Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Open Art Data @openartdata.bsky.social · 8h

The legacy press reports neither, sadly

Open Art Data @openartdata.bsky.social · 8h

Chat thinks that some of these laws might apply because presidents can’t legally simply take taxpayer money and give it to whomever they like for the benefit of cronies.

Open Art Data @openartdata.bsky.social · 8h

Where is the money Trump and his cronies are stealing going?

Who are the middlemen? The launderers? The concealers?

@icij.org @inquirer.com @ire.org @pbump.com

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Pete Buttigieg @petebuttigieg.bsky.social · 9h

Trump is counting on you thinking that everyone’s on board with his politicization of the military. He’s wrong - most Americans can see right through it.

Read more here:

The Cost of Trump’s Politicization of the Military

They’ve crossed one line after another since January - and we must not become numb to the mounting damage to our military and national security.

open.substack.com

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Will Bunch @willbunch.bsky.social · 12h

This from the great @sulliview.bsky.social on the media's anemic (or non-) coverage of the massive No Kings movement is such a great point

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Kevin M. Kruse @kevinmkruse.bsky.social · 9h

Speaker Mike Johnson just said he's completely fine with ICE agents shooting priests in the head with pepper balls and roughing up journalists.

I'm sure he'll tell us soon about how it's the Democrats who are waging a war on religion and free speech though.

Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 9h

Q: We've seen images out of Chicago of federal agents shooting faith leaders with pepper balls and arresting journalists. Where's the limit for you on what's acceptable conduct by federal agents?

MIKE JOHNSON: I've not seen them cross the line yet.

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Open Art Data @openartdata.bsky.social · 11h

Senators Warren, Kaine, Van Hollen, Booker, Smith, Gallego, Sanders, and Welch Introduce Bill to stop Donald Trump from propping up a foreign government while he shuts down our own

www.banking.senate.gov/newsroom/min...

#Argentina #MAGA #Cronies

Warren, Colleagues Introduce Bill to Stop Trump’s Argentina Bailout | United States Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs

The Official website of The United States Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs

www.banking.senate.gov

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Open Art Data @openartdata.bsky.social · 11h

Chat suggests the following laws might apply to #Trump’s unauthorized grab of $20 billion to channel to #Argentina where his cronies have financial exposure.

Is this correct?
#bailout #shutdown

Open Art Data @openartdata.bsky.social · 11h

The ESF is meant for emergencies affecting U.S. stability, not to bail out a political ally abroad
www.banking.senate.gov/newsroom/min...
#Argentina #MAGA #taxpayer

Warren, Colleagues Introduce Bill to Stop Trump’s Argentina Bailout | United States Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs

The Official website of The United States Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs

www.banking.senate.gov

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Rafe Meager (they/them) @economeager.bsky.social · 19h

this is not quite an anti-trust tragedy but it's certainly some kind of capital market regulation problem if people can buy assets that provide huge public goods specifically in order to destroy the public good provision

karl rove knausgård @uhactually.bsky.social · 1d

Lmao WaPo has fewer than 100K circulation now. It turns out “alienate your liberal subscriber base” is not a good strategy when the Republicans also hate you. www.forbes.com/sites/andyme...

The Washington Post Is Running Out Of Readers Willing To Pay

Once a titan of American journalism, The Washington Post now struggles to reach even 100,000 print subscribers most days.

www.forbes.com

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Marc Elias @marcelias.bsky.social · 1d

If you read only one democracy story today, make it this one. While legacy media largely skipped the Texas redistricting hearing, Democracy Docket's Jen Rice was there for all 10 days. Her coverage stands out and sheds insight into how the GOP operates -- not only in TX -- but nationally.

In a Federal Courtroom in Texas, Republicans Were Desperate to Keep Details of their Gerrymander Under Wraps

Read about the fight for democracy from activists, elected officials, legal experts and others.

www.democracydocket.com

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Jesse Zaneveld @jessezaneveld.bsky.social · 1d

Some sources for Johnson's evasions:

"Not knowing" about layoffs: newrepublic.com/post/201700/...

Or Trunp threats: www.nbcnews.com/news/amp/rcn...

Or using US cities as military training grounds www.msn.com/en-us/news/p...

Or Trumps birthday note to Epstein:
www.nytimes.com/2025/09/09/u...

“I Don’t Know”: Mike Johnson Ducks Key Question About Shutdown Layoffs

Mike Johnson seems to have decided his best line of defense is to play dumb.

newrepublic.com

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Nicholas Grossman @nicholasgrossman.bsky.social · 1d

When Mike Johnson or another national leader repeatedly claims they haven’t seen relevant things in the news, an appropriate reporter reaction would be “Holy cow, how do you not know?!? How can you do your job without knowing what’s happening? What are you doing to fix your ‘not knowing’ problem?”

BeijingPalmer @beijingpalmer.bsky.social · 1d

I don't understand why U.S. reporters so regularly seem to let politicians get away with 'I haven't seen that' about stuff a) they obviously know and b) is directly relevant to their job. Did they sign some kind of agreement never to ask a follow-up question?

Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 1d

REPORTER: We know the president moved forward with mass layoffs. We're also learning there were significant cuts to staff at special education services. Are you comfortable with those cuts?

MIKE JOHNSON: I haven't seen the specifics of that and I don't know

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Clara Jeffery @clarajeffery.bsky.social · 20h

Millions came out for the last #NoKings protests.

These will be even bigger.

They want to scare people into not showing up.

Show up. Exercise your Constitutional rights. Be in community with all those who believe in democracy.

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Open Art Data @openartdata.bsky.social · 20h

Roei Shalev, whose girlfriend Mapal Adam was murdered in front of him as he tried to shield her at the Nova festival on October 7, 2023, died by suicide on Friday night.

Two years ago Hamas massacred young music lovers, raping, killing and kidnapping them.
www.timesofisrael.com/nova-survivo...

Nova survivor dies by suicide, 2 years after girlfriend was killed in front of him

Roei Shalev's body found in burning car soon after anniversary of Mapal Adam's October 7 murder; Nova organization urges awareness of mental toll on survivors, bereaved

www.timesofisrael.com

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Open Art Data @openartdata.bsky.social · 20h

The Economist reports: ‘Hamas fighters have emerged, armed and in uniform, to reassert themselves on the streets of Gaza city and Khan Younis.’
‘Hamas has started settling scores, with killings and kidnappings of members of local clans’
www.economist.com/middle-east-...

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Michael Clemens @mclem.org · 1d

Our public money to support research at our universities is mandated by our Congress.

It is not the personal slush fund of the president, to withhold at will or dole out as largesse, rewarding those who please him.

Those who seek reform of universities can use laws, not arbitrary extortion.

Robert Kelchen @robertkelchen.com · 1d

After getting zero firm commitments to this point from the first nine invitees, the Trump administration is extending its proposed compact to all colleges. Expect some red-state publics to say yes.

Trump Offers All Colleges Preferential Funding Plan Rejected by MIT

The Trump administration is inviting all US colleges to participate in a compact — initially rejected by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology — that would grant preferential federal funding in re...

www.bloomberg.com

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Marc Elias @marcelias.bsky.social · 22h

The is literally nothing more American and patriotic than declaring: No Kings.

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David Darmofal @daviddarmofal.bsky.social · 22h

In their quest to rig the 2026 midterms in their favor to the maximum extent possible within the law, the Republican Party wants to gerrymander the hell out of a state they won in a presidential election by just 183,000+ votes & give it an 11-3 R congressional delegation. This is authoritarianism.

The New York Times @nytimes.com · 23h

Republican lawmakers in North Carolina announced plans on Monday to redraw the state’s already gerrymandered congressional maps to further favor their party. The most likely target is the First Congressional District, which has the state’s only competitive House seat.

North Carolina Republicans Plan to Redraw Congressional Map to Add a Seat

The Trump administration has pushed Republican leaders to redraw House district maps before the midterm elections next year. His party already holds 10 of North Carolina’s 14 congressional seats.

nyti.ms

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Open Art Data @openartdata.bsky.social · 1d

and the trend is ?

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Clara Jeffery @clarajeffery.bsky.social · 1d

MORE OF THIS

Jake Wittich @jakewittich.bsky.social · 1d

The same ICE agent who handcuffed Ald. Jessie Fuentes has been filmed in at least 3 other violent encounters, including the viral arrest of a woman in Waukegan in front of the mayor.

“He’s obviously a danger to individuals and particularly women," Fuentes said.

Read more at @windycitytimes.com

Ald. Jessie Fuentes to file lawsuit against ICE agent who handcuffed her in Humboldt Park incident - Windy City Times

Ald. Jessie Fuentes (26th Ward) is preparing to file a lawsuit against the ICE agent who handcuffed and threatened to arrest her at Humboldt Park Health earlier this month. In an interview with Windy ...

windycitytimes.com

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Brendan Nyhan @brendannyhan.bsky.social · 1d

Unprecedented corruption

Mike Walker @newnarrative.bsky.social · 1d

Trump allies sold sponsorships to what appeared to be a Treasury event. It wasn’t

www.wsj.com/politics/pol...

Exclusive | Trump Allies Sold Sponsorships to What Appeared to Be a Treasury Event. It Wasn’t.

The Treasury said it didn’t approve a marketing pitch for a private Oct. 21 event about AI that is headlined by Scott Bessent.

www.wsj.com

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Open Art Data @openartdata.bsky.social · 1d

‘Proximity to the administration helps. mgx, an Abu Dhabi fund which this year used a cryptocurrency linked to the president for a $2bn deal, is expected to become an owner of TikTok’s American business.
The consortium includes Jared Kushner, Mr Trump’s son-in-law’
#coi #finance #kleptocracy

Open Art Data @openartdata.bsky.social · 1d

What does Mark Freeman, the mayor or Mesa, Arizona say about these third party deportation flights out of the Mesa airport?
www.mesaaz.gov/Government/M...

Mayor Mark Freeman

Mayor of Mesa

www.mesaaz.gov

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Scott Horton @robertscotthorton.bsky.social · 1d

Will Saletan: "To bring a democracy under authoritarian control, you need more than a strongman. You need politicians who will assure the public, as we slide toward one-man rule, that nothing odd is happening. That’s the role Johnson is playing in Trump’s takeover."

The Speaker of the House Is Abetting Authoritarianism

Every Trump needs his Johnson: a flunky who will rationalize his crimes.

www.thebulwark.com

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