Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Logan Mitchell PhD @loganemitchell.bsky.social · 5h

Utah is among the top 5 states where you'll save the most money by driving an EV as compared to a gas car (+ no air pollution)
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/08/u...

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Caleb Crain @calebcrain.bsky.social · 22h

Chilling insight by @barbarafwalter.com: "Once citizens view their own government’s security forces as an occupying army, violence becomes inevitable. Trump’s team knows this… They’re trying to trigger the very unrest that would justify further crackdowns."

via www.nytimes.com/2025/10/07/o...

Screenshot from a NYT article by Thomas Edsall, quoting Barbara Walter of UC-San Diego: "The quickest way to piss people off is to send soldiers into their neighborhoods especially when there’s no reason for them to be there. It’s inherently provocative, and Trump and his team understand this. Research by the political scientist Robert Pape shows that the single most powerful predictor of suicide terrorism is the presence of foreign troops on local soil. People hate, hate, hate that. They hate the humiliation, the powerlessness, the feeling of being occupied.

"Once citizens begin to view their own government’s security forces as an occupying army, violence becomes inevitable. Trump’s team knows this. In fact, that’s the point. They are not trying to restore order; they’re trying to trigger the very unrest that would justify further crackdowns. In the end, violence serves their ultimate end: They want to create the illusion of disorder so they can tighten control and stay in power indefinitely."

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Eric Michael Garcia @ericmgarcia.bsky.social · 21h

I've been banging this drum for the past four months or so: DOGE and Russ Vought broke the appropriations process. What's the point of going through the arduous process of crafting 12 spending bills, clearing them through committee and getting them through two chambers if Trump does rescissions?

Garrett M. Graff @vermontgmg.bsky.social · 1d

If appropriations bills are not seen as enforceable contracts, why should any Member of Congress vote to fund any part of the federal government under Donald Trump? You're voting to provide money for lawlessness. www.doomsdayscenario.co/p/there-is-n...

There is no budget "deal" to be made

President Trump has so broken the constitutional framework as to make joint normal, responsible government impossible.

www.doomsdayscenario.co

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Reposted by Logan Mitchell PhD

Emily Pontecorvo @emilypont.bsky.social · 1d

10 out of 13 grants awarded for domestic Heat Pump manufacturing (the IRA’s Heat Pump Defense Production Act Program) are also listed. 🔌⚡

Awards for Gradient, Mitsubishi, and York International appear to be safe.

Emily Pontecorvo @emilypont.bsky.social · 1d

Some additional info on the new list of axed DOE projects circulating.
- All 7 H2 Hubs
- All 13 IRA grants to convert at-risk auto plants to EV mfg
- 11 of 15 grants to speed domestic clean energy mfg in former coal communities
- 10 of 38 grants for battery materials
heatmap.news/politics/doe...

Trump to Axe All 7 Hydrogen Hubs, Bucking Bipartisan Law

A new list of Department of Energy grants slated for termination will hit clean energy and oil majors alike, including Exxon and Chevron.

heatmap.news

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Reposted by Logan Mitchell PhD

Grist @grist.org · 2d

The ocean is a carbon toilet. Marine heat waves are clogging it.

Tiny poops are supposed to sink to the seafloor, locking away carbon. But scientists have found that warm spells are disrupting that flushing.

grist.org/climate/the-...

#Oceans #Climate #MarineBiology #Nature #Environment #Fishing

The ocean is a carbon toilet. Marine heat waves are clogging it.

Tiny poops are supposed to sink to the seafloor, locking away carbon. But scientists have found that heat waves are disrupting that flushing.

grist.org

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Grist @grist.org · 6d

Why Trump’s purge of ‘negative’ national park signs includes climate change.

National parks are melting, burning, and drying out. Rangers are being forced to take down signs explaining why.

grist.org/politics/why...

#NationalParks #Climate #Environment #Nature #GreenSky #Outdoors

Why Trump’s purge of ‘negative’ national park signs includes climate change

National parks are melting, burning, and drying out. Rangers are being forced to take down signs explaining why.

grist.org

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Senator Ron Wyden @wyden.senate.gov · 2d

Video taken one hour ago outside the Portland ICE facility of the violent insurrectionists in question

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Logan Mitchell PhD @loganemitchell.bsky.social · 3d

Senator Chris Murphy @chrismurphyct.bsky.social should be the Dem majority leader. This is what an actual opposition party would be doing. You have political leverage. Use it!

Greg Sargent @gregsargent.bsky.social · 5d

Senator Murphy also lays out a clear set of codified demands that Dems can stand for. Among them:

*no more using budget to punish enemies
*no more using FCC to censor critics
*restrictions on ICE lawlessness in interior
*clear ban on troops in cities

3/

newrepublic.com/article/2013...

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Sean Casten @seancasten.bsky.social · 6d

This analysis of DOGE cuts is a perfect distillation of what Trump and his cronies prioritize. Less enforcement of white collar crimes, less support for education and healthcare, but lots more xenophobia. www.nytimes.com/interactive/...

How Much Have Trump’s Cuts Shrunk the Federal Work Force? Shutdown Plans Offer a Clue.

The number of federal employees has been trimmed by thousands since President Trump took office, according to contingency plans drawn up by federal agencies.

www.nytimes.com

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Bill McKibben @billmckibben.bsky.social · 7d

Jane Goodall was not only a pioneering primatologist, she also campaigned more relentlessly and selflessly for the natural world than anyone I know.

A great soul if ever there was one
www.theguardian.com/science/2025...

Jane Goodall, world-renowned primatologist, dies aged 91

Jane Goodall Institute says ‘tireless advocate’ for natural world died in California during US speaking tour

www.theguardian.com

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Jesse D. Jenkins @jessedjenkins.com · 6d

Solar leads EU electricity generation as renewables hit 54% share.google/WEiX2aSdEwj9... 🔌💡 ☀️

According to new data from Eurostat, renewable energy sources generated 54% of the EU’s net electricity in Q2 2025, up from 52.7% year-over-year. The growth came mainly from solar, which produced 122,317 gigawatt-hours (GWh) – nearly 20% of the total electricity generation mix.

June 2025 was a milestone month: Solar became the EU’s single largest electricity source for the first time ever. It supplied 22% of all power that month, edging out nuclear (21.6%), wind (15.8%), hydro (14.1%), and natural gas (13.8%).

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Electrek @electrek.co · 6d

FERC: Solar + wind made up 90% of new US power generating capacity to July 2025

Solar and wind accounted for 90% of new US electrical generating capacity added in the first seven months of 2025, according to data just released by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC). In July, solar alone provided 96% of new capacity, making it the 23rd consecutive month solar has held the lead among all energy sources. more…

electrek.co

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Kevin Elliott @kjephd.bsky.social · 6d

The Trump regime is dissolving the Union unilaterally, that's what these actions *are*—repudiation of the American constitutional order vis-a-vis federalism.

Jamie Dupree @jamiedupree.bsky.social · 7d

Next move from OMB - canceling $8 billion in clean energy funds. You will note, all of the projects are in states led by Democrats

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Ron Filipkowski @ronfilipkowski.bsky.social · 8d

Government shutdown, farmers needing to be bailed out, troops in the streets, country bitterly divided, revolving door of appointees, Putin getting coddled, constant chaos … must be another Trump term.

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Canary Media Inc. @canarymedia.com · 10d

China is meeting most of its new power demand with renewables, and rapidly electrifying its economy at the same time.

Chart: Check out how fast China is shifting to renewables

China still emits more planet-warming pollution than any other country, but its furious build-out of wind and solar means the nation is scaling back on…

www.canarymedia.com

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David Roberts @volts.wtf · 10d

Some journalist should ask Zeldin or Wright why exactly they think China is doing this.

Canary Media Inc. @canarymedia.com · 10d

China is meeting most of its new power demand with renewables, and rapidly electrifying its economy at the same time.

Chart: Check out how fast China is shifting to renewables

China still emits more planet-warming pollution than any other country, but its furious build-out of wind and solar means the nation is scaling back on…

www.canarymedia.com

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Reposted by Logan Mitchell PhD

Dare Obasanjo @carnage4life.bsky.social · 11d

Kamala Harris predicted a lot of what is unfolding today during her campaign and yet so much of the coverage at the time was as if she was taking crazy pills.

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Logan Mitchell PhD @loganemitchell.bsky.social · 10d

🤣🤣

Reposted by Logan Mitchell PhD

Joy-Ann Reid @joyannreid.bsky.social · 10d

Everyone should read this. Because every word needed to be said. (gift article). www.nytimes.com/2025/09/28/m...

What the Public Memory of Charlie Kirk Revealed

www.nytimes.com

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Ben Winslow @benwinslow.bsky.social · 10d

BREAKING NEWS: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints announces that President Russell M. Nelson has died at age 101. He was then oldest president in the history of the church. #Utah

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Reposted by Logan Mitchell PhD

Janet Kinneberg @jkinneberg.bsky.social · 10d

Utah!

Urge State Legislators to Reject Proposed Redistricting Standards Bill as proposed by Sen. Brady Brammer. It not only undermines anti- #gerrymandering goals of Prop 4, it is designed to benefit only one political party - & violates rules listed in Prop 4

www.congressweb.com/LWVUTAH/3?fr...

Take Action: Urge State Legislators to Reject Proposed Redistricting Standards Bill

Take take action and urge your legislators to reject the Draft Redistricting Standards Bill (Sen . Brady Brammer). This proposed bill will not only undermine the anti-gerrymandering goals of Propositi...

www.congressweb.com

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Logan Mitchell PhD @loganemitchell.bsky.social · 11d

My notifications right now. Our President is stoking violence against Americans and violating constitutional rights, and meanwhile critical government functions are failing due to his sabotage, risking American lives.

Not great!

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Logan Mitchell PhD @loganemitchell.bsky.social · 11d

But, did you die?

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Governor JB Pritzker @govpritzker.illinois.gov · 11d

Donald Trump is using federal agents to stoke fear and violate constitutional rights — all with the aims of expanding his control and sending military troops to our cities.

It’s unlawful and un-American. We must all stand up and speak out against fanning the flames of violence.

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Logan Mitchell PhD @loganemitchell.bsky.social · 11d

But, did you die?

Senator Ron Wyden @wyden.senate.gov · 11d

Every single one of these clips was taken today in downtown Portland. Portland doesn’t want or need a federal takeover. If Trump insists on sending federal “resources” he can start with funding health care, bridges, affordable housing, and wildfire protection to name a few.

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