Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Reposted by MagnoliaBouton

Rep. Jamie Raskin @raskin.house.gov · 5h

And the lawsuits will follow promptly. Government shutdowns give presidents no additional authority to dismiss federal workers. We’ll fight these outrageous assaults on civil servants and public services.

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Prof Gavin Yamey @gavinyamey.bsky.social · 6h

Yes, we argue vociferously, backed by empirical research, that patients’ wellbeing and health outcomes will suffer from the Trump administration’s push to end DEI policies at US medical schools

The BMJ @bmj.com · 6h

The Trump administration and its allies have taken several steps to ensure that medical schools in the US dismantle all diversity, equity, and inclusion policies.

It is patients who will be the victims of this, write @gavinyamey.bsky.social and @michaeldgreen.com
www.bmj.com/content/391/...

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Mark Histed @markhisted.org · 6h

Russell Vought has announced that "mass firings [RIFs] have begun."

Lawless. The RIFs in the spring were illegal, as Judge Illston outlined. Yes, the conservative SCOTUS supermajority lawlessly signed off. But the Calvinball Court is not doing law.

Congress can stop this. A thread: 1/

'RIFs have begun.' Vought announces start of mass firings during government shutdown

The White House budget office said Friday that mass firings of federal workers have started in an attempt to exert more pressure on Democratic lawmakers as the government shutdown continues.

www.pbs.org

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Needhi Bhalla 💅🏽 @needhibhalla.bsky.social · 4d

"rather than articulating and defending these goals and processes, many parts of the scientific establishment seemed to be rushing to violate one of the first tenets of historian Timothy Snyder’s important book On Tyranny: Do not obey in advance." 🧪

Jeremy Berg @jeremymberg.bsky.social · 4d

I have been trying to get this published as an op-ed, but I am going to post it here since I think it is timely in light of the "consent" extortion events.

Deafening Quiet from the Scientific Establishment

jeremymberg.github.io/jeremyberg.g...

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jeremymberg.github.io

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Trisha Clark @tcinindy.bsky.social · 3d

This expresses what many of us have been thinking. The silence has been deafening at times. The collective good of all would have a huge impact, if we can find a way to bring everyone together. We must dissent and resist to survive and come out on the other side. Thank you to all who do speak out!

Jeremy Berg @jeremymberg.bsky.social · 4d

I have been trying to get this published as an op-ed, but I am going to post it here since I think it is timely in light of the "consent" extortion events.

Deafening Quiet from the Scientific Establishment

jeremymberg.github.io/jeremyberg.g...

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jeremymberg.github.io

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Nancy Kanwisher @nancykanwisher.bsky.social · 4d

I am proud of MIT, where our branch of AAUP has voted unanimously to endorse this statement urging MIT leadership and the MIT Corporation to reject the Compact wholesale
docs.google.com/document/d/1...

Letter Regarding Compact

MIT Chapter of the American Association of University Professors October 6, 2025 Statement on the “Compact for Academic Excellence in Higher Education” MIT has been invited by the federal governmen...

docs.google.com

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Science and Freedom Alliance - SAFA @safa-science.bsky.social · 2d

This is a legitimately amazing video from @schumer.senate.gov

Please watch.

Thank you, Chuck Schumer!

youtube.com/shorts/Bl01O...

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NIH Vigils @nihvigils.bsky.social · 4d

What do you know, when science funding is interrupted, you get less science

Jeremy Berg @jeremymberg.bsky.social · 4d

PubMed Update (no pun intended)

Publications with Pub Date

8/1//24 62209
9/1/24 64765
10/1/24 68211

8/1/25 61610
9/1/25 63719

10/1/25 35936 (as of 10/2/25)
10/1/25 38673 (as of 10/6/25, 8:00 AM)

It appears that ~40% of the expected number of publications are missing for 10/1/25

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a man in a black vest says no bueno in front of mountains

ALT: a man in a black vest says no bueno in front of mountains

media.tenor.com

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MagnoliaBouton @magnoliabouton.bsky.social · 4d

👀

Jenna Norton @jenna-m-norton.bsky.social · 4d

When you attack and interrupt science, you end up with fewer findings. In a few years, we will start to see this in fewer treatment breakthroughs.

But this did not need to happen.

And it need not continue.

Jeremy Berg @jeremymberg.bsky.social · 4d

PubMed Update (no pun intended)

Publications with Pub Date

8/1//24 62209
9/1/24 64765
10/1/24 68211

8/1/25 61610
9/1/25 63719

10/1/25 35936 (as of 10/2/25)
10/1/25 38673 (as of 10/6/25, 8:00 AM)

It appears that ~40% of the expected number of publications are missing for 10/1/25

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Jenna Norton @jenna-m-norton.bsky.social · 4d

What I didn’t get to say on @msnbc.com part 2

www.tiktok.com/t/ZP8A6KecL/

I went on MSNBC The Weekend Primetime. Here’s what I didn’t get to say, part 2.

TikTok video by jennajmn

www.tiktok.com

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Jenna Norton @jenna-m-norton.bsky.social · 4d

Here what I didn’t get to say on MSNBC tonight, part 1: www.tiktok.com/t/ZP8A6kqV7/

I went on MSNBC The Weekend Primetime. Here’s what I didn’t get to say, part 1.

TikTok video by jennajmn

www.tiktok.com

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Mother Jones @motherjones.com · 5d

The Supreme Court’s Republican appointees let the Trump administration end the legal status of 300,000 Venezuelan immigrants who were granted Temporary Protected Status, a type of humanitarian relief for people whose home countries are in crisis.

The Supreme Court just took legal status from 300,000 Venezuelans

Justice Jackson accuses her colleagues of "repeated, gratuitous, and harmful interference."

www.motherjones.com

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MagnoliaBouton @magnoliabouton.bsky.social · 5d

Check this out! 😃 A group of comic book artists collaborated on Stop Project 2025, a chapter-by-chapter illustrated version of the Heritage Foundation’s manual for modern dictators.

stopproject2025comic.org

Stop Project 2025 Comic

Trump's Project 2025 is a detailed plan to shut you up, and shut you out. Don’t let it do either. Read on, then vote.

stopproject2025comic.org

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Mychal Threets @mychal3ts.bsky.social · 6d

Reading Rainbow emphasis is encouraging kids to read. The focus is not on teaching them to read. The mission is reading should be fun!

We are all readers, worthy of literacy. LeVar Burton said “but you don’t have to take my word for it” because he wanted us to look to the books. That’s the beauty 💚

The Author Village @theauthorvillage.bsky.social · 6d

Reading Rainbow Is Back With a New Host -- @mychal3ts.bsky.social -- And The Same Mission

www.nytimes.com/2025/10/04/s...

‘Reading Rainbow’ Comes Back With a New Host, but the Same Mission

www.nytimes.com

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Theresa Kim, PhD, MS @tyk314.net · 6d

OSC tells us how to file a #HatchAct complaint. Nearly all federal sites are in violation. Do not accept this as normal. #FEDSTRONG
osc.gov/Services/Pag...

How to File a Hatch Act Complaint

osc.gov

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Jeremy Berg @jeremymberg.bsky.social · 6d

A strong statement from the Dartmouth President regarding the "Compact"

president.dartmouth.edu/news/2025/10...

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Response to the ‘Compact for Academic Excellence in Higher Education’ | Office of the President

president.dartmouth.edu

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Rosa Lafer-Sousa @rosalafersousa.bsky.social · 7d

🚨 Are you an alum from one of the 9 universities Trump is attempting to extort right now?

✍️ Sign this petition to defend your university, free speech, and democracy. I signed.

This is a time for courage, not capitulation.
#JustSayNo #Compact 🧪🧠🧬

(context in thread)

Trump attacks 9 universities: Sign the alumni petition to defend your school now

Are you an alum outraged by Trump's attacks on universities? Defend your school now by signing this alumni petition in support of these 9 universities as well as campus communities across America.

alumni.controlshift.app

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MagnoliaBouton @magnoliabouton.bsky.social · 7d

OMG, check this out! I’m dying! 😂

bsky.app/profile/drra...

MagnoliaBouton @magnoliabouton.bsky.social · 7d

Wake up, America! They’re showing us who’s in charge: Russell Vought as the Grim Reaper and the President of the United States playing the frickin’ cowbell!

Ron Filipkowski @ronfilipkowski.bsky.social · 7d

Posted by the President of the United States.

MagnoliaBouton @magnoliabouton.bsky.social · 7d

Omg, check this out!

bsky.app/profile/drra...

Dr. Rabbithole @drrabbithole.bsky.social · 7d

Russell Vought tells Trump we need MORE COWBELL -- with cowbell meaning everything on the Project 2025 agenda! When Vought tells Trump to do something, he delivers. Who is really running the government?

Made with apologies to Saturday Night Live.

#dontfearthereaper

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Gale Sinatra @galesinatra.bsky.social · 7d

Since it is a trap, what the heck do others see?
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/02/u...

Trump Offered Universities an Invitation for a Deal. Some See a Trap.

www.nytimes.com

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MagnoliaBouton @magnoliabouton.bsky.social · 7d

Flashbacks from the first presidency when Bannon was depicted as the Grim Reaper AND the one in charge. SNL skit: youtu.be/pZOF9q5fzfs?...

Oval Office Cold Open - SNL

YouTube video by Saturday Night Live

youtu.be

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MagnoliaBouton @magnoliabouton.bsky.social · 7d

Wake up, America! They’re showing us who’s in charge: Russell Vought as the Grim Reaper and the President of the United States playing the frickin’ cowbell!

Ron Filipkowski @ronfilipkowski.bsky.social · 7d

Posted by the President of the United States.

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Alt The National Institute on Aging @altthenia.bsky.social · 7d

This is civil service.

Science and Freedom Alliance - SAFA @safa-science.bsky.social · 7d

@charlotteswwweb.bsky.social speech at the Capitol:

“I have been a federal worker for 5 years and have served under 3 Presidents. I came to the FTC to fight for American consumers and workers, not to do favors for the President’s billionaire friends.”

I am a federal worker. I choose democracy, healthcare, and the rule of law. Charlotte Slaiman speech

…for the Civil Servants Coalition, Mon Sep 29 at the Capitol.

open.substack.com

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Jenna Norton @jenna-m-norton.bsky.social · 7d

Keeping your head down Does. Not. Work.

Obeying in advance Does. Not. Work.

We need to stand together against authoritarianism. That is the only way.

Gregg Gonsalves @gregggonsalves.bsky.social · 7d

Here's the assignment folks. Write op-eds for your local papers and campus newspapers too. Just. Say. No. This is a classic authoritarian move and risks the future of higher education and science and innovation in the US. Speak out today. No time to lose. www.nytimes.com/2025/10/02/o...

Opinion | Trump’s ‘Compact’ With Universities Is Just Extortion

www.nytimes.com

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Dr. David Miller 🏳️‍🌈 @davidimiller.bsky.social · 7d

A tale of two states and Trump's shakedown of higher ed:

TEXAS: Oh goody, yes, we love to strip away academic freedoms to serve Trump's wishes.

CALIFORNIA: Eat shit. Any university who signs the letter will lose state funding.

“The University of Texas system is honored that our flagship — the University of Texas at Austin — has been named as one of only nine institutions in the U.S. selected by the Trump administration for potential funding advantages under its new Compact for Academic Excellence in Higher Education,” Kevin P. Eltife, the chairman of the University of Texas Board of Regents, said in a statement on Thursday. “We enthusiastically look forward to engaging with university officials and reviewing the compact immediately.”

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