Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Robert @no1musclecar.bsky.social · 13m

Welcome to Scamalot

Judd Legum @juddlegum.bsky.social · 19h

1. On Monday, Trump delivered a $70 million windfall to his billionaire buddy, John Paulson.

Paulson hosted the biggest fundraiser of Trump's 2024 campaign, raising over $50 million.

This week, Trump returned the favor.

Follow along for details.

Trump approves mining road, delivers $70 million windfall to MAGA billionaire

On April 6, 2024, a procession of Range Rovers, Aston Martins, and Bentleys rolled up to the Palm Beach mansion of billionaire John Paulson. The occasion was a glitzy fundraiser for Donald Trump’s…

popular.info

Robert @no1musclecar.bsky.social · 14m

Follow the corruption money

Robert Reich @rbreich.bsky.social · 17h

The Justice Department had 36 attorneys assigned full-time to investigate corrupt politicians when Trump took office in January.

Today it has two.

See how this works?

Judd Legum @juddlegum.bsky.social · 19h

1. On Monday, Trump delivered a $70 million windfall to his billionaire buddy, John Paulson.

Paulson hosted the biggest fundraiser of Trump's 2024 campaign, raising over $50 million.

This week, Trump returned the favor.

Follow along for details.

Robert @no1musclecar.bsky.social · 34m

The presidential prostitute of principles

The Atlantic @theatlantic.com · 16h

After a nearly five-hour congressional oversight hearing, Attorney General Pam Bondi appeared as the “president’s loyalist rather than as a constitutional officer with the appropriate respect for a coordinate branch of government,” Quinta Jurecic argues:

Pam Bondi, Loyal Servant

At a congressional oversight hearing yesterday, the attorney general followed her north star: pleasing the president.

bit.ly

Robert @no1musclecar.bsky.social · 36m

DOJ's biggest liar still has the Epstein files sitting on her desk. Every accusation of hers is a confession. The entire world questions her integrity.

Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 1d

Bondi to Blumenthal: "You lied. How dare you? I'm a career prosecutor. Don't you ever challenge my integrity. Do not question my ability to be fair and impartial."

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raventerp1.bsky.social @raventerp1.bsky.social · 21h

When they show you who they are, believe them.

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Robert @no1musclecar.bsky.social · 57m

Nero fiddles on

David Dayen @ddayen.bsky.social · 20h

So this is funny.
The administration just issued a rule slashing foreign agricultural worker wages. And to justify it, in a public filing, Trump's Labor Department alleges that Trump's immigration enforcement has devastated the Ag workforce and caused a "risk of supply shock-induced food shortages."

Trump Labor Department Says His Immigration Raids Are Causing a Food Crisis

In a filing in the Federal Register, the Labor Department argues there are “immediate dangers to the American food supply” due to a lack of migrant agricultural workers.

prospect.org

Robert @no1musclecar.bsky.social · 58m

They opened Pandora's box, then and only then do they ask the important questions.

Kyle Cheney @kyledcheney.bsky.social · 18h

JUST IN: A federal judge has granted the New York Times’ demand for a list of Elon Musk’s security clearances. storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...

Reposted by Robert

Social Media Lab @socialmedialab.ca · 16h

"European Union politicians should not lose their nerve amid U.S. attacks on the EU’s digital rulebooks, Commission Executive Vice President Henna Virkkunen told POLITICO in an interview Wednesday." www.politico.eu/article/eu-t...

EU tech chief urges ‘stay calm’ in face of US pressure on digital rules

Henna Virkkunen cites “different personal styles” amid criticism of her leadership on the digital rulebook.

www.politico.eu

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Mags @tootsiesays0001.bsky.social · 11h

Trump team drafts plans to prepare for invoking Insurrection Act: report

www.rawstory.com/donald-trump...

Trump team drafts plans to prepare for invoking Insurrection Act: report

Insiders say that the Trump administration has kicked off key drafts to prepare for invoking the Insurrection Act. In an NBC News report on Wednesday, five people — including a senior administration o...

www.rawstory.com

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The Bulwark @thebulwark.com · 16h

Pritzker: “This is a convicted felon…who is threatening to jail me. This guy is unhinged. He's insecure. He's a wannabe dictator. And there's one thing I really want to say to Donald Trump: If you come for my people, you come through me. So come and get me.”

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Social Media Lab @socialmedialab.ca · 16h

"European businesses barely use AI. Brussels wants to fix that." www.politico.eu/article/euro...

European businesses barely use AI. Brussels wants to fix that.

Commission to warn Europe’s slow embrace of artificial intelligence risks squandering economic growth.

www.politico.eu

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Popehat Agitates And Irritates @kenwhite.bsky.social · 16h

Dude, just use a blocking app

Lizard @lizardky.bsky.social · 22h

Right up there with "anti-gun politician jailed for gun-running" we have:
www.metrotimes.com/news/michiga...

Michigan Republican pushing pornography ban linked to porn site, records show - Detroit Metro Times

A Republican state lawmaker leading a campaign to ban pornography in Michigan appears to have had an account on a pornographic hook-up website that promised users they could “find sex” and “get laid t...

www.metrotimes.com

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Lizard @lizardky.bsky.social · 22h

Right up there with "anti-gun politician jailed for gun-running" we have:
www.metrotimes.com/news/michiga...

Michigan Republican pushing pornography ban linked to porn site, records show - Detroit Metro Times

A Republican state lawmaker leading a campaign to ban pornography in Michigan appears to have had an account on a pornographic hook-up website that promised users they could “find sex” and “get laid t...

www.metrotimes.com

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Robert @no1musclecar.bsky.social · 9h

David Bier @davidjbier.bsky.social · 18h

DEI for me, not for thee.

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awkword @awkword.bsky.social · 17h

40% of cops *admit* to abusing their partners

And it’s legal for cops to rape you in custody in 7 out of 10 states.

This isn’t a coincidence.

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awkword @awkword.bsky.social · 18h

There are 250,000+ untested rape kits, nationwide. This isn’t a coincidence.

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Robert @no1musclecar.bsky.social · 9h

This is exactly what happens in a police state. There's no difference between this administration and Orwell's "1984".

awkword @awkword.bsky.social · 19h

Cops used 83,000 cameras to track a single abortion patient — on her abuser’s tip.

Cops Used 83K Cameras to Track an Abortion Patient—on Her Abuser’s Tip

Turns out the cop was also an abuser

jessica.substack.com

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Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 16h

Pritzker: "He said he was going after the worst of the worst. It's not going after the worst of the worst when you're just literally stopping children who happen to be brown & asking them for papers as if they're gonna have proof they're a citizen. Pull out your phones and film everything you see"

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Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 16h

Pritzker: "He wants to militarize major cities because he wants us to get used to the idea of troops on the streets. I believe he's gonna post people outside of polling places and if he needs to in order to control those elections, he'll assume control of the ballot boxes & count the votes himself"

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The Daily Beast @thedailybeast.bsky.social · 16h

Trump supporters are outraged they did not get to see Comey in handcuffs.

MAGA Melts Down Over ‘Rat’ Comey Getting Special Treatment

Trump supporters are outraged they did not get to see Comey in handcuffs.

trib.al

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Anna Bower @annabower.bsky.social · 18h

bsky.app/profile/anna...

Anna Bower @annabower.bsky.social · 19h

A second set of pre-trial motions is due by Oct. 30.

Comey’s defense counsel, Patrick Fitzgerald, said he expects that batch to include a motion regarding abuse of grand jury process and an “outrageous government conduct” motion.

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Anna Bower @annabower.bsky.social · 18h

bsky.app/profile/anna...

Anna Bower @annabower.bsky.social · 19h

The judge also set an initial schedule for pre-trial motions.

The first set is expected by Oct. 12. Per Comey’s defense counsel, that batch will include motions to dismiss for selective and vindictive prosecution, as well as a motion challenging the legality of Halligan’s appointment as US attorney

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Anna Bower @annabower.bsky.social · 16h

bsky.app/profile/anna...

Anna Bower @annabower.bsky.social · 17h

The judge, for his part, warned the government that the case shouldn't get off track because of classified information issues.

Either the information will be declassified or we'll go through the "fastest CIPA process you've ever seen in your life," he said.

bsky.app/profile/anna...

Anna Bower @annabower.bsky.social · 17h

The government's lack of a plan prompted Comey's counsel, Fitzgerald, to say that the prosecution "put the cart before the horse."

Usually, you figure out classified information issues in consultation w/ DOJ's national security division *before* bringing a case, he said.

bsky.app/profile/anna...

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Anna Bower @annabower.bsky.social · 22h

Good morning from the line outside the courthouse in the Eastern District of Virginia, where former FBI director James Comey is set to be arraigned on federal charges.

I’m here for @lawfaremedia.org.

Follow along for updates ⬇️

Federal courthouse in EDVA, with line of people out front and a guy holding a “show trial” sign

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Robert @no1musclecar.bsky.social · 15h

Egomaniac sociopaths, all of them

PatriotTakes 🇺🇸 @patriottakes.bsky.social · 16h

Trump promotes putting himself on a new $250 bill