Diep Tran
@diepthought.bsky.social
Editor in Chief of Playbill. Other words NY Times, NBC Asian America, NY Mag, Time Out NY. Views are my own.
dtran@playbill.com
dieptran.com
dtran@playbill.com
dieptran.com
With all of the darkness, it's great to be reminded of the light. Here, it's the fact that 4 female Asian American playwrights are getting produced in New York this winter/spring. Thank you @eileenrivera1.bsky.social
Take Two for a Milestone Moment for Asian American Playwrights | TDF
Lauren Yee, Alex Lin, Aya Ogawa and Jeena Yi all have new plays opening Off Broadway. They're excited and anxious.
www.tdf.org
February 7, 2026 at 1:41 AM
With all of the darkness, it's great to be reminded of the light. Here, it's the fact that 4 female Asian American playwrights are getting produced in New York this winter/spring. Thank you @eileenrivera1.bsky.social
"There is a long history of the public rushing to vilify women without curiosity or compassion for their point of view, not to mention the truth." Update to my reporting from yesterday.
Playwright Lauren Gunderson Responds to Her Name Showing Up in the Jeffrey Epstein Files
Gunderson's ex-husband, Nathan Wolfe, appeared over 500 times in the documents.
playbill.com
February 5, 2026 at 4:35 PM
"There is a long history of the public rushing to vilify women without curiosity or compassion for their point of view, not to mention the truth." Update to my reporting from yesterday.
Reposted by Diep Tran
the $75 million Jeff Bezos set on fire for that Melania propaganda piece could have funded most independent newsrooms for literally decades
always bears repeating that this is NOT a financial decision. jeff bezos is worth over 250 billion dollars. he can afford to lose many millions and never even notice it. this is, at its core, a political and personal decision by bezos to destroy the post
WASHINGTON (AP) — Washington Post says one-third of its staff across all departments, not just the newsroom, is being laid off.
February 4, 2026 at 3:11 PM
the $75 million Jeff Bezos set on fire for that Melania propaganda piece could have funded most independent newsrooms for literally decades
So sad about this. Naveen deserves better. So do the artists of D.C. and all of us readers. Billionaires are a mistake
Washington Post Lays Off Theatre Critic Naveen Kumar, Raising Questions of Continuing Arts Coverage
The move is part of a sweeping round of layoffs that reportedly affects 30% of the institution's workforce.
playbill.com
February 4, 2026 at 10:08 PM
So sad about this. Naveen deserves better. So do the artists of D.C. and all of us readers. Billionaires are a mistake
So many brands this year releasing Lunar New Year collections, as immigrants (many of them Asian) are being rounded up. Before you buy because “representation,” ask which immigrant charities they support? Have they condemned ICE? Otherwise they’re taking your money while stabbing you in the back
February 4, 2026 at 12:36 AM
So many brands this year releasing Lunar New Year collections, as immigrants (many of them Asian) are being rounded up. Before you buy because “representation,” ask which immigrant charities they support? Have they condemned ICE? Otherwise they’re taking your money while stabbing you in the back
Political persecution. Dad was a South Vietnamese lieutenant during the war, got thrown into a POW camp for 6 years, government would not allow his kids to go to college. So we came in 1990. I was 2. He’s heartbroken by what this country has become
Genuinely curious: If your family is American, what brought them here?
Mine: religious nuttery & primogeniture
Mine: religious nuttery & primogeniture
February 4, 2026 at 12:31 AM
Political persecution. Dad was a South Vietnamese lieutenant during the war, got thrown into a POW camp for 6 years, government would not allow his kids to go to college. So we came in 1990. I was 2. He’s heartbroken by what this country has become
"It comes to the point where I have to use a wheelchair, then I'll just change the title to Watch Me Roll." I talk to the always compelling Anne Gridley about her disability, her Soho Rep show Watch Me Walk, and accepting loss with grace and humor.
Actor Anne Gridley Is Slowly Losing Her Ability to Walk, And She's Made a Show About It
In Watch Me Walk , the Obie winner gets honest about her disability, with plenty of theatrical pizzazz.
playbill.com
January 31, 2026 at 5:18 PM
"It comes to the point where I have to use a wheelchair, then I'll just change the title to Watch Me Roll." I talk to the always compelling Anne Gridley about her disability, her Soho Rep show Watch Me Walk, and accepting loss with grace and humor.
So psyched that horror musical Sinners got 16 Oscar nominations that it made me want to tell you all about me watching Sinners on a plane where they kept all the blood, Michael B Jordan’s sex scene, lynching references, but removed all the cunnilingus moments. Really sums up the culture
January 22, 2026 at 11:34 PM
So psyched that horror musical Sinners got 16 Oscar nominations that it made me want to tell you all about me watching Sinners on a plane where they kept all the blood, Michael B Jordan’s sex scene, lynching references, but removed all the cunnilingus moments. Really sums up the culture
Reposted by Diep Tran
If every Democrat voted NO on funding ICE, it would not have passed the House. But, 7 House Democrats voted to fund Trump's lawless, masked goons, so it passed.
Hakeem Jeffries refused to whip his members to vote against ICE funding. Genuinely unforgivable.
Hakeem Jeffries refused to whip his members to vote against ICE funding. Genuinely unforgivable.
NEW: DHS appropriations bill funding ICE passes 220-207
7 Democrats voted YES on the bill:
- Jared Golden
- Marie Gluesenkamp Perez
- Henry Cuellar
- Tom Suozzi
- Laura Gillen
- Don Davis
- Vicente Gonzalez
One Republican voted NO: Thomas Massie
7 Democrats voted YES on the bill:
- Jared Golden
- Marie Gluesenkamp Perez
- Henry Cuellar
- Tom Suozzi
- Laura Gillen
- Don Davis
- Vicente Gonzalez
One Republican voted NO: Thomas Massie
January 22, 2026 at 9:50 PM
If every Democrat voted NO on funding ICE, it would not have passed the House. But, 7 House Democrats voted to fund Trump's lawless, masked goons, so it passed.
Hakeem Jeffries refused to whip his members to vote against ICE funding. Genuinely unforgivable.
Hakeem Jeffries refused to whip his members to vote against ICE funding. Genuinely unforgivable.
Reposted by Diep Tran
Every time the Trump regime uses the words "funded protesters" and "outside agitators" news outlets need to cut to this photo from last week.
ICE has invaded these communities. Outside agitators don't show up in their fucking bathrobes.
ICE has invaded these communities. Outside agitators don't show up in their fucking bathrobes.
January 18, 2026 at 4:20 PM
Every time the Trump regime uses the words "funded protesters" and "outside agitators" news outlets need to cut to this photo from last week.
ICE has invaded these communities. Outside agitators don't show up in their fucking bathrobes.
ICE has invaded these communities. Outside agitators don't show up in their fucking bathrobes.
Reposted by Diep Tran
the question to ask about this is, okay, he wants to cancel the midterms. how does he get the VA state board of elections to cancel the midterms? how does he get the georgia board of elections to do it? how does he convince republican house members to quit their jobs and give up their paychecks?
Trump says a lot of deranged shit, but, per this Reuters article — and the threats of invoking the Insurrection Act in Minnesota this morning — he is very clearly exploring how to cancel the midterms.
www.reuters.com/world/us/fiv...
www.reuters.com/world/us/fiv...
January 15, 2026 at 4:29 PM
the question to ask about this is, okay, he wants to cancel the midterms. how does he get the VA state board of elections to cancel the midterms? how does he get the georgia board of elections to do it? how does he convince republican house members to quit their jobs and give up their paychecks?
Reposted by Diep Tran
Abolish Ice should be a centrist position
January 15, 2026 at 4:49 PM
Abolish Ice should be a centrist position
Time to call your reps, especially if they're Democrats, to join the call to Abolish ICE and Defund DHS
Goldman: Until DHS reins in this rogue and authoritarian ICE secret police force, there should be no more funding provided to DHS.
January 14, 2026 at 9:46 PM
Time to call your reps, especially if they're Democrats, to join the call to Abolish ICE and Defund DHS
Rewatching Mad Men. I so remember the early 2010s discourse being so hateful against Betty and blaming her for Don's behavior. When it's clear now, she's a person slowly realizing everything she was sold on how to be happy is a lie. With no tools, or language, to help her grow
January 14, 2026 at 9:44 PM
Rewatching Mad Men. I so remember the early 2010s discourse being so hateful against Betty and blaming her for Don's behavior. When it's clear now, she's a person slowly realizing everything she was sold on how to be happy is a lie. With no tools, or language, to help her grow
Today, I'm really feeling Shaina Taub as Emma Goldman yelling "strike!" on the Ragtime cast album
January 9, 2026 at 4:28 PM
Today, I'm really feeling Shaina Taub as Emma Goldman yelling "strike!" on the Ragtime cast album
Reposted by Diep Tran
his name is Jonathan Ross and he shouldn't get a good night's sleep for the rest of his life www.startribune.com/ice-agent-wh...
Star Tribune identifies ICE agent who fatally shot woman in Minneapolis
Jonathan Ross was dragged in a separate incident last year by a fleeing driver, according to court records.
www.startribune.com
January 8, 2026 at 7:09 PM
his name is Jonathan Ross and he shouldn't get a good night's sleep for the rest of his life www.startribune.com/ice-agent-wh...
As Book of Mormon turns 15, it’s pretty fitting that the South Park crew are leading the resistance www.usatoday.com/story/entert...
Comedy writer vows to spoof Trump-Kennedy Center after buying websites
"Mad TV" and "South Park" writer Toby Morton, a "creator of anti-fascist websites," bought trumpkennedycenter.org and trumpkennedycenter.com.
www.usatoday.com
December 22, 2025 at 5:42 PM
As Book of Mormon turns 15, it’s pretty fitting that the South Park crew are leading the resistance www.usatoday.com/story/entert...
Not surprising the people who have demonized "diversity, equity, and inclusion" hate theater kids. They hate people who are earnest about their beliefs, who are passionate about self expression, and who don't back down when people call their dreams silly. Under fascism, theater kids are dangerous
Ask any gay person what "theater kid," when used as an insult, means. www.nytimes.com/2025/12/21/u...
Move Aside, Snowflake: ‘Theater Kid’ Is the New Go-To Political Insult
www.nytimes.com
December 21, 2025 at 7:41 PM
Not surprising the people who have demonized "diversity, equity, and inclusion" hate theater kids. They hate people who are earnest about their beliefs, who are passionate about self expression, and who don't back down when people call their dreams silly. Under fascism, theater kids are dangerous
The Vanity Fair Susie Wiles piece and photos is the gold standard of what journalists should be doing in the Trump/disinformation era. You can report on terrible people without sane-washing or normalizing their behavior and rhetoric. The old rules around editorializing needs to be thrown away
December 18, 2025 at 4:22 PM
The Vanity Fair Susie Wiles piece and photos is the gold standard of what journalists should be doing in the Trump/disinformation era. You can report on terrible people without sane-washing or normalizing their behavior and rhetoric. The old rules around editorializing needs to be thrown away
In the latest Knives Out, we discover Benoit Blanc listens to Cats in the car and can play the opening bars of Phantom of the Opera. First Follies, now Cats, the man really does contain multitudes
December 16, 2025 at 9:55 PM
In the latest Knives Out, we discover Benoit Blanc listens to Cats in the car and can play the opening bars of Phantom of the Opera. First Follies, now Cats, the man really does contain multitudes
First Kumail Nanjiani and now Simu Liu. It’ll be pretty funny if every Marvel superhero eventually does OH MARY! Fighting a drunk Mary Todd is arguably more challenging than Thanos
December 16, 2025 at 4:28 PM
First Kumail Nanjiani and now Simu Liu. It’ll be pretty funny if every Marvel superhero eventually does OH MARY! Fighting a drunk Mary Todd is arguably more challenging than Thanos
I'm so happy that Ejae, Audrey Nuna, and Rei Ami are pulling an Idina Menzel circa 2014 and performing "Golden" everywhere. I will watch all of them and I hope no one mispronounces their name at the Oscars
December 14, 2025 at 7:36 PM
I'm so happy that Ejae, Audrey Nuna, and Rei Ami are pulling an Idina Menzel circa 2014 and performing "Golden" everywhere. I will watch all of them and I hope no one mispronounces their name at the Oscars
Bring back John Proctor is the Villain
December 12, 2025 at 10:34 PM
Bring back John Proctor is the Villain
I talk to Lear deBessonet and Maria Goyanes, the first (!) women to run Lincoln Center Theater about the tough business of producing theatre in this economy.
For the First Time in Its History, Lincoln Center Theater Is Run By Women
Lear deBessonet has stepped in as artistic director, while Maria Manuela Goyanes is running LCT3.
playbill.com
December 12, 2025 at 3:21 PM
I talk to Lear deBessonet and Maria Goyanes, the first (!) women to run Lincoln Center Theater about the tough business of producing theatre in this economy.
Reposted by Diep Tran
December 4, 2025 at 3:39 AM