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CK Smith

@cksmithwrites.bsky.social
203 followers 133 following 296 posts

Writer, editor, educator, journalist. Storyteller. Weekend Editor at Salon. DM with story ideas or email ck.smith@salon.com

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CK Smith @cksmithwrites.bsky.social · 04/10/2026
New #Trump enemy: The Sun and Darkness. And Tom Cotton. Trump wants more sun... and the jokes are writing themselves again. www.salon.com/2026/10/03/i...
salon.com
"It's Dark! It's Depressing!": Trump demands Tom Cotton release the sun - Salon.com
The president wants more daylight and more golf, but fewer clock changes and fewer criminals working in the dark
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CK Smith @cksmithwrites.bsky.social · 04/10/2026
Trump promises seniors with Medicare-B $90. Total. They pay on average of $220 per month (~$2600/yr) for that. Won't even cover it for a month. Won't cover most bills these days - rent, electricity, streaming, groceries, gas, car insurance... www.salon.com/2026/10/03/t...
salon.com
Trump has $90 for his "wonderful Seniors" - Salon.com
The one-time Medicare payment is less than half a standard monthly Part B premium, arrives just before the midterms
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CK Smith @cksmithwrites.bsky.social · 04/10/2026
#Hegseth seems to think the #military is now a Christian organization because apparently the First Amendment means nothing anymore. #1A #churchandstate www.salon.com/2026/10/03/h...
salon.com
Hegseth puts on the "full armor of God" and sets up a sacred "direct line" - Salon.com
His religious affairs office reports directly to him, allowing for "spiritual readiness" of the military
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CK Smith @cksmithwrites.bsky.social · 04/10/2026
The helicopter is grounded because of terrible weather. Driving is cautioned, but Trump insisted he be taken 90 miles to the next rally at 98mph on storm-impacted roads. Because it's going to be safer? #wtf #weather www.salon.com/2026/10/03/g...
salon.com
Get in, loser! We're going to Oklahoma - Salon.com
President Trump’s motorcade approached 100 mph on wet roads between two rallies after storms grounded his aircraft
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CK Smith @cksmithwrites.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
I'm so angry right now I can't even see straight. I'm a college professor and journalist, and I wish I could say I was surprised. 1/4 of women will be assaulted and traumatized during their time at university. In your class of 20, that's 5 students. #Cornell7 #SaySomething #DoSomething #beangry
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CK Smith @cksmithwrites.bsky.social · 27/09/2026
Look, I'm not a fan of Katie Miller or her husband. I disagree with them on almost anything. But harassing a woman and her kids isn't okay regardless. What a mess... www.salon.com/2026/09/27/v...
salon.com
"Very serious threats”: FBI officials demoted after Katie Miller theats probe - Salon.com
The White House says two agents stifled the investigation, but CNN reports their team found no terrorism center
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CK Smith @cksmithwrites.bsky.social · 27/09/2026
#MLB is exploring the possibility of playing a special events game at #GrandTeton National Park. Just like Teddy Roosevelt always imagined it would happen... www.salon.com/2026/09/27/m...
salon.com
MLB's next ballpark could be in a national park - Salon.com
MLB & federal officials are considering Grand Teton for future game, despite strict rules protecting national parks
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CK Smith @cksmithwrites.bsky.social · 27/09/2026
This story is crazy. If you're wondering why #TimTebow is trending, he was basically the face of this Christian financial conference that's now being investigated for fraud. But he's not the only "celebrity" in their roster. www.salon.com/2026/09/26/t...
salon.com
Tim Tebow sold trust. Life Surge borrowed it - Salon.com
Christian star is taking heat over Life Surge, but dozens of celebs lent credibility to questionable financial org
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CK Smith @cksmithwrites.bsky.social · 20/09/2026
Losing his building ideas, Trump proposes it will be a military complex. Not just the Ballroom anymore. He wants to put snipers and drones on the proposed Arch. www.salon.com/2026/09/20/t...
salon.com
Trump’s arch now comes with snipers - Salon.com
The president says his monument will also become a military complex. Several claims to do so just don’t add up
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CK Smith @cksmithwrites.bsky.social · 20/09/2026
Trump is doubling down on promoting #AI, despite what the GOP are dealing with from their constituents. Also, he wants to create a new "Force" (as in Space not Jedi) and rename AI to a Marvel villain (Supreme Intelligence). Another #wtf kind of day in the USA. www.salon.com/2026/09/20/t...
salon.com
Trump thinks AI needs its own "Force" now - Salon.com
The president promises an AI czar while Republicans grapple with growing concern over data centers at home
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CK Smith @cksmithwrites.bsky.social · 20/09/2026
This is such a #FloridaMan story. So 2 guys thought it would be fun to sue #Hersheys for first not making their #Halloween candy "scary" and then not have a face on their Reece's pumpkins. Adding this to my #WTF story category. www.salon.com/2026/09/19/c...
salon.com
Court squashes Reese's faceless pumpkin lawsuit - Salon.com
A judge ruled disappointment over missing jack-o’-lantern designs on the candy wasn’t enough to show financial harm
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CK Smith @cksmithwrites.bsky.social · 20/09/2026
So, for no other reason than he felt like it for their years of "fake news" coverage, journalists from @cnn.com, @msnowreports.bsky.social and @politico.com are banned from the #WhiteHouse grounds. #1A www.salon.com/2026/09/19/t...
salon.com
Trump escalates media fight with new White House press ban - Salon.com
CNN, MS NOW, and Politico lose access to the grounds over coverage Trump calls "fake news" and threatens more bans
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CK Smith @cksmithwrites.bsky.social · 20/09/2026
Apparently, the new deal the US almost has with Greenland (Denmark) is an "Infinite Life" deal. I have never heard this term in my infinite life. www.salon.com/2026/09/19/t...
salon.com
Trump touts "Infinite Life" deal with Greenland - Salon.com
Denmark and Greenland say the new pact expands US security access and preserves the Arctic island's sovereignty
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CK Smith @cksmithwrites.bsky.social · 13/09/2026
Trump goes to Ireland to play host at the Irish Open, meets with leaders, then tries to blow up the Good Friday Agreement. I know a ton of movies he could watch to understand why this is a problem - Patriot Games, In the Name of the Father, Belfast, Bloody Sunday... www.salon.com/2026/09/13/t...
salon.com
Trump wades into Irish reunification debate - Salon.com
“It may as well happen now,” the president said of a dispute that fueled decades of deadly conflict
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CK Smith @cksmithwrites.bsky.social · 13/09/2026
"I pledge allegiance to..." Wait, to Donald Trump? Trump had audience members at the GOP Midterm Convention swear loyalty to him and promise to "cheat like hell" in voting. Because this is where we are in America... www.salon.com/2026/09/12/t...
salon.com
Trump asks GOP crowd to pledge allegiance — to him - Salon.com
President had supporters raise their hands, promise to vote and “try and cheat like hell” to keep GOP majority
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CK Smith @cksmithwrites.bsky.social · 13/09/2026
There's a rather weird obsession Trump has with George Washington lately. Now he's demanding an exhibit in the Smithsonian and a 30ft statue out front. www.salon.com/2026/09/12/t...
salon.com
Trump wants to remake the Smithsonian — again - Salon.com
A 30-foot Washington should replace a modern art sculpture that “says nothing about America,” the president says
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CK Smith @cksmithwrites.bsky.social · 07/09/2026
Trump went on an #AI posting spree this weekend. I cannot tell you how many times I wondered how this is my job. But I love it. (What does that say about me?) www.salon.com/2026/09/07/g...
salon.com
"GIVE THEM NIGHTMARES": Trump unleashes AI robot army - Salon.com
The president flooded Truth Social with dystopian machines warriors, exploding ships and Space Force fantasy memes
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CK Smith @cksmithwrites.bsky.social · 06/09/2026
We're in our #SoylentGreen Era now. (From the official White House Twitter/X account)
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CK Smith @cksmithwrites.bsky.social · 06/09/2026
MAGA arcade style games is everything you think it is... ripped-off versions of beloved pixelated games with an agenda where you can "play deportation" or "build the wall". Because #MAGA... www.salon.com/2026/09/05/m...
salon.com
MAGA has entered its arcade era - Salon.com
The White House launched five familiar looking games, so its users can play deportation, MAHA and build the wall
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CK Smith @cksmithwrites.bsky.social · 06/09/2026
Happy #LaborDay from the #LaborDepartment! New report from inside the Department says the former secretary created a rather hostile work environment - strip clubs, day drinking, affairs, degrading staff. So a day in Trump administration or a stereotypical frat house? www.salon.com/2026/09/05/s...
salon.com
Strip clubs, closet duty and Trump’s former Labor Secretary - Salon.com
A watchdog report paints a damning picture of the Labor Dept. workplace under former Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer
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CK Smith @cksmithwrites.bsky.social · 23/08/2026
#Hegseth and his war on the people he used to call colleagues is just getting worse. #StarsandStripes has never been a lefty outlet. It's literally just military news. And it's supposed to be independent. Do you think he thought it was just the Pentagon's PR? www.salon.com/2026/08/22/h...
salon.com
Hegseth fires "Stars and Stripes" journalists, deepens Pentagon press crackdown - Salon.com
The military paper has served troops and their families for generations and Congress protects its independence
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CK Smith @cksmithwrites.bsky.social · 23/08/2026
"I wish I had never voted for Trump." A little late to the party, but welcome, I guess, #MTG. The MAGA divorce just decided who gets custody of #TuckerCarlson. www.salon.com/2026/08/22/i...
salon.com
“I wish I had never supported him”: MTG fires back after Trump's attack on "MAGA losers" - Salon.com
Greene defended Carlson as a serious 2028 contender and accused Trump of betraying the movement that elected him
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CK Smith @cksmithwrites.bsky.social · 21/08/2026
Thinking about starting a regular weekend post on our Salon Editor's Chat (for subscribers only!). Any ideas on what topics I should cover? Also, have you subscribed for ad-free Salon yet? www.salon.com/premium
salon.com
Salon.com Become a Member | Ad-free Independent Journalism
Become a member to support Salon's bold journalism. Enjoy a 100% ad-free reading experience, expert analysis and sharp commentary.
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CK Smith @cksmithwrites.bsky.social · 16/08/2026
This story was hard to write. The conditions on the #USSAbrahamLincoln are just awful. This is abuse. And somehow, this turned into a manhood debate. My god, human life has value regardless of strength or weakness. So much for respecting and supporting our troops. www.salon.com/2026/08/16/u...
salon.com
USS Lincoln sailors endured 260 days. Trump says that's "not nearly long enough" - Salon.com
Families and lawmakers are demanding answers over reported shortages and mental health concerns aboard the carrier
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CK Smith @cksmithwrites.bsky.social · 16/08/2026
Cassidy is a deep red Senator from deep red Louisiana. But he's also a doctor and critical of the new vax schedule. MAGA is roasting him as a RINO. But this may be the only thing he's not in step with MAGA. And he's not wrong. Anti-vaxxers scare the hell out of me. www.salon.com/2026/08/16/s...
salon.com
Sen. Cassidy: "If you're pro-life, you should be pro-vaccine" - Salon.com
The GOP senator and physician expressed serious concerns about the "new vaccine" schedule, despite Trump's optimism
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CK Smith @cksmithwrites.bsky.social · 16/08/2026
Trump loved Jackson and Lincoln in his first term. McKinley kicked off 2025. And now he's hanging with George Washington and showing him the ballroom in a place he never lived and acting like he'd approve of a 3rd Trump term. Because AI really is an alternate reality. www.salon.com/2026/08/16/t...
salon.com
Trump's new ballroom adviser has been dead for 227 years - Salon.com
The president thanks George Washington for his "brilliant ideas" while imagining the pair in several AI posts
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CK Smith @cksmithwrites.bsky.social · 15/08/2026
As a former public school teacher and yearbook advisor, how not a single person caught this error between creation, submission, printing, shipping, sorting and distribution is symptomatic of issues in the district. Glad my Kentucky cousins are in college now. www.salon.com/2026/08/15/w...
salon.com
Welcome to Venecky? - Salon.com
A Kentucky school's botched student planner is ridiculous — but it's hardly the troubled district's biggest problem
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CK Smith @cksmithwrites.bsky.social · 15/08/2026
I don't even know where to start with this one. I've watched most of this podcast's episodes offering a BTS look at the administration. This one was, well, included #PopTarts and #Tupac and finding out Hegseth has a cat that prefers the Rubios. www.salon.com/2026/08/15/m...
salon.com
Marco Rubio won't give up his Pop-Tarts for MAHA - Salon.com
Secretary of state dishes on RFK Jr.'s sauerkraut, Hegseth's 'arrogant' cat and his own disastrous keto experiment
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CK Smith @cksmithwrites.bsky.social · 15/08/2026
A funny convo about the comparison between Trump and young Simba... "I Just Can't Wait to be King". Neither want people telling them what to do. One is a 2yo lion cub. One is an 80yo man child. However, Simba had growth. #Trump just wants his damn #ballroom. www.salon.com/2026/08/15/t...
salon.com
Trump can't take no for an answer on his ballroom - Salon.com
The president lashes out at “treasonists” after lower courts blocked construction on his $400 million project
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CK Smith @cksmithwrites.bsky.social · 10/08/2026
I had to with this story. Be glad I didn't get super punny. I had way too many before editing. #merde #chic www.salon.com/2026/08/09/f...
salon.com
"Fecal Matter" mocked luxury fashion. Then luxury fashion bought it - Salon.com
The deliberately provocative label now dresses Hollywood stars and sells some pieces for more than $1,000
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CK Smith @cksmithwrites.bsky.social · 10/08/2026
Trump has a weird obsession with grass. Like really weird. Just because he owns golf courses doesn't mean he knows sod anymore than me owning a baseball bat makes me a Steinbrenner. www.salon.com/2026/08/09/i...
salon.com
"I'm very good at grass": Trump assures the U.S. amid his renovation projects - Salon.com
The president has opinions about ballrooms, marble and paving stones, and also very strong credentials in lawn care
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CK Smith @cksmithwrites.bsky.social · 10/08/2026
Semantics aside, I heard that the President / White House is basically like a Parish Priest / Rectory. You get the job and part of it is housing for as long as you have the job. Done with the job? Turn in the keys. Why is this a question? www.salon.com/2026/08/09/t...
salon.com
Trump to judges: "We are not tenants … we are PRESIDENTS" - Salon.com
The president disputed court’s "temporary tenant" ruling while touting ballroom as military complex, rooftop drones
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CK Smith @cksmithwrites.bsky.social · 09/08/2026
Dorms always have lots of basic safety rules... no cooking in your room, clean up after yourself, use shared spaces responsibly. And now, don't butcher a bear in the communal kitchen. And they said the Ivy League was for smart people. #Cornell #bear www.salon.com/2026/08/08/c...
salon.com
Cornell has a new dorm rule: Don't butcher bears - Salon.com
The university updated its housing policies after students skinned and processed a black bear in a shared kitchen
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CK Smith @cksmithwrites.bsky.social · 08/08/2026
Love libraries, love books, love reading. (English major!) But this story really wins the internet. I really want to read this book now. www.salon.com/2026/08/02/l...
salon.com
Library book found in fireplace returns 150 years late - Salon.com
An Australian man found the 1858 volume inside a tea crate bricked into a sealed fireplace during renovations
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CK Smith @cksmithwrites.bsky.social · 08/08/2026
I watched this interview live last week, and once again, journalism for the win. Shout out to #DanaBash for this masterclass in Journalism. www.salon.com/2026/08/02/m...
salon.com
"My job is to find out the truth": Dana Bash grills RFK Jr. over vaccines - Salon.com
The HHS secretary denied responsibility for the nation's measles surge while defending vaccine skepticism
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CK Smith @cksmithwrites.bsky.social · 25/07/2026
#PennStation is one of the busiest transportation hubs, and recently, it's been given a rather beautiful makover. And now, they want to rename it... for #Trump. Um, what? www.salon.com/2026/07/25/n...
salon.com
Now arriving at Trump Station? - Salon.com
A recent push from the administration to rename NYC's iconic Penn Station after Trump is ruffling some feathers
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CK Smith @cksmithwrites.bsky.social · 25/07/2026
Friday night, they held the #WhiteHouseCorrespondenceDinner redo, and #Trump, well, had words to say. www.salon.com/2026/07/25/t...
salon.com
Trump at WHCD: "The show must go on" — then "ripping" into the press - Salon.com
Three months after the shooting, Trump's solemn opening gave way to expected attacks on the media, political rivals
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CK Smith @cksmithwrites.bsky.social · 20/07/2026
Despite being a pretty big football (soccer) fan, I didn't watch much this summer. But #Spain dominated and finally got their boot on the ball in extra time. Oh, and the Muppets were in the halftime show with a bunch of other superstars like Madonna and BTS and Bieber. www.salon.com/2026/07/19/t...
salon.com
The American World Cup: Messi lost, but the Muppets sang - Salon.com
The lead-up buzz was Trump, security and spectacle. But Sunday's event was something simpler — soccer and Muppets
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CK Smith @cksmithwrites.bsky.social · 19/07/2026
Also, on #WorldCup duty today. Who do you got? #FWC26 #ARGESP
static.klipy.com
Colombia World Cup
ALT: Colombia World Cup
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CK Smith @cksmithwrites.bsky.social · 19/07/2026
I have so much to say about how just awful the "manosphere" and its subgenres of misogyny and bigotry are. Every small victory of justice is a win here. Baby steps, which are frustratingly slow, are still forward-moving. www.salon.com/2026/07/19/a...
salon.com
Andrew Tate sold men a fantasy. Reality is finally catching up with him - Salon.com
The influencer who built an empire on dominance and misogyny faces allegations could finally face a reckoning
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CK Smith @cksmithwrites.bsky.social · 19/07/2026
Look, it's summer in the Northern Hemisphere. I live in a building with no A/C. There are heat domes and Canadian wildfires and bad thunderstorms. However, this doesn't mean that the weather is Canada's fault. Despite being "up there", they are surprisingly not God. www.salon.com/2026/07/18/t...
salon.com
The latest thing Trump wants to stop at the border: smoke - Salon.com
Wildfire smoke from Canada sparks tariff threats as the president targets pollution crossing into the U.S.
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CK Smith @cksmithwrites.bsky.social · 12/07/2026
Well, this was not on my 2026 bingo card. Trump critic turned close ally #LindseyGraham died at age 71. Which is actually kind of young for Congress. www.salon.com/2026/07/12/l...
salon.com
Lindsey Graham, from Trump critic to ally, dies at 71 - Salon.com
The South Carolina Republican and foreign policy hawk shaped modern GOP politics as one of Trump's closest allies
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CK Smith @cksmithwrites.bsky.social · 11/07/2026
Honestly, the weirdest (and sometimes hardest) part of my job is translating Trump's Truth Social posts into some kind of sense. Last night was no different. Also, he seems pretty sure he's on Iran's "list". #iranwar www.salon.com/2026/07/11/t...
salon.com
Trump: "1000 missiles are locked and loaded" for Iran if he's killed - Salon.com
The president’s claim raises constitutional questions about what "standing orders" can survive a transfer of power
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CK Smith @cksmithwrites.bsky.social · 11/07/2026
You know I love a good media ethics and legal story... this one is just starting. WH issues subpoenas for NYT journalists who reported on the security issues with Qatari-gifted AF1. Which there are. So they're in legal trouble for doing their job? #1A #freedomofthepress www.salon.com/2026/07/11/t...
salon.com
Times journalists face subpoena over Air Force One security story - Salon.com
A dispute over classified information becomes the latest test of the government’s relationship with the press
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CK Smith @cksmithwrites.bsky.social · 05/07/2026
About 100 years ago, racists in masks and uniforms marched through DC, scaring the shit out of people. Yesterday, racists in masks and uniforms march through DC, scaring the shit out of people. Yet, free speech and assembly exists. It sucks sometimes. www.salon.com/2026/07/05/w...
salon.com
White nationalists march on DC, tests free speech limits - Salon.com
The Patriot Front gathered on the Mall for a "Reclaim America" march. They wore uniforms and masked their faces
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CK Smith @cksmithwrites.bsky.social · 05/07/2026
There's only so many times I can write how scary hot it is this week. I'm from Florida and this is torture. Also, my lovely pre-war building has no a/c. Happy 4th indeed! www.salon.com/2026/07/04/a...
salon.com
A hot, fractured birthday weekend: America at 250 - Salon.com
America’s 250th unfolds through competing visions of patriotism, extreme heat and weather and large-scale events
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CK Smith @cksmithwrites.bsky.social · 05/07/2026
#JusT&Tmarried Never been a Swiftie or Chiefs fan. Had issues when she spoke at my masters grad. And as a former planner, 1000 people at a wedding is sheer lunacy. Partying til 4am? Plus, seriously? Midtown? Rent an island somewhere it won't affect small businesses. www.salon.com/2026/07/04/m...
salon.com
Midnights in Midtown: The wedding that stopped NYC - Salon.com
Swifties got their desired season finale of Taylor Swift's romance, a private wedding amid a citywide spectacle
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CK Smith @cksmithwrites.bsky.social · 04/07/2026
It's really freaking hot this weekend. But you know, no such thing as "climate change". Also, stupid me and my no a/c pre-war building. I've had 4 fans pointed at me on high for 3 days now. Next apartment must-have: frigid cold central a/c www.salon.com/2026/07/03/h...
salon.com
Half of Americans will celebrate the Fourth of July in extreme heat - Salon.com
Dangerous heat dome disrupts American celebrations in Midwest and East Coast with travel delays and health problems
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CK Smith @cksmithwrites.bsky.social · 29/06/2026
This was such a fun read by my colleague @joysaha99.bsky.social I still get Dino Nuggets on the regular because they're so much better than regular nuggets. Enjoy! www.salon.com/2026/06/28/d...
salon.com
Dino nuggets, made better
Because we all should be feeding our inner child and indulging in nostalgia, even into adulthood
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CK Smith @cksmithwrites.bsky.social · 28/06/2026
My favorite #WorldCup stories right now are from visitors discovering very American things. Bucees, BBQ, Waffle House, ranch dressing, large soda cups. Enjoy and be jealous. It's okay. We're jealous of your public transportation and free healthcare. www.salon.com/2026/06/28/w...
salon.com
World Cup visitors love ranch dressing, Bu-cee's and BBQ - Salon.com
As fans tour US, viral reactions and appreciation for US staples like Buc-ee's, BBQ, the "bigger is better" culture
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