Sarang Shah
@sarangshah.com
now: lawyer + politics phd candidate @ UC Berkeley
soon: Columbia Law School fellow at Public Economic Law Project
Corp law + governance, political economy, democracy + money in politics, housing
past: physicist, tech writer, journalist
taoist in SF
soon: Columbia Law School fellow at Public Economic Law Project
Corp law + governance, political economy, democracy + money in politics, housing
past: physicist, tech writer, journalist
taoist in SF
Pinned
Welcome to everyone joining Bluesky in the recent influx.
Just in case anyone new catches this account in this wave, a few rules:
1. Have fun
2. Be cool
3. Delete posts
4. Enjoy ideas
5. Look on my works
That's all. Knock yourself out!
1. Have fun
2. Be cool
3. Delete posts
4. Enjoy ideas
5. Look on my works
That's all. Knock yourself out!
Reposted by Sarang Shah
WHAT LAW
TRUMP: CREDIT CARD COMPANIES WILL BE IN VIOLATION OF LAW IF THEY DON’T COMPLY BY JAN 20 ON INTEREST RATE CAP
January 12, 2026 at 1:57 AM
WHAT LAW
Reposted by Sarang Shah
did something happen
January 12, 2026 at 1:11 AM
did something happen
Should I spend the twilight of my PhD conducting a program of deep reading, thinking, and meaning-making about power that will serve my scholarly agenda for the rest of my career OR should I generate as much one shot research concerning the collapse of American institutions?
January 12, 2026 at 1:45 AM
Should I spend the twilight of my PhD conducting a program of deep reading, thinking, and meaning-making about power that will serve my scholarly agenda for the rest of my career OR should I generate as much one shot research concerning the collapse of American institutions?
Reposted by Sarang Shah
Video message from Federal Reserve Chair Jerome H. Powell:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=KckG...
www.federalreserve.gov/newsevents/s...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=KckG...
www.federalreserve.gov/newsevents/s...
Statement by Federal Reserve Chair Jerome H. Powell
YouTube video by Federal Reserve
www.youtube.com
January 12, 2026 at 12:35 AM
Video message from Federal Reserve Chair Jerome H. Powell:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=KckG...
www.federalreserve.gov/newsevents/s...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=KckG...
www.federalreserve.gov/newsevents/s...
Reposted by Sarang Shah
Related to this, if the next president is a Democrat, they shouldn't ask for the gifts back. Hire the plane reposessor to take the plane. Freeze any bank account that might have a gift in it. Send in the FBI to get the gold bars. Etc.
I’ll say it for the millionth time but we need to make section 1983 apply to federal officers because Bivens is useless and need to get rid of prosecutorial immunity. These people should be financially ruined at the very least for these bullshit investigations.
January 12, 2026 at 1:14 AM
Related to this, if the next president is a Democrat, they shouldn't ask for the gifts back. Hire the plane reposessor to take the plane. Freeze any bank account that might have a gift in it. Send in the FBI to get the gold bars. Etc.
Reposted by Sarang Shah
The really fun part is that while the Chair of the Fed Board is appointed by POTUS and confirmed by the Senate, the Chair of the FOMC is elected by the members of the FOMC.
January 12, 2026 at 1:10 AM
The really fun part is that while the Chair of the Fed Board is appointed by POTUS and confirmed by the Senate, the Chair of the FOMC is elected by the members of the FOMC.
Starting to realize I've always been pretty bad at being taught how to do something. I wonder how this informs my pedagogy...
January 12, 2026 at 1:28 AM
Starting to realize I've always been pretty bad at being taught how to do something. I wonder how this informs my pedagogy...
Reposted by Sarang Shah
All right, so we already know that Bill Ackman is the dumbest motherfucker in finance in general (AND he donated $10k to Jonathan Ross’ defense fund) but let me put you all on game here about mortgage-backed securities and demonstrate why he’s idiotic here in specific: 1/??
Lmfao what an awesome proposal. One reason you need a 90% income tax rate at this level is these guys are too stupid to have the amount of power they do. Like giving a glock to a 4 year old
January 11, 2026 at 11:09 PM
All right, so we already know that Bill Ackman is the dumbest motherfucker in finance in general (AND he donated $10k to Jonathan Ross’ defense fund) but let me put you all on game here about mortgage-backed securities and demonstrate why he’s idiotic here in specific: 1/??
Reposted by Sarang Shah
when women participate in non-violent protest movements (particularly those who fulfill archetypes of grandmothers or caregivers), those movements are more successful! new research in the APSR from Martin Naunov for example:
www.cambridge.org/core/journal...
www.cambridge.org/core/journal...
January 11, 2026 at 11:36 PM
when women participate in non-violent protest movements (particularly those who fulfill archetypes of grandmothers or caregivers), those movements are more successful! new research in the APSR from Martin Naunov for example:
www.cambridge.org/core/journal...
www.cambridge.org/core/journal...
Fun immigration take: We should allow freer immigration so that states are forced to compete for prospective citizens by offering them greater security, prosperity, and freedom.
January 11, 2026 at 10:25 PM
Fun immigration take: We should allow freer immigration so that states are forced to compete for prospective citizens by offering them greater security, prosperity, and freedom.
Reposted by Sarang Shah
Trump keeps losing and also keeps doing stuff. Yes, that's hard to wrap our heads around. My item today gets into it (without, alas, fully explaining it.) Plus the links! goodpoliticsbadpolitics.substack.com/p/losing-los...
Losing Loser Keeps Losing
And yet Trump isn't exactly an impotent president. Confused? Yeah.
goodpoliticsbadpolitics.substack.com
January 11, 2026 at 9:29 PM
Trump keeps losing and also keeps doing stuff. Yes, that's hard to wrap our heads around. My item today gets into it (without, alas, fully explaining it.) Plus the links! goodpoliticsbadpolitics.substack.com/p/losing-los...
Reposted by Sarang Shah
We need
1. Prominent elites that dramatize the frame
2. Media support of the frame
to be able to see each other
1. Prominent elites that dramatize the frame
2. Media support of the frame
to be able to see each other
January 11, 2026 at 9:39 PM
We need
1. Prominent elites that dramatize the frame
2. Media support of the frame
to be able to see each other
1. Prominent elites that dramatize the frame
2. Media support of the frame
to be able to see each other
Love to see a non-local discover Boudin. Highly recommend it with a Marin French Cheese Co. Petit Breakfast cheese.
Two random Costco finds that absolutely hit: Inessence Spanish potato chips (ham flavor is absolutely loaded with MSG, laudatory), Boudin Sourdough (probably the best bread in a bag i.e. not baked fresh locally that I’ve ever had).
January 11, 2026 at 9:51 PM
Love to see a non-local discover Boudin. Highly recommend it with a Marin French Cheese Co. Petit Breakfast cheese.
When people blamed the woes of downtown SF and Union Square for the decline of department stores, remember that it's been poorly managed leveraged buyouts dragging department stores down everywhere. Why should SF be blamed for their mistakes?
www.ft.com/content/a8ce...
www.ft.com/content/a8ce...
Leveraged luxury: fall of Saks Global to scorch US business stars
Gilded department store chain is grappling with heavy debt and angry suppliers
www.ft.com
January 11, 2026 at 7:34 PM
When people blamed the woes of downtown SF and Union Square for the decline of department stores, remember that it's been poorly managed leveraged buyouts dragging department stores down everywhere. Why should SF be blamed for their mistakes?
www.ft.com/content/a8ce...
www.ft.com/content/a8ce...
Reposted by Sarang Shah
I was 14 when the Berlin Wall fell. It remains <the> formative event in my lifetime for how I understand politics & IR. This is a fantastic piece. What Adam writes about domestic politics is also true in IR. 🇺🇸’s problems are solved problems, unlike 🇪🇺 or 🇨🇳. Things are awful now, & yet there is hope.
January 11, 2026 at 7:13 PM
I was 14 when the Berlin Wall fell. It remains <the> formative event in my lifetime for how I understand politics & IR. This is a fantastic piece. What Adam writes about domestic politics is also true in IR. 🇺🇸’s problems are solved problems, unlike 🇪🇺 or 🇨🇳. Things are awful now, & yet there is hope.
Companies like Google and Apple have become de facto infrastructural elements of the state, and the state has become crucial to enabling their accumulation of power. Their intertwining means their inclined to form a new regime settlement, one that unfortunately the rest of us are forced to live with
January 11, 2026 at 7:21 PM
Companies like Google and Apple have become de facto infrastructural elements of the state, and the state has become crucial to enabling their accumulation of power. Their intertwining means their inclined to form a new regime settlement, one that unfortunately the rest of us are forced to live with
Reposted by Sarang Shah
Sometimes you just have to let @lopatto.bsky.social say it out loud www.theverge.com/policy/85990...
Tim Cook and Sundar Pichai are cowards
Once you’ve traded your principles for proximity to power, do you even run your own company?
www.theverge.com
January 9, 2026 at 9:29 PM
Sometimes you just have to let @lopatto.bsky.social say it out loud www.theverge.com/policy/85990...
Yeah, it's been a weird week as the new semester kicks into gear
Gotta say, felt weird setting up my little course websites and revising assignments while the secret police are liquidating the Union
January 11, 2026 at 7:16 PM
Yeah, it's been a weird week as the new semester kicks into gear
Reposted by Sarang Shah
This beautifully written piece by my pal @adambonica.bsky.social is worth your time today.
A bit of light amid the darkness.
open.substack.com/pub/data4dem...
A bit of light amid the darkness.
open.substack.com/pub/data4dem...
The Wall Looks Permanent Until It Falls
On the optimism of preparation in a time of democratic decay.
open.substack.com
January 11, 2026 at 7:02 PM
This beautifully written piece by my pal @adambonica.bsky.social is worth your time today.
A bit of light amid the darkness.
open.substack.com/pub/data4dem...
A bit of light amid the darkness.
open.substack.com/pub/data4dem...
Reposted by Sarang Shah
Highly recommend this essay from @adambonica.bsky.social open.substack.com/pub/data4dem...
The Wall Looks Permanent Until It Falls
On the optimism of preparation in a time of democratic decay.
open.substack.com
January 11, 2026 at 7:12 PM
Highly recommend this essay from @adambonica.bsky.social open.substack.com/pub/data4dem...
Reposted by Sarang Shah
The aftermath of Jan 6 is a story of power protecting power and a deep-seated reluctance to holding elites accountable.
America has constructed two justice systems: one offering extraordinary leniency for the elite, the other operating with swift severity for the disadvantaged.
America has constructed two justice systems: one offering extraordinary leniency for the elite, the other operating with swift severity for the disadvantaged.
An Exceptional Failure of Democratic Accountability: How American Institutions Protected Power While Global Democracies Upheld Justice
How Elite Deference Eroded America's Rule of Law, Defying the Global Norm.
open.substack.com
January 6, 2026 at 4:41 PM
The aftermath of Jan 6 is a story of power protecting power and a deep-seated reluctance to holding elites accountable.
America has constructed two justice systems: one offering extraordinary leniency for the elite, the other operating with swift severity for the disadvantaged.
America has constructed two justice systems: one offering extraordinary leniency for the elite, the other operating with swift severity for the disadvantaged.
oh my
Yeah, this is bad. This is what happens when faculty are excluded from search committees. Trustees erode academic quality from consideration.
January 11, 2026 at 7:13 PM
oh my
Reposted by Sarang Shah
paypal mafia + founders fund dude is ambassador to denmark? yeah no this is a thielworld joint, 100%. these are authentic, homegrown, unethically sourced, artisinal techbro brainworms that they are simply sharing with the king. they are not the king's brainworms. bsky.app/profile/capi...
For @segyges.bsky.social: Greenland's been a fantasy of techbros for a long time; the 2024 Hereticon panel wasn't the first mention. Obviously talk would ramp up in anticipation of Trump's victory that week. We knew the plan to seize Greenland was serious when Howery was named ambassador to Denmark.
January 11, 2026 at 7:01 PM
paypal mafia + founders fund dude is ambassador to denmark? yeah no this is a thielworld joint, 100%. these are authentic, homegrown, unethically sourced, artisinal techbro brainworms that they are simply sharing with the king. they are not the king's brainworms. bsky.app/profile/capi...
Reposted by Sarang Shah
The push to impeach, in particular the current breakout push among Dems for Noem but also more generally, isn't just about taking the long shot of flipping a couple of Massie types to get it through now. It's also about creating and holding them to a pre-commitment to do it when Dems have the House.
January 11, 2026 at 5:13 PM
The push to impeach, in particular the current breakout push among Dems for Noem but also more generally, isn't just about taking the long shot of flipping a couple of Massie types to get it through now. It's also about creating and holding them to a pre-commitment to do it when Dems have the House.