John Voelcker
@johnvoelcker.bsky.social
Raconteur. Random cultural, political, sociological, science, tech, #EV, #LGBTQ, British car stuff. "Plucky and good fun."Contributing Editor, CAR and DRIVER, Green Car Reports, others; Cofounder, Tempting Fate Tours.
Welcome to Bluesky. Don’t be a jerk.
Welcome to Bluesky. Don’t be a jerk.
Apparently not always.
February 13, 2026 at 1:26 PM
Apparently not always.
Indeed. One of the reasons I would never remotely have been good at PR / Comms.
February 13, 2026 at 1:08 PM
Indeed. One of the reasons I would never remotely have been good at PR / Comms.
There are times when a reporter has to make that bargain. I've had to do that in the past.
Better to get the information for the story from "a spokesperson" than not have that person respond to Qs at all. Not a great practice, but generally accepted.
Better to get the information for the story from "a spokesperson" than not have that person respond to Qs at all. Not a great practice, but generally accepted.
February 13, 2026 at 12:55 PM
There are times when a reporter has to make that bargain. I've had to do that in the past.
Better to get the information for the story from "a spokesperson" than not have that person respond to Qs at all. Not a great practice, but generally accepted.
Better to get the information for the story from "a spokesperson" than not have that person respond to Qs at all. Not a great practice, but generally accepted.
Per @mattgertz.bsky.social ...
Extremely telling that Tricia McLaughlin won’t put her name behind the defenses of like 12 different scandals here and is instead quoted as an anonymous “DHS spokeswoman.”
Extremely telling that Tricia McLaughlin won’t put her name behind the defenses of like 12 different scandals here and is instead quoted as an anonymous “DHS spokeswoman.”
February 13, 2026 at 12:37 PM
Per @mattgertz.bsky.social ...
Extremely telling that Tricia McLaughlin won’t put her name behind the defenses of like 12 different scandals here and is instead quoted as an anonymous “DHS spokeswoman.”
Extremely telling that Tricia McLaughlin won’t put her name behind the defenses of like 12 different scandals here and is instead quoted as an anonymous “DHS spokeswoman.”
Fair. From my article in @theverge.com:
"Consultant Michael Dunne noted that Chinese EVs in the UK, led by BYD + MG, are roughly 15% cheaper than Japanese + Korean models.
“'The Chinese don’t have to be scary cheap,' he said. 'Just priced low enough to make you pause—then take a closer look.'"
"Consultant Michael Dunne noted that Chinese EVs in the UK, led by BYD + MG, are roughly 15% cheaper than Japanese + Korean models.
“'The Chinese don’t have to be scary cheap,' he said. 'Just priced low enough to make you pause—then take a closer look.'"
February 12, 2026 at 11:31 PM
Fair. From my article in @theverge.com:
"Consultant Michael Dunne noted that Chinese EVs in the UK, led by BYD + MG, are roughly 15% cheaper than Japanese + Korean models.
“'The Chinese don’t have to be scary cheap,' he said. 'Just priced low enough to make you pause—then take a closer look.'"
"Consultant Michael Dunne noted that Chinese EVs in the UK, led by BYD + MG, are roughly 15% cheaper than Japanese + Korean models.
“'The Chinese don’t have to be scary cheap,' he said. 'Just priced low enough to make you pause—then take a closer look.'"
Agreed. Remember, social media does not equal life. 😁
February 12, 2026 at 7:27 PM
Agreed. Remember, social media does not equal life. 😁
Not sure it's outrage. Morbid curiosity, mebbe?
February 12, 2026 at 6:57 PM
Not sure it's outrage. Morbid curiosity, mebbe?
This is another question.
February 12, 2026 at 5:13 PM
This is another question.
Pro pollster @gelliottmorris.com suggests Gallup has been winding down public polling for many years now ... but in the current political climate, definitely an awkward look.
bsky.app/profile/gell...
bsky.app/profile/gell...
Does anybody have evidence for their claims that Gallup is stopping its POTUS approval poll to avoid pissing off Trump? This strikes me as a pretty wild accusation against a company that (a) published a lot of bad data for Trump in term 1 and (b) has been winding down its public polling for a decade
So this is the kind of polling that's far more useful than the generic "approve/disapprove" Gallup was doing. Gallup may be doing away with that polling entirely because they fear displeasing Dear Leader but I'm not going to miss it. Trump doesn't believe negative polling, anyway.
February 12, 2026 at 5:13 PM
Pro pollster @gelliottmorris.com suggests Gallup has been winding down public polling for many years now ... but in the current political climate, definitely an awkward look.
bsky.app/profile/gell...
bsky.app/profile/gell...
As you could smell from outside the room ...
February 12, 2026 at 4:08 PM
As you could smell from outside the room ...
Relevant ...
bsky.app/profile/gell...
bsky.app/profile/gell...
Does anybody have evidence for their claims that Gallup is stopping its POTUS approval poll to avoid pissing off Trump? This strikes me as a pretty wild accusation against a company that (a) published a lot of bad data for Trump in term 1 and (b) has been winding down its public polling for a decade
So this is the kind of polling that's far more useful than the generic "approve/disapprove" Gallup was doing. Gallup may be doing away with that polling entirely because they fear displeasing Dear Leader but I'm not going to miss it. Trump doesn't believe negative polling, anyway.
February 12, 2026 at 3:16 PM
Relevant ...
bsky.app/profile/gell...
bsky.app/profile/gell...
Much of it is gerrymandering. The 2 parties seem to have an explicit bargain for as few evenly balanced electoral districts as possible, which drive both candidates to the center.
Instead, to win primaries (the most extreme voters) they go hard in one direction.
Result: religious war + paralysis.
Instead, to win primaries (the most extreme voters) they go hard in one direction.
Result: religious war + paralysis.
February 12, 2026 at 2:53 PM
Much of it is gerrymandering. The 2 parties seem to have an explicit bargain for as few evenly balanced electoral districts as possible, which drive both candidates to the center.
Instead, to win primaries (the most extreme voters) they go hard in one direction.
Result: religious war + paralysis.
Instead, to win primaries (the most extreme voters) they go hard in one direction.
Result: religious war + paralysis.