citizens on American soil.

The forced military occupation of the District of Columbia violates our local autonomy and basic freedoms. It must end.

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Councilmember Zachary Parker @cmzparker5.bsky.social · Aug 31

Let’s be clear: what the federal administration is doing in DC is wrong, and they don’t plan to stop here. We must resist the normalization of federal overreach and attacks on our right to self-governance.

Read the full article: www.chicagotribune.com/2025/08/31/t...

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Democrats @democrats.org · Aug 31

Over 330 rural hospitals are at risk of closing or scaling back services due to Trump's Medicaid cuts.

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Sarah Brand-Wiita @sarahbw.bsky.social · Aug 31

“The Democratic Party doesn’t do anything!” If you’re a Democrat, you ARE the Democratic Party. We need you. We need your help and we need your voice in the room.

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Sarah Brand-Wiita @sarahbw.bsky.social · Aug 31

I cannot emphasize enough how much your local Democratic Party committee needs competent and reliable volunteers, whether as committee members, precinct officials, comms help, or just someone who can be counted on to show up and sit behind the party’s table.

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Sarah Brand-Wiita @sarahbw.bsky.social · Aug 31

Plus, local Democratic Party committees (at least in blue or purple districts where they have the resources) will organize volunteers to watch for voter intimidation and observe ballot counting.

Andy Craig @andycraig.bsky.social · Aug 31

It seems relatively simple and small-scale when you go to your local school gym and see a dozen poll workers and maybe a hundred voters. But America is big! Like, really big. Nationwide we're talking close to a million poll workers and election administrators. That's a lot of people to stop.

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Reposted by Sarah Brand-Wiita

Andy Craig @andycraig.bsky.social · Aug 31

It seems relatively simple and small-scale when you go to your local school gym and see a dozen poll workers and maybe a hundred voters. But America is big! Like, really big. Nationwide we're talking close to a million poll workers and election administrators. That's a lot of people to stop.

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Reposted by Sarah Brand-Wiita

Andy Craig @andycraig.bsky.social · Aug 31

This is a real danger but to jamelle's point in this thread, folks often don't appreciate the scale of American elections: how many polling places, election workers, and decentralized redundancies, and how little of it is under any federal control. It far outstrips federal manpower in its vastness.

jamelle @jamellebouie.net · Aug 31

he'll send ICE to intimidate us. if i see an ICE agent at my polling place i'm going to walk right past him.

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Sarah Brand-Wiita @sarahbw.bsky.social · Aug 30

Thread. This is something to call your reps about. 🧵

Colin Carlson @colincarlson.bsky.social · Aug 29

With O'Neill (apparently) taking over CDC (if they ever get around to firing Monarez), I think it's worth looking back to Project 2025 and asking what they actually intend to *do* to CDC. So, I went to remind myself today. Here's what's in store:

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Sarah Brand-Wiita @sarahbw.bsky.social · Aug 29

Thank you so much!