Melissa Whitler
@mwhitler.bsky.social
public school parent, hobby potter, part-time education reporter, #UglyDogs, Minneapolis
Pinned
Melissa Whitler
@mwhitler.bsky.social
· Feb 4
Signal, the secure messaging app: A guide for beginners
Also available in Spanish.
freedom.press
Have a scoop about k-12 schools? Want to get in touch with me about it? You can find me on Signal. Not sure how to use Signal?
freedom.press/digisec/blog...
freedom.press/digisec/blog...
Reposted by Melissa Whitler
Remember a few weeks ago when Trump brought in a couple bulldozers and demolished about a third of the White House? That was weird.
November 21, 2025 at 3:30 AM
Remember a few weeks ago when Trump brought in a couple bulldozers and demolished about a third of the White House? That was weird.
Reposted by Melissa Whitler
Trump’s 28-point proposal drawn up with Russia and without Ukrainian and European input is filled with non starters for Kyiv and Brussels: ceding Donbas as DMZ and recognition of it as Russian; reduction of Ukraine’s army; enshrining in constitution that Ukraine country won’t seek NATO membership….
US plan for Ukraine-Russia peace calls on Kyiv to cede land under its control on.ft.com/48rlqiQ
US plan for Ukraine-Russia peace calls on Kyiv to cede land under its control
Ukrainian officials say President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is being pressed to agree to terms negotiated by the US and Russia
on.ft.com
November 21, 2025 at 1:47 AM
Trump’s 28-point proposal drawn up with Russia and without Ukrainian and European input is filled with non starters for Kyiv and Brussels: ceding Donbas as DMZ and recognition of it as Russian; reduction of Ukraine’s army; enshrining in constitution that Ukraine country won’t seek NATO membership….
Reposted by Melissa Whitler
The contagiousness of measles is truly shocking/remarkable/scary. One case in a guest at a wedding has led to thousands of cases in North America, led to Canada losing its elimination status, and will soon do the same in the US.
Vaccine skepticism kills
archive.ph/2025.09.30-2...
Vaccine skepticism kills
archive.ph/2025.09.30-2...
archive.ph
November 20, 2025 at 11:44 PM
The contagiousness of measles is truly shocking/remarkable/scary. One case in a guest at a wedding has led to thousands of cases in North America, led to Canada losing its elimination status, and will soon do the same in the US.
Vaccine skepticism kills
archive.ph/2025.09.30-2...
Vaccine skepticism kills
archive.ph/2025.09.30-2...
Reposted by Melissa Whitler
President Trump's tariffs will cut deficits by $3 trillion over the next decade, $1 trillion less than previously forecast, the Congressional Budget Office said today.
CBO slashes tariff deficit forecast, complicating Trump's $2,000 checks
Senate Republicans would rather the tariff money go toward deficits than dividends.
www.axios.com
November 20, 2025 at 11:47 PM
President Trump's tariffs will cut deficits by $3 trillion over the next decade, $1 trillion less than previously forecast, the Congressional Budget Office said today.
Reposted by Melissa Whitler
i think they might even prefer their fries frozen. we should conduct further testing.
November 20, 2025 at 11:56 PM
i think they might even prefer their fries frozen. we should conduct further testing.
Reposted by Melissa Whitler
MIT's famous linguistic professor Noam Chomsky was in regular and close contact with sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, according to a review of emails published by the U.S. House Oversight Committee. In the documents, Chomsky described Epstein as a "highly valued friend."
Epstein emails show close connection with MIT's Noam Chomsky
MIT's famous linguistic professor Noam Chomsky was in regular and close contact with sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, according to a review of emails published by the U.S. House Oversight Committee. In t...
www.wbur.org
November 20, 2025 at 1:24 PM
MIT's famous linguistic professor Noam Chomsky was in regular and close contact with sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, according to a review of emails published by the U.S. House Oversight Committee. In the documents, Chomsky described Epstein as a "highly valued friend."
Reposted by Melissa Whitler
One of the vice principals at the kids’ school went to Ohio and has been giving me tons of shit this year, O-Hing at me with his hands in the drop off line and such. Drives me nuts. So, I got him a present in preparation for The Game this year. Go Blue!
November 20, 2025 at 10:12 PM
One of the vice principals at the kids’ school went to Ohio and has been giving me tons of shit this year, O-Hing at me with his hands in the drop off line and such. Drives me nuts. So, I got him a present in preparation for The Game this year. Go Blue!
What’s for dinner?
Grilled cheese and tomato soup!
My not as little as he used to be sous chef is helping.
cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1013...
Grilled cheese and tomato soup!
My not as little as he used to be sous chef is helping.
cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1013...
Tomato Soup (Published 2010)
cooking.nytimes.com
November 20, 2025 at 11:13 PM
What’s for dinner?
Grilled cheese and tomato soup!
My not as little as he used to be sous chef is helping.
cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1013...
Grilled cheese and tomato soup!
My not as little as he used to be sous chef is helping.
cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1013...
Reposted by Melissa Whitler
Wow
"[Ed] Martin is also believed to have shared sensitive grand jury information about the James case with at least one unauthorized individual as well as worked with another person from outside the federal government to examine potential evidence in the Schiff and James probes."
"[Ed] Martin is also believed to have shared sensitive grand jury information about the James case with at least one unauthorized individual as well as worked with another person from outside the federal government to examine potential evidence in the Schiff and James probes."
DOJ, FBI probing top Trump administration officials over investigations of president's adversaries: Sources
The DOJ is probing the conduct of at least two top administration officials for possibly jeopardizing the criminal investigations of Trump's political foes, sources say.
abcnews.go.com
November 20, 2025 at 9:06 PM
Wow
"[Ed] Martin is also believed to have shared sensitive grand jury information about the James case with at least one unauthorized individual as well as worked with another person from outside the federal government to examine potential evidence in the Schiff and James probes."
"[Ed] Martin is also believed to have shared sensitive grand jury information about the James case with at least one unauthorized individual as well as worked with another person from outside the federal government to examine potential evidence in the Schiff and James probes."
Reposted by Melissa Whitler
"[T]he Court finds that Defendants’ widespread misrepresentations call into question everything that Defendants say they are doing in their characterization of what is happening at the Broadview facility or out in the streets of the Chicagoland area during law enforcement activities."
#281 in Chicago Headline Club v. Noem (N.D. Ill., 1:25-cv-12173) – CourtListener.com
OPINION AND ORDER. For the foregoing reasons and those set forth on the record on November 6, 2025, the Court grants Plaintiffs' motion for a preliminary injunction 82, 86 . The Court has set forth th...
storage.courtlistener.com
November 20, 2025 at 8:53 PM
"[T]he Court finds that Defendants’ widespread misrepresentations call into question everything that Defendants say they are doing in their characterization of what is happening at the Broadview facility or out in the streets of the Chicagoland area during law enforcement activities."
Reposted by Melissa Whitler
Over at the rebooted Southwest Voices, @mwhitler.bsky.social has an excellent round up of Minneapolis Public Schools "bright spots."
She asked the district for data to back its claims. They get a C- for that. But being Melissa, she brings the context people need to interpret for themselves!
She asked the district for data to back its claims. They get a C- for that. But being Melissa, she brings the context people need to interpret for themselves!
Looking for Bright Spots in Minneapolis Public Schools
Southwest Voices asked the district for data-backed positive trends that show improved outcomes for students. Here's what we found.
www.southwestvoices.news
November 20, 2025 at 3:56 PM
Over at the rebooted Southwest Voices, @mwhitler.bsky.social has an excellent round up of Minneapolis Public Schools "bright spots."
She asked the district for data to back its claims. They get a C- for that. But being Melissa, she brings the context people need to interpret for themselves!
She asked the district for data to back its claims. They get a C- for that. But being Melissa, she brings the context people need to interpret for themselves!
Reposted by Melissa Whitler
NEW JOBS DATA:
Non-farm Payrolls: +119k
Unemployment Rate: 4.4% (+0.1%)
Prime Age (25-54) Employment-Population Ratio: 80.7% (+0%)
Average Hourly Earnings: +0.2%
Non-farm Payrolls: +119k
Unemployment Rate: 4.4% (+0.1%)
Prime Age (25-54) Employment-Population Ratio: 80.7% (+0%)
Average Hourly Earnings: +0.2%
November 20, 2025 at 1:34 PM
NEW JOBS DATA:
Non-farm Payrolls: +119k
Unemployment Rate: 4.4% (+0.1%)
Prime Age (25-54) Employment-Population Ratio: 80.7% (+0%)
Average Hourly Earnings: +0.2%
Non-farm Payrolls: +119k
Unemployment Rate: 4.4% (+0.1%)
Prime Age (25-54) Employment-Population Ratio: 80.7% (+0%)
Average Hourly Earnings: +0.2%
Reposted by Melissa Whitler
The unemployment rate edged up 0.1 percentage point (pp) to 4.4%, continuing slow rise. Up 0.3 pp over the year.
November 20, 2025 at 1:39 PM
The unemployment rate edged up 0.1 percentage point (pp) to 4.4%, continuing slow rise. Up 0.3 pp over the year.
Reposted by Melissa Whitler
Switching to weekly UI claims...
220K Americans filed new unemployment insurance claims in the week ending 11/15, similar to prior week's 228K.
Continuing claims also steady.
These have remined steady & are more reliable than corporate layoff announcements in measuring layoffs.
220K Americans filed new unemployment insurance claims in the week ending 11/15, similar to prior week's 228K.
Continuing claims also steady.
These have remined steady & are more reliable than corporate layoff announcements in measuring layoffs.
November 20, 2025 at 1:37 PM
Switching to weekly UI claims...
220K Americans filed new unemployment insurance claims in the week ending 11/15, similar to prior week's 228K.
Continuing claims also steady.
These have remined steady & are more reliable than corporate layoff announcements in measuring layoffs.
220K Americans filed new unemployment insurance claims in the week ending 11/15, similar to prior week's 228K.
Continuing claims also steady.
These have remined steady & are more reliable than corporate layoff announcements in measuring layoffs.
Reposted by Melissa Whitler
+119K jobs gained last month (mid-Aug to mid-Sept).
-33K jobs in revisions of prior 2 months.
The big picture
-33K jobs in revisions of prior 2 months.
The big picture
November 20, 2025 at 1:32 PM
+119K jobs gained last month (mid-Aug to mid-Sept).
-33K jobs in revisions of prior 2 months.
The big picture
-33K jobs in revisions of prior 2 months.
The big picture
Reposted by Melissa Whitler
But labor market has weakening over the last year.
Hires rate like 2011 is particularly worrisome, falling since Fed's hikes (figure).
Jobs have been stable for employed but tough for small share unemployed and wage growth has decelerated.
Hires rate like 2011 is particularly worrisome, falling since Fed's hikes (figure).
Jobs have been stable for employed but tough for small share unemployed and wage growth has decelerated.
November 20, 2025 at 1:23 PM
But labor market has weakening over the last year.
Hires rate like 2011 is particularly worrisome, falling since Fed's hikes (figure).
Jobs have been stable for employed but tough for small share unemployed and wage growth has decelerated.
Hires rate like 2011 is particularly worrisome, falling since Fed's hikes (figure).
Jobs have been stable for employed but tough for small share unemployed and wage growth has decelerated.
Reposted by Melissa Whitler
Happy Sept #JobsDay!
At 8:30 am ET, BLS delivers what’s usually one of the most-important signals abt how economy is changing. This one for Sept is 7 weeks late due to govt shutdown
Forecasts’ center:
+50K jobs
Unemployment rate (UR) steady at 4.3%
Also last week's UI claims released then too?
At 8:30 am ET, BLS delivers what’s usually one of the most-important signals abt how economy is changing. This one for Sept is 7 weeks late due to govt shutdown
Forecasts’ center:
+50K jobs
Unemployment rate (UR) steady at 4.3%
Also last week's UI claims released then too?
November 20, 2025 at 1:23 PM
Happy Sept #JobsDay!
At 8:30 am ET, BLS delivers what’s usually one of the most-important signals abt how economy is changing. This one for Sept is 7 weeks late due to govt shutdown
Forecasts’ center:
+50K jobs
Unemployment rate (UR) steady at 4.3%
Also last week's UI claims released then too?
At 8:30 am ET, BLS delivers what’s usually one of the most-important signals abt how economy is changing. This one for Sept is 7 weeks late due to govt shutdown
Forecasts’ center:
+50K jobs
Unemployment rate (UR) steady at 4.3%
Also last week's UI claims released then too?
Reposted by Melissa Whitler
KARE 11 Investigates: Unattended death raises new fraud allegations in Minnesota’s Medicaid-funded ICS program. As costs soar and audits expand, one mother says her son’s death reveals the real-world price of neglect and alleged fraud. www.kare11.com/mobile/artic...
KARE 11 Investigates: Unattended death raises new fraud allegations in Minnesota’s Medicaid-funded ICS program
KARE 11 Investigates: Unattended death raises fraud allegations in MN Medicaid-funded ICS program
www.kare11.com
November 20, 2025 at 12:18 PM
KARE 11 Investigates: Unattended death raises new fraud allegations in Minnesota’s Medicaid-funded ICS program. As costs soar and audits expand, one mother says her son’s death reveals the real-world price of neglect and alleged fraud. www.kare11.com/mobile/artic...
Reposted by Melissa Whitler
Attention is on NEETs today, but the problem is much worse.
NEETs include stay-at-home parents & jobseekers.
Strip those out to focus on people not working, not seeking work, not in education & not parenting: this group of economically & socially dislocated young adults has *doubled* in a decade.
NEETs include stay-at-home parents & jobseekers.
Strip those out to focus on people not working, not seeking work, not in education & not parenting: this group of economically & socially dislocated young adults has *doubled* in a decade.
November 20, 2025 at 10:25 AM
Attention is on NEETs today, but the problem is much worse.
NEETs include stay-at-home parents & jobseekers.
Strip those out to focus on people not working, not seeking work, not in education & not parenting: this group of economically & socially dislocated young adults has *doubled* in a decade.
NEETs include stay-at-home parents & jobseekers.
Strip those out to focus on people not working, not seeking work, not in education & not parenting: this group of economically & socially dislocated young adults has *doubled* in a decade.
Reposted by Melissa Whitler
The US signaled to President Volodymyr Zelenskiy that Ukraine must accept a US-drafted framework to end the war with Russia that proposes Kyiv giving up territory and some weapons, two people familiar with the matter said reut.rs/49Z4EsD
November 20, 2025 at 12:19 PM
The US signaled to President Volodymyr Zelenskiy that Ukraine must accept a US-drafted framework to end the war with Russia that proposes Kyiv giving up territory and some weapons, two people familiar with the matter said reut.rs/49Z4EsD
Reposted by Melissa Whitler
This is one of the most disturbing stories I’ve read in a very long time: Young Girls Were Sexually Abused by a Church Member. They Were Told to Forgive and Forget.
By @jlussenhop.bsky.social @propublica.org and Andy Mannix @startribune.com
By @jlussenhop.bsky.social @propublica.org and Andy Mannix @startribune.com
Young Girls Were Sexually Abused by a Church Member. They Were Told to Forgive and Forget.
In Minnesota, leaders of an Old Apostolic Lutheran Church community enabled a child abuser by telling his victims that once the sins were “washed away in the blood of reconciliation,” they could never...
www.propublica.org
November 20, 2025 at 12:21 PM
This is one of the most disturbing stories I’ve read in a very long time: Young Girls Were Sexually Abused by a Church Member. They Were Told to Forgive and Forget.
By @jlussenhop.bsky.social @propublica.org and Andy Mannix @startribune.com
By @jlussenhop.bsky.social @propublica.org and Andy Mannix @startribune.com
Reposted by Melissa Whitler
Truly mind-blowing levels of hypocrisy from this admin on using government strong arming to threaten social media companies into censoring
www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/crime/3...
www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/crime/3...
November 19, 2025 at 9:50 PM
Truly mind-blowing levels of hypocrisy from this admin on using government strong arming to threaten social media companies into censoring
www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/crime/3...
www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/crime/3...
Reposted by Melissa Whitler
Scooplet: the Texas State Board of Education signed an emergency contract to hire Tim Davis, former general counsel of the Tarrant County GOP and now candidate for chairman. I previously reported that four local school boards taken over by well-financed right wing candidates also hired Davis.
November 20, 2025 at 1:23 AM
Scooplet: the Texas State Board of Education signed an emergency contract to hire Tim Davis, former general counsel of the Tarrant County GOP and now candidate for chairman. I previously reported that four local school boards taken over by well-financed right wing candidates also hired Davis.
Reposted by Melissa Whitler
enjoy your very normal thanksgiving everyone!
BREAKING: Trump signs a bill to release files on Jeffrey Epstein, bowing to political pressure after months of resistance.
Trump signs bill to release Jeffrey Epstein case files after fighting it for months
President Donald Trump has signed a bill to release files on convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
bit.ly
November 20, 2025 at 1:42 AM
enjoy your very normal thanksgiving everyone!