Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Stephen Leahy @stephenleahy.bsky.social · 4h

Worth repeating

The global climate majority does not realize it is the majority by far.

leahy.substack.com/p/the-89-cli...

The 89% Climate Solution

A majority of people know climate change is a serious threat to our health. Time to act and vote like it

leahy.substack.com

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Evan Frost @wildwoods.bsky.social · 6h

"Research shows wildfires are 4x more likely in areas w/roads than in roadless forests...and >90% of wildfires occur within 1/2 mile of a road. Even USFS's own research undercuts the argument that repealing the roadless rule would have a positive effect on fire mgmt."🌍 www.sacbee.com/opinion/op-e...

The Trump administration’s latest attack on cherished public lands | Opinion

“For more than two decades, the Roadless Rule has protected nearly 60 million acres of our national forests from industrial development.”

www.sacbee.com

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David Roberts @volts.wtf · 8h

The historically volatile Texas grid was entirely stable this summer, despite extreme temperatures. Grid operators never once had to ask Texans to conserve energy or shut off their air conditioners.

Why? Solar & batteries. Want a stable grid? Try solar & batteries.

Solar and batteries had a record-setting, grid-stabilizing summer in…

Solar has set 17 power generation records in Texas so far this year, shoring up the grid alongside batteries as some gas plant developers step back.

www.canarymedia.com

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Stephen Leahy @stephenleahy.bsky.social · 14h

Denmark plans social media ban for under-15s as PM warns phones ‘stealing childhood’
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/o...

Denmark plans social media ban for under-15s as PM warns phones ‘stealing childhood’

Mette Frederiksen links social media use to anxiety, depression and lack of concentration

www.theguardian.com

Reposted by Stephen Leahy

Timothy Snyder @timothysnyder.bsky.social · 14h

More good work by Greg Sargent

Greg Sargent @gregsargent.bsky.social · 15h

JB Pritzker and Gavin Newsom are doing something new and important: They understand Stephen Miller's theory of fascist power politics, and they've developed a theory on how to combat it. More Dems need to reckon with Miller's understanding of the moment.

New from me:
newrepublic.com/article/2014...

Inside Stephen Miller’s Secret Plan to Normalize Trump’s Dictator Rule

He wants to supercharge searing civil tensions to get low-information voters to embrace their inner authoritarian. Exactly two Democrats appear to fully grasp this.

newrepublic.com

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Simon Evans @drsimevans.carbonbrief.org · 14h

So have I got this right?
1️⃣Conservatives want to scrap UK Climate Change Act
2️⃣They claim to believe "climate change is real", but won't say what they'd do about it
3️⃣ They'd scrap CO2 pricing, economists' favourite option
4️⃣Dissenters are ideological "fools"
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Dave Levitan @davelevitan.bsky.social · 14h

Hey cool the NOAA guy who was found to have violated the agency's code of ethics for his role in Sharpiegate has been confirmed as the head of NOAA.

Senate Confirms ‘Sharpiegate’ Meteorologist to Lead NOAA

www.nytimes.com

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💞Sabrina💞 @sabrinarina.bsky.social · 1d

Oregon National Guard Adjutant General, General Gronewold says if they are federalized, that he will advise the Title 10 commander to utilize National Guard Troops to PROTECT protesters at ICE facilities. This is the right answer.

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Emil Dimanchev @emildimanchev.bsky.social · 1d

Baseload you say? ieefa.org/resources/ne...

Newest big U.S. coal-plant offline until 2027

The newest major coal-fired power plant in the U.S. is expected to be offline until March 2027 after a major failure in April.

ieefa.org

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Nick Turse @nickturse.bsky.social · 1d

"The Sinister Reason Trump Is Itching to Invoke the Insurrection Act" by the incomparable @natashalennard.bsky.social
theintercept.com/2025/10/07/t...

The Sinister Reason Trump Is Itching to Invoke the Insurrection Act

An authoritarian’s dream, the Insurrection Act is ripe for abuse — and Trump’s Cabinet is already setting up his justification to use it.

theintercept.com

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Marie Le Conte @youngvulgarian.marieleconte.com · 6d

Bari Weiss isn't really a journalist in any meaningful way, she's just a preening troll who excels at flattering power, it's hard to see her succeed to such an extent without feeling like maybe you're the one who's losing their mind

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Knowable Magazine @knowablemag.bsky.social · 1d

👀 On our radar: Ex-CDC chief on why she was fired

‘I would never do that, as a scientist,‘ Susan Monarez says of being asked to approve changes to vaccine recommendations without knowing the details.

✍️ @maxkozlov.bsky.social, @nature.com

Exclusive: ex-CDC director talks about why she was fired

‘I would never do that, as a scientist,‘ Susan Monarez says of being asked to approve changes to vaccine recommendations without knowing the details.

knowmag.org

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Sarah Goodyear @sgoodyear.bsky.social · 1d

This book changed the way I see the world. HIGHLY recommend making Jeff Bezos mad as hell by ordering it through Bookshop.

Ben Goldfarb @bengoldfarb.bsky.social · 1d

Sure why not! Support indies by ordering America’s favorite #roadecology masterpiece through Bookshop and I’ll send ya a free signed bookplate (DM w/ proof of purchase and address). Bezos will be absolutely *furious.*

bookshop.org/p/books/cros...

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Philip Eil @phileil.bsky.social · 1d

Another day of excruciating embarrassment for all Americans.

Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 1d

Trump: "We call them the water drugs. The drugs that come in through water. They're not coming. There are no boats anymore. Frankly, there are no fishing boats. There are no boats out there period, if you want to know the truth. Does anybody go fishing anymore?"

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Stephen Leahy @stephenleahy.bsky.social · 1d

$TRUMP and $Melania meme coins, and the new WLFI coin should cover it

Reposted by Stephen Leahy

Joseph Britt @zathras5.bsky.social · 1d

Trump, having wrecked US farmers’ export markets, prepares another bailout.

“Republican lawmakers have estimated that, this time around, farmers could need as much as $50 billion in economic support. Where that money will come from remains an open question.” Link via @profsecchi.bsky.social

Silvia Secchi @profsecchi.bsky.social · 1d

Just a reminder that there’s peer-reviewed evidence that in the last go round of aid to farmers because of tariffs, the payments they got were higher than the losses.
Pretty much the epitome of inefficiency and rent-seeking behavior. The Chinese aren’t going to buy 🇺🇸 ag products for a looong time.

Trump to Unveil Farmer Aid as China Shuns U.S. Crops

www.nytimes.com

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RossBelot @rossbelot.bsky.social · 2d

My latest….The new Imperial Oil is a collection of operating plants run out of “global business centres.” That is, not run from Canada by Canadians. It’s the clearest sign yet that Canada’s oil story is drawing to a close. Our leaders still haven't noticed. www.nationalobserver.com/2025/10/03/a...

The fall of a Canadian giant

The new Imperial Oil is essentially a collection of operating plants run out of “global business centres.” That is, not run from Canada or by Canadians. This isn’t just a corporate restructuring. It’s...

www.nationalobserver.com

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StrictlyChristo 🦋🇺🇦🌻❌👑 @strictlychristo.bsky.social · 2d

Greta Thunberg speaks to the press after being released from illegal detainment in Israel: "I could talk for a very, very long time about our mistreatment and abuses in our imprisonment. Trust me, but that is not the story.”

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BladeoftheSun @bladeofthes.bsky.social · 2d

Greta Thunberg “I'm not scared of Israel. I’m scared of a world that has seemingly lost all sense of humanity.”

Stand with Greta, stand with humanity.

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Anne Applebaum @anneapplebaum.bsky.social · 2d

update: "video appears to contradict the government’s allegation that Marimar Martinez, 30, drove toward officers before one of them opened fire on her"
chicago.suntimes.com/news/2025/10...

Attorney for woman shot by Border Patrol claims officer said 'Do something b----' before shooting

Body-camera video appears to contradict the government's claim that Marimar Martinez, 30, drove toward officers before one of them opened fire at her late Saturday morning in Brighton Park, her attorn...

chicago.suntimes.com

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Eric Roston @eroston.bsky.social · 2d

Oh:
- The US sold $80 billion in oil and gas abroad through July.
- China exported $120 billion in green technology over the same period.
By @akshatrathi.bsky.social
🎁🔗 www.bloomberg.com/news/article...

China Is Beating the US in the Battle for Energy Export Dominance

China’s exports of clean energy technology hit a record in August, with $20 billion shipped globally.

www.bloomberg.com

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Heather Cherone @heathercherone.bsky.social · 2d

Pritzker is also furious: “Should National Governors Association leadership choose to remain silent, Illinois will have no choice but to withdraw from the organization.”

Gov. JB Pritzker’s letter to the National Governors Association

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April Henry @aprilhenry.bsky.social · 3d

My neighborhood today.

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Gaia Vince @wanderinggaia.bsky.social · 3d

I’m gonna tell your mum

CNBC @cnbc.com · 3d

To shut down rude behavior instantly, try a simple yet powerful five-word response.

Use this 5-word phrase when someone is rude to you—it's like 'holding up a mirror,' says public speaking expert

When we encounter a rude person, our first instinct might be to fire back with a snarky comment. But that's not the right move, says public speaking expert John Bowe. Here's the perfect response to instantly shut down rude behavior.

cnb.cx

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Robert Reich @rbreich.bsky.social · 3d

Stoke fear. Exploit desperation. Suspend the rule of law. Fan brutality.

Every time the stronger brutalize the weak, it’s fundamentally the same playbook.

Our duty is to stand up to brutality.

Our moral obligation is to protect the vulnerable and hold the powerful accountable.

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