Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Amy Needham @amyneedham.bsky.social · 6d

Trump’s ‘Compact’ With Universities Is Just Extortion www.nytimes.com/2025/10/02/o...

Opinion | Trump’s ‘Compact’ With Universities Is Just Extortion

www.nytimes.com

Amy Needham @amyneedham.bsky.social · Aug 31

Bernie Sanders: Kennedy Must Resign www.nytimes.com/2025/08/30/o...

Opinion | Bernie Sanders: Kennedy Must Resign

www.nytimes.com

3

Reposted by Amy Needham

Down Syndrome Education International @down-syndrome.org · Aug 23

It is with sadness that we report that Sarah Duffen has died peacefully in her home in Devon. Sarah and her family were instrumental in inspiring the groundbreaking research that led to our work over the past 45 years.

go.dselink.net/6jdi

Sarah Duffen, 1968-2025

It is with sadness that we report that Sarah Duffen died peacefully in her home in Devon. Sarah and her family were instrumental in inspiring the groundbreaking

go.dselink.net

3 2

Reposted by Amy Needham

Mel Buer @melbuer.bsky.social · Aug 23

This flew by my radar this week, but massively important: the 5th circuit court of appeals ruled that the NLRB’s structure unconstitutional.

It is a huge blow to “American workers who hope to organize their workplaces without fear of retaliation. It represents a partial negation of the New Deal…”

Elon Musk Just Won His War on Labor Unions

The Fifth Circuit has done the mogul’s bidding and neutered the National Labor Relations Board, in a move that will likely substantially damage workers’ rights.

newrepublic.com

47 800 1.4K

Amy Needham @amyneedham.bsky.social · Aug 23

A Bear Walked Into an Ice Cream Parlor. The Strawberry Never Had a Chance. www.nytimes.com/2025/08/22/u...

A Bear Walked Into an Ice Cream Parlor. The Strawberry Never Had a Chance.

www.nytimes.com

1 1

Amy Needham @amyneedham.bsky.social · Jul 29

Faculty Support of George Mason’s President Draws Federal Investigation www.nytimes.com/2025/07/28/u...

I’m starting to realize that the self-governance that colleges and universities in the US have engaged in for hundreds of years is over. Unbelievable.

Faculty Support of George Mason’s President Draws Federal Investigation

www.nytimes.com

Amy Needham @amyneedham.bsky.social · Jul 14

I understand completely!

1

Reposted by Amy Needham

Sherrilyn Ifill @sifill.bsky.social · Jun 18

Make this go viral.

AuntRen 🇺🇸🏳️‍🌈🌈🌊☮️ @auntren.bsky.social · Jun 17

Genuine Question because I Do not understand… so if these men roll up in plain clothes and masks, grab a human being… even a child, and throw them in an unmarked vehicle I am just supposed to look the other way and say nothing ?? Ask Nothing ?

180 1.7K 3.3K

Amy Needham @amyneedham.bsky.social · Jun 13

Senator Padilla of California was wrestled to the ground and handcuffed today for doing his job: Asking a question of Kristi Noem, the Trump administration's Secretary of Homeland Security. sign.moveon.org/petitions/th...

Thank you, Senator Padilla

Senator Padilla of California was wrestled to the ground and handcuffed today for doing his job: Asking a question of Kristi Noem, the Trump administration's Secretary of Homeland Security.

sign.moveon.org

Reposted by Amy Needham

Melissa Baker @melissabaker.bsky.social · Jun 5

Quick. Somebody tell Trump that the best way to own Elon is to restore all research grants and double NSF funding.

18 280 1.3K

Reposted by Amy Needham

Dr. Samantha Montano @samlmontano.bsky.social · May 17

9 people were killed in a tornado last night in KY. The NWS office responsible for that area has faced some of the most extreme cuts by the Trump administration, including the loss of overnight forecasting.

Last night, they were rushing to find help for the office.

www.nytimes.com/2025/05/16/w...

After Cuts, a Kentucky Weather Office Scrambles for Staffing as Severe Storms Bear Down

www.nytimes.com

65 990 1.8K

Amy Needham @amyneedham.bsky.social · May 17

www.npr.org/2025/04/25/n...

What losing billions in federal grants means for universities, and the nation

The Trump administration has so far frozen about $11 billion in research funding. University leaders say no other source can fill the void.

www.npr.org

Reposted by Amy Needham

Paul Fairie @paulisci.bsky.social · May 16

President Declines Gift (1925)

President Declines Gift of Holiday Apple Pie

WASHINGTON, Oct 27 - AP - President and Mrs. Coolidge have declined an offer from the Girls' Club of Vermont University of a large apple pie for the White House Thanksgiving dinner. Although no reason was given for declining the pie, apparently it was refused because acceptance might have been taken as an endorsement by the president of the proposed apple week to be held about that time.

This might be regarded as a precent for endorsement of similar movements in other parts of the country. The telegram tendering the pie said it was designed to be a part of the apple week program.

--The Fresno Bee, 27 Oct 1925

56 950 3.1K

Reposted by Amy Needham

Elizabeth Jacobs, PhD @elizabethjacobs.bsky.social · May 17

There’s been some “advice” coming from some quarters for scientists not to focus on DEI-related funding cuts.

I wholly reject this concept.

Cutting programs designed to reduce science and healthcare disparities is as detrimental to science as anything else, both morally and functionally.

23 340 1.5K

Amy Needham @amyneedham.bsky.social · May 8

Ummm, braille is just an alphabet, right?

Amy Needham @amyneedham.bsky.social · Apr 25

Full article: The Future of Cognitive Development in Challenging Times www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....

This article is important! Please read!

The Future of Cognitive Development in Challenging Times

Published in Journal of Cognition and Development (Ahead of Print, 2025)

www.tandfonline.com

5 12

Amy Needham @amyneedham.bsky.social · Apr 20

m.youtube.com/watch?v=2h4t...

'Don't fight alone': Universities band together to defend against Trump attacks

YouTube video by MSNBC

m.youtube.com

Amy Needham @amyneedham.bsky.social · Mar 22

Explore this gift article from The New York Times. You can read it for free without a subscription. www.nytimes.com/2025/03/21/n...

Decades Ago, Columbia Refused to Pay Trump $400 Million (Gift Article)

A quarter century ago, the university was looking to expand. It considered, and rejected, property owned by Donald Trump. He did not forget it.

www.nytimes.com

Amy Needham @amyneedham.bsky.social · Mar 7

Went to the Nashville Stand Up For Science demonstration today. It was a good experience and the local npr station estimated that about 300 people attended!

3

Amy Needham @amyneedham.bsky.social · Mar 6

Explore this gift article from The New York Times. You can read it for free without a subscription. www.nytimes.com/2025/03/06/u...

As Trump Goes After Universities, Students Are Now on the Chopping Block (Gift Article)

Uncertainty about how much money colleges and universities stand to lose has led some schools to reduce the number of doctoral students, in some cases reneging on offers.

www.nytimes.com

1 1

Reposted by Amy Needham

Lisa Fazio @lkfazio.bsky.social · Mar 6

Very clear description of what's going on, the collective action problem that's leading to institutions laying low and the specific steps universities should be taking instead.

Silence will not save us

www.thecrimson.com/article/2025...

Harvard Must Take a Stand for Democracy | Opinion | The Harvard Crimson

To silence ourselves in the name of neutrality would not only violate our own policy but also abdicate our broader civil responsibility.

www.thecrimson.com

1 6 27

Amy Needham @amyneedham.bsky.social · Mar 6

I am assuming that it is illegal for Musk and his team to be making unilateral decisions about what is "waste, fraud, and abuse" and what is not. Is there a way to stop him and to stop the general dismantling of the government that the president seems eager to complete? Please help!

Amy Needham @amyneedham.bsky.social · Mar 6

www.nature.com/articles/d41...

‘Silence is complicity’ — universities must fight the anti-DEI crackdown

Higher-education establishments must not be bullied into abandoning their mission of diversity, equity and inclusion.

www.nature.com

Reposted by Amy Needham

Stand Up for Science! @standupforscience.bsky.social · Feb 12

Welcome to the Bluesky account for Stand Up for Science 2025!

Keep an eye on this space for updates, event information, and ways to get involved. We can't wait to see everyone #standupforscience2025 on March 7th, both in DC and locations nationwide!

#scienceforall #sciencenotsilence

290 5.5K 12K

Reposted by Amy Needham

Jenna Somers @jennasomers.bsky.social · Mar 3

We’re being run by the F students who cheat off the A student’s test, but now the F students won’t even let the A student study. When they all fail, the F students will claim the A student is stupid.

www.science.org/content/arti...

Pentagon guts national security program that harnessed social science

Dozens of U.S. academics lose grants from Minerva program for studies related to terrorism, drug trafficking, and other threats

www.science.org

1 2