Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Melissa Gray @msgray.bsky.social · 13h

Some spicy takes on Mr. Bennett, btw.

Melissa Gray @msgray.bsky.social · 13h

Escaped to the Regency Era for the Jane Austen Society of North America’s annual convention. Learned English Country Dancing and cravat tying. Spoke to many about Mr. Darcy, Lizzie, Anne Elliot, Emma, Mrs. Jennings and fell in love with my job all over again.

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Melissa Gray @msgray.bsky.social · 14h

Anna Bower @annabower.bsky.social · 23h

Paul Ingrassia, Trump’s nominee to lead the office investigating Jack Smith, has recently been investigated for harassing a colleague, Politico reports.

“Eventually the woman discovered that Ingrassia had arranged ahead of time to have her hotel room canceled so she would have to stay with him..”

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POLITICO
By DANIEL LIPPMAN
10/09/2025 08:22 PM EDT
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In late July, Paul Ingrassia, the White House liaison for the Department of Homeland Security, arrived at a Ritz-Carlton in Orlando with a lower-ranking female colleague and others from their department. When the group reached the front desk, the woman learned she didn't have a hotel room.
Ingrassia then informed her that she would be staying with him, according to five administration officials familiar with the episode. Eventually the woman discovered that Ingrassia had arranged ahead of time to have her hotel room canceled so she would have to stay with him, three of those officials said.

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Melissa Gray @msgray.bsky.social · 2d

This is important to keep in mind.

Amanda Carpenter @amandacarpenter.bsky.social · 2d

A good point here. It's important to remember Nat Guard troops didn't sign up for this sort of deployment. They are entirely different from new ICE recruits.

bsky.app/profile/rade...

Ben Raderstorf @raders.bsky.social · 2d

Texas National Guard troops arriving in Chicago (via ABC News)

Remember: These are not MAGA stormtroopers. These are everyday teachers and accountants who signed up to serve their country with their spare time. They're being used as political pawns by venal, un-American, draft-dodging president

Melissa Gray @msgray.bsky.social · 4d

wapo.st/46VhHs3

Stephen Voss is an excellent photographer and photojournalist.

Opinion | The data center capital

Among cemeteries, baseball fields and homes, these Northern Virginia buildings power the internet.

wapo.st

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Melissa Gray @msgray.bsky.social · 11d

chicago.suntimes.com/immigration/...

Feds march into downtown Chicago; top border agent says people are arrested based on ‘how they look’

Immigration agents wearing tactical gear and carrying long guns made arrests in downtown Chicago and the River North neighborhood Sunday. “This is not making anybody safer — it’s a show of intimidatio...

chicago.suntimes.com

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Melissa Gray @msgray.bsky.social · 18d

www.pbs.org/newshour/pol...

OB-GYN group calls Trump's remarks on acetaminophen 'irresponsible'

The president of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists said Monday that suggestions that Tylenol use in pregnancy causes autism are “irresponsible when considering the harmful and co...

www.pbs.org

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Reposted by Melissa Gray

Dr. Vin Gupta @vinguptamd.bsky.social · 18d

Tylenol use is safe in pregnancy, lowest effective dose.

Don’t listen to the utter nonsense emanating from the highest office in the land today.

Speak to your medical provider.

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Melissa Gray @msgray.bsky.social · 22d

The last few weeks, they’ve cycled through -

The Beach Boys
BB King
Fleetwood Mac
Stevie Ray Vaughan
Willie Nelson (you know he’s kind of a cowboy hippie, right?)
Ray Charles
Toby Keith
Fleetwood Mac pre-Buckingham Nicks

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Melissa Gray @msgray.bsky.social · 22d

My boys bidding me “ah haer haer haer” as they left for school today because they listened to ZZ Top was just one thing not on my bingo card…

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Reposted by Melissa Gray

David Folkenflik @davidfolkenflik.bsky.social · 23d

NPR to trim $5 million as some public radio stations struggle to pay bills

My story for NPR

NPR cuts $5 million as public radio stations struggle to pay bills

www.npr.org/2025/09/17/n...

NPR to trim $5 million this year as public radio stations struggle to pay bills

NPR plans to make trims totaling more than $5 million over the course of the coming fiscal year to bring its annual budget into balance. Meanwhile, local stations are asking for more help.

www.npr.org

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Melissa Gray @msgray.bsky.social · 24d

About sums it up.

Reposted by Melissa Gray

Sherrilyn Ifill @sifill.bsky.social · 26d

This may explain why there’s an aggressive response to people who merely post Kirk’s own words. It threatens the existence of the alternate Kirk - the motivational speaker that had been marketed to young kids and white Christian groups through selective quotation & clips.

ML @mlpoole.bsky.social · 26d

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Reposted by Melissa Gray

The Bulwark @thebulwark.com · Sep 10

"You aren't in a free country if you can't feel safe to express your views, whether they be far right or far left or in the middle or pro-Trump or anti-Trump."

@timmiller.bsky.social and @sarahlongwell25.bsky.social: www.thebulwark.com/p/were-in-a-...

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Reposted by Melissa Gray

The Washington Post @washingtonpost.com · Sep 9

Doctors, pharmacies and state health departments are scrambling to adapt to the confusion over the coronavirus vaccine that is no longer broadly recommended.

Here are some tips on getting your shot — and navigating the uncertainty:

How to get a coronavirus vaccine and who’s eligible amid limited access

Here’s what to know about navigating pharmacies, doctors, insurance companies and the government when trying to get updated coronavirus vaccines.

www.washingtonpost.com

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Melissa Gray @msgray.bsky.social · Sep 8

Maybe the WH cage match is between Pulte and Bessett?

Kai Ryssdal @kairyssdal.bsky.social · Sep 8

Everything’s fine

Michael Derby @michaelsderby.bsky.social · Sep 8

Bessent versus Pulte in Politico: "'Why the fuck are you talking to the president about me? Fuck you,' Bessent told Pulte. 'I’m gonna punch you in your fucking face.'"

Melissa Gray @msgray.bsky.social · Sep 8

My Name Is Earl

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Melissa Gray @msgray.bsky.social · Sep 3

www.npr.org/2025/09/02/n...

Trump administration blocks groups from voter registration at naturalization events

Nongovernmental groups like the League of Women Voters are now barred from registering new voters at naturalization ceremonies, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services has announced.

www.npr.org

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Melissa Gray @msgray.bsky.social · Aug 31

www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/202...

Opinion | Trump is wrong about what American workers want from him

Survey shows workers don’t fear immigrants taking their jobs. They don’t care about trade policy. They just want lower prices and affordable housing.

www.washingtonpost.com

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Melissa Gray @msgray.bsky.social · Aug 29

Monday was week 3. So 21 + 4.

25 million for just the National Guard.

www.cnn.com/2025/08/28/p... National Guard deployment: Experts estimate deployment in DC is costing roughly $1 million a day | CNN Politics

Experts estimate National Guard deployment in DC is costing roughly $1 million a day | CNN Politics

The ongoing National Guard mission in Washington, DC, as part of President Donald Trump’s crime crackdown in the city, is costing roughly $1 million a day, experts estimated to CNN.

www.cnn.com

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Reposted by Melissa Gray

Aaron Reichlin-Melnick @reichlinmelnick.bsky.social · Aug 28

🚨Border Patrol arrested two firefighters who were actively fighting a wildfire at the time.

When the other members of the crew asked for a chance to say goodbye, a Border Patrol agent told the crew member “you need to get the f*ck out of here. I’m going to make you leave.”