Leah Sottile
@leahsottile.bsky.social
Independent journalist. Books: Blazing Eye Sees All, When The Moon Turns To Blood. Podcasts: Hush, Burn Wild, Two Minutes Past Nine, Bundyville. High Country News correspondent. Subscribe to Substack. www.leahsottile.com
Pinned
Leah Sottile
@leahsottile.bsky.social
· Mar 25
Blazing Eye Sees All: Love Has Won, False Prophets, and the Fever Dream of the American New Age
Love Has Won, False Prophets, and the Fever Dream of the American New Age
bookshop.org
Out today: Blazing Eye Sees All, my investigation into the wide spiritual world of the New Age. It is an unintentional story of extremism, feminism, climate change, deception, power, myth and the very nature of believing. I hope you read it.
bookshop.org/p/books/blaz...
bookshop.org/p/books/blaz...
May I point everyone to #13:
January 3, 2026 at 5:27 PM
May I point everyone to #13:
Reposted by Leah Sottile
And thus began our decade of white men openly, brazenly and vigorously doing crimes and getting away with it.
“The refuge occupation was a rash before a fever, a symptom of our approaching political chaos.”
H/T @leahsottile.bsky.social
“The refuge occupation was a rash before a fever, a symptom of our approaching political chaos.”
H/T @leahsottile.bsky.social
The Takeover of Malheur Kicked Off a Decade of Lawlessness
The wildlife refuge occupation set the stage for Trump, January 6, and so much more.
www.pdxmonthly.com
January 2, 2026 at 5:03 PM
And thus began our decade of white men openly, brazenly and vigorously doing crimes and getting away with it.
“The refuge occupation was a rash before a fever, a symptom of our approaching political chaos.”
H/T @leahsottile.bsky.social
“The refuge occupation was a rash before a fever, a symptom of our approaching political chaos.”
H/T @leahsottile.bsky.social
Reposted by Leah Sottile
"The affair at Malheur was a showcase of American mythology, nostalgia, anxious masculinity, and the movement to “Make America Great Again” that would soon become inescapable."
Malheur is French for misfortune. A term of loss. I can’t think of a better word now for what happened ten years ago.
www.pdxmonthly.com/news-and-cit...
www.pdxmonthly.com/news-and-cit...
The Takeover of Malheur Kicked Off a Decade of Lawlessness
The wildlife refuge occupation set the stage for Trump, January 6, and so much more.
www.pdxmonthly.com
January 2, 2026 at 4:30 PM
"The affair at Malheur was a showcase of American mythology, nostalgia, anxious masculinity, and the movement to “Make America Great Again” that would soon become inescapable."
Malheur is French for misfortune. A term of loss. I can’t think of a better word now for what happened ten years ago.
www.pdxmonthly.com/news-and-cit...
www.pdxmonthly.com/news-and-cit...
The Takeover of Malheur Kicked Off a Decade of Lawlessness
The wildlife refuge occupation set the stage for Trump, January 6, and so much more.
www.pdxmonthly.com
January 2, 2026 at 4:20 PM
Malheur is French for misfortune. A term of loss. I can’t think of a better word now for what happened ten years ago.
www.pdxmonthly.com/news-and-cit...
www.pdxmonthly.com/news-and-cit...
Reposted by Leah Sottile
Lots of compelling and welcome provocations in @leahsottile.bsky.social's 'A Living Manifesto on Journalism in 2026 and Beyond' leahsottile.substack.com/p/66-clarity
December 30, 2025 at 7:17 PM
Lots of compelling and welcome provocations in @leahsottile.bsky.social's 'A Living Manifesto on Journalism in 2026 and Beyond' leahsottile.substack.com/p/66-clarity
Reposted by Leah Sottile
My favorite:
> 13. Before using the word “unprecedented,” interview a historian.
> 13. Before using the word “unprecedented,” interview a historian.
A weird ending note for a weird year: I wrote a manifesto for journalists in 2026.
leahsottile.substack.com/p/66-clarity
leahsottile.substack.com/p/66-clarity
66. Clarity
A Living Manifesto on Journalism for 2026 and Beyond
leahsottile.substack.com
December 31, 2025 at 5:04 PM
My favorite:
> 13. Before using the word “unprecedented,” interview a historian.
> 13. Before using the word “unprecedented,” interview a historian.
Reposted by Leah Sottile
"9. The saying “trust, but verify” is insufficient. The saying should be “earn trust, then verify.” There is a difference."
A weird ending note for a weird year: I wrote a manifesto for journalists in 2026.
leahsottile.substack.com/p/66-clarity
leahsottile.substack.com/p/66-clarity
66. Clarity
A Living Manifesto on Journalism for 2026 and Beyond
leahsottile.substack.com
December 29, 2025 at 10:06 PM
"9. The saying “trust, but verify” is insufficient. The saying should be “earn trust, then verify.” There is a difference."
Reposted by Leah Sottile
There’s a new book out about pretendians, 'Who Gets to be an Indian?', and I interviewed author @dinagw.bsky.social. She says while she doesn’t want to be in the business of calling people out, people should expect to have to prove their claims of Native identity.
www.hcn.org/articles/we-...
www.hcn.org/articles/we-...
We need to talk about the pretendians in our midst - High Country News
Indigenous scholar Dina Gilio-Whitaker wants Natives to approach a difficult topic rationally, vulnerably and honestly.
www.hcn.org
December 30, 2025 at 6:24 PM
There’s a new book out about pretendians, 'Who Gets to be an Indian?', and I interviewed author @dinagw.bsky.social. She says while she doesn’t want to be in the business of calling people out, people should expect to have to prove their claims of Native identity.
www.hcn.org/articles/we-...
www.hcn.org/articles/we-...
Reposted by Leah Sottile
I have many regrets about my 45 years in journalism, but now I have a new one: I wish I’d had a manifesto like this to guide me.
A weird ending note for a weird year: I wrote a manifesto for journalists in 2026.
leahsottile.substack.com/p/66-clarity
leahsottile.substack.com/p/66-clarity
66. Clarity
A Living Manifesto on Journalism for 2026 and Beyond
leahsottile.substack.com
December 30, 2025 at 1:09 AM
I have many regrets about my 45 years in journalism, but now I have a new one: I wish I’d had a manifesto like this to guide me.
Reposted by Leah Sottile
mood going into 2k26: @leahsottile.bsky.social's living manifesto for journalism
66. Clarity
A Living Manifesto on Journalism for 2026 and Beyond
leahsottile.substack.com
December 29, 2025 at 11:46 PM
mood going into 2k26: @leahsottile.bsky.social's living manifesto for journalism
Reposted by Leah Sottile
"Be petty and incredibly annoying with authority." Yes yes yes yes yes yes
A weird ending note for a weird year: I wrote a manifesto for journalists in 2026.
leahsottile.substack.com/p/66-clarity
leahsottile.substack.com/p/66-clarity
66. Clarity
A Living Manifesto on Journalism for 2026 and Beyond
leahsottile.substack.com
December 29, 2025 at 11:13 PM
"Be petty and incredibly annoying with authority." Yes yes yes yes yes yes
Reposted by Leah Sottile
“Should you believe in any cause? Does believing in something mean you’ve lost the ability to do your job? How much life are you willing to give up? How much of life is one’s job? How much of your participation in being a human being will you cede? Where is the line between truth and fact?”
A weird ending note for a weird year: I wrote a manifesto for journalists in 2026.
leahsottile.substack.com/p/66-clarity
leahsottile.substack.com/p/66-clarity
66. Clarity
A Living Manifesto on Journalism for 2026 and Beyond
leahsottile.substack.com
December 29, 2025 at 11:05 PM
“Should you believe in any cause? Does believing in something mean you’ve lost the ability to do your job? How much life are you willing to give up? How much of life is one’s job? How much of your participation in being a human being will you cede? Where is the line between truth and fact?”
Reposted by Leah Sottile
A weird ending note for a weird year: I wrote a manifesto for journalists in 2026.
leahsottile.substack.com/p/66-clarity
leahsottile.substack.com/p/66-clarity
66. Clarity
A Living Manifesto on Journalism for 2026 and Beyond
leahsottile.substack.com
December 29, 2025 at 9:29 PM
A weird ending note for a weird year: I wrote a manifesto for journalists in 2026.
leahsottile.substack.com/p/66-clarity
leahsottile.substack.com/p/66-clarity
Thing I did NOT have on my 2025 bingo card: friends around the country sending me photos during their holiday travels of BLAZING EYE SEES ALL on the Bestsellers wall at Hudson Booksellers in airports across the country. Believe me when I say I am floored by this!
December 26, 2025 at 8:02 PM
Thing I did NOT have on my 2025 bingo card: friends around the country sending me photos during their holiday travels of BLAZING EYE SEES ALL on the Bestsellers wall at Hudson Booksellers in airports across the country. Believe me when I say I am floored by this!
Reposted by Leah Sottile
The 10 best books I read this year, in alphabetical order by title:
Bad Company by @greenwell.bsky.social
Blazing Eye Sees All by @leahsottile.bsky.social
Cry For Me Argentina by @tamis.bsky.social
Empire of Orgasm by @ellenhuet.bsky.social
In My Remaining Years by Jean Grae
Bad Company by @greenwell.bsky.social
Blazing Eye Sees All by @leahsottile.bsky.social
Cry For Me Argentina by @tamis.bsky.social
Empire of Orgasm by @ellenhuet.bsky.social
In My Remaining Years by Jean Grae
December 24, 2025 at 9:44 PM
The 10 best books I read this year, in alphabetical order by title:
Bad Company by @greenwell.bsky.social
Blazing Eye Sees All by @leahsottile.bsky.social
Cry For Me Argentina by @tamis.bsky.social
Empire of Orgasm by @ellenhuet.bsky.social
In My Remaining Years by Jean Grae
Bad Company by @greenwell.bsky.social
Blazing Eye Sees All by @leahsottile.bsky.social
Cry For Me Argentina by @tamis.bsky.social
Empire of Orgasm by @ellenhuet.bsky.social
In My Remaining Years by Jean Grae
Subscribe to my Substack, you’re supporting an independent journalist who would never allow people in power to dictate my publication timeline.
After what we're seeing at CBS, if today is not the perfect day for everyone to find some independent journalism & nonprofit newsrooms to support... what day could be better?
December 23, 2025 at 2:57 AM
Subscribe to my Substack, you’re supporting an independent journalist who would never allow people in power to dictate my publication timeline.
Without a doubt, the best part of 2025 for me was publishing this book. I'm insanely proud of it and am eternally grateful to all who read it, reviewed it, told a friend, listened to an audiobook, sold it in their store, read it for their book club, etc.
Now I have to figure out my next one...
Now I have to figure out my next one...
Out today: Blazing Eye Sees All, my investigation into the wide spiritual world of the New Age. It is an unintentional story of extremism, feminism, climate change, deception, power, myth and the very nature of believing. I hope you read it.
bookshop.org/p/books/blaz...
bookshop.org/p/books/blaz...
Blazing Eye Sees All: Love Has Won, False Prophets, and the Fever Dream of the American New Age
Love Has Won, False Prophets, and the Fever Dream of the American New Age
bookshop.org
December 22, 2025 at 8:05 PM
Without a doubt, the best part of 2025 for me was publishing this book. I'm insanely proud of it and am eternally grateful to all who read it, reviewed it, told a friend, listened to an audiobook, sold it in their store, read it for their book club, etc.
Now I have to figure out my next one...
Now I have to figure out my next one...
Reposted by Leah Sottile
"No one"?
*glances around at other Native ppl*
*glances around at other Native ppl*
For months, the seven states of the Colorado River basin have failed to reach an agreement on new rules to share the river’s dwindling supply of water.
The current rules expire next year, risking water supply and power generation.
The current rules expire next year, risking water supply and power generation.
The Colorado River is on the verge of crisis. No one has a solution.
The Colorado River faces a crisis as seven states struggle to agree on water-sharing rules.
wapo.st
December 22, 2025 at 7:07 PM
"No one"?
*glances around at other Native ppl*
*glances around at other Native ppl*
Reposted by Leah Sottile
The Olivia Nuzzi story and the Bari Weiss at CBS story are the same story, which is that the upper echelons of legacy media are absolutely rife with people who worship power and don't feel burdened by any sense of responsibility to their profession or the public.
December 22, 2025 at 6:35 PM
The Olivia Nuzzi story and the Bari Weiss at CBS story are the same story, which is that the upper echelons of legacy media are absolutely rife with people who worship power and don't feel burdened by any sense of responsibility to their profession or the public.
You know what, I’m just going to call it and close this year‘s open tabs.
December 21, 2025 at 10:50 PM
You know what, I’m just going to call it and close this year‘s open tabs.
Reposted by Leah Sottile
Man I remember Malheur so well. Such a clear signal of what was to come. Some of the most privileged & entitled white men in the f'ing world engaging in open lawlessness in the name of their own imagined victimhood ...
... and getting away with it.
That's the true American template.
... and getting away with it.
That's the true American template.
The Takeover of Malheur Kicked Off a Decade of Lawlessness
The wildlife refuge occupation set the stage for Trump, January 6, and so much more.
www.pdxmonthly.com
December 18, 2025 at 11:39 PM
Man I remember Malheur so well. Such a clear signal of what was to come. Some of the most privileged & entitled white men in the f'ing world engaging in open lawlessness in the name of their own imagined victimhood ...
... and getting away with it.
That's the true American template.
... and getting away with it.
That's the true American template.
“That afternoon, the preschool sends out an email, subject line: “Regarding Wednesday’s Lockdown Experience in the Ladybugs Class.” I stare at the string of words and try to make them cohere.”
An absolutely stunning essay by @grayhchapman.bsky.social
open.substack.com/pub/graychap...
An absolutely stunning essay by @grayhchapman.bsky.social
open.substack.com/pub/graychap...
Loaded
Daughterhood and motherhood in a gun-addled country.
open.substack.com
December 18, 2025 at 2:09 AM
“That afternoon, the preschool sends out an email, subject line: “Regarding Wednesday’s Lockdown Experience in the Ladybugs Class.” I stare at the string of words and try to make them cohere.”
An absolutely stunning essay by @grayhchapman.bsky.social
open.substack.com/pub/graychap...
An absolutely stunning essay by @grayhchapman.bsky.social
open.substack.com/pub/graychap...
Reposted by Leah Sottile
The occupation of Malheur was when I realized we are not ok. It was a shocking thing to witness. Even more shocking to see the acquittal of men who almost certainly would have died on that refuge if they looked another way.
Leah gives us the roadmap to this hellish highway we can’t seem to exit.
Leah gives us the roadmap to this hellish highway we can’t seem to exit.
If you can believe it, January 1, 2026 marks ten years since the armed takeover of Oregon’s Malheur National Wildlife Refuge. For Portland Monthly, I wrote about how the ensuing decade was dominated by anxious men and a culture of lawlessness.
www.pdxmonthly.com/news-and-cit...
www.pdxmonthly.com/news-and-cit...
The Takeover of Malheur Kicked Off a Decade of Lawlessness
The wildlife refuge occupation set the stage for Trump, January 6, and so much more.
www.pdxmonthly.com
December 18, 2025 at 2:07 AM
The occupation of Malheur was when I realized we are not ok. It was a shocking thing to witness. Even more shocking to see the acquittal of men who almost certainly would have died on that refuge if they looked another way.
Leah gives us the roadmap to this hellish highway we can’t seem to exit.
Leah gives us the roadmap to this hellish highway we can’t seem to exit.
A real estate developer tells Willamette Week she’s “stunned by how far Portland has fallen” Meanwhile, Portlanders remain stunned at how aggressively concerned Willamette Week is for the rich.
Sorry but if we are in a position where anyone in power is supposed to give a shit what this speculator thinks about our city then we need to fundamentally reorganize everything 🤗 www.wweek.com/news/2025/12...
December 17, 2025 at 7:10 PM
A real estate developer tells Willamette Week she’s “stunned by how far Portland has fallen” Meanwhile, Portlanders remain stunned at how aggressively concerned Willamette Week is for the rich.