Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Reposted by David Barber

Bolts @boltsmag.org · 3d

Don Sosebee had never thought much about prisons, but that changed when Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders announced a new mega prison in his rural community. “They’re not taking care of us.”

The Prison Next Door

How Arkansas’ secretive plan for a new state lockup angered people in a deep red corner of rural America—and changed how some see incarceration.

boltsmag.org

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Reposted by David Barber

🇺🇸♀️🌈Rizzowang @rizzowang.bsky.social · 1d

ICE abduction data website. This address is specifically for #Arkansas #arpx, but you can filter through the info.
enforcementdashboard.com/ice-arrests/...

Immigration Enforcement Dashboard

Immigration Enforcement Dashboard - Comprehensive analytics and insights

enforcementdashboard.com

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Reposted by David Barber

Oliver Willis @owillis.bsky.social · 18h

Congrats to the Nobel Committee for being more resistant to Trump attacks than most institutions

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DianaResists @dianaresists.bsky.social · 18h

Statement by the Nobel Peace Prize Committee:

juls-the-obscure.bsky.social @juls-the-obscure.bsky.social · 19h

I loved this part
"We see the same trends globally: rule of law abused by those in control, free media silenced, critics imprisoned, and societies pushed towards authoritarian rule and militarisation."

This isn't just about Trump... but his cronies.

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Reposted by David Barber

ProPublica @propublica.org · 1d

Kristi Noem, while governor of South Dakota, supplemented her roughly $130,000 salary by secretly accepting $80,000 donated to a political nonprofit she was affiliated with, records show.

She never disclosed this income on federal ethics forms.

(Published June)

Kristi Noem Secretly Took a Cut of Political Donations

A dark money group paid $80,000 to Noem’s personal company when she was governor of South Dakota. She did not include this income on her federal disclosure forms, a likely violation of ethics requirem...

www.propublica.org

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David Barber @odoketa.bsky.social · 1d

What planet do we live on?!?

www.theguardian.com/world/2025/o...

Norway braces for Trump’s reaction if he does not win Nobel peace prize

US president may impose tariffs, demand higher Nato contributions or even declare Norway an enemy, analyst says

www.theguardian.com

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Reposted by David Barber

Mrs. Betty Bowers @mrsbettybowers.bsky.social · 1d

How much does Fox News pay if you go on one of their shows and claim to be a "Former ANTIFA Member"?

Because I'm ready to spill tea on the Real-Housewives-level shenanigans that go down in the 72-story ANTIFA corporate headquarters. Especially by the lab assistants on the Molotov Cocktail floor.

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David Barber @odoketa.bsky.social · 1d

Go door to door. Make phone calls. It's real action. And it can have an outsize impact in off years especially. And, of course, donate. Here's a local campaign you could give to, or find someone near you!
goodchange.app/donate/alex-...

Alex Holladay 2026

Alex Holladay 2026 |

goodchange.app

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David Barber @odoketa.bsky.social · 1d

Here in AR we're filling in a couple house seats. In my town we're trying to fund infrastructure with a ballot initiative. There's almost certainly something happening where you are. Do some research, contact your local party, and see if you can find a way to get involved.

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David Barber @odoketa.bsky.social · 1d

There is a lot going on, and often it feels like there's nothing you can do - but here is something concrete you can do - get involved in your local elections.

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David Barber @odoketa.bsky.social · 1d

F- this guy. Gisèle Pelicot is a hero - not a French hero, a global hero.
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/o...

French appeal court increases sentence of Gisèle Pelicot rapist

Husamettin Dogan loses appeal after jury at retrial finds him guilty of raping Pelicot while she was sedated

www.theguardian.com

David Barber @odoketa.bsky.social · 1d

If healthcare were totally free, what issue would you see a doctor about today, that you've been putting off / ignoring because of the cost?

David Barber @odoketa.bsky.social · 1d

For what it's worth, independents in the US aren't in love with revenge politics

Chat from The Economist showing a list of revenge actions taken by the president. In every case, Republicans support and Democrats do not. Independents skew towards not supporting.

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Reposted by David Barber

David Henig @davidheniguk.bsky.social · 2d

Another lobbying triumph to protect incumbents. Politics across Europe, talking about small companies and competition, acting to support existing large players.

POLITICO Europe @politico.eu · 2d

The European Parliament voted today to ban plant-based and lab-grown products from having meat-related names such as “burger,” “sausage” or “steak” on their labels.

EU lawmakers back ‘veggie burger’ ban

The European Parliament slips prohibition of plant-based “burgers” into wider farm reform, sparking NGO outrage and political splits.

www.politico.eu

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Reposted by David Barber

The Lincoln Project @lincolnproject.us · 2d

We would like to thank Kristi Noem for bringing cameras with her everywhere and collecting evidence for her future trial at The Hague.

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John Pfaff @johnpfaff.bsky.social · 3d

Um, ICE just coldly shot an unarmed PRIEST in the head w a pepper ball when he (and everyone around him) clearly posed no threat.

For the crime of … complaining about government policy.

Core 1A speech.

With cameras rolling, they’re sniping priests for sport.

Kurt @flglchicago.bsky.social · 3d

Here’s video of the incident

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David Barber @odoketa.bsky.social · 3d

Also on the drop down: werewolf with a Frenchman.

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David Barber @odoketa.bsky.social · 3d

Thinking about all the ways language can be used to lie. 'Conversion therapy'. 'Officer involved shooting'. Etc. Ways to make something awful seem less so (this nice person will gaslight you until you aren't gay, e.g.)

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Reposted by David Barber

Max Kennerly @maxkennerly.bsky.social · 3d

Despite appearances, this is not a @nytpitchbot.bsky.social joke, it's an actual @nytimes.com column by some Claremont hack who praises Hegseth for his "nuanced vision of the military’s purpose and its relationship to civilian society."

Opinion
Guest Essay

That Hegseth Speech Was Actually Pretty Good
Oct. 7, 2025, 5:01 a.m. ET

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Mike Sowden @mikeachim.bsky.social · 4d

Damn. This is amazing. £325 per week, paid monthly, for 3 years - and the result was a profit for the Irish economy:
www.citizensinformation.ie/en/employmen...

Post from Threads user rodneyowl: "Ireland has declared the Basic Income for Artists scheme permanent. This will be officially announced in tomorrow’s budget. Details to follow. Congratulations to all who fought for it and the present and future artists of all sorts in Ireland. That includes me 👌We’re just comin to the end of a 3 year pilot scheme. It’s been a roaring success. For every €1 paid out to the 2000 participants, the government got €1.46 back. Can’t argue with that. Other countries are already taking note."

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emptywheel @emptywheel.bsky.social · 4d

I don't have the bandwidth to make this case explicit. But today, Todd Bessent put Frank Bisignano in charge of IRS, in addition to Social Security.

Bisignano, at Social Security, gave Big Balls access to all our Social Security data.

Now he's in charge of IRS.