Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Fred Vultee @fredvultee.bsky.social · 4h

Looking forward to the party’s next exhibit of degenerate art

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Fred Vultee @fredvultee.bsky.social · 5h

Wonder what “Fox & Friends” is talking about this morning

Fred Vultee @fredvultee.bsky.social · 14h

If the latest outrage in the #FoxNews War On Portland seems familiar, there could be a reason for that.
headsuptheblog.blogspot.com/2025/10/42nd...

Reposted by Fred Vultee

Ulrike Franke @rikefranke.bsky.social · 1d

And here we go. I never wrote this article, and yet it is cited here.

www.liberalbriefs.com/geopolitics/...

And of course, it sounds so plausible, I seriously checked whether I had forgotten it, or the footnote was slightly wrong.

#AIisnotresearch

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Fred Vultee @fredvultee.bsky.social · 17h

This sort of seems like the point in the movie where the generals turn their heads and quietly stare at each other.

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Reposted by Fred Vultee

Jack Jenkins @jackjenkins.me · 18h

NEW: I spoke to clergy and faith leaders who've joined protests at the Chicago-area ICE facility.

Three say they've been shot with pepper balls, sometimes while praying.

All say ICE is also violating their religious freedom, and one is arguing it in court. religionnews.com/2025/10/07/i...

Religious protesters say ICE threatens religious freedom in Chicago

(RNS) — Despite potential danger, religious leaders and faith activists have been a visible presence at Chicago-area ICE protests, some waving signs with slogans such as ‘Love thy neighbor’ and ‘Who w...

religionnews.com

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Reposted by Fred Vultee

Plenary Popehat Power @kenwhite.bsky.social · 20h

We’re getting very used to this but the statement is unusually unhinged.

Robert Downen @robertdownen.bsky.social · 1d

Citing the “martyrdom” of Charlie Kirk, Texas AG Ken Paxton says his office is pursuing sweeping undercover investigations into “leftist” groups. “To those demented souls who seek to kill, steal, and destroy our country, know this: you cannot hide, you cannot escape, and justice is coming."

"Leftist political terrorism is a clear and present danger. Corrupted ideologies like transgenderism and Antifa are a cancer on our culture and have unleashed their deranged and drugged-up foot soldiers on the American people," said Attorney General Paxton. "The martyrdom of Charlie Kirk marks a turning point in America.
There can be no compromise with those who want us dead. To that end, I have directed my office to continue its efforts to identify, investigate, and infiltrate these leftist terror cells. To those demented souls who seek to kill, steal, and destroy our country, know this: you cannot hide, you cannot escape, and justice is coming."
The radical Left has incubated an environment where political violence is not only justified but celebrated and praised. In July, nearly two dozen armed leftists connected to various Texas-based Antifa-like groups ambushed an Immigration and Customs Enforcement ("ICE") facility in Alvarado, Texas. On September 10, 2025, a leftist assassin connected to the radical transgender movement murdered Charlie Kirk because of Kirk's bold support for truth, love of country, and unshakable faith. Two weeks later, another deranged leftist opened fire at an ICE facility in Dallas.
President Donald Trump has officially designated Antifa as a domestic terrorist organization and instructed his administration to "utilize all applicable authorities to investigate, disrupt, and dismantle any and all illegal operations — especially those involving terrorist actions — conducted by Antifa." Building on President Trump's bold actions, Attorney General Paxton has instructed his office to initiate sweeping investigations into radical leftist organizations engaged in or providing support to those performing political violence.

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Mueller, She Wrote @muellershewrote.com · 22h

Pam Bondi admits she spoke to Apple to "get the ICEBlock app taken down." Sounds an awful lot like coercion to suppress disfavored speech to me. A clear violation of the 1st Amendment.

Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 1d

Bondi claims that the ICEBlock app was "criminal in that people were posting where ICE officers lived"

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Reposted by Fred Vultee

Will Oremus @willoremus.com · 20h

Obviously not the main point here, but it's interesting how this is framed as content rather than policy.

"BREAKING" is typically what journalists or influencers say when they have a big story -- not what government officials say when they launch "undercover" operations

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Senator Sheldon Whitehouse @whitehouse.senate.gov · 21h

AG Bondi, here’s that correction you requested.

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Fred Vultee @fredvultee.bsky.social · 1d

Eyes 1, Brain 0: You have to click through _and_ read the caption before you find out that the photo is from 1992. Exceptionally dishonest practice by #CNN here.

CNN @cnn.com · 1d

"President Donald Trump and his top aides are using the word 'insurrection' more frequently to describe anti-ICE protests in places like Portland," writes Zachary B. Wolf. https://cnn.it/4pWYmzr

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Fred Vultee @fredvultee.bsky.social · 1d

#TheGuardian keeps US audiences up to speed on Republican lies.

Robert Mackey @robertmackey.bsky.social · 1d

The Oregon Republican Party tried to help Donald Trump make the case for military intervention in Portland with an image of a fiery protest — but since Portland is calm, they had to fabricate one by merging old photos of police in Ecuador and protesters in Brazil www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...

Republicans post fake image of Oregon protest – using photos of South America

A federal judge had blocked Trump’s request to deploy California national guard to Portland

www.theguardian.com

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Fred Vultee @fredvultee.bsky.social · 1d

Follow-up reporting is a big deal. National media need to remember to keep up.
chicago.suntimes.com/news/2025/10...

Attorney for woman shot by Border Patrol claims officer said 'Do something b----' before shooting

Body-camera video appears to contradict the government's claim that Marimar Martinez, 30, drove toward officers before one of them opened fire at her late Saturday morning in Brighton Park, her attorn...

chicago.suntimes.com

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Reposted by Fred Vultee

Aaron Reichlin-Melnick @reichlinmelnick.bsky.social · 1d

Miller, basically: "How dare you evil, America-hating communist antifa insurrectionist domestic terrorists call us bad names. And if you scumbag cockroach enemies of the state DO call us bad names, any violence that occurs anywhere in the country is your fault."

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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Anna Bower @annabower.bsky.social · 2d

Ro recap: In July, DOJ filed a misconduct complaint against Judge Boasberg. It was based on alleged comments he made at a judicial conference.

"Attachment A" was the only source cited as evidence of the comments.

But, per @lizdye.bsky.social, DOJ never even bothered to file the attachment...

Chief Judge Boasberg's Violations of Judicial Canons The Judicial Conference is the policymaking body of the federal judiciary. It operates strictly as an administrative body, focusing on policy matters related to court operations rather than substantive legal issues or specific cases. Its proceedings are designed to maintain the judiciary's institutional integrity by addressing only systemic administrative concerns that affect the federal court system as a whole, carefully avoiding any discussions that could compromise judicial neutrality or create the appearance of bias toward particular litigants. Common topics of discussion at these meetings include court security, budget, administration, facilities, and issues regarding
probation and pretrial services. On March 11, 2025, at one of the Conference's semiannual meetings, Judge Boasberg disregarded its history, tradition, and purpose to push a wholly unsolicited discussion about "concerns that the Administration would disregard rulings of federal courts, leading to a constitutional crisis."? By singling out a sitting President who was (and remains) a party to dozens of active cases, Judge Boasberg attempted to transform a routine housekeeping agenda into a forum to persuade the Chief Justice and other federal judges of his preconceived belief that the Trump Administration
would violate court orders.
Judge Boasberg's actions not only breached his duties, but they also defied reality and the law. First, the Trump Administration has complied with every court order-including the unlawful orders that appellate courts have subsequently stayed or reversed. Second, federal courts must begin from a "presumption of regularity"-the settled doctrine that executive officials "have properly discharged their official duties" absent clear evidence otherwise. By predicting non- compliance, Judge Boasberg turned that presumption on its head, contradicting both the evidence of past compliance and the governing law. These comments to …

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Reposted by Fred Vultee

southpaw @nycsouthpaw.bsky.social · 2d

Ten years and five months apart

Greg Abbott & @GregAbbott_TX
Follow
I've ordered the Texas State Guard to monitor Jade Helm 15 to safeguard Texans' constitutional rights, private property & civil liberties
2:21 PM • 4/28/15

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Fred Vultee @fredvultee.bsky.social · 2d

Interesting how #FoxNews loses interest in the possibility of political violence — until it gets permission from the bunker.
www.foxnews.com/politics/ste...

Stephen Miller trashes Dem who blamed 'extreme right' for fire at South Carolina judge's home: 'You are vile'

Stephen Miller excoriated Rep. Daniel Goldman after the congressman blamed a fire that destroyed a South Carolina judge's home on "the extreme right"

www.foxnews.com

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Fred Vultee @fredvultee.bsky.social · 2d

Surely it’s just coincidence that NPR followed a story about the presidential consolidation of power with a couple measures of “Ashokan Farewell.”

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Fred Vultee @fredvultee.bsky.social · 2d

Today at Short Attention Span Theater

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Reposted by Fred Vultee

Joshua J. Friedman @joshuajfriedman.com · 2d

HAPPENING NOW: Judge Karin Immergut hears emergency arguments as California and Oregon seek to block President Trump's deployment of federalized California National Guard troops to Portland. 🧵

Joshua J. Friedman @joshuajfriedman.com · 2d

NEW: Judge Immergut schedules a hearing TONIGHT, in 45 min, to hear arguments on SECOND TRO to block federalized California National Guard from deploying in Portland, Oregon. www.courtlistener.com/docket/71481...

SCHEDULING ORDER: This Court, having received Plaintiffs' Second Motion for Temporary Restraining Order and request for Expedited Hearing, ECF 59, sets a hearing by Telephonic Conference at 7:00 p.m. tonight, October 5, 2025, before Judge Karin J. Immergut. Access information for "LISTEN ONLY" phone number for the Hearing. Telephone Number: 1-571-353-2301 (toll-free 1-833-990-9400); Guest Meeting ID:
812-980-324#. Note: If dropped from the conference, please rejoin the conference. For complete conference connection instructions and etiquette guidelines, refer to ord.uscourts.gov/cms. Ordered on 10/5/25
by Judge Karin J. Immergut. (iy) (Entered: 10/05/2025)

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Harry Turtledove @hntdove.bsky.social · 2d

Hell of a thing to put next to a statue of Joan of Arc. (h/t David Pilling)

Fire extinguisher next to a statue of Joan of Arc

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Fred Vultee @fredvultee.bsky.social · 2d

It’s so cool when he goes off prompter

The Bulwark @thebulwark.com · 2d

Trump, speaking to the Navy: "I was president in 2016, and then they rigged the election on me. And then we caught them, didn't we? We caught them."

Fred Vultee @fredvultee.bsky.social · 2d

Dear #APNews: It’s often easier to write if you take your thumb out of your butt first.

Fred Vultee @fredvultee.bsky.social · 2d

The best thing “the media” could do with this rant is to quote it verbatim (seriously, listen to the whole thing).

(If you’re scoring along at home, USA Today was referring to Bin Laden as “America’s top enemy in the US war on terrorism” as early as May 2001.)

Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 2d

Trump: "Please remember I wrote Osama bin Laden exactly one year ago, one year before he blew up the World Trade Center. And I said, 'You gotta watch Osama bin Laden!' ... I gotta take a little credit."

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Reposted by Fred Vultee

Kai Ryssdal @kairyssdal.bsky.social · 2d

Where are the commanding officers of those sailors in the background. How are they letting this happen?

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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