Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Jonathan L. Fischer @jonfischer.bsky.social · 23h

Struck by an overwhelming desire to blast Ponytail (easily satisfied)

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Jonathan L. Fischer @jonfischer.bsky.social · 1d

Tom! www.washingtonpost.com/food/2025/10...

Column | Food critic Tom Sietsema is stepping down — and dropping his anonymity

After a quarter-century of reviewing restaurants, donning disguises and turning down photos, The Post’s food critic is ready for his next course.

www.washingtonpost.com

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Reposted by Jonathan L. Fischer

Matthew Hay Brown @matthewhaybrown.bsky.social · 2d

When a judge told Claudio David Balcane González “Welcome to the United States,” he sobbed. He had finally been granted asylum.

Then ICE detained him for 63 more days @marialuisapaul.bsky.social reports

www.washingtonpost.com/immigration/...

A Venezuelan singer won asylum. ICE detained him for two more months.

The singer known online as Davicito59 won his asylum case in July. Still, ICE kept him in custody for two more months — a holdup several experts called unlawful.

www.washingtonpost.com

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Jonathan L. Fischer @jonfischer.bsky.social · 2d

Rush is reuniting: www.washingtonpost.com/entertainmen...

Canadian rock legend Rush will return to the road

Surviving members of Rush, Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson, are reuniting for a 2026 concert tour with drummer Anika Nilles sitting in for the late Neil Peart.

www.washingtonpost.com

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Reposted by Jonathan L. Fischer

Mr. Dan Zak @mrdanzak.bsky.social · 2d

Monica Hesse is back. wapo.st/47c9rFe

Column | I finally figured out why we stream so much true crime

The mysterious death of Ellen Greenberg, chronicled in Hulu’s “Death in Apartment 603,” helps columnist Monica Hesse understand the true-crime documentary boom.

wapo.st

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Jonathan L. Fischer @jonfischer.bsky.social · 3d

Our Sunday section makes a tasty swerve.

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Jonathan L. Fischer @jonfischer.bsky.social · 4d

Resistance comedy has mojo again. www.washingtonpost.com/style/power/...

Has Trump’s government made political comedy feel important again?

“Resistance” comedy had struggled to find its mojo in Trump’s second term. Then came Colbert’s cancellation, “South Park” satire and the Kimmel uproar.

www.washingtonpost.com

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Jonathan L. Fischer @jonfischer.bsky.social · 4d

Good times for Pynheads. www.washingtonpost.com/entertainmen...

Pynchon fans can’t believe ‘One Battle After Another’ pulled it off

Paul Thomas Anderson’s movie turns the shaggy, polarizing “Vineland” into an comedy-thriller. Pynheads are beside themselves.

www.washingtonpost.com

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Jonathan L. Fischer @jonfischer.bsky.social · 4d

Love an extended silent underwater hijacking scene

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Jonathan L. Fischer @jonfischer.bsky.social · 5d

Enjoying the major pop statement of the week*

*new Molly Nilsson album

mollynilsson.bandcamp.com/track/valhalla

Valhalla, by Molly Nilsson

from the album Amateur

mollynilsson.bandcamp.com

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Reposted by Jonathan L. Fischer

The Washington Post @washingtonpost.com · 5d

Review: Taylor Swift’s “The Life of a Showgirl” wants to feel good, but other feelings keep getting in the way.

Also, is this not the superstar who once encouraged all of humanity to shake it off?

Review | Taylor Swift returns with an album of mixed emotions — and mixed results

“The Life of a Showgirl” wants to feel good, but other feelings keep getting in the way.

wapo.st

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Jonathan L. Fischer @jonfischer.bsky.social · 5d

The album's OK www.washingtonpost.com/entertainmen...

Review | Taylor Swift returns with an album of mixed emotions — and mixed results

“The Life of a Showgirl” wants to feel good, but other feelings keep getting in the way.

www.washingtonpost.com

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Jonathan L. Fischer @jonfischer.bsky.social · 6d

One spoiler after another www.washingtonpost.com/entertainmen...

Analysis | Can’t stop talking about ‘One Battle After Another’? Neither can we.

Ten writers on what Paul Thomas Anderson’s zany political opus is really about.

www.washingtonpost.com

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Reposted by Jonathan L. Fischer

Jonathan L. Fischer @jonfischer.bsky.social · 7d

Also! @janaykingsberry.bsky.social and @kelseyables.bsky.social recently became arts reporters in the section, covering prominent institutions as they face changes and pressure from the Trump administration — joining @travismandrews.bsky.social (Kennedy Center and much more) and our arts critics

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Reposted by Jonathan L. Fischer

Jonathan L. Fischer @jonfischer.bsky.social · 7d

Some @washingtonpost.com news: Monica Hesse returns to Style as our first SCREENS critic, writing widely and with her usual smarts and verve across the culture, from TV to film to the little device you’re reading this on.

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Jonathan L. Fischer @jonfischer.bsky.social · 7d

Also! @janaykingsberry.bsky.social and @kelseyables.bsky.social recently became arts reporters in the section, covering prominent institutions as they face changes and pressure from the Trump administration — joining @travismandrews.bsky.social (Kennedy Center and much more) and our arts critics

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Jonathan L. Fischer @jonfischer.bsky.social · 7d

Some @washingtonpost.com news: Monica Hesse returns to Style as our first SCREENS critic, writing widely and with her usual smarts and verve across the culture, from TV to film to the little device you’re reading this on.

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Jonathan L. Fischer @jonfischer.bsky.social · 7d

A rave for the MLK play “The American Five” www.washingtonpost.com/entertainmen...

Review | Go see this sensational new play about MLK’s ‘I Have a Dream’ speech

“The American Five” is a smart and captivating take on Martin Luther King, while “Julius X” is a less successful spin on the civil rights era.

www.washingtonpost.com

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Jonathan L. Fischer @jonfischer.bsky.social · 7d

Some excellent music writing (about an Addison Rae concert!) www.washingtonpost.com/entertainmen...

Review | Addison Rae stepped into reality and became the perfect pop star

In concert, the former TikTok sensation wants to show us what dreams are made of.

www.washingtonpost.com

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Reposted by Jonathan L. Fischer

Janay Kingsberry @janaykingsberry.bsky.social · 7d

The National Council for the NEH had 26 scholars and leaders serving humanities efforts across the U.S. After today’s White House firings, it’s down to just 4 Trump-appointed White men, one terminated member told me.

From me, @travismandrews.bsky.social and @kelseyables.bsky.social:
wapo.st/3IRQBdg

White House fires much of the National Council on the Humanities

The White House appeared to fire all but four members of the National Council on the Humanities, an advisory board to the head of the government’s grantmaking agency.

wapo.st

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Jonathan L. Fischer @jonfischer.bsky.social · 7d

NEWS: White House fires much of the National Council on the Humanities www.washingtonpost.com/entertainmen...

White House fires much of the National Council on the Humanities

The White House appeared to fire all but four members of the National Council on the Humanities, an advisory board to the head of the government’s grantmaking agency.

www.washingtonpost.com

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Jonathan L. Fischer @jonfischer.bsky.social · 8d

How a shutdown would affect the Smithsonian, the National Gallery and more www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/202...

How a government shutdown would affect the Smithsonian and D.C. memorials

Which D.C. museums and historic sites close during a shutdown? Will the shows go on at the Kennedy Center? Here’s everything you need to know.

www.washingtonpost.com

Jonathan L. Fischer @jonfischer.bsky.social · 8d

About the Riyadh comedy festival www.washingtonpost.com/world/2025/0...

Saudi comedy festival draws big names and backlash

Human rights advocates and some comics say the festival, at which Bill Burr, Louis C.K., Dave Chappelle and Kevin Hart are performing, whitewashes abuses.

www.washingtonpost.com

Jonathan L. Fischer @jonfischer.bsky.social · 9d

Boss surprise www.washingtonpost.com/entertainmen...

Bruce Springsteen surprises movie premiere, speaks about ‘dangerous times’

Bruce Springsteen gave a surprise performance at the New York premiere of his biopic and spoke about his dream of an America without “government censorship.”

www.washingtonpost.com

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Reposted by Jonathan L. Fischer

James Fallows @jfallows.bsky.social · 9d

Easy to rag on @washingtonpost.com these days.

Here is something excellent from their Sunday paper today. A special section on the books, movies, music, plays, TV shows, art works, architecture, etc that have best captured the spirit of DC, over the centuries.

If you're visiting DC, check it out.

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