Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Andy Birss @andybirss.bsky.social · 2h

Post WWII some German cities made money by converting it into useable material for roads and other constructions. #r4today

Andy Birss @andybirss.bsky.social · 2h

The UK government with all their resources at hand had great difficulties dealing with the single fire at Grenfell in 2017-God knows how they are even thinking of reconstruction in Gaza with the scale of the destruction there. #r4today

2 2

Reposted by Andy Birss

Ed Wilson @eddwilson.bsky.social · 3h

#r4today hosts long discussions of inadequate "peace plan" documents, with Jeremy Bowen and the odd guest remarking on that inadequacy for days. Has the BBC ever published the text of any of these documents? I've found various things, but I have no idea whether they're the texts in question.

2 3 13

Andy Birss @andybirss.bsky.social · 3h

Which is more important for #r4today editors and presenters-Investigating why nearly 3,000 food banks are needed to feed the working poor or a celebration of the 50th anniversary of 'The Rocky Horror Picture Show'?

2 4

Andy Birss @andybirss.bsky.social · 3h

If we had scientifically literate presenters of #r4today we might get decent coverage of the climate emergency and related issues. However most of the current crop are much more at ease covering political gossip plus promotional stuff for their friends rather than the issue of the age.

1 1 6

Andy Birss @andybirss.bsky.social · 3h

The consequences of austerity are of little or no interest to #r4today editors and presenters but the promotion of books/plays/films/TV shows is. Perhaps because their circle of friends include people who are involved in the latter.

1 2 4

Andy Birss @andybirss.bsky.social · 4h

The idea that the management of the BBC are quite happy for #r4today presenters to make money writing for right-wing UK press publications and then expecting said presenters to objectively review the same rags during the show is risible.

1 3 15

Reposted by Andy Birss

50501: The People’s Movement ❌👑 @50501movement.bsky.social · 9h

The Portland Frog army has now infiltrated Tulsa, OK and they’ve made an unlikely alliance with the T-Rex infantry and Sharks on Hoverboards mercenary forces.

This is truly terrifying.

500 4.2K 16K

Andy Birss @andybirss.bsky.social · 4h

The fact that the BBC hierarchy are more comfortable with presenters who are knowledgeable about the 50th anniversary of the Rocky Horror Picture Show than with the science of climate change tells us much about what is wrong with the corporation and #r4today

4 8

Andy Birss @andybirss.bsky.social · 4h

Listened to the headlines at the top of #r4today and again the domestic news is essentially what the Tory press want covered plus the mandatory piece about a film/book/stage show. Nothing of course about the issue of the age-The climate emergency.

1 6

Reposted by Andy Birss

Matt Novak @paleofuture.bsky.social · 8h

"During the encounter, Greeley said they told her she 'doesn’t look like' a Greeley."

www.yahoo.com/news/article...

Chicago Tribune: Greeley, who was born at Illinois Masonic hospital and is adopted, carries a copy of her passport just in case she runs into federal agents.

“I am Latina and I am a service worker,” Greeley said. “I fit the description of what they’re looking for now.”

During the encounter, Greeley said they told her she “doesn’t look like” a Greeley.

“They said this isn’t real, they kept telling me I’m lying, I’m a liar,” Greeley recalled. “I told them to look in the rest of my wallet, I have my credit cards, my insurance.”

45 620 1.9K

Andy Birss @andybirss.bsky.social · 4h

I presume that Justin Webb would characterise this as Trump 'making America normal again'. #Americast #r4today

1

Reposted by Andy Birss

Adam Bienkov @adambienkov.bsky.social · 16h

That New York Times story lots of people are sharing today about Farage's ties to US anti-abortion groups was first reported by @mc00.bsky.social on Byline Times a year ago bylinetimes.com/2024/11/29/n...

98 720 1.4K

Andy Birss @andybirss.bsky.social · 13h

I suppose if #Americast ever covered this www.rawstory.com/ice-children... They would treat it as a 'Both sides!' story in that the GOP think it is perfectly normal for ICE to kidnap a child while the Democrats do not. Justin Webb could then bring in one of his many right-wing mates to justify it.

ICE snatches 13-year-old and ships him 500 miles away from family

The Boston Globe and Mass Live reported Sunday that a 13-year-old was "arrested" by U.S. Customs and Enforcement agents in Everett, Massachusetts, and is now 500 miles away from his mother and family ...

www.rawstory.com

1

Reposted by Andy Birss

Alex Andreou @sturdyalex.bsky.social · 23h

Watching the Bibi & Don Show treat this like some grand victory, while people returning to northern Gaza dig the rubble for loved ones' remains, is pretty revolting.

100 470 1.8K

Reposted by Andy Birss

Ed Wilson @eddwilson.bsky.social · 1d

I really, really don't want the killing to start again on Thursday, but it would be a hell of a slap in the face for Trump.

#r4today

1 10

Reposted by Andy Birss

Suzanne Brown @suzannebrown.bsky.social · 1d

Any chance #r4today will go back to Jeremy Bowen to hear some proper journalism rather than this nonsense about Trump getting out of a plane?

1 3 23

Andy Birss @andybirss.bsky.social · 1d

The fact that #r4today continues to base its domestic news output on what the overwhelmingly right-wing Tory press thinks important demonstrates that this show is more concerned about preserving the status quo than speaking truth to power. Oh and being honoured guests at The Spectator summer party.

2 4 20

Andy Birss @andybirss.bsky.social · 1d

Trump 'making America normal again' by treating a devoted father like this Justin Webb? #Americast #r4today

3

Reposted by Andy Birss

Philadelphia Inquirer @inquirer.com · 1d

Every day at noon, no matter how busy, Johny Merida Aguilar left his construction job and hurried to his 5-year-old son's school to feed him. His son has brain cancer and generally only accepts food from his father.

Merida Aguilar was arrested by ICE in September and faces deportation to Bolivia.

He was caring for his 5-year-old son with brain cancer. Then he was detained by ICE.

A court has temporarily blocked Johny Merida Aguilar's deportation to Bolivia.

www.inquirer.com

36 600 980

Andy Birss @andybirss.bsky.social · 1d

On the 10th October edition of #Americast Justin Webb referred to the slain Mr Kirk as 'Charlie' which implied that he personally knew the man as a friend. If that is the case could Mr Webb tell us how many of these statements he agrees with? www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...

Charlie Kirk in his own words: ‘prowling Blacks’ and ‘the great replacement strategy’

The far-right commentator didn’t pull his punches when discussing his bigoted views on current events

www.theguardian.com

1 7

Andy Birss @andybirss.bsky.social · 1d

I think it is 'excellent' that #Americast normalises the corruption, racism and authoritarianism of the Trump administration by inviting extreme right-wing guests on and not subjecting their statements to critical examination. Also a 'bravo' for covering up Trump's obvious mental decline.

1

Andy Birss @andybirss.bsky.social · 1d

Equally (and I would suggest much more importantly) the contrast between every slip by Joe Biden being subject to minute debate and the free pass given to Trump as he forgets/lies/confabulates every damn day is palpable. The crew of #Americast normalise the behaviour of Trump over and over again.

Reposted by Andy Birss

Charlotte Clymer @charlotteclymer.bsky.social · 1d

Hey @jaketapper.bsky.social, I'm no expert on cognitive illnesses, but it feels a bit detached from reality for a sitting POTUS to forget that he was in power during an attack on the U.S. Capitol, doesn't it? Do you know anyone in journalism with experience covering dementia-like symptoms?

280 3.9K 13K

Reposted by Andy Birss

Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 1d

STEPHANOPOULOS: I didn't insinuate anything. I asked you whether Tom Homan accepted $50k as was heard on an audio tape recorded by the FBI in September 2024. You did not answer the question. Thank you for your time.

VANCE: No, George, I sai--

STEPHANOPOULOS: We'll be right back

1.5K 3.8K 18K