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Stephen Thompson @idislikestephen.bsky.social · 16h

[Carrie Underwood steps up to the mic to kick off Sunday Night Football] 🎵 "A red-hot matchup in the NFC Mike and Chris are two guys on TV Car'lina Panthers are one of the teams You know what, this is dumb, never mind" 🎵

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Stephen Thompson @idislikestephen.bsky.social · 27/09/2026

Wow, "Choosin' Texas" discourse is really popping off today. If you could use a refresher, last week I wrote up an explainer to contextualize the song's (momentarily) record-setting Billboard run:

npr.org

5 reasons why 'Choosin' Texas' is now the longest-running No. 1 hit of all time

Let's take a look at how and why "Choosin' Texas" has come to define and dominate the pop charts in 2026.

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Stephen Thompson @idislikestephen.bsky.social · 27/09/2026

Just saw MUNA live at All Things Go *and* the Badgers mounted a huge comeback to beat a ranked Penn State team on the road? I feel like I could throw a building right now.

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Stephen Thompson @idislikestephen.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

Just one of my picks made the final list -- and you'll NEVER guess which one

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Stephen Thompson @idislikestephen.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

Lots of y'all are talking about that NYT list, but most of my picks weren't even in their system smdh 🙄

A New York Times chart for "The 100 Best TV Shows Of The 21st Century: My Top Shows."

My list: Sex Box, Are You Hot?: The Search For America's Sexiest People, I Wanna Marry Harry, Joe Millionaire 2, Married By America, The Littlest Groom, Who Wants To Marry A Multi-Millionaire?, The Swan, The Wire, and "The season of Average Joe where the twist was that the lady had dated Fabio"

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Stephen Thompson @idislikestephen.bsky.social · 20/09/2026

The Green Bay Packers last won a meaningful football game on Dec. 7, 2025, when Ella Langley's "Choosin' Texas" was just seven weeks old. I don't care if it took a fourth-quarter comeback and overtime to beat the freaking New York Jets; I needed this! GO PACK GOOOOOOOOOOOOO

Titanic's Gloria Stuart, who helpfully reminds us that "It's been 84 years..."

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Stephen Thompson @idislikestephen.bsky.social · 19/09/2026

A look at the current trending topics on Bluesky includes "Eastern Michigan upsets Wisconsin," referencing a game in which EMU scored first... and went on to get absolutely slaughtered, 54-10. Starting to think whatever automated system Bluesky is using isn't... the greatest? Also GO BADGERS WOOOOO

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Stephen Thompson @idislikestephen.bsky.social · 09/09/2026

Getting into tennis has been fun, but rooting for Frances Tiafoe most of all has not been *awesome* for my deeply ingrained anxiety. Still, WE STAN OUR DAMP STRESSFUL KING, may he one day breeze effortlessly through a match that takes fewer than four agonizing hours

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Stephen Thompson @idislikestephen.bsky.social · 06/09/2026

Hi, I'm Stephen Thompson, a writer and podcast host near Washington, D.C. Heading into the (perfect) bridge of "Thinkin' Bout You," Frank Ocean drops the words "Yes of course" in rapid succession -- a little conversational throat-clearing before a moment that caves my freaking chest in every time.

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Stephen Thompson @idislikestephen.bsky.social · 03/09/2026

When I worked for The Onion, practically everyone who visited the office would ask how they could submit headlines. This one stoner delivery guy was so persistent, we finally told him he could submit 10 headlines on spec and we'd take a look. First one on his list was "Shit and poop are Stinky!!!"

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Stephen Thompson @idislikestephen.bsky.social · 28/08/2026

Sure, Project 2025 provides a blueprint for Trump's second term. But the Lake Ontario stuff is a fresh reminder that we should ALSO read the Wikipedia page of Saparmurat Niyazov, former dictator of Turkmenistan. The "Decrees and laws" section is wild, but doesn't include the ROTATING GOLDEN STATUE

Saparmurat Niyazov, former dictator of Turkmenistan. Please, no one tell the current president about the rotating $12 million golden statue.

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Stephen Thompson @idislikestephen.bsky.social · 25/08/2026

For those with CNN, I'll be on Kaitlan Collins' show tonight from 9 to 10 p.m. ET, discussing Dolly Parton. Tune in and place your bets on when and how I most egregiously embarrass myself on live television!

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Stephen Thompson @idislikestephen.bsky.social · 23/08/2026

This was the menu of options Facebook gave me for why I wished to block all ads for an "AI Companion" that, among other issues, looked unnervingly like a 14-year-old girl. Wild that there was no option for "This ad made me want to delete Facebook, burn my laptop, and drown myself in the toilet"

A menu of available options Facebook provides for why you wish to hide and/or block an ad. The options -- "Too personal," "Already purchased," "Sensitive topic," "Repetitive," "Incorrect language," "Knows too much," and "Irrelevant" -- had nothing to do with the fact that the ad in question is nonchalantly catering to pedophiles.

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Stephen Thompson @idislikestephen.bsky.social · 23/08/2026

It's been a rough weekend, as we had to say goodbye to our sweet, kind, cantankerous old-lady baby this morning. Milou was a vital hub of warmth and affection: crasher of Zoom calls, tormentor of crickets, winner of hearts. I will, no exaggeration, be grateful for her until the day I die.

A beautiful grey-and-white tabby luxuriates in a sunbeam.

A beautiful grey-and-white tabby, seen gazing imperiously from the top of her cat tower.

A beautiful grey-and-white tabby curls up in a sweet ball for a snooze. Milou was the best.

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Stephen Thompson @idislikestephen.bsky.social · 20/08/2026

Felt certain that "with Natalie" would be the two-word phrase that sparked the week's most ludicrous overreactions, but "spreadsheet people" is gaining fast

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Stephen Thompson @idislikestephen.bsky.social · 23/07/2026

All right, people, time to brag! Name a skill you acquired at a previous job that you never, or almost never, get to use anymore. Me, I can bag the hell out of your groceries and cut five words from this otherwise-terrific Onion headline to make it a tiny bit funnier. (That's all I got, though.)

An Onion headline that ought to read "Man Hit By Sprinkler Acting Like He'll Never Be Dry Again" but instead reads "Man Angry He Got Hit By Sprinkler Acting Like He's Never Going To Be Dry Again." (You could cut six words by changing "Be Dry Again" to "Dry Off," but that's a judgment call.)

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Stephen Thompson @idislikestephen.bsky.social · 19/07/2026

Vacationing in rural Greece, where the local supermarket carries all my favorite cereal brands!

A Bored Ape-branded cereal called "Skull Crunch." Each bite contains more intrinsic value than the NFTs on which the cereal is based!

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Stephen Thompson @idislikestephen.bsky.social · 15/07/2026

Twenty years ago, NPR hired a metalhead named Lars and it's low-key one of the smartest things the network has ever done

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the Mountain Goats @themountaingoats.bsky.social · 15/07/2026

you guys this is the greatest thing ever to have happened

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Stephen Thompson @idislikestephen.bsky.social · 03/07/2026

Have loved Antonio Freeman for 30+ years. My partner bought me a Freeman video on Cameo back when the site was starting out -- he charged a whopping $40 -- and he was exactly this charming, friendly, and down-to-earth. Would've rooted for Alex Freeman regardless, but this makes it even easier.

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Stephen Thompson @idislikestephen.bsky.social · 02/07/2026

Just gonna keep liking posts that call bullshit on that red card until justice is served. That’ll show ‘em!

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Stephen Thompson @idislikestephen.bsky.social · 30/06/2026

My two cents on the biggest news of the day… Minions & Monsters is set in 1927, but contains a subplot involving suffragettes, even though the 19th Amendment was ratified in 1920 -- when women in California, where the movie is set, had had the vote for nearly a decade. I AM TREMBLING WITH RAGE

The three nerds from The Simpsons' "The Itchy & Scratchy & Poochie Show" -- specifically the scene with the line, "I hope somebody got fired for that blunder."

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Stephen Thompson @idislikestephen.bsky.social · 29/06/2026

In honor of MUNA's wonderful performance of Go West's 1990 hit "King of Wishful Thinking," it's a great time to revisit this rundown of ’80s songs due for revival -- and current (circa 2023) artists who'd be perfect to tackle them. I stand by every word, but not thinking of MUNA was an oversight!

npr.org

With an '80s revival upon us, these classic songs deserve a comeback

Kate Bush's "Running Up That Hill," Tracy Chapman's "Fast Car" and Indigo Girls' "Closer To Fine" have experienced massive comebacks. Which '80s songs should be next?

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Linda Holmes @lindaholmes.bsky.social · 16/06/2026

There is a viral Instagram post claiming the Knicks have turned down the invitation to visit the White House, sourced to nothing, apparently just a photo with some text written on it. It’s been reposted 10,000 times. Can’t find any indication it’s true. We have got to stop doing this.

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Stephen Thompson @idislikestephen.bsky.social · 09/06/2026

I can only assume that everyone else ALSO worked at a small-town grocery store in late-’80s Wisconsin and will agree with me that the song in question is Da Yoopers' 1987 novelty hit "Second Week of Deer Camp"

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NPR @npr.org · 03/06/2026

Win a trip to the Tiny Desk! Enter for a chance to win and get extra chances if you grab some exclusive merch! 👕 n.pr/4abE7HT

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Stephen Thompson @idislikestephen.bsky.social · 02/06/2026

Every January on Pop Culture Happy Hour, we make predictions for the new year, and I'm *so mad* I didn't think to predict that YouTubers would overshadow the latest Star Wars movie at the summer box office while we all pored over press statements from Vanilla Ice and the living half of Milli Vanilli

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NPR @npr.org · 28/05/2026

Perseverance, plus a whole lot of talent, is what got the Dallas hip-hop collective to our space after submitting to the Tiny Desk Contest four years in a row. n.pr/4fd9W6E

n.pr

Cure For Paranoia: Tiny Desk Concert

Perseverance, plus a whole lot of talent, is what got the Dallas hip-hop collective to our space after submitting to the Tiny Desk Contest four years in a row.

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Stephen Thompson @idislikestephen.bsky.social · 25/05/2026

The Onion recently posted two perfect headlines: "Trump Requests $1.2 Trillion To Have" and "Terrified Introvert One Away From Bingo." The first time someone told me The Onion was a shell of its former self, it was the fall of 1990. Once again, it’s approaching top form. There’s a lesson here! (🧵)

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Stephen Thompson @idislikestephen.bsky.social · 22/05/2026

My son graduated from UMBC yesterday and it was lovely from start to finish. The speaker was Jonathon Heyward, who directs the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra and talked about community, collaboration, embracing and/or adjusting to mistakes and failures. Pitch-perfect, and no one booed the entire time!

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Alyson Hurt @alykat.bsky.social · 20/05/2026

I haven't watched "Survivor" since very early on. But there's a certain joy in projects that combine professional expertise and an intense, focused personal interest. Cheers to @idislikestephen.bsky.social, Clare Lombardo, Connie Hanzhang Jin and everyone who played a role in this.

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Joe Reid @joereid.bsky.social · 20/05/2026

This is incredibly thorough and well-reasoned and more or less accurate and a great read. @idislikestephen.bsky.social did the work! bsky.app/profile/idis...

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Stephen Thompson @idislikestephen.bsky.social · 20/05/2026

It's #Survivor50 finale day! To prepare, might I suggest spending all your free time between now and then reading this ludicrously comprehensive, entertaining-if-I-do-say-so-myself 49-season ranking I wrote for NPR? (It'll become a 50-season ranking sometime tomorrow morning.)

apps.npr.org

Every season of 'Survivor' ranked by NPR's resident superfan

‘Survivor’ is a sport, a metaphor for society and yes, entertainment. Our critic rewatched every season — and ranked them, just in time for the end of the 50th season.

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Lars Gotrich @totalvibration.bsky.social · 18/05/2026

FYI, you can donate directly through NPR Music's YouTube channel. So if you love Tiny Desk, toss us some (read: a lot) of dollars. youtu.be/Cg6E3lppn0I?...

Screenshot of Tiny Desk with a donate button. GIVE US MONEY?

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Stephen Thompson @idislikestephen.bsky.social · 17/05/2026

My son graduates from college on Thursday, and my whole family is ready to boo AI like it's a heel at WrestleMania

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Stephen Thompson @idislikestephen.bsky.social · 06/05/2026

I say this with all due love and respect, but when it comes to cost, veterinarians are just mechanics with emotional leverage. Imagine if your mechanic knew that you'd cried yourself to sleep thinking about life without your RAV4

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Stephen Thompson @idislikestephen.bsky.social · 05/05/2026

For months, I've been re-watching all 50 seasons of #Survivor as I write a roughly 30,000-word (!!!) ranking for NPR. Lord willin' and the creek don't rise, it'll publish the week of the finale, but in the meantime, here's a live look-in at me mainlining Survivor 46:

giphy.com

Im Serious Homer Simpson GIF - Find & Share on GIPHY

GIPHY image by GIPHY

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rax ‘levon honkers’ king @raxkingisdead.bsky.social · 04/05/2026

AI is kicking everything that’s good about being a human in the dick and balls, and it’s crucial that young people are equipped to get kicked in the dick and balls. proud to introduce a bipartisan bill to ensure the next generation pivots to getting kicked relentlessly in the dick and balls

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Stephen Thompson @idislikestephen.bsky.social · 01/05/2026

Today marks the 20th anniversary of my first day at NPR, and my thoughts mostly boil down to immense gratitude -- to everyone who's read and listened, to all my wonderful colleagues, to everyone who's helped me get projects off the ground -- and deep confusion over how 20 years passed in six months.

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Aisha Harris @aishaharris.bsky.social · 23/04/2026

Went long for PCHH today, as MICHAEL rolls into theaters and attempts to do a friction-free reset on the legacy of an artist who was my very first and most intense pop cultural obsession. This was a tough but rewarding project to work on: www.npr.org/2026/04/23/n...

npr.org

What do we think of Michael Jackson now? : Pop Culture Happy Hour

Michael Jackson remains one of the most influential and celebrated musicians in modern history, yet his legacy continues to inspire both intense criticism and fascination. The new film, Michael, is se...

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Stephen Thompson @idislikestephen.bsky.social · 17/04/2026

Schlitz's catalog is WILD. "On the Other Hand" is fantastic, and "Forever and Ever, Amen" is one of those songs I'd always assumed was written by The Universe and not some guy

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Stephen Thompson @idislikestephen.bsky.social · 03/04/2026

A toddler has been visiting our house for the past 24 hours and there's already a jar of whole cloves where the cat's asthma medicine used to be

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Stephen Thompson @idislikestephen.bsky.social · 03/04/2026

should I drive from DC to Chicago to adopt this enormous cat, y/n

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