Jeff Byrnes 🚰 🏙️
@thejeffbyrnes.com
🎸 🎻 bassist
👨🏻💻 SRE manager @ athenahealth
🏗️ Steering Committee member & co-founder of Somerville YIMBY
🎮 video gamer
👔 snappy dresser
📚 avid reader
🗺️ Somerville, MA, USA
👨🏻💻 SRE manager @ athenahealth
🏗️ Steering Committee member & co-founder of Somerville YIMBY
🎮 video gamer
👔 snappy dresser
📚 avid reader
🗺️ Somerville, MA, USA
Pinned
Jeff Byrnes 🚰 🏙️
@thejeffbyrnes.com
· Nov 12
Co-founder & steering committee member of @somervilleyimby.org, member of Abundant Housing MA, trying to foster housing abundance to bring down prices & make our cities & towns more welcoming! #MApoli #VilleMA #SomerPoli #YIMBY
Goddamn he is _so_ good. Excited for a new era for NYC!
Mamdani arrives to his mayoral inauguration at City Hall in a motorcade of NYC taxi cabs—workers he went on hunger strike with in 2021.
January 1, 2026 at 5:46 PM
Goddamn he is _so_ good. Excited for a new era for NYC!
This is exceedingly good advice.
I have 3 axioms that help me decide when to talk to people I disagree with:
1. To debate a subject is to concede that the subject is debatable.
2. To reason with a person is to concede that the person is reasonable.
3. To ask for evidence of a claim is to concede that the claim might be true.
1. To debate a subject is to concede that the subject is debatable.
2. To reason with a person is to concede that the person is reasonable.
3. To ask for evidence of a claim is to concede that the claim might be true.
January 1, 2026 at 5:45 PM
This is exceedingly good advice.
Reposted by Jeff Byrnes 🚰 🏙️
Reposted by Jeff Byrnes 🚰 🏙️
"we're here to inspect your daycare center"
January 1, 2026 at 3:35 PM
"we're here to inspect your daycare center"
Reposted by Jeff Byrnes 🚰 🏙️
sorry hate to be that person but instead of exchanging 2025 for 2026 could i actually just get a refund?
January 1, 2026 at 4:16 PM
sorry hate to be that person but instead of exchanging 2025 for 2026 could i actually just get a refund?
Reposted by Jeff Byrnes 🚰 🏙️
They showed the gays kissing on TV for the live ABC broadcast east coast new year’s ball drop, I choose to believe this is progress
January 1, 2026 at 5:03 AM
They showed the gays kissing on TV for the live ABC broadcast east coast new year’s ball drop, I choose to believe this is progress
Reposted by Jeff Byrnes 🚰 🏙️
And I think liberals should stop taking the bait and ceding ground on immigration.
Immigration is good. Multiculturalism is good. Free trade is good. Stop being embarrassed to say so.
Immigration is good. Multiculturalism is good. Free trade is good. Stop being embarrassed to say so.
December 31, 2025 at 11:31 PM
And I think liberals should stop taking the bait and ceding ground on immigration.
Immigration is good. Multiculturalism is good. Free trade is good. Stop being embarrassed to say so.
Immigration is good. Multiculturalism is good. Free trade is good. Stop being embarrassed to say so.
Reposted by Jeff Byrnes 🚰 🏙️
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
And I think liberals should stop taking the bait and ceding ground on immigration.
Immigration is good. Multiculturalism is good. Free trade is good. Stop being embarrassed to say so.
Immigration is good. Multiculturalism is good. Free trade is good. Stop being embarrassed to say so.
January 1, 2026 at 3:03 PM
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.
Reposted by Jeff Byrnes 🚰 🏙️
They didn't just freeze child care payments to Minnesota because of their fraudulent "fraud" video. They froze them to *every state*. www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
Trump administration reportedly freezes all childcare payments to all states
Trump official says funds will be released ‘only when states prove they are being spent legitimately’
www.theguardian.com
January 1, 2026 at 4:22 PM
They didn't just freeze child care payments to Minnesota because of their fraudulent "fraud" video. They froze them to *every state*. www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
Reposted by Jeff Byrnes 🚰 🏙️
The final Calvin and Hobbes, which appeared in papers 30 years ago today.
December 31, 2025 at 5:00 PM
The final Calvin and Hobbes, which appeared in papers 30 years ago today.
Reposted by Jeff Byrnes 🚰 🏙️
Ask any current or former Californian whether an increasing number of ballot questions is good.
I agree with everyone saying this is an indictment of the MA legislature. We need legislators to be able to pass popular legislation again.
I agree with everyone saying this is an indictment of the MA legislature. We need legislators to be able to pass popular legislation again.
MA is officially up to 9 ballot questions advancing to the next stage.
1 other question secured its spot already.
2 are still pending certification.
So wild that we could have 12 questions next year.
www.sec.state.ma.us/divisions/ne...
1 other question secured its spot already.
2 are still pending certification.
So wild that we could have 12 questions next year.
www.sec.state.ma.us/divisions/ne...
www.sec.state.ma.us
December 30, 2025 at 11:07 PM
Ask any current or former Californian whether an increasing number of ballot questions is good.
I agree with everyone saying this is an indictment of the MA legislature. We need legislators to be able to pass popular legislation again.
I agree with everyone saying this is an indictment of the MA legislature. We need legislators to be able to pass popular legislation again.
Reposted by Jeff Byrnes 🚰 🏙️
My most extreme and radical opinion is that US suburbs are inherently anti-social and bad and should all be ripped out and replaced by much denser infrastructure that enables the movement and autonomy of people who cannot drive *above* anyone behind the wheel of a car
December 31, 2025 at 5:30 PM
My most extreme and radical opinion is that US suburbs are inherently anti-social and bad and should all be ripped out and replaced by much denser infrastructure that enables the movement and autonomy of people who cannot drive *above* anyone behind the wheel of a car
Reposted by Jeff Byrnes 🚰 🏙️
It's remarkable how consistently older media folks seem to think "wildly differing moral standards" shouldn't be a barrier to relationships.
Or really, shouldn't be a barrier for liberals. Because these are always a scolding of young liberal women.
Or really, shouldn't be a barrier for liberals. Because these are always a scolding of young liberal women.
Everyone has a list of so-called "red flags" when they're dating. And for some, especially younger Americans, different political views is a relationship deal breaker.
Majority of Gen Z swipe left on dating people with opposite political views
Everyone has a list of so-called "red flags" when they're dating. And for some, especially younger Americans, different political views is a relationship deal breaker.
n.pr
December 31, 2025 at 4:27 PM
It's remarkable how consistently older media folks seem to think "wildly differing moral standards" shouldn't be a barrier to relationships.
Or really, shouldn't be a barrier for liberals. Because these are always a scolding of young liberal women.
Or really, shouldn't be a barrier for liberals. Because these are always a scolding of young liberal women.
Reposted by Jeff Byrnes 🚰 🏙️
good piece with an incidental insanely brutal takedown of klein
December 31, 2025 at 2:51 PM
good piece with an incidental insanely brutal takedown of klein
Reposted by Jeff Byrnes 🚰 🏙️
unvarnished gutter racism and Nazism from the president. a disgrace to our country.
December 31, 2025 at 4:32 PM
unvarnished gutter racism and Nazism from the president. a disgrace to our country.
Reposted by Jeff Byrnes 🚰 🏙️
I think this is right. Both that the Trump-MAGA effort at power consolidation is failing and also that its failure isn't the end of the matter.
Beyond it there is a need to come up with a new political formulation which provides folks with an attractive vision of how we can move forward.
Beyond it there is a need to come up with a new political formulation which provides folks with an attractive vision of how we can move forward.
The past year has been terrifying. Really, the past two—I lost a lot of sleep in 2024 over the promises of the Trump campaign, promises they immediately sought to make good on. But at the end of the first year of his would-be dictatorship, I am calling it: we are going to win.
We Are Going to Win
Trump's revolution will fail, but we still have a long and painful road ahead of us.
www.liberalcurrents.com
December 30, 2025 at 4:37 PM
I think this is right. Both that the Trump-MAGA effort at power consolidation is failing and also that its failure isn't the end of the matter.
Beyond it there is a need to come up with a new political formulation which provides folks with an attractive vision of how we can move forward.
Beyond it there is a need to come up with a new political formulation which provides folks with an attractive vision of how we can move forward.
Reposted by Jeff Byrnes 🚰 🏙️
It's pretty insane how the response to getting caught committing bribery went from "Merk yourself on live TV" to "Bribe the president for a pardon" in the span of only thirty-eight years
December 30, 2025 at 5:01 PM
It's pretty insane how the response to getting caught committing bribery went from "Merk yourself on live TV" to "Bribe the president for a pardon" in the span of only thirty-eight years
Reposted by Jeff Byrnes 🚰 🏙️
They had contempt for Biden because they believed he had values; they have respect for Trump because they know he doesn't. Mentality of whipped dogs.
Barely a blip in the news. 🦗from the New York Times editorial and opinion pages. Compare with days of Hunter Biden Hysteria about unprecedented abuse of the pardon power.
December 27, 2025 at 10:37 PM
They had contempt for Biden because they believed he had values; they have respect for Trump because they know he doesn't. Mentality of whipped dogs.
Reposted by Jeff Byrnes 🚰 🏙️
The 2026 midterms will be the most important of our lifetimes. These are the races to watch
https://contrarian.substack.com/p/the-most-exciting-races-are-underway
https://contrarian.substack.com/p/the-most-exciting-races-are-underway
The Most Exciting Races are Underway
These battles will be exciting
contrarian.substack.com
December 30, 2025 at 4:28 PM
The 2026 midterms will be the most important of our lifetimes. These are the races to watch
https://contrarian.substack.com/p/the-most-exciting-races-are-underway
https://contrarian.substack.com/p/the-most-exciting-races-are-underway
I am _so_ tired of folks saying liberalism is bad.
Unless you think freedom of speech, movement, & association, is bad, you’re a liberal!
If you truly think those freedoms shouldn’t exist, fine! Be clear! But if you do, congrats: you’re a liberal.
Unless you think freedom of speech, movement, & association, is bad, you’re a liberal!
If you truly think those freedoms shouldn’t exist, fine! Be clear! But if you do, congrats: you’re a liberal.
December 30, 2025 at 4:19 AM
I am _so_ tired of folks saying liberalism is bad.
Unless you think freedom of speech, movement, & association, is bad, you’re a liberal!
If you truly think those freedoms shouldn’t exist, fine! Be clear! But if you do, congrats: you’re a liberal.
Unless you think freedom of speech, movement, & association, is bad, you’re a liberal!
If you truly think those freedoms shouldn’t exist, fine! Be clear! But if you do, congrats: you’re a liberal.
It is simply _wild_ to be blocked for calling the USSR & CCP China left-wing.
Like, what?!
Like, what?!
December 30, 2025 at 4:08 AM
It is simply _wild_ to be blocked for calling the USSR & CCP China left-wing.
Like, what?!
Like, what?!
Reposted by Jeff Byrnes 🚰 🏙️
The U.S. has surpassed 2000 documented measles cases this year, the highest in more than 30 years.
This is driven by rampant disinformation about vaccines from Robert F. Kennedy Jr., including in his capacity as a government official.
We will lose our elimination status shortly.
This is driven by rampant disinformation about vaccines from Robert F. Kennedy Jr., including in his capacity as a government official.
We will lose our elimination status shortly.
US measles outbreak tops 2,000 known infections
www.cidrap.umn.edu
December 29, 2025 at 10:00 PM
The U.S. has surpassed 2000 documented measles cases this year, the highest in more than 30 years.
This is driven by rampant disinformation about vaccines from Robert F. Kennedy Jr., including in his capacity as a government official.
We will lose our elimination status shortly.
This is driven by rampant disinformation about vaccines from Robert F. Kennedy Jr., including in his capacity as a government official.
We will lose our elimination status shortly.
Reposted by Jeff Byrnes 🚰 🏙️
It’s being called a “monstrosity” and the family who had it built is being called selfish and clueless and terrible neighbors. Someone on a Reddit thread said it looks like a “skyscraper” from the ground. I wrote about it:
The Big House That Might Not Be Able To
A home expansion in Fairfax County tests the limits of single-family zoning
www.thedeletedscenes.com
December 29, 2025 at 10:58 PM
It’s being called a “monstrosity” and the family who had it built is being called selfish and clueless and terrible neighbors. Someone on a Reddit thread said it looks like a “skyscraper” from the ground. I wrote about it:
Reposted by Jeff Byrnes 🚰 🏙️
Reminder that years ago it was found out that the FBI straight up made up a whole bunch of fake forensic sciences, plural. People have gone to jail and been executed due to literally pseudoscience.
Hair forensics, for instance, is totally nonsense.
They admitted it.
slate.com/news-and-pol...
Hair forensics, for instance, is totally nonsense.
They admitted it.
slate.com/news-and-pol...
The FBI Faked an Entire Field of Forensic Science
For more stories like this, like Slate on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.
slate.com
December 30, 2025 at 12:07 AM
Reminder that years ago it was found out that the FBI straight up made up a whole bunch of fake forensic sciences, plural. People have gone to jail and been executed due to literally pseudoscience.
Hair forensics, for instance, is totally nonsense.
They admitted it.
slate.com/news-and-pol...
Hair forensics, for instance, is totally nonsense.
They admitted it.
slate.com/news-and-pol...
Reposted by Jeff Byrnes 🚰 🏙️
I feel like the moment there is actual government regulation against AI, there is going to be backlash because so many people have become mentally reliant on things like chatgpt.
December 28, 2025 at 9:02 PM
I feel like the moment there is actual government regulation against AI, there is going to be backlash because so many people have become mentally reliant on things like chatgpt.