Let's see how efficient DOGE is when citizens ask for information under FOIA

Help Jamie Raskin protect your right to privacy with this simple form. Request a full personal report from the DOGE

Department of Government Efficiency and Digital Service, 736 Jackson Place, Washington D.C. 20503.

I've been wondering where are the congressional representatives standing up to the Trump administration? You too? Well, here's Jamie Raskin again, standing up, speaking out, and fighting back even though he's already a target for retribution because of his service on the United States House Select Committee on the January 6th Attack.

It's fast and easy. You're filling a Freedom of Information Act request for documents held by the federal government about you. You've had this right since 1966 with the enactment of the law.

Exercise your right so it won't go away.

You'll feel great exercising your Constitutional Right!

Use it or lose it.

You can't leave it up to someone else to do it for you.

The Bill of Rights doesn't mention privacy specifically but the 1st, 3rd, 4th, 9th, and 14th Amendments have been interpreted to provide protection: privacy of religion (1st), of home (3rd), of person and possessions (4th), to protect privacy rights more generally: "...shall not be construed to deny or disparage others [privacy rights] retained by the people", and the Liberty Clause of the 14th Amendment: "No State shall... deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law."

Mine is ready for the mail.

Link to form: https://jamieraskin.com/doge-privacy-act-requests/ or click on Raskin picture above.

Hate is built on fear and misunderstanding - Trying learning first

(Illustration for ProPublica)

 Watching Bill Maher last night and he repeated what those who understand the meaning of "freedom of speech" know: the First Amendment only protects your speech from government censorship --- not employer, church, organization, or friends and family's opinions of your speech. 

So, here's content to help you understand what is going on in our country today and has been going on for generations. I do not support this content, period. But I defend the right of free speech even where its position is different from my own. If I didn't, then it would not be "free speech." It would be limited to those in favor by the government.

I showed an early 2000 version of this documentary, also by Frontline (one of the finest collective of truth tellers we have) in my communications law classes and was always amazed by the number of students (ages 18-60) who weren't aware of the level of hate in the U.S. or its explosion with the internet providing anonymous interaction.

Trump joked once in his first administration that he was opening "Pandora's Box". Indeed, he has, around the world. It is unfathomable to me that an individual can look at a whole group of people, or even just another person, who looks different, and hate them/him/ser simply based on that one moment of observation. Would not instead instinctively express curiosity and interest and understanding. It is unfathomable to me to picture a bunch of white supremacists or what nationalists, or christian nationalists (I will not respect these christians with a "C"), or any other fear driven hate group plotting away without their favorite snack foods: tacos, pizza, fried chicken, asian foods just like the rest of us. It's Paczki Season regardless of your religion, don'cha know. Personally, my go to food is Mediterranean, not those German foods of my heritage. How can they hate the people but enjoy all the rich contributions those people have made to American culture. MUSIC!!!! PEOPLE!!!! MUSIC!!!!! ART!!! MATHEMATICS!!! COMMUNICATION!!! SCIENCES!!!!....

I'm a white-bread, almost middle-class kid who paid attention to simple lessons of American Native peoples. I respect the earth, I don't believe it takes a building to find and a deity and give thanks. Go stand in your favorite forest, farmland, desert, shoreline and give thanks for the richness of American culture because of the traditions and cultural influences that came as "your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free" came to our shores. How many St. Patrick's Day celebrants have the faintest notion of what Irish, Italian, German, Polish, and (your culture here) went through when they arrived here? This country didn't and doesn't keep its promises.

I have sat in conversations with a myriad of Flint neighbors, generally Arab, Asian, Cuban, Latinx, Black and white and found myself laughing along as the conversation flowed through holiday preparations and FOOD! There isn't a culture that doesn't rely on FOOD! to fix, comfort and celebrate. I've compared religions and nodded my head as parents expressed frustrations with teens...as well as fear for their teens in a country that gives law enforcement a pass for shooting people of color first, forget asking questions. I've looked at my own students --- I love all my students from the first day. It may not last for either of us, but to know that these endearing individuals will be at risk walking to their cars after my class spikes my fear and is unforgivable in a country that promises equal protection.

Learning from one another is the only way to breakdown the walls of difference that instigate fear and hate. The woman in the hijab needs to work just like me, likes the same music I do, takes her kids to soccer just like my kids do, and practices her First Amendment protected choice of religion, wait for it! just as
I do. Imagine that? Of course, I am privileged only by the color of my skin, to a greater protection to do than she is. Imagine that? (really pause for a moment and imagine the influence your skin color has on your movement through this country daily. Nothing about your character or contribution to society, simply skin color.

Watch and understand please.

“The Rise and Fall of Terrorgram” is part of a collaborative investigation from FRONTLINE and ProPublica. The documentary premieres March 25 at 10 p.m. EDT/9 p.m. CDT on PBS stations (check local listings) and will be available to stream on YouTube, the PBS App and FRONTLINE’s website.

The Rise and Fall of Terrorgram: Inside a Global Online Hate Network - article from Frontline

https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/frontline/article/terrorgram-global-online-hate-network-telegram/?utm_source=Iterable&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=campaign_12902823&utm_Newsletter=FRONTLINE_Digest

Salute to Countries Standing Up Against Trump's game

 

Photo: Reuters

SALUTE to the EU, Canada and Australia for, imagine, inviting Ukraine to the table for a peace initiative for that country.

Why can't the U.S. elected leaders?

Bullies are known to run when pushed back. Any politicos in the US willing to stand up and push back on three gutless, shameful bullies (T, V, M)?

Want to do something on behalf of the democracy, but not sure what?

League of Women Voters.

More than 100 years of protecting the rights of all Americans. Membership open to all. 

It is actively campaigning to prevent H.R.8281 - 118th Congress (2023-2024): SAVE Act from passing.

Donate

Volunteer

Whatever capacity you have. You decide.

Remember: Act to protect your rights or they will go away.

I Stand with Zelensky and Ukraine - Again, that would be democracy!

I stand with Zelensky & Ukraine!

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky                   Photo NDTV

I stand with Zelenskyy & Ukraine!

Indeed, the Ukraine War is not a card game and while Trump is trying to take credit for making a deal and winning the game. Zelensky and Ukrainians are dying to protect their democracy, their families, resources, and boundaries.

U.S. bullies gang up on President Zelensky.             Photo: Reuters

Shame on Trump and Vance for their very childish bullying behavior in the White House yesterday. Such shameful behavior by representatives purporting to stand for ME. This isn't about the two of them getting a groveling "thank you." It is about doing the humane thing. Not in their DNA I guess.

European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas   Virginia Mayo, Association Press

Salute to European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas who called it like it is: "“Today, it became clear that the free world needs a new leader." (America no longer has a qualified credible leader, my translations).

Good on the rest of the world for calling the U.S. out for what it has done to itself by electing a spoiled rotten rich kid who just wants more for himself.* 

Newsweek (February 13, 2025) Trump 'Feeling Untouchable'

Trump sees himself as so untouchable that the damage he does the country, its government and the rest of the world is nothing more to him than the cost of him doing business for himself.

This is all a made-for-tv drama starring Trump, thus the importance of him tracking media hits and popularity polls. The people are nothing more than expendable extras.

*According to the BBC (March 1, 2025) The leaders of Germany, France, Spain, Poland, the Netherlands, Great Britain, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and Spain, were among those who posted social media messages backing Ukraine. Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Ireland, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Moldova, Romania, Sweden and Slovenia have also sent supportive messages to Ukraine.

Use your purchasing power to combat discrimination and other issues

 

I am disengaging with the following businesses (among those on the DemocratsAbroad.org list below) for the speed in which they dropped their equity (DEI) commitment in light of the new administration and are supporting Project 2025.  

Others I am dropping, such as my Prime/Amazon account, because Bezo doesn't need my money (his employees do), nor do any of the other would be oligarchs in Trump's gang. I am checking the equity policies of my favorite grocery stores now. If they don't have a policy. I'm asking for one. If they can't provide it. Their gone. That should be interesting. How will I ever feed my cats?!

We can best reach business and industry by withdrawing our business from them. It is one of the simple acts that sends a significant message. Visit non-partisan GoodsUniteUs.com website to see how spending impacts politics.

Call your representatives. 5calls.org makes it effortless.
Volunteer in the political, governmental arena of your choice.

I plan to volunteer with the ACLU to help keep the lawsuits flowing into the courts to protect our country from the loss of our democracy. Not on my watch, we won't.

And I'll protest.

Think about the resources and networks you have and do what you can. If we ignore the issue, we will lose the rights at risk. Please don't think it won't reach you.

So long

• Amazon/Prime - it was a waste of money anyway - I'm a local shopper
• ACE Hardware - love the root beer
• Allegiant Air - cheap flights to Florida
• Arby's - market sandwiches, waaaa!
• Bacardi and Cokeeeeeee! -Oh no!
• Chiquita
• Dole
• Hersey - That means Cadbury actually because its made by Hersey in the states, fyi
• Marshalls & Home Goods
• Proctor & Gamble has so many product brands - got to do a search
• Smucker's Strawberry Jam for my PB&J's w/carrots on the side
• Walmart and Sam's Club - moving to Costco, which recently rejected a shareholder proposal to end its DEI program.
• MacDonalds

Most of these are pretty easy for me to avoid. Some will be inconvenient. I always treat myself to a McD's unsweetened ice tea after doctors' appointments. Others, as much as I appreciated them, will be replaced by too many options in this market place.

I won't be perfect at it. How could I possibly keep track of the international marketplace and its respect for its employees? If others join me, our collective voice will make a dent. I may not win the war, but I intend to leave battle scars.

The list below was originally posted by Emily Curtis and Heather Cox Richardson
February 18, 2025

Here is a list of companies openly supporting Project 2025.
*And for those of you leary of the reliability, I have checked these companies against the donations registered on Goods Unite Us and they correspond. GoodsUniteUs.com

The list below was created by Democrats Abroad. DemocratsAbroad.org

A Free Speech Lesson: The Onion and Sandy Hook families think out of the box

God bless The Onion and the Sandy Hook families for thinking outside the box to disrupt the lies and the liars who lie them.

 

Alex Jones in Washington DC in 2018. Photograph: Jim Bourg/Reuters

The 1st Amendment protects our speech from government control, not from harming others and for your own personal gain. Go ahead, say what you want, defamation law will demand you step up and take responsibility for the harm you cause. Lesson learned.

AP| How Alex Jones' Infowars would up in the hands of The Onion

Thank you to all voters

Thank you to everyone who voted. Over these past three elections we have sent our government a clear message. We are a country divided. It's now our responsibility to elect and challenge our legislators to work across the aisle. To find answers that serve all of us, not just some of us. 

We must be the watch dogs that protect our democracy.

For those dismayed by some outcomes, remember that "all politics is local" (Tip O'Neil). The work for change is ours to do.

Need a starting point: GoodParty.org

Childless Cat Lady...

 WHO VOTES!

 Mom and Butter

Vote - Why?

Please Vote. 

Each vote from your community is important to how elected representatives and city/county officials gauge needs and services; attention and representation. It puts you and yours on the "oh, yes we do matter," map.

Whatever your opinions, beliefs, or positions are, Vote. 

2020 taught us that we are a divided nation. That is a powerful lesson that our elected must learn and act responsibly to represent. If not, we do need to remove them. 

Every vote from every perspective has to matter to those who work on our behalf and with our tax dollars. 

We have to work together to bring them back to bi-partisan collaboration. We have to impress on them that they were elected to work for this democratic nation's citizens; not for their own deepening pockets, biases, and selfish gamesmanship among political parties. 

Make truth and democracy matter.

Protecting everyone's right to vote ensures your own vote is protected

Protect all efforts to ensure EVERYONE'S Right to Vote without limitations designed to discourage or prevent safe and reasonable access to vote. It is the only way to protect our democracy and the rest of our freedoms. The 2020 election demonstrated that access to voting made a huge difference in the number of voters. It sent us all a message about how divided we are and inspired both sides to engage in this democracy.

Driving one side or the other back into the "why bother, my vote doesn't count," cave won't ever make this an honest, real, free democracy. My parents lovingly cancelled each other out at each election. Yet, they both strongly believe in their positions and the importance of their vote. They taught me to understand that perhaps my vote will be cancelled out. Yet my vote still counted in the message about the numbers voting that every candidate, politician, or government official got as he/she considered their agenda or their next campaign.. The numbers matter. I'm out there and I expect my interests, even if in the minority, to be recognized and attended to just as the majority's are.

Maybe I won't get all I wanted. Maybe I won't win.

I'll try again next time.

There are too many important issues out there for me to give up. The environment, free speech, a woman's rights to her own health decisions, ending systemic racism...I could go on. Of course I could. Those who know me know I could. So could you...

Protect the vote for all. Vote. Voice your concerns. Work for change that betters all of America. Selflessly.

Don't Tell Me Donald's Con Hasn't Taken Lessons from Adolf

(Wikimedia Commons, Tom Pennington/Getty Images via JTA)

Early on in our experience with Donald Trump, critics suggested a comparison to Adolf Hitler and many accused them of hysterics and instigating more trouble.

Yet, we know that Hitler had the platform and that the longer and louder he repeated his lies about innocent people, the more others joined him in fear that otherwise something might happen to them. We know that such hateful propaganda attracts those who ignored. When they buy in, suddenly they are in the in group.

Yesterday, we saw four years of lies culminating in the actions of believers following the con man they trusted. That comparison rings sadly true now, especially since Trump's followers are predominantly white and fearful of their fellow citizens of color.

Trump has goaded them for his own selfish reasons; without a care in the world what might happen to these people who believe him and acted on his behalf. He has put them at risk indifferently. And he has shown us how propaganda can divide a country and its people to the harm of us all.

We should all thank our higher power and the U.S. Constitution for giving us the right to decide who leads us and who must leave the office January 20. We haven't learned all of the lessons but we are getting a very serious education if we are paying attention.

 

We can't trust them, yet we vote for them

Auchter's Art: It's all just fearmongering

Michigan Radio, 8-28-20

Fear is the best sales tactic there is. Every marketeer knows it, every reality show star knows, and every politician knows it. And they are afraid --- of their opposition. So afraid that they don't trust us to listen to the messages we want most: what are they going to do to serve their constituents' needs and protect this democracy. What are they going to do to return to a bi-partisan collaboration for the good of the country rather than blatant McConnell declarations to protect the Republicans and screw the Democrats while we watch. We're in a reality show between two competitors and they've forgotten the audience is their electorate.

They are so afraid that we won't listen to their messages of what they will do that they have both surrendered to over-the-top made-for-television dram-edy scripts about how heinous their competition is. And that's the information they want us to take to the polls on election day. Fear made for TV, where everything resolves itself with the hour.

Lying, misleading, or omitting information are all unethical forms of communication. They intend to harm listeners and impact their actions in a biased fashion --- usually the pocketbook. That's at stake here but so is our health, our equal protection under the law, and our democracy.

So again, we are left probably voting for the lesser of two evils rather than two candidates of integrity with solid plans to advance the goals of this nation. Or maybe not voting at all.

We can't trust the information any of the candidates are putting in their attack ads. Please do your own homework, fact check and use unbiased sites such as FactCheck.org.

Vote like your rights and freedoms depend on it. FactCheck. org.

So Much Shame on the Trump Administration

If I were one of the president's handlers (employees earning salaries on behalf of the citizens of this nation) this week, I would be completely devastated by his insane and blatant criminal assault on peaceful protesters acting within the law including curfew and exercising their FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHT TO FREE SPEECH AND PEACEFUL ASSEMBLY! 

Further, I would be totally humiliated by his arrogance and utter tone deafness as he walked through the crowd he assaulted to hold up "A Bible" in front of a church that did not welcome his photo op. Reminded that only moments before, in a live press conference he said he was "pro protesters." 

There is so much shame on this administration, on everyone doing his bidding.

JOHN AUCHTER / MICHIGAN RADIO

Dear Police Chief: A Template

In case you need a kick start for writing your own letter(s).

Sheriff Chris Swanson, Genesee County, MI, Inside Edition, 6/1/2020

September 14 2024

UPDATE

In July, Genesee County Sheriff Chris Swanson ended the for profit video phone system in the county jail that preyed on inmates and their families. Sheriff Swanson admitted on NBC Nightly News that the system was profitable for the department but was racist and wrong and that he was ending it and looking and rethinking how his budget would to allocated. He said he was returning to in-person visitations between inmates, their families and friends. I was among those who expressed my belief in ending this program. I am thankful for doing the right thing.

June 4, 2020

Chris Swanson, Sheriff

Genesee County Sheriff's Department

1002 Saginaw Street

Flint, MI 48502

Dear Sheriff Swanson,

Thank you and please extend my thanks for all of the officers and staff who acted to protect protesters’ free speech and their safety over this past week. Thank you also for your honest and direct position on what happened to George Floyd. Putting citizens first in Flint and Genesee County is the community attitude I know this area to exhibit. I continue to be so proud of Flint as we band together in times of need. You have built trust with weekend that other departments around the country struggle so hard to deserve.

I am a Flint resident who is active in civil rights activities in this area, in particular those to end systemic racism.

With that said, I am reaching out to law enforcement leaders to ask them to revisit their department’s founding charge: “To Protect and Serve,” and asking them to go back to these roots with their fellow officers and department staff as they interact with their citizens in need.

Please remind officers that we are not enemy combatants and the role of the military is not the role of the law enforcement.

Could we please shift the approach to citizens from “guilty until proven innocent” back to “Innocent until proven guilty?”

Could we please act first to protect and serve rather than find guilt?

I am reminded of 12-year-old Tamir Rice who held a toy gun and was shot by a police officer within seconds of exiting his police car. Not even asking Tamir’s name or determining what the situation was. Or Stephon Clark of Sacramento who was shot in his grandparents’ backyard with a cellphone in his hand. No attempt by the police to determine his name or relationship to the property and occupants first.

Swanson and Resident, Newsweek, 6/1/2020

Could we please stop profiling our citizens of color as potential criminals?

Clearly, of all of the citizens and undocumented residents of the United States, more are decent hope-filled human beings than criminals. As human beings, don’t we then deserve the presumption of innocence, even without the law that promises to guarantee us that right. That guarantee along with too many U.S. promises of equity have failed miserably to ensure that if “All Men are created Equal” then we are all indeed treated equally.

I know the focus at this time turns to de-escalation strategies once protests turn to riots and that is certainly appropriate. Prior to the protests themselves, could we remind police officers that while they are empowered, that power does not extend to appointment as Judge, Jury and in too many cases, executioner?

Please use transparency as you move forward with commitments to alter training and enhance community relationships. Involved citizens on boards, committees, or commissions that would track your department’s achievements toward the actions you’ve committed to. Those actions focused on eliminating systemic racism within your department and among the individuals representing it. Let your citizens be the watchdogs of your actions as you act to rebuild trust with your citizens.

Finally, your department interacts with many other law enforcement and health entities that are also challenged by embedded system-wide racism and the attitudes bred by such cultures. Please challenge these entities as well, especially as you hand-off your detainees, to “protect and serve,” to “do not harm,” as these “innocent until proven guilty” citizens and others risk victimization all over again to racist indifference, neglect or violence.

Police Departments, I believe, have the power to effect change well beyond their own structures and employees. They have the potential to drive the entire legal system to change its racist laws and treatment of parties of color before the courts.

Thank you for your consideration of my suggestions.

Sincerely,

Donna Ullrich

Flint Citizen

Detroit Free Press, 6/1/2020

Update 2024

Genesee County Sheriff Chris Swanson (seen here high-fiving a marcher at a George Floyd protest) announced on NBC Nightly News this year that the county jail would end the racist, classist policies. This includes the high-priced for profit phone system in the jail that replaced visits between families and  inmates. 

In light of national and local interests, Sheriff Christopher R. Swanson rolls out historic details of Operation Restoration, as highlighted on NBC Nightly News

Full disclosure: Lawsuit associated