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Peter Sagal

@petersagal.bsky.social

170K followers 360 following 6.9K posts

I make Dad jokes on NPR and also write books and other things.

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Peter Sagal @petersagal.bsky.social · Apr 12

My latest for The Atlantic: an excellent TV show based on the best video games I’ve ever played.

(Gift link)

www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archiv...

‘The Last of Us’ and the Power of Video Games

Before playing "The Last of Us," I had never thought that a video game could be a work of art.

www.theatlantic.com

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Peter Sagal @petersagal.bsky.social · 25m

You do this not so much for them — though it is good in and of itself to reward someone’s trust — but so the next person you call for the next story will read it, see that this reporter can be trusted, and return the call.

Kudos to Eli Saslow, photog Desiree Rios, and their editors.

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Peter Sagal @petersagal.bsky.social · 25m

And then the hardest part: you have to reward that trust you earned. You have to tell their story in a way that is true and valuable to the readers and also so that the subjects will feel is sympathetic to them, and accurately depicts their point of view.

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Peter Sagal @petersagal.bsky.social · 25m

You have to sort through what they tell you: what’s true, what’s not… quite. What they truly believe and what they say to protect themselves. And of all that, you have to know what are the key things to understand and share, so that readers, with just a few 1000 words, can see and understand them.

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Peter Sagal @petersagal.bsky.social · 25m

Then, after doing scrupulous research, you have to contact the people involved and earn their trust, even they may be highly disinclined to trust you and your employer. Once you convince them to talk to you, which may take a long time, you have to ask questions, and listen, and ask more.

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Peter Sagal @petersagal.bsky.social · 25m

This is such suberb journalism, and it is so hard to do right.

First, you have to find out about the incident, and have the instinct and experience to know it will make a story worthy of putting in the paper. Something that reflects and represents larger issues.

www.nytimes.com/2025/10/12/u...

She Despised Charlie Kirk. He Resolved to Make People Like Her Pay.

www.nytimes.com

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Peter Sagal @petersagal.bsky.social · 21h

Truly chilling story by @jessbravin.bsky.social. As close to “the cruelty is the point” being literally true as we’ve come so far. (Gift link)

www.wsj.com/us-news/law/...

Biden Spared 37 Killers From Execution. Trump Ordered Up a Lifetime of Torment.

Even America’s harshest federal prison, where inmates spend 23 hours a day in solitary confinement, was too good, one official said. “I’ve got no problem with gruel.”

www.wsj.com

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Peter Sagal @petersagal.bsky.social · 22h

Does this mean I’m an ally?

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Peter Sagal @petersagal.bsky.social · 22h

The only way this sort of thing makes sense is if they are against the entire concept of a “public good.” That is, something paid for by the public via taxes, owned by the public via government, and benefitting the public as a whole.

Sara Partridge, Ph.D. @sarapartridge.bsky.social · 1d

There are reports that the *entire* office of special education at the US Dept of Education has been cut. These hardworking folks ensure kids with disabilities get equal access to a quality education.

America’s children deserve better than this.

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Peter Sagal @petersagal.bsky.social · 23h

Gotcha!

Peter Sagal @petersagal.bsky.social · 1d

I've been waiting for someone to make this point.

www.nytimes.com/2025/10/11/o...

Opinion | Voting for Mamdani Taught Me Why Trump Won

www.nytimes.com

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Peter Sagal @petersagal.bsky.social · 1d

NO WAY

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Reposted by Peter Sagal

Tomi @therealtomirb.bsky.social · 1d

Story time-we went to Hawaii this week to celebrate my husband’s 50th birthday. My husband saw a man on the flight wearing an NPR shirt and stattted chatting with him & learned that an episode of Wait Wait Don’t Tell Me was being recorded or that he was talking to @benevolentoverlord.bsky.social! 1

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Peter Sagal @petersagal.bsky.social · 1d

No, it was McDougall. Guy is tall.

Peter Sagal @petersagal.bsky.social · 1d

It’s how we met. Did a
Zoom event during the pandemic. First face to face meeting today

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Peter Sagal @petersagal.bsky.social · 1d

I forgot you were pals!

Peter Sagal @petersagal.bsky.social · 1d

TFW you go for a run with Chris McDougall and you take a pic of him and accidentally recreate the cover of his book.

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Reposted by Peter Sagal

Chris Hayes @chrislhayes.bsky.social · 1d

As a group, District Judges (from across the ideological spectrum!) performing as well as just about anyone right now in defending democratic liberty.

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Peter Sagal @petersagal.bsky.social · 1d

And I stole it from @paulandstorm.bsky.social!

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Reposted by Peter Sagal

amy brown (spooky edition) @amybrown.xyz · 2d

you think moving to berkeley won't change you and then eight years later you're crying in the car because the public radio station raised so much money in the first hour of the pledge drive

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Peter Sagal @petersagal.bsky.social · 2d

It will soon come ashore looking for the manager.

The Associated Press @apnews.com · 2d

Subtropical Storm Karen forms far from land in the north Atlantic Ocean.

Tropical Storm Raymond, third system now off the coast of Mexico, forms in the eastern Pacific Ocean

Tropical Storm Raymond has formed in the eastern Pacific Ocean. It is the third system now off the western coast of Mexico. The U.S.

bit.ly

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Peter Sagal @petersagal.bsky.social · 2d

Thank you. I don't think we actually disagree. I'm not saying it's unimportant to defend the rights of vulnerable minorities. I'm suggesting that it shouldn't be done on the battlegrounds chosen by those trying to take them away.

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Peter Sagal @petersagal.bsky.social · 2d

My point is: defend the rights of minorities to the extent you think it's important. But don't make the mistake of doing it on the grounds chosen by your opposition.

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Peter Sagal @petersagal.bsky.social · 2d

It's a good question. But during those debates, bigots also kept using emotional provocation by focusing on seemingly terrible scenarios.

Ie: with same sex marriage -- and this one I was there for -- "Would you be in favor of a man marrying his dog?"

usatoday30.usatoday.com/news/washing...

USATODAY.com - Excerpt from Santorum interview

usatoday30.usatoday.com

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Peter Sagal @petersagal.bsky.social · 2d

What would have been better:

"Are you in favor of 'biological males' playing women's sports?"

"It's very rare, and the only people who should be concerned with it are those directly involved: the parents, the team, the sport's governing org. Otherwise, its nobody's business but theirs."

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Peter Sagal @petersagal.bsky.social · 2d

Many well-meaning people said, "Huh, that sounds wrong... I'm against it."

Others said, as you did, "No, we have to protect vulnerable people from bigotry!"

First group reacts: "Are you calling me a bigot?"

Etc.

The provocateurs celebrate their work.

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