Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Reposted by Mara Dolan

E.J. Graff @ejgraff.bsky.social · 4h

The latest issue of "How to be American" is out! YOU know that this Supreme Court won't save us ... but not everyone does. Forward to your friends who are not as steeped in politics and history as we are here.

howtobeamerican.substack.com/p/this-supre...

This Supreme Court won't save us

Part I: How many Constitutions has the United States had?

howtobeamerican.substack.com

2 2

Reposted by Mara Dolan

Heather Cox Richardson (TDPR) @hcrichardson.bsky.social · 3h

People ask what they can do in this moment: here's a crucially important election. There are 52,000 elections taking place next month, many of which will be determined by turnout.

Alex Burness @burness.bsky.social · 1d

Dispatch from Pennsylvania on a highly unusual state Supreme Court election—one of the few most consequential matters on the ballot anywhere in the country next month. New from me in @boltsmag.org: boltsmag.org/pennsylvania...

Inside the Clunky Elections to Control Pennsylvania's Supreme Court - Bolts

The GOP is making an expensive push to end Democrats’ majority on a court at the center of election lawsuits, sparking a fledging campaign season with little precedent or template.

boltsmag.org

24 260 530

Mara Dolan @maradolan.bsky.social · 9h

Tyranny cannot defeat the power of the people. Know the signs, know how to respond. From @timothysnyder.bsky.social.

Signs of tyranny and effective responses, by Timothy Snyder.

2 10

Reposted by Mara Dolan

@NewsJennifer (Jennifer Schulze) @newsjennifer.bsky.social · 2d

🚨THIS IS A BIG DEAL. Chicago journalists are suing the Trump administration for using excessive force against reporters & protestors in violation of the 1A.
The press here is doing astounding work documenting how ICE is out of control. The violence they face in doing so is obscene.

The protests at the Broadview ICE facility and the federal government’s violent
attempts to silence the protesters became a story of great interest to the local Chicago media and
was also covered in the national press. Much of the coverage described the federal officers’
abusive tactics. Defendants sought and are seeking to quash this coverage by attacking and
intimidating members of the Press on the ground there.
85. Federal immigration officers at the Broadview ICE facility have repeatedly and
intentionally singled out persons whom they know to be members of the Press for violence,
assault, and intimidation. These assaults are not incidental or unintentional. They are undertaken
by design to intimidate journalists on scene and to frustrate and suppress coverage of the federal
officers’ actions toward protesters and immigration detainees

11 420 1.1K

Reposted by Mara Dolan

Institute of Alcohol Studies @ias.org.uk · 10h

“We often think of alcohol harm as a public health issue, but this research shows it’s a national economic problem."

A new report from @ippr.org reveals the economic costs of alcohol harm, with 1 in 3 UK workers calling in sick after work drinks.

Read more:
www.theguardian.com/society/2025...

One in three UK workers have called in sick after work drinks, survey finds

IPPR report warns of ‘productivity crisis’ and says many firms out of step with gen Z shift away from alcohol

www.theguardian.com

2 3

Mara Dolan @maradolan.bsky.social · 20h

Just had my first Zoom bomb so I want to put love and good will out to the world. Appreciate you.

a man wearing sunglasses says peace and love in front of a horse

ALT: a man wearing sunglasses says peace and love in front of a horse

media.tenor.com

3

Reposted by Mara Dolan

Boston.com @boston.com · 1d

New dashboard shows exactly how much federal funding Mass. is losing out on under Trump trib.al/2stsXRv

New dashboard shows exactly how much federal funding Mass. is losing out on under Trump

Many Massachusetts residents are at risk of losing their Medicaid coverage, SNAP benefits, and more under the funding cuts.

trib.al

1 2 2

Mara Dolan @maradolan.bsky.social · 1d

Taking full credit for this.

Steve Revilak @purplebandanna.bsky.social · 1d

You may have accidentally invented the peanut butter and candy corn sandwich.

4

Mara Dolan @maradolan.bsky.social · 1d

That sounds really good and wondering how candy corn and peanut butter could be incorporated.

1 6

Mara Dolan @maradolan.bsky.social · 1d

Sparkly and cozy with lots of stars, and I love it. My way of thanking Taylor Swift for another great album and for being such a great role model. #TaylorSwift

10

Reposted by Mara Dolan

Deb Kozikowski @demdivacooks.bsky.social · 2d

Advocating for rural America is a big part of my life. Supporting Farm to Table, clean energy supplemental income, and other ways to build rural-urban partnerships are my political agenda's North Star. No tariff bailout will help farmers farm, bigger than lost income, this hurts ags' survival.

Ken Bazinet @kenbazinet.bsky.social · 2d

Trump tariffs are crushing U.S. farmers as China bypasses American soybeans in favor of cheaper prices from countries like Argentina, which cut tariffs in order to help its farmers.

Now Trump is readying a bailout estimated to be in the $10 billion range for farmers slammed by Trump tariffs.

Trump considers massive bailout of at least $10 billion for American farmers hurt by his trade war | CNN Business

American farmers are having a tough year, in no small part because of President Donald Trump’s trade war. Now, the White House is gearing up to extend them a multi-billion-dollar bailout, sources tell...

www.cnn.com

3 4

Reposted by Mara Dolan

Ken Bazinet @kenbazinet.bsky.social · 2d

Trump tariffs are crushing U.S. farmers as China bypasses American soybeans in favor of cheaper prices from countries like Argentina, which cut tariffs in order to help its farmers.

Now Trump is readying a bailout estimated to be in the $10 billion range for farmers slammed by Trump tariffs.

Trump considers massive bailout of at least $10 billion for American farmers hurt by his trade war | CNN Business

American farmers are having a tough year, in no small part because of President Donald Trump’s trade war. Now, the White House is gearing up to extend them a multi-billion-dollar bailout, sources tell...

www.cnn.com

4 10 9

Reposted by Mara Dolan

Maurice T. Cunningham @masspolprofmo.bsky.social · 2d

3 4

Mara Dolan @maradolan.bsky.social · 3d

Homeless Jesus, by Timothy Schmalz. en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homeles...

7 45 160

Reposted by Mara Dolan

Philip Bump @pbump.com · 4d

Smoke detectors should know what time of day it is so if they’re running low on batteries they can think, “that’s more of a mid-morning problem.”

37 61 970

Reposted by Mara Dolan

alexjungle.bsky.social @alexjungle.bsky.social · 5d

Breaking news: ICE stops family at gunpoint—smash car window on top of newborn baby.

"I was screaming that there was a baby. But they didn’t care," cried mother.

“I covered my baby with my body—I was so scared he was going to be hurt because glass was landing on him."

360 2K 3.4K

Mara Dolan @maradolan.bsky.social · 5d

Church of England to be led by a woman for the first time in history! Sarah Mullally named Archbishop of Canterbury. www.bostonglobe.com/2025/10/03/w...

Sarah Mullally named the first female Archbishop of Canterbury in history of Church of England - The Boston Globe

Mullally will face will face serious challenges including divisions over the treatment of women and LGBTQ people.

www.bostonglobe.com

26 85 510

Mara Dolan @maradolan.bsky.social · 5d

He can’t make me hate him. He can’t make me hate my fellow Americans.

Matt Novak @paleofuture.bsky.social · 5d

Another AI video from Trump on Truth Social, this time of his throwing a Trump 2028 hat onto Hakeem Jeffries' head.

Mara Dolan @maradolan.bsky.social · 5d

F.D.A. Approves Generic Abortion Pill as Opponents Push Trump for New Restrictions. #prochoice www.nytimes.com/2025/10/02/h...

F.D.A. Approves Generic Abortion Pill as Opponents Push Trump for New Restrictions

www.nytimes.com

4 6

Reposted by Mara Dolan

Mara Dolan, Governor’s Councillor @councillordolan.bsky.social · 6d

Enormous gratitude for Sen. Edward Kennedy’s many years of public service, and all my sympathies to his supporters and to his family. He will be greatly missed. #mapoli

State House News Service @statehousenews.com · 6d

NEW: First Middlesex District Sen. Ed Kennedy has died, per Senate President Spilka's office. Spilka in an email to senators called Kennedy, 74, a "champion for education, environmental sustainability, cultural development and, of course, his beloved hometown of Lowell." #mapoli

2 7

Reposted by Mara Dolan

Deb Kozikowski @demdivacooks.bsky.social · 6d

I did notice ... worth repeating.

LeftofCenter @leftofcenters.bsky.social · 6d

From one of his own seals the deal ... Mr. Trump lands in the category of "unwell".

Mike Johnson's response to being told Trump is 'unhinged' takes off online

The House speaker was confronted by Rep. Madeleine Dean after the U.S. president’s speech to military leaders.

share.google

1 1

Reposted by Mara Dolan

Ken Bazinet @kenbazinet.bsky.social · 6d

"Someone who says I'm against abortion but is in favor of the death penalty is not really pro-life," Pope Leo said. "And someone who says I'm against abortion but I'm in agreement with the inhuman treatment of immigrants in the United States, I don't know if that's pro-life."

Pope Leo XIV says 'inhuman treatment of immigrants' in the U.S. isn't 'pro-life'

Pope Leo XIV weighed in on U.S. politics, saying that Catholic politicians must be judged on the full range of their policy positions and suggesting that the country's immigration policy is "inhuman."

www.npr.org

9 110 390

Reposted by Mara Dolan

Heather Cox Richardson (TDPR) @hcrichardson.bsky.social · 6d

Please find your elections and get folks to turn out.

Taniel @taniel.bsky.social · 6d

i hope you're all excited to learn more about the many November elections!

9 240 550

Reposted by Mara Dolan

Jonathan Cohn @jonathancohn.bsky.social · 6d

"In cases reviewed by the Guardian, parents were moved between detention centers several times after being separated from their children – and in the process were unable to coordinate calls with their kids or their lawyers."

Systematic child abuse

www.theguardian.com/us-news/ng-i...

Trump revives family separations amid drive to deport millions: ‘A tactic to punish’

Family separations were the hallmark of the first Trump administration’s border policy. Now advocates allege migrant families are being split up again as a retaliatory measure

www.theguardian.com

2 43 67

Reposted by Mara Dolan

Mara Dolan, Governor’s Councillor @councillordolan.bsky.social · 6d

G’mar chatima tova. Wishing all who fast a meaningful one, and a peaceful year to come. #YomKippur

1 4