Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Rebecca Spang @rlspang.bsky.social · 2h

Data centers in Loudon County, Virginia (one of the most affluent places in the US) drive up utility charges in West Virginia (one of the poorest states in the country).

mountainstatespotlight.org/2025/10/05/r...

Data centers in other states are raising power costs in West Virginia

West Virginians are seeing higher power costs as AI and data centers increase electricity demand across the regional power grid.

mountainstatespotlight.org

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Rebecca Spang @rlspang.bsky.social · 3h

These people!!!! Or, rather: these BLOKES

The Guardian @theguardian.com · 3h

Tony Blair met Jeffrey Epstein in No 10 on advice of Peter Mandelson, documents reveal

National Archives papers show how then MP pushed for 2002 meeting between PM and ‘young and vibrant’ financier Sir Tony Blair met Jeffrey Epstein in Downing Street while he was prime minister after a recommendation by Peter Mandelson, newly released papers from the National Archives show. Epstein visited Blair on 14 May 2002, after the suggestion by Lord Mandelson to the prime minister’s then chief of staff, Jonathan Powell. Continue reading...

www.theguardian.com

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Walter Olson @walterolson.bsky.social · 15h

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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Rebecca Spang @rlspang.bsky.social · 3h

I’m impressed by the principled conservatism expressed by many Cato affiliates!

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Jump! @dla.bsky.social · 13h

It’s our time to defend Democracy. The next nationwide “No Kings” protest is October 18, 2025. Find a protest near you and bring 1-3 people with you so we can reach the 3.5% needed to stop our country’s slide into authoritarianism:
www.americanprogress.org/article/how-...

How Peaceful Protest by Just 3.5 Percent of Americans Could Force Major Policy Changes From the Trump Administration

History shows that when just 3.5 percent of a population—about 12 million Americans—engage in peaceful protest, their demands become nearly impossible to ignore. This is particularly relevant today, a...

www.americanprogress.org

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Scott Horton @robertscotthorton.bsky.social · 3h

Matt Davies, Newsday

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Rebecca Spang @rlspang.bsky.social · 12h

#Caturday!!!

A fluffy white cat curled into C shape with chin pointing gently upwards is on the couch to my immediate left

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Adam Keiper @adamkeiper.com · 14h

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 · 15h

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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Nurse RoRo @nurseroro.bsky.social · 13h

Dear WH Press Corp
You should be ashamed of yourself.
Start demanding answers. Portland isn’t on fire. Chicago isn’t at war. Seattle isn’t thanking him.
ANTIFA isn’t assaulting ICE agents
Hold him accountable for the lies.
Refuse to ask anything else until he answers these.
Demand the proof

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Dan Diamond @ddiamond.bsky.social · 15h

White House releases doctor’s note from Trump’s visit to Walter Reed

Like past notes from his team, it contains a Trumpian brag not seen w past presidents:

“His cardiac age … was found to be approximately 14 years younger than his chronological age.”

Notably got the flu and covid vaccines

PHYSICIAN TO THE PRESIDENT
THE WHITE HOUSE
MEMORANDUM
October 10, 2025
TO: KAROLINE LEAVITT, WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY
PROSIC TO ME PREE, D.O. J
PHYSICIAN TO THE PRESIDENT
affa 0.o.
CAPTAIN, U.S. NAVY
SUBJECT: President Donald J. Trump Completes Comprehensive Follow-Up Evaluation at
Walter Reed National Military Medical Center
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
President Donald J. Trump successfully completed a scheduled follow-up evaluation today at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center. The visit was part of his ongoing health maintenance plan and included advanced imaging, laboratory testing, and preventive health assessments conducted by a multidisciplinary team of specialists. These evaluations were performed in coordination with leading academic and medical consultants to ensure optimal cardiovascular health and continued wellness.
Comprehensive laboratory studies performed in conjunction with the visit were exceptional, including stable metabolic, hematologic, and cardiac parameters.
In preparation for upcoming international travel, President Trump also received preventive health screenings and immunizations, including annual influenza and updated COVID-19 booster vaccinations.
President Trump continues to demonstrate excellent overall health. His cardiac age-a validated measure of cardiovascular vitality via ECG-was found to be approximately 14 years younger than his chronological age. He continues to maintain a demanding daily schedule without restriction.
SUMMARY: President Donald J. Trump remains in exceptional health, exhibiting strong cardiovascular, pulmonary, neurological, and physical performance.

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mbbendt @bendts2cents.bsky.social · 18h

Pretty sure that when you have giant frogs everywhere, God is very disappointed in how you are treating immigrants.

The Oregonian @oregonian.com · 1d

Things are happening at Portland's ICE facility tonight.

Read more of our protest coverage here: www.oregonlive.com/crime/2025/1...

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Rebecca Spang @rlspang.bsky.social · 18h

-bluth

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Jonathan Bernstein @jonathanbernstein.bsky.social · 18h

I know people are dedicated to believing that Dems are ignoring everything important, but nevertheless there are two Senate Democrats doing their jobs. Just as the state's governor has, and many other Dem politicians around the nation.

No, they're not perfect, but they just aren't the problem.

Senator Dick Durbin @durbin.senate.gov · 20h

We’re outside of the Broadview ICE facility.

It’s clearer than ever before.

What’s happening in Illinois is an unprecedented, unlawful abuse of power.

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Sarah E. Bond @sarahebond.bsky.social · 19h

Grab some wine! Some late antique communion bread 🥖 loaves from the 7th-8th centuries with Jesus upon them have been discovered in Anatolia. www.labrujulaverde.com/en/2025/10/c...

Charred Byzantine-Era Loaves of Bread with Greek Inscriptions Discovered in Anatolia

An archaeological excavation campaign carried out at the Topraktepe site, corresponding to the ancient city of Irenopolis, has yielded a discovery of extraordinary scientific significance: five charre...

www.labrujulaverde.com

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Gillian Brockell @gbrockell.bsky.social · 20h

NEW: The private jet that flew 10 shackled migrants to an Eswatini prison last weekend is owned by Israeli-American billionaires with close ties to Trump.

It’s oligarchs all the way down.

My first for @zeteo.com:

zeteo.com/p/this-famil...

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David Noll @david.noll.org · 21h

second--get this--Antifa wants you to believe that the President "shall take Care that the Laws be faithfully executed."

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Joey Fishkin @fishkin.bsky.social · 21h

@mit.edu has done an incredibly important service to the nation by being willing to be the first school to reject the administration's "compact."

President Kornbluth focuses—and she's right—on the principle that "scientific funding should be based on scientific merit alone."

The document also includes principles with which we disagree, including those that would restrict freedom of expression and our independence as an institution. And fundamentally, the premise of the document is inconsistent with our core belief that scientific funding should be based on scientific merit alone.

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Mark Joseph Stern @mjsdc.bsky.social · 22h

This arrest appears to be in direct violation of a temporary restraining order prohibiting DHS officers from arresting journalists. The officers here may well be subject to contempt of court. protectdemocracy.org/wp-content/u...

It is hereby ORDERED that Defendants,' their officers, agents, assigns, and all
persons acting in concert with them (hereafter referred to as "Federal Agents"), are temporarily
ENJOINED in this judicial district from:
a.
Dispersing, arresting, threatening to arrest, threatening or using physical
force against any person whom they know or reasonably should know is a Journalist, unless Defendants have probable cause to believe that the individual has committed a crime.

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Dj Ripley @djripley.bsky.social · 22h

is the justice in the room with us now

Heartland Signal @heartlandsignal.bsky.social · 23h

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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Rebecca Spang @rlspang.bsky.social · 1d

The title verse of “We Shall Overcome” and most of the others are in the future tense. One verse is in the present: “We are not afraid TODAY.”

That is the most important message for our current moment. If you can “afford” to be fearless, do it.

Adam Serwer @adamserwer.bsky.social · 1d

www.wweek.com/culture/2025...

Can you put into words what that purpose is? You and the frog have really become icons of this protest.

There’s been a nice overall whimsy that has shown up. The frog is amazing. We had a bunch of other inflatable people here last night, too. I saw people playing Twister the other day.

What they rely on is fear. So by coming out in an absurdist manner, it speaks to them, to some extent, that we’re actually not that afraid.

It also dismantles their narrative a little bit. When they try to describe this situation as “war-torn,” it becomes much harder to take them seriously when they have to post a video saying [U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security] Kristi Noem is up on the balcony staring over the Antifa Army and it’s, like, eight journalists and five protesters and one of them is in a chicken suit.

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Matt Novak @paleofuture.bsky.social · 1d

No Kings 2 is Saturday, Oct. 18.

Nobody is getting paid to be there. But you can demonstrate to the world that you oppose the rise of fascism in the U.S.

Find your local protest here: www.nokings.org#map

Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 1d

Sen. Roger Marshall: "October 18 is when the protest gets here. This will be a Soros paid-for protest for his professional protesters. The agitators show up. We'll have to get the National Guard out. Hopefully it will be peaceful. I doubt it."

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Rebecca Spang @rlspang.bsky.social · 1d

MIT says "NOPE, we stand for peer review, merit, and academic freedom" in reply to the Trump Regime's proposed "compact" with Higher Ed. orgchart.mit.edu/letters/rega...

Regarding the Compact | MIT Organization Chart

orgchart.mit.edu

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Rebecca Spang @rlspang.bsky.social · 1d

I've never reviewed a ms for UNC Press, so this is my best chance at getting their books!

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Jason Herbert @herberthistory.bsky.social · 1d

This is your every now and then reminder that if you got to @uncpress.bsky.social website and enter 01HATM30 you’ll get 30% off of any title. I don’t get anything for it, but it’s a nice thing for my readers and the #HATM community.

uncpress.org

Home - The University of North Carolina Press

uncpress.org

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