James Goodwin
@jamesgoodwin.bsky.social
I'm Policy Director at @progressivereform.bsky.social where I specialize in federal regulatory policy. When not analyzing federal regulatory policy, I enjoy silent film, soccer, and running.
"Oh! I'm sorry! This is abuse."
"Oh! I'm sorry! This is abuse."
Pinned
Inside Project 2025 - Boston Review
Backed by the Heritage Foundation, the initiative seeks to undermine longstanding safeguards against abuses of executive power.
www.bostonreview.net
Now that we're staring down the barrel of Project 2025, I guess it's a good time to re-up this essay I wrote a few months ago exploring its plans for an authoritarian administrative state www.bostonreview.net/articles/ins...
Reposted by James Goodwin
this feels like a Roger Bannister four minute mile moment for "reactionary centrism". a level of reactionary centrism doctors (of political science) assured us was impossible but that training, dedication, ingenuity, and the Indomitable human spirit were determined to overcome
Physically incapable of analyzing politics outside of this insipid frame.
www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2026/0...
www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2026/0...
February 14, 2026 at 2:20 PM
this feels like a Roger Bannister four minute mile moment for "reactionary centrism". a level of reactionary centrism doctors (of political science) assured us was impossible but that training, dedication, ingenuity, and the Indomitable human spirit were determined to overcome
You remember when Obama said he would use a "pen and a phone" to *implement laws Congress had passed* and the press lost its collective shit
NEW: Hundreds of judges around the country have ruled more than 4,400 times since October that President Donald Trump’s administration is detaining immigrants unlawfully, a Reuters review of court records found.
The government keeps doing it nonetheless.
www.reuters.com/legal/govern...
The government keeps doing it nonetheless.
www.reuters.com/legal/govern...
February 14, 2026 at 1:19 PM
You remember when Obama said he would use a "pen and a phone" to *implement laws Congress had passed* and the press lost its collective shit
Love is love. Today and every day.
February 14, 2026 at 1:15 PM
Love is love. Today and every day.
Valentine's Day is a genuine holiday totally divorced from the cynical impulses of capitalism reflecting spontaneous demonstrations of affection in all its glorious forms among people acting with complete independent agency
February 14, 2026 at 1:07 PM
Valentine's Day is a genuine holiday totally divorced from the cynical impulses of capitalism reflecting spontaneous demonstrations of affection in all its glorious forms among people acting with complete independent agency
Reposted by James Goodwin
Remembering the 6-time Oscar nominated Hollywood stalwart and hugely talented THELMA RITTER - born 124yrs ago today.
February 14, 2026 at 10:53 AM
Remembering the 6-time Oscar nominated Hollywood stalwart and hugely talented THELMA RITTER - born 124yrs ago today.
Reposted by James Goodwin
The $38.3 billion they are going to spend for interment camps could fund the annual budget of NASA, the EPA, and all clean energy R&D at the Department of Energy—combined.
Breaking news: ICE expects to spend $38.3 billion on its plan to acquire warehouses across the U.S. and retrofit them into immigrant detention centers that can hold tens of thousands of people, according to agency documents.
ICE plans to spend $38.3 billion turning warehouses into detention centers
ICE plans to spend $38.3 billion converting warehouses into detention centers, according to planning documents, more than the annual budgets of 22 states.
www.washingtonpost.com
February 14, 2026 at 3:14 AM
The $38.3 billion they are going to spend for interment camps could fund the annual budget of NASA, the EPA, and all clean energy R&D at the Department of Energy—combined.
These are concentration camps. Why would anyone call these something other than concentration camps?
Breaking news: ICE expects to spend $38.3 billion on its plan to acquire warehouses across the U.S. and retrofit them into immigrant detention centers that can hold tens of thousands of people, according to agency documents.
ICE plans to spend $38.3 billion turning warehouses into detention centers
ICE plans to spend $38.3 billion converting warehouses into detention centers, according to planning documents, more than the annual budgets of 22 states.
www.washingtonpost.com
February 14, 2026 at 3:14 AM
These are concentration camps. Why would anyone call these something other than concentration camps?
Post an image you can hear (get off my lawn)
February 14, 2026 at 3:11 AM
Post an image you can hear (get off my lawn)
"The automated cost-benefit analysis draws from public sources to the greatest extent possible. If it cannot find a source, it makes an educated guess...." So rigorous! And I'm sure totally reliable!
February 14, 2026 at 3:09 AM
"The automated cost-benefit analysis draws from public sources to the greatest extent possible. If it cannot find a source, it makes an educated guess...." So rigorous! And I'm sure totally reliable!
AI-generated cost-benefit analyses for existing rules? Jesus, what a horrible idea. If it's so important, then do it for real with real human beings.
February 14, 2026 at 3:07 AM
AI-generated cost-benefit analyses for existing rules? Jesus, what a horrible idea. If it's so important, then do it for real with real human beings.
Holy shit, this is embarrassing. I can't believe he wrote this and then made it publicly available with his name attached.
February 14, 2026 at 2:58 AM
Holy shit, this is embarrassing. I can't believe he wrote this and then made it publicly available with his name attached.
"[W]ith respect to [WV] v. EPA, if the algorithm discerns that a regulation is using an obscure or vague provision of a statute, it could then... assess if it implements a politically controversial program based on a scan of the web or social media." Yes, we need more conservatives in the academy.
February 14, 2026 at 2:56 AM
"[W]ith respect to [WV] v. EPA, if the algorithm discerns that a regulation is using an obscure or vague provision of a statute, it could then... assess if it implements a politically controversial program based on a scan of the web or social media." Yes, we need more conservatives in the academy.
"[A]n algorithm could potentially be used to scan the C.F.R. to identify regulatory provisions that may be in tension with the U.S. Supreme Court’s holdings in West Virginia v. EPA, Loper Bright, or other seminal cases." What a clown.
February 14, 2026 at 2:53 AM
"[A]n algorithm could potentially be used to scan the C.F.R. to identify regulatory provisions that may be in tension with the U.S. Supreme Court’s holdings in West Virginia v. EPA, Loper Bright, or other seminal cases." What a clown.
Yes, but could AI be used to identify existing regulations that ought to be strengthened to better fulfill the authorizing statute's protective mission? You bone head. www.yalejreg.com/nc/ai-empowe...
AI-Empowered Regulatory Reform: Spreading the Virginia Model, by Reeve T. Bull - Yale Journal on Regulation
As these federal efforts get underway, agencies in D.C. can draw on the successes of their counterparts in Richmond. Though federal regulations and state regulations differ in certain important respec...
www.yalejreg.com
February 14, 2026 at 2:48 AM
Yes, but could AI be used to identify existing regulations that ought to be strengthened to better fulfill the authorizing statute's protective mission? You bone head. www.yalejreg.com/nc/ai-empowe...
Reposted by James Goodwin
don’t let the deregulation fool ya… drilled.ghost.io/yes-climate-...
Yes, Climate Still Matters. Here's How It Connects to Every Other Crisis in the World Today.
Lately I've been experiencing something I suspect a lot of other climate reporters—and really anyone who works on climate—has also been feeling: a big ol' case of the "who the fuck cares?" with a heap...
drilled.ghost.io
February 14, 2026 at 2:44 AM
don’t let the deregulation fool ya… drilled.ghost.io/yes-climate-...
Consistent with Project 2025’s goal of weakening critical social institutions by reprogramming them based on racial hierarchy. And consistent with its authoritarian vision, it involved an assist from a member of the oligarchy.
The @washingtonpost.com layoffs disproportionately affected union members of color, per data from the @postguild.bsky.social.
50% of Hispanic/Latino guild members, 45% of Black members, and 43% of Asian members were laid off, compared to 37% of white members.
www.niemanlab.org/2026/02/wash...
50% of Hispanic/Latino guild members, 45% of Black members, and 43% of Asian members were laid off, compared to 37% of white members.
www.niemanlab.org/2026/02/wash...
Washington Post layoffs disproportionately affected union members of color, preliminary Guild data shows
"We cannot ignore what this means for equity, representation, and the future of this organization."
www.niemanlab.org
February 14, 2026 at 2:32 AM
Consistent with Project 2025’s goal of weakening critical social institutions by reprogramming them based on racial hierarchy. And consistent with its authoritarian vision, it involved an assist from a member of the oligarchy.
Reposted by James Goodwin
DOGE allegedly used ChatGPT to identify 1,400 NEH grants it said were DEI. Grants were terminated April 2025, according to a court filing. E.g.
Film: 1873 Colfax massacre
Film: first female pilots flying for U.S. military in WWII
Film: “Untold Story of Jewish Women Slave Labor in the Holocaust"
Film: 1873 Colfax massacre
Film: first female pilots flying for U.S. military in WWII
Film: “Untold Story of Jewish Women Slave Labor in the Holocaust"
ChatGPT cuts in action
www.politico.com
February 13, 2026 at 11:49 PM
DOGE allegedly used ChatGPT to identify 1,400 NEH grants it said were DEI. Grants were terminated April 2025, according to a court filing. E.g.
Film: 1873 Colfax massacre
Film: first female pilots flying for U.S. military in WWII
Film: “Untold Story of Jewish Women Slave Labor in the Holocaust"
Film: 1873 Colfax massacre
Film: first female pilots flying for U.S. military in WWII
Film: “Untold Story of Jewish Women Slave Labor in the Holocaust"
Now, we all know that the Supreme Court has rejected any statutory interpretation argument against the Clean Air Act's definition of pollutant covering greenhouse gases. What this final preamble presupposes is maybe it didn't?
February 14, 2026 at 2:03 AM
Now, we all know that the Supreme Court has rejected any statutory interpretation argument against the Clean Air Act's definition of pollutant covering greenhouse gases. What this final preamble presupposes is maybe it didn't?
“'While we cannot quantify the impacts on employment due to the uncertainty, removing significant costs on companies allows for increased capital that can be utilized to hire more employees and/or increase wages,' the agency said." Sure, sure. Because that's exactly what will happen.
February 14, 2026 at 1:55 AM
“'While we cannot quantify the impacts on employment due to the uncertainty, removing significant costs on companies allows for increased capital that can be utilized to hire more employees and/or increase wages,' the agency said." Sure, sure. Because that's exactly what will happen.
Reposted by James Goodwin
nobody posted the clip anywhere so i went and dug the whole episode up
February 13, 2026 at 5:22 AM
nobody posted the clip anywhere so i went and dug the whole episode up
Note industry demands that kind of evidence for health impacts from pollution reductions, which science often delivers. And even then, it's never good enough. Just a complete double standard.
February 14, 2026 at 1:44 AM
Note industry demands that kind of evidence for health impacts from pollution reductions, which science often delivers. And even then, it's never good enough. Just a complete double standard.
Has there ever been a single study demonstrating with reasonable reliability a causal connection between deregulation of an industry and meaningful job growth in that industry? I know there's the talking point and the so-called modeling. But I want the actual causal chain.
February 14, 2026 at 1:44 AM
Has there ever been a single study demonstrating with reasonable reliability a causal connection between deregulation of an industry and meaningful job growth in that industry? I know there's the talking point and the so-called modeling. But I want the actual causal chain.
"Overall, that means the $1.3 trillion in savings is swamped by almost $1.5 trillion in costs — and that's without considering either climate costs or public health impacts from increased emissions over the coming decades...." www.eenews.net/articles/5-h...
5 highlights in EPA’s big climate rollback
Here’s what's in the rule released by EPA near midnight.
www.eenews.net
February 14, 2026 at 1:28 AM
"Overall, that means the $1.3 trillion in savings is swamped by almost $1.5 trillion in costs — and that's without considering either climate costs or public health impacts from increased emissions over the coming decades...." www.eenews.net/articles/5-h...
Think of all the fracking operations we could set up in there
February 14, 2026 at 1:22 AM
Think of all the fracking operations we could set up in there