Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Reposted by Chima Simone Benson

Moira Donegan @moiradonegan.bsky.social · 10h

Should have been Woody Allen.

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Dave Levitan @davelevitan.bsky.social · 11h

“We can give $20 billion to Argentina but we can’t afford the CDC’s measles experts” is a hell of an argument

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Chima Simone Benson @chimasimone.bsky.social · 9h

None of this extreme callousness and fleecing of the taxpayers is sustainable. They are raiding the Treasury, pocketing it all. Fucking us over in the process, and we just keep posting about it. Infuriating.

A tax strike is a start.

But we need to go full Nepal.

Sara Partridge, Ph.D. @sarapartridge.bsky.social · 13h

There are reports that the *entire* office of special education at the US Dept of Education has been cut. These hardworking folks ensure kids with disabilities get equal access to a quality education.

America’s children deserve better than this.

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Oni Blackstock, MD MHS @oniblackstock.bsky.social · 12h

The first reports of what would eventually be called AIDS and its causative agent identified as HIV were published in the MMWR in 1981 alerting health care and public health systems across the country. A tremendous loss for public health.

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Preorder Read This When Things Fall Apart @mskellymhayes.bsky.social · 16h

They're talking about killing leftist activists. They're talking about murdering people organizing in defense of immigrant communities, doing mutual aid work, and protesting their violence. They are talking about murdering people like me and my friends. We must do more than acknowledge it's fascism.

Prem Thakker ツ @premthakker.bsky.social · 3d

My gosh. After the US bombed multiple boats in the middle of the ocean, murdering people on grounds that they were allegedly "carrying drugs," the US Attorney General says "Just like we did with cartels, we're going to take the same approach, President Trump, with Antifa."

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Nikkolas Smith @4nikkolas.bsky.social · 1d

after millions of views and shares of my Portland Frog art. (thank you all🙏🏾) I got requests to highlight priests, and chickens, and Chicagoans, and T-Rexes, and more… all of us who refuse to bend the knee. so this is for US.
𝚂𝚝𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚃𝚊𝚕𝚕.
𝚆𝚎 𝚆𝚒𝚕𝚕 𝚆𝚒𝚗.

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Aaron Reichlin-Melnick @reichlinmelnick.bsky.social · 1d

My first thought was “wow I hope this guy didn’t give out his name because he could absolutely be charged” and yup, he is correct to stay anonymous.

This man’s account is shocking. His neighbors’ situation is shocking. The entire Chicago raid is shocking.

On the other side was a mom and her 7-year-old daughter, pleading for his help.
"I wasn't planning on letting her stay, but I didn't know what the hell was going on," the man said of his Venezuelan migrant neighbors. But he quickly relented. The little girl was inconsolable and hid under his bed.
"I didn't want them to take her," said the man, who didn't want to be named because he fears he'll be targeted by federal authorities for his actions.
"I gave her my bedroom, and I just told her,
'Just stay there. Don't open, don't, shh, just stay quiet," he recalled telling the mom and daughter as he choked back tears.

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The New Republic @newrepublic.com · 1d

His slip of the tongue reveals who’s really in charge. trib.al/mIvP0yE

“Illinois governor says we’re provoking actions that are unlawful,” Miller said on CNN. “If I put federal law enforcement and National Guard into a nice sleepy Southern town, is anyone gonna riot?”

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Hypervisible @hypervisible.blacksky.app · 1d

Why aren’t more women using the deepfake site? 🤔

Sora 2 is drawing a huge crowd of teenage boys. This doesn't bode well — trust me.

Sora 2 seems to encourage people to make fun of each other. It's also attracting a lot of teenage boys. This could be a nightmare for Sam Altman.

www.businessinsider.com

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Chima Simone Benson @chimasimone.bsky.social · 1d

The last protests were mostly older white folks, suburban moms and dads, everyday liberals. A violent crackdown on them would backfire.

…Unless this regime sends in a few agitators to make violence against the protestors appear justifiable. Miller is probably holding a dress rehearsal right now.

Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 1d

The campaign against “antifa” is about establishing a beachhead for further attacks on speech and assembly rights. We see that today in the effort to preemptively label No Kings protesters as “terrorists.”

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Bobby Kogan @bbkogan.bsky.social · 1d

Three key points:
1) The admin has been planning mass firings to begin in October since February
2) The work necessary to carry out mass firings is illegal during a shutdown, violating the Antideficiency Act, which carries a criminal penalty
3) This harms America, ridding us of talent and expertise

Russ Vought v @russvought
The RIFs have begun.
12:27 PM • 10/10/25 • 15K Views

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WeRateDogs @weratedogs.com · 2d

This is Manolo. His family invited strangers to spend time with him on his last day. His mom said, "This was such a perfect way to celebrate the life of a dog who truly loved spending time with people and their dogs. Run free and fast forever, Manolo. I will never stop missing you." 14/10 for all

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Chima Simone Benson @chimasimone.bsky.social · 1d

Election integrity has been dead.
Now it’s buried.

Tim Onion @bencollins.bsky.social · 2d

fucking WOOF

Scoop: Dominion Voting sold to company run by ex-GOP election official

Dominion is one of the biggest election equipment providers and was used by 27 states during the 2024 election.

www.axios.com

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Adam Serwer @adamserwer.bsky.social · 2d

www.wweek.com/culture/2025...

Can you put into words what that purpose is? You and the frog have really become icons of this protest.

There’s been a nice overall whimsy that has shown up. The frog is amazing. We had a bunch of other inflatable people here last night, too. I saw people playing Twister the other day.

What they rely on is fear. So by coming out in an absurdist manner, it speaks to them, to some extent, that we’re actually not that afraid.

It also dismantles their narrative a little bit. When they try to describe this situation as “war-torn,” it becomes much harder to take them seriously when they have to post a video saying [U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security] Kristi Noem is up on the balcony staring over the Antifa Army and it’s, like, eight journalists and five protesters and one of them is in a chicken suit.

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Chima Simone Benson @chimasimone.bsky.social · 2d

I absolutely love @sylvanaquafarms.bsky.social on TikTok!

He’s handily yeeting followers like he yeets chickens, but with policy debates, schooling on systemic inequality, and receipts at the ready.

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Ashley C. Ford @smashfizzle.bsky.social · 2d

Men claim women talk too much, but boy if you get that man on a panel, he will over talk every woman present in the room.

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The Associated Press @apnews.com · 2d

Pope Leo XIV has blasted how wealthy people live in a “bubble of comfort and luxury” while the poor suffer. In his first teaching document Thursday, Leo confirms that he is in perfect lockstep with Pope Francis on matters of social injustice.

Pope Leo blasts economy that marginalizes poor while wealthy live in bubble of luxury

Pope Leo XIV has blasted how wealthy people live in a “bubble of comfort and luxury” while the poor suffer.

bit.ly

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Keith W. Dickinson @keithwdickinson.bsky.social · 3d

Today is a day when arts degrees are worthless, but the product of those degrees is so valuable it would kill an entire industry if they were made to pay for it.

The Verge @theverge.com · May 26

Nick Clegg says asking artists for use permission would ‘kill’ the AI industry

Paul McCartne, Elton John and others signed an open letter.

buff.ly

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#9 Dream @gayfabfourfan.bsky.social · 3d

Another study showing links between COVID and cancer.

“The findings underscore the importance of understanding the interplay between viral infections and cancer development, particularly in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.”

Anthony Jones @hipecsurvivor.bsky.social · 3d

Study: Individuals with SARS-CoV-2 infection had significantly higher risks of developing HPV-related cancers: a 67% increase in cervical cancer, 131% in vaginal cancer, 98% in vulvar cancer, 92% in anal cancer, and 78% in oropharyngeal (throat) cancer.
#covid
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40813533/

SARS-CoV-2 infection heightens the risk of developing HPV-related carcinoma in situ and cancer - PubMed

SARS-CoV-2 infection is associated with elevated risks of HPV-related carcinoma in situ and cancer, irrespective of age or race. The findings underscore the importance of understanding the interplay b...

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

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Jacob Soboroff @jacobsoboroff.bsky.social · 3d

Michigan Avenue right now.

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Hypervisible @hypervisible.blacksky.app · 5d

“…that Sora is being used for stalking and harassment will likely not be an edge case, because deepfaking yourself and others into videos is one of its core selling points.”

Far from an edge case, it’s the primary use case.

Stalker Already Using OpenAI's Sora 2 to Harass Victim

A journalist claims that her stalker used Sora 2, the latest video app from OpenAI, to churn out videos of her.

futurism.com

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Winifred Tylenol Spice Burton @authorwinifred.blacksky.app · 4d

It's why we're called Cassandras, I know, but there's something violent about being treated as mentally fragile for observing objective reality, because that makes people who are in denial feel safer and more in control.

Been here since 2020, but WHEW it's irritating everytime.

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Chima Simone Benson @chimasimone.bsky.social · 5d

Qualifications ceased to matter on January 20, 2025, at noon EST. Universal incompetence is the moment. Widespread capitulation, a close second.

Roxane Gay @roxanegay.bsky.social · 5d

I have been flummoxed by Bari Weiss heading up CBS news all day. It’s not jealousy. I don’t want that job. I am not qualified to do it. I just don’t understand how this is possible.

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Gillian Brockell @gbrockell.bsky.social · 5d

Claim: 10 cars rammed ICE
Truth: No cars rammed ICE

Claim: She boxed ICE in
Truth: ICE boxed her in

Claim: She shot a rifle at ICE
Truth: She did not have a rifle

Claim: ICE returned fire
Truth: Only ICE fired

Claim: She drove herself to the hospital
Truth: Paramedics found her

Chicago Sun-Times @chicago.suntimes.com · 5d

Body-camera video appears to contradict the government’s claim that Marimar Martinez, 30, drove toward officers before one of them opened fire at her late Saturday morning in Brighton Park, her attorney claimed.
trib.al/9Sxu9IN

Attorney for woman shot by Border Patrol claims officer said 'Do something b-----' before shooting

Body-camera video appears to contradict the government's claim that Marimar Martinez, 30, drove toward officers before one of them opened fire at her late Saturday morning in Brighton Park, her attorney claimed. A judge ordered Martinez and a co-defendant released pending trial.

trib.al

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Newfie912 @newfie912.bsky.social · 6d

The thoughts of an economic depression are depressing

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