Rowan Zeoli
@rowanzeoli.bsky.social
Co-Founder @rascal.news | Former Tabletop Writer @Polygon | Multi Award-Losing Journalist | she/her
Email for press inquiries or story tips: Rowan@rascal.news | DM for Signal
Email for press inquiries or story tips: Rowan@rascal.news | DM for Signal
Pinned
Rowan Zeoli
@rowanzeoli.bsky.social
· Jul 3
The Organize Directory
Daily updates and resources for mutual aid networks and grassroots initiatives across different cities.
organize.directory
Here's a resource to find local organizing groups in your area.
The most important thing is not to lose hope. Things are going to get dark, but we can always keep the light alive for each other.
Feel what you need to feel. Cry. Scream. Talk to the people you love. Then keep going.
The most important thing is not to lose hope. Things are going to get dark, but we can always keep the light alive for each other.
Feel what you need to feel. Cry. Scream. Talk to the people you love. Then keep going.
Quick, recommend me some art that will restore my hope in humanity and the power of storytelling
November 26, 2025 at 2:37 PM
Quick, recommend me some art that will restore my hope in humanity and the power of storytelling
Reposted by Rowan Zeoli
Since Z's election, I've been thinking about NYC's political ecosystem and the path of the Left's struggle for governing power over the past two decades.
We're in a moment where the Left's configuration of both protagonists and formations is changing; here are my current thoughts on this change.🧵
We're in a moment where the Left's configuration of both protagonists and formations is changing; here are my current thoughts on this change.🧵
November 26, 2025 at 2:19 AM
Since Z's election, I've been thinking about NYC's political ecosystem and the path of the Left's struggle for governing power over the past two decades.
We're in a moment where the Left's configuration of both protagonists and formations is changing; here are my current thoughts on this change.🧵
We're in a moment where the Left's configuration of both protagonists and formations is changing; here are my current thoughts on this change.🧵
Reposted by Rowan Zeoli
And the folks who are actually writing full-time generally only got there after years of day jobs, family support, or both.
The point of sharing this is not to demoralize anyone, but to let emerging writers know they're not failing if they can't make a living off writing alone. Almost no one can.
The point of sharing this is not to demoralize anyone, but to let emerging writers know they're not failing if they can't make a living off writing alone. Almost no one can.
almost every novelist you read who's not from the airport fiction or bestseller sections is working a full on day job, including multi-award winners and absolute legends, or they have a spouse or trust that supports them. virtually across the board. just normalize in your mind that's how it works.
I know we know this, but authors need to get better at talking about how they actually make their money. Stop pretending it's from the books.
November 25, 2025 at 11:24 PM
And the folks who are actually writing full-time generally only got there after years of day jobs, family support, or both.
The point of sharing this is not to demoralize anyone, but to let emerging writers know they're not failing if they can't make a living off writing alone. Almost no one can.
The point of sharing this is not to demoralize anyone, but to let emerging writers know they're not failing if they can't make a living off writing alone. Almost no one can.
Reposted by Rowan Zeoli
Here's a longer report for Rascal on DriveThruRPG's new shipping program for physical books, and how several folks in the tabletop industry see it as a bad deal for them altogether
DriveThruRPG's new Partner Shipping Program has drawn criticism from several corners of the tabletop industry, with professionals calling it "a half solution" and an “outright a bad deal”.
DriveThruRPG’s offset print option proves unpopular among small creators
Many cite the steep revenue cut without fulfillment support as a key issue.
www.rascal.news
November 26, 2025 at 2:24 AM
Here's a longer report for Rascal on DriveThruRPG's new shipping program for physical books, and how several folks in the tabletop industry see it as a bad deal for them altogether
Reposted by Rowan Zeoli
If you’re surprised, you should probably learn more about what prisons and jails are actually like in this country.
Like I don’t mean this as a gotcha. I mean if this shocks you, you should really look more into it. We need more people who want to change this.
Like I don’t mean this as a gotcha. I mean if this shocks you, you should really look more into it. We need more people who want to change this.
A @nytimes.com investigation has found that state prison guards have been credibly accused of engaging in such behavior — putting inmates in restraints and then assaulting them — far more often than was previously known.
Restrained, Beaten, Asphyxiated: New York Prison Guards’ Brutality Grows
www.nytimes.com
November 24, 2025 at 3:54 PM
If you’re surprised, you should probably learn more about what prisons and jails are actually like in this country.
Like I don’t mean this as a gotcha. I mean if this shocks you, you should really look more into it. We need more people who want to change this.
Like I don’t mean this as a gotcha. I mean if this shocks you, you should really look more into it. We need more people who want to change this.
Reposted by Rowan Zeoli
Read a lovely Rascal article on this - what a beautiful project. I'd love to see more like it (and funding for them) from lots of other places ❤️ www.rascal.news/carved-in-st...
November 25, 2025 at 5:15 PM
Read a lovely Rascal article on this - what a beautiful project. I'd love to see more like it (and funding for them) from lots of other places ❤️ www.rascal.news/carved-in-st...
Reposted by Rowan Zeoli
Reposted by Rowan Zeoli
Wrote about a videogame (!!!) for Rascal - a roguelike adaptation of the absolutely stellar, doom metal-infused Mork Borg TTRPG
MÖRK BORG: Heresy Supreme's alpha demo not only nails the aesthetics of its source material but also introduces a satisfying roguelike loop, says @crapstacular.bsky.social.
MÖRK BORG: Heresy Supreme’s alpha demo plays like a gnarly doom metal roguelike
Expect sludgy, punishing fights.
www.rascal.news
November 24, 2025 at 10:58 PM
Wrote about a videogame (!!!) for Rascal - a roguelike adaptation of the absolutely stellar, doom metal-infused Mork Borg TTRPG
Reposted by Rowan Zeoli
MÖRK BORG: Heresy Supreme's alpha demo not only nails the aesthetics of its source material but also introduces a satisfying roguelike loop, says @crapstacular.bsky.social.
MÖRK BORG: Heresy Supreme’s alpha demo plays like a gnarly doom metal roguelike
Expect sludgy, punishing fights.
www.rascal.news
November 24, 2025 at 3:18 PM
MÖRK BORG: Heresy Supreme's alpha demo not only nails the aesthetics of its source material but also introduces a satisfying roguelike loop, says @crapstacular.bsky.social.
Reposted by Rowan Zeoli
EXCLUSIVE: So far it's been unclear what proof Rockstar Games has to justify its firing of 34 union members, who it claims were leaking "confidential information in a public forum".
PMG has now seen some of the messages which contributed to this decision being made.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=8TvW...
PMG has now seen some of the messages which contributed to this decision being made.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=8TvW...
The Messages Rockstar Saw Before Firing 34 Union Members
YouTube video by People Make Games
www.youtube.com
November 24, 2025 at 2:06 PM
EXCLUSIVE: So far it's been unclear what proof Rockstar Games has to justify its firing of 34 union members, who it claims were leaking "confidential information in a public forum".
PMG has now seen some of the messages which contributed to this decision being made.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=8TvW...
PMG has now seen some of the messages which contributed to this decision being made.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=8TvW...
Reposted by Rowan Zeoli
If you are an Actual Play producer (or otherwise the copyright holder) and you are interested in uploading your show to the Internet Archive, please let me know and I can help you through the whole process!
If we get 50 shows to coordinate, we can make a collection :)
Message me here or email me!
If we get 50 shows to coordinate, we can make a collection :)
Message me here or email me!
I updated my guide to digital preservation of Actual Play to make it easier to navigate & added a little diagram to explain the relationship between backups, digital preservation & digital archives
allmyfriendsarestories.neocities.org/digitalpres
Also, now it has a glitter cursor.
allmyfriendsarestories.neocities.org/digitalpres
Also, now it has a glitter cursor.
Digital Preservation of Actual Play
All My Friends Are Stories is a project designed to help people tell collaborative stories through Table Top Roleplaying Games (TTRPG). There are so many ways to play TTRPGs: you can play them for the...
allmyfriendsarestories.neocities.org
November 24, 2025 at 3:35 AM
If you are an Actual Play producer (or otherwise the copyright holder) and you are interested in uploading your show to the Internet Archive, please let me know and I can help you through the whole process!
If we get 50 shows to coordinate, we can make a collection :)
Message me here or email me!
If we get 50 shows to coordinate, we can make a collection :)
Message me here or email me!
Reposted by Rowan Zeoli
It’s hilarious and revelatory that a bunch of giant MAGA/America First X accounts are actually based in Eastern Europe and Nigeria.
Top MAGA Influencers Accidentally Unmasked as Foreign Actors
A new feature on Elon Musk’s X has given deeper insight into the online “America First” movement.
www.thedailybeast.com
November 23, 2025 at 3:07 PM
It’s hilarious and revelatory that a bunch of giant MAGA/America First X accounts are actually based in Eastern Europe and Nigeria.
Reposted by Rowan Zeoli
On the hunt for bookish & literary games & whatever tickles my fancy otherwise, physical copies PDFs I have, & the smiling faces of so many lovely nerds.
⭐️ to @willjobst.bsky.social who I think gets the 1st “are you Dr. Emily Friedman?” of the con. (& @oneshotrpg.bsky.social who made me cry)
⭐️ to @willjobst.bsky.social who I think gets the 1st “are you Dr. Emily Friedman?” of the con. (& @oneshotrpg.bsky.social who made me cry)
November 21, 2025 at 7:14 PM
On the hunt for bookish & literary games & whatever tickles my fancy otherwise, physical copies PDFs I have, & the smiling faces of so many lovely nerds.
⭐️ to @willjobst.bsky.social who I think gets the 1st “are you Dr. Emily Friedman?” of the con. (& @oneshotrpg.bsky.social who made me cry)
⭐️ to @willjobst.bsky.social who I think gets the 1st “are you Dr. Emily Friedman?” of the con. (& @oneshotrpg.bsky.social who made me cry)
Reposted by Rowan Zeoli
WHOA. The FBI was/is spying on a Signal chat for a New York immigration court watch group, claiming they were “anarchist violent extremist actors.”
Your reminder that the government is watching and don’t say anything in a big group chat you wouldn’t say on TV.
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
Your reminder that the government is watching and don’t say anything in a big group chat you wouldn’t say on TV.
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
The FBI spied on a Signal group chat of immigration activists, records reveal
Exclusive: Agency accessed private conversations of New York ‘courtwatch’ group that was observing public hearings
www.theguardian.com
November 21, 2025 at 12:55 PM
WHOA. The FBI was/is spying on a Signal chat for a New York immigration court watch group, claiming they were “anarchist violent extremist actors.”
Your reminder that the government is watching and don’t say anything in a big group chat you wouldn’t say on TV.
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
Your reminder that the government is watching and don’t say anything in a big group chat you wouldn’t say on TV.
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
Reposted by Rowan Zeoli
she’s a hero
A U.S. postal worker on Long Island is accused of trying to help a man escape from ICE custody earlier this month, according to a federal criminal complaint: https://gothamist.visitlink.me/YNagDp
US postal worker charged with breaking man out of ICE custody on Long Island
Police arrested the worker and the man she tried to free.
gothamist.visitlink.me
November 21, 2025 at 1:40 AM
she’s a hero
Reposted by Rowan Zeoli
THREAD: Judge Ellis is the first federal judge to review extensive body cam video of DHS's actions in Chicago. She finds that DHS *repeatedly* misled the public and made claims that were disproven by agents' own videos.
I'll go through some of the most egregious ones here.
I'll go through some of the most egregious ones here.
![II. Credibility
The Court next addresses the credibility of the parties’ evidence and witnesses. After reviewing all the evidence submitted to the Court and listening to the testimony elicited at the preliminary injunction hearing, during depositions, and in other court proceedings, the Court finds Defendants’ evidence simply not credible. [FN 6]
Plaintiffs submitted a mountain of evidence, providing the Court with over eighty declarations, numerous videos and articles, and other evidence. Defendants did not rebut anything that Plaintiffs set forth in their declarations or testimony, even with BWC footage.
[FN 6] In another case considering some of the same evidence presented to this Court, another court in this district also found that the perceptions of certain of Defendants’ declarants, such as Hott and Parra, were not reliable. See Illinois v. Trump, No. 25-cv-12174, 2025 WL 2886645, at *5 (N.D. Ill. Oct. 10, 2025) (noting a “troubling trend of Defendants’ declarants equating protests with riots and a lack of appreciation for the wide spectrum that exists between citizens who are observing, questioning, and criticizing their government, and those who are obstructing, assaulting, or doing violence”), motion to stay denied in part, 155 F.4th 929 (7th Cir. 2025).](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:2vtbmhmrwzbqcfv4we4uxzzt/bafkreifpyry2il5toxbr3iejgrsxs6kmnwve75qwnhebfp44ieyjrfpsdu@jpeg)
November 20, 2025 at 11:04 PM
THREAD: Judge Ellis is the first federal judge to review extensive body cam video of DHS's actions in Chicago. She finds that DHS *repeatedly* misled the public and made claims that were disproven by agents' own videos.
I'll go through some of the most egregious ones here.
I'll go through some of the most egregious ones here.
Reposted by Rowan Zeoli
SPREAD THIS FAR AND WIDE
A group of New Yorkers has made an ICE hotline to protect their neighbors from being kidnapped by secret police.
A group of New Yorkers has made an ICE hotline to protect their neighbors from being kidnapped by secret police.
November 19, 2025 at 9:18 PM
SPREAD THIS FAR AND WIDE
A group of New Yorkers has made an ICE hotline to protect their neighbors from being kidnapped by secret police.
A group of New Yorkers has made an ICE hotline to protect their neighbors from being kidnapped by secret police.
Reposted by Rowan Zeoli
I really can't stress how important it is for progressive and leftists to contend for school, library, water, etc etc boards. Hyper local involvement in our communities where we can actually influence lives.
Following the recent election, leadership will be changing in many districts where conservative values previously dominated school board meetings and community actions.
epgn.com/2025/11/18/v...
epgn.com/2025/11/18/v...
Voters shift school boards toward LGBTQ+ inclusion across PA and N.J. - Philadelphia Gay News
School boards in PA and NJ are shifting fast—LGBTQ+ leaders are winning, conservatives are losing, and policy battles are heating up.
epgn.com
November 20, 2025 at 2:41 AM
I really can't stress how important it is for progressive and leftists to contend for school, library, water, etc etc boards. Hyper local involvement in our communities where we can actually influence lives.
Reposted by Rowan Zeoli
Glad to see education reporting on the heds here — because this is absolutely an education issue too.
As @people.com reported yesterday, more than 30,000 children in just one North Carolina district alone skipped class on Monday due to immigration raids: people.com/more-than-30...
November 20, 2025 at 12:13 AM
Glad to see education reporting on the heds here — because this is absolutely an education issue too.
Reposted by Rowan Zeoli
Just replying to add a link to @meganpiont.bsky.social's "How to Report ICE" zine for NYC:
drive.google.com/file/d/1La5z...
drive.google.com/file/d/1La5z...
NYC-SALUTE-zine-11-12.pdf
drive.google.com
November 19, 2025 at 9:45 PM
Just replying to add a link to @meganpiont.bsky.social's "How to Report ICE" zine for NYC:
drive.google.com/file/d/1La5z...
drive.google.com/file/d/1La5z...
SPREAD THIS FAR AND WIDE
A group of New Yorkers has made an ICE hotline to protect their neighbors from being kidnapped by secret police.
A group of New Yorkers has made an ICE hotline to protect their neighbors from being kidnapped by secret police.
November 19, 2025 at 9:18 PM
SPREAD THIS FAR AND WIDE
A group of New Yorkers has made an ICE hotline to protect their neighbors from being kidnapped by secret police.
A group of New Yorkers has made an ICE hotline to protect their neighbors from being kidnapped by secret police.
I just watched the first episode of Plur1bus, and without saying anything, goddamn one of the best first episodes of television I've seen in years
November 19, 2025 at 7:52 PM
I just watched the first episode of Plur1bus, and without saying anything, goddamn one of the best first episodes of television I've seen in years
Reposted by Rowan Zeoli
I’m 250 paid subscribers away from a major goal. Think we can get there tonight? www.thehandbasket.co/upgrade
New — I wrote about the myriad ways journalism’s moral rot manifests, and how our crumbling institutions have created the conditions for it to fester:
Moral rot in elite journalism is killing the whole field
The Nuzzi/RFK Jr. mess and the revelation of Esptein's journo pals lay bare a profound moral absence at the heart of our free press.
www.thehandbasket.co
November 19, 2025 at 1:26 AM
I’m 250 paid subscribers away from a major goal. Think we can get there tonight? www.thehandbasket.co/upgrade
Reposted by Rowan Zeoli
NEW—US Park Police w/ DHS officers near DC are increasingly pulling over Black and brown men, leaving their work vans on the side of the parkway + immediately calling a local towing company to take them. Families who just lost their breadwinner are stuck with the bill.
@melbuer.bsky.social reports:
@melbuer.bsky.social reports:
Families of DC-area immigrant drivers snatched by feds stuck with tow bill
Elected officials and activists note work vehicles removed lightning fast, resulting in hundreds in fees.
www.thehandbasket.co
November 17, 2025 at 6:38 PM
NEW—US Park Police w/ DHS officers near DC are increasingly pulling over Black and brown men, leaving their work vans on the side of the parkway + immediately calling a local towing company to take them. Families who just lost their breadwinner are stuck with the bill.
@melbuer.bsky.social reports:
@melbuer.bsky.social reports:
Reposted by Rowan Zeoli
let's see those mf masks on at paxu
November 11, 2025 at 6:58 PM
let's see those mf masks on at paxu