Notices by Gabe Ortíz (tusk81@mastodon.social)

If you’re a young LGBTQ+ person in crisis or in need of a place to talk, the Trevor Project is here for you. Call the lifeline at 866-488-7386 or text ‘START’ to 678-678. Services are 24/7/365, nationwide, 100% free & confidential 💜

Local 87, the union representing 6,000 janitors in the private sector, said ICE agents went to multiple downtown San Francisco office buildings late Friday afternoon, but that building security kept them from entering, KTVU reports.

“Union president Olga Miranda said the janitors were relieved that someone spoke up for them.”

https://www.ktvu.com/news/ice-agents-downtown-san-francisco-blocked-building-security

ICYMI: GOP-appointed judge temporarily blocks Trump’s attack on birthright citizenship, calling it “blatantly unconstitutional.”

“I’ve been on the bench for over four decades, I can’t remember another case where the question presented is as clear as this one is.” https://americasvoice.org/blog/gop-appointed-judge-temporarily-blocks-trumps-attack-on-birthright-citizenship-calling-executive-order-blatantly-unconstitutional/

"Trump doesn't care if the economy crashes and communities suffer. His goal is to force you and your family to accept a lower standard of living while he and his friends get richer," Senator Wyden said on Bluesky. "Cutting support for law enforcement, schools, small businesses and firefighters is chaos by design."

“Medicaid reimbursement portals were down Tuesday in every U.S. state on the heels of a funding freeze ordered by the Trump administration of federal grants and loans, a senator said.” https://www.cnbc.com/2025/01/28/trump-funding-freeze-medicaid-state-portals-omb.html

Military ban from repeat draft dodger Trump says being a trans service member conflicts with “honorable, truthful, disciplined lifestyle”: https://www.erininthemorning.com/p/trump-military-ban-says-being-trans

“‘Are you going into schools and arresting children at schools?’ the TV host asked, prompting a ‘No’ from Homan.”

But Trump has revoked long-standing guidance that kept hospitals, houses of worship, and SCHOOLS largely off-limits to ICE: https://elpasomatters.org/2025/01/21/border-patrol-ice-enforcement-near-schools-hospitals-churches/

“In a conversation with Homan, Dr. Phil repeatedly asked the acting ICE chief to downplay claims that agents were raiding schools and workplaces.”

NICE TRY JAN

https://www.thedailybeast.com/dr-phil-is-shadowing-trumps-ice-raids-for-some-reason/

“‘Are you going into businesses and sweeping through there and taking anybody with a tan and seeing where they’re from?’ Dr. Phil followed up.”

Well the Puerto Rican US military veteran who was just swept up in Newark might say he is: https://pix11.com/news/local-news/ice-agents-raid-nj-seafood-store-detaining-u-s-military-veteran/

“The firings don’t just pose a fundamental challenge to the inspectors general and the agencies they serve — they are a threat to the authority of Congress itself. What is the point of laws if lawmakers permit them to be so cavalierly ignored? Yet the response of Iowa Republican Sen. Chuck Grassley, who has been a thundering champion of inspectors general, was disturbingly muted.”

https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2025/01/25/trump-firing-14-inspectors-general-illegal/

“It offers a chilling foreshadowing of Trump unbound, heedless of the rule of law and unwilling to tolerate any potential impediment to his authority.”

“Some of the inspectors general, I’m told, might turn up for work next week because they view their removal as unlawful.”

“Contempt for law. Contempt for Congress. Contempt for oversight. That is the lesson of President Donald Trump’s Friday night massacre of at least 15 inspectors general — most of them appointed by Trump himself in his first term.” https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2025/01/25/trump-firing-14-inspectors-general-illegal/

The US Senate is now voting on the nomination of Kristi Noem for DHS. Several Democrats astonishingly voted to advance her vote earlier, so her confirmation looks likely.

While Noem will be in charge on paper if confirmed, let’s be clear that it’s Stephen Miller who will be running the show on immigration. But don’t get it wrong: she’ll be an eager accomplice on “bloody” mass deportation.

https://open.substack.com/pub/americasvoicecnn/p/agents-of-mass-deportation-who-is-500?r=1psrs&utm_medium=ios

Six Senate Democrats who voted with Republicans to confirm Noem:

John Fetterman
Tim Kaine
Andy Kim
Gary Peters
Jeanne Shaheen
and Elissa Slotkin

Hide your dogs, Kristi Noem has been confirmed as the new DHS Secretary by a 59-34 vote.

Of course, the most thin-skinned man to ever occupy the Oval Office is already publicly attacking this faith leader.

But that’s exactly why many people voted for him. It wasn’t the price of eggs. They believe we need to know our place.

https://sojo.net/articles/news/watch-bishop-pleads-trump-be-merciful-immigrants-lgbtq-people

"Trump — sitting in the front pew next to First Lady Melania Trump and Vice President JD Vance and his wife Usha Vance, with members of the Trump family behind them — watched her, expressionless, but shifted in his seat and turned up his mouth after her mention of immigrant workers.

Vance could be seen raising his eyebrows and turning to his wife to get a reaction. She didn’t budge."

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/trump-mariann-budde-prayer-b2683836.html

On this day, let’s also remember the work of Mrs. Coretta Scott King.

“For Scott King, a key part of that legacy was carrying King’s name into the fight for LGBT equality.”

https://www.autostraddle.com/how-coretta-scott-king-leveraged-mlks-legacy-to-fight-for-gay-rights-446442/ #MLKDay

“She stated, ‘I still hear people say that I should not be talking about the rights of lesbian and gay people and I should stick to the issue of racial justice… but I hasten to remind that Martin Luther King, Jr. said, Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. I appeal to everyone who believes in Martin Luther King, Jr.’s dream to make room at the table of brotherhood and sisterhood for lesbian and gay people.’” #MLKDay

“When questioned about this turn in her activism, Scott King reminded naysayers that many gays and lesbians had given their all to the civil rights movement (including perhaps most famously Bayard Rustin, an openly gay black man and lead organizer of the 1963 March on Washington). She felt it was her duty to offer support in return.” #MLKDay