John McLaren
@johnmclaren.bsky.social
Economist, classical music nerd, and family man.
Pinned
John McLaren
@johnmclaren.bsky.social
· Apr 4
I'm seeing a huge spike in interest in tariffs from people who normally don't work in the economics of international trade. Here are a few useful things to know about them. (1/14)
Reposted by John McLaren
Perfect.
Swalwell: ICE agents shot Alex Pretti and Renee Good. And the only person in the world who has been held accountable by DHS is the pilot who somehow forgot to move Kristi Noem’s blankie.
February 14, 2026 at 6:11 AM
Perfect.
Reposted by John McLaren
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This is makes Japanese internment look good.
On Thanksgiving, the immigrant children held at the Dilley detention center gathered in the gym for what they thought was a holiday feast.
The kids salivated over a spread of turkey, sandwiches, pastries and pies, a family told me.
But the food wasn’t for detainees — it was for the staff.
The kids salivated over a spread of turkey, sandwiches, pastries and pies, a family told me.
But the food wasn’t for detainees — it was for the staff.
February 14, 2026 at 5:41 AM
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Can't express my anger at this.
Newsome's primary chances better drop to zero.
Newsome's primary chances better drop to zero.
February 14, 2026 at 3:14 AM
Can't express my anger at this.
Newsome's primary chances better drop to zero.
Newsome's primary chances better drop to zero.
Can't express my rage at this.
February 14, 2026 at 3:12 AM
Can't express my rage at this.
Reposted by John McLaren
This white supremacist scumbag should not have any position of responsibility in our government. Thank you, Senator Kaine.
SEN. KAINE: “You said American whites are victims of a cultural genocide… are they represented in the senate? House? Presidency? CEO’s?”
Trump’s white nationalist pick for a top state department spot Jeremy Carl skewered by @kaine.senate.gov
Trump’s white nationalist pick for a top state department spot Jeremy Carl skewered by @kaine.senate.gov
February 13, 2026 at 10:29 PM
This white supremacist scumbag should not have any position of responsibility in our government. Thank you, Senator Kaine.
Reposted by John McLaren
This post is really taking off. I know the Thanksgiving detail is grabbing, but I would encourage everyone to also read the full article about this family’s struggle at Dilley.
They’ve been locked up for 130+ days.
I spent hours with them on Zoom this week, and their story deserves to be heard.
They’ve been locked up for 130+ days.
I spent hours with them on Zoom this week, and their story deserves to be heard.
'Even in Russia, they don't treat children like this': A family's nightmare in ICE detention
A Russian couple and their children sought asylum in the U.S. In a Texas detention center, they say they endured worms in the food and hourslong waits for medicine.
www.nbcnews.com
February 13, 2026 at 9:51 PM
This post is really taking off. I know the Thanksgiving detail is grabbing, but I would encourage everyone to also read the full article about this family’s struggle at Dilley.
They’ve been locked up for 130+ days.
I spent hours with them on Zoom this week, and their story deserves to be heard.
They’ve been locked up for 130+ days.
I spent hours with them on Zoom this week, and their story deserves to be heard.
Reposted by John McLaren
No, no, no – you don’t understand. All that ICE is doing is going after scary violent criminals, the worst of the worst. This is all part of that.
On Thanksgiving, the immigrant children held at the Dilley detention center gathered in the gym for what they thought was a holiday feast.
The kids salivated over a spread of turkey, sandwiches, pastries and pies, a family told me.
But the food wasn’t for detainees — it was for the staff.
The kids salivated over a spread of turkey, sandwiches, pastries and pies, a family told me.
But the food wasn’t for detainees — it was for the staff.
February 13, 2026 at 10:01 PM
No, no, no – you don’t understand. All that ICE is doing is going after scary violent criminals, the worst of the worst. This is all part of that.
Folks should be aware of the silent film series at the Violet Crown! About once a month, Sundays, Matt Marshall (UVA Media Studies) screens a film and plays live musical accompaniment. It's great. Next up is this Sunday (2/15). charlottesville.violetcrown.com/movie/live-m...
LIVE MUSICAL SCORE - The Flying Ace
To celebrate Black History Month, we present the 100th anniversary of this 1926 race film inspired by the story of Bessie Coleman, who was the first African-American woman and first Native American to...
charlottesville.violetcrown.com
February 13, 2026 at 9:08 PM
Folks should be aware of the silent film series at the Violet Crown! About once a month, Sundays, Matt Marshall (UVA Media Studies) screens a film and plays live musical accompaniment. It's great. Next up is this Sunday (2/15). charlottesville.violetcrown.com/movie/live-m...
Reposted by John McLaren
The Virginia Supreme Court ruled on Friday that the state can proceed with an April 21 referendum that could give us a new congressional map.
Story online: augustafreepress.com/news/virgini...
#Virginia #Congress
Story online: augustafreepress.com/news/virgini...
#Virginia #Congress
Virginia Supreme Court allows congressional map referendum
Augusta Free Press provides breaking news and sports coverage for Waynesboro, Va., Virginia and across the United States and the world.
augustafreepress.com
February 13, 2026 at 6:51 PM
The Virginia Supreme Court ruled on Friday that the state can proceed with an April 21 referendum that could give us a new congressional map.
Story online: augustafreepress.com/news/virgini...
#Virginia #Congress
Story online: augustafreepress.com/news/virgini...
#Virginia #Congress
Reposted by John McLaren
And a great bonus is that the event occurs at the only coffee shop in town that is dedicated to forced-childbirth policies! It’s a win-win!
I haven’t seen this announced through any official/campaign channels, but he’s sharing it with his friends. In case anyone wants to go and say hi.
February 13, 2026 at 7:18 PM
And a great bonus is that the event occurs at the only coffee shop in town that is dedicated to forced-childbirth policies! It’s a win-win!
Reposted by John McLaren
Yes, this is inspiring!
I hear young people every day in the office talk about fears they have for their safety & the safety of their classmates. And also the strategies that they’ve devised to keep each other safe. I respect the heck out of the fact that they’re raising their voices.
cvillerightnow.com/news/208802-...
cvillerightnow.com/news/208802-...
Albemarle County students walk-out to protest ICE - Cville Right Now
Close to 300 students walked out of Albemarle County High School Friday morning in a protest against ICE actions across the nation. The students left from school property just before 11 a.m., carrying...
cvillerightnow.com
February 13, 2026 at 7:12 PM
Yes, this is inspiring!
Reposted by John McLaren
Scandalous. Sickening.
February 13, 2026 at 7:13 PM
Scandalous. Sickening.
Not quite sure it’s relevant, but it struck me in that Finland is in the extreme upper left-hand corner of this graph.
bsky.app/profile/wtfd...
bsky.app/profile/wtfd...
February 13, 2026 at 7:06 PM
Not quite sure it’s relevant, but it struck me in that Finland is in the extreme upper left-hand corner of this graph.
bsky.app/profile/wtfd...
bsky.app/profile/wtfd...
Reposted by John McLaren
A huge win for Virginia voters.
February 13, 2026 at 4:08 PM
A huge win for Virginia voters.
Reposted by John McLaren
GOOD NEWS! Now let’s make sure to get the word out that everyone needs to vote “yes“ on April 21!
February 13, 2026 at 4:49 PM
GOOD NEWS! Now let’s make sure to get the word out that everyone needs to vote “yes“ on April 21!
Reposted by John McLaren
I do not regret to inform you that we are going to win.
Proud of all these high schoolers, and all the honking cars in support!
Proud of all these high schoolers, and all the honking cars in support!
February 13, 2026 at 4:38 PM
I do not regret to inform you that we are going to win.
Proud of all these high schoolers, and all the honking cars in support!
Proud of all these high schoolers, and all the honking cars in support!
Reposted by John McLaren
Ladies and gentlemen, United States Secretary of Health and Human Services.
RFK Jr: I'm not scared of a germ. I used to snort cocaine off of toilet seats.
February 13, 2026 at 4:36 PM
Ladies and gentlemen, United States Secretary of Health and Human Services.
Reposted by John McLaren
Long past time to sound the alarm on the horrifying rise of antisemitism in the Republican Party.
Current state of things: One Fox News host casually declares that Epstein’s money comes from “Jewish billionaires” and a “Jewish banking family,” another responds that he was a “sex rabbi.” www.mediamatters.org/fox-news/jes...
February 13, 2026 at 4:38 PM
Long past time to sound the alarm on the horrifying rise of antisemitism in the Republican Party.
Reposted by John McLaren
Congressional candidate Perriello pays visit to BEACON kitchen.
Perriello pays visit to BEACON kitchen
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (CBS19 NEWS) -- Tom Perriello, candidate for the Fifth District seat in the House of Representatives, visited BEACON Kitchen as part of his efforts to better understand the
www.cbs19news.com
February 13, 2026 at 3:42 AM
Congressional candidate Perriello pays visit to BEACON kitchen.
Reposted by John McLaren
👏👏👏
Wow! Truly humbled to receive the unanimous support today of the Cville City Council and Albemarle Board of Supervisors.
February 13, 2026 at 3:02 AM
👏👏👏
Reposted by John McLaren
Thrilled to join all my colleagues in this - time to flip this district!
Wow! Truly humbled to receive the unanimous support today of the Cville City Council and Albemarle Board of Supervisors.
February 13, 2026 at 2:58 AM
Thrilled to join all my colleagues in this - time to flip this district!
Reposted by John McLaren
Thank you to our community members who are doing this! It is MUCH better to be prepared in advance than to scramble to respond!
Looking for guidance about what to do to prepare for ICE? Join us on 2/25 at the UU Church in Charlottesville! CARPOOLING strongly encouraged!
February 13, 2026 at 3:04 PM
Thank you to our community members who are doing this! It is MUCH better to be prepared in advance than to scramble to respond!
Reposted by John McLaren
This video is very, VERY telling.
I’m currently writing a book about the attempted Nazi demonstration in Skokie in 1977. This is indistinguishable from how American Nazis talked in public.
Trump nominated a legit white nationalist to a top post at the State Department. I asked him some basic questions about his belief in the “erasure of white culture”. Watch this embarrassing, fumbling answer. Like he has never before been asked to explain his views.
February 12, 2026 at 11:25 PM
This video is very, VERY telling.
True, but it’s a bit less of an issue because ML is a narrower term and no one is tricked into asking an ML program for therapy or relationship advice. But I would love to find a better term. Maybe “complex pattern recognition?”
February 12, 2026 at 11:21 PM
True, but it’s a bit less of an issue because ML is a narrower term and no one is tricked into asking an ML program for therapy or relationship advice. But I would love to find a better term. Maybe “complex pattern recognition?”
I don’t use the term “AI.” We don’t have any technology that produces a sentient program, so the term “artificial intelligence“ is fraudulent. We have LLM‘s, image generators, and machine learning programs, which are all different, and all of which have their uses and misuses.
February 12, 2026 at 9:53 PM
I don’t use the term “AI.” We don’t have any technology that produces a sentient program, so the term “artificial intelligence“ is fraudulent. We have LLM‘s, image generators, and machine learning programs, which are all different, and all of which have their uses and misuses.