sara pequeño
LightNews LightNews
banner
sarapequeno.bsky.social
sara pequeño
@sarapequeno.bsky.social
690 followers 100 following 30 posts
columnist at USA TODAY | prev: Raleigh News & Observer, INDY Week
Posts Replies Media Videos
Reposted by sara pequeño
goldengateblond.bsky.social
shot/chaser in just 2 sentences
Chris Cameron Reporting from Washington "It's not the Republicans' fault. It's the Democrats' fault," Trump said, summarizing much of his argument on the problems facing the country. His party controls both chambers of Congress and the White House.
December 18, 2025 at 2:24 AM
sarapequeno.bsky.social
Trans people get attacked within the first five minutes of Trump’s speech yet I don’t recall hearing any solutions to rising costs.
December 18, 2025 at 2:40 AM
sarapequeno.bsky.social
Did hell freeze over? www.usatoday.com/story/opinio...
Mamdani just won whatever that Trump White House meeting was | Opinion
Donald Trump just upgraded Zohran Mamdani from a 'communist' and 'lunatic' to a 'really great mayor.' What did we just witness?
www.usatoday.com
November 21, 2025 at 11:46 PM
sarapequeno.bsky.social
Wrote about back home for @usatodayopinion.usatoday.com:

www.usatoday.com/story/opinio...
An ode to my North Carolina hometown as Trump's policies threaten to destroy it | Opinion
I could write about North Carolina for the rest of my life and never have enough words to explain what this place means to me.
www.usatoday.com
September 8, 2025 at 3:33 PM
Reposted by sara pequeño
rexhuppke.bsky.social
Tillis' departure signifies troubling shift. Can any Republican stand up to Trump?

My sharp colleague @sarapequeno.bsky.social, bringing up the possibility Dems could snag a Senate seat in North Carolina.

www.usatoday.com/story/opinio...
Tillis' departure signifies troubling shift. Can any Republican stand up to Trump? | Opinion
I've never been one to feel warmly toward Sen. Tillis, but if there is no room for moderates in the GOP, I worry about where the country is headed.
www.usatoday.com
July 1, 2025 at 12:23 AM
sarapequeno.bsky.social
Another NYC politics column from me: Zohran Mamdani has ushered in a new era of Democratic politics – one where bold ideas and consistent values prevail.
www.usatoday.com/story/opinio...
Democrats don't need to move to the center. Mamdani proves progressives can win. | Opinion
With Zohran Mamdani's win, New York City is showing the Democratic Party that they don't have to cede ground to conservatives to win over voters.
www.usatoday.com
June 26, 2025 at 2:32 AM
Reposted by sara pequeño
usatodayopinion.usatoday.com
"If Mamdani’s campaign was a complete failure, people within his party wouldn’t have worked so hard to discredit him," writes columnist @sarapequeno.bsky.social. www.usatoday.com/story/opinio...
A headline card with an image of Zohran Mamdani speaking at a podium. Text reads: "Opinion by Sara Pequeño: Mamdani wins NYC mayoral primary as Cuomo concedes. Will Democrats listen now?"
June 25, 2025 at 8:09 PM
Reposted by sara pequeño
jamellebouie.net
what’s funny is that if pro-cuomo centrist democrats were less myopic they might see that mamdani was running the kind of campaign that could help rebuild the party brand — accessible with an outsider persona and a focus on “kitchen table” issues.
June 25, 2025 at 1:34 AM
Reposted by sara pequeño
rexhuppke.bsky.social
Great piece by my great colleague @sarapequeno.bsky.social on Mamdani’s great win:

www.usatoday.com/story/opinio...
Mamdani wins NYC mayoral primary as Cuomo concedes. Will Democrats listen now? | Opinion
It's clear Zohran Mamdani accomplished more than anyone expected. Andrew Cuomo conceded the NYC mayor Democratic primary shortly after polls closed.
www.usatoday.com
June 25, 2025 at 3:24 AM
sarapequeno.bsky.social
New from me!

“Mamdani's NYC mayor campaign is lesson for Democrats – if they listen”

www.usatoday.com/story/opinio...
Mamdani's lead in NYC mayoral election is lesson for Democrats – if they listen | Opinion
While it may be days until we know the NYC Democratic primary results, it's clear Zohran Mamdani’s campaign accomplished more than anyone expected.
www.usatoday.com
June 25, 2025 at 2:33 AM
Reposted by sara pequeño
cuevasreports.bsky.social
"He won," Andrew Cuomo says of Zohran Mamdani. He says his campaign will continue to look at the numbers, but congratulates Mamdani. It sounds like it's done.
June 25, 2025 at 2:29 AM
Reposted by sara pequeño
kattenbarge.bsky.social
A party that actually wanted to mobilize young and disillusioned voters would be studying Zohran Mamdani’s campaign like the Bible
June 23, 2025 at 9:31 PM
sarapequeno.bsky.social
I hope that Democratic Party leaders are watching what’s happening in New York and don’t just think of it as a fluke. They need to finally understand that the party is going to change, whether they like it or not.
June 25, 2025 at 2:00 AM
sarapequeno.bsky.social
New from me: I interviewed Hasan Piker about the Democrats.

www.usatoday.com/story/opinio...
This liberal influencer calls Democrats 'smug, disinterested.' He's right. | Opinion
I wanted to get a left-wing perspective on how the Democrats should handle their messaging amid this PR crisis. So I called up streamer Hasan Piker.
www.usatoday.com
May 9, 2025 at 3:41 PM
sarapequeno.bsky.social
Wrote about the election in North Carolina that’s still happening.

www.usatoday.com/story/opinio...
North Carolina Republicans might just get away with stealing an election | Opinion
The outcome of this legal saga in North Carolina could have wide-ranging effects on future elections across the country.
www.usatoday.com
April 14, 2025 at 4:24 PM
Reposted by sara pequeño
briantylercohen.bsky.social
Trump just denied North Carolina’s request for FEMA relief from Hurricane Helene, calling it “unwarranted.”
FEMA will stop 100% cost-share in Helene recovery • NC Newsline
"I am extremely disappointed and urge the President to reconsider FEMA’s bad decision, even for 90 days," Gov. Josh Stein said.
ncnewsline.com
April 12, 2025 at 5:24 PM
Reposted by sara pequeño
rexhuppke.bsky.social
Great column by my colleague @sarapequeno.bsky.social:

“J.K. Rowling can't leave the LGBTQ+ community alone and it's getting weird.”

Keep hammering “weird,” folks.

www.usatoday.com/story/opinio...
J.K. Rowling can't leave the LGBTQ+ community alone and it's getting weird | Opinion
I wish 'Harry Potter' author J.K. Rowling and other billionaires would use their money and time to advocate for the betterment of society instead.
www.usatoday.com
April 12, 2025 at 5:36 PM
sarapequeno.bsky.social
J.K. Rowling can't leave the LGBTQ+ community alone and it's getting weird.

www.usatoday.com/story/opinio...
J.K. Rowling can't leave the LGBTQ+ community alone and it's getting weird | Opinion
I wish 'Harry Potter' author J.K. Rowling and other billionaires would use their money and time to advocate for the betterment of society instead.
www.usatoday.com
April 12, 2025 at 5:42 PM
sarapequeno.bsky.social
Congratulations, Republicans! Your fear of pronouns is tanking the economy.

www.usatoday.com/story/opinio...
Congratulations, Republicans! Your fear of pronouns is tanking the economy. | Opinion
Sometimes, it feels like Republican Party wants to be hateful more than they want a healthy economy.
www.usatoday.com
April 9, 2025 at 1:34 PM
Reposted by sara pequeño
nogoodwyfe.bsky.social
omg @sarapequeno.bsky.social you are the greatest. Cannot convey my delight at seeing an Apple News opinion headline that was actually perfect, opening it, and then SEEING YOUR NAME ON THE BYLINE
USA TODAY Opinion | Congratulations, Republicans! Your fear of pronouns is tanking the econ...
April 9, 2025 at 1:10 PM
sarapequeno.bsky.social
Did a lot of writing this week! Here’s my take on Cory Booker’s triumphant 25-hour speech in the Senate.

www.usatoday.com/story/opinio...
Cory Booker gave a 25-hour speech. That's great! But Democrats, it's not enough. | Opinion
Sen. Cory Booker stood up for Americans who can plainly see Republicans are letting Trump crash the government. Will Democrats finally take action?
www.usatoday.com
April 4, 2025 at 8:21 PM
sarapequeno.bsky.social
Hey so this is crazy
gregdoucette.bsky.social T. Greg Doucette @gregdoucette.bsky.social · Apr 4
BREAKING: Republican-majority panel of the Republican-majority NC Court of Appeals rules 2-1 that the Republican candidate for Supreme Court (their colleague on the Court of Appeals) wins the election even though he got several hundred fewer votes than the Dem

appellate.nccourts.org/opinions/?c=...
Screenshot of the cover page of Griffin v Board of Elections. Text reads: "IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF NORTH CAROLINA No. COA25-181 Filed 4 April 2025 Wake County, Nos. 24CV40619-910, 24CV040620-910, 24CV40622-910 JEFFERSON GRIFFIN, Petitioner, v. NORTH CAROLINA STATE BOARD OF ELECTIONS, Respondent, and ALLISON RIGGS, Intervenor-Respondent. Appeal by petitioner from orders entered 7 February 2025 by Judge William R. Pittman in Wake County Superior Court. Heard in the Court of Appeals 21 March 2025." Excerpt from the panel majority opinion in Griffin v. Board of Elections. Text reads: "Upon remand, the Board is instructed to immediately direct the county boards to expeditiously identify the military and overseas voters challenged under this protest and notify said voters of their failure to abide by the photo ID requirement or equivalent, to allow said voters fifteen (15) business days from the mailing of the notice to cure the defect, and upon verification, to include in the count of this challenged election the votes of those voters who timely cure their failure to abide by the photo ID requirement and to omit from the final count the votes of those voters who fail to timely cure their deficiencies. Finally, as to the "Never Residents" voters, we conclude these purported voters are not eligible to vote in North Carolina, non-federal elections, and the votes cast by these purported voters are not to be included in the final count in the 2024 election for Seat 6. The Superior Court's order in 24CV040619-910, affirming the Board's dismissal of Griffin's protest as to these purported voters is reversed with instructions to remand the matter to the Board to direct the county boards to identify the votes from "Never Residents" and remove them from the final count of the 2024 election for Supreme Court Seat 6. The Clerk of this Court is ordered to issue this Court's mandate on Monday, 7 April 2025 at 5 P.M. It is so ordered. REVERSED AND REMANDED. Panel consisting of: Judges TYSON, HAMPSON, and GORE. Judge Hampson dissents by separate opinion."
April 4, 2025 at 6:04 PM
sarapequeno.bsky.social
Rare moment of me talking about growing up in the church for this @usatodayopinion.bsky.social column on Morgan Wallen’s “get me back to God’s Country” post.

www.usatoday.com/story/opinio...
Morgan Wallen wanted to get back to 'God's country.' He was already there. | Opinion
I'm a Southerner by birth and a New York City resident by choice. I spent most of my life in what Morgan Wallen would describe as 'God's country.'
www.usatoday.com
April 4, 2025 at 1:44 PM
sarapequeno.bsky.social
Stop me if you’ve heard this one before: North Carolina Republicans have introduced a bill in the legislature that would bar people from using restrooms that match their gender identity.

www.usatoday.com/story/opinio...
North Carolina is back with a new transphobic bathroom bill. Will MAGA hate win? | Opinion
I'm worried that North Carolina transphobia may have found a receptive audience this time around, thanks to President Donald Trump.
www.usatoday.com
March 28, 2025 at 4:24 PM
Reposted by sara pequeño
michaelhobbes.bsky.social
Oh my god
berthacoombs.cnbc.com Bertha Coombs @berthacoombs.cnbc.com · Mar 14
Sen. Tillis says Dr. Oz should refer to Who Moved My Cheese, as he embarks on overseeing the maze of CMS
March 14, 2025 at 5:43 PM