Author | Lightnews

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Chris Geidner @chrisgeidner.bsky.social · 2h

BREAKING: Cornell caved.

Here is the settlement agreement, signed today by the university's president, Michael Kotlikoff: statements.cornell.edu/2025/documen...

SIGNATURES
For Cornell University:
Michael I. Kotlikoff
President of Cornell University
Office of the President
300 Day Hall
Cornell University
Ithaca, NY 14853
Ben the Winited States (including but not limited to the U.S. Department of Health & Human Servives and the U.S, Department of Education):
/N
istant Attorney General
U.S. Department of Justice, Civil Rights Division
950 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20530
For the Department of Health and Human Services:
Paula Matana S
Paula M. Stannard
Director, Office for Civil Rights
U.S. Department of Health & Human Services
200 Independence Avenue, S.W.
Washington, D.C. 20201
Effective Date:
14/7/2025.

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Jacqueline Sweet @jsweetli.bsky.social · 3h

SCOOP: Alexander Smirnov, the FBI informant convicted of lying about a fake bribery scheme involving the Bidens has been quietly released from prison just months into a six-year sentence—raising concern he could be pardoned by Trump any moment.

jacquelinesweet.substack.com/p/fbi-inform...

FBI Informant Who Lied About Bidens Quietly Released From Jail Sparking Trump Pardon Fears

Alexander Smirnov was quietly furloughed from prison months ago.

jacquelinesweet.substack.com

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Katie Phang @katiephang.bsky.social · 1h

NEW: “In April, the Trump administration withheld $250 million in federal research funding from [Cornell], accusing [it] of committing civil rights violations.”

Cornell just settled for $60 million: $30 million to the Trump Administration & $30 million in research the Government wants it to do.

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Joyce White Vance @joycewhitevance.bsky.social · 2h

At some point, as trump keeps opening specious investigations into people who are upholding the rule of law, the question of impeachment has to come up. I get that we’ve been there/done that, but let’s not give congressional Repubs a pass for their complicity.

Kyle Griffin @kylegriffin1.bsky.social · 2h

The next target of Trump's retribution:

Federal prosecutors have opened a corruption investigation into D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser.

But the probe could face significant hurdles because of the known facts of the case and recent DOJ turmoil.

This week, the agent leading the investigation was fired.

Justice Dept. Is Said to Be Investigating D.C. Mayor Over Foreign Trip

www.nytimes.com

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Diedrich Bader @diedrichbader.bsky.social · 22h

If sandwich shops don’t start offering a sandwich named “the acquittal” then what are we even doing

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Jorge A. Caballero, MD @datadrivenmd.social · 2h

Trump is literally sleeping on the job

Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 3h

photos of Trump sleeping through yesterday's Oval Office event via Andrew Harnik of Getty

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George Conway 🇺🇸🚫👑🐸 @gtconway.bsky.social · 12h

Um, do federal prosecutors *really* want to take the position that it's not okay to receive something of value from … Qatar?

I can think of 747 reasons why they shouldn't. 🤔

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Erin Reed @erininthemorning.com · 2d

Major win in Arlington County Public Schools, with pro-trans Moe Bryant dominating the election. Arlington County Public Schools has made headlines for defying the Trump admin on trans kids in bathrooms.

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Hillary Rodham Clinton @hillaryclinton.bsky.social · 2d

More people voted in New York City’s election this year than they have in 50 years.

That’s a win for democracy, and a testament to @zohrankmamdani.bsky.social's inspiring campaign.

Congratulations to the next mayor of the greatest city in the world. 🗽

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Taniel @taniel.bsky.social · 2d

CONFIRMED: Georgia Democrats have won their first statewide elections for non-federal offices since *2006.*

The two Dem challengers, Alicia Johnson and Peter Hubbard, have ousted two GOP Republican commissioners on the state's utility commission.

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Claire Willett @clairewillett.bsky.social · 2d

I feel like this is an important aspect to emphasize, loudly, to everyone who endorsed Cuomo. they chose to side with a known sexual predator for personal gain and frankly that should be disqualifying for public office. you knew who he was and decided the women he hurt were acceptable losses

Tal B. Lavin @swordsjew.bsky.social · 2d

it's been a really bad long shitty time for people who care about victims of rape and sexual abuse, and those who've suffered it. drubbing someone who perpetrated it gleefully and believed he was entitled to power despite it is part of this.

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Greg Sargent @gregsargent.bsky.social · 2d

The factional grifters will hate this, but the Mamdani-Spanberger-Sherrill axis actually suggests the outlines of a broad, emerging Dem coalition organized around both anti-Trump *and* affordability politics, not a party bitterly divided against itself.

Greg Sargent @gregsargent.bsky.social · 2d

These big wins will embolden Dems to take on Trump's lawbreaking and show there's a price for GOP enabling of him. Folks hate to hear this, but normal patterns are asserting themselves: Liberalism isn't dead, Rs are likely to lose in 2026, and Trump is really unpopular, not a magical exception.

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Ari Berman @ariberman.bsky.social · 2d

Huge night for voting rights so far:

-Dems retain majority on PA Supreme Court

-Dems win VA gov & increase majority in VA leg increasing chances of new US House map

-Maine voters reject ballot initiative to require voter ID & restrict absentee voting

-KS Republicans drop gerrymandering push

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Mark Chadbourn @chadbourn.bsky.social · 2d

Statement from the FBI Agents Association after Director Kash Patel fired, unfired then re-fired several agents who had worked on cases targeting Trump and allies.

Complete shambles.

"The actions yesterday - in which FBI
Special Agents were terminated and then reinstated shortly after - highlight the chaos that occurs when long-standing policies and processes are ignored. An Agent simply being assigned to an investigation and conducting it appropriately within the law should never be grounds for termination. Director Patel has disregarded the law and launched a campaign of erratic and arbitrary retribution. FBI Agents deal in facts, and we urge Director Patel to do the same. When leadership abandons due process, it doesn't just erode trust - it makes the American public less safe. FBI Agents must be free to focus on protecting the American people, not fear losing their jobs over third party social media posts." (edited)

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Joyce White Vance @joycewhitevance.bsky.social · 3d

This is a classic form of voter intimidation—making people feel like it’s not safe to go to the polls. It moments like this where we need to summon our courage & vote anyhow. Vote in the tradition of the people who marched in Selma to secure the right to vote.

Kyle Griffin @kylegriffin1.bsky.social · 3d

Breaking from NJ AG Platkin:

"Early this morning, law enforcement responded to threats that were received by email involving certain polling places in Bergen, Essex, Mercer, Middlesex, Monmouth, Ocean, and Passaic Counties. Law enforcement … have worked swiftly to secure these polling locations."

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Brenley @brenley.bsky.social · 3d

Most important thing I will do today!

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Adam Parkhomenko @adamparkhomenko.bsky.social · 3d

Senate Democrats about to roll over. Goddamnit.

Murshed Zaheed @murshedz.bsky.social · 3d

This is pathetic - to give in over "a promised vote" - but this is what they were always going to do.

"A handful of Democrats will supply some eight votes for a new short-term CR in exchange for a promised vote on the ACA tax credits."

They are gonna trust the GOP.🤡
www.axios.com/newsletters/...

"The bottom line: After a weekend of frequent phone calls among centrist senators, Democrats appeared ready to claim victory and end the shutdown.

"What they've been saying for a month is 'We won't negotiate with you at all,'" Coons told us. "That's clearly a position they've moved away from."
The gist: A handful of Democrats will supply some eight votes for a new short-term CR in exchange for a promised vote on the ACA tax credits."

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Marc Elias @marcelias.bsky.social · 3d

When I read the full transcript of the interview, I realized there had been no pushback, no corrections, no challenging follow-ups. The entire interview had been an open-ended opportunity for Trump to tell rambling lies, only to have them cleaned up into a more polished product.

60 Minutes Obeys in Advance

Read more here.

www.democracydocket.com

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Patti Olivier EPSTEIN FILES NEVER FORGET @patti3333.bsky.social · 3d

NIGHTS OF BLUE SKIES
🧵1

DAY 3 NOVEMBER 2025
🚨 ELECTION EVE 🚨

Tomorrow VOTE BLUE
Vote in such large numbers
To let Trump & Republicans know ENOUGH

SO IMPORTANT
🚨CALIFORNIA WE ARE COUNTING ON YOU
VOTE YES ON PROP 50 !!🚨

VOTE
Spanberger VA
Sherrill NJ
Mandami NYC
SCOTUS in PA

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Lex McMenamin (they/them) @leximcmenamin.com · 3d

I was laid off from Teen Vogue today along with multiple other staffers, and today is my last day.

certainly more to come from me when the dust has settled more, but to my knowledge, after today, there will be no politics staffers at Teen Vogue.

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Ted Lieu @tedlieu.bsky.social · 4d

Today is Day 34 of the Republican shutdown. Your regular reminders:

1. Republicans control the White House, Senate and House.

2. GOP making deep cuts to Medicaid, Medicare and ACA.

3. Democrats are fighting to lower costs, cancel the cuts and save healthcare for Americans.

Rep. Ted Lieu @reptedlieu.bsky.social · 4d

It’s worth repeating:

Republicans control the White House, the Senate, and the House.

If Donald Trump said end this shutdown today, Republicans would do it.

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Eric Champnella @echamp.bsky.social · 4d

Speaker Mike Johnson vs Sergeant Schultz from Hogan's Heroes -- who knows less about what's going on?

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Kevin M. Kruse @kevinmkruse.bsky.social · 4d

I saw a Cuomo ad last night that was basically "if there's another 9/11, we need a mayor with experience like Andrew Cuomo," and it made me wonder, wait, what was Andrew Cuomo doing on 9/11?

Well, he was probably preoccupied with damage control for this:

nypost.com/2001/09/10/p...

PROBE RIPS ANDY IN $130M HUD MESS
By Deborah Orin
Published Sep. 10, 2001, 4:00 a.m. ET

WASHINGTON – Federal watchdogs today will testify that Andrew Cuomo’s “lax oversight” let crooks loot a housing program for the poor that will now cost taxpayers $130 million to bail out.

At issue is Cuomo’s role as Bill Clinton’s secretary of Housing and Urban Development and his pet home-ownership program for the poor, which collapsed in scandal.

Today’s bipartisan congressional hearing was called by Rep. Sue Kelly (R-Westchester), with Reps. Charles Rangel (D-Harlem) – who backs Cuomo’s gubernatorial rival Carl McCall – and Felix Grucci (R-L.I.) also expected.

“Decisions made during [Cuomo’s] tenure opened up this program to widespread fraud and abuse while the concerns of federal investigators were ignored,” Kelly said.

The program was supposed to help poor people fix up housing. But instead, it left tenants stuck in 719 homes – including almost 200 Harlem brownstones – that are mostly a mess, in foreclosure and, in some cases, without heat.

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Andrew Lawrence @ndrew.bsky.social · 4d

“every time theres a republican president the economy collapses” feels like pretty easy messaging on the economy

Max Kennerly @maxkennerly.bsky.social · 4d

Congrats to everyone who put Republicans in charge "for the economy," the first three quarters of 2025 already had more layoffs than any of the years in which Biden or Obama was President except 2009 (when Dems were still cleaning up the prior Republican mess).
www.bloomberg.com/news/article...

Layoffs Already Higher Than for Any Full Year Since 2020
Announced US job cuts by quarter

It’s been harder than normal to get a grasp on the US labor market lately, with several agencies that produce key economic data, including the Bureau of Labor Statistics, going dark during the government shutdown. Even before that, President Donald Trump’s efforts to downsize the US government left holes in the sprawling federal statistical system. But private datasets have helped fill in some of the gaps.

A report from outplacement firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas showed almost 950,000 US job cuts this year through September, the highest year-to-date total since 2020—and that was before the heavy October run of announcements. (Excluding that first year of the Covid-19 pandemic, US job cuts in the first nine months have already surpassed full-year layoffs for every year since 2009.) When something is almost the worst since the Great Recession, North says, “that’s not a very encouraging number.”

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Hamilton Nolan @hamiltonnolan.bsky.social · 4d

This would be GREAT for housing affordability. Zohran keeping his promises.

New York Post @nypost.com · 4d

Nearly a million New Yorkers ready to flee NYC if Mamdani becomes mayor — possibly igniting mass exodus: poll

Hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers are prepared to bolt from the Big Apple if socialist candidate Zohran Mamdani wins Tuesday's mayoral race — potentially setting the stage for the largest population flight in US history, a new poll warns.

nypost.com

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