"The difference isn’t that U.S. firms don’t train — it’s that few attempt anything like a carefully structured, campus-based finishing school for entry-level hires at this scale."

ICYMI

Hampshire College is the eighth private nonprofit college that I know of that is closing in 2026. The others: Siena Heights Fontbonne (announced well ahead of time) Trinity Christian Sterling Martin Providence Christian Lourdes Seven closed in 2025, but 17 closed in 2024. Likely not a spike.

Y’all know what to do . . .

I wrote a quick story on Hampshire College closing for good. Stick around for the usual speculation about whether this means other troubled institutions are doomed.

Oh it's so on.

If you’re not listening to Patricia Brennan, you’re messing up.

Cosign

That one song by that band Live is kinda good (if you don’t pay a lick of attention to the lyrics).

I am now going to stop looking at the internet for several hours. It is up to no good, I can tell.

ICYMI I wrote about Maine likely cutting back on the "free" part of free community college. It isn't quite as ominous as it might sound.

I can’t believe we’re using Microsoft Outlook to go to the moon.

Someone sent me this.

Eric does a fine job of unpacking why I look forward to late March all year.

“I will not be joining in the chorus of condemnation. On the contrary. If you are a professional writer, I want you to use AI. Because this industry is competitive. I’ll take any advantage I can get. And if you want to make your writing suck, that’s all the better for me.”

Dear Artisanal Eateries That Serve Breakfast Items: I don’t care how delicious and fussed-over your food is—if you aren’t open when grown-ass people with actual jobs eat breakfast, I don’t respect you.

Experimenting with becoming a Tote Bag Guy. That’s all I’ve got at the moment.

friend who can’t wait to read my essay once she has some time made a sourdough starter

I wrote about what Vivek Ramaswamy said about Ohio universities and what maybe he meant and what it probably means and most likely does not.

The Republican candidate for Ohio governor has talked of closing public universities, but is really talking about something else. No public university has fully closed in decades; another institution has always operated at that site. www.chronicle.com/article/why-...

My podcast partner Matt Byars and his band @thecaribbeandc.bsky.social organize this festival at @rhizomedc.bsky.social every June and this year’s edition is the biggest and best yet.

Oscar is still a top performer in the good-boy space heading into Q2. His KPIs exceed projections across the board.

I’m happy for the Oscar winners. I’m happy for the filmmakers and actors that didn’t win or weren’t even nominated. Getting a film made is an achievement for anyone. Even Steven Seagal.

Yesterday was my sobriety anniversary, won’t say for how long because when I was first in the program people who had two whole weeks gave me hope, but I figured people with a year or more couldn’t be as alcoholic as I was. If you’re new, though, trust me: have hope.

Hey does anyone remember how we had like a decade of near zero interest rates? Thank god the USA spent that time investing in infrastructure! What a calamity if we had just squandered the last best chance of our lives

The sun feels good. That’s all.

I do not want an AI summary of anything ever under any circumstances, OK?

Very worthwhile film.

Finally watched Hamnet. My primary takeaway: Men would rather write deathless, centuries-spanning works of literature than go to therapy.

I see we've arrived once again at that moment that pops up every decade or so where Americans must learn about the Kurds.

One worked at an Alcoa aluminun plant for decades. The other did too, for a while, but in truth he was mostly a n'er-do-well.

For our Trends issue, I wrote about a new attempt at public-college coordination that looks little like the big mergers of a decade ago. Meet systemness 2.0.

Well butter my ass and call me a biscuit—an album I put out got a well-written, thoughtful review in @pitchfork.com today. #susanalcornforever

I just learned that it’s World Hearing Day. My hearing is super important to me, which you might not know empirically given how much damage I’ve done to it with loud music, inadequate or no hearing protection, headphones and earbuds, etc. But maybe you folks can do a better job than I did! 1/

My research is on working class women and AI and the ONE consistency among all of the interviews we’ve done so far is concerns about data centers and environmental impact. We do not bring it up - they do. Every single one.

Dan is great and would be an asset to your newsroom.

The Chronicle has live updates for how the war in Iran is affecting higher ed. www.chronicle.com/article/iran...

I have to say the Post chose a hell of a moment to lay off all their foreign correspondents

I wrote up a quick story about an interesting funding proposal for public colleges in Illinois. Not everyone is happy with it.

Relaxing weekend?

BONKERS

The ice on this morning’s windshield has the visual texture of suede and no amount of scraping will part it from the glass.

He would be 31.

I don’t know/care that much about the business of movie studios, but for months it seemed like everyone was saying that Netflix buying WB was The Worst Possible Thing That Could Happen. And now that Paramount has knocked Nflix out of the running THAT is The Worst Possible Thing That Could Happen?

🧵

Maryland is suing the Department of Homeland Security to block a planned ICE detention center in Washington County, saying the federal government failed to do a required environmental impact study and public health concerns. w/ @maddioneill.bsky.social www.thebanner.com/politics-pow...

Late capitalism is good for something, it turns out.

This album rules like a thing that rules very hard indeed.

Please enjoy @shenandoahkate.bsky.social’s fine profile of Vandy’s polarizing president.