Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Reposted by Ruthi Brandt

Bill Kristol @billkristolbulwark.bsky.social · 16h

Pope Leo quotes Hannah Arendt:

“The ideal subject of totalitarian rule is not the convinced Nazi or the convinced Communist, but people for whom the distinction between fact and fiction and the distinction between true and false no longer exist."

www.cbsnews.com/chicago/news...

Pope Leo calls for news agencies to stand as bulwark against "post-truths," lies and manipulation

Pope Leo XIV has encouraged international news agencies to stand firm as a bulwark against the "ancient art of lying" and manipulation.

www.cbsnews.com

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Ruthi Brandt @ruthibrandt.bsky.social · 7h

Whoop!

#GreenWave

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The Guardian @theguardian.com · 7h

Green party reaches 100,000 members for first time after Polanski becomes leader

Green party in England and Wales has had near-50% rise in membership since Zack Polanski took over last month The Greens in England and Wales have more than 100,000 members for the first time, the party has announced, a near-50% rise since Zack Polanski took over as leader last month. It puts them on a potential course to overtake the Conservatives and comes little more than a week after the Greens announced they had moved past the Liberal Democrats in membership numbers, getting to 83,500. Continue reading...

www.theguardian.com

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Alex @purplechrain.bsky.social · 8h

like I said yesterday when hundreds of people shared the “Israeli gumbo” screenshot with outraged commentary about “them” colonizing Louisiana, these are fake screenshots, no such articles exist, you are all getting righteously angry at something made-up b/c it aligns with your existing opinions.

The Serfs (youtube.com/theserfstv) @theserfstv.bsky.social · 1d

Israeli food: poutine. Israelis have developed and continue to enjoy a delicious cuisine rooted in the uniqueness of Israeli society itself

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Ruthi Brandt @ruthibrandt.bsky.social · 13h

Sure!

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Ruthi Brandt @ruthibrandt.bsky.social · 14h

The Cosmic Cat book was such a wonderful initiative!

Here is a closer photo of the cover, and one with signatures of some of the brilliant authors! (Only Kennington based ones :))

The cover of a colourful book saying

An anthology of stories by children

COSMIC CATS

Mumias School, Kenya
At Swithun's School, England

The title page of the book COSMIC CATS with about 10 signatures in pen and coloured markers in child's handwriting

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Oxford Clarion @oxfordclarion.bsky.social · 23h

Kennington became the first village in the UK to twin with a Kenyan village, in a joyous celebration yesterday. The twinning is the culmination of a relationship between Kennington and Musanda built over the last decade, including children producing a book together; Cosmic Cats

Twin town sign 'Welcome to Kennington, please drive carefully. Twinned with Musanda Kenya'

Daniel Livingstone reading from Cosmic Cats. Image via Sylvia Vetta. https://www.sylviavetta.co.uk/2025/10/08/making-history-and-friendship-across-continents/

Celebrations in Kennington, showing also the camera for the zoom link to Musanda

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We Own It @weownit.org.uk · 16h

Greater Anglia comes into public ownership today🎊🎉

Passengers are one step closer to a railway that is run in their interest, not the interest of shareholders from around the world.

Time for a railway that is run for us.

Image of a Greater Anglia train with the text "Greater Anglia brought into public ownership".

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Ruthi Brandt @ruthibrandt.bsky.social · 19h

As we take a moment to celebrate the end of the war and return of the hostages, we know it is only the first step.

Our joint struggle to bring a different future continues.

So today Oxford @ukfost.bsky.social will hold a Vigil for Peace, at 5pm at the Clarendon Building on Broad St. Join us!

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Ruthi Brandt @ruthibrandt.bsky.social · 18h

הצטרפו לדרישה להכרה במדינה פלסטינית!

כי אין דרך אחרת מלבד שלום 🤍💜🕊️

#PalestineStatehood

www.standing-together.org/petitions/ye...

ביבי, לא! מדינה פלסטינית, כן!

הצטרפו לדרישה

www.standing-together.org

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Ruthi Brandt @ruthibrandt.bsky.social · 18h

This is just priceless! Been keeping me amused since yesterday 🤭😆

Avishay BSG (Ben-Sasson-Gordis) @avishaybsg.bsky.social · 1d

Witkoff trying to complement Netanyahu for facilitating the deal. The crowd in Tel Aviv won’t have any of it. Jared finds the whole thing very amusing.

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Ruthi Brandt @ruthibrandt.bsky.social · 19h

As we take a moment to celebrate the end of the war and return of the hostages, we know it is only the first step.

Our joint struggle to bring a different future continues.

So today Oxford @ukfost.bsky.social will hold a Vigil for Peace, at 5pm at the Clarendon Building on Broad St. Join us!

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Ashmolean Museum, Oxford @ashmoleanmuseum.bsky.social · 21h

Crisp sunny mornings and crunchy golden leaves are here, so we’re celebrating with this wonderfully seasonal woodblock print by Utagawa Hiroshige.

🍁 Maple Trees at Mama, Tekona Shrine, and Linked Bridge, 1857, by Utagawa Hiroshige I (1797–1858). EAX.4362

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Rachel Millward @rachelmillward.bsky.social · 21h

So much love for this. I also love seeing @zackpolanski.bsky.social speak up to and call out Piers Morgan's transphobia. We can stand up to that sh*t and say no to hate. #transrightsarehumanrights

Zohran Kwame Mamdani @zohrankmamdani.bsky.social · 1d

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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Ruthi Brandt @ruthibrandt.bsky.social · 21h

Hmm...When setting up a new party,I suppose it's important to highlight where you're dif from others

But if all you have are paper thin dif that don't even stand up to scrutiny(if you think the GP is not anti-imperialist you haven't been paying attention) then maybe a new party isn't really needed?

Zarah Sultana MP @zarahsultana.bsky.social · 1d

Great discussion at TWT on how the left must unite — Your Party and the Greens — to keep Farage out of Downing Street.

But unity isn’t uniformity. Your Party will be truly anti-imperialist: no diplomatic ties with a genocidal, apartheid Israeli state and no greenwashing NATO.

Join us: yourparty.uk

Photo of Zarah, Zack Polanski, Amna Abdullatif from We Deserve Better and Abubakr Nanabawa from The Muslim Vote

Zarah speaking to a packed room at The World Transformed

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Rima I Anabtawi @rimaanabtawi.bsky.social · 1d

There were boos at the mention of Binyamin Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister, who has drawn the ire of protesters while hostages remain in captivity.

youtu.be/QQXYycVPjK8?...

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Wild about Kennington @wildabtkennington.bsky.social · 1d

The plug plants have arrive earlier this week, so we're basically all set for the big Community Wildflower Planting Day! 🌱💪

All we need now is you!

In exactly a week - Sat, the 21st - we will be planting these, and other plants we've been growing here, on the verges of the Avenue. Come find us!

4 trays of plug plants, in 4 different shades of green, displayed on two shelves, one on top of theother

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Bold Politics with Zack Polanski @boldpolitics.bsky.social · 1d

Solidarity with all trans and intersex people having their existence debated every time a tv host hasn't done their prep and can't think of any more questions

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Rima I Anabtawi @rimaanabtawi.bsky.social · 1d

““Burn, burn,” he said, according to the intercepts. “I want the whole kibbutz to be in flames.”

“Set fire to anything,” a commander in the northern Gaza city of Jabaliya referred to as Abu al-Abed said around the same time.”

Rima I Anabtawi @rimaanabtawi.bsky.social · 1d

A directive, which Israeli officials believe was written by Yahya Sinwar, the powerful leader of Hamas in Gaza, and recordings called for fighters to target soldiers and civilian communities — and to broadcast the violent acts.

Ronen Bergman and Adam Rasgon

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

A Memo in a Bunker, Intercepted Communications and Hamas’s Oct. 7 Plans

www.nytimes.com

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Ruthi Brandt @ruthibrandt.bsky.social · 1d

This is how it's done!
🩵🩷🤍🤍🩷🩵

Zohran Kwame Mamdani @zohrankmamdani.bsky.social · 1d

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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Michael Spicer @michaelspicer.bsky.social · 1d

stop thinking right now

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Cllr Emma Garnett @greenpartyemma.bsky.social · 1d

An unexpected and cheerful review of @emilykerr36.bsky.social and mine's recent antics in @oxfordclarion.bsky.social this week, from railways to beavers.

"Very chipper" is a wonderful understatement on @greenparty.org.uk surging membership numbers. I personally have been bouncing off walls.

Oxfordshire politics
There has been a lot of politics this week. Refill that cuppa.

Green county councillor Emma Garnett gave a barnstorming speech on the big stage at the Green Party Conference, as her party overwhelmingly passed a motion to get East West Rail done and fully electrify it. Her colleague Emily Kerr, meanwhile, was on the BBC, where she agreed with a public comment that the Green Party was like a beaver: making big changes and caring about nature. (She did not comment on the suggestion that the Conservative Party were closest to vultures.) Green Party activists on social media have been very chipper about rapidly growing membership figures.

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PinkNews @pinknews.bsky.social · 1d

New York Republican breaks ranks to declare trans community is 'not an enemy or a threat’
https://www.thepinknews.com/2025/10/09/mike-lawler-republican-trans/?utm_content=1760181600&utm_medium=social&utm_source=bluesky

New York Republican breaks ranks to declare trans community is 'not an enemy'

New York Republican Mike Lawler has gone against his right wing party's usual rhetoric to declare that the trans community is “not an enemy or a threat".

www.thepinknews.com

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Zack Polanski @zackpolanski.bsky.social · 1d

Ever since I finished Question Time, Reform have massively been on the attack.

Including a rant from Richard Tice entirely designed to distract from Reform and Russia.

Everyone should know about Nathan Gill, the bribes from Russia and the link to Reform.

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Zack Polanski @zackpolanski.bsky.social · 1d

Greens growing. Reform ratttled.

PS - I changed my name back to my family's original Jewish name because I'm proud of being Jewish. If Tice think that makes me a weirdo, I think that makes him an antisemite.

Join.greenparty.org.uk

Tice "green party leader Zack Polanski is a weirdo. Changed his name, claimed hypnosis could increase women's breast size, thinks me should compete in women's sport, thinks women can have a penis. Other than that he's fine. Vote Green. Get weirdo."

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