I know it’s hard to think about anything outside of Trump and Russia these days, but while we’re all refreshing Twitter every two minutes, women’s rights are being rolled back across the country.
At the end of June, four health clinics in Iowa will shut down because of legislation defunding Planned Parenthood. At the same time, Texas is seeking federal funding to do the same and the DNC chair is meeting with anti-choice groups in the spirit of doing away with a litmus test on women’s rights.
When even those who are supposed to be on our side are willing to throw women’s autonomy and human rights under the bus, we’re in bad shape.
So yes, watch the news obsessively and plan those impeachment parties. But don’t forget about what’s at stake in the meantime.
Glass Half Full
This past Mother’s Day, Black Lives Matter spearheaded a campaign – also propped up by individual activists – to raise bail money for mothers who needed it. They raised more than half a million dollars to reunite families separated by the criminal justice system.
What I’m RTing
"This certainly is troubling." - a Republican Senator being murdered
— Mark Agee (@MarkAgee) May 16, 2017
we got donald trump and sweden's dealing wit whether to subsidize hour-long fuck breaks https://t.co/IOnB5vsl67
— collier meyerson (@collier) May 18, 2017
🚨 NEW from @jlfeder: US denying visas to gay men fleeing kidnapping and torture in Chechnya https://t.co/zCrxlTCnia
— Miriam Elder (@MiriamElder) May 17, 2017
THIS IS NOT A HACK OR AN EXPERIMENT, THIS IS CALLED MAKING A SANDWICH. THIS IS A MAN LEARNING TO MAKE SANDWICHES. https://t.co/ECkf1vBJRz
— Melinda Salisbury (@MESalisbury) May 16, 2017
Who I’m reading
NPR and Pro Publica with this incredible – but horrifying – report on maternal deaths in the United States; Politico on how Trump’s staff gives the president fake news in hopes of currying favor; Reductress, which always finds a way to somehow lift my spirits even if its satirical piece is too racy to quote here.
What I’m watching
In light of Roger Ailes’ death, I’m rewatching this video on Fox News’ sexual harassment problem.
How outraged I am
On a scale of one to 10, a new report on the high incidence of sexual violence at school among kids aged K-12 has me at a full 10. There is no reason we’re not doing better on this.
How I’m making it through this week
Two words: happy otters.
