What Happened Was...

A lightning fast comprehensive recap of the week's biggest events for Feb. 20th - 26th, 2023

A handwritten sign is on display outside a flower shop located on Market Street on February 14, 2023 in East Palestine, Ohio. A train operated by Norfolk Southern derailed on February 3, releasing toxic fumes and forcing evacuation of residents. (Photo by Angelo Merendino/via Getty Images)

Below is a catch-up of the significant events of this past week. You can check in with a minimal time commitment, read about the big stuff, and stay in the know before we’re on to the next. If you want more information on the past week's events, you might want to scroll through my Twitter feed for more detail on other topics I don’t mention below.

I have set up accounts with the handle @girlsreallyrule at Counter Social and Post Social and am confirmed at Mastodon. I have also been added to Spoutible with a verified account, and you can find that here. I will still be full-time on Twitter for the next few months at least, and I will continue to post all of my SHERO newsletter articles on all five of these platforms. If you are interested in learning more about how each of these platforms works, I recommend you read my latest: I've Been Checking Out the New Platforms: UPDATED.

Gun Violence This Week

There were 12 separate mass shooting incidents in the US last week, where 17 people were killed and 47 were injured. I document all mass shooting incidents for the week every Sunday, so please take a moment to review them and remember to keep up the fight for sensible gun reform. 

1. Sunday, February 19, 2023: New Orleans, Louisiana

2. Sunday, February 19, 2023: Memphis, Tennessee

3. Sunday, February 19, 2023: Indianapolis, Indiana

4. Sunday, February 19, 2023: Chicago, Illinois

5. Tuesday, February 21, 2023: Colorado Springs, Colorado

6. Wednesday, February 22, 2023: Orlando, Florida

7. Wednesday, February 22, 2023: Daphne, Alabama

8. Thursday, February 23, 2023: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

9. Friday, February 24, 2023: Abbeville, Louisiana

10. Saturday, February 25, 2023: West Palm Beach, Florida

11. Saturday, February 25, 2023: Saint Paul, Minnesota

12. Sunday, February 26, 2023: Detroit, Michigan

• Weeks after a train derailment near the Ohio-Pennsylvania border left hazardous chemicals burning from railcars, fears of the potential impacts are still being felt in places far from the accident. For more background on how the Trump administration got us to this dangerous point, please read: Trump is Destroying Our Land and Water.

  Amee Vanderpool @girlsreallyrule

  Fox News accidentally told the truth this week and blamed the Trump administration for the railroad train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio.

• Mark Brnovich, Arizona’s former-attorney general, compiled an “Election Review Summary” in September of 2020, that systematically refuted accusations of widespread fraud and made clear that none of the complaining parties had presented any evidence to support any claims. Then, Brnovich left office in Arizona last month, purposely failing to release the summary.