Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Karen F.Duncan

@karenfduncan.bsky.social

890 followers 1.2K following 540 posts

Lifelong Democrat, mostly liberal and progressive, sometimes contrarian, which is a polite way of saying grumpy. Also an introvert who would rather write than talk.

Posts Media Videos Starter Packs

Pinned

Karen F.Duncan @karenfduncan.bsky.social · Nov 28

I should put this up as a public service announcement. If you are thinking of following me, I welcome you and I’m thrilled.

But if you DM me and I don’t know you, I probably won’t reply. If I post something, I welcome replies and feedback. But private messages, not so much.

2 34

Karen F.Duncan @karenfduncan.bsky.social · 4d

My Canadian friends certainly think so.

earthbound420.bsky.social @earthbound420.bsky.social · 4d

Seriously 💥 🙄

5 18

Karen F.Duncan @karenfduncan.bsky.social · 4d

That was my father’s Republican Party. They don’t make them like that anymore.

earthbound420.bsky.social @earthbound420.bsky.social · 4d

Yeah the last of a good Republican💥

4 14

Karen F.Duncan @karenfduncan.bsky.social · 10d

That’s known as irony.

Karen F.Duncan @karenfduncan.bsky.social · 13d

There’s a reason for sticking up for the rule of law, even when the victim of legal overreach is someone you don’t like.

When he is unsafe, we are unsafe. When he can be indicted without real evidence of a crime, so can we. If he’s the victim of trumped up charges, so will we be.

1 2

Karen F.Duncan @karenfduncan.bsky.social · 13d

the DOJ starts to indict other Democrats you do care about.

This is a tactic right out of the fascist playbook. Lull people into false security by going after the least popular, least defensible first. But Trump has already signaled this is only the beginning.

1 2

Karen F.Duncan @karenfduncan.bsky.social · 13d

That’s not karma. It’s the action of a dictator weaponizing the DOJ to go after his personal enemies and intimidating opponents

The way it works is you go after the most unpopular target first, like Comey, who people don’t want to defend. Once the precedent is set and it’s normalized,

1 2

Karen F.Duncan @karenfduncan.bsky.social · 13d

Meanwhile the precedent of weaponizing the DOJ to prosecute Trump’s opponents is set. They’ll go from the folks we don’t care about to the ones we do, like Adam Schiff, Jamie Raskin on down till they get to AOC then it’s a matter of time before it’s us on the local level. It’s how fascism works.

1 5

Karen F.Duncan @karenfduncan.bsky.social · 13d

is a classic fascist tactic to confuse liberals. Go after someone we do dislike with valid reasons is a tactic to get us to not care, maybe even cheer his downfall, and not protest the underlying action. It’s a form of gaslighting, going after an unpopular person nobody will defend.

1 5

Karen F.Duncan @karenfduncan.bsky.social · 13d

Karma, btw, is a dispassionate reaction in the universe: action causes consequences.

This is a dictator abusing and weaponizing the DOJ to go after his enemies. That’s not karma. That’s an authoritarian abusing power.

Going after someone like Comey, with lots of liberal enemies,

1 2

Karen F.Duncan @karenfduncan.bsky.social · 13d

First this is not cosmic karma and I really get tired of people misunderstanding what karma actually is. But that’s a discussion for a different day.

You don’t have to like Comey to recognize that this is a dangerous precedent that will affect lots of folks you do like better than Comey.

1 4

Reposted by Karen F.Duncan

Home of the Brave @ofthebraveusa.bsky.social · 21d

Sarah Matthews: "I believe in the Constitution and the First Amendment, and we are seeing it under siege right now—whether it's Jimmy Kimmel, or Trump suing the WSJ and the NYT... Republicans need to grow a backbone and speak out against it, but I'm not gonna hold my breath."

2 32 150

Karen F.Duncan @karenfduncan.bsky.social · Aug 30

I mean there’s nothing to add to this. RFK, JR. is nucking futz.

Jack Hopkins-The Original @therealjackhopkins.bsky.social · Aug 30

"RFK Jr: We need to stop trusting the experts... Trusting the experts is not a feature of science or democracy...it's a feature of religion and totalitarianism."

Were he not a Kennedy...and wealthy...he'd likely be living his life out in a mental institution. Diagnosis: Dumb-Fuckery.

Karen F.Duncan @karenfduncan.bsky.social · Aug 30

Here’s what happens when the government is run by incompetent sycophants. America is less safe, less prosperous, and if RFK, Jr. has his way, will be far less healthy soon.

Michele @funnymichele.bsky.social · Aug 30

😡

Karen F.Duncan @karenfduncan.bsky.social · Aug 27

Oh absolutely agree. Please repost.

Reposted by Karen F.Duncan

Alan Smithee DGA @alansmitheedga.bsky.social · Aug 20

5 34 140

Karen F.Duncan @karenfduncan.bsky.social · Aug 20

Pricing and access to new drugs is opaque, with three major interlocking companies controlling them. The benefits managers and the insurers especially are in collusion. Nothing about this system is a free market system. It’s a rigged system. We need Medicare 4 All to fix the corruption.

Karen F.Duncan @karenfduncan.bsky.social · Aug 20

Remember, none of this is “free market” economics either. When it comes to drug prices, there’s no free market, no competition. Drug companies hold patents on these drugs so only one company can make and sell them. Pharma benefits mgrs determine which drugs insurers cover.

Senator Bernie Sanders @sanders.senate.gov · Aug 19

Novo Nordisk’s move to cut the price of Ozempic to $499 for the uninsured is a modest step forward, but let’s not forget.

Ozempic costs just $59 in Germany while it costs less than $5 to make.

The U.S. must no longer pay the highest prices in the world for prescription drugs.

Novo Halves Ozempic Price to $499 a Month for Those Paying Cash

Novo Nordisk A/S is slashing the cost of Ozempic for cash-paying patients after the diabetes shot became the poster child for high US drug prices.

www.bloomberg.com

1 1

Reposted by Karen F.Duncan

Bryan Behar @bryanbehar.bsky.social · Aug 20

The purpose of January 6th was to stop the levers of government from functioning, prevent the peaceful transfer of power, and possibly kill Mike Pence.

Anyone who says otherwise is rewriting history. And was likely there.

1 20 93

Karen F.Duncan @karenfduncan.bsky.social · Aug 20

Why is nobody mentioning this is a violation of the Constitution’s 4A prohibition against unreasonable searches & seizures?

That’s why the others were required to sign a consent form to be monitored, also probably a violation of their rights.

They should be filing writs of habeas corpus w/SCOTUS

Jack Hopkins-The Original @therealjackhopkins.bsky.social · Aug 19

Rep. Nicole Collier refused to ‘sign away her dignity’ by accepting a police escort…and spent the night on the Texas House floor protesting GOP overreach. A quiet act of defiance…that speaks volumes!🔥

Karen F.Duncan @karenfduncan.bsky.social · Aug 20

of Habeas Corpus at the SCOTUS.

Karen F.Duncan @karenfduncan.bsky.social · Aug 20

Detaining Rep. Collier is an illegal seizure of her person. They are holding her illegally without a warrant.

That’s why they required the others to sign a consent form. Because they know this is illegal and unconstitutional.

None of them should’ve signed. They should be filing emergency writs

1 2

Karen F.Duncan @karenfduncan.bsky.social · Aug 20

I honestly don’t know why anyone isn’t talking about how this is a violation of the Constitution’s 4th Amendment? It prohibits unreasonable searches or seizures; illegal arrests are a seizure of a person.

1 1

Karen F.Duncan @karenfduncan.bsky.social · Aug 18

For those of us who were there and remember that amazing weekend. We didn’t know we were creating history. What a time it was.

Patti Olivier EPSTEIN FILES NEVER FORGET @patti3333.bsky.social · Aug 18

Many of us know
But in case you aren't old enough

56 YEARS AGO
From August 15-18
Was WOODSTOCK

I was not old enough my parents wouldn't let me go.
But WOW, nearly 500 Thousand did!

And check this out
Ticket prices for all 3 days $18 in advance and $24 at the gate !!

THE BEST EVER PERFORMED

4 2 17

Karen F.Duncan @karenfduncan.bsky.social · Aug 18

Do not comply in advance. Instead, speak out so you never have to comply.

Karen F.Duncan @karenfduncan.bsky.social · Aug 18

Do not comply in advance. In fact, speak out and fight back now so you never have to comply.

Jack Hopkins-The Original @therealjackhopkins.bsky.social · Aug 17

I see people fearful to talk on social media. Posts are tightening up and people are being "careful." I refuse to do that. That...is obeying in advance. I would literally rather be dead...than submit.