Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Reposted by Lisa Birk

Luca Migo ❌👑 @victinibcn.bsky.social · 14h

Unbearably violent images from Downtown Chicago where a classical music concert was played on the Chicago River. This is too elegant and magical to be seen.

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Reposted by Lisa Birk

Senate Judiciary Democrats 🇺🇸 @judiciarydems.senate.gov · 1d

BREAKING: Sens. DURBIN, DUCKWORTH were just denied entrance to the Broadview ICE Facility in Illinois, unable to conduct constitutional role of oversight.

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Reposted by Lisa Birk

United Farm Workers @ufw.bsky.social · 1d

"Ari" is working in the poblano chilis in Santa Clara County. He explains how workers harvest the chilis, then take their full buckets over to a conveyor belt & dump them on it. The conveyor belt goes up lifting the chilis & "Ari" then directs them into different bins. #WeFeedYou

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Lisa Birk @lisabirk.bsky.social · 1d

“Show me your hellhole.” I love it.

Governor JB Pritzker @govpritzker.illinois.gov · 1d

Reporting live from Chicago, there’s no “hellscape” I’d rather be in.

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Lisa Birk @lisabirk.bsky.social · 2d

Rock on, Portland!

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Reposted by Lisa Birk

Rachel Maddow @maddow.msnbc.com · 2d

"A Chicago Heights Catholic priest began a 50-day pilgrimage in support of immigrant children, from Pope Leo’s boyhood home in Dolton, IL to New York ...

'This is not only a physical act of endurance, but a spiritual act of solidarity, a prayer in motion'..."

www.chicagotribune.com/2025/10/06/c...

Chicago Heights priest begins walk for immigrant children from Pope Leo’s childhood home in Dolton

Gary Graf, a Chicago Heights Catholic priest, began a 50-day justice walk from Pope Leo’s boyhood home in Dolton to New York.

www.chicagotribune.com

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Reposted by Lisa Birk

The Daily Show @thedailyshow.com · 2d

The following is REAL footage from Portland, 2025. Viewer discretion is advised.

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Lisa Birk @lisabirk.bsky.social · 2d

Thank you, Chicago!

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Reposted by Lisa Birk

Brennan Center @brennancenter.org · 5d

The Trump administration is escalating its surveillance of tens of millions of *legal* immigrants, forcing them to refrain from expressing opinions that someone might deem “anti-American.” It’s a clear attack on free speech and the First Amendment. bit.ly/4823Brc

“Continuous Vetting” of All Visa Holders Is Impossible, but the Threat Alone Chills Free Speech

Government claims of AI-powered surveillance create an illusion of total oversight that encourages self-censorship without actually improving security.

www.brennancenter.org

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Reposted by Lisa Birk

Chris Murphy @chrismurphyct.bsky.social · 10d

This is the dumbest poll question ever.

Try polling the question, "Should the Republicans shut down the government in order to make sure families' insurance premiums go up by 75%?"

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Lisa Birk @lisabirk.bsky.social · 6d

Demanding fairness will not get easier or less costly. Trump escalates his cruelty. Now is the time to hold our politicians to account. Stand up on Oct 18. Find a NoKings.org near you.

Reposted by Lisa Birk

Chris Murphy @chrismurphyct.bsky.social · 8d

The President gets no special new powers during a shutdown. He can't eliminate agencies. He can't use federal funds to punish his political opponents.

As Trump's illegality grows during the shutdown, Democrats' spines should stiffen to oppose his corruption.

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Lisa Birk @lisabirk.bsky.social · 8d

When they use helicopters and flash-bang grenades at 1am to roust people from their homes, zip-tie them, some of them naked, some of them children, it is time to stand up. Attend a NoKings.org protest near you. Oct 18.

Lisa Birk @lisabirk.bsky.social · 8d

Now that's smart.

Lisa Birk @lisabirk.bsky.social · 8d

act.aclu.org/a/no-kings-k...

No Kings: Protest Safety, Know Your Rights & De-Escalation Training

I'm attending this event - sign up now to join me!

act.aclu.org

Reposted by Lisa Birk

ACLU @aclu.org · 9d

BREAKING: Our client Mario Guevara, an Emmy-winning journalist detained by ICE in retaliation for livestreaming law enforcement activity, will be deported tomorrow to El Salvador.

Mario and his family are being punished for his reporting. This cruelty is meant to stifle our free press.

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Reposted by Lisa Birk

Good Trouble 🇺🇸 @nativenewyorker77.bsky.social · 9d

Since the launch of the 2nd #NoKings mobilization, the Trump regime has escalated their authoritarian agenda.

We won’t back down.

On Oct. 18, we’re telling this wannabe dictator: America belongs to us.

No Thrones. No Crowns. No Kings. app.sosha.ai/s/1PUASjTZ

Find An Event Near You!

app.sosha.ai

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Reposted by Lisa Birk

THEE Gutsy Woman🐝 🪷 @gutsywoman19.bsky.social · 10d

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Christopher Webb @cwebbonline.com · 9d

They’re baaack. 🤣

Repairs and all…

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Congressman Greg Casar @repcasar.bsky.social · 10d

Here are three more factual statements:

1. 25,000 of Mike Johnson's constituents are about to lose health care

2. 27,000 more are about to have their premiums skyrocket.

3. A 60 year old couple in his district would pay $19,000 more a year.

Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 10d

STEPHANOPOULOS: The Democratic proposal is designed to prevent millions of Americans from losing their health insurance, losing Medicaid coverage, or paying higher healthcare premiums. Why are you against that?

MIKE JOHNSON: That's an absurd statement

STEPHANOPOULOS: It's a factual statement

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Reposted by Lisa Birk

Barack Obama @barackobama.bsky.social · 12d

The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends towards justice. Except it doesn’t bend on its own—it bends because we pull it in the direction of justice. What keeps me hopeful during times like these is being surrounded by people who are doing just that.

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Lisa Birk @lisabirk.bsky.social · 12d

Thank you, @govpritzker.illinois.gov Thank you, Chicago, Illinois.

Lisa Birk @lisabirk.bsky.social · 12d

theconversation.com/a-staircase-...

A staircase in a small, decorative arts museum tells a harrowing story of terror, abuse and enslavement

The staircase was originally acquired due to its craftsmanship. Only later did scholars realize that it was where Harriet Jacobs suffered abuse at the hands of her enslaver.

theconversation.com

Reposted by Lisa Birk

Micah Loewinger @micahloewinger.bsky.social · 17d

My employer New York Public Radio just announced that it is offering @onthemedia.bsky.social, @radiolab.bsky.social, and other programs to at-risk public radio stations for free! More info: current.org/2025/09/wnyc...

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Lisa Birk @lisabirk.bsky.social · 16d

Thank you so much, @jtforward2.bsky.social, for video-ing. Has that man been freed?

JT Scott @jtforward2.bsky.social · 21d

Thank you to all the neighbors who were out today trying to keep each other safe. Let's find this man and get him free. @massgovernor.bsky.social , @katjanaballantyne.bsky.social , I want every resource working on finding him - and the 4 other people detained earlier today - and getting them home.

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