Laurel Wamsley
@laurelwams.bsky.social
I’m a writer in Berkeley. Recent NPR correspondent in DC. Now reading a lot more novels. California is a trip.
Started reading 1000 Words by @jamiattenberg.bsky.social and I wrote more than 1000 words that same day. That shit works.
January 26, 2026 at 5:39 PM
Started reading 1000 Words by @jamiattenberg.bsky.social and I wrote more than 1000 words that same day. That shit works.
Reposted by Laurel Wamsley
One thing that irks me: people keep calling the folks on the streets in Minneapolis protestors. They are not generally there to protest, they are there to observe and document. This is the product of organizing and mutual aid. It is telling that these acts of citizenship are seen as protest!
January 24, 2026 at 9:29 PM
One thing that irks me: people keep calling the folks on the streets in Minneapolis protestors. They are not generally there to protest, they are there to observe and document. This is the product of organizing and mutual aid. It is telling that these acts of citizenship are seen as protest!
Reposted by Laurel Wamsley
"We lived happily during the war," Ilya Kaminsky
January 25, 2026 at 4:10 PM
"We lived happily during the war," Ilya Kaminsky
Reposted by Laurel Wamsley
Really hard to look at this and all the other examples of bravery and kindness from ordinary people in this moment not think also of the tremendous cowardice exhibited over the past year by some of the richest, most well-protected people in business, media and politics
Let us all have the courage displayed by the residents of Minneapolis.
January 25, 2026 at 2:24 PM
Really hard to look at this and all the other examples of bravery and kindness from ordinary people in this moment not think also of the tremendous cowardice exhibited over the past year by some of the richest, most well-protected people in business, media and politics
God bless the people of Minneapolis.
January 25, 2026 at 7:01 AM
God bless the people of Minneapolis.
Reposted by Laurel Wamsley
From Angry Catfish, independent bicycle shop in Minneapolis
January 25, 2026 at 1:50 AM
From Angry Catfish, independent bicycle shop in Minneapolis
Reposted by Laurel Wamsley
This is Minneapolis.
Literally every corner along Lake St. packed with people holding candles, many singing, honoring a person who by all accounts was an absolute gem of a human, whose life was tragically stolen by a fascist, paramilitary occupation force.
Literally every corner along Lake St. packed with people holding candles, many singing, honoring a person who by all accounts was an absolute gem of a human, whose life was tragically stolen by a fascist, paramilitary occupation force.
January 25, 2026 at 2:46 AM
This is Minneapolis.
Literally every corner along Lake St. packed with people holding candles, many singing, honoring a person who by all accounts was an absolute gem of a human, whose life was tragically stolen by a fascist, paramilitary occupation force.
Literally every corner along Lake St. packed with people holding candles, many singing, honoring a person who by all accounts was an absolute gem of a human, whose life was tragically stolen by a fascist, paramilitary occupation force.
Reposted by Laurel Wamsley
In "hot" rental markets like Atlanta, landlords have figured out they can charge hundreds of dollars per application, reject people with impunity, and keep the money—over and over again.
It's perfectly legal, totally unregulated, and wildly lucrative.
It's perfectly legal, totally unregulated, and wildly lucrative.
January 24, 2026 at 4:52 PM
In "hot" rental markets like Atlanta, landlords have figured out they can charge hundreds of dollars per application, reject people with impunity, and keep the money—over and over again.
It's perfectly legal, totally unregulated, and wildly lucrative.
It's perfectly legal, totally unregulated, and wildly lucrative.
Reposted by Laurel Wamsley
Something that doesn't get nearly enough attention: nonrefundable application and "administrative" fees just to be considered for an apartment.
I've heard from families who have spent hundreds—even thousands—of dollars on applications and are still without a home.
This is legalized extortion.
I've heard from families who have spent hundreds—even thousands—of dollars on applications and are still without a home.
This is legalized extortion.
January 24, 2026 at 4:44 PM
Something that doesn't get nearly enough attention: nonrefundable application and "administrative" fees just to be considered for an apartment.
I've heard from families who have spent hundreds—even thousands—of dollars on applications and are still without a home.
This is legalized extortion.
I've heard from families who have spent hundreds—even thousands—of dollars on applications and are still without a home.
This is legalized extortion.
Reposted by Laurel Wamsley
dang, Waymo caught passing stopped school buses 20 times in Austin alone
The NTSB joins the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration in investigating Waymo vehicles illegally passing stopped school buses.
Waymo probed by National Transportation Safety Board over illegal school bus behavior | TechCrunch
The NTSB joins the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration in investigating Waymo vehicles illegally passing stopped school buses.
techcrunch.com
January 23, 2026 at 9:57 PM
dang, Waymo caught passing stopped school buses 20 times in Austin alone
Reposted by Laurel Wamsley
Minnesota residents took to the streets of downtown Minneapolis to protest the federal government's immigration campaign in the state, after weeks of sustained resistance in their communities. Businesses across the region closed in solidarity.
Minnesotans turn out in the frigid cold to protest Trump's immigration crackdown
Minnesota residents took to the streets of downtown Minneapolis to protest the federal government's immigration campaign in the state, after weeks of sustained resistance in their communities. Businesses across the region closed in solidarity.
n.pr
January 23, 2026 at 10:24 PM
Minnesota residents took to the streets of downtown Minneapolis to protest the federal government's immigration campaign in the state, after weeks of sustained resistance in their communities. Businesses across the region closed in solidarity.
Many smart and good answers here to the question I have been asking myself: how to be useful to Minnesota, from outside Minnesota
naomikritzer.com/2026/01/21/h...
naomikritzer.com/2026/01/21/h...
How To Help if You are Outside Minnesota
Last edited January 22, 2026 I’m going to assume that if you’re reading this, you more or less understand the situation in Minnesota and I don’t have to explain it to you! That sa…
naomikritzer.com
January 23, 2026 at 9:55 PM
Many smart and good answers here to the question I have been asking myself: how to be useful to Minnesota, from outside Minnesota
naomikritzer.com/2026/01/21/h...
naomikritzer.com/2026/01/21/h...
Reposted by Laurel Wamsley
Reposted by Laurel Wamsley
It’s -9 degrees. Downtown Minneapolis is packed for the anti-ICE rally and the crowd keeps growing
January 23, 2026 at 8:16 PM
It’s -9 degrees. Downtown Minneapolis is packed for the anti-ICE rally and the crowd keeps growing
I know 90's clothes are back, but the era's clothes were bad.
What *should* be imitated is 90's music. Track down your parents' box of CDs in the attic and look up the bands on Spotify, kids. You'll be moved!
What *should* be imitated is 90's music. Track down your parents' box of CDs in the attic and look up the bands on Spotify, kids. You'll be moved!
January 23, 2026 at 6:43 PM
I know 90's clothes are back, but the era's clothes were bad.
What *should* be imitated is 90's music. Track down your parents' box of CDs in the attic and look up the bands on Spotify, kids. You'll be moved!
What *should* be imitated is 90's music. Track down your parents' box of CDs in the attic and look up the bands on Spotify, kids. You'll be moved!
Reposted by Laurel Wamsley
There's a reason I never log into Google accounts in my web browser.
January 23, 2026 at 5:36 PM
There's a reason I never log into Google accounts in my web browser.
Reposted by Laurel Wamsley
8 weeks under siege in Minnesota, by my colleague @maxnesterak.bsky.social minnesotareformer.com/2026/01/23/8...
8 weeks under siege in Minnesota • Minnesota Reformer
Frank has a hard time explaining to his 8-year-old daughter why they rarely leave their home in the Twin Cities. Why she can’t go to school, and why he can’t work. “The only thing we tell her is that ...
minnesotareformer.com
January 23, 2026 at 4:43 PM
8 weeks under siege in Minnesota, by my colleague @maxnesterak.bsky.social minnesotareformer.com/2026/01/23/8...
Had a parent-teacher conference at my son's preschool yesterday. They said our 3-year-old is interested in wrestling.
I thought they were going to say this was a problem. But instead they said, "So we're thinking about starting a program for the kids to wrestle safely."
Pretty awesome response.
I thought they were going to say this was a problem. But instead they said, "So we're thinking about starting a program for the kids to wrestle safely."
Pretty awesome response.
January 23, 2026 at 4:48 PM
Had a parent-teacher conference at my son's preschool yesterday. They said our 3-year-old is interested in wrestling.
I thought they were going to say this was a problem. But instead they said, "So we're thinking about starting a program for the kids to wrestle safely."
Pretty awesome response.
I thought they were going to say this was a problem. But instead they said, "So we're thinking about starting a program for the kids to wrestle safely."
Pretty awesome response.
Reposted by Laurel Wamsley
The Trump administration called for the accelerated disposal of a corridor inside the Social Security building that contains more than 1,800 square feet of art.
The stunning art trove hidden in a D.C. building marked by Trump for disposal
Packed with frescoes, paintings and reliefs, the federal government’s Cohen Building has been called “the Sistine Chapel of the New Deal.” Advocates fear these works could be at risk.
www.washingtonpost.com
January 22, 2026 at 9:00 PM
The Trump administration called for the accelerated disposal of a corridor inside the Social Security building that contains more than 1,800 square feet of art.
“ 'Another adult living in the home was outside and begged the agents to let him take care of the small child, and was refused,' Stenvik said.
Agents later took the father and child away in a vehicle and sent them to Texas."
Agents later took the father and child away in a vehicle and sent them to Texas."
The Columbia Heights school district says ICE detained four of its students, including a 5-year-old boy, as "bait" to draw out family members.
ICE detains 5-year old Minnesota boy; lawyer says agents used him as ‘bait’
The Columbia Heights school district says federal agents have detained four children in their district. School officials and a lawyer for the family say agents used 5-year-old Liam Conejo Ramo as “bai...
www.mprnews.org
January 22, 2026 at 8:48 PM
“ 'Another adult living in the home was outside and begged the agents to let him take care of the small child, and was refused,' Stenvik said.
Agents later took the father and child away in a vehicle and sent them to Texas."
Agents later took the father and child away in a vehicle and sent them to Texas."
Devastating listening.
January 22, 2026 at 8:46 PM
Devastating listening.
"This is the worst case of mass civil rights violations by the federal government in recent history."
Minnesotans are being racially profiled on a mass scale, assaulted on our streets, and kidnapped from our communities.
Not one penny of our taxpayers' dollars should go to DHS while our constitutional rights are being violated.
Not one penny of our taxpayers' dollars should go to DHS while our constitutional rights are being violated.
January 22, 2026 at 8:41 PM
"This is the worst case of mass civil rights violations by the federal government in recent history."
Reposted by Laurel Wamsley
I know people keep saying this but it’s hard to communicate the depth of active resistance here. Like, I’m on random cafes and people are checking in for observation shifts. Signs everywhere. Folks in visibility vests on the corners. It’s wild. Absolutely wild.
January 22, 2026 at 4:04 PM
I know people keep saying this but it’s hard to communicate the depth of active resistance here. Like, I’m on random cafes and people are checking in for observation shifts. Signs everywhere. Folks in visibility vests on the corners. It’s wild. Absolutely wild.