Tara Goddard
@drtaragoddard.com
Transportation engineering professor. Road safety, planning, behavior, & culture; wildfire planning and response; inclusive disaster evacuation; ethics of tech in transportation; planning in the Petropyrocene. SLO and Tahoe. She/her.
Pinned
It shouldn't need to be said, but: In addition to being a human on this planet and a US citizen, I'm also an educator and researcher in the fields of transportation and land use, automobility culture and politics, and our petroleum-based systems. Ethically I cannot stay silent, nor should anyone be.
Reposted by Tara Goddard
I can't describe how bad Minneapolis feels right now. My neighbors are pulling kids out of school. The public schools are offering remote learning until 2/12. We are having conversations in our alleys about how to protect ourselves. It feels like a military occupation with a blockade.
The US Department of Agriculture suspends all federal funding to Minnesota, effective immediately.
January 10, 2026 at 4:29 PM
I can't describe how bad Minneapolis feels right now. My neighbors are pulling kids out of school. The public schools are offering remote learning until 2/12. We are having conversations in our alleys about how to protect ourselves. It feels like a military occupation with a blockade.
Reposted by Tara Goddard
Common Sense, published 250 years ago today.
January 10, 2026 at 9:09 PM
Common Sense, published 250 years ago today.
Reposted by Tara Goddard
Would love to see a serious deep dive treatment of the options re: federal taxes.
January 10, 2026 at 9:53 PM
Would love to see a serious deep dive treatment of the options re: federal taxes.
Reposted by Tara Goddard
THE OPEN ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF GRIEF IS A POLITICAL ACT.
One of the things that genuinely shocked me as I read through surveillance logs for the police is how much of their energy and attention is dedicated to shutting down vigils and other ceremonies of remembrance.
Anyway ICE was filmed desecrating Renee Nicole Good’s memorial & doing violence to people who found that distasteful. Might be too soon to say if this falls into some kind of pattern of behavior if you’re the stupidest motherfucker on earth.
January 8, 2026 at 10:55 PM
THE OPEN ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF GRIEF IS A POLITICAL ACT.
The only "chaos" in this scene is the chaotic good alignment of this young man, who is a delight. We are all better off for having people like him out there fighting for basic human rights.
Hannity has a Fox reporter in Minneapolis talk to a random protester walking through the city who goes on to spit bars for 2 minutes
January 10, 2026 at 3:43 AM
The only "chaos" in this scene is the chaotic good alignment of this young man, who is a delight. We are all better off for having people like him out there fighting for basic human rights.
I have a question, and the answer may be very simple or very complicated. This is about the Fourth Amendment.
There are things it is difficult if not impossible to do for road safety, because the law treats your vehicle as protected private space. Setting aside the pros & cons of that, I wondered
There are things it is difficult if not impossible to do for road safety, because the law treats your vehicle as protected private space. Setting aside the pros & cons of that, I wondered
January 10, 2026 at 2:41 AM
I have a question, and the answer may be very simple or very complicated. This is about the Fourth Amendment.
There are things it is difficult if not impossible to do for road safety, because the law treats your vehicle as protected private space. Setting aside the pros & cons of that, I wondered
There are things it is difficult if not impossible to do for road safety, because the law treats your vehicle as protected private space. Setting aside the pros & cons of that, I wondered
In case you too want to help some folks stay warm and fall-free while they shovel sidewalks and fight fascism.
January 10, 2026 at 2:31 AM
In case you too want to help some folks stay warm and fall-free while they shovel sidewalks and fight fascism.
Reposted by Tara Goddard
When Renee Good said "I'm not mad at you" what the ICE goon heard was "I'm not scared of you."
That's what enraged him. The populace wasn't fully terrorized and cowed into submission yet, so he acted to make that happen.
That's what enraged him. The populace wasn't fully terrorized and cowed into submission yet, so he acted to make that happen.
January 9, 2026 at 9:49 PM
When Renee Good said "I'm not mad at you" what the ICE goon heard was "I'm not scared of you."
That's what enraged him. The populace wasn't fully terrorized and cowed into submission yet, so he acted to make that happen.
That's what enraged him. The populace wasn't fully terrorized and cowed into submission yet, so he acted to make that happen.
Maybe you need some rhino play zoomies in your feed. I know I did.
January 9, 2026 at 11:14 PM
Maybe you need some rhino play zoomies in your feed. I know I did.
Americans really aren't ok. Do other countries have such aggressively masculine coffee, bar soap, or breakfast cereal?
January 9, 2026 at 11:10 PM
Americans really aren't ok. Do other countries have such aggressively masculine coffee, bar soap, or breakfast cereal?
Reposted by Tara Goddard
Imagined victimhood is a foundational tenet of fascism. Persecution fantasies permeate conservative politics. Their great oppressors include racial diversity, science, drag brunch, children's literature, public education, N-95 masks, electric cars, medicine, the rule of law, empathy, and Ms. Rachel.
ICE agent Jonathan Ross, who shot and killed an unarmed civilian, flew a don't-tread-on-me Gadsden flag at his house, per the Daily Mail.
January 9, 2026 at 3:45 PM
Imagined victimhood is a foundational tenet of fascism. Persecution fantasies permeate conservative politics. Their great oppressors include racial diversity, science, drag brunch, children's literature, public education, N-95 masks, electric cars, medicine, the rule of law, empathy, and Ms. Rachel.
Reposted by Tara Goddard
Amanda Gorman wrote this poem for Renee Good and that’s it for me tonight.
January 9, 2026 at 2:54 AM
Amanda Gorman wrote this poem for Renee Good and that’s it for me tonight.
Reposted by Tara Goddard
"The imperial need for control is so desperate because it is so unnatural" always got me.
January 9, 2026 at 4:06 AM
"The imperial need for control is so desperate because it is so unnatural" always got me.
I would love to be fully abolitionist and support reparative justice, but I'm struggling to feel that people who show up to harrass other people at a vigil are redeemable. Like, how deep is the rot in your soul?
January 9, 2026 at 4:34 AM
I would love to be fully abolitionist and support reparative justice, but I'm struggling to feel that people who show up to harrass other people at a vigil are redeemable. Like, how deep is the rot in your soul?
This year has unlocked at least one new thing to be afraid about each day
(which I guess is the point)
(which I guess is the point)
An Oregon lawmaker is warning of ICE agents posing as utility workers. NW Natural and Portland General Electric have published guidance in several languages on how to tell if a person is actually one of their employees.
ICE posing as utility workers to detain immigrants, Gresham lawmaker warns
Oregon state Rep. Ricki Ruiz said three people were detained in his district after ICE agents posed as utility workers.
www.opb.org
January 9, 2026 at 4:26 AM
This year has unlocked at least one new thing to be afraid about each day
(which I guess is the point)
(which I guess is the point)
If you took the most popular police procedural TV shows, and totaled up all the times that officers shot into vehicles as drivers tried to drive away, how many times would that be? Like, shooting after fleeing suspects who haven't shot at them. How often is it even mentioned, let alone any review?
January 9, 2026 at 12:14 AM
If you took the most popular police procedural TV shows, and totaled up all the times that officers shot into vehicles as drivers tried to drive away, how many times would that be? Like, shooting after fleeing suspects who haven't shot at them. How often is it even mentioned, let alone any review?
Thanks @nerd4cities.bsky.social for featuring my work in this episode!
I'm happy to talk any time about how car brain plays out when drivers interact with bicyclists (I did my dissertation on it!), and also power, masculinity, status - my favorite topics 😁🤓
I'm happy to talk any time about how car brain plays out when drivers interact with bicyclists (I did my dissertation on it!), and also power, masculinity, status - my favorite topics 😁🤓
January 8, 2026 at 3:22 AM
Thanks @nerd4cities.bsky.social for featuring my work in this episode!
I'm happy to talk any time about how car brain plays out when drivers interact with bicyclists (I did my dissertation on it!), and also power, masculinity, status - my favorite topics 😁🤓
I'm happy to talk any time about how car brain plays out when drivers interact with bicyclists (I did my dissertation on it!), and also power, masculinity, status - my favorite topics 😁🤓
Reposted by Tara Goddard
Right. The point is not “it matters extra because it’s a citizen,” the point is “we either hang together or we will all hang separately.”
i think it is ok to reiterate that the victim as a us citizen. yes, noncitizens are equally entitled to human rights. but also, it's important to illustrate how ice isn't about immigration at all
January 8, 2026 at 1:59 AM
Right. The point is not “it matters extra because it’s a citizen,” the point is “we either hang together or we will all hang separately.”
Listening to these press conferences today has me
January 7, 2026 at 11:23 PM
Listening to these press conferences today has me
Listening to a press conference:
"That's when the shooting happened"
"Then the car drove off"
"Then the car sped up and the crash happened"
Grateful there were apparently no people involved in these horrible events.
Sarcasm because it is less full of expletives than what I actually think.
"That's when the shooting happened"
"Then the car drove off"
"Then the car sped up and the crash happened"
Grateful there were apparently no people involved in these horrible events.
Sarcasm because it is less full of expletives than what I actually think.
January 7, 2026 at 11:14 PM
Listening to a press conference:
"That's when the shooting happened"
"Then the car drove off"
"Then the car sped up and the crash happened"
Grateful there were apparently no people involved in these horrible events.
Sarcasm because it is less full of expletives than what I actually think.
"That's when the shooting happened"
"Then the car drove off"
"Then the car sped up and the crash happened"
Grateful there were apparently no people involved in these horrible events.
Sarcasm because it is less full of expletives than what I actually think.
You can tell that a lot of people recommending "caution" and telling us to assume best intentions are uncomfortable with the potential that otherwise they'll be forced to confront their own complicity in systems of oppression and violence.
January 7, 2026 at 6:21 PM
You can tell that a lot of people recommending "caution" and telling us to assume best intentions are uncomfortable with the potential that otherwise they'll be forced to confront their own complicity in systems of oppression and violence.
Reposted by Tara Goddard
"The agenda is oil, but the motive is what it always is: because they can. If no one stops them, they will do it again: to Cuba, to Iran, to Greenland, to outer space...Eyes wide shut, bank accounts wide open."
My newsletter is back! I wrote about a road trip through Arkansas, Oklahoma, and Texas — and what it tells us about America’s imperial ambitions.
sarahkendzior.substack.com/p/the-invaders
sarahkendzior.substack.com/p/the-invaders
The Invaders
Thieves of American empire are gunning for your future.
sarahkendzior.substack.com
January 7, 2026 at 6:13 PM
"The agenda is oil, but the motive is what it always is: because they can. If no one stops them, they will do it again: to Cuba, to Iran, to Greenland, to outer space...Eyes wide shut, bank accounts wide open."
Reposted by Tara Goddard
There is no legal justification, whatsoever, to use military force against a NATO ally like Greenland.
If any military member participates in this without congressional authorization, they are following illegal orders.
If any military member participates in this without congressional authorization, they are following illegal orders.
January 7, 2026 at 5:28 PM
There is no legal justification, whatsoever, to use military force against a NATO ally like Greenland.
If any military member participates in this without congressional authorization, they are following illegal orders.
If any military member participates in this without congressional authorization, they are following illegal orders.
Reposted by Tara Goddard
Friends, I hope you’ll share this widely. The @jcblibrary.bsky.social is hiring 2 3-yr research associates for collaborative work on religions and freedoms in the early Americas. Info is here and I’m happy to take questions offline: brown.wd5.myworkdayjobs.com/en-US/staff-...
January 7, 2026 at 2:50 PM
Friends, I hope you’ll share this widely. The @jcblibrary.bsky.social is hiring 2 3-yr research associates for collaborative work on religions and freedoms in the early Americas. Info is here and I’m happy to take questions offline: brown.wd5.myworkdayjobs.com/en-US/staff-...
It isn't much of a stretch to think of them escalating in Mpls specifically, hoping for reactions like after George Floyd, and thus justifying massive military takeover of multiple US cities. This isn't conspiracy talk. This is educated hypothesis by anyone who pays attention to cities and power.
"My public safety team is working to gather information on an ICE related shooting this morning" near Portland Avenue and 34th Street in Minneapolis, says Minnesota Governor Tim Walz.
"We will share information as we learn more. In the meantime, I ask folks to remain calm."
"We will share information as we learn more. In the meantime, I ask folks to remain calm."
January 7, 2026 at 5:20 PM
It isn't much of a stretch to think of them escalating in Mpls specifically, hoping for reactions like after George Floyd, and thus justifying massive military takeover of multiple US cities. This isn't conspiracy talk. This is educated hypothesis by anyone who pays attention to cities and power.