Laura Helmuth
@laurahelmuth.bsky.social
Freelance writer, editor, columnist & consultant. Formerly at Scientific American, Washington Post, National Geographic, Slate, Smithsonian & Science. Past president of National Association of Science Writers. Birder.
Sure, your workplace may be stressful, but do you have two co-workers who have always hated each other and then one had an affair with and married the other's spouse? Here's advice for dealing with the drama: slate.com/advice/2026/...
One of My Co-Workers Stole Another’s Husband. Unfortunately, We All Still Work Together.
They cannot be in the same room.
slate.com
January 15, 2026 at 8:24 PM
Sure, your workplace may be stressful, but do you have two co-workers who have always hated each other and then one had an affair with and married the other's spouse? Here's advice for dealing with the drama: slate.com/advice/2026/...
Reposted by Laura Helmuth
The history of civilian mass detention on the basis of identity without due process or recourse (which is how I defined concentration camps in my history of them) shows that it invariably leads to permanent harm—and typically significant loss of life as well. The longer it goes on the worse it gets.
As detention expands, conditions get worse, thanks to overcrowding and the chaotic transfers of people all over the country.
ICE detention has always had problems, but they're worse than ever now and the impact is clear. Deaths hit a record level in 2025, and 2026 is already looking to be worse.
ICE detention has always had problems, but they're worse than ever now and the impact is clear. Deaths hit a record level in 2025, and 2026 is already looking to be worse.
The detention system has grown so rapidly that already harmful conditions have worsened.
Thousands of immigrants arrested in the interior are detained in hastily built tent camps, where conditions are brutal.
More people died in ICE detention in 2025 than in the past four years combined.
Thousands of immigrants arrested in the interior are detained in hastily built tent camps, where conditions are brutal.
More people died in ICE detention in 2025 than in the past four years combined.
January 14, 2026 at 4:43 PM
The history of civilian mass detention on the basis of identity without due process or recourse (which is how I defined concentration camps in my history of them) shows that it invariably leads to permanent harm—and typically significant loss of life as well. The longer it goes on the worse it gets.
Reposted by Laura Helmuth
1/ I recently wrote about Frances Perkins—FDR’s Labor Secretary and first woman cabinet member. She is best known as the architect of the New Deal but she had a lesser-known achievement:
She dismantled her era’s version of ICE.🧵
She dismantled her era’s version of ICE.🧵
January 14, 2026 at 3:43 AM
1/ I recently wrote about Frances Perkins—FDR’s Labor Secretary and first woman cabinet member. She is best known as the architect of the New Deal but she had a lesser-known achievement:
She dismantled her era’s version of ICE.🧵
She dismantled her era’s version of ICE.🧵
You're supposed to take workplace problems to HR, but sometimes the nuclear option is more effective: take it to IT. (The second Q in my column this week is from someone in a sloppy workplace where an admin gets patient-relevant messages to a personal account.) slate.com/advice/2026/...
The World’s Worst Workplace Rule Has Finally Come to My Job. My Friends Say to Stop Whining.
They won't listen to reason.
slate.com
January 10, 2026 at 6:10 PM
You're supposed to take workplace problems to HR, but sometimes the nuclear option is more effective: take it to IT. (The second Q in my column this week is from someone in a sloppy workplace where an admin gets patient-relevant messages to a personal account.) slate.com/advice/2026/...
Reposted by Laura Helmuth
yes! a good number of MAHA-approved products are just repurposed waste from beef production
i'm not saying this as anyone who knows anything about health; i'm saying it as someone who is an alleged expert in interest group politics: the American beef industry is all over MAHA, wellness, and podcast spaces.
remember "bacon mania?" totally a marketing strategy by the pork industry.
remember "bacon mania?" totally a marketing strategy by the pork industry.
New federal dietary guidelines give federal approval to beef tallow, a fat that both cardiologists and the U.S. government told Americans to avoid for nearly half a century.
January 10, 2026 at 4:57 PM
yes! a good number of MAHA-approved products are just repurposed waste from beef production
Reposted by Laura Helmuth
Ken Burns Announces New 10-Part ‘Mr. Biscuits’ Documentary After Adopting Cat https://theonion.com/ken-burns-announces-new-10-part-mr-biscuits-documentary-after-adopting-cat/
January 9, 2026 at 5:00 PM
Ken Burns Announces New 10-Part ‘Mr. Biscuits’ Documentary After Adopting Cat https://theonion.com/ken-burns-announces-new-10-part-mr-biscuits-documentary-after-adopting-cat/
Nice essay from Kareem Abdul Jabbar about how the flu can make you realize "how fragile 'strong' really is," and an appreciation of "Frank Sinatra Has a Cold."
Gesundheit, everybody.
Gesundheit, everybody.
The Flu in the Spotlight: How One Sick Day Becomes a Shared Moment
FREE NEWSLETTER DAY: Let's All Commiserate Together
kareem.substack.com
January 9, 2026 at 4:13 PM
Nice essay from Kareem Abdul Jabbar about how the flu can make you realize "how fragile 'strong' really is," and an appreciation of "Frank Sinatra Has a Cold."
Gesundheit, everybody.
Gesundheit, everybody.
Someone who has had horrible jobs in five industries asks if any jobs *aren't* horrible (the third Q in my advice column this week).
What do you think? What kinds of workplaces have a reputation for being relatively humane?
slate.com/advice/2026/...
What do you think? What kinds of workplaces have a reputation for being relatively humane?
slate.com/advice/2026/...
The World’s Worst Workplace Rule Has Finally Come to My Job. My Friends Say to Stop Whining.
They won't listen to reason.
slate.com
January 9, 2026 at 2:31 PM
Someone who has had horrible jobs in five industries asks if any jobs *aren't* horrible (the third Q in my advice column this week).
What do you think? What kinds of workplaces have a reputation for being relatively humane?
slate.com/advice/2026/...
What do you think? What kinds of workplaces have a reputation for being relatively humane?
slate.com/advice/2026/...
Reposted by Laura Helmuth
This is a guy who has his dream job.
And there’s only one of those positions in the world.
Yet he’s still speaking out and risking reprisal.
Where are 90% of the others in entertainment, music, movies etc?
And there’s only one of those positions in the world.
Yet he’s still speaking out and risking reprisal.
Where are 90% of the others in entertainment, music, movies etc?
My kitchen table issue is “don’t shoot people at their kitchen tables”
January 9, 2026 at 12:42 PM
This is a guy who has his dream job.
And there’s only one of those positions in the world.
Yet he’s still speaking out and risking reprisal.
Where are 90% of the others in entertainment, music, movies etc?
And there’s only one of those positions in the world.
Yet he’s still speaking out and risking reprisal.
Where are 90% of the others in entertainment, music, movies etc?
Reposted by Laura Helmuth
Remembering today that having your heart broken is a necessary step on the path to becoming fully human. Whichever heartbreak is your first, it’s probably critical that a state break your heart so that you can develop a political imagination. If this is your first, I’m sorry and also welcome.
January 8, 2026 at 10:33 PM
Remembering today that having your heart broken is a necessary step on the path to becoming fully human. Whichever heartbreak is your first, it’s probably critical that a state break your heart so that you can develop a political imagination. If this is your first, I’m sorry and also welcome.
Complaining about work to friends is one of the reasons we *have* friends.
The first Q in this week's advice column comes from someone whose friends are unsympathetic. Here's how to change that conversation (1/2) slate.com/advice/2026/...
The first Q in this week's advice column comes from someone whose friends are unsympathetic. Here's how to change that conversation (1/2) slate.com/advice/2026/...
The World’s Worst Workplace Rule Has Finally Come to My Job. My Friends Say to Stop Whining.
They won't listen to reason.
slate.com
January 8, 2026 at 2:00 PM
Complaining about work to friends is one of the reasons we *have* friends.
The first Q in this week's advice column comes from someone whose friends are unsympathetic. Here's how to change that conversation (1/2) slate.com/advice/2026/...
The first Q in this week's advice column comes from someone whose friends are unsympathetic. Here's how to change that conversation (1/2) slate.com/advice/2026/...
Gen Z is less racist than previous generations, continuing a multi-generational pattern. But it's just as sexist as other generations... also continuing a multi-generational pattern. By a researcher who studies the importance of identity in American politics: slate.com/news-and-pol...
Gen Z Is More Progressive Than Millennials, Except in One Crucial Way
The most open-minded generation ever? It’s complicated.
slate.com
January 7, 2026 at 9:07 PM
Gen Z is less racist than previous generations, continuing a multi-generational pattern. But it's just as sexist as other generations... also continuing a multi-generational pattern. By a researcher who studies the importance of identity in American politics: slate.com/news-and-pol...
Reposted by Laura Helmuth
One of the most lopsided results you'll ever see in a poll, from our weekend Washington Post poll www.washingtonpost.com/politics/int...
January 5, 2026 at 3:39 PM
One of the most lopsided results you'll ever see in a poll, from our weekend Washington Post poll www.washingtonpost.com/politics/int...
Bad things happen quickly; good things take time. It's not a perfect pattern, but it helps explain why some of the break-things chaos of this administration is so damaging. lastwordonnothing.com/2026/01/05/b...
The Last Word On Nothing | Bad Things Are Fast, Good Things Are Slow
lastwordonnothing.com
January 5, 2026 at 2:32 PM
Bad things happen quickly; good things take time. It's not a perfect pattern, but it helps explain why some of the break-things chaos of this administration is so damaging. lastwordonnothing.com/2026/01/05/b...
"Book Series in Order" is a gem of a website. www.bookseriesinorder.com
Book Series in Order
A List of Characters and Authors and Their Books
www.bookseriesinorder.com
January 4, 2026 at 11:07 PM
"Book Series in Order" is a gem of a website. www.bookseriesinorder.com
Reposted by Laura Helmuth
Can't help but feel like this is one of the reasons why the Constitution says If a dude in office does an insurrection, don't let that motherfucker hold office again
Bc clearly they cannot be trusted with power & control over the levers of government, & they do not care about democratic constraints
Bc clearly they cannot be trusted with power & control over the levers of government, & they do not care about democratic constraints
January 3, 2026 at 2:31 PM
Can't help but feel like this is one of the reasons why the Constitution says If a dude in office does an insurrection, don't let that motherfucker hold office again
Bc clearly they cannot be trusted with power & control over the levers of government, & they do not care about democratic constraints
Bc clearly they cannot be trusted with power & control over the levers of government, & they do not care about democratic constraints
Reposted by Laura Helmuth
The demonization of Somalis is no different than the demonization of Haitians before the election. It's a political attack and has to be actively fought—not through half-measures or expressions of tepid concern but by demanding decency from society and respect for all of humanity.
January 2, 2026 at 8:24 PM
The demonization of Somalis is no different than the demonization of Haitians before the election. It's a political attack and has to be actively fought—not through half-measures or expressions of tepid concern but by demanding decency from society and respect for all of humanity.
An ethical dilemma advice columnists face is whether to point out something the letter writer didn't ask about (like: have you considered that your partner might be cheating?). The second Q in this week's column is about a mother/co-worker. I think she has dementia, and I say so. (1/2)
My Work Just Made a Terrifying New Hire. I Fear What It Will Take to Avoid Him.
Weighing safety versus privacy.
slate.com
January 2, 2026 at 3:26 PM
An ethical dilemma advice columnists face is whether to point out something the letter writer didn't ask about (like: have you considered that your partner might be cheating?). The second Q in this week's column is about a mother/co-worker. I think she has dementia, and I say so. (1/2)
I threw out my back from reading a heavy book.
January 2, 2026 at 3:04 PM
I threw out my back from reading a heavy book.
Reposted by Laura Helmuth
I understand and appreciate the work writers and thinkers do in chronicling and categorizing the different conservative movements and ideologies but there should be much more weight placed on “hey these people are all bigots” than is given.
This is how Christopher Caldwell begins his essay on Zohran Mamdani for the Claremont Review of Books.
Why are these people such freaks?
Why are these people such freaks?
December 30, 2025 at 12:13 AM
I understand and appreciate the work writers and thinkers do in chronicling and categorizing the different conservative movements and ideologies but there should be much more weight placed on “hey these people are all bigots” than is given.
Reposted by Laura Helmuth
You want me to look back on 2025? The thing that doomed Orpheus? The thing that turned Lot’s wife to salt?
December 29, 2025 at 10:18 PM
You want me to look back on 2025? The thing that doomed Orpheus? The thing that turned Lot’s wife to salt?
Reposted by Laura Helmuth
Wrote about how disappointing it is that Jon Stewart punched down on people masking at @motherjones.com, when people should mind their own business and leave mask wearers be. www.motherjones.com/politics/202...
Hey Jon Stewart, jokes about wearing masks aren't funny
Critics of the Daily Show host say he's a hypocrite.
www.motherjones.com
December 29, 2025 at 6:54 PM
Wrote about how disappointing it is that Jon Stewart punched down on people masking at @motherjones.com, when people should mind their own business and leave mask wearers be. www.motherjones.com/politics/202...
Reposted by Laura Helmuth
I'm reviewing abstracts for an upcoming scientific conference, helping the planning team to select which attendees get a chance to present their work.
Some are amazingly good.
Some suggest that the applicant has not ever been taught how to write an abstract.
Here are some basic tips:
🧪
Some are amazingly good.
Some suggest that the applicant has not ever been taught how to write an abstract.
Here are some basic tips:
🧪
December 29, 2025 at 8:26 PM
I'm reviewing abstracts for an upcoming scientific conference, helping the planning team to select which attendees get a chance to present their work.
Some are amazingly good.
Some suggest that the applicant has not ever been taught how to write an abstract.
Here are some basic tips:
🧪
Some are amazingly good.
Some suggest that the applicant has not ever been taught how to write an abstract.
Here are some basic tips:
🧪
We got rick rolled by Rian Johnson
Just watched the new Knives Out and I think it's really important you know that the scene in the Seminary's Gym is filmed in the same place Rick Astley filmed the music video for Never Gonna Give You Up.
I saw the window tracery and immediately made my friends pause the film so I could tell them.
I saw the window tracery and immediately made my friends pause the film so I could tell them.
December 29, 2025 at 3:56 PM
We got rick rolled by Rian Johnson