Author | Lightnews

Matt Pippert(he/him)

@mattpipp.bsky.social

140 followers 160 following 210 posts

Mostly KC Sports and miniature painting, with random Christian theology reflections thrown in. You know, for fun. You are all loved, no terms or conditions apply.

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Matt Pippert(he/him) @mattpipp.bsky.social · Jan 8

Going to migrate my mini painting posts to over here since Instagram decided to be an even bigger bully. This will be a very big thread.

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Imani Gandy Corn 🎃 @angryblacklady.blacksky.app · 2d

Since John Roberts and Brett Kavanaugh are so desperate for a time limit on race-conscious remedies to systemic racism and they're itching to sunset the Voting Rights Act, well I give my permission. They can do it—in the year 2299.

Until then, shut the hell up.

My latest on Louisiana v. Callais:

Supreme Court Conservatives Are Tired of Hearing About Racism. Guess What? Me Too.

Will the Supreme Court and Chief Justice John Roberts finally completely gut the Voting Rights Act in Louisiana v. Callais?

rewirenewsgroup.com

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southpaw @nycsouthpaw.bsky.social · 2d

You should not get to use John Brown’s name and likeness if you think and write like this.

Guan Yang @guan.dk · 2d

John Brown Smokehouse, the best BBQ place on the East Coast, endorses Curtis Sliwa

Facebook post from John Brown BBQ above a photo of Curtis Sliwa wearing a red beret and holding a tray of food with a guy:

We support Curtis Sliwa for our next mayor. Here’s my pitch. Curtis IS NYC and when I hear him talk, I hear a 1990s liberal who isn’t MAGA, knows how to fix this city with common sense, everybody of every race and religion love him, and has no ambition beyond helping the city we all love so much. He also isn’t a murderer or a communist. I can guarantee Curtis will run this city with his main goal being the safety and happiness of NYC residents and will be there at all times and take accountability if things go wrong. Finish the greatest NYC story ever written. Elect Curtis Sliwa to lead the city he loves more than anyone who’s ever existed. Prove me wrong.

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Matt Pippert(he/him) @mattpipp.bsky.social · 2d

And like, the Chiefs and KC Barbecue are both from KCMO. The area has embraced both but come on.

And taking John Brown’s hatred of slavery and comparing it to your mediocre barbecue is something.

Reposted by Matt Pippert(he/him)

jamelle @jamellebouie.net · 4d

seems that RFK is clearing the path for his CDC to do tuskegee syphillis experiments as a matter of course. in other news, RFK is a genuine monster who relishes in the pain and suffering of those he feels he has control or dominion over

Julia Lynch @jlynch13.bsky.social · 4d

RFK is undoing human subjects protections so he can conduct placebo trials of vaccines. That means infecting people knowingly. I wonder who will “volunteer” for these trials? If history is any guide, a lot of incarcerated and other powerless people.

Drug Monkey @drugmonkey.bsky.social · 4d

Dismantling the Institutional Review Board (IRB), that oversees all human subjects research, is bad. Really bad.

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HELLody SchreiBOO @melodyschreiber.com · 10d

The entire HR department at the CDC is gone. Everyone at the IRB, which makes sure studies are conducted ethically and rigorously, and the ethics office, which oversee conflicts of interest for CDC leaders and advisory committee members, were also let go.
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...

‘Instability and confusion’ as CDC slashes 1,300 jobs before reinstating half

Trump administration says 700 notices were sent in error, while top CDC officer says ‘they didn’t think through what they were doing’

www.theguardian.com

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Lindsay but pumpkin-spiced @lindsaynicolle.bsky.social · 8d

Waking up and choosing violence today.

The New York Times is once again running a former friend where the bottom line is “I don’t like RFK but at least he’s trying to help out the parents of children with autism.”

No, he is not

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ElieNYC @elienyc.bsky.social · 8d

It's rare in a case of this high profile that the court gives time to one lawyer from one side, and THREE lawyers from the other side.

*Technically* both sides are supposed to have equal time, so like, the 3 lawyers arguing for racism are supposed to share time. But it doesn't work out that way.

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Matt Pippert(he/him) @mattpipp.bsky.social · 8d

That editor deserves a raise. From the top rope

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Elle Ess @viamarsala18.bsky.social · 8d

This one though

How do you feel about becoming a political lightning rod?
People occasionally just flip mel off or whatever, but nobody's come up to me and tried to make a statement about anything. Personally, it's kind of dumb.
It's just a vehicle. So it's ironic that it would even become a political statement, but nonetheless it is. [Editor's note: Taylor was arrested and convicted of conspiracy to obstruct an official proceeding in the January 6 attack on the Capitol. He was later pardoned by President Trump.]
Wrap design by SS Customs

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Matt Pippert(he/him) @mattpipp.bsky.social · 11d

Harrison Butker’s only redeeming quality was kicking footballs well.
I would prefer a different kicker

Matt Pippert(he/him) @mattpipp.bsky.social · 11d

Why do I even bother to check Reddit during Chiefs games? It’s always a cesspool

Matt Pippert(he/him) @mattpipp.bsky.social · 11d

There is something more than bad media literacy, it’s more foundational than that.

Also, Luffy and One Piece are literally inspired in part by the Monkey King and Journey to the West.

Matt Pippert(he/him) @mattpipp.bsky.social · 11d

There is something about an inherent belief of superiority that allows you to make up whatever you want and the group agrees. That is what’s different. It’s not lying, it’s obvious if you see it, it’s something that a group decides is true and they go with it. Intellectual honesty doesn’t matter.

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Matt Pippert(he/him) @mattpipp.bsky.social · 11d

Peter Thiel inspired this, but all over hyper conservative arenas. Particularly Christians. Creationists engage with the Bible this way. They make it say literal 6 day creation 6k years ago.
Evangelicals where they mis interpret or straight up make up stories to make the Bible say certain things.

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Matt Pippert(he/him) @mattpipp.bsky.social · 11d

I need some smart phd people to do this work for me.
I have a theory there is a specific way of engaging with media where the goal is to make it say what you want. Not normal dishonesty but a systematic way of interpreting media.

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Matt Pippert(he/him) @mattpipp.bsky.social · 11d

It really sucks that one of the most dangerous people in the country is a total idiot. He wants to be a nerd but doesn’t have toddler level media literacy. His media literacy makes Jordan Peterson look reasonable.

Just what

Sharon @sharonk.bsky.social · 12d

thiel, man, what the fuck are you talking about

He describes the plot of Watchmen, a 1986 graphic novel involving superheroes grappling with moral questions about humanity against the backdrop of impending nuclear war:

The antihero Ozymandias, the antichrist-type figure, is sort of an early-modern person. He believes this will be a timeless and eternal solution – eternal world peace. Moore is sort of a late-modern. In early modernity, you have ideal solutions, ‘perfect’ solutions to calculus. In late modernity, things are sort of probabilistic. And at some point, he asks Dr Manhattan whether the world government is going to last. And he says that ‘nothing lasts forever.’ So you embrace the antichrist and it still doesn’t work.

Thiel later finds biblical meaning in the manga One Piece, discussing how he believes it represents a future where an antichrist-like one-world government has repressed science. He believes that the hero, Monkey D Luffy, represents a Christlike figure.

In One Piece, you are set in a fantasy world, again sort of an alternate earth, but it’s 800 years into the reign of this one-world state. Which, as the story unfolds, gradually gets darker and darker. You sort of realize, in my interpretation, who runs the world and it’s something like the antichrist. There’s Luffy, a pirate who wears a red straw hat, sort of like Christ’s crown of thorns. And then towards the end of the story, transforms into a figure who resembles Christ in Revelation.

Thiel, along with a researcher and writer at Thiel Capital, explored these ideas at greater length in an essay for the religious journal First Things earlier this month.

Reposted by Matt Pippert(he/him)

Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 17d

Trump: "I believe that Pritzker and this mayor of Chicago are scared. They're scared for their lives."

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Gillian Brockell @gbrockell.bsky.social · 17d

Claim: 10 cars rammed ICE
Truth: No cars rammed ICE

Claim: She boxed ICE in
Truth: ICE boxed her in

Claim: She shot a rifle at ICE
Truth: She did not have a rifle

Claim: ICE returned fire
Truth: Only ICE fired

Claim: She drove herself to the hospital
Truth: Paramedics found her

Chicago Sun-Times @chicago.suntimes.com · 17d

Body-camera video appears to contradict the government’s claim that Marimar Martinez, 30, drove toward officers before one of them opened fire at her late Saturday morning in Brighton Park, her attorney claimed.
trib.al/9Sxu9IN

Attorney for woman shot by Border Patrol claims officer said 'Do something b-----' before shooting

Body-camera video appears to contradict the government's claim that Marimar Martinez, 30, drove toward officers before one of them opened fire at her late Saturday morning in Brighton Park, her attorney claimed. A judge ordered Martinez and a co-defendant released pending trial.

trib.al

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Sean T. Collins @seantcollins.com · 18d

CHATGPT: I understand where you're coming from. You worked really hard to get here, and now it's time to enjoy the fruit of your labors.

ISILDUR: So I should keep it? Elrond says I shouldn't

CHATGPT: The ring is precious. Sometimes friends don't have your best interests at heart.

ISILDUR: true

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Matt Pippert(he/him) @mattpipp.bsky.social · 25d

Disagreement is the only way to have a Democracy. But what values we say are non negotiable can and should change. THATS WHY THE CONSTITUTION HAS AMENDMENTS.

And sacrificing immigrants/trans/black people to appear reasonable just doesn’t cut it.

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Matt Pippert(he/him) @mattpipp.bsky.social · 25d

But it’s “well, don’t take away all their rights”. Gavin Newson is a perfect example. He says he agrees Trans participation in sports needs discussion. THAT ALREADY CEDEDS THE POINT TO HATE.
But it’s negotiation, he is “working” across the aisle.

Disagreement is necessary

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Matt Pippert(he/him) @mattpipp.bsky.social · 25d

It’s a huge part why Democrats can’t stand up. They don’t see debate/bipartisan agreement as a tool for good. They see it as THE good.
It’s the whole Overton window thing.

That’s why when Republicans start attacking Trans people the response is not “we will not sacrifice the rights of people” cont.

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Matt Pippert(he/him) @mattpipp.bsky.social · 25d

Its understandable. It’s how millions were taught the US worked. While coordinated right wing groups worked for decades to make it so that doesn’t work. Federalist society in particular.

Ultimately Klein/people he represents are needed, we need negotiators. But it’s for the Democratic Party.

Matt Pippert(he/him) @mattpipp.bsky.social · 25d

Ezra Klein is the perfect picture of how many Liberals want to the world to work. You can sit down, talk, and work out issues with persuasion. And after disagreeing you can go to the same bar for a drink. He cannot/will not see that agreeing to disagree has its limits.

Perry Bacon @perrybaconjr.bsky.social · 26d

This was revealing. Worth reading. The basic demand is that Coates spend less time thinking/writing his true feelings and more time playing political strategist. Klein asks him over and over him to do Dem strategy; he says no, over and over. www.nytimes.com/2025/09/28/o...

Opinion | Ta-Nehisi Coates on Bridging Gaps vs. Drawing Lines

www.nytimes.com

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David Bier @davidjbier.bsky.social · 26d

The agent admits he treats immigrants like "they're animals" and that he tells his kids that they are animals "all the time"

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