M Jaime Zuckerman

Hammer & Hope A magazine of Black politics and culture

hammerandhope.org

I Went To The Bathroom During Wall-E And When I Came Back My Father Whispered To Me The robots are in love

Casper Kelly

A painting of a bird next to the words "I do not even want to know"

An Algorithm Deemed This Nearly Blind 70-Year-Old Prisoner a “Moderate Risk.” Now He’s No Longer Eligible for Parole. A Louisiana law cedes much of the power of the parole board to an algorithm that bars thousands of prisoners from a shot at early release. Civil rights attorneys say it could disproportionately harm…

NEW: A Louisiana law cedes much of the power of the parole board to an algorithm that bars thousands of prisoners from a shot at early release. Civil rights attorneys say it could disproportionately harm Black people — and may even be unconstitutional.

@richardawebster.bsky.social / @veritenews.org

Alongside Blue by Afton Montgomery — The Normal School I, alongside him, folded every napkin in the same direction. Nudged straight the faded carpet samples that made every cement step down to the basement a different frugal pattern and color. I wished ou...

new blue micro NF www.thenormalschool.com/blog/2025/02...

Curious How Trump’s Cost Cutting Could Affect Your National Park Visit? You Might Not Get a Straight Answer. National Park Service staff have received talking points ordering them to describe layoffs as “workforce management actions” and to reassure visitors that changes resulting from the cuts won’t impede ...

Park rangers have been given talking points amid cost cutting.

Job cuts = “attrition” and “workforce management actions.”

Service cuts = “prioritizing fiscal responsibility” and “staffing to meet the evolving needs of visitors.”

And NPS still offers “memorable and meaningful experiences for all.”

America’s clean air rules boost health and the economy − here’s what EPA’s new deregulation plans ignore Clean air has become one of America’s best investments, returning $10 for every $1 spent on regulations, by one estimate.

A professor of environmental sciences gives a quick punchy take on the "eye-popping" numbers re. how clean air promotes economic growth.

An EPA analysis of 20 years of the Clean Air Act (1970-90) found the economic benefits of the regulations were about 42X greater than the costs.

No pay wall.

depends on what process works for you, ultimately, but generally it's better, i think, to have desires (dreams, questions, fiery directions) for your poems than designs (set plans, firm goals)

I've seen a lot of "Dems aren't doing enough!" commentary. However, you read on to see what they *should* be doing, they typically have no plans.

Grassroots are coming up w ideas. #teslatakedown is the most effective anti-regime action out there. It is making a difference.

bsky.app/profile/alex...

We live in an era when rich men compete to fire the most people possible, are cheered on for firing people...and the people are not rising in collective fury.

www.nytimes.com/2025/03/07/u...

Incarcerated NYers on the Prison Guard Wildcat Strike: ‘They Want to Go Back to the Good Old Days of Just Beating and Killing Guys’ "It happened because correction officers have been held accountable for their actions, and they feel threatened because they can be prosecuted for killing an incarcerated individual."

As correction officers continue their wildcat strike and Gov. Hochul brings in the National Guard, Rebecca McCray spoke to incarcerated New Yorkers to get their perspective on what's happening.

hellgatenyc.com/prison-guard...

I am part of the 25%. The lifestyle change is worth it.

This is the way…

America Country eat country An apocalypse in miniature

m.s. RedCherries

Updates on National Endowment for the Arts FY 2026 Grant Opportunities The National Endowment for the Arts is updating its FY 2026 grant guidelines, with deadlines in March and July 2025. These changes impact organizations applying in the Grants for Arts Projects or Chal...

So, the National Endowment for the Arts announced today that they are reworking the guidelines for all 2026 grants and will be prioritizing projects that center the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. It's now just a propaganda fund.

www.arts.gov/news/press-r...

Here’s How Chicago Educators Are Defending Their Students From Trump’s Attacks They’ve created resources that may be helpful to other teachers who are developing sanctuary plans to protect students.

Chicago teachers, community members, and some elected officials participated in “walk-in” actions at more than 100 Chicago public schools. Participants rallied to show support for undocumented, queer, trans and other marginalized students.

I helped co-author this report on the enviro impacts of AI infrastructure that we released a couple weeks ago actually. Nutso shit. This broader story seems to be getting more traction thankfully publicinterestnetwork.org/wp-content/u...

Here Come the Lionfish – James Bridle Coming face to face with lionfish in the waters of the Aegean Sea, James Bridle traces the unfolding of geology, evolution, and empire that not only occasions this meeting, but binds us in relationshi...

"The story of how they got here and how we choose to live together has come to encapsulate for me the choices we face in an uncertain future."

Fascinating piece by @jamesbridle.bsky.social on lionfish, migration & new communities @emergencemagazine.bsky.social
emergencemagazine.org/essay/here-c...

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IN THE MORNING, BEFORE ANYTHING BAD HAPPENS The sky is open all the way. Workers upright on the line like spokes. I know there is a river somewhere, lit, fragrant, golden mist, all that, whose irrepressible birds can’t believe their luck this morning and every morning. I let them riot in my mind a few minutes more before the news comes.

Molly Brodak

A family of splitgill mushrooms grow aligned on the edge of an upturned branch in a bare winter forest. They look like seashells on wet stone All photos by me

Here are some nice mushrooms

My first year writing students do often enjoy it.

Our winter issue is live: sixthfinch.com
Featuring @emilyapoetry.bsky.social @mariannelchan.bsky.social @patrycjasara.bsky.social @kerrin-mccadden.bsky.social @poetrybyallison.bsky.social @nickbono.bsky.social and many more

‘LOVE COMES QUIETLY’ Love comes quietly, finally, drops about me, on me, in the old ways. What did I know thinking myself able to go alone all the way.

Robert Creeley

While Los Angeles Burns, AI Fans the Flames Artificial intelligence is a water-guzzling industry hastening future climate crises from California’s own backyard.

Artificial intelligence is a water-guzzling industry hastening future climate crises from California’s own backyard.

The Toll of Cities’ Homeless Sweeps — ProPublica Cities often take belongings — including important documents and irreplaceable mementos — when they conduct sweeps of homeless encampments. ProPublica gave notecards to people across the country so they could explain what they lost in their own words.

American cities remove homeless encampments as part of “sweeps” and take the belongings of the people they move. ProPublica asked them to explain what was stolen from them and how sweeps have affected them. It’s devastating. https://projects.propublica.org/impact-of-homeless-sweeps-lost-belongings/

“Young person worry: what if nothing I do matters?
Old person worry: what if everything I do does?”
—Weather, by Jenny Offill

One week left to send us your chapbook manuscripts. All details at sixthfinch.com/submit

We've gotten a bunch of requests to extent the deadline for our chapbook contest, and we aim to please, so the updated deadline is January 6. sixthfinch.com/submit

Hands are unbearably beautiful.
They hold on to things. They let things go.

—Mary Ruefle, from "The Cart"

Is it only writing when we have a pen in hand, or a nearby keyboard? I think writing includes much more than that: patience, attention, openness to the world past screen or page—to what's findable there.

—Carl Phillips, from "Silence"