Morgan Leigh Davies
@mldavies.bsky.social
Victorian lady invalid, lying in bed surrounded by books. Long covid, ME, other ailments. Bylines in The Sick Times, Electric Lit, Jezebel, etc; cohost of Overinvested pod in absentia; picking away at a novel. she/her https://linktr.ee/morganleighdavies
Pinned
Belatedly sharing some of my favorite pieces from last year. I wrote essays, reviews, and conducted interviews, about fiction and all kinds of nonfiction.
This year I plan to do more of the same but hopefully at some new outlets in addition to the places I write regularly. Commission me!
This year I plan to do more of the same but hopefully at some new outlets in addition to the places I write regularly. Commission me!
Reposted by Morgan Leigh Davies
it's so, so, so frustrating how they act like people applying for asylum are subject to removal proceedings. that is not the law!!!!
Just heard back from DHS on why they abruptly expedited Ramos' asylum hearing:
“These are regular removal proceedings. This is standard procedure and there is nothing retaliatory about enforcing the nation’s immigration laws. He will receive full due process."
(This is not standard procedure.)
“These are regular removal proceedings. This is standard procedure and there is nothing retaliatory about enforcing the nation’s immigration laws. He will receive full due process."
(This is not standard procedure.)
February 6, 2026 at 8:17 PM
it's so, so, so frustrating how they act like people applying for asylum are subject to removal proceedings. that is not the law!!!!
literally sickening
HAPPENING NOW: DHS just expedited Liam Conejo Ramos' asylum hearing to this morning, meaning it's possible the five-year-old and his family could be deported as soon as today.
Rep. Joaquin Castro: "The Trump administration is trying to take him away again." www.huffpost.com/entry/trump-...
Rep. Joaquin Castro: "The Trump administration is trying to take him away again." www.huffpost.com/entry/trump-...
Five-Year-Old Liam Ramos Is In His Asylum Hearing Right Now
www.huffpost.com
February 6, 2026 at 8:09 PM
literally sickening
It’s all so bleak right now but if you want to support one of these writers, Sebastian Smee had a wonderful book about Manet and Morisot and the Franco-Prussian war out recently: bookshop.org/p/books/pari...
February 6, 2026 at 8:08 PM
It’s all so bleak right now but if you want to support one of these writers, Sebastian Smee had a wonderful book about Manet and Morisot and the Franco-Prussian war out recently: bookshop.org/p/books/pari...
Reposted by Morgan Leigh Davies
Sebastian Smee (art), Chris Richards (pop music), Michael Brodeur (classical), Lili Loofbourow (TV), Naveen Kumar (theater), Ann Hornaday (movies, who left last year and hadn't been replaced). All great talents, all gone. Find them wherever they land, I know I will. 2/3
February 6, 2026 at 7:23 PM
Sebastian Smee (art), Chris Richards (pop music), Michael Brodeur (classical), Lili Loofbourow (TV), Naveen Kumar (theater), Ann Hornaday (movies, who left last year and hadn't been replaced). All great talents, all gone. Find them wherever they land, I know I will. 2/3
Reposted by Morgan Leigh Davies
The Post's announcement named Book World as a discrete entity being eliminated, which led to a lot of kind words, all of which are greatly appreciated. But other critics weren't in a section entirely eliminated (though what will remain of it, I have no idea), so I've seen much less about them. 1/2
February 6, 2026 at 7:16 PM
The Post's announcement named Book World as a discrete entity being eliminated, which led to a lot of kind words, all of which are greatly appreciated. But other critics weren't in a section entirely eliminated (though what will remain of it, I have no idea), so I've seen much less about them. 1/2
IMO the show’s efforts to be more progressive have fallen a bit flat so far, obviously I appreciate them trying to seed some of this stuff in (people get huge amounts of medical info from TV) but also… like be serious.
"Let's all work together to lower your hospital bill!" Yeah, no. Too much fantasy might switch back to a Knight of the Seven Kingdoms for a bit more realism
February 6, 2026 at 3:53 AM
IMO the show’s efforts to be more progressive have fallen a bit flat so far, obviously I appreciate them trying to seed some of this stuff in (people get huge amounts of medical info from TV) but also… like be serious.
Reposted by Morgan Leigh Davies
They’re trying to run the Kilmar Abrego Garcia playbook with a five year old boy in a bunny hat because nobody can find peace if they embarrass the Trump administration publicly. Normal people didn’t like it with Garcia and they really aren’t going to like it for Liam.
BREAKING: The federal government has filed a motion seeking to end asylum claims for the family of Liam Conejo Ramos, according to the lawyer representing the family.
DHS has requested expedited deportation proceedings against family of Liam Conejo Ramos
The federal government has filed a motion seeking to end asylum claims for the family of Liam Conejo Ramos, according to the lawyer representing the family.
www.mprnews.org
February 6, 2026 at 2:51 AM
They’re trying to run the Kilmar Abrego Garcia playbook with a five year old boy in a bunny hat because nobody can find peace if they embarrass the Trump administration publicly. Normal people didn’t like it with Garcia and they really aren’t going to like it for Liam.
After starting the season with a few eps that made Dr. Al-Hashimi seem cartoonishly awful The Pitt has now swung around hard to depicting Robby as an absolutely intolerable asshole. Buddy it’s time for you to go on that sabbatical!!
February 6, 2026 at 3:07 AM
After starting the season with a few eps that made Dr. Al-Hashimi seem cartoonishly awful The Pitt has now swung around hard to depicting Robby as an absolutely intolerable asshole. Buddy it’s time for you to go on that sabbatical!!
Reposted by Morgan Leigh Davies
Just like with Kilmer Abrego Garcia, the biggest sin any targeted immigrant can commit is winning battles — legal or PR battles — against the government, and they just won’t let those losses go
BREAKING: The federal government has filed a motion seeking to end asylum claims for the family of Liam Conejo Ramos, according to the lawyer representing the family.
DHS has requested expedited deportation proceedings against family of Liam Conejo Ramos
The federal government has filed a motion seeking to end asylum claims for the family of Liam Conejo Ramos, according to the lawyer representing the family.
www.mprnews.org
February 6, 2026 at 2:55 AM
Just like with Kilmer Abrego Garcia, the biggest sin any targeted immigrant can commit is winning battles — legal or PR battles — against the government, and they just won’t let those losses go
Reposted by Morgan Leigh Davies
Ian McKellen performs “The Strangers’ Case” speech from “Sir Thomas More” on Colbert.
February 5, 2026 at 1:07 PM
Ian McKellen performs “The Strangers’ Case” speech from “Sir Thomas More” on Colbert.
Reposted by Morgan Leigh Davies
This is a remarkable @nytimes.com split screen:
A huge 3,526 word + photos profile on Sen Britt who "can't stop thinking about the boy ICE detained"
But Rep Jaoquin Castro- who actually got Liam Ramos out of detention & back home- gets no interview, no pix, just 116 words inside a story. WOW.
A huge 3,526 word + photos profile on Sen Britt who "can't stop thinking about the boy ICE detained"
But Rep Jaoquin Castro- who actually got Liam Ramos out of detention & back home- gets no interview, no pix, just 116 words inside a story. WOW.
February 5, 2026 at 7:13 PM
This is a remarkable @nytimes.com split screen:
A huge 3,526 word + photos profile on Sen Britt who "can't stop thinking about the boy ICE detained"
But Rep Jaoquin Castro- who actually got Liam Ramos out of detention & back home- gets no interview, no pix, just 116 words inside a story. WOW.
A huge 3,526 word + photos profile on Sen Britt who "can't stop thinking about the boy ICE detained"
But Rep Jaoquin Castro- who actually got Liam Ramos out of detention & back home- gets no interview, no pix, just 116 words inside a story. WOW.
Reposted by Morgan Leigh Davies
I'm sorry but this story is bullsh*t. Katie Britt was so worried about Liam Ramos that she did ABSOLUTELY NOTHING TO HELP HIM? Come on. This section right here shows Britt's true self.
February 5, 2026 at 6:09 PM
I'm sorry but this story is bullsh*t. Katie Britt was so worried about Liam Ramos that she did ABSOLUTELY NOTHING TO HELP HIM? Come on. This section right here shows Britt's true self.
Reposted by Morgan Leigh Davies
paragraph 48: "In Mr. Trump’s second term, Ms. Britt has voted in line with the president 100 percent of the time."
February 5, 2026 at 7:43 PM
paragraph 48: "In Mr. Trump’s second term, Ms. Britt has voted in line with the president 100 percent of the time."
Reposted by Morgan Leigh Davies
Recommending HBO's The Young Pope because the latest Knives Out depiction of the Catholic Church pissed me off so much (Highly sanitized to the point of being unrecognizable)
February 5, 2026 at 10:41 PM
Recommending HBO's The Young Pope because the latest Knives Out depiction of the Catholic Church pissed me off so much (Highly sanitized to the point of being unrecognizable)
no no no no no
Some free advice for copyeditors and proofreaders: If an author refers to a named person with the pronouns "they," "them," "theirs," consider the possibility that MAYBE THE AUTHOR DID IT FOR A REASON AND YOU SHOULD LEAVE THEM INSTEAD OF CHANGING EVERY SINGLE ONE. #AmEditing
February 5, 2026 at 11:04 PM
no no no no no
Reposted by Morgan Leigh Davies
Venerable magazine Harper's Bazaar is running its short story contest again, with the winner receiving "the chance" of publication in the magazine. Just one catch: per the wording of the guidelines, _just by entering_ you transfer copyright ownership of your story to Harper's parent, Hearst. 1/3
February 4, 2026 at 11:12 PM
Venerable magazine Harper's Bazaar is running its short story contest again, with the winner receiving "the chance" of publication in the magazine. Just one catch: per the wording of the guidelines, _just by entering_ you transfer copyright ownership of your story to Harper's parent, Hearst. 1/3
Reposted by Morgan Leigh Davies
The pivot to video is a tax on women's time and dignity, I will die on this hill.
One thing about the enormous pressure journalists are under to make videos and TikToks and do streams that kills me is that, like… some of us are meant to be read and not seen. Commenters get SO MAD about the way I look whenever my face breaches containment! Just let me write!
February 5, 2026 at 7:46 PM
The pivot to video is a tax on women's time and dignity, I will die on this hill.
Reposted by Morgan Leigh Davies
This is the Yale professor's explanation for why he described the physical attractiveness of a student in an email to Epstein. He explicitly says he regrets nothing about their association.
Again, I'm so happy Yale hired David Brooks to restore trust.
yaledailynews.com/articles/gel...
Again, I'm so happy Yale hired David Brooks to restore trust.
yaledailynews.com/articles/gel...
February 5, 2026 at 4:14 PM
This is the Yale professor's explanation for why he described the physical attractiveness of a student in an email to Epstein. He explicitly says he regrets nothing about their association.
Again, I'm so happy Yale hired David Brooks to restore trust.
yaledailynews.com/articles/gel...
Again, I'm so happy Yale hired David Brooks to restore trust.
yaledailynews.com/articles/gel...
my least favorite film of all time, never have I been so angry in a movie theater
I really do like Whiplash. 'Abuse may kill a lot of people, but it also helps a lot of people play more technically proficient jazz, so, it;s impossible to say if its bad or not' is an amazing thesis for a film to have
February 5, 2026 at 4:01 PM
my least favorite film of all time, never have I been so angry in a movie theater
Reposted by Morgan Leigh Davies
Hooo boy, so much this. And saying to someone, "I'm sure someone will snap you up right away!" isn't helpful. If you can give specific leads, awesome. Anything else is just wishful thinking. I hate to be this doomer about it, but as I've said, I've been through this so many times.
I know everyone means well with their 'scoop this reporter up immediately' endorsement posts but christ — who's doing the scooping? What's left?
Thinking about our industry this way, like this is a momentary setback and there are ample open roles, obscures the truth about the rot at its core.
Thinking about our industry this way, like this is a momentary setback and there are ample open roles, obscures the truth about the rot at its core.
February 4, 2026 at 9:51 PM
Hooo boy, so much this. And saying to someone, "I'm sure someone will snap you up right away!" isn't helpful. If you can give specific leads, awesome. Anything else is just wishful thinking. I hate to be this doomer about it, but as I've said, I've been through this so many times.
I used this endlessly as a Model UN kid in high school, weirdly upset about it now. the meaningless destruction of knowledge is just so petty and cruel
The CIA just stopped publishing their World Factbook and took every page, including the archived copies of previous versions!
This sucks. It was public domain, so I recovered the 2020 edition (the last one published as a zip file) and shared it to GitHub simonwillison.net/2026/Feb/5/t...
This sucks. It was public domain, so I recovered the 2020 edition (the last one published as a zip file) and shared it to GitHub simonwillison.net/2026/Feb/5/t...
Spotlighting The World Factbook as We Bid a Fond Farewell
Somewhat devastating news today from the CIA: One of CIA’s oldest and most recognizable intelligence publications, The World Factbook, has sunset. There's not even a hint as to why they …
simonwillison.net
February 5, 2026 at 1:00 AM
I used this endlessly as a Model UN kid in high school, weirdly upset about it now. the meaningless destruction of knowledge is just so petty and cruel
😫
what if instead of every writer having an individual premium substack we had lots of writers working together for one publication. you might have editors, too, and designers. and only one regular fee, instead of seventy billion! wonder who will invent that. sounds like it’d be good
February 5, 2026 at 12:56 AM
😫
Reposted by Morgan Leigh Davies
Normal people are out there doing extraordinary things. My mom's health aide emailed me: ICE took 2 of her neighbors; when she told them they weren't welcome, she was met w/a rifle. Now she's driving a neighbor to work hidden in the back of her car & escorting the neighbor's kids to the bus stop.
“If I am killed doing this, throw my body at the White House, martyr the shit out of me & raise hell. Do not be sad. Do not think I would do anything differently. I would do it over & over again — this is too important to sit down & shut up and not do anything.” www.mprnews.org/story/2026/0...
Pursued by federal agents, suburban ICE observers remain resolved
After a frightening pursuit by federal agents, suburban ICE observers say fear hasn’t stopped them from protecting their communities.
www.mprnews.org
February 4, 2026 at 7:43 PM
Normal people are out there doing extraordinary things. My mom's health aide emailed me: ICE took 2 of her neighbors; when she told them they weren't welcome, she was met w/a rifle. Now she's driving a neighbor to work hidden in the back of her car & escorting the neighbor's kids to the bus stop.
Reposted by Morgan Leigh Davies
Hey #NEISvoid, if you have ME (whether self or professionally diagnosed), take V’s survey!
Hi everyone, I wanted to share a research study I just launched on rest, energy, & ME/CFS, open to people with ME/CFS & medical or healthcare providers who are currently practicing or conducting research & have had at least 1 patient or participant with ME/CFS. Visit restandmecfs.com for more.
February 4, 2026 at 7:08 PM
Hey #NEISvoid, if you have ME (whether self or professionally diagnosed), take V’s survey!
Reposted by Morgan Leigh Davies
"Those who were laid off include Caroline O’Donovan, the Post’s beat reporter covering Amazon"
Jeff Bezos’ Washington Post Cuts 30% of Staff, Laying Off More Than 300 Employees Including Amazon Beat Reporter
The Washington Post, owned by Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, is enacting layoffs that will eliminate "hundreds" of jobs.
variety.com
February 4, 2026 at 5:12 PM
"Those who were laid off include Caroline O’Donovan, the Post’s beat reporter covering Amazon"