Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Reposted

Simon Rosenberg @simonrosenberg.bsky.social · May 7

"When politicians belong to a version of Christianity that pursues (rather than aims to avoid) apocalypse, or perceives some community members as literally demonic, we need to know."
@lucyham.bsky.social on extremist cults spreading hate & undermining democracy.
johnmenadue.com/post/2025/05...

Tackling Christian extremism in Australian politics

The election campaign was fraught. Reports of violent interactions at booths have circulated in recent polls.

johnmenadue.com

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Caitlin Johnstone @caitoz.bsky.social · May 5

Israel Will Even Persecute Palestinians For Simply Talking To Journalists

Israelis not only murder journalists, attack journalistic institutions and block journalists from entering Gaza, they also persecute Palestinian civilians who speak with journalists.
www.caitlinjohnst.one/p/israel-wil...

Israel Will Even Persecute Palestinians For Simply Talking To Journalists

Notes From The Edge Of The Narrative Matrix

www.caitlinjohnst.one

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mrslecouteur.bsky.social @mrslecouteur.bsky.social · May 4

I would add, if they were smart they would recognise the Greens voter preferences that contributed to their win, and respond accordingly; they can’t benefit from these votes and then ignore them.

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mrslecouteur.bsky.social @mrslecouteur.bsky.social · May 4

👍 I scrutineered in a polling booth where the primaries were (if I recall correctly) Greens: 611. ALP: 532. Lib: 253. The AEC called for a 2CP count (ALP/Lib) and the ALP received the vast majority of the Greens preferences. The seat went to the ALP, but those Greens votes count!

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Pearls and Irritations @johnmenadue.com · May 4

There is nothing remotely “healthy” about warmongering, “othering” vulnerable human beings including children, supporting the obscene wealth of weapons manufacturers. @stephaniedowric #auspol

Sustaining hope when war is normalised

What follows is a link to my talk given on 24 April at the Canberra gathering of the Medical Association for the Prevention of War.

johnmenadue.com

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mrslecouteur.bsky.social @mrslecouteur.bsky.social · May 4

It’s time for the Australian Government - particularly the #ALP #AlbaneseGovernment - to face facts about the real cost of continuing to bend to the fossil fuel lobby and start working harder for #climatejustice

#LockTheGate #EndFossilFuels #AtlasNetworkOut

Royce Kurmelovs @roycerk2.bsky.social · May 4

Scientists have linked fossil fuel companies to specific climate harms for the first time, with five Australian oil, gas and coal companies potentially responsible for $900bn in loss and damage from extreme heat alone.

Latest from me in The Guardian this morning.

Cost of emissions from five major Australian resource companies more than $900bn, study finds

US researchers link BHP, Rio Tinto, Santos, Whitehaven Coal and Woodside Energy to specific climate harms over three decades

www.theguardian.com

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mrslecouteur.bsky.social @mrslecouteur.bsky.social · May 4

This is why we have to continue to resist the march of #AtlasNetwork across Australia. We had a small win over the weekend, but it’s not enough. The ALP has demonstrated they are incapable of holding back the polluting tide of mis/disinformation. We need to support politicians & local reps who are!

Dr Jeremy Walker @jeremywalker.bsky.social · May 4

"#Greens MP & candidates faced a barrage of negative ads from right-wing campaigners Advance & [..] Australian Institute for Progress. "

Memo to @lenoret.bsky.social

Missing vital info: AIP an #AtlasNetwork member org, Advance formed by IPA, CIS and coal $$$

www.theguardian.com/australia-ne...

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mrslecouteur.bsky.social @mrslecouteur.bsky.social · May 4

I scrutineered in a Melb polling booth with strong Greens support. While Greens primaries were not enough to win the seat, on the 2CP count the Greens votes gave a HUGE number of votes to the ALP & sent a powerful anti-fossil fuels message to the Albanese Govt. #TheGreensInAction

Anthony Klan @anthonyklan.bsky.social · May 4

🚨Disinformation group "Advance" – funded by fossil fuels megamillionaires and the Liberal Party – says it's "destroyed the Greens".

The "victory lap" coincides with fossil fuels giants repeating its talking points, calling on ALP to "step on the gas"...
theklaxon.com.au/wxh4

We "destroyed" Greens: Megamillionaire disinformation group "Advance" - The Klaxon

The group that ran the “No” campaign against the Indigenous Voice to parliament — funded by the Liberal Party and fossil fuels multimillionaires — claims to have “destroyed” the Greens.

theklaxon.com.au

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Lucy Hamilton @lucyham.bsky.social · May 3

#auspol #ausvotes #Ausvotes25

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Lucy Hamilton @lucyham.bsky.social · May 3

From a Queenslander: “Ali France, all through the personal tragedy, on a prosthetic leg, has walked every street and business for 3 elections. She deserves to win.”
So deeply ecstatic to see the man who chose division and harm at every turn get beaten 🤞 by this amazing woman. #auspol #Ausvotes

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mrslecouteur.bsky.social @mrslecouteur.bsky.social · May 4

“Israel has been seeking ways to purge Gaza of Palestinians for generations. […] How is this not the whole entire conversation every time Gaza comes up? How is this not the beginning, middle and end of every single discussion? “
- Caitlin Johnstone

Caitlin Johnstone @caitoz.bsky.social · May 4

It Was Never About Hostages. It Was Never About Hamas.

There is absolutely no excuse for continuing to babble about hostages and Hamas after the US and Israel said the goal is the complete ethnic cleansing of Gaza. They told you what this is really about.
www.caitlinjohnst.one/p/it-was-nev...

It Was Never About Hostages. It Was Never About Hamas.

Listen to a reading of this article (reading by Tim Foley):

www.caitlinjohnst.one

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mrslecouteur.bsky.social @mrslecouteur.bsky.social · May 3

Just a few words that feature in this DeSmog look at The Mont Pelerin Society and its funders, key people and members.

#AtlasNetwork #montpelerinsociety #TimWilson #JohnHoward #organisedneoliberalism #climatedenialism #instituteofpublicaffairs

#bootatlasnetworkout

www.desmog.com/mont-pelerin...

Mont Pelerin Society

The Mont Pelerin Society (MPS) Background The Mont Pelerin Society (MPS) was created in 1947 by the free market economist and philosopher Friedrich von Hayek and advocates “classical liberalism,” an i...

www.desmog.com

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mrslecouteur.bsky.social @mrslecouteur.bsky.social · May 3

Have you ever looked at The Mont Pelerin Society and its membership list? Some familiar names?

www.desmog.com/mont-pelerin...

Mont Pelerin Society

The Mont Pelerin Society (MPS) Background The Mont Pelerin Society (MPS) was created in 1947 by the free market economist and philosopher Friedrich von Hayek and advocates “classical liberalism,” an i...

www.desmog.com

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mrslecouteur.bsky.social @mrslecouteur.bsky.social · May 2

I am so sickened by my relentless inability to respond in words rather than heart-reacting to the intolerable suffering of humans. There can be no words or “reactions” other than outrage and fury.

mrslecouteur.bsky.social @mrslecouteur.bsky.social · May 2

It’s so disheartening and, frankly, terrifying to realise that those of us who have come to believe that the major parties have been hijacked and our politicians are no longer the decision makers are far from conspiracy theorists: sadly we are the realists in the room!

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mrslecouteur.bsky.social @mrslecouteur.bsky.social · May 2

Thanks so much for the work that you & other rigorous, ethical, dedicated & determined journalists are doing to raise awareness of the remarkable work being done by scholars like Jeremy Walker and Lucy Hamilton to bring to light the insidious actions of the Atlas Network & its puppets in Australia.

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mrslecouteur.bsky.social @mrslecouteur.bsky.social · May 2

I just ran a small survey at the #kooyong polling booth in Kew Junction. I asked six Liberal HTV volunteers if they were aware of the Atlas Network & its influence within the party they represent. All indicated “no” so I suggested they read some of your work & that of Lucy Hamilton.

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mrslecouteur.bsky.social @mrslecouteur.bsky.social · May 1

A vote for the Liberal Party of Australia is a vote for the #AtlasNetwork and the destructive and noxious actions, values and beliefs held by individuals, politicians, governments, organisations aligned with it.
#VoteAtlasOutOfAustralia

youtu.be/reKQTQ2TWOE

How the Atlas Network Destroys Democracy

YouTube video by Daily MindBrew

youtu.be

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Digital Warrior - Combat Disinfo @digitalwarrior.bsky.social · Apr 30

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There’s a hidden force attacking democracy worldwide.Not a nation.Not a party. A vast network of think tanks funded by billionaires & fossil fuel giants. It’s called the Atlas Network. And it’s quietly dismantling freedom. 🎥 youtu.be/reKQTQ2TWOE
#Voices4Victory #DemVoice1 #USDemocracy #ProudBlue

How the Atlas Network Destroys Democracy

YouTube video by Daily MindBrew

youtu.be

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mrslecouteur.bsky.social @mrslecouteur.bsky.social · Apr 30

Absolutely crazy! And surely the action only appeals to a dwindling number of ostriches who still believe that the party represents them (rather than 1% of the population and the #AtlasNetwork).

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mrslecouteur.bsky.social @mrslecouteur.bsky.social · Apr 30

Brilliant!

Sally McManus @sallymcmanus.bsky.social · Apr 29

Exclusive video of the good people of the south coast scoping out the area for a potential nuclear reactor which happened to be where Peter Dutton was to have his press conference. Siren, Geiger counter and all

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Lucy Hamilton @lucyham.bsky.social · Apr 28

So much trash in our political space and so much dark money. Albo’s crew flubbed dealing with both these critical threats to our democratic process. Lots of interlinking with and/or copycat work - #AtlasNetwork #Auspol

theconversation.com/what-politic...

What political ads are Australians seeing online? Astroturfing, fake grassroots groups, and outright falsehoods

New data shows how groups with benign-sounding names like ‘Mums for Nuclear’ are running political ad campaigns online. But they don’t even have to be truthful.

theconversation.com

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mrslecouteur.bsky.social @mrslecouteur.bsky.social · Apr 30

Watching the behaviour of Amelia Hamer’s team here in #kooyong makes clear that they DO think they own the seat. Wasting time and money to take Boroondara Council to court today to fight for their “right” to line the footpaths around the Kew Polling booth with her signs. Entitled bullies.

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mrslecouteur.bsky.social @mrslecouteur.bsky.social · Apr 30

This behaviour simply affirms that they are entitled bullies who are fighting to protect the rights of 1% of the population. It brings back memories of Josh thinking that the charities laws didn’t apply to him when he used The Guide Dogs to spruik his campaign.

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Ken @kenzime.bsky.social · Apr 29

Please look across the ditch, our economy is in tatters, public services destroyed, unemployment rapidly climbing, cost of living untenable and now we are faced with an austerity budget like we haven't seen in decades.
Don't make the same mistake.
#Auspol

Lucy Hamilton @lucyham.bsky.social · Apr 29

Hey #Auspol
This is a warning from #NZpol
Our future can be what the #AtlasNetwork in government is doing to NZ/Ao (and the US).

Or we can have a government that wants to govern. The Atlas-linked parties know their job is to open up the coffers for their mates to pillage.

Flawed > ruthless

As a NZer I find your articles so interesting as Australia soon faces the choice between a government like we now have here - callous, racist, misogynist and corrupt - and a government that isn't perfect but at least aims to put people and planet over corporate greed and profit for the already wealthy.
Any Australian voters who are thinking they need change for the sake of change should be very careful what they
wish for!

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