Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Amy Spitalnick @amyspitalnick.bsky.social · 17h

Honestly, this doesn’t look that different from the Charlottesville neo-Nazis’ chats. Same exact antisemitism, racism, and violence — a reminder of how normalized it’s all become.

Politico @politico.com · 19h

EXCLUSIVE: Thousands of leaked messages show leaders of Young Republican groups joking about gas chambers, slavery and rape in a private Telegram chat.

Inside rising GOP leaders’ racist chats — obtained by POLITICO and spanning more than 7 months👇

‘I love Hitler’: Leaked messages expose Young Republicans’ racist chat

Thousands of private messages reveal young GOP leaders joking about gas chambers, slavery and rape.

www.politico.com

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Amy Spitalnick @amyspitalnick.bsky.social · 1d

I’m struggling with words this morning. So I’ll just share this for now. 💛

The Jerusalem Post @thejerusalempost.bsky.social · 2d

Matan and Einav Zangauker are finally reunited after he was freed from Hamas captivity this morning.

📸 via IDF Spokesperson Office

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Reposted by Amy Spitalnick

Center for Countering Digital Hate @counterhate.com · 5d

“A decade later, we’ve seen those conspiracy theories & ideas move wholly into the mainstream of our political discourse in many ways through social media.”

Our report with @thejcpa.bsky.social found that X is a hotbed for antisemitic conspiracies.

More from JCPA CEO @amyspitalnick.bsky.social👇

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Amy Spitalnick @amyspitalnick.bsky.social · 5d

‪It goes hand-in-hand with the admin weaponizing counterterrorism agencies, the IRS, and Treasury to go after liberal nonprofits. www.reuters.com/legal/govern...

https://www.reuters.com/legal/government/trumps-war-left-inside-plan-investigate-liberal-groups-2025-10-09/‬

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Amy Spitalnick @amyspitalnick.bsky.social · 5d

Weaponizing the Justice Department to go after those who’ve held you accountable. Totally normal.

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Reposted by Amy Spitalnick

Princeton University Press @princetonupress.bsky.social · 5d

Leading extremism expert Cynthia Miller-Idriss speaks with @amyspitalnick.bsky.social, CEO of @thejcpa.bsky.social, about the rise of antisemitism and its intersection with misogyny, examining events like the 2017 Unite the Right rally through a new lens.

Listen: linktr.ee/manuppodcast

#Podcast

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Amy Spitalnick @amyspitalnick.bsky.social · 6d

After two years it is so hard to believe anything. And yet if you care about Israelis and Palestinians having any semblance of a future, there’s no choice but to hope and pray this moves forward.

The Associated Press @apnews.com · 6d

BREAKING: Hamas will release all 20 living hostages this weekend, AP sources say, as Israelis will withdraw from majority of Gaza.

Israel, Hamas agree to 'first phase' of plan to end fighting, release hostages, Trump says

President Donald Trump says Israel and Hamas have agreed to the “first Phase” of his peace plan to pause fighting and release at least some hostages and prisoners.

bit.ly

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Reposted by Amy Spitalnick

Jewish Council for Public Affairs @thejcpa.bsky.social · 7d

Two years since we woke up to a nightmare. Two years of war, of unfathomable pain & suffering. Enough. It’s time for the hostages to come home, for the war and the humanitarian crisis in Gaza to end, and for a future of safety & peace for Israelis and Palestinians.

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Reposted by Amy Spitalnick

Jewish Council for Public Affairs @thejcpa.bsky.social · 8d

JCPA CEO @amyspitalnick.bsky.social in @jewishinsider.com on how October 7th and its aftermath reinforced false binaries and false choices on antisemitism and Israel - and why it’s now even more urgent to lean into the hard work of coalition building.

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Reposted by Amy Spitalnick

Center for Countering Digital Hate @counterhate.com · 8d

“…X and so many other platforms are simply not living up to their Terms of Service, to their responsibilities to protect their users, including Jewish users in this case, but certainly many, many others.”

Hear from @thejcpa.bsky.social CEO @amyspitalnick.bsky.social on our recent report 👇

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Reposted by Amy Spitalnick

Jewish Council for Public Affairs @thejcpa.bsky.social · 11d

As we near Shabbat and 2 years since the 10/7 attacks, we are closely following this news from the region — and pray we’ll soon see the day the hostages are all home, the war ends, Gazans get the humanitarian relief they need, and Israelis and Palestinians can truly live in peace and dignity.

NPR @npr.org · 11d

JUST IN: Hamas says it agrees to release the remaining Israeli hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners, but did not confirm its agreement with the full peace plan presented by the U.S.

Hamas agrees to parts of a peace plan after Trump gives a deadline

Hamas says it agrees to release the remaining Israeli hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners, but did not confirm its agreement with the full peace plan presented by the U.S.

n.pr

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Reposted by Amy Spitalnick

Jewish Council for Public Affairs @thejcpa.bsky.social · 11d

Our CEO @amyspitalnick.bsky.social in @nytimes.com on how deep polarization on issues like the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is being fueled by zero-sum narratives and conspiracy theories amplified on social media.

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Amy Spitalnick @amyspitalnick.bsky.social · 13d

This is not happening in a vacuum. Increasingly normalized antisemitic hate leads to real world violence - Tree of Life, the Capital Jewish Museum, Boulder, and sadly so much more. And it threatens not only Jews but all communities and the fabric of our society.

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Amy Spitalnick @amyspitalnick.bsky.social · 13d

Two people were murdered at a synagogue in Manchester on Yom Kippur, the holiest day of the year for Jews www.bbc.com/news/live/cx...

We’re facing a global crisis of antisemitism. Too many of us have feared news like this, especially on the High Holidays - it’s felt almost inevitable.

Manchester synagogue: Two dead in Manchester synagogue attack, with suspect also believed to have been killed - police

The suspect was shot by police, who say his condition cannot be confirmed due to

www.bbc.com

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Reposted by Amy Spitalnick

Steph Herold @stephherold.bsky.social · 14d

“Antisemitic conspiracy theories and hate that were once fringe have been wholly normalized – amplified by X’s failure to live up to its own policies."

Thank you @amyspitalnick.bsky.social, @thejcpa.bsky.social & @counterhate.com for this important research. www.cnn.com/2025/09/29/b...

Musk’s X is ‘go-to platform’ for antisemitism, study finds | CNN Business

The new year-long study found that X’s content restrictions are not having much effect on antisemitic content.

www.cnn.com

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Amy Spitalnick @amyspitalnick.bsky.social · 15d

Our new joint report in CNN: Musk’s X is ‘go-to platform’ for antisemitism, study finds www.cnn.com/2025/09/29/b...

Join me and @imranahmed.bsky.social of @counterhate.com today at noon ET to discuss: thejcpa-org.zoom.us/webinar/regi...

Musk’s X is ‘go-to platform’ for antisemitism, study finds | CNN Business

The new year-long study found that X’s content restrictions are not having much effect on antisemitic content.

www.cnn.com

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Reposted by Amy Spitalnick

Jewish Council for Public Affairs @thejcpa.bsky.social · 18d

📅 Sept 29, 12–1pm ET | Online: Join
@amyspitalnick.bsky.social
& Imran Ahmed of CCDH for a conversation on our new report, X-posed: Antisemitism on X—which details how hate flourishes on the platform, with real world consequences.

Register: thejcpa-org.zoom.us/meeting/regi...

Event flyer with a black textured background and a faint “X” symbol. Large white text reads: “X-posed: Antisemitism on X — Report Launch Webinar.” Details: “Monday, September 29, 12 PM Noon–1 PM ET / 9 AM–10 AM PT.” Below: “A Conversation with JCPA CEO Amy Spitalnick, and CCDH Founder & CEO Imran Ahmed on Countering Online Hate and Extremism.” At the bottom are photos of Amy Spitalnick and Imran Ahmed, along with the logos of JCPA (Jewish Council for Public Affairs) and CCDH (Center for Countering Digital Hate).

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Amy Spitalnick @amyspitalnick.bsky.social · 19d

It was a privilege to join Cynthia on the first episode of the Man Up podcast to discuss the inextricable link between misogyny and antisemitism, from the Charlottesville neo-Nazis to 10/7 denial and beyond. Give it a listen then check out Cynthia’s new book on misogyny and violent extremism ⬇️⬇️

Cynthia Miller-Idriss @milleridriss.bsky.social · 25d

It’s here: the absolute coolest thing I have done all year, and that is saying something!

“Man Up: Conversations on Gendered Hate in the Digital Age” is an original podcast produced by Long Story Short Media featuring leading extremism expert Cynthia 1/

linktr.ee/manuppodcast

Image of the words Man Up: Conversations on Gendered Hate in the Digital Age

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Reposted by Amy Spitalnick

Jewish Council for Public Affairs @thejcpa.bsky.social · 26d

Free speech doesn’t only mean speech the government approves. Suppression and retaliation undermine our core democratic norms and values and make all of us less safe.

Graphic from the Jewish Council for Public Affairs (JCPA) with a faded background image of a civil rights march. Large white text reads: “Free speech doesn’t only mean speech the government approves. Suppression and retaliation undermine our core democratic norms and values and make all of us less safe.” Below is a CNBC headline in a white box: “Trump's pressure on the media is mounting with Kimmel sidelined ‘indefinitely.’”

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Amy Spitalnick @amyspitalnick.bsky.social · Sep 14

We are just sitting on a powder keg as the worst possible extremists exploit the Kirk murder to dehumanize, attack, and sow more violence — from the threats against elected officials to inane attempts to make this about the trans community.

This is precisely how political violence works.

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Amy Spitalnick @amyspitalnick.bsky.social · Sep 13

LA! I’ll be speaking at IKAR during Shabbat services tomorrow morning, in conversation with the great Rabbi Sharon Brous about antisemitism and democracy. You can join in person or watch online. ikar.org/events/count...

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Amy Spitalnick @amyspitalnick.bsky.social · Sep 12

The Evergreen school shooter’s social media was “filled with white supremacist content, posts exhibiting a fascination with mass shootings, and reposted videos that ‘were explicitly antisemitic or depicted people in Nazi uniforms.’” coloradonewsline.com/briefs/everg...

Suspect in Evergreen school shooting was ‘radicalized’ by ‘extremist network,’ investigators say | Colorado Newsline

The suspect who shot and injured two people at Evergreen High School was “radicalized by some extremist network."

coloradonewsline.com

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Amy Spitalnick @amyspitalnick.bsky.social · Sep 11

We have no idea yet who the shooter was or what motivated them. Those exploiting this horror for political gain - including the president, it appears - are only reinforcing the very dynamics that fuel political violence in the first place. And so the cycle continues.

Amy Spitalnick @amyspitalnick.bsky.social · Sep 10

Rising political violence — including those who exploit it to pit communities against one another — is among the most dire threats to our democracy and our safety.

This is utterly horrifying. And I’m terrified about what may follow.

Jewish Council for Public Affairs @thejcpa.bsky.social · Sep 10

The normalization of political violence is a threat to everyone's safety. We should all be horrified by this — and make unequivocally clear this violence has no place in our politics or our society.

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Amy Spitalnick @amyspitalnick.bsky.social · Sep 10

Rising political violence — including those who exploit it to pit communities against one another — is among the most dire threats to our democracy and our safety.

This is utterly horrifying. And I’m terrified about what may follow.

Jewish Council for Public Affairs @thejcpa.bsky.social · Sep 10

The normalization of political violence is a threat to everyone's safety. We should all be horrified by this — and make unequivocally clear this violence has no place in our politics or our society.

The Associated Press @apnews.com · Sep 10

BREAKING Charlie Kirk is in critical condition at a hospital after being shot at Utah Valley University event, an AP source says.

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Reposted by Amy Spitalnick

Jewish Council for Public Affairs @thejcpa.bsky.social · Sep 10

The normalization of political violence is a threat to everyone's safety. We should all be horrified by this — and make unequivocally clear this violence has no place in our politics or our society.

The Associated Press @apnews.com · Sep 10

BREAKING Charlie Kirk is in critical condition at a hospital after being shot at Utah Valley University event, an AP source says.

Turning Point USA confirms CEO Charlie Kirk shot at Utah college event

Charlie Kirk, the CEO and co-founder of the conservative youth organization Turning Point USA, has been shot at an event at a Utah college, Turning Point said.

bit.ly

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