Martha Bayne
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marthabayne.bsky.social
Martha Bayne
@marthabayne.bsky.social
Writer, editor, dancer, souper. Coeditor of NOTHING COMPARES TO YOU: WHAT SINEAD O'CONNOR MEANS TO US. Various responsibilities @ University of Illinois Press, South Side Weekly, Theater Oobleck, Soup & Bread. Essays @ marthabayne.substack.com. .
Reposted by Martha Bayne
The SAVE Act is just straight-up about disenfranchising women.
February 12, 2026 at 9:29 PM
Reposted by Martha Bayne
Gov. Tim Walz: "They left us with deep damage. Generational trauma. Economic ruin in some cases. The left us with many unanswered questions. Where are our children? Where and what is the process of the investigation into those that were responsible for the deaths of Renee and Alex?"
February 12, 2026 at 4:02 PM
here we go again!
Taibbi, son of a prominent TV journo, goes to Russia, gets up to lots of bad behavior with underage Russian girls, potentially calling himself to the attention of Russian officials who might see an opportunity there.
chicagoreader.com/blogs/twenty...
February 12, 2026 at 9:28 PM
So here for this one ....
If you've ever wanted to get into treasure hunting at estate sales but felt intimidated by the unwritten rules and codes or wondered how people find such gems, Bring Cash is for you!

Cover design by @downpourdw.bsky.social

Releasing March 31st! Preorder here: beltpublishing.com/products/bri...
February 12, 2026 at 3:20 PM
Reposted by Martha Bayne
This is the second account - the first being in Chicago - of DHS agents mass detaining people and then *sorting them by race*.
More than 400 people, including hundreds of citizens, were “sorted” at gun point into racial and ethnic groups by 200 ICE agents who fired flash-bang grenades into cars with people inside, pointed guns at children & demanded their zip tied parents not comfort them. apple.news/Ausdx6kWtT0e...
Idaho families sue over immigration raid that swept up hundreds, including U.S. citizens — NBC News
About 400 people, including children and U.S. citizens, were detained for four hours while they were denied food and water in the raid, according to the lawsuit.
apple.news
February 12, 2026 at 2:26 AM
Reposted by Martha Bayne
February 11, 2026 at 11:01 PM
Reposted by Martha Bayne
Jayapal: To the survivors in the room, if you are willing, please stand. And if you are willing, please raise your hands. If you have still not been able to meet with this DOJ. Please note for the record that every single survivor has raised their hand.
February 11, 2026 at 3:45 PM
kudos to this caption writer
February 11, 2026 at 8:35 PM
Very much had the "intense chlorine" smell up in Waukegan yesterday
What’s that weird smell? Officials are investigating as Chicagoans complain of "chemical" odor. blockclubchi.co/4ami4gV
February 11, 2026 at 3:39 PM
Reposted by Martha Bayne
This person has never been on a train
Markwayne Mullin defends "show me your papers": "If you're here legally, there's nothing to hide. Most people already are walking around with a government-issued ID, meaning your Real ID or your driver's license. If you go board a train here, you gotta show your ID."
February 11, 2026 at 1:49 PM
Reposted by Martha Bayne
In the spirit of the Winter Olympics, I shall be attempting a quad axel from my stool during the conversation. @marthabayne.bsky.social will be on hand for the inevitable first aid needs.

#booksky📚 @millerscave.bsky.social #musicbooks #americana #insurgentcountry #oakparkil #dandelionbooks
@millerscave.bsky.social, author of THE HOURS ARE LONG, BUT THE PAY IS LOW, will be in conversation with @marthabayne.bsky.social at Dandelion Bookshop on Sat, Feb 15, 2026 at 4pm CST!
dandelionbookshop.com/events#:~:te...
Events - Dandelion Bookshop
139 South Oak Park Ave
dandelionbookshop.com
February 10, 2026 at 8:39 PM
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Sometimes it pays not to sign the contract because then it means you didn’t sign the non disclosure agreement.
Google commissioned Judy Chicago to create a large scale work of art for the (former) James R. Thompson Center. Yet Chicago was unable to acquire accurate architectural drawings of the interior from the team, experienced long delays in communication, and was told that her colors were "too bright."
Want a Masterclass in How Not to Work With Artists? Ask Google | Artnet News
Renown artist Judy Chicago shares her misadventures with an ambitious public art commission for the tech giant.
news.artnet.com
February 10, 2026 at 5:13 PM
Reposted by Martha Bayne
LONDON (AP) — Palace says King Charles III will support police who are assessing reports that ex-Prince Andrew gave files to Epstein.
February 9, 2026 at 6:23 PM
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Reposted by Martha Bayne
Crockett: "The US is falling apart, partially bc he's allowing for killings in the street, but also bc we have a 34 count convicted felon being shielded from any type of accountability as it relates to a child sex trafficking ring. I don't understand why we're pretending any of this is normal."
February 9, 2026 at 3:55 PM
Reposted by Martha Bayne
Is there some sort of award for perfectly missing the point?
February 9, 2026 at 3:57 PM
Did someone say mass market paperback?
February 8, 2026 at 4:56 PM
Reposted by Martha Bayne
If you're a business owner who fires someone you have assigned to an overseas job and you don't buy them a plane ticket home you should actually go to prison
Former Washington Post journalists have launched a GoFundMe to help repatriate fired staff members who are effectively stranded in foreign countries.

One of the richest men in the world fired them from the paper and didn’t even pay to ensure they got home.

Abolish the billionaire class:
Donate to Support for Washington Post international employees, organized by Michelle Lee
Among the hundreds of journalists laid off by The Washington Post on … Michelle Lee needs your support for Support for Washington Post international employees
www.gofundme.com
February 8, 2026 at 1:44 PM
“I cancelled my Disney account but desperately want to watch the Muppet Show“—a trolley problem for our time
February 7, 2026 at 11:52 PM
Reposted by Martha Bayne
“Renee was not the first person killed, and she was not the last,” Becca Good said. “You know my wife’s name and you know Alex’s name, but there are many others in this city being harmed that you don’t know — their families are hurting just like mine, even if they don’t look like mine.”
Renee Good's partner addresses Minneapolis immigration crackdown one month after killing
Becca Good has seldom spoken out since Renee Good was shot and killed by an ICE agent in Minneapolis on Jan. 7.
nbcnews.to
February 7, 2026 at 9:00 PM
If you missed it, I will grill Rob again and serve him with a nice Chianti on Feb 15 at Dandelion Books in Oak Park!
Want to thank everyone who came out to City Lit Books in Chicago's Logan Square for @marthabayne.bsky.social grilling me about "The Hours Are Long But the Pay Is Low" on @illinoispress.bsky.social . I left some signed copies behind if you missed it. Support Indie Bookstores!
#booksky📚 #musicbooks
February 7, 2026 at 8:08 PM
Reposted by Martha Bayne
IMPORTANT OLYMPIC NEWS:

THE POLISH FIGURE SKATING TEAM HAS A PLUSH PIEROGI
February 6, 2026 at 3:56 PM
Reposted by Martha Bayne
this is where it all went wrong www.nytimes.com/2026/02/06/b...
So Long to Cheap Books You Could Fit in Your Pocket
www.nytimes.com
February 6, 2026 at 2:11 PM
Reposted by Martha Bayne
There's exactly one normal man left on planet Earth.
Child at the podium: “A woo woo woo.”

Mamdani: That’s how I felt when we came up with this plan. Together, we will expand the idea of what is possible in our city—and what sounds and noises we can make at a press conference.
February 6, 2026 at 5:12 AM
Reposted by Martha Bayne
So nice to see @millerscave.bsky.social in conversation with @marthabayne.bsky.social of @illinoispress.bsky.social tonight at the great City Lit Books in Logan Square. A lot of memories evoked of the vital and full 1990's Chicago independent American music culture.
Join Bloodshot Records co-founder, @millerscave.bsky.social to celebrate his memoir, THE HOURS ARE LONG, BUT THE PAY IS LOW, @citylit_books on Thurs, Feb 5, 2026 at 6:30pm CST.

This *free* evening will include a convo w/ editor @marthabayne.bsky.social. RSVP below.
citylitbooks.com/events/43247...
Author Event: Rob Miller with Martha Bayne | City Lit Books
This cozy bookstore features staff-curated selections, book clubs, and author events for all ages.
citylitbooks.com
February 6, 2026 at 3:29 AM