Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

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Yashar Ali 🐘 @yasharali.bsky.social · 9h

BREAKING via WSJ

The Trump administration is planning sweeping changes in criminal division at the IRS.

Full Story: on.wsj.com/3LbVFtK

The Trump administration is preparing sweeping changes at the Internal Revenue Service that would allow the agency to pursue criminal inquiries of left-leaning groups more easily, according to people familiar with the matter.
A senior IRS official involved in the effort has drawn up a list of potential targets that includes major Democratic donors, some of the people said.
The undertaking aims to install allies of President Trump at the IRS criminal-investigative division, or IRS-CI, to exert firmer control over the unit and weaken the involvement of IRS lawyers in criminal investigations, officials said. The proposed changes could open the door to politically motivated probes and are being driven by Gary Shapley, an adviser to Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent.

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Amanda Katz @katzish.bsky.social · 1d

Unbelievable story of Afghan refugee, a highly vetted fluent English speaker who helped the US against the Taliban and now lives here with his US citizen kids, declared “illegal” and perhaps about to be shipped home by the Trump admin to his likely death

The Washington Post @washingtonpost.com · 1d

He supported America’s war, escaped Afghanistan and started a family in the U.S.

Then ICE arrested him.

If he is deported, he expects the Taliban to kill him.

America saved him from the Taliban. Trump wants to send him back.

He supported America’s war, escaped Afghanistan and started a family in the U.S. Then ICE arrested him. If he is deported, he expects the Taliban to kill him.

www.washingtonpost.com

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Matt Novak @paleofuture.bsky.social · 8h

“In some cases, the tool includes duplicative addresses, with the same provider appearing to be simultaneously in-network and out-of-network. In other cases, the tool initially informs users that a provider is covered by a plan but lists that provider as out-of-network on other pages.”

Dan Diamond @ddiamond.bsky.social · 8h

New: Trump officials unveiled a tool intended to help millions of Medicare patients pick their plans, as open enrollment begins today.

But the tool — a directory that was intended to match providers with their plans — was rife with errors, The Post found.

More here w/Akilah Johnson

Medicare doctor directory, a Trump team priority, launches with errors

The directory, intended to help older Americans navigate Medicare Advantage open enrollment, produces conflicting responses about which providers are covered by health plans.

www.washingtonpost.com

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alison says reinstate Link! @alisonborealis.bsky.social · 8h

To all the new arrivals, I thought I'd re-share my guidelines for being on Bluesky.

Whether you choose to use any of them is up to you, but your experience here depends entirely on how you set up your feed and how you interact with people.

... you know, just like in-person life.

alison says reinstate Link! @alisonborealis.bsky.social · Nov 10

Hello newskies!

I've seen a number of these things go around, and I've finally decided to jump on the bandwagon...

So here we are: alison's rules of Bluesky:

(It's a short list with many (hopefully) straight-forward explanatory sub-points)

Use Alt-Text
- We are making an inclusive space here.
- Alt text loads even when images don’t load (so people can still understand what’s going on during low bandwidth episodes)
- Disabled people (including blind, vision-impaired, and folks with reading glasses) deserve to be included.
- Many people won’t like or share non-alt-texted image posts
- Use alt-text to describe the image not to post links, credits, jokes or other stuff

Block early and often
- Do not quote dunk, do not engage the trolls, just block.
- Block people who annoy you.
- Block reply guys.
- Block anybody you want; this is YOUR social media experience.
- Join as many blocklists as you want!
- Do not try to evade a block.

Gas people up
- Want to have a positive experience here? BE a positive experience here.
- Cheer people on!
- Support them in challenging times!
- Tell them why you think they’re awesome!
- Compliment the things they’re sharing (like if they made a cake and post photos, etc)
- Say the things you wish others told you - they’ll probably return the favour!

Don’t be a reply guy
- Treat people with respect
- Assume that no advice is wanted unless advice is specifically asked for
- Do not assume other people you’re talking with lack expertise just because you’ve never heard of them before.

Amplify others
- See a post you think is awesome? Repost it!
- Quote-post your support for others and their ideas or concerns.
- Help increase the reach of other people’s posts and projects (particularly help marginalized voices reach more people)
- Do not copy, screenshot, or empty-quote-post people just to get your name on the material instead. Don’t take credit for other people’s work. Bluesky doesn’t do analytics; you don’t have engagement stats.

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Darcy Conaty @dconaty.bsky.social · 12h

As a graduate of the law school, I am appalled. Not, mind you, surprised.

If they still have access to the online edition, maybe they can post the "allowed" items & fill in the rest with white blocks labeled CENSORED marking where they would have published actual news.

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Chris Geidner @chrisgeidner.bsky.social · 1d

BREAKING: Marco Rubio's State Department announces publicly that it is exercising unconstitutional viewpoint discrimination in revoking people's visas based on comments about the killing of Charlie Kirk.

Department of State v
@StateDept
g..
The United States has no obligation to host foreigners who wish death on Americans.
The State Department continues to identify visa holders who celebrated the heinous assassination of Charlie Kirk. Here are just a few examples of aliens who are no longer welcome in the U.S.:
5:55 PM • Oct 14, 2025 • 34.1K Views

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Kevin M. Kruse @kevinmkruse.bsky.social · 1d

Why would the cartels want to stop ICE and CBP activities that have been diverting resources away from drug interdiction?

MFordTheRiver @prynnford.bsky.social · 1d

Of all the things that didn’t happen

Screen shot of ABC article with the headline “cartels issuing bounties up to 50k for hits on ICE and CBP agents, DHS says.”

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John Pfaff @johnpfaff.bsky.social · 7d

Feel like in light of ... everything ... right now, probably worth it to re-up this. Constant dooming is counter-productive, and the occasional burst of something uplifting can be essential.

John Pfaff @johnpfaff.bsky.social · Sep 16

At a time when everything seems terrible, I was checking in w one of my kids abt what he’s watching on-line, and apparently it’s inspirational edits like this one, which was … actually pretty uplifting at a time when uplift sometimes seems in short supply.

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Sean Eric Fagan @kithrup.bsky.social · 1d

The Fifth Season by @nkjemisin.bsky.social is also on US ebook sale for $3, and I got 6 copies of that for random giveaway.

Sunshine by Robin McKinley is also on US Kindle sale for $3, and I got 6 of those for random giveaway. Sunshine is probably my favorite vampire book.

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Prof Caroline Mala Corbin @carolinemalacorbin.bsky.social · 1d

I urge everyone to show up to a local No Kings protest.

Bring an American flag.
After all, we are the true patriots.

Jen Bendery @jbendery.bsky.social · 1d

The Oct. 18th "No Kings Day of Peaceful Action" has now surpassed 2,500 community events across all 50 states, per No Kings organizers.

All of these events were "organized by average Americans across personal, political, and geographic demographics."

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Milan Markovic @profmarkovic.bsky.social · 1d

This blatant corruption also means that the regime needs to hold on to power--hence, wave after wave of gerrymandering, largely blessed by the courts.

Judd Legum @juddlegum.bsky.social · 1d

1. Nations that have bestowed lavish gifts to President Trump — or enriched Trump and his family by striking business deals with Trump-connected companies — have later received extraordinary benefits from the Trump administration.

Quid Pro Presidency

Nations that have bestowed lavish gifts to President Trump — or enriched Trump and his family by striking business deals with Trump-connected companies — have later received extraordinary benefits…

popular.info

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Alt CDC (they/them) @altcdc.altgov.info · 1d

🚨ATTN FEDS!🚨

The American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) has sued over firings on 10/10

CDC, join our local (AFGE2883) to support and get represented: www.afge2883ga.org. See below for RIF guidance & resources

Other feds, check if AFGE covers your agency: www.afge.org/about-us/age...

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🎃 Fiona "Fi" Webster 🎃 @fiona-webster22.bsky.social · 1d

47’s allies are raging over the Oct 18 "No Kings” protests. The unanimity of messaging ("terrorists") means it’s almost certainly coordinated by Stephen Miller. Yet it’s backfiring: Dems & rally organizers are using it to galvanize attendance, which will likely succeed.

Free link: archive.ph/dTtxD

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Darcy Conaty @dconaty.bsky.social · 1d

It's not just judicial resources. The defendant's resources are also involved. Even if represented pro bono, *someone* is paying for the defense. Minimizing that cost is a valid goal.

I hope they demand the DoJ pay fees & expenses when this gets thrown out.

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Marc Elias @marcelias.bsky.social · 1d

For context, Democracy Docket first launched a paid membership 18 months ago and already has more than 50,000 paid members (and nearly 500,000 free subscribers).

Yes, the 100k number is only WaPo's print subscribers, but it is still a shocking decline given the interest in democracy and elections.

karl rove knausgård @uhactually.bsky.social · 2d

Lmao WaPo has fewer than 100K circulation now. It turns out “alienate your liberal subscriber base” is not a good strategy when the Republicans also hate you. www.forbes.com/sites/andyme...

The Washington Post Is Running Out Of Readers Willing To Pay

Once a titan of American journalism, The Washington Post now struggles to reach even 100,000 print subscribers most days.

www.forbes.com

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Sexy Henry Kissinger Costume @mightygodking.com · 2d

reading how foxes are self-selecting now, on an evolutionary basis, for "sociable with humans" and then seeing a flood of "this fox decided to be fwiends with me" videos and it's like foxes finally decided that that one particular group of wolves had the right idea when they decided to become dogs

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Dr. Earhart Sampson, PhD🌎 @earhart.bsky.social · 1d

Fascism is not "lawless" but is a state that systematically dismantles the rule of law and replaces it with a legal system that enforces the will of the leader and the ruling party.

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dr. caitlin m. green @caitlinmoriah.bsky.social · 1d

the representative from PIRC said the agents have made it hard for them to work, they move their table even though they have a permit. they are in need of volunteers here and at the courthouse, especially if you speak spanish

pircoregon.org

Home | Portland Immigrant Rights Coalition

Portland Immigrant Rights Coalition (PIRC) support immigrant rights through direct assistance, education, legal support, advocacy, and community organizing.

pircoregon.org

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Techdirt @techdirt.com · 1d

Musk Promised To Cut $2 Trillion. Government Spending Went Up Instead

Elon Musk's promises on government spending cuts have followed a predictable trajectory: slash $2 trillion, then $1 trillion, then a mere $150 billion. Now we have the final accounting from the Congressional Budget Office: DOGE…

Musk Promised To Cut $2 Trillion. Government Spending Went Up Instead

Elon Musk's promises on government spending cuts have followed a predictable trajectory: slash $2 trillion, then $1 trillion, then a mere $150 billion. Now we have the final accounting from the Congressional Budget Office: DOGE didn't just fail to cut spending—it presided over spending increases that exceeded even pre-DOGE projections. The CBO's fiscal year 2025 report shows that despite all the performative cruelty, mass firings, and destruction of essential programs, total federal spending (excluding interest) rose by $220 billion, or 4%, for the entire fiscal year.

www.techdirt.com

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Mike Masnick @mmasnick.bsky.social · 1d

I seem to recall that it was the biggest 1st Amendment attack in American history when the Biden admin alerted social media companies to some content and said "hey does this violate your policies?" Will Matt Taibbi, Michael Shellenberger and (lol) CBS News Editor in Chief Bari Weiss call this out?

Tweet from Pam Bondi:

Today following outreach from
@thejusticedept
, Facebook removed a large group page that was being used to dox and target
@ICEgov
agents in Chicago.

The wave of violence against ICE has been driven by online apps and social media campaigns designed to put ICE officers at risk just for doing their jobs. The Department of Justice will continue engaging tech companies to eliminate platforms where radicals can incite imminent violence against federal law enforcement.

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Joey Fishkin @fishkin.bsky.social · 2d

We now enter the most dangerous phase, but also the one with the greatest opportunity. The U.S. has thousands of colleges, some run by red state governments, so it's too much to hope that NONE sign up for this federal takeover.

But it matters WHO signs up. The administration is taking a risk.

Robert Kelchen @robertkelchen.com · 2d

After getting zero firm commitments to this point from the first nine invitees, the Trump administration is extending its proposed compact to all colleges. Expect some red-state publics to say yes.

Trump Offers All Colleges Preferential Funding Plan Rejected by MIT

The Trump administration is inviting all US colleges to participate in a compact — initially rejected by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology — that would grant preferential federal funding in re...

www.bloomberg.com

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Mike Black @mikeblack114.bsky.social · 3d

Since we're getting a crash course in DoD reprogramming authority, CRS has a good report on it linked below. Some important points:

Congress gives DoD reprogramming authority because when you're dealing with a trillion dollars, some stuff is probably going to need to be changed over 12 months

👁🌻🦊⚙️⚓ Bob, Engineer, Pusher of Paper @navmecheng.bsky.social · 3d

DoD usually has thresholds for reprogramming.

www.congress.gov/crs-product/...

www.congress.gov

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Peter Clines @peterclines.bsky.social · 1d

Just to hammer this home- there are no societal problems for tech to solve. We already solved then. We know how to do clean energy. We know how to cut emissions. We have the resources to feed and house everyone. We've shown UBI and univ. healthcare work.

We just need to care enough to DO all of it.

Courtney Milan @courtneymilan.com · 1d

The greatest difference we could make to our future generations is not…any of the shit we hear people saying about tech.

It is learning how to care for each other enough to create and hold a real, lasting peace.

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Anna Holmes @annabookwriter.bsky.social · 1d

Honestly, so much of our struggles can be summed up this way, but we might make abled people ~uncomfortable~ and ~scared about the inevitable failure of their bodies~.

Anna Holmes @annabookwriter.bsky.social · 1d

It is always about their feelings. Not our deaths.

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Nothings Monstered @nothingsmonstrd.bsky.social · 1d

#til

I assumed the term "police riot" originated from an anarchist or some other outsider's critique of American society.

It turns out the term "police riot" comes from an government commission's report on what happened at the 1968 DNC in Chicago.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Police_...

Police riot - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

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