Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Reposted by Condemned

Ron Filipkowski

@ronfilipkowski.bsky.social

While many Republicans running for Congress in swing districts are going to try to distance themselves from Trump, Miller, Kash, Hegseth, RFK Jr, et al, they enabled ALL of it. They all supported Mike Johnson for Speaker, who abdicated all oversight and congressional authority.

December 16, 2025 at 2:23 AM

Reposted by Condemned

klyde

@klydewitakay.bsky.social

MEOWSY MONDAY!!!

December 16, 2025 at 12:34 AM

Reposted by Condemned

GIVE IT UP FOR DAY 15

@giveitupfor15.bsky.social

GIVE IT UP FOR DAY 15

Mr. Krabs from the SpongeBob SquarePants cartoon rings a cowbell while yelling, "Give it up for day fifteen!"

December 15, 2025 at 6:46 PM

Reposted by Condemned

More Perfect Union

@moreperfectunion.bsky.social

Energy bills across the U.S. have increased 13% since Trump took office at the beginning of this year.

abcnews.go.com/US/energy-bi...

Energy bills in US have increased 13% since Trump took office, new report finds

The amount of money Americans are paying toward their energy bills has increased since President Donald Trump took office earlier this year, according to a new report.

abcnews.go.com

December 15, 2025 at 7:15 PM

Reposted by Condemned

More Perfect Union

@moreperfectunion.bsky.social

Private equity must be stopped.

www.nytimes.com/2025/12/14/u...

Private Equity Finds a New Source of Profit: Volunteer Fire Departments
Rural departments have long relied on cheap software solutions to keep their operations running. But fire chiefs report sharp price increases as investors have entered the market.

December 15, 2025 at 7:32 PM

Reposted by Condemned

Sean Morrow

@snmrrw.bsky.social

USDA plans to give Palantir a no-bid contract for AI "data integration" for the National Farm Security Action Plan which notably highlights SNAP 'fraud.'

So Palantir AI will ingest "key user data previously submitted by applicants" to "conduct security checks."

It'll cost up to $300 million.

United States Department of Agriculture Limited Sources Justification
For an Order/BPA Exceeding the Simplified Acquisition Threshold
FAR 8.4 Ordering under the Federal Supply Schedule (FSS)
Control No. (if applicable)
1. Identification of the agency and the contracting activity.
1a. Requesting Activity Agency: USDA Office of the Chief Information Officer 1b. Contracting Activity: USDA Office of Contracting and Procurement, Procurement Operations Division
2. The nature and/or description of the action being approved.
This limited source justification supports the establishment of a single award Blanket Purchase Agreement (BPA) under the GSA Multiple Award Schedule (MAS), Information Technology (IT) for Palantir Platform current and future commercial solutions, including core software, data, compute infrastructure, and ancillary support services, such as software modifications, auxiliary modules, engineering services, and training in direct support of the National Farm Security Action Plan (NFSAP).

Specific technical requirements include, but are not limited, to consolidation of complex data systems and environments into a unified platform which enables rapid deployment of Al functionality. This capability includes integration with key user data previously submitted by applicants for access of USDA services to reduce overall application and processing times and to automate data collection and extraction from forms to seamlessly integrate existing USDA data sources to conduct key security checks and expedite benefits processing for eligible applicants. Real-time data synchronization with existing producer and entity management systems will ensure accurate applicant information to inform and facilitate speedier and more accurate application processing and payment disbursement where applicable.
Other key technical requirements include implementing real time and continuous compliance monitoring with automate risk or alert generation or regulatory compliance officers and other personnel upon detection of threats or anomalies, in addition to establishing complete transaction logging and compliance documentation capabilities across all integrated tools and workflows for regulatory reporting and oversight activities. This includes implementing standardized integration protocols and Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) that maintain existing security controls, audit trails, and data privacy protection across all system interfaces.
The BPA will include a one-year base period, with two (2) one-year option periods for a total potential ordering period of three (3) years. The estimated BPA ceiling is $300 million.

Screenshot from "https://www.usda.gov/sites/default/files/documents/farm-security-nat-sec.pdf" reading: 3. U.S. Nutrition Safety Net Must be Protected from Fraud, Abuse, and Foreign Adversaries
Programs like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) should be preserved for truly needy individuals legally in the United States, safeguarding them from fraud, abuse, and foreign adversaries while respecting the generosity of the American taxpayer. Vulnerabilities in the SNAP payment system are a persistent target of transnational criminals and gangs. Law enforcement has identified a troubling trend of transnational criminal organizations (TCO) stealing from the poor and the American taxpayer by such means as cloning point of sale devices and card skimming. The proceeds often are used by the TCOs to fund their criminal activity.
• Action: In alignment with President Trump's Executive Order 14218, Ending Taxpayer Subsidization of Open Borders, USDA will ensure all relevant programs comply with associated laws, regulations, and Executive Orders; implement strengthened enforcement measures; clarify expectations for both States and authorized retailers to mitigate benefit trafficking and other types of fraud; and improve the integrity of application processes.
• Action: In partnership with USDA's Office of Inspector General and other federal agencies, ensure no funds across USDA's 16 nutrition programs are being used to fund activities related to terrorism or criminal activity.
• Action: The USDA will disqualify authorized retailers that are complicit in SNAP fraud or otherwise demonstrate a lack of responsible business behavior to transact SNAP benefits. USDA will also enhance its work with Federal and local law enforcement to combat SNAP retail fraud, including benefit trafficking and card skimming and cloning.

December 15, 2025 at 9:19 PM

Reposted by Condemned

More Perfect Union

@moreperfectunion.bsky.social

Amsterdam is about to start requiring strict permits for second homes in the city.

The proposal will free up upwards of 3,000 second homes in the city for residents to live in.

December 15, 2025 at 3:23 PM

Reposted by Condemned

More Perfect Union

@moreperfectunion.bsky.social

The Trump administration has nearly doubled the amount of formaldehyde considered safe to inhale under EPA regulations.

Formaldehyde causes far more cancer than any other chemical in the air.

www.propublica.org/article/epa-...

Under Former Chemical Industry Insiders, Trump EPA Nearly Doubles Amount of Formaldehyde Considered Safe to Inhale

Chemical industry lobbyists have long pushed the government to adopt a less stringent approach to gauging the cancer risk from chemicals, one that would help ease regulations on companies that make or...

www.propublica.org

December 15, 2025 at 3:57 PM

Reposted by Condemned

Cult of the Lamb

@cultofthelamb.bsky.social

🏔️ WOOLHAVEN IS OUT
ON THE 22ND OF JANUARY! 🏔️

Almost doubling the base game's content!

PRE-ORDERS START TODAY

December 15, 2025 at 5:07 PM

Reposted by Condemned

Rach ✨

@felis-rach.bsky.social

Another of my first comms from tumblr, team Keystone ready to explore 🧡💙

PMD team commissions -> ko-fi.com/c/9fc3bade0a

fanart of pokemon mystery dungeon OCs, a shinx looking excited and wagging her tail as she looks at a map, and her vulpix partner smiling calmly at her

December 15, 2025 at 2:59 PM

Reposted by Condemned

Robert Komaniecki

@komaniecki.bsky.social

I have grown to believe that excessive wealth does something to your brain that is analogous to a serious head injury

December 15, 2025 at 6:03 AM

Reposted by Condemned

lemon

@zestylemonss.bsky.social

It’s time to play spot the difference?
#furry #art

December 15, 2025 at 6:14 PM

Reposted by Condemned

Norin 🦈 🔜HolMat 🎅

@mahoukarp.com

Its almost crisis 🎅
#art #sharks

Illustration of a shark saying
happy crimus
its chrismun
merry crisis
merry chrysler

December 15, 2025 at 2:32 AM

Reposted by Condemned

Mun

@munrudoodles.bsky.social

Mysterious Voice: "You Zorua now."
Me: "Hey what do mean by that?"
My Pokesona's lore

December 14, 2025 at 5:16 PM

Reposted by Condemned

Sodapop Sprays

@sodapopsprays.bsky.social

Look at you. The same words you've desperately wanted to hear all your life became the very words you've grown to hate the most. Happy birthday.

#mlp

December 14, 2025 at 6:16 PM

Reposted by Condemned

Robert Reich

@rbreich.bsky.social

Poverty is a policy choice. Concentrated wealth is a policy choice. Inequality is a policy choice. None of it is natural or inevitable. Remember: We have the power to build a system that serves the many, not the powerful few.

December 14, 2025 at 7:12 PM