Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Shea Jordan Smith @sheajordansmith.bsky.social · 19h

Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett (@jasmineforus.bsky.social) on the government shutdown with @raeshandalias.bsky.social: “They didn’t ask me what would look good for those in South Dallas…. I don't work for him. He can't hire me. He can't fire me. The people that elected me in Texas 30 did…”

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Shea Jordan Smith @sheajordansmith.bsky.social · 1d

City of Houston Controller Chris Hollins: Painting over [the rainbow crosswalk again] would be a “waste of goddamn money”

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Shea Jordan Smith @sheajordansmith.bsky.social · 1d

Democracy isn’t supposed to look like this—and Fort Bend voters deserve better.

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Shea Jordan Smith @sheajordansmith.bsky.social · 1d

This wasn’t about “growth” or “balance.”

It was political payback—plain and simple.

A direct retaliation against Precinct 4 Commissioner Dexter L. McCoy for daring to challenge the status quo and actually serve his community instead of the courthouse insiders.

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Shea Jordan Smith @sheajordansmith.bsky.social · 1d

Political gerrymandering is back at it again in Fort Bend County—and this time, it’s uglier than ever.

In a 3–2 vote split along party lines, the Commissioners Court just approved a new map that weakens minority voting power and conveniently hands one man more undeveloped land in his precinct.

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Shea Jordan Smith @sheajordansmith.bsky.social · 2d

And for the record—your council member isn’t the reason your heavy trash is still sitting on the curb like post-Beryl debris.

That’s on the mayor, who directly oversees Solid Waste.

He’s just been too busy fighting bike lanes and tearing up our roads to focus on the basics.

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Shea Jordan Smith @sheajordansmith.bsky.social · 2d

Houston’s strong mayor setup has always tilted the balance of power, but it’s never been abused quite like this.

Sylvester Turner had his critics, sure, but he didn’t go scorched earth on basic governance.

What’s protecting us now?
Just the fading memory of political norms.

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Shea Jordan Smith @sheajordansmith.bsky.social · 2d

But if you’re a centrist (or progressive) Democrat trying not to offend Republicans and can’t name a single policy disagreement with Whitmire?

What’s the point—résumé building?

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Shea Jordan Smith @sheajordansmith.bsky.social · 2d

It’s a solid gig when the Mayor actually respects the job and wants to collaborate—but when he’s petty, impulsive, and governing solely out of spite, it’s basically the worst job in Houston.

If you’ve got a real vision for what city policy could be, then yeah, it’s worth it.

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Shea Jordan Smith @sheajordansmith.bsky.social · 2d

It’s out state’s first-ever #FreeCollegeAppWeek—removing barriers and opening doors for future scholars across Texas.

If you’ve been waiting for a sign to apply, this is it. www.applytexas.org

Apply Texas

With ApplyTexas you can apply for admissions and transfers to any Texas public university or community college, and many private universities

www.applytexas.org

Shea Jordan Smith @sheajordansmith.bsky.social · 2d

Starting October 13, Texans can apply for free to any public college or university through October 19.

From HCC, UH & TSU to UT & A&M, save up to hundreds in fees.

Apply once through ApplyTexas and shoot your shot—because access to higher education shouldn’t come with a high price tag.

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Shea Jordan Smith @sheajordansmith.bsky.social · 2d

Still dragging Kamala Harris ten months later for a job she never held, while giving the man actually running the country into the ground a free pass and not giving him any smoke, is… a choice.

At some point it’s not a critique, it’s obsession.

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Shea Jordan Smith @sheajordansmith.bsky.social · 2d

Donald Trump: “I don't think there's anything that's gonna get me in heaven. I think I'm not maybe heaven bound. I may be in heaven right now as we fly on Air Force One. I'm not sure I'm gonna be able to make heaven.”

It’s going to be a long week…

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Shea Jordan Smith @sheajordansmith.bsky.social · 4d

So he can spare us the fiscal responsibility talk.

You can’t claim to be “cutting waste” while literally bulldozing taxpayer-funded safety projects just because you don’t like who approved them.

Petty politics isn’t efficiency.

It’s expensive ego.

Shea Jordan Smith @sheajordansmith.bsky.social · 4d

These aren’t “extras.”

They’re traffic calming tools that save lives.

And none of them come out of the city’s general fund—they’re paid for by neighborhoods, management districts, and grants.

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Shea Jordan Smith @sheajordansmith.bsky.social · 4d

Public Works is out here ripping up freshly built safety measures—speed cushions, medians, bike bollards—while fully paid for speed bumps that our neighbors already funded sit uninstalled because of his personal vendetta against past projects.

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Shea Jordan Smith @sheajordansmith.bsky.social · 4d

If John Whitmire actually cared about “waste and duplication,” he’d stop wasting millions of taxpayer dollars tearing out working infrastructure…

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Shea Jordan Smith @sheajordansmith.bsky.social · 4d

Anyone who’s ever worked for Congresswoman Jackson Lee knows—you never really leave her orbit.

March 2024: then-EPA Press Secretary Remmington Belford coordinated this meeting between her, EPA Administrator Regan & Dr. Robert Bullard, celebrating a $50M grant to Texas Southern.

Shea Jordan Smith @sheajordansmith.bsky.social · 5d

Anyways, don’t ask me about that little boy and his psychotic tantrums anymore.

He clearly lives in a state of his own delusion.

Which is completely understandable when you’re polling at less than the margin of error.

However, someone please tell him to keep his father out of my inbox.

Shea Jordan Smith @sheajordansmith.bsky.social · 5d

Even as the wolf rages below, the moon remains silent above, bright and casting its light over darkness.

Power doesn’t always announce itself.

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Shea Jordan Smith @sheajordansmith.bsky.social · 6d

Every gathering doesn’t need your dissertation.

Let Black people have joy, connection, and culture without the constant critique.

Not everything is a “discussion.”

Some things are just us celebrating us—and that’s perfectly fine.

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Shea Jordan Smith @sheajordansmith.bsky.social · 6d

Every time there’s a Black-led event—Essence Fest, Woman Evolve, AfroTech, CBC, and now CultureCon—people crawl out of the woodworks with the same tired stinkpieces (word to @lookatdustin.bsky.social) and complaints.

Whether you went or just watched from your timeline, give it a rest.

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Shea Jordan Smith @sheajordansmith.bsky.social · 7d

“We took the freedom of speech away…” — President Donald Trump

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Shea Jordan Smith @sheajordansmith.bsky.social · 7d

But real leadership shows up in the receipts: did they push through a policy, pass a bill, set up a program, or even build something like a working group or committee that actually exists and makes a difference?

Talking is easy. Doing is harder.
The “doing” is where accountability lives.

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Shea Jordan Smith @sheajordansmith.bsky.social · 7d

One way to measure whether an elected official is doing their job is simple: can you point to something they’ve done?

Not just what they’ve said, but what they’ve actually delivered.

There’s nothing wrong with giving speeches, posting statements, or showing up to advocate—that’s part of the gig.

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