Author | Lightnews

Reposted by OnThePaepae

Anna Bower @annabower.bsky.social · 2d

EXCLUSIVE: One Saturday afternoon in October, my phone lit up with a notification.

I glanced down at the message.

“Anna, Lindsey Halligan here,” it began.

So began my text exchange with the woman who is prosecuting the president's perceived political enemies.

www.lawfaremedia.org/article/anna...

"Anna, Lindsey Halligan Here."
Anna Bower
Monday, October 20, 2025, 5:40 PM
Share On: f X inK My Signal exchange with the interim U.S. attorney about
the Letitia James grand jury.

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Mountain Tui @mountaintui.bsky.social · 2d

Last year, Louise Upston admitted that 95-97% of beneficiaries are compliant and well meaning. Despite this, Luxon panders to his base, promoting beneficiaries as lazy and unworthy. #nzpol #kiwi

Where are the jobs, Prime Minister? You took most of them out.

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OnThePaepae @peteraranyi.bsky.social · 3d

I really rate Sarah Kendzior.
This is a warning.

sarahkendzior.substack.com/p/inventing-...

Inventing Antifa

In 2005, the Uzbek government invented a group called “Akromiya” to justify massacring protesters. Now I worry the US government will do the same.

sarahkendzior.substack.com

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OnThePaepae @peteraranyi.bsky.social · 4d

Nice use of "Team Luxon" in that caption.

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OnThePaepae @peteraranyi.bsky.social · 4d

M Gessen in NY Times is an essential read, in my view.

Today's column on United Nations special rapporteur for the occupied Palestinian territories, Francesca Albanese, denials of genocide, and the sanctions she faces personally, as a result of highlighting it, is sobering.
And Trump's US v ICC.

Opinion | Her Optimism Has Won Her Some of the Most Powerful Enemies in the World

www.nytimes.com

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OnThePaepae @peteraranyi.bsky.social · 5d

Amazing

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OnThePaepae @peteraranyi.bsky.social · 6d

>> I didn't agree with them, but I could see their reasoning, their commitment to their business & farming community 'constituency'.

OnThePaepae @peteraranyi.bsky.social · 6d

Agree on all your points about Bolger. In my experience he was also a Leader of the Opposition, then PM, who took the time to explain his goals. Once dragged me down the corridor to Bill Birch's office to get Birch to outline reasons why the Nats would dissipate an ACC surplus rather than invest it.

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OnThePaepae @peteraranyi.bsky.social · 8d

"By comparison, the National Party’s own favourability sits 10 points higher, at -13. That gap indicates Luxon is now a drag on the brand rather than an asset to it."

Oh. I see. "...a drag on the brand...."

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OnThePaepae @peteraranyi.bsky.social · 8d

I'm re-reading John Grisham's thriller THE FIRM ... and as usual with reading for pleasure, the errors jump out.
#WoeBetide life as an editor.

Extract from the book THE FIRM showing “You’re” used where “Your” was required.

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The New Republic @newrepublic.com · 12d

His slip of the tongue reveals who’s really in charge. trib.al/mIvP0yE

“Illinois governor says we’re provoking actions that are unlawful,” Miller said on CNN. “If I put federal law enforcement and National Guard into a nice sleepy Southern town, is anyone gonna riot?”

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Meredith Whittaker @meredithmeredith.bsky.social · 13d

So we remain vigilant & deeply grateful to our allies.

For Signal, Chat Control is an existential threat. If we were *forced* to choose between building surveillance into our services or keeping our integrity, we would choose integrity & leave the market. We hope it never comes to this. 7/

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Tuta @tuta.com · 12d

#ChatControl is dead for now.

But we must keep fighting. 💪 All Things Secured interviewed Hanna on the current status of Chat Control, whether it's coming back, and why you should care - even if you're not in the EU.

➡️ Check it out: www.youtube.com/watch?v=i8hI...

Privacy Almost Died. Germany Saved It (Chat Control Explained)

YouTube video by All Things Secured

www.youtube.com

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OnThePaepae @peteraranyi.bsky.social · 13d

Went to Teddy Swinns performing at Spark Arena tonight. What a very gracious and hard working artist he is. Big voice, big sound. Well worth going to see him if you get the chance.

Photo of Teddy Swinns in concert tonight.

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OnThePaepae @peteraranyi.bsky.social · 14d

I was, and still am, impressed that Marama Davidson offered exactly ZERO pandering to that dipstick conspiracy theory-laden ‘question’.
No need for rapport building with cookers.

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OnThePaepae @peteraranyi.bsky.social · 14d

I once attended a Green Party pre-election candidates meeting at Oneroa, Waiheke. Speakers were Chloe Swarbrick & Marama Davidson.
After their presentations, the FIRST QUESTION from audience was about 5G towers.
Gee that’s a test, I thought.

Marama shot it down, immediately, citing ‘science’ #whew

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Tuta @tuta.com · 19d

We are alarmed as well. If you are in Germany, write to your representatives. You'll find the email addresses here: 👉 tuta.com/blog/chat-co...

Signalapp on X: We are alarmed by reports that Germany is on the verge of a
catastrophic about-face, reversing its longstanding and principled
opposition to the EU’s Chat Control proposal which, if passed, could
spell the end of the right to privacy in Europe.

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OnThePaepae @peteraranyi.bsky.social · 15d

Good article/interview here -- George Clooney

What’s Eating George Clooney?

He’s having a career for the ages. He has two adorable kids, a brilliant and beautiful wife, plenty of money, and still has his hair. There’s just one problem.

www.esquire.com

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OnThePaepae @peteraranyi.bsky.social · 15d

Worth reading.

washingtonmonthly.com/2025/10/06/t...

The Judge Standing up to Trump’s Portland Invasion

A report on the Justice Department’s Orwellian arguments and how a Trump-nominated jurist is holding the line for democracy.

washingtonmonthly.com

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OnThePaepae @peteraranyi.bsky.social · 17d

Agreed. It's a useful, understandable model/metaphor.

Again: Good work, you guys!

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Derek Beres @derekberes.bsky.social · 18d

Our reporting on how MAHA influencers radicalize people is now up on the @nytimes.com YouTube page.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=PTpf...

You Might Have Already Fallen for MAHA’s Conspiracy Theories

YouTube video by New York Times Opinion

www.youtube.com

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OnThePaepae @peteraranyi.bsky.social · 17d

That's very good Derek. I listened to your podcast about this, and the actual video is even better than I expected.
Very humane presentation, low conflict. Less damning of the [expletive deleted] MAHA con artists.
The 'funnel' model is a great way of explaining it. WELL DONE.

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OnThePaepae @peteraranyi.bsky.social · 18d

Man, that is a great article! Thanks.
This conclusion, towards the end, rang true to me.

The environmental piper will be paid, somehow

Excerpt, with *** highlighted:
I would hope that this sentiment does not give you too much optimism about the future of U.S. regulations.
***Our Congress is broken, lazy, obstinate, and compromised, quite possibly the most ineffective governmental institution in the developed world. But sooner or later, actuarially speaking, even they will have to reckon with the reality on the ground.***
Even if they don't, and the tantrum of this moment somehow
continues to unspool over a few chaotic generations, global companies are still compelled to work in global markets, and global markets include people who don't live in gutter states that feed on their own futures. Those people would prefer a rational operating future from the apparel industry; those people will continue to need and wear shoes.

OnThePaepae @peteraranyi.bsky.social · 18d

Indeed. ‘A Woman of No Importance’ had so much punch when we saw it first. Devastating. Brilliant.

OnThePaepae @peteraranyi.bsky.social · 19d

Dog hole is excellent.

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