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m. gessen
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m. gessen
@mashagessen
Columnist, The New York Times Author: Surviving Autocracy; The Future Is History; The Man Without a Face speaking inquiries: lyceumagency.com they/them
New York, USA
penguinrandomhouse.com/authors/9953/m…
Joined September 2008
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  • user avatar
    m. gessen
    @mashagessen
    Feb 29, 2020
    My accidental experiment with writing articles critical of @PeteButtigieg and @BernieSanders in 2 consecutive weeks: It's Pete's supporters who have flooded my inbox with obscenities, demands that I go back to Russia (and learn English!), and threats to vote for Trump if not Pete
  • user avatar
    m. gessen
    @mashagessen
    Jun 23, 2020
    I avoided the topic of pronouns for a while, but when my new book was coming out, it seemed I had to make a decision about self-presentation. I am trans*, nonbinary, so I asked to be referred to as "they." It's been an instructive few weeks.
  • user avatar
    m. gessen
    @mashagessen
    Dec 14, 2023
    You'd think, with all the attention to the Arendt Prize debacle, I'd be inundated with media calls/texts. You'd be wrong. Not one German journalist has reached out for comment. One US journalist did. All reporting has happened with no input/reaction from me. Inaccuracies pile up
    1.4M
  • user avatar
    m. gessen
    @mashagessen
    Dec 18, 2023
    I got a prize and gave a talk. It didn't go as planned, and this wasn't the talk I'd prepared. But I'm glad I got to say this.
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    Hannah Arendt Prize: "Comparison is the way we know the world"
    From zeit.de
    941K
  • user avatar
    m. gessen
    @mashagessen
    Jun 23, 2020
    Replying to @mashagessen
    ...singular "they," and @MerriamWebster can use the singular "they," then so can the rest of you guardians of house style and good taste
  • user avatar
    m. gessen
    @mashagessen
    Dec 9, 2023
    In which I argue that we place the Holocaust outside of history and refuse to learn from it. In the Shadow of the Holocaust
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    In the Shadow of the Holocaust
    From newyorker.com
    839K
  • user avatar
    m. gessen
    @mashagessen
    Nov 4, 2020
    No one should be broadcasting Trump's announcement live. He's staging a campaign event, illegally, in the White House. He has signaled his intention to lie about the election. The event also violates local public-health regulations and national recommendations. Take it off air!
  • user avatar
    m. gessen
    @mashagessen
    Jun 23, 2020
    Replying to @mashagessen
    Which made me realize: it is possible to believe that you respect an author's work while explicitly disrespecting them - to think that what I write about autocracy is serious but what I say about myself is folly. That's not how respect works.
  • user avatar
    m. gessen
    @mashagessen
    Nov 1, 2020
    in which don't forget. If We Are Going to Recover from Trumpism, We Must Deny Charity to Trump’s Henchmen newyorker.com/news/our-colum… via @NewYorker
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    If We Are Going to Recover from Trumpism, We Must Deny Charity to Trump’s Henchmen
    From newyorker.com
  • user avatar
    m. gessen
    @mashagessen
    Dec 14, 2023
    Update: have now had more requests for comment than I can handle (but I'm trying). Remaining business: please get my pronouns right. @haaretzcom I'm looking at you. They/them
    399K
  • user avatar
    m. gessen
    @mashagessen
    May 23, 2024
    Some news
    user avatar
    NYTimes Communications
    @NYTimesPR
    May 23, 2024
    We’re thrilled to announce @mashagessen is joining @nytopinion as a columnist. nytco.com/press/masha-ge…
    328K
  • user avatar
    m. gessen
    @mashagessen
    Sep 20, 2020
    I've made it. Thank you, @ratemyskyperoom
    user avatar
    Room Rater
    @ratemyskyperoom
    Sep 20, 2020
    Great angled bookwall. Ladder. Globe. Fighting fascism. 10/10 @mashagessen
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  • user avatar
    m. gessen
    @mashagessen
    Feb 17, 2024
    In which it was as predictable as it is unfathomable. The Death of Alexey Navalny, Putin’s Most Formidable Opponent
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    The Death of Alexei Navalny, Putin’s Most Formidable Opponent
    From newyorker.com
    328K
  • user avatar
    m. gessen
    @mashagessen
    Jun 23, 2020
    Replying to @mashagessen
    "...pronouns correct much of the time! My biggest remaining fear has been how will they find a place (hopefully one that is safe) for themselves in this world. Seeing how you have been accepted and the successes you have achieved, has given me hope." If this woman can use the...

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