Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

State Of Our Union @stateofourunion.bsky.social · 1d

A jester can only be a king if we refuse to see through their tricks. #nokings

State Of Our Union @stateofourunion.bsky.social · 10d

Pot meet kettle. www.wired.com/story/ted-cr...

State Of Our Union @stateofourunion.bsky.social · 12d

Wild story: a high ranking Trump official was texting about sending troops to Portland during a funeral in Minneapolis. someone saw it and shared pictures of the texts with the local paper

p.s. are you supporting your local paper? :)

www.startribune.com/trump-offici...

Trump officials discussed sending elite Army division to Portland, text messages show

A high-ranking White House official was indiscreetly texting about the Portland, Ore., planning last weekend, according to messages shared with the Minnesota Star Tribune.

www.startribune.com

1

State Of Our Union @stateofourunion.bsky.social · 26d

Some too-real parody from the Atlantic on the attempts to erase history at our national parks. OUR national parks. "Stonewall National Monument: ... Here a community rose up ... and sparked a revolution. We cannot say which community..." #nokings
www.theatlantic.com/newsletters/...

State Of Our Union @stateofourunion.bsky.social · 28d

Authoritarian leaders will use any excuse to consolidate power. The administration used Kimmel's mistake to pull his show off the air. The same week they said nothing about Kilmeade suggesting executions for homeless people. This administration is not working for the people. It’s working for one man

A talk show host got in trouble this week for a statement supporting violence.

Brian Kilmeade of Fox and Friends said homeless people who refused help should be executed.

Oh, did you think I was talking about Jimmy Kimmel? Because the only talk show host the Trump administration has talked about this week is Kimmel.

Kimmel repeated an unconfirmed rumor; he made a mistake. Kilmeade suggested executing a vulnerable population. Kimmel was the one punished. Fascism happens one excuse at a time.

1

Reposted by State Of Our Union

Brennan Center @brennancenter.org · Sep 12

The Brennan Center is connecting the dots between the Trump administration’s unprecedented, and in some cases illegal, moves to undermine American elections.

Join us on Thursday, September 18, at 3 p.m. ET for a live virtual event on protecting the integrity of the vote. RSVP: bit.ly/46gWk3V

The Campaign to Undermine the Midterms

Brennan Center experts analyze the White House’s effort to seize control of elections.

www.brennancenter.org

54 110

State Of Our Union @stateofourunion.bsky.social · Sep 12

Love this. Listen with sound so you can hear the ppl honking in support. www.threads.com/@ro_southjer...

Our grandparents fought fascism. Will you?

State Of Our Union @stateofourunion.bsky.social · Sep 5

What I imagine that woman from the Poop Cruise documentary is saying as Trump mulls moving troops into Chicago, after sending troops into DC and LA. (For anyone who hasn't watched this guilty pleasure yet, uk.news.yahoo.com/trainwreck-p...) #takeover #dctakeover #poopcruise

steward from the infamous poop cruise - text is "welcome to a dictatorship, people!"

State Of Our Union @stateofourunion.bsky.social · Sep 1

Things I read about today: how per capita crime rates are calculated and the Posse Comitatus Act. p.s. Trump's takeover of D.C. isn't really about crime. All this and more documented at stateofourunion.com #dctakeover

2 2

State Of Our Union @stateofourunion.bsky.social · Aug 30

I often struggle to explain why equality can feel bad, even to a good person. And why sexism/racism/etc are not separate issues. They're all tied into the same power structures. Here's a good explanation. Enjoy and share if it's useful. :)
stateofourunion.com/other-news-t...

why equality feels bad sometimes (and all the isms are related)

State Of Our Union @stateofourunion.bsky.social · Aug 30

A good rundown from WIRED on surveillance creep: how the surveillance tools used against less sympathetic groups can (and probably will) be turned against other groups too. This is not a reason to back down from peaceful protest. Fight harder while we still have it. www.wired.com/video/watch/...

How ICE's Explosive Growth Threatens Every American

www.wired.com

1

State Of Our Union @stateofourunion.bsky.social · Aug 12

Dear Defense Secretary, if you what you wanted was really good for women, you wouldn't be worried about women voting. Headlines from the Guardian, NPR and Vanity Fair. Shenanigans documented at stateofourunion.com/minoritiesim... #womenvote

Headlines: Pete Hegseth reposts video of his pastor criticizing a women's right to vote, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth reposts video of pastors saying women shouldn't vote, Pete Hegseth reposts video that says women shouldn't be allowed to vote

State Of Our Union @stateofourunion.bsky.social · Aug 10

On the theme of lying about something until it's true . . . remember that plane that Qatar gifted to Trump? It's likely the plane was offered for sale or lease, until Trump wished aloud that the plane should be a gift. Documented at stateofourunion.com/corruption

Sources contradict Trump narrative about Qatar offering plane as gift

State Of Our Union @stateofourunion.bsky.social · Aug 10

New entry in "Silencing Dissent and the Media" - Trump tries to pressure Skydance/Paramount into millions worth of free PSAs for the administration. Sources: AU Variety, KCRW, Hollywood Reporter. Everything documented at stateofourunion.com/mediaanddiss... #nokings

Wish aloud when you have leverage over a company

Some media orgs report concessions as already done

Company feels pressure to make imaginary deal real - emperor gets new clothes. If no one speaks up. Will you speak up?

1

State Of Our Union @stateofourunion.bsky.social · Aug 5

From the NY Times, Politico and AP news: Hours after a jobs report shows the impact of Trump's tariffs on the economy, he fires that agencies commissioner. Authoritarian leaders target anyone who would dare say the emperor is naked. See citations and more examples at stateofourunion.com/corruption.

Reposted by State Of Our Union

Indivisible ❌👑 @indivisible.org · Aug 2

We can crack the pillars that prop up Trump’s authoritarian regime by refusing to cooperate or comply with requests, demands, or orders.

Watch the training: youtube.com/live/yqhFZjH...

Join the campaign to teach peaceful disruption tactics to one million Americans: www.mobilize.us/nokings/even...

13 270 610

Reposted by State Of Our Union

Brennan Center @brennancenter.org · Aug 2

As lawsuits challenging the president’s attempt to end birthright citizenship make their way through courts around the country, we explain what the 14th Amendment says about birthright citizenship and why it matters.
bit.ly/44Tm6Mn

Birthright Citizenship Under the U.S. Constitution

The 14th Amendment has long been understood to grant American citizenship to anyone born on U.S. soil.

www.brennancenter.org

63 140

State Of Our Union @stateofourunion.bsky.social · Jul 23

Really liked Wired's list of trackers so I thought I would add to the list and make a permanent page for it. Also, an excuse to add pictures of cute dogs to the site. stateofourunion.com/other-news-t... www.wired.com/story/toll-t...

State Of Our Union @stateofourunion.bsky.social · Jun 16

Trump's poll numbers are down and his domestic policy agenda is unpopular . . . and that means he's been busy the last few weeks creating chaos and distractions. All incidents counted in the graphic below are documented at stateofourunion.com. This list is not complete.

The state of our union 151 days into the second Trump administration.
39 incidents of corruption
28 significant lies
20 acts targeting dissenters
13 acts against the media
6 threats against gov't branches trying to hold him accountable
3 court orders ignored
8 actions against the LGBTQ+ community
18 actions targeting minorities
14 actions targeting immigrants
6 actions targeting women
4 individuals denied due process
This list is not complete.

1

State Of Our Union @stateofourunion.bsky.social · Jun 5

Do you have time to do a little thing for democracy today? Here's a petition to protest Trump's potentially illegal firing of Dr. Carla Hayden. action.everylibrary.org/congresshayden
Documented, as always, at stateofourunion.com/corruption.

Trump claims authority to fire top librarian and replace her in bid to control Library Congress; Library of Congress is a legislative, not executive branch institution and has traditionally been non-partisan

State Of Our Union @stateofourunion.bsky.social · May 30

144 days into Trump's second administration and it's corruption all the way down. Most of these instances would dominate the headlines during a normal presidency. He's done so much so fast, we're becoming numb to it. Don't be numb.
www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archiv...
stateofourunion.com/corruption

1

State Of Our Union @stateofourunion.bsky.social · May 24

Yeah, better for it fail in Congress.

1

State Of Our Union @stateofourunion.bsky.social · May 23

Republicans pass bill that would shield Trump administration by limiting federal courts’ ability to hold government officials in contempt, provision added to spending bill. Sample script for calls: 5calls.org/issue/court-... www.abajournal.com/news/article... www.nytimes.com/2025/05/22/u...

Republican Bill Would Limit Judges’ Contempt Power

www.nytimes.com

2 3 2

State Of Our Union @stateofourunion.bsky.social · May 17

An incomplete report card as of May 17. All incidents counted are documented at stateofourunion.com.

State Of Our Union @stateofourunion.bsky.social · May 17

Checking all the boxes. Lies? Yes, bc 45 signed an order saying the opposite of what the IC had concluded. Corruption? Yes, bc they pressured intelligence officials to change the report. Targeting immigrants? Yes, bc that's the point - to villainize a population.
www.nytimes.com/2025/05/16/u...

Trump Appointee Pressed Analyst to Redo Intelligence on Venezuelan Gang

www.nytimes.com

2 2