Bucket Theory

Tuesday, August 19th, 2025

Today, Zelensky meets with Trump and other world leaders in DC as Trump calls for an end to mail in voting; the fifth IRS commissioner Bessent has ousted three top IRS executives so he can consolidate power; a federal judge blocks Trump’s FTC retaliation against Media Matters; the Republican governor of Vermont has rejected Trump’s request to send National Guard troops to DC; Newsmax settles with Dominion Voting for $67M for the lies it told about the 2020 election; Texas Democrats have ended their two week walkout to prevent a quorum; Sherrod Brown has officially launched his 2026 Senate campaign; a federal judge has granted a request by USAID workers to certify a class action lawsuit against Musk and DOGE; and Allison and Dana deliver your Good News.

Thank You, Coyuchi
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You Can Nominate Dana Goldberg for this year's Out100!
https://survey.alchemer.com/s3/8429383/2025-Out100-Readers-Choice

Stories
Trump Pledges Unconstitutional Order to Limit Mail-In Voting After Putin Chat | Rolling Stone

Texas Democrats End Walkout Over Redistricting, Allowing Redrawn Map to Pass | The New York Times

Bessent ousts 3 more IRS executives, asserting greater control | The Washington Post

Phil Scott rejects second request to deploy Vermont National Guard, this time to Washington, D.C. | Vermont Public

Good Trouble 
Hey beans queens! Resistance Rangers again! Huge, unfortunate news for LGBTQ+ and first amendment rights for off duty civil servants and as everything trickles down… Eventually impacting everyone’s first amendment rights and civil rights. Here is the press release we typed up about the ranger who flew the trans flag at Yosemite, they just got fired. Learn more at the link in the show notes NATIONAL PARK SERVICE FIRES EMPLOYEE FOR PRACTICING FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHT?

Fellow climbers, allies, and community members are calling for SJ’s immediate reinstatement, an independent investigation into Yosemite’s discriminatory employment practices, and full transparency from the National Park Service and the Department of the Interior. They are encouraging everyone to email Yosemite’s recent Acting Superintendent at [e-mail] and recent Acting Deputy Superintendent [e-mail] to call for the same. This new leadership team, who made the decision to fire SJ, has only been in place in Yosemite since May. 
 

From The Good News
NATIONAL PARK SERVICE FIRES EMPLOYEE FOR PRACTICING FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHT

Valles Caldera National Preserve (U.S. National Park Service)

Assateague Island National Seashore (U.S. National Park Service)

Misty of Chincoteague - Misty's Heaven

Congressional Dish

Reminder - you can see the pod pics if you become a Patron. The good news pics are at the bottom of the show notes of each Patreon episode! That’s just one of the perks of subscribing! patreon.com/muellershewrote

Our Donation Links
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Federal workers - feel free to email AG at [e-mail] and let me know what you’re going to do, or just vent. I’m always here to listen. 

Find Upcoming Actions 50501 Movement, No Kings.org, Indivisible.org

Dr. Allison Gill - .css-j9qmi7{display:-webkit-box;display:-webkit-flex;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;-webkit-flex-direction:row;-ms-flex-direction:row;flex-direction:row;font-weight:700;margin-bottom:1rem;margin-top:2.8rem;width:100%;-webkit-box-pack:start;-ms-flex-pack:start;-webkit-justify-content:start;justify-content:start;padding-left:5rem;}@media only screen and (max-width: 599px){.css-j9qmi7{padding-left:0;-webkit-box-pack:center;-ms-flex-pack:center;-webkit-justify-content:center;justify-content:center;}}.css-j9qmi7 svg{fill:#27292D;}.css-j9qmi7 .eagfbvw0{-webkit-align-items:center;-webkit-box-align:center;-ms-flex-align:center;align-items:center;color:#27292D;}