Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

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Keri Blakinger @keribla.bsky.social · 21h

SIX YEARS after Harris County deputies took a man's life savings - $41k - saying it ~could~ potentially be used to buy drugs at some point in the future, a Texas appeals court has ordered them to return it.

Will be interested to see if the current DA tries to appeal this... ij.org/press-releas...

Texas Appeals Court Reverses Forfeiture of Innocent Americans’ Life Savings and Orders Harris County to Return the $41,680 It Seized - Institute for Justice

Today, the Texas First Court of Appeals reversed a Harris County civil-forfeiture judgment entered after a six-day jury trial and rendered judgment for Institute for Justice (IJ) […]

ij.org

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Bouba's Delivery Service @fernmonkey.bsky.social · 1d

My friend Sascha is a professional musician and he's lost a viola bow on the way to Heathrow. Please signal boost to help him get it back.

Lost viola bow on the way from Honor Oak Station to Heathrow Terminal 2. The bow slid from its bow case somewhere along the way, possibly on the train. TFL contacted already.
It weighs 68.2 grams and has got a stamped DODD next to the frog. If any info on this, please pm me.

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Sam Halpert @samhalpert.bsky.social · 1d

Dems floated a narrow bill to fund the military, which can’t move because the House isn’t in session. Meanwhile, DoD is now going to spend funds not appropriated by Congress to ensure military paychecks continue.

POTUS now both commands and provisions the military. Unconstitutional and SO dangerous

The Office of Management and Budget sent a notification to Congress about their intent to use research and development funds to pay members of the military, two sources with direct knowledge tell NBC News.
A spokesperson for the OMB confirmed to NBC
News that it plans to use the research and development funds and that there are two years' worth of funds available within the Department of Defense.

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Julia Carrie Wong @joolia.bsky.social · 1d

The promotion of pseudoscience about a supposed “cause” or “cure” of autism and the destruction of special education (and all of public education, really) are part of the same project. It is a fascist attempt to expel certain people from the body politic, based in eugenics.

Sara Partridge, Ph.D. @sarapartridge.bsky.social · 1d

There are reports that the *entire* office of special education at the US Dept of Education has been cut. These hardworking folks ensure kids with disabilities get equal access to a quality education.

America’s children deserve better than this.

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Chris Geidner @chrisgeidner.bsky.social · 1d

Luttig has it right here: “[T]he Supreme Court has given them no choice but to speak out.”

Leah Litman @leahlitman.bsky.social · 2d

More judges speak to the press (the NYT) about what a disaster the Supreme Court (specifically the shadow docket) has been - “incredibly demoralizing & troubling”; a “judicial crisis”; a “slap in the face to district courts.” www.nytimes.com/2025/10/11/u...

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Timothy Snyder @timothysnyder.bsky.social · 1d

Make your plans for #NoKings. October 18th. Free speech is action. Please join in. You'll see me at one of the events.
www.nokings.org

No Kings

As the president escalates his authoritarian power grab, the NO KINGS non-violent movement continues to rise stronger. We are united once again to remind the world: America has No Kings and the power ...

www.nokings.org

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Zohran Kwame Mamdani @zohrankmamdani.bsky.social · 2d

UNTIL IT’S DONE, Ep. 4: Sylvia Rivera

In the 1970s, queer New Yorkers had been pushed to the margins of NYC. Our trans neighbors faced immense cruelty. But in Sylvia Rivera, they found a champion.

As we combat Trump’s politics of darkness, her legacy can light the path forward.

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National Security Counselors 🕵 @nationalsecuritylaw.org · 2d

IF YOU HAVE A CLEARANCE CALL A NATSEC LAWYER BEFORE YOU CALL THE TIP LINE

My info is in my profile. Or call @bradmossesq.bsky.social if you can't reach me.

Oversight Dems @oversightdemocrats.house.gov · 2d

TO ALL FEDERAL WORKERS: if you were illegally fired today and have information of wrongdoing or abuse of power by the Trump Administration, our whistleblower tip line is open.

We want to hear from you. All whistleblowers are federally protected.

Report Potential Wrongdoing Under the Trump Administration

Whistleblowers play a vital role in helping Congress conduct our constitutionally mandated oversight responsibilities. If you have knowledge of corporate or government corruption and abuses of power; insights into the crimes of Jeffrey Epstein and his associates; or information regarding potential wrongdoing or waste, fraud, and abuse of taxpayer dollars, your disclosure can make a difference.

oversightdemocrats.house.gov

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David Roberts @volts.wtf · 2d

Is it cancel culture when they threaten to kill you?

www.nj.com/news/2025/10...

Sold-out Ta-Nehisi Coates speaker appearance in N.J. canceled over security reasons

Organizers canceled a sold-out Ta-Nehisi Coates event in Montclair citing undisclosed security concerns.

www.nj.com

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Senate Judiciary Democrats 🇺🇸 @judiciarydems.senate.gov · 2d

BREAKING: Sens. DURBIN, DUCKWORTH were just denied entrance to the Broadview ICE Facility in Illinois, unable to conduct constitutional role of oversight.

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Garrett M. Graff @vermontgmg.bsky.social · 2d

America needs, at some point, to start prosecuting white collar crime.

The Nevada Independent @thenvindy.com · 2d

Nevada could’ve fined Elon Musk’s Boring Co. more than $3 million, but regulators are seeking a reduced penalty of $242,800, citing an “extraordinary number of violations.”

Via ProPublica: thenevadaindependent.com/article/elon...

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Brian Tyler Cohen @briantylercohen.bsky.social · 2d

Trump in 2017: “Qatar has been a funder of terrorism at a very high level.”

Trump administration in 2025: We are building a Qatari Air Force facility in the United States.

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Senator Ron Wyden @wyden.senate.gov · 3d

Show of hands if you’re a Portlander dog-tired from dealing with the fables spun by this Trump disciple

Kristi Noem calls Oregon leaders liars, says feds will ‘double down’ in Portland

The remarks came two days after Noem made an appearance Tuesday at South Portland’s Immigration and Customs Enforcement building, the site of protests since June.

www.oregonlive.com

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A.R. Moxon @juliusgoat.bsky.social · 2d

Lord give us the Democrats that Republicans warn us about.

Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 2d

Thune: "If the Democrats had won the majority, they probably would've tried to nuke the filibuster. And then you'd have four new senators from Puerto Rico and DC, you'd have a packed Supreme Court, you'd have abortion on demand ... "

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memantine mori @greycellgreen.xyz · 2d

TELL YOUR DEMOCRATIC SENATORS TO KEEP HOLDING THE LINE IN THE FUNDING FIGHT

With historic healthcare cuts and cost increases looming, Republicans chose to force a Trump Shutdown rather than address the healthcare crisis and limit Trump’s lawless manipulation of federal funds....

act.indivisible.org

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derek guy @dieworkwear.bsky.social · 2d

he also said that 80% of antifa's members are landlords and if you lower the cost of housing, you basically starve the network of its financing

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Greg Sargent @gregsargent.bsky.social · 2d

By contrast, JB Pritzker told me that people should flood the No Kings protests precisely in order to let the American people know that something is deeply amiss.

More Dems should be doing this, to send the message widely that we are in real trouble right now.

newrepublic.com/article/2016...

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Bobby Kogan @bbkogan.bsky.social · 2d

Three key points:
1) The admin has been planning mass firings to begin in October since February
2) The work necessary to carry out mass firings is illegal during a shutdown, violating the Antideficiency Act, which carries a criminal penalty
3) This harms America, ridding us of talent and expertise

Russ Vought v @russvought
The RIFs have begun.
12:27 PM • 10/10/25 • 15K Views

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Carl Quintanilla @carlquintanilla.bsky.social · 2d

“Stabilizing Argentina is ‘America First’.”

🇦🇷 🇺🇸

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Aaron Fritschner @fritschner.bsky.social · 2d

A few minutes ago in the House:

- Speaker Mike Johnson officially cancels votes next week, extending the House recess through a fourth week

- House Republicans block Democrats from passing a bill to pay the troops during the shutdown, ensuring they will miss paychecks next week

House Press Gallery: During today's pro forma session, the Clerk read a message from the Speaker designating Tuesday, October 14 through Sunday, October 19 as a district work period.

Punchbowl's Briana Reilly: House gaveled in and out of its pro forma just now w/o recognizing Rep Elfreth, who was seeking to UC a mil pay bill from Rep Sykes.

Elfreth told reporters after that House Dems stand “ready and willing to take” up standalone legislation to pay troops.

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Greg Sargent @gregsargent.bsky.social · 2d

The correct response to Republicans widely depicting the coming protests as terrorism is to go out and protest. Each person should get 10 more people to do so. If Republicans are going to hint at violent state responses to legitimate protest, the only answer is bigger numbers.

Greg Sargent @gregsargent.bsky.social · 2d

By contrast, JB Pritzker told me that people should flood the No Kings protests precisely in order to let the American people know that something is deeply amiss.

More Dems should be doing this, to send the message widely that we are in real trouble right now.

newrepublic.com/article/2016...

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Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 2d

Hegseth: "I'm also proud that today we're signing a letter of acceptance to build a Qatari Emeri air force facility at the Mountain Home Airbase in Idaho."

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Costa Samaras @costasamaras.com · 3d

Picture how big the Hoover Dam is. An absolute unit. The Hoover Dam has a power capacity of 2 gigawatts (GW).

The solar farm that the Admin just cancelled could have produces 6.2 GW of power. That's more than 3 Hoover Dams.

jael holzman @jael.bsky.social · 3d

SCOOP: The Bureau of Land Management says the largest solar project in Nevada — the Esmeralda 7 mega-farm — has been canceled

The news was quietly dropped via a sudden website update with no public word from any of the companies involved or a statement from the agency

@heatmap.news

Esmeralda 7 Solar Project Has Been Canceled, BLM Says

It would have delivered a gargantuan 6.2 gigawatts of power.

heatmap.news

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Adam Serwer @adamserwer.bsky.social · 3d

www.wweek.com/culture/2025...

Can you put into words what that purpose is? You and the frog have really become icons of this protest.

There’s been a nice overall whimsy that has shown up. The frog is amazing. We had a bunch of other inflatable people here last night, too. I saw people playing Twister the other day.

What they rely on is fear. So by coming out in an absurdist manner, it speaks to them, to some extent, that we’re actually not that afraid.

It also dismantles their narrative a little bit. When they try to describe this situation as “war-torn,” it becomes much harder to take them seriously when they have to post a video saying [U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security] Kristi Noem is up on the balcony staring over the Antifa Army and it’s, like, eight journalists and five protesters and one of them is in a chicken suit.

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Brad Lander @bradlander.bsky.social · 3d

Keep your corrupt, grubby, abusive hands off Tish James, Donald Trump.

Your cowardice is showing — weak men seek revenge on powerful women who hold them to account.

But NY’rs don’t play. Our AG has been a fierce warrior for our rights, time & again. You better believe we’ll be there for hers.

Marisa Kabas @marisakabas.bsky.social · 3d

The Attorney General of New York was just indicted by our tinpot dictator

Letitia James criminally charged in Trump’s latest effort to punish rivals

Prosecutor who sought charges was installed amid Trump frustrations with pace of investigations against rivals

www.theguardian.com

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