Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Steve Feldstein @stevenfeldstein.bsky.social · 8d

Trump’s normalization of military troops patrolling the streets of America’s cities against the wishes of elected politicians and their citizens is a shocking abuse of constitutional norms and a staggering departure from precedent.

1

Reposted by Steve Feldstein

Carnegie Endowment @carnegieendowment.org · 15d

President Trump’s TikTok deal puts the company's U.S. operations under U.S. control. But it doesn’t do much to address the economic or security concerns that motivated the deal in the first place, says @stevenfeldstein.bsky.social.

More in @foreignpolicy.com: foreignpolicy.com/2025/09/29/t...

The TikTok Deal Is America’s White Flag in the Tech War With China

Beijing will still retain considerable influence over the U.S. version of the app.

foreignpolicy.com

1 3 5

Steve Feldstein @stevenfeldstein.bsky.social · 15d

Is Trump abandoning America's tech war with China?

What signals can we glean from the TikTok deal?

My thoughts in the @foreignpolicy.com piece below 👇 👇

bit.ly/3KownII @carnegieendowment.org

The TikTok Deal Is America’s White Flag in the Tech War With China

Beijing will still retain considerable influence over the U.S. version of the app.

foreignpolicy.com

2

Steve Feldstein @stevenfeldstein.bsky.social · 19d

More evidence of Chinese-Russian mil collusion

www.reuters.com/business/aer...

Exclusive: Chinese drone experts worked with sanctioned Russian arms maker, sources say

Reuters is the first to report specific details of the extensive involvement of Chinese experts in tests and technological work on military-use drones inside Russia.

www.reuters.com

Steve Feldstein @stevenfeldstein.bsky.social · 19d

What does this mean?

www.washingtonpost.com/national-sec...

Hegseth orders rare, urgent meeting of hundreds of generals, admirals

The Pentagon has summoned military officials from around the world for a gathering in Virginia. Top generals and their staffs don’t know the reason for the meeting.

www.washingtonpost.com

1

Reposted by Steve Feldstein

Ami Fields-Meyer @fieldsmeyer.com · 21d

As the brother of an autistic American, as a person who worked on US scientific integrity policy at the White House, and as human being, I'm boiling at the RFK idiocy. And though I have little to offer beyond surpassing rage and national shame, I did smile at this statement from NYU's Arthur Caplan:

Sept. 22, 2025, 5:46 p.m. ET3 hours ago
Christina Jewett F.D.A. reporter

My inbox is already lighting up. Arthur Caplan, the founding head of the division of medical ethics at N.Y.U. Grossman School of Medicine, wrote: “The announcement on autism was the saddest display of a lack of evidence, rumors, recyling old myths, lousy advice, outright lies and dangerous advice I have ever witnessed by anyone in authority in the world claiming to know anything about science.”

35 690 3K

Steve Feldstein @stevenfeldstein.bsky.social · 21d

👏👏👏

Jimmy Kimmel’s Show to Return to ABC on Tuesday Night www.nytimes.com/2025/09/22/b...

Jimmy Kimmel’s Show to Return to ABC on Tuesday Night

www.nytimes.com

1

Reposted by Steve Feldstein

Kevin Collins @kwcollins.bsky.social · 26d

A good time to remember that a whole bunch of us are getting together to speak out against this authoritarianism -- I used to say creeping, but it's really now just a full gallop -- on October 18. Join us

www.nokings.org

No Kings

As the president escalates his authoritarian power grab, the NO KINGS non-violent movement continues to rise stronger. We are united once again to remind the world: America has No Kings and the power ...

www.nokings.org

12 110 280

Steve Feldstein @stevenfeldstein.bsky.social · 26d

When John Yoo questions Trump’s dividing line between war and crime you know the country is in a heap of trouble

1

Steve Feldstein @stevenfeldstein.bsky.social · 26d

‘We Are in a Zero State’: Scenes From the Ashes of Nepal’s Capital www.nytimes.com/2025/09/17/w...

‘We Are in a Zero State’: Scenes From the Ashes of Nepal’s Capital

www.nytimes.com

Steve Feldstein @stevenfeldstein.bsky.social · 27d

Obama is right. The stifling of free speech is shocking and dangerous

After Kirk’s Killing, Obama Says the Nation Is in a ‘Political Crisis’ www.nytimes.com/2025/09/17/u...

After Kirk’s Killing, Obama Says the Nation Is in a ‘Political Crisis’

www.nytimes.com

Reposted by Steve Feldstein

Thomas Zimmer @thomaszimmer.bsky.social · Sep 12

We should trust ourselves and those we address to be able to hold two thoughts at the same time: That we must forcefully condemn political violence - but also acknowledge that it festers and thrives in a deeply unhealthy political culture that Kirk himself helped create.

2 30 150

Steve Feldstein @stevenfeldstein.bsky.social · Sep 9

Princeton Student Held by Iran-Backed Militia Is Released, Trump Says www.nytimes.com/2025/09/09/w...

Princeton Student Held by Iran-Backed Militia Is Released, Trump Says

www.nytimes.com

1

Steve Feldstein @stevenfeldstein.bsky.social · Sep 8

If you don't like the law, change the law.

Trump opens door to selling drones to Saudi Arabia & sidestepping MTCR
www.reuters.com/business/aer...

Exclusive: Trump to reinterpret 1987 missile treaty to sell heavy attack drones abroad

President Donald Trump is expected to unilaterally reinterpret a 38-year-old arms control treaty to sell sophisticated "Reaper" style and other advanced military drones abroad, according to a U.S. official and four people familiar with the plan.

www.reuters.com

1

Reposted by Steve Feldstein

Anne Applebaum @anneapplebaum.bsky.social · Sep 5

8 63 270

Steve Feldstein @stevenfeldstein.bsky.social · Aug 29

Comes as little surprise

Grand Juries in D.C. Reject Prosecutors’ Efforts to Level Harsh Charges Against Residents www.nytimes.com/2025/08/29/u...

Grand Juries in D.C. Reject Prosecutors’ Efforts to Level Harsh Charges Against Residents

www.nytimes.com

Reposted by Steve Feldstein

Aaron Fritschner @fritschner.bsky.social · Aug 28

It won’t fit in screen shots but linking here the full letter of resignation posted by one of the departing CDC officials, Dr. Demetre Daskalakis, who ran the National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases and led efforts to fight COVID, monkeypox, and bird flu
x.com/dr_demetre/s...

120 1.6K 4.9K

Reposted by Steve Feldstein

Gabe Ortíz @tusk81.bsky.social · Aug 28

“Fuck you guys, go home!”

“Leave!”

amanda moore 🐢 @noturtlesoup17.bsky.social · Aug 28

Neighbors jeer as ICE and MPD pack up a road block they had stationed on Rhode Island and South Dakota in DC.

7 120 840

Steve Feldstein @stevenfeldstein.bsky.social · Aug 28

Hang on Susan Monarez!

Trump Administration Live Updates: Health Secretary Tries to Oust C.D.C. Director, but She Refuses to Leave www.nytimes.com/live/2025/08...

Trump Administration Live Updates: Health Secretary Tries to Oust C.D.C. Director, but She Refuses to Leave

www.nytimes.com

1

Reposted by Steve Feldstein

Amanda Katz @katzish.bsky.social · Aug 27

Just a note that whoever puts this Banksy sandwich guy on a yard sign is going to move a lot of yard signs (Photo: Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images via Axios)

A dude walking past two wheatpaste posters of the Banksy sandwich guy graphic in DC

6 15 140

Steve Feldstein @stevenfeldstein.bsky.social · Aug 26

???

State Department Agents Join Trump’s Deployment in D.C. www.nytimes.com/2025/08/26/u...

State Department Agents Join Trump’s Deployment in D.C.

www.nytimes.com

Steve Feldstein @stevenfeldstein.bsky.social · Aug 20

Subbing one far right bomb thrower for another at the FBI

www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddo...

The move to install a new FBI co-deputy director is radical in more ways than one

The FBI has struggled in recent months, but with Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey joining the leadership team, things are about to get worse.

www.msnbc.com

Steve Feldstein @stevenfeldstein.bsky.social · Aug 16

“He got played again,” said Ivo Daalder, who was ambassador to NATO under President Barack Obama.
www.nytimes.com/2025/08/16/u...

Trump Bows to Putin’s Approach on Ukraine: No Cease-Fire, Deadlines or Sanctions

www.nytimes.com

1

Steve Feldstein @stevenfeldstein.bsky.social · Aug 15

Should we be surprised that Elon Musk destroys USAID to find cost savings while exploiting a tax loophole so SpaceX never has to pay taxes? www.nytimes.com/2025/08/15/t...

SpaceX Gets Billions From the Government. It Gives Little to Nothing Back in Taxes.

www.nytimes.com

Reposted by Steve Feldstein

Foreign Affairs @foreignaffairs.com · Aug 12

The Trump administration is laying the groundwork for the military to take on a much larger role in domestic security, writes Risa Brooks. “This new orientation is dangerous for the U.S. military and for the country it serves.”

The Dangerous New Civil-Military Bargain

Trump’s demands for loyalty will weaken the U.S. armed forces.

www.foreignaffairs.com

1 5 23