Maggie Astor
@maggieastor.bsky.social
Reporter at The New York Times writing about the intersection of health and politics, especially in marginalized communities. NYT Guild steward. No, not one of those Astors.
Pinned
Maggie Astor
@maggieastor.bsky.social
· Dec 30
Homeless and Burning in America’s Hottest City
www.nytimes.com
Some work I’m proud of from this year (all of the links are gift links)…
I joined street-medicine teams in Phoenix in July as they tried to help unhoused people cope with increasingly extreme heat:
I joined street-medicine teams in Phoenix in July as they tried to help unhoused people cope with increasingly extreme heat:
when a pitch email for a supplement says it "blends clinically studied ingredients"
February 19, 2026 at 3:01 PM
when a pitch email for a supplement says it "blends clinically studied ingredients"
One night in college at around 4am when we were supposed to be writing our theses, my best friend looked up from her computer and said, "There should be some kind of Oscar special achievement category for having died in more than five time periods"
I can't handle this if he dies in the first episode
Sean Bean co-hosts a delightful birding show. Whether you like birds or not, the show offers the soothing timbre of soft raindrops on a drum. Oh, and commentary about birds.
February 19, 2026 at 4:07 AM
One night in college at around 4am when we were supposed to be writing our theses, my best friend looked up from her computer and said, "There should be some kind of Oscar special achievement category for having died in more than five time periods"
The good news: NYT has an ergonomics consultant who can help me figure out why my wrist hurts
The bad news: This involves sending a photo of my home workspace, which includes an "oh my god, what the fuck" mousepad that I did not anticipate anyone but me and my husband would see when I purchased it
The bad news: This involves sending a photo of my home workspace, which includes an "oh my god, what the fuck" mousepad that I did not anticipate anyone but me and my husband would see when I purchased it
February 17, 2026 at 4:59 PM
The good news: NYT has an ergonomics consultant who can help me figure out why my wrist hurts
The bad news: This involves sending a photo of my home workspace, which includes an "oh my god, what the fuck" mousepad that I did not anticipate anyone but me and my husband would see when I purchased it
The bad news: This involves sending a photo of my home workspace, which includes an "oh my god, what the fuck" mousepad that I did not anticipate anyone but me and my husband would see when I purchased it
Tortoises, they're just like us
Constant Sexual Aggression Drives Female Tortoises to Walk Off Cliffs
www.nytimes.com
February 16, 2026 at 10:03 PM
Tortoises, they're just like us
I'm sorry, everyone. This is my fault.
In 2020, in the depths of post-covid brain fog and lockdown depression, I couldn't write an article and started crying and said I wished a machine could turn my notes into an article.
I didn't actually want someone to claim a machine could do that for me.
In 2020, in the depths of post-covid brain fog and lockdown depression, I couldn't write an article and started crying and said I wished a machine could turn my notes into an article.
I didn't actually want someone to claim a machine could do that for me.
It’s easy to think writing is mainly the transcription of ideas you already have—that is, until you try to write something worthwhile, and you find what you thought were saying transform into something far more interesting in the process. This skips that last step, and that is *not* an improvement.
“We plan to hire an AI rewrite specialist to ingest the reporting by Hannah and others and use AI to convert it into stories.”
The editor of the Cleveland Plain Dealer said it will use AI to ‘write’ its articles.
www.cleveland.com/news/2025/10...
The editor of the Cleveland Plain Dealer said it will use AI to ‘write’ its articles.
www.cleveland.com/news/2025/10...
February 16, 2026 at 6:29 PM
I'm sorry, everyone. This is my fault.
In 2020, in the depths of post-covid brain fog and lockdown depression, I couldn't write an article and started crying and said I wished a machine could turn my notes into an article.
I didn't actually want someone to claim a machine could do that for me.
In 2020, in the depths of post-covid brain fog and lockdown depression, I couldn't write an article and started crying and said I wished a machine could turn my notes into an article.
I didn't actually want someone to claim a machine could do that for me.
If you know me well enough to invite me to your wedding, I am begging you to know me well enough to know that I didn't take my husband's name
February 13, 2026 at 5:20 PM
If you know me well enough to invite me to your wedding, I am begging you to know me well enough to know that I didn't take my husband's name
I met his parents. We'd been talking online for 2 months and he'd been talking me up to them (this was in college) and they didn't know it was our first date, so when he said I was picking him up, they asked me to come inside.
They learned the truth when our officiant told the story at our wedding.
They learned the truth when our officiant told the story at our wedding.
This is an unapologetically sappy feel-good subject (at least, I guess, for people in a happy relationship”). So, to prepare for Valentine’s Day, what did you and your partner do for a first date?
My wife and I went to tea at Huntington Gardens and walked around.
My wife and I went to tea at Huntington Gardens and walked around.
On our first date, my spouse and I spent like an hour talking about footnotes.
February 13, 2026 at 4:19 PM
I met his parents. We'd been talking online for 2 months and he'd been talking me up to them (this was in college) and they didn't know it was our first date, so when he said I was picking him up, they asked me to come inside.
They learned the truth when our officiant told the story at our wedding.
They learned the truth when our officiant told the story at our wedding.
Reposted by Maggie Astor
Meta's plan for launching glasses that people can use to secretly identify strangers on the street is to do it "during a dynamic political environment" when people who care about why that's bad are "focused on other concerns."
www.nytimes.com/2026/02/13/t...
www.nytimes.com/2026/02/13/t...
Meta Plans to Add Facial Recognition Technology to Its Smart Glasses
www.nytimes.com
February 13, 2026 at 2:54 PM
Meta's plan for launching glasses that people can use to secretly identify strangers on the street is to do it "during a dynamic political environment" when people who care about why that's bad are "focused on other concerns."
www.nytimes.com/2026/02/13/t...
www.nytimes.com/2026/02/13/t...
I know getting a large tax refund is not actually good because it means you gave the IRS an interest-free loan, but I just paid off a medical debt with mine and I feel like I won the lottery
February 12, 2026 at 5:30 PM
I know getting a large tax refund is not actually good because it means you gave the IRS an interest-free loan, but I just paid off a medical debt with mine and I feel like I won the lottery
"C.B.P. officials thought they were firing on a cartel drone, the people said, but it turned out to be a party balloon."
Border Officials Are Said to Have Caused El Paso Closure by Firing Anti-Drone Laser
www.nytimes.com
February 12, 2026 at 3:20 AM
"C.B.P. officials thought they were firing on a cartel drone, the people said, but it turned out to be a party balloon."
Where do people find the energy to send me emails complaining about the word "the" in a phrase like "the longevity influencer Peter Attia"? In 2026? In this economy?
February 10, 2026 at 11:59 PM
Where do people find the energy to send me emails complaining about the word "the" in a phrase like "the longevity influencer Peter Attia"? In 2026? In this economy?
Reposted by Maggie Astor
Super Bowl viewers Sunday speculated that 5-year-old Liam Conejo Ramos appeared in the halftime show. In fact, he has been in hiding with his family.
“He can’t sleep well at night. He wakes up three or four times a night screaming, ‘Daddy, Daddy,’” Liam's father Adrian Conejo Arias, said.
“He can’t sleep well at night. He wakes up three or four times a night screaming, ‘Daddy, Daddy,’” Liam's father Adrian Conejo Arias, said.
‘He’s not the same’: Father of Liam Conejo Ramos says 5-year-old continues to suffer
Some people thought they say the 5-year-old during the Super Bowl halftime show. But Liam is still in hiding with his family, after he and his father were detained and then released from a Texas deten...
www.mprnews.org
February 10, 2026 at 1:11 AM
Super Bowl viewers Sunday speculated that 5-year-old Liam Conejo Ramos appeared in the halftime show. In fact, he has been in hiding with his family.
“He can’t sleep well at night. He wakes up three or four times a night screaming, ‘Daddy, Daddy,’” Liam's father Adrian Conejo Arias, said.
“He can’t sleep well at night. He wakes up three or four times a night screaming, ‘Daddy, Daddy,’” Liam's father Adrian Conejo Arias, said.
This type of story is so exhausting to me as someone who still masks. I don't expect people around me to mask (unless you're sick; then yes). I just want people not to make a big deal out of mine.
Which, thankfully, almost no one in my life does. But in articles, and not just this one, it's EXTREME
Which, thankfully, almost no one in my life does. But in articles, and not just this one, it's EXTREME
For most people, the pandemic days of masking are behind us. In certain corners of the Winter Olympics, though, things still look a lot like they did in Covid times. Some athletes are taking extreme measures to stay healthy. n.pr/4akK70l
Olympic Covid restrictions are gone, but some athletes still self-quarantining
For most people, the pandemic days of masking are behind us. In certain corners of the Winter Olympics, though, things still look a lot like they did in Covid times. Some athletes are taking extreme measures to stay healthy.
n.pr
February 9, 2026 at 11:52 PM
This type of story is so exhausting to me as someone who still masks. I don't expect people around me to mask (unless you're sick; then yes). I just want people not to make a big deal out of mine.
Which, thankfully, almost no one in my life does. But in articles, and not just this one, it's EXTREME
Which, thankfully, almost no one in my life does. But in articles, and not just this one, it's EXTREME
Is... google down
Is that a thing
Is that a thing
February 9, 2026 at 9:27 PM
Is... google down
Is that a thing
Is that a thing
If god wanted me to go outside he would have made outside habitable
February 8, 2026 at 5:04 PM
If god wanted me to go outside he would have made outside habitable
Every single year I buy an assortment of Girl Scout cookies in the interest of "branching out," and every single year it turns out that no, I still only like Thin Mints and should have just gotten 10 boxes of those
February 8, 2026 at 4:25 PM
Every single year I buy an assortment of Girl Scout cookies in the interest of "branching out," and every single year it turns out that no, I still only like Thin Mints and should have just gotten 10 boxes of those
This is very true — any journalist can confirm that the most important stories often aren't the ones that get the most clicks — but it also bears endless repeating that Bezos isn't even succeeding by his own journalistically bankrupt metric! The Post has hemorrhaged readers because of his decisions!
This just shows a fundamental misunderstanding of how to do news. Data helps, but data doesn’t tell a reporter to spend a years-long investigation into child labor or an editor to place staff in a country on the brink of war. What exactly does Bezos think WaPo’s “journalistic mission” is?
Jeff Bezos' statement, his first since last week's layoffs: "The Post has an essential journalistic mission and an extraordinary opportunity. Each and every day our readers give us a roadmap to success. The data tells us what is valuable and where to focus."
February 8, 2026 at 12:59 AM
This is very true — any journalist can confirm that the most important stories often aren't the ones that get the most clicks — but it also bears endless repeating that Bezos isn't even succeeding by his own journalistically bankrupt metric! The Post has hemorrhaged readers because of his decisions!
Reposted by Maggie Astor
“I’m glad Will Lewis has been fired. I wish it had happened before he fired all my friends.”
www.nytimes.com/2026/02/07/t...
www.nytimes.com/2026/02/07/t...
Washington Post C.E.O. Will Lewis Steps Down After Stormy Tenure
www.nytimes.com
February 7, 2026 at 10:56 PM
“I’m glad Will Lewis has been fired. I wish it had happened before he fired all my friends.”
www.nytimes.com/2026/02/07/t...
www.nytimes.com/2026/02/07/t...
Ah, Tumblr, a company that famously allowed "customer data to drive its decisions" and "delivered what was most valuable to its audience"
Will Lewis is resigning as WaPo CEO, former Tumblr CEO Jeff D’Onofrio is the paper’s new acting CEO and publisher, per memos to staff
February 7, 2026 at 11:01 PM
Ah, Tumblr, a company that famously allowed "customer data to drive its decisions" and "delivered what was most valuable to its audience"
Things that cause this level of consternation: me clearing my throat
Things that he doesn't even seem to notice: every single window rattling in the wind
Things that he doesn't even seem to notice: every single window rattling in the wind
February 7, 2026 at 8:12 PM
Things that cause this level of consternation: me clearing my throat
Things that he doesn't even seem to notice: every single window rattling in the wind
Things that he doesn't even seem to notice: every single window rattling in the wind
This is because there is nothing good to do in winter, so people with death wishes from the cold and dark had to make things up
Welcome to the Winter Olympics don't ask about how many people died or were injured in the making of this sport please and thank you.
February 7, 2026 at 4:38 PM
This is because there is nothing good to do in winter, so people with death wishes from the cold and dark had to make things up
What did I do to deserve this
February 7, 2026 at 5:34 AM
What did I do to deserve this
If you're not watching NJ-11, you should be
An AIPAC super PAC spent ~2 million on anti-Malinowski ads bc, while generally pro-Israel, he expressed openness to conditions on aid. But they didn't openly attack on Israel; they attacked from left on other issues. Now Mejia, a progressive Dem, may win
An AIPAC super PAC spent ~2 million on anti-Malinowski ads bc, while generally pro-Israel, he expressed openness to conditions on aid. But they didn't openly attack on Israel; they attacked from left on other issues. Now Mejia, a progressive Dem, may win
New Jersey 11th Congressional District Special Primary Election Results 2026
Get live results and maps from the 2026 New Jersey special primary election.
www.nytimes.com
February 6, 2026 at 3:48 AM
If you're not watching NJ-11, you should be
An AIPAC super PAC spent ~2 million on anti-Malinowski ads bc, while generally pro-Israel, he expressed openness to conditions on aid. But they didn't openly attack on Israel; they attacked from left on other issues. Now Mejia, a progressive Dem, may win
An AIPAC super PAC spent ~2 million on anti-Malinowski ads bc, while generally pro-Israel, he expressed openness to conditions on aid. But they didn't openly attack on Israel; they attacked from left on other issues. Now Mejia, a progressive Dem, may win
A thing I've been thinking about more and more, as I continually see alerts that a measles patient traveled through this or that airport, is that there's a decent chance at some point we'll stop seeing those articles just as we pretty quickly stopped seeing articles about Covid patients on flights
February 6, 2026 at 1:01 AM
A thing I've been thinking about more and more, as I continually see alerts that a measles patient traveled through this or that airport, is that there's a decent chance at some point we'll stop seeing those articles just as we pretty quickly stopped seeing articles about Covid patients on flights
Can it please just fucking be April already
February 5, 2026 at 2:56 PM
Can it please just fucking be April already
