Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Christine Vendel @christinevendel.bsky.social · Jun 12

“When I finally left...I traded chaos for stability,” Logis writes on the Leaving MAGA website. “The decision was liberating. I no longer had to defend the indefensible or justify the unjustifiable.” Fascinating story from @pennlive.com

Pa. pastor, former Trump loyalist aim to help those seeking to exit MAGA find peace, reconnection

In their "Leaving MAGA" program, Doug Pagitt and Rich Logis explore the reasons people buy into extremist movements, and the way out. Many people have broken marriages and fractured families.

www.pennlive.com

6 10

Christine Vendel @christinevendel.bsky.social · May 21

The Lebanon County officer, in his 2nd month on the job, was asked if a person who had 5 or 6 drinks could consent to sex. "I don't understand," he said. "Consent to what?"

Officer who charged woman with false rape report had never investigated a sex assault

The Lebanon County officer, in his 2nd month on the job, was asked if a person who had 5 or 6 drinks could consent to sex. "I don't understand," he said. "Consent to what?"

www.pennlive.com

1 1 2

Christine Vendel @christinevendel.bsky.social · May 15

Video of the interaction showed the police version of events to be false.

Charges dropped after video shows central Pa. police chief pulling gun on motorcyclist

What can be seen in the video conflicts with the description of the incident published by Manheim Township police.

www.pennlive.com

Christine Vendel @christinevendel.bsky.social · Apr 28

The latest from @julietterihl.bsky.social

911 dispatcher mishandled call from arson suspect after firebombing at Governor’s Residence

The 911 dispatcher did not appropriately flag the call, according to Dauphin County officials when pressed by PennLive.

www.pennlive.com

1 2

Christine Vendel @christinevendel.bsky.social · Apr 23

Super proud of @julietterihl.bsky.social !!!

PennLive reporter a finalist for national award based on Dauphin County investigations

The Livingston Award has been the preeminent award for young journalists in the U.S. for the past 44 years. Juliette Rihl's work exposed questionable contracts in Dauphin County.

www.pennlive.com

2

Christine Vendel @christinevendel.bsky.social · Apr 21

The list includes the toothpaste I use!

A widely-used hygiene product was found to be contaminated with toxic chemicals, according to a recent lab analysis.

www.pennlive.com

Reposted by Christine Vendel

Seth Abramson @sethabramson.bsky.social · Apr 20

(📣) PROOF UNLOCKED: The second report in the Trump-El Salvador Scandal Trilogy at PROOF—a trio of massive, well-sourced reports—is now free to the public.

If this is the sort of independent curatorial journalism that interests you, I hope you’ll consider subscribing to PROOF.

The Trump-El Salvador Scandal Deepens

As President Trump prepares to fête brutal far-right El Salvadoran dictator Nayib Bukele in DC on April 14, the scandal involving a vile new international slave trade between the two men is growing.

sethabramson.substack.com

24 310 770

Reposted by Christine Vendel

Adam Kinzinger @adamkinzinger.substack.com · Apr 20

If you aren’t following him, do so now! You won’t regret it

Trevor Rowdy Reed @trevorrowdyreed.bsky.social · Apr 20

Hi guys, my name is Trevor Reed. I am a USMC veteran that was wrongfully detained in Russia for nearly 3 years. After I was released in a prisoner exchange I trained for 6 months then joined a special forces team in the Ukrainian Main Directorate of Intelligence where we fought the Russians. #nafo

Trevor Reed in combat gear with weapon in Donbas, Ukraine standing behind an infantry fighting vehicle.

140 730 4.5K

Christine Vendel @christinevendel.bsky.social · Apr 19

Episodes 1 and 2 are out! Next episodes drop Monday. All feature our amazing investigative reporter @joshuapvaughn.bsky.social and the county's attempts to cover up deaths.

National podcast coming soon about Dauphin County Prison deaths: Listen to the trailer

A "sprawling" web of corruption and violence uncovered at the Dauphin County Prison by a PennLive investigation serves as the basis for the "Death County PA" podcast.

www.pennlive.com

1 2

Christine Vendel @christinevendel.bsky.social · Apr 18

Listen to the 911 call yourself:

911 call reveals suspected firebomber’s list of grievances against Gov. Shapiro: Listen here

In an erratic 911 call, the suspect also mentioned his daughters, Palestinian people and the alleged killing of someone he identified only as “Manny.”

www.pennlive.com

Christine Vendel @christinevendel.bsky.social · Apr 18

Woman born in Pa. gets immigration email telling her to leave the U.S.

At first she thought it was just spam, but she learned it was authentic after having it vetted.

www.pennlive.com

Christine Vendel @christinevendel.bsky.social · Apr 18

Exclusive investigation from @pennlive.com Cody Balmer tried several times but could not get arrested after causing millions in damage to mansion and targeting Josh Shapiro.

Suspect in Pa. Gov. Residence firebombing tried to surrender 3 times before arrest

Cody Balmer called 911 saying he had set fire to the Governor's Residence within an hour of the attack. Why did he have to walk to State Police headquarters more than 12 hours later to turn himself in...

www.pennlive.com

1 3

Reposted by Christine Vendel

Jacqueline Sweet @jsweetli.bsky.social · Apr 17

NEW: Trump's DOJ said it is going to reexamine Alexander Smirnov's case. He pleaded guilty to lying about the Bidens. Last year, I reported that a firm backed by two Trump biz associates paid Smirnov. But there is a another tie between Smirnov and a Trump biz.

www.thenation.com/article/soci...

A Disgraced Hunter Biden Informant Had Ties to Trump Social Media Bid

Alexander Smirnov, whose case is now under review by Trump’s Justice Department, had a stake in the firm that lost out to Truth Social in the rush to launch a Trump-branded platform.

www.thenation.com

5 100 230

Reposted by Christine Vendel

Amee Vanderpool @girlsreallyrule.bsky.social · Apr 17

An immigration judge denied bond for a Tufts University student from Turkey who has been detained by authorities in Louisiana for three weeks over what her lawyers say is apparent retaliation for an op-ed piece she co-wrote in the student newspaper.

apnews.com/article/rume...

Immigration judge denies bond for Tufts University student from Turkey, her lawyers say

Lawyers for a Tufts University student from Turkey detained by immigration authorities for three weeks say an immigration judge has denied her request for bond.

apnews.com

4 32 64

Christine Vendel @christinevendel.bsky.social · Apr 17

Pa. GOP lawmaker apologizes for questioning a 12-year-old about pornography at civics event

Sen. David Argall on Thursday issued an apology for his line of questioning with a sixth-grader regarding pornography during a middle school Civics Bee.

www.pennlive.com

Christine Vendel @christinevendel.bsky.social · Apr 17

The question scholars are asking themselves isn’t whether Trump’s proposal is legal: Case law dating back to the 1950s makes clear it is not. They are questioning whether anything can stop Trump from a policy that endangers fundamental American freedoms.

What is stopping Trump from exiling you to a foreign prison?

The question scholars are asking themselves isn’t whether Trump’s proposal is legal: Case law dating back to the 1950s makes clear it is not.

www.pennlive.com

2 6

Reposted by Christine Vendel

The New Republic @newrepublic.com · Mar 29

"There’s no messiah who will sweep in and make everything better. That’s up to you and me."

Fighting Back: A Citizen’s Guide to Resistance | Ordinary people have more power than they know.

Read it + share it with a friend:

Fighting Back: A Citizen’s Guide to Resistance

Ordinary people have more power than they know.

newrepublic.com

53 680 1.4K

Christine Vendel @christinevendel.bsky.social · Mar 28

The event was supposed to be tomorrow in Pa.

Fetterman, McCormick event on Saturday canceled due to ‘unforeseen logistical issue’

The email states that the event will be rescheduled and people who bought tickets will be given a full refund.

www.pennlive.com

Reposted by Christine Vendel

The Lincoln Project @lincolnproject.us · Mar 26

It gets worse.

This Signal situation is just the tip of the iceberg of incompetence in this administration.

1.6K 13K 36K

Christine Vendel @christinevendel.bsky.social · Mar 27

Graham Hetrick, 79, who has run this office since 1990 appeared at candidate forum Wednesday night. Story by @joshuapvaughn.bsky.social

‘That’s not my job’: Dauphin County coroner says jail problems aren’t his responsibility

“I can only tell you the mechanical reason why someone died,” Graham Hetrick said at a candidate forum Wednesday night. “The courts can decide if there was neglect."

www.pennlive.com

1 1

Christine Vendel @christinevendel.bsky.social · Mar 18

www.pennlive.com/news/2025/03...

Lebanon County DA reports being target of harassment in dispute over handling of rape report

The Attorney General's office is investigating reports that a woman has called Lebanon County Pier Hess Graf more than 100 times over her office's handling of a friend's sexual assault report.

www.pennlive.com

1 2

Reposted by Christine Vendel

Just Jack @just-jack-1.bsky.social · Mar 10

Only in America could a Ketamine-infused South African oligarch call a navy captain, astronaut and sitting US senator "a traitor" for supporting our allies and standing up to Russia...

3.6K 18K 61K

Reposted by Christine Vendel

Catherine Rampell @crampell.bsky.social · Mar 9

National Parks Had a Record Year. Trump Officials Appear to Want It Kept Quiet. www.nytimes.com/2025/03/06/c...

National Parks Had a Record Year. Trump Officials Appear to Want It Kept Quiet.

As the administration fires rangers and other workers, an internal memo is directing the National Park Service not to publicize visitors numbers.

www.nytimes.com

17 290 830

Reposted by Christine Vendel

Will Stancil @whstancil.bsky.social · Mar 9

They’re detaining and deporting lawful residents for engaging in free speech they disagree with. It’s tyranny zeteo.com/p/breaking-d...

BREAKING: DHS Detains Palestinian Student from Columbia Encampment, Advocates Say

Agents told him his student visa was revoked. But he had a green card. Agents then said that was revoked too.

zeteo.com

13 160 630

Reposted by Christine Vendel

New York Times Opinion @nytopinion.nytimes.com · Mar 8

In one way, Elon Musk is right: "The federal government is often wasteful and inefficient," the editorial board writes. But DOGE's "haphazard demolition campaign is undermining the basic work of government and the safety and welfare of the American people."

Opinion | Musk Doesn’t Understand Why Government Matters

If a business fails, it’s not a big deal. When government services break down, people can die.

www.nytimes.com

54 48 260