Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Reposted by Andrew Kydd

Governor JB Pritzker @govpritzker.illinois.gov · 9h

I will not back down.

Trump is now calling for the arrest of elected representatives checking his power.

What else is left on the path to full-blown authoritarianism?

Donald Trump Truth Social Post: Chicago Mayor should be in jail for failing to protect Ice Officers! Governor Pritzker also.

930 6.6K 22K

Andrew Kydd @andrewkydd.bsky.social · 3d

MEMO
To: SEC HEGSETH
RE: THE “WARRIOR ETHOS”

WAR MUST BE, WHILE WE DEFEND OUR LIVES AGAINST A DESTROYER WHO WOULD DEVOUR ALL; BUT I DO NOT LOVE THE BRIGHT SWORD FOR ITS SHARPNESS, NOR THE ARROW FOR ITS SWIFTNESS, NOR THE WARRIOR FOR HIS GLORY. I LOVE ONLY THAT WHICH THEY DEFEND.

V/R
CPT FARAMIR

1

Andrew Kydd @andrewkydd.bsky.social · 5d

FEDERAL GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN
Due to the Democrat-led shutdown, website updates will be limited until full operations resume.

Andrew Kydd @andrewkydd.bsky.social · 5d

Official government websites are now headlined with Republican talking points.

www.state.gov

U.S. Department of State – Home

Leading U.S. foreign policy to advance the interests and security of the American people.

www.state.gov

1

Andrew Kydd @andrewkydd.bsky.social · 6d

The “too” is great, but don’t forget the “I didn’t see it.” It’s fascinating that it’s better to lie that you are uninformed and remiss in your duties rather than admit to being informed and then have to explain why you still support him. It’s a common response.

Reposted by Andrew Kydd

Kori Schake @kschake.bsky.social · 7d

My thoughts on the Quantico meeting

Trump’s Speech to Generals Was Incitement to Violence Against Americans

Military leaders’ quiet professionalism offers hope amid a maelstrom.

foreignpolicy.com

13 150 400

Andrew Kydd @andrewkydd.bsky.social · 8d

Trump/Hegseth to the military: you work for me now, I’m going to use you to control US cities, you can kill anyone you want, and anyone who disagrees is fired.

2 18 60

Andrew Kydd @andrewkydd.bsky.social · 9d

“There will be a process of demilitarization of Gaza under the supervision of independent monitors, which will include placing weapons permanently beyond use through an agreed process of decommissioning.” Very Good Friday Agreement.

Andrew Kydd @andrewkydd.bsky.social · 9d

Easy to make cracks about British UN mandates and how well they worked last time. But seriously, with no troops, what are we even talking about. www.nytimes.com/2025/09/29/w...

Tony Blair Emerges as Potential Figure in Postwar Gaza

www.nytimes.com

Andrew Kydd @andrewkydd.bsky.social · 11d

Took our good friend Saule flying and she took some beautiful pictures of the Wisconsin countryside.

Andrew Kydd @andrewkydd.bsky.social · 12d

And lest you think I was engaging in hyperbole. The money quote: “Honestly, what do we have to complain about these days?https://www.nytimes.com/2025/08/23/us/politics/trump-far-right.html?smid=nytcore-ios-share&referringSource=articleShare

In Trump’s Second Term, Far-Right Agenda Enters the Mainstream

www.nytimes.com

1 2

Andrew Kydd @andrewkydd.bsky.social · 12d

The great thing about people who actually use data is that they give you the information needed to challenge their framing. Which in this case should be “Sudden drop in right wing terrorism, due to satisfaction of extremist goals,” with quotes from Enrique Tarrio to that effect. #CSIS #Byman

5 33 99

Andrew Kydd @andrewkydd.bsky.social · 18d

And to top it all off, a plane just flew bravely by towing what looked like a Blue Moon beer banner. But it was hard to tell because the visibility is so bad.

Andrew Kydd @andrewkydd.bsky.social · 18d

Feeling bad for the scow racers on Lake Mendota today. Pouring rain in a thunderstorm. At least they got some racing in yesterday. www.mendotayc.org/2025-mc-scow...

Mendota Yacht Club - 2025 MC-Scow National Regatta

www.mendotayc.org

1 1

Andrew Kydd @andrewkydd.bsky.social · 21d

And don’t forget:

Reposted by Andrew Kydd

Brendan Nyhan @brendannyhan.bsky.social · 22d

These estimates of public support for violence (from www.nytimes.com/2025/09/16/o...) are inflated - *much* higher than what we and others have found using question wording that reduces acquiescence bias: brightlinewatch.org/accelerated-... The vast majority of Americans reject political violence.

5 51 120

Andrew Kydd @andrewkydd.bsky.social · 27d

Political violence, whatever the immediate target, is ultimately an attack on democracy.

Andrew Kydd @andrewkydd.bsky.social · Sep 6

A popular book, once, about the guys who won WWII.

Reposted by Andrew Kydd

Jamie K @crumpsalljamie.bsky.social · Sep 5

the real glory of world war two was that it involved a warrior cult being ground down and beaten to a pulp by people who would rather have been doing something else.

Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · Sep 5

Hegseth: "Maximum lethality -- not tepid legality. Violent effect, not politically correct. We're gonna raise up warriors. Not just defenders."

180 2.1K 9K

Andrew Kydd @andrewkydd.bsky.social · Sep 3

And even less important, but that’s an odd boat. Four massive outboards on an open, undecked boat. Clearly built for speed and cheapness.

2

Andrew Kydd @andrewkydd.bsky.social · Sep 3

Not that it affected their deliberations, I’m sure, but the difference is that in Yemen, etc., we did not have a peaceful arrest option, whereas in the Caribbean we certainly do.

1 1

Reposted by Andrew Kydd

Tal Kopan @talkopan.bsky.social · Sep 2

New story w/ @hilaryburns.bsky.social:
A DOJ lawyer accused Harvard of ‘indifference to antisemitism.’ As a Harvard undergrad he wrote a paper from Hitler’s perspective.
www.bostonglobe.com/2025/09/02/m...

A DOJ lawyer accused Harvard of ‘indifference to antisemitism.’ As a Harvard undergrad he wrote a paper from Hitler’s perspective. - The Boston Globe

Michael Velchik once also told a peer that "Mein Kampf" was among his favorite recent reads.

www.bostonglobe.com

21 160 500

Andrew Kydd @andrewkydd.bsky.social · Sep 2

Where did you see it in this context?

1

Reposted by Andrew Kydd

Atul Gawande @agawande.bsky.social · Sep 1

9 CDC Directors going back to 1977 speak out. What RFK Jr has done to our nation’s public health system "should alarm every American."

It "is unlike anything we have ever seen at the agency, and unlike anything our country has ever experienced." www.nytimes.com/2025/09/01/o...

Opinion | We Ran the C.D.C.: Kennedy Is Endangering Every American’s Health

www.nytimes.com

330 5.2K 12K

Andrew Kydd @andrewkydd.bsky.social · Sep 1

And another one.

2