Eric Darnley Small

Virginia Democrats, once riding high on election victories, now face anxiety over the state's aggressive congressional redistricting referendum, scheduled for an unusual April special election. Critics question the fairness of a gerrymandered map designed to potentially flip up to four GOP seats, contrasting it with Democrats' prior support for bipartisan redistricting. With mixed polling, unpredictable turnout, and Republicans' early voting gains, passage is uncertain. Some Democrats defend it as a move to reclaim the House and counter Trump, but the irony of advancing gerrymandering against their past principles is not lost on voters. Want the full story? Click here: https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2026-election/not-done-deal-democrats-start-sweat-virginias-redistricting-referendum-rcna263726 #Redistricting #Virginia #DemocratsVsRepublicans #Gerrymandering #Midterms #VoterTurnout

Former FEMA director Craig Fugate highlights how extreme weather events increasingly fall outside historical models, undermining assumptions built on a century of predictable climate patterns, with insurers now abandoning high-risk areas. This March's Southwest heat wave, per a flash analysis, was virtually impossible without climate change, which boosted temperatures by up to 7.2°F. Scientists attribute this to human-induced warming from fossil fuel emissions. As infrastructure and planning fail under unprecedented extremes, the need for urgent action becomes clearer. Want to see how climate change is reshaping our world? Click here: https://apnews.com/article/heat-southwest-warming-climate-disasters-extreme-deadly-0c3ef415241d3275fd9c260d57ccc3e5 #ClimateChange #ExtremeWeather #ClimateAction #FEMA #SustainabilityMatters #ClimateEmergency

Just when you thought they could not go any lower... Federal prosecutors moved to dismiss charges against two Louisville officers accused of falsifying the warrant that led to Breonna Taylor's death, citing "the interest of justice." Former Detective Joshua Jaynes and Sgt. Kyle Meany had their charges repeatedly downgraded to misdemeanors after courts found no direct link between their false information and Taylor's killing. Defense attorneys are grateful, while prosecutors call this decision right after judicial rulings undermined the cases. This is another example of how Republicans and Trump administration want no accontability for the murder of an innocent women. Click here: https://apnews.com/article/breonna-taylor-shooting-charges-dropped-da7af3049b7eb8a24c1333e0be3c1788 #JusticeForBreonnaTaylor #PoliceAccountability #CriminalJustice #CivilRights #Law #Transparency

Hacktivist group “Department of Peace” claims to have leaked DHS and ICE contract data involving over 6,000 companies, including defense giants and tech firms like Palantir, Microsoft, and Oracle. They cite recent inhumane deportations and police killings as motivation, accusing DHS of supporting agencies accused of violence. The leak reveals the extent of private sector involvement in border enforcement, with data organized for public scrutiny. DHS and ICE have not responded. Want to see what’s hidden behind the contracts? Click here: https://techcrunch.com/2026/03/02/hacktivists-claim-to-have-hacked-homeland-security-to-release-ice-contract-data/ #DHS #ICE #TechLeaks #Activism #Immigration #Transparency #Privacy

Katie Miller, known for her pro-Trump rhetoric, has recently posted unexpectedly supportive messages about solar energy, contradicting former Trump administration views that dismissed renewables as scams. While Trump’s team has historically prioritized fossil fuels and criticized solar as inefficient and ugly, Miller now argues solar is vital for America's energy independence, citing Australia’s success in fixing blackouts. This shift aligns with a broader trend among prominent GOP figures promoting renewable energy ahead of rising voter interest in affordability and sustainability. Miller’s new stance signals a rare departure from MAGA energy orthodoxy, raising questions about the evolving right’s approach to clean energy. Democrats are, once again, right about everything. Want to see how this impacts the future of GOP energy policy? Click on the free article: https://wapo.st/4aIU3Ch #Renewables #EnergyPolicy #MAGA #SolarPower #GOP #ClimateChange

The WSJ's recent piece claiming billionaires’ low taxes threaten the economy misses the mark on its core argument but highlights a crucial issue: wealth is increasingly concentrated among ultra-rich few who often avoid paying their fair share. Discussions rarely focus on the true economic powerhouses—the 0.1%, 0.01%, and even 0.00001%—who wield the most wealth, influence, and tax avoidance. While the top 1% pays about 27% of federal taxes—including income, payroll, and other taxes—their overall tax contribution is still significantly less relative to their wealth. This imbalance fuels inequality and threatens democratic and economic stability. Check out what Paul Krugman writes here: https://paulkrugman.substack.com/p/the-ultra-rich-are-different-from #TaxJustice #WealthInequality #BeyondTheTop1 #TaxReform #EconomicJustice

The Supreme Court on Friday struck down most of President Donald Trump’s sweeping tariffs, a ruling that deals a major blow to his signature economic policy and represents a stinging political setback. The justices ruled the president did not have the authority under a 1977 emergency economic powers law to impose a vast array of import levies on goods from nearly all of the nation’s trading partners. The decision is expected to reverberate widely, affecting global trade, consumers, companies, inflation and the pocketbooks of every American. https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2026/02/20/supreme-court-tariffs-ruling-trump/

@Netraven@hear-me.social 🤣 @whatyoumissed@mastodon.vtip.me

Video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zJnkikcrHA0

Nashville comic Ben Palmer’s satirical tip line, designed as a joke, went viral—garnering nearly 100 submissions reporting neighbors and strangers, including a teacher reporting parents. His stunt, part of social satire during Trump’s mass-deportation era, gained over 20 million views and was praised as effective resistance. But conservatives like Texas podcaster Will Johnson argue Palmer’s deception could obstruct law enforcement and threaten legal consequences, as Palmer’s fake reporting mimics official channels. The history of Americans using the justice department to punish people they don't think belong here is stark. Check out the article here : https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2026/02/20/fake-ice-tip-line-viral/ #FreeSpeech #Immigration #Satire #Activism #SocialMedia #Justice #racism

The University of Chicago cut ties with the PhD Project, a program supporting Black and Brown doctoral students, amid federal allegations of racial discrimination against white students. This move follows investigations by the Trump-era Education Department, which claims such diversity efforts violate civil rights laws by limiting eligibility based on race. The university says it ended its relationship before being notified of the probe, citing their obligation to prevent unlawful discrimination. This reflects broader attacks on DEI initiatives, with courts often blocking Trump administration policies aiming to curtail diversity programs in education.The Trump administration's and University Of Chicago's brazen and wreckless attempts to destroy black excellence: https://chicago.suntimes.com/education/2026/02/19/under-pressure-from-feds-university-of-chicago-cuts-ties-with-program-to-help-students-of-color-get-phds #Diversity #Education #CivilRights #DEI #HigherEd #Equality

Can you believe this??? Your tax dollars at work!! The U.S. State Department is developing an online portal at Freedom.gov to help users in Europe and beyond access content banned by their governments, including potential VPN features to bypass censorship. This move aims to bypass European restrictions on hate speech, terror propaganda, and harmful content, amid growing GOP and conservative criticism of European online safety efforts. While critics argue it risks undermining EU laws and increasing misinformation, U.S. officials emphasize promoting free expression. The project, delayed from its initial launch, raises questions about US government messaging around the world. Want to learn more? Click here: https://gizmodo.com/the-us-is-working-on-a-site-to-help-europeans-bypass-content-bans-on-hate-speech-report-2000724058 #onlinesafety #DigitalRights #EU #US

Arizona Republicans are moving to criminalize community activists sharing real-time ICE alerts, with Senate Bill 1635 making “unlawful alerting” a class 1 misdemeanor—punishable by six months in jail and $2,500. While activists use social media to warn residents about federal immigration agents—especially amid aggressive deportation efforts—Republicans see it as obstruction, pushing back with threats of prosecution and even calls for investigations. Despite legal protections under the First Amendment, some officials aim to silence these warnings, but legal experts confirm free speech rights remain protected. The lengths the GOP will go through to help Trump is truly astonishing: https://azmirror.com/2026/02/19/arizona-republicans-back-bill-to-jail-people-for-blowing-whistles-to-warn-of-ice-presence/ #FreeSpeech #Immigration #Activism #CivilRights #ArizonaPolitics #firstamendment

Now Trumpists Are Menacing Economists
https://youtube.com/watch?v=lzZdxmSmBaM&si=d27Aqv-9nmQSljOi

A new study by Veloz highlights the huge savings of EVs over gas-powered cars, with charging at home costing just $12.86 for a full battery and fueling at about 5 cents per mile—less than half the cost of an internal combustion engine (12 cents per mile). Heavy users can recoup their purchase within two years, enjoying lower operating costs long-term. Installing a Level 2 charger, especially when paired with solar panels via trusted providers like Qmerit and TCD’s Solar Explorer, can maximize these savings—potentially saving up to $10,000. Ready to switch to a cheaper, cleaner ride? Learn about the benefits here: https://autos.yahoo.com/policy-and-environment/articles/study-reveals-shocking-cost-differences-073500488.html #ElectricVehicles #EVSavings #GoGreen #Solar #ClimateAction #CostSavings

A Salem woman, identified only as Maria, was injured when ICE agents racially profiled her, broke her car window, and pulled her out, leaving after discovering her passport. She suffered a concussion, torn rotator cuff, and bruised ribs, and remains terrified to leave her home. Her injuries mark the first extensive harm to a citizen in Oregon linked to such profiling cases. Union leader Johnny Earl condemns the violence, emphasizing that immigrant workers, like Maria, deserve dignity and respect. Advocates demand accountability and justice. Learn more: https://www.oregonlive.com/politics/2026/02/us-citizen-was-running-errands-after-ice-stop-she-ended-up-at-the-hospital-instead.html #Immigration #Justice #RacialProfiling #ICE #CommunitySafety #workersrights

The Justice Department has finalized new regulations that effectively eliminate the use of “disparate impact” analysis—a key tool for proving racial discrimination based on statistical disparities—marking a significant rollback of civil rights protections. These regulations, issued without public comment, narrow the ability of government and private entities to be investigated or sued for policies that unintentionally cause racial disparities, focusing instead on intent-based discrimination. The move aligns with conservative arguments that discrimination should only be proven through explicit intent, rather than data showing unequal impact. Critics warn that this shift could weaken efforts to address systemic racial inequities, as it makes it significantly harder to challenge policies that unintentionally disadvantage marginalized groups. More here: https://wapo.st/4s2l6iC #CivilRights #DisparateImpact #JusticeDepartment #RacialJustice #RegulatoryChange #LegalPolicy #discrimination