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codenamepolaris.bsky.social

@codenamepolaris.bsky.social
823 followers 5.5K following 41 posts

I’m pretty quiet on here, so adjust your expectations

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Reposted by @codenamepolaris.bsky.social
Mr. Tyler CroOoOoOoOok @mrtylercrook.bsky.social · 05/10/2026
It's bonkers how "User agreements" are actually binding contracts where one party gets to change them whenever and however they wish and the other party has the options to agree or to stop using computers.
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Jennifer Ouellette @jenlucpiquant.bsky.social · 05/10/2026
Meta’s Muse Is Collecting Information on Everyone in Your Life gizmodo.com/metas-muse-i...
gizmodo.com
Meta's Muse Is Collecting Information on Everyone in Your Life
Meta’s AI agent creates profiles of people in users’ lives even if they don’t use Muse.
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Reposted by @codenamepolaris.bsky.social
Dr. Jen Irwin @drjenirwin.bsky.social · 04/10/2026
Paco nails it 👇 “What have you read that makes you so confident that it won’t happen to you?”
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jess m. ☕🍂 @jametc.bsky.social · 04/10/2026
Something AI is responsible for that doesn't get enough talk: How, when it scrapes a website to illegally steal everything on it, it uses up a ton of its bandwidth allotment, crashing it or racking up massive fees for site owners.
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The Guardian @theguardian.com · 04/10/2026
Pennsylvania health officials brace themselves as measles outbreak expected to spread
theguardian.com
Pennsylvania health officials brace themselves as measles outbreak expected to spread
Most counties don’t have their own health agencies, and some specific population groups have low vaccination rates
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Jonathan-FL #HumanRightsForEVERYONE @amerliberal.bsky.social · 03/10/2026
Get your flu vaccine now if you haven’t already ‼️ (if you are over 50 and it’s available where you live, choose the mFlusiva mRNA kind of flu vaccine). And get your Covid vaccine update‼️ and get any other vaccines you aren’t up-to-date on. apnews.com/article/flu-...
apnews.com
Here's why experts say now is an ideal time to protect yourself from flu
Experts say now is an ideal time to get a flu shot, before influenza starts spreading widely. It's also a good time for vulnerable people to get vaccinated against another winter risk, RSV, and to get...
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Geoffrey P Johnston😎🇨🇦🇺🇦 @geoffypjohnston.bsky.social · 03/10/2026
www.newsweek.com/suspected-pl... ‘A woman has died of suspected plague in Siberia, triggering a "full range of anti-epidemic measures," according to Russian officials and media reports.’
newsweek.com
Suspected Plague Death at Russian Lab Sparks ‘Anti-Epidemic’ Lockdown
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Tyler King @tyleraking.com · 03/10/2026
Meta has enabled Muse to build extensive and ever-growing profiles on the orbit of people in a user’s life. Based on user input but also “publicly available information.” Whether that means a web search, Facebook’s own extensive data, or buying data broker info…we don’t know? And we can’t opt out.
wired.com
Muse Creates Detailed Profiles of All Your Friends and Family
Millions have downloaded Meta’s AI agent Muse. But getting it to do your bidding comes with privacy costs.
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Sarah Andersen @sarahseeandersen.bsky.social · 03/10/2026
The image is of a four panel comic. The title reads "Poltergeist".
In the first panel we see a woman with a worried expression on her face. She says, "stuff keeps moving around my house."
In the second panel the same woman says "I'm terrified. I can't sleep."
In the third panel we see a ghost holding a candle and a pillow that reads "live laugh love". The ghost is zooming through the house.
In the fourth panel we see the same ghost hanging up a frame and thinking, "home decor is my passion".
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Michelle Cohen @docmcohen.medsky.social · 03/10/2026
You're not angry enough at these murderous assholes.
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WyoFile @wyofile.com · 02/10/2026
Amid growing animus toward Flock-style cameras in Wyoming, state lawmakers have begun discussing legislation that would severely restrict the technology’s use in the Equality State. #wyomingnews #flock
wyofile.com
Wyoming lawmakers could pursue some of the nation’s strictest limits on Flock-like cameras - WyoFile
Draft legislation would severely restrict the technology's use in the Equality State.
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Sylvia Chi 齊思涵 @sylviachi.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
"A source familiar with the matter said DOJ officials have told some anti-abortion leaders that any action on enforcing the Comstock Act — which would bar the mailing of abortion drugs — would take place after the election."
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MeidasTouch @meidastouch.com · 02/10/2026
The White House is coordinating with the Justice Department to hide its abortion agenda from voters until after they've voted in order to try to influence the results of the election.
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Matthew Gertz @mattgertz.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
They're holding up a major escalation in Iran and a crackdown on abortion until after the midterms to limit political damage. To the extent that the last two years have been a right-wing smash-and-grab operation, the next two will be worse.
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Denis - The COVID Info Guy @thecovidinfoguy.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
"COVID fatigue linked to reduced brain blood flow" Brain scans found lower overall cerebral blood flow in people with Long COVID, especially in regions involved in attention, sensory processing and cognitive control. Lower blood flow was also linked to slower reaction times and concentration.
medicalxpress.com
COVID fatigue linked to reduced brain blood flow
Playing with your children or meeting a friend for coffee are everyday activities that many people move between without giving much thought to how much mental or physical energy they take.
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HOOGS (Hoarder Of Old Game Stuff). @psychosisfuzzball.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
Yet another, on a giant heap of studies since 2021, proving that without a doubt SARS-CoV-2 (Covid) causes brain issues. You can opt out of the viral brain damage by wearing a high quality n95 (or better!) respirator. Brain cells are a limited resource. #CovidIsNotOver
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NPR @npr.org · 01/10/2026
A powerful El Niño is already influencing extreme weather around the planet. During the last strong El Niño, federal agencies ramped up research in the hope of improving weather forecasts. This year, they won't be matching that effort. trib.al/dkJLZ2X
trib.al
Studying this super El Niño could save lives. NOAA is scaling back research
A powerful El Niño is already influencing extreme weather around the planet. During the last strong El Niño, federal agencies ramped up research in the hope of improving weather forecasts. This year, they won't be matching that effort.
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404 Media @404media.co · 30/09/2026
USPS says the cameras, put on USPS truck dashboards, will scan roads, signs, and more.
404media.co
USPS To Put Cameras in Trucks That Scan Roads for ‘Community Safety’
USPS says the cameras, put on USPS truck dashboards, will scan roads, signs, and more.
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Carl Paradise RESISTS autocracy @carlparadise.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
Zuck sucks and is a major tax dodger (gift article) www.nytimes.com/2026/09/30/t...
nytimes.com
How Meta Uses A.I. Data Centers to Avoid Billions in Federal Taxes (Gift Article)
Meta is exploiting a lucrative tax break intended to support research and experimentation. Its own accountants say the gambit is risky.
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Lock Down Your Life @lockdownyourlife.com · 30/09/2026
This feels like the same thing as though toaster gpt surveillance devices put on garbage trucks in Dallas. Surveillance is bad, actually.
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404 Media @404media.co · 30/09/2026
BREAKING: The Trump administration is using a grant program from the 1980s to force cities around the US to funnel their ongoing collection of Flock, Axon, and other ALPR data into large federal surveillance centers that fall under the White House’s jurisdiction, 404 Media has learned
404media.co
How Cities Are Forced to Funnel License Plate Data to a Massive Federal Surveillance Program
How the federal government built a massive database of license plate reader data through an anti-drug trafficking program.
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Dr. Samantha Montano @samlmontano.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
I haven't seen any news coverage yet of Cameron Hamilton's announcement that he has re-defined the entire field of emergency management to include only preparedness and response activities related to coordinating police, fire, and EMS. Seems like something that should get some attention.
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New York Focus @nysfocus.com · 30/09/2026
New York Focus found that Republican gubernatorial candidate Bruce Blakeman submitted requests that could have granted him over $860,000 in public money he isn’t eligible for.
nysfocus.com
Blakeman Sought Matching Funds for Ineligible Donations
The GOP candidate for governor submitted requests that could have granted him over $860,000 in public money he isn’t eligible for.
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Guardian US @us.theguardian.com · 28/09/2026
"The US has grown used to the swift and dramatic erosion of women’s health and status that has followed Dobbs," writes @moiradonegan.bsky.social, "to the horror stories and upward ticking body counts, grown into ease, and even a kind of compliant boredom, with women’s death and indignity."
theguardian.com
Why has abortion faded from America’s national conversation? | Moira Donegan
The US has already grown used to the horror caused by abortion bans. And Republicans have sought to quash the stories
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evacide @evacide.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
Meta Muse appears to read your Apple messages and upload them to the cloud even if you explicitly tell it not to: appleinsider.com/articles/26/...
appleinsider.com
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🇵🇸Tim Henke (tɪm 'ɦɛŋ.kə) @timhenke.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
none of this should be allowed And if it is, I think bricking the equipment someone purchased should be prosecutable as vandalism
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Chanda Prescod-Weinstein 🌌 @chanda.blacksky.app · 28/09/2026
This right here, and it’s not just about rape. It’s literally anything he does wrong.
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Robert Reich @rbreich.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
The U.S. owes $40 trillion in debt. Everyone has an opinion about why. But there’s one question you almost never hear asked: Who’s actually getting paid?
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People's CDC @peoplescdc.org · 28/09/2026
COVID levels continue to rise across the country, the health impacts of 9/11 25 years later, and the ongoing spread of Ebola in the DRC.
Heading: "“Very High” in Texas and Virgin Islands 
“High” in Washington, California, and Florida"

Subheading: "The Weather Report 9/21/26"

A COVID wastewater map of the United States based on the CDC’s data. Heading level two text: “COVID Wastewater Map.” Subheading text: “September 6  - September 12, 2026.”

Texas and the Virgin Islands are experiencing “very high” levels. Washington, California, and Florida are experiencing “high” levels. Nevada, Mississippi, Alabama, North Carolina, South Carolina, Kentucky, Massachusetts, and Hawaii are experiencing “moderate” levels. Much of the Midwest and Northeast is experiencing “low” levels. A few states scattered across the country are experiencing “very low” levels. Montana, North Dakota, Arizona, and Guam are gray meaning “limited/no data.”

Footer: "Source: CDC, Data Updated: 9/17/26, PeoplesCDC.org"Heading: "“Very High” in Texas and Virgin Islands 
“High” in Washington, California, and Florida"

Subheading: "The Weather Report 9/21/26"

A COVID wastewater map of the United States based on the CDC’s data. Heading level two text: “COVID Wastewater Map.” Subheading text: “September 6  - September 12, 2026.”

Texas and the Virgin Islands are experiencing “very high” levels. Washington, California, and Florida are experiencing “high” levels. Nevada, Mississippi, Alabama, North Carolina, South Carolina, Kentucky, Massachusetts, and Hawaii are experiencing “moderate” levels. Much of the Midwest and Northeast is experiencing “low” levels. A few states scattered across the country are experiencing “very low” levels. Montana, North Dakota, Arizona, and Guam are gray meaning “limited/no data.”

Footer: "Source: CDC, Data Updated: 9/17/26, PeoplesCDC.org"Heading: "West has fallen to “Low” other regions remain “Low” or “Very Low”". Along with the “People’s CDC” logo.

A line graph, based on CDC’s data. Heading level one text: “West has fallen  to “low,” “Other regions remain “low” or “very low”” Heading level two text: “COVID Wastewater Trends.”

The y-axis is COVID concentration levels, from bottom to top, goes from “very low” to “very high.” The x-axis lists dates, from left to right, going from January 2026 through August 29, 2026. The line graph peaks in January 2026 - February 2026. From February 2026, and onwards, the line graph goes down. On August 1st levels in the South and West begin to trend up again. Currently all regions are “low” or “very low.”

Footer: "Source: CDC, Data Updated: 9/17/26, peoplescdc.org"Heading: "The Weather"  Along with the “People’s CDC” logo.

Body text: "Regional trend data from the CDC indicate the West has the highest wastewater viral activity but is trending downwards into the “Low” category. 

The South remains “Low” and is trending downwards. The Northeast and Midwest are both considered “Very Low,” with upward and stable trends, respectively."

Footer: "The Weather Report 9/21/26, peoplescdc.org"
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Dr. Damien P. Williams, dread portent down from a mountain cave @wolven.blacksky.app · 27/09/2026
It should really bother everyone more that these "AI" companies and the people that run them are always— ALWAYS— looking for ways to trick or coerce us into giving up more and more ourselves to them.
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s. e. smith @sesmith.lol · 27/09/2026
Internet, I'm raising money in honor of Scarleteen's seven million visitors in 2026 and I'm at $1,000, $500 short of my goal—and the fundraiser is only $800 away from its goal. Help me take it over the top? Link to fundraiser in my reply!
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SARS‑CoV‑2 (COVID-19) @covid19disease.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
🚨 BREAKTHROUGH: Scientists at the University of Nottingham Develop a New Gel That Starts Repairing Damaged Tooth Enamel in Just 2 WEEKS This could replace fillings and change dental treatment worldwide, with use expected around late 2026–2027.
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Denis - The COVID Info Guy @thecovidinfoguy.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
"Why the CDC edited a key Covid metric, and what it says about the state of the virus" The CDC raised its COVID wastewater benchmarks, so levels once considered “high” may now be labelled “moderate.” The agency says the change is intended to better reflect the current risk of COVID transmission.🤦‍♂️
  A screenshot of an article preview from NBC News featuring a United States map tracking "Covid viral levels."
The map color-codes states to show differing ranges of viral activity, using shades of orange (with Texas, California, Florida, and Washington showing deeper orange hues), light peach for lower levels, grey for unavailable data, and diagonal grey stripes over several states.
At the bottom, a dark grey text overlay reads: "Why the CDC edited a key Covid metric, and what it says about the state of the virus." Small grey attribution text below the main card indicates the source is from nbcnews.com.
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Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani @mayor.nyc.gov · 24/09/2026
Never been to the opera before? Now’s your chance. We’re giving away 70,000 free tickets to the @metopera at the iconic Lincoln Center. Go to on.nyc.gov/opera to enter the lottery. There’s not a bad seat in the house.
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Mike Hoerger, PhD, MSCR, MBA @michael-hoerger.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
The top graph shows our county-level COVlD map using the CDC's Standard Benchmarks. The bottom map shows the downshifted levels under the CDC's new system. This really makes a difference for early warning in the middle categories. I've highlighted 5 areas.
Graphic of old vs new systems
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Stefan Pöhlmann @snpoehlm.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
🦠 SARS-CoV-2 SURVEILLANCE RESOURCES AROUND THE WORLD An updated collection of useful dashboards and websites for tracking COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2 variants and wastewater surveillance. Bookmark/share. 🧵
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Electronic Frontier Foundation @eff.org · 24/09/2026
Our right to conversational privacy must include freedom from others using tech to document what we are saying without our clear opt-in consent. "Otherwise, people will self-censor, and conversation will lose its spontaneity and intimacy," EFF’s @adamdschwartz.bsky.social told @yahoofinance.com.
finance.yahoo.com
Welcome to the age of listening devices
Devices that can listen and record us are becoming more popular, raising privacy concerns.
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N.P. Thompson 🍁 @nptwrites.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
Missed this one last week, but glad to see more media talking to @mark-ungrin.bsky.social www.ctvnews.ca/calgary/arti...
ctvnews.ca
‘Outdated’ health policies surrounding Covid still pose a danger today, says U of C researcher
University of Calgary professor Mark Ungrin has dedicated years of research highlighting what he believes is of significant concern to all Canadians’ health.
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CIDRAP @cidrap.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
Quick takes: -Typhus outbreak in LA -Measles exposure at Philadelphia airport -Legionnaire’s disease linked to Chicago-area hotel Read more: bit.ly/4iLPmvR.
bit.ly
Quick takes: Typhus outbreak in LA, measles exposure at Philadelphia airport, Legionnaire’s disease linked to Chicago-area hotel
Last year LA tracked a record number of typhus cases.
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Amy Maxmen, PhD @amymaxmen.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
RFK Jr's HHS is essentially withholding Covid vaccines from children from poorer backgrounds, amid a Covid wave. Important story from @melodyschreiber.com www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026...
theguardian.com
Delays in Covid shots for kids is latest bid by Trump officials to restrict vaccines
Administration is holding back Covid vaccines for all children in at least 11 states and one US territory
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betsy ladyzhets 😷 @betsyladyzhets.bsky.social · 21/09/2026
Today @thesicktimes.org: We republished a recent piece by Julia Doubleday at The Gauntlet, pushing back on a much-derided ableist article in The Telegraph. "The state and its media allies are working desperately to sever the connection between COVID-19 and its consequences."
thesicktimes.org
COVID-19 — not TikTok — is disabling young women - The Sick Times
The Telegraph published an article titled, “How having a disability became cool." This article shores up the government narrative that rising rates of disability are being driven, not by the ongoing a...
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NPR @npr.org · 23/09/2026
Housing affordability challenges are spreading to higher income brackets, according to new research, which found one in five renters struggled last year to pay for their housing in full and on time. n.pr/4cWYbzh
n.pr
It's getting harder to afford rent in the U.S., even for middle-income families
Housing affordability challenges are spreading to higher income brackets, according to new research, which found one in five renters struggled last year to pay for their housing in full and on time.
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Matthew Noe @noethematt.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
You can't, and shouldn't seek to, replace public schools or libraries with bookstores. You can't replace a public good with a private business, no matter how well-meaning or well-organized it may be.
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zeynep tufekci @zey.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
Polls show people expect AI to at least advanced science. Navier-Stokes, right? AI may throttle science instead! It doesn’t always advance understanding, its glut overwhelms filters for quality, and its methods don’t fit medical research. Gift link to my NYT essay. www.nytimes.com/2026/09/22/o...
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Kelly @broadwaybabyto.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
Spielberg is demonstrating he understands airborne infection and how to mitigate it! He’s outside at the opening of the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art and he’s wearing a KN95! A good respirator protects you and those around you. Covid is not over and a mask is a great way to stay healthy.
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Bev Pausche, APR @bevpr.bsky.social · 21/09/2026
“El Niño comes and goes, but as long as we continue to burn fossil fuels it occurs on an increasingly hotter baseline, making it much more difficult for communities to deal with the consequences.”
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Jess Craven ❌👑 @jesscraven101.bsky.social · 21/09/2026
Thank you to the major outlets standing with CNN today. Caving to Trump has only eroded trust in the press. Standing up to him may help—eventually— to restore it.
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Miles W. Griffis @mileswgriffis.bsky.social · 21/09/2026
"Now that it’s time to pay the piper, the state and its media allies are working desperately to sever the connection between COVID-19 and its consequences." Julia Doubleday takes down an ableist Telegraph column that denies the reality of Long COVID. thesicktimes.org/2026/09/21/c...
thesicktimes.org
COVID-19 — not TikTok — is disabling young women - The Sick Times
The Telegraph published an article titled, “How having a disability became cool." This article shores up the government narrative that rising rates of disability are being driven, not by the ongoing a...
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Katelyn Burns @katelynburns.com · 21/09/2026
For my newsletter, I wrote about Democrats coming out against "trans surgery for kids" (which do not happen) and how the myth took over our politics. www.burnsnotice.com/the-trans-ki...
burnsnotice.com
The "Trans Kid Surgery" Myth
The big lie worked because it played on your protective instincts
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Joshua Foust 🪖🎮 @joshuafoust.com · 21/09/2026
“Everything is 40% more expensive because of AI” is a great line for an opposition party trying to unseat the AI-supported incumbents, if any Democratic consultants wanted to take a short break from dehumanizing trans kids to actually try winning a contested election.
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