bobbiesquares reblogged
bobbiesquares reblogged
this is real! you can fax, mail, or dropoff in person, but there is no provision for online registration.
TL;DR: The Texas government is trying to trick you into thinking you've registered to vote online when that's not possible.
This has not been circulated widely enough.
If you know someone in TX, pleeeeease make sure they see this.
What's so worrying about this is that it's specifically targeted at younger people.
"I'm not handing someone a piece of paper.... wtf"
"Mail? As in... put a stamp on it? Where tf would I get a stamp??"
"FAX???? You have got to be joking rn."
Younger people statistically vote more liberal than conservative. By tricking younger and "more online than not" people into using a fake registration service, the state of TX makes sure that fewer liberal votes are counted.
SPREAD THIS.
bobbiesquares reblogged
Trans people in texas please be careful right now. This is terrifying and not okay at all.
Please share so people are aware of this. I can't imagine how horrible it would be to show up to make this change, thinking you have legal court approval, and you get not only turned away but put on a register for it. Who knows how they'll try to use it against you in the future.
"This can't be legal" it doesn't matter. The system is so deeply transphobic that they can basically do whatever they want. What are you going to do, call the cops? They don't give a shit. Civil matter.
It could take a bunch of people suing until they get a judge that isn't absolute dogshit for this to change, and meanwhile it'll be months of even years of trans people in texas being unable to get ID that matches their gender, and being put on a register if they try. And that's the best case scenario. Who knows how much worse it could get.
They are doing this because the Texas Attorney General requested records of people who had their gender marker changed already. They couldn't give those records because they included not only trans people, but people who had it changed due to clerical errors. This is an attempt to create a database that does only include trans people. I'm sure I don't have to explain why that's terrifying.
Gipson wrote, “If a first-time applicant presents conflicting documents, such as a birth certificate with a court order requiring a sex change, the sex listed on the original birth certificate will take precedence to record the sex. If a single court order contains both a name change and a sex change, we cannot accept the order. The applicant will be processed with no change and with the information on file.”
Gipson then directs employees to scan into the record all “court order sex change documentation that cannot be processed” and email the requesting person’s name and driver’s license or state ID number to “[email protected],” noting on the email subject line “Sex Change Court Order.” Adding that changes due to clerical errors are not to be reported and that the DLCourtorders email is “for internal reporting only and should not be shared with customers.”
Wow, it's so unfortunate that the article lists the email address and necessary subject line for reporting trans Texans. Wildly irresponsible journalism to leak the internal email address like that. I hope the inbox doesn't get inundated with false reports and spam.
Btw tumblr friends, if you end up seeing me in the news in regards to this in the coming months…
Know it’s because I’m using my connections to a sibling who is an ADA in NYC to get some pretty high powered representation to tell the state of Texas to go fuck themselves.
But yeah… $900 an hour isn’t exactly an amount that the average trans Texan has around, and that is what they are counting on. And not everyone knows how or has the connections I do to get pro bono counsel.
But literally, the State of Texas is going to rue the day they pissed me and my family off. We’re pedantic, unrelenting, and from a long line of lawyers and political activists. I will take this all the way to the top if I have to.
Ken Paxton, kindly get fucked gently with a chainsaw.
I do so love when people outside of Texas say things like "they can't do that" because the only response I have is "watch them." They'll do it, someone will get denied, the ACLU will sue on their behalf, it'll go all the way up to the Supreme Court, and SCOTUS will dismiss the suit, leaving the law unchanged.
If something is not EXPLICITLY protected, it isn't protected, and with this current SCOTUS, even if it IS explicit, it's not safe.
"They can't do that!" They've BEEN doing that!
bobbiesquares reblogged
so a lot of texas voters got purged today. It's a good idea to check and make sure you're still registered.
bobbiesquares reblogged
the aging head of state is in seclusion after catching the plague. his advisors are convenening against him. His strongest rival, the deposed former ruler, is mustering forces after a failed assassination plot. Rumors abound that he may be forced to abdicate his throne, leaving an untested hier to face these crises.... truely we live in the most crusader kings era of american politics.
bobbiesquares reblogged
I'm the "voting is good" guy but I intend to direct basically all of my you-should-vote energy next year towards the reelection of the 18 progressives who've stuck their necks out to call for an Israeli-Palestinian ceasefire. They've dedicated themselves to a basic standard of human decency, and for it they will be punished with an immense tidal wave of financial and political resources seeking to get them kicked out of office, to say nothing of the threats against their lives. Biden's on his own.
None of them are from my state, unfortunately but predictably. But OP is right: if you live in one of these states, and in the right district, you're in a position to cast a vote that could actually matter.
bobbiesquares reblogged
Friendly reminder as we head into tax season (for US Americans), that the major tax preparation companies are fully prepared to lie and mislead you into paying for their tax preparation software when you might qualify for free software through the IRS.
Don’t fall for their bullshit. Visit IRS Free File and see what services are available to you. The requirements vary depending on your household status and income, but if you make less than $79,000/year (which is nearly everyone I know), you probably qualify for something.
bobbiesquares reblogged
The judge was a Reagan appointee lmao
1. The person who twerked in court was Richard Montez, co-owner of 360 Queen Entertainment (a business that organises drag performances).
2. The New Yorker article is a really good read.
3. I'm in love with this picture from said New Yorker article. Dude on the left is a Big Mood.
honestly good for him? he didn't know what he was supposed to be ruling on, so he asked for a demonstration, and the demonstration convinced him it was art. good on him for being willing to accept new data
bobbiesquares reblogged
On the one hand I would prefer a functional government, but on the other, the sheer comedy and Schadenfreude of the House Republicans descending into petty, humiliating chaos while the Dem folks are showing up with literal popcorn and chanting for their own Speaker nominee like this is a high school sports game is filling me with manic glee.
This is the current state of American politics
the popcorn is legal im cackling
bobbiesquares reblogged
Okay, USA followers, you know how we all hate bank fees? I mean, you overdraw your account by $1.23 and you get charged $25.00? That's evil.
As of Jan 26, 2022, the Biden Administration CFPB (Consumer Financial Protection Bureau) is bringing the hammer down on junk fees. This is more than just bank fees - this is going after the junk fees on things like prepaid cards, loans, bank transfers, credit card late fees, even closing costs on a mortgage.
The CFPB needs public comments, like the opinions of real people who are affected by these fees, to build a case about telling financial organizations that THEY CAN'T CHARGE THEM ANYMORE.
The CFPB says it’s particularly interested in hearing from older and lower-income consumers, students, service members and people of color.
There's some good detail about the comments in this investopedia article. The easiest way to comment is to send an email to FederalRegisterComments@cfpb.gov. Include Docket No. CFPB-2022-0003 in the subject line of the message.
Note that these are public comments. They will be published online through the CFPB website. Don't include account numbers, social security numbers, or full names. Tell a story - tell about the time you overdrew your account by $1.23 and the bank took $35. Tell about how you signed up for a credit card and the company charged you a bunch of fees you didn't even know about. Tell about how you transferred money from your savings account to a checking account and the bank charged you $2.50.
These junk fees are a slap in the face of ordinary people who can't refuse to pay, and the CFBP is taking aim at the banks that charge them. To read what CFPB director Rohit Chopra had to say about this call to action, click here.
You have until March 31, 2022 to submit comments.
bobbiesquares reblogged
Responding to a pandemic in the world’s wealthiest and most powerful nation:
PLEASE TELL ME WHAT YOU’RE APOLOGIZING FOR BECAUSE I’M COMPLETELY CONFUSED
The RNA vaccines approved for COVID-19 in the US both need to be distributed at extremely low temperatures. Like 40F lower than any other mass-distributed medicine.
It turns out the Dippin Dots company runs the only nationwide supply chain that’s ever operated at those temperatures. So all these big serious health orgs are consulting the expertise of, and even exploring renting equipment from, The Ice Cream of the Future™️.
WODJSKXNSIJXSKD
bobbiesquares reblogged
It’s not the war. It’s a battle. But it’s important to take a moment to breathe or we’ll all pass out before we get anywhere.
Description under cut.
