Laura Brown

Yesterday ICE invaded the space of a health clinic in Hillsboro OR serving low income people; a colleague who directs the psychology portion of the clinic called me for support in figuring out how to protect her student therapists and their clients. ICE stalking people needing health care, wrong!

Families could start losing access to Head Start if shutdown continues If the government shutdown extends beyond Nov. 1, more than 65,000 children could be at risk of losing access to Head Start, the federal early-learning program for low-income families.

If the government shutdown extends beyond Nov. 1, more than 65,000 children could be at risk of losing access to Head Start, the federal early-learning program for low-income families. n.pr/4hy0p96

Donald Trump’s approval rating Follow our presidential approval rating poll tracker to see how favourably Americans view Mr Trump

"The president's net approval rating is -18%, down 1.3 points since last week."

"[D]issatisfaction with Mr Trump is widespread even in states that voted for him just a few months ago."

Important implications here, including for Republicans in midterm races.

www.economist.com/interactive/...

Rosa Parks and Helen Keller statues unveiled at the Alabama Capitol Statues of Rosa Parks and Helen Keller were unveiled Friday on the grounds of the Alabama Capitol. The monuments honoring the two Alabama natives are the first statues of women placed on the state Cap...

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54 more items are on Jess Craven’s list here
chopwoodcarrywaterdailyactions.substack.com/p/extra-extr...

Including a story about this newly unveiled statue of Rosa Parks on the grounds of the Alabama State Capitol

apnews.com/article/alab...

🚨 State of Arizona and Grijalva v. United States House of Representatives Learn more here.

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And about Grijalva, so relevant to releasing the Epstein files:

Arizona filed a lawsuit accusing Speaker Mike Johnson of violating the Constitution by refusing to allow Representative-elect Adelita Grijalva (D) to take her seat in Congress.

www.democracydocket.com/cases/arizon...

The Resistance Reaches into Trump Country – Ash Center

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The weekly good news list by @jesscraven101.bsky.social has 57 items, including:

New research from the Harvard Kennedy School found that the No Kings protests were likely “the most geographically widespread in US history”—reaching deep into Trump country.

ash.harvard.edu/resources/th...

Penn Releases Compact Rejection Letter Sent to McMahon On Friday, the University of Pennsylvania publicly released the letter President J. Larry Jameson sent to Education Secretary Linda McMahon on Oct. 16 rejecting the Trump administration’s proposed “Co...

To U Penn President Jameson:
Thank you so very much for saying no to the proposed “Compact” and also for sharing your letter. These acts of institutional courage make me proud to be a Penn alum.
@upenn.edu
www.institutionalcourage.org

www.insidehighered.com/news/quick-t...

You Might Be Blind to Betrayal. An Expert Explains Why It’s So Hard to See the Truth. How to get your brain out of survival mode and into true safety.

Oprah Daily selected "betrayal blindness" as "word of the week."

Betrayal blindness is a survival strategy, although it comes with costs:
dynamic.uoregon.edu/jjf/defineBT...

Oprah Daily didn't say it, but people can also be blind to institutional betrayal.

www.oprahdaily.com/life/relatio...

How Universities Are Responding to Trump’s Compact The document would require signatories to make sweeping changes to policies and practices. A number of institutions have already said no, and more responses are expected.

"So far, leaders at 11 universities have publicly said they won’t sign the current draft of [Trump's Compact]. . . . No college has publicly taken Trump up on his offer."

So far 11 schools chose courage, said no to tyranny.

www.insidehighered.com/news/governm...

Undaunted Two judges’ inspirational rulings

I believe and I think that the protests and other peaceful resistance make a profound difference.

For one thing, we bolster the courage of brave leaders.

And even if they would be brave without us, they deserve our support when they stand up to tyranny.

contrarian.substack.com/p/undaunted-...

Yeah, this old Zionist, born in the USA, No Kings protestor makes a great Hamasnik. Not. If it weren't so dangerous it would be ludicrous

Words & Phrases We Could Do Without ‘Hamas terrorists, illegal aliens, and violent criminals...’ and antifa too!

“It is past time to acknowledge that the whole antifa/Hamas/illegal immigrant/terrorist demonization shtick is a clumsy, unconstitutional maneuver to weaponize the federal government against anyone who does not fall into line in Trump’s autocracy.” Read Jen Rubin’s latest Words & Phases column.

Pardoned Capitol rioter charged with threatening to murder Hakeem Jeffries at NYC event this week A pardoned Capitol rioter was arrested last weekend for allegedly threatening to kill the top House Democrat.

FLASH: Pardoned Capitol rioter charged with threatening to murder Hakeem Jeffries at NYC event this week

www.cbsnews.com/news/pardone...

For the record, among the many appalling things about Karoline Leavitt, is her standing at a White House podium flashing her large crucifix.

My heart goes out to these men for the suffering they endured and the challenges they still face. #Courage

NYT’s Goldberg Compares Trump’s Method of Authoritarianism to Domestic Abuse: ‘It’s DARVO’ File from Grabien Media

@michellegoldberg.bsky.social discussed Trump's use of DARVO on @weeknightmsnbc.bsky.social.

More about our DARVO research and analysis including our essays about DARVO and TRUMP: www.jjfreyd.com/darvo

grabien.com/file?id=3185...

No Kings protests: What to expect at Saturday's marches around the country This summer, organizers said more than 5 million people participated in No Kings protests against President Trump. Organizers say they expect an even bigger turnout this time around.

We all know that tyranny depends on apathy, fear, learned helplessness, fatalism, passivity.

So no surprise that peaceful marches can help bring down tyrants.

I'm so proud of Americans for standing up for justice, dignity, compassion.

Courage is a joyful choice.

www.npr.org/2025/10/18/n...

YouTube video by jjfreyd At the Seattle No Kings march, 18 October 2025

"[Government derives its] just powers from the consent of the governed . . .."
- Declaration of Independence, 1776

youtu.be/DBTLqpzKwIc

Extra! Extra! 10/19 Post No Kings Delight!

"No matter how dark this moment is, spots of light are appearing everywhere. Read about them, savor them, SHARE THEM!"
-@jesscraven101.bsky.social re her list of good things that have happened this week.

Joyful. Powerful. Inspiring:

chopwoodcarrywaterdailyactions.substack.com/p/extra-extr...

Also from the article: "I finally found a middle-aged man dressed as a frog, in homage to the most familiar of the inflatable costumes at the Portland protests. “We are middle-of-the-road,” he confirmed. He wore a red cape over his green body that read, “Amphifa.”

Amphifa!

Opinion | The Rise of the Inflatable Chicken Resistance

"What is happening to us is as serious as a guillotine. We must harness our best creative, humorous and frivolous selves in order to keep it from falling."

The Singing Revolution (87-91) restored democracy to the Baltics - peaceful creative resistance works.

Gift:

www.nytimes.com/2025/10/20/o...

Resources for Changemakers | Center for Institutional Courage

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DARVO infused obfuscation by the government is institutional betrayal.

Institutional betrayal thrives in secrecy and cover-up.

Institutional courage requires transparency.

It is that basic.

www.institutionalcourage.org/resources-fo...

Letting the health care tax credits expire would devastate American families — and we’re making that crystal clear by giving you the data.

We’ve built graphics showing how much costs would rise in every GOP district.

Let’s start with Mike Johnson (R-LA):

Brutal. Constituents in Jim Jordan's (R-OH) district would have to fork up an additional $16,846 every year to keep their coverage.

A couple living in Rep. Mike Lawler's (R-NY) district earning $82,800 annually would see an increase in costs of $13,459 every year. 😬

In Loco Parentis - Film and Storytelling | Seed&Spark Trigger Warning: This six-year-long investigation focuses on the survivors of sexual abuse in two elite boarding schools and the cover-up that hid these stories for decades. By supporting this project, you will ensure that these stories will be finally be heard for the first time.

@jamescsanchez.bsky.social has been working on a documentary about institutional betrayal and sexual abuse at elite boarding schools. I expect it is going to be incredible.

The film makers are now seeking donations to complete the documentary.

See the preview at:
seedandspark.com/fund/in-loco...

Terrific article.

What the Epstein Scandal Tells us About the #MeToo Movement Calls to release the Epstein files mark a new era of the #MeToo movement.

We thought it was important to lift up and write something from the survivors’ perspective as the Epstein files controversy continues to grow. Please see our op Ed today in Time. @liftourvoices.bsky.social @julieroginsky.bsky.social

time.com/7305402/epst...

"To the women and girls abused by Jeffrey Epstein: you owe nothing to anyone. But you deserve a world that believes you, supports you, and protects you. And there is an army of people who will continue working to build that world with you."

Independents Drive Trump's Approval to 37% Second-Term Low President Donald Trump's job approval rating has fallen to 37%, the lowest of his second term as a result of a decrease among independents.

"Trump’s rating has fallen 10 percentage points among U.S. adults since he began his second term in January, including a 17-point decline among independents, to 29%, matching his lowest rating with that group in either of his terms."

news.gallup.com/poll/692879/...