Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Hunter Plummer @hunterplummer.bsky.social · 1d

Learning that the minimum salary for an endowed chair in my department is more than double mine and with half the teaching load really makes me feel my worth.

Reposted by Hunter Plummer

Al Jazeera English @aljazeera.com · 1d

A map of Gaza shows how Israeli forces will withdraw under the first phase of the ceasefire plan while remaining in control of nearly 60% of the besieged Strip aje.io/kekalb

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Al Jazeera English @aljazeera.com · 2d

BREAKING: Israeli war planes continue to launch raids on Gaza City as Palestinians celebrate the ceasefire announcement, according to an Al Jazeera Arabic correspondent on the ground.

🔴 LIVE update: aje.io/xqppys

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Hunter Plummer @hunterplummer.bsky.social · 2d

"Being at a protest" as a journalist "can be construed" as protesting is certainly a thing to say

Dave Byrnes @djbyrnes1.bsky.social · 2d

Some dispute over journalists "shouting" at protests.

Plaintiff attys bring up a journalist shouting "don't shoot," rather than shouting protest chants.

Govt. atty brings up the issue of presence.

"From our point of view, being at a protest can be construed" as protest activity, he says.

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Reposted by Hunter Plummer

Philip Bump @pbump.com · 2d

The day Trump declares that he "took the freedom of speech away," we get polling showing that even 40% of Republicans think that Trump's improperly punished people who say things he disagrees with.
www.pbump.net/o/even-2-in-...

Even 2 in 5 Republicans understand Trump is impeding free speech

It's not often the case that you will be working on a quick article about something only to have the president of the United States directly validate your thesis. But it happens occasionally, particul...

www.pbump.net

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Reposted by Hunter Plummer

Jack Jenkins @jackjenkins.me · 2d

For the uninitiated: The pope being this direct and explicit to U.S. bishops about how to respond to a domestic policy happening in real time is…unusual.

Joshua McElwee @joshmcelwee.org · 2d

Pope Leo told U.S. bishops visiting him at the Vatican on Wednesday that they should firmly address how immigrants are being treated by President Donald Trump's hardline policies, attendees said, in the latest push by the pontiff on the issue. For @reuters.com:

www.reuters.com

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Philip Bump @pbump.com · 2d

Once upon a time, the social media accounts of federal agencies weren't a stream of fascist, white nationalist garbage interlaced with whiny culture-war posts. Earlier this year, even!

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Mark Bray @mark-bray.bsky.social · 3d

Rutgers professor moving to Europe after threats over antifa accusations

Mark Bray says threats intensified after a Turning Point USA petition accused him of promoting political violence

www.theguardian.com

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Reposted by Hunter Plummer

Eric Umansky @ericumansky.bsky.social · 4d

That immigration agent who threw a woman to the ground, prompting DHS to declare his conduct "unacceptable"?

He's back at the courthouse.

And DHS still won't tell us his name.

Till Eckert @tilleckert.com · 4d

I recently reported on an ICE officer who was publicly reprimanded and “relieved of his duties” after shoving a woman to the ground in an NYC immigration court. Well, he’s back.

DHS did not respond to a request for comment.

Original story: www.propublica.org/article/ice-...

Photos: Carol Guzy

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Kathleen Romig @kathleenromig.bsky.social · 4d

Alarming news this morning that Social Security head Frank Bisignano has been named “CEO” of IRS, a move that raises 3 major concerns:

www.wsj.com/politics/pol...

Bessent Picks Social Security Chief Frank Bisignano as IRS CEO

The Social Security head will do double duty at the tax agency while Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent retains his formal title as acting IRS commissioner.

www.wsj.com

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Silky @silkyweineck.bsky.social · 4d

In my capacity as the chair of the provost's senate-appointed advisory committees, I emailed the questions below to @umich.edu's CFO and CIO. Our bylaws entitle me to request information from any officer of the university. This was weeks ago. I have yet to receive a response.

1. What is the total amount of funds we have allocated to genAI so far, and how much money have we budgeted for it in the future? If the exact amount is difficult to calculate, a ballpark figure would be useful
2. What peer-reviewed studies on the pedagogical benefits and learning outcomes of genAI use in the classroom have informed our AI strategy?
3. which measures are in place to guard against the harmful effects of genAI, specifically effects on our students' mental health and de-skilling effects? Are we conducting such studies ourselves, and if so, who is conducting them?
4. have we done a sustainability study regarding our AI use, and can you share it?
5. what safe-guards are in place to protect students, faculty, and staff against implicit ideological bias as well as direct ideological interference in genAI programming?
6. Has the administration discussed the political aims of the most influential proponents of AI (Peter Thiel, Elon Musk, Sam Altman, etc), who appear to be aligned with the Trump administration's goals?

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Hunter Plummer @hunterplummer.bsky.social · 4d

Boooooooooo

Joe Sonka 😐 @joesonka.lpm.org · 4d

Just passing along the news. #kysen

Amy McGrath is Running for Senate

YouTube video by Amy McGrath

youtu.be

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Hunter Plummer @hunterplummer.bsky.social · 6d

Even extending my search beyond jobs in English departments, the number of posted TT jobs I could viably apply for is six.

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Hunter Plummer @hunterplummer.bsky.social · 6d

It's really been something knowing I need to go on the academic job market because things aren't financially awesome at my university only to discover the academic job market is absolutely terrible this year.

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Reposted by Hunter Plummer

ProPublica @propublica.org · 7d

NEW: ProPublica obtained records from the Department of Agriculture that detail the millions of pounds of food, down to the number of eggs, that never reached food banks because of the Trump administration’s cuts to an aid program.

Trump Canceled 94 Million Pounds of Food Aid. Here’s What Never Arrived.

ProPublica obtained records from the Department of Agriculture that detail the millions of pounds of food, down to the number of eggs, that never reached food banks because of the administration’s cut...

projects.propublica.org

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Hunter Plummer @hunterplummer.bsky.social · 8d

The film that made me have a crush on Jodie Foster

Reposted by Hunter Plummer

jamelle @jamellebouie.net · 8d

a heartwarming story of how being an unethical and talentless hack is no barrier to success when you are willing to endlessly flatter the wretched views of rich dipshits

Phil Lewis @phillewis.bsky.social · 8d

Bari Weiss is set to be named the editor in chief of CBS News, the New York Post reports

Paramount Skydance is poised to name Bari Weiss as editor in chief of CBS News in the coming days — giving the hard-charging journalist unusual clout to revamp the struggling network as it also acquires her scrappy news site the Free Press, The Post has learned.

Weiss — a 41-year-old former New York Times opinion writer who has built the Free Press into a buzzworthy site with a contrarian bent — is expected to be named to the top post in a Monday announcement, although the talks are in flux and the timing could change, a source close to the situation said.

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Hunter Plummer @hunterplummer.bsky.social · 8d

For not being the chair of this chair-less committee and being the member with the most students, I'm doing an awful lot of work that the chair would do.

Reposted by Hunter Plummer

Till Eckert @tilleckert.com · 10d

1/ DEVELOPING: A journalist was rushed to New York-Presbyterian Hospital following another incident with an ICE agent at 26 Federal Plaza, an immigration court in NYC. The last I heard, he was getting X-rays for his lower back.

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Eric Michael Garcia @ericmgarcia.bsky.social · 11d

Ok. So there's A LOT of misinformation about the government shutdown, the continuing resolution and gender-affirming care. There was one article in PinkNews that was VERY shoddy about what Trump said. So let's breakdown what's true and what's BS. 1/
www.thepinknews.com/2025/09/29/t...

Trump threatens to shut down US government unless all trans health care is banned

The US government's looming shutdown hinges on anti-trans measures after Donald Trump refused to speak to Democrats unless they were passed.

www.thepinknews.com

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Hunter Plummer @hunterplummer.bsky.social · 11d

Objectively the best/only good city in Texas

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Hunter Plummer @hunterplummer.bsky.social · 11d

I just don't trust anyone who sees THE INHERITANCE and likes it and it's as simple as that

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Hunter Plummer @hunterplummer.bsky.social · 11d

Open the schools and teach the children important history.
Like the time Dick Cheney shot a guy while Vice President.

Reposted by Hunter Plummer

Matt Novak @paleofuture.bsky.social · 11d

"An Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer who was initially relieved of his duties after being captured on video pushing a woman to the ground outside an immigration court in New York City has been returned to duty..."

ICE officer seen on video pushing woman to ground has returned to duty

An ICE officer who was initially relieved of his duties after being captured on video pushing a woman to the ground has been returned to duty, two U.S. officials familiar with the matter told CBS News...

www.cbsnews.com

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Hunter Plummer @hunterplummer.bsky.social · 13d

Just remembered the only time I went to my Modern Novel professor's office in undergrad to ask if she had access to a copy of VIRGINIA WOOLF: LESBIAN READINGS so I didn't have to ILL it through my uber-conservative school's library.
She didn't, and I did.