For members of North Carolina's Lumbee tribe, the days leading up to Christmas were a time to revel in their new federal recognition. Sarah Nagem explores what the new status means for the tribal and regional economy. Published by @theassemblync.bsky.social and Border Belt Independent.
"If Watts were younger, he would tear down the barns & start a new business. Instead, he might donate them to the fire department for training exercises. He stops to consider the idea. Yes, he thinks, it would be a public service to burn them to the ground."
insideclimatenews.org/news/0304202...
With the first North Carolina Buc-ee’s slated to open in 2027, @katemedley.bsky.social visited the next closest location in South Carolina. She talked with local store owners about how Buc-ee’s affected their business and how they've adapted. And she took gorgeous photos. @theassemblync.bsky.social
Podcast recommendation: @serialproductions.bsky.social's five-part series "The Idiot." Host @mashagessen.bsky.social tells the story of what happened to their family when their “international businessman” cousin was arrested for a horrific crime.
Did you know that there is one group of Americans who are not entitled to birthright citizenship?
People born American Samoa are classified instead simply as “U.S. nationals” — and as a result they cannot vote or run for office anywhere else in the country.
Much more here, for anyone curious:
Proud of you.
.@sabew.bsky.social's judges: "These stories...go deep into a topic that impacts thousands of people and bring out details that could make a difference to the lives and households of people who have little power to protect themselves." Here's the story, edited by @michaelwhudson.bsky.social. (2/2)
Grateful to be honored, with @jocelynzuck.bsky.social, for our @theguardian.com investigation of two dollar-store chains. As the cost of living soars, we found, the prices listed on shelves often don’t materialize at checkout. The customers bearing the burden are those who can least afford it. (1/2)
Always happy to help with your next syllabus.
This was my introduction to a corner of the manosphere called Looksmaxxers: young men who will do anything to improve their appearances, from mail-order hormones to hammering their faces. @bernstein.bsky.social @nytimes.com
“I don’t know that I see that quality of male friendship very often. I don’t know how much in everyday life men really lean on each other and care for each other.” By John Drescher in @theassemblync.bsky.social.
The majority of the agricultural workforce in some Mississippi Delta communities appears to be South Africans, writes
@boyceupholt.bsky.social. “If this program went away tomorrow, farming would cease,” one grower said. Published by @thefern.org and @newyorker.com.
"She came in and she rubbed me for luck. She literally went, 'Hi, Bronagh, happy Paddy's Day.' Rub, rub, rub. 'Why are you not wearing green?'
"I said, 'I'm mourning the commercialization of my national saint's day.'"
John Noltner interviews Northern Ireland public historian Bronagh McAtasney.
Every story I've written over the past quarter-century has cost thousands to publish. This shouldn't come as a surprise to Washington Post execs. Enterprising articles take weeks or even months to research. They require travel, document dives, photography. That's the nature of serious journalism.
Pavel Talankin, the educator at the center of "Mr. Nobody Against Putin," risked everything to show the world what was happening inside Russian schools after the invasion of Ukraine. I'm so happy the documentary won an Oscar—while also acknowledging the terrific competition.
As the cost of living continues to spiral upward, the Trump Administration is gutting the government agency built to protect Americans from financial ruin.
Puffin Foundation fellow E. Tammy Kim for @newyorker.com: www.newyorker.com/magazine/202...
The time Michael Moore got booed for speaking out against the Iraq war at the Oscars. @nytimes.com @mmflint.bsky.social
North Carolina's complaint system for regulating swine, poultry, and cattle farm waste is broken, reports @lisasorg.bsky.social in @insideclimatenews.org. Complaints become part of the record only if a violation is found, but the state has only 14 inspectors for thousands of industrial farms. #ncpol
In the town of Ilulissat, an American pastor who has spent the past 19 years leading Greenland’s only Baptist church is now evangelizing to a population deeply divided over the influence of U.S. President Donald Trump and his supporters.
Juliette Pavy shares photos from Ilulissat and the church.
A year ago, Mahmoud Khalil, a legal permanent resident, became the face of the White House’s crackdown on pro-Palestinian demonstrators. More than 250 days after he was released by a judge, he is still living the life that the Trump administration imposed on him. @jonesieman.bsky.social
Estefany Rodríguez, a reporter for a Spanish-language outlet in Nashville, was covering immigration raids. The next day, ICE agents arrested her without a warrant. Read Carolina Abbott Galvão. www.cjr.org/analysis/est...
Ted Genoways, in his story for FERN and The Guardian, reports on why food giants like McDonald’s and other food industry players are accusing beef packers of collusion and price-gouging. ⬇️
thefern.org/2026/02/big-four-beef-pr...
Big news: FERN is a finalist for a National Magazine Award, aka the "Ellie." Reporter Elliott Woods spent over two years reporting on the 2022 migrant tragedy in Texas. We're so honored and proud!
thefern.org/blog_posts/editors-desk-...
#ncpol 🧵
Newly liberated Tillis goes after Noem: "You decided to kill that dog because you had not invested the appropriate time and training, and then you have the audacity to go into a book and say it's a leadership lesson... Those are bad decisions...not unlike what happened up in Minneapolis." #ncpol
In today's hottest primary election for the North Carolina legislature, a seven-term Democrat is facing a challenge after declaring, in a viral floor speech about immigration enforcement, that "all cultures are not equal.” Greg Lacour reports for @theassemblync.bsky.social. #ncpol
Israel Eguaogie left Nigeria at 17 and now lives in in Belfast. He worries that the communities who once battled one another are now finding common ground opposing immigrants. But he also sees community support—a reason for hope. From "The Troubles," John Noltner's Northern Ireland interview series.
This is the most fascinating, and most propulsive, political profile I've read in maybe ever.
For years, Alamance County NC sheriff Terry Johnson—a Republican who claimed immigrants were "raping our citizens"—held ICE detainees at his jail in return for millions of federal dollars. Then, in November, he ended the agreement with ICE. @jacobbiba.bsky.social @theassemblync.bsky.social #ncpol
The Federal Trade Commission's assault on media bias is itself clearly rife with bias, writes Duke's Philip M. Napoli. But more important — and more concerning — are the ways in which these actions are exploring a range of regulatory rationales to circumvent the First Amendment, he says.