Author | Lightnews

Holly Pettit @hollypettit.bsky.social · 19h

Steve Berger, an evangelical pastor who has attacked the separation of church and state as “a delusional lie” has a new roommate.

House Speaker Mike Johnson has been staying with him since around the beginning of 2025. www.propublica.org/article/mike... #Democracy #ChristianNationalism #USpolitics

Speaker Mike Johnson Is Living in a D.C. House That Is the Center of a Pastor’s Secretive Influence Campaign

The Capitol Hill townhouse is owned by a major Republican donor. It’s the headquarters of a little-known political influence project that has reached a number of powerful Republican politicians.

www.propublica.org

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Holly Pettit @hollypettit.bsky.social · 1d

That's a great pull for the new moon. Much needed, too, just now.

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Holly Pettit @hollypettit.bsky.social · 1d

Watching bulldozers destroy the East Wing of the White House is a knife to the heart. That residence belongs to the American people — past, present, and future.

It does not belong to the current resident.

#EastWing #WhiteHouse #USPolitics #USHistory

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Jack Cousteau ⚓️ @angrywaterman.bsky.social · 3d

Seattle No Kings from the monorail

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Holly Pettit @hollypettit.bsky.social · 3d

Sunset October 18, 2025 — #NH #Sunset #Autumn

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Brian Goldstone @brian-goldstone.bsky.social · 4d

A 200-person homeless encampment in Gainesville, GA, is being cleared this week. Many of those living in tents have jobs but can't afford rent.

One woman estimated she's been forced to move 20 times. "There's a lot of people who get checks that don't have enough money to get places," she said.

200-person homeless camp on community soccer field to be cleared

Many work full time but still can't afford housing.

www.wsbtv.com

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Eric Feigl-Ding @drericding.bsky.social · 4d

$172 million can fund a lot of medical research. Or 2 fancy private jets. www.nytimes.com/2025/10/18/u...

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Holly Pettit @hollypettit.bsky.social · 5d

The Dept. of Ed gutted special ed oversight this week. The funding is still there — but rights without enforcement are no rights at all.

My write-up:
hollypettit.substack.com/p/special-ed...

#SpecialEducation #DisabilityAwareness #FederalShutdown #TheBarriersWeFace #EduSky

Special Education Oversight Slashed Amid Federal Layoffs

Federal layoffs are dismantling the oversight that protects millions of children with disabilities. The dollars may remain, but the accountability is being stripped away.

hollypettit.substack.com

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Ruth Delgado @heylookitsruth.bsky.social · 9d

A mom in Houston reported her 15-year-old son with autism missing. She spent 6 days terrified, searching for him. The whole time, Houston police knew exactly where he was since they helped ICE place him in a refugee facility.

This is beyond cruel.
www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston...

Missing teen with autism transferred to refugee facility by HPD

He is currently being held at an Office for Refugee Resettlement facility.

www.houstonchronicle.com

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Holly Pettit @hollypettit.bsky.social · 7d

Confession: Rarely post real pics of my church. Our Pride flag + BLM sign = instant troll bait. My own politics & theology also tend to offend. We're already on a "woke church" watchlist & don't want draw the nutters a map to our door. I use look-alikes instead. (Ours is picturesque tho -- promise.)

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Holly Pettit @hollypettit.bsky.social · 7d

Foreign intelligence targets US space sector
U.S. #counterintelligence agencies issued a warning to the American #space industry regarding foreign entities, including China and Russia, attempting to steal #research and trade secrets to bolster their own space programs. #espionage

Mendy @mendenopolis.bsky.social · 8d

“FBI, NCSC, and AFOSI issued a two-page bulletin, saying unspecified foreign entities were using cyberattacks and techniques such as strategic investment through joint ventures and acquisitions to gain access to the U.S. space industry.”

US warns space companies about foreign spying

U.S. counterintelligence agencies on Friday warned the American space industry to guard against efforts by foreign intelligence entities to steal research and trade secrets as they try to boost their own countries' space programs.

www.reuters.com

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Holly Pettit @hollypettit.bsky.social · 8d

Small-town rumor report: someone on our town FB page claimed our pastor would be arrested Monday for “housing illegal aliens” at the church.
The proof? A photo of the workers (all documented) we hired to replace the front steps.
Pizzagate started this way.
#SocialMedia #Community #Misinformation

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Mrs. Betty Bowers @mrsbettybowers.bsky.social · 9d

On this date, Matthew Shephard died 27 years ago. He was beaten, tortured, and left for dead on fence for being gay. Please keep him and his wonderful mother Judy in your thoughts. And let's all work for a world where such horrific things do not happen to anyone. ❤️🏳️‍🌈

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Holly Pettit @hollypettit.bsky.social · 10d

$20 Billion.

#Argentina #USpolitics #ScottBessent
www.bbc.com/news/article...

US kicks off controversial financial rescue plan for Argentina

The Trump administration will purchase pesos in a bid to calm Argentina's economic crisis.

www.bbc.com

Holly Pettit @hollypettit.bsky.social · 12d

open.substack.com/pub/hollypet...

Render Unto God? How I Stopped Feeling Guilty About Asking for Money—And Maybe You Should Too

From megachurch millionaires to tar-paper shacks, money shapes faith more than we realize. Can we chat about this for a minute?

open.substack.com

Holly Pettit @hollypettit.bsky.social · 12d

Let’s clear something up: our congregation isn’t just weddings, baptisms, and funerals. It’s food assistance, rent help, clothing drives, car repair funds, counseling, and low-level case management. It’s a comprehensive community safety net the town depends on. #SocialSafetyNet #EmergencyAssistance

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Holly Pettit @hollypettit.bsky.social · 16d

At a $10K-per-person Natal Conference, far-right influencers host matchmaking sessions aiming to ‘repopulate the Earth’ — with on-site ministers ready to officiate marriages.

Let's unpack the #Quiverfull movement and the history of women's reproductive health. #Feminism

medium.com/counterarts/...

Margaret Sanger and the New War on Birth Control

Billionaires and fundamentalists want women to have more babies. History shows the cost in gravestones and poverty.

medium.com

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Holly Pettit @hollypettit.bsky.social · 16d

Goodstein, who has served on the state judicial bench since 1989, in September issued a temporary injunction on the release of the state’s voter files to the current administration-led US justice department. #USPolitics #Elections #Courts

www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...

Fire destroys home of South Carolina judge who had received death threats

State’s chief justice says fire that sent three people to the hospital appeared to have been caused by an ‘explosion’

www.theguardian.com

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Holly Pettit @hollypettit.bsky.social · 16d

@patmanhattan.bsky.social hey Patrick — followed you here from your Substack bio. Greetings!

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Holly Pettit @hollypettit.bsky.social · 19d

We have the tools and skillset to #endhomelessness. Let's support the things we know work. #HousingFirst #HomelessnessPrevention #Healthcare

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Holly Pettit @hollypettit.bsky.social · 20d

A church of 12 million members around the world just embraced LGBTQ+ clergy & marriage — even in countries where being gay is punished by prison or death.

Is this our game-changer?

Here's the full, paywall-free article: medium.com/backyard-the...

#LGBTQ+ #SocialJustice #ProgressiveChristianity

How the United Methodist Church’s LGBTQ+ Shift Is Reshaping World Christianity

A global denomination with 12 million members finally embraces LGBTQ+ inclusion — reshaping church culture in Africa, Asia, and beyond.

medium.com

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Politics and International Law @politicsintllaw.bsky.social · 21d

The Nigerian government wants to develop shea butter manufacturing, so it banned shea exports to lower the price of raw supplies for manufacturers. But now the women who process shea nuts don’t make enough money to feed their families. #TradeLaw www.bbc.com/news/article...

Nigeria shea industry: Export ban backfires for thousands of women

The ban, intended to boost domestic production of shea butter, has reduced earnings for many women.

www.bbc.com

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Holly Pettit @hollypettit.bsky.social · 21d

Here are some ways to put action behind our words: open.substack.com/pub/hollypet...

Housing, Not Handcuffs: Real Solutions to Homelessness

Part 4 of a series on homelessness in America: why clearing camps and criminalizing the unhoused fail — and which policies actually save lives and money.

open.substack.com

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Holly Pettit @hollypettit.bsky.social · 21d

If the U.S. can build highways, spend $200 million on a new White House ballroom, and spend a billion dollars on rebranding the Department of Defense, it can house its own citizens. The question is not whether we have the resources — it’s whether we have the will. #homelessness #housing #policy

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Molly McKew @mollymckew.bsky.social · 22d

The Ukrainian military—the toughest, most experienced, most adaptable, most successful on the modern battlefield—is beardy old men, women, artists, gamers who can’t deadlift sh*t but can fly a drone into a Russian helicopter rotor

Focusing on capabilities, not “looks,” is how you achieve victory

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