John Williams
@johnwilliams.bsky.social
Books editor at Washington Post. Apollonian/Order Muppet. Highly sociable misanthrope.
Have been listening to this the last day or two in an attempt to lower my blood pressure. It's working. I've got it down to 300/240.
January 30, 2026 at 7:32 PM
Have been listening to this the last day or two in an attempt to lower my blood pressure. It's working. I've got it down to 300/240.
Been too long...
January 27, 2026 at 2:28 AM
Been too long...
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.
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.
Strange to be reading this at a time when one is *slightly* jealous of the protagonist.
January 10, 2026 at 6:09 PM
Strange to be reading this at a time when one is *slightly* jealous of the protagonist.
There are still people who believe chronic ouchiness in certain pro athletes isn't a real thing. As my dad once said about Jay Buhner: "His only problem is that he walks around with a piano over his head."
January 10, 2026 at 1:49 AM
There are still people who believe chronic ouchiness in certain pro athletes isn't a real thing. As my dad once said about Jay Buhner: "His only problem is that he walks around with a piano over his head."
Nice of him to realize we could all use a good laugh.
January 7, 2026 at 9:59 PM
Nice of him to realize we could all use a good laugh.
Are the conservatives in the room with us, Mike? And is it 1953?
January 7, 2026 at 8:12 PM
Are the conservatives in the room with us, Mike? And is it 1953?
Just picture the current DHS home page reproduced in eventual textbooks; it's quite easy to understand what the nature of the caption will be.
January 7, 2026 at 6:10 PM
Just picture the current DHS home page reproduced in eventual textbooks; it's quite easy to understand what the nature of the caption will be.
Might just pin this for six or seven years and log off.
January 6, 2026 at 2:19 AM
Might just pin this for six or seven years and log off.
Jeez, give me a minute
![“You’re [burning] fewer calories a day this year than last year.”](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:hco3bkjoctj3oh6dgnu6h66v/bafkreiappym4ggvbqyshhrh27ko4g7ijuvrzokj3xvos7i6z5peqs6lc4u@jpeg)
January 3, 2026 at 5:34 AM
Jeez, give me a minute
2025 summarized.
December 25, 2025 at 3:04 AM
2025 summarized.
It’s true that this essay contains wisdom and warmth (they often accompany each other, I find). But this snarkier early paragraph is also so great.
December 24, 2025 at 5:17 AM
It’s true that this essay contains wisdom and warmth (they often accompany each other, I find). But this snarkier early paragraph is also so great.
I almost never go to Threads, but glad I caught this funny take on Geese (about whom I don’t have a strong opinion).
December 18, 2025 at 11:24 PM
I almost never go to Threads, but glad I caught this funny take on Geese (about whom I don’t have a strong opinion).
My life wrapped (more or less).
December 5, 2025 at 5:01 AM
My life wrapped (more or less).
Books I bought during a lovely trip to Ireland last month. Do I travel simply to buy books? Yes and no.
November 24, 2025 at 5:04 AM
Books I bought during a lovely trip to Ireland last month. Do I travel simply to buy books? Yes and no.
Counterpoint: Yes he is.
<Please, please stop.>
<Please, please stop.>
November 19, 2025 at 3:42 AM
Counterpoint: Yes he is.
<Please, please stop.>
<Please, please stop.>
God bless NYC for still needing these, for now.
November 15, 2025 at 5:42 PM
God bless NYC for still needing these, for now.
Questionable use of "only" here.
November 12, 2025 at 10:37 PM
Questionable use of "only" here.
Understandable! But Shannon is really great as Garfield. McFadyen plays Guiteau in a fairly Wambsgansian manner, but it mostly works. There is a resemblance, too:
November 11, 2025 at 10:25 PM
Understandable! But Shannon is really great as Garfield. McFadyen plays Guiteau in a fairly Wambsgansian manner, but it mostly works. There is a resemblance, too:
Shot.
<nine months pass>
Chaser.
<nine months pass>
Chaser.
November 11, 2025 at 4:48 PM
Shot.
<nine months pass>
Chaser.
<nine months pass>
Chaser.
Cuomo’s opponent in the finale, for condo president:
November 8, 2025 at 5:50 PM
Cuomo’s opponent in the finale, for condo president:
Lordy, that’s a first half.
November 3, 2025 at 2:56 AM
Lordy, that’s a first half.