Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Lawrence Hurley @lawrencehurley.bsky.social · 2h

This is why I don't think it will be a 6-3 ruling.

Elizabeth Nolan Brown @enbrown.bsky.social · 4d

We've already got so many conservatives passing laws premised on the idea that "gender ideology" is dangerous. Seems very clear that if you let a law like Colorado's ban on conversion *talk* therapy stand, you're inviting conservatives to pass laws banning "affirming therapy"

Is conversion therapy free speech?

Colorado says no. Supreme Court justices seem skeptical.

reason.com

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Lawrence Hurley @lawrencehurley.bsky.social · 2h

🤯

Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 3h

Bessent: "No Kings means no paychecks. No paychecks and no government."

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Reposted by Lawrence Hurley

Nate Raymond @nateraymond.bsky.social · 3h

This is essentially my way of summing up why I've been so busy running to court this year in Boston. The courts within the 1st Circuit now have the second most litigation over Trump policies, behind only D.C., and have more than half of the multistate lawsuits state AGs have filed this year.

Nate Raymond @nateraymond.bsky.social · 5h

New: How the federal courts in New England including Massachusetts and Rhode Island became popular venues to sue Trump's administration in and win injunctions blocking his agenda. www.reuters.com/legal/govern...

New England courts become a battleground for challenges to Trump

A federal judge in Boston had some pointed words for Donald Trump as he issued one of the dozens of decisions by courts in four New England states against the Republican president in challenges to the legality of his policies.

www.reuters.com

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Lawrence Hurley @lawrencehurley.bsky.social · 3h

Coming up this week:

Lawrence Hurley @lawrencehurley.bsky.social · 1d

HIGH STAKES: The Supreme Court this week considers whether to cast another blow against the landmark Voting Rights Act in a case that could lead to fewer minorities in Congress & state legislatures.

Here's what it's all about:
www.nbcnews.com/politics/sup...

Stakes are high for voting rights as Supreme Court again tackles Louisiana redistricting dispute

The conservative majority could use the case to further weaken the landmark Voting Rights Act, which was enacted to protect minority voters.

www.nbcnews.com

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Lawrence Hurley @lawrencehurley.bsky.social · 19h

I can't believe Cameron Crowe's dad was named Jim.
www.theguardian.com/film/2025/oc...

‘Rock stars would be like, Yeah, bring the kid in’: Cameron Crowe on his wild years as a teenage music journalist

The film-maker told his own story in Almost Famous. Now he’s looking back on his younger days with Bowie and Led Zeppelin and revealing the family tragedy he’s finally facing up to

www.theguardian.com

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Lawrence Hurley @lawrencehurley.bsky.social · 1d

HIGH STAKES: The Supreme Court this week considers whether to cast another blow against the landmark Voting Rights Act in a case that could lead to fewer minorities in Congress & state legislatures.

Here's what it's all about:
www.nbcnews.com/politics/sup...

Stakes are high for voting rights as Supreme Court again tackles Louisiana redistricting dispute

The conservative majority could use the case to further weaken the landmark Voting Rights Act, which was enacted to protect minority voters.

www.nbcnews.com

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Lawrence Hurley @lawrencehurley.bsky.social · 2d

icymi, from Sept. 4:

Lawrence Hurley @lawrencehurley.bsky.social · Sep 4

🚨EXCLUSIVE:

Federal judges tell NBC News the Supreme Court has got to do a better job of explaining emergency rulings, with frequent decisions in favor of Trump at least appearing to validate harsh criticism of the judiciary at a time of rising threats:

www.nbcnews.com/politics/sup...

In rare interviews, federal judges criticize Supreme Court's handling of Trump cases

Ten judges tell NBC News the Supreme Court needs to explain its rulings better, with some urging Chief Justice John Roberts to do more to defend the judiciary against external criticism.

www.nbcnews.com

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Lawrence Hurley @lawrencehurley.bsky.social · 2d

I'm kind of intrigued by the house in Takoma Park that has a Cybertruck parked outside. Does not compute.

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Reposted by Lawrence Hurley

Sheryl Gay Stolberg @sherylnyt.bsky.social · 2d

BREAKING: Friday night massacre underway at CDC. Doznes of "disease detectives," high-level scientists, entire Washington staff and editors of the MMWR (Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report) have all been RIFed and received the following notice:

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Lawrence Hurley @lawrencehurley.bsky.social · 2d

Supreme Court just took up another case. This one:
www.scotusblog.com/cases/case-f...

Hunter v. United States

www.scotusblog.com

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Lawrence Hurley @lawrencehurley.bsky.social · 3d

It's like the "stick to sports" argument all over again (except of course, when we agree with what you're saying, then please speak).

Josh Chafetz @joshchafetz.bsky.social · 3d

So ... Catholic *traditionalists* want a pope who doesn't involve himself in global politics?

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Lawrence Hurley @lawrencehurley.bsky.social · 3d

And I'm stuck on what Roberts wrote in Milligan upholding constitutionality of race-based redistricting under Section 2 just two years ago:

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Lawrence Hurley @lawrencehurley.bsky.social · 3d

With SCOTUS taking on race & redistricting again next week, it strikes me as quite something that Thornburg v. Gingles was unanimous.
www.oyez.org/cases/1985/8...

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Lawrence Hurley @lawrencehurley.bsky.social · 3d

I have always thought Cash is way cooler than Dylan or Springsteen.

The Wall Street Journal @wsj.com · 3d

Compared to Dylan and Springsteen, country-music legend Johnny Cash can seem deeply uncool. It took time for me to appreciate his profound, plainspoken strength, writes Jon Fasman.

Essay | Can We Finally Give Johnny Cash His Due?

Compared to Dylan and Springsteen, the country-music legend can seem deeply uncool. It took time for me to appreciate his profound, plainspoken strength.

on.wsj.com

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Lawrence Hurley @lawrencehurley.bsky.social · 3d

Trump's disdain for international institutions is only matched by his desire to be accepted by them.

Philip Bump @pbump.com · 3d

The right’s Nobel obsession is useful because it is inexplicable as anything other than trying to make Trump personally happy. 95% of all Trumpworld obsessions have the same root (2020 election, James/Comey) but rarely is it so hard to retcon a justification for it.

Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 3d

BARTIROMO: On your point about the Nobel Peace Prize, do you think maybe the reason Trump won't get it is because you had to get the application in before Jan. 31, and that was only 11 days into his term?

SCALISE: Look, they can play technicalities. They gave it to Obama for just getting elected.

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Lawrence Hurley @lawrencehurley.bsky.social · 3d

A law professor is probably writing an article right now explaining how Trump has the authority to fire the Nobel Committee.

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Lawrence Hurley @lawrencehurley.bsky.social · 3d

White House response is measured as always:

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Reposted by Lawrence Hurley

Corky Siemaszko @corkysiemaszko.bsky.social · 3d

Nobel Peace Prize awarded to Venezuela's María Corina Machado www.nbcnews.com/world/europe...

Nobel Peace Prize awarded to Venezuela's María Corina Machado

"When authoritarians seize power, it is crucial to recognize courageous defenders of freedom who rise and resist," the committee said.

www.nbcnews.com

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Lawrence Hurley @lawrencehurley.bsky.social · 3d

It kind of feels like the Washington Post will keep shedding journalists until the only thing left is an AI bot trained on the writings of Ayn Rand.

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Reposted by Lawrence Hurley

Ryan J. Reilly “paints a vivid and urgent portrait of… disarray” @ryanjreilly.com · 3d

NEW: Trump's former personal attorney has convicted a federal grand jury to indict another one of Trump's political enemies

www.nbcnews.com/politics/jus...

N.Y. Attorney General Letitia James, a Trump opponent, indicted by grand jury on bank fraud charge

James, a Democrat, has clashed with President Donald Trump after bringing civil charges against him in New York.

www.nbcnews.com

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Reposted by Lawrence Hurley

Jacob Shamsian @jayshams.bsky.social · 3d

I've been wondering why Dominion Voting Systems suddenly reached settlements with Rudy Giuliani, Sidney Powell, and One America News.

Turns out, it's been purchased by a Republican-owned election tech firm that insisted on it, per Axios.

www.axios.com/2025/10/09/d...

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Lawrence Hurley @lawrencehurley.bsky.social · 3d

Incidentally, I just asked Louisiana AG Liz Murrill why she signed on to the same brief backing Trump. She said her state would welcome National Guard deployment and thinks states should handle Trump "with gratitude, rather than hostility."

Lawrence Hurley @lawrencehurley.bsky.social · 3d

But Oklahoma's attorney general joined this brief backing Trump:
storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...

Larry Ferlazzo @larryferlazzo.bsky.social · 3d

Oklahoma’s Republican governor criticizes guard deployment. www.nytimes.com/2025/10/09/u...

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Lawrence Hurley @lawrencehurley.bsky.social · 3d

But Oklahoma's attorney general joined this brief backing Trump:
storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...

Larry Ferlazzo @larryferlazzo.bsky.social · 3d

Oklahoma’s Republican governor criticizes guard deployment. www.nytimes.com/2025/10/09/u...

Gov. Kevin Stitt of Oklahoma, a Republican and the chairman of the National Governors Association, on Thursday criticized the deployment of Texas National Guard troops to Illinois as a violation of his beliefs in federalism and “states’ rights.”

His comments, in an interview with The New York Times, marked the first time a Republican governor has questioned the interstate deployment of National Guard troops over a governor’s objections. Gov. JB Pritzker of Illinois and other Democratic elected officials have been strongly critical of the move and have implored Republican governors to join the opposition.

Mr. Stitt on Thursday said, “We believe in the federalist system — that’s states’ rights,” adding, “Oklahomans would lose their mind if Pritzker in Illinois sent troops down to Oklahoma during the Biden administration.”

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Reposted by Lawrence Hurley

David Schraub @schraubd.bsky.social · 3d

I have to point out that the day before this 9th Circuit panel revved up to decide that Portland was too dangerously war-torn to rely on regular law enforcement to keep order, my Portland-based law school somehow safely hosted a different 9CA judge for a normal law school event.

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Lawrence Hurley @lawrencehurley.bsky.social · 3d

www.nbcnews.com/politics/sup...

Alex Jones asks Supreme Court to block massive defamation judgment

Jones says the court must act immediately to prevent his site, InfoWars, where he has spread conspiracy theories, from being handed over to the satirical news site, The Onion.

www.nbcnews.com

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