Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Reposted by Tom Joscelyn

Tom Joscelyn @tomjoscelyn.bsky.social · 1h

Hakeem Jeffries posted pictures of two Rep. Members posing with “Young Republicans” who were part of a racist text thread (as reported by Politico).

In response, Mike Davis (well-connected in Trump World & on the Hill) called Jeffries a “house slave” for George Soros - proving Jeffries’ point.

79 560 1.4K

Reposted by Tom Joscelyn

Justin Hendrix @justinhendrix.bsky.social · 1h

Quite a day.

27 390 860

Reposted by Tom Joscelyn

Tom Joscelyn @tomjoscelyn.bsky.social · 1h

In JD Vance’s defense, when Young Republicans wrote “I love Hitler” he may have thought they meant “I love Trump.”

Vance is still one of the small number of politicians to make that comparison:

www.reuters.com/world/us/jd-...

Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 4h

JD Vance dismisses Young Republicans who in a group chat said "I love Hitler" and joked about slavery and rape as "a bunch of kids" who "told stupid jokes" and adds that "most of the stupid things I did when I was a teenager and young adult, they're not on the internet."

2 2 17

Reposted by Tom Joscelyn

Tom Joscelyn @tomjoscelyn.bsky.social · 1h

Congressman Dave Taylor is a Republican from Ohio. His staffer had this American flag - desecrated by a Nazi swastika - on his wall during a call.

Santiago Mayer @santiagomayer.com · 2h

Holy shit. This is Angelo Elia, a legislative correspondent for Congressman Dave Taylor.

According to @rooster.info, during a Zoom meeting today, he had an American nazi flag displayed in the background.

20 30

Tom Joscelyn @tomjoscelyn.bsky.social · 1h

In JD Vance’s defense, when Young Republicans wrote “I love Hitler” he may have thought they meant “I love Trump.”

Vance is still one of the small number of politicians to make that comparison:

www.reuters.com/world/us/jd-...

Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 4h

JD Vance dismisses Young Republicans who in a group chat said "I love Hitler" and joked about slavery and rape as "a bunch of kids" who "told stupid jokes" and adds that "most of the stupid things I did when I was a teenager and young adult, they're not on the internet."

2 2 17

Tom Joscelyn @tomjoscelyn.bsky.social · 1h

Congressman Dave Taylor is a Republican from Ohio. His staffer had this American flag - desecrated by a Nazi swastika - on his wall during a call.

Santiago Mayer @santiagomayer.com · 2h

Holy shit. This is Angelo Elia, a legislative correspondent for Congressman Dave Taylor.

According to @rooster.info, during a Zoom meeting today, he had an American nazi flag displayed in the background.

20 30

Tom Joscelyn @tomjoscelyn.bsky.social · 1h

The casual racism of MAGA influencers and ideologues can’t be ignored.

5 15 150

Tom Joscelyn @tomjoscelyn.bsky.social · 1h

Hakeem Jeffries posted pictures of two Rep. Members posing with “Young Republicans” who were part of a racist text thread (as reported by Politico).

In response, Mike Davis (well-connected in Trump World & on the Hill) called Jeffries a “house slave” for George Soros - proving Jeffries’ point.

79 560 1.4K

Reposted by Tom Joscelyn

Adam Kinzinger @adamkinzinger.substack.com · 6h

John Solomon didn’t stumble onto a secret — he recycled one. The Jan 6 committee’s phone-metadata subpoenas were public and reported years ago. This is how the right keeps the outrage machine humming: rename oversight as spying, erase timelines, and sell déjà vu.
open.substack.com/pub/adamkinz...

The Right’s Favorite Magic Trick: Turning Old News Into New Scandal

John Solomon’s “discovery” about Jan 6 phone records isn’t a scoop — it’s a rerun dressed as revelation.

open.substack.com

48 590 1.7K

Reposted by Tom Joscelyn

Ryan J. Reilly “paints a vivid and urgent portrait of… disarray” @ryanjreilly.com · 2h

Judge blocks Trump's shutdown layoffs, calling them illegal www.nbcnews.com/politics/pol...

Judge blocks Trump's layoffs during shutdown, calling them illegal

The administration began laying off federal workers last Friday.

www.nbcnews.com

4 28 100

Tom Joscelyn @tomjoscelyn.bsky.social · 2h

They’ll be back in comparable positions in short order.

Politico @politico.com · 5h

Two more members of a Young Republican group chat strewn with racist epithets and hateful jokes stepped down from their jobs Tuesday after we published an exclusive report on the Telegram exchanges.

‘It’s revolting’: More Young Republican chat members out of jobs as condemnation intensifies

POLITICO report on private Telegram chat filled with racist slurs and tropes ignites debate from New York to Washington.

www.politico.com

2 2 16

Tom Joscelyn @tomjoscelyn.bsky.social · 2h

Also, you know, it’s not “Antifa” or a cover for terrorism or whatever - as some loud voices on the MAGA Right are now claiming.

Derek Barker @dwmbarker.bsky.social · 3h

Reposting @devawo.bsky.social's excellent analysis of No Kings from this summer: the movement illustrates the importance of locally based civil society organizing, the essence of democracy. kettering.org/no-kings-jus...

No Kings, Just Citizens: Civil Society Asserts Its Democratic Power

A call that came about amidst a long protest wave that started right at the turn of the century.

kettering.org

1 4

Reposted by Tom Joscelyn

J6 Plaque @thejan6plaque.bsky.social · 6h

NO YOU LITERALLY HAVE NOT

Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 6h

Mike Johnson: "We've always stood with Capitol police and law enforcement. We've shown that in word and deed."

1 20 61

Reposted by Tom Joscelyn

Tom Joscelyn @tomjoscelyn.bsky.social · 9h

Again, Trump had the power to unilaterally deploy the DC National Guard on January 6th - he did not need permission from anyone. He didn’t do so.

For example, he did deploy the DC Guard as part of his fake emergency in the city this year.

For more debunking:

www.justsecurity.org/93316/anatom...

13 200 540

Reposted by Tom Joscelyn

Tom Joscelyn @tomjoscelyn.bsky.social · 4h

@thejan6plaque.bsky.social would disagree.

Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 6h

Mike Johnson: "We've always stood with Capitol police and law enforcement. We've shown that in word and deed."

3 7 28

Tom Joscelyn @tomjoscelyn.bsky.social · 4h

@thejan6plaque.bsky.social would disagree.

Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 6h

Mike Johnson: "We've always stood with Capitol police and law enforcement. We've shown that in word and deed."

3 7 28

Reposted by Tom Joscelyn

Eric Umansky @ericumansky.bsky.social · 2d

ICE agents blocked an ambulance that was trying to take an injured protester to hospital.

"We are still not being allowed to leave by ICE officers.” an EMT said on radio

When driver tried to get out, an agent yelled, "DON’T YOU EVER DO THAT AGAIN, I WILL SHOOT YOU"

www.wweek.com/news/2025/10...

Documents Allege a Federal Agent at Portland ICE Threatened to Shoot an Ambulance Driver

Feds delayed medics who had come to pick up an injured protester. Then, according to confidential incident reports, the agents became aggressive.

www.wweek.com

220 2.5K 4.4K

Tom Joscelyn @tomjoscelyn.bsky.social · 9h

Again, Trump had the power to unilaterally deploy the DC National Guard on January 6th - he did not need permission from anyone. He didn’t do so.

For example, he did deploy the DC Guard as part of his fake emergency in the city this year.

For more debunking:

www.justsecurity.org/93316/anatom...

13 200 540

Reposted by Tom Joscelyn

Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 23h

Q: Politico reported on a group chat of young Republicans. Does this just reflect some bad apples?

HOCHUL: Some bad apples? These are the future of the GOP. This is so vile it's hard to find the words to put into context ... there's gotta be consequences ... this bullshit has to stop.

480 4.4K 15K

Reposted by Tom Joscelyn

Adam Keiper @adamkeiper.com · 23h

Trump told the assemblage of generals and admirals that the Navy should bring back battleships, even though we decommissioned the last one in 1958.

It was as if Teddy Roosevelt had urged his admirals to abandon their new steel ships for wooden sailing vessels.

Happy 250th birthday, Navy.

The Birth Pangs of the U.S. Navy

It was founded 250 years ago today—and, oddly, was promptly ordered to attack what is today its biggest base.

www.thebulwark.com

5 11 45

Reposted by Tom Joscelyn

Tom Joscelyn @tomjoscelyn.bsky.social · 1d

Speaker Mike Johnson described the upcoming “No Kings” protest as a “Hate America” rally.

“No Kings” = America.

False King = MAGA.

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

Johnson describes planned No Kings rally as ‘hate America,’ ‘pro-Hamas’ gathering

Organizers largely blew off the rhetoric, but some Democrats online criticized the tone.

www.politico.com

19 53 190

Tom Joscelyn @tomjoscelyn.bsky.social · 1d

Speaker Mike Johnson described the upcoming “No Kings” protest as a “Hate America” rally.

“No Kings” = America.

False King = MAGA.

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

Johnson describes planned No Kings rally as ‘hate America,’ ‘pro-Hamas’ gathering

Organizers largely blew off the rhetoric, but some Democrats online criticized the tone.

www.politico.com

19 53 190

Reposted by Tom Joscelyn

Tom Joscelyn @tomjoscelyn.bsky.social · 1d

The longest federal government shutdown so far came during Trump’s first term - lasting 35 days.

As the Republicans continue to blame Democrats for the shutdown, remember that.

Shutting down the federal government is one of the Trump Party’s favorite moves.

www.usatoday.com/story/news/p...

Shutdown 'barreling toward' one of the longest ever, GOP leader says

Lawmakers on both sides braced for a longer shutdown as the Senate prepares for another vote Tuesday to reopen the government.

www.usatoday.com

12 83 280

Tom Joscelyn @tomjoscelyn.bsky.social · 1d

The longest federal government shutdown so far came during Trump’s first term - lasting 35 days.

As the Republicans continue to blame Democrats for the shutdown, remember that.

Shutting down the federal government is one of the Trump Party’s favorite moves.

www.usatoday.com/story/news/p...

Shutdown 'barreling toward' one of the longest ever, GOP leader says

Lawmakers on both sides braced for a longer shutdown as the Senate prepares for another vote Tuesday to reopen the government.

www.usatoday.com

12 83 280

Tom Joscelyn @tomjoscelyn.bsky.social · 1d

A guy Bari Weiss and The Free Press don’t like - spelling be damned.

Chris Hayes @chrislhayes.bsky.social · 2d

Who is this Mandani chap I’ve been hearing so much about?

3 1 15