Jess Calarco
@jessicacalarco.com
Sociologist. Author. Professor. Roosevelt Institute Fellow. Expert on families, schools, kids, privilege, and power. Bylines in NYT, WaPo, MSNBC, Atlantic, etc.
"Other countries have social safety nets. The US has women."
www.jessicacalarco.com
"Other countries have social safety nets. The US has women."
www.jessicacalarco.com
We made it through Day 1! There was wariness (and weariness) in the ranks, given that the last time this crew visited, they got stuck in the Christmas Southwest debacle. But everyone arrived. The kids eventually fell asleep. And the adults consumed lots of cookies and stayed up late playing cards.
November 26, 2025 at 11:50 AM
We made it through Day 1! There was wariness (and weariness) in the ranks, given that the last time this crew visited, they got stuck in the Christmas Southwest debacle. But everyone arrived. The kids eventually fell asleep. And the adults consumed lots of cookies and stayed up late playing cards.
I'm pretty sure my grandmother discovered "quiet divorce" 40+ years ago. As soon as all 5 kids were out of the house, she stopped cooking and moved into a different bedroom and bathroom from my grandfather.
November 24, 2025 at 11:30 PM
I'm pretty sure my grandmother discovered "quiet divorce" 40+ years ago. As soon as all 5 kids were out of the house, she stopped cooking and moved into a different bedroom and bathroom from my grandfather.
This is a deeply sexist take, given that ~2/3 of minimum wage workers in the US are women.
November 24, 2025 at 10:24 PM
This is a deeply sexist take, given that ~2/3 of minimum wage workers in the US are women.
This one might be even more uncanny mirror-wise.
November 23, 2025 at 11:22 PM
This one might be even more uncanny mirror-wise.
If not for the posts in the pond, it would be hard to tell which way is up and which is down.
November 23, 2025 at 10:15 PM
If not for the posts in the pond, it would be hard to tell which way is up and which is down.
I tried to explain to Kid 2 that the classmate's account might not be reliable--she might be vying for attention, or her family might have tried to make it seem real. But Kid 2 remained insistent and even became Santa obsessed, to the point of going as Santa (Yoda) for Halloween the next year. 4/
November 23, 2025 at 7:46 PM
I tried to explain to Kid 2 that the classmate's account might not be reliable--she might be vying for attention, or her family might have tried to make it seem real. But Kid 2 remained insistent and even became Santa obsessed, to the point of going as Santa (Yoda) for Halloween the next year. 4/
It's like we're stuck in a techno-dystopian Dickens novel.
November 22, 2025 at 10:21 PM
It's like we're stuck in a techno-dystopian Dickens novel.
They line up perfectly.
November 22, 2025 at 2:32 AM
They line up perfectly.
Sorry, Reagan. Looks like socialists are pretty good for the spirit, too.
November 22, 2025 at 1:02 AM
Sorry, Reagan. Looks like socialists are pretty good for the spirit, too.
If you're going to try to make a career as a phishing scammer, you should at least make sure you've got the right title for the person you're trying to impersonate.
November 21, 2025 at 5:59 PM
If you're going to try to make a career as a phishing scammer, you should at least make sure you've got the right title for the person you're trying to impersonate.
Vilifying vaccines (despite all evidence to the contrary) is a calculated move for MAGA.
Because one of the quickest ways to undermine political solidarity among women is to pit them against each other in a fight over who's the "better mom."
Because one of the quickest ways to undermine political solidarity among women is to pit them against each other in a fight over who's the "better mom."
November 20, 2025 at 11:24 AM
Vilifying vaccines (despite all evidence to the contrary) is a calculated move for MAGA.
Because one of the quickest ways to undermine political solidarity among women is to pit them against each other in a fight over who's the "better mom."
Because one of the quickest ways to undermine political solidarity among women is to pit them against each other in a fight over who's the "better mom."
Initially, some moms of autistic kids eagerly accepted vaccine lies, because that way they could reject the "refrigerator mother" hypothesis, which blamed autism on "cold" mothering.
Now, those same tired vaccine lies will likely be used to blame moms who choose to vaccinate their kids.
Now, those same tired vaccine lies will likely be used to blame moms who choose to vaccinate their kids.
November 20, 2025 at 11:14 AM
Initially, some moms of autistic kids eagerly accepted vaccine lies, because that way they could reject the "refrigerator mother" hypothesis, which blamed autism on "cold" mothering.
Now, those same tired vaccine lies will likely be used to blame moms who choose to vaccinate their kids.
Now, those same tired vaccine lies will likely be used to blame moms who choose to vaccinate their kids.
Apparently, the way to overcome gridlock in Congress is to convince both sides they're screwing the other.
November 19, 2025 at 10:36 PM
Apparently, the way to overcome gridlock in Congress is to convince both sides they're screwing the other.
Humans are bad at big numbers. Which makes it easier for billionaires (and trillionaires) to get away with hoarding wealth. Because most people just can't comprehend how much money that is.
So, I appreciate this WaPo effort to help people visualize what ridiculous amounts of wealth really mean.
So, I appreciate this WaPo effort to help people visualize what ridiculous amounts of wealth really mean.
November 19, 2025 at 5:51 PM
Humans are bad at big numbers. Which makes it easier for billionaires (and trillionaires) to get away with hoarding wealth. Because most people just can't comprehend how much money that is.
So, I appreciate this WaPo effort to help people visualize what ridiculous amounts of wealth really mean.
So, I appreciate this WaPo effort to help people visualize what ridiculous amounts of wealth really mean.
This is headline whiplash.
November 18, 2025 at 11:42 AM
This is headline whiplash.
Or maybe women calling men out on their sh*t is exactly what Douthat meant by "women are ruining the workplace."
November 18, 2025 at 10:37 AM
Or maybe women calling men out on their sh*t is exactly what Douthat meant by "women are ruining the workplace."
Finally got around to framing this year's embroidery projects.
I learned from my grandma when I was a kid, then picked it up again last year after the election as an alternative to doomscrolling before bed.
I learned from my grandma when I was a kid, then picked it up again last year after the election as an alternative to doomscrolling before bed.
November 18, 2025 at 1:08 AM
Finally got around to framing this year's embroidery projects.
I learned from my grandma when I was a kid, then picked it up again last year after the election as an alternative to doomscrolling before bed.
I learned from my grandma when I was a kid, then picked it up again last year after the election as an alternative to doomscrolling before bed.
My 8-year-old, after 10 minutes of helping me clean out the garage: I think it should be--the more your body hurts when you're working, the more money you should make.
November 16, 2025 at 6:29 PM
My 8-year-old, after 10 minutes of helping me clean out the garage: I think it should be--the more your body hurts when you're working, the more money you should make.
I told my 11-year-old that I'd pay her $3 for every pantry shelf she organized, figuring she'd get bored and give up after 2 or 3. But it looks like I owe her more than $30.
November 16, 2025 at 4:01 PM
I told my 11-year-old that I'd pay her $3 for every pantry shelf she organized, figuring she'd get bored and give up after 2 or 3. But it looks like I owe her more than $30.
Apparently, the local beaver has big construction plans--plans that involve taking down this entire stand of creek-side trees.
November 15, 2025 at 1:57 PM
Apparently, the local beaver has big construction plans--plans that involve taking down this entire stand of creek-side trees.
As a very particular kind of nerd, one of the things I've looked forward to most as a parent is having an in-house third for board game nights.
November 15, 2025 at 4:03 AM
As a very particular kind of nerd, one of the things I've looked forward to most as a parent is having an in-house third for board game nights.
Stumbled across this old picture of my now 11-year-old daughter, and I think I'll be using this (with her permission) as my go-to shocked face from now on : )
November 13, 2025 at 10:20 PM
Stumbled across this old picture of my now 11-year-old daughter, and I think I'll be using this (with her permission) as my go-to shocked face from now on : )
In *2015* NYT reporter Landon Thomas Jr. had emails from Epstein alleging he had dirt on Donald--photos and accounts of him canoodling with and ogling young girls.
Given all that's transpired in the last decade, it seems like journalistic malpractice that we're only seeing this now.
Given all that's transpired in the last decade, it seems like journalistic malpractice that we're only seeing this now.
![Epstein then replied to Thomas in a series of emails over the next two hours -- in his typical error-ridden style -- first suggesting that Thomas look into Trump's finances before pivoting to more personal subjects.
In one email, Epstein writes: "would you like photso [sic] of donald and girls in bikinis in my kitchen." Thomas replied, "Yes!!"
It's unclear whether Epstein possessed such photos or if he ever sent the reporter any photos.
In another email, Epstein suggested that reporters "ask my houseman about donad [sic] almost walking through the door leaving his nose print on the glass as young women were swimming in the pool and he was so focused he walked straight into the door."](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:dtgy62tymnpbnzozbpgnov56/bafkreiaxx24shcy7fkivtfrumy3fs6p4dbcl4s5o4idxahtukxma5yvgeq@jpeg)
November 13, 2025 at 11:32 AM
In *2015* NYT reporter Landon Thomas Jr. had emails from Epstein alleging he had dirt on Donald--photos and accounts of him canoodling with and ogling young girls.
Given all that's transpired in the last decade, it seems like journalistic malpractice that we're only seeing this now.
Given all that's transpired in the last decade, it seems like journalistic malpractice that we're only seeing this now.
How many excuses will the White House come up with to avoid owning the bad jobs numbers they've caused?
![White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Wednesday that key inflation and jobs data for October will “likely never” be released due to the government shutdown.
Speaking at a news briefing, Leavitt sought to blame Democrats for the more than 40 day government shutdown, which she said “may have permanently damaged the federal statistical system with October [consumer price index] and jobs reports likely never being released.”](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:dtgy62tymnpbnzozbpgnov56/bafkreiggeupzk5g4p3cvjhn5ddalaviqvwluxpbwz75e6nuleprnzznzye@jpeg)
November 13, 2025 at 11:15 AM
How many excuses will the White House come up with to avoid owning the bad jobs numbers they've caused?
