Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Reposted by Ryann

Anna Bower

@annabower.bsky.social

Tonight, hours after the Paul Weiss news broke, an associate at Skadden Arps sent a firm-wide email:

"Please consider this email my two week notice, revocable if the firm comes up with a satisfactory response to the current moment...We do not have time. It is now or it is never..."

Jeremy and colleagues, Many deals I work on have concepts of conditional
notice. This is mine. Please consider this email my two week notice, revocable if the firm comes up with a satisfactory response to the current moment, which should include at minimum (i) signing on to the firm amicus brief in support of Perkins Coie in its litigation fighting the Trump administration's executive order against it, ii) committing to broad future representation, regardless of whether powerful people view it as adverse to them, (iii) refusal to cooperate with the EEOC's request for personal information of our colleagues clearly targeted at intimidating non-white employees, (iv) public refusal to fire or otherwise force out employees at the Trump administration's directive or implied directive and (v) public commitment to maintenance of affinity
groups and related initiatives. This is not what I saw for my career or for my evening, but Paul Weiss' decision to cave to the Trump administration on DEl, representation and staffing has forced my hand. We do not have time. It is now or it is never, and if it is never, I will not
continue to work here.

March 21, 2025 at 6:20 AM

Ryann

@ryannkm.bsky.social

For the first time since I graduated, I feel the need to clarify that I went to Columbia College Chicago, not #ColumbiaUniversity. Have to make sure I don’t get associated with their nonsense.

March 22, 2025 at 12:50 AM

Ryann

@ryannkm.bsky.social

My Irish forebears didn’t survive the Great Hunger, an act of genocide, for me to then support the genocide of the Palestinian people or to be silenced by the Orange Fascist. Saoirse don Phalaistín. Tiocfaidh ár lá. Free Mahmoud Khalil. 🇮🇪❤️🇵🇸

March 18, 2025 at 2:23 AM

Reposted by Ryann

Kate Schapira

@kateschapira.bsky.social

Furious to report that the US deported Dr. Alawieh despite a judge's order that either came too late or was ignored. Her cousin has filed a complaint in MA district court. If there are ways to support going forward, I'll do a fresh post. www.providencejournal.com/story/news/l...

Brown Medicine doctor deported despite federal court order. What we know.

A court order that would have delayed the deportation of Dr. Rasha Alawieh was issued while her plane was on the tarmac, but it took off anyway.

www.providencejournal.com

March 15, 2025 at 6:53 PM

Reposted by Ryann

Kate Schapira

@kateschapira.bsky.social

They're trying to deport my colleague from the med school and holding her without counsel. She was coming back from a visit to her family. If there are ways to help I'll let you know. www.providencejournal.com/story/news/l...

She saw family in Lebanon. Now this Brown Medicine doctor is being held at Logan for deportation.

Dr. Rasha Alawieh flew into Logan Airport Thursday after visiting family in Lebanon. She's being detained now at Logan without legal counsel.

www.providencejournal.com

March 15, 2025 at 1:34 AM

Reposted by Ryann

Imani Barbarin

@imanibarbarin.bsky.social

Chuck Schumer literally makes up white people to be upset on behalf of… dear god.

March 14, 2025 at 7:00 PM

Reposted by Ryann

Gwen Snyder is uncivil

@gwensnyder.bsky.social

Fundraising

Joe Katz @joekatz45.bsky.social · Mar 14

The election happened four months ago. People's lives are being destroyed. Services we depend on aren't there anymore. The economy is teetering. Activists are getting disappeared. And I still don't know what the fuck their plan is.

March 14, 2025 at 9:30 PM

Ryann

@ryannkm.bsky.social

If @durbin.senate.gov doesn’t retire in 2026, I will work hard to make sure #Illinois voters fire him.

I mean assuming there’s a country and elections still.

March 14, 2025 at 10:02 PM

Ryann

@ryannkm.bsky.social

@durbin.senate.gov Senator, in 2025, how is it that you don’t have voicemail so your constituents can leave a msg that we demand you vote No on #cloture and no on the CR?

March 14, 2025 at 2:18 PM

Reposted by Ryann

Real Law Moms

@reallawmoms.bsky.social

Do you have #student #loans and work in #public #interest? Wanna know how the Executive Order of 3/7 impacts student loan forgiveness? Read on...

Real Pulse–EO_ Ensuring the Enforcement of F.R.C.P. 65(c).docx.pdf

drive.google.com

March 14, 2025 at 12:57 PM

Ryann

@ryannkm.bsky.social

If I don’t fight hard now, maybe hopefully I won’t have to later either.

Schumer needs to go

Steven T. Dennis @steventdennis.bsky.social · Mar 13

Schumer tells me Republicans might try to jam Democrats again in September, but thinks Trump will be less popular then and Republican appropriators might be more willing to stand up to him. He said they refused to do so now.

March 14, 2025 at 3:35 AM

Ryann

@ryannkm.bsky.social

Likely Yes votes on #cloture tomorrow:

Schumer (202) 224-6542 no vm
Hassan (202) 224-3324
Peters (202) 224-6221
Durbin (202)224-2152 no vm
Schatz (202) 224-3934
King (202) 224-5344
Shaheen (202) 224-2841 vm full
Fetterman (202) 224-4254
Cortez Masto (202) 224-3542
Gillibrand (202) 224-4451

March 14, 2025 at 3:34 AM

Reposted by Ryann

Real Law Moms

@reallawmoms.bsky.social

If you’re looking for the tea on the recent Executive Order about public service student loan forgiveness, check this out.

If you want “The Real Pulse” you check in with the Real Law Moms.” ✨👩‍⚖️✨

docs.google.com/document/d/1...

The Real Pulse
Real Law Moms TM
March 11, 2025
RE:
DATE:
Executive Order: Restoring Public Service Loan Forgiveness
March 7, 2025
LINK:
Restoring Public Service Loan Forgiveness - The White House
SUMMARY: In an action that could significantly alter the landscape of student loan forgiveness, this Executive Order targets student loan forgiveness under the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program based on an organization's activities. The Executive Order could have a major impact on a portion of the millions of borrowers who currently qualify for PSLF based on their employment.
ANALYSIS: The PSLF program, established under the College Cost Reduction and Access Act of 2007, provides a pathway to loan forgiveness for borrowers who commit to careers in the nonprofit or public sectors. Qualifying employers include government organizations at any level and 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations.
This Executive Order highlights concerns over what the Trump administration contends was the previous administration's misuse of PSLF, including funding loans for employees prematurely and supporting organizations whose actions the Trump administration believe harm public interests. It reads in pertinent part: "The PSLF Program has misdirected tax dollars into activist organizations that not only fail to serve the public interest, but actually harm our national security and American values, sometimes through criminal means." The Executive Order directs the Secretary of Education to revise the PSLF program to exclude from eligibility "individuals employed by organizations whose activities have a substantial illegal purpose."
The order identifies several categories of "illegal activities" which include:
• "Aiding or abetting violations" of federal immigration law;
• "Supporting terrorism" or "facilitating funding" to cartels;
• "Child abuse," which is defined as providing or supporting gender-affirming healthcare for transgender youth;
• "Engaging in a pattern of aiding and abetting …

The order does not and cannot automatically alter eligibility requirements, but it does direct the Department of Education to revise regulatory language. Notably, the process to change these regulations is lengthy and usually takes around one to two years.
WHO IT IMPACTS: These changes could influence which organizations qualify for PSLF, potentially impacting employment and funding for certain public service sectors. Read broadly, the categories characterized as "illegal" could exclude any number of immigrant right organizations, LGBTQ organizations, civil rights organizations or any organizations that support DEI initiatives. The categories being referenced are so broad and ill-defined that they could be used to deny student loan forgiveness eligibility to a wide swath of organizations that do not align with the policies of this administration, potentially even state and local governments.

March 14, 2025 at 2:48 AM

Ryann

@ryannkm.bsky.social

I have it on good authority the #DeptofEd sent everyone home today to avoid retaliatory acts after 1/2 the staff was fired yesterday.

If you have received #PublicServiceLoanForgiveness or are working towards it, please download all of your documents ASAP from studentaid.gov

#PSLF #PublicService

studentaid.gov

March 12, 2025 at 6:31 PM

Ryann

@ryannkm.bsky.social

One month, three weeks, and two days* from Inauguration Day will be this Saturday, the Ides of March. Take from that what you will.

*The time it took Hitler to take down the Weimar Republic.

March 10, 2025 at 7:00 PM

Ryann

@ryannkm.bsky.social

Targeting BigLaw. What could go wrong? 🤷🏻‍♀️🤦🏻‍♀️

Perkins Coie has more than 1,000 attorneys and revenue of $1.16billion in 2023.

Addressing Risks from Perkins Coie LLP

By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, it is hereby ordered: Section 1. Purpose. The

www.whitehouse.gov

March 7, 2025 at 12:40 AM

Reposted by Ryann

Catbus ☃️🎄❄️

@catbus.phd

God forbid a woman have hobbies

woman caught trying to plant explosive devices at Tesla dealership

February 27, 2025 at 10:39 PM

Ryann

@ryannkm.bsky.social

This isn’t even a damn concept of a plan.

Ken Martin @kenmartin.bsky.social · Feb 18

Today, I released a framework detailing how the Democratic Party will fight against Trump’s war on working people.

Read it here: win.dnc.org/memo

win.dnc.org

February 19, 2025 at 5:12 AM

Ryann

@ryannkm.bsky.social

Spent the morning getting a neuropsych eval. Felt like a fucking vacation compared to the clusterfire dumpsterfuck of the US series finale.

February 14, 2025 at 8:59 PM

Reposted by Ryann

lauren

@lauren.rotatingsandwiches.com

the only people who benefit from this are child predators and i'd like dem officials to say so into a microphone

Marisa Kabas @marisakabas.bsky.social · Feb 7

New — The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) was told this week by DOJ that they'd lose their funding if the org didn't remove any mentions of LGBTQIA+ issues from their public materials, I've learned. Staff were told they need to deadname trans kids in their reports to comply.

February 7, 2025 at 4:04 AM

Reposted by Ryann

Public Citizen

@publiccitizen.bsky.social

BREAKING: We are suing USTreasury for its unlawful disclosure of personal & financial information to Elon Musk’s DOGE.

This violation puts sensitive information about millions of Americans at risk.

February 3, 2025 at 11:05 PM

Ryann

@ryannkm.bsky.social

I watched this earlier and found it interesting (but admittedly I’ve been deep diving into 1930s Germany to better understand the history). She reviews the Weimar constitution and how Hitler consolidated power. She talks a bit about how the US is set up differently as well.
youtu.be/dkk1tzOssEY?...