Binyamin Appelbaum
@bcappelbaum.bsky.social
I write about the economy for the opinion pages of The New York Times. Verification: https://go.bsky.app/8WhdCDa
The president recently shared a photo of a White House bathroom that he had renovated by covering everything in marble. What Americans need is a president who is more focused on the cost of toilet paper. It’s up more than 3 percent so far this year.
Opinion | Trump Promised Lower Prices. His Policies Are Raising Them.
www.nytimes.com
November 21, 2025 at 12:39 PM
The president recently shared a photo of a White House bathroom that he had renovated by covering everything in marble. What Americans need is a president who is more focused on the cost of toilet paper. It’s up more than 3 percent so far this year.
1 and 4 sound awesome?
November 5, 2025 at 6:29 PM
1 and 4 sound awesome?
The Court is once again upholding Article VIII of the Constitution, which clearly states that the president is allowed to do whatever he wants except break the economy.
Betting market odds for SCOTUS letting Trump keep his tariffs have tanked
November 5, 2025 at 6:20 PM
The Court is once again upholding Article VIII of the Constitution, which clearly states that the president is allowed to do whatever he wants except break the economy.
November 5, 2025 at 4:11 AM
It's a great job Donald. It looks exactly like bathrooms used to look in Lincoln's day.
Maybe take a few months off the job and focus on restoring the rest of the White House? It would be a real public service.
Maybe take a few months off the job and focus on restoring the rest of the White House? It would be a real public service.
October 31, 2025 at 8:14 PM
It's a great job Donald. It looks exactly like bathrooms used to look in Lincoln's day.
Maybe take a few months off the job and focus on restoring the rest of the White House? It would be a real public service.
Maybe take a few months off the job and focus on restoring the rest of the White House? It would be a real public service.
Of course land votes. That's the whole problem.
October 28, 2025 at 8:12 PM
Of course land votes. That's the whole problem.
They say AI is going to replace human writers but I would like to see AI try to top this:
The White House's East Wing construction rubble was taken to East Potomac Golf Course. It was reported that the rubble will be used to create mounds on the golf course.
Read more: bit.ly/4oa2tXA
Read more: bit.ly/4oa2tXA
October 24, 2025 at 7:25 PM
They say AI is going to replace human writers but I would like to see AI try to top this:
Crazy that the building did that to itself
October 22, 2025 at 7:55 PM
Crazy that the building did that to itself
This does raise some interesting questions about the utility of the subsidies...
"The $37,990 “standard” version is about 15 per cent cheaper than the previous base offering, and has a driving range that is 10% less than the premium version. The model also has fewer features, lacking the auto steer function, second-row touchscreen and heated seats."
www.ft.com/content/43d9...
www.ft.com/content/43d9...
Tesla launches cheaper Model Y following end of US EV subsidies
New $37,990 ‘standard’ version is 15% less expensive than previous base offering
www.ft.com
October 9, 2025 at 1:08 PM
This does raise some interesting questions about the utility of the subsidies...
President Trump is seeking to deprive millions of Americans of their health insurance. Senate Democrats are refusing to acquiesce.
Opinion | The Real Stakes of the Shutdown
www.nytimes.com
October 1, 2025 at 10:51 AM
President Trump is seeking to deprive millions of Americans of their health insurance. Senate Democrats are refusing to acquiesce.
Shutdowns tend to be brief because Americans are soon reminded that the government does important things. But the end of a shutdown doesn’t mean that everything springs back to normal. Some of the damage endures.
www.nytimes.com/2025/09/29/o...
www.nytimes.com/2025/09/29/o...
Opinion | Why Is Your Flight Always Delayed? Blame Government Shutdowns.
www.nytimes.com
September 29, 2025 at 7:41 PM
Shutdowns tend to be brief because Americans are soon reminded that the government does important things. But the end of a shutdown doesn’t mean that everything springs back to normal. Some of the damage endures.
www.nytimes.com/2025/09/29/o...
www.nytimes.com/2025/09/29/o...
The owners of local TV stations were a conservative force in American politics and society even back when there were a lot of them. But allowing them to consolidate has certainly made it easier for them to flex those muscles.
After Trump’s FCC chair, demanded ABC take action against against Kimmel for his comments on Kirk, Nexstar, the largest operator of ABC affiliates announced it would pull Kimmel from its stations
Then ABC said it was taking Kimmel off the air
Nexstar is seeking FCC approval for a $6.2B merger
Then ABC said it was taking Kimmel off the air
Nexstar is seeking FCC approval for a $6.2B merger
Nexstar Media Group, Inc. Enters into Definitive Agreement To Acquire TEGNA Inc. for $6.2 Billion in Accretive Transaction | Nexstar Media Group, Inc.
Enhances Nexstar’s Position as a Leading Local Media Company Preserves High-Quality Local Journalism and Diversity of Opinion Strengthens Ability to
www.nexstar.tv
September 18, 2025 at 3:28 AM
The owners of local TV stations were a conservative force in American politics and society even back when there were a lot of them. But allowing them to consolidate has certainly made it easier for them to flex those muscles.
Meanwhile, in a parallel universe…
Bolsonaro Sentenced to 27 Years in Prison for Plotting Coup in Brazil
www.nytimes.com
September 12, 2025 at 12:40 AM
Meanwhile, in a parallel universe…
A sign of the folly of Mr. Trump’s trade policy is that it has inspired no apparent envy.
Opinion | Trump Thought He Was Leading on Trade. No One Is Following.
www.nytimes.com
September 5, 2025 at 11:11 AM
A sign of the folly of Mr. Trump’s trade policy is that it has inspired no apparent envy.
Reposted by Binyamin Appelbaum
I went to lunch yesterday and there were two S.C. national guardsmen at the next table who had clearly been at the restaurant for a while when I got there, and who were still chilling when I left. And I hope they spent the whole day inside enjoying the air conditioning. Much safer for all of us.
National Guardsmen now stationed outside our DC building confirmed that the only thing they can do if they witness a crime is call 911. The have no more authority than my office mate to intervene. Despite the handcuffs, they can't make arrests. They are very expensive mall cops.
September 3, 2025 at 7:33 PM
I went to lunch yesterday and there were two S.C. national guardsmen at the next table who had clearly been at the restaurant for a while when I got there, and who were still chilling when I left. And I hope they spent the whole day inside enjoying the air conditioning. Much safer for all of us.
Tech companies like to tell stories in which government rarely appears except as an outside force threatening to break the beautiful things they’ve created.
The story that doesn’t get told is how their successes have relied on the government's interventions.
www.nytimes.com/2025/09/02/o...
The story that doesn’t get told is how their successes have relied on the government's interventions.
www.nytimes.com/2025/09/02/o...
Opinion | The Government Just Walloped Google. That’s Good Business.
www.nytimes.com
September 2, 2025 at 9:44 PM
Tech companies like to tell stories in which government rarely appears except as an outside force threatening to break the beautiful things they’ve created.
The story that doesn’t get told is how their successes have relied on the government's interventions.
www.nytimes.com/2025/09/02/o...
The story that doesn’t get told is how their successes have relied on the government's interventions.
www.nytimes.com/2025/09/02/o...
Reposted by Binyamin Appelbaum
The mental health benefits of not knowing any history right now must be massive. Moving through your day with total equanimity. What happens next? Who knows? Maybe something good
August 26, 2025 at 7:51 PM
The mental health benefits of not knowing any history right now must be massive. Moving through your day with total equanimity. What happens next? Who knows? Maybe something good
They should arm the National Guard troops with flyswatters. Put them to work doing something actually useful. The mosquitos in DC are out of control.
August 26, 2025 at 7:35 PM
They should arm the National Guard troops with flyswatters. Put them to work doing something actually useful. The mosquitos in DC are out of control.
The thing I've always wondered about is, say you're a young person in DC interested in law enforcement. How do you decide which of the several dozen flavors police you want to be?
DC has a dizzying array of federal police forces you’ve never heard of:
Bureau of Engraving and Printing Police
Government Printing Office Police
US Mint Police
Armed Forces Retirement Home Police
Library of Congress Police, right across the street from the Supreme Court Police
Bureau of Engraving and Printing Police
Government Printing Office Police
US Mint Police
Armed Forces Retirement Home Police
Library of Congress Police, right across the street from the Supreme Court Police
In which I learned that the National Zoo has its own police force.
storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
August 26, 2025 at 7:11 PM
The thing I've always wondered about is, say you're a young person in DC interested in law enforcement. How do you decide which of the several dozen flavors police you want to be?
President Trump’s attempt to fire the Federal Reserve governor Lisa Cook is a grab for power in defiance of the nation’s laws, and if it succeeds, it will be to the detriment of the nation’s interests.
www.nytimes.com/2025/08/26/o...
www.nytimes.com/2025/08/26/o...
Opinion | Trump Is Trying to End Fed Independence
www.nytimes.com
August 26, 2025 at 6:12 PM
President Trump’s attempt to fire the Federal Reserve governor Lisa Cook is a grab for power in defiance of the nation’s laws, and if it succeeds, it will be to the detriment of the nation’s interests.
www.nytimes.com/2025/08/26/o...
www.nytimes.com/2025/08/26/o...
Reposted by Binyamin Appelbaum
What you're asking for is literally the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History, which you would know if you had ever gone inside
White House official Lindsey Halligan: "While slavery is obviously a horrible aspect of our nation's history, you can't really talk about slavery honestly unless you also talk about hope and progress ... we need to stop focusing so much on the lack of progress."
August 21, 2025 at 2:12 PM
What you're asking for is literally the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History, which you would know if you had ever gone inside
As a DC resident I do feel that the city has been overrun by "violent gangs and bloodthirsty criminals" and I would like them to leave the White House and stop destroying the federal government.
August 11, 2025 at 10:05 PM
As a DC resident I do feel that the city has been overrun by "violent gangs and bloodthirsty criminals" and I would like them to leave the White House and stop destroying the federal government.
I'm fascinated by this story. Did she actually hurt anyone or was she doing the job just fine? If you've successfully treated 4,500 people, are you actually engaged in a fraud?
A woman working at a Florida hospital drew blood, administered medications and started IV lines, treating about 4,500 people over seven months. After she was offered a promotion, the hospital discovered that she had forged her documents to work there. The woman was arrested on Tuesday.
Woman Working at Hospital Treated 4,500 Patients Without License, Police Say
The 29-year-old forged her documents to work at a Florida hospital, and the discrepancy was noticed only after she was offered a promotion, according to an investigation.
nyti.ms
August 7, 2025 at 8:28 PM
I'm fascinated by this story. Did she actually hurt anyone or was she doing the job just fine? If you've successfully treated 4,500 people, are you actually engaged in a fraud?
The Trump administration is engaged in an increasingly wide-ranging effort to erase data or to prevent the collection of new data that contradicts its political agenda.
www.nytimes.com/2025/08/05/o...
www.nytimes.com/2025/08/05/o...
Opinion | America Will Suffer From Trump’s Assault on Facts
www.nytimes.com
August 5, 2025 at 7:17 PM
The Trump administration is engaged in an increasingly wide-ranging effort to erase data or to prevent the collection of new data that contradicts its political agenda.
www.nytimes.com/2025/08/05/o...
www.nytimes.com/2025/08/05/o...