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A U.S. judge on Friday blocked a new Florida law restricting drag performances, the third time this month federal courts have enjoined laws backed by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis that concern gender or LGBTQ matters. In all three cases, the issues supported by DeSantis , a Republican presidential candidate, lost on grounds the laws appear to infringe on people's constitutional rights. In Friday's decision, U.S. District Judge Gregory Presnell of the Middle District of Florida granted an injunction preventing the state from enforcing a law that bans minors from attending obscene live performances, calling it too broad. DESANTIS SHUTS DOWN FLORIDA SCHOOL'S ‘DRAG & DOUNUTS’ EVENT FEATURING DRAG QUEEN ‘MOMMA’ ASHLEY ROSE: REPORT The judge refused to dismiss the law entirely, meaning the underlying lawsuit challenging it will go forward. The governor's office said the judge was "dead wrong" and predicted the state would win on appeal. "Of course it...

Pew Research Center : A survey of ~305 experts on their expectations for digital advances by 2035, like AI systems and smart eyewear and earbuds, and concerns over the darker sides   —  They have deep concerns about people's and society's overall well-being.  But they also expect great benefits in health care, scientific advances and education

New York City spent approximately $50,000 in a one-year period to resettle dozens of migrants in different parts of the U.S. — including Florida and Texas — as well as other countries, including South American nations and even China. The city spent $50,000 between April 2022 and April 2023 to rehouse 114 migrant households to states across the country, according to data obtained by Politico. The top three states were Florida (28 households), Texas (14) and North Carolina (6). The outlet also reported that five households were sent to other countries, including Peru, China, Ecuador and Venezuela. The existence of transportation programs out of the city for migrants are neither new nor hidden. The city in September announced the formation of Humanitarian Emergency Response and Relief Centers, which provide services to migrants including "settlement options" via family connections both in and outside of the Big Apple. NYC MAYOR ERIC ADAMS SUES 30 NEW YORK COUNTIES FOR REFUSI...

Lisa O'Carroll / The Guardian : The EFJ and media experts condemn the latest European Media Freedom Act draft that would let national security agencies place spyware on journalists' phones   —  Move to allow spyware to be placed on reporters' phones would have a ‘chilling effect’, say media experts

A handful of House Democrats refused to say this week whether they believe women should be allowed to have an abortion up until the moment of birth. Asked by Fox News Digital whether they would support any limitation on abortion, four Democrats – Reps. Ayanna Pressley of Massachusetts, Adam Schiff of California, Juan Vargas of California and Abigail Spanberger of Virginia – would not answer the question. With the exception of Vargas, the Democrats largely ignored the abortion questions altogether, just ahead of the first anniversary of the Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe v. Wade. Vargas, although he did not answer the question directly, told Fox News that he believes "women should be able to chose their own healthcare" and that he "shouldn't decide for them." HE PERFORMED ABORTIONS. NOW HE'S PRO-LIFE AND DEDICATED TO CHRIST: 'YOU HAVE TO CHANGE THE HUMAN HEART' House Republicans were also asked the same question, with Reps. Tim ...

Bloonface / Café Lob-On : The Twitter-to-Mastodon migration that started in November 2022 failed because of Mastodon's exclusionary culture, decentralization making the UX worse, more   —  I've been using fediverse stuff (Mastodon and, most recently, Calckey - I'm just going to use “Mastodon” as shorthand here …

A package of bipartisan measures bolstering affordable housing in Wisconsin has received final approval from Democratic Gov. Tony Evers, while Republicans have signed off on more than half a billion dollars to pay for the effort. PUBLIC SCHOOL READING INSTRUCTION OVERHAUL CLEARS WISCONSIN ASSEMBLY Evers signed five bills into law Thursday establishing loan programs for builders and landlords and making it easier for developers to get permits for new residences. One of the measures sets limits on who can challenge permitting decisions and requires that local governments approve permits for residential housing projects that don't violate local standards. Meanwhile, Republicans who control the Legislature's budget-writing committee set aside $525 million on Thursday to fund the new loans, which are targeted to projects that improve aging units, expand infrastructure such as roads and utilities to serve affordable housing, or convert vacant commercial buildings into affordable...