Author | Lightnews

Michael Shanabarger @mshanabarger.bsky.social · Sep 29

Reminder that at least twice now, FOX News lawyers have argued in courts that a "reasonable person" would not believe that the entertainment channel's programming states "actual facts".

McDougal v. Fox News Network, LLC. (2020).
Dominion Voting Systems v. Fox News (2023).

Screenshot from a KGW8 news article.

During a Sunday morning phone interview with NBC White House Correspondent Yamiche Alcindor, though, Trump made some remarks that seemed to indicate he might be backing off his military plan for Portland.

Trump referenced a weekend conversation with Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek, and he alluded to being told by Kotek that the reality in Portland is different from what's being portrayed to him.

"I spoke to the governor, she was very nice," Trump said. "But I said, 'Well wait a minute, am I watching things on television that are different from what is happening? My people tell me different.' They are literally attacking and there are fires all over the place...it looks like terrible."

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Michael Shanabarger @mshanabarger.bsky.social · Sep 26

If you thought drug prices and shortages were bad now, just wait...

Trump announces new tariffs on trucks, furniture and pharmaceuticals

President Trump said pharmaceutical products may face tariffs of up to 100 percent, upholstered furniture 30 percent and heavy trucks 25 percent starting Oct. 1.

www.washingtonpost.com

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Michael Shanabarger @mshanabarger.bsky.social · Sep 25

"Along with Oracle and its cofounder Larry Ellison, other investors include the private equity firm Silver Lake, media mogul Rupert Murdoch and his son Lachlan, and the CEO of Dell computers Michael Dell."

This is a big win for the oligarchs and a significant danger for the American people.

Trump signs executive order to transfer TikTok to US owners

Agreement separates app from Chinese owner ByteDance and allows US investors to take 80% stake

www.theguardian.com

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Michael Shanabarger @mshanabarger.bsky.social · Sep 23

Disable 2G networks on your phones.

Android phones could soon warn you of “Stingrays” snooping on your communications

But it requires specific hardware support that is missing on current phones.

arstechnica.com

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Michael Shanabarger @mshanabarger.bsky.social · Sep 20

“To announce that there must be no criticism of the President, or that we are to stand by the President, right or wrong, is not only unpatriotic and servile, but is morally treasonable to the American public.”

- Theodore Roosevelt

Screenshot from Politico.

Trump: 'It's no longer free speech.'

The president doubled down on his claims that critical media coverage of him is "illegal."

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Michael Shanabarger @mshanabarger.bsky.social · Sep 9

"Maybe you do not care much about the future of the Republican Party. You should. Conservatives will always be with us. If conservatives become convinced that they cannot win democratically, they will not abandon conservatism. They will reject democracy." -- David Frum

Screenshot of a Washington Post headline.

Missouri State House passes Trump-backed congressional map.

The plan would likely give Republicans one more U.S. House seat. It heads to the state Senate, where it is expected to pass this month and win the signature of Gov. Mike Kehoe (R).

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Michael Shanabarger @mshanabarger.bsky.social · Sep 2

There are a total of three Democrats on FW City Council out of nine members. It is majority Republican and has been for a long time.

Michael Shanabarger @mshanabarger.bsky.social · Sep 2

Oh, great, Trump's Gestapo will now be able to access everything. This can't possibly go wrong with their military-sized budget.

Screenshot of a headline from The Guardian.

Ice obtains access to Israeli-made spyware that can hack phones and encrypted apps.

Trump administration contract with Paragon Solutions gives immigration agents access to one of the most powerful stealth cyberweapons.

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Michael Shanabarger @mshanabarger.bsky.social · Aug 30

Who knew "We're all going to die" wasn't a winning campaign slogan?

Screenshot from CBS News.

Joni Ernst won't seem reelection to Senate in 2026, sources say.

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Michael Shanabarger @mshanabarger.bsky.social · Aug 26

The DNC continues to fail.

DNC punts on dueling Israel resolutions as Chair Ken Martin calls for bridging the divide

A more moderate resolution was successful, but the chair withdrew it while calling for Democrats to continue “working through this.”

www.politico.com

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Michael Shanabarger @mshanabarger.bsky.social · Aug 19

A "legacy name" that won't matter at all to younger voters AND he showed up with Hogsett? Hoosier Democrats can do better.

Can Beau Bayh and that 'incredible surname' reignite the hopes of Indiana Democrats?

Bayh isn’t quite ready to share his plans, but he looks and sounds lately like he’s about to run for political office here.

www.indystar.com

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Michael Shanabarger @mshanabarger.bsky.social · Aug 16

This is how Democrats will continue to lose: By furthering the same milquetoast positions of the past and alienating the very voters and activists we desperately need.

And this is just the right fucking thing to do.

DNC Leadership Pressured Gen Z Member to Kill Resolution on Banning Arms to Israel

Democrats say they need enthusiasm among young voters. They aren’t listening to what Gen Z wants.

theintercept.com

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Michael Shanabarger @mshanabarger.bsky.social · Aug 8

If you're fine with voting for a pedophile and rapist, then you're no better than the pedophile and rapist.

And let's be real here. The "not sure" people just weren't willing to admit they wouldn't care.

Screenshot from Snopes.

47% of Republicans would still vote for Trump even if implicated in Epstein's crimes, survey found.

A majority of GOP voters said they would either stand by Trump or weren't sure, even if he were officially linked to the late sex offender's crimes.

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Michael Shanabarger @mshanabarger.bsky.social · Aug 5

The Republican appetite for power and control is unending.

JD Vance to visit Indiana amid push for redistricting. Will Braun call special session?

Republicans hold seven of Indiana's nine U.S. House districts. Will state lawmakers try to squeeze out another GOP seat ahead of the 2026 midterms?

www.indystar.com

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Michael Shanabarger @mshanabarger.bsky.social · Jul 22

Republicans are choosing to protect pedophiles over their own legislative priorities.

Aaron Fritschner @fritschner.bsky.social · Jul 21

Politico & Punchbowl report House Republican leadership is shutting down the Rules Committee - which is essential for moving party-line bills on the floor - for the week rather than vote on Democratic amendments on the Epstein files.

Dems have effectively halted Republican legislation in the House:

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Michael Shanabarger @mshanabarger.bsky.social · Jul 21

Time for the @democrats.org to sit up and take notice: Progressive candidates are good, actually.

The Guardian news headline.

Minneapolis Democrats endorse democratic socialist for mayor over incumbent.

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Michael Shanabarger @mshanabarger.bsky.social · Jul 18

Say goodbye to the US tourism economy.

Travelers to the US must pay a new $250 'visa integrity fee' — What to know

The fee will be at least $250, is on top of other visa fees, and may be reimbursable.

www.nbcnewyork.com

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Michael Shanabarger @mshanabarger.bsky.social · Jul 13

"It's a dog!"

"Yeah, he's not even a very good one. But he's out there alone, and probably scared."

Peak Superman.

A still from Superman (2025) featuring Krypto the super dog, Superman (portrayed by David Corenswet), and a Superman robot. They are in the Fortress of Solitude.

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Michael Shanabarger @mshanabarger.bsky.social · Jul 12

In a time of extreme heat and weather conditions, Indiana Republicans are once again putting alleged "economic impacts" above the health and long-term safety of Hoosiers.

Screenshot of a WFYI news headline.

Indiana will no longer move forward with its plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

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Michael Shanabarger @mshanabarger.bsky.social · Jul 8

Sex pest Cuomo and corrupt Adams need to sit down and STFU. Mamdani is exactly the type of person the Democratic Party desperately needs.

After Mamdani’s Win, Some Democrats Are Determined to Stop Him

www.nytimes.com

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Michael Shanabarger @mshanabarger.bsky.social · Jul 4

The Big Ugly Bill has already claimed its first casualty.

Southwest Nebraska medical center announces plans to close, blames uncertainty over funding

Community Hospital in McCook announced Wednesday that it will close Curtis Medical Center in Curtis, winding down its services over the next several months.

nebraskapublicmedia.org

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Michael Shanabarger @mshanabarger.bsky.social · Jul 1

These people are sociopaths.

Marlene Robertson🍁🇨🇦 @marlenerobertson.bsky.social · Jul 1

It is so sad to see how the great nation of the United States has fallen.

There are no words for how debased and vile this is to capitalize on human suffering.

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Michael Shanabarger @mshanabarger.bsky.social · Jul 1

The best time to apologize for Islamophobic bullshit is to never say it in the first place.

Gillibrand apologizes to Mamdani over ‘jihad’ comments

The New York senator was criticized for not defending the NYC mayoral candidate in a combative radio interview.

www.politico.com

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Michael Shanabarger @mshanabarger.bsky.social · Jun 27

Hey, establishment Dems, does the phrase "vote blue, no matter who" ring any bells?

Democratic establishment melts down over Mamdani's win in New York

Establishment Democrats looking to recover from 2024's losses fear Mamdani could hurt the party's brand nationally — while young progressives believe his formula could spread beyond New York.

www.axios.com

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Michael Shanabarger @mshanabarger.bsky.social · Jun 26

"They were crying in fear. One of the agents at one point lifted up his shirt, which displayed the gun that he was carrying," Mukherjee said. "The 6-year-old boy was terrified to see the gun. He urinated on himself and wet all his clothing. No one offered him a change of clothing for many hours."

ICE arrested a 6-year-old boy with leukemia at immigration court. His family is suing

A Honduran mother and her two children — ages 6 and 9 — have sued the Trump administration over their arrest at Los Angeles Immigration Court, the first lawsuit challenging the arrests of children und...

www.tpr.org

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