Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Reposted by Rachel Fudge

David Roberts @volts.wtf · Sep 3

The biggest scandal in US public life *ought* to be that we are the richest country in history & yet our infrastructure sucks, our transportation choices suck, our cities suck, our healthcare sucks, our public administration sucks, & in dozens of little ways, our daily lives suck.

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Rachel Fudge @rachelfudge.bsky.social · Sep 4

This is an incredible opportunity to get feedback from some of the best editors around. Don’t miss it!

Tanya Gold | Editor & Translator 💕📚 (they/iel) @tanyagold.bsky.social · Sep 3

Want to get feedback from a professional editor on the opening pages of your #QueerSFF novel?

This year, @spacemagiccon.bsky.social has created that opportunity for you!

Submit your novel's opening pages to apply for a one-to-one session. ⬇

forms.gle/vaqPkKYwM1ex...

#RSM2025 🌈📚🪐 #WriterSky

A graphic for the Opening Pages Critiques at the Rainbow Space Magic Convention. It includes the con dates, October 4 to 5, the URL RainbowSpaceMagic.org, and headshots of the participating editors, Brenna Bailey-Davies, Genevieve Clovis, Alex Crawley, and Tanya Gold.

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Soraya Nadia McDonald @sorayanadiamcdonald.com · Aug 1

Public media is really special. Shame, shame, shame on this regime and its campaign to make everyone scared, obedient, and stupid. They are stealing from all of us and from our futures. Despicable.

Phil Lewis @phillewis.bsky.social · Aug 1

The Corporation for Public Broadcasting is shutting down operations after loss of federal funding:

The Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) announced today that it will begin an orderly wind-down of its operations following the passage of a federal rescissions package and the release of the Senate Appropriations Committee’s FY 2026 Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies (Labor-H) appropriations bill, which excludes funding for CPB for the first time in more than five decades.

For nearly 60 years, CPB has carried out its Congressional mission to build and sustain a trusted public media system that informs, educates, and serves communities across the country. Through partnerships with local stations and producers, CPB has supported educational content, locally relevant journalism, emergency communications, cultural programming, and essential services for Americans in every community.

“Despite the extraordinary efforts of millions of Americans who called, wrote, and petitioned Congress to preserve federal funding for CPB, we now face the difficult reality of closing our operations,” said CPB President and CEO Patricia Harrison. “CPB remains committed to fulfilling its fiduciary responsibilities and supporting our partners through this transition with transparency and care.”

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Rachel Fudge @rachelfudge.bsky.social · Jul 17

The em dash (aka “the OG vibe shift”) speaks up.

The Em Dash Responds to the AI Allegations

“In recent months, a curious fixation has emerged in corners of academia: the em dash. More specifically, the apparent moral panic around how it is...

www.mcsweeneys.net

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NightMar on Hicks Street, Part 4: The Rabbit’s Revenge @histoftech.bsky.social · Jul 15

This is like those treeless house developments where they clearcut all the trees and then name the roads after them.

ChatGPT spits out these words because the stolen labor products it was trained on consisted in large part of academics’ writing.

Scientific American @sciam.bsky.social · Jul 14

Words frequently used by ChatGPT, including “delve” and “meticulous,” are getting more common in spoken language, according to an analysis of more than 700,000 hours of videos and podcasts spklr.io/63326BDCCG

ChatGPT Is Changing the Words We Use in Conversation

Words frequently used by ChatGPT, including “delve” and “meticulous,” are getting more common in spoken language, according to an analysis of more than 700,000 hours of videos and podcasts

spklr.io

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Kristen Tate @kristentate.bsky.social · Jul 11

This is simply wrong. I've been running a book club all year focused on reading commercial fiction & have had to deliberately ignore the many lit fic books that have been on the charts all year. Brooks also misses the real story... (1/8)

www.nytimes.com/2025/07/10/o...

Opinion | When Novels Mattered

www.nytimes.com

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Thoticus Prime @jessicajernigan.com · Jun 12

Hey! It’s me! Back on my bullshit! And this time I’m mad at Peter Coyote.

Shitty Advice for Progressive Protestors

Seems like a lot of folks will be out protesting against monarchy this weekend. That’s super. It also seems like there’s a lot of bad advice for protestors floating around the socials. That’s not supe...

croning.ghost.io

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Rachel Fudge @rachelfudge.bsky.social · Jun 12

Em dash lovers, AI haters, and lovers and haters in general will dig this piece.

Andi Zeisler @andizeisler.bsky.social · Jun 12

For my first @salonnewsroom.bsky.social piece, I wrote about how freaks for the em dash (me, and possibly you) will not stand by and cede our precious punctuation to AI www.salon.com/2025/06/11/a...

AI can’t have my em dash

Gen Z and AI have pulled a divisive punctuation mark into the spotlight.

www.salon.com

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Rachel Fudge @rachelfudge.bsky.social · Jun 2

Don’t sleep on this incredible opportunity to work with the smartest, most compassionate coach in the editing community!

Tanya Gold | Editor & Translator 💕📚 (they/iel) @tanyagold.bsky.social · Jun 2

This year's business coaching scholarship is open for applications through June 20!

If you're an editor from a background, culture, or community historically underrepresented in publishing, I hope you'll apply.

More details ⬇
tanyagold.com/coaching-for...

#AmEditing #Edibuddies #WritingCommunity

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Rachel Fudge @rachelfudge.bsky.social · Apr 30

Genius. Crumbled potato chips improve just about everything.

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Rachel Fudge @rachelfudge.bsky.social · Apr 30

Tanya is one of the most knowledgeable and generous editors I know. These courses are all terrific, and scholarships are available. Check them out! #AmEditing

Tanya Gold | Editor & Translator 💕📚 (they/iel) @tanyagold.bsky.social · Apr 30

Hey, #Editors & #WritingCommunity! 👋🏻

I've just topped up the scholarships for all my self-paced courses again!

There's a limited number of scholarship spots for editors and writers from marginalized groups.

They're first-come, first-serve, no questions asked.

tanyagold.com

#AmEditing #WriterSky

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Rachel Fudge @rachelfudge.bsky.social · Apr 24

Self-driving taxis can't sexually harass you?

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David Shiffman, Ph.D. 🦈 @whysharksmatter.bsky.social · Apr 22

Happy Earth Day, Bluesky nerds!

If you’re an environmental scientist, environmental advocacy professional, or environmental non-profit, introduce yourself below and I’ll share it with my audience.

🧪🌎

a cartoon of a man with green hair and a globe on his chest

ALT: a cartoon of a man with green hair and a globe on his chest

media.tenor.com

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Rachel Fudge @rachelfudge.bsky.social · Apr 22

*This* is the energy and collaboration we need to see: Civil society (esp. funders) stepping up to not only fill the science gap but expand the possibilities, dreaming and doing bigger and better than before. 🙌 🌍

#EarthDay

Governor Jay Inslee @govjayinslee.bsky.social · Apr 22

University of Washington environmental professor Phillip Levin shows us how to fight back against Trump’s anti-science, anti-environment purge - DIY science! That’s the spirit of Galileo and Copernicus alive in Washington State. Go Huskies! Or as we say, “Go Dawgs!”

Opinion | We Found a Work Around to Trump Defunding Science

When knowledge is threatened, don’t just mourn it. Build around it.

www.nytimes.com

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Rachel Fudge @rachelfudge.bsky.social · Apr 22

Superheroes!

#EarthDay

Federation of American Scientists @scientistsorg.bsky.social · Apr 22

This #EarthDay, we wanted to let you all know how FAS works around the clock to support this beautiful blue dot we call home 🌍💙

Text over a picture of planet Earth reading: Here's what FAS is doing to support this beautiful blue dot we all call home...

Our climate team is doing a lot to keep Earth safe and healthy: 1. advocating for climate resilience through tech and policy innovation 2. tackling cascading hazards like wildfires and extreme heat 3. centering communities hit hardest by climate change and unjust policies

We all need energy, right? FAS is working to make it cleaner, smarter, and more equitable by: 1. advancing decarbonization tech 2. supporting innovative energy research 3. shaping smarter energy policy (like critical minerals, the grid, renewables, and beyond)

Oh--and we've also got folks making sure we don't blow up the planet with nukes and that AI doesn't go rogue. You know, just casual world-saving stuff.

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Rachel Fudge @rachelfudge.bsky.social · Apr 18

Suki Waterhouse!

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Rachel Fudge @rachelfudge.bsky.social · Apr 18

The en dash contains multitudes, and I will always stick up for it.

Punctuation marks hanging out

YouTube video by Elle Cordova

www.youtube.com

Rachel Fudge @rachelfudge.bsky.social · Apr 15

Even bigger and better on The Facts of Life!

George Clooney is our Neighbor! The Facts of Life: The Complete Series (5/5)

YouTube video by Shout! Studios

www.youtube.com

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Rachel Fudge @rachelfudge.bsky.social · Apr 3

Mostly profane punk rock, but also the Resistance Revival Chorus's version of All You Fascists Bound to Lose.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=dWUa...

Resistance Revival Chorus with Rhiannon Giddens "All You Fascists Bound To Lose"

YouTube video by Resistance Revival Chorus

www.youtube.com

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Reposted by Rachel Fudge

Rabbi Danya Ruttenberg @theradr.bsky.social · Apr 1

The point of Senator Booker's filibuster is to be INSPIRED by this man to go find YOUR ROLE, not to wait for them to go save us now.

That is not this assignment.

Thread of places to go to get started. More coming out of LiST this Thursday.

On Organizing

time to level up / an early draft of a playbook

www.lifeisasacredtext.com

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Rachel Fudge @rachelfudge.bsky.social · Mar 17

This is how you do it! ❤️

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Editorial Freelancers Association @efafreelancers.bsky.social · Mar 17

The EFA is committed to standing by DEI; we re-affirm the principles of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. Learn more about our commitment: The-efa.org/diversity-equity-belonging #DiversityEquityInclusion #DEI #InclusionMatters #EquityForAll #DiversityMatters #Freelancers #EquityInAction

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Rachel Fudge @rachelfudge.bsky.social · Mar 11

Yes and yes, but to clarify: Newsom is termed out and not running for governor in 2026.

Reposted by Rachel Fudge

Jon Bois @jonbois.bsky.social · Mar 6

man he's a perfect synthesis of patrick bateman and gob bluth, isn't he? so perfect that i don't have to say his name for you to know exactly who i'm talking about

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Rachel Fudge @rachelfudge.bsky.social · Feb 28

🙃

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