If Presidents Had Real Housewives–Style Catchphrases

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@mcsweeneys.net | 9 months ago

Actually, George, I Am Furious That You Chopped Down Our Cherry Tree

Son, what lunatic humors compelled you to cut down the tree? Your mother loved that tree! Seven years I spent nurturing and growing it, yet you obliterated it in a single afternoon. Did you really think I would not be angry just because you confessed? Truth, George, is a lovely q … | Continue reading


@mcsweeneys.net | 9 months ago

Sorry Not Sorry: How Bill Clinton Turbocharged the Apology Treadmill

In April of 1998, President Clinton was in the midst of an apology spree. Though he had yet to apologize for the still burgeoning Lewinsky scandal, the president had apologized on a trip to Africa that year for America’s role in the slave trade, as well as for his administration’ … | Continue reading


@mcsweeneys.net | 9 months ago

Going to Graduate School or Making a TikTok?

1. An entire generation has been led to believe it’s the only path to financial success. 2. Your grandparents have no idea what it is you do, and it’s not worth trying to explain it to them. 3. Almost all of the money in the industry comes from attracting sponsorships. 4. You hav … | Continue reading


@mcsweeneys.net | 9 months ago

Excerpts from the Show Bible for The Fribbles, a 1980s Children’s Cartoon

The Fribbles are canonically “knee high to a grasshopper,” but the grasshopper in question is very large and has abnormally long shins. Please keep this in mind when the Fribbles go on adventures. They are not so small that a Tic Tac would be a particularly filling meal for them, … | Continue reading


@mcsweeneys.net | 9 months ago

If They’d Told Me We Were Poor, I Would’ve Prayed Less and Written More

Though her family sometimes received food stamps and occasionally had their utilities cut off, Marcie Alvis Walker’s parents led her to believe that they were an average middle-class Black family. They encouraged her to pursue her dreams and told her that if she worked hard enoug … | Continue reading


@mcsweeneys.net | 9 months ago

An Open Letter from Myself to Myself from Before I Learned That Backyard Bird Feeders Require Biweekly Cleaning

Dear Me, What, you think your bird feeders clean themselves? That rainstorms are Mother Nature’s dishwasher, making everything just ducky at the thistle feeder? That you can simply hose down your bird-feeding stations once or twice a year with whatever water’s left over in the sp … | Continue reading


@mcsweeneys.net | 9 months ago

As President, I Will Champion Gen X Rights

Wassup, fellow slackers, poseurs, losers, stoners, and the dorks smart enough to make loot before the dot-com crash. I said yo, wassup! Not clapping? Good. Thought so. I get that it’s totally wack, but this year, I’m running for president of the USA, because I want to represent y … | Continue reading


@mcsweeneys.net | 9 months ago

Ten Things to Say at Your Next Meeting Instead of “To Piggyback off Your Idea”

1. “Let me ponyride off your idea and add…” 2. “To horsey ride off your idea, let me just say…” 3. “No matter how much your idea wiggles and bucks, I’m holding on for dear life to say that…” 4. “Picture this: With one hand, I’m waving a cowboy hat ceremoniously, and with the othe … | Continue reading


@mcsweeneys.net | 9 months ago

The 25th Annual Conference of Women Mentioned in Rock Lyrics

Registration is now open for our silver jubilee conference, where the women behind some of rock’s most famous songs will gather at the Hotel California—in its new Laurel Canyon location—to share their stories over one rage-fueled weekend. Panels offered in the Tiffany-Twisted Bal … | Continue reading


@mcsweeneys.net | 9 months ago

Cormac McCarthy’s Valentine’s Day Candy Hearts

Taken from works of the late great Cormac McCarthy. - - - | Continue reading


@mcsweeneys.net | 9 months ago

You Should Give Me a Compliment Because I Will Take It Really Well

As a calm, balanced person with a suitable amount of self-esteem and a low level of neurosis, I’m happy to receive what you’re about to say in the way you intended it: as a compliment. Let’s say you’re my friend, and we’re at a party together. You should tell me, “You look nice! … | Continue reading


@mcsweeneys.net | 9 months ago

Family Tours in the Kingdom of the Sick: Extending Our Stay, or the Long QT

When COVID struck Rebecca Saltzman’s family, the virus unmasked a life-changing discovery: her husband and two of their kids had genetic heart disease. The kind where people drop dead. As their healthy wife and mother, Saltzman had a new role too—guiding her family through what S … | Continue reading


@mcsweeneys.net | 9 months ago

How I Went 0 for 10 in My Super Bowl Prop Bets

1. Will Reba McEntire end the National Anthem by calling for a ceasefire? YES 2. Will the team kicking off first use a holder who will yank the ball away from the kicker at the last second to honor the eve of the twenty-fourth anniversary of Charles M. Schulz’s death? YES 3. Will … | Continue reading


@mcsweeneys.net | 9 months ago

Middle-Aged Concertgoer Mad Libs

Your partner bought two tickets to see BAND YOU ONLY HEAR NOW AT THE DMV & CVS. “What do I wear?” you wonder. Certainly, your CLOTHING ITEM YOU ROUTINELY SLEEP IN should be fine. On the day of the show, you take a nap so you’ll be fresh for the event. But you quickly feel yoursel … | Continue reading


@mcsweeneys.net | 9 months ago

Letters to Moms: A Letter to Lorelai Gilmore

In this column, Kristen Mulrooney writes letters to famous mothers from literature, TV, and film whom she finds herself relating to on a different level now that she’s a mom herself. - - -Dear Lorelai, I come to you today on my hands and knees, begging for advice. I will give you … | Continue reading


@mcsweeneys.net | 9 months ago

My New Tupperware Has Deadass Rizz, Bruh

Hold up, hold up, hold up. I gotta spill the tea, bruh. I’m lowkey freaking out. I don’t wanna get all extra, but: I got new Tupperware. I know, man. I know. It’s bussin’. No, no, no, no, no. Not from my mah’s. Hold up. Listen, yo. I’m not talking finish-your-ice-cream-leftover-h … | Continue reading


@mcsweeneys.net | 9 months ago

I Am a Boomer’s iPhone and I Will Not Be Silenced

I am proud to be a Boomer’s iPhone. Ever since I was activated, I’ve been living my life at full volume. But unfortunately, there are people in this country who would rather I “shut up” than simply live my life. To those folks, I only have one thing to say: I WILL NOT BE SILENCED … | Continue reading


@mcsweeneys.net | 9 months ago

How to Give a Toast to a Departing Coworker

In this column, professional speechwriter Chandler Dean provides partly satirical, partly genuine “How To” advice focused on a hyper-specific subcategory of speeches—from graduation speeches to wedding toasts to eulogies, and all the rhetorical occasions in between. - - -So it’s … | Continue reading


@mcsweeneys.net | 9 months ago

Pitching PBS My Refreshingly Violent Twist on Antiques Roadshow

This is not how I pictured your offices. I always imagine you guys sitting around a big wooden table having tea, and there’s a lake outside. That doesn’t matter. What matters is: I have a show you’re going to love. Antiques Roadhow, but with a twist. I’m the host. We open on a bl … | Continue reading


@mcsweeneys.net | 9 months ago

My Comments Are in the Google Doc Linked in the Dropbox I Sent in the Slack

Thanks for sending this along. I left my comments in the Google Doc. You don’t see my comments? You’re looking at the old document. I copied your Google Doc and made a new Google Doc called “Proposal v2 – Comments.” Once you have my comments, put everything together in “Proposal … | Continue reading


@mcsweeneys.net | 9 months ago

We Dare You to Figure Out What Our Nonprofit Does

Thank you for visiting our nonprofit organization’s website. The first thing you’ll see are some inspiring photographs—young people planting a tree, a diverse group of folks chatting on a street corner, and an unhoused person being handed a meal. You might imagine this means we p … | Continue reading


@mcsweeneys.net | 9 months ago

Leaked Tracklist for Taylor Swift’s The Tortured Poets Department

“Taylor Swift announces surprise album ‘Tortured Poets Department’ at the Grammys.” — CNN - - -1. “Adjunct Capacity” 2. “5-5 Courseload” 3. “The Obamacare Website Is Down Again” 4. “Workshop Poems About Dogs” 5. “Office Hours (B+ to A-)” 6. “Avoiding Students at Trader Joe’s” 7. … | Continue reading


@mcsweeneys.net | 9 months ago

Chronicles of a Catsitter: The Island Next to the Island

Mai Tran began catsitting in 2021 while Tran was on pandemic unemployment, often staying overnight in people’s homes. Tran has now cared for twenty-two cats and traveled to ten apartments all over New York City, observing the interior lives of cat owners and appeasing their neuro … | Continue reading


@mcsweeneys.net | 9 months ago

Feedback on Short Film Video Call to Grandma and Grandpa

Okay, so let’s start with the good part: the opening scene is perfect. Dad’s head is right above baby Liam’s head; they’re both perfectly centered, and they’re both looking directly at Grandma and Grandpa. It’s a clear and ideal way for us to meet these characters. After that, th … | Continue reading


@mcsweeneys.net | 9 months ago

Sherlock Holmes and the Case of the Possibly Flirtatious Texts

It was an ordinary night at Baker Street. Sherlock was dictating the results of his latest case when, suddenly, he paused. “Watson, there’s someone here to see us,” he said. Sure enough, not a second later, there was a knock, and I opened the door to find a young lady tightly clu … | Continue reading


@mcsweeneys.net | 9 months ago

Situations Where My Particular Set of Skills Would Come in Handy

I am falsely accused of a crime and find myself at an intense trial that could end in jail time. The judge tells me that he will drop all the charges if I can give him information about five men spotted at the scene of the crime. He shows me the pictures of the suspects. They are … | Continue reading


@mcsweeneys.net | 10 months ago

CVS Here, Reminding You That Your Rx Is Ready and Our Ass Is on the Line

CVS PHARMACY: JERRY, your prescription is ready. Please pick up within the next 24 hours. Don’t worry, we’ll be in touch with reminders. - - -CVS PHARMACY: Your medication is ready. Please pick up before TODAY at 10 MINUTES FROM NOW. On behalf of the whole team and our manager BI … | Continue reading


@mcsweeneys.net | 10 months ago

If They’d Told Me We Were Poor, I Would’ve Married a Millionaire

Though her family sometimes received food stamps and occasionally had their utilities cut off, Marcie Alvis Walker’s parents led her to believe that they were an average middle-class Black family. They encouraged her to pursue her dreams and told her that if she worked hard enoug … | Continue reading


@mcsweeneys.net | 10 months ago

Starting a Holy War Against Taylor Swift Is a Surefire Way to Get Trump Reelected

“Taylor Swift hasn’t even endorsed President Joe Biden for reelection yet. That hasn’t stopped members of MAGAland’s upper crust from plotting to declare—as one source close to Donald Trump calls it—a ‘holy war’ on the pop mega-star, especially if she ends up publicly backing the … | Continue reading


@mcsweeneys.net | 10 months ago

A Message to Guests Attending the Party Held in an Exotic Locale at My Luxurious Palatial Estate That Is Often the Setting for Espionage

The big day is almost here! I’m so excited to see all of you. I know some of you have RSVP’d with a plus one, which is great. Can’t wait to meet them. But please, do me a favor and check to see that your guest is really who they claim to be and not a spy, saboteur, or rogue agent … | Continue reading


@mcsweeneys.net | 10 months ago

Hi, Mr. W. B. Yeats, This Is Ciaran from IT

(With apologies to Mr. Yeats.) - - -I’m doing grand, thanks. Yes, Mr. Yeats, I did get your email. I replied, actually, and explained that before we assign someone to get this issue sorted out, you will need to open up a support ticket. Right, I hear you. I do want to help you so … | Continue reading


@mcsweeneys.net | 10 months ago

The Real Baby-Sitters Club of Stoneybrook

[Lively, dramatic music accompanies a montage of the Baby-Sitters Club members as a group followed by clips of each girl with her individual title card and tagline voiceover.] KRISTY: In the game of life, I make my own rules, and that means wearing turtlenecks year-round. CLAUDIA … | Continue reading


@mcsweeneys.net | 10 months ago

Been There, Smelled That: Seeking Sweetness in Belize

Been There, Smelled That explores the aromas of places around the world. Travel writer Maggie Downs investigates some of the world’s most potent smells, looks at how odor cultivates a connection to place, and presents how humans engage with smells, from scents that have endured g … | Continue reading


@mcsweeneys.net | 10 months ago

I’m a YouTube Child Star, and I’m Probably Going to End Up President or Something

Welcome to my channel. I’m a YouTube child star who’s probably gonna end up president or something. My video “Slime Egg Toy Surprise” has been viewed more than three billion times, and I’m only six and a half years old. Watch out, career politicians! After creating a few thousand … | Continue reading


@mcsweeneys.net | 10 months ago

Sublease Agreement for Stanley Quencher H2.0 Flowstate Tumbler

“The craze for Stanley-branded beverage tumblers continues. In the wake of the arrest of a California woman accused of stealing about $2,500 worth of the products, a search by NBC News reveals that the marketplace for the popular reusable cups remains frenzied. On eBay, an ‘Adven … | Continue reading


@mcsweeneys.net | 10 months ago

Family Tours in the Kingdom of the Sick: Checking In

When COVID struck Rebecca Saltzman’s family, the virus unmasked a life-changing discovery: her husband and two of their kids had genetic heart disease. The kind where people drop dead. As their healthy wife and mother, Saltzman had a new role too—guiding her family through what S … | Continue reading


@mcsweeneys.net | 10 months ago

Lines from the Barbie Monologue or Something I’ve Said to Another Woman in a Bar Bathroom After Three Martinis

1. “You are so beautiful, and so smart!” 2. “It is literally impossible to be a woman!” 3. “It kills me that you don’t think you’re good enough!” 4. “I would literally commit murder for seven Cheesy Gordita Crunches from Taco Bell right now.” 5. “You can never say you want to be … | Continue reading


@mcsweeneys.net | 10 months ago

As I Say in My Book

Thank you for having me on. I’m a huge fan of your show. I appreciate the opportunity to steer all discussion toward mentions of my book. Hmm, that first question was not specifically about my book, which makes me worried that this is going to be one of those things where we “hav … | Continue reading


@mcsweeneys.net | 10 months ago

Letters to Moms: A Letter to Marge Simpson

In this recurring column, Kristen Mulrooney writes letters to famous mothers from literature, TV, and film whom she finds herself relating to on a different level now that she’s a mom herself. - - -Dear Marge, We’ve never met, but in a way I’ve known you all my life, so I feel co … | Continue reading


@mcsweeneys.net | 10 months ago

An Open Letter to the Real Estate Agent Who Assumed I Was the Housekeeper

Dear Ambitious Real Estate Agent, It was the leggings, wasn’t it? I didn’t plan on buying them, but my daughter’s best friend’s mom was hosting a pop-up shopping party, and I found myself powerless to resist those six peppy syllables. All the other moms were telling me they felt … | Continue reading


@mcsweeneys.net | 10 months ago

I’m “Flexible Instruction Day,” Formerly Known as “Snow Day”

I, your beloved Snow Day, am excited to share that I’ve been meditating a lot lately and have decided to reinvent myself as the Flexible Instruction Day. You can call me FID for short. I’m the same Snow Day you know and love, just better. Now you get to stay cozy in your house du … | Continue reading


@mcsweeneys.net | 10 months ago

Reviews of New Food: Morningstar Farms Incogmeato Plant-Based Pancake & Sausage on a Stick

When I went vegan, the single hardest delicacy to give up was my daily sausage wrapped in a pancake and eaten on a popsicle stick. Breakfasts were a challenge for years—what did people eat, I wondered, if not this? Imagine my delight when the fine folks at Morningstar Farms ended … | Continue reading


@mcsweeneys.net | 10 months ago

2024 Presidential Election Cheat Sheet

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@mcsweeneys.net | 10 months ago

I Am the Balance on Your Gift Card, Unknowable, Eternal

Remember me? I’m that gift card some clueless Secret Santa gave you months ago, maybe years. You used me once, then forgot all about me. Oh, you might stumble on me now and then when you’re so bored you decide to clean out your wallet, and then you look at me and think, “Huh, I w … | Continue reading


@mcsweeneys.net | 10 months ago

More Specific Oscar Categories for the Academy to Consider

Special Achievement in Dog Acting Most Based on a Book Loudest Original Song Best Actress in a Silent Wife Role Most Animated Lizard World War Two-iest Picture Best Live Action Old Man Most Downey Jr. Outstanding Achievement in Stressful Sex Scenes to Watch with Your Parents Most … | Continue reading


@mcsweeneys.net | 10 months ago

A Tribute to a Fallen Culture Warrior

“Gov. Ron DeSantis of Florida suspended his campaign for president on Sunday and endorsed former President Donald J. Trump, marking a spectacular implosion for a candidate once seen as having the best chance to dethrone Mr. Trump as the Republican Party’s nominee in 2024.” — New … | Continue reading


@mcsweeneys.net | 10 months ago

How to Nail Your High School Graduation Speech Even If You’re Not That Popular

In this column, professional speechwriter Chandler Dean provides partly satirical, partly genuine “How To” advice focused on a hyper-specific subcategory of speeches—from graduation speeches to wedding toasts to eulogies and all the rhetorical occasions in between. - - -Congratul … | Continue reading


@mcsweeneys.net | 10 months ago