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Anne Helen Petersen

@annehelen.bsky.social
24K followers 274 following 357 posts

Author of four books and the CULTURE STUDY newsletter. PhD in celebrity gossip. My dogs are named Steve and Beverly.

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Anne Helen Petersen @annehelen.bsky.social · 58m
October Dahlias, arguably the Best Dahlias
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Vicki Rose @vickirose.myatproto.social · 30/09/2026
This is a rough read. In particular what gets me are the details of a prominent survivor invited to spill her guts at an institution with a deep sexual assault problem, greeted with boredom by male frat members. Horrifying.
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Mrs. Detective PikaBOO, Esq. @clapifyoulikeme.favrd.social · 29/09/2026
This is like a fucking SNL skit where studios keep making hockey shows instead of gay shows
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S.E. Sinkhorn @sesinkhorn.com · 29/09/2026
I keep going back to this series by @annehelen.bsky.social and thinking about how much of this culture involves maintaining strict social hierarchies, secrecy, and creating an environment where everyone is an accomplice, so no one squeals. annehelen.substack.com/p/welcome-to...
annehelen.substack.com
Welcome to Bama Confidential
Part One: Rush
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Anne Helen Petersen @annehelen.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
This is *the* piece. Kate Manne, professor of philosophy at Cornell, speaks truth to the totality of failures at the university — and why students protesting the war in Gaza have faced far harsher consequences than any of the Cornell 7: www.thecut.com/article/what...
thecut.com
What It Feels Like at Cornell Right Now
As a professor at the Ivy League school, Kate Manne has known many, many victims. There’s a palpable feeling on campus, she writes, that this is big.
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Anne Helen Petersen @annehelen.bsky.social · 06/08/2026
I could talk about the ways schools have spent the last 25 years trying to change the paragraph next to their name in U.S. World News & Report's rankings FOR HOURS. This convo is about Vanderbilt, but you can do the same for so many schools www.patreon.com/CultureStudy...
patreon.com
What Does Vanderbilt University Tell Us About the Future of Private Higher Ed? | Culture Study
Quickly: More than 65,000 people have been displaced by the Spokane Complex Fires — and hundreds have lost their homes. If you have even $5
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jae holzman @jael.bsky.social · 04/08/2026
the biggest and best movie of the year revolves around the perils and horrors that come with sacrificing a trans life in the name of a short term victory
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jae holzman @jael.bsky.social · 04/08/2026
has anyone unpacked christopher nolan casting a trans person to be the distraction sacrifice for a trojan horse to enter, and then destroy, civilization
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Anne Helen Petersen @annehelen.bsky.social · 04/08/2026
More than 65,000 people have been displaced by the Spokane Complex Fires — and hundreds have lost their homes. If you have even $5 to go towards short and long term assistance, here's a trusted community source: innovia.org
innovia.org
Home - Innovia Foundation
Learn how you can bring your whole community together through the power of a shared meal. APPLY FOR A GRANT Find an event What is your America at 250? Join the mosaic, host a meal, share a story, and ...
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Anne Helen Petersen @annehelen.bsky.social · 03/08/2026
A ridiculously good time talking with @sunsetandecho.bsky.social about The Hair (and the Women) of The Odyssey. Nolan created a world where women's armpits don't exist, what a marvel! www.patreon.com/CultureStudy...
patreon.com
BONUS EPISODE: The Hair (and Women) of The Odyssey | Culture Study
Two bonus episodes in two weeks, what is even happening! Well, The Odyssey happened — and after reading and writing about Matt Damon for thi
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Kate Starbird @katestarbird.bsky.social · 03/08/2026
If you're curious about how the right is going to try to frame the horrific fires in Spokane Washington, it looks like they plan to blame them on homeless people, local (DEM) city leadership, and state (DEM) mismanagement of forests. So, many of the same frames as the LA fires.
Screenshot of a Facebook post by "Jim Walsh" posted 9 hours ago. The caption reads: "Still more weekend reading. From a woman in eastern WA. The silver lining to these disastrous fires: They may wake some 'I'm not political' people up to the real effects of bad public policy choices." The shared post below claims Spokane is being destroyed by massive fires, that the writer's house and neighborhood are gone, and blames Democrats for cutting firefighting funding and releasing "drug addicts and criminals" who they accuse (w/o evidence) of setting the fires. It ends "I'm now homeless in Spokane. I am numb." A diagonal red "Framing Contests" watermark is overlaid across the screenshot. The post shows 3.5K reactions, 1.2K comments, and 1K shares.
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Anne Helen Petersen @annehelen.bsky.social · 03/08/2026
finally watched DEVIL WEARS PRADA 2 and guys I love a genre film but that shit was bad
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Anne Helen Petersen @annehelen.bsky.social · 30/07/2026
I wrote about Matt Damon's fit for Nolan's understanding of the Odyssey — you absolutely need a star who is *your guy* and whew, that's Damon: www.patreon.com/CultureStudy...
patreon.com
Middle-Aged Matt Damon is Your Guy | Culture Study
Warning: Mild Spoilers for Anyone Who is Wholly Unfamiliar with the Plot of the Most Influential Narrative in all of Modernity and Antiquit
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Anne Helen Petersen @annehelen.bsky.social · 30/07/2026
Latest news re: ongoing cuts to BuzzFeed / HuffPo mostly just makes me realize those hundreds of pieces I wrote over six years (that are already riddled with weird ads and lost images) are probably going to disappear sooner rather than later
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Anne Helen Petersen @annehelen.bsky.social · 28/07/2026
I over-identify with my dog Beverly: an obstinate, enthusiastic, verified garbage-monster. But I cannot understand how she wakes up and consistently poops before she pees.
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Jay Willis @jaywillis.net · 27/07/2026
I was pulling photos from Getty Images today and this one took my breath away for a second. "Plain clothed federal agents pursue a man through the lobby of the Hennepin County Government Center before tackling and arresting him Tuesday, February 10, 2026 in Minneapolis, Minn."
A watermarked image of an ICE agent wearing a white sweatshirt and gray pants moving in to tackle a guy wearing a black sweatshirt and jeans 

https://www.gettyimages.com/detail/news-photo/plain-clothed-federal-agents-pursue-a-man-through-the-lobby-news-photo/2260946195?adppopup=true
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Anne Helen Petersen @annehelen.bsky.social · 28/07/2026
I've watched/read some cursory stuff on Ludwig Göransson Odyssey score but would love something long and juicy — the equivalent of what Switched on Pop did for the Wuthering Heights score. Ideas???
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Anne Helen Petersen @annehelen.bsky.social · 27/07/2026
I have a timeline question about the Odyssey: They arrive on the beach to try and fight Troy and I swear I heard the voiceover say that they wasted away there for ten years before Odysseus comes up with this plan — false? How long are we to understand they're there?
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Damon Beres @damonberes.com · 26/06/2026
“In all my dealings with the current administration, never before have its spokespeople been as responsive to or seemingly concerned about my impending article.” Amazing diagnostic work on a Trumpian spectacle by @cwarzel.bsky.social
theatlantic.com
Trump’s Peeling Green Gift to America
The Reflecting Pool fiasco says everything about how the Trump administration operates.
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Anne Helen Petersen @annehelen.bsky.social · 09/06/2026
I love New York, I love summer, I love high-density housing, I love monoculture
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Anne Helen Petersen @annehelen.bsky.social · 08/06/2026
Gah this was excellent in so many ways www.talkscratch.com/colette-shad...
talkscratch.com
Colette Shade on Y2K and the Limits of a Millennial Writing Career: The Scratch Interview
“In order to have a society — frankly, a democracy — we have to have these areas that are protected from the market.”
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Anne Helen Petersen @annehelen.bsky.social · 08/06/2026
If you want a juicy hour on Off Campus — the corniest AND hottest new show on television — we've got that for you: culture-study-podcast.simplecast.com/episodes/bon...
culture-study-podcast.simplecast.com
BONUS EPISODE: Is Off Campus the Corniest New Show on Television... or The Hottest? [preview] | Culture Study Podcast
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Anne Helen Petersen @annehelen.bsky.social · 08/06/2026
I put together some *very detailed* notes about six years of running a successful newsletter — including thoughts on churn, paywall placement, how to avoid getting sick of your own voice, cadence, and so much more www.patreon.com/posts/very-d...
patreon.com
Very Detailed Notes on What I've Learned About Writing a Successful Newsletter | Culture Study
Very Detailed Notes on What I've Learned About Writing a Successful Newsletter by Culture Study on Patreon. Join Culture Study's community for exclusive content and updates.
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Joshua Erlich @joshuaerlich.bsky.social · 03/06/2026
the death of 60 minutes and the rest of the VRA on the same night really brings home how the current conservative project is to kill the progress and ideals of the mid century
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Brian Stelter @brianstelter.bsky.social · 03/06/2026
Scott Pelley tells the NYT: "The collapse of values at the top has become untenable. The leadership of ‘60 Minutes’ is no longer recognizable. The principles I hold dear are gone." www.nytimes.com/2026/06/02/b...
nytimes.com
CBS News Fires Scott Pelley of ‘60 Minutes’
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Charlie Warzel @cwarzel.bsky.social · 03/06/2026
i just keep cracking up thinking about updating 'The Insider' for this moment and it's just over in like 15 min bc everyone got fired for wanting to go after Phillip Morris
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Anne Helen Petersen @annehelen.bsky.social · 01/06/2026
Did you go to Brandi this weekend at The Gorge? I've been to multiple sold-out shows before but have never dealt with lines and lack-of-space like I did last night — obviously it was still incredible, but would love to hear from anyone who has insight on WTF changed
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David Roberts @volts.wtf · 07/05/2026
Good lord, just reading this post from @annehelen.bsky.social makes my palms sweat. Absolutely reaffirms my decision to never, ever, ever write a book.
patreon.com
I Almost Gave Back My Book Advance | Culture Study
I Almost Gave Back My Book Advance by Culture Study on Patreon. Join Culture Study's community for exclusive content and updates.
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Anne Helen Petersen @annehelen.bsky.social · 05/05/2026
'romanticize' doesn't mean what Evie Weekly thinks it means
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Anne Helen Petersen @annehelen.bsky.social · 22/04/2026
"Stories show what it looks like when someone is denied care, a founder relocates a company, or a family leaves a state they love. Data shows these aren't isolated incidents, but part of a broader pattern affecting workforce stability and economic competitiveness." www.patreon.com/posts/156113...
patreon.com
Hard Proof that Abortion Bans Are Bad For Business | Culture Study
Hard Proof that Abortion Bans Are Bad For Business by Culture Study on Patreon. Join Culture Study's community for exclusive content and updates.
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Anne Helen Petersen @annehelen.bsky.social · 16/04/2026
bless Scaachi embedded.substack.com/p/my-interne...
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Norah Woodsey @norahwoodsey.com · 15/04/2026
“Teen birth rates have crashed 81%” presented as a bad thing
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Anne Helen Petersen @annehelen.bsky.social · 15/04/2026
"I want my daughter to see the possibility of pride w/o hubris..especially me as her mother, when so many social forces conspire to deny women the permission to celebrate anything except pregnancy & the achievements of their husbands & children." katemanne.substack.com/p/some-nice-...
katemanne.substack.com
Some Nice News
And some upcoming events
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Anne Helen Petersen @annehelen.bsky.social · 14/04/2026
This is super interesting to me — boomers radicalizing, Gen-X taking up (traditional) boomer politics (which is always what they said would happen to millennials, because Gen X was too cool and alternative etc etc etc)
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Anne Helen Petersen @annehelen.bsky.social · 13/04/2026
What's the future of newsletters look like? I increasingly think it's high-level curation — like, here's a place where you can bundle three subscriptions to the 20 smart newsletter writers who aren't repulsive, trafficking in conspiracy, or white supremacists
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Anne Helen Petersen @annehelen.bsky.social · 13/04/2026
Ah yes Rec Cross Jesus
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Spencer Ackerman @attackerman.bsky.social · 13/04/2026
ME: I need to insert a footnote MICROSOFT WORD: *spitting blood* fuck you, fuck your mother and fuck your footnote
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Anne Helen Petersen @annehelen.bsky.social · 13/04/2026
Many millennials absorbed the belief that the easiest & cheapest way to do anything is to do it online — including getting something like home insurance.....when in fact it is A BILLION times easier to call up a local agency and have them handle everything
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Anne Helen Petersen @annehelen.bsky.social · 13/04/2026
imagine telling the Pope to "get his act together"
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Kashana @kashana.blacksky.app · 11/04/2026
Very relatable to the average American, who has six boat loans
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David Roberts @volts.wtf · 11/04/2026
A milestone in March: for the first time ever, renewables provided more power on the US grid than natural gas.
canarymedia.com
In a first, renewables beat natural gas on US grid last month
It’s just one month, but it’s a sign of where the U.S. is headed as renewable energy — namely solar — surges onto the grid.
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Anne Helen Petersen @annehelen.bsky.social · 10/04/2026
american masculinity is a pathogen
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Claire Willett @clairewillett.bsky.social · 09/04/2026
what they've actually done here quite deftly is shine a 3000 watt Fresnel lamp on the central problem for which Pope Francis wanted an American Pope in the first place: namely, that the American right wing believes they are invincible, they are destroying the world, and they have to be stopped
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Kashana @kashana.blacksky.app · 07/04/2026
Congress is so funny. The world could be blown to smithereens and half of them would be like not sure this is a kitchen table issue.
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Anne Helen Petersen @annehelen.bsky.social · 07/04/2026
I just received a pitch to come on a New Jersey high schooler's podcast that was so good I had to run it through an AI-detector (100% human-written!!)
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Anne Helen Petersen @annehelen.bsky.social · 07/04/2026
top of the New York Times suggests we might not be taking this *quite* as seriously as we should
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Anne Helen Petersen @annehelen.bsky.social · 07/04/2026
Years ago I subscribed a far-right/Tea Party-adjacent newsletter in Montana — to keep tabs on how their thinking was shifting.... ....and this is current take on Iran
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Jaya Saxena @jayasaxena.com · 06/04/2026
Today, my fellow founding worker-owners and I are launching a subscription drive to @feedravenous.bsky.social. We are a group of experienced and award-winning food journalists here to publish thoughtful writing and incisive reporting from around the food world. www.weareravenous.com
weareravenous.com
Ravenous Is a New Worker-Owned Food Culture Media Company
For too long, food media has felt toothless. Help us take a bite out of it.
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