Alexander Sorondo
@bigreaderbadgrades.bsky.social
Politics and Books | Daily insights/analysis on Substack
bigreaderbadgrades.substack.com
bigreaderbadgrades.substack.com
This is unspeakably lovely.
November 27, 2025 at 8:04 AM
This is unspeakably lovely.
A new 11,000-word profile about #AlanMoore, now a full-time novelist, and his risky new venture: a five-part fantasy series for Bloomsbury
open.substack.com/pub/metropol...
open.substack.com/pub/metropol...
Giant of the Attic
On the Majesty of Alan Moore
open.substack.com
November 26, 2025 at 10:07 PM
A new 11,000-word profile about #AlanMoore, now a full-time novelist, and his risky new venture: a five-part fantasy series for Bloomsbury
open.substack.com/pub/metropol...
open.substack.com/pub/metropol...
The Metropolitan Review just published my 15,000-word investigative piece about #houseofleaves author @markzdanielewski.bsky.social, his 27-volume novel THE FAMILIAR, and offers the first profile of his father, the cult filmmaker, Tad Danielewski
substack.com/home/post/p-...
substack.com/home/post/p-...
Revolution Man
On Mark Z. Danielewski, His Unfinished Novel, and His Father's Ghost(s)
substack.com
July 9, 2025 at 1:49 PM
The Metropolitan Review just published my 15,000-word investigative piece about #houseofleaves author @markzdanielewski.bsky.social, his 27-volume novel THE FAMILIAR, and offers the first profile of his father, the cult filmmaker, Tad Danielewski
substack.com/home/post/p-...
substack.com/home/post/p-...
Bummer he's gotta point out that latter part as a feature but I appreciate the sentiment.
Congratulations to Judge Susan Crawford on her victory, and to the people of Wisconsin for electing a judge who believes in the rule of law and protecting our freedoms.
April 2, 2025 at 11:53 AM
Bummer he's gotta point out that latter part as a feature but I appreciate the sentiment.
"Fantastica" means good
Esta pieza de Alexander Sorondo sobre Vollmann es fantástica.
«A few years ago, William T. Vollmann was diagnosed with colon cancer.
Then his daughter died.
Then he got dropped by his publisher.
Then he got hit by a car.
Then he got a pulmonary embolism.
But things are looking up».
«A few years ago, William T. Vollmann was diagnosed with colon cancer.
Then his daughter died.
Then he got dropped by his publisher.
Then he got hit by a car.
Then he got a pulmonary embolism.
But things are looking up».
The Last Contract
William T. Vollmann's Battle to Publish an American Epic
www.metropolitanreview.org
March 27, 2025 at 9:42 AM
"Fantastica" means good
Phrases like "staggeringly good" are disarming because (1) I've never written anything that gained a big readership, (2) this article pitch was rejected at least 30 times
Long but staggeringly good essay by Alexander Sorondo on the writer William T Vollmann.
The Last Contract
William T. Vollmann's Battle to Publish an American Epic
open.substack.com
March 27, 2025 at 9:42 AM
Phrases like "staggeringly good" are disarming because (1) I've never written anything that gained a big readership, (2) this article pitch was rejected at least 30 times
Truly a gift to all.
Good news @alexshephard.bsky.social you get to read a 3,400-page William T. Vollmann book about the CIA! www.metropolitanreview.org/p/the-last-c...
The Last Contract
William T. Vollmann's Battle to Publish an American Epic
www.metropolitanreview.org
March 27, 2025 at 9:39 AM
Truly a gift to all.
For the past couple months I've been working on a story of William T. Vollmann's 3,000 page novel, TABLE FOR FORTUNE, and the tragic saga surrounding its publication.
It's long, but it's published, and I've never had a more rewarding experience as a writer.
open.substack.com/pub/metropol...
It's long, but it's published, and I've never had a more rewarding experience as a writer.
open.substack.com/pub/metropol...
The Last Contract
William T. Vollmann's Battle to Publish an American Epic
open.substack.com
March 23, 2025 at 4:03 PM
For the past couple months I've been working on a story of William T. Vollmann's 3,000 page novel, TABLE FOR FORTUNE, and the tragic saga surrounding its publication.
It's long, but it's published, and I've never had a more rewarding experience as a writer.
open.substack.com/pub/metropol...
It's long, but it's published, and I've never had a more rewarding experience as a writer.
open.substack.com/pub/metropol...
Elon Musk, enemy of wasteful government spending, created a multi-million dollar government crisis this weekend when he demanded every government employee send him an email explaining what they did last week.
On Monday he said it was a joke.
bigreaderbadgrades.substack.com/p/musk-waste...
On Monday he said it was a joke.
bigreaderbadgrades.substack.com/p/musk-waste...
Musk Wastes Millions of Dollars on "Joke"
Elon Musk, tasked with identifying wasteful/fraudulent government spending, burned untold millions of taxpayer dollars on a weekend stunt.
bigreaderbadgrades.substack.com
February 25, 2025 at 6:42 PM
Elon Musk, enemy of wasteful government spending, created a multi-million dollar government crisis this weekend when he demanded every government employee send him an email explaining what they did last week.
On Monday he said it was a joke.
bigreaderbadgrades.substack.com/p/musk-waste...
On Monday he said it was a joke.
bigreaderbadgrades.substack.com/p/musk-waste...
Reposted by Alexander Sorondo
The new iconic photo that i predicted ultimately destroys the relationship:
February 12, 2025 at 1:14 PM
The new iconic photo that i predicted ultimately destroys the relationship:
2-disc greatest hits album of Supertramp is one of the first i ever bought. I was 15. Loving one track and then getting tense when it switched to the next one. Started questioning my understanding of music if this was really a "greatest hit"...
Supertramp are a weird band. As a casual listener I never know if the next track is going to be the most epic 70s rock I've ever heard, or something absolutely embarrassing, like an outtake from a cockney rock musical that folded after two shows.
February 12, 2025 at 1:16 PM
2-disc greatest hits album of Supertramp is one of the first i ever bought. I was 15. Loving one track and then getting tense when it switched to the next one. Started questioning my understanding of music if this was really a "greatest hit"...
Reposted by Alexander Sorondo
I can’t believe the Supreme Court said the president was above the law and now the president is acting like he’s above the law.
February 11, 2025 at 2:17 AM
I can’t believe the Supreme Court said the president was above the law and now the president is acting like he’s above the law.
Party of Law & Order: "Actually judges kinda suck?lol"
this is the sort of thing you post when you’re ramping up to defying lawful court orders
February 9, 2025 at 11:22 PM
Party of Law & Order: "Actually judges kinda suck?lol"
“[I]f cutting the federal government is what this is all about, then Trump and Musk wouldn't bother with U.S.A.I.D., whose budget of $40 billion is less than 1% of the government’s. The point is not a policy fight; it’s an execution. They are killing 1 agency to terrify 1,000 others.”—Susan Glasser
February 9, 2025 at 2:37 PM
“[I]f cutting the federal government is what this is all about, then Trump and Musk wouldn't bother with U.S.A.I.D., whose budget of $40 billion is less than 1% of the government’s. The point is not a policy fight; it’s an execution. They are killing 1 agency to terrify 1,000 others.”—Susan Glasser
Reposted by Alexander Sorondo
Remarkable how many Democrats in these focus groups can easily imagine Oprah Winfrey ordering a drone strike.
February 8, 2025 at 4:37 PM
Remarkable how many Democrats in these focus groups can easily imagine Oprah Winfrey ordering a drone strike.
My heart sang when I'd been writing daily political pieces on Substack for three or four months without a single Like or Comment--and suddenly, I got a notification.
Someone's reading!
Someone's responding!
Open it up and it's a commenter with a MAGA hat thumbnail: "Go fuck yourself"
Someone's reading!
Someone's responding!
Open it up and it's a commenter with a MAGA hat thumbnail: "Go fuck yourself"
I am happy to say the "Followers only" reply setting is getting implemented. We're also adding a way to set default reply settings
If you want your posts to default to "Followers only," that'll become an option
If you want your posts to default to "Followers only," that'll become an option
February 7, 2025 at 12:29 PM
My heart sang when I'd been writing daily political pieces on Substack for three or four months without a single Like or Comment--and suddenly, I got a notification.
Someone's reading!
Someone's responding!
Open it up and it's a commenter with a MAGA hat thumbnail: "Go fuck yourself"
Someone's reading!
Someone's responding!
Open it up and it's a commenter with a MAGA hat thumbnail: "Go fuck yourself"
Commentary this week from Heather Cox Richardson and Yuval Levin shows that Donald Trump, in his third week of office isn't just succumbing to a White House cycle--he's showing how he's actually gotten worse at this job.
bigreaderbadgrades.substack.com/p/trumps-ord...
bigreaderbadgrades.substack.com/p/trumps-ord...
Trump’s Orders Are Already Crumbling
A first-week blitz of Project 2025's long-planned maneuvers gave the administration a false air of competence.
bigreaderbadgrades.substack.com
February 7, 2025 at 9:42 AM
Commentary this week from Heather Cox Richardson and Yuval Levin shows that Donald Trump, in his third week of office isn't just succumbing to a White House cycle--he's showing how he's actually gotten worse at this job.
bigreaderbadgrades.substack.com/p/trumps-ord...
bigreaderbadgrades.substack.com/p/trumps-ord...
Spent a couple weeks on Lola Young's music. Now I've spent a week on her YouTube shorts.
There's something very pure about her joy that I don't think makes sense without the music.
There's something very pure about her joy that I don't think makes sense without the music.
February 5, 2025 at 12:47 PM
Spent a couple weeks on Lola Young's music. Now I've spent a week on her YouTube shorts.
There's something very pure about her joy that I don't think makes sense without the music.
There's something very pure about her joy that I don't think makes sense without the music.
This is perfect, just subbed!
I've been giving WIRED the same dumb look I gave Rolling Stone, when they were killing it with political reporting in 2024:
"Yeah they have a good one this week, but thats not my kinda magazine..."
Took a while to just respect that quality is quality.
I've been giving WIRED the same dumb look I gave Rolling Stone, when they were killing it with political reporting in 2024:
"Yeah they have a good one this week, but thats not my kinda magazine..."
Took a while to just respect that quality is quality.
I just subscribed to Wired today. They have a killer deal going right now: a full year for $5 www.wired.com/v2/offers/wi...
thanks bsky! this is a big help
February 5, 2025 at 12:36 PM
This is perfect, just subbed!
I've been giving WIRED the same dumb look I gave Rolling Stone, when they were killing it with political reporting in 2024:
"Yeah they have a good one this week, but thats not my kinda magazine..."
Took a while to just respect that quality is quality.
I've been giving WIRED the same dumb look I gave Rolling Stone, when they were killing it with political reporting in 2024:
"Yeah they have a good one this week, but thats not my kinda magazine..."
Took a while to just respect that quality is quality.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio went to Panama this week to discuss U.S. annexation of the Canal.
Panamanian President Jose Mulino signaled refusal to discuss it.
So why would an emissary of Trump even go?
Probably cuz that wasn't his actual goal.
open.substack.com/pub/bigreade...
Panamanian President Jose Mulino signaled refusal to discuss it.
So why would an emissary of Trump even go?
Probably cuz that wasn't his actual goal.
open.substack.com/pub/bigreade...
Want to Know Trump's Real Plan? Watch Rubio.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio visited Panama this week for a discussion of annexing its Canal. The Panamanian president signaled to reporters he would not even discuss it. So why go?
open.substack.com
February 5, 2025 at 9:55 AM
Secretary of State Marco Rubio went to Panama this week to discuss U.S. annexation of the Canal.
Panamanian President Jose Mulino signaled refusal to discuss it.
So why would an emissary of Trump even go?
Probably cuz that wasn't his actual goal.
open.substack.com/pub/bigreade...
Panamanian President Jose Mulino signaled refusal to discuss it.
So why would an emissary of Trump even go?
Probably cuz that wasn't his actual goal.
open.substack.com/pub/bigreade...
To their credit, Dems are working on the messaging. They're getting better.
Jasmine is on FIRE 🔥 🔥🔥
"...we are going to be in your face, we are going to be on your asses, and we are going to make sure you understand what democracy looks like...
...and this ain't it!"
"...we are going to be in your face, we are going to be on your asses, and we are going to make sure you understand what democracy looks like...
...and this ain't it!"
February 5, 2025 at 9:34 AM
To their credit, Dems are working on the messaging. They're getting better.
"He's a bad fucking guy." -- Joey Robinette.
February 5, 2025 at 8:56 AM
"He's a bad fucking guy." -- Joey Robinette.