Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

David Corn @davidcorn.bsky.social · 10h

The Deep State did it.

CNN @cnn.com · 12h

The Trump administration has ordered FBI employees in Washington, DC, to immediately search their workstations and digital media for any records pertaining to the disappearance of Amelia Earhart, a law enforcement source told CNN.

FBI employees ordered to immediately search for records related to Amelia Earhart, source says | CNN Politics

The Trump administration has ordered FBI employees in Washington, DC, to immediately search their workstations and digital media for any records pertaining to the disappearance of Amelia Earhart, a la...

www.cnn.com

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David Corn @davidcorn.bsky.social · 18h

Hard to believe this attorney general can pursue justice with impartiality when she is dripping with such partisan disdain.

Acyn @acyn.bsky.social · 18h

Schiff: This is supposed to be an oversight hearing when dozens of prosecutors have been fired simply because they worked on cases investigating the former president.

Bondi: What about the fires in California? Are the riots in LA serious?

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David Corn @davidcorn.bsky.social · 18h

It might also prove that many Americans are not engaged and do not realize the stakes. That would mean that the Democrats and the media need to do more and to do better.

Adam Keiper @adamkeiper.com · 18h

If the Republicans' shutdown gambit succeeds, "it will prove that Americans care more about choking off aid to undocumented immigrants—even where the aid is *already prohibited*—than we do about helping fellow Americans."

Read @saletan.bsky.social:

www.thebulwark.com/p/when-in-do...

When in Doubt, Blame the Immigrants

No. You’re not experiencing déjà vu. The current Republican government shutdown talking point is the same one they’ve trotted out before.

www.thebulwark.com

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David Corn @davidcorn.bsky.social · 19h

Dream Team. Or Scheme Team?

Adam Klasfeld @klasfeldreports.com · 19h

Two lawyers just entered an appearance for the government in James Comey's case.

There's no evidence on the Pacer that either one prosecuted a case before in the Eastern District of Virginia.

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Reposted by David Corn

Mother Jones @motherjones.com · 20h

California is the 4th largest economy in the world. It’s time it and other blue states used their economic clout to fight Trump’s agenda.

The latest from @clarajeffery:

It’s time for soft secession

How blue states can use their economic clout to stand up to Trump’s agenda—starting with California.

www.motherjones.com

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David Corn @davidcorn.bsky.social · 20h

It was taxpayers’ money. Did Homan give it back? If he kept it, did he declare it on his taxes?

Mark Follman @markfollman.bsky.social · 20h

Tom Homan, head of ICE, accepted $50k from undercover FBI agents last year, reportedly a bribe in a sting operation. All cash, in a paper bag. Pam Bondi, reading from a script, insists Homan did nothing wrong—yet she refuses to answer any questions about what happened to that cash? Really?

The Tennessee Holler @thetnholler.bsky.social · 22h

WATCH — @whitehouse.senate.gov : “What became of the $50,000 in cash in that Cava bag? Did the FBI get it back from Homan?”

AG PAM BONDI: *LASHES OUT aggressively, avoids answering entirely* 🤷🏼‍♀️

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David Corn @davidcorn.bsky.social · 20h

NPR amplifying Trump's false premises.

NPR @npr.org · 1d

President Trump is bucking tradition and legal precedent in pushing to deploy the National Guard to Democratic-led cities like Portland, Oregon, and Chicago due to what he says is rampant crime and to support his crackdown on illegal immigration.

Trump's power to deploy National Guard, explained

President Trump is bucking tradition and legal precedent in pushing to deploy the National Guard to Democratic-led cities like Portland, Oregon, and Chicago due to what he says is rampant crime and to support his crackdown on illegal immigration.

n.pr

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David Corn @davidcorn.bsky.social · 20h

The president of the United States is either a liar or out of touch with reality. Maybe both?

Dan Diamond @ddiamond.bsky.social · 21h

Trump tells Canada’s prime minister that DC was a “raging hellhole” but claims that his crackdown fixed it.

TRUMP: “There is no crime in DC… no one’s being shot.”

There’s evidence that Trump’s crackdown helped curb crime — but it’s not true that it’s gone.

Example: this headline today.

Local Crime & Public Safety
Three people found fatally shot in D.C. in three days
Three youths, one with a gun, took a moped in broad daylight on Capitol Hill.
Today at 2:01 a.m. ET

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David Corn @davidcorn.bsky.social · 20h

Trump thinks America is so weak that antifa, trans athletes, and windmill fans can overthrow it. Even his demagoguery is bonkers.

Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 21h

Trump: "If we didn't win this election. If we had these people that were running that were ruining our country, destroying our country with their open borders and men playing in women's sports and transgender from everybody and windmills all over the place ... I'm not sure we'd even have a country."

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David Corn @davidcorn.bsky.social · 21h

Some frogs are more equal than others.

Amy @lolennui.bsky.social · 21h

George Orwell’s Animal Crossing

Someone in a frog costume facing down a line of police in riot gear

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David Corn @davidcorn.bsky.social · 21h

Smart piece. Too relevant.

Mother Jones @motherjones.com · 21h

Under the Third Reich, most Germans generally lived in the law-bound normative state, while Jews and other disfavored people were victims of the arbitrary and violent prerogative state.

The dual state is characterized by the facade of normalcy obscuring the fact of an authoritarian state.

The “dual state” theory was invented to describe Nazis. The Supreme Court could take us there.

Authoritarianism—but make it look like the rule of law.

www.motherjones.com

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Reposted by David Corn

Mother Jones @motherjones.com · 22h

With the US in democratic freefall, experts are concerned that other countries may dismantle themselves too.

As professor Stefanie Walter explains, pro-Trump echo chambers could mean that even policies that prove disastrous for ordinary people may spread further and faster than ever.

Is America contagious?

Scholars in political extremism are documenting the global spread of right-wing populism.

www.motherjones.com

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David Corn @davidcorn.bsky.social · 23h

How about this: We don't pay members of Congress when they cannot keep the government functioning?

Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 23h

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"

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David Corn @davidcorn.bsky.social · 23h

NEW: In the government shutdown showdown, the Democrats are bringing a policy paper to a gunfight. In my OUR LAND newsletter, I explain why they have to do much more than that.

link.motherjones.com/public/41875...

Today you can sign up for a FREE trial subscription to OUR LAND at davidcorn.com.

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David Corn @davidcorn.bsky.social · 23h

I'm sure everyone at CBS News was inspired by this.

max tani @maxtani.bsky.social · 1d

Bari Weiss introduced herself to CBS News staff today on the network's 9AM call, saying she wants to "win," which requires restoring trust to CBS. She also said she was excited for staff to get to know the Free Press, and ended her remarks by saying: "Let's do the fucking news."

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David Corn @davidcorn.bsky.social · 1d

FAFO.

Rolling Stone @rollingstone.com · 1d

“I voted for none of this."

Prominent influencers, including Theo Von, Joe Rogan, and Andrew Schulz, are starting to distance themselves from the president they helped propel to the White House.

Story: www.rollingstone.com/politics/pol...

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David Corn @davidcorn.bsky.social · 1d

Dunderheads are in charge.

Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 1d

Dr Oz: "Some of the reasons that premiums are going up is because if you take people who didn't know they had insurance and therefore never put in any claims off the rolls, then you still have people who are charging enough to make up the difference. But I do think there are criminal elements."

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David Corn @davidcorn.bsky.social · 1d

Clueless or lying?

Acyn @acyn.bsky.social · 1d

Trump on pardoning Ghislaine Maxwell: Haven't heard the name in so long. I’ll take a look at it. I’ll speak to the DOJ. A lot of people have asked me for pardons.

Reporter: But she’s convicted of sex trafficking

Trump: I’ll have to take a look at it.

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David Corn @davidcorn.bsky.social · 1d

How long will she keep her job?

Kyle Griffin @kylegriffin1.bsky.social · 1d

Breaking MSNBC:

A top prosecutor in Virginia has informed colleagues she plans to decline to seek charges against New York Attorney General Letitia James — resisting intense pressure from Trump, according to two people familiar with her discussions. www.msnbc.com/msnbc/news/t...

Top prosecutor is rejecting Trump pressure to charge New York AG

A key federal prosecutor in Virginia, where James Comey was indicted, is resisting bringing charges against Letitia James.

www.msnbc.com

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David Corn @davidcorn.bsky.social · 1d

As I recently wrote, "globalist" has long been a term that antisemites have used to attack and demonize Jews.

link.motherjones.com/public/41852...

Eric Columbus @ericcolumbus.bsky.social · 1d

UPDATE: now DHS says "globalists" will be blocked "from ever entering our country."

Homeland Security
@DHSgov
RECAPTURE OUR NATIONAL IDENTITY!
This week, we arrested hundreds of criminal illegal aliens, terrorists, and terrorist sympathizers across our country in Portland in Chicago.
Now, we need your help. Block communists, terrorists, and globalists from ever entering our country. Go to USCIS.GOV/JOIN
@MicahBock

Screenshot from video: YOU'LL BLOCK COMMUNISTS, TERRORISTS, AND GLOBALISTS
1:03/3:09

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David Corn @davidcorn.bsky.social · 1d

He is making sh*t up. To justify Trump's deployment of troops. Despicable.

Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 1d

Stephen Miller claims that in Portland "ICE officers have to street battles against antifa, hand to hand combat every night, to come and go from their building"

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David Corn @davidcorn.bsky.social · 1d

Very interesting. Looks close, eh?

Decoding Fox News @decodingfoxnews.bsky.social · 2d

Last week Jesse Watters spoke to man named Eric who claimed he was formerly a member of antifa. Two years ago Watters interviewed Ramon "Mundo" Mendoza, a former Mexican Mafia member. Some folks thought the men looked similar. This is a side by side comparison. 🤷‍♀️

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David Corn @davidcorn.bsky.social · 1d

One of Trump's dumbest lies: He predicted bin Laden's 9/11 attack. I wrote about this 10 years ago!!!

www.motherjones.com/politics/201...

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David Corn @davidcorn.bsky.social · 1d

Thank you, GOP.

Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 1d

Sean Duffy says the safety of the air traffic control system will start being impacted next Sunday if the shutdown continues

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Reposted by David Corn

Ian Gordon @idgordon.bsky.social · 1d

I was sort of curious to see how ChatGPT would manage this task. So here's my prompt, and the robot's intro email:

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