Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Felicia Krieg @feliciakrieg.bsky.social · 6h

Solidly blue states like NY and CA saw marked shift to the right in 2024’s election. Democrats need excellent candidates and this just isn’t cutting it. Anyone defending Porter’s behavior is part of the problem. In NY in 2024, Harris won by just 13 points, while in 2020 Biden won by 23 points.

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Felicia Krieg @feliciakrieg.bsky.social · 6h

If a candidate for governor has this kind of a meltdown at being asked a relevant question by a journalist, then she likely won’t be a good governor. She clearly won’t work well with others. She laughed at 40% of CA’s voters and then became angry for showing herself for who she really is on camera.

Yashar Ali 🐘 @yasharali.bsky.social · 21h

Someone who used to work with Katie Porter sent me this clip from a train wreck interview with her and said “now imagine what she’s like when there aren’t cameras around.”

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Reposted by Felicia Krieg

Michael Clemens @mclem.org · 7h

Former USAID official here.

The current Administration has done zero impact analysis to estimate the effects of its obliteration of USAID on deaths around the world.

It just keeps saying "no one has died" as a mesmeric incantation.

The facts, below. 🧵

Nathan Kalmoe (he/him) @nathankalmoe.bsky.social · 10h

apnews.com/article/myan...

Starving children screaming for food as US aid cuts unleash devastation and death across Myanmar

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has repeatedly said “no one has died" because of his government’s decision to gut its foreign aid program.

apnews.com

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Felicia Krieg @feliciakrieg.bsky.social · 7h

Love this.

Alison Fitzgerald Kodjak @alikodjak.bsky.social · 15d

Spotted on the DC Metro today! @propublica.org

Felicia Krieg @feliciakrieg.bsky.social · 7h

Drives me nuts how instead of criticizing the larger system that creates a market for these stories, people instead criticize the media for writing what their readers want to read. Just so unhelpful. I’d rather these stories stay and keep newspapers afloat so they can write things that matter too.

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Felicia Krieg @feliciakrieg.bsky.social · 7h

Like it or not, journalism is a business. It’s not publicly funded and it needs to make money to survive. People like Amazon Prime Day and click on these articles. Therefore, they will continue. If you want public service journalism, read ProPublica or similar pieces in the outlets.

Karl Bode @karlbode.com · 8h

twice a year the entire U.S. press becomes a marketing extension of a single billionaire-owned retailer, and nobody in any position of editorial power thinks it's weird or gross

photo of Google News search results for Amazon Prime Day (the second this year)

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Felicia Krieg @feliciakrieg.bsky.social · 18h

I grew up going to the same denomination of Presbyterian church as this young pastor. In the story, this pastor, Rev. David Black, said he was praying before ICE fired pepper balls or chemical agents his way. “We could hear them (the officers) laughing,” Black said.

A young pastor wearing a white collar jumps out of the way as an Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer sprays pepper spray in his direction. The ICE officer is part of a group of several officers wearing what looks like military gear: camo uniform with masks, helmets, radios, guns and vests with pouches and pockets. The people are standing on what appears to be outdoor concrete flooring of some type.

Felicia Krieg @feliciakrieg.bsky.social · 19h

1.7 million lives saved this year in poor countries thanks to a vaccine alliance. Heartening.

Vox @vox.com · 2d

Earlier this week Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance — a public-private partnership that does more than any other organization to get vaccines to people in poor countries — reported that its vaccines saved a record-breaking 1.7 million people in 2024. That’s 400,000 more lives saved than in 2023.

2024 was a record-setting year for lifesaving vaccines

Vaccines delivered by Gavi saved the lives of 1.7 million people in poor countries

www.vox.com

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Reposted by Felicia Krieg

Julia Métraux @juliametraux.bsky.social · 1d

For National Disability Employment Awareness Month at @motherjones.com, I spoke to four disabled federal workers who were laid off about how their old jobs were very accessible—and what the federal government loses out on by having fewer disabled employees. www.motherjones.com/politics/202...

The human costs of Trump's war on government

For many disabled workers, federal jobs were decent, human, and accommodating: everything the president hates.

www.motherjones.com

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Felicia Krieg @feliciakrieg.bsky.social · 2d

It’s clear from Cuomo’s appearence today on The View that he has no idea what democratic socialism is. He confused it with Communism. Not advocating for democratic socalism (I don’t). We are a month out from Election Day and Cuomo’s campaign still has no clear identity. youtu.be/ahzBreU7pJY?...

Cuomo Says A Mamdani Win For NYC Mayor Would Be A 'Gift' To Trump | The View

YouTube video by The View

youtu.be

Felicia Krieg @feliciakrieg.bsky.social · 2d

By 8 a.m., “people had been waiting for hours to pick up groceries from Roadrunner Food Bank (in Albuquerque, NM), which lost about 850,000 pounds of food to the funding cut, according to USDA records. As a result, people are receiving less dairy, meat and other high-protein items.”

ProPublica @propublica.org · 5d

NEW: ProPublica obtained records from the Department of Agriculture that detail the millions of pounds of food, down to the number of eggs, that never reached food banks because of the Trump administration’s cuts to an aid program.

Trump Canceled 94 Million Pounds of Food Aid. Here’s What Never Arrived.

ProPublica obtained records from the Department of Agriculture that detail the millions of pounds of food, down to the number of eggs, that never reached food banks because of the administration’s cut...

projects.propublica.org

Reposted by Felicia Krieg

Ian Weissman, DO @drianweissman.bsky.social · 2d

A massive new study combining observational and genetic data overturns the long-held belief that light drinking protects the brain. Researchers found that dementia risk rises in direct proportion to alcohol consumption, with no safe level identified.
www.sciencedaily.com/releases/202...

Think light drinking protects your brain? Think again

A massive new study combining observational and genetic data overturns the long-held belief that light drinking protects the brain. Researchers found that dementia risk rises in direct proportion to a...

www.sciencedaily.com

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Felicia Krieg @feliciakrieg.bsky.social · 2d

I just watched “Phantom Thread” for the first time since it was released. It’s hard to think of a film that is so disturbing while being quiet and seemingly benign and maybe even a typical romance at first glance. And the costumes are sublime. Nominated for 6 academy awards. Won best costume design.

A still from the film “Phantom Thread” shows a woman from behind in the foreground wearing a lilac evening gown with lace sleeves. She is standing in a walnut-colored wood paneled room with high ceilings. Daniel Day Lewis is in the background, wearing a black suit and staring intently at her dress, almost looking through her.

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Felicia Krieg @feliciakrieg.bsky.social · 3d

Seems like we need more social and political psychologists cited in media. Experts to explain the why that drives voting behavior and political attitudes. Dr. Daniel Kahneman cited in quote below was a psychologist who studied the psychology of judgment and decision-making and behavioral economics.

Gurwinder @gurwinder.bsky.social · 4d

“The confidence people have in their beliefs is not a measure of the quality of evidence but of the coherence of the story that the mind has managed to construct.”

—Daniel Kahneman

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Felicia Krieg @feliciakrieg.bsky.social · 3d

He has dignity, authenticity and, dare I say, a moral compass? I need to do much more research but other potential candidates popular right now seem to be driven by a desire for raw power and non-substantive media attention.

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Felicia Krieg @feliciakrieg.bsky.social · 3d

Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear is what the Democratic Party needs. He’s policy focused, talks like a real person, not divisive, a unifier, and has an agreeable personality. He works across the aisle. But given where how polarized we are, I’m not sure he could win a primary. Ugh
youtu.be/phjuIezI7R4?...

In Trump country, Andy Beshear critiques Trump — and talks of succeeding him | Morning Edition

YouTube video by NPR

youtu.be

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Felicia Krieg @feliciakrieg.bsky.social · 3d

“To make ends meet, it (South Dakota Public Broadcasting) has slashed its newsroom to just four journalists from 11. It has dropped television news shows, educational initiatives and a daily, hourlong public affairs radio show called In the Moment.”

NPR @npr.org · 3d

South Dakota Public Broadcasting says there's an ironic result to President Trump's successful attack on public media: It will have to rely more on NPR programs.

A public broadcaster's path after losing U.S. funds: Youth sports and less local news

South Dakota Public Broadcasting says there's an ironic result to President Trump's successful attack on public media: It will have to rely more on NPR programs.

n.pr

Felicia Krieg @feliciakrieg.bsky.social · 3d

Officers who act this way are incredibly dangerous because they think that by using unnecessary force, they become more “tough,” when really it shows them for how weak and helpless they truly are. It plays into the crisis of masculinity. No confident, mentally secure officer would ever act this way.

Tim Onion @bencollins.bsky.social · 4d

The ICE agents deploying these are people without necessary training, those who couldn’t cut it in police training or didn’t want to join the military.

They are in this to hurt people and play Call of Duty on our streets, deploying chemical weapons on our neighbors as if they’re pressing L1.

Dave Byrnes @djbyrnes1.bsky.social · 4d

Remaining feds left the scene in a large caravan, deploying more tear gas straight into the crowd - and right at my feet - as they left.

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Felicia Krieg @feliciakrieg.bsky.social · 4d

An 1866 act of Congress prohibits living people from appearing on currency. Congress made an exception for Calvin Coolidge, who was alive in 1926 when he appeared with Washington on Sesquicentennial of American Independence Half Dollar. Coolidge is the only living president featured on a U.S. coin.

Sesquicentennial of American Independence Half Dollar shows bust of George Washington in the foreground with Calvin Coolidge behind him. Text on the coin reads “liberty,” “United States of America” an “In God we trust.”

Back of the Sesquicentennial of American Independence Half Dollar depicts the liberty bell. The text on the coin reads “Sesquicentennial of American Independence Half Dollar” and “1776 1926.”

Mock-ups of a proposed $1 coin featuring Trump’s bust with the words “liberty” and “in God we trust” “1776 2026” on one side and Trump pumping his fist in front of an American flag with the words “fight fight fight” “United States of America” “E pluribus unum”

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Felicia Krieg @feliciakrieg.bsky.social · 4d

“Brazil, Nigeria, Hungary and Samoa are just a few of the nations investing more in vaccination to try to catch up after Covid, during a global rise in outbreaks of measles and yellow fever” while the Dept. of Health & Human Services under RFK Jr. is slashing funding for vaccine research/development

Madhu Pai, MD, PhD @madhupai.bsky.social · 23d

The World Wants More Vaccines. An Anti-Vaccine America Isn’t Helping

www.nytimes.com/2025/09/15/w...

The World Wants More Vaccines. An Anti-Vaccine America Isn’t Helping.

www.nytimes.com

Felicia Krieg @feliciakrieg.bsky.social · 4d

Getting a cold brew maker and learning to make the equivalent of a Starbucks cold brew with foam has transformed my life. No more caffeine jitters because I can customize the caffeine content based on where I am anxiety wise. Coffee shops should offer decaf cold brew but that’s another matter.

Felicia Krieg @feliciakrieg.bsky.social · 4d

This lack of emotional control in an officer who carries a gun and a taser is unacceptable. The government needs to screen people for these kinds of issues before they are hired, provide training or even mandated medical treatment. Stakes are too high and this isn’t some video game. It’s real life.

Felicia Krieg @feliciakrieg.bsky.social · 4d

This is incredibly disturbing. Our own government is attacking Americans for exercising their freedom of speech. Officers are so weak that they can’t emotionally handle a 19-year-old woman telling them off without lashing out with aggression? Cmon. This officer must be fired.

The Oregonian @oregonian.com · 4d

Federal officer blasts chemical spray into vocal but nonviolent Portland protester, video shows

The interaction illustrates how federal law enforcement officers do use aggressive tactics against protesters who yell and needle officers but don’t appear to present clear physical threats.

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Felicia Krieg @feliciakrieg.bsky.social · 4d

“Confidence in the media has fallen to a record low in the U.S., with just 28% of Americans expressing trust in newspapers, television, and radio to report news fairly, according to a new Gallup survey released Thursday.” Very bad. Mainstream media not perfect but it reports facts to serve public.

Brian Reed @brihreed.bsky.social · 5d

This is a nightmare. Not that traditional media needs to be *the* trusted source of news, but knowing the alternative information ecosystem people are turning to, there needs to be a systemic effort to disincentivize lies there and incentivize facts.

(h/t @oliverdarcy.bsky.social at Status)

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Reposted by Felicia Krieg

Garrett M. Graff @vermontgmg.bsky.social · 5d

One thing to remember: Trump may have criminal immunity for official acts but Hegseth doesn’t….

Jameel Jaffer @jameeljaffer.bsky.social · 5d

Don’t believe anyone who tells you that intelligence shows anything “without a doubt,” but even if the intelligence was water-tight, this strike was still murder. No law permits the deliberate, premeditated killing of civilians.

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