Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Reposted by Walter Olson

Kim Weeden @weedenkim.bsky.social · 1h

"It should be an easy decision for college presidents not to stick their institution’s neck into this retroactive push-button guillotine."

And yet, somehow, for 8 of them it isn't.

Informative essay, well worth reading.

Walter Olson @walterolson.bsky.social · 1h

New from me at Cato: I go through the numerous and massive First Amendment and academic-freedom violations of Trump's proffered "compact" with universities and then talk about the mechanism by which it would be enforced, by way of what I describe as a "retroactive push-button guillotine."

Universities Must Defend Their Independence by Rejecting Trump's "Compact"

The Trump administration has proffered a “compact” to universities that would require them to surrender their independence and academic freedom. How many First Amendment violations can we identify in ...

www.cato.org

3 5 26

Walter Olson @walterolson.bsky.social · 1h

New from me at Cato: I go through the numerous and massive First Amendment and academic-freedom violations of Trump's proffered "compact" with universities and then talk about the mechanism by which it would be enforced, by way of what I describe as a "retroactive push-button guillotine."

Universities Must Defend Their Independence by Rejecting Trump's "Compact"

The Trump administration has proffered a “compact” to universities that would require them to surrender their independence and academic freedom. How many First Amendment violations can we identify in ...

www.cato.org

2 47 130

Reposted by Walter Olson

SDixon @bpanther1.bsky.social · 1d

www.theatlantic.com/national-sec...

The Boat Strikes Are Just the Beginning

What the Trump administration is portraying as a drug mission may be about a lot more.

www.theatlantic.com

3 3

Walter Olson @walterolson.bsky.social · 9h

From my colleague Ian Vasquez: Peace Nobelist Maria Corina Machado "is one of the world’s most admirable leaders... She [has] consistently and clearly articulated an [opposition] agenda to establish a liberal democracy—based on limited power, the rule of law, civil liberties, and a market economy."

Maria Corina Machado, Venezuelan Champion of Freedom, Wins the Nobel Peace Prize

Maria Corina has proven herself to be an effective, well-organized, and savvy leader who has given Venezuelans reasons to hope that they will be free sooner rather than later. Her well-earned Nobel Pr...

www.cato.org

2 12 24

Walter Olson @walterolson.bsky.social · 12h

I’ll be out waving a sign with friends at #NoKings on October 18. We love America and no sane person would ever confuse us with supporters of Hamas or Antifa. Come join us and speak out to help preserve our constitutional republic.

Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 15h

Mike Johnson: "We're so angry about it. I mean, I'm a very patient guy, but I've had it with these people. The theory we have right now -- they have a hate America rally that's scheduled for October 18 on the National Mall. It's the pro-Hamas wing and antifa people ... "

7 9 56

Reposted by Walter Olson

Michael Clemens @mclem.org · 12h

Dissent and protest in the United States are unconditionally protected by our Constitution.

The new reflex to deploy military force on US soil, against Americans, is an extremely dangerous perversion of our troops.

Antisemitic lies about protesters' motives in expressing dissent are disgusting.

Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 13h

Sen. Roger Marshall: "October 18 is when the protest gets here. This will be a Soros paid-for protest for his professional protesters. The agitators show up. We'll have to get the National Guard out. Hopefully it will be peaceful. I doubt it."

15 50

Reposted by Walter Olson

dr. caitlin m. green @caitlinmoriah.bsky.social · 1d

there are SO many more inflatable costumes tonight. clearly we have settled on a motif

Wide shot of many people in inflatable costumes

56 550 3.1K

Reposted by Walter Olson

Patrick De Klotz @patdeklotz.bsky.social · 14h

I am pretty conservative, at least in an older sense of the word. I was a Republican until right after the 2016 election. I love America and what it is supposed to stand for, and that’s why I’ll be out there on October 18th. Donald, with Mike’s help, has put the country in grave danger. No Kings.

Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 15h

Mike Johnson: "We're so angry about it. I mean, I'm a very patient guy, but I've had it with these people. The theory we have right now -- they have a hate America rally that's scheduled for October 18 on the National Mall. It's the pro-Hamas wing and antifa people ... "

15 37 240

Reposted by Walter Olson

Roger Parloff @rparloff.bsky.social · 13h

At 11am I will try to live-blog, for @lawfaremedia.org , the hearing in Abrego Garcia’s civil (habeas corpus) case in federal court in Greenbelt MD. Abrego is seeking release from detention under a SCOTUS precedent called Zadvydas v Davis (2001). ...
/1
tile.loc.gov/storage-serv...

17 300 950

Reposted by Walter Olson

lisadeeleysmith.bsky.social @lisadeeleysmith.bsky.social · 15h

The committee: "At a time when democracy is under threat, it is more important than ever to defend this common ground.We see the same trends globally: rule of law abused by those in control, free media silenced, critics imprisoned, and societies pushed towards authoritarian rule and militarisation."

1 4 14

Walter Olson @walterolson.bsky.social · 15h

Presidential invocation of the Insurrection Act "'would be a momentous step. It would step much further into... using U.S. military against U.S. citizens,' Olson said, noting that Trump would be going over the heads of local leaders who are arguing it’s not necessary."

Court rulings, anti-ICE protests, Democrats: What the Trump administration sees as 'insurrection'

Officials say court rulings and protests are part of an insurrection — which Trump's lawyers argued in court the Jan. 6 attack wasn't — as they consider invoking the Insurrection Act.

www.nbcnews.com

2 12 28

Walter Olson @walterolson.bsky.social · 16h

A woman “who keeps the flame of democracy burning amid a growing darkness.” Viva Maria Corina Machado and may Venezuela once again regain its freedom.

The Associated Press @apnews.com · 18h

BREAKING: For her work promoting democratic rights for the people of Venezuela, María Corina Machado wins the Nobel Peace Prize.

María Corina Machado of Venezuela wins the Nobel Peace Prize

Opposition activist María Corina Machado of Venezuela has won the Nobel Peace Prize. The Norwegian Nobel committee praised her as a key figure in unifying Venezuela's political opposition.

bit.ly

1 17 61

Reposted by Walter Olson

AFinRenoFightsBack 🌮 ❌👑 @callyson.bsky.social · 1d

Another day, another Trump tariff temper tantrum:

Trump on his tariff authority case before the Supreme Court: “I can create peace with tariffs. I’m using them for a lot of different reasons. If that power was taken away from the president, it would be a terrible terrible day for our country. These are enemies of the country that are pursuing that lawsuit.”

… Scott Lincicome with conservative Cato Institute: “I know the president spews so much delusional word-vomit that we casually dismiss this stuff, but calling the small business plaintiffs in the tariff cases ‘enemies of the country’ is still really shitty.”

1 6 27

Walter Olson @walterolson.bsky.social · 1d

From the bad old site, in response to pro-immigration commentary from Cato scholars. I wonder whether there's something dangerous in letting presidents just arbitrarily declare one or another group to be a terrorist organization -- nah, I suppose that's alarmist.

Four tweets from X, text:

[user] Sep 20
The CATO Institute should be labeled as a domestic terrorist organization.

[user] Sep 20
Replying to
@AlexNowrasteh
Trump's next EO needs to be declaring the CATO Institute a terrorist organization.

[user]
·
Sep 19
The next group that
@realDonaldTrump
needs to designate as a terrorist organization is the Cato Institute

[user]
·
Sep 19
Replying to
@David_J_Bier
we are going to designate the CATO Institute as a terrorist organization next.

Tweets from X, text: "

[user]
·
11h
Replying to
@David_J_Bier
The Cato Institute should be declared a terrorist organization.

[user]
·
11h
President Trump needs to declare Cato institute domestic terror organization
Quote
The Alex Nowrasteh
@AlexNowrasteh
·
Oct 8
Americans would be slightly more pro-immigration if they knew how hard it is to come here legally."

24 110 560

Reposted by Walter Olson

Jon Seidel @jonseidel.bsky.social · 1d

U.S. District Judge April Perry says it comes down to a "credibility determination."

"I simply cannot credit [the Trump administration's] declarations to the extent they contradict state and local law enforcement. … DHS' perception of events are simply unreliable."

Jon Seidel @jonseidel.bsky.social · 1d

#BREAKING A federal judge say she will grant "in part" a request by the state of Illinois for a temporary restraining order against the deployment of National Guard troops into the state.

U.S. District Judge April Perry is still ruling and has not outlined the details of her order.

Jon Seidel @jonseidel.bsky.social · 1d

Perry: "I'm going to issue an oral ruling."

55 840 2.7K

Reposted by Walter Olson

Jack Jenkins @jackjenkins.me · 1d

NEW: A federal judge has issued a temporary restraining order barring Chicago-area fed agents from several violent actions they’ve taken against journalists, activists and “religious practitioners” protesting ICE — including Rev. Black, a plaintiff in the case. www.courtlistener.com/docket/71559...

5 200 560

Reposted by Walter Olson

Leah Litman @leahlitman.bsky.social · 1d

Indicting political opponents & critics because they are political opponents & critics is terrifying.

It's completely inconsistent with the rule of law & democracy.

It should scare everyone - and (hopefully) will get people to realize that we all need to stand against this.

40 370 1.3K

Reposted by Walter Olson

Ian Bassin @ianbassin.bsky.social · 1d

Again, Trump has crossed a Red Line no president has ever crossed: personally ordering the criminal prosecution of an American he doesn't like despite DOJ not finding evidence of any crime.

If Trump can do this to the powerful, he can do it to you. That's not freedom, and its not America.

New York Attorney General Letitia James @newyorkstateag.bsky.social · 1d

This is nothing more than a continuation of the president’s desperate weaponization of our justice system.

I am not fearful — I am fearless.

We will fight these baseless charges aggressively, and my office will continue to fiercely protect New Yorkers and their rights..

22 230 890

Reposted by Walter Olson

Regime Accountant, CPA ☠️🎢 @regimecpa.bsky.social · 1d

Grand juries being the piece of the judicial system that holds up is lol

Pop Crave @popcrave.com · 1d

Federal charges against a Chicago couple who were arrested for protesting against ICE were dropped after a grand jury refused to indict them.

23 61 590

Reposted by Walter Olson

Carl Quintanilla @carlquintanilla.bsky.social · 2d

#WarRavagedPortland

1.3K 11K 36K

Reposted by Walter Olson

Jeffrey Vagle @jvagle.me · 1d

I can recall a time, not too long ago, where examples of "papers, please" governments were used as un-American counter examples.

Patrick Chovanec @prchovanec.bsky.social · 1d

"THEY WERE EVENTUALLY LET GO AFTER SHOWING THIER DOCUMENTS". In other words, they were pulled out of their cars for looking "Mexican".

CollinCountyDems @collincountydems.bsky.social · 1d

This is terrifying!

ICE breaks into this woman’s car in the pick-up line at West Loop Elementary school in Chicago and detains her before she can pick her kids up from school. (They were eventually let go after showing their documents)

This is Trump’s America.

23 77

Reposted by Walter Olson

Heather Cherone @heathercherone.bsky.social · 1d

Perry: DOJ's definition of rebellion would mean that
"literally all nonviolent protest” could be considered evidence of rebellion. Is that your argument?
Hamilton: The president has determined there is a danger of a rebellion, and you must defer to that finding

27 180 790

Reposted by Walter Olson

Chris Jackson @chriscjackson.bsky.social · 1d

He’s blowing up fishing boats in the Caribbean and invading U.S. cities with the military.

Chris Cillizza @chriscillizza.bsky.social · 1d

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

2 10 50

Walter Olson @walterolson.bsky.social · 1d

From my colleague @foxmike90.bsky.social.

Reason Magazine @reason.com · 1d

From pretrial detention to the threat of foreign rendition, the Abrego Garcia case shows how political prosecutions and coercive plea deals have eroded the promise of a fair trial.

What's really at stake in the Kilmar Abrego Garcia case?

From pretrial detention to the threat of foreign rendition, the Abrego Garcia case shows how political prosecutions and coercive plea deals have eroded the promise of a fair trial.

reason.com

2 16

Reposted by Walter Olson

Claire Willett @clairewillett.bsky.social · 1d

she goes to a different school though you guys don’t know her

Bobby Silverman @robertsilverman.bsky.social · 2d

Bondi claiming they arrested [checks notes] "the girlfriend of one of the founders of antifa" has me in stitches

Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 2d

Bondi: "Bondi: "Just like we did with cartels, we are going to take the same approach, President Trump, with antifa -- destroy the entire organization from top to bottom. We are going to take them apart."

55 470