When Everything is Falling Apart, be Annoying

UK work guidance has a minimum safe temperature for employees at work, but not a maximum one.

SIGN BOTH!!!

Contact your representatives, US folx. Yes, even if you're scared. Yes, even if you think it doesn't matter, even if you think they won't listen. Write an email if you can't make a call. Call after hours and leave a message. Call during office hours if you feel up to it, but do something. Call every day. Email every day. Fucking bother your rep. They work for you, not the other way around.

Your single call is not the point. The point is the aggregate of calls and emails. The point is that even "safe" Republicans don't feel really safe right now. The point is that "safe" Democrats are feeling pressure from the left due to the success of DSA candidates. You think they won't listen, and they'll probably try to make you think they're not, but they do, in the aggregate. The midterms have them running scared right now, and now is the time to shut this shit down.

Script:

Hi, my name is [NAME] and I’m a constituent from [CITY, ZIP].

[IF CALLING CONGRESS]: I'm calling to urge [REP/SEN NAME] to oppose the App Store Accountability Act, the Parents Decide Act, and any other legislation that mandates age verification on internet platforms. Current age verification methods are unreliable and threaten our privacy, and they let predatory tech platforms off the hook without accountability.

[IF CALLING STATELEG]: I'm calling to urge [REP/SEN NAME] to oppose any legislation that mandates age verification on internet platforms. Current age verification methods are unreliable and threaten our privacy, and they let predatory tech platforms off the hook without accountability.

Thank you for your time and consideration.

BAD NEWS: The House GOP and Democratic members of the Energy and Commerce Committee have been working on a package of age-verification bills and have finally struck a deal (I believe some of these are the same bills in the KIDS Act which they had passed out of committee a few months ago). Theoretically, this means that the House of Representatives could bring this package up for a vote at any time, with some reporters saying as early as this week or next week.

If this package were to pass it would still face an uphill battle as the House version of KOSA doesn't not include a duty of care provision, which the Senate wants.

However, we need to do everything to can to stop this from passing now, so it doesn't advance any further.

We must call House Leadership, our representatives, and our senators to express our opposition and we need to spread the work. If we can make noise and create pressure over how unpopular age verification is, it makes passing bills like these less enticing.

(Note: this is different from whatever deal the Senate and the White House are trying to reach over AI and age-verification)

You can use the resources linked to find more information and 5-calls to call:

Also noting that leaders in the push for age-verification don't like the House's version. So, if the House doesn't like the Senate version and the Senate doesn't like the House version, and no one likes Marsha Blackburn's AI package, that is a weakness/friction that can work in our favor, so PLEASE CALL TO OPPOSE:

It looks like they're really trying to coalition-build around the KIDS Act, which isn't the best news. I believe friction still exists, but we must make our opposition known by calling this week and next week ahead of any possible vote!

(Edit: I believe this tweet is in referring to Kathy Castor, who isn't a Senator, but another member of the House who also sits on the Energy and Commerce Committee)

A possible vote is next week and the House Speaker is supporting the package. Please call your representatives, Senators, and leadership now and through the weekend.

I know this is scary, I'm worried too, but we can't panic and give up. We must fight this at every step.

Below is my pinned page for ppl who would like a call script to use (i think 5-calls hasn't updated to reflect new information, it is however, still a useful tool!)

BAD NEWS: The House GOP and Democratic members of the Energy and Commerce Committee have been working on a package of age-verification bills and have finally struck a deal (I believe some of these are the same bills in the KIDS Act which they had passed out of committee a few months ago). Theoretically, this means that the House of Representatives could bring this package up for a vote at any time, with some reporters saying as early as this week or next week.

If this package were to pass it would still face an uphill battle as the House version of KOSA doesn't not include a duty of care provision, which the Senate wants.

However, we need to do everything to can to stop this from passing now, so it doesn't advance any further.

We must call House Leadership, our representatives, and our senators to express our opposition and we need to spread the work. If we can make noise and create pressure over how unpopular age verification is, it makes passing bills like these less enticing.

(Note: this is different from whatever deal the Senate and the White House are trying to reach over AI and age-verification)

You can use the resources linked to find more information and 5-calls to call:

Also noting that leaders in the push for age-verification don't like the House's version. So, if the House doesn't like the Senate version and the Senate doesn't like the House version, and no one likes Marsha Blackburn's AI package, that is a weakness/friction that can work in our favor, so PLEASE CALL TO OPPOSE:

It looks like they're really trying to coalition-build around the KIDS Act, which isn't the best news. I believe friction still exists, but we must make our opposition known by calling this week and next week ahead of any possible vote!

(Edit: I believe this tweet is in referring to Kathy Castor, who isn't a Senator, but another member of the House who also sits on the Energy and Commerce Committee)

A possible vote is next week and the House Speaker is supporting the package. Please call your representatives, Senators, and leadership now and through the weekend.

I know this is scary, I'm worried too, but we can't panic and give up. We must fight this at every step.

Below is my pinned page for ppl who would like a call script to use (i think 5-calls hasn't updated to reflect new information, it is however, still a useful tool!)

BAD NEWS: The House GOP and Democratic members of the Energy and Commerce Committee have been working on a package of age-verification bills and have finally struck a deal (I believe some of these are the same bills in the KIDS Act which they had passed out of committee a few months ago). Theoretically, this means that the House of Representatives could bring this package up for a vote at any time, with some reporters saying as early as this week or next week.

If this package were to pass it would still face an uphill battle as the House version of KOSA doesn't not include a duty of care provision, which the Senate wants.

However, we need to do everything to can to stop this from passing now, so it doesn't advance any further.

We must call House Leadership, our representatives, and our senators to express our opposition and we need to spread the work. If we can make noise and create pressure over how unpopular age verification is, it makes passing bills like these less enticing.

(Note: this is different from whatever deal the Senate and the White House are trying to reach over AI and age-verification)

You can use the resources linked to find more information and 5-calls to call:

Also noting that leaders in the push for age-verification don't like the House's version. So, if the House doesn't like the Senate version and the Senate doesn't like the House version, and no one likes Marsha Blackburn's AI package, that is a weakness/friction that can work in our favor, so PLEASE CALL TO OPPOSE:

It looks like they're really trying to coalition-build around the KIDS Act, which isn't the best news. I believe friction still exists, but we must make our opposition known by calling this week and next week ahead of any possible vote!

(Edit: I believe this tweet is in referring to Kathy Castor, who isn't a Senator, but another member of the House who also sits on the Energy and Commerce Committee)

A possible vote is next week and the House Speaker is supporting the package. Please call your representatives, Senators, and leadership now and through the weekend.

I know this is scary, I'm worried too, but we can't panic and give up. We must fight this at every step.

On top of the absurdity of the proposed regulation, the comment period for it is being done in an atypical manner. Most Federal Register comment periods allow people to submit their comments online through the Federal Register website. This also allows people to see the amounts of comments – and sometimes the bodies of comments – that are made. Instead, this regulation can only be voted on by email or by a mailed letter. Comments can only be viewed in person by appointment. This limits public overview of any attempts to ignore input on this regulation.

The end of the comment period for this suggested regulation is July 2nd, 2026. Emails must be submitted before then, or letters received.

A template for Federal Register comment periods is not advised, as most templated comments are counted as one. Instead, I will be sharing a document I have provided before that gives advice for making these comments.

Your input is especially important in this matter if you are reliant on mail-in or absentee voting. It appears there are exceptions to this regulation for overseas and military voters, but everyone else could be impacted. If you receive your ballot in the mail, please consider submitting a comment if you are able.

Unfortunately, the change in comment format does prevent anonymous commenting. Because of this, I do feel it is my responsibility to make it clear that this could, possibly, tie your information to the fact that you are a supporter of mail-in and absentee voting. Right now the risks of that are not clear, but it is information to consider. There is a possibility that information is collected from these comment periods. Use that information as you feel necessary.

Comments Due by: July 2nd, 2026

Comment Guide:

Comment Instructions:

Federal Register

Email

Subject line:

"Ballot Mail."

Address:

[email protected]

Include:

Your full legal name, and your mailing address.

Mail or Hand Deliver

Address to:

Director, Product Classification, US Postal Service

475 L'Enfant Plaza SW, Room 4446

Washington DC 20260-5015

Thank you for sharing this, I will send an email, and encourage others to do likewise.

Beyond that, I stand by what I have previously said:

If voting didn't matter, they wouldn't try so hard to take it away.

Under the Federal Register page for this regulation it includes the following text:

"except that these conditions do not apply to ballots covered under the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (52 U.S.C. 20301 et seq.):"

52 U.S.C. 20301 et seq.

If you are able to create a comment for the proposed regulation, perhaps you could still focus on concerns that you have as an overseas voter regarding this. Things such as the possibility that such extreme changes to rules could create confusion, or other such concerns

Please call your representatives: VOTE NO on the FEDERAL BOOK BANNING BILLS HR 2616, HR 8705, and HR 7661!

Transcript below the cut.

If you don't know who your Senators or Representatives are, you can use Ballotpedia's Who Represents Me tool! (Note: there's a field for you to input your email address on their page, but it's not necessary to get your results. They just need a mailing address to confirm who your reps are.)

Once you've got names, you can look up and save your Reps' phone numbers in your phone. I find this makes it easier when I'm wavering about feeling brave enough to place a call. Just pressing a button instead of going and looking up the phone number all over again makes it just a liiiiittle easier, and sometimes that makes the difference between calling and not calling!

Author: Athina Morris

Published: 10:49 AM CDT May 5, 2026

Updated: 12:13 PM CDT May 5, 202

Days after suspending Louisiana’s U.S. House primaries, Gov. Jeff Landry is facing mounting backlash from residents.

On Monday, the Louisiana Secretary of State’s office confirmed it has received a petition to recall Landry, starting a 180-day window for organizers to collect voter signatures.

The petition was filed by Baton Rouge residents Marian Gbaiwon Hills and Katilyn P. Stepter and spans all 64 parishes. Supporters say the effort stems from what they describe as a “pattern of actions and statements that undermine fair representation.”

Because it is a statewide recall effort, Louisiana law requires signatures from 20% of registered voters. Out of 2,504,416 active voters, organizers must collect at least 500,884 valid signatures by Oct. 31, 2026, according to the Secretary of State’s office.

this is fucking insane. two different cases in Florida where pregnant Black women were forced into video call court proceedings, in the middle of labor, laying in their hospital beds, because their doctors chose to go after them for refusing cesarean sections.

the first woman was able to convince them to let her continue laboring unless it became medically necessary, and ultimately chose to go through with the C-section of her own accord later.

the second woman was completely denied autonomy and the C-section was performed against her will.

"Stop forcing pregnant people to have cesarean births.

Take all necessary steps to end discriminatory policies and practices based on sex, gender, pregnancy status, and race.

Discipline the doctors and hospital staff who ignored Doyley and Bennett’s concerns and coerced them to undergo a court-ordered C-section against their will.

Publicly acknowledge and provide financial relief for the harm UF Health caused to the Doyley family and Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare inflicted on the Bennett family."

Dear Representative [Name],

I am writing to express my strong opposition to H.R. 8250 (The "Parents Decide Act"). As your constituent and a concerned citizen, I believe this bill introduces unprecedented risks to digital privacy and security.

Specifically, I am alarmed by:

SEC. 2(a)(1)(B): Requiring age verification to even use an operating system creates a mandatory "hardware lockout" that ends anonymous computing and forces users to hand over sensitive identification data to major corporations just to power on their devices.

SEC. 2(a)(3): Mandating that OS providers create a system for all app developers to access verification data is a massive security vulnerability. This effectively creates a centralized API of user identities accessible to thousands of third-party developers, many of whom may lack adequate data protection.

This bill does not protect children; it creates a centralized surveillance infrastructure at the OS level. I urge you to protect the privacy of your constituents and vote NO on H.R. 8250.

Sincerely,

[Your Name]

Given that, in the wake of this mandatory identification policy, my country seems to be moving to hand over its citizens biometric data, like fingerprints, Face ID files, and identification documents, over to the USA and to ICE to maintain the visa free travel (ESTA) we have, I strongly urge any US resident to send these emails, or make calls.

But if you can’t do that, the most powerful thing you can do is spread the word. Tell your friends, family, coworkers, anyone who can help.

My reach will likely be small, and so I don’t know if this will mean very much in the grand scheme of things, but I cannot stand to see this tracking happen to another population as it did to mine.

And if you think it won’t affect you, it will. All anonymity goes out the window when your accounts can be linked via your personal ID

the government is running a survey from march 6th 2026 to april 20th 2026 on the impact of modern vehicle headlights. specifically they want to know if you are affected by things such as the glare, angle, intensity, and colour of the modern LED headlights. you do not have to be a driver to take this survey. please consider filling out this quick (~15 minutes or less) survey.

also the website says:

"Send us an email

Comments on this proposed regulation are still open and I would STRONGLY urge you to fill out a comment. Public comments submitted this early on have the ability to kill proposals like this, but only if the comments are mostly against it, which at the time of submitting my comment, nearly all of them were in favor

https://www.regulations.gov/commenton/FDA-2025-P-7321-0001

Additionally, here is an article about how to write an effective public comment:

I am unable to find the cut off date for the public comments on this. Typically, I have heard of public comment periods being open for either 30 or 60 days. This one has been open since late December

Additionally, there is a petition calling on the government not to ban VPNs for minors which you may choose to sign here. Again, only for people in the UK.

In internet censorship news, the US House of Representatives is doing a markup on a package of bills relating to mandatory age verification online this week (As of 3/1/2026), these bills including the infamous KOSA and the App Store Accountability Act.

To make a very long story short, these bills would force everyone to use their IDs on huge swathes of the net and basically be the end of online privacy and, due to potential prohibitive costs of age verification, likely the end of the indieweb too; even after it's trying to pull itself up from the hole it's been stuck in.

It's not going for a full vote until after markup, but if we can stop it there, we should.

Here is a list of the members of the committee marking this bill up, each of their pages has contact info on it, it's worth calling them all if you can, but especially if they're in your district (Or you can convincingly lie that they are) because this affects us all.

Here's a call script provided by the Stop Internet Censorship Discord, if you need it, but either way light up those phones over the week, because holy fuck, do we need to kill these bills if we want to save the open web.

Because. what they were planning on doing to Discord, they want to do to everywhere, where we cannot escape it.

For my non-Canadian followers, please share this petition and hopefully this will further the reach to other Canadian users on this platform. It is abominable that any company in this country help or in any way facilitate the unconstitutional and dehumanising acts that ICE has done. In my city of Vancouver, we have been protesting and boycotting Hootsuite, a social media platform that has a $2M USD contract with DHS providing them with social media services from 2024 to 2029. Hootsuite claims they don't use tracking or surveillance with their tools, but the mere fact that they have chosen to work with the violent group in whatever social media capacity, despite previously *turning down* a contract with them back in 2020, is egregious.

Jim Pattison Group is a enormous conglomerate also based in Vancouver, owned and run by one man, Jim Pattison. Pattison previously considered selling an industrial building in Virginia to ICE for them to use as another "holding and processing facility," or more accurately, a goddamn concentration camp, but because of backlash he reversed that decision. Thank fucking god for that, but that does not mean he won't consider it again in the future. In Ontario, ICE ordered 20 armoured vehicles from a Brampton firm called Roshel to the tune of $7.3M USD. Canada should not be arming a violent group that has shown itself to be nothing more than a racist group of masked kidnappers and power-tripping thugs that has violated the rights of US citizens and violated numerous court orders.