Happy November everyone

Checks and Balance newsletter: Tear gas and Halloween in Chicago John Prideaux, our US editor, considers the politics of the crowd versus the police

John Prideaux, our US editor, considers the politics of the crowd versus the police

California Kick-Starts Counteroffensive In Trump’s Redistricting War Voters will decide whether the state can respond to Texas’ gerrymandering and eliminate up to five GOP-held seats in the state ahead of the 2026 midterms.

Voters will decide whether the state can respond to Texas’ gerrymandering and eliminate up to five GOP-held seats in the state ahead of the 2026 midterms.

Proposition 50 could disenfranchise Republican California voters. Will it survive a legal challenge? If Californians vote in favor of the measure on Nov. 4, the number of Republicans in California’s House — nine of 52 total members — would likely be cut in half.

Proposition 50 could disenfranchise Republican California voters. Will it survive a legal challenge?

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Stephen Miller’s wife Katie loses her shit and comes complete unglued because she claims that when Cenk said “the Millers lie” that was an anti-Semitic comment. Totally unhinged wacko.

Australia’s Harry Wilson rejects claims Wallabies use illegal breakdown tactics * Borthwick has highlighted entering rucks from the side * Wilson denies Wallabies use dangerous or illegal tactics Australia’s captain, Harry Wilson, has rejected a claim made on the eve of their clash with England that the Wallabies use illegal breakdown tactics. The Daily Telegraph reported that England head coach, Steve Borthwick, has highlighted Australia’s alleged ploy of deliberately entering rucks from the side when he met referee Nika Amashukeli before Saturday’s Twickenham showdown. Player welfare concerns were also raised over the tourists’ approach to clear-outs. Continue reading...

Australia’s Harry Wilson rejects claims Wallabies use illegal breakdown tactics

Happy Halloween 🎃 Annie

Happy Halloween 🎃 everyone

R.F.K. Jr. Adviser Calley Means Has Left the White House Mr. Means quietly departed his federal role about a month ago. His sister has been nominated for surgeon general.

Calley Means, an influential adviser to Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and the brother of President Trump’s nominee for surgeon general, quietly departed his federal role about a month ago, he said.

Nice reforms

Hopefully you guys get a new responsible leadership afterwards

The least frightening films ever – ranked! A Halloween screening doesn’t have to mean being scared witless. From serene sushi-making to a shell with shoes on, we run down the finest films for those of a nervous disposition

The least frightening films ever – ranked!

Once again urging archaeologists to critically assess the AI push into archaeology. There is a huge swath of problematic ethical issues that come with the AI tech & tech lords & we don't have to make it easier for them to insert themselves in archaeology by welcoming them in. Don't be complicit.
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She’s your daughter right. She’s so pretty 😍

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Eric Lipton NYT @ericlipton.nytimes.com FYI, folks from Bluesky. Reporters at The NYT, among other news organizations, are now generating a giant wave of accountability stories about the new Trump era. Reading these stories, sharing them, is a form of accountability as well. It is a form of participatory democracy too. Substance matters.

So I'm just going to pin this and add to it, probably daily.

Hahahahaha

🚨U.S. inflation rises to 3% in September as prices increase at the fastest rate since January.

The White House says they will likely not release October’s inflation data next month, blaming the shutdown.