Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Susan McPherson @susanmcp.bsky.social · 2h

“Trump will fail in remaking American politics if people and institutions coordinate against him, which is why his administration is targeting businesses, nonprofits and the rest of civil society, proposing corrupting bargains to those who acquiesce and punishing holdouts….”

Opinion | You Beat Trumpism by Banding Together. It’s as Hard and as Simple as That.

www.nytimes.com

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Reposted by Susan McPherson

Greg Sargent @gregsargent.bsky.social · 2h

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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Susan McPherson @susanmcp.bsky.social · 2h

“Trump and his valet at the Defense Department, Secretary of Physical Training Pete Hegseth, are now making a dedicated run at turning the men and women of the armed forces into Trump’s personal and partisan army.”

By @radiofreetom.bsky.social

www.theatlantic.com/newsletters/...

The Civil-Military Crisis Is Here

The leaders of the U.S. military may soon face a terrible decision.

www.theatlantic.com

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Reposted by Susan McPherson

Charlotte Clymer @charlotteclymer.bsky.social · 11h

"So, Democrats have three words for this: no fucking way. It's literally life or death. We will not let Republicans blow up our health care system."

This is, hands down, the best comms work Chuck Schumer has done in YEARS. Surprisingly good.

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Reposted by Susan McPherson

Judd Legum @juddlegum.bsky.social · 1d

1. CBS, once one of America's most trusted sources for news, has hired anti-woke crusader Bari Weiss as its Editor-in-Chief

With Weiss, CBS is embracing someone who talks a lot about honesty but has a history of distorting the truth to conform to her right-wing ideological agenda.

Let's review.

The devolution of CBS News

A network once revered for fact-based reporting is embracing right-wing pseudo-journalism

popular.info

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Reposted by Susan McPherson

Chris Murphy @chrismurphyct.bsky.social · 18h

This has nothing to do with crime. This is an attempt to crush political dissent.

Never before, in our entire 250 year history, has the military or immigration agents been used like this. It's dystopian, illegal, and it should stop.

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Reposted by Susan McPherson

Andrea Junker @strandjunker.com · 18h

You can joke about Pam Bondi’s ridiculous unprofessionalism all you want, but I’m deeply shocked by it: She acts as if she fears absolutely no consequences, convinced that there will be no more political power transfers. — This should shake everyone to their core.

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Susan McPherson @susanmcp.bsky.social · 12h

It absolutely does, Andrea. Thank you for these critically important words.

Reposted by Susan McPherson

The Tennessee Holler @thetnholler.bsky.social · 15h

CNN: “An older couple making $85K/year will see their yearly insurance premiums jump from $7K to $25,000 — 30% of their income.” 😳#TrumpShutdown #TrumpHealthCareTax

This is what Dems are drawing attention to and want fixed. Now, not later.

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Ron Filipkowski @ronfilipkowski.bsky.social · 14h

Update from the war zone in Portland.

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Susan McPherson @susanmcp.bsky.social · 13h

Here's how you can tell that Democrats have the upper hand in the week-old shutdown fight --- Marjorie Taylor Greene just endorsed their key demand.

By @citizencohn.bsky.social via @thebulwark.com

www.thebulwark.com/p/democrats-...

Democrats Are Winning the Shutdown Fight

Turns out Republicans still haven’t figured out the politics of health care.

www.thebulwark.com

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Susan McPherson @susanmcp.bsky.social · 16h

Truth!

Reposted by Susan McPherson

Joe Walsh @walshfreedom.bsky.social · 16h

Who controls the House? Who controls the Senate? Who controls the White House?

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Reposted by Susan McPherson

Renee DiResta @noupside.bsky.social · 19h

“Who was president in 2020?” is the question of our time

Senator Jim Banks V
@SenatorBanks
Follow g..
The 2020 Census was a fraud. The Biden admin used a shady "privacy" formula that scrambled the data and miscounted 14 states.
It included illegal immigrants and handed
Democrats extra seats. Americans deserve a fair count and l'm fighting to fix it.
Zinited Statcs SScnate
MASHNORON DEYNN
October 6, 2025
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Socretary
U.S. Department of Commerce Washington, DXC 20230
Dear Secretary Lutaick:
I urge you to investigate and correct erroes from the 2020 Census that handed disproportionntd political power to Democrats and illogal alicns. The Census Burcau adoptod a now and opaque
voting districts. As preparod by the Biden administration, the 2020 Censas roports miscountod the population of fourteen states, ' wrongly allocating six congressional scats aod Electoral
xx conwuu tmora uy, toc taroro tu mot đoo tnn Cunu lc pung t imber of votine districts. And the reoorts de aniovety inchaded ilecnl nhens widhout track those aliens' citiz enship status, If left uncorrected, these erroes will coetinue diluting the political power of American citizens.
Consus data plays a crucial role in allocating political roprescntation and goverment funding
Under the Constitution, cach state gets Congressional represcotutives and Electoeal College votes- based on "the whole number of persons" within the state." The number of persoes is in
tum clabaabod by a consttubocalty-mandalcd dcccacaal ccavas. Pcual agcco nely on census data to allocate billions of dollars in federal funding, much of which hinges ee opulation. And states use consus data to deaw congrossicnal and voting districts, »hich the
The it eiy of tie soaren alie n tor dur at ce hor inc ae oam toy ee n
nght wilbout statsica ly signilicant ciroo.
Diffcrcntial privacy is opaque and liable to mistakcn count totals. Sure cnough, the 2020 Ccnsus ovarocunted the noculation in cicht states and undercounted it in six." Tihe most extrcmi andercount was Arkansas, at 5.04%, and the larg…

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Reposted by Susan McPherson

Dean Obeidallah @deanobeidallah.bsky.social · 1d

LOL! Jimmy Kimmel Trolls Trump After Crushing Prez in New Approval Poll: ‘I Have No Ratings?!’ New poll finds Kimmel 16 points more popular than Trump! www.mediaite.com/media/tv/jim...

Jimmy Kimmel Trolls Trump After Crushing Prez in New Approval Poll: ‘I Have No Ratings?!’

Kimmel trolled Trump after a new YouGov poll found the late-night host more popular than the sitting president.

www.mediaite.com

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Reposted by Susan McPherson

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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Susan McPherson @susanmcp.bsky.social · 1d

"...Democrats are determined to prevent huge increases in Americans’ health care costs by standing firm. They think the stakes are so high that it’s worth the fight, including the very real harm of a shutdown."

Smart ready by @sulliview.bsky.social

open.substack.com/pub/margaret...

'Partisan bickering' is a media frame that fails the public

The government shutdown is producing an all-too-familiar barrage of performative neutrality

open.substack.com

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Reposted by Susan McPherson

Sherrilyn Ifill @sifill.bsky.social · 1d

Ask him: WHY WOULD SHE DESERVE A PARDON? WHY?

Acyn @acyn.bsky.social · 1d

Trump on pardoning Ghislaine Maxwell: Haven't heard the name in so long. I’ll take a look at it. I’ll speak to the DOJ. A lot of people have asked me for pardons.

Reporter: But she’s convicted of sex trafficking

Trump: I’ll have to take a look at it.

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Susan McPherson @susanmcp.bsky.social · 1d

Latest in PN by @nberlat.bsky.social:

"Republicans have shown they don’t negotiate in good faith or follow through on their commitments. They’ve used their majorities in Congress to branch to tear up bipartisan agreements, cancel appropriated funds, and attempt to turn Trump into a king."

Democrats are winning the shutdown

Republicans, meanwhile, are bumbling and stumbling.

www.publicnotice.co

Susan McPherson @susanmcp.bsky.social · 1d

As one veteran CBS News journalist put it: “She has the gall to write her 10 commandments of journalism and share them with us? She is not a journalist, never has been.”

Must read from @oliverdarcy.bsky.social in @signal.org
www.status.news/p/bari-weiss...

Weiss and Shine

The Bari Weiss era has begun at CBS News, and David Ellison’s push to reshape the storied network has staffers holding their breath about the future of the outlet—especially as the mogul's talking poi...

www.status.news

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Susan McPherson @susanmcp.bsky.social · 1d

Will forever be grateful for Dr. Jane Goodall's actions and words. We need her hope and optimism now more than ever.

Yashar Ali 🐘 @yasharali.bsky.social · 2d

Earlier this year, Dr. Jane Goodall sat down for an interview for Brad Falchuk’s new Netflix series, Famous Last Words.

The premise of the series is to interview people on the condition that the interview not air until the subject has passed away.

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Reposted by Susan McPherson

Robert Reich @rbreich.bsky.social · 1d

71.5% of ICE detainees have no criminal convictions, according to government data.

Don’t fall for Trump’s lies about targeting the “worst of the worst.”

As Trump's regime terrorizes communities to fill up detention centers, remember that some of his biggest donors are private prison corporations.

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Susan McPherson @susanmcp.bsky.social · 1d

More than 275 former Justice Department employees are demanding Congress increase oversight of the department following a mass exodus of career officials who question the integrity of the department's work.

www.axios.com/2025/10/06/d...

h/t @hcrichardson.bsky.social via @axios.com

Hundreds of ex-DOJ staffers accuse Pam Bondi of putting Trump over the constitution

The former staffers warn that the Justice Department is failing its mission in an open letter released Monday.

www.axios.com

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Susan McPherson @susanmcp.bsky.social · 1d

Disgusting and despicable.

"As the minutes tick by, and the beating continues, Brooks becomes increasingly bloodied and unresponsive. More than a dozen people either participate in or witness what is happening, but nobody intervenes."

www.newyorker.com/magazine/202...

A Year of Convulsions in New York’s Prisons

Jennifer Gonnerman reports on how two murders and a strike exposed a system at its breaking point.

www.newyorker.com

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Susan McPherson @susanmcp.bsky.social · 1d

"Now — 9 months into the implementation of the president’s agenda — the same ultra-popular podcasters and streamers who lent their audiences to the president in 2024 are scrambling to break with his government."

By @nikkimcr.bsky.social via @rollingstone.com

www.rollingstone.com/politics/pol...

Manosphere Influencers Who Boosted Trump Are Now Cooling on Him

Prominent influencers including Theo Von, Joe Rogan, and Andrew Schulz are starting to distance themselves from Donald Trump and his policies.

www.rollingstone.com

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