Mike’s Blog Round-up

By Elaine S. Povich, Stateline.org When Tennessee state Rep. Bob Freeman, a Democrat, studied his cable and internet bill last year, he kept seeing recurring charges for app subscriptions he didn’t recognize. Turned out, his 14-year-old daughter had been signing up for subscriptions with introductory rates and never canceling when they rolled over to the full price. “I would question her bills, and she said, ‘Oh, it’s only $1.99.’ Those were teaser rates,” he said in an interview.

This story was originally published by Grist and is reproduced here as part of the Climate Desk collaboration. Matthias Weyland loves having people ask about his balcony. A pair of solar panels hang from the railing, casting a sheen of dark blue against the red brick of his apartment building. They’re connected to a microinverter plugged into a wall outlet and feed electricity directly into his home.

Last August, the American Academy of Pediatrics renewed its guidance supporting the use of puberty blockers, hormone therapy, and other medical care for transgender children and teens. At a time when trans issues have moved to the center of the culture wars, the AAP—the main medical association representing US pediatricians, with 67,000 members—said its action was aimed at supporting trans minors amid new waves of anti-trans laws. Now, Republican officials from 21 states have accused the medical group of violating state consumer protection laws by supporting gender-affirming care for trans youth.

Harris’s fake joy is a euphemism for blissful ignorance. 

Federal programs across the Social Security Administration, including SSI and SSDI, are routinely ineffective and inefficient.

In this ever-devolving world, I often spot apparent dichotomies; some, oddly reminiscent of the Battle Between Good and Evil.