David Roberts
@volts.wtf
I run a newsletter/podcast called Volts about clean energy & politics. Subscribe & join the community at http://volts.wtf!
Good reminder that the @seattletimes.com is full of reactionary garbage.
Seattle Times' business columnist is having a normal one. (From comments on a gracious post about a potential Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson by former mayor Greg Nickels).
November 11, 2025 at 6:45 PM
Good reminder that the @seattletimes.com is full of reactionary garbage.
Last night I watched this documentary about Lilith Fair & it made me a little sad. They created a little bubble of good vibes, love, tolerance, & safety, & for a while it was a beautiful thing, but the world is full of misogynist assholes who can't allow beauty to exist free of their control.
Lilith Fair: Building a Mystery - The Untold Story
Drawing on over 600 hours of never-seen footage, this is the untold underdog story of Lilith Fair, the women's music festival of the late 90s.
www.hulu.com
November 11, 2025 at 6:07 PM
Last night I watched this documentary about Lilith Fair & it made me a little sad. They created a little bubble of good vibes, love, tolerance, & safety, & for a while it was a beautiful thing, but the world is full of misogynist assholes who can't allow beauty to exist free of their control.
If you're looking around thinking "if Trump & the Republicans cause enough suffering, there will be backlash & accountability," I would direct your attention to the UK. Hard to think of any country in history so clearly, demonstrably, theatrically fucked by a single party ... and yet.
The thing to understand about this is that this catastrophe in the UK has redounded to the political benefit of the very same people and political movement that pushed for it! Extremely perverse.
I wonder if the United States can learn anything from the last time a major industrialized country decided to isolate itself from the rest of the world?
Almost a decade after the Brexit vote, GDP in the UK is around 6-8% lower relative to peer countries. (Source: www.nber.org/papers/w34459)
Almost a decade after the Brexit vote, GDP in the UK is around 6-8% lower relative to peer countries. (Source: www.nber.org/papers/w34459)
November 11, 2025 at 5:46 PM
If you're looking around thinking "if Trump & the Republicans cause enough suffering, there will be backlash & accountability," I would direct your attention to the UK. Hard to think of any country in history so clearly, demonstrably, theatrically fucked by a single party ... and yet.
Nothing good & pure can survive in American capitalism.
What a thrill to be part of @talkingpointsmemo.com's series about the past 25 years of digital media! I wrote about why private equity goons destroyed Deadspin and why it matters.
There Are No Weird Blogs Anymore Cause It’s More Fruitful to Drive Them Out of Business
I learned many surprising lessons from my 20 months as editor-in-chief of...
talkingpointsmemo.com
November 11, 2025 at 5:42 PM
Nothing good & pure can survive in American capitalism.
Still thinking about this story. Imagine how cooked your brain has to be on Fox News -- how terrified you have to be, every day in your isolated suburban castle -- to start *shooting* when you see brown people at your door, before the door is even open. We're such a nation of terrified cowards.
Cleaning worker who mistakenly went to wrong home fatally shot: Police
The shooting victim died from a gunshot wound to the head, the coroner's office said.
abcnews.go.com
November 11, 2025 at 5:38 PM
Still thinking about this story. Imagine how cooked your brain has to be on Fox News -- how terrified you have to be, every day in your isolated suburban castle -- to start *shooting* when you see brown people at your door, before the door is even open. We're such a nation of terrified cowards.
I think, of all the slides in this report, this is the most important -- it's really worth examining closely. This illustrates why the triumph of electrotechnical is inevitable.
November 11, 2025 at 5:25 PM
I think, of all the slides in this report, this is the most important -- it's really worth examining closely. This illustrates why the triumph of electrotechnical is inevitable.
Literally all this man does is complain.
Trump: "If we die, we must die and we as men we die without complaining."
November 11, 2025 at 5:21 PM
Literally all this man does is complain.
Finally it will be clear to people that Republicans oppose Obamacare.
Kaine on why he thinks just getting a vote on healthcare is a win: "We're the minority party, but everybody will get to see who is standing for them when it comes to lowering their healthcare costs"
November 11, 2025 at 4:57 PM
Finally it will be clear to people that Republicans oppose Obamacare.
Reposted by David Roberts
NEW from me: CO2 emissions in China have now been flat or falling for 18 months, the first time that energy demand growth at or above historical averages doesn't drive emissions up, thanks to the clean energy boom. 🧵👇
🇨🇳 📰 NEW | Analysis: #China’s #CO2 #emissions have now been flat or falling for 18 months
www.carbonbrief.org/analysis-chinas-co2-emissions-have-now-been-flat-or-falling-for-18-months/
@laurimyllyvirta.bsky.social w/ @carbonbrief.org
www.carbonbrief.org/analysis-chinas-co2-emissions-have-now-been-flat-or-falling-for-18-months/
@laurimyllyvirta.bsky.social w/ @carbonbrief.org
November 11, 2025 at 6:35 AM
NEW from me: CO2 emissions in China have now been flat or falling for 18 months, the first time that energy demand growth at or above historical averages doesn't drive emissions up, thanks to the clean energy boom. 🧵👇
"Fossil demand has been flat for industrial energy since 2014, for buildings since 2018, for road transport since 2019, & may peak for electricity this year. 2/3 of countries have already seen peak fossil demand in end-use sectors, & half the world has seen a peak in fossil fuels for electricity."
The Electrotech Revolution | Ember
The annual slidedeck from Kingsmill Bond and the Ember Futures team unpacks how electrotech is rewriting the economics and geopolitics of energy.
ember-energy.org
November 11, 2025 at 6:02 AM
"Fossil demand has been flat for industrial energy since 2014, for buildings since 2018, for road transport since 2019, & may peak for electricity this year. 2/3 of countries have already seen peak fossil demand in end-use sectors, & half the world has seen a peak in fossil fuels for electricity."
Reposted by David Roberts
Seattle's Mamdani is winning by an absurdly small margin over our incumbent mayor, who once pulled a gun on a pregnant woman in a parking lot.
Vote in your local elections!
www.thestranger.com/news/2025/11...
Vote in your local elections!
www.thestranger.com/news/2025/11...
November 11, 2025 at 1:35 AM
Seattle's Mamdani is winning by an absurdly small margin over our incumbent mayor, who once pulled a gun on a pregnant woman in a parking lot.
Vote in your local elections!
www.thestranger.com/news/2025/11...
Vote in your local elections!
www.thestranger.com/news/2025/11...
Love this. So wholesome.
This is great 😂 (via oasistx/IG) #whitneyhouston #challenge #espnsocial
TikTok video by ESPN
www.tiktok.com
November 10, 2025 at 11:03 PM
Love this. So wholesome.
On Wednesday, I am talking to @kingsmillbond.bsky.social of the energy research firm @ember-energy.org about their recent report on the "Electrotech Revolution."
What should I ask him?
What should I ask him?
The Electrotech Revolution | Ember
The annual slidedeck from Kingsmill Bond and the Ember Futures team unpacks how electrotech is rewriting the economics and geopolitics of energy.
ember-energy.org
November 10, 2025 at 9:02 PM
On Wednesday, I am talking to @kingsmillbond.bsky.social of the energy research firm @ember-energy.org about their recent report on the "Electrotech Revolution."
What should I ask him?
What should I ask him?
America's political elite has decided that climate change is no longer that important or worth talking about, but rest assured, it's still happening, it's extremely bad, and yes, it is going to affect you here in America.
What Climate Change Will Do to America by Mid-Century
Many places may become uninhabitable. Many people may be on their own.
www.theatlantic.com
November 10, 2025 at 8:55 PM
America's political elite has decided that climate change is no longer that important or worth talking about, but rest assured, it's still happening, it's extremely bad, and yes, it is going to affect you here in America.
Here's a package of stories I put together in *2010* on abolishing the filibuster. Featuring contributions from, among others, @kagrox.bsky.social, Sen. Tom Udall, and @mattyglesias.bsky.social.
The filibuster sucks for reasons that have been well understood for a long-ass time now.
The filibuster sucks for reasons that have been well understood for a long-ass time now.
Rules of enragement: The filibuster and Senate reform
grist.org
November 10, 2025 at 8:47 PM
Here's a package of stories I put together in *2010* on abolishing the filibuster. Featuring contributions from, among others, @kagrox.bsky.social, Sen. Tom Udall, and @mattyglesias.bsky.social.
The filibuster sucks for reasons that have been well understood for a long-ass time now.
The filibuster sucks for reasons that have been well understood for a long-ass time now.
Abolish the Senate. I am absolutely dead serious.
Shaheen: "We've heard from a number of our colleagues on the other side of the aisle that they're willing to come to the table, they're willing to work with us once the govt is open to get this done. We've heard the same thing from the White House. So now we'll see if they're really gonna work w/us"
November 10, 2025 at 7:40 PM
Abolish the Senate. I am absolutely dead serious.
Reposted by David Roberts
Last week’s election was big: from Georgia to Allegheny County, Dave Roberts and I broke it down on @volts.wtf. 3 big themes: 📊 Turnout: who showed up & who didn't 💸 Affordability (we have real solutions, folks) and 🍃Tea Leaves on what this means for 2026
transcripts.volts.wtf/so-there-wer...
transcripts.volts.wtf/so-there-wer...
So, there were some elections. How'd they go? | Volts
A conversation with Caroline Spears of Climate Cabinet.
transcripts.volts.wtf
November 10, 2025 at 6:45 PM
Last week’s election was big: from Georgia to Allegheny County, Dave Roberts and I broke it down on @volts.wtf. 3 big themes: 📊 Turnout: who showed up & who didn't 💸 Affordability (we have real solutions, folks) and 🍃Tea Leaves on what this means for 2026
transcripts.volts.wtf/so-there-wer...
transcripts.volts.wtf/so-there-wer...
Reposted by David Roberts
It's that time of year! Happy @climatecabinet.org & @volts.wtf Season, everybody!
Today on Volts: as you may have heard, there were some elections last week. How did they go for climate world? To find out, I did my annual check-in with @spears.bsky.social of @climatecabinet.org. I don't want to spoil anything, but folks ... they went well. Really well.
So, there were some elections. How'd they go?
I talk with Caroline Spears about the stunning results in key state and local races and the lessons for 2026.
www.volts.wtf
November 10, 2025 at 5:58 PM
It's that time of year! Happy @climatecabinet.org & @volts.wtf Season, everybody!
Reposted by David Roberts
Caroline @spears.bsky.social is the best! Can't wait to check out this episode.
Today on Volts: as you may have heard, there were some elections last week. How did they go for climate world? To find out, I did my annual check-in with @spears.bsky.social of @climatecabinet.org. I don't want to spoil anything, but folks ... they went well. Really well.
So, there were some elections. How'd they go?
I talk with Caroline Spears about the stunning results in key state and local races and the lessons for 2026.
www.volts.wtf
November 10, 2025 at 6:18 PM
Caroline @spears.bsky.social is the best! Can't wait to check out this episode.
Forgot all about the "mute thread" functionality. Life-saver!
November 10, 2025 at 5:46 PM
Forgot all about the "mute thread" functionality. Life-saver!
Today on Volts: as you may have heard, there were some elections last week. How did they go for climate world? To find out, I did my annual check-in with @spears.bsky.social of @climatecabinet.org. I don't want to spoil anything, but folks ... they went well. Really well.
So, there were some elections. How'd they go?
I talk with Caroline Spears about the stunning results in key state and local races and the lessons for 2026.
www.volts.wtf
November 10, 2025 at 5:22 PM
Today on Volts: as you may have heard, there were some elections last week. How did they go for climate world? To find out, I did my annual check-in with @spears.bsky.social of @climatecabinet.org. I don't want to spoil anything, but folks ... they went well. Really well.
I will just say, having spent a few hours today arguing with the hopeless dipshits in Will's TL, that the reason people don't do this is that it's f'ing miserable. "The economy is terrible & the working class is suffering" is a religious precept & arguing w/ religious zealots is famously unpleasant.
I’m not going to name names but there are a lot of tastemaker accounts who see the crowd being aggressively wrong about something and instead of saying “Yeah, that’s wrong” step in to try to find a way to say “Well here’s why it’s half right.” The imperative is to find a way to agree with the crowd
I agree that this is a social media problem, but who are these big accounts that are to blame? I always had the feeling that the problem was that there were a lot of mutually reinforcing accounts rather than a few big taste makers.
November 9, 2025 at 8:57 PM
I will just say, having spent a few hours today arguing with the hopeless dipshits in Will's TL, that the reason people don't do this is that it's f'ing miserable. "The economy is terrible & the working class is suffering" is a religious precept & arguing w/ religious zealots is famously unpleasant.
Holy shit. This company claims it has developed an air-source heat pump with a COP of *7* (3-5 is considered good). For you non-nerds, that basically means it produces 7 units of heat for every unit of electricity it consumes. How are they doing it? You're not gonna like this answer, but: it's AI.
Fairland COP7 R290 ATW HeatPump - The Future of AI HeatPump
/PRNewswire/ -- As gentle heat wraps around you, you walk barefoot to bathroom and enjoy an instant hot shower—no waiting, no cold shock. Every corner indoors...
www.prnewswire.co.uk
November 9, 2025 at 8:27 PM
Holy shit. This company claims it has developed an air-source heat pump with a COP of *7* (3-5 is considered good). For you non-nerds, that basically means it produces 7 units of heat for every unit of electricity it consumes. How are they doing it? You're not gonna like this answer, but: it's AI.
"Far from a peak, China's gasoline demand is estimated to have fallen 9% in October on the year to 12.5 million tons, with average daily use roughly flat with September..."
China's oil demand is entering structural decline.
China's oil demand is entering structural decline.
EVs put an end to China's usual holiday surge in gasoline use
Tianyu Jiang took a 2,000-km (1,200-mile) road trip this month during China's national holiday week, driving in his electric vehicle from the southwestern Sichuan basin to Beijing for the first time.
www.reuters.com
November 9, 2025 at 8:18 PM
"Far from a peak, China's gasoline demand is estimated to have fallen 9% in October on the year to 12.5 million tons, with average daily use roughly flat with September..."
China's oil demand is entering structural decline.
China's oil demand is entering structural decline.