John McLaren

@johnmclaren.bsky.social

2.3K followers 850 following 1.5K posts

Economist, classical music nerd, and family man.

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Economics 44%

Political science 23%

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John McLaren @johnmclaren.bsky.social · Apr 4

I'm seeing a huge spike in interest in tariffs from people who normally don't work in the economics of international trade. Here are a few useful things to know about them. (1/14)

John McLaren @johnmclaren.bsky.social · 2h

I once that an evaluation that read: “Professor McLaren has an incredible sense of humor that is totally wasted in this class. Every class, he makes an amazingly witty joke — and NO ONE GETS IT.”

Reposted by John McLaren

The Free Book Bus @thefreebookbus.bsky.social · 3h

I am thankful for this Bluesky community! I always get a little spark of joy when you all comment or interact 🍁😊🍁

A cartoon red book wearing a slightly ridiculous pumpkin pie hat is pictured with arms outstretched holding a piece of pumpkin pie with whipped cream. He is standing on the Book Bus with the words “thank you” in candy corn colored letters to the left, and in the bottom left of the photo there is a cartoon turkey reading a book. The text reads: Happy Thanksgiving from The Free Book Bus!
We are very grateful for your support. You make it possible for us to keep the bus stocked and on the road!

Reposted by John McLaren

Lyle Solla-Yates @lyle.cville.online.ap.brid.gy · 3h

https://www.nbcnews.com/dateline/missing-in-america/sage-smith-charlottesville-locate-erik-mcfadden-rcna245757 “Today, we’re asking for the public’s help. If you have had any contact, any at all, with Mr. Erik McFadden since 2012, if you knew him, lived with him, worked with him, or were in any […]

Original post on cville.online

cville.online

Reposted by John McLaren

WTJU @wtjuradio.bsky.social · 7h

WTJU is grateful for YOU: the listeners & supporters. Wishing everyone a day of resting, feasting. and connecting. Whether you are with family, friends, or flying solo, WTJU is your musical companion. Find your holiday soundtrack on 91.1FM, stream on wtju.net, or listen via the new WTJU mobile app!

John McLaren @johnmclaren.bsky.social · 15h

Oh! I didn’t think about that. That may indeed be part of the reason for his very abrupt change.

John McLaren @johnmclaren.bsky.social · 15h

Beyond belief. It makes me so angry.

teresakoeppel.bsky.social @teresakoeppel.bsky.social · 23h

This is cruel and should be illegal if it isn’t already, like most ICE actions these days. Abolish ICE.

Jessica Cale @dirtysexyhistory.bsky.social · 23h

I need everybody to read this and understand what’s going on. These are spouses of US citizens in the country legally. They have entry clearance and green cards, they’ve passed background checks and have no criminal records. ICE is taking them anyway.

Gift link:

www.nytimes.com/2025/11/26/u...

John McLaren @johnmclaren.bsky.social · 15h

Never had it, I don’t think, but this amazing article has got my curiosity up.

flaminghydra.com/of-men-and-p...

Of Men and Palm Oil

In February 2021, Evan Kleiman, a North American chef and radio personality broadcasting from Santa Monica, California, asked me about palm oil. She said “It’s such an intrinsic part of your cuisine, ...

flaminghydra.com

John McLaren @johnmclaren.bsky.social · 15h

Oh, my, that thread is funny. I think he got his answer.

John McLaren @johnmclaren.bsky.social · 15h

The most effective horror does not rely on jump scares. It relies on…. stuff like this.

John McLaren @johnmclaren.bsky.social · 15h

This whole thread is inspiring. Thank you.

Reposted by John McLaren

johnedwinmason @johnedwinmason.bsky.social · 19h

Racism & white supremacy are the threads that bind together virtually all of the regime's actions. (If you know anything about Haiti, you know that it's not safe & that the US has played a major role in creating & sustaining its instability for over two centuries.) bsky.app/profile/alja...

Al Jazeera English @aljazeera.com · 20h

Homeland Security Secretary Noem determines it is safe for Haitians to return home, despite widespread gang violence.

Trump administration nixes temporary immigration protections for Haitians

Homeland Security Secretary Noem determines it is safe for Haitians to return home, despite widespread gang violence.

bit.ly

Reposted by John McLaren

teresakoeppel.bsky.social @teresakoeppel.bsky.social · 23h

This is cruel and should be illegal if it isn’t already, like most ICE actions these days. Abolish ICE.

Jessica Cale @dirtysexyhistory.bsky.social · 23h

Green Card Interviews End in Handcuffs for Spouses of U.S. Citizens

www.nytimes.com

Reposted by John McLaren, Lesley Bartlett, Michael Larkin

Tom Cox @dj-acid-reflux.bsky.social · 23h

THREAD.

3 years ago, with no warning, a brilliant orange farm cat wandered over from the draughty barn where he had been living, in rural Cornwall, and decided he wanted to live with us instead.

We decided to call him Jim.

This is the first photo I took of him, on that night: December 1st, 2022.

As you can see here, right from the very first day he entered our house, Jim found great difficulty in getting settled and making the environment his own.

John McLaren @johnmclaren.bsky.social · 1d

Les gaz lachrymogènes pour une epoch lachrymose.

Reposted by John McLaren

Livable Cville @livablecville.bsky.social · 1d

Research finds district based representation is sneakily an anti-housing policy.

A switch to ward elections “decreases housing units permitted by 20%, with similar effects on multi- and single-family permits. Effects are larger in whiter and higher-income towns.”

direct.mit.edu/rest/article...

Reposted by John McLaren

Fievel 🇵🇸🏳️‍🌈 (they/them) @fievel42.bsky.social · 1d

#Charlottesville #poetry heads! Put this on your calendar. Three weeks from tonight! @gwendo-b.bsky.social is the featured reader, but everybody gets to read a poem at @raqc-cville.bsky.social.

John McLaren @johnmclaren.bsky.social · 1d

I’d like the contact information for these “scientists“ because I have some very attractive bridge real estate in which to interest them.

John McLaren @johnmclaren.bsky.social · 1d

Bleak and heartbreaking comment by Felipe de la Hoz on the tendency of so many immigrants in the US nowadays to regret ever coming here.

Hug an immigrant today!

@flaminghydra.com
@felipedlh.bsky.social

flaminghydra.com/issue-448/#i...

Bill of goods / Feline fame

Felipe De La Hoz on immigrants’ regrets; Ace and Jack on Hollywood cats

flaminghydra.com

Reposted by John McLaren

Charlottesville Tomorrow @cvilletomorrow.bsky.social · 2d

Emily Gorcenski's vision for the #Next20 years: "Charlottesville is on the leading edge of what will be a generational shift in how Americans understand community, belonging and civic virtue."

She's been around the world over the last year — but came back to Charlottesville because she sees people ready to lead

Emily Gorcenski sees a growing rejection of hopelessness over national politics. It's being replaced by active learning and participation in local issues, she writes.

www.cvilletomorrow.org

John McLaren @johnmclaren.bsky.social · 2d

“Stop trying to make ‘whilst’ happen. It’s not going to happen.”

John McLaren @johnmclaren.bsky.social · 2d

Does this count against him in the practical exam?

John McLaren @johnmclaren.bsky.social · 2d

Wow, I’ve never been. Sounds like I’ve been missing something.

Reposted by John McLaren

johnedwinmason @johnedwinmason.bsky.social · 3d

Charlottesville friends, the Jefferson School African American Heritage Center @jsaahccville.bsky.social has released a great new app--History in the Palm of Your Hand. It explores the story of the school & our city through audio, photos, documents & maps. It's very cool. mailchi.mp/jeffschoolhr...

History in the Palm of Your Hand

mailchi.mp

John McLaren @johnmclaren.bsky.social · 3d

Thanks for passing that on. It’s a really good comment.

John McLaren @johnmclaren.bsky.social · 3d

Also, I’m remembering that Rebacca Hall directed *Passing,* which I think is a remarkable film.

Reposted by John McLaren

Jordy Yager @jordyyager.bsky.social · 3d

The new JSAAHC app is officially here!

📍 11-stop audio tour
🖼️ Archival photos + documents
🌍 Multi-language support

Reposted by Scott L. Greer, John McLaren, Rosemary A. Joyce , and 1 more Scott L. Greer, John McLaren, Rosemary A. Joyce, Charles T. Mathewes

jamelle @jamellebouie.net · 3d

i just want to say that i wrote this exactly one year ago.

This election was not a grand public affirmation for his most expansive plans and aggressive schemes. The electorate was as close to evenly divided as is possible (Trump is ahead by less than two percentage points in the popular vote) in a system where someone has to win. The marginal Trump voter — that is, the person who put him over the top — wants lower prices and cheaper homes, not chaos, dysfunction and autocratic, strongman government. But there are no real Trump plans to improve life for most Americans.

If there is such a thing as favorable terrain for a fight, this is it. This is the opportunity to weaken Trump and make his administration even less effective than it is already shaping up to be.

The 2024 election was the end of one iteration of the American republic. But the new one is still gestating — still formless, its outlines still unclear. And we, as free and equal citizens, have the capacity to shape it.

Yes, Trump will fight to try to impose his vision of the new world. Yes, he will lay claim to the powers of a monarch. Yes, he will speak as if he has royal prerogative. Yes, he will work to undermine our revolutionary heritage. But there is a large gap between a stated intention and an accomplished fact. And it is within that space that politics happens.

Reposted by Brendan Nyhan, John McLaren, Peter M. Shane , and 3 more Brendan Nyhan, John McLaren, Peter M. Shane, Sanford F. Schram, Robert C. Richards, Sam Kamin

Kyle Cheney @kyledcheney.bsky.social · 3d

BREAKING: Comey case dismissed without prejudice. Halligan invalidly appointed, judge rules. storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...

John McLaren @johnmclaren.bsky.social · 3d

Thanks for the tip. I think of *The Others* as the best ghost story on film, one of the rare films to create a cumulating feeling of pure fear in the audience. Also an interesting film.

John McLaren @johnmclaren.bsky.social · 3d

I love his small role in Lars van Trier’s Melancholia, as the wedding planner who *cannot* *bear* *to* *look* at the bride because she arrived to the wedding late and messed up all of his plans.

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