Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Leslie Ehrlich @leslieehrlich.bsky.social · 59m

5. Make sure disabled kids get an education.

bsky.app/profile/sara...

Sara Partridge, Ph.D. @sarapartridge.bsky.social · 1h

There are reports that the *entire* office of special education at the US Dept of Education has been cut. These hardworking folks ensure kids with disabilities get equal access to a quality education.

America’s children deserve better than this.

Leslie Ehrlich @leslieehrlich.bsky.social · 1h

Is it too boring to ask what he asked you, and what suggestions you made?

Leslie Ehrlich @leslieehrlich.bsky.social · 1h

It was terrifying that maybe half the Republican appointed judges were just fine with it

Reposted by Leslie Ehrlich

Greg Sargent @gregsargent.bsky.social · 6h

This week, MAGA figures claimed Kristi Noem "stared down" violent antifa protesters in Portland. Turns out they were talking mostly about a guy in a chicken suit.

This episode opens a window into how MAGA propaganda works and MSM failure to handle it. 1/

(new piece)
newrepublic.com/article/2016...

MAGA Implodes over Kristi Noem’s “Stare Down” with Man in Chicken Suit

A good New York Times piece on Portland nevertheless demonstrates how the conventions of objective reporting fail to accurately capture the bad faith driving pro-Trump propaganda.

newrepublic.com

190 1K 3.3K

Reposted by Leslie Ehrlich

Nathan Kalmoe (he/him) @nathankalmoe.bsky.social · 4h

Same in higher ed. Admins have bent over backwards to welcome gaslighters and hate mongers who degrade education and endanger our campuses.

Greg Sargent @gregsargent.bsky.social · 6h

The conventions of political reporting today are not well equipped to handle this concerted use of pretexts for instrumental purposes and the bottomless bad faith they employ. Grasping the industrial-scale deception at the core of MAGA politics is essential. 6/

newrepublic.com/article/2016...

1 18 83

Reposted by Leslie Ehrlich

Kevin Elliott @kjephd.bsky.social · 3h

Trump is shocked at how easy it was to turn the US into a personalist dictatorship (we're squarely on the way but not quite there) & claims to be having a lot of fun

All these actions reflect a buoyed commander-in-chief who feels emboldened to go further after feeling as though he has faced surprisingly little resistance to his ambitious agenda in the first 9 months. He has even remarked to aides that he is shocked how easy it is all proven to be.

While the war in Ukraine continues to bedevil Trump, causing him the most frustrations, he doesn't face the discontent, sniping and disagreements that characterized his first term, said David Urban, a long time ally. " This time, he's having way more fun," Urban said.

5 29 88

Reposted by Leslie Ehrlich

Pam Herd @pamherd.bsky.social · 3h

RFK fired the CDC official (w/decades of experience) leading the measles outbreak response. It's been decades since we've had such a large outbreak. And just to ensure they they can spread the measles outbreak even farther, they also fired the leadership for the center focused on immunization.

Figure showing the largest measles outbreak in the US in decades. There are over 1500 cases as of October 7 2025

4 110 160

Reposted by Leslie Ehrlich

Chris Murphy @chrismurphyct.bsky.social · 3h

Their complaints that Dems oppose the “rural hospital fund” are so hilarious.

Kind of like: “I’m going to burn down your house and give you a chocolate chip cookie instead.”

“That sounds terrible.”

“What you don’t like chocolate chip cookies!?”

83 660 1.7K

Leslie Ehrlich @leslieehrlich.bsky.social · 5h

Don’t retrofit the plane. Give it to him when he leaves, and make sure he pays gift tax.

1

Reposted by Leslie Ehrlich

George Conway 👊🇺🇸🔥 @gtconway.bsky.social · 6h

210 2K 6.1K

Reposted by Leslie Ehrlich

Dave Secrest @davesecrest.bsky.social · 13h

As widely consumed American media sources become ever more compromised by oligarchic acquisition, direct federal interference, extortion and bullying, we’ll need to rely increasingly on independent, patriotic, professional sources of journalism.
Like this.
Support them.
Disseminate widely.

ICE Stranded a 17-Year-Old on I-20 After Arresting His Father. The Mississippi Dad Now Faces Deportation.

A 17-year-old watched as ICE arrested his immigrant father, Hector, on I-20 in June. The family faces mounting legal fees and the risk of deportation.

www.mississippifreepress.org

4 7

Leslie Ehrlich @leslieehrlich.bsky.social · 6h

And also bail out Brasners hedge fund buddies. But hey, America First

Social Media Lab @socialmedialab.ca · 20h

Is Argentina now the new 51st state? Imagine taking healthcare away from American so they can help soybean farmers in Argentina.

China bought a quarter of Argentina's soybean crop on Sept. 23, 7 million metric tons. www.usatoday.com/story/opinio...

Leslie Ehrlich @leslieehrlich.bsky.social · 7h

This kind of thinking led to Vietnam

Carl Quintanilla @carlquintanilla.bsky.social · 1d

“Stabilizing Argentina is ‘America First’.”

🇦🇷 🇺🇸

Reposted by Leslie Ehrlich

Carl Quintanilla @carlquintanilla.bsky.social · 7h

A rare admission from the administration that policy choices have knock-off effects.

In this case: immigration crackdowns raise your grocery bill.

@washingtonpost.com
www.washingtonpost.com/business/202...

150 560 1.4K

Reposted by Leslie Ehrlich

Christopher Webb @cwebbonline.com · 20h

This is not a border crossing.
There’s no law that any of us have to show our papers on the interior.

This is a blatant civil rights violation. How is anyone supposed to know whether this man is a real ICE agent or just pretending to be one?!

970 5.8K 11K

Reposted by Leslie Ehrlich

Brooke Harrington @ebharrington.bsky.social · 7h

What Thiel is saying about tax havens = what Altman is saying about copyright:

"I can't be rich unless you let me steal from you."

This is how Broligarchs differ from oligarchs of yore: the latter tried to hide their thievery; the Broligarchs trumpet their entitlement to steal as a natural right.

48 400 960

Leslie Ehrlich @leslieehrlich.bsky.social · 14h

I get all the reasons this is not ideal. But in the short term we gotta do something

1

Leslie Ehrlich @leslieehrlich.bsky.social · 14h

Adding my voice to those who say, states gotta band together and pick this up

Kendra "Gloom is My Beat" Pierre-Louis @kendrawrites.com · 15h

For some context the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly report in addition to being just a good read, to quote wikipedia, "is the main vehicle for publishing public health information and recommendations that have been received by the CDC from state health departments. "

Sheryl Gay Stolberg @sherylnyt.bsky.social · 16h

BREAKING: Friday night massacre underway at CDC. Doznes of "disease detectives," high-level scientists, entire Washington staff and editors of the MMWR (Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report) have all been RIFed and received the following notice:

1 1

Reposted by Leslie Ehrlich

Barred and Boujee aka Madiba Dennie @audrelawdamercy.bsky.social · 14h

[disclaimer: i'm just talkin, these are normative statements, idk and am not commenting on what infrastructure exists irl]

there has to be a way to absorb some of these people into state health departments..or set up an interstate body to keep tryna do this work..we just cant lose all this capacity

Sheryl Gay Stolberg @sherylnyt.bsky.social · 16h

BREAKING: Friday night massacre underway at CDC. Doznes of "disease detectives," high-level scientists, entire Washington staff and editors of the MMWR (Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report) have all been RIFed and received the following notice:

18 130 670

Leslie Ehrlich @leslieehrlich.bsky.social · 14h

“Etiquette”? Nice job belittling by misstating. Earned an unfollow.

Rick Perlstein @rickperlstein.bsky.social · 15h

What if we judged public officials by their ability to serve the public rather than in matters of etiquette? How does this help democracy?

Reposted by Leslie Ehrlich

Michael Hobbes @michaelhobbes.bsky.social · 14h

Please keep making podcasts about how democrats need to stop being so condescending about red states

Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 20h

Trump: "Portland, I mean -- every time I look at that place it's burning down. There are fires all over the place. When a store -- there are very few of them left -- but when a store owner rebuilds a store they build it out of plywood. They don't put up storefronts anymore. They just put wood up."

25 180 1.7K

Reposted by Leslie Ehrlich

Elizabeth Jacobs, PhD @elizabethjacobs.bsky.social · 14h

Trump got his COVID19 vaccine today.

He will always have access to everything he needs to maintain his health while denying others the same.

White House memo that says MEMORANDUM
October 10, 2025
TO: KAROLINE LEAVITT, WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY
PHYSICIAN TO THE PRESIDENT CAPTAIN, U.S. NAVY
SUBJECT: President Donald J. Trump Completes Comprehensive Follow-Up Evaluation at
Walter Reed National Military Medical Center
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
President Donald J. Trump successfully completed a scheduled follow-up evaluation today at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center. The visit was part of his ongoing health maintenance plan and included advanced imaging, laboratory testing, and preventive health assessments conducted by a multidisciplinary team of specialists. These evaluations were performed in coordination with leading academic and medical consultants to ensure optimal cardiovascular health and continued wellness.
Comprehensive laboratory studies performed in conjunction with the visit were exceptional, including stable metabolic, hematologic, and cardiac parameters.
In preparation for upcoming international travel, President Trump also received preventive health screenings and immunizations, including annual influenza and updated COVID-19 booster vaccinations.
President Trump continues to demonstrate excellent overall health. His cardiac age-a validated measure of cardiovascular vitality via ECG-was found to be approximately 14 years younger than his chronological age. He continues to maintain a demanding daily schedule without restriction.
SUMMARY: President Donald J. Trump remains in exceptional health, exhibiting strong cardiovascular, pulmonary, neurological, and physical performance.

29 220 570

Leslie Ehrlich @leslieehrlich.bsky.social · 14h

The proportion of right wingers on your opinion page is more than 50%.

How do you feel about that?

2

Reposted by Leslie Ehrlich

Sarah Lazare @sarahlazare.bsky.social · 16h

An extremely rough day for Edgewater in Chicago. ICE activity near schools. People kidnapped while working in yards, standing on hiring corners. So many rapid responders biking, walking, driving, whistles around necks, trying to protect their neighbors, but up against such well-funded forces.

5 87 210

Reposted by Leslie Ehrlich

Angry @angrystaffer.bsky.social · 15h

Trump is going to continue to do everything in his power to try to incite violence somewhere. If Portland and Chicago don’t work, he’ll probably go to New York.

He’s looking for a reason to invoke the Insurrection Act.

24 310 1.6K