Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Reposted by Ted Mann

◥◤Kriston Capps @kristoncapps.bsky.social · 20h

Local leaders, business executives and economic analysts are talking about DOGE + ICE + shutdown not as a downtown for the DC region — but as an inflection point, a signal that the region needs to pivot away from its reliance on federal work.

Grim reading: www.bloomberg.com/news/article...

The Federal Government Shutdown Adds to DC’s Economic Woes

A prolonged period of furloughs — or firings — could worsen a slowdown for the capital region.

www.bloomberg.com

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Ted Mann @whereisted.bsky.social · 21h

went on @thewaroncars.bsky.social to talk about the war on the war on cars

thewaroncars.org/2025/10/07/e...

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Ted Mann @whereisted.bsky.social · 1d

did the Cuomo campaign write this?

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Reposted by Ted Mann

City Nolan @ndhapple.bsky.social · 4d

For everyone stuck writing about today’s cancellations, here’s the metadata from the “rule” that Vought claims both New York and Chicago are somehow in violation of. The PDF to post it wasn’t even created until 5:47pm, was last modified at 5:55pm. And the government shut down six hours later at 12am

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Ted Mann @whereisted.bsky.social · 5d

I think this is intended to come off as intimidating backroom toughassedness but it reminds me more of Ben Affleck singing "re-tain-er" in the interview scene in Good Will Hunting.

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Reposted by Ted Mann

◥◤Kriston Capps @kristoncapps.bsky.social · 6d

Remarkable story about a wave of foreclosures in Baltimore triggered by incomprehensible DSCR loan activity from New York investors. This @thebaltimorebanner.com story reads like the sixth season of "The Wire": www.thebanner.com/community/ho...

The housing hustle igniting a foreclosure crisis in Baltimore

The foreclosures could send neighborhoods spiraling and make Baltimore America’s next great housing crisis.

www.thebanner.com

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Reposted by Ted Mann

Aaron W. Gordon @agordon.me · 5d

Back when I did this kind of thing, the pitch for why more NYC newsrooms should have dedicated MTA reporters—not even "transportation" generally, just MTA—was that the MTA's annual budget was larger than that of 10 states.

City Nolan @ndhapple.bsky.social · 6d

You see this particularly in the crime discussion nationally, but folks outside of New York City (and often times in New York City) do not grasp the scale and scope of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority.

Reinvent Albany @reinventalbany.bsky.social · 6d

NEW Report: States that voted for Trump got billions from MTA Spending

Companies in red states by U.S. Senate seats received more than $3.5 billion in MTA payments over 14 years. States that voted for Trump in 2024 received nearly $7 billion from the MTA over this period.

buff.ly/Yxt4KZ6

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Reposted by Ted Mann

City Nolan @ndhapple.bsky.social · 6d

You see this particularly in the crime discussion nationally, but folks outside of New York City (and often times in New York City) do not grasp the scale and scope of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority.

Reinvent Albany @reinventalbany.bsky.social · 6d

NEW Report: States that voted for Trump got billions from MTA Spending

Companies in red states by U.S. Senate seats received more than $3.5 billion in MTA payments over 14 years. States that voted for Trump in 2024 received nearly $7 billion from the MTA over this period.

buff.ly/Yxt4KZ6

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Ted Mann @whereisted.bsky.social · 6d

see also: the Philly plumbers union versus the urinals

www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna12083...

No-flush urinals rile Philly plumbers

Philadelphia's hoped-for bragging rights as home of America’s tallest environmentally friendly building could be sunk. The plumbers union has raised a stink about plans to put waterless urinals in the...

www.nbcnews.com

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Ted Mann @whereisted.bsky.social · 6d

[scribbling out their homework as the bus pulls up to school]

City Nolan @ndhapple.bsky.social · 6d

LMAO the rule being used to block funding for the Hudson and Second Avenue projects appears to have only been drafted and posted as of last night. www.transportation.gov/sites/dot.go...

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Ted Mann @whereisted.bsky.social · 6d

putting the "pre" in pretext

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Reposted by Ted Mann

Aaron @aaronznj.bsky.social · 6d

I know that quelling the doomposting about this is gonna be like pissing in the wind, but still, PSA: Both projects are already fully funded, obligated, and under construction. Cancelling them is for all intents and purposes impossible.

George Pearkes @peark.es · 6d

LET'S GET READY TO LITIGATE

*US PAUSES $18B IN NYC INFRASTRUCTURE FUNDING: VOUGHT
*US PAUSES HUDSON TUNNEL, SECOND AVE SUBWAY FUNDING: VOUGHT
*US PAUSES NYC PROJECT FUNDING BECAUSE OF DEI CONCERNS: VOUGHT

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Reposted by Ted Mann

Shawn Donnan @sdonnan.bsky.social · 7d

Trump’s tariffs - and companies’ push for relief from them - has set off a lobbying boom with more than $900 million spent in the first half of this year.

The big winners: A small group of lobbying firms with close ties to the Trump administration.

www.bloomberg.com/news/feature...

A Gunmaker’s Lobbying Shows How Trump’s Tariffs Changed the Game

Firms close to the administration have seen a surge in revenue as they advise businesses on how to avoid the import duties and play ‘Let’s Make a Deal’ in Trump's Washington

www.bloomberg.com

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Reposted by Ted Mann

City Nolan @ndhapple.bsky.social · 6d

Also, Voight going after the Hudson River tunnels, which are primarily for New Jersey Transit(!), a month before the gubernatorial election in New Jersey is a big gift to Mikie Sherrill

City Nolan @ndhapple.bsky.social · 6d

OMB Director Russell Voight says that US DOT will announce that the federal government is "pausing" funding for both Gateway and the Second Avenue Subway because of "unconstitutional DEI principles" -- x.com/russvought/s...

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Ted Mann @whereisted.bsky.social · 7d

w/ @sdonnan.bsky.social @nazmul.bsky.social Michael Smith & Jessica Brice

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Ted Mann @whereisted.bsky.social · 7d

Trump's 50% tariff on Brazil was a crisis for Taurus, which sells most of its low-cost guns in the US. So Taurus called Brian Ballard.

Trump's trade wars are fueling a historic boom on K Street -- especially for lobbyists closest to the president's inner circle.

www.bloomberg.com/news/feature...

A Gunmaker’s Lobbying Shows How Trump’s Tariffs Changed the Game

Firms close to the administration have seen a surge in revenue as they advise businesses on how to avoid the import duties and play ‘Let’s Make a Deal’ in Trump's Washington

www.bloomberg.com

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Reposted by Ted Mann

Steven T. Dennis @steventdennis.bsky.social · 7d

New from me: PENNY SHORTAGE! Retailers are lobbying Congress for a law to let them round to the nearest nickel ASAP as pennies go away.
“Businesses simply cannot provide exact change any longer because they cannot get pennies,” they wrote. Gift link:
www.bloomberg.com/news/article...

Retailers Seek Law Rounding to Nearest Nickel as Pennies Go Away

US retailers are appealing to Congress for a new law allowing them to round purchases to the nearest nickel as new supplies of pennies dry up, according to a letter seen by Bloomberg.

www.bloomberg.com

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Reposted by Ted Mann

Aaron W. Gordon @agordon.me · 7d

The amazing thing about the hundreds of billions of dollars being spent on AI development is it doesn't even include all the externalized costs like higher electricity prices for hundreds of millions of people.

AI Data Centers Are Sending Power Bills Soaring

Wholesale electricity costs as much as 267% more than it did five years ago in areas near data centers. That’s being passed on to customers.

www.bloomberg.com

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Reposted by Ted Mann

Patrick Radden Keefe @praddenkeefe.bsky.social · 8d

Last night I watched ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER and was fairly blown away by how prescient it feels in capturing the encroaching dystopia of this moment in American history.
Today I woke up to this clip which feels on about 5 different levels like it could be an outtake from the movie.

Steve Marmel @marmel.bsky.social · 9d

ICE attempted
and failed to disappear a food delivery guy.
It needed to be scored.

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Reposted by Ted Mann

Aaron W. Gordon @agordon.me · 9d

One thing to know about the "Eric Adams Is The Future of the Democratic Party" takes from 2021 is not only were they obviously wrong at the time, not only are they embarrassing to the authors now, but they are objectively among the most wrong takes in the history of political punditry.

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Ted Mann @whereisted.bsky.social · 15d

it's giving Pulaski/"Lincoln Tunnel access road"

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Ted Mann @whereisted.bsky.social · 15d

a man in a suit and tie is standing on the side of a highway .

ALT: a man in a suit and tie is standing on the side of a highway .

media.tenor.com

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Ted Mann @whereisted.bsky.social · 15d

incredible

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Reposted by Ted Mann

Gersh Kuntzman @realgershkuntzman.bsky.social · 15d

Our story: usa.streetsblog.org/2025/09/22/h...

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Ted Mann @whereisted.bsky.social · 15d

and on and on...

Amid a global movement of street redesign, and after a dramatic spike in US traffic deaths, the Duffy DOT is all in on cars.

Trump❤️🚗🚜🚙

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