Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

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ProPublica @propublica.org · 1d

Oil companies in Texas requested permission to burn off or release more than 195 billion cubic feet of natural gas per year — enough to power more than 3 million homes and generate millions in tax revenue had the gas been captured.

W/ @insideclimatenews.org & @texastribune.org

Trump Says America’s Oil Industry Is Cleaner Than Other Countries’. New Data Shows Massive Emissions From Texas Wells.

The oil industry touts Texas as a success story in controlling climate-warming methane emissions. The state’s regulator, however, grants nearly every request to burn or vent gas into the atmosphere.

www.propublica.org

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David Roberts @volts.wtf · 8d

We laugh at this shit -- I mean, how can you not? -- but it's serious: these guys want to infuse reactionary thinking into AI and then infuse AI into every nook & cranny of American life. They can't win the argument so they are trying to blunt-force their views onto us with money & power.

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Keith W. Dickinson @keithwdickinson.bsky.social · 1d

Today is a day when arts degrees are worthless, but the product of those degrees is so valuable it would kill an entire industry if they were made to pay for it.

The Verge @theverge.com · May 26

Nick Clegg says asking artists for use permission would ‘kill’ the AI industry

Paul McCartne, Elton John and others signed an open letter.

buff.ly

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Erin Fogg says Free Link @criminalerin.bsky.social · 1d

My county had no problem approving the new jail no one wants and the new Google data center no one wants while also just this week codifying 1k foot setbacks for solar farm builds, to make it harder to build the things we actually want here

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Justjessicaok @justjessicaok.bsky.social · 1d

This was excellent.
Highly recommend.

Isabel J. Kim @isabel.kim · 7d

ive been on-and-off trying to write a story about AI for a couple of years, and I think i finally cracked it with WIRE MOTHER, which is out in @clarkesworldmagazine.com (tw in the post below).

also hey, this issue is stacked??

clarkesworldmagazine.com/kim_10_25/

Wire Mother by Isabel J. Kim

Clarkesworld Science Fiction and Fantasy Magazine and Podcast.

clarkesworldmagazine.com

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Isabel J. Kim @isabel.kim · 7d

ive been on-and-off trying to write a story about AI for a couple of years, and I think i finally cracked it with WIRE MOTHER, which is out in @clarkesworldmagazine.com (tw in the post below).

also hey, this issue is stacked??

clarkesworldmagazine.com/kim_10_25/

Wire Mother by Isabel J. Kim

Clarkesworld Science Fiction and Fantasy Magazine and Podcast.

clarkesworldmagazine.com

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Jack Jenkins @jackjenkins.me · 1d

Gonna be thinking about this lede for a minute.

(RNS) — Last month, the Rev. David Black stood in front of a Chicago-area U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility and spread his arms wide. Adorned in all black and wearing a clerical collar, the pastor looked up at a group of masked, heavily armed ICE agents on the roof and began to pray.

“I invited them to repentance,” Black, a minister in the Presbyterian Church (USA), said in an interview. “I basically offered an altar call. I invited them to come and receive that salvation, and be part of the kingdom that is coming.”

But when Black began to lower his arms a few seconds later, the agents responded to his spiritual plea by firing pepper balls, or chemical agents that cause eye irritation and respiratory distress, video footage shows. One struck Black in the head, exploding into a puff of white pepper smoke and forcing him to his knees. Fellow demonstrators rushed to his aid, and as the pastor rubbed his face in pain, the agents continued to fire.

“We could hear them laughing,” Black said.

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Gillian Brockell @gbrockell.bsky.social · 1d

This little twerp, who’s been there a few months, axed two of the lions of WaPo??

Fisher is an investigative champion and had been at The Post for 39 years. Hoffman had been there for 42, and he won a Pulitzer LAST YEAR.

Oliver Darcy @oliverdarcy.bsky.social · 1d

Last week, new WaPo opinion editor Adam O'Neal quietly carried out another purge of staffers, cutting editors and major names like Marc Fisher and David Hoffman, among others.

Meanwhile, he welcomed three conservatives to the section.

Details in @status.news: www.status.news/p/washington...

Post Traumatic Disorder

Adam O’Neal says he’s bringing “intellectual diversity” to The Washington Post’s opinion pages—but the moves he’s making behind the scenes tell a different story.

www.status.news

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Justjessicaok @justjessicaok.bsky.social · 1d

The gas expansion in the south has yet to report who the increase in capacity is for bc of these kinds of nda agreements. Meanwhile the ratepayers will suffer and residents will see an increase in air pollution at compressor stations/ valves = more health issues along the lines.

Jack Tripper @chadstanton.blacksky.app · 1d

I’m sure it’s just a coincidence that all these data centers are going into communities that have been historically targeted for exploitation and have the least amount of civic power wielded by the people living there.

wordinblack.com/2025/09/alab...

Why Are Plans for This Alabama Data Center So Hush-Hush?

Officials in Bessemer, Alabama, are mum on Project Marvel, a proposed data center the size of 18 Walmart Supercenters.

wordinblack.com

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Elizabeth Warren @warren.senate.gov · 3d

Donald Trump is plotting to cut Social Security benefits for older Americans — after he promised during the campaign that he wouldn’t touch Social Security.

We must call it out and stop these cuts.

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Mindcite💥 @mindcite.bsky.social · 4d

Younger veteran: "How old are you, man?"

Older veteran: “87.”

Younger veteran: “Out here getting arrested, raising hell at 87.”

Older veteran: “It’s just beginning.”

🦅 🦅 🦅 #ResistanceUnited 🔥 🔥 🔥

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Justjessicaok @justjessicaok.bsky.social · 4d

Return on investment? No. Just fire your humans and don’t ask any follow up questions. Remember, buy more ai so you’re not left behind on buying ai. It’s what plants need.

Victor Volle @kontrafiktion.hachyderm.io.ap.brid.gy · 9d

“Stop Worrying About AI’s Return on Investment” https://pivot-to-ai.com/2025/09/21/stop-worrying-about-ais-return-on-investment-said-the-wallet-inspector/

‘Stop Worrying About AI’s Return on Investment’ said the wallet inspector

Every few months, the Wall Street Journal runs its Technology Council Summit. The Journal wrote up last week’s summit with the best headline ever: [WSJ] Stop Worrying About AI’s Return on Investment Oh, you don’t say? Tech leaders at WSJ’s Technology Council Summit said it’s nearly impossible to measure the impact of AI on business […]

pivot-to-ai.com

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Raider @iwillnotbesilenced.bsky.social · 4d

A military-style operation is taking place outside the Broadview ICE facility in Illinois, featuring snipers stationed on rooftops and armored vehicles on the streets. Protesters are reportedly being abducted and vanished, signaling authoritarian repression in this Chicago suburb.

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Journalist Facts @journalistfacts.bsky.social · 4d

Reminder that Benny Johnson took money from russia to spread divisive content in the USA.

Ron Filipkowski @ronfilipkowski.bsky.social · 5d

Donald Trump’s America.

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Freedom of the Press Foundation @freedom.press · 4d

"It’s not the journalists’ burden to keep the government’s secrets for it," @seth-stern.bsky.social told @columjournreview.bsky.social. "That is the opposite of the press’s job, which is to tell the public what the government doesn’t want the public told."

The Pentagon press gears up for a fight.

“None of us are signing this pledge,” said one reporter.

www.cjr.org

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Ben Williamson @benpatrickwill.bsky.social · 4d

Private equity discourse about education is ramping up again:

"education has become a compelling asset class offering strong returns, long-term stability, and global scalability"

PE investors are desperate to turn education into financial assets with long-term ROI huntscanlon.com/private-equi...

Private Equity’s Resurgent Interest in Education: Key Trends for 2025 - Hunt Scanlon Media

Following a phase of cautious investment, private equity firms have rekindled their interest in the education sector in 2025, adopting focused strategies and prioritizing long-term value generation. E...

huntscanlon.com

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Scott Horton @robertscotthorton.bsky.social · 4d

Trey Reed, a student at Delta State University in Mississippi, was found hanging from a noose. Mississippi police ruled the death a suicide. Now an autopsy reportedly concludes that he suffered extensive blunt force trauma across his body before he died, meaning he was beaten before he was lynched.

Kaepernick-Funded Autopsy Reportedly Finds Trey Reed Didn’t Die by Suicide — Family Attorney Ben Crump Hasn’t Confirmed

According to a source who isn't authorized to comment publicly, the autopsy of Trey Reed reveals that his death was not caused by a suicide.

www.blackenterprise.com

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Tim Dickinson @timdickinson.bsky.social · 4d

"this is a nation of Constitutional law, not martial law. Defendants have made a range of arguments that, if
accepted, risk blurring the line between civil and military federal power—to the detriment of this
nation."

Kyle Cheney @kyledcheney.bsky.social · 4d

BREAKING: A federal judge has granted a restraining order blocking President Trump's call-up of the National Guard in Portland.

storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...

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Bruno J. Navarro @brunojnavarro.bsky.social · 5d

According to a photo of a private text on the phone of Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Argentina responded to the treasury secretary’s $20 billion bailout by turning around and removing its export taxes on soybeans and striking a huge new deal with China.

Leaked texts on Scott Bessent’s phone suggest the White House got played bailing out Argentina—and U.S. soybean farmers are the casualties

“This is highly unfortunate,” the text said. “Soy prices are dropping further because of it. This gives China more leverage on us.”

finance.yahoo.com

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jenna ruddock @ruddock.bsky.social · 5d

the Trump admin just deported an award-winning journalist known for his reporting on ICE and got Apple to block ICE-spotter apps — all while churning out highly-produced social media content from violent ICE raids in Chicago. it’s their media or no media. www.techpolicy.press/amidst-viole...

Amidst Violent Immigration Raids, DHS Turns to Big Tech to Silence Dissent | TechPolicy.Press

Free Press advocacy director Jenna Ruddock says the Trump administration is targeting anyone monitoring its expanding immigration enforcement operations.

www.techpolicy.press

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Institute for the Study of War @thestudyofwar.bsky.social · 5d

NEW: Leaked documents detail Russian plans to equip and train a PLA airborne battalion, which could play a significant role in a PRC invasion of Taiwan. The documents illustrate how Russia is supporting PLA modernization efforts. (🧵1/5)
More: isw.pub/ChinaTaiwanU...
Other Key Takeaways ⬇️

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Justjessicaok @justjessicaok.bsky.social · 5d

AI data centers in ga are also an expansion of state surveillance in conjunction with the addition of the ridiculous orb surveillance tech meant to tether access to civil and human rights to digital coin value. www.coindesk.com/tech/2025/05...

Sam Altman’s World Crypto Project Launches in US With Eye-Scanning Orbs in 6 Cities

At a Wednesday press conference, World announced it would build an orb factory in Richardardson, Texas.

www.coindesk.com

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Dr. William Horne @wihorne.bsky.social · 5d

As many of us are learning in real time, it's very difficult to challenge & overturn a legal system of repression *legally*.

Eric Reinhart @eric-reinhart.com · 5d

ICE just blatantly violated the law and arrested sitting Chicago Alderperson Jessie Fuentes while seeking to illegally arrest a patient in a hospital. Fuck these fascists.

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Justjessicaok @justjessicaok.bsky.social · 5d

This is irrelevant to the inhumanity, but migrants are American taxpayers too… and many times they pay more than the lobbyists paying the admin to say what she said.

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Julia Davis @juliadavisnews.bsky.social · 5d

Meanwhile in Russia: Apti Alaudinov boasted that Russia killed 2 billion Ukrainians and said that Tomahawk missiles can't bring them back. He said that after defeating Ukraine, Russia will wage war against Ukraine's neighbors.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=vpuE...

Apti Alaudinov says Tomahawk missiles can't bring back 2 billion dead Ukrainians

YouTube video by Russian Media Monitor

www.youtube.com

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