Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

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Richard Pettigrew

@wiglet1981.bsky.social

Finally getting some theological clarity on the ethics of reclining in one’s plane seat

Pope stands holding a baseball bat on a plane

November 29, 2025 at 12:13 PM

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Viktor Winetrout

@viktorwinetrout.bsky.social

He is risen

The Pillsbury Dough Boy float at the Macy's Parade

November 27, 2025 at 2:42 PM

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Chris Person

@papapishu.bsky.social

moe when bart pranks him holding the phone

November 26, 2025 at 3:57 AM

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MeidasTouch

@meidastouch.com

Here’s the original clip of Ronald Reagan from April 25, 1987, where he delivered a complete and total rebuke against tariffs. Trump's calling Reagan’s words here “FAKE” and “fraudulent.” They’re 100% real. And the original clip is actually far worse for Trump, as much is left out of the ad:

October 24, 2025 at 3:51 AM

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The Daily Show

@thedailyshow.com

Mike Johnson doesn't know sh*t

October 22, 2025 at 11:22 PM

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The Daily Show

@thedailyshow.com

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

October 9, 2025 at 8:23 PM

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Barack Obama

@barackobama.bsky.social

Congratulations to new Nobel Peace Prize laureate María Corina Machado for her courageous struggle to bring democracy to Venezuela.

Live Updates: María Corina Machado of Venezuela Is Awarded the Nobel Peace Prize

www.nytimes.com

October 10, 2025 at 4:40 PM

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Joe Walsh

@walshfreedom.bsky.social

“When authoritarians seize power, it is crucial to recognize courageous defenders of freedom who rise and resist.”👇

October 10, 2025 at 12:20 PM

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The Daily Show

@thedailyshow.com

Pam Bondi is so transparent, you can see right through her

October 8, 2025 at 12:11 AM

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Carl Quintanilla

@carlquintanilla.bsky.social

#WarRavagedPortland

October 8, 2025 at 11:23 AM

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Dave Lee

@davelee.me

Dutch late night TV has its take

September 19, 2025 at 2:39 PM

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The New York Times

@nytimes.com

Behold, the most profitable cocktail in sports. Hundreds of thousands of Honey Deuce cocktails are sold at the U.S. Open each year. Here's a behind-the-scenes look at how they are made. nyti.ms/41AhHfi

September 3, 2025 at 7:04 PM

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Don Moynihan

@donmoyn.bsky.social

Full resignation letter from Demetre C. Daskalakis, a CDC leader, does not hold back.
"The recent shooting at CDC is not why I am resigning. My grandfather, who I am named after, stood up to fascist forces in Greece and lost his life doing so. I am resigning to make him and his legacy proud."

My resignation letter from CDC.

Dear Dr. Houry,

I am writing to formally resign from my position as Director of the National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), effective August 28, 2025, close of business. I am happy to stay on for two weeks to provide transition, if requested.

This decision has not come easily, as I deeply value the work that the CDC does in safeguarding public health and am proud of my contributions to that critical mission. However, after much contemplation and reflection on recent developments and perspectives brought to light by Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., I find that the views he and his staff have shared challenge my ability to continue in my current role at the agency and in the service of the health of the American people. Enough is enough.

While I hold immense respect for the institution and my colleagues, I believe that it is imperative to align my professional responsibilities to my system of ethics and my understanding of the science of infectious disease, immunology, and my promise to serve the American people. This step is necessary to ensure that I can contribute effectively in a capacity that allows me to remain true to my principles.

The recent change in the adult and children’s immunization schedule threaten the lives of the youngest Americans and pregnant people. The data analyses that supported this decision have never been shared with CDC despite my respectful requests to HHS and other leadership. This lack of meaningful engagement was further compounded by a “frequently asked questions” document written to support the Secretary’s directive that was circulated by HHS without input from CDC subject matter experts and that cited studies that did not support the conclusions that were attributed to these authors. Having worked in local and national public health for years, I have never experienced such radical non-transparency, nor have I seen such unskilled manipulation of data to achieve a political end rather than the good of the American people.

It is untenable to serve in an organization that is not afforded the opportunity to discuss decisions of scientific and public health importance released under the moniker of CDC. The lack of communication by HHS and other CDC political leadership that culminates in social media posts announcing major policy changes without prior notice demonstrate a disregard of normal communication channels and common sense. Having to retrofit analyses and policy actions to match inadequately thought-out announcements in poorly scripted videos or page long X posts should not be how organizations responsible for the health of people should function. Some examples include the announcement of the change in the COVID-19 recommendations for children and pregnant people, the firing of scientists from ACIP by X post and an op-ed rather than direct communication with these valuable experts, the announcement of new ACIP members by X before onboarding and vetting have completed, and the release of term of reference for an ACIP workgroup that ignored all feedback from career staff at CDC.

Their desire to please a political base will result in death and disability of vulnerable children and adults. Their base should be the people they serve not a political voting bloc.

I have always been first to challenge scientific and public health dogma in my career and was excited by the opportunity to do so again. I was optimistic that there would be an opportunity to brief the Secretary about key topics such as measles, avian influenza, and the highly coordinated approach to the respiratory virus season. Such briefings would allow exchange of ideas and a shared path to support the vision of “Making America Healthy Again.” We are seven months into the new administration, and no CDC subject matter expert from my Center has ever briefed the Secretary. I am not sure who the Secretary is listening to, but it is quite certainly not to us. Unvetted and conflicted outside organizations seem to be the sources HHS use over the gold standard science of CDC and other reputable sources. At a hearing, Secretary Kennedy said that Americans should not take medical advice from him. To the contrary, an appropriately briefed and inquisitive Secretary should be a source of health information for the people he serves. As it stands now, I must agree with him, that he should not be considered a source of accurate information.

The intentional eroding of trust in low-risk vaccines favoring natural infection and unproven remedies will bring us to a pre-vaccine era where only the strong will survive and many if not all will suffer. I believe in nutrition and exercise. I believe in making our food supply healthier, and I also believe in using vaccines to prevent death and disability. Eugenics plays prominently in the rhetoric being generated and is derivative of a legacy that good medicine and science should continue to shun.

The recent shooting at CDC is not why I am resigning. My grandfather, who I am named after, stood up to fascist forces in Greece and lost his life doing so. I am resigning to make him and his legacy proud. I am resigning because of the cowardice of a leader that cannot admit that HIS and his minions’ words over decades created an environment where violence like this can occur. I reject his and his colleagues’ thoughts and prayers, and advise they direct those to people that they have not actively harmed.

For decades, I have been a trusted voice for the LGBTQ community when it comes to critical health topics. I must also cite the recklessness of the administration in their efforts to erase transgender populations, cease critical domestic and international HIV programming, and terminate key research to support equity as part of my decision.

Public health is not merely about the health of the individual, but it is about the health of the community, the nation, the world. The nation’s health security is at risk and is in the hands of people focusing on ideological self-interest.

I want to express my heartfelt gratitude for the opportunities for growth, learning, and collaboration that I have been afforded during my time at the CDC. It has been a privilege to work alongside such dedicated professionals who are committed to improving the health and well-being of communities across the nation even when under attack from within both physically and psychologically.

Thank you once again for the support and guidance I have received from you and previous CDC leadership throughout my tenure. I wish the CDC continued success in its vital mission and that HHS reverse its dangerous course to dismantle public health as a practice and as an institution. If they continue the current path, they risk our personal well-being and the security of the United States.

August 28, 2025 at 1:01 AM

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Rodger Sherman

@rodger.bsky.social

sports photographers are magic

Rolf Oldejans @rolfoldejans.bsky.social · Aug 27

Italian photographer Ray Giubilo with a one-in-a-million shot of Jasmine Paolini at the US Open

August 27, 2025 at 3:24 PM

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Patrick Monahan

@pattymo.com

This is a masterpiece. Simply excellent
www.instagram.com/reel/DMVGMIC...

August 14, 2025 at 3:54 PM

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RandomWhiteGuy

@thereelrandom.bsky.social

My wife shared this with me and I’m tellin you… it’s worth the read.

August 13, 2025 at 2:55 PM

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NBA Cobwebs

@nbacobwebs.bsky.social

July 26, 1992: Magic Johnson with four assists to Larry Bird in the U.S. men's Olympic basketball team's 116-48 win over Angola at the Olympics in Barcelona.

Johnson finished with 10 AST. Bird scored 9 PTS. Charles Barkley led the "Dream Team" with 24 PTS (10-13 FG)/6 REB/5 AST.

July 27, 2025 at 2:44 AM

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Mark Lemley

@marklemley.bsky.social

Now THAT's a cease and desist letter

July 14, 2025 at 6:49 AM

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Robert Reich

@rbreich.bsky.social

The first time Charlie Chaplin used his voice in a film, he wielded it to forcefully condemn the rising forces of fascism around the globe.

Will we listen to his words today?

July 10, 2025 at 5:02 PM

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Carl Quintanilla

@carlquintanilla.bsky.social

McCartney turns 83 today. Music legend — and perfect straight man. 🙏🏼

“SNL/The Chris Farley Show” (1993)

June 18, 2025 at 11:49 AM

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Mel Brooks

@officialmelbrooks.bsky.social

I told you we’d be back

June 12, 2025 at 4:15 PM

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Bruce Springsteen

@brucespringsteen.net

Tonight, Bruce Springsteen and The E Street Band opened their Land of Hope & Dreams Tour. Bruce launched this run of shows with three statements about the situation in the United States, with comments preceding his songs Land of Hope and Dreams, House of a Thousand Guitars and My City of Ruins.