Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Michelle 🪷🇲🇽🇺🇸🌵 @chicana74.bsky.social · 1d

This headline 🤣🤣🤣

Daniel Webster @daniel-webster.bsky.social · 11d

Trump to attend gathering of top generals, upending last-minute plans

This feels ominous. Trump seems to be setting the table to use the U.S. military against American foes. Military leaders will be selected based on their allegiance to Trump and his clan rather than the Constitution.

Daniel Webster @daniel-webster.bsky.social · 22d

The crime reductions are not 1-year blips and seem to signal a clear shift towards less crime and violence since 2022.

Jeff Asher @jeffasher.bsky.social · 22d

It's not just murder. The US is on track to have the largest one-year percent drops in reported murder, rape, robbery, aggravated assault, burglary, and auto theft this year based on data through July.

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Daniel Webster @daniel-webster.bsky.social · 22d

Much to celebrate with huge reductions in all forms of crime. How ironic that under this set of factual conditions Trump and the GOP justify use of the military, masked federal law enforcement gangs and unconstitutional practices to control what they claim is unbearable levels of crime.

Jeff Asher @jeffasher.bsky.social · 22d

It's not just murder. The US is on track to have the largest one-year percent drops in reported murder, rape, robbery, aggravated assault, burglary, and auto theft this year based on data through July.

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Jeff Asher @jeffasher.bsky.social · 22d

It's not just murder. The US is on track to have the largest one-year percent drops in reported murder, rape, robbery, aggravated assault, burglary, and auto theft this year based on data through July.

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Daniel Webster @daniel-webster.bsky.social · 27d

I thought he only lasted a semester at college and then went to a trade school in Utah where I’m sure there was leftwing electricians brainwashing students.

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Daniel Webster @daniel-webster.bsky.social · 27d

Charlie Kirk shooting suspect had criticized activist, officials say

Interesting headline that fits the narrative that political enemies were behind Kirk’s murder. But he is a 22 year-old white Mormon, son to a sheriff, gun enthusiast since he was a boy, no political affiliation or voting record.

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Matthew Stiegler @matthewstiegler.bsky.social · 28d

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Daniel Webster @daniel-webster.bsky.social · Aug 29

Gun owners, lock up your guns.
I can’t help but wonder about the thousands of guns lost and stolen from licensed gun dealers. How many were sold off the books? How many were stolen by employees who aren’t required to be vetted? It’s signals poor regulation and oversight.

Andrew Morral @andrewmorral.bsky.social · Aug 29

Per a recent ATF report, in 2023 there were 208,184 firearms lost/stolen:
- 188,560 from private citizens
- 9,479 lost by gun dealers
- 5,755 stolen from gun dealers
- 4,390 lost/stolen in shipping

More than 1M between 2019-2023

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Daniel Webster @daniel-webster.bsky.social · Aug 29

Yes, Blue states will have to fill the void left by the Trump Admin. ATF has been neutered and will incapable or unwilling to regulate gun dealers. States must fill this void with necessary legislation, regulation, and enforcement. It won’t fully fill the void because guns flow from Red to Blue.

Don Moynihan @donmoyn.bsky.social · Aug 29

Something blue states will need to explore: how to create cross-state compacts dedicated to a functioning government as the Trump administration walks away from it's responsibilities.

Greg Sargent @gregsargent.bsky.social · Aug 29

This is good: With Trump/RFK destroying CDC, JB Pritzker's officials are exploring the possibility of buying Covid vaccines from manufacturers and distributing them in-state themselves, source tells me.

Dem govs must step up and fill the void.

New piece from me:
newrepublic.com/article/1998...

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Andrew Morral @andrewmorral.bsky.social · Aug 29

Per a recent ATF report, in 2023 there were 208,184 firearms lost/stolen:
- 188,560 from private citizens
- 9,479 lost by gun dealers
- 5,755 stolen from gun dealers
- 4,390 lost/stolen in shipping

More than 1M between 2019-2023

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Don Moynihan @donmoyn.bsky.social · Aug 29

Something blue states will need to explore: how to create cross-state compacts dedicated to a functioning government as the Trump administration walks away from it's responsibilities.

Greg Sargent @gregsargent.bsky.social · Aug 29

This is good: With Trump/RFK destroying CDC, JB Pritzker's officials are exploring the possibility of buying Covid vaccines from manufacturers and distributing them in-state themselves, source tells me.

Dem govs must step up and fill the void.

New piece from me:
newrepublic.com/article/1998...

Trump’s Decapitation of CDC Takes Darker Turn—and Hands Dems a Weapon

Illinois’s J.B. Pritzker is leading a charge other Democratic governors should take up: In our America, we’ll make sure public health systems remain strong.

newrepublic.com

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Daniel Webster @daniel-webster.bsky.social · Aug 28

One reason the CDC leadership drew a line in the sand with RFK Jr is the fatal shooting at the CDC campus motivated by RFK jr’s disinformation on vaccines as being “poisonous” and demonization of public health scientists at CDC calling them corrupt.

Johns Hopkins Center for Gun Violence Solutions @jhucgvs.bsky.social · Aug 27

Earlier this month, a gunman fired 500 rounds into CDC HQ, killing an officer.

When leaders stay silent, political violence thrives. Our leaders must say it plainly: political violence is never acceptable.

Op-ed via @drcrifasi.bsky.social & @daniel-webster.bsky.social: thehill.com/opinion/cong...

thehill.com

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Daniel Webster @daniel-webster.bsky.social · Aug 28

Thrilled to see this outcome. This gun dealer was a gross outlier in its sales of untraceable ghost gun kits, mostly cash sales, in Maryland. Teens, prohibited criminals, and traffickers were their market. $62M for evidence-based prevention programs is fair given the harms created. 👏👏

Johns Hopkins Center for Gun Violence Solutions @jhucgvs.bsky.social · Aug 28

Baltimore was awarded $62M in the trial against a ghost gun dealer, for flooding the city with untraceable guns. The funds will support community violence intervention groups.

@daniel-webster.bsky.social, the Center’s Distinguished Scholar, provided expert witness testimony in the trial.

Largest Ever Verdict Dealt Against Gun Dealer Rendered for the City of Baltimore

The trial against Maryland's largest ghost gun dealer concluded tonight in the Circuit Court for Baltimore City, with a jury verdict in favor of plaintiffs for $62 million.

mayor.baltimorecity.gov

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Madhu Pai, MD, PhD @madhupai.bsky.social · Aug 28

“Kennedy would be less hazardous if he decided to do cardiac surgery. Then he would kill people only one at a time rather than his current ability to kill by the thousands. Why is it that killing a single person is seen as murder but killing masses is excused if you are a politician?”

Dr Bill Foege

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Johns Hopkins Center for Gun Violence Solutions @jhucgvs.bsky.social · Aug 28

Baltimore was awarded $62M in the trial against a ghost gun dealer, for flooding the city with untraceable guns. The funds will support community violence intervention groups.

@daniel-webster.bsky.social, the Center’s Distinguished Scholar, provided expert witness testimony in the trial.

Largest Ever Verdict Dealt Against Gun Dealer Rendered for the City of Baltimore

The trial against Maryland's largest ghost gun dealer concluded tonight in the Circuit Court for Baltimore City, with a jury verdict in favor of plaintiffs for $62 million.

mayor.baltimorecity.gov

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Johns Hopkins Center for Gun Violence Solutions @jhucgvs.bsky.social · Aug 27

Earlier this month, a gunman fired 500 rounds into CDC HQ, killing an officer.

When leaders stay silent, political violence thrives. Our leaders must say it plainly: political violence is never acceptable.

Op-ed via @drcrifasi.bsky.social & @daniel-webster.bsky.social: thehill.com/opinion/cong...

thehill.com

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Daniel Webster @daniel-webster.bsky.social · Aug 24

To my eye, it looks like Chicago shootings are more than 50% lower than in 2022 peak with no sign that the sharp reduction in shootings is slowing. Still too many shootings plaguing certain communities, but Chicago seems to have effective strategies for curbing shootings without a military invasion.

Jeff Asher @jeffasher.bsky.social · Aug 24

Chicago shootings are down 38% this year. While gun violence remains far too common, it's is at a far lower level so far this year than it has been in quite a while.

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Jeff Asher @jeffasher.bsky.social · Aug 24

Chicago shootings are down 38% this year. While gun violence remains far too common, it's is at a far lower level so far this year than it has been in quite a while.

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Daniel Webster @daniel-webster.bsky.social · Aug 24

9. Ignore court orders that curtail presidential power
10. Take care of those with the greatest wealth so that they don’t oppose you.

Daniel Webster @daniel-webster.bsky.social · Aug 24

6. Free individuals who used violence on your behalf to overturn a democratic election,
7. Remove federal law enforcement’s ability to investigate or incarcerate said individuals (see 6) for future use of violence on the president’s behalf,l
8. Purge or conceal objective data on govt performance

Ian Bassin @ianbassin.bsky.social · Aug 24

If a president wanted to become effectively a dictator, he’d likely:

1. Purge govt of non loyalists
2. Weaponize law against opponents
3. Use military to police opposition strongholds
4. Threaten media, schools, businesses w penalties to get them to heel
5. Change election rules in his favor.

Daniel Webster @daniel-webster.bsky.social · Aug 24

6. Free individuals who used violence on your behalf to overturn a democratic election,
7. Remove federal law enforcement’s ability to investigate or incarcerate said individuals (see 6) for future use of violence on the president’s behalf,l
8. Purge or conceal objective data on govt performance

Ian Bassin @ianbassin.bsky.social · Aug 24

If a president wanted to become effectively a dictator, he’d likely:

1. Purge govt of non loyalists
2. Weaponize law against opponents
3. Use military to police opposition strongholds
4. Threaten media, schools, businesses w penalties to get them to heel
5. Change election rules in his favor.

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Daniel Webster @daniel-webster.bsky.social · Aug 18

He stole 6 runs with those grabs and the O’s still won 12-0! But Bummer for Gunner Henderson’s stats and rookie Sam Bassallo’s debut.

Daniel Webster @daniel-webster.bsky.social · Aug 17

500 rounds fired by a man who bought the sack of lies widely promoted by RFK Jr - that the Covid vaccine was “poisonous,” that CDC was “corrupt” and lied about vaccines’ harms. The Washington Post wrote some good articles on this. No response from Trump who uses political violence to his advantage.

Jill Sargent Russell, PhD @jsargentr.bsky.social · Aug 17

It was a MAGA irregular paramilitary attack on the CDC.

Erin Kissane @kissane.myatproto.social · Aug 17

It is so wild to me that we had a terrorist attack on the CDC and it just blended into the rest of the political violence.

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Jill Sargent Russell, PhD @jsargentr.bsky.social · Aug 17

It was a MAGA irregular paramilitary attack on the CDC.

Erin Kissane @kissane.myatproto.social · Aug 17

It is so wild to me that we had a terrorist attack on the CDC and it just blended into the rest of the political violence.

John Skiles Skinner @skiles.blue · Aug 17

A terrorist targeted federal workers last week. There wasn’t much reporting on it. But I’m not finished thinking about it! 🧵

An anti-vaxxer fired more than 500 gunshots into CDC Atlanta, shattering 150 “blast-proof” windows on 6 buildings. Employees were pinned down in terror.

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Daniel Webster @daniel-webster.bsky.social · Aug 10

Great quotes insights from Duke Prof Jeff Swanson and UMich Prof April Zeoli about the gaps and weaknesses in federal and state gun laws and their enforcement. Police and family knew the Park Ave shooter was a risk to himself and others, had guns but failed to use NV’s ERPO law to prevent gun access

NPR @npr.org · Aug 10

The New York City mass shooter had been diagnosed with multiple mental illnesses and had been the subject of two "mental health holds" in Las Vegas, but none of that limited his legal right to own firearms.

NYC shooter had two 'mental health holds' in Las Vegas. They didn't affect his legal right to own guns

The New York City mass shooter had been diagnosed with multiple mental illnesses and had been the subject of two "mental health holds" in Las Vegas, but none of that limited his legal right to own firearms.

n.pr

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NPR @npr.org · Aug 10

The New York City mass shooter had been diagnosed with multiple mental illnesses and had been the subject of two "mental health holds" in Las Vegas, but none of that limited his legal right to own firearms.

NYC shooter had two 'mental health holds' in Las Vegas. They didn't affect his legal right to own guns

The New York City mass shooter had been diagnosed with multiple mental illnesses and had been the subject of two "mental health holds" in Las Vegas, but none of that limited his legal right to own firearms.

n.pr

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Thomas Abt @thomasabt.bsky.social · Apr 8

Letting rogue gun dealers of the hook means more guns in the hands of criminals - it's that simple. How is that tough on crime? www.washingtonpost.com/national-sec...

Attorney General Pam Bondi begins dismantling Biden-era gun policies

The Justice Department and ATF said they would rescind the “zero-tolerance” policy aimed at firearm dealers who don’t comply with federal gun sale laws.

www.washingtonpost.com

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Grant @serow.bsky.social · Apr 8

The Trace’s own reporting found instances of licenses being revoked for first time paperwork errors.

www.thetrace.org/2024/10/atf-...

Rachel Maddow @maddow.msnbc.com · Apr 17

38 of the 43.

"38 of 43 experts cut last month from boards that review science and research in NIH laboratories are female, Black or Hispanic.

"The scientists typically serve five-year terms and were not given a reason for their dismissal..."

www.washingtonpost.com/science/2025...

Women, minorities fired in purge of NIH science review boards

Scientists, with expertise in fields that include mental health, cancer and infectious disease, typically serve five-year terms and were not given a reason for their dismissal.

www.washingtonpost.com

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Ted Alcorn @tedalcorn.bsky.social · Apr 18

Ambitious, measurable goal and a smart, comprehensive plan. Now to see how it is implemented and how it plays out. @mayorgreenberg.bsky.social www.lpm.org/news/2025-04...

Louisville unveils plan to reduce violent crime by 15% annually

Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg said the city’s new plan to reduce violent crime will rely on a variety of city departments and community organizations.

www.lpm.org

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