Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Reposted by Jenn Kauffman

jamelle @jamellebouie.net · 1h

a key thing about vought — and all of these guys — is that they have a totally top down and hierarchical vision of the world. they believe that the cultural changes they hate can be turned off by destroying the federal government because they can’t imagine that they emerged bottom-up in society

Thomas Zimmer @thomaszimmer.bsky.social · 2h

What he’s railing against is a profound shift in culture, status… He’s obsessed with the idea that America is controlled by a leftist “ruling elite” - but “elite” isn’t defined socio-economically or by political power, it means something like: Getting to define “real America” and who gets to belong.

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southpaw @nycsouthpaw.bsky.social · 2h

The deportation order is based on Vedam’s conviction for murder—a crime he did not actually commit and for which he’s now been wholly exonerated. He entered the US at 9 months old and was a legal permanent resident before his conviction. We are so, so, so far from the light of justice.

Lynn Becker @cmgiulini.bsky.social · 13h

After spending 43 years in prison for a crime he didn't commit, evidence hidden by the prosecution reversed his conviction. Rather than finally enjoying freedom, ICE abducted him for deportation

Depraved.

www.miamiherald.com/news/local/i...

He was wrongfully imprisoned for 43 years. Moments after being released, ICE took him

Subramanyam “Subu” Vedam now faces deportation.

www.miamiherald.com

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Evan Sutton @evansutton.bsky.social · 10h

I was hungry, and you took away my food assistance and called it waste

I was sick and you took away my healthcare so you could make yourself richer

I was cold and you cut the program that helped me heat my house in the winter and have yourself a no bid government contract

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Jennifer Nuzzo, DrPH, SM @jennifernuzzo.bsky.social · 14h

Some of these people have now been fired and rehired TWICE since January. The current state of dysfunction is mind boggling.

Sheryl Gay Stolberg @sherylnyt.bsky.social · 16h

OOOPS! UPDATE: Two HHS officials tell me that disease detectives, measles response officers, global health officials and the MMWR staff were laid off by mistake and will be reinstated. But Washington office is still RIFed

Sheryl Gay Stolberg @sherylnyt.bsky.social · 1d

BREAKING: Friday night massacre underway at CDC. Doznes of "disease detectives," high-level scientists, entire Washington staff and editors of the MMWR (Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report) have all been RIFed and received the following notice:

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Dimitri Drekonja, MD, MS @dimitridrekonja.bsky.social · 11h

“Laid off by mistake”😳😳😳

Amateur hour 🤦🏻‍♂️

Sheryl Gay Stolberg @sherylnyt.bsky.social · 16h

OOOPS! UPDATE: Two HHS officials tell me that disease detectives, measles response officers, global health officials and the MMWR staff were laid off by mistake and will be reinstated. But Washington office is still RIFed

Sheryl Gay Stolberg @sherylnyt.bsky.social · 1d

BREAKING: Friday night massacre underway at CDC. Doznes of "disease detectives," high-level scientists, entire Washington staff and editors of the MMWR (Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report) have all been RIFed and received the following notice:

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Lynn Becker @cmgiulini.bsky.social · 13h

After spending 43 years in prison for a crime he didn't commit, evidence hidden by the prosecution reversed his conviction. Rather than finally enjoying freedom, ICE abducted him for deportation

Depraved.

www.miamiherald.com/news/local/i...

He was wrongfully imprisoned for 43 years. Moments after being released, ICE took him

Subramanyam “Subu” Vedam now faces deportation.

www.miamiherald.com

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Mueller, She Wrote @muellershewrote.com · 1d

A restraining order was issued YESTERDAY by a federal judge barring detention of journalists in this district unless they refuse to reposition themselves and are given adequate time to do so, or there’s probable cause they’ve committed a crime.

Heartland Signal @heartlandsignal.bsky.social · 1d

BREAKING: Masked Border Patrol agents aggressively arrested WGN video producer Debbie Brockman in Lincoln Square Friday morning, supposedly for "obstructing justice." (Video via Josh Thomas on Facebook)

Follow @heartlandsignal for more.

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Amy Maxmen, PhD @amymaxmen.bsky.social · 1d

The Trump admin is in the midst of laying off 1,100-1,200 HHS staff. The CDC's outbreak responders, gone. The office producing CDC's weekly journal MMWR is gone. CDC staff securing sensitive data, gone. Worker safety, gone. Immunization group, gone.

Instead, Congress watches RFK "make the proof"

Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 2d

RFK Jr on Tylenol and autism: "It is not proof. We're doing the studies to make the proof."

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David Corn @davidcorn.bsky.social · 1d

A classic case of irresponsible both-sidesism from the NYT. The story is that Trump and MAGA propagandists are lying about Portland to incite a conflict, not that there are different views of the matter.

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Jenn Kauffman @jennaudrey.bsky.social · 1d

This is one of the most frightening weeks. The administration’s attacks on the CDC, its threats of invoking the Insurrection Act, casting liberal groups as so-called domestic terrorists to shut them down, the Kavanaugh arrests based on solely race — this is it, we’re here. We’re in full-on fascism.

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Adam Keiper @adamkeiper.com · 1d

You would not fire these people—including the staff of the hugely, HUGELY important 'Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report'—if you cared at all about public health, if you wanted people to live.

And you would not let your thuggish henchmen fire people like this if you were a responsible president.

Sheryl Gay Stolberg @sherylnyt.bsky.social · 1d

BREAKING: Friday night massacre underway at CDC. Doznes of "disease detectives," high-level scientists, entire Washington staff and editors of the MMWR (Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report) have all been RIFed and received the following notice:

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Jenn Kauffman @jennaudrey.bsky.social · 1d

This puts the U.S. public is in grave danger — it’s the equivalent of firing all the weather reporters, desks and apps at the start of hurricane season.

Elizabeth Jacobs, PhD @elizabethjacobs.bsky.social · 1d

The editors of the CDC’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) were apparently fired today.

The precursor to MMWR began in 1878 to address emerging public health threats rapidly.

We are not “great” without it. We are vulnerable to threats from sporadic foodborne illness to bioterrorism.

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Ashton Pittman @ashtonpittman.bsky.social · 1d

ICE left David, a 17-year-old boy, stranded on the side of Interstate 20 after pulling over his immigrant father, Hector, in Mississippi.

David began running in the scorching sun after the car and watched as it disappeared from sight—soon headed to a Louisiana ICE prison.

Here's their story.

ICE Stranded a 17-Year-Old on I-20 After Arresting His Father. The Mississippi Dad Now Faces Deportation.

A 17-year-old watched as ICE arrested his immigrant father, Hector, on I-20 in June. The family faces mounting legal fees and the risk of deportation.

www.mississippifreepress.org

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Barred and Boujee aka Madiba Dennie @audrelawdamercy.bsky.social · 1d

aaand we are officially in the hide-your-neighbors stage

Sophie Sherry @sophiesherry.bsky.social · 1d

During a military-style raid on a building in Chicago’s South Shore, one resident heard a knock on his door.   It wasn’t the feds — it was a mom and her 7-year-old daughter, pleading for help.

He let them hide in his unit for the next 3 days.

chicago.suntimes.com/immigration/...

Neighbor shielded 7-year-old during South Shore federal raid: ‘I didn’t want them to take her’

During the Sept. 30 raid one tenant protected a terrified girl and her mom. Remnants at the complex, including a detailed map of all the units, offer clues to what authorities may have known before th...

chicago.suntimes.com

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Jenn Kauffman @jennaudrey.bsky.social · 1d

Literally nothing about politics in Donald Trump’s America is sparking joy right now — so only dumb TikTok dances and pranks and makeup reviews are allowed from US content creators now?

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Stephen Turner @stephenturner.us · 2d

Lost Science is a new NYT series of accounts from scientists who have lost their jobs or funding. You can send your story to the Times here www.nytimes.com/2025/10/08/c...

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Jenn Kauffman @jennaudrey.bsky.social · 1d

Just an absolutely quiet night, nothing of consequence happening on social media at all. 😅

Jenn Kauffman @jennaudrey.bsky.social · 2d

Brought to us by the same folks who swear the Civil War was just about states’ rights…

Jamie Dupree @jamiedupree.bsky.social · 2d

The Senate has defeated a plan from Democrats to block President Trump's use of National Guard troops in various cities - if local officials oppose their deployment from other states.

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Jenn Kauffman @jennaudrey.bsky.social · 2d

This is darkly funny — and also the inevitable outcome of policies that fail to make corporations and billionaires pay what they owe. It’s enabled them to make decisions with disastrous consequences for the planet because they think they can inoculate themselves from the effects of those decisions.

Mary Gillis @marygillis.bsky.social · 2d

Lol

I once met a former bodyguard of one billionaire with his own "bunker", who told me his security team's first priority, if this really did happen, would be to eliminate said boss and get in the bunker themselves. And he didn't seem to be joking.

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Walker Bragman @walkerbragman.bsky.social · 2d

The DOJ retaliating against the president’s enemies seems like the kind of scandal that should lead to the president’s impeachment and the disbarment of the U.S. attorney involved.

apnews.com/article/leti...

New York Attorney General Letitia James charged in fraud case after pressure campaign by Trump

New York Attorney General Letitia James was charged Thursday as part of a mortgage fraud investigation aggressively pushed by the Trump administration.

apnews.com

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Jenn Kauffman @jennaudrey.bsky.social · 2d

It’s is beyond time for the GOP to urge RFK Jr. to step down. To politicize public health is dangerous for all of us — but it’s especially dangerous for GOP and their constituents. For the future of their party they should put a stop to this!

Matt Novak @paleofuture.bsky.social · 2d

"Any mother who is taking this stuff [Tylenol] during pregnancy just to get back at Donald Trump is doing something that is pathological."

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Jenn Kauffman (ANC 4D08) @ancjenn.bsky.social · 2d

It was a privilege to celebrate the 1️⃣0️⃣,0️⃣0️⃣0️⃣0️⃣ lead service line replacement with @dcwater.bsky.social in beautiful ANC 4D!💧

#LeadFreeDC is helping to protect children and families from the harmful effects of lead. Sign up today! www.dcwater.com/resources/lead

CM Janeese Lewis George @cmlewisgeorgew4.bsky.social · 2d

Great news for #Ward4 and DC! 💧🛠️

Today, #Petworth was the site of the 10,000th lead pipe replacement in DC. It’s a testament to the hard work of @dcwater.bsky.social and thousands of neighbors who have stepped up to make their homes and our city safer.

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Governor Tim Walz @governorwalz.mn.gov · 3d

Can’t believe I have to say this, but in Minnesota you will continue to have the freedom to get your COVID and flu shots.

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Carl Zimmer @carlzimmer.com · 3d

Today my @nytimes.com colleagues and I are launching a new series called Lost Science. We interview US scientists who can no longer discover something new about our world, thanks to this year‘s cuts. Here is my first interview with a scientist who studied bees and fires. Gift link: nyti.ms/3IWXbiE

nyti.ms

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Kevin M. Kruse @kevinmkruse.bsky.social · 3d

Bray is a historian at Rutgers who received death threats after landing on Turning Points USA's Professor Watchlist. As a result, he announced he was moving to Europe. And then this happened.

This kind of harassment and abuse of scholars is Charlie Kirk's legacy and it's only getting worse.

Mark Bray @mark-bray.bsky.social · 3d

“Someone” cancelled my family’s flight out of the country at the last second.

We got our boarding passes. We checked our bags. Went through security. Then at our gate our reservation ‘disappeared.’

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