Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Erik Halvorsen @erikhalvorsen.bsky.social · 15h

The GOP war on your law abiding neighbors

Teri G @terilg.bsky.social · 17h

This story is so descriptive of the decline of this country, the presidency and the Republican Party. Shameful.

www.texastribune.org/2025/10/07/t...

“Why Sergio?”: Deportation ends 36-year dream for celebrated Waco chef

Sergio Garcia built a wide following for his regional Mexican cuisine over the decades, becoming a favorite of the White House press corps visiting Waco during the Bush presidency. Then in March, ICE ...

www.texastribune.org

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Reposted by Erik Halvorsen

Joyce White Vance @joycewhitevance.bsky.social · 20h

Looking for one thing you can do right now to help protect the right to vote? It will only take a few minutes, and you can share it with all of your friends. joycevance.substack.com/p/a-thing-yo...

A Thing You Can Do Right Now To Help Protect The Right To Vote

The U.S.

joycevance.substack.com

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Erik Halvorsen @erikhalvorsen.bsky.social · 15h

Trump’s brownshirts attacking Christian pastor

Melanie D’Arrigo @darrigomelanie.bsky.social · 19h

I feel like this photo of masked, armed men pepper spraying a pastor protecting his community is going to be a defining picture of this moment in America for a long, long time.

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Reposted by Erik Halvorsen

Shari in AZ🌵 @mutsy67.bsky.social · 20h

🏦 Jack Ciattarelli wants to gut public programs while protecting Wall Street profits. He’s not here for you—he’s here for the donors who bankroll his campaign. Register to vote by Oct 14th! #VoteNJ

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Erik Halvorsen @erikhalvorsen.bsky.social · 15h

Trump’s brownshirts shot a priest in the head with a pepper gun.

Kurt @flglchicago.bsky.social · 18h

Here’s video of the incident

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Reposted by Erik Halvorsen

More Perfect Union @moreperfectunion.bsky.social · 1d

A new White House memo says that furloughed federal workers aren't entitled to back pay.

This is clearly against the law, which guarantees furloughed federal employees back pay for the duration of a government shutdown.

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Reposted by Erik Halvorsen

Brian Tyler Cohen @briantylercohen.bsky.social · 1d

This is Adelita Grijalva.

She was elected to Congress two weeks ago, officially making her the final vote needed to force the release of the Epstein files.

She has still not been sworn in because Mike Johnson refuses to do so.

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Reposted by Erik Halvorsen

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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Reposted by Erik Halvorsen

Don Moynihan @donmoyn.bsky.social · 1d

The entire administration is "new legal analysis."

Is the President a King? Yes, according to new legal analysis. Can we fire civil servants, impound funds and eliminate agencies? *Touches earpiece* Yes, according to new legal analysis.

The shame is that SCOTUS has gone along with much of this.

Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 1d

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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Erik Halvorsen @erikhalvorsen.bsky.social · 1d

GOP Corruption

The Tennessee Holler @thetnholler.bsky.social · 1d

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* 🤷🏼‍♀️

Reposted by Erik Halvorsen

Adam Parkhomenko @adamparkhomenko.bsky.social · 1d

Oh look the party that screams “family values” every five minutes is silent when one of their megachurch darlings pleads guilty to child sex abuse. But they’ll trip over themselves to ban books and attack drag shows. Tells you everything you need to know.

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The Tennessee Holler @thetnholler.bsky.social · 1d

282 Ex DOJ officials open letter: “We believe it’s our duty to sound the alarm about this administration’s degradation of DoJ’s vital work, and its assault on the public servants who do it”

www.msnbc.com/msnbc/news/e...

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The Tennessee Holler @thetnholler.bsky.social · 1d

SEN. HIRONO: “Did you approve shutting down the bribery investigation into Homan?”

BONDI: “Are you Antifa?” 🤡

(That’s a yes)

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Erik Halvorsen @erikhalvorsen.bsky.social · 1d

“Trump's Tariffs And 'Dumb Policies' Are Hurting Business Demand, Says Former Trump Official Anthony Scaramucci: Consumers Are 'Sheltering In Place'”

#inflation #TrumpFlation

www.benzinga.com/markets/macr...

Trump's Tariffs And 'Dumb Policies' Are Hurting Business Demand, Says Anthony Scaramucci: Consumers Are 'Sheltering In Place'

Former White House Communications Director Anthony Scaramucci criticized President Donald Trump's trade and tariff policies, blaming them for rising inflation, along with the slowdown in business and ...

www.benzinga.com

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Erik Halvorsen @erikhalvorsen.bsky.social · 1d

Sad but exactly right

Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 1d

New in PN: Dems are winning the shutdown

"If Republicans are on board with Trump’s effort to become a dictator, there’s not much point in negotiating. You might as well force them to own their priorities, including hugely increasing healthcare costs, then use it against them on the campaign trail."

Democrats are winning the shutdown

Republicans, meanwhile, are bumbling and stumbling.

www.publicnotice.co

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Erik Halvorsen @erikhalvorsen.bsky.social · 1d

Trump’s economic policies are a dumpster fire

Mike Levin @mikelevin.org · 1d

Trump claims he’s secured “$17 trillion in new U.S. investments”—but the numbers just don’t add up, and his tariffs are making things worse.

But don't just take my word for it:

Trump says the US has secured $17 trillion in new investments. The real number is likely much less

The issue goes beyond Trump’s hyperbolic talk to his belief that the brute force of tariffs and shaming of companies can deliver economic results.

www.ocregister.com

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Erik Halvorsen @erikhalvorsen.bsky.social · 1d

The Republican war on your health care

MeidasTouch @meidastouch.com · 1d

Attention: If you live in Rep. Derrick Van Orden's (R-WI) district, here's what your costs will look like if Republicans don't extend the tax credits:

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Reposted by Erik Halvorsen

Helen Kennedy @helenkennedy.bsky.social · 2d

We’re only 9 months into this presidency and he’s already sending troops from red states into blue states while clearly stating his motives are political.

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Athena Gabriel ❌👑 @athenagabriel.bsky.social · 3d

Abigail Spanberger cast her early vote in Henrico County with an amazing crowd of supporters! 🚨 Early voting is ON in Virginia, and every single vote matters.

We need you. We need your friends. Don’t wait! Make your voice heard 🗳️ #VoteVA

social.demcast.com/s/UfToI1Ih

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Reposted by Erik Halvorsen

JLRay @jlray.bsky.social · 3d

A Texas megachurch pastor and GOP leader has been arrested for crimes against children. Not Robert Morris, a different one. Not Josiah Anthony, a different one. Not Luke Cunningham, a different one. Not Tony Evans, a different one. Not Scott Crenshaw, a different one. Not Steve Lawson, a different o

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Erik Halvorsen @erikhalvorsen.bsky.social · 2d

Please watch this

Anonymous @youranoncentral.bsky.social · 2d

Jane Goodall offers sage advice for the rest of us. #3E

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Reposted by Erik Halvorsen

The Tennessee Holler @thetnholler.bsky.social · 2d

“I am living with the deep pain of watching someone I once loved become the face of evil.”

From July 17th: m.facebook.com/share/p/16yL...

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Governor Gavin Newsom @governor.ca.gov · 2d

This is a breathtaking abuse of the law and power by the President of the United States.

America is on the brink of martial law.

Do not be silent.

Governor JB Pritzker @govpritzker.illinois.gov · 2d

This evening, President Trump is ordering 400 members of the Texas National Guard for deployments to Illinois, Oregon, and other locations within the United States. No officials from the federal government called me directly to discuss or coordinate.

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Erik Halvorsen @erikhalvorsen.bsky.social · 2d

Draft dodger weighs in on war he lost during his first term

Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 2d

Trump: "The problem with Vietnam, we, you know, we stopped fighting to win. We would've won easy. We would've won Afghanistan easy. We would've won every war easy. But we got politically correct. 'Oh, let's take it easy.' We're not politically correct anymore, just so you understand."

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Erik Halvorsen @erikhalvorsen.bsky.social · 2d

How is this different from a 1935 Nazi speech.

Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 2d

Trump to the Navy: "We have to take care of this little gnat that's on our shoulder called the Democrats."

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