Valerie Steel
LightNews LightNews
banner
pagev2.bsky.social
Valerie Steel
@pagev2.bsky.social
3K followers 300 following 790 posts
Take the plunge
Posts Replies Media Videos
Reposted by Valerie Steel
urocklive1.bsky.social
“Everyone is on pins and needles," sources said, referring to prosecutors who fear being asked by the U.S. Attorney Reding Quiñones, or his leadership team, to work on a case that Trump has said should lead to the arrests of an expansive list of individuals, including Barack Obama and John Brennan.
kylegriffin1.bsky.social Kyle Griffin @kylegriffin1.bsky.social · 2h
Breaking MSNBC:

The U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida called a division-wide meeting this afternoon, following the resignations of two prosecutors who were asked to take part in a vast "conspiracy" investigation into former intel and law enforcement officials.
U.S. Attorney investigating alleged grand ‘conspiracy’ calls unit-wide meeting after two prosecutors resign
Career prosecutors on “pins and needles” after flurry of subpoenas approved.
www.msnbc.com
November 10, 2025 at 10:37 PM
Reposted by Valerie Steel
samd.bsky.social
just saying if one of the 8 folding Dems wants they can use this as an excuse to change their mind and not give Trump exactly what he wants
November 10, 2025 at 10:42 PM
Reposted by Valerie Steel
noingsoc.bsky.social
ang-pang.bsky.social Ang-pang @ang-pang.bsky.social · 9h
King thought there would be no negative ramifications for him, but there will be huge consequences for the American people and his son @anguskingiii.bsky.social should never occupy a position representing the people. Ramifications come in many form and not rewarding nepotism should be one.
November 10, 2025 at 9:24 PM
Reposted by Valerie Steel
emptywheel.bsky.social
Onto Tish James' Lindsey Halligan challenge.

This section is mostly a pedantic fact check of word "only," but worth noting.

This arg is not in Comey's reply. Does Lindsey the Insurance Lawyer even LIVE in EDVA? How close is she to Trump's insurrection?

storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
Subsection (c)(2) is not the only additional limitation. Under 28 U.S.C. § 545, the Attorney General cannot appoint as interim U.S. Attorney a person who does not live in the district in which she would serve. And under Section Three of the Fourteenth Amendment, the Attorney General cannot appoint as interim U.S. Attorney a person who previously violated her constitutional oath by engaging in an insurrection or rebellion against the United States. U.S. Const. Amend. 14, § 3. These provisions impose express limitations on the Attorney General’s Subsection (a) authority. By characterizing Subsection (b) as the sole exception, the government identifies what is, at most, a distinction without a difference. Contrary to the government’s assertion, Subsection (b) is not the “one and only one” restriction on the Attorney General’s appointment power. Subsection (c)(2)—which provides that the Attorney General’s appointment authority expires after 120 days—is among the additional constraints.
November 10, 2025 at 10:18 PM
Reposted by Valerie Steel
radiofreetom.bsky.social
"Democrats could have held the line on the shutdown, and spent weeks watching Trump’s approval ratings fall," writes @jonathanbchait.bsky.social
Instead, he argues, they're making a mistake by giving in:
www.theatlantic.com/politics/202...
Senate Democrats Just Made a Huge Mistake
The shutdown was hurting Trump. Ending it helps him.
www.theatlantic.com
November 10, 2025 at 3:52 AM
Reposted by Valerie Steel
radiofreetom.bsky.social
November 10, 2025 at 10:01 PM
Reposted by Valerie Steel
emptywheel.bsky.social
Here's how Jim Comey mocks Pam Bondi's attempt to retroactively make Lindsey Halligan a magical pony on Halloween.

storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
On October 31, 2025—36 days after Ms. Halligan purported to secure the indictment, 31 days after the statute of limitations had expired, and 11 days after Mr. Comey had filed his motion to dismiss—the Attorney General purported to “appoint Ms. Halligan to the additional position of Special Attorney, as of September 22, 2025, and thereby ratify her employment as an attorney of the Department of Justice from that date going forward.” ECF No. 137-1. But that action cannot retroactively transform Ms. Halligan into an authorized government attorney on the day she purported to secure the indictment. In Lucia, for instance, the Supreme Court found an Appointments Clause violation and set aside an adjudication because the relevant official “heard and decided [the petitioner’s] case without the kind of appointment the [Appointments] Clause requires.” 585 U.S. at 251. It did not matter that the official’s “prior appointment[]” had been “ratif[ied]” by a Head of Department after the adjudication had been completed and “[w]hile th[e] case was on judicial review.” Id. at 252 n.6. If such a post hoc ratification of a prior invalid appointment sufficed, then the government could moot every Appointments Clause challenge. The government cites no authority suggesting that an invalid appointment can be excused so long as the government allegedly “intended” to vest the relevant official “with the powers” of
November 10, 2025 at 9:40 PM
Reposted by Valerie Steel
muellershewrote.com
There’s still time to call senators. Let me explain. Sorry not sorry about the cat. He’s also really upset about this deal.
November 10, 2025 at 8:07 PM
Reposted by Valerie Steel
urocklive1.bsky.social
I turned on the TV just in time to hear this, and it struck me as both defensive and tone deaf.
markjacob.bsky.social Mark Jacob @markjacob.bsky.social · 5h
Tim Kaine is on MSNBC accusing Katy Tur of "overdramatizing" the way he and some other Democrats caved. "This is by far a minor-league issue within the Democratic Party," Kaine said.
He's completely out of touch, or just lying.
November 10, 2025 at 8:05 PM
Reposted by Valerie Steel
davelevitan.bsky.social
I heard from a bunch of federal employees last night and this morning. They aren't happy.

"I would rather be an actual pawn. At least pawn sacrifices are calculated and achieve something. All this for a fucking meaningless vote."
'A Slap in the Face': Federal Employees Feel Betrayed by Democrats' Shutdown Cave
"I would rather be an actual pawn. At least pawn sacrifices are calculated and achieve something."
www.gravityisgone.com
November 10, 2025 at 1:46 PM
Reposted by Valerie Steel
petebuttigieg.bsky.social
Speaker Johnson has literally said he's "not promising anyone anything."

For once, I believe him.
November 10, 2025 at 6:20 PM
Reposted by Valerie Steel
gwenie.bsky.social
We are mad as hell!
Leave them a message:

🖕🏾
Angus King: 202-224-5344
Jacky Rosen: 202-224-6244
Jeanne Shaheen: 202-224-2841
Maggie Hassan: 202-224-3324
Tim Kaine
202-224-4024
John Fetterman
202-224-4254
Dick Durban
202-224-2152
Catherine Cortez Masto
202-224-3542
November 10, 2025 at 5:39 PM
Reposted by Valerie Steel
marisakabas.bsky.social
New York AG James said she's received complaints of stores in her state refusing EBT cards and has already sent out several cease and desist letters. Stores are not allowed to refuse SNAP benefits. If this happens to you, call the AG's hotline to report at 1-800-771-7755.
November 10, 2025 at 7:27 PM
Reposted by Valerie Steel
emptywheel.bsky.social
I don't know when I'll write it up, but among the things Rudy Giuliani got pardoned for is destroying the lives of Ruby Freeman and Shaye Moss.
November 10, 2025 at 6:22 PM
Reposted by Valerie Steel
vreij.bsky.social
A Dutch province has asked the US ambassador in the Netherlands to return two panels about African American soldiers to the visitors center of the Netherlands American Cemetery, located in Margraten (Limburg). The two panels were recently removed by the American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC).
November 10, 2025 at 5:06 PM
Reposted by Valerie Steel
ametria.org
Ich kann euch allen die Lektüre von Sarah Kendzior nur wärmstens and Herz legen!
//
I really reccommend reading more Sarah Kendzior... Only clarity brings hope.
November 10, 2025 at 5:09 PM
Reposted by Valerie Steel
americalabs.org
Some thoughts on the CR/minibus.

1 The Dems negotiating with Rs were not freelancing. They coordinated with Sen Schumer. A few were ready to give in on day one, others worked to maximize appropriations wins.

Those voting for the 'deal' are the ones furthest away from electoral consequences.
November 10, 2025 at 1:45 PM
Reposted by Valerie Steel
santaclausalaska.bsky.social
BREAKING:
“While the President may enjoy absolute immunity courtesy of his rogue Supreme Court, those who operate under his orders do not. Our state & local authorities may arrest federal agents if they break California law — and if they are convicted, the President cannot pardon them.”
NANCY PELOSI
A black poster with a red light on the left and a blue light on the right, accompanied by this text: BREAKING - NANCY PELOSI: “While the President may enjoy absolute immunity, courtesy of his rogue Supreme Court, those who operate under his orders do not. Our state and local authorities may arrest federal agents if they break California law — and if they are convicted, the President cannot pardon them.”
November 10, 2025 at 4:10 AM
Reposted by Valerie Steel
atrupar.com
Trump to air traffic controllers: "For those that did nothing but complain, and took time off, even though everyone knew they would be paid, IN FULL, shortly into the future, I am NOT HAPPY WITH YOU. You didn’t step up to help the U.S.A. against the FAKE DEMOCRAT ATTACK"
All Air Traffic Controllers must get back to work, NOW!!! Anyone who doesn’t will be substantially “docked.” For those Air Traffic Controllers who who were GREAT PATRIOTS, and didn’t take ANY TIME OFF for the “Democrat Shutdown Hoax,” I will be recommending a BONUS of $10,000 per person for distinguished service to our Country. For those that did nothing but complain, and took time off, even though everyone knew they would be paid, IN FULL, shortly into the future, I am NOT HAPPY WITH YOU. You didn’t step up to help the U.S.A. against the FAKE DEMOCRAT ATTACK that was only meant to hurt our Country. You will have a negative mark, at least in my mind, against your record. If you want to leave service in the near future, please do not hesitate to do so, with NO payment or severance of any kind! You will be quickly replaced by true Patriots, who will do a better job on the Brand New State of the Art Equipment, the best in the World, that we are in the process of ordering. The last “Administration” wasted Billions of Dollars trying to fix antiquated “junk.” They had no idea what they were doing! Again, to our great American Patriots, GOD BLESS YOU - I won’t be able to send your money fast enough! To all others, REPORT TO WORK IMMEDIATELY. GOD BLESS AMERICA! PRESIDENT DONALD J. TRUMP
November 10, 2025 at 3:30 PM
Reposted by Valerie Steel
chrismurphyct.bsky.social
I got back to my office after the vote last night and recorded this. There's no way to sugarcoat what happened. And my fear is that Trump gets stronger, not weaker, because of this acquiescence. I'm angry - like you. But I choose to keep fighting.
November 10, 2025 at 3:02 PM
Reposted by Valerie Steel
justinwolfers.bsky.social
I can't tell you how many interviews I've done where I've been asked: If Trump's policies are so problematic, why are U.S. stocks rising so rapidly.

A bit of international context illustrates the real issue here.

U.S. stocks have dramatically underperformed other advanced economies.
November 10, 2025 at 3:15 PM
Reposted by Valerie Steel
hunterisntdunn.bsky.social
Schumer can be removed from his Dem leadership role this week - 23 Dems (and/or independents) just have to vote to depose him

And they should, given this is his fault.
kendrawrites.com Kendra "Gloom is My Beat" Pierre-Louis @kendrawrites.com · 22h
This is a lovely sentiment but Schumer isn't up for re-election until 2028 and he knows this. At which point he will be 77/78. There's no mechanism to recall a sitting senator AFAIK.
hunterisntdunn.bsky.social Hunter Dunn @hunterisntdunn.bsky.social · 23h
Let’s be clear: Chuck Schumer is the one ending this shutdown, no matter how the votes read.

Chuck Schumer is claiming that he’s voting no, while letting other Senators (Fetterman, Kaine, King, etc) do HIS dirty work.

He must be removed from his leadership & primaried for the sake of this country
November 10, 2025 at 2:07 AM
Reposted by Valerie Steel
jbf1755.bsky.social
Tuesday’s elections were NOT about the Democratic Party.

They were about candidates focusing on the wants and needs of their constituents; about new leaders prepared to fight; about representation in every sense of the word.

Party leaders haven’t absorbed this yet.
November 10, 2025 at 3:23 AM
Reposted by Valerie Steel
robertscotthorton.bsky.social
Your favorite Italian-origin fusilli and macaroni are poised to disappear from US supermarket shelves. Italy’s biggest pasta exporters say import & antidumping duties totaling 107% on their pasta brands will make doing business in America too costly and are preparing to pull out of US stores in Jan
Italian Pasta Is Poised to Disappear From American Grocery Shelves
The Trump administration is set to impose duties of 107% on Italian pasta imports, among most punitive of the tariffs it has levied.
www.wsj.com
November 10, 2025 at 2:09 PM
Reposted by Valerie Steel
adamkinzinger.substack.com
Dems. Snatching defeat from the jaws of victory
November 10, 2025 at 2:12 PM