Madison Pauly
@msjpauly.bsky.social
Reporter covering gender and politics at @motherjones.com, part of the Center for Investigative Reporting
Tips to mpauly at motherjones dot com
Signal: madisonpauly.15
https://www.motherjones.com/author/madison-pauly/
Tips to mpauly at motherjones dot com
Signal: madisonpauly.15
https://www.motherjones.com/author/madison-pauly/
Powerful from @katelynburns.com on the death of Lia Smith.
I'll never forget watching an anti-trans mvmt leader try to reassure her allies that trans youth "are not suicidal because of us." Now, they either deny trans people's suffering or call it a kind of abuse.
www.teenvogue.com/story/politi...
I'll never forget watching an anti-trans mvmt leader try to reassure her allies that trans youth "are not suicidal because of us." Now, they either deny trans people's suffering or call it a kind of abuse.
www.teenvogue.com/story/politi...
November 10, 2025 at 10:46 PM
Powerful from @katelynburns.com on the death of Lia Smith.
I'll never forget watching an anti-trans mvmt leader try to reassure her allies that trans youth "are not suicidal because of us." Now, they either deny trans people's suffering or call it a kind of abuse.
www.teenvogue.com/story/politi...
I'll never forget watching an anti-trans mvmt leader try to reassure her allies that trans youth "are not suicidal because of us." Now, they either deny trans people's suffering or call it a kind of abuse.
www.teenvogue.com/story/politi...
In her dissent, Sotomayor fact-checks the argument that Norway, Sweden, and England have turned against gender-affirming care for minors.
"None," she points out, "has categorically banned doctors from providing patients with all gender-affirming care where medically necessary."
"None," she points out, "has categorically banned doctors from providing patients with all gender-affirming care where medically necessary."
June 18, 2025 at 3:48 PM
In her dissent, Sotomayor fact-checks the argument that Norway, Sweden, and England have turned against gender-affirming care for minors.
"None," she points out, "has categorically banned doctors from providing patients with all gender-affirming care where medically necessary."
"None," she points out, "has categorically banned doctors from providing patients with all gender-affirming care where medically necessary."
Sotomayor pushes back on this in her dissent, writing that the court's analysis "may well suggest that a law
depriving all individuals who ‘have ever, or may someday, menstruate’ of access to health insurance would be sex neutral." Roberts quibbles with the comparison in a footnote.
depriving all individuals who ‘have ever, or may someday, menstruate’ of access to health insurance would be sex neutral." Roberts quibbles with the comparison in a footnote.
June 18, 2025 at 3:17 PM
Sotomayor pushes back on this in her dissent, writing that the court's analysis "may well suggest that a law
depriving all individuals who ‘have ever, or may someday, menstruate’ of access to health insurance would be sex neutral." Roberts quibbles with the comparison in a footnote.
depriving all individuals who ‘have ever, or may someday, menstruate’ of access to health insurance would be sex neutral." Roberts quibbles with the comparison in a footnote.
Roberts' opinion in Skrmetti splits hairs to say that banning treatment for gender dysphoria isn't discrimination based on transgender status. Same as how the court held in the 70s that excluding pregnancy-related disabilities from insurance coverage isn't sex discrimination.
June 18, 2025 at 3:09 PM
Roberts' opinion in Skrmetti splits hairs to say that banning treatment for gender dysphoria isn't discrimination based on transgender status. Same as how the court held in the 70s that excluding pregnancy-related disabilities from insurance coverage isn't sex discrimination.
Powerful moment as Rep. Lateefah Simon addresses the rally at Frank Ogawa Plaza. “You cannot shame a city that was raised by the Panthers,” she says, to a roar. “You cannot erase a history written with the blood of working people.”
June 14, 2025 at 10:20 PM
Powerful moment as Rep. Lateefah Simon addresses the rally at Frank Ogawa Plaza. “You cannot shame a city that was raised by the Panthers,” she says, to a roar. “You cannot erase a history written with the blood of working people.”
This is Apollo’s first protest. He’s here to dispel stigma.
June 14, 2025 at 10:13 PM
This is Apollo’s first protest. He’s here to dispel stigma.
This federal employee came in disguise. “I would be fired on the spot for showing up here today.” She says half her team has been fired since January, though the workload hasn’t changed. “But it’s not about me,” she says. “It’s about the country.”
June 14, 2025 at 10:10 PM
This federal employee came in disguise. “I would be fired on the spot for showing up here today.” She says half her team has been fired since January, though the workload hasn’t changed. “But it’s not about me,” she says. “It’s about the country.”
Here’s David Gifford, 75,
Air Force veteran. He’s here “primarily for the threat to the Constitution,” he tells me. “I took an oath to protect it and I never undid that oath.” Of Trump, he scoffs: “He’s a draft dodger.”
Air Force veteran. He’s here “primarily for the threat to the Constitution,” he tells me. “I took an oath to protect it and I never undid that oath.” Of Trump, he scoffs: “He’s a draft dodger.”
June 14, 2025 at 10:07 PM
Here’s David Gifford, 75,
Air Force veteran. He’s here “primarily for the threat to the Constitution,” he tells me. “I took an oath to protect it and I never undid that oath.” Of Trump, he scoffs: “He’s a draft dodger.”
Air Force veteran. He’s here “primarily for the threat to the Constitution,” he tells me. “I took an oath to protect it and I never undid that oath.” Of Trump, he scoffs: “He’s a draft dodger.”
Reina, of Mexican and Native American ancestry, started protesting in 2006. It’s something she wants to teach the girls in her family (ages 7, 8, and 9) “I’m all about the kids, keeping them safe.” The red handprints are a reminder of missing and murdered indigenous women.
June 14, 2025 at 10:01 PM
Reina, of Mexican and Native American ancestry, started protesting in 2006. It’s something she wants to teach the girls in her family (ages 7, 8, and 9) “I’m all about the kids, keeping them safe.” The red handprints are a reminder of missing and murdered indigenous women.
Kevin and Christina, marching through Oakland’s Chinatown, held signs saying “fight fascism” in many languages. “The Southeast Asian community tends to not attend these types of events for fear,” Kevin says. “We’re standing up for the people who can’t protest,” Christina adds.
June 14, 2025 at 9:52 PM
Kevin and Christina, marching through Oakland’s Chinatown, held signs saying “fight fascism” in many languages. “The Southeast Asian community tends to not attend these types of events for fear,” Kevin says. “We’re standing up for the people who can’t protest,” Christina adds.
Judy DeVries, 80, wore her ID card from the 1968 Democratic convention, where she worked for the anti-war candidate. “I needed to be around all these people,” she told me. “I’ve been so heartsick. I’ve been at this so long. How can this be happening?”
June 14, 2025 at 9:46 PM
Judy DeVries, 80, wore her ID card from the 1968 Democratic convention, where she worked for the anti-war candidate. “I needed to be around all these people,” she told me. “I’ve been so heartsick. I’ve been at this so long. How can this be happening?”
“Our values of justice and love are being assaulted,” says Rev. Kevin Alan Mann, of the First Unitarian Church of Oakland. Queer and trans folks have been coming into the congregation lately, seeking comfort. “People are needing to know there’s still a safe space in this world.”
June 14, 2025 at 9:25 PM
“Our values of justice and love are being assaulted,” says Rev. Kevin Alan Mann, of the First Unitarian Church of Oakland. Queer and trans folks have been coming into the congregation lately, seeking comfort. “People are needing to know there’s still a safe space in this world.”
Oakland loves a protest. Evaline Flamer went to her first (against CA Prop 8) as a toddler, the day after her uncles got married. She’s glad to be back home from college for this one. “There’s something about a community coming together.”
June 14, 2025 at 9:20 PM
Oakland loves a protest. Evaline Flamer went to her first (against CA Prop 8) as a toddler, the day after her uncles got married. She’s glad to be back home from college for this one. “There’s something about a community coming together.”
I am here in beautiful downtown Oakland California for the gigantic #nokings march through downtown. Grabbing a spot with signal to share pics and conversations with folks I’ve met.
June 14, 2025 at 9:13 PM
I am here in beautiful downtown Oakland California for the gigantic #nokings march through downtown. Grabbing a spot with signal to share pics and conversations with folks I’ve met.
cw: suicide
@hencarnell.bsky.social and I spent the last 3 months speaking to families with trans kids.
I'd ask you click to through & listen to Renee tell the story of her daughter's coming out.
It's so important to know that parents like this are out there.
www.motherjones.com/politics/202...
@hencarnell.bsky.social and I spent the last 3 months speaking to families with trans kids.
I'd ask you click to through & listen to Renee tell the story of her daughter's coming out.
It's so important to know that parents like this are out there.
www.motherjones.com/politics/202...
April 14, 2025 at 3:43 PM
cw: suicide
@hencarnell.bsky.social and I spent the last 3 months speaking to families with trans kids.
I'd ask you click to through & listen to Renee tell the story of her daughter's coming out.
It's so important to know that parents like this are out there.
www.motherjones.com/politics/202...
@hencarnell.bsky.social and I spent the last 3 months speaking to families with trans kids.
I'd ask you click to through & listen to Renee tell the story of her daughter's coming out.
It's so important to know that parents like this are out there.
www.motherjones.com/politics/202...
If the government was actually trying to protect children, it wouldn't be forcing providers to cut off kids' medical treatments without weaning or input from their doctor, Judge Hurson points out in a footnote.
![A screenshot of footnote 42 of the opinion reads: "Further: Section 4 of the Healthcare Order directs "immediate[]" action. In doing so, it makes no effort to ensure that a patient is weaned off any medical care they are currently undergoing in conjunction with their medical provider. Such an abrupt halt in. medical care, even if, as Defendants contend, that care is dangerous or ineffective, cuts against Defendants' argument that the policy is substantially related to protecting children."](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:q4s4gptbyqo4kdydps6p4her/bafkreiee47rbg5mguzmquvbowpub4gftevnmfdhvldrszwuc6jlpvltmta@jpeg)
March 5, 2025 at 8:19 PM
If the government was actually trying to protect children, it wouldn't be forcing providers to cut off kids' medical treatments without weaning or input from their doctor, Judge Hurson points out in a footnote.
Intelligence community chatrooms like those that Rufo posted leaks from yesterday—leading 100+ folks being fired, seemingly for talking about their experiences as trans women—have long been widely used for "inappropriate" convos on social & political issues, per a 2021 Inspector General report.
![Excerpt from an Inspector general report: "Misuse of the Intelink Collaboration Platform Application Services Is Systemic.... The IC IG received five separate submissions in fiscal year 2021 about IC individuals who misused the Intelink Collaboration Platform Applications Services. The submissions indicated a pattern of behavior by IC individuals that did not align with the terms of use of U.S. Government systems. For example, the submissions included allegations that IC individuals engaged in inappropriate political and social commentary, and used derogatory and offensive language while communicating with each other through the Intelink Collaboration Platform Application Services. ... INV initiated this investigation because of [redacted] unauthorized "audit" activities. INV did not address the IC-wide systemic misuse of the Intelink Collaboration Platform Application Services as this was outside the scope of INV's investigation.](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:q4s4gptbyqo4kdydps6p4her/bafkreihsn7ipojtmb4nk7rpqyqleplpu62qri3gluaprz7m46qwn2vgovi@jpeg)
February 27, 2025 at 12:52 AM
Intelligence community chatrooms like those that Rufo posted leaks from yesterday—leading 100+ folks being fired, seemingly for talking about their experiences as trans women—have long been widely used for "inappropriate" convos on social & political issues, per a 2021 Inspector General report.
Hang on, did Trump's lawyers just sneak fetal personhood language into the anti-trans EO? @maryrziegler.bsky.social @greerdonley.bsky.social
"'Female' means a person belonging, at conception, to the sex that produces the large reproductive cell."
A person... at conception.
"'Female' means a person belonging, at conception, to the sex that produces the large reproductive cell."
A person... at conception.
January 21, 2025 at 2:26 AM
Hang on, did Trump's lawyers just sneak fetal personhood language into the anti-trans EO? @maryrziegler.bsky.social @greerdonley.bsky.social
"'Female' means a person belonging, at conception, to the sex that produces the large reproductive cell."
A person... at conception.
"'Female' means a person belonging, at conception, to the sex that produces the large reproductive cell."
A person... at conception.
Trump just ordered HRT to be cut off to incarcerated trans people.
Incarcerated people are totally reliant on prison systems for their medical care. They can't just go pay out of pocket.
This is forced detransition.
BOP has 1,529 trans women & 753 trans men. (www.bop.gov/about/statis...)
Incarcerated people are totally reliant on prison systems for their medical care. They can't just go pay out of pocket.
This is forced detransition.
BOP has 1,529 trans women & 753 trans men. (www.bop.gov/about/statis...)
January 21, 2025 at 2:19 AM
Trump just ordered HRT to be cut off to incarcerated trans people.
Incarcerated people are totally reliant on prison systems for their medical care. They can't just go pay out of pocket.
This is forced detransition.
BOP has 1,529 trans women & 753 trans men. (www.bop.gov/about/statis...)
Incarcerated people are totally reliant on prison systems for their medical care. They can't just go pay out of pocket.
This is forced detransition.
BOP has 1,529 trans women & 753 trans men. (www.bop.gov/about/statis...)
Instead it says: "Agencies shall take all necessary steps, as permitted by law, to end the Federal funding of gender ideology."
What does this even mean? How will it affect trans veterans who get their care through the VA? Trans elders on Medicare? The 1 in 5 trans adults who's on Medicaid?
What does this even mean? How will it affect trans veterans who get their care through the VA? Trans elders on Medicare? The 1 in 5 trans adults who's on Medicaid?
January 21, 2025 at 2:12 AM
Instead it says: "Agencies shall take all necessary steps, as permitted by law, to end the Federal funding of gender ideology."
What does this even mean? How will it affect trans veterans who get their care through the VA? Trans elders on Medicare? The 1 in 5 trans adults who's on Medicaid?
What does this even mean? How will it affect trans veterans who get their care through the VA? Trans elders on Medicare? The 1 in 5 trans adults who's on Medicaid?
Chase Strangio, representing TN trans kids and their families, and a doctor, is beginning his argument. He is now the first out trans person to argue before the Supreme Court. He pointed out the personal importance of the case in the NYT yesterday:
December 4, 2024 at 4:15 PM
Chase Strangio, representing TN trans kids and their families, and a doctor, is beginning his argument. He is now the first out trans person to argue before the Supreme Court. He pointed out the personal importance of the case in the NYT yesterday:
To Alito, this case is a question of whether the court should apply Geduldig - a 1974 case that basically said pregnancy discrimination doesn't count as sex discrimination - or Bostock. Alito resurrected Geduldig in his Dobbs opinion. Here's background on this argument from my story from Monday:
December 4, 2024 at 3:31 PM
To Alito, this case is a question of whether the court should apply Geduldig - a 1974 case that basically said pregnancy discrimination doesn't count as sex discrimination - or Bostock. Alito resurrected Geduldig in his Dobbs opinion. Here's background on this argument from my story from Monday: