Erin Lodes

Rep. Matt Maddock just called Michigan’s Veterans Affairs Agency—a service that helps prevent veteran suicide—a “total scam” and wants it defunded. This isn’t just cruel, it’s vile. If you’re willing to throw veterans under the bus for a soundbite, you don’t belong in public office. 👇

As the Signalgate Scandal Grows, American Oversight Continues Investigations of Mismanagement at Hegseth’s Pentagon - American Oversight Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s leadership has demanded scrutiny for more than his dangerously careless use of Signal. The people deserve to know whether their defense secretary is putting his politi...

The AP has reported that Secretary Hegseth had an unsecured internet line that bypassed the Pentagon’s security protocols so he could use Signal on a personal computer.

The more we learn, the more there is to investigate.
americanoversight.org/as-the-signa...

See the problem here?

this is so fucking unacceptable

When student loan borrowers are in default, how does the Trump regime respond?

By garnishing their wages.

When billionaires see their wealth hit record highs, how does the Trump regime respond?

By extending their tax cuts.

This is what I mean when I say the system is rigged.

Three separate courts today blocked the Trump administration from defunding schools for engaging in diversity, equity, and inclusion programs.

This sends a clear message: These efforts are unlawful.

Good.

4-year-old migrant girl, other kids go to court in NYC with no lawyer: 'The cruelty is apparent' The Trump administration cut funding for lawyers aiding unaccompanied minors in court.

The parties included a 7, 8, and 4-year-old.

"None of the children were accompanied by parents or attorneys."

"The 4-year-old girl in the tie-dye shirt raised her hand, dangling her pink plushy above her head. It wasn’t clear – was she responding to the question, or just playing with her toy?"

Stay tuned for updates! We’re at the NAACP Lansing town hall where Congressman Tom Barrett was invited to hear from members of the community, but declined…

A Call for Constructive Engagement | AAC&U A Call for Constructive Engagement

All Ivies except Dartmouth have signed on to this statement. www.aacu.org/newsroom/a-c...

Tracking Trump's visits to his properties and other conflicts of interest - CREW | Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington Trump has created untold numbers of conflicts of interest by failing to divest from his business interests before taking office.

Trump has visited his own properties 61 times during his second term. 28 of those visits are to his golf courses.

His constant presence at these properties signal to those looking to influence him and his administration that they should follow suit.

oh look, it’s the consequences of his actions

We want to hear about how the Trump administration's unhinged actions are affecting everyday Michiganders and their communities. Will you share your story with us? Visit michigandems.com/mystory

Exclusive: US consumer safety agency to stop collecting swaths of data after CDC cuts The U.S. consumer product safety agency will stop collecting data on injuries from incidents like car accidents and adverse drug effects due to staff cuts at the CDC, according to an agency email seen by Reuters and a source familiar with the situation.

"Beginning Friday, the Consumer Product Safety Commission will stop collecting data on injuries from motor vehicle crashes, falls, alcohol, adverse drug effects, aircraft incidents, work-related injuries and other incidents." www.reuters.com/business/hea...

Who voted for this exactly?

Michigan Senate passes 'momnibus' bill to improve maternal health outcomes A 10-bill "momnibus" package aimed at improving maternal health outcomes in Michigan now heads to the state House after clearing the Democrat-controlled Sentate this week and more than a year after its introduction. The goal of the package is to improve maternal health outcomes using antidiscrimination measures, patient protections and equitable data requirements, according to a news release. Michigan's maternal mortality rate per 100,000 births is 19.1, below the national average of 23.2, according to March of Dimes. But nearly 14% of birthing people in Michigan also reported inadequate maternal care. "For too long, Black mothers have faced a health care system that addresses their pain last, their needs too late, and fails to prevent the tragedies we know are avoidable," co-sponsor and state Sen. Sarah Anthony, D-Lansing, said in the news release. "This package is a direct response to that truth — it brings us one step closer toward a future where every mother receives the care she deserves." Michigan's infant mortality rate was 6.4 per 1,000 live births as of 2022, higher than the national rate of 5.6, according to the March of Dimes, a Virginia-based nonprofit that works to improve the health of mothers and babies. The infant mortality rate for Black babies in Michigan was 13.4, more than double the rate for White babies at 4.7, according to March of Dimes. The leading causes of infant mortality are pre-term birth, birth defects, accidents, and sudden infant death syndrome, according to March of Dimes. Pre-term birth can correspond with increased morbidities, and Detroit had the highest rate of U.S. cities with the most live births in 2023. One bill, the Biased and Unjust Care Reporting Act, would require the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services to create a tool for patients to report obstetric racism, or the mistreatment of non-white pregnant women. "Black and Brown mothers are no different than white mothers, yet the care they receive is too often inequitable and inadequate. In 2025, that is wholly and completely unacceptable," co-sponsor and state Sen. Sylvia Santana, D-Detroit, said in a news release. "We owe it to the countless mothers we’ve lost to fix a system that has failed them for far too long."  Another would have MDHHS include studies and reports on biased and unjust perinatal care on their website and codify the state Maternal Mortality Review Team. The Michigan Maternal Mortality Review Project works to identify and review cases of maternal death at any point during pregnancy, birth, or one year after birth, according to MDHHS. A committee then recommends intervention and prevention strategies that can help eliminate racial disparities in maternal death rates in Michigan. Two of the bills impact Medicaid coverage, expanding it for perinatal services during the time period between the start of pregnancy and a year after birth, and requiring it for off-site and remote ultrasound procedures and fetal nonstress tests. Fetal nonstress tests are typical screenings conducted in the third trimester that monitor a baby's heart rate in response to movement. Two other bills involve licensed midwives and would add them to Michigan's Essential Health Provider Repayment Program and require private insurers to reimburse them for services. "Through the Michigan Momnibus package of bills, we are able to lead the way in increasing access to midwives and doulas, making Michigan a safer, more caring place to give birth and raise your family, regardless of your race or economic status," Elon Geffrard, Cofounder and Program Director of Birth Detroit, said in a news release. The bill package was originally introduced last spring and passed by the Senate in December, but failed to make it to Gov. Gretchen Whitmer's desk. It now faces an uncertain future in the Republican-run House of Representatives. Republican speaker of the state House of Representatives Matt Hall, R-Richland Township, did not immediately respond to a request for comment Friday afternoon. "As the package just passed through the Senate, we are set to discuss this important legislation with our House colleagues," said State Rep. Erika Geiss, D-Taylor, a co-sponsor. "Make no mistake — these issues are nonpartisan. We are optimistic that House legislators will recognize that the progress these bills will make for Michigan mothers and babies will transcend party politics." One bill would amend the Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act, which aims to prohibit discrimination in Michigan, to clarify that "sex" includes pregnancy or lactation status in public places and in the workplace. Another "momnibus" bill would protect the right of a designated patient advocate to make life-sustaining treatment decisions, regardless of pregnancy status. hmackay@detroitnews.com This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: Michigan Senate passes 'momnibus' bill to improve maternal health outcomes

Michigan Senate passes 'momnibus' bill to improve maternal health outcomes #MaternalHealth #Momnibus #MichiganPolitics

BREAKING: A federal judge finds Trump’s order banning transgender people from getting accurate passports is likely unconstitutional.

The court ordered the State Department to allow correct gender markers for our clients as we continue to argue until this order is blocked for everyone.

Tariffs threaten to push auto insurance rates even higher Between the slate of tariffs currently in effect and proposed tariffs on car parts, the cost of car ownership is rising. And that's true even if you're not in the market for a vehicle.

Between the slate of tariffs currently in effect and proposed tariffs on car parts, the cost of car ownership is rising. And that's true even if you're not in the market for a vehicle.

If they want to pretend they are an official government agency they should follow (fwiw) existing records retention and government transparency policies.

Another difference between Ireland and Michigan: compostable tea bags.

It is loudly proclaimed on most boxes of tea bags in Ireland that the tea bags are compostable or it is said that they are not. In Michigan I am having a hard time finding boxes that tell me anything at all about the tea bags.

The SAVE Act isn't about saving anything — it's about silencing voters. It would create unnecessary red tape that could block millions of Americans from registering to vote, or updating their voter registration.

#MIVoting #ProtectVotingRights #FreedomToVote #HandsOffOurVote #HandsOffHerVote

“This proposal could continue to contribute to the rise in food insecurity for households with children.” - Deanne Kelleher, director of the MDE’s Office of Health and Nutrition Services

michiganadvance.com/2025/04/09/t...

Trump's tariffs are still very much happening, no matter what he said today to manipulate the market for his wealthy insider-trading buddies.

This MAGA regime will destroy the savings of every working person just to line the pockets of their billionaire donors.

Any traders with inside information that Trump was going to walk back his tariffs — some of them, presumably, Trump family members and cronies — just made a fortune.

It all feels like chaos until you look more closely at who is winning.

BREAKING: The House passed a bill that limits judges' ability to block the Trump administration's unconstitutional actions nationwide.

This bill is a threat to the rule of law and endangers all of our rights — the Senate must reject it.

Rejected at her door, ICE nabs a Maryland woman in her car after smashing her window Video shows a U.S. ICE agents breaking the window of a Maryland woman, Elsy Noemi Berrios, after failing to detain her at home.

“Mommy, no. Mommy.”

Daughter captures the moment masked ICE agents smash the window of her mother's car in order to take her into custody.

The government claims the 52-year old seamstress is an associate of the MS-13 gang.

www.thebaltimorebanner.com/community/lo...

Fucking liars and thieves.

We’ve finally thoroughly busted the myth of “rich people are rich because they’re smart” right?

…right?

…RIGHT???

Excuse me?

YOU WANT TO MODERNIZE THE MIDDLE PASSAGE

Judge orders White House to allow AP access to news events U.S. Judge Trevor N. McFadden rules the White House cannot deny the Associated Press access to news events because the wire service continues to use "Gulf of Mexico" rather than "Gulf of America".

A federal judge ruled that the Trump White House must admit the AP's journalists to news events - ruling its exclusion was "unlawful."

Almost two hours later, two AP journalists were rejected from the WH pool to cover a Trump speech.

My NPR story:
www.npr.org/2025/04/08/n...

Tearing down government resources that serve the most vulnerable among us to pay for tax cuts for the rich.