Will Vandenberg 🇺🇦

NEW: In a statement, VoteVets calls out Donald Trump for recklessly launching an unconstitutional, aimless war with Iran, ignoring warnings and endangering lives while lying to Americans. Republicans must hold him accountable.

“If Kamala wins, only death and destruction await because she is the candidate of endless wars. I am the candidate of peace. I am peace.” - Trump, 11/1/24

This destroyed building is said by Iran to be a primary school for girls in the south of Iran. Dozens killed.

How Agricultural Concerns Are Shifting Iowa’s Political Landscape Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Art Cullen says agricultural issues like water pollution and cancer risk could sway the midterm elections.

I talked to @artcullen.bsky.social for @civileats.com about Iowans’ concerns around water quality, cancer, and other issues related to agriculture and how those might impact upcoming elections. Read it here: civileats.com/2026/02/24/h...

NH Secretary of State Scanlan says meeting with FBI on 2026 elections was ‘routine’ • New Hampshire Bulletin New Hampshire Secretary of State David Scanlan, the state’s chief election official, said that a virtual meeting he had with federal officials was “a routine meeting.”

New Hampshire Secretary of State David Scanlan, the state’s chief election official, said a virtual meeting he had with federal officials was “a routine meeting.” From @willskipworth.bsky.social #NHPolitics

Trans Kansans struggle with reality of Legislature’s cruelty as driver’s licenses are invalidated • Kansas Reflector The Kansas Department of Revenue this week sent a letter to Kansans affected by a new law, which took effect Thursday, that requires the gender marker on a driver’s license to match a person’s sex at ...

Trans Kansans struggle with reality of Legislature’s cruelty as driver’s licenses are invalidated | via @journalist-sherman.bsky.social and @crazeywriter.bsky.social #ksleg

This table of contents, my G'd

Next time you are near Jersey City, check out Ani Ramen, which Just Blaze co-owns! (2 PATH train stops from NYC World Trade Center or 3 stops from Newark Penn Station.)

New survey finds large, bipartisan majorities of voters in eight Western states oppose Trump’s rollbacks of public lands protections.

Morning Digest: Trump's crusade to punish Indiana Republicans isn't going so hot He promised pain after the GOP spurned a remap, but he's struggling to deliver

Donald Trump endorsed five primary challengers as part of his drive to punish Indiana state senators who scuttled his plans to re-gerrymander the state’s congressional districts. One of them abruptly dropped out last week.

Georgia Republican Assembly president fined for First Liberty fraud • Georgia Recorder Darnell was fined $500,000 for his involvement in an alleged Ponzi scheme that authorities say defrauded investors out of $140 million.

The president of the Georgia Republican Assembly, a right wing political organization, has been fined $500,000 for his alleged involvement in an suspected Ponzi scheme that authorities say defrauded investors out of $140 million, the Georgia Secretary of State’s office announced Wednesday.

Some states are helping to make Obamacare plans more affordable At least 10 Democratic-leaning states are using their own money to help people buy Obamacare health plans, at least partially replacing the federal tax credits that expired at the end of last year.

At least 10 Democratic-leaning states are using their own money to help people buy Obamacare health plans, at least partially replacing the federal tax credits that expired at the end of last year.

via @stateline.org

STOP THE SAVE ACT (Updated) All Eyes on the Senate

STOP THE SAVE ACT (Updated)
My new piece is up with lots of info about the SAVE America Act - the version of the SAVE Act that passed the House and is before the Senate this week. This is a MUST READ and then ACT.
open.substack.com/pub/sherrily...

University of Texas regents OK limits on controversial subjects Opponents warned the policy’s vagueness could push professors to self-censor and leave students less prepared for the workplace.

The University of Texas System’s Board of Regents unanimously approved a rule requiring its universities to ensure students can graduate without studying “unnecessary controversial subjects,” despite warnings it could leave them less prepared for the real world.

Texas ain’t free… if its state university system is afraid of ‘controversial topics.’

Utah Supreme Court rejects Legislature’s redistricting appeal; court-ordered map still stands • Utah News Dispatch Yet again, the Utah Supreme Court has ruled against the Utah Legislature in the state’s ongoing redistricting legal battle.

Yet again, the Utah Supreme Court has ruled against the Utah Legislature in the state’s ongoing redistricting legal battle. #utpol #utleg

🚨NEW POLL🚨

If you're not paying attention to this race, you should.

4th poll in a row. We're tied.

This win would send SHOCKWAVES throughout the country and show the billionaire class that we the people still run this country. 🇺🇸

Nebraska likely to see another winner-take-all debate, this time for constitutional amendment • Nebraska Examiner A lawmaker who prioritized the push to let people vote alluded to fed funding risk from the Trump admin as a reason for the latest push.

HE'S BAAAACK! Gov. Jim Pillen again asked the GOP majority in the officially nonpartisan Legislature to help shift Nebraska toward awarding all five Electoral College votes for president to the statewide winner. He still lacks the votes.

From Juan Salinas II:

buff.ly/asBryrU

Democrats would be favored to flip 3 Colorado congressional seats under new redistricting proposal The proposal, brought by an organization called Coloradans for a Level Playing Field, would ask voters to temporarily override the independent redistricting process that they enshrined in the…

Democrats would be favored to win seven of Colorado’s eight congressional seats in 2028 and 2030 — up from the four seats the party controls now — under a redistricting plan that would plunge the state into the national fight over gerrymandering.

coloradosun.com/2026/02/18/c...

Is Iowa the Senate Race No One Saw Coming? The Democratic field for Iowa's open Senate seat just got smaller, as Nathan Sage endorsed Josh Turek amid signs a blue wave could flip Iowa

time.com/7378634/demo...

Utah’s anti-gerrymandering law may go back to voters: Prop 4 repeal effort files 200,000 signatures • Utah News Dispatch The effort to repeal Utah’s voter-approved, anti-gerrymandering law known as Proposition 4 submitted more than 200,000 signatures for verification.

The effort to repeal Utah’s voter-approved, anti-gerrymandering law known as Proposition 4 hit a big milestone Sunday night as supporters submitted more than 200,000 signatures to county clerks for verification. 

But the effort is still far from over. #utpol

Abortion rights advocates condemn Arizona GOP for undermining 2024 voter mandate Arizona Democrats urge GOP to respect abortion mandate as Republicans continue proposing restrictions despite overwhelming voter approval

“It got the most ‘yes’ votes in Arizona history. Yet Republican politicians at the Capitol are refusing to accept that reality. They are blatantly ignoring the will of the people.”

story via @glorihuh.bsky.social

Alaska permits federal government to purge individual Alaskans from voter list | Alaska Beacon A memo signed by the head of the Division of Elections in December, says the state must clean its voter roll of people identified by the DOJ.

Alaska permits federal government to purge individual Alaskans from voter list, writes @alaska.bsky.social for the @alaskabeacon.com alaskabeacon.com/2026/02/13/a...

Tribute to late Charlie Kirk illuminates division in Kansas politics on meaning of free speech • Kansas Reflector Republicans and Democrats in Kansas Legislature take bright-line approach to questions about Charlie Kirk's use of First Amendment right to speech.

Tribute to late Charlie Kirk illuminates division in Kansas politics on meaning of free speech | #ksleg via @kansascarpenter.bsky.social kansasreflector.com/2026/02/15/t...

Dem primary fundraising in Nebraska’s 2nd District tightens as GOP race narrows • Nebraska Examiner The Nebraska Democratic Party primary's crowded field nitpicked each other's campaign cash tallies for signs of weakness and momentum.

NE-02 FUNDRAISING: The Democratic U.S. House primary in Nebraska's Omaha-based 2nd Congressional District is getting more competitive in fundraising, but its shape remains largely the same, while the GOP primary has lost a key competitor.

From Juan Salinas II:

Cowboy culture and ‘stand your ground’ laws clash in Arizona Mayes hit on a murky conflict between an Arizonan’s right to self-defense and encounters with law enforcement

“Arizonans do not want masked agents entering their homes without warrants. It is un-American and threatens the rights and safety of everyone in our state.”

So dark — Tennessee-based @CoreCivic wants to be making even more money on ICE detentions.

“ICE was our first customer 43 years ago, and has been our largest customer for over a decade,” CoreCivic CEO Patrick Swindle said on the earnings call.

theappeal.org/ice-geo-grou...

Bookman: FBI raid in Fulton County plainly orchestrated by 2020 election deniers • Georgia Recorder The moment that FBI agents showed up with a search warrant at the Fulton County Election Hub and Operation Center, one of two things had to be true. The first was that federal investigators must have ...

New commentary from @jaybookman.bsky.social: FBI raid in Fulton County plainly orchestrated by 2020 election deniers

As rogue ICE agents & unaccountable Trump Admin. officials attack our Constitutional protections, Maine advances new privacy legislation - based on a Maryland law - to address immigration data collection concerns.

Missouri judge will decide if new gerrymandered congressional map is now in effect Missouri Secretary of State Denny Hoskins, going against a century of precedent, declared that the Republican-favoring congressional map took effect Dec. 11, even though opponents had submitted enough signatures to likely force a statewide referendum.

Missouri Secretary of State Denny Hoskins, going against a century of precedent, declared that the Republican-favoring congressional map took effect Dec. 11. (@missouriindependent.com)

US House approves bill mandating proof of citizenship for voting in federal elections • Nevada Current WASHINGTON — The U.S. House passed legislation Wednesday that would require the public to produce a passport or birth certificate in most cases to register to vote, less than a year out from November ...

Democrats and voting rights advocates say the measure, if passed by the Senate and signed into law, would disenfranchise the roughly 146 million Americans who do not have a passport and turn the election into chaos.