Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

William Crawley @williamcrawley.bsky.social · 1d

Nobel Peace Prize goes to:

Venezuela’s opposition leader Maria Corina Machado — for her defense of democracy in the face of a repressive, authoritarian regime.

Amongst those who nominated her: Marco Rubio, the current US Secretary of State (letter sent in Aug 2024).

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William Crawley @williamcrawley.bsky.social · 3d

The 2025 Nobel Peace Prize will be unveiled at 10am on Friday in Oslo.

Who do you think should be recognised this year?

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William Crawley @williamcrawley.bsky.social · 19d

“If we’ve been bamboozled long enough, we tend to reject any evidence of the bamboozle. We’re no longer interested in finding out the truth. The bamboozle has captured us. It’s simply too painful to acknowledge, even to ourselves, that we’ve been taken."

— Carl Sagan

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William Crawley @williamcrawley.bsky.social · 19d

Who knew? Turns out the real existential threat to American children wasn’t guns or poverty after all. It was Paracetamol.

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William Crawley @williamcrawley.bsky.social · 20d

This week on ⁦‪@BBCRadio4‬⁩ Sunday:

- Was Christianity hijacked at the Unite the Kingdom rally?

- Jewish leaders respond to the UK’s recognition of Palestine

- As the UN turns 80, is it living up to its original moral ambition?

www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...

Sunday - UN at 80; Christian Nationalism; Religion and video games - BBC Sounds

A look at the ethical and religious issues of the week

www.bbc.co.uk

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William Crawley @williamcrawley.bsky.social · 27d

Just saw a post saying, “People born in 1960 are now 85. Let that sink in.”

Hundreds of people responded making the same inevitable point about arithmetic illiteracy.

Not one seemed to realise that the post was ONLY about clicks and responses.

Misinformation makes money.

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Reposted by William Crawley

Louth For Ever 🦋 @louthforever.bsky.social · 28d

This is certainly worth a watch on the Charlie Kirk murder 👁️👁️ #Trans #MAGA #Groyper

@williamcrawley.bsky.social @newschambers.bsky.social @maitlis.bsky.social @lewisgoodall.com @aine-lawlor.bsky.social @alastaircampbell2.bsky.social @ciarandunbarrach.bsky.social

youtu.be/18FNK6ZNGuo?...

The Last Person to Debate Charlie Kirk (Exclusive Interview)

YouTube video by Channel 5 with Andrew Callaghan

youtu.be

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William Crawley @williamcrawley.bsky.social · Aug 31

This week’s Sunday programme on ⁦‪@BBCRadio4‬⁩

— the use and abuse of “thoughts & prayers”

— bishops challenge Reform UK on migration and asylum

— the Catholic aid charity Caritas on starvation in Gaza

— do Theology degrees have a future?

www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...

Sunday - School shooting; Rediscovered monastic music; Bishop of Oxford on migration - BBC Sounds

We look at the role of prayer after the shooting this week in Minneapolis.

www.bbc.co.uk

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William Crawley @williamcrawley.bsky.social · Aug 28

Is Japanese politics taking a turn to the right?

This is my new Inquiry for ⁦‪@bbcworldservice‬⁩ (expertly produced by ⁦‪@Jill_Collins1‬).

Listen here:

www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...

The Inquiry - ‘Is Japan moving to the right?’ - BBC Sounds

Is Japan’s democracy under threat?

www.bbc.co.uk

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William Crawley @williamcrawley.bsky.social · Aug 27

www.nytimes.com/2025/08/26/s...

Donald Trump’s Big Gay Government

www.nytimes.com

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William Crawley @williamcrawley.bsky.social · Aug 25

www.rte.ie/news/middle-...

News agencies 'devastated' by journalists' deaths in Gaza

At least 20 people, including five journalists, have been killed in Israeli strikes on Nasser Hospital in southern Gaza.

www.rte.ie

William Crawley @williamcrawley.bsky.social · Aug 24

Trump has brought many reversals to US politics, and amongst the most striking is this: Republicans are now the defenders of a powerful and expansive federal state; Democrats are now the defenders of states’ rights.

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Reposted by William Crawley

The New Yorker @newyorker.com · Aug 23

James Baldwin’s message was simple: we’re afraid of love, because we’re afraid of exposing our true selves.

The Lives and Loves of James Baldwin

An older generation dismissed him as passé; a newer one has recast him as a secular saint. But Baldwin’s true message remains more unsettling than either camp recognizes.

www.newyorker.com

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William Crawley @williamcrawley.bsky.social · Aug 24

That READING is now an endangered species of human activity is the least surprising discovery since the creation of the internet.

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William Crawley @williamcrawley.bsky.social · Aug 24

www.cambridge.org/core/journal...

Studying Philosophy Does Make People Better Thinkers | Journal of the American Philosophical Association | Cambridge Core

Studying Philosophy Does Make People Better Thinkers

www.cambridge.org

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William Crawley @williamcrawley.bsky.social · Aug 24

www.theguardian.com/world/2025/a...

UN-backed experts declare famine in and around Gaza City

IPC says famine is ‘entirely man-made’ and immediate response is needed or avoidable deaths will soar

www.theguardian.com

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Reposted by William Crawley

Andrew Graystone @andrewgraystone.bsky.social · Aug 21

There are 32,000 asylum seekers in UK hotels needing alternative accommodation.

There are approximately 38,500 churches in the UK.

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William Crawley @williamcrawley.bsky.social · Aug 20

RTÉ: Charity Commission questioned over Presbyterian report concerns

www.rte.ie/news/ireland...

Commission questioned over Presbyterian report concerns

Former Alliance leader and member of the House of Lords John Alderdice has questioned whether the Charities Commission in Northern Ireland is fit for purpose in comments regarding a recent report whic...

www.rte.ie

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William Crawley @williamcrawley.bsky.social · Aug 19

A 150-page dossier detailing allegations of bullying and abuse of power in the Presbyterian Church in Ireland has sat with the Charity Commission for 3 years. Now Lord Alderdice breaks his silence—accusing the watchdog of failure and inaction.

www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...

Talkback - 19/08/2025 - BBC Sounds

William Crawley debates challenging issues and talks to the people making the headlines.

www.bbc.co.uk

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William Crawley @williamcrawley.bsky.social · Aug 18

www.nytimes.com/2025/08/18/u...

Russian Attacks Kill 14 in Ukraine, Hours Before Zelensky Visits White House

www.nytimes.com

William Crawley @williamcrawley.bsky.social · Aug 18

Trump has repeatedly said today that he thought the Ukraine-Russia war was “one of the easier ones to stop”, and has been surprised that this hasn’t been the case.

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William Crawley @williamcrawley.bsky.social · Aug 18

President Trump in the Oval Office is again misquoting Jimmy Carter (who did NOT argue against the use of mail-in ballots).

Mr Trump also suggests that the US is the only country in the world to allow mail-in ballots. That’s false.

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William Crawley @williamcrawley.bsky.social · Aug 18

President Trump says he has NOT given any commitment to an Article 5-type defense guarantee for Ukraine (in the event of a peace deal).

That appears to contradict what his special peace envoy Steve Witkoff said this weekend.

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William Crawley @williamcrawley.bsky.social · Aug 16

www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

Farage adviser said UK would be better off if it had not fought Nazi Germany

Exclusive: Jack Anderton says UK may ‘regain’ former colonies in future and suggests end to support for Ukraine

www.theguardian.com

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Reposted by William Crawley

The Atlantic @theatlantic.com · Jul 31

The rapid decline of American science has few precedents in history, argues @rossandersen.bsky.social. We are witnessing an unparalleled act of self-sabotage:

How Scientific Empires End

And what it means for America

bit.ly

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