Alys Brooks
@alysbrooks.bsky.social
Freelance writer, reporter, and developer. she/her/hers. @transjournalists.org member. @MarquetteU alumna. Words @rewirenewsgroup.com, CapTimes, Door County Knock
Reposted by Alys Brooks
There it is. The final print edition, after more than 150 years, of the Atlanta Journal Constitution
elink75f.mail.breakermedia.com/ss/c/u001.o7...
elink75f.mail.breakermedia.com/ss/c/u001.o7...
December 31, 2025 at 12:44 AM
There it is. The final print edition, after more than 150 years, of the Atlanta Journal Constitution
elink75f.mail.breakermedia.com/ss/c/u001.o7...
elink75f.mail.breakermedia.com/ss/c/u001.o7...
While bad actors spreading misinformation is a major factor, I think innumeracy also plays a role. Thousands of daycares, many of which are quite small, is not a surprising number in a metropolitan area of millions, even if this radius contains a significant amount of ocean.
Trump guys are about to Comet Pizza every third daycare center because they think they are all fronts for Somali money laundering. They're only doing this near cities with progressive mayors. This is straight up Government by LibsOfTikTok.
December 30, 2025 at 9:13 PM
While bad actors spreading misinformation is a major factor, I think innumeracy also plays a role. Thousands of daycares, many of which are quite small, is not a surprising number in a metropolitan area of millions, even if this radius contains a significant amount of ocean.
There's more we could do to reduce COVID infections and deaths, but the number of people dying has genuinely decreased.
It's remarkable how low COVID deaths have fallen in the last year. The 2024 summer wave peaked at 1,358 deaths per week; the 2025 summer wave peaked at 466 deaths per week.
www.cdc.gov/covid/php/su...
www.cdc.gov/covid/php/su...
December 29, 2025 at 9:55 PM
There's more we could do to reduce COVID infections and deaths, but the number of people dying has genuinely decreased.
The reality of media is that a lot of owners do not care about preserving your clips, keeping links alive, or maintaining archives in general. The degradation of search has made that even worse.
December 28, 2025 at 8:48 PM
The reality of media is that a lot of owners do not care about preserving your clips, keeping links alive, or maintaining archives in general. The degradation of search has made that even worse.
Reposted by Alys Brooks
Hello repro writers from the mid to late 20 teens - I just discovered Cosmopolitan at some point pulled almost every politics/repro story from the 5 years I wrote for them offline (except two, which they put under someone else's name and gave me "additional reporting" which it very much was not)
December 28, 2025 at 6:44 PM
Hello repro writers from the mid to late 20 teens - I just discovered Cosmopolitan at some point pulled almost every politics/repro story from the 5 years I wrote for them offline (except two, which they put under someone else's name and gave me "additional reporting" which it very much was not)
Seen at the Columbia, South Carolina airport. These posters have been in at least some airports for months, but I’m not sure are widely known they are.
December 27, 2025 at 11:57 PM
Seen at the Columbia, South Carolina airport. These posters have been in at least some airports for months, but I’m not sure are widely known they are.
Reposted by Alys Brooks
DOGE was A LOT less likely to cancel contracts from companies that donated money to Republicans than companies that donated to Democrats.
December 25, 2025 at 10:47 PM
DOGE was A LOT less likely to cancel contracts from companies that donated money to Republicans than companies that donated to Democrats.
Reposted by Alys Brooks
“Like Prime, but with human beings.”
December 24, 2025 at 5:42 PM
“Like Prime, but with human beings.”
Reposted by Alys Brooks
I count 10 cities in 2025 that are on track to have the fewest murders since at least 1970. Newark is on pace to have the fewest murders since 1956 (though only have data through Oct this year) and San Francisco is on pace to have the fewest murders since 1942.
December 23, 2025 at 7:06 PM
I count 10 cities in 2025 that are on track to have the fewest murders since at least 1970. Newark is on pace to have the fewest murders since 1956 (though only have data through Oct this year) and San Francisco is on pace to have the fewest murders since 1942.
Reposted by Alys Brooks
One of my favorite pieces I edited this year is this story about a 143-foot tug boat that's been sitting near Wisconsin's shoreline for years. Great reporting, writing, and visuals: doorcountyknock.org/2025/12/fate...
Fate of the Donny S. uncertain after years of questions - Door County Knock
The 143-foot tug boat Donny S. sits aground in a few feet of water on the northeast side of Baileys Harbor. One cannot miss it, whether buying smoked fish from Baileys Harbor Fish Company, renting a w...
doorcountyknock.org
December 18, 2025 at 5:37 AM
One of my favorite pieces I edited this year is this story about a 143-foot tug boat that's been sitting near Wisconsin's shoreline for years. Great reporting, writing, and visuals: doorcountyknock.org/2025/12/fate...
Reposted by Alys Brooks
A graduate teaching assistant who gave a University of Oklahoma student a failing grade on a psychology essay will no longer be teaching at the university
Graduate instructor who gave failing grade to Samantha Fulnecky no longer teaching at OU
A graduate teaching assistant who gave a University of Oklahoma student a failing grade on a psychology essay will no longer be teaching at the university.
www.koco.com
December 23, 2025 at 1:29 AM
A graduate teaching assistant who gave a University of Oklahoma student a failing grade on a psychology essay will no longer be teaching at the university
Reposted by Alys Brooks
Since the Internet Archive has popped back into relevance tonight, just an FYI: It's one of a handful of tech nonprofits that have low-key become super important *in general* over the years, and perhaps especially this year.
I feel like there’s a story to be done on the under-recognized importance of tech nonprofits to modern journalism.
E.g.:
• Signal
• RECAP/Courtlistener
• Internet Archive/Wayback Machine
• Wikipedia/Wikimedia
See also: nonprofit outlets like AP, ProPublica, and RNS, obvi.
E.g.:
• Signal
• RECAP/Courtlistener
• Internet Archive/Wayback Machine
• Wikipedia/Wikimedia
See also: nonprofit outlets like AP, ProPublica, and RNS, obvi.
December 23, 2025 at 12:36 AM
Since the Internet Archive has popped back into relevance tonight, just an FYI: It's one of a handful of tech nonprofits that have low-key become super important *in general* over the years, and perhaps especially this year.
This case is especially egregious because many of Jamie Reed's claims turned out to be untrue and many others were never corroborated. These claims contributed to trans youth in the state losing access to vital health care.
The next year, Weiss ran this first-person piece, by a woman who worked at the Wash U Transgender Center in St. Louis.
She made many serious allegations. There was no evidence that they tried to contact the center, or the woman’s colleagues.
Not even a “no comment.”
www.thefp.com/p/i-thought-...
She made many serious allegations. There was no evidence that they tried to contact the center, or the woman’s colleagues.
Not even a “no comment.”
www.thefp.com/p/i-thought-...
I Thought I Was Saving Trans Kids. Now I’m Blowing the Whistle.
There are more than 100 pediatric gender clinics across the U.S. I worked at one. What’s happening to children is morally and medically appalling.
www.thefp.com
December 22, 2025 at 9:42 PM
This case is especially egregious because many of Jamie Reed's claims turned out to be untrue and many others were never corroborated. These claims contributed to trans youth in the state losing access to vital health care.
Reposted by Alys Brooks
Per NY Times’s Michael Grynbaum on X, this is Sharyn Alfonsi’s email to her “60 Minutes” colleagues in full:
December 22, 2025 at 3:37 AM
Per NY Times’s Michael Grynbaum on X, this is Sharyn Alfonsi’s email to her “60 Minutes” colleagues in full:
Reposted by Alys Brooks
% Black tenure-track faculty doesn't increase--it declines between 2004 and 2024!
The Compact piece uses various subsets to highlight the small amounts of diversification in humanities & some social science. That's fine, but worth taking a step back to the complete data
The Compact piece uses various subsets to highlight the small amounts of diversification in humanities & some social science. That's fine, but worth taking a step back to the complete data
December 19, 2025 at 9:23 PM
% Black tenure-track faculty doesn't increase--it declines between 2004 and 2024!
The Compact piece uses various subsets to highlight the small amounts of diversification in humanities & some social science. That's fine, but worth taking a step back to the complete data
The Compact piece uses various subsets to highlight the small amounts of diversification in humanities & some social science. That's fine, but worth taking a step back to the complete data
Reposted by Alys Brooks
The name "Popular Science" doesn't mean we shift our coverage depending on public opinion. It means we cover relevant subjects that are rigorously researched, reliable, and grounded in reality.
And trans lives are grounded in reality.
We see y'all. No matter what.
www.popsci.com/science/tran...
And trans lives are grounded in reality.
We see y'all. No matter what.
www.popsci.com/science/tran...
First-of-a-kind study shows encouraging data for trans kids who socially transition
Ninety-four percent of participants in a new study stood firm in their trans identity after five years, and "detransitioning" is rare.
www.popsci.com
December 18, 2025 at 5:16 PM
The name "Popular Science" doesn't mean we shift our coverage depending on public opinion. It means we cover relevant subjects that are rigorously researched, reliable, and grounded in reality.
And trans lives are grounded in reality.
We see y'all. No matter what.
www.popsci.com/science/tran...
And trans lives are grounded in reality.
We see y'all. No matter what.
www.popsci.com/science/tran...
Reposted by Alys Brooks
Breaking: A jury has found a Wisconsin judge guilty of obstruction for helping an immigrant evade federal agents.
Jury finds a Wisconsin judge guilty of obstruction for helping an immigrant evade federal agents
A jury has found a Wisconsin judge guilty of obstruction for helping a Mexican immigrant dodge federal authorities.
bit.ly
December 19, 2025 at 2:50 AM
Breaking: A jury has found a Wisconsin judge guilty of obstruction for helping an immigrant evade federal agents.
One of my favorite pieces I edited this year is this story about a 143-foot tug boat that's been sitting near Wisconsin's shoreline for years. Great reporting, writing, and visuals: doorcountyknock.org/2025/12/fate...
Fate of the Donny S. uncertain after years of questions - Door County Knock
The 143-foot tug boat Donny S. sits aground in a few feet of water on the northeast side of Baileys Harbor. One cannot miss it, whether buying smoked fish from Baileys Harbor Fish Company, renting a w...
doorcountyknock.org
December 18, 2025 at 5:37 AM
One of my favorite pieces I edited this year is this story about a 143-foot tug boat that's been sitting near Wisconsin's shoreline for years. Great reporting, writing, and visuals: doorcountyknock.org/2025/12/fate...
Reposted by Alys Brooks
Just now, a national trans healthcare felony ban for youth has passed the US House, with 10 year prison terms.
3 Dems crossed party lines to vote to jail providers.
4 GOP crossed party lines to vote against.
It is not expected to pass the Senate, where Dems hold filibuster power.
Story to come.
3 Dems crossed party lines to vote to jail providers.
4 GOP crossed party lines to vote against.
It is not expected to pass the Senate, where Dems hold filibuster power.
Story to come.
December 17, 2025 at 11:44 PM
Just now, a national trans healthcare felony ban for youth has passed the US House, with 10 year prison terms.
3 Dems crossed party lines to vote to jail providers.
4 GOP crossed party lines to vote against.
It is not expected to pass the Senate, where Dems hold filibuster power.
Story to come.
3 Dems crossed party lines to vote to jail providers.
4 GOP crossed party lines to vote against.
It is not expected to pass the Senate, where Dems hold filibuster power.
Story to come.
Reposted by Alys Brooks
Please keep this in mind every time you post "Why isn't this a bigger story?" amid a sea of 2 million potential stories every single day
"The newspaper industry served as a feeder for our entire news media ecosystem. So when we lose those newspapers, we've lost that journalism. In the early 2000s, we had 40 journalists per 100,000 people. We're now down to 8 journalists per 100,000 people," says @victorpickard.bsky.social.
December 16, 2025 at 7:17 PM
Please keep this in mind every time you post "Why isn't this a bigger story?" amid a sea of 2 million potential stories every single day
Reposted by Alys Brooks
From the Oklahoma U student paper: the school is now saying it will automatically suspend faculty (with pay) in response to student complaints
www.oudaily.com/news/ou-poli...
www.oudaily.com/news/ou-poli...
December 13, 2025 at 3:39 PM
From the Oklahoma U student paper: the school is now saying it will automatically suspend faculty (with pay) in response to student complaints
www.oudaily.com/news/ou-poli...
www.oudaily.com/news/ou-poli...
Reposted by Alys Brooks
Most Americans say government has a responsibility to ensure health care coverage: https://pewrsr.ch/495emca
December 12, 2025 at 5:01 PM
Most Americans say government has a responsibility to ensure health care coverage: https://pewrsr.ch/495emca
Reposted by Alys Brooks
PHILIPSBURG, Pa. (AP) - Kilmar Abrego Garcia leaves immigration detention after federal judge's order Thursday, his attorney's office says.
December 12, 2025 at 12:21 AM
PHILIPSBURG, Pa. (AP) - Kilmar Abrego Garcia leaves immigration detention after federal judge's order Thursday, his attorney's office says.
Reposted by Alys Brooks
Weakening universal HBV vaccination recommendations has accomplished nothing positive for public health. It is undoing a policy with decades of evidence, extensively demonstrated safety, and it is erroneously suggesting that there is some kind of substantive risk to the vaccine.
There isn't.
There isn't.
December 7, 2025 at 9:08 PM
Weakening universal HBV vaccination recommendations has accomplished nothing positive for public health. It is undoing a policy with decades of evidence, extensively demonstrated safety, and it is erroneously suggesting that there is some kind of substantive risk to the vaccine.
There isn't.
There isn't.
Reposted by Alys Brooks
NEW — I put together a list of independent journalism subscriptions that would make great holiday gifts. From music to politics, astronomy to alcohol, tech to social justice, there’s something for [almost] everyone. Support indie media *and* surprise and delight your loved ones!
My guide:
My guide:
Giving the gift of independent journalism: a guide
The Handbasket has subscription suggestions for almost everyone on your list.
www.thehandbasket.co
December 6, 2025 at 3:38 PM
NEW — I put together a list of independent journalism subscriptions that would make great holiday gifts. From music to politics, astronomy to alcohol, tech to social justice, there’s something for [almost] everyone. Support indie media *and* surprise and delight your loved ones!
My guide:
My guide: