“If we lose our ability to access joy, I mean, what do we have, you know? And joy can be an act of resistance.” Word.

Low Cut Connie@lowcutconnie.bsky.social · 3mo ago

Incredible feature on @npr.org on 'Livin in the USA' Listen to this right now ⬇️

Having lived through a number of industrial/environmental disasters (the 1994 explosion at Shell Chemical in Belpre, Ohio and DuPont’s C8 contamination) and then gone on to cover even more as a journalist, I know these stories well. Given recent news, I put together this conversation:

Amid a slew of chemical accidents, the agency that investigates them is under threat

NPR's Ayesha Rascoe speaks with former member of the U.S. Chemical Safety Board Rick Engler about the current state of chemical safety following a string of incidents in the U.S.

npr.org

When I was a teenager, I discovered the band Failure from playing in a short-lived band put together for a talent show (we didn't play a Failure song, but we should have). That was probably 25 years ago. This week, I put this interview together:

Space-grunge pioneers Ken Andrews and Greg Edwards on their album, 'Location Lost'

NPR's Scott Simon speaks with Ken Andrews and Greg Edwards of the grunge-rock group Failure about their new album "Location Lost" and the influence of space-related themes on their music.

npr.org

Had a chance to chat this week with the incomparable @saulwilliams.bsky.social. You can hear a bit about his thoughts on the differences between hip-hop and poetry -- and about his Grammy-nominated album here: www.npr.org/2026/01/31/n...

Saul Williams returns to poetry — and scores a Grammy nomination — on improvised live album

Poet and musician Saul Williams discusses his Grammy-nominated album "Saul Williams meets Carlos Nino and Friends at Treepeople."

npr.org

So, @lastweektonight.com featured some reporting I worked about late coal magnate Bob Murray applying for Black Lung benefits after spending years trying to reduce regulations and trying to keep his workers from getting the same. It was cool to watch, but what’s cooler is PUBLIC MEDIA.

Public Media: Last Week Tonight with John Oliver (HBO)

YouTube video by LastWeekTonight

youtu.be

Last week at work, we brought in new United Mine Workers of America president Brian Sanson to come in for a chat. I think there’s important stuff here: one.npr.org/i/nx-s1-5607...

🔊 Listen Now: New United Mine Workers of America president Brian Sanson discusses the industry

Weekend Edition Saturday on NPR One | 5:07

one.npr.org

Making radio is fun when you have fun things at your disposal. Example 1: @umphreys.com and their new album ‘Blueprints’:

Musical 'Legos': How Umphrey's McGee built 'Blueprints' with help from their fans

NPR's Scott Simon speaks with Brendan Bayliss and Joel Cummins of Umphrey's McGee about "Blueprints," their new album that's rooted in improvisation but also gave fans some say in the final product.

npr.org

“Make a fist when you pray.”

Guided By Voices - Never Mind The List

YouTube video by Guided By Voices

youtu.be

Wouldn’t it be nice to NOT feel like we’re all living in a pressure cooker?

Woah.

Nathan Kalman-Lamb@nkalamb.bsky.social · last yr.

Now this is a journalist who deserves respect.

NPR's Scott Simon speaks to renowned bassist Pino Palladino and guitar virtuoso and producer Blake Mills about their second full-length collaboration, "That Wasn't a Dream."

'That Wasn't A Dream': Palladino, Mills team up for another album of instrumental craftwork

NPR's Scott Simon speaks to renowned bassist Pino Palladino and guitar virtuoso and producer Blake Mills about their second full-length collaboration, "That Wasn't a Dream."

n.pr

I saw #Eddington tonight and really loved it. There were plenty of laugh-worthy moments in the film. But I gotta say, some members of the audience thought some of the more dramatic moments were meant to be funny and I’m genuinely convinced they were more “holy shit” moments.

A day after my @npr.org piece on drummers leaving high-profile bands airs, @pearljam.com’s Matt Cameron announces he’s stepping down from the drum riser. www.npr.org/2025/07/06/n...

The year of the 'drumpocalypse': Why high-profile drummers are splitting from bands

We speak to music journalist Christopher Weingarten about why so many high-profile drummers have either been fired or retired this year in what's been dubbed the "Drumpocalypse."

npr.org

Pearl Jam@pearljam.com · last yr.

There’s something so obnoxiously funny about the joke in “This is Spinal Tap” about their drummer’s meeting bizarre fates — but in 2025, there’s a “drumpocalypse” at hand: www.npr.org/2025/07/06/n...

The year of the 'drumpocalypse': Why high-profile drummers are splitting from bands

We speak to music journalist Christopher Weingarten about why so many high-profile drummers have either been fired or retired this year in what's been dubbed the "Drumpocalypse."

npr.org

There’s much more to this story than I thought there’d be: www.washingtonpost.com/entertainmen...

Ben Folds speaks out on Kennedy Center — and drops an album he made there

The singer-songwriter resigned after President Donald Trump’s takeover of the D.C. arts center. Now he’s explaining why.

washingtonpost.com

Everyone (which, I know, there aren’t many of you) get out there and follow my dude @gilessnyder.bsky.social. He’s better at the social media than I am — even if he’s new to this platform.

First post here on Blue Sky. I'm an NPR newscaster who aspires to be a more local journalist. Somehow seems more important these days. @davemistich.bsky.social and I curate a local journalism newsletter, The #WestVirginia Weakly, wvweakly.substack.com. Anyway, happy to be here!

The West Virginia Weakly | Giles Snyder | Substack

Curated news from around West Virginia and anything else that strikes us as worthwhile. Click to read The West Virginia Weakly, a Substack publication with thousands of subscribers.

wvweakly.substack.com

I just got a response to a public records request I made to the U.S. Bureau of Prisons in May 2021. Guess it’s time to revive an investigation. Or — can I even remember what it was all about?

@willicarlisle.bsky.social has been universally embraced amongst my crew. I bet he'd be treated the same amongst your own.

NPR@npr.org · last yr.

On Winged Victory, songwriter Willi Carlisle weaves between the absurd and the sentimental. NPR's Scott Simon speaks with Carlisle about the 11 tracks of originals and covers.

This is a very important storyline that you should pay attention to: www.wsj.com/us-news/clim...

Small-Town Locals and Newcomers Unite Against a Common Foe: Data Centers

Residents band together to keep a power plant and sprawling data center out of their scenic corner of Appalachia.

wsj.com

If you’re one of the thousands who gave this month – THANK YOU! We love reading your comments about the role public media plays in your life, and are proud to be here for you. If you haven’t had a chance to donate, please give what you can now: n.pr/3EYClNR

Not that being banned from baseball was any sort of justice at all — but I swear to you, if #PeteRose doesn’t make it in the Hall on the first ballot, there is no such thing as justice.

It is not clear that the president has the authority to make such orders to CPB under the law. From @davidfolkenflik.bsky.social

Trump says he's ending federal funding for NPR and PBS. They say he can't

In an executive order, President Trump directs the Corporation for Public Broadcasting to stop funding NPR and PBS. They say he can't. PBS chief Paula Kerger calls it "blatantly unlawful".

npr.org

Sorry for the absence, folks. Social media hasn’t been my thing all that much lately aside from monitoring things for work. Speaking of which, I’ve changed jobs and am no longer working (fully) from home:

Hey, folks. My NPR newscast buddy and fellow West Virginian Giles Snyder (not on Bluesky as far as I know) are revamping our newsletter on the West Virginia Legislature. You can subscribe here: 60days.substack.com

America, as democracy remains in peril: “We don’t trust traditional news!” CNN: “Okay, here’s Charles Barkley.”

Hello, Bluesky. I’m kinda new here, but not to the internet. I did this piece for @npr.org this morning on Sen. Joe Manchin announcing he’s out on a re-election bid for 2024. A longer digital piece is coming soonish: www.npr.org/2023/11/10/1...