As of 12:01am EST today, October 1st, the federal government is partially shut down, as a result of the Congress and the Trump administration’s failure to approve a budget for the fiscal year, which begins October 1 each year. This shutdown is a result of disagreements from both parties on healthcare spending in the 2026 Budget.
For the past couple of years, the IL Department has been helping consumers with their technology needs through a grant from Baystate. Thanks to the foresight of our CEO, Angelina Ramirez, and staff who recognized an opportunity to meet the needs of our community, we have been able to help countless individuals access technology.
When a governing institution wants to stop you from doing something, one of its most effective strategies is making that thing more difficult to accomplish. Making something illegal takes a lot of work and red tape, but making something more difficult is an easier regulatory process. If they make it difficult enough, almost no one will do it, even if it’s legal or technically possible.
Part II of II of our "What Is Eugenics? Tracing the Roots of Ableism and Racism in America" series.
What is Eugenics? As the attack on people of color and people with disabilities intensifies in the United States, it’s time to step back and take a long look at the structures that have led us here. Eugenics and eugenic thinking have permeated our nation for hundreds of years, and understanding that history can help us better understand the motivations of some of our politicians today.
The Trump administration has issued subpoenas to several hospitals that provide gender-affirming care to minors, requesting personal information about patients including names, home addresses, therapy notes, and Social Security Numbers. Among these hospitals, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia is fighting back. They have filed a response detailing the harm that releasing this information would cause.