Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Robert Cruickshank @robertcruickshank.com · 1h

This is why I have long been, and remain, a proud member of the Warren Wing of the Democratic Party.

Elizabeth Warren @warren.senate.gov · 4h

America is not building enough housing and Americans are facing sky-high housing costs as a result.

Today, the Senate took a historic step to change that.

The ROAD to Housing Act will help communities – urban, suburban, and rural – build more housing and bring down costs.

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Robert Cruickshank @robertcruickshank.com · 1h

Their agenda hollowed out the country and handed power to the far right. Biden didn't cause inflation, Trump and the pandemic did. He was taming it, but he couldn't sell it, and Harris made some flawed comms choices. Ultimately it may have been foreign policy, especially Gaza, that undid it

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Robert Cruickshank @robertcruickshank.com · 1h

Agreed. But that's my point, that Dems don't have a policy problem (Biden's domestic agenda was good, though there are things one could add to it). They have a communications problem.

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Robert Cruickshank @robertcruickshank.com · 1h

Not sure, but Finland has the correct education policy and we should pursue that, not go back to the truly terrible Bush-era policies of NCLB.

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Robert Cruickshank @robertcruickshank.com · 1h

BBB would have helped reduce inflation, and had Harris won the '24 election we'd see inflation pretty much gone. Permitting reform was also on the Biden agenda. That agenda was correct, there's more to have been added to it, but nothing to be abandoned.

The volume of immigration wasn't a factor.

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Robert Cruickshank @robertcruickshank.com · 1h

My post is motivated in part by what is a clearly coordinated and well-planned effort to revive the corporate education reform agenda of No Child Left Behind, which was catastrophic for public schools and which Democrats must reject in its entirety

Robert Cruickshank @robertcruickshank.com · 5h

Most of this David Brooks column is absurd. NCLB and the emphasis on test scores was a catastrophe for public education. He doesn't emphasize Great Recession austerity, misses the harm done by Common Core, and proposes absurd solutions.

But he's right that, generally, Dems don't care about schools.

Opinion | Why Are the Democrats Increasing Inequality?

www.nytimes.com

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Robert Cruickshank @robertcruickshank.com · 1h

We should defend Biden's domestic agenda, work to fully realize it (including all of Build Back Better), and reject efforts to return us to the failed Clinton-Obama agenda. 2024 was a close loss that we just pick ourselves up and dust ourselves off from, not a rejection of a correct agenda.

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Robert Cruickshank @robertcruickshank.com · 1h

Biden's domestic agenda was 100% correct. The problem was his inability to sell it, due to old age and lack of understanding of mass communications in the '20s. (Also, his foreign policy handed Trump the election.) Efforts to force Dems back into a '90s-'00s agenda are both wrong and unnecessary.

Freedom Of Speech painting by Rockwell: man in a workshirt and jacket stands and speaks in a crowd

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Robert Cruickshank @robertcruickshank.com · 1h

I saw the trailer earlier and yes, it looks genuinely excellent and I cannot wait for it to premiere.

Matt Ortega @mattortega.com · 1h

Netflix announced this limited series 18 months ago and looked forward to it ever since. It looks fantastic with a stellar cast. Michael Shannon? Nick Offerman? Matthew Macfadyen?

Death by Lightning | Official Trailer | Netflix

YouTube video by Netflix

www.youtube.com

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Robert Cruickshank @robertcruickshank.com · 2h

That place is the best

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Robert Cruickshank @robertcruickshank.com · 5h

Here in Washington State, Democratic legislators actively disdain public education. They treat it as a nuisance, rather than a crowd-pleaser that would bring tons of votes for swing seat Dems and cementing their statewide hold. I have never understood the hostility among Dem legislators to schools.

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Robert Cruickshank @robertcruickshank.com · 5h

Most of this David Brooks column is absurd. NCLB and the emphasis on test scores was a catastrophe for public education. He doesn't emphasize Great Recession austerity, misses the harm done by Common Core, and proposes absurd solutions.

But he's right that, generally, Dems don't care about schools.

Opinion | Why Are the Democrats Increasing Inequality?

www.nytimes.com

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Reposted by Robert Cruickshank

Murshed Zaheed @murshedz.bsky.social · 5h

West Coast = Best Coast. h/t @dceiver.bsky.social

Anti-ICE Protesters Mock Trump’s Claim That Portland Is A ‘War Zone’ In Silliest Way Possible

Social media users love how protesters in Portland, Oregon, are countering ICE and the Trump administration's fearmongering with weirdness.

www.huffpost.com

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Robert Cruickshank @robertcruickshank.com · 5h

You love to see it

Seattle Department of Transportation @seattledot.bsky.social · 5h

There’s a new traffic signal at 20th Ave NW and Leary Ave NW in Ballard.🚦

Learn more about the Route 40 Transit Plus Multimodal Corridor Project: https://www.seattle.gov/transportation/projects-and-programs/programs/transit-program/transit-plus-multimodal-corridor-program/route-40---transit-plus

Two individuals crossing a street at a crosswalk in a sunny urban setting with traffic lights and modern buildings in the background.

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Reposted by Robert Cruickshank

Gordon Padelford @gordonofseattle.bsky.social · 10h

It has been 12 years since Lance David died biking to work here. I'll be thinking about him when I ride this safer route later today.

His tragic death spurred local West Seattle advocates to demand change, and to his credit Mayor Mike McGinn started this project — 3 mayors later it's finally done.

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Robert Cruickshank @robertcruickshank.com · 7h

Good thread showing how Harrell's experience is one of the biggest arguments *against* his reelection. He's done a genuinely bad job of running the city, and rewarding that with four more years is an insane thing to do.

Rian Watt @rianwatt.bsky.social · 7h

If Bruce Harrell's case for re-election is his management experience, what should we make of two separate instances in the last week of city decisions made under his watch being immediately reversed after huge community blowback?

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Reposted by Robert Cruickshank

🎃 Phillip Anderson is UNDEAD 🧛🏻‍♀️ @phillipanderson.bsky.social · 8h

Straight banana republic shit. Tish was my city councilwoman for years. I’ve met with her many times. She’s basically always the smartest person in any room she’s in. The woman just oozes intelligence and integrity. Always has

Being a brilliant Black woman who nailed Trump is a crime in 2025

Peter Sterne @petersterne.com · 8h

BREAKING: NY State AG Letitia James indicted by federal grand jury in Virginia www.cityandstateny.com/politics/202...

Letitia James indicted by federal grand jury in Virginia

State Attorney General Letitia James has reportedly been indicted for alleged mortgage fraud.

www.cityandstateny.com

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Robert Cruickshank @robertcruickshank.com · 8h

I would be willing to extend that back to 1970, but no further. (I'm from '79 so this isn't a self-serving comment.)

BeijingPalmer @beijingpalmer.bsky.social · 10h

after careful study, I believe only people born between 1975 and 1995 should be allowed to use the internet

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Robert Cruickshank @robertcruickshank.com · 9h

This would literally be like giving Hitler the Nobel peace prize after Munich.

Trump is killing Venezuelan fishermen and violating the human rights of immigrants while trying to wage a war against blue cities.

So no, he doesn’t deserve the fucking Nobel peace prize.

Chris Cillizza @chriscillizza.bsky.social · 11h

What if...Donald Trump actually deserves the Nobel Peace Prize?

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Reposted by Robert Cruickshank

Will Stancil @whstancil.bsky.social · 10h

This is nightmarish and every Dem politician, every media figure who is silent is complicit. This is not supposed to happen here. Masked thugs with guns dragging moms away in front of their screaming children. Trump’s government must be destroyed and his accomplices must rot in prison

The Tennessee Holler @thetnholler.bsky.social · 15h

CHICAGO — Outside an elementary school during dismissal… horrifying. What have we become?

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Robert Cruickshank @robertcruickshank.com · 10h

This does not absolve anyone who refused to vote for Harris in 2024 because of Gaza. Such a refusal was, and remains, totally inexcusable. But had Biden gotten a deal done before the August 2024 convention, I think Harris wins, probably fairly easily.

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Robert Cruickshank @robertcruickshank.com · 10h

Biden could have made this happen in 2024, well before the election and thus securing a Harris victory. But he refused to push Netanyahu as hard as was needed. The result was more dead Palestinians and fascism in power in America. A catastrophic failure that was totally unavoidable.

‘Trump is like a juggernaut’: how the Gaza ceasefire deal was done

Sidelines chat at UN was turning point for US president, but others also have right to claim role in end of two-year war

www.theguardian.com

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Robert Cruickshank @robertcruickshank.com · 10h

I still do not understand why Dems have not made government funding contingent on firing RFK Jr.

Justin Baragona @justinbaragona.bsky.social · 12h

Besides linking Tylenol in pregnant women to autism, RFK Jr. now says circumcision is part of the reason why kids are autistic.

"Children who are circumcised early have double the rate of autism, and it's highly likely because they're given Tylenol. None of this is positive..."

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Reposted by Robert Cruickshank

Ned Resnikoff @resnikoff.bsky.social · 12h

If you live in California, please call @gavinnewsom.bsky.social at (916) 445-2841 and urge him to sign SB 79. Here's my post about why the bill is so important: publiccomment.blog/p/newsom-s-f...

Newsom's Fateful Choice

Why the governor needs to sign SB 79

publiccomment.blog

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Robert Cruickshank @robertcruickshank.com · 12h

Some good news

Erica C. Barnett @ericacbarnett.bsky.social · 12h

Reversing Decision, SPD Removes Controversial Captain Tietjen from East Precinct

Police Chief Shon Barnes blamed PubliCola's story, "internal leaks," and "a lack of comprehensive input" from others for the controversy.

publicola.com/2025/10/09/r...

Reversing Decision, SPD Removes Controversial Captain Tietjen from East Precinct - PubliCola

By Erica C. Barnett Two days after PubliCola exclusively reported that Seattle Police Chief Shon Barnes had promoted controversial police…

publicola.com

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