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Brian Lyman

@brianlyman.bsky.social

7K followers 630 following 4.2K posts

Editor, Alabama Reflector. Podcaster, Becoming Lincoln. 2024 Pulitzer finalist. Past: MGM Advertiser; Press-Register; The Anniston Star; Norwich Bulletin; Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Politics, history, science, horrific puns.

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Brian Lyman @brianlyman.bsky.social · Nov 12

Here’s our mission statement at @alreflector.bsky.social. From my first column on launch day in February 2023.

Alabama Reflector: Covering the pain and promise of our home • Alabama Reflector

Laws are made in the State House. Alabama is made outside it. Alabama Reflector will cover these dynamics that shape our home.

alabamareflector.com

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Brian Lyman @brianlyman.bsky.social · 56m

Please rise for the national anthem of high school football.

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Brian Lyman @brianlyman.bsky.social · 1h

The harmonica is an underappreciated instrument of protest

Brian Lyman @brianlyman.bsky.social · 2h

The lights of the nights of the Fridays

Auburn football player getting tackled at the 40-yard line by two Smiths Station players

Brian Lyman @brianlyman.bsky.social · 2h

The nonplussed spokeswoman really sells this

Ryan Mac 🙃 @rmac.bsky.social · 3h

with one of the most incredible kickers i've ever seen

NYT excerpt that reads:

On Thursday, Mr. Benioff said he had never been progressive even if many San Franciscans thought he was. He said he was a longtime Republican before switching to become an independent voter.

At the end of the interview, he turned to a public relations executive. He could be heard asking why her mouth was wide open and if he had said anything he shouldn’t have.

“What about the political questions?” he asked. “Too spicy?”

Then he hung up.

Heather Knight is a reporter in San Francisco, leading The Times’s coverage of the Bay Area and Northern California.

Reposted by Brian Lyman

Alabama Reflector @alabamareflector.com · 6h

Via @annabjournalist.bsky.social: The Montgomery Police Department said Friday that they arrested a suspect in connection with the Saturday shooting that left two dead and 12 people injured.

Montgomery police make arrest in connection with mass shooting | Alabama Reflector

Police say the suspect, a juvenile, has been charged with one count of capital murder; nine counts of first-degree assault and three counts of second-degree assault.

alabamareflector.com

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Reposted by Brian Lyman

Alabama Reflector @alabamareflector.com · 6h

Via Jennifer Shutt: The Trump administration announced Friday it had begun mass layoffs of federal employees, a step not taken during previous government shutdowns and one that could significantly reshape the size and scope of the government.

‘Substantial’ layoffs of federal workers launched by Trump administration amid shutdown | Alabama Reflector

Labor unions that represent federal workers indicated they plan to let the judicial system determine whether the layoffs are legal.

alabamareflector.com

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Brian Lyman @brianlyman.bsky.social · 9h

Gotta be the Intellivision games

mtsw @mtsw.bsky.social · 1d

Pretty confused by how TRON became a big-budget movie franchise. Was it a bit hit when it came out? No. Did it become a big hit on video/TV? Also no. Do people have fond nostalgic memories of it? Eh kinda but not really. Was it secretly great and critically acclaimed? No again

Brian Lyman @brianlyman.bsky.social · 10h

I’m fond of my Chevy Volt, but I’m pretty sure I’d need an MS in electrical engineering to fix any problems that may emerge from it.

Brian Lyman @brianlyman.bsky.social · 10h

I could diagnose and fix some engine problems on a car built 20 years ago. I really can’t today.

John Gramlich @johngramlich.bsky.social · 10h

Americans who never attended college are about twice as likely as those with a postgraduate degree to say they could fix a problem with a car's engine.

New @pewresearch.org survey looks at various practical tasks that Americans say they can and can't do.

Navigate with a compass? Fix a car engine? What Americans say they can (and can’t) do

Most Americans express confidence in their ability to do various practical tasks, but they are much less confident in their ability to do other tasks that require more specialized knowledge.

www.pewresearch.org

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Brian Lyman @brianlyman.bsky.social · 10h

Same energy

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Reposted by Brian Lyman

Maggie Astor @maggieastor.bsky.social · 11h

I honestly find these sorts of patronizing, journalistically illiterate messages more annoying than the ones calling me the c word

Maggie,

I understand you were doing your job. You likely received a directive from on high about the narrative to adopt—perhaps even an outline annotated with medical articles that looked rigorous and conclusive, plus a list of key opinion leaders (expert doctors) to validate it. Against the backdrop of anti-Trump and anti-Kennedy noise, it may have seemed coherent. You may even have viewed leading this report as a chance to advance your career. I don’t assume bad faith.

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Reposted by Brian Lyman

Alabama Reflector @alabamareflector.com · 13h

Commentary by Katie Owens-Murphy: "(Alabama) should no longer claim to speak on behalf of survivors if it only acknowledges pain that can be harnessed for vengeance. It does not know what to do with survivors like Will Berry who insist on restorative justice." https://ow.ly/E4qE50X9ijW

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Brian Lyman @brianlyman.bsky.social · 14h

This is part of a nationwide trend, but it should still be concerning, since school funding in Alabama still relies a lot on average daily attendance.

Alabama Reflector @alabamareflector.com · 14h

Via Andrea Tinker: Alabama State Schools Superintendent Eric Mackey said Thursday that numbers expected to be released next week could show the largest decline in K-12 enrollment in the state in 40 years. https://ow.ly/5zBB50X9uTx

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Brian Lyman @brianlyman.bsky.social · 14h

Ribbit to video

The Oregonian @oregonian.com · 22h

Things are happening at Portland's ICE facility tonight.

Read more of our protest coverage here: www.oregonlive.com/crime/2025/1...

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Reposted by Brian Lyman

Alabama Reflector @alabamareflector.com · 15h

Via Jacob Fischler: Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall signed a brief from Republican AGs arguing their states are harmed by the protests in Chicago and other cities that impede federal ICE officers from doing their jobs. https://ow.ly/Z68r50X9uxq

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Brian Lyman @brianlyman.bsky.social · 23h

If nothing else, Doug Jones’ win preserved the ACA long enough for Democrats to take back the Senate and eventually make ACA repeal politically toxic.

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Brian Lyman @brianlyman.bsky.social · 23h

Thiessen published this column in 2017 claiming that Democrats should have rooted for Roy Moore to win the Alabama Senate race, which was genuinely one of the silliest things I ever read in a national publication.

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Reposted by Brian Lyman

Lora Kolodny @lorak.bsky.social · 1d

criticize whatever you must and loudly - legacy, indie, trade, influencer, etc. but news is vital. great work is everywhere. shout it out when you see it. i'm so grateful for what we learn from reporting fearless to fun or fast and accurate. (well aware of the faults too.)

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Reposted by Brian Lyman

Matt Gabriele @profgabriele.com · 1d

I know this case is all over - & it should be - but Turning Point USA has waged a harassment campaign against faculty for more than a decade. I know of at least a half dozen other faculty, personally, who have received death threats and several of those who felt so unsafe they too left their homes

David Ho @davidho.bsky.social · 1d

Are we great yet?

Mark Bray, a Rutgers University professor and expert on anti-fascist groups, is fleeing to Spain with his family due to death threats that stem from a campaign by Turning Point USA and other conservative groups to get him fired, falsely labeling him as an antifa member.

Antifa expert at Rutgers University says he is moving to Spain because of death threats

An expert on anti-fascist groups who teaches at New Jersey’s flagship state university is moving his family overseas.

apnews.com

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Reposted by Brian Lyman

Alabama Reflector @alabamareflector.com · 1d

President Donald Trump said Thursday he’s prepared to cancel funding approved by Congress that he believes is going toward programs supported by Democrats, though he didn’t share any additional details during a Cabinet meeting. https://ow.ly/svFf50X9oje

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Reposted by Brian Lyman

Alabama Reflector @alabamareflector.com · 1d

Via Stateline: States are usually reimbursed for federal costs once federal spending impasses are resolved. But the Trump administration’s record of pulling funding and targeting Democratic-led states has some officials worried about what comes after the shutdown. https://ow.ly/O3Hb50X9bWL

Reposted by Brian Lyman

Alabama Reflector @alabamareflector.com · 1d

Via Anna Barrett: The Alabama Crime Victims Compensation Commission (ACVCC) has received one application from a victim of the Montgomery mass shooting on Saturday. https://ow.ly/6YMt50X9jua

Alabama Crime Victims Compensation Commission gets application from Montgomery shooting | Alabama Reflector

Everette Johnson said after the commission’s meeting Thursday that it came for one of the deceased victims. Two people died in the shooting.

ow.ly

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Reposted by Brian Lyman

Alabama Reflector @alabamareflector.com · 1d

Via Louisiana Illuminator: The lawsuit calls on the FDA to reverse regulatory action it took in 2023 in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, allowing doctors to prescribe mifepristone through remote patients visits or – as the lawsuit claims – without any interaction with a medical professional.

Louisiana sues Food & Drug Administration to stop mailing of abortion medication | Alabama Reflector

Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill filed a lawsuit this week that calls on the federal government to strike down rules that allow the distribution of abortion drugs without an in-person doctor’s visit.

ow.ly

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Reposted by Brian Lyman

Alabama Reflector @alabamareflector.com · 1d

Via Jennifer Shutt: A majority of Americans disapprove of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s job performance and the federal government’s evolving vaccine policy, according to a poll released Thursday by the nonpartisan health organization KFF. https://ow.ly/ATtF50X9bgv

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Brian Lyman @brianlyman.bsky.social · 1d

The death penalty is a political act pretending to be a judicial one, and seeing it up close has only strengthened my convictions that it must be abolished.

Radley Balko @radleybalko.bsky.social · 1d

Some good news.

That "Texas won't execute a guy who is likely innocent, at least in the near future" counts as good news right now . . . says a lot about right now.

But I'll take it.

clayjak.substack.com/p/breaking-n...

BREAKING NEWS: Robert Roberson will see his next birthday

That should make us all hopeful

clayjak.substack.com

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