John McLaren
@johnmclaren.bsky.social
2.2K followers 830 following 1.3K posts
Economist, classical music nerd, and family man.
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johnmclaren.bsky.social
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)
Reposted by John McLaren
Reposted by John McLaren
katzish.bsky.social
The Oatmeal, ladies and gents. Really thoughtful illustrated essay on the use and misuse of AI art and why it often feels…bad

theoatmeal.com

A little guy with a speech bubble saying: 
"I'm the Chief Brand Officer of User Engagement at DataRectal, but what I really am is a storyteller."
LMAO.
Virginia Woolf was a storyteller.
Shel Silverstein was a storyteller.
You work in tech, shitbird.
Reposted by John McLaren
threnody.bsky.social
hi, cis folks in california!

this headline leaves out that newsom has another 5 days to sign these bills into law. if you’d like to tell him he should do that to protect trans californians, you should to reach out.

he also has a phone: (916) 445-2841

want to know what to say? next post! 🧵
Reposted by John McLaren
kenmartin.bsky.social
It’s shameful that Speaker Johnson and House Republicans refuse to release the Epstein files. Swear in Adelita Grijalva and get this done for the survivors and American people.
Reposted by John McLaren
waldo.net
Virginia Republican gubernatorial nominee Winsome Earle-Sears has no policy positions, has shared no plans for what she’d do if elected, grants no interviews, and isn’t even on her own campaign bus as it tours the state. She’s a candidate in name only.
Spanberger answers questions about policy. Earle-Sears does not.
This fits a pattern where Earle-Sears has avoided taking about most issues. Her silence on issues is unprecedented in modern Virginia history.
cardinalnews.org
johnmclaren.bsky.social
And I love the observation that under this regime the standard analysis of tariffs we do in the economics department would, under the present regime and the proposed “compact,” be considered thought crime.

#econsky
Reposted by John McLaren
cvilledems.bsky.social
A magnificent tour force from @sivav.bsky.social.

Can we make sure that Paul Mahoney and every member of the Board of Visitors reads it?
johnmclaren.bsky.social
The Montreal protocol. As a former Montrealer, I took a special sort of pride in it. Sigh.
johnmclaren.bsky.social
Thanks. One more awful thing to think about.
johnmclaren.bsky.social
One of my proudest achievements was teaching my daughter (now 22) to drive manual transmission. I feel that I have given her a superpower. When she borrowed my car one summer none of her friends knew what to do with it.
johnmclaren.bsky.social
Really? I had not heard that. Is it a big effect?
johnmclaren.bsky.social
Of course, immediately afterward we received and email from Rachel Sheridan and Paul Mahoney saying, essentially, that they are thinking about it very hard.
Reposted by John McLaren
mtgillikin.bsky.social
This earned an email

Last sentence is awkwardly worded but I think you get the point
Dear Councilors, Mr. Sanders, and Chief Kochis,
The city just put out a news release about presenting Flock pilot results to the community. CPD is providing one day notice for tomorrow's meeting and three days notice for the Thursday meeting.
Furthermore the release claims that the meetings are at "established community meetings." I'm assuming that for Fifeville this is referencing the FNA meeting. However that meeting is on Thursday, not Tuesday when the Flock meeting is scheduled.
If the city is serious about getting community input on Flock, it would provide more notice. This is very very similar to the timeframe provided for the ill conceived ordinance to criminalize homelessness.
The continued disrespect for the community in matters of formulating policing policy needs to stop. The quality of the public safety interventions the city implements is directly tied to the quality of input the city receives and considers on these issues. The continued failure to treat community input as a box to check rather than a thoughtfully considered resource will only hamper our ability to address serious public safety issues.
Link to news release:
https://www.charlottesville.gov/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=2304
I look forward to your response.

Sincerely,

Matthew
Reposted by John McLaren
meidastouch.com
Letting the health care tax credits expire would devastate American families — and we’re making that crystal clear by giving you the data.

We’ve built graphics showing how much costs would rise in every GOP district.

Let’s start with Mike Johnson (R-LA):
Reposted by John McLaren
cvilledems.bsky.social
IMPORTANT NOTICE: This event is postponed to October 14 at 6:00pm. More details soon. (Sorry about the late change.)
cvilledems.bsky.social
School board candidate forum!
Tuesday, October 7 at 7:00pm, Jefferson School.
CHARLOTTESVILLE SCHOOL BOARD CANDIDATE FORUM

Zyahna Bryant | Dashad Cooper | Emily Dooley | Lisa Larson-Torres

7PM-8:30PM OCTOBER 7, 2025
THE JEFFERSON SCHOOL

JOIN THE CHARLOTTESVILLE DEMOCRATS AND THE JEFFERSON SCHOOL FOR A FORUM WITH THE SCHOOL BOARD CANDIDATES. THE EVENING WILL BEGIN A LED DISCUSSION, FOLLOWED BY A Q&A.
Reposted by John McLaren
alixeharrow.bsky.social
reminder that you can be the gentlest, kindest person--you can dedicate your life to protecting the planet!--and still keep a little list of people you fucking hate. it's okay to be angry! anger is a symptom of giving a shit!
yasharali.bsky.social
Earlier this year, Dr. Jane Goodall sat down for an interview for Brad Falchuk’s new Netflix series, Famous Last Words.

The premise of the series is to interview people on the condition that the interview not air until the subject has passed away.
Reposted by John McLaren
cvilledems.bsky.social
The Republican plan to increase disease, hunger, and suffering endured by the American people advances.
waldo.net
The Trump administration has cancelled 4,304 deliveries to food banks so far this year, refusing to deliver 94 million pounds of contracted-for food. Food banks simply can’t feed people enough anymore. Millions of Americans are going hungry as a result.
Trump Canceled 94 Million Pounds of Food Aid. Here’s What Never Arrived.
ProPublica obtained records from the Department of Agriculture that detail the millions of pounds of food, down to the number of eggs, that never reached food banks because of the administration’s cut...
projects.propublica.org
Reposted by John McLaren
thetnholler.bsky.social
“There’s a baby!”

Guns drawn. Windows smashed. With a 1 month old in the car. (They did this as he was coming home from an immigration court appointment— which is illegal in Colorado: coloradosun.com/2025/10/01/i...)
Reposted by John McLaren
jlray.bsky.social
A Texas megachurch pastor and GOP leader has been arrested for crimes against children. Not Robert Morris, a different one. Not Josiah Anthony, a different one. Not Luke Cunningham, a different one. Not Tony Evans, a different one. Not Scott Crenshaw, a different one. Not Steve Lawson, a different o
Reposted by John McLaren
marcelias.bsky.social
No one is covering the GOP's scheme to rig congressional maps for 2026 as closely as Democracy Docket. It is providing gavel to gavel coverage of the ongoing hearing over whether the Texas gerrymander will be in place for the midterms.

Support its work by subscribing now. hubs.ly/Q03M8rql0
johnmclaren.bsky.social
Ah, thanks. Now I see. The “texts scandal” I have been dealing with.