Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Reposted by Michael Zapata

Cat Winters / C. E. Winters @catwintersbooks.bsky.social · Apr 17

Do not wait for your books to be banned to join @authorsabb.bsky.social. Please stand up for our colleagues, our readers, and the freedom to read and write today.

www.authorsagainstbookbans.com

Authors Against Book Bans

Our Mission Statement We are Authors Against Book Bans. We, a coalition of writers, illustrators, anthology editors and contributors, and other book creators, stand united against the deeply unconstit...

www.authorsagainstbookbans.com

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Michael Zapata @michaelzapata.bsky.social · 18h

So many resistance movements against fascism, from Vichy Paris to Pinochet, have had elements of the Carnivalesque. It does just this, doesn't it? Highlights the absolutely absurdity of fascism.

Alex Wenzel @alexwenzel.bsky.social · 19h

Weirdly enough, I think this works. No one is more insecure than a new ICE agent. They want to be the blonde guy in DHS’s AI Nazi posting so badly. Instead, they’ll be guarding indistinguishable suburban warehouse #16361 while inflated frogs and dinosaurs thrust in their face all day every day.

Carl Quintanilla @carlquintanilla.bsky.social · 1d

#WarRavagedPortland

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Samira Ahmed @samiraahmed.bsky.social · 1d

Chicago I just love you so fucking much.

That's it. That's the post.

Goodnight friends. Stay safe.

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Michael Zapata @michaelzapata.bsky.social · 1d

I love you Chicago! Stay strong!

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Michael Zapata @michaelzapata.bsky.social · 1d

Fascism is nihilism. The only thing it knows is violence.

Melanie D’Arrigo @darrigomelanie.bsky.social · 1d

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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Jack Jenkins @jackjenkins.me · 1d

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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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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The Shipman Agency @shipmanagency.bsky.social · 1d

Ireland! Please take me back! Allow those with Irish great grandparents to come back! Thank you for your attention to this matter!

Mike Sowden @mikeachim.bsky.social · 2d

Damn. This is amazing. £325 per week, paid monthly, for 3 years - and the result was a profit for the Irish economy:
www.citizensinformation.ie/en/employmen...

Post from Threads user rodneyowl: "Ireland has declared the Basic Income for Artists scheme permanent. This will be officially announced in tomorrow’s budget. Details to follow. Congratulations to all who fought for it and the present and future artists of all sorts in Ireland. That includes me 👌We’re just comin to the end of a 3 year pilot scheme. It’s been a roaring success. For every €1 paid out to the 2000 participants, the government got €1.46 back. Can’t argue with that. Other countries are already taking note."

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Michael Zapata @michaelzapata.bsky.social · 2d

The federal government is at war with Chicago. If we are ever to restore stability and justice, then those responsible deserve to be tried at The Hague.

Molly Jong-Fast @mollyjongfast.bsky.social · 2d

CHICAGO (AP) — Storming an apartment complex by helicopter as families slept. Deploying chemical agents near a public school. Handcuffing a Chicago City Council member at a hospital.

apnews.com/article/chic...

Using helicopters and chemical agents, immigration agents become increasingly aggressive in Chicago

Activists, residents and elected leaders say increasingly combative tactics used by federal immigration agents are sparking violence and fueling neighborhood tensions in the nation’s third-largest cit...

apnews.com

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George Takei @georgetakei.bsky.social · 3d

I understand this. Please tell me you do, too.

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Moira Donegan @moiradonegan.bsky.social · 3d

I appreciate Ernst Fraenkel’s concept of the “dual state,” wherein a fascist regime (in his example, the Nazis) will observe set rules and regulations when confronting some actors—what he calls the “normative state”—and will use arbitrary, unchecked violence towards others—the “prerogative state.”

Tom Nichols @radiofreetom.bsky.social · 4d

If we were living under fascism, none of you would be here daring to post things. You'd be erasing your social media accounts and keeping your head down; you'd know that peacocking your faux-bravery on a network would expose you to being disappeared.
You have no idea what "fascism" really means.

shane @mouthfulofcavities.bsky.social · 4d

the regime is zip tying toddlers and ripping them away from their mothers unclothed... calling it fascism upsets this neo-con.

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Michael Zapata @michaelzapata.bsky.social · 3d

Tom: take a seat, people are being kidnapped in my Chicago neighborhood.

In unrelated news, Vichy liberals often scolded French citizens about the ”not so bad” nature of Nazis while Nazis disappeared non French citizens.

Tom Nichols @radiofreetom.bsky.social · 4d

If we were living under fascism, none of you would be here daring to post things. You'd be erasing your social media accounts and keeping your head down; you'd know that peacocking your faux-bravery on a network would expose you to being disappeared.
You have no idea what "fascism" really means.

shane @mouthfulofcavities.bsky.social · 4d

the regime is zip tying toddlers and ripping them away from their mothers unclothed... calling it fascism upsets this neo-con.

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Michael Zapata @michaelzapata.bsky.social · 4d

If our rights are to be given or taken freely at the will of fetid fascists and neoliberal Dems then, what exactly, is this nation of ours?

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Mikki Kendall @karnythia.bsky.social · 4d

They thought it would hurt everyone except for them. They knew they were voting for people to be hurt, they were excited to watch the suffering. They just didn't think they'd have to experience it too. Which is incredibly delulu, but here we go again with the shock that they also need safety nets

The Editorial Board @editorialboard.bsky.social · 4d

Trump voters now hate the MAGA policies they voted for: analysis

www.alternet.org/trump-voters...

Trump voters now hate the MAGA policies they voted for: analysis

Now eight and one-half months into his second presidency, Donald Trump is being inundated with polls that show him with weak approval ratings — including 38 percent (Leger), 40 percent (YouGov and Pew...

www.alternet.org

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Preorder Read This When Things Fall Apart @mskellymhayes.bsky.social · 4d

The troops are coming to Chicago, fam. Remember, we have resources for this moment. Connect to ongoing efforts. Chicagoans love Chicago, and we will support each other.

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Michael Zapata @michaelzapata.bsky.social · 4d

ICE is kidnapping and attacking people in broad daylight and the neoliberal media class still blames socialism. Fetid Vichy cowards.

Brooke Jackson-Glidden @jacksonglidden.bsky.social · 4d

Anyone read anything… disgustingly out of touch and arguably dangerous about Portland lately?

A headline from the New York Times that reads: “What Happens When Socialists Are in Charge? Portland Offers a Glimpse.”

A headline from the Atlantic that reads: “Portland’s ‘War Zone’ Is Like Burning Man for the Terminally Online.”

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Michael Zapata @michaelzapata.bsky.social · 4d

The logic of fascism will always lead to this.

Michael Zapata @michaelzapata.bsky.social · 5d

If there are no consequences for this, then what are our rights but to be given or taken by the will of a ruler.

David Bier @davidjbier.bsky.social · 6d

Holy hell. DHS just openly stated that its agents use “reasonable suspicion” to make ARRESTS. This is blatantly unconstitutional. The Supreme Court is clear that you need probable cause to arrest someone, as opposed to stop them to ask them a question or two. This is huge b/c…

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Michael Zapata @michaelzapata.bsky.social · 5d

This is correct. This is the only way forward.

The Briefing with Jen Psaki @briefingwithpsaki.bsky.social · 5d

IL Congressional candidate Kat Abughazaleh: "I think Kristi Noem should have consequences. I think she should be tried at The Hague."

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Michael Zapata @michaelzapata.bsky.social · 5d

Thb there might be nothing to do but get off all major socials.

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Michael Zapata @michaelzapata.bsky.social · 5d

AI writing reports at Time Magazine about how to use AI to diagnose yourself is very dangerous and stupid.

web_rant @webrant.bsky.social · 5d

FUN FACT: Time Magazine is owned by Salesforce oligarch Marc Benioff. In June, Benioff said that AI is now doing 30% to 50% of his company's work.

bsky.app/profile/hype...

Hypervisible @hypervisible.blacksky.app · 5d

Re-up for the mid morning crew. Weirdly irresponsible article that barely mentions any of the risks of this behavior.

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Marisa Kabas @marisakabas.bsky.social · 6d

“They had a big, 15-inch chainsaw with round blade on it, cutting this fence down. We're under siege. We're being invaded by our own military."

The worst of what we feared when Trump’s spending bill gave ICE a blank check is happening.

ICE agents raid South Shore apartments; Trump says Chicago could become military training ground

ICE agents raided a South Shore apartment building overnight as the city braces for a possible military deployment.

abc7chicago.com

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Michael Zapata @michaelzapata.bsky.social · 7d

Come write and read with me! We’re gonna have a ton of fun!

StoryStudio Chicago @storystudiochicago.bsky.social · 7d

@michaelzapata.bsky.social's online Intensive Coaching Cohort kicks off in just two weeks. You do NOT want to miss this opportunity for six months of mentorship, feedback, and accountability. This is what you've been waiting for, #writers.

Here's all the info to sign up now: buff.ly/AoB8GYf

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Michael Zapata @michaelzapata.bsky.social · 7d

Beautiful!!! Huge felicidades to all!

Michael Zapata @michaelzapata.bsky.social · 7d

Huge felicidades to all! Nothing fills the heart like some hometown love!

Chicago Review of Books @chicagorevbooks.bsky.social · 7d

We are so thrilled to announce the shortlist for 2025 CHIRBys!!! Congratulations to all of our finalists 🥳🥳🥳

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