Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Kyle Thiem @kylethiem.bsky.social · 14d

So if Dems don’t bow to every G0P demand to keep giving the executive unchecked power, this admin will destroy the careers of ~1M American civil servants, not including contractors, and let ~3M go w/o pay.

Our livelihoods are not freaking bargaining chips!
www.politico.com/news/2025/09...

White House to agencies: Prepare mass firing plans for a potential shutdown

In memo, the Trump administration says the Reduction-in-Force plans would go beyond standard shutdown furloughs.

www.politico.com

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Kyle Thiem @kylethiem.bsky.social · 15d

Our little guy’s up to 2nd place right now!!! 👀 🥈➡️🥇

And It’s x2 your vote for free day!

🙏 Help this tired, overworked, loving dad of “2 under 2” pad this little guy’s college fund by clicking our link and voting for Theodore!!!

babyoftheyear.org/2025/theodor...

Is Theodore the Baby of the Year?

Theodore Is A Showstopper! His Laugh And His Smile Are Incredibly Contagious. The Booger Is Too Smart And Charismatic For His Own Good.

babyoftheyear.org

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Reposted by Kyle Thiem

Climate.us @climate.us · Sep 6

Our Mission:

To be a nonprofit successor to Climate(.)gov, delivering climate data and information to promote public climate literacy and to equip people to turn knowledge into meaningful conversations and climate-conscious actions.

Read more at Climate.us

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Reposted by Kyle Thiem

GrumpyUncleSean🔥 @grumpyunclesean.bsky.social · Aug 21

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Please see our new paper just published in Global Change Biology: “Intensifying fire season aridity portends ongoing expansion of severe wildfire in western US forests”. 🧪🌍🔥

Intensifying Fire Season Aridity Portends Ongoing Expansion of Severe Wildfire in Western US Forests

Area burned by wildfire has increased in western US forests over recent decades. However, high-severity fire—fire that kills all or most trees—is also an important metric of fire activity given its d...

doi.org

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Reposted by Kyle Thiem

Climate Tracker @climate.skyfleet.blue · Sep 4

Spain and Portugal wildfire weather made 40 times more likely by climate crisis, study finds #Climate

Spain and Portugal wildfire weather made 40 times more likely by climate crisis, study finds

Wildfires were 30% more intense than would have been expected without global heating, scientists say

www.theguardian.com

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Kyle Thiem @kylethiem.bsky.social · Sep 4

Why would releasing a list of child sex predators and traffickers be a hostile act towards the president?
What a weird things to say.

The Mouthy Renegade Writer @mouthyrenegade.bsky.social · Sep 3

Trump warns Republicans that signing a petition to release the Epstein files will be viewed as a "hostile act" toward the president.

Hostile act? Like raping children?

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Reposted by Kyle Thiem

Climate.us @climate.us · Sep 1

Help us build Climate.us!
Be a founding supporter of our mission: donorbox.org/climate-us-p...

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Kyle Thiem @kylethiem.bsky.social · Aug 29

Modern day Blutorden.
Crazy how history repeats itself.
(If you don’t know, you should.)

Max Berger @maxberger.bsky.social · Aug 29

I’ve seen a lot of fucked up shit in my day, but this might just take the cake.

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Kyle Thiem @kylethiem.bsky.social · Aug 29

Definitely a better use of taxpayer money than:
• Scientific Research
• Medicaid
• SNAP benefits
• Highway Projects
• Clean Energy Investment
• National Debt Reduction
• Filling 10s-100s of thousands of vacancies in fed government
• Education access
• Inflation Reduction
• Tech Upgrades
• USAID
…
/s

The Washington Post @washingtonpost.com · Aug 29

President Donald Trump signed an executive order declaring “classical and traditional” architecture the preferred government styles, reviving and expanding his old fight against modernist government buildings.

Trump orders classical architecture for federal buildings

Trump signed an executive order expanding his campaign against modernism, overhauling design principles that have guided government construction since the 1960s.

wapo.st

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Kyle Thiem @kylethiem.bsky.social · Aug 29

I might actually be done w/ the Cowboys. B/w the:
• Horrific roster management
• Prioritizing publicity > winning
• Continuous lack of team discipline
• The constant drama
• Jerry’s gaslighting claims this will help the team THIS YEAR (HoF talent gone for future draft pics?)

I’m just can’t anymore.

Jones: Parsons trade will make Cowboys better

Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said that trading Micah Parsons to the Packers for Kenny Clark and two draft picks will help Dallas have future playoff success.

www.espn.com

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Kyle Thiem @kylethiem.bsky.social · Aug 29

The saga has ended…
The Fire Weather Testbed furniture has finally arrived!!! 🎉
After 2+ years of planning, pestering, patience, and persistence, the saga has finally ended. So excited to see the vision of this space coming to fruition!

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Kyle Thiem @kylethiem.bsky.social · Aug 26

Kudos to this group for continuing the #Climate (.)gov (who’s content team was terminated & the site effectively discontinued earlier this year) mission to share critical information and support to those who need & welcome it.🙏

If you support #climatescience 🌎, give this page a follow 👍

Climate.us @climate.us · Aug 26

Welcome to our page! We are glad you are here.

Stay tuned for more exciting news to come.

In the meantime, check out our bio and follow us here and on our other social channels:
climate.us

Something exciting is coming soon, stay tuned flyer

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Reposted by Kyle Thiem

Alan booker @alanworldview.bsky.social · Aug 26

From the #DragonBravoFire to the #LeeFire, #GiffordFire, and #GarnetFire, the West is burning hotter and longer. Resilience may lie in blending ancient practices with modern science. #Wildfires

Read more 👉 medium.com/@alanworldvi...

Fighting Fire with Trees and Native American Wisdom

How Native American prescribed fire and fire-adapted and drought-resilient trees can reduce wildfire risks and support ecosystem recovery.

medium.com

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Reposted by Kyle Thiem

Climate.us @climate.us · Aug 26

Welcome to our page! We are glad you are here.

Stay tuned for more exciting news to come.

In the meantime, check out our bio and follow us here and on our other social channels:
climate.us

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Reposted by Kyle Thiem

Alan booker @alanworldview.bsky.social · Aug 17

To grasp the scale of the #LeeFire 🔥:
It has scorched ~214.8 sq mi — larger than the entire City of #Denver (~155 sq mi). Picture every neighborhood, park, and street in Denver consumed by fire — and still more beyond. #Wildfire #COwx

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Reposted by Kyle Thiem

Nahel Belgherze @wxnb.bsky.social · Aug 15

Just dreadful satellite imagery of the rapidly escalating wildfire outbreak across parts of northern Portugal and western Spain.

Look at the size of that smoke plume!

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Kyle Thiem @kylethiem.bsky.social · Aug 16

Great news on the #LeeFire🔥
Containment ⬆️ to 31% w/ N & E flank control!
& Hwy 13 on the E side opened today!

0.05-0.1" of 🌧️ observed & highest RH recovery in last 2 wks helping suppress #wildfire behavior. S flank remains most active as crews strengthen lines w/ lessened thermal activity. #COwx

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Kyle Thiem @kylethiem.bsky.social · Aug 16

It could be!
Science is just making up acronyms and getting them published.

Linked in the Wildland Fire SitRep today: www.wildfire.gov/page/energy-...

Energy Release Component - ERC | Wildland Fire Application Information Portal

The Fire and Aviation Management IT Portal brings together Applications, Tools and Services to support Federal, State and Local government agencies which provide support for all wildfires and other in...

www.wildfire.gov

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Reposted by Kyle Thiem

Russ Schumacher @rschumacher.cloud · Aug 15

gift link of Denver Post story about the drought in northwest Colorado 🎁

Western Colorado is at the ‘epicenter of drought’ as a hot, dry summer saps water supplies — and fuels wildfires

“If we have another year like this next year and Wolford (Mountain Reservoir) gets drawn down farther, then we’re in a precarious spot.”

www.denverpost.com

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Reposted by Kyle Thiem

Victor Asal @victorasal.bsky.social · Aug 15

Grand Canyon’s Dragon Bravo megafire shows the growing wildfire threat to water systems
@us.theconversation.com
@fkearns.bsky.social
theconversation.com/grand-canyon...

Grand Canyon’s Dragon Bravo megafire shows the growing wildfire threat to water systems

Water systems are vulnerable to melting plastic components, toxic contamination and failures that can leave firefighters without flowing water.

theconversation.com

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Kyle Thiem @kylethiem.bsky.social · Aug 15

The #LeeFire is now the 2nd largest #wildfire in the US, just ~5,200 acres shy of CO's 3 largest in recorded history at 133,841 acres (+72,865 vs last wk)
An incredible job by firefighters holding the S end, significantly slowing growth in extreme drought conditions (ERCs in 99.9th percentile!)

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Kyle Thiem @kylethiem.bsky.social · Aug 15

The #DragonBravo #WildFire remains the largest U.S. fire of 2025 - for now...

Acres: 144,984 (+10,935 vs last wk)
Containment: 56% (+20% vs last wk)

Favorable early-week weather slowed growth, allowing crews to secure control lines and focus on hot spot mop-up on the E and W flanks.

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Kyle Thiem @kylethiem.bsky.social · Aug 11

5th largest.
Still ~90k acres shy of Cameron Peak from 2020.

Reposted by Kyle Thiem

Chris Bianchi @bianchiweather.bsky.social · Aug 10

The Lee Fire is now the 5th-largest fire in Colorado recorded history, now topping 113,000 acres. It just passed the Spring Creek Fire (2018).

Some better weather today with lighter winds. Hoping that helps slow the spread and help firefighters get some containment.

#COwx

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Reposted by Kyle Thiem

BNO News @bnonews.com · Aug 8

BREAKING: Gunman in Atlanta was targeting CDC headquarters because he believed the COVID vaccine made him sick - CNN

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