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Tag Archives: right wingnuts

Campaign Finance: promising us high regressive sales taxes

14 Sunday Jun 2026

Posted by Michael Bersin in Uncategorized

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Tags

Amendment 5, campaign finance, class warfare, HJR 173, income tax repeal, missouri, Missouri Ethics Commission, PAC, regressive taxation, right wingnut welfare, right wingnuts, shift the tax burden, social media, welfare for billionaires and millionaires

Yeah, that’ll go over really well. Like the cost of health care, gas, and groceries.

Yesterday at the Missouri Ethics Commission for the right wingnut controlled super majority in the Missouri General Assembly and Governor Mike Kehoe’s (r) scam to abolish the income tax in Missouri and shift revenue to regressive sales taxes:

C264249 06/13/2026 Missouri Promise PAC Secure Missouri 308 East High Street Suite 300 Jefferson City MO 65101 6/12/2026 $1,500,000.00

[emphasis added]

Earlier:

C264249 05/11/2026 Missouri Promise PAC Missouri Promise Inc. 701 Market Street Suite 110 St Louis MO 63101 5/7/2026 $16,000.00

C264249 05/28/2026 Missouri Promise PAC Missouri Promise Inc. 701 Market Street Suite 110 St Louis MO 63101 5/27/2026 $1,900,000.00

[emphasis added]

A new PAC, in May:

Insulting propaganda commercials coming to a television set near you. Soon.

No on Amendment 5 (HJR 173).

“The Many will beat the Money. Resist.”

Previously:

Campaign Finance: for billionaires and millionaires (May 30, 2026)

Campaign Finance: every little bit counts (June 2, 2026)

Bait and switch (June 3, 2026)

Joined at the hip

11 Thursday Jun 2026

Posted by Michael Bersin in Missouri General Assembly, Missouri House

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54th Legislative District, American Federation for Children, Brandon Phelps, defunding public education, Grifters, missouri, PAC, right wingnuts, school privatization, Trump cult

It’s kind of difficult to distance yourself from an increasing unpopular and disengaged cult leader when his dark money people keep dumping mailers in your district joining the two of you at the hip.

Brandon Phelps (r) [2025 file photo].

Still no complaints from Brandon Phelps (r) about these PAC expenditures.

In today’s mail:

“President Trump’s school choice agenda is a grand slam!….”

Privatizing K-12 education and defunding Warrensburg R-VI Schools is not going to go over very well in this legislative district.

“….Representative Brandon Phelps
Stood up for President Trump and our families when we needed it most….”

What, no mention of affordable housing, access to affordable health care, nor grocery and gas prices? Go figure.

“…Education Freedom Agenda…”

If you’re sitting at a table with grifters and you’re wondering who the mark is, it’s you.

Paid for by American Federation for Children, Inc.
[….]

Who?

[….] The American Federation for Children (AFC) is a conservative 501(c)(4) dark money group that promotes the school privatization agenda via the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) and other avenues. It is the 501(c)(4) arm of the 501(c)(3) non-profit group the Alliance for School Choice.[1] The group was organized and is funded by the billionaire DeVos family, who are the heirs to the Amway fortune. [….]

American Federation for Children
November 30, 2016
Bill Oberndorf will succeed Betsy DeVos as chairman of the American Federation for Children. Bill brings more than 25 years of experience in helping to advance the cause of parental choice and education freedom. Read more about him!
[….]

About AFC

THE CAUSE
When funding for education follows students to the school of their choice, families win. We believe all parents should have a wide range of high-quality educational options to choose from, regardless of income.
[….]

What could possibly go wrong?

“…When funding for education follows students to the school of their choice…” Defunding local public schools.

Nope.

Follow the money. It’s always the money.

Previously:

Campaign Finance: dismantle the public good, privatize everything (July 28, 2018)

Campaign Finance: Public education, eh? (September 15, 2019)

Campaign Finance: oxymoron (July 14, 2020)

Campaign Finance: of, by, and for the children (July 24, 2020)

Campaign Finance: in a name, sort of (October 6, 2020)

Campaign Finance: Who profits? (July 12, 2022)

Campaign Finance: Why not just name it ‘The Committee to Defund Public Education in Missouri’? (July 11, 2024)

Campaign Finance: the money behind the “school choice” voucher scam designed to defund public education (July 30, 2024)

What a friend we have in Donald (r), and Betsy, and…June 10, 2026)

What a friend we have in Donald (r), and Betsy, and…

10 Wednesday Jun 2026

Posted by Michael Bersin in Missouri General Assembly, Missouri House

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54th Legislative District, American Federation for Children, Brandon Phelps, defunding public education, missouri, PAC, right wingnuts, school privatization, Trump cult

It’s kind of difficult to distance yourself from an increasing unpopular and disengaged cult leader when his dark money people dump a mailing in your district joining the two of you at the hip.

Brandon Phelps (r) [2025 file photo].

And, so far, no complaints from Brandon Phelps (r).

In the mail this week:

Representative Brandon Phelps
Stood up for President Trump and our families when we needed it most
Call & thank him for fighting for Missouri parents and kids!
[….]
Voted to fully fund public schools
Championed school choice for families
Expanded parental rights
Raised pay for Missouri teachers

“…Championed school choice for families…” Uh, we’re certain the patrons of and teachers and professionals serving Warrensburg R-VI Schools would like to know about this.

Thank you!
Representative Brandon Phelps
For standing with President Trump & his education freedom agenda

Donald Trump (r) is calling the shots for our local public schools? Yeah, no.

Paid for by American Federation for Children, Inc.
[….]

Who?

[….] The American Federation for Children (AFC) is a conservative 501(c)(4) dark money group that promotes the school privatization agenda via the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) and other avenues. It is the 501(c)(4) arm of the 501(c)(3) non-profit group the Alliance for School Choice.[1] The group was organized and is funded by the billionaire DeVos family, who are the heirs to the Amway fortune. [….]

American Federation for Children
November 30, 2016
Bill Oberndorf will succeed Betsy DeVos as chairman of the American Federation for Children. Bill brings more than 25 years of experience in helping to advance the cause of parental choice and education freedom. Read more about him!
[….]

About AFC

THE CAUSE
When funding for education follows students to the school of their choice, families win. We believe all parents should have a wide range of high-quality educational options to choose from, regardless of income.
[….]

What could possibly go wrong?

“…When funding for education follows students to the school of their choice…” Defunding local public schools. Yeah, that’ll go over really well in the 54th Legislative District.

Follow the money. It’s always the money.

Previously:

Campaign Finance: dismantle the public good, privatize everything (July 28, 2018)

Campaign Finance: Public education, eh? (September 15, 2019)

Campaign Finance: oxymoron (July 14, 2020)

Campaign Finance: of, by, and for the children (July 24, 2020)

Campaign Finance: in a name, sort of (October 6, 2020)

Campaign Finance: Who profits? (July 12, 2022)

Campaign Finance: Why not just name it ‘The Committee to Defund Public Education in Missouri’? (July 11, 2024)

Campaign Finance: the money behind the “school choice” voucher scam designed to defund public education (July 30, 2024)

Campaign Finance: Oxymoron

21 Thursday May 2026

Posted by Michael Bersin in campaign finance

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campaign finance, missouri, Missouri Ethics Commission, PAC, Put Missouri First, right wingnuts, rnc

Today at the Missouri Ethics Commission:

C253723 05/21/2026 Put Missouri First Republican National Committee 310 First Street SE Washington DC 20003 5/21/2026 $13,787.50

[emphasis added]

Yeah, right.

Missouri

Overall Rank #31

Crime & Corrections #43
Economy #25
Education #33
Fiscal Stability #11
Health Care #43
Infrastructure #37
Natural Environment #18
Opportunity #11

After two decades of right wingnut control of state government. Go figure.

“…I’m so confused…. if our elections have not been free and fair, how did you get elected??…”

16 Saturday May 2026

Posted by Michael Bersin in Congress, social media

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Tags

Denny Hoskins, gaslighting, gerrymandering, initiative, missouri, Redistricting, Rick Brattin, right wingnuts, Secretary of State, social media

Math is hard, apparently.

Rick Brattin (r) [2013 file photo].

Denny Hoskins (r) [2022 file photo].

Yesterday:

Rick Brattin for Congress
[May 15, 2026]
·
I was honored to stand alongside Missouri Secretary of State Denny Hoskins today as he pushed back against the unlawful actions of woke Boone County Clerk Brianna Lennon.
The law is not optional. The Missouri First map is the law of the land, and it must be upheld, not ignored for political agendas.
I will never back down in the fight for election integrity, fair elections, and protecting the voice of Missouri voters. As long as I have the privilege to serve the people of Missouri, I will continue fighting to ensure our laws are enforced and our elections remain secure.
[….]

There is much hilarity in the responses:

that’s not what the Supreme Court said on it’s Tuesday ruling. [….]
“Because the secretary’s certification process under chapter 116 is ongoing and has not been finally determined, it is impossible to say as of this opinion whether the December 9 referendum petition filing was ‘legal, sufficient, and timely’ and, therefore, whether HB 1 went into effect on December 11 or whether HB 1 was referred to the people as of December 9 and can only go into effect when approved by a majority of the votes cast thereon.”

hoskins is derelict in doing his duty. The Supreme Court said he must verify the signatures on the petition. In the election, the map to be used must be the current one NOT the one legislators recently drew up. Hoskins is holding the petition hostage.

Lmao.

Shame on you. Shame on Hoskins.

Dude, wha’ u talkin’ ’bout here? Your cronies overturned the will of the people for women to have access to total health care. Certify the signatures and wake up.

Proud Conservative here. This isnt about the Map! Its about the People’s Referendum which Hoskins wont certify. The Secretary of State needs to do his job and make a decision on the validity of signatures. Stop Playing Political Games!

The referendum signatures are in his building. Under the Missouri Constitution, a referendum filing suspends enforcement of a new enactment until a statewide vote. In its decision, the Missouri Supreme Court ruled that the suspension does not occur until the signatures are verified as valid in an official action by Hoskins.
If he does find the petitions have enough signatures, enforcement of the bill revising the maps would be suspended retroactively to the day the signatures were delivered. He has until Aug 4 to make a decision on the referendum. He’s Stonewalling the process.

the counties have verified over 100% of the required numbers. They hit that mark quite some time back. The SoS even has the numbers on their web site that clearly show the signature count was reached.
Hoskins should be personally financially liable for what this is going to cost taxpayers.

So you’re condoning cheating and dismissal of the people you actually are supposed to work for. Maybe stifle yourself! Brianna Lennon is epic at her job.

Pretty sure the opinion acknowledged that it is impossible to tell which map is in effect. Nice try though.

You want to protect the voice of Missouri voters “woke up Hoskins and tell him to count the signatures

He needs to do his job.

Then certify the referendum, simple. He needs to do HIS job.

Honor the will of the people

how many votes did you miss today?

After each census, cheaters!

Certify the signatures.

Anytime someone uses the word “woke,” I know not to take them seriously.

Straight from the mouth of ‘Never back down but never show up to vote Rick’

Jesus is Woke

Is there any context to this story? Oh and I can check Rick Brattin off my list…

Apparently you are only listening to the voices of SOME Missouri voters. What about the voices of the Missouri voters who signed AGAINST this?

But the map has a political agenda. WTF? Let the voters of the state decide.

Have Hoskins certify the referendum signatures (or reject them — after which he’ll lose in court). This is all the GOP’s making.

Why don’t you ask your buddy Denny to do his job and certify the referendum petition? Or does that part of the law not matter? 🤡

I’m so confused…. if our elections have not been free and fair, how did you get elected??

There is no honor in what you are doing

Protecting what voice?? We don’t have one anymore. We didn’t get to vote on the map. It was forced on us. And things we do vote on, you ignore! So again I ask, what voice????

How many votes did you miss while doing this?

Dishonorable

If you were really interested in protecting the voice of MIssouri voters, you would be pushing Hoskins to certify the signatures. Missouri voters did not vote for the redistricting. This is the chance to actually hear whether voters want the new district and if the MIssouri legislature was wrong to redistrict. And what about the paid sick leave and Reproductive Rights Amendment that Missouri voters already passed and you were a major actor in overturning those items?? Is that what protecting the voice of MIssouri voters is all about???????????????? Your statements are laughable in the face of reality.

Honored? You two are disgraceful to Missouri and most of Missourians see your underhanded manipulation to strip us of our LEGAL rights.
I would freely choose to stand beside Brianna Lennon because she is woke and not corrupt.
Look up the meaning of woke and read the definition of the term. Any day I will choose to be Woke!!!

Screw you.

Then certify the signatures and put it to a vote of the people – but you won’t because you don’t really care what the people want – only what your orders are from the 🍊🎪🤡 dumpf!!!

The first map is NOT the law of the land. The MO Supreme Court did not say that. You and your corrupt cohorts are delaying the certification to cause chaos in the August primaries. Following your POS cult leader, there is no low too low. Blue wave coming!

Aren’t you the one that they keep showing your empty desk when voting occurs. Not sure why your post are showing up on my Facebook, but you are one of the worst in office in Missouri, along with Hoskins and Kehoe. Tell Hoskins to do his job, since you can’t do anything else

“Woke Boone County Clerk”? You are asking people to put you into a position to be a leader — and you act like a third grade bully on the playground? Go away. Missouri doesn’t need or want you. And try to grow up at the same time.

How are you “protecting the voice of Missouri voters” if you don’t allow the Missouri voters an opportunity to vote on your proposed gerrymandered map? You’re making as much sense as Dementia Donald.

Hoskins needs to do his JOB. He had more than enough time to certify the referendum results. Republican refusing to do his job for political purposes. Trump and the MAGA are liars and cheats. Corrupting the entire country with their actions and failures.

Is there not a single politician left that speaks professionally? I’m so tired of seeing “woke” “radical” and “lefties” in nearly every post. The dumbing down of our leadership is real.

Why don’t you ask that dipshit in the red jacket why he hasn’t certified the petition to let the people actually vote on these stupid maps? What are you afraid of?

Now you are even lying about the court’s decision, while standing with the guy refusing to do his job and certify the referendum signed by over 300,000 Missourians.

Love her, but I thoroughly hate your guts and Hoskins as well

So you never read the actual court order then. Another reason you will be replaced next election. You making this way to easy for your competition. You do nothing but champion the silencing the voters of kc by dividing them up after they supported you during your broadcasting career only.to have you turn your back on them in favor of simping for your party.

Campaign Finance: Justice is supposed to be free, Conservative Justice costs serious money

03 Friday Apr 2026

Posted by Michael Bersin in campaign finance

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campaign finance, missouri, Missouri Ethics Commission, Rex Sinquefield, right wingnuts

Apparently.

Yesterday at the Missouri Ethics Commission:

C253632 04/02/2026 Conservative Justice for Missouri PAC Rex Sinquefield 244 Bent Walnut Lane Westphalia MO 65085 NA Retired 3/31/2026 $250,000.00

[emphasis added]

Go figure.

Previously:

Campaign Finance: Isn’t it just supposed to be “Justice”? (December 21, 2025)

Campaign Finance: under the wire (December 31, 2025)

HB 2075: Who checks?

06 Friday Mar 2026

Posted by Michael Bersin in Uncategorized

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Tags

54th Legislative District, bathrooms, bigot, Bigotry, bigots, Brandon Phelps, General Assembly, HB 2075, right wingnuts, transphobia

Everybody has to pee.

So, is somebody going to stand at the restroom door and have you pull down your pants before you can enter? Just asking.

Brandon Phelps (r) [2025 file photo].

HB 2075
Establishes provisions for restroom designations in all public buildings
Sponsor: Phelps, Brandon (054)
Proposed Effective Date: 8/28/2026
LR Number: 4434H.01I
Last Action: 03/02/2026 – Public Hearing Completed (H)
Bill String: HB 2075
[….]

The bill summary:

HB 2075 — SINGLE-SEX ACCESS TO CERTAIN FACILITIES
SPONSOR: Phelps

The bill defines “biological sex” as the biological indication of male or female in the context of reproductive potential or capacity, whereas “gender” is defined as the psychological, behavioral, social, and cultural aspects of being male or female. The bill also defines the terms “school”, “institution of higher education”, “single-occupancy facility”, “multi-occupancy facility”, “family facility”, and “public building”.

This bill requires multi-occupancy restrooms, locker rooms, changing rooms, and shower rooms found in public buildings, schools, and institutions of higher education to be designated with clear signage for the exclusive use of person of the male biological sex or female biological sex. A member of the male
biological sex will not be permitted to use a multi-occupancy facility that has been designated for the exclusive use of persons of the female biological sex, and a member of the female biological sex will not be permitted to use a multi-occupancy facility that has been designated for the exclusive use of persons of the male biological sex.

The bill specifies that a multi-occupancy facility must not be designated for use by persons of a particular gender or genders instead of, or in addition to, persons of a particular biological sex. However, this provision does not prohibit family facilities. Schools are prohibited from allowing members of the male biological sex and the female biological sex from sharing overnight accommodations in any setting where students are staying overnight, including school trips.

This bill requires policies adopted in accordance with these provisions to include accommodations for persons who request them, to include the use of single-occupancy facilities.

[….]

Failure to comply with the provisions of this bill will result in the revocation or withholding of state funding for the entity operating a public building, school, or institution of higher education.

[….]

Some of the submitted testimony:

I strongly support the initiative. We need to make sure that the deviants who want to intrude into opposite-sex restrooms are held accountable.

“Cross your legs and hold it” as a cultural norm…

Missouri is a common sense state that understands that men should not be in women’s restrooms and that women should not be in men’s restrooms. We must take action to end the support for certain individuals delusions that jeopardize not only the public conscience, but especially the physical and emotional safety of normal women across the state. I have personally seen people made uncomfortable by the intrusion of their private spaces by members of the opposite sex, and this is totally unnecessary. There is no reason for this legislature, which is dominated by Republicans, to betray their constituents by allowing this bill to die. Thank you.

Quit treating these people like objects and not humans. There have been Family bathrooms in lots of buildings including airports and trains stations. All go in them. It wasn’t a problem until MAGA decided it was. Why don’t you focus on the fact families and Seniors can’t afford to feed their families or themselves. Housing is too expensive. Health care gets rougher every day. Leave all the people you racists hate alone. We are a country of immigrants and you are the ones who make it seem bad. Why?? ? Get all felons out of this country including those holding Public office.

“Trans Liberation Now”

The Missouri Catholic Conference supports HB 2075, as it would ensure that fundamental safety and privacy standards for both men and women are guaranteed in certain spaces that, because of their nature, should not be shared with persons of the opposite sex. Designating those spaces as sex separated would protect the God-given dignity of both males and females, provide clarity, uphold justice and the common good, and ensure that our laws comport with a proper understanding of human nature. The Missouri Catholic Conference urges the committee to vote “DO PASS” on HB 2075.

Dayam. We have unisex restrooms in our house.

Every single human being should have the freedom to use the restroom without being harassed. As long as they’re neat and wash their hands, it shouldn’t matter what bathrooms Transgender people use. Stop trying to regulate people’s bodily functions or to be the genital police.

I support this bill because As a society, we should NOT cater to the transgender crowd. They are lost individuals in society and tremendously need the Love of Christ in their life and read what the Bible says. Especially in our schools. Our youth in particular, are so persuasive and this kind of behavior should not be tolerated in our schools. A boy is a boy from birth that becomes a man for the rest of his life and a girl is a girl from birth that becomes a woman for the rest of her life!

Probably not attributable to Gandhi. But you get the point

Once again, Missouri politicians have no business telling grown adults in higher education which bathroom they can use. Education and college should be for everyone willing to do the course work. These practices of discrimination are clearly an attempt to erase transgender people from Missouri and make it harder for them to get decent jobs. [….]

Missouri families are under real financial pressure. Healthcare costs keep rising, grocery bills are stretching household budgets, and tens of thousands of Missourians still do not have reliable access to primary care. At a time when these challenges should be the focus of this legislature, HB 2075 directs state attention toward regulating restroom designations in public buildings. This bill addresses no documented crisis, creates new compliance costs for schools, libraries, municipal offices, and small businesses, and risks years of expensive litigation for the state.

Missouri lawmakers should be focused on lowering prescription drug costs, protecting Medicaid coverage for working families, and expanding healthcare access across the 114 counties facing provider shortages. HB 2075 moves us away from those priorities and spends taxpayer resources on an issue that does nothing to improve the daily lives of Missouri families. For these reasons, I urge the committee to oppose HB 2075 and focus instead on legislation that addresses the economic and healthcare challenges Missourians face every day.

i’m a middle-aged white guy and i think our government needs to start treating trans people with respect and equal rights. way overdue!! the reason they are treated so poorly in america has everything to do with how shady our government is and nothing to do with them and their existence or how they live their lives. they are no threat to men, women, or children – and they don’t deserve to live in fear.

I believe we share values to protect people against harm. I don’t want people attacked or harassed in bathrooms.

However, I believe that this bill will do more to expose people to harm than to protect people from it. Crime statistics do not support a high rate of violence by transgender women against cisgender women (i.e., the sort that seems feared by continuing to allow transgender women to use the women’s bathroom).

In contrast, there is very strong evidence for violence by cisgender men against transgender women (i.e., the sort that we could expect by forcing transgender women into men’s bathrooms). People that are transgender are 4 times as likely to be victims of violent crime, and cisgender men are by far the most common perpetrator against transgender women.

Many people that are transgender “pass” in public as their identified gender, and this helps avoid that exposure to violence. By forcing people that are transgender to use their “biological sex” bathroom, we are also forcing them “out” to coworkers and strangers every time that they have to use the facilities, thus exposing them to more potential for violence.

We all have to pee.

Discrimination pure and simple.

This is a ridiculous overreach of government that puts trans people at risk and ostracizes them needlessly.

The argument that it will keep men out of the ladies’ room is 110% incorrect because it will force trans men into using restrooms that they wouldn’t choose for themselves. It will actually make it more common for male-presenting folks to walk into the women’s restroom, thereby making it easier for predatory cis-men to enter and assault women and children.

This bill does nothing but hurt a small group of people living in the state of Missouri. If it were really about protecting the children, there’d be free school lunches, mandatory vaccines, and let trans people live their lives. There is no good reason to target trans people, and that’s all this is.

This bill removes local control and does more harm than good. People already know which bathroom works for them.

It all ends up in the same place, too.

Trans people, statistically and historically, are one of the safest groups to be around, especially when it comes to safety of women. Women are more likely to be assaulted in a church than in a bathroom with a Trans person. I am highly bothered by my state using resources to submit three bills on a non-issue than working towards anything that actually impacts Missourians such has housing affordability or rural development. Or even measures to help with drugs.

Abhorrent bigotry. Please stop it. As a Missouri resident I am embarrassed this is even being considered.

As a cisgender woman, I know – as does the general public – that there is no danger or risk for anyone EXCEPT for transgender, gender expansive and intersex people when states implement bathroom bans.

You are not protecting women. You are not protecting children. You are simply pushing the already most marginalized and publicly persecuted group of American human beings further and further into the shadows.

What are you doing to stop cisgender from from raping children and women and transgender people? Focus on actual issues instead of being puppets for the administration. Have some humanity. People need to use restrooms – you don’t just detransition overnight you’re leaving them in an impossible situation.

Finally, you put extra people at risk. There are plenty of cisgender people walking around who often get mistaken for the opposite gender. These are simply men with feminine features or vice versa. By implementing divisive bans, you put a much larger population at risk.

As a woman in a relationship with another masculine-presenting woman, this bill puts my CISGENDER partner in extreme risk. She already has to deal with regular harassment from the public, there is no need for a useless law to make this even worse. I have so many amazing trans friends too. If they can’t safely use public facilities because they will get harassed by going to the facility for their assigned at birth gender, they would no longer be able to do their jobs, travel safely, enjoy public events, and so much more.

You also alienate people from other states who will now place a travel ban on Missouri.

No one should police others’ bodies. And our government has no business policing my body or anyone else’s. If I’m a short haired flat chested woman will I be questioned on my bathroom choice? Who gets to decide who looks feminine enough?

Trans people have been using public bathrooms for decades without incident. Most people have probably shared a public restroom with a trans person at some point and never realized it. There is no evidence that allowing trans women to use women’s bathrooms leads to assaults or safety risks.

A little research shows Transgender and gender-nonconforming people face high rates of harassment and violence in public restrooms. According to the Williams Institute (2013), 70% of trans people surveyed had been denied access, harassed, or assaulted in a restroom.

Data from Transequality.org shows that 68% of transgender people have been verbally harassed and 9% physically assaulted while using a public restroom. Eight percent have developed kidney or urinary tract infections from avoiding restrooms due to fear.

It’s not just trans women. Many cisgender women who don’t conform to gender norms—such as women with short hair, muscular builds, or masculine clothing—report being questioned or harassed in women’s restrooms.

Stop this nonsense.

These bills are an absolute waste of taxpayer money, and are harmful to our most vulnerable population.

I’m sorry I can’t put this more eloquently, but what are we doing here? Your president is starting wars and making life less safe and more expensive for the average Missourian, yet you’re spending your time and energy continuing to attack a marginalized minority? This is done under the guise of protecting women and girls, yet I am not seeing any investigations or consequences on the files detailing actual sexual abuse and human trafficking of underage girls by your president’s best friend, cabinet members, and seemingly the man himself. As a mother of an 11 year old girl, I would much rather her be around a trans or non-binary person and would trust her alone with them much more than I would anyone in charge right now. This is a blatant corruption of power and I am sick of my taxpayer dollars being wasted on this nonsense.

Stop being a bigot. Trans people just want to pee. This does nothing to protect women and anything that would help women, you would vote against. History will judge you harshly for your cruel attacks on transgender Americans, an already vulnerable group.

To those who are not directly affected by these decisions, I ask you to pause and really think. Just because something does not impact you or your family personally does not mean it doesn’t impact real people. Human beings. People who deserve to live freely and safely in the state they call home.

No one should have to worry that decisions made by people who don’t understand their lives, their needs, or their realities could put their safety at risk. Policies are not abstract. They affect bodies, dignity, mental health, and in some cases, lives.

Please choose empathy. Please choose humanity. Please think about the weight of the decisions being made and the real consequences they carry. These are people who simply want to live in peace and be left alone.

Be the bridge where division has been created. We all deserve a safe space to exist.

Bathroom bills legislate a promblem that isn’t a real problem. This is a waste of resources and time. Policing of bathrooms does not protect anyone. It only endangers those who look different. I, a cis woman, do not feel safer with legislation like this being put forth. It weaponizes a person appearance and emboldens those with those with prejudice against those who may not fit certain beauty standards as well as makes it impossible for those who have transitioned to use the bathroom. I don’t want some MAGA weirdo policing me or my young neice asking what’s in her pants because her hair is too short or is a little taller than most, or her voice is a little deeper than others, or she power lifts, etc. Y’all are trying to make trans peoples lives so hard legislating against such a small group of people who just want to live their lives. Trans people should be able to use the bathroom without the fear of some
weirdo or person on a power trip policing them. I wish you had this same energy for Trump and those friends of the Epstein class whom actually hurt women and girls. Let trans people live!

I am a straight cis woman who is 6 foot tall, wide shoulders, I don’t wear makeup often, I don’t dress up, my general choice will always be jeans, t shirt, and tennis shoes.

Recently the obsession with genitals has escalated rapidly, our representatives are pushing bill after bill to target marginalized and already endangered humans who are just trying to go about their lives in peace.

Up until last year I had no fear of men in women’s restrooms, that was before a woman assumed I was a trans woman, went out and told her partner, and suddenly I hear heavy footsteps, someone bangs loudly on the stall walls and started screaming, “faggot!! Get out here and face me!” Along with other
slurs and threats. I didn’t know he was meaning me until I exited the stall, afraid of what was going on. He was red faced and seething, probably 6ft 3in tall, big guy. I told him in a shaky voice I was a womanand he needed to leave. He did. But only because an employee had gone to get a manager.

I was afraid.

I have never been afraid in a public bathroom of a trans woman. Not once. I have multiple trans friends and I would trust all of them far more than anyone who thinks they have a right to say what a woman is and is not based on characteristics alone.

Gender is a spectrum. Humans are a spectrum. It’s what makes us so unique and important – our differences make us stronger.

No woman deserves to be scared because she “isn’t feminine enough” or “dainty enough”. We have real issues in Missouri.

Education.
Healthcare.
Housing.
Etc.

This is a waste of time and it’s stupid.

[….]

I moved to this state because it was safer for me to be trans here than in southern Illinois. The people here were more accepting. If this passes I will have to leave for my own safety. And take my tax money with me. Do you want to see me with a full beard in the women’s restroom? Or do you just want to see me piss myself?

“Pull down your pants!” is certainly a different right wingnut take on “Your papers, please.”

Previously:

Hey Brandon Phelps (r), we hear you’re afraid of church ladies (September 18, 2025)

Apparently, ‘Triumph des Willens’ without Leni Riefenstahl, but with a bigger budget and no redeeming value

31 Saturday Jan 2026

Posted by Michael Bersin in Uncategorized

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

grift, Melania Trump, Propaganda, reviews, right wingnuts

June 22, 2018 – Overland Park, Kansas

‘Melania’ Review: A Disingenuous Documentary That Misfires By Mistaking The First Lady’s Fame For Star Quality
By Jesse Hassenger @rockmarooned
Published Jan. 30, 2026, 3:00 p.m. ET

Melania review: Shameless propaganda that could put you to sleep
If this supposed documentary weren’t about what it’s actually about, it could at times play as an unlikely meditation aid
Donald Clarke
Sat Jan 31 2026 – 07:25

‘Melania’ Review: A Tedious, Criminally Shallow Propaganda Puff Piece
The “Rush Hour” director returns with a shameful cinematic suck-up masquerading as a real documentary
William Bibbiani
January 30, 2026 @ 9:17 PM

‘Melania’ Review
The first lady’s reality show.
Sonny Bunch
Jan 31, 2026

An ego trip to the movies
Melania is a fascinatingly terrible film
By Robert Hutton
31 January, 2026

‘Melania’ Review: Brett Ratner’s Melania Trump Documentary Is an Unabashed, Fly-on-the-Gilded-Wall Fawn Job
The ‘Rush Hour’ director’s film offers an up-close and not-so-personal portrait of the first lady during the few weeks before President Trump’s second inauguration.
By Frank Scheck
January 30, 2026 12:46pm

Trust Me, ‘Melania’ Is an Unbelievable Abomination of Filmmaking
We bravely watched the new documentary and lived to tell the tale.
Kevin Fallon
Updated Jan. 30 2026 7:58PM EST

Jan 30, 2026 11:49am PT
‘Melania’ Review: Brett Ratner’s First Lady Documentary Is a Cheeseball Infomercial of Staggering Inertia
There’s no drama to a film that should have been called “Day of the Living Tradwife.”
By Owen Gleiberman

Melania review – First Lady is a preening, scowling void of pure nothingness in this ghastly bit of propaganda
Hitting cinemas as the streets of America remain filled with the angry and grieving, the vulgar, gilded lifestyle of the Trumps makes them look like Marie Antoinette skulking in her cake-filled chateau
Nick Hilton
Friday 30 January 2026 11:48 EST

You get the picture.

Campaign Finance: Propping Up Mr. Denny (r)

24 Wednesday Dec 2025

Posted by Michael Bersin in campaign finance

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

campaign finance, Denny Hoskins, missouri, Missouri Ethics Commission, Old Drum Conservative PAC, PAC, Rex Sinquefield, right wingnuts, Secretary of State

Today at the Missouri Ethics Commission:

C180536 12/24/2025 Old Drum Conservative PAC Rex Sinquefield 244 Bent Walnut Lane Westphalia MO 65085 Retired 12/24/2025 $25,000.00

[emphasis added]

“Thank you sir. May I have another?”

Denny Hoskins (r) [2025 file photo].

From the good old days:

Campaign Finance: Putting Donald Trump (r) First….with another $900,000.00

22 Monday Dec 2025

Posted by Michael Bersin in Uncategorized

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

campaign finance, Dark money, gerrymandering, missouri, Missouri Ethics Commission, Redistricting, referendum, right wingnuts, Trump sycophants

Today at the Missouri Ethics Commission for the PAC created to defend the right wingnut gerrymandering of Missouri’s congressional districts:

C253723 12/22/2025 Put Missouri First American Action Network Inc. 1747 Pennsylvania Ave NW Flr 5 Washington DC 20006 12/19/2025 $450,000.00

C253723 12/22/2025 Put Missouri First Securing American Greatness Inc. 138 Conant St Suite 401 Beverly MA 01915 12/19/2025 $450,000.00

[emphasis added]

Grass roots? Who needs it?

Previously:

Rep. Emanuel Cleaver (D) – on Donald Trump’s (r) early redistricting scam (August 29, 2025)

Hey, Brandon Phelps (r), are you going to vote for this gerrymandered bullshit? (August 30, 2025)

HB 1: Gerrymander this (September 9, 2025)

Campaign Finance: putting up the money (September 14, 2025)

Gaslighting and Gerrymandering (September 28, 2025)

Campaign Finance: getting the signatures (October 4, 2025)

Campaign Finance: indeed (October 22, 2025)

Campaign Finance: working people, for the people (October 27, 2025)

Put Donald Trump (r), the Republican National Committee, and the National Republican Congressional Committee First (November 6, 2025)

Campaign Finance: for all the marbles (November 9, 2025)

Campaign Finance: But wait, there’s more… (November 15, 2025)

Campaign Finance: Putting Donald Trump (r) First (November 16, 2025)

Campaign Finance: trying to keep up (November 17, 2025)

Campaign Finance: next level (November 21, 2025)

Campaign Finance: we have to fight every step of the way (December 18, 2025)

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