Matthew Lewis is ready for progressive federalism
@mateosfo.bsky.social
I make things, including bike rides, state housing laws, bread, and trouble. Quality varies with rainfall, political winds, and tire pressure. Run comms at @cayimby for the love of cities.
Pinned
Today on Volts: you may have noticed that some climate/energy types (like me) have become obsessed with housing & urban land use lately. Why? Why are they climate issues? What's the connection? The great @mateosfo.bsky.social and I attempt to answer those questions.
Why housing is a pass/fail question for climate
Housing is a climate issue we can't afford to ignore — Matthew Lewis explains why.
www.volts.wtf
This was a lot of fun, both because we covered a lot of topics and because David and I have known each other so long and so the conversation flowed.
But the whole tl;dr of the thing is:
Housing policy is (still) climate policy. And the climate movement should do more to acknowledge this, IMO.
But the whole tl;dr of the thing is:
Housing policy is (still) climate policy. And the climate movement should do more to acknowledge this, IMO.
Reposted by Matthew Lewis is ready for progressive federalism
TIL that people in Louisiana and Florida pay more for home and car insurance than they spend on food
www.moneygeek.com/insurance/au...
www.moneygeek.com/insurance/au...
Home and Auto Insurance Burden: Up to 18.4% of Pay
Americans pay 2% to 18% of their income for home and auto insurance. See where your state ranks and why geography affects costs more than your driving record.
www.moneygeek.com
November 15, 2025 at 2:52 AM
TIL that people in Louisiana and Florida pay more for home and car insurance than they spend on food
www.moneygeek.com/insurance/au...
www.moneygeek.com/insurance/au...
Reposted by Matthew Lewis is ready for progressive federalism
![4-panel vertical comic. (1) 100 Years Ago [two people standing next to bicycle with small car nearby] PERSON 1: It’s too dangerous riding a bike with these cars around. I should get a car, too. (2) 50 Years Ago [two people between smaller car and bigger car] PERSON 2 with short hair: Small cars are less safe in collisions with larger vehicles, so I should get a bigger one. (3) Today [two people between big car and even bigger car] PERSON 1: Everyone has huge SUVs now. If I don’t get the biggest one, I’m putting my family at risk. (4) Soon [two people next to large armored car with spiked clubs attached] PERSON 2: If I don’t install more whirling spike clubs, I’ll be destroyed by all the other drivers who...](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:cz73r7iyiqn26upot4jtjdhk/bafkreiby6can6k76yzfmv2czxs4pu2l7zie7bqbrpswi7h3ifmiadkuqvu@jpeg)
Reposted by Matthew Lewis is ready for progressive federalism
Got a new story up, a profile of CA state senator and congressional candidate Scott Wiener, and a whole bunch of state housing politics and policy—to me, the totalizing political issue right now. Get people cheap housing near jobs and you fix *a lot*. www.motherjones.com/politics/202...
Scott Wiener defeated California’s NIMBYs. Can he fix America’s housing crisis?
By running for Nancy Pelosi's House seat, he's putting the abundance theory to the test.
www.motherjones.com
November 14, 2025 at 7:49 PM
Got a new story up, a profile of CA state senator and congressional candidate Scott Wiener, and a whole bunch of state housing politics and policy—to me, the totalizing political issue right now. Get people cheap housing near jobs and you fix *a lot*. www.motherjones.com/politics/202...
Lots of buzz about the "affordability agenda," and how we get there.
Well, this is it. Housing and transport are most of the cost of living for most people. We can make it expensive, or we can make it affordable.
“The big difference is commuting. You don’t need a car.” apnews.com/article/hous...
Well, this is it. Housing and transport are most of the cost of living for most people. We can make it expensive, or we can make it affordable.
“The big difference is commuting. You don’t need a car.” apnews.com/article/hous...
No car? No problem. Building apartments near public transit could help address the housing crisis
Quantavia Smith, who was often homeless for a decade, now has a studio apartment in Los Angeles with easy access to public transit.
apnews.com
November 14, 2025 at 11:22 PM
Lots of buzz about the "affordability agenda," and how we get there.
Well, this is it. Housing and transport are most of the cost of living for most people. We can make it expensive, or we can make it affordable.
“The big difference is commuting. You don’t need a car.” apnews.com/article/hous...
Well, this is it. Housing and transport are most of the cost of living for most people. We can make it expensive, or we can make it affordable.
“The big difference is commuting. You don’t need a car.” apnews.com/article/hous...
Reposted by Matthew Lewis is ready for progressive federalism
A blog post about my article (follow my substack if you mostly want me to send you links whenever I write something urbanism-related for The Economist): danielknowles.substack.com/p/the-rise-o...
The rise of the e-bike dad
(And of course of the e-bike mum, too)
danielknowles.substack.com
November 14, 2025 at 9:13 PM
A blog post about my article (follow my substack if you mostly want me to send you links whenever I write something urbanism-related for The Economist): danielknowles.substack.com/p/the-rise-o...
For anyone who's ever driven on a freeway anywhere, but especially California, this is gonna be wild:
"Waymo will stay at or below 65 miles per hour, but sometimes it might go to say, 68.”
That's either not accurate, or Waymo is about to become the most hated cars in the Bay Area. t.co/yDxKws6u34
"Waymo will stay at or below 65 miles per hour, but sometimes it might go to say, 68.”
That's either not accurate, or Waymo is about to become the most hated cars in the Bay Area. t.co/yDxKws6u34
https://www.mercurynews.com/2025/11/12/u-s-first-mountain-view-robotaxi-waymo-bay-area-freeways/?clearUserState=true
t.co
November 14, 2025 at 9:23 PM
For anyone who's ever driven on a freeway anywhere, but especially California, this is gonna be wild:
"Waymo will stay at or below 65 miles per hour, but sometimes it might go to say, 68.”
That's either not accurate, or Waymo is about to become the most hated cars in the Bay Area. t.co/yDxKws6u34
"Waymo will stay at or below 65 miles per hour, but sometimes it might go to say, 68.”
That's either not accurate, or Waymo is about to become the most hated cars in the Bay Area. t.co/yDxKws6u34
Reposted by Matthew Lewis is ready for progressive federalism
California's main policy goal for the next decade should be to strip as much governing authority away from Los Angeles as possible.
November 14, 2025 at 8:25 AM
California's main policy goal for the next decade should be to strip as much governing authority away from Los Angeles as possible.
really hate illinois nazis
faith leaders and demonstrators tried to take beach street, which has been shut down to car traffic for weeks.
immediately, cook county sheriff’s police, state police, and broadview pd moved in to aggressively tackle clergy, drag protesters across the ground and arrest at least 3-4 people.
immediately, cook county sheriff’s police, state police, and broadview pd moved in to aggressively tackle clergy, drag protesters across the ground and arrest at least 3-4 people.
November 14, 2025 at 5:46 PM
really hate illinois nazis
Reposted by Matthew Lewis is ready for progressive federalism
Ultimately the problem is this: the paper is controlled not by scrupulous reporters but by a clique of Leonhardt types, who surround themselves with chattering class nitwits, cogitate on the news mostly through insular group chats and similar, and always think the GOP has at least half a point
November 13, 2025 at 5:40 PM
Ultimately the problem is this: the paper is controlled not by scrupulous reporters but by a clique of Leonhardt types, who surround themselves with chattering class nitwits, cogitate on the news mostly through insular group chats and similar, and always think the GOP has at least half a point
Reposted by Matthew Lewis is ready for progressive federalism
I’m fine conceding that a bunch of nebulously incriminating Epstein statements do not a story make, but in that case neither does the Biden Parkinson’s nonsense, or literally any component of the various Clinton/Wikileaks pseudo-scandals, or tons of other right-wing stuff the paper has laundered
November 13, 2025 at 5:36 PM
I’m fine conceding that a bunch of nebulously incriminating Epstein statements do not a story make, but in that case neither does the Biden Parkinson’s nonsense, or literally any component of the various Clinton/Wikileaks pseudo-scandals, or tons of other right-wing stuff the paper has laundered
Reposted by Matthew Lewis is ready for progressive federalism
It’s clear when the paper’s Politics Knowers think something is important, journalistic standards are no obstacle. They find a way to get that thing on the front page nonstop, whether it’s “reporting the controversy,” repeating right-wing info dumps, or meta-coverage of how it’s affecting politics
November 13, 2025 at 5:33 PM
It’s clear when the paper’s Politics Knowers think something is important, journalistic standards are no obstacle. They find a way to get that thing on the front page nonstop, whether it’s “reporting the controversy,” repeating right-wing info dumps, or meta-coverage of how it’s affecting politics
Finally, a confession from a former NY Times reporter:
They have two standards -- one for info that may hurt Democrats (publish ASAP, front page, above fold, without context or corroborating evidence); and another for info that may hurt Republicans (don't publish, and if you get caught, deflect).
They have two standards -- one for info that may hurt Democrats (publish ASAP, front page, above fold, without context or corroborating evidence); and another for info that may hurt Republicans (don't publish, and if you get caught, deflect).
As a former member of NYT’s finance team & the co-author of this story exposing the relationship between Epstein & Bill Gates as well as one on Epstein & JPMorgan, I am really frustrated to see people claiming that NYT sat on publishable info about Trump and Epstein 🧵 www.nytimes.com/2019/10/12/b...
Bill Gates Met With Jeffrey Epstein Many Times, Despite His Past (Published 2019)
www.nytimes.com
November 13, 2025 at 8:23 PM
Finally, a confession from a former NY Times reporter:
They have two standards -- one for info that may hurt Democrats (publish ASAP, front page, above fold, without context or corroborating evidence); and another for info that may hurt Republicans (don't publish, and if you get caught, deflect).
They have two standards -- one for info that may hurt Democrats (publish ASAP, front page, above fold, without context or corroborating evidence); and another for info that may hurt Republicans (don't publish, and if you get caught, deflect).
While we're watching and waiting to see if the AI bubble is gonna burst, a reminder that there is actually a way to recession-proof the U.S. economy and it doesn't require anything except ...
... defeating the NIMBYs, and letting Americans live where they want to live.
... defeating the NIMBYs, and letting Americans live where they want to live.
November 13, 2025 at 7:44 PM
While we're watching and waiting to see if the AI bubble is gonna burst, a reminder that there is actually a way to recession-proof the U.S. economy and it doesn't require anything except ...
... defeating the NIMBYs, and letting Americans live where they want to live.
... defeating the NIMBYs, and letting Americans live where they want to live.
When Kelly left Fox News in 2017, NBC scooped her up -- for $15 million a year -- and gave her her own show.
Our entire political media apparatus is broken.
Our entire political media apparatus is broken.
Here's Republican Megyn Kelly defending men who rape 15-year-old girls. Megyn Kelly has a 14-year-old DAUGHTER.
Megyn Kelly: "I know somebody very close to this case…Jeffrey Epstein, in this person's view, was not a pedophile…He was into the barely legal type, like he liked 15 year old girls…He wasn't into like 8 year olds…There's a difference between a 15 year old and a 5 year old."
November 13, 2025 at 7:05 PM
When Kelly left Fox News in 2017, NBC scooped her up -- for $15 million a year -- and gave her her own show.
Our entire political media apparatus is broken.
Our entire political media apparatus is broken.
The biggest climate failure of modern U.S. policy was also most harmful thing the federal
government has done to Americans this century.
We lavished money on the leading cause of pollution, violent death, injury, hospitalization, disease, and municipal bankruptcy.
And we call it "infrastructure."
government has done to Americans this century.
We lavished money on the leading cause of pollution, violent death, injury, hospitalization, disease, and municipal bankruptcy.
And we call it "infrastructure."
After the law went into effect, we find that it produced a major boost in spending on streets/highway-related investment, adjusted for inflation.
But spending on non-streets/highway investment, like rail transit, flatlined. States & cities *reduced* spending on rail transit after the law passed.
But spending on non-streets/highway investment, like rail transit, flatlined. States & cities *reduced* spending on rail transit after the law passed.
November 13, 2025 at 6:57 PM
The biggest climate failure of modern U.S. policy was also most harmful thing the federal
government has done to Americans this century.
We lavished money on the leading cause of pollution, violent death, injury, hospitalization, disease, and municipal bankruptcy.
And we call it "infrastructure."
government has done to Americans this century.
We lavished money on the leading cause of pollution, violent death, injury, hospitalization, disease, and municipal bankruptcy.
And we call it "infrastructure."
Reposted by Matthew Lewis is ready for progressive federalism
The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law passed 4 years ago. In new research @urbaninstitute.bsky.social we study its effects.
US transport spending increased by 30%, but:
—Funding for non-highway projects flatlined
—Construction cost increases resulted in no actual increase in infrastructure
US transport spending increased by 30%, but:
—Funding for non-highway projects flatlined
—Construction cost increases resulted in no actual increase in infrastructure
Federal Infrastructure Spending on Transportation, Four Years after the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act
The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law is up for reauthorization in 2026. New analysis shows that the act increased spending on transportation infrastructure, but…
www.urban.org
November 12, 2025 at 5:32 PM
The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law passed 4 years ago. In new research @urbaninstitute.bsky.social we study its effects.
US transport spending increased by 30%, but:
—Funding for non-highway projects flatlined
—Construction cost increases resulted in no actual increase in infrastructure
US transport spending increased by 30%, but:
—Funding for non-highway projects flatlined
—Construction cost increases resulted in no actual increase in infrastructure
oh wow, nobody could have predicted that in a county governed by the car industry, whose local, state, and national governments mostly exist to subsidize and mandate driving and car ownership, and whose carmakers churn out massive, deadly, polluting, insanely expensive tanks,,,,
US CAR LOAN DELINQUENCIES SURGE AS SUBPRIME 60-DAY DEFAULTS HIT RECORD 6.65% — HIGHEST SINCE 1994 (FITCH)
November 13, 2025 at 6:53 PM
oh wow, nobody could have predicted that in a county governed by the car industry, whose local, state, and national governments mostly exist to subsidize and mandate driving and car ownership, and whose carmakers churn out massive, deadly, polluting, insanely expensive tanks,,,,
Reposted by Matthew Lewis is ready for progressive federalism
The Republican Party, ladies and gentlemen
Megyn Kelly: "I know somebody very close to this case…Jeffrey Epstein, in this person's view, was not a pedophile…He was into the barely legal type, like he liked 15 year old girls…He wasn't into like 8 year olds…There's a difference between a 15 year old and a 5 year old."
November 13, 2025 at 6:44 PM
The Republican Party, ladies and gentlemen
Reposted by Matthew Lewis is ready for progressive federalism
amazing having a city hall that is actually representative of the demographics of the city, and not just wealthy older homeowners and businesses with bad politics
November 13, 2025 at 5:07 PM
amazing having a city hall that is actually representative of the demographics of the city, and not just wealthy older homeowners and businesses with bad politics
It's astonishing that in the same month that California's "climate" regulator cancels it's most popular and effective transportation program (e-bike subsidizes), this article comes out about how California families are using e-bikes to replace cars and save money.
Someone needs to expose CARB.
Someone needs to expose CARB.
This week I wrote about the rise of the e-bike dad - this piece was originally going to run alongside the story I did in September about the bike boom in general, and we didn't have space in print, but here it is:
www.economist.com/united-state...
www.economist.com/united-state...
Parents on e-bikes are transforming the school run
They’re smug, snug and often faster than drivers
www.economist.com
November 13, 2025 at 4:47 PM
It's astonishing that in the same month that California's "climate" regulator cancels it's most popular and effective transportation program (e-bike subsidizes), this article comes out about how California families are using e-bikes to replace cars and save money.
Someone needs to expose CARB.
Someone needs to expose CARB.
Reposted by Matthew Lewis is ready for progressive federalism
This week I wrote about the rise of the e-bike dad - this piece was originally going to run alongside the story I did in September about the bike boom in general, and we didn't have space in print, but here it is:
www.economist.com/united-state...
www.economist.com/united-state...
Parents on e-bikes are transforming the school run
They’re smug, snug and often faster than drivers
www.economist.com
November 13, 2025 at 2:34 PM
This week I wrote about the rise of the e-bike dad - this piece was originally going to run alongside the story I did in September about the bike boom in general, and we didn't have space in print, but here it is:
www.economist.com/united-state...
www.economist.com/united-state...
man this is so depressing and was also totally predictable.
why do we keep doing this.
"We find an increase in transportation investment, concentrated among highway projects. Overall public transit capital spending flatlined; rail projects experienced a net decline." www.urban.org/research/pub...
why do we keep doing this.
"We find an increase in transportation investment, concentrated among highway projects. Overall public transit capital spending flatlined; rail projects experienced a net decline." www.urban.org/research/pub...
Federal Infrastructure Spending on Transportation, Four Years after the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act
The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law is up for reauthorization in 2026. New analysis shows that the act increased spending on transportation infrastructure, but…
www.urban.org
November 13, 2025 at 5:08 AM
man this is so depressing and was also totally predictable.
why do we keep doing this.
"We find an increase in transportation investment, concentrated among highway projects. Overall public transit capital spending flatlined; rail projects experienced a net decline." www.urban.org/research/pub...
why do we keep doing this.
"We find an increase in transportation investment, concentrated among highway projects. Overall public transit capital spending flatlined; rail projects experienced a net decline." www.urban.org/research/pub...
appropos of going outside daily, I have to note that drivers have just absolutely and completely lost their minds. I'm amazed that it has, somehow, gotten continually worse
why do drivers do this to themselves. just in full psychopathic rage all the time, everywhere
why do drivers do this to themselves. just in full psychopathic rage all the time, everywhere
November 13, 2025 at 12:37 AM
appropos of going outside daily, I have to note that drivers have just absolutely and completely lost their minds. I'm amazed that it has, somehow, gotten continually worse
why do drivers do this to themselves. just in full psychopathic rage all the time, everywhere
why do drivers do this to themselves. just in full psychopathic rage all the time, everywhere
Reposted by Matthew Lewis is ready for progressive federalism
BTW, a 2021 Carnie Mellon study found that ridehail's arrival in a new city *increases* car ownership.
The reason: Few residents ditch their car, while some become ridehail drivers and buy vehicles.
www.cell.com/iscience/ful...
The reason: Few residents ditch their car, while some become ridehail drivers and buy vehicles.
www.cell.com/iscience/ful...
November 12, 2025 at 8:34 PM
BTW, a 2021 Carnie Mellon study found that ridehail's arrival in a new city *increases* car ownership.
The reason: Few residents ditch their car, while some become ridehail drivers and buy vehicles.
www.cell.com/iscience/ful...
The reason: Few residents ditch their car, while some become ridehail drivers and buy vehicles.
www.cell.com/iscience/ful...