Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Reposted by Melek Ortabasi

Bessie the Normie @bessiefromsgv.bsky.social · 2h

My UOCAVA (Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act) absentee ballot abroad was counted for @zohrankmamdani.bsky.social @demsabroad.bsky.social

Let's win this!!

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Melek Ortabasi @mortabasi.bsky.social · 1h

Some lovely #fungifriends from this afternoon

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Melek Ortabasi @mortabasi.bsky.social · 2h

Oh excuse me ニャるほど

Melek Ortabasi @mortabasi.bsky.social · 2h

ニャルほど

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Reposted by Melek Ortabasi

Helen Kennedy @helenkennedy.bsky.social · 14h

This seems like a good time to remind everyone that Donald Trump’s first appearance in the New York Times was when the Nixon Justice Dept. sued him and his father for refusing to rent apartments to black people.

◥◤Kriston Capps @kristoncapps.bsky.social · 14h

HUD laid off so many fair housing investigators on Friday that it shuttered the regional offices that oversee discrimination cases in 9 states: www.bloomberg.com/news/article...

HUD Issues Layoff Notices, Targeting Fair Housing Staff With Deep Cuts

Fair housing staffers who investigate claims of housing discrimination at field offices nationwide were among the hundreds of HUD staffers who received layoff notices.

www.bloomberg.com

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Melek Ortabasi @mortabasi.bsky.social · 2h

I can see clearly now
Buntzen Lake, BC

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Reposted by Melek Ortabasi

Julia Carrie Wong @joolia.bsky.social · 11h

The promotion of pseudoscience about a supposed “cause” or “cure” of autism and the destruction of special education (and all of public education, really) are part of the same project. It is a fascist attempt to expel certain people from the body politic, based in eugenics.

Sara Partridge, Ph.D. @sarapartridge.bsky.social · 12h

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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Reposted by Melek Ortabasi

Kevin Carey @kevincarey1.bsky.social · 13h

It's clearer by the day that Columbia making a deal with Trump in July was a catastrophe for higher education as a whole. It gave terrible people a bottomless appetite for extortion. The other eight universities must follow MIT's lead.

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

M.I.T. Rejects a White House Offer for Special Funding Treatment

www.nytimes.com

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Reposted by Melek Ortabasi

Mike Stabile @mikestabile.bsky.social · 10h

There are few more chilling phrases than “Children’s Detention Center.”

LongTime🤓FirstTime👨‍💻 @longtimehistory.bsky.social · 14h

ICE secretly kidnap autistic boy during bathroom break—never notify parents.

Mother reported him missing a week ago—turns out ICE had him detained the whole time.

He was helping sell fruit and asked to go to the restroom—by the time she was done helping a customer he was gone.

Houston, Texas

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Melek Ortabasi @mortabasi.bsky.social · 11h

It’s my fake electric fire 🔥 I love it!

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Melek Ortabasi @mortabasi.bsky.social · 23h

What’s up?

Paws 🐾 up

Nite nite 😘

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Melek Ortabasi @mortabasi.bsky.social · 1d

lol fuck off

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Melek Ortabasi @mortabasi.bsky.social · 1d

Ok never fucking mind I don’t want to hear about her

Cassandra in the 305 @cassandrasaidso.bsky.social · 1d

Right-winger Maria Corina Machado, who was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, is an enthusiastic trump supporter, describes trump as a “visionary," and says that trump was right to bomb the Venezuelan boat, and he's Venezuela’s best chance for regime change.
😑
www.independent.co.uk/news/world/a...

Nobel Peace Prize winner hailed Trump as ‘visionary’ just days before her victory

Maria Corina Machado was given the award for promoting democracy in Venezuela and says that the US president is the country’s best chance for regime change

www.independent.co.uk

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Reposted by Melek Ortabasi

Mike W @gekido.bsky.social · 1d

so Google just added a bunch (more) AI bullshit to Chrome

Go through these steps to disable it:

opus.ing/posts/how-to...

#chrome #aibullshit

How to Remove AI From Your Google Chrome Experience - Opus

Follow these steps to resist the AI-pocalypse in your everyday web browsing.

opus.ing

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Melek Ortabasi @mortabasi.bsky.social · 1d

They are all parroting this bullshit line in lockstep. I know, because CO-3 Rep Jeff Turd repeated it verbatim in his email newsletter. Oh sorry I mean Jeff Hurd

Democrats Abroad Canada @demsabroadcanada.bsky.social · 5d

Are these shutdown attacks on Democrats from the White House and federal agencies against the law?

YES, because of the Hatch Act. Learn more about the act, and how the Trump administration is violating it!
@demsabroad.bsky.social #TrumpsGovernmentShutdown #GovernmentShutdown #blametrump

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Melek Ortabasi @mortabasi.bsky.social · 1d

Ugh.

Democrats Abroad Canada @demsabroadcanada.bsky.social · 2d

If “Did Not Vote” Had Been A Candidate In The 2020 US Presidential Election.

Don’t let this be you! Americans living abroad go to votefromabroad.org every year and request your emailed ballots. #DemsAbroad

Explanation: brilliantmaps.com/did-not-vote... @demsabroad.bsky.social

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Town Crier 🇺🇦 💙 🇵🇸 @nctowncrier.bsky.social · 1d

Spread the word.
#VoteFromAbroad!

Democrats Abroad Canada @demsabroadcanada.bsky.social · 1d

🚨 Pennsylvania abroad voters, your vote could save the 2026-28 elections!
🗳️ Make sure you request your ballot votefromabroad.org

✅ Then, make sure you vote YES on retaining all 3 of the Supreme Court justices! These judges’ rulings will make the difference on redistricting, voting rights, and more.

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Melek Ortabasi @mortabasi.bsky.social · 1d

It’s even winking at you!

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Reposted by Melek Ortabasi

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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Laura Haynes👩‍🔬⚾️🐾💙 @drlaurahaynes.bsky.social · 1d

Honestly, I don’t blame them. In fact it sounds like a great option considering what’s happening at American universities

#AcademicSky

George Conway 👊🇺🇸🔥 @gtconway.bsky.social · 1d

"The University of Zurich said the married couple, who currently work at MIT, would join its economics faculty …. [They] will be moving … at a time when experts are warning that Trump's cuts to research funding and attacks on … freedoms could lead to a brain drain …."

www.lemonde.fr/en/economy/a...

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Reposted by Melek Ortabasi

Linguischick @cocchino.bsky.social · 1d

"UT is being dismantled piece by piece. Those who see higher education as a threat are intervening directly breaking norms...even constitutional protections — in an effort to suppress and punish controversial opinions among our students and faculty" www.statesman.com/opinion/colu... #AcademicBluesky

After 35 years at UT Austin, I hardly recognize my university | Opinion

What was once a beacon of access and discovery is now fighting for its soul and mission as political attacks upend norms, rules and rights, Lisa L. Moore writes.

www.statesman.com

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Reposted by Melek Ortabasi

ACLU @aclu.org · 1d

For many families, the Trump administration’s efforts to restrict birthright citizenship have turned what should've been the happiest moments — the birth of a new child — into a time of stress and uncertainty.

We won't back down from defending the 14th Amendment.

Immigrant Parents Confront Fear, Uncertainty Over Trump’s Birthright Citizenship Threats

Families share how Trump’s threat to end birthright citizenship turned moments of joy into doubt about their children’s futures.

www.aclu.org

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Victoria Law @victorialaw.bsky.social · 2d

nysfocus.com/2025/10/08/b... #bannedbooksweek

New York’s Biggest ICE Detention Center Bans Book Deliveries

Rejected books include a Spanish-English dictionary, a Spanish translation of a George R.R. Martin novel, and "The Seven Principles for Making Marriage…

nysfocus.com

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Free Łink - Matthew R Francis @bowlerhatscience.org · 1d

Public universities serving the public!

NightMar on Hicks Street, Part 4: The Rabbit’s Revenge @histoftech.bsky.social · 1d

The Virginia Senate just told UVA it’s not getting state funding if it accepts the compact since UVA exists to serve Virginia, its residents, & their interests—not be a tool of the federal govt. Scoop from our student newspaper, who’ve been doing vital reporting www.cavalierdaily.com/article/2025...

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Melek Ortabasi @mortabasi.bsky.social · 1d

I’m more interested in hearing about the winner than the loser. Call me crazy 🤷🏻‍♀️

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