Notices by Mary Nelson (marynelson8@mstdn.social)

UPDATE: I-55 and I-74 are affected by this dust storm.

Some parts of central Illinois are experiencing a dust storm with high winds (60-70 mph).
Winds are howling around our home and rain has just begun.

Dust was rising high above buildings and impeding visibility on roads.
Some areas have thunderstorms following high winds.

I've been watching televised weather news for nearly an hour so far.

(We've had to move all our outdoor items to protected areas of the property.)

#ILwx #weather

@lednaBM My former MIL never smoked and still had a suspected case of lung cancer. My own child developed a blood cancer. My parents smoked and I developed late-in-life asthma (which doctors say may have been caused by their smoking, but...they're not sure).

Blaming people for their illnesses when you don't know exactly how they are caused is folly.

**Everyone** will have some need of healthcare in their lifetime. RFK Jr can be infuriatingly short-sighted.

Lutheran (ELCA) bishops of Wisconsin and upper Michigan published a statement regarding Trump's Executive Order establishing a new “Task Force to Eradicate Anti-Christian Bias.”

I applaud this statement; the EO obviously gives the government the right to determine what "Christian" means and what "bias" against that is. IMHO, that EO is a violation of religious freedom and the 1A.
Excerpt in screenshot.

#USpol #USpolitics #ReligiousFreedom #SeparationofChurchandState

https://wisconsinexaminer.com/2025/03/27/as-lutheran-bishops-we-stand-for-religious-liberty-and-against-christian-nationalism/

🧵 Thread about rights.
1/n
The Trump administration has been attacking some of our rights. Recall them.

1st Amendment enumerates them:

"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances."

Law school explanation of each of these rights:
https://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/first_amendment

#1A #Rights

🧵 Thread about rights.
2/n

For the GOP, a party that has screamed about "freedom" and "liberty" for decades, as if their rights had been somehow limited by their adversaries, the Trump administration has gone head-on to limit specific freedoms.

If you've been keeping up, you know that this administration has been rather unsystematically abridging some of those rights.

Ex: DEI. The government is currently trying to erase words and the ideas they stand for.

#1A #DEI

https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2025/03/07/us/trump-federal-agencies-websites-words-dei.html

🧵 Thread about rights.
3/n

Let's talk about press freedom.

This current government has been limiting the free press in varying ways.

First, it selects which outlets can have access to the Executive branch.
Second, it selects which outlets can travel with the President.
Third, it cancels mainstream media subscriptions.
Fourth, it fires Voice of America reporters for "bias".

Let's talk more about Voice of America in the next post.

#1A #Rights #pressfreedom

🧵 Thread about rights.
4/n

The Voice of America (VOA) was established in 1942 during World War II to provide accurate news and counter Nazi propaganda. It has since evolved into a major international broadcaster, delivering news and cultural programming in nearly 50 languages, funded by the U.S. government through the U.S. Agency for Global Media.

President Trump appointed Kari Lake as a special adviser to the U.S. Agency for Global Media.

More on this...

#1A #Rights #PressFreedom

🧵 Thread about rights.
5/n

This news story caught my eye yesterday:

"Voice of America ending contracts with Associated Press, Reuters and Agence France Presse"

"Lake announced via social media on Thursday that she was ending the 'expensive and unnecessary contracts' with the wire services."

So far, it would appear another cost-cutting move by the Trump administration, although VOA severing relationships with international news services seemed extreme.

But there's more...

#1A #pressfreedom

🧵 Thread about rights.
6/n

Statement by Kari Lake:

“We should not be paying outside news organizations to tell us what the news is,” said Lake, who ran unsuccessfully for Arizona governor. “With a nearly billion-dollar budget, we should be producing news ourselves. And if that’s not possible, the American taxpayer should demand to know why.”

Why should VOA be "producing news ourselves"?
So that the Trump administration can literally *control the news*.

#1A #PressFreedom #TrumpAdministration

🧵 Thread about rights.
7/n

VOA was producing news, and had been for decades. It also ran stories from the news wires, like Reuters and AP.

Let's recall that Trump made a statement about VOA when Lake was appointed. He said:

Lake's appointment would help “ensure that the American values of Freedom and Liberty are broadcast around the world FAIRLY and ACCURATELY, unlike the lies spread by the Fake News Media.”

Link to the previous #VOA story.

#1A #pressfreedom

https://apnews.com/article/voa-government-media-contracts-2bd47cf0c1bbcdc5cbe08eea030c1454

🧵 Thread about rights.
8/n

I am worried that these events will lead to VOA becoming purely government propaganda rather than actual news, and then it may be the only news source that comes from the White House.

This administration is cracking down on speech and ideas.

Press freedom was meant to be a pressure point for government transparency. Trump's eliminating that freedom--and the right of the public to know what it's doing.

#USpol #USpolitics #1A #PressFreedom #Trump Administration #VOA

🧵 Thread about rights.
9/n

One more thing about the right of the public to know what government is doing.

Independent news media is crucial during the times we're living in. If we don't know what is happening, how can we be responsible citizens?

Watch this space:

"Maddow: Trump's dismantling of independent news media is happening before our eyes"
Maddow looks at how Trump & allies are undermining news outlets...

#USpol #USpolitics #1A #PressFreedom #Journalism

https://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow/watch/maddow-trump-s-dismantling-of-the-independent-news-media-is-happening-before-our-eyes-231028805926

🧵 Thread about rights.
10/n

And here it is, exactly what I feared. Getting rid of staff so they can install Trump's people.

Just today:

"Voice of America staff put on administrative leave"

"Full-time employees at Voice of America received an email this morning from human resources saying they have been placed on paid administrative leave, according to a copy of the memo that was obtained ABC News."

#USpol #USpolitics #1A #PressFreedom #VOA #TrumpAdministration

https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/live-updates/trump-2nd-term-live-updates-trump-defends-tariff?id=119625202&entryId=119832526

I don't usually make such sweeping statements but...because I once consulted on corporate culture change (regarding technologies), I offer my one immutable rule:

You cannot change culture by force.
Force makes others oppose what you propose.
Compliance is not agreement.

Yet this seems to be what Trump and allies have been trying to do by banning words, books, press, and calling anything they find offensive "biased".

If they continue with force, they will lose.

#USpol #USpolitics #Trump

It's 82 degrees right now in central Illinois. With high winds (>45 mph).
Expecting severe weather later today...rain, wind, hail, possible tornado.

Stay safe out there, everyone!

(And, if severe weather's headed your way, get out your weather radio, locate your flashlights, and charge your devices. Prepare your safe space(s), too.)

#ILwx #Illinois

Trump administration sued over mass firings by workers at five agencies

#USpol #USpolitics #TrumpAdministration #DOGE #ElonMusk

https://www.reuters.com/legal/government/trump-administration-sued-over-mass-firings-by-workers-five-agencies-2025-03-11/

Wondering why stocks are down again today? It's beginning to look like a Trump tariff war. SMDH

"Trump takes aim at Canada with doubled tariffs on metals"

"President Donald Trump on Tuesday doubled his planned tariffs on all imports of steel and aluminum products from Canada to 50%, in response to the province of Ontario's decision to place a 25% tariff on its electricity exports to the U.S."

#USpol #USpolitics #Trump #Tariffs #Canada

https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/trump-says-he-will-raise-tariffs-canada-metals-50-2025-03-11/

Considering every day's news, I find myself viewing photos and watching more videos of people's pets, here and elsewhere. Watching animated kids' movies sometimes gives me a lot of child-like pleasure as well.

How are you finding ways to renew your joy?

#joy #JoyScrolling

I’m at my primary care physician’s office, waiting my turn for my annual wellness appointment. Plenty of time to read, since it seems like half the city is here today. 📖

‘This is a coup’: Trump and Musk’s purge is cutting more than costs, say experts
In slashing staff and disabling entire agencies the administration is lacerating the structures of US democracy

“In the US, we appeal rulings we disagree with – we don’t ignore court orders or threaten judges with impeachment just because we don’t like the decision. This is a coup, plain and simple,” Arizona’s attorney general, Kris Mayes, said.

#USpol #USpolitics #Trump #ElonMusk

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/feb/17/trump-musk-government-cost-cutting-coup