Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Reposted by steven_mps

Julianne McShane @juliannemcshane.bsky.social · 1d

NEW @motherjones.com: Nobody in that GOP group chat praising Hitler or making racist comments was a “kid,” as JD Vance claimed today

I tracked down their ages. (Weirdly, it seems nobody else did.)

Eight of the 11 in the group chat range from 24 to 35. Ages of others are unclear.

But… no “kids”!

No one in the GOP Hitler chat was a "kid"

We checked. Sorry, JD Vance.

www.motherjones.com

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Charlie Warzel @cwarzel.bsky.social · 2d

watching the government's social media accounts spit out groyper stuff on main this whole last year, this is how i imagined the behind the scenes chats were going

Politico @politico.com · 2d

EXCLUSIVE: Thousands of leaked messages show leaders of Young Republican groups joking about gas chambers, slavery and rape in a private Telegram chat.

Inside rising GOP leaders’ racist chats — obtained by POLITICO and spanning more than 7 months👇

‘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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steven_mps @stevenmps.bsky.social · 9d

a bump for the evening crowd

Tone Madison @tonemadison.bsky.social · 10d

"'We’re looking for this to be a sustainable part of our life that we can legitimately live off of,'" says The Spine Stealers' Kate Ruland, in a moment of conviction.

Music Editor @stevenmps.bsky.social sits down with The Spine Stealers' Kate Ruland and Emma O'Shea.

tonemadison.com/articles/the...

The Spine Stealers aim to author a bold new chapter

Songwriters Emma O'Shea and Kate Ruland open up about their burgeoning career.

tonemadison.com

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Gillian Brockell @gbrockell.bsky.social · 10d

Claim: 10 cars rammed ICE
Truth: No cars rammed ICE

Claim: She boxed ICE in
Truth: ICE boxed her in

Claim: She shot a rifle at ICE
Truth: She did not have a rifle

Claim: ICE returned fire
Truth: Only ICE fired

Claim: She drove herself to the hospital
Truth: Paramedics found her

Chicago Sun-Times @chicago.suntimes.com · 10d

Body-camera video appears to contradict the government’s claim that Marimar Martinez, 30, drove toward officers before one of them opened fire at her late Saturday morning in Brighton Park, her attorney claimed.
trib.al/9Sxu9IN

Attorney for woman shot by Border Patrol claims officer said 'Do something b-----' before shooting

Body-camera video appears to contradict the government's claim that Marimar Martinez, 30, drove toward officers before one of them opened fire at her late Saturday morning in Brighton Park, her attorney claimed. A judge ordered Martinez and a co-defendant released pending trial.

trib.al

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steven_mps @stevenmps.bsky.social · 10d

Very fond of this particular piece, and of the band at its heart. Give a read, give a listen, etc:

tonemadison.com/articles/the...

The Spine Stealers aim to author a bold new chapter

Songwriters Emma O'Shea and Kate Ruland open up about their burgeoning career.

tonemadison.com

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steven_mps @stevenmps.bsky.social · 10d

For the last five years, I've tried to get various local acts to open up about the business-end of being a musician in 2025. A few have delivered great bits of commentary, but The Spine Stealers and I went deep on what that looks like—and means—for a band on the precipice of a breakout.

Tone Madison @tonemadison.bsky.social · 10d

"'We’re looking for this to be a sustainable part of our life that we can legitimately live off of,'" says The Spine Stealers' Kate Ruland, in a moment of conviction.

Music Editor @stevenmps.bsky.social sits down with The Spine Stealers' Kate Ruland and Emma O'Shea.

tonemadison.com/articles/the...

The Spine Stealers aim to author a bold new chapter

Songwriters Emma O'Shea and Kate Ruland open up about their burgeoning career.

tonemadison.com

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steven_mps @stevenmps.bsky.social · 11d

they are relying on you being afraid to post, say, or do anything meaningfully confrontational

they are relying on using the fear of repercussion to quell dissent and solidarity

they are relying on eliminating any and all pathways that lead to THEM being punished

don’t fall for it — fight back

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steven_mps @stevenmps.bsky.social · 12d

yank the masks

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steven_mps @stevenmps.bsky.social · 12d

slash the tires

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Eli Valley @elivalley.bsky.social · 21d

American fascists build on the work of Israeli fascists in spreading lies about a Holocaust survivor, hoping to terminate what remains of civil liberties in the US:

Justice Dept. Official Pushes Prosecutors to Investigate George Soros’s Foundation
The directive suggests department leaders are following orders from the president, a major break from decades of past practice meant to insulate the agency from political interference.

The report broached a contentious claim, stating that the group “has poured over $80 million into groups tied to terrorism or extremist violence.” It cited as one example al-Haq, a Palestinian human rights group critical of Israel. The report noted that the Israeli government declared in 2022 that al-Haq was a front for terrorist activity.

At the time, the Open Society Foundations criticized that move by the Israeli government, saying it was not based on credible evidence, and was intended to discredit and silence Palestinian human rights groups.

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jeremy kaplowitz @jeremykaplowitz.com · 29d

it is nice for my old boss at Hard Drive to put in writing that he loves Elon Musk and was uninvolved in us wrecking him on twitter lol

via https://www.memelord.blog/p/the-punk-rock-comedy-capitalist

"Remember the whole Hard Drive debacle with Elon Musk?"

(laughs) I do remember, yes!

"I can imagine you were in an awkward position. You were still running The Hard Times and Hard Drive, and the team there, putting it mildly, doesn't like Elon Musk much."

Maybe then you would have seen that I was not exactly the most gung-ho person on attacking Elon.

I drive a Tesla. I am an entrepreneur. I think he's one of, if not the greatest entrepreneur of all time. Another thing he did was let us tell jokes.

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Rob Thomas @itsrobthomas.bsky.social · 22d

Great write-up about singer-songwriter Jane Hobson by @stevenmps.bsky.social. I've been following her on Tiktok and enjoying her music and had no clue she had Madison ties! tonemadison.com/articles/jan...

Jane Hobson's new single exudes an empathetic warmth

"Walking In Circles" is an understated indie-rock gem.

tonemadison.com

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Don Moynihan @donmoyn.bsky.social · 23d

This is an absolutely terrific piece from @texastribune.org and reinforces my belief that the best coverage of right-wing cancelations occur at the local level, after years of the national media focusing on threats from the left.
www.texastribune.org/2025/09/19/t...

How a secret recording of a gender identity lecture upended Texas A&M

Officials have struggled to detail the exact reasons for the A&M professor’s termination, citing a technical issue with her course description. Faculty say the move was politically motivated.

www.texastribune.org

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Scott Horton @robertscotthorton.bsky.social · 25d

Yesterday we learned that Trump micromanages the prosecution of his enemies and that the head of his secret police was filmed accepting a $50k bribe in a paper bag. Still, for the editors of NYT, the sanctification of Charlie Kirk, saint and martyr is a bigger news story. This paper is soulless.

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steven_mps @stevenmps.bsky.social · 27d

Had a lovely talk w/ David Levithan + Jens Lekman for WI Book Fest on Wednesday, which was (welcomely) a bit twee & soft.

Scale-balancing today by indulging my grimy, scuzzy punk side via the first single release from the band’s upcoming album:

hollyandthenicelions.bandcamp.com/track/nothin...

Nothing Wild, by Holly and the Nice Lions

track by Holly and the Nice Lions

hollyandthenicelions.bandcamp.com

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steven_mps @stevenmps.bsky.social · 28d

Dems: Have the most softly-thrown softball pitch, have their feet planted & shoulders squared

Also dems: *Watch the pitch coming from a mile away, drop the bat, take out a gun, shoot themselves in the foot, are flabbergasted that they're losing significant parts of their base, get hit by the ball*

Eric Blair @protecttruth.bsky.social · 28d

National day of remembrance for Charlie Kirk motion passed the Senate by unanimous consent.

Zero Democrats objected, which would have stopped it.
Tommy Tuberville is presiding — and smirking.

www.c-span.org/networks/?ch...

C-SPAN 2 Live Stream | C-SPAN.org | C-SPAN.org

www.c-span.org

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steven_mps @stevenmps.bsky.social · 29d

A boost for the midday crowd. Event's tonight, really looking forward to talking with Jens and David (and seeing Jens play a bit of music). Doors at 6, show at 7. Free. UW Music Hall.

steven_mps @stevenmps.bsky.social · Sep 16

I'll be moderating a Wisconsin Book Fest event tomorrow evening at the university, to talk with author David Levithan and songwriter Jens Lekman about their collaborative novel, 'Songs For Other People's Weddings.' We'll talk. Jens will play a few tunes.

Come out!

www.facebook.com/events/40773...

David Levithan & Jens Lekman: SONGS FOR OTHER PEOPLE'S WEDDINGS

Event in Madison, WI by Wisconsin Book Festival on Wednesday, September 17 2025 with 107 people interested.

www.facebook.com

steven_mps @stevenmps.bsky.social · 29d

deeply + profoundly annoyed that fb retains their stranglehold on events. sure, it has robust infra, but the userbase is dying, the platform itself has been so enshittified that it's barely navigable, yet it remains THE platform to schedule/track events.

need a new socials platform to step up.

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steven_mps @stevenmps.bsky.social · Sep 16

www.youtube.com/watch?v=xCAA...

Jens Lekman - Candy From A Stranger (Official Video)

YouTube video by JensLekmanVEVO

www.youtube.com

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steven_mps @stevenmps.bsky.social · Sep 16

I'll be moderating a Wisconsin Book Fest event tomorrow evening at the university, to talk with author David Levithan and songwriter Jens Lekman about their collaborative novel, 'Songs For Other People's Weddings.' We'll talk. Jens will play a few tunes.

Come out!

www.facebook.com/events/40773...

David Levithan & Jens Lekman: SONGS FOR OTHER PEOPLE'S WEDDINGS

Event in Madison, WI by Wisconsin Book Festival on Wednesday, September 17 2025 with 107 people interested.

www.facebook.com

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Bradley P. Moss @bradmossesq.bsky.social · Sep 15

No coincidence the very first thing he did is blame the Jews. This is literally straight out of the 1930s. Say political opponents are to blame for everything, claim only submission to the right's views will bring unity, and employ the full power of the State to implement it.

Alejandra Caraballo @esqueer.net · Sep 15

In a Hitleresque speech, JD Vance says there can be no unity with the left and vows to use the government to dismantle non-profit NGOs and liberal civil society who he says promote violence and terrorism.

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JP Acosta @acosta32jp.bsky.social · Sep 12

If GB gets you to 5-0 your protection, the rep is over. Micah is just too good to leave 1v1. Every inside counter is available because of his lateral quickness

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Freakbeat Takeshi @fullykrausened.bsky.social · Sep 12

thank goodness the president isn't on bluesky or he might get suspended for these remarks.

Steve Herman @newsguy.bsky.social · Sep 12

Politico - President Trump tells reporters "we just have to beat the hell" out of "radical left lunatics," following the killing of conservative commentator Charlie Kirk.

Trump says ‘we have to beat the hell’ out of ‘radical left lunatics’ after Kirk killing

The conservative activist's killer remains at large and authorities have not said what the motive was behind his shooting.

www.politico.com

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Arrianna Marie Planey, PhD MA @arrianna-planey.bsky.social · Sep 11

Just a reminder that the p*lice are defunding YOU

The TRiiBE @thetriibe.com · Sep 11

NEW — Today, Chicago’s top lawyer Mary Richardson-Lowry is expected to announce a proposed $90 million global settlement resolving 176 police misconduct lawsuits tied to former CPD Sgt. Ronald Watts and other members of his tactical team.

This is a developing story.

thetriibe.com/2025/09/chic...

Chicago’s top lawyer proposes settling 176 lawsuits tied to ex-cop Ronald Watts • The TRiiBE

The proposed $90 million settlement offer from the city’s law department is tied to Sgt. Watts and his corrupt tactical unit.

thetriibe.com

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onion person @junlper.beer · Sep 10

rightwing media ecosystem operates by stoking hatred and anger and divisions every single day, they want people to constantly be afraid and want people to hate eachother, everything we are seeing is a result of the destablization the right has profited off of

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