Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

ACTupper @actupper.bsky.social · 5h

One of the little delights of having local/physical copies of media is accidentally stumbling across it years later.

This skeet brought to you by the Zerospace album by Kidneythieves I just refound on an external drive.

Reposted by ACTupper

Dean Baker @deanbaker13.bsky.social · 6h

This is a big deal

The New York Times @nytimes.com · 6h

Seven of the nine universities that the White House initially approached about a plan to steer more federal money toward schools aligned with President Trump’s priorities have refused to endorse the proposal.

All but 2 Universities Decline a Trump Offer of Preferential Funding

One of the two, Vanderbilt University, signaled it had reservations.

nyti.ms

1 7 27

Reposted by ACTupper

Dr. Sarah Parcak @indyfromspace.bsky.social · 11h

History shows us what happens when corrupt Kings destroy palaces and temples to rebuild for their golden visions and it often ends in flames and looting and razing when they die, just speaking as an archaeologist here, nothing whatsoever to do with anything modern *clutches pearls*

9 150 760

ACTupper @actupper.bsky.social · 7h

Ein, zwei, drei...

Reposted by ACTupper

50501: The People’s Movement ❌👑 @50501movement.bsky.social · 8h

“Rather than AI being able to enhance human innovation, critical thinking, the progress of science—it’s being used to exploit our insecurities. That’s the thing about so many of these Silicon Valley tech bros. They’re essentially emotionally maladapted psychopaths.”

Speaking nothing but the truth.

14 190 630

Reposted by ACTupper

50501: The People’s Movement ❌👑 @50501movement.bsky.social · 9h

The Trump regime is going to continue to abuse its power by sending National Guard troops into our streets.

Although the Frog Army of Portland is undoubtedly well-prepared, we highly recommend reading up on how to interact with the Guard as it is different than engaging with ICE.

Learn more here:

Responding to Federal Occupying Forces

Click here for another version of this document optimized for readability and accessibility. Table of Contents (click to jump ahead) We the People are PISSED: statement/intro Situation Report: current...

bit.ly

36 360 690

Reposted by ACTupper

Perry Bacon @perrybaconjr.bsky.social · 9h

"When electoral gains from moderation have been exhausted—when Democrats are running moderates in every competitive district and still losing—the task isn’t to moderate harder. It’s to give voters reason to believe politics can deliver real change." data4democracy.substack.com/p/the-new-yo...

The New York Times Argues “Moving to the Center Is the Way to Win.” But the Data Shows the Strategy Is Tapped Out.

Democrats already run moderates in nearly every swing district. It's not enough. A data-driven response to the case for centrism as a core electoral strategy.

data4democracy.substack.com

13 73 300

Reposted by ACTupper

Paul F. Tompkins @pftompkins.bsky.social · 9h

THE BLEAKNESS

TechCrunch @techcrunch.com · 2d

A new iPhone app, Endless Summer, uses AI to create photorealistic vacation photos starring you — no travel required

Too burned out to travel? This new app fakes your summer vacation photos for you | TechCrunch

A new iPhone app, Endless Summer, uses AI to create photorealistic vacation photos starring you — no travel required

techcrunch.com

55 170 1.6K

Reposted by ACTupper

Kelly McKernan is launching an oracle deck 10/31 🔮 @kellymckernan.bsky.social · 1d

Keep shaming every company you see using AI “art” to market themselves. Tell them it looks bad, shows they lack integrity, and tell them you don’t support stolen labor. Be relentless about it, remind them it’s unacceptable, get yourself blocked.

Why? IT WORKS. Shame em & take your money elsewhere.

4 280 830

Reposted by ACTupper

David Roberts @volts.wtf · 9h

This is unforgivable -- innocent, helpless families being tortured and torn apart for the entertainment of a decadent, bloodthirsty domestic audience. I feel sick being part of it.

Portfolio: The Trap at 26 Federal Plaza

Every day in downtown Manhattan immigrants arriving for routine hearings are targeted by ICE agents and taken from their families.

nymag.com

16 160 400

Reposted by ACTupper

David Beard @dabeard.bsky.social · 1d

The child raped by Prince Andrew and subjected to sadomasochistic sex by Jeffrey Epstein thought she would "die a sex slave" to Epstein and his rich friends, the BBC reports. The memoir is heightening calls to release the Epstein Files, a move opposed by the GOP House. www.bbc.com/news/article...

Virginia Giuffre thought she might 'die a sex slave' at hands of Epstein and his circle, memoir reveals

The BBC obtained a copy of Virginia Giuffre's posthumous memoir ahead of its publication on Tuesday.

www.bbc.com

14 200 510

Reposted by ACTupper

jael holzman @jael.bsky.social · 9h

This story describes one single party comprised of rich people who already love AI and openly describe themselves in the story as living in “a bubble”

One dinner, described as a trend

The New York Times @nytimes.com · 10h

“Prompt parties,” gatherings of women over cheese and wine to chat about how ChatGPT can help them, are emerging as the next-generation of Tupperware party in San Francisco.

Wine, Cheese and ChatGPT: Ladies’ Night in San Francisco

www.nytimes.com

3 10 71

Reposted by ACTupper

The Tennessee Holler @thetnholler.bsky.social · 19h

GUARDIAN: How Blue states could withhold federal💰to fight back as Trump abuses them and threatens to withhold💰— “The state would act as a temporary custodian, holding in trust and releasing only when certain constitutional conditions are met.” www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

52 420 1.2K

ACTupper @actupper.bsky.social · 9h

a black and white photo of two men standing next to each other with the words `` i 'm shocked . ''

ALT: a black and white photo of two men standing next to each other with the words `` i 'm shocked . ''

media.tenor.com

Reposted by ACTupper

Roxane Gay @roxanegay.bsky.social · 10h

Canvas has been down alllll day. Maybe monopolies ARE bad!

20 90 980

Reposted by ACTupper

Chris Larsen @chrislarsen.bsky.social · 13h

This is actually another reason why over-dependence on cloud services/providers is a problem in our society.

And yes, I know this is an ironic statement coming from a web developer.

Dr. Damien P. Williams Wants A Better Sociotechnical Paradigm @wolvendamien.bsky.social · 13h

Literally can't do grading and students are having trouble accessing their materials because of this fucking AWS outage

3 10 51

Reposted by ACTupper

Justin Gerdes @justingerdes.bsky.social · 12h

"In his 2024 address, Vought explained, 'I don’t want President Trump having to lose a moment of time having fights in the Oval Office about whether something is legal or doable or moral.'" www.propublica.org/article/russ... by @andykroll.bsky.social

Russell Vought, Trump’s Shadow President

From the wholesale gutting of federal agencies to the ongoing government shutdown, Russell Vought has drawn the road map for Trump’s second term. Vought has consolidated power to an extent that inside...

www.propublica.org

1 3 4

Reposted by ACTupper

Kevin M. Kruse @kevinmkruse.bsky.social · 12h

The Republican shutdown means that nonessential federal employees like soldiers and TSA agents aren't being paid anymore, but rest assured that the truly vital work of this administration -- building a Dancing with the Stars ballroom for the dementia-addled president -- still goes on.

Jonathan Edwards @jonathanreports.bsky.social · 12h

Scoop: Trump has started demolishing the White House's East Wing facade to build his ballroom. The president had claimed construction of the $250 million building wouldn’t ‘interfere’ with the existing White House structure. /W @ddiamond.bsky.social wapo.st/4hqBNiU

White House begins demolishing East Wing facade to build Trump’s ballroom

The president had claimed construction of the $250 million ballroom wouldn’t ‘interfere’ with the existing White House structure.

wapo.st

74 380 1.3K

Reposted by ACTupper

Olivia Guest · Ολίβια Γκεστ @olivia.science · 12h

Pretty sure real science is actually reading the papers, thinking very deeply, and more, before writing, not generating literature review-like objects with no authorial intent or legwork

Iain Cheeseman @iaincheeseman.bsky.social · 14h

Today @anthropic.com released PubMed integration for Claude. No hallucinations. Just real science, real data. As a beta tester, this has been game changing— a supercharged research tool. Here are 6 prompts that will transform how you search the literature. A 🧵

www.anthropic.com/news/claude-...

Claude for Life Sciences

Discover how Claude accelerates life sciences research with new scientific connectors, skills, and improved performance for drug discovery and clinical work.

www.anthropic.com

6 33 120

Reposted by ACTupper

The Pleasure Vice Principle (he/him/his) @hannibaltabu.bsky.social · 13h

1 2

Reposted by ACTupper

Grist @grist.org · 14h

How EVs can fix the grid and lower your electric bill.

A pilot project in Maryland is using EVs to create a cleaner, more resilient, and more affordable energy supply.

grist.org/solutions/ho...

#EV #Cars #Car #Transportation #Electricity

How EVs can fix the grid and lower your electric bill

A pilot project in Maryland is using EVs to create a cleaner, more resilient, and more affordable energy supply.

grist.org

15 23

Reposted by ACTupper

Kevin M. Kruse @kevinmkruse.bsky.social · 19h

Media outlets who refuse to describe in plain terms what the president did because they find it objectionable are lying to their audiences and running cover for the president. It's as simple as that.

Kimberly Atkins Stohr @kimberlyeatkins.bsky.social · 19h

The president of the United States posted a video of him defecating on the American people. Many in my profession normalized it. This is a big reason why we are where we are.

180 2.2K 7.6K

Reposted by ACTupper

Ian Carrillo @iansociologo.bsky.social · 18h

In Mexico, blackouts caused by data centers destroyed people's refrigerators and oxygen equipment in hospitals, and water shortages meant toilets couldn't flush in schools.

AI is another version of colonial extraction.

Heather Randell @heatherrandell.bsky.social · 20h

“By 2035, data centers globally are projected to use about as much electricity as India…according to the International Energy Agency. A single data center can also use more than 500,000 gallons of water a day, nearly as much as an Olympic-size swimming pool.”

🎁:
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/20/t...

From Mexico to Ireland, Fury Mounts Over a Global A.I. Frenzy

www.nytimes.com

4 360 620

Reposted by ACTupper

Shefali Luthra @shefali.bsky.social · 18h

ICE’s own policies say the agency should not detain pregnant, postpartum or nursing individuals.

It’s doing so anyway. Immigrants’ health is suffering. Congress has abandoned a requirement that ICE make public how many such immigrants have been detained.

19thnews.org/2025/10/ice-...

ICE keeps detaining pregnant immigrants — against federal policy

But the number is impossible to measure since Congress let lapse a requirement that ICE report how many pregnant, postpartum and nursing immigrants are in custody.

19thnews.org

1 51 69

Reposted by ACTupper

Andy Revkin 🌎 ✍🏼 🪕 ☮️ revkin.substack.com @revkin.bsky.social · 1d

The Alaska evacuations after Typhoon Halong are precisely what the National Guard does best - not being shuttled around like checkers at the whim of a petulent president. (photos by Alaska National Guard) More background in link in replies.

1 21 83