CAHSR's Strongest Soldier
@emoscientist.bsky.social
suburban urbanist, cargo pants aficionado, UAW member, Georgist, YIMBY socialist, geoscientist, Inland Empire respecter, hydrogen hater, 🔰🚰🌹 they/them
I think Metro is correct, unfortunately, about the political challenge SB 79 creates for transit, but the solution is not to repeal SB 79, it is to reform Metro so that it is less structurally deferential to transit opponents.
By opposing implementation of SB 79, LA Metro is saying,
"We are happy to continue hobbling our existing service in the *hope* that people will oppose our expansion projects less than they already do."
"And we're doing this for equity reasons. Seriously."
"We are happy to continue hobbling our existing service in the *hope* that people will oppose our expansion projects less than they already do."
"And we're doing this for equity reasons. Seriously."
January 22, 2026 at 10:56 PM
I think Metro is correct, unfortunately, about the political challenge SB 79 creates for transit, but the solution is not to repeal SB 79, it is to reform Metro so that it is less structurally deferential to transit opponents.
Reposted by CAHSR's Strongest Soldier
National media should really be covering the fact thay every major school, museum, and arts institution in the Twin Cities, and hundreds of local businesses are closed tomorrow to protest federal occupation.
Nothing like this at this scale has happened anywhere in America anytime in living memory.
Nothing like this at this scale has happened anywhere in America anytime in living memory.
January 22, 2026 at 8:25 PM
National media should really be covering the fact thay every major school, museum, and arts institution in the Twin Cities, and hundreds of local businesses are closed tomorrow to protest federal occupation.
Nothing like this at this scale has happened anywhere in America anytime in living memory.
Nothing like this at this scale has happened anywhere in America anytime in living memory.
Reposted by CAHSR's Strongest Soldier
CA's AG, also openly supporting the protest movements: “Crowds are super important. That is the rawest, most powerful expression of our democracy. When people show up, whether it’s Hands Off or No Kings, we are speaking about what we will never accept and what we demand.”
January 22, 2026 at 8:27 PM
CA's AG, also openly supporting the protest movements: “Crowds are super important. That is the rawest, most powerful expression of our democracy. When people show up, whether it’s Hands Off or No Kings, we are speaking about what we will never accept and what we demand.”
If Caltrans permits are so easy to get Mitchell should be pushing Metro to double track the I-10 segment of Metrolink
Supervisor Mitchell says Caltrans permission not a problem - anticipates Caltrans will approve permits. Mitchell sympathetic to construction impacts to businesses. Says Hawthorne long term benefits outweigh short term challenges.
January 22, 2026 at 8:08 PM
If Caltrans permits are so easy to get Mitchell should be pushing Metro to double track the I-10 segment of Metrolink
Reposted by CAHSR's Strongest Soldier
I fear my tipping point into madness is "Thus is un-American" posts in response to ICE terrorizing immigrants. I beg you to open Wikipedia (I would say a book but let's start small) and read up on The Trail of Tears, Fugitive Slave Catchers, Japanese internment, Indian Boarding schools & Jim Crow
January 22, 2026 at 12:48 PM
I fear my tipping point into madness is "Thus is un-American" posts in response to ICE terrorizing immigrants. I beg you to open Wikipedia (I would say a book but let's start small) and read up on The Trail of Tears, Fugitive Slave Catchers, Japanese internment, Indian Boarding schools & Jim Crow
Reposted by CAHSR's Strongest Soldier
I will repeat: It is not obvious, based on the data, that campaigning on the economy in Nov would be significantly more effective than campaigning on immigration. Gov. policy is dramatically out of step with the public on immigration/deportations, and executive overreach is a potent motivator
January 22, 2026 at 6:31 PM
I will repeat: It is not obvious, based on the data, that campaigning on the economy in Nov would be significantly more effective than campaigning on immigration. Gov. policy is dramatically out of step with the public on immigration/deportations, and executive overreach is a potent motivator
Tesla's new motto is “Building a world of amazing abundance.” I think that's it for the Abundance framing, pack it up.
NEW in Heatmap AM:
❎ Trump says Greenland deal developing, backs down on tariffs
🪨 2 geothermal startups raise $212 million combined
🇯🇵 World’s largest nuclear plant back online in Japan
Read up on the latest from @alexckaufman.bsky.social:
heatmap.news/am/geotherma...
❎ Trump says Greenland deal developing, backs down on tariffs
🪨 2 geothermal startups raise $212 million combined
🇯🇵 World’s largest nuclear plant back online in Japan
Read up on the latest from @alexckaufman.bsky.social:
heatmap.news/am/geotherma...
Two Geothermal Startups Raise a Combined $212 Million
On Trump’s Greenland thaw, Europe’s green steel win, and Tesla’s mission
heatmap.news
January 22, 2026 at 6:35 PM
Tesla's new motto is “Building a world of amazing abundance.” I think that's it for the Abundance framing, pack it up.
Reposted by CAHSR's Strongest Soldier
The “General strike” isn’t a fantasy anymore. From coordinated walkouts to recent mass strikes, the groundwork is already here—and even Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson is talking about it.
@alexhan.bsky.social on why we may be closer than we think.
@alexhan.bsky.social on why we may be closer than we think.
Maybe a General Strike Isn’t So Impossible Now
At first glance it sounds impossible — but a strategic look back at the coordinated strikes and militancy of the past two decades shows we might be much closer than we think.
inthesetimes.com
January 21, 2026 at 11:42 PM
The “General strike” isn’t a fantasy anymore. From coordinated walkouts to recent mass strikes, the groundwork is already here—and even Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson is talking about it.
@alexhan.bsky.social on why we may be closer than we think.
@alexhan.bsky.social on why we may be closer than we think.
Several benign reasons USians aren't protesting more abt Greenland:
1. Protest is reactive and it's unclear what's happening rn. No one protested Venezuela until after the strikes despite warnings
2. Protest capacity is mostly aimed at ICE atm
3. No Greenland diaspora community to keep the focus
1. Protest is reactive and it's unclear what's happening rn. No one protested Venezuela until after the strikes despite warnings
2. Protest capacity is mostly aimed at ICE atm
3. No Greenland diaspora community to keep the focus
January 21, 2026 at 10:08 PM
Several benign reasons USians aren't protesting more abt Greenland:
1. Protest is reactive and it's unclear what's happening rn. No one protested Venezuela until after the strikes despite warnings
2. Protest capacity is mostly aimed at ICE atm
3. No Greenland diaspora community to keep the focus
1. Protest is reactive and it's unclear what's happening rn. No one protested Venezuela until after the strikes despite warnings
2. Protest capacity is mostly aimed at ICE atm
3. No Greenland diaspora community to keep the focus
Reposted by CAHSR's Strongest Soldier
This photo will be everywhere for the next week. Pls credit prominently.
Richard Tsong-Taatarii/Minnesota Star Tribune
Every journalist covering ICE risks their lives.
Tsong-Taatarii has been an NPPA Photographer of the Year, rec'd a World Press Photo award, and was on a team that won a Pulitzer.
Richard Tsong-Taatarii/Minnesota Star Tribune
Every journalist covering ICE risks their lives.
Tsong-Taatarii has been an NPPA Photographer of the Year, rec'd a World Press Photo award, and was on a team that won a Pulitzer.
Minneapolis, today.
Note how three agents holding the civilian down.
Why spray?
www.startribune.com/ice-raids-mi...
Note how three agents holding the civilian down.
Why spray?
www.startribune.com/ice-raids-mi...
January 21, 2026 at 9:35 PM
This photo will be everywhere for the next week. Pls credit prominently.
Richard Tsong-Taatarii/Minnesota Star Tribune
Every journalist covering ICE risks their lives.
Tsong-Taatarii has been an NPPA Photographer of the Year, rec'd a World Press Photo award, and was on a team that won a Pulitzer.
Richard Tsong-Taatarii/Minnesota Star Tribune
Every journalist covering ICE risks their lives.
Tsong-Taatarii has been an NPPA Photographer of the Year, rec'd a World Press Photo award, and was on a team that won a Pulitzer.
This is quite a difficult line to walk, as US police frequently instigate violence against peaceful protests which is then perceived as riots by the public. And many who fear this outcome err too far in the other direction, organizing actions that are so non-disruptive as to garner no attention.
A broad swath of Americans misunderstand property damage as "violence" and smart protests recognize this, generally trying to achieve both "disruptive enough to be effective" and "not being read as violent". The media enforces this bright-line of legitimacy, AND often ignores "legitimate" protest.
January 21, 2026 at 8:54 PM
This is quite a difficult line to walk, as US police frequently instigate violence against peaceful protests which is then perceived as riots by the public. And many who fear this outcome err too far in the other direction, organizing actions that are so non-disruptive as to garner no attention.
Affordable housing doesn't necessarily reduce VMT - depends a lot on siting. Affordable housing funding is always needed, but using it for VMT mitigation just defunds transit. Uphold @menorman.bsky.social thought cal.streetsblog.org/2026/01/14/o...
Op/Ed: Why Affordable Housing Doesn’t Offset Vehicle Miles Traveled - Streetsblog California
Affordable, senior, and supportive housing advances critical equity and housing goals. However....
cal.streetsblog.org
January 21, 2026 at 8:35 PM
Affordable housing doesn't necessarily reduce VMT - depends a lot on siting. Affordable housing funding is always needed, but using it for VMT mitigation just defunds transit. Uphold @menorman.bsky.social thought cal.streetsblog.org/2026/01/14/o...
Reposted by CAHSR's Strongest Soldier
I talk about it a lot, but car dependency and car-centric infrastructure also serve as barriers to protest. Unlike European cities, the U.S. has fewer car-free spaces in which to protest, large roadways restrict mass gathering places, and we also see vehicles wielded as weapons to attack protesters.
I continue to believe that one of the things that fuels this “no protests” myth is that the US is a massive and sparsely populated nation that can’t continuously and consistently converge on one central city the way, say, the French can.
I remember how I was asked, live on German television, a mere 48 hours after No Kings II: “Why are there no protests?” And three months later, as the people of Minneapolis are standing in solidarity against the outrageous occupation of their city, I’m still getting that question in most interviews.
January 21, 2026 at 4:54 PM
I talk about it a lot, but car dependency and car-centric infrastructure also serve as barriers to protest. Unlike European cities, the U.S. has fewer car-free spaces in which to protest, large roadways restrict mass gathering places, and we also see vehicles wielded as weapons to attack protesters.
People don't trust Dems on the economy because their policies are watered down, milquetoast, means tested into oblivion, slow and hard to understand even if successful.
This is why low info voters went for Trump on the economy and also why everyone is mad at Schumer's affordability messaging.
This is why low info voters went for Trump on the economy and also why everyone is mad at Schumer's affordability messaging.
January 20, 2026 at 10:39 PM
People don't trust Dems on the economy because their policies are watered down, milquetoast, means tested into oblivion, slow and hard to understand even if successful.
This is why low info voters went for Trump on the economy and also why everyone is mad at Schumer's affordability messaging.
This is why low info voters went for Trump on the economy and also why everyone is mad at Schumer's affordability messaging.
Everyone on this website blames a specific demographic for Trump winning and 80% of discourse here is ppl projecting that resentment onto randos and lashing out.
MAGA minorities -> weird racism in replies
Lefty nonvoters -> Blue MAGA/DNC Juche types
Big Tech -> AI discourse
MAGA minorities -> weird racism in replies
Lefty nonvoters -> Blue MAGA/DNC Juche types
Big Tech -> AI discourse
January 20, 2026 at 9:39 PM
Everyone on this website blames a specific demographic for Trump winning and 80% of discourse here is ppl projecting that resentment onto randos and lashing out.
MAGA minorities -> weird racism in replies
Lefty nonvoters -> Blue MAGA/DNC Juche types
Big Tech -> AI discourse
MAGA minorities -> weird racism in replies
Lefty nonvoters -> Blue MAGA/DNC Juche types
Big Tech -> AI discourse
Reposted by CAHSR's Strongest Soldier
They're also in San Bernardino, Rialto, and Fontana areas.
January 20, 2026 at 7:02 PM
They're also in San Bernardino, Rialto, and Fontana areas.
Reposted by CAHSR's Strongest Soldier
Minneapolis schools are closing because non-white families can't go outside and Senate Dems are like "ok but you gotta buy some body cameras for ICE"
Minibus is out. Democrats were able to include some guardrails in about ICE:
-restricts ICE to spending $3.8 billion of its annual budget
on detention as opposed to being able to spend $10 billion
-$20 million that must be used for body cameras 1/
www.appropriations.senate.gov/imo/media/do...
-restricts ICE to spending $3.8 billion of its annual budget
on detention as opposed to being able to spend $10 billion
-$20 million that must be used for body cameras 1/
www.appropriations.senate.gov/imo/media/do...
www.appropriations.senate.gov
January 20, 2026 at 5:17 PM
Minneapolis schools are closing because non-white families can't go outside and Senate Dems are like "ok but you gotta buy some body cameras for ICE"
Reposted by CAHSR's Strongest Soldier
I just woke up from a nap and somehow while I was asleep, everyone on the bus has figured out we are not going to the right place
January 20, 2026 at 1:57 AM
I just woke up from a nap and somehow while I was asleep, everyone on the bus has figured out we are not going to the right place
Reposted by CAHSR's Strongest Soldier
For transit projects, delay doesn't just reduce faith in government - it's causing us to fall behind on our VMT and emissions-reduction goals.
The climate crisis has a deadline, and we're not on track to meet it with current practices.
The climate crisis has a deadline, and we're not on track to meet it with current practices.
"Our politics obsess over money, but seldom over time. Eye-watering numbers for some such project will plaster a newspaper broadsheet, but never costs that are counted in years. A billion dollars is an outrage: A decade is just the government running its due course."
The Tyranny of Tomorrow
Why Government Needs to Stop Wasting Our Time.
everyoneiswelcome.substack.com
January 20, 2026 at 12:32 AM
For transit projects, delay doesn't just reduce faith in government - it's causing us to fall behind on our VMT and emissions-reduction goals.
The climate crisis has a deadline, and we're not on track to meet it with current practices.
The climate crisis has a deadline, and we're not on track to meet it with current practices.
Reposted by CAHSR's Strongest Soldier
"Our politics obsess over money, but seldom over time. Eye-watering numbers for some such project will plaster a newspaper broadsheet, but never costs that are counted in years. A billion dollars is an outrage: A decade is just the government running its due course."
The Tyranny of Tomorrow
Why Government Needs to Stop Wasting Our Time.
everyoneiswelcome.substack.com
January 19, 2026 at 7:13 PM
"Our politics obsess over money, but seldom over time. Eye-watering numbers for some such project will plaster a newspaper broadsheet, but never costs that are counted in years. A billion dollars is an outrage: A decade is just the government running its due course."
Period reminder that if you sustain yourself by working for wages, you're working class.
Scientists, janitors, journalists, teachers, factory workers: working class
Car dealership owners, landlords, restaurant owners: not working class
Scientists, janitors, journalists, teachers, factory workers: working class
Car dealership owners, landlords, restaurant owners: not working class
January 19, 2026 at 9:24 PM
Period reminder that if you sustain yourself by working for wages, you're working class.
Scientists, janitors, journalists, teachers, factory workers: working class
Car dealership owners, landlords, restaurant owners: not working class
Scientists, janitors, journalists, teachers, factory workers: working class
Car dealership owners, landlords, restaurant owners: not working class
Reposted by CAHSR's Strongest Soldier
Media selling LA as rich spoiled people to the gen pop is so funny. That's a tiny tiny percentage of this town. Most of LA is the people you see being disappeared. LA has the largest clothing manufacturing hub in the country and it ain't staffed by the likes of Brad Pitt and George Clooney.
I think a lot of the world looks at the US and sees 330 million spoiled, stupid rich people and I wish it was easier to explain why that's wrong to people who've only seen New York and maybe DC or LA, but you can never convince them that they don't understand the whole thing.
January 19, 2026 at 7:26 PM
Media selling LA as rich spoiled people to the gen pop is so funny. That's a tiny tiny percentage of this town. Most of LA is the people you see being disappeared. LA has the largest clothing manufacturing hub in the country and it ain't staffed by the likes of Brad Pitt and George Clooney.
Reposted by CAHSR's Strongest Soldier
ICE ended up returning the man, Saly, after realizing he’s a fucking US citizen with no criminal record, per his sister-in-law. These fucking animals.
January 19, 2026 at 5:41 AM
ICE ended up returning the man, Saly, after realizing he’s a fucking US citizen with no criminal record, per his sister-in-law. These fucking animals.
Reposted by CAHSR's Strongest Soldier
A powerful and depressing analysis of the powers at play in Iran and the prospects for the future (also depressing) www.nplusonemag.com/online-only/...
January 19, 2026 at 5:24 PM
A powerful and depressing analysis of the powers at play in Iran and the prospects for the future (also depressing) www.nplusonemag.com/online-only/...
Reposted by CAHSR's Strongest Soldier
Metrolink and LOSSAN are even worse because they are a composite of a bunch of boards that are all like this (including Metro). Delivering systemwide improvements like SCORE is difficult when it requires permission from multiple boards biased towards project opponents.
responsive to rider needs? I ask, because the LA Metro board is dramatically unresponsive to rider needs and focus primarily on appeasing those who consider the entire system a nuisance, largely because they fall into that category themselves. Their board positions are largely incidental to -
January 19, 2026 at 1:01 AM
Metrolink and LOSSAN are even worse because they are a composite of a bunch of boards that are all like this (including Metro). Delivering systemwide improvements like SCORE is difficult when it requires permission from multiple boards biased towards project opponents.