The “cancel culture” and anti-“wokeism” moral panics rely on a complete inversion of the actual balance of power, portraying traditionally marginalized groups as mighty forces that urgently need to be reined in – and those in elite positions as desperately in need of protection.

It’s an unbelievably cynical game: Some of society’s most vulnerable groups – trans people, for instance, whose fundamental rights, including their right to exist in the public square, are being stripped away – are presented as a dangerous, powerful cabal.

In this way, this whole affair captures the anxiety that fuels the reactionary crusade against “wokeism” and “cancel culture”: Societal elites - and elite white men, in particular - face a little more scrutiny and public criticism today than in the past. And they don’t like that.

As soon as traditionally marginalized groups gained enough power and acquired the technological means to make their demands for respect and their criticism heard, traditional elites started bemoaning “persecution” - “The hordes are coming to cancel us!”

Important to note that it’s mostly the *threat* of scrutiny, the *potential* of being held to account that is enough to cause the next round of reactionary panic. In practice, the power structures that have traditionally defined American life have unfortunately held up just fine.

Indiana is striving to be like Texas and Florida combined. The sad thing is, because this is a Republican stronghold and a VERY "Christian" state (I would argue, even more so than any other state in the U.S.), they WILL succeed.

WE WON!!! (FTC v Paxton) Still reading the order, so more to come. But what I'll say now is a scrappy TX physician, dedicated TX abortion funds, and fearless TX lawyers fought for our right to care for and support our communities and we won.

x.com/chrisgeidner/s…

Fascinating to read the reviews of Outed, the George Michael documentary, with journalists looking back in horror at how the press treated gay people in the 80s and 90s. Now look at how the press treats trans people. Things haven't changed - the target has.

on the last day of the Week of Action to stop Cop City, police raid the property that folks in the movement have been using as a welcome center/home base. everyone who was there has been detained. the violent repression of a righteous movement continues apace. #stopcopcity

given that these people are indiscriminately arresting even LEGAL OBSERVERS, this escalation is deeply unsettling but also unsurprising.

police have made an arrest -- and it was for an old traffic citation.

Anyone hazard a guess as to what is going on here?

Today, House Republicans are holding a sham hearing to stop student debt cancelation. Here's how much college cost when they went to school—and how much it is today: 1. Virginia Foxx Tuition Then: $310 Tuition 2023: $7,019

8. Jim Banks (IN-3) Indiana University Bloomington, 2001 Tuition Then: $4,735 ($8,090*) Tuition 2023: $11,560 Increase: $3,470 (143%) In 2001 it would take 919 hours of work to pay one year of tuition. Today, 1,594 hours. 96,400 people in his district need debt relief.

10. Erin Houchin (IN-9) Indiana University Bloomington, 2001 Tuition Then: $4,735 ($8,090*) Tuition 2023: $11,560 Increase: $3,470 (143%) In 2001 it would take 919 hours of work to pay one year of tuition. Today, 1,594 hours. 89,700 people need relief in her district

Track and field has banned transgender athletes from international competition and adopted new rules that could keep Caster Semenya from competing. apnews.com/article/transg…

"This was a gross overreaction by law enforcement to an animated group of young people with healthy lungs who sang civil rights songs and voiced frustration over the frightening direction this state is taking."

All that you touch You change. All that you Change Changes you. The only lasting truth Is Change God Is Change -Octavia Butler from her novel Parable of the Sower