Danielle Kurtzleben
@titonka.bsky.social
NPR White House correspondent. Former Vox, US News and World Report. Tariff explainer. Masculinity politics expert. Native Iowan. Girlboss. Jesus freak. Pianist. Writer. Real piece of work.
daniellekurtzleben.substack.com
daniellekurtzleben.substack.com
Pinned
Danielle Kurtzleben
@titonka.bsky.social
· Sep 10
When "authenticity" means "dudes"
As 2026 approaches, can we political reporters please not forget every damn thing we learned just last year for the love of God
daniellekurtzleben.substack.com
The oyster-shucking, baseball-playing, hands-working-with men have arrived on the 2026 political scene, and I have thoughts.
daniellekurtzleben.substack.com/p/when-authe...
daniellekurtzleben.substack.com/p/when-authe...
Finally saw wall-e and PEOPLE HAVE YOU SEEN THIS MOVIE
November 11, 2025 at 12:50 AM
Finally saw wall-e and PEOPLE HAVE YOU SEEN THIS MOVIE
Reposted by Danielle Kurtzleben
Two-thirds of Democrats say their own party makes them feel frustrated. By far the most commonly cited reason is that the party is not pushing back hard enough against Trump. www.pewresearch.org/politics/202...
November 10, 2025 at 2:11 PM
Two-thirds of Democrats say their own party makes them feel frustrated. By far the most commonly cited reason is that the party is not pushing back hard enough against Trump. www.pewresearch.org/politics/202...
Reposted by Danielle Kurtzleben
American politics makes a lot more sense when you realize that the GOP is afraid of pissing off the GOP base, and the Dems are afraid of pissing off the GOP base, but neither party is afraid of pissing off the Dem base.
March 14, 2025 at 10:24 PM
American politics makes a lot more sense when you realize that the GOP is afraid of pissing off the GOP base, and the Dems are afraid of pissing off the GOP base, but neither party is afraid of pissing off the Dem base.
If you’re a GOP member of congress, don’t you worry about “hey the GOP president actively fought SNAP funding” messaging next year? That seems inevitable, likely pervasive, and powerful.
NEW: The Trump admin told states it must immediately "undo" the work to provide full food stamp benefits, or face penalties. The feds sent this in a late-night memo, only adding to the chaos and confusion around SNAP. www.nytimes.com/2025/11/09/b...
Trump Administration Demands States ‘Undo’ Work to Send Full Food Stamps
www.nytimes.com
November 9, 2025 at 2:50 PM
If you’re a GOP member of congress, don’t you worry about “hey the GOP president actively fought SNAP funding” messaging next year? That seems inevitable, likely pervasive, and powerful.
Reposted by Danielle Kurtzleben
The Times interviewed dozens of migrant men sent to a prison in El Salvador by the Trump administration. Independent forensic analysts called the testimony credible and consistent and said the treatment met the U.N.’s definition of torture.
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/08/w...
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/08/w...
‘You Are All Terrorists’: Four Months in a Salvadoran Prison
www.nytimes.com
November 8, 2025 at 11:58 AM
The Times interviewed dozens of migrant men sent to a prison in El Salvador by the Trump administration. Independent forensic analysts called the testimony credible and consistent and said the treatment met the U.N.’s definition of torture.
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/08/w...
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/08/w...
Every day I think about how this period will be written about in my grandkids’ history textbooks.
November 8, 2025 at 3:02 AM
Every day I think about how this period will be written about in my grandkids’ history textbooks.
It’s time. It’s flannel Friday season.
November 7, 2025 at 12:49 PM
It’s time. It’s flannel Friday season.
Reposted by Danielle Kurtzleben
There are no words for how evil this is
November 7, 2025 at 1:36 AM
There are no words for how evil this is
My unpopular take is that gossip is Bad Actually.
I know it feels noble or something to say “it helps oppressed groups share information” and dude I was THERE for MeToo and I get it but also “don’t be alone with the boss” ain’t gossip; it’s a warning.
I know it feels noble or something to say “it helps oppressed groups share information” and dude I was THERE for MeToo and I get it but also “don’t be alone with the boss” ain’t gossip; it’s a warning.
November 7, 2025 at 12:43 AM
My unpopular take is that gossip is Bad Actually.
I know it feels noble or something to say “it helps oppressed groups share information” and dude I was THERE for MeToo and I get it but also “don’t be alone with the boss” ain’t gossip; it’s a warning.
I know it feels noble or something to say “it helps oppressed groups share information” and dude I was THERE for MeToo and I get it but also “don’t be alone with the boss” ain’t gossip; it’s a warning.
Did tampons in bathrooms ruin the workplace
Did that cute girl from HR with the skirts ruin the workplace
Did the fact I can’t call ladies “toots” ruin the workplace
Did women stopping wearing pantyhose ruin the workplace
Did that harpie who told me I can’t snap bras anymore ruin the workplace
Did that cute girl from HR with the skirts ruin the workplace
Did the fact I can’t call ladies “toots” ruin the workplace
Did women stopping wearing pantyhose ruin the workplace
Did that harpie who told me I can’t snap bras anymore ruin the workplace
November 6, 2025 at 2:07 PM
Did tampons in bathrooms ruin the workplace
Did that cute girl from HR with the skirts ruin the workplace
Did the fact I can’t call ladies “toots” ruin the workplace
Did women stopping wearing pantyhose ruin the workplace
Did that harpie who told me I can’t snap bras anymore ruin the workplace
Did that cute girl from HR with the skirts ruin the workplace
Did the fact I can’t call ladies “toots” ruin the workplace
Did women stopping wearing pantyhose ruin the workplace
Did that harpie who told me I can’t snap bras anymore ruin the workplace
Reposted by Danielle Kurtzleben
Ok but also imagine the New York GD Times putting LITERALLY ANY OTHER IDENTITY GROUP in that headline.
Did [racial group X] ruin the workplace?
Did gays ruin the workplace?
Wanna know how normal and fun and edgy sexism is? There’s your answer.
Did [racial group X] ruin the workplace?
Did gays ruin the workplace?
Wanna know how normal and fun and edgy sexism is? There’s your answer.
November 6, 2025 at 1:29 PM
Ok but also imagine the New York GD Times putting LITERALLY ANY OTHER IDENTITY GROUP in that headline.
Did [racial group X] ruin the workplace?
Did gays ruin the workplace?
Wanna know how normal and fun and edgy sexism is? There’s your answer.
Did [racial group X] ruin the workplace?
Did gays ruin the workplace?
Wanna know how normal and fun and edgy sexism is? There’s your answer.
Bahahahahahaha 12 hours later someone went “uhhh…”
Great job everyone.
Great job everyone.
November 6, 2025 at 1:44 PM
Bahahahahahaha 12 hours later someone went “uhhh…”
Great job everyone.
Great job everyone.
I like to think that I personally ruined the workplace.
November 6, 2025 at 1:27 PM
I like to think that I personally ruined the workplace.
TODDLER: [walks up, rubs hand up and down my leg] I had a BIG sneeze.
-
This is joy, friends.
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This is joy, friends.
November 6, 2025 at 12:37 PM
TODDLER: [walks up, rubs hand up and down my leg] I had a BIG sneeze.
-
This is joy, friends.
-
This is joy, friends.
Reposted by Danielle Kurtzleben
November 5, 2025 at 11:09 PM
Reposted by Danielle Kurtzleben
There will be roughly 20 people who move out of New York City bc of Mamdani, and there will be over 400 articles about them.
November 5, 2025 at 5:31 PM
There will be roughly 20 people who move out of New York City bc of Mamdani, and there will be over 400 articles about them.
Listening to oral args today making me realize how much my phone/this world have absolutely torched my ability to concentrate.
November 5, 2025 at 4:20 PM
Listening to oral args today making me realize how much my phone/this world have absolutely torched my ability to concentrate.
Happy tariff oral arguments day to all who celebrate! Listen in here (audio not started yet, but should any minute now): www.supremecourt.gov/oral_argumen...
Live Oral Argument Audio
Live Oral Argument Audio
www.supremecourt.gov
November 5, 2025 at 3:02 PM
Happy tariff oral arguments day to all who celebrate! Listen in here (audio not started yet, but should any minute now): www.supremecourt.gov/oral_argumen...
[bursts into the room] [extremely elder millennial voice]
You know, Milwaukee is the only American city to have elected three socialist mayors.
Also, “Milwaukee” is from “mili wau kay,” which is Algonquin for “the good land.”
You know, Milwaukee is the only American city to have elected three socialist mayors.
Also, “Milwaukee” is from “mili wau kay,” which is Algonquin for “the good land.”
Y’all. Not only can Mamdani do it, socialist mayors have done it effectively for decades before.
Check out what Milwaukee’s political history. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sewer_s...
Check out what Milwaukee’s political history. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sewer_s...
November 5, 2025 at 1:39 PM
[bursts into the room] [extremely elder millennial voice]
You know, Milwaukee is the only American city to have elected three socialist mayors.
Also, “Milwaukee” is from “mili wau kay,” which is Algonquin for “the good land.”
You know, Milwaukee is the only American city to have elected three socialist mayors.
Also, “Milwaukee” is from “mili wau kay,” which is Algonquin for “the good land.”
Ok “mamdani and spanberger/sherrill took two wildly different paths to winning” is not the take, people. Really. Not everything is a left vs. center battle for the soul of the party.
Come with me. 1/
Come with me. 1/
November 5, 2025 at 1:09 PM
Ok “mamdani and spanberger/sherrill took two wildly different paths to winning” is not the take, people. Really. Not everything is a left vs. center battle for the soul of the party.
Come with me. 1/
Come with me. 1/
Reposted by Danielle Kurtzleben
👀 Scoop: IRS Direct File, the free government-backed program that let you file your taxes for free, is dead.
IRS wrote to state tax agencies saying it would not be operational this coming tax season, per records I've obtained.
IRS Direct File: 2023-2025.
(Story from when the pilot launched.)
IRS wrote to state tax agencies saying it would not be operational this coming tax season, per records I've obtained.
IRS Direct File: 2023-2025.
(Story from when the pilot launched.)
IRS tests free e-filing system that could compete with tax-prep giants
The tax agency has quietly built its own prototype system for filing tax returns digitally and free of charge, according to current and former officials.
www.washingtonpost.com
November 4, 2025 at 9:42 PM
👀 Scoop: IRS Direct File, the free government-backed program that let you file your taxes for free, is dead.
IRS wrote to state tax agencies saying it would not be operational this coming tax season, per records I've obtained.
IRS Direct File: 2023-2025.
(Story from when the pilot launched.)
IRS wrote to state tax agencies saying it would not be operational this coming tax season, per records I've obtained.
IRS Direct File: 2023-2025.
(Story from when the pilot launched.)
[lies down under desk]
Jack Ciattarelli suggested the people of New Jersey call him “big daddy” if he wins:
“…I was thinking when we win this race I kind of like [big daddy] better than governor. Big daddy.”
“…I was thinking when we win this race I kind of like [big daddy] better than governor. Big daddy.”
November 4, 2025 at 7:45 PM
[lies down under desk]
Reposted by Danielle Kurtzleben
wait what
How are Democrats not immediately suing CBS News over this?
November 4, 2025 at 3:07 AM
wait what
Normalize deleting your bad takes.
November 3, 2025 at 8:41 PM
Normalize deleting your bad takes.
You mean like Peter O'Toole, top advisor to King Ralph?
I think everybody has a “Wallace Shawn from Young Sheldon” — my first one would probably be “Vincent Price, the guy who did the voice of Ratigan in The Great Mouse Detective”
November 3, 2025 at 7:45 PM
You mean like Peter O'Toole, top advisor to King Ralph?