Rainesford Stauffer
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rainesford.bsky.social
Rainesford Stauffer
@rainesford.bsky.social
Freelance writer, reporter, author. Kentuckian.
[email protected] / Signal rstauff.20
www.rainesfordstauffer.com
Reposted by Rainesford Stauffer
Bellingcat’s contact email has always been a magnet for people with fairly unusual views; paranoid delusions, sprawling conspiracies, the works. But recently, the pattern has shifted, we’re seeing more and more emails clearly written with ChatGPT.
November 19, 2025 at 2:18 PM
Reposted by Rainesford Stauffer
@moreperfectunion.bsky.social produced this story in partnership with @appalachia100.bsky.social on Mingo County, West Virginia. Such an important watch: "...the communities that are being presented with this, they're not going to take it quietly, and they haven't been."
Are Data Centers the Next Frontier of Extraction in West Virginia?
Mingo County, West Virginia, was once thriving, but the coal industry’s decline left it one of the poorest counties in the US. Now, several data centers could be built in the region. Are data centers ...
www.100daysinappalachia.com
November 18, 2025 at 11:48 PM
I want to scream this from the rooftops and plaster it on some billboards:
Friendly reminder that not everyone likes to put all of their trauma on the internet (no shame to those who do) so you never really know who you're quote skeeting and what they've endured.
November 20, 2025 at 1:44 PM
Reposted by Rainesford Stauffer
NEW:The largest AI data center in the world is being built in a rural pocket of Louisiana's bible belt once dubbed the White Gold Capital of the South

I spent time w/ churches to explore how this might be the largest test to the South's social fabric in a generation capitalbnews.org/meta-richlan...
Meta’s AI Data Center Sparks a Divide Among the Faithful in the Bible Belt
In rural Louisiana, white and Black churches see the company's plan to build America's biggest AI complex very differently.
capitalbnews.org
November 19, 2025 at 2:26 PM
Reposted by Rainesford Stauffer
NEW: Trump's DOJ sent a subpoena to a gender-affirming care clinic seeking information on patients, including minors, and its insurance billing practices. The clinic—which doesn't even take insurance—fought the demand in court and won.
Read @garnethenderson.com in @autonomynews.co
The DOJ Subpoenaed Patient Info From a Gender-Affirming Care Clinic. It Fought Back.
A Washington judge quashed the Trump administration's attempt to subpoena patient information from the telehealth practice QueerDoc—but the fight may not be over.
www.autonomynews.co
November 19, 2025 at 10:10 PM
Reposted by Rainesford Stauffer
Every year, tens of thousands of children are taken from their families because their parents can't afford decent housing. Most child welfare agencies do virtually nothing to help them even as the affordable housing crisis worsens. www.thenation.com/article/soci...
“Nobody Blames the Landlord. They Just Take Away the Kids.”
All too often, when parents can’t afford safe housing, the solution child welfare services offer is putting their children in foster care.
www.thenation.com
November 17, 2025 at 3:49 PM
Absolutely awesome (and paid!) opportunity for writers ages 15-21 here. I'll be sharing this far and wide with young folks I know: "This call is for young adult writers, whose work I’d like to include in this anthology alongside some more familiar names."
I'm editing an anthology about unlikable characters and seeking work from younger writers, 15-21. If you know of one such writer who might want to submit their work for consideration, please share this call for submissions: audacity.substack.com/p/acquired-t...
Acquired Tastes: A Call for Submissions
For younger writers, ages 15-21
audacity.substack.com
November 19, 2025 at 10:51 PM
Reposted by Rainesford Stauffer
I'm editing an anthology about unlikable characters and seeking work from younger writers, 15-21. If you know of one such writer who might want to submit their work for consideration, please share this call for submissions: audacity.substack.com/p/acquired-t...
Acquired Tastes: A Call for Submissions
For younger writers, ages 15-21
audacity.substack.com
November 19, 2025 at 8:23 PM
Reposted by Rainesford Stauffer
Practice letting people know that you appreciate them. It costs nothing.
November 19, 2025 at 7:05 PM
Reposted by Rainesford Stauffer
NEW: As immigration enforcement continues across North Carolina, communities are mobilizing--inside and outside formal organizing networks--to protect their neighbors:
North Carolina immigration raids expected to escalate
As the impacts of the raids quickly ripple outward from Charlotte, North Carolinians are mobilizing to stem enforcement operations in their communities
prismreports.org
November 19, 2025 at 8:54 PM
Reposted by Rainesford Stauffer
We finally know the identities of the 9 anonymous authors of the May HHS report on pediatric gender-affirming care. Surprise! It's stacked with people who make money advocating against pediatric gender-affirming care.

Here's our writeup from May: www.motherjones.com/politics/202...
November 19, 2025 at 6:17 PM
Reposted by Rainesford Stauffer
NEW: ProPublica has found multiple cases of women with underlying health conditions who died when they couldn’t access abortions.

Tierra Walker, a 37-year-old mother, was told by doctors there was no emergency before preeclampsia killed her.
“Ticking Time Bomb”: A Pregnant Mother Kept Getting Sicker. She Died After She Couldn’t Get an Abortion in Texas.
Walker is one of several women ProPublica found with underlying health conditions who died when they couldn’t access abortions.
www.propublica.org
November 19, 2025 at 12:00 PM
Reposted by Rainesford Stauffer
Today in @thenation.com: a powerful investigation from incarcerated journalist Aaron Edward Olson into the way that Washington State discriminates against immigrants in prison. Proud to have worked on this one with @typeinvestigations.org. www.thenation.com/article/soci...
How Washington State Discriminates Against Incarcerated Immigrants
People with immigration detainers want to build a better life, but state policies make it difficult or impossible.
www.thenation.com
November 19, 2025 at 3:30 PM
Reposted by Rainesford Stauffer
Here's 5 key findings from @storiesbyjess.bsky.social's reporting on how Louisville leaders failed to properly investigate allegations of child sexual abuse by two ex-JCPS football coaches.
Hear the full story in the excellent 3rd season of KyCIR's podcast Dig: www.lpm.org/podcast/dig
5 takeaways from KyCIR’s latest season of Dig
This season of Dig examines the systemic failings that allowed 20 years of child sex abuse to go unchecked.
www.lpm.org
November 19, 2025 at 4:17 PM
Reposted by Rainesford Stauffer
Fifteen-year-old Miguel Vazquez was one of the people who took off running when federal agents arrived. “I thought, ‘Wait, why am I running? I’m a citizen,’” Vazquez said.

newrepublic.com/post/203321/...
ICE Agents Raid a Church With No Explanation
Operation “Charlotte’s Web” continues.
newrepublic.com
November 19, 2025 at 1:39 AM
@moreperfectunion.bsky.social produced this story in partnership with @appalachia100.bsky.social on Mingo County, West Virginia. Such an important watch: "...the communities that are being presented with this, they're not going to take it quietly, and they haven't been."
Are Data Centers the Next Frontier of Extraction in West Virginia?
Mingo County, West Virginia, was once thriving, but the coal industry’s decline left it one of the poorest counties in the US. Now, several data centers could be built in the region. Are data centers ...
www.100daysinappalachia.com
November 18, 2025 at 11:48 PM
Reposted by Rainesford Stauffer
Mingo County, West Virginia, was once thriving, but the coal industry’s decline left it one of the poorest counties in the US.

Now, multiple data centers could be built in the region.

Are data centers a new extractive industry, or will they provide a much-needed lifeline?

youtu.be/V5fsLN69Erg?...
Why West Virginia Is the Next Target in Big Tech’s Data Center Invasion
YouTube video by More Perfect Union
youtu.be
November 18, 2025 at 6:24 PM
In addition to great editors, it’s reaaaaaally important to have friends who will read your stuff and tell you “uh, no” when needed.
November 18, 2025 at 2:22 AM
Reposted by Rainesford Stauffer
High Country News consistently has fantastic Indigenous reporting! Here's a lovely read on heavy metal on the Blackfeet reservation.
Heavy metal is healing teens on the Blackfeet Nation - High Country News
In response to youth suicides, teachers show students the power of headbanging at Fire in the Mountains festival.
www.hcn.org
November 18, 2025 at 12:46 AM
A Walgreens near me frequently has to alter their hours with little notice due to understaffing. Workers are already dealing with staffing shortages and are overworked. This is horrible.
Hourly Walgreens employees will reportedly no longer receive paid time off for six major holidays, including Thanksgiving and Christmas, after the pharmacy giant was acquired by private equity firm Sycamore Partners
Report: Walgreens cuts hourly workers’ pay for 6 major holidays
The hourly employees will only be paid if they work on those holidays.
www.whio.com
November 17, 2025 at 10:55 PM
Reposted by Rainesford Stauffer
Applications are still open for this one :)
Are you a social media manager who is passionate about the culture and lives of Texans?

Our incredible social media manager was recruited for an exciting, glossy new opportunity, which means ...we’re hiring!

Come work with us at @thebarbedwire.com 💕

www.journalismjobs.com/job-listing/...
JournalismJobs.com - Job Listing - Social Media Manager
JournalismJobs.com has journalism and media job listings with digital media, newspapers, tv stations, radio stations, magazines, nonprofits, and academia.
www.journalismjobs.com
November 17, 2025 at 7:53 PM
Can't believe we live in a society where someone can mention "the brain worm thing" and for the most part, everyone else knows exactly what it refers to.
November 17, 2025 at 3:31 PM
Reposted by Rainesford Stauffer
Some people have had trouble watching the segment on the CBS site. Here's a link to the YouTube version: youtu.be/4loulWBN5Nw?...
When the employed are pushed into homelessness
YouTube video by CBS Sunday Morning
youtu.be
November 17, 2025 at 2:50 PM
Reposted by Rainesford Stauffer
A Charlotte pastor said Border Patrol came into his church and made an arrest in front of children. They cried “a lot,” he said.

“We are trying to clean the property. We didn’t know this is gonna happen.”

#borderpatrol #charlotte #nc
November 15, 2025 at 9:56 PM