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Pirate Cindy

@geekmcpirate.bsky.social

Happy Mario Monday!

March 10, 2025 at 2:32 PM

Pirate Cindy

@geekmcpirate.bsky.social

Happy Villain-tines Day! Are you also in your villain era? We definitely are at our house.

February 15, 2025 at 1:57 AM

Reposted by Pirate Cindy

Alt National Park Service

@altnps.bsky.social

Congress was denied entry to both the U.S. Department of Education and the Treasury, where Musk staffers blocked the doors. Along with its appropriations responsibilities, Congress holds oversight authority over federal agencies. Blocking congressional access to these agencies is illegal.

February 9, 2025 at 12:42 AM

Reposted by Pirate Cindy

Penguicon

@penguicon.bsky.social

Need a mask for the Underground Masquerade? Join our Mask-Making Workshop, hosted by the lovely and talented Bagel! 🎨✨ Tickets cover materials, and there’s even a (free) virtual option! RSVP and ticket info here: penguicon.org/events/upcom...

February 9, 2025 at 12:43 AM

Pirate Cindy

@geekmcpirate.bsky.social

Keep it up, friends! Keep calling/emailing! It makes a difference!

February 5, 2025 at 5:55 PM

Pirate Cindy

@geekmcpirate.bsky.social

For those that don't know if you text 50409 you can write emails to your Senators and House Reps.

February 2, 2025 at 5:17 PM

Reposted by Pirate Cindy

Izak.

@izak-detroit.bsky.social

Ohhh. Sure. Now that you’re in trouble for it, it’s a “joke”.

John Scalzi @scalzi.com · Jan 31

Good. Fuck that Nazi motherfucker.

www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...

Michigan priest defrocked after making apparent Nazi salute at anti-abortion summit

Calvin Robinson said he made gesture as ‘a joke’ to mock those who denounced Elon Musk’s similar salute

www.theguardian.com

January 31, 2025 at 11:41 PM

Reposted by Pirate Cindy

Erin Reed

@erininthemorning.com

1. School systems across the United States are declaring they will not comply with Trump's anti-trans executive order.

MCPS, Maryland said they will fiercely protect their teacher sand students.

Columbus City Public Schools president: "bring it on."

Subscribe to support my journalism.

School Systems Across US Declare They Will Not Comply With Trump's Anti-Trans Executive Order

On Thursday, multiple school systems around the United States released advisories stating that Trump's EO mandating discrimination in schools will not be followed.

www.erininthemorning.com

January 31, 2025 at 5:56 PM

Pirate Cindy

@geekmcpirate.bsky.social

Happy Lunar New Year!

January 29, 2025 at 11:57 AM

Reposted by Pirate Cindy

Bitter Donald

@bitterdonald.com

I believe impeachment begins in the House. So...
@aoc.bsky.social
@repdingell.bsky.social

Rebecca Solnit @rebeccasolnit.bsky.social · Jan 28

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 5:22 PM

Pirate Cindy

@geekmcpirate.bsky.social

Welcome the newest pirate to the crew, Norway! Or Nor for short. Or Norway Spruce Pinecus for long. He's about 2.5-3 years old. Such a handsome fellow!