LWSMITH10011

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

YouTube video by MSNBC 'The plan is to scuttle the agency': Democrats demand answers from Musk on Social Security cuts

"They're going to privatize it." - Rep. John Larson (D-CT) on Republican plans for Social Security

Like other policies recently imposed on Social Security by DOGE, this will burden millions and help no one.

All it will do is overwhelm the Social Security field offices and create longer wait times for everyone.

This makes no sense — unless the real goal is to break our Social Security system.

The airport panopticon is getting people deported and detained One lawyer called it a ‘feedback loop’ of surveillance.

Visa holders face more risk than US citizens & permanent residents from device searches at ports of entry, Saira Hussain told @theverge.com. “If you refuse a search of your phone or your laptop, customs officers can use that to potentially revoke your visa.”

Social Security Says DOGE Ruling Could Force Agency to Shut Down The Trump administration is threatening to all but shut down the Social Security Administration in response to a judge’s ruling blocking activities by Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency —...

BREAKING: "The Trump administration is threatening to all but shut down the Social Security Administration in response to a judge’s ruling blocking activities by Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency — an action that could delay payments to millions of beneficiaries."