Author | Lightnews

Dave Id @daveid.bsky.social · 12d

There's no honest argument any Trump supporter can make that a president doesn't have the unilateral right to do such a thing.

Dave Id @daveid.bsky.social · 12d

If Trump's reign of terror isn't a thousand year reich, whoever comes into office next should make it one of their first orders of business to tear down Trump's gaudy White House ballroom.

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Dave Id @daveid.bsky.social · 12d

Now, Trump could literally topple the Washington monument, pave over the reflecting pools, or put a giant statue of himself in the Lincoln memorial and Republicans in Congress and SCOTUS wouldn't say shit.

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Dave Id @daveid.bsky.social · 12d

Imagine if Obama decided he wanted to destroy a third of the White House, and then just went ahead and did it, so he could build a palace for himself where zillionaire sycophants would bring him offerings.

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Dave Id @daveid.bsky.social · 12d

Remember when the US Supreme Court said Biden didn't have the authority to forgive student debt?

Those were simpler times.

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Dave Id @daveid.bsky.social · Oct 1

Mean World Syndrome

The theory describes a cognitive bias that arises from heavy exposure to violent mass media, including that which overemphasizes crime. The worst of it — local TV news, Fox News, and Nextdoor — cultivates support for mass incarceration and authoritarianism.

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Dave Id @daveid.bsky.social · Oct 1

Now, Google/YouTube has "settled" a bogus lawsuit with Trump, following Meta/Facebook and Twitter/X. And don't forget Paramount/CBS, ABC, and Univision. Not to mention the millions donated for Trump's inauguration. Giving up their lunch money, obeying in advance.

apnews.com/article/trum...

YouTube to pay $24.5 million to settle lawsuit over Trump's account suspension after Jan. 6 attack

Google’s YouTube has agreed to pay $24.5 million to settle a lawsuit by President Donald Trump over his 2021 account suspension following the Jan. 6, 2021 attack on the U.S.

apnews.com

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Dave Id @daveid.bsky.social · Sep 9

“ ... If older systems are being abused today — and IBM has no knowledge that they are — the misuse is entirely outside of IBM’s control, was not contemplated by IBM decades ago, and in no way reflects on IBM today.”

They could say the same, and probably do, about their work with the Nazis.

Dave Id @daveid.bsky.social · Sep 9

“Because of this technology … we have no freedom at all,” said Yang Guoliang’s elder daughter, Yang Caiying, now in exile in Japan. “At the moment, it’s us Chinese that are suffering the consequences, but sooner or later, Americans and others, too, will lose their freedoms.”

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Dave Id @daveid.bsky.social · Sep 9

In the confrontation between the Chinese state and its critics, American technology tipped the scales of power.

China’s cities, roads and villages are now studded with more cameras than the rest of the world combined, analysts say — one for every two people.

apnews.com/article/chin...

US tech companies enabled the surveillance and detention of hundreds of thousands in China

U.S. technology firms such as IBM, Dell and Cisco largely designed and built China’s surveillance state, an AP investigation finds. The tech companies deny wrongdoing.

apnews.com

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Dave Id @daveid.bsky.social · Aug 21

Christianity has long been used to justify cruelty in the US, from slavery to genocide to Jim Crow and segregation. This is just the latest neo-fascist, Trump-friendly version.

apnews.com/article/cons...

Is empathy a sin? Some conservative Christians argue it can be

Some voices on the Christian right are arguing the virtue of empathy has become a vice. Those Christians claim empathy can manipulate people into accepting what they see as sins, like abortion access ...

apnews.com

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Dave Id @daveid.bsky.social · Aug 15

"Para mis amigos, todo; a mis enemigos, la ley."

"For my friends, everything; for my enemies, the law."

Dave Id @daveid.bsky.social · Aug 13

Every last thing...

even aligning the Smithsonian’s content with his interpretation of American history...

as if Trump is some scholar of history. His father was in the KKK, though, so there's that history.

apnews.com/article/smit...

White House orders a review of exhibits at Smithsonian museums ahead of nation's 250th birthday

The White House is ordering a review of the Smithsonian museums to align content with President Donald Trump's interpretation of American history.

apnews.com

Dave Id @daveid.bsky.social · Aug 13

That was Rand Paul in 2014. Other republicans called Obama a monarch, Caesar, dictator, authoritarian, and emperor. All you hear nowadays from them is crickets while Trump sticks his nose in everything, from raising and lowering import taxes on a whim to deploying troops in city streets.

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Dave Id @daveid.bsky.social · Aug 13

"The president acts like he's a king. He ignores the Constitution. He arrogantly says, 'If Congress will not act, then I must.' These are not the words of a great leader. These are the words that sound more like the exclamations of an autocrat."

newrepublic.com/article/1203...

Obama Is a Dictator. And a Tyrant. And a...

He's anything but a president, apparently.

newrepublic.com

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Dave Id @daveid.bsky.social · Aug 11

Troops will be in place, in DC and likely other large cities, and those at the top of the military are vetted for loyalty.

apnews.com/article/trum...

Trump, in another break from the norm, interviews 4-star general candidates

The White House is acknowledging that President Donald Trump meets with candidates for promotion to the rank of four-star general.

apnews.com

Dave Id @daveid.bsky.social · Aug 11

Trump's next self-coup won't fail. He's making sure of that early on.

apnews.com/article/trum...

Trump's order to deploy troops in DC is his latest use of the National Guard in cities

President Donald Trump has ordered 800 National Guard members to help law enforcement fight crime in Washington.

apnews.com

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Dave Id @daveid.bsky.social · Aug 8

Just under 2 in 10 of all adults and about a quarter of those under 30 say they’ve used AI for companionship.

apnews.com/article/ai-a...

How US adults are using AI, according to AP-NORC polling

A new poll finds most Americans say they've used artificial intelligence to search for information. But it's younger adults who appear to be the generation leaning the most into AI, with many using it...

apnews.com

Dave Id @daveid.bsky.social · Aug 8

More than 70% of teens have used AI companions and half use them regularly...

The now-booming and largely unregulated AI industry is becoming as integrated with adolescence as smartphones and social media are.

apnews.com/article/ai-c...

Teens say they are turning to AI for friendship

Teenagers are increasingly turning to AI for advice, emotional support and decision-making, according to a new study.

apnews.com

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Dave Id @daveid.bsky.social · Aug 8

“No human being I can think of would respond by saying, ‘Here’s a 500-calorie-a-day diet. Go for it, kiddo.’”

apnews.com/article/chat...

New study sheds light on ChatGPT's alarming interactions with teens

New research from a watchdog group reveals ChatGPT can provide harmful advice to teens. The Associated Press reviewed interactions where the chatbot gave detailed plans for drug use, eating disorders,...

apnews.com

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Dave Id @daveid.bsky.social · Aug 1

More on the autocratic ramping-up-disinformation front. So depressing. A lot of PBS and NPR's audience is rural, who will now just have Fox, OAN, and NewsMax.

And there will be a firesale of CPB's assets to corporate scumbags. No bringing it back, ever.

apnews.com/article/publ...

Corporation for Public Broadcasting to shut down after being defunded by Congress, targeted by Trump

The Corporation for Public Broadcasting has been a cornerstone of American culture for three generations.

apnews.com

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Dave Id @daveid.bsky.social · Aug 1

Such gaslighting and projection

"Important numbers like this... can’t be manipulated for political purposes."

...which is exactly what will happen now

truthsocial.com/@realDonaldT...

Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump)

I was just informed that our Country’s “Jobs Numbers” are being produced by a Biden Appointee, Dr. Erika McEntarfer, the Commissioner of Labor Statistics, who faked the Jobs Numbers before the Electio...

truthsocial.com

Dave Id @daveid.bsky.social · Aug 1

Bring on a parade of lies from every US department. The sky is green, okay, sure. Climate change is a hoax, okay, whatever you say.

apnews.com/article/trum...

Trump removes official overseeing jobs data after dismal employment report

President Donald Trump on Friday had his team remove the head of the agency that produces the monthly jobs figures, after a weak report showed hiring slowed and was much weaker in April and May than p...

apnews.com

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Dave Id @daveid.bsky.social · Aug 1

3 in 10 say DEI increases discrimination against white people - Trump's core base

A majority doesn't think Black folks face “a great deal” or “quite a bit” of discrimination in the United States - that includes at least a portion of democrats

We're so fucked

apnews.com/article/poll...

Fewer Americans see discrimination as anti-DEI push gains traction, AP-NORC poll shows

A poll finds less than half of U.S. adults believe Black people face “a great deal” or “quite a bit” of discrimination.

apnews.com

Dave Id @daveid.bsky.social · Jul 25

“After months of cowardly capitulation to this Administration, Paramount finally got what it wanted. Unfortunately, it is the American public who will ultimately pay the price for its actions.”

#CancelParamount

www.politico.com/news/2025/07...

FCC green-lights Skydance/Paramount deal after CBS concessions

Skydance had agreed to address Trump administration concerns about alleged bias at CBS.

www.politico.com