policyfolk
@policyfolk.bsky.social
Policy: mostly urbanism, housing, mobility, but also economic, social, science, health, and technolog. Reluctant geopolitics observer, mostly internal western with a focus on Ukraine.
Reposted by policyfolk
The Saudis are meeting with Trump tomorrow. There is a lot they want from the US govt. And they have been enriching Trump and his family over the past several months with one deal after another to make sure they get it. Something tells me they will get what they want.
November 17, 2025 at 2:10 PM
The Saudis are meeting with Trump tomorrow. There is a lot they want from the US govt. And they have been enriching Trump and his family over the past several months with one deal after another to make sure they get it. Something tells me they will get what they want.
Reposted by policyfolk
There has never been a clearer example of the fact that we do not have a legislature in the United States right now. Trump tells them to vote no, so they all vote no. Then Trump changes his mind and they all change their votes. That is autocracy. Vote them out!
November 17, 2025 at 9:06 PM
There has never been a clearer example of the fact that we do not have a legislature in the United States right now. Trump tells them to vote no, so they all vote no. Then Trump changes his mind and they all change their votes. That is autocracy. Vote them out!
Reposted by policyfolk
For those wondering:
Years ago, I borrowed “Fietser” from Dutch 🇳🇱 and introduced it into English. It helps distinguish those biking for transportation from those cycling for sport.
Fietser: Bikes for transportation.
Cyclist: Bikes for sport/exercise.
Years ago, I borrowed “Fietser” from Dutch 🇳🇱 and introduced it into English. It helps distinguish those biking for transportation from those cycling for sport.
Fietser: Bikes for transportation.
Cyclist: Bikes for sport/exercise.
November 17, 2025 at 8:16 PM
For those wondering:
Years ago, I borrowed “Fietser” from Dutch 🇳🇱 and introduced it into English. It helps distinguish those biking for transportation from those cycling for sport.
Fietser: Bikes for transportation.
Cyclist: Bikes for sport/exercise.
Years ago, I borrowed “Fietser” from Dutch 🇳🇱 and introduced it into English. It helps distinguish those biking for transportation from those cycling for sport.
Fietser: Bikes for transportation.
Cyclist: Bikes for sport/exercise.
Reposted by policyfolk
“Automobile industry analysts say that manufacturers are attracted to high profit margins from SUVs: they can make more money from SUVs even tho they make fewer vehicles.”
"If ranked among countries, the global fleet of SUVs would be the world's 5th largest emitter of CO2…”
We all pay the costs.
"If ranked among countries, the global fleet of SUVs would be the world's 5th largest emitter of CO2…”
We all pay the costs.
November 17, 2025 at 6:40 PM
“Automobile industry analysts say that manufacturers are attracted to high profit margins from SUVs: they can make more money from SUVs even tho they make fewer vehicles.”
"If ranked among countries, the global fleet of SUVs would be the world's 5th largest emitter of CO2…”
We all pay the costs.
"If ranked among countries, the global fleet of SUVs would be the world's 5th largest emitter of CO2…”
We all pay the costs.
Reposted by policyfolk
“What we’ve already seen of the Epstein emails offers a remarkable window into the bipartisan decadence and depravity of many of our elites. Democrats should run against not just Trump and the GOP, but against elites in general in 2026, and I dare say in 2028.”
www.thebulwark.com/p/trumps-eps...
www.thebulwark.com/p/trumps-eps...
Trump’s Epstein Humiliation Grows
The president saw defeat and ran. But that doesn’t mean the fight over releasing the files is over.
www.thebulwark.com
November 17, 2025 at 6:32 PM
“What we’ve already seen of the Epstein emails offers a remarkable window into the bipartisan decadence and depravity of many of our elites. Democrats should run against not just Trump and the GOP, but against elites in general in 2026, and I dare say in 2028.”
www.thebulwark.com/p/trumps-eps...
www.thebulwark.com/p/trumps-eps...
Reposted by policyfolk
Ontario to spend money to rip out bike lanes and speed cameras to disconnect people and hurt school children. 🙌
The Netherlands is to invest up to €1 billion in cycling infrastructure to connect hundreds of thousands of new homes nationwide.
Read more: zagdaily.com/trends/dutch...
Read more: zagdaily.com/trends/dutch...
November 17, 2025 at 5:42 PM
Ontario to spend money to rip out bike lanes and speed cameras to disconnect people and hurt school children. 🙌
Reposted by policyfolk
Vancouver wins "Least Worst Public Transit" award ninth year in a row
Vancouver wins "Least Worst Public Transit" award ninth year in a row
NEW WESTMINSTER, B.C. - For the ninth year in a row, celebrations were held at TransLink headquarters after Metro Vancouver won the “Least Worst Public Transit” award from the International Associatio...
www.thebeaverton.com
November 17, 2025 at 3:02 PM
Vancouver wins "Least Worst Public Transit" award ninth year in a row
Reposted by policyfolk
Parking! In the wknd Toronto Star I write about what to do with our underused parking lots & garages. New data shows lots profound emptiness. There’s more efficient & useful possibilities. City is already building some housing, but NIMBYs are protesting just as the sun rises. Ignore em & go harder.
Shawn Micallef: Let’s fix it: Toronto has more underused parking lots than you’d think. Here’s how to use them better
The subject of parking still seems to drive a lot of what happens in Toronto politics, but the underused lots around the city could be put to better use.
www.thestar.com
November 16, 2025 at 3:40 PM
Parking! In the wknd Toronto Star I write about what to do with our underused parking lots & garages. New data shows lots profound emptiness. There’s more efficient & useful possibilities. City is already building some housing, but NIMBYs are protesting just as the sun rises. Ignore em & go harder.
Reposted by policyfolk
Almost everywhere in the City of Toronto has fewer people that it did 50 years ago
November 15, 2025 at 9:48 PM
Almost everywhere in the City of Toronto has fewer people that it did 50 years ago
Reposted by policyfolk
@assaadrazzouk.bsky.social:
“Globally, renewables overtook coal in the electricity mix for the 1st time on record, up 7.7% in 1st half of 2025
Their share increased to 34.3%, up from 32.7% in the same period last y
Coal’s share dropped to 33.1% from 34.2%
Global gas generation also fell 0.2%”
“Globally, renewables overtook coal in the electricity mix for the 1st time on record, up 7.7% in 1st half of 2025
Their share increased to 34.3%, up from 32.7% in the same period last y
Coal’s share dropped to 33.1% from 34.2%
Global gas generation also fell 0.2%”
November 15, 2025 at 1:00 PM
@assaadrazzouk.bsky.social:
“Globally, renewables overtook coal in the electricity mix for the 1st time on record, up 7.7% in 1st half of 2025
Their share increased to 34.3%, up from 32.7% in the same period last y
Coal’s share dropped to 33.1% from 34.2%
Global gas generation also fell 0.2%”
“Globally, renewables overtook coal in the electricity mix for the 1st time on record, up 7.7% in 1st half of 2025
Their share increased to 34.3%, up from 32.7% in the same period last y
Coal’s share dropped to 33.1% from 34.2%
Global gas generation also fell 0.2%”
Reposted by policyfolk
Delighted to be included in this starter pack by @brenttoderian.bsky.social alongside a stellar cast!
go.bsky.app/UG85GL8
go.bsky.app/UG85GL8
November 15, 2025 at 9:13 PM
Delighted to be included in this starter pack by @brenttoderian.bsky.social alongside a stellar cast!
go.bsky.app/UG85GL8
go.bsky.app/UG85GL8
Reposted by policyfolk
@rarohde.bsky.social:
“Yeah, the IEA thinks wind and solar will only be 12-16% of energy by 2050.
That's the same IEA that consistently, laughably unpredicted solar growth in every forecast they've issued for the last 15 years.
They really don't have much credibility in this context.”
“Yeah, the IEA thinks wind and solar will only be 12-16% of energy by 2050.
That's the same IEA that consistently, laughably unpredicted solar growth in every forecast they've issued for the last 15 years.
They really don't have much credibility in this context.”
November 15, 2025 at 10:13 AM
@rarohde.bsky.social:
“Yeah, the IEA thinks wind and solar will only be 12-16% of energy by 2050.
That's the same IEA that consistently, laughably unpredicted solar growth in every forecast they've issued for the last 15 years.
They really don't have much credibility in this context.”
“Yeah, the IEA thinks wind and solar will only be 12-16% of energy by 2050.
That's the same IEA that consistently, laughably unpredicted solar growth in every forecast they've issued for the last 15 years.
They really don't have much credibility in this context.”
Reposted by policyfolk
Before anyone gets too carried away here.
Anthony Fauci says Marjorie Taylor Greene drove death threats against him
Ex-leader of US Covid response said congresswoman and Fox News sparked ‘credible death threats’ against him and his family
www.theguardian.com
November 15, 2025 at 6:27 PM
Before anyone gets too carried away here.
Reposted by policyfolk
“The rise in high-fronted SUVs poses a clear and growing threat to public safety, especially for children,” states the report. “With no benefit to society, it’s time for lawmakers at all levels to act.” Via @carltonreid.com in @forbes.com.
Cap SUV/truck hood heights. And ban unsafe designs.
Cap SUV/truck hood heights. And ban unsafe designs.
EU Must Cap SUV Hood Heights Urges Report. Crash Test Body Says Not As Simple As That
Higher fronts on cars significantly increase the death rate when pedestrians and cyclists are struck, says new report. EuroNCAP says more complex than that.
www.forbes.com
November 15, 2025 at 7:18 AM
“The rise in high-fronted SUVs poses a clear and growing threat to public safety, especially for children,” states the report. “With no benefit to society, it’s time for lawmakers at all levels to act.” Via @carltonreid.com in @forbes.com.
Cap SUV/truck hood heights. And ban unsafe designs.
Cap SUV/truck hood heights. And ban unsafe designs.
Reposted by policyfolk
Reposted by policyfolk
I just don’t see how we can pretend even for a moment that anything involving our federal government is remotely normal when the president is covering up his involvement in a child sex trafficking ring. Like, what are we doing here
November 15, 2025 at 1:14 AM
I just don’t see how we can pretend even for a moment that anything involving our federal government is remotely normal when the president is covering up his involvement in a child sex trafficking ring. Like, what are we doing here
Reposted by policyfolk
My full story on the “people’s filibuster:” how Ken Sim and the ABC councillors got an earful this week from people opposed to their zero tax increase budget. #vanpoli thetyee.ca/News/2025/11...
The ‘People’s Filibuster’ Comes to Vancouver City Hall | The Tyee
Over 600 people signed up to speak to Mayor Ken Sim’s tax-freeze budget. Most were opposed.
thetyee.ca
November 14, 2025 at 3:53 PM
My full story on the “people’s filibuster:” how Ken Sim and the ABC councillors got an earful this week from people opposed to their zero tax increase budget. #vanpoli thetyee.ca/News/2025/11...
Reposted by policyfolk
In the global electrification race China is marching ahead.
The US and Europe risk falling behind clinging on to yesterday's technologies.
The US and Europe risk falling behind clinging on to yesterday's technologies.
November 14, 2025 at 1:51 PM
In the global electrification race China is marching ahead.
The US and Europe risk falling behind clinging on to yesterday's technologies.
The US and Europe risk falling behind clinging on to yesterday's technologies.
Reposted by policyfolk
{gift link} www.nytimes.com/2025/11/13/u...
November 13, 2025 at 7:44 PM
{gift link} www.nytimes.com/2025/11/13/u...
Reposted by policyfolk
The attack on Kyiv continues 🙏
November 13, 2025 at 11:13 PM
The attack on Kyiv continues 🙏
Reposted by policyfolk
It’s wild watching the right melt down again over Hillary’s yoga emails…literal schedules, stretches, and family stuff…when what we should be talking about are Jeffrey Epstein’s emails about Donald and underage girls. Also a good time to point out that Hillary got 3 million more votes than Donald.
November 13, 2025 at 11:16 PM
It’s wild watching the right melt down again over Hillary’s yoga emails…literal schedules, stretches, and family stuff…when what we should be talking about are Jeffrey Epstein’s emails about Donald and underage girls. Also a good time to point out that Hillary got 3 million more votes than Donald.
Reposted by policyfolk
you could fact check this — there aren’t 30 million illegal immigrants and there is no evidence that the presence of an immigrant in say houston has any impact on housing in madison, wisconsin — or you could note straightforwardly that this is just nazi rhetoric
JD Vance: "A lot of young people are saying housing is way too expensive. Why is that? Because we flooded the country with 30 million illegal immigrants who were taking houses that ought by right go to American citizens."
November 13, 2025 at 10:12 PM
you could fact check this — there aren’t 30 million illegal immigrants and there is no evidence that the presence of an immigrant in say houston has any impact on housing in madison, wisconsin — or you could note straightforwardly that this is just nazi rhetoric
Reposted by policyfolk
It's not always the Russians but man is it weird how often it's the Russians
November 13, 2025 at 1:11 AM
It's not always the Russians but man is it weird how often it's the Russians
Reposted by policyfolk
The Republican president is a pedophile who has doubled my healthcare costs and let scores of violent criminals out of jail. But a Democratic mayor-elect wants to make busses free in a city I don't live in. I have never felt more politically homeless.
November 13, 2025 at 12:47 PM
The Republican president is a pedophile who has doubled my healthcare costs and let scores of violent criminals out of jail. But a Democratic mayor-elect wants to make busses free in a city I don't live in. I have never felt more politically homeless.