Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Reposted by Rachel Monroe

Mike Hoinski @hoinski.bsky.social · 6d

Cryptids, dark tourism, and close encounters. Take a wild ride with @asherelbein.bsky.social and @rachelmonroe.bsky.social over at @texashighways.bsky.social.

texashighways.com/travel/do-yo...

Go On a Haunted Texas Road Trip

Travel through the spookier side of the state on cursed ships, in haunted hotels, and at sites of alleged paranormal activity

texashighways.com

2 6

Reposted by Rachel Monroe

Gail Cornwall @gailcornwall.com · 6d

“New Mexico has quietly emerged as a progressive health-care sanctuary in the Southwest. Since the Dobbs decision, the number of abortion clinics in NM has more than doubled …. More than 10K women have travelled there to receive abortion care.” @newyorker.com www.newyorker.com/news/letter-...

How New Mexico Became a Sanctuary State for Health Care

Since Roe v. Wade was overturned, the number of abortion clinics there has doubled. With strong protections for gender-affirming treatment, and now universal child care, the state is betting on a prog...

www.newyorker.com

1 2

Rachel Monroe @rachelmonroe.bsky.social · 7d

Ack good catch!!!

2

Reposted by Rachel Monroe

Adam Isacson @adamisacson.com · 9d

Rights defenders at the US-Mexico border tried for years to warn about Border Patrol's abusive culture. We built a database of abuses (borderoversight.org/event) and several reports. Maybe 2 dozen national Democrats were responsive; the politics were tricky. We couldn't keep that work funded.

Now:

Daniel Connerton @lordnad.bsky.social · 10d

@govpritzker.illinois.gov

37 and Kedzie, East Garfield, Illinois.

This is assault.

15 110 210

Reposted by Rachel Monroe

The New Yorker @newyorker.com · 10d

New Mexico’s governor, Michelle Lujan Grisham, has allocated $20 million to build reproductive-health clinics. “I want more primary-care access for women and their families,” she said.

How New Mexico Became a Sanctuary State for Health Care

Since Roe v. Wade was overturned, the number of abortion clinics there has doubled. With strong protections for gender-affirming treatment, and now universal child care, the state is betting on a prog...

www.newyorker.com

5 110 450

Reposted by Rachel Monroe

The New Yorker @newyorker.com · 11d

Earlier this month, New Mexico became the first state to offer universal free child care to all residents, regardless of income.

How New Mexico Became a Sanctuary State for Health Care

Since Roe v. Wade was overturned, the number of abortion clinics there has doubled. With strong protections for gender-affirming treatment, and now universal child care, the state is betting on a prog...

www.newyorker.com

3 78 390

Rachel Monroe @rachelmonroe.bsky.social · 11d

New Mexico, one of the poorest states in the country, is banking on a progressive approach to health care-- strong protections for reproductive rights & gender-affirming care (including for minors), vaccine access. & it's the 1st state to offer universal childcare! www.newyorker.com/news/letter-...

How New Mexico Became a Sanctuary State for Health Care

Since Roe v. Wade was overturned, the number of abortion clinics there has doubled. With strong protections for gender-affirming treatment, and now universal child care, the state is betting on a prog...

www.newyorker.com

4 30 140

Reposted by Rachel Monroe

Melissa del Bosque @mdelbosque.bsky.social · 13d

Yesterday, Trump declared war on American cities.

Since 2021, Texas border communities have been the testing ground for a MAGA military occupation. Now, residents say they have some advice for the rest of the country.🦂

Trump’s Troops and the Border “Learning Lab”

How the Republican-led Operation Lone Star in Texas became Trump’s model for sending troops into Democratic-led cities.

www.theborderchronicle.com

2 2

Reposted by Rachel Monroe

Radley Balko @radleybalko.bsky.social · 19d

Texas is still planning to kill Robert Roberson

clayjak.substack.com/p/theres-sti...

There’s still time to save Robert Roberson

Unless something changes, in less than a month, Texas will end Robert's life despite overwhelming evidence he's actually innocent.

clayjak.substack.com

2 35 68

Reposted by Rachel Monroe

Texas Conference of the AAUP @texasaaup.bsky.social · 17d

“I’m emotionally shellshocked right now,” said one professor in the Texas Tech system. “What does it say about academic freedom? It says we don’t have it.” The professor spoke by phone from the inside of a car to avoid being overheard by colleagues.

www.nytimes.com/2025/09/26/u...

Texas Tech Moves to Limit Academic Discussion to 2 Genders

www.nytimes.com

14 160 390

Reposted by Rachel Monroe

Michael Luo @michaelluo.bsky.social · 28d

I had to pick my jaw off the floor after reading this lede in @rachelmonroe.bsky.social on self-defense insurance. Like out of an Elmore Leonard novel. www.newyorker.com/news/letter-...

Your First Call After You Shoot Someone

In the era of Stand Your Ground, self-defense insurance is increasingly popular. Does it promote gun violence?

www.newyorker.com

4 18

Reposted by Rachel Monroe

The New Yorker @newyorker.com · 28d

The idea that gun owners might need to use a weapon to protect themselves or their loved ones is a cornerstone of contemporary gun culture, and central to the sales pitches of self-defense-insurance companies. But do these policies promote gun violence?

Your First Call After You Shoot Someone

In the era of Stand Your Ground, self-defense insurance is increasingly popular. Does it promote gun violence?

www.newyorker.com

55 59 240

Reposted by Rachel Monroe

Lindsey Cormack @dcinbox.bsky.social · 29d

Use of the word "evil" in official congressional e-newsletters, over time, by party

230 3.6K 9.6K

Rachel Monroe @rachelmonroe.bsky.social · 28d

I wrote about the rise of the self-defense insurance industry, which promises to pay for an attorney if you shoot someone in certain circumstances
www.newyorker.com/news/letter-...

Your First Call After You Shoot Someone

In the era of Stand Your Ground, self-defense insurance is increasingly popular. Does it promote gun violence?

www.newyorker.com

3 6 26

Reposted by Rachel Monroe

John Schwartz @jswatz.bsky.social · 28d

“We’re going to teach the truth. We don’t know what the consequences of that may be in terms of our own professional careers… if we were to censor the truth … that’s going to damage our society. That’s going to damage our students. That’s going to lower trust in the things that we do.”

Faculty, advocacy groups fear Texas A&M firing threatens academic freedom

The firing happened over two years after Texas A&M stressed its support for academic freedom and amid a changing higher education landscape.

www.texastribune.org

2 22 38

Reposted by Rachel Monroe

The New Yorker @newyorker.com · Sep 14

Rachel Monroe visits Texas A. & M. University—one of the nation’s most conservative campuses—to report on reactions to the death of Charlie Kirk, who filled an auditorium to its 2,500-person capacity when he visited in the spring.

A Campus Mourns Charlie Kirk

Students at Texas A. & M. organized a vigil for the conservative activist, just months after he visited the university.

www.newyorker.com

50 6 40

Rachel Monroe @rachelmonroe.bsky.social · Sep 14

Texas A&M is one of the biggest schools in the country, but alarming events there receive a fraction of the attention given to Harvard. I wrote about a campus vigil for Charlie Kirk, and how TX Republicans plan to honor his legacy by cracking down on speech
www.newyorker.com/news/the-led...

A Campus Mourns Charlie Kirk

Students at Texas A. & M. organized a vigil for the conservative activist, just months after he visited the university.

www.newyorker.com

10 66 130

Reposted by Rachel Monroe

Robert Downen @robertdownen.bsky.social · Sep 10

Lost in the Texas A&M news is that the entire crusade is the product of a former labradoodle breeder turned State Rep whose stunts and grandstanding are so insufferably transparent that even his Republican colleagues despise him. Meet Brian Harrison, winner of Texas Monthly’s 2025 Cockroach award:

“Studio Makeup and Narcissism”: The Texas’s Lege’s Least Favorite Lawmaker

"Cockroach" is an old Lege term for a figure who mucks up lawmaking. In 2025 the title goes to Brian Harrison.

www.texasmonthly.com

21 340 860

Reposted by Rachel Monroe

Brooke Jarvis @brookejarvis.bsky.social · Aug 28

Apparently being in the middle of fighting a wildfire is no protection from border patrol

www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news...

Federal agents arrest firefighters working on WA wildfire

Federal agents showed up northeast of Lake Cushman to check identification of crew members fighting Washington's largest active wildfire.

www.seattletimes.com

2 30 48

Reposted by Rachel Monroe

JP @jpbrammer.bsky.social · Aug 27

A year ago, I heard that Oklahoma City had approved a plan to build Legends Tower, the tallest skyscraper in the entire Western hemisphere. Why were we building the Tower of Babel in the Heartland? I decided to investigate. This essay is the result. (gift link) thepickup.com/whats-so-wro...

What’s So Wrong With Oklahoma City Building A Tower To The Heavens? - The Pickup

Okie ex-pat JP Brammer goes long on Legends Tower, a fishy nonprofit, and whether or not Oklahoma is for dreamers.

thepickup.com

32 140 590

Rachel Monroe @rachelmonroe.bsky.social · Aug 27

That's my brave little nephew, recipient of the first successful partial heart transplant, in @nytimes.com today! www.nytimes.com/2025/08/27/w...

2 1 22

Reposted by Rachel Monroe

Brooke Jarvis @brookejarvis.bsky.social · Aug 26

For @nytimes.com Magazine, I visited the Palisades burn scar to write about fire and resilience www.nytimes.com/2025/08/26/m...

In the Scars of L.A.’s Wildfires, Ecological Lessons Bloom

www.nytimes.com

3 13 34

Rachel Monroe @rachelmonroe.bsky.social · Aug 18

I have a Google alert for my name, and it's now mostly YouTube AI slop videos of Rachel Monroes suffering tragic deaths -- killed by her pet pythons, strangled with her own tights... It's very creepy !!! youtu.be/ReDCMO1YSwU?...

2 2 12

Reposted by Rachel Monroe

Joe Berkowitz @joeberkowitz.bsky.social · Aug 11

This part, from NYT. Just inhuman.

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/08/10/world/middleeast/israel-gaza-journalists-killed.html

Last month, the Committee to Protect Journalists said it was “gravely worried” about Mr. al-Sharif’s safety, accusing the Israeli military of targeting him with a “smear campaign, which he believes is a precursor to his assassination.” The organization said that the Israeli military had “stepped up” its campaign to discredit Mr. al-Sharif “since the journalist cried on air while reporting on starvation in Gaza.”

7 190 420

Reposted by Rachel Monroe

The New Yorker @newyorker.com · Aug 2

“King of the Hill” evokes a prelapsarian period when problems were small and solvable, and the ugliness of the world was held at bay. But can the show’s revival reconcile its easygoing charms with our current fraught reality?

Watching the “King of the Hill” Revival from Texas

In the age of MAGA, the show’s small-town values are both a relief and slightly outdated. In the end, will we and the animated characters all live like city people?

www.newyorker.com

8 5 49