1. Elizabeth Warren, Attempting to Read Coretta Scott King Letter, Silenced on Senate Floor.

Image by Tim Brown / IIP Photo Archive

Recently, an article with a title that included the phrase “weaponized meme” went viral, so maybe America is doing something right after all. Basically, Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren was poised this week to share before the Senate a letter written in 1986 by Coretta Scott King, wife of MLK Jr. This letter was in protest to the consideration of Jeff Sessions – presently the POTUS nom confirmed for Attorney General – for the position of a federal judgeship back in the 80s. In it, Coretta wrote about Sessions’ opposition to the Voting Rights Act, and his career-long interest in criminalizing innocent black voters because of the color of their skin. However, Warren was interrupted in the middle of the letter and silenced by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell who conveniently found her in violation of an obscure Senate rule about subjects of conversation. About Senator Warren, McConnell was quoted to have said “She was warned. She was given an explanation. Nevertheless, she persisted” – a phrase which has now been adopted by feminists the world over to describe the dedication and grit necessary in challenging the dang patriarchy. I rest my case.

2. United Talent Agency Cancels Oscar Party in Favor of Refugee-Friendly Activism.

One of the largest talent agencies in the world announced this week that instead of hosting their annual Oscar’s party--otherwise known as the swankiest event of the year--they will be holding a pro-refugee rally and donating hundreds of thousands of dollars to the ACLU and the IRC. *standing ovation* In this political climate where refugees, immigrants, and racial minority groups have been threatened and abused by the current administration, an action such as this from the UTA, a very well-recognized organization, speaks volumes about our national and personal priorities, in the best way. And the nominees for Best Political Statement From A Major Hollywood Establishment are...

3. #HeForShe Campaign Revisited With Period Education Video for Boys.

In a revival of the #HeForShe movement popularized by Emma Watson, actress and director Renuka Shahane put out a video in India that is meant to teach boys about periods. The goal is to educate the male population in the hopes of inspiring empathy and appreciation for the women and girls in their lives who deal with menstruation and its challenges every single month. The truth remains that no matter one’s gender, a period is still a major cultural taboo around the globe, and simply exposing people to #MenstruationEducation (Menstrucation, to be precise) is the first step in addressing this issue. Right on, Renuka! 

4. New England Patriots Fumble Racial Equality

After Lady Gaga’s 100 foot plunge into oblivion and a nail-biter in overtime, the New England Patriots--favored team of the current Administration, by the way--won the superbowl this past Sunday in Houston, Texas. Yawn. The real news here is that there have now been three members of the team (all people of color! Shocking!!) who are refusing to attend the annual White House visit expected of the winning team. Two of the three players have cited explicit discomfort with the Trump Administration’s racism as reason for not attending, while the third has left things more ambiguous. This all comes after star quarterback Tom Brady was vocal about his support of and friendship with the President, donning some good good “Make America Great Again” apparel in his locker room while explaining that he doesn’t “pay much attention” to “what’s going on in the world” because of his white privilege--er, sorry, because he’s a “positive person.” *smiles through the pain*

5. Women's Rights Activists Call For Global Strike on International Women's Day.

There has been an official proposal for a global strike on International Women’s Day, March 8th, in response to increasingly disturbing claims from the Trump Administration including instructing female government workers to “dress like a woman” at work. The strike is calling for a radical feminism that addresses the issues of working women, women of lower classes, women of color, women immigrants and migrants, and unemployed women living in poverty in a way that other forms of feminism, such as “corporate feminism” (i.e. Sheryl Sandberg’s Lean In) have failed to fully confront. Sounds pretty righteous to me! Soooo it’s like a snow day but instead of drinking hot cocoa we’ll be drinking the blood of our enemies? Yeah, I’m down! (Lol. Kidding. Obviously…?).

Miss-Me-Nots

1. Ever wonder how Teen Vogue suddenly became the ~wokest~ publication on the block? Check it out.

2. The Deputy Prime Minister of Sweden trolled Trump this week and we are so here for it.

3. Here's a great piece of journalism about Malagasy women and the struggle for better access to hygiene products in Madagascar.

4. A woman's newest favorite pastime? Terrifying POTUS.

by Emma Glassman-Hughes