Political cartoons / memes / and news I want to share. 10-20-2026

NEW: PEN America today reported nearly 12,000 book bans in public schools nationwide during the 2025-2026 school year—the largest number in a single year. New state censorship laws accounted for much of the increase, coupled with the use of AI to remove books en masse: pen.org/press-releas…

— PEN America (@penamerica.bsky.social) 2026-10-05T12:37:52.144Z

Alabama Makes State Workers Say ‘Gulf of America.’ Colleges Aren’t Spared.Republican lawmakers say faculty can only call it the Gulf of Mexico for “historical purposes” in academic courses. Journalists are constrained by the restriction, too. https://bit.ly/4rTEVJg#EDUSky #AcademicSky

— Inside Higher Ed (@insidehighered.com) 2026-10-07T14:26:02.668650028Z

Texas city charges $2 million for Flock records as agencies make it harder to see how cameras are used http://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/texa…

— Cameron Kuss (@ckuss.bsky.social) 2026-10-05T12:08:33.539Z

Agency Diverted $1.4 Billion in Science Funds Mandated by Congress http://www.nytimes.com/2026/10/02/u…

— (@mprescod.bsky.social) 2026-10-02T19:34:21.148Z