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Steven Lemongello

@stevelemongello.bsky.social

Senior Editor at the Orlando Sentinel. Jersey native, Florida convert

673 Posts4220 Follower9410 Folgt
Aaron Reichlin-Melnick@reichlinmelnick.bsky.social · 42m ago

This couple came legally. They applied for asylum before their visas expired, wanting to do it all by the books. After six months, they applied for work permits to stay afloat, passing background checks. They worked legally and paid taxes while government delay dragged on. Then ICE came for them.

The couple quickly became key to Chicago’s nightlife, curating events and performing in some of Chicago’s most popular venues. They were getting ready for their biggest venture yet: following Karol G’s tour across the country, hosting unofficial afterparties. But on Sunday morning, as the couple walked out of their rideshare outside of Midway Airport, they were apprehended by federal immigration agents. The two were on their way to take a flight to Washington, D.C., the first stop of the tour. They never made it through the door. The Department of Homeland Security said it had arrested Panqueva, 26, and Paez, 27, for overstaying their visas, which both expired in 2022. But their attorney, Enrique Espinoza, said the pair had applied for asylum within the required time frame before their visas expired. The two both have asylum cases, Social Security numbers, work permits and the documents required for their ongoing legal process, Espinoza said.
Laura Rodríguez Presa@lauranrodriguez.bsky.social · 3h ago

The couple’s arrest outside Midway Airport aligns with what immigration attorneys across the country have observed in recent months: an increase in ICE arrests at airports of people traveling domestically with expired visas but pending immigration cases. www.chicagotribune.com/2026/08/05/c...

Cartoon Brew@cartoonbrew.bsky.social · 10h ago

Disney has laid off well over 1,000 workers in three rounds this year and secured more than $45 million in taxpayer-funded credits for upcoming animated films. Today, it reported soaring profits, aided by a $100 million tariff refund. www.cartoonbrew.com/business/dis...

Disney Profits Soar After Layoffs And Millions In Tax Credits

Company shares have also jumped nearly 5% as it added another $1 billion to its stock-buyback plans, surely a major source of comfort to its laid-off workers.

cartoonbrew.com

Aaron Rupar@atrupar.com · 9h ago

Max Miller on why he's staying in the race: "When we go back to 2015 and 2016, & people in the media looked at President Trump, & everyone came out with allegations. Dozens of women, dozens of crazy allegations, dozens of nasty criminal misconduct. And you know what he did? He stayed in the fight."

Jay Willis@jaywillis.net · 4h ago

Dying at the right-wing activists that (1) held a call with Todd Blanche in which Blanche made a lot of anti-abortion promises, (2) said "uh this is off the record" like doing so would magically ward off journalists, and then (3) UPLOADED IT TO THEIR YOUTUBE CHANNEL www.politico.com/news/2026/08...

The acting attorney general’s conversation with Trump appears to have taken place just hours after the president publicly mused about pulling Blanche’s nomination and instead trying to push through a fund that could be used to compensate Jan. 6 rioters and others who claim to have been persecuted by the Biden administration. Announcements at the beginning and end of the Intercessors for America call stated that it was “not intended for press purposes.” A speaker told attendees that the call was “not on the record” and directed any journalists on the line to hang up. POLITICO was not on the call on Thursday when it took place and did not agree to any limits on reporting. Audio of the session was posted on YouTube by Intercessors for America, which calls itself “the largest national prayer ministry dedicated to praying for our government and leaders.” As of Monday, the recording remained publicly accessible.
Jess Miers 🦝🦞@jmiers230.bsky.social · 4h ago

Here is Adam Candeub standing by the statement he wrote for VDARE suggesting that Muslim immigrants and their children are prone to terrorism. Candeub is the nominee for assistant attorney general for the Antitrust Division.

Aaron Rupar@atrupar.com · 6h ago

SCHIFF: You told my staff you stood by your article in white nationalist website VDARE where you wrote, 'Muslim immigrants & their kids seem prone to terrorism' C: I wrote that article in support of Trump's travel ban S: Do you stand by it? C: I stand by that article S: That's all I need to know

Steven Lemongello@stevelemongello.bsky.social · 5h ago

In case you're wondering about that "One Night Only" movie that tries to be a quirky rom-com while taking place in an alternate universe pseudo-Gilead:

Dustin@moviedustin.bsky.social · 6h ago

I’m glad I’m not the only one put off by how cutesy it’s trying to be while taking place in an hellscape. I can’t get over how that one character says “Maybe the fascists were right about this” when referring to the mandate and the film enforces that worldview with the ending.

Katie Phang@katiephang.bsky.social · 6h ago

BREAKING: The New Mexico Department of Justice has sued Acting AG Todd Blanche and the DOJ, requesting the court for access to unredacted Epstein-related investigative files that the DOJ has been withholding.

Aaron Rupar@atrupar.com · 10h ago

NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman on rockets crashing into the moon: "It's not a big deal right now. The moon has clearly seen better days."

QuoProQuid@quoproquid.bsky.social · 10h ago

it’s kind of crazy that YouTube, which might as well be the biggest television station in the world, is just nonstop scammy ads—and it’s gotten worse since the advent of generative AI

Status@status.news · 20h ago

David Ellison tried to convince the public he can be trusted with CNN. But staffers inside the network torched his New York Times essay in brutal comments to us, pointing to the Paramount chief's disastrous record at CBS News. Details in @status.news: www.status.news/p/david-elli...

The Ellison Credibility Crisis

The Paramount boss tried to convince the public he can be trusted with CNN. But staffers inside the network torched his Times essay in brutal comments to Status, pointing to his disastrous record at C...

status.news

The Editorial Board@editorialboard.bsky.social · 10h ago

I love how rich and powerful people who are "long accustomed to direct access" to power are now said to be "shunned." Only they can be the arbiters of reality, not a democratically elected mayor.

The Wall Street Journal@wsj.com · 21h ago

New York City’s business elites are long accustomed to direct access to City Hall, where even Democratic mayors felt the need to court the city’s wealthiest and most influential corporate leaders. That access is getting shredded by Mayor Zohran Mamdani.

Florida Phoenix@floridaphoenix.com · 10h ago

“What’s on the ballot in November is more than just Republican vs. Democrat,” she declared. “It is: Are you a patriot or are you not?” floridaphoenix.com/2026/08/05/h...

How progressive are Florida Democrats? Alex Vindman, Angie Nixon Senate race offers a test • Florida Phoenix

As progressives rack up victories in other parts of the country against moderate Democrats, Florida’s Aug. 18 primary could prove a big test for that movement. Retired U.S. Army Lt. Col Alex Vindman h...

floridaphoenix.com

Ed Burmila@edburmila.bsky.social · 11h ago

When I started my political science grad program in 2003 people were freaking out because survey response rates had fallen below 30% and now they’re well below 1%. It might be as accurate (and more intellectually honest) to just conduct simulations with high/low/average turnout scenarios.

Adam Serwer@adamserwer.bsky.social · 11h ago

There’s no actual alternative to polling but I just don’t believe they capture public sentiment in any reliable way anymore

The Associated Press@apnews.com · 12h ago

President Donald Trump’s administration has detained more than 50 spouses and parents of U.S. troops as it rolls back immigration protections for military families, an AP investigation has found.

AP Exclusive: Trump's immigration crackdown has detained more than 50 military spouses and parents

An Associated Press investigation reveals that President Donald Trump’s administration has detained dozens of parents and spouses of active-duty U.S. troops.

bit.ly

Jennifer Harris@jwharris.bsky.social · 11h ago

“To be called out by the most powerful person in the world, the president of the United States, and called a sick, violent vandal when all I had done was pick up a piece of trash was awful,” Dennison-Gibby said. www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/202...

Arrested at Reflecting Pool, woman details ‘heartbreaking’ toll case has taken

Sophie Dennison-Gibby was one of three defendants charged with a misdemeanor related to Reflecting Pool damage. The charges were all dropped.

washingtonpost.com