Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Jacob Ari Labendz (Lion Swan) @labendz.bsky.social · 13h

Just heard two major voices agree that the days of parsing “when anti-Zionism slips into antisemitism” has ended, claiming that this had been the purview of Jewish (presumably progressive) scholars alone.

Basically, they can no longer twist themselves into pretzels in the face of contradictions.

Jacob Ari Labendz (Lion Swan) @labendz.bsky.social · 13h

The inability of some senior scholars to stop using antisemitism as a framework of analysis, despite perpetual failure to produce anything more than a descriptive litany of insults and crimes should stagger the mind, and lead us to question how they maintain their influence. 1/x

1

Jacob Ari Labendz (Lion Swan) @labendz.bsky.social · 1d

Had this argument just yesterday.

The tragedy of the Nazis, for example, isn’t that they were monsters. It’s that they and their actions was every bit as human as we and our own.

And if you think that’s beta-talk… The danger of animalizing your enemy is that you’ll inevitably underestimate them.

Old White Nepo Hat @kenwhite.bsky.social · 1d

If someone merely acknowledging the humanity of your enemies enrages you, you’re the baddies.

4

Jacob Ari Labendz (Lion Swan) @labendz.bsky.social · 1d

You break the middle piece and save half for the afikomen.

1

Jacob Ari Labendz (Lion Swan) @labendz.bsky.social · 1d

Between Jews and Seventh Day Adventists, there are about 38 million of us!!!

Gupp @kenny-loggoff.bsky.social · 1d

happy satuday mormig to those who celebrate

2

Jacob Ari Labendz (Lion Swan) @labendz.bsky.social · 1d

This was how folks debated COVID accommodations at my last school.

1

Jacob Ari Labendz (Lion Swan) @labendz.bsky.social · 1d

All hail the Great Frog!

Hop to it or croak. We are but mere toadies.

Kermit to the bit. Ms. Piggy’s got nothing on us.

Seriously, we are one month away from learning that the frog is a potent supernatural being, whose image alone can change the course of history.

Ariella Elm @ariellaelm.bsky.social · 2d

I don’t think we’re talking enough about the fact that we successfully took back the frog. Like it has been a meme for the alt right for years now, and thanks to these Portland inflatable costumes, we’re taking it back

1

Reposted by Jacob Ari Labendz (Lion Swan)

A.R. Moxon @juliusgoat.bsky.social · 2d

I've noticed the opposing team's fans only cheer when the opponents score on us. To win those fans over, I recommend we score on ourselves repeatedly; that will surely make them so happy they'll start supporting us. And I'm sure all our fans will keep cheering for us—who else is there to cheer for?

37 1.5K 5.3K

Jacob Ari Labendz (Lion Swan) @labendz.bsky.social · 2d

The beef jerky hung like this, partially vended, for two full days. Why didn’t someone body-check the machine to get some free food?

I thought that, just maybe, the alright kids have soured on meat… not so fast…

There are cameras everywhere, and with surveillance fear… and a loss of simple joys.

Vending machine. The bottom row has a bag of beef jerky dangling down because it did not fully vend.

Jacob Ari Labendz (Lion Swan) @labendz.bsky.social · 2d

Bizarro Jonah Hill is cancelled.

Mehdi Hasan @mehdirhasan.bsky.social · 2d

“This Family Made Billions on Trump-Branded Condos. Now Their Private Jet Is Taking Shackled Migrants to a Far-Flung African Prison”

This Family Made Billions on Trump-Branded Condos. Now Their Private Jet Is Taking Shackled Migrants to a Far-Flung African Prison

Israeli-American billionaires Michael and Gil Dezer’s Gulfstream IV plane flew 10 migrants to the tiny African kingdom of Eswatini, flight data shows.

zeteo.com

1

Jacob Ari Labendz (Lion Swan) @labendz.bsky.social · 2d

The odd thing about running an academic center on the Holocaust and genocide is how many people feel compelled to confess you that they support genocide… in the future.

1 3

Reposted by Jacob Ari Labendz (Lion Swan)

Center for Holocaust and Genocide Studies, Ramapo College of NJ @chgs-ramapo.bsky.social · 2d

We're thrilled at the opportunity to bring this program to Ramapo College for Women's History Month.

In the spring, we intend to stage a table-read of one of Ms. Rana's plays on this difficult subject. Students are encouraged to become involved!

1

Reposted by Jacob Ari Labendz (Lion Swan)

Center for Holocaust and Genocide Studies, Ramapo College of NJ @chgs-ramapo.bsky.social · 2d

Our trip this past summer was so wonderful, we're running it again in Summer 2026. We encouraged all interested students to attend this info session.

Great news! We raised funds to cover the $1,000 fee for the 2-credit course for all participants! Program, flight & incidental fees paid by students.

Study abroad in the Czech Republic, Summer 2026. "The Holocaust, Genocide, and Human Rights in Central Europe," May 25 - June 4, 2025. INFO SESSION, Monday, October 20 at 1:00 pm in the Special Collections Reading Room, LC-215. (Second floor of the library, through the glass doors in the back). Spend ten days in one of Europe's most beautiful cities studying the region's history of genocide ant its influence on contemporary approaches to human rights and multicultural belonging. Visit www.ramapo.edu/holocaust/study-abroad or use the QR code for more information.

1 1

Reposted by Jacob Ari Labendz (Lion Swan)

Center for Holocaust and Genocide Studies, Ramapo College of NJ @chgs-ramapo.bsky.social · 2d

This is going to be an incredible event. Please join us in person!

1 2

Jacob Ari Labendz (Lion Swan) @labendz.bsky.social · 2d

*Me, in any discussion related to my field.*

Cas Ⓜ️udde @casmudde.bsky.social · 2d

If there ever was a time to rethink using official definitions of pretty much anything, but certainly extremism and terrorism, it is now!

1

Jacob Ari Labendz (Lion Swan) @labendz.bsky.social · 2d

This bubble burst is going to suck… and the grifters will sell us AI solutions for the pain.

Robert Reich @rbreich.bsky.social · 3d

AI companies are spending billions on deals with each other, which boost their value.

This has helped twenty billionaires tied to AI add $450B to their fortunes in 2025.

Meanwhile, an MIT study found that 95% of companies using AI haven't seen returns on investment.

Be warned.

2

Jacob Ari Labendz (Lion Swan) @labendz.bsky.social · 2d

Did the Left just colonize Pepe?

Krime @krime.bsky.social · 2d

Portland keeping it real 🐸

Jacob Ari Labendz (Lion Swan) @labendz.bsky.social · 2d

Yes, noted… but that proved ephemeral and, I think, was less about her as a person.

1

Jacob Ari Labendz (Lion Swan) @labendz.bsky.social · 2d

But how can she make Nobel-worthy peace without bombs? I may be wrong, but I have found no evidence to suggest she blew up random boats in international waters.

Sherrilyn Ifill @sifill.bsky.social · 2d

www.bbc.com/news/live/c1...

Nobel Peace Prize 2025 live updates: Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado wins

Nominations closed in January but US President Donald Trump had led a public campaign to win the award.

www.bbc.com

2

Jacob Ari Labendz (Lion Swan) @labendz.bsky.social · 2d

Beyond the obvious criticisms due, we must also note the continued perception on the right that Dems/libs revere Clinton, who never had a cult of personality and whose political legacy ended with Biden’s obstinate failure in the last election. It’s part show, sure, but they also don’t get it.

max tani @maxtani.bsky.social · 3d

New: Bari Weiss booked Hillary Clinton, Mike Pompeo, and Antony Blinken for a roundtable on Gaza, her first major move at CBS.

Notably on a CBS call today in which the panel was floated, one producer also repeatedly emphasized the need to hear from Palestinians in Gaza (Weiss did not respond).

1 6

Jacob Ari Labendz (Lion Swan) @labendz.bsky.social · 3d

apnews.com/article/mide...

US sending about 200 troops to Israel to help support and monitor ceasefire deal in Gaza

The United States is sending about 200 troops to Israel to help support and monitor the ceasefire deal in Gaza as part of a team that includes partner nations, nongovernmental organizations and privat...

apnews.com

1

Jacob Ari Labendz (Lion Swan) @labendz.bsky.social · 3d

Trump is going to set his own right flank on fire by sending US troops to Israel.

2 2

Jacob Ari Labendz (Lion Swan) @labendz.bsky.social · 4d

We tried to buy a house on Wooten street in Boonton, alas!

1 2

Reposted by Jacob Ari Labendz (Lion Swan)

Seth Cotlar @sethcotlar.bsky.social · 4d

It's almost as if a movement that began with lusty chants of "lock her up" in regard to the opposition party's candidate for President in 2016...combined with a refusal to honor the results of the election...has morphed into a cult of unaccountable, authoritarian power.

Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 4d

Q: Do you agree that the mayor of Chicago and governor of Illinois should be in prison?

MIKE JOHNSON: Should they be in prison? I'm not the attorney general. I'm not following the day to day on that

25 250 1.2K

Jacob Ari Labendz (Lion Swan) @labendz.bsky.social · 4d

Finally watching and teaching “Act of Killing” today.

Any tips, insights, exercises to share?

1 1