While traveling across the US after 40 years abroad, Alison Langley @langleyshields.bsky.social meditates on myth & reality, listening to ordinary Americans at a Kansas brewery share conspiracy theories and fears for their loved ones' safety: compass.icwa.org/p/postcard-f...

BOYCOTT DISNEY

Since Jimmy Kimmel couldn’t, I wrote his monologue for him. … let me know what you think open.substack.com/pub/langleys...

Chuffed to be highlighted in this issue

Humble brag Wordle 1,520 2/6* 🟨⬛⬛⬛⬛ 🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩

So glad you liked it!

I’m blushing. Thank you for the kind words

Let’s see. He’s young, social media savvy, talks about affordable housing and other issues people actually care about. And democrats are worried??? www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...

To anyone cheering the Trump policies on trying to entice women to have more babies: they are the same as Hungarian policies and the birth rate there hit a negative record in 2024. If you want more babies, make child care and housing affordable and increase incomes.

Nooooo www.bbc.com/news/article...

Excited for the US launch of my book Budapest Noir: Ilona Gets A Phone at Parkside Bookshop in Boston! I’ll be in conversation with @grubwriters Michelle Hoover who is also starting the next season of her @7amNovelist podcast. See you there!

So excited for the US launch of my book!

Palestinians gunned down while trying to reach food aid. (Source Guardian). Tell me why this is okay. Govts must stop this cruelty now.

This week, CPAC, the conservative political action group, meets in #Hungary to learn how to create a government like that in Budapest. Read about the economic conditions that helped Viktor Orbán gain control in my novel. #CPAC #Hungary #books

14,000 children are at risk of dying of starvation in Gaza. How can anyone whose people themselves were once a target of genocide allow this to happen?

This. theintercept.com/2025/05/25/h...

This book changed my life. Thank you Susan Brownmiller. RIP www.nytimes.com/2025/05/24/b...

Fun fact: the word ‘overmorrow’ is the Middle English term meaning ’day after tomorrow’. Its etymology is a direct translation of the German übermorgen. I, for one, believe we should bring it back to life, along with ‘ye’, the plural form of ‘you’.

First it’s 20% but lowers to 10% until July so both sides could talk. Now he says 25% starting next week. Can’t take this guy at his word. He makes things up as his mood suits. www.bbc.com/news/article...

This. www.nytimes.com/2025/05/18/o...

Republicans cannot couple work to food stamps without providing day care. www.nytimes.com/live/2025/05...

This is correct. The Pope leads a worldwide church of 1.3 billion catholics. He is everyone’s leader. Who has asked for peace and unity around the world.

Nuclear exchange? Who cares? Noted. US VP Vance says war between India and Pakistan will be 'none of our business' - www.reuters.com/world/us-vp-...

Sorry @nyt three is a trend. Two is a coincidence. Romania voted far right…. www.nytimes.com/2025/05/04/w...

The US is the only country within the OECD that does not have a data protection agency. Doge can go rogue and spy on US citizens and the only remedy is a judge asking nicely to stop.

An important read, as Russia celebrates May 8… www.perspectives-budapest.com/post/the-pil...

It astonishes me how the president has no knowledge of history

Am I the only person not sad that US can’t order cheap stuff from China anymore? We’re talking sweatshops right?

Issue 4, featuring the amazing art of Arch Hades, is out on May 28th. Sign up at our website to receive a FREE copy. #litmag #free #contemporaryart #newissue

This is fucking incredible.

JB Pritzker’s fiery speech calls for mass protests - finally. Backbone in the opposition

Carney and Canada made it to the top five! 🇨🇦

Hungary's parliament bars opposition lawmakers over protest against Pride ban - www.reuters.com/world/europe...

Support local businesses. They are the backbone of our communities. Bookshops support writers and readers… and the European Writers Salon. @saloneurope.bsky.social

To be clear: Russia invaded a peaceful country in an act of naked aggression- twice. And Trump wants Ukraine, the injured party, to accept that Putin can take any land he can whenever he wants. No consequences. And we’re ok with this?

The AHA has released a statement condemning the current administration’s immigration policies and practices, which “threaten the vitality of historical work through the targeting of international scholars for increased scrutiny and legal action.” 🗃️

The White House has begun the process of looking for a new secretary of defense, according to a U.S. official who was not authorized to speak publicly. This comes as Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth continues to find himself mired in controversy.

I got my first US review. The Midwest Book Review calls Ilona Gets A Phone “distinctively impressive and narrative driven storytelling telling…unreservedly recommended for personal reading lists.”

This is what authoritarian countries like China and Russia do. They charge critics with trumped up and salacious crimes. Think: Tax evasion or corruption. Then they try the case in front of a favourable judge and jail critics. Trump is in dangerous company www.bbc.com/news/article...

Erm, hats off to the illustrator www.nytimes.com/2025/04/12/m...

Why doesn’t he give all Americans $10,000/year?

I know what I’m doing 12-14 September @saloneurope.bsky.social

The discussion promises to be our usual brand of warm and friendly What will make it interesting? You! We hope you’ll come along 📘🍷

Our host, Eleonora Balsano, is an Italian-born writer based in Brussels. She’s been nominated for a Pushcart Prize, long listed for the Wigleaf Top 50 and shortlisted for the Bridport Prize. She’s also the host and producer of Chosen Tongue, a podcast on translingual writers & their journeys

Our first book: The Details by Ia Genberg In this International Booker Shortlisted book from 2024, a famous broadcaster writes a forgotten love letter; a friend abruptly disappears; a lover leaves something unexpected behind; a traumatised woman is consumed by her own anxiety

📣 ICYMI 📣 In this weekend’s newsletter, we announced ⚡️two new programmes⚡️ for writers The first: Café Littéraire: European Book Club 📖 Hosted online by @norami.bsky.social, the book club will be quarterly and free to Supporters. For now, others can join for a small fee

While Trump played golf million+ people took to the streets to protest his disastrous and harmful policies. #handsoff2025

Tariffs will make books cost more. #books ottawacitizen.com/news/ottawa-...