Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Wm McKenna @wmmckenna.bsky.social · 1d

It's important to keep in mind that they will happily do anything to cancel elections.

Robert Mackey @robertmackey.bsky.social · 1d

The Oregon Republican Party tried to help Donald Trump make the case for military intervention in Portland with an image of a fiery protest — but since Portland is calm, they had to fabricate one by merging old photos of police in Ecuador and protesters in Brazil www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...

Republicans post fake image of Oregon protest – using photos of South America

A federal judge had blocked Trump’s request to deploy California national guard to Portland

www.theguardian.com

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Reposted by Wm McKenna

The New Yorker @newyorker.com · 2d

Today’s Daily Cartoon, by Adam Douglas Thompson. #NewYorkerCartoons

Sign up for our humor newsletter to get Daily Cartoons delivered to your inbox: nyer.cm/0EivDaD

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Wm McKenna @wmmckenna.bsky.social · 4d

I'm going to miss facts and objective storytelling.

The New Republic @newrepublic.com · 5d

Anti-woke, anti-trans, pro-Israel Bari Weiss will soon lead one of the biggest media companies in the U.S.—and her right-wing blog The Free Press will be acquired by Paramount Skydance for about $150M.

Paramount will make the official announcement in the coming days. trib.al/TgPwpAw

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Wm McKenna @wmmckenna.bsky.social · 6d

"As expanding world trade bypasses our tariff fortress, an increasingly non-competitive America will find itself not only poorer but with less power and influence."

www.wsj.com/opinion/the-...

Opinion | The Economic Cost of Trump’s Tariff Revival

America has a choice to make: Do we go back to the policies of Ronald Reagan or of Herbert Hoover?

www.wsj.com

Wm McKenna @wmmckenna.bsky.social · 6d

"America, along with Israel, has apparently chosen what kind of system it intends to build in its wake: a new era of slaughter against the world’s political and economic surplus populations, a world untethered from even the pursuit of equality and peace..."

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Wm McKenna @wmmckenna.bsky.social · 6d

"After 9/11, George Bush told the world: “Either you are with us, or you are with the terrorists.” Now the Trump administration declares: There is only us."

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Wm McKenna @wmmckenna.bsky.social · 6d

"As we have seen in both American & Israeli discourse, “terrorist” has come to be a racial epithet, attaching to all Palestinians, all Muslims, all Arabs, & now, all migrants (documented or otherwise)—the circular logic becomes a logic of genocide as well."

www.thenation.com/article/worl...

Why Trump’s Venezuela Attacks Matter So Much

They signal a US empire increasingly willing to dispense with even the perfunctory legal legitimation that past presidents leaned on.

www.thenation.com

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Truthout @truthout.org · 6d

In late September the Trump administration abruptly announced that it was ending hunger surveys, after strong-arming Congress into passing a budget that eviscerates spending on food stamps by more than $180 billion — a cut which would put the food benefits of roughly 5 million people at risk.

Did Trump End National Hunger Survey to Hide Growing Hunger Under His Policies?

Over 47 million Americans are already food insecure, and that number is expected to increase thanks to Trump’s budget.

truthout.org

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Charlie Thomas @cthomasjamh.bsky.social · 6d

Brexit: another brick in the pile of “huh we just let those people lie a whole lot and people believed them?!” disasters.

Ian Dunt @iandunt.bsky.social · 7d

Why is Starmer becoming more confident criticising Brexit? Because quietly, without any great drama, a consensus has been reached. It's a disaster inews.co.uk/opinion/brex...

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Reposted by Wm McKenna

Benjamin Dreyer @bcdreyer.social · 10d

A thing I like to bear in mind about people like Ezra Klein and Thomas Chatterton Williams is that they're very boring.

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Reposted by Wm McKenna

Timothy Snyder @timothysnyder.bsky.social · 10d

Farmers planted in April or May. They have to sell in the next couple months. There isn’t any way they can react to the Trump havoc.
www.nytimes.com/2025/09/25/b...

China Bought $12.6 Billion in U.S. Soybeans Last Year. Now, It’s $0.

www.nytimes.com

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Reposted by Wm McKenna

Michael Derby @michaelsderby.bsky.social · 11d

Free markets update.

Matt Novak @paleofuture.bsky.social · 11d

Trump calls for Lisa Monaco, deputy attorney general in the Biden administration, to be fired from Microsoft, where she was hired in June as president of global affairs.

Trump: Corrupt and Totally Trump Deranged Lisa
Monaco (A purported pawn of Legal Lightweight Andrew Weissmann), was a senior National Security aide under Barrack Hussein Obama, and a Lawfare and Weaponization obsessed Deputy Attorney General under Crooked Joe Biden and Lisa's Puppet "Boss" Attorney General Merrick Garland, who were all the architects of the worst ever Deep State Conspiracies against our Country (RUSSIA, RUSSIA, RUSSIA, the January 6th Hoax, the Illegal Raid on Mar-a-Lago, the Biden "Autopen" Scandal, the Documents Witch Hunt, and more!). Monaco has been shockingly hired as the President of Global Affairs for Microsoft, in a very senior role with access to Highly Sensitive Information. Monaco's having that kind of access is unacceptable, and cannot be allowed to stand. She is a menace to U.S.
National Security, especially given the major contracts that Microsoft has with the United States Government. Because of Monaco's many wrongful acts, the U.S. Government recently stripped her of all Security Clearances, took away all of her access to National Security Intelligence, and banned her from all Federal Properties. It is my opinion that Microsoft should immediately terminate the employment of Lisa Monaco. Thank you for your attention to this matter! President DJT

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Hyperallergic @hyperallergic.com · 11d

Thousands of demonstrators calling for an end to Israel’s mass killings of Palestinians gathered in Times Square as Netanyahu took to the podium to address the UN General Assembly on Friday morning.

See Photos From the Massive Protest Against Netanyahu in NYC

Marchers took to the streets to demand an end to Israel’s mass killings of Palestinians as dozens walked out of the prime minister’s United Nations speech.

hyperallergic.com

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Wm McKenna @wmmckenna.bsky.social · 14d

"Relatively free elections are still the best guarantee against dictatorship. And America is not a fascist state—yet.

Needless to say, there are no guarantees that democracy, once lost, will be restored. It is far better to fend off fascism before it takes hold."

prospect.org/politics/202...

The Method in Trump’s Madness

Despite Trump’s impulsive inconsistencies, his attempted progression toward fascism is all too systematic. He has not yet succeeded.

prospect.org

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Wm McKenna @wmmckenna.bsky.social · 14d

Sir? Your pants are on fire (again).

USA TODAY @usatoday.com · 14d

President Donald Trump blasted mass migration and climate-change agreements during a speech at the United Nations General Assembly aimed at flexing American strength abroad. bit.ly/428sBJz

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N. K. Jemisin @nkjemisin.bsky.social · 15d

My niece found out ppl who think the rapture is coming are giving away all their stuff. Anybody got a nice car for me? Tryna become auntie of the year.

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Reposted by Wm McKenna

Vulture @vulture.com · 15d

If you have a Sinclair affiliate station, sorry, but they’re still not going to air ’ Jimmy Kimmel Live!’. Despite his return to ABC Tuesday night, Sinclair decided they will air something else instead of playing the late night show.

Sinclair Still Isn’t Going to Air Jimmy Kimmel Live!

If you have a Sinclair affiliate station, sorry, but they’re still not going to air ’ Jimmy Kimmel Live!’. Despite his return to ABC Tuesday night, Sinclair decided they will air something else instead of playing the late night show.

www.vulture.com

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Wm McKenna @wmmckenna.bsky.social · 17d

Let it be known that in our current dystopian world, only the vulnerable and the powerless will be targets of FBI sting operations.

Wm McKenna @wmmckenna.bsky.social · 17d

Groceries more expensive?

Trump's "wide-ranging tariffs, climate change and a shortage of agricultural workers in the U.S. are the leading causes of grocery inflation."

I wonder why there's a shortage of agricultural workers? 🤔

www.cbsnews.com/news/rising-...

3 reasons your grocery bill is getting more expensive

Here's why groceries are costing more, and what American consumers can do to save money at the supermarket.

www.cbsnews.com

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Wm McKenna @wmmckenna.bsky.social · 17d

Yes, the administration is flooding the zone with sh*t, as Steve Bannon advised long ago.

Well, it looks like a lot of sh*t.

Reposted by Wm McKenna

Radley Balko @radleybalko.bsky.social · 17d

John Roberts's "there's no such thing as corruption" and "the president has the right to use the DOJ as his personal law firm" jurisprudence is really working out well for us.

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Wm McKenna @wmmckenna.bsky.social · 17d

Another member of the National Guard looking rather bored in Washington DC.

Maybe we should get him a gym membership.

Maybe I should commit a misdemeanor so he would have something to do in this low crime town.

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Wm McKenna @wmmckenna.bsky.social · 17d

"Trump, according to Pres. Trump, is incredible & has turned America into the hottest country in the world. So who am I to question someone so wildly beloved, as long as you ignore polling, which I no longer believe in because I hope to keep receiving a paycheck."

www.usatoday.com/story/opinio...

Why this anti-MAGA liberal is now pro-Trump | Opinion

In light of the suspension of late-night host Jimmy Kimmel, I've decided I greatly admire Donald Trump and believe he is Making America Great Again.

www.usatoday.com

Wm McKenna @wmmckenna.bsky.social · 18d

Man from Northern Ireland says "that ICE officers told him "you look Mexican" when he was stopped and arrested in Key West, Florida."

It was the most inhumane thing that I've ever experienced in my life."

www.irishcentral.com/news/lee-sti...

WATCH: Co Antrim man likens ICE arrest in Florida to "being kidnapped"

Co Antrim man Lee Stinton says that ICE officers told him "you look Mexican" when he was stopped and ultimately arrested in Key West, Florida.

www.irishcentral.com

Wm McKenna @wmmckenna.bsky.social · 18d

I have a feeling that this is the same person in the neighborhood who tears down the “Free Gaza” posters.

Posters which show ICE and other federal officials wearing masks which have “Public Servants Should Face the Public” printed on them. Most of the posters were torn down in my Washington DC neighborhood.