Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Alex Rikleen @rikleen.bsky.social · 1h

RFK believes in a deranged eugenics-esque kind of "survival of the fittest", where any interventions to keep people alive are harming America & humanity because it's saving people he thinks should be left to die.

He'd be a poorly-written cartoon villain, but the GOP put him in charge of HHS.

Sheryl Gay Stolberg @sherylnyt.bsky.social · 13h

BREAKING: Friday night massacre underway at CDC. Doznes of "disease detectives," high-level scientists, entire Washington staff and editors of the MMWR (Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report) have all been RIFed and received the following notice:

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Aaron Reichlin-Melnick @reichlinmelnick.bsky.social · 14h

Can you think of a single movie in which there is a video from the government denouncing its political opponents playing on a loop in public spaces in which that government was the good guy?

Ron Filipkowski @ronfilipkowski.bsky.social · 15h

A new Noem video is being played at airports trashing Democrats.

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Alex Rikleen @rikleen.bsky.social · 14h

Breaking: Senate Democrats announce that an ICE facility in Chicago has violated the law.

No information yet on whether these Senators are going to do something about that, or just tweet through it.

Senate Judiciary Democrats 🇺🇸 @judiciarydems.senate.gov · 18h

BREAKING: Sens. DURBIN, DUCKWORTH were just denied entrance to the Broadview ICE Facility in Illinois, unable to conduct constitutional role of oversight.

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Alex Rikleen @rikleen.bsky.social · 14h

We're here. It's too late to change course. I hope Democrats keep holding the line, and I'm glad they have so far.

But when the GOP is promising these lawless impoundments and recisions, most long term outcomes here seem bad.

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Alex Rikleen @rikleen.bsky.social · 14h

It's whiplash to go from "Trump's a dictator who won't follow the law" to "let's debate healthcare nuance".

And even if we succeed in negotiations, those gains are at risk from Trump's lawlessness.

This battle doesn't fit *this* moment.

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Alex Rikleen @rikleen.bsky.social · 14h

This is why the health care fight was the wrong battle to pick.

As I've said before, I am very glad Democrats picked a topic and are holding the line on it. Healthcare matters! Showing you can stand up for something matters!

But success here depends on Trump following the law after negotiations.

Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 23h

Q: Rescission are something Dems have said is a reason for a lack of trust. What rescissions are you discussing?

JOHNSON: We have more than $37t in debt. We're doing everything we can to get us back to sound fiscal responsibility. What does that include? A rescission package is part of our process

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Alex Rikleen @rikleen.bsky.social · 1d

Take a break from doom scrolling this Friday afternoon to read something delightful and trivial

The Tell-Tale Brian Phillips @brianphillips.bsky.social · 1d

Here you can read the beginning for free

“Jimmy Fallon wants to turn Wordle into a TV show.” Sometimes you encounter a sentence so perfect, so obviously right and true, it makes your bone marrow vibrate. Jimmy Fallon … wants to turn Wordle … into a TV show. Just reading the words is like tuning in to the resonant frequency of the universe. Yes. Yes, he does. I think I was born knowing it. I think plants know it. In 1730, peasants in Holland were troubled by a strange, unspeakable thought that flickered at the edges of their consciousness. This was their knowledge that all times are as one, and Jimmy Fallon wants to turn Wordle into a TV show.

Princess Leia looks up. Her eyes are sad but full of dignity. Around her, the nighttime chirps and trills of the forest moon of Endor echo through the Ewok village. “I know,” she says to Luke Skywalker. “Somehow, I’ve always known.” Luke has just told her that Jimmy Fallon wants to turn Wordle into a TV show.

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Alex Rikleen @rikleen.bsky.social · 1d

I am optimistic, for the first time in >2 years, that Israel and Gaza may be on the brink of peace.
Trump will deserve massive credit, if that is achieved.

He would still be undeserving of the Nobel. for many reasons, but, most simply:
He has literally declared war on his own population.

James Fallows @jfallows.bsky.social · 1d

Any news organization that treated "Will Trump Get Nobel?" as a remotely serious question, and not one more indication of his accelerating hallucinatory patterns, has some 'splaining to do.

Looking at you, all major news orgs.

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Alex Rikleen @rikleen.bsky.social · 1d

We need more educators in Congress.

Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 1d

Rep. Buddy Carter: "Donald Trump deserves the Nobel Peace Prize. That's why I'm introducing a resolution today that will honor him with the Nobel Peace Prize."

(It doesn't work like that lol)

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Micah @rincewind.run · 1d

it's very bad that donald trump is forcing the DOJ to prosecute his political enemies

but it's good that he's chosen to start with incredibly weak cases against two people who have extensive resources and no intention of folding to him

New York Attorney General Letitia James @newyorkstateag.bsky.social · 1d

This is nothing more than a continuation of the president’s desperate weaponization of our justice system.

I am not fearful — I am fearless.

We will fight these baseless charges aggressively, and my office will continue to fiercely protect New Yorkers and their rights..

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Costa Samaras @costasamaras.com · 1d

The Administration

- raised taxes on clean energy with one big beautiful bill

- is stopping or making clean energy projects harder to be built

- is raising prices on materials with tariffs

- all while AI is spiking electricity demand

They are stopping supply while demand goes up

It’s a crisis

jael holzman @jael.bsky.social · 1d

SCOOP: The Bureau of Land Management says the largest solar project in Nevada — the Esmeralda 7 mega-farm — has been canceled

The news was quietly dropped via a sudden website update with no public word from any of the companies involved or a statement from the agency

@heatmap.news

Esmeralda 7 Solar Project Has Been Canceled, BLM Says

It would have delivered a gargantuan 6.2 gigawatts of power.

heatmap.news

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Alex Rikleen @rikleen.bsky.social · 1d

Growing up, the MetroWest Daily News got delivered to my house.

In high school, it recognized me for my civic engagement.

Now, today, it's covering my campaign!
www.tauntongazette.com/story/news/p...

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Jonathan Cohn @jonathancohn.bsky.social · 1d

“The Nobel Committee is an independent body and the Norwegian government has no involvement in determining the prizes. But I’m not sure Trump knows that. We have to be prepared for anything from him.”

That they have to say this...

www.theguardian.com/world/2025/o...

Norway braces for Trump’s reaction if he does not win Nobel peace prize

US president may impose tariffs, demand higher Nato contributions or even declare Norway an enemy, analyst says

www.theguardian.com

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Alex Rikleen @rikleen.bsky.social · 1d

Unashamed bigotry from the Vice President, loud and proud and on camera and in front of the President and the cabinet.

And we should be clear: this hate is aimed at both Jews and Palestinians.

Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 1d

JD Vance describes Chuck Schumer as "one of the most famous Palestinians in the world"

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Alex Rikleen @rikleen.bsky.social · 2d

The horrible symbolism of this man being named Miranda is so on nose.

These Kavanaugh Stops have the approval of the Supreme Court, but they are antithetical to what this country is supposed to stand for.

Joe Sudbay @joesudbay.bsky.social · 2d

“I haven’t done anything,” Miranda said to the officers in the video.

“Turn around or you’re going to get the dog,” an officer said. “We’re going to put you in cuffs, or you’re going to get the dog.”

Renee (paix120) @paix120.bsky.social · 2d

Masked ICE agents threatened an American citizen, put him into an unmarked van, held him for several hours, and dropped him back off at his workplace, without ever explaining why they abducted him

VIDEO: ICE detains, threatens Oregon man despite U.S. citizenship
www.koin.com/news/portlan...

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Alex Rikleen @rikleen.bsky.social · 2d

Good job Kaine & Schiff forcing this vote.
Kudos to Murkowski for voting for it.
I disagree with Paul on oh-so-many things, but he deserves credit for being reliable on this kind of issue.

Fetterman & the rest of the GOP.... Trump will read this as approval for his lawless murders.

Jonathan Cohn @jonathancohn.bsky.social · 2d

Trump has been illegally bombing boats off the coast of Venezuela.

Tim Kaine and Adam Schiff forced a vote on reasserting Congress's role over war powers and ending this reckless
warmongering.

It failed 48-51.

Murkowski and Paul voted yes.

Fetterman voted no.

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Paul Waldman @paulwaldman.bsky.social · 3d

Imagine if health care was just something everyone had, and not a zero sum competition between "good" people and "bad" people

Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 3d

Mike Johnson: "If you're a young, pregnant American citizen women who shows up in an ER and you get treated and they pay the hospital less for treating you than some illegal rabble rouser who came in from some South American country to do us harm, that is wrong."

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Alex Rikleen @rikleen.bsky.social · 3d

This video is from about a month ago, not today, but the rest of the point here stands.
Absolutely out of control agency.

John Pfaff @johnpfaff.bsky.social · 3d

Um, ICE just coldly shot an unarmed PRIEST in the head w a pepper ball when he (and everyone around him) clearly posed no threat.

For the crime of … complaining about government policy.

Core 1A speech.

With cameras rolling, they’re sniping priests for sport.

Kurt @flglchicago.bsky.social · 3d

Here’s video of the incident

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Alex Rikleen @rikleen.bsky.social · 3d

"Investigation ongoing" but "no evidence" the fire was intentional.

Glad to see this may have been just an unfortunate coincidence.

bsky.app/profile/wtoc...

WTOC 11 @wtoc.com · 4d

UPDATE: The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) Chief Mark Keel has provided a statement regarding the investigation of the fire at Circuit Court Judge Diane Goodstein’s Colleton County home.

SLED Chief gives update on SC judge house fire investigation

SLED Chief Mark Keel has provided a statement regarding the investigation of the fire at Circuit Court Judge Diane Goodstein’s Colleton County home.

www.wtoc.com

Alex Rikleen @rikleen.bsky.social · 3d

Conversion "therapy" is cruel.
It harms those subjected to it.

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Alex Rikleen @rikleen.bsky.social · 4d

This story is now very low on or absent from the main page of our biggest news websites.

That is a profound condemnation of the state of American news institutions.

We still don't know for sure if this was arson, but this should be a major story.
bsky.app/profile/thet...

The Tennessee Holler @thetnholler.bsky.social · 5d

SOUTH CAROLINA… “Judge Goodstein was walking on the beach when the fire started. Her husband, Arnie, was in the house with children and perhaps grandchildren. The family had to escape by jumping from a window or balcony...” www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article...

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Alex Rikleen @rikleen.bsky.social · 5d

When framed this way, Klein's notion that 'Trump has massive support, so maybe we need to reconsider what is and is not acceptable/appropriate' is more obviously flawed, without even getting into the more important implications of changing our standards as he's proposing.

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Alex Rikleen @rikleen.bsky.social · 5d

Trump received more votes than Harris. He won the election. But the habit of framing everything as out-of-100 contorts reality.

1-in-3 eligible voters supported Trump.

And then he began enacting a platform that, per polling, only 1-in-20 supported - and that he lied and said he wouldn't act upon.

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Alex Rikleen @rikleen.bsky.social · 5d

The temptation to redraw the lines in this way comes (in part) from spending too much time in the 2-D world of polling.

They think: if nearly 50% of people voted for Trump, then clearly Trump is acceptable to most people.

But that's not what happened! 33% of eligible voters voted for Trump!

Thomas Zimmer @thomaszimmer.bsky.social · 5d

Something Ezra Klein hinted at in his conversation with TNC last week is still gnawing at me: That Liberals / Democrats may need to redraw the boundaries of what is acceptable so that Trump is no longer excluded. I think that is precisely the wrong answer to our current situation.

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A.R. Moxon @juliusgoat.bsky.social · 5d

In their own words the Republicans declared war against the United States and now they are waging it.

LOLGOP ❌👑❌ @thefarce.org · 5d

I guess we should have taken "The South will rise again" both literally and seriously.

Bradley P. Moss @bradmossesq.bsky.social · 5d

Texas proudly invading Illinois.

It’s hard to describe the level of potential constitutional crisis here.

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