Steve B. Holt
@stevebholt.bsky.social
Associate Professor. Public Management, Education Policy, Econometrics. https://stevebholt.github.io/
The problem with repeating the Churchill quip about "America always choosing the right thing only after trying everything else first" is it kind of leaves folks unprepared for the existence of choices that might remove the possibility of you choosing the right thing later.
February 11, 2026 at 1:10 PM
The problem with repeating the Churchill quip about "America always choosing the right thing only after trying everything else first" is it kind of leaves folks unprepared for the existence of choices that might remove the possibility of you choosing the right thing later.
I love that DoL was using it last year a bit and was like, "nah, we're good."
The White House is accelerating AI adoption across the government.
On top of automating routine tasks, agencies launched hundreds of AI projects in the past year, many that take on central and sensitive roles in law enforcement, immigration and health care. https://wapo.st/3O4Auvf
On top of automating routine tasks, agencies launched hundreds of AI projects in the past year, many that take on central and sensitive roles in law enforcement, immigration and health care. https://wapo.st/3O4Auvf
February 11, 2026 at 12:48 PM
I love that DoL was using it last year a bit and was like, "nah, we're good."
As a Wizards fan, I've never loved an idea more.
My tanking fix is to use three-year records to determine lottery odds instead of one.
Would be way harder to manipulate the standings late season and actually help the teams the draft is designed to help
willgottlieb.substack.com/p/the-nba-is...
Would be way harder to manipulate the standings late season and actually help the teams the draft is designed to help
willgottlieb.substack.com/p/the-nba-is...
The NBA is fighting tanking instead of fixing its incentives
A three-year lottery system could make some of the real problems disappear
willgottlieb.substack.com
February 9, 2026 at 7:21 PM
As a Wizards fan, I've never loved an idea more.
I'm old enough to remember the end of the second Bush administration and the rush for various factions of conservatives to try to rewrite the recent history of his re-election to distance themselves from the sinking ship of his popularity. These are the lies you have to seed to be in the next fight.
I feel like I'm losing my goddamnned mind.
This op-ed was written by Kathrine Mangu-Ward. Katherine is editor-in-chief of Reason magazine.
Reason fired @shikhadalmia.bsky.social for being too anti-Trump.
This op-ed was written by Kathrine Mangu-Ward. Katherine is editor-in-chief of Reason magazine.
Reason fired @shikhadalmia.bsky.social for being too anti-Trump.
Opinion | Libertarians Tried to Warn You About Trump
www.nytimes.com
February 9, 2026 at 5:17 PM
I'm old enough to remember the end of the second Bush administration and the rush for various factions of conservatives to try to rewrite the recent history of his re-election to distance themselves from the sinking ship of his popularity. These are the lies you have to seed to be in the next fight.
Competitive pressure from Flock to establish the panopticon first.
So uh Ring just up and said they've got a huge centralized private surveillance network they can leverage all at once huh
February 9, 2026 at 1:33 PM
Competitive pressure from Flock to establish the panopticon first.
Bleak future that Nicki Minaj signed up for.
kind of funny there are prob 1,000 major US musicians and every time conservatives need to put up a music artist to counter a mainstream narrative, they put up kid rock. "ok here's kid rock again" for the next 30 years, an octogenarian man in jean shorts rapping something from the 1990s
February 9, 2026 at 1:29 PM
Bleak future that Nicki Minaj signed up for.
Reposted by Steve B. Holt
*Green card application in process and work permit, married to US citizen
*Lived in US for 20 years, no criminal record
*In detention for five months with no charge, despite judge approving release
*He disputes ICE claim that he signed forms agreeing to deportation
*Lived in US for 20 years, no criminal record
*In detention for five months with no charge, despite judge approving release
*He disputes ICE claim that he signed forms agreeing to deportation
And here is my story: ‘Absolute hell’: Irishman with valid US work permit held by Ice since September
www.irishtimes.com/world/us/202...
www.irishtimes.com/world/us/202...
‘Absolute hell’: Irishman with valid US work permit held by Ice since September
Seamus Culleton has been in a detention facility in Texas for nearly five months despite having no criminal record
www.irishtimes.com
February 9, 2026 at 12:29 PM
*Green card application in process and work permit, married to US citizen
*Lived in US for 20 years, no criminal record
*In detention for five months with no charge, despite judge approving release
*He disputes ICE claim that he signed forms agreeing to deportation
*Lived in US for 20 years, no criminal record
*In detention for five months with no charge, despite judge approving release
*He disputes ICE claim that he signed forms agreeing to deportation
I'm not prone to conspiracy theories at all, but given how much Pizzagate was right-wing projection of an elite pedophile ring that a lot of funders & conservatives themselves turned out to be a part of, Trump's claims of election cheating does make me look a little sideways at districts he carried.
February 5, 2026 at 1:13 PM
I'm not prone to conspiracy theories at all, but given how much Pizzagate was right-wing projection of an elite pedophile ring that a lot of funders & conservatives themselves turned out to be a part of, Trump's claims of election cheating does make me look a little sideways at districts he carried.
Selling the new top tax bracket and 90% rate that will eliminate billionaires:
"Listen, we can't just give these people money. That's not going to solve anything because they have a culture problem. Impregnating teens, no family values, no work ethic. We need to create the right incentives."
"Listen, we can't just give these people money. That's not going to solve anything because they have a culture problem. Impregnating teens, no family values, no work ethic. We need to create the right incentives."
You can look at the Epstein files and conclude that only bad people have billions of dollars, but I think it’s also possible that having billions of dollars cauterizes your humanity
February 3, 2026 at 8:12 PM
Selling the new top tax bracket and 90% rate that will eliminate billionaires:
"Listen, we can't just give these people money. That's not going to solve anything because they have a culture problem. Impregnating teens, no family values, no work ethic. We need to create the right incentives."
"Listen, we can't just give these people money. That's not going to solve anything because they have a culture problem. Impregnating teens, no family values, no work ethic. We need to create the right incentives."
They should just replace Bari too. Let her fall on the sword with him.
February 3, 2026 at 4:15 AM
They should just replace Bari too. Let her fall on the sword with him.
Reposted by Steve B. Holt
Call for nominations! The AOM PNP division is requesting nominations for the division's 2026 Best Book Award. Send nominations of books published in 2023, 2024, or 2025 to @stevebholt.bsky.social
📢 Complete details: www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/le4k1...
🗓️ March 9, 2026
#nonprofitsky #pasky
📢 Complete details: www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/le4k1...
🗓️ March 9, 2026
#nonprofitsky #pasky
February 2, 2026 at 8:52 PM
Call for nominations! The AOM PNP division is requesting nominations for the division's 2026 Best Book Award. Send nominations of books published in 2023, 2024, or 2025 to @stevebholt.bsky.social
📢 Complete details: www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/le4k1...
🗓️ March 9, 2026
#nonprofitsky #pasky
📢 Complete details: www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/le4k1...
🗓️ March 9, 2026
#nonprofitsky #pasky
Reposted by Steve B. Holt
Some jawdropping CBP crime statistics here...
February 1, 2026 at 5:37 PM
Some jawdropping CBP crime statistics here...
Reposted by Steve B. Holt
Epstein’s economic power among academics was made possible by a capitalist system that makes higher education dependent on the charity economy rather than a public good supported by taxing the rich
February 1, 2026 at 2:33 PM
Epstein’s economic power among academics was made possible by a capitalist system that makes higher education dependent on the charity economy rather than a public good supported by taxing the rich
Reposted by Steve B. Holt
A Minnesota woman observing ICE agents in her car was cornered on one-way streets. An agent approached, called her by name—citing facial recognition. Days later, her Global Entry and TSA privileges were revoked, with no explanation.
How ICE Already Knows Who Minneapolis Protesters Are
www.nytimes.com
January 30, 2026 at 11:55 AM
A Minnesota woman observing ICE agents in her car was cornered on one-way streets. An agent approached, called her by name—citing facial recognition. Days later, her Global Entry and TSA privileges were revoked, with no explanation.
Next year, this should be the punishment for last place in my fantasy league.
January 29, 2026 at 4:27 AM
Next year, this should be the punishment for last place in my fantasy league.
Reposted by Steve B. Holt
🚨As if DC didn’t already have enough to deal with, today we learned the Senate and House will vote next wk on SJ Res. 102 and HJ Res. 142 to disapprove a bill to decouple provisions of DC’s tax code from the feds.
This would blow a $820 MILLION hole through the financial plan!
This would blow a $820 MILLION hole through the financial plan!
January 29, 2026 at 2:20 AM
🚨As if DC didn’t already have enough to deal with, today we learned the Senate and House will vote next wk on SJ Res. 102 and HJ Res. 142 to disapprove a bill to decouple provisions of DC’s tax code from the feds.
This would blow a $820 MILLION hole through the financial plan!
This would blow a $820 MILLION hole through the financial plan!
The fastest growing state by population is also the leading state in losing the battle to an already defeated and solved disease.
Public-health officials are examining the potential connection between measles outbreaks in South Carolina and West Texas—and their findings could reveal whether the disease has once again become a permanent resident of the U.S., @katherinejwu reports: theatln.tc/c7vF3ZWq
January 28, 2026 at 4:31 PM
The fastest growing state by population is also the leading state in losing the battle to an already defeated and solved disease.
I can't wait for the next administration to strip him of his pension.
BREAKING: The Border Patrol's Greg Bovino has been ousted from his role of "Commander at Large"—and Kristi Noem and Corey Lewandowski could be next to lose their jobs, sources tell @nickmiroff.bsky.social www.theatlantic.com/politics/202...
January 27, 2026 at 4:23 AM
I can't wait for the next administration to strip him of his pension.
Reposted by Steve B. Holt
An entire city learned to be legal observers after a 17 year old was brave enough to bear witness to George Floyd's murder. I am heartbroken that Minneapolis experienced this violence, but thankful to Darnella Frazier and the people who followed her example.
January 27, 2026 at 12:20 AM
An entire city learned to be legal observers after a 17 year old was brave enough to bear witness to George Floyd's murder. I am heartbroken that Minneapolis experienced this violence, but thankful to Darnella Frazier and the people who followed her example.
There are normal people with walkers with more courage in the streets of Minneapolis calling for abolition. What a disappointing retreat from leadership on display here.
The killing of Alex Pretti is a heartbreaking tragedy. It should also be a wake-up call to every American, regardless of party, that many of our core values as a nation are increasingly under assault.
January 25, 2026 at 8:23 PM
There are normal people with walkers with more courage in the streets of Minneapolis calling for abolition. What a disappointing retreat from leadership on display here.
And their murderers are still free and collecting paychecks from us while being vile, awful people that no decent people will willingly and publicly say kind things about. Fucking ghouls, this entire administration.
kind of remarkable how the two high profile ICE killings this year have been alex pretti and renee good, two people about whom NO ONE has ANY unkind words to say. if they could dig up anyone who would willingly talk shit on either person they’d have done it
January 25, 2026 at 6:44 PM
And their murderers are still free and collecting paychecks from us while being vile, awful people that no decent people will willingly and publicly say kind things about. Fucking ghouls, this entire administration.
Hell yeah, Stewie.
Unrivaled co-founder and WNBA MVP Breanna Stewart held up an “Abolish ICE” sign during player intros ahead of Mist’s game this afternoon.
Photo via @unrivaledwbb.bsky.social
Photo via @unrivaledwbb.bsky.social
January 25, 2026 at 6:38 PM
Hell yeah, Stewie.
I will re-up my years long theory, from Trump 1, that the thing that binds the US together now is not the Constitution or rule of law or shared culture/values. It is the health and stability of the dollar as a coordinating mechanism. That's it. And ending Fed independence and trade will end that.
A lot can be done with just rescinding the Permanent Apportionment Act of 1929 (the legislative cap on the size of the house) and 16 year term limits on the supreme court staggered such that every POTUS term appoints one.
But yeah, this is feeling like a full rebuild is needed.
But yeah, this is feeling like a full rebuild is needed.
The abject failures of institutions and the people who run them have me moving from “We need a third Reconstruction” to “We need a second Constitution.” One that accepts the United States as a pluralistic nation and makes it much harder for powerful thugs to act on their whims.
January 24, 2026 at 4:53 PM
I will re-up my years long theory, from Trump 1, that the thing that binds the US together now is not the Constitution or rule of law or shared culture/values. It is the health and stability of the dollar as a coordinating mechanism. That's it. And ending Fed independence and trade will end that.