Jake Blumgart
@jblumgart.bsky.social
Reporter for the Philadelphia Inquirer https://www.inquirer.com/author/blumgart_jake/
Reposted by Jake Blumgart
I wrote about the fake account blowup on X this weekend. A genuine post-truth nightmare and proof that these companies have polluted their platforms so thoroughly and traded reality for profit that they've undermined the very idea of what the internet is supposed to be.
That MAGA Account Might Be a Troll From Pakistan
How X blew up its own platform with a new location feature
www.theatlantic.com
November 24, 2025 at 4:33 PM
I wrote about the fake account blowup on X this weekend. A genuine post-truth nightmare and proof that these companies have polluted their platforms so thoroughly and traded reality for profit that they've undermined the very idea of what the internet is supposed to be.
Come to this Pen and Pencil event I'm organizing with novelist Liz Moore in conversation with the great Dave Davies! It's the Thursday after Thanksgiving. Sign up on our janky website here: penandpencil.org/content.aspx...
November 25, 2025 at 2:32 AM
Come to this Pen and Pencil event I'm organizing with novelist Liz Moore in conversation with the great Dave Davies! It's the Thursday after Thanksgiving. Sign up on our janky website here: penandpencil.org/content.aspx...
Reposted by Jake Blumgart
“.. This is X in 2025: Potentially fake accounts crying at other potentially fake accounts that they aren’t real, all while refusing to acknowledge that they themselves aren’t who they say they are — a Russian nesting doll of bullshit.”
@cwarzel.bsky.social
www.theatlantic.com/technology/2...
@cwarzel.bsky.social
www.theatlantic.com/technology/2...
November 25, 2025 at 1:21 AM
“.. This is X in 2025: Potentially fake accounts crying at other potentially fake accounts that they aren’t real, all while refusing to acknowledge that they themselves aren’t who they say they are — a Russian nesting doll of bullshit.”
@cwarzel.bsky.social
www.theatlantic.com/technology/2...
@cwarzel.bsky.social
www.theatlantic.com/technology/2...
Reposted by Jake Blumgart
Two years after Vermont passed a huge investment in childcare, more programs opened than closed for the first time since officials started keeping track www.sevendaysvt.com/news/educati...
Vermont’s Bold Investment in Childcare Is Largely Paying Off
Passed in 2023, Act 76 has increased state funding to help create more than 1,700 new childcare slots and enroll more than 4,000 additional kids in the state’s financial-assistance program.
www.sevendaysvt.com
November 24, 2025 at 9:15 PM
Two years after Vermont passed a huge investment in childcare, more programs opened than closed for the first time since officials started keeping track www.sevendaysvt.com/news/educati...
Reposted by Jake Blumgart
NEW: Gov. Josh Shapiro is sending $220 million to SEPTA to help repair fire-prone Silverliner IV Regional Rail cars and a damaged overhead power system in the trolley tunnel.
With the new capital funds, SEPTA will be able to restore Regional Rail to its normal capacity within a few weeks.
With the new capital funds, SEPTA will be able to restore Regional Rail to its normal capacity within a few weeks.
Gov. Shapiro allocated $220 million to SEPTA to get Regional Rail back on track
With the new capital funds, SEPTA will be able to restore Regional Rail to its normal capacity within a few weeks.
www.inquirer.com
November 24, 2025 at 4:36 PM
NEW: Gov. Josh Shapiro is sending $220 million to SEPTA to help repair fire-prone Silverliner IV Regional Rail cars and a damaged overhead power system in the trolley tunnel.
With the new capital funds, SEPTA will be able to restore Regional Rail to its normal capacity within a few weeks.
With the new capital funds, SEPTA will be able to restore Regional Rail to its normal capacity within a few weeks.
Feds suspect arson: "Two days before an apartment complex once hailed as a shining example of Philadelphia’s urban renewal went up in flames, its owner, embattled city landlord Phil Pulley, transferred the vacant property to a New York investment firm."
www.inquirer.com/news/phil-pu...
www.inquirer.com/news/phil-pu...
Landlord Phil Pulley transferred ownership of West Philly apartments days before suspected arson, records show
Property records show the notorious landlord signed a deed transfer two days before the June 2025 fire. The new owners are now demolishing the building.
www.inquirer.com
November 24, 2025 at 5:42 PM
Feds suspect arson: "Two days before an apartment complex once hailed as a shining example of Philadelphia’s urban renewal went up in flames, its owner, embattled city landlord Phil Pulley, transferred the vacant property to a New York investment firm."
www.inquirer.com/news/phil-pu...
www.inquirer.com/news/phil-pu...
This could be a problem for Mayor Parker's housing initiative www.inquirer.com/politics/phi...
HUD to cut funding for permanent housing for people who are homeless
Trump's plan is designed to "restore accountability" by cutting funds for permanent housing by two-thirds. Philadelphia received $47 million in housing aid from the federal government last year.
www.inquirer.com
November 24, 2025 at 3:50 PM
This could be a problem for Mayor Parker's housing initiative www.inquirer.com/politics/phi...
“In 2025, America built fewer homes per 100,000 people than it did in 2005, 1995, 1985 or 1975.”
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/23/o...
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/23/o...
Opinion | America’s Housing Crisis, in One Chart
www.nytimes.com
November 23, 2025 at 1:54 PM
“In 2025, America built fewer homes per 100,000 people than it did in 2005, 1995, 1985 or 1975.”
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/23/o...
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/23/o...
What a headline www.nytimes.com/2025/11/23/u...
Patel Under Scrutiny for Use of SWAT Teams to Protect His Girlfriend
www.nytimes.com
November 23, 2025 at 1:48 PM
What a headline www.nytimes.com/2025/11/23/u...
"Costs for goods and services are 25% above where they were in 2020. Even though the inflation rate is below its recent 2022 high, certain essentials like coffee, ground beef and car repairs are up markedly this year."
www.wsj.com/personal-fin...
www.wsj.com/personal-fin...
The Middle Class Is Buckling Under Almost Five Years of Persistent Inflation
Workers are growing tired of an economy in which everything seems to get more expensive.
www.wsj.com
November 22, 2025 at 8:21 PM
"Costs for goods and services are 25% above where they were in 2020. Even though the inflation rate is below its recent 2022 high, certain essentials like coffee, ground beef and car repairs are up markedly this year."
www.wsj.com/personal-fin...
www.wsj.com/personal-fin...
Fetterman: "Don’t assume that uncharismatic people have hidden depths...One can be dull and inept." www.ft.com/content/68ee...
The Labour government will deteriorate from here
Starmer and Reeves are unfit and their likeliest usurpers are worse
www.ft.com
November 22, 2025 at 8:17 PM
Fetterman: "Don’t assume that uncharismatic people have hidden depths...One can be dull and inept." www.ft.com/content/68ee...
Reposted by Jake Blumgart
Philadelphia developers may soon benefit from a 20-year property tax abatement to convert large, underutilized properties into residences.
20-year tax abatement to help turn schools into homes may soon be legal in Philly
Buried in the state budget is a provision allowing for the new abatement. It is now up to City Council and Mayor Parker to craft city legislation to support it.
www.inquirer.com
November 21, 2025 at 9:01 PM
Philadelphia developers may soon benefit from a 20-year property tax abatement to convert large, underutilized properties into residences.
Reposted by Jake Blumgart
The Philadelphia Art Museum has named Daniel H. Weiss as its new CEO and director. His resume includes the Metropolitan Museum of Art and local colleges.
Philadelphia Art Museum names a new director and CEO
Daniel H. Weiss was president of Haverford College and, for eight years, leader of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
www.inquirer.com
November 21, 2025 at 4:25 PM
The Philadelphia Art Museum has named Daniel H. Weiss as its new CEO and director. His resume includes the Metropolitan Museum of Art and local colleges.
Reposted by Jake Blumgart
SEPTA's Zero Fare program could end next year. Advocates are pushing to save it.
Free SEPTA fares for low-income riders could end next year. Advocates are pushing to save it.
The Zero Fare program needs permanent funding, argue advocates and some elected officials.
www.inquirer.com
November 21, 2025 at 7:36 PM
SEPTA's Zero Fare program could end next year. Advocates are pushing to save it.
Really interesting analysis www.semafor.com/article/11/1...
View: What Donald Trump likes about Zohran Mamdani
It suits both men to cast themselves as enemies of a corrupt system.
www.semafor.com
November 22, 2025 at 6:23 PM
Really interesting analysis www.semafor.com/article/11/1...
Reposted by Jake Blumgart
Bit of a buried lede here that Mayor Parker reveals that she is “most excited” to give tax breaks to developers to convert closed public schools into apartments, just as the school district whose board she appointed is getting ready to close a bunch of public schools.
Mayor Parker successfully lobbied Harrisburg to allow the city to create a 20 year tax abatement for the conversion, and demolition, of underutilized buildings to residential uses. She says an affordability component will be part of her bill next year: www.inquirer.com/real-estate/...
20-year tax abatement to help turn schools into homes may soon be legal in Philly
Buried in the state budget is a provision allowing for the new abatement. It is now up to City Council and Mayor Parker to craft city legislation to support it.
www.inquirer.com
November 22, 2025 at 3:46 PM
Bit of a buried lede here that Mayor Parker reveals that she is “most excited” to give tax breaks to developers to convert closed public schools into apartments, just as the school district whose board she appointed is getting ready to close a bunch of public schools.
Reposted by Jake Blumgart
How Illinois Made a ‘Transformational' Investment in Transit www.governing.com/transportati...
How Illinois Made a ‘Transformational' Investment in Transit
The Illinois legislature passed a bill with $1.5 billion to support transit in the Chicago area and statewide. It was in the works for years.
www.governing.com
November 13, 2025 at 5:36 PM
How Illinois Made a ‘Transformational' Investment in Transit www.governing.com/transportati...
Mayor Parker successfully lobbied Harrisburg to allow the city to create a 20 year tax abatement for the conversion, and demolition, of underutilized buildings to residential uses. She says an affordability component will be part of her bill next year: www.inquirer.com/real-estate/...
20-year tax abatement to help turn schools into homes may soon be legal in Philly
Buried in the state budget is a provision allowing for the new abatement. It is now up to City Council and Mayor Parker to craft city legislation to support it.
www.inquirer.com
November 21, 2025 at 8:55 PM
Mayor Parker successfully lobbied Harrisburg to allow the city to create a 20 year tax abatement for the conversion, and demolition, of underutilized buildings to residential uses. She says an affordability component will be part of her bill next year: www.inquirer.com/real-estate/...
Reposted by Jake Blumgart
The US is losing blue-collar jobs for the first time since the pandemic—year-on-year job losses have hit 59k as manufacturing industries lose jobs at a rapid pace while growth in construction & transportation has nearly zeroed out
November 20, 2025 at 1:43 PM
The US is losing blue-collar jobs for the first time since the pandemic—year-on-year job losses have hit 59k as manufacturing industries lose jobs at a rapid pace while growth in construction & transportation has nearly zeroed out
City Councilmember Mike Driscoll cited my report yesterday when he condemned PHA's layoff of building trades union members, and said he is encouraging the Housing Committee to look into it: www.inquirer.com/real-estate/...
Philly Housing Authority plans to lay off almost 300 workers in 2026
The layoffs come as the authority is pursuing an ambitious expansion plan.
www.inquirer.com
November 21, 2025 at 3:41 PM
City Councilmember Mike Driscoll cited my report yesterday when he condemned PHA's layoff of building trades union members, and said he is encouraging the Housing Committee to look into it: www.inquirer.com/real-estate/...
Reposted by Jake Blumgart
Yes. I have done this.
If you use GMail, AI (Gemini) was turned on yesterday by default and now scans all of your content for machine learning. To turn off, go to Settings>General and scroll down. Uncheck the box for "Smart features."
There's other "Smart" add-ons as well, but that's the one that reads your content.
There's other "Smart" add-ons as well, but that's the one that reads your content.
November 20, 2025 at 8:40 PM
Yes. I have done this.
"While shootings citywide are down about 55% compared to three years ago, they have fallen even more in Kensington." www.inquirer.com/crime/a/kens...
Kensington now has fewer shootings and people on the streets. But the open-air drug market persists.
Nearly two years into the city's efforts to shut down Kensington's open-air drug market, some of the neighborhood's most chronic challenges are slowly improving. But is the drug crisis too entrenched?
www.inquirer.com
November 20, 2025 at 4:38 PM
"While shootings citywide are down about 55% compared to three years ago, they have fallen even more in Kensington." www.inquirer.com/crime/a/kens...
Zoning legislation to enable an affordable housing complex in West Philly was successfully defended in court yesterday, as the latest in a series of lawsuits by an oppositional neighbor went down to defeat. www.inquirer.com/real-estate/...
West Philly affordable housing project could finally advance, almost 6 years after it was proposed
A Cedar Park neighbor of a planned 104-unit affordable housing development lost a lawsuit that challenged the city's zoning change to facilitate the project.
www.inquirer.com
November 20, 2025 at 4:36 PM
Zoning legislation to enable an affordable housing complex in West Philly was successfully defended in court yesterday, as the latest in a series of lawsuits by an oppositional neighbor went down to defeat. www.inquirer.com/real-estate/...