David Welton
@davidwelton.bsky.social
Computers, startups, bikes, Italy (lived in Padova for about 15 years), Bend YIMBY
Reposted by David Welton
Rereading 'Battle Cry of Freedom' recently, and it is striking how Union morale seemed on the verge of collapse after every battlefield setback, while the South was delusionally confident until Atlanta and Charleston were burning.
Kinda mirrors dynamics now in a way
Kinda mirrors dynamics now in a way
January 5, 2026 at 8:53 PM
Rereading 'Battle Cry of Freedom' recently, and it is striking how Union morale seemed on the verge of collapse after every battlefield setback, while the South was delusionally confident until Atlanta and Charleston were burning.
Kinda mirrors dynamics now in a way
Kinda mirrors dynamics now in a way
Reposted by David Welton
Europe’s failure to condemn Trump’s illegal aggression in Venezuela isn’t just wrong – it’s stupid. My piece @theguardian.com www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Europe’s failure to condemn Trump’s illegal aggression in Venezuela isn’t just wrong – it’s stupid | Nathalie Tocci
The more European countries act as colonies, unable and unwilling to stand up to Trump, the more they’ll be treated as such, says Guardian Europe columnist Nathalie Tocci
www.theguardian.com
January 6, 2026 at 6:12 AM
Europe’s failure to condemn Trump’s illegal aggression in Venezuela isn’t just wrong – it’s stupid. My piece @theguardian.com www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Reposted by David Welton
do not understand why the new york times considers it important to maintain ideological neutrality towards an ideology which would fill a mass grave with the staff of the new york times
January 6, 2026 at 5:19 AM
do not understand why the new york times considers it important to maintain ideological neutrality towards an ideology which would fill a mass grave with the staff of the new york times
Reposted by David Welton
Kate thinks that YIMBYs are evil because they
*checks notes*
want to build affordable housing on top of libraries in New York City
*checks notes*
want to build affordable housing on top of libraries in New York City
January 6, 2026 at 4:30 AM
Kate thinks that YIMBYs are evil because they
*checks notes*
want to build affordable housing on top of libraries in New York City
*checks notes*
want to build affordable housing on top of libraries in New York City
Reposted by David Welton
another example of our incredibly weird status quo - this happened, the cops couldn't actually charge her, and she's been confirmed as released
What in the Gestapo is going on in Grand Rapids?
Watch this activist get arrested *mid-interview* for speaking out against U.S. action in Venezuela.
Watch this activist get arrested *mid-interview* for speaking out against U.S. action in Venezuela.
January 6, 2026 at 2:13 AM
another example of our incredibly weird status quo - this happened, the cops couldn't actually charge her, and she's been confirmed as released
Reposted by David Welton
30% of Oregonians cannot or will not be a driver.
However, 100% of Oregonians will, at some point, be a pedestrian.
Drastic transit cuts--including half of a MAX line--should be a five-alarm fire, but it barely made a dent in the news cycle compared to a 6¢/gallon gas tax increase.
However, 100% of Oregonians will, at some point, be a pedestrian.
Drastic transit cuts--including half of a MAX line--should be a five-alarm fire, but it barely made a dent in the news cycle compared to a 6¢/gallon gas tax increase.
you ever notice how transit cuts in the biggest city in the state aren’t talked about as a political risk for the governor, despite being vastly worse for transit riders than an unnoticeable gas tax increase is for drivers?
January 6, 2026 at 12:52 AM
30% of Oregonians cannot or will not be a driver.
However, 100% of Oregonians will, at some point, be a pedestrian.
Drastic transit cuts--including half of a MAX line--should be a five-alarm fire, but it barely made a dent in the news cycle compared to a 6¢/gallon gas tax increase.
However, 100% of Oregonians will, at some point, be a pedestrian.
Drastic transit cuts--including half of a MAX line--should be a five-alarm fire, but it barely made a dent in the news cycle compared to a 6¢/gallon gas tax increase.
Reposted by David Welton
BUILDING CODE NERD ALERT!
WA's scissor stair bill just dropped, HB 2228:
app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary?...
You know all those elegant skinny towers in Vancouver, BC? Part of why they're common is that scissor stairs make small floor plates more feasible.
Why not here? Why not everywhere?
WA's scissor stair bill just dropped, HB 2228:
app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary?...
You know all those elegant skinny towers in Vancouver, BC? Part of why they're common is that scissor stairs make small floor plates more feasible.
Why not here? Why not everywhere?
HB 2228 Washington State Legislature
app.leg.wa.gov
January 6, 2026 at 12:49 AM
BUILDING CODE NERD ALERT!
WA's scissor stair bill just dropped, HB 2228:
app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary?...
You know all those elegant skinny towers in Vancouver, BC? Part of why they're common is that scissor stairs make small floor plates more feasible.
Why not here? Why not everywhere?
WA's scissor stair bill just dropped, HB 2228:
app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary?...
You know all those elegant skinny towers in Vancouver, BC? Part of why they're common is that scissor stairs make small floor plates more feasible.
Why not here? Why not everywhere?
Reposted by David Welton
"Finally, under my leadership Seattle will join Spokane in advocating for a Land Value Tax as an alternative option to the property tax, that would also create an incentive to put rundown properties to better use." www.spokesman.com/stories/2026...
'Everybody works but the empty lot': Some Spokane leaders eye property tax reform to promote building
As Spokane city leaders look for new ways to boost development, some are leading the charge for a reform to the property tax system which would shift some of the tax burden off of homes and high rises...
www.spokesman.com
January 6, 2026 at 12:47 AM
"Finally, under my leadership Seattle will join Spokane in advocating for a Land Value Tax as an alternative option to the property tax, that would also create an incentive to put rundown properties to better use." www.spokesman.com/stories/2026...
Reposted by David Welton
this is small comfort given he has state power and i don’t but i am struck by what an obviously weak and fragile man miller is. a blubbering piss baby whose entire affect and personality is an attempt to make up for his profound feelings of inadequacy
MILLER: The US is using its military to secure our interests unapologetically in our hemisphere. We're a superpower. It's absurd we'd allow a nation in our backyard to become a supplier of resources to our adversaries
TAPPER: Sovereign countries shouldn't be able to do what they want?
M: *yells*
TAPPER: Sovereign countries shouldn't be able to do what they want?
M: *yells*
January 5, 2026 at 11:52 PM
this is small comfort given he has state power and i don’t but i am struck by what an obviously weak and fragile man miller is. a blubbering piss baby whose entire affect and personality is an attempt to make up for his profound feelings of inadequacy
Reposted by David Welton
One of my biggest takeaways from living in Tokyo was that the city is incredible in spite of the fact that 95% of the architecture is unremarkable.
It makes the years-long design review process for a single apartment building in the U.S. seem all the more frivolous.
It makes the years-long design review process for a single apartment building in the U.S. seem all the more frivolous.
Tokyo is a city that makes the argument that architecture is irrelevant.
What matters more is urbanism:
The street network
The density
The freedom of uses
The clustering around rail
What matters more is urbanism:
The street network
The density
The freedom of uses
The clustering around rail
January 5, 2026 at 9:46 PM
One of my biggest takeaways from living in Tokyo was that the city is incredible in spite of the fact that 95% of the architecture is unremarkable.
It makes the years-long design review process for a single apartment building in the U.S. seem all the more frivolous.
It makes the years-long design review process for a single apartment building in the U.S. seem all the more frivolous.
Reposted by David Welton
Aww, is the NYT brass upset that they’re getting attacked for their piss-poor coverage on trans issues?
Maybe Bari Weiss’s previous employers should have thought about that before they platformed a bunch of transphobic bullshit.
Maybe Bari Weiss’s previous employers should have thought about that before they platformed a bunch of transphobic bullshit.
An official NYT response means this is clearly a sore spot for them and people should keep hitting the target
NYT says a Trans News Network interview with ex-NYT editor Billie Jean Sweeney about NYT's gender identity coverage included "factually inaccurate criticisms" (The New York Times Company)
Main Link | Mediagazer Permalink
Main Link | Mediagazer Permalink
January 5, 2026 at 11:21 PM
Aww, is the NYT brass upset that they’re getting attacked for their piss-poor coverage on trans issues?
Maybe Bari Weiss’s previous employers should have thought about that before they platformed a bunch of transphobic bullshit.
Maybe Bari Weiss’s previous employers should have thought about that before they platformed a bunch of transphobic bullshit.
Reposted by David Welton
I wrote section 230 to protect user speech, not a company's own speech. I've long said AI chatbot outputs are not protected by 230 and that it is not a close call. Given that the Trump administration is going to the mat to protect pedophiles, states should step in to hold Musk and X accountable.
I am not a Section 230 expert but being that Twitter is creating and publishing these photos I wonder if they actually have any civil legal protection? @kenwhite.bsky.social ? @akivamcohen.bsky.social ?
What X is allowing Grok to do is unlawful or regulatory-illegal in multiple jurisdictions, creates clear DSA violations, and continues despite regulator scrutiny. The images do not need to be pornographic, non-consensual sexualised or intimate depictions are enough.
January 5, 2026 at 11:10 PM
I wrote section 230 to protect user speech, not a company's own speech. I've long said AI chatbot outputs are not protected by 230 and that it is not a close call. Given that the Trump administration is going to the mat to protect pedophiles, states should step in to hold Musk and X accountable.
Reposted by David Welton
A great deal of NIMBYism more or less starts with the assumption that density is a kind of plot or conspiracy: which is to say, with the notion that cities are not naturally occurring. This kind of NIMBYism is conspiracy theorizing plus junk economics. www.thedeletedscenes.com/p/fairfax-co...
January 5, 2026 at 6:45 PM
A great deal of NIMBYism more or less starts with the assumption that density is a kind of plot or conspiracy: which is to say, with the notion that cities are not naturally occurring. This kind of NIMBYism is conspiracy theorizing plus junk economics. www.thedeletedscenes.com/p/fairfax-co...
Reposted by David Welton
"YOU'LL KNOW WHEN I ANNOUNCE A POLICY CHANGE, BECAUSE I'LL ANNOUNCE A POLICY CHANGE."
—Mayor Wilson
—Mayor Wilson
Friday: swearing-in
Monday: spanking SPOG
Monday: spanking SPOG
January 5, 2026 at 8:03 PM
"YOU'LL KNOW WHEN I ANNOUNCE A POLICY CHANGE, BECAUSE I'LL ANNOUNCE A POLICY CHANGE."
—Mayor Wilson
—Mayor Wilson
I wish some group like @50501movement.bsky.social would make a concerted, organized effort to help get their elected officials off of that site. Start local, with city councilors, state reps and senators, then Congress people and Senators.
“why are you still on twitter” -> whiny, makes you sound like a scold
“oh you post on the pedophile app” -> makes them sound like a pedophile
“oh you post on the pedophile app” -> makes them sound like a pedophile
January 5, 2026 at 9:38 PM
I wish some group like @50501movement.bsky.social would make a concerted, organized effort to help get their elected officials off of that site. Start local, with city councilors, state reps and senators, then Congress people and Senators.
Reposted by David Welton
“Not everyone in tech” of course, but the fact that mainstream tech culture is fine with staying on X, and the fact that technology companies are producing at-scale CSAM generators trained on CSAM, suicide-assistance machines marketed as therapists, etc, are one and the same problem.
writers, yes. but per @charity.wtf and my own observations, a lot of cutting edge tech discussion still fucking happens on Twitter.
granted, a majority of us that care about safe and operable systems made the hop over here or to Mastodon but the tech mainstream? Twitter.
granted, a majority of us that care about safe and operable systems made the hop over here or to Mastodon but the tech mainstream? Twitter.
January 5, 2026 at 9:08 PM
“Not everyone in tech” of course, but the fact that mainstream tech culture is fine with staying on X, and the fact that technology companies are producing at-scale CSAM generators trained on CSAM, suicide-assistance machines marketed as therapists, etc, are one and the same problem.
Reposted by David Welton
Nicolás Maduro Charged With Felony Oil Possession
January 5, 2026 at 7:00 PM
Nicolás Maduro Charged With Felony Oil Possession
Reposted by David Welton
This is the correct read. Most European leaders have a 'white knuckle it until Governor Fungible (D-Nonsuch) gets 270 electoral votes in 2029' approach. Not a good idea IMV.
"Vassal" talk is a bit much, but those Starmer (and other EU leaders tbf) statements read like all these people still believe, if we can just hold our breath for three more years, this nightmare will be over and we'll be back to singing Atlantic Kumbaya
January 5, 2026 at 9:08 AM
This is the correct read. Most European leaders have a 'white knuckle it until Governor Fungible (D-Nonsuch) gets 270 electoral votes in 2029' approach. Not a good idea IMV.
Reposted by David Welton
Reposted by David Welton
More on my recent paper.
“We Are Not as Wealthy as We Thought We Were”: Postscript 1
open.substack.com/pub/kevinerd...
“We Are Not as Wealthy as We Thought We Were”: Postscript 1
open.substack.com/pub/kevinerd...
January 5, 2026 at 6:28 PM
More on my recent paper.
“We Are Not as Wealthy as We Thought We Were”: Postscript 1
open.substack.com/pub/kevinerd...
“We Are Not as Wealthy as We Thought We Were”: Postscript 1
open.substack.com/pub/kevinerd...
And yet, European leaders probably won't quit Twitter.
Being able to walk away from something like that demonstrates confidence in your own ability to draw people to other platforms, and they don't seem to have it.
Being able to walk away from something like that demonstrates confidence in your own ability to draw people to other platforms, and they don't seem to have it.
One example of how Grok is being used to target women. Swedish Deputy Prime Minister Ebba Busch being sexualised, degraded, and humiliated step-by-step by Grok. All the images accurately reflect the prompts provided.
January 5, 2026 at 6:28 PM
And yet, European leaders probably won't quit Twitter.
Being able to walk away from something like that demonstrates confidence in your own ability to draw people to other platforms, and they don't seem to have it.
Being able to walk away from something like that demonstrates confidence in your own ability to draw people to other platforms, and they don't seem to have it.
Reposted by David Welton
It’s time for today’s game of “is this appalling thing the President just said even true or is it just a neuron misfire or a manifestation of his pathological need just to say whatever shit he thinks will make him look cool and tough”
January 5, 2026 at 5:34 PM
It’s time for today’s game of “is this appalling thing the President just said even true or is it just a neuron misfire or a manifestation of his pathological need just to say whatever shit he thinks will make him look cool and tough”
Reposted by David Welton
the 6% is the WaPo editorial board
One of the most lopsided results you'll ever see in a poll, from our weekend Washington Post poll www.washingtonpost.com/politics/int...
January 5, 2026 at 3:47 PM
the 6% is the WaPo editorial board
Reposted by David Welton
as I learned from our discourse, the responsible thing to do is to mock JD Vance and theorize this guy was his lover
UPDATE: William DeFoor, 26, arrested after trying to break into Vice President JD Vance's Ohio home. He was using a hammer to break the windows - WXIX
January 5, 2026 at 3:12 PM
as I learned from our discourse, the responsible thing to do is to mock JD Vance and theorize this guy was his lover
Reposted by David Welton
Two things were happening as Trump decided to launch his imperial strike on Venezuela. One was the DOJ filing w/the court explanations for their redactions in the Epstein files they released. The other was Jim Jordan’s release of the transcript of Jack Smith’s testimony.
So I read the transcript.
So I read the transcript.
January 5, 2026 at 3:34 PM
Two things were happening as Trump decided to launch his imperial strike on Venezuela. One was the DOJ filing w/the court explanations for their redactions in the Epstein files they released. The other was Jim Jordan’s release of the transcript of Jack Smith’s testimony.
So I read the transcript.
So I read the transcript.