Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Alex Roarty @alexroarty.bsky.social · 2d

Dunlap defies national Democrats, makes primary bid against Golden official in Maine’s right-leaning 2nd district.

The dccc is threatening to pull ad $$$ in the battleground district if Golden loses his primary, saying the race might be unwinable in a general election www.notus.org/2026-electio...

Maine State Auditor Defies National Democrats, Launches Primary Against Moderate Jared Golden

Officials at the DCCC warned that if the incumbent loses the primary, Democrats will lose a seat in the general election.

www.notus.org

1 2 3

Reposted by Alex Roarty

Oriana González @oriana.bsky.social · 7d

New: The Supreme Court tentatively green-lit Trump's pocket rescissions, which will make ending a shutdown hard — and the *entire* approps process harder

"What’s the point of passing a bill if they just do whatever the hell they want to do anyway?," one Senate Dem said
www.notus.org/courts/scotu...

Bipartisan Funding Deals Are Hard to Do. The Supreme Court Might Have Made Them Impossible.

“What’s the point of passing a bill if they just do whatever the hell they want to do anyway?” one Senate Democrat said.

www.notus.org

14 28

Reposted by Alex Roarty

The Downballot @the-downballot.com · 22d

New from @alexroarty.bsky.social at @notus.com on the D primary for #IASen:

"In interviews with NOTUS, several Iowa Democratic insiders said they believed that [state Rep. Josh] Turek has the tacit backing of Democratic Senate Leader Chuck Schumer and the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee."

Iowa Democrats Look for Their Senate Star

State lawmaker Josh Turek’s buzzy campaign announcement has caught Democrats’ attention.

www.notus.org

4 12

Alex Roarty @alexroarty.bsky.social · Aug 29

Senate Democrats desperately want Mary Peltola to run for Senate. But a gubernatorial bid, according to just about everybody, would offer a much easier pathway back to elected office

On the Peltola dilemma, the talk of Alaska politics w/
@riley-rogerson.bsky.social

www.notus.org/2026-electio...

Democrats Are Desperate for Mary Peltola to Run for Something, Anything in Alaska

A Peltola Senate campaign would mark the latest recruiting win for Majority Leader Chuck Schumer.

www.notus.org

2 1

Alex Roarty @alexroarty.bsky.social · Aug 20

"A CDC employee sent NOTUS photographs of windows still pockmarked with bullet holes on Monday afternoon. Handwritten signs taped to chairs warned employees to avoid glass on the carpet."

www.notus.org/health-scien...

‘We Trudge On’: CDC Employees Return to Work With Bullet Holes Still in the Windows

“I was thinking they would have at least enhanced security going into campus,” one CDC employee told NOTUS.

www.notus.org

1 1

Alex Roarty @alexroarty.bsky.social · Aug 19

A new Senate candidate in Maine is going to test the appetite of Democratic voters for someone new, previously apolitical, and decidedly progressive www.notus.org/2026-electio...

Oyster Farmer Announces Democratic Senate Bid in Maine

Graham Platner doesn’t have any real political experience, but he’s the latest Democrat to argue that’s a strength.

www.notus.org

1 2 6

Reposted by Alex Roarty

Oriana González @oriana.bsky.social · Aug 18

Rep. LaMonica McIver is urging a federal court to dismiss the federal charges against her — and using the dismissed cases of over 160 Jan. 6 rioters as the reason why

www.notus.org/courts/mcive...

2 24 100

Reposted by Alex Roarty

Anna Kramer @annackramer.bsky.social · Jul 30

🚨 At least 10 scientists, all cited in the Trump admin's new climate change report, told me that the report completely mischaracterizes their research.

I also found five citations with significant errors, and a paragraph missing an important citation.

‘A Serious Misuse of My Research’: Climate Scientists Say New Trump Energy Report Botches Their Work

“Our work has no relevance,” an astrobiologist whose research was cited in the administration’s climate change report said.

www.notus.org

3 120 250

Reposted by Alex Roarty

Margaret Manto @margaretmanto.bsky.social · Jul 29

“I love and loved my job, we did good work with some of the smartest people, and they’re being routinely disrespected and lied to."

Inside the FDA's AI push, w/ @taylorgiorno_ www.notus.org/health-scien...

‘They Have To Figure Out If They Can Trust The Software’: Inside the FDA’s AI Push

The AI rollout at the FDA has been rocky. But even critics are optimistic.

www.notus.org

2 1

Reposted by Alex Roarty

Oriana González @oriana.bsky.social · Jul 28

NEW: The White House is pressuring Republicans to 'defund' gender-affirming care through the appropriations process, after they failed to ban Medicaid from covering these treatments in reconciliation

Trump "is very committed to this," one House R said
www.notus.org/congress/whi...

The White House Is Pushing Republicans to ‘Defund’ Gender-Affirming Care Through Appropriations Bills

“The president is very committed to this,” one House GOP appropriator told NOTUS. “I don’t think that’s an issue that’s really negotiable.”

www.notus.org

1 12 11

Alex Roarty @alexroarty.bsky.social · Jul 28

Democrats in DC and Maine are also growing more optimistic about Janet Mills running for Senate — one Maine Dem said she’s been signaled more openness to a bid in recent conversations with people www.notus.org/north-caroli...

‘Knife Fight in a Telephone Booth’: Roy Cooper Jumps Into Hotly Contested North Carolina Senate Race

The former governor ended months of speculation about his future Monday when he announced that he would run for the state’s open Senate seat.

www.notus.org

2 4

Alex Roarty @alexroarty.bsky.social · Jul 28

Senate Dems had three major recruitment targets when the cycle started. One of them, Roy Cooper, just announced he’s running.

But in a year with a very tough map for Dems, even getting their best recruits is no guarantee of success www.notus.org/north-caroli...

‘Knife Fight in a Telephone Booth’: Roy Cooper Jumps Into Hotly Contested North Carolina Senate Race

The former governor ended months of speculation about his future Monday when he announced that he would run for the state’s open Senate seat.

www.notus.org

4 4 21

Reposted by Alex Roarty

NOTUS @notus.com · Jul 3

“I can’t see how they couldn’t pay a price for it,” one conservative ally said.

Republicans embrace a huge political risk: Trump’s reconciliation bill.
www.notus.org/2026-electio...

Republicans Embrace a Huge Political Risk: Trump’s Bill

The reconciliation bill could undercut Republicans with working-class voters. “I can’t see how they couldn’t pay a price for it,” one conservative ally said.

www.notus.org

4 4

Reposted by Alex Roarty

Oriana González @oriana.bsky.social · Jul 3

NEW: Democrats have been struggling to figure out how to message on trans issues — but they quietly killed the GOP's Medicaid ban on gender-affirming care in reconciliation

Here's an inside look into how Dems, led by Rep. Sarah McBride and Sen. Tammy Baldwin, did it
www.notus.org/congress/dem...

Inside the Democratic Effort to Kill the GOP’s Gender-Affirming Care Restriction in Reconciliation

Democrats are having a hard time figuring out how to message on trans issues — but they quietly killed a provision in the reconciliation bill that would have restricted access to gender-affirming care...

www.notus.org

25 93

Alex Roarty @alexroarty.bsky.social · Jul 3

"Make no mistake about it: They just cut their own throats, they just slit their own throats with the very people who got them elected"

On the political risk of the GOP's reconciliation bill, a challenge they embrace but remains daunting nonetheless

www.notus.org/2026-electio...

Republicans Embrace a Huge Political Risk: Trump’s Bill

The reconciliation bill could undercut Republicans with working-class voters. “I can’t see how they couldn’t pay a price for it,” one conservative ally said.

www.notus.org

3

Alex Roarty @alexroarty.bsky.social · Jul 3

Dems already turning to JD Vance's role in passage of the reconciliation bill, with an eye on 2028.

Ken Martin: “Of all the people who betrayed folks this week and today, the one we’re going to make sure pays for it is JD Vance."

www.notus.org/trump-white-...

Eyeing 2028, Dems Turn Focus to Vance’s Role in Passing Trump's Bill

“Of all the people who betrayed folks this week and today, the one we’re going to make sure pays for it is JD Vance,” DNC Chair Ken Martin said.

www.notus.org

1 1

Alex Roarty @alexroarty.bsky.social · Jul 1

good story. Utheimer, an actual AG, has also embraced it x.com/JamesUthmeie...

James Uthmeier on X: "Denaturalize and Deport." / X

Denaturalize and Deport.

x.com

Reposted by Alex Roarty

NOTUS @notus.com · Jul 1

Collin Allred will once again run for a Texas Senate seat, despite losing to Sen. Ted Cruz in 2024 by nearly 9 percentage points.
www.notus.org/2026-electio...

Colin Allred Launches Comeback Bid for Texas Senate Seat

Allred will try again to win a spot in the upper chamber after losing by nearly 9 percentage points against Sen. Ted Cruz in 2024.

www.notus.org

4 7 20

Alex Roarty @alexroarty.bsky.social · Jun 30

three tight ends + DK puts a whole lot of size on the field

1

Reposted by Alex Roarty

Oriana González @oriana.bsky.social · Jun 30

NEW: Democrats have used SCOTUS rulings to galvanize their base — but they won’t do that with Skrmetti, which green lit gender-affirming care bans

One Dem said it’s now a states issue

Another said trans issues don’t poll well

A third pointed me to the Cass report
www.notus.org/democrats/tr...

Democrats Have Basically Given Up Trying to Message on Transgender Rights

“The Supreme Court has ruled,” said one House Democrat. “We’re either a party that supports the rule of law or not.”

www.notus.org

130 290 1K

Alex Roarty @alexroarty.bsky.social · Jun 29

per two sources familiar, Tillis considered outright re-signing from his seat before ultimately deciding he'd serve out the remainder of his 18 months. Story with @reesegorman.bsky.social www.notus.org/senate/thom-...

Sen. Thom Tillis Announces His Retirement After Opposing Trump's Bill

“It’s not a hard choice, and I will not be seeking re-election,” the North Carolina Republican said.

www.notus.org

1 3

Alex Roarty @alexroarty.bsky.social · Jun 29

Thom Tillis will NOT run for re-election, opening an opportunity for Dems in a state they already considered their top pickup target of '26 www.notus.org/senate/thom-...

1 1

Alex Roarty @alexroarty.bsky.social · Jun 28

i wrote a whole story about this! www.notus.org/biden-2024/v...

1 3

Reposted by Alex Roarty

Michael Kruse @michaelkruse.bsky.social · Jun 28

“I still, if I wanted to, could go post to Facebook as Congressman Young — I could still tweet today as Congressman Young. And nobody from archives or records or from House administration, or anybody, seems to give a shit.”

Dead members of Congress can’t stop posting

The accounts for recently deceased lawmakers have continued to post on social media, highlighting how little official policy there is for how to handle their online presence after they die.

www.politico.com

1 3