Laura Scalzo

It’s remarkable to realize Diane Keaton created a signature look and sensibility back in the 1970s and for about half a century continued to be a creative inspiration for how to be yourself in a world that tries so hard to put you in a box. Well done, Diane Keaton. RIP.

😂

SHAPIRO: OK, so you've spent your career creating television without Al, and I could imagine today you thinking, boy, I wish I had had that tool to solve those thorny problems... SIMON: What? SHAPIRO: ...Or saying... SIMON: You imagine that? SHAPIRO: ...Boy, if that had existed, it would have screwed me over. SIMON: I don't think Al can remotely challenge what writers do at a fundamentally creative level. SHAPIRO: But if you're trying to transition from scene five to scene six, and you're stuck with that transition, you could imagine plugging that portion of the script into an Al and say, give me 10 ideas for how to transition this. SIMON: I'd rather put a gun in my mouth.

David Simon, creator of ‘The Wire’, being interviewed by Ari Shapiro (NPR)

Maureen! 😂 That’s amazing. My distant to the problem two cents is let the world miss you a little bit.

This season’s plot twists on Slow Horses - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Starving children screaming for food as US aid cuts unleash devastation and death across Myanmar U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has repeatedly said “no one has died" because of his government’s decision to gut its foreign aid program.

i desperately want everyone involved in the destruction of USAID to have to, st the very least, answer to the american people for the suffering and misery they have caused apnews.com/article/myan...

Stephen Miller said the quiet part out loud. Trump has “plenary authority,” then suddenly went silent. Their plan wasn’t to be public yet. Clearly, someone hit the panic button in his earpiece.

It gets weirder: CNN uploaded the interview with the “plenary authority” comment edited out.
1/2

“Millions of dead children” will be in the first line of Marco Rubio's obituary.

Nice that the only State Department comment here is that “the U.S. 'continues to stand with the people of Burma.'” Myanmar hasn't been called Burma since 1989, but since Trump is forever stuck in 1983, that checks.

As basic question from an ex-police reporter: Can some of our journalists detail the training regimen all these new federal agents receive? The lethal incompetence involving use of force and perameters of the 4A suggests they are just handed guns, masks and badges and told to go fuck people up.

When I think about the amount of airtime that douchebag gets it adds to my understanding of why the country is so upside down and fucked up. Imagine standing next to him at a party—you’d give him a what’s wrong with you look and walk away. I would anyway.

lol

As you know, here in DC it’s not uncommon for someone to say, “Have a blessed day,” (pronounced bless-ed) and I always always take it to heart. And so I will here too. ❤️

Hi everyone! 👋 I'm officially up and running at
@propublica.org covering election and voting issues, and expanding my sourcing nationally. Spread the word.

Reach out, say hi, introduce yourself, send tips:
jen.fifield@propublica.org
Cell: 480-476-0108
Signal: jenafifield.01

The Barrelhouse conference, Conversations and Connections, is coming back to DC on April 18, 2026.

The @barrelhouse.bsky.social conference is coming back to DC on April 18, 2026, and we're open for registration! It's $95, and that includes the one-day conference, 1 book, 1 meeting w an editor, and your choice of literary stuff from our partner presses. www.barrelhousemag.com/conference

Dr. Jane Goodall filmed an interview with Netflix in March 2025 that she understood would only be released after her death.

Paywall but I’m visiting my sister in Philly who still gets the @inquirer.com delivered so I get to read @willbunch.bsky.social!

I appreciate it especially since my own hometown paper, @washingtonpost.com is circling the drain.

I hope this catches on and becomes his legacy

Today, Oct.2nd, is the anniversary of Jamal Khashoggi’s murder by Saudi agents.

Nine Hundred Miles To Tampa - Cutleaf Journal When the phone lights up again, Kevin takes in a breath and answers. “My name is Kevin Dwyer. How may I service you?” Hannah, on her own call at the next desk

Excited to have a story out with Cutleaf Journal from my collection cutleafjournal.com/content/nine...

I cried off and on all afternoon. I’m sorry to miss the chat this evening.

Pope Leo XIV Today, more than ever, we must return to the heart, the center of feeling and emotion, the locus of freedom. Though it includes reason, the heart transcends and transforms it. Only by returning to the heart can we undergo a true ecological conversion that transforms our personal Austin I reject this whole heartedly. What you fail to see Mr Pope, the Bible says

really enjoying all the people trying to explain the bible to the pope today

Donald Trump is an Insult to Those Who Died Serving This Nation Picture someone you love who died serving this nation, or even someone you’ve never met.

Trump's kleptocratic Administration, populated by an unqualified sycophant like Pete Hegseth, serves as a strident “f*ck you” to the millions who lost years and futures and limbs trying to protect a Republic that is now teetering on the edge of the abyss.

johnpavlovitz.substack.com/p/donald-tru...

This is the dumbest poll question ever.

Try polling the question, "Should the Republicans shut down the government in order to make sure families' insurance premiums go up by 75%?"

Impeach and remove.

👀

We had press like this too. Interviews with MD/VA folks saying they’re glad the military is in town making DC safe. 1. They’re the first tell others they’re “from DC” and 2. Pay your parking tickets. Oh and 3. Stop standing in the bike lane with your flashers on. Fini.

“It turns out boredom is the Cadillac of feelings.”

If ever there was a time not to normalize Trump’s authoritarian fever dreams, this is it.

This should be impeachable. ‘War ravaged’ Portland? He’s insane - & insanely power hungry. The script is set - call an imaginary group a terror group and then send in the troops.

Hey all! Gonna resurrect our "That Was Awesome" short story club! Next week! Thursday, 10/2, 8pm ET Ben Shattuck's "The History of Sound" This was one of my fave stories I read last year, the title story in one of my favorite collections I've read in a while! available online here: https://www.thecommononline.org/the-history-of-sound/ (I think I saw mention somewhere that this version in The Common was (a little?) different than the version collected in his book. Assuming I find the time, I actually wanna try and do a compare and contrast before we meet...) Zoom link below Excited to hang out and chat about the story! -Aaron

Gonna do another "That Was Awesome!" short story club next week!

Basically, a bunch of us (~10-30?) hop on zoom & hang out & chat about a story for an hour or two. Super informal and chill. It's fun!

If interested in joining, lemme know

Thursday, 10/2, 8pm ET
Ben Shattuck's "The History of Sound"