Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Ed Gibney @edgibney.bsky.social · 15h

Holy crap. This is not going to end well.

Hetan Shah @hetanshah.bsky.social · 2d

‘The hundreds of billions of dollars companies are investing in AI now account for an astonishing 40 per cent share of US GDP growth this year… Outside of the AI plays, even European stock markets have been outperforming the US this decade’
on.ft.com/4pTQ3US

America is now one big bet on AI

It’s seen as the magic fix for every threat to the US economy

on.ft.com

Reposted by Ed Gibney

Nicole Rust @nicolecrust.bsky.social · 2d

Friends in Philly: Tomorrow @upenn.edu (Tuesday October 7, 12p) I'll be giving a public-facing talk about Elusive Cures, as part of the Penn library book series. Join me! RSVP below.

www.library.upenn.edu/events/nicol...

Nicole Rust: "Elusive Cures: Why Neuroscience Hasn't Solved Brain Disorders — and How We Can Change That"

Psychology professor Nicole Rust of the School of Arts & Sciences dives into why research on conditions like Alzheimer’s and depression hasn’t translated more effectively into better treatments.

www.library.upenn.edu

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Reposted by Ed Gibney

Rachel Maddow @maddow.msnbc.com · 3d

"Morris, former spiritual advisor to President Trump and the former pastor at a megachurch in Texas, pleaded guilty to charges in a child sex abuse scandal on Oct. 2.

He faced five counts of lewd indecent acts with a child..."

www.kjrh.com/news/local-n...

Former Trump spiritual advisor Morris enters plea deal in Hominy child sex abuse case

Robert Morris, the former pastor at a megachurch in Texas and former spiritual advisor to President Trump, pleaded guilty to five counts of lewd or indecent acts with a child on Oct. 2.

www.kjrh.com

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Ed Gibney @edgibney.bsky.social · 3d

This was excellent. Addressing economic inequality has little to do with economics. It’s about stopping those with more and more from continuing to take more and more. That’s enough of a reason to do something.

Zack Polanski @zackpolanski.bsky.social · 3d

In case you missed it - here's this weeks episode of @boldpolitics.bsky.social with Gary Stevenson.

100k views and growing!

youtu.be/WRVfmQkCSdk?...

How Labour Sold Their Souls To Billionaires | Gary Stevenson | Zack Polanski

YouTube video by Bold Politics with Zack Polanski

youtu.be

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Ed Gibney @edgibney.bsky.social · 3d

Yes! 💚💚

Zack Polanski @zackpolanski.bsky.social · 3d

news.sky.com/story/green-...

Green Party membership overtakes Liberal Democrats under Polanski

Around 20,000 people have joined the Green Party in the past few months, and new leader Zack Polanski says he has "undoubtedly" had a role in this success.

news.sky.com

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Reposted by Ed Gibney

Bernard E. Harcourt @bernardharcourt.bsky.social · 5d

Trump just ordered and the U.S. Navy just carried out another summary execution of 4 persons suspected of drug running in international waters. I am at a loss of words, so I am re-upping my piece on this just posted yesterday…

substack.com/home/post/p-...

President Trump’s Summary Execution of “Foreign Designated Terrorists” in International Waters and the Coming War on Anti-Fascism in America

Stopping A Lethal Category Error Before It Goes Any Further

substack.com

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Ed Gibney @edgibney.bsky.social · 5d

That’s new to me. I’ll check out your paper soon. Thanks for sharing.

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Ed Gibney @edgibney.bsky.social · 5d

I’ve been toying with saying free will emerges from ignorance. The universe may be determined. But we’ll never predict it so we’re free to make trials and errors.

Gregg Caruso helped me get a review published of his book with Dan Dennett on this:

3quarksdaily.com/3quarksdaily...

“Just Deserts: Debating Free Will” by Daniel Dennett and Gregg Caruso - 3 Quarks Daily

by Ed Gibney

3quarksdaily.com

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Ed Gibney @edgibney.bsky.social · 5d

So great! It’s all linked. The NYT had a great article about this too:

www.nytimes.com/2023/05/23/m...

I’ve had 55 visitors in 3 years so I’m basically a part time tour guide here. I still love it. Message me if you do visit.

Lessons From a Renters’ Utopia (Published 2023)

www.nytimes.com

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Ed Gibney @edgibney.bsky.social · 5d

So excited for this new park near my home in Vienna. Best city in the world.

"While other federal states are privatizing shore and lake access, the shores along the Viennese waters are constantly being opened, expanded and massively upgraded."

💚✊🇦🇹

www.bankaustria.at/bank-austria...

www.bankaustria.at

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Ed Gibney @edgibney.bsky.social · 5d

Love this deconstruction.

Shannon Vallor @shannonvallor.bsky.social · 6d

No intelligence is general, as the term refers (indirectly & vaguely) to a cluster of distinct capabilities in a given active organism, which vary according to ecological niche, embodiment, cultural valuation and individual variation. We’d get better science by decomposing and testing for these. 3/3

Reposted by Ed Gibney

Kate Raworth @kateraworth.bsky.social · 6d

We are delighted that many people use the Doughnut diagrams in their work - so pls do help us spread awareness of this new version by reposting this thread, many thanks!

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Ed Gibney @edgibney.bsky.social · 6d

‘There is still an awful lot left and that’s what we’ve got to fight to save.’

“I have days when I feel like not getting up, but it doesn’t last long. I guess because I’m obstinate.

“I’m not going to give in. I’ll die fighting, that’s for sure.”

✊💚🌎🌱

www.theguardian.com/science/2025...

Jane Goodall, world-renowned primatologist, dies aged 91

Jane Goodall Institute says ‘tireless advocate’ for natural world died in California during US speaking tour

www.theguardian.com

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Reposted by Ed Gibney

Stephan Lewandowsky @lewan.bsky.social · 7d

The amazing @ninajankowicz.com does a deep dive into the machinations of the Jim Jordan reality-inversion machine which recently claimed that Tech Giants were pressured by Biden admin into "censorship." They weren't. And they said so in front of Jordan's committee:

Jim Jordan Claims Google Censored Conservatives. His Own Committee’s Work Shows Otherwise.

Google execs’ interviews before the House Judiciary Committee show no evidence of “censorship” or government coercion - so who’s lying?

wiczipedia.substack.com

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Ed Gibney @edgibney.bsky.social · 7d

Wow. 100 years since the Scopes trial and the American anti-intellectualism from that time is obviously carrying on. This is both horrifying and strangely comforting to know.

www.freethoughttoday.com/free/ed-lars...

Ed Larson: The inside story of the Scopes Trial

This is the (edited for space) speech given by Ed Larson at the Scopes Trial Centennial convention in Chattanooga, Tenn., on July 19. He was introduced by convention emcee Leighann Lord.

www.freethoughttoday.com

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Reposted by Ed Gibney

Stephan Lewandowsky @lewan.bsky.social · 8d

Couldn't be clearer now I suppose. And yet, some "serious" pundits who are "nuanced" will find a way to turn the obvious into a complicated unanswerable question.

Brendan Nyhan @brendannyhan.bsky.social · 8d

An unprecedented violation of our civic and Constitutional traditions. Calling every military leader in the world back to the U.S. to hear a wildly inappropriate partisan campaign speech followed by a fascist call to use the military against Americans.

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Ed Gibney @edgibney.bsky.social · 7d

As Scott Barry Kaufman says on his podcast all the time, grandiose narcissists almost never end up on the therapist’s couch. (Unless a girlfriend forces them…but have you seen their girlfriends?)

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Ed Gibney @edgibney.bsky.social · 8d

Great talk as always by @davidsloanwilson.bsky.social. Good to see what he's up to for making cooperation work better.

ProSocial World @prosocialworld.bsky.social · 9d

📢Tomorrow, join us for the Symposium on Multi-Level Selection and PROSOCIAL at Oslo Metropolitan University, Norway.

📆Join us via Zoom | Sep 30th | 9 am CET Norway time | 8 am London
🔗https://oslomet.zoom.us/j/62406794448?pwd=kZMkT0aiiiWGeNbkvoG9PZPIA3wsac.1

Ed Gibney @edgibney.bsky.social · 8d

Good message, Dwight! (Not about the King at all.)

www.nytimes.com/2025/09/24/o...

Opinion | Rainn Wilson: What I Learned at a Fire Ceremony With King Charles

www.nytimes.com

Reposted by Ed Gibney

Freedom From Religion Foundation @ffrf.org.web.brid.gy · 9d

Trump administration brands critics of Christian nationalism as security threats

The Freedom From Religion Foundation is denouncing a new presidential memorandum for dangerously equating dissent and nonbelief with terrorism. President Trump issued a broadly worded memorandum on Sept. 25 titled ... More » from Trump administration brands critics of Christian nationalism as security threats The post Trump administration brands critics of Christian nationalism as security threats appeared first on Freedom From Religion Foundation.

ffrf.org

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Reposted by Ed Gibney

Nat Dyer @natjdyer.bsky.social · 9d

I've listened to a lot of Pitchfork Economics over the years so it was a real pleasure to be a guest on the show.

Listen here: buff.ly/jQUTct6

Pitchfork Economics @pitchforkeconomics.bsky.social · 15d

David Ricardo’s math looked beautiful on paper. The real-world outcome? Exploitation, colonialism, and hollowed-out economies. In the second episode of our trade series, Nick & Goldy talk to @natjdyer.bsky.social about his book Ricardo’s Dream.

🎧Listen here: buff.ly/jQUTct6

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Reposted by Ed Gibney

Zack Polanski @zackpolanski.bsky.social · 10d

Source - John Curtice, BBC Graphic

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Ed Gibney @edgibney.bsky.social · 9d

Michael, please read Dan Dennett’s paper “Darwin and the Overdue Demise of Essentialism”. You are being a black and white essentialist in a fundamentally grey blurry world.

www.evphil.com/uploads/9/2/...

www.evphil.com

Ed Gibney @edgibney.bsky.social · 10d

What does an “immune privileged organ” mean? I’m guessing that’s not referring to the “mental immune system” posited by Andy Norman, Luke Johnson, and @profsanderlinden.bsky.social.

psycnet.apa.org/fulltext/202...

psycnet.apa.org

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Ed Gibney @edgibney.bsky.social · 10d

At the root of our problems….

Sander van der Linden @profsanderlinden.bsky.social · 10d

Great feature with some thoughts from me;

"The undermining of democratic institutions on display in these groups echoed fascist methods used throughout history..they
are trying to undermine institutions of truth, facts & education because that is what’s standing in their way–an informed citizenry"

The Guardian @theguardian.com · 10d

Inside the everyday Facebook networks where far-right ideas grow

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