iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Reposted by Erika D. Smith

ProPublica @propublica.org · 18/07/2026

Accepting tickets to the Kennedy Center honors gala compromises FCC commissioners’ impartiality, ethics experts told ProPublica. The agency’s chair, Brendan Carr, has been gifted at least $63,000 worth of tickets by CBS or its parent company.

propublica.org

FCC Officials Took Pricey Gifts From Paramount as the Company Needed Approval for Billion-Dollar Deals

Accepting tickets to the Kennedy Center honors gala compromised the commissioners’ impartiality, ethics experts told ProPublica. FCC Chair Brendan Carr has been gifted at least $63,000 worth of ticket...

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Reposted by Erika D. Smith

CNN @cnn.com · 18/07/2026

Two plainclothes ICE agents left a man partially handcuffed on the ground Monday after they attempted to arrest him at Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas and onlookers confronted them, according to police and federal officials.

cnn.com

Plainclothes ICE agents left man partially handcuffed at Las Vegas airport after being confronted by onlookers, video shows | CNN

Two plainclothes Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents left a man partially handcuffed on the ground Monday after they attempted to arrest him at Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas and...

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Reposted by Erika D. Smith

Politico @politico.com · 10/07/2026

Black leaders across the South have expressed a visceral shock in the wake of the Supreme Court’s decision gutting the Voting Rights Act. But as the surprise wears off, a sense of isolation has begun to set in among some. 🔗 politi.co/4vSW46T

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Reposted by Erika D. Smith

ProPublica @propublica.org · 17/06/2026

NEW: Almost a year after Trump’s domestic policy bill passed, at least 770,000 children are no longer receiving SNAP benefits. In Arizona, the number of children receiving SNAP has dropped by more than 200,000 since July 2025 — a 55% decline.

propublica.org

More Than 770,000 Children Are No Longer Receiving SNAP Benefits After Trump Changes Federal Food Program

Republican backers of Trump’s signature domestic policy bill repeatedly claimed that revisions to the food benefits program wouldn’t affect the most vulnerable. But reports from a dozen states show ch...

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Erika D. Smith @erika-d-smith.bsky.social · 02/06/2026

“Scientists have used data from the system to understand…how changes in ocean temperature such as marine heat waves might affect fisheries or signal bigger shifts in climate, and coastal flooding along the East Coast.” Because why would we ever need to know this? 🤦🏾‍♀️ www.nytimes.com/2026/06/01/c...

nytimes.com

Trump Administration to Dismantle Ocean Monitoring System

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Erika D. Smith @erika-d-smith.bsky.social · 30/05/2026

“While Mullin has been ‘obsessed’ with this plan ever since he took office, there has been no formal approval…from the White House, and Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy has openly repudiated it.” Because, even for the Trump administration, it’s a DUMB idea. www.rawstory.com/markwayne-mu...

rawstory.com

White House insiders throw DHS chief under the bus over threats to cripple air travel

President Donald Trump's newly-minted secretary of Homeland Security, Markwayne Mullin, has made explosive headlines with his repeated threats on cable news to pull back Customs and Border Protection ...

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Reposted by Erika D. Smith

Joyce White Vance @joycewhitevance.bsky.social · 17/05/2026

The stories & photos from today’s voting rights marches in Alabama deserve to be seen by people who weren’t able to stand there in person. If this piece moves you, please share it widely & help make sure these voices aren’t lost in the noise of a crowded news cycle. open.substack.com/pub/joycevan...

open.substack.com

Selma Rejects Jim Crow 2.0

Half of the population in Dallas County, Alabama, where Selma is located, was African American in 1965.

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Erika D. Smith @erika-d-smith.bsky.social · 11/05/2026

Well, this isn’t good. “A fire broke out on an oil platform off the coast of Southern California early Monday, briefly endangering more than two dozen workers aboard the offshore rig.” www.latimes.com/california/s...

latimes.com

Oil rig off Southern California coast catches fire, dozens of workers evacuated, officials say

An oil platform off the coast of Carpinteria caught fire Monday morning, triggering a response from the U.S. Coast Guard and local county firefighting agencies.

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Reposted by Erika D. Smith

ProPublica @propublica.org · 09/05/2026

A must-read thread 🧵

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Erika D. Smith @erika-d-smith.bsky.social · 01/05/2026

Trump’s has vowed to take revenge on Indiana Republicans who defied him over redistricting, backing challengers in next week’s primary. But as they say, “Before you embark on a journey of revenge, dig 2 graves.” My @opinion.bloomberg.com dispatch from the Midwest. www.bloomberg.com/opinion/arti...

bloomberg.com

Trump’s Indiana Power Play Exposes His Weakness

President Donald Trump has made it perfectly clear what he wants: For the Republican Party to hang onto control of Congress after the midterm elections. And so, dutifully, Florida Republicans scramble...

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Reposted by Erika D. Smith

Acyn @acyn.bsky.social · 30/04/2026

Jeffries says everything is on the table legislatively to deal with the Supreme Court: In the new Congress, we’re going to have to do something about this Supreme Court, and let me be very clear: everything is on the table.

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Erika D. Smith @erika-d-smith.bsky.social · 30/04/2026

Wild… “Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry (R) told Republican House candidates Wednesday that he plans to suspend next month’s primary elections so state lawmakers can pass a new congressional map first.” www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202...

washingtonpost.com

Louisiana governor prepares to suspend House primaries after court ruling

Gov. Jeff Landry (R) told Republican House candidates he plans to suspend the May 16 primary elections so lawmakers can redraw the congressional map.

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Erika D. Smith @erika-d-smith.bsky.social · 27/04/2026

Good on Newsom for this. This case always deserved more attention. “The death of 16-year-old Tioni Theus is among several cold cases included in a renewed $50,000 reward announced by the governor. Authorities discovered Theus' body in January 2022 on…the 110 Freeway.” abc7.com/post/gov-gav...

abc7.com

Newsom renews $50,000 reward in case of teen found shot to death on side of 110 Freeway in South LA

The case of a 16-year-old girl found dead along the 110 Freeway in South Los Angeles in 2022 is receiving renewed attention after Gov. Gavin Newsom reissued a reward aimed at solving the killing.

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Reposted by Erika D. Smith

Steve Herman @newsguy.bsky.social · 26/04/2026

In a surreal moment, President Trump calls on WHCA President Weijia Jiang to ask him the first question at the hastily called White House news conference about the Washington Hilton shooter.

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Erika D. Smith @erika-d-smith.bsky.social · 26/04/2026

There was a shooting and the president got evacuated, but the show must go on…?! We’re in some truly wild times.

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Reposted by Erika D. Smith

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez @aoc.bsky.social · 22/04/2026

You ever try to code switch at work and fail? 😂

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Erika D. Smith @erika-d-smith.bsky.social · 20/04/2026

Our Revolution, the progressive group founded by Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders, just endorsed Tom Steyer for governor — apparently the first time it has ever endorsed a billionaire. Perhaps California is ready to be led by a billionaire populist after all…? www.bloomberg.com/opinion/arti...

bloomberg.com

Tom Steyer’s Bet on ‘Billionaire Populism’ Might Pay Off

When Democratic activist Tom Steyer launched his campaign for governor of California six months ago, he did so as a billionaire populist promising to fight other billionaires on behalf of the working ...

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Erika D. Smith @erika-d-smith.bsky.social · 15/04/2026

Who could’ve ever predicted this?

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Erika D. Smith @erika-d-smith.bsky.social · 14/04/2026

I guess that answers that. “JD Vance, the highest-ranking Catholic in the federal government, said in an interview on Fox News on Monday that the pope should stay out of American affairs. ‘Stick to matters of, you know, what’s going on in the Catholic Church.’” www.nytimes.com/2026/04/13/u...

nytimes.com

Vance Says Pope Leo Should Stay Out of U.S. Affairs

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Erika D. Smith @erika-d-smith.bsky.social · 13/04/2026

NEW from me for @opinion.bloomberg.com on the fall of Eric Swalwell. After getting forced out of the governor's race over accusations of sexual misconduct, the Bay Area congressman says he's quitting the House too. Now comes the hard part for California Democrats. www.bloomberg.com/opinion/arti...

bloomberg.com

Ousting Swalwell Was Easy. Now Comes the Hard Part

In a California gubernatorial race that has already seen more than its share of twists and turns, Eric Swalwell just delivered another. On Sunday, the candidate and San Francisco Bay Area congressman ...

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Erika D. Smith @erika-d-smith.bsky.social · 13/04/2026

“You’re not being mean,” state House Majority Leader Michael Carbone of Buckeye told The Arizona Republic. “There’s just people that don’t qualify. Just like joining the YMCA or the racquetball club.” Yeah... Losing access to food is JUST like that. Again, WTH??? www.azcentral.com/story/news/p...

azcentral.com

Arizona's food stamp program sees largest decline in US. Here's why

Arizona's SNAP benefits program saw a 47% decline in participation, affecting 424,000 people, the largest drop in any state, and it may drop further.

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Erika D. Smith @erika-d-smith.bsky.social · 13/04/2026

“If I wasn’t in the White House, Leo wouldn’t be in the Vatican.” ?????? Trump really is just trying to alienate every possible constituency at this point, huh? www.nytimes.com/2026/04/12/u...

nytimes.com

Trump Attacks Pope Leo as Too Liberal and ‘Weak on Crime’

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Erika D. Smith @erika-d-smith.bsky.social · 12/04/2026

“Trump spent several hours orbited by Secretary of State Marco Rubio; a few of his children; some UFC officials; Sergio Gor, the U.S. ambassador to India; Vanilla Ice; Dan Bongino, the former deputy director of the F.B.I.; and Joe Rogan.” How is this real life?? www.nytimes.com/2026/04/11/u...

nytimes.com

Trump Was Watching a U.F.C. Fight in Miami While Iran Talks Collapsed

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Reposted by Erika D. Smith

Politico @politico.com · 09/04/2026

Democrats are, once again, punting on what to do about Israel. DNC members voted down a measure condemning AIPAC’s influence in primaries and deferred ones that would support conditioning military aid to Israel.

politico.com

DNC avoids taking a stance on Israel, AIPAC

Members voted down a measure condemning AIPAC’s influence in primaries and deferred ones that would support conditioning military aid to Israel.

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Erika D. Smith @erika-d-smith.bsky.social · 09/04/2026

"The emerging resistance to basic food safety — the idea that an outbreak is an opinion, that a pathogen is a political claim — is newer terrain, and the public health community is not yet equipped to meet it at the speed and scale of social media." www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/202...

washingtonpost.com

Opinion | This is a tale of two outbreaks. The difference is RFK Jr.

These raw dairy E. coli outbreaks are exposing something troubling.

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Erika D. Smith @erika-d-smith.bsky.social · 06/04/2026

The people in this administration are out of their minds. “Ramos is a devout Christian who teaches Sunday school to children at her church. She was in her high school’s marching band. And she was a few months from finishing a bachelor’s degree in biochemistry.” www.nytimes.com/2026/04/05/u...

nytimes.com

ICE Agents Detain Newlywed Spouse of Soldier Training to Deploy

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Reposted by Erika D. Smith

Jules Boykoff @julesboykoff.bsky.social · 04/04/2026

You could pay more than $5,000 for a single ticket to the 2028 L.A. Olympics Opening Ceremony. (TV Director Alberto Belli posted an online shopping cart for what it would have cost him to take a family of four to the Opening Ceremony: $10,418). www.latimes.com/california/n...

latimes.com

You could pay more than $5,000 for a single ticket to the 2028 L.A. Olympics

Your morning catch-up: Sticker shock for L.A. Olympics tickets, fires break out in Los Angeles, Riverside counties and more big stories

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Erika D. Smith @erika-d-smith.bsky.social · 04/04/2026

❗️ “From 2004 to 2024, the surrounding areas of more than 6,000 data centers worldwide saw an average increased land temperature of about 2 degrees Celsius, or 3.6 degrees Fahrenheit” and “felt about 6.2 miles away from facilities, impacting up to 343 million people.” fortune.com/2026/04/01/a...

fortune.com

Data centers are so hot their ‘heat island’ effect is raising temperatures up to 6 miles away | Fortune

Researchers warn these “heat islands” could have a “remarkable influence on communities and regional welfare,” and affect more than 340 million people.

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Reposted by Erika D. Smith

Iron Spike @ironspike.bsky.social · 01/04/2026

Shout-out to every other Gen Xer that was holding their breath the entire time for the first five mintues of the launch For r e a s o n s

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Reposted by Erika D. Smith

Brennan Center @brennancenter.org · 31/03/2026

Breaking: The president has signed an executive order on mail voting. He has no lawful authority to write the rules that govern our elections. He tried a year ago; we sued him; we won. A year later, he has tried again. He can expect the same result. 1/2

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Reposted by Erika D. Smith

Yashar Ali 🐘 @yasharali.bsky.social · 30/03/2026

Laura Dern is set to play Miami Herald reporter @jkbjournalist.bsky.social in a new limited series about the Epstein investigation based on Julie’s book.

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Erika D. Smith @erika-d-smith.bsky.social · 27/03/2026

This is so good. Can we do this in LA? Please?

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Reposted by Erika D. Smith

Radley Balko @radleybalko.bsky.social · 24/03/2026

Average immigration detention deaths per month from FY 2010 to FY 2024: 0.69 Average immigration detention deaths per month in FY 2025: 1.75 Average immigration detention deaths per month so far in FY 2026: 4.6 www.npr.org/2026/03/10/g...

npr.org

Immigration detention on track for deadliest fiscal year since 2004

Twenty-three people have died since October in ICE custody, as advocates warn about overcrowding and health care access.

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Reposted by Erika D. Smith

Phil Lewis @phillewis.bsky.social · 22/03/2026

“The Phoenix Police Department will not discipline any officers for their roles in a massive city scandal where officials invented a fake gang and then falsely charged protesters as members back in 2020”

abc15.com

No Phoenix officers will be disciplined after protesters falsely charged as gang members

Phoenix police will not discipline any officers for their roles in a massive city scandal where officials invented a fake gang and then falsely charged protesters as members back in 2020.

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Erika D. Smith @erika-d-smith.bsky.social · 23/03/2026

Insanity… And this man could be the next governor of California. “Bianco said his investigators are looking into allegations by a local citizens group that ‘did their own audit’ and found that the county’s tally was falsely inflated by more than 45,000 votes.” www.latimes.com/california/s...

latimes.com

More than half a million ballots seized by top GOP candidate in California governor’s race

Bianco's unusual probe drew a sharp rebuke from California Atty. Gen. Rob Bonta, who said it 'sets a dangerous precedent and will only sow distrust in our elections.'

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Reposted by Erika D. Smith

HuffPost @huffpost.com · 19/03/2026

A new survey suggests around 2 million Americans have lost health insurance after Congress let the subsidies expire.

huffpost.com

Millions More Americans Uninsured After Lapse Of Premium Subsidies

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Erika D. Smith @erika-d-smith.bsky.social · 18/03/2026

“Before this article was published, upon learning of the reporters’ inquiries, the U.F.W. canceled its annual celebrations honoring Mr. Chavez, a response to what the union he once led called ‘profoundly shocking’ accusations.” Understandable. This is truly terrible. www.nytimes.com/2026/03/18/u...

nytimes.com

Cesar Chavez, a Civil Rights Icon, Is Accused of Abusing Girls for Years

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Allison Gill @muellershewrote.com · 17/03/2026

NEW: Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes has filed charges against prediction market company Kalshi. "Kalshi may brand itself as a 'prediction ⁠market,' but what it's actually doing is running an illegal gambling operation." www.reuters.com/world/kalshi...

reuters.com

Kalshi charged criminally in Arizona for operating illegal gambling business

Arizona's attorney general on Tuesday filed criminal charges against Kalshi, accusing the prediction markets platform of operating an illegal gambling business in the state and unlawfully ‌allowing p...

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