A coffee break in between the torment...

We're having our turn in the heat wave and reports from the National Mall are brutal already this week. That screenshot is today's forecast (courtesy of the Capital Weather Gang) and tomorrow and Saturday are confidently going to be worse than this is.

The national Mall has no shade on the grass and you will be exposed to the sun constantly while also experiencing extremely high humidity. You will not be allowed a bag over a certain size to enter the mall and it has to be clear. You cannot have an insulated water bottle, it has to be clear. Reports are that there are two entrances to the area so you'll have to wait in line to even get in. I cannot find a number on how many cooling stations there are, except that it's "few" to "none" depending on what accounts I read online. Vendors are allegedly charging more than the posted prices and seem to be unprepared for actual crowds - these are the official vendors not the scam food trucks that park all around the edges of the mall. And that's the extent of the planning done because it was not a priority to make sure attendees don't pass out.

My local friends and I have reached a consensus that tourists are going to get extremely sick and none of us know what the EMT response or planning is on the mall this year. People are going to die.

that's not great. but it's not the whole story.

a few things got worse right before the vote too. the language that explicitly protected encryption, saying the bill couldn't be used to force platforms to weaken it, got quietly stripped out on Friday. that safeguard just doesn't exist anymore.

but this isn't over. it heads to the senate next, and the senate is genuinely not on board. blumenthal and cantwell, two of the senators who wrote the original KOSA, are saying they don't want this version near a markup. blackburn, a republican and the other original author, called the missing duty of care provision a red line.

worth being clear here, blackburn isn't on our side. she wants the policy stronger, not gone. but that's still a crack we can use. her opposition means the house version has zero guaranteed path through the senate as written, and a stalled bill is a bill that isn't law yet. use her objection, don't trust her motive.

senate commerce hasn't even scheduled a markup yet. that's the next pressure point. this thing has died or gotten majorly rewritten at this stage before.

contact your senators: find yours here. tell them you don't want the house version anywhere near a vote.

and remember, if you have to, contact your senators scared. anything helps.

Source

Slavery is literally happening now. Police never stopped being slave catchers. People are supporting it now just like they supported it then.

That foreboding sense. Happened right at the end as we were DANCING. they pushed past us as we were leaving, batons and those non-lethal guns alr out. Whatever their story they were alr sending trucks up the backway on McAllister. Actually i dont remember even seeing any vehicles other than trans bikers cus thats our destination every time.

Multiple trans ppl arrested after being assaulted w/ no explanation. Whoever was left was pushed out of the Trans District or out of the march area.

KOSA IS MOVING FORWARD IN THE HOUSE!

It's part of a package called the KIDS Act, filled with digital ID and age verification and censorship!

MAKE THOSE PHONES RING!! CALL YOUR HOUSE REPRESENTATIVES ALL WEEK

202-224-3121 i HIGHLY encourage everyone to read the bills in the KIDS Act, because you will be doing more than 95% of people who read and introduce these bills

So, in terrible news, Trump's trying to pull some strings to pass this massive internet censorship bill, featuring all the kinds of internet censorship we're terrified of, including mandatory ID for accessing basically any website, specifically to crush state regulation of AI, because apparently this man will always see the moral bottom of the barrel and start digging.

go to discord support ( https://support.discord.com )

sign in or sign up (you do not, and imo should not, use the name and email you use for discord proper. this is a different account; if you've got Firefox, you can use an email relay mask very easily, and the email will end up in your inbox but the site won't know your email from it)

"Submit a request" (at the top)

fill all the dropdowns (I did "Help & Support" -> "Technical Support" -> "Account Settings" -> "[OS type"). it won't let you proceed until you do

Subject line: something about age verification

description box: keep it civil, but be clear. you don't like this, you're not participating, and you're not giving them your money anymore (whether you had nitro or not is irrelevant, remember that you didn't use your actual discord login to get here and they have no way to verify).

some reasons possibly worth mentioning: the insecurity of databases (Discord's had multiple leaks; databases being hacked isn't possible to prevent afaik, it's a matter of mitigation), the dangers of putting one's govt id on such a database, the technical problems people are already experiencing where it's already been established, how it will disrupt communities

be very clear that this is going to cost them money. "I won't use your service anymore" is a common threat ("I'm never shopping here again!") - you need to make them feel that they are losing money just by considering it, and it will get much worse if it's implemented.

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!

I appreciate that the infographics here are marked with a date! (6/10/26), because posts like these circulate for a long time, and I think it's helpful if exact dates are given so that people know what the status of the bill is at the time this was posted or reblogged, and whether it is at a point where the recommended action is still useful or not. It's also good to let folks know where they can easily check on the status of bills like this. (These links also have the full text of the bills available for reading, if that is your thing.) For example: HR 2616 (Stopping Indoctrination and Protecting Kids Act) unfortunately passed the House on 5/20/26 (as mentioned in the infographic). It was received by the Senate on 5/21: "Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions". 8 Democrats joined the Republicans in voting to pass this bill in the House. Had they not, the bill would still have passed (D206 to R209). But it's still worth it, if you are one of their constituents, to give them hell about it and tell them how strongly you do not want to see them vote for the other bills mentioned here (info from govtrack.us): Cleo Fields (LA-6), Laura Gillen (NY-4), Donald Davis (NC-1), Marcy Kaptur (OH-9), Henry Cuellar (TX-28), Vicente Gonzalez (TX-34), Eugene Vindman (VA-7), Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (WA-3). At this time, there is no info that I can find that says exactly when the next steps in the Senate will take place. Here are the Members of the committee on HELP (oh my god...). If your senator is on there, you might want to concentrate on contacting them at this time. It's possible this bill could be killed in committee.

Here is the bill's page on Govtrack.us. Here is the bill's page on BillTrack50.com.

Here is the bill's page on Policy Engage (trackbill.com).

Onward:

HR 7661 (Stop the Sexualization of Children Act) was introduced in the House on 2/24/26, and referred to the Committee on Education and Workforce.

As of 3/17/26, a committee consideration and mark-up session was held, and the bill was "ordered to be reported (amended)". No further actions on the bill are shown on the various tracker sites at this time.

Here is a page listing the members of the House Committee on Education and Workforce. (lmao: all the Republican members get their photo listed with their name; and then the Democrats are just a list at the bottom, without photos.). There are 20 Republicans on the committee, and 16 Democrats.

Given the way the voting on HR 2616 went, it's useful to contact your Democratic reps if they are on the committee, as well as your GOP reps.

Here is the bill's page on Govtrack.us

Here is the bill's page on BillTrack50.com

Here is the bill's page on Policy Engage (trackbill.com)

Finally:

HR 8705 (CHARLIE Act) was introduced in the House on 5/07/26, and referred to the Committee on Education and Workforce.

As of 5/21/26, a committee consideration and mark-up session was held, and the bill was "ordered to be reported (amended)".

No further actions on the bill are shown on the various tracker sites at this time. Please see above for a link to the House Committee on Education and Workforce, showing its members. They are the ones to contact about it at this time.

Here's the bill's page on GovTrack.us

Here's the bill's page on BillTrack50.com

I get that it sucks to hear, and that you feel nostalgic for that ol' early 2000's AMV edge, but there are other musicians out there that are more accepting and are, putting it quite bluntly, not dangerous to the lives of our fellow peers!

heya!

this right here?

THIS IS ABSOLUTELY NOT REAL.

the "@staff" is just the bio text.

tumblr staff will not contact you through anything other than email or their official accounts, which will all have this badge:

DO NOT ENGAGE WITH THIS OR SIMILAR ACCOUNTS AND ABSOLUTELY DO NOT CLICK ANY LINKS FROM IT.

report and block. i'd also appreciate it if you shared this post, bc that blog was JUST created and was already tagging a LOT of people, and i know not everyone has the scam-sensing instinct, even if this might seem obvious to some.

MY HOME IS ON THE LIST/LIKELY TO BE TARGETED, WHAT CAN I DO?

* it may bring you peace of mind to have a go-bag ready, just in case. A go-bag is a bag with everything in it that you need to get out a volatile situation quickly. Any bag that can be secured (buttoned or zipped) will do. In your go-bag, you should include;

- identifying documents; passport/driver’s license/asylum card/ILR certificate/British Residency permit card

- Wallet and/or banking books

- A spare charger & cable and/or a power bank

- any shelf-stable medication (tablets, inhalers etc.) if you are on medication that needs to be refrigerated, leave it in the fridge until you have to leave

- Sanitary items; toothbrush, toothpaste, sanitary pads & tampons, deodorant. If you have very young children with you, you may also want to take your nappy bag.

* If you have to leave, a go-bag is a convenient way to ensure you have everything of importance with you.

* If you are being supported by an asylum seekers or refugee charity, or are a member of a gurdwara/temple, mosque, synagogue or church, reach out to your religious leaders. They may be able to provide direct support, or put you in contact with organisations or other congregants who can help. If you are friendly with your neighbours, it may be worth contacting them too.

* IN THE EVENT THAT “PROTESTORS” DO COME TO YOUR HOUSE, CALL 999 IMMEDIATELY, AND FOLLOW ANY INSTRUCTIONS THEY GIVE YOU. MOVE AWAY FROM ANY WINDOWS. DO NOT OPEN YOUR DOOR UNLESS INSTRUCTED TO DO SO BY EMERGENCY SERVICES.

I’M AN INTERNATIONAL STUDENT/CARE WORKER/NHS WORKER, WHAT SHOULD I DO?

* Contact your student welfare office/NHS Trust/agency for advice, support and referral to organisations that may be able to provide assistance

* if you live in or commute through an area that is likely to be targeted, contact your lecturers and your faculty to find out whether remote study is possible; if you work in care or as part of the NHS, find out if it is possible to change shifts.

* If it would provide peace of mind, prepare a go-bag as listed above

* Reach out to your the uni society or student’s organisation for international students or students of specific ethnic origin; they may be able to provide you with direction to resources and peer support. If your university has a Marxist or Socialist society, reach out to them for mutual aid with a travel buddy etc., for getting to and from your place of study/work

* If you are a member of a gurdwara/temple, mosque, synagogue or church, reach out to your religious leaders. They may be able to provide direct support, or put you in contact with organisations or other congregants who can help.

* If you are friendly with your neighbours, it may be worth contacting them too for assistance with travel to & from work.

* Report any racism or racialised violence you are subjected to. NHS staff have a right to refuse to treat patients who harass, abuse, threaten or insult them; if a patient is racist to you, where possible, ask another member of staff to take over their care.

PERSONAL SAFETY:

* do not leave your home unless strictly necessary. If it is necessary to leave, don’t do it alone.

* use NextDoor, WhatsApp, social media and word of mouth to avoid commuting through “protestor” road blocks, areas of active conflict etc.,

* When travelling, use Share My Location or Life360, and keep at least two people aware of your expected time of arrival at your destination with instructions to contact the police if you do not let them know you’ve made it safely

* do not directly confront any individuals involved, or allow them to bait you into becoming confrontational

* only record if it is safe. Do not record individuals directly/from up close

* Do not directly intervene. If you see violence occurring, contact emergency services and if safe to do so, record what’s happening.

ALLYSHIP & HOW TO HELP:

* if you have neighbours, friends, coworkers or acquaintances form targeted communities, reach out to them. Ask them what you can do to help them feel safe.

* If you live in an area likely to be targeted, reach out to any vulnerable people you know. If safe and possible, offer to let them shelter with you in the event they need to leave home

* If you see any incitement to violence online screenshot it; it may prove useful in the event of individual “protesters” being prosecuted

* If you see any specific areas being discussed as targets, alert anyone you know at risk in the area

* Reach out to local refugee & asylum seekers’ organisations, to organisations supporting foreign national care & healthcare workers, and to churches, mosques, gurdwaras; they may be looking for short term assistance in helping to provide for vulnerable members of their community

CHARITABLE ORGANISATIONS FOR ASSISTANCE & TO SUPPORT:

* NASC Ireland; refugee & asylum seeker charity

* Doras.org; migrant, stateless persons, refugee and asylum seeker rights advocates

* Jesuit Refugee Service; religious refugee & asylum seekers charity

* Irish Refugee Council; supporting stateless displaced persons & refugees in NI & ROI

* International Student’s House (IE & UK WIDE): provides hardship funding and help to international students

* PathFinder (UK WIDE); supports international students

* Care International (GLOBAL); global carer’s charity

* Choose Love (IE & UK WIDE); charitable organisation supporting refugees and asylum seekers

* Praxis UK (UK WIDE); supporting refugees & asylum seekers

* The Runnymede Trust (IE & UK WIDE); antiracism education charity

* Migrant’s Rights Network (IE & UK WIDE); advocacy and support for migrants and refugees

* ShareTheMeal (GLOBAL); providing meals for refugees and those fleeing conflict globally

* Amnesty (IRELAND, UK & WORLDWIDE); human rights NGO