Blue 812 News Issue 80 - August 9

At 3:30 am on Saturday, when all good decisions are made, the US Senate voted to confirm Trump’s personal attorney as the nation’s Attorney General, then promptly left town for five weeks. Todd Blanche was approved 50-49, the narrowest margin in Senate history. All Democrats, Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), and Susan Collins (R-ME) voted against his confirmation, but Bill Cassidy (R-LA) thought he’d be better than whoever Trump would nominate next. Mitch McConnell (R-KY) didn’t vote, but has been discharged from rehab and is now at home (the people who thought he was dead aren’t wrong, though – they were just right too early).

Blanche sucks and is, unfortunately, very dangerous when it comes to reproductive rights. Last week, he told thousands of faith leaders that “we will have victory [on abortion]… and it will be permanent.” There’s been a lot of coverage that he is proposing a national abortion ban when, in effect, he’s arguing for the ‘backdoor ban’ we’ve been discussing for years - making abortion medication via mail inaccessible in red states via the Comstock Act. Leaving aside the fact that the Justice Department doesn’t pass laws, what Blanche said was something much more specific—and realistic—than a national ban. Abortion, Every Day’s Jessica Valenti also points out that “Blanche made a note of saying that the DOJ is working “hand in hand with the HHS, and the FDA, and the White House” on this issue. It makes me think that if the administration does have plans to directly attack abortion pills, it will be via their fake mifepristone study.” The whole article is worth a read.

In other Senate last-minute scramblings:

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I call Todd Young a lot, so he subscribed me to his newsletter as revenge. Thanks for the oppo research, Todd. In his most recent issue, there were a couple of proposed bills that I actually… like? At least, based on their newsletter descriptions (edited for clarity):

Well, you know how sometimes a bill’s title is doing a lot of heavy lifting? That’s the vibe here. On paper, both the PHD Talent Act and the MERIT Act sound like things I cheer for—more homegrown scientists, fewer legacy admissions, greater transparency. Yes. Great. Love that journey. But looking past the newsletter gloss, the underlying mechanics start to feel less like “good governance” and more like “policy dressed as meritocracy.” The PHD Talent Act narrows the STEM pipeline by restricting taxpayer‑funded support only to U.S. citizens, even though international doctoral students already make up a huge share of researchers in critical tech fields. It also funnels resources toward accelerated programs that mostly benefit wealthy institutions instead of fixing the structural barriers that keep American students out of STEM doctorates in the first place. Meanwhile, the MERIT Act tackles legacy admissions in the most convoluted way possible: by tying compliance to accreditation standards, risking federal aid for universities without addressing the broader inequities baked into standardized tests, wealth‑based admissions advantages, and the whole mythology of “merit.” Both bills use the language of fairness and competitiveness to push policies that look good on paper but ultimately reinforce existing hierarchies rather than dismantle them. You can’t fool me, Todd!

Big changes could be coming to Indiana child care. Indiana child care providers would no longer be required to have bachelor's degrees, "recognize each child as an individual whose personal privacy, choice of activities, and cultural, ethnic, and religious backgrounds are respected" or "work to increase understanding of cultural, ethnic, and other differences." The proposed changes also remove any requirement for many face-to-face interactions with toddlers and infants, "pleasant, soothing voices," frequent eye contact, regular hugs and affection and talking and singing to infants.
These are among more than 30 deregulations proposed by the Family and Social Services Administration's Office of Early Childhood and Out-of-School Learning in coordination with Braun. The office says the adjustments would lower the cost of care, but providers say they'll only lower quality.

Most of the provider outcry at a July 6 public hearing and in interviews focused on changes slashing minimum staff qualifications. All 16 of the providers who spoke at the first hearing for the rule changes opposed them. Under the new regulations, child care providers would no longer be considered "professionals." Directors would no longer need a bachelor's degree. Instead, they would need a Child Development Associate credential and two years of experience, or a general associate's degree. Caregivers would no longer need a high school diploma, and lead caregivers would need a high school diploma rather than an advanced degree. Volunteers could count towards child-staff ratios if they are at least 18 years old and can read and write.

Another round of public hearing on the proposed regulation will be scheduled for an undetermined date. The Office of Early Childhood and Out-of-School Learning may make adjustments to its proposed changes based on the first public hearing. The changes won’t take effect until the governor and the Indiana attorney general’s office approve the finalized version.

Unfortunately, this is hand-in-glove with nationwide priorities as the Trump administration appears poised to gut the central policies that shape Head Start. HHS proposed a rule on Thursday to “significantly reduce” the standards that define Head Start: teacher qualifications, class sizes, the services the poorest kids actually get. The agency also suggested it wants to shift Head Start funding to the states, although it didn’t specify how or when this would happen. Yes, we should definitely put Indiana in charge of it.

I was going to fill up on gas Wednesday just before Gov. Braun‘s gas tax suspension expired, but he unexpectedly decided to declare another energy emergency to lengthen the suspension. Indiana’s gasoline tax holiday will continue for at least 30 more days, potentially for up to 120 days, due to "recent disruptions" from the Russia-Ukraine war and Canadian wildfires. Just those things, Mike? Nothing else?

It’s not clear whether the governor’s order violates the law , which limits emergency declarations to 120 days. The governor said last month he didn’t have the power to continue the tax break without the Legislature coming into special session and authorizing another extension. Last week, he said he saw no need to call the Legislature into a special session to act on the gas tax suspension — and Republican House Speaker Todd Huston as well as Indiana AG Todd Rokita both said they supported Braun’s decision.

Rep. Ed DeLaney, D-Indianapolis, said that drivers would welcome “the cheap gas, but they won’t be happy when we have to raise the gas taxes to cover the billion dollars that we’re giving up. That’s the problem.” Republicans plan to shift money from the state’s general fund surplus to replace the gas tax revenue - a major policy shift as road funding has previously come from those driving on the roads. “We will be using sales and income taxes […] that’s where the surplus comes from,” DeLaney told reporters. “So now our schools, and our other facilities, our universities, our preschools, our Medicaid will all now have to compete with road funding for their dollars. They’ve not had that because road funding has been isolated, taken care of from the gas pump.”

The Vigo County School Corporation took community members on a tour of four schools in northern Indiana on Monday, with each school offering a different example of how school facilities could fit into the corporation’s proposed consolidation plan. The tour, arranged by the Vigo County School Corp. and made possible by a grant from the Wabash Valley Community Foundation, included about 50 teachers, students, principals, elected officials and community members who visited the schools in two groups over two days.

The sites visited included Valparaiso High School, which underwent a major renovation/addition project in 2016; Hobart High School, built new and opened in 2009; Taft Middle School, a new build that opened in 2023; and Lowell High School, which has recently undergone significant improvements to outdoor athletic facilities.

WTHI has reporting on each of the school visits: Part 1: Valparaiso; Part 2: Hobart High School; Part 3: Taft Middle School; and Part 4: Lowell High School.

Indiana is one of the only states without an official state mammal. It’s time to fill that blank with a creature that literally carries our name: the Indiana Bat. Sign the petition here!

These bats are endangered and struggling with white nose syndrome which is deadly to them. Meeting this petition’s goal may allow more conservation efforts to help keep them from going extinct and aid them against the deadly fungus. As far as I know, this is also the only animal with Indiana in its name.

Understanding the issues that shape our communities shouldn’t require a policy degree or hours spent sorting through conflicting headlines. Yet for many Hoosiers, staying informed can feel overwhelming, making it difficult to know where to start or who to trust.

That’s why Women4Change created a new issues blog series. This six-week series is designed to make complex topics more approachable, connecting the policies debated at the Statehouse to the everyday experiences of women, families, and communities across Indiana. Through clear, nonpartisan, research-based articles, we explore the issues people tell us matter most.

The goal isn’t to tell you what to think. It’s to help you better understand the challenges, opportunities, and decisions shaping our state so you can engage with confidence - because meaningful change begins with understanding.

Dive right in! All blogs are available now.

Terre Haute Catholic Charities has launched a new way for individuals in West-Central Indiana to find food as insecurity continues to rise.

This new Find Food Map, available through the Catholic Charities Foodbank’s website, will help individuals locate food assistance in the communities they live in. The interactive platform allows locals to find nearby pantries, soup kitchens, mobile distributions, and more food resource options. The map will replace the calendar view on the website and provide important details like locations, hours of operation, available services and eligibility information all in one place.

Feeding America's latest numbers show that more than 1,000,000 Hoosiers, or one in every six residents, were facing food insecurity in 2024, with West-Central Indiana experiencing some of the highest rates, particularly among children. All seven counties covered by Terre Haute Catholic Charities Foodbank also experienced an increase of 1,200 children in 2024 bringing the total to 12,900. Vigo County had the second-highest child food insecurity rate in the state at 27%. Even worse, nearly 48% of food-insecure neighbors in the foodbank's service area earn too much to qualify for federal nutrition programs.

visit the Blue812News Local Events calendar to see all upcoming events

Monday, August 10th at 4:30pm: Vigo County School Board meeting (501 W. Olive. St., West Terre Haute). Normally, the board meets at 6 p.m. The change of time is “to allow families to attend back-to-school events and prepare for the first day of school.” Items on the agenda include a teacher evaluation update as well as Hudl contracts with Terre Haute North, South and West Vigo high schools. The meeting can also be viewed via YouTube livestream.

Monday, August 10th at 6:30pm: Virtual Phone Bank for Mary Allen Info Session New to phone banking? No problem! Every month we host a live virtual training session to walk you through the script and strategy before you make a single dial. More info & register here.

Tuesday, August 11th at 3pm: Mingle with the Mayor at Grand Traverse Pie Co. At this informal and relaxed gathering, various topics will be covered each month with opportunities to ask questions and voice concerns. Free pie and coffee will be served courtesy of Clinton Gardens.

Tuesday, August 11th at 5pm: Vigo County Council Meeting in the Council Chambers in the Vigo County Government Center, 127 Oak Street

Thursday, August 13th at 6pm: Terre Haute City Council Meeting at City Hall.

Saturday, August 15th at 10am: Canvassing & Phone-banking for Mary Allen. Meet at VigoDems Headquarters (817 Wabash) for canvassing/phone-banking. More info & register here for canvassing. More info & register here for phonebanking.

Saturday, August 15th at 2pm: Indiana Black Legislative Caucus town hall at Terre Haute City Hall, 12-2pm. These town halls give you an opportunity to hear directly from lawmakers about legislative updates and statewide issues, as well as a chance to ask questions and share your ideas and concerns. This town hall will be livestreamed for those who can’t attend in person.

Tuesday, August 18th at 6pm: Indivisible CommUnity meeting. Every big change starts with a local conversation. Whether you want to share a new concept, listen in, or find ways to get involved locally, there is a place at the table for you! Vigo County Public Library (Rooms AB&C) 6-7:30PM

A federal judge blocked Attorney General Todd Rokita from investigating an immigration welcome center.

U.S. House Democrats' campaign arm will funnel resources into defeating U.S. Rep. Victoria Spartz in the 5th District race after determining it to be competitive. A 400-person poll of the 5th District found state Sen. J.D. Ford to be within the margin of error in a match-up with Spartz.

Missouri’s Amendment 4 would have required citizen-led ballot initiatives to win a majority in every congressional district, not just statewide, and it was defeated by 80 points. Direct democracy is how Missouri won Medicaid expansion, increased access to marijuana, a higher minimum wage and abortion rights.

After months of nasty court battles, a federal appeals court ruled that Trump must stop construction on his ballroom because he “very likely” lacked authority to tear down the East Wing in the first place. The president is only a “temporary tenant, not the owner,” of the White House, the judges wrote in their majority opinion. Minutes later, Trump vowed to appeal the case to the Supreme Court.

A federal court ordered Meta to pay $567 million to address the toll that its social media platforms have had on children, as the company’s landmark trial continues.

Donald Trump has now lost 21 court cases in a row related to his attempts to secure voter rolls from states. Stealing elections isn’t as easy as you thought, huh?

Chickens have self-control. Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.