Ellen Koester
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ekoester.bsky.social
Ellen Koester
@ekoester.bsky.social
QUEER. feminist. socialist ☭. lapsed catholic. mildly brilliant. moderately crazy. Living on stolen Shoshone, Paiute, Goshute, and Ute land.
Reposted by Ellen Koester
Rule changes announced by the Trump administration this week could allow automakers to report fewer crashes involving self-driving cars, with Tesla potentially emerging as the main beneficiary.
Tesla could benefit the most from new rules on reporting of self-driving car crashes
Rule changes announced by the Trump administration this week could allow automakers to report fewer crashes involving self-driving cars, with Tesla potentially emerging as the main beneficiary.
www.chicagotribune.com
April 27, 2025 at 12:31 AM
Reposted by Ellen Koester
When even a moderate Republican like Senator Lisa Murkowski says, “We are all afraid,” it tells you everything you need to know about the state of our country.
April 27, 2025 at 1:07 AM
Reposted by Ellen Koester
A federal judge temporarily blocked the Trump administration from implementing an executive order that a labor union says would cancel collective bargaining rights for hundreds of thousands of federal employees.
Judge blocks Trump administration from nixing collective bargaining for most federal employees
A federal judge has agreed to temporarily block the Trump administration from implementing an executive order that a labor union says would cancel collective bargaining rights for hundreds of thousands of federal employees.
bit.ly
April 25, 2025 at 9:15 PM
Reposted by Ellen Koester
Breaking News: A federal prosecutor interrogated the The New England Journal of Medicine — which is considered the world’s most prestigious medical journal — in what its editor described as a “vaguely threatening” letter.
‘Vaguely Threatening’: Federal Prosecutor Queries Leading Medical Journal
The New England Journal of Medicine received a letter suggesting that it was biased and compromised by external pressure. Other journals have also received the letter.
www.nytimes.com
April 25, 2025 at 9:17 PM
Reposted by Ellen Koester
The Justice Department asked a federal judge late Thursday to release a former FBI informant from prison pending appeal of his conviction on charges that he peddled misleading claims seized on by Trump allies to falsely accuse the Biden family of taking bribes.
Justice Dept. Lobbies for Release of Ex-F.B.I. Informant Accused of Lying About Bidens
It was the latest in a series of moves to scrap or soften punishments against President Trump’s supporters, including members of the violent mob that attacked the Capitol.
www.nytimes.com
April 12, 2025 at 12:46 AM
Reposted by Ellen Koester
Democrats have a real opportunity to retake the House and Senate in 2026, Marc Elias argues. Here's what they need to start doing to make it happen. www.democracydocket.com/opinion/what...
What We Must Do Now To Win in 2026
Since Trump entered the political scene, Democrats have outperformed in midterm elections.
www.democracydocket.com
April 12, 2025 at 1:00 AM
Reposted by Ellen Koester
When civil society fights back: The GOP-controlled House Education Committee targeted a law clinic at Northwestern University for representing disfavored clients. The clinic sued, and the committee immediately backed off.
House Education Committee drops records request against Northwestern law clinics after suit
The GOP-controlled House Education and the Workforce Committee withdrew a request for records on Northwestern University’s law clinics after its leaders filed a lawsuit Wednesday.  “The commit…
thehill.com
April 12, 2025 at 1:00 AM
Reposted by Ellen Koester
“A top Goldman Sachs executive summed up the frustration with Mr. Trump succinctly: Someone has to stop him.”

www.nytimes.com/2025/04/06/b...
Wall Street’s Decision Makers Brace for More Chaos After Markets Plunge
The financial titans who backed Trump are now dealing with the fallout from his tariffs. They spent the weekend surveying the damage of last week’s major sell-off.
www.nytimes.com
April 6, 2025 at 11:15 PM
Reposted by Ellen Koester
U.S. markets set to open sharply lower after China's worst crash since 2008. Futures: Dow -3.8%, S&P -4%, Nasdaq -4.6%. Tariffs + global recession fears rattling investors. Buckle up.
April 7, 2025 at 7:12 AM
Reposted by Ellen Koester
Oil crashing below $60 isn’t just cheap gas, it’s a warning. Global demand’s slowing, energy jobs are on the line, and recession signs are flashing. Markets aren’t freaking out for nothing. This could get rough.
April 7, 2025 at 7:18 AM
Reposted by Ellen Koester
BREAKING: The Global Economy.
April 7, 2025 at 7:47 AM
Reposted by Ellen Koester
The U.S. will not take control of Greenland, the island's new prime minister said in response to President Trump's latest assertion that he wants to annex the territory. "Let me be clear: The United States will not get it. We do not belong to anyone else. We decide our own future."
Greenland’s Prime Minister Says the U.S. Will Not ‘Get’ the Island
“We do not belong to anyone else,” Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen said in response to President Trump’s latest assertion that he wants to annex the territory.
www.nytimes.com
March 31, 2025 at 5:10 AM
Reposted by Ellen Koester
President Trump did not rule out seeking a third term in office on Sunday, telling NBC News that he was “not joking” about the possibility and suggesting there were “methods” to circumvent the two-term limit laid out in the Constitution.
Trump Says He’s ‘Not Joking’ About Seeking a Third Term in Defiance of Constitution
In wide-ranging remarks to “Meet the Press,” Mr. Trump said “a lot of people” wanted him to serve a third term and vowed to impose tariffs on global rivals, according to a transcript of the interview ...
www.nytimes.com
March 31, 2025 at 7:06 AM
Reposted by Ellen Koester
As hundreds of demonstrators made their way through Manhattan on Tuesday to protest the detention of Mahmoud Khalil, a prominent pro-Palestinian activist at Columbia University, the White House defended the arrest and rebuked the school for what it called lack of cooperation.
New Yorkers Protest as White House Defends Arrest of Mahmoud Khalil at Columbia
Hundreds of demonstrators marched downtown while a spokeswoman for President Trump said the president had the authority to detain Mahmoud Khalil.
www.nytimes.com
March 12, 2025 at 12:43 AM
Reposted by Ellen Koester
NEW: Nine prisoners have walked free after evidence presented by members of a forensics team turned out to be wrong — yet one man still awaits execution based on their testimony.

With @veritenews.org
He Was Convicted Based on Allegedly Fabricated Bite Mark Analysis. Louisiana Wants to Execute Him Anyway.
Nine prisoners have walked free after evidence presented by members of a forensics team turned out to be wrong — yet one man still awaits execution based on their testimony.
propub.li
March 11, 2025 at 11:00 AM
Reposted by Ellen Koester
Just so we’re all following

1) Elon spends ~$300M to elect Trump

2) Trump gives him the federal government

3) Elon guts the agencies that regulate his companies

4) Trump holds an infomercial for Elon’s cars on the White House lawn

5) Elon gives Trump another $100M
March 12, 2025 at 1:10 AM
Reposted by Ellen Koester
Elon Musk has signaled to President Trump’s advisers in recent days that he wants to put $100 million into groups controlled by the Trump political operation, according to three people with knowledge of the matter.
Elon Musk Seeks to Put $100 Million Into Trump Political Operation
Elon Musk has signaled he wants to make some donations not just to his own super PAC, which is called America PAC and has spent heavily on President Trump in the past, but to an outside entity.
www.nytimes.com
March 12, 2025 at 1:24 AM
Reposted by Ellen Koester
The president turned the south lawn of the white house into a tesla dealership and musk promised him $100 million in donations on the same day.
March 12, 2025 at 1:42 AM
Reposted by Ellen Koester
President Donald Trump's administration is considering cutting most of the lawyers in the US Justice Department unit that handles public corruption cases, four people familiar with the matter said reut.rs/4kI8eKz
Trump administration eyes cuts to Justice Department public corruption unit, people familiar say
President Donald Trump's administration is considering cutting most of the lawyers in the U.S. Justice Department unit that handles public corruption cases, four people familiar with the matter said on Tuesday.
reut.rs
March 12, 2025 at 2:57 AM
Reposted by Ellen Koester
A legal battle over a detained Columbia University student will play out in a federal court, with the US government indicating it would oppose the Palestinian activist's bid for release reut.rs/3FiPhhF
Columbia student protester's arrest prompts federal court showdown
A legal battle over a detained Columbia University student that has become a flashpoint of the Trump administration's immigration policy will play out in federal court, with the U.S. government indicating on Tuesday it would oppose the Palestinian activist's bid for release.
reut.rs
March 12, 2025 at 3:03 AM
Reposted by Ellen Koester
An official at the US Agency for International Development has ordered employees to shred a large volume of records, according to a court filing by government employee unions asking a judge to block the move reut.rs/3Fxo2zK
USAID employees ordered to shred records, court filing says
Employee unions asking a judge to block the move said the directive "suggests a rapid destruction of agency records on a large scale" that violates federal record-keeping law.
reut.rs
March 12, 2025 at 3:24 AM
Reposted by Ellen Koester
Many constitutional lawyers agree that there is a pending constitutional crisis, which will be definitively triggered if Trump refuses to obey a court order.
What Happens When an Executive Ignores the Law? Ask Constitutional Sheriffs.
Opinion | It’s not just about defiance of the law; it’s about reshaping the law to their own purposes.
www.democracydocket.com
March 12, 2025 at 3:30 AM
Reposted by Ellen Koester
The US Department of Agriculture has suspended funding for research and programs at the University of Maine, the school said, after President Trump clashed with Governor Janet Mills over the state's refusal to ban transgender athletes from girls' sports reut.rs/3DAWRni
USDA suspends Maine university funding after Trump row over transgender athletes
The U.S. Department of Agriculture has suspended funding for research and programs at the University of Maine, the school said on Tuesday, after President Donald Trump clashed with Governor Janet Mills over the state's refusal to ban transgender athletes from girls' sports.
reut.rs
March 12, 2025 at 3:32 AM
Reposted by Ellen Koester
MAGA boycotted, among other things:

Bud Light
Nike
NFL
Starbucks
Target
Keurig
Goodyear
Trump today called a boycott of Tesla “illegal” — which is amusing.
March 12, 2025 at 3:45 AM
Reposted by Ellen Koester
BREAKING: President Donald Trump's 25% tariffs on all steel and aluminum imports go into effect.
Trump's 25% tariffs on all steel and aluminum imports go into effect
President Donald Trump has officially increased tariffs on all steel and aluminum imports to 25%. He has promised that the taxes will help create U.S. factory jobs at a time when his seesawing tariff threats are jolting the stock market and raising fears of an economic slowdown.
bit.ly
March 12, 2025 at 4:09 AM