Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Elizabeth A. Wilson @elizwilsonemory.bsky.social · 4h

Queer Class/Room Symposium
University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia PA
April 15 and 16, 2026
Due date for proposals: November 15, 2025
Keynote: Justin Torres

queerclassrelations.commons.gc.cuny.edu/graduate-stu...

Queer Class/Room Symposium – Queer-Class Relations Conference

queerclassrelations.commons.gc.cuny.edu

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Lisa Diedrich @lisadiedrich.bsky.social · 7h

Drawing as rage therapy.

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Lisa Diedrich @lisadiedrich.bsky.social · 7h

Diane DiMassa “has described the creation of Hothead as ‘rage therapy’—a safe way to unleash the impulse to destroy things. ‘I think it was going to come through whether I put it into my art on purpose or not. And I had a massive supply so I’d be mining it for a very long time. I still am.’”

The New Yorker @newyorker.com · 6d

“Hothead Paisan” remains perhaps the most iconic of all the underground queer comics from the ’90s. Beloved by fans for its mix of old-timey cartoon violence with the struggles of queer existence, it gives expression to lesbian rage, Jo Livingstone writes.

The Violent, Hilarious Return of “Hothead Paisan”

Diane DiMassa’s “homicidal lesbian terrorist” was a star of underground comics in the nineties, but her “rage therapy” has lost none of its edge.

www.newyorker.com

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Lisa Diedrich @lisadiedrich.bsky.social · 15h

Oh. That’s interesting.

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Lisa Diedrich @lisadiedrich.bsky.social · 15h

The menswear guy has read Pierre Bourdieu's DISTINCTION, obvs.

Lisa Diedrich @lisadiedrich.bsky.social · 15h

His knowledge & analysis of style as cultural & political capital is fascinating. One of the pleasures of his social media accounts is that he has punctured the pomposity of the right-wing manosphere's very style-conscious political attitude.

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Lisa Diedrich @lisadiedrich.bsky.social · 15h

Unipiper on Portland's ICE protests: It's really warmed my heart. Portland right ow is reacting in the best possible Portland way. The is normal for us."

The Oregonian @oregonian.com · 1d

Portland's famous Unipiper was spotted at the Portland ICE protest where he played his bagpipes in front of Santa, Mr. Potato Head, Garfield and more -- all while surrounded by bubbles.

More on how the tone of Portland's protests has shifted: www.oregonlive.com/crime/2025/1...

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Lisa Diedrich @lisadiedrich.bsky.social · 15h

His knowledge & analysis of style as cultural & political capital is fascinating. One of the pleasures of his social media accounts is that he has punctured the pomposity of the right-wing manosphere's very style-conscious political attitude.

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Prisonculture @prisonculture.bsky.social · 16h

The men's wear guy makes some people irrationally furious. He's just out here posting about fashion & offering context, lol.

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Lisa Diedrich @lisadiedrich.bsky.social · 20h

The assault on federal workers continues, even as it now looks like some are being unfired. If only public health experts could actually do their jobs rather than be trolled by the corrupt & incompetent Trump admin.
bsky.app/profile/sher...

Sheryl Gay Stolberg @sherylnyt.bsky.social · 22h

UPDATE : Two HHS officials told me Saturday evening that some RIF’d CDC employees—including disease, detectives, measles response team and MMWR staff —were fired in error and are being brought back. Story w/ @apoorvanyt.bsky.social

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

Trump Administration Is Bringing Back Scores of C.D.C. Experts Fired in Error

www.nytimes.com

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Sheryl Gay Stolberg @sherylnyt.bsky.social · 22h

UPDATE : Two HHS officials told me Saturday evening that some RIF’d CDC employees—including disease, detectives, measles response team and MMWR staff —were fired in error and are being brought back. Story w/ @apoorvanyt.bsky.social

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

Trump Administration Is Bringing Back Scores of C.D.C. Experts Fired in Error

www.nytimes.com

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Kevin Green PHA, MPP @bucksco.bsky.social · 1d

As a former federal public health advisor in the old Division of STD/HIV/TB the MMWR de rigor reading…..

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Lisa Diedrich @lisadiedrich.bsky.social · 1d

For those of us who study HIV/AIDS, this report in MMWR on 6/5/81 is significant. We may look back on the framing of this early reporting & criticize it, but that's all part of study & knowledge-making. Eliminating such reporting, as the GOP is doing, will be devastating.
www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview...

Pneumocystis Pneumonia --- Los Angeles

www.cdc.gov

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Lisa Diedrich @lisadiedrich.bsky.social · 1d

"The firings are part of broader mass terminations on Friday by the Trump admin, which said it would lay off federal workers from “Democrat” programs, in [Trump's] words, as the shutdown, which Trump has blamed on party members, drags on." Trump & Republicans own this shutdown & its repercussions.

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Lisa Diedrich @lisadiedrich.bsky.social · 1d

Richard Besser, pres & CEO of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation & former acting dir of the CDC, said in a statement Sat that the firings “will leave health officials & communities in the dark on infectious disease threats & developments on issues ranging from vaccination to maternal mortality.”

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Lisa Diedrich @lisadiedrich.bsky.social · 1d

Charlotte Kent, former MMWR editor-in-chief, on axing of MMWR by Trump: “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.” #IllnessPolitics
www.statnews.com/2025/10/11/c...

Deep cuts made to CDC's flagship MMWR publication reversed hours later

Deep cuts made to CDC's flagship MMWR publication have been reversed hours later.

www.statnews.com

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Nick Sousanis @nsousanis.bsky.social · 1d

gaseous cloud collapses, gathers into itself - heats up - remaining material thinly spread outward - only rock nearish, gas/ice farther still. Solar system is forming... Panels 10/30...
#Nostos #Unflattening 2

10 panels from a comics page in progress - in two rows of 5 each. Top row, panel one a gaseous cloud. 2-4 - supernova, its shockwaves colliding with that cloud. 5th panel see the cloud collapsing beginning to turn. Second tier - first panel - spinning gases, center warming. Panel 2 - great cloud of gas spinning and partly obscuring proto star within, panels 3-5, other side of protostar seen in prior panel - it's later in the solar system's evolution, we see no gas near the star, then a thin layer of rock and farther out gas - a differentiated disk swirling around the star...

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The Oregonian @oregonian.com · 1d

Portland's famous Unipiper was spotted at the Portland ICE protest where he played his bagpipes in front of Santa, Mr. Potato Head, Garfield and more -- all while surrounded by bubbles.

More on how the tone of Portland's protests has shifted: www.oregonlive.com/crime/2025/1...

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Lisa Diedrich @lisadiedrich.bsky.social · 2d

This is the way.

Zohran Kwame Mamdani @zohrankmamdani.bsky.social · 2d

UNTIL IT’S DONE, Ep. 4: Sylvia Rivera

In the 1970s, queer New Yorkers had been pushed to the margins of NYC. Our trans neighbors faced immense cruelty. But in Sylvia Rivera, they found a champion.

As we combat Trump’s politics of darkness, her legacy can light the path forward.

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Zohran Kwame Mamdani @zohrankmamdani.bsky.social · 2d

UNTIL IT’S DONE, Ep. 4: Sylvia Rivera

In the 1970s, queer New Yorkers had been pushed to the margins of NYC. Our trans neighbors faced immense cruelty. But in Sylvia Rivera, they found a champion.

As we combat Trump’s politics of darkness, her legacy can light the path forward.

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Lisa Diedrich @lisadiedrich.bsky.social · 2d

The sadism is the point: Some CDC employees "noticed a pattern: This latest round of layoffs came on the eve of the Indigenous Peoples’ Day holiday weekend, while previous cuts to federal health agencies were announced on Valentine’s Day & April Fools’ Day."

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Lisa Diedrich @lisadiedrich.bsky.social · 2d

This detail is telling: "Earlier on Friday, as part of a medical checkup at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, Mr. Trump received a Covid booster shot & a flu vaccine, according to the White House."

Gregg Gonsalves @gregggonsalves.bsky.social · 2d

This is beyond bad. All of our disease defenses are down now. We are sitting ducks. This is #RussellVought #DonaldTrump #RFKJr. They are endangering American lives with their insane crusade. These men are hazardous to your health and dangerous to the republic. www.nytimes.com/2025/10/11/u...

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

www.nytimes.com

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Gregg Gonsalves @gregggonsalves.bsky.social · 2d

This is beyond bad. All of our disease defenses are down now. We are sitting ducks. This is #RussellVought #DonaldTrump #RFKJr. They are endangering American lives with their insane crusade. These men are hazardous to your health and dangerous to the republic. www.nytimes.com/2025/10/11/u...

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

www.nytimes.com

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Rebecca Colesworthy @rcolesworthy.bsky.social · 3d

🚨🚨 @utaustin.bsky.social is working to eliminate its Black studies, Latin studies, and gender studies depts -- utterly reneging on its mission and depriving students of the full educational opportunities they deserve. Please--scholars AND publishers--share & write to UT leaders. #SaveUT

UT Austin wants to eliminate its Black studies, Latino Studies, and gender studies departments. Tell them you won't stand for it.
UT President, Jim Davis, president@utexas.edu
UT Executive Vice President and Provost, William Inboden, provost@utexas.edu
College of Liberal Arts Interim Dean, David Sosa, david_sosa@austin.utexas.edu
#EducationalLiberty #SaveUT

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Lisa Diedrich @lisadiedrich.bsky.social · 3d

Or not...

bsky.app/profile/gabr...

Gabrielle Hecht has no more spoons @gabriellehecht.bsky.social · 3d

hmm not so sure

H/t @rheinze.bsky.social

The Making of María Corina Machado | Caracas Chronicles

She moderated her tone in the lead-up to July 28, but Machado is now engaging with the MAGA camp. How did she get here after 25 years?

www.caracaschronicles.com

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Gabrielle Hecht has no more spoons @gabriellehecht.bsky.social · 3d

hmm not so sure

H/t @rheinze.bsky.social

The Making of María Corina Machado | Caracas Chronicles

She moderated her tone in the lead-up to July 28, but Machado is now engaging with the MAGA camp. How did she get here after 25 years?

www.caracaschronicles.com

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Lisa Diedrich @lisadiedrich.bsky.social · 3d

“The committee commended Machado as a ‘brave and committed champion of peace’ who ‘keeps the flame of democracy burning during a growing darkness.’” An inspired choice for Venezuela & the world.

The Guardian @theguardian.com · 3d

Venezuelan politician María Corina Machado wins Nobel peace prize

Leader of country’s opposition receives award after scrutiny surrounding committee and comments by Donald Trump * Nobel peace prize – latest Venezuelan opposition politician María Corina Machado has won the Nobel peace prize. The committee commended Machado as a “brave and committed champion of peace” who “keeps the flame of democracy burning during a growing darkness”. Continue reading...

www.theguardian.com

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The Guardian @theguardian.com · 3d

Venezuelan politician María Corina Machado wins Nobel peace prize

Leader of country’s opposition receives award after scrutiny surrounding committee and comments by Donald Trump * Nobel peace prize – latest Venezuelan opposition politician María Corina Machado has won the Nobel peace prize. The committee commended Machado as a “brave and committed champion of peace” who “keeps the flame of democracy burning during a growing darkness”. Continue reading...

www.theguardian.com

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Lisa Diedrich @lisadiedrich.bsky.social · 3d

Did not know that. Where was he from? Yugoslavia?!

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Lisa Diedrich @lisadiedrich.bsky.social · 3d

Politics as a theater of the absurd.

Adam Serwer @adamserwer.bsky.social · 3d

www.wweek.com/culture/2025...

Can you put into words what that purpose is? You and the frog have really become icons of this protest.

There’s been a nice overall whimsy that has shown up. The frog is amazing. We had a bunch of other inflatable people here last night, too. I saw people playing Twister the other day.

What they rely on is fear. So by coming out in an absurdist manner, it speaks to them, to some extent, that we’re actually not that afraid.

It also dismantles their narrative a little bit. When they try to describe this situation as “war-torn,” it becomes much harder to take them seriously when they have to post a video saying [U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security] Kristi Noem is up on the balcony staring over the Antifa Army and it’s, like, eight journalists and five protesters and one of them is in a chicken suit.

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Preorder Read This When Things Fall Apart @mskellymhayes.bsky.social · 3d

I donated some copies of Let This Radicalize You for distribution at an ICE watch training for folks who want to join school patrols in a nearby neighborhood. Not everyone got a copy, because 120 people showed up for that training tonight. I am endlessly proud of Chicago.

A display of copies of Let This Radicalize You on a table in front of a sign that reads: "Let This Radicalize You offers stories, strategy and heart for the kind of collective care and resistance we're building together today. It helps us move from reacting to organizing. Showing how ordinary people protect each other, build power, and keep hope alive. Take a copy. Read it. Stay connected."

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