Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

James Vizzard @jwvizzard.bsky.social · 22m

As will, you know, hundreds of thousands of other federal employees. Nothing against "tha troops"--I was one for decades--but firefighters, social security clerks, scientists, air traffic controllers, etc also don't deserve to get screwed.

ARLnow @arlnow.bsky.social · 30m

Troops will miss paychecks next week without action on the government shutdown

Troops will miss paychecks next week without action on the government shutdown | ARLnow.com

WASHINGTON (AP) — Heather Campbell lost her job working for a food bank over the summer because of federal funding cuts. Her husband serves as an officer in the Air Force, but now he’s facing the...

www.arlnow.com

3 9

James Vizzard @jwvizzard.bsky.social · 30m

He meant the Argentine state is the problem. The U.S. state is the solution--completely consistent with the current situation.

David Gura @davidgura.bsky.social · 2h

During a government shutdown, the Trump administration is bailing out Argentina, whose president is fond of saying, “The state isn’t the solution, it’s the problem.”

David Gura @davidgura.bsky.social · 2h

Secretary Scott Bessent says the U.S. has “directly purchased Argentine pesos,” and the Treasury Department has “finalized a $20 billion currency swap framework with Argentina’s central bank.”

1

James Vizzard @jwvizzard.bsky.social · 31m

It may just show how basic I am, but I've always loved that line.

James Vizzard @jwvizzard.bsky.social · 38m

Remember when quantitative easing to address a financial crisis in the U.S. was COMMUNISM!!?

David Gura @davidgura.bsky.social · 2h

Secretary Scott Bessent says the U.S. has “directly purchased Argentine pesos,” and the Treasury Department has “finalized a $20 billion currency swap framework with Argentina’s central bank.”

James Vizzard @jwvizzard.bsky.social · 47m

They have been my go-to for years, but rented with them on two recent trips and they screwed me over both times. First time an hour on the phone got all the bogus charges reversed. Second time not so much.

James Vizzard @jwvizzard.bsky.social · 49m

He's right about Obama's Nobel, at least.

NOELREPORTS @noelreports.com · 1h

Trump’s usual nonsense and clueless talk: he claims Ukraine and Russia will soon enter talks due to possible new US sanctions. He called Obama’s 2009 Nobel Peace Prize undeserved, dismissed the threat of a Russian attack on Finland, and floated kicking Spain out of NATO for not paying 5% of GDP.

James Vizzard @jwvizzard.bsky.social · 54m

If she had documents that led to her release, what was the basis for the detaining her?

Is most of America just not seeing this, or does it not bother them? I live in the DC region and I'm saturated with news--ultimate bubble.

CollinCountyDems @collincountydems.bsky.social · 2h

This is terrifying!

ICE breaks into this woman’s car in the pick-up line at West Loop Elementary school in Chicago and detains her before she can pick her kids up from school. (They were eventually let go after showing their documents)

This is Trump’s America.

James Vizzard @jwvizzard.bsky.social · 58m

The theme song seems like a throwback to an 80s sitcom, but it fits with his goofy persona.

1

James Vizzard @jwvizzard.bsky.social · 4h

Yep. That's what leads me to believe Johnson is increasing the danger of a conference split. Members are in their districts just as constituents are getting their notifications of premium increases.

1

James Vizzard @jwvizzard.bsky.social · 4h

I'm not Catholic or even Christian, but that is really a great ethos by which to live one's life.

1

James Vizzard @jwvizzard.bsky.social · 4h

Plus, loss of paychecks next week would be the moment to pile on Ds for the shutdown, but Johnson's public comment will make that harder. Low info voters will miss the subtle distinction b/w "I don't want separate legislation" and "I don't care if they don't get paid."

1 1

James Vizzard @jwvizzard.bsky.social · 4h

I am extremely skeptical that the Epstein files contain something catastrophic for the president, but the GOP is doing everything it possibly can to create the impression they do. Either that, or he's afraid his conference will crack on ACA subsidies. But that's getting more likely by the day.

1 2

James Vizzard @jwvizzard.bsky.social · 4h

Ds were all set to take the blame for this shutdown, but Republicans are blowing all their advantages. Johnson could put the Ds on their back foot on this issue, but he would have to bring the House back into session. Can't credibly blame the other party while extending the recess (and getting paid)

1 1

James Vizzard @jwvizzard.bsky.social · 4h

I actually think setting a separate standard for military pay would be bad policy but good politics. I'm a little surprised Johnson and the House GOP aren't clamoring for it, and it highlights how the military's symbolic place in our partisan melodrama has shifted in recent years.

Jen Bendery @jbendery.bsky.social · 4h

After she was cut off, Johnson said he was sorry about her situation but that he still opposes passing a standalone bill to protect military pay amid the shutdown.

Yesterday he said doing this would be “dithering on show votes” instead of focusing on ending the shutdown.

1 2 3

James Vizzard @jwvizzard.bsky.social · 9h

This is just the price a free society has to pay to avoid hearing Spanish in public.

Jacob Ware @jacobware.bsky.social · 9h

Unfortunately, we will need to get used to higher rates of terrorist attacks for as long as counterterrorism is deprioritized and under-resourced at the FBI. www.washingtonpost.com/national-sec...

A quarter of FBI agents are assigned to immigration enforcement, per FBI data

Nearly a quarter of FBI agents are currently assigned to immigration enforcement, with the number climbing above 40 percent in the bureau’s largest field offices.

www.washingtonpost.com

1 12 40

James Vizzard @jwvizzard.bsky.social · 9h

Virginia has a critical statewide election next month and there’s still time to register/update. There’s even same-day registration (but that takes more work) www.elections.virginia.gov/citizen-port...

4 1

James Vizzard @jwvizzard.bsky.social · 10h

Saving this in the camera roll for the next "master race" joke.

Dave Bagpuss Forsey 🍺 @bagpuss.org · 13h

The photography in this article really feels like The Times are deliberately setting these people up for ridicule. (You can read it without visiting The Times here archive.ph/KZZC1)

An article from The Times: "Meet the young Tories dreaming of a bright blue future". Featuring bizarre portraits of Charles Amos, Rhys Benjamin and Daniel Campbell.

1 4

James Vizzard @jwvizzard.bsky.social · 10h

Saw a car yesterday with Tea Party plates and a Robert F. Kennedy for President bumper sticker. I cannot fathom.

NPR @npr.org · 12h

A new poll shows trust in federal health policies is plummeting, and what -- or who -- people believe increasingly depends on their politics. n.pr/3KF1CiO

59% of Americans disapprove of RFK Jr.'s moves as health secretary, a new poll says

A new poll shows trust in federal health policies is plummeting, and what -- or who -- people believe increasingly depends on their politics.

n.pr

2

Reposted by James Vizzard

Lux Alptraum @luxalptraum.com · 23h

TFW you paid $1400 to see Beckett’s most famous work without knowing anything about it

One Star Review of Waiting for Godot on Broadway
I recently attended Waiting for Godot on Broadway and spent over $1,400 for two Row C seats (103 and 104). I'm a longtime admirer of Broadway productions and even hold a season pass for Shea's Performing Arts Theatre, so I came in with genuine enthusiasm and high expectations. Unfortunately, this show was unlike anything ! have ever experienced —and not in a good way.
What I encountered was not the artistry, music, or emotional storytelling I usually associate with Broadway, but instead what felt like an endless cycle of nonsensical conversation between characters who seemed trapped in their own madness. I tried-truly tried-to find meaning, symbolism, or even a thread of emotional resonance. I stayed through the first half hoping the second would offer clarity. But by intermission, it was clear: this was a waste of both time and money.
Keanu Reeves is an actor I respect greatly, but I cannot fathom why he would agree to participate in such a disjointed, inaccessible production. His talent was lost in a performance that defied reason rather than provoked insight.
To anyone considering attending: unless you are drawn to highly abstract, nearly incomprehensible theater, I strongly caution you against this show. For the average, educated, thoughtful theatergoer, it is far more frustrating than fulfilling. In my opinion, this was the single most disappointing Broadway experience I've ever had - an unfortunate waste of money and, more importantly, of time.

34 820 4.6K

James Vizzard @jwvizzard.bsky.social · 1d

I was the youngest battery commander on Fort Bragg, but I was still “the old man.”

James Vizzard @jwvizzard.bsky.social · 1d

Being referred to as “the old man” when I was 28 probably didn’t help

1

James Vizzard @jwvizzard.bsky.social · 1d

Reunited with people I had lost touch with and became (again) close friends. Met people in my field of academic interest who would have just been names in citations otherwise.

2

James Vizzard @jwvizzard.bsky.social · 1d

When I joined a National Park Service fire crew in 1991, they turned me onto kipper snacks as a compact protein to carry with me, and I was surprised by how much I liked them.

1

James Vizzard @jwvizzard.bsky.social · 1d

Yes, you could certainly see where having your key witness testify unequivocally under oath that the defendant did the opposite of what is alleged might be "problematic."

Federal prosecutors investigating former FBI Director James Comey for allegedly making false statements to Congress determined that a central witness in their probe would prove "problematic" and likely prevent them from establishing their case to a jury, sources familiar with their findings told ABC News.

Daniel Richman -- a law professor who prosecutors allege Comey authorized to leak information to the press -- told investigators that the former FBI director instructed him not to engage with the media on at least two occasions and unequivocally said Comey never authorized him to provide information to a reporter anonymously ahead of the 2016 election, the sources said.

3

James Vizzard @jwvizzard.bsky.social · 1d

It's not even show me your papers b/c the papers themselves are no protection. Can't wait for the SCOTUS decision that federal agents have unfettered discretion to reject govt-issued IDs based on nothing but "their professional judgement."

3 9