Heather Bree
@hbree.bsky.social
Civic data nerd | Data viz specialist | Javascript 4 life, especially D3 and Svelte | on the research and analytics team of the Bloomberg Center for Government Excellence at JHU
blackdotbug.github.io
blackdotbug.github.io
Reposted by Heather Bree
Hardcoded credentials in the Signal archiving tool used by the White House is a five-alarm security dumpster fire.
The source code for the TM SGNL apps (basically a backdoored version of Signal used by Trump officials) is public! Since it's open source, I've pushed it to github for easier research micahflee.com/heres-the-so...
Here's the source code for the unofficial Signal app used by Trump officials
Yesterday, I published an analysis of what I could publicly find about TM SGNL, the obscure and unofficial Signal app used by Mike Waltz, and presumably also by Pete Hegseth, JD Vance, Tulsi Gabbard, ...
micahflee.com
May 3, 2025 at 9:42 PM
Hardcoded credentials in the Signal archiving tool used by the White House is a five-alarm security dumpster fire.
Reposted by Heather Bree
A Somerville, MA resident sends along this image of all the people who turned out for an emergency rally today for Romeysa Ozturk, the Tufts University PhD international student who was essentially abducted by ICE yesterday.
Thousands came "on six hours' notice."
Thousands came "on six hours' notice."
March 27, 2025 at 2:37 AM
A Somerville, MA resident sends along this image of all the people who turned out for an emergency rally today for Romeysa Ozturk, the Tufts University PhD international student who was essentially abducted by ICE yesterday.
Thousands came "on six hours' notice."
Thousands came "on six hours' notice."
Reposted by Heather Bree
What you can do — our own annalovesvoting.bsky.social shares her rec:
"The pro-democracy movement is coming together on April 5 to protest against the Trump / Elon power grab. There are dozens of events planned in just about every state — make a plan to make your voice heard!"
"The pro-democracy movement is coming together on April 5 to protest against the Trump / Elon power grab. There are dozens of events planned in just about every state — make a plan to make your voice heard!"
Hands Off!
Donald Trump and Elon Musk think this country belongs to them. They're taking everything they can get their hands on and daring the world to stop them. On Saturday, April 5th, we're taking to the…
handsoff2025.com
March 22, 2025 at 8:40 PM
What you can do — our own annalovesvoting.bsky.social shares her rec:
"The pro-democracy movement is coming together on April 5 to protest against the Trump / Elon power grab. There are dozens of events planned in just about every state — make a plan to make your voice heard!"
"The pro-democracy movement is coming together on April 5 to protest against the Trump / Elon power grab. There are dozens of events planned in just about every state — make a plan to make your voice heard!"
Reposted by Heather Bree
"The closest thing there is to a magical solution for our predicament would be: Erase three zeros from the net worth of every multibillionaire in this country. " www.hamiltonnolan.com/p/the-underl...
The Underlying Problem
This is happening because some people are too rich.
www.hamiltonnolan.com
March 21, 2025 at 4:26 PM
"The closest thing there is to a magical solution for our predicament would be: Erase three zeros from the net worth of every multibillionaire in this country. " www.hamiltonnolan.com/p/the-underl...
Reposted by Heather Bree
Reposted by Heather Bree
Call to action ---
We have currently sent stickers out to 48 different states. This is phenomenal progress for a movement that began only three weeks ago. We would like to make a push to finish up the last 2 today.
We need:
SD, WY
stickittofascists.com
We have currently sent stickers out to 48 different states. This is phenomenal progress for a movement that began only three weeks ago. We would like to make a push to finish up the last 2 today.
We need:
SD, WY
stickittofascists.com
Stick it to the Fascists
Help wake up the masses. Request your stickers below. Donate to help if you can.
stickittofascists.com
March 9, 2025 at 8:40 AM
Call to action ---
We have currently sent stickers out to 48 different states. This is phenomenal progress for a movement that began only three weeks ago. We would like to make a push to finish up the last 2 today.
We need:
SD, WY
stickittofascists.com
We have currently sent stickers out to 48 different states. This is phenomenal progress for a movement that began only three weeks ago. We would like to make a push to finish up the last 2 today.
We need:
SD, WY
stickittofascists.com
Reposted by Heather Bree
This might be too much information as a first link, but it takes features of fascism and matches specific news articles to them? Not sure who is behind it, just saw someone share it on here:
www.realtimefascism.com
www.realtimefascism.com
Realtime Fascism | Tracking Fascist Trends in the US
Realtime Fascism is an automated system that tracks and analyzes news headlines against historically confirmed steps toward fascism in the United States. See the data in real-time.
www.realtimefascism.com
March 22, 2025 at 8:53 PM
This might be too much information as a first link, but it takes features of fascism and matches specific news articles to them? Not sure who is behind it, just saw someone share it on here:
www.realtimefascism.com
www.realtimefascism.com
Reposted by Heather Bree
If you find this deplorable, you can do something about it: across the country there are groups who visit, witness, and advocated for people detained by ICE. They constantly need volunteers. You don't need to be a lawyer.
Visitation Network — Freedom for Immigrants
www.freedomforimmigrants.org
March 22, 2025 at 3:07 PM
If you find this deplorable, you can do something about it: across the country there are groups who visit, witness, and advocated for people detained by ICE. They constantly need volunteers. You don't need to be a lawyer.
Reposted by Heather Bree
There are people counting on you to either panic or become so apathetic that you turn away completely & isolate.
That’s why the best thing you can do is to stay clear headed.
Focus on the facts.
Listen to experts.
Find what you can do.
See where you can help.
Build community.
This is how we win.
That’s why the best thing you can do is to stay clear headed.
Focus on the facts.
Listen to experts.
Find what you can do.
See where you can help.
Build community.
This is how we win.
March 21, 2025 at 12:57 PM
There are people counting on you to either panic or become so apathetic that you turn away completely & isolate.
That’s why the best thing you can do is to stay clear headed.
Focus on the facts.
Listen to experts.
Find what you can do.
See where you can help.
Build community.
This is how we win.
That’s why the best thing you can do is to stay clear headed.
Focus on the facts.
Listen to experts.
Find what you can do.
See where you can help.
Build community.
This is how we win.
Reposted by Heather Bree
Charging into the weekend, time for a list.
5 ways to #Resist and #Recover:
1) meet up with friends at a protest. Go have a beverage afterwards.
2) do something that makes an immediate difference. Support people you know, share information to those who can promote it (FWS, DM me!), postcards.
5 ways to #Resist and #Recover:
1) meet up with friends at a protest. Go have a beverage afterwards.
2) do something that makes an immediate difference. Support people you know, share information to those who can promote it (FWS, DM me!), postcards.
March 21, 2025 at 12:58 PM
Reposted by Heather Bree
Libraries of resources
theblop.org/index.html
www.nonviolent-conflict.org/resource-lib...
www.aeinstein.org/self-liberat...
docs.google.com/document/d/1...
libcom.org/collections
www.cawshinythings.com/take-one-ste...
bigthink.com/the-present/...
www.popularmechanics.com/search/?q=Pr...
theblop.org/index.html
www.nonviolent-conflict.org/resource-lib...
www.aeinstein.org/self-liberat...
docs.google.com/document/d/1...
libcom.org/collections
www.cawshinythings.com/take-one-ste...
bigthink.com/the-present/...
www.popularmechanics.com/search/?q=Pr...
The Big List of Protests
The BLOP hosts a large and detailed list of upcoming protest events submitted by users across the United States.
theblop.org
March 19, 2025 at 11:41 AM
Reposted by Heather Bree
Once I got the DIRTIEST look during a conference panel when a facilities manager asked me if technology gave me hope for the future. I said ramps are older than old and we still can’t get those put in, so no, it doesn’t.
Tech is only as good as the people doling it out.
Tech is only as good as the people doling it out.
I really need people to stop acting like technology is gonna solve disability.
I have a pretty technologically advanced wheelchair. It still doesn’t make my back not broken, and it sure as shit doesn’t make ableds build more ramps.
I have a pretty technologically advanced wheelchair. It still doesn’t make my back not broken, and it sure as shit doesn’t make ableds build more ramps.
March 20, 2025 at 3:53 AM
Once I got the DIRTIEST look during a conference panel when a facilities manager asked me if technology gave me hope for the future. I said ramps are older than old and we still can’t get those put in, so no, it doesn’t.
Tech is only as good as the people doling it out.
Tech is only as good as the people doling it out.
Reposted by Heather Bree
Tesla is hanging by a thread. With collapse in resale market they are toast.
March 19, 2025 at 6:55 PM
Tesla is hanging by a thread. With collapse in resale market they are toast.
Reposted by Heather Bree
It’s Wednesday:
Let’s stay engaged to #Resist.
What will you do today to:
1) take specific action to uphold our Constitution and rule of law?
2) to take care of yourself and others being hurt by this Administration?
PLEASE REPLY— let’s motivate each other:
Let’s stay engaged to #Resist.
What will you do today to:
1) take specific action to uphold our Constitution and rule of law?
2) to take care of yourself and others being hurt by this Administration?
PLEASE REPLY— let’s motivate each other:
March 19, 2025 at 11:39 AM
It’s Wednesday:
Let’s stay engaged to #Resist.
What will you do today to:
1) take specific action to uphold our Constitution and rule of law?
2) to take care of yourself and others being hurt by this Administration?
PLEASE REPLY— let’s motivate each other:
Let’s stay engaged to #Resist.
What will you do today to:
1) take specific action to uphold our Constitution and rule of law?
2) to take care of yourself and others being hurt by this Administration?
PLEASE REPLY— let’s motivate each other:
Reposted by Heather Bree
Thanks to all of you, the house Democrats put the second episode of democratic daily download on Bluesky! This is only their second post on this account, we got them to start using it!
Today’s Democratic Daily Download recaps our Medicaid Day of Action. House Democrats joined Senators and Governors across the country to stand up against the Trump-endorsed Republican Budget that cuts Medicaid by $880 Billion.
To follow along: www.youtube.com/@HouseDemocrats
To follow along: www.youtube.com/@HouseDemocrats
March 19, 2025 at 7:11 PM
Thanks to all of you, the house Democrats put the second episode of democratic daily download on Bluesky! This is only their second post on this account, we got them to start using it!
Reposted by Heather Bree
You will see a lot of this in the coming months. For many federal employees, an important act of resistance has been to write emails documenting points or transcribing verbal communications in the hopes it'll be revealed later in litigation, leaks or FOIA www.propublica.org/article/trum...
Emails Reveal Top IRS Lawyer Warned Trump Firings Were a “Fraud” on the Courts
The Trump administration cited “performance” failures to justify its mass firing of IRS workers. But this claim was “false,” a senior agency attorney warned officials, because the administration had n...
www.propublica.org
March 19, 2025 at 4:12 PM
You will see a lot of this in the coming months. For many federal employees, an important act of resistance has been to write emails documenting points or transcribing verbal communications in the hopes it'll be revealed later in litigation, leaks or FOIA www.propublica.org/article/trum...
Reposted by Heather Bree
This is a fantastic point -- I think it better describes why I'm emphatically opposed to LLMs replacing front line government staff. The problems you could run into at a field office for almost any service can get *weird* and it's super easy for an LLM to mess it up. #civictech
i feel compelled to remind everyone that chatgpt/LLMs are functionally the *opposite* of an actual expert.
the more your problems are unusual or novel, the more likely LLMS are to be wrong. they are least helpful when it's most important
the more your problems are unusual or novel, the more likely LLMS are to be wrong. they are least helpful when it's most important
March 19, 2025 at 3:27 PM
This is a fantastic point -- I think it better describes why I'm emphatically opposed to LLMs replacing front line government staff. The problems you could run into at a field office for almost any service can get *weird* and it's super easy for an LLM to mess it up. #civictech
Reposted by Heather Bree
I'm helping organize nationwide #HandsOffUSPS teach-in events in late April/early May (exact date tbd very soon). We will need folks to #volunteer to host an event in their neighborhood/community. Resources will be provided - we just need people to spread the word & step up to host! Stay tuned! 💌📬
How about gathering to demonstrate in front of every local post office nationwide at a certain date & time? @indivisible.org would you organize this? #SaveThePostOffice #HandsOffUSPS
The Constitution literally requires a postal service. USPS delivers everywhere, six days a week, more reliably and for less money than FedEx or UPS. Privatizing it just means higher prices, worse service, and screwing over rural areas...all so billionaires can cash in.
March 19, 2025 at 3:55 PM
I'm helping organize nationwide #HandsOffUSPS teach-in events in late April/early May (exact date tbd very soon). We will need folks to #volunteer to host an event in their neighborhood/community. Resources will be provided - we just need people to spread the word & step up to host! Stay tuned! 💌📬
Reposted by Heather Bree
California! I have just updated the Gun Violence Data Hub's dataset on lost and stolen guns in the state.
We also have never-before-released info on the number of ghost guns recovered by agency. Check it out ⬇️ datahub.thetrace.org/dataset/cali...
We also have never-before-released info on the number of ghost guns recovered by agency. Check it out ⬇️ datahub.thetrace.org/dataset/cali...
California Ghost Guns, Stolen Guns, and More
Data on ghost guns, unserialized guns and serialized guns recovered by law enforcement in California, as well as data on lost and stolen guns.
datahub.thetrace.org
March 19, 2025 at 4:18 PM
California! I have just updated the Gun Violence Data Hub's dataset on lost and stolen guns in the state.
We also have never-before-released info on the number of ghost guns recovered by agency. Check it out ⬇️ datahub.thetrace.org/dataset/cali...
We also have never-before-released info on the number of ghost guns recovered by agency. Check it out ⬇️ datahub.thetrace.org/dataset/cali...
Reposted by Heather Bree
Thank you! @albeccia.bsky.social for submitting this!
March 19, 2025 at 4:22 PM
Thank you! @albeccia.bsky.social for submitting this!
Reposted by Heather Bree
Reposted by Heather Bree
Sunshine Week reminds us that the federal Freedom of Information Act is our best tool to counter "excessive secrecy and hold officials accountable," writes @laurenleharper.bsky.social.
"But FOIA is in trouble, and we need congressional help to fix it."
"But FOIA is in trouble, and we need congressional help to fix it."
Secrecy gives the government control. FOIA can restore the power imbalance • Michigan Advance
Excessive government secrecy takes many forms, including denying or ignoring FOIA requests and deleting data from websites. These tactics prevent the public from meaningfully participating in self-gov...
michiganadvance.com
March 18, 2025 at 8:30 PM
Sunshine Week reminds us that the federal Freedom of Information Act is our best tool to counter "excessive secrecy and hold officials accountable," writes @laurenleharper.bsky.social.
"But FOIA is in trouble, and we need congressional help to fix it."
"But FOIA is in trouble, and we need congressional help to fix it."