Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Sabrina Vourvoulias @followthelede.bsky.social · 2d

Actual fortune cookie fortune I got in 2021. More relevant than ever.

A fortune cookie broken open on a red, plaid tablecloth. The slip of paper with the fortune reads: Human Rights: Know Them, Demand Them, Defend Them.

Sabrina Vourvoulias @followthelede.bsky.social · 2d

"According to the Nobel Foundation, Machado stands out as a leading voice for freedom in a country gripped by authoritarian rule, embodying civilian courage at its most uncompromising."

Read more at:
economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/interna...

Meet Maria Corina Machado, the Latin American who won the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize Trump was vying for

Maria Corina Machado receives the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize. She is honored for her fight for democracy in Venezuela. Machado has long advocated for peaceful change from dictatorship. Her efforts inspire...

economictimes.indiatimes.com

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Reposted by Sabrina Vourvoulias

Renée @reneeh.bsky.social · 2d

I'm glad this has gotten media attention because it's safe to assume this has happened to others, as well:
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...

US anti-fascism expert blocked from flying to Spain at airport

Rutgers University professor who published book on antifa was informed at boarding gate that his trip was cancelled

www.theguardian.com

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Reposted by Sabrina Vourvoulias

Matt Novak @paleofuture.bsky.social · 3d

John Fetterman, ladies and gentlemen

Jonathan Cohn @jonathancohn.bsky.social · 3d

Trump has been illegally bombing boats off the coast of Venezuela.

Tim Kaine and Adam Schiff forced a vote on reasserting Congress's role over war powers and ending this reckless
warmongering.

It failed 48-51.

Murkowski and Paul voted yes.

Fetterman voted no.

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Sabrina Vourvoulias @followthelede.bsky.social · 2d

Pope Leo to news organizations: “I urge you: Never sell out your authority [...] With your patient and rigorous work, you can act as a barrier against those who, through the ancient art of lying, seek to create divisions in order to rule by dividing.”
www.inquirer.com/news/nation-...

Pope urges news agencies to stand as bulwark against lies, manipulation and post-truths

Pope Leo XIV has encouraged international news agencies to stand firm as a bulwark against the “ancient art of lying” and manipulation.

www.inquirer.com

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Reposted by Sabrina Vourvoulias

Simon Moya-Smith @simonmoyasmith.bsky.social · 3d

Imagine:

This Thanksgiving, all of you white people — all of you — by some crazy fucking way, have to go back to Europe.

Then, when you *try* to come back, only Indigenous peoples are waiting for you at the shoreline. Like an Ellis Island ran by Indigenous folks.

Why should we let you back in?

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Sabrina Vourvoulias @followthelede.bsky.social · 4d

From @migrantinsider.bsky.social: migrantinsider.com/p/scoop-appl...

SCOOP: Apple Quietly Made ICE Agents a Protected Class

Internal emails show tech giant used anti-hate-speech rules meant for minorities to block an app documenting immigration enforcement.

migrantinsider.com

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Sabrina Vourvoulias @followthelede.bsky.social · 4d

Trump vs. the Vatican at the UN general assembly
www.americamagazine.org/weekly-dispa...

Trump vs. the Vatican at the UN general assembly

Despite the growing American threats to withdraw, Vatican officials still perceive the United Nations as a fundamental instrument of world peace and justice seeking.

www.americamagazine.org

Sabrina Vourvoulias @followthelede.bsky.social · 5d

Nota bene Bishop Robert Barron and Cardinal Timothy Dolan: "Church leaders can either acknowledge their grave error and work toward genuine reconciliation or they can continue tacitly sanctifying racist speech and injustice."
www.americamagazine.org/faith-and-re...

What are Black Catholics hearing when church leaders praise Charlie Kirk?

For many Black Catholics familiar with Charlie Kirk's full record, endorsements of his message by Catholic leaders can be devastating.

www.americamagazine.org

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Sabrina Vourvoulias @followthelede.bsky.social · 7d

Always fun to see my column in print...

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Sabrina Vourvoulias @followthelede.bsky.social · 7d

My friend @wallacewriter.bsky.social has a new piece out at Religion Unplugged. Like all her journalism, it is well worth a read: religionunplugged.com/news/speakin...

Speaking To The Dead: Why Americans Consult Mediums

Interest in communicating with the dead has continued to thread itself through contemporary American life. For a medium in Pennsylvania, communicating with loved ones helps bring her clients comfort.

religionunplugged.com

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Reposted by Sabrina Vourvoulias

Victoria Janssen @victoriajanssen.bsky.social · 10d

Something to complain about, if you're in the mood. Ahem.

The Downballot @the-downballot.com · 10d

House Republicans are refusing to seat Dem Adelita Grijalva, who won a special election more than a week ago. She's the last signature needed to force a vote on the Epstein files.

The soonest the GOP will act is Oct. 7. In three prior specials this year, the winners were all sworn in a day later.

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Sabrina Vourvoulias @followthelede.bsky.social · 10d

Apparently neither of my books (including one published by Hachette's Running Press Kids), and none of my short stories (including two published by MacMillan), are eligible, despite being on the list of those scraped by AI... 😡

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Sabrina Vourvoulias @followthelede.bsky.social · 10d

This kind of middle-of-the-night-break-down-doors-and-take-everybody kind of action is so familiar to those of us who have lived under authoritarian rule. Go to www.inquirer.com/opinion/ice-... to read about other authoritarian markers.

chicago.suntimes.com/immigration/...

Massive immigration raid on Chicago apartment building leaves residents reeling: 'I feel defeated'

The Department of Homeland Security said federal agents with Border Patrol, the FBI and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives arrested 37 people in the raid.

chicago.suntimes.com

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Sabrina Vourvoulias @followthelede.bsky.social · 10d

By all means, let's make the person who propagated the lie about Haitians eating cats and dogs the arbitrer of what is racist and what isn't. 🙄 wapo.st/46zkkRv

Vance downplays Trump post of Jeffries in sombrero: ‘I think it’s funny’

Vice President JD Vance on Wednesday characterized Trump’s AI-generated post of Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) as “funny,” pushing back on criticism of the video.

wapo.st

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Sabrina Vourvoulias @followthelede.bsky.social · 10d

In case that link doesn't work, try this one: migrantinsider.com/p/ice-threat...

ICE Threatens Bad Bunny's Super Bowl Stage

Trump’s DHS goon Corey Lewandowski vows raids at Bad Bunny’s halftime show, turning America’s biggest sports event into a deportation spectacle.

migrantinsider.com

1

Sabrina Vourvoulias @followthelede.bsky.social · 10d

For every MAGA Latino out there who still thinks any of this is about immigration status, wake the hell up. No importa si has sido ciudadano desde que naciste y no importa cuán exitoso seas ... nunca serás uno de «ellos».
ICE Threatens Bad Bunny's Super Bowl Stage
migrantinsider.com/p/ice-threat...

ICE Threatens Bad Bunny's Super Bowl Stage

Trump’s DHS goon Corey Lewandowski vows raids at Bad Bunny’s halftime show, turning America’s biggest sports event into a deportation spectacle.

migrantinsider.com

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Sabrina Vourvoulias @followthelede.bsky.social · 11d

I have a short story in this!

Doctora Malka Older @older.bsky.social · 11d

STARRED review in @libraryjournal.bsky.social for WE WILL RISE AGAIN, the speculative activism anthology edited by @drkarenlord.bsky.social @annaleen.bsky.social and yours truly! Pre-order here: www.simonandschuster.com/books/We-Wil...

We Will Rise Again

From genre luminaries, esteemed organizers, and exciting new voices in fiction, an anthology of stories, essays, and interviews that offer transfor...

www.simonandschuster.com

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Sabrina Vourvoulias @followthelede.bsky.social · 11d

👏

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Sabrina Vourvoulias @followthelede.bsky.social · 11d

What can be done? We must “encourage the U.S. to recommit to its international human rights obligations and fully engage and participate in the international human rights systems.”
My new column.
www.inquirer.com/opinion/ice-...

‘Say it with me: Our government is forcibly disappearing people’

Enforced disappearance of immigrants and noncitizens aren’t the only way the Trump administration is showing its authoritarian character, but it is one with deep resonances.

www.inquirer.com

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Reposted by Sabrina Vourvoulias

Christopher Webb @cwebbonline.com · 11d

75% 🤬

I’m not alone, but we pay over $19K/year for insurance through the ACA for my daughter, my wife, and myself.

Like millions of other Americans, we are bracing ourselves to be priced out. We don’t need to just save healthcare. We need to make it better and affordable.
#DonaldTrumpsShutdown

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Sabrina Vourvoulias @followthelede.bsky.social · 11d

This makes me so damn sad.
www.inquirer.com/food/cantina...

Kensington’s Cantina La Martina, from James Beard-nominated chef Dionicio Jiménez, is closing

After a nearly four-year run, the restaurant's owners have decided not to renew their lease on the space at the corner of D Street and Kensington Avenue.

www.inquirer.com

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Reposted by Sabrina Vourvoulias

Karl Jacoby @karl-jacoby.bsky.social · 12d

Hegseth's words seem especially chilling in light of his whitewashing of the Wounded Knee Massacre as a heroic "battle" only a few days ago. The message would seem to be that the Trump Administration is willing to forgive any atrocity US troops may commit as an "earnest mistake."

Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 12d

Hegseth: "You should not pay for an earnest mistake for your entire career. That's why today, at my direction, we're making changes to the retention of adverse information on personnel records."

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Reposted by Sabrina Vourvoulias

jamelle @jamellebouie.net · 12d

yeah, this is hegseth straightforwardly announcing that it is free play time for bigots in the ranks. and together with his comments on standards, he clearly wants to purge as many women, black and brown people as he can from the armed services. a white man's military.

Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 12d

Hegseth: "We are overhauling an inspector general process that has been weaponized, putting complainers and poor performers in the driver seat. We are doing the same with the equal opportunity policies. No more frivolous complaints, no more anonymous complains ... no more walking on eggshells."

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Reposted by Sabrina Vourvoulias

jamelle @jamellebouie.net · 12d

i'm guessing this is for his buddies who have been accused of war crimes or blatant racism

Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 12d

Hegseth: "You should not pay for an earnest mistake for your entire career. That's why today, at my direction, we're making changes to the retention of adverse information on personnel records."

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