Denise Clay-Murray
denisethewriter.bsky.social
Denise Clay-Murray
@denisethewriter.bsky.social
Indie journalist. Co-Host of The Philadelphia Hall Monitor on PhillyCam. Political Editor, Philadelphia Sunday Sun. Contributor: Love Now Media, Resolve Philly, MindSite News, BBC News, and WURD Radio. President, SPJ Keystone Pro chapter, Proud Temple Owl.
Pinned
When we talk about #gunviolence, it's usually tailored to grown-ups.
My first book, "To Arm or Disarm? Addressing Gun Violence" hopes to make it make sense for young people. You can find it on the @lernerbooks.bsky.social website at lernerbooks.com/shop/show/24... or on @amazon.
I wish I could say I was surprised. But nothing Donald Trump has done has surprised me since 2016…

www.seattletimes.com/nation-world...
Trump said to demand DOJ pay him $230 million
The situation has no parallel in American history, as Trump, a presidential candidate, was pursued by federal law enforcement and eventually won the election.
www.seattletimes.com
October 21, 2025 at 8:54 PM
If you invade my home and take my Momma out in handcuffs, I don't care if you starve. I ain't feeding you and my neighbors ain't either...
www.thedailybeast.com/ice-barbie-m...
ICE Barbie Moans About Agents’ Lunch Options in Chicago
Noem said ICE agents are in need of some bathroom and lunch breaks.
www.thedailybeast.com
October 6, 2025 at 2:22 AM
Somewhere, Edward R. Murrow is taking a bottle of bourbon to the head while mainlining heroin...
deadline.com/2025/10/cbs-...
Free Press’ Bari Weiss Poised To Take Top Role At CBS News
Paramount is close to clinching an acquisition of the The Free Press that will include a top role at CBS News for the site’s founder, Bari Weiss. The deal, which has been rumored for months, would be ...
deadline.com
October 3, 2025 at 7:51 PM
I really like reading foreign newspapers because their coverage of America isn’t hampered by market forces, advertisers, and a president who thinks the First Amendment was printed on a roll of toilet paper.
So imagine if they weren’t there…

www.spj.org/spj-opposes-...
SPJ opposes changing rules on U.S. visas for international journalists
Society of Professional Journalists, improving and protecting journalism since 1909
www.spj.org
September 18, 2025 at 11:13 PM
When I turned 30, I decided I'd stop being angry when people I found disappointing did things I found disappointing.
Because I cover politics, this attitude has been helpful.
Here's an example...
www.phillymag.com/news/2025/09...
Philly Today: Shapiro Orders Flags at Half-Staff for Charlie Kirk
He said the order was "a mark of respect for the memory of Charlie Kirk."
www.phillymag.com
September 11, 2025 at 4:41 PM
This is your annual reminder that your company probably has a social media usage policy. Don’t let #CharlieKirk get you fired in this economy. He’s not worth it.
September 10, 2025 at 9:34 PM
The Associated Press is reporting that Turning Point's Charlie Kirk has died after being shot in the neck in Orem, Utah. He was 31.
September 10, 2025 at 8:48 PM
Rest In Peace, Florence Jean Castleberry...
tvline.com/news/polly-h...
Polly Holliday, Alice Star, Dead at 88
Polly Holliday, who was the last surviving original cast member from the CBS classic Alice, died Tuesday at the age of 88.
tvline.com
September 10, 2025 at 8:02 PM
While I believe that this man is a total piece of shit, I hope he recovers from his injuries.
That said, does this mean the National Guard will be deployed to Orem, Utah now? Asking for a friend...
people.com/charlie-kirk...
Suspect in Custody After Charlie Kirk Shot at Utah Valley University
The Turning Point USA founder was appearing on campus as part of his American Comeback Tour when shots were fired
people.com
September 10, 2025 at 7:49 PM
So, I guess the only way you can use race as a criterion is when you’re snatching people off the street and deporting them to places they’re not even from, huh?
#ThisIsAmerica
www.bbc.com/news/article...
Supreme Court lifts limits on LA immigration raids
US top court says that immigration agents can stop people based solely on their race, language or job.
www.bbc.com
September 9, 2025 at 6:14 AM
Follow the Money! Produce high-impact #journalism on econ/biz issues. Get a $15k grant from @mcgrawcenter via @newmarkjschool to report on inequality, workplace, health, immigration, trade, corp accountability, climate & more. Apply by 10/13: bit.ly/McGrawFellows
September 5, 2025 at 7:15 PM
History is history. If it shocks your conscience, it probably should. America built an entire economy on the backs of a workforce that it could control by force through beatings, sexual assault, the selling of its relatives, and the threat of death. Truth hurts. Sorry.
abcnews.go.com/Politics/tru...
Trump says Smithsonian should portray America’s 'Brightness,' not 'how bad Slavery was'
President Trump confirmed the White House is doing a review Smithsonian museums, where he complained "everything discussed is how horrible our Country is."
abcnews.go.com
August 19, 2025 at 9:27 PM
If you missed our workshop at the @nabjofficial.bsky.social convention in Cleveland last week, here it is! Get some knowledge on creating your news site from @lmcglynn.bsky.social, #BrandonRobinson, and @kathiawoods.bsky.social by clicking on this link: www.youtube.com/watch?v=VVHN...
August 19, 2025 at 3:07 AM
For those of you who were fans of McGlinchey’s…

www.phillymag.com/foobooz/2025...
McGlinchey's Is Closing Forever
The legendarily smoky Philadelphia dive bar's last day is Friday.
www.phillymag.com
August 18, 2025 at 1:22 AM
Just a reminder that if you're attending @nabjofficial.bsky.social in Cleveland, you're invited to join us on Saturday at 10:30am for "Keeping It Local". We'll be in Room 20 of the Huntington Convention Center to provide information on how to turn your news desert into an information oasis.
August 8, 2025 at 7:08 AM
If you're going to be attending the @nabjofficial.bsky.social convention in Cleveland this week, please join us for this important workshop on how to help your community get the news it needs in a challenging media climate.
August 5, 2025 at 12:57 PM
FYI: If you're attending the @nabjofficial.bsky.social convention in Cleveland this week, please join me and #WillFord from @marylandmatters.org for a conversation about my @lernerbooks.bsky.social, "To Arm or Disarm" on Friday at 11am. Hope to see you there!
August 3, 2025 at 5:28 PM
Some personal news…
If you’re attending the #NationalAssociationofBlackJournalists convention in Cleveland, please join me and #MarylandMatters Statehouse reporter #WilliamFord for a talk about my book, “To Arm or Disarm” on Friday, Aug. 8 from 11-11:30am. Copies of the book will be available.
July 22, 2025 at 7:02 PM
This makes sense. Leaving dead bodies lying around decomposing is a bad idea and turns the situation into a sketch from “Monty Python and The Holy Grail”.
But you know what also makes sense? Giving the folks who pick up the bodies a contract with a living wage. Just saying…
6abc.com/post/retriev...
Retrieval of dead bodies is being delayed due to strike, Philadelphia officials say
The City of Philadelphia is seeking a court order to get striking medical examiner's office workers back on the job as the blue-collar workers' walkout continues.
6abc.com
July 3, 2025 at 5:25 PM
Somewhere in Heaven, the late President Jimmy Carter and his wife Rosalyn are sitting on the front porch of their home, drinking sweet tea, and laughing their asses off at the level of arrogance…

www.nytimes.com/live/2025/06...
www.nytimes.com
June 17, 2025 at 9:46 PM