Erin Retif

Meet Minnesota Bathrobe Lady Sam Stroozas of MPR News | Minnesota Public Radio Earlier this week, an unexpected and fast-moving incident unfolded in St. Paul, Minnesota involving both federal and local law enforcement. As crowds gathered and questions mounted, one of our MPR New...

www.mpr.org/stories/2026...

Meet Minnesota Bathrobe Lady Sam Stroozas of MPR News

I haven’t seen them post this here yet, but I love this follow-up and update from @mprnews.org on the Minnesota “bathrobe lady”

1/ ProPublica collected handwritten letters in mid-January from children held at the Dilley Immigration Processing Center, the same facility where 5-year-old Liam Conejo Ramos was taken.

Hundreds of kids are still detained.

We’ll let the children’s words speak for themselves. 🧵

Failed 19-31. Bray was not lying when he said the Senate didn’t have the votes. They REALLY didn’t have the votes.

“They studied our history, learned our laws, and demonstrated their commitment to our country," Sweeney Bell wrote. "They arrived with their families, filled with pride and excitement, ready to take the oath of citizenship—only to have their dreams denied at the last minute…”

Indiana isn't as big as Texas or Florida, so it rarely gets the same attention nationally. But it's worth keeping an eye on what Indiana is doing, because the GOP has long exploited the state's under-the-radar status as a proving ground for new efforts and policies.

“The bill includes more than maps.

It expressly legalizes mid-census redistricting, and allows precincts to be split between congressional districts for just the 2026 election cycle.

It would also restrict state-level lawsuits by banning temporary restraining orders against the maps.”

“Last school year alone, nearly a half billion dollars went to voucher schools, which legally don’t have to account for where the money goes.”

Yep, I had to apply for disability after both my children in order to try to get some payment during my “maternity leave”. It helped blunt the blow of the health insurance deductible we had to shell out.

‘A little boy, crying and walking away from the scene, was heard saying to his father, “I don’t feel safe.”’

America's Top States for Business 2025: The full rankings CNBC unveils its 19th annual America's Top States for Business ranking, scoring all 50 states on 128 different metrics in 10 key categories of competitiveness.

CNBC recently ranked Indiana as the third best state in the country for "cost of doing business" and the third worst state in the country for "quality of life."

It's almost as if those two things are related...

Indiana Public Broadcasting statewide reporting to end - NewsBreak Indiana Public Broadcasting Stations will be eliminating its entire statewide team of reporters and editors at the end of the year after the Indiana Genera

IN Public Broadcasting Stations are eliminating its statewide team of reporters & editors at the end of 2025. “This is an incredibly difficult decision, but with the loss of state funding…stations have to make some very difficult decisions…,” said Mark Newman, executive director of IPB Stations.

'Plainly unlawful' | Union School Corporation sues over law that will dissolve it in 2027 This year's big property tax reform law included lines that would eliminate the Indiana district.

Union Schools Corporation says a new law would leave students with "no teachers, no textbooks and no fire or safety monitoring."

All-Cause Mortality and Life Expectancy by Birth Cohort Across US States This cohort study characterizes trends in mortality and life expectancy by birth cohort for US states and Washington, DC.

Life expectancy for females in #Indiana fell from 79.4 in 1950 to 78.4 today (-1 year). Over the same time, female life expectancy rose nationally from 81.1 to 84.1 (+3 years).
jamanetwork.com/journals/jam...

After promising to “Make Indiana Healthy Again” with RFK Jr. Indiana Republicans just slashed Indiana public health funding by 75%. I mean, how else are we gonna pay for those Tahoes, helipads, no bid contracts, and bonuses to family members?

Consent before sex “is a sensitive subject for many. I believe it may be different thoughts in different communities” — Sen. Gary Byrne, R-Byrneville.

Some people would call sex without consent rape.

Trump wants to dismantle the Education Dept. Here's what that means for Indiana schools Indiana receives millions of federal dollars to support schools, but President Trump's desire to dismantle the federal agency puts that funding into question.

Politico just reported that Indiana Gov. Mike Braun will be in attendance to President Trump’s exec order signing this afternoon. We heard last week that Bruan approves of Trump’s move to dismantle the Education Department.
More on that here:
www.indystar.com/story/news/e...

NEW: Data obtained by IndyStar through a public records lawsuit shows a massive diversion of Medicaid money intended to provide care for sick and elderly nursing home residents. www.indystar.com/story/news/i...

Where do federal funding cuts leave Indiana? • Indiana Capital Chronicle Federal funding cuts coming from Washington could threaten Indiana's finances, especially for Medicaid and education.

Terrific piece by @wdownard.bsky.social for @indianacapitalchronicle.com on effects proposed federal cuts would have on Indiana

They are huge- 44% of Indiana's budget is federal dollars (the 3rd most in the US)

In Indiana we undertax and underspend

indianacapitalchronicle.com/2025/02/28/w...

Indiana Republicans Move to Ban Student IDs for Voting - Bolts The new restriction, paired with Indiana’s stringent voter ID rules, would make it much harder for many young people to vote in a state that already ranks near-last in turnout.

a side issue that struck me while reporting on Indiana banning student IDs for voting: how freaking strict Indiana is in tossing ballots when you make an error!

at the sole polling place on campus at IU Bloomington, 300 people cast provisional ballots in November... & every single one was rejected!

I've be struggling to comprehend how the sweeping disruptions to federal programs and mountain of executive orders is having a real-time effect on people here in Indianapolis.

So I'm starting this thread to keep track of stories documenting the impact.

Let's go.

Indiana Republicans Move to Ban Student IDs for Voting - Bolts The new restriction, paired with Indiana’s stringent voter ID rules, would make it much harder for many young people to vote in a state that already ranks near-last in turnout.

NEW: Indiana already has stringent voter ID rules... & the GOP is advancing a bill right now to strip university IDs from the list of options you can use.

This would make it much harder for students to vote.

At polling site at IU Bloomington, 2/3rds of voters in November used their student IDs.

@thedailyshow.com with some great advice! Hey @democrats.org I’m in Indiana if you need a guy.

'This is dangerous. It's racist. And it's wrong,' Refugee group locks doors to protect clients Exodus Refugee Immigration said until further notice, the organization is locking its main doors and moving client appointments off-site or virtual.

'This is dangerous. It's racist. And it's wrong,' Refugee group locks doors to protect clients

www.indystar.com/story/news/c...

Exclusive: Trump administration canceling flights for nearly 1,660 Afghan refugees, say U.S official, advocate Nearly 1,660 Afghans cleared by the U.S. government to resettle in the U.S., including family members of active duty U.S. military personnel, are having their flights canceled under President Donald Trump's order suspending U.S. refugee programs, a U.S. official and a leading refugee resettlement advocate said on Monday.

Afghan children awaiting reunification with their families and adults at risk of Taliban retribution because they helped American troops are having their flights to the U.S. canceled as part of Trump's order targeting refugee programs www.reuters.com/world/us/tru...

If you are having an abortion in an anti-choice state, do not tell your boyfriend.

one thing i’m stuck on is this idea that “masculine” energy means license to act like a chud in public, as opposed to more traditional notions of public masculinity, such as those that put a premium on the performance of integrity, honesty, honor and generosity.

Indiana Bill Would Require Rape Victims to Sign Affidavit to Get an Abortion Doctors say this will retraumatize sexual assault survivors

A new Indiana bill would require victims of rape to present doctors with a signed affidavit attesting to the truth of their assault in order to receive an abortion under the state's rape or incest abortion exception.

My favorite part is this: “But Doesn’t All This Get Sorted Out By The Indiana General Assembly In A Public Process”
So much of what happens in the GA is done in caucus, behind closed doors. With supermajorities, caucus is in effect a private legislature.