Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

John Vaillant @johnvaillant.bsky.social · 12h

Allow me to translate:
"Antichrist" = Anyone who doesn't agree with me, and who has the power to thwart my #Libertarian ambitions.

Wilson Dizard III @wpd3.bsky.social · 2d

[Excerpt:] Tech billionaire Peter Thiel recently warned that Swedish activist Greta Thunberg & critics of tech or AI are “legionnaires of the Antichrist” in private lectures on Christianity that linked government oversight of Silicon Valley to an apocalyptic future.

Inside billionaire Peter Thiel’s private lectures: Warnings of ‘the Antichrist’ and U.S. destruction

In leaked recordings of private lectures by tech billionaire Peter Thiel he argued that “the Antichrist” is likely to take the form of a critic of technology.

wapo.st

2 1 4

John Vaillant @johnvaillant.bsky.social · 13h

That's an effective #Boycott

www.cbc.ca/news/canada/... #Canada

American spirit exports to Canada 'plummeted' 85%, says U.S. trade group | CBC News

American spirit exports to Canada "plummeted" 85 per cent in the second quarter of 2025, with the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States calling the situation "very troubling" as consumers in ...

www.cbc.ca

1 8 23

John Vaillant @johnvaillant.bsky.social · 14h

It will cost half a -trillion- $ a year to maintain current #oilandgas output as existing fields decline - @iea.org

#EnergyTransition
subscriber.politicopro.com/article/eenews

POLITICO Pro

subscriber.politicopro.com

6

Reposted by John Vaillant

Tom Joscelyn @tomjoscelyn.bsky.social · 18h

“I spent three nights and three days in federal custody. During that time, I was never told what I was charged with, was not allowed to shower despite being covered in tear gas and pepper spray, had no phone call to my family, and no access to an attorney.” - George Retes, U.S. citizen and veteran.

I’m a US citizen and a veteran. ICE arrested me for no reason.

Jailed for three days without an explanation or ability to notify anyone, George Retes argues the only path to healing starts with the government taking accountability for its actions.

newsletter.ofthebrave.org

320 5.3K 10K

Reposted by John Vaillant

Jacek Debiec, MD, PhD, DPhil 🌎 🧠 @drjacekdebiec.bsky.social · 17h

"The concepts of friluftsliv (literally: "open-air living") in which Swedes regularly unplug and seek out nature; stress-reducing activities such as forest bathing and deep-sleep retreats; and a holistic approach to life known as lagom..might make you feel better..."

www.bbc.com/travel/artic...

Sweden: The country 'prescribed' by doctors

A cheeky new ad campaign claims that visiting the Nordic nation and embracing Swedish culture can improve your wellbeing – and it's turning to medical experts to make its case.

www.bbc.com

2 8

John Vaillant @johnvaillant.bsky.social · 17h

Re-upping because it's ongoing:
www.desmog.com/2025/07/22/t... #Alberta #canpoli #ForeverCanadian

Trump Officials Discussed $500M Alberta Independence Loan, Separatist Claims

Private details from a Washington D.C., meeting about Alberta becoming the 51st state were revealed at a separatism event attended by DeSmog.

www.desmog.com

8 11

Reposted by John Vaillant

David Zipper @davidzipper.bsky.social · 1d

Deep dive into the surge in US pedestrian deaths:

"It’s not that more pedestrians are getting hit by vehicles; it’s that the ones that are getting hit are more likely to die."

"[That] seems like fairly strong evidence for the theory that the rise in large SUVs is behind the uptick in ped deaths."

Why Are So Many Pedestrians Killed by Cars in the US?

It’s unfortunately not uncommon for pedestrians to be killed by cars in the US.

www.construction-physics.com

40 370 1K

Reposted by John Vaillant

André Picard @picardonhealth @picardonhealth.bsky.social · 1d

Punching back: After being diagnosed with Parkinson’s, I’m literally in the fight of my life. Parkinson’s is the fastest growing neurological disease in the world, affecting 110,000 Canadians, by Marni Jackson www.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/arti... via @theglobeandmail.com

Opinion: After being diagnosed with Parkinson’s, I’m literally in the fight of my life

Parkinson’s is the fastest growing neurological disease in the world. More than 110,000 Canadians have the disorder and every day 38 more are diagnosed

www.theglobeandmail.com

7 26

Reposted by John Vaillant

William Nomikos @wnomikos.bsky.social · 4d

Goosebumps watching this. Chicagoans fighting for this country. Mass collective action is the only thing that can keep fascism away.

Jacob Soboroff @jacobsoboroff.bsky.social · 4d

Michigan Avenue right now.

9 190 790

Reposted by John Vaillant

CajunBlueAZ ⚜️🇺🇸 🇺🇦 @cajunblue.bsky.social · 4d

🚨🚨🚨Chicago - NOW!🚨🚨🚨
1/2

500 6.8K 21K

John Vaillant @johnvaillant.bsky.social · 4d

#Russia has had its worst harvest in nearly 2 decades.
per @thetimes.com radio #FoodSecurity

2 7 25

Reposted by John Vaillant

Wilderness Committee @wildernews.bsky.social · 4d

The study looked at the 200 most destructive fires from 1980 to 2023 — fires with the highest financial costs relative to a nation's GDP — and found their frequency had increased sharply since 2015.

#climatechange #wildfires

What insurance data reveals about how bad wildfires are getting | CBC News

Scientists tapped into 44 years of data to show how these societally destructive wildfires — ones that kill people and cause huge financial losses — are growing all across the world and are becoming...

www.cbc.ca

1 12 19

Reposted by John Vaillant

Hannah Pumpkins 🎃 🍂 @hannahposts.bsky.social · 5d

Richard Scarry: Fury Road

A Richard Scarry illustration of a skeleton-bone dragster being driven by a little mouse

10 160 810

John Vaillant @johnvaillant.bsky.social · 4d

An excellent and inspiring conversation between @petebuttigieg.bsky.social and @hcrichardson.bsky.social:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=4diH...

American Conversations: Secretary Pete Buttigieg

YouTube video by Heather Cox Richardson

www.youtube.com

2

John Vaillant @johnvaillant.bsky.social · 4d

Same look in his eyes as Krash Patel

Leia🇨🇴🇺🇸 @theswprincess.bsky.social · 4d

Look at his eyes - pure panic.

These "federal agents" are like clumsy mall cops with guns. No training, no control, no clue.

It’s a miracle they haven’t shot each other yet.

They're a danger to the public.

4

Reposted by John Vaillant

Professor Euan Ritchie @euanritchie.bsky.social · 4d

Each day the upper management of different unis seemingly find new ways to disappoint those of us working at universities. I love what I do, it breaks my heart what's been allowed to happen to unis in recent decades. www.abc.net.au/news/2025-10... Robodebt for university academic integrity? WT!

University caught out using AI to wrongly accuse students of cheating with AI

An Australian university has accused thousands of its students of cheating with artificial intelligence. The problem? Many have done nothing wrong.

www.abc.net.au

4 11 41

John Vaillant @johnvaillant.bsky.social · 4d

Cheers, Amy!

1 1

Reposted by John Vaillant

Dave Infante @dinfontay.com · 5d

"Why would OpenAI and Microsoft spend $23 million to give 'free training' on how to use AI to teachers? Because they love teachers? No. Because they want to get their products into public schools in an attempt to cultivate the education market." — @hamiltonnolan.bsky.social

Thinking of AI as a Social Problem

No need to know the unknowable. The knowable is bad enough.

www.hamiltonnolan.com

6 42 110

John Vaillant @johnvaillant.bsky.social · 4d

!!!

Los Angeles Times @latimes.com · 4d

Authorities will announce an arrest in connection with the devastating Palisades fire, law enforcement sources said, and are expected to announce a cause of the blaze.

Arrest made in Palisades fire, sources say

Authorities will announce an arrest in connection with the devastating Palisades fire, law enforcement sources said, and are expected to announce a cause of the blaze.

www.latimes.com

4

John Vaillant @johnvaillant.bsky.social · 4d

The esteem of one's favorite authors is truly the sweetest prize. @charlesmann.bsky.social (1491, 1493, etc.) is a maestro, and holy crap this makes my day!

𝙲𝚑𝚊𝚛𝚕𝚎𝚜 𝙲. 𝙼𝚊𝚗𝚗 @charlescmann.bsky.social · 4d

Last night I read again a chunk of "Fire Weather" by @johnvaillant.bsky.social to check my notes against his reporting and holy crap this is a superb book--a vivid portrait of one of the most fascinating, least known, most important places in North America: northern Alberta. Strong recommend.

Fire Weather by John Vaillant: 9780525434245 | PenguinRandomHouse.com: Books

PULITZER PRIZE FINALIST • A NEW YORK TIMES TOP TEN BOOK OF THE YEAR • FINALIST FOR THE NATIONAL BOOK AWARD IN NONFICTION • FINALIST FOR THE PEN/GALBRAITH AWARD FOR NONFICTION...

www.penguinrandomhouse.com

1 16

John Vaillant @johnvaillant.bsky.social · 4d

Word of the day: Plenary
www.independent.co.uk/news/world/a...

Plenary authority, the dictator phrase that caused Stephen Miller to stop talking

Miller suggests Trump wields absolute power over decisions to send in the National Guard, before suddenly stopping speaking in an awkward interview moment

www.independent.co.uk

2

John Vaillant @johnvaillant.bsky.social · 5d

Fyi:

America the Beautiful @unitedresistance.bsky.social · 5d

The Insurrection Act and Posse Comitatus Act

en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Insurre...

Insurrection Act of 1807 - Wikipedia

en.m.wikipedia.org

1 1 2

Reposted by John Vaillant

Grist @grist.org · 5d

A guide to the 4 minerals shaping the world’s energy future.
To address climate change, we're going to need a whole lot of metal.

grist.org/energy/criti...

#Mining #Mines #Climate #Lithium #CleanEnergy #Renewables #EV #Cars

A guide to the 4 minerals shaping the world's energy future

To address climate change, we're going to need a whole lot of metal.

grist.org

1 9 21

John Vaillant @johnvaillant.bsky.social · 5d

Got a good lawyer?

Reposted by John Vaillant

Wildlife Conservation Society @wcs.org · 5d

Launching today with partners: a campaign to protect sharks & rays.

At #CITESCoP20, govts will decide whether to grant whale sharks, oceanic whitetips, and manta & devil rays full Appendix I protections — a once-in-a-generation chance.

🌏 Sign the petition: only.one/act/cites-2025

12 37