Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Reposted by Bessma Momani

Monica Marks @monicamarks.bsky.social · 6h

Aid will finally surge into Gaza. The needs are massive.

Over 90% of Gaza’s housing has been destroyed by Israeli bombardment. That’s made 1.9 million homeless. They’re sleeping in hallways & garages of still-standing buildings. And they’re paying to “rent” tiny sand plots where they put up tents.

2 3 12

Reposted by Bessma Momani

Timothy Snyder @timothysnyder.bsky.social · 14h

Our authoritarianism is run on clichés borrowed from the Eastern Europe of twenty years ago. Paid protestors, disloyal cities, evil Soros, vast conspiracies — it was all tiresome then and there, and now it’s pathetic.

Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 16h

Trump: "They're, like, insurrectionists, they're terrible people. But you really wonder why. Why are they doing it? What are they gaining? Other than they're obviously paid. They're paid a lot of money."

150 1K 3.3K

Reposted by Bessma Momani

Ryan Bort @ryanbort.bsky.social · 19h

MAGA lawmakers regularly share its content. Elon called it "one of the best accounts on X." It's run by a Macedonian who has never set foot in America — and who illegally donated to a U.S. congressional campaign.

Great stuff from @jsweetli.bsky.social:

www.rollingstone.com/politics/pol...

The Viral MAGA Accounts Run by a Man Who Has Never Been to America

Two influential MAGA social media accounts are run by Rumen Naumovski, a Macedonian who may have illegally donated to a U.S. election.

www.rollingstone.com

10 290 780

Bessma Momani @bmomani.bsky.social · 10h

Great blog. Thank you

1 1

Reposted by Bessma Momani

Laura Helmuth @laurahelmuth.bsky.social · 23h

Six of the nine Nobel Prize winners this year work in the U.S.
Three of the six were born outside the U.S., which is the pattern most years. No country has benefited more from welcoming immigrants from around the world.
www.nobelprize.org

The official website of the Nobel Prize - NobelPrize.org

The Nobel Prize rewards science, humanism and peace efforts. This is one of the central concepts in the will of Alfred Nobel, and it also permeates the outreach activities that have been developed for...

www.nobelprize.org

24 430 1.2K

Reposted by Bessma Momani

Kate Starbird @katestarbird.bsky.social · 14h

Siva Vaidhyanathan on the Trump admin’s proposed “compact” for universities (to give up academic freedom in exchange for favorable treatment by the Trump government): “This ‘compact’ is more like an invitation to borrow money from the mob, with substantial control and future penalties assured.”

Siva @sivav.bsky.social · 18h

And from me:

newrepublic.com/article/2013...

Why This Essay Could Cause the University of Virginia to Shut Down

How Linda McMahon’s latest “compact” would do deep and permanent harm to American higher education

newrepublic.com

2 25 80

Bessma Momani @bmomani.bsky.social · 11h

Life goals👇

The Wall Street Journal @wsj.com · 14h

Whether they’re about buying, selling or renovating, real-estate reality shows can’t happen without one crucial element: homeowners.

Here’s what to know before throwing your hat in the ring.

Do You Have What It Takes to Be on a Real-Estate Reality Show?

Before getting involved in one of the many renovation and house-hunting shows on television, know what you’re getting yourself into.

on.wsj.com

Bessma Momani @bmomani.bsky.social · 11h

China’s “god’s-eyes view”

The Economist @economist.com · 14h

Digital surveillance grids are part of a tech-driven approach to make the country’s grassroots governance more efficient—but also more pervasive

Chinese officials boast a god’s-eye view of towns from above

Digital surveillance grids are meant to help solve local problems quickly. But they also track potential troublemakers

econ.st

Reposted by Bessma Momani

Brendan Nyhan @brendannyhan.bsky.social · 15h

Antisemitic, pro-Putin, in league with white nationalists, promoted the Pizzagate conspiracy theory - and now being platformed by the president of the United States

Matt Novak @paleofuture.bsky.social · 16h

"Antifa has been around in various iterations for almost 100 years in some instances, going back to the Weimar Republic in Germany."

- Jack Posobiec at Trump's roundtable on antifa

26 160 570

Reposted by Bessma Momani

+972 Magazine @972mag.com · 19h

An analysis of dozens of 3D animations published by the Israeli army discovered digital assets sourced not from classified intelligence but rather from commercial libraries and content creators as far afield as Scotland and Port Orchard.

www.972mag.com/israeli-army...

@mekomit.bsky.social

How a Scottish maritime museum ended up in Israel’s 3D propaganda

An analysis of dozens of Israeli army animations discovered digital assets sourced not from classified intelligence but commercial libraries and content creators.

www.972mag.com

5 34 49

Reposted by Bessma Momani

Carl Quintanilla @carlquintanilla.bsky.social · 14h

Good lord.

@apnews.com

1K 3.5K 11K

Reposted by Bessma Momani

Mattathias Schwartz @schwartzesque.bsky.social · 22h

I spoke with The Daily about the judiciary's response to Trump's attempt to deploy the National Guard into US cities, and the question of whether simply declaring a "rebellion" makes it so, for legal purposes: www.nytimes.com/2025/10/08/p...

Trump Claims ‘Rebellion’ in American Cities

www.nytimes.com

13 15 43

Bessma Momani @bmomani.bsky.social · 15h

More IPE, but I’d say …”neoliberalism”

1 2

Bessma Momani @bmomani.bsky.social · 15h

…and unfortunately, we know 😬

1

Reposted by Bessma Momani

Prem Thakker ツ @premthakker.bsky.social · 16h

My gosh. After the US bombed multiple boats in the middle of the ocean, murdering people on grounds that they were allegedly "carrying drugs," the US Attorney General says "Just like we did with cartels, we're going to take the same approach, President Trump, with Antifa."

260 1.2K 3K

Reposted by Bessma Momani

Henry Farrell @himself.bsky.social · 1d

"It wanted to signal strength. Instead, it’s revealing its weakness. The administration’s need to break the academy is forcing it to make a desperately risky gamble." www.nytimes.com/2025/10/08/o...

Opinion | You Beat Trumpism by Banding Together. It’s as Hard and as Simple as That.

www.nytimes.com

12 180 600

Reposted by Bessma Momani

POLITICO Europe @politico.eu · 16h

Italy’s ruling Brothers of Italy party has said it plans to introduce legislation seeking to ban the burqa and niqab face and body coverings in all public spaces nationwide, calling it a bill against “Islamic separatism.”

Italy wants to ban Islamic face coverings, mosque funding

Those who violate the proposed burqa ban could face a fine of up to €3,000.

www.politico.eu

7 14 26

Bessma Momani @bmomani.bsky.social · 15h

Just subscribed. Thanks for the heads up.

Reposted by Bessma Momani

Omar Khan @omaromalleykhan.bsky.social · 1d

I know statistics are poorly understood and are misused. But facts matter

Between the 1991, 2001, 2011 and 2021 Census *every* ethnic group in the UK has become *less* geographically segregated and *all* groups, majority and minorities, are more likely to interact with people not like them

34 580 1.7K

Reposted by Bessma Momani

Layna Mosley @laynamosley.bsky.social · 1d

Applications for the Niehaus Center for Globalization and Governance's postdoctoral fellowship program for 2026-2027 are due Monday, October 13.

Details here: www.princeton.edu/acad-positio...

Application for Niehaus Center for Globalization and Governance - Postdoctoral Research Associate

www.princeton.edu

1 6 1

Reposted by Bessma Momani

The Economist @economist.com · 1d

The Trump administration is expected to announce a bail-out for American farmers hurt by his trade war. What the industry wants, however, is a deal with China, not a government handout

Agriculture faces a MAGA reckoning

Tariffs, higher costs and Chinese retaliation hit hard

econ.st

6 11 33

Reposted by Bessma Momani

Jameel Jaffer @jameeljaffer.bsky.social · 2d

It's a pretty big deal that the NYC Bar Association--one of the most prominent and respected bar associations in the country--is accusing the President of ordering the "unlawful summary execution," i.e. murder--of civilians in violation of US and international law. www.nycbar.org/press-releas...

310 6.8K 18K

Reposted by Bessma Momani

Justin Hendrix @justinhendrix.bsky.social · 1d

The Trump administration appears to be engaged in a dramatic project to replace the United States’ traditional European alliances, with tech policy and culture wars over social media a key to the effort, Tech Policy Press contributing editor Dean Jackson writes:

Trump’s State Department Wants to Use Tech Policy to Remake Europe In Its Image | TechPolicy.Press

Tech policy is a key part of the Trump administration's dramatic project to replace the US's traditional European alliances, Dean Jackson writes.

www.techpolicy.press

2 32 43

Reposted by Bessma Momani

Emmett Macfarlane 🇨🇦 @emmettmacfarlane.com · 2d

This story is somehow not on either CNN's or the NYTimes' main page...

Jon Cooper @joncooper-us.bsky.social · 3d

The home of South Carolina Circuit Court judge Diane Goodstein was set on fire and burned to the ground after she received death threats, following criticism by the Trump administration.

House of South Carolina Judge Criticized by Trump Administration Set Ablaze

Authorities are investigating a fire at the home of a South Carolina judge who had reportedly received death threats in what could be the latest incident of political violence across the country.

www.aol.com

8 65 120

Reposted by Bessma Momani

Ruth Zakarin @ruthz.bsky.social · 3d

I remember when New Yorkers put up posters in a desperate attempt to locate loved ones after 9/11.

Now they are desperately looking for loved ones disappeared by the government of this country.

Gaal Dornick @onthecountof3.bsky.social · 4d

Brooklyn. Have you seen this lady? Her family fears that she may have been picked up by ICE.

6 170 350