Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Mary Madden @feministgothic.bsky.social · 2d

www.theguardian.com/stage/2025/s... Saw this tonight at York Theatre Royal. Beautifully done. Funny and moving.

Lost Atoms review – Frantic Assembly scale the highs and lows of a very modern romance

In a moving memory play, Anna Jordan charts the course of a relationship which begins with the sharing of a mobile hotspot

www.theguardian.com

Mary Madden @feministgothic.bsky.social · 3d

www.theguardian.com/travel/2025/...

Black, Brummie and proud: a walking tour of the real Handsworth

The Birmingham neighbourhood is hugely significant in the Black British story – a history seemingly unknown to Tory MP Robert Jenrick – as revealed on a guided walk that remembers Nelson Mandela and B...

www.theguardian.com

Reposted by Mary Madden

Andrew Male @andrewmale.bsky.social · 4d

The 2024 Little Richard documentary, I Am Everything, is currently streaming on C4 in the UK. Ignore the usual talking heads who appear at the start as this is excellent. Particularly good on the "queer" subculture of the American South. youtu.be/4YC8WUrWtZY?...

Little Richard: I Am Everything - Official Trailer | Documentary by Lisa Cortés | Opens April 21

YouTube video by Magnolia Pictures & Magnet Releasing

youtu.be

3 26 100

Reposted by Mary Madden

Deborah Rose @deborahrosereeves.bsky.social · 8d

Like many Irish folks I’m deeply saddened by the loss of Manchán Magan. The loss of the man himself and the loss of the many beautiful contributions I know he would have made to the world. How lucky we are that he left us with so much of himself, his unique perspective, his curiosity, wonder & awe 🕯️

Photograph from my bed of a book by Manchán Mangan and a little grey and white cat resting her head beside it. The book is Thirty Two Words for Field: Lost Words of the Irish Landscape.

2 6 17

Reposted by Mary Madden

Helen Shaw - Athena Media @athenamediaie.bsky.social · 9d

"We are in nature, and then we are humans in nature connected" Manchán Mangan - may he rest in nature - sad to part with both Jane Goodall and Manchán (far too young) this week - both powerful voices for our human relationship to nature and the environment www.rte.ie/news/2025/10...

Broadcaster and scríbhneoir Manchán Magan dies aged 55

The writer, broadcaster and documentary maker Manchán Magan has died at the age of 55, his family has confirmed.

www.rte.ie

1 6 36

Reposted by Mary Madden

Toby Earle 🇺🇦 @tobyontv.bsky.social · 5d

Racist arsehole Robert Jenrick holding up a wig like a puppet at his pathetic Tory conference speech which reaffirmed his bellendry

The useless cheeky monkey ventriloquist in Knowing me knowing you

4 12 35

Reposted by Mary Madden

Steve Senior @stevensenior.bsky.social · 9d

Just. Reduce. Child. Poverty.

Wellcome Trust @wellcometrust.bsky.social · 9d

We want to transform early intervention for youth mental health.

Our new funding award will help achieve this.

We're supporting teams to accelerate the evaluation and roll out of effective social and psychological interventions.

Applications close 11 Nov ⤵️
wellcome.org/research-fun...

Benny Prawira, Lived Experience Advisor at Wellcome says, "My wish is that new psychosocial interventions can do more than just make youth 'feel better' – but actually help them stay in school, find jobs and rebuild relationships."

5 10 46

Reposted by Mary Madden

スコット @y2skot.bsky.social · 24d

Abir Al-Sahlani, a Swedish member of the European Parliament. Born in Iraq, escaped after her father was locked away as a political prisoner by Saddam Hussein and arrived in Sweden, alone, at 15.

2 3 8

Reposted by Mary Madden

Silkabelli (mutazione-piromane Edition) @silkabelli.bsky.social · 26d

Queen

140 4.2K 10K

Mary Madden @feministgothic.bsky.social · 4d

www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b... This from 2012 gives a much better view of Handsworth than Jenrick's.

BBC Radio 4 - Mark Steel's in Town, Series 4, Handsworth

Comedian Mark Steel explores reggae, riots and white supremacist gardening in Handsworth.

www.bbc.co.uk

2

Mary Madden @feministgothic.bsky.social · 5d

Honest Bob Jenrick from Wolverhampton bigging himself up to the moneyed bully boys at the expense of fellow citizens. Specialising in wilfully ignorant dog whistling. £wall. Archive link in replies.

Sathnam Sanghera @sathnam.bsky.social · 5d

I've responded to Robert Jenrick's vile comments in @thetimes.com

www.thetimes.com/life-style/c...

I sang Jerusalem with Robert Jenrick at school — he’s wrong about race

The Conservative MP has complained that, visiting Handsworth in Birmingham, he didn’t see ‘another white face’. You can’t judge whether someone is integrated by skin colour, argues fellow Wulfrunian S...

www.thetimes.com

3 18

Reposted by Mary Madden

Kath @kathyburke.bsky.social · 5d

Yes, yes I know I keep banging on about my fucking book! However, if you want one repost this and I’ll do a random winner pick thing by the end of the week because I’m great like that. ♥️📚
#amindofmyown

49 1.2K 1K

Mary Madden @feministgothic.bsky.social · 5d

There are 2 Grammar Schools in Handsworth. I was one of the few locals at the girls one. There has been no shortage of white people willing to 'brave' the area to get to them. Over time these schools have become more reflective of the diversity of the area.

Kieran Connell @kieranconnell.bsky.social · 5d

A weird time to be a historian of multiculturalism, who grew up in Birmingham as one of a handful of white kids at school, who has also written a book on Handsworth. My thoughts on Robert Jenrick’s unabashed racism in @thenewworldmag.bsky.social

www.thenewworld.co.uk/kieran-conne...

What Robert Jenrick doesn’t understand about Birmingham

I was one of a handful of white kids at my school in the city. It enriched my life and worldview

www.thenewworld.co.uk

1

Mary Madden @feministgothic.bsky.social · 5d

Or the Royal Oak on Holyhead Road. A desi pub with a tractor over the door 🚜

1

Reposted by Mary Madden

Mary Madden @feministgothic.bsky.social · 5d

Handsworth's problems are not its people but a post industrial dismantling and lack of investment. Similar impacting 'white' areas elsewhere. An attitude of condescending contempt and a disastrous display of incompetence from a series of arrogant, self-serving politicians does not help.

1 3 9

Reposted by Mary Madden

Mary Madden @feministgothic.bsky.social · 5d

I was born and raised in Handsworth and have (white Irish) family still there. The Jenrick/venal right wing gaze is a pathetic racist fallacy.

1 1 9

Reposted by Mary Madden

Spooky Snigdha @snig.bsky.social · 5d

Sharing this beautiful slice of British reggae; "Handsworth Revolution" by Steel Pulse. The good people of Handsworth and Birmingham don't deserve the likes of racist Robert Jenrick in their streets.
youtu.be/A3LFvaAD2-Y?...

Steel Pulse - Handsworth Revolution - 01 - Handsworth Revolution

YouTube video by ReggaeRootsChannel

youtu.be

4 12 46

Reposted by Mary Madden

Only in Birmingham podcast @onlyinbirmingham.bsky.social · 5d

#Handsworth could teach @RobertJenrick how to live in a global society. #BenjaminZephaniah - spirit of #Birmingham - said "Handsworth for me is...where I learnt all my skills, my communication skills, my hustling skills, my poetic skills, everything."

2 21 77

Mary Madden @feministgothic.bsky.social · 5d

Handsworth's problems are not its people but a post industrial dismantling and lack of investment. Similar impacting 'white' areas elsewhere. An attitude of condescending contempt and a disastrous display of incompetence from a series of arrogant, self-serving politicians does not help.

1 3 9

Mary Madden @feministgothic.bsky.social · 5d

I was born and raised in Handsworth and have (white Irish) family still there. The Jenrick/venal right wing gaze is a pathetic racist fallacy.

1 1 9

Reposted by Mary Madden

Stephen Curry @scurry.bsky.social · 25d

A welcome, if belated, awakening to the disconnect between Musk's actions and the stated values of the Royal Society?

James Ball @jamesrball.com · 25d

Mini-scoop: After resisting pressure to strip Elon Musk of his fellowship for months, the Royal Society is meeting on 1 October to discuss his removal – following his decision to address Tommy Robinson's far-right rally on Saturday.

www.thenewworld.co.uk/james-ball-r...

Royal Society to debate throwing out Elon Musk

One of the most prestigious scientific bodies in the world is considering expelling Musk after his appearance at Tommy Robinson’s extremist London rally

www.thenewworld.co.uk

9 37 140

Reposted by Mary Madden

Pete Apps @peteapps.bsky.social · 13d

Can't think of many better illustrations of how badly we have botched housing policy than the fact that our bill for housing homeless families (£2.8bn pa) is now higher than the money we spend each year on new affordable housing (£2.3bn)

www.insidehousing.co.uk/news/english...