Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

David G A Perry @davidgaperry.bsky.social · Jul 26

Authoritarian State ahoy!

Brennan Center @brennancenter.org · Jul 26

Reviewing individuals’ social media to conduct ideological vetting has been a defining initiative of President Trump’s second term. Here’s an overview of this collection process and how the information is used.
www.brennancenter.org/our-work/res...

The Government’s Growing Trove of Social Media Data

It’s increasingly collecting and using social media information to make high-stakes decisions related to immigration.

www.brennancenter.org

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David G A Perry @davidgaperry.bsky.social · Jul 12

What the Lord Giveth The Lord the Lord Taketh Away.
Just don't tell him about the Order Of The G****r(The thing that holds up stockings!)
POTUS had his chance to behave following the initial invitation.
@milliecooke.bsky.social writes for @the-independent.com
www.independent.co.uk/bulletin/new...

Trump reportedly handed major political snub ahead of UK visit

www.independent.co.uk

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Reposted by David G A Perry

Gen Michael Hayden @genmhayden.bsky.social · Jul 2

www.foreignaffairs.com/united-state...

Trump Is Breaking American Intelligence

“Speak plainly!” Russian President Vladimir Putin snapped at his foreign intelligence chief, Sergei Naryshkin, at a televised security council meeting on the eve of his shambolic full-scale invasion o...

www.foreignaffairs.com

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David G A Perry @davidgaperry.bsky.social · Jun 26

My uncorroborated hunch: The US and Iran have agreed on a communications off ramp.
@the-independent.com has this report from @samkiley.bsky.social Rachel Clun and Alexander Butler.
Where's the enriched uranium? Intel to EU suggest it was moved before strikes.

www.independent.co.uk/news/world/m...

Trump-Iran latest: US Defense Secretary rages at coverage of bombing

Pete Hegseth said Iran’s nuclear facilities were destroyed

www.independent.co.uk

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David G A Perry @davidgaperry.bsky.social · Jun 24

"We have entered a new rogue order. The rules-based order that underpins international relations..... has finally been blown away."
@the-independent.com World Affairs Editor @samkiley.bsky.social reports.
www.independent.co.uk/news/world/m...

Why Trump and Israel have only encouraged Iran to go nuclear

The Israeli and US attacks on Iran have brought us into a dangerous new age in which the laws of the jungle are supreme, world affairs editor Sam Kiley writes from Tel Aviv

www.independent.co.uk

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David G A Perry @davidgaperry.bsky.social · Jun 21

General Hayden's posts have given me hope (and kept me sane) for the last few years.
Thank You.

Gen Michael Hayden @genmhayden.bsky.social · Jun 20

I am proud today on #WorldRefugeeDay and every day to support in their tireless mission working with the world’s largest companies to connect refugees to meaningful jobs at scale. See why 500+ businesses have already joined Tent to build stronger workforces that are inclusive of refugees!

David G A Perry @davidgaperry.bsky.social · Jun 14

The Israeli claim that its attack is “pre-emptive” is false.
Paul R Pillar writes in Responsible Statecraft.
responsiblestatecraft.org/israel-attac...

Trump must condemn Israeli acts of illegal, naked aggression

Israel is the biggest destabilizing actor — and only real nuclear power — in the region. What happens now?

responsiblestatecraft.org

David G A Perry @davidgaperry.bsky.social · Jun 14

Prof Pillar would be talking about Israel and Iran right now. Instead he writes about the dire threat to Democracy in the US of A.
Historic times for all the wrong reasons.

David G A Perry @davidgaperry.bsky.social · Jun 13

Regrettably a Must Read from Paul R Pillar in The National Interest
nationalinterest.org/blog/paul-pi...

Can Anything Stop A Donald Trump Dictatorship?

The courts, Congress, and the military are unlikely to resist the Trump administration’s tidal wave of illegality.

nationalinterest.org

David G A Perry @davidgaperry.bsky.social · Jun 13

Regrettably a Must Read from Paul R Pillar in The National Interest
nationalinterest.org/blog/paul-pi...

Can Anything Stop A Donald Trump Dictatorship?

The courts, Congress, and the military are unlikely to resist the Trump administration’s tidal wave of illegality.

nationalinterest.org

David G A Perry @davidgaperry.bsky.social · Jun 12

My first read every morning in Australia.
Congratulations to all.
Andy Gregory reports from @the-independent.com
www.independent.co.uk/news/media/i...

The Independent named best digital publishing company of the year

The Independent was awarded top gong at the Digital Publishing Awards

www.independent.co.uk

Reposted by David G A Perry

vallirose.bsky.social @vallirose.bsky.social · Jun 7

Silence

Is

Complicity

Straighten your spine
Speak & live your truth

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Reposted by David G A Perry

David Neiwert @davidneiwert.bsky.social · May 21

Real Trump Derangement Syndrome #RTDS is only the latest instance of how with the MAGA right, everything is projection, every accusation is a confession. We present the video evidence.

open.substack.com/pub/davidnei...

Trump Derangement Syndrome is a real thing. But it's MAGA maniacs who are infected

Republicans want to pretend the national revulsion to Trump's authoritarianism is irrational, while their defense of the president is fraught with insane conspiracism and racial hatred.

open.substack.com

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David G A Perry @davidgaperry.bsky.social · Jun 5

Editorial @the-independent.com
"The Palestinians of Gaza.. face what the UN calls a “hunger crisis” & “critical famine risk”. The Israeli government knows this...The whole world knows this. We see the TV images of emaciated infants... & yet nothing happens."
www.independent.co.uk/voices/edito...

The starvation of Gaza is a manmade catastrophe that shames us all

Editorial: It is in Israel’s interest to allow humanitarian aid to come into what the UN has called ‘the hungriest place on Earth’. The rest of the world must make Netanyahu see sense

www.independent.co.uk

Reposted by David G A Perry

Catherine E. de Vries @catherinedevries.bsky.social · Jun 2

My take on the broader implications of the outcome of Polish presidential elections published in the Guardian today.

ps. this is not the title I chose…

👇🏽

www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

Poland’s presidential election result is a morale boost for Maga forces in Europe | Catherine De Vries

Karol Nawrocki’s win is a blow for prime minister Donald Tusk – and it symbolises a larger battle over the political narrative, says policy expert Catherine De Vries

www.theguardian.com

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Reposted by David G A Perry

The Guardian @theguardian.com · Jun 2

Örkesh Dölet descended on to Tiananmen Square with thousands of fellow student protesters. He’s now 36 years into exile | Nuria Khasim

As the anniversary of the 1989 massacre approaches, the Uyghur activist reflects on his lifelong dedication to the fight for democracy

www.theguardian.com

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Reposted by David G A Perry

TommyBoy @tampatom69.bsky.social · Jun 1

Playing to his base. The cruelty is the point. It always has been.

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Reposted by David G A Perry

Ron Filipkowski @ronfilipkowski.bsky.social · May 29

When do we start winning?

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David G A Perry @davidgaperry.bsky.social · May 26

Classic projection!
"A senior Washington figure, who has provided advice for the admin, claimed that the VP is “obsessed by the fall of Western civilisation” – including his view that free speech is being eroded in Britain."
Kate Devlin @the-independent.com
www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/poli...

Trump reignites free speech row with Starmer over Lucy Connolly case

Feud with Labour leader escalates as US president’s state department examines 31-month jail sentence of wife of an ex-Conservative councillor sentenced for tweet on day of the Southport murders

www.independent.co.uk

Reposted by David G A Perry

Charlie Angus @charlieangus104.bsky.social · May 19

Only in America can a convicted felon threaten Bruce Springsteen, Bono and Oprah.
I wonder if Qatar's newest employee ran this by the Royal family before shooting his mouth off.

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David G A Perry @davidgaperry.bsky.social · May 20

Sounds like the UK Conservatives have taken note of the Australian Liberal Party's implosion at the recent federal election - after they had sought election advice from a Trump poltical strategist.
Archie Mitchell & David Maddox write
@the-independent.com
www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/poli...

Tories face wipeout as they drop to fourth place in major poll

A poll by YouGov has left Kemi Badenoch’s party on just 16 per cent with the Lib Dems passing them on 17 per cent

www.independent.co.uk

David G A Perry @davidgaperry.bsky.social · May 20

Whoa!
"MPs..shouted "genocide" as the (UK) foreign sec said "It is extremism. It is dangerous. It is repellent. It is monstrous & I condemn it in the strongest possible terms."
@milliecooke.bsky.social Archie Mitchell & David Maddow in
@the-independent.com
www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/poli...

UK hits Israel with further sanctions and suspends trade talks over Gaza violence

David Lammy described the situation in Gaza as ‘monstrous’ but was urged by MPs from across the Commons to go further and suspend arms sales to Israel

www.independent.co.uk

David G A Perry @davidgaperry.bsky.social · May 16

"Most talk on economic matters in Greenland focuses on minerals, echoing what Trump has talked about concerning Ukraine."
Paul R Pillar for Responsible Statecraft
responsiblestatecraft.org/trump-greenl...

Why spying on Greenland isn't the problem

It's all the other coercive ways Trump is pursuing our strategic interests there

responsiblestatecraft.org

Reposted by David G A Perry

Hoodlum 🇺🇸 @nothoodlum.bsky.social · May 16

They received presidential pardons for this ‘message’ and it wasn’t seashells on a beach.

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David G A Perry @davidgaperry.bsky.social · May 15

I respect this:
"The Ben & Jerry’s duo have also been outspoken over several years on the Israel-Palestine issue. They describe themselves as “proud Jews” & supporters of.. Israel, but have also been sharply critical of Israeli government policies @theguardian.com
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...

Ben & Jerry’s co-founder arrested for Gaza protest at US Senate hearing

Ben Cohen and others interrupted RFK Jr at hearing to protest Israel’s Gaza blockade and Medicaid cuts

www.theguardian.com

David G A Perry @davidgaperry.bsky.social · May 8

Please read this 👇

Gen Michael Hayden @genmhayden.bsky.social · May 8

Just published this op-ed on The CipherBrief

www.thecipherbrief.com/column_artic...

When It Comes to National Security, Loyalty Tests Should Have No Place

A former CIA Director says competence and experience are what matter for top national security jobs -- not loyalty to the president

www.thecipherbrief.com