Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

David Fortunato @fortunato.bsky.social · 4h

Are middle-aged, manosphere, gym bros turning into MAGA chuds due to brain damage from leaded protein powders?

paris martineau @paris.nyc · 5h

my latest investigation for @consumerreports.org is based on months of reporting and 60+ lab tests of leading protein supplements

we found that most protein powders and shakes have more lead in one serving than our experts say is safe to have in a day (🧵)

www.consumerreports.org/lead/protein...

Protein Powders and Shakes Contain High Levels of Lead - Consumer Reports

CR tests of 23 popular protein powders and shakes found that most contain high levels of lead.

www.consumerreports.org

David Fortunato @fortunato.bsky.social · 1d

My best friends!

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David Fortunato @fortunato.bsky.social · 1d

This is a great example of how people can be different kinds of smart (or not).

Jenkins is a top 0.01% sports reporter. But even she can be taken by a grifter operating in her industry, but outside of her core area of expertise.

And me too! I thought that LaCour-Green paper was amazing! Oops!

Sally Jenkins @sallyjenx.bsky.social · 2d

Ratio me. Please. It's a badge of honor. If you don't like a link, go follow some chicken-heart who needs the approval of the thought-police. Caitlin Flanagan of @theatlantic.com is a tremendous writer and this piece is an excellent read. www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archiv...

Don’t Bet Against Bari Weiss

The new editor in chief of CBS News triumphs over her critics.

www.theatlantic.com

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David Fortunato @fortunato.bsky.social · 3d

You don’t have to take my word for it, you can listen to the thousands of hours of his shitty talk show if you like

David Fortunato @fortunato.bsky.social · 3d

Using immigration to kneecap organized labor and advertise the American project is not investing in human rights

The guy ran guns and dope to accomplish his goals. He mobilized the national guard to quell dissent in America. Not as bad as trump! But likely because that power was unavailable to him

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David Fortunato @fortunato.bsky.social · 3d

Maybe some Reaganites were true believers, but if Reagan was alive he’d love all this shit and his only regret would be not pulling it off himself.

FFS he literally ran guns and sold drugs, let’s accept reality here

Zoomer Antimillenarian ♨️ @surcomplicated.bsky.social · 3d

Because they saw, and still see, America as something far superior to the tinpot shithole regimes we opposed. And there's nothing more insulting to them than seeing someone go and try to turn America into *exactly* that kind of country.

Binzie @binns.bsky.social · 3d

My boss is a Reagan Republican and has been enraged since this all started. I seem to remember being plenty angry at that group of Republicans back then but again, nothing like this.

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David Fortunato @fortunato.bsky.social · 6d

ICE agents intentionally fire upon a peacefully protesting minister.

A callous disregard for human safety and an intentional violation of law, the constitution, and morality.

MAGA’s America: where masked agents of the state shoot religious leaders in broad damned daylight with impunity

Kurt @flglchicago.bsky.social · 6d

Here’s video of the incident

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Reposted by David Fortunato

Christina Wolbrecht @cwolbrecht.bsky.social · 7d

Notre Dame is investing in the study and advancement of democracy in a big way.

al.nd.edu/news/latest-...

Francis and Kathleen Rooney make transformative gift for Notre Dame institute focused on democracy research and education

Francis and Kathleen Rooney of Washington, D.C., and Naples, Florida, have made a gift to the University of Notre Dame to endow an institute in the Coll...

al.nd.edu

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Reposted by David Fortunato

Governor Gavin Newsom @governor.ca.gov · 8d

This is a breathtaking abuse of the law and power by the President of the United States.

America is on the brink of martial law.

Do not be silent.

Governor JB Pritzker @govpritzker.illinois.gov · 8d

This evening, President Trump is ordering 400 members of the Texas National Guard for deployments to Illinois, Oregon, and other locations within the United States. No officials from the federal government called me directly to discuss or coordinate.

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David Fortunato @fortunato.bsky.social · 10d

“The market” is subverting its fiduciary responsibility and running scared from the most unpopular president in modern history.

Financial Times @financialtimes.com · 11d

Trump’s attacks cast a chill on what Wall Street says on.ft.com/4pUC29C | opinion

Trump’s attacks cast a chill on what Wall Street says

Economists and investors say there are scattered signs of self-censorship

on.ft.com

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Reposted by David Fortunato

UC Merced Political Science @ucmpolisci.bsky.social · 11d

Interested in @ucmerced.bsky.social's Political Science Graduate Program? Connect with our Political Science faculty and learn about graduate study opportunities during one of the upcoming 1-hour webinar/Q&A sessions.
Register for a session here: polisci.ucmerced.edu/grads

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Reposted by David Fortunato

jamelle @jamellebouie.net · 14d

pete hegseth, who you will recall has been accused of domestic abuse and sexual assault, has announced a new policy by which you cannot file anonymous complaints of mistreatment. sex criminal solidarity.

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Reposted by David Fortunato

IE Political Science @iepolisci.bsky.social · Sep 5

🚨🚨 We’re hiring! 🚨🚨

We have 3 lines open in CP, IR and IPE — all tenure-track.

We offer competitive salaries, a 2:1 teaching load, in a friendly (and fully in English) environment, at one of Europe’s most sought-after cities.

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Reposted by David Fortunato

Mike Gibilisco @mgibilisco.bsky.social · 15d

There are social scientists at #Caltech, @caltech.edu! I think they do pretty good research...at least some of the time.

www.caltech.edu/about/news/m...

Modeling Violent Terrorism as a Tug of War Between Competing Groups

Mike Gibilisco, professor of political science, and his co-author seek an understanding of how competing terrorist groups react to one another's violent attacks.

www.caltech.edu

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Reposted by David Fortunato

Peter Sagal @petersagal.bsky.social · 16d

I have lived and worked in and around Chicago for 27 years and I have been assaulted less often than Sen Paul has been in his own back yard.

Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 16d

Rand Paul: "Chicago is a nightmare. It is literally a war zone."

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Perry Bacon @perrybaconjr.bsky.social · 17d

Great conversation with @jakemgrumbach.bsky.social, one of the smartest people I know about politics and policy. We discussed what's unique about Trump's authoritarianism compared to his 1st term and autocrats abroad and why Dem thinking is trapped in old paradigms. www.youtube.com/watch?v=b2up...

The Comey Indictment Echoes Watergate—But It’s Actually Worse

YouTube video by The New Republic

www.youtube.com

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Reposted by David Fortunato

The A.V. Club @avclub.com · 17d

Okatsuka posted the censorship rules for the controversial comedy festival, noting how many "You can’t say anything anymore!" comedians have signed on.
www.avclub.com/riyadh-comed...

Comedian Atsuko Okatsuka posts contract after turning down Riyadh Comedy Festival

www.avclub.com

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Jacob Montgomery @jacobmontgomery.bsky.social · 18d

Why would Democrats agree to any budget deal when all of it can be overturned by executive fiat?

Matt Ford @mford.bsky.social · 18d

Supreme Court rules 6-3 that congressional appropriations are optional: www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/24p...

On September 3, the United States District Court for the District of Columbia entered a preliminary injunction directing the Executive to obligate roughly $10.5 billion of appropriated aid funding set to expire on September 30. Of that $10.5 billion, $4 billion was proposed to be rescinded in a “special message” transmitted pursuant to the Impoundment Control Act. See 2 U. S. C. §681 et seq. After the District Court and the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit denied stays of that order, the Government filed this application to stay the District Court’s injunction. The application for stay presented to THE CHIEF JUSTICE and by him referred to the Court is granted. The Government, at this early stage, has made a sufficient showing that the Impoundment Control Act precludes respondents’ suit, brought pursuant to the Administrative Procedure Act, to enforce the appropriations at issue here. The Government has also made a sufficient showing that mandamus relief is unavailable to respondents. And, on the record before the Court, the asserted harms to the Executive’s conduct of foreign affairs appear to outweigh the potential harm faced by respondents. This order should not be read as a final determination on the merits. The relief granted by the Court today reflects our preliminary view, consistent with the standards for interim relief.

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Reposted by David Fortunato

Brendan Nyhan @brendannyhan.bsky.social · 18d

Literally the authoritarian playbook:
1. Call your opponents terrorists.
2. Deploy state power against them.

There's nothing subtle or confusing or complex about what's happening. The *outcome* is uncertain but the authoritarianism is right out in the open.

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David Fortunato @fortunato.bsky.social · 18d

Given how freely the Trump administrations have lied to Congress, this horseshit indictment can be seen as:

1) a bet that a Democratic AG would never hold them accountable for perjury

2) a signal that Republicans have no intention of turning over control of the government under any circumstances

emptywheel @emptywheel.bsky.social · 18d

Here's the ABC story that was the first to confirm Jim Comey's indictment.

Please make sure to cite it, especially given ... everything.

abcnews.go.com/US/former-fb...

Former FBI Director James Comey indicted days after Trump demanded his DOJ move 'now' to prosecute enemies

Former FBI Director James Comey has been indicted just days after President Trump issued a public demand for the DOJ to act "now" to prosecute him, sources say.

abcnews.go.com

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Reposted by David Fortunato

Jason P. Casellas @jpcasellas.bsky.social · 21d

@houstonpolsci.bsky.social is hiring in Comparative Politics (open rank). Check out the link below for more details and to apply.
careers.uh.edu/jobs/assista...
#psjobs
#psjminfo

Assistant, Associate, or Full Professor - Comparative Politics - Houston, Texas, United States

Department: Political Science Salary: Commensurate with experience Description: The Department of Political Science at the University of Houston invites applications for an Assistant, Associate, ...

careers.uh.edu

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David Fortunato @fortunato.bsky.social · 22d

“This one goes out to all the punks who moved to the suburbs and bought home gyms…”

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Reposted by David Fortunato

The Bulwark @thebulwark.com · 23d

Sen. Murphy: "Tom Homan, Trump's border czar, literally accepted a bag of cash—$50,000—and the investigation was dropped when Trump became president. There are two standards of justice now in this country. If you are a friend of the president...you can get away with anything."

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Justin Wolfers @justinwolfers.bsky.social · 24d

Critical part of the President's new $100,000 charge for H1-B visas: The Administration can also offer a $100,000 discount to any person, company, or industry that it wants. Replacing rules with arbitrary discretion.

Want visas? You know who to call and who to flatter.

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David Fortunato @fortunato.bsky.social · 24d

Living in north Jersey, you know that kid just crushes Italian combos.

He’s got to have endorsement deals with every last grease truck!