Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Reposted by Alejandro A. Riera

Alejandro A. Riera @alejandroariera.bsky.social · 13h

Seeing both the big screen adaptation of the musical adaptation of Manuel Puig's KISS OF THE SPIDER WOMAN in these current times made for quite a severe case of whiplash. So did Kathryn Bigelow's disappointing new film A HOUSE OF DYNAMITE. My review of both films:

Out of Sync

KISS OF THE SPIDER WOMAN and A HOUSE OF DYNAMITE what happens when current events overtake the movies

alejandroariera.substack.com

2 2

Alejandro A. Riera @alejandroariera.bsky.social · 11h

And what did they expect? Seriously, what did they expect?

cam rodriguez 🔎 🇲🇽 @camrodriguez.bsky.social · 1d

Both sentiments from Jackson and Johnson aren't

too different from those expressed by a Black bystander in the viral video of the feds placing a Black man in a chokehold in Chicago's East Garfield Park neighborhood: "Y'all supposed to be out here choking Mexicans," he said.

Jackson described the happiness he felt when he

first heard U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) was coming to Chicago. He said he felt that the migrants were "slowly taking over" South Shore and said the building eventually had majority immigrant occupants.

After the South Shore raid, Jackson said his feelings have changed because ICE "had mercy for nobody."

Alejandro A. Riera @alejandroariera.bsky.social · 11h

ICE violating a court's order. Again…
blockclubchicago.org/2025/10/10/w...

WGN Staffer Detained By Border Patrol Agents In Lincoln Square, Neighbors Say

The woman was recording agents as they detained a man when they took her into custody, handcuffing her and putting her a van, according to witnesses and video. The agents drove into another car while ...

blockclubchicago.org

1

Alejandro A. Riera @alejandroariera.bsky.social · 13h

Seeing both the big screen adaptation of the musical adaptation of Manuel Puig's KISS OF THE SPIDER WOMAN in these current times made for quite a severe case of whiplash. So did Kathryn Bigelow's disappointing new film A HOUSE OF DYNAMITE. My review of both films:

Out of Sync

KISS OF THE SPIDER WOMAN and A HOUSE OF DYNAMITE what happens when current events overtake the movies

alejandroariera.substack.com

2 2

Reposted by Alejandro A. Riera

Matt Zoller Seitz @mattzollerseitz.bsky.social · 16h

I'll bet every cent I have that this is Bari Weiss' attempt to learn the basics of the big job she's been handed

Oliver Darcy @oliverdarcy.bsky.social · 16h

News: Bari Weiss just sent a memo to staffers at CBS News asking them to produce a memo explaining "how you spend your working hours—and ideally, what you've made (or are making) that you're most proud of."

One CBS News staffer puts it like this to me: "We just got Elon Musked."

4 13 90

Alejandro A. Riera @alejandroariera.bsky.social · 16h

In Anglais, for those who want to know about the history of Puerto Rico's different independence movements.

librerialaberintopr.com/products/obs...

OBSTINATE STAR - Rafael Bernabe

A History of the Puerto Rico Independence Movement Rafael Bernabe traces the independence movement’s currents from the time of the Napoleonic Wars within and beyond the island, linking them to ongoing...

librerialaberintopr.com

2 2

Reposted by Alejandro A. Riera

jamelle @jamellebouie.net · 18h

this really is all just about resentment over obama being given the prize

Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 18h

BARTIROMO: On your point about the Nobel Peace Prize, do you think maybe the reason Trump won't get it is because you had to get the application in before Jan. 31, and that was only 11 days into his term?

SCALISE: Look, they can play technicalities. They gave it to Obama for just getting elected.

180 480 3.9K

Alejandro A. Riera @alejandroariera.bsky.social · 18h

A Latina. A woman. One who Venezuelans around the world admire (including those who voted for Trump). And, yes, not Trump.

www.bbc.com/news/live/c1...

Nobel Peace Prize 2025 live updates: Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado wins

Nominations closed in January but US President Donald Trump had led a public campaign to win the award.

www.bbc.com

3

Alejandro A. Riera @alejandroariera.bsky.social · 1d

Didn't you learn anything when he announced the launch of Operation Midway Blitz days before the celebrations of Mexican Independence one in full gear in our Metro area? Come on…START CONNECTING THE DOTS! 2/2

Alejandro A. Riera @alejandroariera.bsky.social · 1d

MINI-MINI THREAD
My dear fellow journalists: how come none of you have put two and together in linking Trump's orders to mobilize members of the Illinois and Texas National Guard to Illinois three days before Chicago hosts their annual (international) Marathon? 1/2

1

Reposted by Alejandro A. Riera

T. J. Stiles @tj-stiles.bsky.social · 1d

In fact, the SCOTUS majority should be impeached and removed.

Trump and his enablers have broken the American system of government, perhaps beyond repair. We need more than new policies. We need deep structural, constitutional reforms.

Because it *has* happened here. It *is* happening here.

T. J. Stiles @tj-stiles.bsky.social · 1d

A couple of points:
1) Halligan should be prosecuted for abuse of power. In fact, a special prosecutor should be appointed after Trump’s out of office for all these crimes.
2) Remember, the radical SCOTUS made this possible by giving Trump immunity for official acts—even dictatorshit like this

1 3

Reposted by Alejandro A. Riera

Jon Seidel @jonseidel.bsky.social · 1d

U.S. District Judge April Perry says it comes down to a "credibility determination."

"I simply cannot credit [the Trump administration's] declarations to the extent they contradict state and local law enforcement. … DHS' perception of events are simply unreliable."

Jon Seidel @jonseidel.bsky.social · 1d

#BREAKING A federal judge say she will grant "in part" a request by the state of Illinois for a temporary restraining order against the deployment of National Guard troops into the state.

U.S. District Judge April Perry is still ruling and has not outlined the details of her order.

Jon Seidel @jonseidel.bsky.social · 1d

Perry: "I'm going to issue an oral ruling."

55 840 2.8K

Alejandro A. Riera @alejandroariera.bsky.social · 1d

My hero.

T. J. Stiles @tj-stiles.bsky.social · 1d

God bless David Simon, foul-mouthed purveyor of truth.

Juno Rylee Schultz @junoryleejournalism.com · 2d

David Simon, creator of ‘The Wire’, being interviewed by Ari Shapiro (NPR)

1

Alejandro A. Riera @alejandroariera.bsky.social · 1d

Why am I not surprised that the Chicago Tribune's Editorial Board came out in defense of Bariu Weiss FOR ALL THE WRONG REASONS? (She practices NONE of those standards the editorial outlines):

Editorial: From The Free Press to CBS, Weiss’ principles are stellar journalistic ideals

The common thread here is a belief that the public deserves the right to make up its own mind, and it’s our job to help them do it.

www.chicagotribune.com

Alejandro A. Riera @alejandroariera.bsky.social · 1d

My favorite kind of film and history book, and biography: the one that positions at its subject matter in the context of the time s/he/they lived (and live) in.

Matt Zoller Seitz @mattzollerseitz.bsky.social · 1d

My next book will be a biography of Jack Nicholson, written as an epic story of the transformation of the movie industry and modern masculinity from the 1950s to the present, with Nicholson as the main character. The title: Leading Man.

New York Times bestselling author and film & TV critic at New York Magazine Matt Zoller Seitz's LEADING MAN, the definitive biography of Jack Nicholson, casting Nicholson as the complex main character in an era of American culture spanning six decades, while shining a light on the actor’s crucial role in shaping modern masculinity, both on and off the screen, based on new interviews and original reporting, to Amar Deol at Grand Central, in an exclusive submission, by Ethan Bassoff at WME.

Reposted by Alejandro A. Riera

Mike Luckovich @mluckovich.bsky.social · 1d

37 570 1.7K

Alejandro A. Riera @alejandroariera.bsky.social · 1d

Here's how you can help…support your local restaurant. And if it is Latino-owned, even better.

Block Club Chicago @blockclubchi.bsky.social · 1d

Chicago restaurants are struggling as ICE fears mount.

The Trump administration’s immigration crackdown has restaurant owners, chefs and workers on high alert as they cope with staffing shortages and safety concerns. blockclubchi.co/46JEoRe

Alejandro A. Riera @alejandroariera.bsky.social · 1d

Democrat voters need to kick this asshole out of office.

Sam Adams @samadams.bsky.social · 1d

What an utter disgrace @fetterman.senate.gov has turned out to be

The Intercept @theintercept.com · 1d

Republican Senators, with an assist from Sen. John Fetterman, voted down an attempt to block the Trump administration’s missile strikes on alleged Venezuelan drug boats. interc.pt/4o9CBur

Reposted by Alejandro A. Riera

Patton Oswalt @pattonoswalt.bsky.social · 2d

This is why I love Chicago so much. Their “we will fuck with you” reserves are BOTTOMLESS.

NowThis Impact @nowthisimpact.bsky.social · 2d

This is amazing.

100 870 4.1K

Alejandro A. Riera @alejandroariera.bsky.social · 2d

The best scene of the whole damn movie (and there are many great ones!).

Joseph Knoop @josephknoop.bsky.social · 2d

Extra funny when you think about how Sinners, which features Michael B. Jordan gunning down Klansmen in broad daylight in slow-mo, is the 10th highest-grossing R-rated film of all time - higher than The Hangover, 300, Logan, John Wick 4, etc....

Stephen Totilo @stephentotilo.bsky.social · 2d

SCOOP: Last year, Ubisoft cancelled an Assassin's Creed game set during Reconstruction. Was to feature a Black Assassin who, among other things, fought the rise of the Klan

Sources: Leadership nixed it over concerns re: U.S. political climate, backlash to Yasuke

www.gamefile.news/p/scoop-ubis...

Alejandro A. Riera @alejandroariera.bsky.social · 2d

Fellow critics, if you are reviewing the big screen adaptation of the musical KISS OF THE SPIDER WOMAN without mentioning Manuel Puig's source novel and Hector Babenco's 1985 Oscar-winning film adaptation of the same, you are doing it all wrong.

1

Alejandro A. Riera @alejandroariera.bsky.social · 2d

I said it some time ago when folks were advocating support for businesses in Pilsen and Little Village and I'll say it again, EVERY but absolutely EVERY Latino-owned business across the entire city needs our support:

After Feds Smoke Bomb Logan Square Street, Area Businesses Report Slow Sales, 'Fear In The Air'

Fear and frustration is growing after last week's incident in Logan Square — and as more ICE agents have been seen nearby. "We're supposed to be protected by them — why are we being targeted by them?"

blockclubchicago.org

Alejandro A. Riera @alejandroariera.bsky.social · 3d

Same here!

Alejandro A. Riera @alejandroariera.bsky.social · 3d

Only the smaller ones that have long been ignored or bad-mouthed by the writer of these editorials in his reviews will.

2

Alejandro A. Riera @alejandroariera.bsky.social · 3d

A HOUSE OF DYNAMITE: Second movie I saw this past week that feels completely out of sync with the times we currently live in (other film being KISS OF THE SPIDER WOMAN). Also, is it me, or does this feel like this was originally designed as a miniseries that then got shortened to a feature?