Coronavirus Tidbits #198 6/26/22
Announcements:
First, there is now a Resources Page here for the most commonly asked questions I'm getting.
Happy to continue to answer your questions/concerns as best I can, so don't be shy about that.
New post:
Life-Threatening Meningococcal Infections Strike Florida
News
Covid:
A third vaccine dose may increase protection from omicronThe mRNA vaccines used against COVID were never designed to battle the omicron variant, a now dominant strain of the coronavirus that recently claimed 18,000 lives in a single week. Yet individuals who receive their third dose appear to be protected from the worst of omicron, and a new study in Nature explains why. In analyzing blood samples from patients who received a booster, researchers showed that the third dose galvanizes memory B cells into producing potent and versatile antibodies that neutralize both the original virus and its many variants. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2022-06-vaccine-dose-omicron.html? |
There is no 'safest spot' to minimize risk of #COVID-19 transmission on #trains https://t.co/ThrLh4uaJu via @medical_xpress
— Judy Stone (@DrJudyStone) June 25, 2022
Newer #COVID19 subvariants BA.2.12.1, BA.4, and BA.5 are less vulnerable to immunity induced by vaccination and previous infection, escaping neutralizing antibodies https://t.co/sa5cT7VUa9 via @medical_xpress
— Judy Stone (@DrJudyStone) June 25, 2022
https://twitter.com/MackayIM/status/1540089433785253888?s=20&t=tWKokrAy6iHGLWm8TwnmNQ
Monkeypox:
#Monkeypox Outbreak Strain Has Far More Mutations Than Expected https://t.co/CTMbXEmpzQ
— Judy Stone (@DrJudyStone) June 25, 2022
~ ~ ~
#Monkeypox outbreak in U.S. is bigger than the CDC reports. Testing is 'abysmal' https://t.co/A8tmBJU014
— Judy Stone (@DrJudyStone) June 26, 2022
~ ~ ~
Somebody please tell me something good about squirrels — because between their 5am mating calls waking me up in summer and @KatherineJWu's latest story in @TheAtlantic, I am not a fan.https://t.co/5Cr1GV3FzV
— Roxanne Khamsi (@rkhamsi) June 21, 2022
~ ~ ~
Polio:
Poliovirus in London sewage: What you need to know
Just as we thought that monkeypox would be the new virus scare for 2022, the U.K. Health Security Agency (UKHSA) declared a national incident of repeated poliovirus detection in sewage in north and east London. Repeated positive readings for polio suggest that there is an ongoing infection and likely transmission in the area. This is unexpected since the U.K. had been declared polio-free since 2003. Here's what you need to know.
https://medicalxpress.com/news/2022-06-poliovirus-london-sewage.html?
Diagnostics:
Lack of reporting on Covid is leading CDC, NYC, and others to make decisions based on falsely low estimates of cases, since most testing is now done at home.
Lack of monkeypox testing (among other) will likely lead to monkeypox becoming endemic in the US, as it becomes established in wild animal populations. We are botching this as we did Covid. When will we ever learn?...
Drugs and Vaccines:
Young Men's #Myocarditis Risk 5 Times Higher With #Moderna vs Pfizer Vax https://t.co/NbrYBuWt6c
— Judy Stone (@DrJudyStone) June 26, 2022
~ ~ ~
Maternal Vaccination and Risk of Hospitalization for Covid-19 among Infants
BACKGROUND
Infants younger than 6 months of age are at high risk for complications of coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) and are not eligible for vaccination. Transplacental transfer of antibodies against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) after maternal Covid-19 vaccination may confer protection against Covid-19 in infants.
CONCLUSIONS
Maternal vaccination with two doses of mRNA vaccine was associated with a reduced risk of hospitalization for Covid-19, including for critical illness, among infants younger than 6 months of age. (Funded by the CDC)
https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2204399
~ ~ ~
A third vaccine dose may increase protection from omicron
The mRNA vaccines used against COVID were never designed to battle the omicron variant, a now dominant strain of the coronavirus that recently claimed 18,000 lives in a single week. Yet individuals who receive their third dose appear to be protected from the worst of omicron, and a new study in Nature explains why. In analyzing blood samples from patients who received a booster, researchers showed that the third dose galvanizes memory B cells into producing potent and versatile antibodies that neutralize both the original virus and its many variants.
"With every exposure to antigen, we see an improvement in the memory B cell compartment, and the third dose is no exception," says Theodora Hatziioannou, who co-led the study with colleagues Michel C. Nussenzweig and Paul Bieniasz. And although one implication of this finding is that both infection and vaccination strengthen the memory B cell compartment, Hatziioannou stresses that this is no reason to skip your shots: "Vaccination is far safer."
https://medicalxpress.com/news/2022-06-vaccine-dose-omicron.html
~ ~ ~
This is the simple graph that should have been in the paper, #dataviz from @TheEconomist for saving ~20 million lives in the first year of Covid vaccinationshttps://t.co/bFNPnYyPCd @ECONdailycharts pic.twitter.com/7WDD0YoJ4O
— Eric Topol (@EricTopol) June 26, 2022
~ ~ ~
Important slides from today's ACIP meeting: The burden of COVID-19 associated death is similar to or exceeds that of other pediatric vaccine-preventable diseases, with COVID-19 being a leading cause of death among kids under 5. Vaccination cam help prevent these severe outcomes. pic.twitter.com/Cvo7sYGaMK
— Benjy Renton (@bhrenton) June 18, 2022
Devices and Masks:
Guy wandering around in body armor with an AR-15 caused multiple 911 calls, cops came but determined what he was doing was legal under Oklahoma's "constitutional carry" law, but arrested him because he was in possession of brass knuckles, which are illegal https://t.co/hM8KTvhiwA
— Tom Gara (@tomgara) June 21, 2022
Epidemiology/Infection control:
"NYC Test + Trace has also distributed more than 16.5 million at-home tests to New Yorkers over the last month"
— Myra Batchelder (@myrabatchelder) June 22, 2022
None of these at-home tests are counted.
NYC then announced we can decrease prevention efforts because cases have "decreased"https://t.co/GfRdQBbqZa
~ ~ ~
Travelers say staff shortages and COVID-19 outbreaks are spoiling their Alaska cruises https://t.co/hrlIWWhb15 via @AKPublicNews
— Judy Stone (@DrJudyStone) June 26, 2022
~ ~ ~
For vax against upper respiratory viruses like SARS2, these viruses often don’t require “internal” replication. They just land in the nose, replicate locally & transmit on. So the vax can block “internal” replication and thus stop disease separate from stopping transmission
— Michael Mina (@michaelmina_lab) November 27, 2021
2/
~ ~ ~
5/ The full set of results by Day and Vaccination Status is shown here. pic.twitter.com/T0TyYEOKgt
— Michael Mina (@michaelmina_lab) February 2, 2022
Tips, general reading for public:
Ventilate.
Mask.
Vax.
Politics:
Covid:
The decision to withhold the names, based partly on fears of embarrassing hospitals + on concerns about duplicative data, denies patients the opportunity to steer clear of health systems w/ poor track records and allows facilities to avoid public scrutiny, patient advocates say.
— Rachael Levy (@rachael_levy) June 25, 2022
Over the past mo, hospitals reported an avg of 1,457 patients per week had caught Covid during their stay, per a @POLITICO analysis of data from @HHSGov.
— Rachael Levy (@rachael_levy) June 25, 2022
That follows a record month in Jan. when more than 3,000 patients each week were infected. https://t.co/kO3Ri7mUi9
~ ~ ~
'Last week’s harmful decision by Gov. DeSantis and his health department to not pre-order COVID-19 vaccines for children ages 5 and under created chaos and confusion' @NikkiFried #FlaPol https://t.co/Eqv6V8qLjQ
— Issac Morgan (@IssacMorgan12) June 20, 2022
~ ~ ~
Practice abstinence.
— Shematologist, MD (@acweyand) June 25, 2022
❌>450k rapes occur annually in US
Use protection.
❌Condom failure rate is 18%
❌Birth control pills failure rate is 9%
❌IUD failure rate is 0.2-0.8%
~ ~ ~
A caretaker has successfully claimed that long Covid is a disability in what could prove to be a landmark tribunal ruling.https://t.co/uBPh4KcNjY
— The Mirror (@DailyMirror) June 21, 2022
~ ~ ~
Anyone investigating DeJoy’s attempts to reduce speed of US Postal Service deliveries before 2020 elections?
— Michael Beschloss (@BeschlossDC) June 23, 2022
~ ~ ~
Doctor-Candidate Threatens Minnesota Medical Board
Scott Jensen, MD, Minnesota's Republican gubernatorial candidate, is threatening to retaliate against the state medical board after it opened an investigation into him for the fifth time, according to a report from the Associated Press.Jensen, a family practice physician and former state senator, said in a video he posted to Twitter last week that the Minnesota medical board is a "massive, inexorable force" that has been turned against him for political reasons. He added that "this juggernaut will be dealt with" if he's elected governor, previously noting his ability to appoint medical board members if elected.
Abortion:
They even kept the “domestic supply of infants” line: pic.twitter.com/brerNBvPZ9
— Steve Vladeck (@steve_vladeck) June 24, 2022
~ ~ ~
When a uterus is more heavily regulated than an assault weapon, that’s when you know it’s a war on women.
— Andrea Junker (@Strandjunker) June 25, 2022
...and when the penalty for abortion after rape is greater than for the penalty for rape...
~ ~ ~
Thinking about mainstream journalism's role in framing abortion as a hotly contested issue when, in fact, 75 to 80 percent of the public has wanted abortion legal in some form since the 1970s, while those who want it banned has hovered about 20 percent or lower pic.twitter.com/1Z7DRj6YVv
— Dr. Thrasher (@thrasherxy) June 24, 2022
~ ~ ~
Abortion banned without exception for health of the mother:
— Bill Weir (@BillWeirCNN) June 24, 2022
AR, ID, MS, ND, OK, SD
Without exceptions for rape:
AR, KY, LA, MO, ND, SD, TN, TX
Without exceptions for incest:
AR, KY, LA, MS, MO, ND, SD, TN, TX
~ ~ ~
I’ve warned about how overturning Roe risks a broader right to privacy for everyone.
— Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) June 25, 2022
The right to make the best decisions for your health.
The right to marry the person you love.
With your vote, you can act. You can have the final word. This is not over.
~ ~ ~
https://twitter.com/JuddLegum/status/1540789169290711041?s=20&t=M3SuIP1ooYvUYuSEpimIkQ
The CEO of Dick’s Sporting Goods on LinkedIn pic.twitter.com/maqYINYSUQ
— Matt Lindner (@mattlindner) June 24, 2022
How an online search for abortion pills landed this woman in jail https://t.co/RMQPEIGQs1
— Judy Stone (@DrJudyStone) June 25, 2022
My thoughts on the Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe v. Wade. pic.twitter.com/9ALSbapHDY
— Michelle Obama (@MichelleObama) June 24, 2022
Reminder that Jewish scripture supports the right to an abortion and today’s Supreme Court decision is in direct violation of our freedom of religion.
— Sophie Vershbow (@svershbow) June 24, 2022
I sit in rooms weekly w/mothers/fathers breaking news of a fetus with severe congenital anomalies. A fetus who may not survive to delivery or at best live only minutes after birth.
— Adam B. Hill, M.D. (@Adamhill1212) June 24, 2022
That a woman be forced to carry to jeopardize her own health is immoral. And very bad medicine.
~ ~ ~
Don’t despair. Fight back!! Hold the House, add 2 seats to the Senate, kill the filibuster, codify Roe, and add seats to SCOTUS. 2022 will determine it all. VOTE!!!
— Rob Reiner (@robreiner) June 24, 2022
~ ~ ~
People seeking abortions are going to be surveilled through their phones. But when I began researching the issue earlier this year, I realized many pregnant women were being arrested because of something else: a loophole in HIPAA https://t.co/VnJDUQZxfv pic.twitter.com/b5ZLb9EQP4
— Louise Matsakis (@lmatsakis) June 24, 2022
~ ~ ~
Alice: I don't know how you can be Catholic and not support unborn life.
— 🇺🇦Paula Chertok🗽 (@PaulaChertok) June 24, 2022
🔥🎯Ana: Because I'm Catholic AND American. And there are many Americans who aren't Catholic or even Christian. And you have no damn right to tell them what they should do with their bodies. Nobody does. pic.twitter.com/lDy9THGH9R
~ ~ ~
The messaging needs to be clear, consistent and true. “Congress can override what the Supreme Court did and pass a law to legalize abortion. To do that, we need to elect 2 more Democratic Senators and to hold the House. Pres Biden will sign a law codifying Roe if that happens.”
— David Plouffe (@davidplouffe) June 25, 2022
I know y'all are discouraged/depressed as am I. The antidote to that is action. Work with groups like NOPE (https://www.nopeneighbors.org/) or Power the Vote https://www.powerthevote.org/
And don't forget the critical importance of down-ballot races, especially city council and Board of Ed.
~ ~ ~
Racism:
TW: open racism by a US Senator.
— Dr. Christine Eady Mann (@DrChristineMann) June 25, 2022
I will not dignify this abhorrent tweet with a retweet. pic.twitter.com/XVXCbX2Q0e
~ ~ ~
How’s Uncle Clarence feeling about Overturning Loving v Virginia??!!
— Samuel L. Jackson (@SamuelLJackson) June 25, 2022
~ ~ ~
Look at this racist fuck tweeting at the Black President about his desire to overturn Brown v. Board of Ed and return Black people to a state of segregation.
— Elie Mystal (@ElieNYC) June 25, 2022
And they probably have five votes to do it on the Supreme Court. https://t.co/fxvmym3KDu
~ ~ ~
The fact that media organizations are instructing employees not to make public comments about the elimination of a fundamental constitutional right for 50% of the population tells you why the modern media is not capable of helping protect democracy from what is happening.
— Marc E. Elias (@marceelias) June 24, 2022
~ ~ ~
I just received this direct message and I want you all to see it so we make no mistake on who we are up against in this fight. pic.twitter.com/JmPtUnzvvT
— L. Louise Lucas (@SenLouiseLucas) June 24, 2022
~ ~ ~
Other SCOTUS:
https://twitter.com/charles_gaba/status/1539985156081172480?s=20&t=tWKokrAy6iHGLWm8TwnmNQ
~ ~ ~
My periodic reminder: two presidents who lost the popular vote appointed five Supreme Court justices to lifetime appointments.
— Julia Ioffe (@juliaioffe) June 24, 2022
~ ~ ~
Roe. Miranda. Gun control. Church and State. All dismantled in a single week. The single worst week for civil rights and liberties in decades.
— Graydon Gordian (@MrGordian) June 24, 2022
~ ~ ~
According to one of his law clerks, as reported by @nytimes in 1993, Justice Clarence Thomas privately said,
— Michael Beschloss (@BeschlossDC) June 25, 2022
"The liberals made my life miserable for 43 years, and I'm going to make their lives miserable for 43 years."
~ ~ ~
Clarence Thomas at his 1991 confirmation hearings: “I believe the Constitution protects the right to privacy.”
— Keith Boykin (@keithboykin) June 24, 2022
Clarence Thomas in 2022 abortion decision: The Constitution gives you no right to privacy. pic.twitter.com/W0cIgmefdl
~ ~ ~
Clarence Thomas writes, in a concurring opinion, that the Supreme Court should reconsider Griswold, Lawrence, and Obergefell — the rulings that now protect contraception, same-sex relationships, and same-sex marriage.
— Kyle Griffin (@kylegriffin1) June 24, 2022
~~ ~ ~
Understood. The SCOTUS is in freefall. Trust has been destroyed. Legitimacy is lost. And the brazen lies of the 3 recent Trump appointees is now burned into this moments tragic history. How can the Court be repaired??? The damage is deep and profoundly dangerous: pic.twitter.com/pZMKZ9buRw
— jcruz (@jcruz78523974) June 25, 2022
Shame there is no penalty for lying under oath...
We should hear from Senators Murkowski, Collins, and Manchin if they believe there should be any consequences at all for misleading members of the US Senate in order to secure a lifetime appointment to the highest court in the land.
— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) June 24, 2022
Otherwise Roe’s undoing is their legacy too.
~ ~ ~
Who still wants to know who paid Brett Kavanaugh’s $92,000 country club balance, $200,000 in credit card debt, and $1,200,000 mortgage, buying themselves a Supreme Court justice — and the 5th vote to overturn Roe v. Wade?
— Tristan Snell (@TristanSnell) June 24, 2022
~ ~ ~
Forced birth in a country with:
— Robert Reich (@RBReich) June 24, 2022
—No universal healthcare
—No universal childcare
—No paid family & medical leave
—One of the highest rates of maternal mortality among rich nations
This isn't about "life." It's about control.
~ ~ ~
To boil it down to the bare essence:
— Daniel Goldman (@danielsgoldman) June 24, 2022
SCOTUS yesterday: states have no right to restrict guns.
SCOTUS today: states have exclusive right to restrict abortion.
Which is it, SCOTUS?
~ ~ ~
Supreme Court Votes 5-4 To Reclassify Women As Service Animals https://t.co/MM3jbtA9ea pic.twitter.com/zpvIr4X2xs
— The Onion (@TheOnion) June 24, 2022
~ ~ ~
The Supreme Court's first decision of the day is Marietta Memorial Hospital v. DaVita. In a 7–2 opinion by Kavanaugh, the court holds that group health plan can limit outpatient dialysis benefits for patients with late-stage renal disease. https://t.co/LR4UQYMq3f pic.twitter.com/f7vbrRsaWe
— Mark Joseph Stern (@mjs_DC) June 21, 2022
~ ~ ~
On public funding of religious schools:
Carson v. Makin is a major decision with huge consequences for state funding of religion. The conservative majority holds that the First Amendment requires Maine's taxpayers to fund explicitly religious education. That is a breathtakingly radical holding. https://t.co/saVbopQJyq
— Mark Joseph Stern (@mjs_DC) June 21, 2022
~ ~ ~
https://twitter.com/duty2warn/status/1539577278782373890?s=20&t=M3SuIP1ooYvUYuSEpimIkQ
~ ~ ~
Why is no one talking about Doug Mastriano’s plan to destroy public education in Pa.? https://t.co/fxRD06ERvT
— Judy Stone (@DrJudyStone) June 26, 2022
~ ~ ~
Did you know? When SCOTUS said in 1937 that the Social Security Act was “unconstitutional”, President Roosevelt didn’t ask people to vote harder in the next election, he told the Supreme Court he’d add more justices until they backed off, which they did. — We can still do that.
— Andrea Junker (@Strandjunker) June 26, 2022
Ginni and Clarence:
NEW: A Facebook group tied to Ginni Thomas called 'FrontLiners for Liberty' could be a new focus in Jan. 6 investigation.
— Brian Schwartz (@schwartzbCNBC) June 17, 2022
That FB group appears to be administered by Ginni Thomas and, after we reached out to her about it, it was removed from public viewhttps://t.co/BFl8AmZ2Jd
~ ~ ~
NEW: Clarence Thomas just said that contraception and same-sex marriage are “errors” that the Supreme Court has a “duty” to “correct” now that Roe is overturned.
— No Lie with Brian Tyler Cohen (@NoLieWithBTC) June 24, 2022
Guns:
https://twitter.com/Tucsonbelle/status/1539870830133448704?s=20&t=M3SuIP1ooYvUYuSEpimIkQ
~ ~ ~
Guy wandering around in body armor with an AR-15 caused multiple 911 calls, cops came but determined what he was doing was legal under Oklahoma's "constitutional carry" law, but arrested him because he was in possession of brass knuckles, which are illegal https://t.co/hM8KTvhiwA
— Tom Gara (@tomgara) June 21, 2022
~ ~ ~
Guy wandering around in body armor with an AR-15 caused multiple 911 calls, cops came but determined what he was doing was legal under Oklahoma's "constitutional carry" law, but arrested him because he was in possession of brass knuckles, which are illegal https://t.co/hM8KTvhiwA
— Tom Gara (@tomgara) June 21, 2022
GOP:
Jeann Lugo, a white male cop running for Rhode Island Senate as a Republican, hit his black female Democratic opponent Jennifer Rourke in the face twice last night after she spoke at an abortion rally. Lugo is now under investigation and has deleted his Twitter account.
— Don Lewis (@DonLew87) June 25, 2022
~ ~ ~
NEW: The Texas GOP just voted overwhelmingly to reject the legitimacy of President Joe Biden’s 2020 election win. This is the alarm bell for Republicans trying to steal the 2024 Presidential election. Don’t let it go unheard.
— Ellen Kurz (@EllenKurz) June 20, 2022
~ ~ ~
He lied about helping to kill Osama bin Laden. He’s credibly accused of abusing women and children. What will Missouri’s disgraced ex-governor Eric Greitens do next in his Senate bid? https://t.co/RQxkv8CQVW
— Shannon Watts (@shannonrwatts) June 20, 2022
~ ~ ~
Texas GOP Platform also calls for full repeal of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 as well as for the state to hold a referendum on whether Texas should secede pic.twitter.com/oeiGjB0nys
— Ben Jacobs (@Bencjacobs) June 19, 2022
~ ~ ~
Rep. Adam Kinzinger, one of two Republicans serving on the Jan. 6 committee, said he recently got an alarming message threatening to execute him, his wife and their 5-month-old baby, via @PostRozhttps://t.co/Rl88GMuVpz
— Jacqueline Alemany (@JaxAlemany) June 19, 2022
~ ~ ~
If you just paid a fortune at the pump this weekend, we recently voted to crack down on gas gouging and every single republican voted no. pic.twitter.com/UIvcTc55Ux
— Bill Pascrell, Jr. 🇺🇸🇺🇦 (@BillPascrell) June 19, 2022
~ ~ ~
More and more people are talking about this https://t.co/1QGGzPAZKc
— Liz Charboneau (@lizchar) June 12, 2022
~ ~ ~
This scam just goes on and on and on ....
— Richard W. Painter (@RWPUSA) June 20, 2022
House Jan. 6 panel says Trump raised millions for a nonexistent election defense fund https://t.co/P1ycxBNdgO
Jan 6 coup:
So according to Cassidy Hutchinson's testimony, Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) talked to the White House about pardons on the matter at hand (though not necessarily for himself) ... and then was going to try and serve on this committee.
— Aaron Blake (@AaronBlake) June 23, 2022
~ ~ ~
Listen, I’m just saying that in 1861, 11 Senators and 3 Representatives were expelled from Congress for failing to recognize Lincoln’s election and supporting an insurrection.
— Santiago Mayer (@santiagomayer_) June 23, 2022
LGBTQ:
Fewer youth attempt suicide in states with hate crime laws
When states enact hate crime laws that protect LGBTQ populations, the rate of suicide attempts among high school students drops significantly, and not just among sexual and gender minority students, but among heterosexual students as well, according to research published by the American Psychological Association.
https://medicalxpress.com/news/2022-06-youth-suicide-states-crime-laws.html?
~ ~ ~
I would add that any LGTBQ people who are engaged to be married but live in a red state consider getting married in Minnesota. We already have a law on the books (predating Obergefell) that says MN will take jurisdiction over any divorce or custody matter if the marriage --CONT
— Scott Rodman (@smrodman) June 24, 2022
Economy/:
Larry Summers -- who the president said he spoke with today -- publicly saying a 5% unemployment rate is necessary to combat inflation. To state the obvious, a 5% unemployment rate would mean devastating joblessness for millions of poor American workers pic.twitter.com/wsSB9zmBy9
— Jeff Stein (@JStein_WaPo) June 20, 2022
~ ~ ~
Florida:
'Last week’s harmful decision by Gov. DeSantis and his health department to not pre-order COVID-19 vaccines for children ages 5 and under created chaos and confusion' @NikkiFried #FlaPol https://t.co/Eqv6V8qLjQ
— Issac Morgan (@IssacMorgan12) June 20, 2022
Israel:
The bullet that killed Shireen Abu Akleh came from the approx. position of an Israel military vehicle — most likely fired by a soldier from an elite unit. It was one of 16 bullets fired into the direction of 5 clearly marked journalists. Our investigation: https://t.co/sFL6zl08LK
— Christiaan Triebert (@trbrtc) June 20, 2022
Ukraine/Russia:
Yesterday Odesa National Academic Opera and Ballet Theater opened its doors to the audience. I’m very glad that we continue to open our theaters in wartime. Our culture is our second front. It’s our weapon, which have to work even in such difficult times. pic.twitter.com/9AZHEHS3MY
— Tkachenko Oleksandr (@otkachenkoua) June 18, 2022
Feel good du jour:
Today I signed a bill into law that will make period products free in Hawai'i's public schools.
— Governor David Ige (@GovHawaii) June 20, 2022
It's simple. No child should be forced to miss class because they can't afford period products and need to stay home. Thanks to all who helped make this bill a reality for our kids.
~ ~ ~
https://twitter.com/RJSzczerba/status/1538273325830512642?s=20&t=M3SuIP1ooYvUYuSEpimIkQ
~ ~ ~
https://twitter.com/buitengebieden/status/1540426318403276801?s=20&t=tWKokrAy6iHGLWm8TwnmNQ
~ ~ ~
Sometimes you just need a hug.. pic.twitter.com/ZrUuuyM9SW
— Buitengebieden (@buitengebieden) June 20, 2022
Comic relief:
https://twitter.com/DeerWhispers/status/1538275639156887552?s=20&t=M3SuIP1ooYvUYuSEpimIkQ
~ ~ ~
https://twitter.com/buitengebieden/status/1539349506176827395?s=20&t=tWKokrAy6iHGLWm8TwnmNQ
~ ~ ~
https://twitter.com/buitengebieden/status/1540704469587034112?s=20&t=tWKokrAy6iHGLWm8TwnmNQ
~ ~ ~
https://twitter.com/buitengebieden/status/1539271264786841601?s=20&t=tWKokrAy6iHGLWm8TwnmNQ
Perspective/Poem
Margaret Atwood: “Although I eventually completed this novel and called it The Handmaid’s Tale, I stopped writing it several times, because I considered it too far-fetched. Silly me. Theocratic dictatorships do not lie only in the distant past.” https://t.co/i6ArAFMhc4
— Duty To Warn 🔉 (@duty2warn) June 20, 2022
~ ~ ~
So, as I understand the Supreme Court, the government can arrest and jail you without Miranda rights, execute you even if your lawyer screws up, force you to have a baby, and use tax dollars to support religion.
— Keith Boykin (@keithboykin) June 23, 2022
But it can't protect your right to vote or keep you safe from guns.
~ ~ ~
Rep. Jim McGovern, D-Mass., on the Justices on the Supreme Court: pic.twitter.com/U1hX839IqQ
— Farnoush Amiri (@FarnoushAmiri) June 24, 2022
~ ~ ~
Let me get this straight:
— Rep. Shontel Brown (@RepShontelBrown) June 23, 2022
The Supreme Court says states cannot decide how to regulate guns—yet only the states can decide how to regulate a woman’s body.
~ ~ ~
.@patagonia CEO On Aligning Company Values And Taking Activist Stances — No Matter The Cost https://t.co/b033GrV2wx via @hereandnow
— Judy Stone (@DrJudyStone) June 26, 2022
~ ~ ~
Let’s be 100% clear. If Republicans win control of the House, Senate and White House two years from now, they will pass a national abortion ban. And no matter where you live, no matter how pro-choice your state is, women and doctors will be locked up for practicing health care.
— Chris Murphy (@ChrisMurphyCT) June 24, 2022
~ ~ ~
“Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented.” Elie Weisel
— Karen Schwartz (@pithywidow) June 26, 2022
Bits of beauty:
