Democracy & government Took place
TOOTHPASTE, NOT TALKING POINTS: Trump & Hegseth Do Not Support the Troops!
Tuesday, August 18, 2026, 10:00 AM PDT
Bruce R. Thompson Courthouse and Federal Building, Reno, Nevada
About
📢 Tyranny Tuesday, August 18, 2026 🚨TOOTHPASTE, NOT TALKING POINTS: Trump & Hegseth Do Not Support the Troops! 📣 CALL TO ACTION 📣 Bring donations of travel-size soap, toothpaste, shampoo, deodorant, and/or feminine hygiene products. (unopened, factory-sealed only). INNV will collect these donations and deliver them to the Washoe Dems who will arrange to have them sent to the sailors and Marines aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln. Every item sends a message that Indivisible Northern Nevada has our service members' backs. 📢 Reports emerging this month describe sailors and Marines aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72) — deployed nine months and counting in the Middle East — running short of basic hygiene supplies while the Pentagon disputes the severity of the problem. Whatever the full truth turns out to be, our service members deserve support, not a political argument over their toothpaste. Here's what's been reported, from both sides, and how INNV members can help right now. What's Being Reported • The claims originate from an MS NOW report (published early August 2026) based on interviews with a dozen family members of Lincoln crew. • Families describe moldy showers, broken toilets, inoperable laundry facilities, food shortages, and long lines at the ship's store, which they say often lacks basic toiletries like soap, toothpaste, and deodorant. • The carrier deployed from San Diego in November 2025 for what was originally a seven-month mission. It has since been extended twice and has spent its fifth consecutive month in combat operations against Iran. • Families say the exhaustion and strain on the roughly 5,000-member crew raise safety concerns — worry that fatigue could lead to deadly mistakes aboard one of the most dangerous workplaces in the world. • This isn't the first supply controversy involving the Lincoln: in April 2026, photos circulated showing small, poor-quality food portions served to crew, prompting some members of Congress to call for an investigation. The Navy & Pentagon's Response • Cmdr. Joseph Hontz, spokesperson for the Navy's 5th Fleet, described the crew as "resilient" when asked about the reports, without directly confirming or denying the specific shortages. • In April 2026, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth publicly dismissed earlier reporting on food shortages aboard the Lincoln as "fake news," a position echoed at the time by Adm. Daryl Caudle, Chief of Naval Operations. • Families told MS NOW that the April denials were not accurate and that nutrition and supply concerns have persisted since. • As of this writing, independent, on-the-record confirmation of the specific soap/toothpaste shortages has not been obtained by fact-checkers; Snopes reported it had reached out to the Navy, 5th Fleet, and Department of Defense for comment and was awaiting response. Why This Matters Regardless of which account proves most accurate, the underlying facts are not in dispute: this deployment has been extended twice, crew members have spent the better part of a year at sea, and the ship has operated for months under active combat conditions. Whether the shortages are severe or overstated, the service-members doing this work are the ones who will feel the difference. Indivisible Northern Nevada believes that supporting our troops means backing that belief with action — not just a press release. 📣 CALL TO ACTION 📣 Bring donations of travel-size soap, toothpaste, shampoo, and deodorant, and/or feminine hygiene products (unopened, factory-sealed only). INNV will collect these donations and deliver them to the Washoe Dems who will arrange to have them sent to the sailors and Marines aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln. Every item sends a message that Indivisible Northern Nevada has our service members' backs. 📅 Date: August 18, 2026 🕙 Time: 10:00–11:00 📍 Location: Bruce R. Thompson Courthouse and Federal Building, 400 S. Virginia St., Reno, NV, 89501 Register Here: ✊ 🦺 PLEASE NOTE: INNV supports non-violent participation in civic events. By registering and attending this event, attendees take full responsibility for keeping themselves safe by following instructions from Marshals, staying within the boundaries of the event, and de-escalating situations if you are confronted.
What it's about
- Against Executive power Machine-labelled, not yet reviewed
- For Military action & spending Machine-labelled, not yet reviewed
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