@annadrake
Political theory & gender and politics at UW. I study deliberative democratic theory, activism, and structural injustice. Covid aware and an advocate of equity. Solidarity, like love, is a verb: mask up.
Here’s my (frighteningly vulnerable!!) follow up on my reporting that exposed a white nationalist active club.
On the professional and personal costs of this work:
Students have more power than politicians want to admit.
Your rent is here. Your tuition is here. Your vote should be here too.
Early voting in Chicago has already started. Don’t sit this one out.
They go on to say "this amounts to a major challenge (and a significant opportunity) for the University of Waterloo—one that we need to respond to now." Their response? To pour money into using the platform. Well, I suppose if anyone can use GenAI we won't need university degrees or funds anyway.
GenAI is trash and is destroying the environment. Universities accepting this--and especially in the Arts, which GenAI is actively trying to undermine--is an abandonment of critical thought and principled work.
Ugh. Our university sent out an email announcing "Within a few years, students will arrive never having not used GenAI in their academic work" and they're just....accepting this BS premise, I guess. And pouring money into it too, apparently (because we have so much).
Fuuuuuck this. In the midst of a budget crisis and hiring freeze, my university has money to pour into the AI slop bubble.
Kansas Sends Letters To Trans People Demanding The Immediate Surrender Of Drivers Licenses "The legislature did not include a grace period." ERIN REED FEB 25, 2026 88 5 21 Share Kansas Sate Capitol // farzinvousoughian
1. Numerous transgender people in Kansas are reporting that the state has sent them a letter demanding the immediate surrender of drivers licenses.
Those driving could be arrested, charged, and see privileges revoked.
Subscribe to support our journalism.
www.erininthemorning.com/p/kansas-sen...
A chart with white background with light grey stripes showing virus activity for Ontario
A chart with white background with light grey stripes showing virus activity for Toronto
Ontario wastewater released today…be careful out there, folks!
wwater.ca/Ontario
NEW POST: Danielle Smith is no separatist; she's much, much worse
emmettmacfarlane.substack.com/p/danielle-s...
COVID spread in Ontario continues to rise weekly as shown in wastewater testing wwater.ca
VERY evident COVID continues to rise/spread throughout our communities as the pandemic continues.
Everyone must ignore any recommendation to drop N95 mandates.
Public health is lying to you.
#CleanIndoorAir
#N95inPublicindoorSpaces
wwater.ca#Ontario
"The law...must not be subject to regionally-based, populist-infused jealousies and recriminations of a separatist-enabling ideologue like Danielle Smith. ...her threat...is proof she’s not qualified to weigh in on Carney’s breakfast order, let alone the federal selection process for courts..."
A woman will head to court in March after the City of Burlington fined her for letting her garden grow wild — and other Ontario municipalities have taken similar measures. @elaineanselmi.bsky.social asks: What exactly are we protecting here? thenarwhal.ca/opinion-burl...
My article on reactions to #UWaterloo 's new RTO policy for staff and the RTO push for faculty is out in the Jan issue of Imprint: uwimprint.ca/back-to-camp...
“Speaking across generations is vital. Those of us engaged in revolutionary political work have to unite all different kinds of people, including people of different ages.”
Feminist scholar-activist Barbara Smith shares crucial advice on political organising and building solidarity across borders.
On the first day of back-to-class the best accessory you can have is a well-fitting, high-quality mask. If we value inclusion and accessible learning, this should be a priority.
Wastewater chart for Ontario. Covid levels are depicted in orange and are rising at 35. Flu A, depicted in pink, has a dramatic rise and hits a high of almost 90. RSV, in black, registers at about 7.5. Latest data is from Friday Jan 2nd.
The latest wastewater numbers for Ontario show Influenza A levels have spiked dramatically, with Covid levels also high. Not a great sign with the return to school next week. Wearing a good quality mask offers good protection from airborne viruses both for yourself and others. wwater.ca/Ontario
A picture of a young girl wearing a mask getting a bandaid put on her arm by a doctor after her vaccination. COVID-19 vaccines protect children from severe illness. In the first 6 months after vaccination, 2024-2025 COVID vaccines reduced the risk of COVID-associated emergency department and urgent care visits by: 76% in children ages 6 months to 4 years. 56% in children ages 5-17 years. Children age 6 months and older should get vaccinated against COVID-19. Call us to schedule their appointments: 919-560-7608 Find other vaccination locations: vaccinefinder.org Read the data: tinyurl.com/muf537dw
A new report finds that kids who got last year’s COVID-19 vaccine had a much lower risk of COVID-related hospital visits than kids who didn’t. All kids age 6 months & older should be vaccinated to help protect them from serious illness from COVID-19. See the data: www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes...
Three kids dead this month, just in our region.
It's never too late to start masking again, get your vaccinations and clean the air. Get a HEPA for your home this holiday season (if you can) and crack a window/run a fan. Wash your hands religiously.
All these measures prevent Covid, too!
NEW POST: The parallels between Trump's pardons and Danielle Smith's use of the notwithstanding clause emmettmacfarlane.substack.com/p/the-parall...
🚨 NEW: One of the largest COVID-19 vaccine studies ever (28 MILLION people in France) just dropped.
Results?
• 74% lower risk of death from severe COVID-19
• 25% lower risk of all-cause mortality
• No increase in 4-year mortality
#BlueSky #MedSky #IDSky #SciSky #NewsSky #PedsSky #ObSky #NurseSky
Many of you may have heard that trans girls are now banned from Girlguiding in the United Kingdom, their version of the Girl Scouts as we know them in the United States.
It is a cruel new low in a country that has treated trans people horrifically in recent years.
The latest from S. Baum.
Premier Danielle Smith is a coward, a bully and a hypocrite. Stripping kids of rights and denying them their day in court isn't leadership, it's cowardice.
Sure, she's able to suspend their rights. That doesn't mean she should. My latest 👇🏻👇🏻
www.thestar.com/opinion/cont...
Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson has proposed disastrous cuts to our city's libraries while setting aside $5M for a ShotSpotter replacement. As library associate Sara Heymann told me, “Libraries embody everything we need to fight back against fascism.” My piece on what’s at stake and how to fight back:
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith plans to use the Charter’s notwithstanding clause to pass not one, not two, but three bills to override the rights of Albertans.
Take 2 mins to tell her: our rights are off limits!
Alberta: bit.ly/46EVnCM
Outside Alberta: bit.ly/48whr55
Tomorrow (Nov 25) is the UN's International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women and the start of #16Days of Activism on Gender-Based Violence
I'm offering 2 FREE bystander intervention webinars to mark the date: 1 in English et un en français
Learn community care with me. Sign up! ⬇️
Trans youth who are hurting in Alberta right now, please know SO many of us see you, care about you, and know you deserve to be protected.
We’ve got your back and will do everything we can to keep you safe in the face of attacks from craven, pathetic politicians ❤️
Black text on pink background reads: "Today, the government of Alberta passed legislation to suspend the charter-protected rights of trans youth. Get involved today: Stop-Smith.ca"
Moments ago, Premier Danielle Smith's government made a terrifying decision and introduced legislation to suspend the charter-protected rights of transgender young people in Alberta.
Now is the time to act. Visit www.stop-smith.ca to sign our petition denouncing this draconian erosion of freedom.
My story on this and a whole lot more 💫
xtramagazine.com/power/politi...
An anti-abortion protester has shot someone outside of a South Carolina Planned Parenthood.
My source says one person was injured and taken to the hospital—and that the protester was arrested.
More soon.
I have been charged in a federal indictment sought by the Department of Justice.
This political prosecution is an attack on all of our First Amendment rights. I’m not backing down, and we’re going to win.
