Morning Coffee (7/28/19)

Adam Serwer on the Mueller reactions: The Press Has Adopted Trump’s Reality-Show Standards

SIGH: Trump: Obama’s Book Deal Way Sketchier Than Potential Obstruction of Justice

Libyan officials say fighting rages near capital

The Fallout From A Seemingly Sweet Oil Deal For Venezuela's Neighbors

What Kamala Harris Believes

Texas Has Generated More Electricity From Wind Than Coal So Far This Year

Handmaid's Tale sequel leads 'exacting' 2019 Booker prize longlist

A Skull Bone Discovered in Greece May Alter the Story of Human Prehistory

Amazing headline: Pompeii row erupts between rival scientific factions

Investigators Say a Ring Smuggled $145 Million in Ancient Artifacts

Morning Coffee (6/7/19)

Time for Friday happy links!

Aw, look at the Women's World Cup Google doodle.

Women's prize for fiction goes to 'utterly moving' Tayari Jones novel

Barack and Michelle Obama Sign Spotify Deal to Produce Exclusive Podcasts

SOMEONE IS MAKING A TV SHOW IN LATIN.

He Was Looking for Opals. Instead He Found a New Dinosaur Species.

SO MANY good YA books this week: New Releases: Secretive Friendships, Bold Blackmailers, and Confusing Attractions

Whoa, they found one of the missing Lewis pieces! A Medieval Chess Piece Potentially Worth $1.2 Million Languished in a Drawer for Decades

The subhed here is hilarious: Hidden Water Lily Found Beneath Monet Painting

Starz's The Rook Trailer Reveals the Supernatural Spy Ring You Didn't Know You Needed

I DO need some cute summer dresses!

Morning Coffee (5/3/19)

Time for Friday happy links!

VERONICA MARS TRAILER. I can't wait.

Ooh: Presidential Production: Barack and Michelle Obama Announce New Netflix Slate, Including a Frederick Douglass Biopic

This is a great profile of Chasten Buttigieg.

SO CUTE: Princess Charlotte’s Fourth Birthday is (Almost) Here, and We Have New Pics

I want to watch pretty much everything in the PBS summer slate.

Aw: A Stray Dog Joined a 140-mile Race in the Sahara (and Stayed to Get His Medal)

This video of Taylor Swift meeting her new kitten is adorable.

A Violent Splash of Magma That May Have Made the Moon

Genetic History Debunks Legend Of Blue Cheese Origin

Italians try to crack Leonardo da Vinci DNA code with lock of hair

Morning Coffee (3/6/19)

These guys are despicable: New Hampshire Republicans Wore Pearls To Oppose Gun Bill & Survivors Are Livid

Explosive devices found at Waterloo station, Heathrow and City airports

Nazi salutes and a swastika made of red cups: Newport Beach students condemned for ‘abhorrent anti-Semitic activity’

!!! H.I.V. Is Reported Cured in a Second Patient, a Milestone in the Global AIDS Epidemic

How many times does she have to say this? She’s not running: Hillary Clinton rules out 2020 bid

Men Still Report the Bulk of Our Elections Coverage

Wow, this should be interesting: Pope Francis to Allow Access to Holocaust-Era Documents of Pius XII

This is... not good: The Obama Presidential Library That Isn’t

YouTube Bans Comments on Videos of Young Children in Bid to Block Predators

Jean Fairfax, Unsung but Undeterred in Integrating Schools, Dies at 98

Morning Coffee (3/1/19)

FRIDAY HAPPY LINKS!

The Royal We sequel news!!

And some very important Veronica Mars casting news.

Exclusive preview: Obama and Biden return as action heroes in Hope Rides Again

!!! 'Baby-Sitters Club' Reboot Lands at Netflix

The new Star Wars section of Disneyland sounds amazing and I'm not even that into Star Wars.

Aww, look at this cat photobombing Harry and Meghan.

Serial Box is partnering with Marvel to tell new serialized stories about your favorite superheroes

This sounds great and THIS COVER: Cover Reveal: Beyond the Black Door by A.M. Strickland

I love this Wonder Woman spa set.

Game Of Thrones Oreos Are Coming Just In Time For The Final Season

Morning Coffee (12/29/18)

Of course: Trump Accidentally Exposes the Location, Identities of U.S. Navy Seal Team 5 on Twitter

Trump administration to release hundreds of immigrant families from detention

The shutdown is intractable because Trump’s wall is ridiculous and Republicans know it

More evidence piles up in North Carolina election fraud scandal

Remember what it was like to have a smart president? Here are Obama's book, movie, and music recommendations for the year.

This is horrifying: ‘There was blood everywhere’: the abuse case against the Afghan FA president

China refuses to release detained Canadians, despite demands

Amos Oz, Israeli Author and Peace Advocate, Dies at 79

A Russian bank gave Marine Le Pen’s party a loan. Then weird things began happening.

This might be the first political assassination in human history

Morning Coffee (12/22/18)

The correct take on Mattis, I think: There never were any “adults in the room”

U.S. Exit Seen as a Betrayal of the Kurds, and a Boon for ISIS

Oh no, GET WELL SOON: Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg Has Been Treated For Lung Cancer

The Republican Party versus democracy

Are Trump’s Immigration Policies Literally Making Us Sick?

Yay! Nevada Becomes First State With Majority of Women in Assembly

Of course: Trump Officials Plan to Rescind Obama-Era School Discipline Policies

CRYING FOREVER: Listen to Barack Obama on Lin-Manuel Miranda's new Hamilton remix

Gladys West, the 'hidden figure' of GPS, inducted into Air Force hall of fame

Simply Having a Gay Straight Alliance Reduces Suicide Risk for All Students

Morning Coffee (11/30/18)

Time for Friday happy links!

YAY: Small bookstores are booming after nearly being wiped out

Rachel is a Twitter pal and I'm very excited for this one: A queer romance in the royal family? Her Royal Highness will make you swoon

AWWW: Barack Obama surprises wife Michelle at book tour stop

Oh, this sounds great! Introducing Carina Adores, a trope-driven LGBTQ+ contemporary romance line, now open for submissions!

Phew: ‘To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before’ Sequel in the Works

I am cautiously optimistic: ‘The ABC Murders’: John Malkovich & Rupert Grint In BBC/Amazon Drama – First-Look

Whoa: Rosé Cider Cheese From Angry Orchard & Crown Finish Caves Will Dazzle Your Cheese Board This Holiday Season

Create Your Own Hallmark Christmas Movie and We'll Tell You Which One to Watch

Heh: Christmas movies would be better if all of them starred Gritty

Star Trek Beyond crew assemble in Fleet Command game footage

Morning Coffee (11/6/18)

Happy Election Day! All related links today. Go vote!

Vox has a LOT of good coverage: The 2018 midterm elections, explained

How To Watch The Midterms: An Hour-By-Hour Guide

How to Get Free and Discounted Rides to the Polls on Election Day

6 Types of Misinformation to Beware of on Election Day. (And What to Do if You Spot Them.)

Why Don’t Young People Vote? This System Doesn’t Want Them To.

Of course: Trump ally Kris Kobach accepted donations from white nationalists

THIS guy: Kemp calls targets Abrams with false claims that she will "steal" election with undocumented voters

And THIS guy: LePage’s future plans: Move to Florida, take teaching job

This is awful: Pa.’s restrictive election laws make it hard for Philly firefighters and EMS workers to vote

I MISS HIM: Obama: ‘Nobody In My Administration Got Indicted. Which, By The Way, Is Not That High A Bar.’

Morning Coffee (11/1/18)

I LOVE THIS: You’re Disillusioned. That’s Fine. Vote Anyway.

And HA. (This is satire! Not real!) Why I, a young person, probably won’t vote

Wow, good for them: Son, daughter oppose father’s election to Missouri House

And good for him: Pharrell Williams Sends Trump Cease-and-Desist for Playing ‘Happy’ at Rally

Republican Campaign Mailer Fuels Anti-Semitism Complaints In State Senate Race

How the rise of conspiracy theory politics emboldens anti-Semitism

Not good! Wait times for citizenship applications stretch to 2 years

!!! The Obamas Have Optioned A Series For Netflix Based On Trump's Disastrous Start At The White House

Whoa: That Waitrose Food Editor Who Proposed A Series On Killing Vegans Has Quit

Humanity has wiped out 60% of animal populations since 1970, report finds

Morning Coffee (10/25/18)

Everything's extra terrible today. I'm sorry. Happy links tomorrow!

This is terrifying: Pipe Bombs Sent to Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama and CNN Offices

Obviously: Trump Allies Insist Bomb Threats Against Clinton, Obama, CNN Are ‘Pure BS,’ a ‘False Flag’ (But let's not call them threats! They were actual bombs. Actual assassination attempts.)

Alexander Soros: The Hate That Is Consuming Us

This story is FULL of unbelievable details - like, every other sentence, really, read it - but possibly the wildest is that the administration is not particularly worried about this because TRUMP NEVER READS ANYTHING SO HAS NO SECRETS TO SHARE: When Trump Phones Friends, the Chinese Listen and Learn

DOJ: Businesses Can Discriminate Against Transgender Workers (The Supreme Court has been asked to consider allowing discrimination on the basis of both gender identity and sexual orientation, just to be clear.)

Meanwhile: Man films himself burning LGBT children’s books from local library

I just . . . Trump now trying to pretend U.S. doesn’t ‘have tariffs anywhere’

Georgia NAACP files complaints alleging voting machines incorrectly registered votes (I actually do believe that in SOME cases this can be a genuine technical issue, but I also very much believe we need groups like the NAACP to make sure it gets fixed.)

What a surprise: White nationalist Richard Spencer accused of physically abusing wife throughout their marriage

OF COURSE: ‘I thought it was very nice’: VA official showcased portrait of KKK’s first grand wizard

Morning Coffee (9/12/18)

Fight to Retake Last ISIS Territory in Syria Begins

War games and business deals: Russia, China send a signal to Washington

Well done, Ireland: Trump cancels Ireland trip after groups announce planned protests

The Limits of Obama's Legacy

In an Increasingly Diverse House, Aides Remain Remarkably White

Bob Woodward’s new book, Fear, explained

Simple Hack Turns India's Massive Biometric Database Into a Profitable Counterfeit System

Interesting: More US School Kids Than Ever Are Wearing Uniforms This Fall

Toddlers and Chimpanzees Share a Surprising Unspoken Language

This is a truly great headline: Colorado Sports Fan's Plan To Rob Vape Store Falls Apart After He Drops Gun And Pants

Morning Coffee (9/9/18)

Trump Administration Discussed Coup Plans With Rebel Venezuelan Officers

In liberal Sweden, a party with neo-Nazi origins could become one of the country’s biggest after Sunday’s elections

The 7 most important moments in Obama’s blistering critique of Trump and the GOP

Donald Trump makes the case for his own impeachment

Julia Salazar, the socialist politician accused of lying about her past, explained

Election Season in a Dangerous Democracy

Moroccan authors say teenage rape case hits 'new level of unspeakable'

Sigh: Frozen actor grabs Trump banner from audience member during play

Perfect: Cool! The Dude Who Asked You To Absolve Him of Past Misconduct Is Succeeding While You Recover

Oscars organizers postpone controversial 'popular film' award

Morning Coffee (8/24/18)

Phew, we definitely need a break for Friday happy links.

Remember having a president who liked books? Here's Obama's latest reading list.

Eee, Outlaw King trailer!

I have never related so much to Rihanna: Here's Bridesmaid Rihanna Ducking Her Best Friend's Wedding Bouquet Toss

AMAZING: Natalie Portman To Direct And Star In Dual Roles In ‘Dear Abby/Ann Landers’ Biopic

This sounds neat: Yo-Yo Ma Celebrates Bach in Amazon Alexa Series

I'm listening: New Aldi Advent Calendars Have 24 Days of Wine and Cheese

I'm unsure about the new version of The Great British Baking Show, but at least now we know Netflix will carry it in the U.S.

Hmm: ColourPop Cosmetics Is Launching A Sister Skincare Brand, Fourth Ray Beauty

!! Twilight Is Coming Back To Theaters For Its 10th Anniversary And We Have Exclusive New Artwork

QUIZ: Which Of This Summer’s Rom Com Leading Ladies Are You?

Morning Coffee (8/1/18)

HOW IS IT AUGUST? Anyway, more on this this afternoon, but special August thing: If you are a Patreon supporter or sign up this month at any level, you'll get a bunch of EXTRA rewards and the chance to help me decide which rewards to keep/change going forward!

Mueller Passes 3 Cases Focused on Illicit Foreign Lobbying to Prosecutors in New York

What we learned from the opening statements at Paul Manafort’s trial

The battle to stop 3D-printed guns, explained

Facebook Identifies an Active Political Influence Campaign Using Fake Accounts

Jeff Sessions announces a religious liberty task force to combat “dangerous” secularism (Spoiler: He just means Christian nationalism.)

The motivations in suggesting this seem good but... this also seems really dangerous: Senate Bill To Require Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity Data By 2030 Census

HI WE MISS YOU: Spotted: Obama and Biden Eating Sandwiches at Veteran-Run Dog Tag Bakery in Georgetown

!!! Swedish crown jewels: Speedboat thieves steal priceless treasures

This story is SO GREAT: Lawson Craddock's Amazing Last-Place Finish In The Tour De France

Private world of Franklin D. Roosevelt unveiled in newly found film footage

Morning Coffee (7/18/18)

Detaining Migrant Kids Is Now a Billion-Dollar Industry

Obama Warns In Mandela Speech That ‘Strongman Politics Are Ascendant’

It’s time to take Trump both seriously and literally on Russia

Rebecca Solnit: They Think They Can Bully the Truth

New Hampshire: Ground Zero in the War on Voting Rights

Yay! Puerto Rico Begins Allowing Transgender People to Change Their Birth Certificates

Record Number Of Native Americans Running For Office In Midterms

UGH: Police are protesting two novels on a school's summer reading list that grapple with police brutality

Perfect: 17 Real-Life Would-You-Rathers I, a Woman, Have Had to Ask Myself

Ooh: Les Misérables Photos: Dominic West, David Oyelowo and Lily Collins Star in PBS Adaptation — First Look

Morning Coffee (7/16/18)

Me elsewhere: TV news for the week.

Russian Influence Campaign Sought To Exploit Americans' Trust In Local News

What a shock: Jill Stein’s Recount Cash Pays for Her Russia Legal Defense

Here’s How Kavanaugh Could Deal a Big Blow to Gun Control

Amazon Is Used to Promote White Supremacist Merchandise and Views, Report Says

Here is President Obama's summer reading list. I MISS HIM.

I bet he doesn't have a summer reading list: Donald Trump is excellent at selling books that trash him; mediocre at selling books that praise him.

How Many Teenage Girls Deliberately Harm Themselves? Nearly 1 in 4, Survey Finds.

Quite the editor's note: This New York Times Writer Failed to Mention She Used Her Husband As a Source on Vagina Selfies

In a cosmic first, scientists detect ‘ghost particles’ from a distant galaxy

Ooh! Ancient find may be earliest extract of epic Homer poem Odyssey

Weekly Rec: Hope Never Dies by Andrew Shaffer

When I first heard about Andrew Shaffer's new mystery Hope Never Dies, I thought it was a cute idea and would be, at best, a fun novelty item. I'd have bought it regardless - look at that cover! But Quirk Books was kind enough to send me an early copy, and I am delighted to report that THIS BOOK IS ACTUALLY REALLY GOOD.

Let's back up. Hope Never Dies is exactly what it says it is: a murder mystery in which the detectives are post-presidency Barack Obama and Joe Biden. Biden's at loose ends once they're out of office, back in Delaware and watching from afar as his supposed BFF Obama hangs out with younger and cooler celebrities. Biden doesn't do well with free time, so when his favorite railroad conductor dies in a weird supposed accident, he ends up investigating - and Obama winds up pulled in too.

First, let me say: The plot here is solid. This would be a viable mystery novel even without the famous leads. I was a little hesitant about reading a novel told in Biden's voice, but Shaffer does a good job of it - his version of Biden is recognizable but also a character unto himself; this didn't feel icky to read as fiction about real people often does. Both this Biden and the book overall were very funny, as I'd expected, given that Shaffer is known as a humor writer.

But what I hadn't necessarily expected was that this book was genuinely moving, too. I laughed and cried, for real. Obviously part of that was due to our current political situation and nostalgia for the last administration, but that wasn't all. Biden's feelings about his place in the world and his worry over losing a friendship that's so important to him were well-drawn and relatable. He spends much of the book trying to distance himself in response to what he sees as Obama's distance, and I kept yelling GET BACK TOGETHER ALREADY, YOU LOVE EACH OTHER. (I wasn't QUITE yelling "MAKE OUT," but, you know, almost. It's not NOT also a romance novel, in a platonic soulmate sense.)

Oh. Did I mention there's a motel room with - *gasp* - only one bed?!?!

Hope Never Dies is out today. Go get it and escape our current hell for a few hours.

Morning Coffee (7/8/18)

WHAT A SHOCK: Shifting Strategy, Trump’s Lawyers Set New Conditions for Mueller Interview

We need to talk about the fact that Trump seriously considered invading Venezuela

Thank you, President Obama: "And do not wait for the perfect message, and don’t wait to feel a tingle in your spine because you’re expecting politicians to be so inspiring and poetic and moving. Politics, like life, is imperfect. But there is better, and there is worse."

Doug Jones Thinks He’s Supposed To Be Here

Sigh: Women in Tech Score Symbolic Wins, but Cash Is Still Hard to Come By

...sure? Saudi Arabia is about to spend millions to troll Qatar by turning it into an island

This sounds like EXCITING NEWS but I guess it, uh, actually isn't: America’s cheese stockpile just hit an all-time high

Huh: Wait, Leonard Bernstein Wrote a ‘Peter Pan’ Musical?

Ooh: Emily Mortimer fights for her business in the The Bookshop trailer (I... have I read the book? I THINK so.)


Prehistoric stone hunt under way in Devon salt marsh

Morning Coffee (6/22/18)

OKAY. IT'S FRIDAY. HAPPY LINKS, DARN IT.

Yay! New Zealand Prime Minister Becomes 2nd Elected World Leader to Give Birth in Office

Gina Rodriguez is using her 2018 Emmy campaign money to send an undocumented student to college

Look at this lineup: America Ferrera to edit timely, star-studded essay collection on diversity and culture

I LOVE THIS BOOK: Read an excerpt of the mystery book featuring Barack Obama and Joe Biden as action heroes

Eeee: To All the Boys I've Loved Before Looks Like the Cute Teen Romcom of the Summer

Also, Creed II trailer!

I am generally not a tiny house fan but LOOK: This tiny home was modeled after a lunar lander

Heh: The Mets should sign Jennifer Lopez

This Video Made From Real Mars Data Will Make You Feel Like You're Flying Over the Red Planet

15 Chic Bags to Schlep on Long Weekends