Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Barred and Boujee aka Madiba Dennie @audrelawdamercy.bsky.social · 2m

The illegal USAID cuts are the thing that broke me

A complete dismantling of constitutional governance in order to facilitate crimes against humanity

What Trump, Musk, the Supreme Court, etc have done to these families is beyond cruel, beyond heartbreaking, beyond unforgivable

Amanda Katz @katzish.bsky.social · 3h

Horrific reporting from the AP on the Myanmar families watching their kids starve to death from Trump and Musk’s aid cuts apnews.com/article/myan...

Starving children screaming for food as US aid cuts unleash devastation and death across Myanmar

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has repeatedly said “no one has died" because of his government’s decision to gut its foreign aid program.

apnews.com

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Taniel @taniel.bsky.social · 37m

JUST IN: The Republican Mayor of Fairbanks, Alaska’s second biggest city, lost re-election last night to a Democrat.

Mayor David Pruhs is a conservative who fought protections for LGBTQ+ residents; he made comments this year drew condemnation this year from Alaska Natives. He lost to Mindy O'Neall.

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Barred and Boujee aka Madiba Dennie @audrelawdamercy.bsky.social · 23m

Getting a flashback to that episode of Scandal where someone said 'There's a special place in hell for women who don't support other women' and then Liv hit her with 'There's a special place in hell for women who spout that tired quote to justify their bad behavior'

Nathan Kalman-Lamb @nkalamb.bsky.social · 2h

A useful illustration of the limits of liberal identity politics.

It's astounding to see self-described progressives lose their minds over the successes of a Jewish female entrepreneur and intellect in @bariweiss, and a wildly successful Black man in @VanJones68. I guess equity, diversity, and inclusion don't mean as much as they've told us.

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Niko Stratis @nikostratis.com · 2h

the first time the Hamburgler was introduced, McDonalds called him "The Lone Jogger" which makes him sound like the guy who served time for trying to assassinate Mayor McCheese

a man with a white shirt that says lone jogger, over stripped clothes, wearing a cape and a. hat with an eye mask. an early version of the McDonalds hamburgler.

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Anna Bower @annabower.bsky.social · 2h

Good morning from the line outside the courthouse in the Eastern District of Virginia, where former FBI director James Comey is set to be arraigned on federal charges.

I’m here for @lawfaremedia.org.

Follow along for updates ⬇️

Federal courthouse in EDVA, with line of people out front and a guy holding a “show trial” sign

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Meredith Shiner @meredithshiner.com · 2h

Bridging my current life in Chicago and my past life in D.C., I argue today at @newrepublic.com that Democrats should ~never~ vote to fund this government. Make John Thune blow up Senate rules and Republicans wholly own the U.S. extra-military military doing war crimes against us, funded by us.

The Case for the Forever Shutdown

Senate Democrats actually allowing the GOP to stop funding the government is only the first step. Now they have to make the case that Trump’s government is illegitimate.

newrepublic.com

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Haydon is reading The Uncertain Center, Arthur C McGill @haydonmp.bsky.social · 1h

Add it to the tally.

Seems like we’re getting up to 20+ grand jury no true bills just from what I’ve seen. Absolutely remarkable.

Seth Stern @sethstern.bsky.social · 10h

A federal grand jury declined to indict two people charged with assaulting law enforcement agents outside a suburban Chicago ICE facility, an attorney for one of the defendants said, Megan Crepeau and @benjaminpenn.bsky.social report

news.bloomberglaw.com/us-law-week/...

Grand Jury Declines to Indict Two Chicago-Area ICE Protesters

A federal grand jury declined to indict two people charged with assaulting law enforcement agents outside a suburban Chicago ICE facility, an attorney for one of the defendants said.

news.bloomberglaw.com

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Asher Hellbein @asherelbein.bsky.social · 10h

I don't know that this is the *most* unethical thing David Frum has ever done, but in terms of professional *journalistic* ethics? Whooo boy

Emissary Of Night | ليلى @diplomatofnight.com · 10h

Fascinating report just released by DropSite which reveals that David Frum, while working on a profile of an Israeli ambassador to the United Nations for the Atlantic, was also shadow-writing speeches for that same ambassador.

David Frum, Douglas Murray Secretly Drafted Speeches for Israeli Ambassador

Leaked emails from former Israeli UN Ambassador Ron Prosor show David Frum, Douglas Murray offering to write his speeches and a CNN producer fundraising for Israel’s Iron Dome during Israel’s 2014 war

www.dropsitenews.com

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Aves Maria @avesmaria.bsky.social · 26d

Mon Mothma you have to stop. your drip too tough. Your swag too different. They’ll kill you

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Barred and Boujee aka Madiba Dennie @audrelawdamercy.bsky.social · 10h

Who should I call to do a wellness check

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Zohran Kwame Mamdani @zohrankmamdani.bsky.social · 14h

It was a beautiful Sunday afternoon in the Bronx and Harlem at our paper shredding events — we cleared out old junk mail, built community, danced, took family portraits and enjoyed frozen treats (it still felt a lot like summer). Thanks to everyone who joined.

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Barred and Boujee aka Madiba Dennie @audrelawdamercy.bsky.social · 10h

The constant struggle

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jamelle @jamellebouie.net · 13h

thank you brett kavanaugh!

Daniel Knowles @dlknowles.bsky.social · 13h

Good reporting on the South Shore raid from South Side weekly here.

Confirms one thing I was told but didn't put in my own piece because I didn't have a second source and it seemed too insane: border agents segregated arrested residents by race

southsideweekly.com/federal-agen...

Federal Agents Storm South Shore Building, Detaining Families and Children

Families were woken by flashbangs and helicopters as hundreds of federal agents raided their homes. Days later, neighbors are still searching for the missing.

southsideweekly.com

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John Pfaff @johnpfaff.bsky.social · 12h

They said on-line isn’t real life, and Bluesky is a niche social media site.

But here is @akalhan.bsky.social getting “Kavanaugh Stops” into the Boston Globe!

With a pic of Kav looking a little petulant too (but then when doesn’t he?).

Glad to see this is sticking to him.

Critics of Trump’s immigration crackdown are using the term ‘Kavanaugh stop.’ Here’s what it means. - The Boston Globe

The phrase, is "a window into where [the administration] can go next," some advocates say.

www.bostonglobe.com

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Eric Michael Garcia @ericmgarcia.bsky.social · 12h

I've been banging this drum for the past four months or so: DOGE and Russ Vought broke the appropriations process. What's the point of going through the arduous process of crafting 12 spending bills, clearing them through committee and getting them through two chambers if Trump does rescissions?

Garrett M. Graff @vermontgmg.bsky.social · 20h

If appropriations bills are not seen as enforceable contracts, why should any Member of Congress vote to fund any part of the federal government under Donald Trump? You're voting to provide money for lawlessness. www.doomsdayscenario.co/p/there-is-n...

There is no budget "deal" to be made

President Trump has so broken the constitutional framework as to make joint normal, responsible government impossible.

www.doomsdayscenario.co

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John Pfaff @johnpfaff.bsky.social · 11h

Um, ICE just coldly shot an unarmed PRIEST in the head w a pepper ball when he (and everyone around him) clearly posed no threat.

For the crime of … complaining about government policy.

Core 1A speech.

With cameras rolling, they’re sniping priests for sport.

Kurt @flglchicago.bsky.social · 13h

Here’s video of the incident

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Jack Jenkins @jackjenkins.me · 14h

Gonna be thinking about this lede for a minute.

(RNS) — Last month, the Rev. David Black stood in front of a Chicago-area U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility and spread his arms wide. Adorned in all black and wearing a clerical collar, the pastor looked up at a group of masked, heavily armed ICE agents on the roof and began to pray.

“I invited them to repentance,” Black, a minister in the Presbyterian Church (USA), said in an interview. “I basically offered an altar call. I invited them to come and receive that salvation, and be part of the kingdom that is coming.”

But when Black began to lower his arms a few seconds later, the agents responded to his spiritual plea by firing pepper balls, or chemical agents that cause eye irritation and respiratory distress, video footage shows. One struck Black in the head, exploding into a puff of white pepper smoke and forcing him to his knees. Fellow demonstrators rushed to his aid, and as the pastor rubbed his face in pain, the agents continued to fire.

“We could hear them laughing,” Black said.

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Barred and Boujee aka Madiba Dennie @audrelawdamercy.bsky.social · 11h

from your lips to some producer's ears

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Barred and Boujee aka Madiba Dennie @audrelawdamercy.bsky.social · 11h

Put Me in Front of the Supreme Court Challenge

Crip Dyke @cripdyke.bsky.social · 12h

At some point, lawyers arguing before SCOTUS must make clear - possibly even during oral argument - that SCOTUS is corrupt, led by a corrupt CJ, & acting in a manner entirely inconsistent w rule of law.

I love Madiba Dennie, & wouldn't disagree w anything said here, but this moment requires more.

Taniel @taniel.bsky.social · 16h

SCOTUS signaled at its hearings today it may strike down Colorado's ban on conversion therapy

ballsandstrikes.org/scotus/chile...

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Crip Dyke @cripdyke.bsky.social · 12h

At some point, lawyers arguing before SCOTUS must make clear - possibly even during oral argument - that SCOTUS is corrupt, led by a corrupt CJ, & acting in a manner entirely inconsistent w rule of law.

I love Madiba Dennie, & wouldn't disagree w anything said here, but this moment requires more.

Taniel @taniel.bsky.social · 16h

SCOTUS signaled at its hearings today it may strike down Colorado's ban on conversion therapy

ballsandstrikes.org/scotus/chile...

The Conservative Justices Don't Trust Any Science That Supports LGBTQ Kids

States that want to facilitate discrimination against LGBTQ people have the Court's blessing. States that want to protect LGBTQ people from discrimination do not.

ballsandstrikes.org

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John Pfaff @johnpfaff.bsky.social · 12h

Expand it to 60 justices.

Move it to a strip mall in rural Kansas.

Cut the clerk budget to zero.

Susan Rinkunas @susanrinkunas.com · 13h

“Four months ago, in Skrmetti, the Court used purported medical uncertainty to give Tennessee more flexibility to discriminate. Today, Alito used purported medical uncertainty to give Colorado less flexibility to protect.”

Barred and Boujee aka Madiba Dennie @audrelawdamercy.bsky.social · 16h

I've written my analysis of today's grim Supreme Court oral argument in the conversion therapy case:

As far as the Court's concerned, imaginary medical uncertainty gives states the authority to hurt queer kids, and takes away states' authority to protect them

ballsandstrikes.org/scotus/chile...

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Barred and Boujee aka Madiba Dennie @audrelawdamercy.bsky.social · 12h

I read "Rest is Resistance" some weeks ago, and among the author's arguments in support of rest, they said you can't be creative unless you nap

Now, I had my issues with the book, but this thread idea did come to me while taking a liedown this afternoon, so

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Spooky action at a distance @mkranz.bsky.social · 13h

“At first glance, Skrmetti and Chiles seem logically inconsistent: Medical uncertainty confers authority here, yet restricts it there. There is, though, an internal consistency: For the Supreme Court, right-wing reactionaries should always win.” There it is, courtesy of @audrelawdamercy.bsky.social

Taniel @taniel.bsky.social · 16h

SCOTUS signaled at its hearings today it may strike down Colorado's ban on conversion therapy

ballsandstrikes.org/scotus/chile...

The Conservative Justices Don't Trust Any Science That Supports LGBTQ Kids

States that want to facilitate discrimination against LGBTQ people have the Court's blessing. States that want to protect LGBTQ people from discrimination do not.

ballsandstrikes.org

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Susan Rinkunas @susanrinkunas.com · 13h

“Four months ago, in Skrmetti, the Court used purported medical uncertainty to give Tennessee more flexibility to discriminate. Today, Alito used purported medical uncertainty to give Colorado less flexibility to protect.”

Barred and Boujee aka Madiba Dennie @audrelawdamercy.bsky.social · 16h

I've written my analysis of today's grim Supreme Court oral argument in the conversion therapy case:

As far as the Court's concerned, imaginary medical uncertainty gives states the authority to hurt queer kids, and takes away states' authority to protect them

ballsandstrikes.org/scotus/chile...

The Conservative Justices Don't Trust Any Science That Supports LGBTQ Kids

States that want to facilitate discrimination against LGBTQ people have the Court's blessing. States that want to protect LGBTQ people from discrimination do not.

ballsandstrikes.org

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Barred and Boujee aka Madiba Dennie @audrelawdamercy.bsky.social · 13h

🎵 I tried to work it away
But that just made me even sadder

mon mothma giving her big speech at the senate

screengrab of cassian holding a blaster while mon mothma is losing her whole entire shit in the background

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