Doug Mack
@douglasmack.bsky.social
Probably down a research rabbit hole.
📖 The Not-Quite States of America, about the U.S. territories (W. W. Norton).
🍟Agreeably nerdy food history newsletter: https://snackstack.net
He/him, just another dad in Minneapolis.
📖 The Not-Quite States of America, about the U.S. territories (W. W. Norton).
🍟Agreeably nerdy food history newsletter: https://snackstack.net
He/him, just another dad in Minneapolis.
Pinned
Doug Mack
@douglasmack.bsky.social
· Oct 5
The Not-Quite States of America
'To truly understand the United States, one must understand the 'not-quite states of America.' —Mark Stein, best-selling author of <em>How the States Got Their Shapes</em>, The Not-Quite States ...
wwnorton.com
Anyway, if you want to learn about the U.S. territories, read my book!
I traveled more than 30,000 miles to report it. Deep-dive history. Legal analysis. Tons of interviews. Funny travel stories.
Smithsonian said it was one of the 10 best travel books of the year!
wwnorton.com/books/978039...
I traveled more than 30,000 miles to report it. Deep-dive history. Legal analysis. Tons of interviews. Funny travel stories.
Smithsonian said it was one of the 10 best travel books of the year!
wwnorton.com/books/978039...
Reposted by Doug Mack
A book Belt published today has a higher Amazon ranking than American Canto 💅
December 3, 2025 at 12:05 AM
A book Belt published today has a higher Amazon ranking than American Canto 💅
Reposted by Doug Mack
We have compiled immigration related resources to help Minnesotans navigate their rights and next steps.
Only federal elected officials have the ability to intervene on behalf of detainees. Find federal congresspeople below.
senatedfl.mn/immigration-...
Only federal elected officials have the ability to intervene on behalf of detainees. Find federal congresspeople below.
senatedfl.mn/immigration-...
Immigration Resource Toolkit | Minnesota Senate DFL
Immigration Resources This toolkit is designed to provide critical resources and support for individuals and families affected by immigration, deportation and other ICE-related matters. It serves as a...
senatedfl.mn
December 2, 2025 at 11:02 PM
We have compiled immigration related resources to help Minnesotans navigate their rights and next steps.
Only federal elected officials have the ability to intervene on behalf of detainees. Find federal congresspeople below.
senatedfl.mn/immigration-...
Only federal elected officials have the ability to intervene on behalf of detainees. Find federal congresspeople below.
senatedfl.mn/immigration-...
Reposted by Doug Mack
The Trump administration targeting Somali Minnesotans is not about finding criminals, it is an effort to sow chaos, scare people, and demonize immigrants and Muslims. We stand with our Somali communities.
December 2, 2025 at 10:54 PM
The Trump administration targeting Somali Minnesotans is not about finding criminals, it is an effort to sow chaos, scare people, and demonize immigrants and Muslims. We stand with our Somali communities.
Reposted by Doug Mack
Every year around this time, I ask folks to consider doing something in support of Native people. This year, please join me in supporting the Native Organizers Alliance as they build grassroots power, defend Native voting rights, and equip our people for collective struggle through skill-building.
Donate - Native Organizers Alliance
Supporting organizing and advocacy initiatives for Indigenous justice.
nativeorganizing.org
November 26, 2025 at 5:50 PM
Every year around this time, I ask folks to consider doing something in support of Native people. This year, please join me in supporting the Native Organizers Alliance as they build grassroots power, defend Native voting rights, and equip our people for collective struggle through skill-building.
Reposted by Doug Mack
I'm in the big tent with Bill Kristol and Sabrina Carpenter.
December 2, 2025 at 11:53 PM
I'm in the big tent with Bill Kristol and Sabrina Carpenter.
I just donated. Please join me if you can—this is a genuinely important news outlet and every dollar really does count.
Pasquines is the ONLY organization focused on news and perspectives from across the U.S. territories.
These stories—politics, culture, more—rarely appear in national news.
Pasquines is the ONLY organization focused on news and perspectives from across the U.S. territories.
These stories—politics, culture, more—rarely appear in national news.
With three matches during #NewsMatch, $1 becomes $4 today, or $12 if you become a monthly donor. Support independent territorial reporting this #GivingTuesday → pasquines.us/donate-for-newsmatch
December 2, 2025 at 11:13 PM
I just donated. Please join me if you can—this is a genuinely important news outlet and every dollar really does count.
Pasquines is the ONLY organization focused on news and perspectives from across the U.S. territories.
These stories—politics, culture, more—rarely appear in national news.
Pasquines is the ONLY organization focused on news and perspectives from across the U.S. territories.
These stories—politics, culture, more—rarely appear in national news.
Reposted by Doug Mack
If you see any federal activity, call the MONARCA rapid response hotline at 612-441-2881.
Sign up for the next Monarca Upstander Legal Observer Training on Monday, December 15 at 6pm here: buff.ly/h6K1Y5e
Sign up for the next Monarca Upstander Legal Observer Training on Monday, December 15 at 6pm here: buff.ly/h6K1Y5e
Queermunity-Uptown Monarca Upstander Legal Observer Training
Please enable JavaScript in your browser
buff.ly
December 2, 2025 at 9:49 PM
If you see any federal activity, call the MONARCA rapid response hotline at 612-441-2881.
Sign up for the next Monarca Upstander Legal Observer Training on Monday, December 15 at 6pm here: buff.ly/h6K1Y5e
Sign up for the next Monarca Upstander Legal Observer Training on Monday, December 15 at 6pm here: buff.ly/h6K1Y5e
Reposted by Doug Mack
Also—and this is an extremely picky thing but I JUST watched this movie—the coach character is in no way outdoors/nature-coded.
The slicked-back hair is a signal of being an overly corporate asshole, and getting rid of it is just a return to "normal guy."
Here he is. Not a cowboy. Good hair.
The slicked-back hair is a signal of being an overly corporate asshole, and getting rid of it is just a return to "normal guy."
Here he is. Not a cowboy. Good hair.
December 2, 2025 at 9:35 PM
Also—and this is an extremely picky thing but I JUST watched this movie—the coach character is in no way outdoors/nature-coded.
The slicked-back hair is a signal of being an overly corporate asshole, and getting rid of it is just a return to "normal guy."
Here he is. Not a cowboy. Good hair.
The slicked-back hair is a signal of being an overly corporate asshole, and getting rid of it is just a return to "normal guy."
Here he is. Not a cowboy. Good hair.
On the topic of the diversity of rural areas, I think about this story all the time.
Walnut Grove, MN has a white settler reputation due to Laura Ingalls Wilder books/mythology. In recent decades, the Hmong community has grown & become central to the town's identity. Now the kids are moving out...
Walnut Grove, MN has a white settler reputation due to Laura Ingalls Wilder books/mythology. In recent decades, the Hmong community has grown & become central to the town's identity. Now the kids are moving out...
December 2, 2025 at 9:15 PM
On the topic of the diversity of rural areas, I think about this story all the time.
Walnut Grove, MN has a white settler reputation due to Laura Ingalls Wilder books/mythology. In recent decades, the Hmong community has grown & become central to the town's identity. Now the kids are moving out...
Walnut Grove, MN has a white settler reputation due to Laura Ingalls Wilder books/mythology. In recent decades, the Hmong community has grown & become central to the town's identity. Now the kids are moving out...
Reposted by Doug Mack
I think we lost it in editing but I talked about that very thing. Real rural life is virtually invisible — no art for dollar stores and meth clinics. And its racial diversity is erased. Actual rural people, especially poor ones, cannot access its aesthetic power
This is really important, because it is also about who can access the rural aesthetic. It's not always rural residents!
Maybe related, maybe not — I talked with Emily Keegin about rural aesthetics and politics
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/02/o...
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/02/o...
December 2, 2025 at 6:21 PM
I think we lost it in editing but I talked about that very thing. Real rural life is virtually invisible — no art for dollar stores and meth clinics. And its racial diversity is erased. Actual rural people, especially poor ones, cannot access its aesthetic power
December 2, 2025 at 8:07 PM
Reposted by Doug Mack
the other side of "to keep functioning, society has to discourage baldfaced lying, especially by authorities" is "to keep functioning, society has to circulate accurate information, especially information that constrains authorities"
2/ Every cause you care about — housing, education, safety, transit, arts — depends on trustworthy information.
Without independent reporting, who’s tracking needs, solutions, and accountability?
Here's more on what our people-powered newsroom has achieved so far:
Without independent reporting, who’s tracking needs, solutions, and accountability?
Here's more on what our people-powered newsroom has achieved so far:
A first birthday worth recapping
Celebrating the wins of the last 12 months and scheming for the future
51st.news
December 2, 2025 at 7:10 PM
the other side of "to keep functioning, society has to discourage baldfaced lying, especially by authorities" is "to keep functioning, society has to circulate accurate information, especially information that constrains authorities"
Reposted by Doug Mack
Announcing our annual Time Machine New Year's Eve. This year, we're headed back to 1976!
Dance Party, Karaoke, Costume Contest, and Champagne at midnight!
Dance Party, Karaoke, Costume Contest, and Champagne at midnight!
December 2, 2025 at 7:05 PM
Announcing our annual Time Machine New Year's Eve. This year, we're headed back to 1976!
Dance Party, Karaoke, Costume Contest, and Champagne at midnight!
Dance Party, Karaoke, Costume Contest, and Champagne at midnight!
Reposted by Doug Mack
This is the kind of piece that reminds me why I write a newsletter. Some of the most fun I've had writing in quite awhile. It's a fully centralized and sourced story about manufacturing and video game history: thedeletedscenes.substack.com/p/not-with-a...
Not With A Roar But With A Whimper
A fascinating piece of video game history, and a look behind the mass-manufacturing curtain
thedeletedscenes.substack.com
December 2, 2025 at 2:02 PM
This is the kind of piece that reminds me why I write a newsletter. Some of the most fun I've had writing in quite awhile. It's a fully centralized and sourced story about manufacturing and video game history: thedeletedscenes.substack.com/p/not-with-a...
Reposted by Doug Mack
my new book is out today. it's about separatism and utopia and bodily autonomy and cults and capital and love and revolution and nature and sex and all the things we owe to each other. I'm so proud and excited and nervous for you to read it. i hope you do. simplicitybook.xyz
July 29, 2025 at 1:07 PM
my new book is out today. it's about separatism and utopia and bodily autonomy and cults and capital and love and revolution and nature and sex and all the things we owe to each other. I'm so proud and excited and nervous for you to read it. i hope you do. simplicitybook.xyz
Reposted by Doug Mack
For their 8th annual appearance, the Steamie Awards are migrating from Instagram to Substack! Don’t miss out, subscribe now at thatbilloakley.substack.com
Bill Oakley's Foodiverse | Substack
The Universe of Food from Regional American Delights to Obscure European Potato Chips. Click to read Bill Oakley's Foodiverse, a Substack publication with thousands of subscribers.
thatbilloakley.substack.com
December 1, 2025 at 11:05 PM
For their 8th annual appearance, the Steamie Awards are migrating from Instagram to Substack! Don’t miss out, subscribe now at thatbilloakley.substack.com
Reposted by Doug Mack
Three weeks of 9am Tuesday raids now...
According to Reddit at about 8:15Am, ICE are at Hola Arepa.
December 2, 2025 at 3:20 PM
Three weeks of 9am Tuesday raids now...
Reposted by Doug Mack
The Mercator projection if it weren’t cropped
(click to view full size)
(click to view full size)
October 9, 2025 at 4:10 PM
The Mercator projection if it weren’t cropped
(click to view full size)
(click to view full size)
Reposted by Doug Mack
this is incredible. with alt text.
December 2, 2025 at 1:55 PM
this is incredible. with alt text.
Reposted by Doug Mack
We are seeing an escalation across South Minneapolis today and are asking community to be in alert. We are also sharing what we can while respecting the family impacted.
December 2, 2025 at 4:18 AM
We are seeing an escalation across South Minneapolis today and are asking community to be in alert. We are also sharing what we can while respecting the family impacted.
Reposted by Doug Mack
Trying to find this hoodie in a size L for a Christmas gift. Seems to be sold out everywhere. If anyone had a good lead on where to find one it would be appreciated.
December 2, 2025 at 2:09 AM
Trying to find this hoodie in a size L for a Christmas gift. Seems to be sold out everywhere. If anyone had a good lead on where to find one it would be appreciated.
Reposted by Doug Mack
The real Turing test is that AI will stop using em dashes if you ask; humans will make you pry their favorite punctuation out of their cold, dead hands.
when someone tells me not to use em dashes because AI uses em dashes
December 1, 2025 at 11:00 PM
The real Turing test is that AI will stop using em dashes if you ask; humans will make you pry their favorite punctuation out of their cold, dead hands.
Reposted by Doug Mack
That's not an orchid, that's a muppet.
December 2, 2025 at 4:04 AM
That's not an orchid, that's a muppet.
Reposted by Doug Mack
This is why I'm always asking what AI is "freeing up" our time in service *for*, if not the sometimes quotidian but always individualized choreography of being human
A great thread and applicable to my industry. Friends in the biz ask why I don't want to use AI to shotlist or draft ideas. Because that is *what* I love; the maddening, mysterious, staring into space or the blank page and connecting to creative ideas from the ether. That's the whole f'ing thing.
I’m still thinking about this and it really is one of those “everyone thinks Elon Musk is a genius until he gets involved in your field” moments. I’m gonna be a total bore and think about this seriously, please don’t read on if you don’t care what a landscape architect thinks about this shit… 1/?
December 2, 2025 at 4:05 AM
This is why I'm always asking what AI is "freeing up" our time in service *for*, if not the sometimes quotidian but always individualized choreography of being human
Reposted by Doug Mack
Tag yourself, I’m the combination mudroom, laundry and coat closet with two saucily perpendicular bathtubs and sinks
December 2, 2025 at 2:55 AM
Tag yourself, I’m the combination mudroom, laundry and coat closet with two saucily perpendicular bathtubs and sinks