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The Handbasket

thehandbasket.co

100% independent journalism by Marisa Kabas

Society / politics / economy

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2026 49

  1. I talked to Tom, the viral ‘Jonestown’ Trump rally guy
  2. Vivek Ramaswamy and the Grand Old Rape Party
  3. 'Tommy' from viral El-Sayed video is former Sen. Hawley staffer with Christian nationalist ties
  4. Livestreamed executions—there's a bet for that
  5. Why Democrats must keep calling out GOP bullsh*t on sight
  6. What it's like to witness a botched execution
  7. I saw the documentary the Israeli government doesn’t want you to see
  8. Republicans don’t have a Nazi problem—they are the Nazi problem
  9. My miscarriage
  10. You don’t have to hand it to Richard Hanania
  11. Exclusive: Political operative behind Graham Platner's rise accused of sexual assault
  12. The Handbasket LIVE in NYC
  13. We didn’t need a rape accusation to know Graham Platner was unfit
  14. How a former HUD civil rights lawyer courageously challenged Trump
  15. From Haymarket to Prairieland: How dissent has unleashed the long arm of the law
  16. A new narrative for progressive Jewish New Yorkers
  17. Virtual event THIS THURSDAY: Behind the scenes of Kabas v. DC
  18. ICE is offloading seven concentration camp warehouses. What does it really mean?
  19. Elon Musk alone isn’t responsible for Belfast's racist pogrom
  20. The night the letters came down
  21. A tale of two media women
  22. May 29, 2026Starved, smashed and bloodied: The violence at ICE’s Delaney HallBrutality towards detainees and protesters continues to unfold in Newark, NJ. The Handbasket was on-site to report.
  23. May 25, 2026Kat Abughazaleh shows us how to fight fascistsQ+A with one of the Broadview Six, who had all charges dropped against them after grand jury misconduct.
  24. May 20, 2026Hating AI is good, actuallyLinkedIn may be awash with boosters, but shunning AI is the human choice.
  25. May 18, 2026From Selma to Montgomery, Alabama marches for civil rights once againIn a guest post, local journalist Solomon Crenshaw Jr. describes emotional marches on Saturday and the bloody past they evoked.
  26. May 16, 2026Subpoena of NYU Langone trans youth health records pierces ‘bubble’ of safety for patients & families The Handbasket spoke to some of the people impacted.
  27. May 14, 2026Fascist VacationThe Handbasket's very first original editorial cartoon by artist Christian Dawson.
  28. May 08, 2026NY school district pays $125k settlement to HS student whose Palestine-related art they erasedHalf Hollow Hills Central School District has finally resolved a case that stemmed from a September 2024 incident.
  29. Apr 15, 2026Ciao!Consider this my Out of Office autoreply
  30. Apr 14, 2026Whistleblower says Trump officials thought USAID did 'just abortions,' asked for 'Barney-style' slides before gutting agency, per new bookRead an exclusive excerpt from Nicholas Enrich's "Into the Wood Chipper"
  31. Apr 09, 2026Living through Trump's time bombA whole civilization may not have died, but something within us certainly did.
  32. Apr 03, 2026Refusing to accept an AI-poisoned future of journalismThere is no pride in relying on a machine to do deeply human work.
  33. Mar 27, 2026State Dept. staff—including Noem—will move into Institute of Peace building despite ongoing legal disputeAfter the 2025 DOGE raid, a court ruling on ownership of the building remains in limbo.
  34. Mar 23, 2026Airports on ICEFederal immigration agents popped up around the country on Monday to do seemingly nothing.
  35. Mar 17, 2026US Mint takes down video of meeting criticizing proposed Trump 24K gold coinA coin advisory committee called the design for the America 250 coin something only produced by "kings or dictators."
  36. Mar 08, 2026Why now is the time to be loudly anti-warWe don't need the clarity of hindsight to know war in Iran—or anywhere—will end in physical, moral and financial ruin.
  37. Feb 27, 2026How Kansas Republicans weaponized the law to target 300 trans driver's license holdersSB 244 was put into effect virtually overnight, causing chaos, panic and fear in the trans community.
  38. Feb 18, 2026We won our FOIA lawsuit for body cam footage of DOGE raid on US Institute of PeaceThe judge ruled DC Metropolitan Police must share all un-redacted footage from the March 2025 raid.
  39. Feb 17, 2026For ICE to build concentration camps quickly, they're leaning on this 'Dept. of War' programWEXMAC TITUS helps contractors bypass the traditionally lengthy government contract bidding process
  40. Feb 13, 2026"The day of accountability will come": Rep. Delia Ramirez on abolishing and prosecuting DHSThe Handbasket spoke with the congresswoman who called out ICE long before it was popular.
  41. Feb 05, 2026'To Catch A Fascist'Read a sneak peek of the new book by veteran journalist and far-right extremism expert Christopher Mathias.
  42. Feb 03, 2026What it's like to see ICE tear gas kidsAttendees at a Portland, OR protest describe a vicious, unprovoked and sudden attack
  43. Jan 28, 2026CrackdownWriting through history and heartbreak.
  44. Jan 21, 2026Calling Greg Bovino a "b*tch" raises thousands for Minn. immigrant rightsSpearheaded by The Handbasket, $18k+ in donations were made to spite the CBP commander.
  45. Jan 20, 2026Behind the disturbing image of ICE snatching a half-naked, elderly Hmong American from his homeDHS has claimed without evidence that they were looking for someone else when they took ChongLy Scott Thao.
  46. Jan 16, 2026Queer trans ICE protester in small Minn. city recounts agents' violence and humiliationAlice Valentine of St. Cloud was pepper sprayed and jailed by ICE for trying to protect immigrant neighbors.
  47. Jan 14, 2026ICE is headed to MaineThe Mayors of Portland and Lewiston confirmed Wednesday ICE's imminent presence.
  48. Jan 07, 2026The hell of being a ‘Kavanaugh stop’ victimA Maryland man originally from Colombia describes his journey from detainment to incarceration—and miraculous freedom.
  49. Jan 05, 2026Call Trump's power grab in Venezuela what it isCorporate media must recognize they're being openly lied to—and report accordingly.

2025 97

  1. Dec 31, 2025My 2025 closing messageCheers to another year of The Handbasket and valuing good journalism.
  2. Dec 29, 2025Trump says US bombed alleged drug facility in Venezuela. No one knows if it’s true.It could be a lie from social media, or a conflation of other stories. Either way, Americans need to know.
  3. Dec 19, 2025Doctor’s note A quick update from Marisa
  4. Dec 16, 2025Flaming outTrump may beckon darkness, but he can never extinguish the light.
  5. Dec 09, 2025Conspiracy theorist election denier given FEMA’s second-most important roleGregg Phillips will lead the Office of Response and Recovery, “the heart of what FEMA does.”
  6. Dec 06, 2025Giving the gift of independent journalism: a guideThe Handbasket has subscription suggestions for almost everyone on your list.
  7. Dec 04, 2025USTA bans trans athletes from competing as women to comply with Trump executive orderThe national tennis governing body's policy change was made with no announcement.
  8. Dec 03, 2025RFK Jr. is very worried about anti-Christian bias at HHS...under BidenEmployees received a survey Monday asking them to rat on each other.
  9. Nov 26, 2025FEMA employee terminated for signing whistleblower letterIt appears to be a major violation of federal whistleblower protections and constitutional rights.
  10. Nov 20, 2025NJ GOP congressman's former staffer charged in staged MAGA attackNatalie Greene worked for Rep. Jeff Van Drew and had body modifications to make it appear she'd been assaulted.
  11. Nov 18, 2025Moral rot in elite journalism is killing the whole fieldThe Nuzzi/RFK Jr. mess and the revelation of Epstein’s journo pals lay bare a profound moral absence at the heart of our free press.
  12. Nov 17, 2025Families of DC-area immigrant drivers snatched by feds stuck with tow billElected officials and activists note work vehicles removed lightning fast, resulting in hundreds in fees.
  13. Nov 13, 2025WH claims 'inflation tamed,' per DoorDash stats. Company says that's not in its report.It comes the same week we learned the WH would likely not release key economic reports for October.
  14. Nov 11, 2025Former USIP security chief says MPD gave 'high-fives and fist bumps' after raidThe latest on the lawsuit to get MPD's body cam footage released.
  15. Nov 07, 2025The voices of SNAPRecipients have become political pawns. They explained, in their own words, what Trump withholding funds has been like.
  16. Nov 05, 2025Mayor Mamdani redefines what it means to hopeHis victory has created a harsh contrast between the world we want and the world we have.
  17. Nov 01, 2025SNAP benefits feed essential needs while still leaving many hungry for more Journalist and author Adam Chandler explains what so much of the conversation about them gets wrong.
  18. Oct 23, 2025Cuomo goes full gutter racist down the stretchA deranged AI video and radio comments aimed at Mamdani show his truest colors yet.
  19. Oct 22, 2025I'm suing DC Metro Police for body cam footage of US Institute of Peace raidThe Handbasket is represented pro bono by lawyers from the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press.
  20. Oct 15, 2025ICE took a 13-year-old they said had a gun. Local cops say he didn’t.Now he's detained 500 miles away from his Massachusetts home.
  21. Oct 10, 2025DHS top lawyer says 'no legal barrier' to actions officers can take to defend federal propertyIn a memo obtained exclusively by The Handbasket, Federal Protective Service (FPS) officers were given free rein.
  22. Oct 09, 2025Truth, morality and independence in journalism under the second Trump regimeMy full remarks to students and faculty at Grinnell College.
  23. Oct 03, 2025Slate x The Handbasket: Top MAGA 'voter fraud' watchdog votes in PA. Records show he doesn’t live there.The peculiar tale of Jack Posobiec.
  24. Sep 30, 2025Trump mandates all federal agencies send email blaming Dems for potential gov’t shutdownWorkers call the partisan email "a vile slap in the face."
  25. Sep 26, 2025ICE agents point guns at bystanders during violent arrest in Maryland“What’re you gonna do? Shoot me?” one witness yelled. “Go ahead. Shoot me.”
  26. Sep 23, 2025Kimmel reinstatement preempted Disney+ price increase The Handbasket reported first Monday evening on Bluesky
  27. Sep 22, 2025There is simply too much shitA death in ICE custody, Homan's bribery scheme, and American missiles striking foreign boats.
  28. Sep 19, 2025The high cost of free speechJimmy Kimmel's suspension shows us that nothing will ever satisfy Trump's unquenchable thirst for power.
  29. Sep 15, 2025Top FEMA official resigns after staffers ousted for negative Charlie Kirk commentsEmployees have been warned their social media posts could impact employment.
  30. Sep 08, 2025Why I had to see Trump at the US Open with my own eyesStaring straight across the court at a fascist is bad for the soul, but certainly instructive.
  31. Sep 05, 2025Trump human trafficking advisor is former baseball exec who said game 'controlled by Satan'Kevin Malone, welcome to the DC big leagues.
  32. Aug 31, 2025Officer repeatedly seen on camera in DC crackdown shows Trump agents' impunityUS Park Police officer Patrick O’Hanlon isn’t unique in his behavior. He just got caught.
  33. Aug 29, 2025'Intolerable': SSA chief data officer and whistleblower resigns in blistering emailCharles Borges involuntary resignation comes just days after publicly calling out a critical agency data vulnerability.
  34. Aug 28, 2025The extremely online former NFL punter-turned-activist on his run for officeChris Kluwe looks to take his talents to the California Assembly
  35. Aug 25, 2025America tips into fascism (GUEST POST)"Something is materially different in our country this week than last," writes historian Garrett Graff.
  36. Aug 19, 2025DC National Guard members actively training to carry pistols in capital missionSources confirm to The Handbasket that task force members are preparing to be armed.
  37. Aug 16, 2025Federal agent during violent DC arrest: “Liberals already ruined” this countryTrump's thugs are proving their skull-bashing loyalty in broad daylight.
  38. Aug 07, 2025Substack’s extremist ecosystem is flourishingThe app's recent swastika push alert was just the tip of the iceberg.
  39. Aug 04, 2025Chapter 38This birthday, the name of the game is gratitude.
  40. Jul 30, 2025The Green Beret of GazaGaza Humanitarian Foundation contractor Anthony Aguilar describes witnessing war crimes.
  41. Jul 24, 2025Hulk Hogan, Trump idol and enemy of the free press, dead at 71A fuckeulogy by Josephine Riesman
  42. Jul 22, 2025Gaza is starvingPalestinians seeking food are being killed by the IDF. It's time for the entire world to say enough.
  43. Jul 18, 2025What happened this week in non-Epstein news?While MAGA melted down, mass deportation and government corruption stories proliferated.
  44. Jul 09, 2025Have you seen this man?In the wake of deadly floods in Texas, FEMA Acting Administrator David Richardson is nowhere to be found.
  45. Jul 08, 2025FEMA response to deadly Texas floods delayed & deficient with Noem in chargeStaffers sound the alarm.
  46. Jun 30, 2025Alligator Alcatraz immigrant prison camp is Florida's sadistic 'one-stop shop' for mass deportationTrump will attend the opening on Tuesday with Gov. DeSantis and DHS Sec. Noem.
  47. Jun 25, 2025We can have nice thingsZohran Mamdani proved you can fully embrace progressive values—and win.
  48. Jun 22, 2025EXCLUSIVE: The Onion calls out ‘cowardice’ of Congress in full-page NYT adThe ad features a scathing editorial, a physical copy of which was sent to all House and Senate members.
  49. Jun 20, 2025The appalling smearing of Zohran Mamdani as 'anti-semitic'It's Islamophobic. It's racist. It's also completely untrue.
  50. Jun 18, 2025What actually happened at the Salt Lake City ‘No Kings’ shooting?One man is dead. Another is in jail—but not the one who fired his gun.
  51. Jun 13, 2025ICE agents get green light to make unjustified warrantless arrestsThe agency announced an accountability policy has been rescinded.
  52. Jun 07, 2025How to rank the NYC Democratic mayoral primary candidatesThe Handbasket's official recommendations and guide to the race.
  53. Jun 04, 2025In Trump’s America, wealthy criminals are pardoned, poor innocents are arrestedWhile ICE patrols court houses for law-abiding immigrants, Trump's friends get a free pass.
  54. May 29, 2025State Department set to launch ‘Office of Remigration’The concept of remigration has explicitly neo-Nazi roots and has been popularized in Europe.
  55. May 27, 2025FEMA at 'high risk' of disrupting 'life-saving' disaster relief, per internal memoThe agency in charge of mitigating disasters is in the midst of its own.
  56. May 22, 2025A mother's urgent plea to stop ICE from deporting her daughters’ birth father tomorrowHe served his time in the US. He deserves to heal here, too.
  57. May 16, 2025ICE is actively hiring for construction-related jobsIt's unclear what types of projects they'll be serving.
  58. May 13, 2025Hasan Piker’s ICE detainment is a cautionary tale for multiple reasons The progressive Twitch star's account of his experience shows unchecked power, and what *not* to do if detained.
  59. May 11, 2025Being a mom in the federal government wasn’t easy. Trump made it “impossible.”The Handbasket spoke to several moms about the series of painful choices they've had to make since January.
  60. May 08, 2025ICE efforts in DC thwarted by solidarityKristi Noem has been denied another camera-ready moment of cruelty.
  61. May 03, 2025"An independent journalist" who won't remain namelessToo many legacy outlets still refuse to credit indie journos. Enough is enough.
  62. Apr 28, 2025Queer intel officers targeted by top secret chat leak get their chance to speakChris Rufo published the chats. Staffers say a new "lavender scare" is upon us.
  63. Apr 25, 2025ICE abducts Montana resident with legal humanitarian statusBeker Rengifo is the latest victim of Trump's reckless and illegal war on migrants.
  64. Apr 22, 2025US “relocates” Iraqi refugee to Rwanda via new diplomatic arrangementA State Department cable indicates at least 10 more people will be subjected to the same.
  65. Apr 17, 2025GOP photos at El Salvador prison evoke Abu Ghraib—and worseMembers of Congress visited CECOT for some torture tourism—and to prove loyalty to Trump.
  66. Apr 15, 2025It was never about antisemitismFrom abducting college students to an attack on a Jewish governor, Trump’s real motivations remain clear.
  67. Apr 10, 2025DOGE descends on FDICThe Handbasket was first to report the nefarious team's entry into the agency that protects our bank accounts.
  68. Apr 07, 2025BREAKING: Third grader & family abducted by ICE will return homeThe people of Sackets Harbor remind us that resistance can work.
  69. Apr 06, 2025Try that in a small townICE disappeared a mother and 3 children. Neighbors of Trump's Border Czar said hell no.
  70. Apr 02, 2025Tracking the HHS April Fools’ MassacreThe Handbasket has created a document to capture the destruction.
  71. Mar 29, 2025EXCLUSIVE: After Kennedy Center cancels LGBTQ+ musical, Guster brings cast on stage in protestFinn's run at the storied DC venue was axed after Trump took over.
  72. Mar 26, 2025State Dept. demands 'enhanced' social media vetting of student visa applicantsIt’s tied to Trump’s executive orders re: terrorism and antisemitism, per an official cable review by The Handbasket.
  73. Mar 25, 2025Murder the TruthThe New York Times' David Enrich chats about his new book and legal threats to press freedom.
  74. Mar 22, 2025How a false story about an anti-Trump band went viralNews outlets reported the Dropkick Murphys were banned from X by Elon Musk. As Jacqueline Sweet easily found, it wasn’t true.
  75. Mar 20, 2025The Trump administration's 'assault' on PeaceThe violent attack on the US Institute of Peace is a heavy-handed metaphor for this administration's goals.
  76. Mar 18, 2025Trump to declare 'illicit' fentanyl 'Weapon of Mass Destruction,' per draft EOA copy of the draft was obtained and reviewed by The Handbasket.
  77. Mar 06, 2026Police body cam footage shows DOGE knew Institute of Peace was private property during raidFootage obtained by The Handbasket’s lawsuit shows a hostile takeover on March 17, 2025.
  78. Mar 15, 2025Heartbreak, New YorkHow blue state Dems are betraying the people they're supposed to represent
  79. Mar 11, 2025GOP will observe “DeTrans Awareness Day” with multiple events WednesdayRep. Dan Crenshaw and the Dept. of Education are leading the charge.
  80. Mar 09, 2025The time for a spineDemocrats who censured Rep. Al Green are as clueless as they are feckless.
  81. Mar 06, 2025FEMA’s top lawyer placed on leave after less than one week in roleIt may be tied to a lawsuit about funding for migrant shelters.
  82. Feb 27, 2025The full force of this administration’s destruction is about to hitOnce social security checks stop showing up, millions of Americans will finally understand the scope.
  83. Feb 23, 2025Move fast and break peopleFor Elon Musk's government, the psychological warfare is the point.
  84. Feb 20, 2025The curious case of Leland DudekHow blind loyalty to Elon Musk took a Social Security Administration staffer from zero to lackey hero
  85. Feb 18, 2025We’re dealing with actual NazisMusk and his young mercenary are anything but subtle.
  86. Feb 15, 2025You can pry my antidepressants from my cold, dead handsA new executive order announced an "assessment" for the use of these meds in children. Adults aren't far behind.
  87. Feb 12, 2025New DOGE staffer appears to be young lawyer with surprising bioNew details emerge about an apparent member of Musk's squad.
  88. Feb 08, 2025Missing children’s org removes LGBTQIA+ materials per Trump DOJ demandA staffer at NCMEC confirms the distressing effort to comply with Trump's executive order.
  89. Feb 07, 2025How Elon Musk forked up his mass resignation planIncompetence and desperation are a bad combination.
  90. Feb 05, 2025GUEST COLUMN: The current ‘mindf*ck’ of being a trans journalistKatelyn Burns explains the personal and professional toll of Trump's anti-trans executive orders.
  91. Feb 01, 2025Did you hear about the Friday coup?Elon Musk is in control.
  92. Jan 29, 2025BREAKING: OMB rescinds freeze on federal financial aidA memo sent out Wednesday afternoon confirms. The Handbasket was first to report on Bluesky.
  93. Jan 28, 2025Breaking: The Handbasket is first to report catastrophic OMB funding memoPosted on Bluesky earlier this evening, other major outlets have since confirmed.
  94. Jan 22, 2025SCOOP: National Institutes of Health ordered by Trump admin to enact 'immediate and indefinite' travel suspension"If staff aren’t able to travel, clinical trials will likely have to be put on hold," a source tells The Handbasket.
  95. Jan 21, 2025The Grotesque AgeThe best way to deal with Trump 2.0? Believe your eyes.
  96. Jan 16, 2025Walking the plankApproaching the second Trump presidency with terrifying clarity and extreme caution
  97. Jan 09, 2025Scorched EarthThe precarity of living on a burning planet.

2024 74

  1. Dec 31, 2024The quiet end of a loud yearBracing for the punch of 2025
  2. Dec 18, 2024Substack is at it again“Why on earth would you brag to your users that you've partnered with a bunch of protofascists?"
  3. Dec 16, 2024Feck You, ABC NewsIf a giant corporate news organization caves to Trump, what hope is there for smaller publishers?
  4. Dec 12, 2024What happens when people say you’re the CEO killer?A conversation with journalist Sean Morrow about his wild experience of becoming the story.
  5. Dec 05, 2024Breaking the norms of deathA healthcare CEO was shot dead. Many are glad. What now?
  6. Nov 25, 2024Feck You, David AxelrodIntroducing a new column from The Handbasket.
  7. Nov 20, 2024Trump's cabinet picks—not trans Rep. Sarah McBride—are the real threat to womenBut guess which one is drawing Republicans' ire.
  8. Nov 15, 2024How Democrats are modeling acquiescence Are they going to just roll over for Trump? Signs point to yes.
  9. Nov 11, 2024It's time to lose our headsGiving up isn't an option. But playing by the same old rules isn't one either.
  10. Nov 06, 2024Soon I’ll find the words
  11. Nov 05, 2024Where's Rudy hiding his stuff?The absurd story of Rudy Giuliani and a Long Island warehouse.
  12. Oct 29, 2024Billionaires are not journalistsIt's not about presidential endorsements—it's about the very future of our field.
  13. Oct 27, 2024The strange history behind Trump's “childhood friend” (UPDATED)David Rem is speaking at the MSG rally. But how do they know each other?
  14. Oct 24, 2024Trump praises Hitler. ADL remains silent.In a terrifying moment for American Jews, the org is nowhere to be found.
  15. Oct 21, 2024Trump's McDonald's stunt reminds us Harris will be so much better on laborThe GOP has no interest in fast food workers’ rights.
  16. Oct 18, 2024We win Pittsburgh, we win this electionIt's the hottest city in America for presidential politics. So I visited for a vibe check.
  17. Oct 11, 2024A Jewish Harvard student hung Yom Kippur protest posters. Campus Hillel called the cops.Emotions are high in the wake of the Oct. 7th anniversary. But will this create a chilling effect on young Jews looking to engage?
  18. Oct 09, 2024I didn’t know what to write so I tried to write it allSome potpourri of the mind
  19. Oct 02, 2024Forced birth advocate believes paid maternity leave should be a choiceIt's the only issue where JD Vance thinks a woman's opinion matters.
  20. Sep 24, 2024'Bananas', 'bonkers & bullsh*t': NPR's David Folkenflik on Olivia Nuzzi, Ben Smith and journalism ethicsThe longtime media reporter sounds off.
  21. Sep 20, 2024My afternoon at Trump's Long Island rallySometimes you just have to see things for yourself.
  22. Sep 12, 2024Taylor Swift and immigrants drive right wing men to madnessElon Musk, JD Vance and others are fighting a losing battle to put them in their place.
  23. Sep 06, 2024How to lose friends and influence mediaCashing in has never been easier. But at what cost?
  24. Aug 29, 2024Going to hell in a handbasketFighting the flames as we barrel towards Election Day
  25. Aug 22, 2024Millennials have taken over the DNC. Good.RIP to "when they go low, we go high"
  26. Aug 09, 2024After unprecedented newspaper raid, journalists remain defiantFormer Marion County Record reporter Deb Gruver says, ‘No, you don't get away with this’
  27. Aug 07, 2024News of police raiding Kansas newspaper unfolded like 'a novella.' There was much more to the story.Messy small town relationships and a corrupt local government created the perfect storm
  28. Aug 05, 2024One year after chilling police raid on Kansas newspaper, aftershocks linger in MarionClosure remains elusive in absence of official reports or criminal charges
  29. Aug 04, 2024A little birthday wishGet 20% off a premium subscription!
  30. Jul 29, 2024Republicans aren't just weird—they're creepsThere's a reason people believe even the most deranged rumors about Trump and Vance
  31. Jul 24, 2024The Harris for President numbers don't lieBetween her historical fundraising haul and rush of volunteers, the math is definitely mathing.
  32. Jul 19, 2024I'm heading to Kansas and need your help!It requires more than clicking my heels
  33. Jul 11, 2024Is Democracy in Retrograde?A new book explores civic engagement in the face of hopelessness.
  34. Jul 08, 2024Windmills blow away Trump's denial of Project 2025 involvementA brief line in the 900+ page authoritarian guide reveals the Republican candidate's fingerprints.
  35. Jul 02, 2024The case for candidate Kamala HarrisShe has name recognition, experience, and perhaps most importantly, money.
  36. Jun 24, 2024Jamaal Bowman's Democratic primary challenger has run a campaign on white grievanceGeorge Latimer has targeted NY-16's first Black representative with overt racism.
  37. Jun 19, 2024Who’s a real Jew? Ask Congressman Ritchie Torres.He's the latest to wade into the NY-16 primary, and for all the wrong reasons.
  38. Jun 12, 2024Rep. Bowman's primary challenger once compared Gov. Cuomo to Emmett Till. He didn't like being asked about it.George Latimer was pushed to run because of Israel. Now he's getting defensive on issues of race.
  39. Jun 06, 2024The Washington Post is in fascist-guided free fallFormer Murdoch employees have taken over. Now corruption and scandal abound.
  40. May 31, 2024Pressure from pro-Israel advocacy group after Rafah violence could explain Biden’s new planHis call to end the war comes three days after J Street made the same demand.
  41. May 28, 2024TOMORROW: Antizionism is "more kosher than you think"I'll be moderating this virtual discussion between Jewish scholars. Join us!
  42. May 24, 2024Flags are having a real momentJustice Alito, campus protests, and the meaning of a piece of cloth
  43. May 17, 2024We have nothing if we don’t have solidarityWhat the abortion rights movement can teach us about killing zombies
  44. May 10, 2024Read my new MSNBC columnA companion piece to Wednesday’s story
  45. May 08, 2024“I didn't think he was gonna stop”: Cousin of infamous extremist rabbi Meir Kahane attacks student protesters with carA student eyewitness tells The Handbasket what he saw.
  46. May 01, 2024An expert tries to unlock the NYPD's bike lock conspiracyDoug Gordon: “The more we can talk about bike locks, the less we ever have to engage with what people are actually protesting for."
  47. Apr 28, 2024The real rioters? Cops and college presidents.The kids are alright. The adults are not.
  48. Apr 24, 2024“Panicking” and “screams”: A Palestinian-American NYU professor describes cops' student protest crackdownBorn and raised in Israel, human rights lawyer Jamil Dakwar brings a distinct perspective to the protest movement.
  49. Apr 19, 2024I spoke with a Google worker fired for protesting a $1.2 billion contract with Israel"It was a complete overreaction on their part to not only fire everyone who was and wasn't involved, but then also threaten everyone else in the company who would dare think to stand up against this...it
  50. Apr 12, 2024Biden should do a primetime address on abortionThe president needs to definitively own the issue in a way that feels commensurate with its seriousness.
  51. Apr 06, 2024We can slay giantsTech companies and thin-skinned billionaires won't get the final word
  52. Apr 05, 2024Here's the column Meta doesn't want you to seeRead the Kansas Reflector's piece about Facebook's climate change ad policy
  53. Apr 04, 2024A local news site was critical of Facebook—then Meta banned all their linksTheir content was erroneously flagged as a cybersecurity threat.
  54. Apr 02, 2024Dems who censured Rep. Tlaib over Palestine comments largely silent on GOP Rep's call for nukesIt's telling who does—and does not—get the benefit of the doubt
  55. Mar 25, 2024Ronna McDaniel vs. meOn being a freelance columnist (and that viral email)
  56. Mar 21, 2024Who's a good Jew?Trump, Jonathan Glazer and the pernicious need to call out who's doing Judaism correctly.
  57. Mar 15, 2024How the lads caught royal fever#KateGate has become the biggest crossover event since Taylor at the Super Bowl
  58. Mar 10, 2024Joe Biden is too youngWe deserve a president who was at the first Thanksgiving.
  59. Mar 05, 2024Rock the Vote (Taylor’s Version)Swift weighed in on Super Tuesday—and it's not enough.
  60. Mar 01, 2024The man—and the media—on fireThe coverage of Aaron Bushnell’s self-immolation, the undeniability of his protest, and the power of independent journalism.
  61. Feb 26, 2024A cop hung up on me when I asked questions about Nex BenedictThe Public Information Officer didn't want to inform the public.
  62. Feb 23, 2024A nonbinary teen is dead. The cops aren't helping.Nex Benedict deserved so much better.
  63. Feb 20, 2024The utter indignity of air travelA rant about blown off windows and bomb-sniffing dogs.
  64. Feb 14, 2024Don't call NY-3 a "bellwether"A uniquely bad GOP candidate in a bizarre district are not a blueprint for the country
  65. Feb 09, 2024I'll be on MSNBC tonight @ 8:30pm ET!Tune in!
  66. Feb 07, 2024The Devil is back in GeorgiaA new law threatens charitable bail funds—and fundamental civil rights.
  67. Feb 02, 2024Today is the most depressing day to work in media since yesterdayOn mass layoffs and massive ennui
  68. Jan 30, 2024Who will replace George Santos? The options are bleak.New York's 3rd Congressional District remains a hot mess.
  69. Jan 25, 2024I chatted with a courtroom sketch artist who draws TrumpChristine Cornell has been at this for nearly 50 years—and she's seen it all.
  70. Jan 22, 2024Small-town Colorado newspaper theft was to protect victim, not police chiefI spoke to the man who confessed to stealing the papers about his real motivation for doing it.
  71. Jan 19, 2024A new awful billionaire has entered the chatYou probably didn't know Bill Ackman before. Now you must.
  72. Jan 17, 2024The quiet part is the loud partArguments against birthright citizenship here and abroad show the clear and present threat of white nationalism
  73. Jan 09, 2024Substack says it will ban some NazisMy POV as an organizer.
  74. Jan 03, 2024You need to know Chris Rufo’s nameThe shadowy right-wing operative wants the glory for bringing down Harvard's president. So let's give it to him.

2023 88

  1. Dec 28, 2023We got Substack to admit its Nazi problemThe founders' astonishing response, and the responses to the response.
  2. Dec 21, 2023Joy around the cornerA love newsletter, for a change.
  3. Dec 16, 2023More than 200 publications join Substackers Against NazisDespite strong media coverage, Substack founders still offer no direct response.
  4. Dec 14, 2023Substackers Against NazisA collective letter to Substack leadership
  5. Dec 11, 2023A conversation with...meHow the tables have turned.
  6. Dec 08, 2023We are all one vesselA Hanukkah reminder.
  7. Dec 07, 2023Ay dios CameoA reflection on creating an internet monster.
  8. Dec 04, 2023Writing an obituary for a war criminal: Q+A with journalist Spencer AckermanWe talk about his viral piece on the life and death of Henry Kissinger.
  9. Dec 01, 2023BREAKING: George Santos has been expelled from CongressIt's real. It happened.
  10. Nov 28, 2023I talked to the guy who wrote a book about George Santos"It was very strange that this guy who I've been trying to get people interested in for a long time—now everyone knew who he was."
  11. Nov 25, 2023Celebrate Small Biz Saturday with The Handbasket!Support independent journalist.
  12. Nov 22, 2023Hot pink money launderingThe low-stakes moving company drama we all need right now.
  13. Nov 19, 2023The cowardice of Jonathan GreenblattOn the ADL's influential CEO, and the intentional confusion regarding who really has power.
  14. Nov 17, 2023I figured out why Nicole Kidman and John Boehner were hanging out
  15. Nov 16, 2023I talked to the Dr. who allegedly did George Santos’ Botox and had his license suspended for a penile enhancement gone wrong“Whether they’re running for Congress or running for Senate, we provide the service they’re looking for."
  16. Nov 15, 2023Are Congressional Republicans OK?Teamsters, kidneys and babies, oh my.
  17. Nov 09, 2023RIP Jezebel (and women’s media in general)The shutdown of the iconic website is a chilling reminder of the systematic silencing of our voices.
  18. Nov 07, 2023Law enforcement continues to mess with the press“It sure seems like there's a bright orange target painted on the back of every journalist in the United States these days.”
  19. Oct 26, 2023PremiumWe need to talk about George SantosCould this particular national nightmare almost be over?
  20. Oct 24, 2023Exclusive: Women staffers of Jann Wenner’s Rolling Stone get their turn to speak“The men were very angry all the time, and some of them would have full on fits—like, full-on toddler-like tantrums."
  21. Oct 19, 2023We can choose to be braveIt's time for Jews to imagine a way forward without violence.
  22. Oct 09, 2023The war insideHow do we begin to process incalculable loss?
  23. Oct 02, 2023PremiumFinally! Marion police chief suspended post-raids. Newspaper owner speaks. [UPDATED]'People buy papers to find out things that they don't know—not to just be reinforced about what they already do know'
  24. Sep 30, 2023Elon Musk crosses the border to NaziHe's blown past blatant antisemitism and is now aligning with Jew-hating, right wing Germans. What else would you call that?
  25. Sep 22, 2023Project Veritas goes undercover as org with no money James O'Keefe's baby is about to go kaput.
  26. Sep 14, 2023Allow myself to reintroduce ... myselfA little refresher on who I am and why I'm here.
  27. Sep 13, 2023Life's a show, and Lauren Boebert only plays one roleVaping in the middle of 'Beetlejuice' is who she really is.
  28. Sep 07, 2023Bat mitzvah girls and Twitter NazisHow Jewish art is thriving during a time of overt antisemitism.
  29. Sep 05, 2023Elon Musk is an antisemiteHis attack on the Anti-Defamation League is just the latest evidence of his insidious feelings about Jews.
  30. Sep 01, 2023How one magazine is changing the game for trans-inclusive coverageA recent project from SELF focusing on trans youth in sports shows how legacy media can and must evolve.
  31. Aug 29, 2023A convo with 'Marion County Record' owner two weeks post-police raid“The question of who got the document and where it came from is resolved... So, if everybody knew where it came from, why do you have to have a search warrant?"
  32. Aug 24, 2023After Lauri Carleton's murder, store owners reflect on their Pride flags"You can't let one crazy person somewhere out there deter everything you stand for.”
  33. Aug 21, 2023Dirt on Marion police chief, video of raid published by Kansas newspaperThe Marion County Record isn't pulling any punches.
  34. Aug 18, 2023One week later: Where things stand in MarionPolice Chief Gideon Cody was indeed under investigation for sexual misconduct at his previous job.
  35. Aug 16, 2023EXCLUSIVE first look at 'Marion County Record' front page post-raidThe Handbasket obtained the image early Wednesday morning before it went to print.
  36. Aug 14, 2023PremiumThe latest on the Kansas newspaper police raidThe Handbasket follows up on its earlier scoop.
  37. Aug 12, 2023SCOOP: Kansas newspaper raided by cops was investigating police chief, owner saysEric Meyer of the Marion County Record tells The Handbasket his paper had been investigating the police chief prior to the raids on his office and home.
  38. Aug 04, 2023Birthday gratitude post (+special subscription offer)To life—and turning double chai.
  39. Jul 28, 2023RFK Jr. courts the Nazi voteTonight he's gonna party like it's 1488.
  40. Jul 27, 2023How I ended up in Ken’s Canadian hometown for Barbie DayIn Cornwall, Ontario, Ryan Gosling is more than Kenough.
  41. Jul 12, 2023How Rolling Stone's Miles Klee became an enemy of the QAnon ArmyHis review of 'Sound of Freedom' has attracted extreme reactions. "I'm not losing my job, I'm not going to jail. Their only satisfaction is in whipping themselves into a froth," he says in our Q+A.
  42. Jul 10, 2023Jonah Hill and “therapy speak”When having "boundaries" is actually just trying to control others.
  43. Jun 27, 2023First comes loveChoosing marriage and choosing joy
  44. May 25, 2023Local NY Republican leader rallies troops in support of Jordan Neely's killerBruce Blakeman hit a new low when he bused in veterans to support Daniel Penny, who's been charged with manslaughter.
  45. May 18, 2023The vote to get George outHis biggest GOP critics are taking a victory lap after doing nothing.
  46. May 15, 2023I finally chat with George.It was brief but glorious.
  47. May 12, 2023What it was like to be there for George’s day in courtAfter all this time, we finally breathed the same air.
  48. May 10, 2023BREAKING: George Santos has been charged and is in custody. He’s set to appear in a Long Island court this afternoon.
  49. May 03, 2023Rep. Santos stokes outrage with video of drag act at HS in his district. Turns out, performer is a student.He quietly deleted it. But not before @LibsofTikTok re-posted.
  50. May 01, 2023Wandering the Digital DiasporaOn social media silos, and fear of the unknown.
  51. Apr 24, 2023PremiumSantos compares himself to Lindsay Lohan in Mean GirlsGeorge stopped by a Barstool Sports podcast to complain, mostly.
  52. Apr 17, 2023BREAKING: George Santos is running for reelection. Yes, really.Unlimited chutzpah.
  53. Apr 15, 2023Santos to reportedly announce reelection bid while campaign bleeds moneyYou don't have to be a math genius to figure this one out.
  54. Apr 11, 2023Let's chat on the *NEW* Substack Notes!It's like Twitter, but not.
  55. Apr 10, 2023Monday morning in AmericaGOP stays focused on made-up problems when gun violence is right there.
  56. Apr 07, 2023The Twitter RaptureWhere do we go next?
  57. Mar 31, 2023PremiumWhat Santos was up to while Trump was getting indictedThe worst thing to happen to the Mets since Clemens threw the bat at Piazza.
  58. Mar 24, 2023The Daily Santos: Vol. 28From "I am not a crook!" to "okay, maybe I am."
  59. Mar 15, 2023PremiumThe Daily Santos: Vol. 27Big yachts and big problems.
  60. Mar 10, 2023Former Santos roommate says he was ringleader of credit card skimming schemeGeorge says it's not true. A likely story.
  61. Mar 09, 2023Trans students brace for Michael Knowles Buffalo speechJust days after he called for the “eradication” of trans people, Knowles is being welcomed to the University at Buffalo
  62. Mar 02, 2023PremiumWOW: George Santos is officially under House Ethics Committee investigationAfter all the sowing, the reaping has arrived.
  63. Feb 27, 2023EXCLUSIVE: Santos friend & top donor speaks for first time since George's lies revealed“He never made any claims to me that he was Jewish," Jennifer Vartanov says.
  64. Feb 23, 2023PremiumThe Daily Santos: Vol. 23Is George getting bored with the game?
  65. Feb 19, 2023HEY! I’ll be on MSNBC tonight @ 9pm ET!Tune in!
  66. Feb 16, 2023PremiumThe Daily Santos: He's back, baby!More credit card fraud, a green card marriage and some early signs of a scammer.
  67. Feb 14, 2023PremiumThe Daily Santos: Vol. 21George tells us he won't resign. Again.
  68. Feb 09, 2023The Daily Santos: Sick puppiesSomehow there's another dog story.
  69. Feb 07, 2023Premium"It is possible he committed a federal crime": How Santos' SOTU guest really feels about himScreenshots from a private Facebook group show Michael Weinstock doesn’t think much of his congressman
  70. Feb 07, 2023PremiumThe Daily Santos: Vol. 18George leans into 9/11 and the Holocaust, despite his lies.
  71. Feb 03, 2023George Santos can't run from his Jewish liesI won't allow him to rewrite this very recent history.
  72. Feb 02, 2023PremiumThe Daily Santos: He’s not worth the co-payNancy Marks resigns, more investigations, and more fake donations.
  73. Jan 31, 2023SANTOS NEWS FLASHStepping away from committees and sky-high unfavorability rating.
  74. Jan 31, 2023The Daily Santos: George singularityCopying the resume of a fictional character created by a fictional character.
  75. Jan 28, 2023The Daily Santos: Fake donors/real investigationsPlus a Nancy Marks sighting.
  76. Jan 27, 2023Schmear campaign: A bagel crawl across George Santos’ districtA hole-y journey for one Long Island native.
  77. Jan 25, 2023The Daily Santos: Where's Nancy?The search for George's campaign treasurer, a doctor gets duped, FEC updates, and more.
  78. Jan 25, 2023The Daily Santos: A 2020 campaign intern speaks outAbdullah Hassan says Santos forced him to lie for a campaign ad.
  79. Jan 23, 2023The Daily Santos: Vol. 10Fun at a festival
  80. Jan 20, 2023The Daily Santos: Vol. 9Hannah Montana has entered the chat.
  81. Jan 20, 2023The Daily Santos: Vol. 8Plus some news about The Handbasket!
  82. Jan 18, 2023A conversation with George Santos' drag mentorBrazilian Drag Queen Eula Rochard explains "George did not have the glamour" to go pro.
  83. Jan 18, 2023The Daily Santos: Vol. 6He did WHAT?
  84. Jan 17, 2023The Daily Santos: Vol. 5George and the terrible, horrible, no good, very bad weekend
  85. Jan 13, 2023The Daily Santos: Vol. 4George made it to the weekend.
  86. Jan 12, 2023The Daily Santos: Vol. 3The gift that keeps on giving.
  87. Jan 10, 2023The Daily Santos: Vol. 2It was another busy day for George during his first Tuesday as a congressman.
  88. Jan 10, 2023The Daily Santos: Vol. 1As Georgie boy starts his first full week in Congress, we take a look at the latest headlines plaguing him.

2022 11

  1. Dec 20, 2022Our Long Island National NightmareThoughts on the George Santos of it all.
  2. Nov 07, 2022Every new beginning comes from some other beginning's endThe start of an era, and perhaps the end of another
  3. Oct 14, 2022John Fetterman is actually radically open about his healthWriter Rebecca Traister talks about her recent experience reporting on the candidate, and the dispiriting narrative that's emerged about his fitness for office.
  4. Sep 20, 2022We can't ignore the deaths at RikersThe legacy of slavery bleeds in the heart of the country's bluest city.
  5. Sep 01, 2022The emptiness of going viralIn our capitalist society, what's the value of recognition for free?
  6. Aug 04, 2022This week’s Kansas abortion vote through the eyes of a 50-year activistSarah Jane Russell, 68, describes the "unreal" day and her equally unreal lifetime of advocacy.
  7. Jul 06, 2022The Jewishness of the July 4th mass shooting What it's like to viscerally experience tragedy unfold.
  8. Jun 25, 2022A thousand little funeralsThe end of a years-long eulogy for Roe.
  9. Jun 21, 2022From Denver with LoveCommentary on a new Rolling Stone feature about gun violence and toxic masculinity online
  10. Jun 10, 2022On Being a Woman in MediaFelicia Sonmez, the Washington Post, and the slow march of progress.
  11. Jun 09, 2022Introducing: The Handbasket!