Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Reposted by Josh Rosenau

Carl Zimmer @carlzimmer.com · 3h

Today my @nytimes.com colleagues and I are launching a new series called Lost Science. We interview US scientists who can no longer discover something new about our world, thanks to this year‘s cuts. Here is my first interview with a scientist who studied bees and fires. Gift link: nyti.ms/3IWXbiE

nyti.ms

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southpaw @nycsouthpaw.bsky.social · 6h

Everyone can set aside partisanship, psychologizing, pathologizing, whatever, and—I would hope—still see that it’s incredibly dangerous for a political leader to be this disconnected from the real conditions in the country.

Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 6h

Trump: "I don't know what could be worse than Portland. You don't even have stores anymore. They don't even put glass up. They put plywood on their windows."

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Josh Rosenau @joshrosenau.org · 7h

He hates sharks, as @whysharksmatter.bsky.social can attest.

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Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 9h

Pritzker: "It's unconscionable. This has never happened before. They're calling out troops onto the streets of a state that doesn't want them and they're not even telling us where they're gonna go, what they're gonna do. This hasn't happened I don't think since the Civil War."

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It's Going Down @igd.bsky.social · 9h

Attorney says video shows 'CBP agent taunting her—“Do something, bitch” before "steering unmarked vehicle into hers and opening fire."

"“La Maggie” Martinez survived a federal shooting in #Chicago, [h]er attorney says body-cam footage shows agents provoked it." migrantinsider.com/p/chicago-la...

Chicago Latina Shot by Border Patrol Survives, Lawyers Up

“La Maggie” Martinez survived a federal shooting in Chicago. Now her attorney says body-cam footage shows the agents provoked it. The public deserves to see the tape.

migrantinsider.com

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Jon Seidel @jonseidel.bsky.social · 12h

U.S. District Judge Jeffrey Cummings found that ICE arrested 22 people early this year without a warrant, and in violation of what's known as the Castanon Nava settlement agreement.

Jon Seidel @jonseidel.bsky.social · 12h

A federal judge in Chicago argued Tuesday that last week's South Shore immigration raid undermines recent controversial claims by Justice Brett Kavanaugh.

NEW from @chicago.suntimes.com: chicago.suntimes.com/immigration/...

Chicago judge cites South Shore raid, Supreme Court controversy while ruling against ICE

U.S. District Judge Jeffrey Cummings found that ICE arrested 22 people early this year without a warrant, and in violation of what’s known as the Castanon Nava settlement agreement.

chicago.suntimes.com

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No true bill @bill-of-lefts.bsky.social · 12h

I think there are still shared norms we can appeal to when we talk to the marginal MAGA voter. But there really are no shared norms left with the core of the movement.

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Josh Rosenau @joshrosenau.org · 9h

My baby has a sword.

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Josh Rosenau @joshrosenau.org · 9h

Does it save them money on lightbulbs that they glow in the dark?

Reposted by Josh Rosenau

Public Citizen @publiccitizen.bsky.social · 11h

If someone told you a year ago this would be a headline in 2025, you wouldn't have believed them.

Authoritarianism has taken over our country.

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Josh Rosenau @joshrosenau.org · 10h

What can’t octopus tell us?

Science Magazine @science.org · 11h

Octopus #DNA reveals that the West Antarctic Ice Sheet collapsed during the Last Interglacial ~129,000 to 116,000 years ago—when temperatures were only about 1°C warmer than preindustrial levels.

Learn more: https://scim.ag/4nFJ94k #WorldOctopusDay

Genomic evidence for West Antarctic Ice Sheet collapse during the Last Interglacial

Genetic analyses of a type of octopus found around Antarctica show that the West Antarctic Ice Sheet collapsed during the last interglacial period.

scim.ag

Reposted by Josh Rosenau

Science Magazine @science.org · 11h

Octopus #DNA reveals that the West Antarctic Ice Sheet collapsed during the Last Interglacial ~129,000 to 116,000 years ago—when temperatures were only about 1°C warmer than preindustrial levels.

Learn more: https://scim.ag/4nFJ94k #WorldOctopusDay

Genomic evidence for West Antarctic Ice Sheet collapse during the Last Interglacial

Genetic analyses of a type of octopus found around Antarctica show that the West Antarctic Ice Sheet collapsed during the last interglacial period.

scim.ag

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Reposted by Josh Rosenau

Ellen M. @graphxgrrl.bsky.social · 23h

The more that comes out about various city projects and priorities that Harrell’s team stalled, blocked or killed—I feel like Wilson could have an extraordinarily effective first 90 days by just dusting off all the shovel ready projects and scheduling them.

The Urbanist @theurbanist.org · 1d

A major intersection redesign near Seward Park was ready to go to construction with a Mayor's Office review the only impediment, records show. The exchanges reveal what was happening behind the scenes as the public was kept in the dark about the upgrades.

Story: www.theurbanist.org/2025/10/07/l...

Lake Washington Boulevard Safety Upgrades Fully Designed Before Mayor Pulled Plug » The Urbanist

# A major intersection redesign near Seward Park was ready to go to construction with a Mayor's Office review the only impediment, records show. The exchanges reveal what was happening behind the scen...

www.theurbanist.org

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Olúfẹ́mi O. Táíwò @olufemiotaiwo.bsky.social · Feb 5

just saying: it's possible that "I'm gonna dramatically constrict my state capacity while plotting dramatic imperial expansion, and expanding my set of internal enemies while alienating most of my foreign allies" is the beginning of a world-historical masterstroke. but also possible that it isn't

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Matthew Downhour @matthewdownhour.bsky.social · 1d

I've posted this picture before but I do find it interesting that the police here arresting Carlo Gambino, at the time one of the most dangerous men in America with dozens of killers at his command, didn't feel the need to cover their faces because they are not ashamed of their work

Two men in long coats and uncovered faces escort a smirking Carlo Gambino, who wears a hat

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Josh Rosenau @joshrosenau.org · 2d

Science: Housing-first works wherever it’s been tried.
Seattle: …

ProPublica @propublica.org · 2d

NEW: After paying for hotel rooms to shelter homeless people, Seattle deliberately left them vacant.

By the end of 2024, taxpayers were spending $4,200 a month per empty room at a time when thousands of residents were without a roof over their heads.

Seattle Spent Millions on Hotel Rooms to Shelter Unhoused People. Then It Stopped Filling Them.

Early last year, the city signed a $2.7 million lease extension to continue using a hotel’s rooms as shelter space. Yet despite committing to pay the rent, the city stopped sending people there.

www.propublica.org

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Reposted by Josh Rosenau

ProPublica @propublica.org · 2d

NEW: After paying for hotel rooms to shelter homeless people, Seattle deliberately left them vacant.

By the end of 2024, taxpayers were spending $4,200 a month per empty room at a time when thousands of residents were without a roof over their heads.

Seattle Spent Millions on Hotel Rooms to Shelter Unhoused People. Then It Stopped Filling Them.

Early last year, the city signed a $2.7 million lease extension to continue using a hotel’s rooms as shelter space. Yet despite committing to pay the rent, the city stopped sending people there.

www.propublica.org

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Josh Rosenau @joshrosenau.org · 2d

@governorferguson.bsky.social

Isaac Dovere @isaacdovere.bsky.social · 2d

Newsom says he’s on the verge of quitting the National Govs Association: “should not be difficult … regardless of partisan affiliation, to agree that politicizing our states’ Natl Guard and deploying… over the objections of the home-state Governor,harms the interests of states”

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Isaac Dovere @isaacdovere.bsky.social · 2d

Newsom says he’s on the verge of quitting the National Govs Association: “should not be difficult … regardless of partisan affiliation, to agree that politicizing our states’ Natl Guard and deploying… over the objections of the home-state Governor,harms the interests of states”

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Heather Cherone @heathercherone.bsky.social · 2d

Pritzker is also furious: “Should National Governors Association leadership choose to remain silent, Illinois will have no choice but to withdraw from the organization.”

Gov. JB Pritzker’s letter to the National Governors Association

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Chicago Sun-Times @chicago.suntimes.com · 2d

Body-camera video appears to contradict the government’s claim that Marimar Martinez, 30, drove toward officers before one of them opened fire at her late Saturday morning in Brighton Park, her attorney claimed.
trib.al/9Sxu9IN

Attorney for woman shot by Border Patrol claims officer said 'Do something b-----' before shooting

Body-camera video appears to contradict the government's claim that Marimar Martinez, 30, drove toward officers before one of them opened fire at her late Saturday morning in Brighton Park, her attorney claimed. A judge ordered Martinez and a co-defendant released pending trial.

trib.al

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Kendra "Gloom is My Beat" Pierre-Louis @kendrawrites.com · 2d

With alt text

Because the recent attacks on Venezuelan vessels and their crews were unauthorized by U.S. law and in violation of binding international law, they were illegal summary executions – murders. It is imperative that Congress act promptly, as pending legislation proposes, to make clear to the President and the nation that the President’s threat of similar attacks on Venezuelan vessels (and on Venezuela itself) are unlawful and must not be repeated. Only by doing so can Congress bring our nation into compliance with the Constitution and international law, reduce the risk of hostilities with neighboring countries and assure that similar abuses of Presidential power do not expand to American shores.

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Rick Caruso’s Private Fire Crew @amandasmith.bsky.social · 2d

The all-knowing bsky mods gave Erin Biba a 24 hour suspension for a months-old skeet about Christian Zionism, and I’m sure it’s just a coincidence that this happened when she’s been vocally criticizing Jay

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Josh Rosenau @joshrosenau.org · 2d

The important lesson is: Link was ‘being disruptive to other users” by being funny and boosting mutual aid, while a transphobic writer is *not* “being disruptive to other users” by being transphobic and posting screengrabs on a Nazi site to send harassment back here. Glad Jay cleared that up.

Aveta👾🇭🇹 @aliafonzy.blacksky.app · 2d

Unfortunate update: Link reached out to BlueSky and got email back now on reason.

His appeal is denied. He will remain permanently banned on BlueSky’s side.

Here are the screenshots he just sent me as of 8:22 AM EST(my time)

A screenshot of an email from the Bluesky Moderation Team with the subject line “Bluesky Account Behavior” sent at 22:15. The email states that a Bluesky account controlled by the recipient, with the handle @spacelawshitpost.me, posted a reply with an image where the alt text reads: Charlie Kirk sitting in a white T-shirt that says “Freedom.” A negative consequence follows. The email indicates this post violates Community Guidelines regarding violent or threatening speech, specifically listing threats of violence or physical harm against individuals, groups, institutions, or the general public, and incitement of self-harm or suicide.

A screenshot of an email continuation from the Bluesky Moderation Team displaying a bulleted list of Community Guidelines violations. The first bullet point describes threats of violence or physical harm as including threats or encouragement of violence against individuals, groups, institutions, or the general public. The second bullet point defines incitement of self-harm or suicide as content that encourages self-harm or suicide. The third bullet point explains wishes of harm as expressions of a desire for harm directed at a specific person or group. Below the bullets, a paragraph states that users may not use Bluesky to break the law or cause harm to others and that all users must be treated with respect. The next paragraph informs the recipient that as a result of these violations, your account has been taken down. A closing paragraph thanks the user for doing their part to keep Bluesky a welcoming and empowering place for all users and instructs them to email moderation@blueskyweb.xyz if they have questions or wish to appeal the decision. The email ends with the signature Bluesky Moderation Team.

A screenshot of an email from the Bluesky Moderation Team sent at 08:11 with the subject line Re: Bluesky Account Behavior addressed To: Hide My Email. The email reads:

Hi there,

Thank you for reaching out to appeal the takedown of your account on Bluesky. We have carefully reviewed your case, including the information you provided and the activity that led to the suspension of your account.

After investigating, we have determined that your account activity was in violation of our community guidelines, specifically promoting hateful content or being disruptive to other users. We take these guidelines seriously to ensure a safe and respectful environment for all our users.

As a result, we regret to inform you that your appeal has been denied, and your account will remain suspended. This decision is final and cannot be reversed. We understand that this may be disappointing news, but we must prioritize the well-being of our community and maintain a consistent enforcement of our policies. We encourage you to review our community guidelines to better understand the expectations we have for user behavior on our platform. Please do not create new accounts, since those will be taken down for ban evasion.

Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.

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Reposted by Josh Rosenau

Steve Vladeck @stevevladeck.bsky.social · 3d

The very first statute authorizing domestic use of the military during domestic emergencies, enacted in 1792 by a Congress full of the same folks who wrote and ratified the Constitution, expressly provided for judicial review in certain circumstances *before* the President could even send troops.

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