Author | Lightnews

Kara Karlson

@karakarlson.bsky.social

2.2K followers 2.1K following 1.3K posts

Mother. #DisabilityRights. #ElectionLaw attorney. 4th gen Arizonan. #Momvocate

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Kara Karlson @karakarlson.bsky.social · Nov 10

One of my proudest moments was when I got AZ policy changed to ensure people with intellectual & developmental disabilities received priority for COVID vaccines. This has been promised, but was quietly rescinded. Helping 42k ppl access life saving vaccines. Higher rate uptake than nat'l avg.

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Kara Karlson @karakarlson.bsky.social · 4h

Except the evidence is overwhelming that vaccines are safe, effective, and life saving. And infectious disease is not. It's not even close.

Kara Karlson @karakarlson.bsky.social · 15h

Do you agree that infectious disease, which can spread to others, is different than something like heart disease, which can't?

Do you agree that to the extent there are vaccine injuries, they are rare?

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Kara Karlson @karakarlson.bsky.social · 16h

That said, I don't believe I ever said that for one person infected multiple people die. That said, it would not be impossible, depending on the disease (e.g. rabies)

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Kara Karlson @karakarlson.bsky.social · 16h

For every one person infected with measles, 18 others will be infected (in a naive population). Sickness for two weeks, many hospitalized, long term disability, some immediate death, some death from SSPE. More suffering & death from measles induced immune amnesia.

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Kara Karlson @karakarlson.bsky.social · 16h

No medical intervention is risk free. But compared to rampant infectious disease, risk is minimal. I support medical exemptions for people who need them. The risk does not lie solely w/the person vaccinated, but anyone they may infect. Other medical interventions decided by the person receiving it.

Kara Karlson @karakarlson.bsky.social · 16h

Except those people wouldn't support forced organ donation, which is what forced birth is. And even if you accept abortion ends a life (I do not), it's a single, identifiable one, not multiple random strangers.

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Kara Karlson @karakarlson.bsky.social · 16h

I'm very much in favor of bodily autonomy. I see this as a public safety measure. No right is unlimited, and here you can hurt or kill people w/o warning. So while I understand it's slightly more physically invasive than laws against drunk driving, it's the same principle.

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Kara Karlson @karakarlson.bsky.social · 17h

And we don't know who those people will be necessarily. Cancer, old age, pregnancy are all indicators. But it can be anyone for any reason. And even if risk of death if infected may be 1% of all infected, if it's your loved one who does, it's 100%.

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Kara Karlson @karakarlson.bsky.social · 17h

Depending on the vaccine, yes. But the more vaccinated, the fewer susceptible hosts. Less opportunity to circulate generally, and much less opportunity to mutate. And people who might be protected.ay have circumstances, like pregnancy, where they are more susceptible even after vaccination.

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Kara Karlson @karakarlson.bsky.social · 17h

Vaccines are highly effective (up to 97%!) but that's not 100%. If you're too young, pregnant, or immunocompromised you can get vaccine preventable diseases, even if vaxxed. And having virus circulate in unvaxxed=mutations, rendering vaccines less effective.

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Reposted by Kara Karlson

Dorit Reiss @doritreiss.bsky.social · 22h

Grandparents stand up for vaccines, because they remember the harms of preventable diseases. www.cleveland.com/opinion/2025...

Via @cleveland.com

We remember. That’s why grandparents are standing up for vaccines: Donna A. Gaffney and Teri Mills

Now is the time for all grandparents to do something to protect our grandchildren from this growing and preventable threat to their lives. Add your voice to this vital conversation by joining Grandpar...

www.cleveland.com

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Kara Karlson @karakarlson.bsky.social · 1d

And people will say there's no difference between the two parties.

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Reposted by Kara Karlson

Kelly @broadwaybabyto.bsky.social · 1d

I am begging the mainstream media to talk less about the East Wing & more about the loss of SNAP funding for the next few days.

The East Wing is gone. We can’t change that.

We *can* help people prepare for the loss of SNAP.

We can urge folks to donate to food banks.

We can give them warning.

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Reposted by Kara Karlson

Eric Michael Garcia @ericmgarcia.bsky.social · 1d

FWIW, beef is so expensive partially because Mexico is dealing with screwworm, and there simply isn't enough ground beef. But the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association called Trump's importing beef "efforts to manipulate markets."
www.independent.co.uk/news/world/a...

Republicans are mad about Trump importing Argentine beef–but don’t want to grill him

The top beef-producing states voted for Trump but his plan to import more beef could hurt cattle ranchers in them

www.independent.co.uk

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Kara Karlson @karakarlson.bsky.social · 1d

I'm a hardliner when it comes to vaccines. Antivaxx dogma is entitled to no deference because it poses a danger to everyone, including the vaccinated and the immunocompromised.

Alt CDC (they/them) @altcdc.altgov.info · 1d

All politics is local.

Vote out your state reps who peddle in this dangerous anti-science nonsense.

Anti-science bills hit statehouses, attacking longstanding public health protections

More than 420 anti-science bills attacking longstanding public health protections – vaccines, milk safety and fluoride – have been introduced in statehouses across the U.S. this year.

www.pbs.org

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Kara Karlson @karakarlson.bsky.social · 1d

Vaccine refusal is antisocial. The consequences are the same as driving drunk or shooting into a neighborhood. Antivaxx dogma is not about medical freedom, it's about risking your life and the lives of anyone you happen upon. No exemptions that aren't medically necessary. #Momvocate

Judy Stone @drjudystone.bsky.social · 2d

Wave of Anti-Science Bills Pushed by Kennedy Allies Hits Statehouses www.medpagetoday.com/publichealth...

Wave of Anti-Science Bills Pushed by Kennedy Allies Hits Statehouses

Longstanding public health protections like vaccines, milk safety, and fluoride are targets

www.medpagetoday.com

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Kara Karlson @karakarlson.bsky.social · 2d

And better headline writing--more direct and fewer letters--is easy to accomplish here. Change "during" to "by" as in "U.S. Marshall and undocumented immigrant shot BY ICE in Los Angeles."

Reposted by Kara Karlson

Alicia Bannon @aliciabannon.bsky.social · 2d

Looking to keep tabs on SCOTUS shadow docket cases related to the Trump administration? @brennancenter.org has you covered! Our new tracker follows emergency docket applications related to Trump admin actions. SCOTUS has sided w/ the admin 85%+ of the time. www.brennancenter.org/our-work/res...

Supreme Court Shadow Docket Tracker — Challenges to Trump Administration Actions

The Court is ruling on challenges to government actions on its emergency docket, often without explaining its decisions or providing guidance to lower courts.

www.brennancenter.org

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Reposted by Kara Karlson

Dr. Lucky Tran @luckytran.com · 2d

The New England Journal of Medicine and the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy will be publishing regular public health alerts to replace the CDC’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, which has been paused due to the federal government shutdown.

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Kara Karlson @karakarlson.bsky.social · 2d

When your brain is wired so each of these "background sounds" are all at the same level of importance and require the same focus as a one-on-one conversation, it is overwhelming. We can support our ND friends, family, strangers with headphones. Support is simple. ❤️ #Momvocate

Thinking Person's Guide to Autism @thinkingautism.com · 2d

A useful animated video, illustrating how everyday noises—ones non-autistic people may not notice—can overwhelm an autistic person, in some cases leading to bolting and meltdowns that uninformed people dismiss as "autistic behaviors." Please watch and share.

youtu.be/K2P4Ed6G3gw?... #neurodiversity

Sensory Overload

YouTube video by Alkurhah

youtu.be

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Reposted by Kara Karlson

Joshua J. Friedman @joshuajfriedman.com · 2d

NEW: The State of Arizona sues the House of Representatives, demanding that Speaker Mike Johnson seat Adelita Grijalva or that someone else be allowed to swear her in. storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...

PRAYER FOR RELIEF
Because there is no dispute as to Ms. Grijalva's election or qualifications, the Court should:
A. Issue a declaratory judgment stating that Ms. Grijalva shall be deemed a Member of the House of Representatives once she has taken the oath prescribed by law, see 5 U.S.C. § 3331;
B.
Issue a declaratory judgment stating that if Speaker Johnson has not administered
the oath, the oath may be administered to Ms. Grijalva by any person authorized by law to administer oaths under the law of the United States, the District of Columbia, or the State of
Arizona; and
C. Award other relief as the Court deems just and proper.
Dated: October 21, 2025
Respectfully submitted,
KRISTIN K. MAYES
Attorney General for the State of Arizona
By: /s/ Joshua D. Bendor
Joshua D. Bendor
D.D.C. Bar ID 031908
Solicitor General
Joshua A. Katz
Assistant Attorney General

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Reposted by Kara Karlson

sarah jeong @sarahjeong.bsky.social · 3d

Sua sponte call for en banc less than two hours after the 9th Cir decision to let loose the National Guard into Portland

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Kara Karlson @karakarlson.bsky.social · 4d

This is true, and unfortunately is not limited to AWS and the Internet. We need fewer monopolies/oligopolies and more redundancies. Especially in critical systems.

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Kara Karlson @karakarlson.bsky.social · 5d

Justicia in 2025 A.D.

A picture of Justicia, lady Justice, with blood and stains on her toga, scales in hand, fresh blood on her face and arms. She is at the large No Kings protest in Mesa AZ, with a large crowd in the background.

Kara Karlson @karakarlson.bsky.social · 5d

From the same protest, other side of the street!

A picture of protesters in costume, including a giant purple dinosaur and a beat up lady justice.