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)

Reposted by John McLaren

Our many local Dems infuriated with Senate Dems this week might find this a useful interpretation. Josh is withering in his criticism of the Senators, calls for primaries — but also argues that they are showing signs of improvement — due to our pressure.

talkingpointsmemo.com/edblog/a-qui...
A Quick Take on Team Cave’s Big Win
I have what I suspect is a somewhat counterintuitive take on the...
talkingpointsmemo.com

“Mobile lounge“ sounds like there would be martinis or something.

In my experience, a chest of drawers was the worst. Like a giant IQ test that I could fail over and over again, all day long.

Reposted by John McLaren

Tune in a special Tuesday Afternoon Rocke Show w/ Andrew Kahrl, Nov 11, 2-4pm. Andrew will share a student curated playlist from his undergraduate research seminar, Black Metropolis: African Americans & the City, songs that capture various aspects of the Black urban experience over the past century.

I"m not familiar with the Urban Land Institute, but this presentation Nov. 19 on the proposed Salvation Army low barrier shelter sounds promising.

virginia.uli.org/events/detai...
ULI Virginia: Solving Homelessness in Charlottesville | ULI Virginia
virginia.uli.org

Reposted by John McLaren

Keynote speaker and UVA Law professor Danielle Citron joins the UVA School of Data Science for Datapalooza 2025: Truth and Accountability in the Age of AI on Friday, November 14.

To learn more and register for this event, click here: https://bit.ly/3WQE3Go

Willing to read up on this fellow.

Any prospect for Perriello???
With the disclaimer that I know absolutely nothing about this person, there does seem to already be at least one primary challenger.

The more the merrier I say.

www.jasonreynoldsforsenate.com

Tiny place!

Reposted by John McLaren

To the extent possible given your responsibility to that family, can you shed any add’l light on what happened? This deserves way more attention.

Reposted by John McLaren

With the disclaimer that I know absolutely nothing about this person, there does seem to already be at least one primary challenger.

The more the merrier I say.

www.jasonreynoldsforsenate.com

Reposted by John McLaren

friendly reminders this morning that being pissed off and disappointed is not an excuse for doomer shit, and that state and national electoral politics, while unfortunately impactful beyond its current worth, is not the only or best way of political mobilization

I think I’ll ask for it on my tombstone.

“Ready at last to leave the present unfathomable fecklessness.”
My statement on the funding deal to reopen government, protect federal employees, and vote to protect health care:
This is not a deal — it's an empty promise.

Trump and his Republican Congress are making healthcare more expensive for the middle class and ending it for working families.

Time for Democrats to stand tall for affordable healthcare. www.politico.com/news/2025/11...
Senate reaches deal on ending the shutdown
Democrats are coalescing around a bipartisan agreement to fund the government.
www.politico.com

That’s a bit from Taxi! I’ve never, ever seen the joke played out in real life!

youtu.be/ywibBYucL5U?...
Taxi-Jim the Salesman
YouTube video by Jimmy Wood
youtu.be

Oh, man, he actually said that! I thought you were exaggerating for comedy effect.

Reposted by John McLaren

Thank you to the Cville-Albemarle Dems for organizing this. Just want to bump up the link to donate online for those who weren’t able to make it yesterday.

Remember that Bible story where a guy asks Jesus what to do about high taxes? Jesus asks him to look at a coin and see whose face is there. “Caesar.” “So give unto Caesar what is of Caesar, and give to God what is of God.”

The story takes on a different character now.
40 men Trump sent to CECOT tell the NYT they were beaten, tortured, and sexually assaulted. The details are worse than you can imagine.

We can’t let them get away with this. Miller and the other architects of this sadism need to go to prison.

www.nytimes.com/2025/11/08/w...
‘You Are All Terrorists’: Four Months in a Salvadoran Prison
www.nytimes.com

Reposted by John McLaren

Thanks to the community for stepping up for the Cville-Albemarle Dems food drive for the Blue Ridge Area Food Bank. The total was 1,846 pounds collected!

For those who would like to donate online:

give.brafb.org/give/508375?...
Until the end of the government shutdown, our campaign will be donating $2,500 a month to a food pantry in the Ninth District.

And to my fellow candidates, I challenge you to do the same:

Reposted by John McLaren

I agree with Coach Walz!
We will not let Minnesotans go hungry.

It’s great. Every episode is a lesson in why DEI is needed. Michael is a walking paradigm of unconscious racism and sexism. He prides himself on his fairness while creating an incredibly hostile work environment.

He’s also lovable and relatable at the same time.
There are now more Democratic women in Virginia’s House than Republicans — total.

VA has come a longgg way!

Reposted by John McLaren

The US President has chosen to pervert our fine troops’ mission by deploying them against Americans, in peacetime.

It is illegal. It is extremely dangerous. Conservative and Liberal Americans reject the filth of military rule.
BREAKING: Following trial, Judge Karin Immergut, a Trump appointee, finds that Trump did not properly invoke federal law to call up the National Guard and "permanently enjoins Defendants’ orders to deploy federalized members of the National Guard to Oregon."
Shapiro: He rose to some prominence by writing a book about growing up in Appalachia, where there are a whole lot of people who get SNAP. He made millions of dollars off telling their stories, and then he turned his damn back on those very people he likes to write about and claim as his own.

I just finished watching this. It’s really, really beautiful. There’s still a little bit of time to see it and you don’t need a reservation. Highly recommended.
Today & tomorrow anytime between 10-5, free & open to everyone! Drop by for a 20min Emmy-winning VR experience, if you're interested in Indigenous rights & how virtual reality can support how we share history. (You can also sign up for a specificviewing time slot here: calendly.com/kluge-ruhe/c...)
11/6+7 10-5, Emmy-winning VR exhibit "Collisions": w/Lynette Wallworth, Martu elder+artist Nyarri Nyarri Morgan shares re:witnessing British atomic testing at Australia’s Maralinga. On 2 VR headsets—walkin, or reserve a time (20min length; reserve via calendly.com/kluge-ruhe/c...) +
Hey folks, as news of Watson's demise spreads, please don't set aside his weighty legacy of misogyny and racism. He was truly among the worst of us. www.vox.com/2019/1/15/18...
DNA scientist James Watson has a remarkably long history of sexist, racist public comments
“People say it would be terrible if we made all girls pretty,” he said in 2003. “I think it would be great.”
www.vox.com

Reposted by John McLaren

Our friends at @cvilledems.bsky.social are holding a food and toiletries drive Saturday at Fry’s Spring Beach Club from 9am-12pm. Consider stopping by or making a donation to the Blue Ridge Area Food Bank via this link:

give.brafb.org/give/508375/...