Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Zed @sigmabetazed.bsky.social · 15h

MAGA can't stand Americans exercising their First Amendment rights. #NoKings

Zed @sigmabetazed.bsky.social · 15h

"The sexual binary espoused in both Trump and Abbott’s directives run contrary to decades of research from the scientific and medical communities, and neither directive represents a legislative change." #HigherEd www.highereddive.com/news/texas-t...

Texas Tech orders colleges to align instruction with Trump administration’s gender views

The directive from Chancellor Tedd Mitchell immediately drew backlash from free speech advocates, with one attorney describing it as “obvious censorship.”

www.highereddive.com

Reposted by Zed

Indivisible ❌👑 @indivisible.org · 1d

This is what democracy looks like. #NoKings

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Zed @sigmabetazed.bsky.social · 28d

"Five years after the conclusion of a term, presidential records must be made publicly available through the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA)...President Trump’s records from his first term in office will be available for request beginning in 2026."

www.aacu.org/liberaleduca...

For the Record | AAC&U

Colleen Shogan on what’s at stake in the fight to protect the National Archives

www.aacu.org

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Zed @sigmabetazed.bsky.social · Sep 1

"But for anyone who either can’t afford or simply chooses not to drive, the transportation system could just as easily feel like a barrier to opportunity instead of an enabler."

Zed @sigmabetazed.bsky.social · Sep 1

"When travel times and service reliability are relatively unequal between transportation modes, travelers are forced to make a difficult, binary choice...Such a harsh binary choice quickly exposes a lack of economic resilience." www.brookings.edu/wp-content/u...

www.brookings.edu

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Zed @sigmabetazed.bsky.social · Aug 31

"Given the current targets of the opt-out movement, such curriculum shifts would deemphasize the experiences of racial, sexual, and gender minorities, perpetuating the very silence and unfamiliarity that can give rise to bigotry." www.brookings.edu/articles/mos...

Most Americans support parental opt-out of school curriculum—until they consider the downsides | Brookings

Research shows that views on parental opt-outs change when people weigh the costs for teachers, students, and schools.

www.brookings.edu

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Zed @sigmabetazed.bsky.social · Aug 25

"It’s entirely possible that a magical AI will replace every single human job and then destroy the Earth. But it’s far more likely that the pattern of the last five hundred years will continue." seths.blog/2025/08/job-...

Job churn

Since I was born, humans have created 6 billion jobs. All while technology relentlessly disrupts existing industries. The pin making machine replaced the hand-crafted pin. The ox-pulled plow replac…

seths.blog

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Zed @sigmabetazed.bsky.social · Aug 24

"Internal correspondence from Newsmax officials likewise shows they knew the claims were baseless. 'How long are we going to play along with election fraud?' Newsmax host Bob Sellers said two days after the 2020 election was called for Biden..." apnews.com/article/domi...

Conservative network Newsmax agrees to pay $67M in defamation case over bogus 2020 election claims

The conservative network Newsmax has agreed to pay $67 million to settle a lawsuit accusing it of defaming a voting equipment company by spreading lies about President Donald Trump’s 2020 election los...

apnews.com

Zed @sigmabetazed.bsky.social · Aug 24

This guy wants to be governor. "15.6% of Alabamians lived in poverty in 2023, a number that Tuberville called 'embarrassing' but also appeared to blame on those in poverty."

alabamareflector.com/2025/08/21/t...

Tommy Tuberville suggests putting students in vocational programs after 10th grade | Alabama Reflector

Tuberville said Wednesday that if elected governor he would encourage some students to go into technical training after completing 10th grade as a means of building the workforce.

alabamareflector.com

Zed @sigmabetazed.bsky.social · Aug 24

I love Seth Godin: "Teaching is not about assignments, textbooks or authority. It’s about the pedagogy, connection and approach that creates the conditions for a willing student to change their mind."

seths.blog/2025/08/aha/

Aha!

Teaching is not about assignments, textbooks or authority. It’s about the pedagogy, connection and approach that creates the conditions for a willing student to change their mind. Everything …

seths.blog

Zed @sigmabetazed.bsky.social · Aug 24

Isn’t this the second year in a row Burning Man was disrupted by crazy weather? #BurningMan

Reposted by Zed

Kevin M. Kruse @kevinmkruse.bsky.social · Aug 23

Why can’t a single American journalist do this?

Trump has repeatedly claimed he’s ended numerous wars — he’s now increased the number to ten! — and he’ll surely do it again.

Ask him to name the wars he says he’s won.

Ask Leavitt. Ask Hegseth. Ask Rubio.

Just fucking ask them & don’t let go.

The Tennessee Holler @thetnholler.bsky.social · Aug 23

“Trump ended 6 wars.”
“Name 2.”
“Russia Russia Russia… fake news….”

A+ exchange on British 🇬🇧 radio

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Reposted by Zed

The Tennessee Holler @thetnholler.bsky.social · Aug 23

😆 🔥 some beautiful, creative resistance

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Reposted by Zed

Timothy Burke @bubbaprog.xyz · Aug 23

we really do need to figure out how this guy managed to create an environment where he can say "i wasted an amount of taxpayer dollars so large I can't even tell you how much it was" & it doesn't cause immediate national outrage

Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · Aug 22

Trump on the Oval Office: "You see the way this is looking. I can't tell you how much that gold costs. A lot of money. This beautiful office needed it."

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Zed @sigmabetazed.bsky.social · Aug 24

This part: "And he knew exactly where the child inside him still lived: his kind heart."

Zed @sigmabetazed.bsky.social · Aug 23

"I must have been a real pain in the ass as a kid. But Richard Scarry somehow made me feel safe and settled." yalereview.org/article/chri...

Chris Ware on Richard Scarry and the Art of Children's Literature

The illustrator Chris Ware surveys the work of Richard Scarry.

yalereview.org

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Zed @sigmabetazed.bsky.social · Aug 23

Would Chip Roy be a better or worse AG than Paxton? #Texas

Zed @sigmabetazed.bsky.social · Aug 23

Why would anyone take Putin at his word?

Zed @sigmabetazed.bsky.social · Aug 23

A *261* page opinion. Damn.
alabamareflector.com/2025/08/22/f...

Federal judge: Alabama Senate map violates Voting Rights Act | Alabama Reflector

U.S. District Judge Anna Manasco said the remedy would be a second-majority or near-majority Black Senate district in Montgomery.

alabamareflector.com

Zed @sigmabetazed.bsky.social · Aug 23

"But endlessly reconsidering opportunities without forward motion is a place to hide." seths.blog/2025/08/no-i...

“No” is an option

“Maybe” is the problem. If you’re serious, say, “yes.” And if it’s not for you, walk away. But endlessly reconsidering opportunities without forward motion is a …

seths.blog

Zed @sigmabetazed.bsky.social · Aug 23

Ope
apnews.com/article/new-...

New Orleans mayor indicted over allegations of trying to hide relationship with bodyguard

A federal grand jury has indicted New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell after a long corruption investigation.

apnews.com

Reposted by Zed

Senator Patty Murray @murray.senate.gov · Aug 22

I absolutely do NOT agree with Bolton’s politics but I can STILL say it’s completely corrupt to send the FBI to raid the home of a political opponent or detractor.

Everyone needs to be saying it.

Trump is pushing us closer and closer toward authoritarianism. We ALL need to push back.

Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · Aug 22

Trump on FBI raiding Bolton's house: "I could know about it. I could be the one starting it. I'm actually the chief law enforcement officer."

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Zed @sigmabetazed.bsky.social · Aug 23

"...likely to elicit fresh concerns that the Trump administration is using its law enforcement powers to target the Republican’s foes."

Oh we've had these concerns for awhile now.

apnews.com/article/trum... #Trump

FBI searches home and office of ex-Trump national security adviser John Bolton

The FBI has searched the Maryland home and Washington office of ex-Trump national security adviser John Bolton as part of an investigation into the handling of classified information.

apnews.com

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Zed @sigmabetazed.bsky.social · Aug 21

"When we help people get to where they hope to go, persuasion isn’t as important as enrollment and engagement."
seths.blog/2025/08/an-i...

An invitation to vibration

Many organizations have a widget or service, something people already need or want, and they work to sell it to people. Some seek monopoly power so they can force others to do what they want them t…

seths.blog