Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Leigh Turner @leighturner.bsky.social · 17h

"His actions and rhetoric represent a dramatic shift in the use of the military and military language, which has been focused for most of American history on threats from abroad."

The Washington Post @washingtonpost.com · 17h

President Trump has made clear that he is eager to use the might of the American military and the resources of the federal government to crack down on what he sees as domestic threats: violent crime, illegal immigration and the antifa movement.

Trump deploys tactics and language of war against perceived domestic threats

It represents a dramatic shift in the use of the military, which has been focused for most of American history on threats from abroad.

wapo.st

Leigh Turner @leighturner.bsky.social · 19h

"By most metrics, 2025 has been the worst year for the American scientific enterprise in modern history....Next year looks to be worse." www.nytimes.com/2025/10/09/c...

A Crushing Year for Science in America

www.nytimes.com

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Reposted by Leigh Turner

Alondra Nelson @alondra.bsky.social · 23h

Looking forward to joining Shoshana Zuboff and Cathy O'Neil this week at the Harvard Carr-Ryan Center for Human Rights for a conversation on democratic resilience in the age of AI and tech power concentration.

Join us October 16, 5-6pm ET. You can register here: www.hks.harvard.edu/events/surve...

Social card for the event: Surveillance Capitalism, Power, and our Democratic Future

Speakers and Presenters

Alondra Nelson, Harold F. Linder Professor at the Institute for Advanced Study and architect of the "Blueprint for an AI Bill of Rights.";
Cathy O'Neil, Data Scientist and Author of Weapons of Math Destruction;
Mathias Risse, Berthold Beitz Professor in Human Rights, Global Affairs and Philosophy and Director of the Carr-Ryan Center for Human Rights;
Shoshana Zuboff, Charles Edward Wilson Professor Emeritus and Co-Director of the Human Rights and Technology Fellowship

Date and Location
October 16, 2025
5:00 PM - 6:00 PM ET
Starr Auditorium

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Leigh Turner @leighturner.bsky.social · 20h

"The U.S. Department of Education fired nearly everyone in the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services in a wave of new layoffs that began Friday, according to the union representing the agency's employees." www.usatoday.com/story/news/e... By @zachschermele.bsky.social

Education Department wipes out special ed office in shutdown layoffs, union says

The Education Department laid off nearly everyone at the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services.

www.usatoday.com

Leigh Turner @leighturner.bsky.social · 20h

Chaos, confusion, incompetence, & uncertainty as CDC officials are fired in error. www.nytimes.com/2025/10/11/h...

Trump Administration Will Rehire Scores of Experts Fired in Error

www.nytimes.com

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Reposted by Leigh Turner

Adam Wickberg @adamwickberg.bsky.social · 1d

We are hiring! Prospective PhD students in environmental history, history of science, history of technology and STS interested in the climate and environmental impacts of AI look here. Please share in your networks. #envhist #histsci #AI #anthropcoene

Center for Anthropocene History @anthropocenekth.bsky.social · 4d

Open PhD position at KTH: "AI Planetary Futures: Climate and environment in Silicon Valley's AI paradigm". Apply by Oct 23! lnkd.in/dCs8eZjb

The project analyzes the climate and environmental aspects of Silicon Valley-based general-purpose AI systems developed by Big Tech companies.

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Reposted by Leigh Turner

Apoorva Mandavilli @apoorvanyt.bsky.social · 1d

The mass layoffs of federal workers on Friday night swept up the top two leaders of the federal measles response team, those working on Ebola and dozens of other infectious disease experts
(Gift article)

www.nytimes.com/2025/10/11/h...

C.D.C. Layoffs Included 2 Top Measles Experts Amid Rising Cases

www.nytimes.com

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Reposted by Leigh Turner

elizabethcooney.bsky.social @elizabethcooney.bsky.social · 1d

“Calling this a budget issue is a lie. It’s an abuse of power — unethical, unlawful, and profoundly dangerous,” a high-ranking CDC official told me.

www.statnews.com/2025/10/11/c...

‘It’s a massacre’: CDC battered by government shutdown firings

The White House’s mass firing of CDC staff on Friday has decimated offices related to injury prevention, respiratory disease surveillance, and chronic disease, according to four people familiar with t...

www.statnews.com

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Leigh Turner @leighturner.bsky.social · 23h

"In interviews, federal judges called the Supreme Court’s emergency orders 'mystical,' 'overly blunt,' 'incredibly demoralizing and troubling' and 'a slap in the face to the district courts.'” www.nytimes.com/2025/10/11/u...

Federal Judges, Warning of ‘Judicial Crisis,’ Fault Supreme Court’s Emergency Orders

www.nytimes.com

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Leigh Turner @leighturner.bsky.social · 23h

“What it really means is it is impossible to rapidly disseminate public health science for action. That would be critical if there’s a public health emergency." www.statnews.com/2025/10/11/c...

Deep cuts made to CDC's flagship MMWR publication, a cornerstone of public health

CDC staff behind the agency’s flagship publication have been fired amid drastic cuts to the HHS promised by the White House due to the government shutdown, according to five people familiar with the s...

www.statnews.com

Reposted by Leigh Turner

The Washington Post @washingtonpost.com · 23h

President Trump’s unprecedented efforts to pressure the Justice Department into prosecuting his perceived enemies have, so far, netted swift results — and more may be on the way.

Prosecutors push toward charging other Trump foes after Letitia James

With two of Trump’s foes now under indictment, Justice Department officials are pushing ahead with a list of additional cases.

www.washingtonpost.com

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Reposted by Leigh Turner

The New York Times @nytimes.com · 1d

Dozens of employees at the CDC — including “disease detectives,” high-ranking scientists and the entire Washington office — were notified late Friday that they were losing their jobs as part of the Trump administration’s latest round of federal layoffs.

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

“Disease detectives,” high-ranking scientists, the entire Washington office and the staff of a weekly public health journal were among those who learned late Friday that they would lose their jobs.

nyti.ms

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Leigh Turner @leighturner.bsky.social · 2d

"The Massachusetts Institute of Technology on Friday became the first school to reject an offer of federal funds in exchange for agreeing to the Trump administration's education agenda." www.nbcnews.com/news/educati...

MIT is first school to reject Trump administration's agenda in exchange for funding benefits

"With respect, we cannot support the proposed approach to addressing the issues facing higher education,” the Massachusetts Institute of Technology president wrote in a letter.

www.nbcnews.com

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Leigh Turner @leighturner.bsky.social · 2d

"The Washington Post examined the history of six important drugs invented over the past few decades. In each case, crucial steps in the development of the medication came from taxpayer-funded research at universities now at risk of losing federal support." www.washingtonpost.com/education/in...

Trump slashed funding for universities that helped create these vital drugs

Medications that prevent HIV, shrink tumors and treat seizures were invented with government funding. At research universities, that money is now canceled or in jeopardy.

www.washingtonpost.com

Leigh Turner @leighturner.bsky.social · 2d

"M.I.T. became the first university to reject an agreement that would trade support for the Trump administration’s higher education agenda in exchange for favorable treatment." www.nytimes.com/2025/10/10/u...

M.I.T. Rejects a White House Offer for Special Funding Treatment

www.nytimes.com

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Leigh Turner @leighturner.bsky.social · 2d

“When an invitation is accompanied by consequences for not accepting it, it is in fact a threat, not an invitation.” www.uscannenbergmedia.com/2025/10/06/r...

‘Reject the Compact’ petition urges USC not to sign Trump’s contract

Faculty show support for USC to reject the federal government’s Compact for Academic Excellence in Higher Education.

www.uscannenbergmedia.com

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Reposted by Leigh Turner

Daniel G. Aaron, MD, JD @medlawdan.bsky.social · 2d

Thrilled that my new piece with @drsinhaesq.bsky.social is out. We review different funding models for research and stress the importance of public funding for two reasons: (1) It can support non-profit-driven research, and (2) It can serve as a bulwark against corporate influence over science.

Michael Sinha @drsinhaesq.bsky.social · 2d

NEW with @medlawdan.bsky.social @sjquinney.bsky.social in Health Affairs Forefront:

As An Alternative To Federal Research Funding, Private Investment Brings Significant Risks www.healthaffairs.org/content/fore...

cc: @slulaw.bsky.social @sluhealthlaw.bsky.social

As An Alternative To Federal Research Funding, Private Investment Brings Significant Risks | Health Affairs Forefront

Researchers and physician scientists who accept private funding from profit-motivated actors must take affirmative steps to ensure it does not compromise the integrity of their work.

www.healthaffairs.org

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Leigh Turner @leighturner.bsky.social · 2d

"James was charged with one count of bank fraud after Trump publicly called for his Justice Department appointees to bring charges against her." www.nbcnews.com/politics/jus...

Grand jury indicts N.Y. Attorney General Letitia James, a Trump opponent, on bank fraud charge

James, a Democrat, has clashed with President Donald Trump after bringing civil charges against him in New York.

www.nbcnews.com

Leigh Turner @leighturner.bsky.social · 2d

"The move is the president’s latest effort to weaponize the Department of Justice to punish political rivals." www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...

Letitia James criminally charged in Trump’s latest effort to punish rivals

Prosecutor who sought charges was installed amid Trump frustrations with pace of investigations against rivals

www.theguardian.com

Reposted by Leigh Turner

CASW @sciencewriting.bsky.social · 3d

Tomorrow! Don't miss our Connector Chat about covering cuts, changes, and chaos in federal science funding. Featuring @stephaniemlee.bsky.social, @katherinejwu.com, and @scott-delaney.bsky.social.

Can't make it? Register to get the recording and tipsheet after the event.

bit.ly/casw-funding

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Reposted by Leigh Turner

Carl Zimmer @carlzimmer.com · 3d

Today my @nytimes.com colleagues and I are launching a new series called Lost Science. We interview US scientists who can no longer discover something new about our world, thanks to this year‘s cuts. Here is my first interview with a scientist who studied bees and fires. Gift link: nyti.ms/3IWXbiE

nyti.ms

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Leigh Turner @leighturner.bsky.social · 3d

"The comment is the latest example of the president’s calls for his opponents to be prosecuted or locked up." www.pbs.org/newshour/pol...

WATCH: 'Come and get me,' Pritzker responds to Trump's call to put Illinois governor in jail

"What kind of a country are we living in where the president of the United States is targeting his political opponents?" Pritzker told the press on the sidelines of a union protest in Chicago.

www.pbs.org

Leigh Turner @leighturner.bsky.social · 3d

"The governors of Oregon and Illinois both oppose sending troops to their states. There are no riots, and authorities there are not defying court orders." www.nbcnews.com/politics/nat...

Trump administration officials seriously discussing invoking Insurrection Act, sources say

A decision isn't expected to be imminent, one source said, but debate within the administration has shifted recently to more deeply exploring how and when the act might be invoked.

www.nbcnews.com

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Leigh Turner @leighturner.bsky.social · 4d

Ah, "Silicon Valley dental gel." www.cbsnews.com/news/toothpa...

Toothpaste startup hopes to brush away competition

Silicon Valley company is out to redefine the way you care for your mouth

www.cbsnews.com

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Leigh Turner @leighturner.bsky.social · 4d

It would be helpful to know more about what happened and what process was used to make the (incorrect) determination that the product was available OTC & didn't have to be studied under an IND. But the warning letter doesn't get into specifics.

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