Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Reposted by Democracy Defenders Action

The Bulwark @thebulwark.com · 7h

George was just trying to get to work.

ICE pepper-sprayed him, dragged him from his car, locked him in a detention center, and placed him on suicide watch. He even missed his young daughter’s birthday in the process.

This man is a veteran and American citizen. Don't look away.

The Bulwark @thebulwark.com · 8h

"They put me on suicide watch and they put me in the cell, I'm naked, in like a hospital dress and just a concrete bed with like a mattress, like a thin mattress and, they leave the light on 24/7."

@timmiller.bsky.social talked to a veteran who ICE wrongly detained and brutalized

270 5K 9.9K

Democracy Defenders Action @democracydefendersaction.org · 11h

While Trump pushes baseless revenge prosecutions, everyday Americans are asking when will the Trump-GOP shutdown end?

A 6th sign of politically motivated prosecution? Hijacking the news cycle to bury stories about the GOP-caused shutdown👇

5 Signs of a Politically Motivated Prosecution longer form

Prosecutions are used to punish dissent and consolidate power, not to uphold the rule of law

Legal standards are disregarded when prosecutors are told to charge a perceived political “enemy” despite a lack of evidence

Experienced, independent prosecutors are removed and replaced with politically loyal appointees

Those who have held power to account are targeted and investigated

The law is corrupted and used as a political tool, rather than serving justice or the public interest

1 5

Democracy Defenders Action @democracydefendersaction.org · 1d

BREAKING: A Trump-installed prosecutor has indicted NY AG Letitia James, a public servant who held Trump accountable in court.

Career DOJ officials said there was no case. Trump’s team found one anyway.

This is what political prosecution looks like.

Read HERE: www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...

Letitia James criminally charged in Trump’s latest effort to punish rivals

Prosecutor who sought charges was installed amid Trump frustrations with pace of investigations against rivals

www.theguardian.com

2 10 28

Democracy Defenders Action @democracydefendersaction.org · 2d

Schiff just ran down a full indictment of this administration’s corruption and silence.

No further comment necessary.

Senate Judiciary Democrats 🇺🇸 @judiciarydems.senate.gov · 3d

Sen. SCHIFF: You’ve refused to answer questions about ethics, the Qatari plane, the Epstein files, Tom Homan’s alleged bribery, political prosecutions, military authorization…

Bondi: *tries interrupting*

Schiff: Excuse me. This is an oversight hearing. We demand answers.

4 39 110

Democracy Defenders Action @democracydefendersaction.org · 4d

NEW: A top federal prosecutor says there’s no cause to indict NY AG Letitia James despite intense pressure from Trump

Career DOJ prosecutors committed to the rule of law, not political revenge, are refusing to bow to political pressure

Read HERE: www.msnbc.com/msnbc/news/t...

Top prosecutor is rejecting Trump pressure to charge New York AG

A key federal prosecutor in Virginia, where James Comey was indicted, is resisting bringing charges against Letitia James.

www.msnbc.com

5 27

Democracy Defenders Action @democracydefendersaction.org · 4d

ICYMI: Major legal win in Oregon

Last night, a federal judge blocked Trump’s attempt to deploy out-of-state National Guard troops to Portland, calling it a clear violation of her prior order

This is a critical check on executive overreach

Read HERE: abc7.com/post/federal...

Federal judge temporarily blocks Trump administration from sending National Guard troops to Oregon

A federal judge temporarily blocked the Trump administration from deploying any National Guard units to Oregon, including the California National Guard.

abc7.com

2 12 44

Democracy Defenders Action @democracydefendersaction.org · 7d

300+ federal agents raided a Chicago apartment at night, detaining citizens, zip-tying kids, and wrecking homes

It was sanctioned by the WH under a false banner of "law & order"

This is lawless, authoritarian violence & we must meet it with truth, law, & solidarity
newrepublic.com/post/201258/...

ICE Zip-Ties Children in Horrific Raid on Chicago Apartment Building

ICE agents forced everyone out of a Chicago apartment building in the dead of night.

newrepublic.com

13 56 100

Democracy Defenders Action @democracydefendersaction.org · 8d

BREAKING: Trump says he’s using the shutdown to defund “Democrat agencies” and gut priorities he doesn’t like.

This isn’t budget policy, it’s political revenge.
He even called it an “unprecedented opportunity.”

This is authoritarian abuse & unacceptable.

3 15 61

Democracy Defenders Action @democracydefendersaction.org · 10d

BREAKING: As a shutdown looms, DDA is calling on all members of Congress to suspend stock trading for themselves & their families

Lawmakers should be working to reopen the government, not profiting from market chaos

Stock trading in these moments undermines public trust

Read HERE:

Press Release | Democracy Defenders Action

www.democracydefendersaction.org

4 52 140

Democracy Defenders Action @democracydefendersaction.org · 10d

Voters see what’s happening

Trump’s allies are shutting down the government to rip healthcare from millions

Meanwhile, they’re cashing in on corruption

The American people are rejecting this chaos

@normeisen.bsky.social, exec chair of DDA, broke it down on @weeknightmsnbc.bsky.social👇

4 19

Democracy Defenders Action @democracydefendersaction.org · 11d

Oregon AG on the WH’s military occupation of Portland: “What we’re seeing is not about public safety, it's about the President flexing political muscle under the guise of law and order, chasing a media hit at the expense of our community.”

Read HERE: www.cbsnews.com/news/oregon-...

Oregon sues Trump administration over plans to send troops to Portland

State Attorney General Dan Rayfield said Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth sent a memo to Gov. Tina Kotek authorizing 200 members of the Oregon National Guard to the city of Portland.

www.cbsnews.com

1 8 21

Democracy Defenders Action @democracydefendersaction.org · 17d

HUGE WIN: Disney/ABC reinstated Jimmy Kimmel’s show after a nationwide boycott.

The public’s refusal to accept censorship forced a reversal.

Democracy depends on standing up to authoritarian interference AND this shows it works.

6 20 91

Democracy Defenders Action @democracydefendersaction.org · 21d

Targeting speech through federal intimidation isn’t just chilling, it’s unconstitutional.

What happened to Jimmy Kimmel is a clear abuse of power.

5 79 270

Democracy Defenders Action @democracydefendersaction.org · 22d

The court's decision to allow racial profiling betrays the democracy Hispanic Americans helped shape.

At Democracy Defenders Action, we’ll keep fighting for a democracy rooted in inclusion & belonging. 4/4

11

Democracy Defenders Action @democracydefendersaction.org · 22d

Andrea Velez, a U.S. citizen, was wrongfully arrested during an ICE raid in downtown LA.

She spent two nights in jail. Was charged with a felony. The DOJ later dropped it.

No apology. No accountability.

Watch her story: m.youtube.com/watch?v=Amfp... 3/4

Woman wrongfully detained in immigration raid describes what she endured

YouTube video by PBS NewsHour

m.youtube.com

1 1 8

Democracy Defenders Action @democracydefendersaction.org · 22d

A week ago, the Supreme Court refused to stop ICE from racially profiling people they suspect are undocumented, often based only on ethnicity, language, or occupation.

This opens the door to abuse. And it’s already happening. 2/4

1 3

Democracy Defenders Action @democracydefendersaction.org · 22d

This Hispanic Heritage Month, we honor the generations of Hispanic Americans who’ve helped shape our democracy, from farmworkers to civil rights leaders, educators, artists & organizers.

But we can’t celebrate heritage while ignoring injustice. 1/4

2 9 20

Democracy Defenders Action @democracydefendersaction.org · 22d

A MUST WATCH: "Authoritarianism is already here."

From attacks on media to voter suppression, Stacey Abrams outlines why we already are living in an authoritarian state. But we've not fully fallen. Watch to see why there's hope:

Watch HERE: www.youtube.com/watch?app=de...

Stacey Abrams: “We Are in the Midst of an Authoritarian Regime” | Amanpour and Company

YouTube video by Amanpour and Company

www.youtube.com

7 62 140

Democracy Defenders Action @democracydefendersaction.org · 22d

Karen Attiah’s WaPo firing is just one example of the growing effort to silence those who speak out against injustice. In her article, she reflects on how the suppression of dissent is a dangerous step back for democracy.

DDA stands for protecting free speech & a free press.

Read HERE:

The Washington Post Fired Me — But My Voice Will Not Be Silenced.

I spoke out against hatred and violence in America — and it cost me my job.

karenattiah.substack.com

2 23 62

Democracy Defenders Action @democracydefendersaction.org · 22d

TUNE IN: Karen Attiah, former WaPo columnist, joined Don Lemon to discuss her firing after speaking out on political violence, racial double standards, and the administration’s pressure on companies to silence dissent.

Watch the discussion HERE: www.youtube.com/watch?v=lduR...

HOT TOPICS | Jimmy Kimmel Canceled: Is Free Speech Dead?! - September 18th, 2025

YouTube video by Don Lemon

www.youtube.com

1 23 80

Reposted by Democracy Defenders Action

Katie Phang @katiephang.bsky.social · 22d

Autocrats, like Convicted Felon Donald Trump, only want propaganda to be spewed to the masses.

The door to opposing points of view are slammed shut and the keys thrown away.

People like @karenattiah.bsky.social need our support during these times.

Barack Obama @barackobama.bsky.social · 22d

This is precisely the kind of government coercion that the First Amendment was designed to prevent — and media companies need to start standing up rather than capitulating to it.

Washington Post Columnist Says She Was Fired for Posts After Charlie Kirk Shooting

www.nytimes.com

23 200 680

Democracy Defenders Action @democracydefendersaction.org · 23d

For more than two centuries, the Constitution and core pillars of American Democracy such as a free press, rule of law, and the right to have sustained our nation. Today those principles are under attack—and we will not remain silent.

Read Democracy Defenders Action’s statement:

Press Release | Democracy Defenders Action

www.democracydefendersaction.org

1 4 8

Democracy Defenders Action @democracydefendersaction.org · 23d

The administration is exploiting the tragic killing of Charlie Kirk to escalate its campaign to stifle dissenting voices.

Must-read analysis from @tomjoscelyn.bsky.social & DDA execs Susan Corke, & Norm Eisen:

contrarian.substack.com/p/vances-dan...

Vance’s dangerous attack on free speech

The vice president's justifications for this ideological abuse of government power are obviously false.

contrarian.substack.com

1 21 27

Democracy Defenders Action @democracydefendersaction.org · 23d

This Constitution Day, we’re proud to support NotAboveTheLaw’s press conference with Sen. Schiff, Rep. Goldman, & Rep. Lee

The threats facing our democracy are real & growing. We ALL must play a part in upholding the Constitution’s promise.

RSVP here: www.mobilize.us/notabovethel...

Everyone’s Constitution: Why It Matters to All of Us · Not Above the Law

September 17 is Constitution Day, celebrating the 238th anniversary of the U.S. Constitution. The Constitution begins with the powerful words “We the People, “ emphasizing that our government belongs ...

www.mobilize.us

3 10

Democracy Defenders Action @democracydefendersaction.org · 23d

Democracy isn’t self-executing. On Constitution Day, we recommit to defending the rule of law, checks and balances, and a government accountable to the people.

Following is a statement by Susan Corke, executive director of Democracy Defenders Action:

13 18