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Hundreds of scholars say U.S. is swiftly heading toward authoritarianism Most — but not all — political scientists are deeply troubled by the president's attempts to expand executive power, according to a national survey.

www.npr.org/2025/04/22/n...

I’d give this 10 ⭐️ out of 5 if I could. Absolutely ordering a hard copy. I highly recommend listening to the audiobook because the author narrates it.

#books #5starread #library #audiobook

El Salvador President Nayib Bukele proposes prisoner swap with Maduro for Venezuelan deportees El Salvador President Nayib Bukele proposed carrying out a prisoner swap with Venezuela on Sunday.

El Salvador President Nayib Bukele proposed carrying out a prisoner swap with Venezuela on Sunday. Bukele suggested he would exchange Venezuelan deportees from the United States that his government has kept imprisoned for what he called “political prisoners”.

Photo of Senator Chris Van Hollen with Kilmar Abrego Garcia.

I said my main goal of this trip was to meet with Kilmar. Tonight I had that chance. I have called his wife, Jennifer, to pass along his message of love. I look forward to providing a full update upon my return.

The IRS Free File pilot program helped 140K taxpayers save $5.6M in tax filing costs in 2024.

The program was supposed to be expanded, but now Trump is looking to gut it.

This is a huge handout to the tax prep industry that has lobbied for years to prevent free tax filing.

Bomb it Again Bomb the rubble again. The pieces are not small enough yet. Bomb the bones under the rubble. They are not broken enough yet. Bomb the babies trapped under the rubble. The traces of their slender lives are not silenced yet. Bomb the laws that were never applied to us but which are egregiously used by our opponents. They are not yet toothless enough. Bomb the homes, bomb the teachers, the doctors, the emergency workers: They are not dead enough yet. We need the land for an Ocean Front Property. Because we are worth it.

Bomb it Again

First quarter books for 2025, post 2 of 2.
The Once And Future Witches by Alix E. Harrow
The Teller Of Small Fortunes by Julie Leong
The Round House by Louise Erdrich
The God Of The Woods by Liz Moore

#books #library #librarycard #bookworm #readandreviewed #storygraph

First quarter books for 2025, post 1 of 2.
The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd
The Last White Man by Mohsin Hamid
The Lion Women of Tehran by Marjan Kamali
Beartown by Fredrik Backman

#books #library #librarycard #bookworm #readandreviewed #storygraph

👍

Connecticut Intelligence Center worried that Luigi Mangione is becoming a "Robin Hood" like figure and that "citizens may see Mangione’s alleged actions as an attack against a system designed to work against them," per report obtained under FOIA: prospect.org/justice/2025...

Trump’s Defense Secretary Accidentally Texted War Plans to The Atlantic: ‘I Didn’t Think It Could Be Real,’ Editor Says Pete Hegseth, President Trump's secretary of defense, inadvertently included the top editor of The Atlantic in a Signal text chat group revealing the U.S.'s attack plans on Houthi rebels in Yemen.

variety.com/2025/digital...

Israel has violated the ceasefire in Gaza 266 times since it came into effect on January 19, killing at least 132 people, Palestinian security sources have told Al Jazeera.

🔴 LIVE updates: aje.io/dh48s1

The battle of our day is no longer about Democrats versus Republicans or left versus right.

The choice right now is democracy or dictatorship. And we're sliding faster than I ever thought possible into the latter.

Everyone must choose which side they’re on. Now.

This fight will not be easy. What we're dealing with now is one of the worst stress tests our nation has ever endured. But I believe that we will survive. Do not descend into despair. We Can (And Must) Keep Up The Fight

This fight will not be easy. 

What we're dealing with now is one of the worst stress tests our nation has ever endured.

But I believe that we will survive. 

Do not descend into despair.

queens of steam book cover of Dr. Carla Hayden The First Woman Librarian of Congress by Mari Bolte

In 2016, Dr. Carla Hayden was sworn in as the 14th Librarian of Congress, our National Librarian. She is the first woman and first African American to lead the national library. She is library joy! Dr. Carla Hayden has always sought to bring the wonders of the library into everyone’s lives.

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Republican calls to scrap workplace safety agency Representative Andy Biggs made an earlier bid to abolish the Occupational Safety and Health Administration in 2021.

Republicans have introduced a bill to abolish OSHA.

As a former labor secretary, I know firsthand how crucial this agency is to protecting workers from bosses who cut corners on safety to pad their own pockets.

This is the party of corporate greed, not the party of workers.

Breaking: Trump is Scrubbing HIPAA Info off HHS Website The White House is deleting information on reproductive health privacy and discrimination at pharmacies

At the newsletter right now:

The Trump administration has scrubbed information about HIPAA protections for reproductive rights from the Department of Health and Human Services website.

Trans rights are human rights. Protect trans people.

If you know the creator of this image, please tag them if possible.

#transrightsarehumanrights

On the frontline against bird flu, egg farmers fear they're losing the battle The tools the US used to contain previous bird flu outbreaks just aren't working this time, according to some agricultural experts. Some egg farmers have called for vaccinations for poultry.

The tools the US used to contain previous bird flu outbreaks just aren't working this time, according to some agricultural experts. Some egg farmers have called for vaccinations for poultry.

Shelia and Khristina Hunter, in firefighter gear and helmets, smile in front of a fire engine

Shelia and Khristina Hunter, in firefighter gear, smile together

Khristina Hunter is a firefighter. Her mom is Shelia Hunter, one of the first woman firefighters for the San Francisco Fire Department. The FIRST Black woman! Together, they’re the first mother/daughter duo with the department ✨

HERstory. They just so happen to be my neighbors 🧡
#BlackHistoryMonth

Mychal smiles in his “The Library is for Everyone” shirt from Out of Print clothing

UNSTOPPABLE JOHN: How John Lewis Got His Library Card-and Helped Change History BY NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLING AUTHOR PAT ZIETLOW MILLER, ILLUSTRATED BY JERRY JORDAN

When Congressman John Lewis was a child, he tried to get a library card. He was turned away & told “The Library is not for coloureds” 💔

He’s a civil rights icon, lover of books, recipient of the National Book Award for Young People’s Literature.

“The Library IS for Everyone” 💚
#BlackHistoryMonth

by @juliusgoat.bsky.social

there is a very specific name for the type of person who’d think holocaust remembrance day is “woke”. i wish i could recall what that is.

Nearly 400 USAID contract employees laid off in wake of Trump's 'stop work' order All departments were affected, including the Office of HIV and AIDs, the Office of Infectious Disease and the Child Health and Immunization Division.

All departments were affected, including offices that address HIV and AIDS, infectious disease and child health.

The most important protector of workers' rights you've never heard of Listen now | Why Jennifer Abruzzo is critical

For the last four years, Jennifer Abruzzo vigorously defended workers' rights and cracked down on union-busters as General Counsel at the National Labor Relations Board.

She was one of the strongest pro-worker voices in the federal government.

Trump just fired her.

People are seeking books to teach their kids about diversity & belonging. What I hear: They're looking for books from a plethora of perspectives! Here are a few books, you & your kids may already be reading them ☺️
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I’m not at all surprised. 💙