Harold Underdown
@hunderdown.bsky.social
I'm a children's book editor, teacher and workshop presenter, owner of The Purple Crayon website -- www.underdown.org
I post about #kidlit, but I do have opinions about other things and will share them as well.
I post about #kidlit, but I do have opinions about other things and will share them as well.
Reposted by Harold Underdown
And “protest,” in a narrow sense, isn’t even the right term for what we are seeing now. Crucially, in reaction to the regime sending an occupation force of masked goons, a new form of resistance emerged: Communities organizing to help their neighbors, confrontational but peaceful.
January 31, 2026 at 2:38 PM
And “protest,” in a narrow sense, isn’t even the right term for what we are seeing now. Crucially, in reaction to the regime sending an occupation force of masked goons, a new form of resistance emerged: Communities organizing to help their neighbors, confrontational but peaceful.
Reposted by Harold Underdown
Forget all the nonsense about Trump “pivoting” to moderation. The regime will continue to escalate.
But the thing is: In Minneapolis, people are holding the line. And the Trumpists have no effective strategy to consolidate authoritarian rule in the face of sustained resistance.
But the thing is: In Minneapolis, people are holding the line. And the Trumpists have no effective strategy to consolidate authoritarian rule in the face of sustained resistance.
January 31, 2026 at 2:35 PM
Forget all the nonsense about Trump “pivoting” to moderation. The regime will continue to escalate.
But the thing is: In Minneapolis, people are holding the line. And the Trumpists have no effective strategy to consolidate authoritarian rule in the face of sustained resistance.
But the thing is: In Minneapolis, people are holding the line. And the Trumpists have no effective strategy to consolidate authoritarian rule in the face of sustained resistance.
Reposted by Harold Underdown
How often do we wake up to good news? www.nytimes.com/2026/02/01/u...
Democratic Upset in Deep Red Texas District Rattles Republicans
www.nytimes.com
February 1, 2026 at 10:33 AM
How often do we wake up to good news? www.nytimes.com/2026/02/01/u...
Reposted by Harold Underdown
Mayor Mamdani names criminal justice reformer Stanley Richards as NYC’s new Department of Correction commissioner
Richards is the first formerly incarcerated person to lead the city’s jails system
@gothamist.com @wnyc.org
gothamist.com/news/mamdani...
Richards is the first formerly incarcerated person to lead the city’s jails system
@gothamist.com @wnyc.org
gothamist.com/news/mamdani...
Mamdani names reformer Stanley Richards to steer chaotic Rikers complex
Exactly one month into his term, Mayor Zohran Mamdani has appointed a formerly incarcerated person to manage the facility.
gothamist.com
January 31, 2026 at 9:37 PM
Mayor Mamdani names criminal justice reformer Stanley Richards as NYC’s new Department of Correction commissioner
Richards is the first formerly incarcerated person to lead the city’s jails system
@gothamist.com @wnyc.org
gothamist.com/news/mamdani...
Richards is the first formerly incarcerated person to lead the city’s jails system
@gothamist.com @wnyc.org
gothamist.com/news/mamdani...
Reposted by Harold Underdown
The Grifting Presidency: www.newyorker.com/news/a-repor...
Trump’s Profiteering Hits $4 Billion
In August, I reported that the President and his family had made $3.4 billion by leveraging his position. After his first year back in office, the number has ballooned.
www.newyorker.com
January 31, 2026 at 9:14 PM
The Grifting Presidency: www.newyorker.com/news/a-repor...
Reposted by Harold Underdown
UPDATE — TEXAS: “A federal judge ordered the release of a father and his 5-year-old son who were being held at an immigration detention center in Dilley.”
Federal judge orders release of detained father, 5-year-old son held at Dilley facility
A federal judge ordered the release of a father and his 5-year-old son who were being held at an immigration detention center in Dilley, Texas.
news4sanantonio.com
January 31, 2026 at 8:37 PM
UPDATE — TEXAS: “A federal judge ordered the release of a father and his 5-year-old son who were being held at an immigration detention center in Dilley.”
Reposted by Harold Underdown
I just visited one of our city’s child care providers to spread the word about 3-K & Pre-K.
50,000+ families have already applied & we’re going block by block to make sure every eligible New Yorker enrolls.
Applications are open through Feb. 27. Apply: myschools.nyc
50,000+ families have already applied & we’re going block by block to make sure every eligible New Yorker enrolls.
Applications are open through Feb. 27. Apply: myschools.nyc
January 31, 2026 at 6:24 PM
I just visited one of our city’s child care providers to spread the word about 3-K & Pre-K.
50,000+ families have already applied & we’re going block by block to make sure every eligible New Yorker enrolls.
Applications are open through Feb. 27. Apply: myschools.nyc
50,000+ families have already applied & we’re going block by block to make sure every eligible New Yorker enrolls.
Applications are open through Feb. 27. Apply: myschools.nyc
Reposted by Harold Underdown
One of my most cherished classes is my 18th century novels course where the primary learning objective is "learn how read long novels." We did a "couch to 5k" approach to attention span and note-taking.
My hot take about the “students cannot read whole novels / watch whole films / etc.” is that they can learn to do it. None of us are born with attention spans suited for long media. It is a learned skill and can be developed with practice.
January 31, 2026 at 4:23 PM
One of my most cherished classes is my 18th century novels course where the primary learning objective is "learn how read long novels." We did a "couch to 5k" approach to attention span and note-taking.
Reposted by Harold Underdown
In need of art. Post more please.
Current state of *gestures to everything* is getting me down. Let's share more and more of humans being creative.
Current state of *gestures to everything* is getting me down. Let's share more and more of humans being creative.
January 31, 2026 at 5:32 PM
In need of art. Post more please.
Current state of *gestures to everything* is getting me down. Let's share more and more of humans being creative.
Current state of *gestures to everything* is getting me down. Let's share more and more of humans being creative.
Reposted by Harold Underdown
New from me: It is not just that the US is experiencing democratic backsliding. Authoritarianism has emerged more quickly than in other benchmark countries.
This graph from John Burn-Murdoch sums it up. 🧵
donmoynihan.substack.com/p/autocracy-...
This graph from John Burn-Murdoch sums it up. 🧵
donmoynihan.substack.com/p/autocracy-...
January 31, 2026 at 3:12 PM
New from me: It is not just that the US is experiencing democratic backsliding. Authoritarianism has emerged more quickly than in other benchmark countries.
This graph from John Burn-Murdoch sums it up. 🧵
donmoynihan.substack.com/p/autocracy-...
This graph from John Burn-Murdoch sums it up. 🧵
donmoynihan.substack.com/p/autocracy-...
Reposted by Harold Underdown
NEW: The @wired.com Security desk put together a comprehensive guide to filming ICE—with tips for reducing risk at the forefront. No paywall, but please consider subscribing to help find these kinds of resources. And stay safe out there. www.wired.com/story/how-to...
www.wired.com/v2/offers/wi...
www.wired.com/v2/offers/wi...
How to Film ICE
Filming federal agents in public is legal, but avoiding a dangerous—even deadly—confrontation isn’t guaranteed. Here’s how to record ICE and CBP agents as safely as possible and have an impact.
www.wired.com
January 31, 2026 at 10:55 AM
NEW: The @wired.com Security desk put together a comprehensive guide to filming ICE—with tips for reducing risk at the forefront. No paywall, but please consider subscribing to help find these kinds of resources. And stay safe out there. www.wired.com/story/how-to...
www.wired.com/v2/offers/wi...
www.wired.com/v2/offers/wi...
Reposted by Harold Underdown
Microsoft stock tanked -12% after revealing 45% of Azure’s backlog is OpenAI. Meanwhile, Oracle is struggling to secure loans for its $300M AI deal, risking layoffs to pay for it.
The theme is clear that bankers don’t trust OpenAI’s solvency, and it’s dragging down every partner attached to it.
The theme is clear that bankers don’t trust OpenAI’s solvency, and it’s dragging down every partner attached to it.
Oracle may slash up to 30,000 jobs to fund AI data-center expansion as US banks retreat
Oracle is considering workforce cuts and selling Cerner to alleviate financial pressure, warns investment bank TD Cowen.
www.cio.com
January 31, 2026 at 2:14 PM
Microsoft stock tanked -12% after revealing 45% of Azure’s backlog is OpenAI. Meanwhile, Oracle is struggling to secure loans for its $300M AI deal, risking layoffs to pay for it.
The theme is clear that bankers don’t trust OpenAI’s solvency, and it’s dragging down every partner attached to it.
The theme is clear that bankers don’t trust OpenAI’s solvency, and it’s dragging down every partner attached to it.
Reposted by Harold Underdown
5 hours left to bid.
To my mind it doesn’t count as spending money today if you’re joining me in not spending money today.
💙❤️
To my mind it doesn’t count as spending money today if you’re joining me in not spending money today.
💙❤️
Hey #Kidlit, I donated a one hour portfolio/dummy critique to raise money for Minnesota. The auction will run from Thursday at 12AM untill Friday at 11:45PM.
💙❤️
www.32auctions.com/organization...
💙❤️
www.32auctions.com/organization...
January 30, 2026 at 11:49 PM
5 hours left to bid.
To my mind it doesn’t count as spending money today if you’re joining me in not spending money today.
💙❤️
To my mind it doesn’t count as spending money today if you’re joining me in not spending money today.
💙❤️
Reposted by Harold Underdown
Every time I see someone like Abbott choose self-inflicted decline, I think of this quote from Pedro Sanchez:
"Spain needs to choose between being an open and prosperous country or a closed-off, poor country. It’s as simple as that."
www.theguardian.com/world/2024/o...
"Spain needs to choose between being an open and prosperous country or a closed-off, poor country. It’s as simple as that."
www.theguardian.com/world/2024/o...
January 30, 2026 at 10:49 PM
Every time I see someone like Abbott choose self-inflicted decline, I think of this quote from Pedro Sanchez:
"Spain needs to choose between being an open and prosperous country or a closed-off, poor country. It’s as simple as that."
www.theguardian.com/world/2024/o...
"Spain needs to choose between being an open and prosperous country or a closed-off, poor country. It’s as simple as that."
www.theguardian.com/world/2024/o...
Reposted by Harold Underdown
When people actually care about government services, and evaluate spending technology in terms of what it actually does rather than FOMO, look what happens!
Mamdani Targets ‘Unusable’ AI Chatbot for Termination
Mamdani Targets ‘Unusable’ AI Chatbot for Termination
Reporting from The Markup and THE CITY exposed how the bot, touted by the Adams administration, repeatedly served up false and damaging information.
buff.ly
January 30, 2026 at 10:51 PM
When people actually care about government services, and evaluate spending technology in terms of what it actually does rather than FOMO, look what happens!
Exciting news indeed!
2 exciting pieces of news to share with you all today! Short story:
#1 @lkliterary.bsky.social is proud to rep @eileenwrobinson.bsky.social!!
#2 Eileen's debut, illustrated by Caldecott Honor winner C.G. Esperanza was just announced in @pwkidsbookshelf.bsky.social and @publisherslunch.bsky.social!
#1 @lkliterary.bsky.social is proud to rep @eileenwrobinson.bsky.social!!
#2 Eileen's debut, illustrated by Caldecott Honor winner C.G. Esperanza was just announced in @pwkidsbookshelf.bsky.social and @publisherslunch.bsky.social!
January 30, 2026 at 8:59 PM
Exciting news indeed!
Reposted by Harold Underdown
New #WriterBeware blog post: More gen AI-driven scams from Nigeria, aimed at tricking writers into paying for editing. As with other Nigerian AI scams, they're very roundabout, involving several intervening steps before getting to the editing referral writerbeware.blog/2026/01/30/t...
Two New Impersonation Scams to Watch For - Writer Beware
Impersonation scams in publishing tend to be variations on a theme, since the goal is always the same: to sell you something. In that sense, the scams below, which are aimed at tricking writers into p...
writerbeware.blog
January 30, 2026 at 7:15 PM
New #WriterBeware blog post: More gen AI-driven scams from Nigeria, aimed at tricking writers into paying for editing. As with other Nigerian AI scams, they're very roundabout, involving several intervening steps before getting to the editing referral writerbeware.blog/2026/01/30/t...
Reposted by Harold Underdown
I get tired of saying it, but I’ll say it again: the nature of oppression in America is that they workshop it first on Black, Latino, Asian & Native people.
But it is always, in the end, coming for everyone.
But it is always, in the end, coming for everyone.
The arrests of journalists Don Lemon and Georgia Fort are a test for every MSM member with a platform. If you are not voicing your outrage at this blatant violation of the First Amendment, you are utterly discredited as a journalist.
January 30, 2026 at 4:46 PM
I get tired of saying it, but I’ll say it again: the nature of oppression in America is that they workshop it first on Black, Latino, Asian & Native people.
But it is always, in the end, coming for everyone.
But it is always, in the end, coming for everyone.
Here we go again. I'm not going to blame "private equity"--this is a publishing dynamic and would have happened regardless of ownership: www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/...
More Job Cuts at S&S
After confirming on Monday that the publisher had made limited reductions to its staff, Simon & Schuster made another round of layoffs later in the week. More than a dozen jobs have been cut, mostly o...
www.publishersweekly.com
January 30, 2026 at 5:38 PM
Here we go again. I'm not going to blame "private equity"--this is a publishing dynamic and would have happened regardless of ownership: www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/...
Reposted by Harold Underdown
Don Lemon is not the only reporter who was arrested by federal agents overnight — local independent journalist Georgia Fort just went live on FB to say federal agents were also at her door to take her into custody over her protest coverage in Minneapolis.
January 30, 2026 at 1:33 PM
Don Lemon is not the only reporter who was arrested by federal agents overnight — local independent journalist Georgia Fort just went live on FB to say federal agents were also at her door to take her into custody over her protest coverage in Minneapolis.
New imprint launching at Scholastic:
Scholastic’s NEXT Line to Start Up This Fall buff.ly/qPumXmK
January 30, 2026 at 3:26 PM
New imprint launching at Scholastic:
Reposted by Harold Underdown
A great opportunity here to help yourself and do some good for others at the same time. Publishing auction ends tonight.
Publishing for Minnesota
Silent auction 'Publishing for Minnesota' hosted online at 32auctions.
www.32auctions.com
January 30, 2026 at 3:20 PM
A great opportunity here to help yourself and do some good for others at the same time. Publishing auction ends tonight.
Reposted by Harold Underdown
We've a mere four titles in today's publisher preview with Elsewhere Editions of @archipelagobooks.bsky.social, but whatta four it is! #kidlit 📚👍 afuse8production.slj.com/2026/01/30/e...
Elsewhere Editions Publisher Preview (Spring & Fall 2026)
We've a mere four titles in today's publisher preview but whatta four it is!
afuse8production.slj.com
January 30, 2026 at 12:14 PM
We've a mere four titles in today's publisher preview with Elsewhere Editions of @archipelagobooks.bsky.social, but whatta four it is! #kidlit 📚👍 afuse8production.slj.com/2026/01/30/e...
Reposted by Harold Underdown
Another push! The auction ends tonight at 11:45pm. The current bid for my critique is only at $100! A bargain) (humble brag!!!)! 😅
Friends! The auction to raise funds to support immigrant communities and those impacted by ICE is open! Link to bid on pb critique: www.32auctions.com/organization... There's a ton of other really cool stuff to bid on! Thank you! #kidlit
January 30, 2026 at 12:40 PM
Another push! The auction ends tonight at 11:45pm. The current bid for my critique is only at $100! A bargain) (humble brag!!!)! 😅