John Williams
@johnwilliams.bsky.social
Books editor at Washington Post. Apollonian/Order Muppet. Highly sociable misanthrope.
Pinned
Do reviews draw readers? Boost subscriptions? Sell ads? And if the answer is ‘no,’ what then? Charlotte Klein explores the precarious state of cultural criticism.
Do Media Organizations Even Want Cultural Criticism?
Do reviews draw readers? Boost subscriptions? Sell ads? And if the answer is ‘no,’ what then? Charlotte Klein explores the precarious state of cultural criticism.
nymag.com
The answer to the first two questions below is yes if certain conditions are met: Putting reviews in front of online readers; not expecting/caring that every review do equally "well," traffic-wise; and caring about subscribers' desires/behaviors beyond clicks. Etc.
Reposted by John Williams
Tomorrow's front page of the Minnesota Star Tribune: Jan. 24, 2026
January 23, 2026 at 11:45 PM
Tomorrow's front page of the Minnesota Star Tribune: Jan. 24, 2026
Based on the scene at my grocery store, it seems people aren't planning to re-emerge until mid-May. Can't blame them.
January 24, 2026 at 12:30 AM
Based on the scene at my grocery store, it seems people aren't planning to re-emerge until mid-May. Can't blame them.
Introduce yourself with five concerts you’ve seen; the version I've seen that asks for women singers
10,000 Maniacs
Innocence Mission
Sleater-Kinney
Waxahatchee
Paramore
and some dudes
Prince
Radiohead
Elliott Smith
The Hold Steady
Lyle Lovett
10,000 Maniacs
Innocence Mission
Sleater-Kinney
Waxahatchee
Paramore
and some dudes
Prince
Radiohead
Elliott Smith
The Hold Steady
Lyle Lovett
introduce yourself with five concerts
(i will do the best)
faith no more
nick cave
jeff rosenstock
grateful dead
neil young
(i will do the best)
faith no more
nick cave
jeff rosenstock
grateful dead
neil young
Introduce with 5 concerts
The Specials
Jason Isbell (2x)
Barry Manilow (3x and each one was a delight)
The Chicks
Beastie Boys
The Specials
Jason Isbell (2x)
Barry Manilow (3x and each one was a delight)
The Chicks
Beastie Boys
January 23, 2026 at 10:46 PM
Introduce yourself with five concerts you’ve seen; the version I've seen that asks for women singers
10,000 Maniacs
Innocence Mission
Sleater-Kinney
Waxahatchee
Paramore
and some dudes
Prince
Radiohead
Elliott Smith
The Hold Steady
Lyle Lovett
10,000 Maniacs
Innocence Mission
Sleater-Kinney
Waxahatchee
Paramore
and some dudes
Prince
Radiohead
Elliott Smith
The Hold Steady
Lyle Lovett
Reposted by John Williams
"The whole time our posse of masked goons were kidnapping a 5yo child and sending him to prison in a different state, their primary concern was the safety and welfare of that child."
DHS just sent another statement about ICE’s abduction of a 5-year-old in Minnesota.
They didn’t address my question about whether the child was moved to Texas. They also didn’t provide any evidence for their claims.
They are, however, claiming the child’s “alleged mother” actually abandoned him.
They didn’t address my question about whether the child was moved to Texas. They also didn’t provide any evidence for their claims.
They are, however, claiming the child’s “alleged mother” actually abandoned him.
January 22, 2026 at 9:20 PM
"The whole time our posse of masked goons were kidnapping a 5yo child and sending him to prison in a different state, their primary concern was the safety and welfare of that child."
Haven’t seen much talk (not just in awards context) about Kirsten Dunst’s strong and moving performance in “Roofman,” which I thought elevated it from a diversion to a pretty good movie.
January 22, 2026 at 9:22 PM
Haven’t seen much talk (not just in awards context) about Kirsten Dunst’s strong and moving performance in “Roofman,” which I thought elevated it from a diversion to a pretty good movie.
Becca Rothfeld reviews Jason Zengerle's account of how Tucker C.'s opportunistic career arc, toward only owning the libs, mirrors the movement of conservative media as a whole. www.washingtonpost.com/books/2026/0...
Review | Tucker Carlson went from moderate to fanatic — and took conservative media with him
In “Hated by All the Right People,” Jason Zengerle charts how Carlson became a MAGA darling
www.washingtonpost.com
January 22, 2026 at 8:29 PM
Becca Rothfeld reviews Jason Zengerle's account of how Tucker C.'s opportunistic career arc, toward only owning the libs, mirrors the movement of conservative media as a whole. www.washingtonpost.com/books/2026/0...
I've seen eight of the 10 Best Picture nominees, much more than usual at this stage of things.
January 22, 2026 at 7:15 PM
I've seen eight of the 10 Best Picture nominees, much more than usual at this stage of things.
Ron Charles on George Saunders's "Vigil," the idea of what we might owe the dying, and what effect the answer might have on the art of the novel itself. www.washingtonpost.com/books/2026/0...
Review | George Saunders returns to a world full of ghosts
In “Vigil,” spirits rehash the many sins of a dying industrialist.
www.washingtonpost.com
January 21, 2026 at 4:36 PM
Ron Charles on George Saunders's "Vigil," the idea of what we might owe the dying, and what effect the answer might have on the art of the novel itself. www.washingtonpost.com/books/2026/0...
Nearing the end of season 2, this show is very bingeable and supremely goofy.
*You* might be behind on pop culture, but *I* just finished the first season of Homeland.
January 18, 2026 at 5:17 AM
Nearing the end of season 2, this show is very bingeable and supremely goofy.
I talked myself into placing a modest bet on the 49ers tonight. That was smart. Good job, self.
January 18, 2026 at 4:46 AM
I talked myself into placing a modest bet on the 49ers tonight. That was smart. Good job, self.
Reposted by John Williams
They’re actually committed to the idea that an unarmed woman in a car deserved to be shot four times in the face and chest. And they expect us to accept that.
January 18, 2026 at 2:00 AM
They’re actually committed to the idea that an unarmed woman in a car deserved to be shot four times in the face and chest. And they expect us to accept that.
This is very good. (I'm spending a snowy day catching up on periodicals, one of life's great pleasures.) harpers.org/archive/2026...
If a Tree Falls, by Rosa Lyster
The trial of the Sycamore Gap killers
harpers.org
January 17, 2026 at 8:01 PM
This is very good. (I'm spending a snowy day catching up on periodicals, one of life's great pleasures.) harpers.org/archive/2026...
Reposted by John Williams
This photo was taken in 1911 using glass plate technology by Herbert Ponting who was part of Scott's Antarctic expedition,
The composition and detail are exquisite with the band of white snow/ice creating a perfect frame around the two people and the ship in the distance
Iconic imo
The composition and detail are exquisite with the band of white snow/ice creating a perfect frame around the two people and the ship in the distance
Iconic imo
January 17, 2026 at 7:12 AM
This photo was taken in 1911 using glass plate technology by Herbert Ponting who was part of Scott's Antarctic expedition,
The composition and detail are exquisite with the band of white snow/ice creating a perfect frame around the two people and the ship in the distance
Iconic imo
The composition and detail are exquisite with the band of white snow/ice creating a perfect frame around the two people and the ship in the distance
Iconic imo
Reposted by John Williams
The main thing I did once I got my drivers license in 1991 was drive to the next town to see movies.
We had movie theaters in Jefferson City, MO, but if you wanted to see most of the really GREAT movies you had to drive to Columbia, MO, to see them.
Great movies are worth it.
We had movie theaters in Jefferson City, MO, but if you wanted to see most of the really GREAT movies you had to drive to Columbia, MO, to see them.
Great movies are worth it.
January 17, 2026 at 1:03 AM
The main thing I did once I got my drivers license in 1991 was drive to the next town to see movies.
We had movie theaters in Jefferson City, MO, but if you wanted to see most of the really GREAT movies you had to drive to Columbia, MO, to see them.
Great movies are worth it.
We had movie theaters in Jefferson City, MO, but if you wanted to see most of the really GREAT movies you had to drive to Columbia, MO, to see them.
Great movies are worth it.
If I Had Legs: Less harrowing than I feared and more original than I expected. Byrne is a treasure, per usual. Conan pulls it off. Qualms but very glad I saw it on the big screen, with an edifying Q&A after with director Bronstein.
January 16, 2026 at 10:54 PM
If I Had Legs: Less harrowing than I feared and more original than I expected. Byrne is a treasure, per usual. Conan pulls it off. Qualms but very glad I saw it on the big screen, with an edifying Q&A after with director Bronstein.
I'm humbled to report that Vida Blue has given me his 1971 Cy Young Award.
January 16, 2026 at 4:42 PM
I'm humbled to report that Vida Blue has given me his 1971 Cy Young Award.
Reposted by John Williams
I appreciate that when the NYT front page shit all over the newfangled "telephone" in 1877, they took the time to absolutely cook people from Philadelphia
January 14, 2026 at 7:55 PM
I appreciate that when the NYT front page shit all over the newfangled "telephone" in 1877, they took the time to absolutely cook people from Philadelphia
Reposted by John Williams
The Washington Post Guild is alarmed and appalled by federal law enforcement’s search and seizure of reporter Hannah Natanson’s property and personal devices. Hannah is a valued member of our union whose work covering the federal workforce has been essential (1/3)
January 14, 2026 at 5:52 PM
The Washington Post Guild is alarmed and appalled by federal law enforcement’s search and seizure of reporter Hannah Natanson’s property and personal devices. Hannah is a valued member of our union whose work covering the federal workforce has been essential (1/3)
The algorithm sometimes comes through. This is lifting me just enough today. I hear some Annie Lennox, some Tracy Chapman, some ... Rusted Root? But also someone distinctly herself.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=G-2o...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=G-2o...
Overflow
YouTube video by Annahstasia - Topic
www.youtube.com
January 14, 2026 at 6:06 PM
The algorithm sometimes comes through. This is lifting me just enough today. I hear some Annie Lennox, some Tracy Chapman, some ... Rusted Root? But also someone distinctly herself.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=G-2o...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=G-2o...
Reposted by John Williams
This is not the language of the government of a free country.
January 14, 2026 at 1:16 PM
This is not the language of the government of a free country.
Reposted by John Williams
Just another morning in the Twin Cities, keeping my eyes on the preschool parent signal chat to make sure none of my child’s classmates, their parents, or their teachers were kidnapped by the federal government in front of the school.
January 14, 2026 at 1:36 PM
Just another morning in the Twin Cities, keeping my eyes on the preschool parent signal chat to make sure none of my child’s classmates, their parents, or their teachers were kidnapped by the federal government in front of the school.
Starting next year, these three should be allowed to skip the regular season and just show up in mid-April for the play-in.
January 14, 2026 at 5:39 AM
Starting next year, these three should be allowed to skip the regular season and just show up in mid-April for the play-in.
In September I saw them in Houston and then, the next night, in Austin.
The monster tour kicked off in Perth, Australia 🇦🇺 on this day in 1995. Where did you see the band that year?
January 13, 2026 at 8:11 PM
In September I saw them in Houston and then, the next night, in Austin.
Saw Mr. Supreme. There's a great sports movie in it. And a great mid-century Jewish movie in it. And a great self-discovery movie in it. But alas, it's not really any of those movies. And like nearly everything, it's 25 minutes too long. Still, enjoyed it more than I thought I would. TLDR: B-.
January 12, 2026 at 6:31 PM
Saw Mr. Supreme. There's a great sports movie in it. And a great mid-century Jewish movie in it. And a great self-discovery movie in it. But alas, it's not really any of those movies. And like nearly everything, it's 25 minutes too long. Still, enjoyed it more than I thought I would. TLDR: B-.
I often have reason (always hilariously) to think of these lines by Sasha Frere-Jones from 2006. In a reverse-construction way, RFK Jr. "ending the war on protein" is the latest reason.
January 12, 2026 at 5:56 PM
I often have reason (always hilariously) to think of these lines by Sasha Frere-Jones from 2006. In a reverse-construction way, RFK Jr. "ending the war on protein" is the latest reason.