Wes Muller
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wesmuller.bsky.social
Wes Muller
@wesmuller.bsky.social
760 followers 280 following 150 posts
Journalist for the Louisiana Illuminator covering politics, energy, environment and economics; U.S. Army veteran (airborne/paratrooper); birder; ex-fool
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wesmuller.bsky.social
State rejects Smitty’s Supply request to dispose of up to 12 million gallons of wastewater, storm runoff into drainage ditches lailluminator.com/2025/12/23/s...
State rejects Smitty’s Supply request to dispose of wastewater, storm runoff in drainage
LDEQ denied a request by Smitty’s Supply to discharge wastewater from its disaster cleanup into ditches that flow to the Tangipahoa River.
lailluminator.com
December 23, 2025 at 5:33 PM
Reposted by Wes Muller
jsodonoghue.bsky.social
President Trump announces Gov. Jeff Landry as his special envoy to Greenland. From @reuters.com

www.reuters.com/world/us/tru...
Trump names Louisiana governor Landry as Greenland special envoy
U.S. President Donald Trump on Sunday announced he is appointing Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry as the special envoy to Greenland.
www.reuters.com
December 22, 2025 at 2:56 AM
Reposted by Wes Muller
klonick.bsky.social
Holy shit.

Reuters reporting that new admin instructions on visas are if you worked at a platform in trust & safety or content moderation or on fact checking or online safety at an platform you *and your loved ones* are ineligible for H-1B visa.

www.reuters.com/world/us/tru...
The cable, sent to all U.S. missions on December 2, orders U.S. consular officers to review resumes or LinkedIn profiles of H-1B applicants - and family members who would be traveling with them - to see if they have worked in areas that include activities such as misinformation, disinformation, content moderation, fact-checking, compliance and online safety, among others.
December 4, 2025 at 5:41 PM
wesmuller.bsky.social
As of last Wednesday, there were 59 animals found covered in oil and several others found dead. So far, 29 have been rehabbed and released back into the wilds of Louisiana. lailluminator.com/2025/12/08/a...
Dozens of oil-covered animals recovered from Smitty’s Supply disaster
A spokeswoman for the Center for Biological Diversity called the report “deeply troubling.”
lailluminator.com
December 8, 2025 at 9:36 PM
Reposted by Wes Muller
ohiocapitaljournal.com
Ohio lawmakers have brought back up a bill to add party labels to candidates in local school board elections with a new amendment that would also eliminate all elected seats on the State Board of Education, making the entire body governor-appointed ohiocapitaljournal.com/2025/11/24/o...
Ohio bill would add political parties to school board races, reduce State Board of Education seats • Ohio Capital Journal
The Ohio legislature brought back up a bill that would add party names to local school board elections, and added an amendment that would eliminate elected seats on the State Board of Education,…
ohiocapitaljournal.com
November 25, 2025 at 1:30 AM
Reposted by Wes Muller
lailluminator.com
President Trump’s anti-wind energy agenda is harming Louisiana businesses that form the backbone of the US offshore oil & gas industry. @wesmuller.bsky.social reports they stand to lose billions if Trump fulfills his promise to end construction of offshore turbines.
lailluminator.com/2025/11/07/t...
As offshore wind energy falls flat under Trump, Louisiana businesses wait and hope
Trump’s anti-wind energy agenda is harming Louisiana businesses that form the backbone of America’s offshore oil and gas sector.
lailluminator.com
November 7, 2025 at 10:10 PM
Reposted by Wes Muller
joshuajfriedman.com
The procedural vote stands at 59–40, and the Senate is waiting for John Cornyn to get to the Capitol from Dulles
Tweet from The Hill reporter Al Weaver @alweaver22: Cornyn, the lone outstanding vote, was traveling back to Washington and has landed at Dulles, per source. 10:00 PM, Nov 9, 2025
November 10, 2025 at 3:12 AM
Reposted by Wes Muller
kaine.senate.gov
My statement on the funding deal to reopen government, protect federal employees, and vote to protect health care:
"I have long said that to earn my vote, we need to be on a path toward fixing Republicans’ health care mess and to protect the federal workforce. This deal guarantees a vote to extend Affordable Care Act premium tax credits, which Republicans weren’t willing to do. Lawmakers know their constituents expect them to vote for it, and if they don’t, they could very well be replaced at the ballot box by someone who will. This legislation will protect federal workers from baseless firings, reinstate those who have been wrongfully terminated during the shutdown, and ensure federal workers receive back pay, as required by a law I got passed in 2019. That’s a critical step that will help federal employees and all Americans who rely on government services. I’ll keep working towards a long-term government spending plan that includes critical priorities to support Virginians and funding for Virginia community projects."
November 10, 2025 at 12:50 AM
Reposted by Wes Muller
tennesseelookout.com
A deal was within reach Sunday night to end the longest federal government shutdown in history, when it appeared enough U.S. Senate Democrats had agreed to join Republicans: it doesn't address skyrocketing premiums for those enrolled in health insurance plans in the Affordable Care Act Marketplace.
Deal to end shutdown gains traction in US Senate as vote nears • Tennessee Lookout
A deal was within reach Sunday night to end a government shutdown when it appeared enough U.S. Senate Democrats had agreed to join Republicans.
tennesseelookout.com
November 10, 2025 at 1:40 AM
wesmuller.bsky.social
Atalco alumina refinery faces lawsuit from Louisiana environmental group lailluminator.com/2025/11/03/a...
Atalco alumina refinery faces lawsuit from Louisiana environmental group
An environmental group has filed a federal lawsuit against an alumina refinery that allowed toxic pollution to escape into public waterways.
lailluminator.com
November 4, 2025 at 3:21 PM
wesmuller.bsky.social
Ohtani is a beast!
October 28, 2025 at 2:56 AM
Reposted by Wes Muller
jsodonoghue.bsky.social
Louisiana is prepared to spend $150m per month out of a savings account to keep federal food assistance (SNAP) going during the shutdown.

The Trump administration said Friday it won't reimburse states for doing so. #lalege

lailluminator.com/2025/10/24/l...
Louisiana prepares to continue SNAP benefits with $150M in state funding monthly • Louisiana Illuminator
Louisiana political leaders are preparing to use around $150 million monthly in state funding to help continue food assistance benefits while the federal government shutdown in Washington D.C. continu...
lailluminator.com
October 25, 2025 at 1:43 AM
wesmuller.bsky.social
The lawsuit alleges but doesn’t specify how the tanks were defective
lailluminator.com/2025/10/15/s...
Smitty’s Supply sues companies that made and maintained tanks that exploded
Smitty’s Supply is suing two companies it blames for the Aug. 22 fire that led to an environmental disaster in Tangipahoa Parish.
lailluminator.com
October 15, 2025 at 11:39 PM
Reposted by Wes Muller
jessemermell.bsky.social
He is 13. A 7th grader w/ a pending asylum case. Being held more than 500 miles from home & housed w/ adults. He called his mom crying, & reported that he’s sleeping on concrete w/ an aluminum blanket.

How is this anything other than sick & shameful? www.bostonglobe.com/2025/10/12/m...
Everett 13-year-old arrested by ICE and sent to Virginia detention facility - The Boston Globe
The boy’s mother, Josiele Berto, was called to pick her son up from the Everett Police Department on Thursday, the day he was arrested.
www.bostonglobe.com
October 13, 2025 at 1:43 AM
Reposted by Wes Muller
ncnewsline.com
UNC Professor Dwayne Dixon, whose unpaid leave was lifted last week, denounced the actions of Chancellor Lee Roberts as harmful to free speech. By @kingdollar.bsky.social #ncpol #unc
UNC professor suspended for anti-fascist activism returns to class • NC Newsline
UNC Chapel Hill professor Dwayne Dixon returned to campus to teach his first class after his suspension for ties to an anti-fascist group.
ncnewsline.com
October 8, 2025 at 11:05 PM
Reposted by Wes Muller
lailluminator.com
The EPA says it has begun additional water sampling from areas where contamination remains from the Aug. 22 Smitty’s Supply Inc. industrial explosion in Tangipahoa Parish. @wesmuller.bsky.social reports lailluminator.com/briefs/water...
EPA begins additional water sampling in wake of Smitty’s Supply disaster
The EPA said it has begun additional water sampling where contamination is suspected from an industrial explosion in Tangipahoa Parish.
lailluminator.com
October 3, 2025 at 7:24 PM
wesmuller.bsky.social
The Environmental Protection Agency has known for weeks which specific hazardous and radioactive materials were present at Smitty’s Supply Inc. when it went up in flames and exploded last month, but they're not telling the public. lailluminator.com/2025/09/24/e...
EPA withholds list of chemicals in Smitty's Supply fire, citing 'confidential business information'
Federal officials are withholding a list of hazardous materials present at a petrochemical fire in Tangipahoa Parish last month.
lailluminator.com
September 25, 2025 at 1:38 PM
Reposted by Wes Muller
nytimes.com
Breaking News: The Pentagon said it would require journalists to pledge not to use unauthorized information or risk losing credentials to cover the military.
Pentagon Introduces New Restrictions on Reporter Access
The Department of Defense will force reporters to pledge not to gather or use any information that had not been formally authorized for release, or risk losing their credential to cover the military.
nyti.ms
September 20, 2025 at 5:36 AM
Reposted by Wes Muller
washingtonpost.com
Breaking news: The House Oversight Committee released more documents related to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein’s estate and federal investigation, including testimony from former Attorney General William Barr.
More Epstein documents come from the Hill
The House Oversight Committee released a list of contacts, a deposition with former Attorney General Bill Barr and other documents.
wapo.st
September 16, 2025 at 6:45 PM
Reposted by Wes Muller
arianalfigueroa.bsky.social
Pentagon approves National Guard to carry weapons in D.C. as federal takeover extends. W/ an assist from @wesmuller.bsky.social www.newsfromthestates.com/article/pent...
Pentagon approves National Guard to carry weapons in D.C. as federal takeover extends
WASHINGTON — Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has authorized the thousands of National Guard troops deployed to the District of Columbia to carry their weapons as they patrol the city, the Pentagon said...
www.newsfromthestates.com
August 22, 2025 at 10:42 PM
wesmuller.bsky.social
Louisiana vets new voting machines as Trump threatens to eliminate them nationwide lailluminator.com/2025/08/27/l...
Louisiana vets new voting systems as Trump doubles down on false fraud claims • Louisiana Illuminator
Secretary of State Nancy Landry’s office hosted a demonstration Tuesday of new voting systems technology as part of the state’s efforts to replace its decades-old machines.
lailluminator.com
August 27, 2025 at 4:05 PM
Reposted by Wes Muller
lailluminator.com
Fast-tracking a vote originally expected to happen in October, the La. Public Service Commission plans to decide Wednesday whether to approve an Entergy power plant for Meta's giant data center in NE Louisiana. @wesmuller.bsky.social reports: lailluminator.com/2025/08/19/m...
Entergy power plant for Meta data center moves toward early regulatory approval
Fast tracking a vote that was expected to happen in October, utility regulators will vote tomorrow on a power plant for Meta's data center.
lailluminator.com
August 19, 2025 at 7:27 PM
Reposted by Wes Muller
nbcnews.com
BREAKING: President Trump fires the head of the Bureau of Labor Statistics hours after weak jobs report.
Trump fires labor statistics boss hours after weak jobs report
The president implied that the BLS commissioner, long-time federal employee Erika McEntarfer, manipulated the data "for political purposes."
nbcnews.to
August 1, 2025 at 6:40 PM
Reposted by Wes Muller
josephpolitano.bsky.social
Unquestionably the most dangerous and corrupt attack on the independence of US economic data in American history. Trump is firing the head of the BLS, a longtime civil servant confirmed 86-8 by the Senate, simply because the job numbers came in below his expectations today
I was just informed that our Country’s “Jobs Numbers” are being produced by a Biden Appointee, Dr. Erika McEntarfer, the Commissioner of Labor Statistics, who faked the Jobs Numbers before the Election to try and boost Kamala’s chances of Victory. This is the same Bureau of Labor Statistics that overstated the Jobs Growth in March 2024 by approximately 818,000 and, then again, right before the 2024 Presidential Election, in August and September, by 112,000. These were Records — No one can be that wrong? We need accurate Jobs Numbers. I have directed my Team to fire this Biden Political Appointee, IMMEDIATELY. She will be replaced with someone much more competent and qualified. Important numbers like this must be fair and accurate, they can’t be manipulated for political purposes. McEntarfer said there were only 73,000 Jobs added (a shock!) but, more importantly, that a major mistake was made by them, 258,000 Jobs downward, in the prior two months. Similar things happened in the first part of the year, always to the negative. The Economy is BOOMING under “TRUMP” despite a Fed that also plays games, this time with Interest Rates, where they lowered them twice, and substantially, just before the Presidential Election, I assume in the hopes of getting “Kamala” elected – How did that work out? Jerome “Too Late” Powell should also be put “out to pasture.” Thank you for your attention to this matter!
August 1, 2025 at 6:25 PM
Reposted by Wes Muller
piperhutch.bsky.social
On this week’s episode of The Light Switch, I talked to Rep. Rashid Young about his new task force on name, image and likeness. #lalege #lagov
Q&A with Rep. Rashid Young on name, image and likeness • Louisiana Illuminator
Louisiana state Rep. Rashid Young, D-Homer, created and leads a new task force that will study name, image and likeness issues for college and high school athletes.  You can also listen to a version o...
lailluminator.com
August 1, 2025 at 6:47 PM