Jenée Desmond-Harris

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I swear I was having this exact thought (as I do a few times each day!) when I read the tweet

Despite years of "economic anxiety" discourse, the core drivers of Trump support have always been bigotry and misinformation.
www.nytimes.com/interactive/...

And if not, what will it take?

(My idea is that what it will take is for there to be zero living, happy non-white people AND nobody is allowed to say what ICE is doing isn’t nice, because that makes them feel judged and alienated and left behind all over again)

I’m curious: You know the people who we were told were angry and hateful and lashing out politically because being white wasn’t allowed anymore (🙄) and the country was changing and leaving them behind? Are they happy now? Spreading joy? Doing random acts of kindness?

Your welcome! (I love when someone can do that for me so I know the feeling!)

I wrote about one of the many thoughts about Renee Good that’s been keeping me up at night https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2026/01/renee-good-killing-ice-watch-mom.html

How to Mourn Your Living Mother It’s like trying to read tea leaves at the bottom of a barrel on a boat on the ocean in the middle of a storm.

So happy to share this beautiful, funny, sad, brutally honest essay by @kimmclarin.bsky.social. Save it for Saturday morning while you drink your coffee and have time to maybe cry a little bit https://slate.com/life/2026/01/dementia-alzheimers-elderly-parents-caregiving-grief.html

Perfectly put

For a while I didn’t watch this because 1) why would I care about football and 2) the show is my enemy because it steals Joel’s
Saturdays, but I’ve been tuning in and they are actually all really delightful and have great chemistry (and I’m only biased about one of them!)

Yes I also have one single playlist called “liked songs”

Yes I also pay a fine to google every month because I refuse to delete an email, ever

It’s thrown me off to learn that people keep track of how many books they read and I think they’re showing off! I’m sure it only takes 4 seconds but I can only fantasize about having my whole life together enough to do a voluntary administrative task

Dez had a really negative reaction to my explanation of Kwanzaa & I finally realized it was because “it’s an African American tradition”’is what I say (mostly to entertain myself) every time I put lotion on his face and he yells “Whyyy??!”

I guess it was sounding a little too similar 😂

❤️❤️❤️

@joelanderson.bsky.social to Dez (3): You know, Daddy used to race people when I was a kid
Dez: Would you be the winner?
Joel: 🤩🤩🤩😁😁😁☺️☺️☺️☺️🤗🤗🤗

Iykyk. Nobody has ever been happier to answer a question

Thank you so much!!

Anyone from Chattanooga? I don’t normally answer super specific questions like this but I thought it would be fun to give this guy some concrete ideas for bars/restaurants/clubs/activities

Thank you! I have what I need for now and my inbox is overflowing with promising pitches. I told myself I would respond to each one but at this point (after midnight on Saturday, technically Sunday) I’m admitting defeat. Please accept my apology

Oh no I can’t take credit for that! Just sharing pieces that have worked well at Slate

That email address should have no weird spaces or accent on the e (my phone insists on it, sorry!) Jenee.Desmond-harris@slate.com

Hi! Open to personal essays and reported opinion, definitely! There are some examples in the thread. Feel free to reach out and run an idea by me

I’ve Always Suspected “Cat Person” Was Based on My Life. Now I Know It Was. Since I first read Kristen Roupenian’s viral story, I’ve wondered: How did she know about me?

https://slate.com/human-interest/2021/07/cat-person-kristen-roupenian-viral-story-about-me.html

I Never Understood Why Veterinarians Are at Such High Risk of Suicide. Until I Became One. The story of Lacey, and why I had to kill her.

https://slate.com/human-interest/2023/02/veterinarians-euthanasia-mental-health-dogs-cats.html

It Was Late to Have a Baby. I Knew the Risks. I Still Wasn’t Ready for How Bad It Could Get. I gave birth at 45. I didn’t know what it could cost me.

And I (personally ☺️) really love a big personal essay: https://slate.com/technology/2023/11/childbirth-death-united-states-advanced-maternal-age.html

In the ’80s, We Decided Bike Helmets Make Riders Safe. Cyclists Have Paid for It Ever Since. Some cyclists refuse to wear helmets on principle. They have their reasons.

https://slate.com/technology/2023/01/bike-helmets-cyclist-deaths-do-you-need-to-wear.html

It’s the Most Hated Airline in America. You’re Not Going to Like What Happens When It’s Gone. You might never get on its planes—but it’s already done more for you than you know.

Reported arguments: https://slate.com/business/2024/10/flights-airlines-travel-spirit-cheap-bankrupt.html

Her Dad Was the BTK Killer. Their Daughter Was Gabby Petito. Why Would They Ever Agree to This? It's one of the strangest—and fastest-growing—gatherings in America. I went to see it for myself.

Dispatches: https://slate.com/life/2024/08/crime-murder-mystery-petito-btk-jonbenet-interview.html

It Was One of 2023’s Most Shocking Crimes. The Year That Followed Was Even Harder to Explain. In a Maine town, one store was a lifeline—and right in the middle of the deadliest tragedy ever in state history.

https://slate.com/business/2024/12/maine-state-mass-shooting-guns-lawsuit.html

Donald Trump Is Enacting His Darkest Agenda in the Backyard of a Small Town. Absolutely No One Wants to Talk About It. In Jena, Louisiana, the people knew everything and nothing about what’s happening there.

Newsy features: https://slate.com/business/2025/06/donald-trump-immigration-ice-raids-arrests-jena-louisiana.html