Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Van DeYolks

@vandeyolks.bsky.social

🚨

From @onthemedia.bsky.social breaking news handbook. Please keep these in mind… I already see misinformation running amok from today’s frigging horrific MPLS news

BREAKING NEWS CONSUMER'S HANDBOOK
1. In the immediate aftermath, news outlets will get it wrong.
2. Don't trust anonymous sources.
3. Don't trust stories that cite another news outlet as the source of the information.
4. There's almost never a second shooter.
5. Pay attention to the language the media uses.
• "We are getting reports"... could mean anything.
• "We are seeking confirmation".. means they don't have it.
• "[News outlet] has learned"... means it has a scoop or is going out on limb.
6. Look for news outlets close to the incident.
7. Compare multiple sources.
8. Big news brings out the fakers. And photoshoppers.
9. Beware reflexive retweeting. Some of this is on you.
ON THE MEDIA

January 7, 2026 at 7:32 PM

Reposted by Van DeYolks

Anastasia Lennon

@aelennon.bsky.social

I'll be on @nbc10wjar.bsky.social tonight @ ~5 to talk offshore wind. The latest from our OSW project tracker should get you up to speed, though filings keep hitting the docket for the lawsuits challenging the latest suspensions: newbedfordlight.org/offshore-win...

@newbedfordlight.bsky.social

Our offshore wind tracker: What’s new with wind projects off Massachusetts and beyond? - The New Bedford Light

Offshore wind is changing fast. Here’s our tracker, first published in April 2025, and the latest on where the Northeast’s wind projects stand as of Nov. 4, 2025.

newbedfordlight.org

January 7, 2026 at 5:08 PM

Van DeYolks

@vandeyolks.bsky.social

Not even required to put the “gambling problem? call this #” in the teeniest tiniest finest of fine print at the bottom of the screen like all the other gambling ads

Because that’s what these GD segments are. Not news, but extractionary gambling ads wearing news suits turning news into a game

Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 4h

CNN is covering the Kalshi prediction markets as though they are news

January 7, 2026 at 6:17 PM

Van DeYolks

@vandeyolks.bsky.social

this edit has me lol I’m so sorry but I can’t stop and now my brain’s jumbling up the edits in different ways and omg I’m goin to hell 🤭

Editing the Blue-Gray Lady @nytdiff.bsky.social · 17h

Change in Abstract

Before: Mr. Reagan, who was adopted by Ronald Reagan and his first wife, Jane Wyman, had cancer, according to a statement.
After: Mr. Reagan, who was the son of Ronald Reagan and his first wife, Jane Wyman, built on his father’s conservative legacy with a radio talk show and columns on right-wing sites like Newsmax.

January 7, 2026 at 2:26 AM

Van DeYolks

@vandeyolks.bsky.social

Heard my sweetie yelling “what the frig is this shit, Mistuh Florida Man? gtfoh my god just eff off GAHHH” from the other room

Turns out he turned the tv on to catch the tail end of this and magnificent Mother Mary rollerskating in a bandana he was not wrong

Justin Baragona @justinbaragona.bsky.social · 18h

Here's the clip of Tony Dokoupil ending tonight's broadcast by absolutely gushing over "ultimate Florida Man" Marco Rubio.

January 7, 2026 at 2:18 AM

Reposted by Van DeYolks

Gabriel Malor

@gabrielmalor.bsky.social

Reminder: of the trans patient info subpoena cases that have come to published decisions so far, the administration has lost all five.

Fighting back works. Also, trans folks and allies, take note of who fought back and who gave in.

Gabriel Malor @gabrielmalor.bsky.social · 1d

Cites Schoolhouse Rock!

January 6, 2026 at 10:00 PM

Reposted by Van DeYolks

Adam Serwer

@adamserwer.bsky.social

one takeaway from the grok noncon porn thing is that much of the media just isn't interested in an issue they can't pretend has two sides or that doesn't give them an opportunity to shit on the left. Also it would be uncomfortable to justify remaining on twitter after acknowledging it

January 6, 2026 at 9:06 PM

Reposted by Van DeYolks

Marisa Kabas

@marisakabas.bsky.social

If you understand the crucial nature of independent journalism right now, subscribe to The Handbasket: www.thehandbasket.co/subscribe

Marisa Kabas @marisakabas.bsky.social · 1d

New — I wrote about how corporate media is immediately siding with power in the wake of Trump attacking Venezuela and capturing Maduro, and how journalists need to treat the administration as a hostile entity that’s openly lying to them.

Call Trump's power grab in Venezuela what it is

Corporate media must recognize they're being openly lied to—and report accordingly.

www.thehandbasket.co

January 6, 2026 at 7:23 PM

Van DeYolks

@vandeyolks.bsky.social

Local news covering this is good 👍

NBC10 Boston @nbcboston.com · 1d

The trades underscore fears that prediction markets can be used to profit from classified intelligence.
on.nbcboston.com/JVxtZaF

A mysterious online gambler made $400,000 betting on the removal of Maduro

A mysterious online bettor made more than $400,000 on Polymarket, a website that lets people wager cryptocurrency on the odds of real-world events occurring.

on.nbcboston.com

January 6, 2026 at 5:00 PM

Van DeYolks

@vandeyolks.bsky.social

I love when people share a recipe & then a huge whack of additions & substitutions so the completed dish is something completely different.

“This delicious bolognese recipe that wasn’t quite what I was looking for so I made this equally delicious herbaceous ice cream for dinner”

Like… yes!

January 6, 2026 at 4:16 PM

Van DeYolks

@vandeyolks.bsky.social

now that I’ve watched this more times in a row than I’d like to admit (5, ok? OK?!?), I’ve broken the loop long enough to share the link because you must listen to this awesome gift of a song

Amy Grant doing “The 6th of January” is the only way I’m doing 1/6 from here on

youtu.be/jAl05lQm4nQ?...

January 6, 2026 at 3:10 PM

Van DeYolks

@vandeyolks.bsky.social

🎁 🔗

Sam @samd.bsky.social · 2d

fantastic article with data showing how congestion pricing is one of the most effective transportation policies ever.

as a day 1 congestion pricing supporter it has been so satisfying to see the program be so successful

www.nytimes.com/interactive/...

Congestion pricing after one year: How life has changed. (Gift Article)

How life has changed in the New York area, according to data on traffic, transit and the responses of 600 readers.

www.nytimes.com

January 5, 2026 at 6:53 PM

Van DeYolks

@vandeyolks.bsky.social

January 5, 2026 at 6:41 PM

Van DeYolks

@vandeyolks.bsky.social

Watched an old doc about Bill Spaceman Lee that included one of his trips to Cuba. Asked about USA relations, he said he was there for baseball & the people, not the politics & that he was “from Vermont, so really not a part of all that.”

Up to others to trust you, but it carries a certain truth.

post malone ergo propter malone @proptermalone.bsky.social · 3d

yeah like this sucks but we, Yankees, are going to eat a lot of shit as and when the world justifiably hardens against us, and it will not be pleasant and it will not feel entirely fair

January 4, 2026 at 8:50 PM

Reposted by Van DeYolks

Joshua Holland

@joshuaholland.bsky.social

I usually share the big stuff but there are a lotta funky creatures down there. 🤿 #marinelife

January 4, 2026 at 4:38 AM

Van DeYolks

@vandeyolks.bsky.social

I don’t get the people who keep braying that Rubio was confirmed 99-0 a year ago. Like… ok. Now what, babies? Does saying that over and over make you feel better? Does it help?

January 4, 2026 at 2:05 AM

Reposted by Van DeYolks

Dave Levitan

@davelevitan.bsky.social

Good evening

Tesco the golden retriever resting her head on my jeansed leg, looking at the camera, with a fire burning in a fireplace behind her

January 4, 2026 at 1:26 AM

Reposted by Van DeYolks

Ken Martin

@kenmartin.bsky.social

My full statement on Trump’s unconstitutional military operations in Venezuela:

Trump promised peace, but has delivered war. For months, the Trump administration has escalated conflict in Venezuela with unconstitutional and illegal strikes, and lied to the American people. Now, Trump has committed the United States to running another country for the foreseeable future while Americans foot the bill for regime change.
Today, Trump finally said the quiet part out loud. The justification for this war isn’t about stemming the flow of drugs. This is about regime change. This is about enriching oil corporations and billionaires. Congress must immediately assert its constitutional authority over American military action—the same authority Trump’s own chief of staff said he needs.
This is the worst kind of betrayal from Trump. He committed the United States to an uncertain role in South America with an indeterminate timeline. As Trump’s influence over the country and the world wanes, he is ready and willing to endanger Americans and abandon the Constitution as a last-ditch effort to hold on to power and relevancy.

January 3, 2026 at 6:10 PM

Reposted by Van DeYolks

Senator Chris Van Hollen

@vanhollen.senate.gov

Don’t be fooled: you can’t both claim this was simply the execution of an arrest warrant AND say the U.S. is now "running" Venezuela & grabbing its oil resources.

Trump just admitted this was a clear regime-change play to enrich U.S. oil companies & his billionaire buddies.

Senator Chris Van Hollen @vanhollen.senate.gov · 4d

Trump and his cronies can try to dress this up, but it is an illegal act of war to replace Maduro and grab Venezuela's oil for his billionaire buddies.

Full statement below:

January 3, 2026 at 6:13 PM

Reposted by Van DeYolks

Senator Lisa Blunt Rochester

@bluntrochester.senate.gov

For months now, the Trump administration has conducted military operations in Venezuela with no warning, no legal authority, and no explanation provided to Congress.

Now, we know why.

OFFICIAL STATEMENT ON THE ADMINISTRATION'S ACTIONS IN VENEZUELA

For months now, the Trump administration has conducted military operations in Venezuela with no warning, no legal authority, and no explanation provided to Congress.

Now, we know why.

The President has unilaterally carried out military activity in the Caribbean and circumvented Congressional approval, as required by the Constitution, because he knew that Congress would not support a senseless and short-sighted regime change ‘mission.’ They went so far as to lie to Congress during our recent briefings, saying specifically that their priority was not forceful regime change.

The U.S. military is not the president’s personal army.

Continued [rightward facing arrow]

If this continues, nothing stops him from sending American troops around the world to carry out his own reckless foreign policy decisions, which thus far have already negatively impacted our standing on the global stage and continue to erode further the separation of powers enshrined in our Constitution.

If President Trump was actually concerned about keeping Americans safe from increased foreign drug trafficking, he wouldn’t have pardoned Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernandez for the same crime he captured Maduro for. His motives are clear, he’s said it himself: use US military forces to seize control of Venezuela’s natural resources and distract from the crisis of affordability he is ignoring on our own soil.

The administration must immediately brief Congress on its legal justification for this decision and its plan going forward. Congress must take action on Senator Kaine’s bipartisan war powers resolution to prevent further escalation.

Lisa Blunt Rochester

January 3, 2026 at 6:44 PM

Reposted by Van DeYolks

Senator Ed Markey

@markey.senate.gov

Trump can't manage the American economy and now he says he’ll run Venezuela and its oil infrastructure?

We’ve seen what happens when we destabilize countries on behalf of American fossil fuel CEOs—they profit, service members die, and regions collapse. We cannot let this stand.