Billy Robb
@billyrobb.bsky.social
Phoenix resident. chollaexpress.substack.com
Arizona law says that public school students need to correctly answer "seventy out of the one hundred" questions on a civics test that is "identical" to the citizenship naturalization test used by the US government.
The naturalization test is now 128 questions.
The naturalization test is now 128 questions.
November 9, 2025 at 5:32 PM
Arizona law says that public school students need to correctly answer "seventy out of the one hundred" questions on a civics test that is "identical" to the citizenship naturalization test used by the US government.
The naturalization test is now 128 questions.
The naturalization test is now 128 questions.
This, but without the sarcasm.
Ezra Klein is right. Very thoughtful essay in the NYT.
Ezra Klein is right. Very thoughtful essay in the NYT.
What Democrats need now is to increase, not decrease, the number of votes they get.
They should try to make the tent bigger, not smaller.
They ought to stand for greater material wealth, not lesser material wealth.
They must welcome people, not turn people away.
Politics solved. Credit please.
They should try to make the tent bigger, not smaller.
They ought to stand for greater material wealth, not lesser material wealth.
They must welcome people, not turn people away.
Politics solved. Credit please.
November 2, 2025 at 11:41 PM
This, but without the sarcasm.
Ezra Klein is right. Very thoughtful essay in the NYT.
Ezra Klein is right. Very thoughtful essay in the NYT.
In this post, I try to decipher a coherent policy stance on education from the populist right. My conclusion is that they don’t really have one. If they did, they might look to the framework of Freddie deBoer, who wants to dismantle the “cult of smart.”
chollaexpress.substack.com/p/the-populi...
chollaexpress.substack.com/p/the-populi...
The populists are lost on education policy
Plus: Can broken norms ever be restored?
chollaexpress.substack.com
November 1, 2025 at 4:08 PM
In this post, I try to decipher a coherent policy stance on education from the populist right. My conclusion is that they don’t really have one. If they did, they might look to the framework of Freddie deBoer, who wants to dismantle the “cult of smart.”
chollaexpress.substack.com/p/the-populi...
chollaexpress.substack.com/p/the-populi...
Reposted by Billy Robb
South Phoenix just got its new light rail extension. Billy Robb rode it to dinner, a D-backs game and straight into the messy politics of public transit.
www.arizonaagenda.com/p/tales-from...
www.arizonaagenda.com/p/tales-from...
Tales from the Light Rail
Buy the ticket, take the ride ... Show us your scrapbook … And y’all are dirty.
www.arizonaagenda.com
September 30, 2025 at 5:25 PM
South Phoenix just got its new light rail extension. Billy Robb rode it to dinner, a D-backs game and straight into the messy politics of public transit.
www.arizonaagenda.com/p/tales-from...
www.arizonaagenda.com/p/tales-from...
Reposted by Billy Robb
July 13, 1925: The Roosevelt Dam in the valley of the Salt River in Arizona.
July 13, 2025 at 8:45 PM
July 13, 1925: The Roosevelt Dam in the valley of the Salt River in Arizona.
Why not Ruben?
chollaexpress.substack.com/p/why-not-ru...
chollaexpress.substack.com/p/why-not-ru...
Why not Ruben?
Arizona's junior senator goes to Iowa.
chollaexpress.substack.com
July 11, 2025 at 3:51 PM
Why not Ruben?
chollaexpress.substack.com/p/why-not-ru...
chollaexpress.substack.com/p/why-not-ru...
If Cornyn loses the primary, Dems could win in Texas, writes George Will. "Of course, this assumes what cannot be assumed: that prudence will conquer the national Democratic Party’s impulse to incessantly annoy the electorate’s temperate center." wapo.st/40BhtUw
July 7, 2025 at 2:56 PM
If Cornyn loses the primary, Dems could win in Texas, writes George Will. "Of course, this assumes what cannot be assumed: that prudence will conquer the national Democratic Party’s impulse to incessantly annoy the electorate’s temperate center." wapo.st/40BhtUw
Reposted by Billy Robb
The Dispatch is launching The Next 250, a yearlong project. We’ll spend the year talking about how we can take that baton and build towards a future our Founding Fathers can be proud of.
Join today: thedispatch.com/join-offer/t...
Join today: thedispatch.com/join-offer/t...
Join Offer The Next 250
We’re publishing substantive coverage that actually moves the conversation forward. The American experiment isn’t something that happened—it’s something that’s still happening. And The Dispatch will…
thedispatch.com
July 4, 2025 at 3:01 PM
The Dispatch is launching The Next 250, a yearlong project. We’ll spend the year talking about how we can take that baton and build towards a future our Founding Fathers can be proud of.
Join today: thedispatch.com/join-offer/t...
Join today: thedispatch.com/join-offer/t...
Reposted by Billy Robb
Important, from Arizona Supreme Court Justice Clint Bolick, on how the power to hold the federal government accountable in court for unlawful rights violations is now under even worse threat than before from language in the budget bill.
The Judiciary Will Become Virtually Powerless in Protecting Your Rights if the Current Budget Bill Becomes Law
Senate Republicans have proposed an even worse version of a House provision that will require citizens suing the government to post enormous sums in bonds
www.theunpopulist.net
June 14, 2025 at 8:17 PM
Important, from Arizona Supreme Court Justice Clint Bolick, on how the power to hold the federal government accountable in court for unlawful rights violations is now under even worse threat than before from language in the budget bill.
Reposted by Billy Robb
Sen. Gallego to @daveweigel.bsky.social on his immigration moonshot: What AZ voters "wanted was a secure border and a sane pathway to citizenship or stabilization. If we make that policy, and we communicate that, I think that’s the winning argument"
www.semafor.com/newsletter/0...
www.semafor.com/newsletter/0...
🟡 Semafor Principals: Tariff truce | Semafor
In today’s edition: The US and China agree to slash tariffs for 90 days.
www.semafor.com
May 12, 2025 at 4:13 PM
Sen. Gallego to @daveweigel.bsky.social on his immigration moonshot: What AZ voters "wanted was a secure border and a sane pathway to citizenship or stabilization. If we make that policy, and we communicate that, I think that’s the winning argument"
www.semafor.com/newsletter/0...
www.semafor.com/newsletter/0...
This is my gut reaction. Would be interested in what others think. I could see arguments in favor of consistency & speed when grading with a rubric. But I don't know how you emphasize the importance of human writing if no humans are going to read the writing that students do in school.
I think A.I. can be useful for helping teachers write lessons or assessments, but I strongly disagree with using it for grading student writing. If we are going to ask students to write, their writing should be evaluated by a human being.
www.nytimes.com/2025/04/14/u...
www.nytimes.com/2025/04/14/u...
Teachers Worry About Students Using A.I. But They Love It for Themselves.
Educators are increasingly using generative A.I. in their own work, even as they express profound hesitation about the ethics of student use.
www.nytimes.com
April 18, 2025 at 2:14 AM
This is my gut reaction. Would be interested in what others think. I could see arguments in favor of consistency & speed when grading with a rubric. But I don't know how you emphasize the importance of human writing if no humans are going to read the writing that students do in school.
I think A.I. can be useful for helping teachers write lessons or assessments, but I strongly disagree with using it for grading student writing. If we are going to ask students to write, their writing should be evaluated by a human being.
www.nytimes.com/2025/04/14/u...
www.nytimes.com/2025/04/14/u...
Teachers Worry About Students Using A.I. But They Love It for Themselves.
Educators are increasingly using generative A.I. in their own work, even as they express profound hesitation about the ethics of student use.
www.nytimes.com
April 18, 2025 at 12:56 AM
I think A.I. can be useful for helping teachers write lessons or assessments, but I strongly disagree with using it for grading student writing. If we are going to ask students to write, their writing should be evaluated by a human being.
www.nytimes.com/2025/04/14/u...
www.nytimes.com/2025/04/14/u...
Reposted by Billy Robb
It is pretty wild that the Founders put this series of things back-to-back-to-back-to-back all those years ago...
April 17, 2025 at 10:35 PM
It is pretty wild that the Founders put this series of things back-to-back-to-back-to-back all those years ago...
Reposted by Billy Robb
Chris Krebs is America’s next profile in courage. The entire nation should support this honorable and courageous fellow citizen.
April 17, 2025 at 9:38 PM
Chris Krebs is America’s next profile in courage. The entire nation should support this honorable and courageous fellow citizen.
Reposted by Billy Robb
April 16, 1775: Tipped off by Paul Revere about the looming British threat, Isaiah Thomas smuggles the printing presses of his patriotic newspaper Massachusetts Spy out of Boston. Thomas will relocate to Worcester, Mass., and publish there after the Battle of Lexington.
April 16, 2025 at 6:45 PM
April 16, 1775: Tipped off by Paul Revere about the looming British threat, Isaiah Thomas smuggles the printing presses of his patriotic newspaper Massachusetts Spy out of Boston. Thomas will relocate to Worcester, Mass., and publish there after the Battle of Lexington.
"America is turning 250, kicking off a series of events in Arizona to honor our past and protect democracy for the future." - Adrian Fontes
www.azcentral.com/story/opinio...
www.azcentral.com/story/opinio...
Lanterns launched a revolution in 1775. 250 years later, let's light them again | Opinion
Two lanterns lit the steeple of a Boston church in 1775, a rallying cry that gave us a new nation. On April 18, Arizona will light that fire again.
www.azcentral.com
April 13, 2025 at 5:01 PM
"America is turning 250, kicking off a series of events in Arizona to honor our past and protect democracy for the future." - Adrian Fontes
www.azcentral.com/story/opinio...
www.azcentral.com/story/opinio...
Go big on civics education. Why the American Civics Acts is inadequate, and five ideas for how Arizona and other states can move the needle.
chollaexpress.substack.com/p/go-big-on-...
chollaexpress.substack.com/p/go-big-on-...
Go big on civics education
Beyond the American Civics Act
chollaexpress.substack.com
April 11, 2025 at 2:33 PM
Go big on civics education. Why the American Civics Acts is inadequate, and five ideas for how Arizona and other states can move the needle.
chollaexpress.substack.com/p/go-big-on-...
chollaexpress.substack.com/p/go-big-on-...
Republican Senator Rand Paul: "Our Founders would be appalled at a tax levied without a vote of their representatives."
@nationalreview.bsky.social
www.nationalreview.com/2025/04/cong...
@nationalreview.bsky.social
www.nationalreview.com/2025/04/cong...
Congress Must Assert Itself on Tariffs | National Review
My bill would require Congress to approve any presidential proposal to impose tariffs before they are put into effect.
www.nationalreview.com
April 10, 2025 at 7:17 PM
Republican Senator Rand Paul: "Our Founders would be appalled at a tax levied without a vote of their representatives."
@nationalreview.bsky.social
www.nationalreview.com/2025/04/cong...
@nationalreview.bsky.social
www.nationalreview.com/2025/04/cong...
Reposted by Billy Robb
Among some Ariz. retirees, views on Trump tariffs split along party lines www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202...
Among some Ariz. retirees, views on Trump tariffs split along party lines
Democrats fear an economic downturn and rising prices, while Republicans trust Trump’s tariffs will benefit the economy.
www.washingtonpost.com
April 7, 2025 at 1:07 PM
Among some Ariz. retirees, views on Trump tariffs split along party lines www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202...
Reposted by Billy Robb
We don’t have to let Trump’s tariffs wreck our economy. The Constitution gave Congress trade authority, not the President.
That's why I'm backing legislation to end this overreach.
ktar.com/arizona-poli...
That's why I'm backing legislation to end this overreach.
ktar.com/arizona-poli...
Rep. Greg Stanton: Trump tariffs can be stopped in Congress
President Donald Trump announced historic sweeping tariffs on all countries and Arizona Rep. Greg Stanton is among those in opposition.
ktar.com
April 6, 2025 at 5:12 PM
We don’t have to let Trump’s tariffs wreck our economy. The Constitution gave Congress trade authority, not the President.
That's why I'm backing legislation to end this overreach.
ktar.com/arizona-poli...
That's why I'm backing legislation to end this overreach.
ktar.com/arizona-poli...
Reposted by Billy Robb
The president's tariffs aren’t just economically reckless—they betray the principles that gave birth to the US.
They sidestep Congress, defy the Constitution, & abandon our commitment to free exchange & consent of the governed.
My latest at Persuasion: www.persuasion.community/p/these-tari...
They sidestep Congress, defy the Constitution, & abandon our commitment to free exchange & consent of the governed.
My latest at Persuasion: www.persuasion.community/p/these-tari...
April 4, 2025 at 10:54 PM
The president's tariffs aren’t just economically reckless—they betray the principles that gave birth to the US.
They sidestep Congress, defy the Constitution, & abandon our commitment to free exchange & consent of the governed.
My latest at Persuasion: www.persuasion.community/p/these-tari...
They sidestep Congress, defy the Constitution, & abandon our commitment to free exchange & consent of the governed.
My latest at Persuasion: www.persuasion.community/p/these-tari...
Reposted by Billy Robb
All of my advisors say, please sir, don't touch the stove sir. You'll burn yourself. But if I'm not supposed to touch it, why is it so red and glowing and, frankly, attractive?
So we're gonna touch it. We're gonna touch stove maybe harder than anyone's ever touched it.
So we're gonna touch it. We're gonna touch stove maybe harder than anyone's ever touched it.
April 2, 2025 at 11:09 PM
All of my advisors say, please sir, don't touch the stove sir. You'll burn yourself. But if I'm not supposed to touch it, why is it so red and glowing and, frankly, attractive?
So we're gonna touch it. We're gonna touch stove maybe harder than anyone's ever touched it.
So we're gonna touch it. We're gonna touch stove maybe harder than anyone's ever touched it.
Reposted by Billy Robb
A thing about Booker: he's one of the most consistently on-message politicians I've ever met.
He told me this in 2018:
"Every speech I give, I will not yield from talking about that revival of civic grace. Talking about revival of the civic gospels. Talking about the need to love one another."
He told me this in 2018:
"Every speech I give, I will not yield from talking about that revival of civic grace. Talking about revival of the civic gospels. Talking about the need to love one another."
April 1, 2025 at 11:43 PM
A thing about Booker: he's one of the most consistently on-message politicians I've ever met.
He told me this in 2018:
"Every speech I give, I will not yield from talking about that revival of civic grace. Talking about revival of the civic gospels. Talking about the need to love one another."
He told me this in 2018:
"Every speech I give, I will not yield from talking about that revival of civic grace. Talking about revival of the civic gospels. Talking about the need to love one another."
Reposted by Billy Robb
"Spoiler alert: the tariffs don’t just cause short-term and long-term pain for the U.S. economy — they also cause problems for American foreign policy." danieldrezner.substack.com/p/the-exorbi...
April 1, 2025 at 6:48 PM
"Spoiler alert: the tariffs don’t just cause short-term and long-term pain for the U.S. economy — they also cause problems for American foreign policy." danieldrezner.substack.com/p/the-exorbi...