Kathy Boockvar

Behold the Social Security Administration’s AI Training Video Social Security workers are being asked to use an AI chatbot. An animated video on how to do so failed to mention that the chatbot can’t be trusted with personally identifiable information.

Social Security workers are being asked to use an AI chatbot. An animated video on how to do so failed to mention that the chatbot can’t be trusted with personally identifiable information. www.wired.com/story/social...

But the defendants’ threshold arguments falter with respect to the plaintiffs’ challenges to Sections 2(a) and 2(d). And on the merits, the plaintiffs are substantially likely to prevail: Our Constitution entrusts Congress and the States—not the President—with the authority to regulate federal elections. Consistent with that allocation of power, Congress is currently debating legislation that would effect many of the changes the President purports to order. See Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act, H.R. 22, 119th Cong. (2025). And no statutory delegation of authority to the Executive Branch permits the President to short-circuit Congress’s deliberative process by executive order.

The district court's opinion partially & temporarily blocking key parts of Trump's executive order on elections is careful, persuasive, and seems very likely to be upheld on appeal, even before this Supreme Court. The key point: Presidents don't have authority to regulate federal elections:

Wow! Updated estimates now put turnout at 2.3 million — and we’re still waiting on reports from coalition members in other areas, with some events yet to begin! If you’re free, come out and join us. Over 1,400 events are planned across the country.

This is Utah in case anyone’s wondering how pissed off people are. I have never seen anything like this.

What Courts Can Do If the Trump Administration Defies Court Orders Judges have a range of tools for enforcing their orders in the face of noncompliance.

If the Trump administration ignores court orders, judges have a range of options available to ensure compliance. Here are some of the most powerful tools at their disposal:

Top US Election Security Watchdog Forced to Stop Election Security Work The US Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency has frozen efforts to aid states in securing elections, according to an internal memo viewed by WIRED.

Last night, we broke the news that the top US election security watchdog has frozen all of its election security work and is reviewing everything it has done to help state and local officials secure their elections for the past eight years. https://wrd.cm/3QkfGh3

*also- “wow, what an incredible game”

Great things happen in Philadelphia!

Trump administration cuts teams that fight foreign election interference “This is an invitation for more foreign interference,” one expert told The Washington Post.

The administration’s dismantling of teams in the government fighting foreign interference in elections “is an invitation for more foreign interference,” the Brennan Center’s @larrynorden.bsky.social told @washingtonpost.com www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202...

Happy Black History Month. Listen to, support, fund, and uplift Black people. #BHM #BlackHistoryMonth

Black journos: go.bsky.app/QvS5FNb

Black scientists: go.bsky.app/Ao3Qt9a

Black academics: go.bsky.app/RyKSzcb

Black democracy experts: go.bsky.app/6WTBzhX

Black in tech: go.bsky.app/2RAbS3g

Job anxiety in the US is REAL. But some good news... there's lots of hiring being done in the greater democracy/civics space. Here's a little 💼✨democracy job roundup💫💼 (link to all these at the end of thread):

1. @icivics.bsky.social Senior Director, Product Innovation & Design — remote, $140K

A bird's-eye view of a former Auschwitz II-Birkenau camp showing a wide dirt pathway flanked by parallel rows of barbed-wire fences. Groups of visitors walk along the path, surrounded by the remnants of brick structures and barracks, now reduced to foundations. Green grass contrasts with the somber history of the site, as the path leads toward a guard tower in the distance.

Auschwitz was at the end of a long process. It did not start from gas chambers.

This hatred was gradually developed by humans. From ideas, words, stereotypes & prejudice through legal exclusion, dehumanization & escalating violence... to systematic and industrial murder.

Auschwitz took time.

CDC ordered to stop working with WHO immediately, upending expectations of an extended withdrawal U.S. public health officials have been told to stop working with the World Health Organization, effective immediately. The surprise decision is focused on the U.S.

Withdrawing US funding from the World Health Organization is a potential disaster for public health worldwide, due to the impact it will have on the important work the WHO does. Preventing the CDC from even *talking* with WHO personnel is a step much farther toward undermining global health & safety

🎉💜🦅🏈🔥!

Wow - new TV spot just launched today, airing across North Carolina, from a GOP-aligned interest group, slamming the @ncgop.bsky.social and Jefferson Griffin for canceling NCians votes:

‘Never seen anything like this’: Trump’s team halts NIH meetings and travel In an unprecedented move, research-grant reviews have been suspended indefinitely at the world’s largest public funder of biomedical research.

In an unprecedented move, research-grant reviews have been suspended indefinitely at the world’s largest public funder of biomedical research

https://go.nature.com/4gc0Bc5

Egg prices are soaring again. Here’s why and what to expect Bird flu has killed millions of hens in recent weeks, shrinking the supply of eggs and hiking up prices at grocery stores.

The price of eggs in the US is spiking, mostly due to #H5N1 bird flu. Solving the problem requires urgent, important communications from the CDC & FDA* and rapid development of research by the NIH**

* Currently paused by Executive Order
** Grant reviews now all canceled
www.kcur.org/news/2025-01...

The National Zoo’s popular Panda Cam is back. Here’s what to know. The National Zoo relaunched the Panda Cam, which will stream the lives of Bao Li and Qing Bao in their new D.C. home.

The National Zoo relaunched the Panda Cam, which will stream the lives of Bao Li and Qing Bao in their new D.C. home.

Here's what you need to know.

A map of a portion of Ireland next to the Atlantic Ocean that is apparently now the Kerry Oceab

Ireland with the shade 😂

“In a bold move, Kerry Co Co have renamed the Atlantic to the Kerry Ocean, citing “it was ours anyway.” Locals suggest maps will now feature Dingle as the Earth's central meridian.”

Credit: Kerry News

How Trump’s security clearances order could make the U.S. vulnerable President Donald Trump’s plan to grant temporary security clearances to anyone he chooses opens the door to breaches and even espionage, experts say.

How Trump’s security clearances order could make the U.S. vulnerable
www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202...

Tonight there will be a Blue Supermoon at 9:35 ET

The moon will appear about 8% larger than a normal full moon and 15% brighter than a normal full moon.

The next one won't be until January 2037. Keep any eye out tonight!