Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Jane Mayer @janemayer.bsky.social · 1d

www.axios.com/2025/10/06/d...

"Journalism is not a crime": Chicago reporters sue Trump over violence at ICE protests

Press groups say Trump's agents used force to silence reporters.

www.axios.com

8 84 310

Reposted by Jane Mayer

Brennan Center @brennancenter.org · 2d

We are living through a new era of corruption, where legal guardrails have crumbled. What will end the culture of kleptocracy?

Join us for a live virtual event with @janemayer.bsky.social, @mawaldman.bsky.social, and @danw329.bsky.social on Wed., Oct. 15, at 3pm ET. RSVP:

Corruption in America

Experts lay out a plan to end the culture of kleptocracy.

www.brennancenter.org

1 28 72

Reposted by Jane Mayer

Ian Bassin @ianbassin.bsky.social · 3d

The chaos and unrest is being instigated by Miller and Trump.

They are the ones bringing violence and disorder to American cities, filming it, and then using those images of their creation to justify the need to send in more troops and assert total control.

Joshua J. Friedman @joshuajfriedman.com · 3d

“Federal officers were flanked by videographers, toting professional equipment and wearing high-visibility vests. They filmed from behind the lines of officers, capturing the show of force. At least two drones swept over the scenes.”

Alex Zielinski @alexzee.bsky.social · 3d

Hours after a federal judge paused the Trump administration’s plans to deploy 200 members of the Oregon National Guard to Portland, federal law enforcement officers escalated the tactics used on protesters in the city.

Troy and I were on the ground:

6 84 200

Jane Mayer @janemayer.bsky.social · 4d

New from Susan Glasser, Evan Osnos & me at #politicalScene How Russell Vought Broke the U.S. Government- tune in!

5 25 100

Jane Mayer @janemayer.bsky.social · 4d

She’s adorable? Where did you find her? Is she a puppy? A breed? A mixed breed? Congrats!

5

Jane Mayer @janemayer.bsky.social · 4d

Jane Goodall would have been glad that gorillas, the cousins of chimpanzees, are now a bit less endangered. apnews.com/article/ugan...

Tourism is helping Uganda’s endangered mountain gorillas make a comeback

In Uganda, the economic benefits of tourism have turned gorilla poachers into conservationists, married women into porters and rangers into spokespeople for the great apes.

apnews.com

4 27 240

Jane Mayer @janemayer.bsky.social · 6d

We have lost a hero and role model to millions- RIP: people.com/jane-goodall...

Jane Goodall Dies at 91 While on Speaking Tour: She Was a 'Tireless Advocate' for Nature

Jane Goodall, the renowned conservationist and animal welfare advocate who became the world's foremost expert on chimpanzees after spending decades studying them in the wild in Tanzania's Gombe Stream...

people.com

13 99 820

Reposted by Jane Mayer

NPR @npr.org · 7d

Federal employees across the government reported seeing similar messages. Experts say the messages may violate ethics laws meant to keep partisan politics out of day-to-day governing.

Trump administration uses taxpayer dollars to blame Democrats for government shutdown

Federal employees across the government reported seeing similar messages. Experts say the messages may violate ethics laws meant to keep partisan politics out of day-to-day governing.

n.pr

120 270 780

Reposted by Jane Mayer

Kyle Cheney @kyledcheney.bsky.social · 8d

The ruling itself is remarkable, but it closes with something I've never seen: a 12-page assessment of Trump himself as an ignorant bully, braggart and threat to free speech and the republic writ-large. storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...

43 1.1K 3.8K

Reposted by Jane Mayer

Kyle Cheney @kyledcheney.bsky.social · 8d

BREAKING: Judge William Young, a Reagan appointee, delivers the most scathing legal rebuke of the Trump era, ruling that Trump and his cabinet illegally targeted pro-Palestinian students for deportation to "strike fear" into First Amendment protesters. storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...

61 2.1K 6.4K

Reposted by Jane Mayer

John Hawkinson @johnhawkinson.bsky.social · 8d

OMG this William G. Young opinion that just dropped (12:30pm) in AAUP v. Rubio.
It begins with a postcard sent to Chambers and Young's reply

card: "Trump has pardons and tanks, what do you have?"

WGY: "We the People of the United States — you and me — have our magnificent Constitution"

23 460 1.5K

Jane Mayer @janemayer.bsky.social · 8d

Gen. George Washington wrote two rule books on military behavior stressing the need for “decency” and humane treatment of captives and civilians. Evidently Army National Guard Maj. Hegseth finds Washington too woke.

Corey Rayburn Yung @coreyryung.bsky.social · 8d

At the same event, Hegseth said "We also don't fight with stupid rules of engagement. We untie the hands of our warfighters to intimidate, demoralize, hunt, and kill the enemies of our country."

NPR @npr.org · 8d

JUST IN: President Trump has told top U.S. commanders that the military would be used against "enemy within."

17 47 160

Reposted by Jane Mayer

Brad Lander @bradlander.bsky.social · 8d

Another violent attack by an ICE officer on a civilian at 26 Federal Plaza—this time on a journalist, who had to be carried out on stretcher.

Another attack on the First Amendment, our neighbors, and our democracy.

770 7.1K 15K

Reposted by Jane Mayer

Stephen West @stephenwest.bsky.social · 8d

Actual history teachers: um, no

Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 8d

Hegseth: "As history teaches us, the only people who actually deserve peace and those who are willing to wage war to defend it. That's why pacifism is so naive and dangerous."

44 250 1.4K

Reposted by Jane Mayer

Doug Henwood @doughenwood.bsky.social · 9d

Estimates by Lazard

Electricity cost per megawatt hour
solar
$ 58
onshore wind
62
gas
79
coal
122

34 150 400

Jane Mayer @janemayer.bsky.social · 9d

Oh no! This country needs Dolly Parton. Her awesomeness may be the last thing Red and Blue America can agree on.

The New York Times @nytimes.com · 9d

Dolly Parton has postponed what was planned to be her first extended run in Las Vegas in more than three decades, saying on Sunday that she would delay her six December concerts at Caesars Palace until September 2026 because of health challenges.

Dolly Parton, Citing ‘Health Challenges,’ Postpones Las Vegas Shows

In delaying her residency until next year, the country music legend joked that a “few procedures” would not be the “usual trip to see my plastic surgeon.”

nyti.ms

1 7 57

Reposted by Jane Mayer

World Peace Cookies @worldpeacecookies.bsky.social · 9d

Takeaways from another must-listen ep:

➡️ Institutions won't usually stand up to aspiring authoritarians *without external pressure*

➡️ Non-violent movements have best chance of succeeding

➡️ Solidarity is crucial - we'll need to work together

➡️ Learn from experts like @hardymerriman.bsky.social

Jane Mayer @janemayer.bsky.social · 10d

People keep asking “What can we do?” Our podcast guest, Hardy Merriman, studies resistance movements and has many suggestions.

Evan Osnos @eosnos.bsky.social · 10d

The successful public backlash against silencing Jimmy Kimmel contains some big lessons on what works in the face of autocracy, as expert Hardy Merriman explains in this fascinating episode with my co-hosts @janemayer.bsky.social @sbg1.bsky.social podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/t...

7 22

Jane Mayer @janemayer.bsky.social · 9d

A friend who know this couple from school asks that this be circulated:

Jeffrey Vagle @jvagle.me · 9d

The casual cruelty is shocking both in its depth and breadth. So many of these ICE officer seem to revel in seeing the pain of others.

Joe Sudbay @joesudbay.bsky.social · 10d

Nick Valencia, who has been doing amazing reporting, just wrote about this:

“These Are Abductions.” Newlywed Husband Says Wife Taken During Green Card Interview

open.substack.com/pub/nickvale...

2 15 61

Jane Mayer @janemayer.bsky.social · 9d

Thanks!

1

Reposted by Jane Mayer

Jeff Blattner @theblatt.bsky.social · 9d

Please listen. Super smart, inspiring and practical. And it doesn't rely on the Democratic Party... @janemayer.bsky.social @eosnos.bsky.social @sbg1.bsky.social @hardymerriman.bsky.social
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/t...

Jimmy Kimmel and the Power of Public Pressure

Podcast Episode · The Political Scene | The New Yorker · 09/27/2025 · 44m

podcasts.apple.com

3 13 37

Jane Mayer @janemayer.bsky.social · 10d

People keep asking “What can we do?” Our podcast guest, Hardy Merriman, studies resistance movements and has many suggestions.

Evan Osnos @eosnos.bsky.social · 10d

The successful public backlash against silencing Jimmy Kimmel contains some big lessons on what works in the face of autocracy, as expert Hardy Merriman explains in this fascinating episode with my co-hosts @janemayer.bsky.social @sbg1.bsky.social podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/t...

Jimmy Kimmel and the Power of Public Pressure

Podcast Episode · The Political Scene | The New Yorker · 09/27/2025 · 44m

podcasts.apple.com

3 31 73

Reposted by Jane Mayer

Evan Osnos @eosnos.bsky.social · 10d

The successful public backlash against silencing Jimmy Kimmel contains some big lessons on what works in the face of autocracy, as expert Hardy Merriman explains in this fascinating episode with my co-hosts @janemayer.bsky.social @sbg1.bsky.social podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/t...

Jimmy Kimmel and the Power of Public Pressure

Podcast Episode · The Political Scene | The New Yorker · 09/27/2025 · 44m

podcasts.apple.com

6 28 76

Reposted by Jane Mayer

NPR @npr.org · 11d

The man appears to be the same officer who was caught last month on NPR audio aggressively arresting a court observer.

ICE officer caught on video pushing woman is placed on leave

The man appears to be the same officer who was caught last month on NPR audio aggressively arresting a court observer.

n.pr

400 1.6K 4.8K

Jane Mayer @janemayer.bsky.social · 11d

Chemical Industry set to gain more influence at EPA - MAHA should be Gaga readsludge.com/2025/09/26/l...

Lobbyist-Led EPA Office Set to Add a New Chemical Industry Hire

Longtime cleaning products lobbyist Douglas Troutman is nominated to lead the EPA office that has worked to stop the MAHA Commission from restricting toxic chemicals and pesticides.

readsludge.com

11 38 73

Reposted by Jane Mayer

Timothy Snyder @timothysnyder.bsky.social · 13d

This is, without any exaggeration, exactly how Putin and Orbán proceeded — using antisemitism to discredit the idea of civil society and political opposition, and as an excuse to undo the rule of law.
www.nytimes.com/2025/09/25/u...

Justice Dept. Official Pushes Prosecutors to Investigate George Soros’s Foundation

www.nytimes.com

390 3.9K 8.3K