Author | Lightnews

Reposted by Pat Jennings

Pat Jennings @veryrecent1.bsky.social · 8h

The arrests were made in Dearborn - a majority Muslim city. So why am I skeptical?

The FBI's director says the bureau has thwarted a "potential terrorist attack," arresting multiple suspects in Michigan. www.wxyz.com/news/fbi-stops-p...

FBI stops 'potential terrorist attack,' arrests multiple suspects in Michigan, Kash Patel says

FBI Director Kash Patel said the department thwarted a "potential terrorist attack," arresting multiple suspects in Michigan.

www.wxyz.com

2 3

Pat Jennings @veryrecent1.bsky.social · 6h

The proposal called for troops from multiple states to be on standby at all times ... described the potential for political friction should a state’s governor refuse to work with the Pentagon, and strain on budgets and personnel to keep them on standby.
www.washingtonpost.com/national-sec...

Pentagon readying thousands of Guard ‘reaction forces’ as U.S. mission widens

The Defense Department’s newly established “quick reaction force” within the National Guard is being readied for civil unrest missions in U.S. cities.

www.washingtonpost.com

1

Reposted by Pat Jennings

Pat Jennings @veryrecent1.bsky.social · 9h

The 2017 healthcare bill passed by the Republicans in the House was spectacularly unpopular. Without the filibuster they may fuck up and pass something like that into law.

Then they won't be able to blame whatever you don't like about your healthcare on Obama.

Josh Marshall @joshtpm.bsky.social · 9h

Let's do it. Let's get rid of the filibuster. Big step forward and actually the best possible circumstances for Ds. They've spent a month using their power to put draconian health care cuts at the top of the agenda. But ... I'm skeptical the GOP senate will go along. We'll see.

MeidasTouch @meidastouch.com · 18h

Trump calls on Senate Republicans to get rid of the filibuster

1

Reposted by Pat Jennings

Sarah Posner @sarahposner.bsky.social · 8h

On the rise in Germany, far-right AfD deepens ties to Trump administration

www.reuters.com/world/europe...

The private reception in Manhattan, hosted by the New York Young Republican Club, underscores the AfD’s efforts to build international legitimacy and challenge what it calls undemocratic exclusion at home.
“We have no democracy anymore,” Gottschalk told attendees. “You can’t say what you think or what you like.”
The AfD’s growing ties in Washington come as it surges in German opinion polls, threatening Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s conservatives ahead of a series of state elections next year that polls suggest could give the AfD its first state premier.
"It's a calculated opportunity to ... attract attention and achieve a proximity to government power that would be completely unthinkable in the concert of European or other states," said Oliver Lembcke, political scientist at the University of Bochum, referring to the AfD's series of meetings in the U.S.
The State Department did not comment but pointed to a photo, opens new tab on X of Darren Beattie, the senior foreign service official, meeting with Wenzel Schmidt and his colleague Markus Frohnmaier.
The State Department official, who requested anonymity because they were not authorised to talk to media, said: "When you have an organisation that's outside the mainstream, they crave the imprimatur of legitimacy that historically engaging with American diplomats has offered them."

2 22 39

Pat Jennings @veryrecent1.bsky.social · 8h

The arrests were made in Dearborn - a majority Muslim city. So why am I skeptical?

Steve Herman @newsguy.bsky.social · 9h

The FBI's director says the bureau has thwarted a "potential terrorist attack," arresting multiple suspects in Michigan. www.wxyz.com/news/fbi-stops-p...

FBI stops 'potential terrorist attack,' arrests multiple suspects in Michigan, Kash Patel says

FBI Director Kash Patel said the department thwarted a "potential terrorist attack," arresting multiple suspects in Michigan.

www.wxyz.com

2 3

Reposted by Pat Jennings

The Editorial Board @editorialboard.bsky.social · 9h

5. Last month, the USDA released a contingency plan in case of a shutdown, according to Roll Call. In a memo, the agency said:

rollcall.com/2025/10/24/u...

“Congressional intent is evident that SNAP’s operations should continue since the program has been provided with multi-year contingency funds that can be used for State Administrative Expenses to ensure that the State can also continue operations during a Federal Government shutdown. These multi-year contingency funds are also available to fund participant benefits in the event that a lapse occurs in the middle of the fiscal year.”

1 5 22

Reposted by Pat Jennings

The Editorial Board @editorialboard.bsky.social · 9h

6. Put simply, the president is *impounding* money already set aside by the Congress to fund the SNAP program.

Put more simply, he’s stealing it.

1 6 25

Pat Jennings @veryrecent1.bsky.social · 9h

The 2017 healthcare bill passed by the Republicans in the House was spectacularly unpopular. Without the filibuster they may fuck up and pass something like that into law.

Then they won't be able to blame whatever you don't like about your healthcare on Obama.

Josh Marshall @joshtpm.bsky.social · 9h

Let's do it. Let's get rid of the filibuster. Big step forward and actually the best possible circumstances for Ds. They've spent a month using their power to put draconian health care cuts at the top of the agenda. But ... I'm skeptical the GOP senate will go along. We'll see.

MeidasTouch @meidastouch.com · 18h

Trump calls on Senate Republicans to get rid of the filibuster

1

Reposted by Pat Jennings

George Conway 🇺🇸🚫👑🐸 @gtconway.bsky.social · 20h

#Thugs

Laura Bassett @lebassett.bsky.social · Sep 23

More than 1800 detainees are missing after the closure of Alligator Alcatraz. Their families and lawyers can’t find them and they’ve vanished from the ICE database. Feels like this should be a much bigger story www.miamiherald.com/news/local/i...

Hundreds of Alligator Alcatraz detainees drop off the grid after leaving site

As of the end of August, the whereabouts of two-thirds of more than 1,800 men detained at Alligator Alcatraz during the month of July could not be determined by the Miami Herald.

www.miamiherald.com

130 1.4K 3K

Reposted by Pat Jennings

Don Moynihan @donmoyn.bsky.social · 22h

Can we call them racist yet?

The Associated Press @apnews.com · 1d

BREAKING: The Trump administration is restricting the number of refugees admitted to the U.S. to 7,500 and they will be mostly white South Africans.

Trump administration limits number of refugees to 7,500 and they're mostly white South Africans

The Trump administration is restricting the number of refugees admitted to the U.S. to 7,500 and they will be mostly white South Africans.

bit.ly

48 330 1.5K

Reposted by Pat Jennings

ProPublica @propublica.org · 22h

In remarks to a private audience in 2023, Russell Vought, who is Trump’s budget chief and the intellectual force behind Trump’s unprecedented power grab, said he championed the term “invasion” because it “unlocked” extraordinary presidential powers.

(Published May)
By @mtredden.bsky.social

The “Invasion” Invention: The Far Right’s Long Legal Battle to Make Immigrants the Enemy

The Trump administration is using the claim that immigrants have “invaded” the country to justify possibly suspending habeas corpus, part of the constitutional right to due process. A faction of the f...

www.propublica.org

19 200 420

Reposted by Pat Jennings

Thomas Zimmer @thomaszimmer.bsky.social · 2d

And here is the other function of the autocratic state: Protect the supporters of the regime - and thereby encourage self-proclaimed rightwing "patriots" and white militants to use whatever force they please to “fight back” against anything and anyone deemed the “enemy within.”

Kyle Griffin @kylegriffin1.bsky.social · 2d

Breaking on MSNBC:

Two federal prosecutors have been placed on leave at the direction of the White House after filing a sentencing memo seeking 27 months in prison for a pardoned Jan. 6 rioter who brought illegal guns and ammunition to President Obama's house in 2023.

27 74

Reposted by Pat Jennings

Pat Jennings @veryrecent1.bsky.social · 1d

Now that I've failed to fulfill my promise to "end the war in Ukraine in 24 hours, it is no longer important. It doesn't affect us.

Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 1d

Trump on Ukraine: "Sometimes you have to let them fight. Crazy ... there's not a lot more we can do ... it doesn't affect China. It doesn't affect us."

7 7

Reposted by Pat Jennings

Oliver Willis @owillis.bsky.social · 1d

you could launch a left leaning youtube/tiktok channel that is just attractive people highlighting viral clips from cable news/wild feeds/citizen video and get millions of views. it would be more media infrastructure than liberals/dems have invested in in 25 years.

7 31 150

Reposted by Pat Jennings

Roy Edroso @edroso.bsky.social · 1d

"Journalism is printing what someone else does not want printed. Everything else is public relations."

Caitlin Kelly @caitlinkelly.bsky.social · 1d

cool cool cool cool cool

6 26

Pat Jennings @veryrecent1.bsky.social · 1d

Now that I've failed to fulfill my promise to "end the war in Ukraine in 24 hours, it is no longer important. It doesn't affect us.

Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 1d

Trump on Ukraine: "Sometimes you have to let them fight. Crazy ... there's not a lot more we can do ... it doesn't affect China. It doesn't affect us."

7 7

Reposted by Pat Jennings

Jordan Barab @jbarab.bsky.social · 1d

Top industry lobbyists and other officials who have opposed pesticide safety and environmental regulation, are now in charge at EPA.(and OSHA and MSHA.) The entire leadership of the office that regulates pesticides "comes directly from industry."
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/21/c...

The Former Lobbyists Making Key Decisions at the E.P.A.

www.nytimes.com

8 12

Reposted by Pat Jennings

Adam Keiper @adamkeiper.com · 1d

SCOOP: The decorated rear admiral who was heading the critically important Office of Naval Research, and who brought lengthy experience in Navy tech-leadership to the job, "is being replaced by a 33-year-old former DOGE employee with no apparent naval experience."

www.thebulwark.com/p/scoop-trum...

SCOOP: Trump Swaps Decorated Admiral With 33-Year-Old DOGEr

The highly unorthodox personnel change affects a critical government research role.

www.thebulwark.com

95 680 1.2K

Reposted by Pat Jennings

Anne Applebaum @anneapplebaum.bsky.social · 1d

Waiting for someone to explain why the announcement of a trade relationship that is worse than the one we had a year ago is received as a big success

490 3K 11K

Reposted by Pat Jennings

Justin Wolfers @justinwolfers.bsky.social · 1d

My “secret plan” to beat this supply shock? Stop creating it.

Roll back the tariff brinkmanship, restore a stable policy regime.

Less uncertainty → more investment → better supply → lower inflation and steadier jobs.

24 180 560

Pat Jennings @veryrecent1.bsky.social · 1d

"Trump, who values loyalty and servitude above all, doesn’t even pretend to be the steward of a country of 330 million people."

www.thenation.com/article/poli...

Trump’s Tony Soprano Presidency Is Bleeding the Country Dry

The thrill many felt of having a made-for-TV-mobster president is gone.

www.thenation.com

Reposted by Pat Jennings

litzz11 @litzz11.bsky.social · 1d

GIFT: People like Trump are the easiest mfers to manipulate because all you have to do is shower him with praise to get whatever you want.

It doesn't speak highly for Republican voters, but we have been in an information war, which Dems have been slow to acknowledge.
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/30/w...

The Art of Letting Trump Claim a Win, While Walking Away Stronger

www.nytimes.com

1 6 7

Reposted by Pat Jennings

FancyNance(Formerly Nance on X) @fancynance.bsky.social · 1d

www.nytimes.com/interactive/...

How and Where the National Guard Has Deployed to U.S. Cities (Gift Article)

See where the troops called upon by President Trump are working, what they are doing, and under whose authority.

www.nytimes.com

1

Reposted by Pat Jennings

The Bulwark @thebulwark.com · 1d

Unicorns are more likely to exist than the Republicans' perfect Obamacare replacement www.thebulwark.com/p/the-republ...

The Republican Health Care Trap, Episode 78

As the shutdown drags on, the GOP croons its old tune: replacing Obamacare.

www.thebulwark.com

26 93 450

Reposted by Pat Jennings

Pat Jennings @veryrecent1.bsky.social · 2d

It was obvious at the time that all these commitments were just words. Apple, Microsoft, Toyota, none of them made a legally binding commitment to do anything. But Trump got his announcement, which was the whole point.

He'll do the same thing this week w/ China
finance.yahoo.com/news/toyota-...

Toyota says it did not explicitly promise Trump new $10 billion investment in US

(Refiles to restore garbled words in final paragraph) TOKYO (Reuters) -Japan's Toyota Motor did not explicitly promise a new $10 billion investment in the United States, a senior executive said on We...

finance.yahoo.com

2 2