Sarah Stodola
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sstodola.bsky.social
Sarah Stodola
@sstodola.bsky.social
Author of ‘The Last Resort: A Chronicle of Paradise, Profit, and Peril at the Beach’ & ‘Process.’
I write about tourism and other topics.
https://flung.substack.com/
Last Resort: https://tinyurl.com/2brtneky
Process: https://tinyurl.com/mw5dk
Is travel journalism finally taking its subject seriously?

open.substack.com/pub/flung/p/...
Is Travel Journalism Finally Taking Its Subject Seriously?
Waking up from the dream vacation...
open.substack.com
November 7, 2025 at 12:48 PM
“Beginning around November 2024, the internet experienced a slop tipping point, in which the quantity of AI-generated articles being published on the web surpassed the quantity of articles written by humans.”

www.theatlantic.com/technology/2...
This Is Just the Internet Now
The slop is winning.
www.theatlantic.com
October 21, 2025 at 12:19 PM
As usual, the wording of the measures on the NYC ballot in November obscures their true intent.
youtu.be/G-2pDljCfeI?...
Mayor Adams’ Dangerous Ballot Measures, and Why You Should Vote NO in November
YouTube video by Village Preservation
youtu.be
October 17, 2025 at 8:58 AM
Trump's claiming credit, not “getting” it. Biden didn’t get credit either, although he ushered the law in. I’m not sure there’s credit to be got from achievements in government that aren’t performative (and this largely explains why our govmt functions so poorly).

www.nytimes.com/2025/09/07/u...
​​Trump Tried to Kill the Infrastructure Law. Now He’s Getting Credit for Its Projects.
www.nytimes.com
September 7, 2025 at 7:05 PM
Check me out in this feature on BBC Radio 4 looking at the changing nature of the summer holiday thanks to overtourism and climate change. www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...
Rethink - Rethink... summer holidays - BBC Sounds
In an age of climate change and over-tourism, what's the future for our summer holidays?
www.bbc.co.uk
July 1, 2025 at 10:47 PM
When a recent press release from the Department of Transportation landed in my inbox, I read between the childish insults and flat-out fantasies to see that something really interesting is happening...

flung.substack.com/p/is-trump-a...
Is Trump All In on Biden’s Transportation Agenda?
A DOT press release shows that beyond the distracting claims and hyperbole, Trump's administration is piggy-backing on many of his predecessor's accomplishments.
flung.substack.com
June 27, 2025 at 6:54 PM
Reposted by Sarah Stodola
Tucked inside the 1,200-page appendix to the White House’s budget request to Congress is a proposal to eliminate a grant program that provides domestic violence shelters with money to support survivors’ pets.

So yeah, Republicans want to ban survivors' pets from domestic violence shelters.
Republicans want to ban pets from domestic violence shelters
The budget proposal is the Trump administration's latest attack on services supporting abuse survivors.
www.motherjones.com
June 6, 2025 at 5:47 PM
My college decision sure would be different if I were making it today: www.nytimes.com/2025/06/05/u...
Republicans Trying to Control Indiana University Meet Little Resistance
www.nytimes.com
June 6, 2025 at 1:46 PM
"There’s no precedent in the United States for this," said Matt Burris, [the] deputy city manager.

My latest reporting for Bloomberg CityLab on Rancho Cucamonga's transformation thanks to high-speed rail: www.bloomberg.com/news/feature...
Next Stop: Rancho Cucamonga!
As Brightline advances its $12 billion plan to link Southern California and Las Vegas with bullet trains, this LA suburb sees a shot at urban reinvention.
www.bloomberg.com
June 5, 2025 at 7:28 PM
Reposted by Sarah Stodola
How delightful for Rancho Cucamonga that they are taking up the chance to rebuild themselves for transit as the western terminus of the bullet train to Las Vegas. Great story by @sstodola.bsky.socialwww.bloomberg.com/news/feature...
June 5, 2025 at 3:42 PM
I'm seeing some themes in the Trump Administration's dealings with Amtrak.
Something Is Going on at Amtrak
On the prospect of privatization and crony capitalism
flung.substack.com
June 2, 2025 at 5:52 PM
Space tourism works just like all other tourism...

open.substack.com/pub/flung/p/...
Space Tourism: Katy Perry Did It for the Gram
What a short, strange press trip it's been.
open.substack.com
May 3, 2025 at 1:02 PM
Reposted by Sarah Stodola
This piece is filled with so much care in policy-making.

e.g. Collection trucks small enough to pass through ancient, narrow streets arrive before most are awake—except on glass collection day. They arrive later to avoid waking residents with the inevitable clatter of glass dumped from bins.
April 23, 2025 at 8:41 PM
Learn household recycling in Italy and you'll understand why rates in the US are so low...
grist.org/looking-forw...
How Italy got its citizens — and me — to adopt a rigorous recycling scheme
Italy has become a global leader in recycling, in part by relying on households to do a lot of the work.
grist.org
April 23, 2025 at 6:28 PM
After that 11-minute space travel junket I’m no longer convinced that the world’s problems would be solved if only women ruled it.
April 21, 2025 at 2:50 PM
I think this far into the game, it’s fair to say I will never know how to spell “bureau.”
April 18, 2025 at 7:11 PM
Reposted by Sarah Stodola
I’m about to board my flight to El Salvador, where I hope to meet with senior government officials to discuss the return of Kilmar Abrego Garcia.

I also hope to see Kilmar and check on his condition — and remind him that we won’t stop fighting until he’s home.
Headed to El Salvador to meet with government officials and discuss return of Kilmar Abrego Garcia
YouTube video by Senator Chris Van Hollen
youtube.com
April 16, 2025 at 10:13 AM
It's got everything: tragedy, glamour, gaslighting, and even a few billionaires on the next island over.

flung.substack.com/p/what-is-a-...
What Is a Billionaire's Triangle?
Hint: It both doesn't exist and is taking over South Florida's shoreline.
flung.substack.com
April 15, 2025 at 2:40 PM
Reposted by Sarah Stodola
Harvard has set an example for other higher-ed institutions - rejecting an unlawful and ham-handed attempt to stifle academic freedom, while taking steps to make sure students can benefit from an environment of intellectual inquiry, rigorous debate and mutual respect. Let’s hope others follow suit.
April 15, 2025 at 3:52 AM
A high-speed train from London to Milan is now in the works, as Europe continues its project to make rail the preferred mode of transportation over air travel.
www.standard.co.uk/news/transpo...
London to Paris and Milan? New plans for long-distance trains from St Pancras
The announcement is the latest to boost hopes of a major breakthrough in cross-Channel rail travel
www.standard.co.uk
April 9, 2025 at 10:27 AM
He likes tariffs because he can impose them unilaterally.
April 3, 2025 at 7:45 PM
Reposted by Sarah Stodola
I'm supporting today's day of action by @societyofauthors.bsky.social

#DotheWriteThing
April 3, 2025 at 8:38 AM
We didn't always love the beach. This painting helped change that.
flung.substack.com/p/we-love-th...
We love the beach today because of this early 19th century painting
And you can view it this spring at the Metropolitan Museum of Art
flung.substack.com
March 31, 2025 at 7:36 AM