Also found Sturgill's latest stifling and silly, an unwelcome pivot from the tender first Johnny Blue Skies project, but happy it means we get to read Chris on it:

I don’t know who needs to hear Jesse Jackson leading the kids on Sesame Street in this beautiful call-and-response reminding them that every child is somebody, but here it is

I'm looking to interview some non-American musicians or bands who've decided not to tour in the U.S. this year because of ICE. Please hit my DMs if you are willing to chat about this decision.

In writing about J. Cole's Truck Sale Tour stop in DC, I heard from Maryland Gov. Wes Moore's team that his favorite Cole songs include Wet Dreamz and Ville Mentality. I also spoke to Ciera Lindsey, who drove around with Cole listening to his new album. For @washingtonpost.com: wapo.st/4kKtrUL

Support the staffers who were laid off today

Graceless pivot to survival: I’m launching THE FUTURE IS OURS TO MAKE A music newsletter of reccos, rants, illumination, shade, endangered forms (concert/album reviews, human interviews), formless dangers (trash talk, love lore, bespoke illos) — an expansion of my work as your critic + co-listener

I’ve been laid off by The Washington Post Serving as this newspaper’s pop music critic for the past 16-plus years has been my privilege, my joy Endless solidarity to my righteous colleagues, endless gratitude to our faithful readers

Today Show host Savannah Guthrie’s mom is missing, treated as a crime, police say w/ @ethanbeck2003.bsky.social www.washingtonpost.com/style/2026/0...

I profiled Nate Ruess, who was briefly a major popstar as the frontman for Fun. before leaving the music industry entirely. He's returned with his earlier indie pop group The Format, who put out their first album in 20 years today. For @washingtonpost.com: wapo.st/45s9sUr

I wrote an obituary for fashion giant Valentino Garavani today at @washingtonpost.com: www.washingtonpost.com/obituaries/2...

I wrote this piece for Public Source about what it means that the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette and City Paper are gone, along with where you can find news in the Burgh:

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette journalists are sharing a petition for readers to support potential next moves: different ownership of the Post-Gazette, a new daily news publication in Pittsburgh, restarting Pittsburgh Union Progress, their strike publication: actionnetwork.org/forms/pledgi...

On A1 today: Our obit for gospel star Richard Smallwood, whose song “Total Praise” became a church choir staple and was covered by Stevie Wonder and Destiny’s Child. By @ethanbeck2003.bsky.social 🎁🔗 wapo.st/4q11s5d

Our Richard Smallwood obituary. www.washingtonpost.com/obituaries/2...