* Between the Firefox disaster and the kittens, I have two weeks of backed up news. I did what I could, but I had to put a lot off until next edition. Apologies.
The War news is I think last week's. Sorry.
* "Lebanon says six killed in Israeli strike as US announces ceasefire extension:"
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cqlpzzl0d67o******
* "U.S. Intelligence Shows Iran Retains Substantial Missile Capabilities:"
https://archive.ph/W8nhp* "Trump's geopolitical brinkmanship has hit a wall with Iran:"
https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/trumps-geopolitical-brinkmanship-has-hit-wall-with-iran-2026-05-16/* "Checkmate in Iran:"
https://archive.ph/BKZj7* "Pentagon Puts War Cost at $29 Billion as Hegseth Deflects on Funding:"
https://archive.ph/1x21p* "Trump says he’s not thinking about Americans’ finances ‘even a little bit’ in Iran talks:"
https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/donald-trump/trump-not-thinking-american-finances-iran-talk-rcna344785* "Inflation jumps to its highest level since 2023. Here are 3 things costing a lot more:"
https://www.npr.org/2026/05/12/nx-s1-5818279/inflation-cpi-gas-prices-housing-fuel-iran-war* "The Iran war is hitting home as gasoline prices fuel inflation surge of 3.8% in the US:"
https://apnews.com/article/us-inflation-consumer-iran-war-3f11b7fdd20ea56d2f0895e5241af7b6* "Producer prices shot up 6%, adding pressure on companies to hike prices for struggling customers:"
https://apnews.com/article/inflation-consumers-iran-energy-trump-3cbd24e5e977c8d5f4518ece41ac61d8* "Trump’s proposed ‘Golden Dome’ estimated to cost $1.2 trillion, far more than he initially said:"
https://apnews.com/article/trump-golden-dome-price-tag-cbo-4f18f4ae8f1ba232abc097277ad0367a******
* "Inside Ukraine's drive to defeat the dreaded Shahed drone:"
https://www.reuters.com/business/aerospace-defense/inside-ukraines-drive-defeat-dreaded-shahed-drone-2026-04-29/****
* "Pakistan struck a rehab centre and killed 269 Afghans. Their families want to know why:"
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c202xrd9gn7o* "Toddlers among more than 50 schoolchildren kidnapped in Nigeria:"
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c202vrxlwqgo* "Gunfire chaos as Philippine senator resists ICC arrest: What we know so far:"
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c5y7edln4j0o* "The Final Hours: An Afghan family’s flight to safety:"
https://archive.ph/ikQB5
* "China's fishing fleet off coast of Argentina raises concerns:"
https://archive.ph/7bo3S
* " Taiwan emerges as flash point in Trump-Xi talks:"
https://www.politico.com/news/2026/05/14/taiwan-flash-point-trump-xi-united-states-china-talks-00920370* "Trump’s campaign tough talk on China evaporates in real-world test:"
https://www.ms.now/the-briefing-with-jen-psaki/watch/trump-s-campaign-tough-talk-on-china-evaporates-in-real-world-test-2500312643985*** Immigration/I.C.E/Autocracy/***
* "Memphis Is “Under Full-Blown Occupation” by ICE. Here’s Why You May Not Know That.:"
https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2026/05/memphis-safe-task-force-still-operating-aclu-lawsuit-cameras-filming-ice-harassment-homeland-security-tennessee-highway-patrol/
* "The Trump Administration Aims to Penalize Disabled Adults Who Live With Their Families:"
https://www.propublica.org/article/trump-social-security-ssi-disability-benefits-cuts-parents-children
* "Supreme Court rules abortion pills can continue to be mailed:"
https://19thnews.org/2026/05/supreme-court-ban-abortion-pill-mail/* "Justice Department expands Trump settlement to cover his tax audits:"
https://www.politico.com/news/2026/05/19/trump-irs-settlement-tax-returns-00927911* "Most Corrupt Act in Presidential History:"
( Embed: )* "Trump reportedly to launch $1.7B ‘slush fund’ for ‘weaponization’ victims:"
https://www.ms.now/all-in/watch/trump-reportedly-to-launch-1-7b-slush-fund-for-weaponization-victims-2500138563895* "McConnell rips Trump’s Jan. 6 ‘slush fund’ as ‘utterly stupid, morally wrong’:"
https://www.ms.now/all-in/watch/mcconnell-rips-trump-s-jan-6-slush-fund-as-utterly-stupid-morally-wrong-2500982339645* "MAGA grifters & insurrectionists line up for a piece of Trump’s $1.8 billion ‘slush fund’:"
https://www.advocate.com/politics/national/grifters-insurrectionists-trump-slush-fund* "Trump slammed as 'most corrupt president' ever at gathering of left-leaning leaders:"
https://www.advocate.com/politics/national/robert-garcia-cap-trump-corrupt* "GOP calls off votes after contentious meeting on ‘anti-weaponization’ fund:"
https://www.politico.com/live-updates/2026/05/21/congress/todd-blanche-gop-weaponization-fund-00932244* "‘Sedition fund’: Even Republicans balk at Trump’s $1.776B Jan. 6 ‘slush fund’:"
https://www.ms.now/all-in/watch/sedition-fund-even-republicans-balk-at-trump-s-1-776b-jan-6-slush-fund-2500842051966* "Jan. 6 police officers sue to block Trump’s ‘anti-weaponization fund’:"
https://www.politico.com/news/2026/05/20/trump-weaponization-fund-lawsuit-jan-6-00929342* "‘It’s horrific’: Jan. 6 officer warns Trump’s $1.776B fund could fuel more violence:"
https://www.ms.now/all-in/watch/it-s-horrific-jan-6-officer-warns-trump-s-1-776b-fund-could-fuel-more-violence-2500845123980* "‘Every single taxpayer is being robbed’: Trump goes too far with money grab for criminal allies:"
https://www.ms.now/the-briefing-with-jen-psaki/watch/every-single-taxpayer-is-being-robbed-trump-goes-too-far-with-money-grab-for-criminal-allies-2500997699935* "Busted: Video suggests Trump botched deadline for lawsuit at heart of $1.776 billion ‘slush fund’:"
https://www.ms.now/the-briefing-with-jen-psaki/watch/busted-video-suggests-trump-botched-deadline-for-lawsuit-at-heart-of-1-776-billion-slush-fund-2500872259846* "‘The mob has a word for that’: Trump seeks $10B in taxpayer cash in IRS suit :"
https://www.ms.now/all-in/watch/the-mob-has-a-word-for-that-trump-seeks-10b-in-taxpayer-cash-in-irs-suit-2499988547844
* "‘Abject nonsense’: Sanders, Platner rip Bezos’ defense against billionaire tax hikes:"
https://www.ms.now/all-in/watch/abject-nonsense-sanders-platner-rip-bezos-defense-against-billionaire-tax-hikes-2501300291648* "Ballroom won’t be funded after Senate GOP drops $1 billion Trump security request:"
https://www.politico.com/news/2026/05/20/ballroom-security-funding-reconciliation-00930193* "Sarah McBride, recalling her husband’s cancer battle, delivers emotional plea for paid family leave:"
https://www.advocate.com/politics/national/sarah-mcbride-paid-family-leave* "House Republicans advance education bill restricting discussions on racism & gender:"
https://www.advocate.com/politics/national/republicans-limit-black-transgender-historyIt's called H.R. 8705.
Note: the bill is also racist.
* "These 8 Democrats voted for the Republican national ‘Don’t Say Trans’ bill passed by the House:"
https://www.advocate.com/politics/national/8-democrats-abandon-trans-kids"Here are the names of the eight Democrats who voted for what the House Equality Caucus condemned as the "Don't Say Trans" bill:
Rep. Henry Cuellar of Texas
Rep. Don Davis of North Carolina
Rep. Cleo Fields of Louisiana
Rep. Laura Gillen of New York
Rep. Vicente González of Texas
Rep. Marcy Kaptur of Ohio
Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez of Washington
Rep. Eugene Vindman of Virginia"
I beg of you to please contact your senators regardless of party. Say what you have to say to get them to vote against. This is incredibly dangerous.
If one of the Democratic quislings in the House represents you, please call them to tell you exactly how you feel about racist and transphobic censorship and their decision to endanger the lives of children through forced outing.
* "Do Your Phone Calls and Emails Matter? :"
https://cmarmitage.substack.com/p/do-your-phone-calls-and-emails-matter
*
Our until Midterms is to survive, to build grassroots resistance, to do all in our power to slow the republican Christo-fascist agenda, and to prepare for 2026 in case there is still Democracy."Take action with Indivisible:"
https://www.mobilize.us/indivisible/Trump 2.0 Indivisible Guide.
https://indivisible.org/resource/guideIf you can't safely contact them in person, here are some other options for contacting your Congress Critters:
Five Calls to your critters:
https://5calls.org/Here is one that will send your reps a fax:
https://resist.bot/And another:
https://faxzero.com/fax_senate.phpSnail Mail Campaigns:
https://conuly.dreamwidth.org/3622760.html"Congress. gov:"
https://www.congress.gov/White house (Possibly Dangerous):
https://www.whitehouse.gov/ACLU advice for writing to your Critters:
https://www.aclu.org/writing-your-elected-representativesThis tracks legislation:
https://www.govtrack.us/"The Public Comment Process (+ how to write effective public comments):"
https://www.tumblr.com/gwydionmisha/781844516804149248?source=share"Swing Left:"
https://swingleft.org/Run for Something:
https://runforsomething.net/"Vote Smart:"
https://justfacts.votesmart.org/Protests: "50501 Events:"
https://www.fiftyfifty.one/events"ICE Raids Toolkit: Defend Against ICE Raids and Community Arrests:"
https://www.immigrantdefenseproject.org/raids-toolkit/Contains a raid tip hotline amoung other things. "Know Your Rights
LEARN HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF AND YOUR FAMILY:"
https://wearecasa.org/know-your-rights/
* "Federal court blocks Alabama’s midterm gerrymandering plan, a blow for Republicans:"
https://www.politico.com/news/2026/05/26/alabama-redistricting-2026-election-order-00935834* "Alabama asks Supreme Court to allow redistricting for 2026:"
https://www.politico.com/news/2026/05/27/alabama-asks-supreme-court-to-allow-redistricting-for-2026-00938494* "Louisiana passes new congressional map, dismantling one majority-Black district:"
https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2026-election/louisiana-passes-new-congressional-map-dismantling-one-majority-black-rcna347575* "Louisiana Democrats, GOP might get to exclude ‘no-party’ voters from their primary elections:"
https://lailluminator.com/2026/05/20/louisiana-democrats-gop-might-get-to-exclude-no-party-voters-from-their-primary-elections/* "North Carolina voters have until July to comment on proposed election rules:"
https://www.wect.com/2026/05/14/north-carolina-voters-have-until-july-comment-proposed-election-rules/* "Clyburn’s seat survives for now as South Carolina Republicans buck Trump on redistricting:"
https://www.politico.com/news/2026/05/26/south-carolina-redistricting-fails-clyburn-trump-00936000* "GOP scores another gerrymandering victory with Missouri Supreme Court win:"
https://www.politico.com/news/2026/05/12/republican-gerrymandering-missouri-victory-00917806* "Georgia to draw new congressional maps for 2028:"
https://www.politico.com/news/2026/05/13/georgia-2028-redistricting-special-session-00919233* Keep protesting!
* "In the birthplace of Civil Rights Movement, groups rally to defend Black political representation:"
https://apnews.com/article/voting-rights-act-rally-alabama-scotus-a71782f45369654ab86e0e66e633fcf4* "Colorado Gov. Jared Polis grants clemency to Trump election denier Tina Peters:"
https://www.advocate.com/politics/states/jared-polis-tina-peters-clemency* "NAACP calls for boycott of Southern college sports programs over voting rights:"
https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/naacp-calls-for-boycott-of-southern-college-sports-programs-over-votin* We are in primary season. States vote at different times, so I beg ALL of you to check when your state is voting. If you are in an in-person vote state, research ahead of time so you can vote for the candidate with views closest to your own. If you vote by mail, take the time to look them up when your ballot comes.
THIS is how you move the party further LEFT. PLAN YOUR VOTE!!!
Primary schedule here:
* "2026 Statewide Primary Calendar:"
https://www.270towin.com/2026-state-primary-calendar/I don't know where you live, so I can't link this for you, but I find the Progressive Voter Guide online very helpful in narrowing down candidates in the often packed primaries where I live.
I also suggest looking at things like volunteer work and endorsements, because it really, really helps with things like sheriff and judicial elections, but can be useful in all sorts of primaries when you have multiple good options.
REMEMBER: Don't just vote for the big things like US Congress. Vote in every State and local race down to the smallest and on all the referendums.
State and local elections have a massive impact on your quality of life.* California, Iowa, Montana, New Jersey, New Mexico, South Dakota! Don't forget to vote June 2!
* Maine, Nevada, North Dakota, South Carolina! Don't forget to vote June 9!
* "John Cornyn booted from Senate as indicted anti-trans Texas AG Ken Paxton clinches GOP nomination:"
https://www.advocate.com/politics/election/ken-paxton-beats-john-cornyn* "Texas AG Ken Paxton calls James Talarico’s support for trans kids ‘weird’ in runoff victory speech:"
https://www.advocate.com/politics/national/ken-paxton-trans-kids-weird* "Stephen Miller made an anti-trans post about James Talarico. The DNC response hit its mark:"
https://www.advocate.com/politics/national/dnc-calls-stephen-miller-ugly* "‘So many scandals’: Control of the Senate could hinge on deeply flawed Trump pick, Paxton:"
https://www.ms.now/the-briefing-with-jen-psaki/watch/so-many-scandals-control-of-the-senate-could-hinge-on-deeply-flawed-trump-pick-paxton-2501492291613* "Hayes: The MAGA base is shrinking, but Trump’s grip is tightening:"
https://www.ms.now/all-in/watch/hayes-the-maga-base-is-shrinking-but-trump-s-grip-is-tightening-2501579843988**** Last Week's Elections ****
* "Here's how Tuesday's primary elections played out, state-by-state:"
https://www.npr.org/2026/05/18/g-s1-122235/primary-day-alabama-georgia-idaho-kentucky-oregon-pennsylvania* "Trump notches more GOP primary wins, but big midterm questions remain:"
https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2026-election/trump-primary-election-race-influence-gop-massie-cassidy-paxton-rcna346007* "Trump-backed challenger defeats Republican rebel Massie in primary:" Trump-backed challenger defeats Republican rebel Massie in primary
* "Trump completed his revenge tour. Allies wonder what it cost.:"
https://www.politico.com/news/2026/05/20/trump-revenge-midterms-00929255* "Trump’s power play is backfiring as betrayed Republicans go rogue:"
https://www.ms.now/the-briefing-with-jen-psaki/watch/trump-s-power-play-is-backfiring-as-betrayed-republicans-go-rogue-2500859459779* "Trump is losing control of the Senate (even some ‘bootlickers’):"
https://www.ms.now/the-briefing-with-jen-psaki/watch/trump-is-losing-control-of-the-senate-even-some-bootlickers-2500998723584* "Results are in for Pa.'s primary elections; Chris Rabb, Bob Brooks among winners:"
https://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/politics/live-updates-democrats-republicans-pick-their-nominees-in-pa-primaries/4403709/* "Christine Drazan wins Oregon GOP primary for governor, setting up rematch with Democratic Gov. Tina Kotek:"
https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2026-election/oregon-governor-primary-election-race-winner-christine-drazan-rcna345007* "Oregon voters decisive as they reject gas tax, renominate Drazan:"
https://www.opb.org/article/2026/05/20/oregon-primary-election-voters-gas-tax-drazan-gop-governor/* "Idaho’s Hard-Right Republicans Suffer Heavy Losses in Primary Elections:"
https://www.newsweek.com/idaho-gang-of-eight-republican-primary-suffer-election-result-losses-11971384* "Georgia Supreme Court justices fend off Democratic-backed challengers:"
https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2026-election/georgia-state-supreme-court-election-results-rcna345001* "Maynard Nexsen Shareholder Poised to Oversee Alabama Elections After Victory in Primary:"
https://www.law.com/dailyreportonline/2026/05/21/maynard-nexsen-shareholder-poised-to-oversee-alabama-elections-after-victory-in-primary/* "Nebraska Democratic Senate primary winner says she’ll drop out to support independent in general election:"
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/may/12/nebraska-demoratic-house-primary-winner-cindy-burbankThis is a good thing. Republicans ran a ringer as a Democrat to try to confuse voters as the Democrats are backing an independant in Novemember. She ran to beat the ringer, not to win the November election and was very open about what she was doing.
* "Louisiana senator who voted to convict Trump loses Republican primary:"
https://www.npr.org/2026/05/16/nx-s1-5824533/bill-cassidy-lost-louisiana-primary-letlow-trump* "‘Flushed down the toilet’: Trump wastes tens of millions of GOP dollars bungling primaries:"
https://www.ms.now/the-briefing-with-jen-psaki/watch/flushed-down-the-toilet-trump-wastes-tens-of-millions-of-gop-dollars-bungling-primaries-2500722755801********
* "A nine-hour prayer service on the National Mall & LGBTQ+ hate in the midterms:"
https://www.advocate.com/opinion/national-mall-prayer* "Running for office while LGBTQ+ increasingly means preparing for violence:"
https://www.advocate.com/politics/national/lgbtq-candidates-face-political-violence* "Gay civil rights lawyer launches insurgent challenge to Delaware attorney general:"
https://www.advocate.com/politics/states/dwayne-bensing-delaware-ag-challenger* "Top House Democrats slam Jen Kiggans over radio host’s ‘vile and racist language’:"
https://www.politico.com/live-updates/2026/05/12/congress/jen-kiggans-radio-interview-00915928* "Meet the Democrat poised to become Georgia’s first transgender state lawmaker:"
https://www.advocate.com/politics/states/bentley-hudgins-georgia-democrat* "Texas Democrat Maureen Galindo pledged 'prison for American Zionists' if elected to U.S. House:"
https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/maureen-galindo-zionists-quote/* "Could America elect its first Black transgender member of Congress?:"
https://www.advocate.com/politics/national/precious-brady-davis-congressional-prospects* "Trump calls for GOP challenger to Rep. Boebert as she campaigns with Massie in Kentucky:"
https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/5881792-trump-boebert-endorsement-threat/* "Mamdani Administration Recovers More Than $9 Million in Unpaid Amazon Idling Fines:"
https://www.nyc.gov/mayors-office/news/2026/05/mamdani-administration-recovers-more-than--9-million-in-unpaid-a* "‘We will not be threatened’: Mamdani rejects Trump admin’s anti-immigrant tough talk:"
https://www.ms.now/the-briefing-with-jen-psaki/watch/we-will-not-be-threatened-mamdani-rejects-trump-admin-s-anti-immigrant-tough-talk-2501754435745* "Mamdani endorses primary challenger over Democratic incumbent in House race:"
https://www.ms.now/the-briefing-with-jen-psaki/watch/mamdani-endorses-primary-challenger-over-democratic-incumbent-in-house-race-2501746755850* "California city that banned the Pride flag poised to get powerful gay congressman:"
https://www.advocate.com/politics/election/huntington-beach-robert-garcia* "Democratic Rep. Steve Cohen drops reelection bid after redistricting in Tennessee:"
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/democratic-rep-steve-cohen-tennessee-announces-retirement-congress/* "Pete Buttigieg emerges as early favorite for 2028 Democratic nomination:"
https://www.advocate.com/politics/national/pete-buttigieg-leads-2028-hopefulsWhile I would rather him than Gavin Newsom or a Kamala Harris re-run, please, please, Democrats, pick someone better.
* "Flurry of new NC constitutional amendments piling up for November ballot:"
https://ncnewsline.com/2026/05/14/flurry-of-new-nc-constitutional-amendments-piling-up-for-november-ballot/* "Mainers won’t vote on anti-trans measure after it fails to qualify for November ballot:"
https://www.advocate.com/politics/states/maine-trans-sports-ballot-fails* "Teenage gunmen open fire on San Diego mosque, killing 3 men and then themselves:"
https://apnews.com/article/san-diego-islamic-center-shooting-af934ee29b397fba1495baf2529c49f8* "The teens who attacked the Islamic Center of San Diego were latest to cite prior atrocities:"
https://apnews.com/article/christchurch-islamic-center-mosque-san-diego-47582ddae2690a0205e2af6439ee9e65* "Year before shooting, father removed guns from home of Islamic Center teen gunman:"
https://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/local/year-before-shooting-father-removed-guns-from-home-of-islamic-center-teen-gunman/4027678/* "San Diego’s Muslim community picks up the pieces after mass shooting: ‘We’re just your neighbors’:"
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/may/22/islamic-center-of-san-diego-shooting-aftermath* "Luigi Mangione trial judge allows gun and notebook to be used as evidence:"
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/may/18/luigi-mangione-trial-new-york-united-healthcare-ceo?
* "Secret Service kills man who opened fire at White House security checkpoint:"
https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/politics-news/gunshots-reported-near-white-house-rcna346671* "Alex Murdaugh's Murder Trial is a Catastrophe:"
( Embed: )* CW: Child Abuse. "Native kids with disabilities were held in wooden boxes. Sweeping reforms are coming:"
https://www.npr.org/2026/05/14/nx-s1-5821682/salmon-river-mohawk-children* CW: CSA. "Former Waco attorney Adam Hoffman released from 60-day jail term after 29 days :"
https://www.kwtx.com/2026/05/25/former-waco-attorney-adam-hoffman-released-60-day-jail-term-after-29-days/* CW: Sexual Assault. "Man arrested for pulling down trans woman’s skirt in front of children at Ohio amusement park:"
https://www.advocate.com/news/crime/ohio-transgender-woman-skirt-arrest* "Judge stops Kansas law restricting transgender youth health care:"
https://www.advocate.com/health/transgender-health/judge-blocks-kansas-care-ban* "Kansas Judge Eviscerates Anti-Trans "Experts" Jamie Reed, Chloe Cole, James Cantor; Blocks Care Ban:"
https://www.erininthemorning.com/p/kansas-judge-eviscerates-anti-trans* "The Christian nonprofit, founded by the late James Dobson, has advocated for anti-LGBTQ policies for nearly half a century.:"
https://www.advocate.com/news/religion/focus-on-the-family-track-record* "Defendant charged with killing gay NYC dancer denies hate crime motive at trial:"
https://www.advocate.com/news/crime/oshae-sibley-murder-defendant-testifies* "Chicago community raises more than $40K for husband of gay man killed in alleged stalker shooting:"
https://www.advocate.com/news/crime/chicago-leather-community-murder* "NYC man indicted on hate crimes charges in alleged antigay beating:"
https://www.advocate.com/news/crime/nyc-subway-beating-hate-crime* "Missing transgender student found dead in Kentucky after weeks-long search:"
https://www.advocate.com/news/transgender-kentucky-student-dead* "Police arrest man in alleged antigay hate crime during D.C. Black Pride:"
https://www.advocate.com/news/crime/dc-antigay-hate-crime* "Pete Hegseth’s West Point commencement address was a diatribe of hateful garbage:"
https://www.advocate.com/opinion/pete-hegseth-westpoint-speech-trash* "Trans salutatorian’s powerful graduation speech puts Mississippi school’s mistreatment on display:"
https://www.advocate.com/news/jonas-hole-mississippi-graduation-speech* "Gay Kentucky 8th grader calls out his school’s ‘racism’ & ‘homophobia’ in viral graduation speech:"
https://www.advocate.com/news/people/kentucky-middle-school-graduation-speech* "Under New Olympic Sex Testing Policy, A Cis Woman Who Gives Birth Could Be Considered Male:"
https://www.erininthemorning.com/p/under-new-olympic-sex-testing-policy* "Trans teen at center of Supreme Court sports case wins West Virginia state title:"
https://www.advocate.com/news/people/becky-pepper-jackson-championship-win* "The pursuit continues: Why an HIV vaccine still matters:"
https://www.advocate.com/opinion/why-hiv-vaccine-research-still-matters* "Hantavirus Legal Nightmare:"
( Embed: )* "The Close, Prolonged Contact Myth:"
https://web.archive.org/web/20260512233134/https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2026/05/hantavirus-outbreak-cruise-ship/687140/* "How a Nature Cruise Turned Into a Nightmare:"
https://archive.ph/nMIzv* "Health officials track fourth King County resident tied to MV Hondius Andes hantavirus :"
https://komonews.com/news/local/4th-king-county-resident-connected-to-cruise-ship-hantavirus-outbreak-being-monitored-amsterdam-johannesburg-symptoms-mv-hondius-andes-hantavirus* "How South African scientists identified hantavirus on a cruise ship thousands of miles away:"
https://apnews.com/article/south-africa-hantavirus-diagnosis-scientists-42d1ec3a330e6647856f74b25594e856* "Trump Administration Health Official Tapped to Lead Hantavirus Response Is a Penile Implant Specialist:"
https://people.com/trump-admin-health-official-leading-hantavirus-response-penile-implant-specialist-11975764* "Study finds deadly hantavirus more widespread in Pacific Northwest rodents than expected:"
https://komonews.com/news/local/study-finds-deadly-hantavirus-more-widespread-in-pacific-northwest-rodents-than-expected-disease-infection-mice-rats-droppings-symptoms-pandemic-andes-virus-covid-cruise-ship-washington-idaho-oregon* "Polymarket’s Hot New Bet: Hantavirus:"
https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2026/05/polymarket-prediction-market-hantavirus-pandemic-epidemic-betting/* "World Health Organization declares Ebola outbreak in Congo a global health emergency:"
https://www.npr.org/2026/05/16/g-s1-122494/new-ebola-outbreak-drc-who-global-emergency* "Inside the epicenter of the Ebola outbreak in DRC as the virus spreads:"
https://www.cnn.com/2026/05/24/africa/ebola-outbreak-view-from-drc-congo-intl* "Congo curtails funeral wakes in Ebola outbreak as WHO upgrades risk assessment:"
https://apnews.com/article/congo-ebola-outbreak-who-4e08d8df6d9c34039a9e0b8bad7a8954* "In City at Center of Ebola Crisis, ‘the Virus Is Far Ahead of Us’:"
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/05/24/world/africa/ebola-virus-congo-response.html* "Red Cross volunteers die from suspected Ebola in DR Congo:"
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c759knxln0wo* "This Ebola outbreak raises questions about when it all began — and the U.S. response:"
https://www.npr.org/2026/05/18/g-s1-122655/ebola-outbreak-democratic-republic-congo-uganda* "UK scientists developing Ebola vaccine that could be ready for trials in months:"
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cy82gkr7xzloNot soon enough for so many, alas.
* "WHO Reveals ‘Huge’ Death Rate From Ebola Outbreak:"
https://www.thedailybeast.com/who-reveals-huge-death-rate-from-ebola-outbreak-in-drc/* "Tracking the 2026 Ebola outbreak:"
https://www.nbcnews.com/data-graphics/ebola-outbreak-2026-cases-virus-tracking-maps-spread-congo-ugangda-us-rcna347102* "U.S. passengers flying from Ebola-affected countries rerouted:"
https://www.npr.org/2026/05/23/nx-s1-5831963/u-s-passengers-flying-from-ebola-affected-countries-rerouted* "Kenya court suspends US plan for Ebola quarantine facility for Americans:"
https://apnews.com/article/kenya-us-ebola-quarantine-facility-f0c7ed6dc3fe339b9b974fd12782ca8d* I don't blame them. "Ebola and hantavirus outbreaks prompt raft of conspiracy theories in divided US:"
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/may/25/ebola-hantavirus-conspiracy-theories* How to help a person who has fallen out of their wheelchair:
https://www.tumblr.com/gwydionmisha/817559147942985728?source=share* Suggestions for people who struggle with tooth brushing because sensory issues. Things for people who have a hard time brushing at all up top. Scrool down for toopaste and mouthwash suggestions. "On Dentists:"
https://www.tumblr.com/gwydionmisha/817002427155988482/on-dentists?source=share
* "New wildfire reported in Los Angeles County on May 25 :"
https://www.fresnobee.com/news/california/fires/article315884416.html* "Nasa images show wildfire damage to island dubbed ‘Galapagos of California’ :"
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/may/27/santa-rosa-island-california-wildfire-damage* "Flooding kills at least nine in China's Chongqing, state media says:"
https://archive.ph/CIkm9* "Flooding reported across Southwest Ohio; Weather to dry starting Thursday:"
https://www.daytondailynews.com/local/flooding-reported-across-southwest-ohio-weather-to-dry-starting-thursday/article_208b305c-cfdc-55c5-be7e-aa6584029a91.html* "‘A nightmare’: Deadly flash flooding shocks residents, first responders in Cocke County:"
https://www.wate.com/news/cocke-county-news/cocke-county-flooding-kills-one/* "Heavy rain around West Alabama stokes flash flooding worries:"
https://www.wvua23.com/news/heavy-rain-around-west-alabama-stokes-flash-flooding-worries/article_5f3843df-c3e7-4e42-9baf-05484400fff4.html* "1 person has died after blast at New York City shipyard that also injured 36 people, officials say.:"
https://apnews.com/article/nyc-new-york-shipyard-explosion-fire-injured-90e97ade84e47b493191169eeda1a3f2* "What to Know the Mysterious Deaths in New Mexico Linked to Unknown Substance:"
https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/new-mexico/articles/2026-05-21/what-to-know-the-mysterious-deaths-in-new-mexico-linked-to-unknown-substance
* "In a First for the U.S., Renewables Generate More Power Than Natural Gas:"
https://e360.yale.edu/digest/us-renewables-natural-gas-coal* "Anthropic blames dystopian sci-fi for training AI models to act “evil”:"
https://arstechnica.com/ai/2026/05/anthropic-blames-dystopian-sci-fi-for-training-ai-models-to-act-evil/* "Hidden History: This nonbinary minister was a hero of the American Revolution:"
https://www.advocate.com/history/nonbinary-minister-hero-american-revolution* "What Memorial Day owes queer soldiers :"
https://www.advocate.com/opinion/queer-soldiers-american-history-memorial-day* "Community grieves Juniper Blessing, trans student with 'heart of gold' who loved meteorology and Pokémon:"
https://www.advocate.com/news/community-grieves-juniper-blessing-trans-student-with-heart-of-gold-who-loved-meteorology-and-pokemon* "Dog shoots woman with shotgun at Nebraska convenience store:"
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/may/26/dog-shotgun-nebraska-convenience-store* "Hancock Middle School Students Stop Bus From Crashing After Driver Blacks Out:"
https://www.mississippifreepress.org/hancock-middle-school-students-stop-bus-from-crashing-after-driver-blacks-out/* Kitten news! Livia's old rescue called and we are getting kittens from them instead. Due to scheduling issues, not Saturday next. They will be girls from the January litter. One will be black. The other will either be tuxedo or black with subtle tabby markings. There are only four of the seven left as of last Friday. The plan is, I sit on the floor and let the kittens pick me.
UPDATE: Wheelchair practice is exhausting for everyone involved, but we made some progress.
* It has been a really rough week physically with Too Many Things in it. Also too much pollen. Way too much pollen.
When I went on my TP run to ethical grocery, I saw Plant bukake floating around over the highway, which added to my car being covered in it, and me coming home with my shirt visibly dusted on and off for weeks gives you an idea of what I am dealing with.
We've been using the Livingroom window bench for wheelchair practice, which prevents installing the air-conditioning/air filtration.
By the time I went north for the optometrist there were some plant bukake balls as big as my thumb above the knuckle. It's in the parking lot on little clusters and scattered on the entry rug in the lobby, but we aren't at drift stage yet.
I had forgotten to budget for glasses. Fuckssake. I am committed on the kittens, which we go to get Saturday, as in the money is a fixed amount and I have moved it onto a card they accept, along with a little extra in case we need gas to get back home. I am really hoping I have enough to cover end of the month auto-withdraw, but I can't be sure.
Wheelchair practice keeps getting postponed. It was meant to be Wednesday, then Thursday, but the air quality is just so bad we are all exhausted. every little thing I do I need to lie down after.
When I came out of my room with it's strong filtration, I really struggled to breath. There was nothing for it but to move the wheelchair into the kitchen and manhandle the air conditioner into place. In less than an hour of starting it up I felt so much better. I'm still congested, but the cough is down to just a little worse than normal. I feel terrible for Livia, who's window box had to be moved left and who's window is now closed. As I typed this she came out and saw to her distress. So unfair.
* Firefox did another update where it wiped everything. I had so much laid out and organized to go, but too many things were happening Thursday night so I shut down planning to do all the posting Friday.
It's gone. I just can't put it all back. I do not have a couple days for recovery and reorganization, not as my health is now. I am already drowning in too many things and I still have some kitten prep and to somehow squeeze in some sleep.
It wasn't just Firefox either. At least Waterfox fixed their shit so I'm not going to have to reconstruct there too. (Do the real work on Water and Fire, but I keep a couple other browsers around because some things are easier if I can just flip back and forth. I just checked and the podcast browser is okay. These are the three that matter most).
I'm going to see what I can do about saving the last couple weeks of work, but please, please don't rely on me for anything right now.
* Saturday/Sunday Kitten post with pictures:
https://www.tumblr.com/gwydionmisha/817545222297878528/personal-kitten-update?source=share* Monday: the kittens are a delight but they are athletic on the Hector "Are you sure you don't have wings scale" and are likely going to be Livia big when the grow up as they are already nearly Tavy sized. I will be sitting at my desk and a kitten will fly over my shoulder. Lat night, I looked up just in time to catch one of them leaping about three feet in the are on a very narrow parabola, tail flying like a flag. I heard the landing thump right as the other dig the exact same thing. They literally bounce off furniture.
Clawdia makes waaaay more messes and is voted most likely to end up in a toilet, fish tank, or dryer and is a pain in the ass when she escapes anything. Sappho is quiet and clever and very patient. She is voted most likely to get past the legs without you knowing and her capacity for large scale mess making stunned me today. Like, she doesn't knock small things over all the time or make mistakes near the litter box, but goes for it she really goes for it. It took more than half an hour to sort out the mess in the kitchen. I'm pretty sure the blender will be all right, but another of my great grandmother's plates was broken in half, and the rack with the extracts and food colouring was ripped from the wall, destroying the fasteners and scattering everything everywhere. I will need to buy more fasteners when there is money again.
They really, really want to befriend Livia, particularly Saffy. Livia is enforcing a three foot rule for their approach, but will come within a foot if they are in sleepy mode. I managed to give her a really long bed pet last night with them turning up halfway through. She was up at the head center, and they spread out along the closet side. She's going about it exactly the way Livia seduced Little Miss back in the day. I will sit still just outside growling distance, and respectfully hang out making the occasional blinky eyes. Next time, she sits just slightly closer. She got as close as two feet last night by slow increments, but once she triggered growls, Livia insisted she move back to the cordon line.
Clawdia is temperamentally closer to Tavy, so will likely take longer, but I know Livia misses having cats around and when they are sleeping in view or hanging out quietly, it's fine.
Adjustment takes time and they are making daily progress with it, which is Fast on a cat scale.
* Tuesday: Livia, grumbling: It is very hard to get angry at this kitten when she is just sitting peaceably a foot away and I am getting head scritches. It is infuriating!
It was fine, even when Clawdia came and sat behind Sappho, completely ignoring the pre-established three foot Clawdia cordon. What was not fine was when Saffy in a moment of over ambitious enthusiasm prepared to leap the small gap to Livia's personal bedroom window podium, which her human made just for her and which even Tavy wasn't allowed to sit on, the one on which she was at that very moment getting a belly rub. It was a bridge too far!
Livia: How dare! How Dare!
Sappho, chastened, steps back to the two foot Saffy cordon
* Wednesday: Nose touch today before Livia hissed at Saffy. Saffy decided to take her afternoon nap in there, sprawled out about two feet from Livia, who curled up for hers on her podium.
Livia has resumed pettin throne Pets, another sign she is relaxing around the kittens.
Clawdia's intestinal distress seems to have resolved, and it turns out she likes burrowing under the blankets with me.
I have no idea what was going on in the vicinity of my legs around the time the Black Death was crossing into Savoy, but ist was clearly very exciting.
Today we did feather time with Tavy's feather and bat toy he got as a gift from friends about a month and a half before he died. (This was is personal special toy. ) It is perfect for two kittens who play well together as the bat and the little boa move differently and if one of them grabs one to rassle, I can wiggle the other part for the other kitten. I ended up with two toys in play, but it was really helpful when I needed a hand for something else. Saffy eventually grabbed the bat toy and ran off with it.
Later when I went to return library stuff, I found someone had found were I hid Livia's personal favorite toy and dragged it to the kitchen door. I have hidden it somewhere else. (Livia will play with a few things, but most things she won't and it's little fragile and her favorite, so it is her personal special toy. Eventually the kittens will each have one special toy just for them, but right now they are having a wonderful time trying all the toys).
My bank stopped posting updates for the holiday end of Thursday and only just updated everything today. I was super close on the glasses and it is possible I miscalculated by 20-25 dollars as I wasn't sure what was and wasn't still in processing limbo. If the glasses check was cashed and cleared by the optometrist before the weekend, I am fine. If not, it's possible I'm fucked. I had a surprise autodraw for my anti-virus, which would be the thing putting me over. (Kitten funds had been moved to a credit card earlier in the week.)
IDK. I am hoping they either cashed it, or are super slow cashers like my car mechanic and they only deposit checks twice a month. There is nothing to be done about it now. Sigh.
If I'd realized it was coming I would have cancelled it.
In any case they cats are doing really well, and everyone is adjusting pretty fast by cat standards. They are starting to form routines.
* "MAGA Rages Over Missing Trump Phones & POTUS Heads to China with Elon and the Boys | The Daily Show:"
( Embed: )* "Billionaire Boys Trip | Our Trillion-Dollar “Sledgehammer” | America Is Out Of Control:"
( Embed: )* "Handshake Dominance | Trump: I Only Say The Truth | Fox News In China | The Snack Crisis:"
( Embed: )* "Structured Settlements & Factoring Companies: Last Week Tonight with John Oliver (HBO):"
( Embed: )* "A Reciprocal Emotional Relationship - Colbert's Series Finale Begins With A Message For His Audience:"
( Embed: )* "Glitter, wings and whimsy: Black cosplayers turn Georgia woods into a fae wonderland:"
https://apnews.com/photo-essay/black-fae-fest-photo-essay-48e67b5ca66b6348cd8e1e0617bf96df?
* CW: Suicidal Ideation. "She's In A Casket. Then Things Got Weird | Grave Conversations:"
( Embed: )* CW: Suicide. "Matthew Lillard RETURNS | Grave Conversations With David Dastmalchian:"
( Embed: )* "Horrendous Hellenic Heroes:"
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/jK9uAnPXtFg* "Alcibiades Anarchy:"
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/pUooWHd70Uk* "Funny Funerals:"
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/CNfarr063J0* "Titanic Triumvirate Trifling Trials:"
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/Z1FrAq1YZLE* "Profitable Proscription:"
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/ZMzUnbbwoSw* "Silly Schisms:"
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/qyEghOtq9HM* "Obstinate Oaths:"
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/qXyXTfD3HTI* "Napoleonic Novelty:"
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/UpgZK5d3Oz0* "Nauseating Nostalgia Films:"
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/TG0IuTVV3Bo* "Kind-hearted Kids 10 (Tantrums):"
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/bNiBcbRBA2g* "President Barack Obama Takes The Colbert Questionert:"
( Embed: )* "How President Trump Negotiates With Himself:"
( Embed: )* ""Streets of Minneapolis" - Bruce Springsteen (LIVE on The Late Show):"
( Embed: )* "Interviewing the Cat Sitter:"
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/WCO6ve3ANTQ* I think this pause we just had in Dracula Daily is one of those moments where reading it in this weird way adds a little something special.
Jonathan’s terror is palpable in his short May 19th note in which he writes the day he expects to die. The briefness and lack of extra description hammer home his fear.
And then he just sits with it for a while, letting the enormity of it all sink in, and we sit with it with him as days pass.
* Cool Shakespeare Staging (I'd seen the first couple before, but not the others:
https://www.tumblr.com/gwydionmisha/817826600322285568?source=share* Things people misunderstood writing fanfic:
https://www.tumblr.com/gwydionmisha/817835123041091585?source=share*****
* Full list of Resistance and charity links has been migrated to my profile as it was getting out of hand.
The help links are at the bottom under the cut.
* The public comment period is open now through May 22, 2026:
https://www.fcc.gov/ecfs/search/docket-detail/19-41* "Transcontinental Pipeline:"
https://tcpipeline.org/steps/* "Project Salt Box:"
https://projectsaltbox.substack.com/* "When the Feds Come to Your City: Standing Up to ICE :"
https://crimethinc.com/2025/12/03/when-the-feds-come-to-your-city-standing-up-to-ice-a-guide-from-chicago-organizers* Links to Help organize in advance of ICE Occupation:
https://www.tumblr.com/gwydionmisha/807226885129060352?source=share* "Swing Left:"
https://swingleft.org/* "2026 Statewide Primary Calendar:"
https://www.270towin.com/2026-state-primary-calendar/( More )![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
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