I guarantee if Trump said "Christ was actually a bit of a pussy, to be honest" his cult would be on here within minutes searching for outraged responses to it and replying with things like "typical libtards taking his jokes seriously, plus Christ really was a pussy honestly."

Poetry Month. Today's post is Maggie Anderson's 'Spitting in the Leaves' and it is one of my absolute favorite poems of all time. It also seems fitting since the clownking has brought the world to the brink of nuclear war.

Anyway, we have ample research on how living under a state of sustained terror and stress causes life-long health problems as well as intergenerational epigenetic effects. This feels like it's making you sick because it actually is making you sick.

National Poetry Month post by the great Layli Long Soldier from her book, Whereas. Honestly, I heard her read this one in particular and it was so powerful. If I concentrate, I can hear her in my head. One of her "Whereas" statements.

Hey yinzers! Come hang out with Ed Simon (and me!) at White Whale Book on May 2nd. Despite the fact that we're talking apocalypse, we're going to make it fun.

I’ll tell you what’s not to like: Being reliant on increasingly volatile oil and gas markets Pollution destroying our planet and health Not preparing meaningfully for the time when these resources run out, leaving us vulnerable PS Renewables provide jobs and growth too.

Poetry Month post. The poems "I Tell My Children" by Victoria Chang from her wholly remarkable collection Obit (2020.)

The founders believed that if a madman became president, members of Congress would serve the country’s interest and remove him from office. That seemed a reliable system to safeguard the republic. Boy, did they screw up.

Ban this shit for good.

President Trump has repeatedly threatened to destroy infrastructure that makes up the foundations of civilian life in Iran — attacks that in most cases would be considered war crimes. He said on Wednesday that the U.S. would bomb Iran “back to the Stone Ages.” www.nytimes.com/2026/04/05/u...

There is no excuse for downplaying or eliding the insanity of Trump’s morning post. It is the most unhinged public comment by a president in US history and should be reported and remarked upon as such.

I understand the impulse not to let this guy's statements dictate the news cycle but the fact that he can say shit like this and it barely causes a ripple in the media is a key to his ability to maintain power. Constantly pushing the bar of normality downwards, no pressure to take responsibility.

Trump has insulted and tariffed his European allies, persuaded Denmark to prepare for a US invasion and, by pressuring Ukraine and not Russia, encouraged Putin to keep fighting. All of which he has forgotten. www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2026/0...

Hard to pick just one poem from the truly great Toi Derricotte, but this one always makes me smile. So, for easter, here is the poem Glimpse, Black woman as Magician at CVS by Derricotte. Happy poetry month, yinz.

Rightwing dudes: "Women shouldn't be in leadership. Women shouldn't vote. They're not rational like men." Also, somehow, rightwing dudes: "The hand of God teleported me to a Waffle House."

I can’t get invested in this or any other platform’s success—good luck, whatever—but I think the larger picture here is correct and should be read as dire news in the AI industrial-complex’s war on humanity and how we communicate with each other.

National Poetry Month appreciation post. Another absolute banger by Nickole Brown. The poem is titled "Fuck." (two pages, attached.) Please do enjoy this poem from her Weatherford Award winner, Fanny Says.

I'm not sure about you, but I think the collapse of US hegemony, a global price spike and recession, and a new ground war in the Middle East are far worse than drag queens reading books at the library.

The lies!!!

Y'all, I didn't realize it was National Poetry Month, but now that I do, I'm going to post one of my favorites every day. Kicking it off with a BANG, by the great Ed Ochester, "Monroeville, PA"

The Writers Association of Northern Appalachia (WANA) invites proposals for our fall 2026 conference to be held in Wheeling, WV, October 16-17, 2026. Our keynote speaker, Amy Jo Burns, is a native of Western Pennsylvania. (more below) ...

At this point if I see a white guy in the current government I'm going to assume he's unqualified. They're really doing wonders for their brand.

Dear HarperColliins — get fucked, assholes.

It’s the Youngstown Bookshelf! We’re grateful to @vinceguerrieri.com for writing up seven books about a city that, in the words of a 1934 observer, "seeps into the consciousness of its every inhabitant, whether he is willing or not.”

Our poetry can help heal us, can keep us going, can inspire us, can push us to act. #AlaskaSky #Alaska

I am really thrilled to finally write something for the Pgh Review of Books. That my first piece is about Amy Jo Burns is icing on that cake, baby. Check out all of her books, but especially her new one "Wait for Me" (Celedon Books.) pghrev.com/amy-jo-burns...

Yeah, any serious person who uses an LLM has to realize that it is, at its core, a plagiarism machine and any attempt to use it for the core functions of being a professional writer will have to contend with that

I feel very seen. Thanks, Taco Bell Quarterly!

Negley Run Boulevard: Technically, it's not a park, but it is City-managed and has an interesting history. All the text and photos without the threads at: pghgreenandgray.substack.com/p/a-visit-to...

I did not know about this kind of insidious pricing. Thank you for highlighting it!

It is once again that time of year when I scorch my eyeballs making fresh horseradish. The fumes could peel paint. Happy Passover, yinz.

The law doesn’t always reflect morality. It was legal to prevent women from voting. It is legal to turn a pregnant woman away even if her fetus is dying and is causing her to go through septic shock. That’s why we protest. @elksongs on IG #Pinks

At Democratic #NoKings protests, they used flags to wave. At Republican #Jan6 protest, they used flags to assault police officers. The two parties are *not* the same.

This…

Trump's corruption didn't just start in politics, it predates long before that. My latest YouTube video breaks down the early history of how it all began. Part 1 is live now on YouTube: www.youtube.com/watch?v=1JwU...

I just don't have the energy to go through yet ANOTHER jeans-cut transition. Let's all just go back to boot cut and leave it be, already.

Look at that little asslick in his big-boy shoes Rubio. Burn in hell, assholes.

🎯 @warren.senate.gov : “While Trump puts 🇺🇸 service members lives at risk with his war in Iran, his ‘peace envoy’ Jared Kushner is busy raising money for his private equity firm.”

Just a few months ago the Republican Party was crowing about Elmo and DOGE getting rid of lazy, overpaid, useless government workers. This week they’re bragging about lazy, overpaid, useless ICE agents being deployed to airports.

Happy opening day to all who celebrate.

Seriously, Zuck is pure evil.

The state of Minnesota has sued the Trump administration, accusing its top law enforcement agencies of withholding evidence from the killings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti.

JUST DO IT.......

Trump casts a mail ballot again in Florida even as he calls the method 'cheating'

These fucking scumbags. See you dickheads at Nuremberg. My god show no mercy to you.

This is an ICE agent at TSA. Post their unmasked faces everywhere.

A while back, I talked to Amy Jo Burns about "Wait for Me," her novel which tells the story of two singer-songwriters. On Saturday, I spent a little time with Marianne Worthington whose poetry collection, "The Girl Singer" is the perfect companion to "Wait for Me." Together, they do my heart good.

The defenders of Western Civilization are strangely uninterested in Western Civilization.