Christian Weller
@profcew.bsky.social
Economist at UMass Boston and Center for American Progress; focus on racial wealth inequality, retirement savings and economic policy. Center on data driven policy development. Skeets are all my own opinions.
Reposted by Christian Weller
ICE heads to Minnesota as the triple dip polar vortex starts
December 4, 2025 at 12:47 PM
ICE heads to Minnesota as the triple dip polar vortex starts
I have a plan to make things more affordable. Hear me out. We all yell at companies to make things cheaper. That has probably a bigger impact than whatever this nonsense is.
I told everyone this was their “plan” when people started talking about legislation. The plan is Trump told credit card company to lower rates by Jan 20 and that’s it. Just another stunt to fool people into thinking they’re doing something. bsky.app/profile/atru...
Kevin Hassett on Trump's 10% cap on credit card interest rates: "Our expectations is that it won't necessarily require legislation because there will be great new Trump Cards provided voluntarily by the banks."
January 17, 2026 at 10:41 PM
I have a plan to make things more affordable. Hear me out. We all yell at companies to make things cheaper. That has probably a bigger impact than whatever this nonsense is.
Reposted by Christian Weller
The first sale of Venezuelan oil went to a guy who donated $6 million to Trump. The proceeds are now in a bank in Qatar.
January 16, 2026 at 12:45 PM
The first sale of Venezuelan oil went to a guy who donated $6 million to Trump. The proceeds are now in a bank in Qatar.
He always finds a way to soak average Americans for his temper tantrums.
Trump threatens to hit us with yet more taxes www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202...
Trump threatens tariffs on nations that ‘don’t go along’ with Greenland plans
The president’s comments come as a group of bipartisan lawmakers are on an official visit to Denmark — with the aim to show U.S. support for the NATO ally despite the administration’s push to annex th...
www.washingtonpost.com
January 16, 2026 at 10:35 PM
He always finds a way to soak average Americans for his temper tantrums.
Gas prices will go up under Trump's policies, while electricity costs will continue to go up under Trump's attacks on renewables. People will pay more while oil companies will rake in profits.
Trump's Big Oil-friendly policies will hurt the climate and drive up future gas prices for Americans: https://www.americanprogress.org/article/trumps-climate-attacks-mean-huge-increases-in-future-gas-prices/
Trump’s Climate Attacks Mean Huge Increases in Future Gas Prices
Climate action could save $81 a barrel on the price of oil by 2050.
www.americanprogress.org
January 13, 2026 at 7:58 PM
Gas prices will go up under Trump's policies, while electricity costs will continue to go up under Trump's attacks on renewables. People will pay more while oil companies will rake in profits.
Reposted by Christian Weller
"The episode is a shocking violation of the central bank’s historical independence, one that puts the United States in league with authoritarian nations careening toward financial ruin."
Cracker of a column from @jasonfurman.bsky.social. Gift link: www.nytimes.com/2026/01/12/o...
Cracker of a column from @jasonfurman.bsky.social. Gift link: www.nytimes.com/2026/01/12/o...
www.nytimes.com
January 13, 2026 at 1:11 AM
"The episode is a shocking violation of the central bank’s historical independence, one that puts the United States in league with authoritarian nations careening toward financial ruin."
Cracker of a column from @jasonfurman.bsky.social. Gift link: www.nytimes.com/2026/01/12/o...
Cracker of a column from @jasonfurman.bsky.social. Gift link: www.nytimes.com/2026/01/12/o...
Reposted by Christian Weller
One basic pattern here is that DHS officials are engaging in violence simply because they are irritated at citizens protesting them. There is no plausible threat of violence here. He just wants to inflict pain, and believes there will be no penalty for doing so.
Big clash this afternoon between DHS agents and protesters in a residential street in Minneapolis, following a DHS agent hitting another vehicle. Tear gas was deployed in people’s yards and agents pepper prayed people.
January 12, 2026 at 10:09 PM
One basic pattern here is that DHS officials are engaging in violence simply because they are irritated at citizens protesting them. There is no plausible threat of violence here. He just wants to inflict pain, and believes there will be no penalty for doing so.
Reposted by Christian Weller
ICE is going after people who are just trying to do their jobs—how is that making anyone safer?
January 12, 2026 at 10:15 PM
ICE is going after people who are just trying to do their jobs—how is that making anyone safer?
Reposted by Christian Weller
This is sad on so many levels — about something that was intended to celebrate the best in people.
@nytimes.com
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/09/w...
@nytimes.com
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/09/w...
January 9, 2026 at 10:33 PM
This is sad on so many levels — about something that was intended to celebrate the best in people.
@nytimes.com
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/09/w...
@nytimes.com
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/09/w...
Reposted by Christian Weller
I saw this video of a Vietnam vet in the fur coat yelling at ICE and thought to myself, "this is missing something," before I realized, "Ah, of course, the Ether instrumental. It's so obvious."
January 9, 2026 at 7:53 PM
I saw this video of a Vietnam vet in the fur coat yelling at ICE and thought to myself, "this is missing something," before I realized, "Ah, of course, the Ether instrumental. It's so obvious."
There probably is a woman in marketing who thought "let's see how much I can mock the men around me without losing my job". This has to be trolling
@cwolbrecht.bsky.social bat signal
what fresh hell is this on the streets of brooklyn?
January 9, 2026 at 11:00 PM
There probably is a woman in marketing who thought "let's see how much I can mock the men around me without losing my job". This has to be trolling
Reposted by Christian Weller
US construction job growth has ground to a practical halt over the last year, with the country losing jobs in homebuilding as the number of units under construction declines, while nonresidential job growth slowed significantly
January 9, 2026 at 3:37 PM
US construction job growth has ground to a practical halt over the last year, with the country losing jobs in homebuilding as the number of units under construction declines, while nonresidential job growth slowed significantly
Reposted by Christian Weller
Told ya
Big Oil has half a trillion dollars invested in infrastructure for West Canada oilfields. That's where they went after Venezuela nationalised their oil.
The Keystone Pipeline *alone* runs over 2000 miles from Alberta to the Gulf Coast in Texas!
Venezuelan oil competes with that investment
Big Oil has half a trillion dollars invested in infrastructure for West Canada oilfields. That's where they went after Venezuela nationalised their oil.
The Keystone Pipeline *alone* runs over 2000 miles from Alberta to the Gulf Coast in Texas!
Venezuelan oil competes with that investment
“.. The president’s desire is different than the industry’s. And the White House would have known that if they had communicated with the industry prior to the operation on Saturday.”
@cnn.com 🇻🇪 #OOTT
www.cnn.com/2026/01/05/b...
@cnn.com 🇻🇪 #OOTT
www.cnn.com/2026/01/05/b...
January 6, 2026 at 11:28 AM
Told ya
Big Oil has half a trillion dollars invested in infrastructure for West Canada oilfields. That's where they went after Venezuela nationalised their oil.
The Keystone Pipeline *alone* runs over 2000 miles from Alberta to the Gulf Coast in Texas!
Venezuelan oil competes with that investment
Big Oil has half a trillion dollars invested in infrastructure for West Canada oilfields. That's where they went after Venezuela nationalised their oil.
The Keystone Pipeline *alone* runs over 2000 miles from Alberta to the Gulf Coast in Texas!
Venezuelan oil competes with that investment
Reposted by Christian Weller
Want to come spend two years in the UK working on a research project? Come to KCL on British Academy International Fellowship. Guidance for our internal selection process available here: www.kcl.ac.uk/research/fun... happy to chat about it
Fellowships for Early Career Researchers | King's College London
Join a vibrant, dynamic community of postdoctoral and early career researchers
www.kcl.ac.uk
January 5, 2026 at 10:51 AM
Reposted by Christian Weller
The US produces >13 mn barrels of oil per day. Venezuela produces <1 million bpd
There's a global oil glut i.e. lower prices. That's bad for US producers, who need higher prices to break even. Hard to imagine they're eager to make big new investments in an unstable place w/ decrepit infrastructure
There's a global oil glut i.e. lower prices. That's bad for US producers, who need higher prices to break even. Hard to imagine they're eager to make big new investments in an unstable place w/ decrepit infrastructure
January 3, 2026 at 8:08 PM
The US produces >13 mn barrels of oil per day. Venezuela produces <1 million bpd
There's a global oil glut i.e. lower prices. That's bad for US producers, who need higher prices to break even. Hard to imagine they're eager to make big new investments in an unstable place w/ decrepit infrastructure
There's a global oil glut i.e. lower prices. That's bad for US producers, who need higher prices to break even. Hard to imagine they're eager to make big new investments in an unstable place w/ decrepit infrastructure
Reposted by Christian Weller
Moulton: "When we had briefings on Venezuela, we asked, 'Are you going to invade the country?' We were told no. 'Do you plan to put troops on the ground?' We were told no. 'Do you intend regime change in VZ?' We were told no. So in a sense, we have been briefed, we've just been completely lied to"
January 3, 2026 at 6:01 PM
Moulton: "When we had briefings on Venezuela, we asked, 'Are you going to invade the country?' We were told no. 'Do you plan to put troops on the ground?' We were told no. 'Do you intend regime change in VZ?' We were told no. So in a sense, we have been briefed, we've just been completely lied to"
@sethmoulton.bsky.social, when will you condemn the attacks on Venezuela? What actions will you take to hold the admin accountable?
January 3, 2026 at 9:40 AM
@sethmoulton.bsky.social, when will you condemn the attacks on Venezuela? What actions will you take to hold the admin accountable?
Reposted by Christian Weller
Alright I'm gonna post an obnoxiously cute duck, given the news.
Then put my phone in another room and listen to calm music till I fall asleep. Solidarity ♥️ 🪶
Then put my phone in another room and listen to calm music till I fall asleep. Solidarity ♥️ 🪶
January 3, 2026 at 8:25 AM
Alright I'm gonna post an obnoxiously cute duck, given the news.
Then put my phone in another room and listen to calm music till I fall asleep. Solidarity ♥️ 🪶
Then put my phone in another room and listen to calm music till I fall asleep. Solidarity ♥️ 🪶
You rock! Happy New Year to you. Wishing you all the best for the future (not just 2026).
January 2, 2026 at 9:13 PM
You rock! Happy New Year to you. Wishing you all the best for the future (not just 2026).
Reposted by Christian Weller
Trump is shopping for marble as millions of Americans' health insurance premiums double and triple.
Trump is golfing and literally shopping for marble today while nearly two weeks in to vacationing at his private club but okay
January 2, 2026 at 7:44 PM
Trump is shopping for marble as millions of Americans' health insurance premiums double and triple.
Reposted by Christian Weller
Heading to Philadelphia for the #ASSA2026. Presenting research you think our readers would be interested in? Working on something you think I should know about? Reach out here or by any of the ways linked in my bio: www.nytimes.com/by/ben-casse... #EconSky
Ben Casselman
Ben Casselman is the chief economics correspondent for The Times. He has reported on the economy for nearly 20 years.
www.nytimes.com
January 2, 2026 at 7:58 PM
Heading to Philadelphia for the #ASSA2026. Presenting research you think our readers would be interested in? Working on something you think I should know about? Reach out here or by any of the ways linked in my bio: www.nytimes.com/by/ben-casse... #EconSky
Reposted by Christian Weller
What does it mean when your doctors keep insisting you redo the cognitive exam
January 2, 2026 at 2:58 PM
What does it mean when your doctors keep insisting you redo the cognitive exam
My city‘s elementary schools have rates between 92% and 100%— pretty reassuring. Can’t imagine living in a community without herd immunity.
5 million-plus kindergartners now live in counties where schools don’t have “herd immunity” for measles, Washington Post reporters found.
WaPo also built a tool to look up your own county.
Exceptional, and alarming work by @laurenweberhp.bsky.social @caitlingilbert.bsky.social et al.
(Gift link.)
WaPo also built a tool to look up your own county.
Exceptional, and alarming work by @laurenweberhp.bsky.social @caitlingilbert.bsky.social et al.
(Gift link.)
U.S. vaccination rates are plunging. Look up where your school stands.
Take a look to see what the kindergarten measles vaccination rates are in your area.
wapo.st
January 1, 2026 at 8:40 PM
My city‘s elementary schools have rates between 92% and 100%— pretty reassuring. Can’t imagine living in a community without herd immunity.