Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Reposted by John Ismay

ProPublica @propublica.org · 12h

A policy expert described Education Secretary Linda McMahon’s push in favor of private schools as a “great American heist,” funneling money from public schools: “It’s a strategic theft of the future of our country, our kids and our democracy.”

By @megomatz.bsky.social & @jsmithrichards.bsky.social

These Activists Want to Dismantle Public Schools. Now They Run the Education Department.

Under Trump, the Department of Education has been bringing in activists hostile to public schools. It could mean a new era of private and religious schools boosted by tax dollars — and the end of publ...

www.propublica.org

56 540 1.3K

Reposted by John Ismay

👁🌻🦊⚙️⚓ Bob, Engineer, Pusher of Paper @navmecheng.bsky.social · 21h

> It is 2025 BC. I am a soldier from one of the outlying provinces called to defend the pyramid in Memphis

> It is 2025 AD. I am a soldier from one of the outlying provinces called to defend the pyramid in Memphis

Soldiers at the Bass Pro Shops pyramid in Memphis, TN.

61 3.1K 10K

Reposted by John Ismay

The New York Times @nytimes.com · 3d

Pope Leo XIV placed the poor at the center of the Christian message in his first major document, which was released on Thursday, urging people to defend and protect the most vulnerable as Jesus did while carrying out acts of charity like almsgiving.

Pope Leo Calls on Christians to Care for the Poor in His First Teaching

The message signaled a continuation of one of the priorities of his predecessor, Francis.

nyti.ms

13 57 320

Reposted by John Ismay

Wesley Morgan @wesleymorgan.bsky.social · 3d

West Point graduate who eventually went Guard, did two Iraq deployments and Afghanistan deployment, and then a fourth Kuwait/Iraq/Syria one commanding the California Guard’s aviation brigade. Has also commanded the Oregon Guard’s main unit, the 40th Infantry BCT.

Isabel Santos @isabelsantos.bsky.social · 3d

Brig. Gen. Alan Gronewold stated that if the Oregon National Guard were deployed, they would protect protesters, not ICE, prioritizing citizens’ safety and civil liberties—a strong stance earning widespread approval.

3 39

Reposted by John Ismay

Edward Wong @ewong.bsky.social · 3d

NEW: While Qatar helps with Gaza talks, it's trying to mediate the US-Venezuela conflict. But Trump is cold on diplomacy. He has put 10,000 troops in the Caribbean and is continuing airstrikes on civilian boats. And Rubio pushes to oust Maduro. Our story: www.nytimes.com/2025/10/08/u...

Qatar Pushes U.S.-Venezuela Diplomacy as Trump Focuses on Military Action

www.nytimes.com

8 34 68

Reposted by John Ismay

Wesley Morgan @wesleymorgan.bsky.social · 3d

Yesterday's Syria strike puts US combat actions during the second Trump administration at:

—1,000+ air strikes in Yemen (March-April)
—75+ air strikes in Somalia
—7 air strikes and 3 JSOC ground raids in Syria
—4 air strikes in the Caribbean
—B-2 strikes on 3 sites in Iran
—1 air strike in Iraq

3 28 46

Reposted by John Ismay

Aric Toler @aric.bsky.social · 3d

Our New York Times Visual Investigations team is hiring a reporter. It's the same job I have -- use visual investigation/OSINT/etc. skills to report on the world.

You'll need to be based in/near NYC. Pay range is ~110-130k.

www.nytco.com/careers/job-...

Open-Source Reporter (Video Journalist), Visual Investigations | The New York Times Company

www.nytco.com

2 29 51

Reposted by John Ismay

Adam Weinstein @adamweinstein.bsky.social · 6d

Years ago, I got a fellowship from the Marine Corps to research counterinsurgency in Vietnam, and in part of it I wrote specifically about the Vietnam stab-in-the-back thesis, its historical precedents and motivations, and how it persisted in political and military thought. That was 2007

2 5 36

Reposted by John Ismay

Brian Finucane @bcfinucane.bsky.social · 6d

TFW you’re reading a profile of a war criminal and realize you probably have multiple mutual acquaintances.

Sigh

1 3 19

John Ismay @johnismay.bsky.social · 9d

Thursday night: @nekocasefans.bsky.social playing Deep Red Bells at the Lincoln Theater in DC

1

John Ismay @johnismay.bsky.social · 9d

Bobbie Scholley, one of the Navy's first deep-sea dive officers, and Kate Wilder, the first woman to graduate from Army Special Forces training, shared their thoughts after watching Pete Hegseth's remarks about women in combat www.nytimes.com/2025/10/02/u...

What Women Heard in Hegseth’s Remarks About Physical Standards

www.nytimes.com

9 23 87

Reposted by John Ismay

Charlie Savage @charliesavage.bsky.social · 9d

Trump ‘Determined’ the U.S. Is Now in a War With Drug Cartels, Congress Is Told

A notice calls the people the U.S. military recently killed on suspicion of drug smuggling in the Caribbean Sea “unlawful combatants.”

www.nytimes.com/2025/10/02/u...

Trump ‘Determined’ the U.S. Is Now in a War With Drug Cartels, Congress Is Told

www.nytimes.com

36 42 110

John Ismay @johnismay.bsky.social · 10d

Yet another reason why @washspirit.bsky.social is the best professional sports team in DC www.nytimes.com/athletic/668...

Washington Spirit embraces ‘unique power’ in community hit heavily by U.S. government shutdown

The team has also allowed chants of "free D.C." during matches in reference to the city's push for statehood.

www.nytimes.com

John Ismay @johnismay.bsky.social · 10d

"Military policy and norms evolved from [Gen. Ulysses S.] Grant’s example. The military discourages political rallies in front of troops, and those on active duty are urged to avoid partisan politics" - via Helene Cooper www.nytimes.com/2025/10/01/u...

‘Dangerous Cities,’ the Military, Trump and the Founding Fathers

www.nytimes.com

5 7

Reposted by John Ismay

Carol Rosenberg @carolrosenbergnyt.bsky.social · 11d

During his address today, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth invited the U.S. military’s generals and admirals to quit, “if the words I’m speaking today are making your heart sink.” Here's a confidential questionnaire for any flag officers resigning their commissions.

www.nytimes.com/2025/09/30/u...

Are You Quitting the Military? We Want to Hear From You.

www.nytimes.com

53 190 430

John Ismay @johnismay.bsky.social · 11d

www.nytimes.com/2025/09/30/u...

Are You Quitting the Military? We Want to Hear From You.

www.nytimes.com

2 1

Reposted by John Ismay

The New York Times @nytimes.com · 12d

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has summoned hundreds of the military’s most senior officers and their enlisted counterparts to attend a gathering on Tuesday at a military base in Virginia. Military officials and historians say the event is without precedent in size and scope.

Here's what we know.

Hegseth and Trump to Meet With Military Brass: What We Know

Tuesday’s meeting at a Marine Corps base appears to be without precedent, and a lack of explanation for it has led to speculation and fear.

nyti.ms

45 22 70

John Ismay @johnismay.bsky.social · 12d

www.nytimes.com/interactive/...

The Missiles Threatening Taiwan

China’s rapidly growing missile force threatens Taiwan and the U.S. forces that protect the island.

www.nytimes.com

5 4

Reposted by John Ismay

Adam Weinstein @adamweinstein.bsky.social · 13d

I think a lot about my exchange trip to Uzbekistan and Russia as a teen in 1995, watching street cops saunter around in tactical cammies like soldiers and thinking to myself, man, I'm glad I'm American

1 10 83

John Ismay @johnismay.bsky.social · 17d

“Get inside and get those stupid bastards away from the windows. If this thing goes off, they’ll be wearing glass for the rest of their lives.” www.thetimes.com/uk/obituarie...

Peter Gurney obituary: bomb disposal expert

Soldier and police officer whose cold courage when dealing with explosives earned him two George Medals dies aged 93

www.thetimes.com

2

John Ismay @johnismay.bsky.social · 17d

$578 million for Stingers. The Biden Administration sent more than 3,000 of them to Ukraine

1 3

John Ismay @johnismay.bsky.social · 19d

I'm glad I never got covered in AFFF www.nytimes.com/2025/09/23/c...

Defense Department Delays Cleanup of ‘Forever Chemicals’ Nationwide

www.nytimes.com

3

John Ismay @johnismay.bsky.social · 19d

The Hong Kong Police Bureau EOD team is world-class, and they do these kinds of high profile UXO call-outs all the time. Got to work with them in 2009 and have nothing but respect for those folks

Stars and Stripes @starsandstripes.bsky.social · 19d

About 6,000 people were evacuated from their homes in Hong Kong overnight so experts could defuse a large U.S.-made bomb left over from World War II that was discovered at a construction site.

Thousands evacuated in Hong Kong after discovery of large WWII-era bomb

www.stripes.com

3

Reposted by John Ismay

Ida Bae Wells @nhannahjones.bsky.social · 20d

One stark marker of how much our society has devolved in just a few years is Bob Iger personally got on a call to convince us to let Disney/HULU make the 1619 Project. That America no longer exists.

69 1.2K 5.6K

Reposted by John Ismay

Ida Bae Wells @nhannahjones.bsky.social · 22d

My friend and colleague Wesley Morris and I had a very sobering conversation about America since the 1619 Project published and how it feels to be falling back under the veil that W.E.B. Du Bois so mournfully wrote about. I hope you’ll listen to this episode of Cannonball @nytimes.com

16 170 540