Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Adam Isacson @adamisacson.com · 17h

You used to have to pay $100 for it, now they pay you $750 to take it. This isn’t hard Shauna

Adam Isacson @adamisacson.com · 18h

Number 3 is peak “wish I’d come up with that.” It’s a reference to something our camera-thirsty pal Greg Bovino said to Broadview Illinois PD.

Jose Pagliery @josepagliery.bsky.social · 18h

New: Judge Perry's ruling against Texas troops in Chicago is a banger.

1. Invokes Hamilton
2. Rips into ICE for lying
3. Says "law enforcement officers who go into an event expecting 'a shitshow' are much more likely to experience one than those who go into the event prepared to de-escalate it.

3 16

Adam Isacson @adamisacson.com · 18h

Have they activated the Frog Suit Deflation Task Force

Marisa Kabas @marisakabas.bsky.social · 23h

EXCLUSIVE — DHS Acting General Counsel sent out a memo Wednesday to all Federal Protective Service staff (the sub-agency that guards federal buildings) letting officers know they could take any action necessary "in the vicinity" federal property to protect themselves.

The Handbasket reports:

DHS top lawyer says 'no legal barrier' to actions officers can take to defend federal property

In a memo obtained exclusively by The Handbasket, Federal Protective Service (FPS) officers were given free rein.

www.thehandbasket.co

1 17

Adam Isacson @adamisacson.com · 18h

“Sorry if this crashes the economy,” my nerdy post said this morning.

4 22

Adam Isacson @adamisacson.com · 1d

"The Nobel Prize died years ago"… well, so did social media, but here we are.

1

Adam Isacson @adamisacson.com · 1d

In this week's @wola-org.bsky.social Border Update:

Migrant apprehensions hit a 55-year low in 2025, but have been inching up. Tensions are high amid mass deportation operations and abuses in Chicago. Apple is removing ICE-tracking apps. Law enforcement personnel are being made to work immigration.

Weekly U.S.-Mexico Border Update: 2025 apprehensions, Chicago tensions, federal law enforcement diverted - WOLA

Border Patrol migrant apprehensions hit a 55-year low in 2025, but have been inching up. Tensions are very high amid mass deportation operations and abuses in Chicago. Apple is removing ICE-tracking a...

www.wola.org

3 7

Adam Isacson @adamisacson.com · 1d

I keep thinking of human rights groups that kept archives and databases during armed conflicts and dirty wars in Latin America. Projects like nocheyniebla.org and others in Colombia formed the core of what tribunals and truth commissions would later work with. US philanthropy needs to back it here.

1 3

Adam Isacson @adamisacson.com · 1d

Ironically, if you want to learn how to set this up on your computer, a great place to start is "ask Claude or ChatGPT how to do it."

1 5

Adam Isacson @adamisacson.com · 1d

Things that a 14-billion-parameter LLM, which runs fine on this laptop, usually does well include writing code and scripts, website improvements, database design and queries, translations, transcriptions, managing archives, and OCR. My battery drains faster, but nothing like hitting a data center.

1 6

Adam Isacson @adamisacson.com · 1d

After a few days of tinkering, I've found that about 80% of what I was using OpenAI and Anthropic platforms for can be done on my own computer, unconnected to the Internet, using free models. (My computer is a 4-year-old M1 MacBook Pro with 32GB RAM.)

Sorry if this crashes the economy.

1 3 24

Adam Isacson @adamisacson.com · 1d

gonna need a power washer

1

Adam Isacson @adamisacson.com · 1d

Viewed from the United States in 2025, I see what they did there and 👍 💪

The Nobel Prize @NobelPrize on Twitter

In the past year, #NobelPeacePrize laureate Maria Corina Machado has been forced to live in hiding. Despite serious threats against her life she has remained in the country, a choice that has inspired millions of people.

When authoritarians seize power, it is crucial to recognise courageous defenders of freedom who rise and resist. Democracy depends on people who refuse to stay silent, who dare to step forward despite grave risk, and who remind us that freedom must never be taken for granted, but must always be defended – with words, with courage and with determination.

4 23

Adam Isacson @adamisacson.com · 1d

Has the president heard about the Nobel prize yet?

Screenshot of the infamous November 5, 2020 "STOP THE COUNT!" tweet

8

Adam Isacson @adamisacson.com · 1d

Norway probably has less of a reaction to "brace for," as they awarded someone who is close to Rubio and says nice things about Trump on the regular.

Norway also worked hard to promote Venezuela's July 2024 elections, which the Maduro regime then stole, so this was a deft move from Oslo.

2 3

Adam Isacson @adamisacson.com · 1d

Recent Republican breaks with MAGA orthodoxy:

- Ted Cruz re: Kimmel
- Oklahoma gov re: National Guard
- MTG re: Obamacare subsidies
- A few re: RFK kookiness
- Rand Paul re: a few things

Could be that some smell weakness in the White House, are seeing what they can get away with. Worth watching.

1 12 23

Adam Isacson @adamisacson.com · 1d

Despite its current popularity, Nayib Bukele’s security “model” in El Salvador rests on brittle foundations, Stanford University's Beatriz Magaloni explained to me in the latest episode of @wola-org.bsky.social's Podcast. Listen here:

The Grim Side of El Salvador’s “Security Model” - WOLA

Human Rights Awards Month special: WOLA podcast investigates El Salvador's mass incarceration "security model," state terror, and human rights crisis with expert Beatriz Magaloni.

www.wola.org

7 8

Reposted by Adam Isacson

Jon Seidel @jonseidel.bsky.social · 1d

Perry says the order will say defendants are "temporarily enjoined from ordering the federalization and deployment of the National Guard of the United States within Illinois."

12 180 670

Adam Isacson @adamisacson.com · 1d

No heroes here.

www.cnn.com/2025/10/06/p...

Multiple current and former JAGs — military lawyers who are members of the judge advocate general’s corps —told CNN that the strikes do not appear lawful.

Pentagon lawyers, even if they have concerns, cannot overrule the OLC opinion, which is the prevailing legal interpretation of the executive branch. Many DoD lawyers are also reluctant to openly dissent, three current JAGs told CNN.

“The way forward is just to eat it and put your head down and act in accordance with [Secretary of Defense] Hegseth’s new policies,” said one. “No JAG is trying to rock the boat or get noticed.”

2 16 40

Adam Isacson @adamisacson.com · 2d

"Sec. Noem," whatever

5

Adam Isacson @adamisacson.com · 2d

How did ICE know, a month ahead of time, that this ordained minister might exercise his First Amendment rights in a way that Sen. Noem might find insulting during a future visit?

It's like "Minority Report."

And, as an aside, this is the same “pastor” who flipped
@Sec_Noem and our team the bird when we were there last week.

2 3 18

Adam Isacson @adamisacson.com · 2d

feels like i'm there

30

Adam Isacson @adamisacson.com · 3d

Big drop in the number of "southbound migrants" (mainly Venezuelan people who'd given up on coming to the United States after Trump unlawfully banned asylum) who Colombia's government has detected coming from Panama.

www.migracioncolombia.gov.co/publicacione...

FLUJO NORTE–SUR
DETECCIONES POR MES 2025

286
1.599
2.914 2.793 2.654
2.101 2.075
1.775
655

4 5

Adam Isacson @adamisacson.com · 3d

Here's what Border Patrol apprehensions at the U.S.-Mexico border look like since Trump took office.

U.S.-Mexico Border Patrol Apprehensions During the Trump Administration

Apprehensions
February 8353
March 7180
April 8377
May 8725
June 6068
July 4596
August 6321
September (preliminary) 8382

Adam Isacson @adamisacson.com · 3d

Though a historically low number, this means Border Patrol apprehended about 8,380 people in September, up from 6,068 in June, 4,596 in July, and 6,321 in August.

A 33% increase August-Sept, and an 82% increase July-Sept.

(The August 31 running total was 229,183.)

From www.dhs.gov/news/2025/10...

Southwest Border Apprehensions: 237,565 — the lowest fiscal year total in 55 years, compared to 201,780 in Fiscal Year 1970, and 87 percent below the average of the last four fiscal years which was 1.86 million.
Most encounters happened under the previous administration: 172,026 apprehensions — 72 percent of the total — occurred during the under the Biden Administration during the first 111 days of the fiscal year. Over the next 254 days, this administration recorded 65,539 apprehensions, accounting for just 27 percent of the year’s total.
Nationwide Encounters: 26,000 — down from 26,191 in August 2025 and 89 percent lower than the monthly average under the last administration.
Southwest Border Daily Average Apprehensions: 279 per day in September — fewer in an entire day now than in just two hours under the last administration, and 95 percent lower than the last administration’s daily average of 5,110 from February 2021 through December 2024.

1 2

Adam Isacson @adamisacson.com · 4d

For less than what Florida and Indiana are charging US taxpayers to detain migrants in miserable conditions, you can book rooms tonight in decent hotels in central Washington DC.

From @nickmiroff.bsky.social at @theatlantic.com: www.theatlantic.com/politics/arc...

Those rates are significantly lower than the amounts DHS appears to be paying through its most recent contracts at state-run facilities. The commissioner of the Indiana Department of Corrections told state lawmakers last month that DHS will pay $291 a day at the “Speedway Slammer,” while guaranteeing that the facility has a minimum of 450 detainees. The average cost of a bed inside the tents at “Alligator Alcatraz” is $245 a day, records show.

Ad
Hyatt Place Washington DC/US Capitol
Washington
Breakfast included
Experience comfort in DC
Stay with us in the Capitol area for free breakfast and Wi-Fi. Enjoy a cozy, convenient stay with all the comforts you need.
7.0
7.0 out of 10
Good
good
1,062 reviews
(1,062 reviews)
We have 4 left at
$189 nightly
The current price is $219 total
$219 total
Total includes taxes and fees
Opens Hyatt Place Washington DC/US Capitol in new tab
Photo gallery for Homewood Suites by Hilton Washington DC NoMa Union Station
Meeting facility
Exterior
Exterior
1 bedroom, in-room safe, desk, laptop workspace

Ad
Homewood Suites by Hilton Washington DC NoMa Union Station
Washington
Breakfast included
8.8
8.8 out of 10
Excellent
excellent
1,001 reviews
(1,001 reviews)
We have 5 left at
$209 nightly
The current price is $242 total
$242 total
Total includes taxes and fees
Opens Homewood Suites by Hilton Washington DC NoMa Union Station in new tab
Photo gallery for Washington Plaza Hotel
Lobby
Exterior
Exterior
Suite, 1 King Bed (Lapidus) | Frette Italian sheets, premium bedding, down comforters, pillowtop beds

Washington Plaza Hotel
Washington
Pool
8.8
8.8 out of 10
Excellent
excellent
4,684 reviews
(4,684 reviews)
$54 off
$187 nightly

The previous price was $271
$271
The current price is $217 total
$217 total
Total includes taxes and fees
More information about Washington Plaza Hotel, opens in a new tab
Photo gallery for citizenM Washington DC Capitol
Rooftop terrace
King Room | Premium bedding, pillowtop beds, in-room safe, desk
King Room | Premium bedding, pillowtop beds, in-room safe, desk
2 restaurants, dinner served, Japanese cuisine

citizenM Washington DC Capitol
Washington
9.0
9.0 out of 10
Wonderful
wonderful
2,843 reviews
(2,843 reviews)
$189 nightly
The current price is $219 total
$219 total
Total includes taxes and fees

10 14