Some news: I’ve been laid off by The Ringer. It was a rewarding eight and a half years and I’m proud to have literally written the most articles in the site’s history. I’d love to keep writing about pop culture elsewhere — drop me a line: msurrey2 at gmail

Tonight is the State of the Union. We know the first year of the Trump regime been defined by lawlessness, violence, and a craven desire for ever more money and power. @theringer.com.web.brid.gy looks at its impact — including here in DC.

Tonight, at the State of the Union, Trump will lie about the cruelty of his presidency. But the people Trump is attacking have faces, voices, and stories. They are the stories of this country.  I was honored to have my story included alongside brave folks standing up to Trump.

Jesse Jackson died Tuesday at the age of 84. The civil rights icon always held America to account—and never stopped fighting to preserve what he knew could be taken away. I wrote about how he saw our future so well.

Went to Minneapolis and spent time in the homes of people hiding from ICE. Those who’ve been detained and who fear detainment, undocumented immigrants and American citizens, all fearful of the dangers outside their homes, all reliant on a remarkable network of care. www.theringer.com/2026/02/19/n...

*new* from me: As pitchers and catchers report to Spring Training, three front office staffers spoke to me about helping Latino baseball players and their families navigate an America ravaged by ICE raids. They say guidance from MLB has been “minimal” so their teams are getting creative.

Me on the death of the Washington Post sports section. This isn't a day to be nostalgic. It's a day to be angry. www.theringer.com/2026/02/04/m...

Absolutely incredible longread on 'sacrifice zones' in the South with intergenerational environmental racism shaping who lives, and how.

Hello and welcome back! We've got some terrific stories to share today, starting with the first SLR Original of 2026. If you value this newsletter, we'd greatly appreciate you telling a friend (or three) about The Sunday Long Read! mailchi.mp/sundaylongre...

St. John the Baptist Parish is a small industrial hub whose residents face the highest likelihood of developing cancer through air pollution in the U.S. Why is it a battleground in America’s cultural war? @dvnjr.bsky.social's top pick by @tribecalledlex.bsky.social www.theringer.com/2026/01/21/f...

What a piece. Perfect packaging by The Ringer, incredible reporting & photography by Pryor....but beyond that, I know its only January, but I don't see how this isn't in my top 10 magazine pieces of 2026, just amazingly written and moving stuff. A Must-Read piece.

"It’s numerically impossible for you to be related only to good people. You have too many ancestors.” www.theringer.com/2026/01/21/f...

Wrote about a parish in Louisiana’s “Cancer Alley” called St. John the Baptist. It’s spent the last year caught in the middle of the culture war, but has been breaking and fueling hearts for centuries. www.theringer.com/2026/01/21/f...

The Ringer is a weird website (complimentary) that publishes great sports pieces, weird pop culture lists j am too old to get, and long form reported features on environmental racism with gorgeous prose (so far, halfway through! Anything could happen) from @tribecalledlex.bsky.social

Hanif Abdurraqib has curated an extraordinary collection showcasing incredible feats and diverse perspectives across the world of sports. We're honored to announce this year's featured writers! Pre-order The Year's Best Sports Writing 2025 today: buff.ly/7gs9meT

MLB is celebrating Jackie Robinson on the field. Off the field, it’s placating a president who wants to dismantle everything Jackie stood for. @tribecalledlex.bsky.social on the Dodgers’ White House visit, DEI and Trumpism, and Jackie’s legacy: www.theringer.com/2025/04/15/m...

a powerful piece from @tribecalledlex.bsky.social. Well worth your time theringer.com/2025/04/15/m...