Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

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Mark Bray @mark-bray.bsky.social · 13h

“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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Jessica Ritchey @jmritchey.bsky.social · 13h

One of my most John Brown coded opinions is that South Carolina should not have been readmitted to the Union after the Civil War and it's lands turned over the formerly enslaved who worked them.

Julie DiCaro @juliedicaro.bsky.social · 13h

This is getting wild.

The states of Iowa, Montana, Oklahoma, South Carolina, and 14 others have just asked for permission to file THEIR amicus brief in IL v. Trump.

The States of Iowa, Montana, Oklahoma, South Carolina and 14 additional States
respectfully move for leave to submit the attached amicus curiae brief in support of Defendants
and their opposition to Plaintiffs’ requested temporary restraining order and preliminary
injunction. Proposed amici are States with a vested interest in federalism, the relationship between
States and the federal government, and deploying the National Guard. We also each have a vital
interest in supporting the President and Congress in enacting and enforcing valid immigration
laws. Every State has a responsibility to protect our citizens.
The federalization of States’ National Guard units is a matter of profound public
importance, as it directly implicates the delicate balance of power between state and federal
governments—a true cornerstone of Federalism. States generally maintain authority over their
National Guard units, allowing governors to deploy them for state-specific needs, such as disaster
response or public safety. Federalization of state National Guard units without gubernatorial

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Craig Calcaterra @craigcalcaterra.bsky.social · 14h

In all seriousness: every public statement about Trump needs to begin by pointing out the obvious: that his brain is soup and he's not really running the country anymore. bsky.app/profile/crai...

Craig Calcaterra @craigcalcaterra.bsky.social · 14h

Trump and whatever advisor last spoke to him.

Wormtongue and Théoden in Lord of the Rings

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Amanda Katz @katzish.bsky.social · 18h

Got a recent Pulitzer for warning on the spread of autocracy around the globe, after decades of service to the paper? You can bet your butt you're getting laid off by form email, on Yom Kippur

Dave Jorgenson @davejorgenson.bsky.social · 23h

The Post laid off seemingly the remaining of their liberal-leaning staff members on Opinion last Thursday, when some of them were observing Yom Kippur.

from @oliverdarcy.bsky.social for Status
status.news/p/washington-post-opinion-cuts-adam-oneal

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Marisa Kabas @marisakabas.bsky.social · 17h

no they're LITERALLY exaggerating this issue. there is absolutely no data backing up their claims. ffs just say that!!

NBC news: The discussions come as Trump has sought to deploy National Guard troops in several major cities — including Los Angeles, Chicago and Portland, Oregon — saying they’re needed to reduce crime and protect Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials from protesters. Critics have said that the Trump administration is exaggerating issues in those cities.

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Bronze Age Babies @bronzeagebabies.bsky.social · 1d

This here’s a man of the people.

Former Cubs pitcher Lee Smith on why he always walked so slowly out of the bullpen when he was called - he heard the grounds crew got time and a half of the game stretched past 4:30 pm.

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Phil Seiler @javamanphil.bsky.social · 19h

Jesse Waters wants his anonymous masked guy back.

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Garrett M. Graff @vermontgmg.bsky.social · 22h

I love how Mike Johnson, the Speaker of the House and #2 in line for the presidency, is always like, “What? News?! I never read or hear anything that happens in the world, anywhere. I’m totally offline. What even is ‘social media’? They play news all day on TV!? Wow! That’s a surprise!”

Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 22h

Q: Do you agree that the mayor of Chicago and governor of Illinois should be in prison?

MIKE JOHNSON: Should they be in prison? I'm not the attorney general. I'm not following the day to day on that

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emptywheel @emptywheel.bsky.social · 23h

This is an important point.

Everyone one of these people has been asked to leave their home, their family, and their job to work without pay bc of the shutdown. We're better off thinking of ways to make this backfire on Abbott than to treat them poorly.

Ben Raderstorf @raders.bsky.social · 1d

Texas National Guard troops arriving in Chicago (via ABC News)

Remember: These are not MAGA stormtroopers. These are everyday teachers and accountants who signed up to serve their country with their spare time. They're being used as political pawns by venal, un-American, draft-dodging president

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Phil Seiler @javamanphil.bsky.social · 23h

Now with Alt Text

Artistic silhouettes of seven people, all shaded green. Figures appear to be ethnically diverse and of various heights, weights and ages. One has a bike, another a bullhorn, one a book or pad of paper, two have crossed arms, and one squats facing the next set of described figures. Even a young child stands in the middle holding a green flag. These figures surround 5 masked and armored people dressed all in black as seen in on American steets as they conduct numerous anti-constitutional raids.

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Greg Pak @gregpak.net · 1d

Honestly and seriously think this is an EXTREMELY EFFECTIVE tactic to use against these weak fascist losers.

GHOULLIKEHELLMACHINE @golikehellmachine.com · 1d

lmao, kristi noem wanted a black bloc fight and got an inflatable rave instead. fuck you DHS, rip city forever.

Courtney Vaughn @courtneyvaughn.bsky.social · 1d

Streets are still closed off in front of the Portland ICE facility at 8:30pm. Protesters have gathered on a side street. Dance party in progress.

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Rob Milton @therobmilton.com · 2d

- put down the damn AI.

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Henny Gesserit @nmjmredux.blacksky.app · 1d

This is only 12 miles from where my family lives. When you use AI in any form, people are affected directly

Rob Milton @therobmilton.com · 2d

- put down the damn AI.

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emptywheel @emptywheel.bsky.social · 1d

Make sure you read the report about how Stephen Miller deported Waco's favorite Mexican restaurant owner.

www.texastribune.org/2025/10/07/t...

A picture of Sergio Garcia and George W and Laura Bush. It is signed, To Sergio Garcia with best wishes.

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Nils Gilman @nilsgilman.bsky.social · 1d

This isn’t the first time Miller has used the term “plenary authority” with respect to the Presidency. He did so already in March, but that time he was referring to the president’s authority in foreign policy. What’s new here is now to say this absolute power also applies domestically.

Christopher Webb @cwebbonline.com · 1d

Stephen Miller said the quiet part out loud. Trump has “plenary authority,” then suddenly went silent. Their plan wasn’t to be public yet. Clearly, someone hit the panic button in his earpiece.

It gets weirder: CNN uploaded the interview with the “plenary authority” comment edited out.
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Denise Wheeler @denisedwheeler.bsky.social · 1d

Reuters photographer Jonathan Ernst noticed that Bondi flipped open a file during the Senate hearing and he zoomed in.

Inside were her crib notes for attacking the senators.

The GOP now practicing Cliff's Notes Fascism

In other words, under oath Bondi was purely a performance.

Bondi senate hearing had a folder full of notes for attacking the senators

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🇬🇾🗽Sydette The Dreaded Gorgon🗽🇬🇾 @blackamazon.bsky.social · 1d

They think this is good.

We can’t fight or even properly discuss this if we don’t start flipping the questions

Because the question is

“Why do all of their technologies turn to abuse vectors of the least defended and respected identities”

And the abuse of those who transcend their bias

J. Nathan Matias @natematias.bsky.social · 1d

Genuine question - what are OpenAI’s Sora and other video generation tools good for?

I am honestly trying to understand what is so important that it’s worth the cost. If you have examples, I would be interested to hear them.

futurism.com/artificial-i...

People Are Making Sora 2 Videos of Stephen Hawking Being Horribly Brutalized

People are using OpenAI's Sora 2 to generate videos of theoretical physicist Stephen Hawking being brutalized in ghoulish ways.

futurism.com

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Melanie D’Arrigo @darrigomelanie.bsky.social · 1d

I feel like this photo of masked, armed men pepper spraying a pastor protecting his community is going to be a defining picture of this moment in America for a long, long time.

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Schrödinger's Sneetch Belly @rtodkelly.bsky.social · 1d

"army"

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Phil Seiler @javamanphil.bsky.social · 1d

This was a great read

Corey Atad @coreyatad.com · 2d

i like the idea that i write for "manly magazines"

i guess that's GQ and Esquire, but imo the manliest of all was Hazlitt, which once let me write about that most manly of subjects: the Wagnerian musical theatre pop hits of Mr. Jim Steinman

see! there's a motorcycle and everything!

The Man Behind Meat Loaf | Hazlitt

Songwriter Jim Steinman found his muse in the performer—and, forty years ago, they released their iconic, operatic rock album, Bat Out of Hell.

hazlitt.net

Reposted by Phil Seiler

Corey Atad @coreyatad.com · 2d

i like the idea that i write for "manly magazines"

i guess that's GQ and Esquire, but imo the manliest of all was Hazlitt, which once let me write about that most manly of subjects: the Wagnerian musical theatre pop hits of Mr. Jim Steinman

see! there's a motorcycle and everything!

The Man Behind Meat Loaf | Hazlitt

Songwriter Jim Steinman found his muse in the performer—and, forty years ago, they released their iconic, operatic rock album, Bat Out of Hell.

hazlitt.net