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.
Newsletter: https://jenniferhoward.substack.com/
Newsletter: https://jenniferhoward.substack.com/
Reposted by Jen Howard
The Post layoffs are an incalculable loss for local journalism, and one that we won't recover from anytime soon. But as billionaires destroy beloved institutions, it’s our job to build new ones. The @51st.news can't fill this void alone, but I think we owe it to DC to try.
51st.news/dc-bezos-was...
51st.news/dc-bezos-was...
DC local news deserves better than Jeff Bezos
Help us build our local newsroom, by D.C. for D.C.
51st.news
February 4, 2026 at 7:39 PM
The Post layoffs are an incalculable loss for local journalism, and one that we won't recover from anytime soon. But as billionaires destroy beloved institutions, it’s our job to build new ones. The @51st.news can't fill this void alone, but I think we owe it to DC to try.
51st.news/dc-bezos-was...
51st.news/dc-bezos-was...
Reposted by Jen Howard
Besides the splendid @roncharles.bsky.social and @johnwilliams.bsky.social and Becca Rothfeld, I'm thinking about former editors Nina King and Marie Arana and Jabari Asim and Michael Dirda. Book World has long had a unique and often surprising voice. What a terrible loss.
February 4, 2026 at 4:25 PM
Besides the splendid @roncharles.bsky.social and @johnwilliams.bsky.social and Becca Rothfeld, I'm thinking about former editors Nina King and Marie Arana and Jabari Asim and Michael Dirda. Book World has long had a unique and often surprising voice. What a terrible loss.
Reposted by Jen Howard
It is worth noting the Post slashed the bulk of its arts coverage, including most of the critics, ending a great tradition in journalism.
February 4, 2026 at 5:03 PM
It is worth noting the Post slashed the bulk of its arts coverage, including most of the critics, ending a great tradition in journalism.
Reposted by Jen Howard
This also speaks to my argument re: rich guys and newspapers: they think their business side hires are smart and they're just hobbled by the actual journalists, who are idiots.
"I realized that the Post wasn’t the same paper that had recruited me, and that I didn’t want to work for an owner and publisher who couldn’t articulate a vision and confused contempt for the newsroom with a business plan."
-- Ashley Parker, on why she jumped ship
www.theatlantic.com/politics/202...
-- Ashley Parker, on why she jumped ship
www.theatlantic.com/politics/202...
The Murder of The Washington Post
Today’s layoffs are the latest attempt to kill what makes the paper special.
www.theatlantic.com
February 4, 2026 at 4:58 PM
This also speaks to my argument re: rich guys and newspapers: they think their business side hires are smart and they're just hobbled by the actual journalists, who are idiots.
Reposted by Jen Howard
If you are able, The Post's union has started a layoff fund for those fired by the world's fourth-richest man today. gofund.me/a310d0286
Donate to Washington Post 2026 layoff fund, organized by Rachel Siegel
On Wednesday, Feb. 4, 2026, The Washington Post laid off hundreds of journalists. We ar… Rachel Siegel needs your support for Washington Post 2026 layoff fund
gofund.me
February 4, 2026 at 4:35 PM
If you are able, The Post's union has started a layoff fund for those fired by the world's fourth-richest man today. gofund.me/a310d0286
Reposted by Jen Howard
funny how the man who cost the Washington Post hundreds of thousands in subscriptions by canceling the paper's presidential endorsement—almost certainly the most destructive decision in the history of the paper, if not journalism itself—still has his job
February 4, 2026 at 4:47 PM
funny how the man who cost the Washington Post hundreds of thousands in subscriptions by canceling the paper's presidential endorsement—almost certainly the most destructive decision in the history of the paper, if not journalism itself—still has his job
Reposted by Jen Howard
I don't know what it is about idiots who buy newspapers without understanding why they exist or what their business is, but I think gutting books coverage is some kind of canary in the coalmine. These jackasses don't read books, so they assume no one else does either.
February 4, 2026 at 2:53 PM
I don't know what it is about idiots who buy newspapers without understanding why they exist or what their business is, but I think gutting books coverage is some kind of canary in the coalmine. These jackasses don't read books, so they assume no one else does either.
Reposted by Jen Howard
Books MATTER. Book coverage MATTERS. #Booksky
Washington Post Begins Sweeping Layoffs
www.nytimes.com
February 4, 2026 at 3:23 PM
Books MATTER. Book coverage MATTERS. #Booksky
Reposted by Jen Howard
Absolutely not trying to make the terrible news of the closure of Washington Post's Books coverage about me or anything, but I cannot stress how bad this is for books. The biggest divide between Big 5 and independent/nonprofit press books is not quality--it's the marketing spend.
February 4, 2026 at 3:30 PM
Absolutely not trying to make the terrible news of the closure of Washington Post's Books coverage about me or anything, but I cannot stress how bad this is for books. The biggest divide between Big 5 and independent/nonprofit press books is not quality--it's the marketing spend.
Reposted by Jen Howard
Here's Baron's full statement.
A staggering statement from former Washington Post editor Marty Baron: "This ranks among the darkest days in the history of one of the world's greatest news organizations."
February 4, 2026 at 3:48 PM
Here's Baron's full statement.
The Post has killed its book coverage, along with many other good things. Now would be a great time to subscribe to @roncharles.bsky.social's newsletter if you haven't already.
substack.com/@roncharles/... #BookSky 📚
substack.com/@roncharles/... #BookSky 📚
I’ve Been Laid Off. I’m Not Done.
After 20 years at The Washington Post, I’m suddenly on my own — and still writing about books.
substack.com
February 4, 2026 at 3:57 PM
The Post has killed its book coverage, along with many other good things. Now would be a great time to subscribe to @roncharles.bsky.social's newsletter if you haven't already.
substack.com/@roncharles/... #BookSky 📚
substack.com/@roncharles/... #BookSky 📚
Reposted by Jen Howard
If you ever want to feel like you live in “the ruins of a once great civilization,” then read a local daily paper from the middle of last century — our predecessors had more and better knowledge of their neighbors, their societies, and their local democracies than we do about our own.
February 4, 2026 at 3:26 PM
If you ever want to feel like you live in “the ruins of a once great civilization,” then read a local daily paper from the middle of last century — our predecessors had more and better knowledge of their neighbors, their societies, and their local democracies than we do about our own.
Reposted by Jen Howard
A staggering statement from former Washington Post editor Marty Baron: "This ranks among the darkest days in the history of one of the world's greatest news organizations."
February 4, 2026 at 2:34 PM
A staggering statement from former Washington Post editor Marty Baron: "This ranks among the darkest days in the history of one of the world's greatest news organizations."
Reposted by Jen Howard
A manager for the Immigrant Defense Network told MPR News that back in November, 2,500 people were trained as constitutional observers. Now, the total is nearly 30,000 trained observers in 77 of Minnesota's 87 counties.
Nearly 30,000 Minnesotans trained as constitutional observers
The Immigrant Defense Network works with more than 100 organizations to help train constitutional observers. At the end of November, there were 2,500 trained observers. That number has soared as more ...
www.mprnews.org
February 3, 2026 at 3:03 PM
A manager for the Immigrant Defense Network told MPR News that back in November, 2,500 people were trained as constitutional observers. Now, the total is nearly 30,000 trained observers in 77 of Minnesota's 87 counties.
Philip Kennicott is spot on as usual: "A two-year closure suggests either that Trump doesn’t know how to sustain a viable performing arts center—which requires regular engagement, assembly and communion with its patrons, donors and artists—or he has plans to remake it into something unrecognizable."
A two-year closure could be existential for the Kennedy Center, and it's unnecessary for the repairs proposed. Is there a larger agenda, including repurposing the memorial to the 35th President to serve the needs of the 47th? www.washingtonpost.com/entertainmen...
Column | The grave risk of Trump’s Kennedy Center shutdown
Even in the best-case scenario, the president’s plan will only strain the performing arts ecosystem required for the center to thrive.
www.washingtonpost.com
February 3, 2026 at 3:10 PM
Philip Kennicott is spot on as usual: "A two-year closure suggests either that Trump doesn’t know how to sustain a viable performing arts center—which requires regular engagement, assembly and communion with its patrons, donors and artists—or he has plans to remake it into something unrecognizable."
I feel like Neil Gaiman is the last person we should be hearing from right now.
February 3, 2026 at 1:18 PM
I feel like Neil Gaiman is the last person we should be hearing from right now.
Mark's right—this is a good read. And will remind anyone who worked in publishing in 80s and 90s, especially in a junior/early career role, of what conditions were like.
My editor at WaPo, Nora Krug, has a fine piece about her brief correspondence with DFW, charming but also "ugh." www.washingtonpost.com/books/2026/0...
Column | David Foster Wallace, my fateful correspondent
On the 30th anniversary of “Infinite Jest,” a former assistant to his editor looks back on a complicated mind and relationship.
www.washingtonpost.com
February 2, 2026 at 6:42 PM
Mark's right—this is a good read. And will remind anyone who worked in publishing in 80s and 90s, especially in a junior/early career role, of what conditions were like.
Virginia-affiliated humanists! Virginia Humanities is offering $15K four-month public humanities fellowships. Deadline to apply is March 31. www.grantinterface.com/Opportunity/...
Apply - Scholarship Lifecycle Manager
www.grantinterface.com
February 2, 2026 at 4:29 PM
Virginia-affiliated humanists! Virginia Humanities is offering $15K four-month public humanities fellowships. Deadline to apply is March 31. www.grantinterface.com/Opportunity/...
Reposted by Jen Howard
We won’t stop. Science will prevail. 🔬✊
Today we won.
A U.S. District Court ruled that the administration violated federal law when it secretly convened a group of climate contrarians to produce a thoroughly debunked report to overturn the Endangerment Finding.
The science still matters. We won't stop.
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/30/c...
A U.S. District Court ruled that the administration violated federal law when it secretly convened a group of climate contrarians to produce a thoroughly debunked report to overturn the Endangerment Finding.
The science still matters. We won't stop.
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/30/c...
A Secret Panel to Question Climate Science Was Unlawful, Judge Rules
www.nytimes.com
February 2, 2026 at 4:23 PM
We won’t stop. Science will prevail. 🔬✊
Reposted by Jen Howard
Once again: they cannot simply announce this in a press conference. They would need to change the laws, which the majority of parents in Florida oppose.
February 1, 2026 at 6:48 PM
Once again: they cannot simply announce this in a press conference. They would need to change the laws, which the majority of parents in Florida oppose.
Reposted by Jen Howard
Setting aside elementary curriculum & instruction for the moment, we've known for decades much of what it takes to encourage reading in and out of school by secondary students regardless of gender, and instead of doing this, we've plied them with edtech, apps, test prep, and devices they carry 24/7.
Why Boys Are Behind in Reading at Every Age
www.nytimes.com
February 1, 2026 at 1:52 PM
Setting aside elementary curriculum & instruction for the moment, we've known for decades much of what it takes to encourage reading in and out of school by secondary students regardless of gender, and instead of doing this, we've plied them with edtech, apps, test prep, and devices they carry 24/7.
Reposted by Jen Howard
My hot take about the “students cannot read whole novels / watch whole films / etc.” is that they can learn to do it. None of us are born with attention spans suited for long media. It is a learned skill and can be developed with practice.
January 31, 2026 at 3:28 PM
My hot take about the “students cannot read whole novels / watch whole films / etc.” is that they can learn to do it. None of us are born with attention spans suited for long media. It is a learned skill and can be developed with practice.
Reposted by Jen Howard
Once again here to tap the mic and say Texas is a gerrymandered, voter repressed state, not a "red" state. And every one of you celebrating the (significant) win in Tarrant County better not be the same people in my mentions saying to throw the whole South away. There are good people fighting.
February 1, 2026 at 2:47 PM
Once again here to tap the mic and say Texas is a gerrymandered, voter repressed state, not a "red" state. And every one of you celebrating the (significant) win in Tarrant County better not be the same people in my mentions saying to throw the whole South away. There are good people fighting.
Reposted by Jen Howard
Turns out that you can simply chose not to sell your warehouse and prevent it from becoming a detention center
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
Jim Pattison won't sell U.S. warehouse proposed as new ICE facility | CBC News
Jim Pattison Developments has announced it will not sell an industrial building in Ashland, Va., that was set to be turned into an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) processing facility.
www.cbc.ca
January 30, 2026 at 7:11 PM
Turns out that you can simply chose not to sell your warehouse and prevent it from becoming a detention center
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
Reposted by Jen Howard
The Cornell Lab of Ornithology is amazing, but y'all should know that it employs about 200 people to make those resources happen. Serving detailed biodiversity information takes significant resources, on the order of tens of millions of dollars per year.
January 27, 2026 at 8:34 PM
The Cornell Lab of Ornithology is amazing, but y'all should know that it employs about 200 people to make those resources happen. Serving detailed biodiversity information takes significant resources, on the order of tens of millions of dollars per year.