Melissa Block
@melissablock.bsky.social
Former NPR host and correspondent. Birder, gardener, mom. Also on Instagram: @nprmelissablock.
Reposted by Melissa Block
I wish all figures of authority cared about moms and babies. But some don’t. Some even want you to hurt. And those are the people who cast doubt on the vaccination miracle that has allowed so many of us to live longer and better.
kentuckylantern.com/2025/11/25/t...
kentuckylantern.com/2025/11/25/t...
Third unvaccinated Kentucky baby dies of whooping cough • Kentucky Lantern
A third unvaccinated infant in Kentucky has died of pertussis as public health officials urge Kentuckians to get vaccinated against the disease.
kentuckylantern.com
November 30, 2025 at 11:39 PM
I wish all figures of authority cared about moms and babies. But some don’t. Some even want you to hurt. And those are the people who cast doubt on the vaccination miracle that has allowed so many of us to live longer and better.
kentuckylantern.com/2025/11/25/t...
kentuckylantern.com/2025/11/25/t...
Just calculated our 2026 health insurance premium on the DC health exchange. It will be nearly a **300%** increase. We’d have to pay $50,590 for a family of 3, for a mid-range plan. Insane.
November 25, 2025 at 10:14 PM
Just calculated our 2026 health insurance premium on the DC health exchange. It will be nearly a **300%** increase. We’d have to pay $50,590 for a family of 3, for a mid-range plan. Insane.
Reposted by Melissa Block
Books We Love is back with a brand new batch of hand-picked titles. Mix and match tags like “Book Club Ideas” and “Eye-Opening Reads.” Find 380+ new 2025 reads, and stick around to browse more than 4,000 books from the last 13 years.
Books We Love
Here are 380+ great reads from 2025 handpicked just for you by NPR staffers and trusted critics.
n.pr
November 24, 2025 at 12:27 PM
Books We Love is back with a brand new batch of hand-picked titles. Mix and match tags like “Book Club Ideas” and “Eye-Opening Reads.” Find 380+ new 2025 reads, and stick around to browse more than 4,000 books from the last 13 years.
Reposted by Melissa Block
For what it’s worth, as a commander and officer it was my duty, moral obligation, and legal requirement to first question and then to not obey any illegal order I was given.
The same is true for everyone who swear their oath.
Hope that clears things up.
The same is true for everyone who swear their oath.
Hope that clears things up.
November 20, 2025 at 10:16 PM
For what it’s worth, as a commander and officer it was my duty, moral obligation, and legal requirement to first question and then to not obey any illegal order I was given.
The same is true for everyone who swear their oath.
Hope that clears things up.
The same is true for everyone who swear their oath.
Hope that clears things up.
Reposted by Melissa Block
When I tell you *a lot* went into this story, I mean it.
- Recordings of internal meetings
- Leaked audio from phone calls
- Internal chat logs
- Drafts of secret policy papers
- Interviews with nearly two dozen sources
Thank you for supporting journalism that does this kind of work.
- Recordings of internal meetings
- Leaked audio from phone calls
- Internal chat logs
- Drafts of secret policy papers
- Interviews with nearly two dozen sources
Thank you for supporting journalism that does this kind of work.
November 6, 2025 at 1:09 PM
When I tell you *a lot* went into this story, I mean it.
- Recordings of internal meetings
- Leaked audio from phone calls
- Internal chat logs
- Drafts of secret policy papers
- Interviews with nearly two dozen sources
Thank you for supporting journalism that does this kind of work.
- Recordings of internal meetings
- Leaked audio from phone calls
- Internal chat logs
- Drafts of secret policy papers
- Interviews with nearly two dozen sources
Thank you for supporting journalism that does this kind of work.
Reposted by Melissa Block
BREAKING: Mississippi Democrats have now flipped two state Senate seats—putting them on the verge of breaking the Mississippi GOP's supermajority.
Theresa Gillespie Isom has defeated Republican opponent Charlie Hoots, who she leads in the current vote tally by about 2-1.
Theresa Gillespie Isom has defeated Republican opponent Charlie Hoots, who she leads in the current vote tally by about 2-1.
Democrat Theresa Gillespie Isom Flips GOP-Held Mississippi Senate Seat in North Mississippi
Theresa Gillespie Isom, a North Mississippi Democrat, has won a special election for Mississippi Senate District 2, flipping a GOP-held seat.
www.mississippifreepress.org
November 5, 2025 at 5:03 AM
BREAKING: Mississippi Democrats have now flipped two state Senate seats—putting them on the verge of breaking the Mississippi GOP's supermajority.
Theresa Gillespie Isom has defeated Republican opponent Charlie Hoots, who she leads in the current vote tally by about 2-1.
Theresa Gillespie Isom has defeated Republican opponent Charlie Hoots, who she leads in the current vote tally by about 2-1.
Reposted by Melissa Block
Populist Dems won. Moderate Dems won. We won in blue states. We won in purple states.
Maybe the take is that (a) people think Trump is out of control; and (b) people like Dems when we're taking a stand and fighting for what we believe in - as we have been for the last month.
Maybe the take is that (a) people think Trump is out of control; and (b) people like Dems when we're taking a stand and fighting for what we believe in - as we have been for the last month.
November 5, 2025 at 2:35 AM
Populist Dems won. Moderate Dems won. We won in blue states. We won in purple states.
Maybe the take is that (a) people think Trump is out of control; and (b) people like Dems when we're taking a stand and fighting for what we believe in - as we have been for the last month.
Maybe the take is that (a) people think Trump is out of control; and (b) people like Dems when we're taking a stand and fighting for what we believe in - as we have been for the last month.
Reposted by Melissa Block
An exceedingly cromulent story about defining words. www.washingtonindependentreviewofbooks.com/bookreview/u... @groveatlantic.bsky.social @stefanfatsis.bsky.social #booksky
Unabridged: The Thrill of (and Threat to) the Modern Dictionary | Washington Independent Review of Books
The Independent is an important voice in the community of readers and writers dedicated to book reviews and writing about the world of books.
www.washingtonindependentreviewofbooks.com
November 3, 2025 at 1:21 PM
An exceedingly cromulent story about defining words. www.washingtonindependentreviewofbooks.com/bookreview/u... @groveatlantic.bsky.social @stefanfatsis.bsky.social #booksky
Great reporting on Bezos/Washington Post conflicts of interest, by @npr.org’s media correspondent @davidfolkenflik.bsky.social
www.npr.org/2025/10/28/n...
www.npr.org/2025/10/28/n...
'Washington Post' editorials omit a key disclosure: Bezos' financial ties
Three times in the past two weeks, editorials at the 'Washington Post' failed to disclose that they focused on matters in which owner Jeff Bezos had a material interest.
www.npr.org
October 28, 2025 at 2:39 PM
Great reporting on Bezos/Washington Post conflicts of interest, by @npr.org’s media correspondent @davidfolkenflik.bsky.social
www.npr.org/2025/10/28/n...
www.npr.org/2025/10/28/n...
Reposted by Melissa Block
Chicagolanders! Tomorrow 10/28 at 7 pm at The Book Cellar I'll be talking about my new book with @jonathaneig.bsky.social. Come ask me about trying to get the farting sense of "Dutch oven" into the dictionary and Jon about winning a Pulitzer Prize www.bookcellarinc.com/stefan-fatsi...
Stefan Fatsis in conversation with Jonathan Eig, "Unabridged" | The Book Cellar
www.bookcellarinc.com
October 27, 2025 at 10:54 PM
Chicagolanders! Tomorrow 10/28 at 7 pm at The Book Cellar I'll be talking about my new book with @jonathaneig.bsky.social. Come ask me about trying to get the farting sense of "Dutch oven" into the dictionary and Jon about winning a Pulitzer Prize www.bookcellarinc.com/stefan-fatsi...
Reposted by Melissa Block
Smart, thoughtful @nytimes.com review of UNABRIDGED by Dan Piepenbring, which also mentions my efforts to get the farting sense of "Dutch oven" into the dictionary
Wut? It’s in the Dictionary. A New Book Explains How.
www.nytimes.com
October 22, 2025 at 1:12 PM
Smart, thoughtful @nytimes.com review of UNABRIDGED by Dan Piepenbring, which also mentions my efforts to get the farting sense of "Dutch oven" into the dictionary
Reposted by Melissa Block
#GRAMMY-Nominated Musician Paul Burch discusses his new novel MERIDAN RISING about Country Music Legend Jimmie Rodgers with @melissablock.bsky.social on Friday, get your tickets now:
Readin’ & Rockin’ Featuring GRAMMY-Nominated Musician Paul Burch in Conversation with former NPR host Melissa Block. – Hill Center DC
Burch Discusses his new Novel Meridian Rising about Country Music Legend Jimmie Rodgers and Sings a Few Songs Too! "Jimmie Rodgers comes a-yodelin' out of Paul Burch's novel as if he were with us today. This is a tour de force of musical imagination." —Roy Blount Jr., author of Save Room for Pie
f.mtr.cool
October 21, 2025 at 2:04 PM
#GRAMMY-Nominated Musician Paul Burch discusses his new novel MERIDAN RISING about Country Music Legend Jimmie Rodgers with @melissablock.bsky.social on Friday, get your tickets now:
Some of the thousands who marched at today’s #nokings rally in #Nashville.
October 18, 2025 at 6:48 PM
Some of the thousands who marched at today’s #nokings rally in #Nashville.
Reposted by Melissa Block
My new book, UNABRIDGED, published by @groveatlantic.bsky.social, is out! It took a long time to report and write and I'm proud of it and would be grateful if you bought it and would love to see people when I'm traveling to promote it. Consider this an official book thread
October 10, 2025 at 9:36 PM
My new book, UNABRIDGED, published by @groveatlantic.bsky.social, is out! It took a long time to report and write and I'm proud of it and would be grateful if you bought it and would love to see people when I'm traveling to promote it. Consider this an official book thread
Reposted by Melissa Block
The first excerpt/adaptation from my new book, UNABRIDGED, is out, in the @theatlantic.com. Read, share, preorder (the book, that is). www.theatlantic.com/magazine/arc...
Is This the End of the Dictionary?
Obsolete (adj.): no longer in use or no longer useful
www.theatlantic.com
September 15, 2025 at 2:56 PM
The first excerpt/adaptation from my new book, UNABRIDGED, is out, in the @theatlantic.com. Read, share, preorder (the book, that is). www.theatlantic.com/magazine/arc...
I’m thrilled to be in conversation this Friday, 9/12, with the brilliant photographer Sally Mann at @politicsprose.bsky.social. Her terrific new book “Art Work” is all about the creative process: its pitfalls, temptations & rewards. As she writes on p. 1: “This is a book about how to get shit done.”
September 9, 2025 at 8:09 PM
I’m thrilled to be in conversation this Friday, 9/12, with the brilliant photographer Sally Mann at @politicsprose.bsky.social. Her terrific new book “Art Work” is all about the creative process: its pitfalls, temptations & rewards. As she writes on p. 1: “This is a book about how to get shit done.”
After Congress stripped away funding for @npr.org and @pbs.org, a lot of us are wondering how we can best support the most vulnerable stations. My former NPR colleague Alex Curley created this "Adopt A Station" website to help you find (and donate to) the stations most at risk. adoptastation.org
Adopt A Station - Rescue Public Media
Help preserve independent journalism and community programming across America by adopting a public media station. Congress has voted to rescind public media's funding.
adoptastation.org
July 22, 2025 at 7:43 PM
After Congress stripped away funding for @npr.org and @pbs.org, a lot of us are wondering how we can best support the most vulnerable stations. My former NPR colleague Alex Curley created this "Adopt A Station" website to help you find (and donate to) the stations most at risk. adoptastation.org
Thoughtful analysis of how we got here, from @npr.org’s @davidfolkenflik.bsky.social.
www.npr.org/2025/07/18/n...
www.npr.org/2025/07/18/n...
How bipartisan support for public media unraveled in the Trump era
"It will test every single shred of creativity we have to continue to try to serve our mission," says one public media executive, as Congress ends federal funding for public broadcasting.
www.npr.org
July 18, 2025 at 1:51 PM
Thoughtful analysis of how we got here, from @npr.org’s @davidfolkenflik.bsky.social.
www.npr.org/2025/07/18/n...
www.npr.org/2025/07/18/n...
Reposted by Melissa Block
Make no mistake: Many, many women have powered #podcasting, then and now. I know this because I am one of them (I worked with Roman and Ira, too). The filmmaker didn't know or didn't care.
Much of my audio work counters historical erasure. It's wild to see it here.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=FW06...
Much of my audio work counters historical erasure. It's wild to see it here.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=FW06...
Age of Audio Official Festival Trailer - 2025
YouTube video by AGE OF AUDIO
www.youtube.com
July 16, 2025 at 9:32 PM
Make no mistake: Many, many women have powered #podcasting, then and now. I know this because I am one of them (I worked with Roman and Ira, too). The filmmaker didn't know or didn't care.
Much of my audio work counters historical erasure. It's wild to see it here.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=FW06...
Much of my audio work counters historical erasure. It's wild to see it here.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=FW06...
Reposted by Melissa Block
Shooting our videos is a little bit different now.
July 8, 2025 at 2:12 AM
Shooting our videos is a little bit different now.
Friends in the DMV: I’ll be chatting w/ @samkean.bsky.social about Dinner with King Tut: his eye-opening new book on (and immersion in) the world of experiential archeology. Mummification, alchemy, trepanation, trebuchets, and more! Tues. 7/8, 7 pm @politicsprose.bsky.social Conn. Ave. Join us!
July 6, 2025 at 9:37 PM
Friends in the DMV: I’ll be chatting w/ @samkean.bsky.social about Dinner with King Tut: his eye-opening new book on (and immersion in) the world of experiential archeology. Mummification, alchemy, trepanation, trebuchets, and more! Tues. 7/8, 7 pm @politicsprose.bsky.social Conn. Ave. Join us!
Reposted by Melissa Block
Trump spoke of “shylocks,” which is one of the most recognizable antisemitic terms in modern English. Watch who tries to explain this away.
July 4, 2025 at 12:17 PM
Trump spoke of “shylocks,” which is one of the most recognizable antisemitic terms in modern English. Watch who tries to explain this away.
Reposted by Melissa Block
No, he knows
Trump says he wasn’t aware term ‘Shylock’ viewed as antisemitic after using it at rally | CNN Politics
President Donald Trump said early Friday that he wasn’t aware that some people view the word “Shylock” as antisemitic after using the term during a rally to decry amoral money lenders.
www.cnn.com
July 4, 2025 at 12:31 PM
No, he knows
Reposted by Melissa Block
Hey, DC - I'm speaking about my new book, Dinner with King Tut, @politicsprose.bsky.social a week from tomorrow, July 8th, at 7pm. Joining me is the wonderful @melissablock.bsky.social! Hope to see you there...
politics-prose.com/sam-kean
politics-prose.com/sam-kean
Sam Kean — Dinner with King Tut: How Rogue Archaeologists Are Recreating the Sights, Sounds, Smells, and Tastes of Lost Civilizations - with Melissa Block — at Conn Ave
politics-prose.com
June 30, 2025 at 5:15 PM
Hey, DC - I'm speaking about my new book, Dinner with King Tut, @politicsprose.bsky.social a week from tomorrow, July 8th, at 7pm. Joining me is the wonderful @melissablock.bsky.social! Hope to see you there...
politics-prose.com/sam-kean
politics-prose.com/sam-kean
Reposted by Melissa Block
“No right is safe in the new legal regime the Court creates.” –Justice Sonia Sotomayor.
One of the most chilling sentences I have ever read.
One of the most chilling sentences I have ever read.
June 27, 2025 at 2:06 PM
“No right is safe in the new legal regime the Court creates.” –Justice Sonia Sotomayor.
One of the most chilling sentences I have ever read.
One of the most chilling sentences I have ever read.