Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Joshua Johnson @joshualistening.bsky.social · 22h

Oliver Darcy is a reputable journalist covering the media industry. His reporting is disheartening, but not surprising. We’re gonna have to build some new news organizations to replace these, sooner or later.
…Anyone wanna help me do it?😎

Oliver Darcy @oliverdarcy.bsky.social · 1d

News: Bari Weiss just sent a memo to staffers at CBS News asking them to produce a memo explaining "how you spend your working hours—and ideally, what you've made (or are making) that you're most proud of."

One CBS News staffer puts it like this to me: "We just got Elon Musked."

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Joshua Johnson @joshualistening.bsky.social · 1d

If you love screwball, absurd comedy, treat yourself to this 20-minute mockumentary from @theonion.com. This is the funniest thing they’ve ever made, and we could use a good laugh right now. Don’t skip the credits.
youtu.be/XjhSoGcQhWU?...

The Onion Investigates: Jeffrey Epstein

YouTube video by The Onion

youtu.be

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Joshua Johnson @joshualistening.bsky.social · 3d

This is what it’s come to.

Bob Ross paintings to be auctioned to support public TV stations after federal funding cuts

Thirty paintings by Bob Ross are set to be auctioned to support public television stations. The Bonhams auction is to begin Nov. 11 in Los Angeles with three of the paintings.

apnews.com

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Joshua Johnson @joshualistening.bsky.social · 5d

RIP @cbsnews.com: 1927-2025

Paramount Buys Bari Weiss’s the Free Press for $150 Million

Weiss, who once said she was done with legacy media, is to take control of CBS News’s editorial vision, aiming for “news that reflects reality.”

www.wsj.com

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Joshua Johnson @joshualistening.bsky.social · 14d

Very pleased with how TEDxChicago went! Events like this remind us the world is still full of good people doing kind and brilliant things: many of them are brilliant because they’re kind. I’m drained, but I did well, so I’m having a treat. 😊

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Joshua Johnson @joshualistening.bsky.social · 15d

Friday is almost here! In rehearsals today… it’s going well. Looking forward to sharing my “big idea” at TEDxChicago!

www.tedxchicago.com/joshuajohnso...

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Reposted by Joshua Johnson

Tim Onion @bencollins.bsky.social · 15d

Do you want to screen Jeffrey Epstein: Bad Pedophile in your town or city, unlike a cowardly major movie chain?

Email us at [email protected].

We'll allow you to screen it for free.

Yes, again, this is real.

Tim Onion @bencollins.bsky.social · 15d

A very big Onion announcement:

The Onion has spent the last two months working on a masterpiece.

It's a documentary titled Jeffrey Epstein: Bad Pedophile.

It's so good, in fact, we were set to release it in theatres nationwide on October 2nd.

Then two weeks ago, Charlie Kirk was shot.

The Jeffrey Epstein: Bad Pedophile title screen

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Joshua Johnson @joshualistening.bsky.social · 15d

Join me for this cinematic experience October 2nd!

The Onion @theonion.com · 15d

Forget everything you already know about America's most notorious dead person. Jeffrey Epstein: Bad Pedophile is in select theaters October 2.

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Joshua Johnson @joshualistening.bsky.social · 25d

How should you deal with people whose views you despise? I did it by sticking to all my professional principles… except one.
I’ll tell you in my TEDxChicago talk on Friday, Sept. 26th!
www.tedxchicago.com/joshuajohnso...

Join Joshua Johnson at TEDxChicago 2025 — TEDx Chicago

Friday, September 26th @ Harris Theater, Millennium Park

www.tedxchicago.com

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Joshua Johnson @joshualistening.bsky.social · Sep 11

I’ll address Charlie Kirk’s death at TEDx Chicago this month and share how I deal with people of every ideology. Enough with all this political violence. ENOUGH.

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Joshua Johnson @joshualistening.bsky.social · Sep 8

If my news editor fell for this morning's "Andy 100" prank on SiriusXM - who assumed that Howard Stern had left his show before, oh, I don't know, LISTENING TO THE FIRST 20 MINUTES - I'd suspend them for a week. I would be furious if we were this gullible.
Aim... THEN fire. Idjits. 🤦🏾‍♂️

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Joshua Johnson @joshualistening.bsky.social · Aug 1

The Corporation for Public Broadcasting is shutting down.
I am furious, and heartbroken… and I feel deeply betrayed.
cpb.org/pressroom/Co...

Corporation for Public Broadcasting Addresses Operations Following Loss of Federal Funding

WASHINGTON, D.C. (August 1, 2025) – The Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) announced today that it will begin an orderly wind-down of its operations following the passage of a federal rescissio...

cpb.org

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Joshua Johnson @joshualistening.bsky.social · Jul 18

The lack of a fighting spirit in public media - this suffocating civility, this unwillingness to scream when stabbed in the back - breaks my heart. It feels bloodless and humanoid: like what’s been taken from us is okay to take.
When will we finally, at long last, FIGHT for what’s ours?

NPR @npr.org · Jul 18

Congress has decided to claw back previously approved funding for public media.

This decision hurts people in communities across the country, but it has only strengthened our resolve to keep Americans informed and connected. (1/2)

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Joshua Johnson @joshualistening.bsky.social · Jun 19

TFW the state of the world makes you feel so powerless that Kermit the Frog makes you cry:

Kermit the Frog Sing Along | Rainbow Connection | The Muppets

YouTube video by The Muppets

youtu.be

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Joshua Johnson @joshualistening.bsky.social · May 20

You never know when something will touch your soul and heal your heart. It happened to me this weekend at, of all places, an electronic music festival. Here’s my reflection on EDC 2025, and what I think could get us through these scary times.

EDC 2025: how my first rave lifted my spirits and touched my heart #PLUR

YouTube video by The Night Light with Joshua Johnson

youtu.be

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Joshua Johnson @joshualistening.bsky.social · May 13

What’s with all these scam apps in Apple’s App Store? Saw this one today: a panicky video ad leads to this app, supposedly for cleaning your phone’s hard drive. Note the company behind it: I think WIPING your drive is a better term. The company’s site was just raw code. Insane.

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Joshua Johnson @joshualistening.bsky.social · May 6

Adventures in Everyday Homophobia, Episode 397: Blood Donation 🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬

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Joshua Johnson @joshualistening.bsky.social · Apr 23

Take that, Steve Kornacki!😎
Seriously, I’m thrilled that @theonion.com is being honored for its brilliant revival of ONN. Thank you for letting me bring my news chops to this farcical yet painfully honest satire. (BTW, Steve’s lovely. Nothing personal!)

NEW Webby Gallery + Index

DISCOVER THE BEST OF THE INTERNET. Welcome to the NEW Webby Gallery + Index. Discover the best of the Internet and uncover trends, insights and talent that define the future of Internet excellence.

winners.webbyawards.com

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Joshua Johnson @joshualistening.bsky.social · Apr 19

Today is the 250th anniversary of the beginning of the American Revolution. Even now, misconceptions persist: including the assumption that all the revolutionaries wanted independence.

250 years after America went to war for independence, a divided nation battles over its legacy

With Saturday’s anniversary, the United States is looking back to its war of independence and asking where its legacy stands today.

apnews.com

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Joshua Johnson @joshualistening.bsky.social · Apr 14

What’re you gonna do about it?
www.nytimes.com/2025/04/14/b...

White House to Ask Congress to Rescind Funding From NPR and PBS

The Trump administration plans to ask Congress to rescind $1.1 billion in federal funding for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, which provides some funding for public media in the United States...

www.nytimes.com

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Joshua Johnson @joshualistening.bsky.social · Mar 26

WATCH NOW: House GOP hearing on defunding the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, the federal agency that supports PBS & NPR.
www.youtube.com/live/De5tLFY...

Anti-American Airwaves: Holding the heads of NPR and PBS Accountable

YouTube video by GOP Oversight

www.youtube.com

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Reposted by Joshua Johnson

Tim Onion @bencollins.bsky.social · Mar 21

Hi everyone, The Onion is very briefly very on sale. It's 25% off, $75 for a year's worth of issues right to your door.

The paper is really good and the money will help us do a bunch of big, stupid shit we have planned in the near future. Subscribe!

membership.theonion.com?campaign=701...

Join The Onion

Don’t just read the news. Feel it. Be among the first to feel the news.

membership.theonion.com

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Joshua Johnson @joshualistening.bsky.social · Mar 21

I spent my 40th birthday anchoring MSNBC, soon after COVID hit. I was grateful to be a trusted voice in scary times. Today, the media can’t stop the least honest from swaying the most gullible. As I turn 45, please donate to The News Literacy Project: because Democracy Dies in Dumbness. Thanks.

News Literacy Project: Donate & Support

Support news literacy by donating today.

newslit.org

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Joshua Johnson @joshualistening.bsky.social · Mar 21

Day one in my new place is done. LONG day today trying to get stuff together. But it’s slowly coming into focus. Birthday is on Saturday; new job starts Monday. Daunting, exciting, familiar, unknown. I’m ready. I’m anxious as hell. Onward.

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Reposted by Joshua Johnson

Tim Onion @bencollins.bsky.social · Mar 17

The Onion summer writing fellowship is seeking applicants! It's six months, good salary and benefits.

This year's applicants do NOT have to complete the Eating Challenge, as it turns out this does not adhere to Illinois labor law. We apologize to those who have died in the past.

Writing Fellowship, Summer 2025 at The Onion

jobs.gusto.com

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