Nan McCarthy

Authors Guild Expands ‘Human Authored’ Certification Program The program, which launched in beta for Guild members in 2025 and certifies titles as written by humans and not AI, is now open to any author whose books are published in the United States.

The program, which launched in beta for Guild members in 2025 and certifies titles as written by humans and not AI, is now open to any author whose books are published in the United States.

I’ve had the same email address since 1995 lol

Live Updates: U.S.-Israel conflict with Iran widens Iran and Iranian-backed militias fired missiles at Israel and Arab states, apparently hitting the U.S. Embassy compound in Kuwait, while Israel and the United States pounded targets in Iran as the war...

The conflict has left 18 American service members seriously wounded, Capt. Tim Hawkins, a spokesman for U.S. Central Command said Monday.

The number has grown from the five troops initially reported as seriously wounded on Sunday morning.
https://to.pbs.org/4aYt30f

Millionaires & billionaires telling us regular folks how to save money at the grocery store. Fucking infuriating

💯 I also think Vance might be trying to distance himself the tiniest bit in hopes of salvaging his own presidential hopes once Trump goes down in flames. The guy is a chameleon

Agree, tho for some reason I found Johnson so much more annoying. The constant nodding & smirking—so obviously performative for his audience of one. At least Vance attempted to (somewhat) rein in the bootlicking compared to Johnson. Not that either of them are tolerable…

What to know about how the SAVE America Act could change voting Ahead of the midterm elections, Republicans are again pushing for legislation that requires documentary proof of U.S. citizenship to vote.

The Trump-backed Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act, or the SAVE America Act, seeks to address the president's longstanding demands to "fix" U.S. elections that he says are "rigged" and "stolen," despite no evidence of widespread voter fraud. https://to.pbs.org/4bKG2F7

Republicans chanting “USA” like they’re at a fucking hockey game. Where’s Kash?

Worst part of the SOTU so far is having to look at Mike Johnson’s smarmy face

Love that AI, a thing we hate and don’t want, steals everything, ruins everything, shittifies everything. Drinks our water, plagiarizes our art, pisses all over our information fidelity, drives kids to suicide, serves the right-wing, and fucks up our devices and services. Good job, techbros!

Looking forward to the new season

YouTube video by The Late Show with Stephen Colbert Rep. James Talarico On Confronting Christian Nationalism, And Strange Days In The Texas Legislature

Hey, I'm watching the Colbert interview with James Talarico, Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate in Texas, which CBS declined to air on broadcast TV, likely due to Trump administration threats... wanna watch it too?
www.youtube.com/watch?v=oiTJ...

Watching the Bondi hearing & it’s notable how many Republicans—the same ones who boycotted Bad Bunny for not singing in English—don’t know the difference between a noun & adjective. We get the GOP thinks using “Democrat” instead of “Democratic” is a dig but really it just makes you sound illiterate.

“Obviously, a batch of cookies is just the starting point. If you can do one dozen, make another. While you’re at the store, grab a few extra items for the food shelf. Every little bit helps. Ask your neighbors if they need anything while you’re out. Start conversations.”

Stand With Minnesota Donation Directory Stand With Minnesota is a hub for supporting, learning, and taking action to support Minnesotans impacted by ICE and federal enforcement.

Here are some ways to help Minnesota with all the essential but less visible needs.

But also, go get involved with your own community. Make new friends. Get those networks going. Learn what orgs in your city are already doing good work that needs support. Don't wait.

www.standwithminnesota.com

Reporter: You received a letter from AG Pam Bondi making several demands….

Walz: I would just give a pro tip to the AG. There's 2 million documents in the Epstein files we're still waiting on. Go ahead and work on those

Yesterday, Minneapolis gave us hope. That’s what they’re trying to kill: the will of a people who are willing to fight them.

With the way things are in the world, it's so easy to succumb to rage and terror, but writing is one of my key lifelines. There's my own work of course, but reading other people's great stories as they come out + seeing them get their flowers can be just as exciting. Life is still happening even now

The article doesn’t say what time it starts so people know when to tune in. Journalism 101. Who, what, WHEN, where.

Get Ready For Publishing to Chase the Heated Rivalry Phenomenon Heated Rivalry mania has swept the world, and it’s been so fun to watch the stars of the TV series becoming A-list celebrities while the books upon which the show was based hit the bestseller list …

I wrote about how Heated Rivalry is just the latest case of how publishers, with all their data, are still not able to predict what will be the next sensation. lithub.com/get-ready-fo...

Kansas City has caught the eye of 3 World Cup powerhouses as teams make base camp selections Three of the world’s best teams — Argentina, England and Netherlands — are reportedly interested in making Kansas City their training home during the World Cup. Organizers say local businesses should start planning to make the most of 650,000 expected visitors.

Three of the world’s best teams — Argentina, England and Netherlands — are reportedly interested in making Kansas City their training home during the World Cup. Organizers say local businesses should start planning to make the most of 650,000 expected visitors.

I watched the rest of the episodes & have to admit it got a little better after the first two. Still not great & still hugely different from the book but as a whole it wasn’t terrible. That’s the best I can say.

What’s Going on With the Epstein Files? Less than 1 percent of them have been released.

The Justice Department already missed its December deadline to release the Epstein files—and now it’s struggling to defend the delay, @willgottsegen.com argues in The Atlantic Daily:

The TV series is a dumbed-down version of the book with a bunch of gratuitous, juvenile, & sickening violence & gore. I’m always willing to give book adaptations a fair shot but either King thought this was ok or he wasn’t able to override whoever totally hijacked one of his greatest novels. Bummer

Watched 2 episodes of 11.22.63 on Netflix last night & boy am I disappointed, especially since King was involved in the series. First 20 minutes were promising & then it went off the rails. The book is way more subtle & gripping, great characters & plot w/ fascinating history interwoven.

Just watched 2 episodes last night & am so disappointed. Especially since King was involved in the series. It’s nothing like the book. The book is more subtle, intelligent, gripping. Lots of interesting history interwoven w/ great characters & a compelling plot. Skip the series & read the book.

Chocolate Cake Remembering My Nana (& her chocolate cake) on the anniversary of her death, 34 years ago today. Nan McCarthy Frances Hyzy Morris (my mom’s mom) was born in Krakow, Poland on March 3rd, 1905. In…

Remembering my Nana (& her chocolate cake) on the anniversary of her death, 34 years ago today.

nan-mccarthy.com/2026/01/15/c...

Jeffrey Epstein's benefactor, accountant and lawyer face Congressional scrutiny These are Epstein's money men

Jeffrey Epstein's benefactor, accountant and lawyer face Congressional scrutiny...here is what it means open.substack.com/pub/jkbjourn...

If you are still on "X", you have to ask yourself why.

It's been a cesspool for years, recent days are a new low, it's not compulsory to be there.

If you don't leave it now, you have to ask what it would take to make you drop it?

Your Cheat Sheet on Complicity in the Epstein Saga Who knew complicity could be so...complicated?

I wrote the guide you didn’t know you needed: Your cheat sheet on complicity for the people involved with Epstein (and the non-release of his files) open.substack.com/pub/asharang...