Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Reposted by Michael Hollywood

Brandon Friedman @brandonfriedman.bsky.social · 13h

Texans fighting back in Dallas. This is so great.

Oak Lawn United Methodist Church in Dallas painting steps rainbow after Gov. Abbott's order on crosswalks

The church in the Oak Lawn neighborhood says it's painting its steps in rainbow colors in response to Gov. Greg Abbott's order targeting rainbow crosswalks.

www.wfaa.com

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Reposted by Michael Hollywood

David Graeber Institute @davidgraeberinst.bsky.social · 9h

Dancing frogs have become a symbol of resistance in the USA.

Interestingly, over a decade ago David Graeber wrote a piece on the power of such symbols in protest movements.

The piece is called - On the Phenomenology of Giant Puppets. Here is an extract.

I also want to ask why it is that American police seem to hate the giant
puppets (at protests). As many activists have observed, the forces of
order in the United States seem to have a profound aversion to giant
puppets.

Often police strategies aim to destroy or capture them before they can
even appear on the streets. As a result, a major concern for those
planning actions soon became how to hide the puppets so they would
not be destroyed in preemptive attacks. What’s more, for many individual
officers at least, the objection to puppets appeared to be not merely
strategic, but personal, even visceral. Cops just hate puppets
.
- David Graeber

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Reposted by Michael Hollywood

Moira Donegan @moiradonegan.bsky.social · 18h

Does seem like there’s a non-zero chance that the shutdown never really ends and that Congress has already abolished itself.

Chris Murphy @chrismurphyct.bsky.social · 21h

I find it amazing too that Republicans’ boycott of Washington isn’t the biggest story of them all.

The shutdown can’t end if they refuse to show up for work.

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Reposted by Michael Hollywood

jenn m. jackson @jennmjacksonphd.bsky.social · 10h

I want more people to care that SNAP benefits are being cut off on November 1. 40% of SNAP beneficiaries are children. This is callous and vile.

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The Tennessee Holler @thetnholler.bsky.social · 6d

Q: “Most hospitals + people who will lose insurance are in rural areas. If Trump & Republicans are so intent on sticking it to their own voters, why not let them?”

@aoc.bsky.social : “That’s the difference between us & Trump. I don’t care if you voted for me, I want you to have health care.”

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elijahplovejoy.bsky.social @elijahplovejoy.bsky.social · 11h

45 yrs of US history, in 25 words:

John Fugelsang @johnfugelsang.bsky.social · 14h

The average age of U.S. homebuyers is now 56, up from 49 last year.

In 1981, the year trickledown economics began, it was 31.

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Michael Hollywood @mhollywood.bsky.social · 8h

I just had a similar conversation with a friend about Jane Goodall. Had a mad crush on her (and Ursula) when I was a lad.

G. Willow Wilson @gwillow.me · 8h

Can we just appreciate how stunning young Ursula K Le Guin was

Black and white photo of a woman inter 20s or 30s, with short hair, looking over one shoulder

Reposted by Michael Hollywood

Papillon19 @papillon19.bsky.social · 11h

@kirstimiller30.bsky.social

www.news-medical.net/news/2025102...

Gender-affirming hormone therapy rewrites body proteins to match gender identity

Melbourne researchers have discovered gender-affirming hormone therapy can alter body proteins to match a person's gender identity, potentially affecting susceptibility to certain health conditions.

www.news-medical.net

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Reposted by Michael Hollywood

RIDGE @1av8ter.bsky.social · 10h

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Alejandra Caraballo @esqueer.net · 13h

Fenway Health just sent this message to all of their patients. They are lying to their patients telling them that cessation of gender affirming care to trans youth was due to a change in federal regulations. This is a lie. No such change was made to regulations. This was Fenway complying in advance.

A letter from Jordina Shanks, CEO of Fenway Health, addressed to the Fenway Health community. It announces that due to new federal requirements effective October 1, 2025, Fenway Health will no longer provide medical gender-affirming care (hormones and puberty blockers) for patients under 19. The letter explains that this change follows a revised U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Grants Policy, which allows termination of grants that “no longer effectuate program goals or agency priorities.” Continuing the service would jeopardize Fenway’s status as a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC). The message emphasizes that this decision was made with great difficulty and does not reflect a change in Fenway’s values or commitment to the transgender and gender-diverse community. It details how staff have worked to support affected patients and families and reaffirms Fenway’s ongoing advocacy and inclusive mission. Highlighted portions stress the HHS policy change, the risk to FQHC status, and Fenway’s continued belief in and support for gender-affirming care.

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Michael Hollywood @mhollywood.bsky.social · 10h

JP Morgan/Chase was hip deep in the Epstein Trafficking Network's business:

www.finance.senate.gov/ranking-memb...

Continuing Epstein Investigation, Wyden Probes Major JPMorgan Chase Compliance Failures | The United States Senate Committee on Finance

Continuing Epstein Investigation, Wyden Probes Major JPMorgan Chase Compliance Failures

www.finance.senate.gov

Reposted by Michael Hollywood

Social Security Works @socialsecurityworks.org · 10h

Ezra Levin: A hallmark of authoritarianism is it makes you feel like shit on a daily basis. That's what it does. And so in that environment, during this authoritarian breakthrough moment, celebrating success is an act of defiance.

#NoKings @indivisibleguide.bsky.social

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Michael Hollywood @mhollywood.bsky.social · 10h

But will anyone have the stones to do so?

migrantinsider.com/p/ice-agents...

ICE Agents Can Now Be Arrested in Chicago

Judge says agents are not allowed to arrest migrants trying to do the right thing by showing up to their immigration court appointments.

migrantinsider.com

Reposted by Michael Hollywood

Cheryl Lynn Eaton @cheryllynneaton.bsky.social · 12h

People act like all the men are gone. The men are attending protests. The men are putting together scooters for their kids. The men are getting a set of turntables for the first time. The men are buying Nikes. The men are getting super into noir. They're not Nazis and they're fine. Keep your freaks.

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Michael Hollywood @mhollywood.bsky.social · 10h

A while ago I mentioned that there needs to be a Shadow CDC that does the important work the #CDC did before being hijacked by a madman.

It seems to be coming together:

www.statnews.com/2025/10/21/c...

NEJM and public health group are launching rival to CDC’s MMWR publication

Two institutions are coming together to create an alternative to the CDC’s vaunted Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report

www.statnews.com

Michael Hollywood @mhollywood.bsky.social · 10h

When one of the greatest Blues harmonica players and greatest guitarists got together the sparks certainly flew:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=dTwY...

The James Cotton Band w/ Matt 'Guitar' Murphy - N.Dartmouth, MA (February 25, 1973)

YouTube video by MojoPaw

www.youtube.com

Reposted by Michael Hollywood

Timothy Caulfield @caulfieldtim.bsky.social · 14h

Sad and deeply frustrating that this is needed, but it is NEEDED!

Science-informed voices must step up!

NEJM and public health group are launching rival to CDC’s MMWR publication www.statnews.com/2025/10/21/c... via @statnews.com

NEJM and public health group are launching rival to CDC’s MMWR publication

Two institutions are coming together to create an alternative to the CDC’s vaunted Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report

www.statnews.com

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Reposted by Michael Hollywood

Dave Lee @davelee.me · 19h

WELL HOW ABOUT THAT

"A millionaire levy in Massachusetts has generated $3 billion more in revenue than expected without forcing significant high-profile departures from the state."

www.bloomberg.com/news/article...

Millionaire Tax That Inspired Mamdani Fuels $5.7 Billion Haul in Massachusetts

A millionaire levy in Massachusetts that New York City mayoral frontrunner Zohran Mamdani holds up as a model for taxing the rich has generated $3 billion more in revenue than expected without forcing...

www.bloomberg.com

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Technical appreciator @whatahellofawaytodad.com · 18h

Reminder that Violent J of Insane Clown Posse has the correct response to a lot of the shitty things he said in the early days.

STEREOGUM: People my age, we talk about how we were lucky that we didn’t have social media growing up, and there’s no record of all the dumb shit we said and did. You didn’t have social media, but everything you said and did in those years is on record, and you’ve got to live with it now. That’s tough.

VIOLENT J: And the amount of gay Juggalos out there is really surprising. I think about them doing their research and getting the old records, getting excited about it, and getting their hearts broke or something, you know? I tell my daughter, “For the rest of your life, when your friends ask why your dad said that, say it’s because your dad was a fool. Don’t defend me. Say I was a fool then, but I’m not now.” There’s no excuse. I was going with the flow, and that’s the very thing we preach against — being a sheep. And that’s what I was doing.

https://www.stereogum.com/2083804/icp-interview-juggalos/interviews/weve-got-a-file-on-you/

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MS Kohut @mskohut.bsky.social · 1d

“A FEDERAL JUDGE IN CHICAGO RULED last Wednesday that starting this week ICE agents can now face arrest and contempt proceedings if they conduct unlawful, warrantless arrests, marking a dramatic shift in immigration enforcement oversight in the city.”

migrantinsider.com/p/ice-agents...

ICE Agents Can Now Be Arrested in Chicago

Judge says agents are not allowed to arrest migrants trying to do the right thing by showing up to their immigration court appointments.

migrantinsider.com

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Reposted by Michael Hollywood

Rep. Jamie Raskin @raskin.house.gov · 17h

Enough is enough. Adelita Grijalva was elected on September 23. The people of Arizona have a right to be represented in Congress.

During today’s pro forma session, when the House is called to order I will seek unanimous consent to insist upon the swearing-in of Adelita Grijalva.

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Billie Jean Sweeney @billiejsweeney.bsky.social · 16h

This eye-opening analysis by @alysbrooks.bsky.social exposes the fundamental weaknesses in polling on trans issues. Brooks assembled data from all the major pollsters and found, time again, that the surveys didn’t seek or provide even the most basic context.

Assigned Media @assignedmedia.org · 19h

Why does it seem that many people fundamentally don't understand trans issues? @alysbrooks.bsky.social sheds light on the reasons why by diving into polling data.

Polls on Trans Issues Ignite a Debate That Ignores Their Many Limitations — Assigned

The surveys, and the political stances pundits build from them, lack essential context on how firmly Americans hold their beliefs and how knowledgeable they are.

www.assignedmedia.org

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Reposted by Michael Hollywood

David Allsopp @doublehelix.bsky.social · 18h

In a nutshell:

What weight should we give to polls on trans issues when a quarter of those polled don't know what "LGBTQ" stands for?

Assigned Media @assignedmedia.org · 19h

Why does it seem that many people fundamentally don't understand trans issues? @alysbrooks.bsky.social sheds light on the reasons why by diving into polling data.

Polls on Trans Issues Ignite a Debate That Ignores Their Many Limitations — Assigned

The surveys, and the political stances pundits build from them, lack essential context on how firmly Americans hold their beliefs and how knowledgeable they are.

www.assignedmedia.org

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Reposted by Michael Hollywood

Erin Reed @erininthemorning.com · 15h

Turns out, Japan's first female PM is an anti-gay Margaret Thatcher lover who Donald Trump praises and who wants to return the country to traditional gender roles.

www.them.us/story/sanae-...

Japan’s First Female Prime Minster: Gays Are “Fine” But No Same-Sex Marriage

“There should be no prejudice against sexual orientation or gender identity,” Sanae Takaichi once said.

www.them.us

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Kyle Cheney @kyledcheney.bsky.social · 19h

NEW: A Jan. 6 rioter who breached the Senate floor — and was subsequently pardoned by Trump — was arrested Sunday for threatening to assassinate Leader Hakeem Jeffries.

www.politico.com/news/2025/10...

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