Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Jake Blumgart @jblumgart.bsky.social · 8h

You know what, i do deserve a little treat www.inquirer.com/food/restaur...

‘Little treat culture’ is fueling a Philly bakery boom. Here are a baker’s dozen new spots to get that bread.

Everyone, it seems, is saying it with flour — from national cookie chains with their leavened marketing budgets to mom-and-pop pop-ups. Here are some of the new bakery entrants out there.

www.inquirer.com

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Jake Blumgart @jblumgart.bsky.social · 14h

Interesting counterpoint in this new study arguing that developers learned the lessons of 2010s too well, and are building too many studios and one bedrooms: www.inquirer.com/real-estate/...

Developers should build more apartments for families, study argues

Developers should experiment with different kinds of layouts to attract families at various life stages, the authors argue.

www.inquirer.com

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Reposted by Jake Blumgart

JM Rieger @riegerreport.bsky.social · 1d

"Agents were seen choking a Black man on the West Side and conducted a raid outside a homeless shelter in Bronzeville..They shot and wounded a woman Friday, hospitalized at least two people over the weekend, handcuffed a Chicago alderperson" southsideweekly.com/federal-agen...

Federal Agents Storm South Shore Building, Detaining Families and Children

Families were woken by flashbangs and helicopters as hundreds of federal agents raided their homes. Days later, neighbors are still searching for the missing.

southsideweekly.com

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Reposted by Jake Blumgart

Benjy Sarlin @benjysarlin.bsky.social · 21h

In related news, let me know if you or someone you know has any interesting work opportunities!

Dave Jorgenson @davejorgenson.bsky.social · 22h

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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Jake Blumgart @jblumgart.bsky.social · 21h

Developers have been building more studio and one bedroom apartments since 2008. Is it time to start building bigger, and more family friendly, units? www.inquirer.com/real-estate/...

Developers should build more apartments for families, study argues

Developers should experiment with different kinds of layouts to attract families at various life stages, the authors argue.

www.inquirer.com

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Jake Blumgart @jblumgart.bsky.social · 1d

www.inquirer.com/politics/dav...

Philly’s top federal prosecutor, David Metcalf, was confirmed by the U.S. Senate

Metcalf was nominated by President Donald Trump in March, but his candidacy had not received a vote amid partisan battles over many of Trump's nominees.

www.inquirer.com

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Reposted by Jake Blumgart

Jake Blumgart @jblumgart.bsky.social · 1d

"The campaign was unusually caustic, marked by social media attacks, fake accounts, AI-generated images, contentious union meetings, and even threats of violence."

www.inquirer.com/news/fop-pol...

Poplar wins as city’s police union president after a combative campaign

Roosevelt Poplar, who has led the Philly FOP since 2023, was elected to a three-year term on Tuesday, along with his entire slate.

www.inquirer.com

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Jake Blumgart @jblumgart.bsky.social · 1d

"The campaign was unusually caustic, marked by social media attacks, fake accounts, AI-generated images, contentious union meetings, and even threats of violence."

www.inquirer.com/news/fop-pol...

Poplar wins as city’s police union president after a combative campaign

Roosevelt Poplar, who has led the Philly FOP since 2023, was elected to a three-year term on Tuesday, along with his entire slate.

www.inquirer.com

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Reposted by Jake Blumgart

NBC News @nbcnews.com · 1d

Painter and television host Bob Ross' original work will be auctioned off to help support public television stations after funding was cut by the Trump administration.

Bob Ross paintings to be auctioned to raise money for public television stations after funding cuts

"I can’t think of a more meaningful way to share his works of art than by supporting public television’s mission to educate and inspire," said the president of Bob Ross Inc.

nbcnews.to

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Jake Blumgart @jblumgart.bsky.social · 1d

I talked with Mike Pestronk about why he is bullish on the Philadelphia apartment market--the glut is easing!--but less confident in larger, family size apartments www.inquirer.com/real-estate/...

Post Brothers move forward on Piazza Alta in a sign that the construction slump may be easing

The Post Brothers' push to add more apartments to Northern Liberties, which has seen an extraordinary building boom, suggests a thaw in the construction freeze.

www.inquirer.com

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Jake Blumgart @jblumgart.bsky.social · 1d

"Some more lively market participants say they have received a tap on the shoulder from the bosses and a request to tone down criticism of government antics...All say the driver here is a fear of retribution from the president." www.ft.com/content/2f34...

Trump’s attacks cast a chill on what Wall Street says

Economists and investors say there are scattered signs of self-censorship

www.ft.com

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Reposted by Jake Blumgart

Hetan Shah @hetanshah.bsky.social · 3d

‘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… Outside of the AI plays, even European stock markets have been outperforming the US this decade’
on.ft.com/4pTQ3US

America is now one big bet on AI

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

on.ft.com

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Reposted by Jake Blumgart

Carl Quintanilla @carlquintanilla.bsky.social · 2d

Oof. 🤡

@financialtimes.com
www.ft.com/content/934c...

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Jake Blumgart @jblumgart.bsky.social · 1d

much like the hotel owner's extraordinary mustaches, this idea is extremely silly www.ft.com/content/7926...

€2,000 bonuses and free parties: hotels enter Poland’s fertility fight

Perks for couples trying to conceive reflect concerns over one of lowest birth rates in EU

www.ft.com

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Reposted by Jake Blumgart

Jim Saksa @jimsaksa.com · 1d

Listening to this hearing makes it clear that the GOP is going all-in pushing claims about crime, even as federal law enforcement prosecution of non-immigration crimes -- including drugs, white collar crime, financial crime, and child exploitation -- has fallen under this admin.

Democracy Docket @democracydocket.com · 1d

NEW: At a Senate Judiciary Committee oversight hearing, Attorney General Pam Bondi repeatedly hurled insults at Democrats when pressed about the politicization of the Justice Department under her leadership. Check out @jimsaksa.com’s coverage of her heated testimony👇

At Oversight Hearing, AG Bondi Responds to Questions With Attacks Instead of Answers

www.democracydocket.com

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Reposted by Jake Blumgart

Dave Weigel @daveweigel.bsky.social · 2d

Progressive primary challengers are lining up against Dems. A rallying cry: We won't take AIPAC money.

In 2022/24, AIPAC and DMFI could answer that with $$$. But their popularity has tumbled...

www.semafor.com/article/10/0...

Democratic primary challengers see an opening on Israel

“Not taking a dime from AIPAC” is becoming a new rallying cry.

www.semafor.com

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Jake Blumgart @jblumgart.bsky.social · 1d

This is an absolutely bonkers story share.inquirer.com/DnW1Bi

Philly Judge Scott DiClaudio says he didn’t try to influence a case. His colleague disagrees.

The state Board of Judicial Discipline is weighing whether to suspend Judge Scott DiClaudio without pay amid allegations that he tried to influence a fellow judge's decision in a criminal case.

share.inquirer.com

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Jake Blumgart @jblumgart.bsky.social · 2d

www.inquirer.com/education/up...

Wharton advisory board chair Marc Rowan had a hand in crafting ideas used in Trump’s university compact, report says

Marc Rowan and his allies were instrumental in developing ideas for the compact that President Donald Trump’s administration asked nine colleges including Penn to sign, according to the New York Times

www.inquirer.com

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Jake Blumgart @jblumgart.bsky.social · 2d

Breaking: I am about to get happier, fatter, and poorer www.inquirer.com/food/kouklet...

One of South Philly’s best doughnut bakeries opens a second location

The new storefront, which houses Mardhory Santos-Cepeda’s commercial kitchen where all Kouklet baked goods are made, doubles as a takeout bakery.

www.inquirer.com

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Reposted by Jake Blumgart

The Washington Post @washingtonpost.com · 2d

The U.S. Treasury shared a proposal to mint $1 Trump coins to mark America’s 250th anniversary.

But U.S. code says only deceased individuals may appear on U.S. currency, a tradition dating back to efforts to break from monarchical rule. https://wapo.st/4pWsyL3

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Jake Blumgart @jblumgart.bsky.social · 2d

"Citi concludes from those estimates that AI could raise productivity growth by 0.5 to 1.5 percentage points a year—less than the internet except in the most bullish scenario."

www.wsj.com/tech/ai/behi...

Behind Job Weakness Are Hints of a Productivity Revival. Is AI the Reason?

The artificial intelligence investment boom resembles the tech spree that brought a productivity renaissance three decades ago.

www.wsj.com

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Jake Blumgart @jblumgart.bsky.social · 2d

Check out the story @brettsholtis.bsky.social and I published this weekend on last Monday's Street's Committee hearing, where bicycle advocates and the Parker admin faced a series of setbacks at the hands of City Council: www.inquirer.com/news/bike-la...

City Hall bike lane faces unclear future after Philadelphia City Councilmember Jeffery Young pumps the brakes on support

Councilmember Jeffery Young has hit the brakes on his bill authorizing a bike lane around City Hall after construction already started on the project.

www.inquirer.com

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Reposted by Jake Blumgart

Financial Times @financialtimes.com · 3d

Time spent on social media peaked in 2022 and has since gone into steady decline since. And this is not just the unwinding of a bump in screen time during pandemic lockdowns – what’s going on?

Read the full story here: on.ft.com/3IzaxBL

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Jake Blumgart @jblumgart.bsky.social · 2d

I'm on CityCast Philly today, talking Philadelphia's struggling office sector. Please check it out! megaphone.link/CC7308183417

Philly Loves Working From Home. But Is It Bad for the Economy? by City Cast Philly

megaphone.link

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Jake Blumgart @jblumgart.bsky.social · 2d

Social media use has been falling across the world, except in North America: in 2024 our level of usage was 15% above Europe's www.ft.com/content/a072...

Have we passed peak social media?

As platforms degrade into outrage and slop, users are turning away

www.ft.com

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