Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

A.Jay Wagner @ajaywagner.bsky.social · 21h

A winter commuter bike, that's a true Calgarian.

A.Jay Wagner @ajaywagner.bsky.social · 22h

It's always been there. It used to be shrouded in budget concerns and "financial realities."

But the formalities have been stripped away, and callous USAID cuts to incessant online trolling of marginalized groups is just part of our lives now.

They appear to feel no shame.

A.Jay Wagner @ajaywagner.bsky.social · 22h

Feels like one of Trump's lasting impacts will be the outing of the healthy subset of the U.S. public simply does not care about other people.

Trump has given them license to openly express this, and in many cases celebrate their indifference to human misery.

jamelle @jamellebouie.net · 22h

i desperately want everyone involved in the destruction of USAID to have to, st the very least, answer to the american people for the suffering and misery they have caused apnews.com/article/myan...

Starving children screaming for food as US aid cuts unleash devastation and death across Myanmar

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has repeatedly said “no one has died" because of his government’s decision to gut its foreign aid program.

apnews.com

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A.Jay Wagner @ajaywagner.bsky.social · 1d

Remember when the federal government was dignified enough to not respond (in the most childish way imaginable) to every single perceived slight.

Mark @ferl67.bsky.social · 1d

Zach Bryan Slammed by DHS for Criticizing ICE Raids in His New Song - TMZ www.tmz.com/2025/10/07/z...

Zach Bryan Slammed by DHS for Criticizing ICE Raids in His New Song

Zach Bryan is now in the crosshairs of the Department of Homeland Security, sorta ... officials at the federal agency are clapping back at his critique of ICE in his latest song.

www.tmz.com

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Reposted by A.Jay Wagner

Jack Jenkins @jackjenkins.me · 1d

Gonna be thinking about this lede for a minute.

(RNS) — Last month, the Rev. David Black stood in front of a Chicago-area U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility and spread his arms wide. Adorned in all black and wearing a clerical collar, the pastor looked up at a group of masked, heavily armed ICE agents on the roof and began to pray.

“I invited them to repentance,” Black, a minister in the Presbyterian Church (USA), said in an interview. “I basically offered an altar call. I invited them to come and receive that salvation, and be part of the kingdom that is coming.”

But when Black began to lower his arms a few seconds later, the agents responded to his spiritual plea by firing pepper balls, or chemical agents that cause eye irritation and respiratory distress, video footage shows. One struck Black in the head, exploding into a puff of white pepper smoke and forcing him to his knees. Fellow demonstrators rushed to his aid, and as the pastor rubbed his face in pain, the agents continued to fire.

“We could hear them laughing,” Black said.

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A.Jay Wagner @ajaywagner.bsky.social · 1d

Reading a few opinions will quickly disabuse you of thinking SCOTUS is some wise tribunal. It's coded legalese, and thus hard to decipher, but the arguments are often downright silly.

Surprised 1Ls don't demand a refund after they read Korematsu. It's ethically bankrupt and logically implausible.

Dave Weigel @daveweigel.bsky.social · 1d

The View segment where Whoopi asked how ordinary people could read SCOTUS opinions was revealing.

They're free. They're online. They're much easier to read than legislation. Conquer your imposter's syndrome, you are smart enough to read a decision and know if it's bullshit.

Tom Scocca @tomscocca.bsky.social · 1d

It's not just that they're going to strike down a law against conversion therapy, it's that they're going to do it on behalf of made-up claims from a straw plaintiff who can't honestly show the law affected her at all

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A.Jay Wagner @ajaywagner.bsky.social · 2d

Amen. Such a short-sighted money grab.

It discourages subscriptions for those less 100% certain of their commitment. At this point, everybody know it's comes with Internet-provider level bs

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Reposted by A.Jay Wagner

Michael Morisy @morisy.bsky.social · 2d

Glad that this is getting coverage, but the chilling effect is here! Apple and Google are very clearly chilled! Speech is restricted with no legal basis! No experts needed, it's just facts!

New England First Amendment Coalition @nefac.bsky.social · 2d

Apple and Google Block Apps That Crowdsource ICE Sightings. Some Warn of Chilling Effects | Associated Press www.bostonglobe.com/2025/10/03/b...

Apple and Google block apps that crowdsource ICE sightings. Some warn of chilling effects. - The Boston Globe

Even though it has been removed from the app marketplace, those who have already downloaded the app should still be able to use it.

www.bostonglobe.com

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A.Jay Wagner @ajaywagner.bsky.social · 4d

White Stripes Perform "Fell In Love With A Girl" | Letterman

YouTube video by Letterman

www.youtube.com

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A.Jay Wagner @ajaywagner.bsky.social · 4d

Just look at Rivers's immaculate hair

Undone - The Sweater Song - Weezer - Live 1994 Conan Show (reupload)

YouTube video by Raw Jaw

www.youtube.com

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A.Jay Wagner @ajaywagner.bsky.social · 4d

As we wind down late night talk shows, gonna miss the musical performances. So many incredible bands put on tape early in their stardom.

The Strokes - "Take It Or Leave It" (2002) | David Letterman

YouTube video by Letterman

www.youtube.com

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Reposted by A.Jay Wagner

Read More bell hooks @walaal.blacksky.app · 6d

ABC 7 Eyewitness News segment about the Black neighbourhood in Chicago that was targeted by ICE with the help of FBI

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A.Jay Wagner @ajaywagner.bsky.social · 6d

Another sign that they give zero fucks about anything beyond power and control. Hypocrisy doesn't even get at what they're doing.

Any gesturing to courts or rules are just opportunistic veneer. It's leverage when it's in the favor. It's meaningless when it's not.

Don Moynihan @donmoyn.bsky.social · 6d

Your occasional reminder that Russ Vought, who is claiming the right to fire civil servants for whatever reason he sees it, once refused to quit a political appointment position even after Trump had lost.

russ vought saying "no, its a three year term" when Biden asks for his resignation on the naval academy visitors board

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A.Jay Wagner @ajaywagner.bsky.social · 7d

It's all very out in the open now. All the corporations are clearly willing to play ball, and when a natural disaster hits your state, or a regional/local politician would like to finish that highway project, you'll be required to bend the knee too.

A.Jay Wagner @ajaywagner.bsky.social · 9d

Delay was a bigger problem at the federal level.

Local and state requesters had more problems with fees.

Takeaway: Requesting is not monolithic. Local and federal FOIA requesting are distinct mechanisms with differing requester bodies, behaviors, and results.

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A.Jay Wagner @ajaywagner.bsky.social · 9d

We found 330 FOIA requesters (by combing FOIA logs) and asked them about their experiences.

The findings on how local, state and federal requesting differs are intuitive but, I think, really interesting.

Local requesters receive their records more often and report more satisfaction than federal.

Hometown Transparency: Differences in Local, State, and Federal Freedom of Information Experiences - A. Jay Wagner, David Cuillier, Jessica Sparks, 2025

This exploratory study surveyed 330 U.S. public record requesters on their local, state, and federal experiences and behaviors. Findings showed requesters with ...

doi.org

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A.Jay Wagner @ajaywagner.bsky.social · 9d

Just an abject moral and ethical failure of a human.

He simply does not care about people other than himself. An absolute disgrace that he is an influential member of the U.S. government.

Marisa Kabas @marisakabas.bsky.social · 10d

Reminder that Miller once asked an admiral “When a boat full of migrants is in int’l waters, they aren’t protected by the U.S. Constitution, right?” When admiral said that’s technically true, but int’l law still applied, Miller replied: “why can’t we use a Predator drone to obliterate that boat?”

Stephen Miller takes leading role in strikes on alleged Venezuelan drug boats

Exclusive: Miller’s homeland security council has played a key part in coordinating operations, sources say

www.theguardian.com

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A.Jay Wagner @ajaywagner.bsky.social · 13d

Turns out decades of championing individualism was a bad idea.

It's a "get yours" society. Not a lot of interest in broader, common objectives.

I wonder how things will work out as our resources get tighter?

Kai Ryssdal @kairyssdal.bsky.social · 13d

The cowardice of the elites is a defining feature of America in 2025

Adam Serwer @adamserwer.bsky.social · 14d

Kimmel’s defiant return highlights one of the most disturbing dynamics of Trump II, that so many people in positions of leadership are chickenshit frauds who would rather fold in advance than put up anything resembling a fight www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archiv...

Reposted by A.Jay Wagner

Kai Ryssdal @kairyssdal.bsky.social · 13d

The cowardice of the elites is a defining feature of America in 2025

Adam Serwer @adamserwer.bsky.social · 14d

Kimmel’s defiant return highlights one of the most disturbing dynamics of Trump II, that so many people in positions of leadership are chickenshit frauds who would rather fold in advance than put up anything resembling a fight www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archiv...

Kimmel’s refusal to capitulate stands out because so many other well-situated people—those with the resources, platform, and power to stand up to the president, including, initially, the leaders of ABC—have surrendered, withdrawn, or become Trump sycophants themselves. One by one, American leaders supposedly committed to principles of free speech, due process, democracy, and equality have abandoned those ideals when menaced by the Trump administration. These cascading acts of cowardice from the people best positioned to resist Trump’s authoritarian power grabs have made Trump seem exponentially more powerful than he actually is, sapping strength from others who might have discovered the courage to stand up. Defending democracy requires a collective refusal to acquiesce to lawless behavior from many different sectors of society. All of these powerful people trying to save their own skin have effectively multiplied Trump’s attacks on constitutional government, by enhancing a false sense of inevitability and invincibility.

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A.Jay Wagner @ajaywagner.bsky.social · 14d

Really hope Vought sees some punishment for his term of illegal activities. Right up there with Miller and Homan as people that need to be made an example of.

They've ushered in a new era of bad faith government and need to be dealt with seriously.

“Hey man did you get QA to sign off?” Gigan @gigansprogress.bsky.social · 14d

Its notable that OMB cannot do this
www.politico.com/news/2025/09...

White House to agencies: Prepare mass firing plans for a shutdown

In memo, the Trump administration says the Reduction-in-Force plans would go beyond standard shutdown furloughs.

www.politico.com

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A.Jay Wagner @ajaywagner.bsky.social · 16d

It's like reading a week's worth of headlines.

Mia Farrow @miafarrow.bsky.social · 17d

The political scientist Lawrence Britt identified 14 features of historical fascism that remain relevant for identifying modern iterations.

Reposted by A.Jay Wagner

Laura Sell @laurasell.bsky.social · 20d

"More professors in the United States have been fired for controversial views in the past week than any other week in all of American history."
www.insidehighered.com/opinion/colu...

Censorship Is the Authoritarian’s Dream

The right to free expression must include the right to say horrible and evil things.

www.insidehighered.com

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A.Jay Wagner @ajaywagner.bsky.social · 19d

They picked the wrong professor to try to intimidate. About as tough and principled as they come.

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Reposted by A.Jay Wagner

Molly Jong-Fast @mollyjongfast.bsky.social · 19d

Censorship is here and it’s come in the form of corporations censoring themselves in order to win favor with the regime.

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A.Jay Wagner @ajaywagner.bsky.social · 22d

Explained to my 5yo that I wouldn't respect her taste in music until she listens to Down by the River and Neil's guitar noodling gives her goosebumps.

She asked me to turn Paw Patrol up.

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