Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Reposted by Joel Lesko

Greg Sargent @gregsargent.bsky.social · 10h

JB Pritzker and Gavin Newsom are doing something new and important: They understand Stephen Miller's theory of fascist power politics, and they've developed a theory on how to combat it. More Dems need to reckon with Miller's understanding of the moment.

New from me:
newrepublic.com/article/2014...

Inside Stephen Miller’s Secret Plan to Normalize Trump’s Dictator Rule

He wants to supercharge searing civil tensions to get low-information voters to embrace their inner authoritarian. Exactly two Democrats appear to fully grasp this.

newrepublic.com

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Joel Lesko @sunshowerlearning.bsky.social · 18h

Representative Adelita Grijalva

Kelly @broadwaybabyto.bsky.social · 18h

Today marks yet another day that Speaker Mike Johnson has denied Adelita Grijalva her right to govern.

She won her special election on Sept 23rd but has yet to be sworn in.

Why? Because she will become the 218th vote needed to discharge the release of the Epstein files.

Say her name.

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Joel Lesko @sunshowerlearning.bsky.social · 1d

Because Chicago and Portland and other cities are not where real Americans live, huh? The NYTimes spreads Trump’s lies.

David Rothschild @davmicrot.bsky.social · 1d

Crazy how NYT can fly reporters all over Midwest to interview every upper-middleclass white dude in a diner, but cannot figure out how to get one reporter to Chicago to report that it is *completely peaceful*

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Greg Sargent @gregsargent.bsky.social · 1d

Trump's tweet that Portland is "war ravaged" just backfired. A Trump-picked judge cited it in blocking National Guard deployment to Portland, declaring him "untethered from facts."

On the pod, Oregon AG Dan Rayfield illuminatingly explains the ruling and what's next:
newrepublic.com/article/2014...

Trump’s Own Tweet on Portland Backfires as Judge Deals Him Harsh Loss

As a judge’s blunt ruling blocks Trump from deploying troops in Portland, Oregon’s Attorney General tells us in an interview that Trump’s lawless threats are working against him—and discusses what com...

newrepublic.com

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Prof Peter Hotez MD PhD DSc(hon) @peterhotezmdphd.bsky.social · 2d

My comments with @celinegounder.com @kffhealthnews.org

kffhealthnews.org/news/article...

Inside the High-Stakes Battle Over Vaccine Injury Compensation, Autism, and Public Trust - KFF Health News

The evidence is unequivocal: Vaccines do not cause autism. Yet adding autism to the list of conditions covered by a federal payout program, as health secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. seems inclined to ...

kffhealthnews.org

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Joel Lesko @sunshowerlearning.bsky.social · 2d

I would love to see this.
Thanks, @hakeem-jeffries.bsky.social

www.mediaite.com/media/dem-le...

Dem Leader Challenges Mike Johnson to Live, Primetime Debate Over Shutdown

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries challenged House Speaker Mike Johnson to a live primetime TV debate over the government shutdown, saying he "refuses to provide healthcare to everyday Americans."

www.mediaite.com

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Judd Legum @juddlegum.bsky.social · 2d

Jared Kushner is going to the Middle East to negotiate a deal on behalf of the U.S. government days after Kushner announced a $55 billion deal between his private equity fund and the Saudi government

One of the most brazen conflicts in history.

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Joel Lesko @sunshowerlearning.bsky.social · 3d

The @nytimes.com just can't stop fluffing up their favorite fascist. This could have been written by the @nytpitchbot.bsky.social or @theonion.com it's so ridiculous in its fawning.

Subheads (all stupid)
He flaunts his friends
He cares about greatness-and disrespect
He is obsessed with toughness

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Senator Ron Wyden @wyden.senate.gov · 3d

This victory supports what Oregonians already know: we don’t need or want Donald Trump to provoke violence by deploying federal troops in our state. I’ll keep working to stop Trump from fulfilling his perverse fantasy of making Portland the center of his assault on U.S. cities.

The Oregonian @oregonian.com · 3d

A judge on Saturday ordered the Trump administration to halt its mobilization of 200 Oregon National Guard troops to protect the ICE building in Portland and its officers amid nightly protests.

www.oregonlive.com/crime/2025/1...

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Governor JB Pritzker @govpritzker.illinois.gov · 4d

I will not call up our National Guard to further Trump’s acts of aggression against our people.

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Bill Madden @maddenifico.bsky.social · 4d

The statue of pedo bros and best friends Trump and Jeffrey Epstein is back at the National Mall in Washington, DC. 😂🤣👇

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Kat Abughazaleh @katmabu.bsky.social · 5d

Join us Kristi Noem!

9AM Press Conference at 1930 Beach St

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Joel Lesko @sunshowerlearning.bsky.social · 5d

Thank you, @jackcocchiarella.bsky.social

More please!

www.mediaite.com/media/tv/cnn...

CNN Guest Lays Into ‘Dementia-Addled Nursing Home Patient’ Trump

Progressive commentator Jack Cocchiarella laid into President Donald Trump, comparing him to a "dementia-addled nursing home patient."

www.mediaite.com

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Greg Sargent @gregsargent.bsky.social · 5d

This from Murphy on Trump seems inarguable:

"The more corrupt and lawless he gets, the stiffer my spine gets. Because at this point, if I give in and consent to these kinds of tactics, then it just normalizes it all, makes it become standard fare."

Tons more like that in here:

Greg Sargent @gregsargent.bsky.social · 5d

Everyone should listen to Chris Murphy's extraordinary warning about Trump on our pod. First, he says the logic must be that the more lawless he gets, the stiffer the resistance.

"If I give in and consent to these kinds of tactics then it just normalizes it all." 1/

newrepublic.com/article/2013...

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Joel Lesko @sunshowerlearning.bsky.social · 5d

Thank you @lawrenceodonnell.msnbc.com for the honest and direct language you use about Trump. Each morning I listen to your show and I can breathe in truth.

There are only a few people on cable who speak as directly as you do. Thank you.

Joel Lesko @sunshowerlearning.bsky.social · 5d

There are people working at the New York Times today who will insist to you that Hillary Clinton's use of the word deplorable was, in and of itself deplorable. Those same people have nothing to say about donald trump's use of language. absolutely nothing.

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Joel Lesko @sunshowerlearning.bsky.social · 5d

The American news media almost unanimously agrees that Hillary Clinton lost her presidential campaign because she used the word deplorable once to describe some Trump voters...

Those same people have nothing to say about donald trump's use of language. absolutely nothing.

youtu.be/PGIxLFGUnUg?...

Lawrence: We are clearly seeing madness pouring from the darkness of Donald Trump's mind

YouTube video by MSNBC

youtu.be

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Reposted by Joel Lesko

Marisa Kabas @marisakabas.bsky.social · 5d

SCOOP — Pennsylvania prosecutors were alerted to possible voting irregularities by one of MAGA's leading voices against voter fraud. A long paper trail shows Jack Posobiec has been living in Maryland but voting using his parents' PA address for years.

From @jsweetli.bsky.social, @slate.com + me:

MAGA’s “Voter Fraud” Watchdog Votes in a Swing State. He Doesn’t Live There.

A long paper trail shows that Jack Posobiec casts a ballot in one state and lives in another.

slate.com

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Joel Lesko @sunshowerlearning.bsky.social · 6d

It is sickeningly and outrageously clear.

Ida Bae Wells @nhannahjones.bsky.social · 6d

In case it wasn’t clear, the anti-DEI crusade has never been about merit. Zero news experience. Never been a reporter. Elevated to Editor in Chief of CBS News, one of the most storied news institutions in the nation. www.mediaite.com/media/news/p...

Paramount Officially Acquiring The Free Press and Making Bari Weiss CBS News Editor in Chief: Report

Paramount Skydance will be officially acquiring The Free Press and hiring its founder Bari Weiss as editor in chief of its CBS News division, with the deal to be announced this coming Monday, accordin...

www.mediaite.com

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Senator Sheldon Whitehouse @whitehouse.senate.gov · 6d

There are laws that are supposed to prevent the military from being used against civilians.

American generals receive considerable guidance about staying out of domestic politics and issues.

All of that is for a very important reason.

Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 8d

Trump to generals: "America is under invasion from within. We're under invasion from within. No different than a foreign enemy, but more difficult in any ways because they don't wear uniforms. At least when they're wearing a uniform you can take them out."

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Mrs. Betty Bowers @mrsbettybowers.bsky.social · 6d

That adage about a broken, hypocritical clock . . .

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jamelle @jamellebouie.net · 7d

my latest is expanding on the observation that your view of the politics of opposition to the administration depend largely on your view of the election (gift link)

Opinion | Trump Has No Mandate to Destroy America

www.nytimes.com

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jamelle @jamellebouie.net · 8d

the president of the united states wants to use the american military to kill american citizens on american soil. that's the whole story!

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Zohran Kwame Mamdani @zohrankmamdani.bsky.social · 8d

I’m fighting for Eric Adams’ voters. Andrew Cuomo is fighting for his donors.

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Joel Lesko @sunshowerlearning.bsky.social · 9d

This is an excellent piece. It presents a full picture of Comey and how he is the first who complied in advance.

Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 9d

New in PN: Comey and the lessons of pre-capitulation

"Other institutionalists are going to face the kinds of choices and incentives that Comey did. Hopefully they will look at the sad, gutted remnants of his beloved Justice Department and choose a different path."

Comey and the lesson of pre-capitulation

He tried to palliate bad faith Republicans. Now we're all paying the price.

www.publicnotice.co

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