Owen
@owenpick.bsky.social
Seattle based, (mostly) earnest poster.
Rubio and his lobbyists are pretty obviously the next "fell for it again" award recipients.
After Bush ousted Noriega — which was also incredibly risky, illegal, and needless interventionism — America helped uninstall Noriega's military and plowed development money into the country. Things largely worked out!
I think there's a lot of evidence that Trump doesn't want to learn those lessons
I think there's a lot of evidence that Trump doesn't want to learn those lessons
January 3, 2026 at 7:26 PM
Rubio and his lobbyists are pretty obviously the next "fell for it again" award recipients.
Obama ascended to the presidency by being outspokenly against the Iraq war.
Seems like a pretty obvious primary opportunity for any elected Dem who is equivocating about unprovoked aggression and illegal wars.
Seems like a pretty obvious primary opportunity for any elected Dem who is equivocating about unprovoked aggression and illegal wars.
January 3, 2026 at 7:07 PM
Obama ascended to the presidency by being outspokenly against the Iraq war.
Seems like a pretty obvious primary opportunity for any elected Dem who is equivocating about unprovoked aggression and illegal wars.
Seems like a pretty obvious primary opportunity for any elected Dem who is equivocating about unprovoked aggression and illegal wars.
Impeach Rubio you cowards.
The Senate will hold a vote next week on another bipartisan resolution blocking the use of military force against Venezuela without the express authorization of Congress, Sen. Tim Kaine announced
U.S. Senate Will Vote To Block Military Action Against Venezuela Next Week
www.huffpost.com
January 3, 2026 at 6:59 PM
Impeach Rubio you cowards.
This is a pretty good editorial but it still misses the most important lesson from American aggression.
There's no international law and order without domestic accountability.
Regardless of future outcomes, rehabbing America's reputation and international law requires domestic accountability.
There's no international law and order without domestic accountability.
Regardless of future outcomes, rehabbing America's reputation and international law requires domestic accountability.
“The thing that separates war from murder is the law.”
By proceeding without any semblance of international legitimacy, valid legal authority or domestic endorsement, Trump risks providing justification for authoritarians who want to dominate their own neighbors.
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/03/o...
By proceeding without any semblance of international legitimacy, valid legal authority or domestic endorsement, Trump risks providing justification for authoritarians who want to dominate their own neighbors.
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/03/o...
Opinion | Trump’s Attack on Venezuela Is Illegal and Unwise
www.nytimes.com
January 3, 2026 at 6:50 PM
This is a pretty good editorial but it still misses the most important lesson from American aggression.
There's no international law and order without domestic accountability.
Regardless of future outcomes, rehabbing America's reputation and international law requires domestic accountability.
There's no international law and order without domestic accountability.
Regardless of future outcomes, rehabbing America's reputation and international law requires domestic accountability.
A reminder that the traditional media structure uses real journalism to build credibility for their editorial boards.
Defending the journalism at these institutions is unfortunately also a defense of their ownership and editorial policies.
Defending the journalism at these institutions is unfortunately also a defense of their ownership and editorial policies.
The Washington Post editorial board comes out in favor of the Venezuela attack/operation to capture Maduro
January 3, 2026 at 6:20 PM
A reminder that the traditional media structure uses real journalism to build credibility for their editorial boards.
Defending the journalism at these institutions is unfortunately also a defense of their ownership and editorial policies.
Defending the journalism at these institutions is unfortunately also a defense of their ownership and editorial policies.
Reposted by Owen
January 3, 2026 at 3:59 PM
Impeachment isn't enough.
We need to permanently shift the war powers of the president back to Congress.
We need to permanently shift the war powers of the president back to Congress.
January 3, 2026 at 7:17 AM
Impeachment isn't enough.
We need to permanently shift the war powers of the president back to Congress.
We need to permanently shift the war powers of the president back to Congress.
Norway got here largely by taxing ICE vehicles.
Seems relevant as our state stares down both a giant transportation revenue gap and a climate crisis.
Pretty much the opposite of raiding our carbon tax revenue while simultaneously issuing bonds for highways
.
Seems relevant as our state stares down both a giant transportation revenue gap and a climate crisis.
Pretty much the opposite of raiding our carbon tax revenue while simultaneously issuing bonds for highways
.
95.9% of cars sold in Norway have no fossil power at all (up from 88.9% in 2024), and 97.5% have a plug. electrek.co/2026/01/02/n...
Norway reaches 97% EV sales as EVs now outnumber diesels on its roads
97.6% of Norway's car sales were all-electric in Dec., and 95.9% for the full year. Also, there are now more EVs on Norway's roads than diesel
electrek.co
January 3, 2026 at 1:19 AM
Norway got here largely by taxing ICE vehicles.
Seems relevant as our state stares down both a giant transportation revenue gap and a climate crisis.
Pretty much the opposite of raiding our carbon tax revenue while simultaneously issuing bonds for highways
.
Seems relevant as our state stares down both a giant transportation revenue gap and a climate crisis.
Pretty much the opposite of raiding our carbon tax revenue while simultaneously issuing bonds for highways
.
Reposted by Owen
I’m super proud to have written the Urbanist’s most-read article of 2025. The Urbanist is a civic treasure that analyzes, informs, and advocates for a better community.
The Urbanist’s Most Popular Stories of 2025 » The Urbanist
# The most read stories at The Urbanist last year included coverage of high speed rail, light rail, shared streets, housing growth appeals, and parking mandates.
www.theurbanist.org
January 2, 2026 at 8:12 PM
I’m super proud to have written the Urbanist’s most-read article of 2025. The Urbanist is a civic treasure that analyzes, informs, and advocates for a better community.
Reposted by Owen
@seattledot.bsky.social the temporary bike lane safety barrier at Pine & 4th has been knocked out of position (again), and poses a significant hazard.
The bike lane is less than 3ft wide here, and vehicles are pushing into the bike right of way.
This buffer needs to restored ASAP.
The bike lane is less than 3ft wide here, and vehicles are pushing into the bike right of way.
This buffer needs to restored ASAP.
August 8, 2025 at 4:48 PM
@seattledot.bsky.social the temporary bike lane safety barrier at Pine & 4th has been knocked out of position (again), and poses a significant hazard.
The bike lane is less than 3ft wide here, and vehicles are pushing into the bike right of way.
This buffer needs to restored ASAP.
The bike lane is less than 3ft wide here, and vehicles are pushing into the bike right of way.
This buffer needs to restored ASAP.
The villain here isn't just the owners, it's the ownership structure.
A key part of fixing our democracy is fixing our media ecosystem and that isn't getting fixed without different institutional structures.
A key part of fixing our democracy is fixing our media ecosystem and that isn't getting fixed without different institutional structures.
In this in-depth interview Billie Jean Sweeney — a former editor at The New York Times — details how the paper shifted towards openly promoting anti-trans hatred, why this was directed from the very top, how some staff pushed back and the immense damage done by the NYT legitimizing bigotry.
'A directive from above': Former NYT editor lays out how the paper pushes anti-trans bigotry
In this in-depth interview, former New York Times editor Billie Jean Sweeney details how the paper shifted towards openly promoting anti-trans hatred, how some staff tried to stop it, how it's directe...
transnews.network
January 2, 2026 at 4:04 PM
The villain here isn't just the owners, it's the ownership structure.
A key part of fixing our democracy is fixing our media ecosystem and that isn't getting fixed without different institutional structures.
A key part of fixing our democracy is fixing our media ecosystem and that isn't getting fixed without different institutional structures.
Reposted by Owen
Happy to report that @theurbanist.org will be meeting with @wilsonforseattle.bsky.social for our first sit down interview with Seattle's new mayor next week.
January 1, 2026 at 10:46 PM
Happy to report that @theurbanist.org will be meeting with @wilsonforseattle.bsky.social for our first sit down interview with Seattle's new mayor next week.
Reposted by Owen
My favorite Harrell Administration moment was the Westlake monorail station renovation ribbon-cutting and 60th anniversary event where they announced trains were going to be free for the next 80 minutes only.
January 1, 2026 at 6:53 PM
My favorite Harrell Administration moment was the Westlake monorail station renovation ribbon-cutting and 60th anniversary event where they announced trains were going to be free for the next 80 minutes only.
Reposted by Owen
Joy Hollingsworth, Sara Nelson, Bob Kettle, Tanya Woo, and one third of Nirvana backed this ghoul (she lost by 40 points to @organizewithshaun.bsky.social haha)
January 1, 2026 at 6:28 PM
Joy Hollingsworth, Sara Nelson, Bob Kettle, Tanya Woo, and one third of Nirvana backed this ghoul (she lost by 40 points to @organizewithshaun.bsky.social haha)
One of the reasons The Urbanist exists and is part of a larger political project.
Feel free to become a subscriber!
Feel free to become a subscriber!
I'm entirely serious about this: until you internalize the view that urban America is Real America, you won't see the urgency of structural reform of an American government whose fundamental structures so disadvantage its population centers—the great engines of its prosperity, progress, & culture.
Another good practice for the New Year would be for all the non-fascists in America who want to opine about politics to really begin believing that urban America is Real America & that its denizens are The Authentic People. Get some self-respect & drop the volkish nationalist view that they're not
January 1, 2026 at 5:03 PM
One of the reasons The Urbanist exists and is part of a larger political project.
Feel free to become a subscriber!
Feel free to become a subscriber!
I don't know what the right solution is here but these extremely predictable reversals are really cynicism inducing.
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/31/n...
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/31/n...
Mamdani Reverses Call to End Mayoral Control of Public Schools
www.nytimes.com
January 1, 2026 at 4:00 PM
I don't know what the right solution is here but these extremely predictable reversals are really cynicism inducing.
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/31/n...
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/31/n...
Editors: Is the important, notable detail that the pressure is increasing on Maduro?
January 1, 2026 at 2:50 PM
Editors: Is the important, notable detail that the pressure is increasing on Maduro?
Reposted by Owen
all meaning has collapsed in our post-literate society and i wrote a bunch of useless, useless words about it. read it if you, like me, are one of a diminishing minority who still reads www.theverge.com/policy/84960...
The year politics became brainrot
You don’t bring a persuasive argument to a gunfight.
www.theverge.com
December 31, 2025 at 3:09 PM
all meaning has collapsed in our post-literate society and i wrote a bunch of useless, useless words about it. read it if you, like me, are one of a diminishing minority who still reads www.theverge.com/policy/84960...
About 20% of people in every major US city cannot drive.
The idea that cities can't support congestion charges because there isn't an alternative to driving is just car brain.
The idea that cities can't support congestion charges because there isn't an alternative to driving is just car brain.
I find "America isn't really set up for it" to be an annoying rebuttal to any sort of proposal to reduce car dependency. Our leaders used policy to create a system of car dependency and we can sure as hell use policy to undo that. There are absolutely barriers, but do nothing is not a solution.
December 31, 2025 at 8:50 PM
About 20% of people in every major US city cannot drive.
The idea that cities can't support congestion charges because there isn't an alternative to driving is just car brain.
The idea that cities can't support congestion charges because there isn't an alternative to driving is just car brain.
Do property taxes strangle development?
December 31, 2025 at 8:29 PM
Do property taxes strangle development?
Reposted by Owen
Great 2025 retrospective
The year politics became brainrot
You don’t bring a persuasive argument to a gunfight.
www.theverge.com
December 31, 2025 at 6:28 PM
Great 2025 retrospective
Reposted by Owen
A Washington scissor stair bill is about to drop, folks.
app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary/...
app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary/...
HB 2228 Washington State Legislature
app.leg.wa.gov
December 31, 2025 at 5:38 PM
A Washington scissor stair bill is about to drop, folks.
app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary/...
app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary/...
Every time someone complains about "liberals" they could choose from a wide assortment of other words.
But they purposely chose the word describing people who support individual rights.
But they purposely chose the word describing people who support individual rights.
December 31, 2025 at 12:57 PM
Every time someone complains about "liberals" they could choose from a wide assortment of other words.
But they purposely chose the word describing people who support individual rights.
But they purposely chose the word describing people who support individual rights.
Reposted by Owen
In the housing space, a common refrain from the large scale development community is that broad upzoning doesn’t matter. Instead the challenges are financing and hard costs.
Developers focus on these because they’re looking at pro formas forecasting 2 years out, not 20.
48hills.org/2025/12/the-...
Developers focus on these because they’re looking at pro formas forecasting 2 years out, not 20.
48hills.org/2025/12/the-...
December 30, 2025 at 5:01 PM
In the housing space, a common refrain from the large scale development community is that broad upzoning doesn’t matter. Instead the challenges are financing and hard costs.
Developers focus on these because they’re looking at pro formas forecasting 2 years out, not 20.
48hills.org/2025/12/the-...
Developers focus on these because they’re looking at pro formas forecasting 2 years out, not 20.
48hills.org/2025/12/the-...
Can't believe we simultaneously live in a society where randos get shot for nothing and these clowns think they can just do around anywhere doing this.
uhhh yeah I can see why these childcare properties weren't eager to let in some rando dudes asking "where are the kids?"
December 31, 2025 at 5:40 AM
Can't believe we simultaneously live in a society where randos get shot for nothing and these clowns think they can just do around anywhere doing this.