Read Against the Machine

In Wake of Court Losses, Rhode Island Codifies ‘Right to Read’ Rhode Island signed into law the Freedom to Read Act on July 10. The law is the first to guarantee writers and readers a right to sue for censorship, and shields librarians from criminal prosecution.

www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/...

A little positive news in the book/library censorship arena.

Rhode Island governor signed into law a Freedom to Reed Act. The law contains protections for schools and librarians, and guarantees writers and readers a right to sue for censorship.

We would really love to see you in Springfield.

Listen, I met with a tiny group from Joplin over zoom last December. They didn’t know what to do after the election, but they knew they had to do something.

They invited me down to speak in Joplin a few weeks ago. That tiny group ended up organizing 350 people for the event.

Never give up.

Restricted-Access Federal Facility, Effective July 7, 2025 Effective July 7, 2025, the National Archives at College Park, MD, will become a restricted-access federal facility with access only for visitors with a legitimate business need. It will no longer be open to the general public. Security officers will enforce these restrictions, and your cooperation is appreciated.

We don’t know exactly what this means, but if it means what it seems like it means, it's very bad.
"Effective July 7, 2025, the National Archives will become a restricted-access federal facility with access only for visitors with a legitimate business need..."
www.archives.gov/college-park

I am looking forward to the discussion!

I hope you’ll join me, @ruthbenghiat.bsky.social, @coreydukes.bsky.social, and Lauren DesRosiers this Thursday at 6 p.m. for an engaging discussion on how YOU can fight for our democracy.

Register here: ushr.zoomgov.com/webinar/regi...

OR tune in to our livestream on Facebook and YouTube.

Our June book discussion will be held this Wednesday evening, 6 pm at the Library Center. We’re discussing the second half of “How Democracies Die.” All are welcome to attend.

What we learned yesterday.

The Times They Are a-Changin'

Jess Piper speaks about Anne Applebaum’s Autocracy, Inc, and her recent trip to Joplin, MO.

This is another important history lesson that we need to heed!
Historian
@hcrichardson.bsky.social dedicated her substack to it last night!
Read it here! 👇🏻

open.substack.com/pub/heatherc...

There are no mudsills in America, just human beings, all created equal with certain inalienable rights. Among these rights are Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness. Everyone deserves an education, so that they can stay free and pursue happiness.

May 31, 2025 “I would like to speak briefly and simply about a serious national condition,” Senator Margaret Chase Smith of Maine told her colleagues on June 1, 1950.

May 31, 2025

NEWS: Ranking Members Raskin, Jayapal, Crockett, Scanlon, Nadler, Johnson, and McBath release a joint statement on the Department of Justice’s unfounded targeting of Rep. LaMonica.

Lawyer for Venezuelans deported to El Salvador prison arrested Ruth López held without access to lawyers at secret location accused of ‘embezzlement’ a decade ago

None of the 278 men sent to CECOT have been returned. Meanwhile their lawyer has been arrested and "disappeared" in El Salvador.

R.I. Judge Orders Halt to IMLS Dismantling In Rhode Island v. Trump, district court judge John J. McConnell Jr. ordered a halt to an executive order dismantling the Institute of Museum and Library Services. Plaintiffs in ALA v. Sonderling requ...

Good news for libraries, at least for now.

www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/...

Would love to see you in Springfield, do you have any future trips planned?

A patriotic graphic with a picture of Jess Piper.

I will be in Joplin on May 31 at the library at 2 PM.

I’d love to see you there.

Why I’m Resigning from the NSF and Library of Congress I cannot participate in systems that require dishonesty as the price of belonging.

"For me, the answer now lies in refusal, the withdrawal of participation from systems that require dishonesty as the price of belonging."

Today I am resigning from the National Science Board and the Library of Congress Scholars Council.

I wrote about my decision in TIME.

time.com/7285045/resi...

Our next book club meeting is tomorrow, 6-7:30 pm at the Library Center. We’re discussing the first four chapters of How Democracies Die. See you there!

Saving Democracy in Missouri: Next Steps A lot of organizing goes into a statewide signature gathering campaign. Get together with the Respect MO Voters Field Team to learn about next steps in our fight to protect the voice of the people.

Learn what comes next in our fight to protect the voice of the people this Friday, April 25th at 6pm at The Library Center in Springfield!

actionnetwork.org/events/savin...

#RespectMOVoters #moleg #missouri

International students stripped of legal status in the US are piling up wins in court Some international students in the U.S. who have had their legal status terminated in recent weeks have found a measure of success in court, with federal judges around the country issuing orders to re...

apnews.com/article/inte...

International students in Missouri sue Trump administration over revoked status • Missouri Independent Five international college students in Missouri have filed a federal lawsuit challenging the termination of their student registrations.

Five international college students in Missouri have filed a federal lawsuit challenging the termination of their student registrations by the Department of Homeland Security. #moleg #mogov via @thebeacon.bsky.social

The secession of the billionaire class Friends,

Robert Reich on billionaire escapism:

open.substack.com/pub/robertre...

Increasingly hearing from wobbling Trump supporters that we need to “leave identity politics behind and focus on class issues, not race issues.”

We need to focus on both. We can hold two values at the same time. We can address two problems at the same time.

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.

"We've slid into some form of authoritarianism," says Steven Levitsky, professor of government at Harvard, & co-author of How Democracies Die. "It is relatively mild compared to some others. It is certainly reversible, but we are no longer living in a liberal democracy."

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

We Are Living Through Moral Collapse. How Democrats Can Strike Back Moral deregulation and moral collapse can inspire a new democratic politics that leads with values of justice, solidarity, equity, and accountability

open.substack.com/pub/lucid/p/...

Last call to RSVP for Fascism 101 with Dr. Heidi Backes. The zoom webinar is this Tuesday, April 22 at 7:30 PM. Check your email, our discord channel, or reach out to me here for info on how to RSVP to get the zoom url.

We've sent over 300 emails since about 4pm - let's keep up the pressure, Missouri!

#RespectMOVoters #moleg

I hope everyone realizes that scrubbing historical references from web sites is no different than burning books

How Democracies Die by Steven Levitsky and Daniel Ziblatt

Book Discussion: Wednesday, May 14 and June 25, 6-7:30 PM
@ The Library Center, Community Room B
4653 S Campbell Ave, Springfield, MO 65810

Want to join our Discord? If you’re local to Springfield MO area, DM us or comment here for a link.