Josh Kepner
@joshkepner.bsky.social
Philly sports, decarbonization, daily SEPTA commuter, healthcare energy manager, views are my own.
Reposted by Josh Kepner
the correct way to end the year, especially this year, is the ritual burning of xmas trees in the street in south philly. every time one finished burning, the crowd gleefully chanted, “ONE MORE TREE! ONE MORE TREE!” until, as if summoned, someone else came , parting the crowd & dragging another tree
January 1, 2026 at 1:56 PM
the correct way to end the year, especially this year, is the ritual burning of xmas trees in the street in south philly. every time one finished burning, the crowd gleefully chanted, “ONE MORE TREE! ONE MORE TREE!” until, as if summoned, someone else came , parting the crowd & dragging another tree
Reposted by Josh Kepner
Well, guess we made it
January 1, 2026 at 5:05 AM
Well, guess we made it
So first they cover up the Epstein stuff, now they demands access to children? Seems bad.
CNN: “Surely you don’t think a daycare should be unlocked.”
SHIRLEY: “There should be a reception area.”
CNN: “No, every day care is locked.”
SHIRLEY: “Fair point.” 🤔
He shows up to a day care with masked men and wonders why they don’t let him in.
SHIRLEY: “There should be a reception area.”
CNN: “No, every day care is locked.”
SHIRLEY: “Fair point.” 🤔
He shows up to a day care with masked men and wonders why they don’t let him in.
December 31, 2025 at 7:35 PM
So first they cover up the Epstein stuff, now they demands access to children? Seems bad.
Reposted by Josh Kepner
Elon Musk promised a lot of things by 2025
- colonists arriving on Mars
- xAI achieving AGI
- Tesla robotaxis serving half the U.S.
- completely driverless robotaxis
- a Tesla Roadster demo
- DOGE cutting trillions
none of them happened
mashable.com/article/elon-mus...
- colonists arriving on Mars
- xAI achieving AGI
- Tesla robotaxis serving half the U.S.
- completely driverless robotaxis
- a Tesla Roadster demo
- DOGE cutting trillions
none of them happened
mashable.com/article/elon-mus...
Everything Elon Musk promised in 2025, but didn't deliver
Musk is now infamous for his false promises, but even this is excessive.
mashable.com
December 31, 2025 at 4:29 PM
Elon Musk promised a lot of things by 2025
- colonists arriving on Mars
- xAI achieving AGI
- Tesla robotaxis serving half the U.S.
- completely driverless robotaxis
- a Tesla Roadster demo
- DOGE cutting trillions
none of them happened
mashable.com/article/elon-mus...
- colonists arriving on Mars
- xAI achieving AGI
- Tesla robotaxis serving half the U.S.
- completely driverless robotaxis
- a Tesla Roadster demo
- DOGE cutting trillions
none of them happened
mashable.com/article/elon-mus...
Reposted by Josh Kepner
This is how Christopher Caldwell begins his essay on Zohran Mamdani for the Claremont Review of Books.
Why are these people such freaks?
Why are these people such freaks?
December 29, 2025 at 6:30 PM
This is how Christopher Caldwell begins his essay on Zohran Mamdani for the Claremont Review of Books.
Why are these people such freaks?
Why are these people such freaks?
Reposted by Josh Kepner
Speaking as someone who just wrote a book on the Manhattan Project, I can assure you that refugee immigrants were the *entire* reason the US mastered the atom first. The most chilling part of writing my book was reading about them fleeing fascism … abroad. www.doomsdayscenario.co/p/fleeing-on...
December 28, 2025 at 10:15 PM
Speaking as someone who just wrote a book on the Manhattan Project, I can assure you that refugee immigrants were the *entire* reason the US mastered the atom first. The most chilling part of writing my book was reading about them fleeing fascism … abroad. www.doomsdayscenario.co/p/fleeing-on...
Reposted by Josh Kepner
In America, where irony is dead, a hotel chain uses a policy denying shelter to local people, for fear of accidentally housing homeless persons…
To deny a reservation to the author of a much-lauded book on how American economic unfairness forces working people into homelessness.
To deny a reservation to the author of a much-lauded book on how American economic unfairness forces working people into homelessness.
A Hampton Inn in Asheville just canceled my family's reservation because our address (incorrectly) showed Asheville—and the hotel bars locals within 50 miles.
When I asked why, they said, "because of our homeless population," adding that most hotels here have similar policies.
This is outrageous.
When I asked why, they said, "because of our homeless population," adding that most hotels here have similar policies.
This is outrageous.
December 29, 2025 at 2:46 AM
In America, where irony is dead, a hotel chain uses a policy denying shelter to local people, for fear of accidentally housing homeless persons…
To deny a reservation to the author of a much-lauded book on how American economic unfairness forces working people into homelessness.
To deny a reservation to the author of a much-lauded book on how American economic unfairness forces working people into homelessness.
Reposted by Josh Kepner
December 28, 2025 at 4:38 PM
Reposted by Josh Kepner
If your plan to address the climate crisis is one that oil companies can get on board with, you do not have a plan to address the climate crisis.
December 21, 2025 at 7:01 PM
If your plan to address the climate crisis is one that oil companies can get on board with, you do not have a plan to address the climate crisis.
Reposted by Josh Kepner
This year produced the single largest mass mobilizations in the country's history. Its entire history. I think that there are people who would say that this isn't true EVEN AS THEY ARE LIVING THROUGH THOSE MOBILIZATIONS. It's something to see.
December 28, 2025 at 4:43 AM
This year produced the single largest mass mobilizations in the country's history. Its entire history. I think that there are people who would say that this isn't true EVEN AS THEY ARE LIVING THROUGH THOSE MOBILIZATIONS. It's something to see.
Reposted by Josh Kepner
All of the money that changed hands in the Teapot Dome scandal totaled less than $10 million after adjusting for inflation, and it was considered so corrupt we still teach it in high school government classes a century later.
Corruption so pungent, it wafts right off the page:
Lobbyists who do pardon deals “say their going rate is $1 million. Pardon-seekers have offered some lobbyists close to the president success fees of as much as $6 million if they can close the deal.”
Gift link www.wsj.com/politics/pol...
Lobbyists who do pardon deals “say their going rate is $1 million. Pardon-seekers have offered some lobbyists close to the president success fees of as much as $6 million if they can close the deal.”
Gift link www.wsj.com/politics/pol...
Inside the New Fast Track to a Presidential Pardon
Even some of the president’s closest advisers have been surprised by a number of the recent series of pardons.
www.wsj.com
December 27, 2025 at 9:24 PM
All of the money that changed hands in the Teapot Dome scandal totaled less than $10 million after adjusting for inflation, and it was considered so corrupt we still teach it in high school government classes a century later.
Reposted by Josh Kepner
In case you missed it - progress hasn't stopped in the U.S., despite the best efforts of the Trump administration.
www.utilitydive.com/news/solar-g...
www.utilitydive.com/news/solar-g...
December 27, 2025 at 1:19 PM
In case you missed it - progress hasn't stopped in the U.S., despite the best efforts of the Trump administration.
www.utilitydive.com/news/solar-g...
www.utilitydive.com/news/solar-g...
Reposted by Josh Kepner
another robot highlight for 2025: man wearing humanoid mocap suit kicks himself in the balls
December 27, 2025 at 5:27 PM
another robot highlight for 2025: man wearing humanoid mocap suit kicks himself in the balls
Reposted by Josh Kepner
This is one of our favorites!
December 24, 2025 at 8:24 PM
This is one of our favorites!
Reposted by Josh Kepner
These declines are MASSIVE.
And the comparative silence in media coverage is absolutely DAMNING.
“Why are ppl always so afraid of crime?”
THIS is why. When crime goes up, media trips over itself to report it.
Falls to pre-war (!!) levels? Just CRICKETS.
And the comparative silence in media coverage is absolutely DAMNING.
“Why are ppl always so afraid of crime?”
THIS is why. When crime goes up, media trips over itself to report it.
Falls to pre-war (!!) levels? Just CRICKETS.
I count 10 cities in 2025 that are on track to have the fewest murders since at least 1970. Newark is on pace to have the fewest murders since 1956 (though only have data through Oct this year) and San Francisco is on pace to have the fewest murders since 1942.
December 23, 2025 at 10:03 PM
These declines are MASSIVE.
And the comparative silence in media coverage is absolutely DAMNING.
“Why are ppl always so afraid of crime?”
THIS is why. When crime goes up, media trips over itself to report it.
Falls to pre-war (!!) levels? Just CRICKETS.
And the comparative silence in media coverage is absolutely DAMNING.
“Why are ppl always so afraid of crime?”
THIS is why. When crime goes up, media trips over itself to report it.
Falls to pre-war (!!) levels? Just CRICKETS.
Reposted by Josh Kepner
December 23, 2025 at 8:24 PM
Reposted by Josh Kepner
Bari’s complaint was “there’s nothing new here” and while that’s untrue it’s also irrelevant
“we intentionally sent people to be tortured in a hellhole and bragged about it and The Hague is too good for everyone involved” is a story that simply cannot be told enough
“we intentionally sent people to be tortured in a hellhole and bragged about it and The Hague is too good for everyone involved” is a story that simply cannot be told enough
December 23, 2025 at 3:22 AM
Bari’s complaint was “there’s nothing new here” and while that’s untrue it’s also irrelevant
“we intentionally sent people to be tortured in a hellhole and bragged about it and The Hague is too good for everyone involved” is a story that simply cannot be told enough
“we intentionally sent people to be tortured in a hellhole and bragged about it and The Hague is too good for everyone involved” is a story that simply cannot be told enough
Reposted by Josh Kepner
!! Here’s a link to full video of the 60 Minutes segment that Bari Weiss killed last minute, via @jasonparis.bsky.social:
is.gd/paU8Ko
(It was uploaded to the Global TV app in Canada, seemingly by accident, and has now been taken down)
is.gd/paU8Ko
(It was uploaded to the Global TV app in Canada, seemingly by accident, and has now been taken down)
December 22, 2025 at 10:39 PM
!! Here’s a link to full video of the 60 Minutes segment that Bari Weiss killed last minute, via @jasonparis.bsky.social:
is.gd/paU8Ko
(It was uploaded to the Global TV app in Canada, seemingly by accident, and has now been taken down)
is.gd/paU8Ko
(It was uploaded to the Global TV app in Canada, seemingly by accident, and has now been taken down)
Reposted by Josh Kepner
Worth noting, I guess, that inside of a year we've gone from administration officials taking selfies of themselves at CECOT and bragging about how it's hell on earth to now getting their horrible little media worms to kill stories about it
December 22, 2025 at 2:55 AM
Worth noting, I guess, that inside of a year we've gone from administration officials taking selfies of themselves at CECOT and bragging about how it's hell on earth to now getting their horrible little media worms to kill stories about it
Reposted by Josh Kepner
New article from Strath Haven High School's Panther Press!
Support your local future journalists!
shpantherpress.com/mayoral-elec...
Support your local future journalists!
shpantherpress.com/mayoral-elec...
Mayoral elect makes history, details goals
Joi Washington, a born and raised Philly native, will soon be sworn in to replace fellow Democrat Bob McMahon after his three-decade career as mayor of Media. Washington has been a member of the Media...
shpantherpress.com
December 22, 2025 at 8:44 PM
New article from Strath Haven High School's Panther Press!
Support your local future journalists!
shpantherpress.com/mayoral-elec...
Support your local future journalists!
shpantherpress.com/mayoral-elec...
Reposted by Josh Kepner
Radical bearded cleric issues new fatwa -->
December 22, 2025 at 7:45 PM
Radical bearded cleric issues new fatwa -->
Reposted by Josh Kepner
For Christmas the east coast gets energy scarcity
Burgum: "Today we're sending notifications to the 5 large offshore wind projects that are under construction that their leases will be suspended due to national security concerns ... the Dept of War has come back conclusively that these large offshore wind programs create radar interference"
December 22, 2025 at 2:59 PM
For Christmas the east coast gets energy scarcity
Reposted by Josh Kepner
New Zealand just recorded its first-ever day of zero coal- or gas-fired electricity. In fact two days, 20 & 21 December. (Still some co-gen, about 1.8%.)
December 21, 2025 at 9:36 PM
New Zealand just recorded its first-ever day of zero coal- or gas-fired electricity. In fact two days, 20 & 21 December. (Still some co-gen, about 1.8%.)
Reposted by Josh Kepner
A little reminder that the idea that US LNG exports are some sort of heroic global climate solution is laughable and you should literally film yourself laughing at anyone who says this and send them the footage
Australia's government always pushes the 'our fossil fuels are cleaner than everyone else's' line but their own documents show that emissions intensity is the same as the global average, and worse than Qatar, PNG
December 21, 2025 at 8:57 PM
A little reminder that the idea that US LNG exports are some sort of heroic global climate solution is laughable and you should literally film yourself laughing at anyone who says this and send them the footage