Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Reposted by Joseph O'Sullivan

Taniel @taniel.bsky.social · 13h

JUST IN: The Republican Mayor of Fairbanks, Alaska’s second biggest city, lost re-election last night to a Democrat.

Mayor David Pruhs is a conservative who fought protections for LGBTQ+ residents; he made comments this year drew condemnation this year from Alaska Natives. He lost to Mindy O'Neall.

110 1.8K 7.8K

Reposted by Joseph O'Sullivan

Carl Quintanilla @carlquintanilla.bsky.social · 1d

“.. On closer inspection, however, it turned out that the image was not a photograph of a real event in Portland, but instead a fabrication created by combining two photographs of scenes that unfolded in South America nearly a decade apart ..”

@theguardian.com
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...

720 7.5K 14K

Joseph O'Sullivan @olympiajoe.bsky.social · 1d

Completely anecdotal, but you hear that kind of stuff from the left, too. There's a goodly chunk of people out there who wouldn't mind seeing bad things happen to the people they don't like. But they have no interest in doing it themselves.

2

Joseph O'Sullivan @olympiajoe.bsky.social · 1d

Spoke to a landscaper yesterday in ruby-red Ocean County NJ. He knows I live on the west coast; he supports the military going into PDX.

He went on to reminisce about the 1970 hard hat riots where construction workers beat the shit out of war protesters in NYC. He wouldn't mind if it happened again

G Elliott Morris @gelliottmorris.com · 1d

Why most polls overstate support for political violence
www.gelliottmorris.com/p/most-polls...

Why most polls overstate support for political violence

Misperceptions about the popularity of violence increase public support for it — but you can help change that.

www.gelliottmorris.com

1 4

Joseph O'Sullivan @olympiajoe.bsky.social · 1d

This guy snuck past security to get to the press offices a few years ago, where he delivered donuts to myself & Austin Jenkins of public radio.

One of those conversations where the first couple minutes seemed normal enough. And got weirder as it went.

www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news...

Intruder damages ‘facilities and historical artifacts’ in WA Capitol, governor says

The break-in damaged "priceless" artifacts in the State Reception Room. A judge declined to set bail for the suspect but ordered a mental health evaluation.

www.seattletimes.com

5

Reposted by Joseph O'Sullivan

Philip Bump @pbump.com · 2d

Wrote about competing visions of what makes America America through the lens of “One Battle After Another”.

The corrosive rigidity of fascism

Is America something fixed or something fluid? Is it a country founded on a perfect set of ideas or a country that has struggled to become perfect? Is it a system that works or one that sputters, one ...

www.pbump.net

1 16 110

Joseph O'Sullivan @olympiajoe.bsky.social · 2d

'U.S. District Judge Karin J. Immergut said the government appeared to be directly defying her previous temporary restraining order from a day earlier blocking the administration from sending Oregon’s National Guard to the city by instead deploying members of California’s Guard.'

wapo.st/46JxGJu

Judge deals Trump new setback in plans to deploy troops to Portland

U.S. District Judge Karin J. Immergut temporarily blocked the administration from sending any state’s National Guard troops under federal control to Portland.

wapo.st

1 4

Reposted by Joseph O'Sullivan

Minnesota Star Tribune @startribune.com · 3d

“These leaked messages make it blatantly clear that the decision to send troops to Portland is based on political optics, not safety,” said U.S. Rep. Suzanne Bonamici, D-Ore.

‘Dangerous and un-American’: Politicians deride Trump administration over leaked messages on deploying Army to Portland

Several Democrats in Minnesota and Oregon criticized the administration this weekend, responding to an exclusive report by the Minnesota Star Tribune.

bit.ly

14 230 560

Reposted by Joseph O'Sullivan

Shane Burley (Blue Sky Edition) @shaneburley.bsky.social · 3d

For those lucky enough to not know this is a neo-Nazi meme normally found on TRS and the Daily Stormer being shared by the official DHS account.

48 870 2.1K

Reposted by Joseph O'Sullivan

The Oregonian @oregonian.com · 5d

Federal officer blasts chemical spray into vocal but nonviolent Portland protester, video shows

The interaction illustrates how federal law enforcement officers do use aggressive tactics against protesters who yell and needle officers but don’t appear to present clear physical threats.

440 3.4K 6.3K

Joseph O'Sullivan @olympiajoe.bsky.social · 3d

Judge temporarily blocks Trump administration from deploying troops in Portland, OR -

'She said the relatively small protests the city has seen did not justify the use of federalized forces and allowing the deployment could harm Oregon’s state sovereignty.'

www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news...

Judge temporarily blocks Trump administration from deploying troops in Portland, Oregon

A federal judge in Oregon has temporarily blocked President Donald Trump’s administration from deploying the National Guard in Portland.

www.seattletimes.com

5

Joseph O'Sullivan @olympiajoe.bsky.social · 4d

What does the death of PBS mean for journalism & democracy?

Wrote a piece on the demise of my newsroom, Cascade PBS Newsroom, and what comes next.

My substack will always be free - sign up and read away.

open.substack.com/pub/olympiaj...

Politicians killed my (your) newsroom

The closure of Cascade PBS means less investigative reporting on government, business and society in Washington state. Just how powerful people want it.

open.substack.com

1 3

Joseph O'Sullivan @olympiajoe.bsky.social · 7d

Our PBS newsroom in Washington got shuttered by presidential decree.

My colleagues & friends getting laid off.

Here's their layoff fund -- please donate if you have the means to help!

www.gofundme.com/f/support-ca...

Donate to Support Cascade PBS journalists after online newsroom axed, organized by Isabella Breda

On Monday, Sept. 22, Cascade PBS announced that it would be s… Isabella Breda needs your support for Support Cascade PBS journalists after online newsroom axed

www.gofundme.com

1 4 13

Reposted by Joseph O'Sullivan

John Ryan @heyjohnryan.bsky.social · 16d

A dark day for Northwest journalism: @cascadepbs.bsky.social is axing the @cascadepbsnewsroom.bsky.social, laying off 17 people, per internal memo obtained by @kuow.org.

Cascade PBS got ~10% of its budget from Corp. for Public Broadcasting. Unclear why its whole newsroom had to be axed.

3 23 48

Reposted by Joseph O'Sullivan

Rebecca Hansen-White @becannew.bsky.social · 16d

Crosscut/cascade pbs is an essential part of the PNW's journalism ecosystem, and writers their have for years, consistently asked WA leaders hard questions. Truly unbelievable.

Katie Campbell, KUOW @katiecampbell.bsky.social · 16d

Devastating news for local journalism.

Seattle's Cascade PBS announces layoffs, end of online long-form journalism

The move, attributed to the loss of federal funding for public media, marks the layoffs of 17 staffers and the creation of three new positions, station President and CEO Rob Dunlop told KUOW.

www.kuow.org

4 9

Reposted by Joseph O'Sullivan

Meade Krosby @meadekrosby.bsky.social · 16d

That this is happening at a Seattle-based PBS station does not bode well for rural stations. What a huge loss for the Northwest.

John Ryan @heyjohnryan.bsky.social · 16d

A dark day for Northwest journalism: @cascadepbs.bsky.social is axing the @cascadepbsnewsroom.bsky.social, laying off 17 people, per internal memo obtained by @kuow.org.

Cascade PBS got ~10% of its budget from Corp. for Public Broadcasting. Unclear why its whole newsroom had to be axed.

2 17 57

Reposted by Joseph O'Sullivan

Katie Campbell, KUOW @katiecampbell.bsky.social · 16d

Devastating news for local journalism.

Seattle's Cascade PBS announces layoffs, end of online long-form journalism

The move, attributed to the loss of federal funding for public media, marks the layoffs of 17 staffers and the creation of three new positions, station President and CEO Rob Dunlop told KUOW.

www.kuow.org

8 77 160

Joseph O'Sullivan @olympiajoe.bsky.social · 16d

The loss of Cascade PBS -- my former newsroom -- will deprive Washingtonians of accountability journalism that kept an eye on government and corporate power. For shame.

Erica C. Barnett @ericacbarnett.bsky.social · 16d

BREAKING: Cascade PBS, which operates the website Crosscut, is laying off 19 people, reportedly including its entire news staff. In an email to staff, CEO Rob Dunlop blamed federal cuts, saying the nonprofit is "winding down our longform, written journalism."

2 10

Reposted by Joseph O'Sullivan

Trish Murphy @trishmurphy.bsky.social · 18d

This administration is asking journalists to regurgitate not report.

The New York Times @nytimes.com · 18d

The Pentagon said on Friday that it would require journalists to pledge not to gather or use any information that had not been formally authorized for release or risk losing their credentials to cover the military.

Pentagon Expands Its Restrictions on Reporter Access

www.nytimes.com

1 2 3

Joseph O'Sullivan @olympiajoe.bsky.social · 18d

for a 21st century working artist, these figures check out

2

Reposted by Joseph O'Sullivan

Kevin Elliott @kjephd.bsky.social · 19d

Biggest story in the world, told in the mainstream press perfectly well:

AP/PBS headline: TRUMP'S MOVES AGAINST MEDIA OUTLETS MIRROR AUTHORITARIAN APPROACHES TO SILENCING DISSENT

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

Trump's moves against media outlets mirror authoritarian approaches to silencing dissent

Since taking office in January, President Donald Trump has waged an aggressive campaign against the media unlike any in modern U.S. history, making moves similar to those of authoritarian leaders that...

www.pbs.org

59 890 2.9K

Joseph O'Sullivan @olympiajoe.bsky.social · 19d

ESSAY: The House on Pacific Avenue

The Black neighborhood in Barnegat, NJ, dates at least to the late 1800s. Was it part of the underground railroad too?

When locals think of Barnegat & race, the memories more often go to the KKK.

Substack's free, always:

open.substack.com/pub/olympiaj...

The House on Pacific Avenue

The underground railroad, the KKK and the questions that linger in a Jersey Shore town.

open.substack.com

2

Joseph O'Sullivan @olympiajoe.bsky.social · Aug 21

Available in super cool stores up & down the shore, or available via paypal:

eightstonepress.com/where-to-buy/

Where to Buy

BEACH BADGE is available from these fine establishments: Asbury Book Cooperative (Asbury Park, NJ | Instagram) – An independent, community-run bookstore that serves as a literary hub and comm…

eightstonepress.com

Joseph O'Sullivan @olympiajoe.bsky.social · Aug 21

Former KKK grand wizard David Duke came to Barnegat, N.J. to declare his bid for the presidency. That same town was rumored to have a stop on the underground railroad.

Notebook dump on my essay, The House on Pacific Avenue, out now in Beach Badge #7.

olympiajoe.substack.com/p/the-day-da...

The Day David Duke Came to Town

In 1979, the former KKK grand wizard came to Barnegat, N.J., to announce his candidacy for president. Rumors have also persisted that the underground railroad was there - in a house I once worked on.

olympiajoe.substack.com

1 1 1

Joseph O'Sullivan @olympiajoe.bsky.social · Aug 12

Teamed up with my childhood friend Michael McCarthy, whose lightning shot from the bridge absolutely floored me.

His father was the Asbury Park Press's Ocean County photog for decades, and Mike used some of that equipment.

2