Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Reposted by Tom Joscelyn

Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 8h

Q: Politico reported on a group chat of young Republicans. Does this just reflect some bad apples?

HOCHUL: Some bad apples? These are the future of the GOP. This is so vile it's hard to find the words to put into context ... there's gotta be consequences ... this bullshit has to stop.

380 3.2K 11K

Reposted by Tom Joscelyn

Adam Keiper @adamkeiper.com · 8h

Trump told the assemblage of generals and admirals that the Navy should bring back battleships, even though we decommissioned the last one in 1958.

It was as if Teddy Roosevelt had urged his admirals to abandon their new steel ships for wooden sailing vessels.

Happy 250th birthday, Navy.

The Birth Pangs of the U.S. Navy

It was founded 250 years ago today—and, oddly, was promptly ordered to attack what is today its biggest base.

www.thebulwark.com

5 11 43

Reposted by Tom Joscelyn

Tom Joscelyn @tomjoscelyn.bsky.social · 20h

Speaker Mike Johnson described the upcoming “No Kings” protest as a “Hate America” rally.

“No Kings” = America.

False King = MAGA.

www.politico.com/news/2025/10...

Johnson describes planned No Kings rally as ‘hate America,’ ‘pro-Hamas’ gathering

Organizers largely blew off the rhetoric, but some Democrats online criticized the tone.

www.politico.com

20 53 190

Tom Joscelyn @tomjoscelyn.bsky.social · 20h

Speaker Mike Johnson described the upcoming “No Kings” protest as a “Hate America” rally.

“No Kings” = America.

False King = MAGA.

www.politico.com/news/2025/10...

Johnson describes planned No Kings rally as ‘hate America,’ ‘pro-Hamas’ gathering

Organizers largely blew off the rhetoric, but some Democrats online criticized the tone.

www.politico.com

20 53 190

Reposted by Tom Joscelyn

Tom Joscelyn @tomjoscelyn.bsky.social · 1d

The longest federal government shutdown so far came during Trump’s first term - lasting 35 days.

As the Republicans continue to blame Democrats for the shutdown, remember that.

Shutting down the federal government is one of the Trump Party’s favorite moves.

www.usatoday.com/story/news/p...

Shutdown 'barreling toward' one of the longest ever, GOP leader says

Lawmakers on both sides braced for a longer shutdown as the Senate prepares for another vote Tuesday to reopen the government.

www.usatoday.com

12 81 270

Tom Joscelyn @tomjoscelyn.bsky.social · 1d

The longest federal government shutdown so far came during Trump’s first term - lasting 35 days.

As the Republicans continue to blame Democrats for the shutdown, remember that.

Shutting down the federal government is one of the Trump Party’s favorite moves.

www.usatoday.com/story/news/p...

Shutdown 'barreling toward' one of the longest ever, GOP leader says

Lawmakers on both sides braced for a longer shutdown as the Senate prepares for another vote Tuesday to reopen the government.

www.usatoday.com

12 81 270

Tom Joscelyn @tomjoscelyn.bsky.social · 1d

A guy Bari Weiss and The Free Press don’t like - spelling be damned.

Chris Hayes @chrislhayes.bsky.social · 1d

Who is this Mandani chap I’ve been hearing so much about?

3 1 15

Reposted by Tom Joscelyn

Bill Kristol @billkristolbulwark.bsky.social · 1d

A notice from @ofthebraveusa.bsky.social.

Will run in newspapers across the nation.

43 550 1.4K

Reposted by Tom Joscelyn

Brandon Friedman @brandonfriedman.bsky.social · 1d

Promoting the editor-in-chief's personal side project. Zero named sources in a story that promotes the editor-in-chief's personal political position. Misspelling the subject's name. It took one day for CBS News to become a conservative blog.

www.cbsnews.com/video/some-n...

CBS News: Some NYPD officers worry about Mandani becoming NYC mayor the Free Press reports.

160 1.8K 6K

Reposted by Tom Joscelyn

Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 1d

Obama: "When you see an administration suggest that ordinary street crime is an insurrection or a terrorist act, that is a genuine effort to weaken how we have understood democracy."

490 7.6K 27K

Reposted by Tom Joscelyn

The Contrarian @contrariannews.org · 1d

"Vought is an extremist; a tool of creepy billionaires in the corporate takeover of the U.S. government; and he seems to get unhealthy pleasure from depriving Americans of the government services their tax dollars are supposed to fund."

Read Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse's latest.
@whitehouse.senate.gov

Russell Vought is the tool of a dangerous elite

He wields his budget hammer not in service to the people or the Constitution, but for the billionaire class.

contrarian.substack.com

16 130 370

Reposted by Tom Joscelyn

Tom Joscelyn @tomjoscelyn.bsky.social · 2d

This is the post-January 6th world. The lies are their reality. It’s a broken reality in which no number of facts - or obvious observations - will make them give up a lie. In the end, there was no real accountability for January 6th, which was caused by lies. And so they continued on.

The New Republic @newrepublic.com · 2d

“I … met with the governor, met with the mayor, met with the chief of police, and the superintendent of the highway patrol. They’re all lying, and disingenuous, and dishonest people,” Noem said, because they wouldn’t back up her baseless claims that the streets were overrun with terrorists.

ICE Barbie Says an Entire State’s Worth of Officials Are “Lying”

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem is convinced, against all evidence, that Portland is a war zone.

trib.al

18 93 250

Reposted by Tom Joscelyn

Tom Joscelyn @tomjoscelyn.bsky.social · 2d

“I spent three nights and three days in federal custody. During that time, I was never told what I was charged with, was not allowed to shower despite being covered in tear gas and pepper spray, had no phone call to my family, and no access to an attorney.” - George Retes, U.S. citizen and veteran.

I’m a US citizen and a veteran. ICE arrested me for no reason.

Jailed for three days without an explanation or ability to notify anyone, George Retes argues the only path to healing starts with the government taking accountability for its actions.

newsletter.ofthebrave.org

350 6.1K 12K

Tom Joscelyn @tomjoscelyn.bsky.social · 2d

This is the post-January 6th world. The lies are their reality. It’s a broken reality in which no number of facts - or obvious observations - will make them give up a lie. In the end, there was no real accountability for January 6th, which was caused by lies. And so they continued on.

The New Republic @newrepublic.com · 2d

“I … met with the governor, met with the mayor, met with the chief of police, and the superintendent of the highway patrol. They’re all lying, and disingenuous, and dishonest people,” Noem said, because they wouldn’t back up her baseless claims that the streets were overrun with terrorists.

ICE Barbie Says an Entire State’s Worth of Officials Are “Lying”

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem is convinced, against all evidence, that Portland is a war zone.

trib.al

18 93 250

Reposted by Tom Joscelyn

Dave Levitan @davelevitan.bsky.social · 3d

“We can give $20 billion to Argentina but we can’t afford the CDC’s measles experts” is a hell of an argument

280 5.5K 19K

Reposted by Tom Joscelyn

Tom Joscelyn @tomjoscelyn.bsky.social · 2d

If they get away with doing this to George Retes, then they can do it to anybody, including you and me.

DHS and ICE have an ongoing propaganda campaign that claims they are detaining the “worst of the worst.”

It’s a lie. It’s all based on lies.

Tom Joscelyn @tomjoscelyn.bsky.social · 2d

“I spent three nights and three days in federal custody. During that time, I was never told what I was charged with, was not allowed to shower despite being covered in tear gas and pepper spray, had no phone call to my family, and no access to an attorney.” - George Retes, U.S. citizen and veteran.

I’m a US citizen and a veteran. ICE arrested me for no reason.

Jailed for three days without an explanation or ability to notify anyone, George Retes argues the only path to healing starts with the government taking accountability for its actions.

newsletter.ofthebrave.org

2 45 110

Reposted by Tom Joscelyn

Indivisible ❌👑 @indivisible.org · 3d

“No, Speaker Johnson — the No Kings rally on October 18 is not a hate America rally. In fact, it’s quite the contrary: It’s a love America rally.” #NoKings

680 10K 30K

Tom Joscelyn @tomjoscelyn.bsky.social · 2d

Yes.

1 1

Tom Joscelyn @tomjoscelyn.bsky.social · 2d

If they get away with doing this to George Retes, then they can do it to anybody, including you and me.

DHS and ICE have an ongoing propaganda campaign that claims they are detaining the “worst of the worst.”

It’s a lie. It’s all based on lies.

Tom Joscelyn @tomjoscelyn.bsky.social · 2d

“I spent three nights and three days in federal custody. During that time, I was never told what I was charged with, was not allowed to shower despite being covered in tear gas and pepper spray, had no phone call to my family, and no access to an attorney.” - George Retes, U.S. citizen and veteran.

I’m a US citizen and a veteran. ICE arrested me for no reason.

Jailed for three days without an explanation or ability to notify anyone, George Retes argues the only path to healing starts with the government taking accountability for its actions.

newsletter.ofthebrave.org

2 45 110

Reposted by Tom Joscelyn

Bill Kristol @billkristolbulwark.bsky.social · 3d

“The Trump administration said that its immigration crackdown is hurting farmers and risking higher food prices for Americans by cutting off agriculture’s labor supply.”

www.washingtonpost.com/business/202...

Trump administration says immigration enforcement threatens higher food prices

U.S. farmers face labor shortages and potential food price hikes due to Trump’s immigration policy, the administration acknowledged in a Federal Registry document.

www.washingtonpost.com

85 140 520

Tom Joscelyn @tomjoscelyn.bsky.social · 2d

“I spent three nights and three days in federal custody. During that time, I was never told what I was charged with, was not allowed to shower despite being covered in tear gas and pepper spray, had no phone call to my family, and no access to an attorney.” - George Retes, U.S. citizen and veteran.

I’m a US citizen and a veteran. ICE arrested me for no reason.

Jailed for three days without an explanation or ability to notify anyone, George Retes argues the only path to healing starts with the government taking accountability for its actions.

newsletter.ofthebrave.org

350 6.1K 12K

Reposted by Tom Joscelyn

NPR @npr.org · 3d

Sources tell NPR that more than 100 employees have been laid off at the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Agency. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention had some cuts reversed late Saturday. n.pr/4q5bti7

Trump slashes mental health agency as shutdown drags on

Sources tell NPR that more than 100 employees have been laid off at the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Agency. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention had some cuts reversed late Saturday.

n.pr

11 120 330

Tom Joscelyn @tomjoscelyn.bsky.social · 3d

Is Ben Shapiro living in 2015 or something?

Renee DiResta @noupside.bsky.social · 3d

🌭 mmm…say more? 🌭

Ben Shapiro Warns the
'Conspiratorial Right' Is Taking Over Social Media

1 1 8

Reposted by Tom Joscelyn

Renee DiResta @noupside.bsky.social · 3d

🌭 mmm…say more? 🌭

4 13 110

Reposted by Tom Joscelyn

Catherine Rampell @crampell.bsky.social · 3d

Per CDC source: At internal leadership meeting this afternoon, it was shared that 1,257 people were RIF'd at CDC. Number may not be final. Apparently, chief of staff was unaware that RIFs were going to occur so not clear who is making decisions. (Short 🧵)

92 1.6K 3.5K