Tim Lambert
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timlambert-pa.bsky.social
Tim Lambert
@timlambert-pa.bsky.social
Editor-in-chief @penncapital-star.com. Breaking down how policy and politics in Pennsylvania impacts you.

Husband, Always Happy's dad, journalist, history guy and traveler.

https://penncapital-star.com/
Pinned
More than 2,000 journalists who have been killed around the world since 1944 are listed white marble stones at the Bayeux War Reporters’ Memorial in Normandy, France.

They include Ernie Pyle, Daniel Pearl, Robert Capa, NPR’s David Gilkey and Zabihulla Tamanna.
Reposted by Tim Lambert
While Wednesday’s jobs report beat expectations for growth in January, about 4,000 Pennsylvania workers have received notices so far this year that they’ll be laid off.

From @petehallpa.bsky.social
Amid mixed employment news for the nation, Pennsylvania is third in the country for layoff notices • Pennsylvania Capital-Star
Among the companies laying off the largest numbers is Amazon Fresh, which plans to close six stores in the Philadelphia area.
penncapital-star.com
February 13, 2026 at 12:26 AM
Reposted by Tim Lambert
Ring cancels its partnership with Flock Safety after surveillance backlash
Ring cancels its partnership with Flock Safety after surveillance backlash
Flock off
buff.ly
February 12, 2026 at 11:10 PM
Reposted by Tim Lambert
A whistle-blower has accused Tulsi Gabbard, the director of national intelligence, of blocking the distribution of a report that included Jared Kushner’s name in an intercepted communication about Iran. nyti.ms/4aL9zgO
Intelligence Dispute Centers on Kushner Reference in Intercepted Communication
A whistle-blower has accused Tulsi Gabbard, the director of national intelligence, of blocking distribution of a report that Jared Kushner’s name came up in an intercepted communication about Iran.
nyti.ms
February 12, 2026 at 11:05 PM
Reposted by Tim Lambert
U.S. stocks are dropping as the market splits further between perceived losers and wins from the rush into AI.
US stocks drop as investors try to separate AI losers from winners
U.S. stocks are dropping as the market splits further between perceived losers and wins from the rush into AI.
bit.ly
February 12, 2026 at 11:00 PM
Reposted by Tim Lambert
NEW: We’re publishing a full list of the 373 federal judges who have ruled against ICE’s mass detention policy and the 28 who have endorsed it — as well as links to key rulings by each.

Trump appointees have split 44 against/ 20 for the policy.

www.politico.com/news/2026/02...
February 12, 2026 at 10:01 PM
Reposted by Tim Lambert
Sen. Murphy: “So, your belief is that white Americans face more discrimination. at least prior to the Trump administration…than Black Americans?”

Jeremy Carl, Trump's nominee to be assistant secretary of state for international organizations: "Yes, that's correct.”
February 12, 2026 at 10:56 PM
Reposted by Tim Lambert
Citing increasing housing costs and sluggish homebuilding, Gov. Josh Shapiro pitched a 10-year roadmap Thursday to make the commonwealth “a national leader in access to safe and affordable housing.”

From @wdownard.bsky.social
Gov. Shapiro introduces Pa. housing plan to jumpstart construction, rehabilitation • Pennsylvania Capital-Star
The 10-year housing plan from Gov. Josh Shapiro seeks to accelerate housing construction and rehabilitation across the commonwealth.
penncapital-star.com
February 12, 2026 at 7:46 PM
Reposted by Tim Lambert
Rand Paul to ICE officials on moments before Pretti's killing: "No one in America believes that shoving that woman's face in the snow was deescalation."

Note that ICE officials then confirm it was improper for her to be thrown down.
February 12, 2026 at 4:49 PM
Reposted by Tim Lambert
GALLEGO: Why is the agent who shot Renee Good holding a camera phone & weapon?

LYONS: The US attorney was requiring to have video leading up to arrests, so officials have used phones for that

GALLEGO: Maybe you shouldn't be trying to be an influencer and wielding a weapon at the same time
February 12, 2026 at 6:06 PM
Reposted by Tim Lambert
New from me at Cato: The proposed SAVE Act still doesn't pass a basic civics test. It poses severe practical problems for voters and administrators and would give too much power over elections to the president. /1
Federal Power Grab On Voting Still Flunks Basic Civics Test
The proposed SAVE Act still doesn’t pass a basic civics test. It poses severe practical problems for voters and administrators and would give too much power over elections to the president.
www.cato.org
February 12, 2026 at 5:45 PM
Reposted by Tim Lambert
BREAKING: Judge Leon *rejects* Secretary Hegseth's bid to punish Sen. Kelly for advising troops to ignore illegal orders. ecf.dcd.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/show...
February 12, 2026 at 5:45 PM
Reposted by Tim Lambert
Rand Paul to ICE/CBP officials: "You have to look at what your rules are for drawing weapons, because it appears to be they're not using the same standard as the police"
February 12, 2026 at 5:12 PM
Reposted by Tim Lambert
under questioning by Rand Paul, ICE officials confirm that yelling at officers is not assault and recording officers is not a crime
February 12, 2026 at 4:47 PM
"C.B.P. officials thought they were firing on a cartel drone, the people said, but it turned out to be a party balloon."
Border Officials Are Said to Have Caused El Paso Closure by Firing Anti-Drone Laser
www.nytimes.com
February 12, 2026 at 5:36 PM
Reposted by Tim Lambert
The announcement comes a little over two weeks after Homan arrived in the state, taking over control of an operation that had by any measure spun out of control.

From @minnesotareformer.com
Border Czar Tom Homan announces end to Operation Metro Surge, claiming success • Pennsylvania Capital-Star
President Trump’s border czar announced an imminent end to Operation Metro Surge on Thursday in Minnesota.
penncapital-star.com
February 12, 2026 at 3:22 PM
Good Thursday morning, friendos.

I couldn't bass up this classic banger for the best song I heard on my commute:

"Gypsy, sittin' lookin' pretty
The broken rose with laughin' eyes
You're a mystery, always runnin' wild
Like a child without a home"
Bringin' On The Heartbreak
YouTube video by Def Leppard - Topic
www.youtube.com
February 12, 2026 at 1:37 PM
"The Federal Aviation Administration imposed extraordinary 10-day flight restrictions ... following a communications breakdown with the Pentagon and the Department of Homeland Security, after a laser-based counter-drone weapon was temporarily transferred to and used by DHS personnel...
Breakdown between Pentagon, FAA led to flight stoppage, officials say
An extraordinary 10-day restriction on flights around El Paso was issued late Tuesday and lifted hours later, over concerns about the Defense Department’s use of a laser counter-drone weapon.
www.washingtonpost.com
February 12, 2026 at 1:46 AM
Reposted by Tim Lambert
The person photographed here who is in their bathrobe filming armed, masked federal agents in St. Paul is MPR News journalist @samstroozas.bsky.social @mprnews.org . She is an incredible journalist and person. We do not deserve her.
A high-speed car chase involving a federal agent in St. Paul ended with a multi-vehicle crash and injuries to the fleeing driver, who was taken away in an ambulance. bit.ly/4kvJo0M

📸: Leila Navidi
February 11, 2026 at 9:26 PM
Reposted by Tim Lambert
Claims of noncitizen voting in federal elections represent “tiny fractions of voters,” according to a July 2025 analysis from The Center for Election Innovation and Research. The report was updated this month.

From @statesnewsroom.com
US House approves bill mandating proof of citizenship for voting in federal elections • Pennsylvania Capital-Star
The U.S. House passed legislation Wednesday that would require the public to produce a passport or birth certificate in most cases to register to vote, less than a year out from November midterm elect...
penncapital-star.com
February 12, 2026 at 1:11 AM
Reposted by Tim Lambert
NEW:

A Jan. 6 rioter pardoned by Trump was convicted of sexually abusing children.

One of his victims was 11 years old.

www.npr.org/2026/02/11/n...
A Jan. 6 rioter pardoned by Trump was convicted of sexually abusing children
A handyman from Florida who received a pardon from President Trump for storming the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, was convicted on state charges of child sex abuse and exposing himself to a child.
www.npr.org
February 11, 2026 at 8:11 PM
Reposted by Tim Lambert
A Presbyterian church in Lancaster County, Pa.: www.youtube.com/watch?v=VoXv...
Pastors' Statement 2/8/26
YouTube video by Highland Presbyterian Church
www.youtube.com
February 11, 2026 at 10:03 PM
Reposted by Tim Lambert
Investigators say one immigration official abused his girlfriend for years. Another admitted he sexually abused a woman in his custody. A third is charged with taking bribes.
As ICE expands, an AP review of crimes committed by agents shows how their powers can be abused
Investigators say one immigration official abused his girlfriend for years. Another admitted he sexually abused a woman in his custody. A third is charged with taking bribes.
www.mprnews.org
February 11, 2026 at 4:40 PM
Reposted by Tim Lambert
CNN: "Another photograph - these are notes AG Bondi brought to the hearing today. This shows a list of Rep. Jayapal's search history. Lawmakers are allowed to go to a DOJ facility to search unredacted files. We learned from this photo that the searches are apparently being tracked & read by the DOJ"
February 11, 2026 at 9:27 PM
The people who attacked the Capitol on Jan. 6 in an unprecedented attempt to overturn the results of a presidential election have been called "warriors" and "patriots" by man who pardoned them.
February 11, 2026 at 6:19 PM
Reposted by Tim Lambert
No grand jurors found the Trump DOJ met low probable cause threshold in failed indictment of Democratic lawmakers

www.nbcnews.com/politics/tru...
No grand jurors found the Trump DOJ met low probable cause threshold in failed indictment of Democratic lawmakers
None of the D.C. grand jurors who heard the Trump administration’s pitch on why they should indict Democratic lawmakers over a video urging members of the
www.nbcnews.com
February 11, 2026 at 3:46 PM