Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Tom “T.M.” Wolf @tomtmwolf.bsky.social · 1h

TFW you deliver the draft of a big report to your editor

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Sarah Posner @sarahposner.bsky.social · 13h

Pope Leo tells US bishops to address Trump's immigration crackdown

www.reuters.com/world/pope-l...

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Ryan Goodman @rgoodlaw.bsky.social · 14h

Prosecution of Comey looks headed to a dead end.

"Federal prosecutors ... determined that a central witness in their probe would ... likely prevent them from establishing their case to a jury."

abcnews.go.com/US/central-w...

Central witness undermines case against James Comey, prosecutors concluded: Sources

Ex-FBI Director James Comey is set to be arraigned Wednesday, but prosecutors investigating him determined that a central witness would prove "problematic," sources say.

abcnews.go.com

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Courtney Vaughn @courtneyvaughn.bsky.social · 22h

Streets are still closed off in front of the Portland ICE facility at 8:30pm. Protesters have gathered on a side street. Dance party in progress.

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John Pfaff @johnpfaff.bsky.social · 23h

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 · 1d

Here’s video of the incident

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Eric Michael Garcia @ericmgarcia.bsky.social · 1d

I've been banging this drum for the past four months or so: DOGE and Russ Vought broke the appropriations process. What's the point of going through the arduous process of crafting 12 spending bills, clearing them through committee and getting them through two chambers if Trump does rescissions?

Garrett M. Graff @vermontgmg.bsky.social · 1d

If appropriations bills are not seen as enforceable contracts, why should any Member of Congress vote to fund any part of the federal government under Donald Trump? You're voting to provide money for lawlessness. www.doomsdayscenario.co/p/there-is-n...

There is no budget "deal" to be made

President Trump has so broken the constitutional framework as to make joint normal, responsible government impossible.

www.doomsdayscenario.co

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jamelle @jamellebouie.net · 1d

thank you brett kavanaugh!

Daniel Knowles @dlknowles.bsky.social · 1d

Good reporting on the South Shore raid from South Side weekly here.

Confirms one thing I was told but didn't put in my own piece because I didn't have a second source and it seemed too insane: border agents segregated arrested residents by race

southsideweekly.com/federal-agen...

Federal Agents Storm South Shore Building, Detaining Families and Children

Families were woken by flashbangs and helicopters as hundreds of federal agents raided their homes. Days later, neighbors are still searching for the missing.

southsideweekly.com

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Tom “T.M.” Wolf @tomtmwolf.bsky.social · 1d

Reposted by Tom “T.M.” Wolf

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.

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Tom “T.M.” Wolf @tomtmwolf.bsky.social · 1d

Last night, historians weighed in with SCOTUS to set the record straight: Since the beginning, everyone understood that voters can use Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act to challenge discriminatory maps.

Their brief: www.brennancenter.org/sites/defaul...
@alexkeyssar.bsky.social @brennancenter.org

www.brennancenter.org

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Sam Breidbart @sam-breidbart.bsky.social · 1d

Everyone understood this to be true: the courts, DOJ, even the VRA's detractors! For 60 years one interpretation has been clear -- until some circuit court judges recently started rewriting history. SCOTUS should not go along with them.

Tom “T.M.” Wolf @tomtmwolf.bsky.social · 1d

Last night, historians weighed in with SCOTUS to set the record straight: Since the beginning, everyone understood that voters can use Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act to challenge discriminatory maps.

Their brief: www.brennancenter.org/sites/defaul...
@alexkeyssar.bsky.social @brennancenter.org

www.brennancenter.org

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Tom “T.M.” Wolf @tomtmwolf.bsky.social · 1d

Last night, historians weighed in with SCOTUS to set the record straight: Since the beginning, everyone understood that voters can use Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act to challenge discriminatory maps.

Their brief: www.brennancenter.org/sites/defaul...
@alexkeyssar.bsky.social @brennancenter.org

www.brennancenter.org

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Gillian Brockell @gbrockell.bsky.social · 2d

Claim: 10 cars rammed ICE
Truth: No cars rammed ICE

Claim: She boxed ICE in
Truth: ICE boxed her in

Claim: She shot a rifle at ICE
Truth: She did not have a rifle

Claim: ICE returned fire
Truth: Only ICE fired

Claim: She drove herself to the hospital
Truth: Paramedics found her

Chicago Sun-Times @chicago.suntimes.com · 2d

Body-camera video appears to contradict the government’s claim that Marimar Martinez, 30, drove toward officers before one of them opened fire at her late Saturday morning in Brighton Park, her attorney claimed.
trib.al/9Sxu9IN

Attorney for woman shot by Border Patrol claims officer said 'Do something b-----' before shooting

Body-camera video appears to contradict the government's claim that Marimar Martinez, 30, drove toward officers before one of them opened fire at her late Saturday morning in Brighton Park, her attorney claimed. A judge ordered Martinez and a co-defendant released pending trial.

trib.al

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Brennan Center @brennancenter.org · 2d

Today, a group of historians, including Brennan Center Historians Council member @alexkeyssar.bsky.social, filed a brief urging SCOTUS to hear Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians v. Howe. 1/2 bit.ly/4gUM8mK

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Radley Balko @radleybalko.bsky.social · 3d

Goddamn, this is great. The part at the end — you’ll know it when you see it — made me laugh so hard that I startled the dogs.

competentposter @competentposter.bsky.social · 4d

wizard frog is insane

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

Yesterday, Kristi Noem’s and Greg Bovino’s masked agents threw chemical agents near an elementary school, arrested elected officials exercising their First Amendment rights, and raided a Wal-Mart.

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

This morning, the Trump Administration’s Department of War gave me an ultimatum: call up your troops, or we will. It is absolutely outrageous and un-American to demand a Governor send military troops within our own borders and against our will.

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Tom “T.M.” Wolf @tomtmwolf.bsky.social · 5d

TFW a lower federal court issues an opinion that respects the Constitution and the rule of law

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Tom “T.M.” Wolf @tomtmwolf.bsky.social · 4d

Key insight from @fishkin.bsky.social: the administration is trying to replace the rule of law with the domination of the deal…

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Tom “T.M.” Wolf @tomtmwolf.bsky.social · 4d

Key insight from @fishkin.bsky.social: the administration is trying to replace the rule of law with the domination of the deal…

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Joey Fishkin @fishkin.bsky.social · 4d

I thought I'd put the administration's proposed "compact" with universities in context, so I wrote the blog post below.

It's especially for journalists covering this story!

Many details about how the compact itself works and why the administration has retreated to this strategy.

Balkinization: The Art of Replacing the Law with the Deal

A group blog on constitutional law, theory, and politics

balkin.blogspot.com

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The New Republic @newrepublic.com · 4d

“They was bringing the kids down too, had them zip-tied to each other,” she said. “That’s all I kept asking. What is the morality? Where’s the human? One of them literally laughed. He was standing right here. He said, ‘f*** them kids.’” trib.al/QmjwZi0

ICE Zip-Ties Children in Horrific Raid on Chicago Apartment Building

ICE agents forced everyone out of a Chicago apartment building in the dead of night.

trib.al

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Tom “T.M.” Wolf @tomtmwolf.bsky.social · 4d

“Burgundy minks
Whips with sinks in ‘em”

Reposted by Tom “T.M.” Wolf

Tom “T.M.” Wolf @tomtmwolf.bsky.social · 5d

And for a (fantastic) read on the "lessons of history" and the constitutional threat of Trump's executive order on birthright citizenship, see this amicus brief from @marthasjones.bsky.social and @katemasur.bsky.social:
www.brennancenter.org/media/13981/...

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Tom “T.M.” Wolf @tomtmwolf.bsky.social · 5d

BREAKING! 1st Cir. blocks Trump's attempt to end birthright citizenship. Strong, clear close:

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