Brett Ortler
@gutenfrog.bsky.social
I'm a naturalist, a writer, and an editor based in the Upper Midwest. Acquisitions editor for AdventureKeen. Author of popsci books. Poet and literary journal editor (prosepoems.com). Moths! Sometime tardigrade wrangler. For more, visit brettortler.com
Pinned
Brett Ortler
@gutenfrog.bsky.social
· Mar 15
"Recession Generation" is the first poem in Democracy of Noise, by Dan Pinkerton, which released TODAY! Here is a video of yours truly reading it. 📚💙
I love thrifting. First edition! Going to the dino-obsessed nephew.
February 14, 2026 at 1:17 AM
I love thrifting. First edition! Going to the dino-obsessed nephew.
My hometown is in the New York Times, and my mayor, an absolute ding dong, is rolling his eyes at his constituents (me!) who are alarmed that the armed, masked men are disappearing our neighbors, has terrified families and students, and closed businesses. An absolute embarrassment.
Beyond the Big Cities, ICE Is Rattling Small-Town and Exurban America
www.nytimes.com
February 13, 2026 at 7:47 PM
My hometown is in the New York Times, and my mayor, an absolute ding dong, is rolling his eyes at his constituents (me!) who are alarmed that the armed, masked men are disappearing our neighbors, has terrified families and students, and closed businesses. An absolute embarrassment.
Reposted by Brett Ortler
Our book, “The World According To Sharks”, is available for pre-order from loads of sources - www.penguin.co.uk/books/473994....
Just realised the acronym for it is TWATS. Too late to change it now. Just have to own it.
Just realised the acronym for it is TWATS. Too late to change it now. Just have to own it.
February 13, 2026 at 3:10 PM
Our book, “The World According To Sharks”, is available for pre-order from loads of sources - www.penguin.co.uk/books/473994....
Just realised the acronym for it is TWATS. Too late to change it now. Just have to own it.
Just realised the acronym for it is TWATS. Too late to change it now. Just have to own it.
So for today's lunch letter for my youngest, I ran out of paper. But then I realized I had labels! So I made some impromptu nature-y #valentines using my (uh, slightly overwhelming) library of nature photos. Feel free to share/use 'em if you like 'em. #nature #moth #fungi #slimemolds
February 13, 2026 at 3:06 PM
So for today's lunch letter for my youngest, I ran out of paper. But then I realized I had labels! So I made some impromptu nature-y #valentines using my (uh, slightly overwhelming) library of nature photos. Feel free to share/use 'em if you like 'em. #nature #moth #fungi #slimemolds
I'm stoked to announce that after 11 years, a new edition of my Minnesota Trivia book is coming out; it's Curious & Fascinating Facts: Minnesota, and I've wholly updated the book and added several additional sections, including "How to Speak Minnesotan" (OPE, LET ME SCOOCH RIGHT PAST YOU.)
Curious & Fascinating Facts: Minnesota
Written by Minnesota author Brett Ortler and packed with hundreds of facts—including the weird, wild, and wonderfully unexpected—this book is perfect for the campfire, road trips, family games, trivia...
shop.adventurewithkeen.com
February 12, 2026 at 6:34 PM
I'm stoked to announce that after 11 years, a new edition of my Minnesota Trivia book is coming out; it's Curious & Fascinating Facts: Minnesota, and I've wholly updated the book and added several additional sections, including "How to Speak Minnesotan" (OPE, LET ME SCOOCH RIGHT PAST YOU.)
The gar of "I'm not mad, just disappointed"
Artists, quote with something silly!
Gar illustration using non-dominant hand and MS Paint!
From the old #MSpaintYourScience trend: eos.org/geofizz/expl...
Gar illustration using non-dominant hand and MS Paint!
From the old #MSpaintYourScience trend: eos.org/geofizz/expl...
February 12, 2026 at 6:26 PM
The gar of "I'm not mad, just disappointed"
Reposted by Brett Ortler
Artists, quote with something silly!
February 12, 2026 at 2:17 PM
Artists, quote with something silly!
I've run or edited literary magazines for twenty-some years. I run Prose Poems (prosepoems.com) now. An editor should mostly be anonymous. (Editors are helpers.) But given what's happening in #Minnesota, where I live, I felt compelled to contribute, for the first time, via nonfiction
February 12, 2026 at 2:47 AM
I've run or edited literary magazines for twenty-some years. I run Prose Poems (prosepoems.com) now. An editor should mostly be anonymous. (Editors are helpers.) But given what's happening in #Minnesota, where I live, I felt compelled to contribute, for the first time, via nonfiction
Reposted by Brett Ortler
"Why handcuff him right away?": Witness questions ICE tactics
Federal agents followed a car off the highway north of Anoka on Wednesday morning and briefly detained a Latino man and woman before letting them go, according to witnesses.
Federal agents followed a car off the highway north of Anoka on Wednesday morning and briefly detained a Latino man and woman before letting them go, according to witnesses.
'Why handcuff him right away?' Witness questions ICE tactics
“They ripped him right out of his car,” a witness said. “He didn't get to pull out ID or nothing. They ripped his door open and handcuffed him immediately.”
bit.ly
February 11, 2026 at 9:48 PM
"Why handcuff him right away?": Witness questions ICE tactics
Federal agents followed a car off the highway north of Anoka on Wednesday morning and briefly detained a Latino man and woman before letting them go, according to witnesses.
Federal agents followed a car off the highway north of Anoka on Wednesday morning and briefly detained a Latino man and woman before letting them go, according to witnesses.
Today in St. Paul
This is the aftermath of an ICE kidnapping a few blocks from my home in St. Paul—an hour ago. A quiet street full of broken glass and at least three wrecked cars. The target of the kidnapping was taken away by ambulance. He was on a stretcher and covered by a sheet, though a cop said he was alive.
February 11, 2026 at 5:51 PM
Today in St. Paul
This is glorious
Country Singer, songwriter Charley Crockett well said......
February 10, 2026 at 3:19 PM
This is glorious
Truly awful
BREAKING: The federal government has filed a motion seeking to end asylum claims for the family of Liam Conejo Ramos, according to the lawyer representing the family.
DHS has requested expedited deportation proceedings against family of Liam Conejo Ramos
The federal government has filed a motion seeking to end asylum claims for the family of Liam Conejo Ramos, according to the lawyer representing the family.
www.mprnews.org
February 6, 2026 at 2:00 PM
Truly awful
Reposted by Brett Ortler
Guess what team is absolutely stepping up during this occupation. Also i’m so grateful to have @natepentz.bsky.social as a friend. Be the kind of people who want to change the world with every second of your life.
As part of Aurora's fundraising for the Immigrant Law Center of Minnesota, 15% of gear from our "Community Collection" will go directly to ICLM.
Now available online (and also during this weekend's Warehouse Sale!)
shops.mnaurora.com
Now available online (and also during this weekend's Warehouse Sale!)
shops.mnaurora.com
February 5, 2026 at 6:32 PM
Guess what team is absolutely stepping up during this occupation. Also i’m so grateful to have @natepentz.bsky.social as a friend. Be the kind of people who want to change the world with every second of your life.
Reposted by Brett Ortler
Sir Ian McKellen bellows at Trumpies that They Shall Not Pass.
Ian McKellen performs “The Strangers’ Case” speech from “Sir Thomas More” on Colbert.
February 5, 2026 at 3:43 PM
Sir Ian McKellen bellows at Trumpies that They Shall Not Pass.
Reposted by Brett Ortler
Really important article topic that is explained well.
Historical analogies are arguments. So when someone makes an analogy between today and the Holocaust, or today and anything, think about they are really arguing for. What is the analogy trying to get you to do?
New at @startribune.com
New at @startribune.com
Perry: When is it OK to compare aspects of what’s happening in Minnesota to Nazi Germany?
Gov. Tim Walz has made some such analogies in relation to ICE and has been criticized for it, David M. Perry writes.
www.startribune.com
February 4, 2026 at 1:27 PM
Really important article topic that is explained well.
Reposted by Brett Ortler
Secure your own squid first before helping others.
(I'm disproportionately proud of this drawing.)
(I'm disproportionately proud of this drawing.)
February 2, 2026 at 3:58 PM
Secure your own squid first before helping others.
(I'm disproportionately proud of this drawing.)
(I'm disproportionately proud of this drawing.)
Reposted by Brett Ortler
4 federal agents pull over an elderly US citizen for the suspected crime of being brown, break her car window, throw her to the ground, then drive off after they find her US Passport in her purse. The Salem Police, when called, say there’s nothing they can do. www.salemreporter.com/2026/01/31/u...
U.S. citizen injured by federal agents in Salem who demanded to see “papers,” union says - Salem Reporter
A home care worker and union worker was pulled from her car and injured by federal agents Thursday according to a statement by SEIU 503. To comment on this story, use the form at the end of the repor...
www.salemreporter.com
February 1, 2026 at 2:47 PM
4 federal agents pull over an elderly US citizen for the suspected crime of being brown, break her car window, throw her to the ground, then drive off after they find her US Passport in her purse. The Salem Police, when called, say there’s nothing they can do. www.salemreporter.com/2026/01/31/u...
Never mind the jobs you had, tell me five classes you took in college
Philosophy of Science
English, Creative Writing
19th Century Philosophy
Epistemology grad seminar
Grad poetry thesis classes
I am nerd, people
Philosophy of Science
English, Creative Writing
19th Century Philosophy
Epistemology grad seminar
Grad poetry thesis classes
I am nerd, people
January 31, 2026 at 1:35 AM
Never mind the jobs you had, tell me five classes you took in college
Philosophy of Science
English, Creative Writing
19th Century Philosophy
Epistemology grad seminar
Grad poetry thesis classes
I am nerd, people
Philosophy of Science
English, Creative Writing
19th Century Philosophy
Epistemology grad seminar
Grad poetry thesis classes
I am nerd, people
Reposted by Brett Ortler
well, I was not really focused on today's action, given everything. I'm glad it seems to have gone well.
Thousands of people filled the streets of downtown Minneapolis in protest of federal immigration enforcement for the second consecutive Friday.
📷️: Aaron Lavinsky
📷️: Aaron Lavinsky
January 30, 2026 at 10:08 PM
well, I was not really focused on today's action, given everything. I'm glad it seems to have gone well.
This is hysterically wrong (way more Germans). But instead of this sideshow attempt at psychology by way of demography, the focus ought to be on Rufo's sinister idea of "over-empathizing." Minnesotans don't empathize too much. We do something that Rufo & co. simply can't do: Love they neighbor.
January 30, 2026 at 6:09 PM
This is hysterically wrong (way more Germans). But instead of this sideshow attempt at psychology by way of demography, the focus ought to be on Rufo's sinister idea of "over-empathizing." Minnesotans don't empathize too much. We do something that Rufo & co. simply can't do: Love they neighbor.
Reposted by Brett Ortler
New on our blog: Here are a few ways to support the book community of Minnesota, whether through donations, buying books, or reading about their experiences. pen.org/book-communi...
Book Community Supports Minneapolis Amid ICE Raids
As ICE officers descended on Minneapolis, the literary community came together to support those in need who were afraid to leave their homes.
pen.org
January 29, 2026 at 4:04 PM
New on our blog: Here are a few ways to support the book community of Minnesota, whether through donations, buying books, or reading about their experiences. pen.org/book-communi...
Letter home from the Minneapolis "theater" (ICE deployment): A cold January. We are not greeted as liberators, as we were promised. Instead, we are called "hosers" and laughed at when we fail at basic winter driving and repeatedly fall onto ice. Worst of all: the jeers from soccer moms and grandmas.
“in theater” is a crazy way to describe minneapolis
Q: Can you be specific about how many ICE and CBP agents are currently operating in the state?
HOMAN: 3,000. There's been some rotations. They've been in theater a long time. Day after day, can't eat in restaurants, people spin on you, blowing whistles at you. But my main focus now is draw down
HOMAN: 3,000. There's been some rotations. They've been in theater a long time. Day after day, can't eat in restaurants, people spin on you, blowing whistles at you. But my main focus now is draw down
January 29, 2026 at 2:36 PM
Letter home from the Minneapolis "theater" (ICE deployment): A cold January. We are not greeted as liberators, as we were promised. Instead, we are called "hosers" and laughed at when we fail at basic winter driving and repeatedly fall onto ice. Worst of all: the jeers from soccer moms and grandmas.
Reposted by Brett Ortler
One ICE agent per 136 residents. We are going to be seeing what is essentially a purge.
I know all eyes are on Minneapolis, but there's a fast-approaching nightmare in Springfield, Ohio.
Trump is revoking protected status for tens of thousands of Haitians living there on Feb. 3.
Reportedly, on Feb. 4, 1000 ICE agents are arriving to remove this population. Ethnic cleansing.
Trump is revoking protected status for tens of thousands of Haitians living there on Feb. 3.
Reportedly, on Feb. 4, 1000 ICE agents are arriving to remove this population. Ethnic cleansing.
January 28, 2026 at 11:48 PM
One ICE agent per 136 residents. We are going to be seeing what is essentially a purge.
Reposted by Brett Ortler
The first photographic field guide to present the moths of western North America as they are found in nature, making it easy to use for novices and experts alike.
Moths of Western North America by Seabrooke Leckie is now available (24 March UK pub).
Learn more: press.princeton.edu/books/paperb...
Moths of Western North America by Seabrooke Leckie is now available (24 March UK pub).
Learn more: press.princeton.edu/books/paperb...
January 28, 2026 at 3:05 PM
The first photographic field guide to present the moths of western North America as they are found in nature, making it easy to use for novices and experts alike.
Moths of Western North America by Seabrooke Leckie is now available (24 March UK pub).
Learn more: press.princeton.edu/books/paperb...
Moths of Western North America by Seabrooke Leckie is now available (24 March UK pub).
Learn more: press.princeton.edu/books/paperb...
Absolutely awful. Not far from us at all.
this morning in the Mpls suburbs: "There were 5 Ice vehicles staged around this neighborhood and the elementary school, they seem to be watching to bus stops during school kid pick up and drop off. I believe they are trying spook kids/parents so vulnerable parents would expose themselves"
January 28, 2026 at 1:10 AM
Absolutely awful. Not far from us at all.