Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Steve Kenson ❌👑 @stevekenson.com · 2h

But. Her. Emails.

Brad Heath @bradheath.bsky.social · 6h

WSJ: President Trump believed his Truth Social post demanding prosecutions of James Comey and other political foes was a private message to his attorney general, and "and was surprised to learn it was public."

www.wsj.com/politics/pol...

2 10

Reposted by Steve Kenson ❌👑

Boo-rendan Harkin @brendanjharkin.bsky.social · 8h

He said this deliberately because he is a Nazi and he wants you to know he's a Nazi who you can't touch. He also wants other Nazis to know they can be open about the fact they are Nazis too.

This isn't an oversight, a fumble or an opportunity for a "heh, well actually, dummy" zinger.

Matt Novak @paleofuture.bsky.social · 10h

"Antifa has been around in various iterations for almost 100 years in some instances, going back to the Weimar Republic in Germany."

- Jack Posobiec at Trump's roundtable on antifa

11 320 910

Steve Kenson ❌👑 @stevekenson.com · 8h

Worcester, Pelham, Windham, Leominster… the list goes on.

Merriam-Webster @merriam-webster.com · 10h

What’s the word where you’re from that, when pronounced exactly as it looks, identifies a tourist immediately?

1 9

Reposted by Steve Kenson ❌👑

Ward Q. Normal (he/him) @wardqnormal.bsky.social · 9h

I have taken
the freedom of speech
that was in
the Constitution

and which
you were probably
using
for peaceful protest

Forgive me
the courts said they were
so agitating
and so irritating

Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 10h

Trump: "We took the freedom of speech away because that's been through the courts and the courts said you have freedom of speech, but what has happened is when they burn a flag it agitates and irritates crowds."

14 210 750

Reposted by Steve Kenson ❌👑

Joshua Failé @joshuafaile.bsky.social · 9h

Just to be absolutely clear:

The President of the United States has absolutely no power to “take away” any right enumerated in the Constitution from any person.

And that is how every single article, blog post, and social media commentary should start when discussing this ludicrous statement.

Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 10h

Trump: "We took the freedom of speech away because that's been through the courts and the courts said you have freedom of speech, but what has happened is when they burn a flag it agitates and irritates crowds."

27 370 1.2K

Steve Kenson ❌👑 @stevekenson.com · 10h

This is such a complete fever-dream fabrication and yet no one calls him on it.

Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 10h

Trump: "I don't know what could be worse than Portland. You don't even have stores anymore. They don't even put glass up. They put plywood on their windows."

9 67

Reposted by Steve Kenson ❌👑

David Avallone @davallone.bsky.social · 15h

This is the solution to “prime day.” Nothing for Bezos. Support your local bookstores while buying online!

Buy Preeti’s books! And mine!

Preeti Chhibber @runwithskizzers.bsky.social · 15h

SO bookshop.org is doing free shipping and you should buy some of my books from bookshop.org <3

bookshop.org/beta-search?...

10 96 390

Steve Kenson ❌👑 @stevekenson.com · 13h

Write and call your reps to remind them to stand strong and that, yes, this is important to us all.

Eric Michael Garcia @ericmgarcia.bsky.social · 14h

Tina Smith says Democrats are digging in: “If anything, we’re feeling more strong.”

“I think we've tapped into something that's really important to Americans.”

1 10

Reposted by Steve Kenson ❌👑

Daniel Knowles @dlknowles.bsky.social · 13h

The demolition of USAID is still the most unforgivable thing the Trump administration has done. If the entire rest of the presidency were benign it would still damn it all

jamelle @jamellebouie.net · 15h

i desperately want everyone involved in the destruction of USAID to have to, st the very least, answer to the american people for the suffering and misery they have caused apnews.com/article/myan...

Starving children screaming for food as US aid cuts unleash devastation and death across Myanmar

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has repeatedly said “no one has died" because of his government’s decision to gut its foreign aid program.

apnews.com

11 52

Reposted by Steve Kenson ❌👑

Melissa Gira Grant @melissagiragrant.com · 16h

Reuters story headline reading:

Trump calls for jailing Democratic leaders as troops prepare for Chicago deployment

By Brendan O'Brien, Andy Sullivan and Susan
Heavey
October 8, 2025 9:41 AM EDT • Updated 36 mins ago

1 29 62

Steve Kenson ❌👑 @stevekenson.com · 17h

The first of many Kirkian miracles following his right-wing canonization. Praise! 🙄

3

Steve Kenson ❌👑 @stevekenson.com · 17h

Gotta say, if you’re in the Trump regime and mad about being called a fascist, you might wanna watch the code names like “Operation Midway Blitz.”

1 1 11

Reposted by Steve Kenson ❌👑

Alejandra Caraballo @esqueer.net · 1d

Fixed.

Screenshot of a New York Times webpage. The headline reads: “Supreme Court Live Updates: Justices Seem Set to Rule Against Colorado’s Ban on Conversion Therapy Torture.” The words “Conversion Therapy” are shown with red strikethroughs. A smaller subheading below explains: “Colorado and over 20 other states have banned the practice aimed at changing the sexual orientation or gender identity of young people.” The page header includes links like “Birthright Citizenship,” “L.A. Immigration Stops,” “Unsigned Orders in Trump’s Favor,” and “Florida Immigration.”

Would you like me to also provide a shorter, accessibility-friendly version of the alt text (like what a screen reader would ideally read aloud), or keep this more detailed one?

12 250 1.1K

Steve Kenson ❌👑 @stevekenson.com · 1d

Ironically, a lot of ‘em from the same states as the National Guard troops.

Reposted by Steve Kenson ❌👑

Melanie D’Arrigo @darrigomelanie.bsky.social · 1d

I feel like this photo of masked, armed men pepper spraying a pastor protecting his community is going to be a defining picture of this moment in America for a long, long time.

1.7K 21K 55K

Reposted by Steve Kenson ❌👑

Kurt @flglchicago.bsky.social · 1d

Here’s video of the incident

250 1.7K 3.9K

Reposted by Steve Kenson ❌👑

Jack Jenkins @jackjenkins.me · 1d

Gonna be thinking about this lede for a minute.

(RNS) — Last month, the Rev. David Black stood in front of a Chicago-area U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility and spread his arms wide. Adorned in all black and wearing a clerical collar, the pastor looked up at a group of masked, heavily armed ICE agents on the roof and began to pray.

“I invited them to repentance,” Black, a minister in the Presbyterian Church (USA), said in an interview. “I basically offered an altar call. I invited them to come and receive that salvation, and be part of the kingdom that is coming.”

But when Black began to lower his arms a few seconds later, the agents responded to his spiritual plea by firing pepper balls, or chemical agents that cause eye irritation and respiratory distress, video footage shows. One struck Black in the head, exploding into a puff of white pepper smoke and forcing him to his knees. Fellow demonstrators rushed to his aid, and as the pastor rubbed his face in pain, the agents continued to fire.

“We could hear them laughing,” Black said.

190 4.8K 10K

Reposted by Steve Kenson ❌👑

Lee O'Connor @leeoconnor.bsky.social · 1d

Crime-busting, super-powered luchador masked Mexican wrestlers from the ‘Abberant: With Great Power….’ tabletop RPG from @theonyxpath.bsky.social. ‘The Justicieros’ here hunt down the cartels, only in this particular kind of mask and tights…
The book’s available in print and digital now.

Artwork of masked wrestlers punching through a wall.

4 10

Steve Kenson ❌👑 @stevekenson.com · 1d

Migrant taco trucks parked underneath them.

2 1 20

Reposted by Steve Kenson ❌👑

Thomas Zimmer @thomaszimmer.bsky.social · 1d

So, uhm, what's the track record of countries where members of the governing regime start clamoring for a "cleansing" of the political opponent?

Always remember: No matter how much they escalate the rhetoric, it doesn't mean they'll be able to do it. But let's not pretend they aren't trying.

Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 1d

Schmitt: "Let's just call it out. We need a cleansing here. Let's just be truthful about what's happening. This left-wing political violence is not a both sides thing. It's not."

45 260 930

Reposted by Steve Kenson ❌👑

Tom Scocca @tomscocca.bsky.social · 1d

It's not just that they're going to strike down a law against conversion therapy, it's that they're going to do it on behalf of made-up claims from a straw plaintiff who can't honestly show the law affected her at all

Tom Scocca @tomscocca.bsky.social · 1d

One thing about American's widespread distrust and disapproval of the Supreme Court is that mainstream news coverage mostly doesn't dwell on stuff like standing, so people don't even begin to grasp how rigged the Court truly is www.nytimes.com/live/2025/10...

Supreme Court Live Updates: Justices Seem Set to Rule Against Colorado’s Ban on Conversion Therapy

www.nytimes.com

130 1.6K 5.4K

Reposted by Steve Kenson ❌👑

Perry Bacon @perrybaconjr.bsky.social · 3d

This piece is just an essential, important and excellent intervention as Coates' Vanity Fair essay was. One NYT column isn't that important, but an accommodationist mindset has spread in center-left elite circles. And it should be rejected forcefully. democracyamericana.com/posts/c5d024...

Where Is the Line?

On Ezra Klein, Ta-Nehisi Coates, and the struggle to define the boundaries of what is acceptable in America

democracyamericana.com

19 160 670

Steve Kenson ❌👑 @stevekenson.com · 1d

“Bucking tradition…?” why that lil’ scamp! Whatever will he do next?

1 1 8

Steve Kenson ❌👑 @stevekenson.com · 2d

Third Amendment fans, rejoice!

The TRiiBE @thetriibe.com · 2d

HAPPENING NOW — This morning, Mayor Brandon Johnson signed an executive order establishing “ICE-free zones.”

“That means that city property and unwilling private businesses will no longer serve as grounds for these raids,” Johnson said to applause.

thetriibe.com/2025/10/mayo...

Mayor Brandon Johnson signs executive order establishing ‘ICE-free zones’ • The TRiiBE

Johnson is calling for a full investigation into “all of the brutality” that federal agents have conducted this past week.

thetriibe.com

6 25

Reposted by Steve Kenson ❌👑

David Roberts @volts.wtf · 2d

The GOP has done nothing on healthcare in the 21st century other than stop Dems from improving it. Literally nothing.

Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 2d

Mike Johnson: "Let me look right into the camera and tell you very clearly: Republicans are the ones concerned about healthcare. Republicans are the party working around the clock everyday to fix healthcare. This is not talking points for us: we've done it."

110 540 2.3K