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Rebecca Solnit

@rebeccasolnit.bsky.social

Hi that was a coup last night in case no one mentioned that to you. The executive branch seized the power of the purse the Constitution gave to Congress, which is a pretty authoritarian / illegal consolidation of powers move. Time to go yell at your reps, the media, etc.

Hey friends! We're seeing a lot of terrible things. We're not able to cover all of them, but we felt this latest one is a really big deal and needs much more awareness.

Our summary is this: It's an administrative coup. Trump has ordered tens of billions (maybe up to $3 trillion) of budget halted indefinitely in a blatantly illegal move. He's claiming power to halt and potentially redirect funding that's already been authorized by Congress — a classic authoritarian move.

Here's what we know. And we're doing our best to catch up with this story, because it's moving fast.

There's a memo from Matthew Vaeth, the acting head of the Office of Management and Budget. (That's the same government entity who set-up the DEI "snitch" line, that's now been spammed by tens of thousands of our fellow residents.)

In typical Trump-style, the memo gets its facts wrong. It claims in FY2024 the US government spent $10 trillion (actually it was $6.8 trillion). It says money should be used for the administration's priorities — "The use of Federal resources to advance Marxist equity, transgenderism, and green new deal social engineering policies is a waste of taxpayer dollars that does not improve the day-to-day lives of those we serve." (Again, it's very fact deficient.)

The memo says a pause will begin at 5pm on January 28th where, "Federal agencies must temporarily pause all activities related to obligation or disbursement of all Federal financial assistance, and other relevant agency activities that may be implicated by the executive orders, including, but not limited to, financial assistance for foreign aid, nongovernmental organizations, DEI, woke gender ideology, and the green new deal."

Anyone promised federal grants might have their money at risk, even states. This is Congressional directed spending and Trump is ordering people to not do it. This funding includes universities for education and research programs, nonprofits, local and tribal governments, disaster relief aid, e…

So what can we do?

It's been a lot. And the shock approach of this administration is to overwhelm us with nonsense and a state of paralysis. We continue to believe the best thing is to stay grounded and keep yourself sane amidst insanity.

At this juncture, three actions we suggest that make sense to us:

1) Urge media to cover this story properly

This is not "possibly illegal" — it's "patently illegal." You can read notes on that here.

It's not "temporary" — it's "indefinite." There's no timetable for ending it.

It's not just a memo — it's an administrative coup.

2) Urge your Representatives to act like this is a big deal

If you know us, this isn't a knee-jerk action we suggest. We think this is a strategic because it's Congress that's being violated — their power is being directly undermined.

3) Continue to support ACLU and Democracy Forward

These groups have been preparing litigation for some time. Unless Trump revokes this, this will certainly make its way through the courts. Our read is even the biased courts will have trouble swallowing this — so it may end up being shut down.

Keep breathing. “Do not judge me by my successes, judge me by how many times I fell down and got back up again," Nelson Mandela.

Warmly,

- Choose Democracy

January 28, 2025 at 3:51 PM

PNWLibrarian

@pnwlibrarian.bsky.social

January 27, 2025 at 8:20 PM

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American Library Association

@amlibraryassoc.bsky.social

🏅Congratulations to Percival Everett! "James" is the winner of the 2025 Andrew Carnegie Medal for Excellence in Fiction.
www.ala.org/carnegie-med...
📚 @doubledaybooks.bsky.social

Andrew Carnegie Medal for Excellence in Fiction and Nonfiction 2025 Winner. Book cover: "James" by Percival Everett.

January 26, 2025 at 7:50 PM

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ALA Office for Intellectual Freedom

@oif.bsky.social

An explainer on immigration enforcement in libraries and ways to protect patron privacy: www.oif.ala.org/libraries-an...

Libraries and Immigration Enforcement

IntroductionU.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is the law enforcement division of the Department for Homeland Security (DHS). ICE must operate in ac

www.oif.ala.org

January 26, 2025 at 4:38 PM

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American Library Association

@amlibraryassoc.bsky.social

The U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights has announced that it is arbitrarily dismissing student and parent complaints arising out of public schools’ documented acts of censorship and discrimination.
Our response: Book bans are real.
Full statement ➡️ www.ala.org/news/2025/01...

Book Bans Are Real. American Library Association

January 26, 2025 at 10:10 PM

PNWLibrarian

@pnwlibrarian.bsky.social

Link to VR space (no VR glasses required to access) in article and comments below littlefreelibrary.org/2024/10/virt...

Virtual Reality Space Aims to Combat Book Bans - Little Free Library

There are Little Free Library book-sharing boxes on all seven continents, but now we’ve ventured into a new frontier: the metaverse! The San José State University School of Information has… Continue r...

littlefreelibrary.org

January 27, 2025 at 2:29 PM

PNWLibrarian

@pnwlibrarian.bsky.social

Fight book bans

dp.la/news/the-ban...

dp.la

January 27, 2025 at 2:27 PM

PNWLibrarian

@pnwlibrarian.bsky.social

Fight book bans
openlibrary.org/collections/...

The Banned & Challenged Books Library | Open Library

Open Library is an open, editable library catalog, building towards a web page for every book ever published. Read, borrow, and discover more than 3M books for free.

openlibrary.org

January 27, 2025 at 2:26 PM

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American Library Association

@amlibraryassoc.bsky.social

With new threats to libraries & library workers already materializing, we need all library advocates to show up together.

United in our advocacy for libraries and everyone we serve, we WILL make a difference.

Join us and Show Up #ForOurLibraries. Learn more: www.ala.org/news/2025/01...

Show Up for Our Libraries! "Many library advocates are rightfully concerned about what the next four years hold for our nation's libraries. Libraries - and many people we serve - are facing unprecedented challenges and uncertainty." "The good news is that millions of Americans love their libraries, and every one of them can be an advocate." ALA President Cindy Hohl ALA American Library Association, #ForOurLibraries

January 23, 2025 at 8:25 PM

PNWLibrarian

@pnwlibrarian.bsky.social

open.substack.com/pub/harrylit...

A Day That Will Live In Infamy

And an existential battle that we have to win

open.substack.com

January 21, 2025 at 6:50 PM

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The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence

@sfsisters.bsky.social

To all trans people: Your lives matter. Every step you take toward living as your true self is a testament to the strength & resilience within you. You are deserving of love, respect, & kindness. Never forget that you are valid, worthy, & more than enough, just as you are. Keep shining! ♥️🙏🏻♥️

January 20, 2025 at 10:35 PM

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Elizabeth Matos 💙🦋🥅💞🇨🇦

@eoldoula.bsky.social

January 20, 2025 at 1:56 PM

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💙❤️💙Mia💙❤️💙

@mommamia.bsky.social

I was crushed that MLK Day landed on Inauguration Day.
Now I know that it is a gift.

Dr. Martin Luther King is a brilliant light on this profoundly dark day.

He illuminates our path forward with hope, as we embrace his teachings of love, diversity, & unity.

He fuels our collective strength.

January 20, 2025 at 5:38 PM

PNWLibrarian

@pnwlibrarian.bsky.social

Returning to a favorite author and familiar narrator. 2 chapters in and I’m right back in with the human stories Strout has been telling since Olive Kitteridge
Format: audiobook
Narrator: Kimberly Farr
Rating: TBD