Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Ryan Ray

@ryanrayfla.bsky.social

1.6K followers 360 following 150 posts

Tallahassee Dems Chair & City Commission aide. Host of Tropical Depression— Patreon.com/tropicaldepression

Posts Media Videos Starter Packs

Pinned

Ryan Ray @ryanrayfla.bsky.social · May 25

Talking turncoats in our volatile political moment on Florida This Week, WEDU PBS in Tampa-St. Pete-Sarasota:

6 11

Reposted by Ryan Ray

Tropical Depression @tropdeppod.bsky.social · Aug 20

Ryan sits down with critically-acclaimed author Sarah Gerard, and the conversation quickly turns to Florida’s unique brand of cruelty.

Listen to the latest episode of Tropical Depression out now!

2 2 2

Reposted by Ryan Ray

Tropical Depression @tropdeppod.bsky.social · Aug 21

Are you Team Tampa or Team St. Pete? Or do you just want both to try their best?

Check out the latest episode of Tropical Depression out now!

2 4

Reposted by Ryan Ray

Commissioner Jeremy Matlow @jeremymatlow.bsky.social · Aug 12

I'm running for Mayor.

For as long as I can remember, I’ve called Tallahassee home. Our city is special in so many ways and I’m ready to help restore the voice of the people at City Hall.

2 8

Ryan Ray @ryanrayfla.bsky.social · Aug 10

Grateful for everything we love about Tallahassee — and the sacred chance to make it better!

In 2026, I believe the people will win

2 8

Reposted by Ryan Ray

Timothy Burke @bubbaprog.xyz · Jul 27

2 Chainz sampled Tom Lehrer's The Old Dope Peddler 60 years after it had been recorded. Lehrer's response to the license request: "As sole copyright owner of 'The Old Dope Peddler', I grant you motherfuckers permission to do this. Please give my regards to Mr. Chainz, or may I call him 2?"

RIP TOM

41 570 2.9K

Reposted by Ryan Ray

Leon Democrats @leondems.bsky.social · Jul 20

Another beautiful day for democracy in Tallahassee — even in the July heat! 🔥💙🏛️

1 3 7

Reposted by Ryan Ray

Leon Democrats @leondems.bsky.social · Jul 20

1 2

Ryan Ray @ryanrayfla.bsky.social · Jul 11

Ryan Ray @ryanrayfla.bsky.social · Jul 9

Me some days

Ryan Ray @ryanrayfla.bsky.social · Jul 4

We all celebrate differently 🎆

Lynn Haven residents in Bay County lead a “Recall the Mayor” campaign on July 4 — including a flyover with aerial banner

1 2

Ryan Ray @ryanrayfla.bsky.social · Jul 1

Downtown Tallahassee, Florida

Reposted by Ryan Ray

Tropical Depression @tropdeppod.bsky.social · Jun 25

⛈️🚨NEW EPISODE!

It’s June, and you know what that means: Hurricane Season is underway. Ryan talked with Amy Keith, executive director of @commoncause.org Florida. Among other things, Amy laid out a vision for helping all voters in the aftermath of a hurricane.

Listen now on Spotify! 🍊👇

Episode 28: Hurricane Season’s Greetings w/ Amy Keith

Tropical Depression · Episode

open.spotify.com

1 3 3

Reposted by Ryan Ray

Tropical Depression @tropdeppod.bsky.social · Jun 25

You can also listen to our latest episode featuring Amy Keith of @commoncausefl.bsky.social on Apple Podcasts

Episode 28: Hurricane Season’s Greetings w/ Amy Keith

Podcast Episode · Tropical Depression · 06/25/2025 · 59m

podcasts.apple.com

2 3

Ryan Ray @ryanrayfla.bsky.social · Jun 25

Crazy hail storm in Tallahassee

Ryan Ray @ryanrayfla.bsky.social · Jun 21

1 4

Ryan Ray @ryanrayfla.bsky.social · Jun 11

Old button commenting on presidential primary sequence. Circa 90s-00s?

Reposted by Ryan Ray

Tropical Depression @tropdeppod.bsky.social · Jun 10

New episode is out everywhere! We talked with @kentwascom.bsky.social about The Great State of West Florida — a thrilling Western featuring duels for control of the Gulf Coast — and how it relates to the Florida of today.

Listen to Tropical Depression on Spotify: open.spotify.com/show/3Sd6ldG...

Tropical Depression

Podcast · Tropical Depression · A podcast for the Other Florida. Florida-pilled stories and interviews. Hosted by Ryan Ray It's only rain.

open.spotify.com

1 3 6

Reposted by Ryan Ray

Tropical Depression @tropdeppod.bsky.social · Jun 9

🤠 OUT TODAY for subscribers— our talk with author @kentwascom.bsky.social on Florida’s western-most parishes, once and future Free States, and much more!

listen at patreon.com/TropicalDepression or out Tuesday everywhere else

The cover of the novel “The Great State of West Florida” by Kent Wascom.

The outline of Florida is draped by a gun, Palm trees, and an orange sun. A woman wearing a cowboy hat is at the top and bullet holes pepper the cover. The background is a light pink.

4 4

Reposted by Ryan Ray

Sam Freedman @samfr.bsky.social · Jun 9

New post just out:

"When the Clock Broke"

America in the 90s and the foreshadowing of Trump.

With John Ganz (@lioneltrolling.bsky.social)

(Free to read)

open.substack.com/pub/samf/p/w...

When the Clock Broke

1990s America and the foreshadowing of Trump

open.substack.com

7 29 96

Ryan Ray @ryanrayfla.bsky.social · May 27

Hugely interesting County meeting on now. Discussion included funding 2 fire stations as brand-new Blueprint infrastructure projects. “Why not?” amid big increases

Maybe the most momentum 4 substantial changes to re-prioritize BP infrastructure fund side since Doak/Welaunee era

1 2

Ryan Ray @ryanrayfla.bsky.social · May 27

Hugely interesting County meeting on now. Discussion included funding 2 fire stations as brand-new Blueprint infrastructure projects. “Why not?” amid big increases

Maybe the most momentum substantial changes to re-prioritize BP infrastructure funding side since Doak/Welaunee era

Reposted by Ryan Ray

Jack Jenkins @jackjenkins.me · May 26

The big upshot here is that media criticism is good and very important, but some of the media criticisms that get traction on here don’t appear to grapple with the complicated, decentralized machinations of the modern media ecosystem — particularly print news.

Jack Jenkins @jackjenkins.me · May 26

FWIW, I’m not even sure if the latter part of this is true — I.e., that NYTimes readers include an elite audience who, were the Times to write differently, would alter how they wield their power and influence.

It’s an extremely difficult thing to prove one way or another, but I remain skeptical.

Gillian Branstetter @gbbranstetter.bsky.social · May 26

I've done my fair share of yelling at the NYT but find a lot of criticism also invests it with a mythical power of influence over the masses that it just doesn't have in this day and age. What is important about it is not the scale of its audience but the power and prestige of its audience

4 5 29

Ryan Ray @ryanrayfla.bsky.social · May 26

Great to see @bubbaprog.lol in his native Seminole Heights habitat a while back. Tampa 🤝 Tallahassee 4ever

Reposted by Ryan Ray

Ryan Ray @ryanrayfla.bsky.social · May 25

Talking turncoats in our volatile political moment on Florida This Week, WEDU PBS in Tampa-St. Pete-Sarasota:

6 11

Ryan Ray @ryanrayfla.bsky.social · May 25

Talking turncoats in our volatile political moment on Florida This Week, WEDU PBS in Tampa-St. Pete-Sarasota:

6 11