Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Shawn Connery @shawnconnery.bsky.social · 1m

Trump Team Plans IRS Overhaul to Enable Pursuit of Left-Leaning Groups

The effort would install a Trump ally at the IRS’s criminal unit who has drawn up a list of investigative targets.

Shawn Connery @shawnconnery.bsky.social · 3m

Make America Great Again

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Cas Ⓜ️udde @casmudde.bsky.social · 1h

I don't think many people, inside and outside of US, understand how absolutely 🦇💩🤪 the official communication of the White House is.

And while it is, undoubtedly, largely performative, the fact that it is considered effective and leads to little effective backlash says everything about this country

Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 2h

Leavitt: "The Democrat Party's main constituency is made up of Hamas terrorists, illegal aliens, and violent criminals."

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Andy Craig @andycraig.bsky.social · 21m

Johnson tried to steal a presidential election, among his many other betrayals of the republic.

Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 1d

Johnson: "We call it the Hate America Rally that will happen Saturday. Let's see who shows up for that. I bet you you'll see Hamas supporters, I bet you'll see antifa types, I bet you'll see Marxists on full display, people who don't want to stand and defend the foundational truths of this republic"

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Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 19m

Chris Murphy: "This is a country that's falling apart because Trump is in the middle of an authoritarian takeover. We're not on the verge of an authoritarian takeover. We're in the middle of it ... I have no moral obligation to vote for a budget that literally funds the destruction of our democracy"

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Mark Jacob @markjacob.bsky.social · 16m

You cannot compromise with this. You can either submit to it or defeat it.

Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 2h

Leavitt: "The Democrat Party's main constituency is made up of Hamas terrorists, illegal aliens, and violent criminals."

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Shawn Connery @shawnconnery.bsky.social · 26m

...and in Budapest, FFS. Putin on EU soil.

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Shawn Connery @shawnconnery.bsky.social · 29m

JFC - and in Budapest

Shawn Connery @shawnconnery.bsky.social · 30m

Trump Plans Meeting With Putin to Discuss an End to War on Ukraine www.nytimes.com/live/2025/10...

Trump Administration Live Updates: President Plans Meeting With Putin to Discuss an End to War on Ukraine

www.nytimes.com

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Shawn Connery @shawnconnery.bsky.social · 30m

Trump Plans Meeting With Putin to Discuss an End to War on Ukraine www.nytimes.com/live/2025/10...

Trump Administration Live Updates: President Plans Meeting With Putin to Discuss an End to War on Ukraine

www.nytimes.com

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Ulrike Franke @rikefranke.bsky.social · 8h

Germany and Ukraine have signed an agreement to expand bilateral cooperation in the defence industry

mod.gov.ua/en/news/ukra...

Ukraine and Germany strengthen cooperation in defence industry | MoD News

Ukraine’s Defence Minister Denys Shmyhal and Germany’s Defence Minister Boris Pistorius signed an agreement on defence-industrial cooperation.

mod.gov.ua

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Ursula von der Leyen @vonderleyen.ec.europa.eu · 7h

Today, we lay out Europe’s Defence Roadmap.

With clear objectives, European Flagships, and milestones on the path to 2030.

A strong, resilient and innovative EU defence industry will deliver the capabilities Europe needs.

Our work continues at the European Council next week.⁩

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Thomas Zimmer @thomaszimmer.bsky.social · 7h

Somewhat paradoxically, the acute danger to the democratic order results from exactly this process of democratization and liberalization, as reactionary forces are feeling under siege, which fuels their anti-democratic radicalization and increasingly open embrace of authoritarianism.

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Thomas Zimmer @thomaszimmer.bsky.social · 7h

This isn’t the whole story, of course – but if it’s not at the core of your story, you’re on the wrong track.

Add “Once democracy made it possible for women to threaten patriarchal domination and for queer people to publicly affirm their identity” – and we’re already very, very close.

Michael P. Breen @mpbreen21.bsky.social · 4d

Once American democracy made it possible for a Black man to be elected president, American conservatives decided that it had to be destroyed

Thomas Zimmer @thomaszimmer.bsky.social · 4d

While Vought traces the “leftwing revolution” back a hundred years, to the progressive era, there is no question that the election of Barack Obama was a radicalizing moment for him and many key thinkers on the radical Right - as were the multiracial protests in the summer of 2020.

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TPM @talkingpointsmemo.com · 4h

In an Oval Office event ostensibly focused on combatting violent crime, President Trump’s lawless abuse of the Justice Department was on full display in the immediate presence of the attorney general, deputy attorney general, and FBI director.
talkingpointsmemo.com/morning-memo...

In Oval Office Screed, Trump Shows Who’s Really Running DOJ

DOJ Officials ‘Smiled, Nodded and Shuffled’ One of the many challenges of...

talkingpointsmemo.com

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Jason Kuznicki @jkuznicki.bsky.social · 17h

One awful thing about living in a police state is how anyone can turn informant.

Pissed off at an immigrant or even a citizen of color? Pick up a phone and make their lives hell, maybe forever.

Even if the call never gets made, even if you’d never, the threat hangs over every interaction.

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Catherine Rampell @crampell.bsky.social · 16h

Seems bad. www.wsj.com/politics/pol...

Exclusive | Trump Team Plans IRS Overhaul to Enable Pursuit of Left-Leaning Groups

The effort would install a Trump ally at the IRS’s criminal unit who has drawn up a list of investigative targets.

www.wsj.com

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Shawn Connery @shawnconnery.bsky.social · 14h

Oval Office Becomes a Diorama of Power Dynamics as Trump Goes After Rivals www.nytimes.com/2025/10/15/u...

Oval Office Becomes a Diorama of Power Dynamics as Trump Goes After Rivals

www.nytimes.com

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Shawn Connery @shawnconnery.bsky.social · 14h

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Kai Ryssdal @kairyssdal.bsky.social · 19h

Among the many amazing/disgraceful things about America 2025 is how completely Republicans in Congress have neutered themselves.

The New York Times @nytimes.com · 19h

President Trump on Wednesday signed a memorandum expanding his administration’s authority to repurpose unspent federal funds to pay members of the military during the government shutdown, escalating his challenge to the authority of Congress on spending matters.

Trump Signs Memo Expanding His Authority to Spend Federal Money

The president gave Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth wide authority to repurpose funds to pay members of the military without approval from Congress, which has the sole constitutional authority to decide federal spending.

nyti.ms

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Shawn Connery @shawnconnery.bsky.social · 18h

Fucking warmonger: President Suggests Ground Strikes on Venezuela Could Be Next www.nytimes.com/live/2025/10...

Trump Administration Live Updates: President Suggests Ground Strikes on Venezuela Could Be Next

www.nytimes.com

Shawn Connery @shawnconnery.bsky.social · 23h

Trump Administration Authorizes Covert C.I.A. Action in Venezuela www.nytimes.com/2025/10/15/u...

Trump Administration Authorizes Covert C.I.A. Action in Venezuela

www.nytimes.com

Shawn Connery @shawnconnery.bsky.social · 1d

As an immunologist, my professional take is: this dumb fuck

Trump Rattles Vaccine Experts Over Aluminum www.nytimes.com/2025/10/15/h...

Trump Rattles Vaccine Experts Over Aluminum

www.nytimes.com

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Chad @bchadhill.bsky.social · 1d

Exactly what I fear.

They'll gerrymander New Orleans – an overwhelming Democratic city – so that Louisiana has zero Democratic districts.

Shawn Connery @shawnconnery.bsky.social · 1d

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/10/15/upshot/supreme-court-voting-rights-gerrymander.html?smid=url-share

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Ulrike Franke @rikefranke.bsky.social · 1d

“Time may no longer be on Russia’s side. … Russia can now prevail only if it prevents them from turning their collective latent strength into usable superiority by undermining their resolve. This compels it to accelerate its theory of victory”

The Russia–Ukraine war has entered a new phase

Recent policy choices by America, Europe and China, and domestic economic strains, are reshaping Russia’s calculus. Since time may no longer be on its side, it is challenging Western resolve in more risky and aggressive ways. This is certain to escalate unless Europe responds.

www.iiss.org

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Bucks County Beacon @buckscountybeacon.com · 1d

Where to Find ‘No Kings’ Rallies in Bucks County | “Trump & his enablers have hurt working Americans, terrorized our immigrant communities & overreached their constitutional authority,” said @indivisiblebux.bsky.social Laura Rose. “We must all stand up to this betrayal of American values." #NoKings

Where to Find ‘No Kings’ Rallies in Bucks County on October 18 - Bucks County Beacon

“Donald Trump and his enablers have hurt working Americans, terrorized our immigrant communities, and overreached their constitutional authority,” said Indivisible Bucks County's Laura Rose. “We must ...

buckscountybeacon.com

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