Kim Thackara
@kjwthack.bsky.social
I am just me. Lurker. she/her
“Make a career of humanity. Commit yourself to the noble struggle for equal rights. You will make a better person of yourself, a greater nation of your country, and a finer world to live in.”
— Martin Luther King Jr.
“Make a career of humanity. Commit yourself to the noble struggle for equal rights. You will make a better person of yourself, a greater nation of your country, and a finer world to live in.”
— Martin Luther King Jr.
Reposted by Kim Thackara
The Times identified 120+ instances in which guards were described as having punched, kicked or stomped on inmates, smashed their fingers in cell doors, held their legs apart and struck their genitals with batons, and even waterboarded them — all while they were handcuffed or otherwise restrained.
Restrained, Beaten, Asphyxiated: New York Prison Guards’ Brutality Grows
www.nytimes.com
November 24, 2025 at 1:56 PM
The Times identified 120+ instances in which guards were described as having punched, kicked or stomped on inmates, smashed their fingers in cell doors, held their legs apart and struck their genitals with batons, and even waterboarded them — all while they were handcuffed or otherwise restrained.
Reposted by Kim Thackara
If the Affordable Care Act tax credits expire, approximately 339,100 workers will lose their jobs - and as a result of the job losses, state and local tax revenues will decline by $2.5 billion. This could lead to cuts to public education.
www.commonwealthfund.org/publications...
www.commonwealthfund.org/publications...
Expiring ACA Premium Tax Credits Could Lead to Nearly 340,000 Jobs Lost Across the U.S. in 2026
Unless Congress acts quickly to extend the enhanced ACA marketplace premium tax credits, nearly 5 million people could lose health insurance coverage in 2026.
www.commonwealthfund.org
October 18, 2025 at 4:53 AM
If the Affordable Care Act tax credits expire, approximately 339,100 workers will lose their jobs - and as a result of the job losses, state and local tax revenues will decline by $2.5 billion. This could lead to cuts to public education.
www.commonwealthfund.org/publications...
www.commonwealthfund.org/publications...
Reposted by Kim Thackara
I’m really gonna ask you please not to turn your nose up at the WSJ story and sneer that it’s a distraction.
These men harmed real people. They used their power and money to trap and abuse them.
That’s not a distraction, actually. That’s central to what matters.
These men harmed real people. They used their power and money to trap and abuse them.
That’s not a distraction, actually. That’s central to what matters.
July 18, 2025 at 2:37 AM
I’m really gonna ask you please not to turn your nose up at the WSJ story and sneer that it’s a distraction.
These men harmed real people. They used their power and money to trap and abuse them.
That’s not a distraction, actually. That’s central to what matters.
These men harmed real people. They used their power and money to trap and abuse them.
That’s not a distraction, actually. That’s central to what matters.
Reposted by Kim Thackara
More than 130,000 government pages have gone dark in a purge that one scientist likened to a “digital book burning.” A group of librarians and archivists is fighting back.
The Volunteer Data Hoarders Resisting Trump’s Purge
Can librarians and guerrilla archivists save the country’s files from DOGE?
nyer.cm
May 1, 2025 at 12:04 AM
More than 130,000 government pages have gone dark in a purge that one scientist likened to a “digital book burning.” A group of librarians and archivists is fighting back.
Reposted by Kim Thackara
NIAID's Integrated Research Facility is one of the few federal facilities charged with studying Ebola. Tuesday afternoon, all of its work was put on indefinite pause by Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s department. www.wired.com/story/hhs-ni...
RFK Jr.'s HHS Orders Lab Studying Deadly Infectious Diseases to Stop Research
NIAID's Integrated Research Facility is one of the few federal facilities charged with studying Ebola. Tuesday afternoon, all of its work was put on indefinite pause by Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s department.
www.wired.com
April 30, 2025 at 10:00 PM
NIAID's Integrated Research Facility is one of the few federal facilities charged with studying Ebola. Tuesday afternoon, all of its work was put on indefinite pause by Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s department. www.wired.com/story/hhs-ni...
Reposted by Kim Thackara
A Mother Jones investigation based on firsthand accounts from ICE detainees in Texas reveals how Venezuelans were nearly removed from the country under the Alien Enemies Act without a chance to contest the allegations against them.
The men who could be sent to El Salvador next
A Mother Jones investigation based on firsthand accounts from ICE detainees in Texas reveals how Venezuelans were nearly removed from the country under the Alien Enemies Act without a chance to contes...
www.motherjones.com
April 30, 2025 at 5:33 PM
A Mother Jones investigation based on firsthand accounts from ICE detainees in Texas reveals how Venezuelans were nearly removed from the country under the Alien Enemies Act without a chance to contest the allegations against them.
Reposted by Kim Thackara
NEW: Within the EPA is a small program called IRIS, which measures the threat of toxic chemicals.
Two new bills pose the gravest threat to the program’s existence since it was created four decades ago.
Two new bills pose the gravest threat to the program’s existence since it was created four decades ago.
Industry-Backed Legislation Would Bar the Use of Science Behind Hundreds of Environmental Protections
Two bills in Congress would prohibit the Environmental Protection Agency from using hundreds of chemical assessments completed by its IRIS program in environmental regulations or enforcement.
propub.li
March 6, 2025 at 12:00 PM
NEW: Within the EPA is a small program called IRIS, which measures the threat of toxic chemicals.
Two new bills pose the gravest threat to the program’s existence since it was created four decades ago.
Two new bills pose the gravest threat to the program’s existence since it was created four decades ago.
Reposted by Kim Thackara
Fund managers have said that Trump’s Make America Great Again agenda has instead unleashed a Make Europe Great Again trade that is reordering global financial markets. www.ft.com/content/2e81...
March 6, 2025 at 12:10 PM
Fund managers have said that Trump’s Make America Great Again agenda has instead unleashed a Make Europe Great Again trade that is reordering global financial markets. www.ft.com/content/2e81...
Reposted by Kim Thackara
USAToday [Feb 24] -- In a setback for Trump admin, a fed judge indefinitely blocks move of 12 trans women to men's prison, finding women likely to prevail & indefinitely extending a Jan 30 TRO. Judge rejected govt argument that women would be "safer" in men's prison.[@rikiwilchins.bsky.social]
Judge blocks Trump-ordered transfer of transgender women inmates to male prisons
President Donald Trump has ordered the government to recognize only two sexes. Transgender people are fighting the orders in federal court.
www.usatoday.com
February 25, 2025 at 11:29 AM
USAToday [Feb 24] -- In a setback for Trump admin, a fed judge indefinitely blocks move of 12 trans women to men's prison, finding women likely to prevail & indefinitely extending a Jan 30 TRO. Judge rejected govt argument that women would be "safer" in men's prison.[@rikiwilchins.bsky.social]
Reposted by Kim Thackara
At Trump’s behest, Republicans are fielding Medicaid cuts in the range of hundreds of billions of dollars. The change in income limits that determine eligibility, which already vary by state, could place millions at risk of losing health care.
Trump's Medicaid cuts would leave millions without health care
The human cost will be brutal—unless a few Republicans develop spines.
www.motherjones.com
February 25, 2025 at 2:13 PM
At Trump’s behest, Republicans are fielding Medicaid cuts in the range of hundreds of billions of dollars. The change in income limits that determine eligibility, which already vary by state, could place millions at risk of losing health care.
Reposted by Kim Thackara
the tl has been DOGE all the time, but who actually runs DOGE? we still don't know.
Not Even DOGE Employees Know Who’s Legally Running DOGE
Despite all appearances, the White House insists that Elon Musk is not in charge of DOGE. US DOGE Service employees can’t get a straight answer about who is.
www.wired.com
February 25, 2025 at 2:27 PM
the tl has been DOGE all the time, but who actually runs DOGE? we still don't know.
Reposted by Kim Thackara
Democratic Leaders Stand Real Still In Hopes No One Notices Them
Democratic Leaders Stand Real Still In Hopes No One Notices Them
WASHINGTON—With the elected officials trying their hardest not to move a muscle, reports confirmed Monday that top Democratic leaders in Congress were standing real still in hopes that the American pe...
theonion.com
February 24, 2025 at 4:04 PM
Democratic Leaders Stand Real Still In Hopes No One Notices Them
Reposted by Kim Thackara
BIG: DC Metro Police decided they had sufficient evidence to arrest sitting GOP Congressman and sent warrant request to USATTY's office. Acting USATTY Martin, who's been explicitly acting as Trump's personal attorney, ignored it. talkingpointsmemo.com/edblog/big-b...
Big Big Scandal Brewing at DC US Attys Office
There’s a big, big scandal brewing beneath the already big scandal of...
talkingpointsmemo.com
February 25, 2025 at 3:43 AM
BIG: DC Metro Police decided they had sufficient evidence to arrest sitting GOP Congressman and sent warrant request to USATTY's office. Acting USATTY Martin, who's been explicitly acting as Trump's personal attorney, ignored it. talkingpointsmemo.com/edblog/big-b...
Reposted by Kim Thackara
Here's @bluestein.bsky.social's uncensored thread of the town hall held by Rep. Rich McCormick (R-GA), in which an unhappy audience pushes back against DOGE cuts: threadreaderapp.com/thread/18927...
Over on X, simple tweets by my colleague Greg Bluestein of the Atlanta Journal Constitution have been blocked. They were nothing but video of a town hall held by Rep. Rich McCormick R-GA where he was asked questions about DOGE
February 21, 2025 at 3:31 AM
Here's @bluestein.bsky.social's uncensored thread of the town hall held by Rep. Rich McCormick (R-GA), in which an unhappy audience pushes back against DOGE cuts: threadreaderapp.com/thread/18927...
Reposted by Kim Thackara
Big, growing crowd just west of the U.S. Capitol protesting Trump, Musk and DOGE on President’s Day. “Hey Congress, grow a spine,” they shout, gathering for a rally around the reflecting pool.
February 17, 2025 at 5:19 PM
Big, growing crowd just west of the U.S. Capitol protesting Trump, Musk and DOGE on President’s Day. “Hey Congress, grow a spine,” they shout, gathering for a rally around the reflecting pool.
Reposted by Kim Thackara
Protests are taking place all over the country tonight against cuts to vital federal services. Here in Washington, people are marching to SpaceX’s offices demanding Musk be ousted from the government.
February 19, 2025 at 11:39 PM
Protests are taking place all over the country tonight against cuts to vital federal services. Here in Washington, people are marching to SpaceX’s offices demanding Musk be ousted from the government.
Reposted by Kim Thackara
“You can build all the dick rockets you want to go to Mars while you try to leave the rest of us on the burning Earth. We’re gonna take control. This is our world, and it’s our government, and it’s our money.”
— Sara Nelson, Association of Flight Attendants president
— Sara Nelson, Association of Flight Attendants president
February 20, 2025 at 12:40 AM
“You can build all the dick rockets you want to go to Mars while you try to leave the rest of us on the burning Earth. We’re gonna take control. This is our world, and it’s our government, and it’s our money.”
— Sara Nelson, Association of Flight Attendants president
— Sara Nelson, Association of Flight Attendants president
Reposted by Kim Thackara
This whole saga has, I think, demonstrated very well my contention that American political journalists believe that they deserve all of the respect and deference that comes with filling a vital societal role, while rejecting the idea that holding such a position also entails duties and obligations.
Trump is blacklisting a news outlet for using a name he doesn't like.
It's that simple.
So why aren't more reporters and media outlets speaking out more vehemently to help The AP? In part, I'm told, it's because the WH Correspondents' Association is trying to work out a solution behind the scenes.
It's that simple.
So why aren't more reporters and media outlets speaking out more vehemently to help The AP? In part, I'm told, it's because the WH Correspondents' Association is trying to work out a solution behind the scenes.
February 20, 2025 at 4:48 AM
This whole saga has, I think, demonstrated very well my contention that American political journalists believe that they deserve all of the respect and deference that comes with filling a vital societal role, while rejecting the idea that holding such a position also entails duties and obligations.
Reposted by Kim Thackara
SPLC deliberately gutted its Hatewatch imprint. They have no full time investigative reporters working in the intelligence project, which covers the radical right.
They moved the editor of Hatewatch into the comms department.
Spend your money elsewhere during Trump II.
They moved the editor of Hatewatch into the comms department.
Spend your money elsewhere during Trump II.
2025 will be a test—one that the SPLC is prepared for.
Our work to advance #racialjustice and #equity is more crucial than ever to help make the social landscape of the Deep South more just, fair and equitable.
Learn about the Center's mission for 2025: www.splcenter.org/hopewatch/20...
Our work to advance #racialjustice and #equity is more crucial than ever to help make the social landscape of the Deep South more just, fair and equitable.
Learn about the Center's mission for 2025: www.splcenter.org/hopewatch/20...
January 7, 2025 at 5:54 PM
SPLC deliberately gutted its Hatewatch imprint. They have no full time investigative reporters working in the intelligence project, which covers the radical right.
They moved the editor of Hatewatch into the comms department.
Spend your money elsewhere during Trump II.
They moved the editor of Hatewatch into the comms department.
Spend your money elsewhere during Trump II.
Reposted by Kim Thackara
More than 8,000 web pages across more than a dozen U.S. government websites have been taken down since Friday afternoon, a NYT analysis found.
The purges have removed info about vaccines, veterans' care, hate crimes, and scientific research, among many other topics. www.nytimes.com/2025/02/02/u...
The purges have removed info about vaccines, veterans' care, hate crimes, and scientific research, among many other topics. www.nytimes.com/2025/02/02/u...
Thousands of U.S. Government Web Pages Have Been Taken Down Since Friday
Federal agencies moved to satisfy Trump’s orders to remove topics like diversity initiatives and “gender ideology.”
www.nytimes.com
February 4, 2025 at 3:05 PM
More than 8,000 web pages across more than a dozen U.S. government websites have been taken down since Friday afternoon, a NYT analysis found.
The purges have removed info about vaccines, veterans' care, hate crimes, and scientific research, among many other topics. www.nytimes.com/2025/02/02/u...
The purges have removed info about vaccines, veterans' care, hate crimes, and scientific research, among many other topics. www.nytimes.com/2025/02/02/u...
Reposted by Kim Thackara
Just wanna take a pause on voting reform to say WHAT THE ACTUAL FUCK IS THIS.
February 5, 2025 at 12:39 AM
Just wanna take a pause on voting reform to say WHAT THE ACTUAL FUCK IS THIS.
Reposted by Kim Thackara
NEWS: Sources tell me that DOGE is setting its sights on the Department of Labor next. DOL workers have been ordered to give DOGE access to whatever they ask for—or risk termination.
“We’re supposed to stop everything we’re doing and do whatever the DOGE kids ask… It feels dirty and illegal.”
“We’re supposed to stop everything we’re doing and do whatever the DOGE kids ask… It feels dirty and illegal.”
February 4, 2025 at 10:02 PM
NEWS: Sources tell me that DOGE is setting its sights on the Department of Labor next. DOL workers have been ordered to give DOGE access to whatever they ask for—or risk termination.
“We’re supposed to stop everything we’re doing and do whatever the DOGE kids ask… It feels dirty and illegal.”
“We’re supposed to stop everything we’re doing and do whatever the DOGE kids ask… It feels dirty and illegal.”
Reposted by Kim Thackara
Elon Musk staff has been caught installing hard drives inside the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), the Treasury Department, and the General Services Administration (GSA).
February 1, 2025 at 1:14 AM
Elon Musk staff has been caught installing hard drives inside the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), the Treasury Department, and the General Services Administration (GSA).
Reposted by Kim Thackara
It would be fantastic if major federal institutions would acknowledge that the executive branch cannot legally unilaterally cancel or redistribute congressionally appropriated funding on ideological grounds and thus they have no legal obligation to comply with such directives
Trump funding freeze a blatant violation of Constitution, federal law: Legal experts
The Constitution, federal law and court decisions make it clear: President Donald Trump's order to pause federal funding is against the law, legal experts tell ABC News.
abcnews.go.com
January 31, 2025 at 4:54 AM
It would be fantastic if major federal institutions would acknowledge that the executive branch cannot legally unilaterally cancel or redistribute congressionally appropriated funding on ideological grounds and thus they have no legal obligation to comply with such directives