As the World Stearns
@mikalroy.bsky.social
Former editorial director and editor; current agency head, book packager, and writer. USC film, Hollins U, Clarion West alum. Dad. Books & cats & f&sf & film & games & music & Brooklyn. He/him/foul unspeakable one.
Pinned
The world is too often unbearably heartbreaking. In lieu of all that, here is my cat, Maeby. I love her.
Reposted by As the World Stearns
Concentration camps:
“For 280 days we haven’t eaten a single piece of fruit, banana, apple, orange, or anything fresh. We are all in one big room with no doors or windows. We can’t see any grass or trees. We are all constantly sick."
“For 280 days we haven’t eaten a single piece of fruit, banana, apple, orange, or anything fresh. We are all in one big room with no doors or windows. We can’t see any grass or trees. We are all constantly sick."
Exclusive: Detention Center Captives Are Throwing Lotion Bottles Wrapped With Notes to Organizers Outside Otay Mesa Facility ~ L.A. TACO
“For 280 days we haven’t eaten a single piece of fruit, banana, apple, orange, or anything fresh," an Otay Mesa captive communicated through handwritten note. "We are all in one big room with no doors...
lataco.com
February 8, 2026 at 2:24 AM
Concentration camps:
“For 280 days we haven’t eaten a single piece of fruit, banana, apple, orange, or anything fresh. We are all in one big room with no doors or windows. We can’t see any grass or trees. We are all constantly sick."
“For 280 days we haven’t eaten a single piece of fruit, banana, apple, orange, or anything fresh. We are all in one big room with no doors or windows. We can’t see any grass or trees. We are all constantly sick."
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it's not just that Mamdani is charming af (he is), it's that he is normalizing the idea that children are full members of society that we all share a collective responsibility for
From @acyn.bsky.social (posted on X)
"Reporter: Do any of you have a favorite animal?
Child: My favorite one is a gold snake that can move. It has gold eyes, and it has a super-duper tail…
Reporter: Mr. Mamdani, the second question for you.
Mamdani: Yes. It’s also the golden snake."
"Reporter: Do any of you have a favorite animal?
Child: My favorite one is a gold snake that can move. It has gold eyes, and it has a super-duper tail…
Reporter: Mr. Mamdani, the second question for you.
Mamdani: Yes. It’s also the golden snake."
February 6, 2026 at 5:19 PM
it's not just that Mamdani is charming af (he is), it's that he is normalizing the idea that children are full members of society that we all share a collective responsibility for
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My heart breaks at the end of the Books section at the Post. So many brilliant people there, especially @roncharles.bsky.social, the most beloved book critic I know. I feel like I should write more about this, but I’m on deadline and trying to finish a freelance piece myself.
February 4, 2026 at 3:10 PM
My heart breaks at the end of the Books section at the Post. So many brilliant people there, especially @roncharles.bsky.social, the most beloved book critic I know. I feel like I should write more about this, but I’m on deadline and trying to finish a freelance piece myself.
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So, more than a year after going silent, Neil Gaiman has emerged to say a single anonymous substack has solid journalistic evidence that all the real journalists missed that exonerates him? A substack that seems to have no other purpose than to prove his innocence?
How stupid does he think we are?
How stupid does he think we are?
February 4, 2026 at 4:32 PM
So, more than a year after going silent, Neil Gaiman has emerged to say a single anonymous substack has solid journalistic evidence that all the real journalists missed that exonerates him? A substack that seems to have no other purpose than to prove his innocence?
How stupid does he think we are?
How stupid does he think we are?
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No posts tomorrow, in solidarity with the planned strike.
No war but class war.
Fuck ICE, fuck these fascists.
No war but class war.
Fuck ICE, fuck these fascists.
NATIONAL SHUTDOWN—FRI. JANUARY 30
nationalshutdown.org
January 30, 2026 at 12:31 AM
No posts tomorrow, in solidarity with the planned strike.
No war but class war.
Fuck ICE, fuck these fascists.
No war but class war.
Fuck ICE, fuck these fascists.
Reposted by As the World Stearns
This is the way, make “ok, abolish only ICE” the moderate position.
Amid growing calls for the abolition of ICE, Rep. Delia Ramirez is calling for the entire DHS to be dismantled. Highlighting how much experience the officers who killed Renee Good and Alex Pretti had, Ramirez said, “DHS was built to violate our rights and has been empowered to act with impunity.”
House Democrat Says Abolishing ICE Isn’t Enough — DHS Must Go, Too
“The problem isn’t ‘training.’ DHS was built to violate our rights,” said Rep. Delia C. Ramirez.
truthout.org
January 27, 2026 at 11:30 PM
This is the way, make “ok, abolish only ICE” the moderate position.
Not surprised that Ketter, a hero of f&sf publishing for decades, is also a hero of the guy-who-is-there-for-his-neighbors variety. DreamHaven is always a worthwhile business to support, no more so than now.
Remember the other day when I was saluting my friend Greg Ketter, owner of Minneapolis’ DreamHaven Books? This is him the following day. Greg will never say this, so I will — now is a great time to buy books from DreamHaven. Support Americans who stand up vs. 🧊. dreamhavenbooks.com
January 25, 2026 at 5:59 PM
Not surprised that Ketter, a hero of f&sf publishing for decades, is also a hero of the guy-who-is-there-for-his-neighbors variety. DreamHaven is always a worthwhile business to support, no more so than now.
Clues by Sam. Straight up logic. Takes some time to learn how it thinks, but satisfying.
cluesbysam.com
cluesbysam.com
Clues by Sam
A daily logic puzzle where you deduce who is a criminal!
cluesbysam.com
January 25, 2026 at 5:16 PM
Clues by Sam. Straight up logic. Takes some time to learn how it thinks, but satisfying.
cluesbysam.com
cluesbysam.com
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Please circulate!! This deserves to be a big story.
Concentration camp victims protest! The incredible bravery and fortitude and care involved in doing this ✊🏽
‘some of them holding signs that included “Libertad para los niños,” or “Liberty for the kids.”‘
‘some of them holding signs that included “Libertad para los niños,” or “Liberty for the kids.”‘
Immigrant families protest at Texas facility housing 5-year-old boy, father detained in Minnesota
Dozens of immigrant families protested behind the fences of a Texas detention facility where a 5-year-old boy Ecuadorian boy and his father were sent this week after being detained in Minnesota.
apnews.com
January 25, 2026 at 1:34 PM
Please circulate!! This deserves to be a big story.
Sleepiness tripped up my reading of a few clues, but am pleased to have solved this “Evil” level in less than ten minutes.
Now to turn my focus to real-world evil.
Now to turn my focus to real-world evil.
January 25, 2026 at 1:53 PM
Sleepiness tripped up my reading of a few clues, but am pleased to have solved this “Evil” level in less than ten minutes.
Now to turn my focus to real-world evil.
Now to turn my focus to real-world evil.
Reposted by As the World Stearns
A reminder to the news media: “conflicting accounts” is what you say BEFORE the incontrovertible video evidence appears. After that, your job is to ask why one side is lying, not to repeat the lie and pretend no one knows the truth.
January 25, 2026 at 12:28 PM
A reminder to the news media: “conflicting accounts” is what you say BEFORE the incontrovertible video evidence appears. After that, your job is to ask why one side is lying, not to repeat the lie and pretend no one knows the truth.
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Just once I'd like to see Schumer or Jeffries angry. Authentically angry. No elegance or solutions are necessary, but purely reactive or instinctive. Some indication that they feel -- that they are capable of feeling -- what we are feeling.
January 24, 2026 at 9:22 PM
Just once I'd like to see Schumer or Jeffries angry. Authentically angry. No elegance or solutions are necessary, but purely reactive or instinctive. Some indication that they feel -- that they are capable of feeling -- what we are feeling.
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You cannot detain or arrest a baby, you can only kidnap her. These people need to wear a scarlet letter, need to ring a bell to loudly declare their moral bankruptcy. Everyone must be allowed to avoid them until they have made amends.
January 24, 2026 at 12:18 AM
You cannot detain or arrest a baby, you can only kidnap her. These people need to wear a scarlet letter, need to ring a bell to loudly declare their moral bankruptcy. Everyone must be allowed to avoid them until they have made amends.
It isn’t just that they are weak when we need them to be strong, it’s that democratic leadership lacks moral clarity. They are craven and contemptible. They need to Do the Hard Things.
The problem is some votes are so essential and moral that the calculations you offer are insufficient. Johnson whipped the votes for the civil rights legislation knowing that he was conceding the entire American South for generations. But he whipped them. Preserving a member at ALL costs? No.
January 23, 2026 at 12:44 PM
It isn’t just that they are weak when we need them to be strong, it’s that democratic leadership lacks moral clarity. They are craven and contemptible. They need to Do the Hard Things.
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are they not monsters?
January 22, 2026 at 12:08 AM
are they not monsters?
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there should be a socially acceptable way to say to someone ‘i love you so much and also if you don’t shut the fuck up while i’m trying to read i will have no choice but to beat you to death’
January 20, 2026 at 1:25 PM
there should be a socially acceptable way to say to someone ‘i love you so much and also if you don’t shut the fuck up while i’m trying to read i will have no choice but to beat you to death’
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Someone said to me, "I'm sorry but I got your book from a library." Nobody should ever apologise for that. You read my book! That's brilliant! I grew up hanging out in libraries and the idea of a world without them fills me with dread. Without libraries, authors, like readers, will only suffer.
January 20, 2026 at 9:31 AM
Someone said to me, "I'm sorry but I got your book from a library." Nobody should ever apologise for that. You read my book! That's brilliant! I grew up hanging out in libraries and the idea of a world without them fills me with dread. Without libraries, authors, like readers, will only suffer.
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Every couple of weeks we get a different description of the apparently awful stench coming off our necrotic president and I think it's high time the media nail down exactly what kind of rotten meat covered in women's perfume he actually smells like.
January 14, 2026 at 9:47 PM
Every couple of weeks we get a different description of the apparently awful stench coming off our necrotic president and I think it's high time the media nail down exactly what kind of rotten meat covered in women's perfume he actually smells like.
Have never even once visited the site. Anathema.
RT if you've never had a tab of ChatGPT open 'just to do quick research'
January 14, 2026 at 1:00 PM
Have never even once visited the site. Anathema.
And it has only been nine days.
January 9, 2026 at 5:37 PM
And it has only been nine days.
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Charge Jonathan Ross with murder.
Arrest Jonathan Ross for murder.
Prosecute Jonathan Ross for murder.
Arrest Jonathan Ross for murder.
Prosecute Jonathan Ross for murder.
The Star Tribune has ID'd the murderer: his name is Jonathan Ross.
www.startribune.com/ice-agent-wh...
www.startribune.com/ice-agent-wh...
Star Tribune identifies ICE agent who fatally shot woman in Minneapolis
Jonathan Ross was dragged in a separate incident last year by a fleeing driver, according to court records.
www.startribune.com
January 8, 2026 at 7:17 PM
Charge Jonathan Ross with murder.
Arrest Jonathan Ross for murder.
Prosecute Jonathan Ross for murder.
Arrest Jonathan Ross for murder.
Prosecute Jonathan Ross for murder.
Reposted by As the World Stearns
Fun fact!
Supreme Court
Barnes vs Felix - 2025
A police officer who steps in front of a vehicle is defined as “officer-created jeopardy” and DOES NOT legitimize deadly force.
Supreme Court
Barnes vs Felix - 2025
A police officer who steps in front of a vehicle is defined as “officer-created jeopardy” and DOES NOT legitimize deadly force.
January 8, 2026 at 5:55 PM
Fun fact!
Supreme Court
Barnes vs Felix - 2025
A police officer who steps in front of a vehicle is defined as “officer-created jeopardy” and DOES NOT legitimize deadly force.
Supreme Court
Barnes vs Felix - 2025
A police officer who steps in front of a vehicle is defined as “officer-created jeopardy” and DOES NOT legitimize deadly force.
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they’re abducting our neighbors and putting them in concentration camps and they’ll shoot you in the fucking face if you don’t cheer them on while they’re doing it.
January 7, 2026 at 6:08 PM
they’re abducting our neighbors and putting them in concentration camps and they’ll shoot you in the fucking face if you don’t cheer them on while they’re doing it.
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i’m still filled with wonder. and i’m a dumbass
January 6, 2026 at 10:31 PM
i’m still filled with wonder. and i’m a dumbass
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They are stealing our money.
“Minnesota, New York, California, Illinois and Colorado will be cut off from around $7 billion in funding for the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program, which provides cash assistance to households with children, according to two people familiar with the matter.”
Monstrously cruel.
Monstrously cruel.
Health Dept. to Freeze $10 Billion in Funding to 5 Democratic States
www.nytimes.com
January 6, 2026 at 3:43 PM
They are stealing our money.