stevenjens.bsky.social
@stevenjens.bsky.social
Happy Constitution Day to those who celebrate -- apparently not Pam Bondi.
September 17, 2025 at 1:00 PM
Happy Constitution Day to those who celebrate -- apparently not Pam Bondi.
Reposted by stevenjens.bsky.social
Among the strongman influences on Trump, don't underestimate Argentina's Perón. Crowd-pleasing yet grossly fiscally irresponsible gestures are just his kind of thing.
Musk Mulls Sending All Americans $5,000 Checks Using DOGE Savings
“Will check with the President,” billionaire Elon Musk replied to a tweet proposing a refund check to taxpayers funded by DOGE’s savings.
www.forbes.com
February 21, 2025 at 12:06 AM
Among the strongman influences on Trump, don't underestimate Argentina's Perón. Crowd-pleasing yet grossly fiscally irresponsible gestures are just his kind of thing.
Reposted by stevenjens.bsky.social
Contrary to the White House, "it's not a 'lie,' 'irresponsible,' or 'dishonest'" when people call the Gulf of Mexico that, any more than when we use the name "Turkey" in defiance of the Turkish govt's wishes. Prof. Volokh does have his doubts though (second post) as to whether AP has a 1A claim.
"It Is a Fact That the Body of Water ... Is Called the Gulf of America"?
I hope to blog soon about the First Amendment questions raised by President Trump's excluding the AP from the Oval Office and Air Force One because of the
reason.com
February 17, 2025 at 11:07 PM
Contrary to the White House, "it's not a 'lie,' 'irresponsible,' or 'dishonest'" when people call the Gulf of Mexico that, any more than when we use the name "Turkey" in defiance of the Turkish govt's wishes. Prof. Volokh does have his doubts though (second post) as to whether AP has a 1A claim.
Reposted by stevenjens.bsky.social
Instead of Napoleon, Trump should cite Óscar Benavides: "For my friends, anything. For my enemies, the law."
February 15, 2025 at 7:38 PM
Instead of Napoleon, Trump should cite Óscar Benavides: "For my friends, anything. For my enemies, the law."
Reposted by stevenjens.bsky.social
The irony here is that Benny Johnson and Tim Pool, key popularizer of this secret Politico funding theory, actually were secretly and illegally paid millions of dollars by the Russian government. (They claim they didn't know the money was from Russia.) www.washingtonpost.com/style/media/...
Inside Tenet Media, the pro-Trump ‘supergroup’ allegedly funded by Russia
Even some of Tenet’s right-wing stars wondered why it existed. Now, a new federal indictment claims it was a Russian propaganda operation.
www.washingtonpost.com
February 5, 2025 at 5:51 PM
The irony here is that Benny Johnson and Tim Pool, key popularizer of this secret Politico funding theory, actually were secretly and illegally paid millions of dollars by the Russian government. (They claim they didn't know the money was from Russia.) www.washingtonpost.com/style/media/...
Reposted by stevenjens.bsky.social
New productivity growth numbers consistent with the view that we remain almost exactly on the course that was expected prior to COVID. No evidence of an AI inflection in these data--at least not yet.
February 6, 2025 at 2:50 PM
New productivity growth numbers consistent with the view that we remain almost exactly on the course that was expected prior to COVID. No evidence of an AI inflection in these data--at least not yet.
Reposted by stevenjens.bsky.social
Oh, the freak out was justified. We’re still destroying American influence and goodwill one confrontation at a time.
POLITICO: “.. I felt kind of guilty for freaking out over the weekend,” said one person close to the Trump administration. “I should have assumed it was a feint.”
@politico.com
www.politico.com/newsletters/...
@politico.com
www.politico.com/newsletters/...
The trade war in Trump's mind
www.politico.com
February 3, 2025 at 10:28 PM
Oh, the freak out was justified. We’re still destroying American influence and goodwill one confrontation at a time.
Reposted by stevenjens.bsky.social
The limited use of an ever-present tariff threat, via @scottlincicome.bsky.social to Politico: bit.ly/3E9NDy1
January 27, 2025 at 4:48 PM
The limited use of an ever-present tariff threat, via @scottlincicome.bsky.social to Politico: bit.ly/3E9NDy1
I will (mostly) trust the courts to work out what the law *is*, but it *ought* to be strict liability. If someone's property is destroyed through appropriate police action, let alone negligence -- if that's just part of the cost of policing -- that cost should be borne by the taxpayer.
January 28, 2025 at 5:15 PM
I will (mostly) trust the courts to work out what the law *is*, but it *ought* to be strict liability. If someone's property is destroyed through appropriate police action, let alone negligence -- if that's just part of the cost of policing -- that cost should be borne by the taxpayer.
Reposted by stevenjens.bsky.social
Don't give up - do something. A great list for civic minded Americans, from @protectdemocracy.org
open.substack.com/pub/protectd...
open.substack.com/pub/protectd...
How *you* can protect democracy
29 concrete actions you can take right now to protect our system of government
open.substack.com
January 24, 2025 at 9:27 PM
Don't give up - do something. A great list for civic minded Americans, from @protectdemocracy.org
open.substack.com/pub/protectd...
open.substack.com/pub/protectd...
Reposted by stevenjens.bsky.social
This bout of freezing weather we’re having is probably *not* because of a polar vortex destabilized by climate change.
Good reminder that while the earth is warmer than ever and that’s Very Bad, weather sometimes just happens
Good reminder that while the earth is warmer than ever and that’s Very Bad, weather sometimes just happens
Is the polar vortex responsible for the current cold snap over much of the U.S.?
Our experts discuss this in our most recent Polar Vortex Blog: www.climate.gov/news-feature...
Our experts discuss this in our most recent Polar Vortex Blog: www.climate.gov/news-feature...
January 22, 2025 at 1:38 PM
This bout of freezing weather we’re having is probably *not* because of a polar vortex destabilized by climate change.
Good reminder that while the earth is warmer than ever and that’s Very Bad, weather sometimes just happens
Good reminder that while the earth is warmer than ever and that’s Very Bad, weather sometimes just happens
Reposted by stevenjens.bsky.social
Dumbing down educational standards was one of the first steps in Mao’s Cultural Revolution
January 18, 2025 at 3:22 AM
Dumbing down educational standards was one of the first steps in Mao’s Cultural Revolution
Reposted by stevenjens.bsky.social
Like I said, this is not a constitutional role of the Executive, but Biden seems to think it is, and Trump will happily embrace that expansion of presidential power.
January 17, 2025 at 4:09 PM
Like I said, this is not a constitutional role of the Executive, but Biden seems to think it is, and Trump will happily embrace that expansion of presidential power.
Reposted by stevenjens.bsky.social
Yeah, I was sorta thinking of it in reverse terms, like when Trump is going to issue a statement saying that the Fourteenth Amendment doesn't include birthright citizenship.
"They say I can't make an Amendment to the Constitution, even tho I was elected President (in a HISTORIC landslide election!) When sleepy joe just declares the Equality Bill is an Amendment now, (something nobody remembers because it failed 50 years ago) nobody on the loony left questions it. I CAN"
January 17, 2025 at 4:07 PM
Yeah, I was sorta thinking of it in reverse terms, like when Trump is going to issue a statement saying that the Fourteenth Amendment doesn't include birthright citizenship.
Reposted by stevenjens.bsky.social
Using lawsuits not because you're seeking to win a lawsuit, but as a vehicle for legal bribery that both parties are amenable to is a true innovation. www.wsj.com/business/med...
Exclusive | CBS Owner Discusses Settling Trump Suit, With Merger Review on Tap
Paramount, owner of CBS, its namesake studio and several cable channels, has a major piece of business in front of the new administration: its planned merger with Skydance Media.
www.wsj.com
January 17, 2025 at 7:59 PM
Using lawsuits not because you're seeking to win a lawsuit, but as a vehicle for legal bribery that both parties are amenable to is a true innovation. www.wsj.com/business/med...
Reposted by stevenjens.bsky.social
Constitution 101: no, you can't sue members of Congress for voting for arms for Israel. [Steven Lubet]
The class-action suit against Israel’s funding defies law and logic
Their case is entirely without legal merit.
thehill.com
January 15, 2025 at 12:39 AM
Constitution 101: no, you can't sue members of Congress for voting for arms for Israel. [Steven Lubet]
Reposted by stevenjens.bsky.social
Reposted by stevenjens.bsky.social
In case you missed this last month.
Guilty plea from Chinatown secret police station guy. China's efforts to exercise some sovereignty over their diaspora are bad but also fascinating. www.justice.gov/opa/pr/new-y...
New York Resident Pleads Guilty to Operating Secret Police Station of the Chinese Government in Lower Manhattan
Chen Jinping, 60, of New York, New York, pleaded guilty today to conspiring to act as an illegal agent of the government of the People’s Republic of China (PRC), in connection with opening and operati...
www.justice.gov
January 12, 2025 at 5:38 PM
In case you missed this last month.
Reposted by stevenjens.bsky.social
oh wow
The Library of Congress has a trove of images “free to use and re-use” that are in the public domain - and they’re fantastic
The Library of Congress has a trove of images “free to use and re-use” that are in the public domain - and they’re fantastic
January 11, 2025 at 1:28 PM
oh wow
The Library of Congress has a trove of images “free to use and re-use” that are in the public domain - and they’re fantastic
The Library of Congress has a trove of images “free to use and re-use” that are in the public domain - and they’re fantastic
Reposted by stevenjens.bsky.social
Under New York’s misnamed superfund law, businesses that acted perfectly lawfully twenty-four years ago can be tagged with massive liabilities payable to the state, which will then distribute the booty in ways skewed toward political allies. How New York is that? [John Ketcham]
New York's Climate Change Superfund Act Will Come With Consequences
The new law will collect billions from companies that have extracted fossil fuels in recent years.
www.city-journal.org
January 7, 2025 at 3:42 PM
Under New York’s misnamed superfund law, businesses that acted perfectly lawfully twenty-four years ago can be tagged with massive liabilities payable to the state, which will then distribute the booty in ways skewed toward political allies. How New York is that? [John Ketcham]
Reposted by stevenjens.bsky.social
2025 is the sum of the first 9 cubed numbers (1, 8, 27, 64, 125, . . . 512, 729). It’s also the square of the sum of the first nine integers. All of which is curious but meaningless.
January 1, 2025 at 6:18 PM
2025 is the sum of the first 9 cubed numbers (1, 8, 27, 64, 125, . . . 512, 729). It’s also the square of the sum of the first nine integers. All of which is curious but meaningless.
Reposted by stevenjens.bsky.social
Interesting paper just came out in the Journal of Finance:
"Working More to Pay the Mortgage: Household Debt, Interest Rates, and Family Labor Supply" by Michael Zator
papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers....
"Working More to Pay the Mortgage: Household Debt, Interest Rates, and Family Labor Supply" by Michael Zator
papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers....
December 22, 2024 at 12:03 PM
Interesting paper just came out in the Journal of Finance:
"Working More to Pay the Mortgage: Household Debt, Interest Rates, and Family Labor Supply" by Michael Zator
papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers....
"Working More to Pay the Mortgage: Household Debt, Interest Rates, and Family Labor Supply" by Michael Zator
papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers....
Reposted by stevenjens.bsky.social
John Ketcham at City Journal looks at how electoral reform fared last month, with some glimpses of how a relatively conservative observer can find appeal in Final Four or Final Five primary reform as a way to challenge interest groups' grip on NYC politics #RCV www.city-journal.org/article/rank...
To Reform Voting, Advocates Should Focus on Cities, Not States
Targeting localities may be a more politically viable strategy for proponents of ranked-choice voting and other measures.
www.city-journal.org
December 18, 2024 at 9:19 PM
John Ketcham at City Journal looks at how electoral reform fared last month, with some glimpses of how a relatively conservative observer can find appeal in Final Four or Final Five primary reform as a way to challenge interest groups' grip on NYC politics #RCV www.city-journal.org/article/rank...
Reposted by stevenjens.bsky.social
This is not to defend Anthem in any way, but that viral article about anesthesiologists is published by their cartel. There's a reason it's one of the highest paid specialties, and why a very common surprise medical bill is for an out of network anesthesiologist on an in-network surgery
December 5, 2024 at 12:51 AM
This is not to defend Anthem in any way, but that viral article about anesthesiologists is published by their cartel. There's a reason it's one of the highest paid specialties, and why a very common surprise medical bill is for an out of network anesthesiologist on an in-network surgery
Reposted by stevenjens.bsky.social
An important and non-obvious finding here is that posting about politics reduces your credibility in the eyes of people who agree with you politically, just not to as large an extent as it does for those who disagree.
December 6, 2024 at 6:23 PM
An important and non-obvious finding here is that posting about politics reduces your credibility in the eyes of people who agree with you politically, just not to as large an extent as it does for those who disagree.