Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

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David Dayen @ddayen.bsky.social · 4h

The soybean crisis may have been induced by tariffs, but it's the *culmination* of a lack of resiliency in the farm economy, with overdependence on exports and single crops and self-perpetuating bailouts. Great breakdown from Naomi Bethune:
prospect.org/politics/202...

America Bet the Farm on Soybeans. Then Came Trump.

Collapsing soybean exports reveal an agricultural sector rife with longstanding problems.

prospect.org

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19thnews @19thnews.org · 4h

The bipartisan movement against female genital mutilation and cutting is being co-opted by anti-trans activists, hindering urgent laws from being passed.

Anti-trans policies aren't preventing genital mutilation — they're disrupting efforts to stop it

The bipartisan movement against female genital mutilation and cutting is being co-opted by anti-trans activists, hindering urgent laws from being passed.

19thnews.org

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sarah jeong @sarahjeong.bsky.social · 20h

god this is so funny because back when I had my life blown up due to white people tweets I lost exactly zero (0) friends defector.com/free-press-r...

Free Press Reporter Discovers That Being An Amoral Dickhead Can Cost You Friends | Defector

It can be hard to maintain friendships as an adult. People move to new cities, start families, and experience all sorts of other life events that make it difficult to keep in touch. Sometimes, you end...

defector.com

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The Conversation U.S. @us.theconversation.com · 4h

HIV rates are highest in the American South, despite effective treatments – a clash between culture and public health
buff.ly/56bKUgf

HIV rates are highest in the American South, despite effective treatments – a clash between culture and public health

Over half of new HIV diagnoses in the US are in the South. Black men who have sex with men are hit the hardest; for them, preventing HIV is a matter of trust, identity, family and faith.

theconversation.com

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Governor Tim Walz @governorwalz.mn.gov · 20h

Insurance rates up $2000.

Food benefits cut off.

Farmers unable to sell their crops.

Skyrocketing national debt.

$40 billion to Argentina.

America First!

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KCUR (Kansas City's best news source) @kcur.org · 5h

It hasn't been smooth sailing lately in Kansas for many hospitals, and time won’t heal these financial wounds. Estimates suggest rural hospitals nationwide will face $70 billion in cuts over the next decade due to changes made under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.

Medicaid cuts are a ticking time bomb for rural Kansas hospitals. One change may help

Kansas has more rural hospitals at risk of closure than any other state, and federal changes could further reduce revenue. However, a change to a state tax will give a few years' cushion for hospitals to implement long-term strategies.

www.kcur.org

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Seth Abramson @sethabramson.bsky.social · 1d

This Supreme Court case in Louisiana is about one thing, and one thing only: reinstituting Jim Crow by way of ensuring that Black Americans are taxed without receiving representation in Congress.

Everything else is noise and bluster.

This stolen Supreme Court is going to send us back to the 1860s.

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Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 1d

Tim Walz: "It's almost unimaginable that he's got Milei in there, giving him $20 billion, so that they can undercut us and China can buy their soybeans from them. And now China has learned they can replace our markets."

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Angry @angrystaffer.bsky.social · 1d

That’s crazy. I wonder what happened in January

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Ezra Levin ❌👑 @ezralevin.bsky.social · 2d

WE HAVE FRIENDS EVERYWHERE! nokings.org

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Civil Eats @civileats.com · 3d

For centuries, Native communities have focused on the collective rather than the individual. Take a look back on some of our recent reporting to learn more about the concept of mutual aid on this Indigenous Peoples’ Day.

Indigenous Food Reciprocity as a Model for Mutual Aid

For centuries, Native communities have focused on the collective rather than the individual. Here’s what we can learn from them.

buff.ly

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Kansas Reflector @kansasreflector.com · 3d

Opinion by Rex Buchanan and Mike Hayden: As Kansans cluster in urban areas, our public lands deserve appreciation and protection | #ksleg kansasreflector.com/2025/10/13/a...

As Kansans cluster in urban areas, our public lands deserve appreciation and protection • Kansas Reflector

For an increasingly urban population, state and federal parks are increasingly important. They are a way to know and enjoy the natural world.

kansasreflector.com

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Coach Gowron @coachgowron.com · 3d

You are worthy of respect, of friendship, of love. Sometimes you may need to work harder to bring it forth, but never doubt that it is within you.

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The Tennessee Holler @thetnholler.bsky.social · 4d

MEMPHIS — Rep. @justinjpearson.bsky.social rallies after just announcing his run for Congress: “We need new energy to meet this moment… a moment unlike anything we have ever seen before.”

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The Conversation U.S. @us.theconversation.com · 3d

As universities embrace AI, corporate influence on research, governance and values is growing.

What happens when higher ed’s pursuit of tech prestige meets Silicon Valley’s profit motives?

buff.ly/yHHPgE5

Why higher ed’s AI rush could put corporate interests over public service and independence

Higher education’s embrace of AI reveals deeper trends in institutional priorities − and what’s at risk.

buff.ly

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jamelle @jamellebouie.net · 4d

have been thinking of rewatching THE FIRST PURGE in light of the federal paramilitaries trying to instigate violence and provoke a reaction from americans

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Ro Khanna @rokhanna.bsky.social · 5d

The legislative branch is effectively shutdown simply to block Rep. Thomas Massie & my Epstein files bill. Our founders would be appalled.

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Coach Gowron @coachgowron.com · 6d

Do not judge your life by what you can afford, or worse, what you can't afford. An honorable life does not come with a price tag.

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ryan cooper @ryanlcooper.com · 7d

I've been reading up on this Jesus fellow and by gum he's got some piping hot takes regarding moneychangers and their presence in temples

The Associated Press @apnews.com · 7d

Pope Leo XIV has blasted how wealthy people live in a “bubble of comfort and luxury” while the poor suffer. In his first teaching document Thursday, Leo confirms that he is in perfect lockstep with Pope Francis on matters of social injustice.

Pope Leo blasts economy that marginalizes poor while wealthy live in bubble of luxury

Pope Leo XIV has blasted how wealthy people live in a “bubble of comfort and luxury” while the poor suffer.

bit.ly

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Seth Abramson @sethabramson.bsky.social · 7d

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Coach Gowron @coachgowron.com · 9d

A bully believes that kindness is weakness. A fool believes that bullying is strength. A true warrior knows that a bully is weak, and that compassion and kindness are strengths they could never comprehend.

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Bloomberg News @bloomberg.com · 9d

Business leaders, investors and academics have cheered Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey’s efforts to counter the Trump administration’s research funding cuts with state money — so much so that a recent meeting on the initiative required overflow seating.

Massachusetts Counter to Trump Science Cuts Stalls in Statehouse

Business leaders, investors and academics have cheered Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey’s efforts to counter the Trump administration’s research funding cuts with state money — so much so that a recent meeting on the initiative required overflow seating.

bloom.bg

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Seth Abramson @sethabramson.bsky.social · 9d

It seems clear—I think to everyone, now—that a false and illegal invocation of the Insurrection Act is coming before the end of the year. Media outlets should be telling us how they will prepare for this potential Treason. State governments should be telling us. Activists should be developing plans.

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Kat Abughazaleh @katmabu.bsky.social · 10d

We can’t out-Republican Republicans, nor should we want to.

Democrats need to say what they believe — and actually believe in something.
@mehdirhasan.bsky.social

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Graham Platner for Senate @grahamformaine.bsky.social · 10d

People are being robbed. The answer to that is not shame or anger.

The answer is empathy and compassion.

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