Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Bill Scher @billscher.bsky.social · 1d

“Louis C.K.’s Saudi Arabia Defense Is Terrible” — my latest for @washingtonmonthly.com

washingtonmonthly.com/2025/10/07/l...

Louis C.K.’s Saudi Arabia Defense Is Terrible

Just because Louis C.K. can tell his favorite jokes at the Riyadh Comedy Festival doesn’t mean he struck a blow for free speech.

washingtonmonthly.com

59 33 190

Bill Scher @billscher.bsky.social · 5d

Marjorie Taylor Greene apparently is reading me in the @washingtonmonthly.com washingtonmonthly.com/2025/10/01/s...

9 38 190

Bill Scher @billscher.bsky.social · 7d

This fact is not breaking through. Republicans have the power to open the government by themselves.

They just need to use the “nuclear option” to suspend or change the filibuster.

Rs nuked three weeks ago for judges, so we know they’re able.

But they’d rather keep it closed and blame Dems.

Washington Monthly @washingtonmonthly.com · 7d

Republicans Can End the Government Shutdown Today

If Republicans don’t want a bipartisan deal, they can kill the filibuster. So why aren’t they? –– @billscher.bsky.social

washingtonmonthly.com/2025/10/01/s...

Republicans Can End the Government Shutdown Today

Republicans can kill the filibuster and end the government shutdown without any Democrats. But will they do it?

washingtonmonthly.com

17 240 550

Reposted by Bill Scher

Mark Joseph Stern @mjsdc.bsky.social · 7d

When Trump tried to remove FTC Commissioner Rebecca Slaughter, SCOTUS set the case for arguments—but kept Slaughter fired in the meantime.

When Trump tried to remove the Fed's Lisa Cook, SCOTUS set the case for argument—but *let Cook keep serving* in the meantime.

That difference says a lot.

21 88 460

Reposted by Bill Scher

Mark Gongloff @markgongloff.bsky.social · 7d

Don't sleep on Michelle Wu, one of this country's most quietly effective climate leaders, cruising to a second term in Boston. It's telling that business interests tried and failed to stop her and are pouting about it now

Gift link: www.bloomberg.com/news/article...

Boston Mayor’s Blowout Victory Jilts CEOs Seeking New Direction

Boston Mayor Michelle Wu is coasting to reelection after her main opponent quit the race, giving her a commanding mandate that’s putting city business leaders on edge.

www.bloomberg.com

74 1.2K 6.7K

Reposted by Bill Scher

Washington Monthly @washingtonmonthly.com · 7d

Republicans Can End the Government Shutdown Today

If Republicans don’t want a bipartisan deal, they can kill the filibuster. So why aren’t they? –– @billscher.bsky.social

washingtonmonthly.com/2025/10/01/s...

Republicans Can End the Government Shutdown Today

Republicans can kill the filibuster and end the government shutdown without any Democrats. But will they do it?

washingtonmonthly.com

5 45 100

Bill Scher @billscher.bsky.social · 7d

“Republicans Can End the Government Shutdown Today” — my latest for @washingtonmonthly.com

washingtonmonthly.com/2025/10/01/s...

Republicans Can End the Government Shutdown Today

Republicans can kill the filibuster and end the government shutdown without any Democrats. But will they do it?

washingtonmonthly.com

3 9

Reposted by Bill Scher

John Howl Boo @jholbo.bsky.social · 8d

I think I agree with this, from @billscher.bsky.social.

"My counsel to Democrats was and is to walk away from the negotiating table completely, because Republicans have already broken faith by clawing back money from the last bipartisan spending deal. With Trump and his budget director explicitly trashing the idea of a bipartisan appropriations process, Democrats have additional ground to say: Republicans want to keep the government open by themselves, so any shutdown is their problem to solve, not ours. If that means Republicans need to suspend or end the filibuster to do it, that’s also on them. Last week, Trump even said of the opposition party, “Don’t even bother dealing with them.”

2 18 84

Bill Scher @billscher.bsky.social · 8d

The federal government has been continually operating for 2̶4̶4̶0̶ zero consecutive days

11 88

Bill Scher @billscher.bsky.social · 11d

Say if Rs don’t like then they can suspend or eliminate the filibuster

Bill Scher @billscher.bsky.social · 11d

Exactly. De are not obligated to give their votes to partisan-drafted spending bills or nominal deals negotiated in bad faith. If Rs don’t want true bipartisanship, then Rs alone have the power & responsibility to keep the government open washingtonmonthly.com/2025/09/26/d...

1 3 19

Reposted by Bill Scher

Washington Monthly @washingtonmonthly.com · 12d

The president’s decision to threaten mass layoffs of federal workers in the case of a shutdown should prompt Democrats to shift course. You can’t win a game with someone playing an entirely different game. So, stop playing.

washingtonmonthly.com/2025/09/26/d...

The Democrats’ Shutdown Strategy Is Bad. Trump’s Is Worse

Trump’s threat of mass federal layoffs makes Democrats’ risky shutdown strategy even worse. Here’s why they should walk away.

washingtonmonthly.com

4 10 18

Bill Scher @billscher.bsky.social · 12d

“The Democrats’ Shutdown Strategy Is Bad. Trump’s Is Worse.”

My latest for @washingtonmonthly.com washingtonmonthly.com/2025/09/26/d...

The Democrats’ Shutdown Strategy Is Bad. Trump’s Is Worse

Trump’s threat of mass federal layoffs makes Democrats’ risky shutdown strategy even worse. Here’s why they should walk away.

washingtonmonthly.com

2 4 8

Bill Scher @billscher.bsky.social · 14d

Why is NYT using the informal “Obamacare” in headline and first mention when reporting on a policy decision made by Republicans who opposed Obama’s creation of the program?

3 21

Bill Scher @billscher.bsky.social · 15d

Perhaps I should have said "throuple" but that would have implied Trump has the capacity for commitment

Nate Weisberg @nateweisberg.bsky.social · 15d

“Republicans have filed for divorce with the free market, in favor of a threesome with authoritarianism and quackery.” –– @billscher.bsky.social

washingtonmonthly.com/2025/09/23/t...

Republicans Should Be Apoplectic Over What Trump and Kennedy Are Doing to Tylenol

Conservatives used to hate it when Democrats “picked winners and losers.” What will they say when Donald Trump does it?

washingtonmonthly.com

3 1 14

Bill Scher @billscher.bsky.social · 16d

Thank you! And good to see you here!

1

Reposted by Bill Scher

Taniel @taniel.bsky.social · 17d

Happening this week, starting tomorrow: Utah’s legislature is meeting to adopt a new congressional map after a court order.

All five draft maps would transform a safely GOP seat into a swing district that’d be very winnable for Dems.

30 420 1.9K

Reposted by Bill Scher

John Bonifaz @johnbonifaz.bsky.social · 19d

Thank you @billscher.bsky.social Absolutely right. www.impeachtrumpagain.org @fsfp.bsky.social

“impeachment is the lone and proper constitutional remedy for an unconstitutional president and his unconstitutional apparatchiks.”

washingtonmonthly.com/2025/09/19/f... 1/

Free Kimmel. Impeach Carr. Impeach Trump

Kimmel's show was pulled from the air after his comment about Charlie Kirk's assassin prompted the FCC to threaten ABC's broadcast license.

washingtonmonthly.com

6 48 94

Reposted by Bill Scher

Jill Lawrence @jilldlawrence.bsky.social · 19d

Do 2024 Trump voters and non-voters see what he’s wrought—what they’ve wrought—in the last 8 months? He still gets too much benefit of the doubt. What will it take? More inflation, job loss, disease and death? Maybe a government shutdown? It's all coming. My latest
open.substack.com/pub/jilllawr...

Trump is destroying America. Are his voters starting to realize that?

Democrats are on the right track by picking a shutdown fight over cruel Republican health care choices.

open.substack.com

98 400 1.4K

Bill Scher @billscher.bsky.social · 19d

Creatively, I have also been underwhelmed by the Trump obsession from late night comics but

1) It is Trump that has culturally divided the country and made it difficult for those who must satirize news daily to transcend the divide

2) not reason for POTUS to unconstitutionally silence comedians

1 2

Bill Scher @billscher.bsky.social · 19d

Free Kimmel. Impeach Carr. Impeach Trump

washingtonmonthly.com/2025/09/19/f...

Free Kimmel. Impeach Carr. Impeach Trump

Kimmel's show was pulled from the air after his comment about Charlie Kirk's assassin prompted the FCC to threaten ABC's broadcast license.

washingtonmonthly.com

5 17 50

Reposted by Bill Scher

Matt Lewis @mattklewis.bsky.social · 20d

Charlie Kirk’s assassination sparks heated debate: Martyr or menace? @billscher.bsky.social & yours truly dive into his legacy, cancel culture, & free speech threats in this explosive DMZ episode! 🎙️ Watch now

Charlie Kirk: Martyr or Menace? Free Speech in Crisis!

YouTube video by Matt Lewis & The News

youtu.be

2 1 6

Reposted by Bill Scher

A Public Affair @apublicaffair.bsky.social · 23d

🎙️Higher education excellence is not catering to the wealthy but meeting the needs of the average student, says @glastris.bsky.social. He's the editor of @washingtonmonthly.com which just put out its 2025 college rankings.

Listen here: www.wortfm.org/a-successful...

A Successful College Should Not Look Like A Country Club - WORT-FM 89.9

Our guest, Paul Glastris, says that higher education excellence is not catering to the wealthy, but meeting the needs of the average student.

www.wortfm.org

6 6

Bill Scher @billscher.bsky.social · 24d

"It's worth noting that somehow Bill Scher and Ezra Klein, two of the worst democratic pundits in the country, somehow got to the right place ahead of our actual professional pols." www.lawyersgunsmoneyblog.com/2025/09/do-d...

4 1 11

Bill Scher @billscher.bsky.social · 24d

Thank you!