What is Crisis Palace?

This is the newsletter of me, Tate Williams, a journalist, editor, and opinion writer. Every issue consists of a short essay, often about climate change, but more broadly about how to be a person in the world right now and how we can build a better future while everything around is burning to the ground.

Issues often include news analysis, book reviews, interviews, etc., followed by recommended links and media. I am told that sometimes it is funny.

What topics do you write about? 

The things I write about and the things I am interested in, which are roughly the same, include: 

Climate Change. Especially cities, transportation, and climate justice.  

Philanthropy and nonprofits. I worked in progressive nonprofits and fundraising for years and am interested in the influence this sector has on the world, and whether it can shift power.

Activism and Social Movements. The different levers we use to advance change and their outcomes and consequences.

Media. Comic books, television, philosophy, novels, nonfiction, genre fiction. 

And I guess that’s mostly it.

What does Crisis Palace mean? 

Crisis Palace means actually nothing. It was the result I got from a twitter meme where the letters in my name determined what my Sonic the Hedgehog world would be called. I have a hard time naming things. It’s become oddly fitting, though.

Who are you?

I’m a freelance writer, my work has appeared in a bunch of places but I am currently senior editor of news and features at Inside Philanthropy. But I’m interested in all kinds of stuff and my work has appeared in the Atlantic, Curbed, Boston Magazine, and more.