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Grace Panetta

@gracepanetta.bsky.social
24K followers 1.2K following 200 posts

political reporter @ The 19th. new englander, bad speller, hot sauce enthusiast.

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Grace Panetta @gracepanetta.bsky.social · 17h
Maine Democrats are all in for Troy Jackson, especially after Tuesday night’s debate. But voters told me they’re worried about him getting pummeled on the airwaves — and fear that even in a good year for Dems, Susan Collins could be “a Teflon candidate” My dispatch: 19thnews.org/2026/10/troy...
19thnews.org
As Susan Collins goes for a sixth term, Maine Democrats worry she’s a ‘Teflon candidate’
They’re hoping abortion rights will persuade Democratic women to stick with their party and back Troy Jackson.
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Grace Panetta @gracepanetta.bsky.social · 05/10/2026
In rural western Wisconsin, campaigning is all about meeting voters and shaking hands at parades. Online, it’s getting weird. My dispatch from a weekend reporting from La Crosse & Gays Mills on the race in Wisconsin’s 3rd District 19thnews.org/2026/10/rebe...
19thnews.org
In rural Wisconsin, politics is still about meeting voters. Online, it’s getting weird.
Rebecca Cooke is taking her campaign directly to rural Wisconsin communities, all while an AI-fueled online fight with her Republican opponent adds a distinctly 2026 twist to the race.
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Grace Panetta @gracepanetta.bsky.social · 05/10/2026
Saturday marked 4 years at @19thnews.org for me which means I’ve been patiently waiting for 4 long years to make this joke
good morning! are you better off now than you were 4 years ago? I definitely am! so lucky to be celebrating 4 whole years here 🥳
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Grace Panetta @gracepanetta.bsky.social · 17/09/2026
I wrote about the rise of Jon Ossoff thirst videos “It is objectively fun to have a little internet crush, and let that person be the senior senator from Georgia,” one Dem told me 19thnews.org/2026/09/jon-...
19thnews.org
We have to talk about the Jon Ossoff thirst edits
"If the girls and the gays want to look at Jon Ossoff and be like, ‘Wow, he looks so good in those pants,’ let us. It benefits him, and we're all having fun,” said one Democrat.
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Grace Panetta @gracepanetta.bsky.social · 07/08/2026
@19thnews.org is hiring for four new full-time roles! 📈 Audience analytics manager 🎨 Designer, visual storytelling 🔧 Operations director 🧑‍🤝‍🧑 People operations generalist Apply by August 24: 19thnews.org/2026/08/hiri...
19thnews.org
We’re hiring four new roles at The 19th
The 19th has launched a hiring sprint to fill four new roles across audience, creative, people and operations functions.
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Grace Panetta @gracepanetta.bsky.social · 04/08/2026
I spent time in Lansing last week reporting on what is, in my opinion, the most interesting overlooked Michigan Democratic primary tonight: the three-way race in Michigan's swingy 7th District 19thnews.org/2026/08/mich...
19thnews.org
The Michigan House race that tests whether ‘only a bro can beat a bro’
Questions of electability are frustrating Democratic women and shaping a showdown between establishment and progressive Democrats in a Michigan swing seat.
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Grace Panetta @gracepanetta.bsky.social · 30/07/2026
New: My look at what the Michigan Senate primary says about Democrats’ ongoing debate over electability — and what the results could mean for the electability conversation in 2028 19thnews.org/2026/07/mich...
19thnews.org
Who is electable? Michigan’s Senate primary asks a familiar question.
No one can agree on what, exactly, electability is — but both Haley Stevens and Abdul El-Sayed are making the case that they have it.
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Grace Panetta @gracepanetta.bsky.social · 13/07/2026
New: The Maine Senate race is resetting around abortion — Dems are hitting Collins for confirming Kavanaugh as a top attack line, and with Platner out, they see it as easier to message on without having to defend his record re: women w/ @shefali.bsky.social: 19thnews.org/2026/07/main...
19thnews.org
The race to unseat Susan Collins is resetting around abortion
Democrats say Collins' actions undermine her stated support for reproductive rights — an argument they hope will resonate with the women voters who could decide the Maine Senate race.
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Shefali Luthra @shefali.bsky.social · 13/07/2026
With Platner out, here is what could be next for Maine: a conversation about Susan Collins and abortion. W/ @gracepanetta.bsky.social reporting from Maine, what candidates are saying and why it matters 19thnews.org/2026/07/main...
19thnews.org
The race to unseat Susan Collins is resetting around abortion
Democrats say Collins' actions undermine her stated support for reproductive rights — an argument they hope will resonate with the women voters who could decide the Maine Senate race.
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Grace Panetta @gracepanetta.bsky.social · 10/07/2026
The consultants who recruited Platner bet a candidate w/ a thin resumé but ultra-masculine aesthetic would win — and he imploded instead "Democrats always, number one, overlearn the wrong lessons, and number two, they’re always fighting the last war,” one Dem told me 19thnews.org/2026/07/grah...
19thnews.org
Democrats say they want a fighter. Does it have to be a White man?
Democrats went all in on masculinity as a winning strategy. It fell apart in Maine.
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Grace Panetta @gracepanetta.bsky.social · 10/07/2026
How Graham Platner's implosion demonstrates that leaning into masculinity doesn't equal electability — and highlights the double standards for which candidates are allowed to be flawed & get second chances: 19thnews.org/2026/07/grah...
19thnews.org
Democrats say they want a fighter. Does it have to be a White man?
Democrats went all in on masculinity as a winning strategy. It fell apart in Maine.
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Faith Smith @faithsm.bsky.social · 09/07/2026
The stunning implosion of Platner's campaign has shaken the Democratic Party and left Maine Democrats scrambling to find a replacement — and feeds into an existential debate as to how Democrats should campaign on a vision of masculinity. @gracepanetta.bsky.social @19thnews.org
19thnews.org
Graham Platner was ‘electable’ — until he wasn’t
Democrats say they want a fighter. Does it have to be a White man?
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Reposted by Grace Panetta
jasmine mithani @jazzmyth.bsky.social · 09/07/2026
Reminder: White men have been losing American elections for at least 234 years. Great piece on electability, masculinity and what voters actually want by @gracepanetta.bsky.social. 19thnews.org/2026/07/grah...
19thnews.org
Graham Platner was ‘electable’ — until he wasn’t
Democrats say they want a fighter. Does it have to be a White man?
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Reposted by Grace Panetta
Nicole Bedera @nbedera.bsky.social · 08/07/2026
One of the findings in my research is that there is never enough evidence to satisfy people who want to offer a perpetrator impunity. They can always dream up a new way to blame the victim—and ignore all the other damning, relevant evidence by cherry picking some small detail that shouldn’t matter.
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Grace Panetta @gracepanetta.bsky.social · 01/07/2026
NEW: Melat Kiros defeats Rep. Diana DeGette in #CO01, @decisiondeskhq.bsky.social projects
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Grace Panetta @gracepanetta.bsky.social · 29/06/2026
I briefly caught up with Rep. Diana DeGette last week — she told me she was "optimistic" about beating primary challenger Melat Kiros on Tuesday “Denver, Colorado, is not New York City," she said when I asked her about last week's results in NYC 19thnews.org/2026/06/mela...
19thnews.org
A 29-year-old democratic socialist takes on Colorado’s most senior member of Congress
Kiros is the latest democratic socialist to mount a primary challenge against a longtime incumbent Democrat in the U.S. House.
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Grace Panetta @gracepanetta.bsky.social · 24/06/2026
That makes for two new democratic socialist women, Claire Valdez and Darializa Avila Chevalier, who are set to join the halls of Congress next year: 19thnews.org/2026/06/new-...
19thnews.org
Valdez, Chevalier win U.S. House primaries in New York
Democratic socialists Claire Valdez and Darializa Avila Chevalier won their primaries for the U.S. House, a show of strength for the left wing of the party and a sign of Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s influen...
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Grace Panetta @gracepanetta.bsky.social · 24/06/2026
@darializaforny.bsky.social has defeated Rep. Adriano Espalliat in #NY13, @decisiondeskhq.bsky.social projects. That's 3/3 of Zohran Mamdani's big congressional endorsements (Valdez, Lander, Chevalier) winning their races tonight 19thnews.org/2026/06/new-...
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Grace Panetta @gracepanetta.bsky.social · 23/05/2026
a little-known fact is that I’m not the only writer in my family — my dad has a feature story in this month’s issue of Wooden Boat Magazine about our wonderful family friend Vince Todd & his work restoring beautiful wooden boats! ⛵️⚓️
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Grace Panetta @gracepanetta.bsky.social · 22/05/2026
Incredible lede from my colleague @shefali.bsky.social 19thnews.org/2026/05/pap-...
What’s worse: A cold rod inserted briefly inside your vagina or cervical cancer?

The former is a key part of a pap smear, the cancer screening recommended every 3 to 5 years for people with a cervix under the age of 65. 

Pap smears — which can be uncomfortable and even painful for some — have become the subject of a heated social media firestorm. Users have suggested that the exam is so unpleasant that they would rather go without it — and some even argued they would rather have cervical cancer than get a speculum stuck inside them.
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Grace Panetta @gracepanetta.bsky.social · 22/05/2026
In new Gallup polling, "55 percent of women said they strongly oppose data centers, compared to 43 percent of men. In fact, men were more likely to favor data centers, citing their economic benefits and job opportunities." 19thnews.org/2026/05/wome...
19thnews.org
Americans overwhelmingly oppose data centers. Women most of all.
New polling shows women have stronger concerns than men over the implications of the massive and costly complexes used to power AI.
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Grace Panetta @gracepanetta.bsky.social · 22/05/2026
Four of Trump’s Cabinet officials have departed in the last 3 months and all are women: Noem, Bondi, Chavez-DeRemer and now Tulsi Gabbard 19thnews.org/2026/05/tuls...
19thnews.org
Tulsi Gabbard is the latest woman to leave Trump’s Cabinet
Gabbard, the director of national intelligence, announced she is resigning to care for her husband, who was diagnosed with a rare form of bone cancer.
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Grace Panetta @gracepanetta.bsky.social · 20/05/2026
“Whenever you’re the first, it’s almost like you become representative of what that will be, and so I do not take that lightly,” she said “I feel like what I have, what I’ve accomplished, the things that I’ve been able to do, I do feel as if I’m ready for this moment" 19thnews.org/2026/05/geor...
19thnews.org
Jasmine Clark is poised to be the first Black woman Ph.D. scientist in Congress
Rep. Jasmine Clark is poised to become the first Black woman Ph.D. scientist to serve in Congress from Georgia’s 13th Congressional District.
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Grace Panetta @gracepanetta.bsky.social · 20/05/2026
Clark, who earned her doctorate in microbiology from Emory University and flipped a GOP-held state House seat in 2018, filed to challenge former Rep. David Scott last year on a message of generational change (he died in office in April): 19thnews.org/2026/05/geor...
19thnews.org
Jasmine Clark is poised to be the first Black woman Ph.D. scientist in Congress
Rep. Jasmine Clark is poised to become the first Black woman Ph.D. scientist to serve in Congress from Georgia’s 13th Congressional District.
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Grace Panetta @gracepanetta.bsky.social · 20/05/2026
State Rep. @jasmineclarkforga.bsky.social wins the Democratic primary in the vacant #GA13, @decisiondeskhq.bsky.social projects. Clark is now poised to become the first Black woman PhD scientist to serve in Congress. My interview with her here: 19thnews.org/2026/05/geor...
19thnews.org
Jasmine Clark is poised to be the first Black woman Ph.D. scientist in Congress
Rep. Jasmine Clark is poised to become the first Black woman Ph.D. scientist to serve in Congress from Georgia’s 13th Congressional District.
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Grace Panetta @gracepanetta.bsky.social · 19/05/2026
DWC chair and House Rules Committee member @fernandez.house.gov has submitted an amendment to restore the original text ahead of its Rules markup tomorrow — could get interesting! rules.house.gov/bill/119/hr-...
rules.house.gov
H.R. 1329 – Smithsonian American Women’s History Museum Act
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Grace Panetta @gracepanetta.bsky.social · 19/05/2026
The legislation, sponsored by Rep. Nicole Malliotakis (R-NY), had widespread bipartisan support and 230+ cosponsors from across the aisle — but the Dem Women's Caucus argues the amended version gives Trump control over the museum's content and location. The bill is set for a floor vote this week.
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Grace Panetta @gracepanetta.bsky.social · 19/05/2026
The @demwomencaucus.bsky.social issues a scathing statement opposing the Republican-amended version of a bipartisan bill to create a Smithsonian women's history museum: "Republicans traded the representation of women for Trump’s gain and ego. It’s as embarrassing as it is disappointing."
WASHINGTON, D.C. —Today, the Democratic Women’s Caucus (DWC) announced their formal opposition to H.R. 1329 the Smithsonian Women’s History Museum Act, as amended by Republicans. The bill is set to be voted on this week. 

DWC Chair Teresa Leger Fernández (NM-03) and Vice Chairs Hillary Scholten (MI-03) and Emilia Sykes (OH-13) released the below statement on DWC’s formal opposition to this bill:

“For years, we worked with Republicans on a bipartisan bill to get the Smithsonian American Women’s History Museum across the finish line. This fight was rooted in the shared belief that women’s history and women’s stories are integral to who we are as a nation. But then with no warning, Republicans completely changed the bill, throwing away years of bipartisan work and broad support. They amended the bill to give Trump and his allies unregulated power over what content and which women can be included in the museum, and the museum’s location. A museum about women, fought for and supported by women, should not be controlled by one man. We strongly oppose this bill as amended. It completely flies in the face of the museum’s intention—Republicans traded the representation of women for Trump’s gain and ego. It’s as embarrassing as it is disappointing. We urge our colleagues to join us in opposing this bill and demand that the bill be restored to the bipartisan version so we can get the long awaited women’s history museum on our National Mall. Women deserve the right to tell their own story.”
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Grace Panetta @gracepanetta.bsky.social · 15/05/2026
“Someone like me who has had health care since I’ve had my first job, I’ve been able to treat my fibroids,” she said. “But at the same time, it’s like, why is this happening? Why does this continue to happen? Why do I have to continue to do this?” 19thnews.org/2025/11/lamo...
19thnews.org
A vote too important for Rep. LaMonica McIver to miss
Just hours after surgery for uterine fibroids, the New Jersey Democrat — a target of Trump’s Justice Department — was in Washington to vote last week.
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Grace Panetta @gracepanetta.bsky.social · 15/05/2026
The Supreme Court allowed medication abortion to stay available for now, but Louisiana's lawsuit has put reproductive rights back on the agenda ahead of the midterms. From @shefali.bsky.social and me: 19thnews.org/2026/05/medi...
19thnews.org
Medication abortion is available — for now. But reproductive rights could still shape the midterms.
Even without a Supreme Court court ruling restricting abortion rights, Democrats in tight races are likely to keep the consequences of bans in their midterm campaigns.
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Grace Panetta @gracepanetta.bsky.social · 15/05/2026
Today, @replamonica.bsky.social announced she's expecting her second child. I spoke with her last year about her journey battling uterine fibroids — she's had four surgeries, most recently in November, and went to Washington to vote on the same day: 19thnews.org/2025/11/lamo...
19thnews.org
A vote too important for Rep. LaMonica McIver to miss
Just hours after surgery for uterine fibroids, the New Jersey Democrat — a target of Trump’s Justice Department — was in Washington to vote last week.
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Sarah Fitzpatrick @sfitz787.bsky.social · 06/05/2026
EXCLUSIVE: My latest story for @theatlantic.com : www.theatlantic.com/politics/202...
theatlantic.com
The FBI Director’s Unusual Calling Card
“Ka$h Patel” bourbon is his newest innovation.
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Grace Panetta @gracepanetta.bsky.social · 05/05/2026
Will be joining @thehill.com & @decisiondeskhq.bsky.social for live coverage of tonight’s primaries starting at 7pm ET! www.youtube.com/live/6oNPfR6...
youtube.com
Watch LIVE: The Hill's Decision Desk 2026 - Data Nerds track Ohio, Indiana primary elections
YouTube video by The Hill
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Grace Panetta @gracepanetta.bsky.social · 05/05/2026
Some Indiana state lawmakers who defied the White House's redistricting push facing Trump-backed primary challengers tonight also faced death threats. I recently investigated the fragile 50-state security and safety patchwork keeping state lawmakers safe: 19thnews.org/2026/04/poli...
19thnews.org
A state lawmaker was assassinated last year. Who is keeping others safe?
The rise in threats and abuse is disproportionately affecting women lawmakers. We asked law enforcement agencies in all 50 states what they’re doing about it.
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Grace Panetta @gracepanetta.bsky.social · 02/05/2026
“As recently as this week, Mr. Swalwell communicated directly with a former intern on the app and asked her why she had taken a screenshot of their chat history, based on images provided to The Times, though the messages were not sexual in nature.” www.nytimes.com/2026/05/01/u...
nytimes.com
Swalwell Used Social Media to Build His Career. His Accusers Used It to Warn Others.
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Grace Panetta @gracepanetta.bsky.social · 02/05/2026
Our coverage of today’s ruling: 19thnews.org/2026/05/cour...
19thnews.org
Court temporarily blocks nationwide access to abortion pills prescribed through telehealth
Telehealth has become a key option for people living in states with abortion bans. If upheld, the ruling could upend how abortions are provided in the United States.
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Grace Panetta @gracepanetta.bsky.social · 02/05/2026
Wednesday: I reported on how abortion is going to show up as a bigger issue in the ‘26 midterms than the current discourse reflects Today: The 5th Circuit blocks abortion pills from being prescribed via telehealth nationwide 19thnews.org/2026/04/abor...
19thnews.org
Abortion isn’t *the* issue in 2026. But it’s still definitely *an* issue.
Democrats are still embracing abortion as a top issue in some state Supreme Court and downballot races in the 2026 midterms.
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Abby Johnston @abbyjohnston.bsky.social · 01/05/2026
Though they see SCOTUS' gerrymander ruling as a blow, Black women members of Congress who spoke to @gracepanetta.bsky.social noted the success of Black politicians in being elected to non-majority-Black seats. “Black women know how to win all over.” 19thnews.org/2026/05/blac...
19thnews.org
‘We’re gonna hang strong’: Black women in Congress face the next voting rights fight
They see the Supreme Court’s gerrymandering ruling as a devastating blow to Black voters — but are ready to win anyway.
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Grace Panetta @gracepanetta.bsky.social · 01/05/2026
New: I’ve spent the last few days talking to Black women in Congress about the VRA decision and what it means for them “We’re gonna hang strong and make sure that we fight against this,” @repterrisewell.govpeeps.us told me 19thnews.org/2026/05/blac...
19thnews.org
‘We’re gonna hang strong’: Black women in Congress face the next voting rights fight
They see the Supreme Court’s gerrymandering ruling as a devastating blow to Black voters — but are ready to win anyway.
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jasmine mithani @jazzmyth.bsky.social · 29/04/2026
ICYMI — read this excellent story from @gracepanetta.bsky.social on how state agencies are (not) protecting lawmakers. Political violence is one of the major barriers to a robust, representative democracy.
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Faith Smith @faithsm.bsky.social · 29/04/2026
The economy and the cost of living are driving voters’ concerns and Democratic campaigns’ messaging going into the 2026 midterms. But abortion is still shaping messaging in state-level and especially state supreme court elections. @gracepanetta.bsky.social for @19thnews.org
19thnews.org
Abortion isn’t *the* issue in 2026. But it’s still definitely *an* issue.
Democrats are still embracing abortion as a top issue in some state Supreme Court and downballot races in the 2026 midterms.
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Grace Panetta @gracepanetta.bsky.social · 29/04/2026
New from me: Abortion isn't the top issue in 2026 — but Democratic & liberal candidates in state Supreme Court races in Wisconsin & Georgia this spring and in some upcoming House primaries are still running on it + highlighting the issue in their campaigns 19thnews.org/2026/04/abor...
19thnews.org
Abortion isn’t *the* issue in 2026. But it’s still definitely *an* issue.
Democrats are still embracing abortion as a top issue in some state Supreme Court and downballot races in the 2026 midterms.
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Grace Panetta @gracepanetta.bsky.social · 29/04/2026
Will be on @waytooearly.bsky.social tomorrow talking about my recent reporting on political violence at about 5:30 a.m tomorrow 🌞 19thnews.org/2026/04/poli...
19thnews.org
A state lawmaker was assassinated last year. Who is keeping others safe?
The rise in threats and abuse is disproportionately affecting women lawmakers. We asked law enforcement agencies in all 50 states what they’re doing about it.
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Grace Panetta @gracepanetta.bsky.social · 27/04/2026
The House just passed the Survivor Justice Tax Prevention Act, a bipartisan bill making it easier for sexual assault survivors to exclude settlement money from being classified as gross income by the IRS for tax purposes, by voice vote this PM
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Grace Panetta @gracepanetta.bsky.social · 27/04/2026
A recent report from Future Caucus found that political violence and threats against lawmakers have become a "serious deterrent" to candidate recruitment and retention "This is a four-alarm fire,” said Future Caucus' Layla Zaidane 19thnews.org/2026/04/poli...
19thnews.org
A state lawmaker was assassinated last year. Who is keeping others safe?
The rise in threats and abuse is disproportionately affecting women lawmakers. We asked law enforcement agencies in all 50 states what they’re doing about it.
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Grace Panetta @gracepanetta.bsky.social · 27/04/2026
I posed these 4 questions to state law enforcement agencies tasked with protecting state lawmakers in all 50 states — 27 gave on-the-record responses, which you can read here: 19thnews.org/2026/04/poli...
To get a clearer picture of the protection landscape, The 19th asked these questions to state agencies responsible for protecting state lawmakers in all 50 states: 

What steps should a lawmaker take if they receive a threat?
What are the agency’s processes for identifying and responding to threats?
Does the agency collect data or produce threat assessments on threats to public officials, including state lawmakers? If not, are there plans to start collecting that data and/or to make it public, as the U.S. Capitol Police does?
Has the agency implemented or plans to implement any additional security measures, safety plans or training for state lawmakers/capitol protectees in the wake of the Hortman and Kirk shootings?
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Grace Panetta @gracepanetta.bsky.social · 27/04/2026
“Elected and appointed officials live in a risk environment by nature of their job and their outward, public-facing positions,” said one law enforcement official. “Within the last year and a half to two years, that’s moved into a threat environment.” 19thnews.org/2026/04/poli...
19thnews.org
A state lawmaker was assassinated last year. Who is keeping others safe?
The rise in threats and abuse is disproportionately affecting women lawmakers. We asked law enforcement agencies in all 50 states what they’re doing about it.
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Grace Panetta @gracepanetta.bsky.social · 27/04/2026
NEW from me: Former Minnesota lawmaker Melissa Hortman was assassinated last year. What's preventing it from happening again? I spent months asking state law enforcement agencies in all 50 states what they're doing about political violence toward state lawakers: 19thnews.org/2026/04/poli...
19thnews.org
A state lawmaker was assassinated last year. Who is keeping others safe?
The rise in threats and abuse is disproportionately affecting women lawmakers. We asked law enforcement agencies in all 50 states what they’re doing about it.
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Grace Panetta @gracepanetta.bsky.social · 21/04/2026
Will be interesting to see how long #FL20 remains open following Cherfilus-McCormick’s resignation — when former Rep. Alcee Hastings died in April 2021, the special general to replace him wasn’t until January 2022, leaving the seat without representation for nearly 9 months
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Grace Panetta @gracepanetta.bsky.social · 21/04/2026
Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick is the latest member of Congress to resign ahead of a potential expulsion vote — the Florida Democrat announced her resignation as the Ethics Committee was set to hold a sanctions hearing in her case 19thnews.org/2026/04/shei...
19thnews.org
Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick resigns from Congress amid expulsion threat
The Florida Democrat, under indictment on charges of stealing federal funds, resigned just before the House Ethics Committee was set to hold a hearing on whether to recommend she be expelled.
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