Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

IowaRalph @iowaralph.bsky.social · 1d

Power to local press. The press steps up as Trump targets Chicago www.stopthepresses.news/p/the-press-...

The press steps up as Trump targets Chicago

Local journalism is under siege, but still makes itself indispensable

www.stopthepresses.news

IowaRalph @iowaralph.bsky.social · 5d

Sobering, sad and important reading www.threads.com/@vermontgmg/...

Garrett Graff (@vermontgmg) on Threads

America enters a new, dark chapter: "Kavanaugh Raids" on entire buildings and neighborhoods, a chapter surely to be remembered as infamously as we now view the "Palmer Raids" of the first Red Scare. h...

www.threads.com

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IowaRalph @iowaralph.bsky.social · 6d

Scot offers so many ideas. I recommend to both break it into pieces to best appreciate and apply it within your activist group. Strategic Narrative Assessment
open.substack.com/pub/antiauth...

Strategic Narrative Assessment

Part 2 of the Three R's Framework

open.substack.com

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IowaRalph @iowaralph.bsky.social · 7d

The 3 R's—argues cultural and narrative strategies weaken authoritarian power. By refusing to cooperate, building alternative institutions, and using humor to puncture fear, people erode the myths of inevitability, invincibility, and indispensability. open.substack.com/pub/antiauth...

The Three R's Framework

Narrative and Cultural Strategies Against Autocracy

open.substack.com

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IowaRalph @iowaralph.bsky.social · 8d

Once again, Pres. Trump was ahead of his time in making this acute observation about leadership

IowaRalph @iowaralph.bsky.social · 9d

Scot's point about looking to U.S. historical precedents is spot on. Consider the deterrent effect if the legal community—from law schools to private firms—had protested when law firms were first threatened.

Similarly, if all broadcast media associations, and schools, had immediately protested

Crisis Moments Strategy for Pro-Democracy Movement

Anticipating and Leveraging Critical Junctures Over the Next 18 Months

open.substack.com

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IowaRalph @iowaralph.bsky.social · 16d

Grassroots Iowa Network, is hosting the third of a series of “listening posts”, entitled HARVESTING OF IDEAS. The Sept 25, @ 8:00 pm session will be focused on Cong. Dist 2. Activists can share and learn from others. The Zoom link will be sent to you.
us02web.zoom.us/meeting/regi...

Welcome! You are invited to join a meeting: GIN Listening Post - District 2. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email about joining the meeting.

Grassroots Iowa Network (GIN) started hosting a 4-part series of listening posts in late August. The third call of the series is on September 25 at 8:00 P.M. via Zoom. It will be a time of listening a...

us02web.zoom.us

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IowaRalph @iowaralph.bsky.social · 16d

In the old days, environmental and outdoor groups used to oppose billboards. Today, this is becoming a possible way to best message a great idea about a great concern. Nishnabotna water group urges community nitrate testing with new billboard iowacapitaldispatch.com/2025/09/19/n...

Nishnabotna water group urges community nitrate testing with new billboard • Iowa Capital Dispatch

A water quality group in southwest Iowa installed the first of several billboards to inform Iowans about water quality.

iowacapitaldispatch.com

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IowaRalph @iowaralph.bsky.social · 17d

While others focus on what's wrong with the Democratic Party, The Economist highlighted how the solution can't come from one party alone. Which groups or politicos speak to regular Americans in ways that cut through the noise? open.substack.com/pub/ralphros...

America’s Missing Opposition: Why the Democrats Are Failing to Stop Trump

Why is a free-market journal asking why voters see Democrats—not Trump—as the extremists?

open.substack.com

IowaRalph @iowaralph.bsky.social · 20d

Makes sense for Iowa and other Midwest states; for that matter, most states employ significant immigrant labor in ag-related jobs. In Iowa, we can ask our candidates for federal office about immigration. Rural Illinois’ food economy depends on immigrants investigatemidwest.org/2025/09/17/r...

Rural Illinois’ food economy depends on immigrants - Investigate Midwest

Rural Illinois is shrinking. Over the past decade, all of Illinois’ 21 farm-dependent counties – places where farming makes up a large share of jobs and income – have lost population. Meanwhile, the...

investigatemidwest.org

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IowaRalph @iowaralph.bsky.social · 21d

We are at a point where we are deciding which party or ideology most promotes physical violence. One measure comes from DOJ. September 16, 2025 open.substack.com/pub/heatherc...

EcstaticRationalist on Letters from an American

The report on political violence, which the DoJ deleted off their website, is still available on the Interrnet Archive "Wayback Engine" at: https://web.archive.org/web/20250911165140if_/https://www.oj...

open.substack.com

IowaRalph @iowaralph.bsky.social · 23d

What does being blocked from Twitter mean? I am writing is to broaden our searches for leaders—in politics, faith, business, and media. I’m reaching out to candidates and elected officials as well.
The Leadership Test: Who's Speaking Up and Who's Going Silent -- open.substack.com/pub/ralphros...

The Leadership Test: Who's Speaking Up and Who's Going Silent --

Faith leaders call for unity while business, academic and media leaders duck for cover—while too many politicians choose division over healing or finger-pointing over handshaking.

open.substack.com

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IowaRalph @iowaralph.bsky.social · 26d

People may question the timing of this since that murder just occurred. However, Trump began making him a martyr and others in government are accusing the left of causing this.

The Martyrdom of Charlie Kirk

Martyrs are used by messianic movements to sanctify violence. To show any mercy or understanding toward the enemy is to betray the martyr and the cause the martyr died defending.

open.substack.com

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IowaRalph @iowaralph.bsky.social · 27d

In response to my earlier Substack post, I received this. It came from a political source. It may prove of value if it turns out the shooter is caught with anti Trump material.

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IowaRalph @iowaralph.bsky.social · 27d

Our country's leaders have a choice: unite the nation or deepen its divides. Leaders like LBJ and George W. Bush used tragedy to call for unity. ralphrosenberg.substack.com/p/charlie-ki...

We need politicians and business, faith and media to call for unity. open.substack.com/pub/america/...

Ralph Rosenberg on America, America

Steven, thank you. You said it better than others. I wrote that following the Kirk assassination, the president and political leaders had a choice: unite the nation or deepen its divides. While le...

open.substack.com

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IowaRalph @iowaralph.bsky.social · 28d

open.substack.com/pub/ralphros...

Charlie Kirk's killing-a tragic and defining moment

The president's response in the wake of this tragedy will shape the national conversation about political violence and the state of our democracy.

open.substack.com

IowaRalph @iowaralph.bsky.social · 29d

One very dangerous looking man, obviously visibly displaying automatic weapons or pounds of drugs or other weapons of mass destruction.

On a serious note: Why aren't our elected officials and candidates chiming in on photos like this?

Jenn Budd @jennbudd.bsky.social · Sep 1

8 cops making over $100k each to arrest one man.

But your food, water & air are killing you. Your daughter is carrying her rapist’s baby to term & will probably die when it becomes complicated & your veteran son in jail for being unhoused.

But at least that Brown guy sitting on a bench is gone.🙄

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IowaRalph @iowaralph.bsky.social · Sep 6

I share Steve's worry "our “best” writers wear out from all the distractions going on these days—the comments online, the strands of social media all around us."

Books are not a distraction. You can have your cake and read a book, too. Moon Walks & Revolution open.substack.com/pub/stevesem...

Moon Walks & Revolution

or, Cover-ups, Literary Citizenship, & A Brave New World

open.substack.com

IowaRalph @iowaralph.bsky.social · Sep 4

Authoritarianism thrives on fear, but this piece proves laughter works. Based on strategy used in Serbia— humor, strategic mischief, and low-risk actions— it built a culture of resistance. Creativity and words Can Be Political Martial Arts. Subscribe to Scot open.substack.com/pub/antiauth...

Laughter Can Be A Political Martial Art

Otpor’s Mischief Against Milošević: A Blueprint for Anti-Authoritarian Resistance

open.substack.com

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IowaRalph @iowaralph.bsky.social · Sep 4

Trump has been a role model for performative politics and people opposed to Trump and his policies have not learned how to beat him at that.

So they’re joining him as far as using that as a strategy

IowaRalph @iowaralph.bsky.social · Sep 3

Allies provide honest assessments because they want America to succeed and have no political agenda to distort their observations. Allies like the Irish offer candid feedback from a place of genuine concern and affection, making their critiques more credible and constructive.

Trump rejects critics

A Postcard from Ireland Where Our Friends are Counting on Us

We Americans often forget what makes our country great in the eyes of much of the rest of the world.

open.substack.com

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IowaRalph @iowaralph.bsky.social · Sep 3

What is the strategy for exposing Trump/king aswearing no clothes ?Potemkin village populism
www.publicnotice.co/p/trump-pote...

Potemkin village populism

Trump thinks he's fooling the public, but he's only deceiving himself.

www.publicnotice.co

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IowaRalph @iowaralph.bsky.social · Sep 2

Examples from one organization of how to be involved .
🚀 Fire up your socials w/customizable posts to your electeds: 👉To vote yes/no ✊Tell ‘em why it matters to you 👏Thank them or🔥 urge ‘em to fight! #PleaseGrowASpine #PGAS #CallYourSenator #CallYourRep social.fieldteam6.org/s/hY4Q7xcl

Take a stand here!

social.fieldteam6.org

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IowaRalph @iowaralph.bsky.social · Sep 1

Slow motion coup; accelerating faster than realized. —Today is different than before. www.doomsdayscenario.co/p/america-ti... www.doomsdayscenario.co/p/america-ti...

America Tips Into Fascism

Today is different than before.

www.doomsdayscenario.co

IowaRalph @iowaralph.bsky.social · Aug 30

The Promise and Peril of the DNC’s New Digital Strategy open.substack.com/pub/ralphros...

The Promise and Peril of the DNC’s New Digital Strategy

You Can’t Software Your Way to Grassroots Power and a Better Brand

open.substack.com