@MariaHill@progressivecafe.social
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MariaHill

@MariaHill@progressivecafe.social

Admin of progresivecafe.social with https://progressivecafe.social/@TonyStark.

Instance is new to Mastodon; users on it are not.

progressive voter & volunteer
secular Jew

#BlackLivesMatter
#ProtectTransKids

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MariaHill, to random
@MariaHill@progressivecafe.social avatar

According to Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin, religious freedom means being able to prevent other people's access to contraception, so he had to veto a bill that would have enshrined rights.

He also vetoed bills ending tax breaks for the United Daughters of the Confederacy and the issuance of new Confederate license plates.

This is what you get when you elect Republicans, no matter how affable or moderate they pretend to be before an election.

https://apnews.com/article/youngkin-virginia-general-assembly-vetoes-skill-games-771aaae0d34b31bbd7008d8e396c71b6

TonyStark, to random
@TonyStark@progressivecafe.social avatar

I was confused about this ruling yesterday so I was hoping a reputable source would explain it. Makes sense.

I couldn’t be more glad that Black voters actually have a chance at better representation because that’s what everyone deserves.

We still need to keep our eyes on the courts and vote wisely for Democrats. We don’t need any more Republican-appointed judges gutting the Voting Rights Act.

The U.S. Supreme Court upholds Louisiana's redistricting plan : NPR
https://www.npr.org/2024/05/15/1250937356/supreme-court-louisiana-redistricting

MariaHill,
@MariaHill@progressivecafe.social avatar

@TonyStark Any cases dealing with the VRA seem to be "heads they win, tails we lose" in the long term, even if Black people (who are overwhelmingly Democrats) will win a seat this year.

They want to protect three particular incumbents and make sure people the governor doesn't like also lose their seats, while trying to hew to the law. They're trying to do too many things.

MariaHill, to random
@MariaHill@progressivecafe.social avatar

Democrat David Trone adequately represents the only competitive House district in the state, but I’m glad his privately-funded campaign didn’t buy the Senate primary. Angela Alsobooks is the choice of Maryland Democrats.

Republican Larry Hogan may be anti-Trump, but he’ll vote however Mitch McConnell’s successor wants. Alsobrooks will be a reliable vote for Maryland’s interests. Plus the Senate needs Black women’s voices. Enough with Maryland’s all-male delegation.

https://www.npr.org/2024/05/14/1251470402/maryland-senate-race-hogan-alsobrooks-trone

MariaHill,
@MariaHill@progressivecafe.social avatar

@tjcasser The man voted for the ghost of Ronald Reagan. How could we trust him with important decisions?

Cartoon ghost

MariaHill,
@MariaHill@progressivecafe.social avatar

@MisterMoo I’m not willing to find out how anti-Trump Hogan is. As governor, he talked a good game as a moderate but was basically an obstruction to Democratic priorities. Which is why a lot of people vote for Republicans in blue states, under some misguided notion that government doing nothing is best, until say, expanded access to abortion is vetoed and you need one. Or take Maryland’s previous Republican governor, Bob Ehrlich, who vetoed same-sex couples visiting partners in the hospital.

MariaHill, to random
@MariaHill@progressivecafe.social avatar

It must be hard to be an airline, biting the hand that bails you out in bad times.

Look at how mad the airlines are that they've been told not to bait-and-switch.

No one told them they can't charge fees, only that they have to disclose those fees and the full cost of travel.

Let's hope the Fifth Circuit has a consumer-friendly moment for a change.

https://www.reuters.com/business/aerospace-defense/major-airlines-sue-biden-administration-over-fee-disclosure-rule-2024-05-13/

TonyStark, to random
@TonyStark@progressivecafe.social avatar

I saw a post yesterday questioning why the U.S. is investing in projects for electric vehicles but not investing in public transportation. That’s just false.

First, we aren’t getting rid of cars. We are too spread out and it’s doubtful that public transportation will be available in entirely where everyone, everywhere, at every time of day will need it. And we will always need vehicles for emergency services like ambulances and fire trucks and mail delivery and farms. 1/4

MariaHill,
@MariaHill@progressivecafe.social avatar

@TonyStark @wattdefalk How great it would be to have Marcellus Shale be a solution already and not just a problem.

TonyStark, to random
@TonyStark@progressivecafe.social avatar

Teacher Appreciation Week is a designated time to celebrate and honor teachers and early childhood educators for their hard work and dedication to educating the next generation.

In supporting teachers, we show our commitment to them by providing the resources and support they need to succeed in their important work.

Thanks, Biden Administration.

Biden-Harris Administration Announces New Actions to Support and Strengthen the Teaching Profession |
https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2024/05/02/fact-sheet-biden-%E2%81%A0harris-administration-announces-new-actions-to-support-and-strengthen-the-teaching-profession/

MariaHill,
@MariaHill@progressivecafe.social avatar

@TonyStark I have worked in several schools and tbh, Teacher Appreciation Week was nice because we got lunches provided by the PTA but didn't otherwise mean a whole lot. Teachers need a lot more. So thank you, Biden admin, if something substantive comes of this. Having Jill Biden, an educator, in the White House can only help. Teachers are quitting in droves. It's the lack of respect, though the pay is also low in many areas and compared to other professions requiring similar/lesser credentials.

MariaHill, to random
@MariaHill@progressivecafe.social avatar

The Alabama attorney general thinks that not only should his state be able to outlaw abortion completely, but that he should be able to restrict women from traveling elsewhere for their abortion care too. A federal judge said no, people have the right to cross state lines, and refused to dismiss the Yellowhammer Fund's lawsuit.

Some state officials will do anything to control people. Democrats nominate and confirm judges who won't let them.

https://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/4647756-alabama-lawsuit-threat-prosecution-abortion-help/

MariaHill, to random
@MariaHill@progressivecafe.social avatar

The Atlantic has some of the best coverage on campus protests. The first link is by Jill Filipovic, criticizing other media for its misrepresentation. She notes that some media whitewashes pro-Hamas demands while conservative media ignores that some students are generally anti-war and not there because they are antisemitic. Some of the counter-protesters, especially the violent ones, have their own opportunist reasons rather than pro-Israel ones.

1/2

https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2024/05/israel-gaza-war-protest-movement/678303/

MariaHill,
@MariaHill@progressivecafe.social avatar

Iddo Gefen is a Columbia grad student from Israel. He believes Netanyahu “will go down as one of the worst leaders in the history of the Jewish people.” He grew up in Israel during the Second Intifada. Hearing cries of “intifada revolution” on campus concerns him. He recognizes it as protected speech, but worries about what violent rhetoric does for public discourse as well as for achieving peace. (He says it benefits the far-right in the USA and Israel.)

2/2

https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2024/05/any-means-necessary/678286/

MariaHill,
@MariaHill@progressivecafe.social avatar

@TonyStark Agreed. There are a couple of columnists worth reading and that's about it at this point.

TonyStark, to random
@TonyStark@progressivecafe.social avatar

Demanding to cut ties with the Helen Diller Foundation, a charity that has given $1.1 billion to UC San Francisco to fund a comprehensive cancer treatment center in addition to other gifts to Berkeley and UC Santa Cruz and demanding to cut ties with Hillel may be within your right to free speech, but that free speech can definitely be called out and should be.

Students for Justice in Palestine tells UC Santa Cruz to boycott Hillel | JNS | clevelandjewishnews.com:
https://www.jns.org/students-for-justice-in-palestine-tells-uc-santa-cruz-to-boycott-hillel/

MariaHill,
@MariaHill@progressivecafe.social avatar

@TonyStark I wasn't a big participant in my university's Hillel but I did go to a few things that cousins/friends invited me to, and it was nothing more than "let's eat bagels and meet other Jewish students." I'm sure they arranged seders that I didn't go to and stuff. It's a social and cultural group for Jewish students. Come on.

MariaHill, to random
@MariaHill@progressivecafe.social avatar

My iPhone didn't remind me that it's Jewish American Heritage Month, which seems to be an oversight considering all of the other months on the calendar. You can learn about it here. I like reminders, whether they're the other months for my heritage or not. I like celebratory days and months of all kinds.

Happy JAHM whether you're Jewish or an ally. Visit the free Weitzman National Museum of American Jewish History in Philadelphia if you get the chance!

https://jewishamericanheritage.org/

TonyStark, (edited ) to random
@TonyStark@progressivecafe.social avatar

I’d really rather be posting about the 2024 elections and climate news and other things I enjoy but since the Fediverse just gets more and more comfortable with Jew hatred, not less, and people stay dead silent about it, this is where it is.

MariaHill,
@MariaHill@progressivecafe.social avatar

@TonyStark @EarthOne24 Even NBC News, the most mainstream of mainstream media, had a story the other day about Russia using it to discredit democracy.

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/investigations/russia-trying-exploit-americas-divisions-war-gaza-rcna149759

MariaHill,
@MariaHill@progressivecafe.social avatar

@TonyStark @EarthOne24 @Olyindivisible I had a busy day yesterday and didn't see it here on Mastodon but I did see it on NBC News itself the other day. 🙂 It's a good one for people to know about.

MariaHill, to random
@MariaHill@progressivecafe.social avatar

These guys again. Though the policymakers of the federal judiciary are trying to stop judge-shopping, indicted Texas AG Ken Paxton and right-wing Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk will ignore that in order to make sure LGBTQ+ people aren't protected.

Paxton wants to stop Title IX protections from covering students based on gender identity and not just biological sex.

Ken Paxton shouldn't get to pick a judge guaranteed to issue an injunction that will apply to the whole USA.

https://www.cnn.com/2024/04/29/politics/texas-title-ix-lgbtq-students-kacsmaryk/index.html

MariaHill,
@MariaHill@progressivecafe.social avatar

@TonyStark Anyone thinking about not voting for Biden for whatever reason should keep in mind that it's a binary choice about who will decide whether LGBTQ+ people and women/trans/non-binary people get to make decisions about our bodies or whether judges like Kacsmaryk do. And whether Trump names Kacsmaryk or someone just like him to SCOTUS if there's a seat in the next four years or if Biden does.

Also, whether a Republican or Democratic senate confirms those judges & fed appointees.

TonyStark, to random
@TonyStark@progressivecafe.social avatar

I’ll bet the dialogue about complicated situations here would be a whole lot better if half this place quit responding to every Jewish person and posting about every current event with some wacky anti-Jew conspiracy theory or incredibly raging antisemitic junk that’s worse than the old original tropes themselves. Not that anyone enjoys hearing them over and over, either.

Oh, and that instances actually moderate about it. Especially if something like this is in their instance code of conduct.

MariaHill,
@MariaHill@progressivecafe.social avatar

@TonyStark I need Maya Rudolph to do a guest appearance on SNL because I don't think anyone else could do justice to a spoof Excedrin Anti-Semitic Migraine commercial.

TonyStark, to random
@TonyStark@progressivecafe.social avatar

Climate change is leading to increasingly severe weather. Impacts worsen water management, reduce agricultural productivity and food security, damage infrastructure, and disrupt essential services.

The former guy couldn’t get one infrastructure deal done in 4 years. Biden oversaw the most significant deal ever.

Biden-Harris Administration Announces Nearly $830 Million in Grants to Make Transportation Infrastructure More Resilient to Climate Change |
https://www.transportation.gov/briefing-room/biden-harris-administration-announces-nearly-830-million-grants-make-transportation

MariaHill,
@MariaHill@progressivecafe.social avatar

@TonyStark 89 degrees in April? We need the guy who can get deals done rather than "it's two weeks away" every week.

MariaHill, to random
@MariaHill@progressivecafe.social avatar

It's inexplicable why Americans would trust Trump more than Biden on the economy. The plans his advisers put forward would increase our cost of living. There has been global, not just American, inflation, during the years Biden has been president. Ours has been better than many other countries thanks to Democratic policies rather than ones that favor the rich or austerity ones. Putting Republicans in charge again will not help the middle or working classes.

https://www.vox.com/2024-elections/24137666/trump-agenda-inflation-prices-dollar-devaluation-tariffs

TonyStark, to random
@TonyStark@progressivecafe.social avatar

There are a few people who run for office that I am continually inspired by. Malcolm Kenyatta is one. Now he is PA’s Democratic candidate for auditor general. Maybe auditor general sounds boring but if you listen to him, it suddenly sounds really cool.

Malcolm talks about accountability, answering to the people, and not to corporate dollars. Keep him in mind as someone to help get out the vote for.

Malcolm Kenyatta wins Democratic nod for Pennsylvania auditor general |
https://www.wesa.fm/politics-government/2024-04-23/pa-primary-election-auditor-general

MariaHill,
@MariaHill@progressivecafe.social avatar

@TonyStark I hope Kenyatta wins the November election for auditor general. I appreciate when those who have much to give decide to use it to help people rather than make a lot of money. People talk about "career pols" but all that means is you never went to work for big bucks first and always took jobs serving the people.

TonyStark, to random
@TonyStark@progressivecafe.social avatar

Trump and Republicans get the blame for this. This ruling would have been unconstitutional under Roe, but Trump is proud that he stacked SCOTUS with anti-abortion justices who overturned it. There are many effects of losing those protections, and this is one of them.

As always, don’t listen to what they say, watch what they do. #AbortionRights

Arizona abortion law: State Supreme Court upholds near-total ban:
https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/politics/arizona/2024/04/09/arizona-abortion-law-state-supreme-court-upholds-near-total-ban/73251148007/

MariaHill,
@MariaHill@progressivecafe.social avatar

@TonyStark Democrats in Arizona need to flip one seat in each of the two state legislative chambers. While 2024 may be a good year electorally for Democrats in the state, pregnant women are going to die between now and when those new state legislators take office, just as they are and will in states like Texas, Alabama, and now Florida with its draconian ban.

Trump can try to run away from what he did, but there are going to be a lot of ads between now and November about it.

TonyStark, to random
@TonyStark@progressivecafe.social avatar

Because a good President doesn’t just do things for the people who voted for him. A good President and administration does things that help everyone.

Interior Department Disburses More Than $353 Million to Gulf States for Coastal Restoration, Conservation and Hurricane Protection | U.S. Department of the Interior
https://www.doi.gov/pressreleases/interior-department-disburses-more-353-million-gulf-states-coastal-restoration

MariaHill,
@MariaHill@progressivecafe.social avatar

@TonyStark Democrats want to serve all of their constituents. There was a time when decent Republicans did too. I knew one or two long ago. But they're either dead or left the party around 2016.

MariaHill, to random
@MariaHill@progressivecafe.social avatar

Non-Muslim nominees to the federal bench are not asked to condemn terrorism, and Mangi's hearing is a callback to how Republicans treated Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson in her confirmation hearing.

Joe Manchin won't support Mangi because of bullshit "bipartisanship," and two Democratic senators say he's anti-police (echoing McConnell), so despite Mangi's excellent qualifications and support from diverse groups, the first Muslim nominee to the federal bench won't serve.

https://www.brennancenter.org/our-work/analysis-opinion/treatment-first-muslim-federal-appellate-nominee-has-damaged-our

MariaHill,
@MariaHill@progressivecafe.social avatar

@PeterLG How 53 senators vote on a nominee does not measure the level of bigotry of the United States population. You can make that argument if you'd like, but you need a different set of data considering that the US Senate is a greatly undemocratic institution and white people's votes are overrepresented. (Which also makes changing it nearly impossible, because their representatives won't give up the slightest bit of power so that others can have more of a say.)

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