Linda Holmes
@lindaholmes.bsky.social
Host, NPR. Writer of novels. Companion of internet dog. Not a customer service desk.
Pinned
Linda Holmes
@lindaholmes.bsky.social
· Nov 9
Back After This by Linda Holmes: 9780593599259 | PenguinRandomHouse.com: Books
A podcast producer agrees to host a new series about modern dating—but will the show jeopardize her chance at finding real love? From the New York Times bestselling author of Evvie Drake Starts Over.....
www.penguinrandomhouse.com
My next book is set in the world of podcasts, dogs, influencers and sketchy dating advice. www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/720444...
I sometimes have to remind people that Capitol Hill is the name of a neighborhood where people live.
As we, the good people of America, remember J6 with horror and sadness, spare a thought for the residents of the city it happened in.
DC is often overlooked as a place where folks live, but this trauma happened to us, on our streets, in the place we call home.
DC is often overlooked as a place where folks live, but this trauma happened to us, on our streets, in the place we call home.
January 6, 2026 at 2:51 PM
I sometimes have to remind people that Capitol Hill is the name of a neighborhood where people live.
This is the kind of thing I would have written up as a fake show sitting in the ballroom at TCA.
extremely important to note that the name of the doctor in the show Best Medicine is "Dr. Best"
My review of Fox's small-town dramedy Best Medicine, with Josh Charles and Abigail Spencer, that's incredibly familiar (even if you haven't seen the original Doc Martin), but not without its charms:
January 6, 2026 at 2:45 PM
This is the kind of thing I would have written up as a fake show sitting in the ballroom at TCA.
Sure. I mean, we’ve heard so little about it.
Netflix revealed that, in just one week, fans will get a documentary film about the creation of ‘Stranger Things’ season five.
Stranger Things Goes Behind the Scenes of the Upside Down
Netflix revealed that, in just one week, fans will get a documentary film about the creation of ‘Stranger Things’ season five.
www.vulture.com
January 5, 2026 at 4:45 PM
Sure. I mean, we’ve heard so little about it.
I stopped watching this a long time ago but I saw this and thought “REGRESSES??” Are they just having them meow like kitties now?
The season’s main storyline grinds to a halt while the writing for all the female characters somehow regresses.
Landman Recap: The Farthest Thing from Okay
The season’s main storyline grinds to a halt while the writing for all the female characters somehow regresses.
www.vulture.com
January 5, 2026 at 12:12 AM
I stopped watching this a long time ago but I saw this and thought “REGRESSES??” Are they just having them meow like kitties now?
As this alludes to, it’s not just lobbyists. It’s staff (executive and legislative), who are largely unaccountable, whose actions are often not public, and who can’t be voted out.
I’m not saying this to be pro or anti term limits, but you have to know what you’re dealing with.
I’m not saying this to be pro or anti term limits, but you have to know what you’re dealing with.
There's significant evidence from state legislative term limits that they do, in fact, empower both lobbyists and state executive branches.
"Disagreeing" without offering any counter-evidence is just vibes.
"Disagreeing" without offering any counter-evidence is just vibes.
I disagree with the suggestion that term limits would further empower lobbyists and therefore we shouldn't consider them as a viable path forward. The current system of federal elected officials who are financially incentivized to become insider traders until they choose to retire isn't working.
January 4, 2026 at 2:33 PM
As this alludes to, it’s not just lobbyists. It’s staff (executive and legislative), who are largely unaccountable, whose actions are often not public, and who can’t be voted out.
I’m not saying this to be pro or anti term limits, but you have to know what you’re dealing with.
I’m not saying this to be pro or anti term limits, but you have to know what you’re dealing with.
This is a public service.
Proud to present this pictorial thread of Jamelle Bouie insulting you
#1: You're a dumbass
#1: You're a dumbass
January 3, 2026 at 10:42 PM
This is a public service.
Fun part of the morning routine is looking at which of my daily puzzles I did in the middle of the night when I woke up and couldn’t get back to sleep.
January 3, 2026 at 3:31 PM
Fun part of the morning routine is looking at which of my daily puzzles I did in the middle of the night when I woke up and couldn’t get back to sleep.
Opinions: I have some!
What worked — and what didn't — in the 'Stranger Things' finale
Between the final battle and some key needle drops, there was a little too much talking.
www.npr.org
January 2, 2026 at 8:43 PM
Opinions: I have some!
I can agree that this might be true, and also that this isn’t the end of the world. But people don’t just use it for this, but also for wedding vows and eulogies and apologies. And I read this story in that context, and maybe I shouldn’t have, but honestly the point, in that context, still stands.
I agree with this statement, but also the “baby named by ChatGPT” seems to be just that the parents used it as a search engine, and I think it’s a connected but different problem that so many are also using these way more resource-exhausting tools for things that can be done with a basic web search.
What amazes me is how quickly people are losing either the confidence or the willingness to complete basic human tasks.
January 2, 2026 at 3:57 PM
I can agree that this might be true, and also that this isn’t the end of the world. But people don’t just use it for this, but also for wedding vows and eulogies and apologies. And I read this story in that context, and maybe I shouldn’t have, but honestly the point, in that context, still stands.
Boy. a lot of guys who don’t follow me are big fans of naming your baby using a chatbot!
January 2, 2026 at 3:46 PM
Boy. a lot of guys who don’t follow me are big fans of naming your baby using a chatbot!
What amazes me is how quickly people are losing either the confidence or the willingness to complete basic human tasks.
The parents of the first baby born in 2026 in this county outside Baltimore got their name ideas from ChatGPT. Hudson Oakley Winkler.
www.baltimoresun.com/2026/01/01/c...
www.baltimoresun.com/2026/01/01/c...
ChatGPT named Carroll County’s first-born baby in 2026
The first baby born in Carroll County in 2026 was named with help from ChatGPT, a generative artificial intelligence chatbot.
www.baltimoresun.com
January 2, 2026 at 3:22 PM
What amazes me is how quickly people are losing either the confidence or the willingness to complete basic human tasks.
I’d find a copy of the Con Law textbook I had in college.
Ok, everyone, what book is sacred enough to you to get sworn in on?
Strange takes on Mayor Zamdani swearing his oath on the Qu’ran. It has nothing to do with church & state. The point of the oath is for the person swearing in to do so upon some text that is sacred TO THEM. Some Presidents swore in w/o any book. John Quincy Adams was sworn on a law book. His choice.
January 2, 2026 at 2:28 AM
I’d find a copy of the Con Law textbook I had in college.
So Nancy in the main part of the episode was Ellen Ripley, right? #strangerthings
January 1, 2026 at 5:57 PM
So Nancy in the main part of the episode was Ellen Ripley, right? #strangerthings
You know, I like my house, and I like my neighbors, but I would never, ever move to a neighborhood without sidewalks again.
January 1, 2026 at 4:43 PM
You know, I like my house, and I like my neighbors, but I would never, ever move to a neighborhood without sidewalks again.
The more I think on it, the more inclined I am toward basically this take, including the questions about how the core cast could have possibly gotten from the final moments of the main story to the epilogue. (Sorry for the vagueness, don’t want to spoil it!)
Thoughts on a Stranger Thing series finale that had some excellent moments that were utterly buried by all the padding:
Bigger isn't better with 'Stranger Things' finale
The conclusion's better moments get buried under too much padding
www.whatsalanwatching.com
January 1, 2026 at 3:23 PM
The more I think on it, the more inclined I am toward basically this take, including the questions about how the core cast could have possibly gotten from the final moments of the main story to the epilogue. (Sorry for the vagueness, don’t want to spoil it!)
I am grateful for many things this New Year’s Eve, including my dog, who is not bothered by fireworks, despite having strong feelings about bikes, electric scooters, cats, squirrels, leaf blowers, anyone ringing the doorbell, anyone knocking on the door, and anyone bouncing a ball anywhere.
January 1, 2026 at 3:38 AM
I am grateful for many things this New Year’s Eve, including my dog, who is not bothered by fireworks, despite having strong feelings about bikes, electric scooters, cats, squirrels, leaf blowers, anyone ringing the doorbell, anyone knocking on the door, and anyone bouncing a ball anywhere.
I mean … it could have been an hour in my opinion. #nospoilers
January 1, 2026 at 3:31 AM
I mean … it could have been an hour in my opinion. #nospoilers
One of the best things I did for myself in the last couple years is to get really back into watching baseball. It kept me calm, it made me happy, it made me new pals (and bonded me with old ones), and honestly, I think everybody should be weirdly into something.
December 31, 2025 at 11:58 PM
One of the best things I did for myself in the last couple years is to get really back into watching baseball. It kept me calm, it made me happy, it made me new pals (and bonded me with old ones), and honestly, I think everybody should be weirdly into something.
I think the sports town best represented on here is Philadelphia, and the sport best represented is baseball, so
December 31, 2025 at 11:52 PM
I think the sports town best represented on here is Philadelphia, and the sport best represented is baseball, so
I love making this list every year, and I never have any trouble coming up with 50 things I think were genuinely wonderful.
50 wonderful things from 2025
Each year, critic Linda Holmes looks back on the year and compiles a list of the things that brought her joy.
www.npr.org
December 31, 2025 at 9:29 PM
I love making this list every year, and I never have any trouble coming up with 50 things I think were genuinely wonderful.
We at PCHH have been doing annual predictions for umpteen years, and unlike a lot of prognosticators, we also revisit last year’s predictions to make ourselves feel like dopes. And yet we carry on! That episode is out now.
Resolutions coming Friday!
Resolutions coming Friday!
2026 Pop Culture Predictions
Podcast Episode · Pop Culture Happy Hour · 12/31/2025 · 29m
podcasts.apple.com
December 31, 2025 at 1:56 PM
We at PCHH have been doing annual predictions for umpteen years, and unlike a lot of prognosticators, we also revisit last year’s predictions to make ourselves feel like dopes. And yet we carry on! That episode is out now.
Resolutions coming Friday!
Resolutions coming Friday!
It’s one of my favorite days of the year! Here are my 50 Wonderful Things From 2025.
Thanks as always to the editors who help wrangle this bear.
Thanks as always to the editors who help wrangle this bear.
50 wonderful things from 2025
Each year, critic Linda Holmes looks back on the year and compiles a list of the things that brought her joy.
www.npr.org
December 31, 2025 at 1:30 PM
It’s one of my favorite days of the year! Here are my 50 Wonderful Things From 2025.
Thanks as always to the editors who help wrangle this bear.
Thanks as always to the editors who help wrangle this bear.
The headline sounds less interesting than the piece, unsurprisingly, turns out to be.
For the New York Times, I wrote about the creative implications of the potential Netflix/WBD deal, and why I hope Netflix learns more from HBO than HBO learns from Netflix (gift link): www.nytimes.com/2025/12/31/o...
Opinion | One Factor Will Decide How Much You Enjoy TV Next Year
www.nytimes.com
December 31, 2025 at 1:24 PM
The headline sounds less interesting than the piece, unsurprisingly, turns out to be.
Man, we’re going to crash Netflix tomorrow night, aren’t we.
December 31, 2025 at 1:51 AM
Man, we’re going to crash Netflix tomorrow night, aren’t we.
“It’s not you, it’s me and the fact that I need to fix my car”
man breaks off a relationship with a woman bc he has to "replace key elements of my wardrobe"
December 31, 2025 at 12:40 AM
“It’s not you, it’s me and the fact that I need to fix my car”