John McLaren
johnmclaren.bsky.social
John McLaren
@johnmclaren.bsky.social

Economist, classical music nerd, and family man.

Economics 44%
Political science 23%
Pinned
I'm seeing a huge spike in interest in tariffs from people who normally don't work in the economics of international trade. Here are a few useful things to know about them. (1/14)

You don’t even have the facial-hair issue. Believe me, that switches the game into hard mode.

I keep this link handy at all times.

www.nytimes.com/2025/05/30/o...
Opinion | Elon Musk’s Legacy Is Disease, Starvation and Death
www.nytimes.com

Really?? Ugh. (Unless you mean he would be comfortable among the protesters, which would be great. But it didn’t sound like that’s what you meant.)
I'm going to tell my favorite story again about reflecting the certainty of beliefs back at people who don't expect it.

A friend was one of the few Jews on faculty at a North Dakota University. Every year, his colleague in religious studies would invite him to come to his religious studies class...

Oh, took me four hours to get this joke. Well done.

Thank you!

Pretty horrifying. The book “In Covid’s Wake” seems to be pretty fraudulent.
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?!

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CBS News capitulated but Democracy Docket never will. I created it without corporate backers, venture capitalists or private equity investors. It's only accountable to its members who help support its 22-person team. Become one now. hubs.ly/Q03M8rql0

Just terrible he was cut down in his prime by cancer. An amazing musician.
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?!

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"Like Amazon Prime, but with human beings."
The Supreme Court rejected the federal government’s request to deploy the National Guard in Illinois.

It’s time to let our troops go home to celebrate the holidays with their families — and stay home.

Dark comedy.

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We know that illnesses and injuries don’t happen at the most convenient times, which is why we are open 365 days a year at Pediatric Associates of Charlottesville. Holiday hours are on the next slide. Please don’t hesitate to call us if you need us. Our highest priority is you!

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We are #StrongerTogether, #PeoplePower works. If your local and looking for a strong community of actively engaged ridiculously creative volunteers working to strengthen democracy together, connect with us!
We’re stronger when we organize together.

It’s resolution season and if one of your goals for 2026 is becoming more engaged in your community and doing more to save democracy, it might be time to connect with your local organizers: indivisible.org/groups

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This is genuinely horrifying. Fact-free far-right agitprop given accolades by credible media across the political spectrum.
Congratulations to Stephen Macedo & Frances Lee, whose book In Covid's Wake has been recognized as:

⭐ A @newyorker.com Best Book of the Year
⭐ An @economist.com Book of the Year
⭐ A @wsj.com Best Book of the Year

Learn more about this eye-opening book: press.princeton.edu/books/hardco...

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Read about Commonsense Guardrails for Using Advanced Technology in Schools aiinstruction.org/sites/defaul...
aiinstruction.org

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#Charlottesville FLOCK camera map (can be found at deflock.me) There are 10 active cameras reported in the City limits. They need to all be promptly removed by city maintenance staff.

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New research published in the @jintlecon.bsky.social
by Karim Chalak @manchester.ac.uk, @johnmclaren.bsky.social & Xiangjun Ma reveals hidden bias in U.S. trade policy: voters in swing states have far more influence than others

🔗 www.manchester.ac.uk/about/news/m...

#SoSSResearch #PoliticalEconomy

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1944 Bari Weiss: “Look, all I’m saying is, before we run the story, we need to hear from the other side. So, call Heinrich, here’s his number, and ask him for a comment. Also, are there any pictures where someone is smiling? I don’t want to bum people out. Y’know, keep it light and breezy.”
The full spiked 60 Minutes CECOT package, clean & subtitled. 1/5

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UVA’s Board of Visitors has done exactly the wrong thing at every turn by proceeding in the search for a new president. My thoughts here:
If this doesn't motivate you to vote in the Midterms, nothing will.

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I opened it to see the Hitler stuff for myself but this was funny

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The Cavalier Daily strikes again. 👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽
"Scott Beardsley’s appointment [as UVA president] epitomizes a semester defined by absence, secrecy and institutional disregard." www.cavalierdaily.com/article/2025...
EDITORIAL: An eleventh-hour presidential appointment and a community left in the dark
Furthermore, it is hard to ignore that the unanimous vote elevating Beardsley to the University’s top role was undertaken by a Board that is seemingly not legally constituted.
www.cavalierdaily.com

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Bill Clinton Spokesman: “Someone or something is being protected. We need no such protection. Produce the full and complete record.” #TrumpEpsteinCoverup

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Between mass firings, halted federal funding, Trump’s chaotic economic policies, and more, it’s been a tough year for many Virginians. But I still want to take a moment to acknowledge and celebrate what we were able to accomplish together. I’ll see y’all in 2026.
youtu.be/2eiOTygf8QU
What We Accomplished Together in 2025
YouTube video by Senator Kaine
youtu.be

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"When a project that has met every requirement is suddenly stopped without explanation, it is fair to ask whether this decision is being driven by evidence, or by personal and political grievance.” - Sen. @markwarner.bsky.social @SenTimKaine Rep. @BobbyScott (D-VA03) bluevirginia.us/2025/12/afte...