Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Jamison Foser @jamisonfoser.bsky.social · Jun 12

there is something quite close to unanimity among serious scholars on this point, but the Washington Post omits that in favor of highlighting one such scholar's donations to Democratic candidates

The Washington Post
Democracy Dies in Darkness "This kind of thing doesn't happen in democracies, and it's becoming a routine part of our politics," said Steven Levitsky, a professor of government at Harvard University, who has long warned that Trump poses a threat to American democracy. (Federal campaign finance records show that a person named Steven Levitsky who works at Harvard has
made small campaign donations to Democratic candidates.)

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Emily Feng @emilyzfeng.bsky.social · May 2

Only one member of the broadcaster’s vaunted Uyghur language service remains.

NPR @npr.org · May 2

Radio Free Asia is laying off about 90 percent of its staff meaning it is effectively shutting down. It says it can no longer pay people after its funding was cut off by the Trump administration.

By @emilyzfeng.bsky.social

Radio Free Asia announces mass layoffs amid funding fight with Trump administration

Radio Free Asia is laying off about 90 percent of its staff meaning it is effectively shutting down. It says it can no longer pay people after its funding was cut off by the Trump administration.

www.npr.org

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Ava Hu @avahu.bsky.social · Apr 25

One of the happiest updates I’ve written since I started following this story. 12 students back in status and maybe more to come. Across the country, students are saying their SEVIS is back.

www.dailycal.org/news/campus/...

12 UC Berkeley students' visas restored by ICE in nationwide reversal

At UC Berkeley, 12 students have had their status restored today after 23 were terminated since April 4.

www.dailycal.org

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Laura Luehrmann @lauraluehrmann.bsky.social · Apr 25

Important break with past practice, especially as the Holy See is one of only 12 States to recognize Taiwan (and the only European power to do so).

Chhiū-ông-kong 樹王公 @shuwanggong.bsky.social · Apr 25

Disappointing that Taiwan's president would be excluded from this world event when one of his predecessors was permitted to attend this same pope's investiture and another attended John Paul the II's funeral. Taiwan's isolation is deepening. China wants to disappear Taiwan to the same fate as Tibet.

Dr. Zsuzsa A. Ferenczy @zsuzsettte.bsky.social · Apr 25

Taiwan president won’t attend Pope Francis’s funeral.

Taipei has had good reason to worry about Vatican’s interactions with China, which, ironically, unfolded amid increasing restrictions on religious freedom in the country.

Thanks @heldavidson.bsky.social

www.theguardian.com/world/2025/a...

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Hoodlum 🇺🇸 @nothoodlum.bsky.social · Apr 25

China has returned two Boeing jets, each valued at $55 million. With $69 million in tariffs applied, the cost per plane increased to $124 million. Orders for an additional 130 jets have been indefinitely suspended.

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Chhiū-ông-kong 樹王公 @shuwanggong.bsky.social · Apr 25

Disappointing that Taiwan's president would be excluded from this world event when one of his predecessors was permitted to attend this same pope's investiture and another attended John Paul the II's funeral. Taiwan's isolation is deepening. China wants to disappear Taiwan to the same fate as Tibet.

Dr. Zsuzsa A. Ferenczy @zsuzsettte.bsky.social · Apr 25

Taiwan president won’t attend Pope Francis’s funeral.

Taipei has had good reason to worry about Vatican’s interactions with China, which, ironically, unfolded amid increasing restrictions on religious freedom in the country.

Thanks @heldavidson.bsky.social

www.theguardian.com/world/2025/a...

Taiwan president will not attend Pope Francis’s funeral

Taiwan to send former vice-president despite Vatican being one of country’s few diplomatic allies

www.theguardian.com

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Josh Chin @joshchin.bsky.social · Apr 24

Trump negotiates with himself over China tariffs in public as Beijing sits and watches. One reason we're seeing this unfold: Trump picked a fight with a regime that's improving an already immense tolerance for pain

My latest (gift link): www.wsj.com/world/china/...

Xi Is Ratcheting Up China’s Pain Threshold for a Long Fight With Trump

President Trump is facing an adversary who has armed his country to play a long and potentially painful game in its contest with the U.S.

www.wsj.com

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Stephen McDonell @stephenmcdonell.bsky.social · Mar 28

Early reports of terrible destruction inside #Myanmar following a powerful earthquake. Official state of emergency in 6 rejoins, apparently injured being treated with makeshift facilities in the streets.

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Laura Luehrmann @lauraluehrmann.bsky.social · Mar 24

Sorry I missed it this year; will be cheering from the gallows.

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Laura Luehrmann @lauraluehrmann.bsky.social · Mar 7

Women = nearly 60% of China's documented prisoners of conscience.

CHRD人权捍卫者 @chrdnet.bsky.social · Mar 7

Ahead of #InternationalWomensDay, a grim reminder: Women make up 48% of China’s population but nearly 60% of documented prisoners of conscience. Worse, 2/3 of detained PoCs over 60 are women—amid documented gender-based violence agst WHRDs in detention. Read more ⤵️
www.nchrd.org/2025/03/chin...

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Noah Barkin @noahbarkin.bsky.social · Mar 7

A sharp deterioration in transatlantic relations is beginning to infect the European debate on China. EU officials say unity on China is at its most fragile point in years. They are particularly worried about Spain & Italy. Read more in my latest WCIE for GMF

www.gmfus.org/news/watchin...

Watching China in Europe—March 2025

www.gmfus.org

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CHRD人权捍卫者 @chrdnet.bsky.social · Mar 7

Ahead of #InternationalWomensDay, a grim reminder: Women make up 48% of China’s population but nearly 60% of documented prisoners of conscience. Worse, 2/3 of detained PoCs over 60 are women—amid documented gender-based violence agst WHRDs in detention. Read more ⤵️
www.nchrd.org/2025/03/chin...

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Nathan Attrill @nathanattrill.bsky.social · Mar 2

💀 The damage caused by Donald Trump to the United States’ reputation is creating opportunities for China, particularly with regards to Taiwan, according to a retired senior colonel from China’s People’s Liberation Army. www.theguardian.com/world/2025/m...

‘America is going down’: China can capitalise on damage caused by Trump, former PLA colonel says

Exclusive: Zhou Bo says harm done to US image may make Taiwanese reconsider their attitude towards Beijing but says he sees Trump as overall being ‘rather friendly’

www.theguardian.com

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Mark Carney @mark-carney.bsky.social · Feb 28

Freedom and democracy are always worth fighting for. Slava Ukraini.

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Paul Goode @jpaulgoode.bsky.social · Feb 27

DoD terminates Minerva grants and State Dept eliminates Title VIII summer language institutes on the same day. Coming on the heels of COVID, there’s going to be gaping holes in international expertise in the US for a generation.
/slow clap

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Nathan Attrill @nathanattrill.bsky.social · Feb 21

“The Trump administration has already demonstrated that it is willing to suddenly and without warning break from decades of bipartisan US policy on China,” says Bethany Allen, head of China investigations and analysis at @aspi-org.bsky.social www.theguardian.com/world/2025/f...

Taiwan holds its breath as Trump turns on Ukraine and upends US foreign policy

The mood in Taipei is one of wariness as the new US president takes a blowtorch to diplomatic norms and assurances

www.theguardian.com

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Tom Grundy @tomgrundy.hongkongfp.com · Feb 17

Via AFP:

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Pacific Standard 🚜🌻☂️ @pacstandardtw.bsky.social · Feb 16

"But as well as dropping the phrase "we do not support Taiwan independence", the page has added a reference to Taiwan's cooperation with a Pentagon technology and semiconductor development project and says the U.S. will support Taiwan's membership in int'l orgs..."

www.reuters.com/world/us-dro...

US drops website wording on not supporting Taiwan independence

The U.S. State Department has removed a statement on its website that it does not support Taiwan independence, among changes that the island's government praised on Sunday as supporting Taiwan.

www.reuters.com

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Dahlia Lithwick @dahlialithwick.bsky.social · Feb 15

Make your calls. Go to your town halls. Ask your state and local officials what they are doing under state and local law. Rest. Hydrate. Make soup for the hungry. Don’t let people tell you that you’re doing it wrong. Not a sprint. Not a marathon. A relay. Find your team. Thank you.

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Greg @jamyang.net · Feb 14

PBS FRONTLINE investigates China’s rule over Tibet. With footage from inside the region, the documentary examines how the Communist regime controls Tibet’s Buddhist population, and the battle over the succession of its spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama. www.pbs.org/wgbh/frontli...

Battle for Tibet

FRONTLINE investigates China’s rule over Tibet.

www.pbs.org

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Sixth Tone @sixthtone.bsky.social · Feb 13

Update: As of Thursday, “Ne Zha 2” has grossed over 10 billion yuan ($1.3 billion), becoming China’s highest-grossing film and setting the biggest single-market box office record in history.

‘Ne Zha 2’: A 3-Year-Old Demon Just Crushed Every Movie in China

Now China’s highest-grossing film, “Ne Zha 2,” the sequel to the 2019 hit, is redefining the future of Chinese animation.

www.sixthtone.com

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David Hull 胡大衛 @hushuo.bsky.social · Feb 13

apnews.com/article/tesl...

#Tesla #Musk #China

Takeaways: Tesla has sued Chinese customers and journalists — and won almost every time

Tesla has sued its own customers and journalists in China for defamation and won just about every time.

apnews.com

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China Media Project @chinamediaproject.bsky.social · Feb 10

When it comes to assessing the risks of DeepSeek, are we asking the wrong questions? Governments, journalists, and coders need to know that it’s a much more sophisticated propaganda tool than we all thought.

DeepSeeking Truth - China Media Project

When it comes to assessing the risks of DeepSeek as propaganda, are we asking the wrong questions? Governments, journalists, and coders need to know that it’s a much more sophisticated propaganda tool...

chinamediaproject.org

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Nathan Attrill @nathanattrill.bsky.social · Feb 10

Several Honduran opposition candidates vying for the country's November elections support resuming diplomatic relations with Taiwan. www.taiwannews.com.tw/news/6033468

Honduras opposition candidates back restoring Taiwan diplomatic ties | Taiwan News | Feb. 10, 2025 13:30

Candidate says China dumping destroyed local firms, aid failed to deliver | Feb. 10, 2025 13:30

www.taiwannews.com.tw

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Financial Times @financialtimes.com · Feb 9

China imposes retaliatory tariffs on $14bn worth of US goods

https://www.ft.com/content/5260a94a-df1e-4c4c-8fa9-afc80506b360

China imposes retaliatory tariffs on $14bn worth of US goods

Beijing may be better prepared this time for renewed trade conflict with Trump, analysts say

www.ft.com

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Ryan Goodman @rgoodlaw.bsky.social · Feb 8

Republican Senator Jerry Moran of farm-state Kansas sounds the alarm on dismantling #USAID.

Impending global implications as well as domestic implications for U.S. farmers.

kansasreflector.com/2025/02/07/k...

Kansas' Moran, Davids sound alarm on delay of USAID food aid to starving people worldwide • Kansas Reflector

Kansas' congressional delegation — Moran, Davids, Marshall — share diverse views on potential demolition of U.S. Agency for International Development.

kansasreflector.com

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Matthew Hayes @mhayes.bsky.social · Feb 7

WashU PoliSci is hosting its third annual summer research program for undergraduates! Applications are due March 7. If you know students who might be thinking of grad school and want to get hands-on research experience, encourage them to apply at: sites.wustl.edu/wusteps/

WUSTEPS announcement flyer. Deadline March 7 2025. Find more information and apply at: sites.wustl.edu/wusteps/

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Southern Poverty Law Center @splcenter.org · Feb 1

February kicks off #BlackHistoryMonth, a time to honor and celebrate Black resilience, contribution and triumph.

Black history is central to our nation’s story. This month and always we celebrate the diversity and creativity of Black Americans that is essential to the U.S.'s foundation.

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