Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Reposted by wicud blueskies

People Who Work

@deptofworkers.bsky.social

The National Weather Service is using AI to replace the federal workers DOGE fired at the agency.

So far, it’s just making stuff up.

‘Whata Bod’: An AI-generated NWS map invented fake towns in Idaho

Amid a big agency push to use AI models in weather prediction, an AI-generated forecast graphic with errors was pulled from NWS sites.

www.washingtonpost.com

January 13, 2026 at 12:26 AM

Reposted by wicud blueskies

Ryan Marino, MD

@ryanmarino.bsky.social

This project was already paid for, and construction was almost finished, and someone tried to steal $6B of our money and deprive the people of Rhode Island of clean energy just to appease a demented old man who thinks the sound of windmills cause cancer.

Thankfully, a Reagan appointee intervened.

The New York Times @nytimes.com · 2h

Breaking News: A judge ruled that construction could resume on a large wind farm off Rhode Island, after the Trump administration halted the project.

Judge Blocks Trump Effort to Stop Rhode Island’s Revolution Wind Project

The ruling means that construction can continue on Revolution Wind, a $6.2 billion project off the coast of Rhode Island, at least for now.

nyti.ms

January 12, 2026 at 11:30 PM

Reposted by wicud blueskies

Wajahat Ali

@wajali.bsky.social

White supremacist talking points.

No dog whistles.

January 13, 2026 at 12:10 AM

Reposted by wicud blueskies

Robin Marty

@robinmarty.com

I'm going to post the link to the video but not the actual video which autoplays and is utterly brutal. Instead I'm posting the photo of the man before ICE assaulted him.

bsky.app/profile/dmbm...

Photo of young man in car who has literally just had his driver side window busted out by ICE, captured by a photographer and posted to Getty images. This was likely the beginning of the video that ends with him surrounded by agents who choked him out, eventually dragged his limp body face first across the pavement as they cuffed him and took him away.

January 12, 2026 at 3:52 PM

Reposted by wicud blueskies

ACLU

@aclu.org

Politicians are hoping to not just ban trans kids from playing sports with their friends but also open the door to all sorts of discrimination against transgender and other LGBTQ people.

We'll be at the Supreme Court tomorrow to stop them.

How the US supreme court case on trans athletes could unravel LGBTQ+ rights

If bans on trans youth athletes are upheld, more girls could face ‘invasive sex testing’ and trans people could broadly lose civil rights protections

www.theguardian.com

January 13, 2026 at 12:55 AM

Reposted by wicud blueskies

Aaron Rupar

@atrupar.com

Trump's thugs are going hog wild and tossing gas around in one of the busiest commercial districts in Minneapolis, just a mile or so from where I live. Complete insanity.

(vid via Ford Fischer on X)

January 12, 2026 at 9:37 PM

Reposted by wicud blueskies

Zach Everson

@zacheverson.com

🚨 In Nov., Trump's Labor Dept. lowered the minimum wage for foreign farmworkers.

A month later, Trump's winery filed to hire 36 foreign, temporary workers.

The rate? Almost $2/hour less than in 2025.

1/

me, for @forbes.com

Trump Vineyard Seeks To Hire Foreign Workers At Lower Wages

Records show the Trump Organization has requested over 2,000 foreign workers since 2008. Its latest request seeks a $13.90 hourly wage—the lowest the winery has offered since 2021.

www.forbes.com

January 12, 2026 at 6:59 PM

Reposted by wicud blueskies

George Takei

@georgetakei.bsky.social

She warned us. Like Hillary, Kamala was right about everything.

Screenshot of a post on X by Matt McDermott (@matt…) reading: “Kamala Harris at her final campaign rally:” followed by the quote: “Donald Trump intends to use the United States military against American citizens who simply disagree with him.” Below the text is a video still of Kamala Harris speaking at a podium with the U.S. vice presidential seal, with American flags behind her. A “cc” icon and a speaker icon appear on the video thumbnail.

January 12, 2026 at 10:30 PM

Reposted by wicud blueskies

Greg Pak

@gregpak.net

Dan Goldman uses words like "revamp" instead of "abolish."

We don't need ICE at all. No need to revamp. No need to come up with "new rules, new procedures, new laws."

We already vastly overfunded police departments and federal law enforcement agencies.

Defund ICE and make America safer.

Greg Sargent @gregsargent.bsky.social · 7h

Some good suggestions from @brianbeutler.bsky.social. I think Rep Daniel Goldman offers a good start at how Dems might approach this going forward here:

newrepublic.com/article/2051...

January 12, 2026 at 10:30 PM

Reposted by wicud blueskies

Rebecca Lexa, Naturalist

@rebeccanaturalist.bsky.social

Here, have a little good news to start the week: www.popsci.com/environment/...

#whales #RightWhales #mammals #wildlife #animals #nature #EndangeredSpecies #conservation

2026 is off to a hopeful start for these critically endangered whales

At least 18 new baby North Atlantic right whales have been spotted swimming with their mothers.

www.popsci.com

January 12, 2026 at 10:32 PM

Reposted by wicud blueskies

Marc Fischer

@marc-fischer.bsky.social

From a good friend in Minneapolis: "Target is allowing ICE to stage in their parking lots, use their restrooms, and abduct people from inside their stores - so if you weren’t boycotting already, now is the time." They were staging in Chicago as well.

January 12, 2026 at 3:42 PM

Reposted by wicud blueskies

Ron Filipkowski

@ronfilipkowski.bsky.social

ICE Drones coming to a city near you.

January 12, 2026 at 4:05 PM

Reposted by wicud blueskies

The Tennessee Holler

@thetnholler.bsky.social

When he tells you who he is, believe him.

www.nytimes.com/2026/01/11/u...

January 12, 2026 at 6:33 PM

Reposted by wicud blueskies

Corey Rayburn Yung

@coreyryung.bsky.social

This isn't just a casual observation. Fascism scholars have long made this point. It's why calling them "weird" was a more effective strategy than talking about the prices of eggs. Fascism is an aesthetic political movement - you need to make people feel embarassed and horrified by it.

Andrew Lawrence @ndrew.bsky.social · 8h

one of the most effective weapons we have against fascism is mockery, especially when its really funny

Isi Baehr-Breen @isibb.bsky.social · 1d

It occurs to me all the yelling at ICE in MPLS isn't merely funny. Getting made fun of like this is awful for morale. ICE is losing field officers faster than it can wave them through training, and a big part of it is how little of this these little weasels can take.

January 12, 2026 at 5:54 PM

Reposted by wicud blueskies

Ken Martin

@kenmartin.bsky.social

If you need any more evidence that Trump is trying to run the United States like a banana republic dictatorship, look no further than what he’s trying to do to Jerome Powell.

January 12, 2026 at 6:33 PM

Reposted by wicud blueskies

Aaron Rupar

@atrupar.com

for the second time today, Leavitt calls Renee Good "a lunatic" and then she storms away from reporters

January 12, 2026 at 6:32 PM

Reposted by wicud blueskies

Maj

@lif3asmaj.blacksky.app

BREAKING: The folks that hate being called Nazis & want us to stop calling them Nazis are using a lectern to promote a quote straight from the Nazis.

Feathered Stone @stonefeathers.bsky.social · 9h

January 12, 2026 at 5:02 PM

Reposted by wicud blueskies

Harry Turtledove

@hntdove.bsky.social

Has it occurred to you that...?

Nah. Of course it hasn't. If it had, you wouldn't be the Nazi shitpile you are.

Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 7h

Rep. Lisa McClain: "I think it's very very odd. So everyone in Minnesota is protesting ICE, who is actually trying to keep legal Americans safe. Why wouldn't those people be protesting the fraud in Minneapolis if they really care about their communities and children? Seems kind of upside down."

January 12, 2026 at 6:42 PM

Reposted by wicud blueskies

Chris Geidner

@chrisgeidner.bsky.social

BREAKING: Senator Mark Kelly sues Pete Hegseth, DOD, and others over Hegseth's censure of Kelly and effort to reduce his retirement grade, alleging violations of the First Amendment, due process, Speech & Debate Clause, and federal laws.

Kelly is represented by Arnold & Porter.

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
MARK KELLY, United States Senator representing the State of Arizona,
120 Constitution Ave NE, Suite 516
Washington, D.C. 20002
Plaintiff,
V.
PETE HEGSETH, in his official capacity as
Secretary of Defense,
1600 Defense Pentagon
Washington, D.C. 20301
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE,
1600 Defense Pentagon
Washington, D.C. 20301
JOHN PHELAN, in his official capacity as
Secretary of the Navy,
1000 Navy Pentagon
Washington, D.C. 20350
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY,
1000 Navy Pentagon
Washington, D.C. 20350
Defendants.
Case No._
COMPLAINT FOR DECLARATORY AND INJUNCTIVE RELIEF

9. If permitted to stand, the Secretary's censure and the grade-determination proceedings that he has directed will inflict immediate and irreparable harm. The censure, the
grade-reduction process, and its inevitable outcome impose official punishment for protected speech, chill legislative oversight, and threaten reductions in rank and pay. Each of these actions
also signals to retired service members and Members of Congress that criticism of the Executive's
use of the armed forces may be met with retaliation through military channels. The Constitution
does not leave such injuries to be remedied after the fact. Speech or Debate, First Amendment,
separation-of-powers, and due-process protections must be vindicated at the outset, before the
Senator is forced to submit to an unconstitutional and legally baseless proceeding.
Senator Kelly therefore brings this complaint for declaratory and injunctive relief.
Defendants' actions violate the First Amendment, the Speech or Debate Clause, the separation of powers, due process, 10 U.S.C. § 1370, and the Administrative Procedure Act.
11. In particular, Senator Kelly respectfully asks this Court to declare the censure letter, reopening determination, retirement grade determination proceedings, and related actions
unlawful and unconstitutional; to vacate those actions; to enjoin their enforcement; and to preserve
the status of a coequal Congress and an apolitical military.

PRAYER FOR RELIEF
For these reasons, Plaintiff respectfully requests an order:
a) declaring Defendants' actions unlawful;
b) enjoining the enforcement of Defendants' actions;
c) vacating and setting aside Defendants' actions under 5 U.S.C. § 706;
d) staying the effective date of Defendants' actions under 5 U.S.C. § 705;
e) preliminarily and permanently enjoining Defendants, their agents, employees, appointees,
successors, and anyone acting in concert or participation with Defendants from
45
Case 1:26-cv-00081 Document 1 Filed 01/12/26 Page 46 of 46
implementing, maintaining, or giving effect to Defendants' actions, including the Secretary of Defense's determinations and threats of further criminal or administrative action;
f) awarding Plaintiff reasonable costs and attorney's fees in accordance with law, including
but not limited to 28 U.S.C. § 2412; and
g) issuing any and all other such relief as the Court deems just and proper.

January 12, 2026 at 6:41 PM

Reposted by wicud blueskies

Harry Turtledove

@hntdove.bsky.social

We should be cutting it off altogether.

Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 7h

Speaker Mike Johnson: "We should not be limiting funding for Homeland Security at a dangerous time. We need public officials to allow law enforcement to do their jobs."

January 12, 2026 at 6:45 PM

Reposted by wicud blueskies

unraveled

@unraveledpress.com

Minneapolis right now—

At 35th and Park, a crowd has gathered after a car crash involving the feds. Agents just launched tear gas and pepper balls at people.

January 12, 2026 at 6:37 PM

Reposted by wicud blueskies

Aaron Rupar

@atrupar.com

Trump’s line is that disrespect to law enforcement is punishable by death. Impeach and remove. This is not tolerable.

The Bulwark @thebulwark.com · 23h

Q: "Do you believe that deadly force was necessary?"

Trump: "It was highly disrespectful of law enforcement. The woman and her friend were highly disrespectful of law enforcement…Law enforcement should not be in a position where they have to put up with this stuff."