Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

John McLaren

@johnmclaren.bsky.social

2.2K followers 830 following 1.3K posts

Economist, classical music nerd, and family man.

Videos

Economics 44%

Political science 23%

Posts Media Videos Starter Packs

Pinned

John McLaren @johnmclaren.bsky.social · Apr 4

I'm seeing a huge spike in interest in tariffs from people who normally don't work in the economics of international trade. Here are a few useful things to know about them. (1/14)

10 82 240

Reposted by John McLaren

cvilledems.bsky.social @cvilledems.bsky.social · 6h

Newly rescheduled Charlottesville School Board Candidate Forum!
Tuesday, October 14, 2025, 6:00pm-7:00pm at the Jefferson School African American Heritage Center.

1 2

Reposted by John McLaren

20 Nate Days Later @nathanalderman.com · 9h

“That’s not discrimination!” Oh my dear sweet Lord, just make this entire exchange a tv ad right now.

American Bridge 21st Century @ab21.bsky.social · 11h

WATCH: Winsome Earle-Sears says her opposition to marriage equality or her support for LGTBQ+ Americans being fired for being gay is "not discrimination." #VAGov

2 3

John McLaren @johnmclaren.bsky.social · 10h

We salute Andrew for this summary of the highlights of the Albemarle County School Board meeting 10/9/25.

The speakers were overwhelmingly disproportionately pro-TPUSA and anti-trans, but the community came out in force and in great spirits to support Allison and trans youth.

Andrew @tjsleakyroof.bsky.social · 12h

school board meeting kicking off. not going to fully live skeet, but will do my best to hit the important points.

1 10

John McLaren @johnmclaren.bsky.social · 10h

I don’t know if any of this was recorded, but I would love to be able to share Allison’s remarks with the world. That was beautiful.

2 4

Reposted by John McLaren

Andrew @tjsleakyroof.bsky.social · 12h

school board meeting kicking off. not going to fully live skeet, but will do my best to hit the important points.

1 4 35

Reposted by John McLaren, Olúfẹ́mi Táíwò

Kathryn @kathrynlaughon.bsky.social · 13h

Today the UVA School of Nursing passed, with overwhelming support, a resolution demanding that the rector and interim president reject the compact. bit.ly/3KPRMKV

SON resolution against the compact

The University of Virginia School of Nursing places the ethical principles of our profession at the center of its work. The American Nurses Association's Nursing Code of Ethics affirms nurses' obligat...

bit.ly

2 16 80

John McLaren @johnmclaren.bsky.social · 14h

Maybe there should be a special briefing for incoming Secretaries of Health and Human Services to make sure they know how babies are made.

Seems to be a problem.

John McLaren @johnmclaren.bsky.social · 17h

You should put this post on your CV. It’s quite wonderful.

Reposted by John McLaren, Samantha Brennan

Erin Reed @erininthemorning.com · 17h

1. Anti-trans outrage is losing its bite.

Last week, Elon Musk led a mass boycott campaign to get trans characters removed from shows on the platform.

Major conservatives joined in.

Now, we have the result: the boycott was a fizzle, and Netflix stock is up.

Subscribe to support my journalism.

Netflix Stock Up As Elon Musk's Anti-Trans Boycott Fails To Materialize

Last week, conservatives tried to cancel Netflix to force the carrier to remove transgender characters.

www.erininthemorning.com

56 810 3.1K

Reposted by John McLaren

Matthew Kirschenbaum @mkirschenbaum.bsky.social · 20h

Just to underscore: VA Senate Dems brought the 🔥, but it’s very clear the text of their letter was directly inspired by public writing from @sivav.bsky.social, a UVA faculty member. Each party worked with the tools at hand, be they brain and words or force of law.

Resistance is an ecology.

Matthew Kirschenbaum @mkirschenbaum.bsky.social · 1d

Virginia State Senate Dems just brought down fire and fury regarding the “Compact,” notifying the President and Rector that UVA would lose ALL STATE APPROPRIATIONS if it signs and cedes the University to “federal political control.” Notably, their letter directly restates points made here by @siva.

Siva @sivav.bsky.social · 1d

The “compact” for higher ed is an unserious document written by unserious people from a position of spectacular ignorance. No one should take it seriously. Sadly, my bosses are taking it seriously.

newrepublic.com/article/2013...

10 33

Reposted by John McLaren

Climate Dad @climatedad.bsky.social · 1d

Up to 90% of all life on this planet died during the Permian Triassic extinction event when temperatures increased by 8C across 60,000 years.

We’re on track for a rise of 4C+ just in our children’s lifetimes.

It’s impossible to overestimate how much trouble we’re in.

5 71 160

Reposted by John McLaren, Philip Nel, Smith , and 4 more John McLaren, Philip Nel, Smith, Alan Richardson, Mary Jane Curry, Larry W. Hunter, Katelyn K. Jetelina

Governor Tim Walz @governorwalz.mn.gov · 1d

Can’t believe I have to say this, but in Minnesota you will continue to have the freedom to get your COVID and flu shots.

330 3.5K 23K

Reposted by John McLaren

Newfie912 @newfie912.bsky.social · 1d

Canada vs USA. Not the same.

7 150 450

Reposted by John McLaren

alix e. harrow @alixeharrow.bsky.social · 1d

if you'd like to hear more about their stances, there's an interview in Cville Tomorrow, and some recent coverage specifically of SROs. it's one of the few concrete policies up for discussion, and one of the few areas you'll find real differences of opinion. www.29news.com/2025/10/07/c...

Candidates for Charlottesville City School Board are split on school resource officers

All four candidates tell 29News that safety is a priority - they just have different ideas of how to get there.

www.29news.com

1 1 9

Reposted by John McLaren

alix e. harrow @alixeharrow.bsky.social · 1d

hi charlottesville! if you're voting in the city school board election this november, there are four candidates running for three seats. here's where they stand on the return of police to our schools:

keep police out of cville schools! 2025 school board candidate guide.
zyahna bryant [✓]: opposed school resource officers
lisa torres [✓]: voted against SROs
dashad cooper: supports SROs
emily dooley: voted for SROs as chair
VOTE NOV. 4 2025

1 4 29

Reposted by Jan W. Mueller, John McLaren, Rebecca Tushnet

Matthew Kirschenbaum @mkirschenbaum.bsky.social · 1d

Siva @sivav.bsky.social · 1d

Why This Essay Could Cause the University of Virginia to Shut Down

How Linda McMahon’s latest “compact” would do deep and permanent harm to American higher education

newrepublic.com

16 540 2.1K

John McLaren @johnmclaren.bsky.social · 1d

Agreed. At least it sounds as if he is big on educating students about the perils of the stuff, and why they shouldn’t let it do their writing for them. I hope I’m reading that part right.

1 3

Reposted by Scott L. Greer, John McLaren, Christopher Wright , and 9 more Scott L. Greer, John McLaren, Christopher Wright, Megan L. Ranney, Rosemary A. Joyce, Philip N. Cohen, James M. Graham, Gerald Friedman, Helen Jefferson Lenskyj, Terence Wood, Nicole Guenther Discenza, Nathan P. Kalmoe

jamelle @jamellebouie.net · 1d

i desperately want everyone involved in the destruction of USAID to have to, st the very least, answer to the american people for the suffering and misery they have caused apnews.com/article/myan...

Starving children screaming for food as US aid cuts unleash devastation and death across Myanmar

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has repeatedly said “no one has died" because of his government’s decision to gut its foreign aid program.

apnews.com

280 5.1K 14K

Reposted by John McLaren

Rare Book School @rarebookschool.bsky.social · 1d

Rare Book School is searching for a detail-oriented, self-motivated, and forward-thinking full-time Program Manager to assist in facilitating excellent educational programming.

Review of applications begins 30 October.

Details at rarebookschool.org/about-rbs/employment/

#Booksky

A vertically oriented rectangular graphic with a blue background has white text reading, “Join our team! Rare Book School at the University of Virginia is searching for a detail-oriented, self-motivated, and forward-thinking full-time Program Manager to assist the Director of Programs & Education in facilitating excellent educational programming. Review of applications will begin 30 October 2025 and continue until the position is filled.” The lower right quadrant has a circular frame with a photo of a group of adults standing around a long table on which a number of books are laid out on foam supports, listening to a man on the right as he gestures over the books. At the bottom of the graphic, white text on a green background reads, “Visit our website to learn more: rarebookschool.org/about-rbs/employment”.

5 9

Reposted by John McLaren, Daxton R. Stewart

Amanda Katz @katzish.bsky.social · 2d

The Oatmeal, ladies and gents. Really thoughtful illustrated essay on the use and misuse of AI art and why it often feels…bad

19 79

Reposted by John McLaren

Zyahna Bryant. @zysaidso.bsky.social · 2d

We’ve had a couple of candidate events that have been canceled/postponed. With that said, I decided to sit down and make a video that shares a little bit about my background and my reason for running. view at the link below! 💚

www.instagram.com/reel/DPhofwf...

zysaidso on Instagram: "Can we chat? I want to tell you my “why”! My name is Zyahna Bryant, I’m a 24 year old advocate for educational equity and I am runn…"

Can we chat? I want to tell you my “why”! My name is Zyahna Bryant, I’m a 24 year old advocate for educational equity and I am running for the Charlottesville School Board.Thank you for taking the time to listen. 💚View all comments

www.instagram.com

1 6

Reposted by John McLaren

Livable Cville @livablecville.bsky.social · 2d

Come join us this Thursday at Ix @brazos.bsky.social! Stay as briefly or as long as you want. The weather is looking fantastic!

Livable Cville Meetup!
Thursday, October 9, 5-7pm

Brazos Tacos
IX Art Park
923 2nd St SE

4 7

John McLaren @johnmclaren.bsky.social · 2d

Noted torturer. https://reason.com/2003/11/05/the-case-of-allen-west/

1 1

Reposted by John McLaren

emily moonlight @threnody.bsky.social · 2d

hi, cis folks in california!

this headline leaves out that newsom has another 5 days to sign these bills into law. if you’d like to tell him he should do that to protect trans californians, you should to reach out.

he also has a phone: (916) 445-2841

want to know what to say? next post! 🧵

5 3.6K 4K

Reposted by John McLaren

Ken Martin @kenmartin.bsky.social · 2d

It’s shameful that Speaker Johnson and House Republicans refuse to release the Epstein files. Swear in Adelita Grijalva and get this done for the survivors and American people.

21 96 300

Reposted by John McLaren

Waldo Jaquith @waldo.net · 2d

Virginia Republican gubernatorial nominee Winsome Earle-Sears has no policy positions, has shared no plans for what she’d do if elected, grants no interviews, and isn’t even on her own campaign bus as it tours the state. She’s a candidate in name only.

Spanberger answers questions about policy. Earle-Sears does not.

This fits a pattern where Earle-Sears has avoided taking about most issues. Her silence on issues is unprecedented in modern Virginia history.

cardinalnews.org

14 79 440

John McLaren @johnmclaren.bsky.social · 2d

And I love the observation that under this regime the standard analysis of tariffs we do in the economics department would, under the present regime and the proposed “compact,” be considered thought crime.

#econsky

John McLaren @johnmclaren.bsky.social · 2d

The Montreal protocol. As a former Montrealer, I took a special sort of pride in it. Sigh.

John McLaren @johnmclaren.bsky.social · 2d

Thanks. One more awful thing to think about.

1 2

Reposted by John McLaren

Matthew Kirschenbaum @mkirschenbaum.bsky.social · 2d

This, from @sivav.bsky.social, is the mic drop reply to the “Compact” you have been waiting for. It won’t, but it should really just end the discussion and deliberations straight up. newrepublic.com/article/2013...

Why This Essay Could Cause the University of Virginia to Shut Down

How Linda McMahon’s latest “compact” would do deep and permanent harm to American higher education

newrepublic.com

1 11 28