Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Mike Madden @mikemadden.bsky.social · 16h

The U.S. seized a Russian yacht. Now you’re paying for it.

Documents released by the Justice Department show how taxpayers are footing the bill for maintaining the superyacht seized as part of a U.S. sanctions campaign against Russian oligarchs.

Mike Madden @mikemadden.bsky.social · 16h

How a Russian oligarch’s $90 million megayacht landed in U.S. custody

A step-by-step look at how U.S. economic sanctions work — and what happens to assets the government wants to freeze.

Mike Madden @mikemadden.bsky.social · 16h

A new Washington influence industry is making millions from sanctions

Prominent former U.S. officials are signing on to represent oligarchs, authoritarians and corporate interests eager to shape America’s sprawling system of economic warfare.

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

Mike Madden @mikemadden.bsky.social · 16h

Trump White House was warned sanctions on Venezuela could fuel migration

The internal debate over the policy underscores how U.S. financial measures can sometimes lead to unintended consequences.

www.washingtonpost.com/national-sec...

Mike Madden @mikemadden.bsky.social · 16h

Sanctions crushed Syria’s elite. So they built a zombie economy fueled by drugs.

A U.S.-led sanctions campaign aimed to force Syria’s brutal leaders to step aside. A multibillion-dollar illicit drug industry arose to preserve their grip on power.

Mike Madden @mikemadden.bsky.social · 16h

Washington targeted ‘corrupt’ mines. Workers paid the greatest price.

Treasury Department sanctions on far-off nickel mines in central America were supposed to protect vulnerable workers and ward against government corruption. Instead, they triggered an economic crisis ...

Mike Madden @mikemadden.bsky.social · 16h

How four U.S. presidents unleashed economic warfare across the globe

U.S. sanctions have surged over the last two decades and are now in effect on almost one-third of all nations. But are they doing more harm than we realize?

Furloughed workers not guaranteed back pay after shutdown, OMB claims

Mike Madden @mikemadden.bsky.social · 16h

(Photo by @spiegelpeter.bsky.social). Threading some of the stories from the series, if you missed them!

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Mike Madden @mikemadden.bsky.social · 16h

The @washingtonpost.com won a Loeb Award for best international reporting last night for "The Money War," our 2024 series on unintended consequences of the massive rise in U.S. financial sanctions — great to celebrate with @jeffstein.bsky.social, @foianate.bsky.social, @federicacocco.bsky.social

A photo of some Washington Post staffers accepting an award

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Reposted by Mike Madden

Lux "Nightmare" Alptraum @luxalptraum.com · 2d

TFW you paid $1400 to see Beckett’s most famous work without knowing anything about it

One Star Review of Waiting for Godot on Broadway
I recently attended Waiting for Godot on Broadway and spent over $1,400 for two Row C seats (103 and 104). I'm a longtime admirer of Broadway productions and even hold a season pass for Shea's Performing Arts Theatre, so I came in with genuine enthusiasm and high expectations. Unfortunately, this show was unlike anything ! have ever experienced —and not in a good way.
What I encountered was not the artistry, music, or emotional storytelling I usually associate with Broadway, but instead what felt like an endless cycle of nonsensical conversation between characters who seemed trapped in their own madness. I tried-truly tried-to find meaning, symbolism, or even a thread of emotional resonance. I stayed through the first half hoping the second would offer clarity. But by intermission, it was clear: this was a waste of both time and money.
Keanu Reeves is an actor I respect greatly, but I cannot fathom why he would agree to participate in such a disjointed, inaccessible production. His talent was lost in a performance that defied reason rather than provoked insight.
To anyone considering attending: unless you are drawn to highly abstract, nearly incomprehensible theater, I strongly caution you against this show. For the average, educated, thoughtful theatergoer, it is far more frustrating than fulfilling. In my opinion, this was the single most disappointing Broadway experience I've ever had - an unfortunate waste of money and, more importantly, of time.

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Benjy Sarlin @benjysarlin.bsky.social · 2d

In related news, let me know if you or someone you know has any interesting work opportunities!

Dave Jorgenson @davejorgenson.bsky.social · 2d

The Post laid off seemingly the remaining of their liberal-leaning staff members on Opinion last Thursday, when some of them were observing Yom Kippur.

from @oliverdarcy.bsky.social for Status
status.news/p/washington-post-opinion-cuts-adam-oneal

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Martin Austermuhle @maustermuhle.bsky.social · 3d

D.C. MARRIAGES, SAVED! The D.C. Council just passed an emergency bill to let the city to issue marriage licenses. Because of the federal shutdown, D.C. Superior Court's Marriage Bureau has been unable to process marriage licenses since last week. (The court is federally funded.)

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Mike Madden @mikemadden.bsky.social · 3d

Read the draft White House budget office memo arguing that furloughed federal workers would not automatically get back pay here: www.washingtonpost.com/business/202...

Federal workers may not be entitled to back pay after the government shutdown ends, the Trump administration’s budget office wrote in a new draft memo obtained by The Washington Post, ratcheting up te...

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Mike Madden @mikemadden.bsky.social · 3d

Always enjoy getting the lab results back with the warnings that my hemoglobin A1c shows that I might have diabetes or pre-diabetes (I have had type 1 diabetes for 38 years)

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Yair Rosenberg @yair-rosenberg.bsky.social · 4d

Yet another poll finding the same thing polls have found for months: 66% of Israelis want to end the war, 69% think Netanyahu should resign either now or after the war. www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_ent...

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Mike Madden @mikemadden.bsky.social · 6d

Totally normal last home game for the club most grateful that MLS doesn’t have relegation

Mike Madden @mikemadden.bsky.social · 6d

In vaguely related news, the keeper got a straight red for deliberate handball after he picked up a ball about 3 yards outside the area, and then a defender got one for retaliating to a shove

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Mike Madden @mikemadden.bsky.social · 6d

Probably the last photo from our seats at D.C. United, not renewing season tickets next year

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Mike Madden @mikemadden.bsky.social · 6d

Most of the American Jews who think Israel has committed war crimes and disapprove of Netanyahu would also describe themselves as Zionists, though maybe not horrific

Many American Jews sharply critical of Israel on Gaza, Post poll finds

Mike Madden @mikemadden.bsky.social · 6d

Yeah, this could have been a poll or a conversation at kiddush

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Mike Madden @mikemadden.bsky.social · 6d

Most American Jews dislike Netanyahu’s leadership of Israel and think Israel has committed war crimes in Gaza, @washingtonpost.com poll finds www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202...

Most Jews say Israel is committing war crimes — and 39 percent say genocide — while often distinguishing between the country and its leadership.

Can an Ancient Ritual Fix Our Loneliness Problem?

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Mike Madden @mikemadden.bsky.social · 7d

This story is a fun read, but it really only takes one word to answer the question, "should we all be taking more saunas" (yes) www.nytimes.com/2025/10/01/w...

www.nytimes.com

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Fritz Hahn @fritzhahn.bsky.social · 9d

We've updated our list of government shutdown specials with *even more* deals, including $14 tickets to see "The American Five" at Ford's, half-price admission to the Phillips Collection, $7 martinis at Shakers and all-night happy hours at Daru.

Gift link: wapo.st/3WgocR9

Shutdown specials in D.C.: Free Spirit tickets, discounted drinks

During the government shutdown, federal workers can take advantage of offers like free admission to museums and soccer games, as well as happy hour specials.

wapo.st

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Mike Madden @mikemadden.bsky.social · 9d

Yet another in a string of recent national security stories that you wouldn’t have read if the @washingtonpost.com didn’t break them www.washingtonpost.com/national-sec...

Pentagon plans widespread random polygraphs, NDAs to stanch leaks

The Pentagon is planning to require thousands of uniformed and civilian officials to sign nondisclosure agreements and submit to random polygraph testing.