Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Reposted by LM

David Roberts

@volts.wtf

The left needs more influencers who are mostly about other shit. That's what is moving all these young people right -- not "political content," but dumbass lifting videos & bro podcasts where RW politics is casual & taken for granted.

The Most Powerful Politics Influencers Barely Post About Politics

New research shows that social media creators have enormous influence over their audiences' politics—especially those who don't normally share political content.

www.wired.com

December 18, 2025 at 6:54 PM

Reposted by LM

Mondoweiss

@mondoweiss.net

The Australian government is using the Bondi Beach attack as a pretext to accelerate its repression of the Palestine movement. This response lays bare the state’s true interest: to protect and defend Australia’s complicity in the Gaza genocide.

mondoweiss.net/2025/12/how-...

#Palestine #Israel

How the Bondi Beach attack is being weaponized to suppress the Palestine movement in Australia

The Australian government is using the Bondi Beach attack as a pretext to accelerate its repression of the Palestine movement. This response lays bare the state’s true interest: to protect and defend...

mondoweiss.net

December 18, 2025 at 5:00 PM

Reposted by LM

Nieman Lab

@niemanlab.org

@yessfun.com: “We can no longer pretend journalists don’t have feelings. We can’t hide behind the curtain of ‘objectivity.'”

www.niemanlab.org/2025/12/emot...

December 16, 2025 at 10:30 AM

Reposted by LM

Center for Climate Integrity

@climateintegrity.org

Washington remains under a state of emergency after more than a week of heavy rains and catastrophic flooding that has forced tens of thousands of people to evacuate.

Big Oil knowingly fueled the climate crisis, but lied — and now communities are paying the price. Accountability can’t wait.

Climate change primed Washington state for historic flooding

Low snowpack and abnormally warm temperatures are supercharging the atmospheric rivers hitting the Pacific Northwest.

grist.org

December 18, 2025 at 5:11 PM

LM

@lmeim.bsky.social

"BlackRock may have avoided receiving its inevitable lump of coal, but they are still number one on the climate naughty list," @richardbrooks.bsky.social on NYC BlackRock proposal being tabled for 2026.

stand.earth/press-releas...

Stand.earth on NYC Pensions Tabling Proposal to Move Billions Out of BlackRock - Stand.earth

New York City Employee Retirement System (NYCERS) trustees tabled a proposal to rebid a contract with BlackRock.

stand.earth

December 18, 2025 at 4:35 PM

Reposted by LM

Brad Lander

@bradlander.bsky.social

Extraordinary courage from Ahmed al Ahmed, a Muslim, 43-year-old father of two, who bravely risked his life to save his neighbors celebrating Hanukkah.

Praying for his full & speedy recovery.

And so deeply inspired by his example.

BNO News @bnonews.com · 6d

WATCH: Bystander disarms active shooter at Bondi Beach in Sydney

December 14, 2025 at 2:37 PM

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Sammy Roth

@sammyroth.bsky.social

Trump is determined to send America back to the dark ages. Federal officials say they'll dismantle the National Center for Atmospheric Research in Colorado, a leading climate and weather science institute: www.latimes.com/environment/... via @hayleysmith.bsky.social @susrust.bsky.social

Trump administration moves to dismantle leading climate and weather research center

Experts say a closure of the National Center for Atmospheric Research in Boulder, Colo., would leave millions vulnerable to worsening climate hazards.

www.latimes.com

December 18, 2025 at 2:10 AM

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New York Focus

@nysfocus.bsky.social

Update: New York pension fund trustees on Wednesday tabled Comptroller Brad Lander’s proposal to rebid a contract with BlackRock, leaving the potential $42 billion move up to his successor. nysfocus.com/2025/12/15/b...

Will New York City Drop BlackRock Over Climate?

Outgoing Comptroller Brad Lander wants the city’s pension funds to reconsider $42 billion in investments with the firm, but it may fall to his successor…

nysfocus.com

December 18, 2025 at 12:35 AM

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molly taft

@mollytaft.com

EXCLUSIVE: the Working Families Party is putting out a recruitment call for people opposed to data centers in their communities to run for local office

the recruitment effort comes just 2 days after Bernie Sanders called for a moratorium on data center construction

Opposed to Data Centers? The Working Families Party Wants You to Run for Office

The influential progressive third party announced Thursday that it was putting out a recruitment call for candidates specifically opposed to data centers.

www.wired.com

December 18, 2025 at 2:02 PM

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New York Communities for Change

@nychange.bsky.social

Breaking: A bad end to the year for NYC to protect the pension funds and the planet.

We’re Looking to Levine as the Pensions Punt

December 17, 2025 at 9:55 PM

Reposted by LM

Center for Climate Integrity

@climateintegrity.org

“Connecticut’s lawsuit against Exxon will not give us back the time oil companies stole from us with their lies, but it will put us on a path toward holding bad actors accountable,” write Reps. Mary Mushinsky and Steve Winter.

Opinion: Why Connecticut is one step closer to its day in court. It’s a win.

Why should our taxpayers be the ones burdened with the financial strain of climate change when it was Big Oil companies that knowingly spread disinformation and deception?

www.courant.com

December 17, 2025 at 6:42 PM

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Climate Risk Economics

@climateeconomics.bsky.social

Maryland Gov. Wes Moore on Friday announced the state would analyze how much climate change has cost the state — reviving questions about shifting those costs onto fossil fuel companies through a “climate superfund” law...
www.eenews.net/articles/mar...

Maryland decides to study a ‘climate superfund’ after all

Gov. Wes Moore announced a bid to analyze emissions costs and whether companies should compensate the state for climate impacts.

www.eenews.net

December 15, 2025 at 4:22 PM

Reposted by LM

ShareAction

@shareaction.bsky.social

Our new analysis of Europe’s largest banks has found progress on climate has ground to a standstill, and in some cases, reversed

As environmental and social risks rise, banks’ responses are still falling short: the average score across the 25 banks was 41%🔽

shareaction.org/reports/in-d...

🧵1

December 11, 2025 at 9:01 AM

Reposted by LM

Jews For Racial & Economic Justice Action

@jfrejnyc.bsky.social

We are tired of slander & false accusations against human rights activists made in our name, while self-proclaimed antisemites continue to gain power. Fighting antisemitism means fighting fascism, not attacking @msrachelforlittles.bsky.social & @cynthianixon.bsky.social

Text graphic with image of Ms Rachel wearing a dress with artwork made by children in Gaza and image of Cynthia Nixon protesting outside the White House demanding a permanent ceasefire. Text reads: Amidst the increasing rise of explicitly antisemitic white nationalist ideologies, a fringe right-wing group is attacking beloved early childhood educators and advocates for Palestinian human rights under the guise of
"fighting antisemitism."

Ms. Rachel and Cynthia Nixon are both staunch allies of Jewish New Yorkers who use their platforms to lift Palestinian stories and call attention to the starvation, maiming, and death of Palestinian children.

Image of Chanukah for Ceasefire protest featuring a Hanukkah menorah that says “CEASEFIRE” and surrounded by individuals in “Rabbis for Ceasefire” t-shirts. Text under image reads: To attack these humanitarians as
"antisemites", these right-wing groups claim that free speech and opposition to genocide threaten Jews. But this actually paints Jews as universally in support of militarism and genocide, and can only make Jews less safe.

Taking antisemitism seriously doesn't look like attacking Ms. Rachel and Cynthia Nixon. It DOES look like tracking and fighting back against fascists in our city
To learn more about the work our organization does to combat antisemitism, check out www.jfrej.org/campaigns/
antisemitism

December 11, 2025 at 2:50 PM

LM

@lmeim.bsky.social

almost like Exxon's entire business model is based on extraction & burning fossil fuels and its low-carbon projects were #greenwashing all along. who woulda thunk?!

#ExxonKnew #MakePollutersPay
www.ft.com/content/dc0f...

ExxonMobil to slash low-carbon spending by a third

Oil major will cut investment over next five years from $30bn to $20bn

www.ft.com

December 10, 2025 at 7:43 PM

Reposted by LM

David Roberts

@volts.wtf

A DOJ memo to federal prisons explicitly instructs them to stop enforcing anti-rape laws against transgender & intersex prisoners.

We are governed by monsters.

Trump administration plans to end prison rape protections for trans and intersex people

A Department of Justice memo says certain standards under the Prison Rape Elimination Act do not align with Trump’s executive order

prismreports.org

December 10, 2025 at 4:59 PM

LM

@lmeim.bsky.social

the gambilization (yes, feels like a word) of media further eroding trust in mainstream media...

Ketan Joshi @ketanjoshi.co · 9d

I feel like this got missed? Time Magazine (!!) is partnering with a gambling company to integrate instant betting on news events, such as the genocide in Gaza (!!!!!!)

The rate of collapse of media is absolutely blistering. Support your independent media outlets folks.....

archive.ph/wip/kgyIz

Galactic will power prediction market capabilities for TIME as it becomes one of the first global media brands to leverage socially powered, data-driven markets to drive innovative audience engagement

TIME is partnering with Galactic, the preferred prediction-markets partner for media brands, creator networks, and community platforms, powering Predictor.io—a social, infrastructure platform that transforms real-world events into simple, user-friendly markets.This innovative partnership facilitates a critical reimagination of how Predictors—consumers who engage with the platform—interact with content, allowing them to interpret, engage, and act as events unfold.

“With TIME, we are blending established media with prediction markets to establish a new normal for readers and content consumers—giving them the opportunity to participate in where the future is going,” said Stuart Stott, CEO of Galactic. “Galactic is laser-focused on supporting the growth of this rapidly evolving industry, and collaborating with media partners like TIME provides a powerful, trusted, and engaging new way to catalyze prediction market growth.”

“TIME is driven by our ambition to continue to push the boundaries of traditional media to ensure our content and audience experience is compelling, accurate, and evolving,” said TIME Chief Operating Officer Mark Howard. “The launch of prediction markets in partnership with Galactic enables us to engage readers in new ways that reflect TIME’s innovative spirit.”

Predictor.io turns news, culture, and live events into interactive, data-driven experiences. Paired with TIME’s globally renowned legacy, Predictor.io, which operates independently from TIME’s newsroom, will create a channel for real-time market data that drives engagement. Predictors will be able to engage with dynamic, story-driven content and an AI-powered interactive experience that helps them explore, interpret, and predict what happens next. The experience is designed to inform, inspire, and empower Predictors to take part in the future, not just watch it unfold.

The strategic partnership marks a pivotal step forward for prediction markets as they attract growing recognition and interest from some of the world’s largest media brands. As the media landscape evolves with shifting consumer preferences, prediction markets provide a pioneering opportunity for media companies to deliver compelling content driven by quantitative assumptions and to offer Predictors a unique way to interact with content.

TIME’s prediction market platform, powered by Galactic, is scheduled to launch early 2026.

December 10, 2025 at 5:21 PM

Reposted by LM

Robert Reich

@rbreich.bsky.social

Remember: There is nothing natural or inevitable about extreme inequality; it’s the result of an economic system that values wealth and power over human dignity and justice.

It doesn't have to be this way.

December 10, 2025 at 12:18 AM

Reposted by LM

Brad Lander

@bradlander.bsky.social

I’m running for Congress because we need leaders who will fight, not fold. I recognize this moment, and I’m ready to meet it. #FightDontFold #LanderForNYC #LanderForCongress

December 10, 2025 at 10:49 AM

LM

@lmeim.bsky.social

the fossil fuel corruption is unending & inherently baked into the industry's extractive DNA.

Nina Lakhani @ninalakhani.bsky.social · 15d

By me and @andy-rowell.bsky.social
Two fossil-fuel billionaires with close ties to Donald Trump bought millions of shares in the company they co-founded just days after a meeting with senior White House officials, who then issued them key regulatory permit
www.theguardian.com/business/202...

Fossil-fuel billionaires bought up millions of shares after meeting with top Trump officials

Co-founders’ acquisition of Venture Global shares before key permit granted draws scrutiny as pair deny wrongdoing

www.theguardian.com

December 9, 2025 at 9:23 PM

LM

@lmeim.bsky.social

Take Action: Urge Comptroller Lander to finish the job and dump BlackRock (the world’s largest funders of fossil fuels)!! share.nwmd.social/s/Hz8rlRlH

Tell Comptroller Lander: Finish the Job and Dump BlackRock!

share.nwmd.social

December 9, 2025 at 6:18 PM

Reposted by LM

Shift: Action for Pension Wealth & Planet Health

@shiftaction.bsky.social

Last week, Shift joined the Gitanyow Hereditary Chiefs and 128 organizations from around the world to urge financial institutions, including Canada's largest pension funds, not to finance or invest in the proposed Kis Lisims LNG terminal in BC. #cdnpoli #bcpoli