Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Sandy F. @baystaterinnc.bsky.social · 4h

Well, this is a bit of an eye opener of an article. Thinking of doing a little nepo baby gerrymandering for getting their child in Congress? #ncpol

NC Newsline @ncnewsline.com · 5h

Kevin Berger for Congress? Website naming Senate leader’s son draws eyes ahead of redistricting ncnewsline.com/2025/10/14/k... @galenb.bsky.social #ncpol #nc

Congressional candidate website naming Kevin Berger draws eyes • NC Newsline

A site naming the son of the North Carolina Senate leader drew eyes Tuesday, but Kevin Berger was mum on whether he'd run for Congress.

ncnewsline.com

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Reposted by Sandy F.

Senator Ed Markey @markey.senate.gov · 7h

Trump just bombed six more people in the Caribbean, for a total of 27 civilians who have been killed so far by the US military. It’s illegal for the military to target civilians who do not pose an immediate threat. This is murder.

U.S. Military Kills Another 6 People in 5th Caribbean Strike, Trump Says
In a social media post, the president said the people aboard a boat were suspected of smuggling drugs for an unspecified group his team had labeled terrorists.

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Sandy F. @baystaterinnc.bsky.social · 6h

This is excellent. The US medical debt is obscenely high, and if you don’t have insurance (or really bad insurance), you can literally be bankrupt in case of a medical crisis. #ncpol #nchealth

Thad Ogburn @thadogburn.bsky.social · 6h

“So many credit reports wiped clean. This is life changing news for so many families." Story from @lucianaperezu.bsky.social.

North Carolina wipes out $6.5B in medical debt for 2.5M residents. Here’s how.

North Carolina’s medical debt initiative, announced in 2024, has delivered more relief than initially expected in a state with a high rate of medical debt.

www.newsobserver.com

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Sandy F. @baystaterinnc.bsky.social · 7h

JFC. This is so damned stupid on so many levels.

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Sandy F. @baystaterinnc.bsky.social · 7h

Obviously, I have nothing against Janet Mills personally, but JFC, why on earth would you want to have a 79 year old *freshman* senator repping you?! We need fresh blood and ideas, not old farts. *grumpy Gen X mode activated" #mepol #politics #mesen

Prem Thakker ツ @premthakker.bsky.social · 9h

NEW: Maine Democrat Dan Kleban suspends his Senate campaign & endorses Janet Mills the same day she launches her campaign.

Also comes as the DSCC files a joint fundraising committee with Mills.

Consolidation happening around Mills, who would be 79 if elected to the 6-year-term.

Dan Kleban Suspends Senate Campaign,
Endorses Gov. Mills for Senate

“I Got Into This Race for the Same Reason I Started Maine Beer Company—to ‘Do What’s Right’”

“Governor Mills is the Right Leader for this Moment and is in the Best Position to Win”
Cumberland, ME — Dan Kleban, founder of Maine Beer Company and U.S. Senate candidate, released the following statement today:

“Today, I am suspending my campaign for U.S. Senate and enthusiastically endorsing Governor Janet Mills.

“Right now, our country is at a crossroads. Susan Collins is not doing what’s right for the state of Maine, and hardworking Mainers are literally paying the price—housing, health care, groceries, and electric bills are all too high and getting worse. I believe Governor Mills will win next year and put Mainers first by addressing these pressing issues.

“I got into this race for the same reason I started Maine Beer Company—to ‘Do What’s Right.’ That motto has guided me in business and is why we paid a living wage from Day One, cover 100% of health care costs and provide retirement benefits for our full-time employees, and share our success with the community. We’ve taken action on climate and environmental sustainability, giving 1% of our sales to nonprofits addressing climate change, promoting conservation, and integrating clean energy practices into our business. People thought we were crazy, but we proved we could build a company that’s a force for good.

“These core values also guided me in this campaign. I entered this race because I believe Washington needs more leaders who put people before politics and who will fight every day to make life better for Maine families. While our message was right, the timing isn’t. Governor Mills is the right leader for this moment and is in the best position to win.

“I’m not a politician. I’m a guy who loves his family and was blessed to start a business in the state that gave me so much. This isn’t the end of my fight. Maine has given me so much, an…

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Sandy F. @baystaterinnc.bsky.social · 9h

Ugh. No. Just NO.

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Sandy F. @baystaterinnc.bsky.social · 11h

Those supplements he tries to sell aren’t going to help him out this time.

Josh Campbell @joshscampbell.bsky.social · 13h

The Supreme Court just declined an appeal from right-wing conspiracy theorist Alex Jones. He was seeking to overturn a $1.4 billion libel judgment over his lies about the 2012 Sandy Hook school massacre.

www.cnn.com/2025/10/14/p...

Supreme Court rebuffs Alex Jones’ effort to overturn $1.4 billion Sandy Hook judgment | CNN Politics

The Supreme Court declined an appeal from Alex Jones on Tuesday, brushing aside the right-wing conspiracy theorist’s effort to overturn a $1.4 billion libel judgment a lower court ordered against him ...

www.cnn.com

Sandy F. @baystaterinnc.bsky.social · 1d

Instead of working on a budget, the #ncga aspires to gerrymander the living 💩 out of N.C. per DJT’s bidding.

Sydney Haulenbeek @shaulenbeek.bsky.social · 1d

North Carolina GOP leadership has announced that the state legislature will return next week to draw a new congressional map. #ncpol

Sandy F. @baystaterinnc.bsky.social · 1d

Novo Nordisk announces (like Takeda did previously) that it will be leaving the cell therapy space as it continues its restructuring. #celltherapy #biotech www.biospace.com/business/nov...

Novo Retreats From Cell Therapy, Axes Hundreds as Restructuring Rolls On

Novo had around 250 employees working on cell therapies, all of whom will be laid off, though a spokesperson declined to reveal which offices and locations will be affected.

www.biospace.com

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Reposted by Sandy F.

The Shallow State @ourshallowstate.bsky.social · 2d

Keep an eye on JD Vance - the least genuine person in the world. He knows truth about Trump's health and Walter Reed. After Kirk was killed, he extolled their friendship, skipped 9/11 ceremony to bring his body home. Today on Sunday shows, he spoke to the Insurrection Act.
He's preparing to ascend.

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Sandy F. @baystaterinnc.bsky.social · 2d

I didn’t receive high speed internet where I live until 2022, and it’s been great. Going from 25 Mbps to 1Gb has been a game changer, especially since I am a remote worker. Denying high speed internet to rural communities is ridiculous in this digital landscape. #ncpol #rural #internet

NC Health News @nchealthnews.bsky.social · 2d

Federal cuts to the Digital Equity Act leave rural communities without internet access, jeopardizing health care, jobs, education. Full story at www.nchealthnews.org

#digitalequityact #trump #donaldtrump #rural #internet #internetaccess

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Sandy F. @baystaterinnc.bsky.social · 3d

You can see the fields just rotting all over the place. Youngsville, Zebulon, etc., have fields that are filled with them and the plants are literally rotting. #ncpol

Wake County Democratic Party @wakedems.bsky.social · 3d

Lorenda Overman, NC soybean farmer, says “We don’t sleep some nights … worried about how we’re going to figure out how to pay that loan back and pay our bills."

Trump's chaotic tariffs and trade war with China are threatening the livelihoods of North Carolinians state-wide.

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Reposted by Sandy F.

Dr. Bradley Onishi @bradleyonishi.bsky.social · 4d

Peter Thiel’s theology is a strange materialist techno mashup, heavy on Armageddon with a hint of a savior who saves the kings, and not the rest of us. I explain here.

www.youtube.com/live/GiBhzOA...

The Gospel of Peter Thiel (Part I)

YouTube video by Straight White American Jesus Podcast

www.youtube.com

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Sandy F. @baystaterinnc.bsky.social · 4d

Vought literally doesn’t give a rip. They are going full-blown Project 2025. I honestly don’t know how the US is going to fix itself. The damage that’s being done will take decades to rectify.

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Sandy F. @baystaterinnc.bsky.social · 4d

There’s a literal bloodbath going on at the CDC, where a gleeful Russ Vought is illegally RIF’ing people left & right. #cdc #project2025

Dorit Reiss @doritreiss.bsky.social · 4d

Seen on LinkedIn: “Staff at Centers for Disease Control and Prevention across multiple programs being fired tonight, including all current (civilian) Epidemic Intelligence Service, and several people working on the Ebola response.”

Reposted by Sandy F.

Leah McElrath @leahmcelrath.bsky.social · 4d

We might should get “President Stephen Miller” trending to drive a wedge between him and Trump.

The New Republic @newrepublic.com · 4d

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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Sandy F. @baystaterinnc.bsky.social · 4d

What the bloody hell is this?! Quid pro quo, indeed.

Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 4d

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."

Sandy F. @baystaterinnc.bsky.social · 4d

This is extremely effective messaging. It's also refreshing to see a leader with a healthy sense of humor!

Governor JB Pritzker @govpritzker.illinois.gov · 4d

Reporting live from Chicago, there’s no “hellscape” I’d rather be in.

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Reposted by Sandy F.

Heather Cox Richardson (TDPR) @hcrichardson.bsky.social · 5d

20 paragraphs down in the NBC News story that broke the information that the administration is considering invoking the Insurrection Act is the report that Stephen Miller is driving the issue.

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Sandy F. @baystaterinnc.bsky.social · 5d

Retribution part whatever at this point. He needs to be stopped. Nixon would be doing a jig right now if he were still alive. Ford did this country no favor by pardoning him, and we have a complicit SCOTUS that’s willing to do DJT’s bidding & a bunch of yes people in high-level positions. Corrupt AF

Kyle Griffin @kylegriffin1.bsky.social · 5d

Breaking on MSNBC: New York AG Letitia James has been indicted.

Lindsey Halligan, who presented a grand jury with the case against James Comey, gave the presentation to the James grand jury.

Sandy F. @baystaterinnc.bsky.social · 5d

I swear that every time there's a live feed from the Oval Office, there's more tacky gold crap.

The dementia is getting more apparent every time he surfaces.

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Sandy F. @baystaterinnc.bsky.social · 5d

Novo Nordisk announces acquisition of Akero Therapeutics for $5.2B USD after 9,000 jobs being eliminated. #healthsky #biotech www.biospace.com/business/nov...

Novo Strikes up to $5.2B Deal for Akero in Red-Hot MASH Space

Novo will add Akero’s efruxifermin to its MASH portfolio, which includes Wegovy after the GLP-1 gained an FDA nod in the indication earlier this year.

www.biospace.com

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Reposted by Sandy F.

Wajahat Ali @wajali.bsky.social · 5d

@mehdirhasan.bsky.social joins The Left Hook today at 430 pm et to discuss Israel/Hamas deal, Trump wanting the Nobel Peace Prize, the shift in American sympathy for Palestinians, and the Bari Weissification of US media

Thelefthook.substack.com

The Left Hook with Wajahat Ali | Substack

A political, cultural, and intellectual playground for the rest of us with writer Wajahat Ali. Click to read The Left Hook with Wajahat Ali, a Substack publication with tens of thousands of subscriber...

Thelefthook.substack.com

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Sandy F. @baystaterinnc.bsky.social · 5d

Well, this is called throwing a spanner into the works, particularly around election integrity.

JoeMyGod @joemygod.bsky.social · 5d

Yikes.

Dominion Sold To Firm Owned By Ex-GOP Official - Joe.My.God.

Axios reports: Dominion Voting Systems — the voting machine behemoth that President Trump and his allies baselessly attacked after the 2020 election — has been sold to a Missouri-based company run by ...

www.joemygod.com

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Sandy F. @baystaterinnc.bsky.social · 5d

He’s gotta go.

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