Author | Lightnews

TheLastGonzo @skolgonzo.bsky.social · 1h

In real numbers, someone who was getting $5.18 a day in food assistance is now getting $2.59.

What Benefits Do SNAP Participants Receive?

SNAP targets benefits according to need. Households with very low incomes receive more SNAP benefits than households closer to the poverty line because they need more help affording adequate food. SNAP participants in Minnesota received $857.62 million in benefits in 2024.

Because of a congressionally mandated re-evaluation of the Thrifty Food Plan — the basis of SNAP benefits — that took effect in 2022, SNAP benefits are higher and better aligned with the cost of a healthy, realistic diet. Nationally, the revision increased SNAP benefits from about $4.80 to about $6.20 per person per day in 2024.

TheLastGonzo @skolgonzo.bsky.social · 3h

That’s not right

CJ Fogler @cjzero.bsky.social · 3h

OMG What Marvin Harrison Jr did to Daron Bland should be a felony

TheLastGonzo @skolgonzo.bsky.social · 4h

If Speaker Mike Johnson can’t bring Congress back into session.

If we can’t pay for SNAP benefits because of the shutdown.

If thousands of flights are being cancelled because we aren’t paying air traffic controllers.

Why did Daylight Savings Time kick in without so much as a hiccup?

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Tom Joscelyn @tomjoscelyn.bsky.social · 8h

Antisemitism is not “new” on the MAGA right.

But former VP Mike Pence has more reasons to reject it & White Nationalist Nick Fuentes than most.

Fuentes incited the crowd to go after Pence on Jan. 6 - consistent with Trump’s own incitement against Pence.

www.justsecurity.org/95385/twitte...

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Mark Copelovitch @mcopelov.bsky.social · 13h

One time. The GOP has won more than 50% of the popular vote <one time> since 1992. And yet, every day, you are bombarded with Takes™️ from Ezra Douthglesias about how deeply unpopular The Democrats and their policy platform are, without any reflection on how the same standard applies to the GOP.

Larry Glickman @larryglickman.bsky.social · 13h

The Dems have won the popular vote in presidential elections six times since 1992 by roughly 5.5%(1992), 8.5%,(1996) .5%(2000), 7.3%(2008), 4%(2012), 2%(2016),and 4.5%(2020).
In that period the GOP presidential candidate has won the popular vote twice: 2.5%(2004) and 1.5%(2024).

Larry Glickman @larryglickman.bsky.social · 2d

Douthat writes that 2024, when Harris lost by 1.5% of the popular vote, was "an ideological referendum and progressivism lost." I wonder why he didn't view the 2020 election, when Trump lost by 4.5% of the popular vote, as a far more significant loss for conservatism.
bsky.app/profile/larr...

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Karen Langsam @langsam-karen.bsky.social · 12h

🧵Wise words by Brian ⬇️

Brian Beutler @brianbeutler.bsky.social · 13h

If (knock on wood) Dems sweep Tuesday’s elections handily, can we ease discourse away from its obsession over whether Dems are too left wing to win, and take greater notice of the fact that Republicans are in a civil war over whether to be Nazis or merely lesser fascists?

Exploit The GOP's Nazi Meltdown

Are we really going to accept the conceit that the central issue in politics is whether DEMOCRATS are too extreme?

www.offmessage.net

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jesse @jesseltaylor.bsky.social · 1d

It's been 15 years and nobody's leaked a single bit of this plan, my man

Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 1d

Mike Johnson talks about the Republican "healthcare plan" like it's highly classified information: "We're not gonna be on a conference call explaining all our plans and strategies for healthcare reform, because they're leaked in real time."

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TheLastGonzo @skolgonzo.bsky.social · 1d

FWIW - it’s also a teaching at odds with actual Christianity.

Gabrielle A. Perry, MPH @geauxgabrielle.bsky.social · 1d

There is a book out called “The Sin of Empathy,” which is written by a white Christian nationalist cult leader out in Idaho. The idea that the left is “weaponizing empathy against Christians” is an EXTREMELY popular & growing sentiment being bolstered by the church. And we all need to be aware of it

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TheLastGonzo @skolgonzo.bsky.social · 1d

Honestly, my expectations for JJ McCarthy are really low today. I want to see signs of competence. Hit the back foot & release the ball. Don’t stare down your WRs. Convert enough 3rd downs to keep the defense rested. Let the game come to you. The Lions are very talented, don’t try to do it alone.

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Greg Sargent @gregsargent.bsky.social · 3d

Folks, please note this. The top military official overseeing Trump's boat bombings recently resigned with no explanation, and now Republicans in Congress are refusing to press for his testimony even in a classified setting.

Lots of new behind-the-scenes reporting in this piece:

Greg Sargent @gregsargent.bsky.social · 3d

News on Trump boat bombings --> Rep Adam Smith, top Dem on Armed Services, tells me GOPers are failing to press for testimony from the top Pentagon official who recently resigned, potentially over the strikes.

Appallingly, we may never hear from him.

New piece:
newrepublic.com/article/2025...

Trump Boat Bombings Worsen as New Horror Shakes Experts: “Alarm Bells”

Remember the Southern Command admiral who resigned two weeks ago? Hill Republicans haven’t heard from him—and they don’t apparently want to.

newrepublic.com

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Ray Radlein @radlein.bsky.social · 3d

this_is_fine.gif

Unusual Whales @unusualwhales.bsky.social · 5d

NVIDIA, $NVDA, marketcap equals 16% of the US GDP.

It has a larger market cap than all the banks in US and Canada combined.

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TheLastGonzo @skolgonzo.bsky.social · 3d

This image of Senator Elizabeth Warren’s very happy dog reminds me that President Trump doesn’t own a dog & as far as I know, has never owned a dog.

And that makes a lot of sense because dogs are excellent judges of character.

Elizabeth Warren @elizabeth-warren.bsky.social · 3d

Bailey is ready for Halloween! This year, he’s dressed as the person who doesn't cave to big media corporations or the president: Stephen Colbert.

Elizabeth Warren's dog, Bailey, wearing glasses, a tux, and posing next to an award.

TheLastGonzo @skolgonzo.bsky.social · 4d

Solid life choices

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Marc Elias @marcelias.bsky.social · 4d

Donald Trump is weaponizing the Department of Justice against his political opponents. This is just the latest example. Everyone who cares about democracy and the rule of law needs to speak out loudly and clearly that this is wrong. www.democracydocket.com/news-alerts/...

DOJ Indicts Congressional Candidate Amid Threats to Arrest Dems Over ICE Accountability Efforts

Read more here.

www.democracydocket.com

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TheLastGonzo @skolgonzo.bsky.social · 4d

I know two things to be true:

1) Prince gave notes to the DJs at Paisley Park regarding song selection

2) P.M. Dawn was played by DJs at Paisley Park multiple times when I was there

If it was good enough for Prince…

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David Beard @dabeard.bsky.social · 4d

Ahead of the 1st shutdown of US food aid to hungry Americans in 60 years, some of the 200,000 Little Free Library locations are converting into food pantries. Thanks @littlefreelibrary.bsky.social

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Human Rights Campaign @hrc.org · 4d

To trans youth: You deserve access to best practice care, just like every other kid. We will never stop fighting for you and your care in the courts, in legislatures across the country, and in the public square.

The Advocate @advocate.com · 4d

New proposals by the Department of Health and Human Services could restrict gender-affirming care even more for young trans people.

Trump looks to stop gender-affirming care for America's transgender youth: report

New proposals by the Department of Health and Human Services could restrict gender-affirming care even more for young trans people.

bit.ly

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TheLastGonzo @skolgonzo.bsky.social · 4d

Do something nice for yourself & read this interview with Mavis Staples. Then listen to some of her music.

The Guardian @theguardian.com · 4d

‘It’s dark in the US right now. But I turn on a light, you know?’: Mavis Staples on Prince, Martin Luther King and her 75-year singing career

As she releases a new album, the soul and gospel legend answers your questions on Stax Records, duetting with David Byrne, and the fight for civil rights

www.theguardian.com

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Genderflux Superfluid @rewhan.bsky.social · 6d

>Ahbluhbluh anger never solved anything

Woe, Fred Rogers' disappointment be upon ye

The values we care about the deepest, and the movements within society that support those values, command our love. When those things that we care about so deeply become endangered, we become enraged. And what a healthy thing that is! Without it, we would never stand up and speak out for what we believe." - An excerpt from The World According To Mister Rogers, care of the Fred Rogers Institute of Saint Vincent College, Latrobe Pennsylvania

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Justin Baragona @justinbaragona.bsky.social · 6d

I'm told that during the editorial call where Bari Weiss pitched bringing on Dan Brown to talk about The Louvre heist, CBS Mornings executive producer Shawna Thomas chimed in to correct her, saying "I think its more The Thomas Crown Affair."

Sarah Weinman @sarahweinman.com · 6d

Lmao what (from today's Breaker newsletter)

(Exclusive.) Bari Weiss this week clocks up four weeks on the job as chief booker (sorry, editor-in-chief) of CBS News. Breaker hears that she has unimpressed staffers with a series of bold ideas in the 9 am call.

Last week, following the jewel heist at The Louvre, Weiss suggested they interview author Dan Brown. Staffers questioned what expertise in the matter Brown would provide CBS News viewers? Brown is well known as the bestselling author of the 2003 mystery novel, The Da Vinci Code, about a murder at The Louvre.

On Tuesday’s 9 am call, Weiss suggested a story about how people who are scared of climate change aren’t having children. “She is showing her worst self,” one CBS News journalist told Breaker. “People are running to avoid her.”

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TheLastGonzo @skolgonzo.bsky.social · 6d

They think he’s doing a comedy bit.

They all think they’re laughing with him.

Not one person in the crowd understands his brain is cooked.

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Brian Tyler Cohen @briantylercohen.bsky.social · 6d

Breaking: Trump just banned states from being able to wipe medical debt from Americans’ credit reports.

The Biden-Harris administration had moved to wipe medical debt from credit reports. Now this new rule will keep $220 billion in medical bills on Americans’ records.

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Melissa Gira Grant @melissagiragrant.com · 6d

when a federal judge has to tell the federal govt's lawyers that federal agents should not tear gas or otherwise menace kids on halloween

Heather Cherone @heathercherone.bsky.social · 6d

Ellis: Agents should stay far away from children on Halloween.

"Know that it is day where people will be out and about."

"I am simply asking that they keep the day in mind and keep it in context."

Lawyers for the government: "Understood, your honor."

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amy brown @amybrown.xyz · 6d

I just left Gavin Newsom a message telling him I'll never vote for a presidential candidate who supports genital checks for children. and so can you! 916-445-2841

alexis simpson @amutepiggy.bsky.social · 6d

You may contact the Governor of California at (916) 445-2841 thank you and be blessde ✌️

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Aaron Reichlin-Melnick @reichlinmelnick.bsky.social · 7d

Also, note that the person making all these decisions is not Secretary Noem; it's Corey Lewandowski, who is still a "special government employee" (and by many reports sleeping with Noem and running the agency while she does mostly TV), as well as Gregory Bovino himself.

The White House has signed off on a list of at least a dozen directors of ICE field officers who are set to be reassigned in coming days, the two DHS officials, the former DHS official and the federal law enforcement official said. They said that at least half of them would be replaced with Border Patrol officials. ICE has 25 field offices around the country, so the move could replace nearly half of the agency’s leaders.

The list was compiled by Corey Lewandowski, a special government employee at DHS who advises Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, and Greg Bovino, the Border Patrol sector chief overseeing the agency’s operations in Chicago and previously in Los Angeles, the law enforcement official said.

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