Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Reposted by SusanneMc

Eric Swalwell @ericswalwell.bsky.social · 10h

This is an Epstein shutdown.

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Aozora @aozorasf.bsky.social · 11h

This is who is paying for the destruction of the White House East Wing, per @wsj.com

Altria Group Inc.
Amazon
Apple Inc.
Booz Allen Hamilton Holding Corp.
Caterpillar Inc.
Coinbase Global
Comcast Corp.
Hard Rock International
Google
HP Inc.
Lockheed Martin Corp.
Meta Platforms Inc.
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Greg Pak @gregpak.net · 13h

I called and left a polite message requesting that they consider quitting this job. I might have said "Please stop destroying our nation's heritage" or something to that effect.

capitolhunters @capitolhunters.bsky.social · 14h

Many people are outraged that Trump is demolishing part of the White House. But of course Trump can't do it without help. It's ACECO LLC of Silver Spring MD ("full-service demolition") that is tearing down the People's House. You can call them and let them know how you feel. 1/

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Marc Elias @marcelias.bsky.social · 12h

The NY Times published an editorial citing Susan Collin as "a moderate Republican." Collins is a reliable vote for Trump's agenda, has voted against democracy at every turn and supported extremist judges.

This is why people are abandoning legacy media--even while enjoying games, puzzles & recipes.

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MeidasTouch @meidastouch.com · 10h

Ben Meiselas calls on those with standing to act: seek an injunction to halt Trump’s White House ballroom. Argue fraud—Trump claimed he’d pay and not alter the structure—and use the damage to the East Wing as the emergency basis. Demand discovery now.

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Ron Filipkowski @ronfilipkowski.bsky.social · 10h

I know we say this all the time so it’s become cliche, but can you imagine the hysteria that would be happening right now with Republicans if Obama did the exact same thing to the inside and outside of the WH that Trump is doing? It would be 24/7 on Fox for months. We all know why.

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SusanneMc @sumac914.bsky.social · 14h

apple.news/ALrRgF7IXSr6...

Mike Johnson Understands Nothing About the United States of America — The New Republic

The speaker led a rogues’ gallery of Republicans impugning the patriotism of the No Kings rallygoers. On Saturday, the real Americans had their say.

apple.news

SusanneMc @sumac914.bsky.social · 14h

“Part of the authoritarian project right now is to undermine faith in all sources of authority. This is a political project. This isn’t something that’s just happened organically. “

SusanneMc @sumac914.bsky.social · 14h

apple.news/AMzWjPNiQQaG...

Rachel Maddow on MSNBC’s Big Rebrand: “We’re Still the Same Old MS” — Vanity Fair

The news host and producer of Andrew Young: The Dirty Work on embracing the Serenity Prayer, the emergency of American authoritarianism, and Bari Weiss at CBS: “There’s an effort—systemically—to destr...

apple.news

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Jay Kuo @nycjayjay.bsky.social · 15h

This guy preaches at the church reportedly attended by Pete Hegseth.

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Stephen West @stephenwest.bsky.social · Aug 10

Three former members of the National Capital Planning Commision "told The Washington Post that a review of any exterior construction project at the White House is required by federal law." Reviews of smaller projects at the White House have taken years in the past.

Trump is rushing to build his ballroom. A review process could take years.

The National Capital Planning Commission has taken years to approve much smaller White House projects than a ballroom planned by President Trump.

wapo.st

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Philip Bump @pbump.com · 20h

When presidents have (and haven't) invoked the Insurrection Act. www.pbump.net/o/trump-want...

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Senator Ron Wyden @wyden.senate.gov · 19h

A lot of wealthy and powerful people helped Epstein fund his sex trafficking operation. The American people deserve to know who they are. Secretary Bessent, like his boss, is covering it up. I’m going to keep following the money. Stay tuned.

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Marc Elias @marcelias.bsky.social · 16h

🚨BREAKING: A federal appeals court Monday all but cleared the way for President Donald Trump to deploy National Guard troops into Portland, Oregon. www.democracydocket.com/news-alerts/...

Appeals Judges Greenlight Trump's Portland Military Deployment

Read more here.

www.democracydocket.com

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Kyle @kyleshivers.bsky.social · 15h

Republicans: You can’t tear down Civil War statues because that’s our history

Also Republicans:

Mr. Dan Zak @mrdanzak.com · 17h

Trump has begun tearing down some of the White House, for his ballroom. wapo.st/4hqBNiU

White House begins demolishing East Wing facade to build Trump’s ballroom

The president had claimed construction of the $250 million ballroom wouldn’t ‘interfere’ with the existing White House structure.

wapo.st

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Sean Casten @seancasten.bsky.social · 15h

The Trump administration, in one image.

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Matt Novak @paleofuture.bsky.social · 16h

This is definitely one of those things that people would’ve called you hysterical for predicting a year ago.

Trump is going to destroy the East Room of the White House without even asking Congress and build a ballroom with funds from private companies that are seeking favors? Settle down, lib.

Jonathan Edwards @jonathanreports.bsky.social · 17h

Scoop: Trump has started demolishing the White House's East Wing facade to build his ballroom. The president had claimed construction of the $250 million building wouldn’t ‘interfere’ with the existing White House structure. /W @ddiamond.bsky.social wapo.st/4hqBNiU

White House begins demolishing East Wing facade to build Trump’s ballroom

The president had claimed construction of the $250 million ballroom wouldn’t ‘interfere’ with the existing White House structure.

wapo.st

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Scarecasmorator @sarcasmorator.bsky.social · 15h

Whatever you think of the White House as a building or a symbol, the fact is that the image of it being torn apart on a whim two days after 7 million people hit the streets against autocracy is going to make a HUGE amount of people really, really angry, and that's an energy that should be harnessed.

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Adam Klasfeld @klasfeldreports.com · 15h

All three judges of the Ninth Circuit agree that Trump labeling Portland a "war zone" is complete nonsense.

The two Trump appointees on the panel just think it's fine to send in the warriors, anyway.

(Two Trump appointees in other courts found otherwise.) storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...

The dissent erroneously asserts that we “accept[] the government’s characterization of Portland as a war zone.” ... Clearly, we do not.

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Reposted by SusanneMc

Erick Fernandez @erickfernandez.bsky.social · 21h

Grijalva not being sworn in means she doesn’t have access to funds as a member of Congress, which means she can’t help her constituents. She has repeated this multiple times and Mike Johnson knows this but he’s going to keep lying about it anyway.
www.msnbc.com/msnbc/news/a...

The delay is impacting Grijalva and her constituents here in ordinary but important ways. Her office has no money because running it would require a congressional allowance and access to taxpayer funds, which she does not have. She can't log on to her government computer because she doesn't have the right password, and she has to wait in line with tourists to access the U.S. Capitol.
"I don't have a budget. The budget is a big deal," Grijalva told MSNBC on Friday. "I actually had people reach out and say, 'I went to your dad's office and nobody's there, because that office was closed on the date of my election, so those services are done."

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SusanneMc @sumac914.bsky.social · 18h

Well said, Kenny Loggins 👏👏👏

Ron Filipkowski @ronfilipkowski.bsky.social · 19h

The WH steals people’s property constantly and never asks permission. Another example of Trump acting like a king.

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Susan of Hell @susanoftexas.bsky.social · 18h

I lived in Montrose most of my adult life. It was the center of the gay community in Houston. This began to change as the wealthy moved in but it is still full of gay pride. It’s like going into someone’s home to deface it.

Olivia Messer @oliviamesser.bsky.social · 18h

Across the country, as rainbow crosswalks are painted over, hate crimes against the LGBTQ+ community have continued to rise. And queer Texans have voiced disappointment that local leaders aren’t stepping up in their defense — at least outside of San Antonio.

thebarbedwire.com/2025/10/20/h...

Houston Erased Texas’ First-Ever Gay Pride Crosswalk in the Middle of the Night

Houston tore up the Montrose rainbow crosswalk last night, arresting three protestors who gathered at the intersection.

thebarbedwire.com

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John Pfaff @johnpfaff.bsky.social · 18h

Are we doing "The ACA Sucks" Discourse again?

I'm going to guess most people hating on it from the left have never received a hospital bill the size of book; I put the apple there for scale.

That's the $1.3 million bill my kid incurred in his first ~94 days. Why does that make me respect the ACA?

A giant stack of papers, about 1/2 the size of an apple, on a counter.

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Josh Marshall @joshtpm.bsky.social · 19h

What GOP Lawmakers Are Costing the US Economy to Avoid Funding Healthcare talkingpointsmemo.com/news/governm...

What GOP Lawmakers Are Costing the US Economy to Avoid Funding Healthcare

Trump administration officials have been parrotting a $15 billion-per-week figure to estimate...

talkingpointsmemo.com

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SusanneMc @sumac914.bsky.social · 18h

“Only Melinda Gates, who met Epstein once and cited him as a factor in the breakdown of her marriage to Bill Gates, sensed what apparently none of these people could put their finger on”..I regretted it the second I walked in the door. He was abhorrent. He was evil personified.”