If you are a Democrat who can’t bring himself to say “this is dumber than dog shit and also completely insane” please retire

Love that fiction writer is one of the few professions committed to reminding us that other people are real.

A local politician I already didn’t like putting me on an email list from which I can’t unsubscribe is… probably having the intended effect

I know some writers don't like this, but I do enjoy when readers email to note small factual errors. In this era, anyone paying that level of attention is good with me. (Just received a note that it's unlikely uncle Bob would undergo an "annual colonoscopy" - sorry, uncle Bob!)

yep. i can identify any number of structural issues but at the end of the day the basic problem is the republican party. this has been apparent for at least 20 years. it is also an incredibly unpopular observation to make among “serious” people.

I realize this will never happen, but during these press conferences, when he says something idiotic like the insane-asylum thing, I just wish somebody would respond, “What the fuck are you talking about?”

amazing how the entire machine can pivot within 24 hours. no need to slowly upsell the argument; just issue new marching orders

A year end plug of THE SLIP from Ron Charles 🥊🙏

One thing elected Democrats and elected Republicans have in common is that neither seem aware they’re in Congress.

Some people are just impervious to any lessons history or common sense can offer us.

“I am going to offer a litany of caveats and qualifiers before saying what I actually mean” is not a useful form of political communication!!!

Last one left @bookpeople.com 🥊

A year end plug of THE SLIP from Ron Charles 🥊🙏

rubio pretty much believes in a reverse domino theory for latin america and since he is effectively running foreign policy in the region i would expect him to see cuba as his next target

Marco Rubio is reportedly saying Maduro will stand trial in US courts. Which means it’s now the US administration’s position that US courts can hold foreign presidents, but not the US president, accountable for crimes.

What amazes me is how quickly people are losing either the confidence or the willingness to complete basic human tasks.

They spent months and months insisting he was an antisemite, with zero evidence, and then he chooses to get sworn in as mayor by America’s most famous and beloved Jewish politician. His critics are a mix of liars and fools.

2026

I was wondering what Mamdani's first executive order would be, and I'm not disappointed by this. He has wiped off the books EVERY Eric Adams executive order issued on or after September 26, 2024, the day Adams was indicted on federal bribery charges.

THE SLIP by @lucaseschaefer.bsky.social was a page-turner - I whipped through its 487 pages in 48 hours. Beautiful prose brings to life these vibrant characters as they struggle and shape their identities in and out of the ring. #booksky #reads #bookwrap

I think it might be a shock to reactionary tech bros that the city of Austin predates them and they won’t be missed when they leave

A huge and heartfelt thank you to everyone who supported THE SLIP this year, especially the booksellers who promoted it, the critics who spread the word, & the friends and family who came out to support it 🥊

A huge and heartfelt thank you to everyone who supported THE SLIP this year, especially the booksellers who promoted it, the critics who spread the word, & the friends and family who came out to support it 🥊

Loved chatting with @lauravandenberg.bsky.social for her wonderful Fight Week substack. We talked about boxing gym culture, what boxing taught me about writing & more. 🥊 fightweek.substack.com

If you’re trying to nab THE SLIP and find yourself getting the message below, just a reminder you can (and should!) grab it from @bookshop.org or your local indie. Here in Austin it is currently in stock @bookpeople.com, Reverie, Birdhouse, Black Pearl, The Little Gay Shop & Vintage!

Loved chatting with @lauravandenberg.bsky.social for her wonderful Fight Week substack. We talked about boxing gym culture, what boxing taught me about writing & more. 🥊 fightweek.substack.com

@lucaseschaefer.bsky.social: have you seen The Book Report? Congratulations. #writingcommunity #writerslift #booksky #bluesky #booklovers www.youtube.com/watch?v=T2BH...

2025 was my first full year freelancing, and to my happy surprise I got enough published to do a summary thread! I mostly wrote from bed, but I was at the very fun and hot Australian Open, and covered it for Defector. (Sans credential, but check back in a month.) defector.com/the-australi...

Defector also let me do some boxing blogs, one a Q&A with author Lucas Schaefer on his brilliant and audacious debut novel THE SLIP, and another on a violent card in November (all gift links): defector.com/lucas-schaef... defector.com/the-fights-g...

Fun to see Anthony Marra’s review of THE SLIP in print today @nytimes.com Book Review 🥊

Fun to see Anthony Marra’s review of THE SLIP in print today @nytimes.com Book Review 🥊

New me (yogurt stained pants, beret, Guinness and High West)

Bari Weiss has greatly benefited from the elite contention that it is essential to “fair debate” that we pretend that bad faith actors are acting in good faith (instead of the proper course of action: telling them to fuck off)

“The one thing about [insert horrible public figure] is you have to admit they’re smart.” No I don’t!

This book is wild good! The Slip by @lucaseschaefer.bsky.social

Fun to see THE SLIP on @jcgrenn-reads.bsky.social top 10 books of 2025 in the Clarion Ledger. & with the Monte Cristo reference! 🥊

always amazed to see the ways people will debase themselves for free

The only appropriate response to “how many books have you sold?” is “how many books have you sold?”

That 60 Minutes piece will win a Pulitzer and Bari Weiss will instantly change her bio to “Pulitzer Prize Winning Journalist.” And feel zero shame doing it.

Never change, Bari Weiss

Maximalist or spare, genre or literary, written in French or in rhyme - the one guarantee is that someone will say it’s been “workshopped to death”

Nice to see Anthony Marra’s review of THE SLIP highlighted in today’s @nytimes.com Book Review newsletter on books that defy the algorithm 🥊

It’s the entire point. There’s no plan to make this meaningful for students. No plan to use it administratively. Its design and implementation signals its only real intent. It’s best and easiest use case is for systematic harassment and to scare faculty into complying in advance.

Had fun talking to Sarah Orman for her A Reader’s Compendium substack substack.com/@sarahorman

One of our goals when we started spreading the word about THE SLIP was to get writers who cover boxing in on the action, so it’s especially gratifying to read this review from the wonderful Andrew Rihn in The Fight City 🥊 www.thefightcity.com/can-the-grea...

Just a stunning degree of incompetence from the FBI. The problem when all law enforcement resources are being redirected to terrorize immigrants (and, really, all Black and Brown people), and the FBI head is a grifter. www.bostonglobe.com/2025/12/16/n...

One of our goals when we started spreading the word about THE SLIP was to get writers who cover boxing in on the action, so it’s especially gratifying to read this review from the wonderful Andrew Rihn in The Fight City 🥊 www.thefightcity.com/can-the-grea...