Michael Taeckens

This statement is appallingly bad--like, the administration *illegally bombed a school.* It's mind-boggling to me for this to be the reaction from a human, much less a purported leader of the Democratic Party. I need a new senator stat

I can SMELL this book cover. @minjinlee.bsky.social (American Hagwon) coming out in September 2026.

call (202) 224-3121 & you'll get connected to your representatives

my heart is so heavy

This reminds me that I need to watch The Lair of the White Worm again

Master Class: Fairytales as Inspiration with Edward Carey — The Shipman Agency 1 Session: Sunday, March 8 11:00am-2:00pm ET Edward Carey How to reignite your imagination, sharpen your fiction, and give yourself permission to be braver and stranger in your writing through the ...

The wonderful Edward Carey is teaching a class on fairy tales as inspiration. Inspired by the one he used to teach at UT Austin's MFA. Perfect if you're not going to AWP or if you'll be home in time that Sunday March 8th. www.theshipmanagency.com/classes/mast...

The best thing you can do in light of the Ellison takeover of Warner Brothers invest your time, energy, and money in supporting independent creators and independent distribution networks and independent venues. It is absolutely crucial to make independence a viable option.

blue graphic with an outline of the United States. Red and white text reads: Call. National Book Banning Bill Proposed in US House of Reps. Tell your rep: Vote no on H.R. 7661.

We've had a day to pull a few things together, so here's a thread some more targeted info opposing the potential national book ban just proposed in the House of Representatives.

7 Collections of Prose Poems Recommended by D.S. Waldman - Debutiful My students often have difficulty with the idea of a prose poem.  How do we define it?  How is it a poem and not just prose?  And in truth, I rarely have satisfying answers for them.  Part of what I l...

For @debutiful.bsky.social I wrote about my 7 favorite collections of prose poems

debutiful.net/2026/02/26/7...

I think the coolest thing we do at The Verge is publish comics. This one is brilliant (and behind the scenes, an absolute beast of engineering)

Ask your reps to oppose H.R.7661.

Opinion | 40 Iranian Doctors and Nurses Describe a Massacre We surveyed medical workers across 14 cities and 11 provinces in Iran about their experiences treating wounded protesters.

This is so well done

www.nytimes.com/interactive/...

A Nationwide Book Ban Bill Has Been Introduced in the House of Representatives Hours after the State of the Union address, House republicans introduced legislation banning LGBTQ+ books from public schools nationwide.

A nationwide book ban bill has been introduced in the House of Representatives. Here's what you need to know about HR7661, including who is behind it, the history behind such bills, and what you need to do to stop it.

bookriot.com/hr7661-book-...

A U.S. veteran adopted an orphan from Iran. Decades later, ICE is trying to deport her The woman has no criminal record and is unsure what prompted the threat of removal. She fears being deported to Iran given her father's military service and her Christian faith.

“Adopted from Iran at age two, she takes great pride in her quintessential American upbringing… But in the eyes of the U.S. government…she's an immigrant who overstayed her visa… Earlier this month, she received a letter from the Department of Homeland Security saying removal proceedings have begun”

Master Class: Fairytales as Inspiration with Edward Carey — The Shipman Agency 1 Session: Sunday, March 8 11:00am-2:00pm ET Edward Carey How to reignite your imagination, sharpen your fiction, and give yourself permission to be braver and stranger in your writing through the ...

Ahoy, Bluesky! Edward Carey is teaching an online course on Fairytales as Inspiration. He's taught fairytales to writers for two decades, at both the Iowa Writers Workshop & UT Austin, & knows everything about their joys & shadows.

www.theshipmanagency.com/classes/mast...

They beat a blind refugee who speaks no English for failing to obey police commands he could not understand. Then instead of apologizing, they charged him with possession of a “weapon”—HIS WALKING STICK. Then they dumped him miles from home without notifying anyone, after which he was found dead.

Chapter 1 of Moby Dick, page 1 The phrase ‘Call me Ishmael’, the first sentence of the book, is highlighted in blue, with careful highlighting on the very big C at the start. Above this, written in ballpoint pen ‘His name’

Love the glimpse into the beautiful mind that notated this used copy of Moby Dick I got

Justice Department withheld and removed some Epstein files related to Trump An NPR investigation finds the public database of Epstein files is missing dozens of pages related to sexual abuse accusations against President Trump.

An NPR investigation finds the public database of Epstein files is missing dozens of pages related to sexual abuse accusations against President Trump. n.pr/4qTItsU

Supreme Court Says You Can’t File Tort Suits Against Postal Carriers Who Won’t Deliver Mail to Black People According to Clarence Thomas, mail that your mail carrier steals from you is really just “lost,” if you think about it.

You can't sue the government if postal workers accidentally drop the glassware you ordered or lose a letter from your pen pal

The Supreme Court ruled yesterday that this means you also can't sue if postal workers refuse to deliver your mail because you're Black

ballsandstrikes.org/scotus/posta...

An image of a New York Times Opinion Guest Essay titled "Medical Associations Trusted Belief Over Science on Youth Gender Care," published February 24, 2026. The article is written by Jesse Singal. Below the headline is an illustration featuring a person in green medical scrubs with a stethoscope around their neck; the top half of their face is obscured by a large transgender pride flag (consisting of horizontal blue, pink, and white stripes). The bottom of the screenshot includes a "Listen to this article" player and a brief bio of the author. Would you like me to help you draft a response or an analysis of the arguments presented in this essay?

Jesse Singal is back to spike the football on the backs of trans youth. Congrats man, you got care banned in most of the country, families are fleeing the country, and trans kids are killing themselves.

Happy now?

The Maris Review, vol 93 The theme of this week is reappearances What I read this week This Is Where the Serpent Lives by Daniyal Mueenuddin As precise and epic in scope as the most celebrated Russian novels, This Is Wher...

Huge week for new releases. I also discussed two excellent books and dedicated a little section of newsletter to Gavin Newsom and Josh Shapiro. www.themarisreview.com/the-maris-review-vol-93/

currently reading @elizmccrack.bsky.social’s A Long Game & it’s so very, painfully good

The Little Magazine That Defied American Censorship Margaret Anderson’s “Little Review” fought to bring the great works of modernist literature to the United States.

Huge thanks to Stephanie Gorton for this insightful look at A DANGER TO THE MINDS OF YOUNG GIRLS for The New Republic. newrepublic.com/article/2057...

On this, really interesting piece on X’s “ideological ratchet” by @jwherrman.bsky.social: the platform is pulling users to the right, even elites who thought they were immune to radicalisation
nymag.com/intelligence...

The hidden ICE blueprint that should horrify every American | Will Bunch An internal Department of Homeland Security document shows how ICE plans to cram thousands of detained human beings inside a Georgia warehouse.

What's more shocking than ICE's plan to cram as many 8,500 humans into massive, soul-crushing warehouses?

Seeing the actual DHS floor plan that echoes slavery ships and history's worst gulags with no rec space but a gun range for guards

My new column on the camps www.inquirer.com/opinion/ice-...

I’m looking to ditch Apple Music and I don’t want to use Amazon, Spotify, or YouTube. Anyone use Tidal, and if so, is it decent?

Knifing journalism in the back pays.

When newspapers cut book coverage, communities lose more than reviews - Poynter Authors, critics and booksellers say shrinking coverage weakens local arts, literary culture and the bond between readers and newsrooms

@poynterinstitute.bsky.social on the decline of book reviews: "When a community loses book coverage, it creates a ripple effect. Writers lose visibility...Readers lose out on books....Local arts lose support. Freelancers and critics lose income." shorturl.at/Hfpfv
#booksky h/t @lhertzel.bsky.social

Min’s new novel is spectacular!
Book critics: contact Cordelia Calvert and me for review copy/interview requests:

cordelia dot calvert at hbgusa dot com
michael at broadsidepr dot com

@minjinlee.bsky.social @reaganart.bsky.social

Do I Still Matter? Two new books — and a lot of free time — got me thinking about how we yearn to matter.

Producing yesterday’s newsletter was delightful chaos. When I sat down to copy-edit, the power went out. I jumped in the car & rode w Dawn to school, where she set me up in the English office. Then we saw JASON REYNOLDS in the school auditorium!
open.substack.com/pub/roncharl...