Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Kirti Datla @kirtidatla.bsky.social · 3d

A good place to use one’s legal talents in this time.

Alex Hemmer @ahemmer.bsky.social · 7d

Our office is again hiring one or more attorneys for a one-year fellowship to work directly with the Illinois Solicitor General and her team, beginning in August/September 2026.

www.governmentjobs.com/careers/ilag...

Job Opportunities | Office of the Illinois Attorney General

www.governmentjobs.com

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Kirti Datla @kirtidatla.bsky.social · 7d

It is in fact possible to report the truth.

A banner headline on The Guardian’s website reads: Vance uses false claims to pin shutdown on Democrats as White House warns of layoffs.

Kirti Datla @kirtidatla.bsky.social · 7d

They could use the time they're not spending passing a budget that reinstitutes the constitutional order to codify Bivens.

Aaron Reichlin-Melnick @reichlinmelnick.bsky.social · 8d

WOW. Remember this May video of a US citizen wrestled to the ground by ICE agents and detained for an hour despite having a valid REAL ID?

It gets worse. Two weeks later, ICE did it AGAIN — handcuffed him and detained him for 20 minutes despite his REAL ID. Now the Institute for Justice is suing.

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Kirti Datla @kirtidatla.bsky.social · 15d

This is a perfect explanation of why the issue of independent agencies matters: Because it’s about something much bigger—how we understand and implement democratic legitimacy, the idea that we the American people control our government.

jamelle @jamellebouie.net · 15d

to me, the “column” is less a form than an opportunity (and a challenge). you’re telling me i have as much space as i’d like to make an argument about anything i’d like to an audience inclined to pay close attention? well let’s see if they’ll read 2000 words on democratic legitimacy. (gift link)

Opinion | This Is About So Much More Than Lisa Cook

www.nytimes.com

Reposted by Kirti Datla

Don Moynihan @donmoyn.bsky.social · Aug 28

It is not just that these employees are risking being put on leave or even fired for standing up for science (see EPA/FEMA officials), they are standing in front of a workplace that was the subject of a terrorist attack a couple of weeks ago, by a man who believes what their boss believes.

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Kirti Datla @kirtidatla.bsky.social · Aug 23

A last lifeline in ‘detention alley’

Most of immigration lawyer Christopher Kinnison’s clients in rural Louisiana are detainees. Every week, more calls come in, and Kinnison hasn’t been able to process what his days at work are becoming.

wapo.st

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Kirti Datla @kirtidatla.bsky.social · Jul 27

The winners of the first two Tour de France Femmes stages are 38 and 41. 🙌🏽

Domestique @domestiquecycling.com · Jul 27

🇪🇸 Mavi García after winning stage 2 of 🇫🇷 #TDFF2025

'I still can’t believe it. I’ve been doing this for a long time, and I started to think that it was time to consider retiring because I wasn’t enjoying myself, but this gives me a huge boost of energy.'

Full reaction ⤵️

📸 Cor Vos

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Reposted by Kirti Datla

Domestique @domestiquecycling.com · Jul 26

MARIANNE VOS WINS STAGE 1 OF 🇫🇷 #TDFF2025
Wow what an ending! Pauline Ferrand-Prévot had looked like taking the win but tires in the last metres leading to Marianne Vos taking her 250th win of her career, and the yellow jersey!

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Kirti Datla @kirtidatla.bsky.social · Jul 12

I was so in awe of the people I worked for when I interned at State. It’s what made me want to be a lawyer, made me know I wanted to do environmental work, made me determined to be a public servant. It felt so special to walk into that beautiful building every day. This is just so sad.

Alex Raufoglu @ralexdc.bsky.social · Jul 12

Moving scene - tears, hugs, and cheers - inside the State Dept HQ last night, as diplomats gathered in the lobby to clap out their laid off colleagues, some of which have served for decades 👇🏻

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Reposted by Kirti Datla

Desiree LeClercq @desireelc.bsky.social · Jul 1

❗HIRING ❗ Join me at UGA School of Law! We're hiring 4-5 tenure-track or tenured positions. Priorities include torts, Ks, bankruptcy, environmental law, property, *international law* & secured transactions.

Send letters of interest & cv/resume @ [email protected]. Feel free to reach out w/ ??s.

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Kirti Datla @kirtidatla.bsky.social · Jun 24

* cries in just returned from Denver three days ago *

Kimya Kavehkar @kimyanattalie.bsky.social · Jun 24

Texans love to escape to Colorado during summer. @tacotrail.bsky.social makes that sojourn a bit easier with his top taco recs in the Denver area. www.texasmonthly.com/food/best-ta...

Texans Traveling to Colorado This Summer: These Are the Tacos You Need to Try

Our taco editor has done the legwork to find the best tacos in the Denver area as hordes of Texans prepare to trek through.

www.texasmonthly.com

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Kirti Datla @kirtidatla.bsky.social · Jun 24

Do I remember?!

Jeremy Jordan - "It's All Coming Back To Me Now" (Broadway Loves Celine Dion)

YouTube video by Famous In NY Video

www.youtube.com

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Reposted by Kirti Datla

Sean Michael Newhouse @seanthenewsboy.bsky.social · Jun 23

A good govt. nonprofit has an annual awards for federal employees that it still managed to put on despite everything

I interviewed an honoree who helped get low-income people w/ HIV on lifesaving medicine + a NASA employee who might've discovered evidence for aliens

www.govexec.com/workforce/20...

From HIV clinics to outer space: Awards program spotlights federal employees in the face of civil service headwinds

The Partnership for Public Service has put on the Service to America medals for more than two decades to recognize exceptional civil servants, but the event took on more resonance this year amid feder...

www.govexec.com

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Reposted by Kirti Datla

Matthew Segal @segalmr.bsky.social · Jun 12

If we had a functioning Congress it would be enacting a law providing a §1983-style remedy for anyone whose rights are violated by someone acting under color of federal law.

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Kirti Datla @kirtidatla.bsky.social · May 30

I Egg You isn’t technically a bakery but the baked goods are great, along with everything else.

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Reposted by Kirti Datla

Leah Litman @leahlitman.bsky.social · May 15

DC FOLKS - reminder that TOMORROW I'll be at Politics & Prose @politicsprose.bsky.social (Connecticut Ave.) at 7 PM.

Rep. Jamie Raskin is moderating a conversation about .... LAWLESS!

Event: politics-prose.com/leah-litman?...

Preorder a SIGNED copy of LAWLESS! politics-prose.com/preorderlawl...

Rep. Jamie Raskin - 5/16 @ 7 PM P&P Conn Ave LEAH LITMAN LAWLESS

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Kirti Datla @kirtidatla.bsky.social · May 9

I like it when you and @jdmortenson.bsky.social have bad sweets-related takes. Really humanizes y’all.

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Kirti Datla @kirtidatla.bsky.social · May 6

Someone gave me a hug for alerting them to good BBQ, and it's probably the most accomplished I've felt all year.

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Reposted by Kirti Datla

Kirti Datla @kirtidatla.bsky.social · May 2

I try not to say nice things about @samsankar.bsky.social because it goes to his head, but it is, in fact, a treat working for him. We're hiring an Executive Assistant to work with him and two other equally lovely folks here. Salary range for DC: $91,700 - $101,900. Apply by May 12th.

Executive Assistant

Earthjustice is hiring a EA to support in Washington, DC.

earthjustice.org

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Kirti Datla @kirtidatla.bsky.social · May 2

I try not to say nice things about @samsankar.bsky.social because it goes to his head, but it is, in fact, a treat working for him. We're hiring an Executive Assistant to work with him and two other equally lovely folks here. Salary range for DC: $91,700 - $101,900. Apply by May 12th.

Executive Assistant

Earthjustice is hiring a EA to support in Washington, DC.

earthjustice.org

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Kirti Datla @kirtidatla.bsky.social · May 2

And it goes on, and on.

Don Moynihan @donmoyn.bsky.social · May 1

Please read/share if you love your national parks!
New from @pamherd.bsky.social & me: A DOGEr is now running the National Park Service.

They were already short of employees to manage record crowds. DOGE has cut 13% and wants to cut 30%.
donmoynihan.substack.com/p/trump-vs-a...

Trump vs. America's National Parks

What a sprained ankle reveals about how badly stretched park workers are

donmoynihan.substack.com

Kirti Datla @kirtidatla.bsky.social · May 1

I bet @debbieshrager.bsky.social makes three!

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Reposted by Kirti Datla

Aaron Reichlin-Melnick @reichlinmelnick.bsky.social · Apr 26

I have to end this thread with a major shoutout to @sshebaya.bsky.social and @nipnlg.bsky.social, who litigated this case since the family was first arrested in Washington DC.

The family have been put through the ringer and NIPNLG deserves support for the incredibly victory they just won for them.

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Kirti Datla @kirtidatla.bsky.social · Apr 24

This was a great read!

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Kirti Datla @kirtidatla.bsky.social · Apr 22

Balzac’s Bureaucracy too on the nose?

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