Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Reposted by ben schwartz

ben schwartz @benschwartz.bsky.social · 9d

My new piece, up now @thenation.com: "If only trans activists had known what size check to cut for Chappelle, they could have shut him up years ago and saved themselves all the picketing at Netflix." www.thenation.com/article/cult...

The Sad Spectacle of American Comedians Selling Out in Saudi Arabia

It turns out that edgy free-speech warriors will scuttle their principles for a check from a brutal autocratic regime.

www.thenation.com

65 570 2.7K

ben schwartz @benschwartz.bsky.social · 1d

No, a lot of those "for your consideration" ads are built into a dictator's contract.

82

Reposted by ben schwartz

ben schwartz @benschwartz.bsky.social · 1d

I'm surprised Democrats are running midterm ads this early.

Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 1d

Thune: "If the Democrats had won the majority, they probably would've tried to nuke the filibuster. And then you'd have four new senators from Puerto Rico and DC, you'd have a packed Supreme Court, you'd have abortion on demand ... "

4 12 110

Reposted by ben schwartz

Ken Jennings @kenjennings.bsky.social · 1d

Quick, someone poll the 4 things in this scary, scary agenda.

Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 1d

Thune: "If the Democrats had won the majority, they probably would've tried to nuke the filibuster. And then you'd have four new senators from Puerto Rico and DC, you'd have a packed Supreme Court, you'd have abortion on demand ... "

140 390 3.2K

ben schwartz @benschwartz.bsky.social · 1d

I'm surprised Democrats are running midterm ads this early.

Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 1d

Thune: "If the Democrats had won the majority, they probably would've tried to nuke the filibuster. And then you'd have four new senators from Puerto Rico and DC, you'd have a packed Supreme Court, you'd have abortion on demand ... "

4 12 110

ben schwartz @benschwartz.bsky.social · 1d

She's amazing on the Lena Dunham show, too.

2

ben schwartz @benschwartz.bsky.social · 1d

Give her credit. It worked.

the image shows two pictures of actress Megan Statler waling into the Emmys and on her purse is a taped sheet of paper with the word CEASEFIRE! taped to it.

2 2 54

ben schwartz @benschwartz.bsky.social · 2d

lol variety.com/2025/tv/news...

Human Rights Watch ‘Cannot Accept’ Donations From Aziz Ansari and Other Comedians Who Performed at Riyadh Comedy Festival

Human Rights Watch says it 'cannot accept' donations from Aziz Ansari and other comedians who performed at the Riyadh Comedy Festival in Saudi Arabia.

variety.com

5 50

ben schwartz @benschwartz.bsky.social · 2d

1 4 63

Reposted by ben schwartz

ben schwartz @benschwartz.bsky.social · 3d

"All they lost is any credibility on lecturing anyone else on right and wrong ever again. But that’s a real loss—it’s the reason Donald Trump hates comedians so much. When they handed over their credibility to MBS, they handed it over here, too, and for free."

3 11 85

ben schwartz @benschwartz.bsky.social · 3d

"All they lost is any credibility on lecturing anyone else on right and wrong ever again. But that’s a real loss—it’s the reason Donald Trump hates comedians so much. When they handed over their credibility to MBS, they handed it over here, too, and for free."

3 11 85

Reposted by ben schwartz

Amy @lolennui.bsky.social · 3d

So cool that whenever someone asks the president, “did you eat the Lindbergh baby” he’s like, “no but I’d be allowed to, I have the right to, I might do it later”

230 3.1K 16K

ben schwartz @benschwartz.bsky.social · 3d

thanks, john!

1 1

Reposted by ben schwartz

Gerry Duggan @gerryduggan.bsky.social · 4d

Falling In Love On The Path To Hell readers -- register your interest over here, please...
zoop.gg/c/fallinginl...

Falling in Love on the Path to Hell - A Fistful of Inks

GERRY DUGGAN (Deadpool, X-Men) and GARRY BROWN (Babyteeth) present an 8" x 12" oversized hardcover of their groundbreaking series, shining a spotlight on the incredible inks of Garry Brown! ***EARLY ...

zoop.gg

1 4 14

Reposted by ben schwartz

ben schwartz @benschwartz.bsky.social · 5d

Bari Weiss is a Jewish married lesbian. If she was liberal, The Free Press would call this a DEI hire.

NPR @npr.org · 5d

JUST IN: CBS' parent company is buying The Free Press and installing Bari Weiss, its contrarian founder, as editor in chief of CBS News.

Bari Weiss joins CBS with a mandate for 'balanced and fact-based' news

CBS' parent company is buying The Free Press and installing Bari Weiss, its contrarian founder, as editor in chief of CBS News.

n.pr

2 18 180

ben schwartz @benschwartz.bsky.social · 4d

I mean ... bsky.app/profile/maxt...

max tani @maxtani.bsky.social · 4d

Bari Weiss introduced herself to CBS News staff today on the network's 9AM call, saying she wants to "win," which requires restoring trust to CBS. She also said she was excited for staff to get to know the Free Press, and ended her remarks by saying: "Let's do the fucking news."

1 8

Reposted by ben schwartz

Cooger & Dark’s Pandemonium Shadow Podcast @gonebabygone.bsky.social · 4d

Look I think there is a limit to what mockery practically achieves but it fucking rules that the American Himmler had to go on TV to sputter about how he’s not actually under five feet tall

Acyn @acyn.bsky.social · 5d

Stephen Miller responding to AOC calling Miller a clown and saying he is angry that he is 4’10”: We knew her brain didn't work—now we know their eyes don't work.

16 190 1.4K

ben schwartz @benschwartz.bsky.social · 5d

Bari Weiss is a Jewish married lesbian. If she was liberal, The Free Press would call this a DEI hire.

NPR @npr.org · 5d

JUST IN: CBS' parent company is buying The Free Press and installing Bari Weiss, its contrarian founder, as editor in chief of CBS News.

Bari Weiss joins CBS with a mandate for 'balanced and fact-based' news

CBS' parent company is buying The Free Press and installing Bari Weiss, its contrarian founder, as editor in chief of CBS News.

n.pr

2 18 180

ben schwartz @benschwartz.bsky.social · 5d

“I voted for a Riyadh payday and they asked Tim Dillon. Trump is dead to me!”

Rolling Stone @rollingstone.com · 5d

“I voted for none of this."

Prominent influencers, including Theo Von, Joe Rogan, and Andrew Schulz, are starting to distance themselves from the president they helped propel to the White House.

Story: www.rollingstone.com/politics/pol...

2 38

ben schwartz @benschwartz.bsky.social · 6d

thanks!

1

ben schwartz @benschwartz.bsky.social · 7d

they still do it

6

ben schwartz @benschwartz.bsky.social · 7d

huh -- both takes on those songs are the same thing, turning what they were into soaring romantic anthems.

ben schwartz @benschwartz.bsky.social · 7d

“I told the Crown Prince, I’ve committed crimes in the United States. I’ve held women against their will and sexually abused them. And he said, ‘Yes, ok, but what crimes did you commit?'” www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/l...

Louis C.K. Defends Performing at Riyadh Comedy Festival: “Feels Like a Good Opportunity”

"The fact that that’s opening up and starting to bud, I wanna see it, I wanna be part of it. I think that’s a positive thing," he said on the latest episode of 'Real Time.'

www.hollywoodreporter.com

13 71 240

ben schwartz @benschwartz.bsky.social · 7d

You'll get there, Josh. Don't give up on the dream!

7

ben schwartz @benschwartz.bsky.social · 7d

I knew it. I told my wife, "15 minute standing ovation in Venice -- that's a ten minute standing ovation movie at best."