AMERICAN GESTAPO: A new anthology from RHP Press this fall. We're looking for dark crime stories (2-7k words) about American fascism. Subs open Feb 15 to March 15. More info: bit.ly/4pTIdJF

I’ve looked for this #DavidCrosby music book around the house sporadically since we moved nearly 11 years ago. Today, I found it. By accident, of course. Cover photo by #GrahamNash. Book published in 1972. Now, to restring my acoustic and see if I play as poorly as I used to.

Here’s your morning mood, courtesy of Javier Mayoral.

After the vasectomy, we were married in Elko by an Elvis impersonator who performed marriages and drove a beer truck. At our wedding, he sang a penetrating baritone version of that country classic “I’m My Own Grandpa.” Thomas McGuane “Crazy About a Mercury” #SundaySentence

A dark one from Neil Young. www.youtube.com/watch?v=2yK5...

Hope all is well with Uncle Neil. (What we called him in the long ago college days.) www.rollingstone.com/music/music-...

And of course if it's being asked of any Republican official one can add "And also you." No other questions. None.

So how about every question from the press is "When will the president apologize for his disgusting racism and also resign?" and they just keep asking that, and only that, till he does both (though I'll be fine with just the latter)?

He’s barking mad and mouth-frothing dangerous www.nytimes.com/2026/02/05/u...

Minnesota family, early 1940s

‘Everybody sees time drifting away, and there are a lot of things I want to know about life, but they’re not necessarily like: If I eat blueberries, will I live longer? It’s more: on what day did the Kinks record Waterloo Sunset? How did they get that guitar sound on this record?’

After 20 years, I've been laid off at The Washington Post. substack.com/home/post/p-...

WaPo's Matt Murray told staff the paper is shuttering sports, moving remaining staff to features, shrinking foreign coverage, restructuring metro, closing books coverage, suspending Post Reports podcast “Whole company now waiting for a live or die email” one staffer said More in tonight’s Status

Wisconsin Judge Dugan, convicted of obstructing arrest of immigrant, requests new trial abc7chicago.com/post... #wipolitics

“Look out, Mama, there's a white boat comin' up the river With a big red beacon and a flag and a man on the rail I think you'd better call John 'Cause it don't look like they're here to deliver the mail” ~ Neil Young, “Powderfinger” #SundaySentence

Last night’s movie selections 🍿

NPR's Adrian Florido has been buying fruit from the same fruit-cart vendor in his LA neighborhood for years. On Tuesday, Florido was there when federal immigration agents whisked him away.

you say “pogrom,” they say they’re just rounding up “collateral aliens”

“Martha, you gotta help me. My husband is in danger!” “Everybody’s in danger, Eunice.”

Today, downtown Minneapolis

“Doctors won’t tell you this,” Kennedy said as he dropped to the floor… theonion.com/rfk-jr-demon...

finally dislodged the springsteen earworm

In January we watch Westerns.

Six months since publication day! The response to WHATEVER KILLS THE PAIN has been amazing so far. Thanks so much to all who picked it up, gave it a rating, review, shoutout, or a spot on your best of list—it all helps!!

Most writers need another income to supplement what they earn from their books. I'm fortunate that mine helps me with insights I wouldn't otherwise have. #author #bookseller #bookstore

Last night, Minnesota Democrat Meg Luger-Nikolai won the House District 64A special election with 95.3% of the vote. In 2024, Democrats won this district by 71 points.

We need to keep calling them concentration camps no matter how queasy it makes Jake Tapper

Ear worm, “Flowers on the Wall” by the Statler Brothers, thanks to its mention by Kurt Vonnegut in one of his book: “Smokin' cigarettes and watchin' Captain Kangaroo. Now don't tell me, I've nothin' to do”

If you’re going to Left Coast Crime, some cool guys and I will be reading at Book Passage on Thursday night to celebrate the launch of The Savage Waves of Spring anthology.

A question amidst the other news: Where is this child today?

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: "Hell is not evenly distributed." - Graham England.

You will be on your own.

Meanwhile: Nursing home moguls successfully bribed the president to do away with a regulation that increases staffing to prevent neglect of patients. www.nytimes.com/2026/01/27/u...

Bovino still has a job. The masked murderer of Alex is still on the street. No more money for ICE.

CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS: American Gestapo RHP's looking for dark crime stories about American fascism. Stories of human resilience in dark times against impossible odds. Stories where the protagonist is crushed by the weight of the state. Subs open Feb 15. More info: bit.ly/4pTIdJF

101 candles for this guy.

Agents keep detaining Native Americans— especially if they live outside the reservation boundaries. (This Standing Rock tribal member in Minnesota was released at 5 am the next day.)

Protests Across Wisconsin Decry ICE Shooting of Alex Pretti In Madison, Oshkosh, Appleton, Superior, citizens protest ICE actions in Minneapolis. urbanmilwaukee.com/2... #wipolitics #wiresist

ICE and DHS are out of control and making our communities less safe. I will not support funding for DHS without clear accountability and stronger controls over the agency. It is time for the Senate to do its job and rein in this lawlessness.

I’ve been (very) slowly writing and piecing together a short story for a month plus, with periodic creative emptiness, hollowed out (due to living in our current history). Today, I got back to it and it felt good. Tomorrow’s not guaranteed, of course, but I’ll see what it brings.

Gov. Evers: All Wisconsin Voters, Whether Voting Absentee or in-Person on Election Day, Have a Constitutional Right to Vote urbanmilwaukee.com/p... #wipolitics

How can you not be enraged by this government-sanctioned killing?

“A fool in an official job, with guns and gadgets to play with, could cause a lot of disturbance.” Ross Macdonald The Drowning Pool #SundaySentence

“He cared about people deeply & he was very upset with what was happening in Minneapolis & throughout the United States with ICE, as millions of other people are upset,” said Michael Pretti, Alex’s father. “He thought it was terrible kidnapping children, grabbing people off the street.” @apnews.com

👇🏻👇🏻 @baldwin.senate.gov 👇🏻👇🏻

This is courage. Looking a masked, government fascist dead in the eye, face to face, knowing full well that your life is on the line. If elected officials had 1/10th of Alex Pretti's resolve, we would have far fewer troubles.

What are YOU going to do, @baldwin.senate.gov? How will you vote on ICE funding?

I left messages for @schiff.senate.gov and @padilla.senate.gov . Padilla’s DC office doesn’t take voice mail (?) but SF office does. 415-981-9369.