Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Gina Kaufmann @ginak.bsky.social · 16h

This story by my friend Esther will leave you gutted, but you should read it anyway www.switchyardmag.com/issue-5/100-...

One Hundred Days of Darkness — Switchyard

By Esther Honig

www.switchyardmag.com

Reposted by Gina Kaufmann

Brian Stelter @brianstelter.bsky.social · 1d

Reps for CNN, Reuters, The AP, The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Atlantic and NPR all say that journalists from their newsrooms are not signing the new paperwork about Pentagon access. Newsmax says it doesn't intend to sign, either — a potentially significant sign of MAGA dissension.

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Gina Kaufmann @ginak.bsky.social · 1d

truly, yes, the business model yields a 33 cent profit per sale if you can believe it

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Gina Kaufmann @ginak.bsky.social · 1d

My son wants to start a paper clip delivery business. He’ll sell you paper clips when you’re in a bind and don’t have time to go get them yourself. But not if it’s raining. With all due respect for your paper collation needs, he doesn’t care for riding a bike in the rain.

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Gina Kaufmann @ginak.bsky.social · 4d

Just processing the fact that while I was biking home from work on this gorgeous day, a stranger stopped ranting and raving on his cell phone just long enough to tell me he wanted to punch me in the face.

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Gina Kaufmann @ginak.bsky.social · 5d

If you want a feel for how people in Gaza and in Israel are processing the news of the last 24 hours, no question, you want to hear the voices gathered by @shirinj.bsky.social and @matthewjbell.bsky.social for @theworld.org theworld.org/segments/202...

Ceasefire between Israel and Hamas - The World from PRX

US President Donald Trump has announced a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas after two years of a deadly conflict. Israeli hostages are expected to be released by early next week, and Israel’s army is...

theworld.org

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Reposted by Gina Kaufmann

Nicole Chung @nicolechung.bsky.social · 5d

also many things about her life and by extension mine are more challenging than they might be otherwise, but many things are great and I’ve never wished her different—that just feels very foreign to me. like, she just is who she is. I don’t want a different kid! I want the world to be better for her

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Reposted by Gina Kaufmann

Nicole Chung @nicolechung.bsky.social · 5d

I’m not autistic, just a parent to an autistic kid w/ fairly significant support needs, but I personally find it very frustrating to see so many people fixated on preventing, reducing, or “curing” autism and neurodiversity instead of talking about inclusion + getting folks whatever support they need

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Gina Kaufmann @ginak.bsky.social · 10d

Standing in a shoulder-to-shoulder crowd as everyone shouted in unison “my god, what have I done?!” was the Gen X catharsis I needed.

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Gina Kaufmann @ginak.bsky.social · 10d

If you only listen to one interview about the Saudi comedy festival and the outrage it’s sparked, make it this one. Not with a western comic who did or didn’t participate, but with a Saudi dissident whose friends have been killed and whose father is in prison. theworld.org/segments/202...

A Saudi dissident weighs in on comedy festival controversy - The World from PRX

This week is supposed to be all laughs in Saudi Arabia’s capital, where the Riyadh Comedy Festival is entering its second week. It’s billing itself as “the world’s biggest comedy festival” — and big n...

theworld.org

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Reposted by Gina Kaufmann

Anne Applebaum @anneapplebaum.bsky.social · 11d

President Macron:
“We were very naive to leave our public space to social media networks controlled by US or Chinese companies that don’t share our interests and not interested in survival of our democracies.”
www.youtube.com/watch?v=MggN...

French President Macron Speaks at German Unity Day Ceremony | WION LIVE

YouTube video by WION

www.youtube.com

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Gina Kaufmann @ginak.bsky.social · 12d

I read this today and it feels truer than anything

"There’s a dream I have in which I love the world... Hand on my heart. Hand on my stupid heart."

www.splitthisrock.org/poetry-datab...

Meditations in an Emergency | Poetry Database | Split This Rock

www.splitthisrock.org

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Gina Kaufmann @ginak.bsky.social · 13d

Oy. And I say that sincerely.

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Reposted by Gina Kaufmann

Amanda Becker @amandabecker.bsky.social · 13d

Hundreds of celebrities relaunch a McCarthy-era committee to defend free speech www.npr.org/2025/10/01/n...

Hundreds of celebrities relaunch a McCarthy-era committee to defend free speech

The Committee for the First Amendment first launched in the 1940s, when the House Un-American Activities Committee accused Hollywood actors, directors and writers of being communists or sympathizers.

www.npr.org

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Gina Kaufmann @ginak.bsky.social · 13d

I love that podcast!

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Gina Kaufmann @ginak.bsky.social · 15d

I don’t hate the polar bear takeover. In fact, the polar bear just sauntering out the front door like he owns the place really delights me. m.youtube.com/shorts/wn0nZ...

Polar bears take over abandoned research station in Russia

YouTube video by Associated Press

m.youtube.com

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Gina Kaufmann @ginak.bsky.social · 17d

Moms, let’s prevent the dangerous condition of narcissism. I think that’s a Willie Nelson lyric, right? Mamas, don’t let your babies grow up to be…

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Gina Kaufmann @ginak.bsky.social · 18d

The passion of this North Korean defector living in South Korea for helping people still on the other side of the border is really moving. But the groups that support his work are currently up against serious political and financial headwinds. theworld.org/stories/2025...

In South Korea, it's getting harder to push for human rights in North Korea - The World from PRX

South Korea recently pulled the plug on anti-North Korea broadcasts, and now a small radio station in Seoul is trying to fill the dead air. But, amidst policy changes in Seoul and in Washington, the f...

theworld.org

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Gina Kaufmann @ginak.bsky.social · 22d

The perfect Rosh Hashannah song m.youtube.com/watch?v=73Rg...

Thao & The Get Down Stay Down - City (Live on KEXP)

YouTube video by KEXP

m.youtube.com

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Reposted by Gina Kaufmann

Matthew Bell @matthewjbell.bsky.social · 23d

International law experts say the Trump administration’s legal justification for US strikes against suspected drug boats doesn’t hold up. Thanks again to @becingber.bsky.social @bcfinucane.bsky.social @mikeschmitt.bsky.social

theworld.org/segments/202...

US airstrikes continue off Venezuelan coast - The World from PRX

The Trump administration says it’s destroyed three ships off the coast of Venezuela that were carrying drugs. It justifies the attacks by saying the ships were run by drug cartels that the US has desi...

theworld.org

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Gina Kaufmann @ginak.bsky.social · 24d

Former resident of the state and journalist who covered it, here…

All of this is true, and understanding it is important if you want to grasp what’s happening in middle America. You can go to diners looking for people to confirm your preconceptions, or you can read this.

Bolts @boltsmag.org · 24d

Under the proposed new rule for citizen measures in Missouri, all five popular initiatives that voters in the state have approved since 2020 would have failed, a Bolts analysis found.

Under this GOP Measure, All of Missouri’s Recent Popular Initiatives Would Have Failed

Lawmakers just advanced a constitutional amendment to drastically raise the bar for approving citizen ballot measures. Voters get to weigh in on the scheme next year.

boltsmag.org

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Gina Kaufmann @ginak.bsky.social · 24d

It’s kind of a reading emergency. We got Hulu/Disney in anticipation of medical recovery in the household this coming week then turned right around and canceled it 😂

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Gina Kaufmann @ginak.bsky.social · 24d

Seeking recommendations for unputdownable artist/musician/dancer biographies, ideally with political undertones (or overtones) - will read anything but this is my preferred genre and I am stocking up

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Gina Kaufmann @ginak.bsky.social · 26d

“… journalism and history and books and plays and music. All of these are ways to understand yourself and to understand society and to understand politics. So if you’re robbed of those things, you’re robbed of the ability to form opinions.”

PEN America @penamerica.bsky.social · 29d

Journalists and co-founders of Russian Independent Media Archive (RIMA), M. Gessen and Anna Nemzer, joined human rights advocate Yaqiu Wang and PEN America’s Viktorya Vilk to talk about media erasure under authoritarian governments at #PENWorldVoices 2025. Read more: pen.org/what-oversea...

Propaganda, Isolation, Censorship, and Entertainment: What Overseas Press Know About the Authoritarian Playbook

Anna Nemzer, M. Gessen, and Yaqiu Wang discuss how media falls victim under authoritarianism, and what America should watch out for.

pen.org

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Gina Kaufmann @ginak.bsky.social · 27d

“I wish it were the Russians. It’s not the Russians, it’s us.”

www.npr.org/2025/09/18/n...

Foreign influencers are doing their best to spin the Charlie Kirk assassination

Russia, Iran and China have all attempted to shape the narrative, but so far, their influence has been relatively minor, experts say.

www.npr.org

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