Jordan Weissmann
@jhweissmann.bsky.social
Writer and editor at The Argument
Part of that will require a grassroots effort to win the culture war over taxes, which Democrats have all but ceded
September 2, 2025 at 3:24 PM
Part of that will require a grassroots effort to win the culture war over taxes, which Democrats have all but ceded
Hm. Carpetbagging isn’t a great strategy.
March 24, 2025 at 8:36 PM
Hm. Carpetbagging isn’t a great strategy.
Department of education announces it’s cutting its workforce by 50% (including buyouts/retirements)
March 11, 2025 at 10:25 PM
Department of education announces it’s cutting its workforce by 50% (including buyouts/retirements)
On Monday, the Education Department said it was sending letters to 60 universities about similar issues. The schools included the ivies, state universities like Rutgers and some surprises like George Mason.
March 11, 2025 at 4:06 PM
On Monday, the Education Department said it was sending letters to 60 universities about similar issues. The schools included the ivies, state universities like Rutgers and some surprises like George Mason.
One of the items on that list included "engaging in a pattern of aiding and abetting illegal discrimination."
Notably, last week the DOJ announced an investigation into whether the UC system "engaged in a pattern or practice of discrimination" based on its handling of Gaza protests.
Notably, last week the DOJ announced an investigation into whether the UC system "engaged in a pattern or practice of discrimination" based on its handling of Gaza protests.
March 11, 2025 at 4:04 PM
One of the items on that list included "engaging in a pattern of aiding and abetting illegal discrimination."
Notably, last week the DOJ announced an investigation into whether the UC system "engaged in a pattern or practice of discrimination" based on its handling of Gaza protests.
Notably, last week the DOJ announced an investigation into whether the UC system "engaged in a pattern or practice of discrimination" based on its handling of Gaza protests.
On Friday, Trump announced that he planned to cut off PSLF for workers at nonprofits that engaged in ‘illegal’ or ‘improper’ activity via executive order.
Based on item D on this list, it looks like he plans to wield that cudgel against DEI. Could have massive ripple effects.
Based on item D on this list, it looks like he plans to wield that cudgel against DEI. Could have massive ripple effects.
March 10, 2025 at 6:11 PM
On Friday, Trump announced that he planned to cut off PSLF for workers at nonprofits that engaged in ‘illegal’ or ‘improper’ activity via executive order.
Based on item D on this list, it looks like he plans to wield that cudgel against DEI. Could have massive ripple effects.
Based on item D on this list, it looks like he plans to wield that cudgel against DEI. Could have massive ripple effects.
Student loan news: 25 Senate dems have written a letter to the Education Department asking when they’re planning to bring back IDR applications and what’s going on with recertification.
The unfortunate takeaway for borrowers: Nobody outside the department seems to have any idea what’s going on.
The unfortunate takeaway for borrowers: Nobody outside the department seems to have any idea what’s going on.
March 10, 2025 at 4:54 PM
Student loan news: 25 Senate dems have written a letter to the Education Department asking when they’re planning to bring back IDR applications and what’s going on with recertification.
The unfortunate takeaway for borrowers: Nobody outside the department seems to have any idea what’s going on.
The unfortunate takeaway for borrowers: Nobody outside the department seems to have any idea what’s going on.
Guys, look very closely at this beach scene from the Trump Gaza video. What do you see?
February 26, 2025 at 7:28 PM
Guys, look very closely at this beach scene from the Trump Gaza video. What do you see?
This is a good piece, but it’s also a cautionary tale for journalists about putting unscientific surveys into the world that could easily be miscited. There’s no such thing as ‘just for our niche audience’ anymore.
www.propublica.org/article/fede...
www.propublica.org/article/fede...
February 24, 2025 at 1:47 PM
This is a good piece, but it’s also a cautionary tale for journalists about putting unscientific surveys into the world that could easily be miscited. There’s no such thing as ‘just for our niche audience’ anymore.
www.propublica.org/article/fede...
www.propublica.org/article/fede...
Donald Trump’s own WH special envoy is now fact checking Elon
February 23, 2025 at 11:52 PM
Donald Trump’s own WH special envoy is now fact checking Elon
Every major Western country has found creative ways to screw itself in the past two decades.
But Germany's phaseout of nuclear energy may have been one of the most easily avoidable economic and political own goals of the 21st century.
www.wsj.com/world/europe...
But Germany's phaseout of nuclear energy may have been one of the most easily avoidable economic and political own goals of the 21st century.
www.wsj.com/world/europe...
February 21, 2025 at 3:15 PM
Every major Western country has found creative ways to screw itself in the past two decades.
But Germany's phaseout of nuclear energy may have been one of the most easily avoidable economic and political own goals of the 21st century.
www.wsj.com/world/europe...
But Germany's phaseout of nuclear energy may have been one of the most easily avoidable economic and political own goals of the 21st century.
www.wsj.com/world/europe...
Texas is facing a measles outbreak now, but there are many states with far worse kindergarten vaccination rates.
And remember that in places like Idaho and Wisconsin, rates are likely even lower in rural counties.
www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
And remember that in places like Idaho and Wisconsin, rates are likely even lower in rural counties.
www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
February 18, 2025 at 1:02 PM
Texas is facing a measles outbreak now, but there are many states with far worse kindergarten vaccination rates.
And remember that in places like Idaho and Wisconsin, rates are likely even lower in rural counties.
www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
And remember that in places like Idaho and Wisconsin, rates are likely even lower in rural counties.
www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
Whenever somebody tweets ‘WHY AREN’T THE DEMOCRATS SAYING THIS?!’ I now take it as a sign that they do not follow any actual Democratic politicians on Twitter or watch cable news.
February 16, 2025 at 1:04 PM
Whenever somebody tweets ‘WHY AREN’T THE DEMOCRATS SAYING THIS?!’ I now take it as a sign that they do not follow any actual Democratic politicians on Twitter or watch cable news.
NEWS: Federal judge temporarily pauses Trump’s effort to dismantle the CFPB, orders it not to delete data or fire workers
February 14, 2025 at 10:49 PM
NEWS: Federal judge temporarily pauses Trump’s effort to dismantle the CFPB, orders it not to delete data or fire workers
We appear to be speedrunning toward a constitutional crisis
February 9, 2025 at 3:53 PM
We appear to be speedrunning toward a constitutional crisis
Last night, Russ Vought ordered essentially all work to halt at the CFPB. Now its homepage is down.
February 9, 2025 at 3:23 PM
Last night, Russ Vought ordered essentially all work to halt at the CFPB. Now its homepage is down.
Republicans just spent 4 years arguing that Biden’s term was a failure because of inflation
February 2, 2025 at 1:24 PM
Republicans just spent 4 years arguing that Biden’s term was a failure because of inflation
This piece includes another great example of an old, obscure law that gives the president massive unilateral power that probably needs to be scrapped.
Longterm, there meeds to be a movement to prune back all of these powers so that Congress can govern. www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/202...
Longterm, there meeds to be a movement to prune back all of these powers so that Congress can govern. www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/202...
January 24, 2025 at 2:35 PM
This piece includes another great example of an old, obscure law that gives the president massive unilateral power that probably needs to be scrapped.
Longterm, there meeds to be a movement to prune back all of these powers so that Congress can govern. www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/202...
Longterm, there meeds to be a movement to prune back all of these powers so that Congress can govern. www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/202...
A masterclass in dry understatement by the Times
January 14, 2025 at 11:44 PM
A masterclass in dry understatement by the Times
Side note: Biden's agencies worked hard to finish big rules before the CRA lookback window, knowing Trump would try to undo much of their work. There was a huge spike in final rules during the early Spring, right before when they originally though the deadline would be.
January 13, 2025 at 2:46 PM
Side note: Biden's agencies worked hard to finish big rules before the CRA lookback window, knowing Trump would try to undo much of their work. There was a huge spike in final rules during the early Spring, right before when they originally though the deadline would be.
The other issue: Legally, it's not entirely clear whether a regulation reversed via the CRA is actually gone for good, or if it can be brought back with some tweaks, because the issue has never been fully litigated.
January 13, 2025 at 2:45 PM
The other issue: Legally, it's not entirely clear whether a regulation reversed via the CRA is actually gone for good, or if it can be brought back with some tweaks, because the issue has never been fully litigated.
The political calculation here is that the GOP won't have the nerve to undo these regulations. Here's how one source familiar with the CFPB's thinking put it to me:
January 13, 2025 at 2:45 PM
The political calculation here is that the GOP won't have the nerve to undo these regulations. Here's how one source familiar with the CFPB's thinking put it to me:
From the weekend, I wrote about how the CFPB is taking a risk with its last-minute push to finalize major regulations on issues like medical debt and overdraft fees, since Republicans could try to reverse them permanently with the Congressional Review Act. finance.yahoo.com/news/bidens-...
January 13, 2025 at 2:41 PM
From the weekend, I wrote about how the CFPB is taking a risk with its last-minute push to finalize major regulations on issues like medical debt and overdraft fees, since Republicans could try to reverse them permanently with the Congressional Review Act. finance.yahoo.com/news/bidens-...
LA really was wild
January 7, 2025 at 12:49 PM
LA really was wild
And Trump weighs in, fwiw
January 6, 2025 at 2:32 PM
And Trump weighs in, fwiw