Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Reposted by Stephen Leahy

Ian James @ianjames.bsky.social · 14h

“Unless we find a way to overcome antiscience, humankind will face its gravest threat yet—the collapse of civilization as we know it.” @michaelemann.bsky.social @peterhotezmdphd.bsky.social

Stephen Leahy @stephenleahy.bsky.social · 15h

Two top scientists tackle Trump's idiocracy www.motherjones.com/politics/202...

Two top scientists tackle Trump's idiocracy

In a new book, Michael Mann and Peter Hotez examine the risks posed by entrenched beliefs, corporate greed, and regressive governments.

www.motherjones.com

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Damion @damionmatthews.bsky.social · 8d

Larry Ellison has given nearly half a billion dollars to Tony Blair's institute. Now, why do you think he'd do that..?

Terrific piece by @carolecadwalla.bsky.social at @thenerve.news

'WHAT WILL JESUS SAY?' TONY BLAIR, BIG TECH AND THE ISRAEL CONNECTION

As Trump announces the former British PM as his choice to help govern Gaza, Carole Cadwalladr investigates the opaque workings of Blair's institute, its funding from friends of Israel – including bill...

www.thenerve.news

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Earth Negotiations Bulletin @enb.iisd.org · 15h

Interconnection was the recurring mantra on the fourth day of #IUCNcongress , which closed with a powerful reflection on how cross-sector collaborations, innovative approaches, and creative partnerships can drive meaningful action

Highlights ➡️ enb.iisd.org/2025-iucn-wo...

#iucn2025

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Lori Lou Freshwater @lorifreshwater.bsky.social · 15h

Welcome to the SCOTUS doing their own propaganda era

Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 18h

Amy Coney Barrett defends heavy use of the shadow docket: "If we wrote a long opinion, it might give the impression that we have finally resolved the issue, and in none of these cases have we finally resolved the issue."

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The New York Times @nytimes.com · 15h

Videos from Chicago over the past month captured protests, raids, arrests on city streets and residents’ confrontational responses to the Trump administration's immigration crackdown. The New York Times reviewed more than 100 videos. Together, they show how the crackdown has escalated week by week.

How Trump’s Chicago Immigration Crackdown Escalated, in 10 Videos

Week by week, the federal campaign to ramp up immigration enforcement in the Chicago area has created fear and inflamed tensions.

nyti.ms

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Canada Healthwatch 🍁 @canadahealthwatch.ca · 15h

Trump gets a COVID shot as access to them tightens for most Americans https://ca.news.yahoo.com/white-house-trump-gets-covid-024131079.html

More news → CanadaHealthwatch.ca 🍁

Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., Secretary of Health and Human Services, testifies about the health care agenda for the Trump administration in front of the Senate Committee on Finance in Washington, D.C., on September 4, 2025.

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Kitty Voltaire @kittyvoltaire.bsky.social · 16h

And Republican Texas AG, Ken Paxton www.cbsnews.com/texas/news/k...

Report: Texas AG Ken Paxton claimed three homes as primary residence

The Texas attorney general is running in the GOP primary for U.S. Senate, and in the middle of a divorce from his wife, state Sen. Angela Paxton.

www.cbsnews.com

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Justin Elliott @justinelliott.bsky.social · 16h

Here is our full story that Vance is dismissing, with primary source documents showing Trump cabinet members with multiple primary-residence mortgages

www.propublica.org/article/trum...

www.documentcloud.org/documents/26...

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Stephen Leahy @stephenleahy.bsky.social · 15h

Two top scientists tackle Trump's idiocracy www.motherjones.com/politics/202...

Two top scientists tackle Trump's idiocracy

In a new book, Michael Mann and Peter Hotez examine the risks posed by entrenched beliefs, corporate greed, and regressive governments.

www.motherjones.com

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Reposted by Stephen Leahy

TekkMatt @tech15.bsky.social · 1d

PP and the Cons showing pure hypocrisy during question period - no surprise. Their election platform had them running deficits until 2029 - and here they are demanding when the government is going to balance the books? How about we get through this generational change in trade first eh? #cdnpoli

ANALYSIS | The political fight over the deficit is still a phoney war | CBC News

The debate about the federal deficit — or, more specifically, the health and wisdom of federal fiscal policy — remains something of a phoney war, with little substantive engagement. But perhaps, with ...

www.cbc.ca

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Apoorva Mandavilli @apoorvanyt.bsky.social · 1d

The Trump administration on Saturday scrambled to rescind layoffs of hundreds of CDC scientists who were mistakenly fired on Friday night in what appeared to be a substantial procedural lapse.

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

Trump Administration Is Bringing Back Scores of C.D.C. Experts Fired in Error

www.nytimes.com

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Stephen Leahy @stephenleahy.bsky.social · 1d

inflexion point

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Jesse D. Jenkins @jessedjenkins.com · 1d

“I actually don’t think Washington has really woken up to just how popular these new energy and electro technologies that China is exporting are.” FT on the "profound" global impact of China's rise as an electrostate www.ft.com/content/013e... 🔌💡

The ‘profound’ global impact of China’s rise as an electrostate

The country’s companies now dominate many clean technology industries

www.ft.com

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Mo Ryan @moryan.bsky.social · 1d

Just today, here's a story from the @chicago.suntimes.com -- not only are ICE/feds masking themselves constantly (and some local cops too, I've seen it), now they're driving around without license plates. More "laws for thee, whatever I wanna do for me" in action chicago.suntimes.com/news/2025/10...

Federal immigration officers wear masks, no name tags — now some drive cars without license plates

The Sun-Times has documented four unmarked cars carrying federal officers without required plates, offering another way to shield their identities. Federal officials say they’re meeting regulations.

chicago.suntimes.com

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Dave Levitan @davelevitan.bsky.social · 1d

“We can give $20 billion to Argentina but we can’t afford the CDC’s measles experts” is a hell of an argument

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Stephen Leahy @stephenleahy.bsky.social · 1d

Beware:

Witnessing violence by someone you know increases the likelihood of perpetuating violent actions later in life. --study (mouse study)

www.jneurosci.org/content/45/3...

Familiarity Gates Socially Transmitted Aggression via the Medial Amygdala

Aggressive behavior can be acquired through observation, providing adaptive advantages but also posing significant social risks. In humans, individuals repeatedly exposed to aggression are more likely...

www.jneurosci.org

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Sheryl Gay Stolberg @sherylnyt.bsky.social · 2d

BREAKING: Friday night massacre underway at CDC. Doznes of "disease detectives," high-level scientists, entire Washington staff and editors of the MMWR (Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report) have all been RIFed and received the following notice:

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Jimmy Thomson @jameswsthomson.com · 2d

Perhaps the least hinged quote I've seen from this government so far.

Canada's National Observer @nationalobserver.com · 2d

Dawn Farrell, the former CEO of Trans Mountain who now leads the federal government's Major Projects Office was asked whether the oil pipeline contributes to the fight against climate change.

“The answer is yes,” she replied.

Head of Carney’s Major Projects Office thinks Trans Mountain is good for climate

Dawn Farrell, the former CEO of Trans Mountain who now leads the federal government's Major Projects Office told the House of Commons environment committee that the oil pipeline helps fight climate ch...

www.nationalobserver.com

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Nikkolas Smith @4nikkolas.bsky.social · 2d

after millions of views and shares of my Portland Frog art. (thank you all🙏🏾) I got requests to highlight priests, and chickens, and Chicagoans, and T-Rexes, and more… all of us who refuse to bend the knee. so this is for US.
𝚂𝚝𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚃𝚊𝚕𝚕.
𝚆𝚎 𝚆𝚒𝚕𝚕 𝚆𝚒𝚗.

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mbbendt @bendts2cents.bsky.social · 2d

Pretty sure that when you have giant frogs everywhere, God is very disappointed in how you are treating immigrants.

The Oregonian @oregonian.com · 3d

Things are happening at Portland's ICE facility tonight.

Read more of our protest coverage here: www.oregonlive.com/crime/2025/1...

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Robert Reich @rbreich.bsky.social · 2d

Our nation's federal employees are more than just numbers on a spreadsheet.

They make sure we have clean water.

They protect us from financial fraud.

They provide healthcare to our communities.

They make our government actually work for people.

Do not forget this.

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The Tennessee Holler @thetnholler.bsky.social · 3d

“None of these statements are true.”

MEMPHIS DA Steve Mulroy FACT-CHECKS @AGPamBondi’s sworn testimony before Congress.

His post (with Spandau Ballet soundtrack 🎵): www.instagram.com/p/DPmv-WKEil...

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The Daily Show @thedailyshow.com · 3d

The following is REAL footage from Portland, 2025. Viewer discretion is advised.

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Anya Kamenetz @anya1anya.bsky.social · 3d

Yes. This episode of the Daily had me yelling and spitting. Vought is a Christian nationalist extremist, not a small govt conservative who happens to be Christian.

Thomas Zimmer @thomaszimmer.bsky.social · 3d

We need to talk about Russell Vought – But Properly

Why certain mainstream outlets insist on sanitizing Vought as a devout “small government” conservative – and what actually animates his war against pluralistic democracy.

Some thoughts from my new piece:

🧵

We need to talk about Russell Vought – But Properly

Why certain mainstream outlets insist on sanitizing Vought as a devout “small government” conservative – and what actually animates his war against pluralistic democracy

steady.page

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New York Attorney General Letitia James @newyorkstateag.bsky.social · 3d

This is nothing more than a continuation of the president’s desperate weaponization of our justice system.

I am not fearful — I am fearless.

We will fight these baseless charges aggressively, and my office will continue to fiercely protect New Yorkers and their rights..

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