Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Asia Russell @asia-ilse.bsky.social · 26m

Such a pleasure to talk today with comrades De'Ashia Lee, @housingworksnyc.bsky.social's Charles King, and @treatmentactiongroup.org's Kendall Martinez-Wright about the powerful practice of civil disobedience in effective AIDS activism.

1 2

Asia Russell @asia-ilse.bsky.social · 1d

6 surgeons general issue stark warning--are they too late?

"[w]e are compelled to speak with one voice to say that the actions of...Robert F. Kennedy Jr. are endangering the health of the nation. Never before have we issued a joint public warning like this."

-> READ (gift link): wapo.st/3VTALll

Opinion | Six surgeons general: It’s our duty to warn the nation about RFK Jr.

We took an oath to declare dangers when we found them. We’re doing that again today.

wapo.st

1 1

Reposted by Asia Russell

Jon Walker @jonwalkerpdx.bsky.social · 1d

Really zero reason for the Senate Democrats to ever vote for any government funding bill since Trump is very explicitly and purposely violating the letter of the law. Any new bill is basically fancy toilet paper.

Sam Bagenstos @sbagen.bsky.social · 1d

Feel free to attribute the following to a former OMB General Counsel: The supposed "new legal analysis" is, to use a technical legal term, horseshit. What the law actually says is that when Congress enacts a law ending a lapse, furloughed employees get paid at the earliest date possible. Period.

Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 1d

Johnson: "It's true that in previous shutdowns, many or most furloughed employees have been paid for the time they were furloughed, but there is new legal analysis - I don't know the details, I just saw a headline - but there are some legal analysts saying that might not be appropriate or necessary"

37 130

Asia Russell @asia-ilse.bsky.social · 1d

Vought is right now, in PUBLIC, using this shutdown as an even more deranged "opportunity" to establish a lawless presidency w/supreme power.

This is wildly unpopular; nevertheless our window for preventing it will close unless we fight back. Democrats have a solemn duty to continue this shutdown

Tyler King @tyleraking.com · 1d

Deleting laws from the internet does not delete them from existence but it is the natural progression of posting through it.

Asia Russell @asia-ilse.bsky.social · 1d

They are trying to terrify people, threatening to violate the law (a bill Trump himself signed in 2019!) & steal federal workers' salaries, as they steal everything else, from HIV funding in sub Saharan Africa to food aid & healthcare in the U.S.

Dems must hold. the. line. against this lawless mob

Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 1d

Johnson: "It's true that in previous shutdowns, many or most furloughed employees have been paid for the time they were furloughed, but there is new legal analysis - I don't know the details, I just saw a headline - but there are some legal analysts saying that might not be appropriate or necessary"

2 6

Asia Russell @asia-ilse.bsky.social · 3d

Yesterday night another Kavanagh stop, but this one a ‘ziptie naked screaming toddlers together, kidnapped from their parents’ iteration.

CNN @cnn.com · 4d

Adults and children alike were pulled from their Chicago apartments, crying and screaming, during a large overnight raid that has left tenants and neighbors shaken. https://cnn.it/4pPCXIt

37 people arrested and American kids separated from parents after ICE raid at Chicago apartments | CNN

Adults and children alike were pulled from their Chicago apartments, crying and screaming, during a large overnight raid that has left tenants and neighbors shaken.

www.cnn.com

2

Asia Russell @asia-ilse.bsky.social · 3d

A framework like this (compelling!) needs to be used to account for billions in funds illegally impounded by Vought when Trump for lifesaving global health as well

1 2

Asia Russell @asia-ilse.bsky.social · 5d

The only way to ‘control him’ is to take power from him, which Republicans are refusing to do. They are too afraid even when their own electoral self interest is at stake

Asia Russell @asia-ilse.bsky.social · 5d

These are exactly the legislators who emboldened Russ Vought as a deadly lawless force at every turn, including by being too cowardly to oppose Vought’s rescissions. Rep. Lawler whines about NY transportation project cuts? He built this monster >>

Senator Chris Van Hollen @vanhollen.senate.gov · 6d

"We don't control what he's going to do" says Leader Thune as he literally tries to give Vought a blank check to do whatever the hell he wants.

Don't let them gaslight you — Senate Republicans are complicit in everything coming out of this White House.

Thune warns Democrats about Russ Vought: ‘We don’t control what he’s going to do’

The Senate majority leader spoke out as some Republicans express qualms about the White House slash-and-burn campaign.

www.politico.com

1 1

Reposted by Asia Russell

Bobby Kogan @bbkogan.bsky.social · 11d

Today’s SCOTUS decision is disappointing, but we shouldn’t mistake it as saying Trump’s impoundment is legal. It’s deeply illegal. The SCOTUS GOP merely decided there was no standing.

In Nixon’s impoundment cases, there were plenty of standing issues — but he lost every case decided on the merits.

18 86 320

Reposted by Asia Russell

Marty Lederman @martylederman.bsky.social · 11d

After Judges Henderson and Katsas invoked it without being prompted to do so in the court of appeals, they quickly thereafter amended their opinion to delete the argument after both sides agreed it was incorrect.

Yet now it's the basis for the SCOTUS' decision to grant emergency relief. sigh

3 50 260

Reposted by Asia Russell

Bobby Kogan @bbkogan.bsky.social · 11d

Crucial thread from David on an awful SCOTUS ruling

davidasuper.bsky.social @davidasuper.bsky.social · 11d

Deeply disappointing order from the Supreme Court in the USAID impoundment case. The Court grants a stay for something under half of the impounded funds, letting the district court's order stand for the majority of the money. A short 🧵.

1 15 50

Asia Russell @asia-ilse.bsky.social · 11d

only obey, apparently

Reposted by Asia Russell

Cristian Farias @cristianfarias.com · 11d

Say goodbye to the separation of powers.

Top line: The Supreme Court grabs power from Congress, which decides what to do with money that belongs to all of us, and hands it to Donald Trump. Forever.

(This money will never reach its intended recipients.)

www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/24p...

14 89 180

Asia Russell @asia-ilse.bsky.social · 11d

No kings?

Except the Supreme Court keeps coronating him

1

Asia Russell @asia-ilse.bsky.social · 11d

SCOTUS’ authoritarian, anti constitutional zealotry is deeply depraved and grows ever more unhinged.

They say we have no protection from the president stealing our money, public money, after it is appropriated by Congress for life saving, world building global health programs.

Kyle Cheney @kyledcheney.bsky.social · 11d

BREAKING: The Supreme Court rules 6-3 to allow Trump’s “pocket rescission” of $4 billion in foreign aid funding, ruling that it’s unlikely the groups suing have standing to pursue the claim and that Trump’s foreign policy power outweighs their purported harms.

1 1

Reposted by Asia Russell

Oni Blackstock, MD MHS @oniblackstock.bsky.social · 13d

For context: "House Labor, Health and Human Services proposed $2 billion in federal cuts to domestic HIV programs, including plans that would dismantle the CDC’s Division of HIV Prevention and slash $535 million from the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program...."

Oni Blackstock, MD MHS @oniblackstock.bsky.social · 13d

Tell Democrats to Stand Up for Public Health in the Budget

actionnetwork.org/letters/tell...

Tell Democrats to Stand Up for Public Health in the Budget

With negotiations on a short-term continuing resolution (CR) to keep the government open past September 30th at a standstill, Defend Public Health believes that House and Senate Democrats MUST play ha...

actionnetwork.org

1 4 9

Asia Russell @asia-ilse.bsky.social · 13d

Looking forward to panels in conversation (today!) on global threats to health justice and what we can do about them: 8 - 9:30am

On the sidelines of the circus of the UN General Assembly--join us, Yale Club, 50 Vanderbilt Ave.

@publiccitizen.bsky.social @pih.org @unitaid.bsky.social @unaids.org

5

Reposted by Asia Russell

Eileen Clancy 🧿 @clancyny.bsky.social · 13d

“Lenacapavir holds the potential to defeat the HIV pandemic, if delivered urgently, at scale; any restrictions on access to an affordable generic price for this essential prevention tool is unacceptable.” – @asia-ilse.bsky.social, Health GAP.

Activists Demand $40-a-year Generic Price for Breakthrough HIV Prevention Drug be Made Available to all Low- and Middle-Income Countries

19 38

Asia Russell @asia-ilse.bsky.social · 13d

which is why I told the New York Times the State Department support for an already announced target of 2 million people was a whimper rather than the roar that is needed. To fix that, Congress must decide separation of powers is real—lives are on the line

1 1

Asia Russell @asia-ilse.bsky.social · 13d

2) Vought’s unlawful chokehold on PEPFAR’s funds will undermine roll out of this revolutionary product, after already sabotaging oral PrEP programs since January

1 1 1

Asia Russell @asia-ilse.bsky.social · 13d

This announcement is good: it shapes markets so a cheap price is brought forward. But it’s inadequate:

1) $40/yr for lenacapavir should be available for all low & middle income countries &

1 1

Asia Russell @asia-ilse.bsky.social · 13d

Here is our reaction: healthgap.org/press/activi...

Activists Demand $40-a-year Generic Price for Breakthrough HIV Prevention Drug be Made Available to all Low- and Middle-Income Countries

Press Statement: For Immediate Release 24 September 2025Contact: Asia Russell, [email protected] | +1 267 475 2645 Activists Demand $40-a-year Generic Price for Breakthrough HIV Prevention Drug be ...

healthgap.org

1 1 5

Asia Russell @asia-ilse.bsky.social · 13d

There is NO EXCUSE for severe & deadly lenacapavir rationing, since volumes of drug aren’t scarce; the issue is money, which should also not be an issue, since there is >$2 billion gathering dust in the Treasury that is required by law to be spent by PEPFAR www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...

Protesters demand release of HIV funds ‘illegally’ withheld by Trump

People take to streets against Trump administration plans to rescind funding for life-saving international programs

www.theguardian.com

1 2