Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Reposted by Mindy S

Shipwreck @shipwreck75.bsky.social · 23h

Sure seems weird that we are allowing a foreign military base on US soil….

From a country that is known to harbor and financially support multiple terror groups that want to harm America.

Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 1d

Hegseth: "I'm also proud that today we're signing a letter of acceptance to build a Qatari Emeri air force facility at the Mountain Home Airbase in Idaho."

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Mark Bray @mark-bray.bsky.social · 10d

I teach a history of antifascism course @ruhistorydept.bsky.social and figured I'd start an ongoing thread this semester to share some insights from course readings and recommend some great works on antifascism.

🧵

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Kevin M. Kruse @kevinmkruse.bsky.social · 1d

The Rutgers TPUSA chapter — whose characterization of a historian there as a “outspoken, well-known antifa member” led to death threats and moving his family to Europe — think *other* people are being “blatantly defamatory.”

Not them, though. They’re doing politics the right way.

Rutgers TPUSA officers slam petition to shut down chapter, ‘Blatantly defamatory’

Alexander Di Filippo accuses Turning Point USA of inciting violence against Antifa handbook author Mark Bray.

www.foxnews.com

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Matthew Cebul @matthewcebul.bsky.social · 1d

Greene is doing something that Dems should want to emulate: intentionally pitting Trump against his most vile subordinates.

Example: Trump wants a budget deal? We'd love to, but we can't trust that you'll keep your word with Vought and Miller driving the bus. Fire them.

Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 1d

Marjorie Taylor Greene on polls showing Republicans are getting blamed for the shutdown: "I'm not putting the blame on the president. I'm actually putting the the blame on the Speaker and Leader Thune in the Senate. This should not be happening ... we control the House & Senate & have the WH."

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Cristian Farias @cristianfarias.com · 1d

This is wild, via @jmetr22b.bsky.social of the Chicago Tribune:

From U.S. District Chief Judge Virginia Kendall in the Northern District of Illinois:

“At no point did I, nor the Building Security Committee, authorize or request the National Guard’s assistance to secure the Dirksen Courthouse.”

Press release from federal court in Illinois:

Statement from Chief Judge Virginia M. Kendall

"Providing access to justice is at the heart of the Court's mission and critical for our democracy.
Maintaining access to the courthouse for anyone who seeks redress remains a top priority of the court. It is a core principle to promote our rule of law," said Chief Judge Virginia Kendall.

As the Chief District Court Judge in the Northern District of Illinois, I chair the Dirksen Courthouse Building Security Committee and work closely with the United States Marshals Service. During the past several weeks, I have received frequent updates on matters impacting the Court's operations to allow for proceedings to continue safely. Proceedings are and have been open to the public and the media.

The United States Marshals Service has jurisdiction over the interior and exterior security at the Dirksen Courthouse. While the Federal Protective Service has authority in most federal buildings, the United States Marshals Service has that primary responsibility at the Dirksen Courthouse. I trust and rely upon the men and women of the United States Marshals Service and the Court Security Officers to provide security at the Dirksen Courthouse; this includes the perimeter of the building. At no point did I, nor did the Building Security Committee, authorize or request the National Guard's assistance to secure the Dirksen Courthouse.
With my approval, additional security measures have been implemented to allow court operations to proceed, but those measures do not include the National Guard at the Dirksen Courthouse. The Courthouse remains open and accessible for all matters including hearings, jury trials, and naturalization ceremonies. The District Court Clerk's Office will be open during normal business hours, 8:30 am to 4:30 pm, and in-person proceedings will continue as scheduled by the assigned judge.

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Greg Sargent @gregsargent.bsky.social · 3d

JB Pritzker and Gavin Newsom are doing something new and important: They understand Stephen Miller's theory of fascist power politics, and they've developed a theory on how to combat it. More Dems need to reckon with Miller's understanding of the moment.

New from me:
newrepublic.com/article/2014...

Inside Stephen Miller’s Secret Plan to Normalize Trump’s Dictator Rule

He wants to supercharge searing civil tensions to get low-information voters to embrace their inner authoritarian. Exactly two Democrats appear to fully grasp this.

newrepublic.com

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Heather Cox Richardson (TDPR) @hcrichardson.bsky.social · 1d

20 paragraphs down in the NBC News story that broke the information that the administration is considering invoking the Insurrection Act is the report that Stephen Miller is driving the issue.

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Bob Cesca @bobcesca.bsky.social · 1d

From the memory hole: There was a hostage release and ceasefire deal in place by the Biden administration 10 months ago. It was allowed to expire in March, under Donald Trump, and now it's been revived and rebranded, with Donald taking full credit like always.

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Anna Bower @annabower.bsky.social · 2d

U.S. Northern Command says that elements of the Texas national guard are now “employed in the greater Chicago area.”

The statement claims that they’ve been deployed to protect ICE and federal property.

U.S. Northern Command &
@USNorthernCmd
X.com
Effective today, elements of the Texas National Guard, under Title 10 authority and command and control of U.S. Northern Command, are employed in the greater Chicago area.
These soldiers are employed to protect U.S.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement and other
U.S. Government personnel who are performing federal functions, including the enforcement of federal law, and to protect federal property.
For the latest information on our Federal Protection Mission, please see the link below:

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Mehdi Hasan @mehdirhasan.bsky.social · 2d

I love that we live in a world where we're all supposed to now praise Trump for his peace-making and ignore the fact that at least 20,000 Palestinians have been killed on his watch, with bombs & bullets - & rhetorical support! - that he supplied to Israel.
That's all erased now.

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Mindy S @ontheseid.bsky.social · 3d

I have one of each and can confirm

Mike Black @mikeblack114.bsky.social · 3d

everything else aside it is very funny that as subtext this dork thinks military academies (whether service or SMC) are the ultimate way to produce officers when the reality is there's basically no quality difference between them and ROTC grads in the aggregate

Dr. Samantha Hancox-Li @sjshancoxli.liberalcurrents.com · 4d

listen to these fucking twits

americanmind.org/features/res...

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Eric Michael Garcia @ericmgarcia.bsky.social · 3d

I've been banging this drum for the past four months or so: DOGE and Russ Vought broke the appropriations process. What's the point of going through the arduous process of crafting 12 spending bills, clearing them through committee and getting them through two chambers if Trump does rescissions?

Garrett M. Graff @vermontgmg.bsky.social · 3d

If appropriations bills are not seen as enforceable contracts, why should any Member of Congress vote to fund any part of the federal government under Donald Trump? You're voting to provide money for lawlessness. www.doomsdayscenario.co/p/there-is-n...

There is no budget "deal" to be made

President Trump has so broken the constitutional framework as to make joint normal, responsible government impossible.

www.doomsdayscenario.co

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Andrea Devon @andreadevon.bsky.social · 3d

Oregon’s National Guard General: They’ll defend America and protect protesters.

That’s leadership we need more of. 🇺🇸

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Mindy S @ontheseid.bsky.social · 3d

Trump’s fantasy has always been to be a strongman. He wants to smash and destroy. This time he hired people who would never say no.

Tom Nichols @radiofreetom.bsky.social · 3d

Only the military remains outside Trump’s grip. Despite the firing of several top officers—and his threat to fire more—the U.S. armed forces are still led by generals and admirals whose oath is to the Constitution, not the president. But for how long?

www.theatlantic.com/newsletters/...

www.theatlantic.com

Mindy S @ontheseid.bsky.social · 3d

“This isn’t homeland security. It’s federalized fear, a campaign of cruelty disguised as law and order.”

Olivia of Troye @oliviaoftroye.com · 4d

Chicago isn’t a battlefield. But Trump is making it one.
Now he’s threatening to invoke the Insurrection Act, to use the U.S. military against Americans. This isn’t about immigrants or crime. It’s about power. And once fear becomes law, it never stops where it starts.

The Insurrection Act and the War at Home

Fear, force, and the line America has crossed.

www.livingitwitholiviatroye.com

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Dan Diamond @ddiamond.bsky.social · 4d

“Secretary Kennedy is entitled to his views. But he is not entitled to put people’s health at risk.”

Six former surgeons general condemn RFK Jr.

Opinion | Six surgeons general: RFK Jr. is a threat to the health of Americans

It was our duty in office to warn of dangers when we found them. We’re doing that again today.

www.washingtonpost.com

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Mindy S @ontheseid.bsky.social · 3d

As I was saying

Senator Chris Van Hollen @vanhollen.senate.gov · 3d

Let me be clear: backpay for these workers is required under a federal law I wrote with former Senator Cardin — which Trump signed — during the last Trump shutdown.

This is just more fear mongering from a president who wants a blank check for lawlessness. It won't work.

Federal workers not entitled to back pay after shutdown, budget office claims

Federal workers may not be entitled to back pay after the government shutdown ends, the Trump administration’s budget office wrote in a new draft memo obtained by The Washington Post, ratcheting up te...

www.washingtonpost.com

Mindy S @ontheseid.bsky.social · 3d

They know they’re losing in the polls on the shutdown and they’re just throwing things at the wall just trying to shift blame to the democrats for all of this

Jen Bendery @jbendery.bsky.social · 3d

The Trump admin is threatening not to pay furloughed federal workers -- except that would be illegal, and Trump himself signed the law requiring them to get back pay www.huffpost.com/entry/govern... w/ @delaneyrules.bsky.social

Trump Administration Threatens To Buck The Law, Not Pay Furloughed Federal Workers

Except that Donald Trump himself signed the current law requiring federal employees to get back pay.

www.huffpost.com

Mindy S @ontheseid.bsky.social · 3d

So senators and reps will continue to get paid while they don’t work but federal employees who are not working through no fault of their own won’t get paid. Got it.

Kyle Griffin @kylegriffin1.bsky.social · 4d

A new draft Trump memo argues that furloughed federal workers aren't guaranteed compensation for their forced time off during the government shutdown.

Those who represent federal workers or advocate on their behalf say the White House is misreading the clear intent of the law.

Scoop: White House memo says furloughed federal workers aren't entitled to backpay

A move to deny backpay to up to 750,000 furloughed workers would dramatically escalate Trump's pressure on Democrats to end the shutdown.

www.axios.com

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Greg Sargent @gregsargent.bsky.social · 4d

Crucial overlooked dynamic: The MAGA agenda fractures the Trump coalition. The "price of eggs" voters hate tariffs, militarization of cities, masked kidnappings, corrupt weaponizing of budget cuts, censoring of comedians.

Me and @amandamarcotte.bsky.social on this:

newrepublic.com/article/2013...

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Sherrilyn Ifill @sifill.bsky.social · 5d

So say it, Hegseth.

President Truman desegregated the military in 1948. That would be when the “wokeness” began, huh?

Say it.

Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 5d

Trump: "We won World War 1. We won World War 2. We won everything in between. We won everything before. And all of the sudden they decide to change the name. They went woke then too, you know. Woke is a long term. Word."

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Mindy S @ontheseid.bsky.social · 5d

From the guy who never served.

Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 5d

Trump: "The problem with Vietnam, we, you know, we stopped fighting to win. We would've won easy. We would've won Afghanistan easy. We would've won every war easy. But we got politically correct. 'Oh, let's take it easy.' We're not politically correct anymore, just so you understand."

Mindy S @ontheseid.bsky.social · 5d

As a cubs fan, I agree

Mindy S @ontheseid.bsky.social · 5d

Imagine gold star families hearing this.

Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 5d

Trump: "The problem with Vietnam, we, you know, we stopped fighting to win. We would've won easy. We would've won Afghanistan easy. We would've won every war easy. But we got politically correct. 'Oh, let's take it easy.' We're not politically correct anymore, just so you understand."

Reposted by Mindy S

Thor Benson @thorbenson.bsky.social · 5d

"The strength of a people lies in its purity, not in its diversity."
—Tom Metzger, a white supremacist, neo-Nazi and Klansman

"Real strength comes from homogeneity, from people who share the same blood and values."
—William Pierce, neo-Nazi, author of the Turner Diaries

Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 5d

Hegseth to the Navy: "Your diversity is not your strength"

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