Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Kate Jackson @katejackson.bsky.social · 1h

The picture I’m seeing painted is Trump collecting taxes and then using the revenue to hire out contractors to do things like build him monuments & jail his enemies.

So McGuire & Olson’s “stationary bandit” *wasn’t* just a tin can formal model of state building.

It was precognition!

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Beau Baumann 🍏 @beaubaumann.bsky.social · 11h

This cannot just be about healthcare. The existing constitutional system hangs in the balance. The rule of law is now baked into this shutdown in a huge way.

The New York Times @nytimes.com · 12h

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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Kate Jackson @katejackson.bsky.social · 17h

Aka locker room talk, “boys will be boys,” “such a promising young man, shame to ruin his life” and all other euphemisms that attend white men getting away with murder

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Kate Jackson @katejackson.bsky.social · 17h

“Kavanaugh map”

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Kate Jackson @katejackson.bsky.social · 1d

I’ve always had an uneasy relationship with fiduciary duties - so much room for judicial meddling - but now,
lord do I wish there was a cause of action for violating the duty of loyalty.

Why are corporate directors held to a higher standard than the damn President.

Don Moynihan @donmoyn.bsky.social · 1d

Trump has a very simple worldview: the Presidency is not a public office, it is his property. He can use it to satisfy his personal or partisan whims, or to enrich himself.

So here, he threatens to reorganize an international competition, cohosted by Mexico and Canada, to settle a vendetta.

Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 1d

Trump on moving World Cup games from Boston: "We could take them away. Your mayor is not good."

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Kate Jackson @katejackson.bsky.social · 1d

Also, the place def looked much nicer, more professional and, well, stately without all that gold leaf

Philip Bump @pbump.com · 1d

Janet Mills going to the Senate at 79 would make her the oldest elected freshman senator in history — but just as old as or younger than 1 in 9 senators serving in this congress. www.pbump.net/o/a-79-year-...

A 79 year-old freshman senator would be … unusual

Maine Gov. Janet Mills (D) has announced her intention to run for Senate against the state's well-known — ahem — incumbent, Susan Collins. When the next Senate term begins in January 2027, Collins wil...

www.pbump.net

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Philip Bump @pbump.com · 1d

Janet Mills going to the Senate at 79 would make her the oldest elected freshman senator in history — but just as old as or younger than 1 in 9 senators serving in this congress. www.pbump.net/o/a-79-year-...

A 79 year-old freshman senator would be … unusual

Maine Gov. Janet Mills (D) has announced her intention to run for Senate against the state's well-known — ahem — incumbent, Susan Collins. When the next Senate term begins in January 2027, Collins wil...

www.pbump.net

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Don Moynihan @donmoyn.bsky.social · 1d

Trump has a very simple worldview: the Presidency is not a public office, it is his property. He can use it to satisfy his personal or partisan whims, or to enrich himself.

So here, he threatens to reorganize an international competition, cohosted by Mexico and Canada, to settle a vendetta.

Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 1d

Trump on moving World Cup games from Boston: "We could take them away. Your mayor is not good."

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Kate Jackson @katejackson.bsky.social · 1d

So I guess, like, the kids are not alright

Maggie Astor @maggieastor.bsky.social · 1d

"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 driving them to suicide and lauded Republicans who they believed support slavery."

‘I love Hitler’: Leaked messages expose Young Republicans’ racist chat

Thousands of private messages reveal young GOP leaders joking about gas chambers, slavery and rape.

www.politico.com

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Maggie Astor @maggieastor.bsky.social · 1d

"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 driving them to suicide and lauded Republicans who they believed support slavery."

‘I love Hitler’: Leaked messages expose Young Republicans’ racist chat

Thousands of private messages reveal young GOP leaders joking about gas chambers, slavery and rape.

www.politico.com

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Julie Greene @greeneland.bsky.social · 2d

I just learned, Thomas Alter, tenured professor, has been terminated effective immediately. Shame on Texas State! We mst build support for Tom. spectrumlocalnews.com/tx/south-tex...

Texas State upholds the firing of associate history professor Thomas Alter

Alter’s termination occurred on Sept. 10, stemming from his remarks at the Revolutionary Socialism Conference on Sept. 7.

spectrumlocalnews.com

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NPR @npr.org · 2d

A Statement from NPR’s Editor in Chief on the Pentagon’s Press Policy.
Read More: www.npr.org/2025/10/13/g...

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Matt Bodie @matthewtbodie.bsky.social · 2d

Minnesota Law is looking to hire a visiting assistant professor — more details here:

hr.myu.umn.edu/psc/hrprd/EM...

hr.myu.umn.edu

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Kate Jackson @katejackson.bsky.social · 2d

In this Very Online and Constantly Filmed society, the point of the funny costumes is to undermine any attempt by the regime to characterize protestors as Violent Insurrectionists.

It’s strategy, not whimsy.

Ok maybe it’s a little whimsy

Aaron Putnam @aaronputnam.bsky.social · 3d

I deleted a post of me in a frog suit with my 7-yr old daughter because a big account reposted, admonishing us for not being serious enough protestors (or something). I shouldn’t have included my daughter in the image, which was why I deleted it. But I was stunned by the condescension.

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Aaron Putnam @aaronputnam.bsky.social · 3d

I deleted a post of me in a frog suit with my 7-yr old daughter because a big account reposted, admonishing us for not being serious enough protestors (or something). I shouldn’t have included my daughter in the image, which was why I deleted it. But I was stunned by the condescension.

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Kate Jackson @katejackson.bsky.social · 3d

Yes!!!!!

Lynn Becker @cmgiulini.bsky.social · 4d

After spending 43 years in prison for a crime he didn't commit, evidence hidden by the prosecution reversed his conviction. Rather than finally enjoying freedom, ICE abducted him for deportation

Depraved.

www.miamiherald.com/news/local/i...

He was wrongfully imprisoned for 43 years. Moments after being released, ICE took him

Subramanyam “Subu” Vedam now faces deportation.

www.miamiherald.com

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Kate Jackson @katejackson.bsky.social · 4d

We’re ready for No Kings (and also Halloween I guess)

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John Skiles Skinner @skiles.blue · 5d

I don't know if there's such a thing as a "world cyberwar" but I think we are in one? and the US is determined to lose it. 🧵

Today the admin is mass-firing the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), the nation's cybersecurity protection across all levels of government.

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Jessica Kant @jessdkant.bsky.social · 6d

One curious thing on this site about speaking out against the encroachment of LLMs is that inevitably you get accused of being anti-tech. I don’t hate technology. I’ve used machine learning in my own code before. But I also recognize that oligarchs are so hellbent on pushing this tech for a reason.

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Kate Jackson @katejackson.bsky.social · 6d

The character growth of manic productivity following weeks of procrastination is what makes us heroes 😃 and probably pretty good under pressure.

Dane 🔜 NYCC AA L-34 @monkeyminion.com · 7d

I wrote a 15 page report on heraldic symbolism in medieval armor and weapon design for my art history class the night before it was due (8am class). Made up 90% of it (only found one book for reference) and got an A. GenAI could fucking never.

wrote 20 pages on Faulkner's The Bear four hours before final papers were due on trucker pills and coffee and cigarettes and got an A, fuck you.
You people couldn't hang with real slackers.
finn
wokeupchic • 4d
It's fuck Al till your homework due in 25 minutes

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Kate Jackson @katejackson.bsky.social · 6d

It sucks that exercising your free speech rights puts you in danger.

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Kate Jackson @katejackson.bsky.social · 6d

No, it's not just you. People are more road ragey now, at least per some researchers working for my employer!

www.uc.edu/news/article...

Politics follow you on the road

Researchers at the University of Cincinnati found that drivers were far more likely to honk after being cut off by a vehicle bearing a political bumper sticker, particularly one for the opposing polit...

www.uc.edu

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ProPublica @propublica.org · 6d

NEW: PFNA can be found in drinking water systems that serve about 26 million people.

The EPA’s toxicity report on the forever chemical has sat in limbo for months, raising concerns that the Trump administration might change it or not release it at all.

Scientists Completed a Toxicity Report on This Forever Chemical. The EPA Hasn’t Released It.

The report was completed in mid-April, scientists familiar with the document told ProPublica, but the Trump administration has yet to release it.

www.propublica.org

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Kate Jackson @katejackson.bsky.social · 6d

“Shut up and sing” to the damn pope

Michelangelo Signorile @msignorile.bsky.social · 6d

Womp womp.

Sounds like the "just focus on acting" manta when it's Hollywood figures they don't like (while hold up the Mel Gibson and Jon Voight)

WashPost: As Pope Leo riles conservativew, some say "just focus on the church"

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Michelangelo Signorile @msignorile.bsky.social · 6d

Womp womp.

Sounds like the "just focus on acting" manta when it's Hollywood figures they don't like (while hold up the Mel Gibson and Jon Voight)

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Timothy Snyder @timothysnyder.bsky.social · 6d

No Kings. October 18th. Free speech is action. Please join in.
www.nokings.org

No Kings

As the president escalates his authoritarian power grab, the NO KINGS non-violent movement continues to rise stronger. We are united once again to remind the world: America has No Kings and the power ...

www.nokings.org

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Dane 🔜 NYCC AA L-34 @monkeyminion.com · 7d

I wrote a 15 page report on heraldic symbolism in medieval armor and weapon design for my art history class the night before it was due (8am class). Made up 90% of it (only found one book for reference) and got an A. GenAI could fucking never.

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Kate Jackson @katejackson.bsky.social · 7d

Adding to the “evidence we’ve turned into a feudal state where you can negotiate your own personal bespoke legal regime with the state” file

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