Author | Lightnews

Tom Paine @tpaine1774.bsky.social · 19h

Evangelicals only!

Tom Paine @tpaine1774.bsky.social · 1d

And now she’s running for Governor.

“Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle‑Sears donated thousands of dollars to a far-right Christian organization that has described in vitro fertilization as “child trafficking.”

The Advocate @advocate.com · 2d

The revelation comes less than two weeks before voters in the state pick their next governor.

Virginia MAGA Republican Winsome Earle-Sears’s recent donations reveal a split with Donald Trump on IVF

The revelation comes less than two weeks before voters in the state pick their next governor.

bit.ly

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Reposted by Tom Paine

The Borowitz Report @borowitzreport.bsky.social · 1d

ICE agents are the guys who were too dumb to get into Trump University

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Tom Paine @tpaine1774.bsky.social · 2d

“On average, the first result in an Amazon search is 29 percent more expensive than the best result for your search.”

Tom Paine @tpaine1774.bsky.social · 2d

“Enshittification…describing when companies turn to crap.

For example…Facebook told users that they wouldn't spy on them and harvest their data the way they said MySpace did. For a while at least, Facebook was "fun and useful and valuable."’

Now?

www.npr.org/sections/pla...

A theory why the internet is going down the toilet

A new book diagnoses a sickness affecting some of America's biggest companies.

www.npr.org

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Tom Paine @tpaine1774.bsky.social · 2d

“Enshittification…describing when companies turn to crap.

For example…Facebook told users that they wouldn't spy on them and harvest their data the way they said MySpace did. For a while at least, Facebook was "fun and useful and valuable."’

Now?

www.npr.org/sections/pla...

A theory why the internet is going down the toilet

A new book diagnoses a sickness affecting some of America's biggest companies.

www.npr.org

1

Tom Paine @tpaine1774.bsky.social · 2d

Charlie Kirk had a biased, and maybe willfully ignorant, view of U.S. history.

youtube.com/watch?v=EAjs...

Responding to Charlie Kirk on the US founding

YouTube video by Dan McClellan

youtube.com

Reposted by Tom Paine

Gary Cunningham @garyrc1453.bsky.social · 2d

The FDR Memorial in Washington, DC.

I NEVER FORGET THAT

I LIVE IN A HOUSE

OWNED BY ALLTHE

AMERICAN PEOPLE

AND THAT I HAVE BEEN

GIVEN THEIR TRUST-FDR Memorial

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Tom Paine @tpaine1774.bsky.social · 5d

ICE is a terrorist organization

www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news...

Pregnant women describe miscarrying and bleeding out while in ICE custody, advocates say

The ACLU and other groups are pressing for ICE to identify and release all pregnant women in custody and to stop detaining anyone known to be pregnant, postpartum or nursing.

www.nbcnews.com

Reposted by Tom Paine

Timothy Snyder @timothysnyder.bsky.social · 5d

Lots of US companies have done lots of dreadful things to Americans. But the symbolism of paying to destroy the White House is hard to top.

Aozora @aozorasf.bsky.social · 7d

This is who is paying for the destruction of the White House East Wing, per @wsj.com

Altria Group Inc.
Amazon
Apple Inc.
Booz Allen Hamilton Holding Corp.
Caterpillar Inc.
Coinbase Global
Comcast Corp.
Hard Rock International
Google
HP Inc.
Lockheed Martin Corp.
Meta Platforms Inc.
1/3

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The Atlantic @theatlantic.com · 7d

The “No Kings” marches won’t translate into immediate political results—but there’s a reason Trump is so bothered by them, @dgraham.bsky.social argues:

Why the ‘No Kings’ Protests Matter

Huge demonstrations won’t translate into immediate political results, but there’s a reason the president is so bothered by them.

bit.ly

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Tom Paine @tpaine1774.bsky.social · 7d

Whether you’re pro-“life” or pro-choice, leave the Bible out of it.

youtu.be/lxCwDah8efI?...

When does the Bible say life begins?

YouTube video by Dan McClellan

youtu.be

Tom Paine @tpaine1774.bsky.social · 9d

“This isn’t politics. It’s metaphysical theater: Democrats try to reason and comfort a burning house; Republicans sell tickets to the fire…

the bipartisan spectacle of American democracy, where truth files a report no one reads, and power’s already on cable news declaring victory.”

American Humanist Association @americanhumanist.bsky.social · 9d

Nietzsche's philosophical framework might help explain why modern political discourse feels like a group therapy session inside a gladiator arena. This week in The Humanist:
https://thehumanist.com/commentary/nietzsche-goes-to-washington

Mr. Nietzsche Goes to Washington - TheHumanist.com

As democracy drowns in existential dread, applying Nietzsche’s framework to our two-party system.

thehumanist.com

Reposted by Tom Paine

Jon Cooper @joncooper-us.bsky.social · 9d

Free balls. 🎾 #NoKings

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Tim O’Brien @timobrien.bsky.social · 9d

Where’s DOGE when you need ‘em?:

“The Department of Homeland Security has purchased two Gulfstream private jets for Kristi Noem, the secretary, and other top department officials at a cost of $172 million.”
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/18/u...

Coast Guard Buys Two Private Jets for Noem, Costing $172 Million

www.nytimes.com

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Reposted by Tom Paine

Thom Hartmann @hartmannreport.com · 10d

The Declaration of Independence:

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Reposted by Tom Paine

Jeff Turner 🦋🌈🦋🌈@loveneverhate @loveneverhate.bsky.social · 14d

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Reposted by Tom Paine

Lexstar @reallexstar.bsky.social · 11d

In a time when it can be difficult to find hope, there may be cause for some optimism. What’s particularly interesting about this piece is the reliance on data from other countries.

Lexstar @reallexstar.bsky.social · 11d

apple.news/Apa7xpwR5Qw2...

Can America recover from Trump? Here’s what new data says. — Vox

The president of the United States is deploying masked troops to the streets of blue cities, working to put friendly billionaires in charge of the media environment, and attempting to jail his persona...

apple.news

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Reposted by Tom Paine

Elizabeth Warren @elizabeth-warren.bsky.social · 11d

Your health insurance premiums could double or even triple thanks to Republican health care cuts.

But instead of helping American families facing double costs, Trump plans to DOUBLE his bailout for Argentina.

Whatever happened to “America First”?

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Tom Paine @tpaine1774.bsky.social · 11d

“Not every Republican loves Hitler, but everyone who loves Hitler is absolutely a Republican.”

Spot on!

youtu.be/RvhVn37S4JI?...

Trae Crowder Rant - SHOCK and DISBELIEF at the Revelation that Young Republicans Might Be Bad People

YouTube video by Trae Crowder (Liberal Redneck)

youtu.be

Reposted by Tom Paine

Grbsmith @grbsmith.bsky.social · 12d

If tear gas is banned in warfare, why is ICE smothering Americans in it?
open.substack.com/pub/jennbudd...

If tear gas is banned in warfare, why is ICE smothering Americans in it?

US is a signatory of 1997 international Conventional Weapons Convention but sees no problem using it on its own citizens.

open.substack.com

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Tom Paine @tpaine1774.bsky.social · 12d

youtube.com/watch?v=t2Zj...

‘I love Hitler’: Leaked texts EXPOSE Young Republicans’ racist chat, Politico reports

YouTube video by MSNBC

youtube.com

Reposted by Tom Paine

David Corn @davidcorn.bsky.social · 14d

These young Republicans are exactly what you would think young Republicans are like if you believed the absolute worst stereotype of young Republicans and Trump supporters.

Carl Quintanilla @carlquintanilla.bsky.social · 14d

POLITICO: “.. They referred to Black people as monkeys and ‘the watermelon people’ and mused about putting their political opponents in gas chambers. They talked about raping their enemies .. and lauded Republicans who they believed support slavery.

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

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Reposted by Tom Paine

Dare Obasanjo @carnage4life.bsky.social · 13d

Young Republicans group chat.

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Tom Paine @tpaine1774.bsky.social · 12d

Two problems:

1) innocent man spends 40 years in prison. Had he been given the death penalty, the state would have murdered an innocent man.

2) ICE Nazis grab him as soon as he has a minute of freedom.

www.usatoday.com/story/news/n...

Exonerated after serving 40-plus years, he's now detained by ICE

Subramanyam “Subu” Vedam was released Oct. 3 from prison after serving over 40 years for a crime he didn't commit. ICE immediately took him into custody.

www.usatoday.com

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Tom Paine @tpaine1774.bsky.social · 12d

The GOP aspires to be more like Gambia.

Conrad Hackett @conradhackett.bsky.social · 12d

2025 Press Freedom Rank
1 Norway
2 Estonia
3 Netherlands
4 Sweden
5 Finland
11 Germany
16 NZ
20 UK
21 Canada
25 France
27 S Africa
29 Australia
31 Poland
49 Italy
52 Ghana

57 US

58 Gambia
61 S Korea
63 Brazil
66 Japan
89 Greece
112 Israel
124 Mexico
151 India
171 Russia
178 China
rsf.org/en/index

Global map with countries shaded to indicate level of freedom of the press based on the 2025 Reporters Without Borders’ Press Freedom Index.

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