Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Peter Arnott @peterarnott.bsky.social · 1m

Been reading Bob Woodward's book on Clinton's first year. . 1993. Where a government elected on a social democratic mandate was first instructed by market leaders to forget about democracy. They obeyed, and so has every "progressive" since. Which is why voters world wide have turned to demagogues.

Prospect Magazine @prospectmagazine.co.uk · 11m

Starmer’s real enemy isn’t Farage, it’s economic stagnation, tax rises, botched Brexit, our overwhelmed NHS... Virtually none of which has been reversed since Labour took office last year, writes Andrew Adonis.

Why is Starmer focusing so much on Farage?

The prime minister’s real enemy isn’t Reform—it’s the state of the country

www.prospectmagazine.co.uk

Peter Arnott @peterarnott.bsky.social · 7m

The Guardian have helpfully recorded and summarised Thiel's four lectures on the Antichrist. The summary of the summary?

"$$$. Bonkers. $$$"

Martin D.B. Brown @martindbbrown.bsky.social · 14m

I've earned money so I know 'shit'

*Nope, that's not how it works, mate

www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...

Inside tech billionaire Peter Thiel’s off-the-record lectures about the antichrist

The political svengali and investor has been giving lectures on ‘an evil king or tyrant … who appears in the end times’

www.theguardian.com

Peter Arnott @peterarnott.bsky.social · 12m

Faygge Noozz! Kovid nivver happuned!

Angie Rasmussen @angierasmussen.bsky.social · 5h

I don’t know who needs to hear this but the CDC is being eviscerated right now. America is not going to have any kind of outbreak response capacity after tonight. Americans’ health data is no longer secure. Say goodbye to federal public health in any capacity. It’s a disaster. We won’t recover.

Reposted by Peter Arnott

Peter Jukes @peterjukes.bsky.social · 10h

Same day. Same plenary session. Same visit to Gill’s office. Same Farage, Same Gill, same wife of sanctioned pro Russian agent.

Six days after the first bribery charge

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Reposted by Peter Arnott

Amedeo Felix @amedeofelix.bsky.social · 23m

www.npr.org/2025/10/10/n...

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Peter Arnott @peterarnott.bsky.social · 15m

20 emaciated hostages will hopefully be released by Tuesday. 28 bodies of those already dead will hopefully be disinterred a little after that. Then the world can look at the thousands of prisoners held without trial, or by show trial...and the estimated 14 000 bodies buried in the ruins of Gaza.

Mike Bailey @linusd.bsky.social · 2h

How many of Gaza’s reporters have survived? More than 200 have been murdered in war crimes that must be investigated and prosecuted.

The Guardian @theguardian.com · 2h

‘Gateway to hell’: young reporter’s harrowing two years in besieged Gaza

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Reposted by Peter Arnott

Zack Polanski @zackpolanski.bsky.social · 1h

Ever since I finished Question Time, Reform have massively been on the attack.

Including a rant from Richard Tice entirely designed to distract from Reform and Russia.

Everyone should know about Nathan Gill, the bribes from Russia and the link to Reform.

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Reposted by Peter Arnott

Hell-y 🇺🇦🏳️‍⚧️🏳️‍🌈🇵🇸 @mxhollyclara.bsky.social · 1d

Zack Polanski genuinely gives me hope that we can have a different kind of politics, different kind of government as opposed to the 49 years of shite I’ve lived under.

The Green Party of England & Wales @greenparty.org.uk · 1d

“Why is it always hard choices for working-class communities — not for multimillionaires and billionaires?”

Zack Polanski calls for a tax on the super-rich on #BBCQT

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Reposted by Peter Arnott

George Takei @georgetakei.bsky.social · 1d

It’s been over two weeks! Swear her in! And release the Epstein files.

Screenshot of a tweet from journalist Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) on X. The tweet shows a transcript from a NEWSNATION interview with Mike Johnson. The interviewer asks why he won’t swear in Adelita Grijalva, suggesting it’s to block her vote on an Epstein discharge petition. Johnson replies that Democrats are using distractions and red herrings and says it’s only a scheduling issue that will be addressed once Democrats vote to reopen the government.

Continuation of the NEWSNATION interview transcript shared by Aaron Rupar. The interviewer points out that Republicans have been sworn in during pro forma sessions and asks why it should be different for a Democrat. Mike Johnson replies that the two Florida representatives sworn in earlier were an exception because they had flown their families in for the ceremony.

Final part of the tweet thread showing a screenshot from a NEWSNATION broadcast. The interviewer asks if Adelita Grijalva would be sworn in if she flew in her family. Mike Johnson responds that these are distractions. The split-screen broadcast shows the interviewer on the left, Mike Johnson in the center, and a clip of Adelita Grijalva speaking at a podium outdoors on the right. The headline reads: ‘WHY IT MATTERS: GRJALVA TO BE SWORN IN ONCE GOV’T REOPENED.’ A timer below shows ‘Government shutdown in 6 days.’

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Peter Arnott @peterarnott.bsky.social · 1d

Dress Rehearsal for the Mid-terms. Even if we GET that far and have a vote in Novcember 2026 , the winners won't be taking their seats in January 2027.

www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

Why is the US House speaker refusing to seat an elected Democrat? | Moira Donegan

Adelita Grijalva won a landslide election for her Arizona seat. But Mike Johnson is defying the will of the voters

www.theguardian.com

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Peter Arnott @peterarnott.bsky.social · 1d

Set fire to Magna Carta.

Nick (derogatory) ✨ @slothropsmap.bsky.social · 2d

These thirty seconds show a scandal of unbelievable proportion and it might as well never have happened. Just sucked into the vacuum of history immediately. I can't dwell on it or I'll go crazy.

Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 2d

Q: Have you given any more thought to possibly suspending habeas corpus?

TRUMP: Suspending who?

Q: Habeas corpus

TRUMP: I don't know. I'd rather leave that to Kristi.

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Peter Arnott @peterarnott.bsky.social · 1d

Well, who ELSE is going to do it?

The Ukrainian Review @theukrainianreview.bsky.social · 1d

🇵🇸👀The Palestinian Authority plans to play a major role in governing post-war Gaza, despite US and Israeli resistance, - Reuters

❗️While Trump’s plan envisions international technocratic committee leading Gaza’s transition, PA, backed by Arab states, expects to oversee reconstruction and governance.

Reposted by Peter Arnott

London Review of Books @lrb.co.uk · 1d

‘It is grating, galling and grotesque to have to take Trump’s monstrous proposition, for which he expects the Nobel Peace Prize, seriously. For a start, where is the Palestinian representation?’

New on the blog from @selmadabbagh.bsky.social: www.lrb.co.uk/blog/2025/oc...

Selma Dabbagh | Knowledge of the Relevant Facts

Israel has assassinated a record number of Palestinian journalists, refused to allow international reporters to enter...

www.lrb.co.uk

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Reposted by Peter Arnott

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

Apart from helping Comey's selective prosecution defense, this also means the president of the United States uses direct messages on Truth Social to communicate with cabinet officials.

I didn't know that, but we can be sure intelligence agencies all over the planet already did.

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Peter Arnott @peterarnott.bsky.social · 1d

Thing is, Habeas Corpus was suspended for any and all Afghans and Iraquis in the wake of 9/11...and colonal policy has a way of coming home.

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

So yesterday a reporter asked Donald Trump about the writ of habeas corpus, and he had no idea what it was.

"I don't know," he said. "I'd rather leave that to Kristi."

Well, It turns out Sen. Hassan asked Kristi Noem about it in May, and this was Noem's response:

Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · May 20

HASSAN: What is habeas corpus?

NOEM: Habeas corpus is a constitutional right that the president has to be able to remove people from this country

HASSAN: That's incorrect

Reposted by Peter Arnott

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

So yesterday a reporter asked Donald Trump about the writ of habeas corpus, and he had no idea what it was.

"I don't know," he said. "I'd rather leave that to Kristi."

Well, It turns out Sen. Hassan asked Kristi Noem about it in May, and this was Noem's response:

Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · May 20

HASSAN: What is habeas corpus?

NOEM: Habeas corpus is a constitutional right that the president has to be able to remove people from this country

HASSAN: That's incorrect

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Brian Donnelly @brianpdonnelly.bsky.social · 1d

🎞️ 'Leading film and TV producers want home-grown companies to be given more priority for funding and commissions to help Scotland’s screen sector to compete at the highest level.'

🎞️ Exclusive via @brianjaffa.bsky.social @heraldscotland.bsky.social

www.heraldscotland.com/news/2552550...

Scottish producers urge screen funding rethink to help them 'stay afloat'

Home-grown companies say more help is needed to help home-grown film and TV companies compete globally

www.heraldscotland.com

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Reposted by Peter Arnott

Mueller, She Wrote @muellershewrote.com · 2d

Portland has elevated protesting to an art form.

Carl Quintanilla @carlquintanilla.bsky.social · 2d

#WarRavagedPortland

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[email protected] @2braids.bsky.social · 2d

These dummies are having a fake presser about a fake organization...it's sooo funny. They are leading up to stop elections in 2026 and 2028. This is part of the plan. Ya'll better be aware.

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Peter Arnott @peterarnott.bsky.social · 1d

All these paid agitators must be costing a fortune.

CajunBlueAZ ⚜️🇺🇸 🇺🇦 @cajunblue.bsky.social · 2d

🚨🚨🚨Chicago - NOW!🚨🚨🚨
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Peter Arnott @peterarnott.bsky.social · 1d

The sobering first thought is that only someone this ill-informed and shallow coud have got this as far as today. The sobering second thought is "what happens tomorrow?"

www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...

A Gaza ceasefire deal could be Trump’s biggest diplomatic achievement – but the devil is in the detail

The plan attempts to thread the needle between creating the conditions for a ceasefire and negotiating a lasting end to the war but hard questions remain

www.theguardian.com

Peter Arnott @peterarnott.bsky.social · 1d

Certainly feels that way...

Political Quarterly @politicalquarterly.bsky.social · 8d

There have likely been 10,000 or more university redundancies in the academic year 2024-25.

@gsoh31.bsky.social, Professor of Modern and Contemporary History at Oxford Brookes, argues that the Higher Education system as we know it is coming to an end.

Where now for Britain’s Universities?

UK higher education now faces a very bleak future, retreating in the face of little public sympathy and limited political interest.

politicalquarterly.org.uk

Reposted by Peter Arnott

The Institute for Advanced Studies in the Humanities @iashedinburgh.bsky.social · 2d

Book launch: "Race and the Scottish Enlightenment: A Colonial History, 1750-1820" (Yale UP)

Wed 29 Oct, 16:45-20:00, including drinks

Featuring a host of IASH alumni, this event celebrates the new volume by Linda Andersson Burnett & Bruce Buchan.

raceandthescottishenlightenment.eventbrite.co.uk