Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Renée Graham 🏳️‍🌈 @rygraham.bsky.social · 1h

Last month Trump said he wanted proof that COVID vaccines are effective. Yesterday, during his "semiannual" physical, Trump received a COVID vaccine as well as a flu shot.

That's because vaccines — which Trump's administration have made harder to get — work.

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Renée Graham 🏳️‍🌈 @rygraham.bsky.social · 12h

So this gargoyle is running the country straight to hell while Trump spends his days mainlining AI slop about Portland in flames.

The New Republic @newrepublic.com · 15h

His slip of the tongue reveals who’s really in charge. trib.al/mIvP0yE

“Illinois governor says we’re provoking actions that are unlawful,” Miller said on CNN. “If I put federal law enforcement and National Guard into a nice sleepy Southern town, is anyone gonna riot?”

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Renée Graham 🏳️‍🌈 @rygraham.bsky.social · 13h

Calling someone fascist is violence. Being fascist, according to this fascist administration, not so much...

shalise manza young @shalisemyoung.bsky.social · 13h

don’t call it fascism or naziism though

Sophie Sherry @sophiesherry.bsky.social · 17h

During a military-style raid on a building in Chicago’s South Shore, one resident heard a knock on his door.   It wasn’t the feds — it was a mom and her 7-year-old daughter, pleading for help.

He let them hide in his unit for the next 3 days.

chicago.suntimes.com/immigration/...

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Renée Graham 🏳️‍🌈 @rygraham.bsky.social · 17h

ICE keeps telling and showing us that they'll arrest/detain/brutalize anyone anywhere for any reason (gripping a steering wheel too tight?), but a lot people still aren't convinced that such injustice done to one endangers all.

thematthill.bsky.social @thematthill.bsky.social · 3d

Wow. Greg Bovino admits on camera that his agents can detain people if you look scared, change your demeanor, or grip a steering wheel too tight.

As his unmasked agents walk around with large guns to scare you, they may arrest you just for that — even if you're a U.S. citizen.

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Renée Graham 🏳️‍🌈 @rygraham.bsky.social · 17h

Liars. She was arrested because she was a journalist doing her job.

CJ Ciaramella @cjciaramella.bsky.social · 17h

UPDATE: In emailed statement to me / @reason.com, DHS alleges that WGN-TV producer Debbie Brockman "threw objects at Border Patrol’s car and she was placed under arrest for assault on a federal law enforcement officer."

Screencap of email from DHS public affairs: Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin:

“U.S. Border Patrol was conducting immigration enforcement operations and when several violent agitators used their vehicles to block in agents in an effort to impede and assault federal officers. In fear of public safety and of law enforcement, officers used their service vehicle to strike a suspect’s vehicle and create an opening. As agents were driving, Deborah Brockman, a U.S. citizen, threw objects at Border Patrol’s car and she was placed under arrest for assault on a federal law enforcement officer.

“This incident is not isolated and reflects a growing and dangerous trend of illegal aliens violently resisting arrest and agitators and criminals ramming cars into our law enforcement officers. These attacks highlight the dangers our law enforcement officers face daily—all while receiving no pay thanks to the Democrats’ government shutdown.”

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Renée Graham 🏳️‍🌈 @rygraham.bsky.social · 18h

That Republicans seem willing to destroy this country with a lengthy shutdown should be a clear indication as to just how damning the Epstein files must be for Trump.

Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley @pressley.house.gov · 18h

Cruel and cowardly.

Republicans are canceling votes yet again instead of working with Democrats to re-open the government.

They'd rather stay on vacation than stand with families, release the Epstein Files, and address the healthcare crisis they created.

A tweet from a report that reads: Scheduling update is official: Votes are no longer expected in the House on Tuesday, October 14th.

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Renée Graham 🏳️‍🌈 @rygraham.bsky.social · 1d

“When authoritarians seize power, it is crucial to recognize courageous defenders of freedom who rise and resist.”

The Nobel committee didn’t just snub Trump — Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado received the peace prize — its announcement gave him the middle finger. Bravo.

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Renée Graham 🏳️‍🌈 @rygraham.bsky.social · 1d

Explain this to me like I’m an extremely pissed off taxpayer.

The Washington Post @washingtonpost.com · 1d

The Trump administration confirmed that the U.S. bailed out Argentina.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said he had directly bought Argentine pesos in global currency markets in a bid to relieve pressure on the nation’s embattled President Javier Milei, a supporter of President Trump.

The U.S. just bailed out Argentina, Treasury Secretary confirms

The US Treasury has finalized a $20 billion financial rescue of Argentina, including a currency swap arrangement with the country's central bank.

www.washingtonpost.com

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Renée Graham 🏳️‍🌈 @rygraham.bsky.social · 1d

Anyone with a box set called "Love. God. Murder." is inherently cool.

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Renée Graham 🏳️‍🌈 @rygraham.bsky.social · 1d

Trump's DOJ will do every damn thing except release the Epstein files.

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Reposted by Renée Graham 🏳️‍🌈

The Contrarian @contrariannews.org · 1d

Trump’s disrespect toward Black women isn’t new — it’s part of a long, ugly pattern that many Black Americans have faced. Shalise Manza Young recounts her perspective.

Trump can growl at Black women, but he can't take our shine

Black women are a force of nature, and like a hurricane, that is why they are feared.

contrarian.substack.com

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Reposted by Renée Graham 🏳️‍🌈

New York Attorney General Letitia James @newyorkstateag.bsky.social · 1d

This is nothing more than a continuation of the president’s desperate weaponization of our justice system.

I am not fearful — I am fearless.

We will fight these baseless charges aggressively, and my office will continue to fiercely protect New Yorkers and their rights..

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Renée Graham 🏳️‍🌈 @rygraham.bsky.social · 1d

An absolute crock of bullshit fueled by revenge, and not a damn thing more. Trump is such a pathetic crust of a man.

Marc Elias @marcelias.bsky.social · 1d

🚨BREAKING: A federal grand jury indicted New York Attorney General Letitia James (D) on one count of fraud Thursday, ABC News reports. www.democracydocket.com/news-alerts/...

In Latest Political Prosecution, Trump’s DOJ Indicts New York AG Letitia James

Read more here.

www.democracydocket.com

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Reposted by Renée Graham 🏳️‍🌈

Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal @jayapal.house.gov · 1d

Last night, I received notification of the 19th death of a detained person in ICE custody since Trump took office.

ICE is detaining people, mostly in private, for-profit prisons that put profit over health. And now they have furloughed the safety inspectors. This is unacceptable.

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Renée Graham 🏳️‍🌈 @rygraham.bsky.social · 2d

They aren't even trying to hide it.

Victor Ray @victorerikray.bsky.social · 2d

It is simply accurate to call this regime segregationist.

Trump Fires Black Officials From an Overwhelmingly White Administration

www.nytimes.com

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Renée Graham 🏳️‍🌈 @rygraham.bsky.social · 2d

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Renée Graham 🏳️‍🌈 @rygraham.bsky.social · 2d

Shortly after I moved here, I was assigned a story in Worcester, but I couldn't find it on the map because I was looking for WOOSTER, which apparently doesn't exist. I finally had to ask an editor for help, and they never let me forget it.

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Renée Graham 🏳️‍🌈 @rygraham.bsky.social · 2d

"First reported by The Boston Globe." Bravo to The Crimson for giving credit where credit is due.

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Renée Graham 🏳️‍🌈 @rygraham.bsky.social · 2d

'Cause I was seriously ready to beat 2025's ass after all it's already inflicted on us.

Yashar Ali 🐘 @yasharali.bsky.social · 2d

BREAKING

In a new video, Dolly Parton, the Queen of America, says she’s going to be ok.

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Renée Graham 🏳️‍🌈 @rygraham.bsky.social · 3d

I'm so bad with plants, I hesitate to look at this gorgeous dahlia for too long out of fears that I might kill it.

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Renée Graham 🏳️‍🌈 @rygraham.bsky.social · 3d

From shots of Trump's bruised hand and his severely swollen ankles to Bondi's script from yesterday's Senate appearance, photographers have been invaluable in capturing small, but telling details about this hideous administration.

Denise Wheeler @denisedwheeler.bsky.social · 3d

Reuters photographer Jonathan Ernst noticed that Bondi flipped open a file during the Senate hearing and he zoomed in.

Inside were her crib notes for attacking the senators.

The GOP now practicing Cliff's Notes Fascism

In other words, under oath Bondi was purely a performance.

Bondi senate hearing had a folder full of notes for attacking the senators

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Reposted by Renée Graham 🏳️‍🌈

Denise Wheeler @denisedwheeler.bsky.social · 3d

Reuters photographer Jonathan Ernst noticed that Bondi flipped open a file during the Senate hearing and he zoomed in.

Inside were her crib notes for attacking the senators.

The GOP now practicing Cliff's Notes Fascism

In other words, under oath Bondi was purely a performance.

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Renée Graham 🏳️‍🌈 @rygraham.bsky.social · 3d

Same house of horrors with a new coat of paint. Or alt-right by a different name.

Perry Bacon @perrybaconjr.bsky.social · 3d

Weiss very intentionally does not describe herself as a conservative or Republican and wraps her politics in terms like "free press." That makes more useful at advancing Trumpism than explicitly right-wing figures. newrepublic.com/article/2014...

MAGA Lite: What “Bari Weiss Conservatism” Is, and Why It’s Dangerous

The new CBS executive isn’t exactly MAGA. But her polite Trumpism will still help destroy America as we know it.

newrepublic.com

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Renée Graham 🏳️‍🌈 @rygraham.bsky.social · 3d

Exactly. The Nazis learned from Jim Crow, which was already decades old before Hitler came to power.

Mikki Kendall @karnythia.bsky.social · 3d

You could just talk about Jim Crow. I promise you, there's no need to leave America's shores to talk about life in a fascist state

Mother Jones @motherjones.com · 3d

Under the Third Reich, most Germans generally lived in the law-bound normative state, while Jews and other disfavored people were victims of the arbitrary and violent prerogative state.

The dual state is characterized by the facade of normalcy obscuring the fact of an authoritarian state.

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Renée Graham 🏳️‍🌈 @rygraham.bsky.social · 3d

Asked about a possible government bailout for struggling farmers, he said, "I want trade, not aid."

Acyn @acyn.bsky.social · 3d

Soybean Farmer: So now I've got a tariff war that's killing my market. I don't have any money from grain we're sending to other countries for USAID. I mean, I've got a compound problem. I don't know how you plan for next year because we don't know where we're at.

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