Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Reposted by Mary Ellen Klas

Bob Burgess @bobburgess.bsky.social · 6h

"The Pentagon’s worrisome attempts to restrict reporters’ access are the latest evidence that oft-made promises of transparency by the Trump administration are empty. What this administration wants is an echo chamber."

www.bloomberg.com/opinion/arti...

Why Is Pete Hegseth Afraid of the Press?

Over 100 Pentagon reporters cleaned out their workspaces and turned in their press credentials this week, refusing to sign a restrictive reporting policy advanced by Secretary of War Pete Hegseth. Heg...

www.bloomberg.com

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Mary Ellen Klas @maryellenklas.bsky.social · 7h

Trump's politicization of the military is threatening to reopen a trust gap between civilians and troops that the US hasn't seen since the Vietnam War. Gift link: www.bloomberg.com/opinion/arti...

National Guard Troops Didn’t Sign Up for This

“Nobody signed up for this.” That’s the reaction I keep getting from military and National Guard veterans about President Donald Trump’s deployment of troops to US cities over the objections of Democr...

www.bloomberg.com

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Reposted by Mary Ellen Klas

Tim O’Brien @timobrien.bsky.social · 1d

The dire insurrectionist threat posed by...banana costumes.

Jeff Yang @originalsp.in · 1d

An important additional detail: Most of the Unpresidented Band to which Korol belongs perform IN BANANA COSTUMES

This shit is indeed bananas

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Reposted by Mary Ellen Klas

Sheryl Gay Stolberg @sherylnyt.bsky.social · 5d

BREAKING: Friday night massacre underway at CDC. Doznes of "disease detectives," high-level scientists, entire Washington staff and editors of the MMWR (Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report) have all been RIFed and received the following notice:

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Mary Ellen Klas @maryellenklas.bsky.social · 5d

Too often news references to Antifa fail to give it the proper context - autonomous groups that oppose fascism, have no leader or organization, but which right wing groups often falsely characterize or personify. This here is one way to do it. ⬇️

derek guy @dieworkwear.bsky.social · 5d

in 2011, the president of antifa hired me to give fashion consultancy to the organization. i recommended everyone wear navy suits with tan shoes, dress sneakers, and golf polos with slim chinos. if you arrested everyone today wearing these things, you'd destroy antifa

Reposted by Mary Ellen Klas

The Tennessee Holler @thetnholler.bsky.social · 7d

CHICAGO — Outside an elementary school during dismissal… horrifying. What have we become?

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Mary Ellen Klas @maryellenklas.bsky.social · 8d

When a judge’s home caught fire , the public assumed political violence. While arson isn't suspected, the dehumanizing rhetoric about the judiciary has become dangerous. It's time to call it out - or risk crippling it permanently. @opinion.bloomberg.com Gift link: www.bloomberg.com/opinion/arti...

Threats Against Judges Have Crossed the Line

The destruction of South Carolina Circuit Court Judge Diane Goodstein’s home in a fiery inferno over the weekend immediately led to speculation that it was an act of political violence. South Carolina...

www.bloomberg.com

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Mary Ellen Klas @maryellenklas.bsky.social · 10d

The hypocrisy the Trumps don't see and the monument to it. My column. 🎁 link: www.bloomberg.com/opinion/arti...

Did Trump Notice Where His Presidential Library Will Be Built?

Presidential libraries often attempt to elevate accomplishments and whitewash failures. Donald Trump and his family think that Florida officials have given them a prime location to do just that with h...

www.bloomberg.com

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Reposted by Mary Ellen Klas

Adam Parkhomenko @adamparkhomenko.bsky.social · 11d

More messaging like this please

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Barb McQuade @barbmcquade.bsky.social · 11d

This is an old formula used by authoritarian regimes. Stoke chaos and blame scapegoats to justify the use of force.

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Mary Ellen Klas @maryellenklas.bsky.social · 17d

David Jolly is betting that by running a disciplined campaign focused on economic issues -and ignoring the GOP culture wars bait- he'll attract support from independents and crossover Republicans. But can he coalesce the Dem party base? @opinion.bloomberg.com 🎁link: www.bloomberg.com/opinion/arti...

This Florida Democrat Is a Test for the Party's Appeal

David Jolly is running an underdog campaign that may just succeed where other Democrats have failed.

www.bloomberg.com

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Mary Ellen Klas @maryellenklas.bsky.social · 22d

Texas and Florida are looking a lot like Hungary, Turkey and China in how they manage their universities. Gift link:
www.bloomberg.com/opinion/arti...

The Texas A&M Purge Takes a Page From Authoritarian Playbooks

Four academics have been demoted, fired or ousted following a dispute over gender in a children’s literature class.

www.bloomberg.com

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Mary Ellen Klas @maryellenklas.bsky.social · 25d

Los Angeles, DC, Memphis. The sight of National Guard troops acting as law enforcement should never become normal, but we're getting dangerously close to it. We must remember it's not really about fighting crime. 🎁 link: www.bloomberg.com/opinion/arti...

What’s the Crackdown on Cities Really Accomplishing?

The sight of National Guard troops patrolling US cities is quickly becoming normal — something that should worry every American.

www.bloomberg.com

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Reposted by Mary Ellen Klas

Greg Halling @ghalling.bsky.social · 27d

America can and must rekindle an appreciation for a good debate among young people, and remind them why freedom of expression is a fundamental right. Commentary from @maryellenklas.bsky.social at Bloomberg Opinion.

Commentary: Don’t let a generation lose faith in free speech

The First Amendment is in a sorry state, especially on college campuses. A survey of students released last Tuesday from the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression shows a steady

buff.ly

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Reposted by Mary Ellen Klas

Tim O’Brien @timobrien.bsky.social · 28d

“Let’s be clear about what just happened: Jimmy Kimmel, a prominent late-night comedian, was just taken off the airwaves because the Trump administration didn’t like what he had to say — and threatened his employer until they shut him up.” www.vox.com/politics/461...

Let’s be clear about what happened to Jimmy Kimmel

Trump’s most brazen attack on free speech yet.

www.vox.com

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Mary Ellen Klas @maryellenklas.bsky.social · Sep 16

Let this sink in.
www.404media.co/doj-deletes-...

DOJ Deletes Study Showing Domestic Terrorists Are Most Often Right Wing

Following Charlie Kirk’s assassination and the Trump administration’s promise to go after the “radical left” a study showing most domestic terrosim is far-right was disappeared.

www.404media.co

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Mary Ellen Klas @maryellenklas.bsky.social · Sep 15

Support for free speech is fading from college campuses at an alarming rate. It's time to rekindle tolerance for a good debate because civil disagreement is the friction that democracy needs to smooth rough policy. @opinion . My column,🎁 link: www.bloomberg.com/opinion/arti...

Don’t Let a Generation Lose Faith in Free Speech

When facing controversial views, a growing share of college-age Americans support censorship and even violence.

www.bloomberg.com

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Reposted by Mary Ellen Klas

Jason Leopold @jasonleopold.bsky.social · Sep 11

EXCLUSIVE/BOMBSHELL: @bloomberg.com has obtained **18K** previously unreported emails from Jeffery Epstein's personal Yahoo account. The emails are disturbing & revelatory & reveal new details about Ghilaine Maxwell's role

FREE to read

www.bloomberg.com/features/202...

“Question,” Epstein wrote to Maxwell on May 23, 2008. “Which one do you prefer,,, lewd and lscivious conduct ,, or procuring minors for prostituion.”

At the time, he and his star-studded team of defense lawyers were closing in on a generous plea deal with federal and state officials in Florida, and Epstein was trying to negotiate the state charges to which he’d plead guilty. Maxwell’s response was matter-of-fact:

From: gmax <gmax[REDACTED]>
To: J. Epstein <jeeproject@yahoo.com>
Date: Fri, May 23 2008 3:22 PM
Subject: Re:
I suppose Lewd and lecivious conduct..I would prefer lewd and lescivious conduct w/a prositute if possible

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Dhruv Mehrotra @dmehro.bsky.social · Sep 11

NEW: We got access to Jeffrey Epstein’s personal Yahoo inbox — more than 18,000 emails.

It shows Epstein’s world in his own words: an unfiltered look at how his operation worked, who enabled it, and how Ghislaine Maxwell stayed at the center of it all.

Jeffrey Epstein Email Trove Reveals Ghislaine Maxwell’s Secrets

A cache of 18,000 messages obtained by Bloomberg News reveals Maxwell’s deep ties and involvement with the disgraced financier and sex offender.

www.bloomberg.com

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Reposted by Mary Ellen Klas

Bill Grueskin @bgrueskin.bsky.social · Sep 11

You don't see this very often:

Investigators "have images" of the suspect's face, "but they are not releasing pictures because they say they don’t need the public’s help at this point."

www.sltrib.com/news/2025/09...

Manhunt continues in fatal shooting of Charlie Kirk, but new details of shooter’s movements emerge

State and federal authorities say a manhunt continues, but they've recovered a rifle.

www.sltrib.com

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Mary Ellen Klas @maryellenklas.bsky.social · Sep 11

Trump dismissed domestic violence as "a little fight with the wife." It's in fact a crime. I know better. My mother was on the front lines trying to move this violence out of the shadows, where healing starts. She'd recognize his comments. 🎁 link: www.bloomberg.com/opinion/arti...

Domestic Violence Is a Real Crime. My Mother Worked to Make It One.

Trump’s comments about a “little fight with the wife” reflect the kinds of dangerous views she fought against.

www.bloomberg.com

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Mary Ellen Klas @maryellenklas.bsky.social · Sep 10

The US is drifting into a dangerous era of state-by-state conflict, where "the red and blue blocs are moving from separation to confrontation." Another must-read analysis from
Ron Brownstein.
🎁 link: www.bloomberg.com/opinion/arti...

Red and Blue States’ Fight Is Reaching a Dangerous Level

We’re seeing the greatest strain on the nation’s cohesion since the Civil War.

www.bloomberg.com

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Mary Ellen Klas @maryellenklas.bsky.social · Sep 10

The White House wants foreign investment in manufacturing. Raiding a Hyundai plant in Georgia is a strange way of getting there. 🎁 link: www.bloomberg.com/opinion/arti...

The ICE Raid on the Georgia Hyundai Plant Makes No Sense

The White House says it wants foreign investment in manufacturing. This is an odd way of showing it.

www.bloomberg.com

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Mary Ellen Klas @maryellenklas.bsky.social · Sep 7

Texas voters wanted Medicaid expansion, gun reform and looser abortion laws. Instead, Abbott and the GOP pursued culture wars. As in Florida, it's a subtle attempt at consolidating power and is institutionalizing the norms of authoritarian rule. 🎁link: www.bloomberg.com/opinion/arti...

Texas Republicans Are Ignoring Their Voters — Again

The Lone Star State is copying Florida’s playbook of focusing on culture wars rather than real solutions.

www.bloomberg.com

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Mary Ellen Klas @maryellenklas.bsky.social · Sep 5

Donald Trump talks about his commitment "to the American worker." But his record shows he’s only committed to certain kinds: men. Look at what's happening to programs for women, and the retro promotions of the apprenticeship program. @opinion.bloomberg.com 🎁 link: www.bloomberg.com/opinion/arti...

Just Call It the Department of Male Labor

One of Lori Chavez-DeRemer’s first moves has been to eliminate all funding for the Women’s Bureau. It’s part of a pattern.

www.bloomberg.com

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