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Become a Patron!It’s that Atavistian time of the month and this month’s story is heavy and chronicles what is likely, probably, a genocide in Tigray, Ethiopia … the hospital was overrun with victims. The medical staff risked everything to treat the wounded and believe the world ignored a genocide.
Drew Philp (@drewphilp.bsky.social) is the journalist behind “There Will Be No Mercy,” and we talk about how he pitched this as ER only in an Ethiopian hospital as that population endured unthinkable indignities. And this isn’t a historical piece. This happened within the last five years. Yeah. It’s a courageous piece of reporting, but even more courageous of the people at the heart of the story who literally are risking their lives to have this story told.
In this episode, we hear from Jonah Ogles, who hooked up his good microphone, to get his side of the table. This story is a bit different for the Atavist in that they don’t identify as a news organization and this story has a current events hook, but still has the propulsion of what you come to expect from an atavist story. If you don’t subscribe to the atavist, let Drew’s story be the one that makes you plunk down $25 a year, that’s $2.08 a story.
Drew is an author and journalist. He wrote the book A $500 House in Detroit: Rebuilding an Abandoned Home and an American City. His work has appeared in The Guardian, BuzzFeed, and he delivered a TED Talk with more than a million views. He also works as a copy writer, a screenwriter, a critic, a games writer, which really rounds out the ol’ portfolio. We get into this kaleidoscopic means of income that helps subsidize the kind of journalism that lights him up. You can find him at drewphilp.com and drewphilp.bsky.social on Bluesky, cuz that’s where we’re hanging out now, I guess. [in a whisper: Brendanomeara.bsky.social.] OK, here’s my conversation with Drew Philp…
No parting shot this week since this episode ran pretty long. Plus I got a flu shot so I feel like shit.
