Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Kyle Clark @kylec.bsky.social · 8h

Colorado AG Phil Weiser (D) is calling on Coloradans to turn out en masse for Oct 18 demonstrations against President Trump’s use of the military in American cities. “Don’t be afraid,” Weiser said. “Don’t be afraid to show up.” #copolitics

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Nancy Kanwisher @nancykanwisher.bsky.social · 9h

Thank you @jfallows.bsky.social for pointing out this utter garbage in the NYT. Shame on them!

James Fallows @jfallows.bsky.social · 9h

'Irresponsible both-sidesism' can become motto for US politics coverage.

'All the news that's fit to print' elsewhere.

(Reminder: Stories themselves are usually clear-eyed. But most people see only the headline and subhead—'hed and dek' in the parlance—and hed and dek are too often like this.)

David Corn @davidcorn.bsky.social · 12h

A classic case of irresponsible both-sidesism from the NYT. The story is that Trump and MAGA propagandists are lying about Portland to incite a conflict, not that there are different views of the matter.

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James Fallows @jfallows.bsky.social · 9h

'Irresponsible both-sidesism' can become motto for US politics coverage.

'All the news that's fit to print' elsewhere.

(Reminder: Stories themselves are usually clear-eyed. But most people see only the headline and subhead—'hed and dek' in the parlance—and hed and dek are too often like this.)

David Corn @davidcorn.bsky.social · 12h

A classic case of irresponsible both-sidesism from the NYT. The story is that Trump and MAGA propagandists are lying about Portland to incite a conflict, not that there are different views of the matter.

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Nancy Kanwisher @nancykanwisher.bsky.social · 10h

Exactly! Go for it, other college presidents!

Politico @politico.com · 11h

MIT’s rebuke of the Trump admin's compact presents an opening for other college presidents to resist.

MIT’s resistance gives boost to academics' efforts to defy Trump

MIT’s rebuke of the Trump administration’s compact presents an opening for other college presidents to resist.

www.politico.com

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Politico @politico.com · 11h

MIT’s rebuke of the Trump admin's compact presents an opening for other college presidents to resist.

MIT’s resistance gives boost to academics' efforts to defy Trump

MIT’s rebuke of the Trump administration’s compact presents an opening for other college presidents to resist.

www.politico.com

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George Conway 👊🇺🇸🔥 @gtconway.bsky.social · 12h

@sanders.senate.gov: "No, Speaker Johnson, the #NoKings Rally on October 18th is not a 'hate America' rally. ... It’s a rally of millions of people who believe in American freedom and are not going to allow you and President Trump to turn us into an authoritarian country."

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Nancy Kanwisher @nancykanwisher.bsky.social · 12h

I agree! Lindsay's book is exceptionally clear, highly engaging, and it deploys unusually apt analogies throughout that aid understanding. Truly a gift to all of us. Thank you @neurograce.bsky.social !

Tony Durham @rhamdu.bsky.social · 13h

Excellent book by @neurograce.bsky.social , accessible but not dumbed down. The math takes a back seat during a tour of important historic and current research in neuroscience. Even if you know parts of the story you may find new insights and connections. GL has a good nose for neurononsense.

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Tony Durham @rhamdu.bsky.social · 13h

Excellent book by @neurograce.bsky.social , accessible but not dumbed down. The math takes a back seat during a tour of important historic and current research in neuroscience. Even if you know parts of the story you may find new insights and connections. GL has a good nose for neurononsense.

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Nancy Kanwisher @nancykanwisher.bsky.social · 15h

Totally understandable, but devastating for MIT and for the US. This is just the beginning.

George Conway 👊🇺🇸🔥 @gtconway.bsky.social · 1d

"The University of Zurich said the married couple, who currently work at MIT, would join its economics faculty …. [They] will be moving … at a time when experts are warning that Trump's cuts to research funding and attacks on … freedoms could lead to a brain drain …."

www.lemonde.fr/en/economy/a...

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Angie Rasmussen @angierasmussen.bsky.social · 22h

I don’t know who needs to hear this but the CDC is being eviscerated right now. America is not going to have any kind of outbreak response capacity after tonight. Americans’ health data is no longer secure. Say goodbye to federal public health in any capacity. It’s a disaster. We won’t recover.

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50501: The People’s Movement ❌👑 @50501movement.bsky.social · 1d

Back when we had some standards still

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George Conway 👊🇺🇸🔥 @gtconway.bsky.social · 1d

"The University of Zurich said the married couple, who currently work at MIT, would join its economics faculty …. [They] will be moving … at a time when experts are warning that Trump's cuts to research funding and attacks on … freedoms could lead to a brain drain …."

www.lemonde.fr/en/economy/a...

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Union of Concerned Scientists @ucs.org · 1d

Next Saturday Oct 18, millions of people across America will join together to send a clear message: We the people have the power. Find your local event today and raise your voice for the science, facts, and truth we need to counter the authoritarian overreach of President Trump and his enablers.

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 belongs to the people.

www.nokings.org

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Nancy Kanwisher @nancykanwisher.bsky.social · 1d

without preferences. Therefore, with respect, we cannot support the proposed approach to addressing the issues facing higher education."

Amen!!!

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Nancy Kanwisher @nancykanwisher.bsky.social · 1d

that scientific funding should be based on scientific merit alone.

In our view, America’s leadership in science and innovation depends on independent thinking and open competition for excellence. In that free marketplace of ideas, the people of MIT gladly compete with the very best, ...

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Nancy Kanwisher @nancykanwisher.bsky.social · 1d

MIT Rejects the Compact!
I am so proud.
"The document also includes principles with which we disagree, including those that would restrict freedom of expression and our independence as an institution. And fundamentally, the premise of the document is inconsistent with our core belief ...

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Nancy Kanwisher @nancykanwisher.bsky.social · 1d

Norway!!! ❤️ ❤️ ❤️

Reuters @reuters.com · 1d

'When authoritarians seize power, it is crucial to recognize courageous defenders of freedom who rise and resist,' the Norwegian Nobel Committee said as it announced Maria Corina Machado as the winner of the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize

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Reuters @reuters.com · 1d

'When authoritarians seize power, it is crucial to recognize courageous defenders of freedom who rise and resist,' the Norwegian Nobel Committee said as it announced Maria Corina Machado as the winner of the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize

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Shibley Telhami @stelhami.bsky.social · 2d

Israel will reportedly retain control of 58% of Gaza after its partial troop pull back in the first phase of the current deal, 72 hours after which all Israeli hostages would be released. aje.io/lcai8j

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Timothy Snyder @timothysnyder.bsky.social · 2d

No Kings. October 18th. Free speech is action. Please join in.
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

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Laura Helmuth @laurahelmuth.bsky.social · 3d

Six of the nine Nobel Prize winners this year work in the U.S.
Three of the six were born outside the U.S., which is the pattern most years. No country has benefited more from welcoming immigrants from around the world.
www.nobelprize.org

The official website of the Nobel Prize - NobelPrize.org

The Nobel Prize rewards science, humanism and peace efforts. This is one of the central concepts in the will of Alfred Nobel, and it also permeates the outreach activities that have been developed for...

www.nobelprize.org

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Nancy Kanwisher @nancykanwisher.bsky.social · 4d

Soft secession? Hell yeah!
www.motherjones.com/politics/202...

It’s time for soft secession

How blue states can use their economic clout to stand up to Trump’s agenda—starting with California.

www.motherjones.com

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Nancy Kanwisher @nancykanwisher.bsky.social · 4d

3. What we will say to ourselves, our friends, and our family, when asked: When the US was falling into fascism, what did you do about it?

Please add your own reasons!

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Nancy Kanwisher @nancykanwisher.bsky.social · 4d

2. Although protests may not change many minds, they show that this regime is vulnerable. Many people and institutions support the regime out of fear. If they see that it could collapse, they may start to worry about their reputation, and their legal liability, after the regime falls.

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Nancy Kanwisher @nancykanwisher.bsky.social · 4d

1. Erica Chenowyth’s research shows that authoritarian governments are defeated when 3.5% of the population gets out in the streets. The US is 340 million people which means we need 12 million people out there. This is not impossible - we already had 5 million protesting on No Kings I on June 14.

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Nancy Kanwisher @nancykanwisher.bsky.social · 4d

I wanted to share my reasons why I think it is of paramount importance to attend a No King’s protest on October 18, and to make the case to everyone you know to do the same.
a thread...
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

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Nancy Kanwisher @nancykanwisher.bsky.social · 4d

A beautiful piece by Bernhard Nickel.
"Surround yourself with the right people. Stand in solidarity with them. ... Figuring out what to do isn’t something any of us needs to do alone...
Remembering this fact...has been a deep well of hope."

Kirsten Weld @kirstenweld.bsky.social · 4d

“Figuring out what to do isn’t something any of us needs to do alone.”

My dear colleague Bernhard Nickel on the importance of solidarity and bravery (and AAUP!) in these grim times:

www.thecrimson.com/article/2025...

I’m a Non-Citizen Professor. Here’s Why I Testified Against Trump. | Opinion | The Harvard Crimson

I am glad that I could re-learn this crucial lesson. Surround yourself with the right people. Stand in solidarity with them. Courses of action will make themselves known to you, along with the resourc...

www.thecrimson.com

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Jeremy Berg @jeremymberg.bsky.social · 4d

My quote of the day

In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends.

Martin Luther King, Jr.

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Kirsten Weld @kirstenweld.bsky.social · 4d

“Figuring out what to do isn’t something any of us needs to do alone.”

My dear colleague Bernhard Nickel on the importance of solidarity and bravery (and AAUP!) in these grim times:

www.thecrimson.com/article/2025...

I’m a Non-Citizen Professor. Here’s Why I Testified Against Trump. | Opinion | The Harvard Crimson

I am glad that I could re-learn this crucial lesson. Surround yourself with the right people. Stand in solidarity with them. Courses of action will make themselves known to you, along with the resourc...

www.thecrimson.com

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Nancy Kanwisher @nancykanwisher.bsky.social · 5d

I am proud of MIT, where our branch of AAUP has voted unanimously to endorse this statement urging MIT leadership and the MIT Corporation to reject the Compact wholesale
docs.google.com/document/d/1...

Letter Regarding Compact

MIT Chapter of the American Association of University Professors October 6, 2025 Statement on the “Compact for Academic Excellence in Higher Education” MIT has been invited by the federal governmen...

docs.google.com

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