Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Ben Stephens @stephensben.bsky.social · 6h

I am so delighted they’re all available again. Just plunged in from ep1 and they’re as great as I remember. I just got to the first instance of “CLASSIC harp glissando”!!!

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Ben Stephens @stephensben.bsky.social · 10h

Ok bye then.

Ben Stephens @stephensben.bsky.social · 12h

“All these antifascists and anti-racists are my enemies!” is quite the self-own.

Ben Stephens @stephensben.bsky.social · 13h

I’ve always thought the word “quisling” (meaning traitor or collaborator) was an old word dating back to Shakespeare, but turns out it is a proper name, coming from Vidkun Quisling, the man who led Norway on behalf of occupying Germans from 1940-45.

Anyway this film about him has a happy ending.

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Ben Stephens @stephensben.bsky.social · 14h

My personal favorite part of the 14th amendment – hey would be cool if someone in power had read it any time after Jan 6, 2021…

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Ben Stephens @stephensben.bsky.social · 14h

Enjoying seeing more Dems with this energy towards Trump.

(From No Country for Old Men)

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Reposted by Ben Stephens

Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 14h

Mamdani: "I just want to speak directly to the president. I will not be a mayor like Mayor Adams who will call you to stay out of jail. I won't be a disgraced governor like Andrew Cuomo who will call you to ask how to win this election. I can do those things on my own."

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Reposted by Ben Stephens

Olúfẹ́mi O. Táíwò @olufemiotaiwo.bsky.social · 17h

some colleagues have suggested to me that shame is irrelevant because the people on the "other side" don't know or care what "we" (on whatever "this side") think of them. I have...not gotten that impression

Kurtbert Barlowko @albertburneko.bsky.social · 18h

"disliking me is persecution" describes so incredibly many people's entire outlook these days 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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Reposted by Ben Stephens

Senseidai2547 @senseidai.bsky.social · 19h

Republican grooming in action.

Religion has NO place in public education. Especially since not everyone is Christian or even believes in religion. 🎁

#DemVoice1 #ProudBlue #Pinks #RepublicansAreDestroyingAmerica
#ChristoFascists

www.nytimes.com/2025/10/14/u...

Inside a New Bible-Infused Texas English Curriculum

www.nytimes.com

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Ben Stephens @stephensben.bsky.social · 18h

So berating them is bad but beating them is ok?

Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 20h

Mike Johnson: "They berated a Capitol police officer, screamed at him. He was merely standing his post. It shows, again, their disdain for law enforcement, the Democrats, screaming, assaulting officers."

Ben Stephens @stephensben.bsky.social · 18h

An unforgivably high number.

G Elliott Morris @gelliottmorris.com · 18h

alternatively, trump's at 41% approval — that's pretty "sour" right?

Dan Hopkins @dhopkins1776.bsky.social · 18h

In his interview w @jonfavs.bsky.social, @ezraklein.bsky.social asks, "why haven't the tariffs soured the public on Trump?"

An answer from my book on ACA opinions: the contemporary US economy is so diverse & complex that even sizable policy changes don't move opinions consistently.

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Ben Stephens @stephensben.bsky.social · 18h

An unforgivably high number.

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Ben Stephens @stephensben.bsky.social · 18h

It’s going to be uphill all the way, folks.

Ben Stephens @stephensben.bsky.social · 18h

Berating a Capitol Officer = the highest of crimes

Hospitalizing more than 100 of them = patriotism.

Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 20h

Mike Johnson: "They berated a Capitol police officer, screamed at him. He was merely standing his post. It shows, again, their disdain for law enforcement, the Democrats, screaming, assaulting officers."

Ben Stephens @stephensben.bsky.social · 18h

Berating a Capitol Officer = the highest of crimes

Hospitalizing more than 100 of them = patriotism.

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Ben Stephens @stephensben.bsky.social · 18h

Berating a Capitol Officer = the highest of crimes

Hospitalizing more than 100 of them = patriotism.

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Ben Stephens @stephensben.bsky.social · 18h

Yeah, it’s just lazy shorthand for “I don’t understand this person and I am scared of them.”

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Ben Stephens @stephensben.bsky.social · 18h

#3 is a big one.

Propaganda doesn’t need to be persuasive; it just needs to be pervasive.

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Ben Stephens @stephensben.bsky.social · 19h

The Aardman thumbprints of the early Internet.

Fifty Shades of Whey @fiftyshadesofwhey.bsky.social · 19h

These perfectly manicured AI memes suck. I miss the old memes. All the imperfections and crudely cropped portions as a result of the human touch had a "je nais se quois" that made each one special.

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Ben Stephens @stephensben.bsky.social · 19h

But “Yas Queen!” rallies would ironically be huge.

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Ben Stephens @stephensben.bsky.social · 19h

The Aardman thumbprints of the early Internet.

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Ben Stephens @stephensben.bsky.social · 19h

Y’see, the thing that makes a place into a war zone is the presence of troops. It’s not complicated.

The New York Times @nytimes.com · 1d

As the intensity of the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown has risen, residents of Chicago are increasingly pushing back. Federal agents repeatedly have been observed releasing smoke bombs, tear gas and pepper balls to disperse residents who gather or capture videos.

ICE Is Cracking Down on Chicago. Some Chicagoans Are Fighting Back.

Residents have begun forming volunteer groups to monitor their neighborhoods for federal immigration agents. Others honk their horns or blow whistles when they see agents nearby.

nyti.ms

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Ben Stephens @stephensben.bsky.social · 19h

Go Fash, Lose Cash

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Reposted by Ben Stephens

Ben Stephens @stephensben.bsky.social · 1d

The thing I resent the most is that they’re all such goddam idiots.

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Reposted by Ben Stephens

Ben Stephens @stephensben.bsky.social · 1d

The headline should be Young Republicans Surprise Literally No-One

Jared Holt @jaredlholt.bsky.social · 1d

One of the craziest stories I've seen in a long time. If you think Trump and his administration are extreme and depraved, just wait until you learn about the young guns who are positioning themselves to take over the reigns in the next few decades

www.politico.com/news/2025/10...

‘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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