Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

David Rothkopf @djrothkopf.bsky.social · 7h

Undermining faith in the dollar. Eliminating US foreign aid. Gutting US influence worldwide. A laughing stock at the UN. Trying to undermine the multilateral system. Redirecting the US military to domestic vendettas against his enemies and immigrants. I could go on. You get the point. Just nutso.

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David Rothkopf @djrothkopf.bsky.social · 7h

On NYT Home Page there's a Douthat column w/the headline "Trump's Foreign Policy is Succeeding. He Should Apply It's Lessons at Home." On what planet? Betraying our allies. Blowing up the global trading system. Embracing autocrats. Pulling back support for Ukraine. Helping to support Gaza slaughter.

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The Tennessee Holler @thetnholler.bsky.social · 7h

Trump just used the shutdown to wipe out the special ed department. www.usatoday.com/story/news/e...

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Jill Lawrence @jilldlawrence.bsky.social · 12h

Blunt headline on today's abbreviated pundit roundup from @demfromct.bsky.social.🤞 that this metaphor is correct and continues to be. (Interesting content, too, as always.) www.dailykos.com/stories/2025...

Abbreviated Pundit Roundup: Mike Johnson leads Republicans off a cliff

Gabe Fleisher /Wake Up To Politics: The Shutdown Isn’t Going How I Expected Republicans are taking the blame, and some are starting to crack. In the same vein, I doubt anyone will remember ...

www.dailykos.com

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Rolling Stone @rollingstone.com · 14h

Remembering Diane Keaton 🤍

More on her life and legacy: rollingstone.com/tv-movies/tv...

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JoJoFromJerz @jojofromjerz.bsky.social · 14h

Noooo!!!!
Not Diane Keaton.
Rest in Peace.
You will always be a legend. 😭

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Foreign Policy @foreignpolicy.com · 14h

The deportation of pro-democracy dissidents to their home countries is a major reversal of years of U.S. policymaking on a topic that had bipartisan support.

Trump Is Supporting Transnational Repression

Instead of sheltering pro-democracy dissidents, America is now returning them for arrest.

foreignpolicy.com

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Daniel Drezner @dandrezner.bsky.social · 14h

Damn.

Mark Harris @markharris.bsky.social · 14h

Terribly sad news about one of the greats. Diane Keaton has died at 79.
people.com/diane-keaton...

Diane Keaton, Famed for Roles in 'Father of the Bride,' 'First Wives Club' and More, Dies at 79 (Exclusive)

Diane Keaton has died at age 79. Keaton was best known for roles in movies like 'Annie Hall,' 'The First Wives Club,' 'Something's Gotta Give' and 'The Godfather.'

people.com

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Dan Diamond @ddiamond.bsky.social · 14h

I spoke with physicians who have treated presidents and VPs about Trump's return visit to Walter Reed — and they had questions.

“The answer that this was just part of his usual annual, or semi-annual visit, is disingenuous,” @jreinermd.bsky.social told me.

Trump is in ‘excellent’ health, White House says, amid questions about second exam

Outside physicians asked why the president was making a return trip to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, six months after undergoing medical tests.

www.washingtonpost.com

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LOLGOP ❌👑❌ @thefarce.org · 17h

“Political issues aren't siloes, they're all connected, and Mamdani recognizes that. Other Democrats need to see it too, and I hope they are paying attention.”

Katelyn Boo-urns @katelynburns.com · 18h

I wrote a little about some of the little details you might have missed in this video and why it hit me so hard as a trans person this morning:

www.burnsnotice.com/you-have-to-...

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Charles Ornstein @charlesornstein.bsky.social · 18h

This is staggering. “The staff of the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, the journal that reports on health trends and emerging infectious threats, was also laid off.”

Trump Administration Lays Off Dozens of C.D.C. Officials

Trump Administration Lays Off Dozens of C.D.C. Officials

www.nytimes.com

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David Rothkopf @djrothkopf.bsky.social · 18h

Just a point about the Qatari "base" in Idaho that seems to be generating so much outrage: The US has over 750 bases in about 80 countries worldwide. I don't know enough about the Qatari "base" to evaluate the idea. Just thought we should maintain some perspective on this.

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David Rothkopf @djrothkopf.bsky.social · 18h

More moral and message clarity from another genuine leader within the Democratic Party.

George Conway 👊🇺🇸🔥 @gtconway.bsky.social · 20h

@sanders.senate.gov: "No, Speaker Johnson, the #NoKings Rally on October 18th is not a 'hate America' rally. ... It’s a rally of millions of people who believe in American freedom and are not going to allow you and President Trump to turn us into an authoritarian country."

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David Rothkopf @djrothkopf.bsky.social · 18h

Moral and message clarity from Mamdani. Leadership like this should give Democrats coast-to-coast hope for the future of the party, a party for all Americans, one that values both compassion and service--a clear alternative to MAGA.

Zohran Kwame Mamdani @zohrankmamdani.bsky.social · 21h

UNTIL IT’S DONE, Ep. 4: Sylvia Rivera

In the 1970s, queer New Yorkers had been pushed to the margins of NYC. Our trans neighbors faced immense cruelty. But in Sylvia Rivera, they found a champion.

As we combat Trump’s politics of darkness, her legacy can light the path forward.

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Catherine Rampell @crampell.bsky.social · 20h

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Chris Murphy @chrismurphyct.bsky.social · 18h

They are building a Propaganda State.

They are cooking the books on job creation.

Now they are rigging death numbers so no one knows how many people die because of their attacks on vaccines and science.

Sheryl Gay Stolberg @sherylnyt.bsky.social · 1d

BREAKING: Friday night massacre underway at CDC. Doznes of "disease detectives," high-level scientists, entire Washington staff and editors of the MMWR (Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report) have all been RIFed and received the following notice:

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Asha Rangappa @asharangappa.bsky.social · 3d

As I observed in my Substack Round Up this past week, the endgame of the military strikes against drug cartels in international waters is to lay the groundwork to use lethal military force against Americans at home. Pay attention open.substack.com/pub/asharang...

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The Tennessee Holler @thetnholler.bsky.social · 19h

Imagine that

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Will Bunch @willbunch.bsky.social · 19h

The Nobel *Peace* Prize winner is cool with murdering civilians on boats

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The DSR Network @thedsrnetwork.bsky.social · 1d

Experts Kim Ghattas and @stelhami.bsky.social join @djrothkopf.bsky.social to explore the long-term implications of the ceasefire in Gaza and why nefarious actors in the region aren’t likely to grow a conscience any time soon.
Listen here:
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/t...

youtu.be/2cSEtWELGYI

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Rima I Anabtawi @rimaanabtawi.bsky.social · 1d

This is a discussion not to be missed.

David Rothkopf @djrothkopf.bsky.social · 1d

Excellent discussion on the Gaza deal and what comes next.

The DSR Network @thedsrnetwork.bsky.social · 1d

Experts Kim Ghattas and @stelhami.bsky.social join @djrothkopf.bsky.social to explore the long-term implications of the ceasefire in Gaza and why nefarious actors in the region aren’t likely to grow a conscience any time soon.
Listen here:
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/t...

youtu.be/2cSEtWELGYI

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Sarah Szalavitz💡 @dearsarah.bsky.social · 1d

Melania Has Been Secretly Working With Putin for Months
www.thedailybeast.com/melania-has-... Sure Putin, who is still allegedly an enemy of this country, got her husband elected a decade ago—& she speaks fluent Russian—& yet they’ve only been “secretly working” together for months. #SPECTRE

Melania Has Been Secretly Working With Putin for Months

The first lady has been engaged in talks with the Russia leader over the war in Ukraine.

www.thedailybeast.com

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Khashoggi's Ghost @urocklive1.bsky.social · 1d

More winning.

George Conway 👊🇺🇸🔥 @gtconway.bsky.social · 1d

"The University of Zurich said the married couple, who currently work at MIT, would join its economics faculty …. [They] will be moving … at a time when experts are warning that Trump's cuts to research funding and attacks on … freedoms could lead to a brain drain …."

www.lemonde.fr/en/economy/a...

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Social Media Lab @socialmedialab.ca · 1d

Is Argentina now the new 51st state? Imagine taking healthcare away from American so they can help soybean farmers in Argentina.

China bought a quarter of Argentina's soybean crop on Sept. 23, 7 million metric tons. www.usatoday.com/story/opinio...

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Karen Langsam @langsam-karen.bsky.social · 1d

🧵RFK’s view, is not just stupidly moronic & unintelligent, it reeks of antisemitism.⬇️

Snopes @snopes.com · 1d

✅ Yes, U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said, "Children who are circumcised early have double the rate of autism." www.snopes.com/fact-check/r...

RFK Jr. said children circumcised early had 'double' rate of autism linked to Tylenol use

The U.S. secretary of health and human services cited a preprint study to back his claim.

www.snopes.com

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