Great LakesQ
@qglpolicywonk.bsky.social
🌈Passionate advocate. Loves working with smarty pants folks to create innovative solutions to seemingly intractable challenges. LGBTQ, health (HIV/cancer) enviro bi-national with 🇨🇦 policy wonk. Loves elevating 🎶 & women’s sports ball.
This trend is deeply concerning. Research is increasingly paid for by industry. Keep an eye here 👀👇
Nature@nature.com · 5h agoThe US National Science Foundation has kicked off a sweeping effort to deepen the ties between PhD students and industry go.nature.com/4hbpiJO
The main reason we have not called the race is that Detroit’s Election Day absentee ballots have not yet been reported. The pre-processed ballots often do not represent the full absentee vote, and Stevens could win the remaining ballots by a wide margin.
BOOM. The AAUP is suing Texas A&M University System over their censorship policy that prohibits faculty from discussing topics & viewpoints related to race, sexual orientation, & gender. www.aclutx.org/app/uploads/... 1
![AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF UNIVERSITY PROFESSORS, LEONARD BRIGHT, VANITA REDDY, LANDON SADLER, and AARON GEORGE,
Plaintiffs,
V.
ROBERT L. ALBRITTON, JAY GRAHAM, DAVID
C. BAGGETT, JOHN W. BELLINGER, JAMES R.
BROOKS, MICHAEL A. HERNANDEZ III,
WILLIAM MAHOMES JR., KELLEY SULLIVAN GEORGIADES, and SAM TORN, in their official capacities as members of the Texas A&M University System Board of Regents,
Defendants.
CIVIL ACTION NO.
COMPLAINT FOR DECLARATORY AND INJUNCTIVE RELIEF
COMPLAINT
Plaintiffs American Association of University Professors ("AAUP"), on behalf of
its members in the Texas A&M University System ("Texas A&M"), and individually named member professors Leonard Bright, Vanita Reddy, Landon Sadler, and Aaron George (collectively, "Plaintiffs") challenge Texas A&M System Policy ("System Policy") 08.01's prohibition on teaching "gender and race ideology, or topics related to sexual orientation, and gender identity" in academic coursework (the "Censorship Policy" or the "Policy").
On its face, the Censorship Policy imposes a complete prohibition, in all core-
curriculum courses, on courses "advocat[ing]" particular disfavored views of race or gender, or
any topics related to sexual orientation or gender identity, but the Policy does not impose any corresponding ban on opposing views on these issues.](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:jcats4toei4ybf5ibk3njty3/bafkreidml3fbnbiivajg7rverpx3nckfhv3zdron6klbxc7kaffoyslpty)
Best @ms.now coverage is happening right now Shawna Thomas MSNow Political Director is smart & thoughtful Please put this team on prime time. Much more interesting & better (more accurate analysis) than much of the prime time coverage Well done Jonathan Capehart, Eugene Daniels & Jackie Alemany
🧵 My friends please do not think the polls are accurate representation of how people will vote. We have drastically fewer quality polling firms Vast majority of polls you see are hired by the campaign or their funders. They are designed to wish cast the result.
🌊 Nearly 90 California lawmakers have sent a clear message: No new offshore drilling and continued strong protection for California’s iconic coast! 🧵
Women’s Professional Baseball League players (and part time firefighters!) Alli Schroeder and Denae Benites shared their excitement ahead of Opening Day for the new WPBL. Full episode: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/g... Watch the full interview on the iHeart Women’s Sports YouTube channel.
honestly can't stress enough, as a former family law attorney, how depressingly common Max Miller's behavior and words are, right down to the petty fixation on custody procedure and rules when faced with allegations of shocking violence.
Aaron Rupar@atrupar.com · 21h agoRep. Max Miller: "When I was reported for child abuse of my daughter for a broken collarbone, my daughter was in my ex-wife's care 9 out of the last 11 days and she took her to the emergency room, which is a contempt violation from our shared parenting plan."
Listen. So not turn away. Keep standing up & speaking up. We must close these federally funded concentration camps
Rep. Melanie Stansbury (NM-01)@repstansbury.bsky.social · 23h agoThis is the reality inside ICE detention centers. Children are being forced into jail-like conditions while this Administration strips away their basic human rights. We cannot allow this stand. We must hold this inhumane Administration accountable!
NEW: A federal judge just scheduled a trial for March 2027 to determine whether the potential Paramount-Warner Bros. Discovery merger violates antitrust law — a timeline that could further delay the deal.
Today, for the first time in New York City history, 2,000 two year-olds received offers for FREE 2-K. A big step for those who take baby steps. A big step towards a City every New Yorker can afford.
New Mexico environmental officials plugged a record number of abandoned and orphaned oil and gas wells last year, thanks in large part to funding from Biden-era grants, they told a panel of state lawmakers Monday.
New Mexico plugs record number of abandoned oil and gas wells, thanks to Biden-era funding • Source New Mexico
New Mexico plugged a record number of abandoned oil and gas wells in the recently ended fiscal year, thanks in part to a Biden-era law.
buff.ly
If you are watching Michigan primary keep an eye on the D primary in Mi-7 & how Lawrence does. This is middle of Michigan primary & could illustrate where how D voters are feeling. www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
Michigan Seventh Congressional District Primary Election Results
nytimes.com
It’s now at least 20 anti-abortion judges mainedems.org/susan-collin...
Susan Rinkunas@susanrinkunas.com · 2mo agoSusan Collins has confirmed at least 16 anti-abortion judges in Trump’s second term. Some Mainers may think their reproductive and civil rights are safe and still vote for her, but any of these freaks could tee up a SCOTUS case that takes the entire country backwards mainedems.org/susan-collin...
![screenshot, Maine Democratic Party:
Collins Confirms Two More Anti-Choice Judges
Susan Collins just voted to confirm Tony Mattivi and Anthony Powell to lifetime seats on the U.S. District Court for the District of Kansas.
[then a list showing 14 more, split across two screenshots]
Collins has continued to “rubber stamp” Trump-appointed anti-choice judges who have advocated for and defended near-total abortion bans in states. In the past few months alone Collins confirmed:
Whitney Hermandorfer to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit, who was lead counsel in a case defending Tennessee’s total abortion ban.
Maria Lanahan to the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri, who defended Missouri’s near-total abortion ban, and helped author and argue Missouri’s complaint seeking to restrict the use and access to mifepristone, a common medication abortion pill.
Jennifer Mascott to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit, who urged the court to overturn Roe and return it to the “dustbin of history,” then praised the Dobbs ruling, testified in front of the Senate Judiciary Committee defending the Court’s decision to leave in place Texas’ extreme abortion ban.
William Mercer to the U.S. District Court for the District of Montana, who “has repeatedly supported anti-abortion bills.”
Chad Meredith to the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky, who is staunchly anti-abortion and has even defended abortion restrictions in Kentucky.
Jordan Pratt to the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Alabama, who authored an amicus brief in support of Florida’s abortion ban where he called abortion “barbaric.”
Rebecca Taibleson to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit, who testified that she believed the three-year-old Dobbs decision that gutted federal protections to abortion was “controlling precedent and settled law.” In addition to clerking for Brett Kavanaugh, Tabileson testified in front of the Senate to de…](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:4fdfjfnhhyeo4hsmoxpeazsg/bafkreif4k66fmxo5z4qmtaydwrxgmeqmwghjjn72yzo3dsqzruyrk72dom)
It’s Amy Coney Barrett all over again. Collins, facing reelection, will vote no on an anti-abortion nominee who gets confirmed anyway
Alice Miranda Ollstein@alicemiranda.bsky.social · 21h agoBREAKING: Susan Collins cited our report on Blanche's promise on a private call with religious activists to restrict abortion pills in announcing today she will not vote to confirm him. www.newscentermaine.com/article/news...
On Todd Blanche: (1) his written statement on the weaponization fund is a meaningless joke and (2) the danger(s) he poses to abortion access: m.youtube.com/watch?v=fJAY...
LEAKED AUDIO: Todd Blanche Is Planing To ATTACK Abortion Rights
YouTube video by Strict Scrutiny
m.youtube.com
Listen up friends !!! Saying to all out loud. They are aiming to eliminate abortion access for everyone, all the states. Time to: ✅ call your Senator ✅ Register to vote ✅ work to register your neighbors ✅ work to get out the VOTE ✅ VOTE up & down the ballot
Leah Litman@leahlitman.bsky.social · 22h agoAnd all credit to politico for getting the audio of this call - I should have mentioned that in the clip!! @alicemiranda.bsky.social @joshgerstein.bsky.social www.politico.com/news/2026/08...
BREAKING — Both chambers of the Maryland General Assembly have passed the redistricting constitutional amendment, sending it to voters in November. If approved, the measure would clear the way for Democrats to pursue an 8-0 congressional map.
Medicaid may be publicly funded, but in much of the United States, it is no longer run entirely by the government. Instead, states often hire private insurance companies to manage care for Medicaid enrollees, known as managed care. 1/3
NEW: Judge Allison Burroughs in Massachusetts is *pissed* at DOJ. She does not hold back, calling out DOJ's bad-faith litigating in the TPS cases, in addition to the overarching "shameful cruelty" of what the Trump administration is doing. From her latest order in the Somalia TPS case:
![Leaving aside the shameful cruelty inherent in eschewing a “wind down period” for
people under threat of deportation, many of whom are productive members of our communities
who have lived here for years, built a life here, worked here and raised their families here, the
Court is mindful of both the Supreme Court ruling and the recent First Circuit judgment in this
case. That said, the Court will also not abdicate its responsibility to make thoughtful, wellreasoned decisions after affording all parties a full and fair opportunity to be heard. It is
therefore ORDERED that Plaintiffs respond to Defendants’ motion to lift the stay, [ECF No.
97], by 5:00 p.m. on August 5, 2026. The Court further amends the scheduling order on
supplemental briefing, [ECF No. 82]. Pursuant to the amended schedule, Defendants’ brief is
also due by 5:00 p.m. on August 5, 2026, and any reply brief by Plaintiffs will be due by
5:00 p.m. on August 6, 2026. The Court anticipates a decision on Defendants’ motion, which
will be accompanied by a decision on Plaintiffs’ emergency motion if the Court decides to lift
the administrative stay, early next week. Should Defendants return to the First Circuit prior to
that as they threaten in their motion, the Court will assume that it has lost jurisdiction, which will
delay its rulings.
SO ORDERED.
August 4, 2026 /s/ Allison D. Burroughs
ALLISON D. BURROUGHS
U.S. DISTRICT JUDGE](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:36eqtmzysqf7wsslczw4uxcd/bafkreidyjkwygfgvpjd52dgdyfqvi4w5f66on3whxjfukc2ug2ufdv5nem)
@maddow.bsky.social @jacobsoboroff.bsky.social Please report on during your upcoming shows Important update 👇
Aaron Reichlin-Melnick@reichlinmelnick.bsky.social · yesterdayThis is a 1,600 bed facility, so it will instantly become one of ICE's largest facilities. It will also be one of (if not the actual) largest ICE jail/prison in the midwest.
Under Ohio law, August 10 is the deadline for Rep. Max Miller to withdraw if Republicans want to replace him on the ballot. www.motherjones.com/politics/202...
Rep. Max Miller’s withdrawal window closes in six days
Under Ohio law, August 10 is the deadline for the embattled congressman to withdraw if Republicans want to replace him on the ballot.
motherjones.com
$1.4 billion of our tax payer dollars How much health, child care & food assistance would this pay for??
Brian Finucane@bcfinucane.bsky.social · yesterdayUsing National Guard soldiers as props in authoritarian theater is pricey. www.washingtonpost.com/national-sec...
BREAKING: Following credible allegations of domestic violence, the House Ethics Committee has opened an investigation into Republican Congressman Max Miller.
