Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Reposted by Leah McElrath

Nils Gilman @nilsgilman.bsky.social · 2h

This isn’t the first time Miller has used the term “plenary authority” with respect to the Presidency. He did so already in March, but that time he was referring to the president’s authority in foreign policy. What’s new here is now to say this absolute power also applies domestically.

Christopher Webb @cwebbonline.com · 6h

Stephen Miller said the quiet part out loud. Trump has “plenary authority,” then suddenly went silent. Their plan wasn’t to be public yet. Clearly, someone hit the panic button in his earpiece.

It gets weirder: CNN uploaded the interview with the “plenary authority” comment edited out.
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Leah McElrath @leahmcelrath.bsky.social · 4h

I shouldn’t have watched this right before trying to go to sleep.

They should be transparent and call it the Dunning-Kruger podcast.

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Leah McElrath @leahmcelrath.bsky.social · 4h

There was a shift in our relationship with computers when they began to be capable of producing outputs mimicking 3-D. Computers became kind of magical-seeming at that point.

(My late mother began programming in binary code and ended her career making manipulatable 3-D color data representations.)

Leah McElrath @leahmcelrath.bsky.social · 5h

I’m still praying for Dolly. We can’t be too careful.

Gabe Ortíz @tusk81.bsky.social · 6h

DON’T SCARE US LIKE THIS, FREIDA www.wsmv.com/2025/10/08/i...

‘I didn’t mean to scare anyone’: Dolly Parton’s sister says after asking for prayers

Dolly postponed her first Las Vegas residency in more than 30 years late last month, saying she was dealing with health challenges.

www.wsmv.com

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Leah McElrath @leahmcelrath.bsky.social · 6h

Wishing you a speedy recovery, Micah. Don’t be afraid to take your pain meds!

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Reposted by Leah McElrath

Moby Dick @mobydickatsea.bsky.social · 6h

I love to sail forbidden seas, and land on barbarous coasts.

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Leah McElrath @leahmcelrath.bsky.social · 6h

Phrases with narrative stickiness can easily become memes and often do.

I disagree with you that this particular use case sucks. I think it’s appropriate and compelling in context.

(In fact, I think it would have been more powerful if the video ended there.)

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Leah McElrath @leahmcelrath.bsky.social · 6h

Eh. I think they should make a meme out of “Democrats have three words for Republicans: no fucking way.”

It’s not about using a curse word as much as the phrase has narrative stickiness and encapsulates the fight Democratic voters want to see right now.

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Leah McElrath @leahmcelrath.bsky.social · 6h

In the eyes of Trump’s supporters, a comparison between Trump and Wallace is seen as a good thing. They see poetic justice in using the National Guard to deport immigrants because they’re still butt hurt about the National Guard being used to desegregate schools. They post memes on X to this effect.

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Leah McElrath @leahmcelrath.bsky.social · 7h

They all suck, Gabe, including Mastodon (for different reasons). This is as good as it gets right now.

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Leah McElrath @leahmcelrath.bsky.social · 7h

Holy shit:

Jack Jenkins @jackjenkins.me · 11h

NEW: I spoke to clergy and faith leaders who've joined protests at the Chicago-area ICE facility.

Three say they've been shot with pepper balls, sometimes while praying.

All say ICE is also violating their religious freedom, and one is arguing it in court. religionnews.com/2025/10/07/i...

Religious protesters say ICE threatens religious freedom in Chicago

(RNS) — Despite potential danger, religious leaders and faith activists have been a visible presence at Chicago-area ICE protests, some waving signs with slogans such as ‘Love thy neighbor’ and ‘Who w...

religionnews.com

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Leah McElrath @leahmcelrath.bsky.social · 7h

I subscribe to one that shows me major donors for the accounts of politicians. It sometimes is helpful in contextualizing their commentary.

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Reposted by Leah McElrath

PBS News @pbsnews.org · 10h

Thirty paintings created by the bushy-haired, soft-spoken Bob Ross will soon be up for auction to defray the costs of programming for small and rural public television stations suffering under cuts in federal funding. https://to.pbs.org/4nEQMrw

Bob Ross paintings to be auctioned to support public TV stations after federal funding cuts

All profits will help public TV stations with licensing fees for popular programs that include "The Best of Joy of Painting" and "America's Test Kitchen."

www.pbs.org

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Reposted by Leah McElrath

Leah McElrath @leahmcelrath.bsky.social · 8h

Good to see @schumer.senate.gov trying something different, tbh.

(Maybe he can endorse @zohrankmamdani.bsky.social now since he’s borrowing from his video style…)

Chuck Schumer @schumer.senate.gov · 11h

The government is shut down because Trump and the Republicans are hellbent on taking health care away from you.

And they won’t even come to the table to talk to us about it.

This is not about politics. It's about people.

Let’s break it down:

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Leah McElrath @leahmcelrath.bsky.social · 7h

It’s a labeler someone created, not part of the core of the platform. Someone has to subscribe to that specific labeler to see the tags.

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Reposted by Leah McElrath

Gillian Brockell @gbrockell.bsky.social · 7h

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 · 9h

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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Leah McElrath @leahmcelrath.bsky.social · 7h

Cognitive rigidity is part of autism.

How that can play out is it might not occur to us that how we perceive something might differ from how someone else does—like seeing an image as a reaction meme when someone else experiences it as a threat.

There are A LOT of autistic people on this platform.

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Leah McElrath @leahmcelrath.bsky.social · 7h

I didn’t know Link before his account got suspended, but I’m up to speed on the related post and circumstances.

There are mitigating factors here around communication differences that warrant review of the suspension and reinstitution.

Please consider doing so, @jay.bsky.team and @aaron.bsky.team.

Thinking Person's Guide to Autism @thinkingautism.com · 1d

“As a neurodiversity advocate and as an autistic person, I’m really grateful for so much of the work that’s been done that allows me to be myself and to be successful being myself.” Link, who has been *banned*!?!? from this platform?

thinkingautismguide.com/2025/06/spac... #AutisticWhileBlack

Space Law, Race, and Neurodiversity: Autistic Advocate AJ Link

We live in a country & society that is built on racism. The neurodivergent community isn't free of that racism—per Autistic advocate AJ Link.

thinkingautismguide.com

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Leah McElrath @leahmcelrath.bsky.social · 7h

Please make sure they prioritize hiring comms staff. Please.

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Leah McElrath @leahmcelrath.bsky.social · 7h

If I’m not mistaken, this is the same clergy member on a different day:

Melanie D’Arrigo @darrigomelanie.bsky.social · 11h

I feel like this photo of masked, armed men pepper spraying a pastor protecting his community is going to be a defining picture of this moment in America for a long, long time.

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Leah McElrath @leahmcelrath.bsky.social · 8h

ICE shot a clergy member in the head in broad daylight.

Preorder Read This When Things Fall Apart @mskellymhayes.bsky.social · 18d

CW: protester being struck in the head by a pepper ball

Footage I took earlier of the moment Reverend David Black, a regular protester outside of the Broadview Detention Center, was shot in the head with a pepper ball by ICE agents on the roof of the facility.

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Leah McElrath @leahmcelrath.bsky.social · 8h

Hell, if I were on @schumer.senate.gov’s comms staff, I’d make a separate short with the portion about Democrats having only three words to say to Republicans and then the “no fucking way” line.

It has narrative stickiness and encapsulates the fight people want to see from Democratic leadership.

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Leah McElrath @leahmcelrath.bsky.social · 8h

They could make separate shorts instead of one longer video.

If I were on his comms staff, I’d make a short of just the clip about Dems having three words to say to Repubs and then the “no fucking way” line—and push that out there HARD.

It is sticky and encapsulates the fight people want to see.

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Leah McElrath @leahmcelrath.bsky.social · 8h

In case anyone on his comms team is reading comments: STOP EXPLAINING.

Most people experience explanations—even ones made in a good faith effort to educate—as CONDESCENSION. Dem leaders are addicted to explaining, and people hate us for it.

Your job is to CREATE COMPELLING NARRATIVE, not explain.

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Reposted by Leah McElrath

Aparna Nair @disabilitystor1.bsky.social · 8h

The comic is FULL of excellent lines and visuals, but this one is exceptional

A screenshot of the Oatmeal comic, featuring a colorful meal on a plate with emojis around it, the text reads: "Someone once told me that art is like emotional nutriton. That made sense to me. Art feeds my feelings (accompanied by a smiley face and sad face emoji). And if thats the case, consuming AI art is like eating styrofoam"

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