Sam Wang
@samwang.bsky.social
Neurosciencer, democracy reform studier, plotter of data by hand as first step. At Princeton too. Long-form essays at samwang.substack.com.
Reposted by Sam Wang
A mitigation strategy for nations hit by US tariffs: no longer allow companies monopoly power on repairs and apps. Apple, Tesla, John Deere could lose billions - and consumers around the world would gain.
Cory Doctorow explains: www.wired.com/story/us-tra...
Cory Doctorow explains: www.wired.com/story/us-tra...
US Trade Dominance Will Soon Begin to Crack
Savvy countries will discover there’s a way to mitigate the harm incurred by Trump’s tariffs—and it’ll boost their own economies while making goods cheaper too.
www.wired.com
December 26, 2025 at 12:54 PM
A mitigation strategy for nations hit by US tariffs: no longer allow companies monopoly power on repairs and apps. Apple, Tesla, John Deere could lose billions - and consumers around the world would gain.
Cory Doctorow explains: www.wired.com/story/us-tra...
Cory Doctorow explains: www.wired.com/story/us-tra...
A mitigation strategy for nations hit by US tariffs: no longer allow companies monopoly power on repairs and apps. Apple, Tesla, John Deere could lose billions - and consumers around the world would gain.
Cory Doctorow explains: www.wired.com/story/us-tra...
Cory Doctorow explains: www.wired.com/story/us-tra...
US Trade Dominance Will Soon Begin to Crack
Savvy countries will discover there’s a way to mitigate the harm incurred by Trump’s tariffs—and it’ll boost their own economies while making goods cheaper too.
www.wired.com
December 26, 2025 at 12:54 PM
A mitigation strategy for nations hit by US tariffs: no longer allow companies monopoly power on repairs and apps. Apple, Tesla, John Deere could lose billions - and consumers around the world would gain.
Cory Doctorow explains: www.wired.com/story/us-tra...
Cory Doctorow explains: www.wired.com/story/us-tra...
Reposted by Sam Wang
We talk about whether AI is capable of self-awareness and true intelligence a lot, but one thing we don't talk about is that corporation is arguably a conscious, self-aware entity with agency, whose values and decision making are utterly alien to those of an individual human being.
August 29, 2025 at 2:25 PM
We talk about whether AI is capable of self-awareness and true intelligence a lot, but one thing we don't talk about is that corporation is arguably a conscious, self-aware entity with agency, whose values and decision making are utterly alien to those of an individual human being.
Reposted by Sam Wang
Gaza on Christmas Eve.
Israeli troops blow up homes of displaced Palestinian families today
Reminder: The ceasefire went into effect more than 2 months ago.
Israeli troops blow up homes of displaced Palestinian families today
Reminder: The ceasefire went into effect more than 2 months ago.
December 25, 2025 at 3:01 AM
Gaza on Christmas Eve.
Israeli troops blow up homes of displaced Palestinian families today
Reminder: The ceasefire went into effect more than 2 months ago.
Israeli troops blow up homes of displaced Palestinian families today
Reminder: The ceasefire went into effect more than 2 months ago.
Reposted by Sam Wang
NORAD Santa tracker is Woke
December 25, 2025 at 2:28 AM
NORAD Santa tracker is Woke
A significant inaccuracy in In Covid's Wake, the political-science book about the pandemic.
Thread:
Thread:
A small (personal) example of this book’s intellectual dishonesty:
My father-in-law is reading In Covid’s Wake, and excitedly told me he found a passage where I’m quoted. The quote in question is me saying the FBI worked to censor speech on social media.
Huh? When did I say that?!
My father-in-law is reading In Covid’s Wake, and excitedly told me he found a passage where I’m quoted. The quote in question is me saying the FBI worked to censor speech on social media.
Huh? When did I say that?!
December 24, 2025 at 9:45 PM
A significant inaccuracy in In Covid's Wake, the political-science book about the pandemic.
Thread:
Thread:
Reposted by Sam Wang
Former head of trust and safety at Twitter, Yoel Roth, demonstrating the intellectual dishonesty of “In Covid’s Wake” by showing how they distorted his own words to make them say the opposite of what he was arguing.
A small (personal) example of this book’s intellectual dishonesty:
My father-in-law is reading In Covid’s Wake, and excitedly told me he found a passage where I’m quoted. The quote in question is me saying the FBI worked to censor speech on social media.
Huh? When did I say that?!
My father-in-law is reading In Covid’s Wake, and excitedly told me he found a passage where I’m quoted. The quote in question is me saying the FBI worked to censor speech on social media.
Huh? When did I say that?!
December 24, 2025 at 9:31 PM
Former head of trust and safety at Twitter, Yoel Roth, demonstrating the intellectual dishonesty of “In Covid’s Wake” by showing how they distorted his own words to make them say the opposite of what he was arguing.
Reposted by Sam Wang
“Like Prime, but with human beings.”
December 24, 2025 at 5:42 PM
“Like Prime, but with human beings.”
Reposted by Sam Wang
We sent a bunch of effete, Ivy League scientists into the desert and they returned with a portable sun.
every time I can recall from history that a group has centered a culture of martial virtue to the point of conflict,
the "soft intellectuals" the warriors distinguish themselves from have learned war real quick, dominate because they pay attention to details, and then go back to art and nerdy stuff
the "soft intellectuals" the warriors distinguish themselves from have learned war real quick, dominate because they pay attention to details, and then go back to art and nerdy stuff
December 24, 2025 at 9:31 PM
We sent a bunch of effete, Ivy League scientists into the desert and they returned with a portable sun.
Reposted by Sam Wang
“I’m 84 years old. Threats against my life expectancy are kind of hollow. I don’t have much time anyway. I’m more concerned that our democracy is at risk because of the trends against the rule of law.” www.nbcnews.com/politics/pol...
Judges who ruled against Trump say harassment and threats have changed their lives
More than 100 pizzas were delivered to the homes of judges and their families this year, some with signs of foreign involvement. Judges say the message is clear: We know where you live.
www.nbcnews.com
December 24, 2025 at 2:46 PM
“I’m 84 years old. Threats against my life expectancy are kind of hollow. I don’t have much time anyway. I’m more concerned that our democracy is at risk because of the trends against the rule of law.” www.nbcnews.com/politics/pol...
Reposted by Sam Wang
One answer: next yea’s primaries.
With all 435 House seats and 30-some Senate seats up in 2026, it would be good to come up with a candidate questionnaire for Democratic candidates. Use it to identify which ones will free their party of the problems Sarah Kendzior has identified.
With all 435 House seats and 30-some Senate seats up in 2026, it would be good to come up with a candidate questionnaire for Democratic candidates. Use it to identify which ones will free their party of the problems Sarah Kendzior has identified.
Looks like some Dem voters woke up to the fact that the party has long betraying Americans and enabling Trump. Here are some articles on why: sarahkendzior.substack.com/p/ten-articl...
Ten Articles Explaining the 2024 Election
Some background reading
sarahkendzior.substack.com
December 24, 2025 at 1:08 PM
One answer: next yea’s primaries.
With all 435 House seats and 30-some Senate seats up in 2026, it would be good to come up with a candidate questionnaire for Democratic candidates. Use it to identify which ones will free their party of the problems Sarah Kendzior has identified.
With all 435 House seats and 30-some Senate seats up in 2026, it would be good to come up with a candidate questionnaire for Democratic candidates. Use it to identify which ones will free their party of the problems Sarah Kendzior has identified.
Reposted by Sam Wang
Really enjoyed this interview with Theda Skocpol, one of the founders of the American Political Development research I do. Here she talks about being interdisciplinary and the challenges of keeping the big picture in view while also drilling down on nuance and details. Whole thing was a great read.
December 24, 2025 at 1:23 PM
Really enjoyed this interview with Theda Skocpol, one of the founders of the American Political Development research I do. Here she talks about being interdisciplinary and the challenges of keeping the big picture in view while also drilling down on nuance and details. Whole thing was a great read.
One answer: next yea’s primaries.
With all 435 House seats and 30-some Senate seats up in 2026, it would be good to come up with a candidate questionnaire for Democratic candidates. Use it to identify which ones will free their party of the problems Sarah Kendzior has identified.
With all 435 House seats and 30-some Senate seats up in 2026, it would be good to come up with a candidate questionnaire for Democratic candidates. Use it to identify which ones will free their party of the problems Sarah Kendzior has identified.
Looks like some Dem voters woke up to the fact that the party has long betraying Americans and enabling Trump. Here are some articles on why: sarahkendzior.substack.com/p/ten-articl...
Ten Articles Explaining the 2024 Election
Some background reading
sarahkendzior.substack.com
December 24, 2025 at 1:08 PM
One answer: next yea’s primaries.
With all 435 House seats and 30-some Senate seats up in 2026, it would be good to come up with a candidate questionnaire for Democratic candidates. Use it to identify which ones will free their party of the problems Sarah Kendzior has identified.
With all 435 House seats and 30-some Senate seats up in 2026, it would be good to come up with a candidate questionnaire for Democratic candidates. Use it to identify which ones will free their party of the problems Sarah Kendzior has identified.
Reposted by Sam Wang
It's not the end of the world, but it's certainly the end of the Dem grift being hidden in any way. If the current admin wasn't a fascist cult and could actually be trusted (which they of course cannot), I'd say they should investigate Dem finances; that was an MLM scheme dressed up as a campaign.
January 28, 2025 at 5:45 PM
It's not the end of the world, but it's certainly the end of the Dem grift being hidden in any way. If the current admin wasn't a fascist cult and could actually be trusted (which they of course cannot), I'd say they should investigate Dem finances; that was an MLM scheme dressed up as a campaign.
Reposted by Sam Wang
Deep dive on mafia state enabler Merrick Garland here. Written in 2023: sarahkendzior.substack.com/p/servants-o...
April 18, 2025 at 2:31 PM
Deep dive on mafia state enabler Merrick Garland here. Written in 2023: sarahkendzior.substack.com/p/servants-o...
Reposted by Sam Wang
Everyone involved in the publication and promotion of this book should be embarrassed. It's not a "harsh truth" that COVID mitigation was a mistake, it's ghoulish and false.
"In Covid's Wake" Part 1: Lyin… - If Books Could Kill - Apple Podcasts
Podcast Episode · If Books Could Kill · 06/17/2025 · 58m
podcasts.apple.com
December 24, 2025 at 5:08 AM
Everyone involved in the publication and promotion of this book should be embarrassed. It's not a "harsh truth" that COVID mitigation was a mistake, it's ghoulish and false.
Reposted by Sam Wang
The Biden DOJ had a perfectly legal avenue to release this to the public—a response to a FOIA request. They may have even been legally obligated to produce it in response to the FOIA request. And they decided not to, to protect Donald Trump’s reputation? What?
Found the Associated Press article where the existence of this letter was first disclosed two years ago, in response to a FOIA request
It's definitely real
apnews.com/article/jeff...
It's definitely real
apnews.com/article/jeff...
December 23, 2025 at 4:28 PM
The Biden DOJ had a perfectly legal avenue to release this to the public—a response to a FOIA request. They may have even been legally obligated to produce it in response to the FOIA request. And they decided not to, to protect Donald Trump’s reputation? What?
Reposted by Sam Wang
Key media hack: All you have to do to kill an unfavorable story is refuse to talk to the reporter. Clip'n'save
The Bari Weiss hysteria continues. Exactly what in "this piece isn't ready" and "try harder to get comment from the administration" constitutes the death of American journalism? www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2025/1...
What Bari Weiss Got Right
And what she got wrong
www.theatlantic.com
December 23, 2025 at 10:47 PM
Key media hack: All you have to do to kill an unfavorable story is refuse to talk to the reporter. Clip'n'save
I love this essay unreservedly.
IT'S A WONDERFUL ESSAY: It seems people usually rewatch 'It's a Wonderful Life' just before Christmas. Can I commend to you this marvelous essay we published a few years ago? It could change the way you understand that classic movie.
www.thebulwark.com/p/there-is-n...
www.thebulwark.com/p/there-is-n...
There Is No Mary Problem in ‘It’s a Wonderful Life’
George’s vision of his wife without him is essential to the film, but critics continue to miss its true—and profound—meaning.
www.thebulwark.com
December 23, 2025 at 11:06 PM
I love this essay unreservedly.
Reposted by Sam Wang
These declines are MASSIVE.
And the comparative silence in media coverage is absolutely DAMNING.
“Why are ppl always so afraid of crime?”
THIS is why. When crime goes up, media trips over itself to report it.
Falls to pre-war (!!) levels? Just CRICKETS.
And the comparative silence in media coverage is absolutely DAMNING.
“Why are ppl always so afraid of crime?”
THIS is why. When crime goes up, media trips over itself to report it.
Falls to pre-war (!!) levels? Just CRICKETS.
I count 10 cities in 2025 that are on track to have the fewest murders since at least 1970. Newark is on pace to have the fewest murders since 1956 (though only have data through Oct this year) and San Francisco is on pace to have the fewest murders since 1942.
December 23, 2025 at 10:03 PM
These declines are MASSIVE.
And the comparative silence in media coverage is absolutely DAMNING.
“Why are ppl always so afraid of crime?”
THIS is why. When crime goes up, media trips over itself to report it.
Falls to pre-war (!!) levels? Just CRICKETS.
And the comparative silence in media coverage is absolutely DAMNING.
“Why are ppl always so afraid of crime?”
THIS is why. When crime goes up, media trips over itself to report it.
Falls to pre-war (!!) levels? Just CRICKETS.
Key media hack: All you have to do to kill an unfavorable story is refuse to talk to the reporter. Clip'n'save
The Bari Weiss hysteria continues. Exactly what in "this piece isn't ready" and "try harder to get comment from the administration" constitutes the death of American journalism? www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2025/1...
What Bari Weiss Got Right
And what she got wrong
www.theatlantic.com
December 23, 2025 at 10:47 PM
Key media hack: All you have to do to kill an unfavorable story is refuse to talk to the reporter. Clip'n'save
Reposted by Sam Wang
Evidence that @akalhan.bsky.social via social media changed the world for the better
Tired: Law as a tool for social change.
Wired: Social media as a tool for legal change.
Tired: Law as a tool for social change.
Wired: Social media as a tool for legal change.
In case people tell you that public criticism of the court doesn’t matter, here’s Brett Kavanaugh trying to walk back what he said in the ICE roving patrol case - when he blessed racial profiling & called the stops prompt.
He was lambasted; @akalhan.bsky.social coined the term “Kavanaugh stops”
He was lambasted; @akalhan.bsky.social coined the term “Kavanaugh stops”
December 23, 2025 at 10:07 PM
Evidence that @akalhan.bsky.social via social media changed the world for the better
Tired: Law as a tool for social change.
Wired: Social media as a tool for legal change.
Tired: Law as a tool for social change.
Wired: Social media as a tool for legal change.
Reposted by Sam Wang
The Case for a Public Social Media Platform. “What if the United States government decided to, overnight, nationalize Facebook and make it a digital division of the post office. What would that look like?” [daily.jstor.org]
The Case for a Public Social Media Platform - JSTOR Daily
Artist and writer Joshua Citarella explores why corporate platforms corrode democracy—and what a postal-service-style digital commons could do differently.
daily.jstor.org
December 23, 2025 at 7:42 PM
The Case for a Public Social Media Platform. “What if the United States government decided to, overnight, nationalize Facebook and make it a digital division of the post office. What would that look like?” [daily.jstor.org]
Reposted by Sam Wang
This is totally underreported. Trump is not just going after "illegals." He's going after people who were here legally, by changing their status.
These are people who entered the US the right way, and never broke a law. Now they are subject to Trump's whim, his ICE goons, and inhuman detention.
These are people who entered the US the right way, and never broke a law. Now they are subject to Trump's whim, his ICE goons, and inhuman detention.
Trump has revoked legal status for at least 1.6 million immigrants over the past year by cancelling programs like TPS and student visas.
Remember: these are people who entered the country legally.
Trump never cared about “legal immigration" — just inflicting cruelty.
Remember: these are people who entered the country legally.
Trump never cared about “legal immigration" — just inflicting cruelty.
December 23, 2025 at 7:24 PM
This is totally underreported. Trump is not just going after "illegals." He's going after people who were here legally, by changing their status.
These are people who entered the US the right way, and never broke a law. Now they are subject to Trump's whim, his ICE goons, and inhuman detention.
These are people who entered the US the right way, and never broke a law. Now they are subject to Trump's whim, his ICE goons, and inhuman detention.
Reposted by Sam Wang
Congestion pricing for all
Year 1 data on congestion pricing in Manhattan…
* Vehicle traffic: -11%
* Foot traffic: +3.4%
* Storefront vacancy: -0.9%
* Pollution: -22%
* Revenue for mass transit: $548M
So YES this has been a huge success.
* Vehicle traffic: -11%
* Foot traffic: +3.4%
* Storefront vacancy: -0.9%
* Pollution: -22%
* Revenue for mass transit: $548M
So YES this has been a huge success.
December 23, 2025 at 4:37 PM
Congestion pricing for all