Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Reposted by Jon Spaihts

Cyd Harrell @cydharrell.bsky.social · 7h

yeah, once more with a cover photo - I really, really encourage all tech folks to read this

cover of the report linked: a light green-grey eagle silhouette on a darker background with 5 yellow stars and the text:

United States Senate Committee On
Homeland Security
& Governmental Affairs
Ranking Member Gary Peters

Unchecked and Unaccountable
How DOGE Jeopardizes Americans' Data Without Regard for Law and Congress

HSGAC Minority Staff Report
September 2025

1 42 60

Reposted by Jon Spaihts

southpaw @nycsouthpaw.bsky.social · 3d

The deportation order is based on Vedam’s conviction for murder—a crime he did not actually commit and for which he’s now been wholly exonerated. He entered the US at 9 months old and was a legal permanent resident before his conviction. We are so, so, so far from the light of justice.

Lynn Becker @cmgiulini.bsky.social · 3d

After spending 43 years in prison for a crime he didn't commit, evidence hidden by the prosecution reversed his conviction. Rather than finally enjoying freedom, ICE abducted him for deportation

Depraved.

www.miamiherald.com/news/local/i...

He was wrongfully imprisoned for 43 years. Moments after being released, ICE took him

Subramanyam “Subu” Vedam now faces deportation.

www.miamiherald.com

65 1.7K 4.9K

Reposted by Jon Spaihts

The Tennessee Holler @thetnholler.bsky.social · 4d

“YOU hit HER.”

CHICAGO - Trump’s ICE goons ram into a passing car after snatching someone, then brutally drag the female driver of the car they hit out of her car with guns drawn and arrest her too. (Her brother says she’s a citizen)

420 2.7K 4.3K

Jon Spaihts @jonspaihts.bsky.social · 5d

I'm sure this has nothing to do with the Mid-East peace deal.

1 3

Reposted by Jon Spaihts

Costa Samaras @costasamaras.com · 5d

We're spending $20B to bail out Argentina, but they cut USAID down to the bone, causing deaths around the world. The entire budget of USAID, the whole agency, was $21B last year. Shameful.

The Washington Post @washingtonpost.com · 5d

The Trump administration confirmed that the U.S. bailed out Argentina.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said he had directly bought Argentine pesos in global currency markets in a bid to relieve pressure on the nation’s embattled President Javier Milei, a supporter of President Trump.

The U.S. just bailed out Argentina, Treasury Secretary confirms

The US Treasury has finalized a $20 billion financial rescue of Argentina, including a currency swap arrangement with the country's central bank.

www.washingtonpost.com

31 390 800

Jon Spaihts @jonspaihts.bsky.social · 7d

Chuck Yeager shook Orville Wright's hand.

2 24

Jon Spaihts @jonspaihts.bsky.social · 9d

It goes without saying that the deployment of military forces into civilian spaces is infinitely more reckless. This is not why the National Guard exists. We're going to need some new laws.

5

Jon Spaihts @jonspaihts.bsky.social · 9d

The militarization of police forces, and their eagerness to turn out in riot gear, makes it all worse. We need a radical reinvention of policing. Public safety officers, not soldiers, trained for politeness and de-escalation. These are not new ideas. We have lacked the will.

1 1 2

Jon Spaihts @jonspaihts.bsky.social · 9d

But police departments all over the country seem to have become convinced that when there's a protest march, they should show up, not just to keep the peace and direct traffic, but to disperse the protesters and suppress dissent. As if dissent is a species of crime.

1 1 4

Jon Spaihts @jonspaihts.bsky.social · 9d

The idea that it's the duty of any branch of our police or military to suppress peaceful protest is as un-American as it gets.

1 8 22

Reposted by Jon Spaihts

Jason Kander @jasonkander.bsky.social · 9d

I was a skeptic about the import of the Epstein files.

But 3 invasions of cities, one military buildup outside Venezuela, a government shutdown, and so many other things meant to distract have me convinced whatever’s in there is the biggest presidential scandal in U.S. history.

1.1K 7.7K 26K

Reposted by Jon Spaihts

southpaw @nycsouthpaw.bsky.social · 18d

It’s hard to convey the insanity of a thirty-something White House staffer getting an interim US Attorney appointment and marching into the grand jury room alone four days later to indict the former Deputy Attorney General and Director of the FBI

George Conway 🇺🇸🚫👑🐸 @gtconway.bsky.social · 18d

200 1.3K 5.6K

Reposted by Jon Spaihts

David Roberts @volts.wtf · 19d

The US conservative movement has organized & funded a massive anti-wind power campaign, based on lies & bullying. Researchers at Brown University have been investigating & revealing that campaign.

Now cons are pressuring the university to shut the investigators down.

Law Firm Pressures Brown University to Erase Research on Anti-Wind Groups

www.nytimes.com

5 200 370

Jon Spaihts @jonspaihts.bsky.social · 19d

All the food groups.

2

Jon Spaihts @jonspaihts.bsky.social · 19d

I'm tryin'. How's you?

1

Reposted by Jon Spaihts

Randi Mayem Singer @rmayemsinger.bsky.social · Apr 19

Stop calling it deporting, so MAYBE more Americans will get it. "Deporting" is sending someone back, after due process, to the country they came from, where they arrive a free person. This is human trafficking to a foreign torture prison for the rest of their lives. GET THE LANGUAGE RIGHT.

430 5K 15K

Reposted by Jon Spaihts

Zack Beauchamp @zackbeauchamp.bsky.social · 26d

The past week has shown us something scary — the concrete and specific outlines of a durable authoritarian state in America.

Here's what this state would look like, and the precise policy levers Trump is pulling to get there from here.

www.vox.com/politics/462...

This is how Trump ends democracy

The past week has revealed Trump’s policy road map to veto one-party rule. Will Americans let him follow it?

www.vox.com

22 220 470

Reposted by Jon Spaihts

Gareth Watkins @garethwatkins.bsky.social · 26d

Dam been writing a book about this and she just TikToked it in 90 seconds.

260 8.2K 20K

Reposted by Jon Spaihts

Robert Reich @rbreich.bsky.social · 27d

CBS parent company Paramount canceled Colbert to win approval from Trump's FCC to merge with Skydance.

Now ABC parent company Disney suspends Kimmel as it seeks DOJ approval to buy Fubo — and its affiliate Nexstar seeks FCC approval to buy Tegna.

See how this works?

320 2.1K 5.7K

Reposted by Jon Spaihts

Matthew Dowd @matthewjdowd.bsky.social · 27d

I would love to be part of the conversation on MSNBC related to the Kimmel story and it's chilling effects on first amendment, but unfortunately I was terminated by MSNBC for stating that "hateful thoughts lead to hateful words which lead to hateful actions".

1.7K 13K 46K

Reposted by Jon Spaihts

Barack Obama @barackobama.bsky.social · 27d

This is precisely the kind of government coercion that the First Amendment was designed to prevent — and media companies need to start standing up rather than capitulating to it.

Washington Post Columnist Says She Was Fired for Posts After Charlie Kirk Shooting

www.nytimes.com

230 2.5K 9.8K

Reposted by Jon Spaihts

Don Moynihan @donmoyn.bsky.social · 28d

I don’t know when it’s going to pop for a lot of normies that they are living under an authoritarian regime, but the cancellation of popular TV shows that make fun of the administration might do it www.vulture.com/article/abc-...