Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Erica Hellerstein @ehellerstein.bsky.social · 1d

I've been doing longform writing for so long, it was a fun experience to take myself out of my comfort zone with a longform radio piece. I'm excited about the next edition of E's radio - a longform podcast about my reporting in Ukraine. Hopefully out next month!

www.latinousa.org/2025/10/03/m...

Music Cures: The Healing Power of the Accordion After a Shooting - Latino USA

We travel to Half Moon Bay, where an unconventional music program is helping farmworkers victims of a shooting heal from their deepest wounds through the keys and wails of the accordion.

www.latinousa.org

Erica Hellerstein @ehellerstein.bsky.social · 3d

Thrilled to share the long-awaited collab btw @eltimpano.bsky.social + Latino USA! I spent months reporting on an accordion class helping the farmworker survivors of the Half Moon Bay shooting heal from their trauma. It's a piece abt grief, love, healing & culture.

www.latinousa.org/2025/10/03/m...

Music Cures: The Healing Power of the Accordion After a Shooting - Latino USA

We travel to Half Moon Bay, where an unconventional music program is helping farmworkers victims of a shooting heal from their deepest wounds through the keys and wails of the accordion.

www.latinousa.org

2 3

Reposted by Erica Hellerstein

El Tímpano @eltimpano.bsky.social · 3d

Now available in your podcast feeds — @ehellerstein.bsky.social's Latino USA episode on an unconventional music program in Half Moon Bay that's helping farmworkers heal from trauma through the accordion.

Ep will also air live on @kqednews.kqed.org tonight at 6 pm!

www.latinousa.org/2025/10/03/m...

Music Cures: The Healing Power of the Accordion After a Shooting - Latino USA

We travel to Half Moon Bay, where an unconventional music program is helping farmworkers victims of a shooting heal from their deepest wounds through the keys and wails of the accordion.

www.latinousa.org

1

Erica Hellerstein @ehellerstein.bsky.social · 12d

After a recent SCOUTS ruling lifting limits on ICE sweeps in LA & ongoing raids, Gov. Newsom signed a suite of bills to strengthen immigrant protections. Bay Area leaders also unveiled a new regional effort to financially support immigrants impacted by enforcement:

www.eltimpano.org/newsletter/a...

After raids and court rulings, California doubles down on immigrant protections

Not yet subscribed? Click here to sign up for our weekly emails. The Weekly Dispatch Community-powered immigration news from the Bay Area. Welcome to El Tímpano’s Weekly Dispatch. I’m Erica Hellerste...

www.eltimpano.org

2

Reposted by Erica Hellerstein

El Tímpano @eltimpano.bsky.social · 19d

In today's Weekly Dispatch, @ehellerstein.bsky.social reports on how increased immigration enforcement is preventing immigrant families from accessing necessary health care, triggering delays, mental health crises, and worsened outcomes. 👇

www.eltimpano.org/newsletter/h...

Health care in the shadow of ICE

Not yet subscribed? Click here to sign up for our weekly emails. The Weekly Dispatch Community-powered immigration news from the Bay Area. Welcome to El Tímpano’s Weekly Dispatch. I’m Erica Hellerste...

www.eltimpano.org

1 1

Erica Hellerstein @ehellerstein.bsky.social · 19d

"We’re seeing a quarantine effect, but not from a virus. Families are isolating out of fear, raids, surveillance, and discrimination.”

My latest on health care in California in the shadow of ICE.

www.eltimpano.org/newsletter/h...

Health care in the shadow of ICE

Not yet subscribed? Click here to sign up for our weekly emails. The Weekly Dispatch Community-powered immigration news from the Bay Area. Welcome to El Tímpano’s Weekly Dispatch. I’m Erica Hellerste...

www.eltimpano.org

3

Erica Hellerstein @ehellerstein.bsky.social · 26d

My latest is a deep dive into a recent ruling narrowing the grounds for domestic violence survivors to obtain asylum. It's also abt the historical exclusion of women from the asylum framework, and the long fight over how gender fits into a system created decades ago
www.eltimpano.org/newsletter/a...

A blow to domestic violence asylum

Not yet subscribed? Click here to sign up for our weekly emails. The Weekly Dispatch Community-powered immigration news from the Bay Area. Welcome to El Tímpano’s Weekly Dispatch. I’m Erica Hellerste...

www.eltimpano.org

2

Reposted by Erica Hellerstein

Madison Swart @madisonswart.bsky.social · 27d

After her hearing at 26 Federal Plaza, a woman was detained and escorted toward the stairwell. Her husband, confused and in shock, was guided toward the exit. Minutes later, he broke down in the elevator. They entered together, but he left alone. This happens here daily. #ICE

76 950 2K

Reposted by Erica Hellerstein

El Tímpano @eltimpano.bsky.social · Aug 29

In honor of #LaborDay, we've been looking into trades where immigrant labor is essential. @ehellerstein.bsky.social's last newsletter detailed how CA fast food workers are striking for safer conditions and calling on employers to protect them from ICE raids.

www.eltimpano.org/newsletter/c...

California fast food workers call on employers to protect them from ICE raids

Not yet subscribed? Click here to sign up for our weekly emails. The Weekly Dispatch Community-powered immigration news from the Bay Area. Welcome to El Tímpano’s Weekly Dispatch. I’m Erica Hellerste...

www.eltimpano.org

1 2 5

Erica Hellerstein @ehellerstein.bsky.social · Aug 27

This was exactly my recent experience in Kyiv! Everything felt enunciated: conversation, culture, ideas, even life. After I left, there was something I missed about being in this constant state of enunciation. Everything felt flat by comparison

Timothy Snyder @timothysnyder.bsky.social · Aug 26

"The seduction of Kyiv is this intensity of life, intellectual and otherwise—a luminousness born of desperation."
@marcishore.bsky.social
www.nybooks.com/online/2025/...

Kyiv: Death and Other Borders | Marci Shore

It takes a long time to get to Kyiv these days. From across the Atlantic, at least one night in the air, another on a train. And once there, daily life is

www.nybooks.com

3

Erica Hellerstein @ehellerstein.bsky.social · Aug 15

The "Big Beautiful Bill" will strip food stamps from roughly ~74,000 refugees, asylees & other immigrants w humanitarian protections in CA.

In the East Bay, some ppl are withdrawing CalFresh applications over concerns abt their data being shared w ICE. My latest:

www.eltimpano.org/newsletter/s...

SNAP cuts and fears hit Bay Area immigrant families

Not yet subscribed? Click here to sign up for our weekly emails. The Weekly Dispatch Community-powered immigration news from the Bay Area. Welcome to El Tímpano’s Weekly Dispatch. I’m Erica Hellerste...

www.eltimpano.org

1

Reposted by Erica Hellerstein

ProPublica @propublica.org · Aug 14

Last month, we reported that the IRS was preparing a system that would share millions of taxpayers' data with ICE.

Now we can confirm data was officially transferred ⤵️

89 1.3K 1.9K

Erica Hellerstein @ehellerstein.bsky.social · Aug 4

My latest digs into into “immigration trauma.” Migration, family separation & daily threats of detention are inflicting chronic stress on immigrant communities—especially kids—showing up emotionally & physically in anxiety & toxic stress that can stunt development
www.eltimpano.org/newsletter/w...

Why more people should be talking about ‘immigration trauma’

Not yet subscribed? Click here to sign up for our weekly emails. The Weekly Dispatch Community-powered immigration news from the Bay Area. Welcome to El Tímpano’s Weekly Dispatch. I’m Erica Hellerste...

www.eltimpano.org

2

Reposted by Erica Hellerstein

El Tímpano @eltimpano.bsky.social · Aug 1

Our latest newsletter by @ehellerstein.bsky.social dives into immigration trauma and how migration, detention and separation shape families' mental health. It also highlights powerful cultural and arts-based healing work happening with farmworkers in Half Moon Bay. www.eltimpano.org/newsletter/w...

Why more people should be talking about ‘immigration trauma’

Not yet subscribed? Click here to sign up for our weekly emails. The Weekly Dispatch Community-powered immigration news from the Bay Area. Welcome to El Tímpano’s Weekly Dispatch. I’m Erica Hellerste...

www.eltimpano.org

1

Erica Hellerstein @ehellerstein.bsky.social · Jul 30

I've been having a tough time readjusting back to CA after Ukraine. It's felt impossible to integrate my time there into my daily life here. I figured I was just depressed or struggling to process the intensity of what I experienced. But I think I've found a diff culprit: Bay Area gloom summer

Erica Hellerstein @ehellerstein.bsky.social · Jul 30

I actually did miss this! Thank you so much for sharing. Can’t wait to read

1

Erica Hellerstein @ehellerstein.bsky.social · Jul 30

Hirsch’s Generation of Postmemory was a strangely cathartic and incredibly formative text for me. When she has something to say, I listen

Michael Rothberg @mrothberg.bsky.social · Jul 29

Taner Akçam, Marianne Hirsch, and I introduce the Genocide and Holocaust Studies Crisis Network and call for immediate concrete measures to prevent further atrocity crimes and to protect civilians in Gaza.

As scholars of genocide, we demand an end to Israel’s atrocities | Open letter

Within weeks, 400 colleagues joined our organization. We say: it is not too late to save lives. End the genocide now

www.theguardian.com

1 1 4

Reposted by Erica Hellerstein

Marisa Kabas @marisakabas.bsky.social · Jul 28

BBC News: Do you think you were a witness to war crimes?

American veteran who worked at Gaza Humanitarian Foundation aid distribution center: Without question I witnessed war crimes.

33 2K 5.6K

Reposted by Erica Hellerstein

Joel S. @joelhs.bsky.social · Jul 25

"Six years ago, American Jewish institutions had the strength and clarity to call out a genocide... They used the language of the Holocaust to refer to a genocide against another group of people. Today, legacy Jewish institutions refuse to use the same language." www.jta.org/2025/07/25/i...

Jews know how to shout ‘Never again.’ It’s time to do that now for Gaza. - Jewish Telegraphic Agency

The identity that Jews in America have embodied for decades calls on us to speak out, write two scholars of Jewish studies.

www.jta.org

2 16 42

Erica Hellerstein @ehellerstein.bsky.social · Jul 25

If you know me, you know I love reading, talking & writing (when I can!) abt history, memory & identity. It was such a pleasure to write this piece for @eltimpano.bsky.social abt how the memory of Japanese American incarceration fueled last week's ICE protest in CA
www.eltimpano.org/newsletter/h...

How historical memory fueled last weekend's detention center protest in the East Bay

Not yet subscribed? Click here to sign up for our weekly emails. The Weekly Dispatch Community-powered immigration news from the Bay Area. Welcome to El Tímpano’s Weekly Dispatch. I’m Erica Hellerstein, senior immigration, labor and economics reporter. Growing up, Doug Yoshida’s parents didn’t share many details about their imprisonment in what the government called “internment camps” during […]

www.eltimpano.org

2 3

Reposted by Erica Hellerstein

Ben Goggin @bengoggin.bsky.social · Jul 23

“The United Nations said Tuesday that more than 1,000 Palestinians have now been killed by Israeli forces while seeking food since the start of a new aid distribution system launched by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation in late May.”

www.nbcnews.com/world/gaza/g...

A baby boy dies as starvation spreads across Gaza

Doctors and aid groups warned of a hunger crisis now reaching a crescendo in the besieged and bombarded Palestinian enclave.

www.nbcnews.com

2 50 46

Reposted by Erica Hellerstein

Alvaro M. Bedoya @bedoyausa.bsky.social · Jul 22

A man coughing up blood. Men zip-tied face down on a wet floor. CCTV turned off. Men forced to eat off of a chair like animals while handcuffed. Solitary confinement if you complain. This is just three paragraphs from a new report.

84 1K 2.1K

Reposted by Erica Hellerstein

The Tennessee Holler @thetnholler.bsky.social · Jul 23

Venezuelans leaving El Salvador after Trump sent them to the mega prison without due process: “4 months with no communication… no water… psychological torture… they’d hit us for breakfast, they’d hit us for lunch, they’d hit us for dinner…”

68 690 1.4K

Reposted by Erica Hellerstein

Marisa Kabas @marisakabas.bsky.social · Jul 21

A horrifying statement published today by the Editorial Committee of the Agence France-Presse (AFP) news agency.

"Without immediate intervention, the last reporters in Gaza will die"

Translation from French to English by @cnorristrent.bsky.social:

Without immediate intervention, the last reporters in Gaza will die
July 21, 2025

AFP has been working with 1 writer, 3 photographers and 6 videographers, all freelance, in the Gaza Strip since its staff journalists left in 2024.

Along with a few others, they are now the only ones left to report what is happening in the Gaza Strip. The international press has been banned from entering the territory for nearly two years.

We refuse to watch them die.

One of them, Bashar, has been working with AFP since 2010, first as a fixer, then freelance photographer, and since 2024, as lead photographer. On July 19th he managed to post a message on Facebook: “I no longer have the strength to work for the media. My body is thin and I can’t work anymore.”

Bashar, 30, works & lives in the same conditions as all Gazans, moving from one refugee camp to another under Israeli bombings. For > a year he’s lived in utter destitution, working at extreme risk to his life. Hygiene is a major issue for him, with recurring bouts of severe intestinal illness.

Since Feb, Bashar’s been living in the ruins of his home in Gaza City with his mother, 4 brothers & sisters and the family of one of his brothers. Their house is devoid of any furnishings, except a few cushions. On Sunday morning, he reported that one of his brothers had “fallen, due to hunger.”

Even though these journalists receive a monthly salary from AFP, it’s no longer enough to buy food, or they have to pay completely exorbitant prices. The banking system has collapsed, and those who exchange money via online bank accounts charge a commission of up to 40%.

AFP no longer has the ability to provide them with a vehicle and there is not enough fuel to allow these journalists to travel for their reporting. Driving a car means becoming a target for Israeli airstrikes. AFP reporters therefore travel on foot or by donkey cart. (alt txt continued in next post)

55 3.6K 5.7K