Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Ben @benjaminqiu.bsky.social · 10h

We are all Chicagoans.

Governor JB Pritzker @govpritzker.illinois.gov · 15h

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.

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Ben @benjaminqiu.bsky.social · 10h

The Dude still abides. I don’t know about you, but I take comfort in that.

Reposted by Ben

Jonathan V. Last @jvl.bsky.social · 1d

As alarmed as people may be, they aren't alarmed enough. Trump just escalated this crisis from a fight between the federal government and a state, to a situation where one state is deploying armed forces to impose its will on another state. www.thebulwark.com/p/emergency-...

Emergency Triad: The Chicago Rubicon and What Comes Next

We aren’t at the worst-case scenario yet. But if you squint, you can see it looming out there, just over the horizon.

www.thebulwark.com

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Ben @benjaminqiu.bsky.social · 16h

Korea practices liberal democracy properly, putting certain countries to shame. www.chosun.com/english/nati...

National Defense Ministry Honors 11 Soldiers for Refusing Illegal Orders

National Defense Ministry Honors 11 Soldiers for Refusing Illegal Orders Honored for rejecting illegal orders during martial law, Marine death probe

www.chosun.com

Ben @benjaminqiu.bsky.social · 1d

Will stay on grid, just in case.

Reposted by Ben

Kevin KAL Kallaugher- Editorial cartoonist @kaltoons.bsky.social · 2d

Learn about the secret scheme behind this cartoon for @economist.com Economist. Kaltoons.substack.com

#Hegseth #military #woke #cartoon #satire

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Ben @benjaminqiu.bsky.social · 4d

America is becoming more like China than Hong Kong did. Back in 2019-2020, the HK app for tracking police did not get taken down until Beijing imposed the National Security Law on the city.

The New York Times @nytimes.com · 5d

Apple has removed from its App Store several programs that alert users to sightings of immigration agents amid a furious pushback from the Trump administration over the services.

Apple Takes Down ICE Tracking Apps Amid Trump Pressure Campaign

Trump administration officials have issued several legal threats over ICEBlock, a popular app that allows users to alert others to the presence of nearby immigration agents.

nyti.ms

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Ben @benjaminqiu.bsky.social · 5d

"The salaries of the president and members of Congress are constitutionally protected and paid from a permanent appropriation that is not affected by a government shutdown." What?!

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Ben @benjaminqiu.bsky.social · 5d

Expect Google Map to soon disable "There's police ahead" notifications.

Tim O’Brien @timobrien.bsky.social · 5d

The developer of ICEBlock, an app that lets people crowdsource sightings of ICE officials, has said he is determined to fight back after Apple removed the app from its App Store. www.404media.co/iceblock-own...

ICEBlock Owner After Apple Removes App: ‘We Are Determined to Fight This’

Apple removed ICEBlock reportedly after direct pressure from Department of Justice officials. “I am incredibly disappointed by Apple's actions today. Capitulating to an authoritarian regime is never t...

www.404media.co

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Reposted by Ben

Admiral James Stavridis, USN, Ret. @admiralstav.bsky.social · 7d

On @cnn.com Situation Room with Pamela Brown discussing yesterday's lecture to flag and general officers at Quantico. youtu.be/l_pDbf5UcTk

ADM STAV ON CNN THE SITUATION ROOM 10 1 25

YouTube video by ADM STAV VIDEOS

youtu.be

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Reposted by Ben

Kori Schake @kschake.bsky.social · 8d

Disgraceful and dangerous incitement by the President and Secretary; reassuring to see the disciplined professionalism of our military leaders amidst it.

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Reposted by Ben

Admiral James Stavridis, USN, Ret. @admiralstav.bsky.social · 8d

My latest in @opinion.bloomberg.com www.bloomberg.com/opinion/arti...

Trump and Hegseth Are Wrong: The US Military Is Lethal as Ever

In an oddly mismatched pair of speeches, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth and President Donald Trump lectured 800 of the US military’s most senior officers and enlisted leaders at the sprawling Marin...

www.bloomberg.com

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Reposted by Ben

Timothy Snyder @timothysnyder.bsky.social · 10d

I talked this week with Chris Hayes and Anand Giradahadras, highlight was Chris mentioning No Kings protests on October 18th. Free speech is action not spectacle. Please join in.
www.nokings.org

No Kings

As the president escalates his authoritarian power grab, the NO KINGS non-violent movement continues to rise stronger. We are united once again to remind the world: America has No Kings and the power ...

www.nokings.org

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Ben @benjaminqiu.bsky.social · 11d

You know who else doesn't like Soros? China. Russia. Belarus. Hungary.

Reposted by Ben

Alan Rozenshtein @alanrozenshtein.com · 13d

Not just a high stakes position. Before I started as a junior DOJ attorney, a mentor told me to prewrite my resignation letter and put it in my desk drawer. I never had to use but it’s advice I’ve given ever since to my own students.

Jamal Greene @jamalgreene.bsky.social · 13d

Anyone who takes a high-stakes government position needs to have in the back of their mind the orders they would sooner resign than comply with. A directive from the president to prosecute a political enemy should be one of them. www.nytimes.com/2025/09/25/u...

Justice Dept. Official Pushes Prosecutors to Investigate George Soros’s Foundation

www.nytimes.com

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Reposted by Ben

Brad Lander @bradlander.bsky.social · 13d

I was back at 26 Federal Plaza today, where an ICE agent violently threw this bereft woman to the ground in front of her kids. She had not touched him. She did not pose any threat. She had to be taken to the hospital. (🎥: Elias Eliahu)

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Ben @benjaminqiu.bsky.social · 12d

Today we are all James Comey.

Reposted by Ben

David Rennie @dsorennie.bsky.social · 15d

China now accounts for 30% of all global manufacturing, or more than America, Germany, Japan and South Korea put together. A record surge of exports is alarming foreign rivals and governments. My column, The Telegram, on the juggernaut Trump can’t stop economist.com/internationa...

A Made-in-China plan for world domination

Donald Trump is failing to stop China’s rise as a manufacturing superpower

economist.com

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Ben @benjaminqiu.bsky.social · 15d

Is China panicking yet that western countries can recognize statehood seemingly suddenly like that?

Reposted by Ben

David Rothkopf @djrothkopf.bsky.social · 15d

Some hard truths about just how fast things are going to Hell here in America from @edwardluce.bsky.social...and some more about how much worse it could get in the months ahead. Well worth your time.

Edward Luce @edwardluce.bsky.social · 15d

"Having silenced most institutional dissent within his first nine months, what could Trump accomplish in the next fourteen?" My column. www.ft.com/content/a284...

America’s accelerating exit from itself

After the Kirk murder, Trump is pulverising the country’s founding principles with astonishing ease

www.ft.com

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Reposted by Ben

Edward Luce @edwardluce.bsky.social · 15d

for those requesting a gift link, this is limited to 300 on.ft.com/46gBWBq

America’s accelerating exit from itself

[FREE TO READ] After the Kirk murder, Trump is pulverising the country’s founding principles with astonishing ease

on.ft.com

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Reposted by Ben

Michael Derby @michaelsderby.bsky.social · 17d

“The target repeatedly brought up Homan, saying he was collecting bribes in exchange for future government contracts, the two sources told Reuters.”

Trump aide Homan accepted $50,000 in bribery sting operation, sources say

In the alleged scheme, Homan promised immigration-related government contracts when he joined the Trump administration in exchange for the money.

www.reuters.com

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Ben @benjaminqiu.bsky.social · 17d

America is quickly converging with the "global south."

Kevin KAL Kallaugher- Editorial cartoonist @kaltoons.bsky.social · 17d

We are living in crazy times. Satire is now in the crosshairs.
You can help me in my quest to keep satire flourishing by subscribing for free to my Substack Newsletter, Kal Draws the Line. Link in comments.
#Trump #cartoon #cartoonart #cartoons #satirekaltoons.substack.com

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Ben @benjaminqiu.bsky.social · 17d

Charlie Kirk is Trump's Reichstag fire.

Ben @benjaminqiu.bsky.social · 18d

Clearly in violation of the Immigration & Nationality Act 286(m), that the fees are designed to cover costs. (“That fees for providing adjudication and naturalization services may be set at a level that will ensure recovery of the full costs of providing all such services...”)

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