Kara Newhouse

The Next Phase of ICE's $38 Billion Detention Plan: Centralized, DHS-Owned Warehouses GEO Group and CoreCivic face competition as the agency looks to dramatically reduce the number of immigrant jails by shifting to massive warehouses

"In the past two decades, Congress has approved spending for about 30,000 to 45,000 immigration detention beds a year. The new government-owned network would more than double that capacity."
www.bloomberg.com/news/article...

Publishers Marketplace deal announcement reading: "Ryan Kunz's VALKYRIE MOON, a space opera/fantasy that follows a stuttering prince who must foil a conspiracy against his family despite being unable to use the spoken magic his empire is built on, to Amanda Raybould at Solaris, in a two-book deal, for publication in spring 2027, by Joshua Bilmes at JABberwocky Literary Agency."

Publishers Marketplace deal announcement reading: "Filmmakers and authors of the forthcoming Pretty Evil series Rebekah McKendry and David Ian McKendry's PERFECT SEASON, pitched as FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS meets Scream, in which the new girl in town investigates the high school football team that would do anything to maintain their winning streak—including human sacrifice, illustrated by Fern Roberts, to Sarah McCabe at Margaret K. McElderry Books, for publication in spring 2028, by Bridget Smith and Valentina Sainato at JABberwocky Literary Agency for the author, and by Claire Draper at Au Literary Management for the illustrator (world English). Foreign: susan@awfulagent.com and christina@awfulagent.com"

Publishers Marketplace deal announcement reading: "S.B. West's MORFRAN, DARK LORD REFORMED, pitched as ASSISTANT TO THE VILLAIN meets Shrek, about a former villain who abandons a life of beheading for an undercover retirement raising goats, until he finds himself accidentally leading a mission to kill the dark lord, who, inconveniently, is himself, to Annie Odders at Berkley, in a two-book deal, for publication in fall 2026, by Bridget Smith at JABberwocky Literary Agency (world)."

Publishers Marketplace deal announcement reading: "Kara Newhouse's THE STORY OF EVERYTHING: THE STORY OF YOU!, beginning with the Big Bang and weaving together the major turning points of all time from formation of the solar to the dinosaurs to the evolution of humankind; building this portrait of our universe, young readers can discover how they are the culmination of extraordinary events, illustrated by Kate Cosgrove, to Grace Maccarone at Holiday House, for publication in summer 2026, by Jordan Hamessley at JABberwocky Literary Agency for the author, and by Mark Gottlieb at Trident Media Group for the illustrator (world)."

Four calling birds ❌
Four new deal announcements ✅

Congratulations to Ryan Kunz, @rebekahmckendry.bsky.social & @davidianmckendry.bsky.social, S.B. West, and @karanewhouse.bsky.social on your new books!

Short thread 🧵
1/ In Florida (and nationwide) under Trump's 2nd admin, ICE has expanded its use of "detainers," the controversial and longstanding practice of holding people in jail -- many on minor charges -- past their release date to turn them over to ICE custody for possible deportation.

She paid his bond. ICE took him. Bradenton family's saga shows how Florida jails fuel deportations - Suncoast Searchlight In Florida, ICE detains immigrants from local jails on minor charges, fueling Trump’s deportation push and leaving families in limbo.

@karanewhouse.bsky.social and I looked into this key method the Trump administration has used to fuel mass deportations, and how it has impacted a local family: suncoastsearchlight.org/ice-jail-bon...

Woohoo!! You’re awesome and so are your books!!

In Trump’s Federal Work Force Cuts, Black Women Are Among the Hardest Hit

"For generations, the federal government has served as a ladder to the middle class for Black Americans who were shut out of jobs because of discrimination." Trump's changing that.
www.nytimes.com/2025/08/31/u...

Before Trump’s efforts to make kids healthier, there was Michelle Obama The first lady’s “Let’s Move!” initiative to improve school nutrition and exercise drew some criticism from the right — which has been much more muted as the Trump administration promotes MAHA messagi...

When I hear MAHA messaging, I remember the Republican backlash to Michelle Obama's school lunch initiative.

"In some ways, Michelle Obama’s health policy efforts walked so MAHA could run. But you won’t find many Republicans acknowledging that." ‪@bcrodriguez.bsky.social
19thnews.org/2025/08/mich...

FCC’s Net Neutrality Rules Struck Down by Federal Appeals Court After nearly two decades of fighting, the battle over regulations that treat broadband providers like utilities came to an end on Thursday.

A consequence of the Loper Bright case/overruling of Chevron.

Net neutrality regulations were "aimed at preventing internet service providers like Verizon or Comcast from blocking or degrading the delivery of services from competitors like Netflix and YouTube."
www.nytimes.com/2025/01/02/t...

The webinars help me get my head into the kidlit world when I've been busy with other work.

How to find hidden cameras in an Airbnb, according to a security expert We bugged a house with hidden cameras so a security consultant could demonstrate the telltale signs you’re being watched at a rental property.

Useful tips here - How to find hidden cameras in an Airbnb, according to a security expert www.washingtonpost.com/travel/2024/...

Definitely by hand! The beauty of picture books being short :)

Minorities in Publishing Society & Culture Podcast · 8 Seasons · Updated Monthly

I've been listening to backlist episodes of Minorities in Publishing after interviewing @jbakernyc.bsky.social for a forthcoming @slj.com article. Great podcast for authors and aspiring authors. podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/m...

There is a lot that's less than fun about preparing for job interviews but one aspect I enjoy is reading/watching/listening to a lot of great accountability reporting that news outlets are doing around the country. (Despite the many challenges of the industry.)

I'm obsessed with this cover for UMBC Magazine. And oh yes, I wrote the cover story!

It's about the current popularity of women's sports and all the cool things happening with the women Retrievers.
umbc.edu/stories/the-...

YouTube video by Shaina Taub Suffs Original Broadway Cast - Keep Marching [Official Audio]

"We did not end injustice and neither will you
But still we made strides so we know you can too
Make peace with our incomplete power & use it for good
Cause there's so much to do"

This song captures how learning history keeps me inspired to fight for a better future.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=XPyK...

Also the clarity of the line of the Susquehanna River where it makes up the boundary between Lancaster and York counties

How listening to students’ stories can improve math class | KQED In this math class, students write letters about their math history. The process can change their future.

Podcast on students writing Dear Math letters with a teacher from High Tech High (Sarah Strong). Features Amy Park and myself talking about hierarchies in math class, and how to disrupt them! #MathSky #ITeachMath #EduSky
www.kqed.org/mindshift/62... @karanewhouse.bsky.social