Michele Somerville she/her
@michelesomerville.bsky.social
NYC mama, poet, writer, lifer teacher, religion scholar.
Books (poems): Glamourous Life, Black Irish, WISEGAL. Bylines: NYT, Religion Dispatches, Harvard Div. Bulletin… indietheology.substack.com/https://linktr.ee/mmsnypoet
Books (poems): Glamourous Life, Black Irish, WISEGAL. Bylines: NYT, Religion Dispatches, Harvard Div. Bulletin… indietheology.substack.com/https://linktr.ee/mmsnypoet
1/“In 2019, the Vatican’s Secretariat of State became embroiled in the controversial purchase of a former Harrods warehouse in London that cost the religious institution $400 million. The nine individuals involved in the purchase — financiers, >
religionnews.com/2026/02/03/f...
religionnews.com/2026/02/03/f...
Francis' actions scrutinized as Vatican appeals court reviews finance trial
VATICAN CITY (RNS) — As the Vatican’s highest appeals court reviews the landmark finance trial, defense lawyers are increasingly focusing on an uncomfortable question: the legality of actions taken by...
religionnews.com
February 4, 2026 at 5:00 PM
1/“In 2019, the Vatican’s Secretariat of State became embroiled in the controversial purchase of a former Harrods warehouse in London that cost the religious institution $400 million. The nine individuals involved in the purchase — financiers, >
religionnews.com/2026/02/03/f...
religionnews.com/2026/02/03/f...
Reposted by Michele Somerville she/her
Two weeks ago, the El Paso Medical Examiner ruled the death of a 55yo Cuban detainee at an immigration center in El Paso was a homicide.
ICE bypassed the county ME w/ the latest death, sending the body to an Army hospital instead.
www.texastribune.org/2026/02/03/t...
ICE bypassed the county ME w/ the latest death, sending the body to an Army hospital instead.
www.texastribune.org/2026/02/03/t...
February 4, 2026 at 3:20 PM
Two weeks ago, the El Paso Medical Examiner ruled the death of a 55yo Cuban detainee at an immigration center in El Paso was a homicide.
ICE bypassed the county ME w/ the latest death, sending the body to an Army hospital instead.
www.texastribune.org/2026/02/03/t...
ICE bypassed the county ME w/ the latest death, sending the body to an Army hospital instead.
www.texastribune.org/2026/02/03/t...
Reposted by Michele Somerville she/her
Reposted by Michele Somerville she/her
Trump humiliating again and again..
The American moron chases Russian riches while Putin promises not to bomb Ukraine's cities.
Largest attack of the war. Trump really is Putin's bitch.
The American moron chases Russian riches while Putin promises not to bomb Ukraine's cities.
Largest attack of the war. Trump really is Putin's bitch.
February 3, 2026 at 6:32 AM
Trump humiliating again and again..
The American moron chases Russian riches while Putin promises not to bomb Ukraine's cities.
Largest attack of the war. Trump really is Putin's bitch.
The American moron chases Russian riches while Putin promises not to bomb Ukraine's cities.
Largest attack of the war. Trump really is Putin's bitch.
Reposted by Michele Somerville she/her
ICE will be handling election security.
Never again wonder why Russia was willing to spend billions getting Trump into office.
Never again wonder why Russia was willing to spend billions getting Trump into office.
February 4, 2026 at 7:20 AM
ICE will be handling election security.
Never again wonder why Russia was willing to spend billions getting Trump into office.
Never again wonder why Russia was willing to spend billions getting Trump into office.
Reposted by Michele Somerville she/her
Luke Ganger, Renee Good’s brother: “In the last few weeks, our family took some consolation thinking that perhaps ‘Nee’s death would bring about change in our country. It has not.”
February 3, 2026 at 8:36 PM
Luke Ganger, Renee Good’s brother: “In the last few weeks, our family took some consolation thinking that perhaps ‘Nee’s death would bring about change in our country. It has not.”
This use of “biblical” is inane. It means nothing. Every time this Johnson refers to the Bible, I wonder whether he has read it.
Q: Pope Leo cited Matthew 25:35 to critique Donald Trump's mass deportation agenda. How would you respond to Pope Leo in scripture?
MIKE JOHNSON: Sovereign borders are biblical and right and just. It's not because we hate the people on the outside. It's because we love the people on the inside.
MIKE JOHNSON: Sovereign borders are biblical and right and just. It's not because we hate the people on the outside. It's because we love the people on the inside.
February 4, 2026 at 2:20 PM
This use of “biblical” is inane. It means nothing. Every time this Johnson refers to the Bible, I wonder whether he has read it.
Reposted by Michele Somerville she/her
Something I can’t quite a see about Epstein is: is there anyone else like him? Even bracketing for a moment the monstrous systematic sex crimes, are there lots of super rich dudes who are just constantly emailing and texting and socializing with a who’s who of the elite or was he unique ?
February 4, 2026 at 2:15 AM
Something I can’t quite a see about Epstein is: is there anyone else like him? Even bracketing for a moment the monstrous systematic sex crimes, are there lots of super rich dudes who are just constantly emailing and texting and socializing with a who’s who of the elite or was he unique ?
Folks often ask me why the “Vatican” can take decades to remove a rapist cleric or his accomplices.
Via this story we see how the Roman #Catholic hierarchy/ #Vatican generally acts decisively & immediately when offenders attack their ruling/governing/power structures.1/
apnews.com/article/vati...
Via this story we see how the Roman #Catholic hierarchy/ #Vatican generally acts decisively & immediately when offenders attack their ruling/governing/power structures.1/
apnews.com/article/vati...
Pope Leo XIV faces crisis as a traditionalist group plans bishop consecrations without consent
Pope Leo XIV is facing his first major crisis with traditionalist Catholics. A breakaway group attached to the traditional Latin Mass, the Society of St.
apnews.com
February 4, 2026 at 2:04 PM
Folks often ask me why the “Vatican” can take decades to remove a rapist cleric or his accomplices.
Via this story we see how the Roman #Catholic hierarchy/ #Vatican generally acts decisively & immediately when offenders attack their ruling/governing/power structures.1/
apnews.com/article/vati...
Via this story we see how the Roman #Catholic hierarchy/ #Vatican generally acts decisively & immediately when offenders attack their ruling/governing/power structures.1/
apnews.com/article/vati...
“…but as my stores of hope have definitively come to an end, I will now speak about angels.”
László Krasznahorkai
László Krasznahorkai
Nobel Prize in Literature 2025
The Nobel Prize in Literature 2025 was awarded to László Krasznahorkai "for his compelling and visionary oeuvre that, in the midst of apocalyptic terror, reaffirms the power of art"
www.nobelprize.org
February 4, 2026 at 1:53 PM
Silver lining:
It’s obscene to see JD Vance serving as his dictator’s “Blondi,” but it will be interesting to see Rubio & Vance grapple as 2028 approaches. Best in mind that the dictator called for the public hanging of Vance’s predecessor. T Rump’s has no friends, doesn’t do loyalty.
It’s obscene to see JD Vance serving as his dictator’s “Blondi,” but it will be interesting to see Rubio & Vance grapple as 2028 approaches. Best in mind that the dictator called for the public hanging of Vance’s predecessor. T Rump’s has no friends, doesn’t do loyalty.
Thank God we have a Secretary of State who knows his facts AND has the patience of Job. Great job, Secretary Rubio
February 4, 2026 at 1:46 PM
Silver lining:
It’s obscene to see JD Vance serving as his dictator’s “Blondi,” but it will be interesting to see Rubio & Vance grapple as 2028 approaches. Best in mind that the dictator called for the public hanging of Vance’s predecessor. T Rump’s has no friends, doesn’t do loyalty.
It’s obscene to see JD Vance serving as his dictator’s “Blondi,” but it will be interesting to see Rubio & Vance grapple as 2028 approaches. Best in mind that the dictator called for the public hanging of Vance’s predecessor. T Rump’s has no friends, doesn’t do loyalty.
This is not only evil. It’s also him showing his amorality ass. ⬇️
When I was in Minneapolis, I heard a number of crazy stories. But near the top of the list:
February 4, 2026 at 1:38 PM
This is not only evil. It’s also him showing his amorality ass. ⬇️
Reposted by Michele Somerville she/her
#ClipOfTheDay: In this video, Rachel Eliza Griffiths talks about grief, poetry, vulnerability, and writing her first memoir, The Flower Bearers (Random House), for an episode of Poured Over: The Barnes & Noble Podcast with host Miwa Messer. at.pw.org/GriffithsFlowerBearers
February 3, 2026 at 1:00 AM
#ClipOfTheDay: In this video, Rachel Eliza Griffiths talks about grief, poetry, vulnerability, and writing her first memoir, The Flower Bearers (Random House), for an episode of Poured Over: The Barnes & Noble Podcast with host Miwa Messer. at.pw.org/GriffithsFlowerBearers
Reposted by Michele Somerville she/her
Based in Cuba, Ediciones Vigía has transformed over forty years from an informal gathering of creatives into an artisan press and publishing workshop. Their books are crafted by hand, incorporating recycled or repurposed materials, and inviting slower, tactile engagement. at.pw.org/EdicionesVigía
February 3, 2026 at 1:01 PM
Based in Cuba, Ediciones Vigía has transformed over forty years from an informal gathering of creatives into an artisan press and publishing workshop. Their books are crafted by hand, incorporating recycled or repurposed materials, and inviting slower, tactile engagement. at.pw.org/EdicionesVigía
Reposted by Michele Somerville she/her
In 2020, I wrote @religiondispatches.org about a prominent MN Christian Right operative who foreshadowed recent events when he agreed with a commenter on Facebook that Rep. Ilhan Omar “needs to be Hung” adding that “I can think of other treasonous persons who can join that parade.” bit.ly/45ATG9Q
State Director of Christian Right Legislative Group, 'Project Blitz,' Calls for Lynching of Rep. Ilhan Omar (Updated)
UPDATE, July 27, 2020: Rev. Dale Witherington recently returned to the scene of his Facebook crime and wrote that he would be taking time away from Facebook and deleting his app. This was three days a...
bit.ly
January 29, 2026 at 12:09 AM
In 2020, I wrote @religiondispatches.org about a prominent MN Christian Right operative who foreshadowed recent events when he agreed with a commenter on Facebook that Rep. Ilhan Omar “needs to be Hung” adding that “I can think of other treasonous persons who can join that parade.” bit.ly/45ATG9Q
“Smile honey.”
The question was about justice for the Epstein survivors.
But since he doesn’t give a shit about them, and only cares about himself and his rich pedophile buddies, he went on the attack.
But since he doesn’t give a shit about them, and only cares about himself and his rich pedophile buddies, he went on the attack.
February 4, 2026 at 1:23 PM
“Smile honey.”
Reposted by Michele Somerville she/her
Book tour for A Suit or a Suitcase ☁️📖🧳 open.substack.com/pub/maggiesm...
January 27, 2026 at 2:55 PM
Book tour for A Suit or a Suitcase ☁️📖🧳 open.substack.com/pub/maggiesm...
“Two weeks later, the DOJ released the Epstein files. The first people I looked up were the ones who tried to prevent my two books on Jeffrey Epstein, Hiding in Plain Sight and They Knew, from being published. 1/
open.substack.com/pub/sarahken...
open.substack.com/pub/sarahken...
Jackhammering Into the Sewer
A look through the Epstein files.
open.substack.com
February 4, 2026 at 1:10 PM
“Two weeks later, the DOJ released the Epstein files. The first people I looked up were the ones who tried to prevent my two books on Jeffrey Epstein, Hiding in Plain Sight and They Knew, from being published. 1/
open.substack.com/pub/sarahken...
open.substack.com/pub/sarahken...
Reposted by Michele Somerville she/her
Please read this. You may think, “why bother, I already knew they were Nazis.” Yes, the people who posted this are Nazis. But it’s important to keep track of where the Nazis are at. That’s what the observers all about. We need to do that informationally as well. This is an escalation.
University of Illinois college republicans advocate for executing protesters as “traitors” with art that takes a disturbing killing and makes it even more extreme.
dailyillini.com/news-stories...
dailyillini.com/news-stories...
‘Fell the enemies:’ Illini Republicans support ICE amid killings - The Daily Illini
In a post that included a graphic of a presumed officer holding a gun to someone's head, Illini Republicans stated that they “stand with ICE."
dailyillini.com
February 2, 2026 at 5:28 PM
Please read this. You may think, “why bother, I already knew they were Nazis.” Yes, the people who posted this are Nazis. But it’s important to keep track of where the Nazis are at. That’s what the observers all about. We need to do that informationally as well. This is an escalation.
Reposted by Michele Somerville she/her
I’d like to think I’d have the fortitude to ban anyone who’d post & defend such an image—in *any* context—from my classroom whether or not the university sanctioned them. It is plausibly read as a declaration of violent intent & as such disables the work of a classroom.
February 2, 2026 at 5:36 PM
I’d like to think I’d have the fortitude to ban anyone who’d post & defend such an image—in *any* context—from my classroom whether or not the university sanctioned them. It is plausibly read as a declaration of violent intent & as such disables the work of a classroom.
Reposted by Michele Somerville she/her
Quite a feather in his cap.
🚨 Documents leaked to me reveal a federal watchlist of American protesters suspected of being Antifa - including its supposed leader.
One Department of Homeland Security document says a 29-year-old resident of Portland "is the leader of Antifa":
www.kenklippenstein.com/p/feds-ident...
One Department of Homeland Security document says a 29-year-old resident of Portland "is the leader of Antifa":
www.kenklippenstein.com/p/feds-ident...
Feds Identify “Leader of Antifa”
The list they're creating says so, anyway
www.kenklippenstein.com
February 3, 2026 at 2:13 AM
Quite a feather in his cap.
Reposted by Michele Somerville she/her
Birth control saves lives.
Opposing it isn’t pro-life: it’s pro-birth.
Opposing it isn’t pro-life: it’s pro-birth.
February 3, 2026 at 5:04 PM
Birth control saves lives.
Opposing it isn’t pro-life: it’s pro-birth.
Opposing it isn’t pro-life: it’s pro-birth.
Reposted by Michele Somerville she/her
68% of Catholics did not want to see Roe vs. Wade overturned.
February 3, 2026 at 8:01 PM
68% of Catholics did not want to see Roe vs. Wade overturned.
Reposted by Michele Somerville she/her
When my mom was in memory care, one of the things I did for her was make a photo book of her paintings. Dozens of them. The nursing staff was amazed and Im sure it helped them see beyond the confused old woman they saw every day. They looked at it more than she did.
January 28, 2026 at 2:34 PM
When my mom was in memory care, one of the things I did for her was make a photo book of her paintings. Dozens of them. The nursing staff was amazed and Im sure it helped them see beyond the confused old woman they saw every day. They looked at it more than she did.
Reposted by Michele Somerville she/her
Trump wants to seize our elections and take away your right to vote so he can stay in power.
It’s un-American, authoritarian and dangerous.
www.usatoday.com/story/news/p...
It’s un-American, authoritarian and dangerous.
www.usatoday.com/story/news/p...
Trump says Republicans should 'nationalize' elections, take control from states
President Trump said Republicans should try to "nationalize" elections as he keeps leveling unfounded claims of voter fraud in the 2020 election.
www.usatoday.com
February 3, 2026 at 10:09 PM
Trump wants to seize our elections and take away your right to vote so he can stay in power.
It’s un-American, authoritarian and dangerous.
www.usatoday.com/story/news/p...
It’s un-American, authoritarian and dangerous.
www.usatoday.com/story/news/p...