Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Rachel Maddow @maddow.msnbc.com · 4h

“With your patient and rigorous work, you can act as a barrier against those who, through the ancient art of lying, seek to create divisions in order to rule by dividing,” he said. “You can be a bulwark of civility against the quicksand of approximation and post-truth...”

apnews.com/article/pope...

Pope urges news agencies to stand as bulwark against lies, manipulation and post-truths

Pope Leo XIV has encouraged international news agencies to stand firm as a bulwark against the “ancient art of lying” and manipulation.

apnews.com

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Rachel Maddow @maddow.msnbc.com · 17h

www.nytimes.com/2025/10/11/u...

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Reposted by Rachel Maddow

Ify Nwadiwe @ifycomedy.com · 22h

I think we really should stop using antifa and just fully say anti-fascist and get them saying they are against anti fascism. Using antifa is giving them some distance and I genuinely think some of their base don’t even know that’s what it stands for.

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Rachel Maddow @maddow.msnbc.com · 2d

This is a big deal.

TechCrunch @techcrunch.com · 2d

NSO Group confirmed to TechCrunch that an unnamed group of American investors has taken “controlling ownership” of the surveillance tech maker.

Spyware maker NSO Group confirms acquisition by US investors | TechCrunch

NSO Group confirmed to TechCrunch that an unnamed group of American investors has taken “controlling ownership” of the surveillance tech maker.

techcrunch.com

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Reposted by Rachel Maddow

Julianne McShane @juliannemcshane.bsky.social · 2d

Florida Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo believes his "spirit animal" is a tiger, and that an ex-Navy SEAL-turned-guru unleashed it by walking on the backs of his thighs.

This is medicine's Florida man.
www.motherjones.com/politics/202...

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Reposted by Rachel Maddow

Charlotte Clymer @charlotteclymer.bsky.social · 2d

"After a few moments of laughter..."

The No Kings organizers with a fun, tidy response to Mike Johnson's shenanigans.

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Reposted by Rachel Maddow

The Daily Show @thedailyshow.com · 3d

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

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Reposted by Rachel Maddow

The Tennessee Holler @thetnholler.bsky.social · 2d

Nothing says “America First” like letting another country put an Air Force base in Idaho

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Rachel Maddow @maddow.msnbc.com · 2d

Looking forward to this discussion with Michael McFaul @mcfaulmike.bsky.social, former U.S. ambassador to Russia, author of the soon-to-be published "Autocrats vs. Democrats".

Cambridge, MA, Thursday, October 30th...

Details and tickets here: www.harvard.com/event/michae...

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Reposted by Rachel Maddow

Seth Cotlar @sethcotlar.bsky.social · 3d

Two big GOP activists from Oregon were in DC last month for meetings with Trump admin officials. On their podcast they talk about a plan they discussed to nullify the results of Oregon's 2026 federal elections. Pass federal voter ID law, then refuse to seat OR delegation because OR didn't comply.

Ep. 18: September to Remember
October 6 • S1 E18 • 44 min
Also, we proposed a idea how to do a end run on vote by mail. Concept is based on what Trump proposed. When you vote, you check everyone's citizenship as well as voter ID.
In a vote by mail state, you might be able to check citizenship during voter registration. You can send copies of your passport and your birth certificate in.
How in the world are you going to check our voters?
Voter ID, right? Vote by mail. So that creates a problem for Oregon.
But if federal government new requirement is to check both, and if Oregon can comply with the requirements, what would happen to our election result? I'm talking about the entire federal delegation.
For federal elections, we're talking about only federal elections.
COMMON SENSE
Vascluar

Ep. 18: September to Remember
October 6 • S1 E18 • 44 min
So entire federal delegation, congressmen and senators could be challenged, could be unseated because you didn't follow federal requirements to elect them. So I said the trade-off is worth it. You know why?
Democrats control two Senate seats out of six congressional seats. We only control one. They control five.
You talk about trade-off, right?
COMMON SENSE
Sanctuany

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Reposted by Rachel Maddow

Sarah Posner @sarahposner.bsky.social · 4d

Try to imagine if federal agents under a Democratic administration had fired pepper balls at conservative clergy protesting--- let's just say --- abortion.

They've litigated and won Supreme Court cases over much less.

bsky.app/profile/jack...

Jack Jenkins @jackjenkins.me · 4d

Gonna be thinking about this lede for a minute.

(RNS) — Last month, the Rev. David Black stood in front of a Chicago-area U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility and spread his arms wide. Adorned in all black and wearing a clerical collar, the pastor looked up at a group of masked, heavily armed ICE agents on the roof and began to pray.

“I invited them to repentance,” Black, a minister in the Presbyterian Church (USA), said in an interview. “I basically offered an altar call. I invited them to come and receive that salvation, and be part of the kingdom that is coming.”

But when Black began to lower his arms a few seconds later, the agents responded to his spiritual plea by firing pepper balls, or chemical agents that cause eye irritation and respiratory distress, video footage shows. One struck Black in the head, exploding into a puff of white pepper smoke and forcing him to his knees. Fellow demonstrators rushed to his aid, and as the pastor rubbed his face in pain, the agents continued to fire.

“We could hear them laughing,” Black said.

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Rachel Maddow @maddow.msnbc.com · 2d

"... part of rising faith-based pushback to the Trump administration..."

religionnews.com/2025/10/07/i...

Religious protesters say ICE threatens religious freedom in Chicago

(RNS) — Despite potential danger, religious leaders and faith activists have been a visible presence at Chicago-area ICE protests, some waving signs with slogans such as ‘Love thy neighbor’ and ‘Who w...

religionnews.com

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Rachel Maddow @maddow.msnbc.com · 2d

"...including while she was praying with her eyes closed and hands lifted, wearing a clerical collar and stole."

religionnews.com/2025/10/07/i...

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Rachel Maddow @maddow.msnbc.com · 3d

www.stepupspeakout.org

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Rachel Maddow @maddow.msnbc.com · 3d

"A Chicago Heights Catholic priest began a 50-day pilgrimage in support of immigrant children, from Pope Leo’s boyhood home in Dolton, IL to New York ...

'This is not only a physical act of endurance, but a spiritual act of solidarity, a prayer in motion'..."

www.chicagotribune.com/2025/10/06/c...

Chicago Heights priest begins walk for immigrant children from Pope Leo’s childhood home in Dolton

Gary Graf, a Chicago Heights Catholic priest, began a 50-day justice walk from Pope Leo’s boyhood home in Dolton to New York.

www.chicagotribune.com

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Reposted by Rachel Maddow

SFDB @sfdb.bsky.social · 4d

"The Church cannot be silent."

"Pope Leo XIV’s eyes grew misty Wednesday as an El Paso delegation led by Bishop Mark Seitz presented him letters and a video that captured the fears and anxieties of people facing mass deportation in the United States..."

In Vatican meeting with El Pasoans, Pope Leo XIV offers support to migrants facing deportation - El Paso Matters

During a Vatican meeting, Pope Leo XIV expressed solidarity with migrants after hearing firsthand accounts gathered by El Paso’s Hope Border Institute and La Mujer Obrera about the human toll of U.S. ...

elpasomatters.org

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Rachel Maddow @maddow.msnbc.com · 3d

“America’s senior military officers, including Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Gen. Dan Caine, must approach Trump now and make clear to him that they will not obey illegal orders to act against American citizens or disrupt the American political process.”

www.theatlantic.com/newsletters/...

The Civil-Military Crisis Is Here

The leaders of the U.S. military may soon face a terrible decision.

www.theatlantic.com

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Reposted by Rachel Maddow

Jacob Soboroff @jacobsoboroff.bsky.social · 3d

Michigan Avenue right now.

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Rachel Maddow @maddow.msnbc.com · 3d

“Senior military leaders should have stepped in to prevent Trump from turning addresses at Fort Bragg and Norfolk into political rallies; the silence of the Army and Navy secretaries, the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and some top generals and admirals is appalling…”

www.theatlantic.com/newsletters/...

The Civil-Military Crisis Is Here

The leaders of the U.S. military may soon face a terrible decision.

www.theatlantic.com

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Rachel Maddow @maddow.msnbc.com · 3d

"A rival petition began circulating Sunday, calling on the Rutgers chapter of TPUSA to be disbanded, accusing it of inciting violence. As of today, that petition had several hundred more signatures than the petition calling for Dr. Bray’s firing..."

www.nytimes.com/2025/10/08/n...

Rutgers Expert on Antifa Flees to Spain After Receiving Death Threats

www.nytimes.com

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Rachel Maddow @maddow.msnbc.com · 4d

"The Federal Protective Service reports — which are prepared each day for law enforcement partners — offered no indication of a dangerous escalation of tensions, or unusual levels of protest activity that would prompt the level of alarm expressed by Trump..."

www.nytimes.com/2025/10/08/u...

Before Trump Ordered In Troops, Federal Officers Called Portland Protests ‘Low Energy’

www.nytimes.com

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Rachel Maddow @maddow.msnbc.com · 4d

"El Paso Bishop Mark Seitz, who attended the meeting, said Chicago-born Pope Leo was visibly moved after being handed dozens of letters from immigrants describing their fears of arrest and separation under Trump’s enforcement policies..."

www.thedailybeast.com/pope-leo-ram...

Pope Leo Ramps Up His Trump Feud With Order to American Bishops

The Chicago-born pontiff has sharpened his criticism of the Trump administration and reportedly decided to take action.

www.thedailybeast.com

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Rachel Maddow @maddow.msnbc.com · 4d

"At the Vatican Wednesday, Pope Leo urged bishops to 'speak strongly' on behalf of immigrants affected by Trump’s deportation drive.

The pope met privately Tuesday with 100 American Catholics involved in migrant ministry, thanking them for their work..."

www.thedailybeast.com/pope-leo-ram...

Pope Leo Ramps Up His Trump Feud With Order to American Bishops

The Chicago-born pontiff has sharpened his criticism of the Trump administration and reportedly decided to take action.

www.thedailybeast.com

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Reposted by Rachel Maddow

Governor JB Pritzker @govpritzker.illinois.gov · 4d

If you come for my people, you come through me.

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Rachel Maddow @maddow.msnbc.com · 4d

I'm late to this -- came out a couple weeks ago -- sorry -- but this podcast episode is really worth listening to (despite the episode title, it's only incidentally about the Kimmel fiasco).

Highly recommended.

You can listen here for free, or on any podcast app:

www.wnyc.org/story/jimmy-...

Jimmy Kimmel and the Power of Public Pressure | The Political Scene | The New Yorker | WNYC

The Washington Roundtable discusses how, in the wake of the reinstatement of Jimmy Kimmel’s show, public resistance has a chance to turn the tide against autocratic impulses in today’...

www.wnyc.org

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