Friday Roundup: Pandas, Monarchy Vibes and Library Dads
3 small things you can do, 5 stories you should read & some things to make your life better
This week I’m trying something a little new on Fridays. I want to share with you the kinds of things that I text my friends or share in the group chat. These are small ideas for actions, stories I think you’ll love to read and ways to make our lives easier. Let me know your thoughts about this new feature in the comments! I am hoping the Friday Roundup comments will be a time for our paid subscriber community to chit-chat a bit more, so please join me there!
Renew your library card
Buy two banned books from a local book shop. Keep one for your home and put one in a little free library. You can find a list here.
Call your reps The current House draft includes $880 billion in cuts to Medicaid to help pay for $4.5 trillion in tax cuts. Medicaid covers nearly half of all births in the country, and around two-thirds of nursing home stays. SCRIPT: Hi, I’m a constituent and I’m calling to urge you not to support the Trump budget which cuts Medicaid.
Trump’s Embrace of Monarch Imagery and Vibes
(Politico)
This is not normal. Trump is escalating his authoritarian messaging by openly embracing royal imagery and declaring himself "KING" on social media, while aggressively restructuring federal power and challenging constitutional limits.
This is What Happens When the DOGE Guys Take Over
Elon Musk's tech squad has seized control of federal agencies under Trump's new term, using computer systems as their weapon of choice to remake government from the inside out.
What started as a cost-cutting mission has evolved into a radical experiment to transform the entire federal bureaucracy through control of its digital infrastructure—leaving many wondering if the government can survive the upheaval.
Texas Banned Abortion Then Sepsis Rates Soared
After Texas banned abortion in 2021, sepsis rates jumped more than 50% among women hospitalized for pregnancy loss, with dozens more maternal deaths reported than in pre-pandemic years.
ProPublica's groundbreaking analysis found the risk was highest for patients whose fetus still had a heartbeat when they arrived at the hospital, as doctors delayed critical care fearing criminal prosecution.
The Flu is Breaking Record + Measles Info
Flu cases are breaking records across the US, with hospitalization rates higher than the past 15 years and flu deaths now exceeding COVID-19 deaths for the first time this winter.
A Texas measles outbreak has doubled to 48 unvaccinated cases, while canned tuna at major retailers is being recalled due to botulism risk.
Over 5,200 federal health workers (10% of CDC's workforce) were fired over the weekend, impacting various public health programs and disease surveillance.
The CDC's health data has been restored following a lawsuit, but questions remain about data integrity, while a controversial Super Bowl ad for weight loss drugs is under scrutiny.
The Wild Afterlife of Trash
The West's recycling system is largely a myth, with much of our "recyclable" waste being shipped to developing countries under the guise of environmental responsibility. Unlike the toxic waste exports of the 1980s that were eventually regulated, today's waste trade operates through a legal loophole by labeling items as recyclable.
The American Medical Association has been posting daily videos breaking down everything from bird flu and measles updates to why research dollars matter. It’s a great way to stay on top of health news with fact-based info. Click here.
Make a To Don’t List. This is an old one, but a good one from the Atlantic. When you’re feeling stuck, get rid of the to-do list and make a to-don’t list. Read more here.
Get Better Sleep. What is the sleep debt and how can you overcome it? Find out here.
The National Zoo’s Panda Cam is Back. Few things will cheer you up faster than watching a giant panda sneeze and drop their bamboo in real time. The Panda Cam system, which includes over 40 cameras, allows people around the world to watch the pandas live from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. ET daily. Watch here.
A Bar to Watch Women Play. A women’s sports watching bar is opening in Pittsburgh and it is aptly named Title Nine. Read more here.
Make This Veggie Filled Pizza Salad. Emily Nunn is the queen of salad for a reason. Get the recipe here.
A Legally Blonde Prequel is Officially Coming. Reese Witherspoon announced on Instagram that Lexi Minetree has been cast as Elle Woods in the upcoming Legally Blonde prequel series Elle. Read more here.
Sweetest Plane Ride Ever. A group of strangers helped this kindergartner celebrate their missed graduation. Watch here.
Meet the Library Dads. These dads get together with their friends and kids in the library every weekend. “As The Library Dads, we want to empower those types of bonds, expose kids to the power and joy of books and establish a supportive brotherhood of active fathers.” Read more here.
Portland (OR) friends, I’ve been contemplating organizing a “dinner & democracy series” where we get together and eat, discuss current events, and civic engagement opportunities.
For example we could make posters for an upcoming protest, share what actions we’ve taken that month, or identify opportunities for further engagement.
And it would be a dinner party because I love hosting dinner parties and that is a joy I refuse to give up.
Anyone interested?? If there’s traction on this comment, I’ll set up a google form to collect participant info and organize from there!
EDITED TO ADD THE LINK: https://forms.gle/mdwmkqWi3Yt2txky8
I’M SO EXCITED!!
I love the library support! Another library-related task: find out if your library has an elected board. If they do, send them an email in support of diverse collections and programming.