What if the message behind a beloved book is not as benign as it seems? open.substack.com/pub/midlifei...

When a kick-ass reporter uncovers a story as crazy as any thriller. villagemagazine.ie/dubai-heir-c...

While much about the appeal trial for the only of Gisèle Pelicot's rapists to have contested his conviction was depressingly familiar, there were hopeful glimmers indicating that change is underway. www.thepersistent.com/gisele-pelic...

This is not an exaggeration of what is happening in the U.S. This is history repeating itself. Only we can stop it, and only en masse.

Alaa was a symbol for all who wanted to believe in a better Egypt. He & his family paid dearly for his refusal to give up that hope.He is finally free. I pray he & his family are able to heal. Egypt Pardons Most Prominent Political Prisoner www.nytimes.com/2025/09/22/w...

On growing up, leaving, and redefining what it means to belong. midlifeinparis.substack.com/p/between-ho...

This is why I will always pay more to avoid riding with Uber when I can. Not because I fear being assaulted myself, but because the company doesn't prioritize the safety of women. www.nytimes.com/2025/08/06/b...

Tales of sexual abuse are always upsetting, but they’re particularly hard to stomach when the victims are young. Abuse of young children was one of the many unexplored elements of the Pelicot trial. Every time I read one of these stories, my heart breaks all over again. nypost.com/2025/07/30/u...

As we grow more polarized and disconnected, we are losing our capacity to feel for one another. When that happens, we all suffer. midlifeinparis.substack.com/p/the-distan...

attended the homage to Gisèle at the Avignon Festival and wrote about it for @thepersistent.bsky.social www.thepersistent.com/pelicot-tria...

Buckle up kids.

What is it that prevents people for standing up for what’s right—or that motivates those who do? We Will Regret Not Standing Up to This Venomous Cruelty www.nytimes.com/2025/07/14/o...

Ten years? Is it time for France to revisit its rape sentencing guidelines? www.rfi.fr/en/internati...

This really, really makes me angry. @thepersistent.bsky.social www.thepersistent.com/india-marita...

Every time I see one of these stories, I wonder who are these ICE thugs and where did they find them? Do they train them to be this aggressive or do they just find people who are already that way? Brad Lander Is Arrested by ICE Agents at Immigration Courthouse www.nytimes.com/2025/06/17/n...

It takes action, not words, to rebuild systems. If you’re not doing anything concrete, can you really call yourself an ally? midlifeinparis.substack.com/p/men-steppi...

“Trump is using military forces to stop a protest — I want y'all to consider what kind of government it appears to be when every time we exercise our democratic right to protest, the military is deployed against us.” Doechii at the #BETAwards

Well, duh. Could have seen this coming. Let's hope he realizes he's shooting himself in the foot here and finds a way to dial it back quickly.

For my book, I asked @equalitynow if countries with consent-based rape are better at prosecuting sex crimes than those without. They said the best laws in the world are meaningless if not adequately enforced--meaning it can all come down to one person. bit.ly/43Z6W6E

The men inside the kiosk where I bought these were speaking Arabic. Not the North African Arabic one hears in Paris, a familiar one. “I’m Egyptian too” I said n Arabic, and we went on to have a basic conversation. It was the first time I’d used Arabic in years. I’ve retained more than I'd realized.

Daily Dose of Beauty Caravaggio. Chiaroscuro. Sublime.

Daily Dose of Beauty

Daily Dose of Beauty I spent today at SciencesPo J-school judging final projects. The thing I enjoy most about teaching is seeing how young people view the world, and these projects are a remarkable window onto that. These students are remarkably enthusiastic and still beautifully unjaded.

My moment of beauty today is the time I spent with friends. At the end of the day, connection is everything. Also, I drank a wee bit more than perhaps I should have. And sometimes that’s a good thing. A thing of beauty, even.

Daily Dose of Beauty I spent the day at home. The sky was gray, so I figured I’d have to dig through the archives for my moment of beauty. And then I glanced up from my computer and a glimmer of sunlight was illuminating the reflection on my window.

Laila Soueif is the mother of human rights activist Alaa Abd El-Fattah, who is being held as a political prisoner in Egypt and one of the most intelligent and compassionate people I know. Laila is on a hunger strike protesting his continued detention, and her survival is in jeopardy. #FreeAlaa

Daily dose of beauty

Daily dose of beauty

When we were reporting the Trump book, we knew there were many, many women out there who couldn't talk to us because they had signed NDAs. NDAs enable bad actors to keep committing crimes in the dark. This would be an important step forward. observer.co.uk/news/the-sen...

What are your tricks for staying positive when everything feels bleak? midlifeinparis.substack.com/p/finding-li...

Gerard Depardieu found guilty of sexual assault

The sexual assault trial of the actor Gérard Depardieu — which took place in Paris earlier this month — has been hailed in the press as a moment of cultural reckoning. But is it? Read @moniqueelfaizy.bsky.social:

The sexual assault trial of the actor Gérard Depardieu — which took place in Paris earlier this month — has been hailed in the press as a moment of cultural reckoning. But is it? Read @moniqueelfaizy.bsky.social: www.thepersistent.com/gerard-depar...

"I have a colleague...his fingers were crushed... They showed him a picture of his wife & said 'we're going to gang rape her in front of you if you don't admit you're Hamas.'" Dr Mark Perlmutter, in Gaza, on what Israel is doing to Palestinian doctors. My full interview: zeteo.com/p/us-embassy...

We won't put an end to violence against women until we address the crisis of masculinity open.substack.com/pub/midlifei...

The disappearing of Mahmoud Khalil, a person with permanent legal status in the US, should be a red line that everyone should recognize. They knocked on his door and vanished him into an authoritarian system without a trace. Your door could be next. jaredyatessexton.substack.com/p/so-it-begi...

A federal judge in NY has blocked any effort by the Trump administration to deport Mahmoud Khalil – whose arrest and imminent deportation Trump celebrated on Turth Social today — until further proceedings play out. storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...

Are women obligated to have sex with their husbands? French courts seemed to think so. One woman wasn't having it. midlifeinparis.substack.com/p/another-gr...

It’s starting to feel as though sexual assault is a requirement for Trump nominees. www.nytimes.com/2025/01/24/u...

I wish I could say I’m surprised, but this is a familiar story by now. And a disgusting one. Women simply don’t matter in patriarchies. www.nytimes.com/2025/01/23/u...

Pelicot was, indeed, just the tip of the iceberg www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article...

We expect a verdict in the Pelicot trial to be delivered on Thursday, Friday at the latest. Elsewhere in France, the far right continues to make itself felt. This year is definitely not ending with a whimper. open.substack.com/pub/midlifei...