Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Amy J. Rutenberg @amyjay401.bsky.social · 10h

This is a really amazing opportunity for grad students and early career scholars. You do teach military history, even if it’s not your field #milhist #academicsky 🗃️

SMH Historians @smh-historians.bsky.social · 1d

The Call for Applications for the 2026 Summer Seminar in Military History is now live! Application forms, a 2-page Letter of Interest, and CV/Resume are due December 12th.
www.smh-hq.org/summersemina...

Summer Seminar | The Society for Military History

www.smh-hq.org

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Amy J. Rutenberg @amyjay401.bsky.social · 1d

Haven’t listened to the referenced podcast, but yep, this 🧵 is spot on. Recruiting standards move because they have to, push and pull. And they cannot be extricated from social values. I wrote a whole book on it. #civmil #milhist a.co/d/ftzprwH

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Reposted by Amy J. Rutenberg

Hypervisible @hypervisible.blacksky.app · 4d

🫡

How to Turn Off AI Tools Like Gemini, Apple Intelligence, Copilot, and More - Consumer Reports

AI features are crowding into Google search, Gmail, iPhones, Windows laptops, and other products. If you're suffering from AI overload, these settings can help.

www.consumerreports.org

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Reposted by Amy J. Rutenberg

Tony Clark @anthonyclark.bsky.social · 7d

If you've done in-person research at any of the following presidential libraries in the last 8 months, can you please follow me/contact me—soon—for a story I'm working on (can be off the record)?

Hoover
FDR
Truman
Eisenhower
JFK
LBJ
Ford
Carter

And either way, can you please share this request? 🙏

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Amy J. Rutenberg @amyjay401.bsky.social · 11d

I can’t yet parse the details, but when my students student teach, they are fingerprinted and background checked. Dr. Robert’s certainly was, esp since Iowa issued him a superintendent’s license (a requirement of the job).

Laura Belin @laurarbelin.bsky.social · 11d

Updated post with more context. DSM school district says:
-"third-party comprehensive background check was conducted" when Roberts was hired
-Roberts "completed the I-9 employment eligibility verification form and submitted the required documentation" 1/
www.bleedingheartland.com/2025/09/26/i...

ICE detains Des Moines Superintendent Dr. Ian Roberts

Iowa's largest school district had "no confirmed information" on why ICE detained Dr. Ian Roberts, the superintendent since 2023.

www.bleedingheartland.com

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Amy J. Rutenberg @amyjay401.bsky.social · 12d

Hegseth killed DACOWITS, a DOD institution since 1951. Since the 2010s, it’s focused on things like sexual assault prevention and women’s health. This move brings new meaning to the word “lethality,” unfortunately. #civmil www.militarytimes.com/news/pentago...

Hegseth terminates women’s advisory group, slams ‘divisive agenda’

A Sept. 17 memo signed by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth directs the “formal disestablishment” of the Defense Advisory Committee on Women in the Services.

www.militarytimes.com

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Reposted by Amy J. Rutenberg

Alicia @alicia23.bsky.social · 15d

The pres saying that women should avoid Tylenol feels like another way that men are diminishing women and their pain.

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Amy J. Rutenberg @amyjay401.bsky.social · 24d

And yes, all of the same was true when a sitting democratic lawmaker was murdered in her home, except there were crickets from all the pundits and no one was fired for anything they said. We’re in a bad place, folks. A very bad place.

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Amy J. Rutenberg @amyjay401.bsky.social · 24d

There is nothing about any of this that isn’t despicable - from Kirk’s murder, to how and why it happened, to celebration of political violence, to the utter hypocrisy of this response. Free speech be damned. www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news...

After Charlie Kirk's death, teachers and professors nationwide fired or disciplined over social media posts

At least a dozen faculty and staff have faced fallout over insensitive comments online.

www.nbcnews.com

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Reposted by Amy J. Rutenberg

David Atkins @davidoatkins.bsky.social · 26d

We don't yet have any idea what the ideology of the Kirk shooter was.

But we do know that the Denver school shooter was a far-right white supremacist.

www.denverpost.com/2025/09/11/e...

‘Radicalized’ Evergreen High School shooter appeared to hold antisemitic, violent views in online accounts

Armed with a revolver, the 16-year-old shooter systematically reloaded and fired as he wandered the school, trying to find new targets, police say.

www.denverpost.com

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Amy J. Rutenberg @amyjay401.bsky.social · 29d

But if we use the exact same factors in things like hiring or college admissions decisions, It’s “woke DEI,” discriminatory, and illegal. 🤷🏻‍♀️

The New York Times @nytimes.com · 29d

Breaking News: The Supreme Court lifted restrictions on ICE agents in Los Angeles, allowing them to make indiscriminate stops based on factors like ethnicity.

Supreme Court Lifts Restrictions on L.A. Immigration Stops

A federal judge had ordered agents not to make indiscriminate stops relying on factors like a person’s ethnicity or that they speak Spanish.

nyti.ms

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Reposted by Amy J. Rutenberg

James Fallows @jfallows.bsky.social · Sep 6

Common theme of people I've interviewed recently. At universities, in research centers, in diplomacy, in the legal system, dealing with refugees or immigrants:

The reality inside is much worse than you would think from the outside.

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Reposted by Amy J. Rutenberg

David Fitzgerald @davidfitzgerald.bsky.social · Sep 7

Shameless self-promotion and all of that, but it is genuinely unsettling to see how some of the most cartoonish ideas that I came across while writing the book have turned into actual policy.

Amy J. Rutenberg @amyjay401.bsky.social · Sep 7

The seeds that are currently bearing fruit in a Department of War focused on “maximum lethality” rather than “tepid legality” were planted in 1990s. Time for more folks to read David Fitzgerald’s excellent Uncertain Warriors #milhist #civmil www.cambridge.org/core/books/u...

Uncertain Warriors

Cambridge Core - Military History - Uncertain Warriors

www.cambridge.org

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Amy J. Rutenberg @amyjay401.bsky.social · Sep 7

The seeds that are currently bearing fruit in a Department of War focused on “maximum lethality” rather than “tepid legality” were planted in 1990s. Time for more folks to read David Fitzgerald’s excellent Uncertain Warriors #milhist #civmil www.cambridge.org/core/books/u...

Uncertain Warriors

Cambridge Core - Military History - Uncertain Warriors

www.cambridge.org

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Reposted by Amy J. Rutenberg

Adam Rothman enjoys a good sandwich @adamrothman.bsky.social · Sep 6

Live footage of historians these days

a man is playing a game of frog dog at a carnival

Alt: a man playing Whac-A-Mole

media.tenor.com

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Amy J. Rutenberg @amyjay401.bsky.social · Sep 6

In case anyone’s wondering, the DOD website now redirects to war.gov and the “narcoterrorists neutralized” was a US bombing of a ship in likely violation of international law.

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Amy J. Rutenberg @amyjay401.bsky.social · Sep 5

I’m on chapter 3. I’ve laughed out loud more than once (which maybe is weird for a murder mystery, but 🤷🏻‍♀️). Academic friends, a funny book written by one of our own - and a pretty awesome, smart person. 🗃️ #AcademicSky libro.fm/audiobooks/9...

History Lessons Audiobook on Libro.fm

A college history professor must solve her superstar colleague’s murder before she becomes the next target in this funny, romantic debut mystery, perfect for readers of Janet Evanovich, Kellye Garrett...

libro.fm

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Amy J. Rutenberg @amyjay401.bsky.social · Aug 31

Awesome thread 🗺️

Joanne Freeman @jbf1755.bsky.social · Aug 31

Let's do this

Gratitude to history teachers who taught us to love history

I'll start.

Mrs. Paul.
8th grade history teacher
Made us write re: Hamilton & child labor.
Got my attention!
MANY years later I got to thank her for helping me learn to love history
Getting to thank your teachers?
The best!

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Amy J. Rutenberg @amyjay401.bsky.social · Aug 31

Or simply not teach in Oklahoma - which definitely feels like it will be good for public schools in Oklahoma 🙄

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Amy J. Rutenberg @amyjay401.bsky.social · Aug 30

This whole thread is exhausting. The questions vary between insulting to teachers’ professionalism, trivial, and irrelevant (but requiring a particular set of beliefs). Nothing about actual teacher qualification.

Nick Covington @covingtonedu.bsky.social · Aug 30

The Oklahoma Teacher Qualification Test from PragerU is finally up on their website (but you have to at least provide them fake contact info first):

"Educators who pass the test will receive an official PragerU Teacher Certificate..."

www.prageru.com/teacher-qual...

Educators who pass the test will receive an official PragerU Teacher Certificate, symbolizing their commitment to putting students first, honoring parents, and upholding the ideals that have guided generations of Americans

Take the PragerU Teacher Qualification Test

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Amy J. Rutenberg @amyjay401.bsky.social · Aug 29

Wanna write about it for us? Or simply share the activity? We’d love to publish it!

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Amy J. Rutenberg @amyjay401.bsky.social · Aug 29

I’m already using a version of @drmendozan.bsky.social’s awesome activity in a class this semester (editor’s privilege 😆). Everyone should read this. And then pitch me! Teachingmilitaryhistory.com is a broad tent. We want to share your awesome activities, including grade 6-12 teachers! 🗺️🗃️

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Amy J. Rutenberg @amyjay401.bsky.social · Aug 29

As everyone knows, “True warfighters instilled with the warfighting ethos, however, know that a warfighting ethos is only at its warfighting ethos-iest when warfighters are fighting a war on boredom. And here among the embattled mulch beds of D.C., cousin, boredom is ah-boomin.”

Alt National Archives @altnatarchives.altgov.info · Aug 29

This is absolutely amazing. From the Air Force Times, too. Read w tongue in cheek.

www.militarytimes.com/off-duty/mil...

The National Guard, DC landscaping and the great pursuit of lethality

Few training methods guarantee a better fighting force than boredom-induced annoyance.

www.militarytimes.com

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Reposted by Amy J. Rutenberg

Holly Brewer @earlymodjustice.bsky.social · Aug 28

As a historian—I can only say that we are all jumping up and down on the deck of the titanic, and saying don’t do this. We know how this story ends.
But this administration seems to want everyone to learn the hard way.

Dynamic Allie @grissallia.bsky.social · Aug 27

The last few days, the thought I can't shake; the CDC being all but shut down. FEMA being gutted. The proposal to get rid of COVID vaccines.

The US government has gone full nihilistic "survival of the fittest*" eugenicist.

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