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My First Byline
Sharing a brief Q&A with me and a few other links ...
Sandy Allen
October 07, 2025
Welcome to What’s Helping Today, a newsletter about the everyday work of staying alive on earth — written by author and journalist Sandy Ernest Allen.
Hi all,
I wanted to share this brief interview I did re: my journalism career’s origins:
The above’s mostly recommended to anyone newer to journalism or media who’d like to hear about how I got started …
Also! Here’s my latest Garden Report for Catskill Crew, out today:
In which I discussed mostly fall and winter gardening tips …
I’ll share a few other links and then keep this one brief.
Like … this new Assigned Media interview with Jude Doyle … whose new book DILF aka Did I Leave Feminism is imminent:
My DILF galley arrived this weekend and I got excited … Comes out in a few weeks I believe.
Here are a few other links … rough theme being: Courageous members of the press and some takedowns of others who suck …
@lataco.bsky.social first began as a blog documenting local Mexican cuisine. Now, it’s an essential reporting powerhouse to the city as Trump’s mass deportation plot unfolds. Check out the latest from our friends at Reveal: tinyurl.com/4cm2bsdr
— Mother Jones (@motherjones.com)2025-10-06T23:00:03.777Z
Well, yeah, we're suing ICE. This wasn't really a hard decision. As little faith as we have in institutions, we recognize the value of drawing visible lines in the sand. We drew ours personally a while ago, but better late than never. May every protester be freed and may this occupation end.
— unraveled (@unraveledpress.com)2025-10-06T18:21:47.262Z
Fair enough:
Can we please stop talking about Bari Weiss and just boycott CBS. You all are working as free PR agents for her.
— الكسندرا ميراي (@lexialex.bsky.social)2025-10-07T16:08:58.539Z
A worthwhile analysis:
Heck yeah, Amsterdam:
NEW: Extraordinary scenes in Amsterdam this afternoon (Sunday, Oct 5). An estimated 250,000 bring the city to a standstill; people all wearing red to show solidarity with Palestine 🇵🇸 (🎥 Ahmed Zantac)
— News Eye (@newseye.bsky.social)2025-10-05T15:07:10.271Z
Good read on the publishing industry’s gambling problem …
Good tips on saving spoons and leveraging our unique powers as we resist:
Californians! Please call Newsom and tell him to give a fuck about trans people!
He hasn't signed the other bills yet, but he still has days to do so This headline is misleading for not mentioning that. The gender education veto is bad, but far from the most important trans rights bill on his desk. There's still time to contact Newsom for the rest! www.gov.ca.gov/contact/
— mady castigan✨ 🏳️⚧️ (@madycast.com)2025-10-07T19:30:27.095Z
Okay, that’s it for today.
What’s Helping Today: I’ve had an especially stressful last stretch. As ever, I’m grateful for my friends and my other supportive people. Also everybody who’s written me kind messages and/or given to my Buy Me a Coffee. It always means so much.
Sending love,
Sandy
p.s. Good advice!
Can’t decide what to buy on Prime Day? Try: absolutely nothing, and then go support indie bookstores instead 📚
— Bookshop.org (@bookshop.org)2025-10-07T14:23:06.105Z
p.p.s. I chuckled …
Spotting Cinnabon from across the food court
— Michael Hobbes (@michaelhobbes.bsky.social)2025-09-21T06:19:56.098Z
p.p.p.s. Definitely chuckled …
Thanks for reading What’s Helping Today, a newsletter by me — author and journalist Sandy Ernest Allen. If you were forwarded this message, this newsletter is free; you can subscribe here. If you like my work: Please consider supporting me via Buy Me a Coffee. A few bucks is awesome, even more is extra awesome — or better yet, you can sign up to support me each month. Your help in making my career sustainable is greatly appreciated!!!