Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Benjamin Willard, River Guide @zagdad.bsky.social · 4h

It’s hard not to be actively disgusted and infuriated by Johnson and many others in power on the right. Aside from the nonstop brazen lying, they just want to hurt other humans to protect their standing with white/heterosexual/male/monied/corporate interests. No other apparent goal.

Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 6h

Mike Johnson: "If you're a young, pregnant American citizen women who shows up in an ER and you get treated and they pay the hospital less for treating you than some illegal rabble rouser who came in from some South American country to do us harm, that is wrong."

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Benjamin Willard, River Guide @zagdad.bsky.social · 1d

Caldwell has also argued the Fed shouldn’t be independent and that the 14th Amendment should be repealed, and was a Claremont fellow. IOW, he’s an extreme right wing jerk. Great job, NYT.

Jeff (Gutenberg Parenthesis) Jarvis @jeffjarvis.bsky.social · 1d

#BrokenTimes praises racism, sexism: "Despite a raw vocabulary and some rude provocations, he outlined a nuanced vision of the military’s purpose and its relationship to civilian society."
That Hegseth Speech Was Actually Pretty Good www.nytimes.com/2025/10/07/o...

Opinion | That Hegseth Speech Was Actually Pretty Good

www.nytimes.com

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Reposted by Benjamin Willard, River Guide

Jeffrey F Steiner @jfs.bsky.social · 7d

The GOP’s has shown a clear willingness to pass legislation and confirm nominees on a straight majority vote when politically useful to them. The fact the didn’t pass a budget means either (a) they’re unable to govern or (b) it’s politically useful and they WANT a shutdown.

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Benjamin Willard, River Guide @zagdad.bsky.social · 3d

Good god what are we doing here?

Kyle Cheney @kyledcheney.bsky.social · 3d

A WILD ONE: A man broke his leg during an arrest by ICE at a car wash south of L.A.

ICE has held him under 24/7 guard at a hospital, registering him under a pseudonym, for *37 days* without telling him why.

A judge has ordered his immediate release.

storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...

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Benjamin Willard, River Guide @zagdad.bsky.social · 4d

Also, if you wonder why they’re masked, this is why.

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Benjamin Willard, River Guide @zagdad.bsky.social · 4d

Kavanaugh stop, explained.

newsletter.ofthebrave.org/p/im-a-us-ci...

I’m a US citizen and a veteran. ICE arrested me for no reason.

Jailed for three days without an explanation or ability to notify anyone, George Retes argues the only path to healing starts with the government taking accountability for its actions.

newsletter.ofthebrave.org

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Benjamin Willard, River Guide @zagdad.bsky.social · 5d

www.camscape.com/webcam/pione...

Benjamin Willard, River Guide @zagdad.bsky.social · 5d

Just some light stochastic terrorism from the president of the United States.

Matt Novak @paleofuture.bsky.social · 5d

Trump just posted an AI-generated video depicting Russ Vought as the grim reaper, set to Don't Fear the Reaper

Benjamin Willard, River Guide @zagdad.bsky.social · 6d

This is laughable and cynical, but also a ham-handed justification for anything US troops end up doing to citizens in US cities.

www.nytimes.com/2025/10/02/u...

Trump ‘Determined’ the U.S. Is Now in a War With Drug Cartels, Congress Is Told

www.nytimes.com

Benjamin Willard, River Guide @zagdad.bsky.social · 6d

Man, the violence/coup advocating and disinformation bots are getting worse here.

Benjamin Willard, River Guide @zagdad.bsky.social · 6d

Not only pointless but absurdly expensive. The cost per detainee must be staggering.

Ashley Huebner @ahuebner.bsky.social · 6d

Chicago: “The Border Patrol official said that snipers rappelled down from helicopters on top of the apartment complex, as a precaution from potential violence.”

Trump’s Chicago ICE Crackdown Intensifies With Drones, Helicopters and Trucks

www.nytimes.com

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Benjamin Willard, River Guide @zagdad.bsky.social · 7d

“Attacked by a chimpanzee” is something you don’t want to add to your resume but also probably a fantastic cocktail party debate-ender.

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Reposted by Benjamin Willard, River Guide

southpaw @nycsouthpaw.bsky.social · 7d

I’d like one newspaper to try out the headline “Republicans fail to attract Democratic votes they need to end shutdown” as a little treat.

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Reposted by Benjamin Willard, River Guide

Karl Bode @karlbode.com · 7d

Trump's FCC yesterday voted to kill a program that provided free Wi-Fi to rural school kids at no cost to taxpayers, falsely claiming the program was "illegal" and was being used to "censor Conservative ideology."

FCC moves to end discounts for Wi-Fi hotspot lending and school bus connectivity

The Federal Communications Commission voted to end discounts for library and school Wi-Fi hotspot lending programs on Tuesday, drawing criticism from lawmakers and librarians who say the move will mak...

apnews.com

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Reposted by Benjamin Willard, River Guide

Nick Bednar @nicholasbednar.bsky.social · 7d

I suspect we are getting two opinions in June: (1) Slaughter v. Trump holding that Humphrey's Executor is overruled and the only exceptions that remain are those recognized at the Founding. (2) Cook v. Trump holding that protections for the Fed are permissible because of the Bank of the US.

Mark Joseph Stern @mjsdc.bsky.social · 7d

NEW: The Supreme Court *refuses* to let Trump fire the Fed's Lisa Cook—for now. Instead, the court agrees to hear the case in January. Cook may continue to serve in the meantime.

(ORDER LIST: 606 U.S.)

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 1, 2025

ORDER IN PENDING CASE

25A312 TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF U.S., ET AL. V. COOK, LISA D.

The application for stay presented to The Chief Justice and
by him referred to the Court is deferred pending oral argument in
January 2026. The Clerk is directed to establish a briefing
schedule for amici curiae and any supplemental briefs responding
to amici.

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Benjamin Willard, River Guide @zagdad.bsky.social · 7d

Forcing Trump to keep Cook at the Fed — protecting global wealth from his stupidity and the nutjobs using him — is sort of Star Chamber-ish.

Mark Joseph Stern @mjsdc.bsky.social · 7d

NEW: The Supreme Court *refuses* to let Trump fire the Fed's Lisa Cook—for now. Instead, the court agrees to hear the case in January. Cook may continue to serve in the meantime.

Benjamin Willard, River Guide @zagdad.bsky.social · 7d

How, exactly, is sending $20 billion to Argentina while it sells soybeans to China and undercuts US farmers “America First”?

Reposted by Benjamin Willard, River Guide

𝕊𝕦𝕟𝕕𝕒𝕖 𝔾𝕦𝕣𝕝 @sundaedivine.bsky.social · 7d

We’re tossing Argentina a $20 Billion lifeline and they’re turning around and selling soybeans without tariffs to China.

Scott Besset letting America get rolled.

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Benjamin Willard, River Guide @zagdad.bsky.social · 7d

Sure, she overstayed a tourist visa. I’ll say I’m not an immigration attorney so I don’t know how that impacts her green card application based on marrying a US citizen. But the article doesn’t say she had a final removal order, for example.

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Benjamin Willard, River Guide @zagdad.bsky.social · 7d

The larger points are that the administration’s stated goal — deporting violent criminals — is a lie, and its tactics — using masked goon squads — are authoritarian.

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Benjamin Willard, River Guide @zagdad.bsky.social · 7d

Again, nothing in the article says she worked. You’re making several assumptions which the article doesn’t bear out. At least according to the article, she was engaged in the process for obtaining a green card. It has been a regular tactic of ICE to detain people based on very old court dates.

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Benjamin Willard, River Guide @zagdad.bsky.social · 7d

There is no indication in the article that she worked or broke the law. She was in a legal immigration process to obtain a green card. She was apparently detained on the basis of having missed a court date 6 years ago, which she wasn’t even aware of.

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Benjamin Willard, River Guide @zagdad.bsky.social · 8d

Kiss/Cheap Trick (1977)

Counting Crows (2023)

Big Head Todd (2024)

Benjamin Willard, River Guide @zagdad.bsky.social · 8d

Kind of a swing there from the first one to the second one.

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Benjamin Willard, River Guide @zagdad.bsky.social · 8d

So, to recap:

Trump told generals they’re going to war with US citizens.

He’s threatened mass firings and cuts to SS and Medicare if there’s a shutdown.

But is sending $20BB to his buddy in Argentina.

He’s having his foes indicted.

$12BB in soybean sales to China lost.

Wants to run Gaza.

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