Danielle Kurtzleben
@titonka.bsky.social
NPR White House correspondent. Former Vox, US News and World Report. Tariff explainer. Masculinity politics expert. Native Iowan. Girlboss. Jesus freak. Pianist. Writer. Real piece of work.
daniellekurtzleben.substack.com
daniellekurtzleben.substack.com
Pinned
Danielle Kurtzleben
@titonka.bsky.social
· Sep 10
When "authenticity" means "dudes"
As 2026 approaches, can we political reporters please not forget every damn thing we learned just last year for the love of God
daniellekurtzleben.substack.com
The oyster-shucking, baseball-playing, hands-working-with men have arrived on the 2026 political scene, and I have thoughts.
daniellekurtzleben.substack.com/p/when-authe...
daniellekurtzleben.substack.com/p/when-authe...
Hear me out: two oscar best picture winners. One for BEST and one for MOST REWATCHABLE of the best picture nominees.
I submit to you that in 2024, Oppenheimer yes was best, but Barbie was most rewatchable. Last year, Conclave was most rewatchable. Best....i dunno but it wasn't Anora. 1/
I submit to you that in 2024, Oppenheimer yes was best, but Barbie was most rewatchable. Last year, Conclave was most rewatchable. Best....i dunno but it wasn't Anora. 1/
November 25, 2025 at 4:02 PM
Hear me out: two oscar best picture winners. One for BEST and one for MOST REWATCHABLE of the best picture nominees.
I submit to you that in 2024, Oppenheimer yes was best, but Barbie was most rewatchable. Last year, Conclave was most rewatchable. Best....i dunno but it wasn't Anora. 1/
I submit to you that in 2024, Oppenheimer yes was best, but Barbie was most rewatchable. Last year, Conclave was most rewatchable. Best....i dunno but it wasn't Anora. 1/
“So. How bout those illegal orders? Eh? Eh?”
If it’s illegal to say “refuse illegal orders” and it’s illegal to say “follow illegal orders” what is legal to say?
November 25, 2025 at 1:43 PM
“So. How bout those illegal orders? Eh? Eh?”
A remarkably stupid and juvenile newsletter coming this week. Go sign up: daniellekurtzleben.substack.com
November 24, 2025 at 2:14 AM
A remarkably stupid and juvenile newsletter coming this week. Go sign up: daniellekurtzleben.substack.com
I have no doubt that high prices are pissing people off (myself included) and worrying them. However: I am skeptical that *~*~*affordability*~*~* is the magic explanation for either this year's elections OR Trump's declining approval.
And here's why: 1/
And here's why: 1/
November 22, 2025 at 6:58 PM
I have no doubt that high prices are pissing people off (myself included) and worrying them. However: I am skeptical that *~*~*affordability*~*~* is the magic explanation for either this year's elections OR Trump's declining approval.
And here's why: 1/
And here's why: 1/
Not “everyone sucks here” but “everyone needs therapy here.”
November 22, 2025 at 11:25 AM
Not “everyone sucks here” but “everyone needs therapy here.”
Reposted by Danielle Kurtzleben
hey guys i made a seasonal meme
November 22, 2025 at 5:41 AM
hey guys i made a seasonal meme
How does my butt look when I'm dancing?
November 21, 2025 at 3:41 PM
How does my butt look when I'm dancing?
Hot take: the new Rosalia album is real good.
November 21, 2025 at 3:30 PM
Hot take: the new Rosalia album is real good.
Reposted by Danielle Kurtzleben
ICE’s Detention Center outside Chicago was sued on October 30 for allegedly abusing detainees. One day later, a "system crash" lost all video footage that could have shown how detainees were being treated. trib.al/QwT3aqI
November 21, 2025 at 12:12 AM
ICE’s Detention Center outside Chicago was sued on October 30 for allegedly abusing detainees. One day later, a "system crash" lost all video footage that could have shown how detainees were being treated. trib.al/QwT3aqI
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGH
November 21, 2025 at 1:41 AM
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGH
Reposted by Danielle Kurtzleben
Q: What did the president mean when he called a reporter "piggy"?
LEAVITT: Look, the president is very frank & honest with everyone in this room. You'll all seen it yourself. You've all experienced it yourselves. And I think it's one of the many reasons the American people reelected this president
LEAVITT: Look, the president is very frank & honest with everyone in this room. You'll all seen it yourself. You've all experienced it yourselves. And I think it's one of the many reasons the American people reelected this president
November 20, 2025 at 6:56 PM
Q: What did the president mean when he called a reporter "piggy"?
LEAVITT: Look, the president is very frank & honest with everyone in this room. You'll all seen it yourself. You've all experienced it yourselves. And I think it's one of the many reasons the American people reelected this president
LEAVITT: Look, the president is very frank & honest with everyone in this room. You'll all seen it yourself. You've all experienced it yourselves. And I think it's one of the many reasons the American people reelected this president
Reposted by Danielle Kurtzleben
Page One in Iowa.
November 20, 2025 at 11:25 AM
Page One in Iowa.
One of the best pieces of advice I've ever gotten from an editor:
"They don't all have to be dingers."
"They don't all have to be dingers."
November 19, 2025 at 5:19 PM
One of the best pieces of advice I've ever gotten from an editor:
"They don't all have to be dingers."
"They don't all have to be dingers."
Reposted by Danielle Kurtzleben
This is...sort of brilliant.
November 19, 2025 at 12:56 PM
This is...sort of brilliant.
My old econ journalist ass keeps reading that mortgage-backed securities are getting a warm black-tie welcome at the White House today. Wait why would you do that?
November 18, 2025 at 3:31 PM
My old econ journalist ass keeps reading that mortgage-backed securities are getting a warm black-tie welcome at the White House today. Wait why would you do that?
So ok isn’t there a thing where you don’t release raw intel?
By which I mean: yes releasing Epstein files means knowing more truth, means justice for victims, and those things are great.
And also…do we know that the files don’t contain a bunch of speculation, rumor, unproven information?
By which I mean: yes releasing Epstein files means knowing more truth, means justice for victims, and those things are great.
And also…do we know that the files don’t contain a bunch of speculation, rumor, unproven information?
November 18, 2025 at 1:30 PM
So ok isn’t there a thing where you don’t release raw intel?
By which I mean: yes releasing Epstein files means knowing more truth, means justice for victims, and those things are great.
And also…do we know that the files don’t contain a bunch of speculation, rumor, unproven information?
By which I mean: yes releasing Epstein files means knowing more truth, means justice for victims, and those things are great.
And also…do we know that the files don’t contain a bunch of speculation, rumor, unproven information?
Merely a “messy situation”! It’s fine!
Also I love the way Ryan characterizes sexual misconduct allegations against him in his little piece. Just kidding I did not love it at all www.nytimes.com/2017/12/11/b...
Ryan Lizza Fired by The New Yorker Over Sexual Misconduct Allegation (Published 2017)
www.nytimes.com
November 18, 2025 at 1:25 PM
Merely a “messy situation”! It’s fine!
Important news: Wally the porch goose is trying to find the guy that did this.
November 17, 2025 at 8:27 PM
Important news: Wally the porch goose is trying to find the guy that did this.
There's a whole thinkpiece to do on that period when people were writing articles about "how to win arguments with your relatives at thanksgiving." And how it happened WAY BEFORE ANY OF [WAVES ARMS] ALL THIS. WE'RE ARGUING NOW AREN'T WE?
November 17, 2025 at 7:03 PM
There's a whole thinkpiece to do on that period when people were writing articles about "how to win arguments with your relatives at thanksgiving." And how it happened WAY BEFORE ANY OF [WAVES ARMS] ALL THIS. WE'RE ARGUING NOW AREN'T WE?
I…uh…did the Crimson get her OK to publish her name?
The Harvard Crimson has ID'ed and published the name of a well-known economist who was the subject of emails between Larry Summers and Epstein.
Born in China, she did her B.A. – Ph.D. at Harvard.
The code name that Summers and Epstein used in their emails about her was "peril." What a vile pig.
Born in China, she did her B.A. – Ph.D. at Harvard.
The code name that Summers and Epstein used in their emails about her was "peril." What a vile pig.
As Summers Sought Clandestine Relationship With Woman He Called a Mentee, Epstein Was His ‘Wing Man’ | News | The Harvard Crimson
When former Harvard President Lawrence H. Summers was pursuing a romantic relationship with a woman he described as a mentee, he turned to a longtime associate for guidance: convicted sex offender Jef...
www.thecrimson.com
November 17, 2025 at 3:17 PM
I…uh…did the Crimson get her OK to publish her name?
Fun thing is, harassment and discrimination still exist in workplaces! Never left! Hooray!
Meanwhile, this is all happening in late 2018/early 2019, near the height of reactionary centrist attack on the Me Too movement. When Very Smart People were chiding women for "overreacting" to sexual harassment in the workplace and other professional settings. And the press gladly printed it all.
I mean
November 17, 2025 at 1:43 PM
Fun thing is, harassment and discrimination still exist in workplaces! Never left! Hooray!
One of the wildest magazine-piece rides I've been on in a while: www.theatlantic.com/magazine/202...
Do NOT read anything about this before going in, do NOT skim ahead. Just go with it.
Do NOT read anything about this before going in, do NOT skim ahead. Just go with it.
The Missing Kayaker
What happened to Ryan Borgwardt?
www.theatlantic.com
November 17, 2025 at 1:41 PM
One of the wildest magazine-piece rides I've been on in a while: www.theatlantic.com/magazine/202...
Do NOT read anything about this before going in, do NOT skim ahead. Just go with it.
Do NOT read anything about this before going in, do NOT skim ahead. Just go with it.
It’s a scream-constantly kind of week.
November 17, 2025 at 1:19 PM
It’s a scream-constantly kind of week.
Reposted by Danielle Kurtzleben
Never forget that just a week ago, Ross Douthat and the NYTimes were asking if women ruined the workplace.
November 17, 2025 at 3:33 AM
Never forget that just a week ago, Ross Douthat and the NYTimes were asking if women ruined the workplace.