Alex Chambers

a handwritten sign that says “no kings but drag kings” with a simple sketch of a winking drag king an exclamation point is colored in the rainbow with the dot being the trans flag

a handwritten sign that says “no kings, more queens” with a simple drawing of a winking queen the exclamation point is colored in rainbow, and the dot is the trans flag

I’m at the Pride parade
I’m at the protest march
I’m at the combination Pride parade and protest march

Why Would Trump Dismantle This Tiny Little Agency That Does So Much Good? Judges are on the IMLS’ side. But the budget battle is still to come.

did some reporting on the impact of DOGE's cuts to the Institute of Museum and Library Services, the court cases that are preserving the agency (for now), Trump's threats to slash federal arts spending, and the importance of IMLS to libraries and schools everywhere: slate.com/life/2025/05...

Just saw Jewish Theatre of B’ton’s 4000 Miles. Powerful, funny, tender play about how hard it is to change. The 2 leads in particular were amazing. Killed it.

Opinion | This Is How Universities Can Escape Trump’s Trap, If They Dare It’s been tried in other countries facing authoritarian crackdowns. It works.

M. Gessen to universities:

Spend your endowments. Accept more, not fewer students. Open up your campuses and expand your reach not by buying real estate but by bringing education to communities. Create a base. Become a movement.

www.nytimes.com/2025/04/14/o...

All right, I’m gonna break my no-all-caps rule: LISTEN TO THIS. The journalism we need now.

Hundreds of weather forecasters fired in latest wave of DOGE cuts Federal workers who were not let go said the afternoon layoffs included meteorologists who do crucial local forecasts in National Weather Service offices across the U.S.

I’m thinking we should spread this news about the firings at NOAA as far and wide as possible. Like cancer research, weather forecasting seems likely to be broadly popular across the political spectrum. apnews.com/article/nati...

Indiana!

Nathan Dillon: Troubadour for Seniors For years now, Nathan Dillon has been driving around southern Indiana, singing to old folks. He’s not old, himself, but he knows how he wants to spend the rest of his time.

Looking for a job? Or to NOT have a job? Nathan Dillon's in between - he sings rock songs at nursing homes.

For the latest Inner States, we talked about music, memory, aging and money.

Also he's got a great laugh. (If nothing else, listen for that.)
indianapublicmedia.org/innerstates/...

Coming in the Year of Dairy Products from the American Heartland

YouTube video by WTIU & WFIU - Indiana Public Media Can art resist fascism?

youtu.be/aeJY0iFqC5U?...

If corporate sponsorships are a problem, maybe the way to deal with that is to fully fund a robust public media system.

Weapons of the Weak (see also: James Scott)

Can art resist fascism? A conversation about what contemporary art can help us understand about policing, oppressive power, and resistance.

Latest episode of Inner States: indianapublicmedia.org/innerstates/...

Let me know what you think

from my perspective it's because you might end up with a job

🎯 The one neat trick long term investment in parallel institutions that do various, adaptable, needful things & those don’t have immediate deliverables & their impacts are rarely direct. The magnitude of their influence & importance shows overtime. There’s no quickie way to build society-wide power.

Admittedly, except for the square inch of sky in the corner, this person’s yard looks like it’s indoors. I’d be annoyed too if my neighbor’s blossoms kept getting all over my living room.

ONIONS.

My first favorite (I admit) internet pet.

I hope he’s the tipping point for a faculty union.

Reposting bc I don’t have one of these to make a note about it in

Who knew an out of control email chain could bring such joy? Love it.

Maybe I’ll do it! Maybe…

Cool, yeah, y’all did a lot of research for Start Up, and w full-time jobs, that’s gotta be a lot. Understand! I’ll keep appreciating whatever you put out, I’m sure. Looking forward to Notes on Camp.

BUT ALSO. Super dorky, but listening to your show makes me want to talk with other lovers of TAL et al. There’s the conferences and all. But would a zoom meetup for TAL nerds be maybe fun?

Of course Brian Reed kinda revisited it recently in his new show.

Well one thought is, it was interesting to hear you talk about Serial and Start Up, and no mentioned of S-Town. Which was a year or 2 later but to my mind made an equally big splash. “The First Podcast (Nonfic) Novel” and all. Would enjoy hearing yall discuss that.

@robmcmyers.bsky.social The two episodes about Start Up are possibly your best yet, imo. The discussion of the industry, burnout, artistry vs commerce, and the ending defense of what audio can do. Nice work!

And I’ve got an idea (request?) I’m gonna try to get around to mentioning soon.

Alex Chambers and Alex Goldman! Two equally known and respected podcasters!

Sorry for the dorky answer but I would recommend Brendan Baker's ProTools-style Reaper approach: brendanpatrickbaker.com/reatooled/ Because as he says, "friends don't let friends use ProTools." (ProTools: expensive! Reaper: accessible! Etc.)

The worst!

Now it's about quilts and barns. And, crucially, who "belongs."