Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Reposted by Nikhil Shah

Kevin M. Kruse @kevinmkruse.bsky.social · 5h

Bray is a historian at Rutgers who received death threats after landing on Turning Points USA's Professor Watchlist. As a result, he announced he was moving to Europe. And then this happened.

This kind of harassment and abuse of scholars is Charlie Kirk's legacy and it's only getting worse.

Mark Bray @mark-bray.bsky.social · 6h

“Someone” cancelled my family’s flight out of the country at the last second.

We got our boarding passes. We checked our bags. Went through security. Then at our gate our reservation ‘disappeared.’

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Nikhil Shah @grandmastershah.bsky.social · 13h

😆

ICE Barbie Moans About Agents’ Lunch Options in Chicago

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem is tough on immigration—but apparently soft on lunchtime. During a Sunday morning appearance on Fox & Friends Weekend, Noem agonized over the not-so-warm welcom...

www.yahoo.com

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Nikhil Shah @grandmastershah.bsky.social · 14h

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Nikhil Shah @grandmastershah.bsky.social · 15h

"A Pew Research Center survey last week reported that nearly six out of 10 Americans, 59%, now hold a negative view of Israel, while 39% believe it is “going too far” in its war in Gaza – compared with 31% who held the same view a year ago"

Polls and politics point to a sea change in US views on Israel. Will it matter?

Fueled by dissent over the war in Gaza, the US public’s views are changing – and support for the Palestinians is rising

www.theguardian.com

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Nikhil Shah @grandmastershah.bsky.social · 15h

"Employment growth was essentially flat in September, according to data from investment giant Carlyle that seeks to fill in data gaps created by the government shutdown."

The shutdown meant no jobs report. Carlyle's analysis shows it would have been pretty bad

The firm said its proprietary data showed job growth of just 17,000 for the month, which would be even less than the 22,000 gain in August.

www.cnbc.com

Nikhil Shah @grandmastershah.bsky.social · 15h

“This is not the first time Trump has tried to have a Black man unjustly arrested” Johnson said on Wednesday in response to Trump’s remarks. “I’m not going anywhere.”

Trump calls for jailing of Chicago mayor and Illinois governor as national guard arrives in city

President accused Brandon Johnson and JB Pritzker of failing to protect Ice officers as troops deploy to Chicago

www.theguardian.com

Nikhil Shah @grandmastershah.bsky.social · 15h

These are very bad signs
"Despite booming equities, Griffin pointed to gold’s record surge—up more than 50% this year—as evidence investors are quietly hedging against U.S. sovereign risk."

America’s economy is on a ‘sugar high’ warns Ken Griffin, and investors retreating to gold is one sign of a comedown | Fortune

Ken Griffin said investors want to make the most of the rally in American equities but are hedging their spoils out of U.S. sovereign risk.

fortune.com

Reposted by Nikhil Shah

Jake Adelstein @tokyovice.bsky.social · 4d

BREAKING 🚨Japan to have a female Prime Minister
But it's not progress
Sanae Takaichi, "the Brendan Carr" of Shinzo Abe, threatened critical TV networks as communications minister, lies that foreigners kick Nara’s deer, claims she speaks to The Gods
#InsaneSanae bodes badly for Japan
bit.ly/3VRR3ey

The Rise of Japan’s Female Trump: Why Takaichi Sanae Is the Worst Thing to Happen to Japanese Democracy Since Abe 2.0

Takaichi endorsed “Hitler’s Election Strategy” in the ‘90s, threatened TV networks as communications minister, claims foreigners abuse Nara’s deer without evidence and speaks to the Gods #InsaneSanae

bit.ly

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Reposted by Nikhil Shah

Chris Ahuja for Congress @chrisahuja.bsky.social · 2d

Terminator 2 = great movie. Arnold as governor = one of the worst. He left with a 23% approval rating. We’re voting YES on Prop 50. Arnold, stop talking about what you don’t know—go play with your donkeys. #YesOn50 #Ahuja #CA32 #AhujaCongress2026

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Nikhil Shah @grandmastershah.bsky.social · 1d

In non apocalyptic news.

Nobel Prize in Physics Is Awarded for Work in Quantum Mechanics

www.nytimes.com

Nikhil Shah @grandmastershah.bsky.social · 1d

"the body-camera footage shows an officer daring Martinez, “Do something, bitch,” before firing at her. Parente at the hearing also said that the footage showed the officer driving the vehicle suddenly “turn the wheel to the left” then jump out and “just start shooting”,

Federal agents taunted Chicago woman to ‘do something’ before shooting her, attorney claims

Officers say woman was in chase ending in ramming border patrol vehicle during Trump’s immigration crackdown

www.theguardian.com

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Nikhil Shah @grandmastershah.bsky.social · 2d

Makes total sense

The Rise of Japan’s Female Trump: Why Takaichi Sanae Is the Worst Thing to Happen to Japanese Democracy Since Abe 2.0

Takaichi endorsed “Hitler’s Election Strategy” in the ‘90s, threatened TV networks as communications minister, claims foreigners abuse Nara’s deer without evidence and speaks to the Gods #InsaneSanae

tokyopaladin.substack.com

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Nikhil Shah @grandmastershah.bsky.social · 2d

I am tired of seeing posts celebrating her victory. She is awful.

The Rise of Japan’s Female Trump: Why Takaichi Sanae Is the Worst Thing to Happen to Japanese Democracy Since Abe 2.0

Takaichi endorsed “Hitler’s Election Strategy” in the ‘90s, threatened TV networks as communications minister, claims foreigners abuse Nara’s deer without evidence and speaks to the Gods #InsaneSanae

tokyopaladin.substack.com

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Reposted by Nikhil Shah

Heartland Signal @heartlandsignal.bsky.social · 2d

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson:

"Private establishments can partner with us to make it clear that private property is private property and ICE cannot enter establishments without a valid warrant ... If Congress will not check this administration, then Chicago will."

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Reposted by Nikhil Shah

Jared Yates Sexton @jysexton.bsky.social · 2d

Hopefully the whole Bari Weiss thing and Ezra Klein thing starts waking people up to the fact that corporate media is mostly populated with mediocre people who have made millions and gained unbelievable influence because they threaten nothing and tell wealthy people exactly what they want to hear.

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Nikhil Shah @grandmastershah.bsky.social · 2d

I am sure this ends well 🙄

Justin Hendrix @justinhendrix.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... In a way, then, America has become one big bet on AI."

America is now one big bet on AI

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

www.ft.com

Nikhil Shah @grandmastershah.bsky.social · 2d

"One thing I don’t think people understand is these billionaire private-equity funds are what happens when so much wealth is parked in so few hands, and they can kind of turn around and say, ‘Where else can we squeeze money out of the economy?’ Healthcare? Great. Mobile home parks?"

Boom time for US billionaires: why the system perpetuates wealth inequality

As the super rich grow even richer, inequality expert Chuck Collins says the system is broken – but it can be fixed

www.theguardian.com

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Nikhil Shah @grandmastershah.bsky.social · 2d

I hope he gets the best med bed treatment and that only.

‘The president is unhinged’: Trump’s online behavior grows increasingly odd

The US president’s recent behavior is strange to many, from reposting a false AI video of himself to confusing comments during press conferences

www.theguardian.com

Reposted by Nikhil Shah

Nicholas Grossman @nicholasgrossman.bsky.social · 2d

If U.S. states have any degree of sovereignty, if there’s any states’ rights at all, it is the right not to be invaded by the armed forces of another U.S. state.

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Nikhil Shah @grandmastershah.bsky.social · 2d

No experience working in broadcast television ans they gets rewarded with this. These truly are the dumbest of times.

Bari Weiss named editor-in-chief of CBS News as Paramount buys Free Press startup

Commentator to lead storied US news network, five years after acrimonious exit from New York Times

www.theguardian.com

Nikhil Shah @grandmastershah.bsky.social · 2d

"Two of those experts, however, told the Guardian that ADF had “profoundly” misrepresented their research, which discussed the “psychological damage” of conversion therapy"

Christian group ‘deceived’ supreme court about LGBTQ+ research, cited scholars say

Exclusive: Experts say Alliance Defending Freedom, arguing to revive conversion therapy, ‘profoundly misrepresented’ their work in case threatening trans and queer youth

www.theguardian.com

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Reposted by Nikhil Shah

Mehdi Hasan @mehdirhasan.bsky.social · 3d

Stephen Miller said last year this was the plan. They said it out loud. Some of us highlighted his remarks at the time and warned how dangerous they were. Most of the media missed them and/or moved on from them. It’s happening:

@NewsJennifer (Jennifer Schulze) @newsjennifer.bsky.social · 3d

Red states sending troops to blue states is a really bad idea.

‪Governor JB Pritzker‬
‪@govpritzker.illinois.gov‬
· 32m
This evening, President Trump is ordering 400 members of the Texas National Guard for deployments to Illinois, Oregon, and other locations within the United States. No officials from the federal government called me directly to discuss or coordinate.
‪Governor JB Pritzker‬
‪@govpritzker.illinois.gov‬
· 32m
We must now start calling this what it is: Trump’s Invasion. It started with federal agents, it will soon include deploying federalized members of the Illinois National Guard against our wishes, and it will now involve sending in another state’s military troops.
‪Governor JB Pritzker‬
‪@govpritzker.illinois.gov‬
· 32m
I call on Governor Abbott to immediately withdraw any support for this decision and refuse to coordinate. There is no reason a President should send military troops into a sovereign state without their knowledge, consent, or cooperation.
‪Governor JB Pritzker‬
‪@govpritzker.illinois.gov‬
· 32m
The brave men and women who serve in our national guards must not be used as political props. This is a moment where every American must speak up and help stop this madness.

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Nikhil Shah @grandmastershah.bsky.social · 3d

Anyone checked in on this guy who wrote this op ed in November 2024?

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Nikhil Shah @grandmastershah.bsky.social · 3d

Gen Z anger at ruling elites is erupting across the world

There has been a surge in Gen Z demonstrations in Africa and Asia against aging leaders and corruption.

www.japantimes.co.jp

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Nikhil Shah @grandmastershah.bsky.social · 3d

"Republicans have megadonors of their own, including Miriam Adelson, Charles Koch, Timothy Mellon and Elon Musk, whose donation of more than $270m to Trump’s presidential campaign dwarfed Soros’s input."