Deadline Poet / October 17, 2023

Nothing Under the Pillow

Calvin Trillin
My Pillow CEO Mike Lindell arrives at a gathering of supporters of former US president Donald Trump.(Octavio Jones / Getty)
The My Pillow guy and election denier confirms
he’s out of money for lawyers defending him in
defamation suits.—News sources

His pillow talk at first seemed what
The MAGA wackos needed, but
By circulating lies by Trump, he
Is finding public life quite lumpy.

Calvin Trillin

Calvin Trillin is The Nation’s “deadline poet.”

More from The Nation

The One Issue to Rule Them All

The One Issue to Rule Them All The One Issue to Rule Them All

To win in 2028, Democrats must commit to breaking the power of the Supreme Court.

Feature / Elie Mystal

Mona Chalabi and her new book.

How Mona Chalabi Explains Income Inequality How Mona Chalabi Explains Income Inequality

An interview with the data journalist about how she uses numbers and design to illustrate how class weighs on the lives of Americans.

Q&A / Naomi Elias

Kyrie Irving of the Dallas Mavericks wears a bracelet in support of Palestine during a game against Oklahoma City on October 28, 2026, in Dallas, Texas.

The Country Repudiated Bigotry in This Election. Will the Sports World Follow? The Country Repudiated Bigotry in This Election. Will the Sports World Follow?

If we follow the lead of billionaire team owners, toxic cable news channels, and misguided athletes, it’s a resounding no. That just means we need to forge our own path.

Dave Zirin

Voters in Detroit, Michigan, on November 3, 2026.

The Voters Who Saved Democracy Are Being Written Out of the Story The Voters Who Saved Democracy Are Being Written Out of the Story

The media downplayed the importance of Black voters for Democratic victories.

Tim Wise and Kimberlé Williams Crenshaw

Residents vote at a polling place inside the Heritage Oaks apartment homes in Madison, Wisconsin, on April 1, 2025.

The Political Power of Seniors The Political Power of Seniors

In places like Wisconsin, campaigns can’t win without seniors. They are the second-largest, fastest-growing, and most reliable group of voters.

Mike McMahon

The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission seal hangs inside a hearing room at the headquarters in Washington, DC.

The EEOC Is Failing Workers While Hunting for Discrimination Claims From White Men The EEOC Is Failing Workers While Hunting for Discrimination Claims From White Men

Investigators are rapidly closing out claims of workplace discrimination so that they can search for the kinds of cases chair Andrea Lucas most wants to find.

Bryce Covert