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The Gov Hub Newsletter: February 3, 2025

South African man gains access to sensitive Treasury systems, Thugs in ill-fitting suits try to force federal employees out, and four things you can do right now to stop the bleed

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Gov Hub
February 03, 2025

Welcome to The Gov Hub Newsletter by Girl and the Gov® – a Dem tent weekly that shares action items you can do from your phone, good political news, civic engagement tools and topics, and a little dose of political goss too, right to your inbox.  

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CHRONICALLY ONLINE

Politics meets social media

  • The Trump Admin tried to push air traffic controllers out of their jobs just a day before last week’s deadly plane-helicopter collision. The email they received with the offer encouraged them to find “more useful work.” The move is now getting the spin-master meets back-peddle treatment from the Admin, which has led to Pete Buttigieg pulling out the receipts on Threads.

  • Grand jurors in Louisiana have indicted a New York state doctor for prescribing a Louisiana resident abortion medication, to which New York Governor Kathy Hochul said “not on my watch.” Or more specifically as she says here – New York will not be extraditing the doctor under any circumstances and New York will be using its shield laws [that Hochul had signed] to protect her.

  • The new head honcho of the DNC was decided upon over the weekend, with Ken Martin being tapped to lead the Democratic Party through today’s uncharted waters, and as Ken puts it “to provide an alternative to Trump’s chaos.” Ken did not mince words on who/what the party will take money from and his views on Citizens United. As for the rest of the leadership chart, this is who will be sitting around the decision-making table.

  • Gov. Shapiro got into a Groundhog’s Day beef with PETA who has been trying to rain on Punxsutawney Phil’s yearly parade by putting him out of a job…. And replacing him with a gender reveal style cake…… yea, so anyways, we clearly support Shapiro and Phil who in this grandiosely perfect ceremony shared that winter will continue for six more weeks.

  • The People’s Princess aka Jack Schlossberg has been calling out all of his Kennedy cousins who are not speaking out or coming out against RFK Jr. His “are you going to say something or are you going to be a stain on the Kennedy legacy” shit list includes: Maria Schriver, Patrick Schwarzenegger, and Joe Kennedy.

GOOD NEWS BEARS

Positive political wins [yes, those do exist]

DELAWARE GOV. MEYER SIGNS EXECUTIVE ORDER TO TACKLE FOOD INSECURITY: Newly minted Delaware Gov. Matt Meyer has signed his Food Resiliency Executive Order that aims to bring a renewed focus on reducing food insecurity and strengthening the state’s food supply systems. The EO’s central line item is the reestablishment of the Delaware Council on Farm and Food Policy. The Council will be tasked with “developing and managing a cross-agency food access strategy that addresses system gaps, optimizes food security, and improves nutrition for Delawareans,” according to the press release shared by the Governor’s office.

ILLINOIS GOV, PRITZKER BLOCKS PARDONED J6’ERS FROM STATE JOBS: The Governor of Illinois [JB Pritzker] is utilizing a state law ordinance to block pardoned January insurrectionists from being hired in local government positions. The ordinance  – or the State’s Personnel Code, which is administered by the Department of Central Management – allows for job applicants to be rejected if they have “engaged in infamous or disgraceful conduct.” And per Governor Pritzker, storming the capitol counts as infamous and disgraceful conduct, and thus is disqualifying. 

AZ GOV. HOBBS APPOINTS FIRST LATINA & BLACK PERSON TO STATE SUPREME COURT: Back in October, one of the Arizona state Supreme Court justices announced their retirement, giving the Governor – Katie Hobbs – the ability to appoint a replacement from a selection of candidates chosen by the Commission on Appellate Court Appointments. Of the five possible candidates for the job, Governor Hobbs selected state appellate Judge Maria Elena Cruz. Judge Cruz comes to this new position with over 20 years of judicial experience, which includes working as a prosecutor, a criminal defense attorney in private practice, a judge for Yuma County Superior Court, and more.

FULL SEND…TO A FRIEND

News that’s just about guaranteed to make it to the group chat

  • The MTV reality show participant, occasional lumberjack, and now Secretary of Transportation, Sean Duffy, has directed staffers to prioritize projects in communities with higher birth and marriage rates, because that’s totally not weirdo behavior or anything like that.

  • At the same time, the Trump Admin has been booked and busy scrubbing the CDC’s website of docs on repro rights, sexual health, domestic/partner violence, women’s health, and more – ya know that vital information that helps docs effectively and safely treat patients. Abortion and repro rights journalist Jessica Valenti is working to save and store as many of the deleted docs as she can find [you can email ones you find too to her as well.’

CATACLYSMIC CORRUPTION

Stories that involve Elon

  • The billionaire in charge of DOGE [which isn’t an actual gov dept] and an EV company that paid zero federal income tax in 2024, gained access to sensitive Treasury data inclusive of the Social Security and Medicare customer payment systems. The unelected South African – Elon Musk – allegedly tried to bully longtime Treasury official David Lebryk into giving him and his crew access to the system that millions of Americans rely on to make ends meet. The read between the lines: Lebryk was put on administrative leave and then suddenly retired.

  • Then over at USAID, Elon was able to access a SCIF, which holds some of the country's top secrets. Two security officials at USAID were put on administrative leave following their attempt to refuse Elon and DOGE [again, not an actual government department] access. DODGE was eventually able to make its way in, and per reporting from CNN, had the goal of accessing classified info.

ELECTION SZN

The szn that never ends

  • An election on March 25, 2025 – yes, you read that right – will determine if Dems in Pennsylvania will control the state House or not, after a special election was called following the death of HD35’s rep passing away. The Dem nominee is Dan Goughnour, who currently sits on the McKeesport, PA school board.

  • The perfect volunteer opportunity for the “Type A” friend doesn’t exist… kidding, it very much does in the form of volunteering as a poll worker for the 2025 city elections. Get the deats on how to become a poll worker here.

  • Senator Pete Buttigieg is that you?! It’s certainly a possibility per the reputable rumor mill, which has reported upon the decision of Senator Gary Peters [D-MI] to not run for re-election in 2026, that Mayor Pete is considering running for the seat.

  • Former Interior Secretary + former Congresswoman Deb Haaland is getting ready to run for governor of New Mexico. If she’s elected, she would be the first Native American woman to serve as state governor.

THE ACTION ITEMS

Get ‘em done from your phone

ACTION 1 – TRUMP NOMINEE, FBI DIRECTOR

The Ask: Tell your senators to block Kash Patel from becoming the Director of the FBI.

The Background: Kash Patel tried to soften his image last week by wearing glasses, but in reality the man’s reputation is built on being a dangerous conspiracy theorist who has been alleged to have an ‘enemies list.’

ACTION 2 – TRUMP NOMINEE, HHS

The Ask: Tell your senators to block RFK Jr. from becoming the Secretary of Health and Human Services.

The Background: The anti-vax, anti-abortion, pro-conspiracy theorist, that per Caroline Kennedy is a predator that used to use his blender to make baby mice x baby chicken smoothies to feed his pet, is not fit to protect and progress the health and wellbeing of the country.

ACTION 3 – TRUMP NOMINEE, OMB

The Ask: Tell your senators to block Russell Vought from leading the Office of Management & Budget.

The Background: Russell’s passion project is Project 2025, like literally he’s the man behind the sinfully long guiding plan on how to dismantle our institutions for his crew’s gains.

IRL ACTION, DC → For those with DC in their backyard, plan a visit to the offices of your senators to demand that they use every possible rule to block the nomination vote of Project 2025 Architect and now nominee for OMB Director. These are the how-to deats from Indivisible. P.S. you can also call + email your senators if you’re not in the DMV to let them know what’s up.

TOP OF THE EARBUDS

Listens for now & later

  • Minnesota Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan sat down for a lunch and yap with MPR News’ Minnesota Now Podcast to chat on the post-election reflections and realities – listen in here.

  • Senator Adam Schiff [D-CA] went on the Meidas Touch Podcast to discuss the confirmation hearings for Trump’s nominees – listen in here.

  • Senator Raphael Warnock [D-GA] popped onto the No Lie with Brian Tyler Cohen podcast to discuss the RFK Jr. of it all – listen in here.

PODCAST PLAYBOOKS

Secure placements for your principal (or yourself)

ICYMI - Girl and the Gov® creates bespoke podcast playbooks that deliver strategic placements to best connect elected officials, candidates, and thought leaders with their target audiences. Crafted with team needs in mind through the lens of experienced podcasters, the playbooks put your principal’s goals in play (and in earbuds). To learn more, drop the team note at [email protected] or simply reply to this email.

BACK ON OUR BILLSH*T

Bills, bills, bills

NEW YORK, HOUSING DISCRIMINATION: State Dem lawmakers are taking a proactive stance on the likelihood that Trump & Co will rollback federal housing protections, with the introduction of this bill. The bill would codify what is known as the “disparate impact standard” meaning that a discrimination claim can be filed based on impact without the requirement of intent.

ARIZONA, GROUNDWATER: A bill with support from Gov. Hobbs, and even Republicans too, has emerged in the state leg with the goal of protecting water access in rural areas of the state. The bill - the Rural Groundwater Management Act - would bring local stakeholders into the fold, look to improve aquifer conditions, protect groundwater basins from being extracted by new, external entities, and more.

WHEN IN DOUBT, VOTE THEM OUT

The GATG fave crewneck is back

KEY READS

Important stories from around the USA

  • The Hill: GOP rep says he supports ‘purging’ of State Department

  • City & State: Trump targets MTA funding

  • Politico: Florida Republicans just declared war on each other

BEFORE YOU GO…

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