Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Monisha Bajaj

@monishabajaj.bsky.social

5.6K followers 1.7K following 200 posts

Professor & scholar of peace, human rights, migration & education University of San Francisco (views posted here are my own) Debut picture book A YEAR OF KITES out in 2026 with Bloomsbury www.monishabajaj.net Pronouns: she/her/वह

Posts Media Videos Starter Packs

Pinned

Monisha Bajaj @monishabajaj.bsky.social · Apr 25

✨✨ COVER REVEAL ✨✨

Kites serve as a universal metaphor for hope, aspirations & transcendence across cultures 🪁

In A YEAR OF KITES - out Feb '26 w/
@bloomsburybooksus.bsky.social - we explore 12 different kite-flying traditions across the world

📚 Pre-order at bit.ly/yearofkites or a.co/d/1XS2IAJ

5 3 11

Monisha Bajaj @monishabajaj.bsky.social · 15h

A beautiful day of celebration to honor the 50th anniversary of our Department of International & Multicultural Education at the Univ of San Francisco @usfca-ime.bsky.social

Highlight was a talk by long time faculty member - scholar & author extraordinaire - Dr. Alma Flor Ada

@rmj12.bsky.social

Reposted by Monisha Bajaj

Governor Gavin Newsom @governor.ca.gov · 5d

I just signed legislation allowing the 800,000 rideshare workers in California to unionize.

California is determined to give working people a voice, to give them choice, give them dignity, and give them a say about their future.

Governor Newsom signs legislation allowing for rideshare workers in California to unionize.

180 2.1K 9.8K

Reposted by Monisha Bajaj

Zohran Kwame Mamdani @zohrankmamdani.bsky.social · 5d

This week, the Global Sumud Flotilla tried to deliver life-saving aid to Gaza.

Instead, 461 people—including New Yorkers—have been detained by the Israeli military.

They must be freed at once. And the deliberate starvation of Palestinians must end now.

76 1.8K 6.9K

Reposted by Monisha Bajaj

Charlotte Clymer @charlotteclymer.bsky.social · 6d

QT image of CNN headline “Retired teacher sentenced to death in Saudi Arabia after tweeting criticism” above tweet from Variety with headline of “Dave Chapelle Jokes ‘It’s Easier to Talk’ in Saudi Arabia ‘Than it Is in America’ While Performing at Riyadh Comedy Festival”

18 150 470

Reposted by Monisha Bajaj

Qasim Rashid, Esq. @qasimrashid.com · 6d

This is so indefensibly insane: Speaker Johnson is refusing to seat Congresswoman-elect Adelita Grijalva because she'll be the 218th vote to release the Epstein files. Johnson swore in Rep Walkinshaw (VA) w/in 24 hours.

Johnson is abandoning his job to instead protect a convicted child sex predator

760 4.8K 12K

Reposted by Monisha Bajaj

Governor Gavin Newsom @governor.ca.gov · 6d

IF ANY CALIFORNIA UNIVERSITY SIGNS THIS RADICAL AGREEMENT, THEY'LL LOSE BILLIONS IN STATE FUNDING — INCLUDING CAL GRANTS — INSTANTLY.

CALIFORNIA WILL NOT BANKROLL SCHOOLS THAT SELL OUT THEIR STUDENTS, PROFESSORS, RESEARCHERS, AND SURRENDER ACADEMIC FREEDOM.

New York Times: "Trump Administration Asks Colleges to Sign ‘Compact’ to Get Funding Preference."

The White House asked nine top universities to pledge support for President Trump’s agenda to help ensure access to research funding.

260 2K 7.4K

Reposted by Monisha Bajaj

Ida Bae Wells @nhannahjones.bsky.social · 6d

In case it wasn’t clear, the anti-DEI crusade has never been about merit. Zero news experience. Never been a reporter. Elevated to Editor in Chief of CBS News, one of the most storied news institutions in the nation. www.mediaite.com/media/news/p...

Paramount Officially Acquiring The Free Press and Making Bari Weiss CBS News Editor in Chief: Report

Paramount Skydance will be officially acquiring The Free Press and hiring its founder Bari Weiss as editor in chief of its CBS News division, with the deal to be announced this coming Monday, accordin...

www.mediaite.com

860 6K 16K

Reposted by Monisha Bajaj

Sherrilyn Ifill @sifill.bsky.social · 7d

Good.

Kyle Cheney @kyledcheney.bsky.social · 7d

JUST IN: A U.S. citizen from Alabama who has been detained twice by ICE while working at a construction site, has filed a class action suit claiming ICE's broad warrantless arrest powers violate the constitution. storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...

17 150 920

Monisha Bajaj @monishabajaj.bsky.social · 12d

“It is our duty to fight for our freedom.
It is our duty to win.
We must love each other and support each other.
We have nothing to lose but our chains.” RIP Assata Shakur

1 1

Monisha Bajaj @monishabajaj.bsky.social · 13d

“A Sikh grandmother who had lived in the US for more than 30 years, was deported to India Sept. 23, after spending a week in what her attorney called “barbaric” conditions at a private ICE detention center in Georgia”
americancommunitymedia.org/immigration/...

Grandmother Who Lived in US for 3 Decades Deported to India

Harjit Kaur, a seamstress who lived in San Francisco’s East Bay Area, was held by ICE in the harshest of conditions before being deported to India.

americancommunitymedia.org

1 4 6

Reposted by Monisha Bajaj

Elizabeth Warren @warren.senate.gov · 15d

Let's be clear: no one should be taking medical advice from the man who told Americans to inject bleach.

To moms worried about the Tylenol they took while pregnant: you deserve better than being RFK Jr's scapegoat.

And to the autism community: you are loved exactly as you are.

550 4.4K 16K

Reposted by Monisha Bajaj

Joshua Erlich @joshuaerlich.bsky.social · 16d

find me another Dem that wouldn't be too afraid to do this. seriously.

Ethan Stark-Miller @estarkmiller.bsky.social · 16d

EXCLU: @zohrankmamdani.bsky.social will announce today he is cancelling a televised town hall with WABC News planned for Sept. 25 in the wake of the network suspending comedian Jimmy Kimmel’s late-night show last week.
www.amny.com/news/mamdani...

EXCLUSIVE | Mamdani to pull planned ABC town hall event after network suspended Jimmy Kimmel’s show | amNewYork

Democratic mayoral nominee Zohran Mamdani will announce Monday that he is cancelling a televised town hall with WABC News planned for Sept. 25 in the wake of

www.amny.com

25 900 5.7K

Reposted by Monisha Bajaj

Wajahat Ali @wajali.bsky.social · 20d

Important piece here. Democrats should investigate this fully. Bring Carr for hearings. He is openly publicizing how he apparently broke the law and used the FCC on behalf of Trump to exort ABC.

newrepublic.com/article/2006...

Trump’s Ouster of Jimmy Kimmel Is Much Worse Than You Think It Is

Anna Gomez, the FCC’s lone Democratic commissioner, tells TNR that chairman Brendan Carr’s move violates both the First Amendment and the Communications Act. Democrats must extract consequences.

newrepublic.com

68 590 1.8K

Monisha Bajaj @monishabajaj.bsky.social · 19d

"United States President Donald Trump has signed a proclamation requiring a $100,000 application fee for companies seeking to sponsor workers H-1B visas.

Trump ...also introducing a separate “gold card” visa for individuals to pay $1 million to expedite their immigration."

Al Jazeera English @aljazeera.com · 19d

Fee paid by companies set to transform high-skill work visa system, upon which technology sector relies heavily.

Trump signs proclamation creating $100,000 application fee for H-1B visas

Fee paid by companies set to transform high-skill work visa system, upon which technology sector relies heavily.

bit.ly

1 1

Reposted by Monisha Bajaj

NPR @npr.org · 19d

After Jimmy Kimmel's show was suspended "indefinitely" for comments he made following Charlie Kirk's death, questions about free speech and just what is government censorship reach heightened levels.

Kimmel's suspension for Kirk comments sparks furor over free speech and censorship

After Jimmy Kimmel's show was suspended "indefinitely" for comments he made following Charlie Kirk's death, questions about free speech and just what is government censorship reach heightened levels.

n.pr

34 77 410

Reposted by Monisha Bajaj

Annie M Leonard @anniemleonard.bsky.social · 21d

Today is Constitution Day. Helluva day to cancel Jimmy Kimmel for making jokes the president didn’t like.
#freespeech

2 6

Reposted by Monisha Bajaj

Sherrilyn Ifill @sifill.bsky.social · 21d

Walking wounded. By the millions.

Saeed Jones @theferocity.bsky.social · 22d

“The study found that about 7% of US adults have been present at the scene of a mass shooting in their lifetime, and more than 2% have been injured during one.”

One in 15 Americans has witnessed a mass shooting – study

Report finds that 7% of Americans have been present at the scene of a mass shooting and 2% have been injured in one

www.theguardian.com

34 220 750

Reposted by Monisha Bajaj

Raul Pacheco-Vega @raulpachecovega.bsky.social · 23d

“Perfectionism is the voice of the oppressor, the enemy of the people. It will keep you cramped and insane your whole life, and it is the main obstacle between you and a shitty first draft."
-- Anne Lamott

#WritingSky #AcademicSky

2 14

Reposted by Monisha Bajaj

Haymarket Books @haymarketbooks.org · 23d

Pedagogies for Justice

Join Haymarket Books and Parceo for a discussion on how our pedagogies can ground our organizing in collective struggles for justice.

Wednesday, September 17 at 1 PM ET

RSVP: www.tickettailor.com/events/hayma...

Pedagogies for Justice: a Conversation with Educators and Organizers

Lesley Williams, Educator and writer

Mizue Aizeki, Collaborative Research Center for Resilience

Maya Suzuki Daniels, Educator and Organizer

Lara Kiswani: Arab Resource and Organizing Center (AROC)

Merrie Najimy, Veteran Anti-Racist Educator, MTA Rank And File for Palestine

Rebecca Vilkomerson, Funding Freedom

Nina Mehta, PARCEO

6 18

Reposted by Monisha Bajaj

Karen Attiah @karenattiah.bsky.social · 23d

Here's how to support my work:

I'll be teaching a version of my Columbia class on Race, Media and International Affairs 101 and 102 next month for @resistanceschool.bsky.social.

The course is online/ hybrid. Deadline is Sept. 19th! Sign up!

www.resistancesummerschool.com/fall-2025-re...

Fall Registration for Race, Media & International Affairs with Karen Attiah — Resistance Study Series

A virtual, seven week beginner and intermediate course on the history of race, mass media, and the modern world order.

www.resistancesummerschool.com

12 890 3.3K

Reposted by Monisha Bajaj

Randi Weingarten 🖇️📚✊🇺🇸 @rweingarten.bsky.social · 26d

Our members are doing everything they can to make sure schools are safe & welcoming for all students because we know that instability and fear caused by the Trump admin interfere with children’s ability to focus and learn while in school. www.edsurge.com/news/2025-09...

How Schools Are Helping Students Feel Safe Enough to Attend Amid Immigration Raids - EdSurge News

“What they see are their classmates, their family members, their neighbors often being apprehended in violent and confusing ways, and this for children ...

www.edsurge.com

1 14 34

Reposted by Monisha Bajaj

Emissary Of Night | ليلى @diplomatofnight.com · 26d

“In arguing for Mr. Netanyahu’s arrest, Mr. Mamdani noted that the Israeli prime minister had made military decisions while in New York that killed civilians in the Middle East.”

“‘This is something that I intend to fulfill,’ Mr. Mamdani said.”

Mamdani reiterates his pledge to arrest Netanyahu.

Mamdani, if Elected Mayor, Pledges to Order N.Y.P.D. to Arrest Netanyahu

www.nytimes.com

26 290 1.6K

Reposted by Monisha Bajaj

John Rogers @johnrogers.bsky.social · 27d

FWIW i’ve switched to @bookshop.org for ebooks and Libro for audio books and with very few exceptions had the exact same experience as Amazon without the greasy aftertaste. Highly recommended.

Libro.fm @libro.fm · 27d

When you find out about Libro.fm, an alternative to Amazon-owned Audible that’s 100% employee owned, a Certified B Corporation, and shares profits with 4,000+ independent bookshops 😍

17 330 880

Reposted by Monisha Bajaj

Matthew Reichbach @fbihop.press · 27d

Bad Bunny, one of the biggest musical artists in the world, said he avoided the US in his tour because he thought ICE would set up ouside his shows.

Bad Bunny Says He Didn’t Include U.S. in Tour Dates Due to Fear of ICE Raids

Bad Bunny explained that he left the United States off his tour itinerary for fear that ICE 'could be outside [my concert].'

variety.com

120 1.2K 5.2K

Reposted by Monisha Bajaj

Zohran Kwame Mamdani @zohrankmamdani.bsky.social · 27d

"Even in a contest against men twice his age, Mamdani has begun to sound like the adult in the room on issues of public safety, offering detailed, thoughtful policy proposals."

🙏 @errollouis.bsky.social

Mamdani’s New Ideas on Crime Show Make His Opponents Look Old

What he understands and they don’t.

nymag.com

130 1.5K 9K