Stark illustration of NYT political desk's devotion to polling and prediction (the odds) versus what issues Americans are struggling with and what we need from our national government (the stakes). Most national media do same. Local newsrooms should ask what stakeholders need and candidates offer

If the Iran War treaty includes a provision to merge Iran with SpaceX, we could have self-driving Straits of Hormuz on Mars by the end of the decade, wiping out the national debt and making the Dow hit eleventy million. by Collin Rugg, Benny Johnson, and David Sacks

Breaking | The Trump Administration is negotiating a deal to repaint Reflecting Pool to prior color, allow algae to stay.

CrimeReads: The rise of Elaine's Literary Salon in Alexandria, Virginia

Seattle-area friends: See you Sunday? www.pikeplacemarket.org/events-calen...

Against the backdrop of an energy crisis and a warming planet, more than 50 countries have come to Santa Marta, Colombia, to discuss concrete ways to phase out oil, gas, and coal. n.pr/3R8HSah

after much deliberation and giving AI the benefit of the doubt, Wikipedia editors have had enough of AI slop. New policy bans LLM generated content, periodt www.404media.co/wikipedia-ba...

I do not like this gen AI I do not like what it implies I do not want it in my art I do not think it makes you smart I do not want it in my games I do not like its goals and aims I do not want it in my books I do not like the way it looks I do not like it, I don't care I do not want it anywhere

Appalling. In our name: "‘Don’t go to the US – not with Trump in charge’: the UK tourist with a valid visa detained by ICE for six weeks. Karen Newton was in America on the trip of a lifetime when she was shackled, transported and held for weeks on end." www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026...

Congress must act to improve aviation safety and prevent a tragedy like the DCA collision, which claimed 67 lives last year, from happening again. I plan to vote YES on the ROTOR Act and am proud to support draft text released by the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee.

Detaining children and babies in prison-like facilities is a cruel betrayal of American values – and it’s beyond shameful. No one who claims to value human dignity can accept this as normal.

Where the five Democratic candidates stand on the issues — in their own words

How Reuters captured the photo of former Prince Andrew leaving custody reut.rs/3MHUQKl

Alexandria has 80+ boards and commissions. Who here serves on one? What do you do? Me: Just appointed to the Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC) as a media representative. (Previously: Board of Zoning Appeals and Commission for the Arts)

If the goal were truly public safety, the numbers would look very different. Minneapolis won’t be silent while enforcement actions target innocent families. www.cbsnews.com/news/ice-arr...

NEW: ICE is leasing offices throughout the US as part of a secret, months-long expansion campaign. WIRED is publishing dozens of these locations.

While independent bookstores are giving out free whistles, hosting protest sign making events, and donating proceeds to mutual aid, Amazon is *checks notes* providing technology that assists ICE in their terrorizing of communities. Independent bookstores deserve your support. Amazon does not.

Spanberger orders state agencies to terminate all 287(g) agreements with ICE

Five days iced in and we haven't lost power, water, or internet. Which sounds like a blessing until you realize it gave everyone full connectivity to yell at city workers, contractors, officials, and volunteers around the clock.

The Trump Administration is violating federal law every day it doesn’t produce the Epstein files redaction report. 27 days and counting.

Spain's economy far outgrows peers with 2.8% expansion in 2025 www.reuters.com/business/spa...

Just as Mamie Till refused to hide the visual truth that was her son Emmett’s beaten body in the 1950s, just as we saw the visual truth of the beating of John Lewis on the Pettus bridge in 1965, we must confront the visual truth of agents killing U.S. citizens in Minneapolis. Do not look away.

RFK Jr. is dedicated to actively undermining proven cures and treatments, and now that he’s leading America’s public health system – he’s putting the lives of American children at risk. RFK Jr. and his team of quacks need to be fired or removed immediately. youtube.com/shorts/SMI7M...

During a bipartisan visit to Denmark, Senators Jeanne Shaheen and Lisa Murkowski write in a guest essay, “we heard from Greenlanders who can’t sleep, and who told us that their children are crying amid fear of invasion — not from China or Russia, but from the United States.”

CNN airs compilation of federal agents acting with extreme aggression towards peaceful observers.

Concentration camps. In the U.S.

It is conventional wisdom that the Washington Post's current death spiral and was caused by the Harris endorsement fiasco. I actually think it was these endorsements in January 2025. Support pro-democracy, independent media. Sign up for Democracy Docket. hubs.ly/Q03M8rql0

“Imagine how they lie when there’s no evidence to contradict them.” Watch this powerful message from Jon Stewart.

In six violent encounters, evidence contradicts Trump immigration officials' narratives reut.rs/49KHBS3

“Over the course of a lifetime, we face only a few moments where the decisions we make and the actions we take will shape our history for years to come. This is one of them. If we give our freedoms away after 250 years, we might never get them back.” — President Bill Clinton, 1/25/26

Defenceless under the night Our world in stupor lies; Yet, dotted everywhere, Ironic points of light Flash out wherever the Just Exchange their messages: May I, composed like them Of Eros and of dust, Beleaguered by the same Negation and despair, Show an affirming flame. — W.H. Auden, Sept. 1, 1939

I will not support an income tax for people who make less than $1 million in a year. Less than one half of one percent of Washingtonians will pay the Millionaires’ Tax, and it will raise at least $3 billion each year. It’s time to change our state’s upside-down tax system.

A very generous donor — Tom from Seattle — is matching all gifts made to his GoFundMe benefiting ProPublica, up to $15K. Make your gift and double your impact:

While Amazon is investing billions of dollars to expand AI, independent bookstores are hosting community events, personally recommending books to readers, and providing a space that is safe and welcoming during a time when we need them most. Never underestimate the power of a local bookstore.

Mayor Gaskins, City Council ask sheriff to cease voluntary inmate transfers to ICE

The Trump regime is lying, again, so they can terrorize immigrant communities with impunity. We must never forget the cruelty this administration has inflicted. https://www.propublica.org/article/chicago-venezuela-immigration-ice-fbi-raids-no-criminal-charges

We're excited to announce the winner of the 2025 Spain-USA Foundation Translation Award (SUFTA): CROSSING WATERS by Luisa Etxenike, translated from Spanish by Lilit Žekulin Thwaites @lzt-zhuk.bsky.social, pub. Sundial House! literarytranslators.org/winner-of-20...

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Congratulations to all the Democratic candidates who won tonight. It’s a reminder that when we come together around strong, forward-looking leaders who care about the issues that matter, we can win. We’ve still got plenty of work to do, but the future looks a little bit brighter.

2026 is going to be a good year to run for office, no matter how long the odds. runforwhat.net

My friend @michaelfanone.bsky.social and I pushed back against Trump’s lies about January 6th during a town hall at the University of Virginia. Fanone told his full story from that day. His courage to continue to fight for our democracy and his family is inspiring: www.youtube.com/live/NJHMXKM...

Hi to new followers, via the translators starter pack and the ETN discussion! #amtranslating #literarytranslation and #booksky are useful for finding likeminded people too... Let's keep the chat going :)

Some personal news: I've been fired from the Washington Post in the aftermath of the Charlie Kirk shooting. Thread incoming. substack.com/@karenattiah...

“The anthology’s constellation of animals, children, misfits and survivors reshapes the image of Poland for the English reader...” Agnes Dudek interviews ALTA member Antonia Lloyd-Jones about her recent translation project, a collection of Polish short stories. At Culture Pi:

The biggest sporting event in the world is happening in our backyard. But most New Yorkers will be priced out of watching it live. Sign our petition calling on FIFA to put game over greed: zohranfornyc.com/gameovergreed

Excited to be taking part in both these September events with the marvelous @enaselimo.bsky.social, @leeyamehta.bsky.social, @kktranslation.bsky.social, and so many other wonderful writers and translators. Join us!

@tobiascarroll.bsky.social 's July Watchlist is here! Feat. books by @kktranslation.bsky.social @vivekshanbhag.bsky.social @writerkimsimonsen.bsky.social @shaunwhiteside.bsky.social @mcnallyeditions.com @deepvellum.bsky.social @unnamedpress.bsky.social wordswithoutborders.org/read/article...