As a labor union representing independent media workers, we feel it's important to name that both Lemon and Fort are independent journalists, and that the targeting of independent journalists should be treated with the same gravity as the targeting of those with institutional backing.

Today, we join unionized nonprofit newsrooms across the country as they stand shoulder-to-shoulder to demand that news industry leaders agree to common-sense guardrails around the implementation of artificial intelligence to protect the integrity, quality, and accuracy of our journalism.

We stand in solidarity with our @condeunion.bsky.social siblings at @teenvogue.com who were unceremoniously laid off last week. Layoffs are not a solution to unbalanced budgets, especially when those laid off come from marginalized backgrounds typically not represented at major media orgs.

I was part of the team who helped draft NWU's statement following Vox Media's sale of Polygon to Valnet, and the subsequent gutting of the site's staff. This decision, made by the corporate leadership at Vox Media, is a gut punch. I am angry & upset—for my editors, for myself, for this industry.

Whewwwwww 🔥🔥🔥 First star ⭐️ to hit the #MetGala carpet Teyana Taylor #Dapper #Dandy #BlackFashion “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style.”

Hi, we heard about the layoffs and we're pissed off. Read the statement here: nwu.org/polygon/

Proud to be a union member today and every day! And of you have: written an article worked on a book designed art published a newsletter shot photo or video produced audio edited written copy ...or really created anything at all, the National Writers Union is your union

My book officially releases one week from today. Extremely grateful for everyone who has pre-ordered, posted about it, shared, etc. it helps so, so much. For a debut, these early numbers can change everything. They can help me get future work, they can help the book find an audience and be seen.

Happy to say that my union NWU has echoed this formally: nwu.org/nwu-sanctuar... (are you a freelance writer/audio person/editor/etc and want to join a union? ask me about it!)

If you're in line to be the next spineless cog in the fascism machine, get out of line!!!!!!

Incredible news! The Trump administration's under 19 trans care ban has been BLOCKED in federal court via a bench temporary restraining order. The administration CANNOT withhold funds from hospitals providing trans youth care. ACLU statement here:

“A record number of journalists were killed worldwide in 2024, figures published today by the Committee to Protect Journalists show. Israel is responsible for nearly 70 percent of that total. At least 124 journalists across 18 countries were killed last year.”

Listening to an 18-minute punk song that is entirely high-volume cymbal crashes and kicks. Five minutes in, the band's singer rips a "extra brutally murdered in a disaster movie"-type scream. The exhale of relief I let out! That's the stuff, baby!

This organized crime we call a country.

An American flag composed only of Black people kinda sick

Me: well you see Kendrick's whole body of work is an epic about the cosmic battle between good and evil as told through one man, his family, and his neighborhood. And that epic exposes the rot at the heart of America and in the hearts of man My dad: ... Me: And also he really fucking hates Drake

Aha aha ahahahahaha what do you mean in one paragraph @katewagner.bsky.social summed up my inability to commit to writing my newsletter when thinking about the futility of capturing an audience in this media economy and feeling sunk under the weight of hypothetical audience scrutiny regardless?

Fuck em up Lillian

Just some baby sea otters in Morro Bay CA

OOP!!!

I donated $15 to Tareq and his family — can anyone match me? They are only $700 away from their current goal this month

This response from @sbearbergman.bsky.social to @hildur.bsky.social’s post has changed my week— it is so wholesome, and human, and so the energy we all need right now. And Kerstin Langenberger, the naturalist who posted “I am on my way with the necessary equipment”? This woman is the hero we need.

Well well well, guess what color is getting a second coat today! (This is actually a 2017-era Valspar called Pink Chocolate that looks warmer and blushier in-person) (Yes, my parents have been talking about painting the house since 2017 and finally I said ENOUGH ALREADY IM UNEMPLOYED I'LL DO IT)

It's #GivingTuesday and I'm donating to the Media Freelancers Legal Fund, to help freelancers who are getting stiffed for their paychecks who need to go to court to get what they are owed. It's a reality for far too many, and building this fund can help. www.zeffy.com/fundraising/...

We're looking to hear from the #Disability community about their experiences in voting. Please fill out this form if you're interested!

I just donated $20 to Salah, who is taking care of his 5-year-old brother and his family. Can anyone match me?

Remember: Reagan and his administration refused to even acknowledge the HIV/AIDS crisis until 1985, *years* after HIV made it to America, and only after a friend of his died from it (making it personal). His inaction lead to at least 80,000 direct deaths, mostly among the LGBT+ community.

Misk is trying to keep her dreams of the future alive while fundraising for evacuation. Any donations help her move towards that goal: to leave Gaza and finish university

BREAKING: Autonomous anti-genocide activists bring the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade to a grinding halt after blockading the McDonald’s float for a second year in a row. “Those grinches who thinks they can disrupt the parade: it’s not going to happen,” Mayor Eric Adams said yesterday.

Banners dropped on the Queensboro Bridge in protest against genocide and colonization, the origins of #Thanksgiving. “Genocide here. Genocide there. #Landback everywhere” reads one banner. “Free Palestine. Free the land. Free them all” reads the other.

Just remembered that Sloppy Jane put out an album that she recorded in a cave and that is exactly the vibe right now Enjoy this 7-minute song that starts to simulate a mental breakdown 4 minutes in 😃

If you are avoiding the emotional labor of working through your own thoughts and arguments in the format of the written word, you have to spend time doing increasingly convoluted and unrelated tasks. There aren't many rules to being a writer, but that's one of them

"Social platforms driven by trends, memes, and viral sound bites accelerate this homogeneity. ... How much of the overlap between Gifford and Sheil is simply the system working as intended?" Excellent piece by Mia, who always brings it back around to how Amazon is profiting off of all of this

drake is at least partially right & you can at least partially find out why in chapter 16 of mood machine the rise of spotify and the costs of the perfect playlist out january 7 2025 lizpelly.info/book

Today, the consistently anti-union Hearst Magazines became the latest media company to enact needless, irresponsible, and cruel layoffs of editorial employees. Solidarity with all @hearstunion.bsky.social members impacted. Statement:

I'm not a music business reporter so grain of salt, but: There's no way that Spotify and UMG put themselves in a situation where they have to disclose (under oath) the deals they cut and how much money changes hands. Right? They should win *this* case but will they want to submit the evidence why?

I am asking everyone who reads or sees this to please do just *one more thing* to avoid spreading COVID this holiday season. The post has a list of easy-ish options, like wear a mask on the subway or to the pharmacy if nowhere else. drmegkrausch.com/2024/11/22/d...

Gotta say I have been inspired by the potential of shit-posting for public consciousness-raising after visiting the Mexican Prints exhibit at the Met last week. This rules

THAT'S MY FRIEND WHO CO-LED ORGANIZING YES GIRL LET'S GOOOOOO

not sure what the right tags or words are on here for these requests, but it would be great if folks can share! looking for *any* stories of carcerality/policing at the public library

Not escaping my notice that the transphobic, gender-policing congresswoman has gone from an absolute no-name to a known quantity in just the last week, which is exactly what she wanted

If you are a trans person in Illinois arrested, harassed, or discriminated against for using a public bathroom, I can represent you pro bono. Email me at [email protected].

"they won't stop at trans people" - ok even if they did stop at trans people they still need their ass beat, right?