Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Mahesh Somashekhar @msoma.bsky.social · 14h

HAPPENING TODAY! Learn how to protect yourself from doxxing at the event below. The event caters to academics but is relevant to anyone concerned about being doxxed.

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Mahesh Somashekhar @msoma.bsky.social · 7d

On Tuesday, Oct. 7, @detentionwatchnetwork.org is hosting a virtual event to help folks in the U.S. learn how movements in El Salvador are fighting against authoritarianism and dictatorship. Registration link and more details can be found here: detentionwatchnetwork.app.neoncrm.com/np/clients/d...

El Salvador & US: People's Resistance | Resistencia del Pueblo

El Salvador: Resistance to fascism, detention & US imperialism

detentionwatchnetwork.app.neoncrm.com

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Mahesh Somashekhar @msoma.bsky.social · 20d

Yeah, I figured. There’s only so much that can be conveyed in 300 characters. I just wanted to make it explicit.

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Mahesh Somashekhar @msoma.bsky.social · 20d

I’m currently reading a book that discusses how the Nazis took only 38% of the popular vote in 1932. I grow more convinced by the day that people power is more necessary than reminding opposition leaders to get a backbone, unless by that you mean pressuring them to stand up to fascism.

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Mahesh Somashekhar @msoma.bsky.social · 23d

If you or someone you know is a Chicago-area parent whose children are between 5 and 15, please consider taking part in this study to share your experiences parenting during COVID! As someone who parented during the pandemic, I know I have lots of stories I can share.

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Mahesh Somashekhar @msoma.bsky.social · 29d

Concerned about racial profiling after the Supreme Court's decision to legalize it during immigration stops? Join a call TODAY at 7pm ET to learn more about the ruling as well as how you can help organize and protect vulnerable members of your community. Details here: www.mobilize.us/ndlon/event/...

National Emergency Call: The Supreme Court's Approval of Racial Profiling · National Day Laborer Organizing Network

The Supreme Court has lifted a lower court order that had temporarily halted the Trump Administration’s terrorizing raids in Los Angeles. The decision paves the way for racial profiling, false arrests...

www.mobilize.us

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Reposted by Mahesh Somashekhar

Society for the Scientific Study of Religion (SSSR) @sssreligion.bsky.social · Sep 4

New study using Baylor Religion Survey data finds nuanced links between Internet use and religiosity. Research by Laderi & Uecker suggests online gaming associated with holding atheist/agnostic beliefs; posting original content = more church attendance.
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...

Types of Internet Activity and the Religious Commitment of American Adults

This study addresses the ongoing debate surrounding the connection between Internet use and religious identity, belief, salience, and practices. Using data from the 2021 wave of the Baylor Religion S....

onlinelibrary.wiley.com

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Reposted by Mahesh Somashekhar

Maya Sen @mayasen.bsky.social · Sep 3

“The “silver tsunami” — the gradual exit of baby boomers from the housing market via downsizing, relocation or death — could significantly narrow the national supply gap.”

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

Opinion | Forget YIMBY. The housing shortage could disappear on its own.

Demographic shifts and construction surges are likely to resolve the housing crisis without federal intervention.

www.washingtonpost.com

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Mahesh Somashekhar @msoma.bsky.social · Aug 22

On Aug 28, as part of the conference below, I'll be presenting new work (co-authored w/ @ikennedy.bsky.social) on the geography of far-right retailers in the U.S.
ias.uva.nl/content/even...

To virtually attend, and to get the full schedule, contact @lauradupin.bsky.social. Hope to see you there!

Organizations and Urban Inequality - Institute for Advanced Study IAS

In this hybrid event prominent scholars from different disciplines (urban sociology, political science, management studies, geospatial studies, organizational studies) will discuss their upcoming contributions to an accepted forthcoming special issue of Urban Studies (eds. Floris Vermeulen, Laura Dupin and Mingshu Wang).

ias.uva.nl

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Reposted by Mahesh Somashekhar

Per Engzell @pengzell.bsky.social · Aug 21

Good to see growing support for abduction or 'inference to the best explanation', recently by Spirling and Stewart in @thejop.bsky.social. This is...

www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/full/10....

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Reposted by Mahesh Somashekhar

Stephen Vaisey 🇺🇦 @stephenvaisey.com · Aug 17

This is an incredible data source!

Alex Selby-Boothroyd @alexselbyb.bsky.social · Aug 17

Musician and data whizz Chris Dalla Riva has painstakingly compiled over 100 datapoints for every US Billboard Hot 100 Number One song since August 4th 1958, and it's now freely available here:

docs.google.com/spreadsheets...

Billboard Hot 100 Number Ones Database

docs.google.com

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Mahesh Somashekhar @msoma.bsky.social · Aug 10

Conferencing in Chicago? Come to my presentation on the rise of Christian Nationalist retailing. My presentation is part of the Association for the Sociology of Religion Meeting, Monday at 1:15 in the Michigan Room. Other presenters include @ruthbraunstein.bsky.social, Ryan Calder, & Courtney Irby!

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Mahesh Somashekhar @msoma.bsky.social · Aug 4

The ICE Detention Center Mapping Project is looking for volunteers to help contribute to a crowdsourced tracking website listing the locations of immigration detention centers, who runs them, and who may be held there. Details can be found here: www.unauthorizedcity.com/facilities

AJ Kim - ICE Detention Center Tracking Map — The Unauthorized City

Quarterly update on where detention centers are re-opening and how the numbers are increasing on a monthly basis. Use map to find addresses, total detainees, type of detention center, and other releva...

www.unauthorizedcity.com

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Reposted by Mahesh Somashekhar

ASA Int'l Migration @asamigration.bsky.social · Jul 28

Please join us for the following @asamigration.bsky.social events at #ASA2025 @asanews.bsky.social :

Sat, August 9th
1. Right-Wing Politics, Mobilities, and Immigrant Conservatism (co-sponsored w @asapolisoc.bsky.social ) 8:00 am to 9:30 am @sharonquinsaat.bsky.social & @thejesseyeh.bsky.social

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Mahesh Somashekhar @msoma.bsky.social · Jul 25

I also loved my conversation with @ruthbraunstein.bsky.social about the new research I’m doing w/ @ikennedy.bsky.social on Christian nationalist consumers. Read her Substack! If you want to read the full article that inspired our Q&A, the article can be found here: academic.oup.com/socrel/advan...

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Mahesh Somashekhar @msoma.bsky.social · Jul 21

If you study Latinos and are concerned about federal data being taken away, consider attending an Aug. 12th webinar held by the Latino Data Hub, which will introduce new users to its collection. Sign up here: ucla.zoom.us/webinar/regi...

Welcome! You are invited to join a webinar: Exploring the 2025 Latino Data Hub Updates. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email about joining the webinar.

At a time when federal data systems are being defunded, decommissioned, or delayed, public access to reliable, community-level information has never been more critical. Join the UCLA Latino Policy an...

ucla.zoom.us

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Reposted by Mahesh Somashekhar

APDU @apduorg.bsky.social · Jul 13

New study finds that, of those sampled, 49% of federal datasets were altered since January 2025, and the vast majority of those alterations were neither explained nor documented.
www.thelancet.com/journals/lan...

Data manipulation within the US Federal Government

A US Department of Veterans Affairs dataset compiling veteran health-care use in 2021 was quietly amended on March 5, 2025. A column titled gender was renamed sex, and the words were also switched in ...

www.thelancet.com

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Mahesh Somashekhar @msoma.bsky.social · Jul 11

If you're a citizen who is concerned about ICE rounding up day laborers and imprisoning them, consider adopting a day labor corner to help provide legal resources to day laborers vulnerable to arrest.

Details on how to get started here: ndlon.org/adopt-a-day-...

Adopt A Day Labor Corner – NDLON

The National Day Laborer Organizing Network is calling on the public to Adopt a Day Labor Corner. Please submit your information here.

ndlon.org

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Mahesh Somashekhar @msoma.bsky.social · Jun 30

Cities across Europe are getting rid of Microsoft products on their computers because they worry the company will give the U.S. government their data, or that Microsoft will stop their service at Trump's behest. www.zdnet.com/article/this...

This city is dumping Microsoft Office and Windows for OnlyOffice and Linux - here's why

A leading economic hub is replacing Windows and Microsoft Office with Linux and OnlyOffice.

www.zdnet.com

Reposted by Mahesh Somashekhar

Ian Kennedy (they/them) 🏳️‍⚧️ @ikennedy.bsky.social · Jun 28

Check out this new paper I'm on to learn about how Christian Nationalism is entering e-commerce. #sociology #academicsky

Mahesh Somashekhar @msoma.bsky.social · Jun 27

You know how Christian nationalism affects politics, but did you know it is a retailing movement too? In an new piece (w/ @ikennedy.bsky.social), we examine the marketing tactics of Christian nationalist retailers, who sell consumer goods to engage in a culture war. academic.oup.com/socrel/advan...

The Business of Christian Nationalism: Examining Retailers’ Self-Descriptions on a Conservative Christian Alternative to Amazon.com

Abstract. Although many scholars have examined the political, cultural, and religious dimensions of Christian nationalism, little research discusses it as

academic.oup.com

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Mahesh Somashekhar @msoma.bsky.social · Jun 27

You know how Christian nationalism affects politics, but did you know it is a retailing movement too? In an new piece (w/ @ikennedy.bsky.social), we examine the marketing tactics of Christian nationalist retailers, who sell consumer goods to engage in a culture war. academic.oup.com/socrel/advan...

The Business of Christian Nationalism: Examining Retailers’ Self-Descriptions on a Conservative Christian Alternative to Amazon.com

Abstract. Although many scholars have examined the political, cultural, and religious dimensions of Christian nationalism, little research discusses it as

academic.oup.com

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Mahesh Somashekhar @msoma.bsky.social · Jun 19

Data alert! A new website has compiled data on African-American wealth holdings broken out by geography and asset type. The website also includes case studies from specific towns and neighborhoods across the U.S. blackwealthdata.org

Black Wealth Data Center.

The Black Wealth Data Center was established to provide public and private sector leaders with actionable data intended to grow Black wealth.

blackwealthdata.org

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Mahesh Somashekhar @msoma.bsky.social · Jun 12

Read this terrific book! I was fortunate to read early drafts of several chapters, and if you care about both policing and residential segregation in cities, it will open your eyes to the many connections between the two.

Rahim Kurwa @rahimk.bsky.social · Jun 10

It's publication day for Indefensible Spaces: Policing and the Struggle for Housing, available in paper & free .epub! It traces a century of struggle over Los Angeles' periphery, culminating in the use of policing to expel and repress Black tenants. Here's a look at its chapters:

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Mahesh Somashekhar @msoma.bsky.social · Jun 10

Now more than ever, we need third places - places that aren't work or home where one can socialize and meet strangers, like bars.

But if a bar's cheapest drink is $20, is it really a third place for all?

To learn more and gain conceptual clarity, read this post! www.eater.com/24433384/wha...

There Is No True Third Place

When a third place can be everything from a bar to a mall to a luxury health club, does it even mean anything?

www.eater.com

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