Jen Howard
@jenhoward.bsky.social
Writer, editor, journalist. Book and nature lover. Author, CLUTTER: AN UNTIDY HISTORY. Words in WaPo, TLS, NYT, LARB, CHE, EdSurge, etc. She/her.
Signal: jenhoward.16
Newsletter: https://jenniferhoward.substack.com/
Signal: jenhoward.16
Newsletter: https://jenniferhoward.substack.com/
Reposted by Jen Howard
In the century leading up to 1975, nearly 6000 freighters went down in the Great Lakes.
The Edmund Fitzgerald was the last.
The last. In 50 years, not a single commercial freighter has been lost in the Great Lakes.
Why?
It's NOAA. Of course it's NOAA.
The Edmund Fitzgerald was the last.
The last. In 50 years, not a single commercial freighter has been lost in the Great Lakes.
Why?
It's NOAA. Of course it's NOAA.
November 11, 2025 at 1:50 AM
In the century leading up to 1975, nearly 6000 freighters went down in the Great Lakes.
The Edmund Fitzgerald was the last.
The last. In 50 years, not a single commercial freighter has been lost in the Great Lakes.
Why?
It's NOAA. Of course it's NOAA.
The Edmund Fitzgerald was the last.
The last. In 50 years, not a single commercial freighter has been lost in the Great Lakes.
Why?
It's NOAA. Of course it's NOAA.
Reposted by Jen Howard
Money quote from Gov-Elect Spanberger (now please just do it).
November 9, 2025 at 7:53 PM
Money quote from Gov-Elect Spanberger (now please just do it).
Reposted by Jen Howard
This is the correct explanation of what happened tonight👇
KBJ threaded the needle thanks to CA1’s unfinished business.
-if she denied the admin stay, the full SCOTUS woulda stepped in to override her.
-if she immediately referred the case to the full Court, they coulda dragged feet.
-instead she boxed them in to act quickly once she does refer the case.
-if she denied the admin stay, the full SCOTUS woulda stepped in to override her.
-if she immediately referred the case to the full Court, they coulda dragged feet.
-instead she boxed them in to act quickly once she does refer the case.
November 8, 2025 at 3:35 AM
This is the correct explanation of what happened tonight👇
HBD to the Bodleian!
Happy 423 years of us! 🎉 📚
The Bodleian Libraries opened for the first time on 8 November 1602...
This means, we're older than the refracting telescope (1608), the publication of Shakespeare's Hamlet (1623) and Sir Isaac Newton's apple (1666)! 😅
The Bodleian Libraries opened for the first time on 8 November 1602...
This means, we're older than the refracting telescope (1608), the publication of Shakespeare's Hamlet (1623) and Sir Isaac Newton's apple (1666)! 😅
November 8, 2025 at 12:33 PM
HBD to the Bodleian!
Reposted by Jen Howard
The most incredible library in the world, @bodleian.ox.ac.uk opened to OTD 1602, through the energy, money & commitment of Sir Thomas Bodley. It began with 5k books, & now more than 22m, with 2m+reader visits a year, & multi-million online users across the globe. Privilged to be its 25th librarian!
November 8, 2025 at 7:20 AM
The most incredible library in the world, @bodleian.ox.ac.uk opened to OTD 1602, through the energy, money & commitment of Sir Thomas Bodley. It began with 5k books, & now more than 22m, with 2m+reader visits a year, & multi-million online users across the globe. Privilged to be its 25th librarian!
Reposted by Jen Howard
If I see one more stupid Rosalind Franklin take I'm going to lose my mind. Thank god for @matthewcobb.bsky.social and @nccomfort.bsky.social. www.nature.com/articles/d41...
What Rosalind Franklin truly contributed to the discovery of DNA’s structure
Franklin was no victim in how the DNA double helix was solved. An overlooked letter and an unpublished news article, both written in 1953, reveal that she was an equal player.
www.nature.com
November 8, 2025 at 7:21 AM
If I see one more stupid Rosalind Franklin take I'm going to lose my mind. Thank god for @matthewcobb.bsky.social and @nccomfort.bsky.social. www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Reposted by Jen Howard
I think a lot about the story Carl Reiner told: he’d have been a sewing machine repairman if not for a free WPA drama class. That led to other theater work, to Sid Caesar, to Mel Brooks, and all the rest. All because of one free class paid for by a government that felt the arts were worth teaching.
you ever think about the works progress administration? I sure do. I wish that was a thing now. I would be so glad to contribute my labor to like. A random ass local bridge
November 7, 2025 at 1:28 AM
I think a lot about the story Carl Reiner told: he’d have been a sewing machine repairman if not for a free WPA drama class. That led to other theater work, to Sid Caesar, to Mel Brooks, and all the rest. All because of one free class paid for by a government that felt the arts were worth teaching.
Reposted by Jen Howard
Our gyro
November 6, 2025 at 8:47 PM
Our gyro
Reposted by Jen Howard
"Europeans recognize his vision about free public transit and universal childcare. We expect our governments to make these kinds of services accessible to all of us,” said Verbeek. “We pay higher taxes and get civilized societies in return."
Europeans recognize Zohran Mamdani’s supposedly radical policies as ‘normal’
Critics of New York City’s mayor-elect have said his pledges of free bus service and universal childcare are unrealistic, but in Europe it’s a given
www.theguardian.com
November 6, 2025 at 4:05 PM
"Europeans recognize his vision about free public transit and universal childcare. We expect our governments to make these kinds of services accessible to all of us,” said Verbeek. “We pay higher taxes and get civilized societies in return."
Reposted by Jen Howard
It's World Digital Preservation Day down under and soon everywhere else in the world!
#WhyPreserve? This video explains.
youtu.be/81H1nZzO3SA?...
#WDPD2025
#WhyPreserve? This video explains.
youtu.be/81H1nZzO3SA?...
#WDPD2025
World Digital Preservation Day 2025 Launches Global Conversation: Why Preserve?
YouTube video by Digital Preservation Coalition
youtu.be
November 6, 2025 at 3:07 AM
It's World Digital Preservation Day down under and soon everywhere else in the world!
#WhyPreserve? This video explains.
youtu.be/81H1nZzO3SA?...
#WDPD2025
#WhyPreserve? This video explains.
youtu.be/81H1nZzO3SA?...
#WDPD2025
What a moon tonight!
November 6, 2025 at 3:09 AM
What a moon tonight!
!!!
BREAKING: NASA Goddard Space Flight Center is illegally closing 13 campus buildings (including ~100 laboratories).
Report coming from GESTA, the Goddard employee union
Report coming from GESTA, the Goddard employee union
November 6, 2025 at 2:40 AM
!!!
Reposted by Jen Howard
If the sandwich don’t split, you must acquit
Defense says that the officer's testimony was "very questionable" because he said the sandwich both exploded in spray of mustard and onions and also landed in its wrapper on the ground.
November 5, 2025 at 8:29 PM
If the sandwich don’t split, you must acquit
I'm loving this so much.
Defense comes out blazing in closing argument, attacks agent Lairmore's credibility.
"This case is about a sandwich. A sandwich that, according to agent Lairmore, somehow both exploded on his chest in a spray of onions and mustard, but also landed intact on the ground still in its Subway wrapping."
"This case is about a sandwich. A sandwich that, according to agent Lairmore, somehow both exploded on his chest in a spray of onions and mustard, but also landed intact on the ground still in its Subway wrapping."
November 5, 2025 at 8:32 PM
I'm loving this so much.
Reposted by Jen Howard
We go to sleep in a better country than we woke up in. Thank you to everyone who worked for these coast-to-coast victories, for this utter repudiation of Trumpism, for economic justice and a country for all of us, not for white supremacy.
November 5, 2025 at 6:22 AM
We go to sleep in a better country than we woke up in. Thank you to everyone who worked for these coast-to-coast victories, for this utter repudiation of Trumpism, for economic justice and a country for all of us, not for white supremacy.
Reposted by Jen Howard
After 13 years, Mississippi Democrats have broken the Republican Party’s supermajority in the Mississippi Senate.
Democrats flipped two GOP-held Senate seats and one House seat in the special elections.
buff.ly/nTvLlFI
Democrats flipped two GOP-held Senate seats and one House seat in the special elections.
buff.ly/nTvLlFI
Mississippi Democrats Break Republican Senate Supermajority, Flipping 3 Legislative Seats
After 13 years, Mississippi Democrats broke the Republican Party's supermajority in the Mississippi Senate, flipping 3 legislative seats.
www.mississippifreepress.org
November 5, 2025 at 7:33 AM
After 13 years, Mississippi Democrats have broken the Republican Party’s supermajority in the Mississippi Senate.
Democrats flipped two GOP-held Senate seats and one House seat in the special elections.
buff.ly/nTvLlFI
Democrats flipped two GOP-held Senate seats and one House seat in the special elections.
buff.ly/nTvLlFI
Reposted by Jen Howard
The dust on a spectacular night for Democrats in general, and the left in particular, is going to settle for many hours and days.
But we're starting to fill in our big board: make sure to jump in and explore! boltsmag.org/whats-on-the...
But we're starting to fill in our big board: make sure to jump in and explore! boltsmag.org/whats-on-the...
Your Cheat Sheet to the 2025 General Elections - Bolts
Four contests have come to largely define the 2025 elections this fall: the elections to lead New Jersey, Virginia, and New York City, plus California’s redistricting measure. But there’s so... Read M...
boltsmag.org
November 5, 2025 at 4:31 AM
The dust on a spectacular night for Democrats in general, and the left in particular, is going to settle for many hours and days.
But we're starting to fill in our big board: make sure to jump in and explore! boltsmag.org/whats-on-the...
But we're starting to fill in our big board: make sure to jump in and explore! boltsmag.org/whats-on-the...
I honestly can’t remember the last time I was this happy.
November 5, 2025 at 4:32 AM
I honestly can’t remember the last time I was this happy.
Reposted by Jen Howard
i wouldn't be a total glenn youngkin hater if i didn't mention that the results tonight mean that his total tenure amounted to presiding over the destruction — at least for the next few years — of the virginia republican party. lmao.
November 5, 2025 at 4:10 AM
i wouldn't be a total glenn youngkin hater if i didn't mention that the results tonight mean that his total tenure amounted to presiding over the destruction — at least for the next few years — of the virginia republican party. lmao.
Reposted by Jen Howard
A sneak peek at the cover of next week’s issue, which celebrates Zohran Mamdani’s historic win. #NewYorkerCovers
https://newyorkermag.visitlink.me/451hFM
https://newyorkermag.visitlink.me/451hFM
November 5, 2025 at 3:15 AM
A sneak peek at the cover of next week’s issue, which celebrates Zohran Mamdani’s historic win. #NewYorkerCovers
https://newyorkermag.visitlink.me/451hFM
https://newyorkermag.visitlink.me/451hFM
Reposted by Jen Howard
Mamdani cracks 1M votes, the first NYC mayor to do so since John Lindsay in 1969
November 5, 2025 at 3:21 AM
Mamdani cracks 1M votes, the first NYC mayor to do so since John Lindsay in 1969
Reposted by Jen Howard
NEW: The GOP mounted an unusual push to oust three supreme court justices in Pennsylvania and erase Democrats’ majority on the court. All three prevailed easily in Tuesday’s retention elections.
Democrats Retain Control of Pennsylvania’s Supreme Court with Three-Seat Sweep
The GOP mounted an unusual push to oust three supreme court justices and erase Democrats’ majority on the court. All three prevailed easily in Tuesday’s retention elections.
boltsmag.org
November 5, 2025 at 3:22 AM
NEW: The GOP mounted an unusual push to oust three supreme court justices in Pennsylvania and erase Democrats’ majority on the court. All three prevailed easily in Tuesday’s retention elections.
Heck yes to this too!
RESULT: Democrats have flipped two seats on Georgia's utility commission.
The commission shapes Georgia's environmental future, determining the state's energy mix between clean energy and fossil fuel sources.
The commission shapes Georgia's environmental future, determining the state's energy mix between clean energy and fossil fuel sources.
In upset, Democrats win in PSC races that could affect Georgia Power bills
Democrats Alicia Johnson and Peter Hubbard won statewide elections, defeating Republican incumbents, for seats on the Georgia Public Service Commission.
www.ajc.com
November 5, 2025 at 3:24 AM
Heck yes to this too!
TAKE THE WIN, PEOPLE.
It's been a half hour since the AP called it for Mamdani and already I see some people wringing their hands about how the cards are stacked against him, and to them I say, my friends, learn to enjoy a fucking moment, they didn't come around near enough, the man of the hour is partying, take the hint
November 5, 2025 at 3:22 AM
TAKE THE WIN, PEOPLE.
Looking at you, NYC and NJ!
November 5, 2025 at 3:19 AM
Looking at you, NYC and NJ!