The hottest Policy Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
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Top U.S. Politics Topics

Prime Time

Doomberg • 6766 implied HN points • 12 Mar 24
🔬 Science Policy
  1. The rise of artificial intelligence (AI) is expected to significantly increase power demand, potentially impacting the journey towards electrifying everything.
  2. The nuclear industry is experiencing a resurgence as evidenced by Amazon's move to power a data center with nuclear energy, reflecting a larger trend of increasing nuclear capacity globally.
  3. There is growing concern about whether the uranium fuel supply chain can meet the demand created by the rapid pivot towards nuclear energy, highlighting the importance of understanding the nuclear fuel cycle.

AI #104: American State Capacity on the Brink

Don't Worry About the Vase • 2240 implied HN points • 20 Feb 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Policy
  1. The U.S. government is planning to fire many employees who work on AI, which could really hurt the country's ability to manage AI-related systems safely.
  2. People are seeing the importance of keeping a strong government presence in AI development to ensure safety and progress, especially concerning national security.
  3. There's a growing concern that changing safety regulations around AI could lead to issues with trust and effectiveness in how AI is used in society.

Biden's Autopens Are a Distraction from the Real Scandal

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 964 implied HN points • 15 Jul 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Policy
  1. Biden used an autopen to sign many pardons, which has sparked a lot of debate. Some people think the focus on the autopen is missing the bigger issues.
  2. He issued a record number of pardons, including some for family and friends, which many view as controversial. Notably, he granted a preemptive pardon to his son, Hunter Biden.
  3. Critics say Biden's actions raise questions about fairness and the justice system, especially since he pardoned some serious offenders. This has led to a lot of discussion about the appropriateness of his decisions.

Defending USAID Is Political Suicide for Democrats

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 2304 implied HN points • 10 Feb 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Policy
  1. Defending USAID could be a risky move for Democrats, especially after a tough election loss. They might need to rethink their approach to avoid alienating voters.
  2. Many voters are frustrated with government bureaucracy and foreign aid spending, which could hurt Democrats politically. USAID, with its large budget, is a prime example of this.
  3. Despite concerns about waste, USAID does provide essential services like health and nutrition aid to those in need. Balancing this may be key for Democrats as they consider their next steps.
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The Truckers Won. Everything.

Anarchonomicon • 1886 implied HN points • 07 Jun 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Policy
  1. The trucker convoy in Canada was extremely successful and led to significant political shifts in a short amount of time.
  2. The actions of the trucker convoy resulted in the government caving on key issues and policies within a week.
  3. This protest demonstrated the power of coordination and initiative among middle-class groups and hinted at larger societal changes.

Useless Partisanship Weakens Necessary Partisanship

Drezner’s World • 1100 implied HN points • 12 Jan 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Policy
  1. Partisanship is important in politics but can become harmful if taken too far, leading to government dysfunction.
  2. Transparency and proper communication are essential in high-ranking government positions, like Secretary of Defense.
  3. Having a functioning opposition party is crucial for proper governance, as it ensures accountability and oversight.

The truth about Big Toilet Paper

HEATED • 1867 implied HN points • 17 Mar 23
🌞 Climate & Environment Policy
  1. Toilet paper production leads to deforestation and significant carbon emissions
  2. Consumer choices and advocacy can drive sustainability in the toilet paper industry
  3. The preference for toilet paper over bidets in America is influenced by historical factors and societal perceptions

Government Science and the Prestige Economy

Richard Hanania's Newsletter • 1219 implied HN points • 14 Jun 25
🔬 Science Policy
  1. Government funding for science is important because there are some types of research that private companies won't invest in, even though they can benefit society. Basic research is valuable, even if it doesn't have immediate economic benefits.
  2. The idea of crowding out suggests that government funding may take talent away from private companies, but research shows that government support often leads to more innovation in the private sector as well.
  3. Prestige economies, which reward knowledge and research, can motivate scientists to do valuable work even if it doesn't yield direct financial gains. This is different from private sector jobs where profit is the main goal.

Old cars and the logic of dispossession

Archedelia • 1336 implied HN points • 11 Dec 23
🎭️ Culture Policy
  1. Cash for clunkers programs aim to remove older cars from the road for environmental benefits.
  2. There is a history of aggressive zoning laws targeting properties with old cars, affecting individuals and businesses.
  3. Prejudice against old cars is deep-rooted in American culture, influenced by aesthetics and notions of progress.

Gaza Humanitarian Foundation's private military contractor hires crisis comms firm led by former Biden and Obama spokespersons

All-Source Intelligence Fusion • 956 implied HN points • 11 Jul 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Policy
  1. A private military contractor named UG Solutions is working on aid distribution in Gaza, but it faces criticism for its connections to military operations.
  2. UG Solutions hired a PR firm led by former government spokespersons to help manage the negative publicity they've received about their actions in Gaza.
  3. There have been reports of violence near UG Solutions' aid sites, raising concerns about the safety and effectiveness of their humanitarian efforts.

Cognitive scientist Gary Marcus says AI must be regulated. He has a plan.

Marcus on AI • 3003 implied HN points • 27 Nov 24
🕹 Technology Policy
  1. AI needs rules and regulations to keep it safe. It is important to have a plan to guide this process.
  2. There is an ongoing debate about how different regions, like the EU and US, approach AI policy. These discussions are crucial for the future of AI.
  3. Experts like Gary Marcus share insights about the challenges and possibilities of AI technology. Listening to their views helps understand AI better.

Trump, Tucker, and the War Tearing Apart MAGA

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 1131 implied HN points • 18 Jun 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Policy
  1. Trump publicly criticized Tucker Carlson, showing tensions within the MAGA movement. It seems like their relationship is not as strong as it once was.
  2. Carlson argued against U.S. involvement in the conflict with Iran, suggesting that Trump is partly responsible for the situation.
  3. There is a growing divide among MAGA supporters regarding foreign policy and their approach to issues like the conflict with Israel and Iran.

The L.A. Times’ Owner Takes the Red Pill. Plus. . .

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 2276 implied HN points • 05 Feb 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Policy
  1. The owner of the L.A. Times has changed his stance, now supporting more conservative views after previously focusing on systemic racism. This shift raises questions about sincerity in media ownership.
  2. There are concerns about how public media, like NPR, has lost trust with many Americans. A CEO is being called to answer for this trust deficit as funding is scrutinized.
  3. Young people are becoming influential in shaping important decisions in America, much to the surprise of older generations. This reflects a historical trend where youth have led cultural and political changes.

👶📉 3 long-shot ways to solve the global baby bust

Faster, Please! • 1096 implied HN points • 25 Jun 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Policy
  1. Governments can't just pay people to have babies. Cultural views on family size have changed, making it hard to encourage larger families this way.
  2. A shrinking workforce doesn't mean a bad economy. In Japan, fewer workers have led to higher wages and better productivity, showing there can be benefits.
  3. For future generations, three ideas could spark more births: a revival of religious communities that encourage larger families, AI making family life easier, and the excitement of space exploration that needs more people.

"Don't Be a Feminist"

Heterodox STEM • 234 implied HN points • 25 Nov 25
🎭️ Culture Policy
  1. Feminism, as commonly used, is the view that society treats men more fairly than women, and the label can be ambiguous because many people who reject the label still support gender equality.
  2. Many measurable gender gaps—especially the earnings gap—often reflect different choices, preferences, or job mixes rather than simple discrimination; for example, the pay gap narrows for single, childless workers and men take more high-pay but unpleasant or risky jobs.
  3. Men also suffer serious harms like riskier work, higher imprisonment and suicide rates, and conscription, and society tends to prioritize protecting women, so both sides have legitimate complaints that are often overstated.

Does it matter where immigrants come from?

ideassleepfuriously • 982 implied HN points • 23 Jan 24
🌍 World Politics Policy
  1. Immigrants' success and impact vary based on their country of origin and culture
  2. European and some Asian immigrants tend to be disproportionately successful in terms of wealth creation and professional achievement
  3. Uncontrolled immigration from non-Western countries can have negative cultural and economic implications

Alone in the Foxhole

Doomberg • 6935 implied HN points • 30 Jan 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Policy
  1. Corporate leaders often seek government support for financial gain.
  2. US primary energy producers face challenges from shifting government policies.
  3. President Biden's pause on LNG export approvals has bipartisan implications.

Why xAI's revenue could be a key indicator of the AI bubble

Alex's Personal Blog • 98 implied HN points • 12 Jan 26
🕹 Technology Policy
  1. xAI’s valuation is astronomically high compared to its current revenue, so whether it can rapidly grow sales will be a key signal of whether AI valuations are a bubble or justified. If xAI can’t scale into that price, investors may have overpaid heavily.
  2. AI labs are aggressively moving into healthcare and developer tooling, and firms are competing to lock customers into their platforms and standards to capture profitable enterprise use cases. These moves show the market is shifting from novelty to revenue-driven battles for control.
  3. A proposed California billionaire tax that treats voting control like ownership could push founders and capital out of the state and weaken Silicon Valley’s position. The policy risks being punitive and may incentivize relocation to lower-tax states.

The Farmer and the Algorithm

Who is Robert Malone • 11 implied HN points • 02 Mar 26
🌞 Climate & Environment Policy
  1. AI is already changing farming by turning satellites, sensors, and models into practical tools that let farmers treat each part of a field differently and monitor crops and soil in real time.
  2. Regenerative agriculture focuses on rebuilding soil health, water retention, and biodiversity, and AI helps by managing local complexity, offering tailored advice and virtual simulations, and enabling cheaper continuous verification so farmers can get paid for real ecological outcomes.
  3. There are real risks — who owns and benefits from farm data, training bias toward wealthy farms, and high technology costs — so fair data governance, accessible financing, and smart policy are needed to prevent widening inequalities.

Monthly Roundup #24: November 2024

Don't Worry About the Vase • 2956 implied HN points • 18 Nov 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Policy
  1. Many college students often make poor choices, like banning paid public toilets, showing they can sometimes lack maturity in decision-making.
  2. Training programs on workplace discrimination might force participants to agree with statements they find absurd, suggesting a problem with coercive speech.
  3. Discrimination can occur based on people's names, with studies showing that hard-to-pronounce names can negatively impact job prospects, showing biases in hiring.

America This Week Livestream Tonight at 8 PM ET/7 PM CT

TK News by Matt Taibbi • 2109 implied HN points • 03 Feb 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Policy
  1. There is a livestream event called America This Week happening at 8 PM ET tonight, where important topics will be discussed.
  2. The hosts will cover media reactions to the new Trump administration and Senate confirmation hearings for notable figures.
  3. Viewers can watch the livestream on platforms like YouTube and Rumble, and they can also follow the hosts on Twitter for updates.

A Manifesto for Starmerism 2.0

Odds and Ends of History • 871 implied HN points • 18 Jul 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Policy
  1. People are feeling down about the current Labour government despite some good actions taken. There's a sense that progress isn't happening quickly enough for many.
  2. The lack of a clear ideology or direction in the government's approach is seen as a problem. Having a strong narrative can guide decision-making and help justify tough choices.
  3. It's important for Keir Starmer to define what 'Starmerism' means. A clear vision could provide coherence and motivation for both the government and the public.

taylor swift made fox news care about climate change

Airplane Mode with Liz Plank • 864 implied HN points • 01 Feb 24
🌞 Climate & Environment Policy
  1. Fox News has acknowledged the reality of carbon emissions after reporting on Taylor Swift's private jet use.
  2. Private jets contribute significantly to carbon emissions, with celebrities like Swift producing much more than the average person.
  3. Progressives have proposed various solutions to address private jet emissions, but face resistance from conservatives.

Trump Team Taps Dr. Matthew J. Memoli as Acting NIH Director, to Control Political Games and Push Aside Lawrence Tabak

The DisInformation Chronicle • 2075 implied HN points • 23 Jan 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Policy
  1. Dr. Matthew J. Memoli has been appointed as the acting NIH director to help ease tensions within the agency during the transition.
  2. There are concerns about the previous NIH leadership, particularly Lawrence Tabak, who some claim has been dishonest and evasive regarding the origins of the COVID pandemic.
  3. Memoli's leadership could lead to changes within NIH, as the Trump transition team aims to remove other officials linked to past controversies and restore transparency.

How Has U.S. Manufacturing Been Going Over the Past Generation?

Brad DeLong's Grasping Reality • 176 implied HN points • 03 Dec 25
💼 Business Policy
  1. Official measures understate manufacturing productivity because producer deflators miss big quality improvements. Using consumer-facing hedonic adjustments pushed through input–output tables raises measured TFP a lot, especially in computers and electronics.
  2. Even after correcting for mismeasurement, manufacturing shows a clear slowdown after the 2007–2009 financial crisis; the strong gains are concentrated in a few ICT subindustries while much of manufacturing has essentially stagnated.
  3. If quality growth has been undercounted, manufacturing matters more for growth and policy than official data imply, so researchers should dig into why ICT dominates the gains and test robustness to margins, globalization, and measurement choices.

Poetic Justice for Jay Bhattacharya. Plus. . .

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 2606 implied HN points • 02 Dec 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Policy
  1. Jay Bhattacharya faced a lot of pushback for questioning COVID-19 lockdowns, but now he's nominated to lead the NIH. It feels like he's getting the recognition he deserves after being silenced.
  2. Tulsi Gabbard is facing unfair accusations of being a Russian asset due to her past views and meetings. People believe she should have a chance to explain herself in a confirmation hearing instead of being labeled.
  3. Hunter Biden received a controversial pardon from his father, Joe Biden, just before leaving office. This decision has upset many, including some Democrats, because it seems he's getting special treatment compared to others.

Martin Gurri: The Great American Debate Begins Again

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 2058 implied HN points • 26 Jan 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Policy
  1. Free speech is very important right now, more than just political policies. People should feel safe to express their opinions without worry.
  2. There are many big questions about current events, like the truth about January 6 and climate change. We need to discuss them openly instead of being scared to answer.
  3. The debates we have today are deeply divided and complicated. It's necessary to ask tough questions to understand each other better.

The dream of deregulation - the grid part III

Construction Physics • 9812 implied HN points • 17 Jun 23
💼 Business Policy
  1. Electric power in the US was historically monopolized by utility companies, but cracks in the system started to appear in the 1960s and 1970s.
  2. The Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978 revolutionized the energy industry by creating a new class of independent power producers called Qualifying Facilities, leading to an increase in non-utility electricity generation.
  3. Deregulation of the electric power industry began in the 1990s and 2000s, with the unbundling of generation and transmission services, creation of new power suppliers like Exempt Wholesale Generators, and the establishment of Independent System Operators and Regional Transmission Organizations to introduce competition.

13% of British athletes admit to doping, new study finds

Honest Sport • 99 implied HN points • 24 Jul 24
🎾 Sports Policy
  1. A study found that 13% of British athletes admitted to using banned substances. This suggests that doping may be more common in sports than people think.
  2. UKAD, the organization in charge of anti-doping in the UK, needs more responses from athletes to better understand the full scale of the problem.
  3. The study reveals a big gap between how many athletes might be doping and how few get caught. This raises concerns about the effectiveness of current anti-doping efforts.

Government Overreach Always Happens

Points And Figures • 772 implied HN points • 23 Jul 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Policy
  1. Government often tends to grow beyond its original limits. Once established, many agencies want to expand their budgets and influence.
  2. The Federal Reserve has strayed from its main goals and is getting involved in political issues, which is not its intended role.
  3. There is a need to trim down government departments and agencies that are unnecessary, as many functions could be privatized or integrated into existing structures.

Comrade Musk

Diane Francis • 1179 implied HN points • 04 Dec 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Policy
  1. Elon Musk has significant power due to his wealth and technology, but this has raised concerns about his influence on global events. His actions, like limiting access to his satellite service, can have serious implications for security.
  2. Musk's past decisions have created tension and controversy, especially regarding his relations with Russia and Ukraine. His choices, such as withholding satellite support, have directly affected military operations.
  3. Many believe that Musk's actions, which intertwine technology with foreign policy, should be examined by government authorities to ensure proper oversight and prevent one person from having too much control over important matters.

UnitedHealth’s self-dealing is accelerating

HEALTH CARE un-covered • 899 implied HN points • 12 Jan 24
🏥 Health Politics Policy
  1. UnitedHealth is increasingly making money through its own subsidiaries, which means it's doing more business with itself. This raises concerns about whether patients are getting the best options and quality of care.
  2. A significant portion of UnitedHealth's revenue comes from internal transactions with its subsidiary, Optum. This could limit competition and hurt other healthcare providers.
  3. Using its own doctors and services helps UnitedHealth avoid spending obligations meant for patient care, potentially leading to reduced quality for patients.

ATW Livestream Tonight at 8 PM ET/7 PM CT

TK News by Matt Taibbi • 1948 implied HN points • 27 Jan 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Policy
  1. There's a livestream event tonight at 8 PM ET where they will discuss important political topics. It's a great opportunity to hear some insights and opinions live.
  2. The hosts will talk about how journalists should approach covering Trump's second administration, which is a hot topic right now.
  3. Trump's recent executive orders will also be discussed, including the declassification of files related to famous assassinations, which could change how we view those events.