Steve Cicala
@stevecicala.bsky.social
Associate Professor
Tufts University Department of Economics
https://www.stevecicala.com
http://goingelectric.substack.com
Tufts University Department of Economics
https://www.stevecicala.com
http://goingelectric.substack.com
Pinned
Steve Cicala
@stevecicala.bsky.social
· Nov 7
Welcome to the new arrivals. Here's a starter pack of Energy/Environmental economists to get you going:
bsky.app/starter-pack...
bsky.app/starter-pack...
Reposted by Steve Cicala
I hope folks realize that between Trump, Kushner, Hegseth, Witkoff, Noem, RFK, Jr., Kash Patel, and Tulsi Gabbard, this country is almost entirely undefended.
Q: Have you heard this audio that Bloomberg has of Witkoff coaching the Russians on how to appeal to you?
TRUMP: That's a standard thing. He's gotta sell this to Ukraine, he's gonna sell Ukraine to Russia. That's what a dealmaker does. I haven't heard it but I heard it was standard negotiation.
TRUMP: That's a standard thing. He's gotta sell this to Ukraine, he's gonna sell Ukraine to Russia. That's what a dealmaker does. I haven't heard it but I heard it was standard negotiation.
November 26, 2025 at 1:28 AM
I hope folks realize that between Trump, Kushner, Hegseth, Witkoff, Noem, RFK, Jr., Kash Patel, and Tulsi Gabbard, this country is almost entirely undefended.
Witkoff sounds a lot like Harry Ellis in Die Hard.
“Vlady baby, I love you, and the world should love you! I think we have a real chance here to do something amazing!”
“Vlady baby, I love you, and the world should love you! I think we have a real chance here to do something amazing!”
November 26, 2025 at 2:22 AM
Witkoff sounds a lot like Harry Ellis in Die Hard.
“Vlady baby, I love you, and the world should love you! I think we have a real chance here to do something amazing!”
“Vlady baby, I love you, and the world should love you! I think we have a real chance here to do something amazing!”
Reposted by Steve Cicala
I wish I didn’t have to share this. But the BBC has decided to censor my first Reith Lecture.
They deleted the line in which I describe Donald Trump as “the most openly corrupt president in American history.” /1
They deleted the line in which I describe Donald Trump as “the most openly corrupt president in American history.” /1
November 25, 2025 at 9:26 AM
I wish I didn’t have to share this. But the BBC has decided to censor my first Reith Lecture.
They deleted the line in which I describe Donald Trump as “the most openly corrupt president in American history.” /1
They deleted the line in which I describe Donald Trump as “the most openly corrupt president in American history.” /1
What a world we could live in if every politician from NY over the age of 50 retired to private life.
A group of influential liberal senators is directly challenging Senator Chuck Schumer’s approach to the midterm elections and President Trump, in another sign of growing frustration among Democrats toward the minority leader.
Schumer Faces Pushback From ‘Fight Club’ Group of Senate Democrats
A group of liberal senators is quietly challenging the minority leader over his approach to the midterms and President Trump, in a sign of the party’s deep frustration.
nyti.ms
November 25, 2025 at 1:33 AM
What a world we could live in if every politician from NY over the age of 50 retired to private life.
This list is so bad at identifying the best Boston restaurants that I'm surprised the LLM they used didn't hallucinate a restaurant for a bib gourmand.
I'm not saying there should be more ⭐. I'm suspicious they even came to town.
guide.michelin.com/us/en/articl...
I'm not saying there should be more ⭐. I'm suspicious they even came to town.
guide.michelin.com/us/en/articl...
All the Stars and Bib Gourmands in The MICHELIN Guide Boston 2025
The MICHELIN Guide Inspectors' top picks for the inaugural selection.
guide.michelin.com
November 24, 2025 at 3:51 PM
This list is so bad at identifying the best Boston restaurants that I'm surprised the LLM they used didn't hallucinate a restaurant for a bib gourmand.
I'm not saying there should be more ⭐. I'm suspicious they even came to town.
guide.michelin.com/us/en/articl...
I'm not saying there should be more ⭐. I'm suspicious they even came to town.
guide.michelin.com/us/en/articl...
Reposted by Steve Cicala
Looking forward to the next iteration of this work, “F- it, we’re doing four robustnesses.”
New paper: Triply Robust Panel Estimators (TROP) by @susanathey.bsky.social @guidoimbens.bsky.social Zhaonan Qu @vivianodavide.bsky.social.
arxiv.org/pdf/2508.21536
arxiv.org/pdf/2508.21536
November 23, 2025 at 11:32 PM
Looking forward to the next iteration of this work, “F- it, we’re doing four robustnesses.”
Preparing to do this openly, even loudly, is perhaps the one thing that might deter the worst behavior.
It’s crazy to think about the crimes we’re going to learn about after this regime ends.
We’re already hearing about Watergate level crimes every week. Imagine what will come out after it’s over.
We’re going to need a full accounting of all that’s been done in violation of the constitution.
We’re already hearing about Watergate level crimes every week. Imagine what will come out after it’s over.
We’re going to need a full accounting of all that’s been done in violation of the constitution.
November 23, 2025 at 2:29 AM
Preparing to do this openly, even loudly, is perhaps the one thing that might deter the worst behavior.
After seeing how easily he can be turned by a 34 year old assemblyman, perhaps the right should wonder how he is putty in the hands of a lifetime veteran of the KGB.
Let’s be clear.
@zohrankmamdani.bsky.social got Trump so charmed that Trump posted two photos of the two of them with Franklin Roosevelt’s portrait behind them AND one of just Mamdani and FDR’s portrait.
@zohrankmamdani.bsky.social got Trump so charmed that Trump posted two photos of the two of them with Franklin Roosevelt’s portrait behind them AND one of just Mamdani and FDR’s portrait.
November 22, 2025 at 4:57 PM
After seeing how easily he can be turned by a 34 year old assemblyman, perhaps the right should wonder how he is putty in the hands of a lifetime veteran of the KGB.
Reposted by Steve Cicala
When we take our government and country back from the fascists, every single one of these thugs must answer, in court, for the crimes they are currently committing. Hold them all accountable.
Dipshit is smashing out a car window with his gun, barrel first. Just rogue, cowboy stiff.
There were two US citizens in the car. They were apprehended and detained for “obstructing” ICE by honking their horn to let people know ICE was in the neighborhood.
There were two US citizens in the car. They were apprehended and detained for “obstructing” ICE by honking their horn to let people know ICE was in the neighborhood.
November 22, 2025 at 6:21 AM
When we take our government and country back from the fascists, every single one of these thugs must answer, in court, for the crimes they are currently committing. Hold them all accountable.
A pessimistic prediction:
Whether linked explicitly as a quid pro quo or not, the EU will delay CBAM implementation, and the US will continue assisting with Ukraine.
Whether linked explicitly as a quid pro quo or not, the EU will delay CBAM implementation, and the US will continue assisting with Ukraine.
November 21, 2025 at 8:08 PM
A pessimistic prediction:
Whether linked explicitly as a quid pro quo or not, the EU will delay CBAM implementation, and the US will continue assisting with Ukraine.
Whether linked explicitly as a quid pro quo or not, the EU will delay CBAM implementation, and the US will continue assisting with Ukraine.
Reposted by Steve Cicala
Elon Musk is very explicitly altering the X algorithm to show people content that aligns with his far-right worldview.
If you're still posting there and think you can win hearts and minds or something, this is what you're up against. You're never going to win a rigged game.
If you're still posting there and think you can win hearts and minds or something, this is what you're up against. You're never going to win a rigged game.
November 21, 2025 at 12:36 AM
Elon Musk is very explicitly altering the X algorithm to show people content that aligns with his far-right worldview.
If you're still posting there and think you can win hearts and minds or something, this is what you're up against. You're never going to win a rigged game.
If you're still posting there and think you can win hearts and minds or something, this is what you're up against. You're never going to win a rigged game.
When AI recipe writing meets AI recipe reviewing you get:
Butter cookies with spicy ketchup.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Butter cookies with spicy ketchup.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Brown sugary caramel meets savory-sweet gochujang in this recipe, which has more than 8,000 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ratings. nyti.ms/48gW7jz
November 20, 2025 at 12:03 AM
When AI recipe writing meets AI recipe reviewing you get:
Butter cookies with spicy ketchup.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Butter cookies with spicy ketchup.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Reposted by Steve Cicala
Forthcoming in the AER: "The Value of Clean Water: Experimental Evidence from Rural India" by Fiona Burlig, Amir Jina, and Anant Sudarshan. www.aeaweb.org/articles?id=...
The Value of Clean Water: Experimental Evidence from Rural India
(Forthcoming Article) - Over 2 billion people lack clean drinking water. Existing solutions
face high costs (piped water) or low demand (point-ofuse
chlorine). Using a 60,000 household cluster-randomi...
www.aeaweb.org
November 19, 2025 at 1:49 PM
Forthcoming in the AER: "The Value of Clean Water: Experimental Evidence from Rural India" by Fiona Burlig, Amir Jina, and Anant Sudarshan. www.aeaweb.org/articles?id=...
Reposted by Steve Cicala
I urge members of the legal profession to realize that prosecuting individuals who seek to overturn the constitutional order is not "retaliation" in any normatively significant sense.
November 17, 2025 at 2:23 PM
I urge members of the legal profession to realize that prosecuting individuals who seek to overturn the constitutional order is not "retaliation" in any normatively significant sense.
Reposted by Steve Cicala
I had a brief stint doing FOIL requests and redacting docs ad nauseam until they made little sense.
Ken is right, I don’t expect much from the Epstein files release.
Ken is right, I don’t expect much from the Epstein files release.
Congress' Epstein Files vote tomorrow will be undermined by "national security" www.kenklippenstein.com/p/national-s...
“National Security” Blocks Epstein Files Release
The one word preventing transparency
www.kenklippenstein.com
November 18, 2025 at 1:45 AM
I had a brief stint doing FOIL requests and redacting docs ad nauseam until they made little sense.
Ken is right, I don’t expect much from the Epstein files release.
Ken is right, I don’t expect much from the Epstein files release.
Interrupting strangers on the street while recording should be culturally shunned to the point of slapping phones out of hands as a matter of course.
find someone who will wear a big overcoat with you
IG meetcutesnyc
IG meetcutesnyc
November 15, 2025 at 12:44 AM
Interrupting strangers on the street while recording should be culturally shunned to the point of slapping phones out of hands as a matter of course.
Reposted by Steve Cicala
“Housing shortage – Jews to blame," letter sticker, German Reich, 1938
zwangsraeume.berlin/en/context
zwangsraeume.berlin/en/context
November 14, 2025 at 2:16 AM
“Housing shortage – Jews to blame," letter sticker, German Reich, 1938
zwangsraeume.berlin/en/context
zwangsraeume.berlin/en/context
Reposted by Steve Cicala
Bush’s 2002 steel tariffs created persistent negative employment effects in manufacturing industries that rely on steel as an input, despite being removed after just 18 months, say researchers at the University of Tennessee and Chongqing University. #econsky www.aeaweb.org/research/cha...
Tariffs and local labor markets
The impact of the 2002 Bush steel tariffs on jobs in steel-intensive industries.
www.aeaweb.org
November 13, 2025 at 3:27 PM
Bush’s 2002 steel tariffs created persistent negative employment effects in manufacturing industries that rely on steel as an input, despite being removed after just 18 months, say researchers at the University of Tennessee and Chongqing University. #econsky www.aeaweb.org/research/cha...
The real scandal from these emails is that our elites are functionally illiterate.
November 13, 2025 at 2:02 AM
The real scandal from these emails is that our elites are functionally illiterate.
Reposted by Steve Cicala
For folks (and journalists) who want to search the Oversight Committee email texts, I made a database for searching the 20k text files:
splendorous-chaja-f79791.netlify.app
splendorous-chaja-f79791.netlify.app
Epstein Document Search
splendorous-chaja-f79791.netlify.app
November 13, 2025 at 1:12 AM
For folks (and journalists) who want to search the Oversight Committee email texts, I made a database for searching the 20k text files:
splendorous-chaja-f79791.netlify.app
splendorous-chaja-f79791.netlify.app
November 12, 2025 at 7:27 PM
Reposted by Steve Cicala
wtf is going on man. Major evidence has been dropped that implicates The president of the United States in a child rape scheme and cover up and both msnbc and cnn and interviewing some clown directors about films coming out this weekend.
The information ecosystem in this country is broke man.
The information ecosystem in this country is broke man.
November 12, 2025 at 2:58 PM
wtf is going on man. Major evidence has been dropped that implicates The president of the United States in a child rape scheme and cover up and both msnbc and cnn and interviewing some clown directors about films coming out this weekend.
The information ecosystem in this country is broke man.
The information ecosystem in this country is broke man.
A WSJ article about the Fed subtly referencing Yeats’ “The Second Coming” is not exactly an upbeat outlook.
www.wsj.com/economy/cent...
www.wsj.com/economy/cent...
The Fed Is Increasingly Torn Over a December Rate Cut
As data went dark from the government shutdown, inflation hawks pushed to pause rate cuts at a contentious October meeting. The divide might not end soon.
www.wsj.com
November 12, 2025 at 1:05 PM
A WSJ article about the Fed subtly referencing Yeats’ “The Second Coming” is not exactly an upbeat outlook.
www.wsj.com/economy/cent...
www.wsj.com/economy/cent...
How on earth is there no movie about Oleg Gordievsky?
November 12, 2025 at 1:41 AM
How on earth is there no movie about Oleg Gordievsky?
Reposted by Steve Cicala
This is such a bizarre talking point; I've thankfully never had to use most of the types of insurance that I have for me and my family
This is a good excuse to share my WSJ letter to the editor explaining that "not filing a claim doesn’t mean you didn’t need insurance" www.wsj.com/opinion/the-...
This is a good excuse to share my WSJ letter to the editor explaining that "not filing a claim doesn’t mean you didn’t need insurance" www.wsj.com/opinion/the-...
November 10, 2025 at 5:57 PM
This is such a bizarre talking point; I've thankfully never had to use most of the types of insurance that I have for me and my family
This is a good excuse to share my WSJ letter to the editor explaining that "not filing a claim doesn’t mean you didn’t need insurance" www.wsj.com/opinion/the-...
This is a good excuse to share my WSJ letter to the editor explaining that "not filing a claim doesn’t mean you didn’t need insurance" www.wsj.com/opinion/the-...