LibraryDenizenK

"Graphic about Idaho lawmakers and public bathrooms with text and bathroom sign." Transcribed Text: "Idaho lawmakers want to police all public bathrooms."

Idaho's new bathroom bills would ban trans people from accessing public spaces and make it a crime for them to simply exist in a public bathroom. These harmful bills would also increase policing of physical appearance, making bathrooms less private and safe.

Idaho Legislature’s budget committee chairmen defend new cuts to state services • Idaho Capital Sun Tanner and Grow said uncertainty over the cost of conforming to Trump’s tax cuts and state revenues are driving the need for the new cuts.

The Idaho Legislature's budget writers say the state has a spending problem.

But budget documents presented to JFAC last fall show spending has essentially been flat for 21 years, when adjusted for inflation and population growth. #idleg #idpol

From my colleague Clark Corbin.

February 19, 2026 In the United Kingdom this morning, Thames Valley Police arrested Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, formerly Prince Andrew, on suspicion that he committed misconduct in public office.

This morning, Heather Cox Richardson starts with consequences for a Royal and a president for their actions, contrasted with Trump and his Association of Assassins, for which he plans to steal 10 billion from taxpayers. And more egregious Trump bullshit:

The cover-up just never ends. Rest in peace, Ruben Ray Martinez.

How to Organize Safely in the Age of Surveillance From threat modeling to encrypted collaboration apps, we’ve collected experts’ tips and tools for safely and effectively building a group—even while being targeted and tracked by the powerful.

“I would like to say that the best encryption is the noisy bar where you're whispering to somebody. But we always do have to think about surveillance architecture, which is incredibly prevalent,” FPF's Harlo Holmes told @wired.com.

Alright Texas! Early voting has officially started. It’s time to show this nation exactly what Texas is made of. Make a voting plan—get to the polls and make your voices heard.

Republican plan would send taxpayer dollars to Turning Point USA to memorialize Charlie Kirk An Arizona bill for a Charlie Kirk license plate would funnel $17 per plate to Turning Point USA, whose affiliates paid the sponsor millions

“To me, to use a government program to financially benefit one political organization sets just a troubling precedent, and it risks blurring the lines between state neutrality and political advocacy.”

story via @caitlinsievers.bsky.social

White House directing DHS to hunt for voter fraud by naturalized citizens: Sources Agents will be required to turn over names of immigrants who voted before they became citizens — and then explain to the White House why they weren’t charged with a crime.

“The Department of Homeland Security’s chief investigations arm this week launched a broader nationwide campaign to investigate and prosecute naturalized citizens who may have improperly voted in past elections before they became citizens, according to documents reviewed by MS NOW.”

Utah’s largest employer is freezing pension contributions for more than 22,000 workers Intermountain Health will freeze its pension plan in 2026 and shift fully to 401(k)s, affecting more than 22,000 Utah caregivers.

Intermountain Health sounded the death knell for its employee pension plan, affecting more than 22,000 people.
According to its most recent 990 tax form, CEO Robert Allen’s total compensation in 2024 was $9,715,356.

She never lived to see this moment, but it’s worth remembering that none of this would have happened without Virginia Giuffre.

She had the courage to speak out against power and privilege when it was just her word against Andrew’s.

Thanks to her, justice & accountability may finally have its day.

Should you take your phone to the United States? What happens if border agents demand your smartphone and passcode?

Should you take your phone/computer to the US? You take your chances.
www.bbc.com/news/technol...?

Defense Dept. and Anthropic Square Off in Dispute Over A.I. Safety

“using A.I. for domestic mass surveillance & mass propaganda”... “entirely illegitimate”... A.I.-automated weapons could greatly increase the risks “of democratic governments turning them against their own people to seize power” tech CEO warns. I'm worried too! www.nytimes.com/2026/02/18/t...

So they say they are capturing data? Not people? If they are filing and processing data about people, they are doing both. Especially if they are tapping into health databanks.

Can we take the cost of the consultant out of the legislature's personal health care fund?

Remember back in the day when Congress used to be in charge of appropriations?

Opinion | One Man Stole $660 Million. He’ll Never Pay It Back.

“Illiberal governments tend to live or die by their ability to sustain corruption. They rely for support on a network of oligarchs, who in turn are tied to the administration’s success. It happened in Hungary, Turkey, Russia and increasingly, it is happening here.”

www.nytimes.com/2026/02/18/o...

Side-by-side image of Ruby Bridges. On the right, a recent color photo shows her smiling, wearing a black off-the-shoulder top and a large cross necklace against a green backdrop. On the left, a historic black-and-white photo shows Ruby as a young girl in a dress walking down school steps escorted by federal marshals during school integration. A dark band across the bottom contains the quote: “Racism is a grown-up disease and we must stop using our children to spread it.” -Ruby Bridges.

Ruby Bridges walked into history at six.
Adults chose hate. She chose courage.

Racism was never about children.
It was always about adults who refused to change.

Civil rights activist who integrated a formerly whites-only school during the New Orleans desegregation crisis.

Black History. Always.🖤

The Right-Wingification of UT Continues • The Austin Chronicle Texas Republicans’ efforts to control what is taught at the University of Texas passed another milestone last week, as UT administrators announced that the school will consolidate its highly regarded ...

The right-wingification of UT continues as the school's leaders take “a giant leap backwards.”

Maryland, New Mexico Become Latest Blue States to Ban Local Contracts with ICE - Bolts Governors Lujan Grisham and Moore signed laws barring local sheriffs and police from partnering with ICE’s 287(g) program, joining a string of ten states with similar prohibitions.

NEW: Major, BFD action by blue states standing up to ICE.

Maryland, on Tuesday, banned local law enforcement from being part of ICE's notorious 287(g) program. 

That automatically forces *9* sheriffs out of their ICE contract!

And New Mexico did the same last week:

The Link Between Air Pollution And Alzheimer's Is Now Clearer Than Ever Tiny air pollution particles may be doing more than harming our lungs.

Our Dystopian Zombie Future 😐

Air pollution particles may be doing more than harming our lungs. long-term exposure to PM2.5 linked to higher risk of Alzheimer's disease: these particles could be affecting the brain more directly than scientists assumed
www.sciencealert.com/the-link-bet...

Amid concern over cuts, Idaho Gov. Brad Little says setting the budget is the Legislature’s job  • Idaho Capital Sun Idaho Gov. Brad Little and his staff have repeatedly said the permanent new cuts are not necessary and will do longterm harm to the state.

Deliberate budget sabotage by the #idleg Republican super-majority look to include boat inspection for quagga mussels and potato disease research.

Our governor says hey, don't look to ME for leadership!

Gosh, what could go wrong?
idahocapitalsun.com/2026/02/17/a...

Interesting. I wonder if her husband's firm will continue to benefit from this $20M DHS contract.

www.citizen.org/news/dhs-ass...

Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band Announce 'Land of Hope and Dreams' U.S. Tour - Rolling Stone

remember when a government murdering people was newsworthy

I'd get excited about solar powered trains, solar shades over irrigation ditches, tech to neutralize forever chemicals, biotech to chew up plastics, sustainable fishing practices....

Check your local library to see if they have it on DVD. Even if they don't, they might be able to get it through interlibrary loan from another library.

Meta patents AI that takes over a dead person’s account to keep posting and chatting - Dexerto Meta has been granted a patent outlining an AI system capable of simulating a user’s activity on social media to post after their death.

Delete your IG and FB and what else is Meta now? They want to be allowed to let Meta post as you after you die. Wtaf ?! #pinks #momsky

interesting time for Micron to just have shuttered its consumer storage division.

Noem personally intervened to stop an aircraft from helping to find a guardsman who fell overboard in order to deport a few more immigrants.

How Legal Immigration Became a Deportation Trap Under Trump, the Homeland Security agency responsible for processing visas and green cards has become a site for easy arrests.

On top of everything else, this county's legal immigration system - what many refer to as "coming here the right way" - essentially no longer exists.