Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Reposted by Allen Laird

ProPublica @propublica.org · 11h

A policy expert described Education Secretary Linda McMahon’s push in favor of private schools as a “great American heist,” funneling money from public schools: “It’s a strategic theft of the future of our country, our kids and our democracy.”

By @megomatz.bsky.social & @jsmithrichards.bsky.social

These Activists Want to Dismantle Public Schools. Now They Run the Education Department.

Under Trump, the Department of Education has been bringing in activists hostile to public schools. It could mean a new era of private and religious schools boosted by tax dollars — and the end of publ...

www.propublica.org

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ProPublica @propublica.org · 12h

Due to Tennessee’s abortion ban, Mayron Hollis was forced to continue a pregnancy that threatened her life. An emergency delivery left her without a uterus and her baby with medical issues.

This was their first year in a post-Roe state (pub. Feb. 2024):

She Was Denied an Abortion After Roe Fell. This Is a Year in Her Family’s Life.

Tennessee law prohibits women from having abortions in nearly all circumstances. But once the babies are here, the state provides little help. We followed one family as they struggled to make it.

projects.propublica.org

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Eric Swalwell @ericswalwell.bsky.social · 12h

We’re not blinking. Democrats are standing strong for the American people and their access to affordable healthcare. We will not back down.

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Adam Kinzinger @adamkinzinger.substack.com · 1d

Trump’s rhetoric has crossed a line — from “Deep State” conspiracy to open fascist playbook.

open.substack.com/pub/adamkinz...

Trump’s “Enemy Within”: How Fascist Rhetoric Became U.S. Policy

Behind talk of “vermin” and “enemies,” Trump’s administration is mobilizing the tools of state power against its own citizens.

open.substack.com

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Robert Reich @rbreich.bsky.social · 16h

Never forget this: The forces rigging our economy, undermining our democracy, polluting our planet, and stoking hatred are counting on you to give up. Cynicism is how they win. Stay clear-eyed and ready for the fight ahead.

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Lakota Man 🪶 @lakotaman.bsky.social · 18h

Trump received his COVID inoculation yesterday at Walter Reed Hospital. However, he vehemently urges his followers not to get the jab.

Can someone please explain the rationale behind this?

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Robert Reich @rbreich.bsky.social · 20h

Cartoon by John Deering.

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Kyle Griffin @kylegriffin1.bsky.social · 22h

A library director in Wyoming who was fired two years ago because she refused to remove books with sexual content and LGBTQ themes from a library's children and young adult sections has just been awarded $700,000 in a settlement. t.co/EA5L1kOZfV

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/10/09/us/wyoming-library-settlement-book-bans-terri-lesley.html?smtyp=cur&smid=fb-nytimes&fbclid=IwdGRjcANWLXdleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHhlnY6nKj_j4zuP3VjNSstXWBaV1t8-sPQ5C3b_jS6WN...

t.co

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Freedom of the Press Foundation @freedom.press · 22h

The secure messaging app @signal.org makes it easy to chat without sacrificing security.

If you're getting started with Signal, learn how, and if you are already a user, we help you tighten its security.

Locking down signal

Concerned about the privacy of your messages? The encrypted messaging app Signal has become a newsroom staple for communicating with sources, receiving tips, and talking to colleagues. While it’s a practical tool for anyone concerned with the security and privacy of their conversations, journalist

www.youtube.com

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George Takei @georgetakei.bsky.social · 22h

Stay strong, stay beautiful, Chicago. c

Tweet from Fred Wellman: “Weird. I was told it’s a war zone.”
Below is a Time Out Chicago post showing a scenic city skyline at sunset with the text: “Chicago has been voted the Best Big City in the U.S. for the ninth consecutive year.”

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Rep. Ted Lieu @reptedlieu.bsky.social · 22h

A helpful visualization of how House Republicans spend their time.

Pie chart displaying how House Republicans spend their time. The chart is entirely green, signifying Republicans spend all their time on vacation, and no time working to stop the government shutdown, release the Epstein files, or lower costs.

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Being Liberal ®🗽🏳️‍🌈 @beingliberal.bsky.social · 22h

That's how you do it!

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Pete Buttigieg @petebuttigieg.bsky.social · 22h

If you look closely, you can see signs of GOP lawmakers fearing the long-term political consequences of paying more attention to Trump's demands than to the voices of their own constituents - or consciences.

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Auschwitz Memorial @auschwitzmemorial.bsky.social · 1d

11 October 1924 | Polish Jew, Moïse Wajnsztajn, was born in Warsaw. He emigrated to France.

He was deported to #Auschwitz from #Pithviers on 31 July 1942. He perished in the camp on 24 October 1942.

Black and white portrait of a young man with short wavy hair, wearing a striped tie and a formal suit.

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Greg Sargent @gregsargent.bsky.social · 1d

This really captures the nexus of cruelty and corruption at the core of MAGA:

Gillian Brockell @gbrockell.bsky.social · 1d

NEW: The private jet that flew 10 shackled migrants to an Eswatini prison last weekend is owned by Israeli-American billionaires with close ties to Trump.

It’s oligarchs all the way down.

My first for @zeteo.com:

zeteo.com/p/this-famil...

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ProPublica @propublica.org · 1d

Reps. Darrell Issa, R-Calif., and Rob Wittman, R-Va., and Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, all voted for cuts to the CFPB.

Yet collectively, they routed more than 1,000 constituent complaints to the agency, ProPublica found.

(Published August)
By @joeljacobs.bsky.social

These GOP Lawmakers Referred Constituents to the CFPB for Help. Then They Voted to Gut the Agency.

Many of the same Republican lawmakers who have targeted the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau for cuts have collectively directed thousands of constituents’ complaints about banks, credit cards, lo...

www.propublica.org

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Adam Kinzinger @adamkinzinger.substack.com · 1d

Just a reminder, the layoffs in govt were just done out of spite, not necessity

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Adam Parkhomenko @adamparkhomenko.bsky.social · 1d

What fucking country is this?!

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Senator Patty Murray @murray.senate.gov · 1d

Bob is a retired educator in Idaho and his wife spent decades working in health care.

If Republicans refuse to work with Democrats to protect the health care tax credits, his premiums will increase from $51 to $2,250 a MONTH.

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Robert Reich @rbreich.bsky.social · 1d

Trump has hired over 100 fossil fuel insiders to staff his administration and advance the industry's agenda.

Is it any wonder why his Big Ugly Bill contains more than $40B in new subsidies and tax breaks for Big Oil?

The Secret Behind High Gas Prices

Robert Reich

www.youtube.com

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Adam Kinzinger @adamkinzinger.substack.com · 1d

Week in review!

youtu.be/fv4IhkbnQK4?...

Shutdown, Trump's Qatar Deals, & Troops in Chicago | Week in Review

YouTube video by Adam Kinzinger

youtu.be

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Robert Reich @rbreich.bsky.social · 1d

Trump is using our tax dollars to buy Argentine pesos to bail out the country's failing libertarian economy.

My friend Rohit Chopra explains how this will hurt struggling Americans here at home.

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Pod Save America @podsaveamerica.crooked.com · 1d

Democrats made the right call picking health care as their fight.

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Adam Kinzinger @adamkinzinger.substack.com · 1d

The house just extended their vacation!

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ProPublica @propublica.org · 1d

“This is very much connected to the rise of authoritarianism that we’ve seen across the country,” said the executive director of the Ballot Initiative Strategy Center. “They can’t win fairly, so they’re trying to rewrite the rules to get their way.”

(Published May)
By @jeremykohler.bsky.social

Red State Voters Approved Progressive Measures. GOP Lawmakers Are Trying to Undermine Them.

In the wake of ballot measures that increased abortion access and improved sick leave for workers, a coordinated effort is unfolding across the country to restrict direct democracy — and shift power t...

www.propublica.org

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