Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Brad Takei @bradtakei.bsky.social · 6m

Imagine being so cowardly that you can’t even say elected officials shouldn’t be jailed on a whim.

Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 1h

Q: Do you agree that the mayor of Chicago and governor of Illinois should be in prison?

MIKE JOHNSON: Should they be in prison? I'm not the attorney general. I'm not following the day to day on that

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Brad Takei @bradtakei.bsky.social · 1h

The President of the United States calling for the imprisonment of elected officials with no legal basis should alarm everyone, regardless of party.

Social post by Donald J. Trump that says: 'Chicago Mayor should be in jail for failing to protect Ice Officers! Governor Pritzker also!'

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Brad Takei @bradtakei.bsky.social · 16h

Fear shapes our politics more than ever, but it doesn’t have to paralyze us.

The Fear Factor

The right and the left both use fear to drive politics, but the difference in how is striking

thinkbigpicture.substack.com

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Brad Takei @bradtakei.bsky.social · 22h

a close up of a dart board with the number 8 written on it

ALT: a close up of a dart board with the number 8 written on it

media.tenor.com

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Brad Takei @bradtakei.bsky.social · 22h

Same.

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Brad Takei @bradtakei.bsky.social · 22h

a close up of a man 's face with his eyes closed .

ALT: a close up of a man 's face with his eyes closed .

media.tenor.com

Brad Takei @bradtakei.bsky.social · 22h

Without a doubt.

Brad Takei @bradtakei.bsky.social · 1d

Wow. Sounds like a rock-solid, totally evidence-based case they’ve got going there.

Kyle Griffin @kylegriffin1.bsky.social · 1d

New on MSNBC: Trump's new acting U.S. Attorney Lindsey Halligan has recruited prosecutors from outside her office to take James Comey to trial, after being unable to find any federal prosecutors in her own office willing to pursue the charges, according to two people familiar with the selections.

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Brad Takei @bradtakei.bsky.social · 1d

“Democrats shut down the government” is quite a take when it’s your own party blocking a deal to protect Americans’ healthcare.

Social post by President Donald J. Trump that says: 'Democrats have SHUT DOWN the United States Government right in the midst of one of the most successful Economies, including a Record Stock Market, that our Country has ever had. This has sadly affected so many programs, services, and other elements of Society that Americans rely on — And it should not have happened. I am happy to work with the Democrats on their Failed Healthcare Policies, or anything else, but first they must allow our Government to re-open. In fact, they should open our Government tonight!"

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Brad Takei @bradtakei.bsky.social · 1d

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Brad Takei @bradtakei.bsky.social · 1d

Unfortunately, this is from this past Sunday, during a speech meant to celebrate the 250th birthday of the US Navy.

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Brad Takei @bradtakei.bsky.social · 1d

You're probably right.

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Brad Takei @bradtakei.bsky.social · 1d

😪

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Brad Takei @bradtakei.bsky.social · 1d

This is a deeply evil and profoundly unwell man.

Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 1d

CNN: Isn't that hyperbolic to call them terrorists?

STEPHEN MILLER: No. If anything I'm understating the severity of the situation

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Brad Takei @bradtakei.bsky.social · 1d

134 years after Wounded Knee, the U.S. still hasn’t rescinded the Medals of Honor given to the killers who took part in it. Amelia Mavis-Christnot explains why—and how Trump ensured it stayed that way.

Čaŋkpé Opí (Wounded Knee) Is In My DNA

There’s no honor in genocide, Pete.

thinkbigpicture.substack.com

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Brad Takei @bradtakei.bsky.social · 1d

Gotta love when his own posts come back to bite him on the ass.

emptywheel @emptywheel.bsky.social · 2d

Trump's Truth Social posts might doom his invasion of Chicago just like they did in Portland.

From a just-filed lawsuit.

storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...

4. In one example that received significant news coverage, on September 6, 2025,
Trump posted on social media an image of the Chicago skyline in flames, stating “Chicago about
to find out why it’s called the Department of WAR,” including a depiction of himself in the image
of the fictitious warmonger character Lt. Col. Kilgore from the 1979 film Apocalypse Now, titling
the post “Chipocalypse Now.”

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Brad Takei @bradtakei.bsky.social · 2d

Trump sounds like he took a swig from Hegseth’s personal flask before going on stage.

Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 2d

Trump: "I said one year before to Pete Hegseth, I said, one year before -- where's Pete? In the book I wrote -- whatever the hell the title, I can't tell you -- but I can tell you there's a page in there devoted to the fact that I saw somebody named Osama bin Laden and I didn't like it."

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Reposted by Brad Takei

Tom the Dancing Bug, by Ruben Bolling @rubenbolling.bsky.social · 2d

BREAKING: Photo of the violent insurrectionists causing politicians to fear for their lives.

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Brad Takei @bradtakei.bsky.social · 2d

Even amidst the chaos, there were bright spots this week.

Our Wins Of The Week

In a crossover show of solidarity, Jimmy Kimmel and Stephen Colbert appeared on each other’s shows this week.

thinkbigpicture.substack.com

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Brad Takei @bradtakei.bsky.social · 4d

Feeling lost in the news cycle? This source helps me see what actually matters.

The Big Picture | Substack

The Big Picture provides a deep dive into the cultural, political, and societal issues shaping our world today, from a variety of unique perspectives. Click to read The Big Picture, a Substack…

thinkbigpicture.substack.com

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Brad Takei @bradtakei.bsky.social · 4d

From Trump’s shutdown fight to his authoritarian speech at Quantico to a brutal ICE raid in Chicago—this week has been a reminder of how much is at stake.

Government shuts down. Trump rants at generals. ICE raids Chicago apartment building.

Government Shuts Down

thinkbigpicture.substack.com

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Brad Takei @bradtakei.bsky.social · 5d

Trump’s lying (again). The shutdown isn’t about ‘illegal aliens,’ it’s about Republicans refusing to extend health care subsidies for millions of Americans.

Truth Social post by President Donald J. Trump that says: 'Every dollar wasted on non-citizens is stolen from veterans, seniors, and working families. Democrats are about to shutdown the government because they demand we fund health for illegal aliens. - JD Vance. Shut it down.'

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Brad Takei @bradtakei.bsky.social · 5d

If the focus should be on the needs of the American people, why is the President wasting time making bigoted, racist jokes online?

Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 5d

Mike Johnson on Jeffries: "I think he has to lighten up. When you show that you're upset -- I get attacked with memes every single hour of every day. I don't react to it. That's what people are trying to get out of you is a reaction. The president was making a joke, okay?"

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Reposted by Brad Takei

George Takei @georgetakei.bsky.social · 5d

The latest government shutdown centers on health care. Democrats want Obamacare subsidies extended and GOP Medicaid cuts reversed. Trump and the GOP shut the government and spread false claims about undocumented immigrants. Here’s what’s at stake in a showdown that impacts millions of Americans.

The Truth Behind Republicans' Government Shutdown Lies

Democrats have the policy, the politics, and the truth on their side in the shutdown fight

thinkbigpicture.substack.com

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Reposted by Brad Takei

Jay Kuo @nycjayjay.bsky.social · 5d

So many Hatch Act violations. So little media interest.

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