Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Rachel Levy @rachellevy.bsky.social · 6h

In the case of sports, VHSL had a very thorough, fair, evidence-driven process in place.

And the previous VDOE guidance was the same and tied very specifically to legislation.

Rachel Levy @rachellevy.bsky.social · 7h

Agreed that attacks on the rights of transgender kids, and other minority groups should be acknowledged as such, but is the solution really to leave it to the localities to decide if they want to take away certain people's rights & discriminate locally or not? That won't end well for many people.

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Rachel Levy @rachellevy.bsky.social · 17h

I wish this were not true, but, unfortunately, most Republicans no longer care about polls or public opinion.

Why would they when they are destroying democratic processes and processes that facilitate accountability?

Majorities disapprove of RFK Jr. performance, doubt autism-Tylenol claims, KFF poll finds • Virginia Mercury

WASHINGTON — A majority of Americans disapprove of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s job performance and the federal government’s evolving vaccine policy, according to a poll...

virginiamercury.com

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Reposted by Rachel Levy

The Daily Show @thedailyshow.com · 1d

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

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Rachel Levy @rachellevy.bsky.social · 18h

I felt this had to be said.

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Rachel Levy @rachellevy.bsky.social · 21h

This shows all the more that we all must vote Democratic up and down the ballot.

Our rights & freedoms depend upon it.

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Rachel Levy @rachellevy.bsky.social · 21h

Abigail Spanberger had two opponents in the debate this evening. The Republican nominee and the moderators/ the network.

It's appalling and it represents that we're losing, if not lost, freedom of the press. Many of them are too afraid of Trump & the Republicans to do their jobs.

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Rachel Levy @rachellevy.bsky.social · 23h

Why are the moderators not cutting off Earle-Sears mic?

Why are they letting her break the rules?

Why are they letting her ask questions?

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Rachel Levy @rachellevy.bsky.social · 23h

Why are the moderators not cutting off Earle-Sears mic?

Why are they letting her break the rules?

Why are they letting her ask questions?

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Rachel Levy @rachellevy.bsky.social · 1d

This is really really really bad. And corrupt. This is what dictatorship looks like.

"A prosecutor handpicked by President Trump secured an indictment of New York’s attorney general, Letitia James, on bank fraud and false statement charges in the Eastern District of Virginia...."

Live Updates: N.Y. Attorney General Letitia James Indicted After Trump’s Pressure Campaign

www.nytimes.com

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Reposted by Rachel Levy

hanovervadems.bsky.social @hanovervadems.bsky.social · 1d

There you have it.

Renewal of health subsidies backed by big majorities in poll, including Trump voters • Virginia Mercury

WASHINGTON — The vast majority of Americans, including Republicans and those who identify as strong supporters of President Donald Trump, want Congress to renew the enhanced tax credits for people who...

virginiamercury.com

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Reposted by Rachel Levy

Dominique Baker @bakerdphd.bsky.social · 1d

I'll be updating next week's current-state-of-state-higher-ed-policy slides.

Left is an article about the VA senate dems telling UVA their state funding will be in question if they agree to that odious compact. On the right is the key part of the senate letter.

www.cbs19news.com/news/state-s...

Screenshot from the top of the article. Title is "State Senate Democrats tell UVA to not consider education compact." Published today.

Main text reads "RICHMOND, Va. (CBS19 NEWS) -- The University of Virginia could lose state funding if it signs onto an education compact it received from the federal government last week."

Screenshot from the letter from VA dems which reads "Therefore, we call upon you to immediately cease all consideration of signing this compact.
Furthermore, we want to be explicitly clear: if the University of Virginia signs this compact, there will be significant consequences in future Virginia budget cycles. As the leadership of the Senate with responsibility for appropriations affecting higher education, we will work with our colleagues to ensure that the Commonwealth does not subsidize an institution that has ceded its independence to federal
political control."

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Rachel Levy @rachellevy.bsky.social · 2d

It is true: ICE is Our Very Own Gestapo

ICE is Our Very Own Gestapo

I often see stories online about ICE acting like thugs, brutalizing people; releasing tear gas at a traffic stop in a quiet neighborhood; storming an apartment building at 1 a.m., sending everyone …

dianeravitch.net

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Rachel Levy @rachellevy.bsky.social · 2d

The Hanover Good Ol' Boys Network is gonna Hanover Good Ol' Boys Network.

Laws and rules and sharing power are not for them, just for the rest of us.

And that's what many other fine folks and I are trying to change around here. Slowly but surely, we are.
www.thecentralvirginian.com/election_new...

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Reposted by Rachel Levy

Ryan Goodman @rgoodlaw.bsky.social · 4d

This represents a major escalation.

President Trump effort to mobilize TEXAS National Guard for deployment in Portland and Chicago.

Court filing just entered in Oregon v. Trump⬇️

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Reposted by Rachel Levy

Joanne Freeman @jbf1755.bsky.social · 4d

Things to consider:

Document the violence & violations--on camera, w/photos, saving images--any way you can. Speaking as a historian- it will matter

Point out violations--w/images & text--even if you think it won't matter. It will. It needs to be called out & exposed

You are a witness.
Expose it.

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Reposted by Rachel Levy

Vince D. Monroy @vincedmonroy.bsky.social · 5d

JB Pritzker responding to Kristi Noem: “She says that people are clapping. They're not. They're booing her on the street and they're booing ICE and CBP.”

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Reposted by Rachel Levy

hanovervadems.bsky.social @hanovervadems.bsky.social · 5d

The Hanover Democratic Committee is proud to support @senatorhashmi.bsky.social in her race to be our next Lieutenant Governor at this fundraiser in Mechanicsville on Oct 22nd.

Please join us in supporting her and helping her to WIN this November!!!

RSVP here: secure.actblue.com/donate/oct22gh

Join Ghazala Hashmi for Virginia

Show your support with a contribution.

secure.actblue.com

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Rachel Levy @rachellevy.bsky.social · 6d

It's rare that politicians and public figures apologize these days.

I think it shows humility, great strength of character and it shows leadership.

Words matter and so do apologies.

Thank you to those politicians and public figures who show how it's done.

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Reposted by Rachel Levy

Prisonculture @prisonculture.bsky.social · 6d

www.chicagotribune.com/2025/10/03/i...

Chicagoans say ICE agents responded to heckling with tear gas near school on busy Northwest Side street

The deployment of smoke canisters — some witnesses described it as tear gas — came as tensions boiled over on the city’s Northwest Side Friday afternoon.

www.chicagotribune.com

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Reposted by Rachel Levy

hanovervadems.bsky.social @hanovervadems.bsky.social · 7d

Our next meeting is 4pm on Sun 10/12 at The Gathering Place at RVA Around the Table (155 Junction Drive, Ashland).

Our featured speaker will be Prof. Lauren Bell, James L. Miller Professor of Political Science at Randolph-Macon College who will give us a preview of the upcoming SCOTUS term.

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Reposted by Rachel Levy

hanovervadems.bsky.social @hanovervadems.bsky.social · 7d

Show your support for Abigail Spanberger by cheering her on at our Debate Watch Party in Mechanicsville on Oct9th!

Vote early--by mail or in person-- before the debate. Then we'll take a picture w/our "I Voted" stickers to send to Abigail!

Bring a canned good with you to drop off.

Register here:

Debate Watch Party in Mechanicsville! · Spanberger for Governor

Show your support for Abigail Spanberger by cheering her on at our Debate Watch Party in Mechanicsville! From "Debate Bingo" to campaign swag to Democratic community, this is an event you do not want ...

www.mobilize.us

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Reposted by Rachel Levy

hanovervadems.bsky.social @hanovervadems.bsky.social · 7d

Looking for ways to get involved with our Committee, Democratic campaigns, and other forms of activism?

Check here, and then check back again and again:

2025 Events & Volunteer Opportunities with the HDC

Important 2025 Election and Other Events & Volunteer Opportunities with the HDC and beyond PO Box 22 Ashland VA 23005 https://www.hvadems.com/ Hello Hanover Dems and Supporters! Let’s SAVE OUR COU...

docs.google.com

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Reposted by Rachel Levy

Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 8d

Tim Walz: "My god, we've got the White House threatening investigations and jail time because an escalator stopped? Walk up the damn stairs!"

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Rachel Levy @rachellevy.bsky.social · 8d

What's happening in Chicago:

(This article has been gifted.)

www.nytimes.com/2025/10/01/u...

Drones, Helicopters, Hundreds of Arrests: Trump’s Immigration Crackdown in Chicago So Far

www.nytimes.com

Reposted by Rachel Levy

Mother Jones @motherjones.com · 8d

For more on the Trump official who's been dreaming about this shutdown "since puberty," read @isabelaalhadeff.bsky.social's excellent deep-dive into Russell Vought.

He's one of the "key figures leading us into a new and violently authoritarian future.”

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