Jacob Grier
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jacobgrier.bsky.social
Jacob Grier
@jacobgrier.bsky.social
I make books, drinks, and magic in Portland, Oregon. Founder at Seabird: https://seabirdreader.com/ Read my books: https://www.jacobgrier.com/blog/books-by-jacob-grier/
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Huge influx of new people, so this seems like a good time to do an introduction. Hi! I'm a writer in Portland, Oregon. You probably followed me because of political posts but in happier times I write a lot about spirits and cocktails.
Ok let's talk about our favorite sleight of hand moves. Or the importance of giving your cards a nice holiday sweater to keep them warm in the winter.
January 6, 2026 at 1:08 AM
"Donald Trump will use the military to seize Greenland from Denmark" is the kind of statement that would get you accused of TDS in 2024, now it just feels like what normal Americans are stuck helplessly watching loom on the horizon while Congress lets the mad king do whatever he wants.
TAPPER: Can you rule out the US is going to take Greenland by force?

MILLER: Greenland should be part of the US. By what right does Denmark assert control over Greenland? The US is the power of NATO

T: So force is on the table?

M: Nobody is gonna fight the US militarily over future of Greenland
January 6, 2026 at 12:24 AM
What better time than National Bird Day to check out what we're working on at Seabird? No replies, no death threats, no AI, just people sharing links to worthwhile writing. Big updates coming very soon!
Apparently today is National Bird Day. May we recommend celebrating by creating an account on Seabird and checking out our link-sharing platform? Use code "WaitIsOver" on web or mobile!
www.seabirdreader.com
Seabird Reader
A new way of finding worthwhile writing and other media on the internet
www.seabirdreader.com
January 5, 2026 at 8:05 PM
Reposted by Jacob Grier
From @newyorker.com: On the road with Willie Nelson, now ninety-two and still touring, playing the same Martin guitar since 1969 and representing the best of Texas.
www.newyorker.com/magazine/202...
How Willie Nelson Sees America
On the road with the musician, his band, and his family.
www.newyorker.com
January 5, 2026 at 4:30 PM
Apparently we've trained our dog to forage cocktail ingredients for us on his walks.
When life gives you lemons, you grab those lemons and run (fast with your new free toy). 🍋 🐶

#dogs #lemons
January 3, 2026 at 9:35 PM
FWIW I was invited on a Reason podcast urging libertarians to vote for Harris and one of the hosts asked if Trump was "our best hope" for anti-war policy. Just ridiculous to think he had the temperament for that, as I said at the time! (Cued here.)
youtu.be/WUB7LCnObwQ?...
January 3, 2026 at 7:24 PM
Reposted by Jacob Grier
From @thedialmag.bsky.social: A journalist exiled from Cuba to Barcelona reflects on a visit to Miami, where he finds that "Trumpism is just as overwhelming, and as fundamentalist, as Castroism is in Cuba."
www.thedial.world/articles/new...
Miami Is Cuba Backwards — The Dial
“In Miami, Trumpism is just as overwhelming, and as fundamentalist, as Castroism is in Cuba.”
www.thedial.world
January 3, 2026 at 6:26 PM
Reposted by Jacob Grier
New year, new Tidings. Now coming out on Fridays to set you up for a weekend of worthwhile reads. Check our latest roundup of links shared on Seabird:
seabird.kit.com/posts/tiding...
TIDINGS: On the road again
seabird.kit.com
January 2, 2026 at 11:12 PM
As I wrote last month: "I’ve written thousands of words for multiple publications attempting to provide a more accurate view of Portland, but the fact is that one person in a frog costume has done more to change perceptions than I possibly could." www.theunpopulist.net/p/facing-dow...
December 31, 2025 at 11:24 PM
"You look like you're in the Bee Gees!" -- very nice and enthusiastic woman I passed on the street in Portland a few years ago
Forget insults, what’s the most unhinged *compliment* you’ve ever received?
December 31, 2025 at 8:07 PM
December 31, 2025 at 7:09 PM
Two teases of things I'm excited to tell you about in 2026:

1) New @seabirdreader.bsky.social, coming very soon!

2) New book, in final revisions and layout now and will be out in the fall!
December 31, 2025 at 5:39 PM
Since it's the last day of 2025 and we're doing coffee discourse, this is my favorite thing I wrote this year: on riding my bike to 100 different coffeeshops in the city the president keeps describing as a war-ravaged hellhole.
slate.com/life/2025/09...
It’s Called America’s “Weirdest” City. But Just Wait Until You Hear What’s Going On in Its Coffee Shops.
Biking is just better with a caffeine buzz.
slate.com
December 31, 2025 at 4:55 PM
This chart goes viral all the time while the much better blog post explaining why you should be skeptical of how the figures were generated is buried by search. But you should read it! www.forbes.com/sites/trevor...
December 31, 2025 at 4:34 PM
Really feel the difference between the two places by reading the news from Portland while on a visit home to my parents in suburban Houston, where there being newsworthy controversy over whether a Dairy Queen should be allowed to have a drive-thru simply would not compute.
A business owner's effort to rebuild a historic Dairy Queen on SE Division and 56th Ave faced problems from the start. Now, the franchisee is duking it out with the city over the inclusion of a drive-thru at the ice cream shop, which he thinks is necessary for the DQ to succeed.
Drive-Thru Debacle Threatens to Keep Historic Dairy Queen in a Deep Freeze
Over the past few years, Portlanders have heard little about the plan to rebuild the old Dairy Queen on Southeast Division and 56th Ave. The Dairy Queen, which was demolished in 2019 after more than 5...
www.portlandmercury.com
December 30, 2025 at 6:14 PM
Reposted by Jacob Grier
I'm not great about tooting my own horn. But as an independent journalist whose work is reliant on contributions from my readers, it's part of the job.

So here's a post and thread on my work over the last year and beyond -- and why you, reader, should subscribe.

(Plus, shameless dog photos!)
The roundup -- and a request for your support
My year-end pitch for your paid subscription
radleybalko.substack.com
December 29, 2025 at 4:12 PM
Happy to be included among this esteemed list of Unpopulist endorsers...
December 27, 2025 at 11:10 PM
Say what you will about the sprawl in Houston, but where else are you going to find a pho kolache? At Koffeteria, and worth the trip.
December 27, 2025 at 6:36 PM
Since it's Christmas Eve, here's my personal playlist of Christmas songs I actually like, now at more than 22 hours long. Recommendations always welcome!
open.spotify.com/playlist/35x...
Eclectic Xmas
open.spotify.com
December 24, 2025 at 7:06 PM
Reposted by Jacob Grier
"Some people go to the mountains to find themselves; I wanted to be found by a puppy." -- @saraheverts.bsky.social
canadiangeographic.ca/articles/pup...
Puppies at work: Inside Canada’s avalanche rescue dog training program
At a remote mountain camp in B.C., Canada’s avalanche rescue dogs learn the skills and form the bonds that might mean the difference between life and death
canadiangeographic.ca
December 22, 2025 at 9:44 PM
Shout out to my Lyft driver for the slight adrenaline boost arriving at the airport courtesy of the car clock he still hasn't turned back an hour.
December 22, 2025 at 9:41 PM
This is the future (some) libertarians want.
December 22, 2025 at 6:40 PM
Bari Weiss watches The Insider and cheers for the CBS executives and lawyers.
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 5:05 AM
The world is dark but pizza is good. Pies from a small weekend get-together with friends:
December 22, 2025 at 12:14 AM