Olivia Messer

From ‘Kung Flu’ to the Matcha Craze, Asian American Business Owners in Texas Say It’s Been a Whiplash Six Years Global tariffs and racism — along with a skyrocketing demand for Asian flavors — have created a complex environment for AAPI retailers.

“I really felt a push to create a space that combated societal challenges that were suddenly at the forefront of everything,” said Hannah Foy, who runs LauLau in Austin. “We’ve been here since before the trend, and we'll be here long after it’s over.”
thebarbedwire.com/2026/03/11/c...

learning about how massively popular the big bang theory does this for me! people really do live very different lives!!!

We tug now?

‘At a disadvantage’: Faculty and military community members condemn new DOD policy Following Hegseth’s decision to end graduate programs for active-duty service members at Princeton and other top universities, concerns have been expressed about the impacts this policy will have on s...

Spoke with The Daily Princetonian about Pete Hegseth's decision to block service members from studying at @princeton.edu and other colleges he deems "woke"

U.S. at Fault in Strike on School in Iran, Preliminary Inquiry Says Outdated targeting data may have resulted in a mistaken missile strike, according to the ongoing military investigation, which undercuts President Trump’s assertion that Iran could be to blame.

Breaking News: The U.S. was responsible for a missile strike on an Iranian elementary school, an ongoing military investigation found. The inquiry said the strike — which Iranian officials said killed at least 175 people, most of them children — was the result of a targeting mistake.

Transgender Chili’s manager fired over ‘personal values and lifestyle,’ lawsuit says Exclusive: Hudson Webber claims a store manager said another employee at a different location was being terminated ‘for the same reasons’

EXCLUSIVE | Transgender Chili’s manager fired because ‘personal values and lifestyle did not align’ with chain’s, lawsuit says

Kansas revoked 1,700 transgender drivers’ licenses. Some are leaving the state The state's move to retroactively cancel licenses and birth certificates is part of a nationwide escalation of restrictions on the legal recognition of transgender people.

NEW: Kansas revoked 1,700 transgender drivers’ licenses. Some are leaving the state

I spoke to trans Kansans and the one Republican who voted against the law.

For @nbcnews.com:
www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news...

DHS Ousts CBP Privacy Officers Who Questioned ‘Illegal’ Orders Department of Homeland Security leaders removed top privacy officers who objected to mislabeling government records to block their public release, WIRED has learned.

Scoop: DHS ousted multiple privacy officers at CBP after they questioned orders to purposely mislabel records about government surveillance to prevent their release under FOIA.

I don’t think people who aren’t regularly covering the reproductive rights beat realize how common it is for women to be incarcerated for miscarriages.

Sentence commuted for man Alabama was set to execute who didn't kill anyone Governor Kay Ivey has commuted the sentence of Charles “Sonny” Burton to life without parole.

BREAKING: Alabama governor commutes the sentence of a man on death row despite not killing anyone, saying the execution would be "unjust."

They Helped Plan the January 6 Rally. Now Their Events Company Is Raking in Millions in Government Contracts The Trump administration has awarded Event Strategies several contracts—including one that could be worth up to $100 million—with little competition, according to federal filings.

NEW: An events company whose associates helped plan the Jan. 6th insurrection have raked in millions in contracts with the U.S. government since Trump's election.

The firm had previously netted only $50,000 in government contracts over the past decade.

How Trump assassination attempts played into his decision to attack Iran President Donald Trump acknowledged for the first time a personal rationale for attacking Iran: “I got him before he got me.”

Just seven days ago, the Washington Post published this piece noting that “The White House did not provide evidence to support a connection.”

www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202...

I’ve seen them using this talking point, but it’s worth noting that we’re only seeing any evidence of alleged Iranian plots to assassinate Trump now — after the strikes

www.justice.gov/opa/pr/irani...

must-read content from The Wall Street Journal

www.wsj.com/us-news/immi...

BREAKING:

The DNC is suing the Trump admin to try to compel the government to say whether it is planning to put armed federal agents or military personnel at polling places and election offices this year.

More Than 1,000 Voters Were Turned Away Tuesday. ‘Total Chaos’ in Dallas Raises Alarms of Worsening Voter Suppression. As if election nights weren't stressful enough, more than 1,000 voters were reportedly turned away from polling locations.

The chaos all stemmed from a change made by Republicans weeks ago — and is cause for alarm ahead of the general election in November.
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Austin Police said two people remain at local hospitals, with one in critical condition on Thursday, @citycastaustin.bsky.social reports. Fundraisers and a 5K are being hosted to help support the victims. Police said a total of 19 people were shot.
thebarbedwire.com/2026/03/05/a...

“As corny as it sounds, one of the best ways to protect your voting rights is to become as informed a voter as possible. […] don’t rely solely on state sources like votetexas.org and instead seek out resources published by your local county government […] and help your friends to do the same.”

‘Something’s Different’: LGBTQ+ Texans Are Organizing in Defense of Immigrants Concerned parents, teachers, and business owners are showing up to grab whistles, zines, and participate in community-building.

"It's not just the usual, you know, ‘radical Antifa cells,’” Reilly, a 42-year-old trans Texan told @kitoconnell.com, “it's crossed over into the minds of your SUV driving soccer moms.”

thebarbedwire.com/2026/03/02/l...

Pete Hegseth Blew Billions on Fruit Basket Stands, Chairs, and Crab The Defense Department went on a $93 billion spending spree in 2025.

Some of the frivolous September purchases … include a $98,329 Steinway & Sons grand piano for the Air Force chief of staff’s home, $5.3 million for Apple devices such as the new iPad, and an astronomical amount of shellfish, including … $6.9 million worth of lobster tail.

🥹

Well, gas is expensive, and food is expensive, and we’re doing a war nobody wants, but at least there are no jobs

we have a lot of bad things here, but our health care system might be the worst

a cartoon of cinderella and a fairy saying " why it 's like a dream " ALT: a cartoon of cinderella and a fairy saying " why it 's like a dream "

always dreamed of being a pawn in a corporate monopoly one day

so wild that a doctor can say “she needs this” and then we have to let the insurance company make its own separate decision!!!!!!

not to brag buttttttttt guess whose insurance decided she’s allowed to have an MRI 🥳

Ken Paxton Is No Stranger to Controversy. Here’s a Timeline of Nearly 20 Years of Scandals & Headlines. We’ve compiled every serious scandal the Texas Attorney General has faced during his political ascendancy.

We’ve compiled every serious scandal the Attorney General has faced during his political ascendancy, and somehow managed to emerge unscathed from.

thebarbedwire.com/2026/02/17/k...

U.S. Rep. Tony Gonzales Advances to Runoff After Reported Sexual Messages with Staffer Released Gonzales has faced criticism and calls to step down — including from within his own party — over an alleged relationship with a former aide.

According to @19thnews.org , U.S. Rep. Tony Gonzales has faced calls to step down from within the Republican Party over an alleged relationship with an aide. The Trump endorsed GOP candidate will face Brandon Herrera in a May 26 runoff.
thebarbedwire.com/2026/03/04/t...

From Minneapolis to El Paso, Every City Is Now a Border City El Paso is “the Ellis Island of the Southwest.”

Immigration reporters like @jazmineulloa.bsky.social have been on the frontlines of the harshest deportation campaign this country has seen since World War II. The foundations for it were laid down long before in her hometown of El Paso.
thebarbedwire.com/2026/03/05/f...

We all deserve a state government that is, at the very least, able to perform the basic functions of a democracy.