Michael McLean
@mclean.bsky.social
Ideal city: ⚛️ nuclear-powered, 🏙️ dense housing, 💰 affordable, 🚇 transit. Aka Chicago.
Posting about those things here, and trying to make them better IRL.
Posting about those things here, and trying to make them better IRL.
Pinned
Michael McLean
@mclean.bsky.social
· Nov 11
Here are curated lists that you can follow if you are interested in these topics
🔌💡 Energy bsky.app/profile/did:...
🏙️ Urbanism bsky.app/profile/did:...
🏛️ Politics bsky.app/profile/did:...
💵 Economics bsky.app/profile/did:...
✶✶✶✶ Chicago bsky.app/profile/did:...
🔌💡 Energy bsky.app/profile/did:...
🏙️ Urbanism bsky.app/profile/did:...
🏛️ Politics bsky.app/profile/did:...
💵 Economics bsky.app/profile/did:...
✶✶✶✶ Chicago bsky.app/profile/did:...
The age of PDF is over
The age of markdown has come
The age of markdown has come
January 21, 2026 at 7:28 PM
The age of PDF is over
The age of markdown has come
The age of markdown has come
Reposted by Michael McLean
The LinkedIn AI generated list of the top 10 fastest growing jobs in Chicago is funny
FOOTBALL COACH: what are they?
FOOTBALL COACH: what are they?
January 21, 2026 at 4:39 PM
The LinkedIn AI generated list of the top 10 fastest growing jobs in Chicago is funny
FOOTBALL COACH: what are they?
FOOTBALL COACH: what are they?
Japan restarts the worlds largest nuclear plant, offsetting lots of natural gas imports
Climate folks will celebrate, right?
www.reuters.com/sustainabili...
Climate folks will celebrate, right?
www.reuters.com/sustainabili...
Japan's TEPCO restarts nuclear reactor first time since Fukushima
Tokyo Electric Power (TEPCO) on Wednesday restarted a reactor at the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa nuclear power plant after inspections were completed, its first such move since the Fukushima disaster in 2011.
www.reuters.com
January 21, 2026 at 4:22 PM
Japan restarts the worlds largest nuclear plant, offsetting lots of natural gas imports
Climate folks will celebrate, right?
www.reuters.com/sustainabili...
Climate folks will celebrate, right?
www.reuters.com/sustainabili...
Reposted by Michael McLean
Holy shit the Sun-Times profiled my trip to the Twin Cities with @bibliogrrl.bsky.social!
Shout out to @mostlybree.kitrocha.com and @courtneymilan.com and @hankscorpio.bsky.social and @dansinker.com and all the incredible folks printing whistles and spreading the word.
Shout out to @mostlybree.kitrocha.com and @courtneymilan.com and @hankscorpio.bsky.social and @dansinker.com and all the incredible folks printing whistles and spreading the word.
Chicagoans send 150,000 whistles to cities besieged by federal immigration agents
On Friday, Emily Hilleren and Lauren Vega ferried a care package containing whistles and instructional zines to Minneapolis, the focus of the latest federal immigration action.
chicago.suntimes.com
January 21, 2026 at 3:22 PM
Holy shit the Sun-Times profiled my trip to the Twin Cities with @bibliogrrl.bsky.social!
Shout out to @mostlybree.kitrocha.com and @courtneymilan.com and @hankscorpio.bsky.social and @dansinker.com and all the incredible folks printing whistles and spreading the word.
Shout out to @mostlybree.kitrocha.com and @courtneymilan.com and @hankscorpio.bsky.social and @dansinker.com and all the incredible folks printing whistles and spreading the word.
Reposted by Michael McLean
An independent toy store has shown more courage in this moment than major corporations.
Mischief Toy Store in St. Paul has until Wednesday to turn over employment records to the Department of Homeland Security as part of a surprise audit launched Friday, just hours after one of the shop's owners criticized ICE agents during a television interview. bit.ly/4r5AFol
January 21, 2026 at 2:03 PM
An independent toy store has shown more courage in this moment than major corporations.
Reposted by Michael McLean
We don't actually need cars on the diagonal streets.
My favorite solution to this intersection: Delete Green Lake Way from Stone to 46th. It causes more problems for every road user than it solves. Yes, even car drivers. Then restore the street grid and using the reclaimed public land for housing.
January 21, 2026 at 5:29 AM
We don't actually need cars on the diagonal streets.
Reposted by Michael McLean
Correction to my piece on 153 Dems joining MAGAs to pass Trump's appropriations bill.
I mentioned Democrat Mike Quigley voted YEA, but missed that Matt @conroyforcongress.bsky.social is his primary challenger.
I have updated my article to include Matt Conroy.
www.qasimrashid.com/p/153-democr...
I mentioned Democrat Mike Quigley voted YEA, but missed that Matt @conroyforcongress.bsky.social is his primary challenger.
I have updated my article to include Matt Conroy.
www.qasimrashid.com/p/153-democr...
153 Democrats Vote Yes to Pass H.R. 7006
The truth behind this devastating bill to advance Trump's fascist agenda
www.qasimrashid.com
January 21, 2026 at 4:16 AM
Correction to my piece on 153 Dems joining MAGAs to pass Trump's appropriations bill.
I mentioned Democrat Mike Quigley voted YEA, but missed that Matt @conroyforcongress.bsky.social is his primary challenger.
I have updated my article to include Matt Conroy.
www.qasimrashid.com/p/153-democr...
I mentioned Democrat Mike Quigley voted YEA, but missed that Matt @conroyforcongress.bsky.social is his primary challenger.
I have updated my article to include Matt Conroy.
www.qasimrashid.com/p/153-democr...
Reposted by Michael McLean
This is a more accurate metric of impending bad weather than the Waffle House Index
Senator Ted Cruz (R-Texas) was spotted earlier today, January 20, 2026, on a plane heading to Laguna Beach as the state of Texas braces for a rare ice threat and arctic cold front.
January 21, 2026 at 11:13 AM
This is a more accurate metric of impending bad weather than the Waffle House Index
Reposted by Michael McLean
Live view of the Air Force One pilot.
January 21, 2026 at 4:11 AM
Live view of the Air Force One pilot.
Reposted by Michael McLean
Siri play I Still Believe by Mariah Carey bsky.app/profile/bubb...
January 21, 2026 at 4:41 AM
Siri play I Still Believe by Mariah Carey bsky.app/profile/bubb...
Reposted by Michael McLean
Looks like a substorm is happening now. Look at the tall red pillars on the Maine cam. These could probably be seen down to North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Arkansas, Missouri, etc.
go.theauroraguy.com/webcams
go.theauroraguy.com/webcams
January 21, 2026 at 2:16 AM
Looks like a substorm is happening now. Look at the tall red pillars on the Maine cam. These could probably be seen down to North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Arkansas, Missouri, etc.
go.theauroraguy.com/webcams
go.theauroraguy.com/webcams
This would knock out power for tens of millions of people, for week*s*.
This is not a joke or exaggeration.
This is not a joke or exaggeration.
January 21, 2026 at 1:12 AM
This would knock out power for tens of millions of people, for week*s*.
This is not a joke or exaggeration.
This is not a joke or exaggeration.
Reposted by Michael McLean
MORE: DOJ revealed these "corrections" to the record in a long-running lawsuit against DOGE's access to Social Security systems. The corrections describe broader access — and potential dissemination — than previously described in court. www.politico.com/news/2026/01...
January 20, 2026 at 6:54 PM
MORE: DOJ revealed these "corrections" to the record in a long-running lawsuit against DOGE's access to Social Security systems. The corrections describe broader access — and potential dissemination — than previously described in court. www.politico.com/news/2026/01...
Reposted by Michael McLean
In a remarkable court filing, DOJ also revealed that DOGE employees traded Social Security data on an unapproved third party server — Cloudflare — and may have sent private SSA info to a top DOGE adviser. www.politico.com/news/2026/01...
January 20, 2026 at 6:53 PM
In a remarkable court filing, DOJ also revealed that DOGE employees traded Social Security data on an unapproved third party server — Cloudflare — and may have sent private SSA info to a top DOGE adviser. www.politico.com/news/2026/01...
Reposted by Michael McLean
NEWS: The Social Security Administration has referred two DOGE employees for Hatch Act violations after discovering contacts with a political group seeking SSA data to overturn election results. www.politico.com/news/2026/01...
January 20, 2026 at 6:53 PM
NEWS: The Social Security Administration has referred two DOGE employees for Hatch Act violations after discovering contacts with a political group seeking SSA data to overturn election results. www.politico.com/news/2026/01...
The closer we get to Saturday, the crazier these models become
As much as I like the snow, I am very worried about the ice storm in the south.
If you live in the south, it’s time to get prepared
As much as I like the snow, I am very worried about the ice storm in the south.
If you live in the south, it’s time to get prepared
January 21, 2026 at 12:58 AM
The closer we get to Saturday, the crazier these models become
As much as I like the snow, I am very worried about the ice storm in the south.
If you live in the south, it’s time to get prepared
As much as I like the snow, I am very worried about the ice storm in the south.
If you live in the south, it’s time to get prepared
Fool me twice, Russia...
January 21, 2026 at 12:54 AM
Fool me twice, Russia...
Reposted by Michael McLean
Pillars seen in Alabama 2 min ago on camera! G4 / SEVERE storm warning issued by NOAA SWPC!
January 21, 2026 at 12:13 AM
Pillars seen in Alabama 2 min ago on camera! G4 / SEVERE storm warning issued by NOAA SWPC!
GO OUTSIDE LOOK UP
substorm seen as far south as the carolinas!!!!
substorm seen as far south as the carolinas!!!!
MASSIVE substorm still ongoing. This is the CURRENT view over Bay Port, Michigan! Pants on, get outside and look north!
go.theauroraguy.com/webcams
go.theauroraguy.com/webcams
January 21, 2026 at 12:10 AM
GO OUTSIDE LOOK UP
substorm seen as far south as the carolinas!!!!
substorm seen as far south as the carolinas!!!!
Reposted by Michael McLean
Something we talk about a lot is that parents don't want to be chauffeurs for their children. It's unfortunate that tech companies are filling the void instead of safe, reliable transit. And this is only a solution for people who can afford a $20 - $40 fare.
Bay Area parents are relying on robotaxis to transport their unaccompanied children. This practice breaks the rules imposed by Waymo, but parents have found they’re unlikely to get caught.
Parents are letting teens ride in Waymos without an adult. That poses a dilemma for the company
Bay Area parents are relying on robotaxis to transport their unaccompanied children. This practice breaks the rules imposed by Waymo, but parents have found they’re unlikely to get caught.
bit.ly
January 20, 2026 at 11:38 PM
Something we talk about a lot is that parents don't want to be chauffeurs for their children. It's unfortunate that tech companies are filling the void instead of safe, reliable transit. And this is only a solution for people who can afford a $20 - $40 fare.
Reposted by Michael McLean
MASSIVE substorm still ongoing. This is the CURRENT view over Bay Port, Michigan! Pants on, get outside and look north!
go.theauroraguy.com/webcams
go.theauroraguy.com/webcams
January 20, 2026 at 11:34 PM
MASSIVE substorm still ongoing. This is the CURRENT view over Bay Port, Michigan! Pants on, get outside and look north!
go.theauroraguy.com/webcams
go.theauroraguy.com/webcams
Reposted by Michael McLean
SUBSTORM HAPPENING NOW! IF YOU HAVE CLEAR AND DARK SKIES, GET OUT AND LOOK NORTH!
January 20, 2026 at 11:15 PM
SUBSTORM HAPPENING NOW! IF YOU HAVE CLEAR AND DARK SKIES, GET OUT AND LOOK NORTH!