Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Reposted by Joanna Kakissis

The Washington Post @washingtonpost.com · 14h

The U.S. passport has fallen out of the top 10 most powerful passports globally for the first time in 20 years.

The American passport is now in 12th spot, tied with Malaysia. A decade ago, the U.S. passport topped the index.

U.S. falls out of top 10 on list of the world’s most powerful passports

The U.S. is now in the 12th spot — it was first a decade ago. The index ranks how many destinations a passport holder can visit without needing a visa.

www.washingtonpost.com

12 47 97

Reposted by Joanna Kakissis

The Washington Post @washingtonpost.com · 22h

President Donald Trump acknowledged a $20 billion bailout for Argentina would not primarily serve American interests, testing the patience of domestic farmers who have yet to receive their own relief from Trump’s trade war.

Trump says U.S. won’t benefit from $20 billion bailout for Argentina

By his own account, Trump is offering $20 billion to Argentina to help its politically aligned president, Javier Milei, who faces a possible financial crisis and a legislative election on Oct. 26.

www.washingtonpost.com

36 76 130

Reposted by Joanna Kakissis

The New York Times @nytimes.com · 1d

In the lead up to Election Day, Zohran Mamdani has engaged in a second primary of sorts, meeting quietly with New York City power brokers to consolidate support and box out his main rivals. Here’s the inside story of his rise. nyti.ms/3WCHy37

10 17 120

Reposted by Joanna Kakissis

Sarfraz Manzoor @sarfrazmanzoor.bsky.social · 1d

this is so good www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/20...

Man, 95, leads a 100-member Taylor Swift fan club in his retirement home

Residents of Omaha’s Remington Heights independent and assisted living community are determined to convince Swift to visit for bingo.

www.washingtonpost.com

1 4

Reposted by Joanna Kakissis

Michel Martin, NPR @michelmartinnpr.bsky.social · 1d

NPR's veteran Pentagon reporter warns new media policy stifles journalism

www.npr.org/2025/10/14/g...

Opinion: Why I'm handing in my Pentagon press pass

Tom Bowman has held his Pentagon press pass for 28 years. He says the Pentagon's new media policy makes it impossible to be a journalist, which means finding out what's really going on behind the scen...

www.npr.org

4 18 86

Joanna Kakissis @joannakakissis.bsky.social · 1d

#mustread

David Folkenflik @davidfolkenflik.bsky.social · 1d

NPR's veteran defense reporter Tom Bowman: Why I'm handing in my Pentagon Pass

www.npr.org/2025/10/14/g...

Opinion: Why I'm handing in my Pentagon press pass

Tom Bowman has held his Pentagon press pass for 28 years. He says the Pentagon's new media policy makes it impossible to be a journalist, which means finding out what's really going on behind the scen...

www.npr.org

1

Reposted by Joanna Kakissis

The New York Times @nytimes.com · 2d

Marc Maron, the comedian, actor and former podcaster, discussed his decision to bring “WTF” to a close after 16 years and interviewing its final guest, Barack Obama. “It’s hard to find a way through, in terms of hope,” Maron told us in an interview. “So, I went to the hope guy.” nyti.ms/4n3ieOG

4 25 210

Reposted by Joanna Kakissis

NPR @npr.org · 2d

A Statement from NPR’s Editor in Chief on the Pentagon’s Press Policy.
Read More: www.npr.org/2025/10/13/g...

310 2.9K 10K

Reposted by Joanna Kakissis

Taniel @taniel.bsky.social · 2d

North Carolina Republicans announced today they’re going to pass a new congressional map to draw a Dem out of Congress; they already did last cycle, going from 7-7 to 10-4. Thus would be 11-3. t.co/XLJIhe8vZn

38 280 470

Reposted by Joanna Kakissis

The New York Times @nytimes.com · 2d

Many Palestinians in Gaza felt there was little to celebrate on Monday. “It’s important that the bombing has stopped, but there’s nothing to be happy about,” said Saed Abu Aita, 44. “My two daughters were killed, my home was destroyed and my health has deteriorated.”

Gazans See Little to Celebrate Even Though the Bombs Have Stopped

The cease-fire in Gaza has taken hold. Hostages and prisoners have been exchanged. But amid the utter devastation of two years of war, a sense of gloom pervades.

nyti.ms

22 110 260

Reposted by Joanna Kakissis

Michele Kelemen @michelekelemen.bsky.social · 2d

And another www.npr.org/2025/10/13/n...

Crowds cheer in Gaza, Ramallah as Israel releases Palestinian prisoners

As part of the ceasefire deal, Israel released nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners on Monday. The majority were detainees and prisoners arrested in Gaza and returned there to a huge celebratory crowd.

www.npr.org

1 3

Reposted by Joanna Kakissis

Michele Kelemen @michelekelemen.bsky.social · 2d

Great work by my colleagues in the field today. Here’s one example: www.npr.org/2025/10/13/n...

What the freed Israeli hostages' first few days of freedom will look like

All 20 surviving Israeli hostages have been freed by Hamas after spending more than two years in captivity in Gaza.

www.npr.org

1 1 5

Reposted by Joanna Kakissis

Don Moynihan @donmoyn.bsky.social · 5d

1 7 84

Reposted by Joanna Kakissis

Caitlyn Kim @caitlynkim.bsky.social · 6d

Troops will miss paychecks next week without action on the government shutdown www.cpr.org/2025/10/09/t...

Troops will miss paychecks next week without action on the government shutdown

The federal government shutdown is raising anxiety levels among service members and their families because those in uniform are working without pay.

www.cpr.org

5 5

Reposted by Joanna Kakissis

Jenna McLaughlin @jennamclaughlin.bsky.social · 6d

Also, CISA staffers I see you...know you've been having a rough go of it since DOGE came on the scene, from disinfo work to the Cyber Safety Review Board:

www.npr.org/2025/02/06/n..., www.npr.org/2025/02/11/n...

CISA staffers offered deferred resignations, extending broader cybersecurity fears

Staff at the key cybersecurity agency were initially excluded from government efforts to leave their jobs, but then on Wednesday they were given deferred resignation offers with just hours to decide.

www.npr.org

1 7 14

Reposted by Joanna Kakissis

Zarina Zabrisky @zarinazabrisky.bsky.social · 6d

Merci, France! Already 5 screenings of Kherson:Human Safari (Paris, Grenoble, Nantes, Lyon, and counting)

So thankful for @lemonde.fr coverage of the Kherson film premiere-great photos by Virginie Nguyen Hoang.
.
Today, Paris. Tomorrow, Lyon.

Massive thanks to
@kanarifella.bsky.social
-the best!

3 20 46

Reposted by Joanna Kakissis

kate conger @kateconger.com · 7d

Jonathan Rinderknecht, a white man, was charged with starting the Palisades Fire. But on X, the company's news summary tab shows a photo of a black man.

Screenshot depicting posts on X, one showing the suspect accused of starting the Palisades Fire, a white man. The X news tab reports on the suspect's arrest, but shows a photo of a black man instead.

20 1.5K 3.5K

Reposted by Joanna Kakissis

Caitlyn Kim @caitlynkim.bsky.social · 9d

Between the Western Colorado towns of Whitewater and Gateway, a geological marvel — and mystery www.cpr.org/2025/10/06/u...

Between the Western Colorado towns of Whitewater and Gateway, a geological marvel — and mystery

Unaweep Canyon is said to be the only canyon in the world where water flows out of both ends.

www.cpr.org

1 2

Reposted by Joanna Kakissis

The Washington Post @washingtonpost.com · 9d

The Ojibwe tribe is fighting to preserve manoomin, a wild rice in northern Wisconsin that’s under threat from a pipeline, climate change, pollution and invasive plant species.

Wild rice binds this tribe together. It’s under threat from every direction.

Inside the Ojibwe’s fight to preserve a plant and the extraordinary traditions around it in northern Wisconsin.

www.washingtonpost.com

8 79 160

Reposted by Joanna Kakissis

David Folkenflik @davidfolkenflik.bsky.social · 9d

Bari Weiss to be editor in chief of CBS News as Skydance set to annnouccne acquisition of Free Press

What does it mean for CBS? My story and chat with Steve Inskeep on NPR's Morning Edition

www.npr.org/2025/10/06/n...

CBS' next top editor to be Bari Weiss of The Free Press

CBS' parent company will buy The Free Press and install Bari Weiss, its contrarian founder, as editor in chief of CBS News.

www.npr.org

13 11 39

Reposted by Joanna Kakissis

Arthur Snell @snellarthur.bsky.social · 9d

After a trip across Ukraine on trains that keep running in spite of Russian air raids, nothing says welcome home quite like those three magical words:

Rail Replacement Bus

4 60 310

Reposted by Joanna Kakissis

The Washington Post @washingtonpost.com · 9d

A new study has found that across more than 80 different types of activities — from getting gas to reading to managing finances — people reported being happier doing almost anything with other people than doing it alone.

Doing almost anything is better with friends, research finds

You might be leaving some happiness on the table by doing your everyday activities all by yourself.

wapo.st

15 14 71

Reposted by Joanna Kakissis

ProPublica @propublica.org · 19d

NEW: I arrived in the U.S. eight weeks ago to report on how the administration’s immigration crackdown was playing out from the front lines.

What I saw Thursday was the culmination of ICE’s aggressive behavior.

By @tilleckert.com

I Filmed the ICE Officer Who Shoved a Woman. It Felt Like the New Normal.

I arrived in the U.S. eight weeks ago to report on how the administration’s immigration crackdown was playing out from the front lines. What I saw Thursday was the culmination of ICE’s aggressive behavior.

www.propublica.org

430 2.7K 6.4K

Reposted by Joanna Kakissis

Caitlyn Kim @caitlynkim.bsky.social · 26d

ICYMI: Students rally at the Colorado Capitol after Evergreen High shooting www.cpr.org/2025/09/18/c...

Students rally at the Colorado Capitol after Evergreen High shooting

High school students from across Denver held a rally on the Capitol steps Wednesday in the wake of the state's latest high school shooting.

www.cpr.org

3 3

Reposted by Joanna Kakissis

Frankie Huang 黄碧赤 @ourobororoboruo.bsky.social · 28d

I try not to food shame but my father has gone too far this time with his leftover-based lunch dish 😂

Slice of old pizza on top of dumplings in a frying pan

150 66 1.1K