Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Reposted by Philip Shropshire

Nick Bednar @nicholasbednar.bsky.social · 1d

I really don't know what it means for a RIF to be "Democrat-oriented." Either they are targeting RIFs in Democrat house districts or they are targeting perceived Democrat employees. Regardless, sounds like an impermissible reason coupled with a First Amendment issue under Rutan v. Republican Party.

Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 1d

Q: How many layoffs have you authorized?

TRUMP: It'll be a lot. And it'll be Democrat-oriented.

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Reposted by Philip Shropshire

The New York Times @nytimes.com · 1d

More than three dozen federal judges have told The New York Times that the Supreme Court’s flurry of brief, opaque emergency orders in cases related to the Trump administration have left them confused about how to proceed in those matters and are hurting the judiciary’s image with the public.

Federal Judges, Warning of ‘Judicial Crisis,’ Fault Supreme Court’s Emergency Orders

Dozens of sitting judges shared with The Times their concerns about risks to the courts’ legitimacy as the Supreme Court releases opaque orders about Trump administration policies.

nyti.ms

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Reposted by Philip Shropshire

CNN @cnn.com · 23h

Officials from three different African nations have said they won’t let the US deport Kilmar Abrego Garcia to their countries, potentially frustrating the Trump administration’s plans to keep him in custody.

3 African countries say they won’t accept Kilmar Abrego Garcia as battle plays out in two courts over his fate | CNN Politics

Officials from three different African nations have said they won’t let the US deport Kilmar Abrego Garcia to their countries, potentially frustrating the Trump administration’s plans to keep him in c...

www.cnn.com

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Reposted by Philip Shropshire

The New Republic @newrepublic.com · 22h

Justice Department lawyers reposted President Trump’s statements and may have inadvertently endangered their prosecution of Luigi Mangione, violating the judge’s explicit orders that DOJ employees refrain from public comment about the case. trib.al/mZts17M

DOJ in Trouble After Lawyers Reposted Trump Rants on Luigi Mangione

The Justice Department’s case against Luigi Mangione just hit a major obstacle.

trib.al

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Reposted by Philip Shropshire

George Conway 👊🇺🇸🔥 @gtconway.bsky.social · 21h

"Forty-two judges went so far as to say that the Supreme Court’s emergency orders had caused 'some' or 'major' harm to the public’s perception of the judiciary[,] [including] nearly half of the Republican-nominated judges."

gift link 👉 www.nytimes.com/2025/10/11/u...

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Reposted by Philip Shropshire

Kevin Elliott @kjephd.bsky.social · 21h

Unconstitutionally taking money that the law says must be spent on one purpose & using it for something else—when it's to establish personalist control over the FUCKING MILITARY—is about as dangerous a constitutional crisis/failure as you can imagine

Via: www.nbcnews.com/politics/tru...

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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Reposted by Philip Shropshire

The New Republic @newrepublic.com · 4h

The Pentagon has to provide The New York Times information about Elon Musk’s security clearances, a federal judge ruled Wednesday—and the billionaire’s own posting habits helped decide the case. trib.al/OSpdFXt

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Reposted by Philip Shropshire

Glenn Kirschner @glennkirschner.bsky.social · 2d

Judge April Perry joins Judge Karin Immergut, Judge Charles Bryer, and countless others in using the Constitution to protect the American people against Trump's tyranny.

Points of light, friends. Points of light.

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Reposted by Philip Shropshire

Mark Joseph Stern @mjsdc.bsky.social · 2d

I think we need to be crystal clear about how Trump's creation of a nationwide police force—loyal only to him—threatens to create a feedback loop of lawlessness in which our constitutional right to dissent may vanish. slate.com/news-and-pol...

It is now beyond debate that one of Donald Trump’s key goals is the creation of a national police force that is loyal to him alone. To that end, the president has repeatedly federalized the National Guard—often over governors’ objections—and deployed troops to invade blue cities whose residents oppose his administration. He has also transformed Immigration and Customs Enforcement into a kind of secret police that targets, with especially sadistic brutality, journalists, protesters, and others exercising their First Amendment rights. Trump’s multifaceted attack on the Constitution creates a feedback loop of lawlessness: He first erodes the structural limits on his authority, then exploits his newly unchecked power to trample the people’s freedom to dissent.

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Reposted by Philip Shropshire

Senator Chris Van Hollen @vanhollen.senate.gov · 2d

This isn't just cruel to these dedicated public servants — it also harms the millions of Americans who will lose the vital services they provide.

Trump's been illegally withholding funds and slashing services since Day 1 — and is on even shakier legal ground now.

Back to court.

Trump administration begins laying off federal workers amid shutdown

White House budget director Russell Vought said reductions in force were underway.

www.washingtonpost.com

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Reposted by Philip Shropshire

Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 2d

"The Supreme Court has made clear that it will allow Trump to violate every constitutional prohibition, removing any obstacle in his way, and crediting the most farcical legal argument."

Trump is the insurrection

And the Supreme Court's conservatives are his shock troops.

www.publicnotice.co

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Reposted by Philip Shropshire

The Independent @the-independent.com · 2d

Trump and White House used footage from Florida to show ‘chaos’ in Chicago, report claims

Trump and White House used footage from Florida to show ‘chaos’ in Chicago: Report

www.independent.co.uk

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Reposted by Philip Shropshire

Alaska Public Media @alaskapublic.org · 2d

A new study has concluded that solar power plants are now cost-competitive with diesel for many rural Alaska communities, even if solar is only usable during part of the year. (via Alaska Beacon)

Hybrid solar-diesel power is less expensive than diesel alone in parts of rural Alaska, study shows

Diesel prices in remote areas are so high that it’s cheaper to use solar for part of the year, the analysis found, even with the cost of two power plants.

akpub.io

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Philip Shropshire @pshropshire.bsky.social · 2d

Not good.

CNN @cnn.com · 2d

Dominion Voting Systems, the election vendor that was falsely accused of rigging the 2020 election, is being sold and rebranded as Liberty Vote effective immediately.

Former GOP election official buys Dominion Voting Systems, says he’ll push for paper ballots | CNN Politics

Dominion Voting Systems, the election vendor that was falsely accused of rigging the 2020 election, is being sold and rebranded as Liberty Vote effective immediately.

www.cnn.com

Philip Shropshire @pshropshire.bsky.social · 2d

Not good.

CNN @cnn.com · 2d

Dominion Voting Systems, the election vendor that was falsely accused of rigging the 2020 election, is being sold and rebranded as Liberty Vote effective immediately.

Former GOP election official buys Dominion Voting Systems, says he’ll push for paper ballots | CNN Politics

Dominion Voting Systems, the election vendor that was falsely accused of rigging the 2020 election, is being sold and rebranded as Liberty Vote effective immediately.

www.cnn.com

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Reposted by Philip Shropshire

Forbes @forbes.com · 2d

The judge called the Department of Homeland Security’s assessment of protests in the Chicago area “unreliable.”

Judge Blocks Trump’s Chicago National Guard Deployment For Two Weeks

The judge called the Department of Homeland Security’s assessment of protests in the Chicago area “unreliable.”

www.forbes.com

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Philip Shropshire @pshropshire.bsky.social · 2d

The first tune is a jazz rock classic. www.youtube.com/watch?v=hVVJ...

John Scofield Quartet feat. Mulgrew Miller - Live at Jazz in Marciac

YouTube video by MrYotoyo

www.youtube.com

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Philip Shropshire @pshropshire.bsky.social · 2d

Looks like the same singer he had in the 70s....

@WestSideOFJazz @westsideofthings.bsky.social · 2d

The image below is of earlier Lonnie Liston Smith, the vid shows Smith on acoustic in a slightly different setting that is simply beautiful and very serenely offered...
#JazzMusic
#JazzSky
#LonnieListonSmith

Cosmic Voyager of Sound: Lonnie Liston Smith

YouTube video by Jazz Video Guy

youtu.be

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Reposted by Philip Shropshire

Chris Geidner @chrisgeidner.bsky.social · 2d

NEW: The trials of litigating against Trump.

As Trump actions are blocked in Chicago, Trump appellate appointees push back on the order blocking Trump's troop efforts in Portland. And, another Trump target indicted.

Tonight, at Law Dork:

The trials (and errors) of litigating against Trump

As Trump actions are blocked in Chicago, Trump appellate appointees push back on the order blocking Trump's troop efforts in Portland. And, another Trump target indicted.

www.lawdork.com

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Reposted by Philip Shropshire

Joan Beverstock @joknee43.bsky.social · 2d

Judge Faruqui, who has accused federal prosecutors of executing an “end run” around the normal course of justice, it came as federal grand juries have repeatedly declined to indict people ensnared in Trump’s campaign boost arrests and prosecutions in Washington.”
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/09/u...

Judge Rejects ‘Unprecedented’ Indictment Amid Trump’s D.C. Clampdown

www.nytimes.com

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Reposted by Philip Shropshire

Jon Seidel @jonseidel.bsky.social · 2d

Notice of appeal has arrived in Illinois v Trump.

The fight over the National Guard is officially headed to the 7th Circuit.

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Reposted by Philip Shropshire

deylaware.bsky.social @deylaware.bsky.social · 2d

Can the dem leadership repeat this in loop? Republicans are choosing to protect pedofiles over paying the troops. Simple as it gets. These days only simple messaging gets through. The days of nuanced positions are over. @democrats-judiciary.house.gov @judiciarydems.senate.gov

BIG D GRANDROYAL @bigdgrandroyal.bsky.social · 2d

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Reposted by Philip Shropshire

CNN @cnn.com · 2d

Liberal billionaire Tom Steyer announced that he would spend $12 million backing California Democrats’ redistricting push this fall, becoming the latest megadonor to enter the high-stakes contest.

Tom Steyer enters California redistricting fight with a $12 million | CNN Politics

Liberal billionaire Tom Steyer announced Thursday that he would spend $12 million backing California Democrats’ redistricting push this fall, becoming the latest megadonor to enter the high-stakes con...

www.cnn.com

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Reposted by Philip Shropshire

Xtra @xtramagazine.com · 2d

"Herculine", Grace Byron’s frightening and funny new debut novel, revolves around a cultish all-trans commune that dives headfirst into the destructive and demonic.

Grace Byron’s ‘Herculine’ shows what a trans cult might actually look like | Xtra Magazine

Byron flips right-wing stereotypes about trans people with her frightening and funny debut novel

xtramagazine.com

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Reposted by Philip Shropshire

Colorado Newsline @coloradonewsline.com · 2d

President Donald Trump said Thursday he’s prepared to cancel funding approved by Congress that he believes is going toward programs supported by Democrats, though he didn’t share any additional details during a Cabinet meeting.
By @jennifershutt.bsky.social

Trump threatens 'permanent' cuts to Democratic programs on day nine of shutdown gridlock | Colorado Newsline

Trump said Thursday he’s prepared to cancel funding approved by Congress that he believes is going toward programs supported by Democrats.

coloradonewsline.com

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