Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Erica Vladimer @ericaforny.bsky.social · 20h

One more thing: this is classic DARVO.

Deny (I didn’t do it/do anything wrong)
Attack (I’m going to sue you)
Reverse Victim & Offender (You’re trying to tank my amazing career and job prospects)

Anna Bower @annabower.bsky.social · 20h

Paul Ingrassia is now threatening to sue Politico:

“This vexatious political attack masquerading as "journalism" is defamatory and will be addressed in forthcoming litigation.”

October 10, 2025
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Re: Statement on behalf of my client Paul Ingrassia regarding last night's story, Key Trump nominee accused of sexual harassment, POLITICO (Oct. 9, 2025), https://www.politico.com/news/2025/10/09/ingrassia-trump-harassment-dhs-
00596545
POLITICO's hit piece about Mr. Ingrassia is calculated to cause maximum harm to his promising career — and torpedo his nomination for Special Counsel. This vexatious political attack masquerading as "journalism" is defamatory and will be addressed in forthcoming litigation.
To be 100% crystal clear, so that there is zero room for doubt: Mr. Ingrassia did not engage in any wrongdoing in connection with the matters reported. As POLITICO itself reported: "The woman, whom POLITICO is not naming, said in a statement that she 'never felt uncomfortable' about Ingrassia's behavior and said she had never made a complaint." This is one of the only accurate parts of POLITICO's otherwise fantastical and fictional partisan fairy tale.
Accordingly, one last time, I call upon POLITICO to publicly apologize and issue a full retraction of this disgraceful and partisan sludge.
/s/ Edward Andrew Paltzik
taylordykema.com

1 1 2

Erica Vladimer @ericaforny.bsky.social · 20h

Also huge props to this attorney for admitting that POLITICO was accurate in its reporting. Well done, well done.

2

Erica Vladimer @ericaforny.bsky.social · 20h

“The woman said in a statement said she never felt uncomfortable…and never made a complaint,” why yes because society has made it so very safe for women to voice their discomfort and file formal complaints.

Anna Bower @annabower.bsky.social · 20h

Paul Ingrassia is now threatening to sue Politico:

“This vexatious political attack masquerading as "journalism" is defamatory and will be addressed in forthcoming litigation.”

1 1 4

Erica Vladimer @ericaforny.bsky.social · 1d

Sexual harassment is the canary in the corruption coal mine.

If he’s willing to pull this shit to sexually harass a colleague, he’s willing to do much more to (ab)use his power.

Catherine Rampell @crampell.bsky.social · 1d

Paul Ingrassia, Trump’s nominee to head up the Office of Special Counsel, cancelled a female colleague’s hotel reservation on a work trip so he could stay with her, and they ended up sharing a room after she learned she didn't have a hotel room. www.politico.com/news/2025/10...

Key Trump nominee accused of sexual harassment

Paul Ingrassia has been investigated for allegedly harassing a lower-ranking colleague, according to administration officials. Fearing retaliation, the woman later withdrew a complaint, and Ingrassia ...

www.politico.com

4

Erica Vladimer @ericaforny.bsky.social · 1d

Begging organizations, political clubs, local party orgs etc. to stop using name tags and go back to the good old days of people introducing themselves to one another.

Don’t tell me it’s a “cocktail attire” event and then ask me to wear a piece of paper with my name written in sharpie on it!

2

Reposted by Erica Vladimer

Invest in Our New York @investinourny.bsky.social · 2d

This is really a damn shame. If only there was New York elected who had the power to raise new state public $$$ by taxing the rich so we could invest those clean energy projects and keep New Yorkers employed.

Do you know anyone with that kind of power, Governor Hochul?

Governor Kathy Hochul @governor.ny.gov · 2d

Once again, New York Republicans are turning their backs on their neighbors to please Donald Trump.

1,000 jobs and $650 million are on the line.

They’d rather kiss the ring than protect their own state.

1 4 14

Erica Vladimer @ericaforny.bsky.social · 4d

My partner (easily) convinced me to binge Season 2 of Andor, and it is absolutely terrifying to watch the parallels happening in/around/about Chicago.

Like if you told me Trump was building a Death Star, I would say "yep, that makes sense."

1 4

Erica Vladimer @ericaforny.bsky.social · 9d

Me and my birthday cake Oreos.

Jennifer Br🎃🎃ks @stribrooks.bsky.social · 10d

A friend just sent me this picture of his mastiff, Peanut.

Let it wash over you.

OK, I’m usually pretty good with alt text, but this one may defeat me. Imagine the biggest, wrinkliest black dog.

Now imagine a large, violently green ball.

Now imagine that Peanut the mastiff has put a ball exactly the size of his enormous maw into his enormous maw, completely filling it like a cork, or a big green baby binky.

That is this.

4

Reposted by Erica Vladimer

Chris Murphy @chrismurphyct.bsky.social · 9d

Good morning.

The government is shut down because Trump wants to act like a king and steal from you.

Democrats have no obligation to support a budget that funds the destruction of our democracy - and DOUBLES health premiums to fund a tax cut for billionaires.

250 2.7K 8.1K

Erica Vladimer @ericaforny.bsky.social · 10d

"Trump mused about using the shutdown as a pretext to take 'irreversible' actions such as benefit cuts, 'cutting programs that [Democrats] like' and 'trimming the budget to a level that you couldn’t do any other way.'

So...everything they did through the OBBB? Again, PAR FOR THE COURSE FOR THE GOP!

2 3

Erica Vladimer @ericaforny.bsky.social · 10d

"National parks close. People have trouble signing up for Social Security or Medicare. Government services are interrupted. Constituents try to call agencies and no one picks up. Permits are slowed."

This is just a regular Wednesday under the Trump Admin, y'all.

1 1 3

Erica Vladimer @ericaforny.bsky.social · 10d

I know it's not new, but I'm still blown away by news outlets carrying Republicans' water this morning over the shutdown. Punchbowl in particular...whew, boy.

They list a bunch of shitty things that happen during a shutdown, completely failing to mention it's ALREADY HAPPENING ANYWAY.

1 1 2

Reposted by Erica Vladimer

Lindsey Boylan @lindseyboylan.bsky.social · 11d

“The behavior was pure misogynistic abuse, and it’s a growing movement in American culture right now.” www.glamour.com/story/the-mi...

The Misogynistic Abuse Directed at Rory McIlroy’s Wife at the Ryder Cup Is Deeper Than Golf

It shows a cultural shift, one in which men feel emboldened to attack women in public without shame or consequence.

www.glamour.com

43 300 720

Erica Vladimer @ericaforny.bsky.social · 12d

Huge props to @sammellins.bsky.social for this much needed reporting. But it shouldn’t take a news outlet exposing shitty conditions for public servants to get paid what they deserve.

You know what would strengthen our legislature even more? A staff union (which the NYSLWU is working on!)

New York Focus @nysfocus.bsky.social · 12d

The first significant pay increase in years could strengthen the office responsible for reviewing major legislation.
nysfocus.com/2025/09/23/a...

Assembly Staff Receive Raises After New York Focus Reporting on Low…

The first significant pay increase in years could strengthen the office responsible for reviewing major legislation.

nysfocus.com

3

Reposted by Erica Vladimer

Invest in Our New York @investinourny.bsky.social · 17d

“Like their French peers, many of NY’s billionaires have predicted the fall of civilization if their taxes are raised, but it’s…hard to see how raising from 10.9% on the portion of their income in excess of $25M to 12.9% would bring the walls of the temple tumbling down” prospect.org/economy/2025...

Clamoring to Tax the Rich

In Berkeley, New York, Paris, and Vatican City, it’s become central to political battles—and religious concerns.

prospect.org

1 3

Erica Vladimer @ericaforny.bsky.social · 18d

www.nytimes.com/2025/09/20/o...

Opinion | What the Mayor Got Away With Has Already Changed America

www.nytimes.com

1

Erica Vladimer @ericaforny.bsky.social · 19d

What an article. Only thing I wish is that Noah had 1,000 more words to loop in Cuomo’s corruption…because Adams isn’t the only one who’s charged with the Trump admin. And Adams is not the only one running like his corrupt past doesn’t exist.

Noah Shachtman @noahshachtman.bsky.social · 20d

If you want to understand this Trump administration's rampant corruption ... you have to go back to Eric Adams, and how they made the case against him disappear.

I got a bunch of new details on this deep dive for @nytimes.com ...

www.nytimes.com/2025/09/20/o...

Opinion | Eric Adams, Donald Trump and the Case That Broke American Justice

www.nytimes.com

2 4 25

Reposted by Erica Vladimer

Award-Winning Reporter Dave Colon @davecolon.bsky.social · 21d

This level of passive aggressive behavior is unseemly for any kind of leader

Politico @politico.com · 21d

New York Democratic Party Chair Jay Jacobs says he will resign from his post if Gov. Kathy Hochul requests it — a day after he broke with her by announcing he wouldn’t endorse Mamdani.

Hochul’s key political ally weighs resignation after Mamdani endorsement

New York Democratic party chair Jay Jacobs is uncomfortable with the democratic socialist’s candidacy.

www.politico.com

5 4 30

Erica Vladimer @ericaforny.bsky.social · 21d

“It’s pretty presumptuous of Jay to declare himself the decision-maker of who aligns w/ Dem Party values. AM Mamdani is running on wildly popular policies that clearly resonate w/ the Dem base in NYC & nationally. Perhaps it’s Jay who doesn’t represent the...Dem Party, not our duly elected nominee.”

Politico @politico.com · 21d

New York Democratic Party Chair Jay Jacobs says he will resign from his post if Gov. Kathy Hochul requests it — a day after he broke with her by announcing he wouldn’t endorse Mamdani.

Hochul’s key political ally weighs resignation after Mamdani endorsement

New York Democratic party chair Jay Jacobs is uncomfortable with the democratic socialist’s candidacy.

www.politico.com

1 3

Erica Vladimer @ericaforny.bsky.social · 22d

Cuomo never should’ve reappointed Jay as chair.

Hochul never should’ve kept Jay on as Chair when she became governor.

Jay should’ve resigned in 2022.

His resignation can’t come soon enough.

But us state cmt members need to do whatever we can to help install the Chair NY Dems deserve, too.

Daniel Schlozman @daschloz.bsky.social · 22d

If the road to democratic renewal runs through better parties, and the formal Democratic Party is run by Jay Jacobs and his ilk, then we need a massive effort to unfuck the state parties and the "Bermuda triangle" of the DNC www.nytimes.com/2025/09/18/n...

New York Democratic Chairman Won’t Endorse Mamdani for Mayor

www.nytimes.com

1 5

Reposted by Erica Vladimer

Polling USA @usapolling.bsky.social · 25d

"Do you think the government should increase taxes on the wealthiest to strengthen the country's social and safety net programs?"

Yes: 73%
No: 26%

Beacon/Shaw / Sep 9, 2025

14 100 430

Reposted by Erica Vladimer

Zohran Kwame Mamdani @zohrankmamdani.bsky.social · 28d

New Mexico's economy is a fraction of the size of New York City's.

If they can enact universal childcare — and relieve working families of a crushing cost burden — surely we can too.

It's just a question of political will.

New Mexico will be the first state to make child care free

The program, which is expected to save families $12,000 per child annually, is available to all residents regardless of income.

19thnews.org

290 4K 17K

Reposted by Erica Vladimer

Invest in Our New York @investinourny.bsky.social · Sep 10

Once again, the super-rich and highly profitable corporations escape paying what they owe.

....Must be nice.

It's up to state lawmakers to ensure the wealthy pay their fair share.

Robert Reich @rbreich.bsky.social · Sep 10

When Trump said "I am your voice," this is who he was talking to.

1 2

Reposted by Erica Vladimer

Invest in Our New York @investinourny.bsky.social · Sep 10

Welp, @governor.ny.gov is on board with Trump & Congressional Republicans' efforts to make NY sicker. @axios.com reported this morning that Hochul is scrapping expanded healthcare b/c of the Federal Budget Scam. www.axios.com/2025/09/10/n...

Our response (spoiler, she should #TaxTheRich instead)👇

Earlier this morning, Axios reported that Gov. Hochul plans to axe New Yorkers’ healthcare as a result of July’s Federal Budget Scam. Below is a response from Erica Vladimer, Communications Coordinator for the Invest In Our New York Campaign:

“New York’s Congressional Republican delegation happily voted to make New Yorkers sicker by cutting billions from our healthcare, forcing state leaders to step in and deal with the aftermath. Unfortunately, Governor Hochul’s claim to stand up for New York’s families falls short as she chooses to axe their healthcare. Instead, Governor Hochul can raise the necessary public dollars to protect healthcare access by raising taxes on New York’s millionaires and billionaires. Anything less is just going along with Donald Trump and Congressional Republicans.”

8 11

Reposted by Erica Vladimer

Steven Mazie @stevenmazie.bsky.social · Sep 8

SCOTUS: considering race as one factor in a college applicant's file is blatantly unconstitutional

ALSO SCOTUS: considering race as one factor in targeting whom to detain and deport is cool cool cool

200 5.8K 15K