Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

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Simon Rosenberg @simonwdc.bsky.social · 11h

Reminders:
- The govt is shutdown because Rs failed to pass a budget by September 30th
- It is October 20th and there is no GOP budget, no process for creating one, and Johnson is preventing his conference from working on one
Will we ever see a GOP budget?
www.hopiumchronicles.com/p/will-repub...

Will Republicans Ever Pass A Budget?

I am not so sure.......

www.hopiumchronicles.com

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Senator Sheldon Whitehouse @whitehouse.senate.gov · 11h

Because “to mislead a court with intent"" is a form of contempt of court, it’s telling that two Trump judges blocked the contempt hearing that would have exposed the facts.
www.cbsnews.com/news/erez-re...

Fired Justice Department lawyer says he refused to lie in the Abrego Garcia case

Former Justice Department lawyer Erez Reuveni is speaking out about a pattern of troubling behavior he says he witnessed inside the DOJ that undermined the rule of law.

www.cbsnews.com

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UNITED24 Media @united24media.com · 11h

⚡ Russian occupation authorities are continuing to secretly mobilize residents from the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine, new report suggests.

Russia Secretly Drafts Ukrainians in Luhansk for War Against Ukraine, Ukrainian Official Confirms

Reports indicate ongoing mobilization of men from temporarily occupied areas of Ukraine into the Russian military, contradicting stated policies.

united24media.com

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AltFormerFed (aka Farmer Fred) @dataprism.altgov.info · 11h

Yo resisters!

Go easy on the Feds working the phones today. Actually, go easy on them every day. No one is a public servant for the money, and they’re not even getting that these days.

#resist

AltSSA @altssa.altgov.info · 11h

🚨🚨🚨PSA: We use AWS for our phone systems so we are very impacted by the AWS outages that happened early this morning! Calls are dropping frequently and we are having trouble calling out! If your issue isn’t urgent, call back tomorrow. If you have an appt, please be patient with us, we may call late!

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AFP News Agency @en.afp.com · 11h

🇪🇺 EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said it was wrong to pressure Ukraine to secure an end to Russia's war, after reports US President Donald Trump pushed Kyiv to give up land.
➡️ u.afp.com/Ssdy

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AltSSA @altssa.altgov.info · 11h

🚨🚨🚨PSA: We use AWS for our phone systems so we are very impacted by the AWS outages that happened early this morning! Calls are dropping frequently and we are having trouble calling out! If your issue isn’t urgent, call back tomorrow. If you have an appt, please be patient with us, we may call late!

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Barred and Boujee aka Madiba Dennie @audrelawdamercy.bsky.social · 11h

the kids are alright

NPR @npr.org · 11h

Three high schoolers founded a book club that reads some of the country's most frequently banned books after a state law removing books with sexual content was signed in 2023. Two years later, many of the books have been reshelved and parts of the law can't be enforced.

When books were being pulled from Iowa classrooms, these teens started an after-school club to read them

Three Iowa City West high schoolers founded a book club that reads some of the country's most frequently banned books after a state law removing books with sexual content was signed in 2023. Two years later, many of the books have been reshelved and parts of the law can't be enforced.

n.pr

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Joyce White Vance @joycewhitevance.bsky.social · 11h

This is a very smart and important point. Talk to the people around you.

Alissa McLean @alissakmclean.bsky.social · 11h

I showed a relative the video Trump posted of himself taking a literal sh*t on the country, and she immediately stopped wavering and filled out her ballot “Yes” on 50.

Talk to your people! Many of them are not terminally online like you are.

That goes doubly for those of you in NJ and VA.

a woman says your vote is your power in a purple jacket

ALT: a woman says your vote is your power in a purple jacket

media.tenor.com

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Stars and Stripes @starsandstripes.bsky.social · 11h

ICYMI: The U.S. government is warning U.S. citizens to steer clear of U.S. installations in Trinidad and Tobago, including its embassy in Port-of-Spain, amid the ongoing buildup of its military in the region and drone strikes off the coast of Venezuela.

Drone strikes prompt US Embassy high alert for US citizens in Trinidad

www.stripes.com

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Democrats @democrats.org · 11h

Proposition 50 gives Californians a chance to level the playing field and stand up to Trump’s attempts to rig the congressional maps ahead of the 2026 midterms.

Californians, make sure you're registered to vote: IWillVote.com/CA.

Graphic featuring the outline of the state of California with the following text:

California

Today is the last day to register to vote online or by mail (postmarked)

*If you miss the deadline you can register through Election Day using Conditional Voter Registration

IWillVote.com

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Doctors Without Borders / Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) @msf.ca · 11h

#Gaza: Doctors without Borders is deeply disappointed that Dr Mohammed Obeid, a respected orthopaedic surgeon, and long-time MSF colleague, remains detained and was not released as part of the recent #ceasefire agreement. We call for his immediate and unconditional release.

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UNITED24 Media @united24media.com · 10h

⚡ Russian FSB agent was sentenced to 15 years in prison for preparing a series of terrorist attacks in northern Ukraine.

Russian FSB Agent Sentenced to 15 Years for Plotting Terror Attacks in Ukraine

A Russian FSB operative was sentenced to 15 years for planning terrorist acts in northern Ukraine, including targeted bombings against military logistics.

united24media.com

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RQ Skye @rqskye.bsky.social · 10h

#VA #Virginia

Waldo Jaquith, but Spooky @waldo.net · 10h

Notice what's missing from the website of Winsome Earle-Sears' website? There's nowhere on her website where she talks about what she'd do as governor. No menu item named "Issues" or "Positions" or "Beliefs" or whatever. The closest she gets is some pap on the "About" page. winsomeforgovernor.com

Home
Meet Winsome
Endorsements
Find Early Voting Location
News
Shop
Request a Yard Sign
Contact Us
Donate

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Helen Branswell 🇨🇦 @helenbranswell.bsky.social · 13h

You know we're in uncharted territory when a former acting director of the #CDC, a scientist who spent years at the agency, says Americans can no longer look to the current CDC, under the current HHS leadership, for accurate vaccine guidance. www.statnews.com/2025/10/18/r...

Former acting CDC director calls public health cuts ‘absolutely heartbreaking’

Public health leaders “have to figure out how to reach” those who are open to persuasion on vaccines and more, says former acting CDC director Richard Besser.

www.statnews.com

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NJ Department of Human Services @njhumanservices.bsky.social · 13h

Continue to visit nj.gov/humanservices/dfd/ for ongoing updates on how the federal shutdown may impact your #SNAP and WFNJ benefits.

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Rep. Ted Lieu @reptedlieu.bsky.social · 10h

Because Republicans are on vacation, we haven’t gotten any sort of classified briefings, rationale from the Administration, or intel on if innocent people have been killed by Trump's boat strikes.

We need to have oversight done by Congress.

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RQ Skye @rqskye.bsky.social · 10h

#NYC #NJ

Action Together New Jersey @atnj.org · 15h

NYC/NJ area
His owners were deported.

He's up for adoption at Animal Haven animalhaven.org
#DefundICE

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Dan Kaszeta FRHistS @dankaszeta.bsky.social · 12h

The people frothing about Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) are either basically being Nazis, don't understand ILR, or both.

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Senator Amy Klobuchar @klobuchar.senate.gov · 10h

Early retirees like Bill & Shelly will see their health insurance premiums increase nearly 300%—from $442 to $1,700 per month if Congressional Republicans refuse to extend the enhanced tax credits.

That's an extra $15K a year families can't afford.

www.cnbc.com/2025/10/17/a...

ACA enhanced subsidy lapse could hit early retirees hardest amid shutdown fight

Older adults who aren't yet eligible for Medicare face the largest increases in health insurance premiums if enhanced ACA subsidies disappear.

www.cnbc.com

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UNITED24 Media @united24media.com · 1d

😠 Russia developed a plan to bring in Russian citizens from distant regions such as Yakutia and Buryatia to replace local population in temporarily occupied Ukraine.
united24media.com/latest-news/...

Russia Plans “New Siberia” Temporarily Occupied Ukraine to Replace Local Population, Authorities Warn

Russia's migration initiative in occupied Ukraine aims for demographic change, favoring the settlement of Russian citizens over displaced Ukrainians.

united24media.com

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Alt National Park Service @altnps.bsky.social · 1d

Meanwhile, police departments across the country are reporting that No Kings protesters had zero arrests. Incredible job, everyone! It’s becoming impossible for Trump to sell his propaganda.

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Alt National Park Service @altnps.bsky.social · 1d

There were incidents involving guns being drawn, vehicles driven into crowds, and other acts of aggression, but police acted quickly and removed the offenders.

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Alt National Park Service @altnps.bsky.social · 1d

The MAGA crowd seems very triggered that yesterday’s protest was historic, their comments are everywhere. In total, 22 MAGA individuals were arrested for attempting to attack peaceful protesters. Arrests were made in OH, KY, CA, SC, NC, MI, OR, FL, VA, TX, and PA.

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Aaron Reichlin-Melnick @reichlinmelnick.bsky.social · 1d

Without a doubt, this calls for an independent international investigation. I certainly do not trust the Trump administration, and I do not know enough about Colombia’s public media apparatus to trust them either.

Gabrielle Hecht has no more spoons @gabriellehecht.bsky.social · 1d

With alt text.

Executive summary: the US killed at least 3 Colombian fishermen who’d put up a distress flag. In Colombian waters

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Andrew R @andrewr4.womcats.com · 1d

www.rnz.co.nz/life/culture...

Star photographer wins prize with stunning Aoraki Mount Cook shot

Landscape astro photographer, Tom Rae, has won the Royal Museums Greenwich Skyscapes Astronomy Photographer of the Year for a second time.

www.rnz.co.nz

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