Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Reposted by Karen Pickell

Freedom of the Press Foundation @freedom.press · 16h

Censoring the press isn't enough for the Trump administration. Now they're even trying to censor court records that discuss the press's reporting.

This is unheard of.

Opposition Filed Against DOJ Effort to Strike Context from Complaint About Qatar’s ‘Gifted’ Jet to Trump Administration - American Oversight

As the DOJ refuses the prompt release of a memo clearing the Qatari jet ‘gift,’ Freedom of the Press Foundation, represented by American Oversight, argues against erasing this context and the agency’s continued delays.

americanoversight.org

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Reposted by Karen Pickell

Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 48m

Pritzker: "If the Constitution means anything -- and I guess we all are questioning that right now -- the Insurrection Act cannot be invoked ... they just want troops on the ground because they want to militarize especially blue cities in blue states."

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Mrs. Betty Bowers @mrsbettybowers.bsky.social · 20h

"A future president, even dumber than you, will allow Qatar, the country that harbored Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, the architect of the plane attacks in NY, PA, and DC today, and whose royal family will help him escape capture by the US, to build a military base on US soil to train Qataris to fly jets."

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Karen Pickell @karenpickell.bsky.social · 2h

He's right, Dems must evolve.

"Nonviolent unruliness has power precisely because it breaks the code of composure. ...when behavior defies what’s anticipated, it commands outsized attention and carries significant weight. That impact is magnified when it comes from insiders with status or access."

The Guardian @theguardian.com · 4h

Democrats are captive to outdated etiquette. It’s endangering democracy | Ryan W Powers

The establishment left’s attachment to rigid rules leaves the party out of touch and failing to meet the moment

www.theguardian.com

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Catherine Rampell @crampell.bsky.social · 21h

Illinois law requires all registered vehicles to display front and back license plates, without exception. But to evade accountability, masked federal immigration agents are driving around in unmarked cars without plates.
chicago.suntimes.com/news/2025/10...?

Federal immigration officers wear masks, no name tags — now some drive cars without license plates

The Sun-Times has documented four unmarked cars carrying federal officers without required plates, offering another way to shield their identities. Federal officials say they’re meeting regulations.

chicago.suntimes.com

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Robert Reich @rbreich.bsky.social · 4d

500 hospitals, nursing homes, and clinics are at risk of closing because of the Trump-Republican big, ugly bill. Many are in rural areas.

Meanwhile, Republican-held US House districts and states Trump won in 2024 rely more on ACA coverage.

They're selling out their own voters.

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Karly Kingsley @karlykingsley.bsky.social · 14h

The RIFs that began Friday will reportedly cut 65% of CISA’s 2,540 employees, one of the dumbest and most dangerous moves imaginable. CISA defends the nation’s cyber and critical infrastructure. Destroying it now only makes sense if you’re afraid of election integrity.

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The Guardian @theguardian.com · 3h

Meta AI adviser spreads disinformation about shootings, vaccines and trans people

Critics condemn Robby Starbuck, appointed in lawsuit settlement, for ‘peddling lies and pushing extremism’ A prominent anti-DEI campaigner appointed by Meta in August as an adviser on AI bias has spent the weeks since his appointment spreading disinformation about shootings, transgender people, vaccines, crime, and protests. Robby Starbuck, 36, of Nashville, was appointed in August as an adviser by Meta – owner of Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, and other tech platforms – in an August lawsuit settlement. Continue reading...

www.theguardian.com

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Kevin Foster @kevinhfoster.bsky.social · 14h

SpongeBob, Patrick, Pikachu, Cookie Monster and more all on scene at the Portland ICE facility.

Probably around 100 give or take total right now.

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Catherine Rampell @crampell.bsky.social · 13h

An HHS source says admin also RIFed entire Office of Population Affairs last night.
“Not a single staff person to run our nation's family planning program or the evidence-based teen pregnancy prevention program. The Office of Adolescent Health which nested within OPA functionally ceases to exist”

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PBS News @pbsnews.org · 17h

National Guard troops sent to Illinois by President Donald Trump can stay in the state and under federal control, but can’t be deployed to protect federal property or go on patrol for now, an appeals court ruled Saturday.
https://to.pbs.org/473hVNY

Appeals court rules U.S. troops Trump sent to Illinois can stay, but can’t be deployed for now

National Guard troops sent to Illinois by President Donald Trump can stay in the state and under federal control, but can’t be deployed to protect federal property or go on patrol for now, an appeals ...

www.pbs.org

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Reposted by Karen Pickell

Steve Rose @steverose7.bsky.social · 18h

I spoke to the hardest working man in podcasting: BEN MEISELAS of Meidas Touch, who's taking the fight to Maga (and beating Joe Rogan in the ratings), and doesn't mince his words about the state of US media, and its failure to meet the current moment.
www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio...

‘We’re fighting for you!’ Podcaster Ben Meiselas on taking on the Maga media – and winning the ratings battle

His channel, MeidasTouch, puts out 15 videos a day exposing Republican failings – and it is getting bigger audiences than Joe Rogan’s. Is this the champion the American left has been waiting for?

www.theguardian.com

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Sam Halpert @samhalpert.bsky.social · 19h

Dems floated a narrow bill to fund the military, which can’t move because the House isn’t in session. Meanwhile, DoD is now going to spend funds not appropriated by Congress to ensure military paychecks continue.

POTUS now both commands and provisions the military. Unconstitutional and SO dangerous

The Office of Management and Budget sent a notification to Congress about their intent to use research and development funds to pay members of the military, two sources with direct knowledge tell NBC News.
A spokesperson for the OMB confirmed to NBC
News that it plans to use the research and development funds and that there are two years' worth of funds available within the Department of Defense.

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Freedom of the Press Foundation @freedom.press · 18h

It's official — a court ruled that the public's interest in knowing if Elon Musk has a security clearance and access to classified information outweighs any potential privacy interests.

Great FOIA ruling in favor of the @nytimes.com.
storage.courtlistene...

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Reuters @reuters.com · 18h

Appeals court rejects Trump request to deploy National Guard in Chicago area reut.rs/4nbqYCA

Appeals court rejects Trump request to deploy National Guard in Chicago area

A federal appeals court on Saturday rejected the Trump administration's request to immediately allow the deployment of National Guard troops to Illinois, leaving in place a lower court's order that blocked the mobilization temporarily.

reut.rs

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Kevin Elliott @kjephd.bsky.social · 19h

Unconstitutionally taking money that the law says must be spent on one purpose & using it for something else—when it's to establish personalist control over the FUCKING MILITARY—is about as dangerous a constitutional crisis/failure as you can imagine

Via: www.nbcnews.com/politics/tru...

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Catherine Rampell @crampell.bsky.social · 20h

Per CDC source: At internal leadership meeting this afternoon, it was shared that 1,257 people were RIF'd at CDC. Number may not be final. Apparently, chief of staff was unaware that RIFs were going to occur so not clear who is making decisions. (Short 🧵)

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LongTime🤓FirstTime👨‍💻 @longtimehistory.bsky.social · 1d

ICE secretly kidnap autistic boy during bathroom break—never notify parents.

Mother reported him missing a week ago—turns out ICE had him detained the whole time.

He was helping sell fruit and asked to go to the restroom—by the time she was done helping a customer he was gone.

Houston, Texas

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Mo Ryan @moryan.bsky.social · 22h

Just today, here's a story from the @chicago.suntimes.com -- not only are ICE/feds masking themselves constantly (and some local cops too, I've seen it), now they're driving around without license plates. More "laws for thee, whatever I wanna do for me" in action chicago.suntimes.com/news/2025/10...

Federal immigration officers wear masks, no name tags — now some drive cars without license plates

The Sun-Times has documented four unmarked cars carrying federal officers without required plates, offering another way to shield their identities. Federal officials say they’re meeting regulations.

chicago.suntimes.com

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Reposted by Karen Pickell

Rep. Dan Goldman @repdangoldman.bsky.social · 21h

No “clean CR” exists when Trump defies Congress and unilaterally guts programs—from law enforcement to pediatric cancer research to clean energy projects.

Republicans want Democratic cover to keep breaking the law. Democrats won’t play along.

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Governor JB Pritzker @govpritzker.illinois.gov · 21h

Texas is preparing emergency resources for wildfires and floods. The Texas National Guard should be THERE — not in Illinois.

We stand ready to support their return home so they are best positioned for helping Texans respond to any natural disasters.

Abbott activates emergency resources ahead of growing wildfire threat, flood risk in Texas

With expected growing wildfire danger across Texas and the potential for a flood risk this weekend, Gov. Greg Abbott is activating more state emergency response resources Friday.

trib.al

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Karen Pickell @karenpickell.bsky.social · 20h

Oh no. 😓

Rolling Stone @rollingstone.com · 20h

Remembering Diane Keaton 🤍

More on her life and legacy: rollingstone.com/tv-movies/tv...

Reposted by Karen Pickell

Steven Beschloss @stevenbeschloss.bsky.social · 1d

More costumes! More seniors playing the ukulele! More group dance! It makes clear how insane Trump and his sycophants are.

The Daily Show @thedailyshow.com · 2d

The following is REAL footage from Portland, 2025. Viewer discretion is advised.

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Andrew Weinstein @andrewjweinstein.com · 1d

It's wild that we've reached a point where the President openly admits to firing people for political reasons, and his OMB director tweets about it like it's a victory. This is page one of the authoritarian playbook, happening in plain sight.

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