Author | Lightnews

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Ariella Elm @ariellaelm.bsky.social · 3d

There’s also this messy situation in Thurmont Maryland with their mayoral race, and a few others as well.
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Ariella Elm @ariellaelm.bsky.social · 3d

TOMORROW IS ELECTION DAY!
I know everyone is focused on the Nov 4 elections, and rightly so, but, there are elections this week! We haven’t had much luck doing it before this year, but there’s another State House race in Alabama that we could potentially flip.
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Election Day is Every Tuesday: Oct 26- Nov 1

Nope, Nov 4 is not the next election day.

ariellaelm.substack.com

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Ariella Elm @ariellaelm.bsky.social · 2d

Every state with a Democratic AG or governor is suing Trump over the SNAP pause starting on November 1.

It’s a really good reminder of the importance of democratic attorneys general and governors. I don’t think it’s been as clear before this year of the importance of the AG office.

fingfx.thomsonreuters.com

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Tony Clark @anthonyclark.bsky.social · 2d

bsky.app/profile/anth...

Tony Clark @anthonyclark.bsky.social · 8d

Since so many folks—including "legal experts"—insist on claiming that so many others (judges, notaries, their drinking buddies) may officially administer the oath of office to a Rep.-elect, here's a flow chart to help you understand if you, yourself may swear in someone newly elected to the House:

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Greg @slobak.bsky.social · 2d

Yes, others can swear her in IF so delegated by Mike Johnson. Meaning, he has to take intentional action. The whole point is there is no other power to exercise, it is his. And he won’t. The consequence of not exercising it seems to be, sadly, purely a political one (today: nothing)

vs.legal

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Ariella Elm @ariellaelm.bsky.social · 2d

No, others can swear her in, but all that does is say she’s a congresswoman. It doesn’t actually give her the power of a congresswoman. The only point in doing that would be that it will take it out of the news and her constituents still won’t have any representation

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Ariella Elm @ariellaelm.bsky.social · 2d

We don’t have many cards to play but we’re playing all the ones we have.

Please stop listening to people who say we have the power to change any situation we don’t like, but aren’t using it. The only thing that does is help Rs blame Dems for the destruction they’re causing.
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Ariella Elm @ariellaelm.bsky.social · 2d

I hope this gives you a good understanding of why it’s important to call in people who say there’s something Minority Leader Jeffries could be doing that he’s not, or that Democrats are somehow at fault.

This is Speaker Johnson and Trump, and that is all.
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Ariella Elm @ariellaelm.bsky.social · 2d

but I don’t think it’s reasonable to assume there’s no valid reason. Keep in mind Derek Muller is another law professor looking at this from the outside, he doesn’t have any knowledge of this case specifically. What I mean is, he’s good background, but I wouldn’t take his assumptions as fact.
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Ariella Elm @ariellaelm.bsky.social · 2d

and by the time it is heard, chances are the issue will be resolved.

AG Mayes could ask for emergency relief, which would make it a higher priority, but a week in, and that hasn’t happened yet. AG Mayes hasn’t been asked about it, so I don’t know why,
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Ariella Elm @ariellaelm.bsky.social · 2d

“Muller also pointed out that the lack of an emergency filing, and numerous errors in the initial complaint, indicated that the case was a long shot.”

I don’t know what “numerous errors” refers to, and the article doesn’t specify. But, I will say these lawsuits take a very long time,
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Ariella Elm @ariellaelm.bsky.social · 2d

Now, in the spirit of transparency, according to the Roll Call article and Notre Dame law professor, Derek Muller’s reading of the lawsuit, AG Mayes’ lawsuit isn’t as strong as it could be:
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Adelita Grijalva lawsuit unlikely to lead to swearing in, experts say - Roll Call

Rep.-elect Adelita Grijalva faces an uphill battle in her lawsuit to be sworn in to office in Arizona's 7th District, experts said.

rollcall.com

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Ariella Elm @ariellaelm.bsky.social · 2d

but it wouldn’t do anything other than give her the title of Congresswoman. It wouldn’t give her a staff, let her sit on committee or vote, so I’m sure Johnson would love for her to do that, that way no one can say she wasn’t sworn in and he can still keep her from being part of Congress.
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Ariella Elm @ariellaelm.bsky.social · 2d

@azagmayes.bsky.social filed the lawsuit to do just that a week ago.

But that’s it. That is quite literally the only loophole. There is one other option, in theory, but not in practice. A senior House staffer told me that a judge or notary could TECHNICALLY swear her in,
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Attorney General Mayes, Representative-elect Grijalva Sue House of Representatives | Attorney General's Office

PHOENIX – Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes today announced that Arizona, alongside Representative-elect Adelita Grijalva, has filed a lawsuit in U.S.

www.azag.gov

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Ariella Elm @ariellaelm.bsky.social · 2d

but that could only happen if the judiciary branch decided that they had power over congress and the Speaker, which, given where we are right now, I can say with 100% certainty, is not happening.

But don’t think they’re not trying, they are.
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Ariella Elm @ariellaelm.bsky.social · 2d

Anyone who is saying anything else is reading theoretical alternatives that can’t actually be implemented in reality.

There is one single other option, and it has a long history of not working. Potentially, the courts could rule that someone else with official power could swear her in instead,
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Ariella Elm @ariellaelm.bsky.social · 2d

The only person who can swear in Adelita Grijalva is Speaker Mike Johnson. Let me repeat that. The only person who can swear in AZ-07 Rep elect, who should have been sworn in over a month ago, is Speaker Johnson.
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Ariella Elm @ariellaelm.bsky.social · 2d

What is this person even saying? Swear her in a name only because it makes us look good????

Dave Pomes @davepomes.bsky.social · 2d

This is such a surrender of principle, and a complete denial of the reality that half of both law AND politics is theater.

SO WHAT if a show ceremony has no force of law? It forces Johnson further into denials he can't back up. 1/

Ariella Elm @ariellaelm.bsky.social · 2d

The only person who can swear in Adelita Grijalva is Speaker Mike Johnson. Let me repeat that. The only person who can swear in AZ-07 Rep elect, who should have been sworn in over a month ago, is Speaker Johnson.
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Ariella Elm @ariellaelm.bsky.social · 2d

The future of our democracy is in the hands of people who literally think superhero movies are real

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Ariella Elm @ariellaelm.bsky.social · 2d

THREE WINS TODAY, Oct 28, 2025

Indianapolis, IN
Fri, Oct 10 - the Indianapolis Clowns, a former Negro league team, are coming back as a @bananaball-mirror.bsky.social team

Nationwide
Mon, Oct 20 - thanks to Bryan Cranston, @sagaftra.org got SoraAI to create guardrails to stop deep fake videos
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Ariella Elm @ariellaelm.bsky.social · 1d

For people who have voted already, read through the comments and reply to the ones that you think you can alleviate their fears or confusion.

Hopefully this will help get out the vote
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Ariella Elm @ariellaelm.bsky.social · 1d

Chances are good that no matter where you live in the country, you have some sort of election on Tuesday.

If you have an election, and you haven’t voted yet or maybe are on the fence if you even should, comment why.
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Ariella Elm @ariellaelm.bsky.social · 1d

This is why you really need to fucking stop using Zionist as a slur. The world Zionist Congress is made up of Jews of all values across the world, and because there are several progressive parties this was possible.

And if you voted in the election back in May, you had a hand in this

T'ruah: The Rabbinic Call for Human Rights @truahrabbis.bsky.social · 1d

Big win! A coalition of progressive and liberal slates at the World Zionist Congress has successfully passed a resolution preventing the WZO from using any resources for settlement in the Gaza Strip. *This is why we're here.* @hatikvahslate.bsky.social

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Ariella Elm @ariellaelm.bsky.social · 1d

Just wanted to let everyone know that I am having a really bad chronically ill week. So if you’re wondering where my videos are and why I’m posting sporadically, that’s why. I really hope we are just talking about a week and that this goes away in the next few days but no promises.

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Ariella Elm @ariellaelm.bsky.social · 1d

So if you need evidence that this plan existed as of September 30 here you go
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