Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Reposted by The Spiral Bound Journal

Urv-eerie 👻 @theurv.com · 6h

Drawing of the Day
US Government shut down, House covering up Epstein files, Senate ends the war in Iraq after 23 years, and Marc Benioff wants the National Guard in SF

Friday October 10, 2025
The U.S. Government is still shut down.

Speaker Mike Johnson sent the house home 3 weeks ago and today announced they won't be at work again next week. And covering up Epstein's scandals may be part of the reason why. Democrat Adelita Grijalva won a special election in Arizona and hasn't been sworn in yet, but once she is would provide the final vote on legislation to release the files.

Meanwhile in the Senate yesterday’s authorization of defense spending also officially ends the 2002 war in Iraq.

Trump sends stocks tumbling as he announces 100% tariffs on China

Billionaire Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff calls for National Guard in SF

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The Spiral Bound Journal @spiralboundjournal.bsky.social · 1d

Drawing of the Day:
Where are the troops going? Israel or Chicago?
The government is shut down, Israel accepts the beginning of a peace deal, federal judge says no to troop deployment in Chicago, and Trump’s attacks on NY AG Letitia James have led to an indictment

Thursday October 9 2025

Two troops are talking to each other, one says:
“I’m going to Israel. You?”
The other replies:
“Chicago”

The US Government is still shut down.

Israel approved the Phase I plan to end the war in Gaza with both Trump and Hamas publicly saying the war is over.

Trump is sending 200 troops to Israel to help with logistics. The plan is a ceasefire begins within 24 hours, with Israeli withdrawl from current lines to control 53% of Gaza after which 72 hours to return all hostages while the international community sends aid in.

Federal Judge April Perry ruled against Trump's move to send 500 troops into Chicago saying she had "seen no credible evidence that there is a danger of a rebellion"

Trump continues to attack his perceived enemies, and has indicted New York Altoney General Letitia James who called the charges baseless.

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Urv-eerie 👻 @theurv.com · 2d

Drawing of the Day
Peace?
Maybe
US Gov still shut down and Les Mis turns 40

Wednesday October 8 2025

Israel and Hamas Agree to Hostage And Prisoner Exchange - hoping it would be the 1st phase of a peace deal to end the war. While celebrations in the streets happened in both Gaza and Tel Aviv, the details are still in the works like if Hamas will disarm and if or where Israeli troops will withdraw to. Everyone is glued to the news waiting to hear when a truce might begin.

The United Nations will cut 25% of its global peacekeeping force due to U.S. funding cuts
While Trump is trying to get a Nobel Peace Prize and now prioritizing Israel and Palestine to that end... he’s also cutting aid to conflict zones around the world

U.S Gov still shut down...

Les Mis, the musical, turns 40 this week!
(at least the English version).

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The Spiral Bound Journal @spiralboundjournal.bsky.social · 3d

Drawing of the Day:
Two years of suffering… what started as terror has turned into a humanitarian crisis like no other.

Tuesday October 7 2025

(the U.S. government is still shutdown)

"A humanitarian catastrophe on a scale that defied comprehension”
-UN Sec General Antonio Guterres

Since Oct 7 2023:
The largest attack on Jewish people since
World War 2: 1,195 people Killed, 251 hostages taken, of which 48 are still held, 20 believed to be alive.

A right-wing scorched earth military approach was taken, denying negotiations and starting a campaign now labled genocide by experts.

More than 67,000 Palestinians killed.
(20,000 children)
which is 1 of 33 people in Gaza

At least 169,000 Palestinians injured some with life-altering wounds. (1 of 14 people in Gaza

125 hospitals and clinics damaged. 1,722 health workers killed.

1 in 4 children is malnourished and 154 documented cases of children dying of starvation

658,000 school age kids lost access to schools due to bombings.

And with 270 journalists killed it’s been the deadliest conflict to cover outpacing WWI, WWII, Civil war combined.

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Urv-eerie 👻 @theurv.com · 4d

Drawing of the Day: celebrating the Nobel Prize in Medicine, AI market shifts, and Texas troops on route to Chicago

Monday October 6, 2025
(government still shut down...)

Mary Brunow, Dr. Shimon Sakaguchi and Fred Ramsdell were awarded the Nobel Prize in Medicine for their work on peripheral immune tolerance, a key process in the immune system helps us understand how our bodies know to attack germs and not healthy cells. Their work has been critical in understanding autoimmune diseases and has lead to better disease research in diabetes, organ transplants, cancer, and more.

The Al industry's fate becomes more linked as OpenAl amounced it will also use AMD chips with an option to buy 10% of the company. Competitor chip maker NVIDIA also invested up to $100 billion in openAl.

Texas troops on route to Chicago as legal battle also continues alongside military movement

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The Spiral Bound Journal @spiralboundjournal.bsky.social · 5d

Drawing of the Day:
Americas War on Americans

Sunday October 5 2025

Federal government harassment in Chicago is being ramped up. This week there has been a helicopter raid on an apartment building, children zip tied and taken from parents, warrantless arrests, shooting at protesters, and the Department of Homeland Security has been glorifying these tactics. Secretary Noem posted a montage of raid footage set to music saying “Chicago, we’re here for you”

Meanwhile Trump tried to get around a judge stopping use of the Oregon national guard in Portland, leading him to order California National Guard there. In an emergency ruling tonight the judge said this was also illegal both under federal law and the 10th amendment, which protects state sovereignty. Protests in Portland have tried to highlight the absurdity with things like a tea party, inflatable frog costume, pajamas, and whimsy onesies. The “war zone" isn't one.

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Urv-eerie 👻 @theurv.com · 6d

Drawing of the Day
My friends got married, Portland judge says national guard deployment is illegal, and Israel and Palestine are getting closer to a peace deal

Saturday October 4, 2025
Some days, it is hard to imagine things getting better... other days a friend of 16 years who you met while advocating for same-sex marriage to be legalized gets to legally marry the man of his dreams.

It reminds you that nothing is inevitable. good things happen because we didn’t believe the world we grew up in was good enough, we it better. We convinced our peers and our courts and our politicians that love and dignity mattered… and won.

Judge Karin Immergut in Oregon issued a ruling that temporarily blocks deploying the national guard in Portand. Summarizing
"this is a nation of Constitutional law, not martial law”

On the edge, leaning toward peace. Israel has reduced attacks under foreign pressure and Hamas's latest ofter to release hostages shortly. While the peace deal isn't final, there is progress.

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The Spiral Bound Journal @spiralboundjournal.bsky.social · 7d

Drawing of the Day
Peace negotiations continue between Israel and Palestine with international leaders weighing in
US government is shut down and still shooting down boats near Venezuela
Taylor Swift’s new album is out now

Friday October 3, 2025
Closer
To
Peace?
Maybe?

Hamas has agreed to free all remaining hostages while negotiating for a peace deal, while disagreeing about the current peace proposal’s direction for the future of Palestine.

Trump has demanded Israel stop bombing, and Israeli protesters blocked troops on route to Gaza demanding the Flotilla of aid be allowed into Gaza. Israel has told IDF forces to reduce operations to a minimum. However previous pauses for aid led to further attacks so things could obviously change, but it seems many international leaders are supporting this effort to end the war.

US.Government still shut down

The US shot down another boat off the coast of Venezuela killing 4 people, we’re not at war with Venezuela so again this is illegal murder.

Taylor Swift's newest album The Life of a Showgirl came out today.

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Urv-eerie 👻 @theurv.com · 8d

Drawing of the Day: Government Shurdown and attacks on academic freedom

Thursday October 2, 2025
CLOSED.
Millions of government employees have been furloughed, and those deemed essential are working without pay. Some workers like food safety professionals and 75% af the National Institutes of Health have more cuts than ones deemed essential like the D.O.D. Who is keeping the military at work with no pay. Trump is using the shut down to say he will make cuts to “Democratic” agencies and use Project 2025 to guide permanent cuts. While Trump previously denied knowledge of Project 2025 he’s now openly embracing the right wing agenda and using it as public talking points.

GOP and conservative priorities are now the conditions for universities to get access to federal funding according to Trump's latest threats. However all such previous attacks have lost in court. Gov Newsom Says CA will cut funding if schools agree (to trumps conditions)

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Urv-eerie 👻 @theurv.com · 9d

Drawing of the Day:
Jane Goodall has joined the ancestors, the work of building a better future is on our shoulders now.

Wednesday October 1, 2025

Dr. Jane Goodall died today.

"The greatest danger to our future is apathy"
April 3 1934 - Oct 1, 2025

Dr. Jane Goodall, one of the most beloved scientists of all time died at age 91 today. Her work as a young scientist studying chimpanzees and great apes changed our understanding of primates so much her mentor Louis Leakey once said "Now we must redefine 'tool, redefine ‘man’ or accept chimpanzees as human" Her work, writing, and films about it showed women could be impactful outside of prescribed roles and inspired many future scientists and conservationists. Her work touched on virology and the roots of HIV, the ethics of industrial meat production and land use, the need to protect the world’s habitats biodiversity, and mobilize to stop climate change. She believed in curiosity, hope, and joy.

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The Spiral Bound Journal @spiralboundjournal.bsky.social · 10d

Drawing of the Day:
Government shutdown, Trump tells military leaders they should use American cities as their training grounds, and Judge protects immigrants 1st amendment rights

Tuesday September 30, 2025

The US has begun a Government Shutdown as of midnight eastern time. GOP leaders posted racist lies and fake content about Dem leaders after their negotiation. Dems have said that they would provide votes only if the GOP cuts to healthcare were reversed. Dems were in congress today but many GOP leaders didnt even show up. This is the third government shutdown under President Trump while his party controls both cambers. Both parties have proposals and are blaming the other for the shutdown.

"We should use some of these dangerous cities as training grounds for our military."
- President Trump told 800 generals and admirals today

Judge rules Trump's targeting immigrant Pro-Palestine speech is illegal. Do immigrants get the same 1st amendment protections? The Judge says “unequivocally, Yes they do”

The Spiral Bound Journal @spiralboundjournal.bsky.social · 11d

Drawing of the Day:
Shutdown negotiations, Trump and Netanyahu make a peace plan, and all US Generals meeting tomorrow

Monday September 29, 2025

It's now in the presidents hands
-chuck Schumer

Their ideas are not very good ones
- Trump

US Government on the Brink of Shutdown.

Trump had his first meeting with all 4 congressional leaders of both chambers during this term to discuss next steps. The GOP has unilaterally made huge cuts to healthcare earlier this year and Democrats are demanding restoration of funding for their votes. Dems didn’t fight on the last budget negotiation angering much of their base then.

Trump and Netanyahu announce a draft peace plan that will be presented to Palestinians soon

All US Generals will meet tomorrow in Virginia, a first that is widely seen as risky.

The Spiral Bound Journal @spiralboundjournal.bsky.social · 12d

Drawing of the Day:
Adams drops out of the mayoral race, Pro EU party wins in Moldova, 58m pounds of corn dogs recalled, and yet another mass shooting

Sunday September 28 2025

New York Mayor Eric Adams drops out of mayoral race where he was polling at 9%, far behind front runner Mandani

The Pro-EU party won a majority of votes in Moldova despite claims of Russian interference. The Party of Action and Solidarity had 50% of votes with Russian backed Patriotic Elector Bloc getting 24% of the vote.

58 million pounds of corndogs have been recalled due to wood pieces that have lead to at least 5 injuries so far. Products manufactured up til this Friday could be impacted.

A former Marine, 40 year old Thomas Sanford drove a truck with two flags on it into a Mormon church in Michigan before killing 4 and wounding 8 people inside.

The Spiral Bound Journal @spiralboundjournal.bsky.social · 13d

Drawing of the Day:
Trump says he’s sending troops to Portland which the governor says is unnecessary as they’re just fine, Zelensky announces arms deal with US as fears of nuclear meltdown increases due to Russian occupation of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant.

Saturday September 2T, 2025
War Ravaged Portland?
... Trump announces he will send troops to Portland, Oregon "authorizing Full Force, if necessay" This is despite Or Govenor Tina Kotek saying the city is "just fine". Details like when and how many troops or their mission has not been announced...

Zelensky announces a $90 billion arms agreement with the US. Meanwhile Russia has occupied the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant which is on day 5 of using emergery
diesel generators to keep the reactors
cool after Russia shelled the last power line to the plant from the Ukrainian grid.

The Spiral Bound Journal @spiralboundjournal.bsky.social · 14d

Drawing of the Day:
Assata Shakur dies, SCOTUS undermines Congress, Netanyahu loses the audience at the UN, and Musk is in the Epstein files

Friday September 26, 2025

Assata Shakur, a Black Liberation activist died of old age in Cuba. Her words inspired many including the famous quote" It is our duty to fight for our freedom. It is our duty to win. We must love each other and support each other. We have nothing to lose but our chains."
July 16 1947 - 9/25/25

Courts are again reducing the power of congress as the supreme court's conservative majority allowed the president to withhold $4 billion in foreign aid congress authorized. Under the seperation of powers congress should control the budget but Trump and his allies are eroding that role.

Empty seats as delegates at the UN walk out in protest during Netanyahu’s speech where he says Israel will continue its war insisting he "Must finish the job "

Prince Andrews and Elon Musk are both in recently released Epstein files that the House Oversight committee recieved. Other names in Epstein’s calendar include Peter Thiel, Bill Gates, Steve Bannon- who did not comment

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The Spiral Bound Journal @spiralboundjournal.bsky.social · 15d

Drawing of the Day:
Stupid tariffs, baffling healthcare politics, TikTok acquisition talks, and political persecution all kept Trump and his team busy today

Thursday September 25, 2026
MORE TRUMP Tariffs…
25% on Semi TrucKS,
30% on Upholstered furniture,
50% on Kitchen cabinets,
and 100% on branded or patented pharmaceuticals.
This could highly destabalize healthcare with little time to absorb price shocks or find alternatives

RFK Jr baffles UN experts as he blames abortion and transgender people for the US rejecting the UN work on chronic diseases around the world, despite neither being part of the declaration

TikToK deal could see billionaire Larry Ellison, Fox heir Lachlan Murdoch gaining control of the app in the US

Trump goes after political grudges in latest charges against James Comey.

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The Spiral Bound Journal @spiralboundjournal.bsky.social · 16d

Drawing of the Day:
As the king of storms hits multiple Asian countries, the US is absent in addressing the global climate crisis at the UN Climate Summit

Wednesday September 24, 2025

Typhoon Ragasa the so called "King of Storms" made landfall.

14 people died in Taiwan where a bridge collapsed after a lake overflowed.
Hong Kong came to a standstill as 116 mile per hour winds hit and waves taller than lampposts hit the coastline and the airport was closed for 36 hours. More than 2 million people were evacuated from Guangdong province before the storm made landfall, with gusts of 150 miles per hour recorded. Assessments of damage are still coming in.

121 Countries met to discuss their progress and efforts to fight climate change at the
UN Climate Summit. The US did not attend and the absence said everything.

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The Spiral Bound Journal @spiralboundjournal.bsky.social · 17d

Drawing of the Day:
No rapture
Shanah Tovah!
Trump insults the UN and Democrats in a busy day

Tuesday September 23 2025
Despite social media rumors, the rapture did not occur today.

Shanah Tovah!

"Your countries are going to hell”

"These are the two things I got from the United Nations: a bad escalator and a bad teleprompter”
- Trump

Trump complained about immigration and clean energy, insulted Europe, and blamed the UN for his staff triggering an escalator safety stop and not properly operating the teleprompter, all during his speech to the United Nations General Assembly.

Sorry We're CLOSED

Odds of a government shutdown have increased as Trump cancels meeting with Senator Chuck Schumer and Rep Hakeem Jeffries. Republicans don’t have enough votes, and without a deal Oct 1st will be shutdown.

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The Spiral Bound Journal @spiralboundjournal.bsky.social · 18d

Drawing of the Day:
Trump and RFK Jr lie about Tylenol (it’s safe, they’re not), Disney brings back Kimmel after protests work, and John Roberts once again uses emergency orders to overturn precedent and give Trump what he wants

Monday September 22nd 2025
Tylenol is Safe, Trump's advice is not. Trump, who once suggested injecting bleach to kill covid, and RFK Jr, who told congress not to take his medical advice, tried to link Tylenol use to autism despite zero evidence.

Many pregnant women use Acetaminophen for pain management as ibuprofen can cause kidney damage to a fetus and increase pregnancy complicatrons.

ABC ends Kimmel's "Indefinite" Shutdown after less than a week due to consumer pushback. Disney lost thousands of subscribers and faced a huge amount of criticism from the public and their own celebrity talent behind hit shows.

Chief Justice John Robert's court once again uses an emergency order to give Trump more power. His court is allowing trump to fire Federal Tade Commissioner Rebecca Kelly, counter to a 90 year old precedent that makes the agency independent as Congress intended.

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The Spiral Bound Journal @spiralboundjournal.bsky.social · 19d

Drawing of the day: Kirk’s funeral says a lot about Trump’s vision for America and the rest of the English speaking world starts to recognize Palestine

Sunday September 2 2025
"Do you remember the 21st night of September?" - Earth Wind and Fire

"I hate my opponent and I don't want the best for them"
- Trump at Charlie Kirk’s funeral -
Conservative leaders used-the Kirk Funeral to call Kirk a martyr for the cause of Christian conservative nation. During the service to 100,000 in a stadrum ir Arizona Musk and Trump spoke, and GOP leaders bragged about tariffs, ICE raids, and their political agenda between comments on Kirk. In a week of police bribery, tightening censorship, militarization of American cities, the judicial department being nakedly political, and now today the government leaders openly discussing their desire to harm political opponents and embrace religious fundamentalism… it was a lot.

The UK, Australia, and Canada officially recognize Palestine as a state angering Israel and US government leaders.

The Spiral Bound Journal @spiralboundjournal.bsky.social · 20d

Drawing of the Day:
The border czar accepted a bribe from the FBI and the case was covered up by the AG, FBI director, and judge in the Trump admin, meanwhile Trump wants AG to go after political enemies, Pentagon says journalists must not seek out information and Ag department stops tracking hunger

Saturday September 20, 2025
Trump Border Czar Tom Homan Accepted a $50,000 Bribe in Cash to help secure government contracts on border security... From an undercover FBI agent.
He was caught ON CAMERA... and Attorney General Pam Bondi, Kash Patel (FBI director), and Emil Bove III (trump's former lawyer and now federal court judge) all knew too! Collectively they shut down the investigation.

Trump Demands Attorney General Pam Bondi go after political opposition and law enforcement that investigaled him including Comey, Letitia James and Senator Schiff.

Trump’s Pentagon has told journalists they can only write pieces with official statements or lose access. Meanwhile the Agriculture Department is going to stop tracking hunger, months after cutting SNAP for poor families.

The Spiral Bound Journal @spiralboundjournal.bsky.social · 21d

Drawing of the Day:
Russia tests NATO, Trump adds extremely high fees for H1-B visas, federal court protects freedom of artistic expression, Morocco signs High Seas Treaty, and Jerry leaves Ben & Jerry

Friday September 19, 2025

Russian MiG-31 Fighter Jets Enter Estonian Airspace. The NATO country has called for members to consult following the flights which are believed to be Russia testing NATO resolve

Trump announces a $100,000 fee for visas given to skilled workers. The H1-B visa for highly skilled workers is used to hire workers in hospitals, universities, technology, utilities and more. The U.S. provides 85,000 such visas a year. Experts say it will likely not survive in court but could be very disruptive to thousands of workers.

A federal court in Rhode Island said Trump’s efforts to ban National Endowment for the Arts awards with themes around gender is unconstitutional, and cannot be implemented.

Morocco is the 60th nation to sign on to The High Seas Treaty, the first framework to protect biodiversity in international waters

Jerry leaves Ben & Jerry after Unilever dispute about selling ice cream in west bank settlements.

The Spiral Bound Journal @spiralboundjournal.bsky.social · 22d

Drawing of the Day:
Censorship as Jimmy Kimmel’s job is in limbo following Trump attacks. NYC state and city officials arrested by ICE when trying to inspect immigration detention facility.

Thursday September 18, 2025
Is "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" Dead?

The indefinite suspension at the urging of Trump was celebrated by Trump, while Stephen Colbert used his late night show to call it “blatant censorship.”
John Stewart Used his show to host journalist and Nobel Prize recipient Maria Ressa on tips to cope with the current moment. She said when she and her colleagues faced similar threats to “just keep going”

New York Officials arrested by ICE when attempting to review conditions of ICE detainees in an ICE holding facility. (A thing they are legally allowed to do)
They arrested City Comptroller Brad Lander, Public Advocate Jumaane Williams, and multiple State Senators and State Assembly Members.

The Spiral Bound Journal @spiralboundjournal.bsky.social · 23d

Third journal of this administration… there’s so much happening that just trying to absorb it all and keep a sense of perspective led me to this…

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The Spiral Bound Journal @spiralboundjournal.bsky.social · 23d

Drawing of the Day: @jimmykimmel.com fired by Disney because FCC Chair and Trump don’t like his comments on Kirk.
Trump attends a state dinner in England where British royals, tech leaders, bankers, and media moguls played to his ego.

Wednesday September 17 2025
Not So Free Speech

Chairman Brendan Carr of the Federal Communications Commission said on a right -wing podcast that due to not liking Jinmy
Kimmel’s comments on Charlie Kirk, that he would use the FCC to look into it. Hours later Disney's chief executive Robert Iger pulled Kimmel’s late night show indefinitely. Trump praised the news. This is very similar to how CBS fired Stephan Colbert to get the administration to approve their Paramount merger, indicating comedians speaking about any politics on the right will face federal pressure to be cut.

Trump's state visit to the UK saw protests broadcasting images of Trump and Epstein on Windsor Castle where King Charles III hosted Trump. At the state dinner tech leaders, bank CEOs, media owners, and royals played to Trump's ego.

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