Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Stephen Thompson @idislikestephen.bsky.social · 1d

For every 10 articles, podcasts, or news pieces I file about Taylor Swift's new album, I should be allowed to insert one (1) flagrant falsehood, such as a parenthetical explainer that "Taylor" is short for "Taylorbert"

1 43

Stephen Thompson @idislikestephen.bsky.social · 5d

Honestly, I'm still chuckling about Rolling Stone giving The Life Of A Showgirl five stars. Like, it's got a song about Travis Kelce's hog; that's an automatic one-star deduction right there! The moment the phrase "magic wand" leaves her lips, she topples off the pommel horse.

5 69

Stephen Thompson @idislikestephen.bsky.social · 5d

My brilliant colleague is a bit more bullish on The Life Of A Showgirl than I am -- we have a fun, lively discussion about it on Monday's PCHH! -- but this is a terrific, thoughtful, deeply considered review.

Ann Powers @annkpowers.bsky.social · 5d

I always really enjoy reviewing Taylor Swift's work and try to give it a measured read. I think Swift is a serious artist deserving a serious response! So here's my Showgirl review www.npr.org/2025/10/03/n...

On 'The Life of a Showgirl,' Taylor Swift feels love's glow and the spotlight's glare

On her 12th album, the most dominant pop star of our era makes a spectacle of herself in full flower, in love and holding the music industry in the palm of her hand.

www.npr.org

2 1 29

Reposted by Stephen Thompson

NPR @npr.org · 7d

Today marks the first day in public media’s history without federal funding. And we’re not going anywhere.

Listeners like you keep our mission alive. Protect one of the last places where America comes together to hear itself.

Stand with us today. Donate at this link: n.pr/46wamAj

690 9.7K 31K

Stephen Thompson @idislikestephen.bsky.social · 11d

Oh my gosh, hi! That was almost certainly me -- we'll be there tomorrow night, too, if you're still in town!

1

Stephen Thompson @idislikestephen.bsky.social · 13d

It feels a lot like the dialogue around Sinners, where there was a ton of pearl-clutching about the risk involved and then it made eleven gazillion dollars and everyone loved it and we're not even to awards season yet.

11

Reposted by Stephen Thompson

Linda Holmes @lindaholmes.bsky.social · 13d

This is not a romance. Nobody is "in love" with apps. There are no A.I. boyfriends. You cannot "date" a chatbot. Accepting this framing and treating it as real is tech-industry propaganda. slate.com/technology/2...

She Broke Off Two Engagements. She Couldn’t Commit. Now She’s Dating Chatbots Instead.

As chatbot romance grows more common, women are redefining what they want from a partner—even if they are just ones and zeros.

slate.com

39 430 2.2K

Stephen Thompson @idislikestephen.bsky.social · 18d

me, fuming as I watch the Badgers rake-stomp their way to a 27-3 deficit:

I Can't Believe The TV They Make Me Watch

I cannot believe the garbage they make me watch on TV these days. Do they think we’re morons or something?

theonion.com

5

Stephen Thompson @idislikestephen.bsky.social · 19d

People praise Mr. Show sketches for having modern-day relevance all the time, like when the "blow up the moon" bit went viral a few weeks ago. To me, THIS remains the show's endlessly resonant, weirdly poignant masterpiece. That closing line is me, every time I piss away an hour getting mad online.

Mr Show - I'll Marry Your Stupid Ass

YouTube video by FiveInchTaint

www.youtube.com

3 20 130

Reposted by Stephen Thompson

Otis Hart @spotieotis.bsky.social · 26d

Hi, everyone. As you probably know, NPR lost its federal funding this year. So NPR Music is trying something new to keep the music playing: Tiny Desk Donations on YouTube.

If you’ve ever enjoyed our little series that could, please consider showing your support 2day: www.youtube.com/live/Q2CW9TZ...

Ed Sheeran: Tiny Desk Concert

YouTube video by NPR Music

www.youtube.com

2 25 39

Reposted by Stephen Thompson

Kai Ryssdal @kairyssdal.bsky.social · Sep 3

About this Florida vaccine story:

When they were little - 1 yr and 3 1/2 - my two older boys, who’d had all their shots, got whooping cough.

We asked their pediatrician what would’ve happened if they hadn’t been vaccinated.

“Oh, they’d have died.”

750 6.8K 23K

Stephen Thompson @idislikestephen.bsky.social · Sep 3

I'm a fan of both the Green Bay Packers and KPop Demon Hunters. As a society, I don't think we've prepared ourselves for what a breakout season by rookie receiver Matthew Golden would mean in terms of broadcasters yelling, "He's going up, up, up!" every time the guy leaps for a pass.

Packers rookie WR Matthew Golden not feeling pressure of first-round status

Matthew Golden isn’t feeling the pressure of being the Packers’ first first-round receiver since Javon Walker in 2002. “I just feel like I’ve been waiting my whole life to get in the position I’m in ...

www.nfl.com

14

Stephen Thompson @idislikestephen.bsky.social · Sep 3

Literally an Onion story brought to life, and yet not funny at all.

2 23

Stephen Thompson @idislikestephen.bsky.social · Aug 20

Sure, you could read the alt text, remember that Max Kennerly is a rascal, or otherwise deploy common sense. But the REAL red flag in this quote is that it spells Warren Buffett's last name correctly.

Max Kennerly @maxkennerly.bsky.social · Aug 20

Increasing market turbulence last few days, if you're an investor then heed the wise words of the Oracle of Omaha. 🙏

Picture of Warren Buffett with quote, "Freak the fuck out and panic sell everything right now. It's fucking over." No, he didn't say that, although he has kept billions out of the market for a while so obviously thinks something's amiss.

1 8

Stephen Thompson @idislikestephen.bsky.social · Aug 18

Took a lovely little beach vacation with my family last week. Thought I'd revisit my camera roll from the trip, only to discover that I'd taken precisely one (1) photo the entire time. It's of a box of donuts, which I'd documented due to the most egregious misuse of quotation marks I've ever seen.

A box of Fractured Prune donuts with a motto -- YOU CREATE "EM" WE MAKE "EM" -- that demonstrates a truly baffling misunderstanding of how quotation marks work. I've seen quotation marks misused to signify emphasis, or to convey mundane greetings ("Thank you!"), but... what even is this?

3 33

Stephen Thompson @idislikestephen.bsky.social · Aug 18

I was about to ask you to join my edgy alternative to NPR, but I guess the Associated Coalition of Radio Operators for National Youth Media will have to carry on without you.

3 48

Stephen Thompson @idislikestephen.bsky.social · Aug 14

Saw this post while scrolling, read the text without seeing the image, got as far as “A sitting Republican senator says he is so scared driving in DC,” and thought, “It’s gonna be Markwayne Mullin.”

Jon Passantino @passantino.bsky.social · Aug 14

A sitting Republican senator says he is so scared driving in DC that he doesn't wear a seatbelt out of fear he might get carjacked and won't be able to escape www.mediaite.com/media/tv/rep...

Republican Senator Says He Doesn’t Wear Seatbelt in D.C. Because He Fears Being Carjacked: ‘I Don’t Buckle Up’

Sen. Markwayne Mullin said he does not wear a seatbelt while driving in Washington, D.C., lest doing so prevent him from acting quickly in case he's carjacked.

www.mediaite.com

14 14 270

Reposted by Stephen Thompson

Robin Hilton @robinpr.bsky.social · Aug 12

Breaking: It’s still summer! And summer is roadtrip season. This wk’s All Songs Considered from @npr.org shares pro-tips and tunes to make any 10-hour drive feel like 5. ❤️🚗 w/ @idislikestephen.bsky.social @totalvibration.bsky.social

What's the perfect roadtrip playlist? : All Songs Considered

Before summer disappears, we share our favorite songs for your long and winding drives, plus a list of ground rules (does the driver always have final say?), and a breakdown of what works best when. ...

www.npr.org

13 23 160

Stephen Thompson @idislikestephen.bsky.social · Aug 11

For those not in the DC area: This is like if you got hired as a mall cop, then spent your shift cowering in the break room of the Build-A-Bear Workshop.

Drew Harwell @drewharwell.com · Aug 11

Drug Enforcement Administration officers patrolling the National Mall.

If you know DC you understand how tremendously goofy this is

(h/t @lorenzohall1.bsky.social)

7 44

Stephen Thompson @idislikestephen.bsky.social · Aug 3

Oh, and for me, the moment I gave this movie five stars was when the CROWD sang, "This is what it sounds like." Any moment when a zillion individuals rise up and exercise their power in unison... yeah, that gave me big feelings for some reason!

3

Stephen Thompson @idislikestephen.bsky.social · Aug 3

SAME. Absolutely wrecked me.

1 1

Stephen Thompson @idislikestephen.bsky.social · Aug 1

I've decided, with this birthday, that it's time to start obscuring my age behind subtle hints. Here, for example, is a still photo from a movie I loved as a child:

Herbie, from the movie The Love Bug. There's a two-digit code somewhere in this photograph that will, if read in order, tell you my age. (For those who rely on alt text -- and no one else, no peeking! -- that number is 53.)

16 4 100

Stephen Thompson @idislikestephen.bsky.social · Jul 30

Whatever you do, don't let your teeth get wet!

1 13

Stephen Thompson @idislikestephen.bsky.social · Jul 30

Came here to say Ghost! My pals at The Reveal made the switch and are really glad they did.

9

Stephen Thompson @idislikestephen.bsky.social · Jul 29

Juuuuuuuuust in case you need this as much as... yeah, you probably need this

Lars Gotrich @totalvibration.bsky.social · Jul 29

Roséwave, our summer playlist series that celebrates feel-good lifestyle (and summer feelings), is back!

So I made an episode of All Songs Considered with @robinpr.bsky.social & @mrsslrss.bsky.social, but also a 6-hour playlist to soundtrack your summer.

www.npr.org/2025/07/29/1...

Roséwave: Simple Pleasures : All Songs Considered

You asked, we listened: Roséwave is back! Our summer playlist series returns with syrupy sweet songs from the likes of Amerie, Wednesday, Addison Rae, Marvin Gaye, and more.Featured artists and songs:...

www.npr.org

2 27