Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Rash: Trump’s ‘alarming’ and ‘incoherent’ stand on nuclear testing

November 10, 2025 at 4:00 PM

UMN Political Science

@umnpolisci.bsky.social

Professor Mark Bell @marksbell.bsky.social discusses the confusion caused by Trump's recent statement on nuclear testing and what shift it could signal in policy in @startribune.com article.

www.startribune.com/trump-admini...

Last week, Trump took to Truth Social to call for the resumption of nuclear weapon detonation tests, which the U.S. hasn’t conducted since 1992, John Rash writes.

The legal and political questions surrounding Trump's deployment of National Guard troops

November 7, 2025 at 3:57 PM

UMN Political Science

@umnpolisci.bsky.social

Professor Ron Krebs discusses what's at stake surrounding Trump's deployment of National Guard troops with @mprnews.org

www.mprnews.org/episode/2025...

MPR News guest host Catharine Richert talks about the legal and political implications of President Donald Trump’s mobilization of the National Guard in a few U.S. cities in recent months.

Political scientist breaks down the rhetoric of mayoral races in Minneapolis, St. Paul

November 5, 2025 at 3:56 PM

UMN Political Science

@umnpolisci.bsky.social

Professor Dan Myers joins @kare11.bsky.social to make sense of all the talk about the political candidates on today's Twin Cities ballots.
www.kare11.com/article/news...

If you are voting in the Twin Cities this November, here is what to look out for in the mayoral races.

www.kare11.com

November 4, 2025 at 3:55 PM

UMN Political Science

@umnpolisci.bsky.social

Political biases are gradually eroding the military's remarkably nonpartisan political stance, says Professor Ron Krebs in @mndaily.bsky.social opinion.

mndaily.com/296016/opini...

Opinion: Revisionist history has no place in the military

The United States military holds a unique place in our society, and it has since its creation. It is not only an organization that is designed to serve and defend...

Opinion: Republicans discriminate against free speech

November 3, 2025 at 3:49 PM

UMN Political Science

@umnpolisci.bsky.social

"Free speech is incredibly easy to weaponize," says Professor Paul Goren in @mndaily.bsky.social opinion. "It's done by both sides of the political spectrum."
mndaily.com/295974/opini...

In response to the horrific assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, Vice President JD Vance guest-hosted Kirk’s podcast and urged listeners to “call out” anyone making celebratory remarks...

What is the DSA, or Democratic Socialists of America?

October 31, 2025 at 2:50 PM

UMN Political Science

@umnpolisci.bsky.social

Professor Dan Myers explains what the Democratic Socialists of America is and its role in this political moment on @mprnews.org.
www.mprnews.org/episode/2025...

Minneapolis voters next week will see multiple candidates on their ballots who are endorsed by the DSA. The political group’s profile has climbed over the last ten years nationally and in parts of Min...

Opinion: We depend on the government more than we think

October 30, 2025 at 2:59 PM

UMN Political Science

@umnpolisci.bsky.social

Professor Paul Goren discusses the double standard of who deserves government support, often applied to minorities, in @mndaily.bsky.social opinion.

mndaily.com/295908/opini...

We do not fully appreciate the impact the federal government has on our daily lives. As the government shutdown continues, we are beginning to feel the effects of not having...

Understanding the 2025 government shutdown: Causes, impact and what's next

October 29, 2025 at 2:58 PM

UMN Political Science

@umnpolisci.bsky.social

Professor Kathryn Pearson @kpminnesota.bsky.social joined @mprnews.org to discuss the current government shutdown, its causes & impact, and what's next.
www.mprnews.org/episode/2025...

Coming up at 9 a.m. on Tuesday, MPR News guest host Catharine Richert talks with a political scientist about the federal government shutdown — how we got here, how the shutdown is affecting people and...

Collins, Kutelia: Get Russia right. End the ‘resets’ and win the peace

October 28, 2025 at 3:09 PM

UMN Political Science

@umnpolisci.bsky.social

Professor Kathleen Collins writes about the three decades of failed U.S. "resets" with Russia in @pioneerpress.bsky.social opinion piece.
www.twincities.com/2025/10/26/c...

“Only by getting Russia right can Trump end the bloodshed in Ukraine. That means recognizing who Putin is, adopting a policy of peace through strength, and consistently enforcing it.”

www.twincities.com

October 27, 2025 at 2:01 PM

UMN Political Science

@umnpolisci.bsky.social

"We are in an era of nationalized politics where no one is holding back from attacking the other party, even if it means attacking someone who also represents the constituents in the same state as you do," @kpminnesota.bsky.social said to @mprnews.org
www.mprnews.org/story/2025/1...

Tim Walz and Tom Emmer can’t stop maligning the other. Is Minnesota worse off for it?

Minnesota’s top Democrat and top Republican take frequent rhetorical jabs at one another although they’re not running against one another. The spat could have negative consequences for the people they...

Politics in Practice: Drew Christensen

October 17, 2025 at 3:01 PM

UMN Political Science

@umnpolisci.bsky.social

We will host our second Politics in Practice event, hosting our alumnus and former member of the MN House Drew Christensen, on October 30. Learn about Drew's time in the MN House, his current endeavors, and how you can use political science to pursue change & lead.
z.umn.edu/PiPDrewChris...

Learn about Drew's time in the Minnesota House, his current endeavors, and how you can use political science to pursue change & lead.

z.umn.edu

October 16, 2025 at 3:06 PM

UMN Political Science

@umnpolisci.bsky.social

"Not only the norms, but the separation of powers and checks and balances; it's gotten out of whack," says Professor Tim Johnson @trjumn.bsky.social in @startribune.com article on the importance of constitutional guardrails.
www.startribune.com/checks-balan...

Brown: When constitutional guardrails fail, we all lose

"This current moment might be unprecedented, but we can make it survivable for all — no matter our political views," Aaron Brown writes.

The Nobel Peace Prize draws attention, but rarely drives long-term change.

October 15, 2025 at 2:59 PM

UMN Political Science

@umnpolisci.bsky.social

"Domestic rights advocates very rarely get the boost from the Nobel Peace Prize that they hope for or expect," says Professor Ron Krebs in @nytimes.com article.

www.nytimes.com/live/2025/10...

www.nytimes.com

October 14, 2025 at 3:00 PM

UMN Political Science

@umnpolisci.bsky.social

Professor Tim Johnson @trjumn.bsky.social discusses the constitutional and legal guidelines the military is dedicated to following and how that conflicts with deploying federal troops in American cities in @startribune.com article: www.startribune.com/trump-admini...

Rash: The signals sent from the latest Signal chat leak

"The overeager deployment of our military forces within the U.S. is a mistake," John Rash writes.

Rash: Division is driving the government shutdown — and nearly everything else

October 9, 2025 at 2:56 PM

UMN Political Science

@umnpolisci.bsky.social

Prof Ron Krebs says Hegseth "suggested that the admirals and generals located in front of him represented the finest that America has to offer. Simultaneously, ... that the American military is fundamentally broken."

Read more in the @startribune.com article www.startribune.com/us-govt-shut...

"At midnight on Tuesday, the federal government shut down," John Rash writes. "But the national political shutdown came much earlier."

Karl Marx and Frederick Douglass - The Communist & the Revolutionary Liberal | #DouglassWeek 2025

October 2, 2025 at 3:36 PM

UMN Political Science

@umnpolisci.bsky.social

Professor August Nimtz and Kyle Edwards join Jack McKivigan, the Director of the Frederick Douglass Papers, to explore how Karl Marx and Frederick Douglass understood and responded to the American Civil War as it unfolded.
youtu.be/Cd3tT_R0ZmU?...

YouTube video by #DouglassWeek Team

youtu.be

September 30, 2025 at 3:20 PM

UMN Political Science

@umnpolisci.bsky.social

Professor Jane Sumner joins @mprnews.org to discuss how free speech is being viewed today and its intersection with societal pillars such as politics, academia, and business.

www.mprnews.org/episode/2025...

Politics Friday: Walz sounds off on new book, 3rd term bid and a rift with Republicans

Gov. Tim Walz is seeking a third term as Minnesota’s governor. MPR News politics editor Brian Bakst interviews Walz about his reelection campaign and challenges he’s confronting in the current term.