Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Peter Blackstock @peterblackstocksd.bsky.social · 4h

Mark Jacob has been doing really great things on this front for several years now. I really like this idea of grading how outlets are doing in terms of their protection of, or danger to, democracy.

Mark Jacob @markjacob.bsky.social · 14h

If we write off all news media, we’re playing into Trump’s hands. Some outlets are doing well while others stink.
In this installment of my free Stop the Presses newsletter, I give letter grades to major media outlets. See if you agree.

I’m handing out pro-democracy grades to the media

The Guardian gets an A, the NY Times gets a C, CBS gets an F

www.stopthepresses.news

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Peter Blackstock @peterblackstocksd.bsky.social · 4h

Great idea. Thanks for doing this, Mark.

Peter Blackstock @peterblackstocksd.bsky.social · 4h

DJT is so full of shit as usual. He's destroying our democracy and doesn't realize no one gives a flying fuck about world-cup games in Boston. He's an empty suit delivering an empty threat.

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Reposted by Peter Blackstock

Lawfare @lawfaremedia.org · 13h

"The Post’s motto is ‘Democracy Dies in Darkness,’ but it doesn’t do well in false equivalence either."
@benjaminwittes.lawfaremedia.org and @rparloff.bsky.social respond to a recent Washington Post editorial that equates the prosecution of James Comey to Jack Smith's indictments of Donald Trump.

The Situation: Democracy Dies in Both Sides-ism

The Washington Post editorial on the Comey indictment was a failure of moral reasoning.

www.lawfaremedia.org

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Reposted by Peter Blackstock

NewsCurrentNow @newscurrentnow.com · 1d

Gavin Newsom: "Masked men. Jumping out of unmarked vehicles. People disappearing. No due process. No oversight. No accountability. People say I'm being hyperbolic. Bullshit. This is happening in America today."

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Peter Blackstock @peterblackstocksd.bsky.social · 16h

Here’s Mike Johnson proving he has no idea what an objective fact is.

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Peter Blackstock @peterblackstocksd.bsky.social · 16h

Mike Johnson proving that he has no idea what an objective fact is.

Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 18h

Johnson: "Together with my friend Speaker Ohana of the Israeli Knesset we're going to rally speakers and presidents of parliaments around the world so we will jointly nominate President Donald J Trump for next year's Nobel Prize. No one has ever deserved that prize more & that is an objective fact."

Peter Blackstock @peterblackstocksd.bsky.social · 17h

Congratulations to @hcrichardson.bsky.social. This news doesn't surprise me. Her presentation of the news has better context and is more trustworthy, plain and simple.

Rebecca Solnit @rebeccasolnit.bsky.social · 18h

A huge landmark in journalism history seems to have come to pass a while ago: when @hcrichardson.bsky.social outstripped the Washington Post in online readership. An old world is dying, a new world is being born [Jeff Bezos is a monster].

karl rove knausgård @uhactually.bsky.social · 1d

Lmao WaPo has fewer than 100K circulation now. It turns out “alienate your liberal subscriber base” is not a good strategy when the Republicans also hate you. www.forbes.com/sites/andyme...

Reposted by Peter Blackstock

Mark Jacob @markjacob.bsky.social · 17h

What we're seeing in Chicago and Portland is straight out of the fascist playbook:
1. Create a violent situation by attacking peaceful protesters.
2. Cite the violence as an excuse to crack down further on the peaceful protesters.
3. Brag about establishing "law and order."

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Peter Blackstock @peterblackstocksd.bsky.social · 1d

I couldn't figure out why ANY outlet would sign such a thing. It basically amounted to the Pentagon saying, "we want you to publish our press releases on your platform, exactly as we wrote them." Why would the outlets bother? Just let the Pentagon publish it themselves, if that's what they want.

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Reposted by Peter Blackstock

Governor JB Pritzker @govpritzker.illinois.gov · 1d

Vaccines are safe and effective.

Autism isn't caused by vaccines, and autistic people and their families deserve our support.

When you want information, ask your doctor.

It's more important than ever for all of us to speak plainly, truthfully, and directly about public health.

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Peter Blackstock @peterblackstocksd.bsky.social · 1d

I was in the San Diego Airport yesterday and saw no sign of it, glad to report

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Peter Blackstock @peterblackstocksd.bsky.social · 1d

Three of the four places I've lived in my life are California, Raleigh and Seattle. (If his middle name is Tex, then this is really freaky.)

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Peter Blackstock @peterblackstocksd.bsky.social · 2d

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

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Peter Blackstock @peterblackstocksd.bsky.social · 2d

Your flag decal won't get you into heaven anymore, shitgibbon.

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

Your Flag Decal Won't Get You into Heaven Anymore

YouTube video by John Prine - Topic

www.youtube.com

Peter Blackstock @peterblackstocksd.bsky.social · 2d

I checked and I think you're right. I used to work there. I just nudged them about getting on Bluesky. And by the way, thank you for everything you have done, and are doing. You're a hero to many of us. (Right @andylanger.bsky.social?)

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Peter Blackstock @peterblackstocksd.bsky.social · 2d

Why is the Austin American-Statesman not on Bluesky? @deborific.bsky.social, maybe you can help fix that?

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Reposted by Peter Blackstock

Mark Jacob @markjacob.bsky.social · 2d

The New York Times knows crime is not “out of control” in major U.S. cities — in fact, crime is way down from past years and decades — but NYT amplifies JD Vance’s lie without a fact check.
It’s journalism malpractice that helps the fascists.

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Peter Blackstock @peterblackstocksd.bsky.social · 2d

Rapeublicans — might have to start using that.

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Peter Blackstock @peterblackstocksd.bsky.social · 2d

Also voluntarily gave his SCOTUS seat to Trump. Fuck him. He wanted this.

Peter Blackstock @peterblackstocksd.bsky.social · 2d

Oh hey, back in the real world, I reviewed the new #AutumnDefense album for @nodepression.bsky.social

nodepression.org/album-review...

ALBUM REVIEW: Traveling through 'Here and Nowhere' with the Autumn Defense

When this side-project first surfaced around the time of Wilco’s game-changing Yankee Hotel Foxtrot a quarter-century ago, I recall some folks looking at me sideways when I told them that I liked the ...

nodepression.org

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Reposted by Peter Blackstock

Radley Balko @radleybalko.bsky.social · 2d

Fair point. When I send invoices for freelance pieces, I'm often asked to include whether I prefer to be paid through direct deposit, a paper check, or cold hard cash in a Cava bag at a pre-arranged drop site.

Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 2d

STEPHANOPOULOS: Did Tom Homan give the $50,000 back?

VANCE: He did not take a bribe. It's a ridiculous smear

STEPHANOPOULOS: You didn't answer the question

VANCE: Did he accept $50,000? I'm sure that in the course of Homan's life, he's been paid more than $50k for services.

(So, no, he didn't)

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Peter Blackstock @peterblackstocksd.bsky.social · 2d

Let’s pause for a minute and realize what it says about the condition of America that we are now sharing stuff like this as a matter of course.

Molly Knight @mollyknight.bsky.social · 2d

Whistling when ICE is about to kidnap someone for no reason is incredibly effective. They know what they are doing is wrong and will scatter in the wind when too many witnesses gather.

FORM A CROWD
STAY LOUD
PROTECT EACH OTHER
CODE I:
ICE NEARBY
BLOW QUICKLY IN A BROKEN RHYTHM:
PRE-PRE-PRE!
→ ALERTS THE COMMUNITY THAT ICE AGENTS ARE IN THE AREA.
ROGERS PARK WHISTLE PROTOCOLS
WHY A WHISTLE? ON THE STREETS
• A SIMPLE TOOL FOR FAST ALERTS.
• LOUD.
RECOGNIZABLE.
IMPOSSIBLE TO IGNORE.
• OUR VOICES ARE
STRONGER TOGETHER.
WHISTLES GUIDE
PEOPLE TO:
• FOLLOW ICE CARAVANS
• CATCH UP WITH THE CROWD
• ALERT NEIGHBORS
TO JOIN IN
NOISE = VISIBILITY.
CODE 2:
CODE RED
BLOW THREE LONG BLASTS:
PREEEE-PREEEE-PREEEE!
→ ICE IS DETAINING SOMEONE.
FORM A CROWD, STAY LOUD.
DON'T STAY SILENT. STAY NONVIOLENT.
WHY IT WORKS
• INSTANT ALERT
SYSTEM
• FASTER THAN SOCIAL MEDIA
• TURNS SILENCE INTO COMMUNITY
ACTION
ORIGINAL FLYER CREATED BY:
WHAT YOU CAN DO
• WEAR YOUR WHISTLE AROUND YOUR NECK
TEACH FAMILY
EIGHBORS TH
CODES
• USE IT WHEN ICE IS
SPOTTED
• PROTECT EACH OTHER, ALWAYS
TOGETHER, WE KEEP OUR COMMUNITY SAFE.
FORM A CROWD, STAY LOUD.
THIS FLYER DISTRIBUTED BY:
PROTECT RP
• @PROTECTRP_

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Peter Blackstock @peterblackstocksd.bsky.social · 3d

Thanks to #TimesOfSanDiego for calling attention to this. I was not aware that voting-machine company Dominion, victims of widespread GOP-fascist smears in 2020, recently got bought by a right-winger. This is a red flag for the 2026 elections.

timesofsandiego.com/business/202...

In stunning reversal, Dominion Voting drops defamation suit against SD's OAN

The stunning news broke Thursday, but the outcome was telegraphed six days earlier — Oct. 3 — in a joint motion filed by OAN owner Herring Networks and Denver-based Dominion.

timesofsandiego.com

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Peter Blackstock @peterblackstocksd.bsky.social · 3d

I’ve been making this case for awhile now, and I think it should especially be the case in legacy media. The Associated Press needs to issue a style edict that “antifa” should always be spelled out as anti-fascist. How about it, @apnews.com? If you disagree, I’d like to hear your counterargument.

Ify Nwadiwe @ifycomedy.com · 3d

I think we really should stop using antifa and just fully say anti-fascist and get them saying they are against anti fascism. Using antifa is giving them some distance and I genuinely think some of their base don’t even know that’s what it stands for.

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