Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Reposted by Stephen Leahy

Sheryl Gay Stolberg @sherylnyt.bsky.social · 8h

BREAKING: Friday night massacre underway at CDC. Doznes of "disease detectives," high-level scientists, entire Washington staff and editors of the MMWR (Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report) have all been RIFed and received the following notice:

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Jimmy Thomson @jameswsthomson.com · 12h

Perhaps the least hinged quote I've seen from this government so far.

Canada's National Observer @nationalobserver.com · 12h

Dawn Farrell, the former CEO of Trans Mountain who now leads the federal government's Major Projects Office was asked whether the oil pipeline contributes to the fight against climate change.

“The answer is yes,” she replied.

Head of Carney’s Major Projects Office thinks Trans Mountain is good for climate

Dawn Farrell, the former CEO of Trans Mountain who now leads the federal government's Major Projects Office told the House of Commons environment committee that the oil pipeline helps fight climate ch...

www.nationalobserver.com

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Reposted by Stephen Leahy

Nikkolas Smith @4nikkolas.bsky.social · 13h

after millions of views and shares of my Portland Frog art. (thank you all🙏🏾) I got requests to highlight priests, and chickens, and Chicagoans, and T-Rexes, and more… all of us who refuse to bend the knee. so this is for US.
𝚂𝚝𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚃𝚊𝚕𝚕.
𝚆𝚎 𝚆𝚒𝚕𝚕 𝚆𝚒𝚗.

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mbbendt @bendts2cents.bsky.social · 11h

Pretty sure that when you have giant frogs everywhere, God is very disappointed in how you are treating immigrants.

The Oregonian @oregonian.com · 1d

Things are happening at Portland's ICE facility tonight.

Read more of our protest coverage here: www.oregonlive.com/crime/2025/1...

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Robert Reich @rbreich.bsky.social · 14h

Our nation's federal employees are more than just numbers on a spreadsheet.

They make sure we have clean water.

They protect us from financial fraud.

They provide healthcare to our communities.

They make our government actually work for people.

Do not forget this.

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The Tennessee Holler @thetnholler.bsky.social · 1d

“None of these statements are true.”

MEMPHIS DA Steve Mulroy FACT-CHECKS @AGPamBondi’s sworn testimony before Congress.

His post (with Spandau Ballet soundtrack 🎵): www.instagram.com/p/DPmv-WKEil...

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The Daily Show @thedailyshow.com · 1d

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

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Reposted by Stephen Leahy

Anya Kamenetz @anya1anya.bsky.social · 1d

Yes. This episode of the Daily had me yelling and spitting. Vought is a Christian nationalist extremist, not a small govt conservative who happens to be Christian.

Thomas Zimmer @thomaszimmer.bsky.social · 1d

We need to talk about Russell Vought – But Properly

Why certain mainstream outlets insist on sanitizing Vought as a devout “small government” conservative – and what actually animates his war against pluralistic democracy.

Some thoughts from my new piece:

🧵

We need to talk about Russell Vought – But Properly

Why certain mainstream outlets insist on sanitizing Vought as a devout “small government” conservative – and what actually animates his war against pluralistic democracy

steady.page

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New York Attorney General Letitia James @newyorkstateag.bsky.social · 1d

This is nothing more than a continuation of the president’s desperate weaponization of our justice system.

I am not fearful — I am fearless.

We will fight these baseless charges aggressively, and my office will continue to fiercely protect New Yorkers and their rights..

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Climate Dad @climate-dad.bsky.social · 1d

"Electricity demand is growing around the world but the growth in solar and wind was so strong it met 100% of the extra electricity demand, even helping drive a slight decline in coal and gas use."

Renewables overtake coal as world's biggest source of electricity

Developing countries lead the historic clean energy charge but the US and EU rely more on fossil fuels than before, a think tank study shows.

www.bbc.com

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Reposted by Stephen Leahy

Toon Dreessen @toondreessen.bsky.social · 1d

Imagine if #OttCity invested in e-bike rebate (say, $1000 per bike, x 1000/year); that’s a rounding error in the city budget but would lift 1000 ppl per year with better transit options; make income based; create secondary stream for youth; add cargo bikes; expand w/better bike infra and bike share

Mike Eliason @holz-bau.bsky.social · 1d

since denver launched its e-bike rebate program - the have sold 10,000 e-bikes and reduced an estimated 1,000,000 car trips - replacing millions of VMTs and reducing air pollution

there are no climate silver bullets... but damn - e-bikes and e-cargo bikes are close

denvergov.org/Government/A...

Denver Celebrates 10,000 E-Bike Rebates

Since its inception in April 2022, Denver has distributed over 10,000 electric bikes (e-bikes) to community members through its pioneering e-bike rebate program. As the first U.S. city to implement su...

denvergov.org

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Reposted by Stephen Leahy

Max Kennerly @maxkennerly.bsky.social · 1d

As @propublica.org reported, "at least three of Trump’s Cabinet members call multiple homes their primary residences on mortgages."

No indictments for them, because this is how a fascist regime works. "For my friends, everything; for my enemies, the law."

www.propublica.org/article/trum...

Peter Sterne @petersterne.com · 1d

BREAKING: NY State AG Letitia James indicted by federal grand jury in Virginia www.cityandstateny.com/politics/202...

Letitia James indicted by federal grand jury in Virginia

State Attorney General Letitia James has reportedly been indicted for alleged mortgage fraud.

www.cityandstateny.com

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Reposted by Stephen Leahy

Eric Schmeltzer @ericschmeltzer.com · 1d

As incredible as it has been to see the entire country plunge into chaos and authoritarianism so swiftly, it's been even more incredible to see how swiftly the Post has devolved into a Trump apologist rag.

Truly wish SOME billionaire would start up a rival DC paper (with local, sports, biz, etc).

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Reposted by Stephen Leahy

Lora Kolodny @lorak.bsky.social · 1d

news pros - always read & learn from the informed critics

Dan Froomkin/Press Watch/Heads Up News @froomkin.bsky.social · 1d

On the home page, NYT frames it correctly: WaPo fails.

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Reposted by Stephen Leahy

WIRED @wired.com · 1d

NEW: A professor at Rutgers University who wrote a book about “antifa” almost a decade ago is trying—and struggling—to flee the US for Europe after a weeks-long online campaign against him by far-right influencers was followed by death threats. www.wired.com/story/mark-b...

He Wrote a Book About Antifa. Death Threats Are Driving Him Out of the US

Rutgers historian Mark Bray is trying to flee to Spain after after an online campaign from far-right influencers was followed by death threats. He was turned back at the airport on his first attempt.

www.wired.com

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Justin Gerdes @justingerdes.bsky.social · 1d

@calenergy.bsky.social: "Coal’s share of California’s power mix would fall to below 0.2% when Intermountain goes offline, placing the Golden State among the least coal-dependent states in the nation – and one of the largest jurisdictions in the world to do so." www.energy.ca.gov/news/2025-10... 🔌💡

As Trump embraces dirty fossil fuels, California hits major clean energy milestone, invests over $100 million more in proven technologies

SACRAMENTO – In a strong rebuke to recent federal efforts to halt clean energy progress and expand fossil fuel generation, California continues to lead the nation in building a cleaner, more reliable ...

www.energy.ca.gov

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Reposted by Stephen Leahy

Alyssa Katz @alykatzz.bsky.social · 1d

Your timely reminder that Donald Trump tried to claim NYC residence to take a $49,000 tax break on his Manhattan condo while he and Melania lived in the White House, only to get it yanked after my colleague and I caught the misrepresentation.

EXCLUSIVE: City nixes property tax break for Trump’s NYC apartment

New York City has nixed a $48,000 tax break President Trump was set to receive on his Trump Tower condo following inquiries from the Daily News about whether he is still eligible for the savings. O…

www.nydailynews.com

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Stephen Leahy @stephenleahy.bsky.social · 2d

Worth repeating

The global climate majority does not realize it is the majority by far.

leahy.substack.com/p/the-89-cli...

The 89% Climate Solution

A majority of people know climate change is a serious threat to our health. Time to act and vote like it

leahy.substack.com

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Reposted by Stephen Leahy

Evan Frost @wildwoods.bsky.social · 2d

"Research shows wildfires are 4x more likely in areas w/roads than in roadless forests...and >90% of wildfires occur within 1/2 mile of a road. Even USFS's own research undercuts the argument that repealing the roadless rule would have a positive effect on fire mgmt."🌍 www.sacbee.com/opinion/op-e...

The Trump administration’s latest attack on cherished public lands | Opinion

“For more than two decades, the Roadless Rule has protected nearly 60 million acres of our national forests from industrial development.”

www.sacbee.com

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Reposted by Stephen Leahy

David Roberts @volts.wtf · 2d

The historically volatile Texas grid was entirely stable this summer, despite extreme temperatures. Grid operators never once had to ask Texans to conserve energy or shut off their air conditioners.

Why? Solar & batteries. Want a stable grid? Try solar & batteries.

Solar and batteries had a record-setting, grid-stabilizing summer in…

Solar has set 17 power generation records in Texas so far this year, shoring up the grid alongside batteries as some gas plant developers step back.

www.canarymedia.com

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Stephen Leahy @stephenleahy.bsky.social · 2d

Denmark plans social media ban for under-15s as PM warns phones ‘stealing childhood’
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/o...

Denmark plans social media ban for under-15s as PM warns phones ‘stealing childhood’

Mette Frederiksen links social media use to anxiety, depression and lack of concentration

www.theguardian.com

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Reposted by Stephen Leahy

Timothy Snyder @timothysnyder.bsky.social · 2d

More good work by Greg Sargent

Greg Sargent @gregsargent.bsky.social · 2d

JB Pritzker and Gavin Newsom are doing something new and important: They understand Stephen Miller's theory of fascist power politics, and they've developed a theory on how to combat it. More Dems need to reckon with Miller's understanding of the moment.

New from me:
newrepublic.com/article/2014...

Inside Stephen Miller’s Secret Plan to Normalize Trump’s Dictator Rule

He wants to supercharge searing civil tensions to get low-information voters to embrace their inner authoritarian. Exactly two Democrats appear to fully grasp this.

newrepublic.com

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Simon Evans @drsimevans.carbonbrief.org · 2d

So have I got this right?
1️⃣Conservatives want to scrap UK Climate Change Act
2️⃣They claim to believe "climate change is real", but won't say what they'd do about it
3️⃣ They'd scrap CO2 pricing, economists' favourite option
4️⃣Dissenters are ideological "fools"
1/2

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Reposted by Stephen Leahy

Dave Levitan @davelevitan.bsky.social · 2d

Hey cool the NOAA guy who was found to have violated the agency's code of ethics for his role in Sharpiegate has been confirmed as the head of NOAA.

Senate Confirms ‘Sharpiegate’ Meteorologist to Lead NOAA

www.nytimes.com

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💞Sabrina💞 @sabrinarina.bsky.social · 3d

Oregon National Guard Adjutant General, General Gronewold says if they are federalized, that he will advise the Title 10 commander to utilize National Guard Troops to PROTECT protesters at ICE facilities. This is the right answer.

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