Weston Abney
@westonabney.bsky.social
President of AFSCME Local 96. Just some guy. Posts do not reflect employer's positions.
Reposted by Weston Abney
27/ Sauer is really going big now, following where he thinks Gorsuch and Barrett were leading, but I think he misreads them. They are asking questions.
But Sauer seems to be suggesting that the entire modern state now may be unconstitutional on his extreme theory of separation.
But Sauer seems to be suggesting that the entire modern state now may be unconstitutional on his extreme theory of separation.
December 8, 2025 at 4:04 PM
27/ Sauer is really going big now, following where he thinks Gorsuch and Barrett were leading, but I think he misreads them. They are asking questions.
But Sauer seems to be suggesting that the entire modern state now may be unconstitutional on his extreme theory of separation.
But Sauer seems to be suggesting that the entire modern state now may be unconstitutional on his extreme theory of separation.
Reposted by Weston Abney
Supreme Court oral argument this morning, in sum
Sotomayor: you're asking us to destroy the foundation of government (derogatory)
Gorsuch: you're asking us to destroy the foundation of government (complimentary)
Sotomayor: you're asking us to destroy the foundation of government (derogatory)
Gorsuch: you're asking us to destroy the foundation of government (complimentary)
December 8, 2025 at 3:48 PM
Supreme Court oral argument this morning, in sum
Sotomayor: you're asking us to destroy the foundation of government (derogatory)
Gorsuch: you're asking us to destroy the foundation of government (complimentary)
Sotomayor: you're asking us to destroy the foundation of government (derogatory)
Gorsuch: you're asking us to destroy the foundation of government (complimentary)
Reposted by Weston Abney
FWIW DOJ still has not appealed the ruling disqualifying Halligan, nor have they appealed the Third Circuit ruling disqualifying Alina Habba on similar grounds (and nor did they respond to my request for comment about whether they plan to appeal)
December 8, 2025 at 3:41 PM
FWIW DOJ still has not appealed the ruling disqualifying Halligan, nor have they appealed the Third Circuit ruling disqualifying Alina Habba on similar grounds (and nor did they respond to my request for comment about whether they plan to appeal)
According to Iowa State University legal counsel, this is the ONLY position in the university that isn't vulnerable to the "people complained about your Facebook page and we have to fire you now" policy.
Starting pay is $15.03.
Starting pay is $15.03.
Custodian I - Part-Time - Ames, IA - Indeed.com
Iowa State University
www.indeed.com
December 8, 2025 at 4:42 PM
According to Iowa State University legal counsel, this is the ONLY position in the university that isn't vulnerable to the "people complained about your Facebook page and we have to fire you now" policy.
Starting pay is $15.03.
Starting pay is $15.03.
Reposted by Weston Abney
This Day in Labor History: December 8, 1886. The American Federation of Labor formed at a meeting of union officials in Columbus, Ohio. No one in the labor history world really likes the AFL, but let's try to understand what it was about and how it adapted to Gilded Age realities.
December 8, 2025 at 3:40 PM
This Day in Labor History: December 8, 1886. The American Federation of Labor formed at a meeting of union officials in Columbus, Ohio. No one in the labor history world really likes the AFL, but let's try to understand what it was about and how it adapted to Gilded Age realities.
Reposted by Weston Abney
Former Cook County Judge Patricia Martin on Friday was sentenced to four years probation after she admitted to stealing hundreds of thousands of dollars from the bank accounts of an elderly former Tuskegee Airman to purchase cryptocurrency.
Former Cook County Judge Patricia Martin sentenced to probation after stealing from former Tuskegee Airman
Former Cook County Judge Patricia Martin on Friday was sentenced to four years probation after she admitted to stealing hundreds of thousands of dollars from the bank accounts of an elderly former …
trib.al
December 8, 2025 at 2:00 AM
Former Cook County Judge Patricia Martin on Friday was sentenced to four years probation after she admitted to stealing hundreds of thousands of dollars from the bank accounts of an elderly former Tuskegee Airman to purchase cryptocurrency.
Reposted by Weston Abney
Thailand launched air strikes on its neighbour Cambodia on Monday, the Thai army said, with both sides trading blame for the latest eruption of fighting on their disputed border which killed a Thai soldier
u.afp.com/S7qc
u.afp.com/S7qc
December 8, 2025 at 3:03 AM
Thailand launched air strikes on its neighbour Cambodia on Monday, the Thai army said, with both sides trading blame for the latest eruption of fighting on their disputed border which killed a Thai soldier
u.afp.com/S7qc
u.afp.com/S7qc
Reposted by Weston Abney
Proud of Team DC.
Washington DC Area Film Critics Association (WAFCA): 'Sinners' Dominates with 10 Wins
Washington DC Area Film Critics Association (WAFCA): ‘Sinners’ Dominates with 10 Wins
After picking up 13 nominations from the Washington DC Area Film Critics Association (WAFCA), Sinners turned 10 of them into wins, including Best Film, Best Director and Original Screenplay for Ryan Coogler and Best Actor for Michael B. Jordan. One Battle After Another, which had also earned 13 nominations, took home three wins: Best Supporting Actor and Supporting Actress for Benicio del Toro and Teyana Taylor, respectively, and Adapted Screenplay.
awardswatch.com
December 8, 2025 at 12:24 AM
Proud of Team DC.
Movie you’ve watched more than six times with a gif. Hard mode: no Stars (Wars nor Trek), LOTR, or Marvel, Disney Animated or Pixar.
December 8, 2025 at 12:41 AM
Movie you’ve watched more than six times with a gif. Hard mode: no Stars (Wars nor Trek), LOTR, or Marvel, Disney Animated or Pixar.
Reposted by Weston Abney
Important to note that she (correctly) doesn't say that faculty feel supported by or trust the administration to have our backs.
December 5, 2025 at 1:29 PM
Important to note that she (correctly) doesn't say that faculty feel supported by or trust the administration to have our backs.
Star Trek II vibes.
The Space Force’s new dress uniform saw its first official use with the graduation of newly commissioned officers from Officer Training School at Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala., on Thursday. www.stripes.com/branches/spa...
Space Force’s new dress uniform gets first official use with officer graduation ceremony
The Space Force’s new dress uniform saw its first official use with the graduation of 17 newly commissioned officers.
www.stripes.com
December 7, 2025 at 8:20 PM
Star Trek II vibes.
Reposted by Weston Abney
This is where originalism is really spiritually aligned with straussianism—you, the clever contemporary scholar, are capable of uncovering the true hidden meaning that for centuries has eluded all those other chumps
It’s also plainly absurd that someone just happened to discover the true meaning of the common law that just evaded everyone else for 800 years in a few weeks of work. I don’t even know what to do with that.
the idea that a handful of conservative legal scholars have an understanding that should supersede a settlement affirmed my generations of american is astoundingly arrogant, and the idea that trump — or any president — can unilaterally overturn that settlement is just despotism
December 7, 2025 at 7:43 PM
This is where originalism is really spiritually aligned with straussianism—you, the clever contemporary scholar, are capable of uncovering the true hidden meaning that for centuries has eluded all those other chumps
Reposted by Weston Abney
the president is not an elected sovereign. he does not speak for the people or embody their will, he merely represents them. if he wants to change the constitution, let him make his case.
December 7, 2025 at 7:18 PM
the president is not an elected sovereign. he does not speak for the people or embody their will, he merely represents them. if he wants to change the constitution, let him make his case.
Reposted by Weston Abney
The US State Department is instructing its staff to deny visas to those engaged in activities like combatting misinformation, disinformation or false narratives, fact-checking, content moderation, compliance, and trust and safety.
www.npr.org/2025/12/04/n...
www.npr.org/2025/12/04/n...
State Department to deny visas to fact checkers and others, citing 'censorship'
The order is focused on applicants for H-1B visas, which are frequently used by tech companies and is part of a campaign by the Trump administration against online content moderation.
www.npr.org
December 6, 2025 at 2:15 PM
The US State Department is instructing its staff to deny visas to those engaged in activities like combatting misinformation, disinformation or false narratives, fact-checking, content moderation, compliance, and trust and safety.
www.npr.org/2025/12/04/n...
www.npr.org/2025/12/04/n...
Reposted by Weston Abney
Study after study shows campaign ads barely move the needle. So where does money’s real power come from? I ranked the five ways money corrupts politics—from least to most corrosive. What I’ve learned from 15 years of tracking political money:
Money Doesn't Buy Elections. It Does Something Worse.
Campaign ads barely move the needle. The real influence is hiding in plain sight.
open.substack.com
December 6, 2025 at 8:22 PM
Study after study shows campaign ads barely move the needle. So where does money’s real power come from? I ranked the five ways money corrupts politics—from least to most corrosive. What I’ve learned from 15 years of tracking political money:
Reposted by Weston Abney
Read this: www.wgbh.org/news/local/2...
December 7, 2025 at 12:22 AM
Read this: www.wgbh.org/news/local/2...
Reposted by Weston Abney
About 3 million glucose monitoring sensors were potentially affected by a production error that caused incorrect low glucose readings. n.pr/4pQYNub
7 deaths and hundreds of injuries are linked to faulty Abbott glucose monitors
About 3 million glucose monitoring sensors were potentially affected by a production error that caused incorrect low glucose readings.
n.pr
December 6, 2025 at 5:32 PM
About 3 million glucose monitoring sensors were potentially affected by a production error that caused incorrect low glucose readings. n.pr/4pQYNub
Reposted by Weston Abney
It's over.
Despite the fact that the academic council recommended against it, despite the fact that the program brought in more tuition than it cost, and despite the fact that Nebraskans need & deserve this expertise, Earth & Atmospheric Sciences will be cut.
www.dailynebraskan.com/news/adminis...
Despite the fact that the academic council recommended against it, despite the fact that the program brought in more tuition than it cost, and despite the fact that Nebraskans need & deserve this expertise, Earth & Atmospheric Sciences will be cut.
www.dailynebraskan.com/news/adminis...
BREAKING: ‘This hurts’: UNL eliminates 4 programs despite faculty, student pleas
The University of Nebraska-Lincoln eliminates the Earth and atmospheric sciences 8-0, educational administration 7-1, statistics 7-1, textiles, merchandising and fashion design 7-1 programs.
www.dailynebraskan.com
December 6, 2025 at 5:35 PM
It's over.
Despite the fact that the academic council recommended against it, despite the fact that the program brought in more tuition than it cost, and despite the fact that Nebraskans need & deserve this expertise, Earth & Atmospheric Sciences will be cut.
www.dailynebraskan.com/news/adminis...
Despite the fact that the academic council recommended against it, despite the fact that the program brought in more tuition than it cost, and despite the fact that Nebraskans need & deserve this expertise, Earth & Atmospheric Sciences will be cut.
www.dailynebraskan.com/news/adminis...
Reposted by Weston Abney
This is great. Very few people want to go to jail, get disbarred or die for this regime. Make them fight you. They will cave.
www.ms.now/news/minneap...
www.ms.now/news/minneap...
Minneapolis police chief warns officers: Stop unlawful force by ICE or lose your job
Chief Brian O’Hara says he’ll fire city police officers if they don’t intervene when immigration agents use unlawful force.
www.ms.now
December 6, 2025 at 1:51 PM
This is great. Very few people want to go to jail, get disbarred or die for this regime. Make them fight you. They will cave.
www.ms.now/news/minneap...
www.ms.now/news/minneap...
Reposted by Weston Abney
This Day in Labor History: December 6, 1977. The United Mine Workers of America walked off the job. This moment demonstrated a moment when workers thought they could gain more power in the economy. But they effectively lost this strike and the war on workers throughout American got underway!!
December 6, 2025 at 2:07 PM
This Day in Labor History: December 6, 1977. The United Mine Workers of America walked off the job. This moment demonstrated a moment when workers thought they could gain more power in the economy. But they effectively lost this strike and the war on workers throughout American got underway!!
Reposted by Weston Abney
Jo Ann Boyce, Clinton 12 member and civil rights trailblazer, dies at 84
Jo Ann Boyce, Clinton 12 member and civil rights trailblazer, dies at 84
Jo Ann Boyce, a member of the Clinton 12, has died at 84. She later moved to Los Angeles, became a pediatric nurse and spent her final years sharing her story nationally.
www.latimes.com
December 6, 2025 at 1:26 PM
Jo Ann Boyce, Clinton 12 member and civil rights trailblazer, dies at 84
Reposted by Weston Abney
“Traumatized, humiliated, degraded.”
The nurse, a US citizen, 4’11”, 85 lbs, says she was following orders when she was dragged out of her car by masked immigration agents in Florida.
It was the 3rd time she had been stopped and told to produce ID.
Free link ⤵️
www.miamiherald.com/news/local/i...
The nurse, a US citizen, 4’11”, 85 lbs, says she was following orders when she was dragged out of her car by masked immigration agents in Florida.
It was the 3rd time she had been stopped and told to produce ID.
Free link ⤵️
www.miamiherald.com/news/local/i...
Exclusive: Woman detained by feds in Keys says she was following agents’ orders
“This is not the America that I grew up in, and this is not the America that we represent.”
www.miamiherald.com
December 6, 2025 at 11:55 AM
“Traumatized, humiliated, degraded.”
The nurse, a US citizen, 4’11”, 85 lbs, says she was following orders when she was dragged out of her car by masked immigration agents in Florida.
It was the 3rd time she had been stopped and told to produce ID.
Free link ⤵️
www.miamiherald.com/news/local/i...
The nurse, a US citizen, 4’11”, 85 lbs, says she was following orders when she was dragged out of her car by masked immigration agents in Florida.
It was the 3rd time she had been stopped and told to produce ID.
Free link ⤵️
www.miamiherald.com/news/local/i...
Reposted by Weston Abney
It's the 160th anniversary of the United States' refounding, the ratification of the 13th Amendment.
December 6, 2025 at 12:38 PM
It's the 160th anniversary of the United States' refounding, the ratification of the 13th Amendment.
A national sales tax that's only on imported goods is
1. Inherently regressive, hitting lower income earners significantly harder
2. Limited to the total value of imported goods, which varies
1. Inherently regressive, hitting lower income earners significantly harder
2. Limited to the total value of imported goods, which varies
Economists are bemused by the idea that customs duties could eventually replace the government's primary source of revenue.
Could Trump Replace Income Tax With Tariff Revenue? Experts Cast Doubt
www.newsweek.com
December 6, 2025 at 2:01 PM
A national sales tax that's only on imported goods is
1. Inherently regressive, hitting lower income earners significantly harder
2. Limited to the total value of imported goods, which varies
1. Inherently regressive, hitting lower income earners significantly harder
2. Limited to the total value of imported goods, which varies
Reposted by Weston Abney
Academic freedom is applicable to anyone with a teaching role. You can’t ask graduate students to teach, advise students, and evaluate student work with granting them academic freedom. The recent debacle at OU and a previous one in the School of Social Work at UT Austin illustrate this.
Pitt’s graduate student union sees bargaining for academic freedom as a “no-brainer.” The university sees it differently: “Graduate students are not faculty members and therefore academic freedom is not applicable.”
Why academic freedom is a heated topic in Pitt grad union negotiations
As the University of Pittsburgh embarks on union negotiations with graduate students, bargaining over the concept of academic freedom has been contentious.
buff.ly
December 6, 2025 at 12:46 PM
Academic freedom is applicable to anyone with a teaching role. You can’t ask graduate students to teach, advise students, and evaluate student work with granting them academic freedom. The recent debacle at OU and a previous one in the School of Social Work at UT Austin illustrate this.