The 11 most challenged books of 2025, according to the American Library Association The ALA says 4,235 titles were challenged at U.S. libraries — the second-highest year on record. Forty percent of the challenged works involved LGBTQ+ subjects or the experiences of people of color.

As the editor of a book on this list, allow me to say again that book banning is a catastrophe for freedom of speech in America. There is no silver lining. It's all harm.

You can fight back by calling your reps to demand they vote against HR 7661, which is effectively a national book banning bill.

The concept of "you'll get tired of winning" is taking on a new meaning

💯 pct what Garrett says👇🏾

Tim Curry Official Music Video - I Do The Rock YouTube video by Tim Curry

We can celebrate the occasion with his insouciant hit single from 1979, “I Do the Rock”: youtu.be/kXPCsaO_55o?...

For some reason it’s always the semicolons that set them off

😍

Holy. Shit. This is Reid Wiseman's video he took with his iPhone while at the moon 🌙

Articles about Jared Kushner's diplomatic role with Iran that mention Kushner has received billions from the Saudi government (2/28-4/19):

NYT: 5 of 58
WashPost: 1 of 43
WSJ: 0 of 40
AP: 0 of 26
CNN Wire: 0 of 18
NY Post: 0 of 17
Chicago Tribune: 0 of 4
LA Times: 0 of 4
Boston Globe: 0 of 2

I hope @wesleystace.bsky.social is aware of this saga

Behind Trump’s Public Bravado on the War, He Grapples With His Own Fears The president’s impulsive style has never been tested in a sustained military conflict, and he’s been ruminating on Jimmy Carter’s failure in Iran.

This must-read @wsj.com article (gift link) is overflowing with compelling evidence of Trump’s mental derangement and incapacity. But by not calling it that, it normalizes the dangerously abnormal. We are all in terrible danger as long as he remains in power. www.wsj.com/politics/nat...

Boots on the Groundhog Day

Ever blow-dried a labrador?

Zoologists, arborists fear bear may defecate in woods

A Newly Discovered Recording Lets You Hear Delta Blues Legend Robert Johnson in Stunning Clarity Great swathes of rock music since the nineteen-sixties would never have existed, we're sometimes told, were it not for the recordings of Robert Johnson. Certainly the likes of Keith Richards, Eric Cla...

Holy SHIT someone found the test pressing of Robert Johnson's Cross Road Blues and it is clear as a PIN www.openculture.com/2026/04/reco...

Storied UWS Bar Celebrating 35th-Anniversary With Free Drinks: What to Know The Hi-Life Bar & Grill. Courtesy photo. By West Side Rag A storied Upper West Side bar is about to

The Hi-Life Bar & Grill is offering free champagne cocktails on Sunday. www.westsiderag.com/2026/04/18/s...

Everybody here keep an eye out for Miriam Pawel's history of the U of California, coming in September from @bloomsburybooksus.bsky.social

This excellent analysis of the origins of the shadow docket based on new leaked memos should be positioned within the extraordinary political maneuvering by which the Republican-controlled senate prevented then President Obama from filling Justice Scalia’s seat on the Supreme Court.

Aaron Astor: My general tendency is to reject conspiracy theories. And yet, this keeps happening - massive trades just minutes before Trump announces something. And that something (Iran handing over uranium and opening Hormuz) often turns out not to be true at all.

My dog has a complicated relationship with À la recherche du temps perdu

The Emperor's New Unconditional Surrender

Me: Higher ed is in terrible shape
Fact check:

Good thread here from TJ, one of the best at writing serious history that is also captivating to read

This is truly disgusting. These guys tell baldfaced lies constantly and heap abuse on the press for doing its job

i think this take (good at tasks, bad at answers) is very much correct. and a lot of this is on the big labs for how they’ve bought into their own hype and messaged what they’re selling

House defies Trump on immigration with move to shield Haitians The vote to advance a bill extending protections for Haitians marks the first time Republican lawmakers have voted this term to oppose Trump’s immigration policy.

This is an encouraging development: Several House Republicans joined Democrats to oppose Trump on an immigration policy. They forced a vote to advance a measure to reinstate temporary protections for some 350,000 Haitians who had been living/working legally in the US until Trump pulled their status

Half of them from Lady Vanishes:
-Michael Redgrave
-Margaret Lockwood
-May Whitty
-Naunton Wayne & Basil Redford!!
-Robert Donat, Peggy Ashcroft, John Laurie in 39 Steps
-Cary Grant & James Mason NxNW
-Thelma R & Grace Kelly in RW, for sure
-Love James Stewart going bonkers in Vertigo

This is precious!🥰🐾💃

"Don't make me get up in my cathedra, J.D."

Opinion | Don’t Use A.I. to Do This

Absolute perfection from @colsonwhitehead.com.