iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Third Act Maine @thirdactmaine.bsky.social · 05/10/2026

Ever wonder why Susan Collins is in Trump’s back pocket? Maybe because his FBI shut down an investigation into charges that she exchanged lucrative govt. contracts for illegal campaign $$$? Collins says there’s nothing to see here, but ProPublica has the receipts. www.propublica.org/article/susa...

propublica.org

Watch: We Uncovered Bribery Allegations Involving Susan Collins

In late 2024, FBI investigators had enough evidence to launch a sweeping bribery probe of politicians including Sen. Susan Collins — until Trump gutted the unit in charge. ProPublica has revealed the ...

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QuitGPT @quitgpt.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

Worried about AI? Want something to do about it? Follow us @quitgpt.bsky.social and visit bleedingthefuture.org to learn more about LTF and call on your elected officials to REJECT their money.

bleedingthefuture.org

Bleeding the Future — Stop AI From Buying Our Elections

ChatGPT and Palantir are running a SuperPAC to buy elections. Take the pledge.

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QuitGPT @quitgpt.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

We assembled a coalition of 52 orgs, including @sunrisemvmt.bsky.social, @indivisible.org, @stopbigmoneyaz.bsky.social, @votersoftomorrow.org, and @irreplaceableorg.bsky.social to call on every politician to decline Leading the Future's money and disavow their agenda.

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QuitGPT @quitgpt.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

BIG AI IS BUYING OFF POLITICIANS. We're doing something about it. As people demand action to stop Big AI from putting our lives in danger, execs from OpenAI, Palantir, and a16z built a monster Super PAC to pay politicians to kill common-sense regulation. Read this 🧵 to learn more.

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QuitGPT @quitgpt.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

ChatGPT is the only candidate running to INCREASE the unemployment rate. And he doesn't need your money! His AI Super PAC, Leading the Future, is already buying elections nationwide.

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QuitGPT @quitgpt.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

Students to ChatGPT: you're fired. Cancel ChatGPT Edu and invest in humans. Share this with your campus group chat. #quitgpt #boycottchatgpt #deletechatgpt #chatgpt #openai #education

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QuitGPT @quitgpt.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

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Third Act Maryland @thirdactmd.bsky.social · 20/09/2026

"The impacts of the climate crisis on extreme weather and the creation of so-called weather whiplash events are driving a more erratic and unpredictable water cycle."

theguardian.com

2025 was among driest years on record for world’s rivers, study finds

Analysis of global resources reveals depletion in world’s water savings bank to 42% below normal levels last year

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Third Act Creatives @thirdactcreatives.bsky.social · 20/09/2026

Come hear an interview with Goldman Environmental Prize winner Diane Wilson at Third Act’s Oct. 1 “Hope and Joy Series”! (She’s the author of “An Unreasonable Woman: A True Story of Shrimpers, Politicos, Polluters, and the Fight for Seadrift, Texas.”) Register at: thirdact.org/events/hope-...

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Bill McKibben @billmckibben.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

The part I never get is why he considers something an honor when he bestows it on himself. Try to imagine Lincoln building the Lincoln Memorial www.nytimes.com/2026/09/20/u...

nytimes.com

How President Trump Broke the Kennedy Center

Internal emails and documents demonstrate the political capture of the institution, including how officials once pursued a plan to unload much of the art collection.

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Third Act Upstate New York @thirdactupstateny.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

The Independent's 3rd annual list of the world's leading environmentalists, this year including @thirdactorg.bsky.social 's Bill McKibben. Check out the whole list! It includes Pope Leo, Erin Brokovich, Nemonte Nenquimo of the Ecuadorian Amazon, & many others whose work merits attention.

independent.co.uk

The Independent Climate 100 List 2026

Back for its third year, The Independent is proud to publish its list of the world’s leading environmentalists – marking the campaigners, change makers and innovators who are making a positive and sig...

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Third Act New Mexico @thirdactnm.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

Third Act has joined this coalition to fight an AI Super Pac.

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Louisa Loveluck @leloveluck.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

Barred from deporting asylum seekers back to places they face jail or death, Trump struck 35 secret deals to send people to places which will deport them there instead. - 25,000 people deported - $410 million spent. - UN aid used to sweeten the deals. www.theguardian.com/us-news/ng-i...

theguardian.com

Banished to alien lands: Trump’s secret deportation deals

After a plane journey in shackles, an Iranian woman found herself in the middle of Africa in a country she did not know existed. She is one of thousands deported from the US on the back of shadowy dea...

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Victoria Bekiempis @vicbekiempis.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

For survivors of Jeffrey Epstein, the financial toll of advocating for justice can be immense--from lacking health insurance to losing out on work. Please read my @us.theguardian.com report on this harsh reality www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026...

theguardian.com

Epstein survivors struggle financially as they continue to heal their wounds: ‘It doesn’t just go away’

Legislation proposed by House Democrats aims to address survivors’ financial and medical burdens

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The Tennessee Holler @thetnholler.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

WKRN: “An estimated 762,000 Tennesseans live in poverty, 46,000 more than the year prior… Researchers add that number doesn’t capture just how many people are struggling.” But hey at least Trump gets his ballroom & arch right @MarshaBlackburn? www.wkrn.com/news/tenness...

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Center for Climate Integrity @climateintegrity.org · 21/09/2026

In two weeks, the U.S. Supreme Court will hear Big Oil's pleas to escape trial in one of a growing number of lawsuits seeking to hold fossil fuel companies accountable for climate deception. Here's what you need to know 👇

climateintegrity.org

Boulder and Exxon’s coming Supreme Court clash, explained. | Center for Climate Integrity

As Big Oil tries to escape accountability, the U.S. Supreme Court will hear arguments in one of dozens of climate deception lawsuits. Here’s what you need to know.

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Don Moynihan @donmoyn.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

Research units from across government have been gutted. More than 10,000 PhDs have left government. For example the research arm of the Department of Education lost 90% of their staff and the research office for the Secretary of Health and Human Services lost an estimated 60% of their staff.

figure shows dramatic cut in research staff

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Guardian US @us.theguardian.com · 21/09/2026

Media workers are grappling with increasingly volatile press climate in US, with some detained and even deported

theguardian.com

Freedom oppressed: the journalists caught up in Trump’s ICE crackdown

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Third Act Upstate New York @thirdactupstateny.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

Matt Traldi, Greenlight America: "Just a few individuals turning up at hearings can tip the scales in favor of renewables...Five or 10 people can take a project from 'political suicide' to something that could 'sail through.'" www.canarymedia.com/articles/gui...

canarymedia.com

How to stick up for renewable energy projects near you

Showing up at local government hearings to support a proposed wind, solar, or battery project could be the most effective climate action you ever take.

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Third Act Wisconsin @thirdactwisconsin.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

Big AI is buying off politicians. Let's do something different. Like these folks:

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Guardian US @us.theguardian.com · 21/09/2026

Dozens of US attacks on boats in the Pacific and Caribbean have killed more than 230 people since September 2025

theguardian.com

US strikes on alleged drug boats may constitute ‘crimes against humanity’, UN finds

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Robert Reich @rbreich.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

The solidarity of the media in response to Trump reveals a fundamental truth: The most successful way to respond to a megalomaniac like him is to unite against him. It's also apparently, at least in this instance, one of the better ways to silence his bloviating.

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Aaron Reichlin-Melnick @reichlinmelnick.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

ICE's new policy is unprecedented. People who have detained for months are suddenly disappearing from the locator system — even if they haven't been moved. And people newly arrested are not showing up at all, their location now hidden from view. This will severely interfere with legal access.

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Aaron Reichlin-Melnick @reichlinmelnick.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

Stay tuned for more on this from mainstream reporting hopefully later today, but Bob's got the gist of it; last week, it appears that ICE began disappearing people from the Online Detainee Locator System the moment they get a final order of removal. Yes, this is as deeply screwed up as it sounds.

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Aaron Reichlin-Melnick @reichlinmelnick.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

NEW: @apnews.com confirms that ICE has begun electronically "disappearing" people in the agency's custody who have final orders of removal. As of last week, anyone jailed by ICE with a final order of removal will NOT appear in the ICE Online Detainee Locator System, making them effectively vanish.

apnews.com

AP Exclusive: ICE hides locations of thousands of detainees with final removal orders

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has stopped publicly revealing where it is holding most detainees who are subject to final deportation orders, in a move that has made it harder for lawyers an...

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Third Act Maryland @thirdactmd.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

Extreme Heat and Health, 10/20/26, Wash., DC & Virtual @nationalacademies.org discussion to "explore the human health impacts of extreme heat, community adaptation strategies, and innovative solutions that can increase preparedness in a warming world." Register: tinyurl.com/5xbu662z

tinyurl.com

Extreme Heat and Health: Ramanathan Climate Conversation 2026

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Bill McKibben @billmckibben.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

El Niño is breaking every existing record already, and it's got weeks to go before it's likely to hit a peak. We're going to see a warmer world than any humans before us this year billmckibben.substack.com/p/hold-my-wa...

billmckibben.substack.com

Hold my (warm) beer

It’s Existential Crises Week!

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thirdactco.bsky.social @thirdactco.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

For more information: bleedingthefuture.org

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Scott Horton @robertscotthorton.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

NYT has now independently corroborated all the major allegations against Susan Collins in the ProPublica report, including that investigators were prepared to move against her and then Trump intervened to shut it down. This put Trump in a position of exceptional and extortionate leverage over her.

nytimes.com

F.B.I. Shut Down Inquiry Into Top Ally of Senator Susan Collins

The inquiry was closed last year because senior bureau officials questioned the veracity of a campaign donor’s account, according to current and former officials.

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jamelle @jamellebouie.net · 22/09/2026

this is a genuinely crazy story

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Third Act Maryland @thirdactmd.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

"The progress we made in moving away from higher emissions futures should tell us that progress is possible. But it shouldn’t breed complacency; the risks remain far too high and grow with each molecule of carbon emitted. The world still isn’t nearly concerned enough."

open.substack.com

My new NYT op-ed on climate change risk

We’ve made real progress bending down the curve of emissions, but risks remain far too high for complacency

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RN Mayhem @mayhem1994.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

What you should know is that his daughter has cystic fibrosis he allowed her to get rare treatment and then canceled it for everybody else www.motherjones.com/politics/202...

motherjones.com

Project 2025 is gutting medical funding that helped Russell Vought's own kid

Its architect's daughter has cystic fibrosis—and benefits from a "miracle drug" backed by an agency he's attacking.

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ProPublica @propublica.org · 23/09/2026

Vought holds one of the most powerful jobs in D.C., and he’s used his position to wage a quiet war to change the shape of the entire U.S. government. Here's what you should know about Trump’s shadow president. (Published Oct. 2025)

propublica.org

What You Should Know About Russ Vought, Trump’s Shadow President

Vought is the architect of President Trump’s broader plan to fire civil servants, freeze government programs and dismantle entire agencies. Here are some key things to know about the D.C. insider who ...

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Center for Climate Integrity @climateintegrity.org · 22/09/2026

"We know that fossil fuel interests won't step aside on their own. For decades, Big Oil has treated the atmosphere as an open sewer – and cashed in on the consequences." We must hold Big Oil accountable.

lemonde.fr

UN chief says fossil fuel majors treat atmosphere like 'open sewer'

Antonio Guterres slammed the energy industry at the UN General Assembly on Tuesday. 'Those who polluted the most, and profited the most, must do far more to repair the damage they caused,' he urged.

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ProPublica @propublica.org · 22/09/2026

16/ Collins is once again fighting to keep her seat, in a race that could determine control of the Senate. We’re continuing to report. If you have information about political dealmaking in Washington, contact us on Signal at 917-512-0201. www.propublica.org/tips/

propublica.org

How to Contact ProPublica or Send a Tip Securely — ProPublica

Our job is to hold people and institutions accountable. To do that, we need evidence.

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ProPublica @propublica.org · 22/09/2026

15/ ProPublica is revealing the existence of the case for the first time. We reviewed a trove of evidence gathered by the FBI and thousands of pages of legal records, and have independently corroborated much of Kao’s account. This is the first piece of an ongoing series:

propublica.org

The FBI Anti-Corruption Squad Was Circling Susan Collins — Until Trump Got in the Way

After the FBI caught a defense contractor’s CEO making illegal campaign contributions, it sought to launch a sweeping political bribery probe involving Collins and others. Then the second Trump admini...

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ProPublica @propublica.org · 22/09/2026

13/ By the end of 2024, FBI agents had enough evidence to pursue a sweeping bribery probe that could ensnare top lawmakers of both political parties. They asked their supervisors to approve a new investigation. Then Trump returned to the White House.

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ProPublica @propublica.org · 22/09/2026

12/ Here’s a crazy part: Kao told the FBI that the company’s government work was of no real value. Its research under his stewardship resulted in products Navatek knew the military would never buy, former employees said. One example: This 3D-printed boat Collins is posing with 👇

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ProPublica @propublica.org · 22/09/2026

11/ Even Navatek’s executives were surprised at how far their money went in D.C. “It was eye-opening for me, frankly. ‘Oh my God, all of it is for sale. It’s all for sale,’” former executive Eric Schiff said.

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ProPublica @propublica.org · 22/09/2026

10/ Of all the politicians Navatek courted, Collins was its most important patron. At times, Kao and his associates cut checks to Collins’ campaign within 24 hours of the annual defense spending bill, which funds military contracts, clearing a key Senate hurdle.

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ProPublica @propublica.org · 22/09/2026

7/ But then, Kao got caught. The FBI had seen through his shell company ruse, and in 2022 a grand jury indicted him for making illegal campaign contributions. No one working for Collins was charged.

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ProPublica @propublica.org · 22/09/2026

6/ Weeks later, Kao tells his team Collins committed to getting the company $32M in naval contracts.

A check for $150,000 to 1820 PAC, a pro-Collins super PAC, from the Society of Young Women Scientist and Engineers.

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ProPublica @propublica.org · 22/09/2026

4/ To skirt campaign finance laws and conceal the source of the funds, Navatek’s CEO, Martin Kao, sends an initial $150K to the pro-Collins super PAC (1820 PAC) using a shell company. Reed knows Kao is behind the donation. “Very smart,” he says in an email viewed by ProPublica.

Emails Between Martin Kao and Scott Reed, Discussing Contributions to the Susan Collins Super PAC, 1820 PAC

“Hi Scott: Had a chance to discuss 1820 with my CFO and attorney last night. They are suggesting setting up a separate new LLC to make the donations. Name of new LLC: Society of Young Women Scientists and Engineers.

In my personal real estate investments, we often use LLCs that can be set up to "facilitate" transactions. They are super vague and very difficult to get any background info on. Totally legal and typically used in real estate transactions to conceal the identity of buyer/seller. Wanted to get your thoughts/concerns.”
— email from Martin Kao to Scott Reed, Nov. 22, 2019

“Very smart and glad your counsel understands. Thanks for doing this.”
— email from Scott Reed to Martin Kao, Nov. 22, 2019

“Great! We will proceed on getting this set up ASAP. Have a nice weekend.”
— email from Martin Kao to Scott Reed, Nov. 22, 2019

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ProPublica @propublica.org · 22/09/2026

2/ Our story starts in 2019. Collins is at risk of losing her seat. A year earlier, she helped Navatek land a multimillion-dollar Navy contract in Maine. Scott Reed, head of the pro-Collins super PAC, meets with Navatek execs in a D.C. cafe and asks for a $500K donation.

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