Leah Sottile
@leahsottile
Independent journalist | Co-founder @thewesternedge.bsky.social Books: Blazing Eye Sees All, When The Moon Turns To Blood. Podcasts: Hush, Burn Wild, Two Minutes Past Nine, Bundyville. www.leahsottile.com
Today in public records requests: this cop was having a great time back in the 80s
This Wednesday at @powells.bsky.social, I’ll be in conversation with Matthew Wolfe talking all about Fires in the Night, his new book on the Earth Liberation Front. Come ask him questions!
On this week’s Notes from the Edge, we talk about how media started changing around 2016. The rise of live streamers has made old fart print/radio journalists like us have to show our stupid faces on camera. Listen, subscribe, support journalism? www.thewesternedge.media/p/return-to-...
It’s the Ammon Bundy podcast. The man, the myth, the cowboy hat is the topic of this week’s Notes from the Edge. What political relevance does this notorious non-rancher have in today's political environment? Subscribe to @thewesternedge.bsky.social and listen!
2016: the Patriot movement has taken over a wildlife refuge and the international media has come to cover it. 2026: the Patriot movement has taken over the justice system to put ICE protesters on trial and media shrugs www.thewesternedge.media/p/a-return-t...
Got on the waitlist at the library for the audiobook of Yesteryear, and I’m proud to say I’m 1800th in line, so I’ll be ready to talk to everyone about it in the year 2036. Stay tuned!
Portland struggles with class issues in ways that can be hard to explain to people who haven't lived here. Comments like this one, said during the foie gras hearing this week, underscore exactly what I mean.
Well here’s some news: Blazing Eye Sees All won the Oregon Book Award for nonfiction last night. A win for journalism, a win for never giving up. bookshop.org/p/books/blaz...
On my first trip to the Midwest, midway through Terry Tempest Williams‘ talk about her definition of “glorians,” a tornado siren goes off. Glorian?
Thing I did NOT have on my 2025 bingo card: friends around the country sending me photos during their holiday travels of BLAZING EYE SEES ALL on the Bestsellers wall at Hudson Booksellers in airports across the country. Believe me when I say I am floored by this!
Why was 18-year-old Sarah Zuber found dead 400 feet from her front door? And how is it possible, six years later, that no one knows what happened to her? Hush, Season 2, "Love Thy Neighbor" — my investigation with @ryanjhaas.bsky.social — starts today. podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/e...
Hey Montana friends, this is next week! Bozeman - Mon 10/6 at the Country Bookshelf w/ @betsygainesquammen.bsky.social Helena - Tues 10/7 at Montana Book Co. w/ @kemc.bsky.social Missoula - Wed 10/8 at Fact & Fiction w/ Lee & Jule Banville Hamilton - Thurs 10/9 at Chapter One w/ Russ Lawrence
Oregon Republican Christine Drazan post on Facebook suggests she seems to be in favor of military being sent to Portland.
Such an amazing honor to speak about Blazing Eye Sees All at the Library of Congress National Book Festival today, where I was in conversation with Fred Wherry and David Baron, author of The Martians.
The enraging part is that the narrative of Portland chaos (not real!) will be repeated in big and small ways on all sides of the political spectrum. Just last month it was repeated in a NYT restaurant review of all places - that a 1 block protest a mile away from five years ago is still relevant.
Lewis County, Washington commissioner Sean Swope embodies a far-right mentality that has long been at play in Western Washington. His ideas came up while I was reporting on how extremist ideas have long found a home in Centralia and the surrounding areas. www.hcn.org/issues/56-6/...
Can you believe the newspaper budgets of 1996??? The Spokesman-Review sent Bill Morlin all the way out to Elohim City to get a feel for the place.
Why you should listen to reporters like @alexdugganreports.bsky.social: "...Wess Roley might have expressed interest in becoming a firefighter before Sunday’s shootings, Nelson said investigators are now probing a tip that he pursued the career more proactively." www.spokesman.com/stories/2025...
If you've read my book, Blazing Eye Sees All, you could probably sense my fascination with the I AM Activity and its founders, OG grifters Guy and Edna Ballard. Today I received a huge package of some of the couple's own documents and materials, and I'm freaking out with happiness. Here's a taste.
Cletus Safari alert! This time it's the The Washington Post who comes west. In Spokane to cover Jess Walter's new book, which we are all very excited about, the author writes this paragraph ... which as far as I'm concerned, save for Hoopfest, describes all of America?
People who generalize that Idaho and its residents are all hate-mongers have never seen the blocks of Pride flags leading up to the capitol in Boise on a sunny Saturday.
Hello good people of Boise, I will be doing two readings this weekend in your fine city: Sat June 7 (tomorrow) I'll read from Blazing Eye Sees All @ Common Ground; Sun June 8 I'll be taking part in the "Speculations" themed Campfire Stories @ the Modern Hotel. Come talk to me about your crystals.
What I am describing in this Substack is — what I have now learned from reading @annamerlan.bsky.social's brilliant piece for @flaminghydra.com today — called a Cletus Safari. I am laughing so hard, and I will never be the same.
Blazing Eye Sees All is #1 in "occult cults and demonism" on Amazon! (Turns up Ozzy in the headphones)