Tim Lambert
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Tim Lambert
@timlambert-pa.bsky.social
Editor-in-chief @penncapital-star.com. Breaking down how policy and politics in Pennsylvania impacts you.

Husband, Happy's dad, journalist, history guy and traveler.

https://penncapital-star.com/
Pinned
More than 2,000 journalists who have been killed around the world since 1944 are listed white marble stones at the Bayeux War Reporters’ Memorial in Normandy, France.

They include Ernie Pyle, Daniel Pearl, Robert Capa, NPR’s David Gilkey and Zabihulla Tamanna.
Reposted by Tim Lambert
The president and defense secretary appear to be leaving Adm. Mitch Bradley holding the bag on the Sept. 2 airstrike. Story w/ Helene Cooper www.nytimes.com/2025/12/02/u...
After Decades in Combat, a SEAL Suddenly Comes Under Scrutiny
www.nytimes.com
December 3, 2025 at 1:29 AM
Reposted by Tim Lambert
Lead Post reporter on that story Alex Horton served in the infantry in Iraq.
Q: So you didn't see any survivors after that first strike?

HEGSETH: I did not personally see survivors. The thing was on fire. This is called the fog of war. This is what you in the press don't understand. You sit in your air conditioned offices and plant fake stories in the Washington Post
December 2, 2025 at 10:48 PM
Reposted by Tim Lambert
“.. A Washington Post analysis of multiple video feeds of the meeting Tuesday showed that during nine separate instances, Trump’s eyes were closed for extended periods or he appeared to struggle to keep them open, amounting cumulatively to nearly six minutes.”

www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202...
December 2, 2025 at 11:21 PM
More than 2,000 journalists who have been killed around the world since 1944 are listed white marble stones at the Bayeux War Reporters’ Memorial in Normandy, France.

They include Ernie Pyle, Daniel Pearl, Robert Capa, NPR’s David Gilkey and Zabihulla Tamanna.
December 2, 2025 at 11:08 PM
Reposted by Tim Lambert
The U.S. Department of Agriculture will begin next week to block nutrition assistance funding for states led by Democrats -- including Pennsylvania -- that have not provided data on fraud in the program, Secretary Brooke Rollins told President Donald Trump Tuesday.

From @statesnewsroom.com
Trump administration threatens to yank food stamps funding from Democratic-led states, including Pennsyvlvania • Pennsylvania Capital-Star
The U.S. Department of Agriculture will begin next week to block nutrition assistance funding for states led by Democrats that have not provided data on fraud in the program.
penncapital-star.com
December 2, 2025 at 9:36 PM
Reposted by Tim Lambert
Buried in a code bill passed with the 2025-26 state budget is a provision giving a single school district $5 million, outside of the typical formulas that are used to distribute funds to Pennsylvania’s school districts.

From @iankarbal.bsky.social
State budget sent $5 million to a struggling school district represented by the Pa. House speaker • Pennsylvania Capital-Star
Buried in a code bill passed with the 2025-26 state budget is a provision giving a single school district $5 million, outside of the typical formulas that are used to distribute funds to Pennsylvania’...
penncapital-star.com
December 2, 2025 at 7:35 PM
Reposted by Tim Lambert
A most important question on the Sept. 2 double-tap strike is who had "target engagement authority" (TEA).

Wall Street Journal:

"A Defense Department official ... said Hegseth was the 'target engagement authority,' the key figure who authorized the strike."

www.wsj.com/politics/whi...
December 2, 2025 at 2:01 PM
Reposted by Tim Lambert
Hegseth told soldiers under his command in Iraq to ignore legal advice about when they were permitted to kill enemy combatants under their rules of engagement. The anecdote is contained in a book Hegseth wrote last year in which he sharply disparaged the Geneva and Hague Conventions.
Pete Hegseth told US soldiers in Iraq to ignore legal advice on rules of engagement
Defense secretary shares anecdote in The War on Warriors and rails against ‘rules and regulations’ governing war
www.theguardian.com
December 2, 2025 at 2:05 PM
A good snowy Tuesday morning to you, friendos.

This classic from @radiohead.wastehq.social will be in my head all day.

It's the best song I heard on my commute:

"Two jumps in a week
I bet you think that's pretty clever
Don't you boy?"
Radiohead - High and Dry
YouTube video by Radiohead
www.youtube.com
December 2, 2025 at 2:03 PM
Reposted by Tim Lambert
When we think about what we’re thankful for, the first thing that comes to mind is readers like you.

After all, the Pennsylvania Capital-Star wouldn’t exist without your support.

Tomorrow is Giving Tuesday.

Can we count on you to make a gift that helps us get closer to our EOY goal of $5,000?
Donate • Pennsylvania Capital-Star
penncapital-star.com
December 1, 2025 at 4:55 PM
Reposted by Tim Lambert
Scoop: They tried to bury this news on Black Friday, but, well...

Trump crypto partner Alt5 Sigma told the SEC its auditor quit in Nov.

We called the auditor.

He resigned in August.

That's the second SEC filing with an apparent conflict that Alt5 Sigma has made in recent weeks.

1/
Trump Crypto Partner Alt5 Sigma May Have Violated SEC Rules After Another Filing Discrepancy
Alt5 Sigma told regulators its accountant resigned in November, while he says he notified the company three months earlier.
www.forbes.com
December 1, 2025 at 9:19 PM
Since taking over as editor-in-chief last February, it’s been amazing to see your response to our work.

If we’ve succeeded in keeping you informed throughout the budget impasse, the impact of federal job/funding cuts, and the fed. govt. shutdown, I hope you’ll consider making a donation today.
When we think about what we’re thankful for, the first thing that comes to mind is readers like you.

After all, the Pennsylvania Capital-Star wouldn’t exist without your support.

Tomorrow is Giving Tuesday.

Can we count on you to make a gift that helps us get closer to our EOY goal of $5,000?
Donate • Pennsylvania Capital-Star
penncapital-star.com
December 1, 2025 at 5:13 PM
Back at it, friendos. I hope you had a great holiday weekend.

Let's get to the best song I heard on my commute to work:

"I got a room at the top of the world tonight
I can see everything tonight
I got a room where everyone
Can have a drink and forget those things
That went wrong in their life"
Tom Petty - Room At The Top (Video)
YouTube video by Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers
www.youtube.com
December 1, 2025 at 2:09 PM
Thus concludes a terrible holiday weekend of football.
December 1, 2025 at 12:22 AM
Can we all agree Aaron Rogers’ arm is shot?
November 30, 2025 at 10:07 PM
Reposted by Tim Lambert
Number of states where average gas prices are below $2:

Zero.

Number of states where average gas prices are anywhere NEAR $2:

Zero.
HASSETT: Gas prices dropped below $2 a gallon in a lot of places

CORDES: Gas prices on average are still at $3 a galloon

HASSETT: For a few states they got below $2
November 30, 2025 at 6:43 PM
Reposted by Tim Lambert
Rep. Mike Turner on the double strike to comply with Hegseth's orders: "If that occurred, that would be very serious and I agree that would be an illegal act…This is completely outside of anything that has been discussed with Congress and there is an ongoing investigation."
November 30, 2025 at 5:51 PM
Reposted by Tim Lambert
$1.6bln: The amount of his fraud scheme

7: Years of his sentence

10,000: Victims of his fraud

1,000: Letters from victims to the court

13: Days he served

1: Pardon from Trump

www.nytimes.com/2025/11/29/u...
Trump Frees Fraudster Just Days Into Seven-Year Prison Sentence
www.nytimes.com
November 30, 2025 at 1:54 PM
Reposted by Tim Lambert
“Her commitment to service, both in our school and in our nation’s military, spoke volumes about her character.”

From @westvirginiawatch.com
‘Quiet strength’ — Sarah Beckstrom’s West Virginia hometown remembers slain National Guard member • Pennsylvania Capital-Star
Webster Springs community members gathered Saturday to honor West Virginia Army National Guard Spc. Sarah Beckstrom.
penncapital-star.com
November 30, 2025 at 6:55 PM
Reposted by Tim Lambert
When an ICE agent fired the tear gas canister, it hit 55-year-old nurse Vincent Hawkins in the face, shattering his glasses and concussing him.

As he was rushed to the emergency room, he wondered if he'd ever see through his left eye again.
Trump’s Immigration Forces Deploy “Less Lethal” Weapons in Dangerous Ways, Skirting Rules and Maiming Protesters
Civil rights and weapons experts cite the consequences of federal agents’ use of crowd control weapons: religious leaders shot with pepper balls and noxious chemicals. A nurse nearly blinded by tear g...
www.propublica.org
November 30, 2025 at 1:00 AM
Yep
The Notre Dame and Miami games just show how far away Pitt is from the top teams. Just a staggering gap in coaching, roster construction, players. They are not even close.
November 29, 2025 at 9:54 PM
Reposted by Tim Lambert
Dimon on why JPMorgan Chase is not funding WH Ballroom:
We have an issue, which is anything we do, since we do a lot of contracts with governments here and around the world, we have to be very careful how anything is perceived, and also how the next DOJ is going to deal with it.
November 29, 2025 at 7:24 PM
Reposted by Tim Lambert
It is unfathomable that the USG lawyers would sign off on a no-survivors boat strike (no get of jail free card).

There's clear precedent dating back to World War II trial of Germans for that very act, which lawyers know well.

The Peleus World War II War Crimes Trial

www.usni.org/magazines/na...
November 28, 2025 at 7:22 PM
“As Western leaders convened this week to digest the plan, Poland’s prime minister Donald Tusk offered a pithy summary: “We know this is not about peace. It’s about business.”
Make Money Not War: Trump’s Real Plan for Peace in Ukraine
The Kremlin pitched the White House on peace through business. To Europe’s dismay, the president and his envoy are on board.
www.wsj.com
November 29, 2025 at 5:21 PM