Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Azi Raphael @moonglaive90.bsky.social · 21m

"'...medical care should never be turned away due to arbitrary COVID-19 vaccine mandates imposed by woke medical providers,' AG Paxton."

The GOP is hellbent on driving out providers and making it that much harder for Texans to receive that 'arbitrary, woke' life saving healthcare, I guess.

Azi Raphael @moonglaive90.bsky.social · 24m

Alt text + link

texasattorneygeneral.gov/news/release...

Attorney General Ken Paxton Warns Houston Methodist Hospital Over Alleged COVID-19 Vaccine Mandates for Organ Transplant Patients

Attorney General Ken Paxton sent a letter to Houston Methodist Hospital following allegations that the hospital system may deny organ transplants to patients who chose not to receive the COVID-19 vaccine.

The letter directs Houston Methodist to clarify whether its policies comply with state law prohibiting discrimination against organ transplant patients based on vaccination status. This action comes amid reports that the hospital may have previously conditioned access to life-saving procedures, such as kidney transplants, on patients getting the COVID-19 vaccine.

“Texans looking to receive medical care should never be turned away due to arbitrary COVID-19 vaccine mandates imposed by woke medical providers,” said Attorney General Paxton. “Vaccine mandates as a precondition for certain life-saving treatments may not only violate new state laws that became effective on September 1, but they also violate human dignity and run contrary to foundational principles of medical ethics. That’s why I’ve requested that Houston Methodist Hospital clarify its compliance with Texas’s new laws and position on vaccine mandates.”

Texas law prohibits healthcare providers from denying organ transplants or related services solely because of a patient’s decision to receive or not receive a COVID-19 or other vaccination. The Attorney General has given Houston Methodist fourteen days to provide a written explanation of steps taken to comply. Failure to respond will result in the opening of a formal investigation. This action reaffirms Attorney General Paxton’s stance against COVID-19 vaccine mandates and reflects his commitment to protecting the rights and freedoms of Texans by challenging unlawful vaccine mandates.

To read the letter, click here.

Azi Raphael @moonglaive90.bsky.social · 24m

Alt text + link

texasattorneygeneral.gov/news/release...

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James Whitbrook @jwhitbrook.bsky.social · 3h

Fuck. A generational loss.

Drew Struzan, the King of the Movie Poster, Has Died

The beloved artist, who illustrated iconic posters for 'Star Wars', 'Indiana Jones', 'Back to the Future', and more, was 78.

gizmodo.com

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Erin Reed @erininthemorning.com · 2h

1. Yesterday, the press gave Gavin Newsom favorable coverage for signing pro-LGBTQ+ bills.

Little noticed, however, was that he vetoed one of the most important ones: a bill allowing trans people 12 month HRT stockpiles, protecting them from federal threats.

Subscribe to support our journalism.

Gavin Newsom Vetoes Important HRT Stockpiling Bill For Trans Californians, Signs Other Pro-LGBTQ+ Bills

The bill would have allowed transgender people to maintain a safe supply of medication in the era of government crackdowns on care.

www.erininthemorning.com

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CJ Ciaramella @cjciaramella.bsky.social · 1h

Ah, this is kind of juicy. According to the suit, Florida applied for FEMA grants on Aug. 7 without telling anyone.

The 11th Circuit order allowing the detention camp to reopen was built on the assumption that Florida hadn't yet applied for federal money.

screenshot of lawsuit linked above: "On August 26, 2025, FDEM appealed the preliminary injunction and sought a stay
pending appeal. Again, FDEM did not disclose that its application for federal funding had already
been submitted. The United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit granted a stay of the
preliminary injunction on September 4, several times citing the “fact” that Defendant had not yet
applied for federal funding. Friends of the Everglades, Inc. v. Sec'y of United States Dep't of
Homeland Sec., No. 25-12873, 2025 WL 2598567, at *2 (11th Cir. Sept. 4, 2025) (“However,
Florida has not filed an application for federal funds…”); id. at *7 (“But that planned [grant]
program has not been ‘finalized’ yet, and DHS has not received … any applications for funding,
let alone any regarding the Facility); id. at *8 (“To receive funding … FDEM will need to send
an application to FEMA and comply with a host of regulatory prerequisites in support of that
application… “Without an application, there is simply nothing on which a decision can be
made.”; id. at *9 (“There may come a time when FDEP applies for FEMA funding. If the
Federal Defendants ultimately decide to approve that request and reimburse Florida for its
expenditures related to the Facility, they may need to first conduct an [Environmental Impact
Statement].” (emphases added)."

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Gabriel Malor @gabrielmalor.bsky.social · 1h

3d Cir. will NOT rehear this decision en banc.

Judges Hardiman, Bibas, Porter, Matey, Phipps, and Bove (yes, him) dissent. Bove to "file a separate dissent sur rehearing on a later date."

Order --> www2.ca3.uscourts.gov/opinarch/251...

Gabriel Malor @gabrielmalor.bsky.social · Aug 26

3d Cir. holds that Pennsylvania's law requiring otherwise valid mail-in ballots to be discarded if the return envelopes have missing or incorrect dates violates voter rights protected by the First and Fourteenth Amendments.

www2.ca3.uscourts.gov/opinarch/251...

Casting a ballot and having it counted are central to the
democratic process. And while we acknowledge a State’s
unique role in administering elections, courts are sometimes
called upon to make difficult decisions—decisions like the one
at hand that seek to weigh these interests with an eye towards
safeguarding the democratic process. This case is no
exception. While the Commonwealth has raised legitimate
interests related to voting, we see only tangential links, at best,
between these interests and the date requirement that
Pennsylvania imposes on mail-in voters. The date requirement
does not play a role in election administration, nor does it
contribute an added measure of solemnity beyond that created
by a signature. And only in the exceedingly rare circumstance
does it contribute to the prosecution of voter fraud.
Weighing these interests against the burden on voters, we
are unable to justify the Commonwealth’s practice of
discarding ballots contained in return envelopes with missing
or incorrect dates that has resulted in the disqualification of
thousands of presumably proper ballots. We will affirm the
District Court’s judgment.

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Azi Raphael @moonglaive90.bsky.social · 1h

This is also why they break things, blame everyone else, and then claim they will fix it (then never do so).

Azi Raphael @moonglaive90.bsky.social · 1h

They have to stick with whatever gets their base riled up. Then they have to find ways to extend those things, to keep the momentum and rage going because all they've got is angry vibes and bigotry instead of anything resembling substance.

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Jeremy Ghost Shipp @jeremycshipp.bsky.social · 1h

Check out this important thread about protein powder lead. In America, things that are considered "dietary supplements" are only very mildly regulated, if at all.

paris martineau @paris.nyc · 2h

my latest investigation for @consumerreports.org is based on months of reporting and 60+ lab tests of leading protein supplements

we found that most protein powders and shakes have more lead in one serving than our experts say is safe to have in a day (🧵)

www.consumerreports.org/lead/protein...

Protein Powders and Shakes Contain High Levels of Lead - Consumer Reports

CR tests of 23 popular protein powders and shakes found that most contain high levels of lead.

www.consumerreports.org

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paris martineau @paris.nyc · 2h

my latest investigation for @consumerreports.org is based on months of reporting and 60+ lab tests of leading protein supplements

we found that most protein powders and shakes have more lead in one serving than our experts say is safe to have in a day (🧵)

www.consumerreports.org/lead/protein...

Protein Powders and Shakes Contain High Levels of Lead - Consumer Reports

CR tests of 23 popular protein powders and shakes found that most contain high levels of lead.

www.consumerreports.org

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The Midnight Society @midnightpals.bsky.social · 1h

Jennifer McMahon: Submitted for the approval of the midnight society, i call this the tale of the girl who gets kidnapped by fairies
Arthur Conan Doyle: ah yes yes yes
Doyle: as the resident expert on fairies and fairy behavior
Doyle: i can say that's pretty standard fairy behavior

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Chris Geidner @chrisgeidner.bsky.social · 3h

"Content moderation for me, not for thee."

Yashar Ali 🐘 @yasharali.bsky.social · 4h

Statement from AG Pam Bondi:

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the frass and the furious @apophis.sapronym.net · 20h

adding to this: this is why you should completely disregard any rich person who says they'll be "financially ruined" by some policy or other

because their idea of utter squalor and total social death is... living somewhat more comfortably than you probably are

Dreaming of Sleep 🏳️‍⚧️ @alice22222.bsky.social · 1d

they are "just another person" when they don't want to use their immense privilege. And they are above everyone else's problems and concerns when asked to help out.

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derek guy @dieworkwear.bsky.social · 1d

I interviewed one of these factory workers in Los Angeles. She gets paid three cents to sew a zipper, five cents for a collar, and seven cents to prepare the top part of a skirt.

This is how fast fashion brands like Fashion Nova can put "Made in USA" tags on dress shirts that retail for only $25

"Every day at 6 am, Bilma boards a bus that shuttles her to downtown Los Angeles’s Fashion District. When she reaches the garment factory an hour later, she starts working immediately, without punching in. Like thousands of other garment workers in the United States, Bilma’s wages aren’t tethered to the clock but rather to the quantity of operations she executes. Three cents for a zipper or sleeve, five cents for a collar, and seven cents to prepare the top part of a skirt before she passes it onto the next sewing operator in line. Assembling an entire dress earns her a mere 15 cents. Bilma toils away on garments primarily for fast-fashion labels such as Fashion Nova, Lulus, and Lucy in the Sky, who prioritize quickly stocking on-trend items over the quality of materials. These companies peddle things like $80 maxi dresses, $25 poplin dress shirts, and $5 crop tops, all modeled by beautiful people and bedecked with the tantalizing promise of low-cost glamor."

"This worker payment system, known as “piecework” in the garment industry, is how US-based manufacturers can sidestep labor laws that require companies to pay at least the minimum wage. Rather than compensating Bilma for the exhausting 12-hour shifts—a regimen that, according to LA County’s minimum wage requirement, should yield $202.80—her pay is determined by the individual tasks she performs, which can fluctuate daily. Despite her adept handling of hundreds of garments a day, Bilma’s earnings typically linger around $50 per day. That’s $300 weekly for the standard six-day grind and $350 if she opts for Sunday labor. Doing what she can with this modest income, Bilma spends $400 a month to live in a two-bedroom apartment with six other people, some of whom are day laborers. In this crowded arrangement, two occupants squeeze into each bedroom, while two more lay claim to the living room. Bilma sleeps in the corner of the bustling kitchen."

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Azi Raphael @moonglaive90.bsky.social · 2d

...they only tangentially mention the events of Legacy, so there is zero closure for the plotline. I'm not even sure Ares was intended to be canon. 🙃

But I can see where and how missing puzzle pieces could fit to make it work. Mostly.

Reposted by Azi Raphael

Gwen Snyder is undead @gwensnyder.bsky.social · 2d

No. No. No.

(Nothing against Steven, I used to do this too until I learned that it was a bad idea.)

Swim goggles hit by a projectile (like a tear gas canister or pepper ball) can direct force to the area around your eyeball and pop it out of your skull.

NOT desirable.

Steven W. Thrasher is finishing The Overseer Class @thrasherxy.bsky.social · 2d

Pro tip to reporters and protesters: always have swim goggles in your pockets or bags. They’re small, $10 and if tear gas is used, slip them on & no matter how much you cough, you’ll still be able to SEE without burning eyes.

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Charlotte Strawbridge @cstrawbridgeart.bsky.social · 2d

🐧 Puffin fact #2: Puffins are amazing flyers. They flap their wings up to 400 times a minute, reaching speeds of 55 mph. Underwater, they “fly” through the sea to chase fish!
4/5
#BrushWithTheWild #WildlifeArt #Puffin

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Azi Raphael @moonglaive90.bsky.social · 2d

Don't know what else to add that doesn't spoil anything. Lots of Easter eggs and throwbacks to the original. I appreciate the addition to the canon.

FINISH THE STORYLINE BEFORE JEFF BRIDGES DIES PLEASE. Tho, if ever there was a movie for using likeness AI, with permission/compensation, Tron is it 😶

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Azi Raphael @moonglaive90.bsky.social · 2d

The very long intro to the movie felt slapped together, almost like a music video. It does get better once the story actually starts.

Jared Leto was ...inoffensive, mostly bc he didn't quite capture that spark of deviation from directive sentience that Tron and Quorra had as programs.

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Azi Raphael @moonglaive90.bsky.social · 2d

I didn't know what to expect with Tron: Ares, same as I didn't know what to expect from Legacy. They're both very much Tron movies.

Ares' story was a bit better than Legacy, but Legacy was so much more polished, Legacy was better implemented.

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Sophie Sherry @sophiesherry.bsky.social · 3d

During a military-style raid on a building in Chicago’s South Shore, one resident heard a knock on his door.   It wasn’t the feds — it was a mom and her 7-year-old daughter, pleading for help.

He let them hide in his unit for the next 3 days.

chicago.suntimes.com/immigration/...

Neighbor shielded 7-year-old during South Shore federal raid: ‘I didn’t want them to take her’

During the Sept. 30 raid one tenant protected a terrified girl and her mom. Remnants at the complex, including a detailed map of all the units, offer clues to what authorities may have known before th...

chicago.suntimes.com

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Emissary Of Night | ليلى @diplomatofnight.com · 2d

People who act confused by Hamas' desire to free Barghoti are bizarre to me, Hamas wants him out even though he isn't Hamas affiliated because they believe he is one of the few, or maybe even the only, individuals who can unite the whole of Palestinian factions under the PLO

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ProPublica @propublica.org · 2d

We’ve reported extensively on how the FDA allowed foreign drugmakers to send generic medications to the U.S. from factories with filthy labs and contaminated equipment.

This month, we’re digging deeper and could use your help. THREAD/

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Racheline Maltese @racheline.bsky.social · 2d

I have seen the Starfleet Academy trailer and as far as the copious make outs go all I see are straight people being straight

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Azi Raphael @moonglaive90.bsky.social · 2d

ICE is in red states. And they're working with local and state police to disappear children.

www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston...

Missing teen with autism transferred to refugee facility by HPD

He is currently being held at an Office for Refugee Resettlement facility.

www.houstonchronicle.com

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