This week, we’ve been out of town on a work retreat, and something (a large tree) got in our way (fell on some power lines) and created some challenges (cutting off all ties to modern necessities – like toilets and Twitter). Nevertheless, we persist because we’ve got some celebrating to do.
Your weekly songspiration!
1. After Trump withdrew federal guidelines protecting transgender students, several state and local officials wasted no time announcing they would continue protecting transgender students, and Trans Lifeline received so many donations that their website crashed.
2. After it was revealed that Jeff Sessions lied under oath to Congress about meeting with the Russian ambassador, he recused himself from any probe related to the 2016 presidential campaign.
3. Immigrant youth organized and defeated an anti-immigrant program in Houston. Check out this amazing interactive timeline, beginning in September 2015, that shows step-by-step how they made it happen.
4. Town halls and continued pressure are delivering some good news:
? One Republican said the town hall protests may prevent an Obamacare repeal.
? After repeated protests, a New York Republican said he won’t vote for a repeal of ACA without a plan to replace it.
? After Indivisible Kansas City paid their Republican Congressman a visit, he also said he won’t vote for a repeal of ACA without a plan to replace it—and called for an investigation into Trump’s ties to Russia while he was at it.
? Rep. Darrell Issa also called for an investigation after being pressured by Indivisible and the #Fight4OurHealth campaign.
? After widespread criticism, Arizona’s Republican Speaker of the House killed a bill that would have made participating in a protest that turns into a riot a potential criminal offense.
(We know, this isn’t some golden ticket—many of these Republicans say one thing but do another, including Issa. But momentum is building, thanks to concerned citizens taking action, and we think that’s a win.)
5. This painter is now publicly criticizing Trump.
6. A Democrat won a special Delaware state Senate election by a 16% margin, thanks to more than 1000 volunteers who helped with her campaign—more volunteers than another state Senator said he’s had in the past nine elections—and more than 14,000 contributions of $100 or less from small donors across the country.
? This win means Democrats will retain control of the state Senate!
7. Remember the fall of Milo Yiannopoulos last week? We have a 16-year-old girl to thank for it.
8. The New York Times is expanding their climate team, stating:
“As the earth’s temperature continues to break records, climate and environmental reporting is taking on new urgency. The Times is expanding its coverage of the globe’s changing climate and the political, economic, technological and social consequences, from scientific research to the decisions of CEOs to the struggles of people living in places that are increasingly vulnerable to the effects of change.”
9. For the first time in its 130 year history, the Harvard Law Review has elected a black woman president. (Check out their first black male president.)
10. Google has pledged $11.5 million in grants and funding to fight racial bias.
11. The Supreme Court delivered a major victory against gerrymandering:
“Voters should choose their elected officials, not the other way around.”
12. The governor of Washington barred state employees from complying with many of Trump’s policies on immigration.
13. The #OscarsSoWhite campaign paid off, and people of color made history at the Academy Awards this year:
? Viola Davis became the first black woman to win an Emmy, Tony, and Oscar for acting.
Watch the full backstage interview here. Worth every minute.
? Mahershala Ali made history, becoming the first Muslim actor to win an Oscar.
? Moonlight won Best Picture, making it the first film with an all-black cast AND the first film centered on an LGBTQ character to win that award.
?????
“Black and brown boys and girls and gender non-conforming who don’t see themselves, we’re trying show you, you and us… This is for you.”
Moonlight co-writer Tarell Alvin McCraney
#representationmatters
Spring is in the air. We may give this new workout routine a try.
#slayspiration
&
? RBG isn’t going anywhere ?
P.S. Thank God you’re back. ?
P.P.S. Feels for the weekend.