LWSMITH10011

Can Cory Doctorow’s Book ‘Enshittification’ Change the Tech Debate? Cory Doctorow’s new book looks to offer comfort, and solutions, to the inescapable feeling that digital platforms have gotten worse.

“He’s an idea machine,” EFF’s Cindy Cohn said of @pluralistic.net.web.brid.gy in @NYTimes.com. “He’s the source of more ideas about how technology and people should interact than any single person.”
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/05/...

Trump Canceled 94 Million Pounds of Food Aid. Here’s What Never Arrived. ProPublica obtained records from the Department of Agriculture that detail the millions of pounds of food, down to the number of eggs, that never reached food banks because of the administration’s cut...

Records obtained by ProPublica indicate that food banks across the country were expecting more than 27 million pounds of chicken, 2 million gallons of milk, 10 million pounds of dried fruit and 60 million eggs that never arrived.

We told the DPC about this. It has known for years.
But yesterday it released this in a statement - perhaps in an attempt to absolve itself from the location scandal shown on national TV recently.
The statement is incorrect.

A graphic with a photo of Congress in session. The text in white font says, "We need every member of Congress to pledge to stand with the American people and protect–NOT CUT–our Social Security benefits!"

In its 90-year history, Social Security has never faced a bigger threat than Donald Trump and Elon Musk in their attempts to undermine the system we built with our contributions.

Congress must take swift action to defend and protect our earned benefits.

NO ONE voted for an unelected oligarch to get access to our private data.

Elon Musk’s DOGE henchmen copied full names, addresses, Social Security numbers, and dates of birth―everything that a hacker would need to steal our identities.

Trump's Big Ugly Bill will hurt Social Security.

But that didn't stop Trump's Social Security Commissioner from sending out a highly partisan email celebrating the bill to millions of Americans.

Social Security pulls field office staff to answer overwhelmed phone line The agency, which serves 73 million beneficiaries, has struggled to improve customer service amid cutbacks, long wait times and a crashing website.

The Trump administration pushed out thousands of experienced Social Security staffers.

Now they're desperately moving people from field offices to the phone lines, trying to hide the massive customer service crisis they've created.

It won't work.

Yikes. He shared it himself not long ago… and already forgot… Trump now claims he “had nothing to do with” a depiction of himself as the pope, even though it was just posted on his and the White House’s accounts. It was offensive, un-American, and disgraceful and that’s putting it mildly.

A reminder: Both sheriffs and local police have the right to refuse ICE detainers. These requests are voluntary and not legally enforceable under federal law. Across the country, many sheriffs and police departments choose not to cooperate and that choice is fully within their legal rights.

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Congress Has Demanded Answers to ICE Detaining Americans. The Administration Has Responded With Silence. Amid increasing reports that U.S. citizens have been caught up in the Trump administration’s immigration dragnet, a dozen members of Congress have written to the government with pointed questions.…

ICE and Customs and Border Protection said in earlier statements to ProPublica that their agents are allowed to ask for citizens’ identification.

The agencies did not provide explanations for their actions in most of the cases we asked about.

Calling billshit as the Founding Fathers would never have imagined the elected Congress would be so stupid and lax.

We’ve talked about this before, but we wanted to expand on it a little more. Late last week, Elon Musk’s so-called “Department of Government Efficiency” (DOGE) effectively took control of the Department of the Interior without a single Senate confirmation, public hearing, or vote.

@scarycutedinos.bsky.social Thanks!

RIP to the Google Privacy Sandbox : Chrome will keep third-party cookies, a win for web giant's ad rivals

"By refusing to implement even the bare minimum protections they once promised, Google is making clear that user privacy comes second to their surveillance-based business model,” EFF’s Lena Cohen told @theregister.com.

Low angle view of plants and spring blossoms with USPS delivery truck in background.

Spring reminder to support USPS (aka stop gov from gutting it and trying to make it private)! 🌸💌

Through war and peace, through boom and bust, through health and pandemic, not a single Social Security payment has been missed!

Elon Musk’s Demolition Crew Elon Musk, the world’s richest man, has been unleashed on federal agencies. ProPublica is attempting to document who is working with him and what they are doing.

UPDATED TODAY: We've added 11 more names to our DOGE tracker, bringing the total to 77 staffers affiliated with Musk.

Plus, you can now filter our database by federal agency. Check it out ⤵️

Privacy on the Map: How States Are Fighting Location Surveillance Location data is highly sensitive, and without proper protections, it can be used to harm those who are already vulnerable. The digital trail we leave behind can reveal far more than we think, and wit...

Location data has been used to target many vulnerable groups -- immigrants, the LGBTQ+ community, and anyone seeking reproductive healthcare. It’s a tool of surveillance, and it’s being weaponized. Here’s how some legislators are fighting back to protect your privacy.

I'm old enough to remember when America freed people from concentration camps instead of imprisoning them there. #FreeKilmarAbregoGarcia

Trump signed multiple executive orders today targeting environmental protections. One order removes safeguards for a vast marine sanctuary in the south-central Pacific Ocean. The Pacific Remote Islands Marine National Monument had

Trump Team Eyes Politically Connected Startup to Overhaul $700 Billion Government Payments Program A little-known firm with investors linked to JD Vance, Elon Musk and Trump could get a piece of the federal expense card system — and its hundreds of millions in fees. “This goes against all the norma...

Trump admin may tap a little-known firm with investors linked to JD Vance and Elon Musk to help overhaul part of its $700 billion federal expense card system.

Eye-opening reporting from @chrisbing.bsky.social + Avi Asher-Schapiro:
www.propublica.org/article/trum...

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.

One of the all time best BlueSky posts yet — thank you @vanhollen.senate.gov

This is terrifying in America. ICE agents are showing up masked—these abductions must stop. If you’re going to detain someone, show your face, present a warrant, and proper ID. Disappearing people from their families without evidence or accountability isn’t law enforcement—it’s state-sponsored fear.

Ken Paxton is going to take some classes on how to be more ethical He could use some tips.

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has officially announced that he is running for Senate. So here's everything you need to know about him—if you care about reality.

Let's start with the fact that he had to take literal ethics classes after he was indicted for securities fraud. (1/5)

The Hospice Hustle Half of all Americans now die in hospice care. Easy money and a lack of regulation transformed a crusade to provide death with dignity into an industry rife with fraud and exploitation.

Half of all Americans die in hospice care. Easy money and a lack of regulation transformed a crusade to provide death with dignity into an industry rife with fraud and exploitation.

(Published 2022)

A graphic with a portion of a Social Security check. The text says, "Now’s a good time to remind everyone that OVER 99 PERCENT of all Social Security payments are made accurately and on time."

Social Security WORKS because over 99% of all payments are made accurately and on time.

From the lexington community on Reddit Explore this post and more from the lexington community

For my Lexington KY neighbors, over 1000 people attended a protest against Trump with Andy Barr, KY 6th congressional district was a no show. Instead he is hiding behind a Tele-town hall Monday, March 24th, 7:30-9:00 PM Share this and attend no matter what.

www.reddit.com/r/lexington/...

An ICE Contractor Is Worth Billions. It’s Still Fighting to Pay Detainees as Little as $1 a Day to Work. GEO Group, whose stock is valued at $4 billion, says that state minimum wage laws don’t apply to the cleaning services that it’s asked detained migrants to perform at facilities where they’re kept.

GEO Group, whose stock is valued at $4 billion, says that Washington's minimum wage laws don’t apply to the cleaning services that it’s asked detained migrants to perform at facilities where they’re kept.

By @mckenziefunk.com