Sarah Abernathy
@sarahabernathy.bsky.social
Education budget wonk, loves my family and pets and Kindle
Was inspired to google “rule of law” and saw this description still posted on the federal courts webpage (courts.gov), even though this Administration no longer seems to abide by the concept of being accountable to or equally enforcing enacted laws.
October 29, 2025 at 2:47 AM
Was inspired to google “rule of law” and saw this description still posted on the federal courts webpage (courts.gov), even though this Administration no longer seems to abide by the concept of being accountable to or equally enforcing enacted laws.
Two scenes that are totally out of place in DC today: two ducks on a downtown sidewalk trying to cross L Street, and about 10 armored vehicles and police cars with 20 soldiers and officers milling around in front of an entirely peaceful Union Station plaza.
August 20, 2025 at 9:23 PM
Two scenes that are totally out of place in DC today: two ducks on a downtown sidewalk trying to cross L Street, and about 10 armored vehicles and police cars with 20 soldiers and officers milling around in front of an entirely peaceful Union Station plaza.
Budget humor for the win in a week with otherwise only bad budget news! Excerpt: “Please note that the Senate parliamentarian has demanded we abide by an arcane and arbitrary set of eligibility requirements for this list” www.washingtonpost.com/entertainmen...
Analysis | ‘Get off my plane!’ The 10 greatest action-movie presidents, ranked.
From “White House Down” to “Heads of State” to “Independence Day,” the movie presidents we’d most want to see in charge. Now get off my plane.
www.washingtonpost.com
July 4, 2025 at 2:03 PM
Budget humor for the win in a week with otherwise only bad budget news! Excerpt: “Please note that the Senate parliamentarian has demanded we abide by an arcane and arbitrary set of eligibility requirements for this list” www.washingtonpost.com/entertainmen...
Gazpacho! Fun to say, easy to make, refreshing to eat (drink?) on a 100-degree day. Highly recommend as an antidote to most of what I worry about all day.
June 25, 2025 at 2:38 AM
Gazpacho! Fun to say, easy to make, refreshing to eat (drink?) on a 100-degree day. Highly recommend as an antidote to most of what I worry about all day.
#HandsOff in DC!
Many tens of thousands peacefully rally by the Washington for democracy - “government of the people, by the people, for the people” to
Many tens of thousands peacefully rally by the Washington for democracy - “government of the people, by the people, for the people” to
April 5, 2025 at 8:18 PM
#HandsOff in DC!
Many tens of thousands peacefully rally by the Washington for democracy - “government of the people, by the people, for the people” to
Many tens of thousands peacefully rally by the Washington for democracy - “government of the people, by the people, for the people” to
Just amazing the contempt for higher education and for those working for non-profits (I guess profits are always the goal), and the determination to impose their power over others by inflicting pain
I'm old enough to remember when unilateral presidential alteration of the terms of student loan programs was considered on the right to be the greatest threat to the constitutional order.
March 8, 2025 at 4:42 AM
Just amazing the contempt for higher education and for those working for non-profits (I guess profits are always the goal), and the determination to impose their power over others by inflicting pain
Linda McMahon said at her confirmation hearing that she agreed the Dept of Education can’t be eliminated with Congress voting to do so, but an Executive Order as described below would still do a lot of damage to students, families, and communities that need federal investments in education
1) he's going to announce this at the not-a-SOTU
2) he doesn't have the legal or constitutional authority to do this, either
3) this will be profoundly and deeply unpopular
4) they'll do a lot of damage to public education before the courts can stop it
2) he doesn't have the legal or constitutional authority to do this, either
3) this will be profoundly and deeply unpopular
4) they'll do a lot of damage to public education before the courts can stop it
SCOOP: Now that Linda McMahon is confirmed/sworn in as secretary, Trump will be imminently issuing an executive order eliminating the Department of Education.
I’ve obtained a draft of an email that McMahon will be sending to staff re: the EO and the department’s “final mission”.
Here is a portion:
I’ve obtained a draft of an email that McMahon will be sending to staff re: the EO and the department’s “final mission”.
Here is a portion:
March 4, 2025 at 12:40 AM
Linda McMahon said at her confirmation hearing that she agreed the Dept of Education can’t be eliminated with Congress voting to do so, but an Executive Order as described below would still do a lot of damage to students, families, and communities that need federal investments in education
I am horrified by the total disregard for human beings, the law, and why we have a government as the Trump Administration, with blind support from Congressional Republicans, gleefully dismantles needed services, ends jobs, and plans to cut health care & education to fund tax cuts for the wealthy
February 14, 2025 at 3:39 AM
I am horrified by the total disregard for human beings, the law, and why we have a government as the Trump Administration, with blind support from Congressional Republicans, gleefully dismantles needed services, ends jobs, and plans to cut health care & education to fund tax cuts for the wealthy
The move will needlessly harm so many people who rely on federally funded grants for life-altering services. Needlessly harmed.
NEW — OMB temporarily pauses all agency grants and loans programs.
Per copy of memo: "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."
Per copy of memo: "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."
January 28, 2025 at 2:12 AM
The move will needlessly harm so many people who rely on federally funded grants for life-altering services. Needlessly harmed.
A nice moment for DC - what we need this weekend ahead of Monday!
January 19, 2025 at 2:45 AM
A nice moment for DC - what we need this weekend ahead of Monday!
The Committee for Education Funding (CEF) - where I work - advocates for federal investments in education. The public supports this funding! I wrote about why these investments are important for all students, for communities, and our economic competitiveness at cef.org/wp-content/u...
December 4, 2024 at 8:38 PM
The Committee for Education Funding (CEF) - where I work - advocates for federal investments in education. The public supports this funding! I wrote about why these investments are important for all students, for communities, and our economic competitiveness at cef.org/wp-content/u...
I see everyone posting deep thoughts and good analysis, but I just can’t get over that with all the technology available, my new Virginia license has a blurry grey-tone photo that could be anyone, and font so tiny and blurry that I’m not sure even with readers on I can make out the numbers
November 22, 2024 at 3:57 AM
I see everyone posting deep thoughts and good analysis, but I just can’t get over that with all the technology available, my new Virginia license has a blurry grey-tone photo that could be anyone, and font so tiny and blurry that I’m not sure even with readers on I can make out the numbers
Nominating Linda McMahon to as Secretary of Education (as a consolation prize for not naming her Secretary of Commerce) may be better news for the future of education than nominating a leader in dismantling public education or with a theology to push…maybe?
November 20, 2024 at 1:59 AM
Nominating Linda McMahon to as Secretary of Education (as a consolation prize for not naming her Secretary of Commerce) may be better news for the future of education than nominating a leader in dismantling public education or with a theology to push…maybe?
Blue skies over Washington with its memorials, monuments, and workplace of government reminding us of fights worth fighting.
November 16, 2024 at 3:37 AM
Blue skies over Washington with its memorials, monuments, and workplace of government reminding us of fights worth fighting.
Let’s hope there are some blue skies ahead; they seem far away, but they always return.
November 15, 2024 at 12:30 AM
Let’s hope there are some blue skies ahead; they seem far away, but they always return.