Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Reposted by Harold Underdown

Dr. Lucky Tran @luckytran.com · 2h

There’s a March for Health and Science being organized in DC for Wednesday, November 5.

MARCH FOR HEALTH & SCIENCE
Washington DC, November 5@4PM

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Zohran Kwame Mamdani @zohrankmamdani.bsky.social · 5h

The prosecution of Tish James is the product of a broken system that allows lawless billionaires to rule alongside corrupt politicians.

It’s as much a story of New York City as Washington, D.C.

But it's here in New York where a new era of politics will be born.

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Harold Underdown @hunderdown.bsky.social · 2h

Three

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Zohran Kwame Mamdani @zohrankmamdani.bsky.social · 8h

UNTIL IT’S DONE, Ep. 4: Sylvia Rivera

In the 1970s, queer New Yorkers had been pushed to the margins of NYC. Our trans neighbors faced immense cruelty. But in Sylvia Rivera, they found a champion.

As we combat Trump’s politics of darkness, her legacy can light the path forward.

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JudithFlanders @judithflanders.co.uk · 5h

Wait until the goons get to Brooklyn, and the resistance via interpretive dance begins.

Post from TrustedReveler:
LA: We will fight you.
Chicago: We will fight you.
PDX: We will make you endure week after week of improv theatre.

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Harold Underdown @hunderdown.bsky.social · 6h

Notable commentary on the university "compact"--notable to me because the Cato Institute is a conservative/libertarian think tank.

Walter Olson @walterolson.bsky.social · 18h

New from me at Cato: I go through the numerous and massive First Amendment and academic-freedom violations of Trump's proffered "compact" with universities and then talk about the mechanism by which it would be enforced, by way of what I describe as a "retroactive push-button guillotine."

Universities Must Defend Their Independence by Rejecting Trump's "Compact"

The Trump administration has proffered a “compact” to universities that would require them to surrender their independence and academic freedom. How many First Amendment violations can we identify in ...

www.cato.org

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Kathleen Bachynski @bachynski.bsky.social · 8h

“Roughly 70 Epidemic Intelligence Service officers — the so-called “disease detectives” who respond to outbreaks around the globe — received layoff notices, according to a person familiar with them. The service was spared during an earlier round of layoffs in February.”

Trump Administration Lays Off Dozens of C.D.C. Officials

www.nytimes.com

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Theresa Milstein @theresamilstein.bsky.social · 7h

It's really is an important distinction. Students go to school being taught to look out for propaganda to be educated citizens. But if the free press isn't using that language, it's that much harder to see for what it is. And then to fight against it.

Greg Sargent @gregsargent.bsky.social · 8h

This week, MAGA figures claimed Kristi Noem "stared down" violent antifa protesters in Portland. Turns out they were talking mostly about a guy in a chicken suit.

This episode opens a window into how MAGA propaganda works and MSM failure to handle it. 1/

(new piece)
newrepublic.com/article/2016...

MAGA Implodes over Kristi Noem’s “Stare Down” with Man in Chicken Suit

A good New York Times piece on Portland nevertheless demonstrates how the conventions of objective reporting fail to accurately capture the bad faith driving pro-Trump propaganda.

newrepublic.com

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Debbie Ridpath Ohi @debbieohi.com · 8h

Happy #BookshopDay! Why not get some of your holiday shopping done early? Order or pre-order books from your local indie before the busy rush?

Psst: you can include this animated gif in your own Bluesky posts - when searching for a gif, look for [at-sign]debbieohi + keyword (like bookstore)

a blue sign that says shop from your local indie bookshop now

Alt: Shop from your local indie bookshop now so you can shop from them later

media.tenor.com

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Rachel Bitecofer @rachelbitecofer.bsky.social · 23h

This is a direct link to No Kings rallies next Saturday the 18th across America.

Use it to find the one you are going to.

We need everyone to show up AND RT the link and post it in non political digital spaces.

It’s now our never, folks!!!

nokings.org

No Kings

As the president escalates his authoritarian power grab, the NO KINGS non-violent movement continues to rise stronger. We are united once again to remind the world: America has No Kings and the power ...

nokings.org

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Harold Underdown @hunderdown.bsky.social · 1d

In which I talk a bit more about my "Publishing Trends, Market Shifts, and Opportunities" #kidlit workshop, coming up online *next week* via @highlightsfound.bsky.social

More information and to register: www.highlightsfoundation.org/workshop/pub...

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Harold Underdown @hunderdown.bsky.social · 2d

A reminder: NEXT week I will be offering "Publishing Trends, Market Shifts, and Opportunities," online via @highlightsfound.bsky.social, October 14 and 16, recording available, and resources included. $59

See the screenshot below for details or go here: www.highlightsfoundation.org/workshop/pub...

Banner graphic for "Publishing Trends, Market Shifts, and Opportunities."

October 14 and 16, 7-8:15 PM Eastern

with Harold Underdown

Workshop details:

Another reminder, because I think this is going to be very useful, and I don't want anyone who would benefit to miss it: NEXT week is when I will be offering "Publishing Trends, Market Shifts, and Opportunities," online via The Highlights Foundation, on the evenings of October 14 and 16, with a recording available, and resources included. $59
On Tuesday, I'll be covering:
--different kinds of change in publishing, from fads to trends to market shifts, and how to respond to them
--how to do your own research into trends
--a short history of market shifts in children's publishing, from circa 1960 to today
--a look at the big market shift of this century
On Thursday, I'll move on to:
--the trends! from picture books to young adult, fiction and nonfiction
--the changes in publishing from outside of it, mainly
--diverse voices and banned books,
--technology, and especially AI

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Karrie Jacobs @karrieurbanist.bsky.social · 1d

War ravaged Portland: the plushies are battling it out with the inflatables. Take shelter immediately!

dr. caitlin m. green @caitlinmoriah.bsky.social · 1d

there are SO many more inflatable costumes tonight. clearly we have settled on a motif

Wide shot of many people in inflatable costumes

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Brian LaRossa @brianlarossa.com · 1d

An illustrator alerted me to the attached email. Someone is impersonating me! Offering #kidlit illustrators fake deals!

This is not me! The deal-structure/schedule is insane. The deadline is quite friendly?! 10 picture books in 3 years?!

Please let me know if you receive an email like this!

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Gareth Roberts @garicgymro.bsky.social · 1d

In Wales most placenames are pronounced exactly as they look. However, tourists often make the mistake of pronouncing them as they look *in English*, which makes it immediately obvious that they're tourists.

Merriam-Webster @merriam-webster.com · 3d

What’s the word where you’re from that, when pronounced exactly as it looks, identifies a tourist immediately?

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Harold Underdown @hunderdown.bsky.social · 1d

In which I talk a bit more about my "Publishing Trends, Market Shifts, and Opportunities" #kidlit workshop, coming up online *next week* via @highlightsfound.bsky.social

More information and to register: www.highlightsfoundation.org/workshop/pub...

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Harold Underdown @hunderdown.bsky.social · 1d

Oh no!

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Harold Underdown @hunderdown.bsky.social · 1d

This is so well put--and the timing is perfect. I know have a perfect final note for my workshop next week. Thank you!

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Josh Moody @byjoshmoody.bsky.social · 1d

MIT rejects "compact" proposed by the Trump administration.
MIT prez wrote: it "would restrict freedom of expression and our independence as an institution" and "is inconsistent with our core belief that scientific funding should be based on scientific merit alone."
orgchart.mit.edu/letters/rega...

Regarding the Compact | MIT Organization Chart

orgchart.mit.edu

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Jennifer Molidor @jennifermolidor.bsky.social · 1d

Hanging onto every bit of good news

The river has come alive in the Klamath with wild Chinook salmon. The wider ecosystem is healing.

This most powerful story of Indigenous-led #rewilding after the largest dam removal in US history keeps getting better.

lostcoastoutpost.com/2025/oct/9/o...

One Year After Klamath Dam Removal, 'There's Just Fish Jumping All Over the Place': Scientists Describe Improvements to Water Quality and Wildlife

lostcoastoutpost.com

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Philip Nel @philnel.bsky.social · 1d

Harold and the Purple Crayon is a manifesto for human creativity disguised as a children's book. I wrote about it.
blog.oup.com/2025/10/turn...

Turn off AI. Pick up a crayon.

Google Gemini offers “a new way to bring your imagination to life.” Adobe Firefly promises “The ultimate creative AI solution.” And Craiyon invites you to “Create AI Art.” Don't believe the tech hype.

blog.oup.com

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Alex Wayne @aawayne.bsky.social · 2d

“Oklahomans would lose their mind if Pritzker in Illinois sent troops down to Oklahoma during the Biden administration.”

The Republican chair of the National Governors Association breaks with Trump.

www.nytimes.com/2025/10/09/u...

Oklahoma’s Republican Governor Criticizes National Guard Deployment in Chicago

www.nytimes.com

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Harold Underdown @hunderdown.bsky.social · 1d

This excludes my entire family on one side or the other!

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Harold Underdown @hunderdown.bsky.social · 2d

For me this raises a question: Is this relevant if you don't have a swimming pool in your workplace?

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Harold Underdown @hunderdown.bsky.social · 2d

# 3 is so sweet.

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