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Rainesford Stauffer

@rainesford.bsky.social
6.2K followers 1.3K following 1.8K posts

Freelance writer, reporter, author. Kentuckian. rainesford.alexandra@gmail.com / Signal rstauff.20 www.rainesfordstauffer.com

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Reposted by Rainesford Stauffer
Abby Vesoulis @abbyvesoulis.bsky.social · 19h
Also: Miller personally threatened to speak out about an alleged connection (per a civil lawsuit) that Emily Moreno's former lawyer has to a murder case. Miller: "Don’t salivate. I’m smart enough not to be sued for defamation. I’ll wait until this evening. Enjoy the beautiful day outside!!”
Screenshot of article text: 

You and your brother’s alleged involvement in this is awful… Thanks again for this variable,” Miller wrote in one of several emails requesting that Moreno’s lawyers expedite their work on the divorce. The email was later included in a court exhibit in which Moreno’s legal team requested a restraining order against Miller.

“I will be commenting on this if I do not hear anything by end of day,” Miller wrote in another email to Stafford, which also appeared in court filings. “I didn’t create this issue, you, the opposing counsel, allegedly did. Don’t salivate. I’m smart enough not to be sued for defamation. I’ll wait until this evening. Enjoy the beautiful day outside!!” (Vince Stafford declined to comment. Responding to questions about the civil suit and Miller’s emails, Joseph Stafford said “all” of the statements pertaining to him in the civil suit are “false, and distortions of the truth.”)
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Kentucky Lantern @kentuckylantern.com · 19h
About 80,000 Kentuckians have lost access to food aid under federal rule changes From @sarahelizabethladd.bsky.social kentuckylantern.com/2026/10/14/a...
kentuckylantern.com
About 80,000 Kentuckians have lost access to food aid under federal rule changes • Kentucky Lantern
Some 80,000 Kentuckians have lost access to the food benefits known as SNAP because of federal changes to the program.
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Rainesford Stauffer @rainesford.bsky.social · 17h
Truly, what a mess
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Rainesford Stauffer @rainesford.bsky.social · 19h
Oh yes, this piece was incredible!
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Rainesford Stauffer @rainesford.bsky.social · 19h
Thank you, this is amazing! I'm reporting on some challenges a local KY public library has been experiencing for years, especially in regard to board appointments, and am trying to better understand this.
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Rainesford Stauffer @rainesford.bsky.social · 19h
Who do I need to speak to on politicization of public libraries, and specifically, library boards? (This is for reporting.)
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Spencer Ackerman @attackerman.bsky.social · 20h
Five hundred people on hunger strike inside a for-profit ICE concentration camp in Georgia.
thecurrentga.org
Approximately 500 participate in hunger strike at Folkston immigration detention center - The Current
Approximately 500 detainees at a private ICE facility in Folkston, Georgia, launched a hunger strike to protest poor living conditions and alleged asylum protocol violations while awaiting judicial he...
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Rainesford Stauffer @rainesford.bsky.social · 14/10/2026
Still processing that the Girls revival announcement, the ongoing saga of Kelly Clarkson vs. the keepers of Molly the animatronic bird, and Kacey Musgraves referencing Kristi Noem shooting her own family dog all happened within the past couple days. What a time.
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Marisa Kabas @marisakabas.bsky.social · 13/10/2026
if this post doesn't apply to you, would still appreciate you sharing around.
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Sydney Bauer @sydney-bauer.com · 13/10/2026
I’m looking to speak with high school aged trans athletes or their parents in both red and blue states for a series of stories on how the landscape for trans people wanting to play sports looks after this summers SCOTUS decision. Email: sydneyerinwrites @ gmail dot com Signal: SydneyBauer.30
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Rainesford Stauffer @rainesford.bsky.social · 13/10/2026
I’ve been working on two long pieces that are very different from each other for months and am caught between 1) stage fright, and 2) begging people to read them when they publish.
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Joe Sonka 😐 @joesonka.lpm.org · 13/10/2026
So it’s a 3-episode podcast?
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Rainesford Stauffer @rainesford.bsky.social · 13/10/2026
That's one of the things I wondered about, too!
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Rainesford Stauffer @rainesford.bsky.social · 13/10/2026
I read this three times and my brain refuses to digest it.
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Natasha Lennard @natashalennard.bsky.social · 13/10/2026
Thank you to the always incredible @lexmcmenamin.com for interviewing me about On UnCertainty for @theguardian.com … a pub day treat for me :) www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026...
theguardian.com
How to escape our collective paralysis in ‘these uncertain times’
Author Natasha Lennard discusses how to disrupt the ‘certainties’ that don’t serve us and how to fight back
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Rainesford Stauffer @rainesford.bsky.social · 13/10/2026
It’s going to be almost 90 degrees here today in mid-October and that’s genuinely depressing.
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Rainesford Stauffer @rainesford.bsky.social · 12/10/2026
Lot of men telling on themselves with the “it’s not that serious, it’s just a joke” comments re: the SNL monologue.
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Jess Calarco @jessicacalarco.com · 12/10/2026
Kind of obsessed with this spooky season scene my 12-year-old painted today.
Acrylic paint on a roughly 8x8-inch canvas. Yellow and brown grass background with a couple of pumpkins and white sheet-style ghosts floating over top.
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Rainesford Stauffer @rainesford.bsky.social · 12/10/2026
Every time I see a post criticizing Talarico for having the flu and not being on the campaign trail, my mind floats back to all the “we spoke for 20 minutes” McConnell posts about a month into his nearly three-month-long absence.
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Gillian Brockell @gillianbrockell.com · 11/10/2026
An outrageous story on its own. Even more outrageous when you find out the same county has charged three children with falsely reporting sexual abuse since her case. www.motherjones.com/criminal-jus...
motherjones.com
Police didn’t believe a 12-year-old who said she'd been raped. Then she hit record.
“If I didn’t find the evidence for them, I wasn’t too sure they would find it.”
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Brian Goldstone @brian-goldstone.bsky.social · 10/10/2026
It's World Homeless Day, and I'll just say: Homelessness isn't some great unsolvable mystery. People are homeless because they don't have homes. This suffering persists not for lack of solutions, but because enormous wealth and power are invested in maintaining the very structures that produce it.
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Rainesford Stauffer @rainesford.bsky.social · 10/10/2026
“It was not lost on me, even in reporting this piece, that every phone call, every email, is predicated on a faith in ordinary interactions that AI is fast eroding…”
cjr.org
Fake Caroline.
Editors are facing an influx of AI-written pitches, including at science publications like mine. What now?
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Icarus 🎃 Dumpsterfire @pluperfectidiot.bsky.social · 10/10/2026
Getting closer...
static.klipy.com
David S Pumpkins Dance with Skeletons
Alt: David S Pumpkins Dance with Skeletons
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Hanaa’ Tameez @hanaatameez.bsky.social · 07/10/2026
One thing I love about @niemanlab.org's redesign is the “This Day in History” on the homepage. Journalism’s future is uncertain. But our past offers perspective on how far we’ve come, what we’ve tried, and what’s worth carrying forward or leaving behind. I will be coming back to this section a lot!
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Andrea González-Ramírez @andreagonram.bsky.social · 09/10/2026
"My assailant was found responsible for my sexual assault ... His punishment? He received a 'written reprimand,' was ordered to write a 'reflection paper,' and was placed on behavioral probation until he graduated two months later." Must-read by a Cornell grad: www.thecut.com/article/i-wa...
thecut.com
I’m Not the Only Cornell Student Title IX Failed
When I was raped in 2023, my attacker, too, only had to write an essay. Now, I see I’m not alone.
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Tajja Isen @tajjaisen.bsky.social · 09/10/2026
You may have heard that nonfiction's having a rough time. I investigated for @thewalrus.ca. And it's very true, but not for the reasons you might think. thewalrus.ca/nonfiction-i...
An image of a big red book that says "FICTION" on the cover. Behind it, a smaller book that says "NON-FICTION" tries to peek out.
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Ryan Van Velzer @ryanvanvelzer.bsky.social · 09/10/2026
USA Today’s parent company filed a lawsuit against OpenAI in New York federal court Thursday for allegedly using reporting from its 19 publications, including Louisville’s Courier Journal, without permission. www.lpm.org/news/2026-10...
lpm.org
USA Today network, including Courier Journal, sue OpenAI
USA Today’s parent company filed a lawsuit against OpenAI in New York federal court Thursday for allegedly using reporting from its 19 publications, including Louisville’s Courier Journal, without per...
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Rainesford Stauffer @rainesford.bsky.social · 09/10/2026
Okay, this is similar to what I was doing, so super helpful to know! Thank you.
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Eric Michael Garcia @ericmgarcia.bsky.social · 09/10/2026
Some ~personal~ news: After five years, I have been laid off from @the-independent.com. I am grateful for the time I have had there. With that in mind, I am absolutely looking for new work opportunities, especially ahead if the midterms. My email is EMGarcia2009@gmail.com. My signal is emgarcia.85
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Rainesford Stauffer @rainesford.bsky.social · 09/10/2026
This is shocking and I'm so sorry, Eric. I look forward to continuing to follow your great work wherever you go next.
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Rainesford Stauffer @rainesford.bsky.social · 09/10/2026
You should absolutely apply! It's been a truly amazing experience. (And I feel like you'd have an awesome memoir that I'd love to read!)
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Rainesford Stauffer @rainesford.bsky.social · 09/10/2026
I can't say enough wonderful things about this workshop or @nicolechung.bsky.social's brilliance as a teacher. The way she approaches craft (especially thinking about structure) has changed the way I think about writing. It's rewired my writing/reading brain and has been an incredible experience.
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Rainesford Stauffer @rainesford.bsky.social · 09/10/2026
I’m sick this week but doing interviews anyway, and have discovered there really is no elegant way to say “I apologize in advance for all the sniffling.”
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Gillian Brockell @gillianbrockell.com · 09/10/2026
This ICE agent’s entire Instagram feed, “shooter.914,” is guns, watches, energy drinks, and alcohol.
A shooter.914 post showing a blue handgun and Reign energy drinkThe console of a car with an energy drink and handgun in the cup holders. In the foreground, shooter.914’s wrist with a fancy watch in it. Background: Two assault rifles and a Monster energy drink A screenshot of his whole account showing more of the same
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Bluegrass Politics @bluegrasspolitics.bsky.social · 09/10/2026
When political candidates dodge reporters because they don't like taking questions ... ... skip debates because they don't like explaining themselves with opponents present ... ... what happens if they get elected to office and have to actually deal with diverse sets of real people? ^JC
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Dhruv Mehrotra @dmehro.bsky.social · 09/10/2026
NEW: Footage from Thursdays shooting shows an ICE agent in a construction vest brandishing a rifle. His name is Brenden Cuni. Federal judges have found multiple arrests involving Cuni unlawful. He has been accused of repeatedly Tasing a handcuffed man and tackling a pregnant woman in Minneapolis.
wired.com
ICE Agent at NYC Shooting Has History of Alleged Violence and Illegal Arrests
Brenden Cuni, an ICE supervisor, has been accused of excessive force and tackling a pregnant woman to the ground. Several of his arrests were later found to be unlawful in federal court.
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Lindsey Boylan @lindseyboylan.bsky.social · 09/10/2026
ICE is terrorizing our city and our communities. They’ve just shot someone with a five-year-old in the car. There is no justification for this or their presence in New York. ICE out of NYC. #abolishice. Image via @gothamist.com
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Gothamist @gothamist.com · 08/10/2026
AI wary NYC students say the tech is still sneaking into classrooms gothamist.com/news/ai-wary...
gothamist.com
AI wary NYC students say the tech is still sneaking into classrooms
Students are calling out educators for still using AI in posters, slideshows and quizzes.
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Nicole Chung @nicolechung.bsky.social · 19/09/2026
Please share the application with anyone you think might be interested and help us spread the word! Here’s a bit more about Periplus, why we exist, and how we assess fellowship applications:
Periplus is a mentorship collective serving U.S. writers who identify as Black, Indigenous, or people of color. We’re happy you’ve found us. We’re looking for mentees—Periplus Fellows—who are located in the United States, and are at least 18 years old, and whose writing shows great promise. We are seeking to mentor writers who are relatively early in their careers and would especially like to award fellowships to those with limited past access to writing resources and supportive communities. We aim to equalize access so that writers can achieve their goals regardless of their background and affiliations. 

In assessing your application, we’ll be most focused on the promise we see in your writing sample. We will also consider how helpful a Periplus Fellowship could be for your craft and career.
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Rainesford Stauffer @rainesford.bsky.social · 08/10/2026
It's also wild how many of them flagged that teachers are using it more than students. And they had interesting questions about that: Is it because teachers are overworked? They also poked holes in the idea of school phone bans while being encouraged to use AI for things like posters or assignments.
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Rainesford Stauffer @rainesford.bsky.social · 08/10/2026
(To be clear, I found this delightful and their criticisms were thoughtful and interesting!)
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Jessica Pishko @jesspish.bsky.social · 08/10/2026
The new issue of @hammerandhope.bsky.social is excellent. Don't miss Lisa Armstrong on Memphis's occupation. hammerandhope.org/article/trum...
hammerandhope.org
Trump’s Deadly Invasion of Memphis
A Black city tried to rein in abusive policing. Then Trump’s task force arrived.
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Rainesford Stauffer @rainesford.bsky.social · 08/10/2026
Last night we had a kickoff for a beginning journalism cohort of high schoolers from rural communities in Kentucky, and they spent a solid 20 minutes of discussion ranting about AI in their schools.
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The Oregonian @oregonian.com · 08/10/2026
Hundreds of infuriated parents and staff members descended on Portland Public Schools’ headquarters Tuesday night to protest far-reaching proposals to close up to 14 schools, shift grade configurations and programs and redraw attendance boundaries. www.oregonlive.com/education/20...
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Melissa Gira Grant @melissagiragrant.com · 07/10/2026
reading this, recalling how quickly the killing of Minnesota Rep. Melissa Hortman slipped out of the news
phoenixnewtimes.com
Congressional candidate is raped while repairing her campaign signs
Embarrassed, she initially didn’t want to report attack. Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office's investigation is ongoing.
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Joe Sonka 😐 @joesonka.lpm.org · 08/10/2026
As those who follow my work may remember, Deters has a long history of paying giant checks to these folks.
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Rainesford Stauffer @rainesford.bsky.social · 07/10/2026
A+ subject line from @washingtonsun.com on a newsletter leading with Texas midterms coverage.
A screenshot of a Washington Sun email newsletter headline: Choosin' Texas? I Can't Tell
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Rainesford Stauffer @rainesford.bsky.social · 07/10/2026
Actually, it won't let me message you! Will you message me?
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