Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

David Forbes @davidforbes.bsky.social · 13m

Not enough bullshit getting cut off early enough or harshly enough.

David Forbes @davidforbes.bsky.social · 20m

Never call a trans person cis, regardless of presentation or what type of healthcare they're using ffs this is not complicated.

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David Forbes @davidforbes.bsky.social · 1h

So, for years radicals and folks across our communities have warned that beneath Asheville city hall's "progressive" facade was a vindictively conservative government that hates the people of this city and will happily collaborate with fascists.

And here we are. Are y'all listening yet?

David Forbes @davidforbes.bsky.social · 20h

Asheville mayor Esther Manheimer personally thanked Kristi Noem today, in case you're wondering how things are going here. #avlnews

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Reposted by David Forbes

Melissa Gira Grant @melissagiragrant.com · 1h

Reuters story headline reading:

Trump calls for jailing Democratic leaders as troops prepare for Chicago deployment

By Brendan O'Brien, Andy Sullivan and Susan
Heavey
October 8, 2025 9:41 AM EDT • Updated 36 mins ago

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Reposted by David Forbes

The Asheville Blade @avlblade.bsky.social · 20h

Manheimer even put Noem first on the list in her thanks.

From city hall's own press release.

Not for the first time, Asheville city government is absolutely fine with fascism. #avlgov #avlnews

“On behalf of the City of Asheville, I want to thank Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem for obligating critical funds to support our community’s recovery from Tropical Storm Helene. We are deeply grateful to our partners at FEMA, the State, as well as Senators Ted Budd and Thom Tillis, and Congressman Chuck Edwards, for their continued advocacy and support of Asheville.” — Mayor Esther Manheimer

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Reposted by David Forbes

David Forbes @davidforbes.bsky.social · 20h

It was for continuing a FEMA program supporting some water infrastructure here, which I guess is sufficient for Manheimer to overlook the whole occupied cities, mass raids and children torn screaming from their parents thing. #avlnews

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Reposted by David Forbes

David Forbes @davidforbes.bsky.social · 20h

Asheville mayor Esther Manheimer personally thanked Kristi Noem today, in case you're wondering how things are going here. #avlnews

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Reposted by David Forbes

Melissa Gira Grant @melissagiragrant.com · 1h

one of my most durable political lessons out of Occupy is: not only is it a bad look to instruct people at protests you are not part what to do based on posts online, it’s bad tactics to order around people with local experience and who are doing countless things you won’t know about from posts

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Phil Nobile Jr. @philnobilejr.bsky.social · 13h

You don’t need AI; AI is not “inevitable.” That’s a lie being fed to you by companies who are going to lose a fuckton of money if they don’t convince you that AI is something you can’t live without.

Carl Quintanilla @carlquintanilla.bsky.social · 16h

NVIDIA and OpenAi:

Concerns that their “increasingly complex and interconnected web of business transactions is artificially propping up the trillion-dollar AI boom.“

@bloomberg.com $NVDA 👀
www.bloomberg.com/news/feature...

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Reposted by David Forbes

Daniel Knowles @dlknowles.bsky.social · 15h

Good reporting on the South Shore raid from South Side weekly here.

Confirms one thing I was told but didn't put in my own piece because I didn't have a second source and it seemed too insane: border agents segregated arrested residents by race

southsideweekly.com/federal-agen...

Federal Agents Storm South Shore Building, Detaining Families and Children

Families were woken by flashbangs and helicopters as hundreds of federal agents raided their homes. Days later, neighbors are still searching for the missing.

southsideweekly.com

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Mel🏳️‍🌈 she/they universal healthcare now @knownforms.bsky.social · 17h

No matter how this corrupt SCOTUS rules, this will still be true.

Mel🏳️‍🌈 she/they universal healthcare now @knownforms.bsky.social · 19h

Conversion "therapy" is abuse. It's torture. It's sexual assault and rape. Period.

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Reposted by David Forbes

no bonzo @nobonzo.bsky.social · 1d

cn: domestic violence
_
_
your partner can beat and torture you leading to you fleeing them
then they can just call the police and get them to track you down and investigate you for a "crime"

Jason Koebler @jasonkoebler.bsky.social · 1d

NEW: In May, a Texas police department said they used the powerful Flock surveillance network against a woman who had an abortion "for her safety"

Newly obtained court records show it was a 'death investigation,' and they considered charging her with a crime

www.404media.co/police-said-...

Police Said They Surveilled Woman Who Had an Abortion for Her 'Safety.' Court Records Show They Considered Charging Her With a Crime

Court records show that the narrative Flock and a Texas Sheriff's Office has told the public isn't the whole story, and that police were conducting a 'death investigation' into the abortion.

www.404media.co

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Reposted by David Forbes

Arizona fRight Watch 🎃 @azrww.bsky.social · 19h

Mesa Gateway Airport is keeping people locked up for weeks in a detention facility only meant for 12 hour holding and ICE is using this airport to deport immigrants to countries they’re not even from — detainees are reporting they’re being flown out in straight jackets & given little food or water.

Arizona Mirror @azmirror.com · 21h

ICE Air Operations uses Mesa Gateway as headquarters for controversial third-country removals

story via @jerodmacevoy.com

Trump's African deportation operation runs through a Phoenix airport

Arizona's Mesa Gateway Airport serves as hub for Trump's ICE Air deportation flights to Africa as ICE expands operations

azmirror.com

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Reposted by David Forbes

Jack Tripper @chadstanton.blacksky.app · 20h

I’m sure it’s just a coincidence that all these data centers are going into communities that have been historically targeted for exploitation and have the least amount of civic power wielded by the people living there.

wordinblack.com/2025/09/alab...

Why Are Plans for This Alabama Data Center So Hush-Hush?

Officials in Bessemer, Alabama, are mum on Project Marvel, a proposed data center the size of 18 Walmart Supercenters.

wordinblack.com

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David Forbes @davidforbes.bsky.social · 19h

With one exception pretty much all of city council has the same politics, and that exception never really fights and still sides with the status quo when the chips are down. When terrible things have been halted or rolled back here it's usually been outside the ballot box.

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David Forbes @davidforbes.bsky.social · 20h

The political establishment of Asheville are incredibly conservative under a "progressive" veneer. They're fine with cooperating with fascists.

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David Forbes @davidforbes.bsky.social · 20h

It was for continuing a FEMA program supporting some water infrastructure here, which I guess is sufficient for Manheimer to overlook the whole occupied cities, mass raids and children torn screaming from their parents thing. #avlnews

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David Forbes @davidforbes.bsky.social · 20h

Asheville mayor Esther Manheimer personally thanked Kristi Noem today, in case you're wondering how things are going here. #avlnews

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Reposted by David Forbes

Preorder Read This When Things Fall Apart @mskellymhayes.bsky.social · 21h

Y'all who keep lecturing protesters to "not give them an excuse" need to pause for a minute. Imagine yourself telling a DV victim, "Be sure not to mouth off or make any mistakes so he won't hit you. Don't give him an excuse! It's what he wants!" That's what you fools sound like.

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Corinne Green @ket.bsky.social · 22h

horrific whiplash in PR, which just several years ago was explicitly affirming our care had to be covered. but already this year PR enacted a criminal ban up to age 21 w/ a 15yr prison sentence, and now this. here's the donation page if you're able to pitch in:
www.trueselffoundation.org/donar/

BOUTHERN EQUALITY

kytranshealth and 3 others

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SUPPORT TRANS PUERTO RICANS

We learned a few days ago that on 10/6, Medicaid in Puerto Rico will stop covering all medications used for gender-affirming care.

True Self Foundation has established an emergency fund to cover the cost of GAC for trans Puerto Ricans, but they need more funding to meet the vast need.

The link to donate is in the KHJN Trans Health page bio.

Trans people in Puerto Rico are facing an unprecedented crisis. This Medicaid announcement comes just months after a ban on gender-affirming care for anyone under 21 was signed into law.

True Self Foundation is assisting trans youth + their families as well as trans adults. Donate to provide direct support to trans people in Puerto Rico.

The link to donate is in the KHJN Trans Health page bio.

kytranshealth: We learned a few days ago that on 10/6, Medicaid in Puerto Rico will stop covering all medications used for gender-affirming care.

True Self Foundation has established an emergency fund to cover the cost of GAC for trans Puerto Ricans, but they need more funding to meet the vast need.

Trans people in Puerto Rico are facing an unprecedented crisis. This Medicaid announcement comes just months after a ban on gender-affirming care for anyone under 21 was signed into law.

True Self Foundation is assisting trans youth + their families as well as trans adults. Donate to provide direct support to trans people in Puerto Rico.

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Reposted by David Forbes

Tyler King @tyleraking.com · 1d

This is how propaganda works. They slapped an image on this from Los Angeles in 1992 during Rodney King riots.

Winchell's
Donut Hors
Open
Winchell's
Donut House
Two National guardsmen stand guard outside a burning donut shop in Los Angeles on April 30, 1992.
The National Guard was called in to aid police during the second day of rioting in the city. (Mark
Elias/AP)

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David Forbes @davidforbes.bsky.social · 1d

The truth about cops.

Jack Charnista @jackcharnista.bsky.social · 1d

I’m from a family with a lot of law enforcement types.

This is absolutely true for the vast majority of them. When their guard is down, they laugh about assaulting people and then lying about it. And the racism runner over.

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Reposted by David Forbes

Gillian Brockell @gbrockell.bsky.social · 1d

Claim: 10 cars rammed ICE
Truth: No cars rammed ICE

Claim: She boxed ICE in
Truth: ICE boxed her in

Claim: She shot a rifle at ICE
Truth: She did not have a rifle

Claim: ICE returned fire
Truth: Only ICE fired

Claim: She drove herself to the hospital
Truth: Paramedics found her

Chicago Sun-Times @chicago.suntimes.com · 1d

Body-camera video appears to contradict the government’s claim that Marimar Martinez, 30, drove toward officers before one of them opened fire at her late Saturday morning in Brighton Park, her attorney claimed.
trib.al/9Sxu9IN

Attorney for woman shot by Border Patrol claims officer said 'Do something b-----' before shooting

Body-camera video appears to contradict the government's claim that Marimar Martinez, 30, drove toward officers before one of them opened fire at her late Saturday morning in Brighton Park, her attorney claimed. A judge ordered Martinez and a co-defendant released pending trial.

trib.al

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Patrick Nielsen Hayden @pnh.nielsenhayden.com · 2d

This is 100% the case. I’ve been there for some of these conversations, and they shook me down to my toes.

David Forbes @davidforbes.bsky.social · 2d

Despite all the attempts to paint American fascism as some sort of grassroots phenomenon, so much of it is fueled by gentry at the same dinner parties hating the rest of us.

Tressie McMillan Cottom @tressiemcphd.bsky.social · 2d

I had a liberal centrist — a professional — once tell me that they engage with more diversity at a Bari Weiss dinner party than they do in any mainstream media event.

I mention this because, just as it is true in politics at the moment, some of the calls are coming from inside the house.

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Jack Tripper @chadstanton.blacksky.app · 1d

“The records show that the police retroactively created a separate document about the Flock search a week after our article was published, in which they justify the search by saying they were concerned for her safety.”

Jason Koebler @jasonkoebler.bsky.social · 1d

NEW: In May, a Texas police department said they used the powerful Flock surveillance network against a woman who had an abortion "for her safety"

Newly obtained court records show it was a 'death investigation,' and they considered charging her with a crime

www.404media.co/police-said-...

Police Said They Surveilled Woman Who Had an Abortion for Her 'Safety.' Court Records Show They Considered Charging Her With a Crime

Court records show that the narrative Flock and a Texas Sheriff's Office has told the public isn't the whole story, and that police were conducting a 'death investigation' into the abortion.

www.404media.co

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