Bruce R McF (etc.)
@brucermcf.bsky.social
Obscure development & regional economist, teaching in South Carolina and living in both South Carolina and Tennessee. He/him
Reposted by Bruce R McF (etc.)
We regulate the things we want to restrict and don’t want more of. Makes you wonder why that’s always housing and stuff like e-bikes?
"New Jersey is now the only state to require insurance for Class I e-bikes out of 45 states that regulate e-bikes, according to the People For Bikes Coalition"
“This bill restricts low speed e-bike use while not addressing the real problem of high-speed motorized devices" www.nj.com/advice/2026/...
“This bill restricts low speed e-bike use while not addressing the real problem of high-speed motorized devices" www.nj.com/advice/2026/...
Murphy signs controversial e-bike law requiring registration, insurance in New Jersey
Despite opposition, the governor signed the measure in the final hours of his administration.
www.nj.com
January 19, 2026 at 7:48 PM
We regulate the things we want to restrict and don’t want more of. Makes you wonder why that’s always housing and stuff like e-bikes?
One thing that really sucks about this is that it means that Americans are going to have to be smart about the foreign policy of the leaders we pick, ...
... & if we were able to be smart about the foreign policy of the leaders we pick, our current POTUS would never have been a major party nominee.
... & if we were able to be smart about the foreign policy of the leaders we pick, our current POTUS would never have been a major party nominee.
“Americans are neither materially nor psychologically ready for this future. They have grown accustomed to the world operating in a certain way: Largely agreeable and militarily passive European and Asian allies cooperate with the United States on economic and security issues”
America vs. the World
President Trump wants to return to the 19th century’s international order. He will leave America less prosperous—and the whole world less secure.
www.theatlantic.com
January 19, 2026 at 8:21 PM
One thing that really sucks about this is that it means that Americans are going to have to be smart about the foreign policy of the leaders we pick, ...
... & if we were able to be smart about the foreign policy of the leaders we pick, our current POTUS would never have been a major party nominee.
... & if we were able to be smart about the foreign policy of the leaders we pick, our current POTUS would never have been a major party nominee.
From working in a factory that relied heavily on reducing their landfill footprint by sending trash to an incinerator ... a lot of what burns as "trash" is petrochemical in origin and is no more carbon neutral than burning diesel for electricity.
Carbon-free in the sense that it costs nothing to dump carbon into the atmosphere.
State regulators rule that burning trash and wood can be considered 'carbon-free'
Minnesota's utility regulators ruled Thursday that the burning or trash and wood to generate electricity can be considered "carbon-free" sources of power, despite the huge amount of greenhouse gases s...
www.mprnews.org
January 19, 2026 at 8:19 PM
From working in a factory that relied heavily on reducing their landfill footprint by sending trash to an incinerator ... a lot of what burns as "trash" is petrochemical in origin and is no more carbon neutral than burning diesel for electricity.
Reposted by Bruce R McF (etc.)
The custom (not law!) of placing a hand on a religious text when making an oath is rooted in the idea that the person adheres to that faith and therefore would never lie with their hand on its main text.
That's why you don't force Muslims to swear on a Bible, or Christians on the Koran.
That's why you don't force Muslims to swear on a Bible, or Christians on the Koran.
Not headline news. No real fuss by Democratic leaders. No calls to censure. No pushback. No questions asked of GOP leadership by the press.
Just totally accepted anti-Muslim bigotry across the board.
Just totally accepted anti-Muslim bigotry across the board.
January 19, 2026 at 7:51 PM
The custom (not law!) of placing a hand on a religious text when making an oath is rooted in the idea that the person adheres to that faith and therefore would never lie with their hand on its main text.
That's why you don't force Muslims to swear on a Bible, or Christians on the Koran.
That's why you don't force Muslims to swear on a Bible, or Christians on the Koran.
Reposted by Bruce R McF (etc.)
There’s some comfort in knowing Miller and Vance got it so wrong and that their degenerate ideas about the world are being rejected by normal people who care about their communities.
Yes. My theory of the moment is Miller/Vance thought their view that immigrants threaten social solidarity would be widely shared. But ICE raids are driving native-born Americans to show solidarity with immigrants quite courageously. Now Miller is trying to disrupt that alliance with state violence.
Insightful point here: Even if you take Trump seriously - he does not like the optics - they rested on an assumption that communities would welcome ICE as heroes, rather than showing the type of solidarity that Trump inherently cannot understand.
January 19, 2026 at 7:25 PM
There’s some comfort in knowing Miller and Vance got it so wrong and that their degenerate ideas about the world are being rejected by normal people who care about their communities.
Reposted by Bruce R McF (etc.)
Reposted by Bruce R McF (etc.)
Generally encouraging words from the CEO about the kop: “We might have some opportunities to have some seats and capacity available before that, but for the full-on facade and everything to be finalised, it's early 2027.” #askwxm
January 19, 2026 at 4:23 PM
Generally encouraging words from the CEO about the kop: “We might have some opportunities to have some seats and capacity available before that, but for the full-on facade and everything to be finalised, it's early 2027.” #askwxm
Reposted by Bruce R McF (etc.)
These are both tools created by machine learning. And, image to text functionality needs LLMs to function. What you probably don't like is many other aspects of generative AI. This is not commonly understood and media doesn't help.
Love, someone whose perspective is likely similar to yours.
Love, someone whose perspective is likely similar to yours.
Voice to text, and image to text as well, are the most amazing tech advances in the last 5 years.
For me, much more useful than LLMs and machine learning.
For me, much more useful than LLMs and machine learning.
January 19, 2026 at 2:41 PM
These are both tools created by machine learning. And, image to text functionality needs LLMs to function. What you probably don't like is many other aspects of generative AI. This is not commonly understood and media doesn't help.
Love, someone whose perspective is likely similar to yours.
Love, someone whose perspective is likely similar to yours.
Reposted by Bruce R McF (etc.)
Jonathan Ross' dad insists you'll never meet a kinder person than his son which, I dunno, Ross killed Renee Good and on the evidence she was a far kinder, far better Christian.
www.newsweek.com/ice-shooting...
www.newsweek.com/ice-shooting...
www.newsweek.com
January 19, 2026 at 3:01 PM
Jonathan Ross' dad insists you'll never meet a kinder person than his son which, I dunno, Ross killed Renee Good and on the evidence she was a far kinder, far better Christian.
www.newsweek.com/ice-shooting...
www.newsweek.com/ice-shooting...
Reposted by Bruce R McF (etc.)
“The app returning different names for the same individual shows that it’s not reliable or accurate and shouldn’t be used in the field,” Homeland Security Ranking Member Rep. Bennie G. Thompson told 404 Media in a statement.
ICE’s Facial Recognition App Misidentified a Woman. Twice
In testimony from a CBP official obtained by 404 Media, the official described how Mobile Fortify returned two different names after scanning a woman's face during an immigration raid. ICE has said th...
www.404media.co
January 19, 2026 at 3:02 PM
“The app returning different names for the same individual shows that it’s not reliable or accurate and shouldn’t be used in the field,” Homeland Security Ranking Member Rep. Bennie G. Thompson told 404 Media in a statement.
Reposted by Bruce R McF (etc.)
SCOOP: In testimony from a CBP official obtained by 404 Media, the official described how Mobile Fortify returned two different names after scanning a woman's face during an immigration raid. ICE has said the app's results are a “definitive” determination of someone's immigration status.
ICE’s Facial Recognition App Misidentified a Woman. Twice
In testimony from a CBP official obtained by 404 Media, the official described how Mobile Fortify returned two different names after scanning a woman's face during an immigration raid. ICE has said th...
www.404media.co
January 19, 2026 at 2:56 PM
SCOOP: In testimony from a CBP official obtained by 404 Media, the official described how Mobile Fortify returned two different names after scanning a woman's face during an immigration raid. ICE has said the app's results are a “definitive” determination of someone's immigration status.
Reposted by Bruce R McF (etc.)
New from 404 Media: ICE's facial recognition app, which the agency is using to decide who to detain and deport, misidentified a woman. Twice.
ICE says results of the app are definitive and override a birth certificate; obviously this case shows the app is inaccurate
www.404media.co/ices-facial-...
ICE says results of the app are definitive and override a birth certificate; obviously this case shows the app is inaccurate
www.404media.co/ices-facial-...
ICE’s Facial Recognition App Misidentified a Woman. Twice
In testimony from a CBP official obtained by 404 Media, the official described how Mobile Fortify returned two different names after scanning a woman's face during an immigration raid. ICE has said th...
www.404media.co
January 19, 2026 at 2:31 PM
New from 404 Media: ICE's facial recognition app, which the agency is using to decide who to detain and deport, misidentified a woman. Twice.
ICE says results of the app are definitive and override a birth certificate; obviously this case shows the app is inaccurate
www.404media.co/ices-facial-...
ICE says results of the app are definitive and override a birth certificate; obviously this case shows the app is inaccurate
www.404media.co/ices-facial-...
Reposted by Bruce R McF (etc.)
More measles cases in one state in four months than in the entire USA in most years.
an ongoing, expanding RFK Jr outbreak: more cases in 4 months than in most years
The number of confirmed #measles cases in South Carolina has hit an astonishing 558 in an outbreak that started in October. For context: that is more cases in 4 months than the entire US racked up most years in the past 30+ years. www.reuters.com/business/hea...
January 19, 2026 at 3:02 PM
More measles cases in one state in four months than in the entire USA in most years.
Reposted by Bruce R McF (etc.)
We had endless articles and TV clips about Biden's mental capacity but silence about Trump's obvious unfitness when he says he's going to start a war with Denmark over Greenland because he didn't get the Nobel Peace Prize.
Not the sort of letter committed to paper by a well man. "Considering your Country decided not to give me the Nobel Peace Prize for having stopped 8 Wars PLUS, I no longer feel an obligation to think purely of Peace"
January 19, 2026 at 2:41 PM
We had endless articles and TV clips about Biden's mental capacity but silence about Trump's obvious unfitness when he says he's going to start a war with Denmark over Greenland because he didn't get the Nobel Peace Prize.
Reposted by Bruce R McF (etc.)
"Minnesota is under siege. It might not yet be a civil war, but what the White House has dubbed “Operation Metro Surge” is definitely not just — or even primarily — an immigration enforcement operation. It is an occupation designed to punish and terrorize anyone who dares defy this incursion..."
I went to Minneapolis last week. What I saw was horrifying and inspiring in equal measure. Gift link to my latest column: www.nytimes.com/2026/01/19/o...
Opinion | In Minneapolis, I Glimpsed a Civil War
www.nytimes.com
January 19, 2026 at 1:38 PM
"Minnesota is under siege. It might not yet be a civil war, but what the White House has dubbed “Operation Metro Surge” is definitely not just — or even primarily — an immigration enforcement operation. It is an occupation designed to punish and terrorize anyone who dares defy this incursion..."
Reposted by Bruce R McF (etc.)
Christ. We all suspected this. But the narcissistic cockalorum actually put his “if you don’t give me the Peace Prize I’ll start waging wars” threat in writing.
The petulant pillock is literally ready to kill people because he didn’t get his Special Prize.
The petulant pillock is literally ready to kill people because he didn’t get his Special Prize.
![NEW: @potus letter to @jonasgahrstore links @NobelPrize to Greenland, reiterates threats, and is forwarded by the NSC staff to multiple European ambassadors in Washington. I obtained the text from multiple officials:
Dear Ambassador:
President Trump has asked that the following message, shared with Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre, be forwarded to your [named head of government/state]
“Dear Jonas: Considering your Country decided not to give me the Nobel Peace Prize for having stopped 8 Wars PLUS, I no longer feel an obligation to think purely of Peace, although it will always be predominant, but can now think about what is good and proper for the United States of America. Denmark cannot protect that land from Russia or China, and why do they have a “right of ownership” anyway? There are no written documents, it’s only that a boat landed there hundreds of years ago, but we had boats landing there, also. I have done more for NATO than any other person since its founding, and now, NATO should do something for the United States. The World is not secure unless we have Complete and Total Control of Greenland. Thank you! President DJT”](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:hbpefio3f5csc44msmbgioxz/bafkreie7itpptx3xbxhpsnlaqmwk752h7pcrion5ija2apksljtax2adx4@jpeg)
January 19, 2026 at 12:26 PM
Christ. We all suspected this. But the narcissistic cockalorum actually put his “if you don’t give me the Peace Prize I’ll start waging wars” threat in writing.
The petulant pillock is literally ready to kill people because he didn’t get his Special Prize.
The petulant pillock is literally ready to kill people because he didn’t get his Special Prize.
Reposted by Bruce R McF (etc.)
It's even worse, despite ICE and Greenland war threats Senate Dems were talking up... legislation to make Verizon give automatic credits for cell outages.
David Brooks: This is a war on blue states
Bill Kristol: Abolish ICE
Springsteen: ICE is the Gestapo
Dems in Congress: Let’s talk body cams and QR codes
Bill Kristol: Abolish ICE
Springsteen: ICE is the Gestapo
Dems in Congress: Let’s talk body cams and QR codes
January 19, 2026 at 1:42 PM
It's even worse, despite ICE and Greenland war threats Senate Dems were talking up... legislation to make Verizon give automatic credits for cell outages.
Reposted by Bruce R McF (etc.)
Wow. If only someone had mentioned something about Trump and Russia way back in 2015. Surprised it never came up, given how far back the business relationships go. Truly shocking no one ever linked Trump's stated, public goals to a Russian wishlist of outcomes.
January 19, 2026 at 1:45 PM
Wow. If only someone had mentioned something about Trump and Russia way back in 2015. Surprised it never came up, given how far back the business relationships go. Truly shocking no one ever linked Trump's stated, public goals to a Russian wishlist of outcomes.
Reposted by Bruce R McF (etc.)
This is the core issue. It cuts across all the others.
The key point here is mass deportations are unpopular *in the abstract.* Marquette poll finds 56% oppose removing longtime residents w/job and no criminal record.
To achieve the scale Trump/Miller want, you *have to* target those people. The core policy is what's toxic in addition to ICE's conduct.
To achieve the scale Trump/Miller want, you *have to* target those people. The core policy is what's toxic in addition to ICE's conduct.
I'm glad Douthat admits the public is turning against Trump's ICE raids, but he undersells this. The mass deportations aren't just unpopular because ICE agents are terrorizing and killing people. The core underlying goal is itself unpopular, as I try to argue here:
newrepublic.com/article/2053...
newrepublic.com/article/2053...
January 19, 2026 at 1:05 PM
This is the core issue. It cuts across all the others.
Reposted by Bruce R McF (etc.)
Even with Trump stooges cooking the books for his big fossil fuel donors, renewables still won — cheaper and cleaner. www.canarymedia.com/articles/cle...
Chart: How the US electricity mix changed last year
Solar and coal were up, and gas, surprisingly, was down. Here are the numbers behind a wild year for the U.S. power sector.
www.canarymedia.com
January 19, 2026 at 1:51 PM
Even with Trump stooges cooking the books for his big fossil fuel donors, renewables still won — cheaper and cleaner. www.canarymedia.com/articles/cle...
Reposted by Bruce R McF (etc.)
It’s wild that it even needs to be said.
Judge rules feds in Minneapolis immigration operation can’t detain or tear gas peaceful protesters
A U.S. judge has ruled federal officers in a Minneapolis-area immigration operation can’t detain or tear gas peaceful protesters who aren’t obstructing authorities, including when these people are obs...
apnews.com
January 19, 2026 at 8:07 AM
It’s wild that it even needs to be said.
Reposted by Bruce R McF (etc.)
People say ”now is not time to talk [enter here environment/climate/energy transition]“ but yes no it absolutely is the time
Europe is America's biggest customer for fossil gas exports, by a pretty decent margin. One hell of a time to be directly antagonising and alienating the key customer for the already-shaky LNG boom in the US
www.netzeroinvestor.net/news-and-vie...
www.netzeroinvestor.net/news-and-vie...
January 18, 2026 at 3:15 PM
People say ”now is not time to talk [enter here environment/climate/energy transition]“ but yes no it absolutely is the time
Reposted by Bruce R McF (etc.)
I've harped on congressional war powers for a long time and we do need to fix all that, but threatening to invade Greenland while ranting at Norway about the Nobel Peace Prize and imposing trade sanctions on NATO is more the kind of thing you can only fix by not having a literally insane president.
January 19, 2026 at 8:35 AM
I've harped on congressional war powers for a long time and we do need to fix all that, but threatening to invade Greenland while ranting at Norway about the Nobel Peace Prize and imposing trade sanctions on NATO is more the kind of thing you can only fix by not having a literally insane president.
Reposted by Bruce R McF (etc.)
And we have institutionalist Ds dithering over how much to give THESE FASCISTS under what conditions rather than SHUTTING THIS DOWN.
📺 abcnews.go.com/US/lawyers-a...
📺 abcnews.go.com/US/lawyers-a...
Four attorneys told ABC News they have been denied access to their clients at the Whipple Federal Building in Minneapolis, where they are being held, which they say would violate 5th & 6th Amendment rights to due process & the right to consult with counsel. abcnews.go.com/US/lawyers-a...
Lawyers allege Dept. of Homeland Security is denying legal counsel to Minnesota detainees
Four attorneys told ABC News they have been denied access to their clients at the Bishop Henry Whipple Federal Building in Minneapolis, where they are being held.
abcnews.go.com
January 19, 2026 at 10:09 AM
And we have institutionalist Ds dithering over how much to give THESE FASCISTS under what conditions rather than SHUTTING THIS DOWN.
📺 abcnews.go.com/US/lawyers-a...
📺 abcnews.go.com/US/lawyers-a...
Reposted by Bruce R McF (etc.)
It is excruciatingly painful that American imperial decline has to happen on the internet, as posts. We Americans learn about which of our limbs our leaders are amputating from posts.
Trump's obsession with Greenland and erratic interventionism towards Venezuela are almost textbook case studies of a declining great power externalising its growing domestic instability into external imperial quagmires
January 19, 2026 at 12:05 PM
It is excruciatingly painful that American imperial decline has to happen on the internet, as posts. We Americans learn about which of our limbs our leaders are amputating from posts.