Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Michelle Shephard @michelleshephard.bsky.social · 1d

Thank you Criminal Podcast, for such a thoughtful episode.

Appreciate the interview and care Phoebe Judge & @jackiesojico.bsky.social

thisiscriminal.com

Criminal

A Podcast About Crime

thisiscriminal.com

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Michelle Shephard @michelleshephard.bsky.social · 17d

“I know that’s not as interesting as muzzling a comedian, but it’s so important to have a free press and it is nuts that we aren’t paying more attention.” 🙏🏻 @jimmykimmel.com …

Good piece by Allan Woods @thestar.com (And I hope he’s right ..)

Toronto Star @thestar.com · 17d

Late night comedian Jimmy Kimmel’s return to regularly scheduled programming could be a prelude to a larger war over free speech in the United States. #Analysis

Jimmy Kimmel’s return could be a prelude to a larger free-speech war

Kimmel called political interference and threats that led to Stephen Colbert losing is show this year and almost cost him his own show “un-American and … so dangerous.”

www.thestar.com

Reposted by Michelle Shephard

CJFE @cjfe.bsky.social · 25d

Journalists should not face such harassment or threats for doing their job. Informed reporting or analysis is part of free expression and a cornerstone of democracy. #journalismisnotacrime

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Reposted by Michelle Shephard

Kiera Butler @kieraevebutler.bsky.social · Sep 11

J6ers and militia leaders are newly energized in the wake of Charlie Kirk's assassination. “I’m going to be rebuilding Oath Keepers,” vowed Stewart Rhodes, leader of the militia group. www.motherjones.com/politics/202... by @juliannemcshane.bsky.social and me

Pardoned insurrectionists are using Charlie Kirk’s death to call for civil war

“Charlie Kirk's assassination pulled me out of retirement. More work must be done.”

www.motherjones.com

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Michelle Shephard @michelleshephard.bsky.social · Sep 12

“(T)he President doesn’t care one bit about all those sanctimonious calls for healing,” writes @sbg1.bsky.social. “It is not a dialogue about the crisis of political violence in America that he wants right now but an aggressive new policy of political vengeance.”

The New Yorker @newyorker.com · Sep 12

In his speech about the death of Charlie Kirk on Wednesday night, Donald Trump seemed to blame the large chunk of the nation that reviles his divisive policies and those promoted by Kirk “as surely as if they had pulled the trigger,” @sbg1.bsky.social writes.

Did Trump Just Declare War on the American Left?

After Charlie Kirk’s tragic killing, the President speaks not of ending political violence but of seeking political vengeance.

www.newyorker.com

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Reposted by Michelle Shephard

CJFE @cjfe.bsky.social · Aug 22

BREAKING: Canada has now joined a coalition of 27 other governments in calling on Israel to allow immediate foreign media access to Gaza and to protect journalists.

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Michelle Shephard @michelleshephard.bsky.social · Jun 25

Will do!!!

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Michelle Shephard @michelleshephard.bsky.social · Jun 25

If you’re in Toronto, and a fan of our book “Code Name: Pale Horse,” or the CBC podcast series, White Hot Hate, please join us Saturday! Scott will be in town for the MOTIVE festival. The lovely @debdundas.bsky.social will be our moderator.

Passes 👇🏻

festivalofauthors.ca/event/code-n...

Code Name: Pale Horse: Scott Payne with Michelle Shephard - TIFA

Scott Payne risked everything to take down America’s most dangerous white supremacist groups, living undercover as “Pale Horse” inside The Base—a violent neo-Nazi network. A decorated agent dubbed the...

festivalofauthors.ca

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Michelle Shephard @michelleshephard.bsky.social · Jun 25

I’m trying!!

Michelle Shephard @michelleshephard.bsky.social · Jun 25

A belated big thanks for this post and kind words, John!! We’re getting Scott to Toronto this weekend (warned him that 🇨🇦doesn’t have bourbon any more due to tariffs). Please join us, Torontonians! festivalofauthors.ca/event/code-n...

Code Name: Pale Horse: Scott Payne with Michelle Shephard - TIFA

Scott Payne risked everything to take down America’s most dangerous white supremacist groups, living undercover as “Pale Horse” inside The Base—a violent neo-Nazi network. A decorated agent dubbed the...

festivalofauthors.ca

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Reposted by Michelle Shephard

The Atlantic @theatlantic.com · Jun 15

Photos: “No Kings” Protests Across America

Yesterday, according to estimates by event organizers, millions marched in protest against the Trump administration, including its recent controversial immigration enforcement raids. Hundreds of “No Kings” demonstrations took place in cities and towns throughout the U.S.

bit.ly

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Leah Feiger @leahfeiger.bsky.social · Jun 8

for a look at what could come next in the Trump administration’s war on immigrants, read @davidgilbert.bsky.social on the upcoming US ‘Office of Remigration’ —

Remigration is an immigration policy touted by extremists that calls for the removal of all migrants—including “non-assimilated” citizens.

The Trump Administration Wants to Create an ‘Office of Remigration’ to Kick Immigrants Out of the Country

"Remigration"—a far-right European plan to expel minorities and immigrants from Western nations—may soon have a dedicated office following a Trump administration reorganization of the State Department...

www.wired.com

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Reposted by Michelle Shephard

Adam Rose @adamrose.bsky.social · Jun 8

Law enforcement is violently targeting press at protests around Los Angeles, from easily recognizable "mainstream" outlets to freelancers and independents. ALL press have explicit legal protections in California. #JournalismIsNotACrime.

This evidence thread may get graphic. 🧵👇

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The New York Times @nytimes.com · Jun 8

President Trump took extraordinary action on Saturday by deploying 2,000 National Guard troops to quell immigration protesters in California, making rare use of federal powers and bypassing the authority of the state’s governor, Gavin Newsom.

Trump Is Deploying National Guard Troops Under a Rarely Used Power

President Trump bypassed the authority of Gov. Gavin Newsom by sending 2,000 National Guard troops to quell immigration protesters.

trib.al

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Reposted by Michelle Shephard

Christopher Webb @cwebbonline.com · Jun 7

ICE raids hit across Los Angeles today—and locals are rising up. This is what resistance looks like. ✊🏾

This was about an hour ago…

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Reposted by Michelle Shephard

The New Yorker @newyorker.com · Jun 5

“I suppose if there were something valuable that I could leave you with, it would be to say that you can play tiny invisible games inside of your plainest tasks.” The comedian and writer Jenny Slate offers some words of wisdom to new graduates.
nyer.cm/9R5a4jH

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Phil Williams @philinvestigates.com · Jun 5

DELETED: Trump administration deleted a webpage summarizing evidence that “undocumented immigrants are arrested at less than half the rate of native-born U.S. citizens for violent and drug crimes and a quarter the rate of native-born citizens for property crimes.” 1/2

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New York Times Opinion @nytopinion.nytimes.com · May 21

“Social solidarity is destroyed when you have too much migration too quickly,” JD Vance tells our columnist Ross Douthat in this episode of “Interesting Times.” “That’s not because I hate the migrants or I’m motivated by grievance. That’s because I’m trying to preserve something in my own country.”

Opinion | JD Vance on His Faith and Trump’s Most Controversial Policies

The vice president joins Ross Douthat in Rome to discuss immigration, trade and the new pope.

www.nytimes.com

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Reposted by Michelle Shephard

Brendan Kennedy @bkstar.bsky.social · May 29

NEW: We obtained the province's internal investigations into the Dec 2023 crackdown on inmates at Maplehurst jail. The reports show widespread institutional failure, from the supt to rank-and-file guards. Solicitor General Michael Kerzner didn't respond to questions.
www.thestar.com/news/investi...

‘Code of silence’: Jail guards broke rules, then misled investigators probing crackdown on Maplehurst inmates, internal reports show

The ministry launched its investigation into the violent incident one day after the Star sent questions about it to Ontario’s solicitor general.

www.thestar.com

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Michelle Shephard @michelleshephard.bsky.social · May 29

“It’s not ‘complicated.’ “

And it’s too late.

But let the image of Ward grab hold and save what lives we still can.”

A short column for @thestar.com.

#Gaza

Everyone must see this photo — thousands of lives depend on it

Saying “it’s complicated” has become synonymous with “look away.”

www.thestar.com

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The Walrus @thewalrus.ca · May 22

Until Donald Trump put it front and centre again, Guantánamo was meant to be a “footnote” in US history—but it wasn’t. “It was always,” writes @michelleshephard.bsky.social, “a harbinger of what could come.” thewalrus.ca/guantanamo-bay/

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Michelle Shephard @michelleshephard.bsky.social · May 21

Thanks Scott for your kind words…

Reposted by Michelle Shephard

The Walrus @thewalrus.ca · May 21

“The cognitive dissonance begins from above.”

On her twenty-eighth visit to Guantánamo Bay, journalist @michelleshephard.bsky.social confronts the stark contrast between the tropical splendour and dark history of the prison dubbed “the gulag of our times.” thewalrus.ca/guantanamo-bay/

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The New Yorker @newyorker.com · May 12

Why is the paper that brought down Richard Nixon struggling to survive the second term of Donald Trump? @claremalone.bsky.social reports on changes afoot at the Washington Post.

Is Jeff Bezos Selling Out the Washington Post?

The Amazon founder was once thought to be the newspaper’s savior—now its journalists are fleeing for the exits. Clare Malone reports on how the paper that brought down Nixon is struggling to survive t...

www.newyorker.com

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Spencer Ackerman @attackerman.bsky.social · May 12

"The first thing I saw outside of Gaza was the rest of occupied Palestine—something I had never dreamed of seeing in my life. We drove past signs to Jerusalem, the Dead Sea, Yaffa, Haifa, and Jericho... But I only got a brief glimpse of it, before we crossed the border into Jordan." Abubaker Abed:

The Unbearable Pain of Leaving Gaza

Journalist Abubaker Abed never wanted to leave his homeland. He describes the excruciating decisions he was forced to make.

open.substack.com

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