Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Michelle S. Phelps @michellesphelps.bsky.social · 10d

every news story is worse than the one before

albertny3412 @albertny3412.bsky.social · 10d

And they dragged children naked out of building
www.newsweek.com/ice-agents-d...

ICE agents dragged naked children out of homes in Chicago: Neighbors

Two residents reported witnessing federal immigration agents forcibly removing unclothed children from apartments during the raid.

www.newsweek.com

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Reposted by Michelle S. Phelps

Preorder Read This When Things Fall Apart @mskellymhayes.bsky.social · 10d

I’m told ICE attacked us—despite us being off the street, courtesy of the state police—to create a spectacle because Kristi Noem was present today. Here’s some footage of her and her team on the roof of Broadview. Everything is content creation to these fascists.

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UMN Sociology @umnsociology.bsky.social · Sep 3

We are excited to announce the upcoming conference of the Sociologists of Minnesota, hosted by Macalester College in St. Paul, on October 3rd and 4th, 2025.

For more information about the conference or its details, please visit the Sociologists of Minnesota | 2025 Conference website.

Sociologists of Minnesota | 2025 Conference

A professional association whose mission is to promote and develop an understanding of sociology and sociological practice in the state of Minnesota.

socmn.webflow.io

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Reposted by Michelle S. Phelps

UMN Sociology @umnsociology.bsky.social · 11d

Professor Michelle Phelps recently appeared on MPR for an interview about the discrepancy between the amount of crime in Minneapolis & the public's perception of crime.

Check it out!

Minneapolis crime is down — even if it doesn’t always feel that way

Producer Gretchen Brown talked with University of Minnesota Sociology Professor Michelle Phelps to try to make sense of the gap in crime perception versus reality.

www.mprnews.org

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gretchen brown, real snoopy enjoyer @gretchenbrown.bsky.social · 12d

there's been a rash of recent mass shootings in minneapolis. but crime is actually down. why doesn't it always feel that way? i looked into it. www.mprnews.org/story/2025/1...

Minneapolis crime is down — even if it doesn’t always feel that way

Producer Gretchen Brown talked with University of Minnesota Sociology Professor Michelle Phelps to try to make sense of the gap in crime perception versus reality.

www.mprnews.org

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Reposted by Michelle S. Phelps

Corey Rayburn Yung @coreyryung.bsky.social · 13d

There is no next step in the road to authoritarianism - it's just a matter of implementation. Trump declares war on the "enemy within" and his Secretary of War says the crackdown will be illegal and merciless. That's the whole enchilada right there.

Corey Rayburn Yung @coreyryung.bsky.social · 13d

At the same event, Hegseth said "We also don't fight with stupid rules of engagement. We untie the hands of our warfighters to intimidate, demoralize, hunt, and kill the enemies of our country."

NPR @npr.org · 13d

JUST IN: President Trump has told top U.S. commanders that the military would be used against "enemy within."

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Michelle S. Phelps @michellesphelps.bsky.social · 14d

Pls share w/ your students -- Univ. of Minnesota's Sociology department is hosting a "how to apply" event for PhD applicants. Visit cla.umn.edu/sociology/gr... for more info. The world of higher ed (and beyond) is in crisis, but sociology can help us better understand the problems + solutions.

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ASA Sociology of Religion Section @asareligion.bsky.social · 18d

New in Social Problems: @michellesphelps.bsky.social & @dacuetovilla.bsky.social trace how Minneapolis activists debated public safety after George Floyd, showing how “racial demands” shape policy fights. doi.org/10.1093/socp...

Making racial demands: tracing the struggle over public safety in Minneapolis

Abstract. In May 2020, the world erupted in protest after officers with the Minneapolis Police Department murdered George Floyd. In response, abolitionist

doi.org

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Michelle S. Phelps @michellesphelps.bsky.social · 18d

That is 2 in 5! Every time I see these stats it breaks my brain how fractured America is.

Conrad Hackett @conradhackett.bsky.social · 18d

Well, the rapture didn't happen this week. A few years ago, 39% of Americans said they think we are living in the end times.
www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/...

About four-in-ten U.S. adults believe humanity is ‘living in the end times’

58% of U.S. adults say they do not believe “we are living in the end times” – the destruction of the world as we know it.

www.pewresearch.org

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Michelle S. Phelps @michellesphelps.bsky.social · 20d

haha, whoops. Thanks. Was trying to adjust the picture that displayed and dropped the link. 😂

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Michelle S. Phelps @michellesphelps.bsky.social · 20d

Especially in this moment as the president direct troops to occupy cities in the name of "safety" for communities, it's vital we understand how and why these racial claims are made *and* better answers to the question of safety for all. (and pls email for a PDF if it's gated for you!)

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Michelle S. Phelps @michellesphelps.bsky.social · 20d

New paper out with @dacuetovilla.bsky.social today at
@socprobsjournal.bsky.social -- in it we build a model for understanding how competing movement orgs make racial demands, using the debates in Minneapolis over public safety in 2021.

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Reposted by Michelle S. Phelps

Indivisible Twin Cities @indivistwincities.bsky.social · 25d

Farm Aid 40, happening Sat @ U's Huntington Bank Stadium. Minnesota's 1st Farm Aid only happened bc Willie Nelson stood up for U of M Teamsters to help them get a fair contract + end their strike. Farm Aid 40 stands for good causes & good music. www.farmaid.org/festival/

Farm Aid 40 | Sept. 20 | Minneapolis | Tickets, Lineup, Info

Willie Nelson, Neil Young, John Mellencamp, Dave Matthews, Margo Price, Billy Strings and more artists come together for our annual festival.

www.farmaid.org

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Reposted by Michelle S. Phelps

Zack Beauchamp @zackbeauchamp.bsky.social · 25d

It's not just the authoritarianism — it's how shameless, how *gleeful* this administration is about it

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DocLB2 @doclb2.bsky.social · 28d

I am a professor because the McNair Scholars Program showed me what I was capable of. I will fight with everything I have to make sure others have the same opportunities.

McNair matters!

Chanda Prescod-Weinstein 🌌 @chanda.blacksky.app · 28d

Not surprisingly but still unfortunately, the McNair program is under attack.

I was not a beneficiary of the program but have participated in it as a mentor and speaker, and I have seen how it positively impacts the lives of its students.

coenet.org/protect-the-...

Protect the Ronald E. McNair Postbaccalaureate Achievement Program - Council for Opportunity in Education

We’re stronger together. Call your Member of Congress, send an email, post on social media, host a phone party, invite your Member to campus, and report your actions. Every voice protects students and...

coenet.org

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Michelle S. Phelps @michellesphelps.bsky.social · 27d

One of my favorite moments this year from ASA was meeting (to give a free drink voucher to!) *the* Patricia Hill Collins. Really appreciated her conversation with (now past) ASA President Adia Harvey Wingfield -- and you can watch online too now.

American Sociological Association @asanews.bsky.social · Sep 3

Revisit plenaries from #ASA2025 w/ David Takeuchi, @lindsayowens.bsky.social, @alondra.bsky.social, @daniellaurison.bsky.social, Catherine Moran, Adia Harvey Wingfield, Patricia Hill Collins, David Pedulla, @darrickhamilton.bsky.social, @jessicacalarco.com, & Beth Pearson. https://bit.ly/41oE2MM

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Radley Balko @radleybalko.bsky.social · 28d

We're witnessing the most aggressive, fanatical crackdown on free speech in my lifetime. The speed and breadth of government censorship and private sector and nonprofit capitulation has been astonishing. As has the lack of urgency/silence from people who've long claimed to care about this stuff.

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Kevin M. Kruse @kevinmkruse.bsky.social · Sep 11

I wonder if all these threats to African American institutions are linked to the flood of Fox News personalities screaming “we need to fight back”?

Eh, probably just a series of incredible coincidences

April K. Artis @aprilkartis.bsky.social · Sep 11

EDIT

5 HBCUS have ordered shelter in place due to potential threats.

Virginia state
Hampton
Alabama state
Clark Atlanta
Bethune Cookman🙏🏾

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Reposted by Michelle S. Phelps

Ida Bae Wells @nhannahjones.bsky.social · Sep 10

The MSNBC commentator saying that most political violence has historically come from the left just once again showed how we suffer from failing to learn history. Lynching, pogroms, race riots, the political violence that ended Reconstruction, and against the Civil Rights Movement. Come on.

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Michelle S. Phelps @michellesphelps.bsky.social · Sep 10

a man in a plaid shirt is saying i 'm sorry

ALT: a man in a plaid shirt is saying i 'm sorry

media.tenor.com

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Michelle S. Phelps @michellesphelps.bsky.social · Sep 10

This is not a drill, nerds. The google scholar recommended readings are back!! This is such a helpful tool to keep in touch w/ new lit in your area, esp. after the collapse of academic twitter.

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Marisa Kabas @marisakabas.bsky.social · Sep 9

it’s like actually really uncool, man, that you won’t surrender to authoritarianism. stop being so square, man. you’re really killing the vibes, man.

Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · Sep 9

Mike Johnson: "I cannot for the life of me understand how the Democrats think this is some kind of winning political message. Yield man! Let the troops come into your city and show how crime can be reduced."

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Kevin M. Kruse @kevinmkruse.bsky.social · Sep 4

If the Trump White House wants to ban all transgender people from owning guns because a handful were responsible for mass shootings, wait until they hear how many shootings straight cis white guys have done.

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Reposted by Michelle S. Phelps

Michael Yarbrough (he/him) @mwyarbrough.bsky.social · Sep 4

David A. Graham @dgraham.bsky.social · Sep 4

Very strange to see such stark warnings from a guy who so effectively advanced Trump's agenda www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...

Trump’s second presidency is ‘most dangerous period’ since second world war, Mitch McConnell says

Former Senate leader likens administration’s fixation with tariffs to isolationist policies of the US in the 1930s

www.theguardian.com

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Reposted by Michelle S. Phelps

Joshua B. Hoe @joshuabhoe.bsky.social · Sep 2

An important distinction about "Serious About Safety" policy making from @johnkroman.bsky.social

REDUCING DISORDER DOES NOT REQUIRE MORE POLICE, MORE SURVEILLANCE, OR MORE MILITARY INTERVENTION

TRY ALTERNATIVES THAT CREATE SAFETY

👇🏻👇🏻👇🏻

johnkroman.substack.com/p/when-peopl...

The good news is that we have evidence-based solutions that can address crime, violence, and disorder. Research is clear that more order does not require more law or more law enforcement. In fact, almost every major advance toward a safer society has been spurred by a policy change that did not have a primary goal of promoting public safety.

Removing lead from gasoline and reducing its poisonous effects is linked to less impulsive behavior—particularly violence, but also incivility and disorder.

The advances in pharmaceuticals to treat behavioral and mental health conditions have supported millions of Americans.

The widespread removal of cash from society has reduced crime and disorder.

A long, slow trend of fewer young adults drinking, using drugs, and engaging in other risky behaviors promises even more improvements in all three categories (incivility, disorder, and crime) in the future.

And of course, the aging of America itself makes us collectively less tolerant of aberrant behaviors and less likely to engage in them as well.

All of these huge advances—and many, many others—have occurred without any change in law or policing. All have reduced crime and violence. All have also reduced disorder. There is a lot we can do.

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