“A country that can instantly fund endless wars but debates every dime for healthcare and education doesn't have a budget issue--it has a values issue."
A billion dollars a day going towards the war in Iran so far.
A new bill in Congress would punish schools for letting students read about gender identity — and “lascivious dancing.”
Book bans aren’t fading. They’re evolving.
Today’s newsletter: roncharles.substack.com/p/now-congre...
Love this piece by @vauhinivara.bsky.social. Every time I think some derogatory thought about Patterson, I have to remind myself that he is one of the few super rich authors actually giving back to the literary community in meaningful ways. www.bloomberg.com/news/feature...
Kristi Noem has done a stunning amount of damage and it’s good she’s gone.
But this doesn’t change the fact that we need a complete overhaul of DHS, impartial investigations into the killings of two American citizens, and information on children that were taken from Minnesota.
Min Jin Lee speaking from a podium at Emory University on March 1, 2026
yesterday I got to hear from my favorite living author @minjinlee.bsky.social, who was brilliant, funny, and spellbinding. I've never read a novelist who gives life so beautifully and fully to ordinary people history has forgotten.
“Almost all the 165 people killed in the attack were girls aged between seven and 12, according to local officials. There were around 170 girls at the school in southern Iran’s Minab at the time.“
A double-tap strike on little girls at school.
A man asked me last night what publishing needs to do for literary fiction to begin appealing to men again. I said, as nicely as I could, that, with over 2,000 books published every Tuesday, of which many would appeal to men, it’s not a publishing problem, it’s a men problem.
It’s incredible!
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
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.
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.
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-...
“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”
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
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
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?
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/
