Brennan
@brennangriffin.bsky.social
TxLege, urbanist, local government policy junkie.
My ancestry.com profile listed a bunch of traits that I was the exact opposite of. It said I was a night person, determined i, relatively physically weak, not a nap taker... They do not really know how this stuff works.
December 12, 2024 at 7:44 PM
My ancestry.com profile listed a bunch of traits that I was the exact opposite of. It said I was a night person, determined i, relatively physically weak, not a nap taker... They do not really know how this stuff works.
Has Wilco always been Dad rock, or have I just aged into it?
December 7, 2024 at 3:18 AM
Has Wilco always been Dad rock, or have I just aged into it?
I'm much more authentically left leaning than Matt Yglesias and Nate Silver, but I think they're diagnosing the problem that leftists can't bring themselves to acknowledge - our brand of politics is actually not that popular broadly speaking.
December 3, 2024 at 7:41 PM
I'm much more authentically left leaning than Matt Yglesias and Nate Silver, but I think they're diagnosing the problem that leftists can't bring themselves to acknowledge - our brand of politics is actually not that popular broadly speaking.
I feel like New York did this decades ago with a program called Mitchell-Lama. It probably works best in high cost cities, but I think Austin should take a hard look.
then they set the rents up as social housing, with some affordable and some market rate to provide cross-subsidy. that means no state budget required, AND the units book up very fast because they're cheaper. really nice housing, people love it www.vox.com/policy/2024/...
What if public housing were for everyone?
Local governments are trying a new way to address the housing crisis.
www.vox.com
November 22, 2024 at 6:40 PM
I feel like New York did this decades ago with a program called Mitchell-Lama. It probably works best in high cost cities, but I think Austin should take a hard look.
Reposted by Brennan
The real secret to the "Mediterranean diet" is eating equal qualities of pasta and antipasto so that they annihilate one another
November 21, 2024 at 1:42 PM
The real secret to the "Mediterranean diet" is eating equal qualities of pasta and antipasto so that they annihilate one another
I think the next AG nominee will be a Fox News legal correspondent, but also pretty good odds for TX AG Ken Paxton
November 21, 2024 at 9:08 PM
I think the next AG nominee will be a Fox News legal correspondent, but also pretty good odds for TX AG Ken Paxton
Where are the local prosecutors at? DOJ passed, but this looks like a halfway decent case for a local DA. Am I wrong? @kenwhite.bsky.social
November 21, 2024 at 6:58 PM
Where are the local prosecutors at? DOJ passed, but this looks like a halfway decent case for a local DA. Am I wrong? @kenwhite.bsky.social
There's a reflexive anti- new jail organizing going on in a lot of Texas cities. I worry about this - on one hand, I don't think we should unnecessarily build new capacity (and most of these are capacity expansions), but some of these jails could be in very bad shape.
November 21, 2024 at 5:46 PM
There's a reflexive anti- new jail organizing going on in a lot of Texas cities. I worry about this - on one hand, I don't think we should unnecessarily build new capacity (and most of these are capacity expansions), but some of these jails could be in very bad shape.
Reposted by Brennan
Can someone who is good with law tell me if my Spotify Wrapped can be used against me in court
November 18, 2024 at 11:04 PM
Can someone who is good with law tell me if my Spotify Wrapped can be used against me in court
I wish people wouldn't react to every crazy bill filed in Texas like this. My guess is that this bill has approximately zero chance of passage, and this kind of article is exactly what the bill sponsor wants! Wait till there's a hearing scheduled or it shows some actual movement before you post.
A new bill in Texas attempts to outlaw online speech surrounding abortion & shows how abortion battles are becoming tech policy battles 🧵 reason.com/2024/11/18/t...
Texas bill would ban hosting online speech about abortion pills
Abortion battles are becoming tech policy battles.
reason.com
November 19, 2024 at 12:44 PM
I wish people wouldn't react to every crazy bill filed in Texas like this. My guess is that this bill has approximately zero chance of passage, and this kind of article is exactly what the bill sponsor wants! Wait till there's a hearing scheduled or it shows some actual movement before you post.
90% of state legislation (and probably federal, but I've never worked that side) is boring, bipartisan, technical stuff where disagreements are driven by ego clashes rather than ideology or policy.
What is common knowledge in your field but shocks outsiders?
Ants often act like inefficient goofballs. They got lost, accidentally drop their good and walk in circles trying to find it but eventually give up and go home, half of the ants in a nest just sit there 24/7 and do absolutely nothing.
Ants often act like inefficient goofballs. They got lost, accidentally drop their good and walk in circles trying to find it but eventually give up and go home, half of the ants in a nest just sit there 24/7 and do absolutely nothing.
What is common knowledge in your field but shocks outsiders?
A lot of people in positions of power got their promotions because they were behaving badly.
In sexual harassment cases, institutions use promotions as a way to retain the perpetrator and separate them from their primary victim.
A lot of people in positions of power got their promotions because they were behaving badly.
In sexual harassment cases, institutions use promotions as a way to retain the perpetrator and separate them from their primary victim.
November 19, 2024 at 2:22 AM
90% of state legislation (and probably federal, but I've never worked that side) is boring, bipartisan, technical stuff where disagreements are driven by ego clashes rather than ideology or policy.
Off to Baltimore to learn more about shared equity models for affordable housing!
November 18, 2024 at 5:58 PM
Off to Baltimore to learn more about shared equity models for affordable housing!
I think we should wait to see what Trump and any eventual Cabinet members actually try to do before panicking about anything. There's so much horrible stuff being bandied about that it's impossible to prepare against all of it.
November 17, 2024 at 3:03 PM
I think we should wait to see what Trump and any eventual Cabinet members actually try to do before panicking about anything. There's so much horrible stuff being bandied about that it's impossible to prepare against all of it.
It was interesting watching the Tx Senate Health and Human Services Committee a couple of days ago, given the RJK, Jr nomination. They invited some folks from the "health-focused" grocery stores to testify. What used to be hippy and left-coded is definitely now trending more right-coded.
November 15, 2024 at 5:16 PM
It was interesting watching the Tx Senate Health and Human Services Committee a couple of days ago, given the RJK, Jr nomination. They invited some folks from the "health-focused" grocery stores to testify. What used to be hippy and left-coded is definitely now trending more right-coded.
Austin re-elected Mayor Watson, who avoided a runoff (which he almost certainly would have won) with just a couple of dozen votes. I very much appreciate that Watson has taken a very different tack than his former Senate colleague, Mayor Whitmire of Houston, despite their similar backgrounds.
November 15, 2024 at 4:17 PM
Austin re-elected Mayor Watson, who avoided a runoff (which he almost certainly would have won) with just a couple of dozen votes. I very much appreciate that Watson has taken a very different tack than his former Senate colleague, Mayor Whitmire of Houston, despite their similar backgrounds.
Do we think there are 4 Senate Republicans willing to buck Trump on the crazier picks? If it were just Gaetz as AG, I would guess they'd hold their noses and vote yes, but now they're being asked to swallow a lot of crazy all at once.
November 14, 2024 at 9:25 PM
Do we think there are 4 Senate Republicans willing to buck Trump on the crazier picks? If it were just Gaetz as AG, I would guess they'd hold their noses and vote yes, but now they're being asked to swallow a lot of crazy all at once.
Ok, this is legitimately funny even if they don't end up doing anything entertaining with it. www.nytimes.com/2024/11/14/b...
The Onion Buys Alex Jones’s Infowars Out of Bankruptcy
The satirical news site planned to turn Infowars into a parody of itself, mocking “weird internet personalities” who peddle conspiracy theories and health supplements.
www.nytimes.com
November 14, 2024 at 2:33 PM
Ok, this is legitimately funny even if they don't end up doing anything entertaining with it. www.nytimes.com/2024/11/14/b...
As someone who halfway expected US AG Paxton, Gaetz is probably less competent to f things up on purpose.
November 13, 2024 at 9:51 PM
As someone who halfway expected US AG Paxton, Gaetz is probably less competent to f things up on purpose.
Man, I wish this article had come out in time to sow some doubt about Austin's Convention Center debacle a few years ago. www.nytimes.com/2024/11/11/b...
Why Are Cities Still Spending Big on Convention Centers?
Cities are spending more than ever to land the biggest events, but companies have long pulled back on spending for annual conferences and attendance has dwindled.
www.nytimes.com
November 13, 2024 at 4:46 PM
Man, I wish this article had come out in time to sow some doubt about Austin's Convention Center debacle a few years ago. www.nytimes.com/2024/11/11/b...
You'll never guess the answer to the question posed in the headline. www.nytimes.com/2024/11/12/n...
Lee Zeldin Knows How to Defend Trump. Will He Defend the Environment?
The choice of Mr. Zeldin, a former Republican congressman of New York, to be the next E.P.A. administrator caught even some of his closest allies by surprise.
www.nytimes.com
November 13, 2024 at 4:40 PM
You'll never guess the answer to the question posed in the headline. www.nytimes.com/2024/11/12/n...
Texas is giving away $5B for nearly useless natural gas plants at taxpayer expense and also allocated money for backup generators for hospitals, nursing homes, etc. Guess which part of the program almost gave millions of dollars away to a fraudulent company? And which hasn't even issued rules?
November 13, 2024 at 4:31 PM
Texas is giving away $5B for nearly useless natural gas plants at taxpayer expense and also allocated money for backup generators for hospitals, nursing homes, etc. Guess which part of the program almost gave millions of dollars away to a fraudulent company? And which hasn't even issued rules?
Just saw a headline on this that omitted the first name, and I was like, I don't think Ruy Teixeira deserves 15 years for wrongly predicting an enduring Democratic majority. Maybe some community service or something. www.nytimes.com/2024/11/12/u...
Jack Teixeira Sentenced to 15 Years in Leaked Documents Case
The disclosures that Jack Teixeira shared on a social media platform raised questions over how a relatively low-ranking Air National Guardsman had access to some of the country’s most sensitive secret...
www.nytimes.com
November 13, 2024 at 4:20 PM
Just saw a headline on this that omitted the first name, and I was like, I don't think Ruy Teixeira deserves 15 years for wrongly predicting an enduring Democratic majority. Maybe some community service or something. www.nytimes.com/2024/11/12/u...
Weird Health and Human Services Committee meeting for the Texas Senate - they're talking about chemicals in food (I'm waiting for an item on disasters and vulnerable Texans). Will Sen. Kolkhorst go full Michelle Obama?
November 13, 2024 at 4:06 PM
Weird Health and Human Services Committee meeting for the Texas Senate - they're talking about chemicals in food (I'm waiting for an item on disasters and vulnerable Texans). Will Sen. Kolkhorst go full Michelle Obama?
Two things I believe: a) there are very few if any counterfactuals where Dems could have win this race, given what we know about inflation. b) Seems are going to have to figure out how to adjust to a world where Hispanic voters are no longer overwhelmingly voting for Dems.
November 11, 2024 at 1:27 AM
Two things I believe: a) there are very few if any counterfactuals where Dems could have win this race, given what we know about inflation. b) Seems are going to have to figure out how to adjust to a world where Hispanic voters are no longer overwhelmingly voting for Dems.
Accidentally ended up at a drag brunch for my birthday lunch today. Lots of fun, and my 3 year old was quite taken with the dancing, although we have to hope some of the language doesn't come out at school.
November 11, 2024 at 12:58 AM
Accidentally ended up at a drag brunch for my birthday lunch today. Lots of fun, and my 3 year old was quite taken with the dancing, although we have to hope some of the language doesn't come out at school.