Ellen Kushner
@ellenkushner.bsky.social
Author & woman around town. Married to Delia Sherman. Wrote Swordspoint. Host/writer of public radio’s Sound & Spirit. A new gig every 17 years. Back to writing novels. Seeking for further amusement.
I would probably like you.
I would probably like you.
Pinned
Ellen Kushner
@ellenkushner.bsky.social
· Nov 11
Paris to Italy, and back again. With poetry for comfort, and a very great loss . . .
. . . and the usual footnotes
open.substack.com
My esteemed spouse Delia Sherman does not indulge in social media to the rapt extent that I do. But you can keep up with our shenanigans here:
ICE Accidentally Sends Maduro Back to Venezuela
ICE Accidentally Sends Maduro Back to Venezuela
WASHINGTON — In a stunning instance of miscommunication between departments, ICE agents have deported Venezuelan dictator Nicolás Maduro back to Venezuela just hours after he was abducted by the DEA. ...
thehardtimes.net
January 4, 2026 at 6:00 AM
ICE Accidentally Sends Maduro Back to Venezuela
Hard agree
A degenerate should be allowed to sleep in until 10:30 on a goddamn Saturday without war being declared
January 4, 2026 at 5:57 AM
Hard agree
"Exhaustion after fear is real exhaustion. It is not metaphorical. The body does not distinguish between physical threat and sustained moral vigilance. When I or anyone else tries to pretend it does not bother us, we are asking our system to carry weight without acknowledgment." -- Deborah Kaye
January 4, 2026 at 5:18 AM
"Exhaustion after fear is real exhaustion. It is not metaphorical. The body does not distinguish between physical threat and sustained moral vigilance. When I or anyone else tries to pretend it does not bother us, we are asking our system to carry weight without acknowledgment." -- Deborah Kaye
Reposted by Ellen Kushner
So the US can abduct anyone—including heads of state—as long as they’ve been indicted in the US. But the SC has also ruled it’s impossible for the US to prosecute its own President. The natural conclusion: some sort of mutually beneficial system of authoritarian kidnap-exchange. A Coasean Sargon.
January 4, 2026 at 1:27 AM
So the US can abduct anyone—including heads of state—as long as they’ve been indicted in the US. But the SC has also ruled it’s impossible for the US to prosecute its own President. The natural conclusion: some sort of mutually beneficial system of authoritarian kidnap-exchange. A Coasean Sargon.
That was fast.
But it’s not like we have no experience.
But it’s not like we have no experience.
Happening now: several hundred people are pouring into Chicago's downtown Federal Plaza.
It's 25 degrees outside.
Organizers are leading the crowd in a chant of, "no boots on the ground, no bombs in the air!"
Two protesters hold a large banner reading, "no war for Venezuela oil."
It's 25 degrees outside.
Organizers are leading the crowd in a chant of, "no boots on the ground, no bombs in the air!"
Two protesters hold a large banner reading, "no war for Venezuela oil."
January 4, 2026 at 12:22 AM
That was fast.
But it’s not like we have no experience.
But it’s not like we have no experience.
Reposted by Ellen Kushner
Status report, "A Brief Night At The Pub" dep't: An antivaxxer fetches up next to me. Highlights: "Heard of smallpox?" "Yeah." "It has killed more human beings than *every war humanity has ever fought."* [jaw drop] "I didn't know that." "Know how we stopped it? [the short evrsion] COW PUS." (1/2)
January 3, 2026 at 9:37 PM
Status report, "A Brief Night At The Pub" dep't: An antivaxxer fetches up next to me. Highlights: "Heard of smallpox?" "Yeah." "It has killed more human beings than *every war humanity has ever fought."* [jaw drop] "I didn't know that." "Know how we stopped it? [the short evrsion] COW PUS." (1/2)
Hey, @aoc.bsky.social - up for a little more bar-tending, for old times' sake?
hey remember when a bunch of middle-aged drunk korean lawmakers climbed the locked gates to the national assembly to hold an emergency session after the president gave illegal orders to the military, all of which ended with said president being sentenced to prison
January 3, 2026 at 5:31 PM
Hey, @aoc.bsky.social - up for a little more bar-tending, for old times' sake?
Reposted by Ellen Kushner
You don't have to listen to these professional liars who are barely trying. 9 months ago they were saying they were powerless to return a man they illegally sent to an El Salvador gulag because it would violate that country's national sovereignty
Vance pushes back and says this was not illegal, arguing "Maduro has multiple indictments in the United States for narcoterrorism. You don't get to avoid justice for drug trafficking in the United States because you live in a palace in Caracas."
January 3, 2026 at 3:19 PM
You don't have to listen to these professional liars who are barely trying. 9 months ago they were saying they were powerless to return a man they illegally sent to an El Salvador gulag because it would violate that country's national sovereignty
Reposted by Ellen Kushner
Nothing about this is okay.
The President of the United States is on Fox News right now gabbing about the U.S. attack on Venezuela before addressing the American people.
So the new order of information is: Truth Social → Fox News → the public → Congress, maybe?
The President of the United States is on Fox News right now gabbing about the U.S. attack on Venezuela before addressing the American people.
So the new order of information is: Truth Social → Fox News → the public → Congress, maybe?
January 3, 2026 at 2:43 PM
Nothing about this is okay.
The President of the United States is on Fox News right now gabbing about the U.S. attack on Venezuela before addressing the American people.
So the new order of information is: Truth Social → Fox News → the public → Congress, maybe?
The President of the United States is on Fox News right now gabbing about the U.S. attack on Venezuela before addressing the American people.
So the new order of information is: Truth Social → Fox News → the public → Congress, maybe?
Reposted by Ellen Kushner
I can't take three more years of this
January 3, 2026 at 4:19 PM
I can't take three more years of this
Reposted by Ellen Kushner
Maduro is a former bus driver handpicked by the dying Hugo Chavez to succeed him in 2013.
Trump is a drug-addled, former reality TV host handpicked by the dying GOP.
Both turned their countries into criminal enterprises, but only one is a serial child rapist and sex trafficker.
Trump is a drug-addled, former reality TV host handpicked by the dying GOP.
Both turned their countries into criminal enterprises, but only one is a serial child rapist and sex trafficker.
January 3, 2026 at 5:23 PM
Maduro is a former bus driver handpicked by the dying Hugo Chavez to succeed him in 2013.
Trump is a drug-addled, former reality TV host handpicked by the dying GOP.
Both turned their countries into criminal enterprises, but only one is a serial child rapist and sex trafficker.
Trump is a drug-addled, former reality TV host handpicked by the dying GOP.
Both turned their countries into criminal enterprises, but only one is a serial child rapist and sex trafficker.
My wife Delia, the historical novelist:
"He can barely walk down the street unattended!
:::sputters:::
When George III got like this, they locked him up in a nice palace!!"
#Trump #DonroeDoctrine
"He can barely walk down the street unattended!
:::sputters:::
When George III got like this, they locked him up in a nice palace!!"
#Trump #DonroeDoctrine
January 3, 2026 at 5:11 PM
My wife Delia, the historical novelist:
"He can barely walk down the street unattended!
:::sputters:::
When George III got like this, they locked him up in a nice palace!!"
#Trump #DonroeDoctrine
"He can barely walk down the street unattended!
:::sputters:::
When George III got like this, they locked him up in a nice palace!!"
#Trump #DonroeDoctrine
Reposted by Ellen Kushner
Trump: "All the way back it dated to the Monroe Doctrines. And the Monroe Doctrine is a big deal. But we've superseded it by a lot. By a real lot. They now call it the Donroe Document. I don't know. It's Monroe Doctrine. We sort of forgot about it."
January 3, 2026 at 5:02 PM
Reposted by Ellen Kushner
This is fucking insane. Trump took over another country for oil when he can’t even run the US.
Trump on Venezuela: "We're going to run the country until such time as we can do a safe, proper, and judicious transition"
January 3, 2026 at 5:02 PM
This is fucking insane. Trump took over another country for oil when he can’t even run the US.
The weekend again? Didn't we just have one of those?
The holidays confuse me.
Not complaining, mind.
The holidays confuse me.
Not complaining, mind.
January 3, 2026 at 5:04 PM
The weekend again? Didn't we just have one of those?
The holidays confuse me.
Not complaining, mind.
The holidays confuse me.
Not complaining, mind.
Reposted by Ellen Kushner
What a fantastic opportunity! 🎉 Tremontaine is such a rich universe, and supporting a good cause makes it even better! 🌍💖 Happy listening! #Tremontaine #SFF #SupportGoodCauses
You've got
⏱️ 13 hours left ⏰
to get all 4 seasons of the complete Tremontaine audio (so many hours of listening, I can't even do the math!),
our collaborative prequel to ⚔️ Swordspoint ⚔️
The Bundle includes lots of great SFF 🌟
and also donates money to World Central Kitchen 🥣
⏱️ 13 hours left ⏰
to get all 4 seasons of the complete Tremontaine audio (so many hours of listening, I can't even do the math!),
our collaborative prequel to ⚔️ Swordspoint ⚔️
The Bundle includes lots of great SFF 🌟
and also donates money to World Central Kitchen 🥣
Humble Audiobook Bundle: Shadows, Stars & Screams: Epic Audiobooks & Dramas by Realm
We’ve teamed up with Realm for the latest Humble Audiobook Bundle. Chill out this winter with drama, comedy, storytelling, and more amazing shows and series!
www.humblebundle.com
January 3, 2026 at 1:54 PM
What a fantastic opportunity! 🎉 Tremontaine is such a rich universe, and supporting a good cause makes it even better! 🌍💖 Happy listening! #Tremontaine #SFF #SupportGoodCauses
Reposted by Ellen Kushner
“Then they shouldn’t have voted for this!”
Bitch, Asheville is a blue college town and the county has gone blue for decades. I am so sick of this “if I pretend disasters only happen to red areas, it means I’m safe because I’m properly on the left!” No. You’re not safe. That’s why we save everybody.
Bitch, Asheville is a blue college town and the county has gone blue for decades. I am so sick of this “if I pretend disasters only happen to red areas, it means I’m safe because I’m properly on the left!” No. You’re not safe. That’s why we save everybody.
Hundreds of residents signed up for FEMA buyouts after Hurricane Helene. Not one has been approved.
Hundreds of residents signed up for FEMA buyouts after Helene. Not one has been approved.
More than a year after applying for a federal buyout, many North Carolina homeowners have heard almost nothing definitive.
www.washingtonpost.com
December 27, 2025 at 9:05 PM
“Then they shouldn’t have voted for this!”
Bitch, Asheville is a blue college town and the county has gone blue for decades. I am so sick of this “if I pretend disasters only happen to red areas, it means I’m safe because I’m properly on the left!” No. You’re not safe. That’s why we save everybody.
Bitch, Asheville is a blue college town and the county has gone blue for decades. I am so sick of this “if I pretend disasters only happen to red areas, it means I’m safe because I’m properly on the left!” No. You’re not safe. That’s why we save everybody.
Reposted by Ellen Kushner
How dare he?
Because he wants to see different images on the TV?
There's zero reason to attack a country that's not attacking the United States.
IMPEACH HIM NOW! He must be stopped before this goes any further.
America does not want this. No person in the street or in Congress is asking for it.
Because he wants to see different images on the TV?
There's zero reason to attack a country that's not attacking the United States.
IMPEACH HIM NOW! He must be stopped before this goes any further.
America does not want this. No person in the street or in Congress is asking for it.
Getting tons of videos from actual real human friends in Caracas reporting multiple explosions. Cant confirm exactly whats happening. Will make sure anything I do post is firsthand and not from an indirect source
January 3, 2026 at 7:15 AM
How dare he?
Because he wants to see different images on the TV?
There's zero reason to attack a country that's not attacking the United States.
IMPEACH HIM NOW! He must be stopped before this goes any further.
America does not want this. No person in the street or in Congress is asking for it.
Because he wants to see different images on the TV?
There's zero reason to attack a country that's not attacking the United States.
IMPEACH HIM NOW! He must be stopped before this goes any further.
America does not want this. No person in the street or in Congress is asking for it.
Reposted by Ellen Kushner
Editor: You finish those carvings of the sweet baby cherubim?
Woodcarver: Sure did boss, real fuckin sexy just like you asked.
Editor: what
Woodcarver: Sure did boss, real fuckin sexy just like you asked.
Editor: what
January 1, 2026 at 7:22 PM
Editor: You finish those carvings of the sweet baby cherubim?
Woodcarver: Sure did boss, real fuckin sexy just like you asked.
Editor: what
Woodcarver: Sure did boss, real fuckin sexy just like you asked.
Editor: what
You've got
⏱️ 13 hours left ⏰
to get all 4 seasons of the complete Tremontaine audio (so many hours of listening, I can't even do the math!),
our collaborative prequel to ⚔️ Swordspoint ⚔️
The Bundle includes lots of great SFF 🌟
and also donates money to World Central Kitchen 🥣
⏱️ 13 hours left ⏰
to get all 4 seasons of the complete Tremontaine audio (so many hours of listening, I can't even do the math!),
our collaborative prequel to ⚔️ Swordspoint ⚔️
The Bundle includes lots of great SFF 🌟
and also donates money to World Central Kitchen 🥣
Humble Audiobook Bundle: Shadows, Stars & Screams: Epic Audiobooks & Dramas by Realm
We’ve teamed up with Realm for the latest Humble Audiobook Bundle. Chill out this winter with drama, comedy, storytelling, and more amazing shows and series!
www.humblebundle.com
January 3, 2026 at 5:50 AM
You've got
⏱️ 13 hours left ⏰
to get all 4 seasons of the complete Tremontaine audio (so many hours of listening, I can't even do the math!),
our collaborative prequel to ⚔️ Swordspoint ⚔️
The Bundle includes lots of great SFF 🌟
and also donates money to World Central Kitchen 🥣
⏱️ 13 hours left ⏰
to get all 4 seasons of the complete Tremontaine audio (so many hours of listening, I can't even do the math!),
our collaborative prequel to ⚔️ Swordspoint ⚔️
The Bundle includes lots of great SFF 🌟
and also donates money to World Central Kitchen 🥣
Reposted by Ellen Kushner
I cannot WAIT to read with these fabulous people!!!
In just 🌟ONE MONTH 🌟BBB is BBBack! Join us on 1/20 at 7pm at Barrow's to hear tales from @amandacockrell.bsky.social @ellenkushner.bsky.social @caitlinrozakis.bsky.social and @michaelswanwick.bsky.social ! Sips, stories and a salon-like atmosphere -- don't miss it! 🍸📖🎙️
More: BrooklynBooksBooze.com
More: BrooklynBooksBooze.com
December 21, 2025 at 3:29 AM
I cannot WAIT to read with these fabulous people!!!
The responses are ::chef’s kiss::
“General Nuisance”
“General Nuisance”
Please be true. This would be amazing for meme makers, and by “amazing” I mean it’s completely Trumpshit insane.
January 2, 2026 at 8:59 PM
The responses are ::chef’s kiss::
“General Nuisance”
“General Nuisance”
Bravo!
Some health experts are saying that *it* could happen in the March to May timeframe. I hope it's the Ides of March, so I can say "Et tu, Tupée."
January 2, 2026 at 4:17 AM
Bravo!
