Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Amanda Becker @amandabecker.bsky.social · 7h

BREAKING: Democrats still don't get it.
"One of the people briefed said they understood that assessment to mean Democrats “didn’t talk enough about bread-and-butter issues, and instead, we talked about social issues, social anxieties."
www.politico.com/news/2025/10...

DNC briefs top Democrats on audit of 2024 White House loss

The Democratic National Committee is reading Democrats into its election takeaways, though an aide cautioned it does not represent the full report.

www.politico.com

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Reposted by Amanda Becker

Reuters @reuters.com · 17h

Democratic bill to end US government shutdown failing in Senate; voting continues reut.rs/4nfaCsF

Democratic bill to end US government shutdown failing in Senate; voting continues

A Democratic bill to fund the U.S. government and end a shutdown was falling short of the votes needed for passage in the Senate on Wednesday, as voting continued.

reut.rs

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Amanda Becker @amandabecker.bsky.social · 20h

The Case for the Forever Shutdown newrepublic.com/article/2014... via @newrepublic.com @meredithshiner.com

The Case for the Forever Shutdown

Senate Democrats actually allowing the GOP to stop funding the government is only the first step. Now they have to make the case that Trump’s government is illegitimate.

newrepublic.com

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Reposted by Amanda Becker

Jen Bendery @jbendery.bsky.social · 1d

oh no no no nooooooooo nooooo

Yashar Ali 🐘 @yasharali.bsky.social · 1d

Dolly Parton’s sister, Freida Parton, is asking for people to pray for her sister’s health.

Verified Facebook post by Freida Parton. The caption reads:

“Last night, I was up all night praying for my sister, Dolly. Many of you know she hasn’t been feeling her best lately. I truly believe in the power of prayer, and I have been lead to ask all of the world that loves her to be prayer warriors and pray with me. She’s strong, she’s loved, and with all the prayers being lifted for her, I know in my heart she’s going to be just fine. Godspeed, my sissy Dolly. We all love you! ❤️”

Below the caption is a photo of Dolly Parton standing outdoors in front of lush green ivy, hands clasped in prayer, wearing a shiny silver outfit with lace-trimmed sleeves, her signature blonde hair styled in soft curls, looking upward serenely.

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Amanda Becker @amandabecker.bsky.social · 1d

The black box warning on menopause treatments could change. Here’s why. 19thnews.org/2025/10/fda-... via @19thnews.org

The black box warning on menopause treatments could change. Here’s why.

The FDA chief has indicated he’s interested in altering the warning on hormone therapies with estrogen. Experts say it’s complicated.

19thnews.org

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Amanda Becker @amandabecker.bsky.social · 1d

The UN calls conversion therapy 'torture.' Could the Supreme Court greenlight it anyway? 19thnews.org/2025/10/supr... via @19thnews.org

The UN calls conversion therapy 'torture.' Could the Supreme Court greenlight it anyway?

In the first of three blockbuster LGBTQ+ cases on its docket this term, the Supreme Court is about to hear a challenge to Colorado’s conversion therapy ban.

19thnews.org

Amanda Becker @amandabecker.bsky.social · 1d

ICE fears put pregnant immigrants and their babies at risk 19thnews.org/2025/10/preg... via @19thnews.org

ICE fears put pregnant immigrants and their babies at risk

Fear of deportation is deterring people without permanent legal status from critical care. Doctors are worried for their health — and the health of their pregnancies.

19thnews.org

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Reposted by Amanda Becker

Joshua J. Friedman @joshuajfriedman.com · 2d

I'm so proud of my sister, who was head writer for Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood and is now the showrunner of this brand-new HORTON! series for Netflix.

Please watch with your family! It's hard to get preschool shows made these days, and the algo isn't built for this www.netflix.com/title/81388347

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Amanda Becker @amandabecker.bsky.social · 2d

Confusing branding tbh because at first I thought it was just a segment about Gaza-Israel.

Now that I know it's a show, curious choices that don't exactly represent where their parties are at, at this political moment.

TheDesk.net @thedesk.net · 2d

Sean Spicer, Rahm Emanuel are among the first guests on C-SPAN's new political show "Ceasefire," which debuts on Friday.

C-SPAN names guests for first "Ceasefire" episode

C-SPAN has announced the first slate of guests for its forthcoming conversation program "Ceasefire."

thedesk.net

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Reposted by Amanda Becker

ACLU @aclu.org · 2d

Read more about your rights when interacting with military troops or federal agents at aclu.org/deployment_kyr

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Amanda Becker @amandabecker.bsky.social · 4d

I was — as always — heavy handed with the spices

Amanda Becker @amandabecker.bsky.social · 4d

made this tonight and a very good, low maintenance recipe. worth the extra step of crisping in the pan — happened to go to a great lebanese place last night and had some leftover odds and ends, combo 👌
cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1017...

Oven-Roasted Chicken Shawarma Recipe

Here is a recipe for an oven-roasted version of the flavorful street-side classic usually cooked on a rotisserie It is perfect for an evening with family and friends Serve with pita and tahini, choppe...

cooking.nytimes.com

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Amanda Becker @amandabecker.bsky.social · 4d

made this tonight and a very good, low maintenance recipe. worth the extra step of crisping in the pan — happened to go to a great lebanese place last night and had some leftover odds and ends, combo 👌
cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1017...

Oven-Roasted Chicken Shawarma Recipe

Here is a recipe for an oven-roasted version of the flavorful street-side classic usually cooked on a rotisserie It is perfect for an evening with family and friends Serve with pita and tahini, choppe...

cooking.nytimes.com

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Amanda Becker @amandabecker.bsky.social · 4d

61% of American Jews say Israel has committed war crimes and about 40% say the country is guilty of genocide against the Palestinians ... striking given the long-standing ties ... suggesting the potential for a historic breach over the Gaza war. www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202...

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

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

www.washingtonpost.com

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Reposted by Amanda Becker

CNN @cnn.com · 5d

Adults and children alike were pulled from their Chicago apartments, crying and screaming, during a large overnight raid that has left tenants and neighbors shaken. https://cnn.it/4pPCXIt

37 people arrested and American kids separated from parents after ICE raid at Chicago apartments | CNN

Adults and children alike were pulled from their Chicago apartments, crying and screaming, during a large overnight raid that has left tenants and neighbors shaken.

www.cnn.com

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Amanda Becker @amandabecker.bsky.social · 4d

I hide them in friend's books when I visit as a gag :-)

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Reposted by Amanda Becker

Daniel Knowles @dlknowles.bsky.social · 4d

I visited the apartment building ICE raided on Tuesday today. Story to come, but you can walk right in. Half of the apartments have no doors on them. Children's stuff abandoned in some flats. *Citizen* residents told me they were arrested and held for hours in zipties. This is America

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Reposted by Amanda Becker

Prem Thakker ツ @premthakker.bsky.social · 4d

Wild scene: Suspected plainclothes agent filming a DC citizen, demanding to know where they live.

Agent accuses citizen of not being from DC because they have a "different accent."

(Witness told me agent had Ohio plates & was possibly carrying a gun or radio beneath his shirt).

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Reposted by Amanda Becker

The Briefing with Jen Psaki @briefingwithpsaki.bsky.social · 5d

IL Congressional candidate Kat Abughazaleh: "I think Kristi Noem should have consequences. I think she should be tried at The Hague."

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Amanda Becker @amandabecker.bsky.social · 5d

FLW rolling over in his grave. This isn’t his ethos *at all*

Amanda Becker @amandabecker.bsky.social · 5d

Watching Sinners with my parents and brother (I’ve already seen it) and not gonna lie my mom and dad aren’t gonna fare well if vampires show up — they don’t even know the basics. Trying to tell me vampires weren’t a thing in their youth. 🤔

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Amanda Becker @amandabecker.bsky.social · 5d

I have craved this data for close to a decade but only found anecdotal evidence.

Clara Jeffery @clarajeffery.bsky.social · 5d

Has anybody done any real research on whether or not disagreements over Trump has impacted the divorce rate?

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Amanda Becker @amandabecker.bsky.social · 5d

I guess I’m thinking “Mandalorian” lol. Cars and Star Wars are both clearly outside my areas of expertise…

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Amanda Becker @amandabecker.bsky.social · 5d

I don’t even know what this is … I thought it was Star Wars 😂

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Reposted by Amanda Becker

Rainesford Stauffer @rainesford.bsky.social · 5d

An extraordinary piece by @nicolechung.bsky.social. The depth of this reporting and beautiful writing will stay with me for a long time.

Nicole Chung @nicolechung.bsky.social · 6d

If you want to understand open adoption, it makes sense to start with birth parents—yet studies of them are few. 2+ yrs ago, I began talking w/ birth mothers to try to understand what living in an open adoption is like for them, and what rights or options they might have if challenges were to arise.

When Adoption Promises Are Broken

Many birth mothers hope to maintain contact with their child. But their agreements with adoptive parents can be fragile.

www.theatlantic.com

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Reposted by Amanda Becker

Scott Horton @robertscotthorton.bsky.social · 5d

CBS News staffers anticipate that Bari Weiss will convert one of the eminent brands of broadcast journalism into an opposition research and propaganda arm for Israel's Likud Party, with which she is deeply involved. www.the-independent.com/news/world/a...

CBS News staffers are ‘literally freaking out’ about Bari Weiss taking over newsroom

EXCLUSIVE: ‘People are using words like depressing and doomsday – feels like some sort of doomsday,’ one source told The Independent about the mood inside CBS News right now.

www.the-independent.com

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