Three Wins Today: June 17, 2025

Yesterday I did an interview (which you will see tomorrow, I think) and today I was interviewed for a pretty big paper, I don’t want to say more because I was once interviewed about the TikTok ban for NBC Nightly News, and then the pope got bronchitis and the interview was scrapped. So, at this point, I just assume that the interview itself was the cool thing and if it actually comes out it’s a bonus.

Anyway, here are three of today’s wins!

1. Today - I have to start with Brad Lander’s interview with Chris Hayes. I’m sure you’ve seen various clips, but do yourself a favor and watch the full 10 minutes.

   YouTube

   The fact that this court watching is literally about holding onto the person tightly enough in the literal sense is something I absolutely didn’t understand.

   Also hearing about the fact that most of these agents are immigrants themselves adds a whole new layer to this mess.

   If you want to volunteer as a court watcher, the organization he works with is Immigrant Arc. If you’re able to, they need you.

2. March 15, but reported today - Trans 67-year-old woman, Anne Isabel Coombes swam in the Cornwall County Masters topless in protest of being forced to compete with men but told to still wear a women’s swimsuit. As in, they acknowledge her body is female, but somehow she can’t compete as one.

   Basically, there are now two categories, the female category and the everyone else category. which is somehow seen as more fair, but feels incredibly sexist as if women are small and weak and need to be protected.

   Coombes told Reading Chronicles:

   I asked them what costume I was supposed to wear, as there are rules around how much fabric can be on your body. They confirmed that I need to wear a female swimming costume despite having to compete with the men, which 'outs' me as a woman who is transgender. I explained to the person on the phone that they are not allowed to do that, and he didn't have an answer.

   So shout out to Anne for her incredible protest. I’m sad that we didn’t hear about it sooner, but I’m glad to know now.

3. Today - The Wisconsin Supreme Court ruled unanimously that the Republican-controlled legislature can no longer force the Dem AG to ask for permission to settle certain lawsuits.

   And their ruling does not mince words:

   

   This gives me hope for North Carolina in the future, since they are in a similar predicament, and is an important reminder, as always, that voting matters.

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So I hope you enjoyed these wins, and I really do hope you watched the entire Brad Lander interview.

Our voices are our superpower, but only when we use them!