Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Tom Clark

@tomsclark.bsky.social

1.1K followers 150 following 570 posts

Political scientist at Stanford University studying law, courts, policing, public safety. www.tomclarkphd.com Go birds.

Videos

Economics 30%

Law 20%

Posts Media Videos Starter Packs

Pinned

Tom Clark @tomsclark.bsky.social · May 8

Well, look what just showed up! Advance copies are in, and you can pre-order yours now. It ships June 3. press.princeton.edu/books/hardco...

2 4 20

Reposted by Tom Clark, Rosemary A. Joyce, Anders Nilsson , and 5 more Tom Clark, Rosemary A. Joyce, Anders Nilsson, Robert C. Richards, David R. Miller, Daxton R. Stewart, Manisha Sinha, Nathan P. Kalmoe

Mark Joseph Stern @mjsdc.bsky.social · 9h

This arrest appears to be in direct violation of a temporary restraining order prohibiting DHS officers from arresting journalists. The officers here may well be subject to contempt of court. protectdemocracy.org/wp-content/u...

It is hereby ORDERED that Defendants,' their officers, agents, assigns, and all
persons acting in concert with them (hereafter referred to as "Federal Agents"), are temporarily
ENJOINED in this judicial district from:
a.
Dispersing, arresting, threatening to arrest, threatening or using physical
force against any person whom they know or reasonably should know is a Journalist, unless Defendants have probable cause to believe that the individual has committed a crime.

110 1.3K 3K

Tom Clark @tomsclark.bsky.social · 11h

The House has not taken a vote since September 19, and Johnson continue to refuse to swear in the most recently elected member. The government remains shutdown. This is what constitutional abdication looks like.

Aaron Fritschner @fritschner.bsky.social · 11h

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.

1 3

Reposted by Tom Clark, Alan Richardson, Serge Egelman , and 1 more Tom Clark, Alan Richardson, Serge Egelman, Greg Linden

Aaron Fritschner @fritschner.bsky.social · 11h

110 1.2K 2.5K

Reposted by Tom Clark, Mark D. White, David R. Miller , and 5 more Tom Clark, Mark D. White, David R. Miller, Lesley Bartlett, Brian Keegan, Cullen S. Hendrix, Simon Lester, David Darmofal

Carl Quintanilla @carlquintanilla.bsky.social · 11h

“Stabilizing Argentina is ‘America First’.”

🇦🇷 🇺🇸

320 710 2.5K

Reposted by Tom Clark, David Darmofal

Anna Bower @annabower.bsky.social · 12h

ICE official testifies that DHS “prematurely” sent Abrego Garcia a notice that he would be removed to Ghana.

Just this morning, Ghana’s foreign minister wrote on X that the country had “directly and unambiguously conveyed to US authorities” that Abrego cannot be deported there.

Sam Okudzeto Ablakwa &
@S
_OkudzetoAblak
X.com
Ghana is not accepting Abrego Garcia.
He cannot be deported to Ghana.
This has been directly and unambiguously conveyed to US authorities.
In my interactions with US officials, I made clear that our understanding to accept a limited number of non-criminal West Africans, purely on the grounds of African solidarity and humanitarian principles would not be expanded.
Ghana strongly objects to these misleading media reports.

38 560 1.8K

Reposted by Tom Clark

Razzball @razzball.bsky.social · 12h

A five-point-five billion Trump golf course in Qatar, and Qatar gets an air base in Idaho.

New Trump Golf Course, $5.5 Billion Beachside Project Announced for Qatar

83 290 570

Tom Clark @tomsclark.bsky.social · 1d

I mean, I think that in most authoritarian regimes, protest is in fact rebellion, right?

Don Moynihan @donmoyn.bsky.social · 1d

America, 2025: Government lawyers tell judges that the President can declare any protest he dislikes to be a rebellion, and the courts must agree.

Heather Cherone @heathercherone.bsky.social · 1d

Perry: DOJ's definition of rebellion would mean that
"literally all nonviolent protest” could be considered evidence of rebellion. Is that your argument?
Hamilton: The president has determined there is a danger of a rebellion, and you must defer to that finding

Reposted by Nathan P. Kalmoe

Tom Clark @tomsclark.bsky.social · 1d

It's really bad for the rule of law and liberal democracy when a judge says of a government agency, "“DHS’s narrative of events is simply unreliable.”

apnews.com/article/nati...

Judge blocks National Guard deployment in Illinois for 2 weeks

A judge has blocked the deployment of National Guard troops in the Chicago area for two weeks, finding no substantial evidence that a “danger of rebellion” is brewing in Illinois.

apnews.com

1 5

Reposted by Tom Clark, Jacob Montgomery, David R. Miller

Don Moynihan @donmoyn.bsky.social · 1d

America, 2025: Government lawyers tell judges that the President can declare any protest he dislikes to be a rebellion, and the courts must agree.

Heather Cherone @heathercherone.bsky.social · 1d

11 160 490

Tom Clark @tomsclark.bsky.social · 1d

What Kavanaugh calls a "brief investigative stop" to determine someone's immigration status. #KavanaughStops

CollinCountyDems @collincountydems.bsky.social · 1d

This is terrifying!

ICE breaks into this woman’s car in the pick-up line at West Loop Elementary school in Chicago and detains her before she can pick her kids up from school. (They were eventually let go after showing their documents)

This is Trump’s America.

Reposted by Anna O. Law, Lisa W. Fazio, Tom Clark , and 7 more Anna O. Law, Lisa W. Fazio, Tom Clark, Juan Cole, Daniel W. Drezner, Michael H. Whitworth, David Rosnick, Henry Jones, Magda Teter, Dunlap

CollinCountyDems @collincountydems.bsky.social · 1d

190 1.2K 2.2K

Reposted by Tom Clark, David R. Miller, Kathleen Kennedy , and 1 more Tom Clark, David R. Miller, Kathleen Kennedy, David Darmofal

Chris Geidner @chrisgeidner.bsky.social · 1d

BREAKING: Federal judge issues a TRO in the Northern District of Illinois (including Chicago and the Broadview ICE facility), providing protections for protesters and journalists covering the protests.

storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...

Some of the key elements:

1. It is hereby ORDERED that Defendants,' their officers, agents, assigns, and all
persons acting in concert with them (hereafter referred to as "Federal Agents"), are temporarily ENJOINED in this judicial district from:
Dispersing, arresting, threatening to arrest, threatening or using physical
force against any person whom they know or reasonably should know is a Journalist, unless
Defendants have probable cause to believe that the individual has committed a crime.
Defendants may order a Journalist to change location to avoid disrupting law enforcement,
' President Trump, one of the named Defendants, is not included in this Order.
1
Case: 1:25-cv-12173 Document #: 42 Filed: 10/09/25 Page 2 of 6 PagelD #:836
as long as the Journalist has an objectively reasonable time to comply and an objectively
reasonable opportunity to report and observe;

b. Issuing a crowd dispersal order requiring any person to leave a public place
that they lawfully have a right to be, unless dispersal is justified by exigent circumstances as defined by Department of Homeland Security Use of Force Policy (updated Feb. 6,
2023), Sections III.F and XII.E;
С.
For purposes of this Order, a crowd dispersal order is a lawful command
given by a Federal Agent for all persons to leave a designated area when three or more persons are committing acts of disorderly conduct that are likely to cause substantial harm in the immediate vicinity;
d. Using riot control weapons including kinetic impact projectiles (KIPs), Compressed Air Launchers (e.g., PIS and FN303), Oleoresin Capsicum (OC) Spray, CS gas, CN gas, or other chemical irritants, 40 mm Munitions Launchers, less-lethal shotguns,
Less-Lethal Specialty Impact-Chemical Munitions (LLSI-CM), Controlled Noise and Light Distraction Devices (CNLDDs), Electronic Control Weapons (ECWs) - on members of the press, protesters, or religious practitioners who are not posing an immediate threat to the safety of a law enforcement officer or others;

To facilitate the Defendants' identification of Journalists protected under
this Order, the following are examples of indicia of being a Journalist: visual identification as a member of the press, such as by carrying a professional press pass, badge or credentials; wearing distinctive clothing or patches that identify the wearer as a member of the press; or carrying professional gear such as professional photographic or videography
equipment. Other indicia of being a Journalist under this Order include that the person is standing off to the side of a protest, not engaging in chanting, sign holding, shouting slogans, or otherwise protesting, and documenting protest activities, although these are not
requirements. These indicia are illustrative, and a person need not exhibit every indicium
to be considered a Journalist under this Order. Defendants shall not be liable for unintentional violations of this Order in the case of an individual who does not wear a press pass, badge, or other official press credential, professional gear, or distinctive clothing that identifies the person as a member of the press.

It is further ORDERED that all Federal Agents, excepting those who do not wear a
uniform or other distinguishing clothing or equipment in the regular performance of their official
4
Case: 1:25-cv-12173 Document #: 42 Filed: 10/09/25 Page 5 of 6 PagelD #:839
duties or are engaged in undercover operations in the regular performance of their official duties, must have visible identification (for which a unique recognizable alphanumeric identifier sequence
will suffice) affixed to their uniforms or helmets and prominently displayed, including when
wearing riot gear.

20 710 2.1K

Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 1d

RFK Jr on Tylenol and autism: "It is not proof. We're doing the studies to make the proof."

2.1K 2K 6.6K

Reposted by Tom Clark

NY Times Pitchbot @nytpitchbot.bsky.social · 1d

Republican Tom Homan says he didn't take a $50,000 cash bribe (he did). But Democrat Sheldon Whitehouse says Homan took the cash in a paper bag (it was specifically a Cava bag). Will either party tell the full truth?

6 36 410

Tom Clark @tomsclark.bsky.social · 2d

Nixon’s VP (Agnew) was forced out for the exact same reason. We are officially in a worse-than-Nixon situation. L

1 1 2

Tom Clark @tomsclark.bsky.social · 2d

What world do we live in where a senator asks a testifying AG if the FBI recovered $50,000 from a sting operation catching a now-White House official accepting bribes, and the AG says, “I’m not telling you”??

1 1 6

Tom Clark @tomsclark.bsky.social · 2d

People laughed when Trump recently told the UN that Christianity is the most persecuted religion in the world. Just like when he took a sharpie out to redirect a hurricane, he'll show us all he was right, even if he has to do the persecution himself.

Kevin M. Kruse @kevinmkruse.bsky.social · 2d

The same people who insisted devout Catholic Joe Biden was leading a “war on Christianity” are now cheering Trump on as his armed goons assault clergymen.

The Tennessee Holler @thetnholler.bsky.social · 2d

WATCH: Trump’s lawless Ice goons shoot an unarmed priest in the head with a pepper ball. Completely out of control.

Reposted by Will Jennings, Tom Clark

Kevin M. Kruse @kevinmkruse.bsky.social · 2d

The same people who insisted devout Catholic Joe Biden was leading a “war on Christianity” are now cheering Trump on as his armed goons assault clergymen.

The Tennessee Holler @thetnholler.bsky.social · 2d

WATCH: Trump’s lawless Ice goons shoot an unarmed priest in the head with a pepper ball. Completely out of control.

81 1.2K 3.2K

Reposted by Joanna Bryson, Anna O. Law, Gavin A. Schmidt , and 24 more Joanna Bryson, Anna O. Law, Gavin A. Schmidt, Tom Clark, Tom Shakespeare, Leigh Sparks, Elizabeth Stokoe, Peter Campbell, Greg Walker, Kelly Smith, Andrew L. Jackson, Elaine Treharne, Smith, James O’Sullivan, Margot C. Finn, Talbot Imlay, Jutta Haider, Fiona Moore, David Rosnick, Fredrik Albritton Jonsson, Calvin Jones, Banu Özkazanç‐Pan, Thomas Masterson, James Connelly, Catriona Seth, Isabelle Poutrin, Nathan P. Kalmoe

Keith W. Dickinson @keithwdickinson.bsky.social · 2d

Today is a day when arts degrees are worthless, but the product of those degrees is so valuable it would kill an entire industry if they were made to pay for it.

The Verge @theverge.com · May 26

Nick Clegg says asking artists for use permission would ‘kill’ the AI industry

Paul McCartne, Elton John and others signed an open letter.

buff.ly

420 9.6K 25K

John Pfaff @johnpfaff.bsky.social · 3d

Um, ICE just coldly shot an unarmed PRIEST in the head w a pepper ball when he (and everyone around him) clearly posed no threat.

For the crime of … complaining about government policy.

Core 1A speech.

With cameras rolling, they’re sniping priests for sport.

Kurt @flglchicago.bsky.social · 3d

Here’s video of the incident

900 9.5K 17K

Reposted by Tom Clark, Alan Richardson, David R. Miller

Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 3d

Trump posts that Sen. Blumenthal “should be allowed to speak no longer”

Sanctimonious Richard “Da Nang Dick” Blumenthal, perhaps the biggest “joke” in the United States Senate, is at it again! “Dick” lied until the midpoint of his political career, convincing everyone, in particular the Fake News Media, that he was a great “War Hero” who lived on the precipice of death in the jungles of Vietnam. He would talk about his life in the military in almost every speech, in particular the death defying dangers he faced in his many years “fight for freedom” while in Vietnam. He stated that “the battles were violent and long, but there was no going back” - And then it happened, Blumenthal was found out to be a FRAUD. The soldiers in his so-called “platoon” came forward and said that they had no idea who this guy was. He was revealed, broke down and admitted, tears flowing from his eyes, that he LIED, a Whopper, one that lasted 20 year. This guy shouldn’t even be in the U.S. Senate. It should be investigated, and Justice should be sought. Right now there is a Congressman sitting in prison for lying about his past during a campaign. Well, those lies were nothing compared to those of Richard “Da Nang Dick” Blumenthal, perhaps the greatest phony in the history of the United States Senate. He should be allowed to speak no longer!

360 530 2.2K

Reposted by Cas Mudde, Jan W. Mueller, Norbert Schwarz , and 28 more Cas Mudde, Jan W. Mueller, Norbert Schwarz, Brendan Nyhan, Tom Clark, Scott L. Greer, Robert W. Wallace, Rosemary A. Joyce, Marina Jirotka, David Rothschild, Eric Goldman, Christian E. Weller, Daniel W. Drezner, Melanie C. Green, David R. Miller, Lesley Bartlett, Paolo Beria, Stacy D. VanDeveer, Michael D. McDonald, Jason Lyall, Aurélien Mondon, Ann Bartow, Colm O’Cinneíde, Blair Fix, Tim Fish, Claire Sécail, Daxton R. Stewart, Olivier Mannoni, Nancy M. Wingfield, Christopher Blair, James M. Thomas

Kurt @flglchicago.bsky.social · 3d

Here’s video of the incident

260 1.7K 4K

Reposted by Tom Clark

David Ryan Miller @davidryanmiller.com · 3d

The Founders could not fathom that a future president would seize the Article I taxing and spending powers for himself and Congress would just shrug.

Could

Not

Fathom

bsky.app/profile/davi...

2 7 17

Reposted by Tom Clark, Joseph Schafer

Senator Sheldon Whitehouse @whitehouse.senate.gov · 3d

AG Bondi, here’s that correction you requested.

780 3.9K 11K

Tom Clark @tomsclark.bsky.social · 3d

FWIW, it would be a felony for anyone to spend single dollar on WIC that wasn't appropriated by Congress. I know that Trump believes he is the government personified, and the other branches may agree, but you'd be going out on a limb to carry this out if you were a bureaucrat.

George Pearkes @peark.es · 3d

Well that's not how appropriations work at all

*WHITE HOUSE TO TRANSFER TARIFF REVENUE TO FUND WIC: LEAVITT

5 16

Reposted by Brendan Nyhan, Tom Clark, David Rothschild , and 9 more Brendan Nyhan, Tom Clark, David Rothschild, Jon Green, Robert Black, Daniel W. Drezner, James Grimmelmann, David R. Miller, Jacob T. Levy, Greg Linden, Aviel Roshwald, Brian Jm Quinn

George Pearkes @peark.es · 3d

Well that's not how appropriations work at all

*WHITE HOUSE TO TRANSFER TARIFF REVENUE TO FUND WIC: LEAVITT

47 760 4.2K

Tom Clark @tomsclark.bsky.social · 3d

Surprise!

The Washington Post @washingtonpost.com · 3d

Exclusive: The Trump administration said immigration enforcement will “remain unchanged” through the government shutdown.

But at least one team at ICE isn’t going into work: the office that ensures detention centers meet federal safety standards.

ICE kept most offices open in shutdown — but not the one inspecting detention centers

The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s entire Office of Detention Oversight has been placed on furlough, despite surging numbers of detainees.

wapo.st

Reposted by Tom Clark

The Washington Post @washingtonpost.com · 3d

ICE kept most offices open in shutdown — but not the one inspecting detention centers

The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s entire Office of Detention Oversight has been placed on furlough, despite surging numbers of detainees.

wapo.st

9 60 95

Tom Clark @tomsclark.bsky.social · 4d

Seems like a normal, healthy democratic practice for a political party to fabricate propaganda to help justify de facto martial law. Oh,wait, no, it’s not.

Robert Mackey @robertmackey.bsky.social · 4d

The Oregon Republican Party tried to help Donald Trump make the case for military intervention in Portland with an image of a fiery protest — but since Portland is calm, they had to fabricate one by merging old photos of police in Ecuador and protesters in Brazil www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...

Republicans post fake image of Oregon protest – using photos of South America

A federal judge had blocked Trump’s request to deploy California national guard to Portland

www.theguardian.com

Reposted by Brendan Nyhan, Tom Clark, Rosemary A. Joyce , and 6 more Brendan Nyhan, Tom Clark, Rosemary A. Joyce, Daniel W. Drezner, R. M. Wilson, Dean Eckles, Paul Gronke, Olúfẹ́mi Táíwò, Nathan P. Kalmoe

Robert Mackey @robertmackey.bsky.social · 4d

Republicans post fake image of Oregon protest – using photos of South America

A federal judge had blocked Trump’s request to deploy California national guard to Portland

www.theguardian.com

120 2K 3.8K