Aja Romano
@bookshop.bsky.social
Longtime culture writer, formerly of Vox. Member, WGAE, ATCA. They/them or she/her. http://ajaromano.com - I am NOT @bookshop.org lol.
Pinned
Aja Romano
@bookshop.bsky.social
· Sep 13
Omg i have video, FINALLY! that means you all get to enjoy my hyperfixation (that will apparently take like an hour to upload but idc we're doing this), what else
Wang Yibo, Like the Sunshine (1/5)
Wang Yibo, Like the Sunshine (1/5)
in S1 the individual patient cases felt meaningful, both bc they were interesting and bc they introduced us to the characterizations of the doctors. In S2, we're spending more time on far less interesting cases, while the character stakes all feel lower, cheaper, and more predictable.
it’s wild how much worse this season of the pitt is like what HAPPENED
February 13, 2026 at 8:57 AM
in S1 the individual patient cases felt meaningful, both bc they were interesting and bc they introduced us to the characterizations of the doctors. In S2, we're spending more time on far less interesting cases, while the character stakes all feel lower, cheaper, and more predictable.
Reposted by Aja Romano
Anyway - AFTER THE GOLD - Olympic pairs skaters w too much chemistry try to figure out their life after the Games. M/F romance.
INK AND ICE - an elite figure skater from a creepy island in the middle of Lake Erie starts dating a former war reporter while trying to make the Olympic team. M/M romance
INK AND ICE - an elite figure skater from a creepy island in the middle of Lake Erie starts dating a former war reporter while trying to make the Olympic team. M/M romance
February 13, 2026 at 4:40 AM
Anyway - AFTER THE GOLD - Olympic pairs skaters w too much chemistry try to figure out their life after the Games. M/F romance.
INK AND ICE - an elite figure skater from a creepy island in the middle of Lake Erie starts dating a former war reporter while trying to make the Olympic team. M/M romance
INK AND ICE - an elite figure skater from a creepy island in the middle of Lake Erie starts dating a former war reporter while trying to make the Olympic team. M/M romance
Free instant all-day playlist in these replies, all day. Have yet to pass a non-banger. bsky.app/search?q=%22...
bsky.app
February 10, 2026 at 6:39 PM
Free instant all-day playlist in these replies, all day. Have yet to pass a non-banger. bsky.app/search?q=%22...
every time i think i'm fully worn down by this administration's utter contempt for the law, one more incremental horror like this comes along to jolt me
ICE officials under a judge’s order to clean up squalid conditions on the 10th floor of 26 Federal Plaza detained migrants on a secret floor where they decided that ruling didn’t apply, attorneys for the Trump administration said Monday.
www.thecity.nyc/2026/02/09/2...
www.thecity.nyc/2026/02/09/2...
ICE Moved Detainees to Previously Undisclosed Floor of 26 Federal Plaza
A federal judge ordered the Trump administration to reduce overcrowding and squalid conditions at a Manhattan holding room. Months later, he finds ICE merely shifted floors.
www.thecity.nyc
February 10, 2026 at 1:57 AM
every time i think i'm fully worn down by this administration's utter contempt for the law, one more incremental horror like this comes along to jolt me
Reposted by Aja Romano
the deliberately blank faces of bai jingting, william chang, huang bo, and jackson wang as they vainly try to conceal their Horrified Misgiving about the weibo night "dancing" robots? will in fact be my new reaction gif for all of 2026 i'm just warning you now
February 7, 2026 at 12:00 PM
the deliberately blank faces of bai jingting, william chang, huang bo, and jackson wang as they vainly try to conceal their Horrified Misgiving about the weibo night "dancing" robots? will in fact be my new reaction gif for all of 2026 i'm just warning you now
Reposted by Aja Romano
“Talent is a gatekeeping mechanism”
February 6, 2026 at 6:47 PM
“Talent is a gatekeeping mechanism”
IT'S THAT TIME AGAIN 🔥
My friends my friends, it is WEIBO NIGHT
How to describe Weibo night
It's like the Oscars ramped up to 3000, except all the awards are random and made up and don't matter 😂
What does matter: 125 CONFIRMED TOP-TIER (and/or trendy this year) CELEBRITIES + all their screaming fanbases in one room
How to describe Weibo night
It's like the Oscars ramped up to 3000, except all the awards are random and made up and don't matter 😂
What does matter: 125 CONFIRMED TOP-TIER (and/or trendy this year) CELEBRITIES + all their screaming fanbases in one room
February 5, 2026 at 5:53 AM
IT'S THAT TIME AGAIN 🔥
Reposted by Aja Romano
Aging infrastructure is a major challenge when it comes to extreme weather in prisons, jails and detention facilities across the U.S.
Delta Correctional Facility in Greenwood, Mississippi, and Mississippi State Penitentiary in Parchaman, Mississippi, both lost power due to Winter Storm Fern.
Delta Correctional Facility in Greenwood, Mississippi, and Mississippi State Penitentiary in Parchaman, Mississippi, both lost power due to Winter Storm Fern.
When Temps Plunge, Dilapidated Jails and Prisons Put Lives at Risk
Aging infrastructure is a major challenge when it comes to extreme weather in prisons, jails and detention facilities across the U.S.
buff.ly
February 4, 2026 at 4:04 PM
Aging infrastructure is a major challenge when it comes to extreme weather in prisons, jails and detention facilities across the U.S.
Delta Correctional Facility in Greenwood, Mississippi, and Mississippi State Penitentiary in Parchaman, Mississippi, both lost power due to Winter Storm Fern.
Delta Correctional Facility in Greenwood, Mississippi, and Mississippi State Penitentiary in Parchaman, Mississippi, both lost power due to Winter Storm Fern.
Reposted by Aja Romano
The Bible references are just- OW.
Non Bible folks- first one is a rebuke from Jesus to his disciples for not letting children approach him. M
Second is “Jesus wept”. No notes
Non Bible folks- first one is a rebuke from Jesus to his disciples for not letting children approach him. M
Second is “Jesus wept”. No notes
Federal judge has ordered the release of Liam Ramos (the bunny hat boy) and his father. A brief and rather remarkable order. Clearly written to be shared widely, so please do. storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
January 31, 2026 at 10:36 PM
The Bible references are just- OW.
Non Bible folks- first one is a rebuke from Jesus to his disciples for not letting children approach him. M
Second is “Jesus wept”. No notes
Non Bible folks- first one is a rebuke from Jesus to his disciples for not letting children approach him. M
Second is “Jesus wept”. No notes
fun fact i once auditioned for david geffen which means i apparently now have an epstein files bacon number of 1 🙃
January 31, 2026 at 7:14 PM
fun fact i once auditioned for david geffen which means i apparently now have an epstein files bacon number of 1 🙃
Reposted by Aja Romano
local ICE fuckery in Oakmont - GFM link for family support and legal fees in the replies.
He has no criminal record
He has a five-year work visa
He is employed
He has Real ID, valid driver’s licenses & Social Security number
ICE abducted him in front of his daughter and put him in a prison
Are we safer now? No
Is this wrong? YES!
triblive.com/local/valley...
He has a five-year work visa
He is employed
He has Real ID, valid driver’s licenses & Social Security number
ICE abducted him in front of his daughter and put him in a prison
Are we safer now? No
Is this wrong? YES!
triblive.com/local/valley...
ICE operation in Oakmont leads to local father’s arrest
Harriett Flores thought Thursday was going to be like any other day. She and her husband, Jose, were getting ready for work as their 8-year-old daughter, Lily, prepared for school in their Oakmont hom...
triblive.com
January 31, 2026 at 3:15 PM
local ICE fuckery in Oakmont - GFM link for family support and legal fees in the replies.
Reposted by Aja Romano
A friend asked if I still have videos of Len testing out the prototype of "touch-activated saxophone that can be used to make cats play Careless Whisper," since I pulled all my old content off the hellsite ages ago. And I do!
January 30, 2026 at 10:11 PM
A friend asked if I still have videos of Len testing out the prototype of "touch-activated saxophone that can be used to make cats play Careless Whisper," since I pulled all my old content off the hellsite ages ago. And I do!
Reposted by Aja Romano
Solidarity with every single person participating in today’s general strike against ICE’s terror campaign.
You’re changing the world ✊🏽❤️
You’re changing the world ✊🏽❤️
January 30, 2026 at 5:04 PM
Solidarity with every single person participating in today’s general strike against ICE’s terror campaign.
You’re changing the world ✊🏽❤️
You’re changing the world ✊🏽❤️
I know that on some level the Democrats in power probably genuinely believe they're acting as boldly as they can to keep the country from falling into complete chaos, but do they fucking HEAR THEMSELVES?
I feel insane all the time now
I feel insane all the time now
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) on Thursday said House Democrats will demand a ban on the deportation of American citizens as a condition of winning their support for legislation funding the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
Jeffries demands ban on deportation of US citizens as part of DHS reforms
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) on Thursday said House Democrats will demand a ban on the deportation of American citizens as a condition of winning their support for legislation fun…
www.kget.com
January 30, 2026 at 2:53 AM
I know that on some level the Democrats in power probably genuinely believe they're acting as boldly as they can to keep the country from falling into complete chaos, but do they fucking HEAR THEMSELVES?
I feel insane all the time now
I feel insane all the time now
Reposted by Aja Romano
whole thread is genuinely the stuff of nightmares and yet here we are. nice sentient life form you got there, it would be a terrible shame if it…stupided itself to death. #antiAI #thereisnoethicaluse
My previous intern used ChatGPT to get his master degree in computer diploma and it *showed*. It was really bad.
He didn't know how to use Excel. I had him add up 10 numbers, no fraction. He used his phone's calculator for the sum. He got the WRONG sum because he mis-punched several numbers.
He didn't know how to use Excel. I had him add up 10 numbers, no fraction. He used his phone's calculator for the sum. He got the WRONG sum because he mis-punched several numbers.
January 29, 2026 at 11:00 PM
whole thread is genuinely the stuff of nightmares and yet here we are. nice sentient life form you got there, it would be a terrible shame if it…stupided itself to death. #antiAI #thereisnoethicaluse
Reposted by Aja Romano
"This should really be a wakeup call for studio executives who believe that love stories can’t succeed on their own," @gavia.bsky.social writes. "If Jacob Tierney can strike gold by adapting a tried-and-tested romantic formula, then other showrunners can surely do the same."
The Success of Heated Rivalry Should Not Be a Surprise — Fansplaining
Romancelandia understands why the show is a hit. Why is it so hard for Hollywood to get the message?
www.fansplaining.com
January 29, 2026 at 3:10 PM
"This should really be a wakeup call for studio executives who believe that love stories can’t succeed on their own," @gavia.bsky.social writes. "If Jacob Tierney can strike gold by adapting a tried-and-tested romantic formula, then other showrunners can surely do the same."
“People like me—maybe they don’t have trans kids, but they’re very liberal, very progressive—think, ‘Well, we’re in Washington, so we’re okay,’” Sierra told Erin in the Morning.
“That’s absolutely false. No one is safe until everybody is.”
“That’s absolutely false. No one is safe until everybody is.”
1. Multicare / Mary Bridge Children's Hospital in Washington State has become the latest hospital to shut down its trans youth care clinic in capitulation to Trump.
Private clinics say they are stepping up to take patients.
Subscribe to support our journalism.
Private clinics say they are stepping up to take patients.
Subscribe to support our journalism.
Mary Bridge Children’s Hospital In WA Shuts Down Youth Gender Clinic Amidst Federal Funding Threat
What arguably amounts to an appeasement strategy simply falls short.
www.erininthemorning.com
January 29, 2026 at 4:06 PM
“People like me—maybe they don’t have trans kids, but they’re very liberal, very progressive—think, ‘Well, we’re in Washington, so we’re okay,’” Sierra told Erin in the Morning.
“That’s absolutely false. No one is safe until everybody is.”
“That’s absolutely false. No one is safe until everybody is.”
The replies in this thread come from very smart critics so it's frustrating that everyone here is treating "fandom" like a media-illiterate monolith when transformative fandom is entirely *about* engaging with and critiquing canons thoroughly and cough up symbolism-rich meta 800 times a second?
Though I will note we seem to have given rise to a mode of engagement with art—"fandom"—that is simultaneously obsessively intense and almost obstinately, indignantly shallow. There are huge numbers of folks who can give you the biography of every player in Max Rebo's band but will stare blankly...
January 29, 2026 at 12:43 AM
The replies in this thread come from very smart critics so it's frustrating that everyone here is treating "fandom" like a media-illiterate monolith when transformative fandom is entirely *about* engaging with and critiquing canons thoroughly and cough up symbolism-rich meta 800 times a second?
low level just started having an anxiety attack out of nowhere, then realized it was probably because I'd just read Erin Reed's reporting on Kansas legislation to bounty hunt trans people in bathrooms, followed by a Schumer quote doing the absolute least against DHS.
Take care, all. These times.
Take care, all. These times.
January 29, 2026 at 12:26 AM
low level just started having an anxiety attack out of nowhere, then realized it was probably because I'd just read Erin Reed's reporting on Kansas legislation to bounty hunt trans people in bathrooms, followed by a Schumer quote doing the absolute least against DHS.
Take care, all. These times.
Take care, all. These times.
Reposted by Aja Romano
We're officially fundraising for laid-off Vox workers. Please share and donate if you can!
www.gofundme.com/f/support-la...
www.gofundme.com/f/support-la...
Donate to Support Laid-off Vox Media Workers, organized by Victoria Song
On Friday, January 16, 2026, the Vox Media Union received news from management about … Victoria Song needs your support for Support Laid-off Vox Media Workers
www.gofundme.com
January 28, 2026 at 6:04 PM
We're officially fundraising for laid-off Vox workers. Please share and donate if you can!
www.gofundme.com/f/support-la...
www.gofundme.com/f/support-la...
man imagine what a culture shock it's gonna be when the nostalgia for Obamacore finally kicks in and we realize that the whole aesthetic was just "not treating people like shit"
January 28, 2026 at 4:31 PM
man imagine what a culture shock it's gonna be when the nostalgia for Obamacore finally kicks in and we realize that the whole aesthetic was just "not treating people like shit"
i need a timeline cleanse, look at this superior human who probably doesn't believe in phrenology
#wangyibo walks sexily through an industrial building.
Source: #yiboofficial
https://weibo.com/7485885521/N4PO9nKWW
Source: #yiboofficial
https://weibo.com/7485885521/N4PO9nKWW
January 28, 2026 at 2:13 AM
i need a timeline cleanse, look at this superior human who probably doesn't believe in phrenology
I mean for one thing, the president of the United States suggested less than two weeks ago that Omar can easily be murdered like other people who "live in Somalia." "Same missile. Ping! That's the end of them." bsky.app/profile/atru...
Okay. Between this and the attack on @maxwellfrost.bsky.social, wtf is with Dem members of congress getting attacked this week?
video of the moment a man tried spraying something at ilhan omar at her town hall in minneapolis tonight
January 28, 2026 at 1:33 AM
I mean for one thing, the president of the United States suggested less than two weeks ago that Omar can easily be murdered like other people who "live in Somalia." "Same missile. Ping! That's the end of them." bsky.app/profile/atru...
Reposted by Aja Romano
The Publishing for Minnesota auction launches this week to support groups providing legal aid, emergency assistance, food, and community resources to those in urgent need.
www.32auctions.com/publishingfo...
www.32auctions.com/publishingfo...
Publishing for Minnesota
Silent auction 'Publishing for Minnesota' hosted online at 32auctions.
www.32auctions.com
January 26, 2026 at 1:57 AM
The Publishing for Minnesota auction launches this week to support groups providing legal aid, emergency assistance, food, and community resources to those in urgent need.
www.32auctions.com/publishingfo...
www.32auctions.com/publishingfo...