Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Tim Verstynen

@tdverstynen.bsky.social

1.1K followers 590 following 3.1K posts

Professor Department Gadfly Data Alchemist Synthetic Psychologist Zombie Apologist “The enemy” - JD Vance Opinions are my own. Not gonna let my employer take credit for them.

Posts Media Videos Starter Packs

Pinned

Tim Verstynen @tdverstynen.bsky.social · Jan 28

I grew up a white kid in a bilingual, majority Hispanic state, in a pueblo region continuously occupied by indigenous peoples for over a thousand years, and in a city whose name is derived from an old Arabic phrase.

This is what America looks like.

2 5 53

Reposted by Tim Verstynen

Philip N Cohen @philipncohen.com · 4d

Chemerinsky: The Trump extortion demands are unconstitutional as well as odious (gift link). Me: Any school that signs must be shunned, faculty affected must walk. No room for this.

Opinion | Trump’s ‘Compact’ With Universities Is Just Extortion

www.nytimes.com

4 59 230

Reposted by Tim Verstynen

Keith W. Dickinson @keithwdickinson.bsky.social · 5h

Today is a day when arts degrees are worthless, but the product of those degrees is so valuable it would kill an entire industry if they were made to pay for it.

The Verge @theverge.com · May 26

Nick Clegg says asking artists for use permission would ‘kill’ the AI industry

Paul McCartne, Elton John and others signed an open letter.

buff.ly

200 4.1K 11K

Tim Verstynen @tdverstynen.bsky.social · 2h

I have lived more than 80% of my life in cultural borderlands.

William Hazen @williamhazen.bsky.social · 1d

This is the most accurate depiction of the Midwest to date. Wichita has always felt like the last Midwest city while also being the first plains city.

Reposted by Tim Verstynen

William Hazen @williamhazen.bsky.social · 1d

This is the most accurate depiction of the Midwest to date. Wichita has always felt like the last Midwest city while also being the first plains city.

130 250 1.3K

Tim Verstynen @tdverstynen.bsky.social · 5h

Quite honestly, having the Furries be the vanguard of the resistance right now makes perfect sense. It makes the militarized reaction look weak and melodramatic in comparison, countering the performative goals of this administration.

Courtney Vaughn @courtneyvaughn.bsky.social · 12h

Streets are still closed off in front of the Portland ICE facility at 8:30pm. Protesters have gathered on a side street. Dance party in progress.

1 4

Reposted by Tim Verstynen

Melissa Gira Grant @melissagiragrant.com · 15h

Incredible (via www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...)

A group of apparent armed agents assemble at the end of a street, as seen from the perspective of a person in inflatable frog costume, their frog’s eyes dominating the foreground. The Ice facility in downtown Portland on Monday. Photograph: Mathieu Lewis-Rolland/AFP/Getty Images

57 920 4.5K

Tim Verstynen @tdverstynen.bsky.social · 5h

I’m old enough to remember seeing ads about how unauthorized media downloads was the equivalent of stealing a car. There was a whole moral panic about it 20+ years ago. Now it’s a core business model.

A good example of how profit drives morals & ethics in capitalism.

The Verge @theverge.com · May 26

Nick Clegg says asking artists for use permission would ‘kill’ the AI industry

Paul McCartne, Elton John and others signed an open letter.

buff.ly

Tim Verstynen @tdverstynen.bsky.social · 5h

So like 80s or 90s? It’s amazing how quickly technology evolves in the modern world.

1 1

Tim Verstynen @tdverstynen.bsky.social · 6h

How old is it?

1 1

Tim Verstynen @tdverstynen.bsky.social · 6h

Please stop with the body shaming. If you made fun of Hegseth’s comments last week, then don’t use the same ignorant logic here when it’s convenient for you.

Ron Filipkowski @ronfilipkowski.bsky.social · 16h

Greg Abbott sends the elite Meal Team 6 from the Texas National Guard into Illinois.

Reposted by Tim Verstynen

Seema Jayachandran @seema.bsky.social · 23h

We just spent 6 months to add 1 figure to this paper. Some people said, "Couples aren't prioritizing men's careers. Men just have better earnings opportunities when moving."

Earnings effects of moves for couples on the left, singles on the right. Negligible gap between single men and women.

Event study coefficients that show that men's earnings rise more than women's among couples following a cross-commuting zone move (left panels). The pattern is muted or reverses among single men and single women (right panels).

3 74 230

Reposted by Tim Verstynen

Bryan White, MS Bio, MPH 🧬 @crvscience.com · 3d

Homie got 229 pairs of chromosomes

www.sciencedaily.com/releases/202...

This tiny butterfly has the most chromosomes of any animal on Earth

Scientists have confirmed that the Atlas blue butterfly carries the most chromosomes of any animal, with 229 pairs. Unlike duplication, its chromosomes split apart, reshaping its genome in surprising ...

www.sciencedaily.com

9 78 210

Tim Verstynen @tdverstynen.bsky.social · 13h

I love how Miller very clearly pretends that his connection freezes after realizing that he said the quiet part out loud.

What a complete dufus.

jeff computers @helldude.bsky.social · 18h

plenary authority over what Stephen?!? OVER WHAT STEPHEN

Tim Verstynen @tdverstynen.bsky.social · 14h

Whatever you do DO NOT get a Remarkable PaperPro. Mine bricked itself after only 5 months. Then Remarkable said they wouldn’t replace it (even though it is in the 1 year warranty period) because of minor exterior damage unrelated to the software issue.

Crappy system. Crappy company.

Reposted by Tim Verstynen

ProPublica @propublica.org · 15h

The top tax-avoidance techniques used by billionaires like Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos, Peter Thiel, and more 👇

(Published 2022)

Ten Ways Billionaires Avoid Taxes on an Epic Scale

After a year of reporting on the tax machinations of the ultrawealthy, ProPublica spotlights the top tax-avoidance techniques that provide massive benefits to billionaires.

www.propublica.org

14 230 520

Reposted by Tim Verstynen

The Tennessee Holler @thetnholler.bsky.social · 17h

CNN: “An older couple making $85K/year will see their yearly insurance premiums jump from $7K to $25,000 — 30% of their income.” 😳#TrumpShutdown #TrumpHealthCareTax

This is what Dems are drawing attention to and want fixed. Now, not later.

450 6.5K 13K

Reposted by Tim Verstynen

Nicole Rust @nicolecrust.bsky.social · 18h

Please spread the word! I am recruiting a PhD student this cycle (Fall 2026 start) to join my team in a new venture: the neuroscience of mood.

If you are curious to learn more, this short talk provides a good overview of why, what and how.

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

Nicole Rust - The representation of mood in the primate insula (May 6, 2025)

YouTube video by Simons Foundation

www.youtube.com

1 36 54

Reposted by Tim Verstynen

WESA @wesa.fm · 18h

Pittsburgh City Councilor Erika Strassburger plans to introduce legislation next week that will bolster the city’s anti-discrimination protections for marginalized groups — an effort to protect them even if safeguards are removed at the federal level.

Amid doubts about Trump, Pittsburgh City Councilor seeks stronger anti-discrimination protection

Pittsburgh City Councilor Erika Strassburger plans to introduce legislation next week that will bolster Pittsburgh's anti-discrimination protections for marginalized groups — an effort to protect them...

www.wesa.fm

4 11

Tim Verstynen @tdverstynen.bsky.social · 19h

Bondi is acting like Congress no longer has any authority over her. She is acting like they are already nullified

Reposted by Tim Verstynen

Christine Moretti @christine520.bsky.social · 1d

ATTN: PA VOTERS

🚨IMPORTANT🚨

VOTE YES TO RETAIN 💥DEM MAJORITY 💥 PA SUPREME COURT JUSTICES
Christine Donohue
Kevin Dougherty
David Wecht

‼️If using mail in ballots, the Supreme Court Justices are
located on the flip side.

‼️In the voting booth, they will be located at the bottom of the screen.

8 250 360

Tim Verstynen @tdverstynen.bsky.social · 19h

What’s annoying is just how blatantly this administration is trying to instigate a civil conflict. There is nothing subtle or even clever about it.

Chris Murphy @chrismurphyct.bsky.social · 19h

This has nothing to do with crime. This is an attempt to crush political dissent.

Never before, in our entire 250 year history, has the military or immigration agents been used like this. It's dystopian, illegal, and it should stop.

15 40

Reposted by Tim Verstynen

Jeremy Berg @jeremymberg.bsky.social · 1d

I have been trying to get this published as an op-ed, but I am going to post it here since I think it is timely in light of the "consent" extortion events.

Deafening Quiet from the Scientific Establishment

jeremymberg.github.io/jeremyberg.g...

1/14

jeremymberg.github.io

12 160 290

Reposted by Tim Verstynen

Don Moynihan @donmoyn.bsky.social · 23h

Just as a reminder, Bondi’s origin story in Trump world is that she said she was going to investigate Trump University, Trump sent her a $25K check and the investigation disappeared. She later became Trump’s personal defense lawyer. So yeah, don’t challenge her integrity.

Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 23h

Bondi to Blumenthal: "You lied. How dare you? I'm a career prosecutor. Don't you ever challenge my integrity. Do not question my ability to be fair and impartial."

200 1.7K 5.7K

Tim Verstynen @tdverstynen.bsky.social · 23h

This “new legal analysis” goes to another school. That’s why you haven’t met them yet, but they’re totally real.

Tim Verstynen @tdverstynen.bsky.social · 23h

Would love to see some field-specific variants persist. The science/academic community clearly gets a lot out of it.