Amanda Wicks
@amandawicks.bsky.social
I'm a Rhoda rising.
Roving writer—mostly culture. Bylines w/ The Atlantic, Pitchfork, The Bluegrass Situation, Bandcamp, Vulture. Living w/ #longcovid.
Roving writer—mostly culture. Bylines w/ The Atlantic, Pitchfork, The Bluegrass Situation, Bandcamp, Vulture. Living w/ #longcovid.
Reposted by Amanda Wicks
Reminder: It's never too late to start wearing a mask again
December 3, 2025 at 9:22 PM
Reminder: It's never too late to start wearing a mask again
Reposted by Amanda Wicks
Deaths from acute Covid are significantly down from the pre-vax days. But long Covid? Now topping 30% in 14 countries recently reviewed, a direct consequence of a vax and relax strategy that allows infinite reinfections. www.cidrap.umn.edu/covid-19/stu...
Studies across 14 nations show 25% to 30% rate of long COVID
Among the 25% of participants in 1 study who said they experienced long-COVID symptoms, 13% reported sleep disorders.
www.cidrap.umn.edu
July 21, 2025 at 5:34 AM
Deaths from acute Covid are significantly down from the pre-vax days. But long Covid? Now topping 30% in 14 countries recently reviewed, a direct consequence of a vax and relax strategy that allows infinite reinfections. www.cidrap.umn.edu/covid-19/stu...
Really enjoyed reviewing Adrianne Lenker's live album for @pitchfork.com. It's such a gorgeous example of what this kind of album can be.
pitchfork.com/reviews/albu...
pitchfork.com/reviews/albu...
Adrianne Lenker: Live at Revolution Hall
Read Amanda Wicks’ review of the album.
pitchfork.com
April 29, 2025 at 2:21 PM
Really enjoyed reviewing Adrianne Lenker's live album for @pitchfork.com. It's such a gorgeous example of what this kind of album can be.
pitchfork.com/reviews/albu...
pitchfork.com/reviews/albu...
“It's kind of like saying, ‘You’ve been through an earthquake, but the earthquake is over. So don't complain to me that the building is destroyed. Don’t complain to me that you’re injured. I’m not seeing the earth shaking. It’s over.’"
www.scientificamerican.com/article/hhss...
www.scientificamerican.com/article/hhss...
HHS’s Long COVID Office Is Closing. What Will This Mean for Future Research and Treatments?
The Office for Long COVID Research and Practice was instrumental in coordinating the U.S. government’s initiatives to treat, diagnose and prevent the mysterious postviral condition that affects millio...
www.scientificamerican.com
March 27, 2025 at 4:31 PM
“It's kind of like saying, ‘You’ve been through an earthquake, but the earthquake is over. So don't complain to me that the building is destroyed. Don’t complain to me that you’re injured. I’m not seeing the earth shaking. It’s over.’"
www.scientificamerican.com/article/hhss...
www.scientificamerican.com/article/hhss...
Exactly.
We can come up with therapies to clear SARS CoV-2 viral persistence, but imagine taking antivirals for a year only to be reinfected the next day. What is the plan to prevent new infections?
March 3, 2025 at 1:10 AM
Exactly.
Reposted by Amanda Wicks
“Recovered” from long covid is still like 50% of being a regular human. I will never be like I was before. I feel like I’m running on half capacity at all times
February 26, 2025 at 1:49 PM
“Recovered” from long covid is still like 50% of being a regular human. I will never be like I was before. I feel like I’m running on half capacity at all times
Seeing others mask, especially public figures, is such a critical flicker of light in the growing darkness.
Ed Yong is such a real one <3 www.nytimes.com/2025/02/22/m...
February 23, 2025 at 9:01 PM
Seeing others mask, especially public figures, is such a critical flicker of light in the growing darkness.
Reposted by Amanda Wicks
It’s no mystery. COVID is airborne, very contagious, and dozens of entertainers & performers were gathered closely together & not wearing masks.
Can’t believe we’re still doing this five years in.
www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/m...
Can’t believe we’re still doing this five years in.
www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/m...
Steve Martin Says Martin Short Got COVID After ‘SNL50’ Special: “Curse Is Real”
"Maya [Rudolph] had Covid. Marty has Covid. I wonder why?," the comedian said while sharing a photo of Short and Rudolph embracing and sharing a kiss.
www.hollywoodreporter.com
February 21, 2025 at 5:48 PM
It’s no mystery. COVID is airborne, very contagious, and dozens of entertainers & performers were gathered closely together & not wearing masks.
Can’t believe we’re still doing this five years in.
www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/m...
Can’t believe we’re still doing this five years in.
www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/m...
I was lucky enough to work at Pitchfork when @amyphillips.bsky.social was News Director. In that role, she had so many other priorities that reading her writing, when she did publish, was a true thrill. Glad to see her byline there once again.
Always wanted to write a Sunday Review, but never had time when I actually worked at Pitchfork. A year later, I finally did. This is an LP close to my heart— my teen angst in sonic form. In 1995, I snuck out to a Babes show on a school night and got grounded. Worth it. pitchfork.com/reviews/albu...
Babes in Toyland: Fontanelle
Read Amy Phillips’ review of the album.
pitchfork.com
February 16, 2025 at 4:36 PM
I was lucky enough to work at Pitchfork when @amyphillips.bsky.social was News Director. In that role, she had so many other priorities that reading her writing, when she did publish, was a true thrill. Glad to see her byline there once again.
Reposted by Amanda Wicks
🧵
Just to recap what is happening, since public health has gone AWOL:
* This is the worst flu season in 15 years. Not just number of cases but number of *severe* cases.
1/
Just to recap what is happening, since public health has gone AWOL:
* This is the worst flu season in 15 years. Not just number of cases but number of *severe* cases.
1/
February 16, 2025 at 3:27 PM
🧵
Just to recap what is happening, since public health has gone AWOL:
* This is the worst flu season in 15 years. Not just number of cases but number of *severe* cases.
1/
Just to recap what is happening, since public health has gone AWOL:
* This is the worst flu season in 15 years. Not just number of cases but number of *severe* cases.
1/
Reposted by Amanda Wicks
🔥 Awesome public health messaging from Matt McGorry & @nychealthy.bsky.social
Direct simple facts that everyone should know
🌟FACT 1: There is a risk of #longcovid with every COVID infection... 📺🧵
Direct simple facts that everyone should know
🌟FACT 1: There is a risk of #longcovid with every COVID infection... 📺🧵
February 15, 2025 at 2:10 PM
🔥 Awesome public health messaging from Matt McGorry & @nychealthy.bsky.social
Direct simple facts that everyone should know
🌟FACT 1: There is a risk of #longcovid with every COVID infection... 📺🧵
Direct simple facts that everyone should know
🌟FACT 1: There is a risk of #longcovid with every COVID infection... 📺🧵
Reposted by Amanda Wicks
A private citizen shutting down a government agency is a coup. Do not normalize this.
February 3, 2025 at 5:01 PM
A private citizen shutting down a government agency is a coup. Do not normalize this.
Reposted by Amanda Wicks
What the US is experiencing right now is fascism. There's no other word for it and pretending that it's verboten to say so diminishes the truth as much as they are diminishing the truth. It's fascism. It's arrived.
February 2, 2025 at 6:30 PM
What the US is experiencing right now is fascism. There's no other word for it and pretending that it's verboten to say so diminishes the truth as much as they are diminishing the truth. It's fascism. It's arrived.
Reposted by Amanda Wicks
I live in horror of how this administration would handle another pandemic.
February 1, 2025 at 9:04 PM
I live in horror of how this administration would handle another pandemic.
Reposted by Amanda Wicks
When I trained in medicine I was told that Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS/ME) was rare. I expected to see a handful of cases in my whole career.
Now I have Long Covid related CFS myself, I know of many affected colleagues, & saddest of all, 3 of my kids’ friends.
www.livescience.com/health/coron...
Now I have Long Covid related CFS myself, I know of many affected colleagues, & saddest of all, 3 of my kids’ friends.
www.livescience.com/health/coron...
1 in 22 COVID survivors develop debilitating chronic syndrome
A study suggests that catching COVID-19 significantly raises the risk of developing ME/CFS (formerly called "chronic fatigue syndrome"), a typically lifelong condition that can be debilitating.
www.livescience.com
January 31, 2025 at 9:34 AM
When I trained in medicine I was told that Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS/ME) was rare. I expected to see a handful of cases in my whole career.
Now I have Long Covid related CFS myself, I know of many affected colleagues, & saddest of all, 3 of my kids’ friends.
www.livescience.com/health/coron...
Now I have Long Covid related CFS myself, I know of many affected colleagues, & saddest of all, 3 of my kids’ friends.
www.livescience.com/health/coron...
I got to talking with AI about long covid, reinfection rates, and the long-term implications of letting covid go unchecked.
AI gets it! Now, how can we get everyone else to take this more seriously? #longcovid #covidisnotover
AI gets it! Now, how can we get everyone else to take this more seriously? #longcovid #covidisnotover
January 30, 2025 at 9:37 PM
I got to talking with AI about long covid, reinfection rates, and the long-term implications of letting covid go unchecked.
AI gets it! Now, how can we get everyone else to take this more seriously? #longcovid #covidisnotover
AI gets it! Now, how can we get everyone else to take this more seriously? #longcovid #covidisnotover
I'm participating in a clinical trial to see if HIV antivirals can be repurposed to treat #longcovid. I'm pretty sure I didn't get the placebo bc I've been absolutely FLATTENED for the past two weeks.
Considering how much worse this has made my symptoms, I don't know if I'll make it 'til the end.
Considering how much worse this has made my symptoms, I don't know if I'll make it 'til the end.
January 23, 2025 at 11:32 PM
I'm participating in a clinical trial to see if HIV antivirals can be repurposed to treat #longcovid. I'm pretty sure I didn't get the placebo bc I've been absolutely FLATTENED for the past two weeks.
Considering how much worse this has made my symptoms, I don't know if I'll make it 'til the end.
Considering how much worse this has made my symptoms, I don't know if I'll make it 'til the end.
Gonna pull a lyric from They Might Be Giants here: "Can't shake the devil's hand and say you're only kidding."
Nazis: "that's a nazi salute"
Historians: "that's a nazi salute"
Average person: "that's a nazi salute"
The Media: "Elon Musk makes odd gesture throwing his heart to the crowd."
Historians: "that's a nazi salute"
Average person: "that's a nazi salute"
The Media: "Elon Musk makes odd gesture throwing his heart to the crowd."
January 21, 2025 at 10:34 PM
Gonna pull a lyric from They Might Be Giants here: "Can't shake the devil's hand and say you're only kidding."
I've read a good deal about the writing process on SNL, but it was intensely different watching it unfold in the second episode of the 'SNL: 50' doc on Peacock.
All four parts are well done, but that second episode was especially enlightening.
www.peacocktv.com/watch/asset/...
All four parts are well done, but that second episode was especially enlightening.
www.peacocktv.com/watch/asset/...
www.peacocktv.com
January 19, 2025 at 5:42 PM
I've read a good deal about the writing process on SNL, but it was intensely different watching it unfold in the second episode of the 'SNL: 50' doc on Peacock.
All four parts are well done, but that second episode was especially enlightening.
www.peacocktv.com/watch/asset/...
All four parts are well done, but that second episode was especially enlightening.
www.peacocktv.com/watch/asset/...
Love the descriptor "covid competent."
But this article fails to mention that repeat covid infections carry a risk for EVERYBODY—not just those who are immunocompromised.
But this article fails to mention that repeat covid infections carry a risk for EVERYBODY—not just those who are immunocompromised.
“I don’t consider myself COVID cautious. I consider myself COVID competent,” Zebrowski said. “Cautious would imply that I have an unreasonable fear of something. I do not have an unreasonable fear of this disease.”
Nailed it 🔥
Nailed it 🔥
Meet the Americans who still take COVID-19 precautions seriously
People with immune system health problems continue to take precautions against COVID-19 five years into the pandemic.
apnews.com
January 18, 2025 at 2:25 AM
Love the descriptor "covid competent."
But this article fails to mention that repeat covid infections carry a risk for EVERYBODY—not just those who are immunocompromised.
But this article fails to mention that repeat covid infections carry a risk for EVERYBODY—not just those who are immunocompromised.
In a nutshell...
My dream is to live in a humane world and to focus on surviving my chronic illnesses. Current social and political realities make it so that almost no space is safe from misinformation, so I end up having to spend energy I do not have to address misinformation in order to recuperate some safety.
January 10, 2025 at 4:18 PM
In a nutshell...
Reposted by Amanda Wicks
One depressing thing about 2025 is that no country in the world is treating covid with the seriousness it deserves—e.g. masks in healthcare, air purifiers in classrooms, and Long Covid moonshots. Even the early stand-outs (e.g. New Zealand) seem to have, unfortunately, joined the race to the bottom
January 4, 2025 at 2:51 PM
One depressing thing about 2025 is that no country in the world is treating covid with the seriousness it deserves—e.g. masks in healthcare, air purifiers in classrooms, and Long Covid moonshots. Even the early stand-outs (e.g. New Zealand) seem to have, unfortunately, joined the race to the bottom
Reposted by Amanda Wicks
There is no good music streaming platform but spotify is absolutely the most evil one and also has the distinction of sounding the shittiest
Spotify is gaming its own editorial playlists with tons of music it hires a small number of people to make for very little money and a severely limited license. Spotify doesn't care about artists, quite the opposite.
“What I uncovered was an elaborate internal program”: Is Spotify creating fake artists to flood its editorial playlists?
A new book sheds light on the alarming rise of dubious real 'artists' peppering Spotify's curated playlists
www.musicradar.com
December 21, 2024 at 6:44 AM
There is no good music streaming platform but spotify is absolutely the most evil one and also has the distinction of sounding the shittiest
Based on this feature, I cannot wait to read @lizpelly.bsky.social's forthcoming book Mood Machine.
For years, the public has called them "fake artists." But internally at Spotify, the program has a name: Perfect Fit Content. My investigation, and the first look into my book Mood Machine, is the January cover at @harpers.bsky.social. Online now & on newsstands next week
harpers.org/archive/2025...
harpers.org/archive/2025...
December 19, 2024 at 2:17 PM
Based on this feature, I cannot wait to read @lizpelly.bsky.social's forthcoming book Mood Machine.
Wrote about last night's episode of SNL, and the Will Forte-esque vibes that Paul Mescal channeled.
In his first time hosting “SNL,” Paul Mescal used his dramatic sensibilities to create the night’s most imaginative comedy, writes Amanda Wicks:
The Surprising Comedy of a ‘Serious’ SNL Host
Gladiator II star Paul Mescal found the darker emotions that elevated some of the night’s best sketches.
www.theatlantic.com
December 9, 2024 at 12:23 AM
Wrote about last night's episode of SNL, and the Will Forte-esque vibes that Paul Mescal channeled.