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The threat was loud and clear: Report your so-called “DEI” employees or else. What exactly “DEIA or similar ideologies” means is up in the air, but the message was out there. And so was the email address of the DEIA snitching hotline. Fake emails quickly started to roll in. ‘I don’t care, fuck these McCarthyite bastards,” one BlueSky user said, with an screenshot attached of an email to the hotline where he ironically reported Donald Trump and JD Vance for being “put in their positions solely because of their race and/or gender despite the fact that they are wholly unqualified for their jobs and, in some cases, have criminal records.” “Anyone have a script to fire off a billion e-mails an hour??” another user asked in the replies. “Anyone can email anything of any size even if it crashes the site,” one X user noted. The scope and effectiveness of this latest phase of Trump’s anti-DEI crusade remains to be seen.

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...why did they need to be leaked? why were they not already publicly accessible? policing is supposed to br for public safety, and therefore the public should be informed.

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Nicolas Aditi at Louis Gabriel Nouch Fall 25

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Noting that I must write something.

It's a concrete action that doesn't involve picking up a phone!

It's not just removing the 'x' gender marker, it would also change the forms to ask for sex assigned at birth. If you scroll down the pages it details the proposed changes. Here are those links:

Passport Application Comment Form

Passport Renewal Comment Form

Name Change Comment Form

Just click the green "submit a public comment" button. Here's also a link to a reddit post that includes those links and some discussion of how to best phrase your comments. Deadline is March 17th.

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I can totally see this happening.

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I'm Gen X with young Silent Generation parents (on the cusp of oldest Boomer), older Millennial boss, Gen Z children, and a nibling who is annoyed that the youngest Millenials were reclassified as Gen Z.

So I constantly see stuff talking about millennials and their baby boomer parents. But my mom is gen x. So I decided to make a poll

References

Silent generation: 1928-1945

Boomer generation: 1946-1964

Generation X: 1965-1980

Millennial: 1981-1996

If you only know for 1 parent, answer for them

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I am reminded of the argument over the kotatsu in The Masterful Cat is Depressed Again.

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Real

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There are people – some in my own Party – who think that if you just give Donald Trump everything he wants, he’ll make an exception and spare you some of the harm. I’ll ignore the moral abdication of that position for just a second to say — almost none of those people have the experience with this President that I do. I once swallowed my pride to offer him what he values most — public praise on the Sunday news shows — in return for ventilators and N95 masks during the worst of the pandemic. We made a deal. And it turns out his promises were as broken as the BIPAP machines he sent us instead of ventilators. Going along to get along does not work – just ask the Trump-fearing red state Governors who are dealing with the same cuts that we are. I won’t be fooled twice.

I’ve been reflecting, these past four weeks, on two important parts of my life: my work helping to build the Illinois Holocaust Museum and the two times I’ve had the privilege of reciting the oath of office for Illinois Governor.

As some of you know, Skokie, Illinois once had one of the largest populations of Holocaust survivors anywhere in the world. In 1978, Nazis decided they wanted to march there.

The leaders of that march knew that the images of Swastika clad young men goose stepping down a peaceful suburban street would terrorize the local Jewish population – so many of whom had never recovered from their time in German concentration camps.

The prospect of that march sparked a legal fight that went all the way to the Supreme Court. It was a Jewish lawyer from the ACLU who argued the case for the Nazis – contending that even the most hateful of speech was protected under the first amendment.

As an American and a Jew, I find it difficult to resolve my feelings around that Supreme Court case – but I am grateful that the prospect of Nazis marching in their streets spurred the survivors and other Skokie residents to act. They joined together to form the Holocaust Memorial Foundation and built the first Illinois Holocaust Museum in a storefront in 1981 – a small but important forerunner to the one I helped build thirty years later.

I do not invoke the specter of Nazis lightly. But I know the history intimately — and have spent more time than probably anyone in this room with people who survived the Holocaust. Here’s what I’ve learned – the root that tears apart your house’s foundation begins as a seed – a seed of distrust and hate and blame.

The seed that grew into a dictatorship in Europe a lifetime ago didn’t arrive overnight. It started with everyday Germans mad about inflation and looking for someone to blame.

I’m watching with a foreboding dread what is happening in our country right now. A president who watches a plane go down in the Potomac – and suggests — without facts or findings — that a diversity hire is responsible for the crash. Or the Missouri Attorney General who just sued Starbucks – arguing that consumers pay higher prices for their coffee because the baristas are too “female” and “nonwhite.” The authoritarian playbook is laid bare here: They point to a group of people who don’t look like you and tell you to blame them for your problems.

I just have one question: What comes next? After we’ve discriminated against, deported or disparaged all the immigrants and the gay and lesbian and transgender people, the developmentally disabled, the women and the minorities – once we’ve ostracized our neighbors and betrayed our friends – After that, when the problems we started with are still there staring us in the face – what comes next.

All the atrocities of human history lurk in the answer to that question. And if we don’t want to repeat history – then for God’s sake in this moment we better be strong enough to learn from it.

I swore the following oath on Abraham Lincoln’s Bible: “I do solemnly swear that I will support the constitution of the United States, and the constitution of the state of Illinois, and that I will faithfully discharge the duties of the office of Governor .... according to the best of my ability.

My oath is to the Constitution of our state and of our country. We don’t have kings in America – and I don’t intend to bend the knee to one. I am not speaking up in service to my ambitions — but in deference to my obligations.

If you think I’m overreacting and sounding the alarm too soon, consider this:

It took the Nazis one month, three weeks, two days, eight hours and 40 minutes to dismantle a constitutional republic. All I’m saying is when the five-alarm fire starts to burn, every good person better be ready to man a post with a bucket of water if you want to stop it from raging out of control.

Those Illinois Nazis did end up holding their march in 1978 – just not in Skokie. After all the blowback from the case, they decided to march in Chicago instead. Only twenty of them showed up. But 2000 people came to counter protest. The Chicago Tribune reported that day that the “rally sputtered to an unspectacular end after ten minutes.” It was Illinoisans who smothered those embers before they could burn into a flame.

Tyranny requires your fear and your silence and your compliance. Democracy requires your courage. So gather your justice and humanity, Illinois, and do not let the “tragic spirit of despair” overcome us when our country needs us the most.

Sources:

• NBC Chicago & J.B. Pritzker, Democratic governor of Illinois, State of the State address 2025: Watch speech here | Full text

• Betches News on Instagram (screencaps)

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SOCIAL MEDIA "ACTIVISM" IS KEEPING YOU FROM ACTUAL ACTIVISM - HERE'S THE TRUTH

You think you're staying "informed" by doomscrolling through your social feeds 24/7? That's exactly what they want. It's literally designed to keep you angry, scrolling, and - most importantly - doing absolutely fucking nothing.

HERE'S WHAT NO ONE TELLS YOU:

It's OKAY to edit your feeds so you don't see that shit when you're just trying to exist

You do NOT have to consume the world's suffering every second of every day to be a "good activist" - and by the way? You're not even getting "informed" by scrolling. You need to actually look up real articles OFF of social media to understand what's happening

Hitting like and share isn't activism. Sorry. It just isn't.

You wanna actually do something?

Learn your neighbors' names. ACTUALLY TALK TO THEM about what's happening

Join your school board and ask them face-to-face why they're against queer education

Stand up to your racist uncle instead of "keeping the peace" (peace for WHO exactly?)

Find out what abortion rights groups are ALREADY DOING in your area instead of reinventing the wheel

Join an actually inclusive church (you know, like Jesus would've wanted) and see what they're ALREADY DOING to make the world better

And for fuck's sake, stop saying "oh I don't talk about politics" - YOUR SILENCE IS POLITICAL

NEWSFLASH: You don't have to start the fucking underground railroad by yourself. That shit ALREADY EXISTS - you just never had to use it before. Lucky you. So volunteer if you're a safe person, at whatever level works for you:

Send money

Show up in person

Pack supplies

Make pamphlets

Whatever you can do

Not everything's gonna get you in the history books and you know what? IT DOESN'T FUCKING MATTER.

And here's something else that matters: Going to trauma therapy - REAL trauma therapy with a therapist informed in decolonization practices - is a RADICAL ACT. If you have the means to do it, DO IT. Healing yourself is part of the work too.

AND LISTEN UP BECAUSE THIS IS IMPORTANT: IT'S OKAY THAT IT TOOK YOU THIS LONG IT'S OKAY THAT YOU'RE STARTING SMALL IT'S OKAY THAT YOU DON'T KNOW EVERYTHING

NO ONE EVER PUNISHED THEMSELVES INTO SUCCESS.

You grew up with some racist/sexist views? Yeah, most of us did. You can't get stuck there. There's too much at stake. It's time to deconstruct. It's time to do the work.

But scrolling and sharing posts while feeling guilty? That's not the work. That's what they want you to think the work is.

Get off your phone. Talk to your neighbors. Show up at meetings. Stand up to family. THAT'S the work.

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An Ode to Black Fanfic Writers

To the Black fanfic writers,

When I first joined Tumblr, I was lost. I didn’t know what to expect, didn’t know if this was a space I could call home. Everything felt overwhelming posts flying by, tags I didn’t understand, communities I didn’t know how to approach. I didn’t even know if I’d like it here. But then I stumbled across your stories, and everything changed.

You saved me.

Through your words, I found my footing in a space that, at first, didn’t feel like it had room for me. You gave me stories that wrapped around me like a warm hug, characters that looked like me, sounded like me, loved like me. You showed me what this app could be what it could mean. You reminded me that our stories are powerful, that we are powerful.

Thank you for being the guiding light I didn’t know I needed.

In a world where Black characters are so often sidelined, erased, or stereotyped, you did something revolutionary: you made us the center. You wrote us as heroes, as lovers, as dreamers. You gave us magic, power, and complexity. You reminded us that we can be everything.

When I read your work, I saw Black girls with wide smiles and wild curls, unafraid to take up space. I saw Black boys navigating their pain and triumphing over it. I saw queer Black love, soft Black love, fierce Black love. And I saw us thriving, not just surviving.

You gave me stories that said, “You belong here.” And that meant everything.

Your stories didn’t just give me representation; they gave me community. Through your words, I connected with people who understood what it means to feel invisible in spaces where you should be seen. People who share my love for these characters and who understand the joy of seeing ourselves in these worlds.

You showed me that fandom isn’t just about the media we consume it’s about the people we meet along the way. The way you build each other up, support one another, and create a space where Black voices shine is nothing short of extraordinary.

I didn’t just find stories on Tumblr. I found a family.

I know it’s not easy. Writing is hard. Posting your work for the world to see is even harder. Yet you do it anyway. You push through the doubt, the fear, the imposter syndrome, and you create. You write stories that make us laugh, cry, and feel seen.

I think about the late nights you spend revising, the time you dedicate to perfecting every scene, every line of dialogue. I think about how you manage to weave pieces of our culture our humor, our slang, our struggles into your stories so effortlessly. It’s art, and it’s real.

Your stories remind us that creativity is resistance. That writing Black characters who are loved, desired, and heroic is an act of defiance in a world that tries to diminish us. You’re not just writing fanfiction, you're making a statement: “We matter. We belong. We are worthy.”

Why You Matter So Much

As a 21-year-old Black woman, I can’t tell you how much your work has inspired me. You’ve shown me the beauty of our diversity, the depth of our experiences, and the endless possibilities of our stories. You’ve reminded me that Blackness is infinite.

You’ve given me hope in ways I didn’t even know I needed. You’ve shown me that joy is revolutionary, that our stories deserve to be told. You’ve given me love stories that feel like home, characters that feel like family, and worlds that feel like freedom.

You’ve saved me on my darkest days.

Forever Grateful

To the Black fanfic writers who dared to take up space in a fandom culture that didn’t always want us here, thank you. Thank you for showing up, for creating, for building a world where we can see ourselves as everything we’ve ever dreamed of being.

You’ve reminded me and so many others that we are powerful, that we are beautiful, that we are worthy of being the main character. You’ve given me more than I could ever repay.

So here’s to you the storytellers, the dreamers, the visionaries.

You’ve made this app feel like home.

You’ve made me feel seen, heard, and loved.

And I am forever grateful.

With love and admiration,

A Black girl who finally found herself through your words.

I am definitely tagging all the writers I know and love and I hope to find more of y'all so I can add y'all to the list, if there is more please tag them! let's show them the love they deserve!

@theegoldenchild @theereina @thecoochiefairy @theblacklewinsky @biglibrat @earthchica @violetmuses @hotgrlcece @megamindsecretlair @wintrrxxo @blkwriters @nysrage @starcrossedxwriter @dilfl0v3rss @merakidoll @eyelessfaces @nayaxwrites @erikismybitch @hearteyes-for-killmonger @nahimjustfeelingit-writes @chrollohearttags @st4rbwrry @salaciousdoll @kenshisluvrgirl @writingsbytee @thecoochiefairy @caashmoneynae @thatone-girly @keyaho @nova2kss

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Painting of my childhood stuffed animal, Bear, stepping out of the TARDIS!

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AI, Plagiarism, and CYA

Shout-out for all the students gearing up to go back to school in increasingly frustrated times when dealing with all this AI bullshit. As you've probably noticed, lots of institutions have adapted anti-plagiarism software that incorporates AI detectors that - surprise - aren't that great. Many students are catching flack for getting dinged on work that isn't AI generated, and schools are struggling to catch up to craft policies that uphold academic rigor. It sucks for everyone involved!

As a student, it can really feel like you're in a bind, especially if you didn't do anything wrong. Your instructor isn't like to be as tech-savvy as some, and frankly, you might not be as tech-savvy as you think either. The best thing to do, no matter how your school is handling things, is to Cover Your Ass.

Pay attention to the academic policy. Look, I know you probably skimmed the syllabus. Primus knows I did too, but the policy there is the policy the instructor must stick with. If the policy sets down a strong 'don't touch ChatGPT with a ten-foot pole' standard, stick to it. If you get flagged for something you thought was okay because you didn't read the policy carefully, you don't have ground to stand on if you get called out.

Turn off Autosave and save multiple (named) drafts. If you're using Microsoft Word because your school gives you a free license, the handy Autosave feature may be shooting you in the foot when it comes to proving you did the work. I know this seems counter-intuitive, but I've seen this bite enough people in the ass to recommend students go old-school. Keep those "draft 1234" in a file just in case.

Maintaining timestamped, clearly different drafts of a paper can really help you in the long-run. GoogleDocs also goes a much better job of tracking changes to a document, and may be something to consider, however, with all this AI shit, I'm hesitant to recommend Google. Your best bet, overall, is to keep multiple distinctive drafts that prove how your paragraphs evolved from first to final.

Avoid Grammarly, ProWiritingAid, etc. All that handy 'writing tools' software that claims to help shore up your writing aren't doing you any favors. Grammarly, ProWritingAid, and other software throw up immediate flags in AI-detection software. You may have only used it to clean up the grammar and punctuation, but if the AI-detection software says otherwise, you might be screwed. They're not worth using over a basic spell and grammar check in both Word and GoogleDocs can already do.

Cite all citations and save your sources! This is basic paper-writing, but people using ChatGPT for research often neglect to check to make sure it isn't making shit up, and that made up shit is starting to appear on other parts of the internet. Be sure to click through and confirm what you're using for your paper is true. Get your sources and research material from somewhere other than a generative language model, which are known for making shit up. Yes, Wikipedia is a fine place to start and has rigorously maintained sources.

Work with the support your school has available. My biggest mistake in college was not reaching out when I felt like I was drowning, and I know how easy it is to get in you head and not know where to turn when you need more help. But I've since met a great deal of awesome librarians, tutors, and student aid staff that love nothing more to devote their time to student success. Don't wait at the last moment until they're swamped - you can and will succeed if you reach out early and often.

I, frankly, can't wait for all this AI bullshit to melt down in a catastrophic collapse, but in the meantime, take steps to protect yourself.