Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Brigitte @bptt.bsky.social · 23h

I think this picture from the article says a LOT about the kind of people the Federal government has brought in to brutalize protesters. More than a little excited to stop on people’s rights

2 25

Brigitte @bptt.bsky.social · 2d

I’m now officially a licensed guest teacher! Colorado makes the substitute license sound fancy!

1

Brigitte @bptt.bsky.social · 5d

Vought is threatening to fire us again, must be Friday...

Brigitte @bptt.bsky.social · 7d

We weren’t bottom feeders, although we had to constantly deal with bottom feeders firms trying to undercut us. But regional mid-tier engineering firms is exactly where most of the industry is, and what I described is the kind of work most environmental geologists spend their careers doing.

1

Brigitte @bptt.bsky.social · 8d

Also, pretty arrogant for someone who doesn’t live or presumably practice in the same country that I do to suggest I lack an understanding of a field that I worked in.

1

Brigitte @bptt.bsky.social · 8d

I worked for a mid-tier regional engineering firm as a staff geologist. Clients ranged from local governments to small businesses to multinational agribusinesses. Work included phase 1-3 ESAs, soil and groundwater remediation, to a lot of compliance monitoring. Lots of LUST sites.

1

Brigitte @bptt.bsky.social · 8d

OMB director and Project 2025 architect Russ Vought announced that he intends to flaunt the 2019 Government Employees Fair Treatment Act, which Donald Trump signed into law, that requires that all Federal employees receive back pay at the end of a shutdown.

www.govexec.com/pay-benefits...

OMB deletes reference to law guaranteeing backpay to furloughed feds from shutdown guidance

An Office of Management and Budget FAQ document now states that only excepted employees forced to work without pay are guaranteed backpay at the conclusion of a lapse in appropriations.

www.govexec.com

Brigitte @bptt.bsky.social · 8d

Thinking back to the podcast Alphabet Boys, the FBI informant/agitator Michael Windecker checked most of those boxes.

Another flag is someone who pressures others to plot/carry out serious crimes. Particularly when they don’t engage in those types of crimes themselves.

4

Reposted by Brigitte

Jared Holt @jaredlholt.bsky.social · 9d

This really makes it sound like a Border Patrol agent tried to kill an anti-ICE activist in Chicago and DHS lied to cover for him

Chicago Sun-Times @chicago.suntimes.com · 9d

Body-camera video appears to contradict the government’s claim that Marimar Martinez, 30, drove toward officers before one of them opened fire at her late Saturday morning in Brighton Park, her attorney claimed.
trib.al/9Sxu9IN

Attorney for woman shot by Border Patrol claims officer said 'Do something b-----' before shooting

Body-camera video appears to contradict the government's claim that Marimar Martinez, 30, drove toward officers before one of them opened fire at her late Saturday morning in Brighton Park, her attorney claimed. A judge ordered Martinez and a co-defendant released pending trial.

trib.al

170 3.1K 8.6K

Brigitte @bptt.bsky.social · 9d

I think I only had two clients who had any interest in going above the bare minimum. Ironically one of them is a massive corporation that has a bad reputation for other environmental practices, but with the projects I did for them went well beyond what the regs asked of them.

1

Brigitte @bptt.bsky.social · 9d

Again, I’ve worked as an environmental geology consultant. You’re right that the interests of the client and the regulators rarely align, but your job is to represent the interests of your client, who in turn is almost always primarily interested in their bottom line. Public benefit is ancillary.

2

Brigitte @bptt.bsky.social · 9d

I may have sampled a few to many landfill and waste water treatment plant wells (particularly leachate) on hot Valley summer days. Those are some ungodly smells.

2

Brigitte @bptt.bsky.social · 9d

I’ve worked as an environmental consultant for a while. At the end of the day your job is to the bare minimum you can get the regulators to sign off on, while minimizing cost to the polluter and maximizing profit for the owner. The work sucks, and you’re still lining a rich persons pockets.

2 3

Brigitte @bptt.bsky.social · 9d

Yeah, not a great time to be a Fed scientist. I hope you’re leaving on your own terms. I’ve been struggling to think of ways to use my geoscience background to serve the public when my term position expires. I look forward to seeing what you figure out.

1 1

Brigitte @bptt.bsky.social · 9d

Tom seemed fine enough?

Reposted by Brigitte

Congressional Equality Caucus @equality.house.gov · 9d

First, Republicans created a healthcare crisis.

Then, they caused a total government shutdown.

Now, Speaker Johnson has extended their vacation and canceled this week's votes while Americans are hurting.

This isn't leadership—it's cowardice.

13 40

Brigitte @bptt.bsky.social · 9d

2018 era Twitter brain is too deeply baked into Bluesky’s DNA.

2

Brigitte @bptt.bsky.social · 12d

Or @margaret.bsky.social

Brigitte @bptt.bsky.social · 12d

Totally normal, not at all dictator thing to do.

www.politico.com/news/2025/10...

Treasury Department considers minting a $1 Trump coin

The draft design of the coin, which was overseen by the Office of the U.S. Treasurer Brandon Beach, features Trump’s profile on one side of the coin.

www.politico.com

1 1

Reposted by Brigitte

LorennaCleary.bsky.social @lorennacleary.bsky.social · 12d

No lie.

180 2.9K 9.4K

Brigitte @bptt.bsky.social · 12d

I mean, Trump’s goal seems to be getting active duty military to shoot anti-ICE protesters in Portland. That’s the escalation.

1

Brigitte @bptt.bsky.social · 12d

Really want to get on it, but my pcp wants to wait until my levels are stabilized. Makes sense, but I’m still jealous.

Brigitte @bptt.bsky.social · 12d

The FBI just fired an Agent for being gay. Lavender Scare 2.0 under way…

www.msnbc.com/msnbc/news/k...

Kash Patel fires FBI agent trainee for displaying gay pride flag

The FBI employee was fired on the first day of the government shutdown as President Trump threatened more terminations.

www.msnbc.com

1

Brigitte @bptt.bsky.social · 14d

I understand that deeply. I’m a furloughed Fed and former USFS. But unlike NPS, most USFS lands don’t have amenities that need to be as actively managed. If you went to most parts of a Forest when the government is open you probably wouldn’t even see any USFS staff.

1

Reposted by Brigitte

NPR @npr.org · 14d

Today marks the first day in public media’s history without federal funding. And we’re not going anywhere.

Listeners like you keep our mission alive. Protect one of the last places where America comes together to hear itself.

Stand with us today. Donate at this link: n.pr/46wamAj

690 9.7K 31K