Aimee Bender

I read writing by humans because humans wrote it and I’m a human and I can feel like a part of something larger while seeing myself through the eyes of another human.
Writing isn’t software predicting things, it’s a damn encounter, a conversation, it’s touching the ethereal with humans.
Loud sigh!

UNFOLDING If there is no spirit unfolding itself in history, No gradual growth of consciousness Beneath the land grabs and forced migrations, The bought elections, the betrayal of trust By party faction in the name of progress- What about spirit in the personal realm Unfolding slowly inside us, so slowly That our best days seem like a holding action? Seasons repeat themselves, but the tree Shading the yard keeps growing. Don't be chagrined that the sadness you felt This evening beside the bed of a friend Who's growing weaker wasn't more profound Than the sadness of yesterday, that you still Can't imagine a fraction of what he's feeling As the world he loves slips from his grasp. No progress from your perspective, But who's to say what you might notice If the scroll of the last few months were unrolled On the table before you, how clear it might be That your your understanding of all you're losing In losing him has been slowly deepening? Another day, you say to yourself, at dusk As you climb your porch steps, which you notice Could use some scraping and painting this weekend, A fresh coat that with luck will last a year. --Carl Dennis

SO many great poems in these old issues of The New Yorker

Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez speaks with reporters. (AP / Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call)

AOC: “That’s one reason he must be removed from office - if the Epstein files have such a hold on Trump & this admin that they are willing to plunge us & risk world war in order to save themselves politically - that is the definition of someone who cant make objective decisions for the American ppl”

because I keep forgetting to mention it: LITERALLY ANYONE can nominate books for this prize! yes! that means you! you have until march 31st!

🚨 EXTREMELY IMPORTANT ELECTION UPDATE 🚨

🚨 YOU MUST VOTE AT YOUR ASSIGNED PRECINCT 🚨

We are hearing that NEARLY 1/3RD of Dallas County voters are being turned away from polling locations because they are NOT at their assigned voting locations. #VOTE

Promotional poster for the Poetry Foundation announcing that fellowship applications are open. Features a silhouette of a pegasus with details on how to apply by March 2, 2026, at the website www.poetryfoundation.org/awards

The Poetry Foundation awards five Ruth Lilly and Dorothy Sargent Rosenberg Poetry Fellowships annually. The $27,000 prize is intended to support exceptional US poets between 21 and 31 years of age.

Learn more and apply by March 2: https://bit.ly/4pEKkkx

(between images of a map showing the nearly 2,000 No Kings Day events planned for March 28) NO THRONES. NO CROWNS.

There are nearly 2,000 events on the No Kings Day map in all 50 states (and 10 countries). March 28 will be the largest protest in American history. Find your local event or plan a protest in your area: www.nokings.org?SQF_SOURCE=i...

Mine too! I’m so impressed how they’ve kept it going.

Unbelievable!

Last year I got an embossed lunchbox, a puffy folder with a fairy tale stencil, a silver book of manifestos and so much more— all chock full of great writing. McSweeney’s continues to make and publish incredible stuff.

McSweeney’s 81 is out TODAY and we’re celebrating with a 12-hour flash sale! Get four issues for just $60 (plus shipping) until 6:00 pm pacific! Truly the deal of the century.

store.mcsweeneys.net/products/qua...

Don't be fooled by this bill's name-- this is a book banning bill that will exclude LGBTQ books from all public schools NATIONWIDE.

Call your congresspeople and tell them to VOTE NO on this nakedly bigoted book banning bullshit.

www.congress.gov/bill/119th-c...

YouTube video by Face the Nation Watch: Abigail Spanberger's full rebuttal to Trump's State of the Union

Dems should pay close attention to what Spanberger developed here: A forceful anti-Trump politics that speaks to people like grownups about ICE, grasps the political/cultural significance of Minneapolis, and doesn't shrink from defending immigrants and democracy:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=HcN0...

Alysa Liu telling 60 Minutes “I love struggling, it makes me feel alive” is a legit revolutionary statement from a Bay Area native in a time when copious amounts of time and resources are being put toward convincing us to opt out of experiencing struggle, friction and self-actualization

Here are three amazing four-session classes coming up at @storystudiochicago.bsky.social –two on Zoom, one in person. Should you sign up for all three? Probably not. That’s a lot of classes. But you should sign up for ONE, at least 🧵

KCRW has a live tribute to Michael Silverblatt right now. Wonderful replays of many of his author interviews. Sontag, Spiegelman, Beattie, etc. www.kcrw.com/live-now

How to register to vote and check your registration status For the 2026 primary elections, NPR has collected deadlines and information on how to register to vote — online, in person or by mail — in every U.S. state and territory.

For the 2026 primary elections, NPR has collected deadlines and information on how to register to vote — online, in person or by mail — in every U.S. state and territory. n.pr/4ayRPUJ

🎵 If they ask you to pay money it's a scam 👏👏
🎵 If they ask you to pay money it's a scam 👏👏
🎵 that is not your favorite author or a stunning book club offer
🎵 They are asking you for money=it's a scam 👏👏

I’ve Been Laid Off. I’m Not Done. After 20 years at The Washington Post, I’m suddenly on my own — and still writing about books.

For now, support now ex-editor Ron Charles! open.substack.com/pub/roncharl...

You just have to keep doing your work. There's a lot to do.

Steve Bannon says ICE will ‘surround the polls’ as Trump doubles down on taking over elections Trump doubled down on his comments to nationalize voting Tuesday during an Oval Office press conference. “If you think about it, a state is an agent for the federal government in elections,” Trump sai...

I hope every Democratic member of the House and Senate reads this and factors it into whatever funding bill gets agreed to. We have seen what ICE can do to U.S. Citizens in the streets, imagine what they will do at the polls. www.democracydocket.com/news-alerts/...

We gotta come up with a better system than “everything rests on whether these twelve billionnaires are nice”

NEW FOOTAGE: Protesters take over a Minneapolis Target Saturday to protest the retailer’s cooperation with ICE. This is a movement! Share so everyone is aware!

How to Film ICE Filming federal agents in public is legal, but avoiding a dangerous—even deadly—confrontation isn’t guaranteed. Here’s how to record ICE and CBP agents as safely as possible and have an impact.

NEW: The @wired.com Security desk put together a comprehensive guide to filming ICE—with tips for reducing risk at the forefront. No paywall, but please consider subscribing to help find these kinds of resources. And stay safe out there. www.wired.com/story/how-to...

www.wired.com/v2/offers/wi...

Publishing for Minnesota Silent auction 'Publishing for Minnesota' hosted online at 32auctions.

Here is an opportunity to bid on wonderful books and zines, guidance and services from publishing professionals, and more—while supporting Minnesotans. Act fast—bidding ends today!

www.32auctions.com/publishingfo...

Bidding ends tonight! Thank you to those of you who have bid so far! They have raised a total of $155,682.00 so far. 💜 There are some amazing things on this auction raising money for several Minnesota immigrant funds.

all items www.32auctions.com/publishingfo...

legislators should be staging sit-ins, they should not leave the fucking chambers until there are votes on impeachment. make your colleagues defend this piece of shit on the record. show history what you fucking did in this moment you god damned cowards

The biggest risk in this moment is something sociologists call “symbolic compliance.”

That’s when an institution that is violating civil rights gives the public just enough symbolic victories that accountability efforts lose steam before there has been any meaningful change.

The latest: Minnesota reels after second fatal shooting by federal agents Protesters gathered at a park near where a man was shot and killed by federal agents Saturday. Federal officials say the man was armed.

I know it feels almost impotent to be making calls at a time like this, but we have to use every available method possible. Flood those phone lines! www.startribune.com/ice-raids-mi... Minneapolis shooting today: Federal agents fatally shoot man

I’m out here in Los Angeles, where hundreds have gathered in response to the ICE execution of Alex Pretti in Minneapolis. Chants and speeches underway here outside the Federal Building in DTLA. Working multiple cameras today so posts may be sparse