Welcome to Discourse Blog!

We have published thousands of blogs since we started this site way back in March 2020. (That’s right: we decided to launch a new, independent media outlet right when the pandemic hit. We’re business geniuses!) That’s…a lot of blogs—way too many for a newbie to acquaint themselves with. So we want to help you out by pointing you to what we consider to be the best of Discourse Blog.

Below, you will find a selection of our favorite posts going back chronologically all the way to the beginning of Discourse Blog. They range very widely over their subject matter, tone, and just about everything else, but they are all united by our core values: being forthright about what we believe in, standing up for the marginalized and oppressed, telling the venal crooks who run this world to go to hell, and not taking ourselves too seriously.

We love this work, and we want to keep doing it—and for that, we need your help. So click through these stories, and then click that subscribe button! And thanks so much for being a Discourse Blog reader.

“Shame on the New York Times,” by Katherine Krueger

The paper's response to a letter decrying its anti-trans coverage was disgraceful.

“Fiona Apple’s Court Watch Advocacy Rules,” by Caitlin Schneider

While other celebrities write checks, attend galas, then contort and contradict themselves, Apple is out here doing the actual work.

“Please Enjoy My Wife's Bespoke Collection of Absurd Political Content,” by Jack Crosbie

Kara and I experience politics online in very different ways, and I love that for us.

“There Is Blood on So Many Hands Today,” by Samantha Grasso

In the wake of the Colorado Springs massacre, let's give a giant fuck you to everyone who has fueled this climate of hatred.

“How Do You Flip Someone Off?” by Rafi Schwartz

There are many methods to giving someone the finger — but only some are correct.

“We Don’t Talk Enough About: Ernie’s Moon Song,” by Caitlin Schneider

How is it possible that this two-minute children’s song is the most profound piece of music ever recorded?

“The Media Has Gone Full Ableist on John Fetterman,” by Rafi Schwartz

This sucks, man.

“Henry Kissinger Is Right There: The Queen Edition,” by Jack Mirkinson

Hint hint!

“I Can’t Stay In Texas Anymore,” by Samantha Grasso

Seeking: a decent place to live.

“Leave Hunter Biden Alone,” by Katherine Krueger

His mistakes and his floundering make him the only relatable member of the Biden family.

“This Fight Did Not Begin With Us And It Will Not End With Us,” by Caitlin Schneider

We know the right to abortion can be won because it has been won before. Now it’s up to us to win it again.

“100 Years Ago A Cop Was Kicked in the Balls So Hard He Died,” by Rafi Schwartz

A profound moment in history, remembered.

“Fuck This Country,” by Katherine Krueger

It's hard to shake the feeling that there are now more ways to die than to live in America.

“The TERF Mask Is Off,” by Jack Mirkinson

Transphobes are being crystal clear: they want trans people eliminated.

“The NYPD Can’t Protect Us,” by Jack Crosbie

This is what happens when everyday incompetence and structural failures mix.

“The Secret Left-Wing History of ‘Monopoly,’” by Caitlin Schneider

Behind the top hat and twirling mustache of Rich Uncle Pennybags is a tale of thievery, corporate greed, and the erasure of an anti-monopoly activist.

“‘They’ve Had To Leave Behind Things That I Didn’t’: Jack Crosbie on Leaving Ukraine”

'I'm going home, and they're going away from home.'

“Every Single Bird of the Week”

Here is a running tally of every bird we’ve featured in Bird of the Week, as well as some of our favorite standalone birds.

“Every Single Discourse Blog Interview”

Or, as we call them, Discourses.

“We Should Cover Everyone Like We're Covering Ukrainians,” by Jack Mirkinson

People following the mainstream coverage of Ukraine are getting an excellent lesson in media double standards.

“Working at a College During COVID Has Sucked,” by Paul Blest

'It’s almost as if they’re incentivizing people to come to work sick.'

“Today Was So Stupid,” by Katherine Krueger

Democrats turned the January 6 anniversary into the dumbest, most cringe-worthy event possible.

“Another In-Depth Interview With My Sons About Today’s World,” by Rafi Schwartz

What starts with COVID and ends with butt jokes? This interview!

“It's Time For the Social Media Workforce to Organize,” by Caitlin Schneider

Something is happening in the world of social media managers and editors—and it looks a bit like the beginning of a labor movement.

“The Hell of Trying to Get Paid Medical Leave In America,” by Samantha Grasso

Trying to help my husband get paid medical leave from work was a lesson in the nightmares this country puts people through.

“‘The Card Counter’ and the Sins of a Nation,” by Katherine Krueger

Paul Schrader's latest film asks if we'll ever be forgiven for the War on Terror.

“The Government Is Done With COVID,” by Paul Blest

Even though the pandemic itself is still very much with us.

“Is Madison Cawthorn Incredibly Dumb? A Discourse Blog Investigation,” by Rafi Schwartz

The people want to know!

“The New York Times Won't Stop Gaslighting Its Unionizing Workers,” by Jack Crosbie

Audio obtained by Discourse Blog shows the paper's CEO trying to blame the union for a recent breakdown in talks. Sources say the truth is just the opposite.

“How Much Money Would Make Accidentally Pushing Your Hands Through a Glass Door Worth It, and Other Questions,” by Paul Blest

What stage of capitalism is this?

“A History of ‘Americanitis,’ the Nervous Condition That Comes With Living in America,” by Caitlin Schneider

Over a century ago, ‘Americanitis’ plagued a subset of the country. We're still afflicted today.

“The Grassroots Effort to Unionize a New Orleans Charter School,” by Paul Blest

The teachers at Bricolage Academy could get a union today—despite the best efforts of their bosses.

“Bari Weiss Mask Off,” by Jack Mirkinson

Weiss wrote that Israel's killing of children is an 'unavoidable burden.' Words fail.

“Big Day for Ducks,” by Katherine Krueger

When will Joe Biden release his plan for the conservation of big-ass ducks?

“The Bitter Struggle to Form America’s Biggest Coffee Shop Union,” by Samantha Grasso

Colectivo Coffee could become the largest unionized coffee shop in the country. Its owners are trying to stop that from happening.

“The ‘Teen Vogue’ Mess Is What Happens When Bosses Don’t Listen,” by Aleks Chan

Condé Nast’s catastrophic mishandling of Alexi McCammond's hiring as the editor of ‘Teen Vogue’ is what happens when management doesn't respect its employees.

“The Rise and Fall of Grand Slam USA,” by Paul Blest

How a single batting cage led me down a very weird rabbit hole.

'“Texas Is a Failed State,” by Samantha Grasso

What it's like to live through the hellish cold-weather crisis.

“The Do Nothing Caucus,” by Paul Blest

These Senate Democrats aren't 'dealmakers.' They're cynical, useless scammers.

“We’re Not Better Than This,” by Jack Crosbie

So many people were unprepared for this moment because they still believed in the American myth.

“It's OK to Call Bad People Mean Words,” by Katherine Krueger

The awful people might get mad, but it doesn't matter. They're awful people!

“How to Destroy the Supreme Court,” by Paul Blest

For there to be real progress in this country, the court as it currently exists must end.

“You’ve Been Watching Army Propaganda This Entire Time,” by Samantha Grasso

How an old MTV reality show opened my eyes about the military's iron grip on our culture.

“LOL OK,” by Jack Mirkinson

Trump has COVID. I guess we’re doing this!

“RBG and the Stories We Tell Ourselves,” by Caitlin Schneider

Ruth Bader Ginsburg's death also felt like the end of a series of myths about American politics.

“Let Me Tell You About My Heart,” by Rafi Schwartz

Or, how some people tried to un-fuck my fairly fucked-up organ.

“I Guess It Was Just Our Turn to Burn,” by Jack Crosbie

We'll all know what it feels like eventually.

“A Visit to the California Town Founded by Black Americans,” by Caitlin Schneider

At the start of the 20th century, a small group of Californians built a new kind of community.

“Why They're Not Calling It a Strike,” by Katherine Krueger

Acknowledging that most of us are workers and workers can withhold their labor is a stark challenge to the status quo. It also doesn't happen all that often.

“The System Is Back,” by Jack Mirkinson

The message is clear: The adults have returned. They'll take it from here. So shut the hell up.

“‘Terrace House’ Is Falling Down,” by Samantha Grasso

The biggest lie we ever told ourselves about the Japanese reality show was that it wasn't like all the other ones.

“When the Uprising Comes to Town,” by Paul Blest

How Graham, North Carolina (pop. 15,000) is reckoning with its Confederate monument.

“The Only Solution Is to Burn It All Down,” by Samantha Grasso

The media industry's racism will only be fixed when the entire system is torn apart.

“Which Side Are You On?” by Jack Mirkinson

It's the people versus the cops. You have to choose.

“We’re All Bosses Now,” by Katherine Krueger

The app culture gives everyone a chance to trace, track, and tyrannize workers — even in a pandemic.

“They Can’t Even Fire Us Right,” by Jack Crosbie

You'd think after doing something a couple thousand times the bosses would have the process down.

“We’re Never Going Back to Normal,” by Katherine Krueger

It never existed, and it's sure as hell not coming back.

“How Not to Do Labor Journalism 101,” by Paul Blest

There were a thousand ways to tell this story, and NPR chose the worst one.

“Let’s Keep Going,” by Aleks Chan

Welcome to discourse.blog, a new...project (?) brought to you by the former staff of Splinter.

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