Ron Charles
@roncharles.bsky.social
📤 4392
📥 123
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I write about books at
https://roncharles.substack.com/
Trump keeps giving Putin whatever he wants.
www.wsj.com/world/europe...
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Trump Orders the Withdrawal of 5,000 U.S. Troops From Germany
The move comes after German Chancellor Friedrich Merz criticized President Trump’s handling of the war in Iran.
https://www.wsj.com/world/europe/trump-orders-the-withdrawal-of-5-000-u-s-troops-from-germany-e6e7ca87?st=DDNpho&reflink=article_copyURL_share
about 6 hours ago
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A night at a Washington theater. A violent attack just miles away. I didn’t realize they were unfolding at the same time until I checked my phone after the play. I wrote about that strange convergence today.
open.substack.com/pub/roncharl...
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While Macbeth Played, Shots Rang Out
A night at the theater echoed an assassination attempt just miles away.
https://open.substack.com/pub/roncharles/p/while-macbeth-played-shots-rang-out?r=atlgd&utm_medium=ios
1 day ago
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Tom Perrotta’s new novel follows a writer forced to confront the grief he’s spent 50 years avoiding. My review of “Ghost Town”:
roncharles.substack.com/p/tom-perrot...
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Tom Perrotta and the Summer That Broke a Boy
In “Ghost Town,” a writer finally confronts the grief he avoided for 50 years.
https://roncharles.substack.com/p/tom-perrotta-and-the-summer-that
5 days ago
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Remember when Melania condemned the man who threatened to kill "a whole civilization" and celebrated the death of FBI Director Robert Mueller? Maybe if she watched less late-night TV, she wouldn't miss the "hateful and violent rhetoric" coming from her own house.
deadline.com/2026/04/mela...
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Melania Trump Calls On ABC To “Take A Stand” Against Jimmy Kimmel As She Rails Against Late Night Host Following A Scathing Monologue
First Lady Melania Trump issued a blistering statement about Jimmy Kimmel, following a scathing faux White House Correspondents’ Dinner monologue he delivered in advance of the event last week. The fi...
https://deadline.com/2026/04/melania-trump-jimmy-kimmel-abc-1236873370/
5 days ago
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"A wealthy man decided that journalism that displeased him deserved institutional destruction, and then he arranged it." Peter Thiel isn't done.
www.bostonglobe.com/2026/04/24/o...
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Peter Thiel has a new tool for intimidating reporters - The Boston Globe
The Silicon Valley billionaire has long disdained the media.
https://www.bostonglobe.com/2026/04/24/opinion/peter-thiel-objection-media-gawker/?s_campaign=sharetool_Bluesky_view
8 days ago
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Almost all challenges to library books last year came not from parents, but from pressure groups and government officials. Today’s newsletter on the new politics of censorship, plus Arbor Day (!), poetry, and more.
roncharles.substack.com/p/whos-reall...
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Who’s Really Behind America’s Book Bans
Forget the concerned parent. Activists and officials drive almost all book challenges.
https://roncharles.substack.com/p/whos-really-behind-americas-book
8 days ago
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Maria Semple’s "Go Gentle" just debuted at No. 7 on the bestseller list. Here’s my review of the witty novel that vaults from Stoicism to rom-com chaos.
roncharles.substack.com/p/woman-on-t...
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Woman on the Verge of Losing Control
Maria Semple’s “Go Gentle” ricochets from ancient philosophy to rom-com thrills
https://roncharles.substack.com/p/woman-on-the-verge-of-losing-control
11 days ago
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T.C. Boyle’s new novel starts with a one-night stand and escalates into class resentment, violence, and self-destruction. My review is out now.
roncharles.substack.com/p/the-one-ni...
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The One-Night Stand That Ruins Everything
In T.C. Boyle’s ferocious new novel, lust, class, and rage collide.
https://roncharles.substack.com/p/the-one-night-stand-that-ruins-everything
12 days ago
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Good grief… This chronicle of madness feels like the kind of exposé you expect to read after order has been restored. But it’s still going on, and Republican senators are apparently fine with it.
www.wsj.com/politics/nat...
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Behind Trump’s Public Bravado on the War, He Grapples With His Own Fears
The president’s impulsive style has never been tested in a sustained military conflict, and he’s been ruminating on Jimmy Carter’s failure in Iran.
https://www.wsj.com/politics/national-security/trump-public-bravado-private-fear-59814dca?st=oXXZkN&reflink=article_copyURL_share
14 days ago
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Terrific spring books section in today’s
@wsj.com
www.wsj.com/arts-culture...
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Our Celebration of Spring Reading
Lewis and Clark, the Rolling Stones, John Foster Dulles and more from the season’s most exciting books.
https://www.wsj.com/arts-culture/books/our-celebration-of-spring-reading-896a2cb1?st=FtnsRx&reflink=article_copyURL_share
14 days ago
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The way Tanner greets Dawn, you’d never know I’d been playing with him all day. What dogs see when they look at us — and what we might be missing:
roncharles.substack.com/p/what-dogs-...
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What Dogs See — and What We See in Them
Attention, devotion, and the meaning of the canine gaze
https://roncharles.substack.com/p/what-dogs-see-what-we-see-in-them
16 days ago
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“Don’t we love Adora?” We do. Stoic philosophy and exploding burritos: Maria Semple’s "Go Gentle" is a wild ride. My review:
roncharles.substack.com/p/woman-on-t...
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Woman on the Verge of Losing Control
Maria Semple’s “Go Gentle” ricochets from ancient philosophy to rom-com thrills
https://roncharles.substack.com/p/woman-on-the-verge-of-losing-control
18 days ago
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Oprah just chose Maria Semple’s "Go Gentle" for her book club — and yes, it really is that wild: Stoic philosophy, exploding burritos, and a heroine who greets each day by telling the universe, “Surprise me!” My review:
roncharles.substack.com/p/woman-on-t...
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Woman on the Verge of Losing Control
Maria Semple’s “Go Gentle” ricochets from ancient philosophy to rom-com thrills
https://roncharles.substack.com/p/woman-on-the-verge-of-losing-control
18 days ago
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Maria Semple’s "Go Gentle" ricochets from Stoic philosophy to rom-com thrills — with terrorists, exploding burritos, and a heroine who wakes up each day and tells the universe, “Surprise me.” My review:
roncharles.substack.com/p/woman-on-t...
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Woman on the Verge of Losing Control
Maria Semple’s “Go Gentle” ricochets from ancient philosophy to rom-com thrills
https://roncharles.substack.com/p/woman-on-the-verge-of-losing-control
18 days ago
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"Hey Siri, if I've posted a blasphemous image of myself as Jesus Christ, what ludicrous excuse could I feed to my addled cultists when I'm forced to delete it?"
19 days ago
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The richest Americans don’t pay income taxes like you do. This week’s newsletter: how that works — and how to stop it.
roncharles.substack.com/p/how-to-avo...
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How to Avoid Taxes Forever
While you’re wrestling with Form 1040, the super-rich are sheltered by the system.
https://roncharles.substack.com/p/how-to-avoid-taxes-forever
23 days ago
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It's not fair to say that Trump's Iran War accomplished nothing. It made a ton of money for these oil executives:
www.wsj.com/business/ene...
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Oil CEOs Raked in Money From Trump’s Iran War
Energy executives sold stock worth $1.4 billion in the first quarter on the back of a historic shock to the world’s crude supplies.
https://www.wsj.com/business/energy-oil/oil-ceos-raked-in-money-from-trumps-iran-war-74486920
24 days ago
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Astonishing WSJ story about Trump's use of a low-level, sycophantic lackey to corrupt the Justice Department.
www.wsj.com/us-news/law/...
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This Prosecutor Was Floundering. Now He’s a Go-To Guy at Trump’s DOJ.
After Pam Bondi’s ouster, the administration will likely lean even more heavily on lawyers such as Robert Keenan.
https://www.wsj.com/us-news/law/prosecutor-justice-department-trump-79bc6772?st=ESMfc6&reflink=desktopwebshare_permalink
24 days ago
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“Executives say there is considerable overlap between shoppers hunting for a $20 tube of lipstick and a $50,000 handbag.” (Sh*t Executives Say)
www.wsj.com/cfo-journal/...
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The Retailer That Welcomes Returns
While other retailers cut back, Revolve is doubling down on fast, free shipping and easy returns.
https://www.wsj.com/cfo-journal/the-retailer-that-welcomes-returns-be378ed0?st=iZwPzY&reflink=article_copyURL_share
27 days ago
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I wrote this morning about trying to take a week off without feeling like everything will collapse. Still not convinced I know how to do that. But here goes:
open.substack.com/pub/roncharl...
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Free Time
Now that I work for myself, taking a week off feels like a risky act of faith.
https://open.substack.com/pub/roncharles/p/out-of-the-office
29 days ago
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Big publishing news this morning:
roncharles.substack.com/p/ai-platfor...
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AI Platform Set to Transform Publishing
Finally freeing books from human involvement
https://roncharles.substack.com/p/ai-platform-set-to-transform-publishing
about 1 month ago
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Fiction almost never treats disabled adults with such complexity and humor — or with so little sentimentality. My review of Woody Brown’s debut novel, "Upward Bound":
roncharles.substack.com/p/the-lives-...
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The Lives We Don’t See
In “Upward Bound,” Woody Brown captures the humor, frustration, and longing of adults with disabilities.
https://roncharles.substack.com/p/the-lives-we-dont-see
about 1 month ago
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Attention pilgrims: In Canterbury, there’s now an immersive Canterbury Tales attraction featuring projections, puppets, animatronics, holograms — and “family-friendly” Chaucer. Naturally, I had questions:
roncharles.substack.com/i/192161500/...
about 1 month ago
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Julia Alvarez this week at Georgetown: funny, wise, and still wonderfully alert to the possibilities of revision. I wrote a little about the evening in this week’s newsletter:
roncharles.substack.com/i/192161500/...
about 1 month ago
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First Lady Melania Trump appeared with a humanoid robot this week to imagine the future of education. It was one of the bleakest tech fantasies I’ve seen in a while. My new piece:
roncharles.substack.com/p/the-white-...
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The White House Wants Robot Teachers
The latest tech fantasy mistakes information for wisdom — and automation for care.
https://roncharles.substack.com/p/the-white-house-wants-robot-teachers
about 1 month ago
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Today’s review: “American Han,” Lisa Lee's debut novel about ambition, cruelty, and the cost of success within one immigrant family.
roncharles.substack.com/p/what-succe...
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What Success Costs
In “American Han,” Lisa Lee charts how an immigrant family’s ambition poisons them all
https://roncharles.substack.com/p/what-success-costs
about 1 month ago
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The new censors don’t storm in with pitchforks and torches. They come screaming about balance, fairness and free speech. It’s a different strategy—and a more effective one. I write about that here:
roncharles.substack.com/p/the-new-ce...
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The New Censorship Isn’t Quiet
How populist leaders weaponize free speech to discredit the press — and erode democracy
https://roncharles.substack.com/p/the-new-censorship-isnt-quiet
about 1 month ago
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“No one needs to bleed for the news to die.” My new essay on how “free speech” is being weaponized to undermine the press—and democracy.
roncharles.substack.com/p/the-new-ce...
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The New Censorship Isn’t Quiet
How populist leaders weaponize free speech to discredit the press — and erode democracy
https://roncharles.substack.com/p/the-new-censorship-isnt-quiet
about 1 month ago
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Are the rules of marriage changing again? I asked Cynthia D’Aprix Sweeney — here’s what she said: Full review of "Lake Effect":
roncharles.substack.com/p/the-divorc...
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about 2 months ago
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My review of Cynthia D’Aprix Sweeney’s “Lake Effect” is up — a novel about what happens after two marriages fall apart (and why that might not be a tragedy).
roncharles.substack.com/p/the-divorc...
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The Divorce Revolution Comes to Suburbia
Cynthia D’Aprix Sweeney’s "Lake Effect" traces the upheaval — and the joy — after two marriages fall apart.
https://roncharles.substack.com/p/the-divorce-revolution-comes-to-suburbia
about 2 months ago
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“The only people for me are the mad ones.” A new exhibit at the Grolier Club in New York explores Jack Kerouac’s manuscripts, letters and spiritual searching. I wrote about it in Friday’s newsletter:
roncharles.substack.com/i/190249321/...
about 2 months ago
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When he was 7, Manchán Magan found a leprechaun’s pipe in the garden. That strange discovery opens a wonderful book about the Irish language — which has 32 different words for “field.” I wrote about it in today’s newsletter:
roncharles.substack.com/p/why-irish-...
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Why Irish Needs 32 Words for “Field”
The language of a landscape where magic still lingers.
https://roncharles.substack.com/p/why-irish-needs-32-words-for-field
about 2 months ago
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Karan Mahajan’s new novel *The Complex* unfolds like an endless family gathering — an Indian version of Hotel California: You can check out anytime you want, but you can never leave. My review (with a short video from Mahajan):
roncharles.substack.com/p/all-in-the...
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All in the Family Complex
A new novel from National Book Award finalist Karan Mahajan traps generations inside a Delhi compound where resentment and ambition thrive.
https://roncharles.substack.com/p/all-in-the-family-complex
about 2 months ago
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A new bill in Congress would punish schools for letting students read about gender identity — or even “lascivious dancing.” Somewhere, Kevin Bacon is very nervous.
roncharles.substack.com/p/now-congre...
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Now Congress Is Coming for the Books
A new bill would punish schools that let students read about gender identity or "lascivious dancing"
https://roncharles.substack.com/p/now-congress-is-coming-for-the-books
about 2 months ago
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A new bill in Congress would punish schools for letting students read about gender identity — and “lascivious dancing.” Book bans aren’t fading. They’re evolving. Today’s newsletter:
roncharles.substack.com/p/now-congre...
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Now Congress Is Coming for the Books
A new bill would punish schools that let students read about gender identity or "lascivious dancing"
https://roncharles.substack.com/p/now-congress-is-coming-for-the-books
about 2 months ago
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Heartbreaking.
www.wsj.com/finance/inve...
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War Is Hell for Bonds—Especially Now
Plus, markets don’t like K-pop.
https://www.wsj.com/finance/investing/war-is-hell-for-bondsespecially-now-0691331d?st=Cea25g&reflink=article_copyURL_share
about 2 months ago
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M.L. Stedman’s new novel feels like a Greek tragedy transplanted to the Australian outback. My review of “A Far-Flung Life.”
roncharles.substack.com/p/ml-stedman...
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M.L. Stedman Is Back — With Another Impossible Dilemma
In “A Far-Flung Life,” the author of “The Light Between Oceans” spins a wrenching tale of love tested by secrecy.
https://roncharles.substack.com/p/ml-stedman-is-back-with-another-impossible
about 2 months ago
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reposted by
Ron Charles
People's Book
2 months ago
@rjhartigan.bsky.social
is going to clear up what happened to Amelia Earhart once and for all ;) Join us for a conversation at People's Book on Mon. 3/2 @7pm about her new book, Lost. She'll be in conversation with
@roncharles.bsky.social
- I promise, we'll all learn something!
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From Lincoln’s eloquence to Trump’s 108-minute harangue
open.substack.com/pub/roncharl...
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The Collapse of Presidential Rhetoric
From Lincoln’s eloquence to Trump’s 108-minute harangue
https://open.substack.com/pub/roncharles/p/the-collapse-of-presidential-rhetoric?utm_campaign=post-expanded-share&utm_medium=web
2 months ago
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reposted by
Ron Charles
Princeton University Press
2 months ago
@roncharles.bsky.social
calls Heather L. Reid and Phillip Mitsis's translation of Lucian "so immediate you can feel the athletes flinging sweat into your eyes." Read the full How to Compete review here:
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Do I Still Matter?
Two new books — and a lot of free time — got me thinking about how we yearn to matter.
https://roncharles.substack.com/p/do-i-still-matter
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The author of ‘An American Marriage’ returns with a novel about two girlhood friends who set off in different directions.
roncharles.substack.com/p/in-tayari-...
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In Tayari Jones’s ‘Kin,’ Friendship Persists as Lives Diverge
The author of ‘An American Marriage’ returns with a novel about two girlhood friends who set off in different directions.
https://roncharles.substack.com/p/in-tayari-joness-kin-friendship-persists?r=atlgd
2 months ago
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Producing yesterday’s newsletter was delightful chaos. When I sat down to copy-edit, the power went out. I jumped in the car & rode w Dawn to school, where she set me up in the English office. Then we saw JASON REYNOLDS in the school auditorium!
open.substack.com/pub/roncharl...
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Do I Still Matter?
Two new books — and a lot of free time — got me thinking about how we yearn to matter.
https://open.substack.com/pub/roncharles/p/do-i-still-matter?utm_campaign=post-expanded-share&utm_medium=post%20viewer
2 months ago
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Mohammed Hanif's new novel drops readers into a dazzling bazaar of history, tragedy, and farce.
open.substack.com/pub/roncharl...
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Comedy in a Country on Fire
In ‘Rebel English Academy,’ Mohammed Hanif scorches state terror from the inside.
https://open.substack.com/pub/roncharles/p/comedy-in-a-country-on-fire?utm_campaign=post-expanded-share&utm_medium=web
2 months ago
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Roses are red, violets are blue. A Valentine’s Substack, written for you.
open.substack.com/pub/roncharl...
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Love, Actually (and Scientifically, and Otherwise)
From the Kinsey Institute to “Wuthering Heights” to hand-painted Valentines
https://open.substack.com/pub/roncharles/p/love-actually-and-scientifically?r=atlgd&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true
3 months ago
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After 20 years, I've been laid off at The Washington Post.
substack.com/home/post/p-...
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I’ve Been Laid Off. I’m Not Done.
After 20 years at The Washington Post, I’m suddenly on my own — and still writing about books.
https://substack.com/home/post/p-186865843
3 months ago
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Terrifying story about how the Trump administration is ramping up efforts to spy on and intimidate anyone who questions its actions:
www.washingtonpost.com/investigatio...
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Homeland Security is targeting Americans with this secretive legal weapon
Under Trump, the Department of Homeland Security has weaponized administrative subpoenas to attack free speech, according to privacy and civil rights groups.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/investigations/2026/02/03/homeland-security-administrative-subpoena/
3 months ago
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Good Lord….. House Majority Whip Tom Emmer (R), the highest-ranking Minnesotan in Congress, said,” We are grateful no Border Patrol officers were harmed.”
www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2026/...
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Live updates: Man fatally shot by federal agents in Minneapolis believed to be U.S. citizen
Police did not immediately respond to requests for comment about the incident, and Gov. Tim Walz provided few details.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2026/01/24/minneapolis-shooting/
3 months ago
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"In the annals of political lawfare there’s dumb, and then there’s the criminal subpoena federal prosecutors delivered Friday to Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell."
www.wsj.com/opinion/jero...
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Opinion | Lawfare for Dummies, Monetary Edition
DOJ’s criminal subpoena to Fed Chair Jerome Powell is a self-defeating fiasco.
https://www.wsj.com/opinion/jerome-powell-subpoena-federal-reserve-department-of-justice-donald-trump-bill-pulte-jeanine-pirro-b6913599
4 months ago
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So hard to decide... Should I work with Copilot for eight minutes to craft an inane reply that sounds like it came from the Borg Queen's middle school son or just write the reply myself?
4 months ago
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This week, JD Vance lost the 2028 Republican primary for president. No one comes back from shocking the nation’s conscience this deeply.
4 months ago
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