Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Reposted by Sam Wang

Blake Leyh @earlofedgecombe.bsky.social · 14h

If you think you know why US newspapers died, this feature documentary now streaming for free on PBS might surprise you. It wasn't the Internet. Newspapers were specifically targeted by vulture capitalists.

I composed the score for the film, which features electric cello & Crowfoot guitars.

Stripped for Parts: American Journalism on the Brink

A handful of journalists rebel against a hedge fund that is gutting newspapers nationwide.

www.pbs.org

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Reposted by Sam Wang

Gary Gehman @glgehman.bsky.social · 8h

All you peacenik liberals wringing hands over what to do: Yes, of course, vote. It's your primary responsibility as a citizen.

But now more than ever, fulfill your second civic responsibility: Serve on juries. Never has it been more imperative to thwart rogue injustice.

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Ari Cohn @aricohn.com · 5h

Some weirdo on Twitter has been absolutely melting down for like 36 straight hours because I posted:

When this is over, do not forget what ICE did, and what ICE is. And do not make room for them in society. Make sure they know that they are, and will continue to be, reviled and beneath contempt.

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Adam Klasfeld @klasfeldreports.com · 9h

The Seventh Circuit REFUSES to allow Trump to immediately deploy the National Guard in Chicago, but allows them to be federalized pending appeal.

Same initial ruling as the Ninth Circuit, before oral arguments.

Doc storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...

storage.courtlistener.com

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Sam Wang @samwang.bsky.social · 20h

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Zohran Kwame Mamdani @zohrankmamdani.bsky.social · 1d

The Democratic Attorneys General Association established a Legal Defense Fund for exactly this moment: when its members — including AG Tish James—are targeted by the Trump administration for political prosecution.

Donate here.

Donate to DAGA's Legal Defense Fund

The Democratic Attorneys General Association has launched a defense fund to help defend Democratic attorneys general and their staff who are targeted for political retribution by the Trump administrat...

secure.actblue.com

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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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Nathan Kalmoe (he/him) @nathankalmoe.bsky.social · 1d

Weird random meme-y shit (laudatory) like this is how it might eventually be called The Great Frog Resistance, where everyone wears a frog pin, & remembrance events in 50 years begin with reverent croaks. Just from some dude's choice of a frog for a costume. Humans are weird.

Adam Selzer @adamchicago.bsky.social · 1d

The frogs have landed in Chicago!

Protestor in a frog suit and an anti-Ice sign with what I believe to be a Pokémon character on a street corner in Rogers Park.

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Amanda Litman @amandalitman.bsky.social · 1d

If/when Platner wins the primary, it’ll be the final mark of death for the old guard of the Democratic Party. They don’t have the juice anymore and this will prove it. (Plus I think a primary will make Platner a better candidate for the general!)

CBS News @cbsnews.com · 1d

Maine Gov. Janet Mills is expected to launch a campaign for Senate on Tuesday, two Democratic sources told CBS News — vying to challenge longtime Republican Sen. Susan Collins.

Maine Gov. Janet Mills expected to jump into crucial Senate race next week, sources say

Maine Gov. Janet Mills is expected to launch a campaign for Senate on Tuesday, two Democratic sources told CBS News — vying to challenge longtime Republican Sen. Susan Collins.

cbsn.ws

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Jack Kessler @jackkessler.bsky.social · 1d

Last one. But it includes the (I think) invaluable advice to read the Belfast Agreement, just in case you ever bump into Lady Sylvia Hermon on the street.

The Northern Irelandification of British politics

After decades of viewing it with detachment and disdain, Britain is getting a taste of Northern Ireland’s complex politics

www.linestotake.com

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Classical Studies Memes for Hellenistic Teens @csmfht.bsky.social · 1d

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LOLGOP ❌👑❌ @thefarce.org · 1d

Halloween 2025 is going to become one of the most glorious protest events in American history (if there are enough frog costumes).

The Oregonian @oregonian.com · 2d

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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Pudd’nhead Watson @puddnheadwatson.bsky.social · 2d

Only if everyone finally catches up to @espinsegall.bsky.social

NY Times Pitchbot @nytpitchbot.bsky.social · 2d

Serious question: does there come a point where everyone admits that Constitutional originalism is just a made-up vibe-based philosophy that gives Republican judges a pretext for ruling however it is that Republicans want them to rule?

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Sam Wang @samwang.bsky.social · 2d

If I win the Nobel Peace Prize tomorrow, I promise to forgive all tariffs on goods I purchase from Norway

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Melissa Ryan @melissaryan.bsky.social · 2d

After Pritzker and Newsom threatened to leave the NGA, the Republican Chair breaks with Trump. Pressure works. Keep it up!

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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Kevin Collins @kwcollins.bsky.social · 2d

The more interesting thing is than Platner doing just a little better on the informed ballot test than a generic Democrat against Collins on a previous ballot test is Mills doing much worse.

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Greg Sargent @gregsargent.bsky.social · 2d

Good formulation from @sjshancoxli.liberalcurrents.com on MAGA treating politics as war and Ds fundamentally not adapting. As I suggest in the piece/thread below JB Pritzker is operating from a similar reading of Miller and that's why he's breaking through.
www.liberalcurrents.com/democrats-mu...

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Anna O. Law @unlawfulentries.bsky.social · 2d

I teach in my undergrad class on the history of the US jury system that the institution's roots are in colonial juries serving as a counterweight to abuses of imperial power. The American jury has problems for sure but still can serve that roll. Don't blow off jury service.

Josh Marshall @joshtpm.bsky.social · 3d

Jury Refuses To Indict Chicago ICE Protesters In Latest Revolt Against Trump Overreach talkingpointsmemo.com/where-things...

Jury Refuses To Indict Chicago ICE Protesters In Latest Revolt Against Trump Overreach

A grand jury Tuesday night declined to indict two protesters in the...

talkingpointsmemo.com

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David Dayen @ddayen.bsky.social · 3d

Wait a second, Porter stayed and answered 20 more minutes of questions after the viral video snippet? Then outside of everyone who talks about politics online being frustrated theater critics, why are we having this conversation? www.nytimes.com/2025/10/08/u...

Her campaign spokesman, Nathan Click, pointed out that Ms. Porter answered questions from Ms. Watts for another 20 minutes after the viral exchange. A CBS spokesperson said on Wednesday that Ms. Porter stayed for the full interview.

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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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The Jersey Vindicator @jerseyvindicator.bsky.social · 2d

Democrat Mikie Sherrill and Republican Jack Ciattarelli clashed for an hour over the cost of living, energy policy, transit, and President Donald Trump on Wednesday night in a fiery second New Jersey gubernatorial debate.

Sherrill and Ciattarelli clash on costs, energy, transit and Trump in New Jersey governor’s debate as exchanges turn personal

Democrat Mikie Sherrill and Republican Jack Ciattarelli debated the issues for an hour in a fiery second debate Wednesday.

jerseyvindicator.org

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Robert Black @hurricanexyz.bsky.social · 3d

If you are unable, as our political press is philosophically committed to being, to assess claims except on their form, you leave yourself endlessly open to being manipulated by frivolous claims

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Laura Jedeed @laurajedeed.bsky.social · 3d

More propaganda with painfully normal people zip-tied at the side of the road please, this will for sure convince the American people that you're the good guys

Homeland Security @DHSgov

We're having an All Night Revival

Still frame from a video: Painfully normal people zip tied on the side of the road, sitting on a guardrail in a row

14:30 07 Oct 25 2.1M Views

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Reposted by Sam Wang

DBdant @dbdant.bsky.social · 4d

Maybe ask Justice Sotomayor to swear her in?

DBdant @dbdant.bsky.social · 4d

If Republicans can casually ignore precedent, so can Democrats.

Speaker Johnson has no right to stop duly elected representatives from taking office.

Call a press conference on the capitol steps, and swear in Democratic Representative-Elect Adelita Grijalva - NOW.

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Reposted by Sam Wang

Garrett M. Graff @vermontgmg.bsky.social · 4d

If appropriations bills are not seen as enforceable contracts, why should any Member of Congress vote to fund any part of the federal government under Donald Trump? You're voting to provide money for lawlessness. www.doomsdayscenario.co/p/there-is-n...

There is no budget "deal" to be made

President Trump has so broken the constitutional framework as to make joint normal, responsible government impossible.

www.doomsdayscenario.co

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