Karen Grigsby Bates
@kgbates.bsky.social
Writer. Thinker. NPR journalist for 20+ years. Author (“Basic Black,” “Plain Brown Wrapper,” “Chosen People”). Passionate reader. Takes no tea for the fever.
He looks like a recycled Greg Bovino, minus the Third Reich mufti…
White House Pulls Nomination of Mullin Ally for ICE Director www.nytimes.com/2026/09/17/u...
White House Pulls Nomination of Mullin Ally for ICE Director www.nytimes.com/2026/09/17/u...
White House Pulls Nomination of Lance Schroyer, Ally of Markwayne Mullin, for ICE Director (Gift Article)
President Trump nominated Lance Schroyer, a former law enforcement officer from Oklahoma, less than three months ago.
www.nytimes.com
September 17, 2026 at 6:44 PM
He looks like a recycled Greg Bovino, minus the Third Reich mufti…
White House Pulls Nomination of Mullin Ally for ICE Director www.nytimes.com/2026/09/17/u...
White House Pulls Nomination of Mullin Ally for ICE Director www.nytimes.com/2026/09/17/u...
@zachstafford.bsky.social sorry about that traumatizing experience at the dog shelter—whew! If you’re still thinking about adopting, try Wags and Walks in West LA. They rescue and place dogs. We got Noah (below) there about 4 years ago, and it was a great experience. Good luck!
September 16, 2026 at 7:02 PM
@zachstafford.bsky.social sorry about that traumatizing experience at the dog shelter—whew! If you’re still thinking about adopting, try Wags and Walks in West LA. They rescue and place dogs. We got Noah (below) there about 4 years ago, and it was a great experience. Good luck!
Wishing the Duke of Sussex a very Happy Birthday.
September 16, 2026 at 1:29 AM
Wishing the Duke of Sussex a very Happy Birthday.
Why do people insist on labeling The Bear a comedy? Haven’t they watched it???
September 15, 2026 at 1:47 AM
Why do people insist on labeling The Bear a comedy? Haven’t they watched it???
A friend just told me Bob Mackie has died. He was 87. He’ll be remembered forever for the glittering glamor he created for Cher, Carol Burnett, Diana Ross, Tina Turner and Dolly Parton, among others. Now he’s sparkling in another galaxy. R.I.P. Bobby Mac.
September 14, 2026 at 4:44 PM
A friend just told me Bob Mackie has died. He was 87. He’ll be remembered forever for the glittering glamor he created for Cher, Carol Burnett, Diana Ross, Tina Turner and Dolly Parton, among others. Now he’s sparkling in another galaxy. R.I.P. Bobby Mac.
Turned on The View to catch the tail end of Ted Cruz flakking his new biography of Clarence Thomas. Psychedelic!
September 9, 2026 at 5:37 PM
Turned on The View to catch the tail end of Ted Cruz flakking his new biography of Clarence Thomas. Psychedelic!
Robbing Peter to pay Paul dept:
Trump Officials Draft Plan to Pay At-Home Parents, Using Funds for Working Ones www.nytimes.com/2026/09/05/u...
Trump Officials Draft Plan to Pay At-Home Parents, Using Funds for Working Ones www.nytimes.com/2026/09/05/u...
Trump Officials Draft Plan to Pay At-Home Parents, Using Funds for Working Ones (Gift Article)
The proposed benefit, a top policy priority for Vice President JD Vance, would apply only to married couples and tap a fund intended to provide federal child care subsidies to working parents.
www.nytimes.com
September 5, 2026 at 6:54 PM
Robbing Peter to pay Paul dept:
Trump Officials Draft Plan to Pay At-Home Parents, Using Funds for Working Ones www.nytimes.com/2026/09/05/u...
Trump Officials Draft Plan to Pay At-Home Parents, Using Funds for Working Ones www.nytimes.com/2026/09/05/u...
Gloria Steinem. R.I.P.
September 3, 2026 at 2:01 PM
Gloria Steinem. R.I.P.
Milo Yiannopoulos, a Right-Wing Provocateur, Is Arrested by ICE www.nytimes.com/2026/08/28/u...
Milo Yiannopoulos, a Right-Wing Provocateur, Is Arrested by ICE (Gift Article)
Mr. Yiannopoulos, a prominent early supporter of President Trump, was detained at the New Orleans airport. The Trump administration publicized his arrest and shared a mug shot.
www.nytimes.com
August 28, 2026 at 9:43 PM
Milo Yiannopoulos, a Right-Wing Provocateur, Is Arrested by ICE www.nytimes.com/2026/08/28/u...
Trump channels Bette Davis as he gives his rationale for closing the Kennedy Center:
“What a dump!”
“What a dump!”
August 27, 2026 at 11:41 PM
Trump channels Bette Davis as he gives his rationale for closing the Kennedy Center:
“What a dump!”
“What a dump!”
Dolly Parton has, in the words of one of her favorite songs, flown away. One of the kindest, most humane, most generous individuals who ever graced the earth. Take your peace, Dolly. We will always love you.
August 25, 2026 at 6:52 PM
Dolly Parton has, in the words of one of her favorite songs, flown away. One of the kindest, most humane, most generous individuals who ever graced the earth. Take your peace, Dolly. We will always love you.
“The (freedom) struggle for Black people means not only would we get the boot off our necks, but that we would destroy the boot—so it doesn’t happen to other people.”
Ta’Naheisi Coates re his takeaway on the legacy of the Black freedom struggle.
Ta’Naheisi Coates re his takeaway on the legacy of the Black freedom struggle.
August 10, 2026 at 10:08 PM
“The (freedom) struggle for Black people means not only would we get the boot off our necks, but that we would destroy the boot—so it doesn’t happen to other people.”
Ta’Naheisi Coates re his takeaway on the legacy of the Black freedom struggle.
Ta’Naheisi Coates re his takeaway on the legacy of the Black freedom struggle.
Somebody please explain why monkfruit has such a disgusting aftertaste? Was searching for a protein shake and tried one sweetened w monkfruit. Nope. Maybe Splenda isn’t such a bad idea after all…
August 7, 2026 at 5:55 PM
Somebody please explain why monkfruit has such a disgusting aftertaste? Was searching for a protein shake and tried one sweetened w monkfruit. Nope. Maybe Splenda isn’t such a bad idea after all…
I will save you the trouble (and expense): they do not taste the same.
July 28, 2026 at 11:32 PM
I will save you the trouble (and expense): they do not taste the same.
An Admiral’s Rise Reveals the Politics Driving Hegseth’s Pentagon www.nytimes.com/2026/07/26/u...
An Admiral’s Rise Reveals the Politics Driving Hegseth’s Pentagon (Gift Article)
Before he was picked to lead the Navy, Adm. Daryl Caudle found ways to signal his support for Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s anti-diversity goals.
www.nytimes.com
July 26, 2026 at 4:08 PM
An Admiral’s Rise Reveals the Politics Driving Hegseth’s Pentagon www.nytimes.com/2026/07/26/u...
Reposted by Karen Grigsby Bates
Since Trump is demanding warning signs outside the Smithsonian Museum of American History, I suggest this one.
July 25, 2026 at 1:29 AM
Since Trump is demanding warning signs outside the Smithsonian Museum of American History, I suggest this one.
At the end of his rambling word salad of a speech, Trump slapped on a red Trump 2028 hat.
It wasn’t a joke.
It wasn’t a joke.
July 25, 2026 at 3:14 AM
At the end of his rambling word salad of a speech, Trump slapped on a red Trump 2028 hat.
It wasn’t a joke.
It wasn’t a joke.
WHCA rescheduled dinner starting up. What these people would invite a president and administration that so clearly wishes them harm and considers them enemies is unfathomable. Sorry, Mrs Obama, but there is no point in going high when these folks exult in rolling in the mud.
July 24, 2026 at 11:38 PM
WHCA rescheduled dinner starting up. What these people would invite a president and administration that so clearly wishes them harm and considers them enemies is unfathomable. Sorry, Mrs Obama, but there is no point in going high when these folks exult in rolling in the mud.
Read, subscribe, support. It’s one of the most useful things you’ll find on the interwebs. H/t @davidho for highlighting.
This is kind of an incredible website:
Why your stuff stopped lasting, who profited, and what's still built right.
Why your stuff stopped lasting, who profited, and what's still built right.
Worse on Purpose
The brands you trusted quietly gutted quality to protect margins. Investigative essays on corporate enshittification. Free newsletter.
www.worseonpurpose.com
July 21, 2026 at 12:33 PM
Read, subscribe, support. It’s one of the most useful things you’ll find on the interwebs. H/t @davidho for highlighting.
The Atlantic had an interesting article on food safety and leafy greens “now is not the time to eat bagged lettuce” by Nicholas Florko. In May.
They should run it again without the paywall as a public service. It could save some agony.
They should run it again without the paywall as a public service. It could save some agony.
July 21, 2026 at 5:14 AM
The Atlantic had an interesting article on food safety and leafy greens “now is not the time to eat bagged lettuce” by Nicholas Florko. In May.
They should run it again without the paywall as a public service. It could save some agony.
They should run it again without the paywall as a public service. It could save some agony.
Three Black men—Eugene Daniels, Michael Steele, Cory Booker—talking politics on @MSNow. (Not pictured: Luke Russert, who co-hosts The Weeknight with Michael Steele and Symone Sanders Townsend.) Worth mentioning cause it doesn’t happen very often.
July 21, 2026 at 12:56 AM
Three Black men—Eugene Daniels, Michael Steele, Cory Booker—talking politics on @MSNow. (Not pictured: Luke Russert, who co-hosts The Weeknight with Michael Steele and Symone Sanders Townsend.) Worth mentioning cause it doesn’t happen very often.
Reposted by Karen Grigsby Bates
Don’t live your life so that when you die people say “oh I was hoping it’d be the other guy, but I’ll take it”
July 12, 2026 at 7:05 AM
Don’t live your life so that when you die people say “oh I was hoping it’d be the other guy, but I’ll take it”
Earlier this week, a friend and I were talking “what’s next?” in the chaotic political landscape. I predicted an unexpected death, à la Antonin Scalia’s in 2016, would upend everything. Even more than rather than McConnell’s might.Then I woke up to the Graham news….
July 12, 2026 at 12:04 PM
Earlier this week, a friend and I were talking “what’s next?” in the chaotic political landscape. I predicted an unexpected death, à la Antonin Scalia’s in 2016, would upend everything. Even more than rather than McConnell’s might.Then I woke up to the Graham news….