The Shumater
@theshumater.bsky.social
Digital raconteur posting about politics, news & media, with a focus on Arkansas. Educator, author, scholar. Radical centrist. Слава Україні
Thanks, Joe Biden, for speaking out against Republicans' shameful and bigoted efforts to target transgender Americans by whipping up fear and indulging ignorance to score political points: "There is nothing more American than the notion of equality."
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
Joe Biden slams Republicans for turning transgender rights into ‘political football’
The former president gave a speech expressing support for LGBTQ+ rights at an LGBTQ+ leaders conference on Friday
www.theguardian.com
December 6, 2025 at 6:13 PM
Thanks, Joe Biden, for speaking out against Republicans' shameful and bigoted efforts to target transgender Americans by whipping up fear and indulging ignorance to score political points: "There is nothing more American than the notion of equality."
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
Congregants at Little Rock Immanuel Baptist Church, rocked last year by child sex abuse scandal that led to departure of senior pastor Steven Smith, will decide Sunday whether to confirm selection of Charlotte megachurch pastor Kyler Smith to lead church. D-G's Frank Lockwood reports.
#Arkansas
#Arkansas
Little Rock’s Immanuel Baptist Church will vote Sunday on panel’s pick for new pastor | Arkansas Democrat Gazette
The pastor search committee at Little Rock's Immanuel Baptist Church has settled on a candidate who is vouched for by the president of the Southern Baptist Convention and two of its seminary…
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December 6, 2025 at 6:03 PM
Congregants at Little Rock Immanuel Baptist Church, rocked last year by child sex abuse scandal that led to departure of senior pastor Steven Smith, will decide Sunday whether to confirm selection of Charlotte megachurch pastor Kyler Smith to lead church. D-G's Frank Lockwood reports.
#Arkansas
#Arkansas
Mary Kumpuris, wife of LR City Director Dean Kumpuris, says she's being stalked by college sweetheart she dated more than 50 years ago after they reconnected at a funeral in 2016. Henry Saine, 77, set to stand trial on misdemeanor stalking charges in Jan.
#Arkansas #arpx #arnews
#Arkansas #arpx #arnews
Jacksonville man faces trial after he’s charged with stalking wife of Little Rock city director | Arkansas Democrat Gazette
A Jacksonville man is set to stand trial in January on charges of stalking the wife of a Little Rock city board member who told police she dated the man decades ago and that he won't leave her alone…
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December 6, 2025 at 5:30 PM
AND WE FOOT THE BILL: Entergy customers across Arkansas will pay higher bills so utility can finance new power plant to serve Google's massive data center in W. Memphis, under plan approved by PSC. Google lured to W. Memphis with tax breaks.
#Arkansas #arpx #arnews
#Arkansas #arpx #arnews
Public Service Commission approves Google, Entergy power contract | Arkansas Democrat Gazette
The Arkansas Public Service Commission has approved Entergy Arkansas Inc.'s special rate contract with Google to help power the tech giant's $4 billion West Memphis data center, but has asked the…
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December 6, 2025 at 5:02 PM
Springdale mayor clarifies police role in immigration round-ups after @apnews.com article highlights mass arrests in Benton Co. Officers don't patrol for violations nor demand proof of citizenship but will assist feds if asked, he says. City is 42% Latino.
#Arkansas #arpx
buff.ly/DeiMYs0
#Arkansas #arpx
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Springdale mayor responds to AP report on ICE activity
Mayor Doug Sprouse issued a statement Friday to clarify the role of the Springdale Police Department following an Associated Press report on immigration enforcement in Benton County.
www.nwahomepage.com
December 6, 2025 at 4:30 PM
Springdale mayor clarifies police role in immigration round-ups after @apnews.com article highlights mass arrests in Benton Co. Officers don't patrol for violations nor demand proof of citizenship but will assist feds if asked, he says. City is 42% Latino.
#Arkansas #arpx
buff.ly/DeiMYs0
#Arkansas #arpx
buff.ly/DeiMYs0
Reposted by The Shumater
ICE is using dogs to attack people. How the hell did we get here?
My constituent, Wilmer, was mauled by an ICE attack dog despite the fact that, as he has consistently explained, he was not resisting arrest or trying to flee—his wife and young children, all U.S. citizens, were forced to watch helplessly as Wilmer was violently attacked and dragged away.
December 6, 2025 at 1:54 PM
ICE is using dogs to attack people. How the hell did we get here?
Those "certain states" would be Dementifornia & Bullcrapavania ...
December 6, 2025 at 1:45 PM
Those "certain states" would be Dementifornia & Bullcrapavania ...
Protesters in NW Arkansas urge PSC to reject SWEPCO's request for 24% rate hike; utility would use part of the money to extend life of aging coal-fired plant. Phillip Powell reports for @arktimes.bsky.social
#Arkansas #arpx #arnews
arktimes.com/arkansas-blo...
#Arkansas #arpx #arnews
arktimes.com/arkansas-blo...
Protesters urge state to reject SWEPCO rate increases that would extend life of NWA coal plant - Arkansas Times
SWEPCO is asking state regulators to let it raise rates by about 24%, increasing its revenue by around $85 million.
arktimes.com
December 5, 2025 at 9:41 PM
Protesters in NW Arkansas urge PSC to reject SWEPCO's request for 24% rate hike; utility would use part of the money to extend life of aging coal-fired plant. Phillip Powell reports for @arktimes.bsky.social
#Arkansas #arpx #arnews
arktimes.com/arkansas-blo...
#Arkansas #arpx #arnews
arktimes.com/arkansas-blo...
Vibiest vibe since Trump's DC military parade!
December 5, 2025 at 8:50 PM
Vibiest vibe since Trump's DC military parade!
Reposted by The Shumater
Neither Benton Co. Judge Barry Moehring nor Sheriff Shawn Holloway were willing to defend or explain county's participation in Donald Trump's round-up of immigrants when the AP came around asking questions.
#Arkansas #arpx #arnews
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#Arkansas #arpx #arnews
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December 5, 2025 at 5:45 PM
Neither Benton Co. Judge Barry Moehring nor Sheriff Shawn Holloway were willing to defend or explain county's participation in Donald Trump's round-up of immigrants when the AP came around asking questions.
#Arkansas #arpx #arnews
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#Arkansas #arpx #arnews
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Arkansas doctor gets 110 years in prison for string of sexual assaults recorded on cameras hidden in his house. Ladaryl M. Lankford, 47, who practiced in Ft. Smith & Springdale, drugged some of his victims, which included at least 1 juvenile.
Former Fort Smith physician gets to 110 years in prison in case involving sexually abused minors, drugged victims | Arkansas Democrat Gazette
FORT SMITH -- A former Fort Smith physician has been sentenced to 110 years in prison after pleading guilty to sexually assaulting a minor.
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December 5, 2025 at 5:15 PM
Arkansas doctor gets 110 years in prison for string of sexual assaults recorded on cameras hidden in his house. Ladaryl M. Lankford, 47, who practiced in Ft. Smith & Springdale, drugged some of his victims, which included at least 1 juvenile.
Benton Co. #Arkansas - home of Walmart - is actively participating in Trump administration's round-ups of people thought to be undocumented immigrants, with more than 450 arrests: "Nobody is safe at this point because they are targeting you because of your skin color."
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#arpx
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#arpx
A county jail in Arkansas produces hundreds of ICE arrests under a program surging across the US
A corner of Arkansas best known as home to Walmart headquarters has emerged as a little-known hot spot in the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement crackdown.
buff.ly
December 5, 2025 at 4:45 PM
Benton Co. #Arkansas - home of Walmart - is actively participating in Trump administration's round-ups of people thought to be undocumented immigrants, with more than 450 arrests: "Nobody is safe at this point because they are targeting you because of your skin color."
buff.ly/Zbidu7D
#arpx
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#arpx
Husband of Arkansas woman who orchestrated fake kidnapping of special needs daughter defends her "poorly executed" plan, as couple tries to regain custody. Tammy Hamby rose to prominence by leading effort to censor #LGBTQ library books in Crawford Co. as an "ambassador for Christ."
#Arkansas #arpx
#Arkansas #arpx
December 5, 2025 at 4:15 PM
Reposted by The Shumater
Happy birthday Tamu! This tiny tank is 2 today
December 4, 2025 at 11:21 PM
Happy birthday Tamu! This tiny tank is 2 today
And now, somewhere, an Arkansas Republican legislator is drafting a bill to make it legal for police to kill suspected drug dealers on a boat in a lake ...
#Arkansas #arpx
#Arkansas #arpx
BERMAN: Would it be legal for police in Arkansas to kill suspected drug dealers on a boat in a lake?
TOM COTTON: The premise of your question is not well-founded
BERMAN: The answer is no. It would not be legal to kill them.
TOM COTTON: The premise of your question is not well-founded
BERMAN: The answer is no. It would not be legal to kill them.
December 5, 2025 at 3:43 PM
Haven't these yo-yos heard about Uber?
December 5, 2025 at 2:01 PM
Haven't these yo-yos heard about Uber?
Reposted by The Shumater
In the 1970s, my parents had a green Buick that was slightly larger than a Sherman tank and got 6 miles to the gallon. God, I've missed that car ...
Sean Duffy on slashing fuel economy standards: "This rule will actually allow you to bring back the 1970s station wagon. Maybe a little wood paneling on the side. We can bring back choice to consumers."
December 4, 2025 at 10:25 PM
In the 1970s, my parents had a green Buick that was slightly larger than a Sherman tank and got 6 miles to the gallon. God, I've missed that car ...
A Harvard law grad who served as a military officer, reveling in murder on the high seas in violation of human decency, international law and the military's own rules.
#Arkansas #arpx #arnews
#Arkansas #arpx #arnews
Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), to reporters, after viewing video footage of the U.S. strikes on alleged drug boats in the Caribbean on Sept. 2:
"Righteous strikes." "Entirely lawful."
"Righteous strikes." "Entirely lawful."
December 4, 2025 at 8:37 PM
Great idea, although Rand Paul might be overstating how much MAGAats can be made to care about summary executions ordered by their Dear Leader.
Rand Paul tells me that he wants the full video of the Venezuelan boat strike released.
“And I think if the public sees images of people clinging to boat debris and being blown up, I think that there is a chance that finally, the public will get interested enough in this to stop this.”
“And I think if the public sees images of people clinging to boat debris and being blown up, I think that there is a chance that finally, the public will get interested enough in this to stop this.”
December 4, 2025 at 8:27 PM
Great idea, although Rand Paul might be overstating how much MAGAats can be made to care about summary executions ordered by their Dear Leader.
SAFETY THROUGH MURDER: NE Arkansas Republican US Rep Rick Crawford on Donald Trump's summary executions in the Caribbean: "The president is keeping Americans safe by destroying shipments of what amounts to chemical warfare against the United States."
#Arkansas #arpx
#Arkansas #arpx
Arkansas lawmakers back Trump administration on legality of recent military strikes in Caribbean Sea | Arkansas Democrat Gazette
WASHINGTON -- U.S. Rep. Steve Womack, R-Ark., expressed confidence in the U.S. military's vetting of small boats reportedly carrying drugs from South America, saying recent strikes against these…
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December 4, 2025 at 5:59 PM
NO, TOM COTTON REALLY DID GO TO LAW SCHOOL: Arkansas' junior senator on Donald Trump's summary executions in the Caribbean: "President Trump's strikes against narco-terrorists who are flooding our nation with drugs are both legal and necessary."
#Arkansas #arpx
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#Arkansas #arpx
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Arkansas lawmakers back Trump administration on legality of recent military strikes in Caribbean Sea | Arkansas Democrat Gazette
WASHINGTON -- U.S. Rep. Steve Womack, R-Ark., expressed confidence in the U.S. military's vetting of small boats reportedly carrying drugs from South America, saying recent strikes against these…
buff.ly
December 4, 2025 at 5:33 PM
NO, TOM COTTON REALLY DID GO TO LAW SCHOOL: Arkansas' junior senator on Donald Trump's summary executions in the Caribbean: "President Trump's strikes against narco-terrorists who are flooding our nation with drugs are both legal and necessary."
#Arkansas #arpx
buff.ly/WdbTUxG
#Arkansas #arpx
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Donor pulls funding for diversity scholarship after U of Arkansas modified scholarships to comply with Trump & Gov. Sanders' anti-DEI campaign: "I couldn’t understand why anybody would be against that ... if it can’t be what we want it to be, why are we doing it?”
#Arkansas #arpx
#Arkansas #arpx
University of Arkansas continues to modify scholarships that mention diversity | Arkansas Advocate
The University of Arkansas in Fayetteville has identified more than 100 scholarships to be modified to comply with laws related to race and diversity, and at least one donor has ended his financial…
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December 4, 2025 at 5:15 PM