Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Reposted by Jaclyn Friedman

Jen Bendery @jbendery.bsky.social · 1d

If you're one of the thousands of federal employees who Russ Vought/the Trump admin just RIF'd, I'm very interested in hearing from you about the work you've been doing and what services will now be hurt/gutted with you gone.

Anonymity granted.

[email protected] / Signal: jbendery.41

🙏

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Reposted by Jaclyn Friedman

Gwen Snyder is undead @gwensnyder.bsky.social · 3d

No. No. No.

(Nothing against Steven, I used to do this too until I learned that it was a bad idea.)

Swim goggles hit by a projectile (like a tear gas canister or pepper ball) can direct force to the area around your eyeball and pop it out of your skull.

NOT desirable.

Steven W. Thrasher is finishing The Overseer Class @thrasherxy.bsky.social · 3d

Pro tip to reporters and protesters: always have swim goggles in your pockets or bags. They’re small, $10 and if tear gas is used, slip them on & no matter how much you cough, you’ll still be able to SEE without burning eyes.

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Eileen Clancy 🧿 @clancyny.bsky.social · 3d

One tiny whistle from a passerby and these enraged ICE/Border Patrol dudes threatening a bicyclist for recording them leap into their $70,000 Jeep Wagoneer and flee the scene.

Interesting. Community whistles.

Gregory Pratt @royalpratt.bsky.social · 3d

ICE / Border Patrol threatening to arrest a cyclist for following and recording in Chicago

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Jaclyn Friedman @jaclynf.bsky.social · 3d

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

Abstinence only until marriage

Doug Mack @douglasmack.bsky.social · 3d

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

"No pay, great exposure!"

Kevin M. Kruse @kevinmkruse.bsky.social · 3d

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

Archives banned making copies.

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Reposted by Jaclyn Friedman

Daniel Kibblesmith @kibblesmith.com · 3d

Every democrat should be talking like this. Not the feckless mueller time version of this that we’ve had for years, but actual promises of actual consequences

As long as it goes unpunished we’ll never be free of this

Graham Platner for Senate @grahamformaine.bsky.social · 3d

We have armed secret police kidnapping people off the street based on the color of their skin.

When we win: we will haul them before a Senate committee. The masks will come off. There will be consequences.

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Sunny Moraine @dynamicsymmetry.bsky.social · 3d

I dunno Dems this seems like it might be a pretty solid message to run on in both content and vibes

Graham Platner for Senate @grahamformaine.bsky.social · 3d

We have armed secret police kidnapping people off the street based on the color of their skin.

When we win: we will haul them before a Senate committee. The masks will come off. There will be consequences.

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Reposted by Jaclyn Friedman

Ricardo Levins Morales Art Studio @rlmartstudio.bsky.social · 3d

This week in 1988: 1,000+ ACT UP demonstrators shut down the FDA headquarters, demanding (and eventually winning) action on developing HIV/AIDS treatments. ACT UP's militant and creative actions always included powerful visual artwork, and paved the way for movements in the decades to come.

A photograph from the 1988 ACT UP demonstration outside the FDA. Many people are participating in a die-in on the front steps, holding mock tombstones with messages like "RIP - killed by the FDA" and "Dead from lack of drugs." A line of police officers (some with classic 80s mustaches) wearing riot helmets stands between them and the building; one cop wearing white gloves is walking through the demonstrators. Affixed to the 2nd story windows of the building is a series of posters and a large blank banner reading Silence = Death.

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kat, ghost of helenruthsghost @chaoskat.bsky.social · 3d

Salvation Army seen feeding ICE today. For anyone who doesn't already know about their bigotry, here is more, No need to give them your money this Christmas, or ever.

unraveled @unraveledpress.com · 3d

It’s dinner time for the police. Appears to be pizza from a Salvation Army van.

Broadview’s “free speech” curfew starts soon, at 6pm.

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Sarah J. Jackson @sjjphd.bsky.social · Jul 27

Half the time I post something related to race on this website I get someone in the comments like, “yeah america is a racist country what do you expect.” I’m starting to think folks like this are bots or ops designed to make people feel helpless. Think we should call it “doomsplaining”

Sherrilyn Ifill @sifill.bsky.social · Jul 27

I do not care that you are not “surprised.” Please. You have no idea how tiresome it is when you post that something horrible, fascist, authoritarian is “not surprising.” Nothing is “surprising” anymore. But a lot of it is horrible and frightening. Let’s deal with it together.

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Greg Pak @gregpak.net · 4d

hi consumer-facing “A.i.” is a tool for racist, fascist propaganda - ban it from you lives!

Comfortably Numb @numb.comfortab.ly · 4d

They're literally installing Racism Dial bsky.app/profile/numb...

Comfortably Numb @numb.comfortab.ly · Jan 15

vox populi

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Maris Kreizman @maris.bsky.social · 6d

This is so damn scary. The book claimed that Jeffrey Epstein was the one who introduced Donald and Melania. Now the CEO of Harper UK is out.

Jay Rayner @jayrayner1.bsky.social · 6d

In other news Charlie Redmayne, the long serving CEO of HC in the UK, resigned yesterday.

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Old White Nepo Hat @kenwhite.bsky.social · 8d

It’s important to flood social media and news channels with news about how ICE lies, so that potential jurors see it.

Chicago Sun-Times @chicago.suntimes.com · 8d

Body-camera video appears to contradict the government’s claim that Marimar Martinez, 30, drove toward officers before one of them opened fire at her late Saturday morning in Brighton Park, her attorney claimed.
trib.al/9Sxu9IN

Attorney for woman shot by Border Patrol claims officer said 'Do something b-----' before shooting

Body-camera video appears to contradict the government's claim that Marimar Martinez, 30, drove toward officers before one of them opened fire at her late Saturday morning in Brighton Park, her attorney claimed. A judge ordered Martinez and a co-defendant released pending trial.

trib.al

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Jaclyn Friedman @jaclynf.bsky.social · 9d

Every accusation is a confession, crisis actor edition:

Decoding Fox News @decodingfoxnews.bsky.social · 9d

Last week Jesse Watters spoke to man named Eric who claimed he was formerly a member of antifa. Two years ago Watters interviewed Ramon "Mundo" Mendoza, a former Mexican Mafia member. Some folks thought the men looked similar. This is a side by side comparison. 🤷‍♀️

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Reposted by Jaclyn Friedman

Decoding Fox News @decodingfoxnews.bsky.social · 9d

Last week Jesse Watters spoke to man named Eric who claimed he was formerly a member of antifa. Two years ago Watters interviewed Ramon "Mundo" Mendoza, a former Mexican Mafia member. Some folks thought the men looked similar. This is a side by side comparison. 🤷‍♀️

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Constant Scream @ajaxsinger.bsky.social · 9d

Even as Trump is attempting martial law, it's important to remember, fascism can and will be beaten back and it will most likely happen at the ballot box.

Constant Scream @ajaxsinger.bsky.social · 24d

The study Olúfémi cited here is long and detailed, but I want to highlight two specific paragraphs which get at why, like him, I know we will win.

"U-Turn" is a new additional concept for

episodes in which democratization is born out of the initial autocratization making it meaningful to view both processes as part of one episode of regime transformation: period of substantive two- directional regime transformation along a democracy-autocracy continuum, in which autocratization is closely followed by and linked to subsequent democratization

We find that aut oritarian

manipulation is the predominant mode of U- Turns during the pre-1994 per od onstituting 56% (37 out of 66) of all U-Turns. Yet, over the past three decades, democratic reaction has become more common and now constitutes the majority of U-Turn episodes, with 61% (22 out of 36) of all U-Turns. This speaks to the changing nature of U-Turns further increasing the relevance of unpacking causes and consequences of contemporary patterns of regime transformation

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Reposted by Jaclyn Friedman

Sheryl Weikal and the colorful Parrotlegals @leftistlawyer.com · 9d

I INVOKE MY RIGHTS TO SILENCE AND COUNSEL AND WILL NOT ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS WITHOUT MY ATTORNEY PRESENT.

Then shut up until you have that attorney present. You cannot invoke your right to silence just by being silent. You have to say the words.

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Reposted by Jaclyn Friedman

Andrea Ritchie @dreanyc123.bsky.social · 9d

You could take the Illinois National Guard out of the equation by calling the rest of them up first.

Your Rebuild Illinois site suggests there’s plenty for them to do seeing as the state’s transportation infrastructure has a C rating & 26% of Illinois roads & 14% of highways are not “acceptable”

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Reposted by Jaclyn Friedman

Constant Scream @ajaxsinger.bsky.social · 9d

When this is over, we are going to have to make stochastic terrorism tortiously liable.

Brandon Friedman @brandonfriedman.bsky.social · 9d

Judge Diane Goodstein crossed the Trump administration last month. Yesterday, her home burned, her husband was injured and it's being investigated for arson.

www.postandcourier.com/news/crime/s...

Judge blocks South Carolina from giving DOJ millions of voters' data
Sep. 3, 2025

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Reposted by Jaclyn Friedman

Jennifer Ouellette @jenlucpiquant.bsky.social · 12d

"if we’re going to sign on to a full year budget, that budget has to have constraints on the corruption and the illegality. We cannot sign onto a full-year budget that basically puts a bipartisan imprimatur—a bipartisan endorsement of the illegality."

Nicholas Grossman @nicholasgrossman.bsky.social · 12d

Anyone who recognizes the existential threat to US Constitutional democracy and wants Democrats to take a stand should listen to this conversation between @chrismurphyct.bsky.social and @gregsargent.bsky.social.

I found it heartening to hear a Democratic Senator with eyes open to the moment.

Chris Murphy’s Extraordinary New Takedown of Trump Should Wake Up Dems

The Democratic senator has taken the lead in drawing attention to Trump’s authoritarianism. In an interview, he offers a stark new warning that should galvanize his fellow Democrats before it’s too la...

newrepublic.com

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Reposted by Jaclyn Friedman

Aaron Cynic @aaroncynic.bsky.social · 12d

Today so far feds in Chicagoland have:

Attacked & arrested protesters at the Broadview detention center w/the help of the ISP other agencies

Tear gassed a street in Logan Square that has a grocery store & elementary school on it, among other things

Violently handcuffed an Alderperson

It's 3pm

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Josh Marshall @joshtpm.bsky.social · 12d

This is important. The GOP can open the government literally today with zero Democrats. Just ditch the filibuster. Go ahead. Why won’t they do it?

Murshed Zaheed @murshedz.bsky.social · 12d

Good to see resolve/resilience from rank and file and House Democrats. Good on @rephuffman.bsky.social daring the republicans to abolish the filibuster ▶️ "[L]et them proceed with GOP votes and let the country see with perfect clarity who owns all the damage and destruction they're fomenting." (1/2)

"🩺 Zoom in: Some Democrats openly acknowledge that, while health care is extremely important to them, it's not the only thing at stake.

🛑 "People want this to be a sort of reckoning, where people finally said, 'No,'" Rep. Greg Landsman (D-Ohio) told us.
"We're going to start with these ACA subsidies because it's the most urgent," Landsman told us.
"But ... you're creating a really important moment where sh*t didn't fly."
The bottom line: "I marvel at the naivete of any Democrat who thinks we should give them Dem votes so they can just turn around and ignore us, crash the health care system, and dismantle what's left of our democracy," Rep. Jared Huffman (D-Calif.) told us.

"The filibuster is toast anyway," he added, effectively daring Republicans to ignore the Senate's requirement for 60 votes and pass a party-line funding bill.
"So let them proceed with GOP votes and let the country see with perfect clarity who owns all the damage and destruction they're fomenting.""

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Hunter Walker @hunterw.bsky.social · 12d

I have talked to CBS staffers who are worried about what will happen when they have a major story

Dave Infante @dinfontay.com · 12d

“'The fact that we don't have money to pay journalists, but we have money to pay Bari Weiss between $100 and 200 million is indicative of what the Ellisons' true goal here is,' a network correspondent said. 'And it's not journalism.'"

CBS News staffers are ‘literally freaking out’ about Bari Weiss taking over newsroom

EXCLUSIVE: ‘People are using words like depressing and doomsday – feels like some sort of doomsday,’ one source told The Independent about the mood inside CBS News right now.

www.independent.co.uk

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Adam Serwer @adamserwer.bsky.social · 12d

This is why you shouldn’t be chickenshit. You’re not saving anything. You’re dooming everything you claim to love. bsky.app/profile/thef...

LOLGOP ❌👑❌ @thefarce.org · 12d

"Autocrats take over countries when elites — business leaders, media figures, civil society — accommodate rather than resist."

Trump is racing against time

The president's approval rating is closer to Nicolás Maduro's than Vladimir Putin’s

www.gelliottmorris.com

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Jaclyn Friedman @jaclynf.bsky.social · 12d

🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬

Jason Wilson @jasonaw.bsky.social · 12d

Three people including the attacker were kkilled in Manchester yesterday. Two of those three were killed by Greater Manchester Police www.ft.com/content/b88e...

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Jacqueline Sweet @jsweetli.bsky.social · 12d

SCOOP: PA prosecutors were alerted to possible voting irregularities by one of MAGA's leading voices. A long paper trail shows Jack Posobiec has been living in Maryland but voting using his parent's address in Pennsylvania for years. Me with @marisakabas.bsky.social

slate.com/news-and-pol...

MAGA’s “Voter Fraud” Watchdog Votes in a Swing State. He Doesn’t Live There.

A long paper trail shows that Jack Posobiec casts a ballot in one state and lives in another.

slate.com

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