The May selection for the Audacious Book Club is Chain Gang All Stars by Nana Kwami Adjei-Brenyah. We will be in conversation with Nana on May 30th at 8 pm EST/5pm PST. Registration is now open.
I am reading submissions to The Audacity’s Emerging Writer Series. Read the guidelines and submit your best writing. Submissions will be open until I have 24 essays.
Don’t Forget: Why Design Matters by Debbie Millman. Debbie also created The Remarkable Life Deck, if you want to think through what the next decade of your life could look like. The cards are really beautiful and this is such a valuable exercise for looking ahead and taking stock of where you are. I don’t say that lightly. Normally, this isn’t my kind of thing but The Remarkable Life Deck is excellent.
If you’re looking for a nice notebook, check out my Draft Writing Journal from Baron Fig. It’s pretty swank if I do say so myself. To accompany my Draft Writing Journal, there is now a pen! It’s beautiful and satisfying to hold. And if you’re looking for some writing instruction, you might want to check out my Masterclass.
Meg Pillow offers a single mother’s manifesto for Mother’s Day. Happy Mother’s Day to all the mothers and others who are nurturing children, family, community and themselves. And this is such a moving story about a mother who gave her child life, twice. Kaitlyn Greenidge writes about teaching her daughter to be angry. And you know the cycle of vernacular appropriation is complete when the Times writes about something. I give you, MOTHER.
For Fortune, I wrote about the CNN town hall and how the media has really learned nothing about how to handle Trump over the past eight years.
There’s also a new work friend with questions about unbearable sounds, not wanting to contribute to a group gift, a work friend who may be antisemitic and how to stop self-loathing about living and working with chronic illness.
This is not a drill!!! BTS book, coming soon.
CNN hosted a disastrous town hall with a former president. It was a disaster, in many ways and it foretells a very long election cycle this time around, with the same bullshit as the previous two cycles. Also, CNN corporate is thrilled with how things went, it would seem.
By the Book with this month’s Audacious Book Club author, Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah. And here is a list of ten things Samantha Irby enjoys.
On Buzzfeed and its role in defining internet traffic and virality.
At long last, the FDA is allowing gay and bisexual men to donate blood.
RIP Doyle Brunson, one of the greatest poker players to ever play the game.
Sweden has won this year’s Eurovision.
A white woman tried to weaponize her tears to make a Black man give her a Citibike he had already paid for. Totally bizarre situation. And it could have ended so badly. We’ve seen it happen time and time again.
In Rolling Stone, a report of a toxic workplace behind the scenes of the Kelly Clarkson Show. Clarkson didn’t know and vows to address the issues which is nice to see.
Florida continues its rapid descent into fascism, and now there is a worker shortage because of new DeSantis legislation.
Ummm… Jonathan Majors and Meagan Good are dating.
Charges have been dropped against the Black Colorado ranchers whose racist ass neighbors are trying to drive them off their own land.
In Texas, a man murdered his partner for traveling to get an abortion.
Alas, the Tony Awards won’t be broadcast this year because of the WGA strike.
Janelle Monae has a new music video. It’s called Lipstick Lover.
A profile of Savannah James.
Daniel Penny, who killed Jordan Neely with a chokehold, is being charged. And Brittany Packyetti Cunningham writes about white discomfort and how it threatens so many of us.
On the Housewives franchises.
A conversation with Hannah Gadsby about her new comedy special and more.
This Generation Connie piece is really wonderful and warm.
Chrishell and G-Flip are married.
I guess movies are commercials now—Tetris, Air Jordan, Blackberry, and now Flaming Hot Cheetos.
RIP to Heather Armstrong, also known as Dooce. She was many things, some good and some not, but she truly did lead the way in online writing and created space for a lot of women to share about their lives. She was 47.
Missouri is now denying trans children healthcare.
Turns out that MLK’s supposed criticism of Malcolm X was absolutely fraudulent. Made up. And that is just… beyond.
George Santos has been indicted on thirteen counts. Republicans love criminals, I guess. If they’re not Black.
MTV News is shuttering. So many great outlets are just disappearing and nothing is filling the void they leave behind.
Turns out journalists do know how to use active voice when they want to.
Tory Lanez has been denied a new trial.
Donald Slump was found liable for sexual assault and defamation in E. Jean Carroll’s lawsuit against him. Miracles do happen.
A widow wrote a book about grief and then, plot twist, turns out she murdered her husband.
Robert DeNiro, 79, is a father for the 7th time.
Here are the winners of the 2023 Pulitzer Prizes.
Christian Lorentzen on the decay of the American magazine.
Remember your history, kids.
A bit of a family spat.
The things we must do to speak to a human.
Is anyone on Succession gay?
The Renaissance world tour has begun.
Most depressing PSA ever?
I am an ardent Eurovision fan. It is the most unhinged, most beeezare, most compelling, most infectious thing I've ever seen on tv. It's geopolitical drama, it's earworm infestation, it's glitter, it's gay, it's amazing. If ABBA doesn't reunite on stage in Stockholm next year, I will write letters.
Very glad the case has been dropped against the Mallorys. Such a wonderful family who have been absolutely terrorized and harassed. May their racist neighbors contract anal fissures.
Soooo much. One of the wildest roundups to date!