Zak Taylor
@mzak.bsky.social
Prof. of public policy at Georgia Tech. My posts don't represent my university or USG. They are random reads & vents that I find interesting or provocative.
All Pies Matter!
Just FYI:
My most controversial tweet ever, from Thanksgiving three years ago, back when Twitter was Twitter and Bluesky didn’t exist.
_____________
Pies ranked.
1. Cherry (if not too sweet).
2. Mixed berry.
3. Peach/blackberry.
4. Peach.
5. Apple.
…
9. Key lime.
…
99. Pecan.
…
999. Pumpkin.
My most controversial tweet ever, from Thanksgiving three years ago, back when Twitter was Twitter and Bluesky didn’t exist.
_____________
Pies ranked.
1. Cherry (if not too sweet).
2. Mixed berry.
3. Peach/blackberry.
4. Peach.
5. Apple.
…
9. Key lime.
…
99. Pecan.
…
999. Pumpkin.
November 25, 2025 at 11:33 PM
All Pies Matter!
This is the textbook definition of socialism:
$10 Billion and Counting: Trump Administration Snaps Up Stakes in Private Firms www.nytimes.com/2025/11/25/u...
$10 Billion and Counting: Trump Administration Snaps Up Stakes in Private Firms www.nytimes.com/2025/11/25/u...
$10 Billion and Counting: Trump Administration Snaps Up Stakes in Private Firms
www.nytimes.com
November 25, 2025 at 11:05 AM
This is the textbook definition of socialism:
$10 Billion and Counting: Trump Administration Snaps Up Stakes in Private Firms www.nytimes.com/2025/11/25/u...
$10 Billion and Counting: Trump Administration Snaps Up Stakes in Private Firms www.nytimes.com/2025/11/25/u...
DOGE disbanded yesterday www.reuters.com/world/us/dog...
November 24, 2025 at 4:18 PM
DOGE disbanded yesterday www.reuters.com/world/us/dog...
Reposted by Zak Taylor
UPDATE: Americans who use
YouTube 84%
Facebook 71%
Instagram 50%
TikTok 37%
WhatsApp 32%
Reddit 26%
Snapchat 25%
X (Twitter) 21%
Threads 8%
Bluesky 4%
Truth Social 3%
Full Pew Research Center report: https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/2025/11/20/americans-social-media-use-2025/
YouTube 84%
Facebook 71%
Instagram 50%
TikTok 37%
WhatsApp 32%
Reddit 26%
Snapchat 25%
X (Twitter) 21%
Threads 8%
Bluesky 4%
Truth Social 3%
Full Pew Research Center report: https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/2025/11/20/americans-social-media-use-2025/
November 23, 2025 at 9:55 PM
UPDATE: Americans who use
YouTube 84%
Facebook 71%
Instagram 50%
TikTok 37%
WhatsApp 32%
Reddit 26%
Snapchat 25%
X (Twitter) 21%
Threads 8%
Bluesky 4%
Truth Social 3%
Full Pew Research Center report: https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/2025/11/20/americans-social-media-use-2025/
YouTube 84%
Facebook 71%
Instagram 50%
TikTok 37%
WhatsApp 32%
Reddit 26%
Snapchat 25%
X (Twitter) 21%
Threads 8%
Bluesky 4%
Truth Social 3%
Full Pew Research Center report: https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/2025/11/20/americans-social-media-use-2025/
Reposted by Zak Taylor
ChatGPT is smart, but no match for the most creative humans, study indicates. Mathematically constrained to a level equivalent to the boundary between amateur and professional human creativity. onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...
“The Cat Sat on the …?” Why Generative AI Has Limited Creativity
Since the introduction of Generative AI several years ago, there has been much debate regarding the capacity of this technology for creativity. This paper applies the standard definition of creativit....
onlinelibrary.wiley.com
November 22, 2025 at 6:50 AM
ChatGPT is smart, but no match for the most creative humans, study indicates. Mathematically constrained to a level equivalent to the boundary between amateur and professional human creativity. onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...
Withdraw it? Triple the price!
A company is reportedly withdrawing its $99 AI teddy bear from the market after researchers found it told a tester where to get knives, pills and matches when asked.
It also spoke graphically about sex positions and sexual kinks.
It also spoke graphically about sex positions and sexual kinks.
AI toys can cajole kids or be made to discuss sex, watchdog groups warn
A company is reportedly withdrawing its AI teddy bear from the market after researchers found it told a tester where to get knives, pills and matches when asked.
www.washingtonpost.com
November 22, 2025 at 12:41 AM
Withdraw it? Triple the price!
Reposted by Zak Taylor
We spent a year investigating billionaires for @washingtonpost.com.
We found: the wealthiest 100 Americans gave $1.1 billion to influence the 2024 elections — 140x more than they did in 2000. And almost all of that giving boosted Republicans.
washingtonpost.com/politics/int...
We found: the wealthiest 100 Americans gave $1.1 billion to influence the 2024 elections — 140x more than they did in 2000. And almost all of that giving boosted Republicans.
washingtonpost.com/politics/int...
November 21, 2025 at 2:56 PM
We spent a year investigating billionaires for @washingtonpost.com.
We found: the wealthiest 100 Americans gave $1.1 billion to influence the 2024 elections — 140x more than they did in 2000. And almost all of that giving boosted Republicans.
washingtonpost.com/politics/int...
We found: the wealthiest 100 Americans gave $1.1 billion to influence the 2024 elections — 140x more than they did in 2000. And almost all of that giving boosted Republicans.
washingtonpost.com/politics/int...
Reposted by Zak Taylor
We asked 2,500 Americans how they really feel about billionaires, including an independent named Richard Rich. New with @bethreinhard.bsky.social and @emgusk.bsky.social www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202...
We asked 2,500 Americans how they really feel about billionaires
Campaign donations from the country’s richest are soaring. But only 12 percent of respondents say billionaires have a positive impact on society.
www.washingtonpost.com
November 21, 2025 at 3:17 PM
We asked 2,500 Americans how they really feel about billionaires, including an independent named Richard Rich. New with @bethreinhard.bsky.social and @emgusk.bsky.social www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202...
Reposted by Zak Taylor
Our data, analyzed by @washingtonpost.com, shows giving from the 100 wealthiest Americans has risen 140x since 2000. In 2024 they accounted for 7.5% of federal election spending - $1 of every $13. www.washingtonpost.com/politics/int... @bethreinhard.bsky.social @ence.bsky.social @aaronschaffer.com
How billionaires took over American politics
The current concentration of wealth is unlike anything in history. So is billionaires’ involvement in politics.
www.washingtonpost.com
November 21, 2025 at 3:05 PM
Our data, analyzed by @washingtonpost.com, shows giving from the 100 wealthiest Americans has risen 140x since 2000. In 2024 they accounted for 7.5% of federal election spending - $1 of every $13. www.washingtonpost.com/politics/int... @bethreinhard.bsky.social @ence.bsky.social @aaronschaffer.com
Reposted by Zak Taylor
I've long maintained that the Democratic party tolerates criticism of Israel as long as it doesn't trip into anti-semitism. The Republican party tolerates anti-semitism as long as it doesn't trip into criticism of Israel. And here we are.
November 21, 2025 at 3:23 PM
I've long maintained that the Democratic party tolerates criticism of Israel as long as it doesn't trip into anti-semitism. The Republican party tolerates anti-semitism as long as it doesn't trip into criticism of Israel. And here we are.
Reposted by Zak Taylor
Here’s a long-term chart — showing today’s all-time low for Univ of Michigan current conditions, going back 70 years.
#UMich @mikezaccardi.bsky.social
#UMich @mikezaccardi.bsky.social
November 21, 2025 at 3:31 PM
Here’s a long-term chart — showing today’s all-time low for Univ of Michigan current conditions, going back 70 years.
#UMich @mikezaccardi.bsky.social
#UMich @mikezaccardi.bsky.social
Limits found?
November 21, 2025 at 2:53 PM
Limits found?
Reposted by Zak Taylor
Meet the health care trilemma. You can achieve only 2 of 3:
-affordable
-high quality
-available to all
-affordable
-high quality
-available to all
why Republican vows to "fix" Obamacare mean absolutely nothing
my zeteo.com column
please read, share and subscribe
zeteo.com/p/trump-repu...
my zeteo.com column
please read, share and subscribe
zeteo.com/p/trump-repu...
No, Trump and Republicans Will Not ‘Fix’ Obamacare
Renewed Republican vows to “fix” the Affordable Care Act don’t even rise to the level of bad jokes.
zeteo.com
November 21, 2025 at 1:04 PM
Meet the health care trilemma. You can achieve only 2 of 3:
-affordable
-high quality
-available to all
-affordable
-high quality
-available to all
Great discussion podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/f...
Can Solar Energy Save the Planet?
Podcast Episode · Foreign Policy Live · 11/21/2025 · 43m
podcasts.apple.com
November 21, 2025 at 12:06 PM
Great discussion podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/f...
Brought to you by the administration which wants professors fired, students deported, and education funding cut for “antisemitism.” 🙄
Exclusive: The U.S. Coast Guard will no longer classify the swastika, nooses and the Confederate flag as hate symbols.
The military service drafted a new policy that classifies them as “potentially divisive.”
The military service drafted a new policy that classifies them as “potentially divisive.”
U.S. Coast Guard will no longer classify swastikas, nooses as hate symbols
The military service, which falls under the Department of Homeland Security, has drafted a new policy that classifies such items “potentially divisive.”
www.washingtonpost.com
November 20, 2025 at 11:02 PM
Brought to you by the administration which wants professors fired, students deported, and education funding cut for “antisemitism.” 🙄
Reposted by Zak Taylor
The new neo-royalist world order. Stacie Goddard and
@abenewman.bsky.social explain how cliques are ruling the world. A new @goodauth.bsky.social podcast interview with yours truly based on the new @iojournal.bsky.social open access article that came out today!
goodauthority.org/news/the-new...
@abenewman.bsky.social explain how cliques are ruling the world. A new @goodauth.bsky.social podcast interview with yours truly based on the new @iojournal.bsky.social open access article that came out today!
goodauthority.org/news/the-new...
The new neo-royalist world order
Stacie Goddard and Abe Newman explain how cliques are ruling the world.
goodauthority.org
November 20, 2025 at 9:24 PM
The new neo-royalist world order. Stacie Goddard and
@abenewman.bsky.social explain how cliques are ruling the world. A new @goodauth.bsky.social podcast interview with yours truly based on the new @iojournal.bsky.social open access article that came out today!
goodauthority.org/news/the-new...
@abenewman.bsky.social explain how cliques are ruling the world. A new @goodauth.bsky.social podcast interview with yours truly based on the new @iojournal.bsky.social open access article that came out today!
goodauthority.org/news/the-new...
Reposted by Zak Taylor
A giant impact between proto-Earth and a planet called Theia produced the Moon. Hopp et al. use isotopic measurements of lunar samples and cosmochemical modelling to show that Theia formed in the inner Solar System, probably closer to the Sun than Earth. ☄️ #planetsci
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
The Moon-forming impactor Theia originated from the inner Solar System
The Moon formed from a giant impact of a planetary body, called Theia, with proto-Earth. It is unknown whether Theia formed in the inner or outer Solar System. We measured iron isotopes in lunar sampl...
www.science.org
November 20, 2025 at 8:52 PM
A giant impact between proto-Earth and a planet called Theia produced the Moon. Hopp et al. use isotopic measurements of lunar samples and cosmochemical modelling to show that Theia formed in the inner Solar System, probably closer to the Sun than Earth. ☄️ #planetsci
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
This can’t be good. www.washingtonpost.com/national-sec...
U.S. Coast Guard will no longer classify swastikas, nooses as hate symbols
The military service, which falls under the Department of Homeland Security, has drafted a new policy that classifies such items “potentially divisive.”
www.washingtonpost.com
November 20, 2025 at 8:03 PM
This can’t be good. www.washingtonpost.com/national-sec...
For goodness sake! Do any of these people read a history book?
um.
If this is what you're reaching for as a *comforting* comparison...
If this is what you're reaching for as a *comforting* comparison...
November 20, 2025 at 5:23 PM
For goodness sake! Do any of these people read a history book?
Reposted by Zak Taylor
"Before folks assume that one side of this fight clearly acted in bad faith and the other didn’t, it’s worth indulging the possibility that Purcell itself is the culprit—and that its standardless-ness creates perverse incentives for lower courts in election cases."
Me on the TX redistricting case:
Me on the TX redistricting case:
Bonus 193: The Pernicious Effects of Purcell
The remarkable row between the majority and dissent in the three-judge district court's ruling in the Texas redistricting case can be traced directly to the Supreme Court's election-related case law.
www.stevevladeck.com
November 20, 2025 at 12:23 PM
"Before folks assume that one side of this fight clearly acted in bad faith and the other didn’t, it’s worth indulging the possibility that Purcell itself is the culprit—and that its standardless-ness creates perverse incentives for lower courts in election cases."
Me on the TX redistricting case:
Me on the TX redistricting case: