John Halloran
@profhalloran.bsky.social
By day: Professoring; social work/social policy/complex systems; PhD/JD. By night: Food/drinks; burritos; vapid entertainment; sport. 24/7: Unencumbered by reputation; epistemic humility; tepid legality; personal account.
Something that I think is missed in the (perhaps overly) legalistic analysis of this scenario (which I also have opinions on) is the ease at which consent could have been attempted before the construction of this model.
This is a distinguishing characteristic in this case from most uses —>
This is a distinguishing characteristic in this case from most uses —>
Folks getting in the weeds about licensing agreements but this research study engaged me in research, by creating a bespoke dataset about me, before I agreed to participate. They already made the dataset before I was invited to participated. That's not how informed consent works
somebody at UChicago is feeding preprints to LLMs without authors' consent, in a research study
they have the gall to suggest to authors they've opted-in that they volunteer to evaluate the LLMs' suggestions regarding their own work.
lol, lmao even. here is the invite and my reply
they have the gall to suggest to authors they've opted-in that they volunteer to evaluate the LLMs' suggestions regarding their own work.
lol, lmao even. here is the invite and my reply
January 7, 2026 at 1:48 PM
Something that I think is missed in the (perhaps overly) legalistic analysis of this scenario (which I also have opinions on) is the ease at which consent could have been attempted before the construction of this model.
This is a distinguishing characteristic in this case from most uses —>
This is a distinguishing characteristic in this case from most uses —>
Reposted by John Halloran
It is properly moral degeneracy that our political elites spend all day soaking their brains in the Literal Nazi Sex Crimes Factory, which is still the predominant communications outlet for Dem politicians.
I don't have a political strategy lecture about that. It's just viscerally disgusting.
I don't have a political strategy lecture about that. It's just viscerally disgusting.
January 7, 2026 at 11:26 AM
It is properly moral degeneracy that our political elites spend all day soaking their brains in the Literal Nazi Sex Crimes Factory, which is still the predominant communications outlet for Dem politicians.
I don't have a political strategy lecture about that. It's just viscerally disgusting.
I don't have a political strategy lecture about that. It's just viscerally disgusting.
Reposted by John Halloran
“We are locked into a battle we did not seek and our timidity is keeping us on the defensive. It isn’t working. Our pessimism is self-fullfiling.” www.liberalcurrents.com/we-need-to-g...
We Need to Get Off The Defensive About Immigration
Free movement is a fantastic thing, and we should say it.
www.liberalcurrents.com
January 7, 2026 at 11:08 AM
“We are locked into a battle we did not seek and our timidity is keeping us on the defensive. It isn’t working. Our pessimism is self-fullfiling.” www.liberalcurrents.com/we-need-to-g...
Reposted by John Halloran
I didn't even think of the pandora's box of dumb shit that can happen when you gamble on real life things without rules or guidelines.
Polymarket disputes capture of Maduro amounted to invasion ft.trib.al/qIkh84u
Polymarket disputes capture of Maduro amounted to invasion
More than $10.5mn has been wagered on contracts seeking to predict when the US will ‘invade’ Venezuela
ft.trib.al
January 6, 2026 at 11:04 PM
I didn't even think of the pandora's box of dumb shit that can happen when you gamble on real life things without rules or guidelines.
Reposted by John Halloran
speaking of, I’d love to talk to you if you’re a non-fiction literary agent, or knows one who might want to talk to me
just focusing on attempting to sell a book at the moment, which also feels improbable and yet somehow more probable than a lot of formerly more practical career moves that are now looking way less so
January 7, 2026 at 2:05 AM
speaking of, I’d love to talk to you if you’re a non-fiction literary agent, or knows one who might want to talk to me
Reposted by John Halloran
The president is not entitled to operate slush funds outside the operation of law.
Let’s turn to the Glorious Revolution:
Revenues “of Prerogative without Grant of Parlyament for longer time or in other manner then the same is or shall be granted is Illegall.” 1 W. & M., 2d sess., c.2 (1688/9).
Let’s turn to the Glorious Revolution:
Revenues “of Prerogative without Grant of Parlyament for longer time or in other manner then the same is or shall be granted is Illegall.” 1 W. & M., 2d sess., c.2 (1688/9).
January 7, 2026 at 12:59 AM
The president is not entitled to operate slush funds outside the operation of law.
Let’s turn to the Glorious Revolution:
Revenues “of Prerogative without Grant of Parlyament for longer time or in other manner then the same is or shall be granted is Illegall.” 1 W. & M., 2d sess., c.2 (1688/9).
Let’s turn to the Glorious Revolution:
Revenues “of Prerogative without Grant of Parlyament for longer time or in other manner then the same is or shall be granted is Illegall.” 1 W. & M., 2d sess., c.2 (1688/9).
Legit question for rural Americans - How do I sell 30-50M barrels of oil that we plundered within 3-5 days while we toppled a sovereign nation?
January 7, 2026 at 12:02 AM
Legit question for rural Americans - How do I sell 30-50M barrels of oil that we plundered within 3-5 days while we toppled a sovereign nation?
Love is a battlefield?
Nope. Love is a manifold.
Nope. Love is a manifold.
When Cody Zervas desired a one-in-a-million match, he offered a bounty of $20,000 to the person who introduced him to his bride. It's part of a growing Silicon Valley idea that promotes "love at first match," where relationship problems could be measured, optimized and solved with A.I.
Can You Optimize Love?
A group of tech executives, app developers and Silicon Valley philosophers is seeking to streamline the messy matters of the heart.
nyti.ms
January 6, 2026 at 8:02 PM
Love is a battlefield?
Nope. Love is a manifold.
Nope. Love is a manifold.
Those thoughts brought to you by struggling to find something on Teams—which is, by far, the worst platform I'm forced to suffer under.
January 6, 2026 at 7:32 PM
Those thoughts brought to you by struggling to find something on Teams—which is, by far, the worst platform I'm forced to suffer under.
There's going to be another season of The Pitt?
I stand by my review here. Through ten episodes it was an all-time great show. Its failure, in the end, was feeling like it needed to artificially up the stakes... Still a good show. But no longer a great show. The exceptional was unnecessary.
I stand by my review here. Through ten episodes it was an all-time great show. Its failure, in the end, was feeling like it needed to artificially up the stakes... Still a good show. But no longer a great show. The exceptional was unnecessary.
I was just thinking about this. The Pitt was a good show. It was. And Noah Wyle's performance was exceptional.
But my biggest frustration with the show was the need to have DRAMA in what was already an incredibly intense and dramatic retelling of what could have been any old Tuesday in the ER.
But my biggest frustration with the show was the need to have DRAMA in what was already an incredibly intense and dramatic retelling of what could have been any old Tuesday in the ER.
Just finished The Pitt. Phew.
You know what I want out of a second season? I don’t want the unforgettable day. I want the completely forgettable day.
Shows like that suffer from thinking that the only place where there’s drama is in the exceptional.
You know what I want out of a second season? I don’t want the unforgettable day. I want the completely forgettable day.
Shows like that suffer from thinking that the only place where there’s drama is in the exceptional.
January 6, 2026 at 7:30 PM
There's going to be another season of The Pitt?
I stand by my review here. Through ten episodes it was an all-time great show. Its failure, in the end, was feeling like it needed to artificially up the stakes... Still a good show. But no longer a great show. The exceptional was unnecessary.
I stand by my review here. Through ten episodes it was an all-time great show. Its failure, in the end, was feeling like it needed to artificially up the stakes... Still a good show. But no longer a great show. The exceptional was unnecessary.
I'm not sure how strong I find the argument that "If the government is closed then vulnerable people are going to be hurt" when illegal actions of the government are already tuned, in various ways, to specifically hurt vulnerable people.
“Minnesota, New York, California, Illinois and Colorado will be cut off from around $7 billion in funding for the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program, which provides cash assistance to households with children, according to two people familiar with the matter.”
Monstrously cruel.
Monstrously cruel.
Health Dept. to Freeze $10 Billion in Funding to 5 Democratic States
www.nytimes.com
January 6, 2026 at 6:42 PM
I'm not sure how strong I find the argument that "If the government is closed then vulnerable people are going to be hurt" when illegal actions of the government are already tuned, in various ways, to specifically hurt vulnerable people.
Reposted by John Halloran
January 6 in History
Wrote this two years ago: “If the insurrectionist-in-chief returns to power without ever facing any real consequences and while explicitly declaring his intent to establish a vindictive autocracy, then January 6 will have been successful.”
And here we are.
Wrote this two years ago: “If the insurrectionist-in-chief returns to power without ever facing any real consequences and while explicitly declaring his intent to establish a vindictive autocracy, then January 6 will have been successful.”
And here we are.
January 6 in History
Was it a key moment in the republic’s eventual demise or a milestone on the road to democracy’s ultimate triumph? The meaning of January 6 is yet to be determined
steady.page
January 6, 2026 at 3:22 PM
January 6 in History
Wrote this two years ago: “If the insurrectionist-in-chief returns to power without ever facing any real consequences and while explicitly declaring his intent to establish a vindictive autocracy, then January 6 will have been successful.”
And here we are.
Wrote this two years ago: “If the insurrectionist-in-chief returns to power without ever facing any real consequences and while explicitly declaring his intent to establish a vindictive autocracy, then January 6 will have been successful.”
And here we are.
Reposted by John Halloran
This thread is right, I just want to add though, that a thing people need to understand about US culture, in order to understand this present crisis, is the deep levels of ultraviolence baked into it. It comes in so very many forms, not just guns and shootings, or glorification of martial prowess.
And I just think you have to understand that about these people, they're barely capable of formulating the question "why should I do this?" - the fact that other people don't want them to but they can and therefore they're demonstrating their power over them by so doing, that's it, that's enough.
January 6, 2026 at 1:26 PM
This thread is right, I just want to add though, that a thing people need to understand about US culture, in order to understand this present crisis, is the deep levels of ultraviolence baked into it. It comes in so very many forms, not just guns and shootings, or glorification of martial prowess.
Reposted by John Halloran
Excellent point here from an expert in international relations. Trump’s brand of authoritarianism is, at its core, an aesthetic. He does not seek to achieve policy goals—he seeks a global reputation for appearing powerful.
What is just crazy about this, aside from the need for this statement at all, is that Greenland already IS in the US sphere of influence. It's far cheaper for the US, in material, security, and reputational terms, to have Denmark continue administering Greenland and work within NATO on security.
Joint Statement of major EU/NATO countries on Greenland, together with Denmark:
January 6, 2026 at 1:02 PM
Excellent point here from an expert in international relations. Trump’s brand of authoritarianism is, at its core, an aesthetic. He does not seek to achieve policy goals—he seeks a global reputation for appearing powerful.
The starting point for any discussion of the Trump Administration is that it is constitutionally illegitimate and that its subsequent actions are void (or voidable).
Today as it did five years ago, the Constitution disqualifies Donald Trump from holding office.
January 6, 2026 at 12:50 PM
The starting point for any discussion of the Trump Administration is that it is constitutionally illegitimate and that its subsequent actions are void (or voidable).
Reposted by John Halloran
18 months ago I was photographing birds in a US national park when someone jumped out of a car in front of a dozen witnesses, put a Glock to my forehead, and demanded my camera.
This shot is from my first time out birding after that.
Living like this is a deliberate choice.
This shot is from my first time out birding after that.
Living like this is a deliberate choice.
January 6, 2026 at 7:04 AM
18 months ago I was photographing birds in a US national park when someone jumped out of a car in front of a dozen witnesses, put a Glock to my forehead, and demanded my camera.
This shot is from my first time out birding after that.
Living like this is a deliberate choice.
This shot is from my first time out birding after that.
Living like this is a deliberate choice.
Antiques Roadshow has sent me to Wikipedia to understand what a bass violin is … and then into the rabbit hole of esoteric instruments in the violin and viol families.
January 6, 2026 at 2:38 AM
Antiques Roadshow has sent me to Wikipedia to understand what a bass violin is … and then into the rabbit hole of esoteric instruments in the violin and viol families.
Reposted by John Halloran
Hearing a lot of people say “well 50 in Hobbit years is basically 25 in human years” and don’t, don’t make excuses for them. Society has made enough.
January 6, 2026 at 12:11 AM
Hearing a lot of people say “well 50 in Hobbit years is basically 25 in human years” and don’t, don’t make excuses for them. Society has made enough.
Cassandra is increasingly relatable.
BREAKING: CDC announces an unprecedented overhaul of the childhood vaccine schedule, a significant shift that recommends fewer shots for all kids.
CDC overhauls childhood vaccine schedule to resemble Denmark in unprecedented move
The new U.S. guidelines recommend all children get vaccines for 11 diseases, compared with the 18 previously on the schedule.
nbcnews.to
January 5, 2026 at 10:14 PM
Cassandra is increasingly relatable.
I, for one, would eat a McOffCuts and enjoy it.
Class-action lawsuit claims McDonald’s McRib doesn’t actually contain rib meat >>>
https://www.29news.com/2026/01/05/class-action-lawsuit-claims-mcdonalds-mcrib-doesnt-actually-contain-rib-meat/
https://www.29news.com/2026/01/05/class-action-lawsuit-claims-mcdonalds-mcrib-doesnt-actually-contain-rib-meat/
January 5, 2026 at 7:25 PM
I, for one, would eat a McOffCuts and enjoy it.
I continue to simply not understand why we aren't getting market snapback here.
Sure, I get that there's an element of LINE GO UP; EVERYONE GET RICH that is propelling the thing (especially among retail folks). But there are fundamentals someplace, right? RIGHT? And this level of instability...
Sure, I get that there's an element of LINE GO UP; EVERYONE GET RICH that is propelling the thing (especially among retail folks). But there are fundamentals someplace, right? RIGHT? And this level of instability...
Guess I didn't need to worry about a potential post-Venezuela market freakout undermining the premise of my recent newsletter. Markets continue to look unperturbed by Trump's assault on rule of law
January 5, 2026 at 4:09 PM
I continue to simply not understand why we aren't getting market snapback here.
Sure, I get that there's an element of LINE GO UP; EVERYONE GET RICH that is propelling the thing (especially among retail folks). But there are fundamentals someplace, right? RIGHT? And this level of instability...
Sure, I get that there's an element of LINE GO UP; EVERYONE GET RICH that is propelling the thing (especially among retail folks). But there are fundamentals someplace, right? RIGHT? And this level of instability...
Reposted by John Halloran
The Trump administration's key changes have been a) to add more burdens to SSA clients, increasing frictions and b) to expect that SSA clients will be able to manage those burdens via online processes without help. Recipe for failure.
January 5, 2026 at 3:29 PM
The Trump administration's key changes have been a) to add more burdens to SSA clients, increasing frictions and b) to expect that SSA clients will be able to manage those burdens via online processes without help. Recipe for failure.
Consequentialist thinking is one of the things that’s going to doom us.
Fetterman on Fox & Friends on Trump's Venezuela coup: "I don't know why we can't just acknowledge that it's been a good thing what happened ... I think we should really appreciate exactly what happened here."
January 5, 2026 at 1:44 PM
Consequentialist thinking is one of the things that’s going to doom us.
Even curved for baseline Trump Administration bonkersness, this is particularly bonkers.
January 5, 2026 at 12:30 PM
Even curved for baseline Trump Administration bonkersness, this is particularly bonkers.
Dunno, man, when a law enforcement operation kills 80 folks, well, it seems like a bunch of people should be held to account for that.
January 4, 2026 at 11:55 PM
Dunno, man, when a law enforcement operation kills 80 folks, well, it seems like a bunch of people should be held to account for that.