Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Gail Helt @gailhelt.bsky.social · 5h

I mean, doesn’t everyone pass cash in a McDonald’s bag when they’re engaging in legal transactions?

Matt Novak @paleofuture.bsky.social · 5h

Vance is having an incredible morning on the Sunday shows doing "oh so now it's illegal to [mundane thing]?"

A real quote when Vance is asked about whether Tom Homan kept the $50,000 he got in a fast food bag: "Is it illegal to take a payment for doing services?"

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Gail Helt @gailhelt.bsky.social · 5h

I sort of feel as though Kristin Walker failed to meet the moment this morning. I realize the lies from JD were coming at a pace that were hard to keep up with, but geez. Don’t give him the comfort of changing the subject when he’s so obviously lying.

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Gail Helt @gailhelt.bsky.social · 6h

No JD. During no other shutdown has the government had to fire people so that essential services could still be provided. You know why this hasn’t happened? Because Firing people in unfunded departments saves nothing.

The blame rests only on the shoulders of the Trump administration.

Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 6h

BRENNAN: CBS confirmed the Trump administration rescinded the layoffs of CDC scientists. Some were involved with the federal measles response. How does a mistake like this happen?

VANCE: The govt shutdown inevitably leads to some chaos. It happened because of Schumer

B: But this was a WH decision

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Gail Helt @gailhelt.bsky.social · 6h

Yes he is.

But he’s obliged to keep those opinions to himself.

Also, we have all seen the receipts, JD.

Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 6h

WELKER: Is the DOJ acting on orders from the president to prosecute his political opponents?

JD VANCE: No ... You know who we haven't prosecuted? Joe Biden, Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton ... he's allowed to have opinions about law enforcement

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Gail Helt @gailhelt.bsky.social · 6h

Wrong Mr VP. Laying off federal workers has nothing to do with preserving benefits for the American people—many who aren’t getting benefits at the moment because of your shutdowns, and many more whose kids will be denied benefits because youve shuttered the office that deals with special education

Meet the Press @meetthepress.com · 7h

In an interview with Meet the Press, Vice President JD Vance discusses the administration’s plans for mass layoffs of federal workers during the government shutdown.

JD Vance says Democrats ‘forced’ Trump administration to lay off workers

In an interview with Meet the Press, Vice President JD Vance discusses the administration’s plans for mass layoffs of federal workers during the government shutdown.

nbcnews.to

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Gail Helt @gailhelt.bsky.social · 6h

Harris is a great person and has served well and honorably.

But too much is on the line to run someone who lost to the fascist candidate the last time around.

Meet the Press @meetthepress.com · 7h

Sen. Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.) joins Meet the Press to respond to former Vice President Kamala Harris’ words about him in her new book — questioning whether he had been tested on the national stage — and weighs in on whether she should run for president again.

Mark Kelly says Kamala Harris ‘would be incredibly strong’ in a 2028 presidential run

Sen. Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.) joins Meet the Press to respond to former Vice President Kamala Harris’ words about him in her new book — questioning whether he had been tested on the national stage — and weighs in on whether she should run for president again.

nbcnews.to

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Gail Helt @gailhelt.bsky.social · 6h

A reminder that Johnson still hasn’t called the House back into session…

Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 7h

BREAM: Open enrollments starts in November. People are already getting notices about what they may pay. I mean, that's gotta be resolved.

MIKE JOHNSON: Yes, and they're eating up the clock in the month of October

(Johnson canceled the House in August to avoid taking votes on Epstein)

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Gail Helt @gailhelt.bsky.social · 7h

“Please chair this committee”
“Faculty meeting this Friday”
“Self evals due Wednesday”

Marjorie James Keenan @unenthusiast.com · 14h

In honour of spooky month, share a 4 word horror story that only someone in your profession would understand.

rm -rf ~/

hammancheez @hammancheez.bsky.social · 14h

"The chancellor approved it"

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Gail Helt @gailhelt.bsky.social · 18h

The dumbest possible people are making decisions that are causing incredible reputational harm to the US, and actual harm to its citizens.

Apoorva Mandavilli @apoorvanyt.bsky.social · 20h

The Trump administration on Saturday scrambled to rescind layoffs of hundreds of CDC scientists who were mistakenly fired on Friday night in what appeared to be a substantial procedural lapse.

www.nytimes.com/2025/10/11/h...

Trump Administration Is Bringing Back Scores of C.D.C. Experts Fired in Error

www.nytimes.com

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Reposted by Gail Helt

The Steady State @steadystatevets.bsky.social · 20h

With GOP leaders branding the upcoming No Kings rally on October 18 a “hate America rally,” it’s worth revisiting General Mark Milley’s warning: “We don’t take an oath to a king, or a queen, or a tyrant, or a dictator. We take an oath to the Constitution.”

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Gail Helt @gailhelt.bsky.social · 21h

The bee has joined the resistance.

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Reposted by Gail Helt

Rich Raho @richraho.bsky.social · 23h

Chicago priest Fr. Larry Dowling describes procession to ICE facility: “No one had the courage to speak directly to us. No one from Homeland Security could stand in the presence of the Monstrance holding the Blessed Sacrament. No wonder. Evil is repelled, recoils in the presence of Christ.”

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Gail Helt @gailhelt.bsky.social · 23h

“No kings” is a peaceful protest against the idea that our president —no matter who they may be—is above the law.

No kings.

The Steady State @steadystatevets.bsky.social · 1d

The Steady State, a group that includes more than 330 former ambassadors, inspectors general, flag officers, Defense and Homeland Security officials, and senior intelligence officers, blasted the Speaker’s remarks

www.alternet.org/mike-johnson...

'Running out of excuses': GOP torched after calling 'No Kings' protest a 'terrorist' event

national security experts for his attack on First Amendment-protected speech and protest after he lashed out at next week’s “No Kings” rallies, which are expected to attract millions of Americans acro...

www.alternet.org

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Reposted by Gail Helt

The Steady State @steadystatevets.bsky.social · 1d

steadystate1.substack.com/p/notice-to-...

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Gail Helt @gailhelt.bsky.social · 1d

What kind of man does such things? Assaulting a 15 year old?? They should be in prison.

Joshua Reed Eakle 🗽 @joshuaeakle.com · 1d

In Chicago, four vehicles descended and eight ICE agents moved in to kidnap a child.

She screams, “I’m 15,” as ICE yanks her from the car and kneels on her neck.

This is not about immigration enforcement.

It's about terrorizing Americans.

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Gail Helt @gailhelt.bsky.social · 1d

It’s like the “Christian nationalists” in charge never read their holy book. It says a lot about how God feels about those who harm the poor and needy and the migrants —and warns of Gods judgment.

When that comes, they’ll blame the marginalized—but blame lies with them.

And their enablers.

ProPublica @propublica.org · 1d

WATCH: ProPublica obtained records from the Department of Agriculture that detail the 94 million pounds of food, down to the number of eggs, that never reached food banks because of the Trump administration’s cuts to The Emergency Food Assistance Program.

➡️ Read more: https://propub.li/4odsKnn

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Gail Helt @gailhelt.bsky.social · 1d

Arrest. Them.

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Gail Helt @gailhelt.bsky.social · 1d

Mussolini placed his relatives in positions they were woefully unqualified for too.

Scott Horton @robertscotthorton.bsky.social · 1d

Trump said he deserved a cut for brokering the TikTok deal, and at once there was agreement that his son Baron would have a top executive slot... though he hasn't asked for it, and has no apparent qualifications to hold it. This is how Trump 2.0 works. www.telegraph.co.uk/us/news/2025...

Barron Trump tipped for top TikTok job

US president’s 19-year-old son could be appointed to the app’s board

www.telegraph.co.uk

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Reposted by Gail Helt

PapaJ @michiganpapa.bsky.social · 1d

🤝

Meme with a drawing of to people shaking hands. One hand being darker than the other. Wording is: "I'd rather live next door to someone who crossed a desert to become an American than an American who wouldn't cross the street to help a foreigner."

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Gail Helt @gailhelt.bsky.social · 1d

Waiting for the day when people in the “blue” cities in democrat run states under attacked by brownshirts get fed up, move to red states, and help us vote out our MAGA governors.

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Gail Helt @gailhelt.bsky.social · 1d

He would win every single year.

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Gail Helt @gailhelt.bsky.social · 2d

No, it’s more than that. It’s a facility to house Qatari planes and pilots — it’s a military base inside our military base. It’s not okay.

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Gail Helt @gailhelt.bsky.social · 2d

Some might call this treason.

Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 2d

Hegseth: "I'm also proud that today we're signing a letter of acceptance to build a Qatari Emeri air force facility at the Mountain Home Airbase in Idaho."

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Gail Helt @gailhelt.bsky.social · 3d

He’s talking about his J6 protesters, right? The actual insurrectionists? 🙄

Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 4d

Trump: "They're, like, insurrectionists, they're terrible people. But you really wonder why. Why are they doing it? What are they gaining? Other than they're obviously paid. They're paid a lot of money."

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Gail Helt @gailhelt.bsky.social · 3d

“Antifa” isn’t any sort of organization, so I guess ending it won’t be a problem.

Prem Thakker ツ @premthakker.bsky.social · 4d

My gosh. After the US bombed multiple boats in the middle of the ocean, murdering people on grounds that they were allegedly "carrying drugs," the US Attorney General says "Just like we did with cartels, we're going to take the same approach, President Trump, with Antifa."

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