From Erin Reed:
"A new poll released by NORC and the Los Angeles Times reveals that 77% of U.S. citizens believe politicians are using debates over transgender and nonbinary people as a distraction from more pressing priorities. The same poll finds that majorities oppose forced outing laws for transgender youth. A slim majority indicated their support for protecting access to gender-affirming medical care for transgender youth when their parents and doctors feel those treatments are appropriate, though results were somewhat mixed depending on how the question was worded. These numbers align with several recent polls indicating that while some people may have nuanced opinions on transgender issues, Americans do not view these concerns as worthy of lawmakers' attention..."
Why is the word #brexit not uttered on the so-called #BBC anymore? I guess it may get the odd passing mention as they are bound to have #farage on daily now.
"...But at a campaign rally for presumptive Republican presidential nominee" <redacted> "in Phoenix, 11 people fell ill from heat exhaustion by late afternoon and were taken to the hospital, where they were treated and released, fire officials said."
You won’t want to miss the June issue of AU’s Church & State magazine! Our cover story details a burgeoning threat to American democracy, church-state separation and the many rights and freedoms that depend on them: Project 2025.
I also encourage you to check out AU President and CEO Rachel Laser’s column with advice for recent graduates: to be your authentic selves – and help others do the same.
Other stories this month include how the alarming strategies of a 1970s anti-LGBTQ+ pop star are still being used in the Christian Nationalist playbook today; a sneak peek into a new book co-authored by AU Board of Trustees member Brian Kaylor and Beau Underwood about how mainline Protestants inadvertently helped build Christian Nationalism; and why Americans United is opposed to erecting a statue of the late evangelist Rev. Billy Graham in the U.S. Capitol.
It’s #NewstodonFriday! It’s been another busy week for the many newsrooms who have an active presence in the #fediverse, and we’re highlighting their work in the thread below. If you like what you see, follow the profiles and boost their stories.
If you’re a journo or newsroom that we don’t know about or if there’s a newsroom you’d love to put on our radar, please let us know in the comments.
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Business Insider created a Flipboard Storyboard, “Yes, Modi won,” which our @NewsDesk featured this week. In it, find stories about what Modi’s underperformance in the Indian elections means for the world’s largest democracy.
Fact-checking is a great way to counter disinformation, right? Sasha Issenberg, author of “The Victory Lab” and “The Lie Detectives,” says that’s not necessarily the case. In this fascinating, important interview, Aaron Sankin of @themarkup talks to Issenberg about the new media and political landscape and how narratives are shaped in 2024.
The BJP registered the highest vote share it has ever had in Tamil Nadu in this election. This could partly be attributed to the simple fact that the party contested a larger number of seats this time. But is that the only reason? My colleague Abhishek Jha and I take a look at the BJP's performance in TN in today's copy of Hindustan Times.