Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Michael Westgaard @meatopinion.bsky.social · 9d

You don't have to take corporate money. You just have to have a dope political project supported by your membership! #AllPowertothePeople

DSA National Electoral Commission @dsaelectoral.bsky.social · 9d

Last night we held our biggest Socialist Cash Takes Out Capitalist phonebank to date!🌹

Alongside Rashida Tlaib and our nationally endorsed slate of DSA candidates, we turned out 70+ members and raised $5,000 and counting! 💸

Group screenshot of phonebankers from Sunday's Socialist Cash Takes Out Capitalist Trash Phonebank including the following DSA candidates/electeds: Willie Burnley Jr, Rashida Tlaib, Joel Brooks, Jake Ephros, Robin Wonsley Jr, and Michael Wilson.

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Michael Westgaard @meatopinion.bsky.social · 9d

Because they don't care. They keep telling you they don't care and you keeping waiting for them to care.

Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 9d

Jeffries: "It appears, at least to me, that a decision has been made by House Republican leaders, perhaps blessed by the administration, to shut the govt down. Why did they they cancel votes? Why are they on vacation spread out across the country & world when we're on the brink of a govt shutdown?"

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Michael Westgaard @meatopinion.bsky.social · 9d

Why?

Ken Klippenstein @kenklippenstein.bsky.social · 9d

HAKEEM JEFFRIES: "We hope and expect that Republicans will do the right thing"

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Michael Westgaard @meatopinion.bsky.social · 18d

We have allowed corporations to create economies of self dealing and hype because those same corporations are secure in the belief that they will be bailed out when it crashes.

anthony restaino @anthonycr.bsky.social · 19d

the rats nest that is the flow of money in AI compute is so unbelievably complicated and circular that i had to make a diagram

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Michael Westgaard @meatopinion.bsky.social · 19d

@mikeforrenton.bsky.social

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Michael Westgaard @meatopinion.bsky.social · Sep 4

Some of the worst crimes in recorded history.

Hend Amry @libyaliberty.bsky.social · Sep 4

Hind Rajab.

PRCS Medic: "Hind, why aren't you speaking?"
Hind: "I'm not talking because every time I talk, blood comes out of my mouth and makes my clothes dirty and I dont want my mom to have to clean it."

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Reposted by Michael Westgaard

Dr. AJ is using her earned title, deal with it @resistsaj.bsky.social · Sep 2

WA peeps, please share!

14-year-old Dawnah Dominic was last seen on 8/26/25, leaving 172nd Court E. on the Muckleshoot Indian reservation in Auburn Washington. Donna is described as 5‘5“, 160 pounds with brown eyes and brown hair. If you have any information regarding her whereabouts, please contact law-enforcement immediately or dial 911.

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Michael Westgaard @meatopinion.bsky.social · Aug 31

A better world is possible

Prof. Stefan Rahmstorf @rahmstorf.bsky.social · Aug 30

Wow. Check this out.
Politicians actually trying to solve problems can achieve a lot!
www.washingtonpost.com/climate-solu...

Paris said au revoir to cars. Air pollution maps reveal a dramatic change.

Air pollution fell substantially as the city restricted car traffic and made way for parks and bike lanes.

www.washingtonpost.com

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Michael Westgaard @meatopinion.bsky.social · Aug 22

🚨 ICE has detained Zahid Chaudhry—father, US veteran, and husband of former congressional candidate Melissa Chaudhry. I demand his release, and freedom for all targeted in Trump’s fascist crackdown. None of us are safe until we’re all safe. #FreeZahid

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Michael Westgaard @meatopinion.bsky.social · Aug 18

How much pain is capital willing to take to undermine labor gains during covid before they turn on Trump?

t0ussaint @t0ussaint.bsky.social · Aug 18

S&P500 probably trades on ukraine news monday, watch oil.
j powell wont say anything at the jacksonhole conf that will upset the markets, he will be coy enough for both sides of interest rate debate to hear what they want to hear. so the rest of the week, earnings control*

*unless trump #econsky

Michael Westgaard @meatopinion.bsky.social · Aug 17

The largest purveyor of violence in the history of the world.

t0ussaint @t0ussaint.bsky.social · Aug 17

"Julian Assange and WikiLeaks have been hard at work and have just released 531,525 new cables from 1979, which trace the origins of ISIS and illustrate how the CIA and US foreign policies helped in forging their creation."
bsky.app/profile/t0us...

t0ussaint @t0ussaint.bsky.social · Nov 30

REMINDER: THE CIA CREATED #ISIS

This isnt conjecture but facts from US cia docs leaked to wikileaks.
Please remember this when US enemies are discussed & new articles are written abt why we must spend money fighting them AGAIN even tho 3 potus declared them 'defeated'
www.yahoo.com/news/julian-...

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Michael Westgaard @meatopinion.bsky.social · Aug 17

Tired of politics that stink🚽 ? Mike Westgaard is running to bring Sewer Socialism back to the Renton City Council — centering an affordable city and working class power. Let’s build a Renton for all - Vote by August 5th!
👉 Learn more: MikeforRenton.com #HousingForAll #SewerSocialism #VoteByAugust5

Michael Westgaard for Renton City Council – Housing. Transportation. Public Safety.

MikeforRenton.com

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Michael Westgaard @meatopinion.bsky.social · Aug 17

Tired of politics that stink🚽 ? Mike Westgaard is running to bring Sewer Socialism back to the Renton City Council — centering an affordable city and working class power. Let’s build a Renton for all - Vote by August 5th!
👉 Learn more: MikeforRenton.com #HousingForAll #SewerSocialism #VoteByAugust5

Michael Westgaard @meatopinion.bsky.social · Aug 3

This undermines faith in politics. The national party needs a complete overhaul. The consultants have taken over and they have failed at everything but enriching themselves and their network.

Adam Bonica @adambonica.bsky.social · Aug 3

The annoying spam texts destroying the Democratic brand:

$678M raised through those spam tactics

$282M to one consulting firm: Mothership Strategies.

$11M to actual campaigns (1.6%)

The party isn’t just treating donors like marks—it’s being fleeced itself yet continues to back Mothership.

The Mothership Vortex: An Investigation Into the Firm at the Heart of the Democratic Spam Machine

How a single consulting firm extracted $282 million from a network of spam PACs while delivering just $11 million to actual campaigns.

open.substack.com

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Reposted by Michael Westgaard

Ryan Packer @typewriteralley.bsky.social · Aug 3

It's the last weekend day to vote in the August primary! Turnout is currently below 15% in King County!

If you're still looking for help when filling out your ballot, @theurbanist.org has some regional recommendations based on hours of candidate interviews:
www.theurbanist.org/2025/07/16/2...

2025 Primary Election Endorsements » The Urbanist

# The Urbanist Elections Committee is excited to announce our 2025 primary election endorsements, which span the region from Tacoma to Everett. Be sure to vote by August 5.

www.theurbanist.org

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Reposted by Michael Westgaard

Mike for Renton @mikeforrenton.bsky.social · Aug 2

Today and knocked on over 600 doors! We have one more canvass planned before the primary on Monday at Earlington Park at 5PM, RSVP HERE 👉 actionnetwork.org/events/mike-...
And come to our Election Night Party on Tuesday at Brewmaster's Taproom at 7PM! RSVP HERE 👉 actionnetwork.org/events/mike-...

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Michael Westgaard @meatopinion.bsky.social · Jul 31

Please come see the results come in with us! @riveraforrenton.bsky.social @seiu925.bsky.social @mlklabor.bsky.social @seattledsa.bsky.social @kcdems.bsky.social

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Michael Westgaard @meatopinion.bsky.social · Jul 17

@seattledsa.bsky.social @mlklabor.bsky.social @seiu925.bsky.social @kcdems.bsky.social @dsaelectoral.bsky.social @37dems.bsky.social

Mike for Renton @mikeforrenton.bsky.social · Jul 17

Tired of politics that stink🚽 ? Mike Westgaard is running to bring Sewer Socialism back to the Renton City Council — centering an affordable city and working class power. Let’s build a Renton for all - Vote by August 5th!
👉 Learn more: MikeforRenton.com #HousingForAll #SewerSocialism #VoteByAugust5

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Reposted by Michael Westgaard

Crystal Fincher @finchfrii.bsky.social · Jul 3

Please make these calls if you’re in one of the states listed below.

A couple members have reportedly flipped, and it’s worth continuing the pressure given what’s at stake.

Emily L. Hauser (she/her) ❌👑 @emilylhauser.bsky.social · Jul 3

🧵(wishing I'd put these in a thread, so doing so now)

*ARIZONA
*CALIFORNIA
*COLORADO
*NEBRASKA
*NEW JERSEY
*NEW YORK
*PENNSYLVANIA
*SOUTH CAROLINA
*TEXAS
*VIRGINIA

If you see your member of Congress in this thread, please call! Each post has contact information.

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Reposted by Michael Westgaard

Emily L. Hauser (she/her) ❌👑 @emilylhauser.bsky.social · Jul 3

🧵(wishing I'd put these in a thread, so doing so now)

*ARIZONA
*CALIFORNIA
*COLORADO
*NEBRASKA
*NEW JERSEY
*NEW YORK
*PENNSYLVANIA
*SOUTH CAROLINA
*TEXAS
*VIRGINIA

If you see your member of Congress in this thread, please call! Each post has contact information.

Emily L. Hauser (she/her) ❌👑 @emilylhauser.bsky.social · Jul 3

NEBRASKA
TEXAS
NEW YORK
CALIFORNIA

If you see your member of Congress below, pls call!

Capitol Hill switchboard: 202-224-3121
or
find your Rep's DC office number: house.gov
or
google their name & call an in-state office
or
send a fax (for free!) via your computer: faxzero.com/fax_congress...

50501: The People’s Movement ❌👑 @50501movement.bsky.social · Jul 3

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Reposted by Michael Westgaard

Tech 4 Housing @tech4housing.org · Jun 30

Affordable housing, public safety and 2,000 shelter beds. Just kidding! 🤡

Seattle, don’t forget to Vote Katie Wilson this August and November 🗳️🗳️🗳️

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Michael Westgaard @meatopinion.bsky.social · Jun 30

Just to be clear I'm antifascist

Mjkwho @mjkwho.bsky.social · Jun 30

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Reposted by Michael Westgaard

karen ward @kwardvancouver.bsky.social · Jun 29

we choose to pay more to punish people for being poor.

Brent Toderian @brenttoderian.bsky.social · Jun 28

“In Finland, the number of homeless people has fallen sharply. Those affected receive a small apartment & counselling with no preconditions. 4 out of 5 people affected make their way back into a stable life. And all this is CHEAPER than accepting homelessness.”

It costs a lot less to house people.

Finland ends homelessness and provides shelter for all in need - scoop.me

In Finland, the number of homeless people has fallen sharply. Why? The country applies the "Housing First" concept agains homelessness.

thebetter.news

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Reposted by Michael Westgaard

Jarrett Walker @humantransit.bsky.social · Jun 26

In transit fiscal crises, cutting service should be the last resort.

www.metro-magazine.com/10242863/why...

Why Bus Service Cuts Should Be the Last Resort for Transit Agencies

A closer look at ridership trends, demographic shifts, and the broader impacts of service reductions reveals why maintaining, and even improving, bus service levels should be a top priority in 2025.

www.metro-magazine.com

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Michael Westgaard @meatopinion.bsky.social · Jun 25

Crash is on the clock.

Molly White @molly.wiki · Jun 25

Federal Housing Finance Agency Director William Pulte: “[I]n keeping with President Trump’s vision to make the United States the crypto capital of the world, today I ordered the Great Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to prepare their businesses to count cryptocurrency as an asset for a mortgage”.