Sign in

Karen Pickell

@karenpickell.bsky.social
1.7K followers 653 following 1.1K posts

Author of AN ADOPTEE LEXICON. Founder @AdopteeReading.bsky.social Budding genealogist/family historian. #adoptee #AdopteeVoices #cnf #genealogy #FamilyHistory -- karenpickell.com

PostsRepliesMedia
Reposted by Karen Pickell
Anthony Man @browardpolitics.bsky.social · 6h
Poll finds 49% of renters in Florida’s most Democratic county support proposed state referendum to reduce property taxes on owner-occupied homes — even though renters wouldn’t see benefits & rents could go up if landlords pass on the cost of taxes shifted to them. #Florida #politics gift link ...
sun-sentinel.com
Poll: Jolly has 26-point lead over Donalds in Broward; county voters narrowly support property-tax amendment
Bendixen & Amandi poll shows David Jolly leading Byron Donalds 52%-26% in Broward. Support for property tax amendment falls when voters hear warnings.
231
Reposted by Karen Pickell
Marc Elias @marcelias.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
🚨BREAKING: The Trump administration illegally changed a form used by overseas voters to register and request mail ballots just weeks before the midterms, Democrats argue in a new lawsuit filed Thursday. www.democracydocket.com/news-alerts/...
democracydocket.com
Trump admin quietly changed overseas voter form at 11th hour to disenfranchise Democrats, lawsuit says
The change is part of a Republican plan to make it more difficult to vote or outright disenfranchise a bloc of voters viewed as more inclined to vote Democratic, the DNC lawsuit argues.
9535021982
Reposted by Karen Pickell
Marc Elias @marcelias.bsky.social · 30m
Each election year, the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) takes extra steps to ensure ballots sent through the mail arrive at election offices on time. This year, it’s delaying those efforts. www.democracydocket.com/news-alerts/...
democracydocket.com
USPS pushes back measures that ensure mail ballots arrive on time
“The shorter timeframe is noteworthy and I don’t know why they’re doing this,” Steve Hutkins, who writes for Save the Post Office, told Democracy Docket.
39526308
Karen Pickell @karenpickell.bsky.social · 56m
⚠️ #Florida
000
Reposted by Karen Pickell
Senator Chris Van Hollen @vanhollen.senate.gov · 3h
The President, who continues to hide service member casualties, is now sending up to another 10,000 troops to his illegal war of choice in Iran. When Trump says he's planning on renewing his war next month, believe him. Congress must cut off funding. www.wsj.com/politics/nat...
wsj.com
U.S. Sending Third Aircraft Carrier, Up to 10,000 More Troops, to Middle East
The deployments come as President Trump weighs resuming bombing Iran after the midterms.
1118568
Reposted by Karen Pickell
Craig Pittman @craigtimes.bsky.social · 3h
#Florida parents & teachers say they're "gobsmacked," denounce proposed state changes in science standards that eliminate discussion of evolution & climate change. www.orlandosentinel.com/2026/10/01/g... via @orlandosentinel.com
orlandosentinel.com
‘Gobsmacked’: Florida parents, teachers decry changes to science education
The state’s education commissioner, responding to criticism, said Thursday he was “not advocating religious influence in the standards.”
2239
Reposted by Karen Pickell
Tim Marchman @timmarchman.bsky.social · 3h
NEW: Partially unsealed court filings show that ICE has been putting photos of people observing their activities into a Palantir-built database as well as tracking and intimidating them. @regret.bsky.social and @dmehro.bsky.social have the details:
wired.com
ICE Has Been Dumping Protester Photos Into a Palantir Database
DHS agents not only tracked and intimidated people observing ICE activity in Maine, but stored information about them in a Palantir-built database, newly unsealed court filings say.
21470340
Reposted by Karen Pickell
Craig Pittman @craigtimes.bsky.social · 9h
White power group openly plots infiltration of #Florida govt. www.rawstory.com/raw-investig... via @rawstory.com
rawstory.com
Republican group with white power ties openly plots infiltration of Florida government
A network of Florida Republicans with links to hate groups and the violent 2017 Unite the Right rally is mobilizing to seat members on local government boards and run for elected office in the Sunshin...
0119
Reposted by Karen Pickell
Elizabeth Warren @warren.senate.gov · 5h
Breaking News: The average 30-year, fixed-rate mortgage made its biggest weekly jump in four years, rising to 7.28%.
1626575
Reposted by Karen Pickell
Craig Pittman @craigtimes.bsky.social · 8h
IRS is reviewing a whistleblower claim about $10 million in Medicaid settlement money that moved through the Hope #Florida Foundation floridatrident.org/irs-whistleb... @floridatrident.bsky.social
floridatrident.org
IRS takes up whistleblower claim over Hope Florida's $10 million
A Medicaid settlement, a state charity, two nonprofits and Uthmeier's anti-Amendment 3 PAC, all within weeks. Now a whistleblower claim is before the IRS.
02713
Reposted by Karen Pickell
VoteVets @votevets.org · 8h
More than half of all VA medical centers are now reporting severe staffing shortages. 97% of facilities can't fully staff their doctors, and 58% can't hire enough psychologists. The Trump administration has cut roughly 30,000 VA jobs. Now, Veterans are paying the price. @repvindman.bsky.social
916487
Reposted by Karen Pickell
Taniel @taniel.bsky.social · 10h
Big news in the Senate battle. After pouring $30 million in NC, John Thune's GOP SuperPAC stops spending there, effectively conceding Cooper is likely to win. And they're dumping their first 7-figures in Kansas. (Note: a Dem internal found Hamilton up today.) www.semafor.com/article/10/0...
26886221
Reposted by Karen Pickell
Matthew Gertz @mattgertz.bsky.social · 10h
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.
18054962512
Reposted by Karen Pickell
Taniel @taniel.bsky.social · 9h
Voter registration deadlines are SUNDAY in Alaska, Rhode Island, South Carolina. And MONDAY in: Arizona, Arkansas Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, Mississippi, Ohio, Tennessee, and *Texas*. If you live in these states, verify your registration now, literally.
10733587
Reposted by Karen Pickell
Chris Morran @themorrancave.bsky.social · 13h
My @propublica.org colleagues have no business running a private school for kids. And yet they were easily able to start schools in two states -- with a third ProPublica Academy pending that would be located inside a North Carolina bar.
propublica.org
Almost Anyone Can Start a Private School. We Put This to the Test.
Our reporting has shown how easily people — some with questionable backgrounds — have founded their own private schools in barns, strip malls and other places. That led us to an experiment: If the hur...
418276
Reposted by Karen Pickell
New York Genealogy Links @nygenealogylinks.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
Newspapers.com is allowing free access to its site from now until Monday, Oct. 5 at 9:59 p.m. ET Search for marriages, obituaries, hometown news, and much more. A free user name and password will need to be set up. To start searching, go to: www.newspapers.com/go/freeaccess/ #genealogy
093
Reposted by Karen Pickell
Grace Segers @gracesegers.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
New SNAP and Medicaid provisions from the OBBBA are taking affect today. Here's what to know: newrepublic.com/article/2157...
newrepublic.com
Trump’s “Big, Beautiful” Bill Is About to Screw With States’ Budgets
Already burdened with the need to fulfill strict requirements mandated by the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, state governments all across the country are about to face even higher costs.
15139
Reposted by Karen Pickell
Susan Rinkunas @susanrinkunas.com · 30/09/2026
To recap: three GOP-led states that wanted the Supreme Court to overturn Roe v. Wade in order to "send abortion back to the states" are now asking the Court to strike down abortion protections in blue states
124701143
Reposted by Karen Pickell
Kyle Cheney @kyledcheney.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
BREAKING: The Supreme Court has agreed to rule on the legality of ICE's mandatory detention policy, weighing in on an issue that has been ovewhelmingly rejected by district and appeals courts but has nevertheless roiled the justice system nationwide. www.politico.com/news/2026/10...
politico.com
Supreme Court will rule on Trump’s ICE detention policy
Lower courts have overwhelmingly rejected ICE’s novel view of its detention authority.
21423157
Reposted by Karen Pickell
Craig Pittman @craigtimes.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
#Florida GOP gubernatorial nominee Byron Donalds says solar power is just a fad. Meanwhile FL utilities are building nothing but solar farms all over the state (no fuel costs!) floridaphoenix.com/2026/09/30/b... via @mitchperry.bsky.social
floridaphoenix.com
Byron Donalds says solar power is a ‘fad’ but Florida utilities are expanding its use  • Florida Phoenix
Despite the Trump administration’s hostility towards renewable energy, information released by the U.S. Energy Information Administration shows that utility solar capacity — large scale projects that ...
0167
Reposted by Karen Pickell
Matthew Dowd @matthewjdowd.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
Latest WSJ poll: "63% want to pause AI development 61% want a billionaire wealth tax 59% want Medicare for All 57% want a $20 minimum wage 58% want to end U.S. military aid to Israel" This is the center of the country politically. it is time all adjust to this political spectrum, esp. media.
9633971062
Reposted by Karen Pickell
Craig Pittman @craigtimes.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
Editorial: For the next #Florida governor, the only possible choice is David Jolly, and not Byron "I Love Data Centers" Donalds, says the Miami Herald. www.miamiherald.com/opinion/elec...
miamiherald.com
Herald endorsement for Florida governor | Opinion
The Herald Editorial Board releases its endorsements in the Nov. 3 election.
44215
Reposted by Karen Pickell
Ezra Levin ❌👑 @ezralevin.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
You’ve seen the headlines, folks—we CAN flip Florida! For the first time in decades, there a signs of a massive Democratic surge across the state. You won't want to miss today’s chat with @angieforfl.bsky.social at 3pm ET.
420579
Reposted by Karen Pickell
Zack Whittaker @zackwhittaker.com · 30/09/2026
The Pentagon is notifying millions of current and former U.S. military servicemembers and staff that hackers stole their *unencrypted* personal information during a months-long data breach. The agency that had the breach also handles ID and login/credential access to U.S. military systems and bases.
techcrunch.com
Hackers stole millions of US military personnel records during months-long data breach | TechCrunch
The Department of Defense notified millions of current and former U.S. military personnel that their personal information had been stolen in a months-long breach.
30625181390
Reposted by Karen Pickell
Semafor @semafor.com · 30/09/2026
Visitors to the US are on track to drop by almost two million year-on-year. “We’re the only major country in the world losing visitation,” the head of the US Travel Association said. “It’s mind-boggling.” www.semafor.com/article/09/2...
62731171104
Reposted by Karen Pickell
Florida Policy Institute @floridapolicy.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
Today, Florida’s minimum wage is increasing to $15 for non-tipped employees. Although about 1.2 million Floridians are expected to benefit from the new $15 min. wage, $15 is not enough for a full-time worker to afford basic expenses. View dashboard: bit.ly/FL-by-the-numbers
021
Reposted by Karen Pickell
Craig Pittman @craigtimes.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
Over the past 10 years, #Florida utility bills have jumped by as much as 70% —far outpacing inflation. Meanwhile, the 4 utilities that provide electricity to the state made more than $6 billion in profits last year. www.wusf.org/costofpower?... via @wusf.org
wusf.org
The rising cost of power in Florida — and the system that allows it
Over the past several months, WUSF has researched what's behind rising electricity costs and what — if anything — can be done about them.
44327
Reposted by Karen Pickell
Indivisible Bucks County @indivisiblebux.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
HOLY PA-01 SCOOP IN POLITICO!! Brian Fitzpatrick's awful ads seem to show a bunch of news headlines. But those deceptive quotes didn't come from actual news reports - they were written by one of his wedding guests, a felon who was once on the payroll of his own campaign, who self-published them!
politico.com
The source of Brian Fitzpatrick’s campaign ad attack fodder: A guest at his own wedding
Self-published articles from a longtime ally are showing up in the vulnerable Pennsylvania Republican’s attack ads.
13350135
Reposted by Karen Pickell
Jason Koebler @jasonkoebler.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
New: Through a series of complex agreements with cities, the White House built a massive license plate camera database accessible to the feds. The program aggregates data across license plate companies (Flock, Axon, more) & is searchable by many agencies: www.404media.co/how-cities-a...
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.
8177132
Reposted by Karen Pickell
kelly jensen @heykellyjensen.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
"The Central Arkansas Library System board has voted to fund the legal defense of its employees if they are charged under a state law concerning obscene materials in libraries." katv.com/news/local/c...
katv.com
CALS to fund defense if librarians charged under obscene material censorship law
The Central Arkansas Library System board has voted to fund the legal defense of its employees if they are charged under a state law concerning obscene material
0279
Reposted by Karen Pickell
Craig Pittman @craigtimes.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
#Florida GOP gubernatorial nominee Byron "Data Center" Donalds rejects calls for further investigation of the Hope Florida scandal that has ensared Gov. DeSastrous, Sen. Ashley "Do Nothing" Moody & AG James "Oopsie!" Uthemeier. floridaindependentnews.com/politics/byr...
floridaindependentnews.com
Byron Donalds rejects calls to investigate Hope Florida Foundation
The Republican candidate for governor says no further investigation is needed into alleged misappropriation of Medicaid funds by the DeSantis administration.
12116
Reposted by Karen Pickell
Angie Nixon @angieforfl.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
One week out, and this is where “I’ll do it later” starts costing people. If somebody in your family keeps saying they’ll get around to it, call them. If your coworker just moved and has been meaning to update everything, remind them.
3432196
Reposted by Karen Pickell
Charlotte Clymer @charlotteclymer.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
Dear god... GOP Sen. Eric Schmitt clearly loses his shit after it's revealed by Sen. Klobuchar that Schmitt confused the Iowa Hawkeyes college basketball team with the Atlanta Hawks NBA team in his attempt to claim Jack Smith was in Atlanta and colluded with Fani Willis. I'm gobsmacked. Holy shit.
29740152
Karen Pickell @karenpickell.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
This *should* be the plan!
000
Reposted by Karen Pickell
Craig Pittman @craigtimes.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
#Florida Gov. Ron DeSastrous paid a SECOND law firm $111,000 as the Hope Florida grand jury report was fought in secret. floridatrident.org/governors-of... via @floridatrident.bsky.social
floridatrident.org
Governor’s office paid a second law firm $111,000 as Hope Florida grand jury report was fought in secret
Invoices obtained by the Florida Trident show a second taxpayer-funded firm contacting Leon County prosecutors and fighting to keep the Hope Florida grand jury report sealed.
22411
Reposted by Karen Pickell
Craig Pittman @craigtimes.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
#Florida CFO Blaise "The Blatherer" Ingoglia is spending millions in taxpayer $$$ on ads to promote himself. An appointee of Gov. Ron DeSastrous now running for election, he's ordered up a barrage of pre-election PSAs. jasongarcia.substack.com/p/blaise-ing... via @jasongarcia.bsky.social
jasongarcia.substack.com
Blaise Ingoglia is spending millions in taxpayer money on advertising as he runs for election
Chief Financial Officer Blaise Ingoglia, an interim appointee of Ron DeSantis who is now running for election to a full term, has ordered up a barrage of pre-election “public service announcements.”
32322
Reposted by Karen Pickell
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
1001928996
Reposted by Karen Pickell
Chris Murphy @chrismurphyct.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
FYI this bill does nothing. It contains no new mandatory rules restricting data centers. It's just fakery to try to fool voters into forgetting that Republicans spent the entire term trying to stop states from regulating AI (as requested by the AI companies). www.semafor.com/article/09/2...
semafor.com
Exclusive: Some Republicans push to prioritize Husted data center bill
Republican senators have discussed the idea but made no final decision.
23606255
Reposted by Karen Pickell
Craig Pittman @craigtimes.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
In the race between Byron Donalds and David Jolly for #Florida governor, the fate of two sprawl-inducing state laws hangs in the balance jasongarcia.substack.com/p/in-the-rac... via @jasongarcia.bsky.social
jasongarcia.substack.com
In the race for Florida governor, the fate of two sprawl-inducing state laws hangs in the balance
Florida in Five: Five stories to read from the past week in Florida politics.
1156
Reposted by Karen Pickell
The Wall Street Journal @wsj.com · 28/09/2026
The letters started arriving in June, from a big developer who said he would give $10,000 to every family in town. The township just needed to let NorthPoint Development build its data center, the first of 15 buildings the firm planned on 1,300 acres in the Pocono foothills.
on.wsj.com
Every Household in This Rural Town Receives $10,000 if a Data Center Gets Built
Many Pennsylvania residents in Hazle Township are pushing back against the data center, despite the lure of the cash payout.
102513
Reposted by Karen Pickell
Allison Gill @muellershewrote.com · 26/09/2026
This is an entirely new phenomenon because before the vaccine, most women who survived measles were immune because they had it when they were young. But now, idiots who refuse to get vaccinated are giving birth to babies with measles. Two babies have died. www.nbcnews.com/health/healt...
nbcnews.com
America had wiped out measles. Now babies are infected at birth.
Congenital measles has rarely been seen in the U.S. That’s changing as vaccination declines and more pregnant women become infected.
59893594001
Karen Pickell @karenpickell.bsky.social · 27/09/2026
Lol
000
Karen Pickell @karenpickell.bsky.social · 27/09/2026
Apparently NBC can't sell all of its advertising spots? Interesting.
000
Reposted by Karen Pickell
Alex Gibney @alexgibneyfilm.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
The trailer for my new film, "Musk," has just been released.
7935681363
Karen Pickell @karenpickell.bsky.social · 26/09/2026
#Florida
000
Reposted by Karen Pickell
Southern Poverty Law Center @splcenter.org · 25/09/2026
The Supreme Court allowed the Trump administration, for now, to use a controversial and highly flawed federal data program for voter eligibility checks. bit.ly/4iU3tiV This change will only take affect after this year's elections and will NOT impact the midterms.
22212
Reposted by Karen Pickell
Rolling Stone @rollingstone.com · 24/09/2026
Filmmaker Alex Gibney has shared the first trailer for 'Musk,' a two-part, four-hour deep dive into Elon Musk that Rolling Stone called “a nonfiction horror movie” following its film festival debut earlier this month. Watch ↓
rollingstone.com
Elon Musk Is in the Business of Selling Dreams in Trailer for New Doc
Filmmaker Alex Gibney has shared the first trailer for 'Musk,' a two-part, four-hour deep dive into Elon Musk.
43978364
Reposted by Karen Pickell
Catherine Rampell @crampell.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
Pentagon quietly adds dozens to tally of troops wounded amid Iran war: With the addition of 29 U.S. sailors and eight Marines, the total number of personnel wounded since the start of hostilities has risen to 861, database shows. www.washingtonpost.com/national-sec...
washingtonpost.com
Pentagon quietly adds dozens to tally of troops wounded amid Iran war
With the addition of 29 U.S. sailors and eight Marines, the total number of personnel wounded since the start of hostilities has risen to 861, a Pentagon database shows.
36710366
Reposted by Karen Pickell
The Associated Press @apnews.com · 26/09/2026
A New Mexico jury has found Facebook liable of deceiving users about privacy protections on the social media platform.
bit.ly
New Mexico jury finds Facebook liable of deceiving users about privacy protections
A New Mexico jury has found Facebook liable of deceiving users about privacy protections on the social media platform.
1022873
Reposted by Karen Pickell
Kyle Griffin @kylegriffin1.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
MS NOW: A new letter from the acting secretary of the U.S. Navy has revealed troubling details about conditions on the USS Abraham Lincoln — including that there were eight reported suicide attempts from service members of the carrier strike group tied to the USS Lincoln.
ms.now
Navy discloses 8 suicide attempts tied to USS Lincoln’s strike group
In a letter, the acting secretary of the Navy disclosed new details about the conditions onboard during the ship’s record deployment in the Iran war, insisting the “Lincoln’s crew is resilient.”
30874388