Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Laura Bassett

@lebassett.bsky.social

54K followers 900 following 2.2K posts

Writer, editor. Politics and feminist analysis. Former EIC of Jezebel. Brooklyn via South Louisiana 🐊

Posts Media Videos Starter Packs

Pinned

Laura Bassett @lebassett.bsky.social · Aug 21

My latest reporting in Conde Nast Traveler on how USAID cuts are throttling vital ecotourism, anti-deforestation and wildlife conservation efforts in the Colombian Amazon and around the globe: www.cntraveler.com/story/withou...

Without USAID, Conservation and Tourism Projects Have Ground to a Halt

From the Colombian Amazon to Malawi's Liwonde National Park, grants from the US government have been ended leaving local development projects in the lurch.

www.cntraveler.com

12 89 200

Laura Bassett @lebassett.bsky.social · 2h

Having to post an AI image of one supposed supporter would be pretty embarrassing

2 5 110

Laura Bassett @lebassett.bsky.social · 2h

I saw people dunking on ICE for posting that they found one single supporter in Portland, but she is also missing an arm and apparently standing in front of the letters AI

15 41 210

Reposted by Laura Bassett

Greg Sargent @gregsargent.bsky.social · 7h

This is good, from Hakeem Jeffries. More of this please, in every conceivable forum:

"Sycophants who aid and abet the President’s vengeful schemes will not be able to hide from the serious legal consequences of their behavior. They will be held accountable."

300 2.3K 7.6K

Reposted by Laura Bassett

Elizabeth Spiers @espiers.bsky.social · 8h

I look forward to watching Tish James humiliate him once again.

Peter Sterne @petersterne.com · 9h

BREAKING: NY State AG Letitia James indicted by federal grand jury in Virginia www.cityandstateny.com/politics/202...

Letitia James indicted by federal grand jury in Virginia

State Attorney General Letitia James has reportedly been indicted for alleged mortgage fraud.

www.cityandstateny.com

25 170 1.4K

Laura Bassett @lebassett.bsky.social · 8h

Imagine the meltdown

Alt Library of Congress @altlofc.altgov.info · 1d

Greta Thunberg, hands down, Nobel peace prize. For her diligent and empathetic activism against the war in Palestine and against those that wage war against our environment.

12 16 160

Reposted by Laura Bassett

Maris Kreizman @maris.bsky.social · 9h

this feels… like it’s not gonna age well

Front page of the New York Times
How Jared Kushner, a Self-Described 'Deal Guy, Helped Broker a Gaza Breakthrough
Trained in New York City real estate, the president's son-in-law had a singular goal: Get to a yes first, and hash out the details later.
7 MIN READ

10 15 140

Laura Bassett @lebassett.bsky.social · 9h

Excited to see their ratings

The Washington Post @washingtonpost.com · 11h

Turning Point USA announced it will host counterprogramming to the Super Bowl halftime show, called “The All American Halftime Show,” as MAGA critics have been enraged over the selection of Bad Bunny as the 2026 headliner.

MAGA rage over Bad Bunny at Super Bowl sparks an alternative show

Counterprogramming hosted by the group that Charlie Kirk founded spotlights the growing political polarization surrounding one of the biggest events of the year.

www.washingtonpost.com

6 5 56

Reposted by Laura Bassett

Karl Bode @karlbode.com · 11h

I've decided to dedicate my life to confidently popping into people's replies and saying "why are people surprised by this" despite nobody, anywhere, expressing any surprise

56 130 1.2K

Reposted by Laura Bassett

emptywheel @emptywheel.bsky.social · 10h

Stephen Miller is murdering Venezuelans and Colombians in cold blood bc he believes it helps his propaganda campaign to paint Latinos as dangerous.

www.theatlantic.com/national-sec...

Stephen Miller views the air strikes as an opportunity to paint immigrants as a dangerous menace, according to one of the White House officials.

420 3.6K 9.3K

Reposted by Laura Bassett

jeff computers @helldude.bsky.social · 1d

portland frog you smoke too tough. your swag too different. your rubber suit is too bad. they’ll kill you portland frog

16 290 1.8K

Laura Bassett @lebassett.bsky.social · 12h

I was working on the story and he just came out and said it

Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 13h

RFK Jr on Tylenol and autism: "It is not proof. We're doing the studies to make the proof."

320 1.3K 5.9K

Laura Bassett @lebassett.bsky.social · 13h

he wants daddy's approval so bad

2 1 63

Laura Bassett @lebassett.bsky.social · 13h

What makes it even more pathetic is that he's just stealing Trump's jokes and delivering them more cringily

Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 13h

JD Vance describes Chuck Schumer as "one of the most famous Palestinians in the world"

8 23 150

Laura Bassett @lebassett.bsky.social · 13h

This feels unnecessary

Justin Baragona @justinbaragona.bsky.social · 14h

Following MTG's lengthy CNN sitdown interview, Wolf Blitzer tells her:

"You‘re a courageous politician, but more important, a loving mother. Thanks very much for coming in. We hope you‘ll come back here in the Situation Room."

27 5 140

Reposted by Laura Bassett

Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 17h

Republican C-SPAN caller to Mike Johnson: "As a Republican, I'm very disappointed in my party,and I'm very disappointed in you, because you have the power to call the House back. You refuse to do that just for a show."

340 1.2K 5.3K

Reposted by Laura Bassett

Ryan Marino, MD @ryanmarino.bsky.social · 17h

The MMR vaccine is one of the most stunningly effective medical therapeutics in existence. It’s also safer than most of your everyday activities. This is simply an attempt to stop people from vaccinating.

HELLody SchreiBOO @melodyschreiber.com · 17h

The acting director of the CDC called for new, separate MMR shots. That would be "remarkably complicated, time-consuming, costly, but more importantly unnecessary," @jasonlschwartz.bsky.social told me:
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...

Alarm as CDC calls for separate MMR vaccines despite measles outbreak

Concerns that three separate shots would be more costly and time-consuming, and keep kids from being vaccinated

www.theguardian.com

42 740 2.3K

Reposted by Laura Bassett

The Associated Press @apnews.com · 19h

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

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.

bit.ly

68 750 2.2K

Reposted by Laura Bassett

Asawin Suebsaeng @swin24.bsky.social · 1d

there is a government shutdown with no end in sight and it’s not even really the lead story rn because the president can’t stop invading American cities for no reason other than spite

190 1.7K 7.6K

Laura Bassett @lebassett.bsky.social · 1d

Important update from my sofa

14 7 190

Reposted by Laura Bassett

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 Laura Bassett

JP Collins @profjpc.bsky.social · 1d

“Who” is, objectively, the funniest possible response here

Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 1d

Q: Have you given any more thought to possibly suspending habeas corpus?

TRUMP: Suspending who?

Q: Habeas corpus

TRUMP: I don't know. I'd rather leave that to Kristi.

130 540 3.4K

Laura Bassett @lebassett.bsky.social · 1d

Does he not realize that we can see what Portland actually looks like

Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 1d

Trump: "I don't know what could be worse than Portland. You don't even have stores anymore. They don't even put glass up. They put plywood on their windows."

6 15 130

Reposted by Laura Bassett

404 Media @404media.co · 1d

BREAKING: Apple removed an app for preserving TikToks, Instagram reels, news reports, and videos documenting abuses by ICE

🔗 www.404media.co/apple-banned...

Apple Banned an App That Simply Archived Videos of ICE Abuses

Eyes Up's purpose is to "preserve evidence until it can be used in court." But it has been swept up in Apple's crackdown on ICE-spotting apps.

www.404media.co

56 560 910

Reposted by Laura Bassett

Prem Thakker ツ @premthakker.bsky.social · 1d

My gosh. After the US bombed multiple boats in the middle of the ocean, murdering people on grounds that they were allegedly "carrying drugs," the US Attorney General says "Just like we did with cartels, we're going to take the same approach, President Trump, with Antifa."

290 1.3K 3.3K